Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Vance Co. Schools Addresses Meal Changes During Govt. Shutdown

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools was first notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 4 that the federal government shutdown would affect funds for our school system’s School Nutrition Program.

School system officials subsequently were notified on January 7 by the N.C. State Department of Agriculture that food shipments were only guaranteed to our schools through March. On January 12, the USDA notified school districts that federal funds are only available through March.

Understanding our limited resources (cash reserves), we began planning for the long-term impact on our food service program should the federal shutdown continue. We made the decision to alter our food options to conserve funds as long as possible.

The Vance County Schools child nutrition program is funded through reimbursement by the Federal Government. A total of 95 percent of our program’s budget is provided through these federal monies. Federal reimbursements for student meals are usually received in our district 30 days after the meals are served.

Our school system has one-and-a-half months of funding reserves on hand to support our child nutrition program once funding is no longer available through the USDA. We recognize that we must plan to make the most of our resources and that we have a responsibility to meet the needs of our children. Our priority is ensuring our students receive breakfast and lunch every day and that continues to be the priority of our school system.

We are committed to providing breakfasts and lunches each day to all of our students.

We will continue to assess our school nutrition services on a regular basis as the shutdown continues.

Registration for H-V Rec. & Parks Youth Baseball & Softball Begins Feb. 2

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-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks will hold registration for youth spring baseball and softball February 2 – March 9, 2019.

Baseball is open to ages 4 – 18; playing age is determined as of May 1, 2019.

Softball is open to ages 6 – 16; playing age is determined as of January 1, 2020.

Cost: Vance County Residents – $40; Non Residents – $60

Register at the Aycock Rec. Center during normal business hours.

For more information, please contact Steve Osborne at 252.438.2670, sosborne@ci.henderson.nc.us or Victor Hunt at 252.438.3408, vhunt@ci.henderson.nc.us.

Cocaine, Heroin Among Drugs Seized at State St. Residence

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Press Release – Henderson Police Department

On January 15, 2019, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Division along with the Special Response Team executed a search warrant at the residence of 819 State St., Henderson, NC.

During the execution of the search warrant over 1,500 Xanax bars, 271 grams of marijuana, 2.9 grams of raw heroin, 28 grams of cocaine, 81 dosage units of heroin, 22 Ecstasy pills, over $3,000 in US Currency, miscellaneous paraphernalia/manufacturing supplies and five firearms along with several rounds of ammunition were located and seized.

Jamey Ameche Owens, 47, of 819 State St., Henderson, NC was arrested and charged. He was charged with Trafficking Cocaine x2, Trafficking Heroin x2, PWIMSD Heroin, PWIMSD Cocaine, PWIMSD Marijuana, PWIMSD SCH. IV, PWIMSD SCH. I, Manufacturing Schedule I, Manufacturing Schedule II, Manufacturing Schedule VI, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Felony Possession of Schedule IV, Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling x2, Firearm by Felon x5, and Felony Alter/Remove Gun Serial Number.

His bond was set in the amount of $500,000 secured. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 28, 2019.

On January 15, 2019, Jamey Ameche Owens, 47, of 819 State St., Henderson, NC was arrested and charged with Trafficking Cocaine x2, Trafficking Heroin x2, PWIMSD Heroin, PWIMSD Cocaine, PWIMSD Marijuana, PWIMSD SCH. IV, PWIMSD SCH. I, Manufacturing Schedule I, Manufacturing Schedule II, Manufacturing Schedule VI, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Felony Possession of Schedule IV, Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling x2, Firearm by Felon x5, and Felony Alter/Remove Gun Serial Number. (Photo courtesy the Henderson Police Dept.)

During the execution of the search warrant at 819 State St. in Henderson, NC, over 1,500 Xanax bars, 271 grams of marijuana, 2.9 grams of raw heroin, 28 grams of cocaine, 81 dosage units of heroin, 22 Ecstasy pills, over $3,000 in US Currency, miscellaneous paraphernalia/manufacturing supplies and five firearms along with several rounds of ammunition were located and seized. (Photo courtesy the Henderson Police Dept.)

‘Worship Without Walls’ to Bring Community Together to Celebrate MLK, Jr.

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On Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program, Charles Turrentine, Jr. with Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church spoke of the church’s upcoming “Worship Without Walls” event being held on Sunday, January 20.

The event, to be held outside at the basketball court at nearby Chestnut Street Park at 745 N. Chestnut St. in Henderson, is being held as “an extended celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.”

According to Turrentine, the celebration will begin at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Sunday and will include a live DJ, excerpts from King’s speeches, poetry, open commentary, food and hot beverages. The Vance County High School drumline will also be performing.

“I know it’s going to be a little chilly, but we want to have a good time and bring the people out,” Turrentine said. “We want to show people that the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had has not died. It has instilled us with the power to move on, better ourselves and help the City of Henderson be a better place to live.”

The idea for the celebration is based on Turrentine’s past family trips to Atlanta, GA to take part in the city’s annual MLK celebrations.

Turrentine said it was always an exciting time to see the march in front of King’s home church – the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church – and experience the positive energy. “The whole city would come out; it’s a great experience. We thought we’d bring some of that back to Henderson, on a smaller scale, with the same concept in mind.”

Part of that vision was to hold the event at an outdoor location “without walls” to make it as welcoming and accessible to the public as possible.

The Chestnut Street Park, adopted by Davis Chapel through the Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks Department, is located in close proximity to the church and already serves as a gathering place for the community.

The church does their part to keep the park clean and to serve as goodwill ambassadors by engaging with community members who play basketball there, according to Turrentine.

After the celebration on Sunday, the church and all those willing to assist will be removing trash and debris from the area around the park, all the way down to John Street. Turrentine said that trash collected will be left in bags on the side of the road to be picked up by early next week.

To hear the interview with Charles Turrentine in its entirety, please click here. Turrentine’s interview begins at the 16:00 mark.

Vance County High School

VCHS to Hold Information Session for Freshmen & Their Parents

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A “Parent University – Class of 2022” information session is planned for ninth graders and their parents at Vance County High School on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. The school is located at 925 Garrett Rd. in Henderson.

Students and parents may choose to attend a session at either 9:30 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. that day.

Valuable information including deciphering semester report cards, understanding high school transcripts and what to know for next semester’s registration will be shared. Students and parents should plan to attend!

Please contact Mr. Markoch with questions at (252) 739-7110 or email amarkoch@vcs.k12.nc.us.

Govt. Shutdown Prompts Vance Co. Schools to Reduce Lunch Menu Offerings

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-Information courtesy the Vance County Schools’ Facebook page

Due to the Federal Government Shutdown, lunch menus in Vance County Schools have been revised to a minimum level to conserve food and funding.

Starting the week of January 21, minimum level means: one main dish, bread, two vegetables, one fruit and milk.

No fresh produce will be included, except at elementary schools as part of the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. This program will be decreased to two days each week.

No bottled drinks (water and juice) will be available after the current inventory in stock is used. No ice cream will be available.

The Vance County Schools Nutrition Program for students is self-supporting with federal funds providing meals.

We hope that normal lunch menus can be resumed as soon as possible once the shutdown has ended.

Registration Underway for 9th Annual Warrenton Junior Firefighter Competition

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-Information courtesy John W. Franks, Chief Advisor, Warren County Fire Explorers

The Warren County Fire Explorers are now accepting registrations for event sponsors and vendors for its 9th annual Warrenton County Junior Firefighter Competition to be held Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Warren County Recreation Complex in Warrenton, North Carolina.

The Warren County Junior Firefighter Competition is North Carolina’s biggest junior firefighter competition which attracts hundreds of teenaged firefighters plus their parents, advisors, and supporters from as far away as Tennessee, West Virginia, Florida, and Texas. Last year eleven different North Carolina counties were represented in the competition. An appearance from Duke Life Flight’s medical helicopter and rope demonstrations by the REDS Team from Wake County made it another very enjoyable year as well!

New For 2019:

  • Bronze Sponsor Level – based on the feedback we received, we added another sponsorship level. We now have a Bronze Sponsor level at only $125 for businesses that have a desire to help the Warren County Fire Explorers but don’t want a lot of costly complimentary bonuses in return. The Bronze level sponsors (1) get their name & logo and link on the competition webpage; (2) their name & logo on the Sponsor/Vendor Flyer; (3) they may contribute to the team welcome bags; and (4) business is recognized at the Friday evening social and at the Saturday field competition for sponsoring the competition.
  • Competition Website – We have added the Warren County Junior Firefighter Competition to the Warren County Fire Explorer website (https://WarrenCoJrFireFighters.ScoutLander.com) where teams, sponsors, and vendors can get information and download forms. Sponsors receive their name, logo and link displayed on the website.
  • Sponsor/Vendor Flyer – Sponsors and vendors will have their name & logo printed on full-color flyers distributed to the teams and other solicitations.
  • Food Vendors – Again, based on the feedback we have received, all food vendors will be grouped together in or near the upper parking lot this year.

