Job Fair 2016 is coming to Southside Virginia Education Center at 1600 Greensville County Circle, Emporia on Wednesday, November 2 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  Southside Virginia Community College Workforce Development and Student Development Services are sponsoring the event along with Crater Business Services Team and First Media Radio.  This is a Regional Job Fair to serve employers in our locality.

Dress to impress, bring your resume, photo ID and a copy of your WorkKeys Career Readiness Certificate (CRC gets you in the door at 1:45 p.m.) 

Interested employers with job vacancies should reserve a booth for this event by October 26.  Hiring employers who reserve a booth will be treated to a catered luncheon at 12:30 p.m. compliments of SVCC.

Employer registration is required by contacting Angela McClintock at angela.mcclintock@southside.edu or 434 949 1026.

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2016 Special Awards

2016 Dash Plaque Recipient: Roy A. Roberts Jr. “Big Al”

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Hon. Rufus Tyler, Executive Director for The Improvement Association; Hon. Kenneth Holmes, Board of Directors member; Hon. Ron Rordam, VML President; Debra Davis, Sussex County Administrator; Hon. Omar Smith, Jarratt Town Council member; and Hon. Mayor Bill Herrington of Lawrenceville

The Improvement Association recently hosted Ron Rordam, President of the Virginia Municipal League (VML), during its annual planning session. Rordam encouraged local governments and special guests to stretch their imaginations and consider various opportunities to get involved to make our children more successful in the future. He emphasized how early childhood initiatives, such as Head Start, prepares a skilled workforce and promotes economic development throughout Virginia.

The Improvement Association’s early childhood initiatives include the Maternal and Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and Head Start.

• The Maternal and Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Initiative: Established in Greensville, Emporia, and Sussex in 2013, and implementers of the Parents as Teachers (PAT) curriculum, services are available to 68 families, pregnant moms and children from birth up to five years old. PAT helps caretakers understand their role in encouraging their child’s development. It helps children prepare for Kindergarten and ensures they are meeting developmental milestones, as well as passing hearing and vision screenings. Parent Educators also provide information on prenatal health to encourage intellectual development, curiosity, and language development.
• Head Start: This early childhood education initiative is offered throughout the counties of Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Surry, Sussex, and the City of Emporia. The Improvement Association’s Head Start initiative serves 262 children each school year and is currently 98% fully enrolled. Comprehensive early childhood services include education, health services, nutrition, social and parental involvement services.

To learn more about any of these initiatives, contact The Improvement Association at 434-634-2490.

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Agencies, individuals recognized at annual law enforcement conferences

RICHMOND, Va.— The Virginia State Police Help Eliminate Auto Theft (HEAT) program honored the 2015-2016 HEAT Awards recipients at the annual conferences of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association in Tysons Corner on Sept. 13 and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police in Roanoke on Sept. 19.

The HEAT Awards program is an annual competition open to all Virginia law enforcement entities and employees who work in auto theft enforcement and prevention. Nominees must demonstrate excellence in at least two of the following four categories: enforcement, intelligence gathering, prevention and recovery.

“Stolen cars are sometimes used to commit more serious offenses,” said Virginia State Police First Sgt. Steve Hall, HEAT program coordinator. “It’s important that we acknowledge some of the work that’s being done to prevent auto theft.”

Auto thefts in Virginia have declined 62 percent since 1992, but there was a 7.2 percent increase from 2014-2015.

“It’s a reminder as to why auto theft prevention is important,” Hall said. “Even though the overall numbers are down and it may not seem like an issue, if you wake up tomorrow and your car is gone, that’s going to be a pretty big issue to you.”

The complete list of HEAT Awards recipients is below. To learn more about HEAT Awards, visit HEATreward.com/resources/default.aspx.

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It has been said, “the best things in life are free.”  This does not typically apply to professional credentials, but it does in the Southside Virginia Community College Welding Program. Welder certification is free to all welding students while they are enrolled in welding courses during the 2016-17 school year. 

In the welding industry, welders performing code quality work are required to pass a skill test to prove that he or she has the skill to make a sound weld.  These tests are called Welder Qualification Tests, and are typically part of the interview process at many companies that hire welders.  The tests are administered in various positions, welding processes, joints and shapes of material.  SVCC offers students the opportunity to take both plate and pipe tests while enrolled in welding courses at SVCC.

David Braun, Professor of Welding at SVCC, is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector (CWI).  CWIs inspect welds and certify welders through Welder Qualification Tests. 

Cost can be a barrier for many students in attempting to earn the credential during training, which is why SVCC has removed that barrier.  Welder Qualification Tests typically cost between $150 and $450 elsewhere.  Some students enrolled in the SVCC welding program have passed as many as 12 tests saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars. 

For more information about Welding at SVCC, visit the website at www.southside.edu  The college offers welding at the John H. Daniel Campus in Keysville, Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston and Southside Virginia Education Center in Emporia.

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Virginia State Police Captain Thomas W. Turner, a 50-year-veteran of the department, is the 2016 recipient of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police President’s Award. Captain Turner was recognized at the VACP Annual Awards Banquet on September 20 at the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center.

Captain Turner began his career with the Virginia State Police in 1966 as a dispatcher and transitioned to State Trooper just one day after his 21st birthday. From his early days with the department, Trooper Turner made serving the public the focus of his law enforcement career. And as he rose through the ranks, he maintained this priority in his duties and actions.

Captain Turner’s true talent emerged when he was first assigned to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) as a lieutenant in 1996, where he later became Division Commander in 2007.

As the Division Commander, Captain Turner has been on the ground floor of creating data systems for the administration of justice. He is a visionary, capable of not only seeing the needs of criminal justice agencies, but also envisioning how such systems can be used to better serve the administration of justice. Captain Turner has put tools in place to ensure data is retrievable in a variety of formats for countless criminal justice entities so that criminal history data can be used throughout the criminal justice system.

Virginia has one of the nation’s leading sex offender registries because of Captain Turner’s commitment and tireless efforts. He has been integral to the development of the registry and serves as a ready resource for law enforcement agencies that use the registry.

Captain Turner’s leadership enabled the Virginia Firearms Transaction Center to grow into a nationally recognized and model program. The center handles the speedy transfer of firearms to non-prohibited persons while maintaining an impressive record of arresting individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm.

Captain Turner chairs of the FBI’s Advisory Policy Board, which makes recommendations to the Director regarding policy, technical, and operational issues for the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division programs, including the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report.

Captain Turner has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, and Criminal History Record (SEARCH). He was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for AFIS Internet, and Vice Chairman of the FBI/Compact Council’s Subcommittee on Policy and Procedures.  He fully recognizes the importance of his role on these national committees and uses his expansive knowledge and expertise to improve criminal justice services to Virginia’s criminal justice agencies.

Recently, Captain Turner was recognized by the FBI for his pivotal role in solving a series of rape cases in Virginia and Kuwait. His persistence coupled with his latent print database knowledge led the Norfolk Police to make inquiries into recently accessible non-criminal fingerprint files. A latent print taken from a Norfolk crime scene matched fingerprints of a Navy serviceman. The FBI deemed this case the “Biometric Hit of the Year.”

As a subject matter expert in the vast array of criminal justice information/data, Captain Turner’s knowledge and expertise is often sought by law enforcement officials across the Commonwealth and far beyond. He personally involves himself with other agency’s concerns and provides expert knowledge and direction. In Virginia, most law enforcement executives know that if they have a CJIS question, Captain Turner will know the answer—and he won’t have to do “research” to provide a response.

In the fall, Captain Turner will retire from the Virginia State Police with 50 years of service to the Commonwealth. He will leave a tremendous void in the agency and across Virginia. His historical knowledge of criminal justice and his overwhelming desire to serve can never be replaced. He will truly be missed, and Virginia law enforcement will never be able to thank him enough for this enduring dedication.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police is proud to recognize Virginia State Police Captain Tom Turner with the 2016 President’s Award.

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Emporia, VA – According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. This adds up to about 36,000 units of red blood cells that are needed to meet the daily demand. 

Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, September 23^rd from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM in the SVRMC Classrooms, 727 N. Main Street, Emporia. Whether veteran or first-time donor, the process is quick (usually about 1 hour 15 minutes from start to finish) and easy, and each donation could save up to three lives. Donors are required to provide either a driver’s license or two other forms of identification, be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health to be eligible to donate. 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Becky Parrish at 434-348-4485 or visit redcrossblood.org.

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~ Senators will participate in assembling Aftercare Kits that are distributed to hospitals and crisis centers to support victims ~

***Event will also be streamed live on Facebook***

Washington, D.C.–On Wednesday, September 21 at 4:30 PM, a bipartisan group of Senators will join survivors and advocates from F2F (Fear 2 Freedom) and RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) to draw attention to the continued epidemic of sexual assault on our college campuses.

F2F is a global non-profit organization founded in 2011 by Rosemary Trible, wife of former U.S. Senator Paul Trible (R-VA). Mrs. Trible is a sexual assault survivor and an advocate for bringing empowerment, hope and healing to other survivors of sexual violence. After Mrs. Trible was assaulted, she learned firsthand that when a victim receives a Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) exam, all of their clothing is kept for evidence. Accordingly, they often leave treatment in disposable, hospital-issued clothing. F2F partners with universities, hospitals, and community organizations to provide Aftercare Kits to survivors of sexual assault. Each Aftercare Kit contains clothing, toiletries, a pen and journal for adults and a toy for children, a list of resources, a stuffed animal that serves as a counseling tool, and a handwritten note of encouragement. To date, F2F has provided over 13,000 F2F Kits to sexual assault survivors.

At the Wednesday event, following a brief speaking program, Senators will participate in a demonstration assembly of Aftercare Kits that will be donated to two local crisis centers for people seeking a PERK exam, and attendees will be invited to pen a note to include in preassembled Aftercare Kits.

Last year, Sen. Warner and a bipartisan coalition of Senators reintroduced the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (S.590), which would reform the way colleges and universities address and report incidents of sexual assault on their campuses in order to improve accountability and protect and empower students, while also protecting the rights of the accused.

Date:               Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Time:               4:30-5:30 PM

Location:        385 Russell Senate Office Building

Who:               U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV)

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Scott Berkowitz, Founder and CEO, RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

Rosemary Trible, Founder and President, Fear 2 Freedom

Sexual Assault Survivor Joe Belsterling

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The Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System recently visited Southside Virginia Community College in order to learn more about programs that enhance student success.  At SVCC, he heard about the Make It Happen (MIH) Program that benefits African-American Males in their successful pursuit of higher education.  Those participating in the event are (Left to Right) Shauna Davis, Executive Director of VCCS Student Success Center, Dr. John Hicks, SVCC MIH Advisor, Andre Harrell, MIH student, Sharon Morrissey, Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Research, Kaleb Greene, MIH student, Dr. Glenn Dubois, Chancellor, Anquinnie Lee, MIH student, LaFreda Ogburn, SVCC Local Board member, Jarius Miller, MIH student, Van Wilson, VCCS Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Services, Dr. Al Roberts, SVCC President, Dr. Anne Hayes, SVCC Dean of Institutional Effectiveness.

Dr. Glenn Dubois, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, recently began a statewide listening tour of best practices related to student success.   He stopped by Southside Virginia Community College on September 13, 2016 to learn more about one of the college’s successful programs as well as facilitate a discussion around barriers to student success within the community college system.

The SVCC presentation featured students from the Make It Happen (MIH) program who participated in internships and research projects at Hampton University during the summer.  This MIH program began in the fall of 1998 in an effort to enhance the academic success of African-American males at the college.  This comprehensive program provides meaningful activities for participants and establishes an institutional climate of support.

The students presented information about the Hampton University Minority Men’s Health Initiative.  They participated in this programto promote and deliver the highest quality of research, education, training, and outreach to combat and eliminate health disparities affecting minority men in several areas.  These areas of research included cancer, cardiovascular disease, violence prevention, diabetes and obesity, and melanoma in Hispanics by, transforming cultural lifestyles resulting in healthy bodies, healthy families and healthy communities of minority men and ultimately all Americans.

The MIH participants who presented during the Chancellor’s visit were Andre Harrell of Brunswick, Kaleb Greene of Brodnax, Anquinni Lee of Nottoway and Jarius Miller of Prince George.

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Concluding the Brunswick County Library’s 75^th year celebration, the Library of Board of Trustees sealed a Time Capsule to be opened in the year 2040 when the Brunswick County Library will celebrate its 100^th anniversary. The Time Capsule contains mementos of the 75^th Birthday Party, special thoughts from library patrons, library statistics, a Brunswick Times Gazette newspaper with an article featuring the October 7, 2015 Birthday Party, as well as other special items to be revealed at the 2040 unsealing. The Time Capsule is to be stored and locked in a display case in the Dr. William McCaddin Pritchett Local History and Genealogy Room of the Brunswick County Library. The Library wishes to thank the community for the many years of support and looks forward to serving the community in the years to come. Library Trustees pictured (left to right) Nancy Edwards, John Zubrod, Rebecca Akers, Deborah Davis, Alex Lockerman, Polly Duffey (Library Director), Sherri Bagley, and Elizabeth Grizzard.

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SOUTH HILL, VA– En’ Novation, featuring the extremely popular former members of Casper, is set to perform live on October 1st at the Centennial Park Amphitheater in South Hill, VA.  This is a joint venture between VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital’s Foundation and the South Hill Chamber of Commerce.  Also performing as the opening act is The Big Eddy & Blue Trio featuring artists from Redneck Pool Party.  All proceeds from this concert will benefit programs and services at the new VCU Health CMH (that is currently being constructed) and the South Hill Chamber. 

To purchase tickets visit the South Hill Chamber or Brian’s Steak House, or call the CMH Foundation at (434) 774-2575.  Tickets for adults are $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door.  Children 10 & under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.  There are a limited number of table reservations available on a first come, first served basis.  Refreshments/concessions will be available for purchase at the event.  Coolers (and food) are not allowed and a photo I.D. will be required for alcohol purchase. 

The event is sponsored by the following:  Gold Sponsors-Benchmark Community Bank, “Beth & Beth” Exit Town & Lake Realty, Biggs Construction, Peebles, Pine View Assisted Living/M.C.’s Kids, Rent-E-Quip of South Hill and Vulcan Materials; Silver Sponsors-American Buildings Company, Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative, First Citizens Bank, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, South Hill Auto Glass, Inc., and Watkins Insurance Agency;  Marquee Sponsor-Town of South Hill; Venue Sponsor-Boyd Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram of South Hill; Signage Sponsor-Xtreme Signs & Graphics; Ticket Sponsor-Crowder & Holloway Insurance; Libation Sponsors-Blue Ridge Distributing, Lawrence Distributing, Pecht Distributing, and Rosemont of Virginia; Media Sponsors-Lakes Media US 98.3 WLUS & Rewind 101.9 WKSK and Bobcat 93.5 WBBC .

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Thanks to the generosity of the Ridley Foundation of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia and Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in Williamsburg  the restrooms in the Robinson/Withers at Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Service’s gymnasium have been renovated.

The rest rooms have needed to be renovated for some time but funds were not available  for the project. Grants from the Ridley Foundation and the Mission and Outreach Committee at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church provided the needed funding for this project and Ridley Foundation provided funding for the renovations.

Work began in late August and was completed in September.  New tile was  installed on the walls and floors. Commodes were replaced in both rest rooms and a new urinal was installed in the boy’s rest room. Existing partitions in both bathrooms were re-sanded and re-painted. New LED light fixtures replaced fluorescent fixtures in both bathrooms which will improve lighting and save operating costs.

The children and staff thank the board of the Ridley Foundation and the members of Bruton Parish Church for their wonderful support to complete these much-needed renovations.

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RICHMOND — Virginia’s Community Colleges are off to a promising start in their quest to triple the number of credentials students earn annually by the year 2021. As the VCCS celebrates its 50th anniversary, the 2016 class was the most successful in history, reaching record numbers for both individual graduates and credentials earned. This past spring’s graduations also represented the end of the first year of the VCCS’s six-year statewide strategic plan, Complete 2021, which established the goal of tripling credentials.

All told, Virginia’s Community Colleges saw a 7.6% increase in degrees, certificates and diplomas earned, from 31,194 to 33,580 – and a 5.2% increase in the number of individual graduates, from 25,562 to 26,899. There were significant increases in certain groups driving those record numbers including:

• A 14% increase in the number of Hispanic/Latino graduates;
• An 11.4% increase in the number of so-called traditional-age graduates, those between the ages of 18 and 24; and
• A 9% increase in the number of graduates who are the first in their family to attend and graduate college – in fact, first generation students earned one out of every five awards earned by the 2016 class.

There was also a smaller, though notable, increase of 6.5% in the number of men graduating. Traditionally, men pursue and complete postsecondary credentials at rates well below that of women. Today, men make up just more than 41% of the total VCCS enrollment.

The graduation numbers above do not include the more than 13,000 industry-certified credentials earned by VCCS students in short-term workforce training programs last year. Those programs operate outside of a traditional academic calendar and are counted separately.

“With a focus on student success, we are helping more individuals overcome the barriers that can prevent them from earning a postsecondary credential, the passport that is essential today to pursuing the American Dream,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “Much work remains, however, if we are going to reach that tripling goal of Complete 2021 and truly prepare individuals for the new Virginia economy.”

No one, perhaps, better personifies that pursuit of the American Dream better than Augusto “Gus” Infantas, 22, who became the first in his family to attend and graduate college when he earned his degree last May from Northern Virginia Community College.

Infantas was born in Peru but raised in America. The sometimes-frustrating process of obtaining legal residency, and a lack of resources, delayed his pursuit of a college education. Instead, he began working fulltime to support his family. He wasn’t sure what to think by the time he made it to campus.

“As a very non-traditional student, I was nervous going into college; I was older and working two jobs all through school. But the diversity of people, thoughts and ideas made me comfortable. I was encouraged by faculty and other students to succeed. They motivated me to reach toward my goals,” said Infantas.

Infantas is now studying finance at the University of Virginia. “NVCC really sets students up for success,” he added. “You just have to be willing to work for it.”

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Cancer robs us of hope, energy and good people daily, but with new discoveries in cancer research and advances in cancer treatment, many types of this disease are being treated successfully or managed more like chronic diseases.  Researchers continue working on finding a cure and immuno-oncology appears to be a promising new approach.  In the meantime, people need to do what they can do now to prevent cancers from developing. 

“It may take up to 10 years or longer for some cancers to develop into a serious problem,” says Charlotte Litzenberg, Coordinator at the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia located in Danville.  “That amount of time can provide an incredible window of opportunity for medical providers to act and possibly save a life.  We need to educate people about the importance of prevention and the early detection of cancer.”

To address these points, representatives of Susan G. Komen Central Virginia, the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, PATHS (Piedmont Access to Health Services), and VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Cancer Research and Resource Centers of Southern Virginia, which are partially funded by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, have been working with major state and local organizations and medical facilities to present a free continuing education program.   Act Today for More Tomorrows, a continuing education program for nurses and EMS will take place on Saturday, September 24.  National keynote speaker Barb Bancroft, RN, MSN, PNP, a Chicagoan with Virginia ties who is always entertaining and informative, will talk about breast and HPV/related cancers.  She will be followed by a panel of local experts.

Planners for Act Today for More Tomorrows hope to reach as many medical providers as possible in the south central area of Virginia with this information.  Harnessing the power of the Internet, they will deliver this free, high-quality, educational program (4.5 credit hours for nurses) live from Hampden Sydney College in Farmville to five satellite sites, all dotting the Highway 58 corridor, which runs east-west along the southern border of Virginia.  People will be able to view this program in Martinsville, Danville, South Boston, South Hill and Emporia.

Talking with providers about your family’s medical history and following cancer screening guidelines can lead to the early detection of cancer, which can save your life, so a panel of local experts will also talk about best medical practices:

Ibtehal Al-Ani, MD, Pediatrician, Prince Edward Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that both boys and girls get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by the age of 12.  HPV causes a majority of cervical and anal cancers (91%).  Among other cancers, it also causes cancer of the base of tongue/back of throat (72%), which is on the rise among men.

Christina Benton, MPH, Every Woman’s Life, Virginia Department of Health

Every Woman’s Life provides low-income and uninsured women access to free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. 

Jerry Lucas, MD, Ob-Gyn, Centra Southside

Beginning at age 40, all women should talk with their provider about the mammogram plan that is best for them.  At age 21, women should talk with their healthcare provider about when and how often a Pap test, Pap and HPV tests and pelvic examinations should be performed.

Kara Lamb, RN, MSN, OCN, Oncology Breast Navigator, Centra Health

A high percentage of people in this area do not have insurance or are under-insured.  Lamb will talk about their options if they are diagnosed with breast cancer.

The general public is welcome to attend.  Space at each site is limited, so online registration at www.vbcf.org/educate/conferencesis required by September 20^th .  If you have any questions, please call the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia at 434.421.3060.

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2016 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is upon us, September 11  – 17.  Southside Virginia Community College salutes our nation’s truckers and continues to provide training to keep the freight and economy moving. 

For the past 20 years, SVCC has successfully trained 2,029 people for careers in this industry.  The college’s Truck Driver Training Program is recognized by companies as a topnotch, high quality program to train the employees they want to hire.

According to Dale Bennett, President and CEO of Virginia Trucking Association in the Richmond Times-Dispatch tabloid, Heroes of the Highway, published Sunday, September 11, 2016, “These drivers delivered nearly 10 billion tons of freight last year, that’s about 70 percent of all the freight moved in the U.S.  Here in Virginia, trucking transports 88 percent of our total manufactured freight.” 

He also noted, trucking employs more than 150,940 Virginians (one out of every 20 jobs in the state) including 55,100 tractor-trailer and delivery truck drivers.

SVCC continues to offer this training in three locations:  Blackstone, South Boston and Emporia.  For information, contact Susan Early at 434-292-3101.

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