Candidates Forum, April 22, 3 p.m., 122 Young Street
(Flyer designed and created by The Daily Disptach)
Press Release on Tommy Ellington’s Murder
— press release
HENDERSON, NC – On Monday, April 16, 2018, the Vance County Grand Jury returned true bills of indictment against Kevin Burton Munn for Breaking and/or Entering, Felony Larceny, First Degree Murder and Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon in the death of Vance County businessman James Thomas Ellington, Jr. Mr. Munn is also charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Nancy Alford of Lake Gaston on March 9, 2018. These investigations are ongoing, and Mr. Munn is presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty.
Economic Development Director Speaks at West End Community Watch
Click here to listen to the 4-18-18 edition of TownTalk, which featured Dennis Jarvis, II, the Director of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission. He began this position on November 6th, 2017.
In addition, the following was submitted by Claire Catherwood of the West End Community Watch, which met Tuesday, April 17th, at which Jarvis spoke.
Jarvis noted that our area is on the edge of the fastest growing area in the southeastern United States. Changes are coming. While there are stumbling blocks in the way of Vance County’s growth, we do have many great qualities to offer. Our problems are the same as those that exist everywhere, on a national level. Realistically, it is expected to take 10-12 years for many of the plans made now to take hold in our area.
Broadband is currently being tested. Within 2 years, it is predicted that residents will have choices besides the traditional providers now in place.
The sale of Carolina Country Snacks to Wise Foods does not mean we will lose the company. The family connection remains and the company is not moving the operation.
Free Mobile Pharmacy and Health Care 4-27-18
— press release
Community Partners to Bring NC MedAssist’s Free Mobile Pharmacy and Health Care Resources to Individuals in Need
NC MedAssist will hold a Mobile Free Pharmacy Event in Henderson on Friday, April 27. The event, which is in collaboration with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, is open to any low-income individual or family needing free health screenings, education and over-the-counter medications. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church (205 W Winder Street, Henderson, NC 27536). Identification is not required to participate.
“Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is again pleased to partner with NC MedAssist on the Mobile Free Pharmacy event,” said Executive Director Val Short. “The event is expected to have a huge impact on the community. Triangle North values the work we do in our community for those who are vulnerable and don’t have access to healthcare. We hope to educate participants on the healthcare resources available in Vance County and surrounding communities.”
Individuals will receive up to up to 10 medicine cabinet items for their family/home. Additionally, participants will receive other free healthcare services like information on NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program and community health resources. NC MedAssist’s overall goal is to help ease the burden for those who are making the choice between buying food or purchasing medication.
The event is completely volunteer run. Serving 800 individuals in one day takes many hands to make sure the event runs smoothly and ensures that all participants are served before the door closes. NC MedAssist is partnering with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, First Baptist Church and other safety-net organizations to recruit community members to serve in roles such as pharmacy consultation, client ‘personal shoppers’, and sorters. If you would like to volunteer, please visit www.medassist.org to sign up.
“NC MedAssist is excited to work with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation and our area partners to give back to our neighbors in need,” stated CEO Lori Giang. “Through our collaboration we are able to reach more and more individuals and educate them on our free resources. No one should go without medicine and this program is enabling us to reach those who are unaware of our free medications.”
There are currently more than 3,600 people in Vance County that live below the Federal Poverty Level and do not qualify for insurance. Last fiscal year, NC MedAssist dispensed over $48 million in free prescription medication statewide. For more information on the Mobile Free Pharmacy and NC MedAssist, please visit www.medassist.org.
About NC MedAssist: Founded in 1997, NC MedAssist is a statewide non-profit pharmacy that provides free prescription medicines to low-income, uninsured North Carolinians. NC MedAssist offers three programs that address the needs of children and adults: the Free Pharmacy Program, the Mobile Free Pharmacy, and the Senior Care Program. NC MedAssist dispenses more than $48.5 million worth of free prescription medication to 15,000 low-income North Carolinians each year. To learn more about NC MedAssist and find out how to get involved, visit www.medassist.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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Vance County Regional Farmers Market Opens 4-21-18
— courtesy VCRFM by Tracy Madigan
Vance County Regional Farmers Market Season Begins April 21st
Mark your calendar. We will be kicking off our 5th season at our current farmers market location. You are invited to come out and celebrate the new season! Vance County Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC, Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Spring Fling Market: Featuring numerous craft vendors, bedding plants for the garden including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and shrubs and locally grown spring produce.
There will also be baked goods, estate wine, canned goods and meat for sale.
Beginning April 28th: The Farmers Market will be open Saturdays only from 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. from April 28 – May 12.
Beginning May 16th: The Farmers Market will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
KEEP IN TOUCH on Facebook.
(Not a paid advertisement. However, the VCRFM is an advertising client on WIZS, and you will hear this same event advertised.)
