“He’s really been the heart and soul of the team,” Crossroads Christian Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Scotty Richardson said of Andreas Prince when both appeared on Sports Talk on Friday. Prince is the first player from the school to be named to receive 1A All State honors. The school, which has only had a basketball program for four years, has made it to the Elite Eight the last two seasons. Prince was part of the reason for the team’s success. In addition to the All State honors, Prince was named to the All Tournament and All Conference teams. He averaged 21 points over the season. “It’s definitely a great honor. It means a lot to me and my family,” Prince said. Prince singled out Coach Richardson as making an impact on him both on and off the court.
Richardson said at the end of last season graduating players cost his team 65 points, the average of what the graduation players scored per game last season. And despite the season being interrupted by Covid 19 and having only three weeks of practice, the team was still strong this season. This year Crossroads Christian will lose three seniors to graduation. Richardson said, “The cupboard is not bare,” since the team will return four starters next season.
In the second half of SportsTalk, two county athletes received Player of the Week Honors. Alyssa Bullock, a 7th Grade basketball player at Vance Charter School, is averaging 20 points per game. Additionally, Bullock is averaging four steals, four rebounds and 5 assists per game and put up 27 points in this week’s contest with East Wake.
The second player of the week is Tyron Lyons of the Vance Co. Vipers. In last week’s 42-6 loss to Chapel Hill, Lyons contributed one solo tackle and three assists.
Player of the Week honors are announced every Friday on the Coach’s Corner segment of SportsTalk with Trey Snide.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/coachscornerfeaturedimage.jpg265504Bill Harrishttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngBill Harris2021-03-05 16:44:342021-03-05 20:06:41SportsTalk 03-05-21 Scotty Richardson, Andreas Prince and Player of the Week
According to the Vance County Schools motto, “The Wow Starts Now!”
Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin wrote in a news release, “We are excited to kick off our registration for Pre-K and Kindergarten students!”
She indicated there will be virtual information sessions taking place on March 10 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. This is “for EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in our district,” she wrote.
In fact, each school will host its very own information session, and the links are available on the district website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.
Sandlin said, “We are excited for the newest additions making their way to the VCS family!”
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VCS-WOW-030321b.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2021-03-04 23:30:272021-03-05 00:39:42Vance County Schools Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration 2021-2022
Trey Snide and Ron Noel welcomed Vance Co. Head Football Coach Hunter Jenks, Duke Radio play by play announcer Chris Edwards and Granville Central Head Basketball and Soccer Coach Greg George on SportsTalk on Thursday.
Jenks, whose Vance Co. Vipers came up on the wrong end of a 42 – 6 score against Chapel Hill on Friday, said of the first game of the season, “We are never happy with losing.” He said four turnovers and too many plays on defense sealed the teams fate. The Vipers’ defense was on the field for 80 plays during the loss. Even though the Vipers lost by a large margin Jenks said, “By and large, with the first game, I was happy with the defensive side of the ball.”
Jenks explained that practices this week have been good as they prepare to take on Southern Durham on March 12. For that game Jenks hopes his offense will do a much better job at protecting the football. “Don’t be afraid to win the game on the last play of the game,” Jenks said when talking about what he has told his team this week. He said he has already seen improvement and hopes to see more consistency as the team moves through the season.
The game against Southern Durham will be the first road game for the Vipers and can be heard over WIZS radio beginning at 6:30 on Friday, March 12.
During the second part of the show, Chris Edwards talked about Duke baseball and what it has been like to not have games for the past eleven months. He said he missed little things like sunsets from the stadium that he won’t take for granted again. Duke has a weekend series against Pittsburgh. Edwards said it would be a big challenge for the Blue Devils since Pittsburgh just swept Florida St.
In regards to the ACC as a whole, “The ACC will beat up on each other,” Edwards said. He also feels that the ACC has a legitimate chance to have all fourteen teams in the NCAA tournament. Edwards says we will know more about how the teams will shake out after a month of, “beating up on each other.”
Currently, Duke is 4 – 4 on the season and are, “still trying to figure stuff out,” said Edwards. Much of Duke’s success will depend on the team’s bullpen figuring out its role.
In the third part of SportsTalk, Greg George of Granville Central spoke about the success of his JV team. He said the “JV team exceeded expectations. We keep trying to build it because that’s what lays the foundation for the varsity program going forward.”
George says it is challenging to coach so many different programs but he has a great support system with the staff and other coaches at the school. Currently Granville Central is number one in the conference with its soccer program. He said the disruption to the normal athletic schedules because of Covid has leveled the playing field for all of the schools in the conference. Lastly, George commented that the Granville Central football program is making great strides this season. Granville Central will take on county rival J. F. Webb on Friday night.
On February 10, 2021, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit and Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team executed a search warrant at 385 Julian Smith Road Lot 3, Henderson, North Carolina 27537.
Arrested at the scene were Tevin Lee Daye, Age 28 and Janeika Shadia Speed, Age 24, for Possession With Intent to Manufacture Sell and Deliver Heroin, Possession With Intent to Manufacture Sell and Deliver Cocaine and Possession With Intent to Manufacture Sell and Deliver Marijuana.
Daye’s bond was set at $90,000.00 and Speed’s bond was set at $75,000.00. They are scheduled to appear in Vance County District Court on March 15, 2021.
This investigation is continuing.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VCSO-Photo-Speed-Daye-030321.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2021-03-03 19:55:112021-03-03 19:55:43Pair Arrested by Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Charged with Drug-Related Offenses
A Henderson man was sentenced yesterday to 96 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
According to court documents and other evidence, Jerome Cozart, 31, engaged in a shootout with another individual at a convenience store on East Andrews Avenue in Henderson. Video surveillance shows the two men in a verbal altercation, when Cozart retrieves a handgun and shoots toward the other man who returned fire. A Henderson Police Department officer was nearby on routine patrol and immediately responded to the scene, placing Cozart into custody. No one was injured.
Cozart had prior convictions for Common Law Robbery, Breaking or Entering and Terrorizing or Injuring, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Henderson Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/USDOJ_EDNC-030421.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2021-03-03 19:28:002021-03-03 19:32:04Shooting in Henderson Lands Convicted Felon in Federal Prison
(IRS Press Release mentioned at the end of TownTalk)
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service reminds first-time filers and those who usually don’t have a federal filing requirement to consider filing a 2020 tax return. They may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, a new refundable credit, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the COVID-related Tax Relief Act.
Most individuals eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit have already received the full amount in two rounds of payments, known as Economic Impact Payments. All legally permitted first and second Economic Impact Payments have been issued.
Individuals who were eligible but did not receive the first or second Economic Impact Payment or received less than the full amounts may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 federal tax return, even if they do not usually file a tax return. The IRS offers free options to prepare and file a return.
Taxpayers who received the full amounts of both Economic Impact Payments won’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit or include any information about the payments on their 2020 tax return because the IRS already issued their Recovery Rebate Credit in advance as Economic Impact Payments.
Didn’t get an Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount?
People who didn’t get an Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return, even if they don’t usually file.
The first Economic Impact Payment was based on an individual’s 2019 tax year information or 2018 if the 2019 tax return information was not available. The second Economic Impact Payment was based on an individual’s 2019 tax year information. The Recovery Rebate Credit is similar except that the eligibility and the amount are based on 2020 information on the tax return. The Recovery Rebate Credit is reduced by any Economic Impact Payments issued.
People who were not eligible for either or both of the Economic Impact Payments may still be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit since it’s based on their 2020 tax return information. Those with lower income in 2020 or who were claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return in 2018 or 2019, but who cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return in 2020, may now be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit.
People eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2020 tax information must file a 2020 federal tax return. For more information about the Recovery Rebate Credit, see Frequently Asked Questions at IRS.gov.
Filing a 2020 tax return
To avoid refund delays, file a complete and accurate tax return. The best way to file a complete and accurate 2020 tax return is to file electronically. The tax software will ask questions about income, credits and deductions and help taxpayers figure their Recovery Rebate Credit. The Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR instructions includes a worksheet that can also help.
Individuals will need to know the amount of their Economic Impact Payments to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. Those who don’t have their Economic Impact Payment notices can view the amounts of their first and second Economic Impact Payments through their individual online account. For married filing joint individuals, each spouse will need to log into his or her own account.
The Recovery Rebate Credit will be included in any tax refund. It will not be issued separately. For those due a refund (which would include the Recovery Rebate Credit), combining electronic filing with direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to get their refund.
IRS Free File
Taxpayers with incomes of $72,000 or less, an use brand-name software to prepare and file their federal tax returns electronically for free with IRS Free File. IRS Free File is a great option for people who are only filing a tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. Free File Fillable Forms is the only IRS Free File option available for most taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is greater than $72,000.
Taxpayers who have no taxable income but are filing a return to receive the Recovery Rebate Credit should look for several of the Free File products that have no minimum income for eligibility. Simply go to IRS.gov/Free File, select “Choose an IRS Free File Offer” and then select “Browse All Offers” to find a Free File product with no minimum income as part of its offer.
Free online tax help for military service members, families and some veterans
MilTax, Military OneSource’s tax service, provides online software for eligible individuals to electronically file a federal return and up to three state returns for free.
The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help to:
People who generally make $57,000 or less
Persons with disabilities; and
Limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their tax return.
In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.
This year, some VITA/TCE sites are not operating at full capacity and others are not opening. Check the VITA/TCE locator tool to search for nearby available sites.
Help at IRS.gov
IRS.gov has online resources to answer tax questions immediately. The Interactive Tax Assistant is a tool that provides answers to several tax-law questions specific to a taxpayer’s individual circumstances.
Visit IRS.gov/filing for details about IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms, free VITA or TCE tax preparation sites in the local community or finding a trusted tax professional.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/TownTalk_JCR_120220.jpg265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2021-03-03 13:20:172021-03-03 13:20:17TownTalk 03-03-21; Tax Time and More
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/news.png265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2021-03-03 12:57:142021-03-03 12:57:14WIZS Local News Audio 03-03-21 Noon
Construction projects often face challenges to completion, and chief among those challenges are weather and money. The site of the former Eaton Johnson Middle School has experienced both lately, but County Manager Jordan McMillen said Tuesday he anticipates that by early summer, the renovations to convert the former school should be complete.
The county commissioners approved a change order that adds almost $38,000 to the construction project to transform the Eaton Johnson campus to the new home for the Department of Social Services and the Senior Center, McMillen said in a written statement to WIZS.
Commissioners approved the addition of $37,019.39 to the project cost, he said, to cover costs to make sure the building and ceiling are supported properly to meet building code. These items were discovered during the demolition phase of the project, he added.
The prolonged wet weather and winter ice storms have slowed the project by three or four weeks, but McMillen said work should be able to get back on track for a June or July move-in date for the two agencies.
“This schedule will be refined as we work through the final stages of construction and as we work to move approximately 110 DSS employees, phone equipment, storage cabinets and other items to the new facility,” McMillen said.
The project will bring the Department of Social Services offices under one roof, he added. “Our $4.5 million investment in this facility not only puts a vacant school into reuse, but allows us to look towards the future,” McMillen said. The new senior center more than doubles the current square footage, – from 9,000 to 21,000 square feet – and “will lend itself to serving more seniors in the future and will address concerns we have heard in the past with limited parking downtown for the seniors,” he added.
