News 01/08/20
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Director of Henderson-Based Not-for-Profit Sentenced for Theft of Federal Funds
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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced COMULUS LATEZES BRIDGES, 41, of Douglasville, Georgia to 15 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $209,877 in restitution. On July 10, 2019, BRIDGES pled guilty to theft of federal childcare and adult food program funds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that, among other things, is designed to provide food assistance to young children in out-of-home care. The At-Risk Afterschool Meals (ARAM) component of CAFCP offers federal funding to qualifying afterschool programs that serve meals and snacks to children in low-income areas.
BRIDGES was the director of Beyond the Barriers Outreach, Inc. (“BTBO”), a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Henderson, North Carolina. In 2012, BTBO, through BRIDGES, applied for and was approved to participate in the ARAM component of CACFP. BTBO was authorized to receive reimbursement for afterschool meals and snacks that BRIDGES claimed would be served to school-aged students at its afterschool center located in Henderson.
BTBO participated in CACFP from January 2013 to April 2016. During this period, BRIDGES submitted monthly claims for reimbursement for daily meals and snacks purportedly served to as many as 90 students at its Henderson afterschool center. However, the investigation revealed that BRIDGES’ claims were false.
Soon after BTBO was approved by CACFP, BRIDGES moved to Georgia and did not operate an afterschool program in Henderson. Due to BRIDGES’ non-payment of utility bills, the afterschool center was without electricity, gas, and water/sewer services most of the time period during which BRIDGES claimed to operate an afterschool program.
As a result of the fraud, BRIDGES received $209,887 in unauthorized payments. Most of the fraudulently obtained funds were diverted to BRIDGES’ personal expenses in Georgia, such as restaurants, gas, apartment lease, cell phone bill, beauty supplies, massages, and payments associated with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan represented the government.
Gang Free Inc. to Offer Overnight Shelter, Free Meal Wed. Evening
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Melissa Elliott, the founder of Gang Free Inc., announced that the local Gang Free facility will be open the evening of Wednesday, January 8, 2020, for those who need shelter from temperatures that are expected to drop below 25 degrees.
Located at 940 County Home Road in Henderson, Elliott told WIZS News that those needing a place to sleep and shelter from the cold can begin arriving at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening and will depart by 6 a.m. on Thursday, January 9.
Men, women and children are welcome. A hot dinner will be served Wednesday evening and breakfast will be provided early Thursday morning before departure.
According to Elliott, mental health professionals will also be available through the evening to assist those who may be in crisis mode, or just need a little extra help and support.
To learn more about Gang Free Inc., to become a volunteer or to donate, please visit the organization’s website at www.gangfreeinc.org.
Commissioners Vote to Add Middleburg to Vance Co. Zoning Jurisdiction
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The Vance County Board of Commissioners met Monday evening, and Chairman Gordon Wilder and the full board administered two public hearings.
The first was a pre-budget public hearing in which suggestions and priorities could be voiced by residents. The only people who actually spoke were Frankie Nobles, Chief of Vance County Animal Services, and Michelle Wood, the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society’s rescue coordinator.
Overall, their remarks were to demonstrate the continued success Vance County is seeing as a result of the “outstanding partnership between the shelter and RCAPS,” Nobles said.
Wood told WIZS News that the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society “pulled 760 dogs and 686 cats for a total of 1,446 animals in 2019. Fifty-five were medical cases averaging $1,000 per medical case.”
There is an obvious opportunity for Vance County to allocate more towards animal services, given the tremendous benefit and results being enjoyed as a result of the public-private partnership presently at hand.
The second public hearing resulted in a unanimous vote to add the town limits of Middleburg to the Vance County Zoning Jurisdiction.
Middleburg Mayor Ray Bullock addressed the commissioners and said Middleburg’s old zoning ordinance was created in 1974, a time he said a handshake would really take care of things and when “neighbors looked after each other.” He said, “We appreciate you all looking at this.”
Vance County Planner Angie Blount and Interim Vance County Planning Director Sherry Moss told WIZS News the result would be zoning enforcement, code compliance, subdivision ordinances, zoning permit, building permit and perc testing among other things that Vance County will now administer for Middleburg.
The board also approved proceeding with the NC Department of Transportation to clear the way to construct a turning lane on Warrenton Road at the manned waste management site, a location that dates back to a time when such locations were referred to as “the green box.”
While the price tag of more than $300,000 would tend to raise an eyebrow or two, the board’s actions actually are expected to introduce a savings of about $100,000 to the county, with $81,000 expected to be out of pocket for the turn lane itself and the balance to additional site development.
Town Talk 01/07/20: Girl Scout Cookie Sale Begins This Weekend!
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Teresa Wimbrow, membership director for Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren County Girl Scouts, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m. Wimbrow discussed the 2020 Girl Scout cookie sale and benefits to the girls involved in the program.
This year’s sale begins Saturday, January 11 at 9 a.m. Wimbrow said the local area should be prepared for “girls ringing your doorbell with cookies in hand.” Cookies will also be available in the coming weeks at booths set up by girl scouts and adult volunteers at local participating businesses and restaurants.
