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Vance County Dive Team Called Into Action To Help Locate, Remove Submerged Vehicle From Area Pond

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The Vance County Dive Team was called into action to assist the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in investigating a report of a vehicle that was submerged in a pond.

As it turns out, an adjacent landowner also had spotted the vehicle, which apparently had been there for years but became visible when the water level dropped, according to information from Sheriff Curtis Brame to WIZS News Wednesday morning.

The dive team, alongside the members of Vance County Rescue Task Force, the sheriff’s office and Fred’s Towing & Transport, the vehicle was located in the water, safely pulled out and removed, according to a social media post by the Vance County Association of Fire Chiefs.

The post went on to say, “Incidents requiring a dive team are relatively low-frequency events, but they carry numerous high-risk hazards when they do occur. That is why continued training, proper equipment, and strong working relationships between our public safety agencies and community partners are so important. The preparation that takes place long before the call comes in is what allows these operations to be handled safely and effectively.”

Brame said the investigation continues, but that there are no records of the vehicle being stolen or involved in any crime.

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The Local Skinny! Refinement for a UDO

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Members of the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Planning Board had a joint meeting Tuesday afternoon to continue discussions to refine a draft unified development ordinance, looking specifically at Section/Article 5 that talks about data centers.

Those present around the table were reminded that, currently, a data center is allowable – without. a special use permit – in the Light Industrial and in Office & Industrial zoning districts, and technically would be allowed in areas zoned Heavy Industrial Mining.

At a previous joint meeting of the two boards, Commissioner Dan Brummitt had suggested that the group consider first the Article 5 and then use that agreed-upon language to create a text amendment to the county’s present zoning rules.

He reiterated that point at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I guess at this point, we need to give some guidance to – which I think our board already did at our last meeting – (on how) we wanted to proceed with a text amendment. That was the direction that we had asked for.”

County Attorney Jonathan Care reminded the group of the process – the planning board has to review and then recommend – or not recommend – the UDO to commissioners for their consideration.

The planning board’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10 and the next commissioners’ meeting is Sept. 14.

Close to an hour into the meeting, Commissioners Board Chair Carolyn Faines asked Sheriff Curtis Brame to address the audience because numerous individuals were interrupting the meeting with comments calling for a moratorium.

A moratorium, while not off the table, is a popular idea with many residents who have spoken out over the past several months in opposition to data center development on property off U.S. Hwy 158.

But here’s where things get tricky.

Michael Harvey with NFocus, the group helping the county update the UDO, said the state’s December 2024 downzoning law makes it difficult for local governments to amend zoning regulations.

Any changes to the ordinance would not have any effect on existing or proposed applications for any development, data centers included.

And similarly, putting a moratorium in place for any period of time would not affect any current project; it would only give county leadership a certain length of time to study the issue and have Vance County more prepared for future data center proposals.

 

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TownTalk: JCPC Hosts Sept. 25 Symposium On Ways To Promote Youth Safety

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The Vance County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is hosting a one-day community driven symposium on Friday, Sept. 26 to talk about the safety of youth and to create a community action plan to support efforts to curb gun violence.

The Youth Violence & Emerging Gangs Symposium will be held in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church, 114 Church St. in downtown Henderson.

Debbie Scott with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office said more than a half dozen youth-oriented organizations and agencies are partnering to put on the event in light of a shooting incident in June that took the life of a local 15-year-old and injured a second young child.

“It was a call to action…because we care,” Scott said of the tragic loss of the teenager’s life. “We needed to come together as a united front…to focus on a summit that will engage us in looking at real challenges impacting our young people in Vance County and surrounding counties,” she said.

The symposium is free to attend, but registration is required. Scott said she and the other partners invite members from all parts of the community to attend the symposium and brainstorm strategies to put into action.

“We agreed that youth safety is a community-wide responsibility. Real solutions require all of us working together,” she said. Parents, educators and law enforcement representatives are encouraged to take part in the symposium, as well as faith leaders and members of youth-related agencies.

Whether you work directly with youth or just care about the safety of your own neighborhood, it’s important to share your observations and perspectives about youth violence and crime, she said.

