Around Old Granville: Dr. Helen Chavis Othow

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Dr. Helen Chavis Othow was an educator, a genealogist, an author and a longtime leader in civic affairs in her native Granville County. She also was a wife, a sister and a mother.

Othow died on Jan. 1, 2022 at the age of 89.

Mark Pace and Bill Harris remembered the life and work of Othow to kick off a new segment of The Local Skinny! called Around Old Granville.

The Chavis family has ties to Granville County dating back to the 1700’s, Pace said, when Granville County encompassed most of what is present-day Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties.

The founder of the John Chavis Society, Othow wrote a biography of Chavis, who Pace said was Othow’s 5-times great-grandfather. Chavis was a free Black man who was born in 1763. He became a Presbyterian minister and taught many children of prominent white families in the area. Othow produced in 1990 a genealogy of Chavis and his family, Pace said, and made several subsequent updates in the years since that original publication.

Although Othow moved away from the area to attend university and then continued in her marriage and career, “she always had a connection back to the county,” Pace said. It was important for her to contribute and to give back to Oxford, he added.

She taught at numerous universities through her career, including her alma mater, St. Augustine’s in Raleigh from 1984-1996.

Othow is survived by her daughter, Ojulo Othow Norman, a grandson, Collis Norman and her brother, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, former president of the NAACP.

She is buried in the Chavis family cemetery outside Oxford.

Have an idea for a story for an Around Old Granville segment? Contact Bill Harris at WIZS 252.492.5594 or Mark Pace at Thornton Public Library at 919.693. 1121, extension 204.

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for January 11, 2022. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of January 11, 2022

 

Name of the Company:   Variety Wholesalers

Jobs Available: Merchandise Buyer – Home Décor and Furniture –  qualifications – are Merchandising background, 2 years of store buying experience required, Bachelor’s Degree in Merchandising or related field preferred, 5 years of product development and sourcing experience

Method of Contact: Interested applicants can go to indeed.com to apply or for more information contact Patricia Overton at 252-430-2042.

 

Name of the Company:  Variety Wholesalers

Jobs Available: Merchandise Buyer – Sleepwear and Intimates – qualifications are- BS/BA level education or its equivalent, 3-4 years’ retail merchandise buying experience, Strong merchandising and product development skills along with strong negotiating, analytical and math skills

Method of Contact: Interested applicants can go to indeed.com to apply or for more information contact Patricia Overton at 252-430-2042.

 

Name of the Company:  Variety Wholesalers

Jobs Available: Merchandise Buyer – Accessories, Handbags and Jewelry – qualifications are-  Bachelor’s degree, Minimum 3 years experience with buying, Excel, Microsoft Word and power point

Method of Contact: : Interested applicants can go to indeed.com to apply or for more information contact Patricia Overton at 252-430-2042.

 

Name of the Company: Variety Wholesalers  

Jobs Available: Buyer’s Assistant – qualifications are – High School Diploma or equivalent, Strong verbal and written communication skills, experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point

Method of Contact:  : Interested applicants can go to indeed.com to apply or for more information contact Patricia Overton at 252-430-2042.

 

Name of the Company: Variety Wholesalers

Jobs Available:  Associate Buyer – qualifications are – 2-5 years in related retail environment preferred, degree in business related field, strong communication skills, proficiency in Microsoft and Excel

Method of Contact: : Interested applicants can go to indeed.com to apply or for more information contact Patricia Overton at 252-430-2042.

 

Name of the Company: Variety Wholesalers

Jobs Available: Warehouse Associates – 40 hours a week, Sign on and Attendance Bonuses, Overtime as needed. Available Shifts: Monday – Friday 1st shift 6:00am – 2:30 pm and 2nd shift 3:00pm – 11:30pm. Must be able to carry/ lift objects, ability to walk, stand, stoop and bend, ability to work within the seasonal temperature of the building

Method of Contact:  : Interested applicants can go to indeed.com to apply or for more information contact Patricia Overton at 252-430-2042.

