Henderson CommUnity Cleanup Day Friday

/by

Friday’s Clean Up CommUnity Day will bring together groups and individuals from across the city who are going to roll up their sleeves and fill up bags with trash that’s cluttering up  Henderson’s roadsides.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon said that having days like these serve to not only make the community cleaner and more attractive for residents, but it also helps to put the city’s best foot forward.

“We spread out throughout Henderson and we pick up litter,” Blackmon said. It’s a coordinated effort with NCDOT’s Clean Sweep initiative, and Blackmon said city crews would be on hand to pick up the filled bags as quickly as possible.

Participants can give a quick call to city crews when they’ve filled bags and Blackmon said they’ll go pick them up, same day. “We like getting bags up as quickly as we can to show the impact as quickly as we can.”

Things get underway at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 25. Contact Cindy Norwood at 252.430.5702 to sign up and to get information about getting bags and gloves to use for the clean-up event.

With each bag that gets filled, whether at the interchange at I-85 and U.S. 1, along downtown sidewalks or on Andrews Avenue, Blackmon said there’s a focus on making the city more attractive.

In fact, the clean-up event “goes a long way in what we’re trying to do,” Blackmon said, to meet the number 1 priority of the City Council’s strategic plan, which is to improve the appearance and perception of the community. “Efforts like this go a long way to help us meet that goal,” he said.

Henderson’s Ward 4 at-large Council Member Tami Walker is planning to have a team of 15-20 participants in her district out taking part in the event, Blackmon said.

Of course, keeping trash off the streets and placing it in proper receptacles is the ideal goal, and Blackmon said collaboration with local schools is one way to help educate the younger generation.

“If we start early enough, (students) can help reinforce what they’re learning about” and reduce litter.

Click Play!

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Centering Pregnancy Program at Granville Vance Public Health

/by

 

If you are pregnant or know someone who is, the local health department offers a program for expectant mothers to get support from health professionals as well as from others who will be giving birth soon.

“Centering pregnancy” has been around since the 1990’s, and it’s a way for those in the low- to moderate-risk pregnancy categories to learn ways to reduce risk factors like high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, among other things.

Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison says the centering pregnancy model is “exciting work,” where women come together and learn in a group setting. Women who participate in the program get one-on-one time with health care professionals, but they also join in small-group sessions where they can ask questions and learn from each other.

“It empowers women to be actively involved in their own health care decision-making,”Harrison said in an earlier interview with WIZS.

The Centering pregnancy program does not take the place of prenatal care that women receive elsewhere, and Harrison said it’s designed to complement the care that women receive from their own providers.

Given the health disparities that exist, especially among underserved populations, Harrison said this program offered by the health department is just one intervention to address maternal and infant mortality.

“It’s a way to set mom and baby up for the best outcomes,” she said.

In addition to the small group sessions during pregnancy, GVPH nurses also make home visits once mom and her newborn are home from the hospital. This service offers support to make sure mom and baby have the resources they need, and can connect them to additional resources to help them survive and thrive.

To learn more, visit https://www.gvph.org/clinic/maternal-health-clinic/.

Check for additional details about Centering Pregnancy and a full list of programs at www.gvph.org.

Click Play!

Kerr Tar Workforce and NCWorks

TownTalk: Kerr-Tar Regional Young Adult Hiring Event

/by

There’s a big show scheduled at Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre next week, but anyone who drives in will see that the feature isn’t the latest movie release from Hollywood but dozens of employers hoping to grab the attention of prospective employees.

The Kerr-Tar COG is hosting a young adult hiring event from 12 noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 30 at the drive-in theatre, 3336 Raleigh Road just outside Henderson.

And although the focus is on high school seniors who may be looking for work after graduation in a few short weeks, Desiree Brooks said anyone from the community is welcome to attend.

Brooks is business services manager for the KTCOG Workforce Development Board and she said that 40 employers from across the five-county KTCOG region will be on site to share information about available jobs at their respective businesses.

“There are some really cool jobs out there that you can make a career of,” Brooks said on Monday’s TownTalk. Young people often believe that they have to go to larger areas nearby to find work, she said. But the employers who will be at the upcoming hiring event are from right here in our region.

So far, more than 100 students have registered to attend and there’s still plenty of time to sign up, she said. KTCOG is working with the Career and Technical Education programs in the five counties’ school districts to promote the hiring event.

