Single Gunshot Wound Killed Child

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— press release from Henderson Chief of Police Marcus Barrow 2/28/25

This morning at approximately 9:30, first responders were dispatched to a residence on Gary Street in the City of Henderson following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered a minor with a single gunshot wound. EMTs and other first responders provided medical assistance, but, unfortunately, the minor died as a result of the injury.

Preliminary information indicates that the incident took place inside the victim’s residence. Another minor living in the same home had accessed an unsecured firearm and discharged it, striking the deceased. The firearm involved in the incident has been recovered, along with other evidence. The investigation will require time and various resources, including consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.

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Maintenance At Dozens Of CSX RR Crossings In March; Drivers, Expect Detours

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Drivers in Vance County who typically cross the CSX railroad tracks, the one that goes right through downtown Henderson, may encounter a detour or two starting March 3 and continuing until March 28th.

Perhaps you’ve already seen the piles of crossties along the line. Maintenance work is scheduled, with some closures lasting from 2-to-5 days. Major crossings like those at Warrenton Road, Andrews Avenue, Chavasse Avenue and Bearpond Road are expected to be completed on the same day.

New railroad ties will be installed on the track from Manson almost as far south as Franklinton.  Work is scheduled to begin in Warren County, continue through Vance County and end in Franklin County.

Initial projections have the work at Warrenton Road being done March 10 with the work going through Henderson that week and reaching Bearpond Road on March 17.

Southern Commercial Development is the traffic control contractor coordinating the project for CSX and will be in charge of creating detours during the various road closures.

There are 32 crossings in Vance County that will see work, as well as two each in Warren and Franklin counties. Eleven of the 32 involve either private roads or one-way access roads and work crews will try to complete those projects within 24 hours.

According to the Director of Media Relations Austin Staton of CSX, the project is estimated to take four weeks and should be wrapped up by Mar. 28.

The length of time the railroad crossings are closed will be dictated by the type of maintenance they are set to receive, but crossings will not be closed for the duration of the project.

To see which crossings are scheduled for maintenance, click on the link below, which lists each crossing and the estimated dates the maintenance should occur:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1IX49r53Iuc2CC94RdcjTDQzuWHiclT0&usp=sharing

Maria Parham Health Welcomes Dr. Leslie S. Anewenah To Surgical Staff

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— information courtesy of Maria Parham Health 

Maria Parham Health has announced that Dr. Leslie S. Anewenah has joined the medical team as a general surgeon.

Anewenah brings experience in general and colorectal surgery and most recently was chief of surgery at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, Ill.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Anewenah to our medical team,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “His wealth of experience, leadership in surgery, and dedication to advancing healthcare make him an excellent addition to our community. We look forward to his positive impact on our patients and the continued success of our surgical department.”

With a strong background in both clinical and academic settings, Anewenah has been at the forefront of surgical practice and research. He has worked with various prestigious medical institutions, including Pana Community Hospital and HSHS Medical Group, where he performed advanced surgeries and led surgical teams to improve patient care and outcomes.

He completed a fellowship in colorectal surgery at Georgia Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates and a general surgery residency at Mercy Catholic Medical Center. His broad experience spans various specialties that include colorectal surgery, minimally invasive techniques and complex cancer surgeries.

Anewenah is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal  Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. He has presented at surgical conferences about his research and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles.

His expertise is matched by his dedication to patient care. With a proven track record of working closely with patients to develop individualized treatment plans, Anewenah makes sure his patients’ needs are met with the highest standards of care. His leadership as a member of the Medical Executive In addition, his leadership as a member of the Medical Executive Committee at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital showcases his ability to guide medical teams and elevate healthcare delivery.

Anewenah will be seeing patients at Maria Parham Surgical Associates. He is excited to bring his experience in general surgery to the Henderson community and contribute to the high-quality care that Maria Parham Health is known for.

Vance County Logo

Jennifer Williams Appointed As County Tax Administrator

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Jennifer Williams has been appointed to the position of Vance County Tax Administrator, according to County Manager C. Renee Perry.

Williams, who most recently served as deputy tax assessor in the Vance County Tax Office, began her new duties on Monday, Feb. 24, succeeding Porcha Brooks, who is retiring.

“We are thrilled to have Jennifer promoted into this role,” Perry said. “With her extensive experience in tax administration and commitment to serving our community, I am
confident that she will bring strong leadership and expertise to this important role.”

Williams began her career in 2004 in Wake County in ad valorem taxation. After 13 years there, she worked as assistant tax administrator in Vance County and tax listing manager in Chatham County before coming back to Vance County as deputy tax assessor.

Williams has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Ashford University and is a certified Real & Personal Property Appraiser. She also is a certified Assessor.

NC Coop Extension

The Local Skinny! Farmers Market Vendor Courses

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This is the time of year when local gardeners are perusing seed catalogs or checking in with local nurseries about when the vegetable slips will be ready to purchase.  The April 15 frost date seems a long way off, but gardeners are planning now in order to reap the benefits – literally – when spinach, peas, beans and more are ready to harvest.

Vance County Cooperative Extension is hosting a series of vendor workshops during March for anyone interested in participating in farmers markets in Vance, Granville or other nearby counties.

Vance County Agriculture Agent Michael Ellington said the classes will be held on Saturday mornings beginning Mar. 8 and will continue on Mar. 15, 22 and 29. The first three sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the Mar. 29 session will last from 10 a.m to 1 p.m.

All sessions will be held at Salem United Methodist Church, 4151 Salem Rd., Oxford.

Each session has a different focus, Ellington explained.

  • 8 – the basics of business
  • 15 – marketing – product placement for optimum visibility on tables in the market
  • 22 – knowing your customers and follow-up to sales
  • 29 – basic food safety

Vendors often sell at more than one farmers market, Ellington said, so it just makes sense that these vendor trainings are offered to individuals from numerous counties throughout the area.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market may see a higher volume than some of the other area markets because of tourism – folks visiting Kerr Lake or traveling along I-85 may choose to stop in, he noted.

He would like to see the Vance market be an incubator market for others who are just getting started in growing produce or for those who are interested in expanding their existing production.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will have a new feature this year, if all goes according to plan.

Ellington said volunteers and others have been whacking away at kudzu to create a community garden on the campus of the farmers market.

More volunteers are needed at upcoming workdays, he said:

  • Mar. 21 – working on establishing garden borders – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Mar. 29 – marking walkways and preparing for stone installation – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Apr. 11 – installing garden beds – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“We want to have the community realize that this is their market, and the garden is theirs,” Ellington said. The community garden would be a perfect spot for those who want a garden but lack the space or the confidence to plant, tend and harvest on their own.

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Vance County Logo

TownTalk: State of the County

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It didn’t take long for Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry to address what she called “the elephant in the room” during the “State of the County” report hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Henderson Country Club.

Perry and Assistant County Manager Jeremy Jones reviewed goals, economic development successes, as well as several challenges the county faces as it moves forward.

When she became county manager in November 2023, Perry and county staff had in front of them a few challenges to sort through – including that “elephant in the room” that Perry mentioned: A former finance director who embezzled $1.4 million in county funds.

Perry said $1 million of that has been recouped, and she and her team are looking to the future.

Making financial lemonade from lemons, Perry said the county has overcome its past and now has much stronger internal controls in place to protect citizens’ tax dollars.

“We have a committed team of leaders who strive every day to make Vance County thrive,” families flourish” and stay strong, she said.

Always forward-facing, Perry said “our past does not define us. It’s the work we’re doing now” that counts.

Key to Vance County’s growth is economic development, and Perry said she supports responsible growth to create a stronger, more vibrant community.

The Board of Commissioners has chosen to keep their goals from last year and add to the list, Perry said.

The goals include:

  • purchase land for an EMS substation in Williamsboro and an EMS central station
  • pursue land acquisition, construction of a new detention center
  • take next steps for the recently completed fire study
  • continue construction of Phase 1B of the county water system and increase water connection signups by 20 percent
  • work with city to build better relationships for services offered
  • plan for using opioid settlement money and identify programs to reduce drug dependency
  • retain or assist in creation of 150 jobs and $10 million in new investment

The county has 90 vacancies, most notably in social services – 42 vacant positions – and the detention center – 20 openings.

It’s tough for a rural county to compete with more lucrative packages that nearby counties can offer. Wake and Durham counties are just a commute away, Perry said, and that makes Vance County an ideal spot to live – but not to work. Simply put, Vance County just can’t match bonuses and other incentives that larger, more urban counties can.

The county did enact, however, a 7 percent COLA (cost of living adjustment), effective July 1, 2024.

She encouraged those in attendance to stay positive and hopeful for a positive future.

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Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

The Granville-Vance-Warren Beginner Beekeeping School will be on March 1st, at 9am at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

The Vance-Warren Beekeepers Association will have their March Meeting on Monday, March 10th, at 7pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

The Growing The Spring Vegetable Garden Workshop will happen on Monday March 31st, 6:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. This event will be hosted by Wayne Rowland.

  • Pruning season is fast approaching, sharpen your pruning equipment,  Cooperative Extension has pruning publications that will show how to correctly prune fruit trees and grape vines.
  • Check the central Piedmont planting guide for vegetables that can be planted in each month.
  • Fertilize your fescue lawn if you haven’t already done so.
  • With warmer temperatures this week check for cool season broadleaf weeds in your lawn and spray them if needed. 
  • Continue planting trees and shrubs anytime soil is workable.
  • Organize seed packets according to planting date.
  • Do not till soil if it is wet.
  • Check seedlings daily for moisture.
  • Keep that garden journal up to date.
  • Treat sheds, lawn furniture, and wooden handled tools with wood preservative if needed.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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