One Arrested on Drugs, Weapons Charges; Officers Recovered 7,500 Dosage Units of Heroin

/by

A 24-year-old man faces drugs and weapons charges after a team of law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at a home on Raleigh Road.

Members of the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, State Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) served a search warrant at 3701 Raleigh Road in response to a drug complaint.

Officers recovered 7,500 dosage units of heroin, drug manufacturing equipment, marijuana, one handgun, and $12,736.00 in currency. Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow told WIZS News that each dosage unit was valued at between $8 and $10, which adds up to about $60,000 street value if sold individually.

Police arrested Kortez Williams, and he was charged with three counts of trafficking heroin, one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver heroin, trafficking heroin by manufacturing, one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver marijuana, one count of possess firearm by felon, two counts of maintaining a dwelling place for a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Williams, who had been out on bond for possession of a firearm by a felon, was placed in the Vance County Jail without privilege of bond.

Trick or Treat

Henderson Trick-Or-Treat Options For Halloween

/by

Halloween is fast approaching, and as pint-sized ghosts and goblins pick out costumes that no doubt will range from kooky to spooky, it’s important for the adults in their lives to know when and where the trick-or-treating will be taking place.

Citywide hours for trick-or-treating will be observed from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

But before that, families can come downtown between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to participate in the trick-or-treat event hosted by downtown merchants, said Henderson Downtown Development Manager Tracy Madigan.

This means that Garnett Street will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 3 p.m., Madigan said.

She also encourages businesses and organization to join in the fun – it’s free to participate; all you need to do is purchase candy and then be ready to hand it out when youngsters come by.

Kick it up a notch and decorate your storefront to provide some extra “spirit,” she said.

If you would like to participate in giving out candy but do not have a place in downtown to do so, please contact Alice Sallins at 252.767.4579 or Madigan at 252.425.0844 and they can help you find a spot to set up.

You can share this event on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/667972732098803

Early Voting Underway In Nov. 7 Henderson Mayor Runoff

/by

Despite an on-again, off-again start, early voting for the Nov. 7 mayoral runoff election began today (Thursday) and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 4.

City residents may come to the Andrea L. Harris Operations Center, 900 S. Beckford Dr., to cast their vote weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The lone Saturday early voting day scheduled is from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to information from Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin and Board Chair James Baines.

Registered voters who live within city limits may vote in the nonpartisan municipal election; elections officials remind voters that state law requires voters to show an acceptable form of photo ID to cast their ballots. The only two candidates on the ballot in the Nov. 7 runoff election are Melissa Elliott and Greg Etheridge.

Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters who have requested them beginning today, Oct. 19. A voter can fill out an absentee ballot request at  https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail/detailed-instructions-vote-mail or by completing a request form provided by the county board of elections office. The request must be received through the website or by the Vance County Board of Elections by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2023.

The voter registration deadline for this election was last Friday, Oct. 13, but eligible individuals who were not registered by that deadline may register and vote at the early voting site during the early voting period. New registrants will be required to provide proof of residence.

To learn more, call the Vance County Board of Elections Office at 252.492.3730 or email vance.boe@vancecounty.org.

The Local Skinny! Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office Presents Domestic Violence Awareness Event

/by

The fifth annual “Think Community” event is set for Saturday, Oct. 28 in observance of October as Domestic violence Awareness month. The program will begin at 3 p.m. at Clearview Church, 3485 U.S. Hwy 158 in Henderson.

Debbie Scott, domestic violence educator with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, has planned an afternoon full of inspiration and remembrance for participants to “break the silence, stop the violence” around domestic violence.

Others in attendance include Deputy Lawrence Carter, of the Vance County Sheriff’s Patrol Division, Jayden Watkins, local minister, author (and WIZS Radio employee), as well as Chief Magistrate Debbie Small and others.

Special guests include God’s Men of Harmony who will provide musical entertainment and “Miss Get It Right” will perform a poetic tribute as part of the day’s activities.

To learn more, contact Scott at the sheriff’s office at 252.738.2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org.

CLICK PLAY!

 

NCDOT

TownTalk: NC DOT Has Local Job Openings

/by

The N.C. Dept. of Transportation has openings for more than a dozen jobs in the area, and representatives will be at NC Works Career Center next week to share information, accept applications and interview on the spot.

The hiring event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the NC Works Career Center, located at 826 S. Garnett St. in Henderson.

The state DOT is looking to fill 17 positions, including six auto mechanic jobs in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Person counties, according to information from NCDOT Division 5 Road Maintenance Engineer Jonathan Arnold. Eleven additional transportation workers are needed – 10 in Franklin County and one in Vance County, Arnold noted.

