Significant Closures Coming to I-85
RALEIGH – As work to improve I-85 accelerates, several closures and detours are coming over the next week to Vance and Warren counties.
On Tuesday Night, August 8, between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM, Southbound I-85 will be closed north of Oine Road. Traffic will be detoured by law enforcement to Wise Road (Exit 233), then south along U.S. 1/158 and back on to I-85.
I-85 Southbound will be closed on Wednesday August 9 near mile marker 215 from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Law enforcement will be on hand to detour motorists along Flemingtown Road and U.S. 1/158.
On Thursday, August 10, there will be a closure of I-85 Southbound near Manson Road (mile marker 233) from 9:00 PM until 6:00 AM Friday. A detour by law enforcement will guide motorists west along Ridgeway-Drewry Road, then turning left on to Manson-Drewry Road and following that back to I-85.
From 5:30 PM Thursday, August 10 to 6:00 AM Friday, August 11, crews will install girders for the I-85 Southbound bridge at Flemingtown Road. Flemingtown Road will be closed and a signed detour will be in place taking Northbound I-85 motorists along U.S. 1/158, Lee Avenue/Jacksontown Road, and Jackson-Royce Road to get to Flemingtown. Those trying to get to I-85 Northbound from Flemingtown Road should follow the reverse of that route.
Finally, Starting Monday, August 14 both the on and off ramps for I-85 Southbound at Wise Road will be closed for 60 days. Southbound I-85 motorists wishing to get to Wise Road will proceed to Ridgeway-Drewry Road (Exit 226), exit and get back on I-85 Northbound, then take Northbound off ramp at Wise Road (Exit 233). Those wishing to get on to I-85 Southbound from Wise Road will be detoured to Rooker Dairy Road heading south to Oine Road, then to US1/158 and right onto Ridgeway-Drewry Road to get back onto I-85 southbound. Drivers will be able to utilize the Oine Road ramps once they reopen in September.
These temporary closures are part of a five-year project to repair the deteriorating I-85 road surface, and repair and replace bridges to create safer conditions for travelers. All closures are weather dependent and subject to change. Motorists are still advised to use I-95, I-40, and U.S. 64 instead of I-85 when traveling between the Triangle and Richmond. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.
Computer-aided design course offered at VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a “CAD with Solid Edge” course, to be held Monday through Thursday, Aug. 29 through Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. until noon, on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Grant funding from the NC TechHire program can help eligible area residents pay for this training.
Solid Edge is a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software program, produced by Siemens PLM Software, which is used in a variety of industries, including advanced manufacturing.
This course introduces students to basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include basic design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid models, and creation of multi-view drawings. Upon completion, students should be able to use design techniques to create, edit, render and generate a multi-view drawing.
Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software tools that address all aspects of the product development process – 3D design, simulation, manufacturing, data management and more, thanks to a growing ecosystem of apps. Solid Edge combines the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design – made possible with synchronous technology. With Solid Edge, students can learn to create and print 2D drawings from 3D solid models and send solid models to a 3D printer.
The instructor for the course is Peter M. Robinson.
Students may become certified through Siemens upon passing the credentialing exam.
The cost of this course is $187 plus the cost of the textbook and the exam.
The course is approved for funding through the NC TechHire grant that VGCC received last year as part of a consortium of four community colleges. Area residents between the ages of 17-29 may qualify for grant funding, which can pay for registration fees, course fees, and certification fees.
Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule. The deadline to register is Aug. 22.
For more information, contact Sara Lloyd at 252-738-3433 or lloyds@vgcc.edu.
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Franklin County Names Public Utilities Director
Franklin County, August 8, 2017: Franklin County has selected Christopher Doherty to serve as Public Utilities Director effective August 21, 2017. Mr. Doherty has served as Superintendent for the South Florida Water Management District from May 2012 until March 2017. Prior to working for South Florida Water Management District, Mr. Doherty served as Public Works/Utilities Superintendent for the City of North Lauderdale where he supervised the daily operations of the Public Works Department. In addition, Mr. Doherty has several years of experience as a Public Works Director for the City of Clinton, North Carolina.
Mr. Doherty earned an Associates of Arts – Civil Engineering from Broward Community College and a Bachelor of Science, Professional Management/Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. He is certified in Florida as a Stormwater Management Inspector, holds a C Distribution certification in North Carolina as well as an OSHA 30 certification. His professional memberships include the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), SWANA Certified as MSW Collection Manager, American Water Works Association and FL Chapter, American Public Works Association and FL Chapter, Rural Water Association, National Fire Protection Association and American Society of Civil Engineers.
County Manager Angela L. Harris said, “It is with great optimism that I welcome Mr. Doherty to our team. He will play an important role as we update our Capital Improvements Plan for Public Utilities and plan for future growth. We are also thankful for the service of Mike Bailes who is currently serving as interim director.”
For additional information, please contact Angela L. Harris, Franklin County Manager, at (919) 4965994.
Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.
P3 App Tip Submission
Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers may now accept tips from Facebook via P3 App
Click here to submit a tip online and install the app.
Like H-V Crime Stoppers on Facebook here.
The Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers organization has once again made it easier for Hendersonians and Vance County residents to report crime in the community.
Together with the P3 tips application, citizens may now go to the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers Facebook page and select the “Submit a Tip” button on the left sidebar.
H-V Crime Stoppers President Kevin Bullock wrote in a press release to local media, “Once there, you will be asked to submit your P3 id number. Your identity will still be anonymous. You may still call 252-492-1925 to report crime or
download the P3 Tips app directly to your smartphone or tablet. You may also go online at p3tips dot com.”
News of the P3 Tips App came out in mid-May of this year, and you can read that full press release by clicking here.
(Kevin Bullock works at WIZS Radio.)
Microsoft Office training courses scheduled at VGCC
Microsoft Office software training courses are set to be offered soon at Vance-Granville Community College, and grant funding from the NC TechHire program can help eligible area residents pay for them. These courses are offered in a “hybrid” format, with some coursework online and some on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.
The “Microsoft Office Specialist I” course is scheduled to start Aug. 24 and continue through Nov. 2. The on-campus meetings are set for Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This course introduces students to word processing (Microsoft Word) and presentation (Microsoft PowerPoint) computer applications. The deadline to register is Aug. 18. The cost of the course is $187.
“Microsoft Office Specialist II” is scheduled to be held from Sept. 11 through Nov. 13, with on-campus meetings on Mondays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. In this course, students learn how to create and use spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) and databases (Microsoft Access). The deadline to register is Sept. 4. The cost of the course is $187.
Upon completion of these courses, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the role and function of computers and the ability to use the computer to solve problems.
These courses are approved for funding through the NC TechHire grant that VGCC received last year as part of a consortium of four community colleges. Area residents between the ages of 17-29 may qualify for grant funding, which can pay for registration fees, course fees, and certification fees.
Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule.
State Highway Patrol Investigates Louisburg Fatal Collision
RALEIGH – On Friday, August 4, at approximately 9:34 a.m., the State Highway Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle collision on US 401 near NC 56 in Franklin County. A 2001 Volkswagen passenger vehicle, operated by Samar Ferd Jurdi, 20, of Raleigh, was traveling south on US 401. A 2016 Nissan passenger vehicle, operated by Chastity Calandra Stamper, 37, of Hollister, was traveling south on US 401 within a right-turn lane, parallel to the Volkswagen. As the right-turn lane ended, both vehicles struck one another while continuing to travel south.
As a result of the collision, the Volkswagen traveled left of center and struck a 2010 Honda passenger vehicle, which was traveling north on US 401. After colliding with the Honda, the Volkswagen traveled off onto the northbound shoulder of US 401 and overturned within a creek.
Volkswagen Occupants:
Driver:
Samar Ferd Jurdi was transported to Wake Medical Center with serious injuries
Passengers:
• Ryan Zavala, 14, of Louisburg was transported to Wake Medical Center with serious injuries.
• Rami Eleitar, 9, of Raleigh was transported to Wake Medical Center with serious injuries.
• Michelle Zavala, 1, of Louisburg succumbed to her injuries at Wake Medical Center.
• Kathaleen Maldanado, 4, of Louisburg was transported to Wake Medical Center with serious injuries.
Nissan Occupant:
Driver:
Chastity Calandra Stamper was not injured
Honda Occupant:
Driver:
Anna Williams Collier, 46, of Louisburg was transported to Wake Medical Center with serious injuries.
Investigators are still determining the contributing circumstances for the collision. SHP’s collision reconstruction unit is assisting with the investigation.
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NC Army National Guard Deactivation of the 1132nd Military Police Company
RALEIGH, N.C. – As part of a nationwide U.S. Army and National Guard force reduction/reorganization plan, the North Carolina Army National Guard will deactivate the 1132nd Military Police Company, at its headquarters in Rocky Mount, on Sunday, Aug 6, 2017.
The deactivation of the 1132nd has been planned for over a year. Approximately150 soldiers are assigned to the unit.
“The 1132nd’s deactivation will not end our commitment to serving the state in times of need and disaster,” said Brig. Gen. John Byrd, NCNG’s Assistant Adjutant General for Domestic Operations.
Virtually every Soldier in the 1132nd has been reassigned to other North Carolina Army National Guard military police units, decided to reclassify to other job specialties in the Guard, transfer to active duty or the reserves, or retire.
The 1132nd maintained three armories in Mount Olive, Tarboro, and Rocky Mount. All three will close within the next 6-9 months and be transferred to the State Property Office for final divestiture.
The 1132nd was established in December 2002. The unit deployed to Iraq on Dec. 12, 2007, and worked with the Iraqi Police Service, providing training and oversight of police operations in southeast Baghdad. Tragically, the complex and dangerous nature of the mission led to five Soldiers losing their lives in service to their country and over 20 wounded-in-action, before the 1132nd’s combat tour ended in the fall of 2008.
The 1132nd supported multiple state emergencies since its origin, to include last year’s Charlotte riots and Hurricane Matthew.