Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
Henderson Man Arrested on Federal Gun Charges
Press Release- Wednesday, April 13, 2016
On Wednesday, April 13, 2016, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit arrested a Henderson man on federal gun charges. William L. Ormond III, 28, 828 State Street, Henderson has been indicated by a federal grand jury on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Ormond, who was awaiting trial on state charges was taken into custody at the Vance County Jail and transported to Raleigh for a hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Ormond remains in the custody of the United States Marshall Service.
This arrest is the latest in an ongoing investigation into drug and gun crimes in the Henderson and Vance County area. The investigation was handled by the Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow
Clarke Elementary Students Publish Book #VANCECoProud
Members of the third-grade class of Sara Ireland at Clarke Elementary School have had a book published featuring their writings and illustrations.
Ireland’s students studied for a few weeks about outer space and our solar system. She used her students’ studies as the basis for the book entitled, “If I Were An Astronaut That Landed On . . .,” with each student selecting a planet, real or imaginary, they would like to visit.
The results were 20 different stories, each with illustrations, written by the students in the class. The book has brightly colored drawings that correspond with each student’s story. The stories are handwritten on the book’s pages, with the student author’s name on the bottom on each page.
Ireland said her students voted on what drawing to place on the book’s cover. The students whose art work is on the cover are Jasir Gamble and Kendall West. The illustration on the title page of the book was done by Xya’Riaha Best and Jaylen Jones, also voted on by class members. A different illustration is on the dedication page and was done by Mariana Hernandez-Ancona and Jaylen Jones.
All of the illustrations feature planets surrounded by the darkness of space and lots of stars. Many of the illustrations with the stories depict what the students believe their selected planets would look like.
Ireland said her students worked on their stories and illustrations for several weeks in writing, reading and science classes. They had to choose their topic, do research on it and create several drafts before the final draft for publication. The book was published through the company Schoolmate. Each student received a certificate as a “published author” and a bookmark. Students and their families could purchase a copy of the book for $20. Several students did purchase copies and the school received a copy to be placed in the media center.
Students who had their works published include: Alexia Alvarado, Xya’Riah Best, Jasmin Bullock, Ke’Mya Campbell, Jarett Diaz-Guzman, Iratze Duran-Ruiz, Shaniya Everett, Jasir Gamble, Alysia Harris, Barry Henderson, Kristopher Herbster, Mariana Hernandez-Ancona, Awnya Johnson, Jaylen Jones, Fabiola Lopez-Villa, Jose Rivera, Makala Roberson, Aviana Terry, Kendall West and Danielle Wilson.
“The students were so excited when we received copies of the book,” Ireland said. “They are amazed now that they can see their work published in a book. The whole experience was very positive. They’re really proud of their work and the finished product.”
Principal Crystal Richardson is shown in the cover photo as she reads one of the stories in the book.
(VCS Press Release)
Superintendent Jackson Implementing Innovation #VANCECoProud
New school superintendent Dr. Anthony D. Jackson has hit the ground running with many new and innovative ideas in the works for Vance County Schools. These ideas put into motion will focus on ensuring that all children receive the absolute best education they can receive while attending the Vance County Public School System. Two major ideas involve safety and instructional changes at schools.
As a top priority, the system will focus on improving safety in all of our schools. Beginning next school year, all schools will be equipped with state-of-the art access control equipment at the main entrance. This will require all school visitors to show ID, and to state their business, prior to being allowed in. Additionally, for the first time, state certified School Resource Officers (SRO’s) will be assigned to each of the middle and high schools in the system.
The district is also launching an alternative program for students who have had disciplinary problems or not met success in the regular school program. The focus of the program is to support students as they work to develop the skills needed to return to their regular learning environment. Dr. Jackson believes that students who misbehave should face consequences for their actions but should still be afforded the opportunity to continue their academic progress while working to address the reasons they were suspended from their school in the first place.
