Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Wayne Adcock

VGCC Scholarship Honors Memory Of Longtime Educator J. Wayne Adcock

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Wayne Adcock was born and raised in Vance County, and Vance County is where he gave so much of his time and energy to make a difference as an educator. His family has honored that lifelong devotion to community and to education by establishing a scholarship in his memory at Vance-Granville Community College.

Wayne Adcock died on Nov. 1, 2020 at the age of 73. His widow, Susan, and son John said he always enjoyed talking with students about their future and encouraging them to further their education. He worked in Vance County Schools from 1969 to 2002. He was superintendent for more than six years, capping off a career as a teacher assistant principal and principal across the district’s schools.

The family issued a statement, saying, “Nothing pleased him more than to see a former student and find out that they had made good choices and gotten an education. He would be so pleased about this scholarship. Wayne knew that financial aid can determine for many students if they are able to continue their education. Helping one person further their education can change a life, and even a family, and Wayne would be pleased to contribute to that effort.”

VGCC students who are Vance County residents will have preference when the scholarship is awarded, according to a press release from the college. Except for his college days, Adcock lived his whole life in Vance County.

“He knew firsthand the value of a good education,” the family said. He graduated from Aycock School in 1965 and it was a scholarship dedicated to children of military veterans that he won that propelled him along his college path. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and then came back home to teach school in Henderson. He later earned a master’s degree in Education and Education Specialist degrees from East Carolina University.

“This new scholarship will carry on Wayne Adcock’s legacy of servant leadership, inspiration and caring for students,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “We extend our appreciation to the Adcock family for supporting Vance-Granville’s current and future students.”

No doubt Adcock influenced many students in Vance County during his career. He started at Townsville High School as an 8th grade social studies, health and P.E. teacher then headed to Carver Elementary where he taught civics and algebra. From there he went to Nutbush Elementary and then was named assistant principal at E.M. Rollins. He spent five years at L.B. Yancey as principal, then took the helm at Clark Street for a year and Carver for two. He was principal at Henderson Junior High for 10 years, Vance Senior High for close to five years and then was principal at Eaton Johnson Middle from 1994 until he took the job of superintendent in July 1996.
He retired from Vance County Schools Dec. 31, 2002.

Next month, Vance County Schools will hold a ceremony to dedicate the Wayne Adcock Auditorium at the Center for Innovation, located on the campus of the former Henderson Jr. High where he spent about a third of his career as principal.

Adcock was an active member at Carey Baptist Church in Henderson and was actively involved with the Henderson Family YMCA. After his retirement, he served on the boards of the Vance County Public School Foundation and the Vance County Department of Social Services.

VGCC Foundation Executive Director Eddie Ferguson thanked the Adcock family for their generosity, saying, “Wayne Adcock loved his community and the students of Vance County, and we are honored that his loved ones have established a scholarship which will help students for years to come. Empowering students to continue their education is an ideal way to remember a great educator like Wayne.”

The VGCC Foundation (formerly known as the Endowment Fund) has enabled more than 9,700 scholarships to be awarded to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

 

Slicing The Budget Pie And The Budget Process

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Despite efforts by local government leaders, Vance County and Henderson were on the short end of the stick when it comes to the recently passed $52 billion state budget. Rep. Terry Garrison said he has some ideas about why it happened that Vance County didn’t receive any funding for earmark projects.

He said in a phone interview earlier today (Friday) with John C. Rose that it all boils down to politics.

“There is absolutely no question about it,” he said. “(Politics) accounts for why we didn’t get any of the earmarked money.”

It’s common for local leaders to discuss funding projects with their representatives in Raleigh informally before the formal request for funding is made, Garrison said.

There was a formal request for funding help with the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, but Garrison said it was made in August, after the April 30 request period had ended.

But Garrison also said he, along with State Sen. Mike Woodard (District 22) tried to get some money for the project, “but it didn’t happen. If the politics had been different, I feel like it would have been included.”

Garrison and Woodard are Democrats; House Speaker Tim Moore, who met with the Vance County and Henderson contingent, is a Republican.

Politics aside, Garrison did have some encouraging words for future funding for the regional water system.

