Henderson Police Department

Town Talk: Police Chief Barrow Discusses Trends In Gun-Related Violence

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The headlines in newspapers and online news sources across the nation seem to proclaim daily the latest incidents of a shooting or other gun-related crime; and the city of Henderson, unfortunately, is not bucking that trend.

Guns and gun violence are hot topics of conversation these days, from the locals at the barbershop to politicians in Washington, DC. Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow said Tuesday that he and his officers continue to work hard to keep the city safe through use of quality training and programs like a new federal grant that will help expedite processing evidence.

Barrow was on Town Talk and told John C. Rose about a grant from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that will help the local police force in its evidence collection. Information about shell casings and other evidence will be sent to a nationwide database for analysis and any possible matches with crimes in other areas, he explained.

“We have a great working relationship with ATF,” Barrow said. “We’ve processed 250, 275 people since I was hired as police chief through ATF.” He added that of those, 95 of those cases involved guns and drugs, which is how those cases are assigned to federal court.

Barrow said he supports a person’s Second Amendment rights to bear arms, but so often, those are the responsible gun owners – the ones who follow procedure to purchase or carry a weapon.

“I’m less worried about the guns I can see than I am the guns I can’t see,” Barrow said. He added that the recent nationwide increase in gun purchases has fueled a manufacturing frenzy. “I think we’d be astonished to know how many firearms are being manufactured on a daily basis and sold.”

But his assessment is that there is a preponderance of irresponsible gun owners, which creates a back channel for criminals and criminal activities.

For instance, he said, when you want to buy narcotics, but you don’t have cash, then you find something of value to trade for – like a gun.

Drug deals and drive-by shootings are just two activities that people in the community have become more aware of in recent times; Barrow called the incidence of drive-by shootings in North Carolina “alarming.”

“I don’t want to reach a point where it’s not alarming, where it’s the norm. I don’t want it to be the norm here,” he added. Barrow said his office gets ‘shots fired’ calls daily. Sometimes it turns out to be actual gunfire, he said, and sometimes it’s something as innocent as roofers using a nailgun at a nearby home.

Barrow said a police officer’s presence in the community is important to respond to all calls for help, but just as important is to have the right person in uniform representing the police department. “We want to make sure we put the right officer,” Barrow emphasized, adding that his officers have sometimes had to “work short.” “I refuse to put the wrong officer on the street. Making sure the right person is here and answering calls is important to me and to the agency,” he said.

For complete details and audio click play. 

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for June 29th, 2021. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of June 29, 2021

Name of the Company: Ribeye’s of Henderson

Jobs Available: All levels – Waiter, Waitresses, Servers and kitchen staff

Method of Contact:  Stop by 2002 Graham Ave. to apply or go online to www.ribeyes.com

 

Name of the Company:  Pino’s Restaurant is hiring!

Method of Contact: Stop by 987 South Beckford Drive to pick up an application

 

Name of the Company:  Brewer Cycles

Jobs Available:  Service Write/ Advisor- this position requires a person to be able to type fast, be computer smart and talk professionally about repairs and cost to customers regarding their power sort vehicles. Must be courteous and helpful to all customers. This position is full or part time. Pay is $13.00 – $18.00 per hour.

Method of Contact:   Stop by Brewer Cycles at 420 Warrenton Road to apply

 

Name of the Company:  Kittrell Job Corps Center

Jobs Available: Residential Advisors, Accounting Clerk, LPN’s (full and part time), Academic Instructor for Reading, CTT Instructor for Medical Administrative Assistant and CTT Instructor for Facilities Maintenance.

Contact Person: Angela Williams- HR Manager

Method of Contact:  call 252-438-9108 or email williams.angelap@jobcorps.org

 

Name of the Company:  Next Level Kennels

Jobs Available:  Part time weekend Kennel Tech. – Will be responsible for the day-to-day care of boarders and personal animals. Must have sufficient physical strength, mobility and stamina to lift and or move heavy pets and objects. It is ESSENTIAL that they have the ability and willingness to learn and the desire to provide gentle, compassionate care for boarded pets.