Planning for the event continues, but Scott said the afternoon session will center around gun violence, developing goals and solutions that will feed into creation of a community action plan.

“The key is partnership, the key is collaboration,” said Scott, who works with juvenile outreach for the sheriff’s office. She said she spends a lot of time talking with young people about healthy ways to stay away from guns, violence and crime.

Scott’s job includes outreach to schools to talk with students about the dangers of guns and gangs, but she also spends time fielding calls from family members who say they’re worried about children and grandchildren headed down the wrong path and getting involved with the wrong people.

She spends time sharing resources that are available in the area, from youth-centered programs to family counseling.

“We have so many smart, brilliant children in Vance County,” Scott said. “They have a bright future, and they deserve the best we can give them.”

Register by emailing Scott at Dscott@vancecounty.org or phone 252.738.2235.

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Vance County Sheriff’s Office; Subject of Missing Person Case Located

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Update Aug. 25 at 3:30 p.m. –

— From the Office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that James Allen Sneed, who was reported missing after last being seen on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Henderson, North Carolina, has been located safely.

Mr. Sneed was located and transported to a local hospital for further medical evaluation. His family has been notified, and we are thankful that he was located safely.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all agencies and individuals who assisted in the effort to locate Mr. Sneed. Special thanks are extended to the Virginia State Police and West Virginia State Police, for their assistance, cooperation, and resources throughout the search.

We also thank the members of the public and community who shared the missing-person information, remained vigilant, and provided support during the search.

The cooperation and coordinated efforts of everyone involved played an important role in bringing this matter to a safe conclusion.

Thank you to everyone who assisted in locating Mr. Sneed and helping return him safely to his family.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office is committed to serving and protecting the citizens of Vance County.

Update Aug. 24 at 1:44 p.m. –

The missing person has been located. The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is thankful to the community for assistance.

Update Aug. 24 at 10:53 a.m. –

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating James Allen Sneed, who has been reported missing.

Mr. Sneed was last seen on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Henderson, North Carolina. He was last known to be operating a red Ford F-150 bearing North Carolina registration plate TFH-3457.

Mr. Sneed suffers from cognitive impairment, which may affect his ability to safely navigate or communicate. Due to these circumstances, locating him as soon as possible is especially important.

Anyone who has seen Mr. Sneed, his vehicle, or has information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252-738-2200 or call 911.

Please share this post and help us bring Mr. Sneed home safely.

— from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

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Henderson Man Sentenced To 27 Years In Federal Prison

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— Press release from the Office of U.S. Attorney Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle

A federal judge sentenced Alexander Trowbridge, also known as “Snow,” 41, of Henderson, NC, to almost 27 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 2.2 pounds of heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon.

“Drug trafficking organizations can no longer hide in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We shut down this network, and we are coming for the rest to clean these predators off our streets and protect the citizens. If you sell drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and put you in prison for a long time. Simple lesson: Drugs kill; prison awaits—do right.”

In August 2019, the DEA, ATF, and other state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Henderson Police Department, initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Henderson, North Carolina.

The DTO obtained kilogram-level quantities of heroin and fentanyl from New Jersey and sold the drugs throughout Vance, Durham, Warren, Wake, Wilson, Franklin, and Granville counties. They regularly distributed fentanyl in baggies marked with a “Toy Story” stamp; a trademark they used to identify their product.

Law enforcement identified Trowbridge as the leader of the organization and, through controlled purchases along with physical and electronic surveillance, pinpointed several locations in Henderson used by the group, including 56 Kelly Road, 100 Kelly Road, and 66 Pinecone Lane.

The group would hide heroin and fentanyl in various places inside residences, as well as in buckets, stacks of tires, or in the woods out around the property. Drone footage showed that members of the DTO regularly drove back and forth between 66 Pinecone Lane to 56 Kelly Road, from the stash house to the trap house. They conducted hand-to-hand transactions selling drugs to customers at the trap house. Trowbridge often used numerous drug mules to transport and sell his drugs. In one instance, authorities stopped one of his mules in Maryland and found more than 2 pounds of fentanyl in the mule’s car.

