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The Local Skinny! Voting On Public Health Assesement Ends March 31st

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Public health professionals have been on the front lines for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. From vaccine clinics to sharing information about community spread, it seemed like Granville Vance Public Health was always working to prevent new cases of the Delta variant, then the more pervasive Omicron.

More than likely, fighting a global pandemic was not one of the top three priorities listed on the most recent GVPH Community Health Assessment. And yet, it quickly became a priority and has remained so over the past couple of years.

GVPH Director Lisa Harrison invites all adults who live in Granville or Vance counties to take a very brief survey as her agency finishes up another community health assessment – a year-long process to identify priorities on which to focus energy and funding. The survey ends Thursday, March 31.

The community health assessment team already has conducted surveys, held focus group sessions and analyzed data trends to generate a list of priority areas for the two counties.

“Please take a moment to look at the top list of priorities that have emerged in this process and vote on your own top ones,” Harrison said in her weekly email update. “We are eager to continue our work in communicable disease prevention and also, in developing programs, interventions, partnerships and services that address our top health priorities in Granville and Vance counties.”

Before you vote, you may want to watch a 12-minute video overview of the data: https://go.unc.edu/GVPriorities-DataSummary

Click here to vote: https://go.unc.edu/GVPriorities2022

GVPH has offices in Henderson, 115 Charles Rollins Rd. behind Maria Parham Health and in Oxford 1032 College St., near Granville Health System.

Visit www.gvph.org to learn more.

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Union Chapel UMC In Kittrell To Hold Fundraisers

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Easter is right around the corner and Union Chapel United Methodist Church in Kittrell is cooking Boston Butts and having a bake sale – just in time for your holiday lunch or dinner.

Contact Edward Woodlief, president of the Union Chapel Methodist Men’s group, at 252.767.4044 to place your order before Tuesday, April 12. Proceeds benefit the men’s group of the church.

The butts average between 8-10 pounds each and will be cooked and ready for pickup on Friday, April 15 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the church parking lot. The church is located at 6535 Raleigh Road (US Hwy 1 Business South) in Kittrell. Cost is $30.

The church’s “Women of Joy” group will sponsor a bake sale during the pickup times so stop by a pick up a favorite cake, pie. Call Alice Braswell at 252.492.0882 by April 12 to make a special request for a baked item. of Union Chapel United Methodist Church will also
Proceeds from the bake sale will benefit “Women of Joy.”

 

HPD Announce Arrest In Theft of Controlled Substance at MPH

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The Henderson Police Department issued a statement about an investigation and subsequent arrest in January 2022 concerning larceny of a controlled substance by an employee of Maria Parham Health.

According to information from HPD Capt. Chris Ball, Rebecca Neal, 40, of Norlina, was arrested on Jan. 17, 2022 and charged with two felony counts, one of larceny by employee and one for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud/forgery.

At the time, Neal was an employee at Maria Parham Health.

Neal was given a $75,000 unsecured bond and was released pending a court hearing in Vance County.

Three Face Charges In Connection With Toddler’s Death On Mar. 19

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Three people have been charged in connection with the death of a toddler last weekend, according to information received today (Friday) from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Curtis R. Brame said in a press release to WIZS News that two men and one woman were charged Thursday, Mar. 24 in connection with the accident involving a motor vehicle, which resulted in the death of an 18-month-old child.

Deputies responded to a call at 6:04 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 19 to 1320 Railroad St.

An 18-month-old was transported to Maria Parham Medical Center by Vance County EMS, where the child died as a result of injuries received in the accident.

The child’s name has not been released.

Arrested were:

  • Santos Benito Mendez Ramirez, 32, felony child neglect, child abuse, serious bodily injury and felony conceal, failure to report death of a child; secured bond – $60,000
  • Ingrid Rosario Chavez-Ramos, 23, felony child neglect, child abuse, serious bodily injury and felony conceal, failure to report death of a child; secured bond – $60,000
  • Adan Leandro Escobar Mendez, 26, failure to report an accident; secured bond – $1,500

VGCC’s 38th Annual Golf Tournament May 9-10; Register Now!

