Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

‘Vance Virtual’ Labs Officially Open in Vance County Middle, High School

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies at Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School on November 9 to officially open the schools’ “Vance Virtual” or “V2” laboratories.

The laboratories, located in the schools’ media centers, feature approximately 24 digital learning stations each for students to engage in interactive three-dimensional instruction using special computer software applications (like the ones found on this website)in a wide range of subject areas including science, health and geography.

The establishment of the laboratories is being made possible through a $400,000 grant awarded to the school system from the Golden Leaf Foundation. The grant was awarded during last school year and following the completion of construction work the laboratories are now open.

Vance County Board of Education member Ruth Hartness watches as Vance County Middle School students explain how they are using the zSpace digital student learning center and three-dimensional software application in the new Vance Virtual lab in their school. (Photo: VCS)

“Vance Virtual” has the largest number of zSpace digital learning stations of any school system on the East Coast of the United States and one of the largest deployments of the stations in the nation.

The zSpace STEM Learning Initiative represents a new direction for instructional delivery and academic outcomes for the students in Vance County. This initiative will systematically and intentionally embed the technical and essential skills into our instructional programs to ensure student readiness for the local, regional and global workforce.

The digital student-learning stations will be available for use by students in the middle school and high school, as well as the STEM Early High School.

Teachers will be trained on specific skills to utilize virtual reality technology in the delivery of their individual content areas. Wikis, blogs and an e-lesson repository will be constructed to allow teachers to share and collaborate as they train and implement new strategies.

Business and industry partners will engage with our Career and Technical Education program teachers to develop a functional profile of the worker needed to support their industry. These skills and attributes will be embedded in the core competencies and outcomes of each learning module. Students will have direct interaction with virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) software to enhance their level of knowledge, understanding and application of science, career and technology coursework.

Vance County High School students work with software applications on the zSpace learning centers in their school’s new Vance Virtual lab as the large digital screen on the wall follows their actions. (Photo: VGCC)

The school system received valuable support from the Vance County Board of Commissioners for the virtual reality project and the Golden Leaf Foundation grant funding.

“The launch of this project represents a seismic shift in the learning ecosystem of our school district,” said Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools. “This game-changing technology is cutting-edge and provides our students with real-world hands-on opportunities to engage collaboratively, think critically, communicate effectively and create authentically in a rigorous and challenging academic environment.

“Through our Vance Virtual Workforce Labs, we are confident that our students will leave us with the essential skills necessary to effectively navigate and compete in the local, regional and global workforce,” he continued. “This is yet another example of the academic ‘Vanceformation’ taking place in our schools and in our community. I am indeed Vance County Proud.”

“Students in Vance County Schools are ready to explore science, math and other content areas at a higher level of application in environments that are technology-based,” added Dr. Cindy Bennett, assistant superintendent for Student Services and Strategic Planning. “Vance Virtual labs will provide that opportunity with virtual and augmented reality experiences and investigations in an interactive learning environment. As educators, we continue to seek to bring the brick and mortar models of education into the 21st Century. Vance Virtual labs do just that and our students will investigate tomorrow TODAY!”

Maria Parham Health Encourages Community to Get Vaccinated

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

To minimize the spread of influenza this fall and winter, Maria Parham Health is encouraging all employees, medical personnel and community members to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, with any age-appropriate flu vaccine. If you are considering a nasal spray flu vaccine, it is important to know that this option is approved by the CDC for use in non-pregnant individuals, ages two through 49, and that there is a precaution against this option for those with certain underlying medical conditions.

“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from the flu this season and, in turn, protect your family and our community from illness,” said Jeana Testerman, director of infection control at Maria Parham Health. “Vaccinations significantly decrease the likelihood of catching the flu and help minimize symptoms if you do get sick. I highly recommend that every person gets vaccinated this season to help stay healthy this fall and winter and fight the spread of influenza throughout our community.”

The best ways to protect against the flu are to:

  • Get vaccinated and encourage your friends and family to do the same, especially those at greater risk for serious flu-related complications (children younger than five, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and those with certain chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart and lung diseases and more).
  • Practice good health habits. Avoid close contact with others; stay home when you are sick; practice good hand hygiene; cover your nose and mouth with a tissue; and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • If prescribed by a physician, take flu antiviral drugs.

In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients and to help prevent the spread of infection, Maria Parham Health also asks the community to be mindful when visiting friends and loved ones in the hospital. Specifically:

  • If you have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough or runny nose, please do not visit.
  • Remember to wash your hands before entering and exiting a patient’s room and after leaving the hospital.
  • If you are in the hospital for tests or procedures and have a flu-like illness (fever over 100 degrees with cough or sore throat), please ask for a mask. Most pharmacies have a kn95 mask for sale.

Maria Parham Health is committed to its mission of Making Communities Healthier by protecting patients, employees and volunteers, and limiting the spread of influenza in our community. For more information about the flu and effective prevention methods, visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

News 11/09/18

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McGregor Hall

‘Beauty and the Beast’ Discussion: ‘I Couldn’t Believe I Was Sitting in Henderson!’

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On Monday’s open line edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program, Town Talk co-hosts George Rush and John Charles Rose discussed McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center’s recent production of “Beauty and the Beast.”

With six shows performed over two weekends in October and November, the production drew a crowd of approximately 6,500 to the performance center. Additional promotions, such as Chick-fil-A’s “Crafts with Belle” night and the “Tea with Belle” event at McGregor Hall were also a hit, especially with the younger crowd.

The large cast of characters included former Miss North Carolina Victoria Huggins as Belle; Jonathan O’Geary as the Beast, Josh Glasscock as Cogsworth; Brian Westbrook as Lumiere; Jackson Hopper as LeFou, Shana Fisher as Mrs. Potts; Lilly Hicks and Eva Hopper sharing the role of Chip and even McGregor Hall’s own Technical Director Matt Nowell as the villain, Gaston.

The musical also included a full, live orchestra and professional costumes and sets provided by the National Broadway Tour.

“I went to ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ and I mean this in the most complimentary of ways, I couldn’t believe I was sitting in Henderson,” said Rose. “It was absolutely overwhelming to me to be present there and to be seeing and hearing what I was seeing and hearing.”

Rose explained that while McGregor Hall is a paid advertising client of WIZS, the sentiments expressed were entirely his own.

“Everyone in the show was out of this world in their performance. My absolute hats off to McGregor Hall, Breckenridge Commons, the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, Mark Hopper and everyone that was involved in the production,” said Rose.

Rose said that while he enjoyed watching the local talent, it was also encouraging to see actors participate from cities such as Raleigh and Durham. “That will help get the word out about McGregor Hall.”

“We have a destination here in McGregor Hall,” Rose said. “It goes beyond, in some aspects, DPAC or some of the other performing centers, because we have a lot less hassle here. Lines at restaurants are going to be shorter, food costs in Henderson are going to be less. We have a fantastic opportunity in Henderson and Vance County with this performing hall.”

To better understand McGregor Hall’s potential, the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation is currently in the planning phase with North Carolina State University to conduct a four-month economic impact study on the center.

Officials believe this study, set to begin in January, will serve the two-fold purpose of painting an accurate picture of the current impact of McGregor Hall on the Henderson/Vance County economy as well as establish ways to capitalize on that impact in the future.

Performances such as “Beauty and the Beast” bring in large crowds to not only McGregor Hall but also to restaurants, gas stations and other businesses, boosting the local economy.

And “Beauty and the Beast” is just the tip of the iceberg on the positive impact McGregor Hall has had since its grand opening in January of 2016.

Rose himself is a believer, “All of the things we heard about all of the years dating back, all of the positive things that we heard about our finally coming true!”

To hear Monday’s show in its entirety, please click here.

