WIZS – Your Community Voice. Noon News for 3 Nov. 2020. Stories include:
-Election day and coverage
-City Council will hear an Urban Redevelopment presentation
-Vance Granville Community College awarded grant
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-Information courtesy the City of Henderson
On November 5, 2020, individuals from the North Carolina School of Government will make a presentation to members of the Henderson City Council and the Henderson Planning Board regarding Urban Redevelopment Areas. This meeting will be a Zoom meeting and will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in Council Chambers.
The Zoom information will be posted on the City’s web page no later than 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 5.
It is possible a quorum of Council Members will attend this meeting; however, no action will be taken.
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-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections
Recently, questions have arisen about the law pertaining to assistance to voters at voting sites. The State Board of Elections will investigate credible allegations of improper assistance.
The following are guidelines regarding assistance to voters:
State and federal law provide disabled and illiterate voters the right to request assistance from a person of the voter’s choice, except for the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union.
There are no legal restrictions on the number of times a person can assist different voters if the voters qualify for assistance and proper procedures are followed.
Who may receive assistance
Any voter, regardless of whether they have a disability, may receive assistance from a near relative. Elections officials should avoid prying questions about the voter’s preference for assistance.
A voter whose disability prevents him or her from entering the voting booth or marking a ballot without assistance, or a voter who is illiterate, may get help from any person, except for the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. Not all disabilities are immediately apparent, but a voter who requires assistance entering the voting booth or marking a ballot due to a mental disability is just as entitled to assistance as a voter whose disability may be easily seen. N.C.G.S. § 163-166.8.
Requesting assistance
A voter who needs assistance must request it from the chief judge upon entering the voting place and identify the person the voter desires to provide such assistance. Certain disabilities may affect voters’ ability to vocalize their request, but federal law still provides that such a disabled voter is entitled to assistance. Elections officials will exercise their best efforts to understand and respond to individual requests for assistance however communicated. State administrative law provides that an election official may prompt the voter if needed if it appears the voter may be requesting assistance.
In many cases, a voter in need of assistance will be accompanied into the voting place by an assistant. Alternatively, the voter may—but is not required to—request the assistance of an election official. If the assistant helps mark the ballot, the assistant is required to mark the ballot as directed by the voter.
Assistants are prohibited from persuading or inducing any voter to cast a vote in any particular way or to vote for any particular candidate. They are also prohibited from communicating to others about how the voter voted.
Script for requesting assistance
The State Board of Elections provides a script for elections officials to use when a voter is accompanied by someone who appears to be an assistant. Elections officials are prohibited from asking the voter to identify or explain the nature of the voter’s disability. The script should be modified if the voter’s disability limits their ability to communicate. See Numbered Memo 2020-16 for the script.
Intimidation of voters
Voters have a right to freely enter the voting enclosure without fear of intimidation or harassment. It is a federal crime to intimidate, threaten, or coerce a voter with the purpose of interfering with the right of the voter to vote. Photographing or videotaping voters for the purpose of intimidation is prohibited. Observers will be ejected from the polling place if they interfere with or communicate with voters. See Numbered Memo 2020-30 for additional information.
Authority of county board of elections
It is the duty of the chief judge or one-stop site manager to ensure peace and good order at the voting place, which includes the duty to remove observers who intimidate or harass voters, and persons who unlawfully attempt to assist voters. If the chief judge or one-stop site manager needs additional support, they are to contact their county board of elections.
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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools
Vance County Schools will permit a staggered phase-in of high school athletics beginning the week of November 2, 2020, as outlined in the schedule included below. This phase-in is consistent with expectations outlined by the NC High School Athletic Association and endorsed by the Vance County Board of Education.
Student-athletes involved in volleyball, cross country, cheerleading, basketball, football or swimming, along with their parent/guardian, MUST attend a required virtual orientation meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. All high school students will receive a zoom link in their school email. This meeting will provide important information for our student-athletes and their parents.
Should you have any questions, please contact the High School Athletic Director, Joe Sharrow at (252) 430-6000 or by email at jsharrow@vcs.k12.nc.us. The latest information will be updated on the VCHS website (www.vcs.k12.nc.us/vchs).
A decision regarding middle school athletics will be announced in the near future.
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections
The N.C. State Board of Elections anticipates that the results reported by the end of election night will include 97 percent or more of all ballots cast in North Carolina in the 2020 general election.
As always, the remaining ballots, including provisional ballots and absentee by-mail ballots that arrive after Election Day, will be counted and added to the totals during the post-election canvass period.
As they become available after all polls close Tuesday night, unofficial election results will be posted here: https://er.ncsbe.gov/.
“Please remember that all results reported on election night are unofficial. We will post results as quickly as possible, but our primary objective will be accuracy more than speed,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “State and county elections officials take many steps after every election to ensure all eligible votes are counted and the results are audited and accurate.”
Please see below for details on how votes are counted, how and when results are reported on election night and information about post-election audits, recounts and canvass.
