Vance-Granville Basketball Ready for 2015-2016 Season

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by Kevin Bullock

The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguard Basketball Team kicked off the season on October 1st with media day at Western Vance High School. Coach Michael Woody introduced the 2015-2016 version of the Vanguards to the media, and allowed questions after a 15 minute scrimmage in the Western Vance Gym. Below is the active roster for VGCC Basketball.

Aaron Robinson, Freshman, Shooting Guard, Southern Alamance High School

Alcyone Moore, Sophomore, Shooting Guard, Myers Park High School

Chris Pernell, Freshman, Shooting Guard, East Wake School of Arts

Darius Williams, Freshman, Small Forward, Carvers Bay High School (SC)

Phillip Williams, Freshman, Power Forward, Hemingway High School (SC)

Donal Gooch, Jr, Freshman, Power Forward, East Wake School of Arts

Dy’Quan Marrow, Freshman, Point Guard, Northern Vance High School

Joseph Avery, Freshman, Off-Guard, Westover High School

Raekwon Hall, Sophomore, Point Guard, Wakefield High School

TyQuon Reid, Freshman, Point Guard, Hillside High School

Tyrek Beverly, Sophomore, Off-Guard, J.F. Webb High School

Antonio Adams, Freshman, Small Forward, J.F. Webb High School

Anthony Mims, Freshman, Small Forward, Northern Vance High School

Stefan Cates, Sophomore, Off-Guard, J.F. Webb High School

Coach Woody is excited about the opener against Wake Tech, but acknowledges that they may not be Vance-Granville’s primary rival this year. Woody said, “Everybody thinks that Wake Tech is our big rival, but we’ve got Pitt circled on the calendar.” Vance-Granville will play their home games this year at Aycock Recreation Center. See their full schedule below.

 

Oct 24              Juco Jamboree (Scrimmage)                  Myrtle Beach SC                                  TBD

Oct 27              Saint Andrews University (Scrimmage)  Laurinburg SC                                       TBD

Nov. 6                      Wake Tech                 Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Nov. 10           Brayant Stratton         Aycock Recreation Center                6:00pm

Nov. 14                       Davidson Co. CC        Aycock Recreation Center                3:00pm

Nov. 16                        Saint Andrews              Saint Andrews                                      6:00pm

Nov. 18                      Patrick Henry CC       Aycock Recreation Center                6:00pm

Nov. 20                       Univ. of VA at Lynchburg Aycock Recreation Center                      7:00pm                                   

Nov. 24                        Richard Bland College   Richard Bland College                           7:00pm

Dec. 2              Louisburg College      Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Dec. 4              Pitt CC Tournament      TBD                                                     TBD

Dec. 8              Central Carolina CC      Central Carolina CC                              7:00pm

Jan. 5              USC-Salkehatchie       Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Jan. 7              Lenoir CC                   Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Jan. 11              Methodist Univ.             Methodist University                              8:00pm

Jan. 13              Patrick Henry CC         Patrick Henry CC                                 6:00pm

Jan. 18              Louisburg College          Louisburg College                                  3:00pm

Jan. 19              Lenoir CC                     Lenoir CC                                             7:00pm

Jan. 23              Guildford Tech CC        Guildford Tech CC                                3:00pm

Jan. 25              Pitt CC                         Pitt CC                                                 7:00pm

Jan. 27                        Catawba Valley CC     Aycock Recreation Center                6:30pm

Feb. 3              Richard Bland College           Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Feb. 5               Mid-Atlantic Christian    Mid-Atlantic Christian                            6:00pm

Feb. 8               Wake Tech CC             Wake Tech CC                                     7:00pm

Feb. 11                        Pitt CC                                    Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Feb. 13             Bryant/Stratton College  Bryant/Stratton College                          3:00pm

Feb. 15             Sandhills CC                 Sandhills CC                                         6:00pm

Feb. 16             Catawba Valley CC      Catawba Valley CC                              6:30pm

Feb. 23                        Guildford Tech CC     Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

 

Home Games are Bold

VGCC defeats Central Carolina in women’s volleyball match

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via Andrew Beal

The Vance-Granville Community College women’s volleyball team notched another Region X conference victory on Sept. 29, with a 3-0 win (25-16, 25-18 and 25-18) at home over the Cougars from Central Carolina Community College. That brought the Vanguards’ record to 7-5 (3-2 in conference play).

Kara Reese of Henderson led VGCC in kills (12) and in blocks (six). Reese and Rachel Thomas of Louisburg also contributed ten digs apiece. Caitlyn Robins of Creedmoor was dominant in digs (15) and aces (six) while also posting five kills. As in VGCC’s previous conference wins, Melissa Elliott of Townsville was the team leader in assists, with 26 this time.

“After starting out slowly in our first two sets, we settled down and played good defense,” said VGCC Coach Christopher Young. “We had strong performances from Rachel Thomas, Caitlyn Robins and Morgan Carter, great blocking from Jesse Edwards and Kara Reese, and Melissa Elliott did a great job setting up hitters. Jesse left the third set early with an injury, but we stayed the course with strong defense and pulled away with the 3-0 victory.”

VGCC was coming off a pair of non-conference losses on the road at nearby Louisburg College. In the first match of the Sept. 22 doubleheader, the Hurricanes won in three sets (25-21, 25-14 and 25-18). In the second match, VGCC lost the first two sets to Louisburg, 25-22 and 25-17, came back to win the third set, 25-17, but lost the fourth, 25-10.

Over the course of both Louisburg matches, Reese and Robins each had 19 digs, while Edwards and Thomas each had 18. Edwards recorded the most kills (12) and blocks (15). Elliott led the Vanguards in assists, with a total of 32.

The next home match for the Vanguards is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson. The visiting opponent is the squad from Davidson County Community College. Doubleheaders at Aycock versus Rockingham Community College on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. and Laurel University on Oct. 10 at noon will wrap up VGCC’s home schedule for 2015.

GrassStreet

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Our very own “GrassStreet” band from Henderson will be performing this week at the International Bluegrass Music Association event, taking place for the third straight year in Raleigh.  This is a big deal.

Wayne Kinton, musician and band leader, says, “We’re just glad they let us come over here to do a few shows.”  That’s Kinton’s modesty for you.  David Kinton plays bass/mandolin, Ricky Hargis is on the banjo and Tab Kearns the dobro.

GrassStreet IBMA

GrassStreet sends out regular email updates, and the most recent installment reads like this:

Hello from IBMA World of Bluegrass in beautiful Raleigh, NC! We’re excited that the center of the bluegrass world is once again in Raleigh for the 3rd straight year. We’ll be learning from the experts on the business and musical side of the music we love all week long. Plus we’ll get to pick a little too towards the end of the week.

If you’ll be in town for the big event, be sure to stop by and say hey during one of our performances. Also, if you’re not sure what all the fuss is about, check out https://ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass/ or https://www.wideopenbluegrass.com/index.php for more info.

In addition to the ticketed events, there’s lots of free music going on this week.

THURSDAY, OCT. 1st from 6-7pm – The Architect (108 E Hargett St) – $10 cover; part of the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble (https://www.ibma.org/world-of-bluegrass/bluegrass-ramble)

FRIDAY, OCT. 2nd from 5-7pm – Brasco Marketing (305 W Martin St) – Free show! Part of the First Friday Raleigh, featuring local art and music. See www.godowntownraleigh.com/first-friday-raleigh for info

SATURDAY, OCT. 3rd –  All free shows during the Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest 2-3pm – Common 414 (414 Fayetteville St) 5-6pm – High Lonesome Strings Stage (Fayetteville St between Davie & Martin) 7-9pm – Paddy O’Beers (121 Fayetteville St)

Whew! That’s all for now. Going to be a busy and fun week of bluegrass

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for highlights from out adventures in the city!

Wayne, David, Ricky & Tab

www.grassstreet.net

County Fire & EMS

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Vance County Welcomes Chris Wright as Fire Chief

Vance County is pleased to announce Chief Chris Wright has joined the County to lead the County’s Fire Department. In his position, Mr. Wright will be responsible for leading the Department of 35 full and part time employees and providing guidance
alongside of the EMS Director for the reorganization separating the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Departments.

Wright, a native and lifelong resident of Vance County, comes highly qualified. He has served as the Chief of the Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department for the past seven years and most recently has worked as a Fire Lieutenant with the Youngsville Fire Department. Also over the course of his career he has held positions as a Training/Safety Officer as well as a Fire Captain with the City of Henderson where he spent 11 years. Additionally he has served as the Emergency Services Director and Fire Marshal for over four years in a neighboring county. Chief Wright holds a level III Fire Inspector license in addition to numerous other fire certifications and serves as an instructor at the Vance Granville Community College teaching courses in Firefighting level I & II, Live Fire, Pump Operator, Aerial Operator and Emergency response.

Wright holds an associate’s degree in Fire Protection Technology as well as in Emergency Preparedness Technology from Durham Technical Community College and has been involved in emergency services within Vance County and surrounding counties for over 25 years.

Vance County Announces Javier Plummer as EMS Director

Vance County is pleased to announce Mr. Javier Plummer has been promoted to EMS Director to lead the county’s Emergency Medical Services Department. In his new position, Mr. Plummer will be responsible for leading the Department of 45 full
and part time employees and providing guidance alongside of the Fire Chief for the reorganization separating the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Departments.

Plummer, a native and lifelong resident of Vance County, is a highly qualified paramedic who has spent his entire professional career with the County for over 15 years. In his current role as a captain and paramedic, he has worked closely with the current battalion chiefs and has been a steady presence overseeing personnel on his shift. Mr. Plummer is well regarded for his demeanor and paramedic skills and is poised to lead the Department. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from North Carolina Central University and holds numerous certificates on the basic, intermediate, and paramedic level as an Emergency Medical Technician.

District 5 Wright Seat

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In the wake of longtime District 5 Vance County Commissioner Eddie L. Wright passing away earlier this month on the eighth, the Vance County Board of Commissioners now faces a November ninth deadline.

Eddie L. Wright

Vance County Attorney Jonathan Care provided WIZS News with the North Carolina General Statute.  N.C. G. S. 153a-27 essentially means the newly appointed board member must be of the same political party, a resident of the same district, that the board shall consult the county executive committee of, in this case, the Democratic Party and, if an appointment is not made within 60 days, then the appointment is to be made by the Clerk of Court.  Neither the board nor the clerk is bound by the Democratic Executive Committee’s recommendation.

The 60-day deadline means the commissioners must approve a name to fill Wright’s unexpired term by November ninth.

As a part of the process, Archie B. Taylor, Chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, has sent a request to the chairman of the local Democratic party asking for the names of individuals good for the position who fulfill the requirements.

Care said the commissioners asked for the nominations to be given “by the 16th of October, which gives the commissioners a chance to make a selection at the regular meeting on November 2 or have a special called meeting before that if they feel the need.”

The Democratic Party of Vance County met this past Saturday and elected a new chair, Audry Davis, among other officers.  Betty Boyd, who is the Third Vice Chair and in charge of publicity, told WIZS News, “(The) Executive Board will meet in the next week to nominate a replacement to finish Rev. Wright’s term.”

Whoever is appointed will fill the seat for approximately one year because the district 5 seat was already due for election in 2016 anyway.  At that point, if the appointee chooses to run for the seat, he or she will either be elected or defeated by a challenger.

Wright was first elected in 2000.  He served on the Granville-Vance Public Health District Board and was a minister of a local church.

Soon after Wright’s death, the news was not as much about this process or who the appointee would be, but rather more about Wright himself.  At that time, Taylor said Wright’s death had come as a shock to him as it had to many others.  While Wright had suffered from joint ailments for years, no one in the public seemed to expect his death.

Taylor said, “The county is going to feel his abscence.  He was a man of great faith and spiritual beliefs, an elder of the church, a pastor and preacher, and he was a champion of the little man.  He was definately wanting of a better quality of life for everyone in this county.  He was a great advocate for those who didn’t have a voice.  He is going to be missed.

“His voice of reason and compassion will be missed.  He showed his faith by his work.  (Wright) had a very supportive family during this illness.  They have been extremely supportive of him and that speaks highly of them and their spiritual values.”

VGCC Ambassadors Announced

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Vance-Granville Community College has selected 13 outstanding students to serve as ambassadors during the 2015-2016 school year. Ambassadors represent the college at special campus and community functions, among other duties.

This year’s ambassadors include Dianna DeWeese of Creedmoor (Accounting and Business Administration), who serves as lead ambassador; Emory Gant-Hawkins of Henderson (Culinary Arts); Joy Herndon of Henderson (College Transfer/Vance County Early College High School);  Tonya Parrish of Henderson (Radiography); Shane O’Malley of Inez (College Transfer/Warren Early College High School); Ambrianna Winston of Manson (Office Administration); Daniel Davis of Norlina (College Transfer/Warren Early College High School); Erica Medlin of Oxford (Associate Degree Nursing); Cadeema Scotland of Oxford (Accounting and Business Administration); Francis Scotland of Oxford (College Transfer); Michael Frink of Raleigh (College Transfer); Kathy Conant of Wake Forest (Medical Office Administration); and Adam Rooker of Wise (Criminal Justice).

VGCC Ambassadors 2015-16

To qualify as an Ambassador, a student must have attended VGCC for one year and have achieved a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. Each nominee undergoes committee interviews.

The Vance-Granville Community College student ambassadors for 2015-2016 include, in front, from left: Shane O’Malley, Daniel Davis, Adam Rooker, Joy Herndon and Cadeema Scotland; in back, from left: Francis Scotland, Dianna DeWeese, Emory Gant-Hawkins, Tonya Parrish and Michael Frink; not pictured: Kathy Conant, Erica Medlin and Ambrianna Winston.

Ambassadors receive special training through workshops covering leadership, motivation, hospitality and etiquette. In order for them to be helpful and responsive to visitors, they receive instruction in the college’s history, programs and services. Their duties include serving as guides or hosts and hostesses at events such as commencement, orientation for new students, scholarship awards ceremonies, college-sponsored concerts and activities at the Civic Center, and the annual Career Day. For their services to the college, ambassadors receive a scholarship.

For more information about becoming a student ambassador, call Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.

Marijuana Seized

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VANCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

PRESS RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015, THE VANCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONDUCTED A MARIJUANA ERADICATION OPERATION AND DISCOVERED ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (155) MATURE PLANTS OFF OF NC 39 NORTH.

092215 Marijuana Seized Sheriff

THE PLANTS WERE SEIZED AND DESTROYED WITH AN ESTIMATED STREET VALUE OF $235,000.00.

ASSISTING IN THIS OPERATION WAS THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY PATROL (HELICOPTER), ALCOHOL LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT AIMED AT ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GROWTH AND SALES IN VANCE COUNTY.

NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

SHERIFF PETER WHITE

Gunshot Death in City

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Press Release: September 28, 2015

On September 26, 2015 around 3:44 A.M., officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the area behind the Quick Mart, 517 E. Andrews Ave, Henderson in reference to a subject that was shot. Upon arrival, officers found Horace Jackson, 49, of 912 Hargrove Street, Henderson suffering from a gunshot wound. Vance County EMS arrived and transported Mr. Jackson to Maria Parham Medical Center where he (died).

The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and the State Bureau of Investigation. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offers a reward up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow

Triangle Teams Rack Up

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Atlantic Coast Conference Announces Football Players of the Week

Duke leads the way with three selections following win over Georgia Tech

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke leads all schools with three student-athletes receiving Atlantic Coast Conference Football Player of the Week honors following Saturday’s 34-20 Coastal Division victory over 20th ranked Georgia Tech.

The Blue Devils’ Jeremy Cash was recognized as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week, while A.J. Wolf was named the Defensive Lineman of the Week and DeVon Edwards the Specialist of the Week.

Cash was also named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the Yellow Jackets.

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky picked up ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors, and his Tar Heel teammate Mack Hollins was selected the Receiver of the Week. NC State’s Joe Thuney was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while Boston College’s Connor Strachan was recognized as the ACC Linebacker of the Week and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson as Freshman of the Week.

ACC Football Players of the Week are selected by a 14-member media panel.

OFFENSIVE BACK – Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, So., QB, 6-3, 220, Mentor, Ohio

Trubisky completed 17 of 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns and set a single-game North Carolina record for pass efficiency rating at 282.04 in Saturday’s 41-14 win over Delaware.  The previous Tar Heel record was 263.48 by Jason Stanicek vs. Maryland in 1993. Trubisky also ran the ball six times for 39 yards. He set single-game career highs for completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes. Trubisky’s 64-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins in the third quarter was the longest completion of his career.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Joe Thuney, NC State, Sr.-r, OT, 6-5, 295, Centerville, Ohio

Thuney helped pave the way for the Wolfpack to gain 586 total yards, including 330 rushing yards, in Saturday night’s 63-13 road win at South Alabama. Thuney earned a team-high grade of 92 percent while participating on 47 offensive snaps and did not miss an assignment or allow a sack.

RECEIVER – Mack Hollins, North Carolina, Jr., WR, 6-4, 210, Rockville, Md.

Hollins caught three passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 41-14 win over Delaware to earn ACC Receiver of the Week honors for the second time in his career. Hollins now has 10 career touchdown receptions, and Saturday marked his second career two-touchdown game (also 2014 at Virginia). Hollins posted his third career game with 100 or more receiving yards.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – A.J. Wolf, Duke, Jr.-r, DT, 6-4, 270, Greenwich, Conn.

Wolf had eight tackles – six of which limited Georgia Tech rushers to two yards or less – in Saturday’s 34-20 win over the 20th ranked Yellow Jackets. Wolf’s play up front helped limit Georgia Tech to 173 rushing yards – 204 below its season average – and just 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Yellow Jackets’ average of 7.3 yards per carry entering the game ranked third nationally. Wolf and the Duke defense also limited Georgia Tech to to a combined 6-of-24 (.250) on third and fourth downs – 5-of-19 on third down and 1-of-5 on fourth down.

​LINEBACKER – Connor Strachan, Boston College, So., LB, 6-2, 230, Wellesley, Mass.

Strachan led the Eagles’ defense in tackles for the third game in 2015 with nine in Saturday’s 17-14 victory over Northern Illinois.  The sophomore tallied a career-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops, and registered additional career highs with one sack for a loss of nine yards and 2.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards. Strachan helped the BC defense hold the Huskies to just 72 rushing yards and only 153 total yards, The Eagles continue to own the top-ranking defense in the nation and have yet to allow a team over 100 rushing yards this season.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Jeremy Cash, Duke, Sr.-r, S, 6-2, 210, Miami, Fla.

Cash spearheaded Duke’s defensive effort in Saturday’s 34-20 ACC win over 20th ranked Georgia Tech with 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. Cash forced two fumbles and had four quarterback pressures in earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career.  Duke held Georgia Tech to 173 rushing yards – 204 below its season average (377.0), which ranked second nationally entering the week – while snapping the Yellow Jackets’ nation’s-best 17-game streak of consecutive outings with 200-plus rushing yards.

SPECIALIST – DeVon Edwards, Duke, Jr.-r, KR, 5-9, 180, Covington, Ga.

Edwards delivered a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at a key point in Saturday’s 34-20 win over Georgia Tech en route to earning his second career ACC Specialist of the Week honor and third conference weekly award overall. Edwards’ runback came with 6:54 remaining in the third quarter immediately following a Georgia Tech touchdown that trimmed Duke’s lead to 19-13. It was his second kickoff return for a touchdown this season and the fifth of his career. Edwards also contributed eight tackles on defense.

ROOKIE – Lamar Jackson, Louisville, Fr., QB, 6-3, 196, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Jackson rushed for 184 yards and two scores while throwing for a career-high 212 yards and another touchdown in Saturday’s 45-3 win over Samford. In his second career start, Jackson scored on runs of 13 and 14 yards and tossed a 36-yard TD pass. His 184 yards rushing are the most in a single game by a Louisville quarterback.

Drug Deaths Out of Control

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Heroin and Prescription Drugs Deaths Out of Control in the U.S.

According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, (CDC), drug related overdoses and deaths are out of control and have reached epidemic level.

In 2013 there were over 43,000 deaths or 120 a day caused by drugs, with heroin the leading drug of choice.  Drug deaths are now greater than deaths from being shot or deaths from motor vehicle crashes.  These numbers are two years old, and there is no way of knowing what the 2015 death toll will be, but we know that it is up if the epidemic prediction from CDC is accurate.

Why Heroin?  Because it is cheaper than prescription drugs and is readily available everywhere in the U.S.  Heroin has invaded the upper crust and poorest communities with equal speed and with the same results; increased overdoses and deaths, higher crime rate overall and more inmates behind bars.

The economic costs of those hooked on drugs is huge.  The most recent data pertaining to the economic cost is from 2007 and was stated to be at $193 billion.  One can only guess about 2015, but some have estimated the annual cost of lost productive time, healthcare and the judicial system including jails at over $300 billion.

The U.S. government has recognized the epidemic, resulting in more emphases on treatment and less on jail time.  There are over 23 million Americans undergoing treatment and recovery today.  The importance of this should not be lost on the U.S. citizens.  The Obama administration has recently announced a Recovery Branch at the Office of National Drug Control Policy to support those in recovery.

The DEA recently reported a whopping 232 percent increase in drug arrests along the U.S./Mexico border.  The DEA goes on to report that they believe there is a connection between drug cartels and street gangs.  Which of course take us to the street level where drugs are an everyday occurrence in many communities.  No city or county in the U.S. is exempt from the drug epidemic as recent local arrests have revealed.