Center For Innovation Cutting-Edge Hub For VCS

/by

Vance County Schools officially opened its Center for Innovation at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning, and community representatives were on hand to see how the former Henderson High School building has been transformed into a high-tech hub for student learning.

“It is just a special day in Vance County,” said Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess. The building is a city landmark and has been outfitted with all sorts of technology to enhance students’ education. The new life of technology, innovation, virtual learning and robotics that the students will experience is going “to put our school system on top of the leader board for sure,” Burgess told WIZS News Monday.  (Click here to listen to Michele Burgess on WIZS News – 3 min)

There’s an audio room and a “green room” where students can come in and learn about broadcasting and recording, she noted, and added that there will be a community meeting room outfitted to accommodate all types of technology and an adjoining kitchen that can be used for catering. Community groups will be able to rent this space for their meetings, she said.

There will be another ribbon-cutting later to officially open the Wayne Adcock Community Auditorium.

Also housed at the 219 Charles St. location are AdVance Academy, STEM Early High, Vance Virtual Village, MakerSpace/Robotics Lab, a professional practice lab, technology resource center and family resource center.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 07-26-21 – Hornets

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

TownTalk: VGCC Student Enrollment Day to Take Place on All Four Campuses

/by

The four campuses of Vance-Granville Community College will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 31 for Enrollment Day, a time when prospective students can drop in, learn more and get help as they plan their next steps in education.

Dr. Antonio Jordan, director of admissions and enrollment services and Kali Brown, dean of student access and support, spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk about the upcoming event. Fall semester classes begin on Aug. 16.

“There’s something special about a face-to-face interaction,” Brown said of the in-person event. It’s an opportunity to have students come to campus, have access to the offices they would need for the enrollment process in a face-to-face setting. Both the VGCC application and the financial aid application are accessed and completed online, and Saturday’s event is a time for students and their parents or family members to questions or get help navigating the process.

Jordan said he looks forward to having students back on campus. “We’ve done a great job virtually, but like Dean Brown mentioned, there’s just something special about having them on that campus, having them in tone of those computer labs, having them in the admissions or enrollment center and being able to talk with them and work with them,” he said.

Having weekend events to meet students’ needs is probably going to become more routine, he added. Increasingly, the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours just aren’t convenient for those who have full-time jobs or other commitments, so VGCC leaders are “thinking outside the box” by offering the Saturday opportunity, he said.

For complete details and audio click play.

In addition to the two applications, the enrollment process includes a new student orientation.

Jordan will be at the main campus in Henderson to facilitate the new student orientation, which will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. During the orientation, students will have an opportunity to learn about majors and careers, complete their own career assessment and then figure out the best way to achieve their goals.

Although VGCC uses social media, email and other methods to share information, Brown said it’s critical for students to be able to have a face-to-face conversation with college representatives to guide them. The Enrollment Day is a chance to set up student accounts, as well as set up meetings with advisors to select classes.

There is, of course, the matter of paying for classes. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a first step, but there also are grants like the Long Leaf Commitment grant that can help, as well as numerous VGCC scholarships through the VGCC Foundation, Brown said.

The VanGuarantee is a program that helps students pay for fees and books that financial aid may not cover. This program is available for students who take a minimum of six credit hours, Brown added.

Granville Ed Foundation Fundraiser Set For Aug. 9 at Tobacco Wood Brewing Company

/by

The Granville Education Foundation has announced plans for its annual fundraiser, including dinner and the chance to win prizes – all to benefit education in the county.

The 6th annual Pig ‘n a Raffle is set for Monday, Aug. 9 at Tobacco Wood Brewing Company in downtown Oxford, according to GEF Executive Director Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and include a catered meal, 2 beverage tickets (a cash bar also will be available), and entry into a raffle with the chance to win over 40 items, each valued over $100.

Tickets are available from any GEF board member. This year, Carpenter said, the event will feature a special musical performance by Andrew Rice.

“We are looking forward to another exciting raffle event this year,” she said. In addition to cash prizes and gift cards, other items to be raffled include a Blackstone Griddle, donated by Union Bank, and an Adirondack chair and table donated by Guy Breedlove.

Visit the GEF Facebook page for a complete list of items. Carpenter said the list will be updated as more items are added.  “As a unique feature of Pig ‘n a Raffle – if you are unable to attend, you can still support the event by purchasing raffle tickets,” she said. Winners need not be present to win.

“This event is a great way to gather with others from the community, enjoy a great meal, and have the added benefit of possibly winning some really great items,” said Kevin Breedlove, GEF treasurer. “It’s a casual, fun way to spend a Monday evening.”

Event sponsors include Whitco Termite & Pest Control, the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford and Wilkinson & Carpenter, Attorneys at Law.

The Granville Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing student performance.  Funds raised through the Granville Education Foundation are used to provide resources and enrichment programs for students in Granville County schools.

Contact the Granville Education Foundation at 919.693.7047 or GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com.

Vaccination Requirements for Healthcare Workers

/by

Maria Parham Health on Friday issued a statement to WIZS News concerning the vaccination of its healthcare workers.

