Area Schools Participate In National Program Focused On Reducing Social Isolation

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School cafeterias usually are abuzz with activity at lunch time – there’s usually a lot of chatter as students take a few minutes to decompress from the rigors of the classroom. But cafeterias also can be a place where students can experience social isolation. Conjure up an image of a student eating alone in a cafeteria and you get the picture.

In an effort to raise awareness about the negative effect social isolation can have on young people’s mental health – and academic performance – WellCare of North Carolina is bringing No One Eats Alone Day to a couple of area schools.

Clarke Elementary in Henderson was scheduled to participate today (Friday, Mar. 4) and G.C. Hawley Middle School in Creedmoor is slated to participate on Mar. 10, according to information from WellCare. Henderson YMCA will be the third site in the area to participate, scheduled for Mar. 24.

Billed as “a positive prevention initiative designed to promote inclusion and a culture of belonging in middle schools,” No One Eats Alone Day was created by the nonprofit Beyond Differences.

According to a press statement, students “will learn about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on mental health and academic performance, while also being encouraged to create new friendships. Mental health is especially important now as students experience the growing stressors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social isolation effects.”

The area schools and the YMCA join thousands of schools across the country that will celebrate No One Eats Alone Day. The initiative will reach more than a million students in all 50 U.S. states. No One Eats Alone Day is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation.

WellCare of North Carolina provides government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex needs primarily through Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans across the state. WellCare of North Carolina is one of the state’s Medicaid Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs). Visit www.wellcare.com/nc to learn more.

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TownTalk: County Commissioners To Work On Issues During Retreat

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Updated 3/4/2022

The Vance County commissioners completed their planning retreat on Thursday, Mar. 3 and prioritized five goals for the coming year, which remain in draft form until they are formally approved at the April board meeting.

County Manager Jordan McMillen told WIZS News that all indications are that the five priorities will be:

  1. To retain or assist in creation of 150 new jobs and $10 million in new investment for the County to include completion of design and construction of a shell building at the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park.
  2. Complete an Economic Development Strategic plan aimed at setting priorities and benchmarks for the future of economic development to include prioritizing regionalization.
  3. Implement a community paramedicine program that seeks to improve community health, reduce frequent fliers, and assist in lowering EMS call volume.
  4. Begin planning (land acquisition and design) necessary for a new public safety center to house the county EMS and fire departments.
  5. Begin construction of Phase 1B of the county water system and offer public information/signup meetings with a goal of increasing signups 20 percent above the current level.

Other takeaways that McMillen noted following the retreat include the positive financial position the county finds itself in, which will help the county be able to bring employee salaries more in line with the market.

“This speaks to our fund balance (unassigned fund balance of 44 percent of expenditures) and also the increases we have seen in sales tax revenue the past few years which we are hopeful will position us to implement our recent salary study with the new budget July 1,” McMillen said.

The board must approve the salary plan before it goes into effect. “As we work budget, we intend to be in position to approve the salary study at our June meeting to be effective with the new budget,” McMillen said.

He cited some details of the salary study, noting that 82 percent of salaries “are closer to the minimum and have not progressed to the midpoint or the maximum of the pay grade.” If and when the plan is approved, “employees’ salaries would be slotted where they belong along the pay range according to the market and our starting salaries will move up as well across the board,” he explained.

Neighboring counties have conducted similar studies in the past year or so, which impacts Vance County’s ability to effectively recruit and retain employees, McMillen added.

“Economic development remains the top goal and priority for our board,” he said. “A major part of this effort is continuing to develop our industrial park and looking toward a possible shell building in the future.” McMillen said more information about this topic will be announced at the commissioners’ meeting Monday, Mar. 7.

During the retreat, the group discussed the need to work together with neighboring counties to strengthen regionalism and support regional efforts.

The county’s effort over the past five years to return foreclosed and other properties to the tax rolls has been successful, McMillen said. In that period, 116 properties have been returned to the tax rolls, which is the equivalent of returning $830,000 in value to the tax rolls.

The county took in more than $300,000 in revenue for these properties, he said.

 

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Vance County commissioners and county staff have gathered today (Thursday) for its annual planning retreat to discuss upcoming priorities, review goals and talk about results of a recent salary and benefits study of county jobs.