Method of Contact: for more information call 252-438-4459

 

Name of the Company: Schewels Home Furniture

Jobs Available: 2- Warehouse/ delivery drivers

Method of Contact: for more information call 252-492-7066 or come by 940 South Beckford Drive

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

Henderson Municipal Elections Delayed; Kittrell and Middleburg Not

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The City of Henderson, non-partisan municipal elections will be delayed until March 8, 2022.

NC Senate Bill 722 became law today.

Henderson is one of more than 30 municipalities across North Carolina that will delay elections originally scheduled for later this year.

Mayor Eddie Ellington told WIZS News the City Council passed a resolution in preparation for this decision at it’s June meeting.

The delay will allow for the revising of electoral districts based on new population numbers from the 2020 U.S. Census.

It is important to note in Vance County that the Kittrell and Middleburg elections are not affected.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Faye Gill said the filing periods for Kittrell and Middleburg are “July 2, 2021 – 12:00 noon thru July 16, 2021 – 12:00 noon. Election Day is Tuesday, November 2, 2021. The Board of Election Office will not close for lunch during filing but the office will be closed on Monday, July 5, 2021 in observance of July 4th. Filing fee is $5.00.”

Ellington  said, “I stand by this legislation being that it can be very confusing for citizens and voters to understand why one municipality would be having an election, while another is not.”  He cited the state board as well as the local board of elections as recommending the delay.

As the law pertains to the City of Henderson, the terms of council members involved will be extended until successors are elected in 2022.

According to a press release from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, candidate filing periods for the delayed elections will be held either in December 2021 or January 2022, depending on when each municipality completes the redrawing of its districts.

With the Henderson, non-partisan election scheduled for March 8, Gill said a runoff date of April 26, 2022 will be scheduled if needed or May 17, 2022 will be used if a federal second primary is held.

The state board press release indicates that for 2022 only, the law removes the prohibition on voter registration between the first and second primaries. Eligible voters who register after the date of the first primary may vote in the second primary. Voters may not change their party affiliation between the first and second primary.

Ellington said, “Sixty two of the more than 500 municipalities across the state depend on this Census data because candidates submit paperwork and the voters cast ballots based on their specific ward or district.”

The Local Skinny! Baskervilles Create VGCC Scholarship

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– press release –

Randolph and Sarah Baskerville of Henderson have established a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College.

Sarah Baskerville retired after a 30-year career in education, the last 15 as a counselor at Southern Vance High School. She has served for many years on the board of directors for the VGCC Foundation. Randolph Baskerville served as the first African American Assistant District Attorney in the 9th judicial district before serving as a District Court Judge from 2006-2014. Today, Judge Baskerville practices law with his son, Nathan, in Henderson.

In awarding the Randolph and Sarah Baskerville Scholarship at the Academic Achievement Award level, preference will be given to students of color, Vance County residents, and students in either the Criminal Justice or Paralegal Technology programs.

“Our motivation for establishing this scholarship is two-fold,” the Baskervilles said. “First, we want to assist students from households of color who are first-generation college attendees. Often, the financial burdens are so overwhelming for some families that they cause an interruption in their education. We hope that by making this scholarship available through Vance-Granville Community College, the financial gap will be lessened, and the burden lightened.”

Their second motivation, they said, was to help students who need to gain the necessary skills to achieve a measure of success in the changing economy. “We hope that by making this scholarship available through VGCC, students can obtain additional training that will help them increase their salaries and achieve their goals in life,” the Baskervilles added. “We chose the area of Criminal Justice and related fields because of the enormous need today for dedicated, effective and honest individuals in law enforcement who care about justice for all.”

VGCC Endowment Executive Director Eddie Ferguson thanked the couple for their gift, saying, “We’re honored that Judge and Mrs. Baskerville have chosen to be involved in VGCC, and this special scholarship represents their love for students, education and their community.”

