VCMS Top Bots Takes Second Place At State BrickEd Competition

/by

The Vance County Middle School Top Bots won second place in a statewide competition held over the weekend in Salisbury.

The Top Bots were one of six RoboVance teams to showcase their talents at the BrickEd competition, according to information from Grace Herndon, with VCS Communication & Innovative Support.

After competing at the district level on April 27, the teams advanced to the BrickEd state competition on May 18.

In addition to the VCMS Top Bots, participating teams included the Carver Eagles, E.M. Rollins’s Bear Cub Power, Clarke Tech Titans, STEM Byte Club and Aycock Robo Coders. The Bear Cub Power team from E.M. Rollins received the Sportsmanship Award.

Using LEGO Spike Prime kits and extensions, these teams programmed their robots to complete complex tasks on custom maps.

RoboVance coordinator is Stephen Jones, who, along with other dedicated staff members inspire students to achieve success.

MPH Celebrates Hospital Week With A Variety Of Activities, Fun And Food

/by

Information courtesy of MPH Marketing & Communications Coordinator Donna Young

Maria Parham Health proudly celebrated Hospital Week from May 12 to May 18, honoring and appreciating the exceptional dedication and hard work of its hospital team.  Throughout the week, MPH organized a series of engaging activities and events to foster team spirit and camaraderie among its staff members.

The week kicked off with ‘Merica Monday, where MPH team members showcased their patriotic spirit by decking out in red, white and blue. The celebration featured an array of food trucks including Bun on the Run, Hen and Hound and Baton Rouge Cuisine, which provided a delicious variety of cuisines.

Tuesday, known as Color Day, saw MPH staff adorned in vibrant hues, adding a burst of color to the hospital environment. Harriett Baptist Church generously sponsored free hot and cold coffee for the staff, served by Love is Coffee. The day also featured an indulgent Ice Cream Sundae bar, complete with an assortment of toppings to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

Wednesday embraced the theme of Wild and Tacky Day, encouraging team members to embrace their creativity with mismatched prints, crazy color combinations, and unconventional headwear. Andy’s Kettle Corn and Ernestine’s Caribbean Cuisine tantalized taste buds with their delectable offerings.

Tropical Day brought a taste of the islands to MPH, with staff donning Hawaiian shirts, muu muus, and flower leis. A hospital cookout added to the festivities, with MacScoops providing frozen treats to beat the heat.

The week culminated with Sports Fan Day on Friday, where MPH team members proudly displayed their favorite team apparel. Jones BBQ food truck served up mouth-watering barbecue delights, and staff were treated to exciting giveaways throughout the day.

“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of our hospital team,” said Bert Beard, CEO at Maria Parham Health. “Hospital Week was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their commitment to providing exceptional care to our community. We are proud of our team’s resilience, compassion, and teamwork, which are integral to our mission of making communities healthier.”

Maria Parham Health extends its sincere appreciation to all its staff members for their unwavering dedication and contribution to the hospital’s mission.

Visit www.MariaParham.com to learn more about the hospital’s services and programs

SportsTalk: Youth Lead KVA Baseball To Championship Game

/by

Mike Rigsbee, Kerr-Vance Academy baseball coach, is proud of his young team.  With only two seniors in the lineup, the team advanced all the way to the state championship series this past week.

Unfortunately, KVA lost two games out of three to Lawrenceville Academy.  “Our goal was to get there,” Rigsbee said on SportsTalk Wednesday.

KVA lost the first game 5-4, rebounded in the first game Saturday by winning 3-2 but lost the second Saturday game by the score 10-0.  “It was a great season overall,” Rigsbee stated.  “I knew we could make a run,” the coach continued.

Rigsbee has already started preparations for next season.  Schedules are being prepared now, and he fully expects that KVA will be back in the running for a championship next year.

Click Play!

 

TownTalk: Welcome Center Celebrates National Travel And Tourism Week Thursday, May 23

/by

There are nine official Welcome Centers in North Carolina, all positioned along interstate corridors near the borders of neighboring states. But how many of us who live in North Carolina have made a stop as we make our way home from a roadtrip?

