Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

VCS Begins Graduations; 202 Graduate from VCHS, Early College At 6 PM

/by

-information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin

Graduation season is officially underway in Vance County Schools, as Vance County High School awarded 202 students with their high school diplomas on Friday, May 24, 2024, in the Vance County High School stadium. The ceremony began at 9 a.m. Posting of Colors was presented by the North Carolina 81st Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard.

Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III shared words of encouragement to the graduating class, and VCHS Class of 2024 graduate Chedaria Turner delivered the farewell address to fellow classmates.

Turner shared a moment of gratitude to those who have impacted the lives of the Class of 2024, expressing that “Your belief in our dreams has been our strongest foundation.”

She continued by stating that the door to their futures had opened, the knob has twisted and opened “to a future where we will prosper and come out stronger than any others before or behind us.” She finished her words to her fellow graduates with well wishes, sharing “May your future play out to its fullest extent.”

Students were presented their diplomas by Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt III, Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett, and Randy M. Oxendine, VCS Board of Education Chair.

Vance County Early College graduation will take place today at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

AdVance Academy graduates on Friday, June 14 at 3 pm. followed by Vance Virtual Village Academy at 6 pm. The ceremonies will be held  at the Center for Innovation and require a ticket to enter. There’s a livestream link on the VCS webpage: https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/

 

Congratulations, Vance County High School Class of 2024!

VCHS Class of 2024 Fast Facts: 

  • The following seniors enlisted in the military:

○ Dalton Black (U.S. Army)

○ Sarah Baldwin (U.S. Army)

○ Joshua Hicks (U.S. Army)

○ Na’Sean Jones (U.S. Air Force)

○ Ashley Yancey (U.S. Air Force)

○ Kimora Allen (U.S. Navy)

○ Jaliah Snickles-Fields (U.S. Navy)

○ Tony Bolanos-Armas (U.S. Marine Corps)

 

  • 36 students graduated with distinction:

○ 17 seniors graduated Cum Laude (weighted GPA 3.25-3.5)

○ 15 seniors graduated Magna Cum Laude (weighted GPA 3.6-3.9)

○ 4 seniors graduated Summa Cum Laude (weighted GPA 4.0+)

  • Students graduated with a variety of honors, including:

○ North Carolina Scholar

○ National Beta Club

○ President’s Award for Educational Excellence

○ President’s Award for Achievement

○ Music Honors

○ Council on International Exchange

○ Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Scholar

○ International Cultural Exchange Service

 

Follow Vance County Schools on social media to see photos from the graduation exercises.

Kerr Lake Country Club

Chamber Member Spotlight: Kerr Lake Country Club

/by

– This post sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce 

Kerr Lake Country Club is celebrating 60 years! Since the mid-1960’s, this semi-private club has been a destination for families and individuals who want to enjoy a round of golf, a game of tennis or who just want to relax poolside.

Located at 600 Hedrick Drive off Satterwhite Point Road, KLCC offers a variety of membership levels: family memberships include unlimited golf and full pool/tennis, and there are single memberships, young adult memberships, and pool-only memberships so you’re sure to get the best package to fit your needs.

The beautifully manicured golf course is open to the public, accepting green fee play, and is a favored course that attracts golfers from surrounding counties as well.

Call KLCC at 252.492.1895 to learn more. Jan DeMarco is the club manager.

This thriving local business is a proud member of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, which recently featured the club in its Chamber Member Spotlight. Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson thanked KLCC for being a supportive member of the Chamber and Ronald Bennett, board member of the HV Chamber of Commerce presented the spotlight award and expressed gratitude for their longevity in providing great opportunities for locals as well as bringing tourism to Vance County. Bennett also wished them many more years of success ahead.

VCMS Top Bots Takes Second Place At State BrickEd Competition

/by

The Vance County Middle School Top Bots won second place in a statewide competition held over the weekend in Salisbury.

The Top Bots were one of six RoboVance teams to showcase their talents at the BrickEd competition, according to information from Grace Herndon, with VCS Communication & Innovative Support.

After competing at the district level on April 27, the teams advanced to the BrickEd state competition on May 18.

