Meat Conference Dec. 6 In Rocky Mount

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The Northeast District Local Meats Conference will be held in Rocky Mount, NC on Tuesday, Dec. 6. The conference is designed for individuals interesting in creating or expanding a local meat marketing business.

The conference will begin at 9 a.m. at the East Carolina Livestock Arena, located at 1175 Kingsboro Rd. in Rocky Mount.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include N.C. Department of Agriculture meat handlers’ licensing, as well as rules and regulations, labeling claims and laws about meat sales.

In addition, there will be information about carcass evaluation, and planning, marketing and pricing.

Lunch will be included. Pre-register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northeast-district-local-meats-conference-tickets-419613434077

 

Farm-City Week 2022

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There’s no debate that agriculture plays an important role in our lives – whether we are the farmers responsible for growing the crops, livestock and commodities that make their way into the food chain or whether we are the consumers of those products.

Producers and consumers gathered at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market Tuesday for a luncheon as part of the annual observance of Farm-City Week, sponsored by NC Farm Bureau and the local N.C. Cooperative Extension.

“We had a great day,” said Paul McKenzie, horticulture agent in Vance and Warren counties. McKenzie recapped Tuesday’s events on WIZS Wednesday during the weekly cooperative extension segment of The Local Skinny!

One local producer was honored for his 25 years as a vendor with the farmers market.

Calvin Adcock has followed the farmers market to its various locations over the years – from humble beginnings on William Street to the YMCA and city operations center to the current location.

Adcock has been bringing fresh produce from his raised garden beds and home canned products to the farmers market, and “quickly developed a reputation for selling quality products,” McKenzie said.

“He is one of the hardest working vendors,” said Wayne Rowland, who also noted that Adcock was honored as Vance County’s Small Farmer of the Year in 2016.

“If you have been to the farmers market, you will see him most every day that the market is open,” Rowland continued. In addition to his devotion to the farmers market, Adcock also has helped the cooperative extension and other producers through his participation on the Small Farms Advisory Council and the Farmers Market Advisory Council.

“He is a wonderful person to work with,” Rowland said.

McKenzie said in written remarks that Adcock “has shown fierce loyalty and dedication to the market, showing up consistently with a warm smile and a good selection of products.”

The guest speaker for the luncheon was Jake Parker, legislative counsel and NC Farm Bureau’s legislative director. Parker discussed the work that Farm Bureau does on behalf of farmers, as well as some of the big issues facing agriculture.

The Farm Bureau provides insurance for farmers, but it does so much more as an advocacy and a community organization, McKenzie said.

“The Vance County Farm Bureau has done an unparalleled job in supporting the community,” he said, from providing equipment to Vance Charter School’s ag program to scholarships at Vance-Granville Community College and more.

As rural areas face increased development, farmers also can face complaints from new neighbors who feel their lives are being disrupted by the dust, sounds and smells that sometimes are created on farms as farmers plant, cultivate and harvest crops.

Parker, in his work with Farm Bureau, strives to protect farmers against nuisance lawsuits to create reasonable policies “to help farmers continue to make a living and continue to produce the food supply that we need,” McKenzie said.

Finding and maintaining positive relationships between farmers and nearby neighbors is critical, he added.

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TownTalk: Oxendine Is A New Face On School Board

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The Vance County Board of Education will feature two new faces following last week’s midterm elections – Omega T. Perry and Randy Oxendine.

Perry is the pastor at Cook’s Chapel AME Zion Church and has a Sunday morning program on WIZS.

Perry ran unopposed for the school board seat, and Oxendine won the District 2 seat over his opponent Charlie Baskerville, Jr.  When Oxendine’s wife, Darlynn, decided not to seek another term on the school board, her husband decided to take a crack at it.

When he spoke with WIZS News during last Tuesday evening’s election coverage, Oxendine, himself a longtime educator with Vance County Schools, said he felt like he already has established a relationship with existing board members and looks forward to his new role as board member.

“I believe I’m just stepping in and rolling with it,” he told John C. Rose about his election victory.

Of particular concern to him is the diminishing enrollment in three elementary schools in District 2 – New Hope, E.O. Young and Carver. Lower enrollments mean that teachers like the physical education teachers, for example, must travel among the three schools for their instruction.

“I would love to see more students (at these schools so) we could get more money to provide full time people at those schools,” Oxendine said.

Over their years in education, Oxendine said he and his wife have seen many high school students head off to college, where some play sports and get recognized for their efforts. One former student invited the couple recently to attend her induction into the N.C. A&T State Hall of Fame.

He said he would like to institute some type of hall of fame for Vance County, where students and athletes could be recognized for their outstanding talent and effort, “so younger people would have someone to look up to.”

 

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TownTalk: Gill Clopton Remembered

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Gill Clopton had a variety of interests – he loved to write and take photographs – but he also was a self-proclaimed archivist who had taken it upon himself to try to preserve local history, one photograph at the time. In doing so, Clopton developed a following of almost 10,000 followers on social media.

Oh, and cats. He loved cats.

News of Clopton’s death was reported today.

Clopton, a 1979 graduate of Vance Senior High School, was not trained as a journalist, but he loved to write. About a year ago, he started an e-paper called “Piedmont Online” to promote positive news, sports and feature stories from Vance County and the surrounding area.

John C. Rose remembered Clopton during Tuesday’s TownTalk as someone whose efforts will be remembered.

“Even if it only exists on a Facebook thread, it’s been preserved,” Rose said, referring to the “Remember when…(reminiscing about Henderson, NC) posts that Clopton used to show long-forgotten photos that he had dug up, many from the former office space of The Daily Dispatch.

“It really underscores what he has done for the community,” Rose said in his discussion with Dr. Bill Dennis, known familiarly as “Little Bill,” whose grandfather started the local paper in the World War I era.

Dennis said, thanks in large part to his father’s and his grandfather’s “pack rat” tendencies, there was a lot of stuff for Clopton to go through.

After the paper was sold and the Chestnut Street building was being emptied, Clopton and several others carted out stacks and stacks of archived newspapers, clippings, photographs and more.

“He went down to the newspaper and talked to the people who were running the place,” Dennis said, and he was able to take possession of all that, well, history.

Clopton “single-handedly” saved so much that would otherwise been discarded

“Gill was tireless,” Dennis said, of his work on digitizing photos from The Dispatch.

As a college student, Dennis spent a couple of summers trying to help get things organized a bit at the paper. Whether Clopton saw the result of that effort is unclear.

And although Clopton never worked at the paper himself, he befriended “Big Bill” Dennis and spent many a happy time talking at the old Eckerd’s lunch counter – a fact that “Little Bill” hadn’t known at the time.

“He was an aspiring newspaper person for a long time,” Dennis said of Clopton. “It was always fascinating to talk to him,” He took photographs and wrote a column for the Henderson Dispatch for a time.

“Some of his columns were great,” Dennis said.

The online publication was a real labor of love, he added. “You just can’t ever do enough when you’re doing something like that.” Dennis said he read each weekly installment. “I thought he did a really good job with it…especially women’s sports because they didn’t get as much publicity as the boys’ (sports).”

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City of Oxford

Donate Through Nov. 22 To City Of Oxford Annual Food Drive

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The City of Oxford is sponsoring a food drive now through Nov. 22 to support The Help Center NC.

The 4th annual Thanksgiving food drive began Oct. 24, according to City of Oxford’s Alyssa Blair.

Community residents who want to make a donation are asked to bring non-perishable food items to Oxford City Hall.

Contact Blair at 919.603.1100 to learn more.

 

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance 11-15-22

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for November 15, 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.

Company – Maria Parham Health

Job Title – Front Desk Receptionist.  Operates multiple-call switchboard console and routes calls to the appropriate person or location. Greets vendors, customers, job applicants, and other visitors, and assures that they are escorted to the proper office. Prepares statistical reports and performs clerical functions such as preparing and sending outgoing mail, distributing incoming mail, maintaining filing systems, typing documents, photocopying, scanning and faxing. The Receptionist performs and provides clerical support services

Women’s Health Administrative Assistant.
Full-time. Performs receptionist, registration, and clerical duties associated with direct and scheduled patient admissions. High school diploma or equivalent, Associate’s degree in Secretarial Science Preferred. Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

How To Apply – Apply online at https://www.mariaparham.com/careers.

Company – Lowe’s Home Improvement

Job Title – Assistant Store Manager.  Full-time. $52,000-$78,000 annual salary.  Physical ability to perform tasks that may require prolonged standing, sitting, and other activities necessary to perform job.  2 years of experience leading associates in a retail environment. 3 years of experience working in a fast-paced, cross-functional work environment. 1 year of experience performing manager-on-duty responsibilities, including management of daily store operations and processes within and beyond assigned areas of responsibility. Experience using Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to obtain sales related licensure or registration as may be required by law. Bachelor’s degree in related field. 5 years of experience leading service associates in a retail or consumer service industry. Experience working in the home improvement retail sector. Broad knowledge of interior/exterior product categories (e.g., flooring, cabinets, millwork, building materials, appliances, home décor, lighting, plumbing). Experience working with store computer systems (including but not limited to: Project Tool, Genesis, M2O, Thin Client, etc

How To Apply – Apply online at https://talent.lowes.com/us/en or apply at Lowe’s Improvement Center at the 166 Dabney Road in Henderson location.

 

Company – Henderson Fruit & Produce

Job Title – Delivery Drivers needed.  Good starting pay, paid holidays and vacations, 401k offered.  Applicants must have a valid drivers license.

How To Apply – Apply in person at Henderson Fruit & Produce building, located at 1215 Old Norlina Road, Henderson.

