NCHSAA

NCHSAA Delays Start of Fall Sports Season Until at Least September 1

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, NCHSAA

On Tuesday, Governor Cooper announced the reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. He also indicated that the NCHSAA would be making the decisions relative to sports. The NCHSAA Board of Directors approved the following rule and calendar changes:

  • The start of NCHSAA fall sports is delayed until at least September 1.
  • The first five (5) student days of the 2020-2021 school year will be designated as a “dead period” for ALL sports, allowing school staff to focus on the start of school.
  • NCHSAA Phase One of the summer conditioning and workouts will continue until further notice.

Commissioner Que Tucker provides the following statement at this time.

“For now, we believe these steps provide hope for our student-athletes, and the possibility for playing fall sports We know that many decisions are being made relative to the reopening plan your school(s) will follow. After each LEA has had an opportunity to formalize and finalize those reopening plans, the NCHSAA Staff will survey the membership to determine how sports should and/or can fit into the various models that will exist across the state. Please understand this delayed start date is not “in cement” and can be delayed even further if we do not have improved data from DHHS, or some other reason exists for delaying further into September or beyond.

We acknowledge that playing certain sports are more problematic at any time without a vaccine; however, we remain in consultation with our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) members, and they believe we can and should offer a sports program, with all necessary modifications, delays, etc. In the coming weeks, we will continue working with the SMAC as we plan our next steps for the fall, as well as determining when equipment could be shared—i.e. balls— and/or if we can move into Phase 2 of the summer workouts/conditioning.

Each NCHSAA Board Member believes in the value of education-based athletics and is committed to SAFELY offering a fall, winter, and spring sports program during this school year; however, there is also a commitment to the health and safety of students and coaches. Towards this end, we all will continue to follow the guidance of the Department of Health and Human Services relative to the data and how we all safely move forward.

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. Board of Commissioners to Hold Special Meeting July 20

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-Information courtesy the County of Granville

Special Meeting Notice

Please take notice that the Granville County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020, at 7 p.m.

In order to adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions, members of the Board will participate via simultaneous communication.  Members of the public may only attend via simultaneous communication using call-in information.

The Board anticipates going into closed session pursuant to G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3), (5) and (a)(6).

Public Dial-in Information

1-866-423-8755

Passcode is 583341

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here.

Andrea Harris Task Force

Governor Cooper Names Members of Andrea Harris Task Force

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Earlier this week, Governor Roy Cooper named the members of the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force.

The Task Force, established by the Governor’s Executive Order 143, will address the social, environmental, economic, and health disparities in communities of color that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first meeting is anticipated in early August.

“Inequities in North Carolina are not new, but COVID-19 is shining a bright light on disparities that have gone unchecked in our health care and economic institutions for communities of color,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This task force is the right way to address these inequities as we recover from the pandemic so that as we come back from this, we improve access to affordable healthcare and quality economic opportunities.”

“Health inequities are the result of more than individual choice or random occurrence — they are the result of the historic and ongoing interplay of inequitable structures, policies, and norms that shape lives,” said NC Department of Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders. “I am deeply honored to carry Andrea Harris’ torch on this new task force, as we grapple with these complex and critical issues for North Carolina.”

To read the full press release, including the list of individuals named to the task force, click here.

Maria Parham Health

Town Talk 07/16/20: MPH CEO Discusses COVID-19 Testing, Opening of New Cath Lab

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

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

COVID-19 Testing:

According to Beard, to date, MPH has tested 2,100 patients for COVID-19 with a positive return rate of 8.71 percent, or approximately 183 cases. Beard said the majority of those tested are from Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, with a few from southern Virginia.

These totals do not include the 155 participants of the free COVID-19 testing event sponsored by Granville Vance Public Health at Shiloh Baptist Church in Henderson on June 24, or patients tested at providers such as Vance Family Medicine or Duke Primary Care.

While Beard said tremendous efforts are being focused on broader community testing, and some providers are offering tests to asymptomatic patients, MPH is currently offering results via rapid testing to symptomatic patients or those who are identified as high exposure risks.

 

MPH’s New Catheterization Lab

Beard was pleased to announce that MPH’s new $3.2 million catheterization (cath) lab will open its doors to patients in early August. Construction began on the lab, located off of the emergency room and adjacent to the helipad, this past fall.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” said Beard. “It’s as nice a cath lab as any in the region. We are very excited about what we can do from a preventative and emergent standpoint with cardiovascular care.”

The lab will expand on Maria Parham Cardiology’s current services including heart catheterization studies, non-surgical stent procedures, stress tests, echocardiograms, heart monitoring and pacemaker implantation.

Beard said the continued expansion of health services offered in the local, rural community is the commitment of Maria Parham and Duke LifePoint Healthcare.

“We have interventional cardiologists from Duke,” explained Beard. “These are the same doctors you would see if you drove to Durham for care. Our mentality is you shouldn’t have to fight the traffic when you’re fighting for your life.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety precautions, Beard said a virtual tour of the cath lab will be posted online in the next week or so, followed by a live ribbon-cutting event posted on MPH’s Facebook page in early August.

Please visit MPH’s website www.mariaparham.com and Facebook page (click here) for more information. WIZS will also bring you more updates as they are received.

To hear the interview with Beard in its entirety, including additional MPH, COVID-19 and community health updates, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Vance County Courthouse

Vance Co. Courthouse Temporarily Closed for COVID-19 Related Cleaning

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Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m., the Clerk of Court in Vance County, along with other local leaders, made the judgment call to close the Vance County Courthouse for the remainder of the day for a thorough cleaning.

The Clerk of Court, Henry Gupton, told WIZS News a lady who had a positive test result for COVID-19 had entered the building earlier in the day. As Gupton described it, the lady in question had been told she was negative for COVID-19, but, while she was inside the courthouse today, her provider called and said there had been a mistake and that, in fact, her test result was positive.

Gupton said there was no cause for panic. He said he, Sheriff Curtis Brame, Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison and others involved, like District Attorney Mike Waters, had made the precautionary decision to close for the afternoon and extensively clean the affected areas.

Gupton said he wanted the public to be aware of what was going on and why.

The local courts have been taking pleas and conducting continuances in recent weeks and allowing those accused of actions to pay citations and go about their business when possible and appropriate.

Confederate Time Capsule

Time Capsule Discovered in Base of Henderson’s Confederate Monument

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-Information and photos courtesy Jordan McMillen, Vance County Manager

Earlier today, officials removing the base of the Confederate monument located in front of the County Administration Building in downtown Henderson discovered a time capsule. The monument was dedicated on November 10, 1910.

In a special called meeting of the Vance County Commissioners on June 30, 2020, the Board voted 4-3 to remove, store and preserve the Confederate statue.

According to Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen, the discovered time capsule is approximately 12 inches long and six inches wide. Items recovered include:

  • A copy of the New York Herald dated May 8, 1910
  • A copy of the Atlanta Journal dated May 7, 1910
  • A copy of the Memorial Day celebration program from May 10, 1910
  • A Masonic guide and directory from 1908
  • A copy of the N.C. Federation of Women’s Clubs annual meeting program held in Henderson
  • Misc. other paper items

McMillen said there was water in the cavity, so County officials are working to dry out and preserve the paper items.

Local News Audio

Local News Audio 07/16/20 Noon

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WIZS Noon News Audio, July 16, 2020
Your Community Voice

  • Greg Milton and Friends Free Concert McGregor Hall
  • Harbor Freight
  • H-V Chamber 140 New Teacher Bags

 

Science in the Summer

GSK Science in the Summer™ Returns Virtually for 2020

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-Press Release, GSK Science in the Summer™

GSK Science in the Summer™, a free summer STEM program that aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, returns this summer as an entirely virtual offering with a new theme: Chemistry is Everywhere!

Traditionally held at local libraries and community-based organizations, this new online format for 2020 in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic ensures that GSK Science in the Summer™ can continue to offer high-quality, interactive STEM learning for its 34th year. With experiments available online, this year even more students entering second through sixth grade can participate at a critical time in their education journey and following the disruption of the 2019-20 academic year.

To ensure students without access to high-speed internet or devices at home can participate, GSK and the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center have created packets replicating the online instruction that they will disperse at libraries and Boys & Girls Clubs while maintaining social distance and all other COVID-19 precautions.

