-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch
The West End Community Watch will meet on Tuesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. at West End Baptist Church, 619 Dabney Dr., Henderson.
The speaker will be a representative from the Henderson Fire Department. Law Enforcement will be present to make reports and to hear citizens’ comments.
The West End Community Watch group will not meet in July.
-Information courtesy Catherine Abbott, North Henderson Baptist Church/Relay for Life Team
The North Henderson Baptist Church Relay for Life Team will hold a BBQ Sale this Saturday, June 16, 2018. Eat-in or take-out.
BBQ Plates include BBQ, boiled potatoes, string beans, dessert and a drink for $7. Sandwich plates include a sandwich, potato chips, dessert and a drink for $6. Hotdog plates include a hotdog, potato chips, dessert and a drink for $5
Plates will be available at the church, 1211 N. Garnett St. in Henderson, on Saturday from 11 a.m. until sold out.
All proceeds go to Relay for Life/American Cancer Society.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
-Information courtesy Faye Gill, Director, Vance County Board of Elections
Filing for Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor is from now until Friday, July 6, 2018, at 12:00 noon. The filing fee is $5.00.
The Board of Elections will be opened during lunch for filing. We will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th. Should you have any questions about filing, contact the Board of Elections at 252-492-3730.
In voting upon the final budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, the Vance County Board of Commissioners denied requests of approximately $540,000 more than available funding; equivalent to a 2.1 cent tax increase.
County Manager Jordan McMillen noted that nearly all of the departments or entities on the unfunded list still received some funding from the County, “We may not have been able to fund their requests for increased funding or expansion requests, but by providing any amount of funding the County is fully committed to these organizations and their causes in helping our citizens.”
McMillen said funding all requests from all departments and organizations always proves a challenge, “There is never a year where we can fund everything from every organization and this year was no different. Our board is committed to keeping taxes low and again this year kept the general fund tax rate level and also kept water rates the same. Although we were unable to provide all requests, the county continues our commitment to improving the quality of life for our citizens and we are excited with the way the upcoming budget accomplishes this.”
Notable Unfunded Requests include:
Vance County Schools – requested increase of $27,482 to current expense to account for loss of revenue due to net growth of Vance County students in area charter schools. Recommended budget includes level funding of current expense and teacher supplements and provides CIP funding at amount requested by the schools (FY18 = $7,202,440 current expense, $1,230,000 teacher supplements and $1,465,000 capital)
Vance-Granville Community College – Requested conversion of $17,500 to recurring capital and $386,610 in special one-time CIP capital for parking lot repairs and resurfacing, groundskeeper equipment replacement, and campus police vehicle replacement. Recommended budget includes converting $17,500 to recurring to be put towards groundskeeper equipment replacement with other CIP projects programmed in future years (FY 18 = $1,138,917 current expense, $23,720 in recurring capital, $17,500 in one-time capital, and $12,680 for Maria Parham Nursing Center)
EMS Department – Requested 3 full-time captain positions (1 for each shift) – $181,947; Requested 4% salary adjustment for a division chief – $2,408
Fire Department – Requested 3 full-time fire specialist III positions (1 for each shift) to provide 24/7 coverage at Kerr Lake substation – $146,208; Requested 12 pagers – $9,100; Requested 5 portables and 1 mobile radio at $24,000 and budget includes 2 portables and 1 mobile radio at $12,000; Requested $12,000 to replace fitness equipment and budget includes $6,000
Sheriff’s Office – Requested 25 stop sticks – $11,619; Requested 25 bulletproof vests at $17,988 and budget includes 15 at $10,793
Animal Services – Requested 1 full-time Kennel Attendant position (NEW) – $35,876; budget includes converting existing part-time Kennel Attendant to full-time – $25,137
Social Services – 2 vehicles – $50,000; budget includes 1 vehicle as per CIP
Planning and Development – 2 trucks – $50,000; budget includes 1 truck as per CIP
Maintenance and Security – 1 truck – $25,800; construction of steps from new parking lot to courthouse side entrance – $3,200
Veterans Services – increased salary and reclassification of administrative assistant to senior administrative assistant – $3,482
Economic Development – National Brewer’s Conference – $3,000
Elections – Removed second primary in July – $43,100
Perry Memorial Library – Requested county increase of $29,868.75 which included 15% health insurance increase – actual health insurance increase of 6.5% saves $18,000 from requested amount; Recommended budget includes increase of $10,000 to fully fund county portion of additional 8 hours of operation from FY18 and to cover health insurance increases (FY 18 = $582,200 which included $20,000 during FY18 to cover partial year cost of adding eight hours of operation)
Downtown Development Commission – increase of $18,500 to convert part-time position to full-time as required for Main Street status (FY 18 = $1,500); Budget includes level funding with an expectation that Main Street could potentially be obtained in FY2020.
