Henderson Man Charged in Federal Court with Dealing Heroin and Fentanyl

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— courtesy U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of North Carolina

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today (Friday) charging a Henderson man with possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

According to the indictment and other information presented in a criminal complaint, Tyren Omarious Hargrove, 21, sold heroin laced with fentanyl to a confidential informant working with the Henderson Police Department in May 2022. On June 3, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence associated with Hargrove and found more than 4,000 dosage units of heroin laced with fentanyl and almost $60,000 in U.S. currency. Hargrove, who was on post-release supervision by the state of North Carolina at the time of the offense, was arrested on various state charges but quickly bonded out of state custody. He later failed to appear for court in Vance County Superior Court. On June 22, 2022, Hargrove was located by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol during a traffic stop. Hargrove initially yielded to the traffic stop but then fled, leading troopers and deputies from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office on a chase reaching speeds of approximately 115 mph. After a tire deflation device was deployed, Hargrove’s car was disabled, and he attempted to flee on foot. After a short foot chase, Hargrove was apprehended.

If convicted, Hargrove faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Henderson Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 11th Prosecutorial District are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Henderson Police Arrest 2 On Drug Charges

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Two people are in the local jail facing drug charges after Henderson police served a narcotic search warrant.

Officers with the Henderson Police Department served warrants at a residence on Beacon Avenue in response to several drug complaints, according to a press release from Chief Marcus Barrow posted Thursday on social media.

Robert Archie, Jr., 43, and Chanyille Davis, 36, were arrested, each charged with one count of possession of cocaine, one count of maintaining a dwelling place for a controlled substance and one count of possession of stolen goods.

Seized from the residence was an undisclosed amount of cocaine, drug manufacturing equipment and a television.

Both Archie and Davis were placed under $21,000.00 secured bonds and were remanded to Vance County Detention by Magistrate Small-Bowens.

Take Kerr-Tar COG Survey By Aug. 19 To Weigh In On Economic Development

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is asking for help from all those who live or work in the region – Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin, Person – as it gathers information to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

The CEDS team has created an online survey that is open now through Aug. 19 which seeks input about the region’s strengths, challenges and opportunities. Data from the survey will be used to inform policymakers across the regions about what is going well, what needs improvement and ways to guide focus areas over the next five years.

Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the Kerr-Tar region is encouraged to take part in the online survey.

In addition to the survey, the Kerr-Tar COG has scheduled in-person meetings to gather comments and opinions. The Vance, Franklin and Warren meetings were held earlier this week, and the Granville and Person meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 26, according to iformation on the Kerr-Tar COG webpage. The Granville meeting will be held at the Granville County Convention & Expo Center, 4185 U.S. Hwy. 15 in Oxford between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon; the Person County meeting will be held in the Person County office building auditorium, 304 S. Morgan St., Roxboro between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Visit https://www.kerrtarcog.org/ to access a link to the survey, or simply click the link here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/survey-taken/?sm=fOW9Nqb_2BYpcyo73LmBCJHylTUVcNu_2BdTkwHeMJJTE7uFIIVtxeK2Pr3Zt_2BS2TjVcmEgkHM4BUUAyp0bavgB9TMZlZl_2BfCFp0WhBOvhzEAn8_3D

Keep Pets’ Safety In Mind – Never Leave Them In Vehicles

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  -information courtesy of American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region

The excessive heat that has been reported all across the country is not to be taken lightly, and the American Red Cross urges everyone to take precautions to avoid dangerous – and sometimes deadly – situations.

Pet owners are especially encouraged to keep their pets’ best interests at heart by never leaving them in vehicles, even for just a few minutes while running errands.

“It’s critical that you don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region. “The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees in minutes, even with the windows cracked open.”

The advice for humans is to stay inside and out of the heat, if possible, and to stay hydrated to prevent medical emergencies like heat stroke. The same is true for pets – keep them inside, out of the heat, and make sure they have access to cool, fresh water all day long, according to advice from the Red Cross.

And just like humans, animal also can suffer heat stroke. Animals can suffer heat stroke in warmer weather. Dogs especially vulnerable are those breeds with short noses or snouts – think boxers and bulldogs – as well as overweight animals, or those with an extremely thick coat or who have been diagnosed with other upper respiratory problems.

Some of the signs of heat stroke to watch for:

  • Heavy panting and inability to calm down, even when lying down
  • Brick-red gum color
  • Fast pulse rate
  • Unable to get up

If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.

RESOURCES Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies, toxic substances, a pet profile for storing tag ID, photo and medical information, early warning signs for when to contact a veterinarian and an animal hospital locator. You can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETPET to 90999 for a link to download the app or going to redcross.org/apps.

You can also take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course so that you’ll know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. Access the course on your desktop or tablet and go through the content at your own pace.

