Tag Archive for: #localnews

Vehicle B&E Reported at Time Warner Cable in Downtown Henderson

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On November 28, 2016 at approximately 10:00 AM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to 215 Young St, Henderson (Time Warner Cable) in reference to a vehicle breaking and entering. Upon arrival, officers spoke with an employee who stated that sometime during the weekend someone broke into and entered one of their company vehicles (2008 Ford Escape). The reporting party advised that nothing appeared to have been taken.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation endows new VGCC Scholarship

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The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation recently endowed a new scholarship specifically designed to support Vance-Granville Community College Nursing students who are enrolled in a new program to complete bachelor’s degrees.

In awarding the “Triangle North Healthcare Foundation RIBN Academic Achievement Award” scholarship, preference will be given to students in the “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN) program. RIBN students are simultaneously enrolled at the community college and North Carolina A&T State University. They earn associate’s degrees in nursing through VGCC over three years (while also taking A&T courses online) and then continue for one year of additional courses at A&T required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Val Short, the executive director of the foundation, and Dr. Roddy Drake, chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, visited the college to present contributions to the VGCC Endowment Fund. The new endowment marks a continuation of the partnership between the college and the foundation, which has already created a scholarship for students in VGCC Health Sciences programs.

“As part of our mission of service to the region, we are pleased to be able to provide a second scholarship,” Short said. “Education is something that we value, especially the education of our future health care professionals.”

Both Short and Drake noted that higher education is important to the foundation in general, beyond its benefits for workforce development. “Additional education is associated with improved health for people in our region, because having education beyond high school moves people out of poverty,” said Drake, a retired public health director. “Education and the economy directly influence health outcomes.”

Short added that the foundation was particularly interested in supporting the RIBN program. “This is a great opportunity for students in our area to be able to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave their home community for four years,” she said. “In addition, having a bachelor’s degree provides more opportunities for nurses to grow professionally and have more career options, so we are glad to be part of such a partnership.”

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a regional grant-making organization that was established in 2011 as the successor to the Maria Parham Healthcare Foundation. The foundation focuses on Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, which also constitute the college’s service area. Its mission is to encourage, support, and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North region.

“We are grateful to the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation for partnering with our college to further enhance the RIBN program,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, VGCC’s president. “This scholarship will be a new source of support that will help outstanding Nursing students to achieve professional and personal success.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,500 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

Oxford Prep to Hold Open House and Shadow Days

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Open House on Tuesday 12/6 for Prospective New Families

Oxford Preparatory School invites families of prospective students to learn more about the unique offerings of the school. Information sessions will be held at 6:00. Afterwards, tours will be conducted that will allow the opportunity to meet faculty and students.

Open House Dates:

– Tuesday 12/6/16
– Thursday 1/19/17

Student Shadow Days

Oxford Preparatory School invites prospective students to spend time visiting the school so they can experience our unique school program firsthand. Visiting students accompany OPS student guides through their classes during a four-hour visit. It’s a chance to meet the staff and the students and to get a snapshot view of our engaging college preparatory classes. Shadow days take place on the following schedule.

Shadow Days:

– Friday 12/16/16 from 11:10 – 3:10
– Friday 1/20/17 from 11:10 – 3:10

Please call the Oxford Preparatory School office at (919)690-0360, or email our Office Manager, Kate Reetz at Reetzk@oxfordprep.org to make an appointment.

Community Partners of Hope in Urgent Need of Help

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We are in desperate need of volunteers for overnight supervision (9:00 p.m. through 6:30 a.m.). We have 6 peaceful men and we do not want to put them out on the street.

Please contact me if you can step up for any of the dates below or if you can help during December.

Jane King – (252)432-9494

Saturday, 11/19 – tomorrow!
Tuesday through Saturday 11/22-11/26 – next week.

Community Partners of Hope helps homeless men with their immediate need for food, a warm safe place to sleep, and access to shower and toilet facilities for the night. At this time we run a temporary emergency shelter only but expect to expand our services as we grow.
We also try to help men in need to find help to change their circumstances by referrals to the right training, rehabilitation, and support organizations.

VGCC SkillsUSA students donate bottled water to hurricane victims

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Criminal Justice Technology students at Vance-Granville Community College recently conducted a bottled water drive through the college chapter of SkillsUSA. The service project was designed to assist fellow North Carolinians who suffered shortages of clean water as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

VGCC students worked in partnership with the Henderson Police Department, which was collecting bottled water along with several other local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. HPD officers picked up the 47 donated cases of water from the students on Nov. 3.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. Founded in 1965 as V.I.C.A. (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), SkillsUSA has served more than 12 million members in its history. Today, the organization has more than 360,000 students and instructors as members nationwide.

