Henderson Police Assist With Search Warrant 5/17/18 – Drugs/Guns
— courtesy Henderson Police Department
Thursday night search warrant executed and Henderson Police are actively seeking information on the whereabouts of two individuals.
The Henderson Police Department Facebook page is available by clicking here on this link.
Annual Henderson Shrine Club Fish Fry A Huge Success!
Despite the rainy weather, the 55th annual Henderson Shrine Club Fish Fry was a huge success. The Shriners raised $10-$12 thousand dollars and sold 2,500+ plates!
WIZS covered the event with live broadcasts throughout the day, interviewing several local people and encouraging the community to come out and support the event aimed at raising funds to support the 22 Shriners hospitals and clinics across the country.
In addition to the usual local supporters, the fish fry brought Shrine Club members from other districts across the state. Bob Hair, with the Burlington Shrine Club, brought his club’s hospital transport van affectionately known as “the roadrunner.”
According to Hair, the roadrunner has traveled many a mile to bring children to the closest Shriner’s hospital in Greenville, SC. “Two Shriners ride in the van to take sick children to the hospital,” said Hair. “We stay with them until they get through it [procedure] and then we bring them back home.”
Hair said his club has a transportation fund set up that pays for the gasoline and for the food of the family and the child for the duration of their visit to the hospital.
Hair himself has been a “roadrunner” for 25 years and has made “hundreds of trips to Greenville, SC.”
He reminded the listening audience they every dollar raised at the event goes to help crippled and burned children by paying for patient care, doctors’ and nurses’ salaries, electric bills, etc.
Potentate Bob Dowen of Raleigh, head of the Amran Shriners that covers a 10-county area, was also on hand at the fish fry to show his support and enjoy a delicious meal.
In speaking on the benefits of fundraisers such as the fish fry, Dowen explained that proceeds go to ensure that all children in need are covered regardless of their families financial standing.
“Children are treated regardless of their ability to pay and parents are never forced to pay anything outside of what insurance covers,” said Dowen.
Early College Graduates Honored at Class Night
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Members of the Class of 2018 at Vance County Early College High School were honored during the evening of May 15 at their Class Night.
A total of 38 seniors are in the graduating class.
During the Class Night celebration, they received accolades for their accomplishments in high school and many of them were presented with thousands of dollars in scholarship funds to further their education at four-year colleges and universities in the fall.
The 38 seniors in the Class of 2018 at Vance County Early College High School listen to speakers during their Class Night celebration. Photo courtesy Vance County Schools.
An audience of over 400 parents, other family members and friends attended the event in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.
Members of the Class of 2018 include: Hunter Antel, Danielle Ayscue, Nancy Bonilla, Andrew Brame, Anaya Brown, Mercedes Brust, Cameron Bullock, Brittany Burroughs, Ke’Moni Champion, Brooklyn Davis, Zairea Davis, Zenee Davis, Hong Dong, Malcolm Elam, Jr., Nealee Fisher, Lehman Ford, Alayna Gallagher, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Courtney Herndon, Brandon Hughes, Victoria Inscoe, Lillian Kanouff, Jade Lewis, Seth Moody, Brandy Patterson, Britney Patterson, Jimmy Ponce, Hannah Roberson, Jordan Rooker, Alexis San Juan, Ty’Ayala Shearin, Evan Stinson, McKenzie Taylor, Latia Thomas, Rosalinda Vazquez, Matthew White, Kaela Williams and Suzanne Williams.
Vance Co. Educators Take Part in Tech Expo at Clarke Elementary
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Over 200 Vance County Schools educators attended the school system’s Tech Expo held at Clarke Elementary School during the afternoon of May 15.
Members of the “We Inspire” technology cohort groups, who all work in our schools, led the collaborative event over its approximately two-hour period. Educators shared strategies to use technology to enhance daily classroom instruction and to offer students experiences in using cutting-edge innovations. Educators moved from table to table to see and discuss new technology and strategies with colleagues.
