There are much more than black bears hidden among the vast old-growth forests and frosty-topped, towering mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although the more than half-million-acre park straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border is the most-visited national park in the country, hosting 10 million visitors in 2014, its rugged wildness makes parts of the park still largely unexplored. The park is so biologically diverse, it is known to contain at least 100 species of trees, 1,500 plant species, …
Thursday Open Line
A social milestone was reached this date in 1907 when Congressman Charles Curtis of Kansas was seated in the U.S. Senate to complete the few weeks remaining in the term of a resigned senator. He was the first person with Native American blood to serve in the Senate, as his mother was descended from three tribes. He was elected to that office four times, serving for 20 years. He remained until March 3, 1929, when he left the Senate to …
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation completes VGCC Scholarship endowment
The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation recently completed fully endowing a scholarship that supports Vance-Granville Community College students who are preparing for careers in health sciences. Val Short, the executive director of the foundation, visited the college to present contributions to the VGCC Endowment Fund and celebrate the milestone. “We are proud to be able to provide scholarships for local students, as part of our mission of service to the region,” Short noted. “This endowed scholarship is an expression of our …
Wednesday Open Line
As the Great Depression approached its worst, Wisconsin made the nation’s first governmental direct relief effort for the unemployed. On this date in 1932, it enacted unemployment insurance, soon followed by a half-dozen other states before the Social Security Act in middecade moved all states to adopt such programs by 1937. Wisconsin’s program issued its first unemployment check in August in the amount of $15. By 2011, states and local governments took in almost $88 billion from the payroll tax …
Vance County Annual Retreat – January 28th, 2015 Change of Location
The Vance County planning retreat for January 28th, 2015 at the Presbyterian Church location has changed slightly. You will be meeting in a conference room down the hall from the fellowship hall. From Young Street, you will see two sets of doors inside the horseshoe of the building. Please use the set of doors to the left (opposite the office doors). The retreat will begin at 8:00 a.m. sharp so please try to arrive a little early if possible.
Public Notice – Henderson City Council Strategic Planning Retreat
The Henderson City Council will meet for its annual Strategic Planning Retreat on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at the Henderson Country Club from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for a working dinner and on Thursday, January 29, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Room at the Perry Memorial Library. A quorum is expected at both meetings; however, no final action will be taken at either meeting. The public is welcome to observe.
VGCC announces $1.6 million bequest from World War II veteran
A highly decorated World War II fighter pilot has bequeathed Vance-Granville Community College $1.6 million. The gift from Wilbert Allen “Bill” Edwards, who died Oct. 31, 2001, is the second largest in the history of the college, according to an announcement Monday night by VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams. A resident of Oxford at the time of his death, Edwards was a native of Vance County. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II as a …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Thieves file phony tax returns
Tax return identity theft happens when thieves use your Social Security Number to file tax returns and claim a large refund. You discover the fraud when you file your own tax return and the Internal Revenue Service says they’ve already processed a return using your name and number. Avoiding tax return ID theft starts by protecting your confidential information. Don’t carry your Social Security Number in your wallet or purse unless you need it with you for an appointment that …
Middle and High School News January 26-30, 2015
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS WEEKLY SCHOOL NEWS Volume 3, Issue 22 A Publication for Middle and High Schools January 26-30, 2015 The MISSION of Vance County Schools is to be committed to educating all students to prepare them for lifelong learning and productive citizenship. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS Report cards are distributed on Thursday. SCHOOL EVENTS FOR THE WEEK Western Vance High: (Monday, January 26) – Faculty meeting at …
Elementary School News January 26-30, 2015
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Volume 2 Issue 22 January 26-30, 2015 The MISSION of Vance County Schools is to be committed to educating all students to prepare them for lifelong learning and productive citizenship. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS This is Benchmark Week in reading, math and science for grades 3-5. Report cards are distributed on Thursday. SCHOOL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK Zeb Vance Elementary: (Monday, January 26) …
Henderson Search Warrant Leads to Cocaine Arrest
On Monday, January 25, 2015, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit executed a search warrant at 422 Powell Street, Henderson. An investigation was conducted after the Police Department received complaints of illegal drug activity at this location. James Edwards, 46, 422 Powell Street, Henderson was charged with the following offenses: Possession with the intent to manufacture/sell cocaine; Manufacturing cocaine; Maintaining a dwelling for keeping/selling a controlled substance; Maintaining a vehicle for keeping/selling a controlled substance; Simple possession …
VGCC Students Awarded Golden LEAF Scholarships
A group of students from Vance-Granville Community College recently received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System. The scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare related to attending classes during the 2014-15 academic year, and industry-recognized credential testing expenses that address skill gaps upon …
First class completes Natural Horsemanship program at VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College recently wrapped up its first Horsemanship course, part of a new program based at the college’s Warren County Campus. The first three students to complete “Horsemanship I” were Doreen Darnell and Keith Jackson, both of the Shocco community in Warren County, and Devon Tabbert of Manson. As their final assignments, each presented a ten-minute demonstration with his or her horse in December at the Rockin’ E Ranch in Warrenton, where part of the course was conducted. The …
NCDA&CS to host fifth annual workshop for farmers market managers Feb. 20
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will host its fifth annual workshop for managers of local farmers markets Friday, Feb. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Greensboro. The workshop will be held at the Guilford County Cooperative Extension Office, 3309 Burlington Road in Greensboro. The event includes sessions on legal protections, liability, grant funding and event planning. Networking opportunities also will be available throughout the day. “When it comes to farmers markets, North Carolina …
Tuesday Open Line
“To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.” That’s the motto of the University of Georgia, which on this date in 1785 became the young nation’s first state-chartered university. Royally chartered private universities existed in America in colonial times, notably Harvard and William and Mary. The University of Georgia opened in 1801 after the similarly chartered University of North Carolina. Today, over 62 million people hold bachelor’s or higher degrees. People with bachelor’s degrees average around …
VGCC offers Spring Mini-Term Classes
Although the spring 2015 semester at Vance-Granville Community College is well underway, there are actually still opportunities to register for a variety of classes offered during “mini-terms.” These sections start later but end on May 12, at the same time as the full 16-week courses, and they include just as many hours of instruction as under the traditional schedule. The Spring 12-Week Mini-Term begins on Tuesday, February 10. The complete list of courses is available by visiting schedules.vgcc.edu and clicking …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
AG ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASS FROM VGCC For anyone who has an interest in starting an ag-related business, this class is a “must”! Over the course of seven classes, students will learn many important skills to help your business succeed (e.g. marketing, planning, financials, etc.). Tuition scholarships are available. All the details can be found at: https://www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=530340046 FOOD SAFETY FOR FARMERS MARKET VENDORS At this seminar, you will learn measures you can take to continue bringing healthy and safe products to the …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Responding to the President’s State of the Union Address
Video of the Week: This week, I had the honor of speaking on behalf of H.R. 7 — as it is conservative legislation that advances the pro-life cause and guarantees that no taxpayer dollars are spent funding abortion. I will continue to This week started with a bang, as President Obama attended a joint session of Congress to give his annual State of the Union. This was the seventh time he has addressed the American people and the …
Former Harlem Globetrotter emphasizes importance of education
A Harlem Globetrotter “Legend” visited two campuses of Vance-Granville Community College on Jan. 20, and he brought with him a message: education is the only surefire path to success. Raleigh native James “Twiggy” Sanders, who played with the Globetrotters from 1974 until 1991, spoke first at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus near Louisburg and later in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. His presentations were sponsored by the college’s Male Mentoring Program and were open to …
Motel Search Warrant Leads to Arrest
On Thursday, January 22, 2015, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit were investigating suspicious drug activity at the Scottish Inn on North Garnett Street. A search was conducted of room 180. Illegal narcotics and a firearm were located within the room. Jamel Armstrong, 25, 223 W. Ridgeway Street, Warrenton was charged with the following offenses: Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Possession of cocaine; Possession of marijuana; Simple assault; Possession of drug paraphernalia. Armstrong was …