Henderson Police Department

Dabney Drive Drug Arrest Made on Youngsville Man

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-Information gathered from Henderson Police Department report

On Sunday, May 19, 2019, at 12 p.m., Henderson police arrested Preston Moore, 28, of 1034 Tarboro Road in Youngsville, NC.

According to the police report, Moore was taken into custody at 120 Dabney Drive in Henderson (near the intersection of Dabney Dr. and Oxford Rd.).

Moore was charged with Felony Possession of a Schedule I Substance and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was confined to the Vance County Jail under a $10,000.00 secured bond and received a court date of June 4, 2019.

Kerr Lake Caregiver Retreat to Offer the ‘Overwhelmed’ a Break

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Harvey Holmes, family caregiver specialist, and Laura Yeatts, aging projects coordinator, with the Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging, were on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the organization’s upcoming Kerr Lake Caregiver Retreat.

The retreat will be held on Kerr Lake at Satterwhite Point, 6254 Satterwhite Point Rd. in Henderson, on Friday, June 7, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

According to Holmes, the retreat is a chance for family caregivers in the Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person County areas to enjoy soothing activities, including chair yoga exercises, games, painting and more.

“Caregivers tend to be some of the most overwhelmed and overburdened individuals in the world,” said Holmes. “This retreat gives them a much-needed break from the stress of their caregiving duties.”

There is no cost to attend the retreat. Lunch and on-site respite care will be provided. Participants are asked to dress comfortably as it is an interactive, outdoor event.

Registration is required by Friday, May 31. To register, please call Holmes at (252) 436-2040 or email hholmes@kerrtarcog.org.

In discussing the pressure that caregivers often face, Holmes cited an AARP Public Policy Institute report that indicated the average US caregiver is a 49-year-old woman who works outside the home and spends an additional 20 hours per week in her caregiving role – the equivalent of an additional part-time job.

Holmes mentioned former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s famous quote about caregiving in order to sum up the importance of the role: “There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”

To hear the Town Talk interview with Harvey Holmes and Laura Yeatts in its entirety, including additional Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging updates and upcoming events, click here.

U.S. Department of Justice

Durham Woman Sentenced for Heroin Distribution in Henderson

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces that United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced DOMINQUE RUSSELL, 30, of Durham to 24 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On December 28, 2018, RUSSELL pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin.

On January 21, 2018, and January 28, 2018, officers with the Henderson Police Department (HPD) utilized a confidential source to conduct controlled buys of heroin from the occupants at 521 Spring Court in Henderson, North Carolina.

On January 31, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the home. In the room belonging to Jermill Blacknall (in federal custody awaiting Arraignment date) and RUSSELL, officers recovered a loaded rifle with two “banana clips” containing 27 and 28 rounds of ammunition, a 9mm 50-round magazine “drum” with 28 rounds, an empty Glock magazine in a Glock box (no gun), and identification belonging to Blacknall. A search of the remainder of the home revealed scales, a blender with white powder residue, 18.99 grams of heroin (in a car seat), and packaging material. Blacknall and RUSSELL’S two young children were also in the house.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Dodson handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at https://justice.gov/usao-ednc. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_ENDC.

SHP Urges Motorists To Plan Ahead For Memorial Day Travel

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-Press Release, NCDPS

With an estimated 37.6 million motorists taking to the roadways, as reported by Accident Lawyer Dennis and Paul Grossman, this Memorial Day weekend, the State Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to plan ahead before traveling.

Regardless of the intended destination, an increase in motor vehicle travel is expected which may lead to congestion on major interstate, US and NC highways. With this in mind, troopers will be out in full force to monitor driver behavior in an attempt to reduce collisions that occur from high speed, impaired and distracted driving, and lack of seat belt use. Using the Vision Zero approach, law enforcement officials hope to report zero fatal collisions throughout the holiday weekend.

In an attempt to discourage impaired driving on both roadways and waterways, SHP has combined forces with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Law Enforcement Division, participating in the annual On the Road, On the Water campaign. The campaign will be conducted throughout the weekend with an intense focus on removing impaired motorists who are operating boats and motor vehicles.