Boys and Girls Club – increase of $3,000 (FY 18 = $27,000)
Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers – increase of $500 (FY 18 = $500)
Franklin, Vance, Warren Opportunity – increase of $3,000 (FY 18 = $12,000); FY18 – Warren County funded $8,000 and Franklin County funded $13,750
Franklin, Granville, Vance Smart Start – increase of $1,500 (FY 18 = $3,500); Budget includes increase of $1,000 as match for a Division of Public Health grant.
Vance County Arts Council – increase of $1,100 (FY 18 = $900)
Roanoke River Basin Association – increase of $4,408 (FY 18 = $100)
Occoneechee Council – Boy Scouts of America – New request for $25,000 for SCOUTStrong Initiative (FY18 = $0)
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
AdVance Academy graduated a record number of seniors in the Class of 2018 during the school’s Commencement Exercises held during the evening of June 8, at McGregor Hall in Henderson.
A total of 95 graduates from AdVance Academy received their high school diplomas during the exercises.
AdVance Academy graduates stand as Kaitlyn Tant sings the “National Anthem.” (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)
McGregor Hall had an audience of over 700 people gathered in the facility’s auditorium to watch the event and cheer on their graduates.
Principal Stephanie Ayscue presided at the event.
The Northern Vance High School Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors and Kaitlyn Tant, a senior at Southern Vance High School, sang the “National Anthem.”
Melissa Elliott of Graduation Alliance led the portion of the exercises that involved all of the graduates presenting red roses to their parents.
Que Tucker, commissioner of the N.C. High School Athletic Association, was the featured speaker. She encouraged the graduates to follow their “ABCs,” which she said stand for attitude, believing in yourself and courage. Tucker urged all of the seniors to go out into the world and not let anything or anyone stand in their way of accomplishing their goals in life.
The presentation of diplomas to each of the graduates was led by Ayscue, Elliott, Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson. Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine, and Assistant Superintendents Trixie Brooks, Cindy Bennett and Jennifer Bennett.
The graduates will now go on to attend a community college, four-year college or university, join the military or go into the workforce.
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Members of the Class of 2018 at Northern Vance High School received deserved recognitions during their Commencement Exercises held in the afternoon of June 9 at McGregor Hall in Henderson.
Assistant Principal Mark Lawhorne welcomes everyone to the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2018 at Northern Vance High School. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)
Every seat was filled in the almost 1,000 seat auditorium as family members, friends, educators and school system officials joined in paying tribute to the last graduating class of Northern Vance High. An overflow crowd of about 300 watched via live stream on large screens set up in the McGregor Hall Gallery.
There were 177 members of the graduating class. They were awarded $4.9 million in scholarships to attend college and further their educations. The vast majority will go on to attend a community college or a four-year college or university. Some graduates have chosen to join the military and some will move directly into the workforce.
Assistant Principal Mark Lawhorne led the Commencement Exercises.
The seniors, all wearing their dark blue caps and gowns with a white, collar sash trimmed in gold, processed into the auditorium as the audience stood in recognition of their achievements.
Once the graduates were in position on the stage, members of the Vance County Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Graduating senior Jadyn Jones sang the “National Anthem.”
Clara Bobbitt, who finished number one in the graduating class academically, provided the valedictory address for her classmates. She spoke about their four years of hard work and accomplishments at Northern Vance and their hopes for going on to continued success in college and their future careers. Erin McAllister delivered the salutatorian address in recognition of her completion as the second highest academic achiever in the class.
Northern Vance graduating senior Erin McAllister receives her high school diploma. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)
Markoch led the presentation of diplomas to each of the graduates. The seniors lined up to the left of the stage and walked across to receive their high school diplomas. Joining Markoch with the presentations were Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine and Assistant Superintendents, Jennifer Bennett, Trixie Brooks and Cindy Bennett.
In addition to Bobbitt and McAllister, those students who completed their senior year in the top 10 percent academically for the class were Briana Coleman, Akyvia Alston, La’Niayah Bates, Kwaji Bullock, Jordan Burnette, Diamond Durham, Jamon Glover, Destini Hargrove, Madison Hetrick, Makayla Jefferys, Jadyn Jones, Autumn Julian, Laneka Littlejohn, Manaya Perry, Shyanne Robertson, Christopher Stainback, Cody Stainback and Jonthan Vu.
