Vance County Judicial Redistricting Resolution Meeting Tuesday, Jan 30, 2018
According to a press release issued by Vance County, there will be a special called meeting of the Vance County Commissioners on Tuesday, January 30. It will take place at 8:45 a.m. in the Perry Memorial Library Farm Bureau Room located at 205 Breckenridge Street.
The press release continues that the purpose of the special meeting is to “approve a resolution regarding judicial redistricting.”
The importance of the resolution, if it passes, will be a demonstration on the part of Vance County that it wishes to remain in the 9th Judicial District and keep Mike Waters as District Attorney for the County.
The 9th Judicial District is comprised of Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties presently.
Vance County Commission Chairman Tommy Hester called the special meeting here in Vance County.
Hester told WIZS News, “(Waters) has done a great job. We have a lot in common with those counties. We look at economic development, Boys and Girls Clubs, hospitals, there’s a lot of things involved.” He said having to go with a district attorney in a far away county “is not going to be as good as being able to have someone close by who you can work with, who’s worked with this county and done a great job for this community.”
He said he could not speak for the board because it had not voted yet but said “personally I’m against us being moved.”
It’s unclear at this time if the other counties involved will call special meetings also, not to mention local municipalities like the City of Henderson.
H-V Crime Stoppers HPD Crime of the Month Jan 2018
The Henderson Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying individuals involved in an armed robbery that occurred on January 15, 2018 at the Sweepstakes Casino on South Beckford Drive, Henderson. Suspect vehicle is described as a black in color four-door vehicle. One of the suspects was described as a white male wearing a half skull mask displaying a handgun. One of the suspects wore a distinctive backpack that we are asking to public’s help in identifying. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Zachary Phillips at 252-431-5170 or via email at zphillips@hendersonncpd.org. Callers may also call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or by using the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous.
Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow
Please review the HPD photos below.
Connect NC Bond renovation projects at VGCC planned for 2018
— courtesy VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College is gearing up to begin renovations that will improve masonry rooflines, walls and bridges at the Main Campus using the funds allocated by the Connect NC State Bond.
Renovations to restore, repair and waterproof masonry will be placed out for bids in April with work scheduled to begin in May, according to a report delivered to the VGCC Board of Trustees at its bimonthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 22.
Trustee Donald C. Seifert, Sr., chair of the board’s Building Committee, reported that funding will come from $1 million of the funds allocated by the Connect NC Bond passed by North Carolina voters in March 2016. A remaining balance of $69,000 from county resources that has been used for structural renovations to roofs and masonry will also be available for the project.
Bids will be going out in March for the renovation of 3,200 square feet of space in the college’s newest building, Building 10, to accommodate a practical simulation lab for the Basic Law Enforcement Training, Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services programs housed there. Connect NC bond money will be combined with a private donation to complete the project. The renovation may provide an opportunity for the college to expand the training it offers for public services.
At the Franklin Campus in Louisburg, the Welding Technology lab is being renovated to add eight welding booths with plans to complete that project this month. A demonstration area in a Welding classroom, adjacent to the lab, will be renovated and ready for use this summer. This project is being funded with Connect NC bond money.
In a general discussion on the college’s services to the community, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, VGCC’s president, cited efforts to help area business and industry.
For example, she noted, the college met with leaders of a new industry, Mako Medical Laboratories, to address their educational needs.
The college will begin meeting the needs of the newly announced industry through its Histotechnology and Medical Assisting curriculum programs, she said, with plans to add a Medical Laboratory Technology curriculum.
Mako, a Wake County-based medical diagnostic testing company, announced in November a decision to expand with the location of a facility in Henderson and the eventual creation of more than 150 jobs. The company is locating in the former Harperprints building with an initial 30 to 50 jobs, according to the announcement last fall.
“Our Histotechnology and Medical Assisting programs will be a great start for them,” she added. “We’ve been able to sit down with them. We had about 10 of our employees with the college meet with their senior leaders and talk about how they are going to grow and how Vance-Granville can serve them.”
“It’s a great company,” she added. “I think we are very fortunate to have them.”
In other action:
• In her report to the board, Dr. Williams highlighted recent accomplishments and opportunities at the college, citing in particular recent efforts of VGCC’s Pharmacy Technology students leading service projects to provide relief to people in the Caribbean who were affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and a partnership with police and a pharmacy in Creedmoor for a drug collection event for people to dispose of outdated and unused prescription drugs. Similarly, Dr. Williams noted, college students collected school supplies and books for children affected by domestic violence, citing a service project by the Alpha Sigma Chi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
• The board gave approval to Mid-Year Amendments to the 2017-2018 Budget as presented by Trustee Abdul Rasheed, chair of the Budget Committee. The adjustments were made to account for $1,834,568 in carryover funds from the previous year and grant funding.
• In the reports of the Curriculum Committee, chaired by Trustee Barbara Cates Harris, approval was given to a course to be offered at correctional facilities in Butner, Bunn and Manson, and an Accountability and Integrity Plan for Workforce Continuing Education was approved by the board.
• Trustee L. Opie Frazier, Jr., chair of the board’s Investment Committee, reported on continued growth of the college’s investments.
• An informational report on new employees, retirements, resignations and changes in positions was provided by Trustee Sara Wester, chair of the board’s Personnel Committee.
Board of Trustees Chair Danny W. Wright presided over the meeting.
The Board of Trustees will hold its next regular meeting on March 19 at the Main Campus.
— VGCC —
Kittrell Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of a Firearm Charge
— courtesy The United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of NC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Kittrell Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of a Firearm Charge
RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced JOHNNIE O’NEIL LEWIS, 35, of Kittrell, North Carolina to 60 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.
LEWIS was named in an Indictment filed on August 8, 2017. On October 18, 2017, LEWIS subsequently pled guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition.
On June 1, 2017, the Henderson Police Department (HPD) responded to a call regarding an intoxicated individual, later determined to be LEWIS, who was shooting a gun in a residential neighborhood of Henderson. The HPD encountered LEWIS, a convicted felon, walking in the middle of the roadway, holding his hand near his waistband. LEWIS was observed with his hand on a pistol in his waistband and was issued repeated commands to stop moving; however, LEWIS failed to comply with the directives and fled on foot. A brief foot chase ensued, but officers were able to apprehend LEWIS without further resistance.
Upon his arrest, the HPD located a pistol approximately twenty feet from where LEWIS was arrested. Additionally, a handgun magazine was lying on the ground next to LEWIS, who also had thirteen rounds of ammunition in his shorts pocket. At the time of his arrest, the HPD smelled a strong odor of alcohol on LEWIS’ breath.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution of this case for the government.
VGCC hosts lecture series on the brain
— courtesy VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College will offer a series of free, engaging lectures on the human brain, and the community is invited to attend.
Phil Dixon, a resident of Oxford, will present the series, entitled “Using Your Brain for a Change,” starting with the first session on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, in the small auditorium in Building 2 on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. In this introductory lecture, Dixon will take a look at how the brain works generally and what it is made of.
In his later talks, Dixon will focus on “Your Brain on its Own” on Tuesday, Feb. 27, and “Your Brain with Another Person” on Tuesday, March 27. These sessions will also begin at 10:30 a.m. in the small auditorium.
Dixon describes himself as being “passionate about the brain – everyone’s brain!” He spends much of his time reading the latest research about the neuroscience of the brain, and determining how that research can be translated into practical application in our daily lives. In particular, Dixon is deeply involved in the application of neuroscience to leadership and management issues such as Executive Coaching, Leadership and Management Development, Change Planning & Management, Culture Change, Recruitment and On-Boarding.
Before he began studying and teaching others about the brain in 2002, Dixon worked in the information technology field – including a stint at Apple – worked in organization development and management consulting, and was the CEO of a commercial real estate firm. He has worked in the private and public sectors, has established and grown a number of consulting firms and has lived, worked and/or taught in over 20 countries.
In 2009, he had the opportunity to study for a master’s degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change in England at a program run jointly by HEC Paris and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He has published several articles about the brain, and is a frequent and international speaker on the topic of brain-based leadership.
The series of three sessions is presented by VGCC’s Office of the Endowment. “We were excited to be introduced to this gentleman who has this expertise and vast experience and to discover that he is now living in the local area,” explained VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson. “Our Endowment Office sees this as another great opportunity for the college to be a valuable resource to the community we serve. We invite our students, our faculty and the community at large to join us for Phil’s fun, informative presentations.”
In the past, the Endowment Office has sponsored two series with Bill Barker portraying Thomas Jefferson.
For more information on this series, call Eddie Ferguson at (252) 738-3264.
