The Daily Dispatch

The Daily Dispatch Founded in 1914, The Daily Dispatch is a community-focused newspaper in Henderson, North Carolina.

Our newspaper has a rich history of earning statewide distinction, including a pair of N.C. Press Association General Excellence awards for publications our size.

This just in from the Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame: At around 1:54 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, the VCSO received a 911 ...
01/25/2025

This just in from the Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame: At around 1:54 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, the VCSO received a 911 call about a gunshot victim at a residence on Walters Street. Vance County EMS and VCSO deputies responded and discovered Donnie Ayscue suffering from a single gunshot wound. Ayscue died as a result of his injuries at his residence.

After an intensive investigation, Deon Linshawn Bullock, 19, was identified as a person of interest.

Bullock is wanted in connection to Ayscue’s homicide. Bullock was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with grey joggers on Jan. 24. See photos below.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is assisting the VCSO in this active and ongoing homicide investigation.

Anyone with information on Bullock's whereabouts should contact Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925, the VCSO at 252-738-2200, or the SBI at 1-800-334-3000, or [email protected].

❄️🚨🏀 Tonight’s games have been rescheduled due to inclement weather, per Henderson Collegiate Pride Athletics, VCHS Vipe...
01/21/2025

❄️🚨🏀 Tonight’s games have been rescheduled due to inclement weather, per Henderson Collegiate Pride Athletics, VCHS Vipers Athletics and JF Webb Athletics.

01/21/2025

Drive with care these new couple of days — the National Weather Service, per Vance County Emergency Operations Manager Travis Fulcher, is forecasting a dusting of snow, potentially less than an inch, in Vance County this evening through Wednesday morning.

"Please keep in mind that, with the cold air and ground temperatures, a dusting can cause hazardous travel issues over night and Wednesday morning commute," said Fulcher. "Stay aware of localized slick spots on roadways and bridges."

The highs in Henderson are 29 degrees for today and tomorrow, with lows around half of that. The wind chill will make things even worse, bringing apparent temperatures down to as low as 3 degrees in this area.

Those without a warm place to stay ought to seek shelter at the city's warming center at 110 Young Street, which is open 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day until Friday.

For those using space heaters, exercise caution — they're involved in a quarter of home heating fires. Don't place them near flammable objects like blankets or curtains. Ensure chimneys are clean and never use exterior heating devices or grills inside — that can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stay safe and stay warm, everybody!

OXFORD — Strong performances from Daniel Wright (pictured) and Kentrial Young helped JF Webb Athletics smother the Roxbo...
01/19/2025

OXFORD — Strong performances from Daniel Wright (pictured) and Kentrial Young helped JF Webb Athletics smother the Roxboro Community Bulldogs 76-24.

Football teammates, Wright found his big man on back-to-back alley-oops in the second quarter.

“The big man and the point guard always gotta have a connection,” said Young. “[Wright and I] have had a connection since we got here.”

OXFORD — On Saturday, the Carrboro Jaguars ended Vance Charter School Athletics five-game winning streak, with a 66-57 l...
01/18/2025

OXFORD — On Saturday, the Carrboro Jaguars ended Vance Charter School Athletics five-game winning streak, with a 66-57 loss at J.F. Webb.

The Knights jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the game, but ball security was a big issue and they committed multiple, careless turnovers in the second half.

The loss spoiled head coach Taron Downey's return to his alma mater as his team failed to perform at their best.

“I don’t like losing at Webb or anywhere,” said Downey. “I just don’t think we played our brand of basketball.”

HENDERSON — Despite an off-night offensively, Vance Charter School Athletics blew out the Eno River Academy Bobcats 50-3...
01/18/2025

HENDERSON — Despite an off-night offensively, Vance Charter School Athletics blew out the Eno River Academy Bobcats 50-31 on Friday night.

“If your shot’s falling I can’t say anything,” said Coach Taron Downey. “But if it ain’t… you gotta move the ball.”

“We tried to find Gary [Wilkins] and Keyan [Richardson]. But they were running them off,” said point guard Nick Pentoney.

“We were a bunch of dogs on defense, the offense just comes.”

📸: Kristen Bobbitt

01/17/2025

This just in from the City of Henderson, NC - Government — what with the impending cold weather, it'll be operating a warming center for homeless folks at 110 Young Street from Monday to Friday next week. The hours are 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Those staying at the center will need to go through an intake process.

The highs and lows next week, according to the National Weather Service, are both slated to be below freezing, with wind chills dipping down into the single digits.

01/17/2025

Bundle up, everybody! A cold front, according to Vance County Emergency Operations, will blow in through the area Sunday alongside rain showers. Counties on the border with Virginia could see less than half an inch of snow.

Next week is set to be dangerously cold, with wind chills in the single digits predicted on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Also, there is low potential for snow Tuesday into Wednesday at this time," said Travis Fulcher, operations manager. "The temperatures will be cold enough that any precipitation that falls will be snow. It is not determined how far inland snow will spread from the models at this time, however the Coastal Plain of the Carolinas has the highest chance of snow which is uncommon for the region."

LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. — The Crossroads Christian Colts surged past the Brunswick Academy Vikings, 77–53, on Thursday night ...
01/17/2025

LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. — The Crossroads Christian Colts surged past the Brunswick Academy Vikings, 77–53, on Thursday night after outscoring their opponents 29-13 in the second quarter.

Louisburg transfer Kobe Edgerton (pictured) was aggressive at the rim all night and finished with 30 points, including 17 in the second period.

“He didn’t quit, “said head coach Scottie Richardson. “He got frustrated early and I was challenging him a lot.”

“I took him off the point guard and let him do what he does. He can score with the best of them.“

📸: Graham Noble

DURHAM — Vance Charter followed last week’s performance against Oxford Prep with a decisive victory on the road against ...
01/15/2025

DURHAM — Vance Charter followed last week’s performance against Oxford Prep with a decisive victory on the road against the Excelsior Flying Lions, 76-42.

“Moving the ball from one side to the other, good things tend to happen,” said head coach Taron Downey.

“We needed time to gel together and have that cohesion, and now it looks like they’re having fun playing alongside one another.”

⏰V. County vs. Warren County rematch rescheduled to Jan. 25
01/14/2025

⏰V. County vs. Warren County rematch rescheduled to Jan. 25

01/10/2025

An update from Vance County Emergency Operations — The Triangle area could see precipitation beginning anywhere from 5-7 p.m. The current forecast says 2-4 inches.

"With the already very cold ground temperatures, the snow or ice is highly likely to stick and freeze immediately," said Travis Fulcher, operations manager. "This will cause rapid accumulation."

The National Weather Service isn't 100% positive on the location and distribution of ice accumulations, but Vance County, said Fulcher, is on the transition line between snow and sleet. Black ice will be a concern Sunday into Monday morning.

Good morning and good luck to everyone today. Not sure what kind of weather we might get, but stay safe out there.
01/10/2025

Good morning and good luck to everyone today. Not sure what kind of weather we might get, but stay safe out there.

HENDERSON — On Thursday afternoon, the Kerr-Vance Academy volleyball team celebrated their state championship victory wi...
01/09/2025

HENDERSON — On Thursday afternoon, the Kerr-Vance Academy volleyball team celebrated their state championship victory with a ring ceremony in the gymnasium.

Players were awarded with all-Conference and all-State honors and presented with their championship rings. 

“We didn’t have it easy,” said head coach Debbie Medlin.

“These girls had to work for everything. In sports, you need things to fall into place at the right time, and the best team doesn’t always win. I’m thankful for what we had and what we were able to do.”

📸: Graham Noble

HENDERSON — On Wednesday, the Kerr-Vance Academy Spartans trailed the Fayetteville Academy Eagles 57-9 at halftime. A ru...
01/08/2025

HENDERSON — On Wednesday, the Kerr-Vance Academy Spartans trailed the Fayetteville Academy Eagles 57-9 at halftime.

A running clock went into effect in the second half of the blowout as the Spartans head toward their 12th loss of the season.

01/08/2025

Rise Against Hunger returns

HENDERSON — MLK Day on Monday, Jan. 20 is set to be a day of community service at Vance-Granville Community College.

The Civic Center at 200 Community College Road will host a Rise Against Hunger boxing event that day, sponsored by myriad local businesses and churches. The event also consists of canned food drive to benefit Area Congregations Together in Service in Henderson and Area Christians In Ministry in Granville County.

The goal is $25,500 in meals, or around 60,000, for Rise Against Hunger, 400 volunteers and 2,000 nonperishable canned goods. As of Monday, the group had raised over $30,000.

“All of us have been the recipient of someone else’s acts of kindness or services and they had no expectation of repayment,” Sue Nicholas, one of the event coordinators, wrote in a letter to the Dispatch.

“The Day of Community Service is a way that we can express our gratitude by passing those acts on to someone else. What better way to honor those acts of individual service to us than by availing ourselves of the opportunity to feed people who we do not know and have never seen. It has been proven that acts of kindness and service build exponentially in a community.”

Rise Against Hunger is a global movement that sends packaged nutritious meals out to communities in countries like Ghana, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while its agricultural projects seek to establish long-lasting food security.

“Hunger impacts everything,” as Rise Against Hunger describes on its website. A lack of nutrition and stability contributes to lesser economic productivity and worse educational outcomes, besides the obvious health effects.

Last year, volunteers packaged 70,000 meals and raised around $33,000.

For more information and to secure online donations and volunteer opportunities, visit events.riseagainsthunger.org/VGMLK24.

01/08/2025

Triumphant Transitions

HENDERSON — As part of its Community Information Series, Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut Street, will host "Triumphant Transitions: From the Facility to the Community" presented by Dr. Michael T. Williams, NC Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 6-7 p.m. This presentation is free of charge and open to the public.

01/08/2025

County solicits applications

HENDERSON — Vance County is soliciting applications for its America 250th Planning Committee. In 2026, the United States will be celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Vance County will be forming a committee dedicated to planning and organizing events, projects and initiatives at the county level. Anyone interested in serving on the planning committee should contact County Clerk Kelly H. Grissom to obtain an application at [email protected].

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Videos

HENDERSON — A referee blunder may have cost VCHS Vipers Athletics a chance to win in a 48-47 game against Warren County. WC inbounded the ball the length of the floor with four seconds left and it appeared to roll out of bounds without being touched. However, an inadvertent whistle awarded the ball back to the Eagles with only a second left on the clock.

Just like that!!🔥🍿VCHS Vipers Athletics BEAT LOUISBURG AT THE BUZZER with a last-second layup from senior Tyshawn Alston for the win, 46-44.

Vance County defeats Carrboro 41-14
Vance County defeats Carrboro 41-14

HENDERSON — The VCHS Vipers Athletics defeated the Carrboro Jaguars 41-14 in the first full home game this season at the Viper Pit. “We won the game of attrition in the second half,” said head coach Aaron Elliott. #sports #highschoolfootball #highschool #highschoolsports #reels #shorts #shortsvideos #fyp #fypシviralシ2024 #espn #houseofhighlights #highlights #bleacherreport #football #nfl #ncaa

VCHS boys soccer senior night
VCHS boys soccer senior night

The VCHS Vipers Athletics celebrated their senior night with a 4-1 victory over South Granville and a piñata hung from the goal post after the game. #shorts #reels #highschool #soccer #overtime #fyp

🚨🚨HENDERSON — The VCHS Vipers Athletics make history with its first ever win the Carrboro after beating the Jaguars 3-1
🚨🚨HENDERSON — The VCHS Vipers Athletics make history with its first ever win the Carrboro after beating the Jaguars 3-1

🚨🚨HENDERSON — The VCHS Vipers Athletics make history with its first ever win over Carrboro after beating the Jaguars 3-1 on Wednesday night. “This one feels good,” said Vance County head coach Errol Thompson. “Everybody who went out there played well.” “It shows the growth they’ve made and that their program is going in the right direction,” said Carrboro head coach Jared Drexler after the game.

OXFORD — The J.F. Webb Warriors suffered another heartbreaker Friday night. This time, a 29-26 loss to Louisburg after pulling ahead in the final minutes. “The one word to describe it is ‘hurt,’” said Coach Gainey. #reels #shorts #highlights #sports #highschoolfootball #explore #fyp

Crossroads Christian Colts offseason media day workout 📸💪🏀 #explore #highlight #sports #fyp #overtime #shorts #reels #viral

The Crossroads Christian Colts basketball team show off their hops during media day.📸🏀🔥
The Crossroads Christian Colts basketball team show off their hops during media day.📸🏀🔥

HENDERSON — On Friday, the Crossroads Christian Colts basketball team celebrated their media day with an off-season practice for the new season just around the corner. 🎥 Graham Noble 📸 Sebastian Lucas

Vipers trailing Southern Durham 20-0
Vipers trailing Southern Durham 20-0

At halftime, the VCHS Vipers Athletics trail Southern Durham 20-0 as the two teams battle for the top of the conference. #explore #reels #shorts #fyp #fypage #viral #sports #overtime #highschoolfootball #highschoolOT #WRAL #ESPN

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