 

Company – Vance-Granville Community College

Job Title – Financial Aid Office Assistant.  Part-time.  Qualifications: Completion of one semester of college or related work experience. Strong customer service skills. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  Strong oral and written communication skills.

How To Apply – Apply online at https://www.vgcc.edu/careers/ or apply in person at VGCC main campus on Ruin Creek Road, Henderson.

 

Company – Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department

Job Title – Certified Lifeguards needed.  Applicants should be energetic, engaging, and observant.  Must be at least 15 years old.  If you are not certified, a free lifesaving class will be available.

How To Apply – Go by the Aycock Recreation Center, located at 307 Carey Chapel Road in Henderson, or apply online at www.henderson.nc.gov.  Applicants must pass pre-employment drug screen and a background check.  For information about the job or to inquire about the lifesaving certification class, contact DeAnne Brown, Assistant Director at 252-438-3948.

 

Company – Eckerd Connects – Short Term Juvenile Justice Residential Program, Manson NC

Job Title – Cook – Prepare all food items as required by menus and recipes supplied, observing all standards of quality assurance, sanitation, and safety.  Assist in the cleanup and storage of food and food related items in the kitchen.  High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.  ServSafe certification strongly preferred.  6 months experience in volume cookery with experience in food preparation techniques.

Classroom Teacher – Provide challenging, rigourous, and relevant educational experiences for each student, affording them the opportunity to achieve their full academic, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional potential. Requires a Bachelors degree from an accredited College or University.  Must meet state teacher certification eligibility requirements.  2 years successful teaching experience preferred.  Eckerd Connects is a girls residential program for 13-17 year olds.  This is a 20 bed program for girls who are referred by the NC Department of Public Safety Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

How To Apply – Apply online at http://www.eckerd.org.  For more information, contact Lorena Marquez at (252) 366-9380.

 

Company – Select Products Holdings LLC

Job Title – Quality Control Technician – $13-$15 an hour.  Responsibilities include: Maintaining company inspection reports. Inspecting raw materials and finished goods according to quality and safety standards. Ensuring goods and products comply with company and customer standards. Ensuring test equipment is calibrated and working correctly.  Reporting quality anomalies to the Shift Supervisor and Quality Manager. Documenting non-conformances and assisting investigations. Collating test data and drafting quality reports.

Quality Lead – Responsibilities include Reviewing quality control documentation such as checklists, logs, and reports for effectiveness, accuracy, and relevance. Conducting daily inspections and quality control checks. Assessing test results and approving recommended changes. Collaborating with management to develop, prepare, and implement safety policies and procedures. Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local safety laws, regulations, codes, and rules. Reporting status of quality control and operations to leadership and, when required, regulatory agencies.

Applicants for both positions will need excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, excellent problem-solving and analytical skills/critical thinking, and ability to approach a problem creatively with ability to use logic and reasoning.  Minimum of a HS Diploma or GED with basic computer (MS Office) and math skills to calibrate and measure specifications required.

How To Apply – Apply online at https://www.selectproducts-usa.com/  or email resume to  zollie.perry@selectph.com

 

Company – Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

Job Title – Regional Program Coordinator.  Coordinator will perform education, outreach and administrative management of grant-funded programs throughout the Kerr-Tar Region (Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties).  Coordinator will also provide staff support to the Kerr-Tar Rural Planning Organization. Successful applicant will develop marketing and outreach programs, coordinate with community organizations and local officials, and provide education opportunities to residents of the region (including school aged children).  The Coordinator will also provide technical planning and other support to the Kerr Tar Rural Planning Organization, including assisting with preparation of maps and presentation materials for meetings, research and field data collection and reports.  There will be considerable public contact.  Position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Planning, Government Administration or related field or a combination of education and experience required.  Possession of a valid driver’s license required.

How To Apply – Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to info@kerrtarcog.org.

 

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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Two Catalytic Converter Suspects Arrested

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HPD Press Release information from Chief Marcus Barrow

In the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 13, at approximately 2 o’clock, Henderson Police Department officers observed a vehicle leaving Auto Mart (Raleigh Rd). An investigative stop was conducted and after a brief roadside investigation was conducted, tools utilized to remove catalytic converters were found. The occupant, Codie Hicks, 25, of 419 Birch Street, was arrested and found to be connected to multiple larcenies in the area.

Warrants were also obtained on Brian Frazier, of 2519 Go Cart Ln, Oxford, that link Frazier and Hicks to the incident at JM White Funeral Home that occurred on Nov. 9.

Brian Frazier was arrested today and served with his outstanding warrants.

Codie Braxton Hicks
Charges: 4 Counts of Larceny of Motor Vehicle Parts
Bond: $20,000 Secured

Brian Talbot Frazier
Charges: 4 Counts of Larceny of Motor Vehicle Parts
Bond: $30,000 Secured