Year in Review: Jan. 9, 2013

A1 YIR12 BS

2012: YeAR In RevIew

January 9, 2013

Who we were and what we did in the Tri-County

Yorkshire Terriers (photos clockwise from bottom) Willie and Sassy walk with their owner, Mike Warren, along College Street in Oxford; Ania Otts, 8, and her

brother Jayson Otts, 7, cool off on a warm afternoon as they have a squirt gun fight at their Dabney home;

Wendell Ligon reacts to one of the habanero pep-pers he ate as part of the hot pepper eating contest

in Oxford during the N.C. Hot Sauce Contest; William O’Hara sprays an asphalt sealcoating on the parking

area at Bobbitt Grocery on Bobbitt Road; Kim Jackson snuggles with chihuahuas Susie and Patty at the

Vance County Animal Shelter; Allie Rose Bliss pulls off her helmet as her team switches from offense

to defense; and Atos Zamperla, the Italian Rocket, performs at the Vance County Regional Fair.

Photos by Mark Dolejs

A2 YIR

ESTABLISHED 1925

www.mariaparham.com

252-438-4143

566 Ruin Creek Road,Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1881

VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS

252-492-2127www.vcs.k12.nc.us

P.O. Box 7001 (1724 Graham Avenue)Henderson, NC 27536

ESTABLISHED 1922

1445 Dabney DriveHenderson, NC

Open Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm252-438-4212

ESTABLISHED 1940s

HENDERSON LAUNDRY

252-438-6147

326 North Garnett StreetHenderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1908

1020 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC

WesterInsuranceAgency

252-438-8165 252-438-8099

ESTABLISHED 1914

252-436-2700

304 S. Chestnut Street, Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1864

BUFFALOE MILLINGCO., INC

MOSS’ CORN MEAL PRODUCTS

252-438-8637

196 Buffalo Mill Road,Kittrell, NC

ESTABLISHED 1942

252-492-5009

LITTLE RIVERCORPORATION

946-A West Andrews Ave.,Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1941

VANCE FURNITURE 252-438-3911

325 South Garnett StreetHenderson, NC

2 The Daily DispaTch Year In revIew WeDnesDay, January 9, 2013

HENDERSON

Nutbush renovations finally take steps toward reality

BY MARTIN FISHERDISPATCH STAFF

The City of Henderson made progress on two important development fronts in 2012, and it began implementation of a vital change to its political process.

Steps toward a ground-breaking that will signal the start of up to two years of heavy-duty construc-tion on long-planned renovations at the Nutbush water reclamation facility culminated in a bidding process that continues this month.

City Manager Ray Griffin said those steps took place amidst other strides in tackling the city’s aging infrastructure issue.

“In 2012, we made major strides in dealing with infrastructure,” he said, noting work at the Sandy Creek pump station, ongoing work to replace two-inch waterlines and the uptake in development and use of radio-read meters as examples.

The biggest project by far, and destined to domi-nate the landscape of city infrastructure gains for the next 18 to 24 months once ground is broken, is construction at Nutbush.

The Nutbush facility is slated to receive up to $16.9 million in upgrades that feature construction of an oxidation ditch system bringing the processing of city sewage up to date on standards for state-of-the-art water reclamation. It will eliminate costly

and potentially hazardous lime-treatment steps and bring the facility into compliance with expected changes in federal processing standards.

Henderson inked a second deal on water use with Vance County in July that fuels the Phase 2 construction of the county water system. When finished, it will turn on 175,000 gallons of daily use to communities north of the city.

The elections of city council members and the mayor are now organized according to staggered four-year terms following the May election for mayor and the full slate of eight aldermen. Half of the city council terms will be up for re-election in November and half, plus the mayoral seat, are set for re-election in November 2015.

Following a plan adopted by the council in late 2011, the at-large seats for Wards 1 and 2 and the ward seats for Wards 3 and 4 were filled for a two-year term, shortened because the council delayed the November 2011 election to May. Conversely, the ward seats for Wards 1 and 2 and the at-large seats for Wards 3 and 4 were elected for terms of four years.

In future elections, all terms for the council and mayor will be for four-year periods, with their elections held on the same schedule that alternates every two years.

Contact the writer at [email protected].

MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffRenovations and upgrades are planned for the Henderson Water Reclamation Facility on West Andrews Avenue over the next two years.

VANCE COUNTY

Long-awaited water flowing; Pegram exits after 48 years

BY ALLIE RAE MAUSERDISPATCH STAFF

Vance County reached a major milestone last year in the effort to provide all citizens with fresh tap water when construction on Phase 1 of the county water project began.

“We have accomplished a number of things this calendar year,” Terry Garrison said during Decem-ber’s board meeting of the county commissioners. “One major accomplishment is that we now have water flowing through pipes.”

Work on Phase 2 of the project is moving for-ward, and is estimated to begin as early as April.

Rock was struck during construction of Phase 1A, providing some setbacks, and adding costly provisions to the project.

Permits are currently in the works for 2A and 2B, but the process for approval is detailed and lengthy. Upon approval of all permits, Vance County can proceed with the bidding process for construction of 2A and 2B.

In a recent tabulation, 830 people in phase 1A have signed up to receive water, 364 sign-ups have been received for 2A, and 368 for 2B.

Long-time county commissioner Tim Pegram ended a 48-year service, the longest in the state, when he retired in December. Pegram was once the owner of Henderson Truss Supply, and many remember him as a sharp businessman.

John Watkins purchased the truss supply com-

pany in 1996. He spoke of hearing Pegram’s name mentioned often in conversation.

“People still talk about him and the truss busi-ness,” Watkins said. “Tim was a businessman, and I like his style.

“When he told you something, you could take it to the bank.”

Another commissioner noted for his dedication and contribution to Vance County this year was Garrison, enshrined in August to the Hall of Fame for the N.C. Association of County Commission-ers.

Garrison is in his 25th year of service as a Vance County commissioner.

In early fall, Vance County received a $100,000 grant for their farmers market project, one of 19 projects funded with over $2 billion from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

The $100,000 grant will be used to help fund expenses for a new farmers market structure near Beckford Drive.

Paul McKenzie, agriculture extension agent for Vance and Warren counties, hopes to have the new farmers market venue up and operating at the start of this year’s season.

Vance County has received a total of $400,000 from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund, and an addi-tional $100,000 from the North Carolina develop-ment and farmland preservation trust fund.


MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffInstallation of water lines along Warrenton Road are part of the first phase of the county’s water system project.

A3 YIR

ESTABLISHED 1945

GREYSTONECONCRETE

PRODUCTS, INC. www.greystone-concrete.com

252-438-5144

2100 US 1-158 Hwy. N, Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1967

J.M. WHITEFUNERAL HOME

252-492-5139jmwhitefuneralhome.com

60 Zeb Robinson RoadHenderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1965

213 N. Chestnut St. (Former BB&T Main Offi ce)

Henderson, NC 27536

www.holdenmoss.comTax • Business Management &

Development

252-492-3041Drive-thru is open for your convenience!

Expect Different Results

ESTABLISHED 1958

Thomas ApplianceSales & Service

252-492-3023

101 S. Garnett Street, Henderson,NC

ESTABLISHED 1966

FOGG’S EXXON

252-492-5009

425 N. Garnett Street Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1958

252-430-1111

315 S. Garnett StreetHenderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1946

2362 North Garnett St.Henderson, NC

1952

252-492-7541

518 W. Montgomery StreetHenderson, NC

SERVINGINDUSTRYSINCE

ESTABLISHED 1969

LOYD PLUMBINGCO., INC

102 Goshen Street, Oxford, NC

252-492-7177 919-693-2000252-492-7266 919-693-8872

ESTABLISHED 1956

CITY TIRE, INC.

