Vick Receives 2021 Optimist Award For Outstanding Service For Work At Vance Animal Services

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Chris Vick of Vance County Animal Services has received the 2021 award for outstanding service from the Henderson Optimist Club.

Optimist Club President Tommy Farmer presented the award to Vick on Wednesday at the Animal Services Building on Brodie Road.

Farmer told WIZS News that the COVID-19 pandemic, created the need for the club’s annual  Respect for Law campaign to be conducted differently this year.

The club usually hosts the winners and their families at an awards dinner, but this year, club members are presenting the awards individually.

The various enforcement departments across the county submit nominations for the award, Farmer said. Animal Services Chief Frankie Nobles said he nominated Vick for being “hard-working, dependable (and) dedicated,” and for being “an overall good employee for Vance County.”

Accompanying Farmer for the presentation was Britt Sams, who chairs the Respect for Law committee.

Jones and Taylor are WIZS Players of the Week

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For two years Christian Jones has been the go to guy off the bench for the Vance County Vipers men’s basketball team.  The 6’4″ Jones has been so good off the bench that he has now worked his way into the starting lineup. The Vipers have won three of the last four games and Jones is a big reason why. This week the Vipers beat Granville Central and Jones contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds. In a second win this week against Southern Durham, Jones pumped in 18 points and had another 8 rebounds.

Vance County Athletic Director Joe Sharrow says Jones is a game changer and added that with Jones’ contributions and getting their best player back into the lineup, the Vipers are starting to put things together and will be a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, over at Crossroads Christian, it’s Abby Taylor who is making a significant contribution to the women’s team. Taylor, a freshman, is only averaging 5 points per game but she is the team’s leader and a captain on the Colts’ team. She is the player that communicates with everyone to keep them all on the same page during games.  She helps on both ends of the court and while her contributions may not show up on the stat sheet, she is likely the most important player on the team.

Congratulations to Vance County’s Christian Jones and Crossroads’ Abby Taylor, WIZS Players of the Week.  Players of the Week are named every Friday on the Coach’s Corner segment of Sports Talk. Sports Talk airs at 1pm Monday through Friday on WIZS 1450am, 100.1 fm and online at wizs.com.

 

Petco Coming To Henderson

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Petco, a nationally known pet supply retailer, is building a new store in Henderson.

Land was purchased on US 158 beside Superior Chrysler from Ruin Creek Properites, and the Henderson Board of Adjustment approved a special-use permit request at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 1.

No word on when construction will be completed, but Ruxton Bobbitt, acting chair of the board of adjustment, told WIZS News today (Friday) that the store would employ up to 10 people when it opens.

Brandon Boyd, representing Ruin Creek Properties, told WIZS News that he and his family sold the property for the new business. “Petco has purchased a portion of the former Rose Oil property,” he said. “We are happy to have them in Henderson, we’re happy for the location they chose and the employment opportunities.”

Boyd said a company representing Petco reached out to the Boyd family and Ruin Creek Properties to ask if they would be interested in selling. The parcel that was sold is located beside the Superior Chrysler dealership.

Bobbitt said the board approved construction of a 15,000-quare foot building. A private road will be put in between US 158 and Dabney Road, he said.

The new store will be located across US 158 from the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society building, which Brandon Boyd and his family established 10 years ago.

Boyd said the family really had no idea which big box retailer was interested in the property until the request for a zoning hearing was filed.

“It made it a really nice fit,” he said.

Petco has about 1,500 stores nationwide and offers pet essentials from food to grooming services.

NC Dept of Agriculture

Updated State Forest Action Plan Approved, Ready For Use

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– Story courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

North Carolina’s updated forest action plan has been approved by the USDA Forest Service and is now ready to be implemented by forestry stakeholders across the state.
The plan is a thorough review of the state’s forestland, focusing on changes and trends that have occurred since 2010. The plan not only evaluates past and current forest conditions, but also addresses factors that may impact forest health and sustainability moving forward.