“We are excited to partner with NC Works to host this hiring event for our 17 openings, and help job seekers in the area begin a great career start with NCDOT,” Arnold said in a press statement. “We are looking for qualified candidates who are passionate about making a difference in their community.”

Workstations will be available for candidates to apply the day of the event, and computers will be reserved for military veterans, who receive preference in the hiring process.

There are several websites to check out in advance of the hiring event:

CLICK PLAY!

TownTalk: Medicare Open Enrollment is Here

/by

The open enrollment period to make changes to Medicare plans runs through Dec. 7, and Amber Gregory at the Vance County Senior Center encourages Medicare beneficiaries to take some time to review their current plans – there may be some tweaks to make that can save you some money.

“We want to find the best cost savings plan for you,” Gregory said on Wednesday’s TownTalk, “to save you money in the coming year.” Gregory works with the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, or SHIIP.

Medicare beneficiaries may already know that Part D is all about prescription drug plans, but Gregory said there are changes each year to be aware of to ensure that you’re getting the best price for medications.

“Get those plans checked,” she said. The open enrollment officially began Oct. 15, and between now and Dec. 7, Gregory said she’d be focusing on seeing those folks who want to make sure they are getting the most from their Medicare plans.

Gregory tells clients to check with their medical providers before making changes, since not all offices accept all insurances.

“I have many clients who are faithful to certain drug stores, and that’s perfectly fine,” Gregory said. She can help clients compare prices for prescription drugs among different pharmacies.

Most senior centers have a SHIIP counselor, Gregory said.

Call the state SHIIP office at 1.855.408.1212 to speak with a counselor who can help with Medicare questions.

The Vance County Senior Center is located at 500 N. Beckford Drive.

Contact Gregory at amber.gregory@vance.nc.gov or call 252.430.0257 to make an appointment.

 

 

Early Voting Back On Track For Oct. 19 In Mayoral Runoff

/by

During a second meeting in as many days, the Vance County Board of Elections officially certified the results of last week’s municipal elections, which paves the way for early voting to begin tomorrow (Thursday) as originally scheduled in advance of the Nov. 7 runoff race for mayor.

Since the Oct. 10 election, state and local and state elections officials have been investigating discrepancies surrounding geocoding issues, but it was announced at today’s meeting that the canvass is complete, thereby certifying results for the five contests – four City Council seats and mayor.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin read a summary statement issued by the N.C. State Board of Elections which spelled out the steps taken since the issue arose on the evening of Election Day.

The investigation looked at 83 ballots – 68 voters were assigned to incorrect wards and 15 county residents who incorrectly voted in an city-wide election.

There were a handful of other discrepancies noted, but the investigation determined that none of the outcomes would change as a result.

WIZS Radio 5pm News Segment 1 From 10-18-23 Henderson Municipal Election Canvass

/by

Mayoral Runoff Election Early Voting Starts 10-19-23

Geocoding issue resolved

Click Play

 

Three Face Drug Charges Following Search Of Home On Faulkner Town Road

/by

Three Vance County men face a variety of drug charges after law enforcement officers conducted a search of a home on Faulkner Town Road, according to Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

Sheriff deputies, along with Henderson Police Department narcotics and vice unit and the SBI, participated in the investigation, which took place at 921 Faulkner Town Road on Oct. 16, Brame said in a press release issued Wednesday.

The execution was the result of a multi-agency investigation regarding illegal drug sales from suspects located both within the target residence as well as the curtilage, Brame said in the statement.

There were five individuals in the home when officers arrived, two juveniles and Shykeyvis Lyons, 21, and Markeyvis Lyons, 20, all described as residents of the home; and Clysaveon Fields, 20, whose address was listed as Pinkston Street, Henderson.

Approximately 130 dosage units of heroin and a certain amount of crack cocaine was located and seized during the search.  Additionally, two firearms, an undisclosed amount of US Currency and various items of drug paraphernalia utilized for the packaging and repackaging of heroin was located.

The following charges have been filed as of the submission of the Press Release:

Shykeyvis Lyons and Markeyvis Lyons were each charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin; felony possession of heroin; maintaining a dwelling to keep/sell/store a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia. A secured bond of $20,000 was set for each.

Fields was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin; felony possession of heroin, maintaining a vehicle to keep/sell/store a controlled substance; felony possession of cocaine base; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was placed under a $50,000 secured bond.

Brame said juvenile petitions are anticipated for the two remaining juvenile suspects, both under the age of 18. This investigation continues and further arrests are anticipated, Brame noted.