The interactive course includes:

  • How to determine a pet’s normal vital signs so owners can notice if there are any irregularities
  • Step-by-step instructions and visual aids for what to do if a pet is choking, needs CPR, has a wound, or is having a seizure; and information on preventative care, health and tips for a pet’s well-being.

Find more information about pets and their safety during warm weather here.

Fox Pond Shelter Renamed For Local Hero Eddie Hicks In July 29 Dedication

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The Eddie J. Hicks Shelter dedication ceremony will take place next Friday, July 29 at 11 a.m.

Currently known simply as Shelter #1 at Fox Pond Park, the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department will officially rename the shelter in honor of one of Vance County’s most memorable athletes who also has served his native Vance County for more than 30 years.

Hicks excelled in sports and caught the eye of college scouts while playing football at Vance Senior High School. He graduated in 1975 and earned a football scholarship play at East Carolina University. Hicks still holds the ECU record for longest rushing yard play – 95 yards. He went on to play professional ball with the New York Giants.

He was inducted into the East Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.Hicks has worked with the recreation and parks department for many years and is a dedicated employee who takes pride in his work. He oversees the adult and youth community service programs and is an active community leader and youth advocate.

The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony.

Contact Director Kendrick Vann at kendrickvann@henderson.nc.gov or 252.431.6093.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Farmers Market Loaded With Local Produce From Yellow Squash To Purple Hulls

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Venture out to the Vance Regional Farmers Market and you’re likely to hear “I need some peas, enough for supper,” or “Have you got a peck of pickling cukes?” Market Manager Pat Ayscue said the farmers who bring their produce and other goods to the market each week are prepared to fill orders small or large.

So whether it’s local vine-ripened tomatoes, butterbeans, sweet corn or purple hull peas you’re looking for, you’ll be sure to find them at the farmers market, open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the summer.

And what’s better than freshly-dug new potatoes, snaps, zucchini, squash and bell peppers for creating a healthy summer meal?

Not into doing the canning or pickling yourself? No problem! Ayscue said canned tomatoes, pickles and jellies are in good supply.

In addition to the fresh produce, the market has a variety of handcrafted items created by local artisans.

The farmers market is located at 210 Southpark Dr. off Beckford Drive in Henderson.

TownTalk: Plans For New Convention Center On Parham Rd.

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There’s a lot of planning that goes into any construction project, a statement to which Vance County Director of Tourism Pam Hester will attest. But in the case of a possible convention center complex that is in the works for the area, it’s a matter of turning a vision into reality.

Hester was John C. Rose’s guest on Wednesday’s Town Talk and she shared some initial ideas about how acreage just off Parham Road could be transformed into a spot that locals – and visitors – can enjoy. The property is owned by the Vance County Department of Tourism.

“Hopefully, this will be the catalyst for change,” Hester said, in an interview recorded earlier and aired Wednesday. A healthy economic environment is one that has a mixture of businesses, large and small. This convention center and the focus on increased tourism, she said, can be an economic driver.

Initial plans show a 27,000 square foot convention center, which Hester said would be included in the first phase of the three-phase project. “It’s in the conceptual stage right now, (and) we’ve got to go back for some tweaks.” The size could increase to about 30,000 square feet, with a main room that can accommodate 500 for dinner, but as many as 1,000 for trainings and other types of meetings. The main room can be divided into three separate meeting spots, each with its own separate entrance, so Hester said each smaller room could house a different event at the same time.

The Tourism office will be located there, too, which will allow staff to oversee facility usage and rentals – anything from boat and car shows to corporate training events, weddings and sports camps.

“It’s more than just a convention center,” she explained. “It’s more like a community/convention/welcome center.”

The second phase would include addition of a hotel, which is important for tourism in a couple of different ways: Visitors need a place to stay when they attend events in the area, and tourism programs are funded by the 6 percent occupancy tax that hotels and motels generate.

“That would open up a world of opportunities for us,” Hester said of the additional space for visitors to stay. Add a restaurant and the complex becomes more attractive for groups looking to hold events there.

Although Vance County has 319 fewer available hotel rooms, Hester said the county enjoys the highest occupancy tax rate ever. “That six percent that hotels collect is up significantly – it’s much higher than it’s ever been,” she said.

The project’s third phase would be addition of a greenway or walkway to connect with other parts of the city. And there will be a handicap-accessible children’s playground, she added, as well as a place to walk dogs and even a charging station for electric cars.

Like all projects, area officials have been discussing possible timelines for construction and completion.

“I would like to see it start tomorrow,” Hester said, “but that’s not realistic.” More than likely, getting the project underway in 2025 is more realistic.

In the meantime, planning continues and ideas keep percolating among tourism staff, its governing board and the county commissioners. Hester said she is hopeful to get some grant funding as well as developing a plan for corporate sponsorships.

 

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