URGENT: UP TO $40,000 REWARD – Two Detainees Escape from The Vance County Jail

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Click Text or Picture. COMBINED REWARD UP TO $40,000 TO LOCATE AND CAPTURE THE ESCAPEES. UP TO $20,000 FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.

***From Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame and the FBI Charlotte Public Affairs Officer:

***UPDATE 10:06 P.M. Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the SBI, the Henderson Police Department and other law enforcement partners are working to locate two men who escaped from the Vance County Detention Center on June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m. The FBI and the Vance County Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward up to $40,000 to locate and capture the escapees. Up to $20,000 for each individual. They may be traveling together or separately.

Michael Lewis Miles Jr. and Lishawn Knott are both considered armed and dangerous. Miles and Knott were in the Vance County Detention Center held for multiple state drug trafficking and gun related charges. They were familiar with one another prior to being arrested.

Miles is 33 years old, 6’0”, approximately 180 lbs., with black and brown eyes and a prominent neck tattoo.

Knott is 21years old, 5′ 11″, approximately 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes with numerous face tattoos including a large cross on his forehead.

We are asking the public to check home surveillance video or trail/hunting camera images to assist in real-time tracking of the escapees. We also ask everyone to lock your vehicles, close your garage doors, and lock up your sheds.

If you see Miles and Knott, do not approach them, call 911 or the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925.

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From Henderson Police Department, SBI and FBI

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**UPDATE 4 P.M. Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for two males who escaped from custody at the Vance County Detention Center.

On June 3, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Michael Miles AKA Mike Mike (Black male, 33 years old) and Lishawn Knott (Black male, 21 years old) escaped from the Vance County Detention Center. Both individuals are considered armed and dangerous.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office, along with assisting law enforcement agencies, is actively conducting search efforts to locate and apprehend both individuals. Citizens are urged not to approach either subject if seen.

Anyone who sees either of these individuals or has information regarding their whereabouts is asked to immediately contact 911 or the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 738-2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile application.

Sheriff Curtis Brame stated, “The safety of our community is our highest priority. We are utilizing all available resources to locate these individuals as quickly as possible. We ask the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any sightings or information that may assist law enforcement in bringing this incident to a safe resolution.”

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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**Urgent** 3:12 p.m. Wed, Jan 3, 2026

Two detainees have escaped from The Vance County Jail, as of about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, and are to be considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach. Contact law enforcement immediately. (HPD Photos)

TownTalk: What If Vance County Had A Data Center?

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For the past few months, county residents have spoken up to express their opposition to data centers.

They’ve signed up to speak during the public comment portion of regular monthly Vance County Board of Commissioners meetings.

They’ve been vocal on social media, offering opinions and posting information about all the bad stuff that happens in communities where data centers are located.

And multiple speakers at Monday’s commissioners meeting called on the board to establish a moratorium on data center development.

Commissioner Valencia Perry asked the board to think about a moratorium. “May I speak about what they’re talking about?” she asked Chair Carolyn Faines. “’Cause evidently they ain’t going nowhere,” which got a round of applause from the audience.

County Manager Renee Perry recommended that commissioners discuss researching a data center moratorium at its next work session.

To recap, the Vance County Planning Board recommended in April that about 40 acres along U.S. Hwy 158 be rezoned from EIA – Employment Institutional Area – to Light Industrial.

There currently are no plans for development of the property under discussion, but, because a name on the rezoning request included a name associated with a Maryland-based data center developer, residents concluded that the site would be the site of a data center in the future.

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TownTalk: Stewardson Making Headlines In And Around Henderson

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Downtown Henderson is set to be the backdrop for a music and arts festival, the brainchild of a local man who’s set to take the stage with others as part of the day’s performances on Sunday, June 14.

Bridger Stewardson has just completed the first year of a four-year program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and this idea to do something for his hometown has been taking shape over the past few months.

The result: the Henderson Music & Arts Festival, and five different groups are scheduled to perform from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the space between the police department, McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library, Stewardson said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

He’d been thinking about doing something in Henderson – for his hometown – for the past few years, noting that there’s not much offered locally when it comes to live music.

“Putting this festival together is a perfect of giving back to the community.”

He describes the festival as “small town soul, big stage jam” on his social media page promoting the event and said vendors, artisans and food trucks are going to add to the festival atmosphere.

