United Way of Vance County Is In Good Standing; Moving Office

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— courtesy United Way of Vance County

The United Way of Vance County Board of Directors has been working over the last several weeks to resolve our organization’s financial concerns and get our United Way in a position to once again support the needs of our agencies and our community. The board has taken steps to greatly reduce the operating costs of our United Way and we are moving our office to a new location at 715 South Garnett Street in Henderson.

After the beginning of the new year, we plan to have the new United Way of Vance County office fully operational. We also plan to begin new fundraising efforts, so that later in the year we can renew our grant payments to the United Way agencies in Vance and Warren counties.

We want to assure all of our contributors and our agencies that all funds donated to the United Way of Vance County during 2017 were distributed completely and appropriately. The United Way of Vance County is in good standing financially with all entities, including the United Way of North Carolina and United Way Worldwide. It was not until the beginning of our 2017-2018 campaign, which started July 1, that financial concerns arose. Due to the decline in donations and fulfillment of pledges, we were forced to suspend grant payments to our agencies in August.

The board is confident that the steps taken to streamline expenses and the strategies we have put into place to move forward with fundraising efforts will allow us to begin grant payments to our agencies soon. There are a couple of United Way fundraising campaigns with local businesses going on now and we are ready to assist their representatives in completing their campaigns and securing donations for those in need in our community.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the United Way of Vance County should contact Heather Hughes, board president, at 252-432-2133 or Terri Hedrick, board past president, at 252-438-8702.

News 12/06/17

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Wake Electric grant provides technology for VGCC Library

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— courtesy VGCC

A grant that Wake Electric Membership Corporation awarded to Vance-Granville Community College has been used for a project to provide enhanced technology for students in the Library on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

The $3,000 Classroom Technology grant purchased three 48-inch LED smart TV monitors allowing for large-screen displays in each of three study rooms in the library, as well as a Microsoft Surface tablet device that can also be used by students in those study rooms.

“We are very excited that our students can now use this interactive technology in our library to help them study and succeed in their classes,” said VGCC Director of Library Services Elaine Stem, who applied for the grant. “Our study room usage has doubled in the past year, and I know this new technology will only increase the demand for the study space.”

Stem explained that the rooms previously had 19-inch monitors, which were not well-suited for use by groups of students, or even by individual students needing high-quality visual representations. “We are very appreciative to Wake Electric for supporting VGCC students,” Stem added.

Whitney Duke of Henderson, a student in the VGCC Associate Degree Nursing program, uses one of the new monitors to study bones in a study room at the VGCC Main Campus Library. (VGCC photo)

Wake Electric awards Classroom Technology grants to public K-12 schools and community colleges in its service area. The funds for the grants come from WEMC members who agree to round up their light bill to the nearest whole dollar through the “Operation RoundUp” program. Wake Electric is a non-profit electric utility serving over 42,500 consumers in parts of Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Vance, and Wake counties.

For more information on library services at VGCC, call (252) 738-3279 or visit library.vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

News 12/05/17

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Community Partners of Hope

Community Partners of Hope Volunteers Needed

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Good things are happening for the Community Partners of Hope Men’s shelter, but your help is still needed. Volunteer supervisors, meals, computer support, and donations are all needed.

Also, Kaine Riggan of the Downtown Development Commission is searching Henderson for an appropriate place for CPOH long term needs.  If you have suggestions, contact him at kaineriggan@gmail.com.

CPOH has a new fundraising portal! Check it out online and share it with your friends. You can access the portal by clicking here. CPOH needs cash for day-to-day expenses but will also begin a capital campaign once a permanent location is found.

VOLUNEER NEEDS:
The CPOH calendar is constantly being updated, so to check the latest schedule online at www.cp-hope.org and click on the shelter calendar tab at the top right. Here are the needs:

SUPERVISION:
December 7 – Welcome and overnight
December 8 – Welcome
December 22 & 23 – Welcome
December 24 through January 5 – Volunteers needed for almost all positions!

MEALS:
December 8
December 22
December 23
December 24 (Christmas Eve)
December 27 through January 5

HFD Hosts Child Safety Seat Class

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If you noticed a lot of extra cars near the Henderson Fire Department, Central Station 1 on Dabney Drive today, it’s because they were hosting a child safety seat class.

Chief Steve Cordell of the City of Henderson Fire Department told WIZS News, “The class is being taught by the North Carolina Safe Kids organization.  We have 20 students representing five departments — City of Henderson FD, Vance County Fire Department, Oxford Fire Department, Fuquay-Varina Fire Department and Norfolk, VA Fire Department.”

He said the training will allow the City of Henderson Fire Department to have more certified technicians on duty.

The course is 32 hours.

Terry Garrison

Jobs and Not Guns Forum

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Representative Terry E. Garrison, House District 32 which covers Vance and Warren Counties and portions of northern Granville County for the North Carolina General Assembly, is sponsoring a public forum here in Henderson along with State Senator Angela Bryant.

WIZS TownTalk will interview Garrison about the forum on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. on 1450 AM and online live at wizs.com.

The following information comes from the office of Terry Garrison:

Jobs and Not Guns

A Public Forum on Gun Violence and Alternatives December 7, 2017

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Shiloh Baptist Church Multi-Purpose Building

635 S. College Street — Henderson, NC

Have you or someone you know been affected by gun violence?

Join us in an open discussion with law enforcement, state legislators, job developers and community members to discuss alternatives to gun violence. Refreshments will be served.

A Public Forum on Gun Violence and Alternatives

Greetings and Introductions……………………….Dr. Doris Terry Williams

Greetings and Purpose of Gathering…….Representative Terry Garrison

Greetings and Perspectives…………………………….Senator Angela Bryant

Panel 1

Focus: What We Know About Drugs, Guns, and Violence in Vance County

Panelists:

Peter White, Vance County Sheriff — What We See in Law Enforcement

Marcus Barrow, Henderson Police Chief – What We Believe to Be the Root Causes

Abdul Rasheed, Vance County Citizen — A Personal Perspective on the Impact of Drugs, Guns, and Violence on Families and Community

Q&A

Panel 2

Focus: What We Can Do: Models That Work

Panelists:

Jesse Battle, Director of Men’s Programs, TROSA of Durham — TROSA ‘s Model and Successful Outcomes

Dr. Stelphanie Williams, President of Vance-Granville Community College — Community College Options for Workforce Development

J. Philip Betts, President, Second Chance of Oxford — Re-entry for Formerly Incarcerated Citizens

Vincent Gilreath, Region K Workforce Development — Workforce Development Opportunities

Q&A

Closing remarks by Representative Garrison

News 12/04/17

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DA to Settle Compliance Issues Only Outside of Court

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— courtesy of District Attorney Mike Waters

Information is also available on District Attorney – 9th Prosecutorial District Facebook Page

Beginning December 1, 2017, the District Attorney’s Office will begin addressing compliance issues only outside of Court. On Thursday afternoons, from 3:00 – 4:00 pm, in each of the four counties, you may bring proof of compliance for the following offenses, and your case will be disposed of outside of Court.

No operator’s license
Failure to carry a valid driver’s license
Expired operator’s license
Expired/no inspection
DR/allow registration plate not display
Drive/allow MV no registration
Canceled/revoked/suspended certificate/tag
Expired registration card/tag

***This time is for the review of compliance dismissals only and not for the negotiation of contested infractions and criminal charges***

City of Henderson Logo

Henderson City Council’s Land Planning Committee Meeting Dec. 6

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The Henderson City Council’s Land Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room, 134 Rose Avenue. The purpose of this meeting is to consider accepting a donation of land, bids for Abagayle’s Books building, and the status of the Henderson Laundry and the First National Bank Building. The public is welcome to attend.