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-Press Release, Franklin County Government
An Honor Mission for Private First Class William Hoover Jones, POW/MIA, is set for June 20, 2019. Jones was presumed dead since December 31, 1953. His remains are now being returned home for his final resting place in Nash County. The escort should depart from RDU at 11:15 a.m. and travel I 540 to US 64 to Nash County, escorted by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, for burial.
The public is invited to stand with local EMS, Fire Departments and other auxiliaries and show honor for our fallen comrade and to honor PFC Jones’ service to our country. Overpasses and exits will be lined along the route with military and veteran supporters including US 264 and NC 39 overpasses and exits at Tant Road, Lewis Road and Stallings Road.
PFC Jones was awarded Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Korean Service Medal and many others.
For additional information, contact Franklin County Veteran’s Services Director Brenda Wilkins at (919) 496- 1939.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/wizs_0002_Layer-2.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-06-19 16:53:392019-06-20 09:24:26Remains of POW/MIA Jones Returning Home on Honor Mission – June 20
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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
On June 18, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division with assistance from the Community Action Team arrested Demetrius Edward Jones, age 25, a resident of 455 Loblolly Circle, Louisburg.
On June 18, 2019, at approximately 1 a.m. deputies were dispatched to 320 Loblolly Circle, Louisburg after the resident heard someone forcing open her back door. Based on the description of the suspect and the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office K-9, Demetrius Edward Jones was taken into custody.
Demetrius Edward Jones was charged with one (1) count of First Degree Burglary and was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $70,000 secured bond.
Terry M. Wright, Chief of Staff
On June 18, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division with assistance from the Community Action Team arrested Demetrius Edward Jones, age 25, a resident of 455 Loblolly Circle, Louisburg. Jones was charged with one (1) count of First Degree Burglary and was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $70,000 secured bond. (FCSO photo)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Demetrius-Jones-Mug-Shot.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-06-19 16:53:062019-06-19 16:53:06Jones Arrested on First Degree Burglary Charge
Franklin County Schools is offering free summer lunches to students age 5-18, Monday – Thursday through June 27, 2019.
Lunches will be provided from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. inside the Franklinton Middle School cafeteria. The school is located at 3 N. Main St. in Franklinton, NC.
Franklin County Schools is proud to announce that two new principals have been hired for District elementary schools for the 2019-2020 school year.
Frank Wiggins Jr. is the new principal of Youngsville Elementary School; and, Jamie Wilkerson is the new principal of Franklinton Elementary School.
Franklin County Schools is proud to announce that two new principals have been hired for District elementary schools for the 2019-2020 school year. Frank Wiggins Jr. is the new principal of Youngsville Elementary School; and, Jamie Wilkerson is the new principal of Franklinton Elementary School. (Photos courtesy Franklin Co. Schools)
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Wiggins and Ms. Wilkerson to their new leadership positions within our District,” said Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, Superintendent of Franklin County Schools. “Both new principals bring a wealth of unique experiences and many achievements to their new schools. We anticipate they will also convey new energy, ideas and focus to create environments that are conducive to excellence in learning and teaching.”
Wiggins is a veteran principal who has worked in both public and private schools for the past 27 years. He earned a Master’s of School Administration from East Carolina University in 1992. Most recently, Wiggins was the Head of School at Kerr-Vance Academy in Henderson. He previously served as an elementary and middle school principal with Granville County Schools at Wilton Elementary and G.C. Hawley Middle School in addition to other positions in education. Wiggins is a native of Kinston and currently resides in Henderson. He is married to Sandra Allen Wiggins, who teaches at Franklinton High School.
Wilkerson is a veteran teacher who holds a Master’s of School Administration from Campbell University. She has most recently been serving as assistant principal in FCS’ Terrell Lane Middle School. She previously taught mathematics for Johnston County Schools, Harnett County Schools and Cumberland County Schools. She also served as an elementary math specialist and instructional coach in Durham. In addition, she taught as an adjunct for Campbell University and is working toward her terminal degree through Liberty University.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to continue to build a positive school culture along with the staff, students, parents and community of Franklinton Elementary School,” Wilkerson said. “I will work with all stakeholders to ensure student learning continues in a high-quality, instructional learning environment.”
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Frank-Wiggins-Franklin-Co.-Schools.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-06-17 16:59:552019-06-17 16:59:55Wiggins, Former KVA Headmaster, and Wilkerson Named FCS Principals
Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a discharge of untreated wastewater from the Youngsville Regional pump station in Youngsville. The spill was a result of rain on Saturday, June 8, 2019. The spill occurred at 11:45 AM and discharged until 3:20 PM. The discharge of wastewater was estimated to be 5,700 gallons and it entered into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin. Franklin County Public Utilities staff was dispatched to the site and started clean up after the overflow stopped.
The division of Water Quality was notified of this event on June 8, 2019 and is reviewing the matter. For additional information concerning this event, please contact Chris Doherty, Franklin County Public Utilities Director at (919) 556-6711. Additional information can be obtained by visiting Franklin County’s website at www.franklincountync.us and our Facebook Page, search Franklin County Public Utilities.
Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2019-06-11 16:24:292019-06-11 16:24:29Rain Water Causes Franklin County Wastewater Discharge June 8, 2019
On June 5, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit arrested Amanda Lynn Strickland, age 26, a Rocky Mount resident.
Amanda Lynn Strickland was charged with one (1) count of Breaking/Entering, one (1) count of Larceny After Breaking/Entering and one (1) count of Possession of Firearm by Felon.
Amanda Lynn Strickland was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $75,000 secured bond.
Terry M. Wright, Chief of Staff
On June 5, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit arrested Amanda Lynn Strickland, age 26, a Rocky Mount resident. Amanda Lynn Strickland was charged with one (1) count of Breaking/Entering, one (1) count of Larceny After Breaking/Entering and one (1) count of Possession of Firearm by Felon. (FCSO Photo)
-Press Release, Franklin County Board of Elections
The Franklin County Board of Elections will hold two educational seminars about voter photo identification requirements as follows:
The 1st educational seminar will be held on Thursday, June 20, at 6 p.m. at:
Cedar Creek Middle School in the cafetorium
2228 Cedar Creek Rd
Youngsville, NC 27596
The 2nd educational seminar will be held on Wednesday, August 14, at 6 p.m. at:
Terrell Lane Middle School in the cafetorium
101 Terrell Ln
Louisburg, NC 27549
These seminars are free and open to the public.
Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the N.C. Constitution to require voters to present photo ID at the polls.
Session Law 2018-144 requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before September 1, 2019. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, One-Stop early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.
For more information on the voter ID requirement in North Carolina, please go to www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-ID.
Questions? Please contact the Franklin County Board of Elections at (919) 496-3898 or mchavis@franklincountync.us.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0056_Franklin-County-NC.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-06-06 16:55:072019-06-06 16:55:07Franklin Co. Board of Elections to Conduct Seminars on Voter ID Requirement
Fifteen cadets graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College in a ceremony held May 14 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.
Above: On front row, from left: graduates Kevin Allen, Taylor Inscoe, Zachary Long and the college’s interim director of Law Enforcement Training/BLET, Glen Boyd; on second row, from left: graduates Maggie Cabiness, Jonathan Kearney, Jeremy Moore, Zachary Workman and Seth Hodge; and on back row, from left: graduates Gina Chappell, Daniel Allen, Michael Bader, Andrew Spitzer, Jake Coleman, Sabrina Hoyle and Emma Britt. (VGCC Photo)
Honored as members of VGCC’s 108th BLET class were: Emma Carey Britt and Andrew Ronald Spitzer, both of Butner Public Safety; Jeremy Dale Moore and Zachary Lance Workman, both of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office; Jake Matthew Coleman and Sabrina Edward Hoyle, both of the Henderson Police Department; Seth Thomas Hodge of the N.C. Division of Parks & Recreation; Daniel Marquis Allen, Michael James Bader and Gina Christine Chappell, all of the Oxford Police Department; Kevin Ward Allen, Taylor Nicole Inscoe and Zachary Thomas Long, all of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office; Maggie Rena Cabiness and Jonathan Shawn Kearney, both of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.
The class was exceptional in at least two major ways. First, all 15 cadets who began the program successfully graduated, marking a rare 100-percent completion rate for the rigorous 16 weeks of training. Second, each member of the class was employed by a law enforcement agency by the day of their graduation.
Speaking as leader of the class, Cadet Seth Hodge thanked all the graduates’ family members and friends in attendance for their support. He added that the class had learned a great deal about teamwork. “We as a group of strangers decided on this path together, and we were tasked to complete our first major hurdle in our careers together,” Hodge said. Learning to trust one another, he said the team had then become a family. “And no matter where our lives take us from here, no matter the badge or uniform we wear, I want you to always remember just what we are: family,” he added.
VGCC Campus Police Chief Sean Newton, representing the program’s many instructors, was chosen by the cadets as the keynote speaker for their graduation. He congratulated the cadets on the completion of “a long, hard journey.”
Newton reminded the new law enforcement professionals that they would be taking an “oath of honor” to uphold and protect the Constitution, their community and their agency.
“The first thing you will uphold is the Constitution,” Newton said. “You’re taking an oath to protect the rights of all people of our state and country: the victims of crimes, the general public, and those accused of crimes. In my opinion, there is no greater responsibility than this.”
Second, they will pledge to uphold their community. “I cannot stress enough how important it is to embrace and include the community in your law enforcement efforts,” Newton said. “We’ve seen a reported breakdown between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Some of it is unfortunately true, while some may be exaggerated by social media or certain biases. Regardless of the reason, we must, as members of the law enforcement community, constantly strive to better these relationships.”
Finally, he said, graduates will swear an oath to the agencies they serve. “I would like to add all law enforcement officers in general to that category,” Newton said. “Always remember, you won’t be the only officer judged by your actions; every other officer in the country will be, too. No other profession is scrutinized as much as law enforcement, and rightfully so.”
The police chief called on graduates to think carefully about the words in their oath and remember them as they start their careers. “How you embrace these words will determine how successful your career will be,” Newton said.
Glen Boyd, interim director of Law Enforcement programs and BLET at VGCC, presented awards to several students. Kevin Allen took home the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the written tests each cadet must pass. Seth Hodge earned the Physical Fitness Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo during physical training. Michael Bader won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in firearms qualification.
For more information on the BLET program, contact Glen Boyd at boydg@vgcc.edu.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/VGCC-BLET-Grads-2019.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-05-20 16:58:582019-05-20 16:58:58VGCC Graduates 15 Cadets in 108th Basic Law Enforcement Training Class
On May 16, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Franklin County resident, Kwarshon Rakim White of 1090 Walter Grissom Road, Kittrell, NC, on felony drug and weapon charges. The arrest was the result of citizen complaints and information provided to the Sheriff’s Office which alleged White was involved in illegal drug sells in Franklin County.
On May 16, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Franklin County resident, Kwarshon Rakim White of 1090 Walter Grissom Road, Kittrell, NC, on felony drug and weapon charges. (Photo courtesy FCSO)
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit opened an investigation into White’s activities and was able to validate the information provided. The investigation concluded with a vehicle stop and the arrest of Kwarshon Rakim White on Walter Grissom Road, Kittrell, NC. Detectives seized 90 bindles of Heroin, Marijuana, one 9mm handgun, US Currency and a 2002 Lexus LS430 vehicle during the arrest.
Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “The citizens of Franklin County continue to be proactive and observant in their neighborhoods and once again, their assistance has proven to be important to the success of our mission. We will continue to aggressively pursue those who choose to poison our communities with these illegal drugs.”
Kwarshon Rakim White was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $200,000 secured bond.
Kwarshon Rakim White DOB: 02/27/1991
1090 Walter Grissom Road Kittrell, NC 27544
Kwarshon Rakim White was charged with: four (4) counts of Possess with intent to sell and deliver a Controlled Substance, three (3) counts of sell and Deliver a Schedule I Controlled Substance (Heroin), four (4) counts of Maintain a vehicle for the purpose of storing/selling a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a firearm by a felon.
For more information concerning this investigation or to report drug activity in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 496-2186.
Founded in 1964, CWS is a private non-profit organization located at 602 S. Garnett Street in downtown Henderson. Formerly known as Raleigh Vocational Center, Inc., the organization changed its name to Community Workforce Solutions in 2007.
“The building doesn’t look the way it did back then, but a lot of people like to come by and tour the place. Some say they worked there 50 years ago and want to see the building,” said Waverly.
In 2004, three years prior to its name change, the organization assumed operation of INCO.
“For over 50 years, Community Workforce Solutions has been serving the community by providing training and placement services to adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment,” Waverly said.
By partnering with community organizations and employers in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, Waverly said CWS assumes the dual role of supporting the individual and the business that hires them.
“When you hire the individual, you hire us as well. We support them with whatever they need to get the job done. It’s a win-win for the employer because they are getting a quality employee and a support staff.”
Waverly estimated that the organization currently partners with 50-60 local businesses and has 60-70 former employees on an active, long-term list that is monitored twice monthly by a long-term coach.
While employee pay begins at minimum wage, Waverly reported that several workers now receive $12 – $15 an hour, with all paychecks going directly to the individual.
To assist with the payment of wages and the training mechanism, CWS operates a thrift store, also at the 602 S. Garnett St. address.
“We offer clothes ranging from .75 cents to $7, household items and more, and we always need donations,” said Waverly. “We will help you unload it and give you a tax form if needed.”
Brunch and Learn Event
CWS is sponsoring a “Brunch & Learn” event this Friday, May 17, 2019, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at their Garnett St. location.
According to Waverly, the purpose of the event is to educate attendees on the services CWS offers and to connect employers with community partners. All local employers are encouraged to attend.
For more information on the brunch event, contact Rahesha Medina at (252) 572-8322 or rmedina@nc-cws.org.
To listen to the Town Talk interview with Sandra Waverly in its entirety, click here.