For those unfamiliar, Bridger Stewardson is the son of Jason and Missy Stewardson and the grandson of Faye Stewardson and the late Bob Stewardson and Dr. Roddy and Beverly Drake. And Berklee College of Music in Boston, well, it’s the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, known for the study of jazz and modern American music.

Stewardson, who plays piano, is majoring in jazz composition.

“I first started playing when I was eight,” Stewardson said. He took lessons with Henderson’s own Mark Hopper for a couple of years, then took some time to do his “own thing” before working with Oxford’s Cindy Clark. “She really honed my skills,” Stewardson said. “She let me play what I wanted to play and have fun.”

For Stewardson, having “fun” at the piano often includes improvisation, something jazz musicians are known for. He said when he plays, it’s 70 percent off the page and 30 percent on the page.” His music, he said, comes from the soul.

His group, Stewardson and Friends, opens up the friendship circle to include four other groups that will perform at the festival, which is free to the public.

Local favorites Jimmy and the Sound Barriers will kick off the concert, followed by

Soul Livin’ jazz quartet from Durham, Noah Gibney trio from Boston, the Westbrooks, another local group. Stewardson and Friends will round out the concert with a 90-minute set, he said. He’ll be at piano, accompanied by drums, bass, keyboards and vocalist.

He credits jam sessions in David Westbrook’s garage with helping him – as a young musician – feel comfortable creating music with a group of like-minded folks who have fun and enjoy playing music together.

He said musical improvisation comes pretty natural to him, and he gives a nod to his dad for sharing with him the love of artists like the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan when he was growing up.

Recognizing that everyone’s musical tastes are different, this music festival is going to have something for everyone, Stewardson said, from bluegrass and jazz to Southern rock, R & B to funk.

“Not everybody’s into the same thing,” he said, adding that things would probably be pretty boring if they were.

“I feel like it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable musically,” he said.

“If somebody’s happy playing it, I’m happy watching and listening.”

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TownTalk: Granville County Tourism Heating Things Up In June

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With summer just around the corner, Granville County’s calendar of events is heating up with a variety of programs, events and exhibits from Butner to Oxford sure to satisfy everyone’s interests.

Granville’s Tourism Director Angela Allen has a whole list of activities for folks to take part in most any time – summer in Granville County, she said, sort of unfolds – there’s something to do just about all the time.

Looking for an easy way to wind down after work with family and friends? Head to downtown Oxford on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in June for Quittin’ Time. Slow down for a minute and stroll downtown, listening to live music, visiting local retail shops and enjoying small plate and specialty beverages from participating restaurants.

Or head down to Creedmoor’s Cedar Creek Gallery any ol’ time to catch the National Teapot Show, which comes every three years to the art gallery/retail space in southern Granville County. The exhibit features teapots created by artisans and craftspeople from all over, from the functional to the sublime.

Find some fresh produce, local meats and more at the Oxford Armory Farmer’s Market in downtown Oxford on Saturday mornings.

That’s just a sample of what’s available across Granville County this season, and Allen has a whole other list of special events that you’ll surely want to take in.

  • Butner Summer Festival this weekend, June 5-6. There’s a barbecued chicken cookoff, live music, vendors, kids’ activities and more.
  • Juneteenth Freedom Day – in Creedmoor on Friday, June 19
  • Juneteenth Freedom Day – Oxford on Saturday, June 20
  • Bee Jubilee and Food Truck Rodeo – Saturday, June 27 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center on Highway 15 just south of Oxford

See a complete listing of events taking place in Granville County at www.visitgranvillenc.com

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(The text and audio are not a paid ad. Granville Tourism is, however, an advertising client of WIZS.com.)

Henderson Mayor Explains Rationale For May 29 Called Emergency Meeting

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(This post has been updated on June 2 at 9:30 a.m. to include an additional clarification by Mayor Melissa Elliott. You will find it in bold italics below the original text before the audio file.)

Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott told WIZS News Monday morning that she called last week’s emergency meeting in an effort to protect employees mentioned in an email that called for the city manager’s removal and immediate replacement.

Elliott briefly interrupted the City Council’s budget work session Thursday to set up the meeting. Council Member Tami Walker sent an email – using her city email address – to her colleagues on the Council, Elliott, City Manager Paylor Spruill and the city attorney – that called for Spruill to be fired and to make Kendrick Vann interim manager for the next six months. Vann, director of the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department, also is assistant to the city manager.