Vance County Schools educators collaborate as they move through different blended learning stations at the school system’s Tech Expo on May 15. Photo courtesy Vance Co. Schools.
Innovations such as the zSpace digital learning stations were on display for educators to experiment and learn more about exposing their students to three-dimensional learning. Dozens of the stations will be used next school year by students in our middle and high schools.
The Tech Expo was attended by classroom teachers, school administrators, teacher assistants, media specialists and support personnel from the Administrative Services Center.
Save the Date: Vance Co. Relay for Life Survivor Registration
-Information courtesy Cindy Robinson, Vance County Relay for Life Volunteer
The Vance County Relay for Life Survivor Registration and t-shirt pick up will be held Thursday, May 31, 2018, from 4 – 6 p.m. in the front lobby of Maria Parham Health.
Please call Hope Breedlove at (252) 436-1605 with any questions.
Public Safety/Properties Committee to Meet Mon., May 21
-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance
Please note the following committee meeting schedule. Both meetings will be held in the administrative conference room.
Public Safety Committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Faines)
Monday, May 21 – 3 p.m.
Purpose: To discuss Fire Commission guidelines and fire service structure.
Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)
Monday, May 21 – 4 p.m. (or immediately after the Public Safety Committee meeting)
Purpose: To review an offer to purchase foreclosed property; other matters as necessary.
All commissioners are invited to attend.
Allen Simmons – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A
Allen Simmons, a veteran of the Henderson Police Department, will run as an unaffiliated candidate for Sheriff of Vance County in the November 6th general election, facing opponents Curtis Brame (Dem) and Charles Pulley (Rep).
Simmons received the signatures of 1,424 qualified Vance County voters, several hundred more than the required 1,189 needed to have his name added to the ballot.
The Vance County Board of Elections has verified that he has met the requirements to run as an unaffiliated candidate for November’s election.
Below are Simmons’ responses to the same five questions that WIZS asked the other candidates for Vance County Sheriff.
Name: Allen Simmons
Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff
Age: 42
Town of Residence: Henderson
Previous position(s) held: Criminal Investigator/Sr. Patrol Officer
Degrees/Certifications Earned: Organizational Management Degree/Saint Augustine’s College
Advance Law Enforcement Certification; Law Enforcement/Coned/Dignitary Protection; Under Cover Officer; Field Training Officer Certification; First Line Supervision/Management Course; Crime Scene Technician Training; Advanced Criminal Investigations Training; Police Law Institute Certification; Interpersonal Skills and Diversity Training; Computer Skills; Officer Survival; Cultural Diversity; Informant Management; Domestic Terrorism: Prevention; Law Enforcement Bike Patrol; Critical Incident; Rapid Deployment; Club and Rave Drug; Pharmaceutical Drug Diversion Investigation; Combat Firearm Drills; Basic SWAT Tactics; Basic Tactical Ballistic Shields; SWAT Operator: (Dynamic Entry, Room Clearing, Holster Familiarization, Suspect Encounter, Team Building, Equipment Familiarization); Tactical Challenge Training; Basic Urban Rifle; Conducting Internal Affairs Investigation; Defensive Tactics; Basic Incident Command; Domestic Violence Response Training; Homicide Investigation; Homicide/Cold Case Review; North Carolina Homicide Association; Homicide Investigation & Crime Scene Management
Endorsements: Sheriff Thomas Breedlove, Tommie Breedlove, Bishop Brenda Peace, Pastor John Miles, Tommie Haithcock and Jameel Williams
What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?
The current alarming violent criminal acts and economic situation in Vance County have motivated me to run for Sheriff. I have teenage children who are beginning to move towards adulthood, and I want them to be proud of Vance County, to be excited to live here and be able to earn a good living working in this county. But, I just don’t want this for my kids, I want this opportunity to be available to all citizens of this community. So, I am motivated to run for Sheriff because I’m personally invested in the future of Vance County.
What distinguishes you from other candidates?
