The Local Skinny! Covid 19 And The Omicron Variant

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Granville-Vance Public Health is open each weekday to provide COVID-19 vaccines from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both the Henderson and Oxford locations. First doses, second doses, booster doses, and even pediatric doses all are available. Only Pfizer is authorized for children, but all three vaccine types are available – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, according to information from the health department.

With the identification of the new Omicron variant, President Joe Biden said today in a White House briefing about next steps. “(T)his variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic,” Biden told members of the press. Health professionals, including White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, continue to promote vaccination against the disease as the prime factor for reducing transmission.

In the seven days ending Saturday, Nov 27, there were 67 new cases in Vance County. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 5.2%.

In the seven days ending Saturday, Nov. 27, there were 94 new cases in Granville County. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 4.6%.

These numbers put both counties in the category of “high” community transmission, according to information from GVPH.

In Vance County, 61% of those over the age of 5 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 56% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 66% of those over the age of 5 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 62% are fully vaccinated.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told ABC’s “This Week” anchor George Stephanopoulos Sunday, “We all know when you have a virus that has already gone to multiple countries, inevitably it will be here. The question is, will we be prepared for it?”

President Biden met in person Sunday with Fauci and members of his White House COVID Response Team. Fauci and members of the COVID Response Team updated the president on the latest developments related to the Omicron variant. Fauci informed the president that while it will take approximately two more weeks to have more definitive information on the transmissibility, severity and other characteristics of the variant, and he continues to believe that existing vaccines are likely to provide a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID. Fauci also reiterated that boosters for fully vaccinated individuals provide the strongest available protection from COVID. The COVID Response Team’s immediate recommendation to all vaccinated adults is to get a booster shot as soon as possible; all adults are eligible for a booster if they were vaccinated six months ago or more with Pfizer or Moderna, or two months ago or more with Johnson & Johnson. Importantly, those adults and children who are not yet fully vaccinated should get vaccinated now.

Michael Easley, Jr. Sworn In As U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of NC

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Michael F. Easley, Jr. is the newest U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 19, 2021 and U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III administered the oath of office last week, according to a press statement.

 “It is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of the Eastern District of North Carolina as United States Attorney,” Easley said in the statement. “I am grateful to President Biden for this opportunity, and I want to thank Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis for their strong support through the confirmation process.”

As U.S. Attorney, Easley is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of North Carolina, which includes Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties among the 44 easternmost counties of North Carolina. He oversees a staff of 119 employees, including 58 attorneys and 61 non-attorney support personnel.  The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics.  The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Easley was a partner in McGuire Woods LLP prior to his appointment and was a litigator focused on internal investigations and trial court work in state and federal courts.  He represented businesses and individuals in civil, criminal, and regulatory matters over a wide range of topics, including criminal law, environmental, consumer protection, business torts, professional negligence, government contracting, as well as matters involving financial services and securities.

Easley also has advised clients facing inquiries by the U.S. Department of Justice, North Carolina Ethics Commission, and matters before other governmental regulatory bodies.

Born in Southport, Easley attended the University of North Carolina where he graduated with honors and distinction in political science. He later received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

In addition to his work at McGuireWoods, Easley contributed time to various bar and community organizations.  He served as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of North Carolina.  He was also a member of the Criminal Justice Section Council and the Integration, Equity & Equal Justice Task Force of the North Carolina Bar Association. Mr. Easley also served as a mentor in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Success in Law School Mentoring Program.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Reuse Before Recycling

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Recycle…it’s something we hear a lot about but is it the smartest idea? Wayne Rowland of the Vance Co. Extension Service explained on Monday’s Local Skinny that there are actually better ways than recycling to manage waste. Rowland says that recycling is important but it is third of the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. “Before you recycle, choose to reuse,” Rowland said. Reusing an item might mean to repair it or perhaps repurpose an item for another use.  Reusing an item has the advantages of minimizing waste and maximizing resources. Additionally, reuse saves or delays purchasing a similar item, eliminates disposal costs, reduces the waste stream, lessens pollution and items that are to be reused can be more affordable than the same item purchased new.

Rowland also explained that reducing is also important when it comes to waste management.  Reducing involves eliminating and decreasing the amount of waste and reducing toxicity of materials. Redesigning products to use less packaging, making items more durable and avoiding disposable products are all ways reducing waste helps the environment.

Recycling involves the collection of used materials and these materials are used to manufacture new products. Rowland pointed out that recycling consumes energy, water and other resources and recyling itself can also cause pollution but less than manufacturing products with virgin materials.

For more information contact Wayne Rowland at the Vance County Extension Service at 252-438-8188. The Cooperative Extension Report can be heard as part of the Local Skinny on WIZS Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11:50 AM.

 

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

 

Granville Teen Takes State Fair Prize With Her Hereford Cow/Calf Pair

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A Granville County teen is among the winners of the annual livestock competitions held during the N.C. State Fair in Raleigh.

Lillian “Lillee” Bissett, 16, won reserve supreme champion in the cow/calf pair class, according to the final results released recently by the N.C. Department of Agriculture. Jamie Byers of Jonesborough, TN took supreme champion honors in the cow/calf class. Bissett also won Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair class in the Open Beef Cattle – Hereford division.

Bissett’s mother, Pam Bissett, said her three girls all started showing sheep by the time they were 4 years old and then moved to cattle by age 6. “We’ve never missed a state fair,” she said, adding that they participate in regional and national shows.

Lillee Bissett showed the mama cow in the show ring and her friend Mazie Bunn handled the calf for the cow/calf class. The Bissett family operates Grassy Creek Farm in Bullock, NC where they raise Hereford cattle. Bissett said she loves Herefords for their easy disposition.

Like her father and grandfather before her, Pam Bissett has served at the state level for Hereford associations. She currently is a director of the N.C. Hereford Association.

Fox Pond Park Shelter, Tennis Courts Named In Honor, Memory Of Local Athletes

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If Henderson were to create a list of notable athletes that got their start locally and went on to become standouts in their selected sport, two names — Eddie Hicks and Mary Lloyd Hodges Barbera — certainly would be included.

The Henderson City Council recently approved naming a shelter and two tennis courts at Fox Pond Park in honor of and in memory of those two local athletes, both of whom played for and were graduated from Vance Senior High School. The proposals were made by Recreation and Parks Director Kendrick Vann.

Fox Pond Shelter #1 will be named for Eddie James Hicks. Hicks grew up in Henderson and graduated in 1975 from Vance Sr. High School. He earned a football scholarship to East Carolina University, where he rushed for more than 2,100 yards during his four years. He was instrumental in the Pirates’ first-ever victory over UNC-Chapel Hill and continues to hold the school record for longest rushing yard play – 95 yards – in ECU history. He was inducted into the ECU Hall of Fame in 2014. Hicks was drafted by the New York Giants in 1979 and has long ties to the recreation and parks department. He often returned home during his professional career for special events and has been a long-time advocate for youth in the community.

His off-field accomplishments are equally impressive. Hicks is a devoted employee for the Recreation and Parks Department. “He takes pleasure in being a part of the team and takes pride in his work,” according to agenda information from the commissioners’ Nov. 8 meeting. “He has been called upon numerous times by the department and community, and he never wavers or disappoints. Even when Mr. Hicks is off work, he ensures that things are being handled and taken care of properly.” Hicks also oversees the adult and youth community service program and makes sure that areas throughout the city and county are clean.

Hicks is a member and trustee of the Kesler Temple AME Zion Church in the Flint Hill community and is an active community leader and advocate for youth. He has been a member of the Beacon Light Masonic Lodge #249 since 1984, and he joined #195 in 1986 and the Imran Temple #168 in 1995.

Tennis courts #1 and #2 will be renamed in memory and honor of teenage tennis standout Mary Lloyd Hodges Barbera. The Henderson native died at the age of 49 in 2015, but many remember her prowess on the tennis courts.

One of her nicknames was “Rabbit,” according to David Hicks, who remembers well Barbera’s dedication to the sport and who had occasion to face her on the tennis courts. “She’s the only tennis player I knew who could get mad at herself on the court and actually play better,” he said in an email to WIZS News. “Most don’t.”

She was considered one of the state’s premier junior tennis players in the 1970’s and 1980’s and was ranked number one in the state in girls’ 12-, 14- and 18-year-old divisions. She won two 4A state singles titles as a junior in 1981 and again in 1982 as a senior. She graduated from Vance Sr. High in 1983 and went on to Peace College, where, in 1984, she was named an All-American athlete by the National Junior College Athletic Association for Flight #1 in singles competition. She transferred to N.C. State University in 1985 and led the Wolfpack women’s tennis team with 16 wins in singles competition.

