N.C. gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein’s scheduled visit to Henderson this afternoon has been postponed because of the threat of severe weather forecast for later today.
Vance County Democratic Chairperson Angela Thornton told WIZS News earlier Tuesday.
“We look forward to coordinating with his campaign for a rescheduled date,” Thornton said in a written statement to WIZS.
Stein is the current state attorney general.
-information courtesy of the office of Eastern District of North Carolina U.S. Attorney Michael Easley
A Henderson man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and possession of firearms, including a firearm loaded with a large capacity magazine, and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina praised the efforts of local police for their help in the case.
Tyrik Pettaway, 21, pled guilty in July 2023 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and fentanyl and possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin and fentanyl, according to information released Monday by the Eastern District office of U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.
“The unwavering dedication and relentless efforts of the Henderson Police Department have been instrumental in upholding justice and ensuring the safety of our community,” Easley said in the press statement. “Their exemplary commitment to teamwork among state and federal law enforcement is commendable and emboldens public trust in our justice system.”
“Our collaboration with the Eastern District of North Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to benefit our community,” commented Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow. “The efforts of all involved are evident. I am hopeful this sentence gives pause to those in our community walking a similar path.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, after receiving multiple reports that Pettaway and Neno King were dealing drugs, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of suspected heroin containing fentanyl from Pettaway and King in the spring of 2022. In March 2022, agents executed a search warrant at a residence used by Pettaway in Henderson where they recovered a firearm with a large capacity magazine and approximately 1,100 dosage units of a substance containing fentanyl, rifle ammunition, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Pettaway has prior felony convictions for possession of a stolen firearm (2020), possession with the intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver heroin (2020 and 2021), and breaking and entering to terrorize (2020). King pled guilty to drug trafficking and gun charges in March 2023 and was sentenced in August to 180 months in prison.
When it comes to paying for a college education, one of the first things for parents and students to know is the difference between scholarships and grants versus loans. A loan has to be repaid; grants and scholarships don’t.
Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Desmarais said her school’s financial aid officers at each of the college’s four campuses are ready to help prospective students as they navigate the sometimes choppy waters of paying for post-secondary schooling.
The Next NC Scholarship is just one of the funding streams available to many state residents, Desmarais said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
Students in households that make less than $80,000 are eligible for at least $3,000 an academic year at a community college under the Next NC Scholarship. There are several other criteria to be eligible for the Next NC funds, including being a state resident already enrolled in a program and taking at least 6 credit hours.
Close to one-third of VGCC’s traditional student population use some type of financial aid to pay for their tuition and fees, she said.
Whether students are in a path for a certification, a two-year associate degree or want to transfer to a four-year college or university, Desmarais said it’s important to keep student loan debt as low as possible.
“The less debt you can accumulate during that time is important,” she said, adding that scholarships like the Next NC Scholarship and Pell Grants from the federal government both help students be able to afford college.
“They help individuals get that good job and not be stacked with debt,” Desmarais said.
“If you’re spending all your money repaying student loans, you’re not really getting ahead,” she noted.
Many high school seniors and their parents are in the process of completing the all-important Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which opened on Dec. 31, 2023.
VGCC will host a FAFSA Day on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on the Main Campus in Henderson, Desmarais said. This is a time when families can learn more about the financial aid process and get help completing the online documents. The event will take place in Building 7, with check-in in the front lobby. There is plenty of nearby parking to accommodate participants.
“We’re here to help,” Desmarais said. “We enjoy meeting new folks and helping them walk through the financial aid process. We’re excited about helping people plan for college.”
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Vance County Manager Renee Perry has announced that William Coker has been selected to be the county’s Animal Services Manager.
Coker, a native of Vance County, has more than a decade of work experience in the county, having served in the Sheriff’s Office as well as with Animal Control.
He began his new role on Jan. 2, 2024 following a recruitment and interview process, Perry said in a press statement sent Thursday afternoon to WIZS. Coker succeeds Frankie Nobles, who accepted a new position as the county’s Special Projects Coordinator last year.
Maria Parham Health invites nursing students or recent graduates of nursing programs to an Open House on Wednesday, Jan. 24 to learn about career opportunities in the health care industry.
The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the hospital’s main campus, 566 Ruin Creek Rd., according to information from MPH Market Coordinator Donna Young.
Prospective nurses will get the chance to speak with experienced nurses and health care leaders as they learn more about job opportunities and a variety of career paths that involve nursing.
Visit https://www.mariaparham.com/event/42 to register online.
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Local ophthalmologist Dr. Daniel Bernstein died Saturday, Dec. 23.
Bernstein, 81, retired in 2022 and relocated to Virginia to be closer to family.
Bernstein was initially appointed to the Maria Parham Health medical staff in 1975, according to a social media post from Maria Parham Health, which included condolences to his family, friends and patients. He retired from Four County Eye Associates, where he practiced with partner Dr. Cynthia Hampton.
A funeral service will be held Sunday Dec. 31 at 11 a.m at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh, followed by a graveside service at 12 noon at Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery, 450 N. State St., Raleigh.
Known for providing quality eye care to his patients for more than five decades, Bernstein also was quick to share jokes, whether in the office or during other activities in the community.