What votes will be counted and reported on election night 2020?
The vast majority of all votes cast in the 2020 general election in North Carolina will be reported as unofficial results on November 3. All results are unofficial until the statewide certification, or canvass, scheduled for November 24, during a meeting of the State Board. (See “What happens after election night?” below.)
If all goes as expected, the following unofficial results will be reported to the public on election night through the Election Results Dashboard:
When will results be reported to the public?
The State Board will begin posting results publicly after polls close statewide at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. However, the State Board may extend voting hours at a polling place if polls are delayed in opening for more than 15 minutes or are interrupted for more than 15 minutes after opening. Any polling extension may not be longer than the delay in voting. No results will be posted until all polls are closed.
The State Board will issue a notice if the State Board meets on Election Day to consider polling hours extensions. The public will be able to listen to the meeting remotely.
Below is an estimated timeline of the expected reporting of unofficial results to the Election Results Dashboard. Reporting times will vary by county. Results are updated every few minutes as they come in from the counties.
Various factors can affect the timing of results.
What happens after election night?
Elections are far from over on election night. This has always been the case. In the days that follow, the county boards of elections count the remaining ballots, research the eligibility of each provisional ballot, conduct a series of post-election audits, and conduct any necessary recounts. The State Board conducts additional audits to ensure a fair and accurate count.
These post-election processes culminate in the final certification of results, also called canvass. County boards of elections will hold their canvass meeting at 11 a.m. November 13. The State Board will meet on November 24 to certify the election.
For more information about NC election audits and canvass, see the Post-Elections Procedures and Audits webpage.
Absentee ballots. Mail-in absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day will be accepted by county boards of elections until 5 p.m. November 12. Overseas and military absentee ballots also are accepted through November 12. These ballots will be added to the unofficial results during the canvass process.
Provisional ballot meetings. Provisional ballots are cast when an individual’s name does not appear on the poll book or other questions arise about that person’s eligibility to vote or to vote a particular ballot.
Each county board of elections meets before certifying the results to make decisions on provisional applications submitted by voters. If the board determines that the voter is eligible, the provisional ballot is counted. If the voter is eligible for some contests on the ballot but not others, the eligible contests will be counted. These ballots will be added to the unofficial results during the canvass process.
Sample Audit. Every county conducts a sample hand-to-eye count of ballots in randomly selected precincts and one-stop locations to confirm results tabulated by machine. Counties must conduct their hand-to-eye counts in public.
County canvass. County boards of elections will certify their results at public meetings held at 11 a.m. Friday, November 13. The county board certifies contests and referenda within the county boundaries.
Recounts. Any mandatory recounts would be conducted by county boards of elections after the county canvass and before the state canvass. For statewide contests, the vote difference must be 10,000 votes or fewer for a candidate who is the runner-up to demand a recount. For non-statewide contests, the difference between the candidates must be 1 percent or less of the total votes cast in the contest. The recount demand must be in writing and received by the State Board of Elections no later than noon on Tuesday, November 17. If a recount is demanded, the State Board of Elections office would issue a schedule, and the counties would conduct recounts individually during open meetings.
For contests under jurisdiction of county boards of elections, a demand for recount must be made in writing to the county board of elections by 5 p.m. Monday, November 16.
See general guidelines for recounts: http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2008%20-%20elections/chapter%2009%20-%20conduct%20of%20vote%20recounts%20by%20county%20boards%20of%20elections/08%20ncac%2009%20.0106.html.
And see Recount of Optical Scan Ballots: http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2008%20-%20elections/chapter%2009%20-%20conduct%20of%20vote%20recounts%20by%20county%20boards%20of%20elections/08%20ncac%2009%20.0107.html
State canvass. The State Board of Elections will certify statewide results for all federal, statewide, multi-district and judicial contests at a public meeting held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24. Results in each contest are not considered official until certified by the State Board. After state canvass, the board of elections with jurisdiction over each contest will issue a certificate of election to the prevailing candidate.
5 Important Facts About Election Security in 2020
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-Obituary and photo courtesy Sossamon Funeral Home
Jerry “Wayne” Adcock
Former Superintendent of Vance County Schools, Jerry Wayne Adcock, age 73, of Henderson, passed away on November 1, 2020, at Granville House in Oxford.
Born in Vance County on December 4, 1946, he was the son of the late Betty Fleming Adcock and Acy Nelson Adcock.
Wayne was a graduate of Aycock High School, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from UNC in Chapel Hill and a Master’s Degree in Education and Educational Specialist Degree from East Carolina. He was a lifelong resident of Vance County, except for the four years he lived in Chapel Hill.
Former Superintendent of Vance County Schools, Jerry Wayne Adcock, age 73, of Henderson, passed away on November 1, 2020, at Granville House in Oxford.
