Vance County Schools is hosting several information sessions over the next few weeks to help parents learn more about the district’s Innovative Schools offerings as they decide which school environment best suits their child.
The Innovative School application process officially opens Tuesday, Jan. 7 and runs through Friday, Feb. 7, according to information from VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin. Registration for kindergarten and PK also opens tomorrow.
The five options listed below offer unique learning environments designed to spark curiosity, build critical skills, and prepare students for a successful future, according to information from VCS. Each school program is uniquely designed to meet the diverse learning needs of its students.
- Vance County Early College (rising 9th graders)
- STEM Early High School (rising 6th graders)
- E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy (Grades K-5)
- Vance Virtual Village Academy (Grades 6-12)
- AdVance Academy (Grades 9-12)
Here’s a list of dates when prospective families can drop in between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more:
➔ Tuesday, Jan. 14: Vance County Early College, on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road, Bldg. 9
➔ Tuesday, Jan. 14: EM Rollins STEAM Academy, 1600 S. Garnett St.
➔ Wednesday, Jan. 15: Advance Academy, 219 Charles St., Entrance 2
➔ Wednesday, Jan. 15: STEM Early High, 219 Charles St., Entrance 3
➔ Wednesday, Jan.15: Vance Virtual Village, 219 Charles St., Entrance 1
There also will be a virtual session scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, during which principals of the five innovative schools will be available to answer questions and to share additional information about their programs. Find the link on the VCS website in the top right corner www.vcs.k12.nc.us.
The application is available on the VCS website, too. Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on Innovative Schools at the top of the page.
Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
The district’s PK program provides children with foundational learning experiences that set the stage for long-term academic success. Children must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 to be eligible for Pre-K enrollment.
Find the PK and K applications by visiting www.vcs.k12.nc.us and clicking Enroll in the upper right corner. The district will hold open registrations at individual elementary schools on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Virtual info sessions for PK and K will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23. Times will be announced at a later date, but the Wednesday session will be held during the day and the Thursday session will be held in the evening.
Delays/Closings for 1-8-25
/by WIZS StaffWIZS has been asked to announce:
From Victory Christian School – “Two-hour delay for Victory Christian School Wednesday, January 8th.”
TownTalk: Commissioners Begin Process To Fill District 3 Vacant Seat
/by WIZS StaffThe Vance County Board of Commissioners handled several procedural items at the first scheduled meeting of 2025, including the steps to appoint a commissioner to replace Commissioner Sean Alston, who recently resigned to take a job as a magistrate in Warren County.
As County Attorney Jonathan Care’s explained, the board has 60 days from Jan. 1, 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Alston, who represented District 3.
“We’ve got to get this done by Mar. 1,” Care told commissioners. He indicated that the board most likely will have a called meeting in early February to discuss the nominations.
Individuals interested in being considered for the appointment need only be from the same political party and reside in the same district as Alston. Alston is a registered Democrat.
If a replacement isn’t made within the 60-day period, Care said the matter will go to the Clerk of Court, who will have 10 days to make an appointment.
The board will send a request for input to the local Democratic party. Care said he had drafted an application form for the commissioners to review and asked them for feedback before posting it by mid-January.
While the board should request input from the local Democratic party, Care said it “has no control over what this board does.” He added that the board has the right to receive and consider applications other than those proffered by the Democratic party.
Commissioner and newly elected Vice Chair Yolanda Feimster requested that the information be sent to media outlets – including local newspaper and radio – to let as many people as possible know about the appointment process.
The Local Skinny! Perry Library Kicks Off 2025 Youth Programming
/by WIZS StaffIt’s a New Year at Perry Library and staff have planned some exciting programs to offset winter’s cold – from gluten-free volcano construction to Wii games in the teens’ Maker Space.
Youth Services Director Melody Peters said that in addition to the return of program staples like Mother Goose Story Time for youngsters 0-5 years at 11 a.m. on Thursdays, library patrons can take part in First Fridays for preschool groups beginning this Friday, Jan. 10.
Technically, Jan. 10 is the second Friday, but Peters told WIZS’s Bill Harris that the New Year’s holiday created a slight scheduling wrinkle.
The initial First Friday activity targets children ages 3-5 involves making a volcano, Peters said, using baking soda, almond flour (so it’s gluten-free) and vinegar. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts about a half hour, and Peters said it covers all the bases for engaging preschoolers in hands-on activities while exposing them to science – on this case, the chemical reaction created by mixing baking soda and vinegar.
The Lego STEAM club and gaming club meet on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and it’s a time for children to get their imaginations flowing as they creatively build with those iconic colorful plastic bricks. Teens gather in the Maker Space for games on the Nintendo Wii. But for the younger kids, there’s the “regular, good old-fashioned” board games – “Don’t Break the Ice!” is a particular favorite, Peters said. The library also has a Pokémon game for young people to join in the fun of collecting those still-popular trading cards first introduced in the mid 1990’s.
Find out more at https://www.perrylibrary.org/.
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 01-07-25 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
One Arrest Made In Connection With Car Taken At Gunpoint From William St. Business
/by WIZS Staff— information from Henderson Police Department
On December 28, 2024 around 7:05 p.m. a 2020 Jetta was taken from the parking lot of Brother’s Foodmart on William Street by two males with firearms. The vehicle was located by officers on December 29, 2024 around 12:05 p.m. on Lehman Street. Officers located two males inside the vehicle. One of the males, a 17-year-old juvenile was apprehended, while the other male fled on foot. The juvenile was also in possession of a stolen firearm. Petitions will be obtained on the juvenile.
If anyone has information related to this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252.438.4141, your local law enforcement agency, Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device.
Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Livestock Consideration In Cold Weather
/by WIZS StaffCooperative Extension
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Hassan Kingsberry To Fill Dual Roles; City Manager and Part-Time City Attorney
/by John C. RoseMonday at noon the Henderson City Council met for a special called meeting and entered into closed session for a personnel matter.
When the council returned to council chambers at City Hall, Mayor Melissa Elliott seemed to indicate the council would hear two motions.
Hassan Kingsberry, who became interim city attorney after Rix Edwards resigned and who was apparently named the city manager a couple of weeks ago, will now serve as both the city manager and part-time city attorney.
City Manager Terrell Blackmon, also who has resigned with an effective date of January 10, said after the meeting that the meeting was held “to approve the contract and make public the salary.”
Sara Coffey made a motion, seconded by Ola Thorpe-Cooper, to start the new manager at the salary of $161,906.40, the amount apparently being considered as a level two salary for the position out of a one-to-four range.
A City of Henderson press release issued after the meeting said of the now dual role Kingsberry’s salary, “(He) will begin his role as City Manager with an annual salary of $161,906.40, which represents a savings of $18,000 compared to the salary of the outgoing City Manager, Blackmon. Additionally, he will earn $40,000 annually as the part-time City Attorney.”
The second motion, made by Michael Venable and seconded by Geraldine Champion, was to move Kingsberry from interim attorney status to part-time City attorney.
Tami Walker, Thorpe-Cooper, Venable, Coffey and Champion each voted in favor of each motion. Councilmen Garry Daeke, Lamont Noel and Sam Seifert were not present.
As to possible conflicts of interest in the dual position, Blackmon said, “I use outside counsel all the time.” He said there would “probably be some matters (Kingsberry) can’t advise on.”
The City’s press release said, “Prior to (Kingsberry’s) appointment as City Attorney, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Legal Services, but no firm or individual responded.”
Kingsberry is scheduled to be sworn in as the new City Manager at City Hall in the Council Chambers on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6 PM.
Kingsberry is the first African American to be City Attorney for Henderson, NC.
(Script above added and updated 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2025)
(Audio below added to post Tuesday, January 7, 2025)
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VCS Kicks Off 2025-26 Registration With In-Person, Virtual Info Sessions
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools is hosting several information sessions over the next few weeks to help parents learn more about the district’s Innovative Schools offerings as they decide which school environment best suits their child.
The Innovative School application process officially opens Tuesday, Jan. 7 and runs through Friday, Feb. 7, according to information from VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support Aarika Sandlin. Registration for kindergarten and PK also opens tomorrow.
The five options listed below offer unique learning environments designed to spark curiosity, build critical skills, and prepare students for a successful future, according to information from VCS. Each school program is uniquely designed to meet the diverse learning needs of its students.
Here’s a list of dates when prospective families can drop in between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more:
➔ Tuesday, Jan. 14: Vance County Early College, on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road, Bldg. 9
➔ Tuesday, Jan. 14: EM Rollins STEAM Academy, 1600 S. Garnett St.
➔ Wednesday, Jan. 15: Advance Academy, 219 Charles St., Entrance 2
➔ Wednesday, Jan. 15: STEM Early High, 219 Charles St., Entrance 3
➔ Wednesday, Jan.15: Vance Virtual Village, 219 Charles St., Entrance 1
There also will be a virtual session scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, during which principals of the five innovative schools will be available to answer questions and to share additional information about their programs. Find the link on the VCS website in the top right corner www.vcs.k12.nc.us.
The application is available on the VCS website, too. Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us and click on Innovative Schools at the top of the page.
Children must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
The district’s PK program provides children with foundational learning experiences that set the stage for long-term academic success. Children must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2025 to be eligible for Pre-K enrollment.
Find the PK and K applications by visiting www.vcs.k12.nc.us and clicking Enroll in the upper right corner. The district will hold open registrations at individual elementary schools on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Virtual info sessions for PK and K will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23. Times will be announced at a later date, but the Wednesday session will be held during the day and the Thursday session will be held in the evening.
SportsTalk: NFL Weekend Recap
/by Scout HughesSportsTalk on WIZS 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue recap the weekend that was in the NFL, as pro football moves into the postseason. The guys also give their picks for college football action coming up this week. That and much more on SportsTalk!
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No Signs of Foul Play; Man Died in Car in Walmart Parking Lot
/by WIZS Staff— information courtesy of the Henderson Police Department and Chief of Police Marcus Barrow
On January 3, 2025, at approximately 9 p.m., officers from the Henderson Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive individual in the parking lot of Walmart, located at 200 N. Cooper Dr.
The person, identified by police as Brian Allen Campbell, age 39, was found unresponsive in his vehicle.
Campbell was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.
Emergency personnel have not identified any signs of foul play at this time. Campbell’s body was transported to a local facility for evaluation by a medical examiner.
The Henderson Police Department will maintain an open investigation pending the findings of the medical examiner or any additional information that may become available.
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