Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education Finance Committee to Meet Oct. 23

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education Finance Committee will meet on Friday, October 23, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. at 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC 27565 to discuss the 2020-2021 Budget Resolution.

For more information or a link to the meeting, please contact Mrs. Beth Day, Assistant Superintendent of Finance at dayb@gcs.k12.nc.us or Ms. Lisa Preddy at preddyl@gcs.k12.nc.us.

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VGCC Schedules Nursing Program Information Sessions

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is offering virtual information sessions for anyone interested in applying to the Nursing programs at the college. VGCC offers training options to become a Registered Nurse (RN) through the Associate Degree Nursing program or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) through the Practical Nursing program.

The upcoming sessions, offered through Zoom (www.zoom.us), are specifically geared to help prospective students prepare to apply to enroll in a Nursing program for the Fall 2021 semester. Applications for these programs are due in February and March of 2021.

Three of the sessions will focus on the RN and LPN programs. In the past, students who were not offered a spot in the Associate Degree Nursing program were able to enroll in the Practical Nursing program instead, making this a beneficial option for many students who are ready to get started with their nursing careers.

Sessions are scheduled for Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. (bit.ly/VGCCNursing102920), Nov. 17 at 6 p.m (bit.ly/VGCCNursing111720), and Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. (bit.ly/VGCCNursing120220).

Two other sessions will focus on the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) program. This partnership between VGCC and North Carolina A&T State University allows students to complete both the Associate Degree Nursing, or RN, program, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

These sessions are scheduled for Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. (bit.ly/RIBN111320) and Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. (bit.ly/RIBN120320).

After registering, participants should receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting.

Registration in advance for each session is required. For more information, please email Dr. Erica Jastrow (Practical Nursing and RIBN programs) at jastrowe@vgcc.edu or Dr. Anna Seaman (Associate Degree Nursing program) at seamana@vgcc.edu.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army of Henderson, Partners Announce Opening of New Playground

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-Press Release courtesy The Salvation Army

Kids at The Salvation Army of Henderson are celebrating today because they have a great new place to play. For months, representatives from The Salvation Army of Henderson, Belk and KABOOM!, the nonprofit organization focused on ending playspace inequity, have been working together to increase access to playspaces for local kids with the creation of a new, kid designed playground that was installed on July 21, 2020.

The playground will give kids an incredible place to play close to where they live and learn, an opportunity that is often hard to achieve. 

Since COVID-19 began, children have had to adjust to a new normal, which means a lot of time spent in front of a screen doing virtual learning, and less time getting outdoors to play and be active. The children at our Red Shield Club have really enjoyed being able to take a break from the inside and breathe in the fresh air while having fun on the playground. The playground has provided a way for the children to still have “recess” and practice social skills in a safe way.

“I can see that the playground at The Salvation Army Red Shield Club is very important because it has increased my child’s social, brain and language development. The playground provides an opportunity for my children to practice their social skills, to come up with solutions to problems and to learn self-control in working out their conflicts,” says Shadiya Solomon, parent of a child that attends the Red Shield Club.  

In May, kids from the community participated in a virtual Design Day where they creatively thought of ideas to create their dream playground. The new playground, which was designed with inspiration from their drawings, will provide hundreds of kids and their families in Henderson with an incredible playspace that can spark hope and enable kids to reach their full potential. 

KABOOM! knows that playspaces are essential to resilience, health and childhood. The communities that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 – communities facing challenges already, and communities of color – are the same communities who often lack access to parks and playspaces due to historic disinvestment.

The partners have teamed up to help end playspace inequity, creating a new place for kids to play that reflects the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations and gives every kid the opportunity to experience the joys of childhood.  

“We know disasters and crises often exacerbate the inequities that communities are already experiencing, and in many communities, kids won’t have a playground to go back to once the COVID-19 crisis is over,” says James Siegal, CEO of KABOOM!. “We must stop the playspace inequities from becoming even deeper after we get through this pandemic, giving every kid the chance to play and just enjoy being a kid.”

Through its partnership with Belk, KABOOM! is committed to ending playspace inequity for kids, for communities, for good. 

To ensure that playgrounds are able to open safely in every community, KABOOM! has issued important playground guidance that all communities, playground owners/operators and caregivers can follow. The guidance can be viewed or downloaded at kaboom.org/reopen.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 10-20-20 – Invasive Plants

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

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NC to Remain Paused in Phase 3

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 for three more weeks as health officials continue to monitor North Carolina’s viral trends. North Carolina has seen increased hospitalizations and trajectory of cases in recent weeks. Governor Cooper underscored the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, and using good judgment despite fatigue or frustration with the pandemic.

“As this pandemic continues, I know it’s difficult and tiring to keep up our guard, especially when we’re gathered with people we love. But it’s necessary. No one wants to spread COVID-19 accidentally to friends or family, so we must keep prevention at the forefront,” said Governor Cooper. “Wearing a mask shows you care about people. Wearing a mask is an easy way to protect our communities and look out for each other. Confronting the virus head-on and doing our part as individuals is good for our health and good for our economy.”

Also today, Governor Cooper updated on progress with the NC Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program. Since Governor Cooper announced the (HOPE) Program last week, 12,000 eligible applicants have filed for assistance. The HOPE Program provides assistance to eligible low-and-moderate income renters experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic by making direct payments to landlords and utility companies. People can apply for help by calling 2-1-1 or going to nc211.org/hope.

“As the number of applications climbs higher every day, it should make us remember that it’s more than a number. Every one of those applications represents a family having to make impossible choices between basic necessities during a global pandemic,” said Governor Cooper.

Yesterday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen and Secretary of Department of Public Safety Erik Hooks sent a letter to local officials in communities with increased viral spread urging their continued action in fighting COVID-19 and suggesting additional measures to mitigate its spread. Read more about that letter here.

“We are doing everything we can to slow the spread of this virus. This simple fact is we can’t do it on our own. Ignoring the virus doesn’t make it go away – just the opposite,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “As hard as this is, it will end. We will get through this. Let’s do it by looking out for one another. Whatever your reason, get behind the mask.”

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is level.

Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is increasing.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.

Laboratory Testing

  • Testing capacity is high.

Tracing Capability

  • The state is continuing to hire contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.
  • There have been almost 250,000 downloads of the exposure notification app, SlowCOVIDNC.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.

Read Executive Order 170.

Read the slides from today’s briefing.

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Town Talk 10/21/20: Vance Co. Schools Launches ‘Attendance Matters’ Campaign

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Four members of Vance County Schools’ Behavioral Health Team appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Toni Fletcher, lead of the School Student Behavioral Health Team and Lead Social Worker, began the segment by announcing that VCS is kicking off its ‘Attendance Matters’ campaign with the slogan ‘In School, Logged In, Every Day.’

With the Vance County Board of Education’s recent vote to extend fully remote learning through December, Fletcher explained the importance of offering continued support during this unprecedented time in education.

“It is very important to us that we make the connections with our children and our families,” said Fletcher. “This is something we’ve never done before – teaching this way.”

Counselor Erica Wright, with the Student Behavioral Health Team, said VCS will recognize students for their hard work on billboards throughout the community, through local news and media sources and with school incentives as a way to encourage good attendance practices.

School Safety/District Hearing Officer Dr. Ralph Holloman said, “The National Dropout Prevention Center has recorded that family engagement is the number one key for attendance, and we want to send that message to parents. Keep on encouraging your child to participate, log in and be in school every day.”

Thanking parents for all they have done to keep their child engaged while also balancing work, family and other responsibilities, Holloman said, “Parents, your continued involvement is the key to our children’s success in Vance County schools.”

To address mental well-being, Dr. Latoria Fleming, counselor for the Student Behavioral Health Team, said school counselors and social workers are remotely available to provide social and emotional support.

“Please reach out to school support staff if you know of a student that’s struggling,” said Fleming. “Those staff members can provide short-term counseling or, if necessary, connect you with community resources or mental health agencies.”

While support is the key to continued motivation, Fletcher said completing remote schoolwork is difficult without reliable internet access. “Some of our families live rurally and don’t have access to the internet, and some are unable to afford access due to financial barriers.”

To combat this problem, VCS has placed WiFi rangers in fire departments, daycare centers, churches, apartment complexes and in some homes with five or more children throughout the county.

In addition, Fletcher said Kajeets, portable devices approximately the size of a cell phone, have been placed in over 150 homes to provide internet capabilities.

For those in need of technology assistance, Fletcher reminded listeners that a technology help desk with tech support is available to parents and students Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. To find the help desk phone number for your child’s school, please visit the VCS District website (click here).

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

Local News Audio

Noon News 10-21-20 Salvation Army Playground Relay For Life Corbitt Trucks Gang Free

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– Salvation Army Local Playground
– Relay for Life of Vance County, Rosa’s Team, 220 Fish Fry Fundraiser
– Corbitt Preservation Association President’s Challenge
– Gang Free Inc Needs Your Vote

Click Play for Full Noon News Audio

 

Rabies Alert

Skunk Tests Positive for Rabies in Warren County

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

A skunk that was taken on October 12, 2020, from Warren Plains Road in Warren County has tested positive for rabies at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. The skunk was killed by the citizen’s dog. The dog’s rabies vaccination had expired, and the dog is currently under observation.

Dogs and cats not current on their rabies vaccination that come into contact with a rabid animal have very few options. One option is quarantining the animal for a period of up to six months at the owner’s expense; the second option is euthanizing the pet.

The top three wild animals testing positive for rabies in North Carolina continue to be the raccoon (number one), the skunk and the fox. The cat continues to surpass other domestic animals, such as the dog and livestock, in testing positive for rabies.

The feeding and keeping of stray and other unvaccinated cats presents a health risk to our communities and the animals themselves; this practice should be halted and is discouraged. The disposal of food scraps in yards and wooded areas attracts animals and is unsanitary. Residents are encouraged to dispose of food scraps by composting or placing scraps in covered rubbish containers to avoid attracting animals.

North Carolina law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets that are four months of age and older should be kept current on their rabies vaccination. Failure to vaccinate pets is a violation of state law and local ordinance and owners can face fines and criminal charges.

The Warren County Animal Control Department offers one-year rabies vaccinations. Vaccinations are available Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. for $5 each at the Animal Ark. Appointments can be made by calling the shelter at (252) 257-6137.

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Vance Co. Without a Fire Marshal Since June

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Vance County has been without a fire marshal since Keith Duncan accepted the position of fire marshal of Person County in June.

In a statement to WIZS News, Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen shared that the Planning and Development Department, as well as the Fire Department, are handling the inspection and plan review portions of the job. “We have several certified fire investigators in our fire department that can be made available should a volunteer department need fire investigation assistance,” said McMillen. “For the most part, we have all of the duties of the position covered currently.”

McMillen did not indicate that there are plans to fill the fire marshal position at this time.

“The Board created this new position in 2016 with the idea that it would create a dedicated liaison for the volunteer fire departments to assist with insurance ratings and concerns that may arise,” explained McMillen. “As a part of this, the fire marshal met regularly with the fire association and was instrumental in enforcing the County’s contracts with each department as well as reviewing pay requests each month to reimburse the volunteer departments for their part-time hours worked. The position was very helpful in assisting the departments as they went through their rating improvement process that took place last year. Prior to 2016, our fire chief position included the fire chief and fire marshal duties.”