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Registration is underway for the 38th annual Vance-Granville Community College golf tournament. Golfers interested in signing up to play need to swing into action before the April 15 deadline.

The VGCC Foundation Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, May 9-10, at the Henderson Country Club.  Gupton Services, Inc. of Henderson will serve as the event’s presenting sponsor.

The tournament is a primary fundraiser for the VGCC Foundation, according to a press statement from VGCC’s Jerry Edmonds III, vice president of Workforce & Community Engagement.

All proceeds from the tournament are used to fund student scholarships and to support the mission of the college.

The golf tournament provides resources for VGCC’s efforts to remove barriers to education as it enhances and expands ways to address need-based aid for students and promote equitable outcomes for all learners, said Tanya Weary, executive director of the VGCC Foundation.

But the tournament also provides an opportunity for golfers and non-golfers alike to come together and demonstrate their support of VGCC and its impact on the broader community.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais said she welcomes the opportunity to interact with all those who come out to play or watch. “We look forward to fellowshipping with our golf friends and thank you for your support of the VGCC mission,” Desmarais said.

The golf tournament will be held over two afternoons. Golfers who want to register in teams are asked to do so on the event’s website https://www.vgcc.edu/golf. Entry fee includes lunch, a golfer swag bag and a cookout at the end of each day.

There also are sponsorship opportunities available for businesses looking to promote their brand and support a worthy cause. Donations may be made via the event website or by emailing  foundation@vgcc.edu.

Presenting sponsor Gupton Services is a local HVAC, roofing and building automation systems company that traces its origins back to 1921, when C.P. Tanner established a sheet metal-working plant in Henderson.  Tanner Roofing became Owen Gupton Roofing and in 2019, Henderson native Greg Etheridge became its owner and president.

“As a local small business, we are happy to take a leadership role in the community and to support Vance-Granville Community College,” Etheridge said.  “If you look at the research, the benefits of postsecondary education and skills training to both the individual and our community are enormous.  The VGCC Foundation helps make education affordable and accessible to this region, and we must encourage that, in order to promote economic mobility and job security for our citizens.”

VGCC continues to be a source of economic growth because it provides an educated and skilled workforce that improves the quality of life for individual students and the community.  Careers in HVAC, electronics engineering, mechatronics, welding and auto mechanics are just a few areas in high demand.

Whether just entering the job market or making a career change, VGCC helps students along their career paths as they develop the skills needed to fill jobs in high-demand areas.

One Day, Two Warrants; Two Suspects Arrested by HPD on Drug Charges

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On March 23, 2022, Officers of the Henderson Police Department served a narcotics search warrant at 111 South Pinkston Street Apartment 42 Henderson in response to multiple drug complaints.

During the service of the warrant, heroin, marijuana, drug manufacturing equipment, U.S. Currency, and a semi-auto pistol were seized. 20-year-old Tyrik Pettaway was arrested in relation to this investigation.

Pettaway was charged with one count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, Possession of a Firearm by Felon, one count of Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling Place for a Controlled Substance, and one count of Possession of Marijuana.

Pettaway received an $85,000 secured bond and was remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

Additionally, on March 23, 2022, Officers of the Henderson Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at 145 East Parker Street.

During the service of the warrant, three semi-auto pistols, heroin, and U.S Currency were seized. 30-year-old, Neno King was arrested in relation to this investigation.

King was charged with one count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, one count of Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling Place for a Controlled Substance, and three counts of Possession of a Firearm by Felon.

King received a $105,000.00 secured bond and was remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

If anyone has information about any ongoing criminal activity, 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.

(Press Release courtesy of Henderson Police Department; Authority Chief Marcus Barrow)

TownTalk: Chris Wright Talks New EMS And Fire Dept. Building

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Any time a call comes in about a motor vehicle crash, first responders spring into action. Whether it’s local law enforcement or a state trooper who dashes to the scene, there also will be a fire truck or rescue squad that responds as well.

Such was the case Wednesday when more than 20 emergency type vehicles were on the scene of an accident on Spring Valley Road.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright was on his way from his home to the gym for his regular workout when the call came in, so he arrived in his personal vehicle.

