Vance GOP

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Featured Speaker At Upcoming Vance GOP Fundraiser

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If you haven’t already purchased a ticket for the June 24 Vance County Republican Party fundraiser, there’s still time, but Vance GOP Chairman Jimmy Barrier says you need to get a move on – they’re selling fast.

So fast, in fact, that the local organization had to get an additional 100 tickets printed after the initial round sold out.

Special guest speaker is Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Barrier said, with a time to meet local candidates in the November 2022 general election. Gates open at 5 p.m., according to information from Barrier.

The event will be held at 284 U.S. Hwy 158 bypass in Henderson, across from Charles Boyd Chevrolet.

Tickets are $25 each for a plate of chicken, barbecue, slaw, hushpuppies and your choice of tea or water.

Tickets may be purchased at the following locations:

  • Law office of Lori Renn, 409 Young St., Henderson – 252.438.8082
  • Cross Creek Outdoor Supply, 537 Cross Creek Rd., Henderson – 252.492.9770

TownTalk: LGBTQ Event Scheduled For Henderson

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The inaugural “LoveFest” is set for downtown Henderson Saturday afternoon as the community comes together to celebrate and observe Pride Month.

Melissa Elliott, founder of Gang Free, Inc. and Michael Venable are working to organize the event, which will take place June 11 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 205 Breckenridge St. They spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk.

Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed June as LGBTQ Pride Month, and Elliott and Venable said there will be food, fun and festivities for the community as part of Love Fest. Local DJ Corey Hanks will provide musical entertainment.

Elliott said Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington will be present and will read a local proclamation as well.

“We talk about equality,” Venable said, “but if we want to move forward, we need to include everyone.”

There will be plenty of vendors out for the event, but Elliott said there’s always room for more. Contact her at melissaelliott@gangfreeinc.org or 252.598.0067  to learn more about participating as a vendor or organization.

Elliott said the event is being planned as a “nonjudgmental zone” where the community can lay aside misunderstanding and miscommunication to promote inclusion and diversity among all people.

“It’s about people who just want to be treated equal and treated fair,” Venable said.

Event sponsors include Henderson Police Department, the City of Henderson, Food Lion, print company Kolor Kode, Vance-Granville Community College, Miguel’s Beauty Salon, Henderson-Vance Parks & Recreation Dept., Downtown Development, the NAACP, Gang Free, Inc. and Graceful Buttah, a company that sells body scrubs, lotions and butters.

Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, have a family member who is or you just want to learn more, this event is a chance to come out and show support.
“I feel like there’s not enough here for the LGBTQ community,” Venable said. “They judge the book by the cover – they don’t read the book,” he said.

 

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Fourth Suspect Arrested In Durham Following May 28 Shootout

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The fourth suspect was taken into custody Thursday in connection with an exchange of gunfire that occurred last weekend outside a West Andrews Avenue convenience store.

Detectives of the Henderson Police Department were in Durham Thursday when Durham police officers took Jaymon Gibson, 24, into custody, the last remaining adult suspect in the May 28 incident at Gate City Foods. One suspect, already in custody, is a juvenile.

Gibson faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, discharging a weapon into occupied property and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Police served a search warrant was served on the residence where he was taken into custody and recovered an AR-style pistol, according to Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Gibson was remanded to the Vance County Detention Center without privilege of bond due to a parole violation and charges stemming from the May 28 shootout.

According to Barrow, Jordan Turnage, Charles Green and one juvenile all surrendered themselves to authorities earlier this week.

Turnage, 21, of Creedmoor, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a firearm into occupied property and discharging a firearm in the city limits. His secured bond was set at $65,000. Green, 23, also was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, discharging a firearm into occupied property and discharging a firearm in the city limits. His secured bond was set at $115,000, Barrow said.

A juvenile petition was filed against a 17-year-old in connection with the incident, who received a temporary secured custody order.

Anyone with information about the May 28 incident is asked to call 911, Henderson Vance Crime Stoppers at +1 (252) 492-1925, or contact us through the P3 app or Facebook Messenger.

Vance County Logo

Recount Upholds Alston’s Election To Commissioners’ District 3 Seat

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After a recount of votes in the Vance County Commissioners’ District 3 race Thursday morning, challenger Sean Alston’s election to the seat was confirmed. According to the Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, Alston received 269 votes to incumbent Gordon Wilder’s 260 votes.

The recount took place at 9 a.m. today.

The original vote count from the May 17 primary showed Alston with 270 votes, but Vaughan told WIZS News Thursday the count was adjusted after it was discovered that one vote was removed from the count.

An individual came to vote during the early voting period on May 12 and completed a same-day registration.

“On May 13, 2022 the state board removed the voter and I sent him a certified letter telling him we had him as a felon and if he had completed his time to bring in the proper papers so his vote would count,” Vaughan said in an email update. The individual did not return, however, and the state board of elections officials instructed the Vance County elections officials to remove the vote, which resulted in the change in the final count.

Vance County High School

Noel Named AD For VCHS, Trades Panthers For Vipers

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Vance County Schools has named Raymond Noel, a lifelong resident of the area, as the new athletic director for Vance County High School. Noel is a 2002 graduate of J.F. Webb High School in Oxford, where he played football and ran track and field.

He continued his education at Averett University, where he played football and

served as a student assistant for the school’s basketball program.

In 2007, Noel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a minor in coaching.

Noel’s career immediately took off following graduation as he became the assistant football and basketball coach at Granville Central High School. He also served as the Driver’s Education

Instructor.

In 2015, he took on the head coaching position for the women’s basketball team and, in 2017, became the athletic director, during which time he led athletic teams to multiple-season victories through innovative training strategies. Noel earned his Certified Athletic Administrators Certificate through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

VCHS Principal Rey Horner said he welcomes Noel to the school and the district. “We are excited that Mr. Noel will be joining our district. We know his experience and dedication to athletics will continue to help our Viper programs flourish.”

Noel and his wife, Michelle, live in Granville County with their son, Blake.

Noel will start work in VCS on July 1, 2022.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead athletics at Vance County High School,” Noel said in a written statement.
“Thanks to Mr. Horner and the administration for this opportunity. GO VIPERS!”

Crossroads Christian School

SportsTalk: Richardson Says Spring Sports A Success

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If you see Crossroads Christian School Athletic Director/Head Basketball Coach Scottie Richardson with a smile on his face, that’s because he is happy with how spring sports have gone at the school. The Colt’s Girls Soccer team made a deep run in the playoffs and the golf team won the conference championship finishing third in the state. On top of that, five seniors who played on Crossroads Christian’s athletic teams will be moving on to play at the college level.

Under Richardson, the Colt’s athletic program has grown to 22 teams in nine sports and that includes 12 All State players in five sports.  No wonder Richardson is happy.

Next school year when Richardson puts on his basketball cap, it will mark his 28th year as a basketball coach.  Last season, Crossroads had it’s first final four post season run, and with changes in the conference, Richardson feels that the school has a real shot at a state championship, so much so that it is Richardson’s goal for the team to bring that championship home to Vance County.

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NC Forest Service

Forestry Field Day June 24 In Oxford

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-information courtesy of Vance County Cooperative Extension

A Forestry Field Day is scheduled for Friday, June 24 to help area landowners with best practice strategies to enhance their woodland resources. Participants will learn first-hand about the possible benefits of forest management techniques of herbicide application and prescribed fires.

This free event will begin at 2 p.m. at the N.C. Forest Service office in Granville County, located at 911 Hillsboro St, Oxford.

From there, the group will proceed to two different field sites that show the results of the respective practices. Transportation to the field sites will be available, or participants may travel in personal vehicles.

The sponsors of the Field Day are the N.C. Forest Service office for Granville County, along with the N.C. Cooperative Extension County Centers in Granville and Vance counties.

Registration is required.

For more information, visit http://go.ncsu.edu/manageyourwoods or call 252.438.8188 or 919.603.1350.

The Local Skinny: KARTS Makes Getting From Here To There Easy

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People use KARTS for a variety of reasons – to get to work or doctor’s appointments, to go food shopping, keep dialysis appointments and even get to the local community college campus. Whatever the reason, KARTS buses crisscross the four-county area to provide transportation to people who need it.

And that’s something that make KARTS Executive Director Irene Johnson happy.

Each day, schedulers make appointments for residents and the Kerr Area Regional Transportation Authority buses are dispatched throughout the counties they serve.

“We are here to serve the community,” Johnson told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! “We do so much transportation now,” she said. She said a daily tally could be in the hundreds of routes.

The buses run hundreds of routes each week and even operate on Saturdays to transport people to their jobs or to their dialysis appointments. Drivers are on the road as early as 2:30 in the morning to make sure folks make their 4:30 a.m. appointments at area dialysis centers.

But Johnson has a suggestion for anyone thinking about calling for a ride from KARTS: Call as soon as possible. “As soon as you know you have a trip planned, we need you to call as early as possible,” she said.

And while it’s not mass transit like city buses or subway trains, KARTS buses are considered public transportation, Johnson noted. And for that reason, the use of masks is recommended. And even though the COVID-19 restrictions have eased, she assures riders that the buses are thoroughly cleaned to help keep everyone as safe as possible. There also are cameras with live feeds mounted inside and outside the buses for an additional layer of safety

The last couple of years have been hard on everyone, but especially hard on those without a means of transportation. Johnson said she has enjoyed seeing those folks who found themselves confined at home being able to get out and enjoy life without having to worry about transportation.

The main dispatch center is in Henderson on Ross Mill Road, but each county has its own fleet of buses that remain in those counties, she explained.

And KARTS is not immune to the labor shortage that everyone is talking about. If you’re looking for a job, KARTS is always looking for drivers. Retirees who may just want a part-time job could be prime candidates, she said, inviting others to join the hard-working staff of drivers.

“They are dedicated and want to make sure people get (to their destinations) safely,” Johnson said.

Contact KARTS at 252.438.2573 to learn more.

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