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-Information courtesy Perry Memorial Library
Perry Memorial Library will offer curbside pickup only effective November 24, 2020, until further notice. Curbside pick up of holds is available Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Visit library.perrylibrary.org or call (252) 438-3316 to place holds. Books can be returned at the outside book drop.
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-Press Release, NC Department of Transportation
The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program is reminding drivers this Thanksgiving week about their responsibility to buckle up when behind the wheel.
Law enforcement will be out patrolling North Carolina roads as part of the Thanksgiving ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign, running through Sunday, November 29.
“Our goal is to save lives by increasing public awareness about the importance of seat belt use,” said Mark Ezzell, Director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
Despite reduced traffic volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic, roadway deaths and serious accidents have increased in North Carolina in 2020. Last year there were 434 total unbelted deaths across the state. Already in 2020, 440 people have lost their lives while not wearing a seatbelt.
“This year, we’re facing two public health crises at the same time,” Ezzell said. “One, the pandemic, is getting a lot of attention. But the other, an increase in unbelted traffic deaths, can’t be ignored. We need to stay vigilant and stay careful this holiday season to save people from losing their life to either.”
During Thanksgiving Week 2019, eight people lost their lives on North Carolina roadways while not wearing a seatbelt, and another 22 were seriously injured.
North Carolina law requires all passengers in a vehicle to be properly restrained. Violations are punishable by fines up to $179.
To help you and your loved ones stay safe this Thanksgiving holiday, GHSP recommends the following safety tips to drivers and passengers as they travel:
Social media users can show NCGHSP how they are practicing good driving behavior by buckling up. Mention @NCGHSP on Facebook or tag @NC_GHSP on Twitter and Instagram with #NCGHSP to show how you are celebrating this Thanksgiving, Click It or Ticket It.
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-Press Release, Granville Vance Public Health
UPDATE: Granville Vance Public Health is really proud of our communities in their collective efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We know so many people and agencies are working hard. A better economy depends on keeping everyone safe and healthy. We are grateful for our continued partnerships with individual citizens, businesses, and organizations that make our communities better. Thank you!
We must keep practicing those 3 W’s – washing our hands, waiting six feet apart, and wearing a mask – and as tired as we all are of this virus, it’s time to double down on these behaviors, not let up. In this “land of the free and home of the brave,” we want EVERYONE to be around in 2021 to celebrate holidays together and to pursue life, liberty and happiness individually.
Public health is not about restricting freedoms, it’s about preserving life and quality of life so we can enjoy more of those freedoms in the future. THANK YOU for being with us in this community effort.
Although the number of active cases in our counties had been trending downward over the past few months, our data have quickly begun trending in the wrong direction again. Unfortunately, we have set numerous records this week for the number of new cases and deaths in North Carolina and the United States.
As of November 23, we have 255 active cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and have recorded 56 deaths over the course of the pandemic response. In Vance County, we have 414 active COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths.
Community spread of COVID-19 in both Granville and Vance Counties is increasing. If you are looking at the state of North Carolina’s data dashboard and notice the new COVID-19 County Alert System, you will see that the alerts for Granville and Vance Counties changed color today. Granville turned from yellow to orange on the map and Vance turned from orange to red.
North Carolina has established the COVID-19 County Alert System to give individuals, businesses, community organizations, and public officials another tool to understand how their county is faring and to make decisions about actions to slow the spread of the virus. The COVID19 County Alert System uses metrics informed by the White House Coronavirus Task Force and North Carolina’s key metrics to categorize counties into three tiers:
1. Yellow: Significant Community Spread
2. Orange: Substantial Community Spread
3. Red: Critical Community Spread
Because no one metric provides a complete picture, the COVID-19 County Alert System uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county.” More about the alert system online here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/county-alert-system.
As we move into the holiday season, we have the power to prevent more spread and more death. In considering how you’d like to celebrate with family, remember that any scenario in which people gather poses a risk for COVID-19 transmissions.
Getting together with others will always pose some risk. Therefore, we encourage you to consider hosting virtual events. Zoom has announced it will be lifting the 40-minute limit from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 to enable easier virtual connections with loved ones.
If you do choose to gather in-person, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has provided the following suggestions for reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19:
• Consider getting tested for COVID-19 3 to 4 days prior to travel or attending family gatherings.
• Do not host or attend a gathering if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been told by the local health department to quarantine or isolate, or if you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• Consider asking all guests to avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering.
• Practice the 3 Ws during the gathering: Wear a face covering, Wait six feet apart from others, and Wash your hands regularly.
• Arrange space so people from different households can stay distant (at least 6 feet apart) and plan activities where social distancing can be maintained. If you take your mask off to eat or drink, make sure you are 6 feet from others when you do so.
• Outdoor activities are preferred over indoor because it is easier to stay apart and there is more wind and air to help reduce the spread of the virus. However, even in outdoor settings, the more people that interact, the greater the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
• Gatherings should not exceed current mass gathering limits in North Carolina which are 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
• Even with smaller gatherings, it is still very possible for the virus to spread, so when deciding how many people to invite, consider the amount of space you have and the ability to maintain social distancing.
• As difficult as it may be, try to limit physical contact and substitute waves and air kisses for handshakes and hugs.
• Limit the number of people handling or serving food. If serving food, have one person serve all food so that multiple people are not handling serving utensils. Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks and use disposable utensils and dishes.
• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces, such as door handles, sink handles, and bathroom surfaces.
• People at high risk of complications for COVID-19 (e.g., people over 65 years of age or with underlying chronic conditions) should avoid social gatherings. Consider having a virtual option for individuals that are at higher risk to join safely from their homes. If they do attend, ensure the 3Ws are strictly practiced.
• Anyone who develops COVID-19 within 48 hours after attending a gathering should notify other attendees as soon as possible regarding the potential exposure.
We cannot stress enough that just because we are tired of the virus and done with it, it is far from being done with us. Coronavirus can easily transfer through microscopic respiratory droplets, and it’s hard to always know the source and avoid it, especially when we’re around others or inside. Another tricky thing about this virus is that some people who do not feel bad and do not have symptoms yet can be spreading Coronavirus – this makes the mask wearing and distancing so very important.
Please remember – every action you take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in a given setting, whether at the grocery store, in your workplace, or at a family gathering, adds up to make it harder for the virus to transmit from person to person. And, the more we can reduce the spread, the more lives we can save. We want to gather again for the holidays next year, so let’s do all we can to preserve our health this year.
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-Information courtesy Marcus Henderson, Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
On Friday, November 27, 2020, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Middle Baptist Association will have its Annual “Day after Thanksgiving” Service and Food Giveaway.
This service will take place at Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church located at 742 North Chestnut Street in Henderson.
All are invited to come by and get a bagged lunch. Social distancing and masks required.
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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper
Governor Roy Cooper today issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly in North Carolina and across the country. Executive Order No. 180 goes into effect on Wednesday, November 25 and runs through Friday, December 11.
“I have a stark warning for North Carolinians today: We are in danger,” Governor Cooper said. “This is a pivotal moment in our fight against the coronavirus. Our actions now will determine the fate of many.”
In addition to extending Phase 3 capacity limits and safety requirements, the Order tightens the existing statewide mask requirement – making it clear that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The Order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when traveling with people outside of the household.
The Order also requires large retail businesses with more than 15,000 square feet to have an employee stationed near entrances ensuring mask-wearing and implementing occupancy limits for patrons who enter.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, updated North Carolina’s COVID-19 County Alert System map due to the rapid rise in cases and hospitalization over the past week. Since introducing the system last week, ten more counties (including Vance) have moved into the red category indicating critical community spread. There are now 20 red counties and 42 orange counties. Read the update to see where each county stands and how the system was designed.
WIZS Note: Since last week, Vance County’s COVID Alert Level has been elevated from orange or “substantial” spread to red or “critical” spread. As of today’s update, Vance County is showing a 14-day case rate per 100,000 of 577.1, a 14-day percent positive rate of 10.4% and a moderate hospital impact.
“The coming weeks will be a true test of our resolve to do what it takes to keep people from getting sick, to save lives, and to make sure that if you need hospital care whether it’s for a heart attack or a car accident or COVID-19, you can get it,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan spoke at today’s press conference to discuss what the city of Greensboro is doing to step up enforcement of existing, strong statewide safety rules. State officials have encouraged local governments to take action to require compliance and help lower COVID-19 numbers.
Dr. Cohen also provided an update on North Carolina’s data and trends.
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.
Testing
Tracing Capability
Personal Protective Equipment
Read Executive Order 180.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
Read the slides from today’s briefing.
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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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce board of directors has nominated the following individuals to serve a three-year term on the Chamber’s 18 member board (plus 7 ex-officio members). The term will begin January 1, 2021, and end December 31, 2023.
Dr. Levy Brown – Vance-Granville Community College (re-appointed to a second term)
Tanya Evans – Duke Energy (re-appointed to a second term)
Angie Jacobs – Country Snacks Manufacturing (re-appointed to a second term)
Dr. Abidan Shah – Clearview Baptist Church (new appointment to a three-year term)
Margier White – State Farm Insurance (new appointment to a three-year term)
Nancy Wykle – The Daily Dispatch (re-appointed to a second term)
By-Laws
Article IV: Board of Directors
Section 1: Composition of Board. The Board of Directors shall be composed of eighteen (18) members (not including ex-officio members), Six (6) of whom shall be elected each year to serve for three (3) years, or until their successors are elected and have qualified.
