Henderson Police Department

Fight Leads To Shooting On North Cooper Drive

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Press Release – Wednesday, April 15, 2020

On April 15, 2020 around 1:45 PM, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to Dollar Tree, 302 N. Cooper Drive Henderson, NC in reference to a fight that was in progress. While in route, officers were advised that someone had been shot. Upon arrival to the scene, officers located the shooter and the victim. The shooter was detained and the firearm was recovered. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Witnesses on scene were interviewed and the ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. There is no active threat to members of the public. If anyone has any additional information related to this incident they are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-492-0202.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow

Dale Folwell

Town Talk 04/15/20: Treasurer Folwell Discusses State Pension Plan, COVID-19 Recovery

/by

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

North Carolina State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Folwell, who has served as NC State Treasurer since 2017, is recovering after being hospitalized for five days with COVID-19. “I am thankful for all the caregivers, God, my family, and the prayers and thoughts that got me through this,” Folwell said.

He also expressed appreciation for the healthcare workers who encouraged him through the recovery process. Folwell said doctors and nurses offered emotional support while he was separated from his family due to the strict no visitor policies currently implemented at many hospitals.

Cleared by doctors and health officials to resume his duties, Folwell reassured listeners that the state pension plan is “one of the most conservatively managed in the country, if not the world.”

“Last time we talked [WIZS Town Talk January 23, 2020], we were reassuring people that we were still in the check delivering business, and that’s still the case,” stated Folwell. “Obviously, we’ve had a lot of market volatility since then, but our state pension plan is in great shape, and we continue to be in the check delivering business.”

As of earlier this week, the state pension plan was down approximately 4.2% for the calendar year, while the S&P 500 was down by almost 14%. For the fiscal year that began June 2019, the state plan is up .6%, while the S&P is down approximately 5%. While down, Folwell said he is encouraged by the fact that the state plan is still currently outperforming the stock market.

To help offset some of the losses, Folwell said the state is “looking at some of our cash balances and taking advantage of some of the opportunities being presented to us. Those who depend on this – those that teach, those that protect and those who otherwise serve – will not have to think about this.”

Calling the current economic downturn a “combination of 9/11 and the Great Recession, all combined into one,” Folwell admitted, “Revenues are down, expenses are up, collections are down, and it’s just not a good circumstance for any business.”

Following today’s interview with WIZS, Folwell addressed the current state of the pension plan, among other treasury-related topics, in a monthly “Ask Me Anything” session open to media representatives.

The monthly calls are an opportunity for reporters to ask Folwell questions about N.C. Department of State Treasurer (DST) initiatives, including the Retirement Systems Division, the State Health Plan, the State and Local Government Finance Division and the Unclaimed Property Division.

Audio of the monthly “Ask Me Anything” calls is available by clicking here.

To hear the interview with Folwell in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Local Response Rates for US Census; Bureau Seeks Additional Days for Final Count

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, United States Census Bureau

The 2020 Census is underway and more households across America are responding every day. Over 70 million households have responded to date, representing over 48% of all households in America.

North Carolina’s overall self-response rate is 45.7%.

According to the US Census Bureau’s website, as of April 14, 2020, the following percentage of households in the local area had self-responded:

Franklin County – 44.4%

Granville County – 47.8%

Vance County – 41.5%

Warren County – 35.3%

The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March. Steps are already being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1.

In-person activities, including all interaction with the public, enumeration, office work and processing activities, will incorporate the most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the public. This will include recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing practices.

Once 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau begins a lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.

In order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.

Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021.

Home and Garden 04/14/20

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

H-V Emergency Operations

Vance Co. Reports 23 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, One Virus-Related Death

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations

As of now, the total number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Vance County has increased to 23. Presently, all are self-isolating with no one currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

There has been one death reported in Vance County as a result of complications associated with coronavirus infection.

It is still very likely that given the progression of this virus elsewhere in the world and in our own country, our cases will continue to increase over the days and weeks ahead. At this time, the Henderson-Vance Emergency Operations coordinated response posture remains the same, and we are not altering our recommendations to the general public.

We strongly encourage our citizens to continue to observe the social distancing parameters and closing orders issued by the governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies.

Vance County and the City of Henderson continue to operate under a local state of emergency. Being under a local state of emergency allows the implementation of certain emergency protective measures if, or when, they should become necessary.

NC WIC Program to Offer Food Flexibility Through May

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

Due to COVID-19, there are significant impacts on providing WIC program services and the vendors’ abilities to maintain an inventory of certain WIC-eligible products.

