Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Maria Parham Health Emergency Department Renovation Update

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Maria Parham Health is kicking off the first phase of a major renovation to its Emergency Department, with a focus on enhancing care for individuals facing behavioral health challenges.

“We are excited to begin this important renovation, which will allow us to provide even better care to those who need it most,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “This is a huge step forward in our ongoing efforts to improve care for vulnerable populations in our  community, and we are grateful for the support of our partners and the local community.”

The renovation will take place in two phases, with the initial preparation already completed by the hospital’s Facilities team, according to information from MPH Public Information Officer Donna Young. Temporary modifications to the main lobby area have been made,  including the installation of new flooring and the construction of temporary walls. These changes  will create dedicated space for waiting areas, triage zones, registration desks and other essential  facilities to ensure the continued smooth flow of patient care during construction.

Because the front portion of the current Emergency Department will be closed for the duration of the renovation, the hospital’s main lobby will be used as a temporary intake, registration and emergency care  area for patients coming to Maria Parham’s Henderson campus in personal vehicles.  Ambulances will continue to arrive through the current ambulance intake bay. There are directional signs in place to help direct people to their destinations.

Phase One of the project is expected to take approximately 16 weeks, with actual construction beginning Monday, Mar. 17.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • During the renovation, emergency patients who arrive at the hospital by their own means  will be directed to the main entrance for registration, triage, and care.
  • Emergency Medical Services entry will remain unaffected.
  • Radiology patients will also be guided to the main entrance for registration and sent to a separate waiting area for their services.
  • For other services such as Lab, Outpatient Surgery, Inpatient Rehab, and General Visitation, patients will be asked to use the Heart & Vascular Center entrance, located to the right of the hospital’s main entrance.
  • Please look for signage posted in front of the hospital for additional guidance.

This vital renovation is made possible through funding allocated to Maria Parham Health in October 2023 as part of a joint initiative led by the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville Vance Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the North Carolina General Assembly.

The project will specifically focus on creating designated areas within the Emergency Department tailored to meet the unique needs of behavioral health and mental health patients.  These spaces will provide a safer, more supportive environment for patients and care team members, while improving overall hospital efficiency. Furthermore, the changes are designed to foster a healthier and more secure hospital environment for patients and visitors alike.

Maria Parham Health encourages the public to stay informed about the renovation’s progress.  Updates will be available on the hospital’s official Facebook page and through local news outlets.

Vance County Sheriff: Two Adults, One Juvenile Face Drug Charges

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–information from the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On Thursday, March 6, 2025 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at 130 Lynnbank Estates Rd. in  Kittrell after receiving complaints that narcotics were being sold from the residence.  During the search of the residence, investigators located heroin, cocaine, a Glock handgun and other items of drug manufacturing equipment.

Fuquan Henderson was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin and maintain a dwelling for selling controlled substances. Demarius Vass was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and maintain a dwelling for selling controlled substances. A juvenile was also arrested and charged on a juvenile petition with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule III drug, maintain a dwelling for selling controlled substance and possession of a handgun by a minor.

Henderson received a $30,000 secured bond and Vass is being held at the Vance County Detention Facility with no bond. The juvenile involved in this matter was transported to a juvenile facility.      

‘Shamrocks On Breckenridge’ Returns To Downtown Henderson Monday, Mar. 17

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Monday, Mar. 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and the community is invited to Shamrocks on Breckenridge in downtown Henderson to celebrate all things Irish from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The first 200 folks to arrive get a free meal – hotdog, chips, a cookie and a drink.

Entertainment will be provided by DJ Brian Dawson.

Sponsors include Gateway CDC, the N.C. Arts Council, Vance County Arts Council, the City of Henderson, as well as Perry Memorial Library, Turning Point Development, FGV Smart Start and Jessica Rice with AIM High and Taba’s Face Painting.

There will be children’s activities and more, so deck out in emerald green and head downtown for a fun afternoon.

The Local Skinny! VGCC Foundation Fundraiser Saturday, April 5 At HighRock Farms

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Join The VGCC Foundation at the second annual wine tasting gala and silent auction fundraiser on Saturday, April 5, from 6 – 9 p.m. to help support students facing unforeseen financial crises.

The event’s theme is  “Unlocking Possibilities: You Are Key,” and will take place at HighRock Farms in Granville County.

Unexpected burdens can easily derail some students. Through initiatives like a food pantry, emergency assistance, transportation vouchers and career closet, The VGCC Foundation steps in to meet students’ basic needs when the unexpected gets in the way of their academic progress, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Now in its second year, the wine tasting gala and silent auction features an array of wineries showcasing their signature wines including reds, whites, bubbly and more. Guests will enjoy a buffet of foods including chicken, beef, and more (as well as tea and water), while The Hub will offer a variety of beer and wine for purchase by the glass.

Attendees will receive a souvenir wine glass and have the option to purchase their favorite finds. In addition, a variety of silent auction items will be on display for bidding throughout the evening. Also added this year is a Wine Pull and various raffle opportunities. A short program showcasing students who have benefited from donor contributions will open the evening, and local students will provide the event’s entertainment.

HighRock Farms, located at 2317 Enon Road outside Oxford, is owned by Beth and Dave Hollister.

Dress for the evening is business attire.

Tickets are $75 each and may be purchased through The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation office. Only 150 tickets will be sold, so be sure to get yours early! To purchase tickets online, visit www.vgcc.edu/the-vgcc-foundation-online-gifts and enter “Gala” in the Designation box. To purchase tickets using any other method, please email foundation@vgcc.edu or call 252.738.3264.

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Tabernacle Methodist Pancake Fundraiser Nets $4K For Townsville Volunteer Fire Department

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Tabernacle Methodist Church of Townsville hosted a Pancake Supper to raise money for the Townsville Volunteer Fire Department.

The Feb. 28 fundraiser netted $2,000 and that amount was matched by the church’s Missions Team for a total donation of $4,000.

The fire department recently purchased a new truck replace its 1983 Ford F-5000 Engine truck.

The new truck will help the department’s ISO rating, which currently is a 6 – but that’s down from a previous rating of 9. The lower the rating, the better. The rating affects homeowners’ insurance costs.

The volunteer fire departments each received $130,000 from the county to operate and they also are reimbursed for part-time employees. But like the other volunteer fire departments, they rely on fundraisers and donations from the community. Townsville VFD has boot drives on Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend and the annual stew sale is the first Saturday in December. Mark Saturday, Dec. 6 on the calendar to purchase stew this year.

Tyrone Terry is the chief of the Townsville fire department, which also runs first responder calls into Mecklenburg County, VA, and provides mutual aid with fire calls. Mecklenburg County kicks in $4,500 for those services.

Maintenance At Dozens Of CSX RR Crossings In March; Drivers, Expect Detours

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Drivers in Vance County who typically cross the CSX railroad tracks, the one that goes right through downtown Henderson, may encounter a detour or two starting March 3 and continuing until March 28th.

Perhaps you’ve already seen the piles of crossties along the line. Maintenance work is scheduled, with some closures lasting from 2-to-5 days. Major crossings like those at Warrenton Road, Andrews Avenue, Chavasse Avenue and Bearpond Road are expected to be completed on the same day.

New railroad ties will be installed on the track from Manson almost as far south as Franklinton.  Work is scheduled to begin in Warren County, continue through Vance County and end in Franklin County.

Initial projections have the work at Warrenton Road being done March 10 with the work going through Henderson that week and reaching Bearpond Road on March 17.

Southern Commercial Development is the traffic control contractor coordinating the project for CSX and will be in charge of creating detours during the various road closures.

There are 32 crossings in Vance County that will see work, as well as two each in Warren and Franklin counties. Eleven of the 32 involve either private roads or one-way access roads and work crews will try to complete those projects within 24 hours.

According to the Director of Media Relations Austin Staton of CSX, the project is estimated to take four weeks and should be wrapped up by Mar. 28.

The length of time the railroad crossings are closed will be dictated by the type of maintenance they are set to receive, but crossings will not be closed for the duration of the project.

To see which crossings are scheduled for maintenance, click on the link below, which lists each crossing and the estimated dates the maintenance should occur:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1IX49r53Iuc2CC94RdcjTDQzuWHiclT0&usp=sharing

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Jennifer Williams Appointed As County Tax Administrator

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Jennifer Williams has been appointed to the position of Vance County Tax Administrator, according to County Manager C. Renee Perry.

Williams, who most recently served as deputy tax assessor in the Vance County Tax Office, began her new duties on Monday, Feb. 24, succeeding Porcha Brooks, who is retiring.

“We are thrilled to have Jennifer promoted into this role,” Perry said. “With her extensive experience in tax administration and commitment to serving our community, I am
confident that she will bring strong leadership and expertise to this important role.”

Williams began her career in 2004 in Wake County in ad valorem taxation. After 13 years there, she worked as assistant tax administrator in Vance County and tax listing manager in Chatham County before coming back to Vance County as deputy tax assessor.

Williams has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Ashford University and is a certified Real & Personal Property Appraiser. She also is a certified Assessor.

The Local Skinny! SBI Called In On Officer-Involved Shooting That Left One Citizen Dead

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UPDATED MONDAY, FEB. 24 AT 2:59 PM

 

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF VANCE COUNTY SHERIFF CURTIS BRAME

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office wishes to provide the following update regarding the 22 February 2025 Officer Involved Shooting. 

Shortly before noon on the date listed above a Vance County Deputy Sheriff conducted a traffic stop on US 1 in the Kittrell area. During the stop it was discovered that the driver, Johnny Mayfield, had numerous outstanding orders for his arrest. The Deputy, following his lawful duty, attempted to take Mayfield into custody at that time. Mayfield refused to comply with commands from the Deputy and a brief foot chase ensued. 

 

Mayfield, after running across numerous lanes of traffic on US 1, returned to his vehicle, entered into the driver’s seat and continued his flight from the Deputy, leaving the female occupant of his vehicle on the roadside. The Deputy continued his pursuit of Mayfield north into Henderson. The vehicle pursuit ended after Mayfield wrecked his vehicle on West Bell Street in the city limits of Henderson. Mayfield exited his vehicle and fled again. 

 

The Deputy exited his patrol car and began to pursue Mayfield on foot a second time. Mayfield continued his flight onto West Young Avenue. As the Deputy continued the pursuit onto West Young Avenue Mayfield walked into the roadway carrying a glass bottle and began to walk towards the Deputy stating “I’m going to kill you”. The Deputy drew his weapon and began to walk backwards away from Mayfield as he continued to walk towards the Deputy, again Mayfield stated “I’m going to kill you”. While attempting to distance himself from Mayfield the Deputy lost his footing and fell to the ground onto his back. As the Deputy fell to the ground Mayfield broke the bottle on the roadway and continued to walk towards to the Deputy, now with the remainder of the broken bottle in his right hand, stating again “I’m going to kill you”. 

 

The Deputy regained his footing and stood up facing Mayfield. Mayfield then lunged at the Deputy with the broken bottle in his hand. The Deputy discharged his weapon striking Mayfield. The Deputy reported over the radio that shots had been fired and requested emergency assistance. The Deputy, and other units, attempted life saving measures on Mayfield until such time as EMS units arrived on the scene. 

 

The Deputy involved has been placed on Administrative Leave, as is standard procedure, pending the results of the NCSBI Investigation. The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is cooperating with the NCSBI including the preservation of all video recordings.

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UPDATED MONDAY, FEB. 24 AT 12:45 PM

The investigation continues into an officer-related shooting that resulted in the death of a person on Saturday morning in Henderson.

In a press statement issued Saturday, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame confirmed that the person died from injuries received in the incident.

The sheriff notified the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, and the SBI issued the following statement:

“At the request of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the 11th Prosecutorial District Attorney, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Henderson, NC.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a series of incidents occurred between a Vance County Deputy and a citizen. As a result, an altercation ensued, and a deputy drew his service weapon and fired, striking and killing the citizen.

No law enforcement officers were injured in this incident. SBI agents on the scene collected evidence and are conducting interviews. The findings of the SBI investigation will be shared with the Vance County District Attorney for his review and consideration.”

Additional details will be provided as they become available.

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Vance County Sheriff: Investigation Ongoing Into Death Of Walmart Distribution Center Employee, Work-Related Accident

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— Press Release from the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On February 19, 2025, at approximately 12 noon, Vance County Sheriff’s Office units responded to the Walmart Distribution Center located at 680 Vanco Mill Rd. Henderson, regarding a reported Industrial Accident.

Upon arrival, deputies were escorted inside the facility and directed to the south end of the building where an employee had been found injured moments earlier.

The victim, identified as Josue David Virella Rivera of Henderson, was operating a mechanical tow motor in an effort to move product when the accident occurred.

EMS and Fire First Responders arrived on the scene and attempted life saving measures, however Rivera had succumbed to his injuries prior to their arrival.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident in conjunction with other outside agencies.  No witnesses to the accident have been identified as of the date and time of this release.  Further updates will be provided as they become available.

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VGCC Gets ‘Leader College’ Designation From National Organization

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— information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Vance-Granville Community College has been designated a Leader College by Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing and economic mobility in their communities.

The announcement was made Thursday, Feb. 20 at ATD’s DREAM 2025 conference in Philadelphia. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Demarais was on hand to receive the award.

“VGCC is honored to be recognized as a Leader College for the ATD Network as we work to achieve student excellence and success,” Desmarais said. “Continuous improvement is the fuel to advance the people and communities we serve.”

Leader Colleges are recognized for their role in accelerating the adoption of effective practices within the ATD Network and across higher education. They have demonstrated quality work in whole-college reform, resulting in increased completion rates for all students. Leader Colleges develop innovative ways to work with other colleges to share knowledge and facilitate an exchange of ideas about evidence-based reform strategies.

In 2018, VGCC joined the ATD Network, a coalition of more than 300 colleges across the nation which support student success at their institutions and promote economic vitality in their communities. The school’s Leader College designation continues for three years, at which time VGCC will have the opportunity to be recertified.

“We are proud to recognize our 2025 Leader Colleges and Leader Colleges of Distinction for their extraordinary commitment to student success,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “These colleges exemplify excellence within the ATD Network, achieving measurable gains in student outcomes and fostering impactful change within their institutions and communities. Their dedication to using data-informed approaches to create meaningful opportunities for students and their communities serves as a powerful example for all institutions of higher education and especially for those in the ATD Network.”