Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

MPH Welcomes Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Mark Messner

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Maria Parham Health Friday announced that Mark Messmer, DO MS has joined its staff and will be offering orthopedic surgical services to patients in Henderson, Vance County and the surrounding region. Messmer comes from a military background and joins Maria Parham from his previous position as staff orthopedic surgeon at Camp Lejeune, according to a press statement from Donna Young, marketing & communication coordinator for MPH.

While at Lejeune, Messner’s patients were primarily active-duty personnel with the Marines and Navy with a variety of sports-related injuries and trauma. He specializes in sports, trauma, arthroplasty and general orthopedics, and becomes the second new orthopedic provider to join Maria Parham Health as the hospital continues to grow its orthopedic and surgical services.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Messmer to Henderson to practice at Maria Parham Health,” said CEO Bert Beard. “Orthopedic surgery is a growing need in our community, and Dr. Messmer’s training and military surgical background have given him a great breadth of experience in a wide range of procedures that people in our region need. This expertise will be important as Maria Parham Health works to make our community healthier.”

Messmer was graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor of science degree in human biology. He has a master’s degree in medical education and holds a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Messmer, a member of the American Osteopathic Association of Orthopedics and the  American Osteopathic Association, is scheduling patients at Maria Parham Orthopaedics. To schedule an appointment, please call 800.424.DOCS.

VCS Announces Principals, Teachers Of The Year During Awards Ceremony

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Vance County Schools honored its 2022 Educators of Excellence at an awards ceremony on Tuesday.

Edward Ortega, principal of STEM Early High School was named Principal of the Year; Launtia Dallas of Clarke Elementary was named Beginning Teacher of the Year; Anita Griffith of Zeb Vance Elementary was named Teacher of the Year and Donald Johnson of Aycock Elementary was named Assistant Principal of the Year.

The awards were presented at the district’s annual Excellence in Education banquet at the Henderson County Club. The banquet honored teachers, staff and administrators from across the district, representing their respective schools.

Griffith, music teacher at Zeb Vance Elementary, has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Piano Performance and Choral Conducting. She has taught at the elementary, secondary and university level.

“This is an amazing acknowledgement”, Griffith said. “I am humbled to be named VCS District Teacher of the Year. Our children are so important and I will try to always do my best for them.”

Donald Johnson III (VCS Assistant Principal of the Year), Edward Ortega (VCS Principal of the Year), Anita Griffith (VCS Teacher of the Year), and Launtia Dallas (VCS Beginning Teacher of the Year)

She is a phenomenal educator and in everything she does”, said Andrew Markcoch, the Director of Fine Arts and Innovation. First and foremost, she has built relationships with the students, and has built a culture in her room at Zeb Vance that is palatable.” Anybody that walks into her room will see that instantly. [She is] a wonderful representation of the kinds of things that we do in this district in the arts.”

Dallas, who teaches second grade at Clarke Elementary, said she is “excited, elated, honored and extremely grateful to Vance County Schools for this prestigious award.

I show up every day to educate my scholars as if they had my last name,” Dallas said in a press statement issued by VCS Director of Communications Aarika Sandlin. “My desire is to serve them to

the best of my ability so that they can serve our community. I am humbled by this recognition and I’m ready to allow this fresh fire to perpetuate as I believe that our scholars deserve teachers who believe that they can learn and will not be satisfied until they do.”

Johnson took top honors as assistant principal of the year. Currently at Aycock Elementary, he began his educational journey in Granville County as a teacher and assistant principal before joining Vance County Schools in 2021.

“I am truly humbled, honored, and blessed to serve the community that I am from. As a product of Vance County, I am fortunate to be able to serve alongside an amazing group of educators, children, and families that make up our community. As I reflect on the privilege of being named the Vance County Schools’ Assistant Principal of the Year, the word that immediately comes to mind is ‘thankful.’ I am thankful to serve on a dynamic team that is committed to serving children each day to ensure that all children are given the best opportunities to learn and grow. I am thankful to continue to serve the community that made me who I am today. I am so proud of each educator in our district that invests in our students and community – they are the true heroes.”

Edward Ortega, principal of STEM Early High, said he was honored and humbled to be named VCS principal of the year. “This is a recognition of the dedication and hard work poured in over the years to make sure our students receive the quality education they deserve. I did not reach this point on my own. Since I came from Colombia in 2004, I have been blessed with mentorship and friendship of amazing educators and leaders. I am truly thankful to each one of them for the guidance, support and affection expressed along the way. I am also fortunate to work for a school district and community committed to fostering academic excellence in the county’s children and youth. I will continue to be fully committed to my passion for teaching and learning in all its forms in a school district that has become an incredibly special place for me and my family. Again, thank you Vance County Schools for this recognition. It feels amazing to be the 2022 VCS Principal of the Year.”

Ortega began his career with Vance County Schools as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. He graduated from the Universidad del Atlántico in Colombia as a Modern Languages Teacher.

“It’s an honor to celebrate all of the educators in our district, especially those recognized by their peers as Teacher of the Year and Beginning Teacher of the Year”, said Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett. “It is also exciting to be part of recognizing members of our school leadership. Vance County Schools is very fortunate to have a group of dedicated and passionate teachers and leaders who recognize that the most important part of our job is serving our children.”

Griffith and Ortega will represent Vance County in the regional competition.

Chamber In Search Of Cheerleaders For Aug. 23 Event

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Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess invites fellow Chamber members to break out the pom-poms and turn out on Aug. 23 to cheer on Vance County Schools’ teachers as they return to begin a new school year.

Teachers will arrive by bus around 8 a.m. and the Convocation Kick-off begins at McGregor Hall.

“We are asking for anyone in our business community interested in celebrating and cheering on our educators, to join us outside of McGregor Hall from 7:50 a.m.- 8:20 a.m,” Burgess said in a statement to WIZS News Friday.

Plan to come out and bring some associates or employees to join in the fun, Burgess said. The group will line up in front of McGregor Hall, and individuals are invited to bring company signs, mascots and any other business-related swag to show some “loud hometown spirit” for teachers as they arrive from their individual schools.

School officials said this year’s convocation is the first time the entire VCS staff has been together since 2019.

Although there’s not enough space inside McGregor Hall for the business and community “cheerleaders,” it should be a lot of fun to show the educators in our community that we value their work and effort as they kick off a new school year.

Aug. 25 SBA Webinar Focuses On Rural Entrepreneurs

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The U.S. Small Business Administration announces another in its series of webinars “Elevating Small Business” designed for rural entrepreneurs. The hourlong program will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25 and will feature a panel of experts who will speak on topics including the importance of financial wellness, creating generational wealth through business ownership and uplifting and supporting rural-owned small businesses.

Panelists are Allen Thomas, regional administrator for SBA Region IV, Terri Billups, senior advisor to acting director/deputy director of the Office of Affairs and Morgan Beavers, co-owner of Graylee Construction and Demolition in Austin, AR.

The panel will also discuss SBA initiatives and resources that support small business recovery, new rural startups seeking to launch, and existing rural-owned small businesses as they pivot and grow in a post-COVID world.

Register for the webinar here or visit    https://SBArural.eventbrite.com.

Chamber’s Business After Hours Tomorrow At VCS Center For Innovation

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Check out the Chamber’s Business After Hours event Thursday, Aug. 11 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Vance County Schools’ Center for Innovation.

Chamber members are invited to the site of the former Henderson High School and Henderson Middle School campus to enjoy some networking and refreshments. Parking is available just off N. William Street, behind the main building.

It’s a great time to talk with school leaders about how your business can support education and how schools can help to ensure they’re preparing students for the workforce.

Participants can tour the zSpace lab, SLICE lab, MakerSpace room and video production studio on campus and can learn how their business can utilize the resources available at the Center for Innovation.

There will be giveaways and door prizes.

To learn more, contact Sandra Wilkerson, the Chamber’s director of programs at Sandra@hendersonvance.org or 252.438.8414.

TownTalk: School Board Approves VCS Strategic Plan

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The new Vance County Schools logo was officially unveiled Aug. 1, and school officials took time at Monday night’s school board meeting to share a bit about the meaning behind the color scheme and the graphics.

“The new logo represents the pathway options that students may choose as the letters v,c and s can all be traced in the image,” according to information in the VCS Board Briefs document. There’s a color gradient that moves from greens to blues and that represents the personalized education and pathways available to students, the statement explained.

The school board also approved the 2022-2025 strategic plan, which includes a revised vision and mission for the 16-school district, which serves about 5,000 students from preschool through high school.

The four-point plan lists equity, innovation, high performance culture and experiential learning as driving forces to inform the work of schools, staff and district leadership.

“Vance County Schools provides an adaptable educational setting where learning is a catalyst to the pursuit of dreams in an evolving society,” the vision statement reads.

And the mission states: “Vance County Schools is committed to providing broad experiences and opportunities to stakeholders that enable them to compete globally.”

Visit https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/ to learn more.

Calling All State Fair Competitors: Enter By Sept. 15 Deadline!

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Think you’ve got a blue-ribbon zucchini bread recipe? Want to see how that batch of blackberry jam or fig preserves stands up to state competition? Or do you have an exquisite quilt or other handcrafted item that you’d like to show off a bit?