Cookies are available for $4 a box with proceeds being used for trips and activities for the scouts.
Flavors available locally this year include Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot, Girl Scout S’mores, Shortbread and a gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip.
According to Wimbrow, this is expected to be the last year that the Thanks-A-Lot shortbread and chocolate fudge cookies will be available, so if they are your favorite, make sure you stock up. A new cookie will be introduced next year to join the tried and true originals.
Wimbrow, a former educator and basketball, volleyball and softball coach, has been with the Girl Scout organization for 11 years and says she enjoys fulfilling the organization’s motto by helping to “build girls of courage, confidence and character.”
“I love young people and I love this area,” said Wimbrow. “Girl Scouts is a great organization that offers a positive alternative to some of the other things that are happening that get so much negative publicity.”
The four-county area is part of the larger Girl Scout NC Coastal Pines, a council consisting of 41 counties. For information on the Girl Scout cookie program or testimonials from girls and volunteers alike, please visit www.nccoastalpines.org.
If you know someone interested in joining Girl Scouts, have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Teresa Wimbrow at (252) 438-8103 or email twimbrow@nccoastalpines.org.
To hear the interview with Wimbrow in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Volunteers, Donations Needed for Local ‘Rise Against Hunger’ Event
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-Information courtesy Brian Daniel, Rise Against Hunger
A “Rise Against Hunger” meal packing event and ACTS Food Drive will be held on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 20, 2020, at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with two-hour shifts available for volunteers.
The entire community is invited to partner for this exciting community day of service event. The purpose of the event is two-fold: a time to bring the community together, while at the same time helping fight hunger both on a local and international level.
According to event organizers, Vance County Farm Bureau has graciously endorsed the drive, providing the Farmers Market facility for the venue and seed money to launch this fundraising campaign.
Donations are requested to help reach the fundraising goal of $17,280 (50,000 meals), and 1,600 non-perishable canned or box goods for ACTS of Henderson! All checks should be made payable to Rise Against Hunger, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Requested food donation items include dry pasta, peanut butter, boxes of cereal, bags of rice, dried beans, gallon size string beans, corn, peas, canned soup and broth.
For secure online donations and volunteer opportunities, visit https://events.riseagainsthunger.org/Vance. For additional information on the event, please email Brian Daniel at hendersonhawk96@gmail.com.
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Drive (off Beckford Dr.) in Henderson.
News 01/07/20
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City of Henderson Selects New Manager
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-Press Release, City of Henderson
Mr. Edward Terrell Blackmon has been selected as Henderson’s new City Manager and will be sworn in during the City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, January 13, 2020, at 6 p.m. or shortly thereafter.
A native of Smithfield, NC, Mr. Blackmon is a seasoned nonprofit executive with prior municipal government experience. He has served as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Chester in South Carolina, as well as holding various planning positions in the NC communities of Monroe, Raleigh, Garner and Tarboro.
Blackmon received his MBA from Montreat College and his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Mr. Blackmon is also a licensed Real Estate Broker in North & South Carolina, in addition to being recognized as a certified Housing Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council.
Mr. Blackmon’s community activities include the Beta Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Team Charlotte grassroots basketball program. He also serves as President of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Chapter.
Mayor Eddie Ellington made the following comment on Blackmon’s selection, saying:
The City Council and I look forward to working with Mr. Blackmon as we plan for and address the challenges and opportunities facing our municipality.
Mr. Blackmon possesses more than 25 years of community economic development experience and currently serves as Community and Economic Development Manager for the Town of Mooresville, NC where he is responsible for the Town’s housing, economic development and downtown redevelopment activities.
He is married to the former Akenna Vaught of Lenoir, NC and they have two adult sons: Edward Terrell Blackmon, II and Robert Kennan Blackmon.
Town Talk 01/06/20: HPD Chief Marcus Barrow Discusses New Year, Firearms
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.
Barrow, who was happy to report that the Henderson Police Department is starting the new year fully staffed, discussed numerous topics including the discharge of firearms inside city limits, the sheer number of guns in both the community and the country as a whole and the right to bear arms.
Plans for new initiatives for the new year, including a possible local version of the national “Coffee With a Cop” open community dialogue program, are already underway. To be more inclusive of the entire community, Barrow said the department is looking at changing the name of the program to shift the focus from law enforcement to citizen input and discussion.
The HPD is currently in talks with the newly opened Sadie’s Coffee Corner in downtown Henderson to provide the location and, of course, the coffee.
To hear the interview with Barrow in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Davis Chapel Baptist to Reopen Free Soup Kitchen, Clothing Giveaway
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-Information courtesy Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 742 North Chestnut St. in Henderson, is reopening its soup kitchen with clothing giveaway beginning Tuesday, January 7, 2020. The soup kitchen will be open every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Members of the church will be serving a free, full lunch of a meat, two sides, dessert and drink to anyone in need of a hot meal.
The clothing giveaway is also free and includes clothing for kids, women and men.
Those in need in the community are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.