Red Cross and Kerr-Vance Academy Team up for Blood Drive

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RALEIGH, N.C.(Feb. 15, 2017) – During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood.

Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world. Red Cross Month is a celebration of supporters, who are the face of the Red Cross in their communities and bring hope to people facing emergencies.

Blood donor Timothy Sheely knows the need firsthand. His wife required 12 units of blood during emergency surgery following the birth of their son. “If it had not been for blood donors, she might not have survived,” he said. “Thanks to generous blood donors, I still have a wife and my kids still have their mom. I can’t possibly thank those people in person, but I can give a little piece of me back with each donation for the greater good.”

The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed to help those rely on blood products.

Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Henderson

3/8/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Kerr Vance Academy, 700 Vance Academy Road

How to help

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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VGCC receives Perkins career training grant

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Vance-Granville Community College has been awarded a $181,631 grant for the current academic year under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. These funds are being used to support students enrolled in VGCC’s workforce-oriented programs with student success coaches and the modernization and expansion of career-training equipment.

A portion of the funds support personnel at VGCC’s Student Success Centers, who serve as advisers to work with students in Business and Applied Technologies programs throughout their training — from enrollment to completion. The college also provides industry-advised faculty development to keep instructors up-to-date on the latest technologies through the grant funding.

“In conjunction with other grants and funding sources, the Perkins grant enhances our ability to educate, inspire and support students in technical fields, which are so vital to our college mission and to the economic health of our region,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “With help from this grant, our outstanding faculty and staff in career-oriented programs give students the practical training they need to succeed in the workforce.”

Perkins funds allow classes at all four VGCC campuses to have up-to-date career training equipment, including a manikin/wig dryer and, soon, a state-of-the-art facial imaging machine for Cosmetology students, drill presses for Welding trainees and 26 new webcams to continue to expand VGCC’s award-winning online course offerings.

Efforts to provide apprenticeships and to educate high school students about careers in advanced manufacturing also received a boost from Perkins funding.

The Perkins Act is the principal source of federal funding to states for the improvement of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. The North Carolina Community College System, which administers Perkins funds through competitive grants to the 58 community colleges in the state, also provides extensive training to faculty throughout the year and, publicly, on their newly launched teacher-training portal at www.nc-net.info.

“Funding through Perkins and other workforce grants currently at work on VGCC campuses are positioning us well for the expected job growth in our region,” according to Kaine Riggan, VGCC’s grants coordinator. “Perkins funds are expected to shift more towards work-based learning, and we are stocked, staffed and ready for it.”

Riggan added that with a healthy number of local manufacturing jobs and a comfortable commute to the Research Triangle Park area, the four counties served by VGCC have been a favored investment for federal workforce development funds in recent years.

For more information on VGCC Business & Applied Technologies programs, contact Dean Angela Gardner-Ragland at gardnera@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3226.

–VGCC–

City of Henderson Offers Update on Water Situation

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PRESS RELEASE: 15 February 2017

The City of Henderson/ Kerr Lake Regional Water System has begun the repair on a 36” water main just outside the water plant.  Due to the repair procedure, some customers may experience periods of cloudy or discolored water; however, it is safe to drink. This should clear up by the evening of February 16, 2017. While there should be no disruption of service during this time, we do ask customers to practice conservation of water during this time and not to use fire hydrants except for emergency purposes.

Should you have any questions concerning this repair please contact Christy Lipscomb, KLRWP Director at 252-438-2142.

News 02/15/17

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H-V Chamber to hold Ribbon Cutting for Schewels Furniture

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Mark your Calendar! Schewel Furniture Company, Inc. is having a Ribbon Cutting.

Please join the Chamber Board and staff for a “120-Year Anniversary Celebration” and ribbon cutting for Schewel Furniture Company, Inc.   The community is invited to come out and meet the warm friendly staff, show your support, and learn all about this local business. The event begins at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 21st at their 940 South Beckford Drive location in Henderson.

Enjoy some light refreshments and get the chance to win a special prize!

A little history

When Elias Schewel, a Russian immigrant, began peddling household goods in a horse and buggy in 1897, he could hardly have imagined that his fledgling enterprise would have grown to 52 stores in three states.  Today the company he founded is owned and operated by his fourth generation descendants, Marc Schewel and Jack Schewel.

The Schewels Difference

Thanks to our 600 dedicated employees, Schewels is able to continue the long tradition of bringing our customers the quality, service, and values that were the hallmark of our founder’s early success.

One of our founder’s ideas was to allow customers to pay for their purchases over a period of several months, and today, over 100 years later, Schewels offers a flexible credit plan to suit your budget. Schewels carries all accounts in-house, and you deal only with an experienced credit counselor on-site in each of our stores.