Motorists are encouraged to follow these suggestions:

  • Expect Delays – research routes in advance to include secondary routes, detours and possible road closures.  This can be done by visiting www.DriveNC.com
  • Monitor Speed – speeding is still the top contributing factor to vehicle collisions.
  • Wear Seat Belts – seat belts must be worn in both front and back seats if available.
  • Avoid Road Rage – use patience when driving and avoid other motorists who may contribute to road rage situations.
  • Don’t Drive Distracted – avoid any distraction(s) while driving that reduces your ability to drive safely.
  • Collision Reporting – motorists involved in a property damage collision are asked to remove their vehicles from the roadway to the shoulder or emergency strip. Motorists involved in injury-related collisions should immediately contact 911 or *HP (*47) for emergency assistance.
  • Reporting Dangerous Drivers or Other Emergencies – motorists are encouraged to dial *HP or 911.

For non-emergency information, motorists are requested to contact the local SHP office and avoid using *HP or 911.  A list of local district offices can be obtained by visiting www.NCDPS.gov.

 

4-H Logo

Vance Co. 4-H: Register Now for Youth Summer Fun Camps

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-Information courtesy Vance County 4-H

Registration is now underway for Vance County 4-H Summer Fun Camps! A variety of camps for ages 5-18 are available from late June through early August.

Register at the N.C. Cooperative Extension in Vance County from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Please allow 30 minutes of your time for the required paperwork.

For the online registration packet and more detailed information about each camp listed in the graphic below, please click here.

Visit 4HOnline to fill out your child’s 4-H enrollment form which includes the required medical release form.

View step by step instructions by clicking here or visit the N.C. Cooperative Extension of Vance County office.

Please read the camp packet thoroughly and understand the rules, regulations, and requirements.

With questions, comments or concerns, please contact Lina Lue, Vance County 4-H Agent, at (252) 438-8188 or lelue@ncsu.edu.

News 05/23/19

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Sheriff Curtis Brame

Sheriff Brame Gets More Personnel; May Lead To Other Cuts

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It’s budget time for Vance County, and the Vance County Board of Commissioners met Monday night and Tuesday night for more than four combined hours in budget sessions.

A priority emerged Tuesday night, and that is adding about $250,000 in additional funding to the proposed upcoming county fiscal year budget to provide additional manpower to Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame’s Office and his efforts at the jail.

In simplified terms, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office gets three more deputies and another lieutenant, while the Vance County Jail gets two more personnel to help with reducing workloads and safety concerns for jail employees and prison transports. To be clear, two deputy positions were in the originally proposed budget and now an additional deputy and an additional lieutenant are set to be added to the proposed budget.

After lengthy discussion by the board, Brame was asked to speak.

He said, “Vance County is a hub for heroin.” He said that hub was in Durham and now it is here. He said he needed more support and manpower to fix the problem. He said, “Nobody is dealing from home. If you see two cars meet in the street, they’re passing dope.”

Commissioner Tommy Hester said as he understood it, about $122,500 would fund two more deputy positions.

Commission Chair Archie Taylor said there appeared to be a consensus on the board to do more for the sheriff and said the money needed to be found.

Commissioner Leo Kelly raised the point of increasing the tax rate by a penny because it would generate about $287,000 and that would eliminate the squeeze on other parts of the budget.

As to the jail, it was stated that $90,000 would fund two more positions.

All present commissioners, and all but one was present, agreed and directed County Manager Jordan McMillan to find the necessary $250,000. It may come from the general fund, a tax increase, other cuts and by finding other priorities and making cuts.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt said, “The board has made the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and jail a priority.” He said it was in the best interest of public safety and for the county to move forward.

Commissioner Gordon Wilder said, “We have a new sheriff and we want to support him.”

As to the other public safety concern, the much ballhooed fire protection plans, the next public opportunity to hear about that comes Tuesday, May 28th. In a press release, the Commission board has announced that the location of the public safety committee meeting on the 28th has been changed to the Perry Library’s Farm Bureau room (205 Breckenridge Street).  The time is 6 p.m.

