Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

H-V Crime Stoppers Banquet Recognizes Those Who ‘Protect and Serve’

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Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers held its 24th Annual Awards & Recognition Banquet at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center Thursday evening. The annual banquet brings together supporters of Crime Stoppers and reminds the community that emergency personnel “have a job that is never done.”

Special guest speaker for the evening, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, addressed NC’s growing opioid crisis and provided sobering statistics on the steadily increasing death rate from drug abuse.

Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers held its 24th Annual Awards & Recognition Banquet at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center on September 19, 2019. Special guest speaker for the evening, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, addressed NC’s growing opioid crisis and provided sobering statistics on the steadily increasing death rate from drug abuse. (WIZS photo)

Now the number one cause of accidental death in the state, Marshall stated that five people die in NC each day as a result of an opioid overdose – more than car accidents or a medical illness.

Such statistics show that an “all hands on deck” approach is required for dealing with the epidemic, support that includes many of the law enforcement officers and first responders present at the banquet, Marshall said.

Marshall’s remarks were followed by the award presentation segment of the banquet. Award recipients and presenters included:

Community Watch Award – presented by Dr. Gene Wood to Cobblestone Community Watch. Bernice Price accepted the award on behalf of the association.

Local Citizen Award – presented by Clarence Hicks to John D. Faucette, operator of Carolina Carpet and Flooring.

Public Service Award – presented by Lorraine Watkins to Pastor Abidan Shah of Clearview Church.

Corporate Award – presented by Danny Wright to Maria Parham Health. CEO Bert Beard accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

Business Award – presented by Tonya Moore to Screen Master. Victoria Martin accepted the award on behalf of the business.

Board Member of the Year Award – presented by Tonya Moore to McKinley Perkinson.

Following this presentation, five Crime Stoppers Law Enforcement Awards were given to individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to protecting and serving the community. Awards included:

Sam Pearson Memorial Award – presented by Henderson Police Assistant Chief Vance Johnson to Lt. David Elliott of the Henderson Police Department.

In presenting the award, Johnson said of Elliott, “Sometimes I have to tell him to go home and take a break because he is so dedicated.”

Tom Long Memorial Award – presented by Cheri Martin to Sgt. Andre Alston of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Martin said Alston is extremely hardworking, positive and “the finest on the force.”

N.C. State Highway Patrol Award – presented by Sgt. Jeff Rowan to Trooper Chris Lanham.

“Trooper Lanham is professional on and off duty and has been instrumental in removing drunk drivers from NC highways,” said Rowan.

Vance County Animal Services Award – presented by Chief Frankie Nobles to Billy Spain.

Nobles said he is confident that Spain can fill in where needed at any time and Vance County Animal Services “would be in good hands.”

Vance-Granville Campus Police Award – presented by Chief Sean Newton to Sgt. Michael Brodie.

“When we started the VGCC Campus Police Department in 2013, I knew I needed to make an extremely strong first hire, and I found that in Michael Brodie,” Newton said.

Nelson Woodhouse provided music for the banquet. Catering was provided by Ted Wheeler’s Catering Service.

Clarence Hicks, Vice President of the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, served as emcee for the evening.

U.S. Department of Justice

Henderson Pair Charged in Federal Court After Vance Co. Deputies Injured

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-Press Release, U.S. Dept. of Justice

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces the arrest of two defendants pursuant to Federal Criminal Complaints for federal narcotics offenses. The arrests occurred after law enforcement attempted to serve a search warrant in Henderson, North Carolina.

The defendants injured four Vance County Deputy Sheriffs, in their attempt to flee the area where the search warrant was being executed.

JASMELE ROBINSON, 36, of Henderson, is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and maintaining a premises for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing heroin, and aiding and abetting.

If convicted of these charges, ROBINSON could be sentenced to at least five years’ imprisonment up to life, and up to five years supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

KRISHANA WILLIAMS, 30, of Henderson, was charged with maintaining a premises for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing heroin, and aiding and abetting. She faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release.

The charges and allegations contained in the Criminal Complaints are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017 the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case is also part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and the Henderson Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Dodson is handling the case for the government.

H-V Emergency Operations

H-V Emergency Operations Successfully Transitions to Next Generation 911

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-Press Release, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations

At 11:32 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, the Henderson-Vance County Emergency Communications Center officially transitioned to Next Generation 911.

This move was several years in the making and places our 911 center at the forefront of the latest technology and allows us to offer the highest level of service to our citizens.

