Ashley Grove Baptist Church, 2425 Nutbush Road in Henderson, will be celebrating Mother’s Day/Women’s Day on Sunday, May 13, 2018, at 11 a.m.
Speaker: Rev. Jerri T. Jones of Ashley Grove Baptist Church
Music will be rendered by Ashely Grove Youth Choir and soloist Ms. Tykia Martin of Raleigh, N.C. Mistress of Ceremony will be Mrs. Linda Terry.
Rev. Perry Sharpe, pastor and congregation are inviting the public to attend.
Donald Sanford, president of Kerr Lake Country Club (KLCC), was recently on air to discuss the club’s Relay for Life team, aptly named the Kerr Lake Cancer Crushers.
The “Crushers” will hold a prime rib dinner and reverse raffle at KLCC at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018. The dinner will be catered by Gavin Jackson with Gavin’s Grub Hub. Tickets are $150 a piece and buy dinner for two with open bar and a chance to win several prizes, including a cash giveaway of $5,000.
“We are trying to have enough prizes donated by area merchants that we can give away a prize every tenth ticket,” Sanford said.
This event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased at KLCC or by calling (252) 492-1895.
“We hope you’ll join us for dinner under the stars and by the pool, weather permitting,” said Sanford.
This year’s Relay for Life event will be held, for the first time, in downtown Henderson on Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Specifically, the event will be held in the square between the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.
The opening ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. Cancer survivors will walk the first lap shortly after the opening ceremony concludes at approximately 11:30 a.m. with the caregiver’s recognition to follow.
In another departure from past years, the 2018 Relay for Life will not be an overnight event.
A new registration process will also be used for this year’s Relay event. Survivors, caregivers and walkers may register for Relay for Life online at www.RelayForLife.org/VanceNC or by calling 1-800-227-2345 and choosing option number two from the menu.
According to Sanford, Relay for Life Chairwoman Christy Bennett was instrumental in the push to move the event from its previous location at Southern Vance High School to the downtown area.
“It was her goal to make the event more accessible to residents and is also a good change of pace and has breathed new life into Relay,” Sanford explained.
The theme for this year’s Relay is the yellow brick road from “The Wizard of Oz.” Yellow bricks may be purchased in memory or honor of a loved one. June’s event will feature all of the bricks laid out to form a “yellow brick road” of those who have fought cancer.
Sanford stated that the goal for this year is to raise $100,000 for cancer research – $25,000 higher than last year’s goal.
“The funds that are being raised through Relay for Life will be used for research to try to cure this deadly disease,” said Sanford. “There are strides being made every day. Without the money Relay raises, such strides would not be possible.”
Other upcoming Relay fundraisers include:
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Dr. Jean Jackson, vice president for college programs at Meredith College, will be the principal commencement speaker for Vance-Granville Community College’s graduation exercises on Friday, May 11.
Sovanny “Sophie” Taylor, president of the VGCC Student Government Association, will be the student speaker.
Nearly 500 students are scheduled to be honored during ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. at the gazebo by the lake on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. For those unable to attend the event in person, VGCC will broadcast a live video feed from the ceremony online at www.vgcc.edu.
Dr. Jean Jackson will serve as the guest speaker at Vance-Granville Community College’s curriculum graduation ceremony on Friday, May 11, 2018.
Dr. Jackson, a native of Vance County, oversees strategic planning and budgeting for offices at Meredith that include Academic and Career Planning, Athletics, Campus Police, the Chaplain, the Dean of Students, and Student Leadership and Service. She became a member of the English faculty at Meredith in 1983 and continues to teach courses on English Poetry of the Romantic Period.
Dr. Jackson, who is the daughter of Ira and Rose Mabry Jackson from Middleburg, graduated from Vance County High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, at Meredith College, double-majoring in English and Religion. She also earned both a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition, she completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.
Among numerous honors, Dr. Jackson has received the Pauline Davis Perry FAME Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Laura Harrill Presidential Award and the Meredith Alumna Award. She has been inducted into the Greater Triangle YWCA Academy of Women as its Inductee for Education and into the inaugural class of the North Carolina 4-H Hall of Fame. She is the recipient of three international travel grants for research in Great Britain and the recipient of travel grants for presentations or panels in Canada, Hawaii, and England.
A member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Nu Sigma, Silver Shield and Theta Alpha Kappa and a Patroness for the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, she also frequently serves as a reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Sovanny “Sophie” Taylor, president of the VGCC Student Government Association, will be the student speaker for the ceremony.
Taylor, the student speaker, is graduating from VGCC with an Associate in Arts degree and an Associate in Science degree. Later in May, she will graduate from Franklin County Early College High School, completing both of her degrees and her high school diploma one year earlier than the traditional early college high school graduate. She has received a scholarship to continue her education in the fall in Honors Carolina at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she plans to study molecular genetics.
She was elected president of the SGA for the 2017-2018 year, and, in that capacity, also served as the student member of the VGCC Board of Trustees. She is only the second early college high school student to serve in those leadership roles in VGCC history. At VGCC, she has been named to the President’s List. Taylor is the daughter of Mrs. Cleveland Evans of Louisburg and Mr. Ronald Taylor of Cary.
Students serving as graduation marshals will be Savannah L. Brogden of Oxford; Brenda G. Ellis of Durham; Kacie L. Gann of Durham; Alyssa M. Gupton of Oxford; Jayla N. Harris of Henderson; Fatima N. Hawter of Henderson; Samantha C. Hines of Henderson; Kynleigh E. Holley of Wake Forest; Evan A. O’Geary of Henderson; Abigail M. Smith of Oxford; Alexis M. Watson of Henderson; and April Zuniga-Trejo of Henderson.
-Press Release, Henderson Police Department
On May 4, 2018, around 11:27 p.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to 519 Hilliard Street. Once on scene officers located four individuals that had been shot. Thomas Williamson, age 47, Latoya Taylor, age 36, Travis Williams, age 23, and Dana Elliott, age 26, received gunshot injuries and were transported to area medical facilities for treatment.
We are currently gathering information and investigating this incident in conjunction with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. We urge members of our community to come forth with any information that may lead to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for this crime.
Please contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141, Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in criminal acts.
Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow
–Submitted by Crystal Allen, Henderson-Vance Recreation Program Supervisor
“Clybourne Park”
Sponsored By: Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Dept.
Audition Date: Saturday, May 19, 2018
Where: City Hall of Henderson, 134 Rose Avenue
Time: 10 a.m.
Directed by: Stephanie Asabi Howard
Contact: Crystal Allen at (252) 431-6091 or email callen@ci.henderson.nc.us for more information
Two accomplished educators from Vance County Schools have completed participation in professional development programs held at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) in Cullowhee, N.C.
Fatina Bunch, a teacher at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, and Dr. Lisa Webster-Caroon, also a teacher at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, successfully completed their participation in programs at NCCAT. Bunch attended the “Developing Engagement and Understanding in Middle Grades Math” program and Webster-Caroon attended the “Project Based Learning in Digital Format” program.
Increasing teacher effectiveness is fundamental to improving public education. NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices and information to take back to their classrooms. NCCAT conducts a wide variety of high-quality professional development for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers.
Name: Marcia Lynnette Allen
Candidate For: Vance County Board of Education – District 7
Age: 52
Town of Residence: Henderson
Previous position(s) held: Department of Social Services Board of Directors
Degrees/Certifications Earned: Bachelor of Arts – Psychology
What motivates you to want to become a Vance County Board of Education member?
I am running for office because I believe in education and the importance of ensuring that every student is allowed the opportunity to obtain the necessary tools that will enable him/her to successfully move into the next phase of life.
Running for this office allows me the opportunity to give back to the community and school system I grew up in and present myself as a mentor and role model for our most important onlookers, the student.
What do you see as the Board’s primary roles and responsibilities?
The Board’s primary roles and responsibilities are to ensure that every student is afforded the opportunity to receive an education. In receiving an education the students should be provided an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.
Additionally, the Board should include opportunities to prepare students for higher education and preparation for the workforce if not pursuing a college degree. Ideally, students in Vance County should be able to compete globally with their peers nationally and internationally.
What is your vision for the future of education in this community?
My vision for education is that every child succeeds in school. I believe there must be an aggressive action plan to improve school’s state performance grades so that each school is equipped to provide the curriculum for success readiness.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the Vance County Board of Education?
The biggest challenge is safety. The goal is to provide every student with an atmosphere that is safe and conducive to learning.
I believe that success is contingent upon the cooperation and unity of three factions of every student; parents/guardians, school and community. It is my belief that each of these areas is critical to the firm foundation-building of each student.
How would you handle the request of individuals and special interest groups?
I would acknowledge the request and, if appropriate, refer them to the Superintendent, full Board or Community Public Affairs Specialist for a formal response, especially if it involves private information pertaining to a student, family or school personnel.
(WIZS News will be publishing a series of candidate question-and-answer articles in the days leading up to the May 8th primary here on WIZS.com. Significant portions will be broadcast on WIZS Radio with equal time allotted for each candidate.)
Name: Ruth Hartness (incumbent)
Candidate For: Vance County Board of Education – District 7
Age: 78
Town of Residence: Henderson
Previous position(s) held: Board of Education – a total of 18 years of service
Degrees/Certifications Earned: Certification of Distinction for more than 400 hours of training offered by NC School Boards Association, Master Board Certification
What motivates you to want to continue as a Vance County Board of Education member?
What motivates me to want to continue my service on the Board? Wow, that is an easy question! The super, super teachers we have in our classrooms. They work so hard every day. They buy supplies with their own money. They are HEROS! The children they teach are our hope for tomorrow. We have a duty to provide them with the latest technology so they will be prepared to enter the real world.
Another reason I’m excited about the possibility of re-election is due to Dr. Anthony Jackson, our Superintendent! He is the most exciting leader I have worked with in a long time. He has a great vision for Vance County Schools and I want to follow him down that road. All of this and more provides dynamic motivation and energizes me to work hard to continue in office.
What do you see as the Board’s primary roles and responsibilities?
The Board’s primary responsibility is to set policy and see that the Superintendent follows it – pure and simple.
What is your vision for the future of education in this community?
I envision a middle school offering students more possibilities and a comprehensive high school offering more courses and stronger athletic teams. Athletics can keep some students in school and they have to keep their grades up to play.
I would also like to see more CTE classes offered (career and technology). All of our students are not going to college and these classes prepare them for the workforce. We will continue to educate our students with knowledgeable and dedicated teachers and we won’t leave one of them behind!
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing the Vance County Board of Education?
The biggest challenge facing the Board of Education is our declining student population. We have no control over where these students are going. Vance County is also experiencing a declining birth rate.
We have taken a big step in consolidating the middle and high schools, vacating two buildings which were draining us of much-needed funds. We will continue to monitor this trend and make other adjustments if necessary.
How would you handle the request of individuals and special interest groups?
Board members should not handle any individual request or that of special interest groups. I would refer those folks to the Superintendent. He is in charge.
(WIZS News will be publishing a series of candidate question-and-answer articles in the days leading up to the May 8th primary here on WIZS.com. Significant portions will be broadcast on WIZS Radio with equal time allotted for each candidate.)
Tuesday, May 8, 2018, is the official voting day for the Democratic primary. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Vance County currently has 12 polling locations that serve 16 precincts.
**Live election results on WIZS 1450 AM and streamed live at www.wizs.com (click on Listen Live and live spreadsheet)**
According to Faye Gill, director of the Vance County Board of Elections, a total of 25,548 residents are eligible to vote in the primary election. This total includes 19,722 registered Democrats and 5,826 registered as unaffiliated.
The 4,430 voters registered as Republican are not eligible to vote in the primary election due to there being no contested Republican primary races in Vance County.
Any candidate who filed that is unopposed in Vance County will be on the November 6th general election ballot.
Early voting for the primary was available at three area locations from April 19 to May 5. According to Gill, a total of 2,182 eligible voters took advantage of early voting opportunities.
Contested democratic races include the Vance County Sheriff’s position and Board of Education representatives for the District 6 and District 7 seats.
For the sheriff’s seat, voters will select from democratic candidates Curtis Brame, Melissa Elliott or Billy Gooch. One of these candidates will proceed to face unopposed Republican candidate Charles Pulley in the general election.
Long-serving Vance County Sheriff Peter White did not file for re-election.
For the Democratic primary, eligible voters in District 6 will choose between Board of Education incumbent Margaret Ellis or challenger Omega Perry.
In District 7, Board of Education incumbent Ruth Hartness is being challenged by Marcia Allen.
VANCE COUNTY POLLING LOCATIONS:
Name: Curtis R. Brame
Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff
Age: 55
Town of Residence: Henderson
Previous position(s) held: Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant Captain, Sheriff’s Command Staff, Personnel Board, Assistant to Administrative Captain
Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Certified; Actively Sworn; 33 years of continued education
Endorsements: Vance County Sheriff Peter White
What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?
I enjoy serving and protecting the citizens of Vance County. I’m tired of watching our citizens live in fear. I want the opportunity to restore some sense of security, ensure safety in our communities, schools, church and work.
What distinguishes you from other candidates?
Talking to people and being proactive is my character and keeps me in touch with the needs of our community. With 33 years as a law enforcement officer, I am confident in saying I am well trained and skilled, possess a strong work ethic and have an excellent work history. I believe in being fair and standing behind everything I do.
I’ve worked in every division through the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. I was hired as a deputy, later promoted to Sergeant, then Lieutenant, served as part of the Sheriff’s Command Staff and later retired with the rank of Captain. I believe in filling in the gap between law enforcement and the people we serve.
What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?
The ability to not only hear the concerns of the citizen but to also listen to what is important to them.
If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?
As a new administrator, I would make some adjustments, modifications and do some re-organization.
What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?
Narcotics/illegal and prescription drugs and illegal use of firearms; proactive stand, joint enforcement task force. I would like to see more drug and weapons-related cases tried at the Federal Court level for the convicted to receive longer and stiffer penalties.
We need more resources for individuals with addictions. We also need places to go and things for our children and teenagers to do for growth and recreational purposes. My plan is to also increase personnel to have more manpower in the department to provide adequate services for our citizens.
(The photo accompanying this article provided by Curtis R. Brame)
