CMYK KVA wrestling pinned by S. Granville
Thomas Chapel calls new pastor
American Profile magazine
Sports, Page 1B
Faith, Page 1C
Inside today SATURDAY, December 12, 2009
Volume XCV, No. 291
(252) 436-2700
www.hendersondispatch.com
School fight had start in incident in community
Former school employee to run for Wright’s seat
By DISPATCH STAFF
Please see STUDENTS, page 4A
Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 6A Light Side . . . . . . . . . 7A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-3B Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4C Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5C Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-8C
Weather Today Partly cloudy
High: 46 Low: 35
Sunday Rain likely
High: 45 Low: 34
Details, 3A
Deaths
By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Sandra Wiggins, social studies teacher from Southern Vance, works on a laptop Wednesday afternoon while Janet White and Kirsha Robertson, teachers from Northern Vance, talk about a wiki page during staff development for Vance County Schools 1 to 1 Initiative at Southern Vance High School.
Teachers learning how to teach use of laptops in high schools By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer
In the near future, some public high school students in Vance County will probably no longer be able to say, “My dog ate my homework.” Teaching teachers to teach teachers to teach freshmen in the next school year — and possibly sophomores “down the road” — how to use their new laptops was the purpose of an Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE unusual class held Wednesday in the drama room at Southern The glow of laptop computers helps illuminate the darkened drama Vance High School. Eventually, tests, homework, room at Southern Vance High School during staff development for teachers from Southern Vance, Northern Vance, Western Vance and the study exercises and other assignments will be carried out on Early College High School on Vance County Schools’ 1 to 1 Initiative Wednesday afternoon. students’ computers and then transmitted to the teacher’s. started, Williams told her pumaybe more — from the Golden Parents will also be getting pils they had eight minutes to LEAF Foundation. the instructions on how to use mingle with each other to trade Even if that doesn’t happen, the laptops. names and interesting facts a spokesperson for the school Eighteen teachers and about themselves. system said Wednesday, efforts administrators took the first of “If you happen to make a love will still be made to get lap tops two sessions to gain the inforconnection into the hands of about 800 mation they (during the will disperse ninth-graders and, eventually, at Southern, ‘These are computer-based process), that’s an equal number of 10th-gradnot what this Northern ers. children ... we are handing is about, but and Western The Dell computers, which if you do, send Vance, as well them paper and pencil’ are wireless, will each cost apme an invitaas the Early proximately $400. tion (to the College High Brian Creasman, Southern School at Vance-Granville Com- wedding),” Williams said. Vance’s principal, told the group The next training class is munity College. that “there is a lot of trainThey were taught by Orlando scheduled to be conducted Jan. ing for teachers, parents and 25. Terry, the technical support students that needs to be done, Vance County Schools ofperson at Southern Vance, and and it needs to start right now, ficials have high hopes that Tonya Williams, a career and or we’ll run out of time.” many of the computers will be technical education instructor He explained to them that paid for with the help of at least at North Vance. Please see LAPTOPS, page 4A $662,000 in grant money — and Shortly after the class
William Gordon Wilder has announced his intention to file for a position on the Vance County Board of Commissioners in February 2010. He hopes to represent the citizens of District 3 in Vance County on the seat now occupied by Danny Wright, who has said he will not seek re-election. Wilder, 59, is a native of Franklin County but has lived and worked in Wilder Vance County for over 35 years. During this time he has served in both professional and community volunteer capacities to promote and improve Vance County. He began his professional career with Vance County Schools in 1971, serving as an Automotive Technology instructor for 21 years and as Director of Transportation for nine years. He retired from the latter position in 2002. Since March 2002, Wilder has held the position of service manager with the local agribusiness firm Quality Equipment, LLC, formerly known as E&E Farm Equipment. He has also been actively engaged in farming in the Epsom community since 1976, growing tobacco, wheat and soybeans. Wilder is an active volunteer, working for his church, community, schools and in several appointed county positions. He is a member of New Sandy Creek Baptist Church, where he holds numerous positions, including deacon, Sunday school teacher and chairman of the Family Life Center Building Committee. Wilder has been a member of the Vance County Fire Department, Vance County Rescue Squad and the Epsom Volunteer Fire Department. He has served as president of the Aycock School PTA, the Henderson Middle School PTA and the Southern Vance High School Athletic Booster Association. Wilder was a member of the Vance County Emergency PlanPlease see CANDIDATE, page 4A
Currin house renovation gets panel’s blessing Request from Oxford Baptist Church for columbarium OK’d By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
Louisburg Jennie L. Martinez, 49 Manson Emma Reid, 50 Rougemont Lindwood Adcock, 53 Queens, N.Y. Victor M. Tarry Sr., 70
50 cents
District 3 candidate announces
Students bickered earlier
An incident in the community Sunday spilled over into a fight Wednesday among Western Vance High School students in the Southern Vance High School parking lot, Western’s principal, Eric Pierce, said Friday. Pierce said he could not comment on the cause of the fight because the students were arrested and are awaiting appearances in court. However, he said, the fight was about retaliation. The fight involved seven students at about 8 a.m. when they were transferring from a school bus that brought them to Southern Vance to one that would take them on to Western, Pierce said. He said that all seven have been suspended in accordance with school district policy and that further action against them could be taken. He said no one was injured. All seven were charged with misdemeanor simple affray and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Each was given a secured bond of $2,000 and court date of Jan. 5. Those charged were Sha’Keema Hargrove, 17, of 1261 Americal Road Lot
OXFORD — The Historic Preservation Commission granted a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) to a contractor to restore the decrepit-looking Manie Currin house at Obituaries, 4A 203 Main St. The vote means the contractor, Steve Gregory, must begin work within six months or else the COA is void. And the COA would be voided if Gregory discontinues work for half
a year. “We’ll be finished in six months,” Gregory said, with preservation commissioners applauding after their vote. Gregory said he believed work would start sometime next month. A COA is an approval given to a local historic landmark or property in a historic district for alterations as proposed by the property owner. The COA assures maintenance of Please see CURRIN, page 3A
Daily Dispatch/WILLIAM F. WEST
The Historic Preservation Commission has granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to a contractor to restore the Manie Currin house at 203 Main St. in Oxford.