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The Local Skinny! Workforce and Continuing Education Open House at VGCC

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Vance-Granville Community College is hosting a Workforce and Continuing Education Open House at the Henderson campus on Saturday, Nov. 16.

School representatives will be on hand from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help prospective students learn more about the programs available across the four campuses.

Whether pursuing opportunities after high school or looking for a career change, VGCC may have just what you’re looking for.

According to the VGCC website, Continuing Education classes are designed for adults looking to enhance their job skills, update their knowledge or pursue personal interests.

Learn about the diverse program that VGCC offers, including Commercial Driver’s License, Healthcare, Public Safety, Welding and Business, just to name a few. Faculty members will be on hand to share additional program information and participants can attend break-out sessions about specific fields and certifications they may be interested in pursuing.

And to top it all off, you can get help with registration, financial aid and setting up your student account – all on the same day.

The Open House will be held in Building 7 at the Main Campus, located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.

Visit www.vgcc.edu and click on Latest News and Upcoming Events tabs to learn more.

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TownTalk: The Evolution of 4-H

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Most anybody who has participated in 4-H at one time or another can probably remember what the four H’s stand for.

If you came up with Head, Heart, Hands, Health, give yourself a pat on the back.

And although its roots are based in agriculture-related programs, today’s 4-H clubs are pivoting to embrace the growing fields of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.

Micah Sharpe is Vance County’s Extension agent for 4-H Youth Development. Sharpe said on Tuesday’s TownTalk segment that 4-H clubs tend to reflect the counties in which they operate.

“We still have farming, poultry,” Sharpe said, but 4-H’ers are also “coding robots, flying drones (and) using iPads to create digital marketing.”

4-H is for young people between 5 and 18, and Sharpe said programs and activities can look different, depending on the age group.

The 4-H Clover Buds, as the 5- to 7-year-old group is called, tend to get more hands-on, fun activities, Sharpe said. They’re eager to learn but their attention span is short.

Tweens and teens can sit still a bit longer, so they can handle discussions about topics including civic engagement and the importance of voting, for example.

Sheronika Sharp is the STEM specialist at Vance County Cooperative Extension, and Sharpe said he values their collaboration to create programs, trainings and more.

Sharpe said he has programs that can be taught in school settings, but it can be challenging to gain inroads in that program delivery method.

He said he likes to talk about his 4-H programs and curricula with school counselors, Career and Technical Education teachers, and principals; he trains teachers to carry out the programs as after-school activities, so even if he cannot be there, instructors will know what to do.

Sharpe did not grow up with 4-H – in fact, his first exposure to the program was last year.

But it hasn’t taken long for him to realize the benefits 4-H offers young people.

He tells them, “You’ve got to do what’s right for yourself,” but he follows up with “It’s cool to be knowledgeable.”

Whether they’re learning the basics of cooking through the Dinah Gore challenge or learning to fly drones, 4-H brings together head, heart, hands and health to support young people along their journey to adulthood.

To learn more, contact Sharpe at 252.438.8188, mosharpe@ncsu.edu or even just drop by the office at 305 Young St.

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TownTalk: Concerned Citizens Group Vocal On Tax Rate, Budget Process

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A group of concerned citizens has been gaining momentum and voicing their disapproval of the process used by city and county elected officials to approve the 2024-25 budget, including the jump in property tax bills brought on by the recently completed revaluation.

During the public comment period at recent council and commissioners’ meetings, representatives of the citizens’ group have called for both bodies to allow taxpayers to pay the amount of their 2023 taxes without penalty for failure to pay the 2024 amount.

Concerned Citizens of Vance County had about 300 people at their Sept. 17 meeting; the Oct. 17 meeting attracted about 75 people, according to organizers.

Several individuals associated with the group have appeared before the Henderson City Council and the Vance County Board of Commissioners. Most recently, Caroline Burnette and Melissa Lemmond, both Henderson residents, were critical of the way that the city and county turned their backs on revenue-neutral budgets in favor of a tax rate increase. County commissioners approved a 10-cent increase; the City Council voted for a 20-cent increase. Burnette is a N.C. District Court judge; Lemmond practices law in Henderson.

In comments to the City Council on Oct. 14, Lemmond said, “I’m back here again about the tax issue because I think this city council has done a real disservice to the citizens of Henderson…I don’t think you thought about how it was going to affect people,” she said.

In comments to the county commissioners on Oct. 7, Burnette asserted that commissioners violated the Public Meetings Law by not having written minutes of June budget work sessions.

“The board gave consensus to bring back a balanced budget with a 10-cent tax increase,” Burnette said. “That was transacting business – real or apparent,” she said, quoting a portion of the law in question. Minutes are supposed to be voted on or adopted by a majority of the board, she added.

“So, the June 24 (budget) approval could be found null and void by a Superior Court judge,” Burnette said, for what she said was the commissioners’ failure to comply with the law. “An injunction could also be issued so that this will never happen again and you could also be ordered personally to pay attorneys’ fees,” she continued.

“Commissioners, it’s time to do the right thing. I implore you to let the citizens of Vance County pay the taxes they paid in 2023 (and) to direct the tax administrator to take no action on delinquent taxes if the 2023 amount has been paid.”

In her comments to the City Council on Oct. 14, Lemmond said the 20-cent city tax increase, along with the 10-cent county increase, will have dire consequences.

“Y’all are going to cause foreclosures… cause people to lose their homes, cause renters to be forced out,” she said. She was one of a handful of citizens who spoke to voice their concern for the way the budget process was handled.

“When you passed the 65 cents, there was no discussion. So either you talked about it ahead of time and everybody agreed, and it wasn’t in a meeting, or you just didn’t care enough and said ‘oh yeah, we’ll make it 65 cents,’” Lemmond said.

She made similar remarks to commissioners on Sept. 3 on the budget approval and tax rate increase. “It had to have been discussed somewhere, sometime for it to have passed that quickly,” she said.

“I understand the need for more money, we all need more money,” Lemmond said. “But that was a really big tax hike and I don’t’ think the county thought through what it was going to do to a lot of these people…it shouldn’t have been that big of an increase.”

Concerned Citizens for Vance County meets at the local headquarters of the Republican Party, located at 605 S. Garnett St. every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

The group’s email address is concernedforvance@gmail.com and a Facebook page is being worked on as of this date.

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Sheriff: Vance County Man Arrested On Drug, Weapons Charges

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Press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On October 10, 2024 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Unit, with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at 85 Kristie Lane, located west of Townsville.  The investigation was in response to numerous citizen complaints of narcotics violations from this location.  During the search, investigators located methamphetamine, cocaine and numerous firearms.  Several of the firearms were reported stolen out of Granville County.

As a result of the investigation, Edward Jones of Kristie Lane was charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Cocaine; Maintaining a Dwelling to Keep and Sell Controlled Substances; two counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and eight counts of Possession of a Firearm by Felon.  Jones was released on a $330,000 secured bond.

Maria Parham Health To Hold Annual ‘Trunk Or Treat’ Oct. 28

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Maria Parham Health will host its 4th annual drive-thru Trunk or Treat event on Monday, Oct. 28, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., providing a safe and festive way for families to celebrate Halloween.

The drive-thru Trunk or Treat allows children to remain in their cars as they enjoy the sights and sounds of Halloween, said Donna Young, MPH public information officer.

Costumed volunteers will pass out candy through open car windows to create a unique and safe trick-or-treating experience. “We started our Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat in October of 2021, in an effort to give children a safe way to trick or treat during the  COVID outbreak. The community really enjoyed doing it this way, so it stuck,” Young explained.

Families from the Henderson and Vance County communities are encouraged to bring their little ghosts and goblins for an evening filled with elaborately decorated trunks, festive costumes, and, of course, plenty of candy!

Details about the drive-thru route will be announced about a week before the event, so be sure to keep an eye on the MPH Facebook page for the latest updates.

The Local Skinny! Archie Taylor Receives Order Of The Long Leaf Pine

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Vance County Commissioner Col. Archie Taylor has received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor that a North Carolina governor can award to an individual for contributions to the state and to his or her local community.

Rep. Frank Sossamon delivered remarks – and a framed certificate – to Taylor during a recent commissioners meeting.

Sossamon cited Taylor’s 28 years of military service and said that career “speaks volumes about his commitment to duty and leadership.”

That service, along with his service since 2012 on the local board of commissioners and other civic and service organizations, sets Taylor apart. Taylor lost a close primary race in March and will leave the board in December.

“His longstanding involvement in economic development initiatives…his strategic vision and proactive approach have played a pivotal role in promoting Vance County, both locally and beyond,” Sossamon said.

Over the years, Taylor has been an ardent supporter of education, the arts, the Boy Scouts. Maria Parham Health, Rotary, his church, just to list a few.

He was named Vance County Citizen of the Year in 2021 and also received the George R. Watkins Citizen of the Year from the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts.

In brief remarks after the presentation, Taylor expressed his surprise and thanks for the honor.

He said he has a plaque on his wall with a quote attributed to Robert F. Kennedy which states “’One man can make a difference and every man should try.’ That’s all I’ve tried to do – make a difference everywhere I’ve been,” he said.

He invited others to join him. “Our county gets better as more and more people get involved.”

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NC Dept of Agriculture

Grant Funding Available To Preserve Farmland Through Agricultural Easements

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Landowners interested in preserving farmland through agricultural conservation easements can apply for grants through a state trust fund. The application period is open now and ends Jan. 17, 2025.

County governments and conservation nonprofit groups can apply for farmland preservation grants from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund; property owners work with county governments or land trusts to apply for the funding, according to information from the office of N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

“A growing population and increased development continue to put pressure on family farms,” Troxler stated. “Agricultural conservation easements are the best tool to preserve farmland. I encourage farmers and landowners across the state to work with local partners and apply for grant funding to become North Carolina Forever Farms.”

Grants are available for agricultural conservation easements on working farms and forests; to support public-private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable agricultural, horticultural and forestland activities; to develop agricultural plans; and to create Agricultural Growth Zones that enhance local investments in farmland preservation.

If awarded a grant in which the application requests funds for the conservation easement purchase value, landowners will be compensated for the purchase of the development rights.

During the most recent grant cycle, the N.C. ADFP Trust Fund awarded $18.2 million to protect working farms and forests, support county farmland preservation efforts and promote agricultural enterprises.

Agricultural conservation easements not funded in the previous grant cycle are encouraged to reapply for funding. Reapplications must notify the Farmland Preservation Division via online form.

A new online grant portal will be used for Cycle 18 applications. Grant applications, rules and information packets are available online at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/farmland-preservation/applicants. For more information, call the Farmland Preservation office at 919.707.3074.

VCS Announces October Student Spotlight Honorees

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From VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin

Vance County Schools has recognized four students from across the district in its October Student Spotlight. These students were selected not just because of their academic achievements, but also because they embody qualities like kindness, dedication, a commitment to personal growth and service to others.

This month’s winners are Lucas Tyburski from STEM Early High, Fatima Ramirez Ramirez of Vance Virtual Village Academy, Rihanna Williams of Vance County High and Damira Williams from Advance Academy. Read more below about their accomplishments, dreams and role models.

Lucas Tyburski, 8th Grader

Lucas was nominated by his teachers and school administration. He exemplifies the qualities of a true STEM shark – someone who cares for his school, his peers and his community.

Lucas recently took the initiative to organize a donation drive for those affected by Hurricane Helene. He also serves as co-president of the SAVE Club (Students Against Violence Everywhere) at STEM, participates in RoboVance and is an anchor on the school’s news team. These contributions highlight his drive to create a positive impact both inside and outside the classroom. Lucas’s favorite subject, Social Studies, allows him to explore various cultures, geography and history.

His dream is becoming a sports commentator, covering games like baseball, basketball, hockey and football—fueled by his love of sports and experience as a catcher on his baseball team. A natural-born leader, Lucas admires the versatility and determination of pro baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani, and he hopes to inspire others through his involvement in school and community initiatives.

Lucas enjoys reading, and his favorite book being Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

When asked what advice he would give to other students, Lucas emphasized the importance of being open to new opportunities—wisdom he has gained through his own personal growth over the years. Most recently, he has enjoyed studying estuaries in science class, where he discovered that bears inhabit Pamlico Sound—just one example of his curiosity and love for learning.

If he could have any superpower, Lucas says he would want to make people kind and friendly, believing that spreading positivity is essential for moving forward in life.

 Lucas’s academic journey is driven by the encouragement and support of his teachers, who continue to motivate him daily. As a standout student and a shining example of what it means to be a STEM Shark, Lucas Tyburski’s passion, leadership and dedication make him a true asset to STEM Early High School and the greater Vance County community.

Fatima Ramirez Ramirez, 12th grader

Vance Virtual Village Academy is proud to highlight the achievements of Fatima Ramirez Ramirez, a senior whose hard work, positivity and academic success make her a standout student. Nominated by her English Language Arts teacher, Cynthia Schlessinger, Fatima’s

commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration to both students and staff.

In addition to her V3A courses, Fatima is enrolled in Vance-Granville Community College classes, where she is working toward an associate’s degree.

Her academic drive is matched by her involvement in extracurricular activities, including her membership in the Beta Club and her volunteer work at the VGCC daycare. Fatima’s teacher, Penny Britt, commends her for her positivity, noting that “Fatima’s courteous demeanor makes every conversation enjoyable. Her work is always accurate and delivered on time, reflecting her dedication and attention to detail.”

As a student who has exceptional participation in class, attends all in-person learning events, excels in her coursework and engages in extra-curricular activities, Fatima is a true leader within V3A.

When asked about her favorite subjects, Fatima expressed a particular interest in history, explaining that she enjoys learning about the stories of the world’s past. She also enjoys creating sculptures out of clay and dreams of one day pursuing a career in archaeology and anthropology, where she can travel the world and explore the rich history of different cultures. Fatima’s role model is Hypatia of Alexandria, a renowned teacher and philosopher from ancient Egypt. Fatima admires Hypatia’s bravery and intelligence, stating, “She was a woman too advanced for her time – she stood up for women.” Fatima’s own resilience and determination are evident in her goals for the future, which include helping those in need by addressing issues such as homelessness and food insecurity.

When reflecting on her journey at V3A, Fatima shared that her favorite aspect of the school is the supportive teachers, adding she has found true success since enrolling at the school two years ago. She believes her past experiences motivate her to work hard and achieve her dreams, saying, “I want to be successful and support myself and my family in the future.” Fatima’s advice to other students is to “be yourself and if no one believes in you, you have to believe in yourself. The sky is not the limit; you can go beyond that.” Fatima’s dedication to her education, passion for learning, and commitment to making a positive impact in the world make her a remarkable student and a role model for her peers.

Rihanna Williams, 12th grader

Senior Rihanna Williams School already has her sights set on what’s after high school – and VCHS administration shared, “Rihanna’s commitment to her academics and future plans sets her apart as a role model for her peers. Rihanna has already been accepted to N.C. Central University, where she plans to pursue her dream of becoming a traveling nurse.” In addition to her academic pursuits, Rihanna is an active participant in the school’s Chorus, a passion she has nurtured since she was a freshman under the guidance of Dr. Kowind Stokes.

Rihanna’s academic ambitions and desire to make a difference in the healthcare field reflect her dedication to personal growth and service to others. She is well-known among her peers for her positive attitude and constant support. She shared that her favorite thing about Vance County High School is the support she receives from administration and teachers, noting, “They care and want me to be successful.” When asked about her inspirations, Rihanna named her mother, Alethea Williams, as her greatest role model. “She has been with me through a lot and pushes me to stay focused,” Rihanna explained. Her mom’s influence has shaped her into the resilient and driven young woman she is today.

Rihanna also shared her vision for making a difference in her community. If given the opportunity, she would work to end violence and encourage greater collaboration among community members to create a safer, more supportive environment.

Rihanna’s favorite movie is Transformers and she dreams of traveling to Bora Bora. If she could possess any superpower, she would choose invisibility to help others without fanfare. Her advice to fellow students is simple yet powerful: “Stay focused in school and don’t follow in the wrong ways. “Rihanna Williams is a shining example of the values and excellence that define the students of Vance County High School.

Damira Williams, 7th grader

AdVance Academy is excited to shine the spotlight on Damira S. Williams, a 7th-grade student nominated by her teachers. Damira is a member of the SAVE Club (Students Against Violence Everywhere), where she consistently demonstrates her commitment to helping others and making a positive impact. She is passionate about creating change and strives to support those around her.

Damira’s favorite subject is Math because of her love for calculating and problem-solving. She is still exploring her career goals but is determined to be successful, setting high standards for herself and continuously pushing forward.

Outside the classroom, Damira enjoys dancing and listening to a variety of music genres. Her favorite movie is Scream and she enjoys spending time with her family. Damira admires her sister, Jada, for her accomplishments and the strong bond they share, as well as her mother for being a source of strength and support.

Damira enthusiastically shared her fascination with science terminology and gaining knowledge to become successful. If she could have any superpower, Damira says she would choose the ability to teleport, allowing her to travel anywhere instantly—an exciting prospect for someone who dreams of visiting Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower.

Damira’s motivation comes from within, and she consistently works toward achieving her goals. Her advice to fellow students is to “Keep pushing, don’t be a follower but be a leader. Listen to those giving you advice and stay focused.” As a student at AdVance Academy, Damira values the opportunities available to her and feels that the school truly cares about its students. She is grateful for the supportive environment and the encouragement she receives from her teachers and peers. Looking ahead, one of her wishes is to see a reduction in violence, particularly in her hometown of Henderson, believing that creating a safer community would make a significant difference. AdVance Academy is proud to recognize Damira Williams as a student who exemplifies the school’s values of excellence.

Congratulations to October’s Student Spotlight winners!