“Thanks to the generous support of Randolph and Sarah Baskerville, we can look forward to awarding a scholarship each year to a student who will have the opportunity to carry on their legacy of service and leadership,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “This is yet another resource that we can use to create a community in which everyone can succeed.”

The VGCC Foundation (formerly known as the Endowment Fund) has enabled more than 9,700 scholarships to be awarded to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

TownTalk: July 4th Safety Tips

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From grilling to swimming, these tips will help keep you safe for the 4th of July weekend.

Please keep this information in mind.

Disclaimer – This is not advice.

Click play or read below.

– Press Release Courtesy of the State of North Carolina –

As the summer swimming season kicks into full gear, Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids North Carolina Chair Mike Causey reminds parents and caregivers about important safety tips to reduce child drownings.

“On these warm summer days in North Carolina, many families will be drawn to activities near water,” said Commissioner Causey. “Drownings can happen so fast – before you even realize what’s happening. So, we want parents and caregivers to be particularly cautious and take steps to avoid any potential tragedies in the water.”

FOR A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER CAUSEY, CLICK HERE.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1-14. It is the leading cause of unintentional death in children under the age of 5.

Watch for rip currents

Rip currents are a strong channel of water extending from the shore out into the water. If you see a current of choppy, off-colored water extending from the shore, steer clear. If you do get pulled out, stay calm, let the current carry you for a while and keep breathing. Don’t try to swim against the current! Gain your composure and start swimming horizontal to the shore until you’re out of the current. Once out, swim diagonally towards the shore. If you can’t make it to the shore, wave your arms and make noise so someone can see or hear you and get help.

How do rip currents form?

When waves break more strongly than others onto the shore, they can cause a circulation in the water that produces a rip current. Rip currents tend to form near a shallow point in the water, such as a sandbar, or close to jetties and piers and can happen at any beach with breaking waves. Their force is strong enough to pull the strongest swimmer out to sea.

Heed the Warning Flags

  • Red flags indicate strong surf and currents.
  • Yellow flags indicate moderate surf and currents — the water is likely to be rough but not exceedingly dangerous. Exercise caution and stay near the lifeguards.
  • Green flags indicate the ocean is calm or clear.
  • Blue or purple flags often indicate that potentially dangerous marine life (think sharks or jellyfish) are in the area or have been spotted nearby.

 Know how to swim

  • Ocean swimming is different from swimming in a pool or lake — be prepared to deal with strong surf before running in.
  • If you’re at the beach with a child or adult who can’t swim, make sure everyone has a well-fitting lifejacket.
  • The ocean floor is not flat and beaches can change drastically from year to year. When heading into the water, be aware that the ocean floor can drop off unexpectedly, so be prepared to swim in water over your head.
  • Obey the buddy system while swimming. Keep a friend nearby in case either of you ends up needing help.
  • Pick a swimming spot close to a lifeguard. Lifeguards are there for a reason — they know and can see things about the beach that most beachgoers don’t.

Pool Safety

Safe Kids North Carolina reminds parents and caregivers to take the following precautions around pools and open water:

  • Always watch children and never leave them unattended.
  • Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.
  • Always keep a charged phone nearby.
  • Know how to perform CPR on children and adults.
  • Understand the basics of lifesaving so you can assist in an emergency.
  • Install a fence at least 4 feet high around the perimeter of the pool or spa.
  • Use self-closing and self-latching gates.
  • Ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers. Install an alarm on the door leading from the house to the pool.

Know the signs of drowning

Most people believe a drowning person involves flailing arms or frantic calls for help, but that scene is often incorrect. Drowning can happen quietly when a helpless person is unable to take in a breath or call for help. The CDC estimates 10% of parents watch their children drown because they don’t know what’s happening. Rescuers may have as few as 20 seconds to save a person from drowning.

For more detailed information about the water safety, go to https://www.ncosfm.gov/injury-prevention/safe-kids/water-safety

– Press Release Courtesy of the State of North Carolina –

Do your part to keep the Fourth of July safe by never driving if you are impaired.

