The Watkins Family Foundation, created by the estate of Vance County native Edward Tarry Watkins, has donated $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to endow a scholarship to help underprivileged women.
The donation to VGCC is actually the first made by the newly-established, Houston, Texas-based foundation, according to Meghan Watkins Thompson, a granddaughter of Watkins.
“I recall that my grandfather would always tell me, ‘you educate the woman, you educate the family,’” Thompson said.
Among family members who remain in the Henderson area is Watkins’ nephew, George Rose Watkins, who has also endowed a scholarship through the VGCC Endowment Fund to help students and regularly plays in the college’s annual benefit golf tournament. His family’s company, Rose Oil, is also a longtime supporter of VGCC and other community organizations.
“The Watkins Family Foundation was created specifically for the education of underprivileged women,” Thompson added. “George and I appreciate Vance-Granville making Ed’s wish a reality.”
This new scholarship will be a “Presidential Scholar Award,” the college’s largest, most prestigious level of endowed scholarship.
“The Edward Tarry Watkins Memorial Presidential Scholar Award represents the lasting legacy of a generous man who never forgot his hometown and demonstrated the same dedication to service and philanthropy as other members of his extended family,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “For generations to come, his vision will empower women to obtain the higher education they need to support themselves, their families and their communities.”
Ed Watkins, or “Bitz,” as he was called by his family, was born in Henderson in 1919, the son of William Thomas and Nannie Tarry Watkins. A 1940 Davidson College graduate, he joined the Army Air Corps after college and moved from North Carolina to Texas, serving as a bombardier flight instructor and also working with Minneapolis Honeywell to couple the Norden bombsight to the B-17 autopilot. Watkins retired from active duty in 1949 as a lieutenant colonel.
He and his wife, Hazel, moved to Houston in 1951, where he worked for Merrill Lynch before founding his own brokerage and investment advisory firm, Watkins & Company, Inc.
Active in his community and a supporter of many social and charitable causes, Watkins supported the Embassy Square Foundation in its development of the Perry Memorial Library in downtown Henderson. He and a friend also helped to establish a technical school for underprivileged children in Kun-Ming, China.
After passing away in July 2006 at the age of 87, he was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson.
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.
–VGCC–
Vance County Schools Update 02/13/17
/by CharleneVance County 4-H To Offer Poultry Show Interest Meeting
/by WIZS StaffYou’re Invited To The 2017 Poultry Show and Sale Interest Meeting.
4 County 4-H Poultry Show & Sale
If you ever wanted to learn how to raise your own chickens, now is your chance!
All children ages 5-18 are invited to join us at 6:30 PM at the Vance County Regional Farmer’s Market (210 Southpark Dr, Henderson, NC 27536) to discuss plans for the 2017 Four County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale. A free dinner will be served, so RSVP with your county Extension Office!
Interested?
Please Contact Turner Pride with any questions and concerns.
Available via phone (252) 438-8188 and email at tapride@ncsu.edu.
Join Vance County 4-H Today!
Vance County Cooperative Extension Center, 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536
Henderson Residents Asked to Conserve Water Starting Wednesday
/by WIZS StaffPRESS RELEASE: 13 February 2017
The City of Henderson/ Kerr Lake Regional Water System will begin repair on a 36” water main just outside the water plant beginning at 12:00 a.m. on the morning of February 15, 2017.
Due to the repair procedure it will be necessary to shut the main off to replace the pipe.
The plant will continue to produce and distribute the water through the existing 24” main parallel water main. While there should be no disruption of service during this time, we do ask customers to practice conservation of water during this time and not to use fire hydrants except for emergency purposes.
It is anticipated that the 36” main will be back in service later in the day on the 16th.
Should you have any questions concerning this repair please contact Christy Lipscomb, KLRWP Director at 252-438-2142.
Esther J. McCrackin
City Clerk – City of Henderson, NC
134 Rose Avenue
P.O. Box 1434
Henderson, NC 27536
Town Talk 02/13/17
/by CharleneCooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 02/13/17
/by CharleneNews 02/13/17
/by CharleneE.O. Young Elementary Celebrates Successful Science and Spaghetti Night
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2017
E.O. Young Jr. Elementary School celebrated science during a special Science and Spaghetti Night event on Thursday, February 9, at the school.
The evening featured parents and students visiting classrooms and participating in science experiments and activities led by teachers.
Students in third grade and fifth grade won honors with their science projects.
Capturing top honors in the third grade were Aaliyah Alenlain, first place; Devan Markham, second place; La’Niyah Terry, tied for third place; and Canaan Evans, tied for third place. They are shown in the first accompanying photo, from right to left, with their projects.
The fifth-grade winners included: Nathaniel Durham, first place; Kendall Sizemore, second place; Nathan Richardson, tied for third place; and Mason Pendergrass, tied for third place. Durham is shown in the second accompanying photo with his project.
Richardson and Pendergrass are shown in the third photo from right to left. Sizemore was unavailable for a photo.
Foundation creates scholarship for VGCC students in memory of Vance County native
/by WIZS StaffThe Watkins Family Foundation, created by the estate of Vance County native Edward Tarry Watkins, has donated $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to endow a scholarship to help underprivileged women.
The donation to VGCC is actually the first made by the newly-established, Houston, Texas-based foundation, according to Meghan Watkins Thompson, a granddaughter of Watkins.
“I recall that my grandfather would always tell me, ‘you educate the woman, you educate the family,’” Thompson said.
Among family members who remain in the Henderson area is Watkins’ nephew, George Rose Watkins, who has also endowed a scholarship through the VGCC Endowment Fund to help students and regularly plays in the college’s annual benefit golf tournament. His family’s company, Rose Oil, is also a longtime supporter of VGCC and other community organizations.
“The Watkins Family Foundation was created specifically for the education of underprivileged women,” Thompson added. “George and I appreciate Vance-Granville making Ed’s wish a reality.”
This new scholarship will be a “Presidential Scholar Award,” the college’s largest, most prestigious level of endowed scholarship.
“The Edward Tarry Watkins Memorial Presidential Scholar Award represents the lasting legacy of a generous man who never forgot his hometown and demonstrated the same dedication to service and philanthropy as other members of his extended family,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “For generations to come, his vision will empower women to obtain the higher education they need to support themselves, their families and their communities.”
Ed Watkins, or “Bitz,” as he was called by his family, was born in Henderson in 1919, the son of William Thomas and Nannie Tarry Watkins. A 1940 Davidson College graduate, he joined the Army Air Corps after college and moved from North Carolina to Texas, serving as a bombardier flight instructor and also working with Minneapolis Honeywell to couple the Norden bombsight to the B-17 autopilot. Watkins retired from active duty in 1949 as a lieutenant colonel.
He and his wife, Hazel, moved to Houston in 1951, where he worked for Merrill Lynch before founding his own brokerage and investment advisory firm, Watkins & Company, Inc.
Active in his community and a supporter of many social and charitable causes, Watkins supported the Embassy Square Foundation in its development of the Perry Memorial Library in downtown Henderson. He and a friend also helped to establish a technical school for underprivileged children in Kun-Ming, China.
After passing away in July 2006 at the age of 87, he was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson.
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.
–VGCC–
Franklin County Man Allegedly Shoots Two in Stolen Gun Argument
/by WIZS StaffPress Release
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit issued warrants on a Franklin County resident. On 02/10/2017, warrants were issued on Jon Edward Check with Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. On 02/10/2017, Jon Edward Check was arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit. He is under a $40,000 bond.
This incident is alleged to have occurred on 02/09/2017.
Mr. Check is alleged to have shot two victims at his home.
This incident was alleged to been an ongoing dispute over a gun someone had stolen from Mr. Check.
Four individuals came to Mr. Check’s home, an apparent fight ensued and the end result was Mr. Check shooting two victims. One in the legs and the other in the arm.
Both victims were transported by private vehicle to WakeMed North.
Suspect:
Jon Edward Check
136 Elsie Marie Drive
Youngsville, NC 27596
This matter remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone should have any additional information pertaining to this investigation, please contact Detective JC Senter at 919-340-4344.
Town Talk 02/10/17
/by Charlene