Blackwell Named 2022 Mercy Award Winner

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-information courtesy of Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health’s Kelly Blackwell has been recognized as the facility’s 2022 Mercy Award winner.

The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s facilities who “profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded,” according to a press statement from Donna Young, MPH’s Coordinator  of Marketing & Communications.

The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, LifePoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.

“At Maria Parham Health we share LifePoint’s commitment to making communities healthier, and we recognize this is supported by the good work and service of our employees on and off the job,” said MPH CEO Bert Beard.

“We are extremely proud to recognize Kelly Blackwell for her efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. She goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person she encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion,” Beard continued.

Blackwell has been a registered nurse for 36 years, working across the spectrum of care and currently working in the hospital’s Cancer Center. Beyond her work in the Cancer Center, Kelly volunteers for mission work, taking her skills to Haiti, Honduras and Uganda multiple times. Blackwell participates in various ministries, including widow’s ministry, children’s ministries, and mission team.

As a member of Maria Parham’s team since 1995, Blackwell’s dedication, empathy and kindness has bonded her to our team and her patients. Her service to the hospital and the community is inspiring to others. She is a leader among our team, and she leads through service to others.

Blackwell and the other Mercy Award winners will vie for company-wide Mercy Award; the companywide winner will be announced later in the summer at a ceremony in Nashville, TN.

TownTalk: Chief Barrow Discusses Weekend Shootout

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Henderson police are searching for four suspects in connection with an exchange of gunfire outside a convenience store on West Andrews Avenue Saturday afternoon.

Police Chief Marcus Barrow spoke with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk and provided an update on the weekend incident that took place over the course of about one minute in the parking lot of Gate City Foods on 601 W. Andrews Ave.

“We received a call around 4:15 or 4:20,” Barrow said, but officers arrived to find that the suspects had left the scene. After reviewing the surveillance video, the police identified four suspects and subsequently obtained warrants for their arrest.

“For the past two days, we’ve been out looking for the suspects,” he said, adding that his office is working closely with other agencies, including the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

A vehicle thought to have been involved in the incident was located on Nutbush Road Saturday evening, and Barrow said between the store’s surveillance video, the location of the car and other evidence, he believes his department has made “a really good case against these individuals.”

While taking cover from the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspects was seen with a long gun of some sort – Barrow said he thinks it could be a type of automatic rifle. One of the subjects recently had been released from prison in connection with a homicide that had taken place several years ago; Barrow said it is believed that the incident was retaliation for that homicide.

According to Barrow, warrants have been issued for:

Jaymon Gibson, 24; Charles Green, Jr., 23; Anthony Sanders, Jr., 18; and Jordan Turnage, 21;

All four suspects are charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and discharging a weapon into occupied property. Gibson also is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Barrow said one of the suspects is believed to have injured one or both feet in the incident.

Anyone with information about the location of the four suspects is urged to call 911, Henderson Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925, or use the P3 app or Facebook Messenger.

 

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance 05-31-22

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for May 31, 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 Michele@hendersonvance.org to be included.

Name of the Company:Huff Consulting, LLC

Jobs Available: Position open for Press Brake Operator for company in Henderson, NC. Duties of the job include operating press brake to accurately bend various styles of aluminum sheets according to blueprints.  Requirements needed: ability to read a tape measure, blueprint, caliber, and protractor, ability to work independently, aw well as in a team, and ability to stand for long periods of time at the worksite.  Salary $16-$20 hour based on experience – 2 years preferred.

Method of Contact: Submit your resume to abunton@huff-consulting.com or call 919-339-4685.

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Name of the Company:  Mako Medical Lab

Jobs Available:   Sales Acquisition Specialist.  The right candidate will play a crucial part in continuing our sales growth within the Triangle Region of NC, and then expanding across the state.  Candidate must be enthusiastic, customer focused, and willing to provide creative ideas to help achieve our company expansion goals.  This is an entry level position.  A great opportunity for individuals interested in starting a career in business, sales, marketing, management, and client acquisition.  Hybrid position with significant travel within the state.  2-3 year experience in Sales, Health Insurance, and/or Hospitality Management experience a+ or Salesforce experience and/or other CRM experience a+

Method of Contact:  Send your resume to akelly@makomedical.com

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Name of the Company:Community Home Care and Hospice

Jobs Available: Open Positions for Full-Time Registered Nurse Case Manager; Registered Nurse Case Manager (PRN); Full-Time Weekend or On Call Registered Nurse Case Manager; Full-Time RN Regional Resource Case Manager; Full-Time CNA; and Full-Time and PRN – LPN Case Manager.  All positions require certificates and credentials.

Method of Contact: Send your resume to Jessica Choplin, Executive Hospice Care Consultant at jessica.choplin@community-companies.com.  Or call the Community Home Care and Hospice office, located at 946 West Andrews Avenue, Suite S in Henderson, NC 252-430-7760.

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Name of the Company:  Maria Parham Health

Jobs AvailableMPH is hiring both clinical and non-clinical positions.  Available opportunities include RNs, CNAs, PRNs, LPNs, Pharmacy, and more.  Enjoy competitive pay rates with great benefits.

Method of Contact: Visit website online to apply –  MariaParham.com/Careers to apply online and to view job requirements.

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Name of the Company:  Henderson Collegiate School

Jobs Available  Open positions for Elementary, Middle and High School Teachers.  You are invited to apply to teach some of the best students in NC!  A bachelor’s degree is required to become a teacher with Henderson Collegiate Charter School.  A Teaching License is not required to start the teaching position.  A competitive salary and benefits are offered for full-time employees.

Method of Contact:  Interested applicants can apply online at www.hendersoncollegiate.org/careers or by emailing a copy of their resume to recruitment@hendersoncollegiate.org.

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Name of the Company: Legacy Human Services, Inc.

Jobs Available Full-Time Certified Peer Support Specialist for the ACT Team.  Serves as a member of the treatment team to provide peer support in the community with a person-centered recovery focus, assist individuals served in their recovery from Substance Abuse and Behavioral health challenges.  Requires NC Certification for Peer Support.

Full and Part-Time Direct Care Support Professionals– Work in Group Homes.  Provides front-line services to individual in the home to include self-care skills, appropriate community/public skills, activities of daily living, behavioral management, etc.  Requires a NC drivers license and a high school diploma or equivalent.

Full-Time Residential Manager I – Work in Group Homes.  This position provides supervision and monitoring of direct services to residents with developmental disabilities and/or other related disorders for the assigned Group Home – 24 hour residential home.  Responsibilities include: staffing, budget, compliance with state/federal regulations, and general quality of service to persons in these programs.  Requires BA/BS degrees in Business, Health Care Administration, or Social Science or High School Graduate with 3 year experience.  Tasks are complex and require negotiation and communication skills, organizational abilities, advocacy skills, and overall business expertise.

Method of Contact:  Applicants can apply in-person at Legacy Human Services Office at 626 South Garnett Street in downtown Henderson, NC,  or email a resume to bmartin@legacyhumanservices.org or jjohnson@legacyhumanservices.org

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Name of the Company: Carolina Sunrock, LLC

Jobs Available Concrete Delivery Professional– will drive a concrete mixer truck equipped with either a manual or automatic transmission, utilize their truck to properly mix the concrete and deliver concrete to assigned job sites.  Driver will be required to calculate the amount of water required for desired slump.  Normal work days are Monday – Saturday (determined by customer need).  High School Diploma or GED required.  CDL Class B License (airbrake endorsement required), CDL Class A license with a combination vehicle endorsement preferred. Ability to obtain valid DOT physical required.  Ability to obtain Job Ready Services physical required.

Intercompany Hauler– Operate a tractor-trailer or quad axle dump truck delivering materials within Sunrock’s production facilities to maintain stockpiles.  On occasion, this position may deliver material outside of Sunrock facilities.  General work hours are Monday-Friday, 7 am to 5 pm, including weekends as needed.  High School Diploma or GED required, and/or 6 months to 1 year or related experience/training.  CDL Class A License with a combination vehicle endorsement preferred.  Ability to obtain a valid DOT medical card rquired.

Method of Contact:To apply: Applicants can on online to www.thesunrockgroup.com or they can stop by the Sunrock location, 100 Sunrock Drive in Butner NC to apply in person.  Additional information can be obtained by calling 919-575-4502, ext,135.

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Name of the Company:Coastal Federal Credit Union

Jobs AvailableMultiple positions are open – all may not be located specifically in the Henderson, NC branch.  Vice President Risk Management; Registered Financial Assistant; Network Engineer; and Application Developer.

Method of Contact:All applicants apply online at https://coastal24.applicantpool.com/jobs.  If you have questions, call 919-800-4775.

 

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.

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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.

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Red Cross Offers Safety Tips for Memorial Day, Summertime Activities

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Red Cross officials have some safety suggestions for people as they prepare for the Memorial Day holiday – and don’t forget pets as we head into the warmer summer months.

“Summer is a great time of year to get outside and have fun with your friends and loved ones,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region. “But there are dangers if you don’t swim, camp or grill properly. We here at the Red Cross want you to have a safe summer and offer these steps you can follow.”

Read the suggestions below whether you’ll be enjoying watersports, camping or grilling.

PET SAFETY

Summer’s heat can be dangerous for your family pets. Follow these steps to take to help ensure your pet stays safe this summer.

  • Don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open.
  • Animals can suffer heat stroke, a common problem for pets in the warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea.
  • Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are heavy panting and being unable to calm down, even when lying down, brick red gum color, fast pulse rate and being unable to get up.
  • If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees.
  • Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage. Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid appfor instant access on how to treat heat stroke, other emergencies and general care for cats and dogs and take the Cat and Dog First Aid Online Training

WATER SAFETY

Every day, an average of 11 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning — and one in five of those are children 14 or younger according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Red Cross wants everyone to know critical safety knowledge and skills that could save your life in and around the water. We encourage families to build confidence in the water by learning to be safe, making good choices, learning to swim and how to handle emergencies.

  • Preventing unsupervised access to water, providing constant, active adult supervision and knowing how to swim are critical layers of protection to help prevent drowning.
  • Classes to learn how to swim are available for both children and adults. Check the map for Learn-to-Swim providers in your community. Everyone should learn first aid and CPR too, so they know what to do in an emergency.
  • Download the Red Cross Swim app, sponsored by The ZAC Foundation, for safety tips, kid-friendly videos and activities, and take the free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course in English or in Spanish.
  • It’s best to swim in a lifeguarded area. Always designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
  • Drowning behavior is typically fast and silent. Unless rescued, a drowning person will last only 20 to 60 seconds before submerging. Reach or throw, don’t go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself.

CAMPING SAFETY

If a camping trip is in your plans, know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly.

  • Sprains and falls are some of the most common misfortunes travelers may face. Falls are the biggest threat, many due to poor decision-making, lack of skill or not being properly prepared. Dehydration is also a danger. Plan ahead for these dangers.
  • Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor or friend.
  • Bring nutritious food items and water, light-weight clothing to layer and supplies for any pets.

GRILLING SAFETY

More than three-quarters of U.S. adults have used a grill — yet, grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips:

  • Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
  • Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
  • Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Business Owners: Still Time To Apply For NCDOR Recovery Grant

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There’s still time to apply for the Business Recovery Grant Program through the N.C. Department of Revenue (NCDOR). This second phase of applications has approximately $200 million left in funding for eligible businesses. While there is a June 1 deadline, all applications will be considered after June 1, according to information from the local Chambers of Commerce.
Two types of grants, up to $500,000 per business, will be available to eligible business owners that suffered substantial economic loss during the pandemic:

  • A hospitality grant will be available to eligible arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation or food service businesses such as a hotels, restaurants, and bars.
  • A reimbursement grant will be available to an eligible business not included in the hospitality program.

