Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
Optimist Bowl Preview (THURSDAY GAME)
The annual Optimist Bowl is tonight with Southern Vance High School visiting Northern Vance High School for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Live analysis and play by play coverage begins on WIZS 1450 AM at 6:45. You can also listen by going to WIZS.com or with the free Tunein Radio App on your smartphone or tablet.
Jeff Jenkins announces the Grid Iron Report on Tuesdays and Fridays on WIZS. It’s part of “Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Scouting Report on Southern Vance from Jeff Jenkins:
Although their record stands at 0-2, The Raiders Offense has been effective from the beginning, scoring 22 against a strong Ravenscroft squad in their opener, and 48 against Webb last week, but without yet chalking up a win. Scoring on the ground and through the air has been pretty even. Against Ravenscroft, Southern quarterback Corey Twitty, Jr. passed for 2 TDs, both to Zamari Ellis; and Malik Boyd ran for the third score. Tyrese Henderson and Shammond Lyons both ran for 2 pt conversions. Twitty led all rushing with 105 yards (although 15 yards were called back on penalties) and Shammond Lyons ran for 94 yards (but had a 39 yard run called back).
Against Webb last week, Malik Boyd led the Raiders rushing with 159 yards on 13 carries and scored twice; Tyrese Henderson gained 100 yards and scored a TD and a 2 pt. conversion; and Lyons ran for a TD and a conversion. Twitty passed for 89 yards, including 2 touchdowns, both to Shammond Lyons. Then when Twitty was knocked out of the game early in the second half, Lyons took over at quarterback and threw a TD pass to Ellis in overtime. Lyons also attempted the essential 2 pt conversion run in overtime and was stopped short.
And so, the Raiders have scored a very respectable 35 points per game; but their defense has not been nearly as effective, allowing 46 per game.
Scouting Report on Northern Vance from Jeff Jenkins:
Thanks to the last altogether unfortunate contest with Warren County, The Vikings’ numbers are not as impressive as the Raiders. Northern Vance stands at 1-1, after Northern scoring 42 points against East Chapel Hill, and then 5 against Warren, giving them a modest 23 ½ point average – about the same as they had at the end of last season. On the other hand, the Viking defense was consistently excellent, chalking up shut-outs in both games. (Keep in mind that Warren County scored it’s 7 points against the Viking offense – on a fumble recovery and run-back).
Positive News in Vance County Schools Press Release
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON STATE TESTS, SCHOOL PERFORMANCE GRADES AND REPORTS THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE IN THE DISTRICT’S HISTORY
The state of North Carolina formally released accountability data from the 2015-2016 academic year today. The Vance County School System is pleased to report improvements on state assessments, the elimination of all schools designated with a school performance grade of an F, and of significant note; the highest graduation rate in the history of our school district.
On state assessments, Vance County Public School students’ improved on 100 percent of the end-of-grade subtests administered in grades 3-8. These results indicate that the district is significantly closing the gap between its students’ performances compared to students from across the state.
Improvements ranged from 0.4 percent in grade 7 mathematics to a high of 15.8 percent in grade 8 science. Of significant note is the 28 percent and 21 percent improvement in Math 1 (a high school course) at Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools, respectively. End-of-course data from our high schools continue to lag behind state averages and will require our continued focus and a deliberate plan of improvement.
School Performance Grades are determined by a formula which includes a school’s overall proficiency on state assessments and students’ growth.
Vance County Schools is further pleased to announce that during the 2015-2016 school year, 62 percent of the schools received a school performance grade (SPG) of A, B or C. We are extremely excited to announce the district’s first school to earn the school performance grade of “A” (Vance County Early College High School). No schools received a performance grade of “F”. This is the first time since the inception of SPG’s that we have reached this milestone. As a result, Vance County Schools no longer meets the states definition of a “low-performing” school district.
Schools earning a SPG of “B” are Aycock Elementary School and STEM Early High School. Schools earning a SPG of “C” are Carver, New Hope, Clarke, Dabney, Pinkston Street and Zeb Vance. Schools earning an SPG of “D” are Eaton-Johnson, Henderson, E.M. Rollins, E.O. Young Jr., L.B. Yancey, Northern Vance High and Southern Vance High. Western Vance High School is an alternative school and does not receive a School Performance Grade.
We are equally excited to report that the district’s four-year on-time graduation rate has improved by 4.4 percent from 77.5 percent to a record high of 81.9 percent. This represents the highest graduation rate in the history of our school system. This compared to the 85.8 percent graduation rate at the state level, represents the smallest gap between the district and the state in many years.
The Early College graduation rate was 100 percent, up from 89 percent the previous year. The cohort graduation rate in 2015-2016 increased at Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools. The graduation rate at Northern Vance rose to 83.4 percent from 77 percent and the graduation rate at Southern Vance increased to 82.5 percent from 81 percent. Western Vance High had a four-year cohort graduation rate of 90.5 percent.
State standards also measure student growth on state end-of-grade and end-of-course tests administered to students in grades 3-12. Among Vance County Schools in 2015-2016, there were nine schools that either exceeded or met expected growth standards.
“I am pleased with the progress that we are making,” said Dr. Anthony D. Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools. “It is clear that we are moving in the right direction. While we celebrate the accomplishments, it is important we remain focused on improving the quality of our school system, the rigor in our classrooms and the preparation of all students for the colleges or careers of their choice. There is much work to do.
“I want to thank and commend our teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria employees and all who support what happens daily in our classrooms for a job well done, the community for embracing our vision for a better school system and our parents for partnering with us to provide the best education possible for their children,” he added. “Our commitment remains to provide a system focused on Excellence…without Excuse! I am confident that our best days are ahead and that we will continue to make progress. As always, I am Vance County Schools Proud… and today, I hope you are as well.”
Dream of Vance Animal Shelter Coming True
If the weather cooperates, Vance County Animal Control staff as well as animals will begin to occupy the New Vance County Animal Shelter in a couple of weeks.
In an informal conversation, Chief Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles indicated to Susan Rose of WIZS News that the building would be in use in a couple of weeks.
Tanya Evans, office assistant, and Chris Vick, animal control officer, echoed those thoughts again today on behalf of Nobles. Evans said, “Weather-wise they have to be careful getting the parking lot and all that done. But they’re saying in the next two or three weeks we’ll be moved in.”
The massive amounts of rain this spring and summer slowed things down some, as it did for many construction projects.
The ground breaking was on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at the new Brodie Road location. You can read that entire article as it was previously posted on wizs.com – click here.
Vance County Woman Arrested and Charged with First Degree Murder
From the Office of Sheriff Peter White
On Friday, August 27th at approximately 12:40 p.m. deputies with the Vance County Sheriff’s Department received a call to 170 Bill Bragg-Morton Road in Vance County. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Terrance Leneil Williams, 33, of 871 Warrenton Road, had suffered an apparent gun shot wound.
After further investigation, Kedesha Shontrell Williams, 23, of 70 Pine Forest Drive, Henderson was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder. She is in the Vance County Detention Center awaiting an initial appearance in court. She has no bond.
Kedesha Williams is a close friend of Terrance Williams.
This investigation is ongoing and no other information can be released at this time.
Local Pop-Up Farmers Market Today
As Ardis Crews of Green Rural Redevelopment Organization explains, there is a local pop-up farmers market today (Friday) in downtown Henderson. The market is along Chestnut Street within sight of the library and the Henderson Police Department. It will continue from now through 4 p.m. In additional to fresh vegetables and flowers, there is a grill going with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and barbecue sandwiches.
Crews said, “The pop-up market in the downtown section is an idea which brings traffic to the downtown area. It also brings food to the downtown area. Today we have foods that come from our local farmers, and that’s what we will always use is local farmers. We have foods from people who are selling at the (Vance County Regional) farmers market. In the future, we will have farmers who have small farms and who are doing the food and who grow sustainably. We are very interested in food products and that food is available to everyone. We are excited about our Regional Farmers Market. However, for some of our citizens here in Henderson, it may not be convenient to get there. So the pop up market downtown will hopefully be a vehicle to solving that situation.”
The organization is approved for E-B-T as are several of the associated farmers. Green Rural Redevelopment Organization is also approved for “Double Bucks.” For example, if you buy $10 in E-B-T, then you can get another $10 in double bucks that can be spent on fresh vegetables.
The pop-up market is neither in competition with nor is it an extension of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, which operates just off Beckford Drive on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Crews said, “…we are working with. We can’t work without them. Pop up markets will never happen on days when (The Vance County Regional) Farmers Market is open, and we will always go to the people in Farmers Market to help us fill our tables. We also hope that the young farmers that come out to work with us will become members for (The Vance County Regional) Farmers Market so the Farmers Market will grow.”