The American Legion Post 99 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 99 meets every 2nd Monday of the Month at Post 99 located at 1034 Mallard Lane Halifax, Va.
Auxiliary starts at 6:30 p.m. and the Legion begins at 7:00 p.m.
We welcome eligible men and women desiring to assist veterans and/or their families.
Call 434-575-5401 or 434-476-1268 for more information.
(This information came to WIZS via mail)
The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards menâs basketball team achieved one of the most stunning upsets in program history on Jan. 18, defeating the University of North Carolina junior varsity team by a score of 106-100 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
This was VGCCâs second trip to Chapel Hill and the teamâs first win over the JV Tar Heels, who were undefeated this season before the contest.
Henderson-based radio station WIZS 1450 AM provided live coverage of the game, just as in the first meeting of the two programs in 2016. âIn what was going to be an incredible experience in and of itself for the VGCC Vanguards, they came out more ready to play than the Tar Heels,â reflected Kevin Bullock, who called the game for WIZS. âThe Vance-Granville locker room was electric before the game, while the UNC JV locker room was all but silent.â
The Vanguards got off to a strong start, trading leads with the Tar Heels and settling on a 51-51 tie at the half. The back-and-forth continued through the second half toward a nail-biter of a conclusion. After taking a five-point lead and then falling behind by as many as five in the second half, the Vanguards fought back to tie the Heels with two minutes to go.
With 20 seconds left on the clock, the Vanguards pulled away from a 100-100 tie and never looked back, making four straight free throws to seal the victory.
Key to VGCCâs win was a balanced offense that featured six players scoring in double figures: NiQuan Cousins (30 points), TyQuon Reid (22), Chris Pernell (16), Jaylen Jones (11), Calvin Malik Manley (11) and Kenneth Finley, Jr. (10). Cousins was also the Vanguardsâ leading rebounder (14). He leads the nation in rebounds per game (14.5) for NJCAA Division II. Cousins recorded three assists and three blocks, as well. Manley contributed seven rebounds to the winning effort. Jones led in steals (4).
The Tar Heels were led in scoring by Lucas Bouknight of Greensboro, with 21 points. An article in the student newspaper, the Daily Tar Heel, concluded that the JV âbasketball team wasnât just outplayed â UNC was outworked.â The article quoted Hubert Davis, the former Tar Heel guard and 12-year NBA veteran who coaches the JV squad, as saying, âCongratulations to Vance-Granville Community College. They earned itâŚ.I just felt like the entire game they were the tougher team. They were the team that worked the hardest, that wanted it more.â
Bullock, the WIZS sportscaster, concluded that âCarolina was hampered by poor free throw shooting and live ball turnovers. Vance-Granville was able to capitalize on those opportunities and shot the ball better than they had all season. It was the UNC JV teamâs fourth game in nine days, which allowed the Vanguards to get out and run on Carolina and wear them down in the second half. NiQuan Cousins, Jaylen Jones, TyQuon Reid and the rest of the Vanguards will never forget the day they went to Chapel Hill and beat the Tar Heels.â
VGCCâs next home game is set for Saturday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m., when the Vanguards face a conference opponent, Guilford Tech Community College, at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson. Admission is free.
WARRENTON, NCâ A session of Warren County Criminal Superior Trial Court was held during the week of January 17, 2017, and presided over by the Honorable Michael O’Foghludha. During the week long session the District Attorney’s Office presented the case of State vs. Harold Jay Whitney. Mr. Whitney was represented by attorney Mitch Styers.
Mr. Whitney was charged with Driving While Impaired and Driving Left of Center after being stopped by Troopers Burrell and Settles of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol on May 23, 2014. Both Troopers testified that Mr. Whitney was driving on the wrong side of the road near the intersection of Churchill Road and U.S. 158 in Warren County.
Mr. Whitney was either unable or unwilling to produce a breath sample, so there was no exact determination as to the level of alcohol in his system.
Jurors had to rely on observations and testimony regarding his ability to complete the performance testing conducted by Trooper Burrell. The case was presented to a Warren County Jury by Assistant District Attorney Mark L. Gregory, and the jury returned a guilty verdict.
Mr. Whitney was sentenced to a 30 day active sentence which was suspended for 12 months of unsupervised probation.
(Press Release from the DA)
RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 18, 2017) â Following several rounds of severe winter weather in many parts of the country, the American Red Cross urges eligible blood and platelet donors to help restock its shelves to overcome a shortage.
Since Dec. 1, about 300 blood drives across 27 states have been forced to cancel due to inclement winter weather, resulting in more than 10,500 blood and platelet donations going uncollected. Despite the weather, hospital patients still rely on transfusions.