In response to these strains, the North Carolina WIC Program has been approved by FNS to offer specific flexibilities for some of the food package requirements through May 31, 2020.

These flexibilities include:

Milk: Participants who have skim/nonfat or 1% milk on their food benefits will also be able to redeem 2% milk.

Yogurt: Participants who have nonfat/low-fat yogurt on their food benefits will also be able to redeem whole fat yogurt.

Whole Wheat/Whole Grain Bread: Participants will be allowed to substitute authorized whole wheat or whole grain bread in loaf sizes up to 24 oz. when 16 oz. packages are unavailable.

For more information on NC’s WIC program, including a list of departments by county, please visit www.nutritionnc.com/wic/.

Vance County Logo

Vance County Properties, Human Resource Committee to Meet April 28

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please be informed of the following Vance County committee meetings. Both meetings will be held in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 3 p.m.

-Eaton Johnson Project

Human Resources Committee (Faines, Taylor, Wilder)

Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. or immediately following the properties committee meeting.

-Resolution for Families First Act

Maria Parham Health

Town Talk 04/14/20: MPH CEO Discusses COVID-19 Testing, Lower Hospital Volume

/by

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health (MPH), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Beard reported that MPH has tested 150 people for possible COVID-19 infection at this point, with 14 positive cases. Of those positive cases, Beard said a “handful” have been admitted for treatment.

“Anyone who is a rule out is treated like someone who is positive for it until we get a negative test,” said Beard. “Our ability to test and get quick results has improved vastly since the start of this six weeks ago.”

According to Beard, a new partnership with Mako Medical Laboratories, along with recently approved testing, has reduced turnaround time for results from several days to approximately 24-hours.

While Beard said MPH and its staff are well-prepared to handle a possible increase in patients, the hospital is currently experiencing a lull in numbers. “We are seeing a lot less volume currently at the hospital. I think people are rightfully concerned and aren’t coming in if they don’t have to.”

With Granville Vance Public Health announcing the first COVID-19 death in Vance County – a 72-year-old male with pre-existing health conditions who died Sunday – Beard said he couldn’t stress enough the importance of continuing to take safety precautions.

“Continue to observe stay at home orders from the governor and the president. Continue to observe good infection prevention practices – handwashing hygiene, no touching your face and social distancing. Be mindful of your interactions when you have to go out.”

To do its part in mitigating the spread of the virus, Beard said the hospital enacted a zero visitor policy with a few exceptions: pediatrics, end-of-life care and mother/baby.

Visitors and MPH employees are also currently required to enter the hospital through either the main or emergency entrance, where their temperature is checked with an infrared thermometer. Visitors are also given a cloth mask – many donated by members of the community – to help stop the spread of infection.

“I am hopeful that on the back-end of this, people will have, not a new-found, but re-found respect for our first responders and frontline healthcare workers,” Beard said. “It is wonderful to see the outpouring of support and love for these people; I hope that element is held in the wake of this event.”

To hear the interview with Beard in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Community Partners of Hope

Henderson Men’s Shelter Updates; 220 Fundraiser Rescheduled for June

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Jane King, Community Partners of Hope

220 Fundraiser:

The Community Partners of Hope/Henderson Men’s Shelter’s 220 Seafood fundraiser originally scheduled for April 27 has been rescheduled for Monday, June 29, 2020, in hopes that social distancing will be somewhat relaxed by then.

With timelines related to COVID-19 so uncertain, the organization has decided to hold off on printing and distributing tickets for now. Please contact Jane King at (252) 432-9494 about any tickets that you have received or sold.

More details on ticket sales should be available by late May.

Henderson Men’s Shelter/Hope House Updates:

In the meantime, the shelter did close at the end of March and it is believed that all of the remaining men had somewhere else to go – either back with family or to some other housing.

For the last two weeks, volunteers had to cancel their commitment. The shelter recognizes Darryl Jones, Josh Stokes and William Avery who continued to cover all shifts to be sure the men had a safe place to be.

Hope House has six residents now who are doing their best to practice social distancing in close spaces. Darryl Jones is working with them to be sure the area is being adequately sanitized.

Because some of the men in Hope House are unable to work now, their “shared expense” cost has been waived for at least the month of April and food boxes have been provided. Expenses still remain for utilities, supplies, insurance, salaries, etc.

If you wish to help, you may always mail a tax-deductible check to Community Partners of Hope, Inc, P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536.

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 04/14/20

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm