Epsom Community Classic

Register Now for Epsom Community Classic Run/Walk

/by

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

The Epsom Community Classic Run/Walk will be held Saturday, August 29, 2020, from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Originally scheduled for April, the coronavirus pandemic necessitated a rescheduling to this later date.

The race is run on a 3.5-mile loop starting and finishing at Epsom Fire and Rescue located at 8120 NC Highway 39 in Henderson.

This event is being held in partnership with New Bethel Baptist Church with the end goal of raising financial support for missions.

Entrants have a choice of entering as a competitive or recreational runner. Competitive entrants will receive an official time and will be eligible for awards. Recreational entrants will not receive official times, but can either time themselves or see their times on the digital clock at the finish line.

The entry fees are $20 through August 19, $25 August 20-28 and $30 on race day. The fee does not include a t-shirt, but shirts can be ordered for an additional $10 on or before August 19.

To register, visit the Epsom Community Classic link on RaceReach.com (click here). 

Awards will be presented to the first three male finishers overall, to the first three female finishers overall and to the top three finishers in each of the following age groups (both genders): 19-under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-over.

Due to the road conditions, running with a baby stroller is not recommended. Also, please no pets.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be some changes to how the race is conducted. Water will be available both at the start/finish area and once on the course. Hand sanitizer will also be available. Vendors and food trucks will be taking their own precautions by serving pre-packaged food and drinks.

Depending on the dictates of the county, there may be post-race snacks available, but just to be safe, you may want to bring your own.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Kerr-Tar COG: Loan Program Helps Rehabilitate Homes in Vance County

/by

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

-Press Release, Kerr-Tar Council of Governments

The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments (COG) has been granted membership by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) under the 2020 cycle of the Essential-Single Family Rehabilitation Loan Pool Program (ESFRLP2020).

Funding from this program will assist with essential and critical repairs to single-family homes that are owned and occupied by lower-income households. These repairs help veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities stay in their homes, saving on health care and long-term care costs.

The major requirements to be eligible for ESFRLP2020 assistance are:

1. The home must be located in Person/Vance County;

2. The home must be owner-occupied;

3. Site built and off-frame modular units will be eligible for considerations, however, manufactured housing is not eligible for assistance;

4. The house must have a full-time household member who is an older adult (age 62+), disabled or a veteran, or a household with a child under the age of six whose health is threatened by the presence of lead hazards;

5. The gross annual household income must not exceed 80% of the area median income for Person/Vance County;

6. The property cannot have been repaired or rehabilitated with public funding of $30,000 or more within the past 10 years;

7. The cost of rehabilitation cannot exceed the ESFRLP2020 Program Guideline limit of $30,000.

Applications are available by calling Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments at (252) 436-2040 or on the Kerr-Tar COG website at www.kerrtarcog.org.

Applications should be returned as soon as possible, but no later than November 2, 2020, at noon to the Kerr-Tar COG, PO Box 709, Henderson, NC 27536 or to 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson.

Colton's Spaghetti Fundraiser

Town Talk 08/13/20: Spaghetti Plate Fundraiser Set for Three-Year-Old Colton Maddox

/by

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Angel Hodges, the grandmother of Colton Maddox, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Hodges announced an upcoming fundraiser for Colton, a local three-year-old boy who was diagnosed with skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism) in addition to multiple other medical conditions.

According to Hodges, Colton has been hospitalized 30 times, been active in five therapies a week, sees 12 doctors regularly and has had many sedated procedures.

Each year, the family, including Colton’s mother Kelsey Maddox, also returns to Wilmington, Delaware to follow up on identifying Colton’s very rare form of dwarfism.

To help cover Colton’s medical and travel expenses, the group Colton’s Adventures will hold the Third Annual Spaghetti Plate and Silent Auction Fundraiser at Kerr Lake Country Club in Henderson on Friday, August 28, 2020. Events will be held from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The $7 meal will include spaghetti, salad, bread and dessert. Plates will be available for takeout, curbside pickup and business delivery.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Mike’s Barber Shop located at 1702 Parham St. in Henderson or at Skippers BBQ from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Plates may also be purchased at the event. For more information, please call LeAnn at (252) 432-2045 or email coltonsadventure@gmail.com.

All proceeds will help pay for expenses that insurance does not cover, including equipment, travel and transportation costs. The family hopes to raise enough money to purchase a “ZipZac” for Colton – a miniature, low-to-the-ground wheelchair made for younger children with mobility issues.

“We were told that when Colton was born that he was probably only going to live for a couple of hours,” said Hodges. “So, we fully went to the hospital not expecting to bring a baby home with us, and now he’s three years old. The good Lord has answered prayers, and his little life has just been so joyous to us.”

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

Colton Maddox (Photo courtesy Kelsey Maddox)

Colton Maddox (Photo courtesy Kelsey Maddox)

4 County Community Connections

Town Talk 08/13/20: Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Discusses Upcoming Community Fair

/by

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

Whitney Robertson, System of Care Coordinator, and Monae Davis, Member Engagement Specialist, with Cardinal Innovations Healthcare appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Next week, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare will hold a Four-County Community Connections Fair to provide information on available mental health resources and services for children and families in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties.

Originally planned as one large, in-person event for the four-county area, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a few format changes. The fair will now be held in a drive-through format at four separate locations on either Tuesday, August 18 or Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

When and Where:

  • Granville Expo Center (Granville Co.) – Tues., August 18 ~ 2 to 6 p.m. – 4185 US Highway 15 South Oxford, NC
  • Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center (Vance Co.) – Wed., August 19 ~ 3 to 7 p.m. – 200 Community College Rd. Henderson, NC
  • Warren County Armory Civic Center (Warren Co.) – Wed., August 19 ~ 3 to 7 p.m. – 501 US Hwy 158 Bus E Warrenton, NC
  • Vance-Granville Community College Franklin Campus (Franklin Co.) – Wed., August 19 ~ 3 to 7 p.m. – 8100 NC-56 Louisburg, NC

Participating children and families will receive:

  • Drawstring bags stuffed with school supplies
  • Facemasks (Pack of 4)
  • Meals from Subway (while supplies last)
  • Flyers and videos on community providers and resources
  • Access to the virtual keynote speaker focusing on the #mentalhealthmatters theme to challenge the stigma of mental health and substance use

Sponsors: 4 County Juvenile Justice Behavioral Health Team (JJBH), Vance Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Warren Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Granville Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Franklin Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Gang Free, Inc. and Cardinal Innovations Healthcare.

“A common theme we’ve found is that families don’t know about the community resources and don’t know about the providers they have access to,” said Robertson. “This is the reason the community fair was developed. We want to get the information out, and we want to engage young people and families in the community.”

For more information., please email Robertson at Whitney.Robertson@cardinalinnovations.org.

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

Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie 08/13/20- What Works in the Garden

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.

Warren County Logo

Warren County to Hold Groundbreaking for Wise Interchange Sewer Extension Project

/by

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

-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County is breaking ground this week on the Wise I-85 interchange sewer extension project. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Friday, August 14, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. A quorum of Warren County Board of Commissioners will be present.

The project was initially approved by the Warren County Board of Commissioners in May of 2018 upon the award of a $200,000 GoldenLEAF grant. The total project budget is $428,331.

Warren County Board of Commissioners voted in 2019 to fully fund the project with additional financial support. The county
looks to spur development at the state’s first interchange on I-85 with this infrastructure investment. The contractor is H.G. Reynolds. Construction is scheduled to be completed within 120 days.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at (252) 257-3115.

Local News Audio

Local News Audio 08-13-20 WIZS Noon

/by

WIZS Local News Audio- Your Community Voice

Noon News August 13, 2020

  • Kerr Lake Country Club Re-Grand Opening
  • Former Local Athlete Sentence to 14 Years
  • Book Bag drive

 

Vance County Schools Logo

Vance County Schools Provides Quick Links for Most Requested Info.

/by

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

Vance County Schools has provided quick online links with additional information to assist in locating some of the most requested items.

2020-2021 School Calendars: https://bit.ly/VCScalendarinfo

The Latest on ReOpening Our Schools: https://bit.ly/ReOpenPlans

Remote Learning Information and Help: https://bit.ly/VCSremotesupport

Laptop Request Form: https://bit.ly/needlaptop

Locate Free Spectrum Wifi: https://www.spectrum.com/wifi-hotspots

Bus Hotspot Information: https://bit.ly/VCSwifi

Latest Meal Distribution Information: https://bit.ly/VanceMeals

NC Coop Extension

CFAP Program Information Session Scheduled for Local Farmers

/by

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

-Press Release, NC Cooperative Extension

Local farmers are encouraged to participate in an information session on the Coronavirus Food and Agriculture Assistance (CFAP) Program, scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 2020. This event will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held virtually, with registration required via EventBrite.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities suffering a five-percent-or-greater price decline, or who have had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and face additional significant market costs. USDA is accepting applications now through August 28, 2020.

Additional crops have been added to the list of eligible commodities. Livestock, wool and dairy farms are also eligible for participation. Visit farmers.gov/cfap to view listings of eligible crops and livestock. Farmers can also get information about what documentation is needed for the application on the CFAP website, farmers.gov/cfap.

The link for registration is https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coronavirus-food-and-agriculture-program-cfap-meeting-tickets-116024730091.

With questions, call the Granville County NC Cooperative Extension Center at (919) 603-1350 or the Granville County
Farm Service Agency office at (919) 693-7345, ext. 2.

NCDHHS

Executive Order Extends School Immunization, Health Assessment Deadlines

/by

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

-Press Release, NCDHHS

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 156 extending, but not waiving, proof-of-immunization and health assessment documentation deadlines for school and child-care facilities. With health care visits limited in some cases due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the order will give students and families more time to get their required vaccines and health assessments completed.

“With kids headed back to school and flu season right around the corner, it’s more important than ever this year for all North Carolinians to get their recommended immunizations,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “Childhood immunizations keep kids safe and protect public health by lowering the likelihood of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease like measles.”

The Executive Order and a State Health Director Memo issued by State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson will extend, but not waive, North Carolina’s current proof-of-immunization requirement deadlines for students enrolled in public, private or religious educational institutions, including child care facilities and K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities. The Executive Order also extends the deadline for each child entering a North Carolina public school for the first time to submit a school health assessment.

In typical years, proof of required immunizations and health assessments are required within 30 days of the first date of attendance of school. After the 30 days, children are to be excluded from school until the family provides documentation of requirements. This year, the 30-day “grace period” for all students will begin on October 1, 2020. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services similarly extended immunization and health assessment deadlines in September 2018 during the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

Whether children are home-schooled or attend school in-person or by remote learning, they are required by state law to be immunized based on their age for certain vaccinations as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

School requirements are listed on the NCDHHS website according to school or grade level, as well as the requirements for young children who attend child care facilities. NCDHHS’ Immunization Branch offers comprehensive guidance on immunization recommendations, as well as advice for families on navigating access issues during COVID-19, and is working with local health departments on strategies to increase immunization access.

NCDHHS is collaborating with multiple partners, including the North Carolina Pediatric Society and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, on an awareness campaign to help ensure school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. NCDHHS is also partnering with Community Care of North Carolina, NC Area Health Education Centers and others on the Keeping Kids Well program to increase well-child visits and immunization rates for Medicaid beneficiaries younger than 19 years old. Governor Cooper has proclaimed August Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina to highlight the importance of immunization.

“Immunization Awareness Month and back-to-school season are important reminders to families to make sure their children are up to date on vaccines. If you have any questions about what vaccines are due or how your doctor’s office is responding to COVID-19, reach out to your pediatrician or family physician,” said Susan Mims, MD, MPH, FAAP, president of the North Carolina Pediatric Society. “Whether your children are going back to school in person or virtually, please make sure they are protected from preventable diseases and death.”

Financial concerns should not act as a barrier to childhood immunization. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program offers free vaccines to families who cannot afford to pay for their children’s vaccines (through 19 years of age), and federal law requires most private insurance plans including Medicaid to cover recommended preventive services such as vaccinations at no out-of-pocket cost.

In order to be fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, children should receive all age-appropriate immunizations.

For more information about vaccine-preventable diseases and recommended immunizations, refer to resources from the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Parents who are unsure which vaccines their children need can find out by taking a short quiz on the CDC website.