TownTalk: Alston And Wilder Discuss Candidacy For County Commissioner

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Sean Alston is challenging incumbent Gordon Wilder in the race for Vance County Commissioner in District 3 and their conversations with John C. Rose aired on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

Early voting begins Apr. 28 for the May 17 primary election. Alston and Wilder talked about issues affecting the county, including community centers with after-school programs for young people and the continued need to bring jobs to the county.

Sean Alston
Alston, a Democrat, said he would expect the community to hold him accountable. “I want the people in my district…to know that they do, and will have, a voice” in county government.

He said he wants to offer the community as a whole, not just the district 3 that he would represent, that he will strive for more transparency in government. “The people just want to be heard, the people just want to be updated. I can’t guarantee or promise anything,” he said, “but I will be accountable and available.”

His platform focuses on civic participation, building up the community, transparency, accountability and community involvement.

“I feel like I can do what the people need and I feel like I can do what needs to be done,” Alston said. “At the end of the day, it comes down to accountability. I am not going to tell you one thing and do another – I will represent the voice for change.”

Alston is a local businessman and also offers his time as a coach at Vance County High School. Coaching, he said, allows him to interact with parents, youth and with teachers, and he said it’s helped him understand more about what the community needs in terms of support. Teachers need better pay, he said, and parents need a safe place for their children to be when they’re not at school.

“In order to help this county, this community, it has to start with the youth in some form or fashion,” Alston said. After-school programs located in the community that provide meals and homework help would be a good start. Teachers, he said, could get some extra pay to spend a couple of hours after school and children would have a safe place to be while parents are working second- or third-shift jobs.

People in the community, working on the same team as the school system and public safety, can help to support the youth and keep them off the streets and out of trouble, he said. “I just want to be on the team,” Alston said.

Gordon Wilder

Wilder, a Democrat, is seeking his fourth term as commissioner. “I decided to run again because I feel like we have a good board that works together. I feel we’re moving forward and I wanted to be a part of that progress.”

He said jobs is a key issue for Vance County – retaining employees and attracting new businesses and industry to the area are vital to the county’s economic health.

Companies looking to locate here may be attracted by the county-wide zoning plan or the improvements and extensions to the water system, he said. The industrial park shell building concept may also attract prospective employers.

“We need to get jobs to our county and retain those jobs and give our citizens a chance to work and improve themselves,” Wilder said. “Jobs are key,” he said. When people have opportunities for employment, they can improve their own situations as well as contribute to the county’s economic well-being. “We all win,” he said.

Local jobs means workers may be more likely to stay in the county, raise their families locally and spend money in the local economy – a real win-win situation, he said.

Wilder, a retired educator in Vance County Schools, has spent almost 50 years in Vance County serving in various capacities with the Vance County and Epsom fire departments and in his church.

“Those who have called me know that I listen and I want to help…I generally can meet their needs, answer their questions,” he said.

Wilder mentioned the recent renovations to the former Eaton Johnson campus, now home to the Department of Social Services and Senior Center, as an investment in the county’s infrastructure; improvements to the Dennis Building downtown, courthouse and county administrative offices also have come about as part of a capital improvement plan.

“I believe my experience sets me apart,” Wilder said. “All I want to do is seve the county and to move the county forward.”

 

 

TownTalk: Patrick Bailey And Jonathan Collier Discuss Candidacy For Sheriff

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The Republican candidates whose names will be on the May 17 primary election for Sheriff of Vance County spoke on Tuesday’s Town Talk in WIZS’s continuing coverage of local races and the candidates vying for office.

Patrick Bailey and Jonathan Collier spoke with John C. Rose and their remarks were recorded for presentation. Increased drug activity, crime rates and increased training for sheriff’s office staff are a few of the issues that both candidates spoke about.

Patrick Bailey

Bailey, who has worked with the Henderson Police Department as well as in business management, said he has the skills needed to be the county’s head law enforcement officer. The sheriff oversees and administers staff and programs, and makes sure that the office is functioning “accurately and appropriately within the laws of the state of North Carolina. You really need to be on top of it before something happens and you’re in a position where you don’t want to be,” he said.

