Is Your Small Business Prepared for a Disaster? Find Out at ‘Lunch Break to Educate’

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

The American Red Cross, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center invite you to attend “Lunch Break to Educate: Disaster Preparedness and Your Small Business.”

Sponsored by Joel T. Cheatham Insurance, the lunch session will be held at Henderson Fire Department (211 Dabney Drive) from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

According to the American Red Cross Ready Rating Program, as many as 40 percent of businesses fail following a disaster, and still, only 62 percent of small and medium-sized businesses have emergency plans in place.

This seminar will consist of a 15-20 minute Ready Rating presentation with question and answer segment. Ready Rating is a free, online American Red Cross program that allows businesses & organizations to either make an emergency preparedness plan or improve the one they already have.

All in one place, Ready Rating members have access to one-of-a-kind tools, resources and information for evaluating and improving their ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property.

Whether you are taking your first steps or have a fully-functioning emergency management program, the Ready Rating program can help you achieve a higher level of preparedness. Learn how at this event.

Speaker(s): Kelly Ferrell, Disaster Program Specialist and Jayla Burwell, Disaster Program Intern.

The first 15 to register will receive free lunch; $10 after first 15.

Online registration is required by visiting https://www.ncsbc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=530390037.

City of Henderson Logo

City Council to Consider Contracting With Firm in Manager Hiring Process

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Mayor Eddie Ellington has requested a Special Called meeting of the Henderson City Council on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at City Hall in the Multi-Purpose Room, 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson.

The purpose of the meeting is for consideration of contracting with a professional firm to assist with the hiring of the new City Manager.

Citizens are welcome to observe.

Ellington wrote in a message to WIZS News, “I have called a special City Council Meeting, Wednesday 21st at noon, to discuss further on moving forward with hiring a well known and respected search firm. The City Manager, City Attorney and I recommend that this is the best direction with the utmost need for confidentiality, professionalism, taking into consideration time constraints. The firm which has access to well established contacts, will do the vetting of the candidate pool, narrowing the top contenders of the most qualified, then the City Council along with myself will make the final decision.”

City Manager Frank Frazier wrote in a message to WIZS News, “After we looked at this closer, it was felt that we (the city) would be in a better position if we hired an outside firm to help with the recruitment process and more thoroughly evaluate the internal and external applications prior to moving toward the interview process. Overall it was felt that this would save some time but also be more able to keep the candidates confidentiality in place as well as the professionalism that was previously discussed with the League.”

Granville Co. Senior Services Now Affiliated With ‘Rock Steady Boxing’

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

For the more than 60,000 diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, exercise can help reduce stiffness and improve mobility.

To help local residents reduce and even delay symptoms of Parkinson’s, Granville County Senior Services is now an official affiliate of the “Rock Steady Boxing” program, and will soon offer non-contact, boxing-inspired classes to help improve quality of life for those impacted by the disease. The service will consult boxing experts and consider their reviews at smartmma.com and get the prerequisites to get started at the earliest.

Justin Waller, Granville County Senior Services’ Fitness Program Coordinator, is shown with Clarence Lemons, Phyllis Paschall, Nancy Cordin and Phyllis Russell in an exercise workout at Granville Athletic Park earlier this year. (Granville Co. Govt. photo)

According to “Parkinson’s News Today,” a news and information website about the disease, vigorous exercise such as running, riding a bicycle – or even boxing – can ward off changes in the brain caused by aging or Parkinson’s, as well as increasing oxygen delivery. The key, according to a recent article, is to have a regular exercise routine in place.

“Parkinson’s-related exercise should include activities that increase flexibility such as stretching, aerobics and either resistance or strength training,” the article explains.

The “Rock Steady” method provides this fitness curriculum, offering a conditioning program to improve agility, speed, muscular endurance, hand-eye coordination and overall strength.

On August 23, Justin Waller, Senior Services’ Fitness Program Director and an exercise physiologist, will facilitate an information session on how exercise such as “Rock Steady Boxing” can help those living with Parkinson’s to “fight back” against the disease.

The session will be held at 2 p.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. A summary of Parkinson’s disease-specific exercises, offered through the Senior Services’ “Fit Past Fifty” program, will also be reviewed.

For more details about this information session, contact either Justin Waller or Kathy May, Senior Services Director, at 919-693-1930.

Oxford’s Senior Center is located at 107 Lanier Street and is one of three Senior Centers in Granville County.

Carolina Panthers’ Backup Quarterbacks Fail to Impress in Preseason Matchup

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-Article and photos by Patrick Magoon

Sluggish. Sloppy. Uncoordinated. Rushed. All four of those terms could be used to describe the performance from Carolina Panthers’ backup quarterbacks in Friday’s home preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

Despite star quarterback Cam Newton sitting out for the entirety of another preseason game, neither third-round pick Will Grier nor second-year quarterback Kyle Allen could gain a clear advantage of the other. Grier and Allen threw for a combined 107 yards, and both quarterbacks finished with a passer rating below 50.

As Carolina’s coaching staff continues to evaluate its talent pool behind Newton, Grier and Allen have got to make better decisions on the field.

Several pass attempts from Grier and Allen were forced and often significantly overthrown, which Ron Rivera noticed and commented on after the game.

After Allen exited the game in the third quarter, Grier had an opportunity to gain significant traction in the fight for the backup quarterback role. He had a promising start, connecting with running back Jordan Scarlett for a 14-yard touchdown during his first series, but then lost control of the game almost immediately after that scoring play.

Griers’ three drives in the third quarter all concluded with punts.

Bills’ Kevin Johnson capitalized on a poorly underthrown ball from Grier, which was grabbed in the air and taken 70 yards down the field for a touchdown. “He made a bad read on the throw and threw it outside when he should have thrown it inside and, unfortunately, it got intercepted,” said Rivera.

Following the interception, Carolina’s offensive unit was shaken up and couldn’t recover with what little time was left in the second half. They reached the end zone just once, in the fourth quarter, after Taylor Heinicke took control of the offense.

Heinicke pieced together a solid 11-play, 75-yard series that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Rashaad Ross.

The Panthers aren’t going to keep fourth quarterbacks, but Rivera will continue to carefully evaluate each quarterback’s performance when challenged by various game scenarios. While Grier’s methods of execution were underwhelming last night, he remains in the same boat as teammates Allen and Heinicke.

“We’ve still got two weeks left to go to make a decision on certain things and we’ll see what happens,” said Rivera.

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 08/19/19

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News 08/19/19

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VGCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration to Include Food Truck Rodeo, Live Music

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Vance-Granville Community College invites the public to join administrators, faculty, students and staff in a celebratory event, sponsored by Duke Energy, in honor of the college’s “50 Years of Excellence Since 1969.”

This “golden” anniversary celebration will include a food truck rodeo on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the gazebo of the Main Campus in Henderson (200 Community College Road).

The band “Liquid Pleasure” will also be entertaining the crowd with live music.

*Please note that alcoholic beverages and drugs are strictly prohibited at VGCC. 

Henderson/Vance Annual Night Out Against Crime Scheduled for Oct. 1

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-Information courtesy the Henderson Police Department

Henderson/Vance’s Annual Night Out Against Crime will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2019, from 5 until 8 p.m. in front of the Henderson Police Department on Breckenridge Street. The rain date will be Tuesday, October 8.

Bring your family out for presentations and displays by the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, Henderson Fire Department, Vance County Fire and EMS, NC State Highway Patrol, Vance County Schools and many other agencies and organizations working together with the community to prevent crime and promote safety.

Concord Baptist Church in Kittrell to Hold Women’s Conference

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-Information courtesy Shirley Hinton, Concord Missionary Baptist Church 

Concord Baptist Church, 810 Walter Grissom Road in Kittrell, will hold a Women’s Conference on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at 10:15 a.m.

The theme will be “Women on a Mission for Christ – From Ashes to Beauty.” Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

Presenters at the conference are Nakia Martin Wright and Shante Speed with Vance/Granville Health Department, Topic: Healthy Decision Making; Madeline Masters with Legal Aid of NC, Topic: Advance Directives (power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney and living wills); Crystal Smith with NC Cooperative Extension, Topic: Positive Self Image.

Christian Paylor with Franklin/Granville/Vance Smart Start will bring the conference to an end with some inspiring and motivational words for everyone.

This workshop is opened to all females (youth and adults). You are also invited to return on Sunday, September 8 at 10:45 a.m. for our Women’s Day Program with guest speaker Rev. Florence Vass from Spring Street Baptist Church.

U.S. Department of Justice

Five Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry Charges, Two Found in Granville Co.

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Greenville has returned indictments charging ALFONSO BRAVO-BANUELOS, age 56, of Mexico, JORGE LUIS RAMIREZ-HERNANDEZ, age 36, of Mexico, and SALOMON MARTINEZ-RAMIREZ, age 41, of Mexico, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.

Additionally, the grand jury returned an indictment charging REY FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ-ALAVEZ, age 33, of Mexico, with illegal reentry and illegal and unlawful alien in possession of ammunition, and JOSE PEREZARELLANO, age 44, of Mexico, with illegal reentry and illegal and unlawful alien in possession of a firearm.

If convicted of illegal reentry of a deported alien, BRAVO-BANUELOS, previously deported and found in Granville County, and RAMIREZ-HERNANDEZ, who was previously convicted of felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired, deported three times and found in Craven County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

MARTINEZ-RAMIREZ, previously deported two times and found in Granville County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to a felony conviction for illegal reentry of a deported alien in the Middle District of North Carolina. Therefore, if convicted, MARTINEZ-RAMIREZ would face a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of illegal reentry and illegal and unlawful alien in possession of ammunition or firearm, HERNANDEZ-ALAVEZ, previously deported three times and found in Wake County, and PEREZ-ARELLANO, previously deported and found in Wake County, would face maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.