In addition to a 6-1 record against ACC competition, she contributed to a 16-3 slate in doubles, which included three wins in the ACC tournament. She was inducted into the William Peace University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

4-H Logo

Vance 4-H Agent Discusses Programs For Area Youth

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The 4-H program is designed as a youth development program, but there are definitely some benefits for adults as well. One program that Vance 4-H agent Wykia Macon said is a win-win for club members and older adults alike is called Tech Changemakers, which pairs those young, savvy tech users with others who need a little help understanding how it all works.

Macon spoke with Paul McKenzie on a recent lawn and garden segment of The Local Skinny! and said 4-H still has traditional programming like gardening but has evolved to include other areas like food and nutrition and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.

In 4-H, club members have the opportunity to develop public speaking and leadership skills. Participants in district and state competitions vie for ribbons and cash awards.

Macon said some of the programs are short, lasting six weeks. Find new listings on their Facebook page or on the cooperative extension’s webpage. One food and nutrition program modeled after the popular Food Network show “Chopped” included competing for top cooking honors. There also are financial management classes for teens.

The Tech Changemakers program has teens teaching adults a variety of digital literacy skills to be able to create PowerPoint presentations, learn how to use the Zoom platform, and how to use Google Calendar.

The “Just Grow It” program is a self-paced project that supplies youth with all the materials necessary to grow microgreens and create container gardens. “They get a chance to see things grow,” Macon said, and also “gives them an idea of where their food comes from.”

There is always a need for adult volunteers to help with 4-H, Macon said. The more adults that offer their time, the more children in the community 4-H can reach, she added.

To learn more, contact Macon at wsmacon@ncsu.edu or 252.438.8188.

Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

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

 

Free Christmas Concert SATURDAY At McGregor Hall, Courtesy Of Vance Arts Council And Community Sponsors

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(This post has been edited to correct the day of the show.)

The Vance County Arts Council will present a holiday program SATURDAY afternoon, November 27, at McGregor Hall. Admission is free and the public is invited to come out and enjoy Tidings of Comfort and Joy, featuring Christmas music to soothe the soul.

Alice Sallins, executive director of the local arts council, said the program lineup includes sacred and secular music, as well as dance performances and the Holiday Royal Pageant at intermission.

The doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the program begins at 4 p.m. McGregor Hall is located at 205 Breckenridge St. in Henderson.

Sallins said the first half of the show will showcase sacred music and the second half will have secular music. Some of the individuals and groups scheduled to perform include:

  • Lynn Cooper, recording artist
  • Clearview Baptist Praise Team
  • I Praise Dance Academy
  • Jimmy Barrier Band
  • Brotherhood, a group of local male vocalists
  • The Queen of Diamonds
  • Tyrel Clark as Lil Santa
  • Work in Progress
  • The Chavis Family

Sallins said the show should last a good two hours and there just may be a surprise group that will make an appearance. It’s something that the local arts council does each year for the community, but it doesn’t happen without a lot of support and good ol’ hard work and attention to details.

Local sponsors are vital to the success of programs like this one, she said. In addition to the North Carolina Arts Council and the Vance County Board of Commissioners, she said she is especially grateful to Vance Family Medicine for sponsoring the back cover of the program booklet for this performance.

In addition to Sallins’ role as executive director of the arts council, she also is chair of the promotions committee of the downtown development corporation. And she said there’s still time to enter the Christmas parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.

She said she’s gotten more than 50 entrants so far, and she expects to get more through the weekend. She’ll take forms until Monday, Nov. 29. She needs time to get all the groups and floats and other entries in an official lining-up order. “We already have a lot of floats, both homemade and professional,” Sallins said.

“Vance County Schools will have a great presence this year,” Sallins said, noting that most of the schools will be represented in one way or another.”

The parade route will begin at the Raleigh Road Extension and Dabney Drive near Walgreens, which will mean some streets will be closed as early as 2:30 p.m. The parade ends near the intersection of Garnett Street and Andrews Avenue.

For more information, contact Sallins at 252.767.4579.