The Local Skinny! Henderson Collegiate Ranks in Top 4% of Nations High Schools

Henderson Collegiate High School has been named among the top 4 percent of high schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, according to a press release from the school that serves more than 1,400 students.

“This is not just about a school. This is about a movement to help America finally live up to the vision of our founding fathers that every child has the right to pursue happiness and the opportunity to rise as high as their dreams can take them,” said co-founder and CEO Eric Sanchez. “Our calling is to level the playing field so that our kids stand shoulder to shoulder with the most privileged students in this country. We are transforming the story from poverty to promise, from despair to determination, from crime to courage and leadership. The unshakable efforts of thousands of students, staff, and families have propelled our children into the top 4% of the nation. But the true victory is greater than statistics. It is that our relentless belief and paradigm shifting work ignite a fire in others to do the same. What we are building is not just success for our kids; it is a beacon of hope for our country.”

Founded 15 years ago, Henderson Collegiate began with a mission to break paradigms and stereotypes about what children from rural, low-income communities can achieve. With fewer resources than large, well-funded districts in places like Wake and Mecklenburg counties, the school sets out to provide the same rigorous, college-preparatory education.

“Our scholars’ success is not an accident,” said Carice Sanchez, co-founder and Chief Academic Officer. “It is the result of unwavering belief in our students’ potential, the tireless dedication of our teachers and families, and a culture that insists every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in life. The rankings are proof of what we’ve known all along: when you give all of our students access to great teaching, high expectations, and loving support, they rise.”

Published in the U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings for 2025–2026, Henderson Collegiate ranked:

  • #710 of 17,901 National Public High Schools (Top 4.0 percent)
  • #130 of 2,991 National Charter High Schools (Top 4.3 percent)
  • #24 of 682 North Carolina Public and Charter High Schools (Top 3.5 percent)

Each year, U.S. News evaluates schools on measures such as performance on state tests, progress of historically underserved students, graduation rates and participation in advanced coursework. Henderson Collegiate offers 13 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and students consistently outperform national participation and pass rate averages—demonstrating that rigorous opportunities are not reserved for wealthy districts, but also thrive here in Vance County.

For students growing up in first-generation, low-income communities, college is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2025, workers with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, $31,000 more per year than those with only a high school diploma and are far less likely to face

With a focus on students graduating from high school and heading off to college, Henderson Collegiate has an impact on first-generation college students; the impact goes even further: earning a degree can mean being the first in their family to achieve economic stability, creating ripple effects for siblings, future children, and the entire community. This is why Henderson Collegiate believes every student should graduate with the choice and opportunity that higher education provides.

Since its first graduating class in 2019, Henderson Collegiate has upheld a 100 percent  college acceptance rate. The Pride of 2025 is carrying that legacy forward, with 73 percent of seniors already accepted into Tier I–III colleges and universities and earning a record $21.5 million in merit scholarships. Every graduating class since 2019 has included at least one student awarded a QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, earning a full ride to some of the nation’s most selective schools—including Duke, Harvard, Princeton, Davidson, Denison, Boston College, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Perhaps most inspiring, several Henderson Collegiate alumni have already graduated from college and returned home to Vance County to teach at the very school that helped launch their journey. Their stories reflect the heart of Henderson Collegiate’s mission: education that not only transforms individual lives but strengthens the community for generations to come. By investing their talent where they grew up, they model what’s possible for our youngest scholars and build a pipeline of homegrown educators and leaders. Each graduate who comes back multiplies impact—mentoring students, supporting families, and partnering with local organizations—so that change takes root block by block. This is how a community is transformed from within: pride becomes responsibility, and support turns into shared progress.

Visit https://www.hendersoncollegiate.org/ to learn more.

Click Play!

The Local Skinny! Duke Energy holds Key Leader Update Event

Duke Energy held a Key Leader Update Event this week. Information is also presented about the importance of line workers.

(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)

CLICK PLAY!

