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Warren County Site Of Upcoming Forum To Discuss Environmental Justice

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People can soon comment on an environmental justice initiative outlined in Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 292. Warren County has been selected as one of three sites across the state to hold a forum to hear comments from the public about environmental issues.

The order reestablished an Environmental Justice Advisory Council and calls on state agencies to develop and track goals to improve environmental justice in North Carolina.

The Advancing Environmental Justice initiative aims to ensure that everyone, no matter their race, income, or location, has access to clean air, water, and soil, according to information at https://publicinput.com/NCEJ. The program focuses on helping communities that are most affected by pollution and climate change, such as communities of color, low-income neighborhoods and indigenous groups.

“Environmental justice means equal access to a healthy environment for all,” said Dr. Virginia Guidry, the council co-chair and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch head at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. “Equal access requires meaningful involvement in decision making that affects our health, well-being and environment.”

The order called for the creation of a mapping tool to provide information about environmental justice issues and help the public identify areas that need attention. People can explore the interactive map, which includes climate, demographic, environmental, transportation and health data and more.

The order also encouraged public participation, giving everyone a chance to voice their concerns and contribute to the decision-making process regarding environmental issues. Several opportunities are on the horizon.

A statewide virtual meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 via GoToWebinar. This initial meeting will serve as the public launch of the initiative, providing an overview of the goals and objectives and giving communities the chance to offer input.

Warren County will be one of three sites to host in-person forums during August. Warren County’s is Aug. 15; the other forums will be held in Asheville on Aug. 8 and Duplin County on Aug. 22. An in-person Environmental Justice Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24 in Halifax County. Specific locations for these meetings will be posted on the public input page once determined, according to a press release from NCDOT.

“The Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council, pursuit to Executive Order 292, is committed to helping state agencies leverage spatial analytic tools and data-driven strategies and tactics to reduce exposures to life-threatening environmental contaminants and the over-concentration of noxious facilities and locally unwanted land-uses in the state’s historically marginalized communities,” said Dr. Jim Johnson, the council co-chair and the William R. Kenan Jr. distinguished professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center.

More information on the environmental justice initiative in North Carolina can be found on the governor’s webpage.

Clearview Church Hosts ‘Night of Gospel Praise’ Aug. 4

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Clearview Church is hosting a “Night of Gospel Praise” Sunday evening, featuring Jimmy and the Sound Barriers among other performers who will present a Gaither-style concert to benefit Anchor of Hope.

The evening begins at Sunday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Clearview, located at 3485 Hwy. 158 Business. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Barrier and wife Kay are just two of the individuals teaming up to put on the event. Kay leads the church’s Anchor of Hope ministry, which provides support to those near and far. The prayer group involves about 70 women who lay hands on and bless the blankets before they are delivered to those in need. It’s a symbol of God’s love, she said, and that those who have reached out for prayer are not alone.

“We try to reach out to people going through trials and storms in their life,” she said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

One aspect of the ministry involves praying over blankets that are distributed to those battling illness or other life-altering events.

In addition to the blankets, the ministry provides food gift cards and gas cards to help with essential items when disaster strikes.

“It’s a comfort to know that people are praying for you,” Jimmy Barrier said. The proceeds from the Sunday concert goes directly to the ministry.

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TownTalk: Mary Emma Evans’s Legacy Lives On With Foundation

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The Mary Emma Evans Foundation is hosting a school supply giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Director Phyllis Evans and her daughter Phylicia are encouraging the community to step up and make some donations between now and then.

Evans is the daughter of the late Henderson City Council member, who died in 2011. She and other family members established the foundation to honor the memory of a woman who gave tirelessly to the city of Henderson as a pastor, advocate and elected city official.

But in order for the giveaway to take place, the community needs to step up and bring donations to the foundation’s office – any basic items such as notebook paper, pencils, pens, binders, composition books will do, she said. Please donate between now and Aug. 10 so there will be time to get the supplies organized in time for the back-to-school event.

