January, 2021 - WIZS

Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society’s Animal “Ride To Freedom” Rides On

January 8, 2021/by John C. Rose

The yearslong animal rescue “Ride To Freedom,” done weekly by Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society and Vance County Animal Services, continues tonight after a one-week covid disruption.

The plan that has rescued into the thousands of Vance County animals and gotten them to loving, safe homes continues this evening. While the Vance County Animal Shelter remains closed to the public, and Chief Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles continues to be unsure when it will reopen, arrangements for the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society’s “Ride To Freedom” were confirmed earlier this week so the tradition can continue.

Brandon Boyd, president of Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, said, “We would like to thank our very important partners Chief Frankie Nobles and (the) Vance County Animal Shelter for their support and effort which allows this to happen along with our many passionate and faithful supporters that give to support this deserving cause.”

The loading of the animals can typically be watched online live via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RCAPS.Henderson.

Noon News 1-8-21 Snow; Animal Rescue; Downtown Wifi; Stalking; Girl Scout Cookies; Tree Planting

January 8, 2021/by Bill Harris

Stories include:

– Snow in the forecast

– animal rescue event to take place

– free wifi coming to downtown Henderson and Kittrell

– National Stalking Awareness Month

– Girl Scout Cookies to go on sale

– Tar River Conservancy to hold tree planting event

For full details and audio click play.

WIZS Radio · Noon News 1-8-21 Snow; Animal Rescue; Downtown Wifi; Stalking; Girl Scout Cookies; Tree Planting

WIZS SportsTalk – Vance Charter AD Lance Stallings And More 1-7-21

January 8, 2021/by Bill Harris

Trey Snide and Ron Noel welcome Lance Stallings, Athletic Director at Vance Charter School, to SportsTalk. Stallings discusses the difficulties of overcoming delayed tryouts and practices due to Covid 19. He also touches on the growing and learning process for basketball teams at the school and the excitement coaches feel now that the season is underway.

Stallings also spoke on other sports that are about to get underway or resume at the school. These include volleyball, lacrosse and soccer. Stallings also said that senior night for the volleyball team had taken place this week when they played East Wake and that the cross country team would be playing for the conference championship this week.

For full details and audio click play.

WIZS Radio · Sports Talk – Local Sports Discussion 1/7/21

In the second half of the show, Trey and Ron discussed a six player trade in Major League Baseball involving the New York Mets and the Cleveland Indians. The trade will have major impacts on both teams.

They also discussed local high school basketball including upcoming games for Granville Central, South Granville, JF Webb, Warren County, Louisburg and Bunn.

Several local games for Vance Co. High School have been cancelled due to Covid-19 related issues and Victory Christian School has cancelled its entire season.

Part of Agreement Commissioners Approve Means Free Wifi Downtown and in Kittrell

January 7, 2021/by WIZS Staff

The Vance County Commissioners approved an agreement Monday with an Internet broadband provider that will bring free Wi-Fi to parts of downtown Henderson and to the town of Kittrell.

County Manager Jordan D. McMillen said the Wi-Fi Zone agreement is a joint effort between the city and the county and begins a five-year commitment with Open Broadband, LLC.

“Now that the agreement has been signed it will take a few weeks or months for them to order the equipment and determine the areas downtown for equipment to be located,” McMillen said in a written statement to WIZS. Next steps include identifying downtown business owners to partner with Open Broadband to place antennas.

The plan is it to have Wi-Fi available in the general area between Orange Street and Rose Avenue along Garnett Street, as well as along the side streets which extend to Chestnut Street, McMillen added. “We are excited about this initiative and (are) glad to partner with the City to make it happen,” he said. The free public Wi-Fi for Kittrell will be available within the town limits.

Open Broadband, LLC is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that seeks to bring broadband internet service to underserved markets and rural areas, according to information provided on its website. It provides service in about 20 North Carolina counties.

Warren County Public Utilities to Increase Water Tap Fees Beginning February 1st

January 7, 2021/by WIZS Staff

— press release courtesy of Warren County Government

Warren County, North Carolina — At their first meeting of the new year, the Warren County Board of Commissioners took action on a recommendation from Warren County Public Utilities to increase water tap fees due to the rising cost of materials. This increase will be effective February 1, 2021.

New customers to the system will be required to pay $1,200 for a ¾” tap and $1,500 for a 1” tap. Previous costs had been $950 and $1100 respectively.

Tap fees help to cover the costs of adding new customers to the countywide water system. Since April of 2020, there has been a slow but continuing cost increase on tapping materials and supplies, most likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Macon Robertson, Warren County Public Utilities Director on an interim basis.