“There are some funds that have been earmarked for water and sewer. I don’t think the door is completely closed…to get some funding assistance.”

Garrison said the request process works like this: he submits a formal funding request to the House Democratic caucus, which in turn presents it to the budget committee for inclusion in the budget.

Garrison did vote to approve the budget, which was long overdue. “There were a lot of things in the budget that were good for North Carolina and good for Vance County,” he said, mentioning salary increases and bonuses for teachers, rural broadband support and funding for community colleges.

“On that basis, I supported it – the good outweighed the negative.”

Unfortunately, the negative included no earmarked projects for Vance County or Henderson.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon offered his understanding about special projects. “For all intents and purposes (they) are earmarks for politicians that are loyal to the prevailing party.” Right now, the prevailing party in the legislature is the Republican party.

“We made a case to our state representatives and it was not well received by the leadership in the N.C. General Assembly.  We will continue to make requests and apply for funds at the agency level to hopefully assist with many of the projects here in Henderson that need additional funding,” Blackmon said.

The regional water system did get a boost of $3.5 million, Blackmon said, thanks to Congressmen G.K. Butterfield and David Price. However, the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution because it has yet to pass a budget.

“Most of the projects appear to be in Republican districts and/or districts where Democrats voted for the Republican budget passed by the NC General Assembly,” Blackmon said of the state-funded projects awarded to 97 of 100 counties.

“It does seem to come down to politics,” Blackmon said.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Garrison concurred.

NC Forest Service

Burn Ban Still In Effect For Vance, Granville And 31 Other Counties

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The burn ban issued last month remains in effect for Granville and Vance counties, although more than two-thirds of the state saw the ban lifted Wednesday. That means all burn permits previously issued have been cancelled for the time being, and other types of fires – including campfires and leaf burning – are not permitted. Vance/Granville Ranger Rob Montague reminds all area residents that 67 counties have been removed from the list in light of recent rainfall, but weather conditions in Granville and Vance remain such that the ban is still in effect, Montague said.

For more information, contact Ranger Rob Montague at rob.montague@ncagr.gov or 919.693.3154 or view the original press release at  https://www.ncforestservice.gov/news_pubs/newsdesk_2021.htm#11292021.

 

H-V Chamber Logo

Henderson-Vance Chamber Banquet Set For Jan. 27, 2022

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The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting and banquet in January 2022, during which time the Vance County Citizen of the Year will be announced.

The meeting and dinner will be held on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 at the Vance-Granville Community College civic center, according to information from Chamber President Michele Burgess.

Current board chairman Dr. Levy Brown will recap the year’s successes and incoming board chair Ronald Bennett will announce member benefits and program initiatives for the new year.

Burgess said invitations are forthcoming, so check your email inboxes for those as well as for sponsorship opportunities for the banquet.

A video is being produced to spotlight community pride in Henderson and Vance County which will feature interviews with local business leaders discussing the benefits Chamber membership provides.

“If you or your business has seen a direct benefit from your chamber membership, please email us a short statement that we can share or if you would be willing to be interviewed for our video about why you belong to our Chamber,” Burgess stated. Email comments for the video to michele@hendersonvance.org.

Nominations for the citizen of the year award are due before Jan. 6, 2022. Request a nomination form and guidelines from the Chamber at 252.438.8414 and return it via email to Burgess or mail a paper copy to the Chamber, P.O. Box 1302, Henderson, NC 27536.

This annual award honors a member of the community for outstanding service and long commitment to Vance County and Henderson.

Filing Period For Mar. 3 Primary Elections Opens Monday, Dec. 6

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UPDATED — The Vance County Board of Elections is making plans for the upcoming county and Henderson municipal primary elections, rescheduled from last month to March 3, 2022.  The filing period for county or local offices begins at 12 noon on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 and closes on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 at 12 noon, according to information from Melody Vaughan, board of elections director. Contests for the following offices will be on the Mar. 3 ballot:

  • Vance County Commissioner-Districts 3, 4 and 7
  • Vance County Board of Education-Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7
  • Vance County Register of Deeds
  • Vance County Clerk of Superior Court
  • Vance County Sheriff

Filing for the city of Henderson will begin at 12 noon on Jan. 3, 2022 and will end on Jan. 7, 2022 at 12 noon. Contests for the following offices will appear on the Mar. 3 ballot:

  • Wards 1 and 2, at-large seats
  • Wards 3 and 4

The fee schedule for the various seats is set by the State Board of Elections.

