WIZS Radio Local New Audio 10-06-22 Noon
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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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-information courtesy of the N.C. State Board of Elections
Elections officials say the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election is next Friday, Oct. 14.
Individuals who miss that deadline, however, may register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period, which begins Oct. 20 and ends Nov. 5. County-by-county early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board of Elections’ One-Stop Early Voting Site Search.
To register, eligible individuals have the following options:
If an application is received after the deadline, it will be timely if it is postmarked on or before Oct. 14. If the postmark is missing or unclear, the application will be processed if it is received in the mail no later than 20 days before the election. Otherwise, the application will not be processed until after the election.
If submitted by fax or email, the application must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 14, and a hard copy of the document must be delivered to the county board office by 20 days before the election.
“We encourage all eligible individuals to register to vote and make their voice heard in 2022,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “It’s easy, and there’s still time, either through the regular process or at any one-stop early voting location in your county.”
North Carolina residents may not register to vote on Election Day, unless they become eligible after the Oct.14 registration deadline due to becoming a U.S. citizen or having their rights restored following a felony conviction.
Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the general election on Nov. 8 are eligible to register and vote.
To register to vote, a person must:
Updating Your Voter Registration
Voters who need to update their existing voter registration may use the DMV website or a regular voter registration application to do so.
Those with a North Carolina driver’s license or other DMV identification may update their residential or mailing address and party affiliation through the DMV online service, but may not change their name through that service.
If using the paper application to update a registration, it must be signed and mailed to the voter’s county board of elections by Oct. 14. Updates to name, address (if within the county), and party affiliation must be signed, but can be provided by fax or email to your county board of elections. If a voter is using the paper form to update their residential address to a new county, they must return the paper form by mail or in person.
Registered voters may also update an existing registration at a one-stop early voting site during the early voting period.
See more Voter Registration Resources in North Carolina.
Warren County Parks and Recreation is hosting a parents’ night out on Friday, Oct. 28.
Youth ages 6-12 will enjoy organized games, crafts, movie, and more at the Warren County Senior Center located at 435 W. Franklin St. in Warrenton.
Pizza and drinks will be provided as dinner for the youth that attend. Registration is $5 per child and the event is from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Space is limited and the deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 14.
Register at the parks and recreation office Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. or online at https://www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation
The office is located at 113 Wilcox St., Warrenton.
For more information or register, please visit https://www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation or call the Parks and Recreation office at 252.257.2272.
Open Enrollment for Medicare begins next week – a time for people to evaluate their plans and coverage and to make changes if needed. Insurance can be complicated, but Lisa Barker said the state’s SHIIP counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries make sense of the different plans that are available.
SHIIP – Seniors Health Insurance Information Program – is a consumer information division that operates under the N.C. Department of Insurance. Barker is SHIIP’s Northeast regional manager. The open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.
There are SHIIP coordinating sites in each of the 100 counties across the state, she said. “We are not insurance agents and we don’t sell insurance,” Barker told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
Rather, SHIIP counselors assist people who do receive Medicare with questions they may have, whether it’s Medicare, Medicare Part B, supplements or understanding long-term care insurance.
“We provide a non-biased comparison for those shopping” for new plans or who just want to make sure they’re getting the best coverage at the best price, Barker said.
With 2.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in the state, Barker said it’s important to understand that it’s important to review plans and coverage each year. Here is a list of phone numbers for coordinating sites in the four-county area:
By sitting down with a SHIIP counselor, Barker said individuals can review their current medications and physicians to make sure they don’t need to switch to a different plan.
“Medicare beneficiaries can compare all the plans and determine if they want to switch for the new year,” she explained.
“We can assist enrolling them in a new plan,” Barker continued. “Even if they’re happy with their current plan, it’s just a good idea to come in and talk – just so you know your money is being spent in the best way possible.”
Changes must be made by Dec. 7 to guarantee coverage continues without interruption on Jan. 1, 2023.
“Medicare plans and prices change, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said. “It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of the Open Enrollment period by contacting local SHIIP counselors to save money, improve your coverage or both.”
Make sure you contact your local SHIIP counselor before deciding about coverage because you may be able to receive more affordable and better Medicare health and/or drug plan options in your area. For example, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, there may be another plan in your area that covers your health care and/or drugs at a better price.
Barker said she’s been involved in SHIIP in one way or another since 1998. She recalled an older couple who came to her a few years ago to review their plans. Plans had changed since they were initially enrolled in Medicaid, and their monthly premiums were going from $17 to $60.
Upon review of medications and copays, Barker said, the couple could continue with their current plan, but it would be much more expensive. Barker helped them find a new plan, which saved them more than $6,000 a year – and had lower copays.
“I tell this story often because, for them, it comes down to the cost of insurance versus food and electricity…the hugs from them and the relief on their face was priceless,” she added.
Making an appointment with a SHIIP counselor is one way to stay updated and educated on the changes in Medicare and the all the other pieces of the insurance puzzle.
But Barker cautioned individuals about sharing their personal information with others who claim to be working on your behalf, but who may really be trying to gain that personal information to be used in fraudulent ways.
“You want to make sure you’re protecting yourself,” she said. “If they’re asking you for too much personal identifying information,” be wary.
“The North Carolina Department of Insurance or SHIIP is never going to go door-to-door asking for information,” she said. Make sure you’re not giving out that information to someone who contacts you – whether by phone, personal visit, email, text or other written correspondence.
“If you have questions about something you received that is questionable, that’s a really good time to reach out to SHIIP, 855.408.1212.
Roughly $68 billion is lost each year to Medicare fraud.
Individuals also should regularly review their Medicare Summary Notices to verify that all charged listed are actually for the services that were provided by your healthcare professionals. Ask questions if you think something looks suspicious. It doesn’t hurt to question a charge. Also, simple mistakes can happen. When typing the number 10 someone could accidently hit the zero a second time and make the charge 100. SHIIP can help individuals file a Medicare fraud claim.
Visit www.ncshiip.com to learn more.
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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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Vance and Warren counties are included in a state initiative called “Dream Big in Small Town NC” designed to increase visitors to the area. A webinar will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12 to discuss details of the program, which was passed into law by the N.C. legislature.
Vance and Warren counties are included in the Northeast Lakes & Rivers region, along with Halifax and Edgecombe counties, according to information from Charla Duncan, Warren County community & economic development director.
The purpose of the program is to drive increased visitation and exploration into participating counties with the goal of converting visitors to residents/workforce.
Airbnb, a program partner, is hosting a free online/virtual workshop for residents of rural communities to share tips on hosting a space through Airbnb.
With the purpose of the Dream Big in Small Town NC program being to drive increased visitation and exploration to participating counties with the long-term goal of converting visitors to residents and replacing population declines.
The 90-minute Airbnb Rural Entrepreneurship Academy webinar begins at 4 p.m. EST. Although there is no cost to attend, registration is required by Monday, Oct. 10.
Learn more about the academy and sign up to attend at: https://ruralairbnbacademy.splashthat.com/.
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM