VGCC holds College Day for transferring students

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Vance-Granville Community College hosted admissions officers from four-year colleges and universities on Dec. 3 on VGCC’s Main Campus. The event was VGCC’s annual “College Day,” where students obtain important information about transfer requirements, financial aid and scholarships that can help them take the next steps in their educational journeys.

The VGCC Student Learning and Success Center organized the fair in partnership with the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers (CACRAO).

VGCC students browsed through displays, picked up informational materials, and talked with representatives from 14 four-year schools. Almost all of the represented colleges and universities were from North Carolina.

Each year, large numbers of students start their higher education at VGCC before transferring to four-year institutions. VGCC has numerous articulation agreements with four-year schools (both public and private) that allow students to transfer credits in various programs. The VGCC College Transfer program provides students with the first two years of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. College Transfer courses are offered at all four VGCC campuses and online. In recent years, the comprehensive articulation agreements between all North Carolina community colleges, the UNC System and the private N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities have been revised with clearer pathways. Graduates of the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science programs at VGCC are guaranteed admission into one of the 16 UNC schools, typically transferring in with the standing of juniors.

High school students in one of the four Early College programs operated by VGCC in partnership with local public school systems can earn up to two years of college-transferable credit, tuition-free.

For more information on enrolling at VGCC and transfer options, contact the Student Learning and Success Center at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus.

Animal Kingdom 12/16/15

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Utility Pole Problem

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A utility pole problem has emergency personnel on the scene near Lowes Home Improvement in Henderson, as of our latest check at 10:43 A.M.

Fire Chief Steve Cordell confirmed at 10:00 A.M. that he had a crew on the scene and that the problem was dispatched as “a utility pole on fire.”

Those within ear shot reported to WIZS News that two loud booms were heard shortly after 9:30 A.M.

Cordell said there was a failure of an insulator on one of the power lines.  Without the insulator in place, two electrical lines were able to touch, resulting in arcing.

There are no injuries.

A few lingering power outages are possible for another hour or so, according to Cordell, who stated he had received information from Duke Energy Progress.

Power service to WIZS was affected for about 45 minutes, but power has now been restored to the radio station.

Interim Financing New Animal Shelter

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Interim financing for the new Vance County Animal Shelter will be on the agenda at next month’s meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners.

A short term financing commitment was secured from BB&T Bank and will permit the construction phase for the new shelter to begin in the early spring of 2016.  According to David Beck, Finance Director, there are a few more hoops to jump through, like getting approval from the Local Government Commission on the financing.   The Local Government Commission was started during the Great Depression in 1931 and is responsible for approving local borrowing and is an arm of the North Carolina Treasurer Department.

Once construction is completed, the County will secure long term financing from the USDA and pay off the interim financing from BB&T.  The long term financing will include all construction costs plus interest.

Current plans are for the new shelter to be constructed on five acres of land donated to the County by Charles and Mary Boyd. It will be an 8,700 square foot facility with over 130 kennels and will include an examination room, a large storage space, sally port and increased parking spaces for those visiting the shelter.

Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles indicated that he is overjoyed by the progress being made to replace the current 37 year old facility.  One of the major problems with the current space is there are just too many animals housed within the facility and the larger building will be a blessing, as it will enable the shelter staff to provide top notch care for all animals surrender to the County.

Fund raising for the new shelter is currently under way with just over $32,000 raised to date. Donations can be made directly to the Vance County Animal Shelter and are tax deductible.  If paying by check be sure to write in the memo line “Vance County Animal Shelter.”

(written by George Rush, WIZS News)

News 12/17/15

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Granville County Criminal Superior Court

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Oxford, NC – Granville County Criminal Superior Court was held during the week of December 7, 2015. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Robert H. Hobgood presided during the session. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison S. Capps, Tasha C. Gardner and Michael W. Putney, Jr.

The week-long session began with the trial of State of North Carolina vs. Stevie Roberts. Mr. Roberts was charged with Driving While Impaired which was alleged to have occurred on December 7, 2012. Mr. Roberts was represented by attorney A. Chance Wilkinson. At the close of all evidence and arguments of counsel, the jury convicted Mr. Roberts of a Level 5 DWI. Mr. Roberts received a 60-day sentence, which was suspended for 24 months of supervised probation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael W. Putney, Jr. The case was investigated by Officer S.C. Slinkard of Butner Public Safety under the leadership of Chief Danny Roberts.

On Thursday, December 10, 2015, a plea was entered in the case of State of North Carolina vs. Rodriquez Teshawn Thomas. Mr. Thomas was charged with First Degree Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon in the September 25,2013 death of Musleh Mohamed Saleh Qayed. Mr. Thomas
pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. He was represented by attorneys David R. Waters and Joyce Fischer. Mr. Thomas was sentenced by Judge Hobgood to two consecutive, active sentences of 365 to 450 months and 78 to 106 months in the North Carolina
Department of Adult Correction.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Allison S. Capps and Tasha C. Gardner. The case was investigated by Retired Detective B. Strother and Detective C. Williams of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office under the leadership of Sheriff Brindell B. Wilkins.

Please feel free to visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/District-Attorney-9th-Prosecutorial-District-1339203609439246/ to see this press release and the accompanying photo.

(Information provided to WIZS by The Office of Mike Waters by press release.)

Home and Garden Show 12/15/15

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VGCC holds New Student Orientation sessions before Spring Semester

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Registration continues for spring semester classes at Vance-Granville Community College, and the college will offer a final set of opportunities for prospective students to attend an orientation session on campus. Students also now have the option of attending orientation in an online format. The spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 11, with 12-week classes beginning on Feb. 9.

At VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County, an orientation session is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m.

Other orientation sessions are available for new students who are only taking 12-week classes. The Franklin County Campus near Louisburg has an orientation session scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. VGCC’s South Campus (between Creedmoor and Butner) is scheduled to hold an orientation session on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m.

Attending an orientation session is required for all new students who wish to enroll in any of the college’s curriculum programs, and for students who are returning to VGCC after being away for three or more years. Students must also meet with an advisor or academic/career coach before registering for classes.

To attend an orientation session, a student must sign up in advance by visiting orientation.vgcc.edu.

In either the online or traditional format, orientation sessions help students learn where to find resources on campus or online, including how to register for classes through WebAdvisor. Immediately following a general orientation session, each student will meet with an academic advisor and have the opportunity to register for classes the same day.

The upcoming semester’s course schedule is available online at schedules.vgcc.edu.

For students who register in January, the deadline to pay tuition and fees is Thursday, Jan. 7, by 5 p.m. if paying in person, or by midnight if paying online.

For more information, contact VGCC at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus. VGCC is closed for the holidays from Dec. 21, 2015 through Jan. 1, 2016, re-opening on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.

News 12/16/15

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Business Spotlight: Midnight Blue Martial Arts

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Many people seem to think that Karate is just a “kid thing.” That statement could not be further from the truth. Kim Gupton, the owner and a teacher at Midnight Blue Martial Arts, sat down with Kevin Bullock of WIZS to give you the breakdown.

Gupton said, “Many people think that Karate is just something for their kids to do, and they just watch. I have a parent or two that wants to get on the mat every once in a while, but that’s rare.” Karate was actually invented by adults, for adults.

Gupton also said, “People think that their child is going to get hurt doing karate; not here. We have had less than five people get hurt since we started, and that wasn’t because they did something wrong on the mat.”

Midnight Blue Martial Arts also does cheerleading from September until April, but the Karate lessons and training are year-round.

The process of going from a white belt to a black belt takes about four years. Gupton said, “It’s a four year college for kids and adults.”

When Gupton was asked why she decided to take up Karate, she said, “It gives confidence. I’ve never been in a situation where I was intimidated, because I knew I had this in my back pocket.”

To learn more about Midnight Blue Martial Arts call Kim at 252-438-8896 or visit them on Facebook.