It began at 9 a.m. today and was scheduled to conclude at 2 p.m., according to information from County Manager Jordan McMillen.

The retreat was rescheduled from an earlier date so the salary study could be completed. John C. Rose perused the 51-page agenda that McMillen had prepared for the retreat, and said the first topic of conversation was the salary and benefits study, which was presented to commissioners.

Also on the agenda was a recap of the county’s financial condition and fiscal outlook presented by Finance Director Katherine Bigelow.

There are numerous openings within county government and law enforcement that have yet to be filled, including 16 at the detention center and 8 within the sheriff’s office. There are 32 openings at the Department of Social Services and a dozen openings within the EMS system.

Whether qualified candidates simply aren’t looking in Vance County or not considering working here because the pay isn’t competitive with other areas, the fact remains that there are openings that need to be filled.

The salary study included information about employee outreach, current conditions, review of compensation and having an updated pay plan, according to information in the agenda.

 

Some of the goals that were scheduled to be discussed included the following:

 

  • Creation of 150 new jobs and bringing in $10 million in new investment
  • Completion of economic development plan
  • Construction of a shell building at industrial park
  • Creation of a paramedicine program to reduce EMS call volume
  • Initial planning of a new public safety center to house EMS and fire departments
  • Start Phase 1B of the county water system
  • Increase signups to the water system by 20 percent over current signups

 

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Dr. Stephen Pearson – City’s Orange Street Lot to Bear His Name

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The late Dr. Stephen Pearson, co-founder of Sadie’s Coffee Corner downtown, will be remembered in a ceremony next week.

The City of Henderson will host a ceremony and officially name the city’s Orange Street parking lot after Dr. Pearson.

That lot is next to Sadie’s on South Garnett Street.

The ceremony will take place Tuesday, March 8 at 11 a.m.

The public is invited to attend.

Pearson and Amanda Pearson, his wife, celebrated the grand opening of Sadie’s on November 9, 2019. Pearson died at age 57 about one year ago in late March 2021.

Pearson was well-liked and loved by many and had otherwise risen to the board chair level of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission.

As he said in a video presentation at the 2020 Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce meeting and banquet, “We came in with very clear goals, a very clear business plan, things that we would absolutely make sure that we changed in the dynamic of business on main street, and we also came with the mindset that if we are going to come down and provide some change, then we’re going to change from the inside. You can’t change things from the outside.”

Police Working Homicide of Jamal Galloway Looking for Information

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— from HPD Chief Marcus Barrow

On Monday, February 28, 2022 around 9:53 PM, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the 400s block of West Rockspring Street in reference to a single motor vehicle collision.

Upon arrival, officers located a dark blue 2007 Toyota Camry wedged between two trees. The only occupant, Jamal Galloway, 34, of Vance County, was found unresponsive. It was quickly discovered that Galloway had suffered a single gunshot wound, and was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

It is believed that Jamal Galloway was an intended victim of this crime and this is not a random act of violence.

The Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigation Division has worked continuously on this case and is seeking the public’s assistance.

If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252-492-1925 or P3 app), call us at 252-438-4141, or contact us through Facebook or Instagram.

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Candidates Must File By Noon Friday For May 17 Primary

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There are several contested races so far for the upcoming May 17 primary elections in Vance County, and prospective candidates have until noon on Friday to file.

Incumbent Sheriff Curtis Brame has filed for re-election. Brame, a Democrat, faces Sterlin Walker, also a Democrat, in the primary.

The winner will face Republican Patrick Bailey, who also has filed, if no other candidate files in the next couple of days.

Incumbent Terry Garrison (D) faces newcomer Frank Sossamon, a Republican, for the NC House 32 seat.

In the Vance County Board of Education races, incumbent Gloria White has filed for re-election in District 1; Democrat Omega T. Perry has filed for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Margaret Ellis has not filed yet; Incumbent Democrat Ruth Hartness has filed for re-election in District 7; nobody has filed for the District 2 seat, currently held by Darlynn Oxendine.

Three Vance County commissioners have filed for re-election – Gordon Wilder in District 3, Dan Brummitt in District 4 and Tommy Hester in District 7. Wilder, a Democrat, faces opposition by Sean Alston, also a Democrat. Brummitt and Hester, both Republicans, currently have no opposition.

The City Ward 1 at large incumbent Sara Coffey has filed for re-election and faces oppostition from Clementine Hunter, who also has filed for the seat.

City Ward 2 at large incumbent William Burnette has filed, as have incumbents Garry Daeke in City Ward 3 and Ola Thorpe-Cooper in City Ward 4.

Incumbent Cassandra Neal (D) has filed for re-election to the Register of Deeds and incumbent Henry Gupton (D) has filed for re-election to Clerk of Superior Court.

The filing period ends at noon on Friday, setting the stage for the upcoming primary on May 17 and the general election on Nov. 8.

 

Suspects Caught with Stolen Riding Mower by Deputies

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— from the Office of Sheriff Curtis Brame

Monday, March 1, 2022 at approximately 4:20 PM, Vance County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a northern area of Vance County on a tip of stolen property that had entered into the county.

Vance County deputies intercepted a suspicious grey/silver SUV pulling a utility trailer hauling a John Deere zero-turn riding mower.

Deputies confirmed that the property was stolen out of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

Suspect #1: Eric Thomas Kearson W/M Age-33

Charges: Possession of Stolen Vehicle ($60,000 Secured Bond); Fugitive form another State/Virginia, (No-Bond Allowed)

Suspect #2: Stephen Lee Davis W/M Age-21

Charges: Possession of Stolen Vehicle ($60,000 Secured Bond); Fugitive form another State/Virginia, (No-Bond Allowed)

TownTalk: Area Economic Summit Coming To Uptown Roxboro

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Kerr-Tar Council of Governments and a bevy of partners representing a cross-section of the business, education and government agencies across the five-county region are joining forces to present Vision 2022:  Regional Economic Development Summit later this month in Roxboro.

The event will be held Thursday, Mar. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Kirby Cultural Arts Complex in uptown Roxboro, and Person Economic Development Sherry Wilborn said participants will have the chance to learn from leading experts as well as enjoy what uptown Roxboro has to offer visitors.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Register by Mar. 21 at

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ej1p18ts26aa95f6&oseq=&c=&ch=

Wilborn and Lou Grillo, workforce development director for Kerr-Tar COG, joined John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk to share details of the upcoming event.

“We’re thrilled to have people coming in to Person County,” Wilborn said. Participants will get vouchers in their registration packets to exchange for lunch at uptown restaurants and food trucks that are driving in for the event.

Grillo said there will be many opportunities for networking among participants, and said the day’s events are geared toward employers, employees, business partners and local and regional governments to gain insight on what is currently transpiring in the workforce.

Many employers are having to figure out how to adjust to the changing labor market and work with the current workforce conditions, Grillo said.

“It’s an opportunity to get the community together to talk about some critical workforce issues,” he said, and to understand the situations that companies are currently experiencing.

“Come and get an understanding of what the post pandemic economy is going to look like –

What the current talent pipeline is going to look like.”

Polywood is one Person County employer that is poised for expansion and Wilborn said it and several other employers across the five-county area are going to share some of their strategies and innovations for keeping their existing employees and for finding new workers in the post-pandemic economy.

Wilborn said unemployment is about 3.3 percent in Person County, which makes for a tight labor market.

A vital piece of the economy puzzle includes partnerships and networking from agencies like NCWorks and area economic development offices to community colleges and private business, Grillo said.

“It takes partnership and communication to understand the opportunities that are available,” he said. “We’re preparing our workforce needs of the future” through holding events like the summit.

The keynote speaker is Peyton Holland, a nationally known expert who will speak on how to grow the workforce in a time where skill is hard to find, opportunities are plentiful for jobseekers, and results are needed immediately.

Grillo said he’s heard Holland speak before, and he considers him a great resource for helping to align the various community partners to be most effective in creating qualified workers through education and recruiting and retaining employees in the workforce.

Other speakers include N.C. Secretary of Commerce Machelle Sanders and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond CEO Tom Barkin. Managing Partner with Economic Leadership, LLC, Ted Abernathy will join live through virtual video conference.

Sponsors include the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, Kerr-Tar workforce development board, and Duke Energy, with collaborative partners from the Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Commissions, and Vance-Granville and Piedmont Community Colleges.

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