2013: YEAR in REviEw
January 8, 2014
Julie Griesinger (photos clockwise from top left) and her golden retriever Cloe listen as Zane Brooks, 11, reads a book to her at Perry Memorial Library; Ashley Mills, Miss North Carolina USA, peeks out of a classroom before sharing her personal story of bullying with students at Eaton-Johnson Middle School; Kadarrius Peace portrays a Christmas Tree during “The Letters of the Season� holiday music presentation at Rollins Elementary School.; Jamiah Kearney runs past her sister Aniah as they play a game of basketball using a crate as a makeshift goal; A pair of dogs take a moment to greet each other during the Wise community annual July 4th Parade and Festival; With the warm glow from the lights on the Merry Go Round, Payton Overby rides with her dad, Bobby Overby, at the Vance County Regional Fair.
Photos by Mark Dolejs
Who we were and what we did in the Tri-County
2
Year in Review
The Daily Dispatch
ESTABLISHED
1864
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Henderson
ESTABLISHED
566 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, NC
BUFFALOE MILLING COMPANY, INC. Kittrell, NC.
MOSS CORN MEAL PRODUCTS SEAFOOD BREADER CHICKEN BREADER
www.mariaparham.com
252-438-8637
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch File Photo
ESTABLISHED
1881
Loss of grant money delays, doesn’t end Flint Hill effort DISPATCH STAFF
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS 252-492-2127
www.vcs.k12.nc.us
ESTABLISHED
1908
1020 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC
Wester Insurance Agency
252-438-8165
252-438-8099
ESTABLISHED
1914
Henderson City Council approved a tax hike was in 2009 for the 2010 fiscal year budget. He added it is too early as the budget process begins to speculate if tax rate increases will be a part of a proposal for fiscal year 2015. Griffin indicated an almost seamless transfer for Henderson police leadership from outgoing Chief Keith Sidwell to newly promoted Chief Marcus Barrow is a testament to the department’s level of professional maturity. “It proves how well the department has been developed professionally for it to produce the best candidate for chief,” Griffin said. “It speaks highly of Sidwell’s leadership also.” Griffin said the city election this year was the completion of a well-balanced transition to staggered elections. From now on, all terms for the council and mayor will be for four-year periods, their elections held on the same schedule that alternates every two years. Carrying over from a top development of 2012 was ground breaking and actual work for renovating the city’s water reclamation facility. The Nutbush facility is undergoing $18 million worth of construction that features building an oxidation ditch system that upgrades the processing of city sewage to current standards for state-of-the-art water reclamation.
Henderson residents lost a $700,000 Downtown Development Commission grant in 2013, putting on hold efforts to renovate the Flint Hill neighborhood. City real estate taxes took a 3.5-cent hike to 62 cents per $100 of assessed value, without protest from taxpayers. The budget compromise passed 5-4 with the tiebreaker decision in favor made by Mayor Pete O’Geary. The city replaced its police chief, completed its transition to staggered elections and broke ground on renovations to the Nutbush sewer facility. According to City Manager Ray Griffin, the funding loss was a blow. Stalled is the vision for a recreational, educational, entertainment and family center, or REEF, on Zene Street. However, the city is starting its quest for grant funding toward Flint Hill development. “It was certainly a disappointment,” Griffin said. “Much energy went into development of that city block and the commission’s vision for using that property.” Griffin said the city’s gain of a $50,000 talent enhancement and capacity grant this year is a step toward tapping larger state and federally funded programs. The one-year grant is designed to prepare city departments and neighborhood leaders for further steps in demonstrating Contact the writer at mfisher@ eligibility for larger grants. According to Griffin, the last time the hendersondispatch.com.
Vance County Chris Hicks (left) and Jimmy Chavis rake an area where grass seed had been spread after a water line tap was installed for a homeowner along Finch Road as part of the final work being done in the first phase of the county water project.