252-492-1195

523 West Andrews AvenueHenderson, NC

2 The Daily DispaTch Year In revIew WeDnesDay, January 9, 2013 The Daily DispaTch Year In revIew WeDnesDay, January 9, 2013 3

EDUCATION

Strides in graduation rates fail to materialize in Vance

BY ALLIE RAE MAUSERDISPATCH STAFF

In August, shortly after a record graduation rate of 80.2 percent was released for the state of North Carolina, Vance County Schools welcomed back an estimated 6,400 students for the 2012-13 school year.

The newly released, and most current graduation rate for Vance County, however, was not record set-ting at 68.2 percent, topping only two other school systems out of 115 in the state.

In Warren County, the graduation rate was above the state average, with 83.9 percent of high school seniors receiving diplomas this year. Granville’s graduation rate was slightly above Vance County’s at 72.6 percent.

Approximately 100 sixth-graders were welcomed to the first Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics middle school in Vance County on Aug. 27.

Terri Hedrick, public information officer for the school system, said Clark Elementary, the other STEM school, has attracted visitors from the state department.

“We’ve had folks from out of state come and look at it,” Hedrick said. “The folks at the state depart-ment tell us its completely new. We’re excited that we’re breaking ground.”

The North Carolina Office of Charter Schools has announced the state board’s preliminary approval of 25 charter school applicants. Among the applicants is Oxford Preparatory High School, slated to open

this fall.Henderson Collegiate, a charter school in Vance

County, opened its doors to 100 fourth-graders on Sept. 8, 2010. Since that time they’ve added a grade and 100 more students annually. The school is now fourth through sixth grade, with plans to continue growing at the same rate until reaching the 12th grade.

The inaugural group of students are currently sixth-graders, known at the school as the Pride of 2019.

Seven Teach For America teachers work at Henderson Collegiate, another nine are active in the system, for a total of 16 working in Vance County Schools this year.

With grants from the Oak Foundation, and the Golden LEAF Foundation providing TFA of eastern North Carolina $550,000 in funding this year, its likely the Tri-County area will see more TFA teach-ers in the system next school year.

A Qualified Zone Academy Bond in the amount of $2 million will be issued to Vance County Schools in February, primarily to fund roofing replacements at three elementary schools.

Recognized this past year for their dedication to Vance County Schools, and their passion for educa-tion were: Natasha Rubin, Teacher of the Year from Zeb Vance Elementary; Laura Rigsbee, Principal of the Year from Aycock Elementary; and Marylaura MacKoon of Zeb Vance Elementary, who earned the first Assistant Principal of the Year designation.


MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffVance County Schools welcomed back an estimated 6,400 students for the 2012-2013 school year. Kindergarten teacher Ashley Pennington (right) has her new class line up as they get ready to go to their classroom at Zeb Vance Elementary on the first day of the new school year.

ELECTIONS

No surprise in city elections; Crawford done after 28 years

BY ALAN WOOTENDISPATCH STAFF

Henderson’s long-awaited city elections finally happened in the May primary for the 2012 General Election, a state representative of nearly three decades was ousted from Jones Street and voters across the state soundly rejected gay marriage.

Those events topped the election scene in Vance County during 2012, when President Barack Obama was re-elected and Gov. Bev Perdue decided not to run for re-election. Obama was roundly endorsed by Democratic-heavy Vance County.

Republican Pat McCrory, who lost to Perdue four years ago, took his oath of office this past weekend after a comfortable November win over former Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and Libertarian Barbara Howe of Oxford. Howe, who literally ran five kilometers in all 100 counties as part of her campaign, said in November she will not make a fourth try for the state’s highest elected office.

Crawford, a Democrat who had served various areas of the Tri-County region since the 1980s de-pending on how districts were drawn by Democrats, ended up matched with Roxboro’s Winkie Wilkins in District 2 after redistricting by Republicans. He formerly represented District 32, which was won in the fall by 31-year-old Nathan Baskerville.

Wilkins captured more than 55 percent of the vote against Crawford. In December, Crawford was named to help the McCrory transition team.

Statewide in May, the news out of the primary came from North Carolina voters endorsing a marriage between a man and a woman. The state became the last in the Southeast to approve a consti-tutional amendment against gay marriage.

Pete O’Geary, age 78, earned another four years as Henderson’s mayor after winning 55 percent of the vote against Juanita Somerville in the spring. O’Geary, mayor since 2007, led a strong return to City Hall, with Garry Daeke, James C. Kearney, Sara Coffey, Michael Rainey, Michael Inscoe, Brenda Peace-Jen-kins and George Daye all keeping their seats.

Vernon Davis won the seat of retiring council-man Lonnie Davis Jr. Only Daeke and Davis had challengers.

The city elections were postponed from the fall because of redistricting fallout. The city also set into motion a rotation of staggered terms. Voters this fall will choose representatives to four of the seats. In 2015, four council seats and the mayor’s chair will be on the ballot.

On Election Day in November, the district judge seat of Quon Bridges was won by challenger Amanda Stevenson. The race wasn’t decided until the final precinct reported and the State Board of Elections certified a requested recount.

Stevenson won by 296 votes out of more than 56,000 cast in four counties, easily the closest per-centage win in the area in the spring or fall.


MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffPoll worker Shirley Pace (right) checks in voters as they prepare to mark their ballots at St. James Baptist Church.

A4 YIR

ESTABLISHED 1979

COMMERCIAL SEAMING CO.

INC. 252-492-6178

501 Walnut StreetHenderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1975

KIDS WORLDCHILD CARE CENTER

& PRE-SCHOOL

252-492-1829

420 Red Oak Road,Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1972


Great Family Dining

Cookin’ Up Down Home Cookin’

®

®• Good Food

• Good Service • Fair Price

We Welcome Call Ahead Orders

252-492-4040

ESTABLISHED 1972

C&P BODYSHOP

252-492-5345

3521 Raleigh Road, Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1976

FOUR COUNTYEYE ASSOCIATES

252-492-8021

451 Ruin Creek RoadSuite 204

Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1979

GRISSOM FERTILIZER

252-492-3662Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30AM - 5PM

Sat. 7AM - Noon

5230 NC 39 Highway SouthHenderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1977

BREEDLOVE ELECTRIC, INC.

5121 Highway 39 South Henderson, NC

252-438-3421

ESTABLISHED 1977

252-492-4131

115 North Chestnut StreetHenderson, NC

JOURNIGAN’STIRE & BATTERY

SALES & SERVICE, INC.

ESTABLISHED 1970

A.B. HAIRCARPETS, INC.

252-456-3307800-582-7198

203 Highway US #1Norlina, NC

ESTABLISHED 1975

Elmer A. Deal &Sons Plumbing, Inc.

252-438-6308

585 Industry Drive, Henderson, NC


WARREN COUNTY

Mourning for Hedgepeth felt from college campus to tribe

BY DAVID IRVINEDISPATCH STAFF

Numerous projects designed to take advantage of Warren County’s many assets moved forward in 2012.

But attention to those projects was interrupted in September when Faith Hedgepeth, a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, was killed in Chapel Hill, where she was a sophomore at the University of North Carolina.

Hedgepeth was a popular member of the tribe, and very active in it and the Warrenton community. She was also an active student at UNC, where candlelight vigils brought out students by the hundreds.

The sanctuary of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in the Warren County community of Hollister was overflowing at a memorial service for Hedgepeth, a 2010 graduate of Warren County High School and honor student who participated in many activities celebrating her Native American heritage.

Mourning was widespread, from Chapel Hill to the governor’s mansion to the entire northeast region of the state.

In one aspect of economic development, Warren County became a player in the effort to find sub-stitutes for fossil fuels when two solar installations were constructed during 2012.

One solar array, built on the roof of Warren County High School, will generate 475 kilowatts

of power. The school system will be paid $175,000 over 20 years. In addition to power and income, the installation will serve instructional purposes for students at the school.

“It has another effect, a psychological effect,” said Gabriel Cumming, director of economic develop-ment for the county. “It marks Warren County as a place where new and innovative things are taking place, which will attract new industry and business.”

Not far away, a 5.6-megawatt solar farm was con-structed by Strata Solar on a 40-acre site between Warrenton and Norlina. The power produced by the farm is being sold to Progress Energy.

In both solar projects, a major part of the con-struction and technical work was handled by local workers and businesses.

Economic development in Warren County re-flects the diverse needs of the county. The Triangle North Warren industrial park is being developed as a site for industry. Warrenton Downtown Revitaliza-tion is promoted to attract businesses.

The Warren County Economic Development Commission is promoting efforts to capitalize on the county’s major asset — land. A Grow Local/Buy Lo-cal initiative encourages farmers to sell produce on the local market. In turn, consumers are reminded that buying local products guarantees freshness while simultaneously recycling Warren County dol-lars within the county.


MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffMembers of the Stoney Creek Singers drum circle sing `The Language Song’ during the interment service for Faith Hedgepeth at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

GRANVILLE COUNTY

Several leadership positions changed, and Baxter said ‘no’

BY DAVID IRVINEDISPATCH STAFF

When long-time Granville County Commissioner Hubert Gooch decided not to seek re-election in 2012, the vacancy he created was only one of several that occurred in Granville County in 2012.

Gooch had been appointed to the board of commissioners twice before being elected to three four-year terms. A retired educator, he served over 30 years with Granville County Schools as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent. His spot on the board of commissioners was filled by Ed Mims of Creed-moor, who led in a primary election, won in a runoff and won again in the general election in November.

A county staff vacancy occurred when Jay Tilley, director of economic development, resigned in May. Shortly afterward, he said, “We missed out on a big one. After that, things began to deteriorate.”

Tilley, as point man for Granville County, had failed to persuade Baxter International to locate a new plant in the Triangle North Granville Industrial Park. Instead, the company went to Georgia.

No one would confirm that losing the Baxter plant cost Tilley his job. But the unfilled space in Granville Industrial Park may have been an unpleas-ant reminder of the ineffectiveness of his efforts.

The Granville County Board of Commissioners had invested heavily in the park’s infrastructure. In addition, to avoid losing favored tax status, the

board had mortgaged other county property to pur-chase the park, an action that created controversy in the community.

Putting a positive face on the board’s investment in the park, Commissioner Dave Currin said Gran-ville Industrial Park met Baxter’s exacting demands for water, sewer and roads. “If you can meet those standards, other companies know that you are a viable site,” he said.

To fill the EDC director’s position, the county hired Bill Edwards, who had recently retired as president of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, on an interim basis. At year’s end, Edwards was still in the position and the commis-sioners appeared to be in no hurry to fill the spot permanently.

Other vacancies seemed to be the order of the day in Granville County during 2012.

The City of Oxford was hardest hit by openings that occurred in key positions. City Manager Mark Donham resigned in June and Fire Chief Earnest Lee Bess III resigned in July.

Oxford also lost, all to resignations, Donna Hosch as city clerk, Tanya Weary as director of downtown economic development and Shield Blackwell as ex-ecutive director of Granville Education Foundation.

Weary and Blackwell remained in the area, taking jobs at Vance-Granville Community College and Granville Medical Center, respectively.


MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffGranville County failed to persuade Baxter International to locate a new plant in the Triangle North Granville Industrial Park. With the park’s infrastructure already in place they hope other companies will see that it is a viable site.

A5 YIR

ESTABLISHED 1991

DAVIS-ROYSTERFUNERAL

SERVICE, INC. 252-492-6911

926 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1989

CAROLINA CARPET

252-430-7889


ESTABLISHED 1994

TL PERKINSON WRECKER SERVICE

252-492-7548

225 N. Oliver Drive, Henderson, NC

Under New Management as of May 2010

ESTABLISHED 1979

24 Hour Wrecker Service

252-492-4488

SATTERWHITE 66TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE

183 N. Oliver Dr.Henderson, NC

Specializing in Towing & Recoveryof all types of vehicles & trucks.

ESTABLISHED 1989

ROBERT’SAIRBRUSH SHOP

2958 NC Hwy 39 South Henderson, NC

Owner: Robert Ellis, Jr.

[email protected]

252-492-9781

ESTABLISHED 1985

252-492-7796

• 235 Dabney Dr., Henderson, NC• 911 Linden Avenue, Oxford, NC

DONALD D. PERGERSONAttorney at Law

We are a debt relief agencyWe help people fi le for

bankruptcy reliefunder the Bankruptcy Code

ESTABLISHED 1999

VANCE CHARTER SCHOOL

252-431-0440


ESTABLISHED 1988

252-430-9694252-438-7181

Henderson, NCOwned And Operated

By Dave Arner24 HOUR MONITORING for

$16/monthCALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

Burglar Alarms • Fire AlarmsVideo Surveillance

ESTABLISHED 1993

SOUTHERNLAUNDRY &

DRY CLEANERS

252-438-5525

234 Dabney Drive,Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1986

252-438-3888


The Daily DispaTch Year In revIew WeDnesDay, January 9, 2013 5

SPORTS

Webb standout picks Heels; state champ golfer shoots 61

BY KELLEN HOLTZMANDISPATCH STAFF

The atmosphere for Northern Vance-J.F. Webb basketball games is always intense and emotion-filled.

That only begins to describe the air in Viking Gymnasium on the third Friday night in January. Isaiah Hicks was back in uniform for Webb, having watched more than half of the season from the sidelines after transferring back to Webb from Body of Christ Academy in Raleigh.

Hicks didn’t disappoint when the ball was tossed up. He sank Webb’s first basket of the game on a turnaround jumper from the elbow and electrified the capacity crowd with rim-rocking finishes and imposing blocks.

Hicks made his college commitment official in November, signing with Roy Williams and North Carolina about a week before the start of his senior season.

Led by first-year coach Jon Russell, Webb softball claimed the first fastpitch league title in school history.

Russell, previously the head coach at Northern, left Webb in July to become the athletics director at Southern Alamance High School.

Spring, fall and winter sports combined, 27 Tri-County teams began their respective seasons with new head coaches, including three of the four area football teams.

Southern Vance started the fall with a new athlet-ics director after Ed Wilson, who served as Raider AD for about 18 years, announced his retirement in

August. Mike Rotolo, the only varsity boys basketball

coach to serve under Wilson, exited the program he started when Southern was established in 1990. He concluded his high school coaching career by lead-ing the East team in July’s N.C. Coaches Association East-West game in Greensboro.

Rotolo was named the head coach at Vance-Granville Community College, which was forced to cancel its fourth season (2011-2012) in January due to lack of players.

Kerr-Vance produced the area’s only team or individual state champion of the year when senior Ben O’Geary claimed the NCISAA 2-A title in Pinehurst. Just a few weeks before the championships, O’Geary fired a remarkable round of 61 in a KVA match at Hender-son Country Club.

KVA soccer’s run at a state title ended in the 2-A semifinals after

an unbeaten conference season. Tommy Farmer’s Spartans finished 22-2-1 overall.

Coach Razvan Tegean led Northern soccer to its first state playoff appearance since 2007.

Northern baseball snapped a longer drought, earning its first postseason bid in 10 years. With a loaded senior class and junior pitching ace Nate Arrington returning, coach Benji Nelson’s bunch is poised for another special season in 2013.


MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch StaffJ.F. Webb’s Isaiah Hicks skies above a pair of Person defenders for the dunk in early December.

COURTS

Plea deals were arranged in eight murder cases

BY MARTIN FISHERDISPATCH STAFF

Prosecutors reached plea deals in 2012 with eight murder-case defendants, imposing 37-58 years total of prison consequence for the eight lives lost in unrelated acts of violence.

Terrell Freeman, 25, of Chase City, Va., received six to eight years on July 16 for his role with two others in the Dec. 11, 2008, plot to travel from Virginia to the Stagecoach Road, Henderson, home of Joseph Arrington Davis, 48, tricking him by pretences, shooting him repeatedly with a shotgun, and then robbing him of $6.

Antonio Townes, 19, of Henderson, got nine to 11 years on Aug. 21 for shooting Dante Montrell Champion, 19, dead on July 10, 2010, on Pearl Street. The shooting involved several shots fired by more than one shooter.

A Jan. 6 plea deal on a manslaughter charge by Shamon Champion, 25, of Henderson, for the Aug. 23, 2009, shooting death of Robert Newsome Sr., 30, netted seven to nine years. The murder case was degraded by a felony larceny case against Sgt. Kendall Riddick, the Henderson Police Depart-ment lead detective in the investigation, according to prosecutors.

Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps said Newsome and Champion had an altercation at a nightclub that continued outside Newsome’s 715

High St., home, where Champion gunned him down then ran away.

Riddick, dismissed from the police department, had been tasked with gathering witness statements and finding the murder weapon. He was charged in an unrelated felony theft case before Champion’s case reached a resolution.

Capps said the deal “most definitely” was im-pacted by Riddick’s sudden departure.

Dampening the last three months of the trial opportunities for 2012 was a vehicle death case that got away.

Michael Gray Rigsbee, 40, of Creedmoor, is charged with second-degree murder, vehicle hit-and-run and reckless driving on Interstate 85. His Volvo tractor-trailer struck a BMW motorcycle July 8, 2010, driven by Sean Christopher Newman, 41, of Cary, killing him.

Capps said the case was prepared for trial in September and October, and was delayed again in December, twice because of defense attorney J. Thomas Burnette’s ill health, and the third time because a key prosecution witness was unavailable.

“We were ready to begin seating a jury when this fell through,” Capps said. “Fortunately, we were able to call off flights (for witnesses) and the tickets are refundable, but we put three weeks of prepara-tion into it (for) a day and a half of testimony.”


Ben O’Geary

A6 YIR

ESTABLISHED 2005

AA SELF STORAGEwith climate controlled unitswww.aa-self-storage.com

Mon.-Fri. 9AM - 6PM • Sat. 8AM - 2PM • Closed Sun

TOLL FREE 1-866-825-8854

919-690-8822

120 Industry DriveOxford, NC

ESTABLISHED 2008

KID’S WORLD,TOO, INC.

252-572-4534

150 Burwell Avenue, Henderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 2001

124 Main StreetOxford, NC

Serving Vance and Granville Counties for more than 10 years!

919-693-1730

ESTABLISHED 2001

252-438-4882252-432-1043

1072 Gillburg Road, Henderson

ESTABLISHED 2001

AA SELF STORAGE

TOLL FREE 1-866-825-8854252-433-0236

420 Raleigh RoadHenderson, NC

with climate controlled unitswww.aa-self-storage.com

Mon.-Fri 9AM - 6PM, Sat. 8AM - 2 PMClosed Sun.

ESTABLISHED 2002

DISCOUNT FURNITURE

CENTER

252-430-7283

135 US #158 BypassHenderson, NC

ESTABLISHED 1999

RICK EDWARDSELECTRIC

“Getting You Connected For Life”

Licensed & Insured In NC & VA

(252) 438-4856 Phone & Fax(252) 438-0147 Mobile

[email protected]

Residential & Commercial

Bucket Truck • Sign Lighting

No Job Too Small

ESTABLISHED 2000

81 Vicksboro RoadHenderson, NC

EASTSIDE BARBERSHOP & SALON

252-431-0680


Warren County head coach John Ward gives Pete Johnson a kiss on the head after he scored against Louisburg.

Northern Vance’s Gabby Matthews (above photo) reacts after scoring against

Southern Vance goal keeper Elizabeth Gay. Southern Vance’s Latrel Fields (right

photo) slides into second base safely after colliding with Wilson Fike’s Charlie

Vaughan as he looses control of the ball.

Southern Vance’s Christopher Henderson (left photo) looks for running room as he carries the ball against Northern Vance as a teammate’s helmet flies off. Kerr-Vance Academy’s Holland Mills (below) celebrates after she scored against Grace Christian in the second half of their game.

Photos by Mark Dolejs

Year in Review: Jan. 9, 2013

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Transcript of Year in Review: Jan. 9, 2013