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TownTalk: VGCC Community Engagement Sessions Begin Sept. 7

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A slight turn of phrase can provide a whole different perspective on things, and Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Desmarais is looking forward to hearing from the wider community as plans for the future develop.

Take the phrase “community college” for example. Change that to “community’s college,” and you gain some insight into plans for an upcoming series of community engagement nights the college is planning.

“We really want to listen to our community,” Desmarais said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. As a way of implementing its new theme, “Your Community, Your College,” Demarais said the meetings are a way to be intentional about creating a plan that will be the best fit for the communities that VGCC serves.

There’s always room for improvement, she said, and getting feedback from these meetings is a good start.

“We don’t want to stop doing something that is helpful,” she said, adding that “feedback is part of the learning process.”

As students in a classroom need feedback on their activities and work, so does an institution like VGCC, she said.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing right or wrong, you’re not learning anything,” she said.

Individuals interested in participating in the meetings are encouraged to RSVP. A link to the sessions is expected to be available on the www.vgcc.edu website Thursday.

Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until about 7:30 p.m. Small groups – each with a VGCC rep and a person taking notes – will discuss various issues related to their community’s needs.

With the understanding that different people and different communities need different things, Desmarais said she wants VGCC to “be a convener and a catalyst” that brings different organizations together to work for common good.

“Little nudges that we each do can have a wonderful ripple effect in the end,” she said.

And that’s the point of the meetings – to point the community’s college in the direction that the community needs and wants in order to grow.

Below is a list of sites and dates for the community meetings: 

  • Thursday, Sept. 7 – Warren County Armory Civic Center, Warrenton
  • Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Perry Memorial Library, Farm Bureau Room, Henderson
  • Wednesday, Sept. 13 – VGCC Main Campus Civic Center, Henderson
  • Thursday, Sept. 14 – Wake Electric Operations Facility, Youngsville
  • Thursday, Sept. 19 – Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Complex, Louisburg
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Mary Potter Center for Education, Oxford
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27 – VGCC South Campus, Room G1131, Creedmoor

Arrest Made In Early-Morning Robbery At Sheetz

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-information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

A Vance County man was arrested early Wednesday by officers of the Henderson Police Department following the report of a robbery at the Sheetz on Ruin Creek Road.

Police officers responded to the call about 1:15 a.m., according to information from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Barrow stated that a middle-aged black male entered the business and demanded the clerk to give him the money from the register or he would shoot. No weapon was seen, but the suspect indicated he had a firearm. The clerk gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash, and he then fled from the store taking a few other items.
Once on scene, the officers were able to gather vital information on the suspect and the vehicle used during the event through video, witnesses and other sources. Officers began searching the area and at 3:30 a.m., an officer observed the vehicle near Dabney Drive and Parham Street.
Taken into custody during a traffic stop at Parham and High streets was Howard Perry, Jr., 55, of Lone Wolf Drive. Perry was charged with robbery and possession of stolen goods. He was placed under a $150,000 bond and transported to the Vance County Detention Center.

Dr. Marion Lark Funeral Viewing Options

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The First Baptist Church of Henderson, NC issued a viewing link and options for Dr. Marion Lark’s funeral service.

“The funeral for Dr. Lark will be Wednesday, August 23 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church. For those who are unable to attend, the funeral will be livestreamed via Vimeo and on the First Baptist Church Henderson Facebook page. (Click Here). The link to watch via Vimeo is below. Access should be available beginning at 2:50 pm.”
Dr. Marion Lark Funeral Service

 

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Henderson Mayoral Race Remains A 4-Way Race Following Hearing

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The Vance County Board of Elections ruled Tuesday afternoon that Henderson mayoral candidate Greg Etheridge may remain on the October ballot. Etheridge’s residency was called into question, but the board ruled in his favor during a hearing that began at 4 p.m.

Both Etheridge and challenger Sara Coffey, also a candidate for mayor, were present for the hearing, which lasted more than an hour. Coffey said she plans to appeal to the state board of elections; state law requires that appeals be made within 10 days of the local decision. The state board will decide whether to hear the appeal or uphold the local decision.

Etheridge and three sitting City Council members are competing for the office of mayor. Mayor Eddie Ellington announced earlier that he would not seek re-election.  Melissa Elliott and Jason Spriggs are the other mayoral candidates rounding out the field.

The city’s nonpartisan municipal elections will be held on Oct. 10.

Early voting begins Sept. 21 and continues through Oct. 7, and Vance County Elections Director Melody Vaughan said the early voting site again will located at the Dr. Andrea L. Harris Operations Center on Beckford Drive.

The hours for early voting are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Saturday, Oct. 7 hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition to the mayor, candidates are vying for four seats on the Henderson City Council. Ward 2 incumbent Mike Rainey faces challengers Sam Seifert and Janice Ward, and four newcomers are in the race for the Ward 1 seat. Geraldine Champion, Symia Crews, Clementine Hunter and Corey Pearson are on the ballot for Ward 1, a seat currently held by Marion Brodie Williams, who did not seek re-election.