That was the key message at Thursday’s kickoff of the annual North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Fourth of July Booze It & Lose it campaign, dubbed ‘Operation Firecracker.’ The event was held in Greenville.

Operation Firecracker aims to prevent alcohol-related crashes by targeting impaired drivers during the July 4th holiday season. This year’s campaign runs June 28-July 4 with law enforcement agencies running sobriety checkpoints in all 100 counties to help catch drunk drivers and reduce fatalities.

“With the summer, upcoming holidays and people emerging after quarantine — emergency departments across the state, and the first responders you see here today, will unfortunately see increases in people (especially teenagers and young people) injured or killed after making the unforgivable decision to drink and drive – a tragedy that is completely avoidable,” said Dr. Jason Hack, emergency medicine physician for East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

Thursday’s event celebrated the hard work and sacrifices made by health care workers, emergency medical services, law enforcement, military personnel, and other first responders during the pandemic. Speakers urged North Carolina drivers to help emergency responders by not drinking and driving.

“They have been keeping us and our families, friends and neighbors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “And they will be working again to keep us safe this Fourth of July, when many of us are vacationing and enjoying time with friends and family.​​

“We are grateful for their hard work. But I hope they will not have to handle any impaired driving cases this July 4th holiday.”

So far in 2021, 145 people have died in alcohol and drug-related crashes in North Carolina. While that is a decrease from this time last year, it’s not enough.

“Law enforcement will be proactively assuring our roads are safe from those that persist in drinking and driving,” said Pitt County Sheriff Paula S. Dance. “We want everyone to survive by calling a taxi, Uber, Lift or a friend.

“This one decision – drive or don’t drive – will affect everyone on the road. Make it a good decision. Save a life. It could be your own.”

The ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign is one of the many traffic safety campaigns led by NCGHSP, which also funds Click It or Ticket, BikeSafe NC, Watch For Me NC, and North Carolina’s Vision Zero initiative​.

Please support this cause by taking pictures and use the hashtags #BoozeIt&LoseIt #DriveSoberGetPulledOver and #NCGHSP this Fourth of July holiday.

Many folks associate summer with cookouts – and cookouts usually involve grills. Whether it’s fueled by gas or charcoal, there are a few safety precautions to remember as grillmasters work their magic to create that perfect meal.

Local SERVPRO disaster remediation specialist William Paul shared some pre-grilling safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association and the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association:

  • READY: Clean grill racks and grease trays. For gas grills, check the gas tank hose for leaks at the beginning of the season.
  • SET: Choose a safe, firm, level spot for the grill away from coolers, people and pets. Grill outside, never in a garage or under the awning on a deck, the eaves of your home, or low-hanging branches.
  • GO: Prepare the grill for cooking carefully. For charcoal grills, use a charcoal chimney with newspaper, a charcoal starter fluid, or an electric charcoal starter plugged into an outdoor-rated extension cord. For gas grills, open the lid before turning the grill on. If you smell gas after the grill is lit, do not try to move the grill. Get away from the grill and call the fire department.

While grilling:

  • SAFE ZONE: Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the hot grill, both while you are cooking and after you serve the food. Grill surfaces can remain hot for an hour or more.
  • SAFE TOOLS: Use long-handled grill utensils in good condition; avoid loose, flowing clothing; and wear flame-retardant mitts to adjust vents to help prevent burns.
  • SAFE COOKING: Keep the fire under control. Manage flareups by adjusting grill height, using grill controls, or spreading out the coal bed. Keep baking soda within reach to control grease fires. Watch for blowing embers and have a fire extinguisher, a garden hose or a bucket of sand handy to extinguish spark-triggered fires. Never attempt to move a hot grill.

“Charcoal and gas grills, barbeques and the like are involved in an average of more than 5,000 structure fires each year and almost 5,000 additional outdoor fires,” Paul stated. Grilling accidents result in 19,700 trips to the hospital annually, almost half of which are burns. Children under the age of 5 account or 39 percent of those burns, he said, citing National Fire Protection Association statistics.

