Montgomery-Davis First Responder Benefit Huge Success

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame enjoys photography and has provided some pictures from the Henderson-Vance First Responders Benefit Drive presented earlier this month in memory of Captain Michael R. Davis of the Henderson Police Department and master Trooper Brent Montgomery of North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Brame wrote in an email to WIZS News, “All the proceeds were divided equally to (the) Montgomery and Davis family. Presented by Sherby Slaughter of Tri County Shrine Club, Police Chief Marcus Barrow, Fire Chief Chris Wright, Animal Control Chief Frankie Nobles and Sheriff Curtis Brame.”

He said, “Special thanks to all that where involved, donations, purchase of tickets, sponsors, volunteers.”

Brame told WIZS the event was “a huge success.”

The pictures are surely indicative of an event to come this Wednesday, May 19th.  The Tri-County Shrine Club will present it’s 57th annual fish fry.

 

Henderson Police Department

23-Year-Old Man Shot Dead at Saturday Night Party May 15

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— press release

On Saturday, the 15th of May 2021, at approximately 11:40PM, Officers of the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Kittrell Street in reference to the discharging of a firearm in the area.

When Officers arrived, there was a large crowd of approximately 100 plus individuals gathered in the street about or near 276 Kittrell Street. Information gathered at the time of the incident indicates there was a party at this location and a fight erupted.

Soon after the fight erupted, gunshots were heard and the victim, Quashid Ragland, was shot. Quashid Ragland, age 23 of Henderson, was transported to an area medical facility where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The community has been a tremendous help thus far in this continued investigation, but we are still in need of more information. If anyone has information about this incident, please contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252- 492-1925 or P3 app), call us at 252-438-4141, or contact us through Facebook or Instagram.

The Local Skinny! Henderson Empowerment Bridging Politics & Community

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Several months ago now, the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department started offering a weekly series of empowerment for the community programs.  The offerings can be seen live on Facebook, or later after the interview has been completed in most cases.

On Mondays at 4 p.m., the Henderson-Vance Outreach Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Henderson-Vance-104608337596118) hosts virtual sessions for Henderson Empowerment.

Learn your basic rights and how to protect your civil liberties.

Jaleel Johnson, HVRPD youth services program coordinator, told WIZS in February, “We interview community partners,” and answer questions “that the community needs to know to make the community better.”

Knowing – and understanding – your civil rights is something that doesn’t always get taught in school, Johnson said. Although some of the topics are geared toward educating youth, Johnson said the participants range in age from 16 to 45.

For more information, please contact Shantel Hargrove at 252-430-0382 (cac@ci.henderson.nc.us).

VCS Administrator Receives Leadership Award From Superintendents’ Association, School Leadership Alliance

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A Vance County Schools official has received a prestigious award from the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA) and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD).

Dr. Letisha Judd-Manning, director of elementary education and professional development for Vance County Schools, is the winner of the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award for the Aspiring Superintendent Program Cohort V, according to a statement from the NCSSA. The annual award is presented to a graduate of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.

Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson called Judd-Manning “a strong and focused leader with a track record of success as a teacher, school principal and district leader. We are very proud of Dr. Judd-Manning and grateful for her leadership and dedication to Vance County Schools,” Jackson said.

Dr. Judd-Manning “exemplifies the traits that have guided Dr. Samuel Houston’s career in educational leadership, said Jack Hoke, NCSSA executive director. “She has a commitment to continuous improvement, high standards of ethical conduct, strategic planning, improving student performance and meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce,” Hoke said.

“It is an honor to receive the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award and to have participated in the Aspiring Superintendent Program,” Dr. Judd-Manning stated. “One of the greatest rewards was taking this powerful journey with this cohort of amazing N.C. educational leaders. The wisdom and expertise shared by our esteemed program leaders was extremely valuable and will have lasting influence,” she added.

Judd-Manning has been with VCS since 2017 and previously served in Durham Public Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, according to Aarika Sandlin, VCS public information officer.

career in education began 25 years ago as a teacher assistant. She went on to become a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Dr. Judd-Manning was graduated from N.C. Central University, earned a master’s degree in school administration at UNC-CH and holds a doctorate in education from High Point University.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina. Dr. Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships.

