News 11/20/19
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Town Talk 11/19/19: Mast Drug Anticipates Dec. Opening of Dabney Dr. Location
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Richard “Dicky” Flye, president and CEO of Mast Family Drug Company, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the upcoming grand opening of the new Mast Drug Store.
The multi-generational business, part of the Henderson community for over 50 years, will be moving from its current location at 501 S. Chestnut Street to its new location on Dabney Drive.
New Mast Drug Store on Dabney Dr. in Henderson undergoes finishing touches before its anticipated December 2019 grand opening. (WIZS photo)
With an anticipated early December opening, the company is waiting on the final permits to be signed and approved by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy before announcing an official date.
The new building is located on the Mast Drug-owned property beside Quick Print, and is being constructed by H.G. Reynolds Company, Inc, a group that Flye said, “has done a fine job and are good folks from Henderson.”
At 4,500 square feet, the new location will be more than double the size of the current Chestnut Street building, thus allowing for a bigger pharmacy area, larger storefront and a gift shop.
Flye said it is fair to say that while the location will be changing, the services and the community feel will only continue to grow.
In fact, customers will see many of the same familiar faces when the new location opens, including long-serving Mast Drug employee Gayle Cheek, pharmacy manager, and David Vick, retail manager.
Briefly describing the history of Mast Drug, Flye said there was a time when the current Quick Print Building was a Henderson Drug location owned by his father-in-law Bill Mast and partner Charles Barnett.
When Mast and Barnett parted ways, Mast continued to operate the pharmacy [current Mast Drug] on Chestnut Street while Barnett ran the drug store at the Dabney Drive location for a number of years before moving his business farther down the road.
“We’ve missed being on Dabney; it was time to come back. Dabney is growing and there is going to be a lot of construction there in the next couple of years. It’s a busy area and it makes business sense to do it,” said Flye.
The most important thing to the family, according to Flye, is that Mast Drug is able to expand its coverage and its services while remaining local.
“We have family members involved – a generation below me. This is for them to take forward. I’ll still be around for a good while, I hope! This will set it up so we can continue in Henderson. It means a lot for us to be in Henderson and stay here. We are Henderson folks and we look forward to seeing you at our new store.”
(This is not a paid advertisement)
To hear Flye’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
VGCC to Offer Truck Driver Training
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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, will soon offer a Truck Driver Training program that gives students the training required to operate tractor-trailer rigs, obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and become professional truck drivers.
Registration is going on now for the nine-week program, which will take place in early 2020, with a combination of classroom instruction, range driving and road driving.
Beginning in February 2020, Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, will offer a Truck Driver Training program that gives students the training required to operate tractor-trailer rigs, obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and become professional truck drivers. (VGCC photo)
After a mandatory orientation on Thursday, January 23, classroom instruction will begin on Wednesday, February 12, in Building 7 (room 7105) on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Classes will meet Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ending on April 16, with the exception of Friday, April 10.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for qualified commercial truck drivers is expected to grow by 21 percent through 2020, and trucking companies actively seek quality student drivers right out of programs like this one.
“Variety Wholesalers is pleased that VGCC has the economic insight to see the value of a truck driving school in Henderson,” said Ronald Bennett, Director of Transportation for Variety Wholesalers, Inc. “The logistics experts estimate a national shortage of over 50,000 drivers. Variety Wholesalers, as well as other area businesses, will certainly benefit from this program. It is also exciting to have another credentialing program available for the adults in Vance County. We look forward to the ‘fruits of their labor’ as time goes on.”
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the opportunity to be employed by commercial trucking companies, become an owner-operator, or take advantage of local jobs. This Truck Driver Training program is certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI).
Students must be at least 18 years old, have a valid North Carolina driver’s license, and be able to read and speak English well enough to take instructions from highway signs, to converse with officials, and to complete the required reports.
Tuition and fees for the entire class total $1,881, well below the average cost for commercial truck driving schools. A payment plan is available, and there are opportunities for scholarships to partially defray the cost of tuition and fees.
There are additional costs for the required DOT physical and drug screen, N.C. Motor Vehicle Record, permit and license.
The Truck Driver Training program is approved for funding by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Unemployed and underemployed individuals may qualify for tuition vouchers to take the course.
The deadline to register is Thursday, January 30, 2020.
For more information about the Truck Driver Training program, contact Kyle Burwell at burwellk@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3276, or Gina Brewer at brewerg@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3324.
Henderson Men’s Shelter in Need of Volunteers, Meals for Holiday Season
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-Information courtesy Community Partners of Hope
Community Partners of Hope really needs volunteer assistance with the Henderson Men’s Shelter. Thanks to a few church groups and a number of individual contributors, most of November and December are scheduled; however, there are few volunteers for the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
Can you help? Do you know someone who might be interested in doing an occasional shift?
Community Partners of Hope will gladly send someone to talk to your church groups if it will help inspire more volunteers.
OVERNIGHT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (always with a trained partner – 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.)
Thursday, November 21
Saturday, November 23
Sunday, November 24 through Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving)
Saturday, November 30
Saturday, December 14
Thursday, December 19
Saturday, December 21
*Also any night during Christmas week and the week after Christmas!
WELCOME SHIFT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (always with a trained manager – 5:30 – 9 p.m.)
Sunday, November 24 through Wednesday, November 27
Saturday, November 30
Saturday, December 14
Saturday, December 21
*Also any night during Christmas week and the week after Christmas!
MEALS NEEDED: Please bring enough for 14 – 16 men plus tea
Monday, November 25
Wednesday, November 27
Friday, December 20
Saturday, December 21
Thursday, December 26
To volunteer or with questions, contact Jane King, volunteer coordinator, at 252-432-9494.
