New members join VGCC endowment board

The Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund Board of Directors recently welcomed four new members. They include Tanya Evans of Timberlake, Ronnie Goswick of Franklinton, Katharine Macon Horner of Durham and Marshall Tanner of Oxford.

“We are delighted to welcome these leaders to our Endowment board, and we appreciate their commitment to supporting our students and our mission,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC.

The board of directors oversees the Endowment Fund Corporation, a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to seek and receive scholarship funds and other contributions for the college.

Evans is a district manager in Duke Energy’s government and community relations department. She is responsible for external relations, issue management, community involvement and corporate contributions for the company’s northeast region, which covers Caswell, Person, Granville, Vance, Warren, Franklin, Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson and Halifax counties. Duke Energy has established numerous scholarships for VGCC students and awarded several grants to the college over the years. Evans has a degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Goswick is the director of business and economic development at Carolina Sunrock, based in Raleigh. The company is a longtime supporter of the college and has endowed a VGCC scholarship in its name. Goswick served for 25 years in local government with Franklin County and the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments as an economic development director. He is also a former Franklin County commissioner and member of the Town of Franklinton Board of Commissioners. Goswick is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business.

Horner is a Henderson native who graduated from Atlantic Christian College (today known as Barton College) with a degree in health and physical education and from Wilson County Technical Institute (today known as Wilson Community College) with an associate degree in nursing. She retired after a lengthy, varied career in health care, having spent many years working as a nurse at Duke Medical Center. Horner has endowed two scholarships at VGCC in memory of her parents and grandparents.

Tanner spent his career in the manufacturing sector, retiring in 2010 as a vice president of Bridgestone Bandag, another company that has supported the VGCC Endowment Fund for many years and endowed a scholarship in its name. He managed plants for that company in Iowa and Georgia before finally moving to its Oxford location. Tanner earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management at Georgia Tech. Active in his community, he received the John Penn Citizen of the Year Award in 2003 from the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

The four new additions join current Endowment Fund board members Robert L. Hubbard (the vice-chair), Julius Banzet III, Sarah Baskerville, Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr., Dr. Ben F. Currin, Clay Frazier, L. Opie Frazier, Jr., Rev. Dr. Richard M. Henderson, Darryl Moss, T.S. Royster, Jr., Donald C. Seifert, Sr., Josh Towne and Todd Wemyss. As president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams chairs the board.

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 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 about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

Arts Alive! Coming to McGregor Hall later this month

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 7, 2017

 

The Arts Alive! talent showcase for Vance County Schools is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at McGregor Hall.

The 90-minute show will feature almost 100 performers who are students in Vance County Schools.

Student art work also will be on display from 4 to 7 p.m. at McGregor Hall.

Admission to the art work display is free. Tickets for the showcase are $5 each and will be on sale at McGregor Hall beginning at 3 p.m. on March 25.

Seating for the showcase is limited and will be on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Arts Alive! is sponsored by the Vance County Public School Foundation.

State Farmers Market kicks off spring events with craft fair March 10-12

RALEIGH – The State Farmers Market will host several special events this spring, starting with its annual Spring Craft Fair, March 10-12.

The three-day festival features dozens of vendors selling handmade items and unique gifts. Visitors will find ornamental garden accessories, woodworking items, handcrafted soaps and candles, handbags, jewelry, baked goods, furniture and more. Vendors will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

On March 18, the State Farmers Market will host an Arbor Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event will include demonstrations, hands-on activities for children, and tree professionals offering advice on backyard and urban conservation. Tree seedlings also will be given to attendees while supplies last.

Other upcoming events:

  • Market Shoppes Open House on April 8. The Market Shoppes offer locally made specialty foods, wines, meats and cheeses, as well as handcrafted items and gifts. The open house will feature special discounts and door prizes.
  • Greenhouse Vegetable Day on April 20. Guests can enjoy a free tomato sandwich made with N.C. greenhouse tomatoes.
  • Strawberry Day on May 4. A strawberry dessert contest will be held and fresh strawberries will be available for sample and purchase.
  • Crawfish Day on June 3, featuring N.C. crawfish for sale by the pound. Crawfish is sold raw or cooked with seasoning.
  • Blueberry Day on June 15 celebrates the state’s blueberry season with free dessert samples. N.C. blueberries also will be available for sample and purchase.

The State Farmers Market is open year round offering seasonal produce, local meats and seafood, cheeses and wines, along with a variety of specialty products. Visitors also will find ornamental plants, trees and shrubs. In addition, the market is home to Market Imports, Super Sod and three restaurants serving home-style cooking, seafood and casual-dining fare. More information is available at www.statefarmersmarket.org and on the market’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StateFarmersMarket.

 

NCDA&CS Public Affairs Division, Brian Long, Director
Mailing Address:1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1001
Physical Address: 2 West Edenton Street, Raleigh NC 27601
Phone: (919) 707-3001; FAX: (919) 733-5047

Franklin County Sheriff: Suspect Arrested in the Death of his Mother

On March 6, 2017 at approximately 12:47 p.m., the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to 90 Morgan Drive, Zebulon after receiving a call from the alleged suspect that he had killed his mother with a knife.

Upon arriving on the scene a deputy encountered the suspect who was taken into custody without incident.

As a result of the investigation, the following individual was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder and Placed in the Franklin County Detention Center with no bond:

 

 

Oliver Mauricio Funes Machada

90 Morgan Drive

Zebulon, North Carolina 27597

DOB: 06/15/1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry M. Wright

Chief of Staff

News 03/07/17

News 03/06/17

Applications Now Being Accepted for STEM Early High School

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 3, 2017

 

Applications are now being accepted for enrollment in the STEM Early High School for the 2017-2018 school year.

This grades 6-8 middle school has a focus on project based learning with instructional emphasis in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

The STEM Early High School is located on the campus of Northern Vance High School.

Information sessions are now being held by STEM Early High administrators in local elementary schools. Applications for the school are available during these sessions. They also are available through the school counselor at each elementary school. Applications and additional information also can be obtained on the Vance County Schools website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Completed applications to the STEM Early High School must include two recommendations from educators or adult mentors and must be received by the elementary school counselors or at the STEM school by March 30.

News 03/03/17

Horse/Equine Vote March 8th

Paul McKenzie is the Agricultural Extension Agent for Vance and Warren Counties.  McKenzie wrote the following for WIZS News:

Horse and other equine animal owners/lessors will vote across the state on March 08, 2017 to determine whether to continue to voluntarily assess themselves four dollars ($4.00) per ton of commercial horse feed in order to provide funds to promote the interests of the horse industry.

Morris White, County Extension Director, says the vote in Vance County will take place in the County Extension Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any North Carolina resident who has reached his/her 9th birthday as of January 1, 2017 and who has complete or partial ownership or lease of an equine (horse, pony, mule, donkey or hinny) is eligible to vote.  Individuals must sign a statement certifying eligibility at time of voting.

Since many horse owners work away from home during business hours, a provision has been made for absentee voting. Between the dates of February 20–March 08, horse owners may visit or phone the County Extension Center and request a ballot and absentee registration form. These must be turned in to the Extension office by March 08, and will be counted along with others on March 09.

If the vote is favorable on March 09, the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will continue to receive the assessment funds from manufacturers and/or distributors of horse feed, and will remit the money to the NC Horse Council.  The Horse Council has indicated that the funds will be used for 4-H and other youth and educational programs, trails advocacy, equine research, representation of horse interests in government, marketing programs, enforcement of horse laws, and improved public awareness of diseases and other threats to horses’ well-being.

Many other agricultural commodities have similar voluntary assessment programs.  Horsemen may receive a refund of the assessment by writing to the NC Horse Council within a year of purchase and including proof of purchase.

The Bell Ringers of The FBC Pancake Supper

The Bell Ringers of The First Baptist Church are having a pancake supper. Pancakes will be served Tuesday, March 21, 2017 between 5 P.M. and 7 P.M. This youth handbell choir hopes to see you in the fellowship hall of First Baptist located at the corner of Wyche and Winder Streets downtown. Tickets available at the door.