VGCC Hosting CCP Information Sessions For High School Students, Parents

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College 

High school students and their parents are being given the opportunity to learn more about how eligible students can earn college credits for free while still enrolled in high school. Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a series of sessions offering information on the “Career & College Promise” (CCP) program.

CCP allows the students to earn college credits towards a college degree, diploma or certificate while still in high school, without having to pay college tuition.

Attendees will learn about the requirements of the program and the steps to apply for admission in CCP. This information will help students prepare to enroll and register for classes in the upcoming Spring Semester starting in January and the Summer Term starting next May at Vance-Granville.

These information sessions will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on these dates: Monday, Oct. 22, at the Main Campus between Henderson and Oxford (Building 8, Conference Room); Tuesday, Oct. 23, at South Campus between Butner and Creedmoor (Room G1131); Thursday, Oct. 25, at Warren County Campus in Warrenton (Building 4, Room W4103); and Monday, Oct. 29, at Franklin Campus in Louisburg (Multipurpose Room, F4101).

VGCC’s Career & College Promise pathways lead to students acquiring entry-level job skills and/or credits that transfer to four-year universities. Students who select the College Transfer (CT) option will take general education courses that transfer seamlessly to any of the 16 public universities in the University of North Carolina system or participating private colleges or universities. VGCC currently offers two CT Pathways with a prescribed set of courses: the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science.

VGCC’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways allow students to potentially earn certificates in more than 20 areas, including: Administrative Assistant, Heating & Air, Bioprocess, Business Management, Carpentry, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood, Electronics Engineering, Information Technology, Medical Office Administration, Paralegal, Robotics, and Simulation & Game Development; and diplomas in Carpentry, Electrical Systems, Information Technology, Paralegal and Welding.

Students and parents from anywhere in the four-county service area are invited to attend the CCP meeting of their choice and are not limited to attending the campus in their county.

For more information, contact Lyndon Hall at (252) 257-1900 or halll@vgcc.edu.

More information on the CCP program, including a Pathway Guide, is available at www.vgcc.edu/HighSchoolStudents/index.

Community Partners of Hope

11th Season of Henderson Men’s Shelter to Kick Off With Ice Cream Social

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-Information courtesy Community Partners of Hope

Come help us kick off the 11th season of the Henderson Men’s Shelter with an Ice Cream Social. Hear our stories, pray for our programs, and learn more about volunteer opportunities.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 6:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall – Henderson

Sponsored by: COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF HOPE, Inc.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

Bring friends and neighbors!

News 10/17/18

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Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Youth Basketball Registration, Annual Fall Festival on H-V Rec. & Parks Agenda

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Tara Goolsby, facilities supervisor for Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks and Aycock Recreation Center, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the department’s upcoming events, including the annual fall festival.

This year’s festival will be held at the Aycock Rec. Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd. in Henderson, on Thursday, October 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to bring their family for an evening of games, rides, concessions and the “famous haunted house.” Visitors under the age of 14 require adult supervision and no masks will be allowed.

Registration is also underway now through Sunday, November 3, 2018, for the youth basketball league at the Aycock Recreation Center. The league will include boys’ and girls’ teams for youth ages 4 to 18. Ages are determined by January 1, 2019. The cost to cover registration and insurance is $40 for in-county and $60 for out-of-county residents. The games are played at the Aycock Rec. Center and at the former Henderson Middle School building at 219 Charles St. in Henderson.

For more information on these events or other events such as exercise programs and the upcoming Cookies and Milk With Santa in December, please visit the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks website by clicking here. Y0u may also call (252) 492-9400 with questions or for additional information.

U.S. Department of Justice

‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ & ‘Take Back NC’ Making Communities Safer

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

One year ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Throughout the past year, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”

“During the course of my over 25 years as a federal prosecutor, I have seen the dramatic impact that PSN can have on reducing violent crime in our communities. Following the Attorney General’s lead, we directed the revitalization of the PSN program in this District and have fully staffed it with aggressive and skilled prosecutors who can take on these violent criminals, and those who would victimize our citizens and local businesses. To reduce violent crime and remove drug traffickers from our neighborhoods, our efforts must be real on the streets of the cities, towns, and counties across the District and cannot just be a re-emphasis from Raleigh. As such, in March of this year, we implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative to mold our PSN program to address the specific violent crime problems that exist in eastern North Carolina.”

Take Back North Carolina is a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, District Attorney’s offices, and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across the 44 counties of the district to combat violent crime, drug trafficking and crimes against law enforcement. This partnership includes 44 Sheriffs, 188 Police Departments, and 15 elected District Attorneys, and utilizes the regional assignment of Assistant United States Attorneys, strategic targeting, decentralized case intake authority, and public messaging. Regional prosecution teams have been given the responsibility of working directly with law enforcement on a sustained basis to reduce violent crime by targeting those organizations and individuals responsible for the increased violent crime rates and for introducing the poison of illegal drugs into those particular communities. Take Back North Carolina allows the entire district to have the full range of enforcement tools available through the federal court system, allows the regional teams to quickly route matters to federal court when prosecution in that venue would deliver the most significant impact, and protects and supports law enforcement officers who face unacceptable threat levels as they enforce the law.