The following persons shall be ex-officio member of the Board of Directors: The Chair of the Vance County Board of County Commissioners or a member of the Board appointed by the Chair; the Mayor of the City of Henderson or a member of the Henderson City Council appointed by the Mayor; the Director of the Economic Development Commission; the Director of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission; the Superintendent of the Vance County Public School System; the President of Vance-Granville Community College; and the CEO of Maria Parham Health.
Section 3: Nominations and Candidates. The election of new directors shall be completed before the last day of December each year. A Nominating Committee of not less than five (5) members shall be appointed by the Chair in October each year at least thirty (30) days prior to the election of new members of the Board of Directors. The duty of this Nominating Committee shall be to nominate from the members of the Chamber, or the legal representatives of such member or members, a slate of six (6) candidates to fill the annual three-year term vacancies.
The Nominating Committee shall endeavor to assure a reasonable balance of representatives on the Board of Directors from the membership of the Chamber. A member of the Nominating Committee must interview each of the candidates selected prior to placing their name on the ballot and secure their pledge to serve faithfully if elected as director. Said Committee shall file a list of nominees recommended with the President not later than twenty (20) days before the election. No board member who has served two consecutive three (3) year terms is eligible for election for a third term. A period of one (1) year must lapse before eligibility is restored.
Section 4: Notice of Nominations. The President shall mail to all members of the Chamber of Commerce in good standing a list of the nominees recommended by the Nominating Committee.
Section 5: Nominations from Membership. The membership of the Chamber shall have the opportunity of placing additional names in nomination by presenting at the Chamber office a petition of nominations signed by at least ten (10) members of the Chamber. Such petitions must be filed within ten (10) days of the mailing of the Nominating Committee’s report.
Section 6: Election. If nominations are received from the membership within the ten (10) day period, a ballot bearing names of all nominees will be issued to the membership for vote. The ballots must be returned to the Chamber of Commerce office within fifteen (15) days of the mailing of said ballots. The number of nominees with the highest votes equal to the number of directors needed shall be declared elected. Directors need not be elected by a majority vote. Each member shall have only one vote. If no additional nominations are forthcoming from the membership within ten (10) days of the date which the original slate is mailed, the slate proposed by the Nominating Committee will be considered elected by acclamation.
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Jamie Elliott, founder of GRACE Ministries of Henderson, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.
After-School Program
Elliott announced that GRACE Ministries will offer a free-of-charge, Christ-centered after-school program for children in grades 1-5 beginning January 11, 2021. After-school care will be offered at the group’s 961 Burr Street facility in Henderson on Mondays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
With 20 spots already filled, space is available for approximately 20 more children. According to Elliott, masks will be worn at all times, and children will be divided into smaller groups in separate classrooms to follow social distancing recommendations during the COVID pandemic.
“We are offering this to the youth in our community at no charge,” said Elliott. “If someone wants to give donations to the after school program, then that will be accepted. We want to do something to give back to the youth in our community.”
Christmas Toy Drive
While COVID has altered GRACE Ministries’ annual toy drive and its usual drop off locations, Elliott said new and gently-used toys are being collected at participating Henderson Dollar General locations or by contacting Elliott directly at (252) 204-3617.
A specific date and more details regarding the toy distribution event will be announced closer to Christmas.
Tuesday Night Addiction Ministry
GRACE Ministries holds ongoing, weekly addiction recovery meetings on Tuesday evenings starting at 7 p.m. at the Burr Street location.
Participants are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing; all are welcome.
While COVID concerns have reduced the in-person numbers, Elliott said meetings are still averaging 20-25 people a week. If meetings become too crowded to follow COVID guidelines, a parking lot radio service can be made available.
“We try to give something different every week whether it be a devotion out of the bible or scripture to let people know there is hope with drugs and alcohol,” said Elliott. “That hope is through Jesus Christ.”
For more information on GRACE Ministries, please visit the website at www.graceofhenderson.org, the Facebook page at GRACE Ministries of Henderson or call Elliott at (252) 204-3617.
To hear the interview with Elliott in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Stories include:
– Vance County Court cancelled
– Covid19 Update
– Covid19 Testing event
– New board members on Chamber of Commerce
– Holiday trash collecting schedule.
For full details and audio click play
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The Henderson Family YMCA is currently offering a “Back-to-School Academy” for school-aged children on a full-time, hybrid part-time and after school only basis.
Funding from a recent grant has allowed the YMCA to offer a limited-time price reduction on care through the remainder of 2020.
Full-time or hybrid part-time care is available Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. for $75 per week. After school care is available Monday-Friday from 2 until 6 p.m. for $55 per week ($45 for YMCA members).
The Back-to-School Together sessions include:
Space is limited, so please reserve your spot today. For more information, contact the YMCA at (252) 438-2144, www.hendersonymca.org, or email Dana at danah@henfamymca.org.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
