Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Vance Sheriff: One Dead From Gunshot Wound During Apparent Home Invasion

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 42-year-old man involved in an apparent home invasion over the weekend.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, deputies went to 100 Kelly Road in reference to a home invasion that resulted in a death, according to a press statement released Tuesday by Sheriff Curtis Brame.

Three people, two of whom are residents of the home, had been shot. Both were transported to a local medical facility for treatment of gunshot wounds. The man who died was identified as Jay Edwards Davis, Brame said. Davis was found inside the home.

The sheriff office’s criminal investigations division and the State Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene and Brame said apparently Davis was one of the individuals who entered the residence. The sheriff’s office is looking for other individuals who are believed to have entered the residence with Davis; Brame said he believes this was an isolated incident and that the victims were targeted.

No further information about the condition of the victims was available.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925.

“Career Rodeo” Showcases VCS Career And Technical Education Opportunities

– information courtesy of Vance County Schools

February is Career and Technical Education Month and Vance County Schools is shining a spotlight on a variety of careers from health care to hospitality that students can learn more about during the monthlong series of programs with the theme of “Career Rodeo.”

CTE classes in Vance County Schools prepare students for careers in health care, information technology, automotive, culinary, early childhood, business, carpentry, public safety, entrepreneurship and the list is growing, according to information from Aarika Sandlin, VCS director of marketing & communication.

Middle- and high school students will be learning about developing a resume, how to interview, job searching, career exploration, professionalism, professional dress, college experiences and much more!

High school students currently enrolled in a CTE course, as well as any senior, will be able to sign up for guest speaker sessions at Vance County High School as part of the “Career Rodeo” to hear from professionals in a variety of careers. This opportunity allows students to learn from people in the field of work they are most interested in

and ask questions. Access to business and industry leaders allow students the ability to gain knowledge to help them make informed decisions about their future. Some of the careers featured include an auto mechanic, dental hygienist, a phlebotomist, radiologist, esthetician, speech pathologist, among others.

Throughout February, Vance County Schools will highlight CTE areas and the work taking place that is helping students be prepared for jobs and careers after graduation. Partnerships with business and community groups help students prepare for the path they choose following graduation.

Some of the district’s CTE areas include:

Culinary Arts – House at the Center for Innovation, culinary arts students they become ServSafe certified. They are able to provide food service to local events within the community, as well as in partnership with local businesses. Their next engagements include providing a light breakfast for the County Soil & Water Conservation District on Feb. 23 and hosting the culinary experience at Arts Alive Heart of the Art on April 22.

 

Public Safety – students learn about career opportunities and gain skills that allow them to achieve certifications. Students most recently practiced extinguishing a controlled fire, showcasing their skills in correctly handling a fire extinguisher.

Agriculture/horticulture – the local Farm Bureau is restoring a greenhouse where students can learn hands-on about plants, as well as understanding how climate-controlled greenhouses work. Students will be able to take their skills to the next level with this on-site lab experience in the greenhouse.

Trade & Industry (T&I) – this program allows students to gain valuable knowledge and experience around engineering, construction and carpentry. The district currently has four students interning with Kilian Engineering and gaining experience with AutoCAD. Those students will serve as class foremen and lead the construction of a tiny house, which will be 20’x24′ and have full plumbing and electricity connections. The tiny house, made possible through local partnerships, donations and CTE funding,  will be auctioned off or raffled upon completion.

Early Childhood – students learn about caring for children and gain valuable experience through work at local daycare centers. As students work through the program, they learn how to support the needs of students physically and emotionally to fully prepare them for the hands-on experience that culminated with this pathway.

Business – this program pathway focuses on teaching students skills relative to marketing, office programs and entrepreneurship, leading to opportunities for students to develop items throughout a full business plan and bring those items to life in the entrepreneurship lab at the Center for Innovation.

Foods and nutrition – this program focuses on culinary skills, but without the commercial grade experience.  Students still create culinary delights; however, their focus is on residential grade appliances and uses, which give a different experience from the culinary arts pathway.

Autotech – this pathway allows students to learn about the basics of automobiles, while providing opportunities for them to gain skills in a lab setting located on the campus of Vance County High School. As students advance in the pathway, they gain knowledge and engage in more hands-on experiences in the mechanics of a vehicle, maintenance and repairs. Some certifications include entry-level certification in brakes, maintenance and light repair.