Next Generation 911 works by connecting every PSAP (911 Center) in the State to the Emergency Services IP Network or ESI Net. This new technology allows for faster call delivery, more accurate location technology, enhanced call transfer options and improved texting capabilities just to name a few of the many improvements from the previous system.

Vance County was the sixteenth county to make the transition to the ESI Net, with more and more jurisdictions set to follow every week.

Having all 911 centers in NC on the same system will allow us to transfer misrouted 911 calls to the correct 911 center even in locations that previously belonged to another phone company with ease.

It will also greatly improve our ability to help each other during times of crisis by allowing a 911 center to take calls for another 911 center that may be down due to equipment failure, weather event or any other situation that renders them inoperable.

More technology enhancements are on the horizon and will be occurring in the coming days including enhanced GIS mapping components and the latest in call routing technologies.

VGCC Celebrates 50 Years on Four Campuses

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently brought together students, faculty, staff and community members to mark the 50th anniversary of the college, with festivities on all four of its campuses. The original charter for the college, then known as Vance County Technical Institute, was issued on Sept. 4, 1969.

VGCC Board of Trustees Chair Danny Wright and VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais cut the “birthday cake” on the college’s Main Campus to celebrate the institution’s fiftieth anniversary. (VGCC photo)

During the week of the actual anniversary, celebratory ceremonies featuring speakers and refreshments were held on each campus: the Warren County Campus on Sept. 3, Main Campus (in Vance County) on Sept. 4, South Campus (in Granville County) on Sept. 5, and the Franklin County Campus on Sept. 6.

In addition, Main Campus hosted an anniversary ‘bash’ on Sept. 4 with the band, “Liquid Pleasure,” performing, and food trucks on hand.

“We are grateful to everyone who attended our 50th anniversary events, and to the citizens and businesses who made contributions to support this celebration,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of VGCC. “We have reflected on the educational opportunities that this college has provided to Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, while we have also looked forward to the next 50 years of shining the light of education in service to our communities.”

The “Liquid Pleasure” band performs in front of the gazebo on VGCC’s Main Campus during the 50th anniversary ‘bash.’ (VGCC photo)

Guest speakers at the anniversary events included Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen; Franklin County Manager Angela L. Harris; Devon Suitt, a VGCC alumnus and Granville Early College High School graduate; Zelodis Jay, chair of the Granville County Board of Commissioners; Gary Massenburg, a VGCC alumnus and Warren Early College High School graduate; and Tare “T” Davis, chair of the Warren County Board of Commissioners.

Two VGCC staff members who are also alumni of the college made remarks, as well. Amy O’Geary, director of student success, spoke at Main Campus. “As a graduate and longtime employee, Vance-Granville Community College has been a part of my life for over 30 years,” O’Geary said. “This college guided me in my career path and has allowed me the opportunity to do what I truly love: help students reach their own potential.”

O’Geary recalled that after graduating from VGCC, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. “I quickly realized that I was not cut out for a career in sales; however, I can sell one thing,” she said. “I can ‘sell’ Vance-Granville Community College, because I believe in our mission and what we have done for this community for 50 years!”

Devon Suitt speaks during a celebration of VGCC’s 50th anniversary at the college’s South Campus. He is currently a social work investigator and a graduate student at North Carolina Central University. (VGCC photo)

Julie Jones, the college’s distance education coordinator, spoke at the Franklin Campus. That was where she first became a student, as a single mother who had recently lost her job due to company downsizing. At the time, Jones had been out of school for 17 years.

“The counselor at the time saw that I was anxious about starting back to school,” she recalled. “She was very encouraging and got me set up with my program of study and first classes. That is when I took my first computer course and knew I wanted a career working in I.T. My first computer instructor had enough confidence in my ability to do well that he asked me to apply for the part-time position of Open Computer Lab Technician. I started to believe in myself and gained the confidence that I could actually make it through college.”

Julie Jones (standing) speaks during a celebration of VGCC’s fiftieth anniversary held at the college’s Franklin County Campus. Seated, from left, are VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC Board of Trustees Chair Danny Wright, VGCC Franklin County Campus Dean Bobbie Jo May and Franklin County Manager Angela Harris. (VGCC photo)

Jones excelled in her academics and, after graduation, became a full-time employee in the campus computer lab. She would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree, as well.

“What I found at VGCC was a home and a supportive family,” Jones said. “Without the encouragement I found along the way, I would not be where I am today.”