Vance Co. Animal Services Recipient of $10k Spay/Neuter Grant

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-Press Release, County of Vance

Vance County Animal Services is pleased to announce that they are a recipient of a $10,000 Spay/Neuter Grant from Community Partnership for Pets; received from Geo D. Patterson (GDP).

This grant was applied for and will be used for spay/neuter for pets of citizens in the community that do not qualify for the state-funded spay/neuter program.

These funds will help citizens in our community get their personal pets spayed/neutered to reduce the number of unwanted animals being born in the community. This will also reduce the number of animal intakes at the Vance County Animal Shelter.

– Frankie Nobles, Chief of Vance County Animal Services

Rebuilding Hope Names Dave Burns as November’s Volunteer of the Month

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-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc.

When Dave Burns retired, he wanted to stay busy. Volunteering at Rebuilding Hope was a good fit.

For the past three years, he’s volunteered to man the application and phone desk, run supplies to job sites during Servants on Site week, help build wheelchair ramps and guide youngsters during Kids’ Construction Camp.

Dave got involved with the ministry through fellow church members who volunteer at RHI.

“I also wanted to give back to the community and help others,” says Dave, a Huntington, West Virginia, native and avid Marshall University football fan. “The real joy is being able to help someone who has a need. That’s a real blessing.”

Dave Burns was named Rebuilding Hope, Inc. Volunteer of the Month for November 2018. (Photo Credit: RHI)

Dave, a Vance County resident, says that the most rewarding part of his work at RHI is “sharing Jesus with those who come in to fill out an application.”

He recalls a special experience when a widow came in to inquire about an application, and she was distraught over her husband’s passing. Sharing the love of Jesus with her, Dave encouraged her to reconnect with a church family. Dave says he explained to her how his church helped him when his wife, Donna, passed away in September 2017.

“And that’s why God had me there,” he says.

Dave retired in 2015 from Ardagh Glass Containers after 46 years where he was a journeyman mold maker. His employment took him to three locations – West Virginia, Illinois and finally to Henderson.

A member of Central Baptist Church, he serves in outreach in the community and with the church’s Joy Club ministry at Dabney Elementary School. He’s a deacon and has served on various committees.

Dave and Donna were married 51 years. They have a son and three grandchildren.

News 11/08/18

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Q&A With New Vance Co. Sheriff Curtis Brame, Candidates Simmons & Allen

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With approximately 53 percent of the votes cast in a higher than usual voter turnout, Curtis Brame was elected the next sheriff of Vance County Tuesday evening.

Brame, a Democratic candidate who ran against Melissa Elliott and Billy Gooch in the May primary, faced Republican Charles Pulley and unaffiliated candidate Allen Simmons in the general election. Final poll results indicated Brame received 7,517 votes, Pulley received 3,810 votes and Allen Simmons received 2,905 votes.

Each candidate was interviewed live on WIZS following the announcement that Brame won the election. Excerpts from those interviews are transcribed below:

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Interview with CURTIS BRAME – 

How are you feeling right now?

CB: “I’m great and I’m so excited! I feel good! What a night!”

“I’m with my family at my celebration gathering at Tiffany’s on Garnett St. and will report to the [Institute of Government] Chapel Hill this Sunday.”

What are you going to do first once you’re sworn in?

CB: “I’ll be a new administrator, so my focus will be on both the Sheriff’s Department and the jail.”

What is the first thing you said to your family tonight?

CB: “Yes! To God be the glory, yes!”

Did it feel like a long campaign or did it move along swiftly?

CB: “Being a Democratic candidate, it was a long campaign. I started this process back in October 2017 in preparation for the primary in May. After the primary, I took a couple of weeks off and then was right back preparing for the general election. It was a busy and continuous campaign.”

What made you decide to run for Sheriff?

CB: “Throughout my career, I came to the decision that I’d one day like to be sheriff of Vance County. I always said I would never run for sheriff as long as I was working, and if I ran it would be from a retired position.”

“In October of 2017, Sheriff Peter White told me that he was ‘going home’ and that he and his wife would support me if I ran for sheriff. In giving it to God and talking with my wife and family, that’s when I made the decision to run.”

What is your message for people who voted for the other candidates?

CB: “Whatever differences we have as candidates, we need to put those aside and move forward together as a team. Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve each and every citizen of Vance County equally.”

Sheriff White was the first African-American elected sheriff of Vance County. You are now the second. Does that distinction matter to you?

CB: “Yes, it matters to me. I always took a lot of pride in being a deputy sheriff. The history of the department was previously Caucasian and male. I’m the second African-American elected sheriff and I do take pride in that.”

Are you concerned about those who criticize you for running from a retired position?

CB: “Throughout the history of the department, the only person who was allowed to stay in their position [if they ran] was the incumbent. To run, I either had to resign or be fired. So, I retired with the intentions of running.”

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Interview with ALLEN SIMMONS

What is up next for Allen Simmons?

AS: “Right now, I want to take some time off, spend time with my family and see what direction God is having me go in. I don’t want to make any rushed decisions on which direction I’m going to take right now.”

Is there a possibility of you working for the Vance County Sheriff’s Department or Henderson Police Department?

AS: “Whatever I can do for Vance County. This is my home and I want what’s best for my home. I want to see my home move in a direction that’s positive for this community.”

What did you enjoy most about the campaign?

AS: “The most amazing thing I received out of this is the ability to grow even more. It has taught me to persevere through the obstacles life throws at you. Having my family, wife and kids with me gave me strength.”

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Interview with CHARLES PULLEY

What is up next for Charles Pulley?

CP: “I first want to congratulate Curtis [Brame] for winning the election. It was a clean campaign. We need to support Curtis 100% in this county; there are a lot of things that need to be done.”

“I also appreciate the people who came out and voted for me.”

Will we see Charles Pulley again in future political races?

CP: “You never know what the future holds – I’ll just leave it at that.”

Faith Dove

Donations & Volunteer Services Needed for ‘Thanksgiving Meal & a Prayer’ Event

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Grace Ministries of Henderson will hold their 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Meal and a Prayer event on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Rebuilding Hope, 414 Raleigh Rd. in Henderson.

They are asking for the public’s help in meeting their goal of serving at least 200 turkeys with sides and 3,000 total meals. Donation requests include turkeys, stuffing, gallon size cans of corn, string beans and sweet potatoes. The items may be dropped off at the GRACE Thrift Shop, 1501 Raleigh Rd. in Henderson. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

Volunteers are also needed, including cooks, servers, community delivery drivers and prayer warriors.

With questions, please call Bobby West at (252) 432-7124.

Reminder: H-V Chamber’s Annual Reverse Raffle This Saturday!

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce’s September/October newsletter

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Henderson Police Department (HPD) and the Vance County Sheriff ’s Department, are partnering again to host the third annual reverse raffle. Presenting Sponsor is Maria Parham Health.

This annual event benefits a program serving local underprivileged children called “Shop With a Cop” along with the Chamber of Commerce and its efforts to help local business. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 10 and will be held at Henderson Country Club beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and include dinner for two, a chance at the $5,000 grand prize and a dance at the completion of the raffle. Throughout the evening, guests will be given opportunities to bid on various silent auction items as well as two reserved tickets which will be auctioned toward the end of the ticket drawing. Three reserved tickets will also be raffled during the course of the evening.

The “Shop With a Cop” activity will take place in December at which time members of the HPD and Sheriff ’s Department will take local underprivileged children shopping with local retailers for Christmas. A certain dollar amount of the proceeds raised will be set aside for each participating child. There has been a great turnout for the past two years and we are expecting no less this year. “This fundraiser allows us to do a lot of good for the local community with the proceeds and the HPD and Sheriff ’s office are always anxious to do what we can to help local children”, said Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

There are still opportunities for local businesses to donate silent auction items. If you or your business would like to purchase tickets, donate items or get more information, contact the HPD, Vance County Sheriff ’s Department or the Chamber office at 252-438-8414.