In two at-large races, Kory Franklin, Michael Venable and Michelle Wood are on the ballot for Ward 3 and George Daye, Lora Durham and Tami Walker are on the ballot for Ward 4.

The Local Skinny! Daeke On City Opportunities, New Faces On Council

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Garry Daeke isn’t up for re-election this year. But the Ward 3 representative on the Henderson City Council said the upcoming municipal election is shaping up to put some new people in leadership roles. And there will be plenty of issues for him and his fellow council members to consider, from housing to downtown revitalization, just for starters.

“Every (election) cycle, we get some new folks in,” Daeke said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! “I appreciate all the new folks and their ideas and the camaraderie,” he added.

As he sees it, council members would be well served to focus on helping to create a path for the city that considers for its residents safety, affordability and living happily together.

Sometimes, he admitted, that takes a little effort.

One project that seems to be gaining momentum is the mixed-use development that is planned for Dabney Road, just behind Aldi and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Originally referred to as Berry Village, recent documents have called it Dabney Village.

Whatever the name, the 123-acre project has cleared all the hurdles necessary to get going in earnest, Daeke said.

“All the city permits are done and it’s ready to begin,” he said. Next up is water and sewer, as well as working with DOT for road configuration and entrances to the community, which will include apartments, townhomes and single-family homes as well as retail and other amenities.

It offers a housing opportunity and a community opportunity that people haven’t had in Henderson, Daeke said.

This is something creative, new and exciting for Henderson, he said. It’ll take some city money up front to get things right, he added, but there should be a good return on that investment, but good planning is key. “This is a very well-planned development,” he said. Developers hope to begin in the spring.

This also is the general area where the city was looking at constructing a new fire station.

“Our fire department is excellent, our (insurance) rating is excellent, our response times are excellent and we want to keep it that way.”

Between new construction and revitalization, there are plenty of reasons to get behind development in the city.

Sometimes, the wheels of progress turn slowly, especially when it comes to waking up a downtown area. But Daeke is watching and waiting – and hopeful.

“We’re going see it go crazy when we get this S Line lined up,” he said, referring to the proposed passenger and commuter rail service that includes a stop in Henderson. When that happens, “you’re going to see downtown as a destination to live, work and play again.”

It takes time to bring projects to full term, and it takes collaboration. But Daeke said it’s worth it.

“Working as a team, with others, to accomplish things for your community – it’s a wonderful thing to do.”

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“Fight For Misty” BBQ Fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 26 At Kerr Lake Country Club

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Come out to Kerr Lake Country Club Saturday, pick up some barbecue plates and let everyone know that you’re supporting the “Fight for Misty” fundraiser.

Pick up barbecue plates, complete with slaw, boiled potatoes, bread and dessert for $12.

No ticket in hand? No problem – you can purchase on site, at 600 Hedrick Drive.

The “Fight for Misty” fundraiser begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m.

In 2019, Misty was diagnosed with Cardiac Sarcoidosis, a rare disease that disrupts the heart’s rhythm, blood flow and normal heart function causing very aggressive inflammation around the heart.

She had a pacemaker implanted to monitor her heart rhythm and detect irregular heartbeats. She takes numerous medications and receives regular infustions at Duke University Hospital to reduce inflammation around her heart. Cardiac sarcoidosis has no cure and requires ongoing long-term treatment.

Police Arrest 24-Year-Old On Drug Charges

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From Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

Officers of the Henderson Police Department arrested a 24-year-old Monday as a result of two search warrants carried out simultaneously at two homes in the city.

Taken during the searches were 1,500 dosage units of heroin, 3.5 pills of a Schedule II substance and more than $37,000 in U.S. currency, according to a press statement from Chief Marcus Barrow.

The warrants were for rental properties, one at 910 Buckhorn St. and the other at 929 Carroll Rd.

Leshawn Alston was arrested and charged with trafficking heroin by manufacturing, possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, trafficking heroin by possession, maintaining a dwelling, misdemeanor possession of Schedule II, and misdemeanor child abuse.

Alston received a $200,000 bond and bonded out immediately, the press statement reported.

Barrow added that the owners of the properties have been sent appropriate letters of notifications regarding legal recourse.

U.S. Department of Justice

Henderson Man Gets 15+ Years For Trafficking Fentanyl, Heroin, Oxycodone

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A Henderson man was sentenced in New Bern Friday to 188 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and heroin. On May 4, 2023, Tyren Omarious Hargrove, 23, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and fentanyl.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, after receiving information that Hargrove was involved in drug trafficking, law enforcement oversaw multiple controlled purchases of suspected heroin from Hargrove. In June 2022, agents also executed a search warrant at Hargrove’s residence in Henderson where they recovered more than 4,000 dosage units of heroin and fentanyl, oxycodone, and nearly $55,000.

“The outcome of today’s sentencing is the result of a collaborative effort of local, state, and federal resources,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow. “Our partnerships are focused on the betterment of our community. I’m hopeful that our community feels the impact of today’s announcement and many others that will be forthcoming.”

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Henderson Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey L. Peaden prosecuted the case.