CMYK Henderson city voters: Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Warren gets accounting certificate
SVHS soccer falls to Orange, 1-0
Crossroads volleyball sweeps Lighthouse
Local News, Page 4A
Sports, Page 1B
Sports, Page 1B TUESDAY, October 6, 2009
Volume XCV, No. 234
(252) 436-2700
www.hendersondispatch.com
Voting in Henderson municipal elections begins at 6:30 a.m.
Construction will begin Feb. 1
By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer
Please see WATER, page 3A
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Harold Henrich stands next to a fire truck outside the Vance County Fire Department Monday afternoon. Henrich is the new Vance County EMS director/fire marshal. The city and county fire and EMS departments officially were separated effective Oct. 1.
County’s new fire/EMS leader unveiled Hiring of Harold Henrich does bring questions from a commissioner By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer
Harold Henrich, Vance County’s new fire marshal/EMS director, was introduced a little ahead of schedule Monday night to the Board of Commissioners. County Manager Jerry Ayscue had to move up his unveiling of the man who was hired to manage the newly independent Vance fire and EMS services when Commissioner Deborah Brown decided to express her concerns about how Henrich was chosen. Henrich is from Johnston County, and Brown appeared to wonder why someone closer to the fire and EMS operations in Vance wasn’t picked. Brown said she did not support “the manner in which personnel actions were taken” to fill the position, and listed her reasons. “Since establishing the Human Resources Committee,
the procedures we use for hiring department heads have not been consistent,” she said. “When Vance County applicants are deemed quali- Brown fied for positions, they should be afforded opportunities by Vance County to grow and develop their skills accordingly.” However, Brown pledged to support Henrich and all efforts to improve the fire and EMS services in the county. “Failure to achieve anything less than the best service for our citizens can and should not be an option,” Brown told her fellow board members. Chairman Dan Brummitt told Brown that Ayscue conducted interviews of the six finalists from 13 applicants during the screening process with the help
of the regional representatives of the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. Commissioner Scott Hughes told Henrich: “You do have charisma, and that is what it is going to take to bring all those departments together.” When he addressed the board, Henrich said, “It’s a challenge with a lot of obstacles, but I have a wonderful staff.” Contacted by telephone late Monday afternoon, Ayscue said, “I am pleased to have Chief Henrich in this important position of critical leadership.” According to the county manager, Henrich, “has the necessary skills to help guide the Vance County Fire and Ambulance Department through a successful period of transition and progress.” Please see HIRING, page 3A
Proposal to move VGCC Small Business Center downtown withdrawn By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer
With three members already against it, the proposed downtown location for Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center was to have gone before the full board of Vance County commissioners Monday night. However, County Manager Jerry Ayscue announced to the board during its meeting that the discussion item had been withdrawn from the agenda by the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission.
The action by the EDC came on the heels of a negative response to the proposal on Sept. 25 by the Vance Commissioners’ Planning and Environmental Committee. In a recent letter from Chairman Sam Watkins, the EDC asked the Board of Commissioners to approve footing the bill for the relocation, rental and utilities expenses in connection with moving the center from the VGCC campus to the vacant BB&T building on Chestnut Street in Henderson. Watkins’ letter wanted the county to rent space in the build-
Index Our Hometown . . . . . Business & Farm. . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . Light Side . . . . . . . . .
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Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-6B Football Contest. . 4-5B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 7B Classifieds. . . . . . 8-10B
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ing from Henderson Investment Development Corporation, which has an option to purchase the property for $300,000. Part of the center would consist of classrooms, and there would be small business “incubators” in the building. Watkins also mentioned that the EDC would like to move its office to the site if space is available. The Planning and Environmental Committee — consisting of Chairman Dan Brummitt and commissioners Terry Garrison and Danny Wright — decided to
Today
let all of the Vance Commissioners consider the proposal. But Brummitt, Garrison and Wright agreed that the county already has enough buildings, including some that are not being used. During the committee meeting, concern was expressed about spending $240,000 for rent and an equal sum for utilities in a $300,000 building over the life of a five-year contract with HIDC.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. today in Henderson’s municipal election, with voters to decide who should serve in the mayor’s position and to decide five of eight City Council positions being contested. The polls will close at 7:30 p.m., with the chosen leaders to serve a two-year term in the councilmanager form of government. In the contest for Henderson’s chief executive position, firstterm incumbent Pete O’Geary is facing opposition from four candidates. They are Tina Hunter, Tammy Sue Lightfoot, Tim McAllister and Juanita Somerville. Hunter is a substitute teacher for Granville County Schools. O’Geary, a former councilman, won the mayor’s position in 2007 by defeating Jeannie Hight, a former councilwoman. The two were competing to replace then-Mayor Clem Seifert, who declined to seek re-election. Here is a recap of the council contests and the candidates: • Ward 1: Incumbent Mary Emma Evans is being challenged by Cathy Ringley. • Ward 1 At Large: Incumbent Bernard Alston is again being challenged by Sara Coffey. • Ward 2: Incumbent Michael Rainey is being challenged by Lewis Edwards. • Ward 2 At Large: First-term incumbent Michael Inscoe is being challenged by Lowell West Jr. Although former Councilman Bobby Gupton will be on the ballot as a candidate for the Ward 2 At Large position, he withdrew from the contest for health reasons. • Ward 4 At Large: Incumbent George Daye is being challenged by former Councilman Ranger Wilkerson. Unopposed are Ward 3 Councilman Garry Daeke, Ward 3 At Large Councilwoman Brenda Peace and Ward 4 Councilman Lonnie Davis. Daeke, whose tenure on the council dates back to 2005, is development coordinator at Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership for Children.
Contact the writer at awheless@ hendersondispatch.com.
Please see ELECTIONS, page 3A
Phoenix fails to get ambulance franchise Business made bid to provide non-emergency service from Granville to Durham By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
OXFORD – A company’s request to obtain a non-emergency ambulance franchise to transport military veterDreary ans in Granville County to High: 66 the Veterans Affairs Medical Low: 53 Center in Durham failed on Monday evening. W ednesday County Manager Brian Obituaries, 4A Alligood recommended denial of an application Warmer by Phoenix Industries, High: 79 citing deficiencies in the Low: 51 paperwork and a failure to demonstrate a public need Details, 3A for such a service.
Creedmoor Jeffrey L. Cash, 49 Henderson Sally S. Nowell, 81 Jacksonville, Fla. Tyrone M. Fore, 53 Warrenton Alphonso Twisdale, 74
50 cents
City polls open early
County OKs Phase 1 of water plan
Construction of Vance County’s proposed water district will begin Feb. 1 of 2010 under a progress schedule for Phase 1 that was approved Monday night by the Board of Commissioners. Members of the board also authorized the County to proceed with Phase 2A, which includes Dabney and the southern part of Williamsboro, and Phase 2B, which includes Townsville and the northern part of Williamsboro. Phase 1A covers Cokesbury and Aycock. The related timeline, which was recommended by the board’s Planning and Environmental Committee, also includes these steps: • Appoint from Oct. 5-19 a citizens’ advisory committee to obtain sign-ups on a local level. It would report to County Manager Jerry Ayscue. • Send out water bills on Oct. 1 to Phase 1A service area residents at the beginning of mass mailings of sign-up forms that will stop on Oct. 15. If approved, the contracts would specify estimated monthly rates of $35 to $45 for 5,000 gallons of water. • Start conducting sign-up drives on Oct. 15 in public meetings at locations in Phase 1A and door-to-door. Participation is not mandatory.
After Commission Chairman Hubert Gooch three times asked what his fellow commissioners wanted to do, Commissioner Tony Cozart made a motion backing Alligood, which died for lack of a second. After Bob Stewart, a representative of Phoenix, had made a presentation to the commission at the panel’s Sept. 8 meeting, the commission had referred the application to County Emergency Services Director Martin Bragg. Bragg returned with a memorandum saying:
• Stewart at the September commission meeting had indicated Phoenix had a contract with the VA Medical Center in Durham. • Bragg subsequently asked for a copy of the contract and received a document appearing to be a contract, but making no reference to Phoenix and being absent of any signatures. • Bragg received another copy of a contract, which appeared to have pages missing. • And Bragg, after a third request, received what appeared to be a con-
tract between the two for “ambulance services.” • Phoenix’s application said the company provides “comprehensive, transportation services” for the Atlanta VA Medical Center and the Miami VA Medical Center. • Bragg said his discussions with the Georgia and Florida offices of emergency medical services said Phoenix provides non-medical transportation for these facilities and has no license to provide any type of ambulance service in these states. Please see AMBULANCE, page 3A