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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Vance and Granville counties continue to be in the low transmission category for COVID-19, but trends are ticking upward in the weeks following Thanksgiving and heading into Christmas.
Some families are having to cancel plans to gather because someone in the group has tested positive for COVID-19, and others are choosing to postpone their celebrations until the New Year.
According to advice from Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison, they’re doing the right thing. “Assess your risk and risk to others when you gather in large groups and stay home any time you have symptoms of illness,” Harrison noted in her most recent health update to the community. the “triple-demic” combination of COVID-19, flu and RSV can wreak havoc and she reminds everyone to be completely vaccinated and boosted to ward off sickness.
“Although COVID-19 community levels in both Granville and Vance counties is finally at a ‘low’ mark, we are still hearing of a multitude of illnesses circulating like flu, RSV and strep, as well as COVID-19,” Harrison said, “so be sure to stay on alert with fighting off germs, wash those hands regularly, and stay well hydrated.”
The CDC estimates that at least 13 million Americans have already been infected with the flu this season, and more than 100,000 have been hospitalized across the U.S. — this is a larger number than last winter, when many Americans were still following COVID-related precautions. But flu shot uptake this year has been low. Only about a quarter of American adults have been vaccinated, according to the CDC. “Those who haven’t gotten their shot yet should seek one soon, said Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Michigan. The sense is that this year’s vaccine is actually a pretty good match to the strain circulating. And much like COVID vaccines, flu shots don’t prevent all infections, but they can help prevent hospitalizations, deaths, as well as transmission,” according to Dr. Malani.
The health department offers COVID-19 shots and boosters as well as flu shots Monday-Friday at each location of Granville Vance Public Health. The bivalent COVID-19 booster shots by Pfizer and Moderna are available and help protect against the newest variants of COVID-19.
Following recent FDA authorization this month, the CDC has recommended the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 6 months through 5 years. Please note that, unlike for older age groups, these products are not eligible for mix-and-match use.
The numbers:
Stay updated by checking the CDC Data Tracker by County and the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard. Relevant graphs from these dashboards are available on our website at https://gvph.org/covid-19_dashboard/.
Warren County Extension will sponsor an equine Coggins and vaccine clinic on Saturday, Ja. 28, 2023. Horse owners can save a farm visit fee by bringing trailering their animals to the clinic, which will take place at the extension service office, 158 Rafters Lane, Warrenton between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.
Dr. Oberlin McDaniel with N.C. Mobile Veterinary Service will perform Coggins tests and annual vaccinations on site.
The Coggins test is $36. Results will be available within 3-5 days via Global Vet Link.
Vaccinations available include 5-way E/W/T/R/F, rabies, West Nile. Equine microchippping will also be available.
For more information, contact NCMVS assistant Stacey Hadnott at 919.638.9820 or via email at ncmobilevetoffice@gmail.com.
Appointments are recommended, but not required for this event.
-information courtesy of N.C. Department of Transportation
People should check real-time driving conditions before traveling anywhere throughout the holiday weekend, as a winter storm is forecast to bring bone-chilling cold, rain, heavy winds and possible snow and ice in some locations.
Those conditions could make travel dangerous in North Carolina from the mountains to the coast.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has prepared for the storm. It has more than 2,200 employees who are specially trained to use hundreds of trucks to remove snow and ice from roads. The agency has prepared its trucks and equipment in advance of this weekend’s winter storm. The NCDOT can store up to 179,000 tons of salt and sand and 1.8 million of brine to treat roads.
“Our staff is ready to clear roads of snow and debris as needed, but travelers need to be prepared, too,” said J. Eric Boyette, NCDOT secretary. “This storm could make it quite dangerous to be outside driving. Everyone should be prepared and be safe.”
If you do choose to travel this weekend, NCDOT recommends the following safety tips:
Road Construction Halted
To ease travel, the NCDOT will temporarily halt most construction activity along major highways to keep traffic flowing for holiday travel.
Construction along interstates, U.S. and key N.C. routes will be suspended from Friday morning until Tuesday evening to help reduce delays.
Construction also will be halted starting the morning of Dec. 31 through the evening of Jan. 3 for motorists traveling during the New Year’s Day holiday. Some projects will continue with work that doesn’t impact travel lanes, and other long-term lane closures will remain in place on certain projects.
Weather Could Impact Other Transportation
High winds and rough seas along the coast could cause schedule interruptions on some or all North Carolina ferry routes. Travelers should check with their terminal of departure before heading out this weekend.
As of Thursday, there are no plans in the coming days to stop or delay any of the state’s passenger rail trains. For the latest train schedules, please visit NCByTrain.org.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
As the area hunkers down against the bitter cold that will hang around through the holiday weekend, the American Red Cross offers reminders about staying safe and as warm as possible through this especially cold snap, which will bring sub-zero temperatures and blustery conditions.
Weather experts predict temperatures could drop as much as 40 degrees below normal, and regional CEO of the Red Cross in Eastern NC Barry Porter said safety should be a priority. “The Red Cross wants to help everyone prepare for the worst weather this winter to avoid any accidents that may place anyone in danger,” Porter said in a press release.
As temperatures plummet, the demand for power surges, which could create power outages.
The American Red Cross offers the following reminders during this dangerous cold weather and during other severe weather events:
WINTER WEATHER SAFETY:
HOME FIRES AND SPACE HEATERS
WINTER DRIVING
POWER OUTAGE SAFETY
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE
The Granville County Opioid Advisory Committee wants to hear from county residents to help determine strategies to combat the opioid crisis locally.
As a participant in litigation against large manufacturers and distributors of opioids, Granville County is getting funding from the multi-billion dollar settlement agreement.
“Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey that will help us fight the opioid epidemic here in Granville County,” said County Commissioner Jimmy Gooch, who chairs the advisory committee. “As a county government, we have an obligation to utilize these funds to help as many of our residents as possible while also being careful stewards of the funds we receive. Gaining a better understanding of how our community would like the county to prioritize our spending is a critical first step to improving how the opioid crisis is addressed in Granville County. This epidemic has affected so many people right here in our community and we are committed to helping those who have been, or will be, affected by this issue.”
The Opioid Advisory Committee was established in 2018 by the Granville County Board of Commissioners to engage in shared leadership and collective action to advance a comprehensive response to opioid and other drug use, according to a press statement issued by Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. The committee includes representatives and stakeholders from within Granville County government as well as the Granville-Vance Public Health Department, Granville Health System, Vaya Health, law enforcement, local pharmacy owners, behavioral health professionals, affected families, and other concerned citizens.
As a recipient of the National Opioid Settlement funds, Granville County signed onto the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which specifies specific strategies and allowed uses for the funds. These strategies have been tested and proven to help treat and prevent opioid addiction. Until public input is gathered via a survey, public meetings and other strategic planning steps that involve Granville County residents, healthcare providers and other stakeholders, the county is prohibited from using any of the settlement funding.
Take the short online survey here: www.granvillecounty.org/
Franklin County has selected Michelle Hildreth to be the county’s library director. Hildreth, who brings more than 15 years of library management experience, will begin the job on Jan. 9, 2023.
“A dynamic library adds value to the community it serves and enhances the lives of its community members,” Hildreth said. “I am excited about the opportunity to foster such a library experience for Franklin County at this moment when the community is rapidly growing and changing.”
Hildreth most recently served as branch manager for Wake County’s Green Road Community Library for the last 12 years. Prior to that, she served as youth services librarian for both the Wake Forest and Green Road Libraries for four years. She also worked in academic and special libraries for more than seven years before transitioning to public libraries.
Though she has served Wake County libraries for more than two decades, Hildreth grew up in Louisburg and developed her love for libraries in Franklin County.
“I am excited about the energy and experience that Michelle is bringing to the Franklin County Library,” Assistant County Manager William Doerfer said. “We are glad to be bringing her back home to Franklin County.”
Hildreth graduated from he University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature and later, a master’s degree in library science. She has served on many library-related boards. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of longtime director Holt Kornegay.
Meteorologists are watching a cold front march across the Midwest today, and Duke Energy officials are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for the next couple of days. While nobody is predicting frozen precipitation here, things could get a little dicey as blustery winds and single-digit lows combine to make for extreme winter conditions.
Duke District Manager Tanya Evans said Thursday that high winds early Friday could create issues in the area, and utility crews stand at the ready to restore power if outages occur.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Blaze said an Arctic cold front will blast through the area Friday morning and temps will plunge as the day goes on.
The combination of the arctic air mass and the strong winds will result in very cold wind chills across the region from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.
As winter weather approaches, Duke Energy suggests that residents prepare in advance for outages.
“While there is never a good time to be without power, we recognize that the possibility of outages over the holidays is particularly worrisome for the customers and communities we serve,” said Jason Hollifield, Carolinas storm director. “Our crews are prepared and will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power when outages occur.”
High winds and saturated ground may lead to downed trees, limbs and power lines. These winds can also impede Duke Energy workers’ ability to assess storm damage and restore power, and any outages that occur early Friday could linger into the evening as high wind gusts are forecast throughout the day.
Duke’s 24-hour hotline is 800.559.3853.
Below is a list of suggestions to consider before, during and after a storm:
Before the storm
· Create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines, water, nonperishable foods and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm hits. · Keep a portable radio or TV or a NOAA weather radio on hand to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local officials. · Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of storms to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well. · Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended power outage occurs, or evacuation is required. · Pet owners should arrange to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends’ or family members’ homes; or pet-friendly hotels. After the storm · Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines. · If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground. Outage reporting After a storm hits, restoring power as safely and quickly as possible is our top priority, while keeping our customers informed. · Customers who experience an outage during a storm can report it the following ways: · Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device. · Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play. · Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). · Call the automated outage-reporting system, at: 800.POWERON (800.769.3766). · Visit our interactive outage map to find up-to-date information on power outages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration. Understand how Duke Energy restores power Our crews are ready to respond should outages occur. Learn more about the restoration process following damaging winds. |
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
Click Play!
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
Click Play!