Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Meredith College VP To Speak At VGCC Curriculum Graduation

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-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.

Four Shot on Hilliard Street in Henderson

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-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

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Audition Date Announced for “Clybourne Park”

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–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

Local Educators Complete Professional Development Programs

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

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.

The center is a recognized national leader in professional development programming for our state’s teachers.

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.

Marcia Allen – Vance County Board of Education District 7 Candidate

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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.)

Ruth Hartness – Vance County Board of Education District 7 Candidate

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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.)

I Voted Sticker

May 8, 2018 is Democratic Primary Voting Day!

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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:

  • North Henderson 1 – County Office Building – 305 Young St & Walnut St.
  • South Henderson 1 – H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library – 205 Breckenridge St.
  • East Henderson 1 – Henderson Middle School – 219 Charles St.
  • West Henderson (WH1 & WH2) – Central Fire Station – 211 Dabney Dr.
  • Northern Vance (EH2 & NH2) – Northern Vance High School – 293 Warrenton Rd
  • South Henderson 2 – L.B. Yancey Elementary School – 311 Hawkins Dr.
  • Hilltop – St. James Baptist Church – 3005 Hwy. 158 Business
  • Kittrell – Kittrell Fire Station – 54 W. Main St.
  • Middleburg – E.O. Young Elementary School – US 1 North
  • Sandy Creek – Aycock Recreation Center – 307 Carey Chapel Rd
  • Community College (Dabney & Watkins) – Vance-Granville Community College – 200 Community College Rd
  • New Hope (Townsville & Williamsboro) – New Hope Elementary School – 10199 NC Hwy 39 N

Curtis R. Brame – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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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)

Melissa Elliott – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Melissa Elliott

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 48

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Gang Resource Officer; Jail Liaison; Vance County Sheriff Office 911 Dispatcher; Correctional Officer; Correctional Case Manager; Gang Intel Committee; Family Enrichment Worker

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Associate Degree in Criminal Justice – Vance-Granville Community College; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – St. Augustine University; Master of Public Administration – Strayer University; Post Master’s Certificate in Criminal Justice; General Instructor – Criminal Justice

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

I am running for the Office of the Sheriff to better the community in which I live and serve by implementing innovative strategies that would increase the safety in our community, as well as bring a greater quality of life to all of our citizens.

As a young girl, I felt compassion towards the needs of others and as a young woman acknowledged there was a great call of “leadership” on my life. Now, I am a community champion who embraces the call of God to bring change in areas that seemingly are difficult.

I am grateful and deem it an honor to be considered to serve the citizens of Vance County in the capacity of Sheriff.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I feel distinguished in this election for Sheriff in several different ways. First and foremost, I am a woman who fears God AND I am accessible to ALL people. I have proven my loyalty and dedication over the years in this community as one who hurdles over challenges and yields positive results and solutions.

Secondly, I have the educational background that, unmatched by any other candidate, makes me extremely and uniquely qualified and knowledgeable in the areas of crime prevention, as well as other evidence-based strategies that have been implemented by other jurisdictions. My Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) allows me to demonstrate knowledge, skills and abilities that are pertinent to leading the Office of Sheriff.

The trust that I have garnered in the community, along with my diverse background in criminal justice (in several capacities) and my educational background (MPA, Post Master’s Certificate and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice) have prepared me for the tasks that lie ahead.

Lastly, I have extensive knowledge on a societal issue (gangs) that has plagued many communities. My in-depth research and relationships in criminal street gangs will also illuminate strategies that will prevent many youths from becoming emerged in a life that only ends in tragedy; intervene to save lives and suppress those who have no desire to change.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

The single most important skill to possess to be a successful sheriff is communication. Oral and written communication is key in the daily operation of any administration. The Sheriff needs to be able to effectively communicate with his or her staff, the public and the citizens that have elected them to serve. Communication involves executing directives, listening to the concerns of others to create and implement effective strategies for all who are involved.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

As the elected Sheriff, I would assess the effectiveness of all units and daily operations. After the assessment is complete, I would gradually implement strategies to improve the quality of service for citizens of our great county. I do not believe in recreating the wheel; however, I do believe in improvement. Training would be an essential tool as well as programs and evidence-based strategies for a more proactive approach to the challenges our community faces.

I strongly believe in prevention i.e. G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training), the Dare Program, the Step Up Initiative and other programs that would address mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Community Watch is also an extremely important program that would continue its momentum with workshops and speakers who bring information to the citizens as well as listening to the concerns of the community.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

Vance County has several concerns that are interrelated and it is extremely difficult to address only one and believe that the problem is fixed. Economic growth and development, or lack thereof, which has caused an extremely high poverty rate in Vance County has developed many challenges that we face. Gun violence, substance abuse, gangs, recidivism, changing the trajectory of our children’s future, weapons reduction; the list can go on and on.