The September events capped off a series of activities throughout the year that helped celebrate 50 years of excellence, including a Dinner Theater in April; the 35th annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament in May, commencement exercises for VGCC’s 50th graduating class in May, and the formal inauguration of President Desmarais in August.

 

Town Talk 09/19/19

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Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Properties Committee to Discuss Dennis Building, City Properties

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please note that Vance County’s Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Monday, September 30, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

Topics to be discussed include the Dennis Building and city properties.

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Human Resources Committee to Meet Sept. 24

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please be informed that Vance County’s Human Resources Committee (Faines, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

The committee will discuss a vehicle use policy.

Town Talk 09/17/19: Jason Spriggs Discusses City Council Run

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Reminder: FGV Ducky Derby to ‘Flood’ Garnett St. This Saturday

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Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start will hold its annual Ducky Derby Festival and rubber duck race, a fundraiser for the local Smart Start program, this Saturday, September 21, 2019, in downtown Henderson. The festival begins at 12 p.m. on Breckenridge Street between Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.

This year’s activities include a bounce house and slide, face painting, corn hole, ring toss, balloon animals and performances by the Baby Shark and Paw Patrol characters.

Vendors will be on hand serving hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage dogs, fish sandwiches, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, ice cream and snow cones.

Entertainment will include a DJ, singing performances from several daycare programs, music from Henderson Collegiate, Mary Potter Elementary School band and choir and the drumline from Granville Central High School.

The YMCA will lead line dancing and Zumba in the street and children will have the opportunity to man a real firehose with the assistance of the Henderson Fire Department.

Each child that attends the event will receive a free book, courtesy of Smart Start. Parents will also have the opportunity to enroll any child age birth to 5 in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that sends a book each month to children at their home.

Safe Kids will also be present and will set up childcare safety seat inspections.

At 2 p.m., the entertainment switches to Garnett Street, where the rubber duck race will take place. Up to 2,000 rubber ducks will be poured into the Garnett Street “river” by a Greystone Concrete cement mixer.

The first duck to cross the finish line at Orange Street wins $1,000, second place $500 and third place finish is $250. Even the last duck to cross the finish line wins $100. There will be an additional drawing with one lucky winner receiving free “Chick-fil-A for a year,” a set of 52 meal tickets. Winners of the prizes do not have to be present to win.

In Henderson, tickets are on sale at EZ Car Care, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and State Employees Credit Union. All Smart Start staff and board members also have tickets, please call (252) 433-9110.

Tickets will also be on sale the day of the race. Ducks are $5 each, a “Quack Pack” of 6 tickets is $25 and a “Flock” of 25 tickets is available for $100.

Corbitt Preservation Assoc. Finds ‘Golden Treasure’ in Rare Automobile

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-Information and photos courtesy Kenneth Stegall, Corbitt Preservation Association 

Excerpt from the Corbitt Preservation Association August Newsletter:

About two weeks ago, Charles Powell received a call from a lady saying she had a Corbitt Automobile. Charles asked everyone at the end of the Corbitt Preservation meeting if anyone would want to go with him to check it out and, of course, Steve Rosemond and Curtis Paul said “yes” right away.

So Saturday morning, August 10, Charles Powell, Steve Rosemond, Curtis Paul, Jerry Capps and Bruce Essick met at the lady’s house in Greensboro, NC.

When they opened the old barn door, there sat a Corbitt Automobile Body all nice and dry with its interior intact. The car even has the original VIN plate on the dashboard. This 4-door touring car was most likely built in 1911-1912. This is an amazing find, and we had to have it no matter what.

The lady agreed to sell it to the Corbitt Preservation Association for $1,500. We took the $1,500 out of our general fund in order to take possession of this golden treasure of ours.

We are now going to ask for donations to help replenish our $1,500 back to our general fund account. This was something we just could not live without.

The car body will be on display at our Corbitt Truck Show & Reunion in downtown Henderson on Saturday, October 19, 2019, for everyone to see and enjoy. We don’t know as of this moment how it will be displayed after the show, all we know is we are PROUD owners of a Corbitt Automobile body!

This also proves the importance of our website; without it, the lady would have never known who to contact about a Corbitt Automobile.

There is only one thing left to find, and that is a Corbitt Buggy. We believe we will find one, one day!

The Corbitt Preservation Association is strong and we have lots of dedicated people who love our brand. We will keep digging and digging until we find the next treasure. You never know what will happen next!