The S-Line rail corridor goes straight through downtown Henderson. The future of the route from Petersburg, Virginia down to the Virginia line and then the NC Department of Transportation’s portion from Virginia to South Carolina could spawn additional economic development for the local Henderson area.
Being a mainline portion of the Southeast Corridor and possibly a higher speed line would help too.
For now, the news is the fact that NCDOT has been awarded a grant for development planning near passenger rail stations.
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington is quoted in a press release from NCDOT, and he said, “Our community was founded on rail traffic in 1841. It is only natural that our resurgence is based on this same driving force for economic development, connecting us to greater opportunities. The regional cooperation and resulting benefit this project represents is government at its best.”
Julie White, NCDOT’s deputy secretary for Multimodal Transportation said in the press release: “We’re grateful to be working with cities and towns that understand how passenger rail service can spur economic development. This as a great opportunity to use passenger rail to better connect rural and urban communities. It should serve as a model for future projects.”
In our area, Henderson and Franklinton contributed the necessary matching funds for the grant.
Franklinton Mayor Art Wright is quoted in the press release saying, “The Town of Franklinton is looking forward to working with our neighbors along the S-line to develop a community that will support passenger rail. This funding will promote Franklinton’s rich rail history and expand downtown.”
The grant money can be used to develop plans for areas around rail stations.
In Henderson, that plan will need to look at plans for the actual rail station itself. The only actual passenger station along the line is long gone, and the metal and plexiglass hut that sat at the corner of Williams and Montgomery Streets downtown was removed after the final AMTRAK operated “Silver Star” departed for the final time in the mid 1980s.
The bigger picture is all these smaller pieces are adding up. This grant now, and the next press release about another grant later, and when the news of hiring a new Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission director comes, and with the recent hiring of a new Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission director, and downtown Main Street status in Henderson, and an expanded industrial park, and other growth and development, it’s all chipping away at the problem and putting down new roads to success.
If you’d like to hear more about the S-Line, listen back to TownTalk from October 28, 2020 and NCDOT guest Jason Orthner, Rail Division Director.
— NCDOT Press Release
NCDOT Awarded Grant for Development Planning Near Passenger Rail Stations
Federal funding will help communities plan for development on S-Line corridor
Raleigh — The Federal Transit Authority has awarded the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division a $900,000 grant to help Triangle area communities create plans for development along the S-Line rail corridor.
The S-Line corridor is a passenger rail line that starts at the Virginia border, runs through Raleigh, and ends at the South Carolina state line.
“We’re grateful to be working with cities and towns that understand how passenger rail service can spur economic development,” said Julie White, NCDOT’s deputy secretary for Multimodal Transportation. “This as a great opportunity to use passenger rail to better connect rural and urban communities. It should serve as a model for future projects.”
The following towns contributed matching funds for the grant: Apex, Franklinton, Henderson, Raleigh, Sanford and Wake Forest. The towns will use the grant money to develop plans for the areas around the rail stations. The plans will explore how the rail stations will bolster economic development in their town centers and enable these communities to plan for connections to bus service, micro transit, bicycle paths and greenways.
Mayors of the towns that contributed matching funds to the grant provided the following comments.
Apex Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert said:
“The Town of Apex is thrilled to join the North Carolina Department of Transportation and our regional partners in this forward-thinking effort to plan for the future of passenger rail along the S-Line corridor. Working together, we will realize the substantial economic and mobility benefits of passenger rail for our communities.”
Franklinton Mayor Art Wright said:
“The Town of Franklinton is looking forward to working with our neighbors along the S-line to develop a community that will support passenger rail. This funding will promote Franklinton’s rich rail history and expand downtown.”
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington said:
“Our community was founded on rail traffic in 1841. It is only natural that our resurgence is based on this same driving force for economic development, connecting us to greater opportunities. The regional cooperation and resulting benefit this project represents is government at its best.”
Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said:
“This grant is crucial to moving the S-Line project ahead and restoring passenger rail service between Raleigh and Richmond. In the long-term, the S-Line will improve mobility and reduce congestion, not only in Raleigh, but across the region. I am thrilled to continue working with everyone involved in this project, and deeply appreciate FTA’s support.”
Sanford Mayor Chet Mann said:
“Sanford is thrilled with the prospect of having passenger rail on the S-Line. We have a rich train history as we were founded at the rail crossing in 1874 in what is now our Depot Park. We see multimodal transportation as a key component to any growing community. This project will usher in a new wave of economic development around an area in our town already designated for revitalization. We are grateful to be partnering with the NCDOT and all the other stakeholders involved in this project and we are beyond excited at watching what happens as this project evolves.”
Wake Forest Mayor Vivian A. Jones said:
“We’ve been working on bringing passenger rail to Wake Forest for quite a while. We recognize there’s a strong demand out there, so we are excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to getting it done.”
Criminal District Court Will Resume Dec. 29, 2020
/by John C. RoseThe Hon. Henry L. Gupton, clerk of court in Vance County, has informed WIZS News that criminal district court will resume just after Christmas.
Gupton said, “I received a memorandum from our Chief District Court Judge John Davis on December 18th regarding the resumption of our District Courts schedule.
“As of Tuesday, December 29, 2020 our regular scheduled Criminal District Court Sessions will resume and we will continue to have Small Claims Court.
“However, we will not be conducting Civil District Court Sessions.”
Gupton said he would notify the public when all sessions resume.
He said, “This decision has been made after consultation with our County Health Director Lisa M. Harrison. We will continue to operate under our existing COVID-19 protocols.”
(This news article was posted December 21, 2020 at 12:15 p.m.)
Vance County School Board Members Take Oath of Office; Chair and Vice Chair Selected
/by WIZS Staff— press release courtesy of Vance County Schools, Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin
Three Vance County Schools Board of Education members were recently re-elected to represent their districts: Mr. Edward B. Wilson, Mrs. Dorothy W. Gooche and Mrs. Linda S. Cobb. They each took their Oath of Office at the December 14, 2020 Board of Education meeting before Judge Caroline Burnette.
Mrs. Dorothy W. Gooche represents District 3 and has served on the Vance County Board of Education since November 2010. A Vance-Granville Community College retiree, Mrs. Gooche continues devoting herself to education in Vance County, sharing “I am honored to be re-elected to the Vance County Board of Education. Serving our students these past 10 years has been rewarding. I am constantly reminded of my role to provide ideas and recommendations that help meet the educational and developmental needs of all students, while also supporting the excellent faculty and staff that have a direct influence in the life of each student. I look forward to the continued work with the board, our schools, parents and community.”
Mr. Edward B. Wilson represents District 4 and has served on the Vance County Board of Education since November 2012. A retired Vance County Schools educator, Mr. Wilson continues to be dedicated to serving, sharing that “at first, I may have viewed it as a civic responsibility but now I view it as an opportunity to learn from the very best and most highly qualified school professionals in the state.”
Mrs. Linda S. Cobb represents District 5 and was first appointed to the Vance County Board of Education in September 2019. Retired from the Division of Social Services through the Department of Health and Human Services, Mrs. Cobb continues her commitment to serving our community. She shared “I am grateful to continue my service on the Board of Education, having the opportunity to represent our community and our students – this brings joy to me.”
The board also voted in a new chair and vice chair at the meeting. Mrs. Linda S. Cobb (District 5) will serve as the School Board Chair and Mrs. Margaret A. Ellis (District 6) as Vice-Chair.
Vance County Vipers Football Using Quarantine To Transition
/by John C. RoseWIZS SportsTalk (M-F at 1pm) with host Trey Snide and co-host Ron Noel recently featured the first-year head varsity football coach of the Vance County Vipers, Hunter Jenks.
Jenks said the first year has been a lot of good. He said, “The whole world is dealing with changes, and with changes, you just have to be open minded and make the most of it. Of what we’ve been able to do, I’ve been very pleased and excited to just start the process moving forward.”
At this moment he thinks the team is right where it needs to be as he and the other coaches try to keep the terminology familiar, like it was in the past. “One of the things we try to believe in is continual improvement and realizing everyday if you get a little bit better, then we might not be were we want to be right now, but we’ll get there,” Jenks said.
The coach thinks he has tremendous talent on his team in the younger grades. As for the seniors and returning players, names like Saimir Best, Tra’On Lyons, Kevon Burton will be familiar. Jenks said, “I’m really excited. I think we have talent in all four grades. We have some people who have really used quarantine to their advantage, and are going to be completely different players than they were last year.”
The Vipers’ season starts February 26. Vance County Friday Night Football on WIZS will be live with the play by play.
In the second segment of the show, Trey and Ron discussed the outstanding recruiting class UNC football was able to land.
Press play…
Vance County EMS Has Itself Reached Out For Help
/by John C. RoseVance County Management, on behalf of the Vance County EMS Department, has reached out to the state to ask for a strike team. The problem is positive COVID cases.
Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen told WIZS News, “We are working through a number of positive COVID cases in our EMS department as is the case in the general public and as a result additional EMS employees have been put on quarantine and sick leave reducing the number of available EMTs and Paramedics. We are working with our in-county first responders and neighboring counties to fill in any gaps…” He said the purpose of reaching out was “to make arrangements from across the state should we need additional assistance down the line.”
Vance County has already heard back from agencies from neighboring counties and beyond, and McMillen said, “…We are doing our best to work through the situation. We have also had a number of off duty firefighters who are willing to step up and assist as well. I wouldn’t say we are at crisis level, but we are doing what we need to stay ahead of it as best we can and to get our folks who are working long hours some relief.”
Vance County EMS was recently selected as a 2020 Mission Lifeline Award recipient by the American Heart Association. On Wednesday, Sept 23, 2020, County Manager Jordan McMillen and Chairman of the Board Gordon Wilder presented Paramedic Christopher Rigg with a certificate of appreciation for his role in coordinating the application process. The County also presented Director Javier Plummer and the entire department with a certificate in recognition of their accomplishments leading to this award. McMillen said the County appreciates all public safety workers and first responders and congratulates Vance EMS on this accomplishment.
Firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, deputies, police and other forms of law enforcement and emergency personal rush into burning buildings, run into homes, reach into private vehicles and more. Sometimes it’s even known these homes, buildings and vehicles have COVID positive people and patients inside. McMillen said, “While we are taking all of the precautions with PPE and other means as we can, it is inevitable that it reaches our public safety staff as well.”
These working and giving heroes are local as well as far and wide and are just the type of people who come together to serve here, there and where ever there is need.
Vance County is working with Granville Vance Public Health and “following all of their guidance,” McMillen said.
VGCC forms new partnership with UNC Wilmington
/by WIZS Staff–press release courtesy of VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College continues to show its commitment to building partnerships that provide meaningful pathways for students seeking to transfer to a four-year university. Recently, VGCC solidified a partnership with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). The UNCW & VGCC “Pathways to Excellence” program will provide transfer students from the community college with guaranteed admission to UNCW.
VGCC is one of a host of community colleges from various regions across the state to sign on as a part of the Pathways to Excellence program with UNCW due to the quality of education that transfer students will receive at the institution. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais and UNCW Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Sartarelli inked the partnership agreement, and expressed enthusiasm about how it will benefit students.
“The co-admission agreement between VGCC and UNCW is a fine example of innovation and collaboration,” said Dr. Desmarais, president of the community college. “We look forward to helping our Vanguards achieve their academic and career goals by continuing their education as UNCW Seahawks.”
Pathways to Excellence guarantees admission to UNCW for students completing an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in transferable, college-level coursework from VGCC. As a part of the agreement, VGCC students will have access to a Transfer Student Success Coordinator that will meet with students at Vance-Granville throughout each semester. Students will have the benefit of working with their VGCC advisor and the Transfer Student Success Coordinator from UNCW. VGCC students will have the opportunity to attend an open house event, as well as an application event in the spring on the community college campus, and will receive a university application fee waiver as a transfer student.
“We are elated to partner with UNCW on the Pathways to Excellence program,” said Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of learning, student engagement and success. “This is another example of our dedicated team seeking opportunities to provide multiple pathways to success for students. The goal is for our transfer students to receive an excellent experience at VGCC and move on to the University of their Choice. It is wonderful that this UNCW program is now an option for students in our communities!”
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this guaranteed admission partnership between VGCC and UNCW, please call VGCC at (252) 738-3234. If you are interested in enrolling at VGCC, please apply at www.vgcc.edu or call (252) 738-3234.
–vgcc–
(VGCC is a paying advertising client of WIZS and WIZS.com. This is not a paid ad.)
S-Line Rail Corridor Goes Straight Through Henderson
/by John C. RoseThe S-Line rail corridor goes straight through downtown Henderson. The future of the route from Petersburg, Virginia down to the Virginia line and then the NC Department of Transportation’s portion from Virginia to South Carolina could spawn additional economic development for the local Henderson area.
Being a mainline portion of the Southeast Corridor and possibly a higher speed line would help too.
For now, the news is the fact that NCDOT has been awarded a grant for development planning near passenger rail stations.
