Six months into his new job, Maj. Johnny Hawkins provided an update to Vance County commissioners at their Nov. 4 meeting about the staff, programs and physical plant of the county’s detention center.
Hawkins began working at the jail in April, and retired with 30 years of service with the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections – two of those years were spent as chief of the Durham County Detention Center.
Hawkins said, “Some of the things that I want us to accomplish with this conversation tonight is the desire to rebrand the image of the Vance County Detention Center and the professionals that work there.”
On a daily basis, the jail exceeds its capacity of inmates and employs just half – 41 out of 82 – of the positions available.
He spoke of the seven percent pay increase and thanked the commissioners and said, “but we must do more.” He cited the example that two staff members were on night watch the evening of the meeting and said in reality two people were overseeing 190 inmates – 37 of whom are in jail on murder charges.
“I have done enough research to understand that the elephant in the room is certainly,” Hawkins said, “the desire and the need for a new detention center.”
Gradual improvements he has seen at the existing jail don’t change the fact that the facility faces continued staff shortages and outdated equipment – not to mention difficulty getting the outside vendors to complete services because they fear for their safety, he said.
And while a decent chunk of this information has been fairly well documented, what’s new in the story is the presentation Hawkins made about both improvements and desired improvements in the form of equipment, systems, policies and use of a comprehensive approach to how the jail functions.
“We’re trying to upgrade our security profile and systems … the geo management system or the round tracking system. What that does is allow us to be more efficient at our obligations with our two rounds every hour,” Hawkins said.
In addition, upgrades to surveillance and the access control system are needed to cut down on contraband and upgrades need to be made to fire and exhaust systems. Then there’s the perimeter security system and the data management system, the latter of which Hawkins said “will help us with training, help us develop policies, help us with personnel oversight and information so that we can have better processes in place so that we can effectively manage not only our personnel, our resources, but also update our policy so that staff can have direct access.”
Hawkins is looking at having a social worker, a peer support specialist, an additional maintenance technician, religious services program, vocational training – and a classroom space to hold the religious and vocational meetings. And psychological services and community engagement programs may be on the horizon.
He thanked the commissioners again and asked them to do more. The implication being that to rebrand it was going to require more.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 11-13-24 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Henderson Man Gets 11.5 Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking
/by WIZS Staff– press release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr.
A Henderson man was sentenced to 138 months in prison for armed drug trafficking. On August 15, 2024, Cedric Neal pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Neal, 38, was previously sentenced to 105 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. He was released from federal prison on July 27, 2022, and was placed on supervised release for five years. By January 2023, investigators received a tip that Neal—while on supervised release—had resumed drug trafficking activities.
Investigators conducted seven controlled purchases of crack, fentanyl, or both from Neal, then executed search warrants at three locations associated with him. The search warrants yielded fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, marijuana, and numerous firearms. Ultimately, Neal was held accountable for 1,205 grams of marijuana, 451 grams of cocaine, 288 grams of fentanyl, nine grams of cocaine base, and five firearms.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
The Local Skinny! Vance County Jail Update
/by WIZS StaffSix months into his new job, Maj. Johnny Hawkins provided an update to Vance County commissioners at their Nov. 4 meeting about the staff, programs and physical plant of the county’s detention center.
Hawkins began working at the jail in April, and retired with 30 years of service with the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections – two of those years were spent as chief of the Durham County Detention Center.
Hawkins said, “Some of the things that I want us to accomplish with this conversation tonight is the desire to rebrand the image of the Vance County Detention Center and the professionals that work there.”
On a daily basis, the jail exceeds its capacity of inmates and employs just half – 41 out of 82 – of the positions available.
He spoke of the seven percent pay increase and thanked the commissioners and said, “but we must do more.” He cited the example that two staff members were on night watch the evening of the meeting and said in reality two people were overseeing 190 inmates – 37 of whom are in jail on murder charges.
“I have done enough research to understand that the elephant in the room is certainly,” Hawkins said, “the desire and the need for a new detention center.”
Gradual improvements he has seen at the existing jail don’t change the fact that the facility faces continued staff shortages and outdated equipment – not to mention difficulty getting the outside vendors to complete services because they fear for their safety, he said.
And while a decent chunk of this information has been fairly well documented, what’s new in the story is the presentation Hawkins made about both improvements and desired improvements in the form of equipment, systems, policies and use of a comprehensive approach to how the jail functions.
“We’re trying to upgrade our security profile and systems … the geo management system or the round tracking system. What that does is allow us to be more efficient at our obligations with our two rounds every hour,” Hawkins said.
In addition, upgrades to surveillance and the access control system are needed to cut down on contraband and upgrades need to be made to fire and exhaust systems. Then there’s the perimeter security system and the data management system, the latter of which Hawkins said “will help us with training, help us develop policies, help us with personnel oversight and information so that we can have better processes in place so that we can effectively manage not only our personnel, our resources, but also update our policy so that staff can have direct access.”
Hawkins is looking at having a social worker, a peer support specialist, an additional maintenance technician, religious services program, vocational training – and a classroom space to hold the religious and vocational meetings. And psychological services and community engagement programs may be on the horizon.
He thanked the commissioners again and asked them to do more. The implication being that to rebrand it was going to require more.
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TownTalk: The Barefoot Movement Headlines Hurricane Relief Concert At SGHS
/by Laura GabelThe Barefoot Movement’s Noah Wall and Tommy Norris have a deep connection to western North Carolina and east Tennessee, just over the Blue Ridge Mountains. They were dating and in a band when Norris was a student at Western Carolina and Noah was at East Tennessee State, and the two would meet in Asheville for a date night or band-related events.
But they also have connections to Granville County – both are 2006 graduates of South Granville High School in Creedmoor, and when Wall felt the urge to do something to help folks who lost so much in the devastation and flooding brought by Hurricane Helene, she turned to that high school and the choral department.
The result: a hurricane relief concert on Friday, Nov. 22 featuring a couple of local groups as well as the bluegrass sound of The Barefoot Movement. The concert is sponsored by the South Granville Choral Association.
Tickets are $15 and are on sale now for the concert, which kicks off at 7 p.m.
First up is GrassStreet Bluegrass band, followed by the popular Granville County Southern Rock band Bryan’s Hill.
Wall said she has “zero ego” in being called the headline group, but she’ll take the stage with her fiddle and her husband – (Norris, if you didn’t know) – mandolin in hand, to finish out the concert.
“I wish I could just donate a million dollars,” Wall said on Tuesday’s TownTalk segment with WIZS’s Bill Harris. She said she has been moved by what the folks in the mountains have been going through, so she set about doing what she knows best. “I have my music and I know how to put on a concert,” she explained. The rest fell into place fairly easily.
The high school auditorium has a stage, a sound system and is a comfortable place for a concert. “It ultimately worked out great,” Wall said. All proceeds from the concert will go to Baptist on Mission, which has had teams of people on the ground helping in the disaster zone. They also have a specific Hurricane Helene Relief Fund, so Wall is confident the money will get to where it can be of most use.
Next week’s concert playlist may be a little different from what audiences hear when they’re on tour across the country, Wall said, hinting at what may be in store.
“It won’t be traditional bluegrass, necessarily,” said. “We may cover Ozzy Osborne, but we’ll do it with fiddle and mandolin.”
What it will be, she said, is fun. And she hopes all three bands play to a sold-out house.
“Its’ going to be a great night,” Wall said. “I just felt like I had to do something…just looking at pictures I’ve seen of Asheville, (recovery is) going to take a long time and they need our help.”
Find a link to ticket sales at https://www.thebarefootmovementofficial.com/ or find a link at https://onthestage.com/search
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 11-12-24 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Tips for the Changing Seasons
/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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Free Soil Samples End Nov. 26; Submit Samples Now To Avoid $4 Fee Per Sample
/by WIZS StaffThe time for getting free soil samples from The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services soil testing lab is almost over – it’s about to hit its busy season, but growers and homeowners have until Tuesday, Nov. 26 to squeak in under the wire before the fee of $4 per sample begins.
“Accurate lime and fertilizer recommendations are critical to producing healthy plants and crops and to avoid unnecessary expenses and protect our natural resources,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Recommendations that come from soil testing lets you know exactly what you need to add for optimal production. When it comes to fertilization needs, don’t guess, test.”
Peak-season fees are implemented annually to encourage growers to submit samples early, which helps spread out the testing time frame and to invest in equipment and temporary staff to decrease turnaround times. This year, the peak laboratory season starts Nov. 27 and runs through March 31, 2025.
Samples must physically arrive on the Agronomic Services’ loading dock no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to avoid that $4 per sample fee.
“This year the Agronomic Services Division is renewing its efforts to improve operational efficiency and optimize our customer service. To help in this mission, growers are asked to pay particular attention to the submission process,” said Dr. Don Edralin, soil testing section chief. “Small details matter when you consider that the Soil Testing Lab processes about 300,000 samples annually.”
Soil samples submitted without adequate grower, consultant, and/or sample information will not proceed through the lab but will be set aside. This information is essential to associate samples with the correct existing client account or to establish a new unique client account. Samples will be held for at least five days, and an attempt will be made to obtain the missing information. Due to limited storage space, samples cannot be held indefinitely.
To avoid samples ending up in the “holding area,” simply follow the instructions listed below. In doing so, you will help the Soil Testing Lab be more efficient, and in turn, avoid unnecessary delays in sample processing.
Sheriff Curtis Brame: One Arrest In Nov. 2 Incident Of Suspect Firing Into An Occupied Home
/by WIZS Staff-press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame
WIZS News received the following information Sunday evening from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame:
On November 2, 2024, deputies with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office responded to an investigation call for service on Hunting Trail Lane, resulting in Vance County Sheriff’s Office personnel being alerted to a disorderly subject on Flat Rock Lane firing rounds inside of a residence with juveniles inside of same. Following an investigation, shots were fired at deputies when attempting to execute their duty. Vance County Sheriff’s Office personnel and personnel with the Henderson Police Department surrounded the residence, leading to the suspect, Shamon Keshawn Yancey (DOB: 06/24/1986), surrendering after several callouts were made.
Two juveniles and an injured adult were rescued without incident.
Yancey was arrested without incident and charged with the following:
– 3 Counts of Felony Assault on Law Enforcement Officer with a Deadly Weapon
– 3 Counts of Felony Second Degree Kidnapping
– 1 Count of Felony Possession of a Firearm by Felon
– 1 Count of Felony Larceny of a Firearm
– 1 Count of Felony Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury
Yancey was confined to the Vance County Detention Center without bond.
SportsTalk: Recap of Senior Night; Playoff Brackets Come Out!
/by WIZS StaffPlayoffs loom for Vance County after defeating Enloe Friday night.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 11-11-24 Noon
/by WIZS StaffClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
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