A utility pole problem has emergency personnel on the scene near Lowes Home Improvement in Henderson, as of our latest check at 10:43 A.M.
Fire Chief Steve Cordell confirmed at 10:00 A.M. that he had a crew on the scene and that the problem was dispatched as “a utility pole on fire.”
Those within ear shot reported to WIZS News that two loud booms were heard shortly after 9:30 A.M.
Cordell said there was a failure of an insulator on one of the power lines. Without the insulator in place, two electrical lines were able to touch, resulting in arcing.
There are no injuries.
A few lingering power outages are possible for another hour or so, according to Cordell, who stated he had received information from Duke Energy Progress.
Power service to WIZS was affected for about 45 minutes, but power has now been restored to the radio station.
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Interim financing for the new Vance County Animal Shelter will be on the agenda at next month’s meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners.
A short term financing commitment was secured from BB&T Bank and will permit the construction phase for the new shelter to begin in the early spring of 2016. According to David Beck, Finance Director, there are a few more hoops to jump through, like getting approval from the Local Government Commission on the financing. The Local Government Commission was started during the Great Depression in 1931 and is responsible for approving local borrowing and is an arm of the North Carolina Treasurer Department.
Once construction is completed, the County will secure long term financing from the USDA and pay off the interim financing from BB&T. The long term financing will include all construction costs plus interest.
Current plans are for the new shelter to be constructed on five acres of land donated to the County by Charles and Mary Boyd. It will be an 8,700 square foot facility with over 130 kennels and will include an examination room, a large storage space, sally port and increased parking spaces for those visiting the shelter.
Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles indicated that he is overjoyed by the progress being made to replace the current 37 year old facility. One of the major problems with the current space is there are just too many animals housed within the facility and the larger building will be a blessing, as it will enable the shelter staff to provide top notch care for all animals surrender to the County.
Fund raising for the new shelter is currently under way with just over $32,000 raised to date. Donations can be made directly to the Vance County Animal Shelter and are tax deductible. If paying by check be sure to write in the memo line “Vance County Animal Shelter.”
(written by George Rush, WIZS News)
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Oxford, NC – Granville County Criminal Superior Court was held during the week of December 7, 2015. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Robert H. Hobgood presided during the session. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison S. Capps, Tasha C. Gardner and Michael W. Putney, Jr.
The week-long session began with the trial of State of North Carolina vs. Stevie Roberts. Mr. Roberts was charged with Driving While Impaired which was alleged to have occurred on December 7, 2012. Mr. Roberts was represented by attorney A. Chance Wilkinson. At the close of all evidence and arguments of counsel, the jury convicted Mr. Roberts of a Level 5 DWI. Mr. Roberts received a 60-day sentence, which was suspended for 24 months of supervised probation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael W. Putney, Jr. The case was investigated by Officer S.C. Slinkard of Butner Public Safety under the leadership of Chief Danny Roberts.
On Thursday, December 10, 2015, a plea was entered in the case of State of North Carolina vs. Rodriquez Teshawn Thomas. Mr. Thomas was charged with First Degree Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon in the September 25,2013 death of Musleh Mohamed Saleh Qayed. Mr. Thomas
pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. He was represented by attorneys David R. Waters and Joyce Fischer. Mr. Thomas was sentenced by Judge Hobgood to two consecutive, active sentences of 365 to 450 months and 78 to 106 months in the North Carolina
Department of Adult Correction.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Allison S. Capps and Tasha C. Gardner. The case was investigated by Retired Detective B. Strother and Detective C. Williams of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office under the leadership of Sheriff Brindell B. Wilkins.
(Information provided to WIZS by The Office of Mike Waters by press release.)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/office-of-DA-mike-waters.png280453John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2015-12-17 09:00:112017-01-20 02:37:22Granville County Criminal Superior Court
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/HOMEANDGARDENPNG-1.png265504Charlenehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngCharlene2015-12-16 13:12:102018-08-22 03:18:08Home and Garden Show 12/15/15
Registration continues for spring semester classes at Vance-Granville Community College, and the college will offer a final set of opportunities for prospective students to attend an orientation session on campus. Students also now have the option of attending orientation in an online format. The spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 11, with 12-week classes beginning on Feb. 9.
At VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County, an orientation session is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m.
Other orientation sessions are available for new students who are only taking 12-week classes. The Franklin County Campus near Louisburg has an orientation session scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. VGCC’s South Campus (between Creedmoor and Butner) is scheduled to hold an orientation session on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m.
Attending an orientation session is required for all new students who wish to enroll in any of the college’s curriculum programs, and for students who are returning to VGCC after being away for three or more years. Students must also meet with an advisor or academic/career coach before registering for classes.
To attend an orientation session, a student must sign up in advance by visiting orientation.vgcc.edu.
In either the online or traditional format, orientation sessions help students learn where to find resources on campus or online, including how to register for classes through WebAdvisor. Immediately following a general orientation session, each student will meet with an academic advisor and have the opportunity to register for classes the same day.
The upcoming semester’s course schedule is available online at schedules.vgcc.edu.
For students who register in January, the deadline to pay tuition and fees is Thursday, Jan. 7, by 5 p.m. if paying in person, or by midnight if paying online.
For more information, contact VGCC at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus. VGCC is closed for the holidays from Dec. 21, 2015 through Jan. 1, 2016, re-opening on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Untitled-1.png280453WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2015-12-16 09:40:112017-01-20 02:37:37VGCC holds New Student Orientation sessions before Spring Semester
Many people seem to think that Karate is just a “kid thing.” That statement could not be further from the truth. Kim Gupton, the owner and a teacher at Midnight Blue Martial Arts, sat down with Kevin Bullock of WIZS to give you the breakdown.
Gupton said, “Many people think that Karate is just something for their kids to do, and they just watch. I have a parent or two that wants to get on the mat every once in a while, but that’s rare.” Karate was actually invented by adults, for adults.
Gupton also said, “People think that their child is going to get hurt doing karate; not here. We have had less than five people get hurt since we started, and that wasn’t because they did something wrong on the mat.”
Midnight Blue Martial Arts also does cheerleading from September until April, but the Karate lessons and training are year-round.
The process of going from a white belt to a black belt takes about four years. Gupton said, “It’s a four year college for kids and adults.”
When Gupton was asked why she decided to take up Karate, she said, “It gives confidence. I’ve never been in a situation where I was intimidated, because I knew I had this in my back pocket.”
To learn more about Midnight Blue Martial Arts call Kim at 252-438-8896 or visit them on Facebook.
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The Henderson City Council met Monday night at 6:00 o’clock, and installation ceremonies were held for the mayor, the newly elected council members as well as the re-elected incumbents.
Eddie Ellington was sworn in and is now the Mayor of The City of Henderson. Ellington told WIZS News, “I have a huge feeling of pride as well as gratitude knowing that a boy like me who grew up on Burwell Avenue could one day be the mayor of his hometown. It’s time now to move ahead, get to work and see that Henderson lives up to the potential we all know exists.”
Ellington defeated Jim Kearney and Juanita Somerville in October as he earned 50.20 percent of the vote.
As a result of running for mayor, Kearney gave up his ward 1 ward seat on the council. Marion Brodie Williams defeated Clarence Dale in a November runoff, earning almost 56 percent of the votes cast in the runoff. Williams was sworn in Monday night. She told WIZS News, “It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that I am accepting this position to represent ward 1. It’s an honor to take the seat that Mr. Kearney had, and I hope to fulfill that with dedication and a lot of enthusiasm. It feels very good to know that the citizens elected me and to stand here right now. It’s all come together for me, and I thank all the citizens of ward 1 for voting for me. I really do.”
Melissa Elliott was sworn in to represent ward 3 at large. She defeated incumbent Brenda Peace, also earning just about 56 percent of those who voted in the November runoff. Elliott told WIZS News, “I feel grateful to God and completely overwhelmed with joy, and I want to serve the citizens of Henderson to the best of my ability.” In response to a question about the next few years, Elliott said, “Initiatives, initiatives, initiatives.”
Also as a part of the meeting, outgoing Mayor James D. “Pete” O’Geary learned that a conference room at City Hall will now bear his name. In addition, O’Geary was awarded “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.” In attendance representing The State of North Carolina and Governor Pat McCrory was Senator Angela R. Bryant, who represents Vance, Warren, Halifax, Nash and Wilson Counties. Mayor O’Geary expressed extreme gratitude for the award and to the City and to the council at several points during the meeting. O’Geary’s combined service to Henderson spanned 20 years, 12 as a councilman and eight as Mayor.
As a part of an outgoing ceremony for Councilman Kearney, he received a key to the City of Henderson from City Manager Frank Frazier. Kearney said, “It has been my distinct pleasure to serve the citizens of Henderson, particularly those of ward 1 for the last four-plus years. To my colleagues, it has been my pleasure to work with you. We have had some lively exchanges, and we have had some that were quite congenial (where) everyone was in agreement. All in all, we served the citizens with professionalism.” Kearney urged incoming council members and the mayor to “rule with your head, but lead with your heart.”
Outgoing councilwoman Brenda Peace could not attend the meeting because of a prior duty with her church, where she and others were volunteering in the neighborhoods around the church. Mayor O’Geary read a letter that Peace submitted. Peace said in the letter, “Ms. Elliott, please feel the hearty handshake and warm embrace that I would have shared with you as we exchanged seats. Once again, I congratulate you in your victory.” Peace praised the incumbents and newly elected members and expressed much gratitude. She said to the citizens, “I say thank you for the confidence you have had in me (for the past eight years.) The experience has enhanced me and broadened my horizons.”
Also sworn in were re-elected incumbents George Daye and Mike Rainey.
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Melissa Elliott was sworn in to represent ward 3 at large. She defeated incumbent Brenda Peace, also earning just about 56 percent of those who voted in the November runoff. Elliott told WIZS News, “I feel grateful to God and completely overwhelmed with joy, and I want to serve the citizens of Henderson to the best of my ability.” In response to a question about the next few years, Elliott said, “Initiatives, initiatives, initiatives.”