It’s a time when graduating seniors can “either secure employment, or at least identify what they want to do after graduation,” Brooks said.

Turning Point CDC’s Mobile Van will be on hand, and Kittrell Job Corps to share options for post-secondary education programs.

These days, manufacturers are using cutting-edge technology to make and deliver products, and those who attend the hiring event will get a chance to see some of this technology up close and personal – whether it’s heavy equipment from Sunrock to drones flying overhead as part of Vance-Granville Community College’s presentation.

It’s important for job seekers to understand that factory work has become more than just working on a production line, she said. “Advanced manufacturing involves robotics, welding and engineering – all of these things you could have a great career in,” Brooks said.

Wolfspeed is just one business that will be on site next week. It manufactures energy efficient power products for electric vehicles and has a facilities in Durham, among other cities in the state.

In addition to reps from the advanced manufacturing field, expect to see representatives from local, county and state government, banking, information technology and popular trades like HVAC and more.

Find the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ncworkskt or call the Career Center at 252.598.5200. Learn more about this program and more at www.ncworks.gov.

 

Click Play!

Harrington Wanted for Murder

/by

— from Henderson Police

UPDATE 2 p.m. Monday, April 22:

On April 15, 2024 at approximately 9:30 p.m., a shooting occurred during an altercation at 1800 Julia Avenue. The victim, Tyquel M. Alston, age 24 of Daffodil Drive, was shot in the yard of the home by the assailant at close proximity.

Alston was transported to an area medical facility where he has succumbed to his injury. Investigators of the Henderson Police Department worked diligently on the case and warrants have now been obtained for the arrest of Antarious Tebron Harrington, age 28 of Barclay Lane, for the murder of Tyquel Alston. Harrington is currently out on pre-trial release for felony drug charges.

If anyone has any information about this incident or the whereabouts of Antarious Tebron Harrington, please contact us through following: Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252- 492-1925 or P3 app), Henderson Police Department’s main number 252-438-4141, Facebook or Instagram, or just call 911.

The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood Engine Additives

/by

For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Yeah, yeah. We know…you meant to put that stuff in the gas tank to keep moisture from forming when you put the mowers, boats, jet skis and weed trimmers away for the season.

Now “the season” is here again, and what product or products will serve you and your equipment the best? The grass won’t stop growing just because the mower’s on the fritz, and you’re ready to trailer your watercraft back up to the lake for some weekend fun.

Choosing the right product from shelves and shelves full of cans, bottles and containers can be a daunting task. But if you stop by any Advance Auto Parts location – including the ones in Henderson on Raleigh Road and just off Dabney Drive, you’re sure to get expert help to figure out the right product for you.

There’s no “magic bullet” or one-size-fits-all approach, but with a bit of information about the issue, the Advance staff can help troubleshoot the problem and get you and your gear humming again in no time.

You’ll walk out with the right product for your needs, and the peace of mind that comes from consulting with folks who know what they’re talking about.

It’s important to pair the right product to your vehicle – and to address the particular problem it may have. Between the name-brand products on the shelves and the knowledgeable staff behind the counter, you can be reassured that you’re getting the best bang for your buck at Advance.

The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Martha Gayle – ‘When Jesus Calls’ Author In Henderson Saturday For Book Signing Event

/by

Book signing Saturday; 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.; Sadie’s Coffee Corner.

If you know your Bible stories, you may remember the one about sisters Mary and Martha and how they behaved when Jesus came to visit. Martha was the one who worked hard to get everything ready and Mary was the one who just sat at Jesus’s feet, listening. When Martha got upset because she was getting no help from her sister, Jesus said Mary had made the better decision. It’s a classic story about priorities and remembering to spend time with God.

Martha Gayle, whose first book titled When Jesus Calls was recently published, said she truly believes she got the right name – for years, her corporate career had her constantly going and doing. But the main character in her work of fiction is Mary, and she said she’s trying each and every day to be more like that person in the Bible.

“It was a very personal experience…an amazing journey,” Martha Gayle, who grew up in Henderson, said on Thursday’s TownTalk. Martha Gayle (her pen name) will be at Sadie’s Coffee Corner on Saturday, Apr. 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for a book signing.

Story continues below. TOWNTALK; CLICK PLAY!