DISPATCH STAFF
252-436-2700 ESTABLISHED
1915
106 West WInder Street, Henderson
252-438-5111
1941
325 South Garnett Street Henderson, NC
252-438-3911 ESTABLISHED
Long-awaited project finally has water flowing through it BY SARAH MANSUR
ESTABLISHED
VANCE FURNITURE
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch File Photo
304 S. Chestnut Street, Henderson, NC
252-438-4143
The Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission recommended that the property along Zene Street should be sold. The property was considered for a recreational, educational, entertainment and family center.
BY MARTIN FISHER
P.O. Box 7001 (1724 Graham Avenue) Henderson, NC 27536
1925
Vance County’s new farmers market building also took shape in 2013. The county commissioners voted in April to match a $50,000 offer from the Farm Bureau, which was contingent on a match from the county. The county received $500,000 additional grant funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and N.C. Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Agriculture Extension Agent Paul McKenzie said the farmer’s market is more than 90 percent complete, with a few minor details remaining, such as signs and exterior lighting. The initial plans for construction did include roll down doors for the 18 vendor spaces but donations from outside contributors, including the City of Henderson, made the doors a reality. The county requested $182,000 in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation and an additional $100,000 from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, but those grants did not materialize. McKenzie said the market is slated to open by the spring. Before then, the county commissioners will need to adopt rules of operation for the market, which would include the cost the application fee and daily set up fee.
Vance County pushed ahead with its water project last year as residents in the first phase of the project were finally able to connect to a system that serves safe, reliable water. Last year, the Vance County Board of Commissioners approved a $30 base fee, which customers will pay regardless of water usage, and set the water rate at $7.19 per 1,000 gallons that the commissioners can change on a yearly basis if needed. There was also an unexpected setback affecting phase 1A, though it did not delay customers from connecting to the system. The county broke ground on phase two of the project, which will supply water to Dabney, Williamsboro and Townsville townships. Despite the progress made on the water project, some feel this is just the beginning. A second 911 call center emergency, which serves as a comprehensive back-up system for emergency operations, opened last year in the county. Since the data systems of both centers update each other, an unexpected shutdown of one center will not cause a crisis. Almost $1 million in additional 911 funds offset the cost of construction, as well as the purchase of new computers and new equipment for both call centers. The new emergency call center is located in the Henderson Contact the writer at smansur@ City Operations Center building, which also hendersondispatch.com. saved money on construction costs.
1942
946-A West Andrews Ave., Henderson, NC
LITTLE RIVER CORPORATION 252-492-5009 ESTABLISHED
1945
2100 US 1-158 Hwy. N, Henderson, NC
GREYSTONE CONCRETE PRODUCTS, INC.
www.greystone-concrete.com
252-438-5144
Year in Review
The Daily Dispatch
1946
ESTABLISHED
2362 North Garnett St. Henderson, NC
Education
ESTABLISHED
Gov. Pat McCrory leads Northern Vance students Nick Sharpe (clockwise from left), Dylan Grissom, Ray Cheever, Amber Stevenson and Justin Care along with their teacher Jeff Arthurs in a group huddle after they won the N.C. State University Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation.
213 N. Chestnut St.
Henderson, NC 27536 Expect Different Results
One new charter added, others awaiting their chance 1952
518 W. Montgomery Street Henderson, NC
252-492-7541
ESTABLISHED
1956
BY SARAH MANSUR DISPATCH STAFF
from the community. Two events took place, in the same year no less, which were absent from longtime observers’ accounts as to exactly when or if they had taken place before. The first was a meeting of the commissioners and the school board in Vance County. The second was an education summit, bringing together stakeholders in businesses, local politics, public schools and charter schools. During the summer, maintenance crews renovated the science labs at Northern Vance High School for the first time in 44 years. Two new rooms were added to the labs and four existing rooms were renovated. In the fall, Vance County high schools introduced the Vance Medical Academy, a new career training program. The school district’s emphasis on Career and Technical Education is part of an overall effort to raise the graduation rates, which were released by the state Department of Public Instruction in August. The graduation rate in Vance County was 64.9 percent for freshmen who entered high school in the four-period beginning in 2009. A year ago the rate was 68.2 percent. The state average was a record 82.5 percent, with Granville County’s rate at 77.1 percent and Warren County at 75.3 percent.
The Tri-County gained one more high school last year with the opening of a new public charter, Oxford Preparatory High School, in the fall. The school first opened with 70 students in the freshman class. Like Henderson Collegiate in Vance County, Oxford Prep operates out of a modular unit that contains a few classrooms, a main office and a cafeteria. Two nonprofits in Vance County, KerrVance Academy Charter and Empowerment Academy, have applied for charter status in fall 2015, in addition to 71 nonprofit organizations statewide that submitted applications to the state office of charter schools in December 2013. Northern Vance’s engineering students came away with a rousing statewide victory in February. An engineering team of Justin Care, Dylan Grissom, Amber Stevenson, Ray Cheever and Nick Sharpe and teacher Jeff Arthurs won the N.C. State University Emerging Issues Prize for Innovation for their project, Sirocco, which dislodges dust from a computer’s critical functioning parts. The competition climaxed with Gov. Pat McCrory’s attendance and celebration with the team at the 28th annual Emerging Issues Forum. The win was a true community event, with prototype assistance from Contact the writer at smansur@ Bob Esquivel at Salare Inc. and more than half of the 12,000 online votes cast coming hendersondispatch.com.
Elections
www.holdenmoss.com Tax • Business Management & Development
252-492-3041
Drive-thru is open for your convenience!
ESTABLISHED
1966
425 N. Garnett Street Henderson, NC
FOGG’S EXXON
252-492-5009 ESTABLISHED
1967
60 Zeb Robinson Road Henderson, NC
523 West Andrews Avenue Henderson, NC
J.M. WHITE FUNERAL HOME
CITY TIRE, INC.
252-492-5139
252-492-1195
ESTABLISHED
1965
(Former BB&T Main Office)
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch File Photo
SERVING INDUSTRY SINCE
3
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Thelma Watson marks her ballot at the South Oxford precinct.
1958
jmwhitefuneralhome.com
ESTABLISHED
1969
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch File Photo
315 S. Garnett Street Henderson, NC
252-430-1111 ESTABLISHED
1958
101 S. Garnett Street, Henderson,NC
Thomas Appliance Sales & Service 252-492-3023
Chance for change present, but incumbents prevailed BY ALAN WOOTEN DISPATCH STAFF
ups were few. Rounding out the nor thern end of Granville County were elections in Stovall, where Jane Parrott was re-elected mayor and Marshall Roberts and Tim Davidson were re-elected commissioners. In Vance County’s municipal elections held in November, incumbents won in Middleburg and Kittrell. Ray Bullock won the mayor’s seat in Middleburg and Annie Fudge, Ruth Nance and Gar y Plummer were all reelected commissioners. Jerry Joyner was re-elected mayor of Kittrell, with Jason Green, Susan Pulley and Betsy Simpson winning commissioners’ seats. In Warren County, Walter Gardner Jr. fended off a challenge for the Warrenton mayor’s seat. Dwight Pearce was reelected mayor in Norlina and Rob Evans retained his mayoral seat in Macon. Winning War renton commissioner seats were Mar y Hunter, Kimberly Rae Harding and Tom Hardy. Eight people were in the race. Norlina attracted seven commissioner candidates, with offices won by Wayne Aycock, Scooter Edwards, James Overby, Lou Stultz and Bill Harris. Macon’s commissioner seats were won by Glenn Riggan, David Harris, Benny Hilliard, Joanne Reese and Wanda Thompson. And in several communities across the Tri-County, vanquished candidates vowed to return next election.
Trust for voters is highest when they more personally know their elected representatives. And when residents in Henderson and Oxford had a chance to make changes this past year, they didn’t do much. In Henderson, one new face joined the City Council. In Oxford, the fall’s mostly hotly-contested race ended with the mayor prevailing. Fearldine Simmons captured Ward 4 in Henderson by the slimmest of margins, edging Vernon Brown 166-159. Sara Cof fey, Mike Inscoe and Garr y Daeke each won re-election. But calling any heavily endorsed would not be accurate. Voting was less than 15 percent for the city on the second Tuesday in October. Cof fey and Daeke each more than doubled the votes of their opponents, and Inscoe was just shy. Both the candidates who won and those who lost were surprised by the small turnout. In Oxford, Mayor Jackie Sergent returned to of fice with a victor y over challengers Jim Crawford Jr. and Howard Her ring. Crawford was a 28-year veteran of the N.C. House of Representatives and Herring was a sitting commissioner at the time of the election. C.J. Harris and Danny Currin were each re-elected to the commission, along with former District Court judge Quon Bridges and Patricia Fields. Contact the writer at awooten@ Elsewhere in the election year, shake- hendersondispatch.com.
102 Goshen Street, Oxford, NC
LOYD PLUMBING CO., INC
252-492-7177 919-693-2000 252-492-7266 919-693-8872
ESTABLISHED
1971
53 Brookhaven Court, Henderson
HUMPTY DUMPTY DAY CARE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE CENTERS 252-438-8138
4
Year in Review
The Daily Dispatch
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Granville County
1977
ESTABLISHED
115 North Chestnut Street Henderson, NC
Photo courtesy of Revlon
Restructuring is shifting manufacturing from a plant that Revlon leases in Maryland to the plant in Oxford, where 1,400 are employed full-time.
ESTABLISHED
1972
Revlon’s purchase of Colomer was a major economic boost BY DAVID IRVINE DISPATCH STAFF
Great Family Dining ® Cookin’ Up Down Home Cookin’
®
• Good Food • Good Service • Fair Price
444 Dabney Drive Henderson, NC We Welcome Call Ahead Orders
252-492-4040
ESTABLISHED
1972
3268 Raleigh Road, Henderson, NC
C&P BODY SHOP 252-492-5345
ESTABLISHED
1975
ard Herring, Sr. and former state Rep. Jim Crawford Jr. At year’s end, Oxford was engaged in a lawsuit against Granville County, Henderson and Warren County. Granville County officials had struck a deal to purchase 1.5 million gallons of water per day from Henderson for Triangle North Granville. Oxford responded by filing a suit claiming that the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Agreement — made in 1973 between Oxford, Henderson and Warren County — gives Oxford the authority to control and profit from the taps in Granville County. The defendants moved to dismiss the suit, saying Oxford’s right to control the revenue from Granville water taps has not gone into effect. Mediation began in December in an attempt to resolve the issue without a trial. A veterans’ memorial was established around the flagpole at the Oxford City Hall, a result of the work of Frank Strickland, Ron Bullock, R.T. “Tommy” Daniel and others. The financially troubled Thorndale Country Club saw a new era begin when Save Thorndale Inc. bought the club at a foreclosure auction with a bid of $429,000. Save Thorndale Inc., a non-profit organization, was formed with the specific purpose of saving the club.
During 2013, Granville County’s economy got a major boost when Revlon purchased the Colomer Group, which has about $500 million in annual net sales. Half of Colomer’s sales are in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which will expand Revlon’s global presence. Revlon’s brands include Mitchum deodorants and Almay. Purchase of Colomer will add Shellac nail polishes and American Crew men’s hair care to the Revlon line. That gain was partially offset by the loss of an innovative industry when the Biofuels Center closed after the General Assembly failed to appropriate funds to continue operation. As a result, 14 employees in Oxford lost their jobs. Granville County got its first charter school when Oxford Preparatory High School opened with 70 students. The school began with a ninth grade and plans to add a grade each year until it becomes a 9-12 high school. Although enrollment is open to any student living in North Carolina, 40 percent of the first class came from Vance County, with most of the balance represented by Granville County students. The school will operate in modular units for two years until a permanent facility is completed. In municipal elections, Oxford offered Contact the writer at dirvine@ a three-way race for mayor and Jackie Sergent won re-election over challengers How- hendersondispatch.com.
JOURNIGAN’S TIRE & BATTERY SALES & SERVICE, INC. 252-492-4131 ESTABLISHED
1977
5121 Highway 39 South Henderson, NC BREEDLOVE ELECTRIC, INC.
252-438-3421 ESTABLISHED
1979
115 N. Garnett St., Henderson
Warren County
Stainback, Satterwhite, & Zollicoffer, PLLC
General Practice of Law • Criminal • Domestic • Personal Injury • Real Estate • Wills • Estate Probate
Antique cars are on display along Hyco Street during Norlina’s Centennial Celebration.
Paul J. Stainback • Michael E. Satterwhite John H. Zollicoffer, Jr.
252-438-4136
ESTABLISHED
1979
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch File Photo
585 Industry Drive, Henderson, NC
Elmer A. Deal & Sons Plumbing, Inc. 252-438-6308 ESTABLISHED
1976
451 Ruin Creek Road Suite 204 Henderson, NC
FOUR COUNTY EYE ASSOCIATES 252-492-8021
Norlina, Haliwa-Saponi reach significant milestones BY DAVID IRVINE DISPATCH STAFF
numerous awards at the National High School High Stepping Marching Band competition, including first place for band, drum major, percussion, flags, majorette and general effect. Parents’ and children’s caregivers in Warren County had access to a new resource when Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc. opened a family resource center at 518 West Ridgeway Street in Warrenton. The Eastern Bluebird Rescue Group made its 200,000th bluebird house in 2013. The organization was formed in 1989 by retired wildlife specialist Frank Newell and is staffed by volunteers. The group is largely responsible for removing the Eastern Bluebird from the endangered species list. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, blood pressure and stroke are the major causes of death in Warren County, according to the Warren County 2012 State of the County Health Report, which was released in 2013. The good news is that death rates in Warren County from chronic illnesses have declined in the past 10 years. The survey, conducted by the Warren County Health Department, also pointed out that many chronic illnesses can be reduced if individuals eat better, get more exercise, stop using tobacco and limit the use of alcohol.
Norlina celebrated its 100th anniversary with a parade, a barbecue contest, music and a tour of the Norlina Train Museum. The town originated when a group of Warren County residents paced off a onemile square around the Seaboard Air Line Railway depot and petitioned the N.C. General Assembly for a charter. Celebrating an even longer history, the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe held its annual powwow in Hollister. Continuing a tradition that began in 1965, when the tribe was officially recognized by the state of North Carolina, members of the tribe presented dances, music, crafts and works of art representing the cultural history of the HaliwaSaponi Tribe and American Indians. The county continued efforts to build on tourism, which generated $3.04 million in tax revenues in the county, according to a study commissioned by the N.C. Division of Tourism. Warrenton Town Manager Robert Davies received support from the town board and the Warren County Board of Commissioners to implement a plan to collaborate with four other small towns to foster tourism by capitalizing on the historic sites and legends of the towns to attract visitors and new businesses. Warren County High School’s Dynamic Marching Machine and Steel Stix drum line, under the direction of Taylor WhiteContact the writer at dirvine@ head, continued its tradition of winning national championships when it won hendersondispatch.com.
5230 NC 39 Highway South
Henderson, NC
GRISSOM FERTILIZER 252-492-3662 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30AM - 5PM Sat. 7:30AM - Noon
ESTABLISHED
1979
183 N. Oliver Dr. Henderson, NC
SATTERWHITE 66 TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE 24 Hour Wrecker Service Specializing in Towing & Recovery of all types of vehicles & trucks.
252-492-4488
Year in Review
The Daily Dispatch
Courts Dee Hansley takes a moment to herself after using a marker to write on a brick at the site where 5-year-old Jayden Chad Stokes was killed on East Montgomery Street. MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch File Photo
ESTABLISHED
1985
Four plea deals reached; murder caseload attacked BY MARTIN FISHER DISPATCH STAFF
DONALD D. PERGERSON Attorney at Law BRANDI RICHARDSON Attorney at Law • 235 Dabney Dr., Henderson, NC
We are a debt relief agency We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code
252-492-7796 ESTABLISHED
1986
220 Dabney Drive Henderson, NC
5
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
setting aside a murder charge for a plea to voluntary manslaughter. Plea deals on two unrelated vehicle death cases gave up to 14 years: • Vincent Eugene Gregory, 48, received 90-132 months for the Jan. 27 vehicle crash death of 5-year-old Jayden Chad Stokes as he and his father Richard Stokes, also injured, walked to the park. Set aside were murder and DWI charges in exchange for guilt on felony death by vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle. • Michael Gray Rigsbee, 41, received 30-36 months for the July 8, 2010, vehicle crash death of 39-year-old Sean Christopher Newman, a motorcyclist on the interstate highway. Capps and Assistant District Attorney Bill Griffin said that a rising number of other felonies in the system combined with the county having only three of five prosecutor positions staffed contribute to the backlog of cases. In the fall, status hearings were started by Judge Robert Hobgood in an effort to reduce the number of murder cases in Vance County. And federally, members of the criminal organization known as the Money Gang Mob continued to receive prison terms. By year’s end, the total was 14 sentences for 144 years and two months.
Vance County cases mounted in 2013 as prosecutors reached plea deals on four homicide defendants. Of six cases cleared, two by dismissals, penalties totaled 17 to 24 years of prison in exchange for the six lives lost. Because of two absent witnesses, prosecutors in October dropped a murder charge against 34-year-old Juan Antwon Miles in the Sept. 24, 2010, shooting death of 19-year-old Jamario Neal. Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps noted that even if found, credibility would be in question for both of those witnesses. Capps also determined that the Oct. 26, 2012, blunt-force trauma death of 33-year-old Antonio Fitzgerald Hammond, charged as a murder against his brother Clifton Morris Hammond, 27, was an act self defense. Plea deals on two unrelated shooting death cases dolled out up to nine years: • Arthur Thomas Peace, 21, received 23-37 months for the July 4, 2012, shooting death of 14-year-old Clayton Batchelor Jr., in a plea deal setting aside a murder charge for an involuntary manslaughter conviction. District Attorney Sam Currin cited a lack of evidence on greater culpability in that case. • Quindarius Dantae Rainey, 24, received Contact the writer at mfisher@ 57-78 months for the June 11, 2011, shooting death of Torrey Russell Kersey, in a plea deal hendersondispatch.com.
ESTABLISHED
1989
Celebrating 25 Years in Business!
ROBERT’S AIRBRUSH SHOP 2958 NC Hwy 39 South Henderson, NC Owner: Robert Ellis, Jr.
robertsairbrushshop@ embarqmail.com
252-492-9781 ESTABLISHED
1991
926 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC
DAVIS-ROYSTER FUNERAL SERVICE, INC. 252-492-6911 ESTABLISHED
1994
Under New Management as of May 2010
Sports 225 N. Oliver Drive, Henderson, NC
TL PERKINSON WRECKER SERVICE 252-438-3888 ESTABLISHED
252-492-7548
1986
ESTABLISHED
1999
MARK DOLEJS /Dispatch File Photo
J.F. Webb’s Isaiah Hicks (4) dunks over Statesville’s Josh Gaither (10) during the Warriors’ 3A state championship game at Reynolds Coliseum.
133 Raleigh Road Henderson, NC
AUTO MART of HENDERSON 252-438-5928 ESTABLISHED
1988
Burglar Alarms • Fire Alarms Video Surveillance Henderson, NC Angie, Ben, Dave, Gerry, Jason, Josh, Mike, Scott & Terrance 24 HOUR ALARM MONITORING for $16/month CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
252-430-9694 252-438-7181
Webb’s state championship punctuated by Hicks in final BY KELLEN HOLTZMAN DISPATCH STAFF
Southern Vance, Northern Vance and Webb each had representatives in the state track and field meet in Greensboro, although no championships were earned. Two area wrestlers finished third in the state. Southern’s Xavier Gregory was 43-3 on the season at 195 pounds and KVA’s Jared Hicks was third in the independent ranks at 120 pounds. Daniel Burnette recorded a top-20 finish for KVA in the competitive 2-A state golf tournament and D.J. Matthews of Crossroads Christian took sixth in the 1-A field. The Spartans’ volleyball team advanced to the state quarterfinals and Southern’s spikers came close to the state semifinals as well. The Raiders were denied their 20th win of the season in the quarterfinals, falling for the fourth time to conference rival South Granville. David Hicks’ retirement may have been the area’s greatest loss. The former Northern Vance boys and girls soccer coach closed his 18-year tenure as the Vikings’ athletic director in September. It was just the beginning for athletics at Oxford Prep. The charter school opened its doors in August and competed on the junior varsity level in volleyball and basketball. Baseball, girls soccer and softball are on deck for the spring.