The investigative findings set the stage for the next phase of the operation, culminating on November 17, 2022, when law enforcement simultaneously executed search warrants at 66 Pinecone Lane, 56 Kelly Road, and 100 Kelly Road. During those searches, authorities seized the following —

From 66 Pinecone Lane:

38 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the wood line)

  • Four shotguns
  • Four rifles
  • A loaded 9mm handgun
  • A 31‑round magazine
  • A .45‑caliber handgun
  • Multiple firearm magazines, including a drum magazine
  • More than 2,000 rounds of assorted ammunition

From 56 Kelly Road:

  • A .40‑caliber firearm
  • A large‑capacity magazine
  • 25 rounds of .40‑caliber ammunition
  • Four rounds of .38‑caliber ammunition
  • $10,304 in U.S. currency
  • A stolen firearm

From 100 Kelly Road:

  • A loaded rifle
  • $88,931 in U.S. currency
  • A loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine
  • 80 grams of heroin and fentanyl stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the woods between 56 Kelly Road and 100 Kelly Road)

Several DTO members have already been convicted and sentenced in federal court for their roles in the drug trafficking organization. Bridgett Burrows; seven and a half years in federal prison; Marques D. Gray eight years; Daquan Lovely; eight years and one month; Joseph Trowbridge; seven years; and Dwayne Trowbridge eight years. To view press the press nconference go to: https://youtu.be/F0447PvHZ3Q?si=7maFYBu9KpHnyEa3

“This sentence reflects the commitment of law enforcement agencies working together to hold those who traffic fentanyl accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong partnerships and coordinated enforcement, we will continue disrupting the flow of this deadly drug and doing everything we can to keep our communities safe. Together, we are working toward a Fentanyl Free America.”

“This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common mission. Partnerships make our communities safer and send a clear message to drug traffickers: there is no jurisdictional boundary that will protect you from our unified law enforcement efforts,” said Marcus Barrow, Henderson Police Chief.

This prosecution is part of Operation TYM 2 Block the Bridge of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, NCSBI, Henderson Police Department, and Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

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(This story was originally posted on 8-24-25, and the audio was added on 8-25-26.)

TownTalk: The Manhattans Taking the Stage at McGregor Hall Sept. 13th

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The Manhattans are coming to McGregor Hall on Sept. 13, and it’ll be another homecoming for Henderson’s Gerald Alston. It’s not the first time he’s performed in Henderson – not even the first time he’s performed at McGregor Hall.

This concert, however, is coming at the end of a Henderson Institute reunion weekend.

And Henderson Institute is where Alston got his start, after all, at a talent show when he was a teenager.

Alston reminisced with WIZS’s Steve Lewis on Tuesday’s TownTalk, and he said he remembers vividly that day when he was called to the principal’s office.

“Mr. Sanford Williams was the principal,” Alston said. “He was no-nonsense.”

But that trip to the office wasn’t for anything bad. In fact, it turned out to be something good. Very good.

He got permission to leave school an hour early to he could practice for the upcoming talent show that was going to be held at Henderson Institute.

Alston said he sang Sam Cooke’s “Tennessee Waltz” in that talent show, which got him a standing ovation and the audience calling out, “We want more!”

And that’s just what Alston’s been doing with the Manhattans since 1970 – giving audiences more.

“My career started right there in Henderson,” Alston said, referring to that talent show, which led to the formation of Gerald Alston and the New Imperials. The band toured across the Carolinas while Alston was still in high school.

When he was a student at Kittrell College, the Manhattans came to play and Alston agreed to let the group use some of his band’s equipment.

Long story short, Alston said they asked him to open the show for them. The Manhattans liked what they heard and after the show, they took Alston’s name and address and said they’d be in touch.

“That was a Thursday, and Monday I was flying to Dallas, Texas.”

He joined the group in 1970 and since then, there have been hit songs and albums, Grammys and fame. Well-loved songs like “Shining Star” and “Kiss and Say Goodbye,” just to name a couple.