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington is quoted in a press release from NCDOT, and he said, “Our community was founded on rail traffic in 1841. It is only natural that our resurgence is based on this same driving force for economic development, connecting us to greater opportunities. The regional cooperation and resulting benefit this project represents is government at its best.”
Julie White, NCDOT’s deputy secretary for Multimodal Transportation said in the press release: “We’re grateful to be working with cities and towns that understand how passenger rail service can spur economic development. This as a great opportunity to use passenger rail to better connect rural and urban communities. It should serve as a model for future projects.”
In our area, Henderson and Franklinton contributed the necessary matching funds for the grant.
Franklinton Mayor Art Wright is quoted in the press release saying, “The Town of Franklinton is looking forward to working with our neighbors along the S-line to develop a community that will support passenger rail. This funding will promote Franklinton’s rich rail history and expand downtown.”
The grant money can be used to develop plans for areas around rail stations.
In Henderson, that plan will need to look at plans for the actual rail station itself. The only actual passenger station along the line is long gone, and the metal and plexiglass hut that sat at the corner of Williams and Montgomery Streets downtown was removed after the final AMTRAK operated “Silver Star” departed for the final time in the mid 1980s.
The bigger picture is all these smaller pieces are adding up. This grant now, and the next press release about another grant later, and when the news of hiring a new Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission director comes, and with the recent hiring of a new Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission director, and downtown Main Street status in Henderson, and an expanded industrial park, and other growth and development, it’s all chipping away at the problem and putting down new roads to success.
If you’d like to hear more about the S-Line, listen back to TownTalk from October 28, 2020 and NCDOT guest Jason Orthner, Rail Division Director.
— NCDOT Press Release
NCDOT Awarded Grant for Development Planning Near Passenger Rail Stations
Federal funding will help communities plan for development on S-Line corridor
Raleigh — The Federal Transit Authority has awarded the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division a $900,000 grant to help Triangle area communities create plans for development along the S-Line rail corridor.
The S-Line corridor is a passenger rail line that starts at the Virginia border, runs through Raleigh, and ends at the South Carolina state line.
“We’re grateful to be working with cities and towns that understand how passenger rail service can spur economic development,” said Julie White, NCDOT’s deputy secretary for Multimodal Transportation. “This as a great opportunity to use passenger rail to better connect rural and urban communities. It should serve as a model for future projects.”
The following towns contributed matching funds for the grant: Apex, Franklinton, Henderson, Raleigh, Sanford and Wake Forest. The towns will use the grant money to develop plans for the areas around the rail stations. The plans will explore how the rail stations will bolster economic development in their town centers and enable these communities to plan for connections to bus service, micro transit, bicycle paths and greenways.
Mayors of the towns that contributed matching funds to the grant provided the following comments.
Apex Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert said:
“The Town of Apex is thrilled to join the North Carolina Department of Transportation and our regional partners in this forward-thinking effort to plan for the future of passenger rail along the S-Line corridor. Working together, we will realize the substantial economic and mobility benefits of passenger rail for our communities.”
Franklinton Mayor Art Wright said:
“The Town of Franklinton is looking forward to working with our neighbors along the S-line to develop a community that will support passenger rail. This funding will promote Franklinton’s rich rail history and expand downtown.”
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington said:
“Our community was founded on rail traffic in 1841. It is only natural that our resurgence is based on this same driving force for economic development, connecting us to greater opportunities. The regional cooperation and resulting benefit this project represents is government at its best.”
Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said:
“This grant is crucial to moving the S-Line project ahead and restoring passenger rail service between Raleigh and Richmond. In the long-term, the S-Line will improve mobility and reduce congestion, not only in Raleigh, but across the region. I am thrilled to continue working with everyone involved in this project, and deeply appreciate FTA’s support.”
Sanford Mayor Chet Mann said:
“Sanford is thrilled with the prospect of having passenger rail on the S-Line. We have a rich train history as we were founded at the rail crossing in 1874 in what is now our Depot Park. We see multimodal transportation as a key component to any growing community. This project will usher in a new wave of economic development around an area in our town already designated for revitalization. We are grateful to be partnering with the NCDOT and all the other stakeholders involved in this project and we are beyond excited at watching what happens as this project evolves.”
Wake Forest Mayor Vivian A. Jones said:
“We’ve been working on bringing passenger rail to Wake Forest for quite a while. We recognize there’s a strong demand out there, so we are excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to getting it done.”
The Granville Education Foundation Awards $50,500 in Grants to Granville County School Teachers
/by John C. Rose(Please Note – This is the second version of this story to be posted on WIZS.com. The first version had omissions which were unknown to WIZS at the time. WIZS apologizes to the parties who were originally left out. It was strictly unintentional on our part but was our responsibility to know nonetheless. This version replaces anything you may have seen earlier, in which two schools were omitted.)
— press release courtesy of Granville Education Foundation
The Granville Education Foundation (GEF) recently awarded over $50,500 in grants to Granville County School teachers. This year, 48 grant applications were received and GEF awarded 26 grants in 11 different schools. Teachers were eligible to submit grant applications that were reviewed and scored by GEF Grant Committee members. The grant applicants name and school were made anonymous before the grant committee members read and scored the grant. On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the GEF “Prize Patrol” visited and celebrated the grant recipients in person and via Zoom.
“My second experience with Prize Patrol was a bit different this year due to COVID-19, but I am thrilled we were still able to host this wonderful event. This day was filled with surprises, excitement, and tears of joy for many deserving teachers and students. We secretly notified the school principals we would be awarding the grants, but the teachers were unaware. Balloons and grant acceptance letters were delivered to the schools in advance to prepare for the virtual celebrations. It was delightful to witness these very happy Granville County School teachers receive their grants!” said GEF Executive Director, Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter. “Our grant funding goes directly into the classrooms for these teachers’ innovative projects, which is exciting not only for the teachers receiving the grants, but for their schools, their students, and for our GEF Board of Directors. We are excited about these projects and look forward to hearing how these grants impact our Granville County Students”, says Susan Hiscocks, President of the Granville Education Foundation Board of Directors.
GEF will remain in contact with the grant recipients throughout the 2020-2021 school year to gather the progress of their grant projects. Please join us in congratulating the following schools and teachers on their success.
2020-2021 Success Through Technology Grants (eligible to apply for an amount up to $5,000):
Pictured: J.F. Webb High School teacher, Carole Griffin, 2020-2021 Success Through Technology Grant recipient for her grant “Fostering Foundations Building Vocabulary for our Educational Futures” in the amount of $3,000.00. Photo credits to Mrs. Amy Rice, Principal of J.F. Webb High School. J.F. Webb High School received 4 grants from the Granville Education Foundation this year, making them the top grant recipient out of 9 Granville County Public Schools.
2020-2021 Experience Grants (eligible to apply for an amount up to $1,000):
2020-2021 Performing & Visual Arts Grant (eligible to apply for an amount up to $1,500):
Pictured: Oxford Preparatory School teacher, Jade Currin, 2020-2021 Success Through Technology Grant recipient for her grant “Tech Savvy Kinders” in the amount of $1,387.68 and 2020-2021 Experience Grant recipient for her grant “Covid Can’t Stop Science” in the amount of $594.00. Oxford Preparatory School received 7 grants from the Granville Education Foundation this year, making them the top grant recipient overall in Granville County Schools.
2020-2021 Lela Eaton Creative Teaching Grants (eligible to apply for an amount up to $1,000):
Contact: Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter, Executive Director Granville Education Foundation, Inc.
Phone: 919.693.7047
Email: GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com
The Granville Education Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing student performance. Funds raised through the Granville Education Foundation are used to provide resources and enrichment programs for the students of Granville County Schools. Please visit the website www.GranvilleEdFoundation.org for more information.
TownTalk 12-17-20: Pete Burgess; The Man; The Farmer; The Community Advocate
/by WIZS Staff— written from WIZS Staff contributions plus information from a VGCC press release
A farmer must cultivate his crop to ensure a productive yield. First comes the groundwork – literally. The field has to be ready for planting and then kept weed-free so the young plants can flourish. Often, the ultimate success of the crop depends on how well the field was looked after and tended to.
Talmadge R. Burgess, Sr., “Pete” to friends and colleagues, knows the value of cultivation. He has shared this philosophy locally during his decades-long work in agriculture and in service to his community. And that is why the Vance County chapter of the North Carolina Farm Bureau has created a scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College in honor of Burgess.
“We are proud to establish this scholarship to express our appreciation to Pete Burgess for his many years of service to the Farm Bureau, the farming community and Vance County as a whole,” said Thomas Shaw, president of the Vance County Farm Bureau, which Burgess once led.
In a Town Talk interview earlier this week, Burgess reflected on his livelihood, and the importance of being active in the community in which you live. “Anybody has to have help to get started,” he said. When he started out in farming in 1968, it was with the help of family. Now retired, Burgess and his wife Sylvia enjoy farming from a distance while son Talmadge continues the family tradition.
To hear the show, click play…
Tobacco has given way to other crops, Burgess noted, and his son grows hay for livestock and wheat straw for the landscaping industry. But no matter the crop the field produces, there must be a way to sell. Burgess was instrumental in establishing the Vance County Regional Farmers’ Market in Henderson, which allows local producers to showcase everything from cut flowers and tomatoes to locally sourced meats and handicrafts.
In this 2014 WIZS file photo, you can see the Pete Burgess plaque on an easel prior to being placed outside the facility’s meeting room. The VCRFM opened in 2014.
He enthusiastically recalled the steps taken to get the market from concept to reality. “That was probably the most ambitious project the Vance County Farm Bureau ever took on,” he said. It started with a pot of money from the Golden Leaf Foundation and a local group formed to determine how to spend the roughly $2 million Vance County allocation. Schools and fire departments were the top two choices to receive the money, Burgess said. But the third choice was construction of a farmers’ market, and Farm Bureau decided to take it on. ”They thought I wasn’t doing anything much,” he joked, “so they put me in charge of seeing…how to make that project a success.” It took four years to accomplish the goal, but the result is a facility that has functioned since 2014 as a venue to sell local produce as well as a gathering place for meetings and workshops. Burgess remembered how the installation of the large roll-up doors came about – at a cost of $1,500 each, they were just too expensive to include in the original project. Burgess got area businesses to sponsor the purchase of those doors, “and that was the easiest money I raised to build that farmers’ market,” he said.
The farmers’ market is a fairly recent project that Burgess was involved with, but he has long supported a variety of local programs and agencies, from fire departments to civic groups, many of which centered around the Epsom community. Whether it was the annual Lions Club pancake supper or the volunteer fire department fundraisers, Burgess feels it is important to give back.
An active community volunteer, Burgess served as a board member of the county and state Farm Bureau organizations, president and board member of the Epsom Lions Club, board member of the Epsom Volunteer Fire Department, member of the Vance County Planning Board and board member for the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce. For his contributions to the county and, in particular, for his leading role in securing the land and funding for the regional farmers market, Burgess was honored by the Vance County Commissioners with the “Community Hero” award.
“Throughout his life, Pete Burgess has demonstrated an interest not only in agriculture but in giving back and supporting his community, so this scholarship is a fitting way to honor his service,” said Eddie Ferguson, VGCC’s endowment fund director. “We are grateful to the Vance County Farm Bureau for continuing to support Vance-Granville students through this new scholarship.”
The scholarship is another resource that can be used to cultivate “good” in the community and reward deserving students for their efforts in the classroom. Burgess said he was “kind of amazed at all that’s happening and what’s going on, but it’s very exciting.” The Farm Bureau is known as being an advocate of the farmer, whether it is helping with legislative matters or agricultural matters – whatever a farmer needs to be successful. Burgess seems to have employed a similar philosophy in his lifetime of service to Vance County and beyond – cultivating good habits and positive outcomes to benefit the community as a whole.
The Vance County Farm Bureau is encouraging friends of Pete Burgess to make donations to the Endowment Fund to help endow this scholarship at the Presidential Merit Award level. For more information or to make a contribution, call Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.
Contributions to the scholarship fund can also be mailed to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund, at P.O. Box 917, Henderson, NC 27536.
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,700 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.
Local Vance County Covid-19 Update 12-17-20
/by John C. RoseFor the seven day period December 10 to December 16 in Vance County, there were a total of 182 positive test results for Covid-19. For the same time period, 96 people in Vance County were released from isolation.
Those figures equal a net increase of 86 in a week or about 12 people per day more.
Two deaths occurred December 10 to December 16 in Vance County attributed to Covid-19, and the total daily count of those receiving inpatient care decreased by one, which lowered the figure to 22.
Of the 704 active cases in Vance County on December 16, a total of 694 cases were in the community at large and 10 were divided six to four at two nursing facilities.
This information was compiled by WIZS based on data from Granville Vance Public Health.
Henderson Vance Chamber Informs Businesses About Covid
/by John C. RoseCovid news for member businesses is out from the Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce and President Michelle Burgess.
An email this week from Burgess to Chamber members asks for area businesses to “Help Keep Our Economy Open!”
Burgess wrote: