-Information courtesy Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer, Vance County Schools
The Vance County Board of Education meeting originally scheduled for Monday, November 5, 2018, has been rescheduled to Monday, November 19.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the school system’s Administrative Services Center at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson.
-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance
Agenda items:
Committee Reports and Recommendations:
a. Properties Committee
– Property Listing Review
– REO Property Offer
– Former People’s Country Store
– Engineering Agreement – HVIP Phase III
– Animal Shelter – Onsite Spay and Neuter Services
b. Public Safety Committee
– Open Burning Regulations
– Rapid Entry Systems
– Fire Commission Presentation – Proposal for Reorganizing Fire Services
Finance Director’s Report
a. Surplus Property
b. Lottery Fund Applications
County Manager’s Report
a. Grant Agreement – Rural Ready Sites
b. Resolution – Acquisition & Assignment of Kittrell Water Association System
Water District Board
a. Staff Report – Kittrell Water System Consolidation
b. Monthly Operations Report
Consent Agenda Items
a. Budget Amendment
b. Tax Refunds and Releases
c. Ambulance Charge-Offs
d. Monthly Reports
e. Minutes
Miscellaneous
a. Appointments
b. Voting Delegate – Legislative Goals Conference
Closed Session
a. Legal Matters
b. Property Transaction
The agenda for the November meeting may be viewed in its entirety on the Vance County website.
-Information courtesy Heidi Owen, Nationwide
Vance County United Way is holding a coat drive for local school children. Please drop gently used or new coats at one of the following donation sites:
Please drop coats off by Thursday, November 15 for distribution by Thanksgiving to Vance County Schools.
Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the success of the school consolidation process and his recent State of the Schools address.
Jackson began the show by thanking the community for the support the school system received throughout the entire consolidation process for Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School.
“From the day the school board made the decision to consolidate the schools to the opening of school, we had approximately 120 days,” said Jackson. “I’m so proud of this community, our students, our parents and our staff for the work that they did during that period of time to get us to what we like to call ‘the launch.'”
According to Jackson, the launch of the newly consolidated schools in August went smoothly and was a great start to the 2018-19 school year.
“What we have seen since is what we hoped would come to fruition – a community coming together. I was at the football game a few nights ago and it was a joy to see the number of kids on our sidelines participating and the number of parents in the stands,” Jackson said.
State of the Schools Address
In Jackson’s recent address to the public, he announced that the majority of the system’s 15 schools showed marked improvement during the previous school year. “When I arrived in Vance County, nine schools were designated as low-performing. This year, I’m pleased to announce that 11 of our 15 schools met or exceeded growth and received a school performance grade of a C or better.”
Jackson credits this success to a number of factors including a shift towards focusing on the best way to reach and teach each individual student. “We focus on high student achievement by figuring out how best to teach every child – not just the low or high performers. Every single child deserves the best education,” said Jackson.
Other factors, according to Jackson, include making the environment as safe as possible so teaching and learning can take place, hiring and retaining high-quality educators and being efficient with resources.
“We change mindsets about what we can do in this community and if we work together, we can accomplish our goals.”
To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.
-Information and weather charts courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Emergency Operations, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations
According to the National Weather Service, there is a marginal risk for severe weather Thursday evening through Friday evening.
Severe weather may include isolated thunderstorms that develop late tonight and toward daybreak on Friday across the Coastal Plain and the eastern Piedmont. A strong to severe storm is possible with a primary threat of wind gusts in excess of 50 MPH, which may produce downed trees and power outages.
-Information courtesy the ACTS of Henderson Facebook page
ACTS of Henderson needs your help! We are dangerously low on a number of items. Without these, we may have to limit the amount of food boxes given out to those in need. Please consider donating canned soups, canned peas, yams, greens, carrots & mixed vegetables, boxed cereal, canned fruit and smaller sized jars of peanut butter & jelly.
Donations may be dropped off weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 3 p.m., and possibly at other times if you call and let us know – (252) 492-8231. ACTS is located at 305 S. Chestnut St., Henderson.
Your help would be appreciated a great deal!
-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
Reach One Teach One, Inc. will host an “I Rise Summit” for young men ages 13 and over on Sunday, November 25, 2018, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson. Dinner will be served.
Young men attending this free event will hear from subject-matter experts on goal setting, overcoming life obstacles and what empowerment means in 2018.
For more information, please contact Anthony Garnes at (919) 398-5219 or email reachoneteachone252@gmail.com.
-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Robin Pendergraft, Chief of the Criminal Division will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2018, general elections. AUSA Pendergraft has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of any complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” said United Staes Attorney Higdon. “The Department of Justice is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise may exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt the voting process are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Higdon stated that AUSA/DEO Pendergraft will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 919-856-4530.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Raleigh FBI field office can be reached by the public at 919-380-4500.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
United States Attorney Higdon said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
News releases are available on the U.S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter @USAO_EDNC.
-Information courtesy Michael Kelly, Regional Planning Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments
The KTRPO has proposed the following division needs transportation projects to be considered for inclusion in the 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Aerial maps of the projects are available for public viewing at the websites below.
The points assigned by the KTRPO were done in accordance with the adopted Local Input Methodology. Public comments will be open for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Comments may be sent to the following: info@kerrtarcog.org with the phrase ‘KTRPO Division Needs Project Comments‘ in the subject line. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments at P.O. Box 709 Henderson, NC 27536
https://www.kerrtarcog.org/departments/transportation/meetings/announcements/
-Information courtesy Jane King, Community Partners of Hope
We can see that we have made a huge difference in our community. For some men, it’s just a safe, warm place for a few nights until they can move on, but for others, our shelter has provided life-changing assistance which has allowed men to return to a productive life in the community.
We always need assistance from individuals, churches and organizations for supervision or meal duties. You can see our calendar at any time by visiting our website at www.cp-hope.org and clicking on the SHELTER CALENDAR tab at the top of the page.
A NOTE ABOUT DONATIONS:
Monetary Donations –
All contributions are tax deductible.
You may send a check to:
Community Partners of Hope, Inc, P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536
Donated Items –
We depend on lots of donated clothing (NEW only) and supplies to keep the shelter running and our men warm and dry. Sometimes we get donations that we cannot use and then several of us must go through them and “regift” them to other agencies. Please be sure to let your churches know what we do and do not need this year. Also, it is much easier for us if items are donated in their original packaging instead of repackaged in sets.
Donations can be taken to:
First Baptist Church (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday thru Thursday or 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday)
First Presbyterian Church (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday thru Thursday)
WIZS Radio Station
or call Betty Boyd (252) 432-3967 to arrange delivery
Supplies Needed:
Clothing – NEW ONLY! (please take used clothing to a thrift store)
Please leave all underwear and socks in original packages.
Not Needed:
Shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, instant oatmeal, deodorant, dress socks and coffee mugs.
