Go ‘In the Wild’ at Blessed Hope Baptist’s Vacation Bible School

-Information courtesy Lauren Elliott, Blessed Hope Baptist Church 

Blessed Hope Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School from 6 until 9 p.m. nightly Sunday, June 9 – Thursday, June 13, 2019. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. each evening.

There will be classes, crafts, missions and recreation for ages 4 – adults. Bring the whole family and join us as we go “In the Wild.”

Blessed Hope Baptist is located at 741 Dabney Road in Henderson, NC.

Senator Thom Tillis Visits Vance County High School

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina was welcomed to Vance County High School by students and school administrators during the afternoon of May 30.

He spent quite a bit of time in the school’s media center meeting with students from the high school and the Early College High School. Those students who met with him are Student Council leaders from the two schools.

He also met with Ruby Zuniga Trejo of STEM Early High, and Xavier Wilson of Vance County High, both of whom won the Student Spotlight award this school year.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, center, presents a U.S. Flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to students at Vance County High School. (VCS photo)

Sen. Tillis and his staff in Washington, D.C., will serve as hosts during part of an all-day trip that all 16 Student Spotlight award winners from our schools will participate in on June 19, as they travel with their parents to our nation’s capital.

Jesus Rodriguez and Rosolind Williams, both students at Vance County High School and members of the Air Force Junior ROTC, accepted the U.S. Flag from Sen. Tillis.

Principal Kristian Herring of STEM Early High presented the senator with a STEM Sharks t-shirt and Principal Rey Horner of Vance County High presented him with a Vance Vipers hat and framed banner from the Vipers’ basketball conference championship.  

Sen. Tillis also visited the school’s Vance Virtual lab and spent some time at one of the 20 digital learning stations to experience the three-dimensional software used by students in their studies of science, health, geography and more.   

Vance County Logo

Vance Commissioners to Hear on Proposed Budget, Senior Center Relocation

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

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, June 3, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Pastor Rhonda Pulley, South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Agenda items:

1. Public Comments (for those registered to speak by 5:45 p.m. – each speaker is limited to five minutes)

2. Budget Hearing FY 2019-20 Economic Development Appropriations

3. Budget Hearing FY 2019-20 Proposed Budget

4. Water District Board

a. Public Hearing – FY 2019-2020 Water Budget

b. Monthly Operations Report

5. Committee Reports and Recommendations

a. Properties Committee – Eaton Johnson Renovation – Architect Contract, Inclusion of Senior Center

b. Public Safety Committee – Fire Contracts, Fire Association Concerns

6. Finance Director’s Report

a. Surplus Property

b. Fiscal Year-End Closeout Authorization

c. Reimbursement Resolution – New DSS and Senior Center Facility

7. County Manager’s Report

a. Fireworks Permit – City of Henderson

b. Henderson Vance Industrial Park Phase 3 – Land Swap

c. County Zoning in Middleburg Town Limits

d. Volunteer Fire Department Contracts

8. Consent Agenda Items

a. Budget Transfers

b. Tax Refunds and Releases

c. Monthly Reports

d. Minutes

9. Miscellaneous

a. Appointments

b. Voting Delegate and Alternate – NACo Annual Conference

10. Closed Session

a. Legal Matter

b. Economic Development Matter

Click here to view current and prior Board agendas.

Larry Leach Named Rebuilding Hope’s June Spotlight Volunteer

-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 

“I am the drywall mudder of choice,” says Larry Leach with a grin. “When the drywall goes up, I get the call to come and tape and mud.” Larry began offering his services to Rebuilding Hope, Inc. several years ago.

After retiring from IBM with 30 years of service and 15 years as a contractor for the company, “I was looking for a way to use my time and experience to improve the houses of Henderson,” said the St. Louis, Missouri native. “Seeing so many houses in need of attention made me sad.”

Larry Leach named Rebuilding Hope’s June 2019 Volunteer of the Month. (Photo Credit: RHI)

“I wanted to volunteer at some organization doing repairs and improvements to homes in Henderson.”

Larry said he watched the progress of RHI’s fundraising for the Coca-Cola building, and after it was purchased in 2017 he stopped in to explore the opportunities – one of which turned out to be finishing drywall.

“The other thing that honestly just comes naturally was the unpacking of the stuff moved from the old [RHI] location on North Oliver Drive,” he said.

Larry unpacked and determined where to store plumbing and electrical supplies, screws, nuts, bolts, nails, roofing, paint, tools, office supplies, and even some kitchen items.

“Since then we have received boxes from organizations and individuals, and I dig into them and do my best at locating a place for the stuff,” he said.

Larry’s volunteering doesn’t stop at RHI.

“I am involved with GRRO (Green Rural Redevelopment Organization), a nonprofit organization that is revitalizing the landscape in Henderson by converting empty city-owned lots in the middle of the city into gardens,” Larry said.

“My wife Belinda and I manage one of these gardens and offer up the produce to various food bank organizations. We’ve planted a variety of seeds and also have installed some patio swings.”

Larry and Belinda also volunteer at Second Thursday packing food boxes for distribution, providing fresh produce to the citizens of Vance County.

Leisure time finds Larry enjoying yard work, home improvement and repairs, reading, walking his dogs and vegetable gardening.

Larry and Belinda have been married for 19 years and between them have five children and seven grandchildren.

News 05/31/19

Vance Co. Relay for Life Set for Downtown Henderson – Sat., June 22

Jess Richards, community development manager with the American Cancer Society, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss Vance County’s upcoming Relay for Life event in downtown Henderson.

Richards invited the entire community to join the annual event on Saturday, June 22, 2019, from 4:30 until 9 p.m. on Breckenridge Street.

Relay for Life is a culmination of months of hard work by local volunteers and the efforts of numerous community fundraisers including golf tournaments, fun days and food plate sales.

In addition to food vendors, merchants, music, and a kid’s play area, participants are sure to appreciate the emotion of one of the main draws of Relay – the survivor’s lap.

“Cancer survivors walk one lap to kick off Relay for Life, with their caregivers joining them for the second lap,” said Richards. “It’s a very emotional, uplifting and wonderful thing to see and cheer on.”

Local sponsors for the event include Maria Parham Health, Aldi, Sunrock, Superior Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT, Ninja Realty and Fred’s Towing & Transport.

Many other organizations have provided “in-kind” donations of their services such as golf carts for event volunteers and security courtesy of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department.

Richards said the Relay for Life event would not be possible without the generous assistance of sponsors, in-kind donors and fundraisers.

According to Richards, of the money raised for the American Cancer Society, 79% goes to research while the remaining 21% goes to staffing. “We hope by the end of the year to get that figure to 80/20,” said Richards. “Please know that the American Cancer Society is really working hard to find a cure.”

To register for Vance County’s Relay for Life, or for additional information, please visit the website (click here) or call 1-800-227-2345.

The next – and last – planning meeting for the 2019 event will be held on Thursday, June 13 in the auditorium of Maria Parham Health in Henderson. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. for teams and 7 p.m. for all others.

To hear the Town Talk interview with Jess Richards in its entirety, click here.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Two Arrested in Edwards Road Home Break-In

-Press Release, Vance County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Curtis R. Brame announces:

On the morning of Wednesday, May 22, 2019, a home on Edwards Road was broken into. A witness provided a statement on two suspects walking in the area. Reportedly, the suspects left on foot and came back in a vehicle to retrieve the items.

On Thursday, May 23, 2019, an investigator with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office was traveling on Egypt Mountain Road on an unrelated case and saw two suspects on foot matching the description from the break-in the previous day. Items from the breaking and entering were found in their possession. The vehicle used in the commission of the crime was found nearby in Kittrell.

Tyree Dunston of Henderson and Raeshon Dunston of Kittrell were arrested and charged.

Tyree Dunston was charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, carrying a concealed weapon and probation violation. Bond was set at $41,000.

Raeshon Dunston was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. Bond was set at $40,000.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizens who provided valuable information that led to these apprehensions. Working together, we can make Vance County a safer place.

Commencement Set for AdVance Academy, First Graduating Class of Vance Co. High

-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Commencement ceremonies for AdVance Academy’s Class of 2019 will be held on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m. at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson. Vance County High School commencement will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium at Vance County Middle School on Warrenton Road.

Seniors will receive tickets to give to family and friends. Only those with tickets can attend the ceremonies. Everyone can view the events live online via the school system’s website homepage.

Those with tickets who attend the events are urged to arrive early. Once the graduation ceremonies begin, attendees cannot enter the auditorium or gymnasium.

Overflow seating will be available, but those attending must have tickets for these seating areas, also. All tickets will be distributed to seniors at the graduation practice sessions.

We are looking forward to memorable commencement ceremonies for all of our Class of 2019 members. Please join us in making these events very special ceremonies for all of our graduates!

Corbitt Preservation Association Establishes Annual VGCC Scholarship

-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

On behalf of Vance-Granville Community College, Endowment Fund Director Eddie Ferguson recently accepted a check from Mr. Tom Burleson of the Corbitt Preservation Association.

The check is for an annual scholarship to be awarded to a second-year Mechatronics student holding the highest GPA. The scholarship recipient will also receive a one-year membership in the Corbitt Preservation Association.

On behalf of Vance-Granville Community College, Endowment Fund Director Eddie Ferguson (left) recently accepted a check from Mr. Tom Burleson (right) of the Corbitt Preservation Association. The check is for an annual scholarship to be awarded to a second-year Mechatronics student holding the highest GPA. (VGCC photo)

News 05/30/19