-Information courtesy Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department
There will be an indoor yard sale on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 7 a.m. until noon at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department located on US Highway 1 in Ridgeway, NC.
Money from this sale will go to help high school youth from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Part of the Educational Series
The heartwarming literary classic “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White comes to life on stage! Enjoy this beautifully staged production that will be presented by children for children.
Two performances will be available for schools at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2019.
*Approximate length: 2 hrs, 15 mins, suggested grades: 2nd – 5th. $10 per student or parent. Add popcorn and bottled water for $3 more. Two free teacher/teacher assistant admissions with each class. For more information, contact info@mcgregorhall.org or call (252) 598-0662.
FAMILIES – make it a family night/afternoon at the theater by attending the shows on Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. or Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now available!
Tickets may be purchased by:
DROP IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m
CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)
CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)
(This is not a paid advertisement)
District Attorney Mike Waters was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the “Raise the Age” Initiative, an NC Legislature-passed law that will raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction for nonviolent crimes to age 18 effective December 1, 2019.
According to Waters, this change will significantly increase the juvenile court workload as the majority of 16 and 17-year-olds, currently tried automatically as adults in NC, will be tried as juveniles when the law goes into effect.
Under the new law, exceptions exist for 16 and 17-year-olds who commit felonies that are classified as A-D – including murder, robbery and burglary – in addition to DWI and other traffic offenses, firearm charges and gang-related offenses.
“North Carolina is one of the last two states in the nation to charge 16-year-olds as adults,” said Waters. “I want to reassure the public that, under the new law, the DA’s office will have the discretion to prosecute juveniles that commit serious crimes as adults.”
Waters also explained that, as of December 1, a 16 or 17-year-old convicted of a serious crime will fall under the “once an adult, always an adult” adage; once tried as an adult, any subsequent convictions will be tried as an adult as well.
As for the reason behind raising the age limit for juvenile prosecutions, Waters said research and statistics make a compelling case.
“Research shows that many 16 and 17-year-olds that get involved in the court system may not get involved with it again. Tracking someone forever and giving them a record at a young age creates a certain outcome. Also, 16 and 17-year-olds are not thinking the same way that 18, 19 and 21-year-olds are thinking.”
While juvenile court often results in some form of punishment, Waters said the primary purpose is “therapeutic” in nature. “In juvenile court, you’re trying to get the juvenile on the straight and narrow so they do not have to come back [into the court system].”
Waters and other district attorneys across NC will be asking state legislators for additional assistant district attorneys and support staff to help with the expected increase to the juvenile court workload.
“The NC Conference of District Attorneys will be asking the legislature for 54 additional assistant district attorneys across the state with the expectation that we will have one of those in our district,” Waters said.
Waters and his office serve Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren and Person counties. This five-county area compromises the 9th Judicial and the 11th Prosecutorial districts in North Carolina.
To hear the Town Talk interview with DA Mike Waters in its entirety, click here.
Warren County Schools’ Assistant Superintendent Dr. Frank Polakiewicz contacted WIZS News Monday afternoon to follow up with information about the Warren County activity bus that rolled over this past Friday afternoon. Injuries were minor to all the occupants of the bus. Dr. Polakiewicz said everyone aboard was transported to nearby hospitals but all were released.
He said, “We had a bus that was returning from a field trip in Durham. They had been to a Microsoft establishment for a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) activity I believe. We had 14 students, two chaperones and the driver on the bus. About five miles outside of (Warrenton) on route 1001, the bus swerved and tipped over on its side. Our team responded, and the principal, transportation and emergency services responded.”
Polakiewicz said, “Fortunately none of the students, chaperones or driver were seriously injured.”
The highway patrol is still trying to determine the direct cause of the accident, according to Polakiewicz. He said an individual claimed to have seen the accident and thought it was wind-related. “We reviewed the camera. There was nothing unusual going on inside the bus, so we are waiting for the final report as to the cause of the accident.”
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College will hold an Open House on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 9 a.m. until noon, at all four of its campuses.
VGCC staff members and faculty will be available during those hours to provide information on the enrollment process, academic programs and student support services. Visitors will also be able to take campus tours.
The Summer 2019 term begins May 20, while the Fall 2019 semester starts on August 19.
Prospective students are encouraged to pre-register for Open House (and select the campus they plan to visit) at www.vgcc.edu/openhouse.
VGCC’s Main Campus is located at 200 Community College Road, Henderson (Exit 209 on Interstate 85, about midway between Henderson and Oxford).
The Franklin County Campus is located at 8100 N.C. 56., Louisburg (just west of Louisburg).
South Campus is located at 1547 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor (off of N.C. 56, between Creedmoor and Butner).
The Warren County Campus is located at 210 West Ridgeway Street (U.S. 158 Business) in Warrenton.
For more information on enrolling, call (252) 738-3234 or visit any campus.
-Information courtesy Town of Warrenton NC’s Facebook page
The Town of Warrenton is interested in your feedback on bicycle and pedestrian plans. A grant from NC DOT is helping the Town develop plans and citizen feedback is critical.
Survey forms are available online, at Town Hall and also at the County Health Department and Library. Surveys can be turned in at any of these locations.
Upon completing a survey, you will automatically be registered for a drawing that includes a $50 cash prize!
Help us plan for the future! Download the survey:
Or click here to complete an online survey.
