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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 that United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS, 31, of Henderson to 72 months’ imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised released.
On March 12, 2019, WILLIAMS pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
On March 17, 2018, the Norlina and Warrenton Police Departments conducted a joint-agency license check on U.S. Highway 1 South in Warrenton, NC. As a part of that license check, a car occupied by WILLIAMS was stopped and officers detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A search of WILLIAMS revealed 10 bindles of heroin in his pocket. A search of the car revealed a loaded 9mm handgun which had been reported stolen.
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 Warrenton Police Department, and the Norlina Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case for the government.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/U.S.-Department-of-Justice.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-07-30 16:58:002019-07-30 16:58:00Henderson Man Sentenced to Six Years For Heroin & Gun Conviction
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Tracey Dreibelbis and Mary Paschall, local MAR (Missing Animal Response) trained volunteers, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss their lost pet recovery process.
Dreibelbis, who also volunteers at the Granville County Animal Shelter, said she began the MAR training process for lost pet consultants in 2015 and received her completion certificate in 2016.
Her love for animals and the satisfaction of reuniting pets with their loved ones fuels her drive. “Once you find a match and you get a pet back home, it snowballs and you have to keep doing it,” Dreibelbis said.
Paschall, a Vance County native, met Dreibelbis last year when the two helped recover a dog that was involved with a transport escape on I-85.
“It’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed being involved,” said Paschall. “In the past, if I saw a lost dog along the road, I would stop and wonder why I could never get them to come to me. Then I had my training and I realized there are certain techniques involved; you just can’t go after a dog.”
Recently, Paschall was instrumental in locating “Titan,” a Shiba Inu that went missing after a car accident on I-85 southbound in June.
After seeing a Facebook posting about Titan’s situation, Paschall reached out to the dog’s owner Cecilie Taylor who lives in Apex.
“I started working with Cecilie to put out flyers and put up posters around the area,” said Paschall. “Then we set up a feeding station and heard nothing for several days.”
After a few days with no leads, Paschall said she received a text that there was a sighting of Titan. She then drove over to the area, spoke to another volunteer and, surprisingly, Titan “poked his head out.”
Using techniques she learned in MAR training, including remaining calm and using treats to pique the dog’s interest, Paschall was able to safely secure Titan and contact Taylor with the good news.
“It was a nice reunion to see,” said Paschall. “We got it on video. It was the way you want it to turn out.”
To hear the interview with Dreibelbis and Paschall in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/wizs-featured-image-town-talk.png210400Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-07-30 16:57:292019-07-30 16:57:29Town Talk (07/30/19): Recovery Volunteers Reunite Lost Pets With Family
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-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc.
Rebuilding Hope’s annual Kids’ Construction Camp (KCC) is scheduled for August 5 – 7 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. each day.
KCC gives second through sixth graders hands-on experiences with basic construction skills as they rotate through stations such as Hammer and Nails, Electrical and Plumbing, Block Laying and building a take-home project.
“So many people in our communities have construction skills, and they’re generous with their time and help with the camp,” says RHI coordinator Randolph Wilson.
“While campers rotate through areas of construction, we want them to be aware of how they are building their lives.”
“One of the stations in the camp is Bible study. Last year the theme of the study was ‘What Type of Reputation Are You Building?’”
At camp’s end participants are given certificates of completion.
RHI volunteers Steve Lyles, Ed Blue, Jim Montgomery and Richard Rogers help 2018 Kids’ Construction Camp participants build a stool, last year’s take-home project. (RHI photo)
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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department will be hosting Community Bingo for Seniors, ages 55 or better, at the Vance County Senior Center (126 South Garnett St.) on Thursday, August 1 and Thursday, August 15, 2019, from 12:45 until 1:45 p.m.
Please note that this is a location change. The Aycock Rec Center is closed through the end of August for renovations.
Vance-Granville Community College and Henderson-based Charles Boyd Chevrolet Buick GMC are teaming up to try to meet the demand for more skilled workers in the automotive service field.
According to Tony Crabtree, the service manager for the dealership, VGCC and Charles Boyd have worked together for many years, particularly through the college’s Automotive Systems Technology program. The company is also a longtime supporter of the VGCC Endowment Fund and was a sponsor of the recent 35th annual Golf Tournament. Now, however, the dealership is working for an enhanced partnership, because of the urgent need to build a pipeline of future employees.
Above: A group of VGCC Automotive Systems Technology students toured the Charles Boyd facility earlier this year. (Photo courtesy VGCC)
“Technicians are getting scarce,” Crabtree said. “Automotive is a good field to go into, because the demand is there, so technicians are making great money. VGCC is stepping up to help us get more students interested in this career.”
The strategy being developed now is a formal paid apprenticeship program, in which VGCC Automotive Systems Technology students will work alongside Charles Boyd employees for an extended period of time (perhaps as long as two years) while continuing their studies. Students could, for example, go to class at VGCC in the morning and then work at Charles Boyd every afternoon during a typical week. Crabtree has personal experience with such a program. “I started in this field as an apprentice at age 16 in Durham through a high school program,” he said.
The field of servicing cars and trucks has changed dramatically through Crabtree’s years in the business. “There is so much to learn now. The hard part is not replacing some part of the car, but the biggest thing is diagnosing what’s wrong with it, using computers. Some cars have 50-60 computers on them. And we want to give students the hands-on experience so they can see how complex and rewarding it can be.”
At the same time, Crabtree said, apprenticeships help students “test-drive” their career. “It would give students a taste of this field and they could find out if it really fits them,” Crabtree said. “It’s a win-win for all parties, the students and us.” Crabtree and his colleagues could train apprentices in the particular way that the dealership operates and could incorporate General Motors’ apprentice training program into the student experience. Training is essential to work as a technician at Charles Boyd, anyway.
“Our goal is quality work, and our technicians have to be trained constantly,” Crabtree said. “There are always new vehicles coming out that we’ve got to learn. I have to meet certifications myself.”
He added that the term “grease monkey” is a relic of the past. “Technicians are respected now,” Crabtree said. “With technology now, you can’t fix a car as a mechanic under the shade tree. And everybody wants their car to run, so there’s always a need.”
Eddie Ellington, the Director of Business Development & Public Relations at Charles Boyd Chevrolet, said that the dealership is fortunate to have Crabtree’s knowledge, experience and professionalism to help collaborate with VGCC. “GM Technicians are held to a higher standard and training,” Ellington said. “When you enter into an apprenticeship, you are learning what we strive for and our goal is that when you’re done, you’ll move right into full-time employment within our company.”
Ellington has a personal connection to the college. “I actually graduated from VGCC myself and transferred to Appalachian State,” he said. “To be just down the interstate from us and to offer the excellent training that Vance-Granville does, we are so thankful for the partnership we have. We’re a full-service General Motors dealership and Vance-Granville is a fully accredited community college. That’s a winning combination.”
Several Charles Boyd employees are products of the community college’s Automotive Systems Technology program. The head of the program, Fred Brewer, worked for Charles Boyd many years ago, and he has recommended graduates to Crabtree.
Charles Boyd has also worked with Brewer on Work-Based Learning opportunities, which typically take the form of internships that last for a single semester. A long-term apprenticeship, however, would be new.
Statewide, apprenticeships have long been associated with manufacturing, but are now found in a wide variety of businesses and trades. As Crabtree put it, “We’ve already got a great partnership with Vance-Granville, and we can only make it better.”
For more information on this partnership, contact Eddie Ferguson at fergusone@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3264. For more information on the VGCC Automotive program, contact Fred Brewer at brewerf@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3204.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/VGCC-Automotive.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-07-29 16:59:192019-07-29 16:59:19VGCC, Charles Boyd Grow Partnership to Drive Workforce Development
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-Information courtesy Faye M. Gill, Director, Vance County Board of Elections
The Vance County Board of Elections will hold an educational seminar about voter photo identification requirements at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at Vance-Granville Community College in the Civic Center room in Henderson.