Maria Parham Women’s Care Clinic Provides Quality Care To Women In Community, Region

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A host of local officials and medical professionals were on hand for Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the second location of Maria Parham Women’s Care clinic in Henderson.

Bert Beard, Maria Parham Health CEO, welcomed those gathered and said that Dr. Weldon Hampton has had a long, successful practice in the area since he first came to Henderson in 1986.

The practice moved to Oxford in 2015 and now has opened a second office in Henderson that will have a staff of 9 on hand.  Beard said he was happy to have the clinic back in Henderson to serve the community.

“We’re very proud of this practice,” Beard said. Last year, Maria Parham Health received national recognition for Newsweek’s Best Maternity Hospitals.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington offered his congratulations as well to the group for establishing a second clinic to serve the community and the region.

Vance Commission Chair Dan Brummitt recognized the hospital as being the largest employer in the county and echoed Ellington’s comments about serving the Henderson area and the region. “Any way we can partner, we look forward to,” said Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Dr. Levy Brown.

N.C. Rep. Terry Garrison was on hand for the ribbon-cutting and commended Maria Parham and all associated with the clinic, calling it a “great day for Henderson and Vance County – another growth opportunity that has come our way,” Garrison said.

Hampton said that he and the other doctors see patients when they are in the hospital for care, but the clinic will allow them to also see patients in the office also. As for the Newsweek award, Hampton said it was “quite impressive.”

“I knew we had a great practice,” he said. “I knew we take care of our patients,” but was pleasantly surprised for MPH to be recognized nationally.

Emma White, DO, and Kayla Cagle-Colon, MD  also are recently added associates in the practice, and a fourth physician will join later this summer.

Maria Parham Women’s Care provides a comprehensive range of services and procedures including routine checkups, general gynecological care, urinary incontinence treatment, minimally invasive gynecological surgery, prenatal and postnatal care for mother and baby, as well as menopausal management. The providers deliver babies exclusively at Maria Parham Health in Henderson.

The clinic is located at 568 Ruin Creek Road, Suite 001, Henderson. To schedule an appointment, call 252.492.8576 or visit MariaParhamPhysicianPractices.com.

The Local Skinny! Wellness Event July 17 at Freedom Life Church of God

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UPDATE – Freedom Life Church of God, located at 1001 Martin Creek Rd. in Henderson – The Community Event Vaccination Celebration by Alternative Learning Center and Granville Vance Public Health HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED due to the threat of storms/rain.  The NEW DATE IS July 17, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a mobile vaccination, free food, praise dancers, PPE distribution, COVID education, raffles and prizes, grill/cookout, music and lots of fun!

A local church is partnering with the Granville-Vance Health Department and Wake Forest-based Alternative Learning Center and Community Engagement, Inc. to host a free “Calling All The Shots” wellness event, which includes a mobile vaccination clinic, free food and giveaways.

Crishna Murray, of the Wake Forest organization, said a co-worker attends Freedom Life Church of God in Henderson and they worked together to get the event organized for Saturday. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, located at 1001 Martin Creek Road in Henderson.

Murray told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! program that her organization strives to connect people to resources in the community.

The mobile vaccination station will be open to anyone wishing to get a COVID-19 shot, she said. It’s just one of the resources available at the event, which is designed to “celebrate wellness and (help) get people more involved and honor the community,” Murray said.

“It’s going to be lots of fun,” she said. In addition to meeting people’s needs, there will be raffles, prizes, hot food off the grill… and we will be happy to get you the resources you need in the community.”

Alternative Learning Center is a North Carolina non-profit corporation that focuses on personal and professional development for community members, according to information on its webpage.

Murray, who is also the author of children’s books, said she is passionate about the work ALC does. “This is my life’s work. I am humbled to offer support,” she said. “I want to see everybody win, I want to see everybody happy and I’m going to do my part while I’m here on earth to make sure that happens to the best of my ability.”