-Press Release, NCDA&CS
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is hosting Ag Awareness Day. Farmers, agribusiness leaders and Ag supporters will attend to show their support for North Carolina’s No. 1 industry and to thank legislators for passing the $240 million Hurricane Florence Ag Disaster Relief package. Participants will meet with legislators and attend a program in Bicentennial Plaza.
WHEN/WHERE:
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Bicentennial Plaza, Raleigh (between the Agriculture Building and the N.C. Museum of History)
*8:30 a.m. – Buses will depart the fairgrounds bringing Ag Awareness Day participants downtown.
*9 – 11 a.m. – Participants will meet with their legislators.
*11:30 a.m. – Ag Awareness Day program begins in Bicentennial Plaza, including the following speakers:
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Gov. Roy Cooper, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, Speaker Tim Moore, Senator Brent Jackson, Representative Jimmy Dixon, Senator Dan Blue, Representative John Bell, Senator Don Davis, Representative Brian Turner and NCSU Dean Richard Linton.
*All times are approximate.
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
“Company” by Stephen Sondheim
Tickets for Seventh Annual Dinner Theater will go on sale March 25!
Check out the details below of what promises to be an evening of fun, food and fellowship in the great Vance-Granville Drama and Culinary Arts tradition and get your tickets at www.vgcc.edu/dinnertheater. The event, once again involving the collaboration of the VGCC Drama and Culinary Arts departments, is scheduled for the evenings of Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26, 2019, in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. each evening.
Sondheim’s musical is a sophisticated and honest look at modern adult relationships.
From musical theatre’s most renowned composer, “Company” is largely regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book.
On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – “those good and crazy people [his] married friends” – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.
“Company” features a brilliantly brisk and energetic score containing many of Stephen Sondheim’s best-known songs. The strength of the piece lies in its vivid yet real characters, meaning impressive technical aspects aren’t necessary to convey the story. It can be told as effectively with a cavalcade of automated set pieces as it can with a chair or two. Every audience member will see reflections of themselves in at least one of the characters onstage.
Betsy Henderson, VGCC’s Department Chair/Instructor of Humanities and Fine Arts, is the director of the play.
Tickets are $30 and are scheduled to go on sale on March 25. Audience members will be able to choose the table and specific seats they want at the same time that they buy their tickets online. Patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets early in order to have the best chance of getting the seats they want for this year’s show.
For more information, visit www.vgcc.edu/dinnertheater.
— Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com
The Granville County Chamber of Commerce, together with Franklin, Warren and Vance Chambers are sponsoring the annual Administrative Professionals Luncheon.
This year’s event is being held Wednesday, April 24 at noon at Thorndale Oaks, 105 West Quailridge Road in Oxford. We are honored to have Vance-Granville Community College’s new President, Dr. Rachel Desmarais, as our guest speaker for the luncheon.
Business owners and administrators are encouraged to treat their administrative professionals to lunch, networking and an opportunity to meet Dr. Desmarais in observance of Administrative Professionals’ Day.
Lunch reservations are required ~ $20 per guest by April 18 to either of the Chamber’s offices – 919.693.6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com or 919.528.4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.
-Information courtesy NC DIT
Eric Boyette, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT) and State Chief Information Officer, announced today the release of the “The Homework Gap in North Carolina,” a report that provides communities with strategies to bridge the homework gap that occurs when students are assigned homework that requires internet access but lack an internet connection at home.
N.C. DIT’s Broadband Infrastructure Office developed the homework gap report in partnership with The William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University. This report contributes to a growing body of research and strategic policy recommendations designed to equip state and local policymakers, educators, and other key stakeholders with information to understand the homework gap and strategies to address it.
“We know we have many children in our state that are victims of this digital divide,” Secretary Boyette said. “Understanding the nature and scope of this problem is key to closing the homework gap.”
Governor Roy Cooper’s budget proposal makes closing the homework gap a significant priority. Governor Cooper proposes a $5 million fund to support schools that need internet hot spots for students and Wi-Fi technology for school buses.
“Too often I hear of students doing homework in the parking lots of fast food restaurants or driving long distances to use free Wi-Fi at churches and friends’ homes,” Governor Cooper said. “This is unacceptable in this day and age and it creates inequity in our educational system.”
Governor Cooper also signed Executive Order 91, which establishes a new Governor’s Task Force on Connecting North Carolina and directs state government leaders to identify and remove barriers to facilitate private-sector deployment of last-mile infrastructure, eliminate the homework gap, and support the adoption of affordable, high-speed internet access.
N.C. DIT has already begun implementing the report’s recommendations, including the BIO’s continued effort to gather more and better data through surveys such as the Speak Up survey. Speak Up is an annual research project and a free service to all schools and was the first online research tool designed to help parents share their ideas directly with schools and national policymakers. BIO partnered with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to include homework gap specific questions in the 2018-2019 Speak Up survey.
One way the state is currently working to combat the homework gap is through the State Library of North Carolina and N.C. DIT’s pilot program with the Robeson County Public Library and Public Schools of Robeson County. The pilot program is funded by a $250,000 two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and will provide Robeson County Public Library with 35 Wi-Fi hotspot devices for up to 35 K-12 households.
To access the report, please visit The Homework Gap in North Carolina on the Broadband Infrastructure Office website. To take the Speak Up survey, please visit https://speakup.tomorrow.org.