“The Martha in the Bible was always worrying about everything,” she said, adding that she tries to be hospitable to others. “I love serving others…I’m always the one planning.”

“Mary forgot about all of that – she was at Jesus’s feet – she wanted Jesus more than anything else.” Her book guides readers “that we all need to rest at Jesus’s feet every day.”

Although it is a work of fiction, Martha Gayle said she drew upon her own life experiences to create the story. As the plot unfolds, the author has sprinkled in more than 40 Scripture verses that the character takes comfort in. And Martha Gayle hopes her readers will take comfort in them, too.

She said she was called to leave her corporate career to become a stay-at-home wife and mother, and ultimately to write her first book. She’s working on a second one now, and she said it’s almost completed.

Martha Gayle dedicated When Jesus Calls to her father, Norman, who was his daughter’s “biggest cheerleader.”

Other friends and acquaintances from her growing up years in Henderson are proving to be cheerleaders, also, as she reads posts on social media about her literary efforts.

“I haven’t lived there in many years, but to know (friends) still feel this way … it’s so appreciated and so humbling.”

Martha Gayle said she tries very hard to live a transparent and honest life – “in a way pleasing to God. God has a perfect plan for our life,” she said. Her goal is simple: “I want people to read it and come to Jesus.”

Like Mary.

Visit www.marthagayle.com to learn more.

Sheriff Brame: Five Arrested Tuesday In 3 Counties As Part Of ‘Operation Downrange’

/by

Five people in three counties suspected of being part of a drug trafficking organization were arrested Tuesday on a range of drug charges to culminate a months-long investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.

In a press release issued Wednesday, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame provided details of Operation Downrange.  In addition to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the following agencies proved instrumental in the success of this joint investigation, Brame said: Henderson Police Department, NCSBI, DEA, Wake Forest Police Department, Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Probation Office in Raleigh.

Downrange focused primarily upon the trafficking of kilogram quantities of cocaine hydrochloride by a drug trafficking organization which had established itself within Vance County, Brame stated. The investigation began in August 2023 and its conclusion, Brame said, represents the culmination of thousands of hours of surveillance and other related missions.  It is believed that this organization was directly responsible for the distribution of more than 100 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride during the course of this investigation.

In the early morning hours of April 16, 2024, numerous search warrants were executed simultaneously in Vance, Wake and Granville counties.

Law enforcement officers had search warrants for 93 Gupton Lane Extension, 383 Ross Ave., 1804 Old Epsom Rd., The Red Roof Inn, 11 Kyle Lane, and a storage unit facility located on Raleigh Road, all Henderson addresses. Additional warrants were served at 102 Dundee Place in Stem and at Lakeside Terrace Court Apartments, Wake Forest.

As a result of this investigation the following arrests were made:

  • Homero Carachure-Garcia – Conspiracy to Traffic 1000 grams of Cocaine Hydrochloride; Currently housed in the Vance County Jail, (Federal Hold)
  • Selena Morales – Conspiracy to Traffic 1000 grams of Cocaine Hydrochloride; Currently housed in the Vance County Jail under a $40,000 bond
  • Elmer Carachure-Garcia – Conspiracy to Traffic 1000 grams of Cocaine Hydrochloride; Traffic in Cocaine by Possession (850 grams); PWIMSD Cocaine; PWIMSD Marijuana; Felony Maintaining a Vehicle; Felony Maintaining a Dwelling; Currently housed in the Vance County Jail under a $140,300 bond
  • Richard Hope Jr. – Possession of Firearm by a Felon; PWIMSD Marijuana; Felony Possession of Marijuana; Felony Maintaining a Dwelling; Bond was posted in the amount of $90,000
  • Derravin Myers – Conspiracy to Traffic 1000 grams of Cocaine Hydrochloride; PWMISD Marijuana; Felony Possession of Marijuana; Felony Maintaining a Dwelling; At that time of arrest, Myers was already out on bond related to a March 13, 2024 incident during which he was found to be in possession of a kilogram of cocaine hydrochloride. He is currently housed in the Granville County Jail without privilege of bond.

Brame said additional arrests are anticipated.

Brame stated that the Vance County Sheriff’s Office extends “our most sincere thanks to all of our partner agencies that provided both their time and resources in an effort to rid our communities of illegal drugs as well as those who would poison our children and families by distributing these substances on our streets.”