Mako Medical

Mako Medical Offers To Match Donations To VCPSF Up To $10K

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Mako Medical Labs is matching contributions up to $10,000 made to the Vance County Public School Foundation, so now it’s up to interested individuals and other businesses and organizations to step up to help achieve this goal.

“We are excited to announce a strong business-education alliance between Mako Medical Labs and the Vance County Public School Foundation,” Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said in a recent statement to WIZS News. “Both are very active members of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce and we want to help promote this collaboration.”

A donation to the foundation now will have double the impact, Burgess noted.

Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church in Henderson, chairs the foundation, which has supported various initiatives in the local school system for more than 25 years. Those initiatives include teacher leadership training, teacher mini grants, student academic growth success, the Student Spotlight program, bringing the NC Symphony to Vance County to speak and perform for elementary students, awarding National Certified teachers, and the Arts Alive event.

 

Mail checks, payable to VCPSF, to:

PO Box 2956, Henderson, NC 27536

Online donations also can be made with a credit card at  www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Contact Aarika Sandlin, VCS director of communication and marketing at asandlin@vcs.k12.nc.us or call 252.492.2127.

 

Fourth Suspect Charged in Connection to Devontae Cheek Murder

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— Vance County Sheriff’s Office Press Release Information —

On or about the 15th day of July, 2022, Hakeem Dortch voluntarily surrendered himself to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. Dortch was served with three indictments — first degree murder, accessory after the fact to murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

Hakeem Dortch is being held at the Vance County Detention Facility under a $1,000,000.00 bond.

These indictments are related to the October 30th, 2021 shooting and murder of Devontae Cheek of Williamsboro.

Cheek was shot and killed as he was exiting a motor vehicle in the parking lot area of the Williamsboro Shell Station.

Four suspects have been charged in connection to this incident.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate this matter. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Two Arrested On Weapons, Drugs Charges

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Henderson police arrested one man Tuesday who had outstanding warrants in connection with previous offenses and added several weapons and drug charges to the list upon placing him in custody.

Detectives of the Henderson Police Department observed Orlando Khayil Gibbs, 25, in a vehicle at a store located at 601 West Andrews Ave. and “were able to quickly confirm that Gibbs had active warrants for previous committed offenses,” according to a press statement from Chief Marcus Barrow.

There were several other people in the vehicle and police found marijuana and two semi-automatic firearms inside after the occupants were outside the car.While taking Gibbs into custody, Detectives observed marijuana in plain view inside of the vehicle Gibbs was occupying.

As a result, Gibbs was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana up to a half ounce.

Gibbs was issued a pre-set $10,000 secured bond and a $360 cash bond for his outstanding order for arrest.

Magistrate Stewart set an an additional $5,000 secured bond for the other charges. He was released upon posting bond.

One of the occupants in the vehicle, Jeremiah Edwards, 18, was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. He received a $1,000 secured bond and was remanded to Vance County Jail.

Terry Garrison

Rep. Garrison Notes Funding For Local Projects In New State Budget

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The newly approved $27.9 billion budget that Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law this week includes funding for several local projects, according to a press statement from Rep. Terry Garrison, who represents District 32 that comprises Vance, Warren and Granville counties.

  • The City of Henderson will receive $5 million for water and wastewater infrastructure projects;
  • Vance County will receive $500,000 for local government projects;
  • Warren County will receive a $6 million grant from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund.

“I am glad to see this level of funding returning to the district,” Garrison said in the statement. “Water and sewer infrastructure is essential and this money will be well spent by Henderson. I am also excited that Warren County will receive a grant from the Department of Public Instruction to improve our public schools. Investments in education are one of the most important priorities I have.”

VCS Cheerleaders Almost Halfway To Goal Of Marching In Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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The Vance Charter Cheerleading team is almost halfway to its goal of raising the roughly $70,000 needed to be able to make the trip to New York City to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Head Coach Stacey Long said Thursday that the group has raised about $30,000, which is a great start. There’s a Sept. 1 deadline, though, so any and all donations to the fundraiser effort are welcomed at this time.

The group got the invitation in early May, and Long said to her knowledge, they’re the only cheerleading group in the area ever selected to march in the parade, known for its giant balloons, festive floats and marching bands. The girls will march along the 2.5 mile parade route, then stop and perform at Herald Square in front of Macy’s flagship store.

