TownTalk: Sheriff Brame Shares Latest Phone Scam

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame wants residents to know, first of all, that neither he nor any personnel of the sheriff’s office will ever ask anyone via telephone call or text message for sensitive personal information.

Brame spoke with WIZS on Wednesday’s TownTalk to pass along information regarding just such a scam that has been brought to his attention.

Brame said he learned about the scam upon receiving a phone call from a citizen.

The woman said the person left a voicemail for her late husband on her home phone. The caller identified himself as being a deputy on Brame’s staff, and left a number to call for what was described as an important and time-sensitive matter.

“I looked at the number, and I knew it wasn’t a local number,” Brame said. Neither was there a deputy with the name that was given in the message.

“My staff…will knock on your door and ask you to come to our office,” the sheriff said, adding that deputies will provide badge numbers, call numbers and other official information identifying them as sheriff’s officers.

He urges members of the public to be vigilant to avoid being taken in by scammers.

“Never say the word ‘yes’ to these people,” he said. Never provide personal information like dates of birth and Social Security numbers to people via email or text message.

 

 

TownTalk: Vance Co. Community Foundation Awards More Than 12K To Local Organizations

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-information courtesy of the Vance County Community Foundation

The Vance County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $12,050 in grants to organizations supporting the local community.

The board of advisors granted:

  • $2,000 to ACTS of Vance County, Inc. for food purchases for pantry
  • $1,000 to Community Partners of Hope, Inc. for Henderson Men’s Shelter expansion
  • $1,550 to Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, Inc. (doing business as McGregor Hall) for general operating support
  • $1,500 to Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start, Inc. for Adolescent Parenting Program
  • $1,000 to HubZone Technology Initiative for general operating support
  • $1,000 to Kearah’s Place for transitional housing program
  • $1,000 to North Carolina Symphony for ensembles in the schools for Vance County students
  • $1,000 to Spoken Existence Ministries for self-sustaining community garden beautification
  • $1,000 to Vance County Middle School (VCMS) Healthful Living for after-school program
  • $1,000 to Vision’s Educational Learning & Tutoring Services for general operating support

“We’re honored to support these organizations doing great wok in our community and grateful to our supporters who make this possible,” said Wendy Meyer-Goodwin, advisory board president of the Vance County Community Foundation.

Funds for 2024 grants came from VCCF’s community grantmaking fund, the Bobby R. and Griselle G. Woodward Endowment Fund, and the Edna Freeman Murray and Ralph Murray Charitable Fund. Each year, VCCF’s local volunteer advisory board uses dollars from its endowment funds to make grants to eligible local organizations, including nonprofits, local governments, schools and churches.

Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/vance to learn more about VCCF and its work in the community or make a tax-deductible donation.

VCCF advisory board members live and work in Vance County, positioning them to strategically leverage resources to meet local needs and access opportunities.

In addition to Meyer-Goodwin, board members include Sara “Bebe” Webster, vice president; Terri Hedrick, secretary; Sarah Baskerville, Nikki Cheatham, Lee Faulkner, Uriah Ford and Lee Christine Williams.

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TownTalk: Introducing Scout Hughes to WIZS

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During his recent job interview, Scout Hughes was fielding questions about his interests, abilities and long-term goals, but he was also gathering information about his prospective place of business.

Just three days in, Hughes said what he was told during that recent interview is absolutely true: WIZS is a hometown radio station, and his new co-workers are a close-knit bunch.

And although the young broadcaster is not from Henderson, he does have family here, he said during an introductory interview on Wednesday’s TownTalk. His grandfather is Howard Hughes, and his dad is Joe, Hughes’s younger son.

He graduated from Liberty University with a degree in sports journalism, and he worked at the school’s radio station there for 3 ½ years.

“I knew that I wanted to get into broadcasting,” Hughes said, and figured sports would be the way to pursue that goal.

As a new college graduate, Hughes landed a part-time job at radio stations WPAQ and WSYD  in his hometown of Mt. Airy.

There, he covered high school football for nearby Galax, VA, whose team won the 1A championship, and also covered Wake Forest University and UNC football for the two stations.

This year, he’ll be in the booth as the primary play-by-play broadcaster for Vance County High School Friday Night Football, a role he’s looking forward to.

Other duties have been described to him as administrative, which Hughes explains as a “big ‘umbrella’ word for EVERYTHING.”

Welcome to Henderson and to WIZS, Scout!

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The Local Skinny! Vance County Schools New App Student Information System

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Vance County Schools is among a group of public school districts and charter schools across the state in Phase 1 of a new student information system.

NC Student Information System – NC SIS – is coming on line over the next couple of years, and Vance County parents and students are among the first test drive the new system powered by Infinite Campus.

VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin and Chief Officer of Technology Marsha Abbott discussed the changeover and what it will entail on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Sandlin said families will no longer use the PowerSchool app, and should upload the Infinite Parent app available through the Apple Store or Google Play. Students, likewise, will download the Infinite Student app.

Abbott said each of the programs contains a wealth of tools for students and parents to use, from accessing attendance, to online assignments and grades, and more.

The new system will allow parents to enroll students online, eliminating the need to  travel to the central office.

“Our goal is to make things as accessible as possible,” Sandlin said, “with no barriers.”

Parents still have the option of enrolling their child in person, but they will no longer be required to do so, if they have the app on their mobile device.

“We are not taking away any form of communication,” she added, “we’re simply adding ways.”