The fees are:

  • County Commissioners⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅$ 98.72
  • Board of Education⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅$ 42.00
  • Register of Deeds⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅$ 529.56
  • Clerk of Superior Court⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅$ 998.00
  • Sheriff⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅$ 720.60
  • City of Henderson⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅$10.00

Payment will be accepted in the form of a check or cashier’s check payable to Vance County Board of Elections.

The primary elections information will be updated in the next week to include any federal or state offices that will appear on the ballot, and again after the filing deadlines to include names of all candidates running for each office. Ballots are scheduled to be printed a couple of months before the election.

On Election Day, poll workers will mark buffer zones with signs to mark where electioneering may take place. State law requires that the limit be set at 50 feet from the entrance of the polling place, but no farther than 50 feet and at least 25 feet. Listed below are the precincts and polling places in Vance County:

  • North Henderson 1 – County office building, 305 Young St. and Walnut St.
  • South Henderson 1 – Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St.
  • East Henderson 1 – Advance Academy, 219 Charles St.
  • West Henderson – Central Fire Station, 211 Dabney Dr.
  • Northern Vance – Vance County Middle School, 293 Warrenton Rd.
  • South Henderson 2 – L.B. Yancey Elementary School, 311 Hawkins Dr.
  • Hilltop – St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 3005 Oxford Rd.
  • Kittrell – Kittrell Fire Station, 54 W Main St., Kittrell
  • Middleburg – E. O. Young Elementary School, US 1 North, Middleburg
  • Sandy Creek – Aycock Recreation Complex, 307 Carey Chapel Rd.
  • Community College – Vance-Granville Community College, 200 Community College Rd.
  • New Hope – New Hope Elementary School, 10199 NC Hwy 39 N

Contact the board of elections office at 252.492.3730 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. with questions.

Vance Teen Court Club: Adult And Youth Volunteers Needed

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The Vance County Teen Court Club is an organization designed to help young people understand the justice system while learning how to take responsibility for their actions. The club is looking for volunteers ages 12 and up to participate. Youth and adult volunteers are needed, according to Tara Goolsby with the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department.

The group currently meets at Aycock Recreation Center on Tuesdays at 4 p.m., according to Youth Services Program Coordinator Darius Pitt. The actual court sessions are held at the court house with real judges and attorneys, he said. “We are in the rebuilding stage right now because most of our volunteers have graduated and are gone off to college,” Pitt said.

Participants learn about the justice system through a variety of hands-on activities, and they provide an alternative system of justice which encourages young people to take responsibility for their actions and correct mistakes.

Student volunteers participate in the defense and prosecution of youthful offenders.

In addition to knowledge gained, volunteers also can earn community service hours toward graduation and improve their communication and problem-solving skills with their involvement in Teen Court Club.

Contact Pitt at 252.431.6099 or dariuspitt@henderson.nc.gov.

NCDOT

NC DOT Awards Contracts For Vance, Warren Road Improvements

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More than 20 miles of state-maintained roads in Vance County will undergo resurfacing and shoulder improvements, according to information from NC DOT.

Carolina Sunrock of Raleigh was awarded a $2.7 million contract to mill, resurface pavement and improve shoulders along 21.4 miles of Vance County roads, including Tungsten Mine, Jacksontown and Morgan roads.

ST Wooten Corporation of Wilson was awarded a $2.1million contract to make similar improvements along 16.5 miles of roads in Warren County. Roads to be resurfaced under this contract include Slick Williams, Baltimore and Parktown roads.

The work may begin in spring 2022 and must be completed by the end of summer 2023, according to the NC DOT press release.