“I called a meeting because I got 76 text messages concerning Kendrick Vann,” Elliott said Monday.

The city employees were put in “a very precarious position that should have never happened,” she said.

Both Spruill and Vann “should be protected by law” as employees, she said. “What shouldn’t have never happened was a Council member sending that to a newspaper…that’s wrong,” she said.

The emergency meeting was called because there were numerous people inquiring about what was going on and why, she explained. “It was called for the email and for the protection of employees. I did not call the meeting to have anything to do with anyone being fired or resigning – that is not what Melissa Elliott did,” she said.

Four Council members were present for the Friday emergency meeting – Geraldine Champion, Catherine “Kitty” Gill, Michael Venable and Walker. Not present were Council members Garry Daeke, Kenia Gómez-Jimenez, Lamont Noel and Sam Seifert.

The emergency meeting lasted for about an hour, with no action being taken when the Council returned to open session.

When asked for what happens next, Elliott said, “there is a next step and I can share that,” but provided no details.

In a follow-up message, Elliott said that while she is deeply concerned about the attention being put on “internal city controversies and distractions,” the larger issue facing the community is the issue of regional water resources.

“As Mayor, my priority is protecting Henderson’s long-term water interests, defending local decision-making, and ensuring that our residents maintain access to a resource that is critical to our economic future, public health, and quality of life. Regardless of political affiliation, I believe our community deserves transparency and a full public discussion about any actions that could impact our water system and regional authority.”

Elliott told WIZS Tuesday morning, June 2, “I would like to make a correction and clarification regarding a statement I made.

“After listening to the recording, I realized that I misspoke when referencing an email. I stated that the Mayor Pro Tem sent an email to the newspaper. That statement was incorrect. What I intended to say was that the Mayor Pro Tem sent the email to members of the City Council and the Board.

“For the sake of accuracy and transparency, I want to be clear that I do not know which individual ultimately provided the information to the newspaper. It was not my intention to attribute that action to the Mayor Pro Tem, and I regret the error.

“As Mayor, I believe it is important to correct the record when mistakes are made. I take responsibility for my words and want to ensure that all parties are treated fairly and that facts remain at the center of public discussions.

“I apologize for the confusion my statement may have caused and appreciate the opportunity to make this clarification.” – Mayor Melissa Elliott
City of Henderson

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TownTalk: City Council FY 2027 Budget Work Session Creates As Many Questions As Answers

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City of Henderson Finance Director Joey Fuqua stood and answered questions from City Council for the better part of 90 minutes during the City Council’s budget work session on Thursday.

Council members reviewed the $51.7 budget department by department, with questioning led mainly by Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker, Catherine “Kitty” Gill and Geraldine Champion.

When he presented the proposed budget in May, Fuqua told Council members that this budget – as several previous budgets – required an infusion from fund balance. The FY 2027 budget must be passed by June 30.

Fuqua said, in closing remarks just before the work session ended, that FY 2027 is going to be a “savings effort on steroids.” He further stated to Council that city staff had already been told that the month of June would see a total shutdown on expenses as one last measure to get every last penny out of the expense category to preserve a dwindling fund balance.

The FY 2027 budget is using $5 million to bridge the gap between revenues and expenses.

The work session was, at times, contentious, as Council members and the mayor interacted with city staff, asking questions that ranged from how many cell phones the recreation and parks staff needs to whether funding the Henderson-Oxford Airport is necessary.

At one point, Mayor Melissa Elliott admonished City Manager Paylor Spruill for not letting her know ahead of time that the budget didn’t include funding her assistant’s position. “I’m not a department head – I’m just the mayor of the city,” Elliott said somewhat sarcastically.

“Don’t you think it would have been a great conversation to have with me that ‘hey, we’re not going to fund him this year.’ “I’m just wondering…,” Elliott said.

Recalling the pay raises the city used COVID-era federal ARPA funds to provide employees, Council Member Gill said the city is going to have to look at other places to cut.

“We’re going to have to cut the fat somewhere,” she said, adding that she would like to review salaries across the different city departments to look for ways to cross-train staff to possibly cover additional duties.

Council Member Garry Daeke offered several suggestions to get a jump start on next year’s budget, including calling city staff together on July 1 to get them thinking about where to make savings over the course of the fiscal year – one way to hopefully preserve services and positions.

Finding ways to tweak efficiency, he said, could be one way to do that.

“I don’t think we’re going to do a whole of changing with this budget – it’s tight as it can be.” He wants to begin FY 2028  budget discussions earlier in the year to try to get a handle on what is shaping up to be another stressful budget process.

Daeke said he doesn’t want to cut services to residents or cut positions, but he does want to investigate ways to give citizens the services they expect. “We’ve got to find a way to do it a little better,” he said.

“We can’t wait three months before the budget and say we need $4 million out of fund balance or we’re going to cut staff or we’re going to raise taxes,” Daeke said. “Let’s start now prepared not to do that and then see where we get. But we have to start early.”

TownTalk: KTCOG Elder Abuse & Awareness Conference Coming to Warrenton June 12

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is sponsoring the 12th annual Region K Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention event and walk on Friday, June 12 in Warrenton.

It’s a time for senior adults and those who may be caring for senior family members or others to learn more about elder abuse, how to spot it and how to get help if you suspect abuse or neglect.

The ultimate goal is prevention, and Kim Hawkins, KTCOG long-term care ombudsman, said participants will leave with a greater awareness of the resources available to them in their communities.

The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a catered lunch, takes place at the Warren County Armory Civic Center.

Hawkins wants to make sure that people know about the opportunities and resources available to them, whether they are receiving care or providing care, so they become neither a victim nor a perpetrator of elder abuse or neglect.

This year’s theme for the event is “Self-Care Matters,” Hawkins said, which highlights the importance of taking steps to make sure caregivers and their loved ones alike to keep themselves healthy.

Participants can expect to learn more about tasks that go into self-care.

“Sometimes it’s not always someone abusing us,” she said, “sometimes we do it to ourselves.”

There will be presentations on topics of self-neglect, mental health wellness and civility, among others.

Representatives from area long-term care facilities, home health and hospice agencies, nursing facilities and assisted living locations are planning to be on site for the event.

“We want to be a resource to those in need,” Hawkins said.

But she’s planning on attendees enjoying themselves, too. T-shirts, goodie bags and more will be available, while supplies last. And there will be ice cream, she added.

“We’re going to have a good time – come prepared to enjoy yourself!”

Knowing who to call when a need arises goes a long way to relieve stress an ease your mind, Hawkins said.

The importance of preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable populations like the elderly cannot be overstated.

Knowing what constitutes abuse, neglect or exploitation is key.

Hawkins said that 90 percent of abuse is committed by someone the victim trusts, whether that’s a care provider or a family member.

But only 1 in 24 cases is reported – that means 23 cases are not reported.

State law mandates that anyone who suspects elder abuse contact their local Department of Social Services. The caller can remain anonymous and only needs to provide the name of the purported victim.

“It’s not our job to investigate or evaluate a need,” Hawkins said – only to make the phone call. Visit www.kerrtarcog.org to learn more. Contact Hawkins at 252.436.2040 for more information.

Departments of Social Services for Kerr-Tar Region K:

Vance County:  252.492.5001

Granville County: 919.693.1511

Warren County: 252.257.5000

Franklin County: 919.496.5721

Person County: 336.599.8361

 

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Maria Parham Orthopaedics Lunch & Learn June 19 In South Hill, VA

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Maria Parham Health will host a free Lunch & Learn focused on the latest advancements in orthopaedic surgery on Thursday, June 19, at noon at 313 Franklin – Cocktails and Kitchen, located at 313 Franklin St. in South Hill, Virginia.

The event will feature Darius Divina, DO, of Maria Parham Orthopaedics, who will discuss MAKO robotic-arm technology and how it is transforming joint replacement procedures through personalized surgical planning and precision-guided care.

Attendees will learn how MAKO technology uses 3D models of a patient’s anatomy to help surgeons customize procedures, potentially leading to faster recovery, improved joint function and a quicker return to daily activities.

“We are proud to offer opportunities like this Lunch & Learn to help educate our communities about advances in healthcare technology and treatment options,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Orthopaedic care continues to evolve, and we are excited to connect patients with experts like Dr. Divina who are bringing innovative solutions closer to home.”

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged due to limited seating. Community members can register using the QR code featured on event promotional materials on the hospital’s Facebook page. Participants can also register online using the link at MariaParham.com.

For more information about Maria Parham Orthopaedics, visit https://www.mariaparham.com/maria-parham-health.

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TownTalk: Vance County Government Public Hearing & Public Comment Rules

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners has adopted policies that spell out how individuals are expected to conduct themselves when addressing the board during public comment periods and during public hearings.

