Tag Archive for: #franklincountynews

VGCC Honors Radiography Graduates At Pinning Ceremony

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Twenty new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 7 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center.

The Radiography Class of 2018 included James D. Bolton of Henderson, Marco Antonio Carmen-Vazquez of Oxford, Yamile Chavarin of Henderson, Whitney Michelle Cox of Oxford, Crystal Gill of Henderson, Brittany Harmon of Norlina, Gloria Maria Hudnall of Oxford, Corinna W. Hutton of Durham, Jan Maniace of Hillsborough, Aaron McNeill of Oxford, Mark James Meinhart of Louisburg, Bethany Scarbrough Murphy of Youngsville, Laurie Newton of Henderson, Brittnee M. Orto of Creedmoor, Ashley Rhew of Timberlake, Katie Weary of Bullock, Terrance Mario Wesley of Raleigh, Lori Faye Wiggins of Creedmoor, Johnathan Williamson II of Oxford, and Jennifer Wright of Hurdle Mills.

In his remarks to the Class of 2018 as keynote speaker, John Douglas Britton II, a vascular interventional technologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, urged the graduates to “aim high” but “never forget your roots.” (VGCC Photo)

In his remarks to the Class of 2018 as keynote speaker, John Douglas Britton II, a vascular interventional technologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, urged the graduates to “aim high” but “never forget your roots.” A 2015 graduate of VGCC’s Radiography program, Britton added, “It’s important to set goals for yourself. To aim high is to work towards significant rewards along with personal and professional satisfaction.”

“It’s also important to remember who you are, where you’re from, where your roots are and realize that honoring your foundation will ensure that you live a grounded, meaningful life — one with purpose,” he said. “The gift of heritage comes with a responsibility to share, inspire, spread the word and teach others as you have been taught.”

Britton was chosen by the graduating students to receive the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Certificate of Excellence for Clinical Educators, presented at the ceremony by Stacey Soles, VGCC’s clinical coordinator for Radiography.

Receiving the JRCERT Certificate of Excellence for Students was Aaron McNeill, with the award presented by instructor Lewis Daughtry, Jr. A special recognition was also made to McNeill by Soles for perfect attendance in the clinical education classes during the entire 21 months of the program.

Members of the 2018 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 7 included, on the front row, from left: Katie Weary, Laurie Newton, Marco Antonio Carman-Vazquez, Crystal Gill, Ashley Rhew and Yamile Chavarin; second row, from left: Brittany Harmon, Lori Faye Wiggins, Terrance Mario Wesley, Brittnee M. Orto and Jan Maniace; third row, from left: Corinna W. Hutton, Whitney Michelle Cox, James Bolton, Aaron McNeill and Gloria Maria Hudnall; back row, front left, Bethany Murphy, Johnathan Williamson II, Mark James Meinhart and Jennifer Wright. (VGCC Photo)

Among other awards presented, the VGCC Radiography Academic Award was given to Ashley Rhew, and the VGCC Radiography Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Terrance Mario Wesley. Those presentations were made by Angela Thomas, VGCC’s dean of Health Sciences.

The students voted for Tabitha Owens of EmergeOrtho as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while the Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence went to the Granville Medical Center Radiography Department. Both awards were presented by instructor Anthony Twisdale.

In welcoming remarks, VGCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Levy Brown congratulated the graduates, welcomed them to the imaging profession and encouraged them to “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you’ve imagined.”

Dr. Brown shared some information about the diverse class, noting that nine of the 20 graduates had been raising children during their studies and 12 had earned Dean’s List or President’s List honors. Seven have already accepted employment opportunities in their new careers, and 10 of them have been accepted into educational programs to diversify their skill set within Radiography, including CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. Others have plans to concurrently take classes to obtain their bachelor’s degree at four-year institutions.

The class drew strength from working together as a family, VGCC’s Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas said. “With the realization that you cannot make it on your own, you decided to embrace and display the real meaning of family,” she said. “This gave each of you the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer and then you all gradually began to strive to do better as a unit…. Today, your journey continues as you transition from my students to my colleagues — colleagues with whom I can say that I trust to work as well as to take care of my loved ones.”