As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some of the highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:

Enforcement Actions

• Warren T. Baker was sentenced to 408 months in federal prison in August 2018 for his armed robbery of a Starbucks in Fayetteville, NC, during which he confronted employees at gunpoint. Baker had a prior federal conviction for armed bank robbery.

• Kelly Shadrome Anderson was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison in September 2018 after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fleeing an altercation during which he fired a gun in Wilson, NC, Anderson took a 4-year-old child hostage inside a nearby house. Anderson had prior felony convictions for selling cocaine, breaking and entering, and assault on a female.

• Charlie O’Bryant Terry was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison in July 2018 for obstruction of justice and illegal possession of a firearm. Terry assaulted and robbed a couple at gunpoint in Vance County – placing a pistol in one victim’s mouth, and cutting the other victim’s head by repeatedly hitting him with the firearm. Terry had a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

• Joseph Luther Lewis was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison in August 2018 for possession of a firearm by felon and possession of a stolen firearm. After having a gunfight with a drug dealer in Fayetteville, NC, Lewis traveled to Robeson County and forcibly abducted his girlfriend at gunpoint – kicking and punching her when she attempted to escape. Lewis had prior felony convictions for possession with the intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver marijuana and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

• David Kareem Turpin was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison in August 2018 for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Turpin robbed Walmart, Food Lion, and Family Dollar stores in Raleigh, NC during which he brandished a firearm and abducted and threatened employees.

• John Devere Battle was sentenced to 1,272 months in federal prison this month for robbing several convenience stores in Cary, NC, as well as his role in committing a home invasion during which the victims were robbed, tied up, pistolwhipped, threatened, and forced to withdraw money from a bank. Battle had prior felony convictions for breaking and entering and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

News releases are available on the U.S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter @USAO_EDNC.

Vance County Logo

Properties Committee to Discuss Contract for Industrial Park – Tues., Oct. 30

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

Please be informed that the county’s properties committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Tuesday, October 30 at 4 p.m. in the administrative conference room. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a contract with LKC Engineering for the industrial park.

All commissioners are invited to attend.

Union Chapel United Methodist to Hold HUGE Yard Sale – Sat., Oct. 20

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-Information courtesy Edward K. Woodlief, Union Chapel United Methodist Church 

Union Chapel United Methodist Church is having a huge yard sale Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Tony’s Automotive, 415 Raleigh Road, Henderson from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Lots of Christmas items, baby items, books, clothing and miscellaneous items available.

News 10/16/18

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Candidates for Vance Co. Sheriff Discuss Their Plans & Qualifications

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The three candidates for Vance County Sheriff – Charles Pulley, Allen Simmons and Curtis Brame – were interviewed last week by WIZS’ John C. Rose. The prerecorded interviews were played on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk in a question and answer format. The order of the candidates was determined by random selection.

Each candidate was given ten minutes to answer both base questions and to participate in an open discussion. The highlights of their responses are included below. To listen to the interviews in their entirety, please click here.

Question: What has been the focus of your campaign?

 Charles Pulley –

I’ve been trying to talk to everybody that I can in Vance County by going door-to-door, running ads in the newspaper and talking on the radio. I’m trying to get the word out that we need change in Vance County.

We need to get the drug problem under control. It’s impossible to absolutely eliminate drugs in Vance County, but we can get a hold on these drugs. Heroin has a stronghold on Vance County right now. We need to address high-level drug dealers through federal investigations, state investigations, undercover operations and search warrants. We need to hit them at every level.

Allen Simmons  –

My focus is to reach the citizens of Vance County and to introduce myself so the people can truly know who Allen Simmons is, what Allen Simmons is about and what his thoughts and plans are as sheriff.

Citizens are seeking someone with answers to solve the drug problem, the violent crime problem and to address communication issues with the community.

Curtis Brame –

 Everyone knows we have a problem with drugs throughout our community – in the city limits and in the county. My focus is on doing some rapport-building among the citizens of Vance County, then we can close that gap in communication and more crimes would be reported to the Vance County Sherriff’s Office.

The sheriff and police departments do not have enough eyes and ears to combat the issues that are going on in Vance County. We need to get our community involved, get our churches involved.

 

Question: What can the sheriff do about the issues facing Vance County?

 Charles Pulley –

 The sheriff will coordinate the efforts of his duty unit, criminal investigation unit or patrol. A sheriff has to have experience in each one of these areas, and I do. I worked 30 years at the Henderson Police Department on the patrol, criminal investigation and narcotics division. I worked 10 years with the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit.

Drug dealers know no boundaries between city and county. The ones in the county go to the city and the ones in the city go to the county. We have to collaborate to get ahold of these problems.

