New Principal Named at Northern Vance High School

Andrew Markoch has been named as the new principal at Northern Vance High School.

The Vance County Board of Education officially appointed Markoch to his new position during a special meeting Wednesday night.

Markoch will join Vance County Schools after serving as an assistant principal at Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest and the principal of the school’s Ninth Grade Center. He has been an administrator at the school since July of 2003.

Markoch, who lives in Rolesville, is a graduate of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the university in 1988. He also earned a master of arts degree in educational administration from Akron in 2001. In May of 2003, Markoch completed course work for principal licensure, with a focus on curriculum, at the University of Akron.

During his time with the Wake County Public School System in Wake Forest, Markoch has had extensive experience in management and school leadership. He facilitated the academic growth of a comprehensive high school in Wake Forest focusing on the instructional and social development of students as they adjust from middle school to high school. From 2007 to 2011, he worked with educators in the Ninth Grade Center as its on-site principal and was responsible for implementing the vision and operation of the center from its origins as an academy to a full-fledged school operating as part of a comprehensive high school. He then worked with faculty leaders to plan and facilitate the center’s move from an off-site location to become an on-site program serving ninth graders at the high school. The Ninth Grade Center continues today as an on-site facility.

In his capacity as principal of the Ninth Grade Center, Markoch notes that he has encouraged a school culture that is achievement based, student centered and data driven, while welcoming parents and stakeholders as an integral part of the school environment.

(From Vance County Schools Social Media)

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Henderson-Vance Night Out Against Crime

In cooperation with the National Night Out Against Crime the Henderson/Vance Night Out Against Crime Committee and the Henderson Police Department will be hosting the Henderson/Vance Night Out Against Crime on Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson on August 2, 2016. The event is scheduled from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with set-up beginning at 3:00 PM.

The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, in 1984 began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. NATW’s National Night Out program culminates annually, on the first Tuesday of August (In Texas, the first Tuesday of October).

National Night Out now involves over 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all fifty states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.

The traditional “lights on” campaign and symbolic front porch vigils turned into a celebration across America with various events and activities including, but not limited to, block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, safety demonstrations and seminars, in effort to heighten awareness and enhance community relations. Events for this year’s Night Out include displays of law enforcement and public safety vehicles and equipment, informational booths for public safety and public health agencies and organizations, and children’s activities.

The Event Coordinator for the Henderson/Vance Night Out Against Crime 2016 is Community Services Sergeant David E. Pitman, Jr. of the Henderson Police Department. Agencies and organizations involved in public safety and related fields that may be interested in participating in the event may contact Sergeant Pitman at (252) 438-4141.

 

Marcus W. Barrow, Chief of Police

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Breaking News: Vance Names New County Manager

The Vance County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the appointment of Jordan McMillen as County Manager effective August 19, 2016. Mr. McMillen currently serves as Deputy County Manager/Director of Planning and Development. Mr. McMillen joined the county staff in May 2008 as Planning Services Manager: was promoted in October 2011 to Director of Planning and Development Planning Services Manager, and was promoted to his current deputy position in July 2013. While serving as Deputy Manager, Mr. McMillen has been a valuable member of the county’s management team in addition to his planning responsibilities he has played a key role in the development and administration of county capital projects, economic development projects as well as participating in the development of the annual county budget. Mr. McMillen’s county management responsibilities have expanded considerably during the past year and a half while the county has been without the services of a full time county manager. Mr. McMillen’s knowledge of the county organization and his involvement in all of the county’s ongoing projects will provide for a smooth transition between managers.

Mr. McMillen graduated summa cum laude with a BS Degree from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania and received a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also a graduate of the UNC School of Government County Administration course.

The county received over 90 applications for the County Manager’s position and the Board of Commissioners interviewed 22 candidates. While a number of very qualified applicants expressed strong interest in the position, Mr. McMillen’s professional education, Vance County government experience, and demonstrated commitment to Vance County combined to make him the best person for the position.

Gordon Wilder, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, said; “The board is genuinely pleased that our deliberative search for a county manager concluded with the hiring of someone of such high quality as Jordan McMillen. We have had the opportunity to watch Jordan successfully take on additional management duties since Mr. Ayscue retired, and we are confident that he will do an outstanding job as county manager. I am personally pleased that we were able to hire our manager from within Vance County government, and I know that his fellow staff members have a great deal of confidence in Jordan as well and will welcome his appointment.”