Open House at Kerr-Vance Academy April 22 and April 26
— submitted by Anne Marie White
Kerr-Vance Academy will host two Open Houses in the upcoming days. The first will be Sunday, April 22nd from 2 – 4 p.m., and the second will be Thursday, April 26th from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Both events are floating tours of the full-service, on-campus facilities, and enrollment information will be available.
True Bill of Indictment Returned for Ellington Murder
True Bill of Indictment Returned for Ellington Murder
A grand jury returned a true bill of indictment for Kevin Burton Munn with 1st degree murder listed as one of the offenses. The indictment is dated April 16, 2018.
Jurors for the State of North Carolina presented that on or about October 2, 2017 in Vance County the defendant unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice aforethought did kill and murder James Thomas Ellington, Jr.
Munn is listed as a white male born in 1987.
A second offense listed was for robbery with dangerous weapon. Jurors presented that on or about October 2, 2017 in Vance County the defendant unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did steal, take, and carry away another’s personal property, the wallet and keys of James Thomas Ellington, Jr., of the value of $75, from the presence of Ellington. The defendant committed this act having in possession and with the use and threatened use of firearm, a shotgun, wherby the life of Ellington was endangered and threatened.
A second true bill of indictment for Kevin Burton Munn was also returned dated April 16, 2018. The offenses listed include break and/or enter and felony larceny.
Jurors presented that on or about September 11, 2017 in Vance County the defendant unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did break and enter a building occupied by James Thomas and Cheryl Ellington used as a residence located on Stewart Farm Road, Henderson, NC with the intent to commit a felony therein.
Jurors presented also that on or about September 11, 2017 in Vance County the defendant unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did steal, take and carry away purse, wallet and contents the personal property of Cheryl Ellington, such property having a value of $1,500.00.
The investigation is ongoing.
In an earlier and separate report listed on wizs.com and in other media, an order for arrest was issued (click here) for Kevin Munn, where he is accused in the death of Nancy Alford, with the incident having occurred in Warren County.
Defendants are presumed innocent until determined otherwise in a court of law.
Consolidated Schools Named; Principals Named
— information obtained by press release from Vance County Schools
The Vance County Board of Education has approved naming the newly combined middle and high schools for the 2018-2019 school year Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.
The board members took the action during their regular monthly meeting held on Monday, April 16.
Also at the meeting, the board approved Rey Horner as the principal for the new Vance County High School and Heddie Somerville as the principal for the new Vance County Middle School for the 2018-2019 school year.
Horner currently serves as the principal of Southern Vance High School and Somerville is the principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School.
Horner has worked with Vance County Schools since August of 1997 when he began work as a science teacher at Southern Vance High School. He served as a teacher at the school until he was named an assistant principal/lead teacher in August of 2012. Horner became principal of the new STEM Early High School in July of 2014 when the school was located on the campus of Northern Vance High School. He remained in that position until becoming the Southern Vance principal in January of 2017. Horner was a finalist for the district’s Principal of the Year award for the 2017-2018 school year.
Somerville has worked in the school system since August of 1994. She began her career as a fifth-grade teacher at Pinkston Street Elementary School. She also became a lead teacher at the school in July of 2004. Somerville became the assistant principal at Pinkston Street Elementary School in November of 2011. She also has served as an interim principal at Pinkston Street Elementary. She became the principal of the school in July of 2012. In 2015-2016, Somerville was selected as the Vance County Schools Principal of the Year.
Horner and Somerville will now lead efforts to establish the new schools. They will be working collaboratively with their staffs to develop comprehensive school programs.
“I am excited that we have such talented leaders who are proven educational leaders at successful schools,” said Superintendent Anthony Jackson. “I’m extremely excited about the future of our new Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.”
Vance County Middle School will be housed in the facility currently known as Northern Vance High School and will serve students who now attend Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools.
Vance County High School will be located in the building now known as Southern Vance High School and will serve students who now attend Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools.
Operations at all 10 of the district’s elementary schools will be unchanged for the new school year. The STEM Early High School will continue to serve students in grades 6-8 on the current campus of Southern Vance High. The Vance County Early College High School will remain in operation on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College near Henderson and the district’s alternative school, AdVance Academy, will remain in operation next door to the current Henderson Middle School on Charles Street in Henderson.
With combining the middle schools and high schools next school year, the Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle school buildings will no longer be used by the school system.
Board members took action in naming the schools following a presentation by Superintendent Anthony Jackson who proposed several names for the new schools. Among the potential names offered for the middle school were: Vance Henderson, Vance Central, Vance Community and Vance County Preparatory. These names also were proposed for the high school in addition to Henderson High and Henderson Preparatory.
(The above information is a blending of two press releases written by Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer, with Vance County Schools.)