Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

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“Purple Heart Community” Ceremony Friday, Mar. 7 In Henderson

The City of Henderson will host a ceremony Friday, Mar. 7 to designate the region as a “Purple Heart Community.”

The program will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Henderson Police Department, 200 Breckenridge St.

Purple Heart recipients, their families and all veterans are cordially invited to attend.

This designation is intended to express gratitude to members of the military from the community who were either wounded in combat or who were killed in combat.

There are more than 900 Purple Heart locations across the United States honoring the 1.6 million Purple Heart recipients.

Henderson Man Gets 71-Month Prison Term For Possessing A Gun As A Felon

     —  information courtesy of the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina

A Henderson man has been sentenced to 71 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon in connection with an incident that took place in the city in May 2022.

Jaymon Gibson, 26, pled guilty to the charges on Oct. 10, 2024.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement investigated two gang-related shooting incidents where Gibson possessed or fired guns.  On May 10, 2022, at around 11:15 pm, the Henderson Police Department (HPD) responded to reports of a gunshot wound at a house on Powell Street in Henderson.  The 911 caller led officers to Gibson, who was sitting in a car with gunshot wounds to his left arm.  The 911 caller reported that she had seen someone shooting at Gibson from a black sedan.  Officers canvassed the area and found a Glock 19 9mm handgun with an American flag pattern on it lying in the yard.  They also found a 50-round drum magazine.  Doorbell camera footage from the home showed Gibson walking with the Glock 9mm.

The next day, co-defendant Monica Ellis called HPD and reported that a Glock 19 and a drum magazine had been stolen from her car.  Officers later confirmed with a firearms store that Ellis had purchased the firearm on March 8, 2022.  Gibson was in prison in March 2022, following a state conviction for voluntary manslaughter, and officers were able to obtain jail calls between him and Ellis.  These calls revealed that Gibson had directed Ellis to straw purchase the Glock 9mm for him, even placing a three-way phone call with Gibson and a gun store clerk.

On May 28, 2022, eighteen days after the Powell Street shooting, the HPD responded to a shots-fired call at the Gate City Foods gas station.  Surveillance video revealed that a little after 4 p.m., a car with Gibson driving and a juvenile male in the front passenger seat pulled into a gas pump away from the store.  A few minutes later, a white car with four occupants arrived and pulled up to a gas pump closer to the store.  The front passenger, later identified as Jordan Turnage, walked into the store.  Then a rear passenger, a juvenile, stepped out of the white car holding a long gun with a drum magazine.  Gibson, who had moved to the front passenger seat, then stepped out of the car also holding a firearm.  Moments later, gunfire erupted.  Turnage fired a handgun from inside Gates City Foods through the window towards Gibson.  At the same time, from the middle of the parking lot, the juvenile with the long gun began firing toward Gibson.  The white car’s driver also stepped out with a long gun and shot several rounds, striking himself in the foot in the process.  Gibson returned fire, shooting several rounds while crouching behind his car.  Both groups then fled from the scene. Later investigation found that gunshots had damaged multiple nearby cars and apartments, including one gunshot that had struck a bedroom window while a resident was sleeping.  Miraculously, no one was hurt in the incident.  Five days later, law enforcement located and arrested Gibson at an apartment in Durham.  They found a 22-caliber rifle with a high-capacity magazine that matched shell casings from where he had been parked at Gates City Foods.

“Keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals that endanger public safety remains a top priority for our office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar.  “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that are the most significant contributors to violence.”

“Our partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina has been vital in our ongoing efforts to combat gun violence in our community,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus W. Barrow. “Throughout my tenure as Chief of Police, the ATF has maintained a steadfast presence in Henderson, demonstrating unwavering support and commitment to our shared goals. Their consistent presence is having a profound and lasting impact on our region. This case serves as yet another testament to our collective dedication in the fight against gun violence, and we remain resolute in our commitment to securing a safer future for all.”

Co-defendant Monica Ellis pled guilty to a felony offense of lying to a federal agent for statements she made related to straw-purchasing the Glock firearm.  On March 14, 2024, she was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release.  Jordan Turnage, who was not a felon at the time of the shooting, was prosecuted in state court for related felony offenses and received an active sentence of 38 to 58 months.

Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Henderson Police Department, Durham Police Department, and N.C State Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted.

TownTalk: Maria Parham Health’s Open House For RNs, Allied Health Fields

Maria Parham Health will host an open house for prospective nurses and others who may be interested in a job in nursing or any of a range of careers in the allied health field.

The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 13 at the hospital, located at 566 Ruin Creek Rd., according to Nathan Johnson, MPH market director, People Services.

People Services is what used to be known as Human Resources, Johnson said.

Snowy weather postponed an earlier event to be rescheduled, and Johnson said the open house is for anyone looking for a job in the nursing field, but also for individuals to learn more about openings in the various labs, as well as physical therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, CNA and many more.

Maria Parham isn’t a large hospital system, Johnson said, but it’s a place with “a hometown feel” where employees are known by their name and not as a number.

“Our focus here is on making our community healthier and being able to serve the needs of our patients,” he said.

Although this open house is primarily for openings at the Henderson location, Johnson said representatives can talk to participants about openings at the Franklin and Person locations as well.

It’s best to RSVP online at mariaparham.com, or call Ryan Randall at 252.436.1125, just to give organizers an idea of how many to prepare for, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Johnson said participants can expect to learn about the various positions that are available and share their experience and skills with MPH representatives. There will be an opportunity for additional breakaway sessions to go a little more in depth, which could lead to a job offer, he said.

Come right in to the hospital’s main entrance and follow directional signs to the Open House location.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Healthy Co-Parenting Part 1

Cooperative 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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Home and Garden Show

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance Warren Beekeepers Association meeting will be on Monday March 10, 2025 at 7pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • The Growing The Spring Vegetable Garden Event will be on Monday March 31, 2025 at 6:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Pruning season is here! Cooperative Extension has pruning publications that will show how to correctly prune fruit trees and grape vines.
  • Get your copy of the central Piedmont planting guide for vegetables that can be planted in each month.
  • Fertilize your fescue lawn if you haven’t already ASAP.
  • Apply crabgrass preventer to lawns.
  • Make sure fruit tree varieties grow well in zone 7 before ordering that variety.
  • Cleanup flower beds, then apply weed preventer and new mulch.
  • Don’t top crepe myrtles unless necessary for size control.
  • Remember to wear PPE equipment when doing all garden chores.
  • Start checking your lawn care equipment.
  • Check areas for mice. Greenhouse storage shed.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.      

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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SportsTalk: NCHSAA Finalizes Overall Draft of Conference Realignment

SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has finalized the conferences for the next realignment cycle. The NCHSAA Board of Directors met all day Monday to hear final pleas from many schools for conference realignment. One of those pleas was from Vance County Athletic Director Philip Weil. Weil urged the board to consider moving Vance County from 6A/7A Conference C, to 4A/5A Conference A, which is the home of J.F. Webb and South Granville. The Vance County AD cited that from a competitive standpoint, it would be better if Vance County was in 4A/5A Conference A. Weil also stated that the travel for schools in 6A/7A Conference C is much greater than what he proposed. The conference, Weil proposed, would include: Vance County, Carrboro, Cedar Ridge, Durham School of the Arts, Orange, Seaforth, South Granville, and J.F. Webb.

The Board of Directors voted unanimously in an 18-0 decision to deny Vance County’s request. Therefore, for the next four years, Vance County will be a part of 6A/7A Conference C.

Another change that went into effect was that The North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham requested to move to 1A/2A Conference D as the only 3A from 2A/3A/4A Conference A. A motion to approve the move was made and seconded. This means that the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham will no longer be in a conference with Louisburg and Bunn.

Below are the finalized conferences for teams in Vance County and the surrounding counties:

6A/7A Conference C

  • Vance County (6A)
  • Franklinton (6A)
  • Wake Forest (7A)
  • Heritage – Wake Forest (7A)
  • Knightdale (7A)
  • East Wake (7A)

1A/2A Conference E

  • Vance Charter (1A)
  • Oxford Prep (1A)
  • Falls Lake Academy (1A)
  • Discovery Charter (1A)
  • Excelsior Classical (1A)
  • Henderson Collegiate (2A)
  • Eno River Academy (2A)

4A/5A Conference A

  • Carrboro (4A)
  • J.F. Webb (5A)
  • South Granville (5A)
  • Orange (5A)
  • Cedar Ridge (5A)
  • Seaforth (5A)
  • Durham School of the Arts (5A)

2A/3A/4A Conference A

  • American Leadership Academy, Johnston – Clayton (2A)
  • Louisburg (3A)
  • Wake Prep (3A)
  • Bunn (4A)
  • Nash Central (4A)
  • Roanoke Rapids (4A)

1A/2A Conference C

  • KIPP Pride (1A)
  • Southeast Halifax (1A)
  • Weldon (1A)
  • Warren County (2A)
  • Northwest Halifax (2A)
  • Northampton County (2A)

Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue give all their reaction and analysis right here on SportsTalk!

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events at Perry Memorial Library

Springtime is just around the corner, and Perry Memorial Library’s Youth Services Director Melody Peters is gearing up for a busy time, filled with themed programs wedged in between the regular favorites.

“We will be getting really busy,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! February was filled with programs to observe Black History Month and April’s calendar is shaping up to be busy, if not busier.

Not only is April National Poetry Month, but there’s Week of the Young Child and National Library Week, it’s a time when students will be enjoying Spring Break so they may have extra chances to visit the library.

But before April, there’s Women’s History Month, and Peters said she’s invited a female author to come speak toward the end of March.

The Sunday afternoon Family Story Time will be held on Mar. 16, which is just one day away from St. Patrick’s Day, when mischievous leprechauns roam around and have some innocent elfin fun.

Peters said she feels the luck of the Irish all year long as she plans and creates programming for young people.

“I talk to kids all the time,” she said, “and I listen to what they’re saying.”

From those interviews have come programs about teen mental health and the Crochet Club, among others. “I want to find out what’s exciting to them and try to make it happen,” she said.

Peters said she visited Pinkston Street Elementary on Monday and a youngster came in with her grandmother after school was out – it was the 6-year-old’s first visit to the library.

“It was just great!” Peters exclaimed. “That’s why you do what you do.”

Visit perrylibrary.org to learn about all the programs and services the library offers.

 

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TownTalk: Chestnut St. Park Update, Basketball Court Renovations Underway

Anyone who’s driven by Chestnut Street Park since last weekend surely has noticed that there’s something going on – a transformation is taking place at the park, and Charles Turrentine, Jr. is happy to see the renovation get underway.

Turrentine cares about his community – Henderson, Vance County and certainly the area where he grew up near the Chestnut Street Park, where he and others grew up shooting hoops.

With funds now in place for Phase 1 of the park’s renovation, Turrentine said he’s fielded more than a few inquiries from people who’ve been by the park and noticed the work going on.

It started Saturday, and Turrentine said the asphalt has been broken up and the fences removed. “We’re turning up dirt,” he said. He remembers Chestnut Street Park as a safe place for young people to be, playing basketball or watching those pickup games that invariably broke out most days.

But it hasn’t had any attention since it first became a park, and it was time to do something. Past time, truth be told.

“It’s time we look at it and give it some much-needed love and care.” He said he appreciates the support and regular meetings with Rec and Parks Director Kendrick Vann and Henderson City Manager Hassan Kingsberry to help with plans for the Chestnut Street Park renovation.

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