The all-new curriculum invites children to play the role of chemists by practicing real scientific techniques and exploring basic principles of chemistry—including the chemistry of polymers, glow sticks, and bombardier beetles. The program provides opportunities for students to embody science careers, think scientifically, use real science tools and techniques and have fun.

Families in Central NC who registered to participate in the week-long camps that typically took place at libraries and Boys and Girls Clubs a week at a time will participate during that same week this summer but at home.

Through accompanying online videos, educators from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center guide students through several activities and share more about the hands-on chemistry research projects they’ll be exploring at home.

After conducting their experiments at home, students with access will join a live virtual research meeting with a Morehead Planetarium and Science Center educator to share results from their experiment, ask questions about the chemistry topic highlighted in the activity, and reflect on how they each were like scientists.

All virtual content will be made available beginning in late July or early August at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s website for students throughout the state who didn’t enroll in the program to use and enjoy.

Provided by GSK in partnership with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and administered at science centers across the nation, this fun, 100% free STEM enrichment program helps prevent the summer slide and keeps all students, including students from underserved and underrepresented populations, engaged in STEM learning through hands-on experiments. The program reaches more than 3,000 students at 50 locations across Central NC each year.

“We hope that GSK Science in the Summer™ programs continues to inspire more children to put on their goggles and explore the wonders of science. Our goal is to encourage students, particularly those from populations underrepresented in the scientific community, to pursue STEM career paths later in life,” said Becki Lynch, Director, US Community Partnerships at GSK.

“Through the GSK Science in the Summer™ curriculum and online resources, we are proud to continue to serve our participants as they explore chemistry at home with their families,” says Glenda Hairston, Science Programs Outreach Manager, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. “Through our curriculum and online resources, we hope that children will be inspired to see themselves as scientists who can improve the world using their critical thinking skills, natural curiosity, and creativity.”

For more information, visit the GSK Science in the Summer™ website (click here) or the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center website (click here).

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH: Local COVID-19 Update as of 7/15/20

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of July 15, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

983 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 983, 509 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 509, 371 have been released from isolation, and seven are hospitalized.

Of those 983 cases, 465 are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County, and 95 of those 465 have been released from isolation.

Six of those 983 are associated with an outbreak at the Murdoch Development Center, five of whom have been released from isolation.

Two of those 983 are associated with an outbreak at Central Regional Hospital.

One resident has tested positive for COVID-19 at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center. Three staff members have also tested positive.

There have been a total of 25 deaths in Granville County, three in the community, one at Central Regional Hospital, and 21 of whom were associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

586 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 586, 463 are community-spread cases located across Vance county, and 365 of those 463 have been released from isolation.

Of those 586, 123 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities, including 48 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and 17 associated with Senior Citizens Home.

The outbreak at Pelican Health nursing home is no longer active. Of the 123 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 44 have been released from isolation.

Two individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 40 deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 11 of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, and two of whom were associated with Senior Citizens Home.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

North Carolina has a prevention and detection-focused approach to testing for COVID-19 in long term care facilities. Because people are living in close proximity, these are settings that many states monitor for the spread of COVID-19. NC DHHS considers long term care facilities to be experiencing an “outbreak” if at least two individuals who are staff and/or residents have tested positive. An outbreak is considered over after 28 consecutive days with no new positive test results.

All long term care facilities in the district are testing staff and residents regularly and participate in a weekly call with Dr. Shauna Guthrie at Granville Vance Public Health. For schools, businesses, and other settings that are not congregate living facilities, the state considers multiple cases to be a “cluster.” A cluster is defined as both a minimum of five cases in the same facility within a 14-day period and a plausible epidemiological linkage between cases.

Some additional cases being reported currently out of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) are related to a building on the Durham County side, and those cases will be reported to the Durham County Health Department for data entry into the NCEDSS system. The Bureau of Prisons is doing its own testing on-site. For more about the response from the Bureau of Prisons, please visit the Prison’s website.

Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information from Granville Vance Public Health and to sign up for daily email updates.

Vance County Logo

Vance County Public Safety, Properties Committee to Meet Next Week

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-Information courtesy County of Vance

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

Public Safety Committee (Wilder, Brummitt, Taylor)

Tuesday, July 21, 2020 – 3 p.m.

  • Fire Reorganization

Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder)

Wednesday, July 22, 2020 – 4 p.m.

  • Warrenton Road Convenience Site