As class representative, Terrance Mario Wesley spoke on behalf of his classmates. He shared comments about each of his fellow graduates and his program instructors and clinical instructors. Describing his instructors as being “the best a student could ask for,” he added, “I would like to thank you all for imparting wisdom, believing in us, and being an awesome example for us.” Wesley said. He closed with a quote from his childhood mentor as encouragement to graduates and the next class of radiographers: “Good, better, best — never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.” Wesley also gave the invocation and benediction.

Daughtry shared the history of the Radiographer’s Pin prior to Thomas and Twisdale awarding pins to each graduate. Thomas led the graduates in reciting the Radiographer’s Pledge as the ceremonies concluded.

View VGCC’s Flickr album of photographs from the pinning ceremony.

Franklin Co. Sheriff’s Office Arrests Man for Statutory Rape of a Child

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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On June 25, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit issued a warrant for the arrest of Jonathan Robert Pyron, a Johnston County resident.

Jonathan Robert Pyron was charged with the following: one (1) count of Felony Statutory Rape of a Child <= 15 years old; and one (1) count of Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child.

On June 25, 2018, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jonathan Robert Pyron at the Johnston County Detention Center where he was being held on an unrelated criminal charge.

Jonathan Robert Pyron is currently being held in the Johnston County Detention Center under a $1,000,000 secured bond.

New VGCC Nursing Scholarship Named in Honor of Retired Registered Nurse

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Hutson Wester of Henderson recently made a donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to create the Brenda McGee Wester, R.N., Academic Achievement Scholarship in honor of his wife.

Wester has long been a supporter of the college’s scholarship program. He started his first scholarship in the 1980s, recently elevating the Hutson Wester Insurance scholarship to the Presidential Merit Award status. He started the Virginia L. Wester Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2015 in memory of his former wife. He was also instrumental in endowing the Henderson Rotary Club Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2008.

Now retired from Wester Insurance Agency in Henderson, Wester also taught Continuing Education classes on insurance at VGCC for several years.

Brenda McGee Wester retired after 30 years as a Registered Nurse in 2005, having worked at Duke Raleigh Medical Center and Wake Medical Center as well as spending a portion of that time in State government. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Johnston Community College and is considering enrolling into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at a four-year institution, she said.

Hutson Wester and his wife, Brenda, present a donation to Vance-Granville Community College’s Endowment Fund to start the Brenda McGee Wester, R.N., Academic Achievement Scholarship. From left are Eddie Ferguson, Endowment Fund director; Kay Currin, Endowment specialist; Brenda Wester; Hutson Wester; and VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams.

Mrs. Wester said her career in Nursing was sparked by her mother’s interest in helping neighbors in the McGee’s Crossroads community while growing up as one of six daughters on a 100-acre tobacco farm in Johnston County. “My mother, Lillie McGee, was the one that they called on when a mother was having a baby,” said Mrs. Wester. “My mother was a nurse by what came natural to her,” serving as a midwife in addition to providing loving care to members of her family.

“I know what it’s like to come along and want to be a nurse, but some students can’t afford to go to college,” said Mrs. Wester. “Having a scholarship available will help them be able to make it. That means a lot to me.”

In awarding the newest scholarship, preference will be given to students enrolled in eight or more credit hours in one of the college’s Nursing programs. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 will be required. VGCC offers Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Transition, RIBN (Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nursing) and Practical Nursing among its Health Sciences programs.

“I think Vance-Granville is one of the best things that ever happened in our four-county area,” said Hutson Wester. “I’ve seen what the college has done since the very beginning when it was located in the former Maria Parham Hospital building on Chestnut Street in Henderson.”

VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams voiced her appreciation of the new scholarship. “Students who are preparing for careers in Nursing have a new source of support, thanks to the generosity of Hutson Wester. This scholarship, like those he started earlier, is so essential in helping us meet our mission of educating, inspiring and supporting our students.”

Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, added, “Hutson Wester has been such a strong supporter of the college — in the classroom, in the community and also on the golf course as a regular participant in our annual Endowment Fund golf tournament. He has chosen a meaningful way to honor his wife.”

The new scholarship will add to the more than 9,000 scholarships that have been awarded to students since 1982, funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving students. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business, industry or organization with a lasting gift to education. In the Fall of 2017, Vance-Granville awarded scholarships to 306 students.

For more information, the Office of the Endowment can be reached by calling Endowment Specialist Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.

NC Coop Extension

Parenting Tip of the Week – 6/25/18

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-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension

Create Your Own Summer Camp at Home

Planning some activities for your kids during the summer can help stave off those “I’m bored” comments from children. Plan a summer camp at home.  You can plan activities for a week or just one day. Pick a theme for the camp and involve the whole family in planning activities. Each family member can choose the theme for their camp. You might have a lake day with picnics or boating, a museum day to check out art with art activities for everyone to create when you get home, or even a cooking camp. Use your imagination and have fun planning and doing new activities this summer.

VGCC Pins Associate Degree Nursing Graduates

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recognized 34 students who graduated this spring from the Associate Degree Nursing program with a pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center on May 9.

Among those honored with distinctive nursing pins at the ceremonies were eight who graduated through the LPN to ADN Transition Program, which helps Licensed Practical Nurses to continue their education and then become Registered Nurses. Those graduates were William Autrey of Henderson; Joan Currin of Kittrell; Tammy Emery of Creedmoor; Brittany McFarland of Kittrell; Latonya Morton of Oxford; Roselyne Muhimpundu of Wake Forest; Laura Murray of Oxford; and Omar O’Brien of Wake Forest.

Members of the 2018 Associate Degree Nursing class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their nursing pins on May 9 included, on front row, from left: Shayne Gravitt, Valerie Strange, Victoria Puplampu, Halie Brooks, Laura Murray, Brittany McFarland, Crystal Satterfield and Courtney Moss; second row, from left: Tonya Berry, Caitlyn Smith, Ashley Drake, Jessica White, Brittany Beddingfield and Jeannie Adcock; third row, from left: Brittani Lynch, Roselyne Muhimpundu and Guadalupe Duran; fourth row, from left: Tammy Emery, Stephen Gakumo, Caitlin Moen, Mary Ann Rojas-Galvan, Christine Kingsley, Kaylan Hoyle, Shakeera Robinson, Tasha Warren and Rachel Morton; back row, from left: William Autrey, Jodie Carroll, Joan Currin, Latonya Morton, Matthew Grooms and Omar O’Brien; not pictured: Joy Harris and Mujahid Yagoub. (VGCC Photo)

The graduates who took courses in the traditional five-semester sequence included Jeannie Adcock of Oxford; Brittany Beddingfield of Oxford; Tonya Berry of Franklinton; Halie Brooks of Raleigh; Jodie Carroll of Oxford; Ashley Drake of Stovall; Guadalupe Duran of Louisburg; Stephen Gakumo of Durham; Shayne Gravitt of Raleigh; Matthew Grooms of Butner; Joy Harris of Oxford; Kaylan Hoyle of Henderson; Christine Kingsley of Louisburg; Brittani Lynch of Hollister; Caitlin Moen of Cary; Rachel Morton of Louisburg; Courtney Moss of Henderson; Victoria Puplampu of Durham; Shakeera Robinson of Franklinton; Mary Ann Rojas-Galvan of Creedmoor; Crystal Satterfield of Oxford; Caitlyn Smith of Creedmoor; Valerie Strange of Bullock; Tasha Warren of Henderson; Jessica White of Louisburg; and Mujahid Yagoub of Durham.

In welcoming remarks, Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs, described the class as being “highly sought after” by employers, colleges and universities because of their educational background and skill level. “Over 80 percent of these students already have a job waiting for them as a registered nurse,” he added.

Associate Degree Nursing program head/instructor Dr. Anna Seaman praised the class for its hard work, dedication and compassion. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed,” she said. “You have the knowledge and the skills you need to be successful. But, most importantly, you have the dedication and the heart to do it with caring and compassion. We know that the dedication and compassion that you possess will be appreciated by those patients and families that you care for in the future.”