The SkillsUSA chapter provides VGCC students with opportunities for leadership, professional development, community service and social activities. Students in a number of different curriculum programs at VGCC are eligible to join.

For more information on the VGCC Criminal Justice program, contact program head William Clements at clementsw@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3242.

HPD and VCSO offer Gun Buy Back Program

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Our local law enforcement’s “Gun Buy Back Program” asks you to anonymously surrender unwanted and illegal firearms with “No Questions Asked” and receive a Visa gift card in return. Assault weapons will receive a $150.00 Visa prepaid gift card and handguns will receive a $100.00 Visa prepaid gift card. Rifles and shotguns will receive a $75.00 Visa prepaid gift card.

The “Gun Buy Back Program” will take place on Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at two locations:

Gang Free Inc. located at 940 County Home Road, Henderson, NC 27536

Kittrell Volunteer Fire Department located at 54 W. Main Street Kittrell, NC 27544

 

Vehicle Procedure

The following procedure MUST be followed in order to receive a gift card:

  • Place the unloaded gun inside your trunk, truck bed, or cargo area before leaving your home. Gun must be brought to the site unloaded.
    • Approach the location. Signs will be posted for directions to enter the facility’s driveway.
    • Officers will direct you to the designated area.
    • Please remain in your vehicle at all times. An officer will remove the gun. (If you cannot remotely open the trunk or rear hatch from the driver’s seat, you must hand the officer the key.)
    • After the gun is determined to be a working firearm, a gift card will be given – “No Questions Asked”

Walk-up Procedure

  • Place the unloaded gun inside a bag you can carry before leaving your home. Gun must be brought to the site unloaded.
    • Approach the designated location. Signs will be posted directing you to remain in mthe designated area until approached by an officer.
    • Officers will provide you with directions to follow.
    • After the gun is determined to be a working firearm, a gift card will be given – “No Questions Asked”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Gun Buyback Program?
The gun buyback program is a proactive campaign to take guns off our streets. The buyback program asks residents to turn in their gun(s) and in return receive a Visa prepaid gift card. The “no questions asked” program will allow individuals to anonymously dispose of firearms without fear of charges for illegal possession when turning in the weapon.

Q: How is the gun buyback program funded?
The program is funded by two sources. First, the Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office. Second, from donations made to Gang Free Inc. from businesses, churches and organizations.

Q: Why is the community launching this program?
This program is a partnership effort between the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Gang Free Inc. This community has been impacted by gun violence. Taking guns off the street is at the heart of violence prevention and we must do everything we can to put an end to the senseless violence. Every gun turned into the program is a life potentially saved.

Q: Will I get arrested when I deliver a gun to the buyback program? Do I have to identify myself?
No, you will not be arrested when you deliver the gun. However, you must follow the turn in procedure. You will not have to identify yourself. This is a “No Questions Asked” program that means you will remain anonymous when you drop off the firearm.

Q: What types of guns are accepted?
All guns will be accepted. Gift cards will be issued only for assault weapons, handguns, rifle/shotguns. These will also have to be workable firearms. Whether a gun is “workable” will be determined by the officer screening the weapon. BB or pellets guns and ammunition will be accepted without compensation.

Q: Is there a limit on the number of guns I can turn in?
There are no limits to the number of guns that you can turn in as long as buy back money is available. After the buyback spends the entire budget, guns may still be surrendered without payment.

Q: What happens after the gun is turned in?
All weapons will be stored by the Police Department and handled according to state law. If possible, recovered stolen weapons will be returned to the rightful owner(s).

Q: Are gun buyback programs proven to reduce gun violence?
We do know that if a gun is turned in, it will not be used in a future crime. The buyback program is one part of a larger strategy and opportunity to mobilize our community in joint efforts against gun violence. This program demonstrates Henderson’s commitment for safer streets. “No Questions Asked” embraces the philosophy that one fewer gun on the street is potentially many lives saved.

 

Coastal Federal Credit Union Comes to Henderson

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Coastal Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed a merger with Freedom Credit Union. The merger was official as of July 1, 2016, with branches and systems converting to Coastal between October 28 and November 2.

Freedom was a $53 million credit union based in Rocky Mount. The merger gives Coastal 8,300 new members, 13 new employees and four more branches. Coastal renovated locations in Rocky Mount, and on-site at WakeMed’s facilities in Raleigh and Cary. Freedom’s Henderson location has been replaced by a new Coastal branch, located at 236 Dabney Drive.

“Freedom’s board sought a merger partner because they desired to expand member service, provide more long-term opportunities for their employees, and overcome the challenges of rising regulatory compliance costs that small credit unions face,” says Chuck Purvis, President and CEO of Coastal.

Purvis added, “The merger was attractive to Coastal, as well. We now have new branch locations to serve existing members living in the communities around the Rocky Mount and Henderson branch locations. It also opens up several opportunities to share all the benefits we can offer to our new employer groups.”

For more information, please contact Joe Mecca at 919-420-8044.

Coastal Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned, financial cooperative, offering a full range of financial products and services. Coastal was chartered on August 31, 1967 with the mission of fostering the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”  Today, with $2.8 billion in assets, Coastal serves 220,000 members from 1,600 business partners and is among the leading financial institutions in North Carolina.  Coastal operates 22 branches in the Triangle market and serves members in all 50 states through a network of 5,000 shared branches,  mobile banking featuring mobile check deposit, and a robust offering of online services at www.COASTAL24.com.

Lewis Young Resigns as Coach of Southern Vance Football

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Lewis Young, the Head Varsity Football Coach at Southern Vance High School, announced his resignation on Monday, November 7, 2016. He has resigned only as the Head Varsity Football Coach and will continue teaching at Southern Vance High School.

Coach Young has served the Raider Football program for over 20 years in various roles, most recently as Head Varsity Football Coach from 2012-2016. He finished with a 14-43 record and made two appearances in the NCHSAA playoffs (2012, 2013) including a 12-6 upset victory over #2-seeded South Columbus in 2013. Prior to being Head Coach, Coach Young served as the Defensive Coordinator under Mark Perry and David Jennings and led the defense for the 2006 Southern Vance team that lost 27-24 to Shelby in the NCHSAA 2AA State Championship game.

Coach Young is a well-respected and important member of the Southern Vance family who has positively impacted the lives of a countless number of our student-athletes . We will miss his dedication and loyalty to Southern Vance football and thank him for his service to our school and community.

Southern Vance is currently accumulating candidates and working tirelessly to fill the Head Varsity Football Coach vacancy. Interested candidates should send a resume and letter of interest to Athletic Director Joe Sharrow (jsharrow@vcs.k12.nc.us) and Principal Stephanie Ayscue (sayscue@vcs.k12.nc.us).

 

Vance County Announces Keith Duncan as Fire Marshal

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Vance County is pleased to announce the hiring of Keith Duncan as the County Fire Marshal beginning on November 14th. In this new position, Mr. Duncan will serve as the county’s liaison to the Volunteer Fire Departments and will be available to assist them with insurance ratings, training and other needs. He will serve as the county’s lead fire investigator and will be responsible for conducting fire prevention inspections of local schools, businesses and churches as required by the state. He will also lead the county’s fire prevention education efforts.

 

Duncan has spent the last 8 ½ years as fire marshal for Halifax County, NC and has an extensive fire background and qualifications. Mr. Duncan previously spent nearly 20 years as a fire lieutenant with the City of Roanoke Rapids, NC and has certifications as a fire fighter II, fire officer I, hazardous materials operator, emergency vehicle driver, and as a fire instructor II. Mr. Duncan holds a level III Fire Inspector license in addition to certifications in building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes.

 

Duncan is a knowledgeable individual and a welcome addition to the county’s management team and the Vance County community.

The Screen Master Celebrates 40 years in Downtown Henderson

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A ribbon cutting was held on Friday, October 28th for Screen Master to celebrate their 40-Years in business  in downtown Henderson and membership with the Chamber.  The event was held at their 100 S. Garnett Street location.  They were joined by the Chamber staff, friends, family and local dignitary to celebrate their anniversary.  All guests were treated to refreshments and beverage after the ribbon cutting.

Screen Master continues to provide Henderson and surrounding areas with quality merchandise. A locally owned business, Screen Master, was established in 1976 by Owners Gene and Lorraine Watkins. Today it has evolved into a retail store that offers customized items to enhance and promote people’s businesses, organizations, and personal needs.

Whether you need to motivate your teammates, recognize employees or just increase the success of your business, stop in and check out Screen Master. They have been supplying business owners, bosses, coaches, schools, and more with their superior engraving and awards products, screen printing and services for over 40 years. They supply both businesses and individuals across Henderson and the Vance County area with personalized service so that logos, names, designs or messages can be printed or engraved on items purchased.

Be it a trophy, a nametag, something to be engraved or a screen printed order, Gene and Lorraine or one of their friendly and efficient staff members deliver expert service in a courteous, helpful and professional manner and with a quick turnaround!

Gene and Lorraine would like to thank their customers, both old and new for their support over the past 40 years and they look forward to continuing to work with them over the next 40 years.

For more information, please stop in at their downtown location or visit them on the web at www.screenmasterofhenderson.com or contact them at 252-492-8407.