Middle school students will get to learn about career exploration with the creation of a Paxton Patterson Lab, Sandlin said. VCS recently close to $50,000 from NCDPI with a CTE Modernization and Support Grant. The lab combines problem-based learning experiences with help from educational consultants to give students a customized program of study while they learn more about their individual strengths.

The Paxton Patterson Lab joins the SLICE on Site lab on the campus of Vance County Middle School. SLICE stands for Simulated Labs for Interactive Career Exploration, Sandlin explained.

The N.C. Committee of Business Education provided $30,000 in grant funding to VCS to develop a program that gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to get experience within five career-focused internships in the field of technology.

The program is offered through the VCS technology department, and the students selected to participate will get paid for 6-10 hours a week in their work with other district departments.

 

Cordell Motorcade To Pass By Fire Departments, City Hall Friday

The funeral service for Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3.

Beginning at 12 noon, however, a motorcade will accompany Fire Engine 5, which will transport Cordell’s coffin from Sossamon Funeral Home to South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church.

According to Downtown Development Director Tracy Madigan, the motorcade route will pass by both city fire stations as it makes its way from the funeral home to the church.

Upon departure from the funeral home, located on Oxford Road, the motorcade will drive past E.M. Rollins School, where Madigan said schoolchildren are expected to line the street to honor the chief as the motorcade passes by. From there, it will continue past Station 1 on Dabney Drive before turning onto Garnett Street, turning onto Rose Avenue to pass by City Hall and then back up Andrews Avenue to make its final turn onto Americal Road and arrive at the church.

Individuals are invited to gather in the vicinity of Garnett Street and Rose Avenue beginning about noon to pay their respects to the chief, who died Sunday after a battle with cancer.

The motorcade will consist of numerous public safety safety agencies, including fire personnel and motorcycle units of the State Highway Patrol.

WIZS will broadcast live the funeral service from the church at 2 p.m. and will broadcast special music and programming beginning and 1 p.m. as well as following the SHPHC service.

 

Public Invited To Community Info Session Feb. 14 At Baskerville Funeral Home Chapel

The chapel of Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC is the site of an upcoming community information session, during which a variety of topics of interest to local residents will be discussed.

The info session will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

The public is invited to attend, and topics for discussion include gang activity, COVID updates, at-risk youth, food insecurity, social and emotional learning and community health workers, according to information received at WIZS.

The funeral home is located at 104 S. Chestnut St. in Henderson.

Need New Scrubs? Visit MPH Work Choice Uniform Sale Feb. 2, Feb. 3

Maria Parham Health’s volunteer services department is sponsoring a uniform sale later this week, and available for purchase is a wide range of name brand gear, from scrubs and lab jackets to medical arm sleeves and ID badge holders.

The Work Choice Uniforms event  will be Thursday, Feb. 2 and Friday, Feb. 3 in the John T. Church classroom on the hospital campus, said Lisa Radford, volunteer services coordinator.

Come and shop for nurse shoes, t-shirts, surgical caps, compression socks and more, she said. In  addition, medical equipment like blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, pulse oximeters and stethoscopes also will be available for purchase.

There will be men’s, women’s and unisex clothing from size XXS to 5XL, and from petite to tall sizes.

The sale Thursday will run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday’s sale is from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Maria Parham Health Volunteer Services.

 

Two Arrested In Connection With Larceny At Kittrell Dollar General

Two people have been arrested and charged with larceny in connection with the theft of merchandise from the Dollar General store in Kittrell.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame said that Takara Chanel Cozart, 22, of Henderson was arrested Jan. 20 on three counts of larceny by an employe and two counts of aiding and abetting felony larceny.

According to a press statement issued by Brame Thursday, Cozart’s boyfriend, James Darnell Branch, 35, also of Henderson, was charged with one county of misdemeanor larceny and two counts of aiding and abetting felony larceny.

Cozart was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Branch was released after posting a $7,500 bond.

Brame said the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the theft of merchandise form the Dollar General, 1297 US-1 Hwy, Kittrell, is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.737.2200.

Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Cycle Open To Receive Proposals Through Mar. 3

The Tobacco Trust Fund Commission’s grant cycle is open and is now accepting grant applications through Mar. 3, 2023. Access the application, guidelines and other information about the funding opportunity by clicking here.