Wright told WIZS News that there was a large presence and response to the scene, including rescue squad vehicles to the fire department, sheriff’s office and the State Highway Patrol.

By the time Wright arrived, the Extrication Team had begun the process of removing the victim from what was left of the car.

Some of those vehicles have specialized equipment needed for such things as extrication, Wright said. And it means that emergency vehicles, over the years, have gotten bigger as a result.

It’s important to have the most up-to-date equipment possible for first responders to be able to do their jobs, and Wright said it’s also important to have a place that can house those vehicles when they’re not in action.

He said he’s pleased that County Manager Jordan McMillen, Finance Director Katherine Bigelow and the Vance County Board of Commissioners are at least beginning to plan for construction of a new fire department. The commissioners, at their regular meeting earlier this month, approved reallocating $4.5 million to the capital improvement fund to address several projects, one of which is a new fire department. The commissioners identified a new public safety center as one of its five priorities at their recent planning retreat.

“There’s definitely been a need over the last years,” Wright told John C. Rose in a phone interview that was recorded for Thursday’s Town Talk. With the increase in staff, as well as housing fire and EMS in one space, and the number of vehicles for each group, there simply isn’t adequate space for all.

The building was completed in 1960 and added on to in the early 1990’s to provide two additional vehicle bays.

According to Wright, the doorways to the vehicle bays aren’t tall enough to accommodate newer-model vehicles. The way vehicles being built now , “we almost have to have them specially built,” he noted. That’s just one issue facing him and his department – having to spec out vehicles that will fit – literally – in the facility.

In this time of preliminary planning, there are many factors to consider, Wright said, including whether to continue to house EMS and the fire department together or have them in separate spaces.

He said county officials are now beginning to look at land and different models of buildings as they discern the planning process.

It could take a couple of years, or as many as three years, he said, but he hopes that by the time it’s completed, Vance County will have a facility it can be proud of and one that can be a resource to the community it serves.

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The Local Skinny! Lee Anne Peoples, ACTS

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Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) had a successful fundraiser Monday which Executive Director Lee Anne Peoples said probably would bring in more than $2,000 for the local agency that provides food to hungry people in Vance County.

“We are excited about it,” Peoples said, referring to the fundraiser held at 220 Seafood. She said the final total isn’t in yet, but 947 have been turned in and she expects the proceeds to be in the $2,000 to $2,500 range. It’s always a good time when you can raise money and have fun in the process, she told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

The money raised “turns right around and helps (ACTS) minister to others,” she said. Similar to running a household, there are costs to keeping ACTS open – like paying for electricity and water. Fundraisers like the one held Monday “go a long way toward helping us out,” Peoples said.

The volunteers stay busy during the week with all that is involved in preparing the daily meal distributed between 11 a.m. and noon. “Anybody can come by and get a nice, hot plate of food,” she said.

In addition, food boxes are given out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 252.492.8231 if you need food.

The volunteers help make and distribute the meals, but they also have to clean up and get the food boxes ready, too. Peoples welcomes anyone who would like to stop by for a tour or wants to become a volunteer. “We can always use volunteers, of course,” she said.

Donations are accepted most any time during the week, but if people could avoid dropping off donations when the meals are being distributed, Peoples and the ACTS volunteers would appreciate it.

The 220 fundraiser originally was the only planned fundraiser for this year, but Peoples said she and others are looking at another possible fundraiser – one that would make good use of the commercial kitchen facilities at ACTS.

“We’re looking at possibly doing a spaghetti plate fundraiser,” she said. Stay tuned for more details about that.

Besides monetary donations from individuals, businesses and churches in the area, fundraisers and grants are the chief ways that ACTS gets funded. And grant season is just about in full swing, she said. One grant has been submitted, but several others will be completed as well. “The summer and into early fall really opens up the grant window that we apply for,” she said. “It’s getting to be crunch time as far as those things go,” she said.

Learn more at https://actsofvancecounty.tripod.com or stop by ACTS at 201 S. William St., Henderson.

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