“We are proud of our countywide water system and the level of service we are able to provide when it comes to this enterprise,” said Tare Davis, Chairman of the Warren County Board of Commissioners. “Maintaining a high quality of service also means we have to take into account rising costs and adjust fees accordingly. The Board felt it was important that existing customers not assume the costs for new customers joining the system. We feel confident that this adjustment for new customers is reasonable and needed.”

The North Carolina Rural Water Association assisted the county in its evaluation of the current tapping fee schedule.

In North Carolina, counties and municipalities are allowed to engage in activities of a commercial nature; these activities are all public enterprises. The majority of public enterprises are self-supporting; local governments are allowed to generate income from user charges to supporting the operating and capital expenses of the service. Water supply and distribution is a public enterprise.

Questions regarding the tap fee increase should be directed to Warren County Public Utilities at 252-257-3645.

PLANT TREES TO HELP PROTECT DRINKING WATER

January 7, 2021/by WIZS Staff

— Tar River Land Conservancy Press Release

BUTNER/STEM – Tar River Land Conservancy (TRLC) is seeking volunteers to plant hardwood tree seedlings on conservation land located at 831 Roberts Chapel Road in Granville County. Seedlings will be planted near streams to protect drinking water supplied by Lake Holt and Falls Lake. Tree planting events will take place from 8:45 AM to 12:00 PM on
these dates:

Friday, January 22, 2021
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Friday, January 29, 2021
Saturday, January 30, 2021

No previous tree planting experience is necessary to volunteer. TRLC will provide tools and instruction on proper tree planting techniques. Tree planting holes will be pre-dug before volunteers arrive. Participants should wear weather-appropriate work clothing, work gloves and a hat. TRLC welcomes any business team, church group, school club, or Scout troop interested in participating as a group. Participants will be asked to follow safety protocols to limit exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

For more information or to register, please contact Alex Hall at TRLC at 919-496-5902 or volunteer@tarriver.org.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

January 7, 2021/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

— from Families Living Violence Free

January is National Stalking Awareness Month!
Know it. Name it. Stop it.

January 2021 marks the seventeenth annual National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), an annual call to action to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking.

If you or someone you know are being stalked, Families Living Violence Free is here to help! Call our 24/7 Crisis Line at 919-693-5700; Español 919-690-0888.

A real person will answer 24/7. You can call from anywhere.

At Least There Will Be Girl Scout Cookies; Local Sales Start Jan.16

January 7, 2021/by WIZS Staff

The countdown to cookie season is almost here! In just over a week, area residents will see the colorful boxes in the hands of local Girl Scouts, many familiar types and one new variety to enjoy. Each box is $5.

Sales kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 and conclude on March 7. In addition to the traditional door-to-door sales and tables outside big box stores and groceries, Teresa Wimbrow, local membership director for the North Carolina Coastal Pines Council, reminds anyone looking to satisfy their cookie craving can order online by visiting https://www.nccoastalpines.org/.

She said, “Some who live in neighborhoods will be knocking on doors but that practice is being discouraged for safety reasons and because of Covid. ”

The troops are “quite competitive in normal times” and Winbrow hopes that this year’s cookie sale will be another success. “We’ve never sold cookies in a pandemic before,” she said, and expressed gratitude that Walmart is allowing the troops to set up their booths again this year. Customers can find the cookie booths outside retailers such as Walmart by Jan. 24. All the scouts and the adult volunteers will wear masks and will follow all state-directed pandemic protocols. Expect to see them in operation on Saturdays and Sundays, Winbrow added.

Winbrow oversees Girl Scout troops in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. Franklin County has 11 troops, Granville has 10, Vance has 4 and Warren has 2 troops. Anyone interested in learning more about Girl Scout membership or volunteering can contact Winbrow. “The cookie sale usually sparks some interest,” she said, adding that the troops do get some new members during and after the cookie sale.

This year’s cookie list has favorites customers have been gobbling down for years, but there is a new cookie called Toast-Yay!, a French toast-inspired flavor. Traditional favorites such as Thin Mint, Shortbread, Tag-along and Do-si-do are all available as well, Wimbrow said.

Most of the local troops will pick up their cookies at a Durham warehouse this Saturday in advance of the Jan. 16 opening day. Proceeds from the cookie sale support troop activities such as trips and other outings, but the girls also choose to support land donate to local programs in their area.

For more information about scouting, visit the North Carolina Coastal Pines website at https://www.nccoastalpines.org/. Contact Winbrow at 252.438.8103 or twimbrow@nccoastalpines.org.