Dr. Jackson said, “We don’t want kids to go home and just sit around. This doesn’t correct or even come close to addressing what caused them to be sent home in the first place. We want the issues to be addressed and we want students to learn from the consequence, so that they may return to school a better student and hopefully a better person. We want them to grow as individuals.”
To support parents, the district is also planning to open a Parent Support Center this fall. The Parent Support Center will serve as a central place for parents to support one another with resources and training to help them navigate the school experience. A special feature of the Parent Support Center will be parent training. This training – Parenting Partners – will be delivered by other parents going through the training. It is designed to help parents develop the skills and access the tools to best help their children.
Dr. Jackson is also a big advocate of the arts. Jackson said, “I was surprised to find that we were not offering music and art in all of our elementary schools.” As a passionate believer in the power of the arts, Jackson understands that in order for students to realize the importance of music, art, and theatre they must be exposed to these art forms as early as possible.
He promised parents that “music and art will be offered in all elementary schools next year, and in all middle and high schools the following year.” He also hopes eventually to incorporate drama into that equation. He said, “McGregor Hall in Downtown Henderson is a great asset to the community and our children. We have a responsibility to begin building the next generation of lovers and patrons of the arts to sustain and keep this community treasure alive and viable”.
When asked what the greatest challenges for our school system are, Dr. Jackson said he felt that mindset is the biggest obstacle. Three major mindset obstacles are “getting people to really believe that we can change, celebrating what we’re already doing well, and coming to consensus on what needs to be done to make positive change happen.”
Dr. Jackson comes from a background of 28 years as an educator. He started his career as a teacher in Wake County teaching vocal music at Enloe High School and Sanderson High School. He was an assistant principal at Sanderson High School and Leesville Road High School before becoming the principal at Durham High in Durham, NC, Mt. Vernon Middle School and Glen Lea Elementary School in Richmond, VA followed by serving as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School in Washington, DC.
He served in several senior leadership positions at the district level prior to being selected as the superintendent of the Henry County Public Schools in Martinsville, VA. Dr. Jackson also served as superintendent of the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools in Rocky Mount for four years prior to coming to Vance County this past August. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from N.C. Central University and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Jackson feels that his greatest strengths lie in implementing innovation to support student learning and challenging the status quo to improve systems and outcomes.
Staff Writer for WIZS
Wendy’s of Henderson to Close: Remodel
Not to worry, the Wendy’s in Henderson will be back in the burger business in a few months.
Wendy’s will re-open its completely renovated restaurant at 1516 Dabney Drive in June if all goes well. The Henderson restaurant will be Tar Heel Capital Wendy’s, twentieth location to re-open with this new design in the Carolina’s.
This restaurant features an innovative interior and exterior design that is very different from what Wendy’s customers are familiar with. This restaurant design is part of a comprehensive brand transformation to reinvent the Wendy’s restaurant environment – from food innovations, to building design and even new packaging.
This contemporary building features large windows and an open, bright dining room with available seating at booths, tables, lounge style seating, and even a Wi-Fi bar. When you come into the restaurant you will see there is a new ordering process, Flat Screen TV’s, a fireplace, Coca-Cola Freestyle self-serve soda machine, which is very different from the basic seating and interior of the prior building.
One of Wendy’s core values, created 40 years ago by our founder Dave Thomas, is “Quality is our Recipe,” we feel that this core value is represented by our new restaurant design, and evidenced by the launch of several innovative items, such as the 4 for $4 meal deal and the recent Jalapeno Fresco Spicy Chicken sandwich with Ghost Pepper Fries. These brand enhancements are exciting to us and we look forward to sharing these with our guests from the Henderson area.
About Wendy’s
The Wendy’s Company is the world’s third largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy’s system includes more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the United States and 27 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. The Wendy’s in Henderson is owned and operated by Tar Heel Capital Corporation, a 72 unit Wendy’s Franchise with restaurants throughout the Carolina’s.
(This Press Release was used with Permission by Tar Heel Capital)