In addition to the VCMS Top Bots, participating teams included the Carver Eagles, E.M. Rollins’s Bear Cub Power, Clarke Tech Titans, STEM Byte Club and Aycock Robo Coders. The Bear Cub Power team from E.M. Rollins received the Sportsmanship Award.

Using LEGO Spike Prime kits and extensions, these teams programmed their robots to complete complex tasks on custom maps.

RoboVance coordinator is Stephen Jones, who, along with other dedicated staff members inspire students to achieve success.

MPH Celebrates Hospital Week With A Variety Of Activities, Fun And Food

/by

Information courtesy of MPH Marketing & Communications Coordinator Donna Young

Maria Parham Health proudly celebrated Hospital Week from May 12 to May 18, honoring and appreciating the exceptional dedication and hard work of its hospital team.  Throughout the week, MPH organized a series of engaging activities and events to foster team spirit and camaraderie among its staff members.

The week kicked off with ‘Merica Monday, where MPH team members showcased their patriotic spirit by decking out in red, white and blue. The celebration featured an array of food trucks including Bun on the Run, Hen and Hound and Baton Rouge Cuisine, which provided a delicious variety of cuisines.

Tuesday, known as Color Day, saw MPH staff adorned in vibrant hues, adding a burst of color to the hospital environment. Harriett Baptist Church generously sponsored free hot and cold coffee for the staff, served by Love is Coffee. The day also featured an indulgent Ice Cream Sundae bar, complete with an assortment of toppings to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

Wednesday embraced the theme of Wild and Tacky Day, encouraging team members to embrace their creativity with mismatched prints, crazy color combinations, and unconventional headwear. Andy’s Kettle Corn and Ernestine’s Caribbean Cuisine tantalized taste buds with their delectable offerings.

Tropical Day brought a taste of the islands to MPH, with staff donning Hawaiian shirts, muu muus, and flower leis. A hospital cookout added to the festivities, with MacScoops providing frozen treats to beat the heat.

The week culminated with Sports Fan Day on Friday, where MPH team members proudly displayed their favorite team apparel. Jones BBQ food truck served up mouth-watering barbecue delights, and staff were treated to exciting giveaways throughout the day.

“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of our hospital team,” said Bert Beard, CEO at Maria Parham Health. “Hospital Week was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their commitment to providing exceptional care to our community. We are proud of our team’s resilience, compassion, and teamwork, which are integral to our mission of making communities healthier.”

Maria Parham Health extends its sincere appreciation to all its staff members for their unwavering dedication and contribution to the hospital’s mission.

Visit www.MariaParham.com to learn more about the hospital’s services and programs

TownTalk: Welcome Center Celebrates National Travel And Tourism Week Thursday, May 23

/by

There are nine official Welcome Centers in North Carolina, all positioned along interstate corridors near the borders of neighboring states. But how many of us who live in North Carolina have made a stop as we make our way home from a roadtrip?

Brian Fletcher, manager of the I-85 North Welcome Center in Norlina, said anyone who stops by tomorrow – Thursday – between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. is going to be in for a treat.

“We’re gonna have a party out there tomorrow,” Fletcher said, to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, observed May 19-25.

Travelers who take a break at the combination rest stop and welcome center can enjoy tasty treats like watermelon, courtesy of the Watermelon Association, and barbecue from Skipper’s. There also will be additional resources available, all to help those traveling to – and through – the state.

Fletcher said the NCDOT operates and maintains the state’s rest areas, but the Welcome Centers are under the N.C. Department of Commerce. And he said welcome center employees are the state’s ambassadors to the traveling public.

Apparently, the state is becoming more and more attractive to the traveling public. In fact, Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina is ranked fifth in the U.S. as a domestic travel destination. In 2023, the North Carolina tourism economy totaled $35.6 billion for trips to and within the state, topping the record set just a year earlier by more than $2 billion.

Fletcher said the welcome centers are staffed with certified travel counselors who provide information about nearby attractions and upcoming events.

Visitors spend more than $97 million per day in North Carolina, which, in turn, funnels $7.1 million per day to state and local tax revenues – about $3.7 million in state taxes and $3.4 million in local taxes.

Having a welcome center to provide services for visitors is just one way to encourage people to get off the interstate and enjoy small towns like Henderson – “to encourage tourism spending in the state,” Fletcher said.