The public comment policy covers 10 different points which go into detail about the various aspects ranging from its length – 30 minutes – to the topics a speaker may discuss – “the business and activities of the county.”

The public comment policy is just more than a page long, and includes a summarized version in paragraph form at its conclusion.

The public comment period is designed to allow members of the public to speak to the board about “matters that are relevant to the body to which the comments are made;” it is different than a public hearing, which is a formal opportunity for the public to speak on a certain topic before the commissioners.

Individuals who wish to speak during the public comment portion of a commissioners’ meeting need to sign up in the 30-minute period that takes place before a commissioners’ meeting. That 30-minute period ends 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. So if the board meeting begins at 6 p.m., prospective speakers should sign up between 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.

Speakers sign in with the clerk by providing their full name, their contact information and the topic they wish to discuss.

Comments are restricted to the business and activities of the county. Each speaker will have 3 minutes to address the board. A speaker can have an additional 3 minutes from another person who’s signed up to speak, with the total number of minutes by one speaker not to exceed 10 minutes.

Speakers will be called in the order they signed up and if a group of speakers presents itself, that group must designate a spokesperson. If the group doesn’t choose a spokesperson, the board chair or designee can choose a spokesperson or refuse to hear from the group until they choose a single person to speak on the group’s behalf.

Those speakers who want to address the board in a language other than English must first offer remarks in English. The standard 3-minute rule applies, with no additional time provided. A speaker may ask that a translator be used if the speaker is unable to present remarks in English.

View the commissioners’ public comment policy in its entirety at https://www.vancecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Public-Comment-Policy-Revised-May-2026.pdf

 

The public hearing policy lists 8 guidelines, several of which are similar in nature to those of the public comment policy.

One difference, however, is that speakers are limited to 3 minutes and may not receive additional time from others. A spokesperson for a group of three or more may speak up to 8 minutes, with additional time given at the board’s discretion.

Another difference is that a speaker will be asked to note whether he’s in favor of or in opposition to the topic he or she wishes to discuss.

 

View the commissioners’ public hearing policy in its entirety at

https://www.vancecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Public-Hearing-Policy-May-2026.pdf

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TownTalk: Franklin County Sends Letter To KLRWS For Terms To Be Met

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In a letter to the owners of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System dated May 21, Franklin County Manager Ryan Preble posed a couple of possible solutions to his county’s need for more water.

The six-page letter recounted efforts undertaken by Franklin County over the past almost 20 years to find a way to bring more water to an area experiencing explosive growth, seemingly with no end in sight.

Preble sent the letter to City Manager Paylor Spruill, Warren County Manager Crystal Smith and Oxford City Manager Brent Taylor – Henderson is a 60 percent owner of the KLRWS and Warren County and the City of Oxford each have a 20 percent share in ownership.

In March, Franklin County asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its own allocation of water from Kerr Lake – 16.7 million gallons a day. That request will be considered but no answer is expected for more than a year.

The regional water system is undergoing an expansion that will increase capacity to 20 million gallons per day, but Preble’s letter states that it would be too costly and impractical for Franklin County to pay as a customer.

In his conclusion, Preble offers the three water system owners “options” and gives the three entities 30 days to accept the terms.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter:

“Franklin has been in discussions within the region about short-term and long-term water supply for at least 19 years (since 2007). Henderson supplies Franklin with an additional 450,000 GPD but that is all Henderson is willing to do given the size of its water distribution infrastructure. Franklin respects that. Short-term, Franklin cannot pay $35 million for 2.5 MGD when there are other potential sellers at a lower cost. Franklin is open to regional discussions, but KLRWS must either agree to sell at an agreed-upon fair market value of a 51% stake in KLRWS or sell a lower percentage interest but give Franklin the right to expand at its cost to develop additional capacity that belongs to Franklin (the Basic Terms). If either of these options are amenable, we would like to discuss terms to move this forward. Any business formation issues (create an authority or a joint venture) are irrelevant unless Franklin is going to solve its supply challenge with a regional solution.

Please indicate your willingness to accept the Basic Terms within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter, by June 21, 2026. If you would like to setup (sic) a meeting after accepting the Basic Terms, please let me know.”

Find the full text of the letter here https://www.franklincountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2089/Letter-from-County-Manager-Ryan-Preble-on-Regional-Water-Discussions—May-21-2026-PDF

 

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