The statement said:

“At this time, Maria Parham Health is strongly encouraging and supporting all of our team members to become fully vaccinated. There is significant evidence that grows daily indicating that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Understanding that the situation changes daily, we are committed to carefully evaluating the research and the level of COVID-19 activity in our communities as we make this very important decision independent of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We will continue to evaluate our procedures and closely follow guidance from our local, state and federal partners in public health.

“We are aware of Duke University Health System’s decision to require the COVID-19 vaccine for its team members, and we respect this position. Like the majority of hospitals and health systems in the country, we are continuing to discuss this complex issue and determine best next steps for the communities we serve. Maria Parham Health remains committed to strongly encouraging and supporting all of our team members to become fully vaccinated.”

On Thursday the North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA) announced its position approved by the association’s board of trustees supporting COVID-19 vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. In a press release issued by the State of North Carolina, the NCHA also announced several of its member health systems intend to be first in the state to require COVID-19 vaccination for their employees, including Atrium Health, Cone Health, Duke University Health System, Novant Health, Wake Forest Baptist Health and the following UNC Health hospitals – UNC Medical Center, UNC Rex, UNC Johnston, UNC Chatham, UNC Rockingham and UNC Southeastern.

In response, Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in the press release:

“I am so grateful to our hospitals and health systems who have been tremendous partners as we’ve worked together to respond to the pandemic. We owe an incredible debt of gratitude to our healthcare workforce who have selflessly given so much of themselves to protect and care for us and put us on a path to recovery. Thank you to the North Carolina Healthcare Association, and the health systems that are leading the way requiring vaccination for employees, for taking action to protect the health care workforce, their patients, our communities and the state. Vaccinations are our way out of the pandemic. Don’t wait to vaccinate.”

SportsTalk: Pollard proud of Blue Devil’s 2021 team

/by

“I felt like we were a fragile team,” Duke Blue Devils head baseball coach Chris Pollard said on Thursday’s SportsTalk with Trey Snide. The Blue Devils were at a crossroads having lost to Louisville. Pollard had watched his team fall behind and not demonstrate the toughness he felt the team needed to turn the 2021 season around. He had a long talk with his team after that loss hoping to instill that sense of toughness. The next game found the Blue Devils fall behind early to Wofford and Pollard’s team, who had not had a come from behind win all season, fought through the early mistakes to win and begin a winning streak that would ultimately continue for 12 games.

While Pollard was pleased with the victory, he felt the team was in a fragile state. Confidence would be built after another come from behind win against Virginia Tech but Pollard says, “Confidence is fleeting. It comes and goes.” Pollard felt that confidence is good, competitiveness is better and that’s what the Blue Devils needed. Duke’s confidence and competitiveness continued to increase and Duke not only found itself in the ACC Tournament, which wasn’t a guarantee earlier in the season, but winning the tournament championship, the first ACC Baseball Championship in the schools history.

That tournament victory propelled Duke into a second seed in the NCAA tournament. However, Pollard feels like the Blue Devils were a spent force physically and emotionally after the ACC Tournament. They ran into a hot Liberty team that beat the Blue Devils in both games. Pollard said he was not happy with how the team performed and says Duke was “not ready.” However, Pollard also says he is very proud of what the Blue Devils accomplished this season.

Even though the season didn’t end with a bang, having five draft picks taken in the first twenty rounds of the Major League Baseball draft gives his program at Duke validation. The team’s players are also working over the summer in different summer leagues to improve and be ready for next year. Pollard feels there are areas that Duke can improve. While technology now exists to help players become better hitters, he says that has taken away from teaching fundamentals. Pollard says he and other coaches need to get back to working on basics like base running. He also says players need to practice. Pollard explains that many players “play but don’t practice enough.”

Pollard is also concerned that players have become year round baseball players. Players should play other sports and not just concentrate on baseball for the entire year. He wants to see kids step away from that mentality.

Pollard has been Duke’s head baseball coach since 2013 compiling a 278-199 record. He reached 100 wins faster than any other coach in the history of Duke Blue Devil baseball.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Hearings Set For Public To Comment On Granville Schools Reorganization Plan

/by

Granville County residents will have the chance to voice their opinions about school reorganization and consolidation during two public hearings that will be held early next week.

The county’s board of education will hear public comment on Monday, July 26 regarding the possible closure of Creedmoor Elementary or Wilton Elementary, according to information received from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent and public information officer for GCPS.

Then on Tuesday, July 27, the school board will receive comments about the reorganization of secondary schools in the district.

The board voted at a called meeting on Thursday to present two options in advance of the Tuesday meeting regarding secondary school reorganization, according to Winborne:

(1) Closure of Hawley Middle School, reassignment of 7th and 8th grade students from Hawley Middle to other schools, and relocation of all Granville County sixth-grade students to elementary schools; OR

(2) Relocation of Hawley Middle School to the South Granville High School campus and consolidation of South Granville High School and Granville Central High School into one high school on the current GCHS campus.

