Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

Vance Co. Criminal Superior Trial Court Returns Guilty Verdicts

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-Press Release, Office of District Attorney Michael D. Waters

Henderson, NC – A session of Vance County Criminal Superior Trial Court was held during the week of June 11, 2018. The Honorable Henry W. Hight, Jr, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, presided over the session. The District Attorney’s Office was represented by District Attorney Michael D. Waters and Assistant District Attorneys Melissa D. Pelfrey, Nicole G. Louis and David J. Erdmann. In addition to one jury trial, several pleas were taken during the week-long session.

The case involving the 2007 murder of Leo Ziegler and the attempted murder of Shirley Venable was called for trial Tuesday morning. A Vance County Jury returned guilty verdicts against Rodney Williams Wednesday afternoon. Rodney Williams was sentenced to 480 to 585 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC), for Attempted Murder and Life without parole in DAC for the First Degree Murder. The defendant was represented by Larry Norman. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Rashawn Williams pleaded guilty to First Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and was sentenced to 60 to 132 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Nathan Baskerville. The case was investigated by the Henderson Police Department.

Akeem Alston pleaded guilty to two counts of Possession with Intent to Sell/ Deliver Heroin and was sentenced to 8 to 19 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Jerry Stainback. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Altarik Alston pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance on jail property and was sentenced to 9 to 20 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Jerry Stainback. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Shaqiel Clark remanded a DWI conviction, accepting a 30-day active sentence suspended for 12 months of unsupervised probation. The defendant was represented by Scott Hamilton. The case was charged by the NC State Highway Patrol.

Germar Dunston pleaded guilty to possession of 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces of marijuana, and was sentenced to 120 days active, suspended for 18 months of supervised probation. The defendant was represented by Scott Hamilton. The case was charged by NC ALE.

Samantha Huggins pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule I controlled substance and was sentenced to 6 to 17 months in DAC. The defendant was represented by Deborah Leigh Holtzmann. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Timothy Lynch pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced to 12 months in DAC. The Defendant was represented by Mike Rogers. The case was charged by the NC State Highway Patrol.

Travevon Fogg pleaded guilty to Obtaining Property by False Pretense. He was sentenced to 17 months active, which was suspended for 36 months of supervised probation. The defendant was represented by David Waters. The case was investigated by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Vance Co. School System Honors Retirees

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Vance County Schools district officials, school administrators, educators and family and friends honored 36 outstanding associates who are retiring from their positions with the school system during the Annual Retirement Banquet held on Wednesday, June 13, in McGregor Hall Gallery in downtown Henderson.

Each of the honorees were presented with gifts from the school system by Darlynn Oxendine, chairwoman of the Vance County Board of Education, and Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools.

Dr. Trixie Brooks, assistant superintendent for Instructional Services, was the event’s featured speaker. She praised each of the retiring educators and encouraged all of them to enjoy their retirement after giving so much of their time and talents to local students and colleagues during their careers with Vance County Schools.

Vivian Bullock, who retired from the school system in 2017, provided a very inspirational message from a retiree’s perspective for all of those being recognized. She spelled out 12 priorities that each of them should follow as they enter retirement. Her advice especially focused on being sure they have lots of leisurely time for themselves and quality time with their families.

Vance County Schools district officials, school administrators, educators and family and friends honored 36 outstanding associates who are retiring from their positions with the school system during the Annual Retirement Banquet held on Wednesday, June 13, in McGregor Hall Gallery in downtown Henderson. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

Rachel Bradshaw, music teacher at New Hope and Carver elementary schools, sang and played several musical selections on keyboards during the evening. The Rev. David Pate, pastor of Tabernacle United Methodist Church, provided the invocation for the evening.

Superintendent Anthony Jackson gave closing remarks and he thanked each of the retirees for their service with the school system and wished them all the very best for their futures.

The retirees held a wide range of positions with the school system including, teachers, school administrators, administrative assistants, teacher assistants, counselors, school nurses, maintenance personnel, custodians, bookkeepers, data managers, school nutrition personnel and media specialists.