Henderson Family YMCA to Host ‘Ugly Sweater 5K’ at Kerr Lake
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-Information courtesy the Henderson Family YMCA
The Henderson Family YMCA presents the “Ugly Sweater 5K” on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Kerr Lake Recreation Area – Satterwhite Point in Henderson.
The race starts at 10 a.m.; entrance gate closes at 9:50 a.m.
Early Bird Registration is being held now through Sunday, November 24. Cost is $10 for children, $20 for adults.
Open Registration will be held November 25 – December 6. Cost is $15 for children, $25 for adults.
Race Day Registration will be available on December 7. Cost is $20 for children, $30 for adults. (Race day registration does NOT include t-shirt.)
0-12 = child ~ 13 and older = adult
Proceeds benefit Girls on the Run of Northern North Carolina and Henderson Family YMCA STRIDE.
Register at the Henderson Family YMCA (380 Ruin Creek Rd), online at www.hendersonymca.org or on race day starting at 9 a.m. at Satterwhite Point Community Building.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Mendenhall Named Educator of Excellence for Exceptional Children’s Program
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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
Granville County Public Schools, Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean, and the Department of Exceptional Children proudly acknowledge Mrs. Stacie Mendenhall as our 2019-2020 Educator of Excellence for the Exceptional Children’s Program.
Stacie Mendenhall named Granville County Public Schools’ 2019-2020 Educator of Excellence for the Exceptional Children’s Program. (GCPS photo)
Mrs. Mendenhall received her Master’s in Speech Pathology from Appalachian State University and has a career that spans 23 years. Twenty-one of those years are with the school system.
She currently works as a Speech Language Pathologist at Tar River and Wilton Elementary Schools. She serves as the Lead Speech Language Pathologist for the entire school district.
In addition to providing high-quality services to students and maintaining impeccable data and documentation, she leads PLCs for speech and other related service personnel in the district. She provides guidance and training to anyone who needs it and does so with a smile.
She is an active participant in facilitating Medicaid training for newer therapists, and most recently was selected to be a trainer on the new ECATS system. She attends statewide meetings for speech pathologists and returns to the district to implement the best practices locally. There is nothing that is asked of her that Mrs. Mendenhall doesn’t do with a willing heart and with high quality.
Outside of her duties as a speech pathologist, Mrs. Mendenhall spends time with her husband, son, daughter, five dogs, and her cat. She is very active in the community with her church and is a part of Girl Scouts as well as Girls on the Run. She enjoys reading and travel. While she has been to Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, her favorite place continues to be Hawaii.
Granville County Public Schools expects a standard of excellence. Mrs. Mendenhall exemplifies that not only to her students but those fortunate enough to work with her. Her strong morals, work ethic, leadership, and diligence to practice make her our shining star.
During her interview for this honor, she said, “I love working with children to help them build the communication skills they need for lifelong leadership and success!” It is clear that her standard of excellence extends beyond the classroom and our school district is beyond fortunate to have someone of her caliber on our team.
Finally, the link below provides a list of all the disability awareness days for the year:
Also, DPI has provided a new parent listserv for parents to sign up to receive updates (click here). The listserv will forward information or the work of the Exceptional Children Division at NC DPI and provide opportunities for input, feedback, and participation in Division activities.
After Six Month Search, Town of Youngsville Hires Chief of Police
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-Information courtesy the Town of Youngsville
Six months after Chief Daren Kirts of the Youngsville Police Department announced his retirement, the Town of Youngsville announced that Lieutenant Greg Whitley of the Knightdale Police Department will be Youngsville’s next chief of police.
Town Administrator Phil Cordeiro shared, “Foremost, I’d like to express my sincerest gratitude for the department’s – and the community’s – patience and participation throughout our recruitment and selection process. I know it’s taken a bit longer than some would prefer, but this was an extremely important decision and needed to be managed with the utmost care.”
The chief of police recruitment process began in May and the town received over 60 applications for the position.
Through a process comprised of three rounds and eight separate interviews, nearly 40 assessors provided written feedback to the town administrator on candidate performance and qualifications. Assessors’ backgrounds ran the gamut, including community watch leaders, retired law enforcement professionals, neighboring town managers, current town employees, and elected officials.
Among many factors in a crowded field, Mr. Whitley was selected as chief in response to his two decades of diverse law enforcement experience and a myriad of professional law enforcement credentials – including an advanced law enforcement certificate, multiple instructor certifications, and formal training with federal agencies such as the FBI and FEMA.
In reaction to the decision, Mr. Whitley remarked, “It is an honor to be selected as chief of police. I am committed to providing the highest level of customer service to citizens through professional policing, with a focus on the training and development of officers. I believe police and community relationships are best built upon a bank of public trust and I will ensure transparency in the agency’s operations and a commitment to building community partnerships.”
Mayor Fonzie Flowers shared, “I think Mr. Whitley will bring a valuable array of skills to the department that will strengthen its ability to make Youngsville a safe and exciting place to live.” He went on to add, “And, I want to underscore my appreciation for the stalwart efforts of Interim Chief Kimball, Captain Magsi, and the entire department. Their leadership and dedication during this time of transition have propelled the department in the right direction and have forged a cohesive team of competent professionals.”
Mr. Whitley is slated to be privately sworn-in and assumes the chief role on December 2, 2019. The town will hold a public swearing-in ceremony during its regular board of commissioners meeting on Thursday, December 12, 2019, where all members of the public are welcome.
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 11/19/19
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Vance County Friday Night Football Recap – Coach’s Corner 11/15/19
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News 11/19/19
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm