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Grow with VGCC AgriTech

Vance-Granville Community College’s South Campus is the site of the upcoming AgriTech program, one of the many continuing education classes offered at VGCC’s four campuses.

Tanya Weary, dean of business & industry solutions and of the South Campus in Creedmoor, said registration is open for the class, which will be held in-person one evening a week for 10 weeks; the remaining two-thirds of the class’s 96 hours will be completed online.

The class begins on Sept. 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the cost is $188.25. Tuition assistance is available for eligible participants, she told John C. Rose on Town Talk August 3, 2021, which you can hear in its entirety by clicking play below.

As a dean at VGCC, Weary said she enjoys seeing the many exciting things happening on and around the campuses in the four counties VGCC serves.

“Lives are being changed,” Weary said. “It’s an incredible experience to see and witness every day.”

The AgriTech program is one way to help participants gain knowledge about agriculture, whether it’s for launching a business, improving skills for someone who already works on a farm or other agriculture-related endeavors.

“Agriculture is making an impact on society,” Weary said. “No matter what realm of agriculture you’re going into, you’re making some kind of impact.”

Instructor Kelly Dixon will introduce topics such as sustainable and organic farming methods, equipment maintenance, plant, soil and animal sciences, among others. Dixon and her family farm in Granville County and Dixon is the ag teacher at Vance Charter School.

Weary said the class will also discuss basic computer skills and marketing techniques, both important tools for agricultural entrepreneurs who use social media or need to create marketing materials to promote their business.

Another project that VGCC is launching is the result of a $286,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will provide professional development opportunities for K-12 educators to learn more about teaching agriculture and biology.

Weary said VGCC bought some drones that will be used to provide some hands-on opportunities for students to learn how to use drones in agriculture, from simple aerial photography to using drones to check fields.

Weary said U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics point to strong employment opportunities in agriculture between 2020 and 2025. “This program gives (students) an introduction into the economic, environmental and social impacts of agriculture,” she said.

Visit https://www.vgcc.edu/conVanceed/agritech/ to learn more about the class.

Contact Weary at wearyt@vgcc.edu or call 252.738.3521.

Click play below for the TownTalk interview with Dean Weary.

(Originally Broadcast Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Original article by Laura Gabel on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.)

“Shop With A Cop” Program Seeks Sponsors For Annual Holiday Event

Summer is in full swing, its sweltering temps encouraging folks to stay inside in the air conditioning. But it won’t be too long before summer gives way to cooler weather that will usher in the holiday season.

And in the middle of this heat, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is preparing for the annual “Shop with a Cop” scheduled for December. This is the sixth year that the Chamber has partnered with local law enforcement agencies and area businesses to make the event possible.

The Chamber is asking for sponsors to join Maria Parham Health to help make this event a success. Again this year, MPH has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor, according to information from Sandra Wilkerson, director of administration and events for the Chamber.  The goal is to raise at least $5,000 from sponsors so members of the Henderson Police Department and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office can take underprivileged youth in the community Christmas shopping.

The shopping spree will take place at the local Walmart, and the Chamber is partnering with law enforcement and local business to continue to build the community partnership.

The campaign kicks off on Sept. 22. Contact Wilkerson at sandra@hendersonvance.org or 252.438.8414 to learn more.

The three sponsorship levels are gold, silver and bronze.

For $1,000, Gold Sponsors get their name on a ticket board, company recognition on social media at the live kickoff event and raffle drawing, as well as recognition in Chamber publications and on the actual shopping day.

Silver Sponsors, for $750, get their name on the ticket board, recognition on the social media live kickoff event and raffle drawing, and recognition on the day of the shopping spree.

And for $500, Bronze Sponsors get their name on the ticket board, and recognition at the live kickoff event on social media.

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Latest Local Virus Data as of Friday, Aug 27

— courtesy of Granville-Vance Public Health

In the past 7 days, there have been 127 new cases in Vance County, a 51% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 5.2%. According to the CDC Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Vance County.

In the past 7 days, there have been 227 new cases in Granville County, a 33% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 6.3%. According to the CDC Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Granville County.

In Vance County, 59% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 53% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 64% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 59% are fully vaccinated.

In North Carolina Friday, there were 8,105 newly reported cases. The daily percent positive rate is 12.8%.

As of Friday in the state, there were 3,651 hospitalized.

65% of the adult population in NC is at least partially vaccinated and 60% of the adult population is fully vaccinated!

Siplen Arrested, Charged with First Degree Murder

— Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame Press Release

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of Suzette Siplen for the First Degree Murder of Xavier “Peter” Vann.

Vann was located in the front yard of his residence located at 1609 Nicholas Street, Henderson N.C., on the morning of the 5th day of August 2021. It was determined that Vann was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Vann was transported to Duke University Medical Center where he later died.

Through investigative technique Siplen became a person of interest in this incident. Investigators with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office established Probable Cause for an Arrest Warrant on Suzette Siplen on the 17th day of August 2021.

Having obtained warrants for the arrest of Siplen the investigation then focused on the apprehension of the suspect.

On the 24th day of August Suzette Siplen, age 52, was located in Durham N.C. residing in a local motel. Siplen was arrested without incident.
Siplen has been placed in the Vance County Detention Facility on a single charge of First Degree Murder. No bond has been set at this time.

Assisting with the investigation were the N.C. SBI and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.

TownTalk: Vance GOP Chair Barrier Planning 9/11 Memorial Event

So many Americans can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on that morning almost 20 years ago when the 9/11 attacks occurred.

When Jimmy Barrier realized that there were no local plans to commemorate the 20th anniversary of that fateful day, he wasn’t about to let the day go unnoticed.

Barrier, chairman of the Vance County GOP, has planned a public memorial event on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Henderson to honor those whose lives were lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

“It was almost like war,” Barrier told John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk, as he recalled the events of that day in 2001. “It was unfathomable to people – people were horrified by it and didn’t know what was going on.”

Anyone old enough to remember may have similar feelings as Barrier, but for those who may be too young to remember, Barrier said he wants to hear about what they think about the events of 9/11.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will begin at 10 a.m. and should run until about noon. It will be held outside the American Legion hut on Garnett Street and will include music and several different speakers, from local youth to state-level politicians.

Barrier said it’s actually an event for military veterans, firefighters, law enforcement officers and other front-line workers – people in these fields “who right now are the backbone and strength of America.”

— TownTalk Audio, Click Play —

One of the speakers is Will White, a 15-year-old from Henderson. Barrier said it’s important to hear the perspective of someone who wasn’t even alive in 2001.

Although Barrier said he is still working out details of the morning’s agenda, he said local pastor Bruce LeGates will offer an opening prayer, and Stephanie Cole is scheduled to sing the National Anthem. Steve Wilson is set to sing the Lee Greenwood hit “God Bless the U.S.A.” and Ronnie Lassiter, a retired firefighter and Navy veteran also is scheduled to speak.

If his schedule permits, Trey Allen, a UNC law professor and a candidate for the N.C. Supreme Court, will pay a visit to the event, Barrier noted.

And he’s invited Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance Sheriff Curtis Brame, as well as members of all the volunteer fire departments to come and have a presence at the event.

WIZS will broadcast the event live.

Sheriff Curtis Brame

Vance Sheriff Brame’s Advice To Avoid Phone Scams: “Don’t Do What I Did”

When the phone rings, the first reaction many of us have is to anwer the call. These days, however, unless a name pops up on the screen that you recognize, perhaps the best thing to do is – let it ring. You just may avoid getting caught up in a scam.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame wishes he had followed the advice that he so often dispensed to others about that very thing; it may have saved him the inconvenience of contacting his bank and associated credit cards.

Brame told John C. Rose in an email Wednesday about getting a call from someone who claimed to be with Duke Energy. The caller said Brame’s electricity would be cut off, “due to delinquency and not paying my bill on time.”

At the time, the sheriff was in a hospital waiting room, and was in a vulnerable state because his wife had just undergone back surgery. “I was worried, concerned, not thinking straight,” Brame wrote in the email to WIZS News. He was waiting to go in and see his wife in recovery, and what he did next is what he tells others all the time NOT to do: He furnished information to that person on the other end of the phone.

The last thing he needed, after being at the hospital with his wife, was to return home to no electricity, he said.

When he was able to get to a computer and access his account online, he realized his mistake. Of course, “I had already paid my bills on time and had a zero balance with Duke Energy,” Brame said.

The worry and concern for his wife in the hospital shifted to Brame being “furious, upset and disturbed” for being a victim of a phone scam.

Now came the hassle of contacting his bank, put it on alert and cancel his cards.

“Please, please, please, don’t do what I did,” Brame said. “They are out there, regardless of who you are.”

— The Local Skinny! Audio, Click Play —

Vance Volunteer Fire Departments Awarded More Than $140,000 Through State Grant Fund

Six volunteer fire departments in Vance County received grant funding from a state program designed to help smaller departments purchase equipment and make capital improvements.

In addition, two departments that serve Vance and adjoining counties received funding, which brings the total to more than $140,000, according to Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen.

Fire departments send requests each year for funding from the state’s Volunteer Fire Department Fund, which distributes money in the form of grants. The grants must be matched dollar for dollar, up to $30,000.

Here’s a breakdown by department:

  • Bearpond Rural Fire Department, Inc. –  $6,630
  • Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $28,530
  • Hicksboro Fire Department – $8,115
  • Kittrell Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $29,968.41
  • Townsville Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $1,328.60
  • Watkins Community Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $30,000

The total amount for the Vance County departments is $104,572.01, but that number climbs to $140,696.74 when grant funding to Epsom Fire Department, serving Vance and Frankin counties, is added ($11,128.12) and grant funding to Drewry, serving Vance and Warren counties, is added ($25,440.50).

Granville County received grants totaling more than $176,000 in the most recent disbursement of funds.

Fire departments in Warren County received $213,576.50 and Franklin County departments were awarded $73,454.55, according to the complete listing from N.C. Department of Insurance.

The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created to assist North Carolina’s volunteer fire departments with purchasing equipment and making capital expenditures. It is administered through the N.C. Department of Insurance/Office of the State Fire Marshal. Eligible volunteer fire departments must be rated/certified by the N.C. Department of Insurance.

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TownTalk: Parolees and those on Probation Can Register to Vote in NC

DEVELOPING…

State and local boards of elections are bound to comply with a court order issued Monday that restores voting privileges to convicted felons who are no longer incarcerated but are still on parole or probation.

Patrick Gannon, public information director for the N.C. Board of Elections told WIZS News Wednesday, “We are required to comply with court orders, so those who are (on) probation, parole, or post-release supervision are able to re-register to vote at this time.”

If the ruling stands, more than 55,000 people in North Carolina would be allowed to re-register to vote, Gannon noted. A three-judge panel of Wake County Superior Court entered a preliminary injunction Monday to restore voting rights to all North Carolinians on felony probation, parole or post-release supervision.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit Community Success Initiative v. Moore, which claimed that convicted felons who were no longer incarcerated but still on parole or probation, were unfairly denied restoration of their right to vote. Previously, convicted felons no longer in jail or prison were not allowed to register to vote if they were still on parole or probation.

Gannon said state elections board attorneys are reviewing the decision.

“If a court were to reverse the preliminary injunction, we would need to work with the department of public safety to update the felon data that we receive,” Gannon said.

It would fall to county boards of elections to perform regular list maintenance to remove ineligible voters.

Boards of elections and the department of public safety have regular voter roll list maintenance and automated checks of new registrants, Gannon said.

He said elections officials do not keep numbers of felon voters by county, so it is unclear just how many potential felon voters reside in the four-county area.

Melody Vaughan, deputy director of the Vance County Board of Elections, told WIZS News Tuesday that, as far as the upcoming municipal elections in Middleburg and Kittrell are concerned, only residents who live inside the towns’ city limits may cast ballots.

Local boards, including Vance, are waiting for guidance from the state board to allow this disenfranchised population to regain voter privileges. If and when that happens, Vaughan said individuals have until Oct. 8 to register. There is no same-day registration for the Nov. 2 elections, Vaughan said.

TOWNTALK AUDIO HERE