He had been a long-time member of the Henderson Kiwanis Club, and current Kiwanis Club President Danny Wilkerson said he remembered Bernstein as being “just a genuine guy (who) was so supportive of Henderson.”
Wilkerson said he appreciated Bernstein’s civic-mindedness and his support and advice when he was elected back in the fall to be the club’s new president.
Bernstein attended the club’s Christmas party that was held a couple of weeks ago, Wilkerson reported.
The public is invited to a musical event on Saturday, Jan. 6 to raise money to help victims of domestic violence.
Dorothy Wimbush, one of the event’s organizers, said the “I Survived The Battle” program includes numerous musical performances. Minister Brenda Hunt Moore will be the emcee.
The program will be held at Vance-Granville Community College. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the service begins at 4 p.m. Advance tickets are $15; tickets at the door are $20. Children under 12 get in free.
Wimbush said all proceeds will be used to help women find a place to stay after they have left an abusive relationship.
The service, a production of Helen Gill and TMT Promotions, is scheduled to include the following:
To learn more, contact Helen Gill at 919.538.9179 or Cynthia Turner at 919.798.1432.
| Break out your art supplies and let your creativity take flight! The N.C. Department of Transportation is now accepting entries for its 2023 North Carolina Aviation Art Contest from students across the state.
This year’s theme is “Air Sports for a Peaceful World.” All North Carolina students born between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2017, are eligible to submit entries in one of three age groups: junior (ages 6-9), intermediate (ages 10-13) and senior (ages 14-17). Entries in each age group will have a chance to compete for one of three prizes to be awarded to the student who won and their school. Entries will be accepted through Jan. 17, 2024. The three North Carolina winners in each group will advance to the national competition, hosted by the National Association of State Aviation Officials in Washington D.C. National winners are submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’s headquarters in Switzerland for the international contest. The contest is funded in part by the North Carolina Airports Association and its member donors. Since the contest began in 2015, 12,437 students from 759 schools and 93 North Carolina counties have submitted entries. Visit the NCDOT website for eligibility and submission details. Questions? Contact North Carolina’s contest coordinator, Corbi Bulluck, at cbulluck@ncdot.gov or 919.814.0550. |
Ten elementary schools now have outdoor learning centers to provide teachers and students a breath of fresh air when it comes to teaching and learning. It may be a little chilly when students return on Jan. 3, but the learning centers can expect increased use when the weather warms.
Vance County Schools leaders, along with local officials and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, recently gathered at Aycock Elementary’s Outdoor Learning Center to celebrate the additions to the elementary campuses. Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett shared valuable insights into the purpose of this innovative workspace. The Outdoor Learning Center features benches, learning screens and Internet access, which all serve to provide students with a conducive environment for instructional lessons while enjoying the outdoors.
These outdoor learning centers are just one of the innovative ways that VCS is working to support teachers and student achievement. The school district will get more than $12 million to hire eight instructional coaches and 16 lead teachers – one for each school in the district.
Through the Raleigh-based nonprofit The Innovation Project and a three-year funding cycle from the U.S. Dept. of Education, VCS leaders say they can boost recruitment and retention of teachers, a chronic challenge for many rural school districts.
In an interview last month, Bennett said the instructional coaches will have the opportunity to work with students and teachers, whether through co-teaching situations, professional development sessions and more. Ideal candidates will be professionals with a proven track record of high achievement and student progress and who possess a strong skill set of working with adults.
– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
Family members of a local man have established scholarships for Vance-Granville Community College students in the commercial driver license program to honor his memory and acknowledge the positive effects the program had on his life.
David Lee Chavis, Jr. was a victim of gun violence who died in March 2023. His sister, Tameka Holden, and his mother, Carrie Cheek, both of Henderson, have established two need-based scholarships that will award $1,100 to students pursuing their CDL.
Chavis, affectionately called “DJ” by those who knew him, built a successful career as a commercial truck driver in recent years. A native of Vance County, Chavis had once lived a very different life—but hard work, renewed vision, and a commercial driver’s license provided him with a fresh start and an honest means of supporting his family.
Holden witnessed firsthand how her brother’s whole life transformed when he began his driving career and started his own business, TYM Trucking. From her perspective, creating a scholarship that can free others from a cycle of poverty and crime is the perfect way to honor his legacy and demonstrate her personal motto: Reach one, teach one.
If these scholarships prevent another family from experiencing the loss that hers did, Holden feels the effort it took to establish them will have been worth it. “The streets don’t love you,” she stressed. “They only take you away from the people that do.”
The VGCC Foundation anticipates awarding the two CDL scholarships in January 2024. The contribution represents grassroots fundraising efforts from family, friends, and neighbors; VGCCF has set up an ongoing fund for the David Lee Chavis Jr. Memorial CDL Annual Scholarship so that donors can continue to support the college’s future CDL students.
Vance-Granville Community College recently announced that the cost of completing its 9-week CDL program will decrease to $1,200 in 2024, meaning that tuition and related fees will be almost completely covered for recipients of the David Lee Chavis Jr. Memorial CDL Annual Scholarship.
In addition to providing scholarships to deserving students, the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation supports a broad range of special projects involving education, training, and economic development in our community. Tax-deductible donations to VGCCF have often been used to honor a person, group, business, or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the VGCC Foundation, contact 252-738-3264 or https://www.vgcc.edu/foundation/.
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