The new Vance-Granville Community College program for incoming first-year students, “Summer Bridge,” is still accepting applications and has been rescheduled for July 18-29. The Summer Bridge program is a two-week (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) intensive series of activities designed to help new students prepare to meet the challenges of college before the fall semester begins in August. Participants must first apply to VGCC, take the North Carolina Diagnostic and Placement (NC DAP) test and place into developmental math …
Thursday Open Line
On this date 45 years ago, the sun set on our old concept of coming of age. The 26th amendment to the Constitution became law effective July 1, lowering the age requirement for voting in national elections from 21 to 18 years old. In 1972, the amendment added some 11 million voters to the electorate. Today, there are over 14.5 million young Americans age 18 to 20. In the last presidential election, more than 37 percent of them went to …
Vance Educators Participate in AMSTA Sessions
Career and Technical Education teachers in local high schools took part in three days of “AMSTA Summer Cruising” workshops June 14 and 16-17. The teachers are shown with local business leaders who include, seated starting at third from left, John Barnes of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, Monica Satterwhite of the N.C. Works Career Center, and Ben Foti of Kerr-Tar Workforce Development. The teachers were in Vance County on the first day and then joined educators from three other counties for the …
Students Complete 2016 School of Excellence
Twenty-nine rising sophomores in local high schools completed the Vance County School of Excellence program June 6-10. The School of Excellence is a summer enrichment leadership program designed to challenge participants to improve their communication skills, leadership abilities and to learn more about the Vance County business and educational communities. The students who completed this summer’s program are shown in the accompanying photo. They include, front row from left, Kaniyia Holden, Breanna Harris, Miracle Chin, Nancy Duran, Tomesha Jefferson and …
Transportation Officials Ask for Feedback on Future Transportation Projects
State transportation officials want to hear from the public on what regional and local transportation projects should be top priorities in the next version of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – the 10-year plan that identifies funding for projects and schedules them for construction. Data and local input are used to determine which projects get built based on a funding formula championed by Governor Pat McCrory to reduce congestion, increase safety and promote economic growth. During a public comment …
Childless Adults Could Lose Food Assistance (Food Stamps) Starting July 1st
Courtesy of Senator Angela Bryant: Based on a decision of the NC Legislature in 2015, effective July 1, 2016, the Food and Nutrition Services Program has a harsh time limit for nondisabled, childless adults ages 18 through 49. These adults will lose their food aid after three months if they can’t find a job, job-training program, or volunteer opportunity for 20 hours per week—regardless if there are enough jobs in our community. State Lawmakers Restricted SNAP for Adults Who Live …
Wednesday Open Line
On June 28, 1969, the first National Hollerin’ Contest was held in Spivey’s Corner in Sampson County. The contest is the product of the farm culture of the Sandhills region. Before the advent of the telephone, yelling loudly, or hollering, was the primary way farmers and neighbors communicated in rural North Carolina. As new technologies made communication easier, the practice began to disappear. The idea for the contest grew out of a conversation on a local radio program. The contest’s two …
VGCC Golf Tournament sets new record with more than $104,000 raised
Vance-Granville Community College’s 32nd annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, presented by Oxford-based Union Bank, hit a new record total by raising $104,160 to help fund scholarships for deserving students and support the mission of the college. That result surpassed the $100,318 generated in 2015, in what was previously the highest-grossing golf tournament in VGCC history. A total of 168 golfers formed 42 teams to play in either the morning or the afternoon round on May 23, 2016, at Henderson Country …
New VGCC Scholarship established in memory of Sam Watkins
A new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College will honor the memory of longtime Vance County business and community leader Sam Watkins Jr. His son, Trey Watkins of Wake Forest, recently visited VGCC to formally establish the “Sam Watkins Jr. Academic Achievement Scholarship” on behalf of himself and his wife, Sarah. Sam Watkins, who died in 2014 at the age of 80, was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a U.S. Army veteran. For many …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Called Meeting Tuesday June 28th, 2016
Special Called MeetingThis memorandum will serve as notice that Chairman Gordon Wilder has called a special meeting for Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the meeting is to:1. Approve year-end closeouts2. Approve audit contract for FY 2015-163. Other items as necessary4. Enter into closed session for personnel matters
Tuesday Open Line
America’s first commercial oil refinery was put in operation this month in 1860. It was built in Titusville, Pennsylvania, on the banks of Oil Creek. That town was the site of the country’s first productive oil well in 1859, and these developments made the area some 100 miles north of Pittsburgh the cradle of America’s oil industry. The first refinery was focused on extracting kerosene from the crude oil. Any gasoline by-product was dumped into the creek. With today’s regulations …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: A Better Way to Fix Health Care
Photo of the Week It’s time to break out your beach chair and fire up the grill because as of Monday it is officially Summer! As you can see here, the Second District is in full bloom. Weekly Update I am so happy that our Second District Art Competition winner, Shannon Kelly, was able to attend the formal reception hosted in honor of the winners. She and her mother were able to celebrate Shannon’s accomplishment with the other Art Competition winners …
Senator Richard Burr: Obama needs to take terrorism seriously
Saturday, I delivered the weekly GOP address. I’m taking this opportunity to talk about the threat of terrorism and the work I’m doing as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence protect Americans. WATCH: Senate Intelligence Chairman Burr delivers weekly GOP address The challenge we face today is unlike one we have ever known. The terrorists are not new and their message is not new. It is their leveraging of our freedoms, technology, and innovation to kill that makes …
Monday Open Lines
Consumers’ options for managing their finances were greatly broadened this week in 1934, after President Roosevelt signed the Federal Credit Union Act the day before, promoting the nationwide formation of credit unions. These differ from banks by being member-owned and controlled. Credit unions are nonprofit institutions where groups of people can save, borrow, and obtain other financial services. There are nearly 18,500 credit unions in the U.S., employing more than a quarter million people. These establishments range from a small …
The Healing Force, Free Concert today (Friday) at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center 1pm
Drumming, singing and storytelling will come alive at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson tomorrow, FRIDAY JUNE 24th at 1pm, with a **FREE** concert featuring The Healing Force, a family of performers who specialize in World Music. Experience their lively celebration of international arts that emphasizes the connectedness of the human family through music and more. Performances include the popular “Rhythm of the Drum” that celebrates African Culture. Get ready to be put in an upbeat mood through this …
Butterfield Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Immigration Executive Actions
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 on President Barack Obama’s 2014 Immigration Executive Actions to create the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program (DAPA) and expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA): “The Supreme Court’s deadlock on the President’s Executive Actions is a deeply disappointing setback and directly reflects Congressional Republicans’ refusal to do their jobs. Today’s split decision by the Supreme Court …
Vance County Regional Farmers Market Summer Blastoff – June 25, 2016
“Summer Blastoff” Saturday, June 25th. Summer is in full swing, you are invited to come help celebrate peak season Summer Blastoff! We will have the Buggs Island Community Band performance beginning at 10:00am, a free Container Gardening Class at 10:00am and Ask a Master Gardener. VEGGIES & FRUIT: – Bell Peppers – Eggplant – Green Beans – Cantaloupes – Cucumbers – Okra – Onions – Peaches – Potatoes (Red, White & Blue) – Squash – Tomatoes (Red & Green) – …
With Historic, 26-Hour Sit-In on House Floor, Butterfield Tells House Republicans: No Bill, No Break
In a historic move to demand life-saving action from Congress, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) joined House Democrats’ 26-hour sit-in on the House Floor to protest Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans’ refusal to allow a vote on bipartisan legislation to address gun violence. During the sit-in, House Republicans recessed the House of Representatives without bringing gun violence prevention legislation up for a vote. “Standing up for a 30-second moment of silence on the House Floor when a mass shooting …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, June 24th. In the past, hot summer days meant that some enterprising youngsters in the neighborhood would set up a lemonade stand or the family would share a pitcher of iced tea on the front porch to cool off. In recent times, we usually resort to something in a bottle or can to slake our thirst year-round. The drink of choice is often a soft drink, usually carbonated. As a result, fizzy soft drink manufacturing is a $34 billion …
Meet Me In the Street Tonight
Next Meet Me in the Street Concert is Thursday, June 23 Featuring North Tower 5:30 – 8:30 along Breckenridge Street Downtown Henderson