Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Fire Chief Steve Cordell Receives Order Of The Guardian For 30 Years’ Service To Fire Dept.

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What kind of a birthday gift do you give someone who’s spent more than half his life in service to his community?

City staff and fellow firefighters did things up right Thursday for Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell, who celebrated his 51st birthday in the company of city officials and N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who conferred to Cordell the Order of the Guardian award.

And the proverbial icing on the cake was Mayor Eddie Ellington’s official mayoral proclamation to make Jan. 19 “Steve Cordell Day.”

Causey was in town to award a couple of SAVE awards at Vance County Emergency Services Thursday morning, and then presented the award to Cordell during an afternoon ceremony at City Hall, Acting Chief Curtis Tyndall told WIZS News Friday.

Chief Chris Wright and Engineer Tyler Crews were presented with SAVE awards from Causey, who also serves as the state fire marshal, given to first responders and others who go above and beyond the call of duty in their work, according to information from Causey’s office.

The Order of the Guardian is the top award presented by the state insurance commissioner for outstanding service and leadership in the fire industry.

“We were honoring a man (in Cordell) on his birthday for his 30 years of service to the community,” Tyndall explained.

“Causey recognized the chief as being – regardless of the size of the department – one of the premier chiefs in the state of North Carolina,” Tyndall said. During his term as chief, Cordell has garnered the respect of peers across the state and beyond, Tyndall said.

H-V Chamber Of Commerce Accepting Nominations For Citizen Of The Year Through Feb. 3

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its Citizen of the Year award through Friday, Feb. 3. This annual honor is given to a Vance County resident for outstanding service and dedication to the community.

Completed nominations should be submitted to Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson via email at to sandra@hendersonvance.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1302, Henderson, NC  27536. A selection committee will review nominations and choose the winner, which will be announced at the chamber’s annual meeting and banquet on Mar. 30.

Nominees do not have to be members of the Chamber of Commerce, but they should be individuals who have shown a willingness to volunteer and work for the betterment of the community. Their work in the community, however, should not be a part of their business career or paid position.

Questions? Contact the Chamber at 252.438.8414.

Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Cycle Open Now

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The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is accepting applications for the 2023 grant cycle. The key objectives for 2023 are supporting the agricultural industry, impacting rural communities and stimulating economic development. Funds will be awarded in the fall of 2023 for selected innovative projects, according to Jeff Camden NCTTFC program officer.

“North Carolinians are great at innovation and creating jobs. We produce outstanding agriculture products and market them to the world. Providing funds for projects in current or former tobacco-dependent regions that enhance these efforts is our 2023 priorities,” said William H. “Bill” Teague, NCTTFC chairman. Applications will be accepted online for innovative projects within North Carolina. Selected projects should expect to start in November of 2023.

 

The NCTTFC was established in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to help members of the tobacco community including farmers, tobacco workers and related businesses. Its original funding was established through tobacco industry annual payments as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement. Funding is now appropriated to the NCTTFC which then reviews, selects and disperses the funds to grant projects.

 

Past NCTTFC projects includes fair and farmers market improvements, cost-share grant programs for farmers, commodity marketing, researching alternative crops and support of agricultural education programs.

Qualifying organizations can access the online application here: www.tobaccotrustfund.org.

For more information, contact Jeff Camden at 919.733.2160 Ext 1. The deadline to submit application is Friday March 3, 2023.

VGCC To Host Panel Discussion As Part of MLK Observance

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Join the Vance-Granville Community College Men’s Achievement Academy for a panel discussion to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, Jan.  24 at 6 p.m. at the Main Campus Civic Center in Henderson.

The event is presented in partnership with Vance-Granville’s Initiative on Equity for Women of Color (VIEW), according to information from VGCC public information officer Courtney Cissel.

The panelists for this celebration include:

  • Deanna Townsend-Smith, Ed.D., Senior Director of the Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity & Opportunity
  • Warren Allen, VGCC Student
  • Gwen Clayton, VGCC Student
  • Marque Debnam, VGCC Paralegal Program Head
  • Leslie Hurt, Moderator, VGCC Sociology Instructor

In addition to the panel discussion, there will also be opportunities for audience participation.

There is no cost to attend the event, and all are welcome! Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/vance-granville-mlk-celebration-2023-tickets 504827722307.

For more information about this event, contact the following planning committee members:

  • Marque Debnam (debnamm@vgcc.edu)
  • Jason Snelling (snellingj@vgcc.edu)
  • Delton Farmer (farmerd@vgcc.edu)
  • Derrick Cameron (camerond@vgcc.edu)
  • Leslie Hurt (hurtl@vgcc.edu)

For more information about the Men’s Achievement Academy and VIEW, visit the Clubs & Organizations page at www.vgcc.edu

Sossamon Sworn In As Dist. 32 Rep In N.C. House

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Frank Sossamon was sworn in last week as the new legislator representing Vance and Granville counties in the N.C. House before an audience of supporters in the lobby of McGregor Hall.

The Hon. John Dunlow administered the oath of office following remarks from county officials representing the local county commissions and chairmen of the Republican party.

Sossamon defeated incumbent Terry Garrison in the November mid-term elections. He had an official swearing-in on Wednesday in Raleigh.

In comments during the ceremony in Henderson earlier in the week, Sossamon recounted how he reached the decision to put throw his hat into the proverbial ring.

“The Lord used my own words against me,” Sossamon quipped, explaining that he told his church members to “be that somebody” to make change.

“I became that somebody,” Sossamon said. “I’m in it to serve the people.”

The retired pastor of South Henderson Pentecostal Church, Sossamon said he is going to have to “work hard and work fast and work smart” to get things done in Raleigh in his two-year term.

“Under my watch, I want us to be able to say that District 32 is one of the most prosperous districts” in the state; he said it currently ranks among the poorest districts.

He wants to focus on community development in both counties, which he said would have the side effects of decreasing crime, increasing educational opportunities and give young people hope.

“If we want company to come, we’ve got to clean up our house,” he said.

In an interview with WIZS News following the swearing-in, Sossamon said he looks forward to serving the people in District 32 to get some things done, and he said he will challenge the citizens he represents to join him in the effort.

$25,000 Reward Offered For Information About 2018 Homicide

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A $25,000 reward is being offered by the state of North Carolina for information about an almost five-year-old unsolved murder in Vance County.

Gov. Roy Cooper’s office made the announcement Thursday in connection with the death of 22-year-old De’Cedric Tyquon Alston.

In the late evening hours of Feb. 22, 2018, Alston was shot multiple times while driving his vehicle near the 1100 block of Warrenton Road in Henderson. He was transported to the hospital and later died from his injuries.

Anyone having information concerning this case should contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925 or the State Bureau of Investigation at 919.662.4500.

Vending Machines Dispense Books For Elementary Students To Enjoy

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A special type of vending machine has been placed at L.B. Yancey Elementary, the contents of which will help students add to their personal stash of books.

The vending machine dispenses chapter books, graphic novels, easy readers and more, and students need only to insert golden tokens to make their selection.

Vance County Schools and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday morning to launch the program, which will soon place “Inchy the Bookworm” vending machines in the other nine elementary schools within the Vance County Schools district.

Children receive the golden tokens as a reward for positive behavior, and they can choose from a diverse selection of books for readers on different grade levels, according to information from VCS Communication Coordinator Brielle Barrow.

“We are so grateful to have an opportunity to support students with building their home library”, said L.B. Yancey Principal Dr. Shannon Bullock. “We encourage our students to read at home and having the book vending machine makes it possible for students to read a variety of books that interest them.”

The vending machines and their contents were purchased by VCS as part of its literacy initiative to encourage reading and building student’s personal libraries.

“I’m excited for the book vending machine! This is such an innovative way to instill the love of reading throughout our building,” said Principal Letitia Fields of New Hope Elementary.

Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine, developed by Global Vending Group, can hold up to 300 books. The book vending machine will be refilled regularly with graphic novels, chapter books and easy readers to meet the varying needs of individual students.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Maria Parham Franklin To Hold Job Fair Jan. 19

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Maria Parham Franklin will hold a job fair on Thursday, Jan. 19 in Louisburg.

Job seekers can visit with MPH representatives from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to learn more about available positions at Franklin Behavioral Health, some of which include a $500 sign-on bonus, according to Donna Young, coordinator of marketing and communications.

Openings include day and evening RN positions for both adult and geriatric areas, as well as behavioral health techs for both adult and geriatric areas. Come prepared, as job offers may be made on the spot!

Learn more about the available positions at MariaParham.com/Careers. Applicants can pre-register for this event at https://www.mariaparham.com/event/44.

VGCC Site Of Free Technology Class For Senior Adults

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Rebuild Communities NC is partnering with AARP’s Senior Planet to provide a free class for senior adults to help them boost their technology skills.

It seems like computers and websites, online troubleshooting chats and QR codes are quickly becoming the norm in today’s daily experiences, and the Digital Skills Ready@50+ program may be a way to gain skills to help navigate an increasingly digital world.

Classes begin on Tuesday, Jan. 9 and continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February, according to information from Edythe Thompson, executive director and CEO of Rebuilding Communities NC. Each class is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Whether you need to learn how to participate in video conferencing for work or if you just want to be able to visit online with faraway friends and family, the class offers trainings on a wide range of technologies.

All classes will be held at Vance-Granville Community College, Building 9, Seminar Room 2 – except the Jan. 12 class, which will be held in the conference room of Building 8.

VGCC is located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.

To learn more, email info@RebuildCommunitiesNC.org.

City-County Deal Could Add 4th Officer To Animal Services Staff

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Vance County Animal Services is one step closer to adding an animal services officer to its three-member team who would be responsible for responding to calls within the Henderson city limits.

Frankie Nobles met with Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen and members of the commissioners’ Human Relations Committee Wednesday afternoon to discuss details of the arrangement, which basically states that the city of Henderson will foot the bill – roughly $51,000 in salary and benefits – for the additional position.

The city has been asking for increased service from animal services, and Nobles has asked for more staff for the past couple of years, but the money just wasn’t to be found. The city-funded position would provide another officer in the county department.

Nobles said that between Jan. 1 and Nov. 29, there were 761 incidents reported to animal services in the city; in that same period, there were 778 incidents received from the county.

Having a fourth officer will help the small staff, Nobles said.

“It really does help,” he said, adding that having another person in the rotation gives everybody else a break and helps reduce burnout. He said the animal services officers routinely work their regular shifts then log an additional 15-30 hours on the weekends when they’re on call.

The committee approved the recommendation, and the matter will come before the board of commissioners at its meeting next week for final approval.