Click here to view the Sponsor & Vendor Registration Form for more details. Please note that the form and payment must be received prior to Friday, March 29, 2019, to ensure that banners, printings, shirts, etc., are ordered in time for the competition. If you have further questions, please contact Lisa Pitzing at Liss.Pitzing@gmail.com or (252) 213-3815.

NOTE: The Warren County Fire Explorers is a county-wide coed career education program for youth 14 to 20 years old. The purpose of the program is to expose youth to firefighting, EMS, and public safety at an early age and to prepare members for a career in emergency services.

The Warren County Junior Firefighter Competition is hosted annually by the Warren County Fire Explorers as its primary fundraiser for the year. Proceeds from this event go directly to the Explorer Post to cover operational costs and to pay for their training and educational needs.

NCDHHS

NCDHHS to Offer Free Residential Testing Kits in Honor of Radon Action Month

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-Press Release, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)

As families button up their homes to guard against winter’s chill it is an ideal time to make plans to test for radon, the odorless, colorless gas that is our nation’s second leading cause of lung cancer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon causes more than 21,000 deaths each year, making it the second most common cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States and the number one cause among non-smokers.

Because testing is the only way to know if your family is at risk from radon, Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed January as Radon Action Month in North Carolina, and beginning next week, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is making 3,600 residential radon testing kits available at no charge. The test kits will be available from local health departments and county extension offices in 32 counties with outreach efforts. Funds for the test kits were provided last fall through a grant from the EPA.

“Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas found in soil and rock that can seep through cracks in the foundations, walls and joints of homes,” said NC Radiation Protection Section Chief Lee Cox. ‘About 7 percent of North Carolina homes have unsafe levels of radon, based on data we’ve collected. That is why we urge testing of homes.”

Radon gas can accumulate and reach harmful levels when trapped in homes and buildings, as may occur during the home heating season, when warm air rises in homes, pulling air from the lower parts of the home where radon may enter. Elevated levels of indoor radon are a preventable and fixable problem with costs of mitigation to reduce the radon to safe levels ranging from $800 to approximately $2,500.

The NC Radon Program’s website offers links to certified professionals who can assist in testing or fixing radon issues in homes. Through mitigation, the naturally occurring radioactive gas is released harmlessly from under the home into outdoor air.

For those who are not in the counties where free test kits are available, homes still should be tested. The NC Radon Program web page has links to several retailers that sell kits, and they are also available in many hardware stores. Retail prices average below $20 per kit. The website also lists resources and a link to an instructive video, and provides information on its web page for families who may qualify for financial assistance to meet mitigation expenses.

For more information visit the NCDHHS’ radon website at ncradon.org.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Upcoming Winter/Spring Events at Aycock Rec. Center

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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

Hip Hop Water Aerobics is a fast-paced cardio workout in the water with low impact on your joints. The classes will be held on Wednesdays beginning February 6, 2019. The only requirement is that you must be able to touch the bottom of the 4 ft end of the pool. For more information, please contact Lauren Newlin at lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us or (252) 438-3160.

Slide N Glide is a program for participants that are interested in learning new and old line dances. This program is designed for participants to have fun while they exercise. For more information, please contact Lauren Newlin at lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us or (252) 438-3160.

2019 Egg Hunt – Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department’s Egg Hunt will be at two locations this year: Aycock Recreation Center and Davis Street Park on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 10 a.m. until all eggs are gone! For more information, please contact Crystal Allen at 252.431.6091 or callen@ci.henderson.nc.us.

DWI Suspected in Wreck Involving Henderson Police Car, Two Other Vehicles

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At approximately 6:13 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, a Henderson Police Department vehicle and two other vehicles were struck at the intersection of Dabney Drive and Beckford Drive in Henderson.

According to Trooper J.A. Thomas with the NCSHP, a gray Ford driven by Mark Sizemore, age 48, of Oxford was headed northbound on Dabney Drive when he struck the three vehicles waiting to turn left onto Beckford Drive.

Sizemore was arrested under suspicion of DWI at the scene. His bond was set at $3,000.

The collision was investigated by the NCSHP. According to Trooper Thomas, no serious injuries were reported, though several occupants received treatment at nearby Maria Parham Health.

On Saturday, January 12, a Henderson Police Department vehicle and two other vehicles were struck at the intersection of Dabney Drive and Beckford Drive in Henderson. The driver that struck the vehicles, Mark Sizemore (48) of Oxford, was arrested under suspicion of DWI. (Photo Credit: HPD)