Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
First of Six ‘Future Focus’ Sessions Held at AdVance Academy
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
The first of six “Future Focus” sessions for juniors and seniors at AdVance Academy was held on November 28, with Dr. James Hunter, a certified counselor with Vance County Schools, as the featured speaker.
LaShawn Hawley, career placement specialist with the district’s Career and Technical Education Program, is coordinating the sessions.
Hunter is shown in the accompanying photo as he talks with students at the school about their career choices. He told them their strategies for future success should include: researching colleges and careers; building and maintaining support from others; planning; setting goals; and persevering through obstacles.
The remaining “Future Focus” sessions will be held once each month January through May and are designed to provide diverse guest speakers who can discuss with the students their future plans and how to enhance their chances of successfully getting into college and beginning their vocational careers.
Dr. James Hunter, a certified counselor with Vance County Schools, talks with students at AdVance Academy about their career choices. (Photo Credit: Vance County Schools)
Vance Co. Board of Commissioners to Hold Monthly Meeting Dec. 3
-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance
- The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, December 3, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Pastor Carolyn Roy, Plank Chapel United Methodist Church.
Agenda items:
1. Reorganization of Board
- Swearing in of Re-elected Commissioners
- Election of Chair
- Election of Vice-Chair
2. Adopt Schedule of Holidays
3. Renewal of Board of Commissioners Meeting Schedule
(First Monday of each month at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted)
4. Special Recognition
Bearpond and Epsom Volunteer Fire Departments
5. Public Comments (for those registered to speak by 5:45 p.m. – speakers are limited to five minutes)
6. Appointment
Porcha Brooks, Tax Administrator – Untimely Exemption Applications
7. Public Hearing
Angie Blount, County Planner Rezoning Request – Case RZ20181108-1 616 Bearpond Road; Parcel 0453 05005
8. Public Hearing
Angie Blount, County Planner Rezoning Request – Case RZ20181108-2 651 Bearpond Road; Parcel 0224 01009
9. Water District Board
a. Committee Report – Phase 1B Project Review
b. Monthly Operations Report
c. Recess Water District Board for Closed Session – Property Matter
10. Committee Reports and Recommendations
a. Properties Committee
– REO Property Offers
– Agricultural Land Lease
b. Public Safety Committee
– Rapid Entry Resolution
– Open Burning Ordinance
– Addressing Ordinance
– Fire Service Reorganization
11. Finance Director’s Report
a. Surplus Property
b. Fire Truck Financing
12. County Attorney’s Report
a. REO Property – Lot 6 Big Ruin Creek Lane; Parcel 0404 03029
13. County Manager’s Report
a. Schedule Annual Planning Retreat
b. Broadband Update
14. Consent Agenda Items
a. Budget Amendments and Transfers
b. Tax Refunds and Releases
c. Ambulance Charge-Offs
d. Monthly Reports
15. Miscellaneous
a. Appointments
16. Closed Session
a. Water District Board – Property Matter
b. Economic Development Project
The agenda for the December meeting may be viewed in its entirety on the Vance County website.
Henderson Family YMCA Presents Jingle Bell 5K Run at Satterwhite Point
-Information courtesy Henderson Family YMCA
Participate. Volunteer. Donate.
Jingle Bell Run 5K benefitting Girls on the Run and STRIDE programs will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018, at Satterwhite Point! Check-in and race day registration will begin at 9 a.m. at the Glass House and the race begins at 10 a.m. Entrance gate will close at 9:50 a.m. Please arrive on time!
Pre-race packets will be available for pick-up on Friday, December 7 from 12 – 1:30 p.m and 4 – 6 p.m. in the Big Gym at the YMCA.
Open Registration: Now — December 7
Cost: $15/Child* $25/Adult
Race Day Registration: December 8
Cost: $20/Child* $30/Adult
*Child = ages 0—12; Adult = ages 13+
T-Shirts are NOT included for registrants who register on the day of the race.
(The Henderson Family YMCA is an advertising client of WIZS; however, this is not a paid advertisement.)
Quarantine Area for Imported Fire Ant Expanding to Include All of Vance County
-Press Release, NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is expanding a state quarantine for the imported fire ant (IFA) to include all of Davidson, Orange and Vance counties effective Jan. 1, 2019. With the expansion, the quarantine now includes portions or entire areas of 75 counties.
According to popular pest control vaughan, quarantine continues efforts to monitor the spread of this pest and address mitigation or control measures. Under quarantine rules, residents and business owners in these counties will need to obtain a permit before moving plants, sod and related equipment into or through non-infested areas. Certificates can be obtained from a local plant protection specialist or by contacting the Plant Protection Section at 800-206-9333 or 919-707-3730.
Items requiring a permit include nursery stock, sod, soil, hay and straw, logs or pulpwood with soil, and soil-moving equipment. Also, the movement of any other products, items or infested materials that present a risk of spread from established IFA areas to non-infested areas is prohibited.
“Failure to obtain the needed inspections and certifications may result in the issuance of a stop-sale notice and rejection or destruction of the regulated article,” said Phil Wilson, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division. “Fire ants can be harmful to humans and livestock. It is critical we continue proactive efforts to slow down fire ant movement into non-infested areas of the state.”
The imported fire ant was first identified and classified as a pest by SafeGuardPest in Brunswick County in 1957. As it spread and became established, it was recognized as an aggressive pest of farmlands, pastures, residential areas and wildlife, Wilson said. The imported fire ant is considered to be a nuisance and a health concern to humans, livestock and wildlife due to its painful sting.
For a map of the quarantine area, click here.
Note from local Vance County Cooperative Extension Agent Paul McKenzie:
The quarantine affects people and businesses who want to move certain materials FROM Vance County INTO a non-quarantined area. For example, if a hay producer in Vance County wanted to sell hay to a cattle farm in Person County, they would have to comply with the requirements of the quarantine (inspections and permits). That hay producer would have to certify that their hay was free of fire ants so they wouldn’t be spreading it into a new area. However, that Vance County hay producer would have NO restrictions on moving hay into, for example, Warren County, since Warren is also in the quarantine area.
Examples of other restricted materials would include nursery stock, sod, soil, etc.
Fire ants have been in Vance County for several years now. People need to learn how to recognize them and how to manage them.
Edmonds Discusses Annual Smoke Detector Campaign, Shares Heating Safety Tips
Captain Lee Edmonds was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the Henderson Fire Department’s annual smoke detector and battery inspection program along with winter heating safety tips.
The annual campaign kicked off at the beginning of this month and is expected to continue through early spring.
Started in 2009 after a Vance County family lost several of their children to a house fire, Edmonds said the door-to-door home inspection program is “a good opportunity to check houses and check smoke detectors to make sure everything is working properly.”
The inspection, which begins anew each November following Fire Prevention Month in October, is free of charge to City of Henderson residents. “We put new batteries in smoke detectors, replace old smoke detectors and install smoke detectors in places that did not previously have them,” said Edmonds.
For the month of November, Edmonds estimated that the department has visited approximately 950 homes and has been successful in inspecting just shy of 200. In a previous interview with WIZS, Edmonds stated that the fire department’s goal is to visit 6,000 homes per annual campaign.
“We aren’t able to get into all of the homes we visit because either people aren’t home or they say they regularly check their batteries and smoke detectors,” said Edmonds. “If they aren’t home, we leave a note on their door asking them to call us so we can come back out.”
In addition to homes, the department inspects downtown businesses annually and most other businesses on a three-year basis.
With the number of fire-related deaths in 2018 topping previous years, the Henderson Fire Department urges residents to check their detectors regularly and to allow fire department personnel inside their home during the annual door-to-door campaign.
Additional Safety Tips Courtesy of Captain Edmonds:
- Carbon monoxide detectors like the GasAlert Quattro are inexpensive and should always be used in homes that heat with a fuel source such as propane, kerosene or natural gas.
- Leave three feet of clearance around any type of heater – fireplace, electric heater or gas heater.
- Unplug electric heater when not in use and always plug directly into wall outlet. Never plug a heater into an extension cord. Extension cords are not rated for a heater and may overheat and cause a fire.
- Have heaters and furnaces serviced at least once, preferably twice, a year by a certified technician to ensure everything is in working order and to minimize safety hazards.
- During the holidays, make sure real Christmas trees are watered properly. Christmas lights will catch a dry tree on fire very quickly. Inspect light cords on all types of Christmas decorations and plug directly into wall outlet. Christmas lights should always be unplugged when you aren’t at home.
- Never attempt to leave the stove open as a means of heating your home.
- Families should have at least two escape routes mapped out in their home that everyone knows. An outside meeting place should also be discussed in case members of the family escape the home different ways. Make sure windows can be opened and aren’t painted or nailed shut.
With questions regarding your smoke detector, fire safety or to schedule a time for a free home inspection, please call the Henderson Fire Department at (252) 430-1877.
To listen to the interview in its entirety, please click here.
Arulappan Named Vance Co.Schools’ Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Selvaraj Arulappan, an Exceptional Children’s teacher at Vance County High School, was chosen as the Vance County Schools’ Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence for 2018-2019.
With his award, Arulappan represented our school system in the N.C. Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence Award competition at the state level and attended the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 68th Conference on Exceptional Children held in Greensboro November 15-16.
Selvaraj Arulappan, an Exceptional Children’s teacher at Vance County High School, was chosen as the Vance County School’s Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence for 2018-2019. (Photo Credit: Vance County Schools)
Arulappan has 13 years of experience as an educator and is a leader among his peers at Vance County High School. He received his master’s degree in special education from N.C. Central University.
He has a passion for working with students who are intellectually, physically and behaviorally challenged. He also is very successful in engaging and connecting with students.
He is a leader in the classroom and serves in multiple roles at Vance County High including on the Leadership Team, as a PBIS Committee member and a vocational rehabilitation counselor. He also collaborates with the music therapy and art staff to provide diverse experiences for his students. His colleagues describe him as caring, compassionate, supportive, proactive, dedicated and engaging.
“Mr. Arulappan has done such amazing work serving his students in preparation for transition into life after high school,” one colleague said.
Another colleague noted, “Mr. Arulappan stands out above others with his ability to engage and connect with students. He actively engages the parents in meeting the educational needs of their children.”
Several educators who work with him said that Arulappan goes beyond the call of duty to support his students and colleagues.
McGregor Hall to Present ‘Irish Christmas Dance Spectacular’ Dec. 20
-Information courtesy the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center website
McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will present “Carol of the King: The Irish Christmas Dance Spectacular” on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The show starts at 8 p.m. – doors open at 7 p.m.
Enjoy this Riverdance-style Christmas extravaganza! The 20-member dance troupe performs lightning fast hard-shoe rhythms and graceful soft-shoe jigs.
Tickets may be purchased by:
DROP IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m
CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)
CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Public Invited to Attend Christmas Musical at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist
-Information courtesy Angela Crawford, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church
You are invited to attend Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church’s Christmas Musical on Sunday, December 9, 2018, at 3 p.m. Musical guest will be Blessed Generation, Gospel Disciples, Jordan Chapel Gospel Choir and Souls of Calvary.
The public is cordially invited to attend. The church is located at 2464 Rock Mill Rd. in Henderson.