The giveaway will take place at the foundation’s office, 901 Dorsey Ave. (just behind the post office on Garnett Street) from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Stop by to pick up some basic school supplies and stay for a “meet and greet” with hometown celebrities Varonica “VV” Mitchell and her sister, Danielle.

Varonica is the star of “The VV Show” and Danielle has her own tutoring enterprise and is known for her involvement with the I Dance Praise Academy. The Mitchell’s office is conveniently located right beside the foundation’s office, Evans said.

She said she’s happy to partner with the two Mitchell sisters “before they go off and do great things,” she said. “Come on out on the day and meet these celebrity guests.”

Visit https://www.maryemmaevansfoundation.org/ to learn more or follow the foundation on FaceBook to learn about the various community projects, from the Cook’s Chapel food pantry to the monthly prayer sessions and Bible study.

Each Monday, Cook’s Chapel welcomes the community to choose items from its food pantry, Evans said. On Tuesdays, the foundation office is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents to pick up emergency food boxes, clothing and more.

The foundation recently was approved to provide weekend meals to Vance County high school students.

No doubt, Mary Emma would be pleased with the way family members and others are uniting to make their community a better place.

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TownTalk: Rebuilding Hope’s Kids’ Construction Camp

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There’s still time to sign youngsters up for next week’s Kids’ Construction Camp at Rebuilding Hope. The three-day camp is free, and Rebuilding Hope’s Director Randolph Wilson says the camp is a fun way to introduce young people to the trades as well as to community service.

The camp runs from Monday, Aug. 5 through Wednesday Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Raleigh Road headquarters.

Children in grades 3-6 will learn how to use hand tools, but also will be introduced to new-fangled equipment like nail guns and screw guns, Wilson said.

They’ll also learn some basics about electricity and plumbing, as well as hanging Sheetrock and laying shingles.

There is a Bible study component, too, which Wilson said is just as important as learning about trades.

“We need to get back to teaching people about trades,” he said on Monday’s TownTalk. Who knows? Maybe this construction camp will be the place where a young boy or girl develops a passion for a particular trade, he said.

“We’re excited – and we have fun. The kids enjoy it,” Wilson said.

Wilson and co-director Tom Wille oversee the various projects and programs at Rebuilding Hope, from next week’s camp to the recent Servants on Site and ramp construction across the area.

The SOS was a huge success, with 85 young people coming together to put six roofs on in just four days’ time.

“We had a great week,” he said. The youth worked all day – with a daily lunchtime devotional with the residents they were helping – and then had a worship service each night.

“It’s a great time of helping people, also a time of sharing the love of Christ in the community they were working in,” Wilson said.

And when the Kids’ Construction campers and SOS participants get a little older, Wilson said he would welcome them to help out with ramp construction – so far this year, teams have built 90 ramps, on a pace to beat last year’s 116 total.

“We can’t keep up with the ramps,” Wilson said, noting that they’ve got a wait list of close to 25 now. “We need volunteers – people who have a passion to get out and help their community.”

Visit https://rebuildinghopeinc.org/ to learn more about how you can help.

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Man Shot Dead in His Own Car, Found in Road on West Andrews

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Press Release —

On July 25, 2024, around 7:47 PM, a patrol officer with the Henderson Police Department located a vehicle in the roadway between Beck Avenue and Ford Street on W. Andrews Avenue. When the Officer approached, they found that the driver had been shot.

Vance County EMS responded, and the victim was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The victim was identified as Christopher Joyner, 26, of Henderson. Further investigation into the incident revealed that Mr. Joyner had been shot by an individual or individuals that were in the vehicle with him at the time of the incident.

At this time, Jah-meer Spann, 19, of Henderson has been arrested and charged with murder. He received no bond and was remanded to the Vance County Jail.

Members of the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigations Division continue to work diligently to fully uncover what occurred, and we urge anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141, Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in criminal acts.

As always, we are greatly appreciative of our citizens for their willingness to help us solve such heinous crimes.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow

(On 7-30-24 this story was corrected from its original version by WIZS staff so that it indicates West Andrews Avenue rather than East Andrews Avenue.)

One Dead, Two Injured In Early-Morning Shooting Wednesday On Gholson Place

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A 21-year-old died from a gunshot wound in the early-morning hours of Wednesday, July 24 in what law enforcement officers have ruled a homicide.

Tabyious Cheek, 21, died from injuries in the shooting and two other gunshot victims were transported to Duke University Hospital for treatment, according to information Friday from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

Brame stated that deputies and members of the Henderson Police Department responded to Maria Parham about 12:39 a.m. Wednesday in reference to three gunshot victims.

Omir Gibbs, 19, and a 16-year-old juvenile were taken to Duke from Maria Parham.

It was determined that the incident occurred on Gholson Place in Henderson, Brame stated.

The investigation into this incident is still ongoing and anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200, or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or through the P3 app.

Sheriff Brame: One Arrested On Drug Charges

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-Press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

 

On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit served an arrest warrant on Jerry Lee Lemay, Jr. at 457 Lemay Lane in Henderson. The warrant was issued as a result of an ongoing narcotics investigation prompted by numerous complaints from citizens regarding the sale of narcotics at the above location. Lemay had an additional outstanding warrant for the possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Lemay was served with two warrants charging him with Possession With Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Heroin; and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Lemay appeared before a t a magistrate and was given a $40,000 secured bond.

Warren County Homeowners Can Apply For Help With Home Rehab, Emergency Repairs

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Warren County homeowners can apply for funding to help with needed home improvements through Aug. 20.

The application period, which opened Monday, allows low- and moderate-income residents to get assistance with home rehab projects and emergency repairs with Community Development Blcok Grant money through the N.C. Rural Economic Development Division. The funding does not require a local match and will be available in the fall of 2024.

The applications will be evaluated and scored to determine eligibility. Applicants must own and live in their home and be able to document that they are not delinquent on any property taxes to date and hold a clear title to the property.

“Applying for CDBG housing repair funds has been a goal of this department as a part of our transition from economic development to community and economic development,” stated Community & Economic Director Charla Duncan. “We are excited to now be in a position to have staff lead these efforts and begin addressing housing needs in our community.”

This program is designed to address housing needs that include severe structural deficiencies or severe water and/or sewer needs. Minor structural cosmetic improvements will not be considered. To be considered for this program, manufactured housing must have been converted into real property before applying. For questions about manufactured housing as real property, residents should contact the Tax Administrator’s office.

Two informational and technical assistance sessions will be held during the application period: Thursday Aug. 1 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Warren County Memorial Library and Monday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Warren County Senior Center.

For more information applying or the CDBG program and the application process, contact Rose Ponton, Community Development Division Manager with the Warren County Community & Economic Development Office, by email at roseponton@warrencountync.gov or by calling 252.257.3115.

Granville County Public Schools

GCPS, Library System Team Up With $400K Digital Divide Grant Funding

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Granville County Public Schools and the Granville County Library System are teaming up with a project that will benefit students and library patrons, with help from a $400,000 Digital Champion grant.

The grant comes from the N.C. Department of Information Technology, which has awarded more than $30 million to fund 63 projects across the state in an effort to bridge the digital divide.

The two Granville County entities will use the money to refresh student laptops and to expand technology-based paid internships for GCPS high school students, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin, as well as purchase devices for checkout and use through the Granville County Library System and secure mobile Starlink internet access for the rural library branches and other parts of the county with limited internet access.

Library Director Will Robinson called the partnership a “wonderful opportunity,” noting that the Digital Champion grant will allow the library to expand its digital resources and ensure that patrons and students “have access to essential technology and online information regardless of their background or financial situation. By bridging the digital divide, we empower our residents with the tools they need for education, employment and personal growth.”

GCPS Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne said the funding will help prepare students to use technology in the workplace more effectively.

“It also allows us to further impact our community in our partnership with the Granville County Library System. All Granville County citizens deserve reliable access to technology and broadband. We look forward to seeing how this funding will positively impact our schools, students, and Granville County citizens,” Winborne said.