Alston and the Manhattans first came to Henderson’s McGregor Hall shortly after his 2015 induction into the N.C. Music Hall of Fame. Then-Mayor Eddie Ellington proclaimed “Gerald Alston Day” and presented Alston with a key to the city on stage in June 2016.

With roughly six decades in the music business, Alston said one of the most noticeable changes he’s observed is the use of live musicians in album production.

“Nobody is recording much with live musicians,” he said, adding that records are being produced with the use of auto tunes, and now, AI.

“Some of the songs I’ve heard on AI are great songs, they sound nice,” he said. “But they’re not real ‘cause you don’t hear the feeling. They can mimic your voice … but the feeling is missing,” Alston said.

It’s the same with instruments. Sure, a keyboard can produce the sound of drums, bass guitars and rhythm sections, but it’s the individual musician who provides the feeling to the music.

The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston are bringing their signature sound – including live musicians and a trio of talented vocalists – to McGregor Hall. Alston is hoping for a sold-out show.

Get tickets for the 3 p.m. show at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ and learn more about the legendary musical group at

https://letsjustkissandsaygoodbye.com/

Listen to the whole interview at www.wizs.com.

 

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(This post and the audio are not a paid ad. However, McGregor Hall is an advertising partner of WIZS and presently there is a paid ad airing on WIZS about purchasing tickets to this same event.)

Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Quick Tips for Lawn Care

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Today’s radio segment includes quick tips on lawn care, resources for gardeners, and reminders about upcoming pesticide events.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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TownTalk: ‘An Evening Beneath the Stars’ Sept. 11

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“An Evening Beneath the Stars,” the upcoming outdoor celebration in downtown Henderson, started out as an event to mark the nation’s 250th birthday and it’s truly living up to its theme: “Honor the past. Celebrate the present. Build the future.”

The event includes dinner, patriotic music played by DJ Jay Rogers and a special video presentation that will incorporate the nation’s history along with a tribute to veterans and first responders, said Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson.

Tickets for the Sept. 11 event are $100 each and are on sale now, but don’t delay – the deadline to purchase tickets is Tuesday, Sept. 1. Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 to purchase tickets or email Tanya Wilson at tanya@hendersonvance.org.

A joint collaboration of the local Chamber of Commerce, Vance County Tourism, Vance County Economic Development Commission and the City of Henderson Downtown Development Commission, “An Evening Beneath the Stars” is being planned for the Breckenridge Street area between McGregor Hall and the Henderson Police Department.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the American Legion Post 60 mission to further enhance the newly installed veterans’ memorial located in the traffic circle just outside the police department entrance.

In information from the Chamber publicizing the event, organizers described it as “a breathtaking evening of patriotism, remembrance, and community as we celebrate 250 years of the American spirit. We will gather to honor our nation’s history, reflect on its resilience, and invest in its future. This unforgettable evening will feature live entertainment, inspiring tributes, fine dining, and moments of remembrance that unite us all.”

Wilkerson and Vance County Tourism’s Pam Hester were guests on Monday’s TownTalk to discuss how the event took shape and the plan for making it an annual event.

Collaboration is a key ingredient for the success of any event, Hester said. It’s important to show the community that different agencies and groups are working together for a common goal.

“The only way to make things successful is to come together as a group,” Hester said. “Everybody does a part. Some people like to be up front and some people like to be in the back. I’m one of those “in the back” people,” she said. “I like to be behind the scenes.”

For Wilkerson, it was a no-brainer to seek partnerships with the city and county agencies.

When the four groups came together to start the planning, the Sept. 11 date bubbled up. And that’s when they realized that this year marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The veterans’ memorial, newly installed on Breckenridge Street, became the perfect backdrop for the dinner, she added.

“It’s going to be a very memorable event,” Wilkerson said.

The goal is to make this an annual event that folks want to come back for.

And that’s where the third prong of the theme comes in: Build the Future.

Hester said she expects the monument to draw visitors – veterans and others – to the area. It’s another attraction for downtown Henderson, which gives folks another chance to experience how caring the people are and how wonderful the city is.

“We all have to have that that positive outlook and go from there,” Hester said.

 

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