 

Name of the Company:  Vance County Government

Jobs Available: Positions are now available with Department of Social Services, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, Planning and Development, Emergency Operations, Register of Deeds and more

Method of Contact: For a list of all listings with job descriptions and qualifications go to Vance County website and look under job postings

 

Name of the Company: Turning Point CDC

Jobs Available:  Academic Coach – Support students in areas they are finding difficulties and provide tutoring to students across a broad range of grade levels based on their personal area of expertise. Salary is $10.00 – $13.00 an hour. High School Diploma required, associates or some college preferred

Method of Contact:  apply at https://www.turningpointcdc.org/get-involved or call Chalis Henderson at 252-621-5190.

 

Name of the Company: Turning Point CDC

Jobs Available: Bus Driver – To assist with traveling to events with the Creating Success Mobile Learning Lab. Part-time flexible hours, Must have CDL license and Must provide a copy of valid driver’s license

Method of Contact: apply at https://www.turningpointcdc.org/get-involved or call Chalis Henderson at 252-621-5190.

 

Name of the Company: Turning Point CDC

Jobs Available: Instructional Assistant – should have experience with educational settings, tutoring, academic support and youth development. Will work closely with the Director of Educational Programs, Site Supervisor, parents, and community partners to optimally support program, $13.00 an hr, hours 2:30p.m. – 5:30p.m. Monday – Friday

Method of Contact: apply at https://www.turningpointcdc.org/get-involved or call Chalis Henderson at 252-621-5190.

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

Vance County Schools Logo

VCS 2-Hour Delay Due to Widespread Power Outages

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From Vance County Schools:

• Today, January 11, 2022, Vance County Schools will operate on a 2-hr delay due to widespread power outages.

For High School Sophomore, Junior Females Interested in STEM Careers

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For the second time in three years, young women in North Carolina interested in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) will have an opportunity to participate in a five-week paid internship designed in part to improve gender inequity and the gender wage gap.

Fifteen high school sophomore and junior women will work with NC state government leaders, and the application period to do so continues until February 28.

In a press release on the matter, NC Department of Administration Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell said, “The gender wage gap is an ongoing disparity not only within North Carolina but around the country. Preparing our state’s best and brightest in high-growth and high-earning fields such as STEM careers will help women and more families achieve economic security, reduce poverty and grow the state’s economy.

Interested students can apply for the Lady Cardinal Mentorship Program now through Feb. 28. Program and application information can be found on the NCDOA website (click here). Candidate interviews will occur in mid-March and selected applicants will be notified of placement in April. The mentorship will run weekdays June 29 through August 5.

Mentees are expected to work 40 hours each week with 24 hours spent working side by side with women leaders as well as time on a group project. Field trips are included and a $2,100 stipend at the end of the program.

Participating state agencies include the departments of Administration, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Information Technology, Public Safety, Revenue, Transportation and the Office of State Human Resources.

Established in 2019 by the NC Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement, the Lady Cardinal Mentorship Program seeks to improve gender inequity by providing college bound girls an opportunity to explore STEM-based careers within state government.

(written from a press release from the NC Department of Administration – click here)

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Goat Facilities

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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.

 

TownTalk: Be Safe When Using Space Heaters

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The recent fires in Philadelphia and in New York that killed dozens of residents in the past week serve as tragic reminders about home fire safety during the winter months, when about half of all home heating fires occur.

With temperatures dipping into the 20s at night, it may be tempting to keep a space heater turned on to keep the chill off, but any supplemental heat unit should be turned off overnight – or even when you leave the room, according to a checklist from the National Fire Protection Association.

There are numerous items to double-check to make sure your home is as safe as possible, from testing smoke detectors and installing carbon monoxide alarms to knowing the proper use of space heaters and portable generators.

When dealing with winter storms that knock out power and create icy conditions, it is important to use care and caution inside and outside the home. Make sure that the street address is clearly visible from the road so emergency personnel can quickly identify your location. It’s also important to keep drives and sidewalks as clean of ice and snow as possible, for your own safety and in case emergency personnel need to get up to your home.

Be ready with flashlights – not candles – in case the power goes out.

And never use generators indoors. They should be kept away from structures when in use.