Over the past few weeks, the cheerleaders have fanned out across Henderson and Oxford, visiting businesses and delivering informational flyers in hopes of drumming up additional donations.

Long said the trip will cost about $3,000 per student, and the fundraiser will cover their costs, but not those of the 11 chaperones that will accompany them.

“We go up five nights before the performance,” Long said, adding that there’s a rigorous schedule that includes sightseeing and maybe even a Thanksgiving meal, all part of the “experience.”

“The girls are pretty excited,” she said. “They are sacrificing not having the holiday with their immediate family,” but an invitation to appear in the parade may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Long said she and assistant coach Shelley Whitehead have worked diligently alongside the cheerleaders to bring the fundraiser to the community’s attention.

If you can help, phone Long at 919.691.3279 or send a message via the Vance Charter Cheer Leading Facebook page.

There are various donation levels, beginning with $2,500 Platinum, $1,500 Gold, $1,000 Silver and $500 Bronze, but donations in any amount will be gratefully accepted.

The best way to make a financial donation is to send a check to the school:

Vance Charter School

Attn: Coach Stacey Long

2090 Ross Mill Rd.

Henderson, NC 27537

TownTalk: Bobby Wilkerson Remembered

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In a world where so much emphasis is placed on outward beauty, there was something a little quirky about Bobby Wilkerson’s long-running campaign. But there were plenty of folks clamoring to be a member of Wilkerson’s group – The “Ugly” League.

Wilkerson died last week at the age of 89. His nephew, Danny Wilkerson, spoke with John C. Rose on TownTalk Wednesday and shared some memories of his Uncle Bobby.

As the self-proclaimed “Mr. Ugly,” Wilkerson went around town handing out membership cards, an act that won him attention and more than a little acclaim.

“He would always talk about the men being ugly,” Danny recalled, chuckling. “He had cards printed up…people would just laugh and joke about it, saying ‘yeah, I got my Ugly card.’”

The membership ranks swelled, but Danny said he didn’t think his uncle ever offended anyone by granting them membership into The Ugly League. “He’d say, ‘if I didn’t like you and love you, I wouldn’t give it to you,’” Danny said.

If you got right down to it, his Uncle Bobby was a “people person and he believed in making people happy,” Danny said.

Throughout his working life, Bobby interacted with many people in the community – he was a dispatcher before the 911 system was established and he also worked at the Henderson Fire Department. Danny said there was a time when he, his Uncle Bobby and Danny’s dad Ranger all worked together at the fire department.

In what Danny called semi-retirement, his Uncle Bobby continued his public service as a magistrate, which Danny said he enjoyed a great deal.

All those years, however, Bobby maintained what today would be known as a “side hustle” – he had a business maintaining fire extinguishers. He would travel around town in vehicle of choice – a red International Scout, laden with fire extinguishers and all the tools of the trade.

Danny remembers helping his uncle when he was still in elementary school. “He made me work hard. I value that time with him – he taught me a lot about life,” Danny recalled.

The last Scout Wilkerson had, Danny said, met its demise on the train tracks beside Falkner Coal Yard just off Garnett Street. Seems the Scout had stalled on the tracks, and a train hit it.

No matter how folks knew him – as a magistrate, owner of a fire extinguisher business, founder of the Ugly League, there’s little doubt that he was well-loved.

“He was a gift from God to us all,” his nephew said.

CLICK PLAY!

Three Local Juveniles Suspected, Caught After Armed Home Invasion on Meadow Lane

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Tuesday evening at approximately 6 o’clock, officers of the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Meadow Lane in response to a breaking and entering in progress.

When officers arrived, neighbors throughout the area gave descriptions of three suspects.

Police said officers were able to locate and detain the three individuals on Summit Rd. During the investigation, one subject was found in possession of a “BB” gun and a second subject was found concealing a .357 revolver.

Police determined entry was gained to an occupied residence.

Two of the suspects are 16 years old, and the third suspect is 17. Police said, due to the “Raise the Age Law,” all three suspects are considered juveniles.

All three were transported to the Henderson Police Department and Juvenile Justice was contacted. Juvenile Justice issued Secured Custody Orders, and all three were remanded to a detention facility.

The Henderson Police Department expressed gratitude for the community’s quick action and the information provided which led to the quick apprehension of the suspects.