As the Sheriff of Vance County, I would hone in on prevention with our youth in the way of programs, by assigning deputies to work with students in the elementary school as well as the community through the G.R.E.A.T. program and partner with churches, nonprofits and other stakeholders to increase positive impact.

To reduce gang activity and criminal offenses I would implement a gang unit to focus on gang culture, trends and criminal activity, as well as put in place a system to classify and identify gang members in our community. I would also continue the momentum with the gun buyback program to obtain firearms.

Working previously in the Vance County Jail as well as the North Carolina Department of Public Safety has given me direct insight on the classification of offenders and the evidence-based programs that will assist in a productive transition. Obtaining the status from the Federal government to name our county as a HIDTA (High Intense Drug Traffic Area) would assist in many ways. The HIDTA program currently funds 752 initiatives throughout the nation, including:

  • Enforcement initiatives comprising multi-agency investigative, interdiction, and prosecution activities;
  • Intelligence and information-sharing initiatives;
  • Support for programs that provide assistance beyond the core enforcement and intelligence and information-sharing initiatives; and
  • Drug use prevention and drug treatment initiatives

As the Sheriff of Vance County, I would listen to the citizens and their concerns as well as be accessible to all people by communicating effectively.

 

(The photo accompanying this article provided by Melissa Elliott.)

Billy Gooch – Vance Co. Sheriff Candidate Q&A

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Name: Billy Gooch

Candidate For: Vance County Sheriff

Age: 37

Town of Residence: Henderson

Previous position(s) held: Sergeant of Criminal Investigation Division/K-9 Handler at Vance County Sheriff’s Office

Degrees/Certifications Earned: Basic Law Enforcement Training; Radar Operator Certification; DCI Certification; Police Law Institute Training; Narcotics Investigation; First Line Supervision; Taser Certification; Comprehensive Roadside Criminal Interdiction; Precision and Pursuit Driver Training; Police Law Institute Training for Supervisors; K-9 Instructor; NCAware Certification; CJ Leads Certification and NC Linx Certification

 

What motivated you to run for Vance County Sheriff?

Not only as a law enforcement officer but also as a citizen of Vance County I was tired of seeing the community I was born and raised in continue to spiral downhill due to violence and drug activity. This is one of the reasons I decided to run for sheriff so I can bring the community back together and help pave a safer future for our youth.

 

What distinguishes you from other candidates?

I am young, energetic, honest and approachable. I don’t believe in being a paper-pusher or being absent from my duties. I want to be out in the community with my deputies being proactive and visible with a hands-on approach.

I have dedicated 15 and a half years of my life to serving the citizens of Vance County.  Even as a supervisor, I have served search warrants, executed drug raids, investigated crime scenes, worked murder investigations and performed K-9 tracks/searches. I will be a working Sheriff.

I know what it will take to make the department run more smoothly and efficiently. Being Sheriff of Vance County is more than just a title to me, it’s about stepping up to be a strong leader for our community, it’s about having more youth involvement as they are our future, and it’s about ensuring that the citizens in our county feel safe.

 

What do you believe is the single most important skill to possess in order to be a successful sheriff?

In order to be a successful sheriff, you need to have strong leadership skills.  Strong leadership will instill in our deputies the eagerness to perform their job in a professional manner and to the best of their ability.  It will increase morale in the department which will restore a sense of pride and dignity in our deputies.

A strong leader will also regain trust in the community through effective communication and an open door policy.  We need a strong leader that is engaged in the community and keeps the community informed.

 

If elected, would you keep the Sheriff’s department moving along its current path or change the course?

After being employed with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for the past 15 years I have noticed some issues within the department’s chain of command.  I feel that I could make improvements by moving positions around to help the department run more smoothly and efficiently.

I would also like to bring in more experienced deputies. I have reached out to several past certified employees of the Sheriff’s Office who have expressed interest in coming back to the department to help me reach my goal of filling vacant positions.

The Sheriff’s Department needs to become more involved in the community, especially with our youth. I would like to build better relationships and trust between law enforcement and our citizens by hosting events that would bring the two together.

 

What do you believe is the biggest concern facing Vance County today and what would you do as Sheriff to address that concern?

I believe the biggest concern facing Vance County today is the opioid epidemic. Other crimes such as theft, burglary, assault, and murder also stem from drug activity. As Sheriff, I would expand our narcotics unit and make sure that the unit is fully staffed with experienced deputies that already have connections with state and federal agencies. A solid connection will allow us to speed up conviction rates of repeat offenders and make sure they are served with harsher sentencing.

I would also bring back the drug interdiction unit in an effort to intercept narcotics being transported through our county via major highways.  I would like to introduce a special enforcement unit to concentrate on high crime areas throughout the county. I would also implement drug awareness and prevention programs in our schools. By taking a proactive approach to our drug problem the crime rate in Vance County will gradually decrease.

 

The photo accompanying this article provided by Billy Gooch.