–VGCC–
(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)
2018 Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board Meeting Dates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Advisory Board for the Vance County Regional Farmers Market will meet on the following dates in 2018: February 8, May 10, August 9 and November 8. All meetings will convene at 2 pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, which is located at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson. The meetings are open to the public. For more information, please contact Paul McKenzie at 252-438-8188 or paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.
—
Paul McKenzie
Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties
NC Cooperative Extension
305 Young St., Henderson, NC 27536
Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties
NC Cooperative Extension
305 Young St., Henderson, NC 27536
158 Rafters Ln., Warrenton, NC 27589
https://www.ces.ncsu.edu
252.438.8188 (Vance) 252.257.3640 (Warren)
252.438.8188 (Vance) 252.257.3640 (Warren)
@pgmckenzie
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
N.C. Community College President of the Year Dr. Stelfanie Williams
— courtesy VGCC
Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, has been named President of the Year for 2018 by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. She is the first leader in VGCC history to receive the honor.
The President of the Year Award, sponsored by Wells Fargo, was established by the State Board in 2001. This award encourages, identifies, and rewards outstanding leadership and commitment to the community college mission among the presidents of the 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System.
“My fellow trustees and I are delighted that the State Board of Community Colleges has recognized Dr. Williams for her visionary leadership,” said Danny Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees. “Our entire region has been blessed to have Dr. Williams lead Vance-Granville Community College to new heights of excellence by embracing innovation and fostering strong partnerships. She serves our institution, our community and the state of North Carolina with warmth, humility and a passion for student success. This award is a well-deserved honor for Dr. Williams and reflects positively on the entire Vance-Granville team.”
College leaders nominated Williams as part of a competitive selection process in which an eight-page narrative is submitted and candidates are interviewed by an awards committee. The awards process emphasizes accomplishments that presidents have led in the past three years at their institutions – demonstrating broad community partnerships, improving services through technology, workforce education, economic development, advocacy at the local and state levels, long-range planning, innovation in program development and supporting professional development for college employees, among other criteria.
Williams became the sixth president of VGCC in 2012. Since then, she has focused the college on a “Vanguard Vision” strategic plan that addresses educational excellence, continuous improvement, employee and student engagement in college life, and institutional stewardship. Under her leadership, the college has added seven curriculum degree programs, including Mechatronics Engineering Technology, which provides training for advanced manufacturing careers. That program has been supported by some of the largest grants in the college’s history — part of the $40 million in grant funding (including a record-setting, in-kind donation from Siemens PLM Software) secured since 2013. Williams also helped initiate the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Training Alliance (AMSTA) with the Career & Technical Education high school programs from the four public school systems in the college’s service area.
Her tenure has seen the second-largest private donor gift in VGCC history, as well as six consecutive highest-yielding annual golf tournaments for scholarships. With a focus on student success, the institution has improved completion rates, graduating the largest classes ever in 2015 and 2016. The most recent graduating class (2017) featured the largest number of associate’s degrees awarded in the history of the college.
She collaborated with North Carolina Central University to establish the “Eagle Voyage” partnership that now allows students with associate degrees to complete one of three bachelor’s degree programs without having to leave the VGCC campus. Meanwhile, the college has also partnered with North Carolina A&T State University through a program called “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN), in which students simultaneously enroll at VGCC and the university to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
In addition, Williams introduced a private donor-funded college promise program called the “VanGuarantee” in an effort to make college more accessible for students with the greatest financial need. The scholarship program has garnered national attention and was highlighted by the White House in 2016.
Williams has championed Vance-Granville’s embrace of technology to provide greater academic offerings and support to students. The “Vanguard Online Learning through Technology” (VOLT) initiative has made six degree programs available completely online.
Prior to leading VGCC, Williams served as faculty and in several administrative capacities at other North Carolina community colleges. She also currently serves as adjunct faculty for the North Carolina State University College of Education.
Williams earned baccalaureate degrees in public policy and Spanish at Duke University, a master’s degree in project management from Western Carolina University, and her doctorate in adult and higher education from N.C. State University.
Williams has served on a number of boards and is the current secretary of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents. In 2014, she was awarded the I.E. Ready Distinguished Leadership Award by North Carolina State University. In late 2017, Williams was appointed to a pair of statewide panels that are focused on education issues: the “My Future NC” Commission and the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound, Basic Education.
–VGCC–
(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)