Supplemental space heaters should never be plugged into a power strip or used with an extension cord. Anything that can catch fire should be kept at least three feet away from space heaters.

All these precautions should be taken during and after a winter storm or extended cold snap, but having properly functioning smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home is something that can be done at any time of the year.

Test these devices monthly and replace batteries or the entire detector when that annoying chirping sound begins.

The Henderson Fire Department has smoke detectors and Lee Edmonds said city residents can call the department at 252.430.1877 and fire officials will come and install them in their homes.

The Office of State Fire Marshal Mike Causey has posted the following reminders on its webpage. Visit www.ncosfm.gov to learn more.

  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
  • Have a three-foot, kid-free zone around open fires and space heaters.
  • Never use your oven to heat your home.
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
  • Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
  • When refueling kerosene heaters, be sure to move them outside to refill.
  • Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Town Talk: Talent Connect Connects People To Employment

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A short informational virtual session could be the jumpstart to a new career path, and Desiree Brooks said staff at NCWorks is available to follow up with individuals who have questions about next steps toward seeking meaningful employment.

Brooks spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk about Tuesday’s 10 a.m. Talent Connect series, sponsored by the Kerr-Tar COG.

The session lasts 10 minutes, she said, but will be chock-full of information for participants.

“There’s a pathway for every person,” she said, adding that there’s no one set way for prospective employees to find a job that suits them and their skill sets.

Participants will have a chance to interact with presenter Helen Bradby during the virtual session – Tues, Jan 11 – Register at: bit.ly/pathways0111.

Anyone without internet access can simply call NCWorks at 252.438.6129 in Henderson or 919.693.2686 in Oxford  to schedule an appointment to learn more.

“We’ll figure out a way to get them the information they need,” Brooks said.

Other virtual sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays in January – the topic for Jan. 18 is professional communication and interview skills (register here – bit.ly/professionalskills0118) and the topic for Jan. 25 is resume building (register here – bit.ly/resumebuilding0125).

These “soft skills” can be important for interviews, Brooks said; prospective employers are looking for new workers who will be a good fit, and job seekers should feel confident when going into an interview.

The Jan. 18 session will give tips for gaining the confidence to kind of help you “shake those nerves…to go in and get the job.”

The Jan. 25 session about resume building will help participants create a resume, which doesn’t necessarily have list a long job history to be a powerful tool. “If you don’t have work experience, that’s OK,” Brooks said. There is plenty that you can put on a resume, from extracurricular activities like church, civic and community service participation.

“All that experience definitely needs to be highlighted on your resume,” she said.

Job seekers can practice those soft skills on Thursday, Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oxford NCWorks Center’s hiring event with Express Employment Professionals. The NCWorks Center is located at 111 Hilltop Village off US Hwy 158.

Learn more and bookmark www.kerrtarworks.com.

 

 

The Local Skinny! Shingles? Ouch!

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A case of shingles can really get on your nerves – literally. The viral infection causes a painful skin rash and accompanying nerve pain that can linger long after the rash has cleared up.

The shingles is associated with the childhood disease varicella, commonly called chickenpox.

Contracting the chickenpox as a 5- or 6-year-old was common and not seen as a big deal, as far as childhood diseases go.

But about 30 years ago, a vaccine was introduced to eliminate or greatly reduce the severity of the chickenpox in young children.

Shingles is not contagious, but it can be transmitted to someone who has not had chickenpox or who hasn’t had the vaccine against chickenpox, according to information on the CDC website.

Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. It lies dormant and then reactivates – sometimes triggered by stress – and usually affects older adults or people with weak immune systems. The rash typically appears on one side of the face or body and lasts two to four weeks. But lingering effects of nerve pain, which can feel like tingling or that pins-and-needles feeling can last longer than the rash.

Thankfully, most people only have a single episode during their lifetime, but it is possible to have shingles more than once. The risk of spreading VZV to others is low if you cover the shingles rash. People with shingles cannot spread the virus before their rash blisters appear or after the rash crusts.

People with chickenpox are more likely to spread VZV than people with shingles.

Consult your health professional or primary care provider to learn whether you should get the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for healthy adults over 50.