Bailey said in conversations with people across the county’s 12 townships, he has heard stories of drug deals “yet they see no enforcement action being taken…to try and curtail that in any way.” He described the opioid epidemic in Vance County  as “astronomical.”

The drug issue must be addressed and sheriff’s officers need additional training to be able to combat the problem. Bailey said he wants to reinstate the drug interdiction program and put officers on I-85, U.S. 1 and N.C. Hwy. 39, all of which he said are major points of access into the county. This will allow officers to get the drugs before they can hit the street and be distributed.
“We need to try to focus on the drug dealers and put them out of business,” he said. Putting officers in place to combat problem areas begins with adequate training so officers know how to accurately and responsibly handle various situations and avoid inappropriate behaviors that get them in trouble.

It stands to reason that increased drug arrests means more people who will be serving time at the detention facility, which Bailey said needs much improvement. Granville and Warren counties both have new detention facilities and Bailey said the Vance jail is antiquated and out-of-date. “Once I get elected as sheriff of Vance County, I’ve going to have to work with the county commissioners… and see where the money is being spent,” he said.

Bailey said he would have an open-door policy as sheriff. “I feel like we need to have the policy more open to the citizens of the county to let them know that they can talk to the sheriff about any issue in the county.”

Jonathan Collier

Collier said his experience working with both Vance County and Granville County sheriff’s offices, as well as the Henderson Police Department will serve him in the role of sheriff.

“The first order of business is to ensure that we have individuals that are properly trained and properly educated on the general statutes and federal law – that is going to be the first step,” Collier said. Making sure officers are trained properly and are “doing the job that the county of Vance and its citizens are paying them to do.”

Collier said he is hearing from people in the community who don’t feel safe, whether in their own homes or at the corner convenience store. “It’s a problem when those individuals don’t feel safe,” he said, adding that it is the job of the sheriff’s office to ensure their safety.

The youth in the community need support, too, he said. “We need to figure out a way to get in front of our youth and start mentoring our youth and teenagers,” Collier said. Having positive role models to help keep youth on the right path will help them avoid run-ins with the law and participating in criminal activity.

In his work with narcotics and with firearms-related offenses Collier said he believes that law enforcement officers must exercise effective communication skills as they work and interact in the community.

“It’s paramount,” he said. “If you don’t have it,” you’re most likely going to fail when working in a team function.” He said as a law enforcement officer, it was important to have conversations with individuals to understand and try to get in front of the problems presented in society and said he considers himself a teacher and a mentor, not just someone who enforces the law.

As for the condition of the county detention center, Collier said he has heard that it is outdated and of problems keeping it fully staffed.

Collier, who is retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, said he appreciates and relies on utilizing the chain of command. He will use that policy to help the flow of the sheriff’s department, he said. And will make sure it’s followed. He also said he would make it a priority to bring accreditation to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, having in place policies and procedures help guide and inform officers when they are on duty or off duty and to help him address any issues that may arise with the ranks.

Collier said he will listen to community concerns, too.
“If an issue is brought forward to me, it will be addressed,” he said. He said he enjoys a “great working relationship” with local agencies and those in surrounding jurisdictions, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s office. Those relationships will continue if he is elected sheriff as he works to make the county safer for its citizens.

 

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TownTalk: Noel, Purvis, Burnette Discuss Ward 2 Candidacy

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Two challengers – Lamont Noel and Dr. William R. Purvis – will face incumbent William Burnette for the Ward 2 at large seat of the Henderson City Council. All three candidates spoke recently with John C. Rose as part of WIZS’s coverage of the upcoming May 17 primary election; their recorded interviews aired on Monday’s Town Talk.

Economic development, combatting crime, increased salaries for city employees and beautification are among issues that the candidates discussed and shared ways they would work with city staff and fellow council members if elected.

Lamont Noel

Noel said he wants what’s best for the citizens of Henderson. “My ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Henderson,” he said. “We have to find a way to make the city of Henderson more appealing and attractive” so businesses will want to locate here, he said.

Noel said he has been serving the community in numerous ways long before he decided to toss his hat into the ring and run for office. He has a long partnership with Vance County Schools,  and has created community gardens for the public to enjoy. He also worked with Police Chief Marcus Barrow a few years ago to co-author a city ordinance and has been on the city’s redevelopment commission for more than a year.

“I’m not just becoming visible because I’m running for office,” he said.

Noel said he would work with city department heads to figure out how to get additional resources to the sanitation department to clean up empty lots that have become unsightly dumping grounds. Private property owners must be held accountable, he said.

“We have to figure out a way to clean up this town – it cannot be that hard,” Noel said.

Improving pay for police officers and other city employees may be one way to increase the retention rate, he said.

Henderson’s residents need more choices for affordable housing, he said. Although there are more options for lower income housing, the city needs “safe and decent housing for…people of all incomes.”

Henderson, he said, is the largest city between Raleigh and Petersburg, VA. That puts the city in a unique position to be ready for economic growth. “We have to invest in this city,” Noel said. “If we don’t, we’re going to have some problems.”

As he contemplates working as a member of the city council, Noel said he would work hard to be a voice for all citizens.

His vote is only one of eight, but it is a vote that he looks forward to making.

Dr. William Earl Purvis

Purvis hold a doctorate degree in ministry and his study of transformational leadership has served him well in his ministry and in his career working in the probation and parole field with formerly incarcerated individuals as they re-enter society.

“I want to be a voice for the people,” Purvis said, and added that lowering crime, improving the city’s image and creating new initiatives are just a few issues he would tackle as a member of the city council.

“We need to wake our downtown up,” Purvis said. Promoting downtown businesses and making downtown more user-friendly would be a plus as the proposed passenger and commuter rail planned for the city would bring additional visitors downtown.

Having so many shuttered storefronts in the the downtown area make the city look bad, he said. The community needs to find ways to support local business owners and enhance their efforts to revitalize the downtown district.

One way would be to attract or create festivals to come to the downtown area – whether it’s a motorcycle rally, Christian events or parades, Purvis said more events for diverse groups held downtown would help.

He said he looks forward to working with other members of the city council to bring positive change to Henderson. “I’m only one person,” he said, but it is important to reach out to people where they are to make change happen.

One tactic he said he would employ involves collecting information from city residents before voting on issues before the council.

“I will call a town hall meeting…and sit down with citizens…and we’ll have a parking lot discussion,” Purvis said. “I will voice what the people come to agreement with – this city belongs to all of us who live here. He said he would use citizen input to guide his voting.

Purvis cited youth development as an important need. A focus on young people’s mental health needs, as well as education and access to recreation as ways to invest in the youth of the city.

“I am a community leader,” he said. “I want to lead the community and get the people organized. If they live in Henderson, North Carolina, it’s my job to activate their voice.”

Purvis said he would bring experience as a team builder to his role as a council member. He said he believes in holding others accountable for their actions, but he also believes in giving second chances. “We need to stand together,” he said, to bring unity to Henderson.

William Burnette

The incumbent Burnette is completing his first term as a council member, and he said the council has laid some good groundwork for a number of projects to make a positive change within the city.

The West End URA is one project that has tremendous potential, but Burnette hopes for much more. “We don’t have enough single-family housing under $150,000,” he said. “We need that very badly in Henderson.”

In addition to affordable housing, jobs is another big-ticket issue. Henderson, once home to textile and other manufacturing facilities, has seen a rise in distribution facilities.

“We need jobs,” Burnette said. “We need somebody to come in here and employ 150 to 200 (people)- we don’t have that right now.”

The industrial park shell building project is one way the city can attract new industry. Having an attractive, unfinished structure just waiting to be modified to meet the needs of a specific business or industry, is a big plus.

Another plus for the city and its residents is a higher retention rate of police officers. “We have stepped up, as a council, about pay,” Burnette said. The chronic challenge seems to be that the city invests in training of new officers, only to have them leave for better-paying agencies nearby.

Burnette said the Chief Barrow has “really stepped up to bring that info” to the council. “We are completely behind that…we just can’t keep losing officers to other agencies.”  But it’s not just police officers, he said – it’s all city employees. “Retention is a big thing with me,” Burnette added.

He gives credit to City Manager Terrell Blackmon for his role in offering guidance to the council. As a result, he said, the last four years have seen no increase in taxes by the city. “That’s a tribute to the council,” he said, and to Blackmon. “He’s doing a super job for the city of Henderson.”

Burnette said he’s enjoyed his term on the city council and would like four more years to continue helping to bring projects along. Projects like the water improvements, the splash park and downtown redevelopment.

“I’d like to continue to be a part of that,” he said. “I take pride in Henderson…I just think it’s a great place to live.”

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Lamont Noel begins at 0:25; William Earl Purvis begins at 16:40 and William Burnette begins at 33:40.

City of Oxford

TownTalk: Arts And Wine Festival Coming To Downtown Oxford

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The organizers of the upcoming Main Street Arts and Wine Festival hope it will give downtown Oxford some additional “street cred” for those interested in finding family-friendly activities to enjoy.

Pierre Gagne and Charlie Vaughan are part of the group putting together the event, which will take place on Saturday, Apr. 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free; tickets to participate in the wine-tasting are available for purchase now for $30. Gagne, owner of The Hub on Main, told John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk that organizers came up with the idea a couple of years ago, and now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased, they felt the time was right to put the plan into action.

“We’d been playing around with concepts,” Gagne said. “Just folks gathering together, things that people like to do.” Combining art and wine tasting, he said, “will get families to come and spend time together.”

Gagne also is president of the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Commission, said it takes teamwork. The group represents all the downtown businesses, who choose to participate in a variety of ways. The annual Hot Sauce Contest envelops most of the downtown area, but this afternoon festival will have a smaller footprint just around Main Street.

“Isolating small sections of town on a more consistent basis” is a way to invite  participants in to enjoy what Oxford has to offer. “They see a significant increase in foot traffic,” Gagne said, referring to the business, restaurant and shop owners during events that are held in the downtown area.

Vaughan is the director of the Oxford Arts Council and she is organizing the art portion of the festival. She said folks will get a chance to see the artists at work. “They see everything that goes into it before they purchase a piece of art – and realize it’s not something that’s done in five minutes,” she said.

Artists will showcase handmade bags, paintings, drawings, jewelry and more, Vaughan said. There also will be children’s art activities throughout the afternoon.

There will be live music throughout the afternoon, as well as food trucks offering “gourmet” hotdogs, barbecue and ice slushies. The majority of wines to be shared by the vendors during the festival will be available by the bottle at The Hub on Main. Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. also will be on site with some beer tastings as well, Gagne said.

“(Oxford’s) been hanging out under the radar for the last couple of years,” Gagne said. “We like to say we’re one of the best kept secrets of the Triangle – maybe that secret’s starting to get out.”  First-time visitors may come for a particular event, but “once they come and see the charm of downtown Oxford, we usually see them come back,” Gagne said.

Find out more on The Hub on Main’s Facebook page, Oxford Arts Center Facebook page or email oxfordartscenter@gmail.com.

 

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TownTalk: Chamber Banquet A Success; Hopper Named Citizen Of The Year

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It’s always a good day to hear good news, and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce added to the good-news cycle Tuesday evening when it announced Mark Hopper as the 2021 Citizen of the Year.

Hopper is the director and board chair of McGregor Hall, and he has guided the cultural arts center from its opening in 2016 through the pandemic shutdown and back into operation. His unwavering support for bringing back shows, productions, competitions and other events is a critical component for the continued success of McGregor Hall.

Chamber President Michele Burgess and Events Director Sandra Wilkerson said the annual dinner and banquet was a big hit, from the food provided by Chamber member Cook Shack to the highlight of the evening, which was the citizen of the year announcement.

“We did have a really nice event,” Burgess said, adding that it was nice to be back at an in-person gathering to celebrate Chamber accomplishments in the community.

Board President Ronald Bennett’s theme for the year shines the spotlight on community, and the Chamber members will focus on carrying that message far and wide to grow pride for the area and to play up the assets that Henderson and Vance County have to offer.

“Together, we work better,” Wilkerson said. By bringing together nonprofits, churches, as well as businesses large and small, she said the message will get out.

