Grace Ministries

Town Talk 12/12/19: Grace Ministries Accepting Toy Donations; Distribution Dec. 21

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Jamie Elliott, founder of Grace Ministries in Henderson, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

With the recent completion of a successful Thanksgiving event, where the ministry was able to feed approximately 5,000 people in the community, the organization now turns its attention to Christmas.

On Saturday, December 21 at 10 a.m., Grace Ministries will hold its Third Annual Toy Drive for Children at 961 Burr Street in Henderson.

According to Elliott, families in attendance will be shown a video with the story of Jesus’ birth and then will have a time of prayer. Afterward, toys will be distributed to children. Elliott said children must be in attendance to receive the toys.

Elliott thanked local businesses, such as Roses and Dollar General, for assisting with toy donations and welcomed any interested organizations or churches to volunteer or donate as well.

In addition to allowing the ministry to use the parking lot for toy collection, Elliott said the Roses location on Dabney Drive and Norlina Road, as well as local Dollar General locations, have set up boxes inside the store for customer donations.

To further support the cause, the Dollar General in Kittrell – off of US-1 – will be holding a bake sale this Saturday, December 14 with proceeds going directly to the toy donation.

Monetary donations and/or toy donations are needed for both boys and girls from toddler age up to 13 years old. Donations can be brought to a participating store or may be brought in-person to Grace Ministries (961 Burr St.) Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Elliott, who openly admits his past addiction to drugs and alcohol, said that giving back to the community in this way is a healing process and allows him “to share the hope of God’s promise, his son Jesus Christ” with the community.

In addition to community events, the ministry has ongoing, twice-weekly addiction recovery meetings.

Those struggling with addiction, or those who wish to help loved ones struggling, are encouraged to attend Grace Ministries’ 12-Step meetings on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7 p.m.

All are welcome to attend this addiction recovery process based on biblical passages. Elliott assured listeners that no one who seeks help is judged, and all discussions are kept confidential.

For more information on Grace Ministries, visit the website at www.graceofhenderson.org. With questions or to volunteer to assist with the toy drive, please call Elliott at (252) 204-3617 or Bobby West at (252) 432-7124.

 To hear the interview with Elliott in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office Seeking Info. on I-85 Shooting

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-Press Release, Vance County Sheriff’s Office 

On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 11:20 p.m., the Vance County Sheriff’s Office responded to Maria Parham Health located at 566 Ruin Creek Road in Henderson, NC in reference to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury with Intent to Kill.

The three (3) victims in this matter stated they were traveling north on Interstate 85 heading back to Henderson, North Carolina when an unknown vehicle pulled up beside them and started shooting into their vehicle.

Upon arriving at Maria Parham Health, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Deputies located two known black males at the hospital. The other known black male involved in this incident was treated at Maria Parham Health and transported to Duke Medical Center.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding this incident. Please contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252-738 2200. This investigation is continuing.

Sheriff Curtis Brame

New Phone Scam Prompts Sheriff Brame to Issue Further Warnings

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame is again reminding citizens to be aware of fraud, particularly gift card fraud.

Not only that, but someone, according to the Sheriff, is impersonating Brame and other deputies with a phone scam.

There has even been at least one confirmed instance of a person selling gift cards at local establishments stating he is associated with Sheriff Curtis Brame and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Brame has said to WIZS that this is simply false. He said, “It is a scam.”

Brame also told WIZS News that buyers should use caution when purchasing “Green Dot” cards. Brame said these cards are often used in gift card scams because they are not traceable.

For the scammer, it’s the perfect cover. For the unsuspecting buyer, problems are likely to follow. Brame confirmed that in addition to being taken advantage of, the unsuspecting person becomes part of a money laundering crime.

Buyer beware! The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is in no way associated with these activities and reminds you point blank that they are scams.

Vance Co. Board of Commissioners Select New Chair, Vice Chair

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News Brief:

Gordon Wilder was voted in as the Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners at the Board’s December 9, 2019, meeting. Dan Brummitt was voted in as Vice Chairman of the Board.

WIZS congratulates these two gentlemen on their new roles!

Gordon Wilder was voted in as the Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners at the Board’s December 9, 2019, meeting. (Co. of Vance photo)

Dan Brummitt was voted in as Vice Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners at the Board’s December 9, 2019, meeting. (Co. of Vance photo)

Baskerville Funeral Home Invites Community to ‘Service of Remembrance’

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-Information courtesy Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC

Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC invites you to a Service of Remembrance on Sunday, December 29, 2019, for relatives, loved ones and friends who died by overdose, suicide, violence or accidental. The service will be held at the Baskerville Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m.

If you would like to be included in the service, please contact the funeral home with the name and a photo of your loved one. You may contact Rev. Baskerville at (252) 430-6824 or email the information to cbaskervillefuneralhome@gmail.com.

Baskerville Funeral Home is located at 104 S. Chestnut Street in Henderson.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

News 12/12/19

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George Daye Presented Key to the City; Elected Henderson Officials Sworn In

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

At Monday’s Henderson City Council meeting, Mayor Eddie Ellington presented outgoing Councilmember George Daye with the key to the city. Daye lost his re-election bid for the 4th Ward seat in October to Jason Spriggs.

A symbolic gesture, the key represents a trust in Daye and an appreciation for his years of service to both the Council and the community.

At the Dec. 9 Henderson City Council meeting, Mayor Eddie Ellington (right) presented outgoing Councilmember George Daye (left) with the key to the city. Daye lost his re-election bid for the 4th Ward seat in October to Jason Spriggs. (Photo courtesy Steve Cordell, Henderson Fire Chief)

“Mr. Daye has certainly brought a lot of wisdom to our Council,” City Manager Frank Frazier said in an interview aired on WIZS’ Town Talk on Tuesday. “Oftentimes, Mr. Daye and I would walk out together [of meetings] and be the last ones to leave. We had several interesting conversations, especially about public safety. He is going to be severely missed.”

Frazier, who was honored with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the Council meeting, said he is looking forward to seeing what Spriggs will bring to the City and respects Daye’s positive attitude toward the election results.

“When he [Daye] decided to run this last time, he said ‘If I win, I win. If I don’t, I’m sure it will be in good hands with Jason,’” Frazier stated. “We have talked about George continuing to serve the City on various committees.”

Spriggs, along with Ellington, Marion Brodie Williams, Mike Rainey and Melissa Elliott were sworn in at Monday’s meeting.

Councilmember Sara Coffey was appointed the City’s mayor pro tem, a distinction that permits her to stand in at meetings and other events in the absence of the mayor.

In other agenda items, several citizens spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting in favor of an ordinance allowing golf carts and other low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on city streets.

The Council voted to move forward on the ordinance allowing the use of LSVs in a “manner that will be safe to both traditional motorists and those operating the golf carts,” Frazier said. “Safety is the prime point of what we are trying to achieve with the ordinance.”

While Frazier said additional tweaks may need to be made, the ordinance as currently written requires the driver of the LSV to be 16 years of age or older and carry liability insurance on the vehicle.

The vehicle will also be required to have proper registration, functioning lights and turn signals, and shall not be operated on or alongside a public road or street with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour.

LSVs are also not allowed on the following roadways that have been deemed a hazard due to traffic volume, visibility and collision data: NC HWY 158 Bypass; Andrews Avenue (NC 39); Beckford Drive; Dabney Drive; Dabney Drive Extension; Graham Avenue; Garnett Street (North of Andrews Avenue); Oxford Road (158 Business); Raleigh Road (US1 Business); Ruin Creek Road; North Cooper Drive.

To review current and prior Henderson City Council meeting agendas and minutes, please click here.

H-V Chamber Logo

H-V Chamber Accepting Applications for 2020 Leadership Vance Program

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

It’s time to apply for Leadership Vance! If you haven’t been through the Chamber’s Leadership Vance program, you don’t want to miss the 2020 session.

