Community Partners of Hope

Protective Gown Volunteer Work Enters Week Two at First Presbyterian

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-Information courtesy Jane King, Community Partners of Hope, Inc.

If you want to help the community, please consider joining a group that has been making disposable protective gowns for hospital and nursing home workers. This project was started by First Baptist Church in Henderson, and the work was done at McGregor Hall for a number of weeks.

The project has now moved to First Presbyterian Church, and we can use volunteers to create gowns from plastic sheeting to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19.

Work for the week of June 8 – 12 will be done from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday – Friday and also 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. The work is not difficult and someone can train you quickly.

All volunteers 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All volunteers will be screened upon arrival and must have a temperature below 100, no symptoms, and no known exposure to COVID-19 (including no known exposure by anyone in their household). Please bring a mask and scissors with you.

If you would like to help, please sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A44ADAC2BA1FD0-protective1

The church is located at 222 Young Street – entrance at the corner of Chestnut and Young Streets in downtown Henderson. Please park on Young Street (most handicapped spaces are for Sunday only) or across the street in the parking lot at the Boy Scout building. Please enter using the door from the courtyard to the right of the fellowship hall.

If you have any questions, please contact Jane King at janeking1@gmail.com or call 252-432-9494.

Vance County NC

Vance County Public Safety, Properties Committee Announce June Meetings

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Please be informed of the following scheduled Vance County committee meetings. All meetings will be held in the Commissioners’ Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

Public Safety Committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Taylor)

Monday, June 8, 2020, at 3 p.m.

  • Ladder truck purchase
  • Fire redistricting
  • Animal Control ordinance amendment
  • Bertie ambulance franchise

Second Public Safety Committee Meeting

Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 3 p.m.

  • Fire reorganization

Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Monday, June 29, 2020, at 3 p.m.

  • Green Rural Redevelopment proposal to use Eaton Johnson cafeteria
  • Henderson Institute shared parking agreement
  • Eaton Johnson renovation
Vance County Logo

Filing Period Begins for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor

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-Information courtesy Vance County Board of Elections

Filing for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor starts Monday, June 8, 2020, at 12 p.m. and ends on Monday, July 6, 2020, at 12 p.m.

The filing fee is $5. The Vance County Board of Elections office will not be closed for lunch during the filing period.

Anyone interested in filing should call the Vance County Board of Elections office at (252) 492-3730. If you would like to make an appointment before coming to file, you may do so.

You will be required to wear a mask and have your temperature taken before entering into the Board of Elections office.

One person is allowed in the director’s office and the deputy director’s office at a time. A waiting area is available in the hall. Anyone that visits the office should practice social distancing.

U.S. Department of Justice

Henderson Heroin Trafficker Sentenced

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

A Henderson man was sentenced to 78 months in prison for trafficking heroin in Vance County.

According to court documents, Reginald Lamont Lewis, 31, was involved in the distribution of heroin from February 2017 until December 2018. During that time, law enforcement investigated the drug trafficking activities of Lewis by conducting undercover purchases of narcotics; over 300 individual doses of heroin were purchased in total.

The execution of a search warrant led to the seizure of approximately $25,600 in U.S. currency.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Henderson Police Department; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; and the Virginia State Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the U.S. Department of Justice website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:18-cr-00518-D-1.

Local News Audio

Noon News 06/05/20

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

WIZS, Henderson – Your Community Voice
Dennis Jarvis accepts Executive Director position with Jefferson County Development Authority in West Virginia.
JC Penney to close 154 stores permanently, including the Henderson location.
The US census continues.
Henderson man receives 78 months imprisonment for trafficking heroin.

 

City of Henderson Logo

Approval of New FY Budget on Henderson City Council’s June 8 Agenda

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson, NC

The Henderson City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 8, 2020, at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave. in Henderson, NC.

Due to COVID-19 health mandates issued by Governor Cooper, the number of people allowed in Council Chambers will be limited for this meeting. Therefore, no citizens will be allowed in Council Chambers to observe or to make comments. However, members of the community are strongly encouraged to provide questions/comments for Council in writing as follows and to listen via Zoom:

Written Comments:

  1. Email written comments to emccrackin@ci.henderson.nc.us
  2. Emails received by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be read aloud at the meeting. Comments are limited to 3-minutes per person.

Zoom Instructions:

Time: Monday, June 8, 2020, 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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Password: 333396

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Agenda Items Include:

Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 20-21, Adoption of the FY 20-21 Budget and FY 20-21 Annual Fee Schedule. The proposed FY 2020-2021 budget is available for viewing in its entirety on the City of Henderson’s website, under the Finance Department tab (click here).

Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 20-22, Authorizing the Demolition of 224 Zene Street for Failure to Comply with Abandoned Structure Code.

Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 20-23, Amending Sanitation Ordinance Chapter 17, Section 17-3 Garbage and Trash Collection Policy.

Consideration of Approval of Resolution 20-40, Deferring Implementation of the Adopted Financial Model Developed by Stantec for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System.

Consideration of Approval of 1) Resolution 20-39, Accepting the 2020 BJA Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Grant and 2) Ordinance 20-24, FY 20 BA #30, Establishing a Budget for the BJA Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Grant.

Consideration of Approval of Tax Releases and Refunds from Vance County for the Month of April 2020. 

Click here to view previous and current Henderson City Council meeting agendas and minutes. 

Dennis Jarvis

Dennis Jarvis, H-V Economic Development Director, Accepts Position in Jefferson Co., WV

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-Press Release, Jefferson County Development Authority

The Jefferson County Development Authority announces that Dennis Jarvis II will be its new executive director, effective July 6, 2020. Jarvis will lead the organization as it develops a new strategic plan for its future direction and focus on economic development efforts in Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County Commission approved the employment of Jarvis today upon the recommendation of the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) Board of Directors. Working with a national firm, JCDA board members began the search for a new executive director six months ago. After seeking input from community stakeholders regarding the type of candidate to pursue, Jarvis was selected following an extensive screening and interview process.

The Jefferson County Development Authority announces that Dennis Jarvis II, currently the director of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission in North Carolina, will be its new executive director, effective July 6, 2020. (Photo courtesy JCDA)

Jarvis has 20 years of community and economic development experience in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. He started his career as the deputy director of the Logan County Development Authority in West Virginia and is currently the director of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission in North Carolina.

His background with business development, job creation, small business and entrepreneurial assistance programs as well as marketing and grant writing will be instrumental to the JCDA, said Neil McLaughlin, president of the JCDA. “We were impressed with Dennis’s enthusiasm for this area, his motivation and creativity for the role in general, and his stalwart Mountaineer spirit.”

“We look forward to Dennis joining the county,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jane Tabb. “This position is key to increasing and diversifying the tax base for Jefferson County and strengthening the economic well-being of our county, our businesses, and our residents.”

Since being reconstituted a year ago, McLaughlin noted the JCDA Board has been working to move forward, increase transparency, and grow relationships with the community, business leaders, and regional and state officials. In January, the JCDA hired a consultant to facilitate the development of a new strategic plan to guide JCDA leaders in establishing the direction of the organization.

“We’re looking forward to having Dennis on board as we begin this new chapter of the JCDA,” McLaughlin said. “His engaging personality, pro-active attitude, and relationship-building skills will be assets as the JCDA incorporates community involvement into the strategic planning process in the next few months.”

Jarvis welcomes the opportunity to come back to West Virginia. “I am honored to return home to West Virginia and the eastern gateway to our great state,” he said. “The choice to relocate to Jefferson County was easy. This is a progressive, dynamic community with a strategic location and vibrant workforce.”

The JCDA board is focused, Jarvis noted. “I am pleased to be able to work with the JCDA board. They are an energetic, synergistic group,” he said. “Developing a new strategic plan for the organization with community input is exciting for the future of Jefferson County.”

Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, Jarvis received his bachelor’s degree from Bluefield State College and completed his master’s degree at Marshall University. He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at Oklahoma University, the Community Development Institute of West Virginia University, and is a Certified Business Retention Specialist with Business Retention International.

Jarvis and his wife, Lori Daniels Jarvis, are looking forward to returning to West Virginia with their cat, Virginia, and puppy, Buzzie. They enjoy traveling and riding their Indian Chieftain motorcycle. He is also a big fan of college football and likes podcasting.

During the next few months, the JCDA will be planning several events where community officials, business leaders, and local residents will have an opportunity to meet and get to know Jarvis.

The JCDA consists of a 15-member board of directors, including representatives from the county commission and each of the five municipalities within the county as well as industry, business, labor, education, and citizens representatives. The JCDA aims to promote, develop, and advance the economic development of Jefferson County, West Virginia.

For more information about the JCDA, visit www.jcda.net, email info@jcda.net, or call 304-728-3255.

JCPenney

Henderson JCPenney Among 154 Locations Closing Nationwide

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-Information and featured image courtesy JCPenney

JCPenney has announced that 154 stores, including the Henderson Square location at 380 N. Cooper Dr. in Henderson, NC, will close permanently.

Other North Carolina JCPenney store closings include the locations at Biggs Park Shopping Center in Lumberton, Twin Rivers Mall in New Bern, North Hills Shopping Center in Raleigh and the Richmond Plaza in Rockingham.

JCPenney posted the following statement on the company blog:

Following a comprehensive review of our retail footprint, JCPenney made the difficult decision to close 154 stores. We will continue to operate the majority of our stores and our flagship store, jcp.com, to ensure our valued customers continue to have access to the products and brands they need and want.

Please click here for the full list of closing locations by state.

Gang Free

Gang Free, Inc. in Need of Volunteers to Deliver Food Boxes ASAP

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Melissa Elliott, the founder of Gang Free, Inc. and Henderson City Council member, reached out to WIZS this afternoon to help spread the word of Gang Free Inc.’s free food delivery to those affected by COVID-19.

Stating she was currently “a bit overwhelmed” by the response of those in need, Elliott would appreciate any volunteer help she can get in delivering food boxes on behalf of the Gang Free organization.

This would also be a great opportunity for youth who are now out of school for the summer to get involved in helping others in their community.

According to Elliott, volunteers would leave food boxes in the resident’s vehicle or on the porch and would not go into the home.

“I think it is notable that the people are reaching out for assistance so that they don’t infect others in the community,” Elliott said.

For more information or to volunteer, please call Elliott at (252) 425-5220.

Local News Audio

Noon News 06/04/20

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

WIZS, Henderson – Your Community Voice
Gang Free is delivering boxes of food to people
Filing for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor begins Monday, June 8
Advance Academy announces graduation details
Vance Granville Community College announce enrollment gains