Abbott said the new system also allows for communication with teachers and parents, at any point during the year, can update information such as phone numbers and address to maintain the most updated information.

Visit the school’s Facebook page to find out more or visit https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/  to learn about upcoming Open Houses for year-round schools and schools on the traditional calendar. Aug. 7 is the first day for year-round students; students in schools on traditional calendars return Aug. 26.

Find all three 2024-25 calendars at https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/calendar 

 

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One Arrest Made In July 27 Armed Robbery

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PRESS RELEASE —

On July 27, 2024 around 5:40 AM officers responded to an armed robbery that occurred at 800 Dabney Drive.

The incident occurred when a suspect approached the male victim who was parked in a van in the parking lot of Refuel convenience store.

The suspect, who brandished a firearm, made the victim enter the store and withdraw funds from the ATM machine.

The suspect then fled the scene in a vehicle identified as being a white Buick. The victim did not sustain any injuries during the incident.

Within a brief period of time, Henderson Police Department officers encountered Tre’ Shaun Hargrove, 27, of Henderson. Hargrove was identified and charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Second-degree Kidnapping.

The firearm used during the incident was also recovered. Hargrove received no bond prior to his initial appearance and was remanded to the Vance County Detention facility.

 — Marcus Barrow, Henderson Police Chief

 

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Program At Farmers Market Matches Funds To Boost Purchasing Power

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is filled with fresh local produce on Wednesdays and Saturdays, just waiting to be scooped up and featured on dinner tables across the area.

The market has added a couple of programs that other markets across the state are using to help seniors and others stretch their dollars. The SunBucks and Senior Double Up Food Bucks programs are both ways to encourage eating healthy foods while supporting local farmers and the local economy, said Vance County Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Wykia Macon.

“It seemed like a natural fit because we accept EBT at the Farmers Market and now with Double Bucks, when someone uses their EBT card, we match EBT purchases dollar-for-dollar,” Macon told WIZS News.

Those who use SunBucks and Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) will have their dollars doubled, too, she said.

“It came about after seeing other markets doing the program and realizing that we should be offering the same to our community,” Macon said.

“Since this is our first time with the program, we will learn as we go. Right now, we are limiting the match to $20 per day, so someone could visit the market on Wednesday and Saturday to receive up to $40 Double Bucks per week while we are open on Wednesdays.”

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation offers a grant that provides the matching funds, which, although not unlimited, will allow for many residents to use the benefits before the end of the market season, Macon explained.

Clearview Church Hosts ‘Night of Gospel Praise’ Aug. 4

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Clearview Church is hosting a “Night of Gospel Praise” Sunday evening, featuring Jimmy and the Sound Barriers among other performers who will present a Gaither-style concert to benefit Anchor of Hope.

The evening begins at Sunday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Clearview, located at 3485 Hwy. 158 Business. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Barrier and wife Kay are just two of the individuals teaming up to put on the event. Kay leads the church’s Anchor of Hope ministry, which provides support to those near and far. The prayer group involves about 70 women who lay hands on and bless the blankets before they are delivered to those in need. It’s a symbol of God’s love, she said, and that those who have reached out for prayer are not alone.

“We try to reach out to people going through trials and storms in their life,” she said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

One aspect of the ministry involves praying over blankets that are distributed to those battling illness or other life-altering events.

In addition to the blankets, the ministry provides food gift cards and gas cards to help with essential items when disaster strikes.

“It’s a comfort to know that people are praying for you,” Jimmy Barrier said. The proceeds from the Sunday concert goes directly to the ministry.

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TownTalk: Mary Emma Evans’s Legacy Lives On With Foundation

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The Mary Emma Evans Foundation is hosting a school supply giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Director Phyllis Evans and her daughter Phylicia are encouraging the community to step up and make some donations between now and then.

Evans is the daughter of the late Henderson City Council member, who died in 2011. She and other family members established the foundation to honor the memory of a woman who gave tirelessly to the city of Henderson as a pastor, advocate and elected city official.

But in order for the giveaway to take place, the community needs to step up and bring donations to the foundation’s office – any basic items such as notebook paper, pencils, pens, binders, composition books will do, she said. Please donate between now and Aug. 10 so there will be time to get the supplies organized in time for the back-to-school event.

The giveaway will take place at the foundation’s office, 901 Dorsey Ave. (just behind the post office on Garnett Street) from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Stop by to pick up some basic school supplies and stay for a “meet and greet” with hometown celebrities Varonica “VV” Mitchell and her sister, Danielle.

Varonica is the star of “The VV Show” and Danielle has her own tutoring enterprise and is known for her involvement with the I Dance Praise Academy. The Mitchell’s office is conveniently located right beside the foundation’s office, Evans said.

She said she’s happy to partner with the two Mitchell sisters “before they go off and do great things,” she said. “Come on out on the day and meet these celebrity guests.”

Visit https://www.maryemmaevansfoundation.org/ to learn more or follow the foundation on FaceBook to learn about the various community projects, from the Cook’s Chapel food pantry to the monthly prayer sessions and Bible study.

Each Monday, Cook’s Chapel welcomes the community to choose items from its food pantry, Evans said. On Tuesdays, the foundation office is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents to pick up emergency food boxes, clothing and more.

The foundation recently was approved to provide weekend meals to Vance County high school students.

No doubt, Mary Emma would be pleased with the way family members and others are uniting to make their community a better place.

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