Blood donor Jim Taylor knows how it feels to have a loved one waiting for a transfusion. His son Aaron was born with a rare liver condition. In the short two months of his life, he received 115 blood products. Taylor said each transfusion gave his family more time with Aaron, so he encourages others to give.
âWhen the Red Cross says there is a shortage, they are not exaggerating,â said Taylor. âI now know from experience that what they are saying is somewhere there is a father waiting on the donation that will save his sonâs life. When the Red Cross asks for help, what that means is a new dad is praying for a miracle.â
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Franklinton
1/28/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Franklinton Baptist Church, 102 West Mason St.
Creedmoor
1/27/2017: 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Creedmoor United Methodist Church, 214 Park Avenue
Oxford
2/10/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Granville County Shrine Club, 706 Roxboro Road
Stem
2/7/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Granville Central High School, 2043 Sanders Rd
Roxboro
1/26/2017: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., National Guard Armory, 605 Burlington Rd
1/29/2017: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Theresa Baptist, 3919 Chublake Rd
2/10/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Roxboro Police Department, 109 Lamar St.
Henderson
1/28/2017: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. James Catholic Church, 3275 US 158 Bypass
2/14/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Vance Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road
Norlina
1/25/2017: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 438 Ridgeway Drewry Road
How to help
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driverâs license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nationâs blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
(Press Release)
Wednesday Closings / News 1-10-17
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Text or Email closings or announcements to 252-432-0774 or johncharles@wizs.com or call 252-492-3001
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Update 5:40 p.m. Tuesday
Tuesday Closings / News 1-09-17
Refresh Your Browser for the Latest!
Text or Email closings or announcements to 252-432-0774 or johncharles@wizs.com or call 252-492-3001
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Update 4:45 p.m. Monday
VGCC graduates 14 cadets in schoolâs 103rd BLET Class
Fourteen cadets graduated on Dec. 13 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College, in a ceremony held in the Civic Center on Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.
Graduates of VGCCâs 103rd BLET class included Heather Jocqueline Cruz of the Franklinton Police Department; Justin Lamar Dailey and Shauna Demetrius Terry, both of the Henderson Police Department; Emmett Avory Smith of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation; AndrĂŠ McCoy Oakley, Cedrick Shawn Peace II and Vicky Victor Philip, all of the Oxford Police Department; Kenneth William Fitzsimmons, Jr., of the Roxboro Police Department; James Brett Aiken, Erik Jamaal Sheftal and Tyrone Terry, all of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; Antonio Tyrelle Seward of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office; Christopher Lee Oakley and Jennifer Christine Watson.
The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by students from the ROTC program at Northern Vance High School, and the singing of the national anthem by NVHS student Jaylen Webb.
In welcoming remarks, Dr. Angela Ballentine, VGCCâs vice president of academic affairs, thanked the many leaders from local and state law enforcement agencies in attendance for partnering with the college. âYour support for the BLET program is invaluable,â Ballentine told the law enforcement representatives. âYou sponsor our cadets, hire our graduates, provide many of our instructors, and give us feedback and advice. This successful partnership between VGCC and our community improves the safety and quality of life of our region.â She congratulated the graduates on successfully completing the rigorous, 667-hour training program and encouraged them to continue their education. âI wish you every success as you protect and serve all of us,â Ballentine added.
Speaking as leader of the class, Cadet Cedrick Peace thanked the many instructors who had trained them, as well as the family members and friends who were there to support the graduates. âToday, we leave the classroom, and tomorrow, we enter our communities, our neighborhoods and our streets,â Peace said to his classmates. âI thank you for choosing to serve others.â He said that the cadets had become like a family. âFamily means not letting each other give up when things get hard,â Peace said. âWith this profession, you will have many brothers and sisters who will pick you back up when youâre down.â
Graduates selected Sgt. Richard Creech of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, one of their physical training, or âP.T.,â instructors, to serve as their featured speaker. âYou wondered why I pushed you so hard in during P.T. workouts,â he said to the class. âIt builds character and discipline, but most importantly, it teaches us not to give up, no matter how tired we get. Out on the streets, we donât have the luxury of giving up. We will not give up, and we will go home at the end of our shift.â
Creech also reminded the graduating cadets to âtreat everyone like youâd want your mother to be treatedâ and to become leaders in their agencies. âYou can and you will make a difference,â he told the class. âI appreciate you all taking the challenge of law enforcement.â
Andrea Ferguson, the program coordinator, and instructor Glen Boyd presented awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Fitzsimmons won the âTop Gunâ Award for having the highest accuracy score in firearms qualification. Peace earned the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo during physical training. Smith took home the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the written tests each cadet must pass.
For more information on the BLET program, contact Ferguson at fergusona@vgcc.edu.
–VGCC Press Release–
A special setting of Vance County Criminal Superior Court was held Monday, December 19, 2016. The Honorable Robert H. Hobgood Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties presided for the term. The Office of District Attorney Mike Waters was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa D. Pelfrey and Onica F. Fuller. The single matter scheduled for hearing was the sentencing of Daquan Keith Foster.
Defendant Daquan Foster was convicted of First Degree Rape on December 4, 2015, before the same judge. The sentencing was continued to allow his attorney, E.N. Bagshawe of Warrenton to put forward evidence in mitigation.
Daquan Foster was sentenced to 239 to 347 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction for a 2013 rape in the City of Henderson. Officers with the Henderson Police Department investigated the case after a citizen reported that the victim came out of the woods reporting that she had been sexually assaulted. Strong police work resulted in an eyewitness identification by the victim and the collection of DNA evidence, both of which were presented by the State during Foster’s trial. It took jurors less than an hour to return a verdict of guilty of First Degree Rape against Foster. The jury also heard evidence concerning aggravating factors that were put forth by the State in an effort to increase Foster’s sentence. Jurors took less than five minutes to decide that the State had proven the aggravating factors based on the victim’s mental and physical infirmities and that she was handicapped. This case was investigated and prepared for trial by Detective Brandon Logue, Detective Jessica West, and patrol officers with the Henderson Police Department.
It’s through the hard work of the Henderson Police Department and their collaboration with our office that convictions like this are made possible. Our office would like to acknowledge the victim for her willingness to participate in this prosecution. Without her courage and the hard work of law enforcement, this would not have been possible.
Vance-Granville Community College and the Advanced Manufacturing Skills Training Alliance (AMSTA) recently partnered to hold a five-part âRover-Botâ Workshop for area teachers. The series was held on Thursday evenings in October and November in the electronics lab at VGCCâs South Campus, where the Electronics Engineering Technology program is based.
In the workshop, VGCC Engineering Technologies program head Wesley Williams taught the educators about basic electronics and programming while they assembled a âroverâ robot, a small, autonomous moving vehicle. The Rover-Bot has two battery-powered motors that move independently, so it is driven like a tank, Williams explained. âOver the course of the workshop, we built the rover and learned how to drive it with a platform called Arduino, which is basically a small computer,â Williams said. âWe then incorporated sensors that would activate based on light and temperature and other features. The teachers really enjoyed the building process and the hands-on nature of the class. They said they want to incorporate what they learned in their own classrooms, so I gave them links to more information and ideas.â
According to AMSTA Project Manager Stephanie Ayers, âthe goal of the Rover-Bot workshop was to expand teachersâ knowledge of robotics and enable them to sponsor robotics clubs in their school or implement project-based learning in their classroom.â
Among those who attended all or part of the series were: Beverly Spivey-Judkins from Franklinton High School; Kelly Dixon and Fred Reed, both from Granville Central High School; Marva Burrell-Smith from J.F. Webb High School (Granville County); Kevin W. Moran and Traci Branch, both from Mt. Energy Elementary School (Granville County); Audra Neunkirchner from Northern Granville Middle School; Penny Collins and Pamela Huff, both from Northern Vance High School; and Henry Bobbitt from Warren County High School. Each teacher received continuing education credits for attending.
AMSTA is a partnership involving VGCC and the public school systems in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, who work together to prepare students in the region for careers in manufacturing. A grant from the North Carolina Education and Workforce Innovation Fund supported this workshop and other AMSTA projects. âBy providing quality professional development activities that are relevant to manufacturing in our region, we increase our teachersâ ability prepare students to enter these careers,â Ayers said. âAlso, by partnering with VGCC to provide these workshops, we have opened up lines of communication between K-12 teachers and community college instructors to share information and ideas about preparing students for advanced manufacturing careers.â
This was the first time Williams has conducted a project-based robotics course for schoolteachers; he offered a broader course in 2015 in partnership with AMSTA on various topics related to electronics and robotics.
VGCC offers both a two-year degree and a certificate in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET). The certificate is also available as a Career and College Promise (CCP) Pathway for eligible high school students. In the EET curriculum, students learn to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to design, build, install, test, troubleshoot, repair, and modify developmental and production electronic components, equipment, and systems such as industrial/computer controls, manufacturing systems, communication systems and power electronic systems. For more information on the EET program, contact Williams at (252) 738-3541.
