Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Two Arrested in ‘Large Sum’ Heroin Bust in Vance County

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-Press Release, Vance County Sheriff’s Office

On Wednesday, May 6, 2020, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, Patrol Division and Criminal Investigative Division conducted an undercover operation. A buy bust was conducted in the Vance County area for a large sum of Heroin.

Participating agencies in the investigation were Homeland Security Investigation and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Arrested during the investigation were Diquon Steven Alston, age 26, charged with three (3) counts of Trafficking Heroin and Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin and Saquan Javier Alexander, age 27,  charged with three (3) counts of Trafficking Heroin and Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin along with multiple traffic offenses.

Alston received a $285,000.00 bond; his court date was set for June 29, 2020. Alexander received a $385,000.00 bond; his court date was set for June 29, 2020.

This investigation is continuing.

Saquan Javier Alexander, age 27,  was arrested and charged with three (3) counts of Trafficking Heroin and Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin along with multiple traffic offenses. (VCSO photo)

Diquon Steven Alston, age 26, was arrested and charged with three (3) counts of Trafficking Heroin and Conspiracy to Traffick Heroin. (VCSO photo)

Golden Corral in Henderson to Close Permanently

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Statement from the Golden Corral Corporation

A company-operated restaurant in Henderson, NC, and one on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh, NC, will remain permanently closed due to the business impact of COVID-19.

We appreciate the support of these communities and the guests who have dined with us at these locations. Our thoughts and prayers are with our restaurant team members and their families.

As other area Golden Corral franchise restaurants reopen, we will help our team members who are not yet employed transition to another opportunity.

Golden LEAF Receives $125M to Support COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program

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-Press Release, Golden LEAF Foundation

The Golden LEAF Board of Directors took action this week in response to House Bill 1043. The bill includes $125 million to provide grants to entities for the purpose of making loans to assist small businesses affected by the economic impact of COVID-19.

The Board modified the terms of the existing NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program to align with the provisions of the bill. Loans made from the program to small businesses will include a limit on the number of employees per business, a minimum interest rate for the first six months of the loan term, and an increased time for repayment.

The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program was launched on March 24 with an initial allocation of $15 million provided by Golden LEAF. Applications were quickly submitted well in excess of the available funding. Golden LEAF worked with the Office of Governor Roy Cooper and leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly to appropriate the additional funds to support this program and address identified demand. With this additional funding in place, applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Golden LEAF Board Chair Bo Biggs said, “The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors thanks the Governor and General Assembly for their leadership. We are honored that Golden LEAF can serve as a trusted conduit for much-needed resources to assist small businesses during this crisis.”

“The significant volume of applications in the pipeline is indicative of the severity of the statewide economic impact COVID-19 has had on North Carolina’s small businesses,” said Golden LEAF Foundation President Scott T. Hamilton. “Today’s action will enable the program to continue to provide much-needed support to the State’s small businesses, especially those most at risk for permanent closure.”

“Today, North Carolina’s small business owners are facing an unprecedented economic challenge–and it will take a sustained statewide effort to support them through this crisis,” said NC Rural Center President Patrick Woodie, whose organization manages the program in partnership with Golden LEAF. “The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery program would not have been possible without the quick response and ‘can-do’ attitude of our partners, Golden LEAF’s ongoing support, and the confidence of the North Carolina General Assembly.”

The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program offers low-interest loans of up to $50,000 with no payments for six months to businesses affected by COVID-19. If not repaid in six months, the loan will automatically convert to a term loan.

The Rural Center acts as a program administrator, managing the flow of loan applications to lending partners for underwriting and servicing. Lending partners include Business Expansion Funding Corporation (BEFCOR), Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Mountain BizWorks, Natural Capital Investment Fund, Piedmont Business Capital, Sequoyah Fund, and Thread Capital.

Small-business owners affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) can learn more about the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program and apply for a loan at https://ncrapidrecovery.org/ or to speak with someone about this program or other resources available to small businesses, contact Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) at 800.228.8443.

VGCC Logo

Reminder: VGCC Students to Present ’26 Pebbles’ Play Online Today, Tomorrow

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Going out to see a play may be impossible due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the Drama program at Vance-Granville Community College is trying an innovative approach to bring the theatre to the community.

VGCC, like all community colleges across North Carolina, has temporarily shifted all classes online. Betsy Henderson, the college’s Department Chair/Instructor of Humanities and Fine Arts, and her Drama students decided they wanted to somehow put on a play online, as well. After consulting with VGCC’s Information Technology department, plans were made to use the online video-conferencing service, Zoom (available at zoom.us), to both rehearse and present the production.

“We are not physically able to tell the play in the traditional way,” Henderson explained. “This way will allow the students to tell the story and keep everyone safe. It will also provide the community with a much-needed outlet during this time of quarantine.”

The college will present two performances, via Zoom “meetings,” of the play “26 Pebbles” by Eric Ulloa, on May 7 and May 8 at 7:30 p.m.

This documentary-style drama is set at a town hall meeting in Newtown, Connecticut, six months after December 14, 2012, when a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 people (including 20 children) before taking his own life. The play likens these 26 deaths to “pebbles thrown into a pond,” which created ripples and vibrations that were felt far beyond the initial impacts.

The playwright conducted interviews with members of the community in Newtown and crafted them into an exploration of gun violence and a small town shaken by a horrific event. “26 Pebbles” premiered in Dayton, Ohio, in 2017, and has since been performed around the country.

“It is a very powerful story,” Henderson said. “It paints a picture of what the community was like before that terrible day, the confusion and frenzy on the day of that attack, and the chaos of the aftermath.”

The cast includes students Miranda Brown as “Georgia,” Ashley Ayscue as “Julie,” Rose O’Malley as “Yolie,” Brian Johnson as “Rabbi Praver” and “Mike,” Daniel Thorpe as “Joe” and “Chris,” Cheyenne Guerrant as “Jeriann,” Blake Lee as “Michael” and “Darren,” Kelli Baker as “Carrie,” Matthew Varker as “Father Weiss” and “Bill,” Amanda Cease as “Carole,” Kathleen Zoldos as “Jenn,” Eiley Cook as “Starr,” Mary Parish as “Sally,” and Chelsea Benjamin as “Carla.”

Kelli Baker and Chris Nicholson serve as the “virtual” stage managers, while Kristen Ham is a crew member and will serve as a pianist.

All these students will be in their own homes on their own computers during the performance. With the Zoom service, when a particular actor begins talking, the image automatically switches to an enlarged video of that actor, making it easy for the audience to follow the dialogue.

Henderson thinks that giving students this opportunity to present the play to the community is important. “I think we need the arts and artists at a time like this,” she said. “Entertainment, happiness and joy are important. The arts touch you in ways you may not realize at first. The Arts, and theatre especially, have a way to elevate the everyday and bring light to our world. In times like this, we need connection. We need meaning, and we need artists to help us all feel.”

Anyone interested in experiencing either performance should contact Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu. She will provide each “attendee” with the Zoom meeting ID.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update: Outbreak Reported at Kerr Lake Nursing Home

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 6, 2020, there are 149 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 135 cases in Vance County, and 12,758 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, one at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC, and one at Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC.

Of the total positive cases in each county, 87 in Granville County are associated with the prison, 47 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health Nursing Home and 10 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 62 community-based cases in Granville County, 36 have been released from isolation and 47 of the 87 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation.

Of the 135 cases in Vance, 20 have been released from isolation and 8 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 16 deaths in the health district – 10 in Vance County and 6 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

Perry Memorial Library Announces Account Updates, Skills Building Resources

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There have been some recent account updates at Perry Memorial Library that should make your life easier!

NC Cardinal

The library has been working with the administrator of NC Cardinal to temporarily implement the following:

  • Accounts that expired between January 1 until the library reopens will be extended to September, so you can use online resources. After the library reopens, you will need to come in and update your account before September.
  • The fine cap has been removed, so account fees over $5 will not block you from using Overdrive.
  • Overdue fines accumulated after March 1 have been waived, and no new fines should accumulate.

As always, if you are still having trouble accessing your account or any of the online resources, email us at questions@perrylibrary.org.

Skills Building

If you are looking to improve skills, study for standardized tests, prepare for post-high school education or career training, the Testing and Education Reference Center is a great place to start.

From the NC Live home page, select Test Prep, then scroll to the bottom of the list and click Testing and Education Reference Center.

Although you use your library card/PIN to access the database, you will want to make a separate account when prompted (when you choose an option) in order to save your results and keep track of any college searches, etc., you might complete.

There are options for:

Basic Skills: English/Writing and Math

High School: subject review as well as practice AP tests, SAT subject tests, and high school equivalency exams

College Prep: ACT, CLEP, PSAT, SAT, and resume writing

Career: practice tests for a variety of careers, including cosmetology, firefighter, ASVAB, etc.

Grad School: practice tests for GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, MAT

International: TOEFL, citizenship

There is also a college planning section with checklists of activities to complete from 9th through 12th grade.

Under the college prep section, there is even a college and scholarship search section!

For more information and additional resources, please visit the library’s website at library.perrylibrary.org

Are You Ready? May 3-9 Hurricane Preparedness Week 2020

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week! Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, but most storms hit from mid-August to mid-October.

All residents are encouraged to take this time to update emergency supply kits with enough non-perishable food and water to last each person in your family a minimum of one week. Kits should also include:

• First-aid kit
• Weather radio and batteries
• Prescription medicines
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Changes of clothes
• Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
• Cash
• Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records.

If you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you’re in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane, figure out where you’d go and how you’d get there if told to evacuate.

“Know Your Zone” is a cooperative effort of North Carolina Emergency Management and county emergency management partners and is a tiered evacuation system that highlights areas most vulnerable to impacts from hurricanes, tropical storms and other hazards.

After being piloted during the 2019 hurricane season, state and county emergency management will partner to officially launch the Know Your Zone initiative prior to the peak of the 2020 season. In preparation for the launch and the coming hurricane season, visit http://knowyourzone.nc.gov for an interactive lookup tool, FAQ, and other educational resources.

More information on severe weather and hurricane preparedness is located at www.ReadyNC.org.

Vance County Schools Logo

Vance County Schools Announces Plans for Graduation Celebrations

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Letter to the Class of 2020 from Vance County Schools:

To the Class of 2020

We hope that you are all were able to view Be the Light: A Tribute to the Class of 2020,a message of hope for our beloved seniors. As we approach one of the biggest milestones in your life, we want to make sure we celebrate you while also keeping the health and safety of everyone as a top priority

Each of our high schools will host a drivethru graduation event. Seniors will be assigned designated times, giving each senior their moment of celebration. Families will be given directives from the school on the process; however, each senior will be allowed one vehicle of guests to join them as the senior exits the vehicle, walks across the stage and a photograph is captured of this special moment.

Drive-Thru Graduation Schedule:

Vance County Early College – Graduation Date: May 21 from 6 – 7:30 p.m.; Rain Date: May 22

Vance County High School – Graduation Date: May 23 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Rain Date: May 27

Advance Academy – Graduation Date: June 11 from 3 – 5:30 p.m.; Rain Date: June 12

We understand this is not the graduation you dreamed of; however, you are resilient and we will do all we can to honor and celebrate your accomplishments. If government guidelines and health regulations allow a larger graduation event to occur this summer, the district is committed to seeing that through. But in the meantime, we want to celebrate you and all you have accomplished now

Stay tuned for additional information from your individual school, as well as the district website

Go forth and do great things!

NC Governor Logo

NC to Move Into Phase I of Easing COVID-19 Restrictions Friday

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 138 to modify North Carolina’s Stay At Home order and transition to Phase 1 of slowly easing certain COVID-19 restrictions effective Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m. Certain businesses remain closed as the state continues battling COVID-19.

“COVID-19 is still a serious threat to our state, and Phase 1 is designed to be a limited easing of restrictions that can boost parts of our economy while keeping important safety rules in place,” said Governor Cooper. “This is a careful and deliberate first step, guided by the data, and North Carolinians still must use caution while this virus is circulating.”

“We must continue to protect our families and neighbors as we take this cautious step forward. When you leave your home, follow the three W’s: wear a face covering, wash your hands, and wait six feet apart,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Today’s Order removes the distinction between essential and non-essential businesses. Retail businesses are allowed to open at 50% capacity and will be required to direct customers to stand 6 feet apart, perform frequent cleanings, provide hand sanitizer when available, screen workers for symptoms and more. The Order allows people to leave their homes for commercial activity at any business that is open.

Certain businesses remain closed, including bars, personal care businesses, entertainment venues and gyms. Restaurants may only continue to serve customers for drive-through, take out and delivery.

All workers at retail and other businesses are recommended to wear cloth face coverings. Teleworking is still encouraged for businesses that can practice it.

Though small outdoor gatherings will be allowed in Phase 1, gatherings of more than 10 people generally are still prohibited. The Order encourages cloth face coverings to be worn when outside the home and in contact with others. Everyone who uses a face covering should adhere to this guidance without fear of profiling or bias.

During Phase 1, childcare facilities will be open to serve families of parents who are working or looking for work. These centers will be required to follow strict cleaning protocols. Summer day camps can operate in compliance with NC DHHS guidelines.

In explaining today’s Order, Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen reported North Carolina remains stable on the following key metrics:

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing.

Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is slightly increasing.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is decreasing.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is level.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These areas include:

Laboratory Testing

  • North Carolina has doubled the daily testing rate.

Tracing Capability

  • The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative has received over 4,000 applications and is in the process of hiring 250 new contact tracers.

Personal Protective Equipment 

  • Supply chains continue to improve with the exception of gowns.

The order is in effect until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22. However, the end of this Order does not necessarily mean the state will move to Phase 2. Phase 2 will only start if data and indicators are in the right place.

Read Frequently Asked Questions about Order 138.

View a copy of recent graphs and slides.

Town Talk 05/05/20: Community Leaders, Clergy to Lead Local Day of Prayer – May 7

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Rev. Frank Sossamon with South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Sossamon announced that while necessary changes will be made for the sake of safety during the COVID-19 situation, the 69th Annual National Day of Prayer is still scheduled for Thursday, May 7, 2020, and will be honored locally.

Instead of larger crowds physically meeting in spots around Vance County, as has been the norm in previous years, community leaders will meet at designated locations.

Their prayers and conversation will be broadcast to the public in two separate services on WIZS 1450 AM, 100.1 FM, or by clicking “Listen Live” at www.wizs.com.

The afternoon service will begin at 12 p.m. and the evening service will start at 7 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth,” and Sossamon encouraged all churches to help spread the word of the prayer rally to the congregations.

“It’s one of the few times the entire community is called upon to pray together, and even to pray publicly,” Sossamon stated. “I think the public aspect of prayer is very important and powerful. We didn’t want to let this go just because we couldn’t physically gather this year.”

The schedule for the 12 p.m. service on May 7 is as follows:

  • Maria Parham Health – Rev. Frank Sossamon and MPH CEO Bert Beard
  • City Hall – Rev. Rhonda Pulley and Mayor Eddie Ellington
  • ACTS – Rev. Dr. Ron Cava and Lee Anne Peoples
  • Vance County Courthouse – Rev. Joseph Ratliff and guest

The 7 p.m. service includes music and a study of the “seven mountains of prayer,” including church, family, education, government, business, military and media.

The schedule for the 7 p.m. service on May 7 is as follows:

Welcome, Statement of Purpose and Opening Prayer

Music

Seven Mountains of Prayer #1 – Church

Comments – Rev. Dora Dorsey, Retired Pastor

Prayer – Rev. Bobby Fletcher, Pastor of First Methodist Church

Seven Mountains of Prayer #2 – Family

Comments – Denita DeVega, Director of Vance County Social Services

Prayer – Goldie Davis, Income Maintenance Administrator, Vance County Social Services

Seven Mountains of Prayer #3 – Education

Comments – Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent, Vance County Schools

Prayer – Dr. Trixie Brooks, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction – VCS

Seven Mountains of Prayer #4 – Government

Comments – Jordan McMillen, Vance County Manager

Prayer – Gordon Wilder, Chairman of Vance County Board of Commissioners

Seven Mountains of Prayer #5 – Business

Comments – Michele Burgess, Director of Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

Prayer – Michele Burgess or guest

Seven Mountains of Prayer #6 – Military

Comments – Archie B. Taylor, Retired Military

Prayer – Archie B. Taylor or guest

Music

Seven Mountains of Prayer # 7 – Media

Comments – Nancy Wykle, Publisher/Editor of The Daily Dispatch

Prayer – John Charles Rose, Owner/Operator of WIZS AM Radio

While the day of prayer has been led by the clergy in the past, Sossamon said he and other members of the Vance County Ministers Community Partnership, the group responsible for planning the annual prayer day, thought it would be more poignant this year to include community leaders.

“We discussed it and thought ‘why don’t we actually take people from those areas of the community and let them speak to us about their area and have a prayer?’ People will want to tune in to WIZS and listen. I think it will educate and inspire you, and you’ll certainly benefit from the evening,” Sossamon commented.

In addition to tuning in, Sossamon said he encourages families to honor the spirit of the day by “getting in their car and driving to these seven mountains to pray. Drive to a business or a building, park in the parking lot and pray for the institution and those who work there.”

To hear the interview with Sossamon in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.