The fire coverage discussion at this time is centered around the proposed 2.3 cents increase in the fire tax rate, how the fire tax monies are used, the equitable distribution of funds to the volunteer departments, the provision for two paid positions in each volunteer department funded by the county, except at Epsom and Drewry who get one paid firefighter, and the additional debate about the future of the Vance County Fire Department and, stillmore, the future of the Vance County Rescue Squad.

There are more questions than answers and the commissioners appear to be stuck in the details without actually having fully decided if broader, more full scale changes are needed.

KVA Headmaster Frank Wiggins Talks Championship Win, Sense of Community

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Frank Wiggins, Kerr-Vance Academy Headmaster, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the Spartans recent NCISAA 1A Baseball Championship win and end-of-year activities.

The Spartans took the best two out of three series against Albemarle Academy on May 18 – 19, 2019, at home on Boyd Field. With a final score of 15-2, the win resulted in a third straight state title for KVA.

Prior to the championship round, the team defeated The Burlington School and Lawrence Academy.

“What a phenomenal accomplishment,” said Wiggins. “The kids have worked really hard this year, and the coaches have done an outstanding job. To win the championship three times in a row speaks volumes about the program.”

Wiggins praised the talent and leadership of upperclassmen Cam Murphy, Lane White and Matt Overton in addition to Head Coach Todd Wilkerson and Assistant Coach Mike Rigsbee.

The combination of “senior leadership, young talent and coaches that set a high standard for performance” led to a successful team that even had KVA’s daycare and preschool children cheering from the stands.

“One of the great things about Kerr Vance being such a small school is that everybody knows everybody. Our high school kids know our younger kids. You’ll see daycare and preschool kids at the ball games, and they know the players by name. That kind of community is something special,” Wiggins said.

As KVA winds down the 2018-19 school year with a victory, Wiggins said there is still plenty of excitement left this week with final exams, award ceremonies and the graduation of 23 seniors. This Friday, May 24 marks the last day of school and graduation is scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m.

Camp activities and events will be offered over the summer break. For additional information, please visit KVA’s website at www.kerrvance.com.

Looking ahead to enrollment for next school year, Wiggins said KVA staff would love to see you and your family in person via a campus tour. “I invite people to take a tour of the campus, to speak to our teachers and staff and to experience the routines and day-to-day operations that demonstrate what we’re all about.”

According to Wiggins, what KVA is all about is offering personalized education, all while fostering a sense of community.

“Our job is to educate children for success, and that takes a whole child approach,” said Wiggins. “We have an excellent track record of not only preparing kids to go to college but to be successful in college, graduate and then go on to outstanding careers. Many are leaders in their field and give back to the community.”

To hear the Town Talk interview with Frank Wiggins in its entirety, click here.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office Makes Arrests in Heroin Trafficking Cases

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-Press Release, Vance County Sheriff’s Office

On Monday, May 20, 2019, Lagarris Alexander Peace was arrested at North Pine Street and Harriett Street, Henderson, NC 27537.

Peace was charged with three (3) counts – Conspire to Traffic Heroin.

Peace was part of an on-going drug trafficking investigation that involved Homeland Security Investigation (Norfolk) Virginia and Raleigh, NC along with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and NCSBI.

Peace is currently in the Vance County Jail under an $850,000.00 bond.

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On Friday, April 12, 2019, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant at 1975 Carey Chapel Road in Henderson and recovered 104 bricks of Heroin.

During the investigation, deputies recovered an additional 184 bricks of Heroin.

Warren County’s Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigation and North Carolina State Bureau Investigation assisted with the investigation.

Arrested during the investigation were Demario Henderson, Jordan Collier and Shikevon Davis. As part of this same investigation, Anthony Brame was arrested at 2301 Outterburn Place, Apartment 202 in Raleigh, NC on May 1, 2019.

All four defendants were charged with trafficking Heroin.

 

Vance County Logo

Location Change for Vance Public Safety Meeting on Fire Matters

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

The Vance County Public Safety Committee (Brummitt, Faines, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at 6 p.m. to discuss volunteer fire department matters.

Originally scheduled to be held in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, the meeting will now be held in Perry Library’s Farm Bureau Room, 205 Breckenridge St. in Henderson. Please make note of the location change.