I’m the only candidate in the race who has the combination of education, training, and experience to turn the crime rate around. I have a well-developed platform, and I have identified key individuals who will help me implement my plans.
Also, I have a strong relationship with the Henderson Police Department command staff, state and federal agencies, and community leaders. I will build an effective team and unify everyone on the goal of stopping the senseless killings and attacking the destructive heroin drug dealing that is taking so many lives from our community.
What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?
The single most important skill a successful Sheriff should have is the ability to communicate with the citizens. As I campaign for Sheriff, I will let everyone know that I am available for them to reach out to speak to me no matter the situation. I will never make a promise I can’t keep, and I will be fair and allow the citizens to voice their concerns. I will have quarterly forums in coordination with the community watch groups and I will use social media to get important information to keep the public informed.
If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?
As Sheriff of Vance County, I plan on building on all the positive changes Sheriff White has made and implementing 21st Century law enforcement strategies to keep the citizens safe and provide effective law enforcement practices.
What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?
The biggest concern facing Vance County is the rampant drug problems and violence and death associated with them. If elected, as soon as I am sworn in as Sheriff, I will call the Chief of Police in Henderson and schedule a meeting and we will work together to attack these problems.
I’m also going to collaborate with the substance abuse treatment providers and coordinate with them to bring a treatment program to the Vance County Jail. Those arrested and brought to the jail need substance abuse consideration, as their dependence on drugs may be a contributing cause of their criminal actions.
The photo accompanying this article provided by Allen Simmons.
Former Educator Elissa Yount Shares Thoughts on Teachers’ Rally
Elissa Yount, a long-serving Vance County educator and former Henderson City Council member, was on Tuesday’s Town Talk to discuss, among other issues, today’s teachers’ rally in downtown Raleigh.
Thousands of teachers from across the state marched through the Capitol this afternoon to lobby lawmakers for increased funding for education.
Many school districts, including Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, were closed today due to the number of staff participating in the rally. All four counties declared the day an optional workday for teachers.
In response to the controversy surrounding today’s rally, Yount believes that teachers need their voices heard and this is the right time to do it. “Teachers never want to cause turbulence or upset,” said Yount. “This rally is really not about politics, but policies that run our schools.”
Yount provided dismaying statistics about NC Public Schools including the state’s designation as 39th in the nation in per-pupil spending and an estimated $8 billion need for school repair and construction.
“People say it’s awful to miss a day of instruction. I say it’s far more awful to spend an entire school year with few supplies and materials and in bad buildings,” Yount said. “One day compared to that does not a good argument make.”
Yount believes additional funding for education is especially essential for Vance County where over half of the children live in poverty. “We are a Tier One county. I’d like to see a nurse and a social worker in every school and additional guidance counselors,” said Yount. “If a Tier One county doesn’t need those things, I’m not sure who does.”
Yount explained that investing in education today pays large dividends in the future, “When our children are properly cared for and educated, it’s good for all of us now and way down the road.”
In addition to increased funding for materials and supplies, teachers are also rallying for better salaries.
“Our teachers are constantly asked to do more with less and are making nine percent less than they made 10 years ago when you adjust for inflation,” said Yount.
Yount cited recent benefit cuts to state employees including the loss of guaranteed health insurance for retirees who worked 20+ years, loss of longevity pay and loss of additional pay for receiving a master’s degree.
“I know from personal experience that inspiration, motivation and the calling to teach will not feed a teacher’s family or educate their own children. We [teachers] work for low pay for the promise of future benefits and those benefits have been removed.”
Yount informed the listening audience that raising taxes should not be necessary to increase educational spending due to “a huge surplus in the State.”
When asked how educators got to the point that a rally seemed necessary to lobby for increased educational spending, Yount replied, “Some people just don’t believe in public education. Some think private schools, charter schools and vouchers are the way to go. Some in the legislature are really moved by private education and want to make it a business rather than a service to the people.”
To sum up her thoughts on the matter, Yount explained, “If teachers were confident that there was respect for their profession and that it was a priority to lawmakers, then there would be no need to have a rally.”