Past board chairman Dr. Levy Brown shared remarks during the evening’s proceedings. “(He) came back and made remarks as our past chairman,” Burgess said. “He still has a place in his heart for Henderson.

The committee selected Hopper from a strong list of worthy nominations, Burgess said. “We all realized how important McGregor Hall is to the community,” both in its cultural value and its economic value.

“He led the force in keeping it open,” Burgess said, and sought grants to bolster the shoestring budget, she added.

Archie Taylor, Vance County commissioner and previous Citizen of the Year recipient, announced the winner. In remarks, Taylor talked about Hopper’s influence on the success of McGregor Hall. “Soon after his election to chair of the board of McGregor Hall, he began to educate himself in the day-to-day management of a large performing-arts and learning center, including taxes, payroll, building upkeep, fund raising, and the direction of a large volunteer base – all with minimal paid employees – while continuing his artistic leadership of programing and theatrical productions. The most significant aspect of these achievements is that he has accomplished all of this entirely as an unpaid volunteer.

He said Hopper has invested himself to promote and grow his community through selfless dedication and leadership-by-example. “We can think of no one who has more humbly, sacrificially, generously and successfully contributed to the betterment of Henderson and Vance County than the man we are honoring this evening.”

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TownTalk: Timberlake Organizes JF Webb Class Of 1970 Reunion

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The students who graduated from J.F. Webb High School in 1970 are the last students to be known as Webb Wildcats. Beginning the next year, the Oxford high school mascot became the Warrior.

Frank Timberlake is a member of the Class of 1970 and he is putting the word out to fellow Wildcats about the 50th reunion celebration that is scheduled to take place – after a 2-year delay – in early June.

Timberlake still lives locally and he said he has the “wonderful – or dubious – job” of trying to reach out to classmates to spread the word about the reunion, which is set for June 4, 2022.

“This year, the Class of “70 is turning 70,” Timberlake told John C. Rose on Town Talk Wednesday. He said many classmates have remained in touch over the years, but he wants to try to reach those folks who may have moved away from the immediate area to let them know about the reunion.

He also would like to know about classmates who have passed away, because there will be a special tribute during the reunion to remember them.

For the group that does convene for the reunion, Timberlake said, it will be just a low-key time. There will be cornhole boards and barbecue, he said, but mostly, the attendees “just want to spend quality time visiting.”

Contact Timberlake at frankt@rftimberlake.com or give him a call at 919.805.0055 to learn more about reunion details.

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TownTalk: Veterans Find Assistance with Butner Organization

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The Veterans Life Center in Butner is a nonprofit agency that helps 21st century veterans with the skills and support necessary to become self-reliant and to become productive members of the community.

As part of the ongoing series “Former Active Duty, Still Boots on the Ground” segment of Town Talk, Phyllis Maynard and John C. Rose spoke with two men who work at the VLC to learn more about what it offers former military personnel.

VLC Executive Director John Turner is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Coast Guard. Martin Woodard is the VLC program director who served in the U.S. Air Force and has a long career in counseling and is affiliated with the UNC School of Medicine and the NC Division of Mental Health.

The VLC services offer a unique approach in several ways, Turner said. Firstly, it’s designed especially for 21st century veterans – which is defined as those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Secondly, the veterans receive care, counseling and other support from fellow 21st century veterans, who understand the particular challenges those vets face. And thirdly, the services are provided in a caring environment that cares for the whole veteran. We talk about goals, and opportunities and the future,” Turner said. “That’s what sets us apart.”

The VLC is a residential program that helps veterans be proactive in their recovery. Woodard said by beginning with a culture of respect and a holistic approach to care, veterans experience a positive support system that promotes that self-reliance.

“We strive to build a foundation,” Woodard said, that incorporates physical health, behavioral health and mental health. A veteran who suffers from PTSD, for example, may also have other underlying health concerns that need to be addressed as well. Or a veteran with substance abuse problems may also need counseling for having suicidal thoughts.

That’s another unique asset that the VLC has – it’s located just a few hundred yards from the R.J. Blackley Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center.

Having partnerships with other agencies, from substance abuse treatment centers and the VA is key to helping veterans get back on the right path, the men noted. The facility also is close to the South Campus of Vance-Granville Community College, where participants can take classes and find a career.

Woodard said the investment comes from all sides, including from the residents, who are learning how to deal with untreated or unresolved issues that stemmed from the military. They are learning how “to re-engage in society in a way they deserve,” Woodard said. Having support from the larger community is a tangible way to say “Thank you for your service.”

Just five years ago, the VLC was nothing more than an idea, Turner said. A working group met a couple of times a month, put together a vision for a facility whose primary goal would be to give veterans an outcome of self-reliance.

Then it was a matter of working backward to get all the pieces to come together. The result is a nonprofit VLC is a collaboration of state and local groups and the VA to be able to provide resources alongside the other existing services – all with a similar goal: serving the veterans who have served their country.

“We value partnerships,” Woodard  said. “No one program can meet the needs by itself.”

The VLC program is for veterans with honorable discharges. But whether they ultimately are accepted into the program or not, Woodard said he wants veterans to know two things: they will not be judged and their diagnoses don’t have to define them or affect what they can achieve.

According to Turner, “If they’re calling in, they want to be heard and understood.”

“If they call us, we’re going to do our best to give them hope,” Woodard said.

Visit www.vlcnc.org to learn more. Call VLC at 919.803.5516.

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TownTalk: Rebuilding Hope’s Mission

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Rebuilding Hope, Inc. will have a barbecued chicken plate fundraiser on Friday, April 29, and RHI Director Randolph Wilson said volunteers will team up to cook, plate distribute and deliver plates until they sell out. The event begins at 11 a.m. and by the time it’s over, Wilson said he hopes all 1,500 plates will be sold.

The plates are $8 each and Wilson said folks can eat in or drive through. Volunteers will deliver to area businesses with a minimum five-plate order, he said.

“This time, we decided to do it without selling tickets,” Wilson told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk, and he invites the public to help make the fundraiser a success.

Volunteers are in charge of everything from bringing grills to the 414 Raleigh Road location to preparing, cooking and getting the chicken and sides on plates for pick up, dining in or delivery.

“It’s a great time of fellowship,” Wilson said. It’s been a couple of years since the last chicken plate fundraiser because of COVID-19 safety protocols, but this year, Wilson said he’s looking forward to getting back in the swing of things.

“It’s exciting to see people come together for one day,” he said. In addition to the team of grillers outside, Wilson said there would be 20-30 people inside packing the plates and getting them out the door.

To place a delivery order, call RHI at 252.438.5132.

Despite the two-year delay, Wilson said churches, individuals and businesses have continued to financially support RHI and the work it does in the community. “We’re blessed that people have supported this ministry,” he said.

Teams work together to construct wheelchair ramps for greater accessibility. Last year, even during COVID-19 restrictions, RHI teams build more than 45 ramps to help those in need.

And this summer, the Servants on Site program will continue home repairs in the area.

The weeklong event is scheduled for June 18-25, and will send groups of young people out into the community to go out and work on houses. So far, several local groups have committed to the event, as well as one group from Franklin, NC and another group from Alabama.

Wilson said they put roofs on 12 houses last summer; that SOS program looked a bit different than it had in previous years to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

This year, however, Wilson said the plan is to get back to normal, which means housing all the youth together and dividing them into different teams to do the home repairs.

The deadline to register and pay the $125 cost is May 1. Wilson said scholarships may be available if an individual needs help paying the registration fee.

“If they want to come and don’t have the funds to do that – we don’t want anybody to miss out because of funds,” Wilson said. “It’s so exciting to see these young people go out on a job site,” he said. “They build friends that last a lifetime.”

The groups don’t simply make a repair and move on, he said. “They put the roof on, then walk through the neighborhood and pray with people,” building relationships along the way.

“That’s what we do it for – not for building a ramp or putting a roof on the house – this is just our avenue to share the love of Christ.”

To register for SOS, email sossec@rebuildinghopeinc.org.

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TownTalk: A Look Back At Saturday’s Embrace Henderson Event

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Embrace Henderson returned over the weekend at Saddlerock Farms.

Please enjoy.

TownTalk: Walker And Brame Discuss Candidacy For Sheriff

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See full text and audio at the bottom of the post for complete details.

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Sterlin M. Walker, Jr.

Sterlin M. Walker Jr., a Democratic candidate for Vance County Sheriff, said he would strive to to offer transparency and accountability to the citizens of Vance County if he is elected sheriff, and would focus on recruitment and retention of officers, increased quality of training, better pay, and streamlining the functions of the sheriff’s office.

In addition, he would like to explore developing a mentorship program for the youth in the community, focus on cybercrime and said he would “definitely…concentrate on cultural diversity and inclusion of everyone in our law enforcement community. I want to look at hiring more Hispanics, more minorities,” he said during a recorded interview with John C. Rose that aired on Thursday’s Town Talk.

Walker is challenging incumbent Curtis R. Brame in the May 17 primary election. The winner will face the Republican challenger in the November 2022 election.

Walker talked about his career in law enforcement and how his experiences have shaped him personally and professionally.

He said the people of Vance County should trust the sheriff’s office and the officers who serve them. “We are all servants of this county and it’s our duty to serve them,” he said.

He joined the Henderson Police Department in 1996 and rose to the rank of sergeant.

“When I first came to Henderson… in 1996, my first assignment was working undercover in narcotics division,” Walker said. From there, he went to the patrol division and eventually promoted to detective – just as cases he’d worked on when he was in narcotics were coming to trial.

“I’ve worked everything from larceny to homicides to bank robberies,” Walker said, adding that he is the only candidate who can claim a 100 percent conviction rate on every homicide for which he was lead investigator.

Officer recruitment, retention

“The first issue that I want to look at is recruitment and retention of officers in the Vance County Sheriff’s Office,” Walker said. “We can hire them, but we seem not to keep them.”

He said officers often can supplement their primary pay with off-duty security assignments. There also are opportunities for local officers to become instructors at the community college; Walker was an instructor for more than 20 years at Vance-Granville Community College, teaching in the basic law enforcement training and in specialty areas of pursuit and precision driving, Taser and active shooter training.

“The opportunities are out there,” he said, “you just have to avail yourself to the training and to those opportunities.”

His experience being an instructor allowed him to network with other agencies, department heads and other recruits, Walker noted.

“They know what I look for in a recruit – I’m looking for honesty and integrity.

It’s ok to make a mistake, as long as you learn from your mistake and keep pushing on,” he said.

Pay options

Better pay for officers is something that he would work with county government and elected officials on, too. He said there are many state and federal grants that may be available to compensate officers for overtime pay for particular programs or targeted issues.

Recruits should know that “you can come to Vance County  and you can bring your skills and your mindset and we welcome that. We also have something to offer,” he said. “It’s more than just a paycheck.”

Detention Facility

“We do need a new jail. The jail needs to be modernized – it needs to be brought into the 21st century,” Walker said.

Accountability

“We want your best effort at all times, even if you make a mistake. As long as you acknowledge that mistake and it’s an honest mistake, we can work around that. That’s not a problem. We’re all human.”

Walker said the sheriff ultimately has the responsibility for his officers’ actions, “I can’t control what the deputies do, but I can control how I administer the application of disciplinary action of the sheriff’s office.” He said anyone indicted for a crime, especially one that involved the sheriff’s office, would be suspended without pay. “It’s not fair to have someone being paid and not doing their job,” he said.

“I believe you’re innocent until proven guilty…if you’re charged, it doesn’t mean you’re guilty…you will have your day in court. It’s not my job to judge you, but I’m not going to have you in a position that you could possibly influence people who may be involved in this case one way or another. The scales of justice are supposed to be blind,” he said.

“Nobody should be putting their fingers on the scales of justice to tip it one way or the other. If there’s enough information out there for you to be indicted, then we put it before your peers and the citizens of Vance County to judge whether you are innocent or guilty. I will stand by that until the day I meet my Maker.”

Walker had to take a medical retirement in 2017 as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle accident – an impaired driver going 100 mph struck his car as he was on the way to the office to check evening reports.

Now, after several years of physical therapy, Walker said “I’m back, I’m strong and I’m able…ready to come out of retirement and offer my skill set to the citizens of Vance County.”

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Curtis R. Brame

Curtis R. Brame is running for a second term as sheriff of Vance County. He faces Democrat Sterlin M. Walker, Jr. in the May 17 primary. In an interview that aired Thursday on Town Talk, Brame spoke with John C. Rose about his first term and what his hopes to continue working on if re-elected.

The 37-year-veteran of law enforcement said he is the only candidate who currently is a sworn officer of the law. “I’m experienced, honest, trustworthy and approachable.”

Brame has had to deal with several incidences involving sheriff’s officer personnel, and he said that each incident was dealt with in a transparent manner. He has called the SBI in for help with investigations and other outside agencies “to be fair and impartial.”

As for the issues facing the sheriff’s office and the citizens of Vance County, Brame said the opioid epidemic and gun violence are top concerns.

He said parents come to talk to him and ask what can be done about the opioid problem; “I feel for them, I really do,” he said. But the death by distribution is a hard case to charge and a hard case to prove, he added. “I will continue to work hard to make sure that people are brought to justice for selling narcotics in this county,” Brame said.

He implored people to get involved and to report incidents they see in the community. “Report it. Call 911,” he said.

Brame said part of his job as sheriff is to build rapport within the community, and he said that work is going great. “I have an open door policy,” he said, adding that citizens are welcome to call, email, text or meet with him to discuss issues. “I personally call that person back and see what’s going on and try to meet those needs,” he said.

“I go to the churches and civic organizations – I try to go to any meeting that I’m invited to and talk,” Brame added.

The sheriff is viewed as the chief law enforcement officer of the county, and Brame said he tries not to confuse power with authority. His job gives him authority to enforce the laws of the country, but the power belongs only to God.

Pay options

Brame said he has had many conversations with county commissioners and with the county manager about pay options for officers. The sheriff’s office has multiple openings, and he says his office is not alone. “Now we have jobs and people are just not applying for them,” he said. “I  hope this pay study goes into effect the first of July and attracts new employees to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Detention Center

The detention center is “antiquated and outdated,” Brame said, adding that he will continue to push for a new facility as long as he is sheriff. The current facility is unsafe for employees and for inmates. Brame acknowledges that a new facility will be costly, but he said a new facility could cut staffing costs. “I want the people to understand there’s a desperate need for a new detention facility,” Brame said.

Administration

The role of sheriff is a 24/7 commitment, Brame said. He deals with 110 fulltime employees, dozens of part-time employees and more than 100 inmates at any given time – not to mention the safety and welfare of the county’s 47,000 residents. “The administrative part is very, very important,” Brame said. He has a $10 million budget to work with and administer, and then there’s the court system, enforcement and corrections.

It’s not for the faint of heart,” Brame said.

When asked what he would do if he were king for a day, Brame didn’t hesitate with an answer: “I would make sure that all of Vance County employees are well compensated.” He said the detention staff is equally important as sworn officers and he considers all employees of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office as part of the same team.

Personnel challenges

Brame addressed several incidences involving sheriff’s office employees.

A School Resource Officer (SRO) at the middle school was involved in an incident. “I think it was handled appropriately,” he said. The school board attorney notified Brame on a Friday and the SRO was first suspended and then fired the following Monday. The SBI came in, he was formally charged, came to court and pled guilty, Brame recalled.

A second incident involved a deputy who was charged with inappropriately touching a person in his custody. Again, the SBI was called in, the deputy was fired and charged. His case is pending in the Vance County Courts.

As for the third incident that has resulted in the indictment of three sheriff’s office employees, Brame said he is bound by a gag order issued by the state of North Carolina. “I know the DA went before the grand jury and they were indicted,” Brame said. The three were suspended with pay, pending the outcome of the proceedings.

“In the state of North Carolina, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Brame said. “I have not found those facts yet to say those officers are guilty. What information I had on my investigation proves different and contradictory to the state’s evidence.”

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Click Play for Full and Unedited Audio of Both Candidates