Two Local Men Get Prison Terms For Drugs, Weapons Charges

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-information courtesy of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Two Henderson men were sentenced in federal court Thursday for separate drugs and weapons-related charges.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentences were handed down. Details of the cases were included in a press statement issued from Easley’s office Thursday.

Joseph Jones, Jr., also known as “Woo,” was sentenced in Raleigh to 180 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On Mar. 16, 2022, Jones pled guilty to the charges filed against him.

A second Henderson man, Jamey Owens, 51, was sentenced Thursday in Wilmington, N.C. to 72 months in prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, in May 2020, Jones, 24, was identified as a heroin dealer in Henderson. The Henderson Police Department utilized a confidential informant to make controlled purchases of heroin from Jones. On Aug. 26, 2020, HPD responded to a call for service regarding a heroin overdose victim, who was stabilized with medical assistance. The victim reportedly purchased the heroin from Jones.

The same day, HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Jones and found him to be in possession of heroin. A search warrant was executed at his residence where more than 1,000 doses of heroin and more than 11 grams of marijuana were found, along with two loaded firearms including a Glock 21 .45 caliber pistol and a Diamondback AM2 9mm pistol. Some of the heroin was bound into “bricks” comprising 50 dosage units and carried stamps such as “Devil’s Reject,” “Maestro,” “Shell,” “Uranas,” “Takeback,” and “Natural Flavor.”

Jones has a lengthy criminal history, including possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule I controlled substance, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and conspiracy to sell or deliver heroin.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Henderson Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the Jones case.

According to court records and statements made during hearings in the Owens case, Henderson police conducted a controlled buy of cocaine from Owens on Jan. 13, 2019 at his home on State Street. Based on the controlled buy, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence, which they executed on January 15, 2019.

Owens was present with his girlfriend. Near a couch where Owens had been sleeping, officers found two handguns. In his bedroom, they found a third pistol, and in a second bedroom they recovered a shotgun. Officers found drugs stashed throughout the house, including cocaine, heroin, suspected ecstasy tablets, and marijuana. They also found four digital scales; ink stamps labeled with “BLACK CEASAR” and green glassine bags, both commonly used to package heroin; two glass Pyrex dishes with a white powdery substance; and over $3000 in cash.

The Henderson Police Department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.

TownTalk Trivia 06-09-22

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A special Thursday edition of TownTalk Trivia.

 

The Local Skinny! Business Spotlight: Satterwhite Pt. Marina

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The season is heating up on Kerr Lake as warmer weather brings out boaters and campers, and that’s just fine for Scott and Catherine Hughes, owners of Satterwhite Point Marina and Rudd’s Creek Marina near Boydton, VA.

The Hughes family is celebrating 30 years at Satterwhite Point Marina, and Catherine told John C. Rose Thursday during the business spotlight feature of The Local Skinny! segment that they work hard to provide good service to folks visiting the lake and they strive to be good community partners.

“It’s hard to believe that Rudd’s Creek has been open for eight years,” she said, adding that husband Scott basically duplicated at Rudd’s Creek what he’d built at Satterwhite.

The marinas have boat storage options in wet slips and she said the hope is to have Drystack storage at the Virginia marina in the next year or so. Right now, that option is only at Satterwhite Point.

Both marinas have lakeside stores with discount marine supplies, lake gifts, signs, snacks and more.

“We always try to support the communities in Henderson and in Mecklenburg County, VA as well,” Hughes said, “ and we appreciate the support we get as well.” She said great employees, great customers and a great place to work make for a winning combination.

“We think we’re lucky to be able to be able to work right on the lake,” she said. “Sometimes it can be demanding or stressful, but the majority of the time, it’s just beautiful.”

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Fireworks To Light The Night Sky At Satterwhite Point July 2

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The upcoming Fourth of July weekend at Kerr Lake promises to be filled with plenty of red, white and blue and all that makes summertime fun – including fireworks!

The Independence Day Celebration is set for Saturday, July 2 and Vance County Tourism is sponsoring the fireworks display. Tourism Director Pam Hester said Satterwhite Point Park is going to be THE place to be – there will be food, live music and other vendors from 4 p.m. until dark.

“Dark,” in this case, means after the sun goes down. On July 2, the sun will set at 8:35 p.m., and Hester said the fireworks will begin around 9:15 p.m.

As a reminder, alcohol is not permitted in state parks. There is a $7 state park gate fee, which is per car.

Contact Hester at 252.438.2222 vctourism@vancecounty.org for more information.

Donate Blood At Upcoming Drives In Henderson, Oxford

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What better way to celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14 than to make an appointment for an upcoming blood drive in the area? All eligible donors are encouraged to take part by making an appointment to give blood or platelets during the month of June.

The American Red Cross joins other blood collection organizations around the world to recognize the importance of a safe and stable blood supply and the donors who make it possible.

Nearly 2.5 million people volunteer to give lifesaving blood and platelets every year with the Red Cross, according to a statement from Eastern North Carolina’s Regional Communications Director Cally Edwards, which includes Vance, Granville and Warren counties.

Blood donations decline in late spring and early summer – especially during holiday weeks, like Memorial Day and Independence Day – but the need for blood and platelet transfusions doesn’t take a summer break.

To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1.800.733.2767).

Blood drives in Henderson and Oxford are scheduled for Friday, June 24, Edwards stated.

Here are the details:

  • Henderson: 6/24, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Maria Parham Medical Center, 566 Ruin Creek Rd.
  • Oxford: 6/24, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W. McClanahan St.

As a special thank you, everyone who donates blood during June will also have their name entered for a chance to win a VIP trip for two to Graceland.

The trip includes round-trip airfare to Memphis, plus a three-night stay at The Guest House and Elvis Entourage VIP tour, courtesy of Graceland, a custom-wrapped Gibson Epiphone guitar and more.

Additionally, those who come to donate in June will also receive a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.

Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1.800.733.2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

TownTalk: Gas Prices

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Gas Prices and Some of the Impacts.

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TownTalk: Great Shows A Part Of Rec Players’ 50th Anniversary

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The seats in McGregor Hall are a little more comfortable – ok, a lot more comfortable – than those hard, wooden seats in the E.M. Rollins auditorium. But once the house lights dimmed, the audience settled in to those wooden seats to enjoy another performance by the Henderson Rec Players.

This year, the Rec Players celebrate 50 years of bringing live theater to the area. There have been some changes since that first season in the summer of 1972, but not that many. Just ask Tommy Nowell – he’s been around for each and every one.

Nowell said he graduated high school in June 1972 and it was June 1972 when the first rehearsals started. He said a few years ago he’d counted up, and reckons he’s “spent somewhere like 25 years of my life at the auditorium of E.M. Rollins.”

He and Jo Ellen Nowell spoke with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk about this season’s shows, as well as the importance of introducing children to the theater arts.

The first production is Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” which will run from June 23-26.

“A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” is scheduled for early July, followed by a children’s production of “Frozen Jr.” Capping off the season’s offerings is “The Fantasticks,” which will be performed Aug. 12-14.

Dwight Pearce was the group’s first director, and Jo Ellen Nowell said she co-directed “Bye, Bye Birdie” with Pearce in 2002. After that collaboration, Pearce was able to retire knowing that he’d successfully passed the baton. She has served as primary director since 2003.

“Right around that same time,” Jo Ellen said, “we were so fortunate that Mark Hopper came to town” and began working with the Rec Players to direct his first show – “The Wizard of Oz” – in 2003.

Dustin Britt will direct “Our Town,” Jo Ellen will direct “Forum” and Hopper will take the reins for “The Fantasticks.”

Audience members will have an up-close and person vantage point for “Our Town,” Jo Ellen said, because the audience also will be located on the stage.

Tommy said the seating will create almost a theater-in-the-round experience, making it intimate and different.

“You get a lot of energy from the audience when you’re that close,” he said.

“Forum,” with music by the late Stephen Sondheim, has two weekend runs – July 8-10 and 16-17.

“It is a flat-out comedy,” Jo Ellen said, “and fairly politically incorrect – it should be very interesting.” This production will have a full orchestra.

And the final production of the season is “The Fantasticks,” which includes a 4-piece orchestra. This season finale is special for Nowell and for Hopper – “It is Mark’s and my favorite musical ever,” he said.

The Rec Players have not shied away from performing long-running Broadway shows like “The Fantasticks” and others that have great lasting power. The company sticks to much of the traditional production, but feels free “to put our own twist” in the performances.

“You want to do shows that will appeal to the most people,” Tommy said.

That may be one reason why the children’s theatre camp will perform Frozen Jr.

Cindy Clark will conduct the two-week camp in July, culminating in a July 31 rendition of the blockbuster Disney movie.

“A lot of these children can sing the songs already,” Jo Ellen noted. During the first week or more of the camp, the young people will be learning about the theater, how it works and the different technical aspects that go along with a production.

“It’s a really great learning experience for the kids,” she said. The last part of the camp will be performing the show at McGregor Hall.  The camp runs from July 18-31. Performances are scheduled for July 29-31.

Education is an integral part of what the Rec Players is all about. “We need to expose the arts to our children,” she said. “We need to teach it to them and teach them to love it, because they are the ones to carry it forward.”

The casting calls are less about auditioning and more about finding a way to include anybody who wants to be a part of a production, she said.

Tommy said there’s just something about being part of a production that, once you’ve experienced it, stays with you.

Just ask Robert Peace. He called in to the show to express his thanks for the Rec Players and bringing live theater to the community. He said he participated in the Rec Players in the late 1970’s and enjoyed every moment. “I just fell in love with theater,” he said, adding that he continued to find ways to tap in to theater during the next 15 years or so when he was in the military.

“This is great what you guys are going,” he said to the Nowells. “Kids get a feel for this and it just stays with you. I still love it to this day.”

Purchase season tickets by calling 252.598.0662 or visit www.mcgregorhall.org.

The deadline to become a season patron is June 21.

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