Each year championships are won and remarkable individual feats recorded. But the final chapter in the J.F. Webb boys basketball team’s storybook season, written March 16 in Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of N.C. State, may have been a once in a lifetime occurrence for those that bore witness. Isaiah Hicks turned in a jaw-dropping performance in the 3-A final, tallying 34 points and 30 rebounds in front of a raucous Warrior crowd as Webb claimed its first state championship in school history with a 73-70 overtime win over Statesville. Hicks’ season average of 22.9 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.6 blocks helped him earn Associated Press state player of the year honors and selection to the McDonald’s AllAmerican Game held April 3 in Chicago. “This doesn’t happen everywhere,” Webb head coach Leo Brunelli said before the season. The combination of a supremely talented player like Hicks and a state champion caliber team hasn’t materialized in this area very often, making the magic that Hicks and the Warriors displayed in the title run something truly memorable. Kerr-Vance was the only other area school with a state champion. Sophomore Kayla Holder recorded a personal-best time Contact the writer at kholtzman@ of 18:38 as she raced to a cross country state hendersondispatch.com. title.
1227 Dabney Drive Henderson, NC
VANCE CHARTER SCHOOL 252-431-0440
ESTABLISHED
1999
“Getting You Connected For Life”
RICK EDWARDS ELECTRIC •Residential & Commercial •Bucket Truck •Sign Lighting •No Job Too Small Licensed & Insured In NC & VA
(252) 438-4856 Phone & Fax (252) 438-0147 Mobile www.rickedwardselectric.com ricke@nc.rr.com
6
Year in Review
The Daily Dispatch
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Southern Vance football coach Lewis Young (below) comforts quarterback Ty-Traveon Roberts after their teams loss to Eastern Randolph in the state playoffs. Warren County’s Derek Wortham (right photo) is tagged out by Franklinton catcher Hunter Estes before he makes it to home plate.
Warren County pitcher Kelly Norwood throws to a Halifax Academy batter.
Northern Vance quarterback Kris Haywood (above) reacts after a last minute drive comes up short as the Vikings lost to J.F. Webb 21-20. J.F. Webb basketball coach Leo Brunelli (left photo) shares a few words with Isaiah Hicks after Hicks fouled out of the game with 19 seconds left against Statesville in the state championship.
Malcolm Gray (left), 10, and Josh West, 11, scramble for a rebound as they play a game of 21 near Gray’s home on Glenn Street. Usually the pair has several other boys join them for basketball, kickball, baseball or riding bikes, but this day it was just the two of them.
Photos by Mark Dolejs ESTABLISHED
2001
124 Main Street Oxford, NC Serving Vance and Granville Counties for more than 10 years!
ESTABLISHED
2001
420 Raleigh Road Henderson, NC
with climate controlled units www.aa-self-storage.com
TOLL FREE 1-866-825-8854 252-433-0236
ESTABLISHED
2005
120 Industry Drive Oxford, NC
AA SELF STORAGE Mon.-Fri 9AM - 6PM, Sat. 8AM - 2 PM Closed Sun.
919-693-1730
ESTABLISHED 2001
AA SELF STORAGE 1072 Gillburg Road, Henderson 252-438-4882 252-432-1043
with climate controlled units
www.aa-self-storage.com Mon.-Fri. 9AM - 6PM • Sat. 8AM - 2PM • Closed Sun
TOLL FREE 1-866-825-8854
919-690-8822