With 52 stores, Schewels tremendous buying power enables us to shop globally and bring to all our markets the best in home furnishings values. Operational efficiencies enables us to offer you our products at low, competitive prices.  In addition to home furnishings, every Schewels carries a full line of bedding, appliances, electronics, outdoor power equipment, and decorative area rugs. You can find more than half of Schewels appliances reviewed and rated on unclutterer.

Schewels carries well-known, respected, famous brands like Bassett, La-Z-Boy, Corinthian, Simmons, Frigidaire, GE, Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Troy-Bilt, MTD, Simmons, and Spring Air.

Schewels wants you to be satisfied with your purchase. All home furnishings have a warranty for one year from date of purchase for manufacturers’ defects. See store for details.

For more information, please call 252-492-7066 or check them out on the web at www.schewel.com.

VGCC President honors English department

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The president of Vance-Granville Community College, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, recently recognized a group of faculty members for excellence by awarding the “Vanguard Cup” to the college’s English department.

The department became just the second recipient of the cup, an honor created by Dr. Williams to recognize “exceptional team performance toward the college mission, vision and strategic plan.”

In this case, the English department was particularly noted for developing a strategy to improve students’ writing skills, which would in turn help them be more successful in all of their college courses. “The English faculty developed a new course with dedicated labs in an attempt to improve student success,” Dr. Williams said.

“In the first semester of implementation, the students improved, and by the spring semester, the English 111A course held a 100% course success rate,” the president noted. “This means that students are better prepared for their fields and for university transfer. The faculty in the English department are to be commended for their innovative efforts to help VGCC students.”

David Wyche, chair of the VGCC English department, added, “I’m grateful for this recognition of the creativity and hard work that these English instructors contribute in countless ways every day.”

He said that two former colleagues also deserved credit. “The English 111A lab is the legacy of Biology instructor Button Brady’s vision. She saw a need and worked tirelessly to meet it before she retired,” Wyche said. “Former instructor Bridget Bell created English 111A and taught it until the birth of her second child, when she decided to devote more of her time to being a mom. I am indebted to both of them.”

The English department is a unit of the VGCC division of Arts and Sciences, which offers courses that transfer to four-year colleges and universities as well as general education for students in all of the college’s curriculum programs.

–VGCC–

Vance County Schools Update 02/13/17

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Vance County 4-H To Offer Poultry Show Interest Meeting

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You’re Invited To The 2017 Poultry Show and Sale Interest Meeting.

4 County 4-H Poultry Show & Sale

If you ever wanted to learn how to raise your own chickens, now is your chance!

All children ages 5-18 are invited to join us at 6:30 PM at the Vance County Regional Farmer’s Market (210 Southpark Dr, Henderson, NC 27536) to discuss plans for the 2017 Four County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale.  A free dinner will be served, so RSVP with your county Extension Office!

Interested?

Please Contact Turner Pride with any questions and concerns.

Available via phone (252) 438-8188 and email at tapride@ncsu.edu.

Join Vance County 4-H Today!

Vance County Cooperative Extension Center, 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

Henderson Residents Asked to Conserve Water Starting Wednesday

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PRESS RELEASE: 13 February 2017

The City of Henderson/ Kerr Lake Regional Water System will begin repair on a 36” water main just outside the water plant beginning at 12:00 a.m. on the morning of February 15, 2017.

Due to the repair procedure it will be necessary to shut the main off to replace the pipe.

The plant will continue to produce and distribute the water through the existing 24” main parallel water main.  While there should be no disruption of service during this time, we do ask customers to practice conservation of water during this time and not to use fire hydrants except for emergency purposes.

It is anticipated that the 36” main will be back in service later in the day on the 16th.

Should you have any questions concerning this repair please contact Christy Lipscomb, KLRWP Director at 252-438-2142.

 

Esther J. McCrackin

City Clerk – City of Henderson, NC

134 Rose Avenue

P.O. Box 1434

Henderson, NC 27536

E.O. Young Elementary Celebrates Successful Science and Spaghetti Night

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Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

February 13, 2017

E.O. Young Jr. Elementary School celebrated science during a special Science and Spaghetti Night event on Thursday, February 9, at the school.

The evening featured parents and students visiting classrooms and participating in science experiments and activities led by teachers.

Students in third grade and fifth grade won honors with their science projects.

Capturing top honors in the third grade were Aaliyah Alenlain, first place; Devan Markham, second place; La’Niyah Terry, tied for third place; and Canaan Evans, tied for third place. They are shown in the first accompanying photo, from right to left, with their projects.

The fifth-grade winners included: Nathaniel Durham, first place; Kendall Sizemore, second place; Nathan Richardson, tied for third place; and Mason Pendergrass, tied for third place. Durham is shown in the second accompanying photo with his project.

Richardson and Pendergrass are shown in the third photo from right to left. Sizemore was unavailable for a photo.