Vance Virtual Village TT

Town Talk 06/17/20: Vance Co. Schools Moves Forward With Fully Remote K-12 Academy

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent for Vance County Schools, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Jackson announced the Vance Virtual Village Academy, or V3, as it is being called, will move forward with the Board of Education’s approval as a fully remote learning option for VCS students in grades K-12.

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the reopening structure of NC public schools still uncertain and the desire of some parents and students for a virtual learning model, Jackson emphasized the importance of offering VCS families a remote learning option.

VCS will open online V3 enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year on July 1. The online academy will follow the traditional school calendar with an August 17 start date.

According to Jackson, enrollment will be capped for the first year at 150-200 students.

Students enrolled in V3 are funded through the State of NC in the same manner as other public school students and will be required to meet the same standards as a student who attends a physical classroom, explained Jackson.

Dispelling the myth that V3 will involve “sitting in front of a device just clicking all day,” Jackson said there will be virtual interactions with teachers, a mixture of independent and group work and a “village” structure that will allow students to interact and socialize with their peers based on their academic needs and interests.

Required materials, including an electronic device and connectivity assistance, if needed, will be provided.

Students may also remain connected to a physical school by participating in athletics and extra-curricular activities and will have access to support services such as school counseling, said Jackson.

“We have to rethink school,” Jackson stated. “I’ve seen the COVID-19 situation as an opportunity to really rethink schools. This is an opportunity to say ‘let’s create one thing that’s different.’ For those parents who seek different and want different, let’s give them that.”

Please visit the VCS website for more information on V3. WIZS News will also provide more information as it becomes available.

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

$20 on the 20th - Relay

Town Talk 06/17/20: Support Relay For Life With $20 on the 20th Fundraiser

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

Jon Charest, senior manager of community development for the American Cancer Society, Inc., appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Relay For Life of Vance County is partnering with Relay teams all across the state to ask volunteers and partners to donate $20 on Saturday, June 20, 2020, in honor of the estimated 20,410 North Carolinians who will pass away from cancer this year.

With cancer patients being among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and with the pandemic putting the mission of the American Cancer Society in jeopardy due to its impact on fundraising, the goal of the June 20 event is to raise $20,000 for research.

Many in-person Relay events have been canceled this year due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, but cancer never rests. Mark your calendar for this Saturday to rally team members, friends, family and/or your social media following to donate $20.

Donations may be made through the Relay For Life of Vance County event website (www.RelayForLife.org/VanceNC), Facebook Fundraising, or the American Cancer Society FUNdraising app.

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

Home and Garden Show 06/16/20

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com on Tuesday at 4:30 PM.

A Discussion for Awareness

‘A Discussion For Awareness’ to be Held at Creedmoor City Hall – June 18

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

-Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce

“A Discussion For Awareness” will be held at City Hall in Creedmoor, NC, 111 Masonic St., on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 6 p.m.

The public is welcome to join the meeting to advocate for equality and to dismantle racial injustices in the United States.

Speakers will include influential members of the Creedmoor community. Facial masks and social distancing are required.

For more information, please contact thelma.mungo@gmail.com.

Local News Audio

WIZS Noon Local News 06/17/20

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WIZS – YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE
100.1 FM / 1450 AM / WIZS.com

LOCAL NEWS 8A, 12 NOON, 5P

NOON NEWS FOR JUNE 17, 2020

  • Flooding
  • Vance County Budget
  • Vance Water District Budget
  • Vance County Schools Names Vance-Granville Community College Partner of the Year

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health CEO Thanks Community, Encourages Continued Support

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

Op-Ed: Thank You Vance and Franklin Counties – Bert Beard CEO, Maria Parham Health

For the past several months, Maria Parham Health (MPH) has been facing the impact of COVID-19 with our community. We have built upon our robust emergency operations plan that we have in place year-round by updating policies, implementing new protocol, educating our staff, and working with our community partners in ways we never have before. But in all this preparation, MPH has never been alone.

Today, I write to share my appreciation for our community. Thank you to the countless individuals and organizations who have generously donated critically important supplies and resources and offered inspiring words of encouragement to our team. In this crisis, the true meaning of community has never been more apparent or appreciated. Patients, board members, staff, community providers, our sister facilities – all segments of the communities we serve and partner with have shown their support during this pandemic

Community members have brought in surgical masks and N95 respirators to add to the resources we are working to preserve. Local restaurants and businesses have sent food to treat our folks as they work. Many people have donated homemade cloth masks to our hospital and local EMS – an incredible labor of love. Posted signage, sidewalk chalk messages and decorated rocks cheer on our heroes and have infused our campuses with pride. And these are just a few of the many examples that exist.

The outpouring of love and encouragement from our community has been overwhelming, and it makes us so proud to call Vance and Franklin Counties our home and to serve the northern triangle. MPH stands ready to serve you – our neighbors, family and friends. Please continue to keep our community safe and prevent further spread of this disease:

  • Practice social distancing.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • If you must go out in public, wear masks to protect those around you.

To learn more about Maria Parham Health’s COVID-19 preparedness and what you can do to help stay well, visit Mariaparham.com.

J.F. Webb Merger

JF Webb, School of Health & Life Sciences to Merge Into Single High School

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

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

This past week, the final graduating class of JF Webb School of Health and Life Sciences walked across the stage. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the school will merge into a single high school on the campus.

While this marks the closing of one school, it signals the dramatic transformation of the entire school campus. JF Webb High School will begin the next academic year with the school’s focus and organization redesigned, to what will be known moving forward as, “The Warrior Way.”

The Warrior Way school redesign will keep all course offerings and special programs associated with the School of Health and Life Sciences and offer an additional NEW focus on providing students the opportunity to earn college credits through VGCC.

Much like an Early College program, students at JF Webb will be provided a streamlined track for dual enrollment at the college’s main campus just seven miles away. The school will offer special guidance and counseling to provide students the opportunity to earn enough credits to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree.

Students will also have the opportunity to earn other specialty degrees and certificates related to a variety of careers. All of this will be provided at no cost to families – textbooks and tuition will all be included. The school is also in the process of planning regular shuttle service to and from JF Webb and the VGCC main campus on a daily basis.

JF Webb Principal Amy Rice offered her comments, saying “Warrior pride runs deep in our community. I am super excited about the changes going on at our school. The Warrior Way provides clear pathways forward for every student, no matter their interest. However, one thing all pathways have in common is a focus on post-secondary education. Every graduate from our school will have a clear advantage in moving on to the next step in their life’s plan. Whether it be a career in the world of biomedical sciences as a scientist or medical professional, a leadership position in business or industry, a well-paid job in one of the countless skilled trades, or service in the military, JF Webb is the place to launch those plans. The school has an amazing history and an even brighter future. If you haven’t checked us out lately, it’s time to give us another look.”

In addition to the restructuring of the school’s organization, the community will also notice significant upgrades and improvements to the physical campus as well.

To learn more about how you or your child can become part of the Warrior Way, reach out to Principal Rice ricea@gcs.k12.nc.us today.

Warren County Logo

Warren County EDC Seeks Farmers for Free Analysis Program

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

-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County Economic Development Commission (EDC) is seeking Warren County farmers interested in increasing crop yield and profits through analysis of plant sap by Advancing Eco Agriculture, or AEA. 

EDC is providing funding for three Warren County farmers willing to commit to the program requirements during the current growing season. Farmers must notify the EDC office that they would like to participate by 5 p.m., Friday, June 19, 2020.

AEA plant sap analysis reveals plant mineral levels, nutritional deficiencies, and excesses before they cause significant yield loss. Results provide the farmer the opportunity to determine and apply the precise amount of a needed nutrient before a deficiency manifests as a disease or weakness. 

Since 2006, Advancing Eco Agriculture has served over 2 million acres with AEA programs while working hand in hand with farmers in North America, producing healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.

In brief, here’s how the program works:

Participating farmers will receive sample collection kits, mail leaf samples to the AEA laboratory, and receive an analysis report by email. An AEA consultant will interpret the results and recommend corrective measures in a group call, so even farmers not participating in the sap analysis can learn from the consultation. 

Farmers continue to observe and measure crop health and harvest results. The accumulated data aids in planning for the next growing season. The cost of the testing program is paid by the Warren County EDC. Farmers will pay for corrective applications themselves. 

If you are interested in participating, please contact the Warren County EDC Director Stacy Woodhouse at the Warren County EDC office at (252) 257-3114. The EDC office is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A.V. Richards

Town Talk 06/16/20: Remembering Vance Senior High, NC State Football Alum A.V. Richards

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Brenda Peace, former Henderson City Councilwoman and sister of Vance Senior High and NC State University alum and football player Andrew Vance “A.V.” Richards, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Peace described her brother, who passed away Sunday, June 14, as a “gentle giant” who left his mark on athletics and has helped shape local youth.

“A.V. was tall in stature, just a massive dude, but he was the sweetest, most easy-going person that you would have ever met,” Peace reminisced. “He had nothing but love for everybody; it didn’t matter who you were, A.V. loved you.”

A.V. Richards, Vance Senior High and NC State alum and football player, passed away June 14, 2020. He is remembered as a “gentle giant who loved everyone,” according to his sister, former Henderson City Councilwoman Brenda Peace. (Photo courtesy Brenda Peace)

Playing on both the varsity football and basketball teams while a student at Vance Senior High School in the late 70s/early 80s, Richards took his love of sports with him to NC State University. There, Richards transitioned from tight end to offensive tackle as part of the Wolfpack’s football team.

Upon graduating from NC State in 1985, Richards was drafted into the United States Football League (USFL) as a member of the Jacksonville Bulls, shortly before the league was shut down following a legal battle with the National Football League (NFL).

Returning to Henderson, Richards focused his attention on coaching and motivating youth on both the football field and in life. “A.V. has had a lot of influence on a lot of young men’s lives,” WIZS’s own Kemp Collins and life-long friend of Richards said during the Town Talk segment. “He’s in a better place now, but he left his print here, and I’m sure what he left will benefit those young men in their lifetime.”

Peace said while her brother is well-known for his athletic prowess, she will also remember the man that had a kind word and smile for everyone, in addition to being “one bad bass player.”

“Not only could he throw a football and dribble a basketball, but his fingers were magical when it came to playing music on his bass guitar,” said Peace. “As passionate as he was about football, he was just as passionate about music and people. He was a man of passion.”

To hear the interview with Peace in its entirety, including comments from special guests, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Vance County Logo

Vance Commissioners Approve County, Water District Budget

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

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen provided WIZS with the following summary of the Vance County Board of Commissioners’ special called meeting held Monday, June 15, 2020:

County Budget – The total general fund budget is $49,498,430, with $1,310,356 used from fund balance to balance the budget. The overall budget with all funds combined is $60.7 million. The budget includes no increase in the general fund property tax rate (remains at .89 cents), no increase in the fire tax rate (remains 8.9 cents), and a $5 increase in the solid waste household fee. Overall, the budget addresses the Board’s top priorities for the coming year while moving the county forward and maximizing county services with limited revenue growth.

Water District Budget – The total water district budget is $1,250,689, which includes a general fund transfer of $261,885. The budget holds the usage rate at 10.33 per $1,000 gallons. We currently have $1,338 active metered customers on the system and believe it will take 1,600 to 1,650 to break even assuming we do not take on any additional debt for the system.

Maria Parham Incentive – Maria Parham Health is in the process of adding a cardiac cath lab which will increase the tax value over $3.2 million and add over 25 jobs with an average wage of over $60,000. As a result of this, we have been discussing an economic development incentive agreement with Maria Parham for several months. We were unable to hold the necessary public hearings and approve the agreement last night due to restrictions that were previously in place related to COVID-19 and public hearings.

Eaton Johnson – The Board approved financing for the project and awarded the contract for the renovation of the former Eaton Johnson Middle School building to Danco Builders, who was the lowest qualified bidder. We will need approval of the financing from the Local Government Commission which meets on July 7, but after that, we will be finalizing contracts and work will begin for the 10-month project to renovate Eaton Johnson for use by DSS. The construction cost approved was $3,030,856.38 and the total project budget with engineering and other contingencies included is $4,531,662. We are hopeful for an August 1, 2020, start date which would put completion in April or May of next year.

Vance County’s approved budget documents and Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) can be viewed on the County’s Board of Commissioners website (click here).