There will be another educational seminar at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at E.M. Rollins School in the auditorium.
The seminars are free and open to the public.
Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the N.C. Constitution to require voters to present photo ID at the polls.
Session Law 2018-144 requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before September 1, 2019. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, One-Stop early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.
For more information on the voter ID requirement in North Carolina, please go to www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-ID.
Please contact the Vance County Board of Elections at 252-492-3730 or send an email to fgill@vancecounty.org if there are any questions.
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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
The Aycock Recreation Center will be closed beginning Saturday, July 27 and reopening on Saturday, August 31, 2019.
On Friday, July 26, the center will close at 6 p.m.
During this closure, we will be making upgrades to the facility. Patrons may still utilize the outdoor walking track.
For more information, please contact Tara Goolsby at (252) 438-3948 or tgoolsby@ci.henderson.nc.us
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Nineteen Practical Nursing graduates were honored for their completion of the one-year program at Vance-Granville Community College during a pinning ceremony on July 24 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus.
Upon receiving their diplomas, the graduates are now eligible to sit for the national exam for licensed practical nurses (NCLEX-PN).
Nineteen Practical Nursing graduates were honored for their completion of the one-year program at Vance-Granville Community College during a pinning ceremony on July 24 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus. Front row (L to R): B. Williams, L. Clayton, M. Wanjiku, E. Ogachi, T. Onchiri, M. Casady, S. Mugambi; Second row (L to R): S. Nyambariga, J. Kortor, C. Howarth, S. Wilson, M. Sellers, S. Alston, C. Blakenship; Third row (L to R): S. Hawkins, M. Goedeker, T. Adesina, B. Kilmer. (VGCC photo)
Among the Practical Nursing graduates recognized at the ceremony were Candice Howarth of Bullock; Mary Wanjiku of Cary; Shaquile Hawkins and Sharlett Wilson, both of Creedmoor; Timothy Adesina and Justin Kortor, both of Durham; Stephanie Alston of Henderson; Laveasta Clayton of Knightdale; Megann Casady of Louisburg; Mikayla Sellers of Middleburg; Brittany Williams of Oxford; Marylou Goedeker, Sylvia Mugambi, Stephen Nyambariga, Esther Ogachi and Teresa Onchiri, all of Raleigh; Cindy Blankenship and Suzanne Wiley, both of Wake Forest; and Bryanne Kilmer of Youngsville.
Welcoming remarks were offered by Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs; Erica Jastrow, the chair of the college’s Nursing Department; and Candice Howarth, president of the Practical Nursing Class of 2019.
“Our Nursing program goes all the way back to 1970, almost to the founding of this great institution, of which we are celebrating 50 years of existence this year,” said Dr. Brown. “Now we are proud to add to that history the Practical Nursing Class of 2019, a diverse group of students from several towns in our region.” While many members of the class have chosen specific nursing specialties for their careers, many also plan to continue their education, he said. He encouraged the graduates to “aspire, accelerate and achieve in every walk of life.”
“With success comes great responsibility,” Jastrow noted in her remarks. “The work that these graduates did a year ago was work for their future selves that are here graduating today. I hope that others are inspired by your success to begin working toward their future selves. We at VGCC would love to have the opportunity to work with others to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.”
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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools
All students who attend Vance County Middle School, AdVance Academy, STEM Early High School and all Vance County elementary schools except E.M. Rollins will begin school on Monday, August 26, 2019. Open house will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019. Information on times will be made available as soon as possible.
E.M. Rollins Elementary School will begin school on Monday, August 5, 2019. Open house will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019, from 2 until 7 p.m.
Vance County Early College and Vance County High School will begin school on Monday, August 5, 2019. Open house will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019, from 1 until 7 p.m.
All parents and students are invited to attend open house events.
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