Home and Garden Show

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Today they have tomatoes, snapbeans, beets, cabbages, yellow squash, zucchini squash, red irish potatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, peaches, and canned items.
  • There will be a Fall Vegetable Garden Class on September 2nd, 2025 starting at 6:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Start collecting your soil samples now.
  • Sow tall fescue now through mid September.
  • Check apple and pear trees for fire blight, take out those limbs now while leaves are still present.
  • When purchasing grass seed, check the germination percentage on the bag of seed.
  • Check for Pecan trees for Pecan weevil. Tie a burlap bag around the portion of the pecan tree. If weevils are visible under the burlap bag after a few days. Treat the base of the tree and ground around the tree with liquid Sevin.
  • Check for insects on any recently planted transplants.
  • Do not let any weeds seed out in your garden.
  • When purchasing transplants look for a dark green color of leaves, stay away from pot bound transplants.
  • Carolina lawns is the best publication for having a good lawn.
  • Start ordering your fall planting bulbs now.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

Click Play!

Henderson Man Shot, Killed in 800s Block E. Andrews Ave; Suspect Arrested at the Scene

– from Henderson Police

On August 25, 2025, at approximately 9:58 a.m., officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to a reported shooting in the 800 block of East Andrews Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers located Peter Anthony Davis, 60, of Henderson, who had sustained injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. Emergency personnel pronounced Davis deceased at the scene.

During the course of the investigation, officers identified Michael Brown, 35, of Warrenton, as a suspect. Brown was taken into custody at the scene and has been charged with murder in connection with Davis’s death. He was presented before a Vance County Magistrate and received no bond.

Also at the scene was Chamell Perry, 45, of Warrenton, who has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Perry received a $100,000 secured bond.

Both Brown and Perry are scheduled to appear in Vance County Court on September 19, 2025. They have been remanded to the Vance County Detention Facility.

This investigation remains active as detectives continue working to establish the complete sequence of events that led to the incident.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at (252) 438-4141 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925.

Marcus W. Barrow
Chief of Police
Henderson Police Department

The Local Skinny! Hassan Kingsberry Rescinds Letter of Resignation from City Manager/City Attorney

The Henderson City Council voted 6-2 to allow City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry to continue in his role through Dec. 31.

Kingsberry requested that the Council rescind his resignation so he can attend a program at the UNC School of Government. Kingsberry tendered his resignation at the regular monthly meeting of the City Council on Monday, Aug. 11 and shortly thereafter learned that he had been accepted into the program offered by the UNC School of Government in Chapel Hill.

Council Member Sara Coffey made a motion, seconded by Council Member Lamont Noel. Council members Geraldine Champion and Michael Venable voted against the motion.

The cost of the program is $4,500 and will be paid by the city.

“Keep me on so I can attend this training,” Kingsberry said in comments to the council.

Venable said he objected to spending money for Kingsberry to attend the program, knowing that he would be leaving the position.

In making the motion, Coffey said, “We need a manager and we need an attorney.”

Council Member Garry Daeke apologized to his fellow Council members for leaving a closed session Monday – during the first called meeting of the week – and not returning to the open session.

“I should have,” Daeke said in brief remarks at the beginning of the meeting. “I sincerely regret that I didn’t finish my duties,” he said.

 

CLICK PLAY!

The Local Skinny! Boot Drive Aug. 29 To Support Steve Falkner Family

The Henderson Fire Department is having a special boot drive Friday, Aug. 29 to show support for a longtime member of the city’s firefighter family.

Steve Falkner has been with the department for more than 40 years, and Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said this boot drive was organized to help Falkner’s infant grandson, who has spent most of his short life at Duke University Hospital with complications from congenital heart defects.

“We’re going to collect funds to show them some love and support,” Twisdale said on Thursday’s TownTalk. The boot drive will take place in front of Station 1 on Dabney Drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Twisdale, the little fellow has been hospitalized “pretty much every day since he’s been born.”

His parents are both schoolteachers and live in Lake Waccamaw, in Columbus County.

“They’re public servants, just like Steve,” Twisdale said, and he said the boot drive is one way to show their support as the family goes through this tough time.

“That’s what we’re here for – to try to help everyone in the community…we try to be available for everyone,” Twisdale said.

Click Play!

Maria Parham Health Emergency Department Renovation Complete

— information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer

Maria Parham Health has received a Certificate of Occupancy for its Emergency Department renovation on the Henderson campus, marking a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality care—especially for patients facing behavioral health challenges in Vance and Franklin counties.

Construction on the renovation began Mar. 17, 2025. The project was designed to better serve vulnerable populations in the region, with particular emphasis on creating dedicated spaces within the Emergency Department to meet the growing need for behavioral and mental health services.

