The first automatic toll collection station went into service this month in 1954. It was installed at the Union Toll Plaza on New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway. Motorists dropped coins into a wire mesh hopper, triggering a green light that told them to go ahead. The idea soon caught on at toll roads around the country, reducing the number of booth attendants and propelling cars and trucks on their way. There are fewer than 3,000 miles of toll roads in …
VGCC Culinary program announces spring dates for The Vanguard Café
The Vanguard Café in Oxford, where Vance-Granville Community College Culinary Arts students prepare and serve lunch for the public, is inviting the public to participate in developing culinary students’ kitchen and hospitality skills by dining there on scheduled Thursdays during the upcoming spring 2015 semester. Members of the public can enjoy à la carte lunch service from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on the following Thursdays: January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, February 26, March 5, March 12, …
Grant funds new NCWorks Job-Driven Initiative at VGCC
Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with the Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board, has received a $147,000 grant, made possible by federal funds awarded to the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions. VGCC is one of 12 community colleges across the state that have been selected to provide training services for dislocated workers as part of the “NCWorks Job-Driven Initiative.” This initiative will help residents of Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties to obtain education and training for various entry-level jobs that …
Butterfield Elected Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
Since coming to Congress, I have been a tireless advocate for the residents of the First Congressional District of North Carolina and all those in need of a fair shot. Due to my steadfast leadership on many important issues, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has elected me to serve as their Chairman for the next two years. I am excited about this opportunity to lead the CBC which will see the largest membership in the Caucus’s history. Founded in 1971 …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
CANCELED – TAX & ESTATE ISSUES FOR FARMERS/LANDOWNERS Unfortunately, due to low registration, this seminar scheduled for Thu, 11/20, 10 am at the Vance Farmers Market has been canceled. FINAL REMINDER – AVOID THE PEAK SEASON SOIL SAMPLING FEE If you deliver soil samples to the Warren or Vance Extension Center by 5 pm on November 24th, we will deliver to the lab in time to avoid the “Peak Season Fee” ($4/sample) that goes into effect from December through March. Samples …
Thursday Open Line
One of the most renowned of America’s historically black colleges was founded on this date in 1866 as the Howard Theological Seminary. Named after Civil War general and post-war Freedmen’s Bureau director Oliver O. Howard, the seminary changed its name to Howard University just two months after its founding. While not the first college to admit black students, nor the first to be established for blacks, Howard was the first to offer full undergraduate, graduate and professional training to African-Americans. …
Community Health awarded grant to start LATCH Rural Health in five counties. Small Business Health Option Programs (SHOP) information available
Free seminar for small business owners November 24th, 2014 for help and information on options for Businesses providing employee plans through the new healthcare.gov. The Division of Community Health recently received a $400,000 grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to improve access to health insurance and primary care among uninsured residents in five rural North Carolina counties. The program aims to increase understanding, enrollment and use of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other services among low-income residents …
Handcrafted Holiday Market Vance County Regional Farmers Market November 22, 2014
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is pleased to announce their Inaugural Handcrafted Holiday Market. Come out and shop with over 20 artisans and crafters as they display their handcrafted wares for your shopping pleasure. You will find everything from knit scarves to handcrafted soaps to painted decor to fresh baked goods. Saturday, November 22nd, 2014 8am to 3pm
Wednesday Open Line
Today is Geographic Information System Day, falling squarely in the middle of Geographic Awareness Week. Both the GIS industry, and geographers overall, hope to increase understanding of geospatial issues and the relationships between people and their environments. Concurrent with these occasions is the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Census Bureau’s Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing, or TIGER. This mapping system, developed for the 1990 Census and refined ever since, created the first seamless, digital map of the …
Reports Of Drug Sales Nets Pills and Firearm
On Friday, November 14, 2014, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit executed a search warrant at 832 Arrow Street in Henderson. The investigation and search warrant were prompted by reports of drug sales in the area. During the search, officers discovered a quantity of pills and a stolen firearm. Karen Vaughan Turner, 46, 832 Arrow Street, Henderson was charged with two counts of possession with the intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a schedule 2 controlled substance …
Gas Station Employee Arrested on Drug Charges
On Monday, November 17, 2014, members of the Henderson Police Department Special Operations Unit and an agent with the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency executed a search warrant at Rosemart, 1205 West Andrews Avenue, Henderson. The warrant service was a result of complaints of drug sales coming directly from the store. A search of the premises revealed two firearms, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. During the search, the store employee allegedly assaulted the officers attempting to execute the warrant. Officers …
VGCC President to receive Award for Leadership from NCSU
Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of Vance-Granville Community College, has been named the 2014 recipient of the I. E. Ready Distinguished Leader Award, which is presented by the College of Education at N.C. State University. “This award honors community college presidents who are alumni of N.C. State for demonstrating exceptional abilities to lead, serve, inspire, and collaborate with broad impact,” says Mary Ann Danowitz, Department Head of Leadership, Policy and Adult and Higher Education at the university. Williams completed her …
Elementary School News November 17-21, 2014
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Volume 2 Issue 14 November 17-21, 2014 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 No school for students in pre-kindergarten classes on Friday due to all-day staff development for staff members. Reading Rally for all third graders and their teachers at 9 a.m. on …
Middle and High School News November 17-21, 2014
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS WEEKLY SCHOOL NEWS Volume 3, Issue 14 A Publication for Middle and High Schools November 17-21, 2014 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 Tuesday marks the end of the six-week grading period at Northern Vance, Southern Vance and Western Vance high schools. SCHOOL EVENTS …
VGCC Small Business Seminars Using Google and Accessing Credit & Capital
It’s not too late to sign up for the free small business seminars being offered through the Small Business Center of Vance-Granville Community College this week: SEMINAR TITLE DESCRIPTION OF SEMINAR LOCATION DAY TIME DATE Register Enhancing Your Business Using No Cost Features of Google Who says you can’t get anything for free anymore. If you are trying to expand your business reach online, Google offers a wealth of free tools to help you. This hands-on …
NCDA&CS offers holiday travel tips to prevent bedbugs
RALEIGH – One present that is not on anyone’s wish list this holiday season is bedbugs. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division encourages travelers to take extra steps to ensure they don’t pick up any hitchhiking pests this holiday season. “Peak travel time is often when we see an increase in bedbug cases reported,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Bedbugs are excellent hitchhikers. This holiday season I encourage you to be …
Section of Jonesville Road Closing for Rolesville Bypass Work
RALEIGH — As progress on the U.S. 401 Rolesville Bypass project continues, the contractor plans to close a section of Jonesville Road to build its connection with the bypass, starting the morning of Monday, Nov. 24. The roadway is expected to re-open by Sunday, Dec. 21. The closure is needed so crews can install a drainage system and concrete islands, as well as do paving and pavement marking work for the new traffic pattern. Once re-opened, motorists on Jonesville Road …
Butterfield Commends Passage of Bill to Name Rich Square Post Office in Honor of the late Chief Joseph E. White, Jr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today commended the House passage of H.R. 5142, a bill he introduced to name the U.S. Post Office in Rich Square, North Carolina as the “Chief Joseph E. White, Jr. Post Office Building.” Butterfield said, “For more than 20 years, Chief Joseph White, Jr. served Northampton County with honor and courage. Within law enforcement he was regarded as a courageous leader, and within the larger community as a selfless hero. We show …
Tuesday Open Line
We still use the word “dial” to refer to the act of calling someone on the phone — even though likely most of us now have never used a rotary phone or seen one, except in old movies and TV shows. Push-button, or touch-tone, phones made their debut on this date in 1963. At the time, the service was an extra cost option and was available only in two cities in Pennsylvania. It didn’t take long, however, for the speed …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
TAX & ESTATE ISSUES FOR FARMERS/LANDOWNERS by Ted Feitshans, NCSU Extension Professor in Ag Economics Do NOT miss this! Ted is an extremely knowledgable speaker and is also a lawyer. He will cover many of the complex legal and tax issues that farmers have to deal with. You do NOT want to miss this rare opportunity to learn from him! Please register by Monday. If minimum number is not met, this seminar will have to be cancelled! Thur, 11/20, 10 …