Northern Vance High students serving as commencement marshals included: Billy Zheng (lead marshal), Destinee Bullock, Tiera Bullock, Anterrahn Harris, Tomesha Jefferson, Brittney Kersey, Jaida Lewis, Alex Machado, Matthew Munn, Ryan Stainback, Briana Sulyans and Breana Williams.
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
The final graduating class of Southern Vance High School, with 169 seniors, received high school diplomas on June 9 during the school’s Graduation and Commencement Exercises held in the morning at McGregor Hall in Henderson.
Principal Rey Horner led the proceedings as he watched his graduates march into the auditorium, which was packed with almost 1,000 parents, siblings, other family members, school staff members, school system officials and community residents. Horner congratulated the seniors for their achievements and urged each of them to go out into the world and make a real difference.
Itzy Chavarin Contreras delivers the valedictory address on behalf of her fellow graduates. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)
Itzy Chavarin Contreras was the class valedictorian. She gave a very emotional speech to her classmates and those in the audience. She took the time to especially thank her father for his influence and work in helping her to achieve what she has achieved so far in life.
The class salutatorian was Crystal Marrow.
After all of the graduates processed into the auditorium, the Vance County Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors. Jykira Benson, a graduating senior, sang the “National Anthem.”
Six members of the graduating class sang a special song they wrote as the “Class Song.” Those graduates providing the excellent rendition were Timothy Massenburg, Jordan Alston, Kevon Perry, Desmond Mills, Justus Baldwin and Shamond Lyons.
Each graduate’s name was announced and they walked across the stage to receive their diploma. The diplomas were presented by Horner, Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairwoman Darlynn Oxendine, and Assistant Superintendents Cindy Bennett, Trixie Brooks and Jennifer Bennett.
The Class of 2018 at Southern Vance has accepted a total of over $2 million in scholarship funds to attend colleges and universities in the fall. Most of the graduates will go on to further their education in a community college or two-year or four-year college and university. Some of the graduates plan to enter the military and a few will go directly into the workforce.
Principal Rey Horner stands at the podium as he addresses the Class of 2018 at Southern Vance High School and the audience at the Graduation and Commencement Exercises. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)
Those seniors in the graduating class who completed their high school careers in the top 10 percent academically were Itzy Chavarin Contreras (ranked #1), Crystal Marrow (ranked #2), Kailee Ball, Reina Banda Orozco, Cody Edwards, Adriana Evans, Cynthia Hernandez, Walter Hernandez, Emily Isidro, Perla Lopez, Brandon Loyd, Ashley Mosley, Litzy Renteria, Onjahlaya Robinson, Karen Sandoval, Kaitlyn Tant, Antoinette Watson, Destiny Williams and Aliyah Wright.
Students in the Southern Vance High junior class who served as graduation marshals included: Madonna Baselios (lead marshal); Wendy Portillo (lead marshal); Eleodoro Aldana; Dylan Allgood; Sarah Burns; Miracle Chin; Shel’Nyia Hargrove; Deana Hawkins; Mya McKnight; April Pendergrass; John Pendergrass; Shannon Riggan; Aaliyah Simril; Robert Susewell; Tar’Naja Thorpe; and Gabriela Ventura.
-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension
Parenting tip week of 6/11/18
Rules
Rules help families function smoothly. Rules let your kids know what is expected of them and help them to understand limits and develop self-discipline. Rules about safety, bedtime and respect are important. Make sure your rules fairly address the important issues. Don’t have too many rules.
Every family has a different set of rules that work for them. Taking time to think about your family rules, involving kids in the creation of rules, and having fair consequences when rules are broken can head off conflicts.
-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
As part of the “Take Back North Carolina Initiative,” the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces that “Operation Thunderstruck,” a heroin and opioid centered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF) resulted in the arrest of twelve (12) defendants for outstanding federal charges in a coordinated warrant enforcement operation. In addition, at least one defendant related to this operation was found to be in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Corrections. A federal detainers has been filed against this subject. Also, one subject was arrested on state charges.
This operation was conducted as part of the Eastern District of North Carolina’s “Take Back North Carolina Initiative” as part of the federal focus on the alarming level of opioid use and the deaths associated with it. This initiative is bringing the full weight and resources of the federal court system in the fight against crime in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren Counties in partnership with District Attorneys’ Offices and federal, state, and local law enforcement.
The following individuals were charged by way of Criminal Indictment. The individual charges for each defendant are contained in the parenthesis following the personal information.
• Lorenzo Alston, 28, of Henderson, NC (Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin)
• Jermill Keith Blacknall, 30, of Henderson, NC (Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Maintaining a Place for Manufacture & Distribution of Heroin)
• Odell Terrance Burrell, 40, of Vance County, NC (Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack) and Marijuana & Maintaining a Place for Manufacture and Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack) and Marijuana)
• Kyle Victor Fisher, 29, of Granville County, NC (Felon in Possession of a Firearm & Ammunition)
• Roy Lee Fowler, 53, of Vance County, NC (Felon in Possession of a Firearm)
• Dominique Renna Russell, 30, of Henderson, NC (Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Aiding and Abetting, Maintaining a Place for Manufacturing & Distributing Heroin, aiding and abetting, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.)
• Daryl Russell, 31, of Henderson, NC (Felon in Possession of a Firearm)
• Mario Jamal Steed, 29, of Henderson, NC (Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Felon in Possession of a Firearm)
• James Edward Downey, 41, of Oxford, NC (Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack))
• Markest Foye, 32, of Oxford, NC (Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack))
• Jamal Kendale Watson, 27, of Fayetteville, NC (Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack))
• Toney Fields, 42, of Oxford, NC (Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack)
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The enforcement operation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, (ATF), the United States Marshal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Henderson Police Department, Oxford Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Granville County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Probation Office.
News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_EDNC
Listen to Friday’s news conference held at the Henderson Police Department here:
The Vance County budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, a grand total of $56,131,498, was adopted unanimously at the June 4, 2018, Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting.
According to County Manager Jordan McMillen, despite a lack of increase in the general fund tax rate or water rates, revenues will increase slightly over prior years with property tax and sales tax providing an additional $934,675 in revenue. This increase is due to natural growth and other considerations as outlined below:
Property Taxes – Increase of $607,938 or 2.7% due to natural growth. The tax collection rate increased from 96.39% to 96.65% which had a positive impact of $62,000 on the tax revenue; 1 cent on tax rate totals $257,523.
Sales Taxes – Projected 3.7% or $326,737 increase over FY 18 budget which is attributable to natural growth and an expansion of the items and services currently taxed. The county continues to receive sales tax proceeds from the states Article 44 redistribution which began in FY 17. It is estimated the county will receive $262,186 in FY 19 from this distribution which must be designated for economic development, schools or the community college.
Ambulance Revenue – Decrease of $115,000. Revenues remain consistent with the levels from previous in-house collections and are adjusting down based upon increases in previous two years from catching up current year collections. Changes in Medicaid payments and state personal income tax laws impacting debt setoff collections have had a negative impact as well. As per recommendation from billing company, EMS billing fees change from set fee based upon type of service (i.e. ALS, BLS, etc.) to a percentage of the allowable Medicare reimbursable rate and includes billing insurance for supplies utilized.
Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Revenue – level at $140,000. The county receives 85% of the net revenue from the ABC profits.
Overall state DSS revenues are projected to decrease $2,323,591 while federal and local DSS revenues remain level. The decrease is due to the state taking over payment of the daycare subsidies and Medicaid transportation programs with a minor decrease in foster care/ adoption expenditures due to a lower number of children in the program.
Building inspection revenues – level at $300,000. Residential development is rebounding, which has helped this revenue remain stable with the recent decline in solar farm activity. The budget includes minor additions and changes to the inspection fee schedule.
Jail Revenues – Increase of $63,000 due to jail commissary commissions
School Resource Officer Revenue – Increase of $72,639 due to adding 5th SRO position and associated costs. This cost is paid for 100% by Vance County schools.
Lease Proceeds Revenue – Decrease of $19,000
Register of Deeds Revenue – Increase of $12,500; Animal Services revenue increases $7,900 due to the higher number of adoptions and includes fee schedule additions to establish fees for various animal types and for additional microchip service.
Investment earnings – Increase of $5,500
Revenues from other funds decreased $119,082 primarily due to transferring less sales tax dollars into the general fund to fund school capital outlay projects.
Appropriations from fund balance – $1,455,008 compared to $1,159,957 in FY 17-18. We anticipate spending approximately $500,000 of this due to pay go in the CIP and to allow a portion of fund balance to be spent.