Wayne began his career in education teaching eighth-grade social studies, health and P.E. in 1969-70 in Townsville High School. He taught civics and algebra 1970-71 at Carver Elementary. He was the lead teacher at Nutbush Elementary, became assistant principal at E.M. Rollins for one year, principal at L.B. Yancey for five years, Clark Street for one year, Carver for two years, Henderson Junior High for 10 years, Vance Senior High four and a half years and Eaton Johnson Middle School for two years.
He served as superintendent of Vance County Schools from July 1996 until January 2003.
He was a member, former deacon and Sunday School teacher at Carey Baptist Church where a graveside service will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 2 p.m. by Rev. Matt Cowan and Rev. Frank Sossamon.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susan Steed Adcock. He is also survived by a son, John Nelson Adcock and his wife Mercedes, two grandchildren Hugo David and Eleanor Lylias Adcock all of New Orleans. He is preceded in death by a son, David Wayne Adcock.
Wayne loved the Lord, his family, his Carey Baptist Church family and all who worked for or attended Vance County Schools. He was truly a people person who loved to see former students and to find out what they were doing with their life. Also, Wayne loved the Yankees, the Tarheels and Doo Whoop music.
During his retirement, he enjoyed going to Florida to spring training to see the Yankees play. He also enjoyed many trips to Pennsylvania and New York to attend concerts.
The family would like to thank the staff at Granville House, Kindred Hospice, Dr. Bill Dennis and Lynette Choplin for the care Wayne received.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Carey Baptist Church P. O. Box 637 Henderson, N.C.; Henderson YMCA 380 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, N.C. or Vance County Public School Foundation 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson, N.C. 27536.
Everyone that attends the graveside service is asked to please practice social distancing and wear an appropriate face covering.
Arrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com.
Remembering Adcock on WIZS this morning, John Charles Rose said, “Mr. Adcock was someone who was very close to me and very dear to many people in Vance County. In my life, I’m not sure I’ve ever met a more dignified man. He was always in control of situations in the schools and was a strong man in life.”
Click to hear audio in remembrance of Wayne Adcock…
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-Information courtesy Vance County Board of Elections
Saturday, October 31 marked the last day of early voting and the last day to register to vote in the 2020 General Election.
According to Vance County Board of Elections Director Faye Gill, 17,051 Vance County residents, or 58.6 percent, participated in early voting. Vance County currently has 29,075 registered voters.
To vote on Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day), voters should go to their regular, assigned polling place.
With questions, please call the Vance County Board of Elections at (252) 492-3730.
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
The Cannon Foundation, based in Concord, North Carolina, recently awarded a $125,000 grant to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund. The funds will support VGCC’s Nursing Simulation Lab and Heavy Equipment Operator program simulators.
“With this grant, Vance-Granville Community College will continue to enhance our Nursing and Heavy Equipment Operator training programs, so that students can receive state-of-the-art preparation for their careers,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “We appreciate the Cannon Foundation’s commitment to workforce development and education.”
Part of the grant will provide needed equipment for the new, 4,000-square-foot Simulation Lab on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. This lab has recently been relocated from its previous space on the campus of Maria Parham Health in Henderson.
Much like it did at the previous location, the lab will provide students in Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing with opportunities to train for a variety of real-life situations, using high-tech manikins. The life-like “patients” can be programmed to replicate a variety of medical diagnoses and conditions.
The other, larger portion of the grant funds will provide simulators of a different sort. The Heavy Equipment Operator program, based on VGCC’s Warren County Campus in Warrenton, will benefit from new, improved training simulators, on which students can practice in a safe, controlled way. The trainers simulate equipment such as bulldozers and excavators.
The college’s HEO program is now a registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program, and the updated simulation equipment will help align the training with current workforce needs.
“Our current Heavy Equipment Operator program has been in place since 2015 with the simulators we currently have through an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration,” explained Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of Occupational Extension & Human Resources Development. “I am thrilled at the opportunity offered to us by the Cannon Foundation to purchase additional simulation equipment to enhance our HEO program so that students can practice and learn on updated equipment as they prepare to work in the field of Heavy Equipment Operation.”
The Cannon Foundation was formed in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, chairman and president of the Cannon Mills Company. The Cannon Foundation continues his philanthropic legacy by funding primarily capital and infrastructure projects for organizations across the state of North Carolina. To date, the Cannon Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $305 million.
“This new grant from the Cannon Foundation is good news for our community, for the students who will use this equipment to learn, and for their future employers,” said Eddie Ferguson, VGCC endowment fund director. “VGCC continues to partner with a variety of funders to provide high-quality training for good jobs in fields like health care and construction.”
The Cannon Foundation has supported VGCC in the past, including a grant of $150,000 to help complete the renovation of Building 10 on the college’s Main Campus.
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-Information courtesy Rhonda Pulley, SHPHC
South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church will hold a Revival with Evangelist Mick Snider November 1-4, 2020. The church is located at 905 Americal Road in Henderson.
Service Times:
Sunday, November 1 – 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Monday, November 2 – 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 3 – 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 4 – 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