Leadership Vance is a proven, structured program, designed to create a corps of informed and dedicated emerging leaders in our community. Upon graduation, program participants will be qualified to meet the present and future challenges facing Henderson and Vance County.

Leadership Vance will inform, challenge and educate participants on the opportunities and needs of the community. Participants will strengthen their leadership skills while learning about the social, economic, and political dynamics that shape our community.

Leadership Vance will encourage the development of interpersonal relationships among the participants and establish an ongoing resource network.

The intensive training and exposure to all aspects of the community will provide participants with the historical background and the skills necessary for volunteer, civic and community positions. It will also benefit participants in their business and career goals.

Individuals who live or work in Vance County are invited to apply. A select number of participants will be chosen by the Leadership Vance Selection Committee and will represent all backgrounds, occupations and geographic areas of Vance County.

To receive maximum benefit from Leadership Vance, it is essential that participants and their employers be willing to commit the time necessary for successful completion of the program. A participant is expected to attend all sessions, barring extreme emergencies. A maximum of two excused absences is permitted in order to graduate from the Leadership Vance program. All participants are expected to plan and participate as a team in a community service project.

The program cost is $350 for Chamber members and $425 for non-Chamber members. The tuition fee includes all course materials, meals, retreat expenses, travel, graduation banquet and diploma.

All participants should submit a completed application to the Chamber office no later than Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

For more information, contact Sandra Wilkerson at (252) 438-8414 or by email at sandra@hendersonvance.org.

Town Talk 12/11/19

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New VGCC Scholarship Honors Maria Parham Guild Gift Gallery Volunteer

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Volunteers from the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Health recently presented $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to create a new scholarship. This scholarship — the 14th established by the Guild Gift Gallery in recent years — honors the memory of one of the volunteers, the late Vernell Champion of Henderson.

Champion passed away in November of 2018 at age 76.

In front, from left: Guild Gift Gallery volunteers Claire Catherwood, Tricia Kleczek, Gean Bobbitt, Charlotte Ayscue and Beverly Parrish. In back, from left: VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson with volunteers Fern Ellington, Stephanie Stringer, Pat Ayscue, Shaaron Reynolds, Betty Abbott, Jean Hutchins and Ralph Hutchins. Not pictured: volunteers Shannon Clark, Carol Pegram, Margie Moss, Gail Malone, Jean Norwood, Debra Smiley, Cathy Nowell, Judy Campbell, Sylvia Anderson, Linda Washburn and Anne Bunch. (VGCC photo)

“Vernell was one special lady,” her fellow gift shop volunteer Cathy Robertson remembered. “Vernell was a valuable asset to the Guild Gift Gallery for more than eight years. She was a loyal volunteer, always ready to lend a helping hand anytime, and she was a special friend to all who knew her. She was an active member of Victory Baptist Church and also of South Henderson Pentecostal Church.”

The new gift continues a tradition of the organization’s generous support for education. The volunteer-operated Guild Gift Gallery offers convenience items and gifts as a service to both patients and visitors at the hospital. Profits from sales are used to provide scholarships to people preparing to enter the health care professions.

The new VGCC scholarship will assist deserving students in programs such as Nursing, Radiography, Medical Assisting and Pharmacy Technology.

“Vance-Granville continues to be grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Guild Gift Gallery,” said Eddie Ferguson, VGCC’s endowment fund director. “We’re honored that we get the opportunity to celebrate the life of Mrs. Champion in this way, by helping students achieve their educational goals for years to come.”

Because the “Vernell Champion/Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Presidential Scholar Award” scholarship is endowed, it will be awarded in perpetuity.

“Mrs. Champion’s legacy of volunteer service will be an inspirational example to students who receive a scholarship in her name, as they prepare to serve in the health care field,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC. “Thanks to volunteers like Mrs. Champion, the Guild Gift Gallery makes a significant difference in our community by supporting students in their pursuit of rewarding careers.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,700 scholarships 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 Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education.

For more information, please call (252) 738-3409.