Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Vance County Courthouse

Juror Shortage Prompts More Summonses In More Citizens’ Mailboxes

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COVID-19 has been blamed for everything from global supply chain problems to schoolchildren’s lagging academic achievement. And Vance Clerk of Superior Court Henry Gupton said the current lack of jurors for local trials could also be blamed on the virus.

Gupton told WIZS News Friday that for the next five Mondays, the juror pool will bump up to 150 people receiving notices to show up to court for possible jury selection.

“We didn’t have enough Monday a week ago,” Gupton said. Of the 106 summonses that were sent, only 38 people showed up. Some of that number, he said, were excused for medical or other reasons of hardship. “But of those not excused, 38 showed up.”

The summons is not something to ignore, and Gupton said resident Superior Court Judge Cynthia Sturges could step up the process to find out why folks aren’t showing up.

“She’s contemplating how she wants to handle it,” Gupton said, adding that a decision hasn’t been reached yet.

A capital murder trial is slated to begin in Vance County on Sept. 26, but there has to be a sufficient jury pool from which to select a jury. Gupton said the jury selection process could be extended to the first two weeks in September.

“How are we going to administer justice if we don’t have jurors to do it?” Gupton asked.

Sheriff’s deputies could come knocking on your door to find out why you didn’t comply with the summons to appear for jury selection.

“We’ve got to get jurors, there’s no question about that, we’ve got to get jurors,” he said.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Sheriff Curtis Brame

Brame Asks Commissioners For Study To Build New Jail

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame continues to work to correct deficiencies at the local jail, but he said the fact of the matter is this: the county needs a new detention center.

Brame addressed the Vance County Commissioners at their Aug. 1 meeting, during which the most recent jail inspection report was presented for review. And he asked commissioners to provide funding for a study to build a new detention center.

“We are in a facility that has long outgrown its needs,” Brame told WIZS News  Friday. “Our detention center is antiquated and outdated,” he said, and noted safety issues – for staff and detainees alike – as a result of the condition of the physical plant.

The most recent inspection was conducted on June 14, and commissioners received the report in the August agenda packet.

The 9-page report included everything from non-functioning locks on food passage doors to dirty showers, but also detailed deficiencies in staff trainings and supervision.

Brame has responded to many of the items in a correction plan that was submitted to state jail inspectors and corrections will be verified during the next inspection.

But the overall physical condition of the jai, located at 516 Breckenridge St., looms larger for Brame. “Over 31 years ago the county decided to renovate the detention
center,” he said in a statement to WIZS. He said the renovations do not meet current standards and needs and he maintains that the jail “is unsafe for both staff and detainees.”

Vance Sheriff’s Office, Kerr-Tar COG Host Bike Rodeo Aug. 13

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The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the Kerr-Tar COG to host a bike safety rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The rodeo is designed to test bike-handling skills of children ages 4 to 15 and will be held in the parking lot of the Vance County Courthouse, 156 Church St. in Henderson.

Participants may bring their own bikes, but there also will be bicycles available to borrow for the rodeo.

There will be a free helmet giveaway, as well as goodie bags, Pelican’s snoballs and more!

For more information, contact the sheriff’s office at 252.425.0933.

Terry Garrison

Henderson Gets $5.4 Million For Water, Wastewater Projects

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An additional $5.4 million is set to flow into the City of Henderson to target drinking water and wastewater projects, most of which will go to fund the Sandy Creek Basin Sewer Rehab project.

The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and the state Water Infrastructure Authority approved funding for the local projects, according to information from the office of Rep. Terry Garrison, who serves District 32 – Vance, Granville and Warren counties.

In addition to $5 million designated for the Sandy Creek project, two allotments of $200,000 each were awarded to the city to conduct asset inventories and assessment planning for both water and wastewater.

“I am happy to see this critical funding come from the Department of Environmental Quality to Henderson,” Rep. Terry Garrison said. “Clean water is essential for every North Carolinian. This money is going to help Henderson ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe water.”

City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS News Friday that this money will be used to address excess water that flows into sewer pipes from groundwater and stormwater, known as “infiltration and overflow.”

The $5 million is added to $2.5 million, zero interest loan the city got last year from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Blackmon said.

“The other $400,000 will be used to perform a water study centered around inspecting our water lines…(to) help us better map our system,” he added.

Granville and Warren counties also received chunks of money for improvements to their water systems, Garrison’s office noted.

The City of Oxford got more than $9.5 million to fund sewer system improvements and the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority was awarded $150,000.

Warren County got money for three projects totaling $745,000. The breakdown includes two planning grants: a $189,500 planning grant for a regional elevated storage tank and a $400,000 pre-construction planning grant for the Eatons Ferry sewer extension and $155,500 for the Pleasant Hill pump station replacement.

Community Partners of Hope

Men’s Shelter Opening One Month Early On Path To 12-Month Operation

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The local men’s shelter has gotten the green light to open its doors for an extra month, putting the group a step closer to realizing its dream of being open year-round for those in need.

The shelter, based at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Henderson, is an outreach of Community Partners of Hope.

In previous years, the shelter was open from November through March, with the hope of being able to expand services and there is a campaign underway now to raise the $133,225 needed to make the dream a reality. To date, more than $15,000  has been raised.

Visit the Dream Team Fundraiser Link Here.  

Information in the recent CPOH newsletter stated that Darryl Jones will continue as shelter manager and Josh Stokes will manage weekend duties, but the shelter continues to need volunteers to partner with paid staff to keep things running smoothly. The group is looking at the possibility of adding another paid overnight supervisor.

Community Network Specialist Delthine Watson is pursuing grant opportunities, as well as possible collaboration with other agencies and partners. Watson is available to speak to church and civic groups to share the mission and vision of CPOH. Contact her at specialist.cpoh@gmail.com or 919.339.1462 to learn more.

“Food Farmacy” Coming To Henderson Aug. 7

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A “Food Farmacy” event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 7 outside Perry Memorial Library, showcasing local produce and producers while promoting health and wellness in rural areas through good nutrition.

The event is funded through a grant from Duke University’s Kenan Institute of Ethics and will feature local community vendors, according to information from Darius Pitt, with Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Dept.

Among the organizations that will be present are The Black Farmers Market and Slice 325. There will be a range of goods and produce, “hand-picked, packed and presented to you,” the publicity flyer notes.

Shop and learn between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the free event. The library is located at 205 Breckenridge St.

Rebuilding Hope To Hold Kids Construction Camp Next Week

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There’s still time to sign up for Rebuilding Hope’s upcoming Kids Construction Camp that takes place next week. The three-day camp is designed to give children in 2nd through 6th grades an opportunity to use tools to create things.

The campers will work through a variety of stations, including Hammer & Nails, Electrical & Plumbing, Block Laying and Building a Birdhouse.

The camp runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. A midmorning snack is provided.

Contact Rebuilding Hope at 252.438.5132 or 252.425.5593 or visit http://rebuildinghopeinc.org/

Scott Riley Joins Maria Parham Orthopaedics Team

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Maria Parham Health has announced that Scott F. Riley, PA-C, has joined the Maria Parham Orthopaedics team and will be seeing patients at 120 Charles Rollins Road in Henderson.

“We are excited to continue growing orthopedic access in the communities we serve with the addition of Scott,”said Maria Parham Health Market CEO Bert Beard. “He, Dr. Darius Divina and Dr. Mark Messmer (joining Maria Parham Orthopaedics in August) will ensure patients’ orthopedic needs can be met close to home in Franklin, Vance and Person counties.”

Riley earned his Master of Health Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine in December 2021. He also has completed numerous clinical rotations, including orthopedic medicine, surgical medicine and emergency medicine.

For more information about Maria Parham’s orthopedic services, visit MariaParham.com/orthopedics.

To schedule an appointment with Scott Riley, PA-C, call 800.424.DOCS.

 

 

Pickleball Players Have Open Court Access Thursday Mornings at Aycock Rec Center

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The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department is offering free access to pickleball courts at Aycock Recreation Center on Thursday mornings, according to information from Director Kendrick Vann.

The courts will be available for use from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Want to learn how to play the tennis-like game that has players hitting wiffle balls with oversized paddles across a net? There’s instructional time from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month.

For more information contact Vann at kendrickvann@henderson.nc.gov  at 252.431.6093.

Aug. 13 Gala To Celebrate 50 Years Of Live, Local Theater By Henderson Rec Players

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Fifty of just about anything is a lot. Chaperoning 50 children on a field trip is a lot and so is 50 miles ‘til the next rest area when you’re traveling along the interstate.

But 50 years of providing live local theater is a special milestone that the community joins the Henderson Rec Players in celebrating this summer.

And there’s a special gala event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration. The gala begins at 6:45 p.m. – before the 8 p.m. performance of “The Fantasticks,” the final play of this golden anniversary season.

Tickets are on sale now for the play, which opens Friday, Aug. 12. In addition to the two evening performances, the Sunday, Aug. 14 matinee begins at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the gala are $50 each, which includes an opening reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, one show ticket, dessert after the show and a backstage tour of HRP memorabilia.

“The Fantasticks,” was also the final show of the 1972 season.

Call the box office 252.598.0662 or visit www.mcgregorhall.org/