Those retiring and honored were Consuelo Allen of L.B. Yancey Elementary School; April Andrews of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Diane Averett of Carver Elementary School; Sharon Bawcum, administrative assistant to the superintendent; Debora Blackwell of Clarke Elementary School; Paula Boston of Early College High School; Rebecca Burns of Henderson Middle School; Dr. Priscilla Chavis-Lockley of Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Annette Cobb of Northern Vance High School; Cheryl Coplin of Henderson Middle School; Kathy Faulkner of Aycock Elementary School; James Faulkner of Maintenance; Marie Fields of New Hope Elementary School; Willie Fuller of Northern Vance High School; Elizabeth Gremmels of Southern Vance High School; Linda Grissom of Henderson Middle School; Patricia Hight of Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Andrew Hill of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Pam Jackson of New Hope Elementary School; Manuel Jeffers of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Shirley Jefferson of Northern Vance High School; Sylvia Jefferson of New Hope Elementary School; Constance Johnson of Northern Vance High School; Agnes Jover of Northern Vance High School; Joseph McMahon of Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Nancy Paynter of Zeb Vance Elementary School; Ruth Reid of Pinkston Street Elementary School; Carol Shockley of Dabney Elementary School; Patricia Twisdale of Dabney Elementary School; Jan Vaughan of Aycock Elementary School; Marjorie Watkins of Northern Vance High School; Bonita Williams of Clarke Elementary School; Phyllis Williams of Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Robin Wilson of New Hope Elementary School; Ruth Wilson of Career and Technical Education; and Ian Willis of STEM Early High School.

Those attending the event are shown in the accompanying photo.

8th Annual Henderson Kiwanis’ KLCC Golf Tournament, Sat. June 16

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Ron Rubin, tournament director for the 8th Annual Henderson Kiwanis Club Golf Tournament, was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk program to provide a history of the organization and its mission and inform listeners of tournament details.

This year’s tournament will feature a four-person superball format and will be held on Saturday, June 16 at Kerr Lake Country Club in Henderson.

Cost is $50 per person or $200 per four-person team and includes green fee, cart and lunch. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. Fees may be paid at the tournament.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. with a shotgun start to begin play at 1 p.m.

Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place, $400 and $300 respectively. Hole in one prizes will be awarded, including the chance to win a new automobile courtesy of Advantage Ford Lincoln of Henderson.

Various other door prizes will be awarded and chances to enter a 50/50 raffle will be available.

The Henderson Kiwanis Club, which formed 66 years ago in 1952, is part of a global organization of over 600,000 members in 80 countries.

The motto of Kiwanis International is “Serving the children of the world” and, according to Rubin, the civic organization “empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children through local service projects and fundraising.”

The annual golf tournament, one of the local chapter’s larger fundraisers, helps the youth of Vance County, specifically. “Every penny we make goes back to kids in our community,” said Rubin.

For more information about the golf tournament or the Kiwanis Club, please call Rubin at (919) 810-2950.

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Free Fireworks at Fox Pond Park, Sun., July 1

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-Information courtesy Sandra C. Wilkerson, Director of Admin and Events, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

Free fireworks will light up the night at Fox Pond Park, 467 Vicksboro Rd., Henderson, on Sunday, July 1, 2018, at 9 p.m.

Fox Pond Park will close at 7 p.m. on the evening of July 1 for normal operations. No parking will be allowed at Fox Pond Park. Visitors may park at the Aycock Recreation Center or the Vance County Fairground for shuttle service to the Park. Shuttling will begin at 7 p.m.

For more information, please contact Tara Goolsby at (252) 438-3948 or email tgoolsby@ci.henderson.nc.us

Fireworks sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Crosson Named Principal of Pinkston Street Elementary

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Congratulations to Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor Crosson, who has been appointed as the new principal of Pinkston Elementary School.

Dr. Crosson most recently served as the assistant principal for Pinkston Street and L.B. Yancey elementary schools. She has over 20 years of experience in education with Vance County Schools.

She succeeds Heddie Somerville, who was named the new principal for Vance County Middle School for 2018-2019.

Dr. Jacqueline Batchelor Crosson is shown at right as she joins Superintendent Anthony Jackson in announcing her new appointment to Pinkston Street Elementary School staff members. (Photo courtesy Vance County Schools)

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Henderson Rec. Players to Perform “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

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-Information courtesy Crystal G. Allen, Henderson-Vance Recreation Program Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

Get your tickets now for the Henderson Rec. Players’ summer production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Based on the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, this uplifting and energetic musical is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2018 with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Under the local direction of Jo Ellen Nowell and Mark Hopper, “Joseph” will feature a large cast of all ages. Jonathan O’Geary will serve as choreographer for the production.

Performances will be held at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center on:

Friday, July 6 @ 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 7 @ 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 8 @ 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 15 @ 2 p.m.

Tickets are available for $15 at the McGregor Hall Box Office, 201 Breckenridge St. in Henderson, by calling (252) 598-0662 or visiting www.mcgregorhall.org.

For more information, please contact Crystal Allen at (252) 431-6091 or email callen@ci.henderson.nc.us

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Henderson Police Department

Henderson Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Felon in Possession of Firearm Charges

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today, LAJOHN CHAMPION, 28, of Henderson, North Carolina was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III to 36 months imprisonment followed by 3 years’ supervised release.

CHAMPION was named in an Indictment on November 29, 2017. On March 5, 2018, CHAMPION pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

On November 17, 2017, members of the Henderson Police Department received information that CHAMPION, a previously convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm and operating a vehicle located at a gas station in Henderson.

Officers responded to the A & A Food Mart in Henderson and observed CHAMPION driving a Honda Accord. Officers, knowing CHAMPION did not possess a valid driver’s license, conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle as it turned into the driveway of a residence in Henderson. As the vehicle came to a stop, CHAMPION fled from the driver’s seat of the vehicle carrying a book bag. Officers pursued CHAMPION and, after searching the area, located CHAMPION coming out of a wooded area. CHAMPION was no longer in possession of a book bag.

In response to the foot chase, a K9 unit responded to the scene and located the book bag near a nearby residence. A search of the book bag revealed a loaded 9mm pistol. CHAMPION was arrested and transported to the Henderson Police Department. CHAMPION acknowledged the firearm belonged to him.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

In support of PSN, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the Take Back North Carolina Initiative. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette prosecuted this case.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter @USAO_EDNC.

News 06/14/18

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City of Henderson Logo

Henderson City Council Adopts FY 2018-19 Budget

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Without further ado, the Henderson City Council adopted the proposed FY 2018-19 budget at their Monday, June 11, 2018, meeting.

After hearing a brief summary of the overall budget from City Manager Frank Frazier, who thanked council members for the meetings and work sessions that were held to get to that point in the budget process, the approximately $44 million budget was approved.

Frazier said he felt encouraged about the budget thanks, in part, to an increase in the amount of sales tax collected this past fiscal year. “We were slightly ahead of projections,” Frazier reported. “Whereas some projections by different agencies increased that [collection rate] to 4%, we used a more conservative approach at 2%.”

Frazier also reported an increase in the personal/real property tax collection rate as performed by the Vance County Tax Office. “This collection helped increase our revenue projections for the upcoming year and staff worked hard over the last several years in becoming a safer workforce and obtaining a better worker’s comp rate,” said Frazier.

The increase in tax collection has also helped to offset the less than 1% lower personal property value from the previous fiscal year.

Budgeted funds for the final phase in a five-year pay class study allows for a 5% pay increase for City employees effective August 9, 2018. According to Frazier, “This helps us to reduce our turnover rate and also helps us compete with our neighboring jurisdictions.”

As previously reported to WIZS by Henderson City Councilman Garry Daeke, the turnover rate for City of Henderson employees has dropped from 20% to 5% since the implementation of the five-year study.

This year’s budget was approved with no tax rate increase, keeping the rate steady at approximately 71 cents per $100 of property value. Sanitary sewer and sanitation rates also remain unchanged.

A 5% water rate increase was approved, which will allow for the completion of several infrastructure projects with streets, water and sewer as well as equipment purchases.

As Frazier stated in previous budget documentation “Whereas not all needs are met, as in most budgets, I believe this budget represents further positive steps in areas not funded previously, which will help the City continue to grow and reach its full potential again.”

NCDOT Seeks Public Comment on Transportation Projects

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WIZS Note: The Division 5 meeting, including Durham, Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties will be held Tuesday, June 19, 2018, from 4 – 6 p.m. at the NCDOT Division 5 Office, 2612 N. Duke St., Durham.

-Press Release, NCDOT

RALEIGH – Starting June 4, North Carolinians are invited to express their opinions about which regional and local transportation projects should be top priorities in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – a 10-year plan that identifies funding for projects and schedules them for construction.

The N.C. Department of Transportation combines data and local input to determine which projects will get built, using a formula established in the Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) law to focus funding on projects that will reduce congestion, improve safety and promote economic growth.

During a public comment period that runs from June 4 through July 9, NCDOT will collect feedback from citizens who express their views at public meetings, online, by phone or in writing.

Public Meetings

NCDOT’s 14 local transportation divisions will host informal meetings to present proposed projects and to receive public comment. The first meetings are Monday, June 4, in Winston-Salem (Division 9) and Thursday, June 7, in Aberdeen (Division 8).  See below for the schedules and locations of all the public meetings.

At each meeting, citizens are invited to stop in and provide input on how the division plans to rank its project priorities. Please note that these meetings are not for maintenance projects, such as patching potholes, resurfacing roads or improving ditches.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for anyone with disabilities who wants to participate in the public meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lauren Putnam, Public Involvement Officer, at 919-707-6072 or by email at lnputnam1@ncdot.gov as early as possible so that these arrangements can be made.

Other Ways to Participate

In addition to the public meetings, NCDOT is offering other options for citizens to provide input starting Monday, June 4, through the STI website (ncdot.gov/sti).  Citizens can complete a short, interactive survey to identify priority projects, or send a message to their local division planning engineer.

The online survey features an interactive state map with the proposed projects up for funding.  Citizens can review project information and provide feedback on which projects they think are important.

The STI website provides the phone numbers and postal addresses of local division planning engineers, for citizens who want to comment on transportation projects by telephone or mail.

In April, NCDOT released data scores for more than 2,100 transportation improvement projects across the state, in the first round of an evaluation process to determine which projects will be scheduled for construction.  Also in April, NCDOT identified 77 high-scoring Statewide Mobility projects that will be programmed for funding over the next decade.

Next Steps

After the comment period ends on July 9, NCDOT will combine the data scores and local input to produce the total project scores. A draft list of the top-scoring Regional Impact projects is scheduled for release in August. A similar process for local input will take place in the fall for local Division Needs projects.

Once all project scores are finalized, the top-scoring projects will be programmed for construction based on available funding. Other factors may determine whether a project ultimately moves to construction, including the completion of environmental and engineering plans, corridor spending limits prescribed by law, and other federal and state funding restrictions.

This information will be used to create the next STIP for the years 2020-2029. NCDOT will release a draft STIP for public comment in January 2019. The final 2020-2029 STIP is expected to be adopted by the N.C. Board of Transportation in June 2019.

The STI law, enacted in 2013, established a data-driven process that allows NCDOT to invest transportation dollars more efficiently and effectively.  NCDOT updates the STIP approximately every two years to ensure that it accurately reflects the state’s current financial situation.

Meeting Dates and Locations

  • JUNE 14, 5-7 P.M. – EDENTON
    (DIVISION 1: Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Bertie, Hertford, Northampton, Chowan, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties)
    NCDOT Division 1 Office
    113 Airport Drive
    Edenton, N.C.  27932
  • JUNE 12, 4-6 P.M. – KINSTON
    (DIVISION 2: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Pamlico and Pitt counties)
    NCDOT Division 2 Office
    2815 Rouse Road Ext.
    Kinston, N.C. 28504
  • JUNE 12, 5-7 P.M. – CASTLE HAYNE
    (DIVISION 3: Brunswick, Duplin, Onslow, New Hanover, Pender and Sampson counties)
    NCDOT Division 3 Office
    5501 Barbados Blvd.
    Castle Hayne, N.C. 28429
  • JUNE 12, 5-7 P.M. – WILSON
    (DIVISION 4: Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties)
    NCDOT Division 4 Office
    509 Ward Blvd.
    Wilson, N.C.  27895
  • JUNE 19, 4-6 P.M. – DURHAM
    (DIVISION 5: Durham, Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties)
    NCDOT Division 5 Office
    2612 N. Duke St.
    Durham, N.C. 27704
  • JUNE 18, 5-7 P.M. – FAYETTEVILLE
    (DIVISION 6: Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett and Robeson counties)
    NCDOT Division 6 Office
    558 Gillespie St.
    Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
  • JUNE 11, 5-7 P.M. – GREENSBORO
    (DIVISION 7: Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Orange and Rockingham counties)
    NCDOT Division 7 Office
    1584 Yanceyville St.
    Greensboro, N.C.  27415
  • JUNE 7, 5-7 P.M. – ABERDEEN
    (DIVISION 8: Chatham, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond and Scotland counties)
    NCDOT Division 8 Conference Room
    902 N. Sandhills Blvd.
    Aberdeen, N.C. 28315
  • JUNE 4, 4-6 P.M. – WINSTON-SALEM
    (DIVISION 9: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rowan and Stokes counties)
    NCDOT Division 9
    Conference Room
    375 Silas Creek Parkway
    Winston-Salem, N.C.  27127
  • JUNE 19, 5-7 P.M. – ALBEMARLE
    (DIVISION 10: Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Stanly and Union counties)
    Stanly County Commissioners Meeting Room
    1000 N. First St.
    Albemarle, N.C. 28001
  • JUNE 11, 4-6 P.M. – NORTH WILKESBORO
    (DIVISION 11: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin counties)
    NCDOT Division 11 Office
    802 Statesville Road
    N. Wilkesboro, N.C.  28659
  • JUNE 25, 5-7 P.M. – MAIDEN
    (DIVISION 12: Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell and Lincoln counties)
    Maiden Town Hall
    19 N. Main Ave.
    Maiden, N.C. 28650
  • JUNE 14, 5-7 P.M. – BLACK MOUNTAIN
    (DIVISION 13: Buncombe, Burke, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey counties)
    Lake Tomahawk Park
    Lakeview Clubhouse
    401 Laurel Circle Drive
    Black Mountain, N.C.  28711
  • JUNE 11, 5-7 P.M. – HAYESVILLE & JUNE 12, 5-7 P.M. – MILLS RIVER
    (DIVISION 14: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Swain and Transylvania counties)
    June 11:     Hayesville First United Methodist Church
    989 U.S. 64 Business
    Hayesville, N.C. 28904