WRAL TV’s Scott Mason to give Keynote Address at Henderson-Vance Chamber Banquet
The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce will hold its 79th Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
Keynote speaker will be WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler, Scott Mason. As a Road Scholar presenter, this project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The event will take place at Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
For sponsorship opportunities, more information or to reserve tickets, contact the Henderson-Vance County Chamber at 252-438-8414 or by emailing info@hendersonvance.org.
Vance County Schools support staff to benefit from State’s Merit Bonus Pay
The Vance County Board of Education approved their local plan for the distribution of the State’s Merit Bonus Pay for the 2016-17 school year last night at their December 12, 2016 meeting.
In the State budget for this fiscal year only, districts across the state received allocations to implement a district level merit bonus plan for non-educators. Vance County Schools received $106,000 to be used exclusively for this purpose. Non-educators are those staff members who are not paid on the state certified salary schedules and are not school administrators (Teacher Assistants, Bus Drivers, Maintenance, IT Technicians, Child Nutrition, Custodial, Office Support, School Technical Support, and Central Services Support). The law required each school district to develop a plan for the use of these funds meeting the minimum criteria for distribution set by the state.
The most restrictive requirement by the state was that the bonus could not be distributed across the board to eligible employees.
Vance County Schools (VCS) formed a task force comprised of staff that represented all the groups eligible for this merit bonus. The task force worked to develop the district’s plan that would provide a meaningful and fair merit award to eligible employees, ranging from $750 to $1000, for the top 10% of the performers in each non-educator group. With the Board of Education’s approval of the plan, staff will work in January to identify staff members eligible to receive the bonus based on the criteria in the plan.
A copy of the full plan can be found on the district’s website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us. For questions please contact Jennifer Bennett, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance, jbennett@vcs.k12.nc.us.
Henderson’s Housing Advisory Committee to meet Thursday
The Henderson City Council’s Housing Advisory Committee will meet in Council Chambers, 134 Rose Avenue, on Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to continue review/discussion regarding housing issues.
It is possible a quorum of City Council members may attend; however, no action by Council will be taken during this meeting.
Hunter to attend first Board of Education Meeting Tonight
Clementine Hunter will attend her first meeting as a new member of the Vance County Board of Education on Monday, December 12, in the Vance County Schools’ Administrative Services Center.
Hunter was officially sworn in to office on December 5, by the Honorable Judge Henry Banks, who also administered the oath to Dorothy Gooche and Ed Wilson. Gooche and Wilson were re-elected in November to their seats on the board of education.
Hunter replaces Emeron J. Cash Sr. on the board. Cash chose not to seek re-election in the November 2016 election and is retiring from the board after 24 years of service to Vance County Schools’ students and educators.
A resident of Henderson, Hunter has experience as a teacher assistant and substitute teacher with the Morris School District in New Jersey. She also has worked as a substitute teacher with Vance, Granville and Warren county schools. Her volunteer work in this area includes: Free Clinic Board member; Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS); Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); and participation in local theater.
She has a master’s degree in education and training and is continuing studies in pursuit of a doctorate degree in education.
Hunter says as a board of education member she wants to help maintain and develop quality education through programs of inclusivity, diversity and the challenges of global education readiness for present and future generations of learners in Vance County. She sees her role as a board member as a way to help advance the organization of education while partnering with learners, parents, educators, school staff, business leaders, civic leaders, religious leaders and law enforcement officials.
Sheriff Peter White Offers Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
The holiday season is here and shoppers are crowding malls and discount stores to buy the latest gadgets and find the best deals.
But what shoppers are neglecting is their safety. According to Sheriff White, this time of year attracts more shopping-related criminal activity because of larger crowds and extended store hours. These factors, and the unusual distraction of shopping, creates a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders.
The Sheriff reminds all Vance County residents to follow these safety tips:
Shopping Safety
- A single shopper is the best target for theft. Always shop with a friend or relative.
- When going shopping, tell someone where you are going and what time to expect you to return. Also, make sure they know what you are wearing, as well as the type of vehicle you are driving.
- Shop during daylight hours. If you shop at night, park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
- Dress casually and comfortably and avoid wearing expensive jewelry. If carrying cash, keep it in your front pocket rather than your purse or wallet. This makes it much more difficult for a pick-pocket to remove. Also store car keys in a pants or jacket pocket. If your purse is stolen, you will still be able to drive.
- Pay careful attention to your surroundings and avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
- When returning to your vehicle, check around it and in the back seat. Be aware of strangers approaching you for any reason. Have your keys in your hand to avoid spending unnecessary time unprotected from the security of your vehicle.
- If you feel uneasy returning to your vehicle alone, find a security guard and ask them to walk you to your car.
According to Sheriff White, during this time of year, busy holiday shoppers become careless and vulnerable to other crimes as well. Credit card fraud and gift card fraud are on the rise. However, taking a few preventive measures can help.
Credit Card Fraud
- Keep a close watch on your credit card every time you use it, and make sure you get it back as quickly as possible.
- Never write your pin number on your credit card.
- Never leave your credit card receipts lying around.
- Shield your credit card number so that others around you can’t copy it or capture it on a mobile phone or other camera.
- Only carry credit cards that you absolutely need.
- Shred anything with your credit card number on it.
- If you’re planning to purchase online, make sure the web page where you enter your credit card information is secure through SSL (Secure Socket Layer). You can tell if the web page is secure by looking for the gold lock or key icon at the bottom corner of your browser window.
- If you’re not comfortable submitting your information through the internet, call the seller and give them your information over the phone. Never send your credit card information via email.
- Check the company out. Only do business with companies that provide a physical address and phone number.
- Lastly, keep good records. Always print out a copy of any online products or services you purchase.
For more information contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252-738-2200.