Halie Brooks, the president of the Class of 2018 nursing graduates, thanked families for their support as well as the nursing instructors. In remarks to her classmates, she added, “We have made lifelong friendships that we will forever cherish. We have also been each other’s support system through the early mornings, long days and late nights. And without each other, we may not be here.”

Academic honors were presented to graduates who completed the program with at least a 3.5 grade point average: Adcock, Brooks, Carroll, Duran, Emery, Grooms, Hoyle, O’Brien, Strange and finally Murray, who was recognized for having the highest GPA in the class.

Cords were presented to students who participated as members of the National Student Nurses Association, which sponsors community service projects and professional development. These students included Beddingfield, Berry, Brooks, Carroll, Drake, Duran, Gravitt, Grooms, Harris, Hoyle, Kingsley, Lynch, McFarland, Latonya Morton, Rachel Morton, Moss, Pumlampu, Robinson, Rojas-Galvan, Smith, Warren, White and Yagoub.

Instructor Brande McIlroy described the significance of the nursing pin. The unique green and gold pin identifies each nurse as a VGCC graduate and indicates that the graduate has the training and competence to serve as a professional nurse. During the ceremony, graduates were pinned by Dr. Seaman and received lamps and roses from instructors Ugur Celimli and Vanessa Ramseur. Meanwhile, Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow read their biographies. After all graduates had received pins, the lights in the Civic Center were lowered, and instructor Crystal Senter led students in reciting the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” by lamplight.

The invocation was delivered by Rachel Morton and the benediction by Brittany McFarland, both of them graduates of the program. Also participating in the program were instructors Patsy Pegram and Michael Frazier.

A Flickr album of photographs from the pinning ceremony is available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancegranvillecc/albums/72157696465731814.

Two Arrested for Breaking/Entering/Larceny in Youngsville

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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

On June 15, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklinton Police Department, and Youngsville Police Department responded to a Breaking and Entering on Bert Winston Road, Youngsville. All agencies established a perimeter in the area and Jesus Reyes Carreon and Pedro Antonio Castro were taken into custody without incident.

Jesus Reyes Carreon (Photo courtesy Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

Jesus Reyes Carreon, a Franklin County resident, was charged with the following: one (1) count of Break and/or Enter a Residence and one (1) count of Larceny After Breaking and Entering.

Pedro Antonio Castro (Photo courtesy Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

Pedro Antonio Castro, a Franklin County resident was charged with the following: one (1) count of Break and/or Enter a Residence and one (1) count of Larceny After Breaking and Entering. Pedro Antonio Castro was charged with an additional one (1) count of Break and/or Enter a Building and one (1) count of Larceny After Breaking and Entering on a warrant from an incident on May 25, 2018, at the Franklin County Solid Waste on Timberlake Road, Louisburg.

Jesus Reyes Carreon was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $20,000.00 secured bond.

Pedro Antonio Castro is currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $105,000.00 secured bond.

This matter remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone should have any additional information pertaining to this investigation, please call Detective Nick Kapl at 919-340-4344.

Families Living Violence Free

High Number of NC Homicides Makes Families Living Violence Free Say “Enough!”

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-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free

As of June 3, there have been 32 domestic violence homicides in North Carolina in 2018!

The youngest victim was 7 months old…

It’s time to say “Enough!” SPEAK UP!

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call Families Living Violence Free at 919-693-5700 Crisis Line or the Hispanic Crisis Line at 919-690-0888 Day or Night!

We are here for you!

You could be saving a life…it might be your own.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

NCDOT’s Office of Civil Rights Seeking Stakeholder Participation

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-Press Release, NCDOT

DURHAM – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is inviting stakeholders not limited to but including small businesses, general contractors, suppliers and supportive and professional service providers, to participate in the department’s next session of it’s 2018 Community Engagement Series.

“This series is designed to offer networking and learning opportunities for contractors, consultants and other companies seeking to do business with NCDOT, and is being hosted in each of NCDOT’s 14 Highway Divisions throughout the remainder of 2018,” said Chief Deputy Secretary David Howard.

“OCR’s motto is to ‘Recruit, Train, Retain and Grow,’ and this series is a conduit for us to execute that mission on behalf of the department and the taxpayers of this great state,” said Office of Civil Rights Director Shelby Scales.

The next meeting in the series will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, on the campus of North Carolina Central University inside the NCCU School of Law building at 640 Nelson Street, Durham.

NCDOT is committed to ensuring that no person shall – on the grounds of race, color, national origin, limited English proficiency, income status, sex, age or disability – be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any NCDOT program or activity, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other related nondiscrimination laws and authorities.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in the Series. Anyone requiring special services should contact Mark Whisenant at 919-508-1822 or mawhisenant@ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made.

For more information contact: NCDOT Office of Civil Rights at (919) 508-1808 or ncdotocr@ncdot.gov.

Heavy Equipment Operator Course Returns to VGCC’s Warren Campus in July

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

WARRENTON — The Heavy Equipment Operator course will be offered by Vance-Granville Community College starting Tuesday, July 10, at the college’s Warren County Campus.

A Short-Term Workforce Training Grant from the N.C. Community College System will be available to cover the cost of tuition and books for qualified students taking the nine-week course, according to Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of occupational extension.

“This course presents an excellent opportunity for students to learn the techniques and safety aspects of operating heavy equipment while exploring the various types and functions of the equipment,” Burwell said. “Students completing the course come away from it with the general understanding to secure a job for a company preparing a site for the construction of buildings, roadways and other structures.”

The college has worked with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to help course completers find jobs with companies that contract with the State.

“This is a new career opportunity that Vance-Granville began offering just a few years ago with training that previously had not been available in our service area,” Burwell said. Classes will be held on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 10 to Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.

Above: Matthew Paynter trains on a motor grader simulator in a classroom on the college’s Warren County Campus during a previous Heavy Equipment Operator course. (VGCC photo)

The Heavy Equipment Operator training program has three computerized training simulators, offering a safe and efficient way to train new operators in a risk-free environment, Burwell said. Highly detailed and realistic lessons teach proper operator technique, machine controls, and safe operation. The simulators feature real-world situations, job site hazards, safety violations, hand signals, equipment damage, budget-based scoring, and replica machine controls.

Each simulator allows students to train virtually on different types of equipment: a motor grader, a four-wheel drive loader and a backhoe. Students use foot pedals, joysticks and steering wheels that mimic those found in actual heavy equipment, while large computer monitors in front of them display a virtual job site in the first-person style of a video game. VGCC students use the equipment not only for practice and experience but also for testing that is required to pass the course.

The instructor for the course will be Steve Buus, who earned his diploma in Heavy Equipment Operation from Wake Technical Community College. Buus has held various positions with Caterpillar and similar companies as an operator and manager of heavy equipment. He has 30-Hour OSHA Certification in Construction Training from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

To register for the course, students may visit www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule.

Students interested in applying for the grant should contact Kyle Burwell at (252) 738-3276 or burwellk@vgcc.edu.

Franklin County Sheriff

Warren Co. Man Faces Assault, First Degree Burglary Charges

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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Terry M. Wright – Chief of Staff

Willie Jiggetts faces multiple charges including Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill and First Degree Burglary.

On June 5, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) issued warrants for the arrest of Willie Jiggetts, a Warren County resident. The charges were the result of an investigation that was initiated following an incident located at 30 Echo Lane Louisburg, NC for a domestic with weapons call. As a result of the investigation, criminal charges were issued consisting of the following: one (1) count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, one (1) count of Communicating Threats, one (1) count of First Degree Burglary, one (1) count of Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, and one (1) count of Maintain a Vehicle or Dwelling for the Storage of Controlled Substance.

On June 11, 2018, Willie Jiggetts was arrested by Raleigh Police Department and transported to the Wake County Detention Facility after being released from Wake Medical Center. Willie Jiggetts was given a $500,000 secured bond and is currently being held in the Wake County Detention Facility.