Then consider entering the 2022 N.C. State Fair competitions, which are open now through Sept. 15.

The Fair will be held Oct. 13-23 in Raleigh. This year’s theme is “So Happy Together,” surely a nod to reclaiming participation in events that had been hindered by COVID-19 restrictions for the past two years.

In addition to the traditional competitions like artwork, honey, livestock, cooking, canned food, flowers and decorating skills, new competitions include ink pen decorated seashells and artwork-inspired floral arrangements, according to information from fair organizers.

“It is exciting to announce new competitions to go along with categories that are always so popular, like decorated cakes and quilts,” said John Buettner, competitive exhibits coordinator. “We have competitions to appeal to a wide variety of individuals from seashell painting, painted rocks, terrarium building, shoe decorating and even coloring sheets. I encourage everyone, and all ages, to check out the competitions because just like the N.C. State Fair itself, there is something for everyone.”

In 2021, more than 36,000 items were entered in competitions at the fair.

Most entry deadlines are Sept. 15. Exhibitors must have registered prior to the entry deadline. Entry forms can be mailed in or exhibitors can enter online using ShoWorks, an online application system that is widely used at fairs across the country.

“Exhibitors can enter at the website or by downloading the ShoWorks app. This will help streamline the process, report results quicker and be a way that exhibitors can manage multiple exhibits at a fair or even several fairs,” Buettner said. “Since this is new, we have provided instructions for entering each competition on our website as well.”

Find more information at ncstatefair.org and click on competitions.

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TownTalk: Council Approves Updated Minimum Housing Code

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The Henderson City Council unanimously approved the revised minimum housing code at its meeting Monday, putting in place an updated framework for making sure that dwellings – especially rental properties – are maintained to comply within acceptable guidelines.

“They adopted the code last night with the exception of Section F,” City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS News Tuesday. Section F includes details about local agents, or points of contact, for properties located in the city.

Blackmon said City Attorney D. Rix Edwards is in the process of seeking clarification from the UNC School of Government to make sure the wording in the code is appropriate and follows state laws. “At a later time, that section could be added back to the code, with some adjustments to the language,” Blackmon explained.

During a work session last month, council members reviewed various changes and updates that had been proposed to the existing code; there was some concern about whether the city could require designation of a local contact in case of an emergency repair at a rental home. State law prohibits registrations of rental properties by municipalities and council members wanted to get guidance about the proper language used in the code to ensure compliance with state rules.

At the time, Blackmon said the city may choose to make naming a local contact person voluntary.

Council Member Melissa Elliott told WIZS News Tuesday that the proposed draft had included the word “agent” and council decided to change the term to “point of contact.”

The rationale behind that part of the code, Elliott said, “is just to have someone local that we can reach out to when a landlord has a house that may have an emergency repair or something that needs to be done” and the landlord lives outside North Carolina.

In today’s written correspondence about the outcome from Monday’s meeting, Blackmon said the city could get registered agent information from the Secretary of State’s office or from lease agreements, which residents submit as part of an application to the city’s water department.

The updates to the city’s minimum housing code is just one step that local officials and the larger community are considering as part of revitalization efforts in and around the downtown area.

Henderson Collegiate To Host Teacher Career Fair Thursday, Aug. 11

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Henderson Collegiate is hosting a teacher career fair Thursday morning and is offering a $2,000 signing bonus for any of a number of open positions at the K-12 charter school. Prospective applicants don’t need a  teacher license in hand – just bring a resume.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 at the school, located at 1071 Old Epsom Rd. in Henderson.

“This is a great career opportunity for a teacher, career changer, or recent graduate,” said Alicia Hawk, director of development at Henderson Collegiate, Inc.

“Henderson Collegiate is one of the top K-12 public charter schools in the state with competitive pay and benefits, and it’s part of the N.C. Teachers & State Employees retirement program,” Hawk added.

Visit https://hendersoncollegiate.org/ to learn more about the school.

Upcoming Blood Drives In Area; Donors Entered To Win Free Gas Card

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There’s a blood drive scheduled for this Wednesday in Oxford and donors are desperately needed to ward off a shortage during the waning days of summer. The drive will be at the Public Works Center from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Public Works Center is located at 127 Penn Ave., Oxford.

Another drive will be held in Henderson on Aug. 26 at Maria Parham Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Although 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, only about 3 percent donate, according to Cally Edwards, regional communications director for the Eastern District of the American Red Cross. In addition to blood donations, the Red Cross is in special need of platelet donations.

Anyone who donates during August automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year, a $6,000 value. There will be three lucky winners. Everyone who comes to give blood or platelets in August will also receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.

Donors can schedule an appointment to give using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1.800.733.2767).