Both meetings begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at Tar River Elementary School, 2642 Philo White Road, Franklinton, NC. The school is located off Hwy 56 South in Granville County. In addition, Winborne said anyone wishing to address the board may sign up beginning at 5:15 p.m. on the day of the hearing. Each person who has signed up before 6 p.m. will have up to three minutes to  speak.

Written comments also may be submitted electronically to publiccomment@gcs.k12.nc.us or may be hand-delivered to GCPS Central Office at 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC 27565.

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building, and cooperate with social distancing requirements. There will be limited seating available, Winborne stated.

The hearings will be available online as well via the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

Holding public hearings was a next step for the board as it continues to discuss options for the district, which faces a $1.7 million budget deficit and many empty classrooms in its schools. The board discussed in its called meeting Thursday afternoon results of a survey that was created to get feedback from the community about the possible closings and consolidation.

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Case of Female’s Body Near I-85 North and Flemingtown Road Being Investigated as Homicide

/by

Update 3:45 p.m. Friday –

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame issued a press release Friday afternoon, and it indicates a description of a possible suspect and vehicle and interagency cooperation have led to a suspect being in custody.

The press release indicates the victim in the case is Cierra Jackson of Richmond, VA.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office responded to the I-85 exit ramp Thursday afternoon at 3:26.  A female was observed laying on the roadside, and it was believed she had been stabbed.

Additional investigation has revealed the victim, Jackson, suffered numerous gunshot wounds to the body.  EMS pronounced her deceased at the scene.

The suspect has been identified as Tikeise Kenshaun Johnson, black male age 20, of Richmond.  Sheriff Brame’s press release said, “Johnson is being held in Dinwiddie, Virginia without bond and has several charges pending in Virginia. Johnson will be charged in Vance County with 1st Degree Murder.”

Vance deputies on scene took a description of a possible suspect and vehicle, which led to a “Be On The Lookout” throughout North Carolina and Virginia.

Brame said in the press release, “Virginia Law Enforcement apprehended the possible suspect in an unrelated incident in Dinwiddie, Virginia. With the information received in the BOLO, Dinwiddie officials made contact with Vance County in reference to this being a possible suspect in (the) homicide.”

Additional details remain under investigation.

———————————

Update 10:50 p.m. Thursday –

According to a press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame, deputies received a call about 3:25 p.m. Thursday regarding a black female at the I-85 northbound exit 220.  The press release indicates that deputies were advised before arriving that the victim had possibly been stabbed.

Brame said in the press release, “Upon law enforcement’s arrival, the female had apparent injuries to her left leg and neck area. CPR was initiated. She was pronounced deceased on scene by EMS.”

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations has been called to assist with the investigation, and the investigation is ongoing at the time of this publication.

More information will be provided when it is available.

###

SportsTalk: Khalil Watson to be a highlight of Saturday’s Home Run Derby

/by

If you love baseball then Saturday’s Home Run Derby is for you! Wake Forest’s Fungo baseball team, part of the NC Amateur Basball Club, is putting on the event beginning at 1pm on Saturday at Heritage High School in Wake Forest. Fungo General Manager and Oxford native Brad Mize says he hopes “to put on a show and earn fans,” during the event. The NC Amateur Baseball Club consists of 16 youth teams from North Carolina and Virginia including Granville County’s Carolina Thunder.

This is the first home run derby and, according to Mize, the germ of the idea was to do something special for the players, something for them to remember. Mize hopes this will become an annual event. With that in mind, Mize has done everything he can to make the event a special one. Khalil Watson will be attending. Watson was the 16th overall pick in the recent Major League Baseball draft. Watson attended Wake Forest High School and NC State. He was drafted by the Marlins and he will be available for autographs and photos at the event. Additionally, Mize says concessions will be available and a raffle will also be held for everyone in attendance.

While a lot of fun is to be had on Saturday, baseball still has to be played and Mize’s Fungo team has compiled a 21-10 record this season which is good enough to propel them to the league’s Western Division championship and will be heading into the playoffs next week. Many of the players who have passed through the NC Amateur Baseball Club have moved on to the major leagues including Oxford’s Ky Adcock who was drafted by the Mariners in 2019.

The NCABC organization is unique to Wake County as the only travel community to provide diamond time and professional training from ages 7 through college. Not only does NCABC provide Baseball and Softball travel teams for young athletes (7U-15U), it is home to two Legion affiliate teams at the HSU level (Post 187 & Post 297 Senior), 3 Legion Lady affiliate teams (Post 187 Jr & Sr and Post 297 Jr), and boasts the CVCL College FUNGO woodbat team. All levels of NCABC athletes are professionally coached with a hybrid professional/parent coach model at the younger levels. In addition to travel teams, NCABC’S mission is to provide athletic and character development to all area baseball and softball athletes through professionally coached academies, camps/clinics, consulting, and private lessons. Based in Raleigh, NC, NCABC is the full package travel and development organization for athletes and their families.

For more information email them at ncabcfungo@gmail.com.

For complete details and audio click play.