Federal, state and local governments can apply for grant funding, as well as economic development groups, educational institutions and nonprofits

Individuals can also apply, but the commission’s executive director, William Upchurch, Jr. said trust fund officials encourage individuals to work with a cost-share partner: NC AgVentures at N.C. State University, AgPrime at the University of Mount Olive, and WNC AgOptions at WNC Communities. Upchurch said that the Tobacco Trust Fund is open to talking with folks who have questions about the grant cycle and its cost-share partners.

The Tobacco Trust Fund grant cycle focuses on the priorities of community economic development, skill and resource development, increasing farm profitability, diversification of crops and development of natural resources. They look for projects that support the following outcomes: farmers assisted, jobs created and retained, acreage impacted, new crops planted, funding leverage and new education opportunities.

The trust fund commission was created in 2000 to assist current and former tobacco farmers, former quota holders, persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses, individuals displaced from tobacco-related employment, and tobacco product component businesses in North Carolina that have been affected by the adverse effects of the Master Settlement Agreement.

Local Stakeholders Invited to Join Community Collaborative of Vance County

The Community Collaborative of Vance County’s mission is to be a catalyst for change to create a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community.

The partnership includes Triangle North Foundation, The Salvation Army and the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, who formed the group as a way to gather together a diverse group of non-profit organizations, businesses, churches and others to discuss issues and concerns that may affect the community.

A principal tenet of the group states that a community is stronger when everyone works together. “The Community Collaborative of Vance County unites various sectors to address critical needs, promote volunteerism, support networking, encourage partnerships and connect resources,” according to the group’s statement of purpose.

Val Short, executive director of Triangle North Foundation, invites interested individuals to join the next meeting on Jan. 31. Contact Short at 252.430.8532 to register or to learn more about the group.

Seating is limited, so call to reserve a spot soon.

Vance County Logo

County Agrees To City Purchase Of Properties

Vance County Commissioners approved last week the sale of its share of more than 100 properties jointly owned by city and the county. County Manager Jordan McMillen said the Properties Committee reviewed an offer of $181,529 from the City of Henderson.

“Our board did approve the sale of the properties,” McMillen told WIZS News last week. “We are working with our attorney to begin the title work and necessary legal work prior to conveying the properties.”

He estimated this process could take several weeks, considering the number of properties – 114 in all.

The deal has been in the works for a while, and city leaders plan to bundle properties and seek private developers as a part of an overall residental development plan.

The properties total approximately 26.7 acres within the city limits that came into possession of the city and county as a result of tax foreclosures dating back to 2007.

The properties committee also recommended holding off on selling three county-owned parcels totaling 8.16 acres along County Home Road to the city for future residential development.

 

Golden LEAF Scholarship, Internship Opportunities

-information courtesy of the Golden LEAF Foundation

The Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship application window is now open for the 2023-2024 academic year. Applications are available at CFNC.org. A total of 215 awards will be offered to first-time recipients from qualifying rural and economically distressed counties. Applications are due March 1, 2023.

The awards are valued at $14,000 ($3,500 per year for up to four years) for North Carolina high school students attending a participating North Carolina college or university. North Carolina community college transfer students can receive $3,500 per year for up to three years.

“The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program is an important component of the Foundation’s workforce preparedness strategy,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “Our goal is for Golden LEAF Scholars to gain the talent, knowledge and skills necessary to help North Carolina’s rural communities thrive by returning home to live, work and raise families.”

To be eligible, students must be a graduating North Carolina high school senior or a currently enrolled North Carolina community college transfer student, enrolling full-time in the fall at a participating North Carolina public or private college or university. Recipients are selected based upon multiple factors including an intent to return to a rural North Carolina county after graduation. Applicants must also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the application process; have a cumulative GPA of no less than 2.5; and be a resident of a rural, economically distressed North Carolina county. Click here for the full list of eligible counties.

For more than 20 years, the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program has provided more than 6,000 scholarships to help rural students attend the state’s colleges and universities.

The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority and funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation. A complete list of program requirements, participating campuses and qualifying counties can be viewed at CFNC.org. Call 1-800-700-1775 or send an email to information@ncseaa.edu, for more information.

Learn more about the scholarship at https://scholars.goldenleaf.org/.

 

Scholarship recipients may also apply for the Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative. The Rural Internship Initiative provides Golden LEAF Scholars with professional work experience related to their career field in a rural North Carolina community. The application window closes Jan. 31.

The Golden LEAF Foundation provides funding to pay interns $15/hour for up to 400 hours of work. Internships take place over 8-10 weeks, between June and August.