Ninety-six percent of the state’s 18.75 million acres of forests is timberland, according to the plan, which classifies it as capable of commercial production and not in reserved status or unproductive. Most of the forestland in Vance County is privately owned, according to the details in the plan.

“Input from our forestry partners, along with the efforts of stakeholder working groups and our forest service staff, has paved the way for this plan,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With the continued work of our N.C. Forest Service and forestry partners across the state, this plan will serve as a roadmap for efforts on the ground to protect, conserve and enhance our forest resources and the many benefits we enjoy from them.”

Updating North Carolina’s Forest action plan was a collective effort, involving feedback from nearly 70 organizations on the conditions, needs and opportunities of North Carolina’s forests. 

Many of the recommended strategies identified in North Carolina’s initial forest action plan, which was released in 2010 as a result of the 2008 Farm Bill, have been successfully put into action. Among those accomplishments have been reforestation projects, prescribed burns and the mitigation of forest fuels to reduce wildfire risk. Longleaf restoration and the conservation of priority species and habitats have made significant gains as well.

“One trend worth noting has been the collaboration between new partners, often resulting in opportunities for private forest landowners and for land conservation that may have otherwise been unavailable,” said Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Scott Bissette. “The intent is for all forest stakeholders in North Carolina to use this plan as a guide for including applicable strategies into their organization’s efforts so we can collectively roll out this plan, keeping our woodlands healthy, resilient and productive.”

To learn more about North Carolina’s updated forest action plan, the national priorities and goals behind it and the plan’s associated Geospatial Viewer, visit https://www.ncforestactionplan.com/.

HVDDC: Shop Downtown Henderson and Win Free Stuff

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Shoppers who visit retailers in downtown Henderson have a chance to get a little something extra, just for shopping local, thanks to a campaign sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Committee’s promotions committee.

Amanda Ellis, chair of the downtown development board, said the idea is to increase foot traffic in the downtown area – “get people in the doors and stores,” she told WIZS News Tuesday.

Shoppers attach their receipt for $25 or more from participating businesses for a chance to win a gift basket valued at more than $250. Shoppers can submit up to five receipts, Ellis said.

“We’re hoping this is going to jumpstart” retail activity, she said. “The idea is to get people downtown in the stores,” Ellis said. The campaign continues until March 1. The drawing will be held on March 1 at the DDC office, Ellis said.

Another wrinkle includes coordinating with the upcoming dance studios and competitions scheduled for McGregor Hall. Ellis said the plan is to get some food trucks to drive in some evenings and on weekends when the dancers and their families are in town, and encouraging them to eat local, too, instead of getting in their cars and driving somewhere else.

 

Friday, Feb. 4 Is Wear Red Day To Promote Awareness Of Heart Disease In Women

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Tomorrow – Friday, Feb. 4 – is National Wear Red Day to promote awareness of heart health. Join the employees at Maria Parham Health by wearing red to support awareness of women and heart disease. Donna Young, MPH marketing and communication coordinator said local businesses that participate have a chance to win a free quarter-page ad in The Henderson Dispatch. See the Maria Parham Health Facebook page for details about how your business can enter.

Wear Red Day is just one way the staff at MPH are showing their support of February’s American Heart Month.

The American Heart Association created National Wear Red Day in 2004 with a mission to dismiss myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women. To support heart health in women locally, Maria Parham employees are encouraged to wear red. Photos of employees will be shared on the hospital Facebook page throughout the day. Community members are also welcomed to wear red and share their photos on social media using the hashtag #MPHWearsRed.

Maria Parham Health has kicked off “28 Days of Heart” as a way to provide a wealth of heart health information each day during February. Visit MariaParham.com each day to learn tips about how to keep your heart healthy, from recipes to fitness.

Maria Parham’s Facebook will have heart-healthy recipes, fitness tips, and medical information geared at keeping your ticker ticking as it should.

NC Homeowner Assistance Fund Open Statewide

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North Carolina Homeowners Financially Impacted by Pandemic May Be Eligible for Housing-Related Help

— press release

The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund is now accepting applications from North Carolina homeowners whose finances were impacted by the pandemic and who need assistance with housing-related expenses. Established through the 2021 American Rescue Plan to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements and foreclosures for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Fund offers assistance of up to $40,000 for qualified homeowners as long as funding is available.

“The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt by many North Carolinians,” said Scott Farmer, executive director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which is administering the NC Homeowner Assistance Fund. “This program is designed to help homeowners who are experiencing pandemic-related financial hardships hold on to their homes while they get back on their feet. Ensuring that families have stable housing has always been our mission and that has become even more critical during this ongoing public health crisis.”

For qualified homeowners, the fund offers:

• Housing payment assistance for primary residence in North Carolina (for example, single-family home, townhome, condo or mobile home).

• Assistance for mortgage reinstatement to catch up on late payments (first or second mortgages) or other housing-related costs due to a period of forbearance, delinquency or default.

• Assistance covering other housing-related costs such as homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues/fees or delinquent property taxes to prevent foreclosure.

Homeowners may be eligible for assistance if they are experiencing financial hardship due to job loss or business closure, reduction in hours or pay, difficulty obtaining new employment, death of a spouse or co-borrower or increased expenses due to the pandemic. Increased expenses can be due to health care, the need to care for a family member, increased child care costs due to school closures or increased costs associated with quarantine. Applicants must be seeking assistance for a primary residence in North Carolina and meet income and other requirements.

Homeowners can learn more and apply for help by calling 1-855-MY-NCHAF (1-855-696-2423) or by visiting NCHomeownerAssistance.gov.

Town Talk Logo

TownTalk: UNC VS. Duke Rivalry Week

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College basketball fans – especially fans of those teams who wear those two different shades of blue – are getting ready for another installment in a rivalry that has become legendary across the nation. The first Carolina-Duke matchup of the season takes place Saturday evening in Chapel Hill.

And for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, it will be another stop along the way on his farewell tour.

In case you haven’t heard, Coach K is retiring at the end of the year – a fact that saddens Duke fans and elates others whose teams have gone up against the Blue Devils year after year.

Although Saturday’s game will likely be his last as a coach to the Smith Center, Duke game analyst John Roth said Coach K – in typical Coach K fashion – will be focused on making sure his team is ready to play and not on himself.

Roth said it’s hard not to reflect on the legendary coach’s 42-year career at Duke. “He is classic for focusing on the here and now,” Roth noted, adding that his focus will be “trying to make sure this team gets his best” effort on Saturday.

Roth, who is part of the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield, spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk and said he’s been around Duke about as long as Coach K has – he was a senior at Duke in 1980 and Krzyzewski was named coach in March 1980.

Since 2009, Roth has been host and analyst for Duke radio broadcasts and is the producer of the Duke football and basketball coaches’ television shows. He also worked in the sports information office at Duke from 1982 to 1990, and he was its director from 1986-1990.

Roth said Coach K “always seems to have the right thing to say,” whether to motivate players or others he meets. “He is always ‘on,’ Roth said. “You never see him when he’s not ready to be his best.”

And when players recognize that characteristic, it’s hard not to want to give him back their best effort, he said.

Watching and working alongside Coach K has been an unbelievable and rewarding experience.

“To be consistent at something for 40 years –  it just blows me away sometimes,” he said.

Roth’s take of this year’s Blue Devils?

“I think they’ve continued to get better from the beginning of the year ‘til now. To me, they’re getting better by the game.” Statistically, Duke’s offense is tops in the conference, he said, and the defense isn’t too shabby, either.

But statistics and drawn-up plays sometimes go out the window during rivalry games like Duke-UNC, and fans from both sides surely have games that stand out in their memories.

If there were a Mount Rushmore for basketball coaches, Roth said Coach K and UNC’s Dean Smith would undoubtedly be two of the faces memorialized in stone. And Coach K’s retirement at the end of this season marks the end of a 60-year run that saw either Smith or Krzyzewski on the sidelines.

Saturday’s game starts at 6 p.m., but chances are, the hype and anticipation surrounding it begins way before tipoff.