Tag Archive for: #vancecountyncnews

Henderson PD Press Release

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Henderson Man Arrested on Federal Gun Charge

On Tuesday, April 19th members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit arrested Jasmel S. Robinson, 33, 522 High Street, Henderson. Robinson was arrested after a federal grand jury returned a true bill of indictment charging Robinson with being a convicted felon and possessing a firearm.

Robinson was transported to Raleigh and placed in the custody of the United States Marshall Service pending a hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The case was investigated by the Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Investigations into violent crime and heroin trafficking continues and more arrests are expected.

Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow

Staples of Henderson holds 15 year ribbon cutting

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 15-year anniversary of Staples with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. at their 160 Dabney Road location.  “We greatly appreciate everything the chamber of commerce does for the Henderson community, and we’re pleased to help the members with the products and services they need to make more happen with their businesses,” said Stanley Wolfenbarger, general manager, Staples.

Staples retail stores and Staples.com help small business customers make more happen by providing a broad assortment of products, expanded business services and easy ways to shop, all backed with a lowest price guarantee.  The Henderson Staples retail location offers a broad assortment and products and business services and easy ways to shop, all back with a lowest price guarantee.

Services include:

  • Print & Marketing Services – Prints services ranging from presentations and business cards to signs and banners with expert advice from certified print pros
  • Packaging & Shipping  Services – Easy shipping with UPS and up to 5% back on Staples Rewards
  • Technology Services – Complete technology solutions for home and office from certified techs
  • Buy online. Pick up in store – The store will have your online order ready within two hours to pick up
  • Ship to Store – Free shipping to store when you order online from Staples.com
  • Technology Recycling – Staples offers free electronics recycling for office technology at Staples stores nationwide regardless of where the devices were purchased
  • Staples Rewards – Rewards members received up to 5% back on everything and free shipping on orders over $14.99

For more information, please contact them at 252-738-2488.

Henderson Man Arrested on Federal Gun Charges

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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.HPD william ormond 041316

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

Wendy’s of Henderson to Close: Remodel

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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)

VGCC to hold 32nd Benefit Golf Tournament on May 3rd

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Vance-Granville Community College’s 32nd Annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, presented by Union Bank, will be held at the Henderson Country Club on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. All event proceeds support the mission of the college, the Endowment Fund and student scholarships.

With the support of numerous golfers and sponsors, the annual event has raised more than $650,000 since its inception in 1985. The 2015 tournament alone generated a record-breaking $100,318.

This year’s morning and afternoon rounds will begin with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and at 1 p.m. The afternoon round is sold out, but there are openings in the morning round.

The format is four-person “Captain’s Choice Super Ball.” Golfers can form their own teams of four, or sign up and be put on a team. Teams will be handicapped based on handicaps supplied by each player. Trophies will be awarded for first through third place teams in both rounds. Other awards will be given for “closest to the pin” and “longest drive.”

A hole-in-one on Hole 9 will be rewarded with a 2016 Toyota Avalon, courtesy of Toyota of Henderson, while a player who hits a hole-in-one on Hole 16 will win a 2016 Mahindra 1533 Tractor with Loader, courtesy of Vanco Outdoor Equipment.

Other special bonus prizes for both holes-in-one include PING golf clubs and bag (Hole 4), an iPod Touch and gift card (Hole 9) and an HDTV (Hole 11). Even if there is no hole-in-one, there will be special prizes for the golfer who comes closest to the pin on these holes.

The cost for one golfer to enter the tournament is $150. In either round, that fee includes greens fees, cart, meals, gift bag, and practice balls.

A light breakfast, lunch, and dinner (immediately following the afternoon round) will be served in the HCC clubhouse. A silent auction and door prize drawings will be held in conjunction with dinner.

Businesses and individuals can take advantage of sponsorship opportunities at various levels. Businesses may also donate products or premium items featuring the company’s logo to be placed in golfers’ gift bags, or to be given as door prizes.

For more information, contact Kay Currin at currink@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3409.

Henderson Man Arrested on Federal Gun Charge

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On Monday, March 28, 2016, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit arrested a Henderson man on federal gun charges. Ismil Rasheed Jeffers, 22, 113 Breland Drive, Henderson was taken into custody on the outstanding warrant.

Jeffers has been charged after a federal grand jury handed down a one count indictment in this matter. The charges stem from an incident on October 19, 2015 in Henderson. Jeffers was placed into the custody of the United States Marshall Service pending a hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

VGCC’s new ‘VanGuarantee’ to help area residents afford higher education

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Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, announced a major new commitment yesterday to eliminate financial barriers to higher education for residents of Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties.

President Williams said a new need-based scholarship program, called the “VanGuarantee,” is designed to cover tuition, student fees and textbooks for eligible students whose financial needs are unmet by federal financial aid and other means of support. She made the announcement at a meeting of the VGCC Board of Trustees and was joined by school superintendents and members of the boards of education from the four counties served by the college.

VGCC already has a robust, almost 40-year-old Endowment Fund that provides primarily merit-based scholarships.

“The VanGuarantee program enhances our college’s commitment to supporting deserving students, particularly those who demonstrate the greatest financial need, because we do not want the cost of attendance to be a barrier for any student at any stage,” Dr. Williams said. “We want to guarantee that every student in our community who wants to earn a college degree can do so.”

Making the VanGuarantee possible is a $1.6 million bequest to VGCC from the estate of Wilbert A. Edwards. The gift, announced in 2015, is the second largest in the history of the college. A resident of Oxford at the time of his death in 2001, Edwards was a native of Vance County and a decorated World War II fighter pilot. In addition to the VanGuarantee, funds from the Edwards estate are being used for faculty development and for college facilities.

In its scope, the new program is believed to be unique in the North Carolina Community College System. As policymakers and students have expressed growing concerns about the rising cost of college, VGCC joins colleges across the country in creating innovative “promise” or “guarantee” programs to make education more affordable and accessible.

Some colleges have made such commitments only to recent high school graduates, but the VanGuarantee applies to all students in the four counties, reflecting VGCC’s longstanding tradition of helping adults retrain for new careers at any age, Dr. Williams explained. Nevertheless, she encouraged 2016 high school graduates to take advantage of the new opportunity to obtain a debt-free college education.

Among the eligibility requirements for the VanGuarantee, students who reside in the college’s service area must enroll in at least nine credit hours per semester in any VGCC curriculum program. They must first apply for and meet the eligibility requirements for federal and state financial aid programs. Next, they will apply for endowed VGCC scholarships. When students still lack the funds to pay for their education after exhausting those and other sources, the VanGuarantee program will help to fill the gap. That makes the program an example of what is often called a “last-dollar scholarship.”

The VanGuarantee will be available in the fall 2016 semester, which starts in August. All residents of the four counties served by the college, regardless of their age or whether they have attended VGCC before, may benefit if they meet the eligibility criteria. Once enrolled in the VanGuarantee program, students must maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) to continue receiving the scholarship.

For more information on the VanGuarantee, students can visit www.vgcc.edu/fao/vanguarantee.

Kristy Wins Shamrock Contest

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Kristy from Vance County found the Shamrock this year. The Shamrock was hidden on the very far point past the glass house under some of Kerr Lake’s famous shells. Didn’t win this year? You only have 350 days until the start of the next WIZS Shamrock contest. The prize this year was $400. Congrats goes to Kristy!

AT&T sponsors new VGCC Summer Bridge program

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AT&T North Carolina has made a $10,000 contribution to Vance-Granville Community College to support a new student success initiative. For the first time, the college will offer a “Summer Bridge” program this year for incoming first-year students. With AT&T’s sponsorship, the program will be available at no cost to participating students.

“Thanks to the strong support of AT&T North Carolina, in a few months, our faculty and staff will be able to offer some extra help to students to prepare them to succeed as scholars at the college level,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC.

Robert Doreauk, AT&T’s regional director of external affairs, formally presented the donation in February at a luncheon honoring donors to the college, held at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford.

“We understand that there is no better way to make a lasting difference in a community than by helping support the education of its young people,” Doreauk said. “Through our signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, we support opportunities to foster skills that will meet the needs of the future workforce while helping all students make their biggest dreams a reality. We appreciate the opportunity to support the Summer Bridge program and are excited about the impact it will have on students’ lives and futures.”

VGCC Dean of Arts and Sciences Cynthia Young explained that Summer Bridge will be a comprehensive, two-week program with two overarching themes. “The first theme is providing targeted support, supplemental instruction and skill-building to help students accelerate their pathway from developmental education to regular curriculum courses,” Young said.

Most VGCC students take placement tests as part of the admissions process to evaluate their current skills in reading, writing and mathematics. Placement test scores are used for academic advising and correct course placement. Students may be placed in a developmental math course, for example, to build math skills before moving on to more challenging college courses that are required for diploma and degree programs.

“The second theme of the program is college readiness,” Young said. “Students will participate in orientation and meet with faculty from various curriculum programs so that they understand the opportunities that are available to them here at Vance-Granville. In addition, our coaches from the Student Success Center will help students in the program to create academic plans in line with their career goals.” Young said that the program will serve North Carolina residents who are high school or high school equivalency graduates, are entering VGCC for the first time, and have placed into developmental education.

“We are excited about introducing this program,” said Young. “It will give students more tools to be successful.”

The Summer Bridge initiative is being developed as Dr. Williams and other college leaders across the country are increasingly focused on bringing students up to speed quickly, so that they can start their college-level coursework earlier and graduate on schedule. According to a new report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement, 86 percent of students nationwide believe they are academically prepared to succeed in college, but 67 percent test into developmental coursework.

For more information on the Summer Bridge program, contact Cynthia Young at youngc@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3424.

City of Henderson demolishes abandoned home

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The Citizens Aligned To Take Back Henderson won a victory today as one of the 400 reported homes in the city was destroyed. The home was located at 910 West Andrews Avenue in Henderson. Heidi Owen, who is one of the instrumental leaders of Citizens Aligned To Take Back Henderson, told WIZS news, “What a huge difference taking down this one small structure makes. Imagine if the county and city can work together to remove all 400! We encourage supporters to contact our local leaders and and ask them to do the right thing for Henderson…for Vance County.”

To find out more about Citizens Aligned To Take Back Henderson be sure to like the group on Facebook, and listen to TownTalk on Tuesday at 11 a.m.