From a big weekend extravaganza like Show, Shine, Shag and Dine to a quaint little antiques shop or a downtown boutique, Fletcher said there’s a wealth of information at the welcome center.

“We represent the whole state,” he added, so the travel counselors don’t recommend one restaurant over another, but give folks several options to choose from.

Fun facts about the I-85 North Welcome Center: it was the state’s first welcome center, built in 1968. And the “north” in the name comes from its geographical location: it’s actually located on I-85 South, designed to welcome folks traveling INTO the state.

Have a question? Call 1.800.VISITNC or search online at www.visitnc.com. And the direct number to Fletcher’s center is 252.456.3236.

CLICK PLAY!

 

VCS Superintendent Receives Second Award In Three Weeks For Service To Community, Education

/by

Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett is among a handful of public school education leaders from across the state to receive awards from The Innovation Project for transformative and innovative leadership practices.

Just last week, Bennett was honored as the 2024 George Watkins Citizen of the Year by the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts. The award is presented annually to extraordinary community leaders in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the quality of life in the Eno River District and who best exemplify the Scout Oath Law.

This is the first time TIP has presented awards for educational excellence. Bennett received the Transcend Award, according to information from TIP. “Honoring a ‘leader among leaders,’ the Transcend Award recognizes individuals whose vision, character and outstanding track record distinguish them among their peers,” the press statement read.

“The recipients of these inaugural awards represent the pinnacle of leadership and innovation in North Carolina’s education landscape,” said Dr. Sharon L. Contreras, CEO of TIP. “Their unwavering commitment to student success and transformative change serves as a beacon of inspiration for all of us.”

The awards were presented during TIP’s membership meeting on May 2, marking a milestone in honoring those who exemplify TIP’s mission of reimagining teaching and learning, fostering creativity, and driving transformative change within their communities.

Other winners were:

➔ Ignite Award: Dr. Keith Parker and Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Schools. The Ignite Award honors a superintendent and district for inspiring the reimagining of teaching and learning within their community. They exhibit creativity and tenacity in implementing bold ideas.

➔ Aspire Award: Dr. Crystal Hill and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The Aspire Award honors a first-year superintendent who demonstrates a great sense of urgency, early success and promising leadership in navigating complex change.

➔ Catalyst Award: Dr. Shawn Stover and Rockingham County Schools. The Catalyst Award celebrates a superintendent and district for courageously leveraging TIP initiatives to drive impactful change and inspire transformation throughout their district.

➔ Pinnacle Award: Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., Superintendent, Cumberland County Schools recognizes a leader at a significant milestone and celebrates a lifetime of dedication and achievement in the service of students and education. Recipients have shown unwavering commitment and perseverance.

➔ Vanguard Award: Jevelyn Bonner-Reed and the Belk Foundation. The Vanguard Award recognizes an individual or organization that is pioneering new ideas, supporting educational change, and collaborating with TIP districts to reimagine education.

Visit https://tipnc.org/ to learn more about the organization.

American Legion Post 60 Memorial Day Service

/by

The Henderson American Legion Post 60 will host a Memorial Day event on Monday, May 27, beginning at 10 a.m. at the post building, located at the corner of Garnett and Spring streets in downtown Henderson.

Jeremy Hetrick, incoming Commander, will be the speaker.

As part of the holiday observance, the names of all individuals from Vance County who gave their lives in service to their country will be read aloud.

In case of rain, the event will be held in the post building.

 

VGCC Logo

VGCC Hosting FAFSA Nights To Help Parents, Students Navigate Federal Aid Application

/by

Vance-Granville Community College’s Financial Aid Office is hosting a series of FAFSA Night meetings to help families with students in college or headed to college – as well as adult learners – understand the federal financial aid application.

The first FAFSA Night was scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 at VGCC’s Main Campus in Henderson. The next event is set for Thursday, May 23 at the Warren Campus, followed by Tuesday, May 28 at the Franklin Campus and Thursday, May 30 at South Campus in Creedmoor.

If you plan to use financial aid for Fall 2024–Summer 2025, you will need to complete the 2024–2025 FAFSA application to determine your eligibility for Title IV Aid.

VGCC’s Financial Aid team will be available to provide assistance with the FAFSA application on the dates and times below:

VGCC Warren County Campus

May 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Building 1, Room W1107
210 West Ridgeway St.
Warrenton, NC 27589

VGCC Franklin County Campus

May 28, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Building 1, Room F1124
8100 NC 56 Highway
Louisburg, NC 27549

VGCC South Campus

May 30, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Room G1103
1547 South Campus Dr.
Creedmoor, NC 27522

Young Farmers & Ranchers Group Gathers Next Generation In Agriculture

/by

The Tri-County Young Farmers & Ranchers group will convene later this week at a local farm that produces organic, environmentally sustainable pork, beef and milk and will learn straight from its owners how MY Meat Farm was created.

If you’re a farmer or rancher between 18 and 35, you’re invited to join this group, which is sponsored by Farm Bureau and brings together young farmers and others in agriculture together from Vance, Granville and Warren counties.

The Tri-County YF&R meeting will be held Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at MY Meat Farm, located at 3182 Sims Bridge Rd., Kittrell. Although it is a Kitrell address, the farm is located in Franklin County.

The YF&R program is a new endeavor in the county, said Dr. Wykia Macon, Vance County extension director. “It is a tri-county group of people 18-35 who are farmers and ranchers. Our local Farm Bureau Board and Catherine Watts, who works with Labor Service International, is working to create a community of local young ranchers and farmers who will lead the next generation,” Macon told WIZS News.

MY Meat Farm will provide the backdrop for the final meeting of the season, but the group will pick back up in September.

The farm produces woodland raised pork, pastured beef and raw milk that is “beyond organic.” The owners use methods that are environmentally sustainable, truly humane, and naturally healthy, according to information from Catherine Watts, one of the organizers of the group.

All participants are reminded to wear comfortable shoes – there will be some walking involved at the meeting! As a biosecurity measure, there will be a footbath for everyone’s shoes before the tour begins.

RSVP to Farm Bureau’s Catherine Watts.

To learn more about the YF&R program, visit https://www.fb.org/program/young-farmers-ranchers.

Vance County Logo

County Tax Reval Info Session Draws A Crowd

/by

The room wasn’t packed, but there were plenty of residents at the Monday information session to learn more about the Vance County tax revaluation and appraisal.

The information was a review – nothing new – but Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry said revaluation can be a complex topic, so another presentation of the overall process, including legal requirements and more, may be something that county residents can learn from.

Property owners can contact the tax office for additional support, and staff is prepared to answer questions as they come in.

The main takeaway is that appeals may be filed until June 3, but the Board of Equalization & Review can continue to hear appeals through December.

Vance Tax Administrator Portia Brooks is creating flyersabout the exemption programs that are offered as well, like for the elderly and disabled, and also for veterans.

So if you’re new to the reappraisal process and you’re new to the appeals process and you’re feeling like that your property had an increase in value that you do not agree with, then keep in mind a couple of things based on the presentation today, downtown by the county and the tax office.

The notices that property owners received recently aren’t tax bills – they simply include new appraisal values. Until the board of commissioners sets the tax rate, property owners won’t know how much tax they’ll owe on their property.

The last revaluation was done in 2018, and many property owners saw their tax bills go down. This probably won’t be the case in 2024, but it all depends on whether commissioners choose a tax rate that is revenue-neutral. The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, May 28 to receive the proposed budget.

Not sure whether you should appeal your new appraisal value?

There’s basically a three-step process:

  1. review the information on file about your property at the Tax Office. You can view online to make sure the details are correct – number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Or call the tax office to request a review of your property card.
  2. Compare your property to other properties that have recently sold. The revaluations are based on market value, so comps are important.
  3. If you still disagree with the reappraisal, you have to file the appeal online or in paper form and it needs to be received by June 3.

There also are programs that provide some relief for elderly, disabled and veterans. Visit https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/tax-overview/property-tax-relief-programs/ to find the necessary forms.

If you decide to appeal your revaluation, it’s important to bring supporting evidence with you. Think comparable prices if you’re appealing your home value. If it’s a business property, you’ll want to look at income and earnings.

But don’t go out and get another appraisal, because you won’t be comparing apples to apples. You’ll need a retrospective appraisal – one that looks at the property’s value as of Jan. 1, 2024.