May 21 Plate Fundraiser Home Cooked Food

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Big Ruin Creek Missionary Baptist Church is having a fundraiser, and the resulting food options are going to be many.

There will be a plate sale on May 21 at 11 a.m.  It will take place at 421 Pearl Street, Henderson.

The menu will include baked chicken, fish and meatloaf for $8 each.  Chitterlings and barbecue will be $10 each.  If you would like a combination plate, no problem.  Combination plates will be $12 each.

Sides will consist of collard greens, turnip greens, cabbage, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and cornbread.

As the notice asking WIZS to announce this said, “Come and get some good home cooked food.”

If you would like to contact anyone in advance, let it be Margaret Gregory at 767-1593.

Shots, Search, Arrests of Trevino and Velazquez

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Press Release — 

On the evening of May 11, 2021 officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to a call for shots fired in the area of Gholson Ave. It was determined that the shots were coming from 248 Gholson Ave and two subjects were encountered during the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the residence after the on scene discovery of controlled substances. Seized during the search warrant were 340 grams of cocaine, 205.5 grams of marijuana, 13 amphetamine pills, 985 Xanax bars, 2 THC edibles, Promethazine Codeine syrup, three semi auto firearms, one 20 gauge shotgun, drug manufacturing equipment, firearm accessories, firearm ammunition, high capacity magazines, and $2,093 in US Currency.

29 year old, Gerardo Trevino of 248 Gholson Ave. was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Cocaine by Possession and Manufacture, Possession with Intent to Sell Manufacture and Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Manufacture a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Maintain a Dwelling to Keep Controlled Substances, Possession with Intent to Sell Manufacture and Deliver a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Sell Manufacture and Deliver Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Trevino received $158,000 secured bond.

29 year old, Jonathan Velazquez of Oxford, NC was arrested and charged with Trafficking Cocaine and Misdemeanor Possession Schedule IV Controlled Substance. He received a 31,000 secured bond.

If anyone has information about the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics or other ongoing criminal activity, please contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252- 492-1925 or P3 app), call us at 252-438-4141, or contact us through Facebook or Instagram.

Coach's Corner Logo

SportsTalk 05-13-21 George Hoyle, Kerr Vance Academy

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For the fourth time consecutively the Kerr-Vance Academy baseball team finds itself in the running for another state championship. This weekend Kerr-Vance will take on Grace Christian in Sanford. Kerr-Vance has posted an 11-7 record so far this year while Grace Christian is undefeated at 20-0.

As with most school atletics programs, Kerr-Vance faced challenges to get games in. The school’s Athletic Director, George Hoyle, said one of those challenges was scheduling. He had hoped to get at least ten games in during the baseball season but has managed eighteen so far this year. “I’m thrilled with how this season has gone,” Hoyle said. “We were fortunate with weather and Covid,” Hoyle continued. Kerr-Vance Academy was fortunate with no instances of Covid reported for the team the entire season. This year was the first under head coack Mike Rigsbee. Hoyle said there was a lot of excitement and some uncertainty with a new head coach leading the program.  Hoyle said it was “great to see Rigsbee’s personality and energy come into the program. It was cool to see.”

In regards to Kerr Vance Academy’s successful season Hoyle said, “I can confirm winning is fun.” Even though he enjoys winning Hoyle thinks that seeing the growth of his seniors is far more important than winning baseball games. The school has been quite successful with its athletic programs with KVA winning eight state championships over the last four years.

All of the success has not gone unnoticed as Hoyle has announced he will be leaving KVA to take the athletic director’s position at Thales Academy in Wake Forest. Hoyle has recently become engaged and wasn’t really looking to move but Thales Academy made a good recruitment pitch. “I’m looking forward to the new opportunity and a great challenge,” Hoyle said about moving on to Thales Academy. For the moment, Hoyle and Coach Rigsbee have KVA Baseball on their minds as they head to Sanford to try and bring home one more state championship.

For complete details and audio click play.