Brian Fletcher, manager of the I-85 North Welcome Center in Norlina, said anyone who stops by tomorrow – Thursday – between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. is going to be in for a treat.

“We’re gonna have a party out there tomorrow,” Fletcher said, to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, observed May 19-25.

Travelers who take a break at the combination rest stop and welcome center can enjoy tasty treats like watermelon, courtesy of the Watermelon Association, and barbecue from Skipper’s. There also will be additional resources available, all to help those traveling to – and through – the state.

Fletcher said the NCDOT operates and maintains the state’s rest areas, but the Welcome Centers are under the N.C. Department of Commerce. And he said welcome center employees are the state’s ambassadors to the traveling public.

Apparently, the state is becoming more and more attractive to the traveling public. In fact, Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina is ranked fifth in the U.S. as a domestic travel destination. In 2023, the North Carolina tourism economy totaled $35.6 billion for trips to and within the state, topping the record set just a year earlier by more than $2 billion.

Fletcher said the welcome centers are staffed with certified travel counselors who provide information about nearby attractions and upcoming events.

Visitors spend more than $97 million per day in North Carolina, which, in turn, funnels $7.1 million per day to state and local tax revenues – about $3.7 million in state taxes and $3.4 million in local taxes.

Having a welcome center to provide services for visitors is just one way to encourage people to get off the interstate and enjoy small towns like Henderson – “to encourage tourism spending in the state,” Fletcher said.

From a big weekend extravaganza like Show, Shine, Shag and Dine to a quaint little antiques shop or a downtown boutique, Fletcher said there’s a wealth of information at the welcome center.

“We represent the whole state,” he added, so the travel counselors don’t recommend one restaurant over another, but give folks several options to choose from.

Fun facts about the I-85 North Welcome Center: it was the state’s first welcome center, built in 1968. And the “north” in the name comes from its geographical location: it’s actually located on I-85 South, designed to welcome folks traveling INTO the state.

Have a question? Call 1.800.VISITNC or search online at www.visitnc.com. And the direct number to Fletcher’s center is 252.456.3236.

CLICK PLAY!

 

VCS Superintendent Receives Second Award In Three Weeks For Service To Community, Education

/by

Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett is among a handful of public school education leaders from across the state to receive awards from The Innovation Project for transformative and innovative leadership practices.

Just last week, Bennett was honored as the 2024 George Watkins Citizen of the Year by the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts. The award is presented annually to extraordinary community leaders in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the quality of life in the Eno River District and who best exemplify the Scout Oath Law.

This is the first time TIP has presented awards for educational excellence. Bennett received the Transcend Award, according to information from TIP. “Honoring a ‘leader among leaders,’ the Transcend Award recognizes individuals whose vision, character and outstanding track record distinguish them among their peers,” the press statement read.

“The recipients of these inaugural awards represent the pinnacle of leadership and innovation in North Carolina’s education landscape,” said Dr. Sharon L. Contreras, CEO of TIP. “Their unwavering commitment to student success and transformative change serves as a beacon of inspiration for all of us.”

The awards were presented during TIP’s membership meeting on May 2, marking a milestone in honoring those who exemplify TIP’s mission of reimagining teaching and learning, fostering creativity, and driving transformative change within their communities.

Other winners were:

➔ Ignite Award: Dr. Keith Parker and Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools. The Ignite Award honors a superintendent and district for inspiring the reimagining of teaching and learning within their community. They exhibit creativity and tenacity in implementing bold ideas.

➔ Aspire Award: Dr. Crystal Hill and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The Aspire Award honors a first-year superintendent who demonstrates a great sense of urgency, early success and promising leadership in navigating complex change.

➔ Catalyst Award: Dr. Shawn Stover and Rockingham County Schools. The Catalyst Award celebrates a superintendent and district for courageously leveraging TIP initiatives to drive impactful change and inspire transformation throughout their district.

➔ Pinnacle Award: Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., Superintendent, Cumberland County Schools recognizes a leader at a significant milestone and celebrates a lifetime of dedication and achievement in the service of students and education. Recipients have shown unwavering commitment and perseverance.

➔ Vanguard Award: Jevelyn Bonner-Reed and the Belk Foundation. The Vanguard Award recognizes an individual or organization that is pioneering new ideas, supporting educational change, and collaborating with TIP districts to reimagine education.

Visit https://tipnc.org/ to learn more about the organization.

American Legion Post 60 Memorial Day Service

/by

The Henderson American Legion Post 60 will host a Memorial Day event on Monday, May 27, beginning at 10 a.m. at the post building, located at the corner of Garnett and Spring streets in downtown Henderson.

Jeremy Hetrick, incoming Commander, will be the speaker.

As part of the holiday observance, the names of all individuals from Vance County who gave their lives in service to their country will be read aloud.

In case of rain, the event will be held in the post building.

 

VGCC Logo

VGCC Hosting FAFSA Nights To Help Parents, Students Navigate Federal Aid Application

/by

Vance-Granville Community College’s Financial Aid Office is hosting a series of FAFSA Night meetings to help families with students in college or headed to college – as well as adult learners – understand the federal financial aid application.

The first FAFSA Night was scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 at VGCC’s Main Campus in Henderson. The next event is set for Thursday, May 23 at the Warren Campus, followed by Tuesday, May 28 at the Franklin Campus and Thursday, May 30 at South Campus in Creedmoor.

If you plan to use financial aid for Fall 2024–Summer 2025, you will need to complete the 2024–2025 FAFSA application to determine your eligibility for Title IV Aid.

VGCC’s Financial Aid team will be available to provide assistance with the FAFSA application on the dates and times below:

VGCC Warren County Campus

May 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Building 1, Room W1107
210 West Ridgeway St.
Warrenton, NC 27589

VGCC Franklin County Campus

May 28, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Building 1, Room F1124
8100 NC 56 Highway
Louisburg, NC 27549

VGCC South Campus

May 30, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Room G1103
1547 South Campus Dr.
Creedmoor, NC 27522

Young Farmers & Ranchers Group Gathers Next Generation In Agriculture

/by

The Tri-County Young Farmers & Ranchers group will convene later this week at a local farm that produces organic, environmentally sustainable pork, beef and milk and will learn straight from its owners how MY Meat Farm was created.

If you’re a farmer or rancher between 18 and 35, you’re invited to join this group, which is sponsored by Farm Bureau and brings together young farmers and others in agriculture together from Vance, Granville and Warren counties.

The Tri-County YF&R meeting will be held Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at MY Meat Farm, located at 3182 Sims Bridge Rd., Kittrell. Although it is a Kitrell address, the farm is located in Franklin County.

The YF&R program is a new endeavor in the county, said Dr. Wykia Macon, Vance County extension director. “It is a tri-county group of people 18-35 who are farmers and ranchers. Our local Farm Bureau Board and Catherine Watts, who works with Labor Service International, is working to create a community of local young ranchers and farmers who will lead the next generation,” Macon told WIZS News.

MY Meat Farm will provide the backdrop for the final meeting of the season, but the group will pick back up in September.

The farm produces woodland raised pork, pastured beef and raw milk that is “beyond organic.” The owners use methods that are environmentally sustainable, truly humane, and naturally healthy, according to information from Catherine Watts, one of the organizers of the group.

All participants are reminded to wear comfortable shoes – there will be some walking involved at the meeting! As a biosecurity measure, there will be a footbath for everyone’s shoes before the tour begins.

RSVP to Farm Bureau’s Catherine Watts.

To learn more about the YF&R program, visit https://www.fb.org/program/young-farmers-ranchers.

TownTalk: National Police Week

/by

As part of last week’s observance of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley joined U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and others across the country as they paid tribute to all members of law enforcement for their service within the ranks of federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement.

“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Garland in a press statement issued from Easley’s office.

“Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most,” he continued. “Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them.  The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”

“Every day across North Carolina, law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities,” said Easley, who serves the Eastern District. “During National Police Week, we honor their courage and sacrifice. Because of you, Americans can live their lives driven by our highest hopes, dreams and aspirations – and not our greatest fears.  It is also critical to recognize our officers’ families, who support their loved one’s calling to build a safer community.  We owe you all a debt of gratitude.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.

On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.

To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.

CLICK PLAY!