 In addition to drugs, we also have a violence problem in Vance County – shootings, homicides and breaking and entering. We need to get a task force back together with the City, County and the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit.

Allen Simmons –

I would start by prioritizing the list of things that are most important to the things that are least important. I plan to break the county down into four sectors and begin to hit each sector at a time, with advance notice, so people can come out and speak with the sheriff. Then, I can begin to prioritize the needs that citizens in this county feel need to be dealt with.

As I travel the city and the county and speak to people, the most important issue is the drug problem. My goal is to begin to attack the drug problem by way of connecting with different agencies throughout our county and surrounding counties and to bring in assistance from the federal government to combat these problems. We need to begin to collaborate with other agencies because this drug problem is not centralized to just Vance County. A lot of the drugs in our county are filtered out to other counties.

My goal is to be able to work with the Henderson Police Department and Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and to work with the federal government and state agencies to attack our problems.

I wouldn’t want to reveal a lot of information about how we are going to go about attacking it because I know there are people in the criminal element listening and I wouldn’t want to provide them with too much information.

Curtis Brame –

The first plan of action is being very proactive, getting more deputies out in our communities so they can address situations.

There is a higher concentration of drugs being sold in the city-limits than in the county. I will work with the Henderson Police Department and Chief Marcus Barrow in a team effort. We have to get the SBI involved and brainstorm this thing together because it’s bigger than being the sheriff of Vance County.

 

Question: What makes you uniquely qualified for the position?

 Charles Pulley –

I was employed with the Henderson Police Department for 30 years and was a commander with the Interagency Drug Enforcement Unit for 10 years. We worked hundreds of cases, including federal cases, and we were able to remove individuals from Vance County who were involved in high-level drug trafficking.

I have respect for both of the other candidates; they are fine guys. However, I have more experience, especially more experience in commanding a unit.

Allen Simmons –

I bring in experience, knowledge and resources that we need here in Vance County. I have had the opportunity to work here in Vance County for 20 years as a police officer. For 16 of those years, I worked with the United States Government on federal cases in both Vance County and throughout the state of North Carolina.

I have a strong working relationship with the US Attorney’s Office here in the eastern district of NC. I’m a graduate of Saint Augustine’s College with a degree in organization management, so my background is in managing organizations.

I want to see a sense of unity and concern in our community. I bring that sense of concern from my heart because I do deeply care about our community.

Curtis Brame –

 I have 33 years of experience, continuing education credits and a rapport with the citizens of Vance County. I spent 31 and a half of those years with the Vance County Sheriff’s Department. I retired in 2016 with the intentions of running for sheriff. Since the day I retired, I’ve never stopped working and caring for this county.

I’m the only candidate that is still a sworn law enforcement officer. I’m the only candidate who has ever been a deputy sheriff. I’ve been in training for a long period of time. I’ve worked with three different administrators and learned a lot.

It’s more than just working drugs. Vance County Sheriff’s Department does the civil process and we have the jail. I know the ends and outs of all the procedures that go on with a sheriff’s department. Both [Charles] Pulley and [Allen] Simmons have always worked at the police department. They don’t know the duties of a sheriff – I do.

 

Open Discussion:

Charles Pulley –

People in Vance County want to see change in their community. We need to get the crime problem under control. If we can remove drugs from our county, that will remove some of the crime from our county.

We are known right now as the heroin capital of this part of the state. People are coming from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Virginia to purchase heroin because it is plentiful and cheap.

I ask everybody to evaluate each candidate and get out and vote. Early voting begins October 17.

Allen Simmons –

We are sitting on a prime spot in Vance County with I-85, US-1 and a lake. This is not just a crime issue for me, it’s more than that. It’s a complete change and a complete growth that we need here.

I want your families to be safe here in this community. Where there is unity, there is strength. That’s what we need here in our community and I will give 100% of me to make sure that sense of unity is brought back.

Curtis Brame –

I focus my energy on being the best. I stood tall and was always proud of being a deputy sheriff. My uniform was always clean. My patrol car was always clean. I’m a go-getter and a hard worker.

I care about this county. I retired in 2016 and chose to come back because I want to make a difference. I, alone, can’t make a change. Only God above can make changes. We’ve got a lot to do in this county. I feel I’m the person to motivate the deputies and my team to get the job done.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Restores Power to Majority of Local Area

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-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

Duke Energy has made tremendous progress in restoring customers’ power yesterday and this morning. I am pleased to report that we have restored power to most, and in some areas all, of our customers in Person, Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties. However, we are not letting our guard down. We will continue to work until every customer is back on, and if any additional outages occur, we still have the crews in place to respond if necessary.

I encourage you to check the online outage maps for information about any remaining outages.

Backed by more than 10,000 people from the Carolinas and at least 7 other states, we have restored more than 1.1 million customers in less than 4 days. A photo gallery has been created to show Tropical Storm Michael’s damage and restoration efforts across the Carolinas. It is available here – click on ‘Scenes from Hurricane Michael’ to view the images.

Tanya Evans

District Manager

Duke Energy