Grants are not awarded on a first come, first served basis.  No grant money in this Phase II has been given out yet.  This is not a difficult application process. Visit

https://www.ncdor.gov/business-recovery-grant to learn more.

TownTalk: Maria Parham Memorial Day Ceremony

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Maria Parham Health was the site Thursday morning for a solemn ceremony to remember all the members of the military who have given their lives in service to the country and to hear read aloud the 77 names of members from the local area who died serving their country.

CEO Bert Beard welcomed those in attendance to begin the “No Greater Love” observance, in which various members of the hospital staff had roles. Pastor Frank Sossamon led opening and closing prayers and members of hospital security presented the colors. Travis Thompson, director of imaging and wound care, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and Hope Schuler, daughter of MPH employee Lisa VanFleet, sang the National Anthem.

Rickey Padgett, with N.C. Detective Agency and also a member of the hospital staff, shared remarks and reflected on what the Memorial Day holiday means. It’s a time to remember all men and women in uniform, Padgett told the gathering but especially those who sacrificed their lives.

“They paid the price so that we could be here today,” he said. The families of the fallen continue to grieve, so it is also important for us to remember, Padgett said, “and to celebrate the freedoms that we have and the life we are given…to remain grateful and never forget.”

Padgett said he had been friends with one particular man who also was a veteran of World War II. This friend had told Padgett that, upon his death, Padgett would receive something from him. That “something” turned out to be a long, typewritten letter – from a real typewriter, not a word processor – that recounted some of what the man had encountered as a U.S. infantryman in the European theater.

Padgett read excerpts from this letter, which chronicled snowy, muddy conditions on and near battlefields in France and the grim task of recovering soldiers’ bodies strewn along the countryside.

“’I could hear the Germans digging foxholes’” in the snowy landscape not far from where this soldier and his unit were camped, the letter read. “’We had to pick up dead bodies, American and German,’” Padgett continued.

Although he said he has met and talked with many veterans of World War II, Padgett said this letter helped answer a question he had often wondered about: How do the bodies of fallen soldiers make it back home, where they can be laid to rest and receive a proper burial?

Soldiers like the one who wrote the letter and sent it to Padgett, that’s how.

Whether it was from a battlefield in Europe or the desert-like conditions in Afghanistan, members of the military take care of each other until the end.

Padgett said he asked this friend what he did in the war. “He said, ‘I was a soldier,’” Padgett recalled.

A simple answer with layers and layers of meaning.

Listen to the recorded ceremony in its entirety just below.

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The Local Skinny! Around Old Granville: Doing The Numbers For Memorial Day

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There are about 110,000 veterans of World War II still alive in the United States, and at least one of them lives in Granville County, according to Mark Pace. He and Bill Harris discussed war military service veterans as part of the Around Old Granville segment of The Local Skinny! Thursday.

The average age of the WWII veteran is 93, Pace said. Several veterans have died in the past year, he said, along with a couple more in Vance County.

It’s sometimes difficult to determine exact numbers, Pace said, but his research has shown that there are 20 soldiers from the Old Granville area who died in the American Revolution. At least 450 (but probably more like 550) who died in the Civil War from the approximately 2,600 who fought for the Confederacy, down to 1 soldier who died in Iraq. He said 3 soldiers from Granville County and 7 from Vance County died in Korea, and 13 from Granville and 8 from Vance dying in Vietnam. One Granville County soldier died in Iraq.

By comparison, he found that 68 soldiers from Vance County died in WWII, along with 37 from Granville County.

Records are sometimes hard to come by, Pace acknowledged, and therefore having a truly accurate count is almost impossible.

Pace said a 1973 fire in St. Louis destroyed many records related to servicemen in WWI, making it far easier to locate records from the Civil War and WWII.

Even the Revolutionary War has records that remain, he said.

“There are some pretty good records from the Revolution,” he said. Many people had to sign an Oath of Allegiance against King George. Those signatures are pretty good indications of which side you were on, Pace said.

There’s still one world leader, however, who served her country in WWII and serves her country today, Pace said:

Ninety-six-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. When she was 19, she served in the transportation and ambulance service for England.

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