“These renovations reflect our unwavering commitment to improving the way we care for every patient who walks through our doors—especially those navigating mental and behavioral health issues,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the community support and funding that made this project possible, and we look forward to opening these new spaces to better serve our neighbors.”

Key improvements include the creation of dedicated, purpose-built areas within the Emergency Department that promote safety, privacy, and dignity for behavioral health patients. The enhancements are also expected to boost operational efficiency and support staff well-being.

To ensure continuous care during construction, temporary modifications were made to the hospital’s main lobby, which have served as a substitute intake, registration, and emergency care area for patients arriving via personal vehicle. These temporary areas have allowed for uninterrupted triage, waiting, and registration services throughout the renovation period.

With the Certificate of Occupancy now in hand, hospital staff began final preparations on Aug. 20 to bring the renovated Emergency Department online. The space opened to patients at 11 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2025.

The project was made possible by funding secured in October 2023 through a collaborative initiative involving the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville Vance Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina General Assembly. The investment demonstrates a shared regional commitment to strengthening mental health care infrastructure and improving outcomes for patients across the area.

Maria Parham Health will continue to provide renovation updates through its official Facebook page and local media outlets-

Home and Garden Show

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Today they have tomatoes, snapbeans, beets, cabbages, yellow squash, zucchini squash, red irish potatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, peaches, and canned items.
  • There will be a Fall Vegetable Garden Class on September 2nd, 2025 starting at 6:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Start collecting your soil samples now.
  • Collect flowers for dried  arrangements. Ex: Yarrow, German staus.
  • Freeze or can your fruits and vegetables now enjoy them this winter.
  • When purchasing grass seed, check the germination percentage on the bag of seed.
  • Know what to plant in your garden and get a copy of the central piedmont planting guide.
  • Know the harvest interval when spraying anything in your garden.
  • Do not let any weeds seed out in your garden.
  • When purchasing transplants look for a dark green color of leaves, stay away from pot bound transplants.
  • Carolina lawns is the best publication for having a good lawn.
  • Start ordering your fall planting bulbs now.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

Click Play!

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Growth and Excitement at Perry Memorial Library

Perry Memorial Library is all the things a library should be – it’s inviting and chock full of books and other reading materials for patrons to enjoy. But Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters is someone who likes to be in “the mix,” as she put it, so whenever she’s able to, she likes to be out and about – bringing the library and its services into the community.

“You have to go out to get people to come in,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

With another successful summer program under their belts, the library staff is gearing up for the fall, but there’s a bit of a breather that has allowed Peters to do some outreach activities, most recently with The Salvation Army and AIM High.

And on Saturday, you’ll most likely find her at the Way to Grow Fest in downtown Henderson.
“This is happening in our backyard – we have to be there,” Peters said.

Stop by the library’s table on Saturday and enjoy a bracelet craft activity as you learn more about the various programs the library offers.

Then stop by the library on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome to library’s fancy new Bookmobile.

“This is big news – this is huge!” Peters exclaimed.

A Greensboro-based company designed and outfitted the bookmobile’s interior. It’s got a ramp and all the bells and whistles, she said.

“People are going to love it! It opens up a whole new level of outreach,” Peters said.

 

CLICK PLAY!

Mike Waters

The Local Skinny! Dequante Terry Sentenced To Life Without Parole In 2020 Murder

– Information courtesy of the office of District Attorney Mike Waters

A Vance County man was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 19 years for the October 2020 murder in Henderson.

During the week of the Aug. 4 session of Vance Criminal Superior trial court, Dequante Jabree Terry was found guilty of first-degree murder, along with a string of additional charges related to an attempted armed robbery on Oct. 13, 2020 at a house on David Street during which Williard Ray Dement, Jr. was shot and killed.

Terry also was found guilty of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to information from the office of District Attorney Mike Waters, during the robbery, Terry fired several shots inside of the residence, striking Misty Boyd and Haley Boyd. An unknown assailant outside shot multiple times into the residence and struck Dement, causing his death. Terry was apprehended within a block of the murder scene, with Dement’s DNA on his pants and a 9mm handgun in his pocket. The 9mm weapon was determined by a firearms expert to have been fired inside of the David Street residence.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The State of North Carolina was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison Capps and Theodore J. Marsh, Jr. Mr. Terry represented himself.

CLICK PLAY