NCDHHS

New Program Can Help Eligible Households That Face Water Disconnection

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A new emergency program launched today (Dec. 1) to help low-income households afford water and wastewater services. The program, called Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is scheduled to run through September 2023 or until the funds are all used up. It is a federally funded program administered through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Households that have already had the water or wastewater services cut off or have received notice of being cut off because of past due bills may be eligible to apply for the one-time payment, which will be paid directly to the utility company, according to a press release.

Families that already receive assistance from federal programs such as Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services are automatically eligible. Households that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 also are automatically eligible. These households should contact the local Department of Social Services for more information.

There are certain eligibility criteria, according to the press release. A household must have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen and have income equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, have household services that are already disconnected, in danger of disconnection or have a current outstanding bill that they are responsible for paying.

If your water has been cut off, or if you have gotten a notice of disconnection, apply online at www.epass.nc.gov, apply in person at your local department of social services or by phone. In addition, a paper application is available at the website above and can be completed and dropped off or faxed to the department of social services.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, any household needing help paying its water bill can apply for help if they meet eligibility requirements.

Visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/energy-assistance/low-income-household-water-assistance-program-lihwap to learn more.

S-Line Rail Corridor

Passenger Rail Plan Seeks Input As S-Line Project Continues

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The community is invited to participate in a couple of activities this weekend that are part of the NC DOT study of the proposed S-Line rail project. Henderson and Norlina are both being considered for stops along the line.

There will be a pop-up community meeting in Norlina on Friday, Dec. 3 as the plan moves forward.  The Norlina meeting will be held at Rachel’s Whistle Stop Café, according to Warren County Economic Development Director Charla Duncan. The gathering is open to all and will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café is located at 123 Hyco St, Norlina, NC 27563.

Then, on Saturday, Dec. 4, a team from the engineering firm hired by the state to lead and assess the needs/feasibility study will be at the Henderson Christmas parade to conduct public interest surveys about the plan, according to Downtown Development Director Tracy Madigan. Stop by Sadie’s Coffee Corner on Saturday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to provide input and give thoughts about the proposed rail plan.

The engineering firm is interested in hearing from the public about such things as how the transit-oriented development should look, things you would consider exciting to change or improve and items you believe present concerns.

Duncan told WIZS News that the Dec. 3 meeting is not about the design of the rail line itself, but “about the possibility for development around a potential stop in Norlina.” She invites the public to come out to share input.

The same is true in Henderson.

Transit-oriented development is defined as a way to build compact, walkable cities and town and preserving rural and natural areas. Having a mix of residential, business and retail  development within walking distance of a transit station reduces the need for driving while creating walkable destinations for recreation and other activities.

According to information about the study from NC DOT, the S-Line is a 95-mile long missing link within the plan for passenger rail service along the southeast rail corridor. The proposed S-Line section begins in Sanford and continues through Apex, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Franklinton, Henderson and Norlina. The Henderson and Norlina stops are among 13 that are noted along the proposed line. The transit-oriented development (TOD) study “will evaluate market conditions, affordable housing considerations, multi-modal transportation opportunities, and regulatory conditions in the various jurisdictions,” according to materials provided by the engineering firm.

 

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Brame: Two Drug Arrests In Separate Traffic Stops Over Long Holiday Weekend

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Vance Sheriff Curtis R. Brame announced the arrests of two people on drug charges in separate incidents over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Gregory Brown was stopped by members of the patrol division on Tiny Broadwick Boulevard on Nov. 25 for an expired tag. During the traffic stop, Brame said Brown told a deputy that he had narcotics in the vehicle.

In searching the vehicle, deputies located a substance in a clear bag, along with some drug paraphernalia.

Brown, who lives in Durham, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine, maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and for expired vehicle registration. He posted a $50,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27, 2022.

On Saturday, Nov. 27, members of the sheriff’s office criminal investigation division conducted a traffic stop on Rice Road on a vehicle for littering. Deputies observed what they considered to be narcotics in plain view during the stop. During a search of the vehicle, officers located 42 small white envelopes of a substance they determined to be heroin. The passenger in the vehicle, Katlyn Duncan of Nathalie, VA, was arrested and charged with possession of heroin. Duncan was given a $10,000 secured bond and was transported to the Vance County Detention Center. She has a court date of Jan. 24, 2022.