Keith Purnell, a school bus driver for Northern Vance High School and E.M. Rollins Elementary School, placed seventh in the state in the annual N.C. School Bus Rodeo held in Raleigh on May 25. He was among 29 of the state’s best school bus drivers who navigated a yellow school bus through an obstacle course that tested their skills in mastering a diminishing clearance, backing, making a tight turn and parallel parking. The competing drivers had to place among the …
Traffic Pattern Changes Coming This Week for the I-85 Improvement Project in Vance and Warren Counties
Additional traffic shifts are set to begin this week for the Interstate 85 improvement project between Vance County and the Virginia state line. The most significant change will be I-85 southbound traffic being shifted to the northbound side of the interstate between the Virginia state line and Oine Road. The shift will be coordinated using rolling roadblocks. This is the last section of southbound traffic being moved into the single-lane each-way pattern on the northbound lanes. The shift is taking …
VGCC team competes in electric car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with help from sponsors
Teamwork is what got a group from Vance-Granville Community College onto the track at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway — not only the teamwork demonstrated by students and faculty from curriculum programs at the college, but also by a team of sponsors from the community who supported them. For the first time, VGCC sent a team to compete in an event as part of the GreenpowerUSA racing series supported by Siemens and the Sports Car Club of America. GreenpowerUSA is …
VGCC Golf Tournament sets new record with more than $116,000 raised
Vance-Granville Community College’s 33rd annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, presented by Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, hit a new record total by raising $116,675 to help fund scholarships for deserving students and support the mission of the college. That result surpassed the $104,160 generated in 2016, in what was previously the highest-grossing golf tournament in VGCC history. A total of 161 golfers formed 41 teams to play in either the morning or the afternoon round on May 2, 2017, at …
Vance County Schools supports Project Child Find
Vance County Schools supports Project Child Find, an effort coordinated by our schools and the Exceptional Children Division of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Project Child Find is designed to locate and identify children and youth ages birth through 21 with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services. The project also seeks to inform parents and guardians of the services available from their local school system and other state and community agencies. Those who qualify …
4 H Summer Camp Registration
Register Now!!! Vance County 4-H Summer Fun Vance County has had a long standing track record of delivering quality programming for youth of all ages and this summer is no different. 4-H Summer Fun camps will run June-August with exciting, educational and fun opportunities for youth grades K-12. Participation is simple; it requires completion of a 4-H enrollment packet and registration form. Lastly, you DO NOT have to be a 4-H club member to participate. Come register in person between …
Farmers Market Weekly Update!
The VCRFM is now open Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. and will feature a variety of locally grown spring and early summer produce, bedding plants for the garden including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and shrubs, pasture raised beef, eggs, pork and handmade crafts. There will also be baked goods, canned goods, jams, jellies, salsa & sauces. Knowledgeable farmers and nursery vendors will be on hand to answer spring and summer planting and growing questions. It’s NOT too late to start planting …
E.M. Rollins Elementary Stop Hunger Project
The Student Council of E. M. Rollins Elementary, under the direction of Antoinette Ball, a teacher and Student Council adviser, spearheaded a year-long service project which raised over $3,000. The proceeds were donated to Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit humanitarian relief organization headquartered in Raleigh. The partnership with Rise Against Hunger was the result of students wanting to learn by doing and wanting to demonstrate service leadership. The project ended with the finale of a “Meal Packaging” event on May …
VGCC pins Associate Degree Nursing graduates
Vance-Granville Community College recognized 41 students who graduated this spring from the Associate Degree Nursing program with a pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center on May 10. Among those honored with distinctive nursing pins at the ceremonies were seven who graduated through the LPN to ADN Transition Program, which helps Licensed Practical Nurses to continue their education and then become Registered Nurses. These graduates were Ashley Brooke Jones of Bullock; Brittany Mechel Champion and Martina Usher McKinnon, both of …
VGCC graduates 11 cadets in school’s 104th BLET Class
Eleven cadets graduated on May 16 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College, in a ceremony held in the Civic Center on Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina. Graduates of VGCC’s 104th BLET class included Jill Nicole McLean of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Spencer Reid Warehime of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office; Shawn Maurice Brown, Jr., of the Henderson …
Early College High School Graduation
A total of 48 students in the Class of 2017 graduated on May 26 from the Vance County Early College High School. Their commencement ceremony was held before a packed crowd in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College near Henderson. Kristen Oakes, shown in the third photo at the podium, gave the valedictorian address as the top graduate in the Class of 2017. Oakes will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall. …
VGCC grads encouraged by presidents of Community College System and student government
Less than one year into his tenure as president of the North Carolina Community College System, Dr. James C. “Jimmie” Williamson addressed some of his system’s newest graduates as the principal speaker at Vance-Granville Community College’s 48th commencement exercises on May 12. Members of the Class of 2017 were joined by numerous loved ones at the outdoor ceremony in front of the gazebo on the college’s Main Campus. While saluting the graduates’ accomplishments thus far, Williamson focused on what …
Vance County Schools New Summer E-Reader Program
Vance County Schools held a kick-off event this afternoon for its new Summer E-Reader Program for five local elementary schools. Superintendent Anthony Jackson led the celebratory kickoff which will place 80 new Nook electronic reading devices in the hands of identified students in grades 3-5 at Carver, New Hope, Pinkston Street, Clarke and E.O. Young Jr. elementary schools this summer. The school system purchased the Nooks, which are capable of downloading a large number of books for students to read, from …
Multiple Fire Departments Respond to Fire at Henderson Factory
Multiple fire departments responded Monday morning to a fire at a Henderson factory, authorities said. The fire was reported at ETC Henderson Inc., at 601 Wakefield Ave. The janitorial supply company made mops, brooms, scrubbing and polishing pads. No injuries were reported, but some nearby neighborhoods have been asked to evacuate as a precaution. Information and photos courtesy of wral.com
Cook Shack Catering Opens in Louisburg!
On Monday, May 22, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Cook Shack Catering. Cook Shack Catering is located on Hwy 39 S in Louisburg, NC. Cook Shack is not new to the Henderson/Vance County area. Many have enjoyed their food over the years. Owner Austin Murray has been catering for more than 20 years. He started out with catering events for friends. Quickly Austin’s catering business grew into Cook Shack Catering Company. Cook Shack can …
May 25th Meet in the street concert postponed due to weather
Due to impending weather on Thursday, May 25th, The Chamber of Commerce has postponed the Meet Me in the Street concert. A new date will be set ASAP. The next scheduled Meet Me in the Street concerts are: June 22nd – Steve Owens and Summertime and September 14th – Liquid Pleasure
Vance County High School Graduation Schedule
The graduation ceremonies for all of the Class of 2017 members in our four high schools begin next Friday, May 26, with the commencement for graduates at the Vance County Early College High School. All four of the high school graduation ceremonies can be viewed live on the school system’s website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us. The Early College commencement will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in the Civic Center on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College near Henderson. Our …
Louisburg College Graduation
Louisburg College conferred more than 160 associate degrees May 12 to graduating sophomores, celebrating its largest Commencement in years, lauding students’ achievements and honoring the service of longtime, beloved faculty members. Six students earned 4.0 grade point averages, graduating summa cum laude. Ten graduated magna cum laude, earning grade point averages of 3.8 to 3.99. Twenty-seven earned 3.5 to 3.79, graduating cum laude. Four students graduated with Associate of Science degrees in Business. Eighteen earned Associate of Science degrees in …
SPRING GREENS, HERBS & STRAWBERRIES – GET’EM WHILE THEY LAST!
The VCRFM opens Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and will feature a variety of locally grown spring produce, bedding plants for the garden including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and shrubs, eggs, pork and handmade crafts. There will also be baked goods, canned goods, jams, jellies, salsa & sauces. Find the perfect – and perfectly unique – gift for your graduate and their graduation celebration cook-outs this Saturday at your Vance County Regional Farmers Market! Knowledgeable farmers and nursery vendors will be on hand …