Highway Patrol Can Track 911 Callers and Troopers After Statewide Communications Upgrade

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— press release courtesy of NC Pandemic Recovery Office

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) can now immediately track your call with GPS and pinpoint the nearest trooper, after an upgrade to the agency’s statewide computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. The $11.1 million project began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is nearly complete, thanks to funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and state legislation signed by Governor Roy Cooper. The grant is administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety with oversight from the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office.

“It’s going to improve public safety and trooper safety, and make sure we’re providing the best services possible,” says Captain Kevin Owens, Unit Commander for the NCSHP Technical Services Unit.

The NCSHP’s previous CAD system had components dating back to the 1970s and was in the process of being discontinued. When North Carolina received $5.4 billion in State Fiscal Recovery Funds from ARPA in 2021, the General Assembly appropriated the funds to over 200 projects, including new technology to better equip troopers and NCSHP telecommunicators for everyday service, as well as any future crises.

In addition to tracking a 911 caller’s location, the new CAD system also tracks NCSHP patrol units. Telecommunicators can identify the nearest available trooper on a map, then using the same software, share details about the call for the trooper to view in real-time on their laptop in the field. If another trooper needs to provide backup, they immediately have access to the same information and their colleague’s location. Previously, most of this process was handled by phone or radio, costing valuable time and resources.

The CAD system project is expected to be completed by early 2025.

Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Biting, Pt. 2

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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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TownTalk: Applications For VCS Innovative Schools Due By Feb. 29

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Parents of students in Vance County Schools have until Feb. 29 to submit applications for their children to attend any of five Innovative Schools in the district.

VCS Communication & Innovative Support liaison Aarika Sandlin and Rey Horner, chief officer for Student Services, were guests on TownTalk Wednesday to provide details about the programs each school offers as well as the process for applying.

The application is available at the district website, https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/

and Sandlin said registration can be completed entirely online for parents’ convenience. If, however, a parent needs to access the application another way, please contact Horner at rhorner@vcs.k12.nc.us or phone 252.492.2127.

The five schools cover PK through high school, Sandlin said. The five schools are E.M. Rollins STEAM, STEM Early High School (grades 6-8), Vance County Early College High School, AdVance Academy and Vance Virtual Village.

Horner said each site offers something a bit different for its students, but they all focus on student-centered and student-driven learning. Applicants to STEM Early High School, AdVance and Vance County Early College must include an essay along with their applications, he noted.

The STEM Early High School will accept 100 students for next year; the Early College will cap its incoming class at 60, Horner said.

There is no cap for E.M. Rollins, so whoever applies most likely will be accepted to the program, which operates on a modified year-round schedule.

Sandlin said the goal is to provide education in an innovative way, “meeting kids where they are, to get them where they need to be.”

Families will get notification by mail on Mar. 28.

Visit https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/to download the application and to learn more about the Innovative Schools.

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Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

TownTalk: Rec. Dept. Sponsoring Trivia Competition, Spring Break Bash For Tweens, Teens

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Amid the sports leagues, yoga classes, chess clubs and bingo that the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department offers throughout the year, there are a couple of events aimed directly at youth in middle and high school that are coming up, and Youth Services Outreach Specialist Lauren Jones said they’re both going to be a lot of fun.

There’s always something going on that is offered through the rec and parks department, Jones said, but teams are forming now for a Teen Trivia competition, scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Five-member teams will square off to answer questions about R&B and hiphop music from 2023, she told WIZS co-host Bill Harris on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

Middle school teams will compete against each other and high school teams will do the same.

“We hope to have at least six teams – three per age group,” Jones said, “but we’ll make it work with however many we get.” The trivia competition will take place at the Youth Services Building, which is housed in the former Eaton Johnson gym.

Winners will get to choose gift cards as prizes, she said.

The rec and parks department has hosted a similar trivia event before, but there’s a new event planned for April 6 that Jones said she hopes will fill a void in the social lives of middle- and high school-aged students.

It’s called the Spring Break Bash and the theme is a Hawaiian luau. The middle school luau will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the luau for high schoolers is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

To be admitted, each student must present his or her third quarter report card.

“We’re not worried about the grades,” Jones said, adding that the report card simply verifies that the person is enrolled in school. And it’s not just for Vance County students, she added. Anyone can attend, so long as they present their report card.

Rec and parks program planners had noticed a lack of school-sponsored parties and social gatherings (prom and athletic events notwithstanding), and Jones said this is one outlet for young people to come together in a safe environment to socialize.

Visit https://henderson.nc.gov/departments/recreation_and_parks/index.php for details on all the programs and events the HVRPD offers.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • If you have plants in a greenhouse or cold frame, always check the projected high temperature for the day 70F or higher. You will need to ventilate your greenhouse or cold frame.  Also have a good thermometer in these structures.
  • Ok to begin pruning ornamental trees, but only if they need it (mention CM).
  • When pruning, always wear safety glasses and gloves.
  • Cut back ornamental grasses and liriope, but be careful not to cut into emerging growth.
  • Get your Piedmont Planting guide from Cooperative Extension
  • Plant sugarsnap peas.
  • Have all your lawn mowers serviced before the rush
  • Find ways to get children involved in gardening
  • Check storage areas for mice.

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Granville County Public Schools Leadership Changes

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-information courtesy of GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin

The Granville County Board of Education approved several changes in district leadership positions at its Feb. 5 meeting and, in doing so, reduced the number of central services staff by two positions.

Vickie Hines was named the district’s Chief Financial Officer. She has been serving as an interim in that role since March 2022. Hines has worked with GCPS since 2007, and has held roles as Early Childhood Education coordinator, grants program coordinator and assistant finance officer.

Courtney Currin was named assistant superintendent of Human Resources and Operations and will begin that role July 1, 2024. She currently is the executive director of Human Resources and public information officer; Currin will continue as public information officer for the district, but will be succeeded by Latisa McKnight as the new executive director of Human Resources, also effective July 1, 2024.

Currin has close to 20 years of experience in public education – all in GCPS. She began her career as an English teacher at J.F. Webb High School and has served as an assistant principal and principal at multiple grade spans. She has served in the Human Resources department since July 2021.

McKnight, currently the personnel coordinator within the Human Resources department, will assume the director duties in the new fiscal year. McKnight came to Granville County School as a principal intern at Butner-Stem Elementary and went on to be assistant principal for five years and then principal for six years at Creedmoor Elementary.

The role of personnel coordinator will not be filled, according to the press release. The second position that will not be filled is executive director of Operations, currently held by Bill Graham, who announced his retirement after 36 years in education, including terms as principal of South Granville High School, Granville Central High School and Granville Academy.

“I am very confident that these proven leaders will do an exceptional job in their new roles. As we continue to address the upcoming budgetary challenges, we will maximize efficiency and target our resources to where they matter most, closest to our schools, serving our students,” said Superintendent Stan Winborne.

“By consolidating services at the Central Office level and reducing positions, we will save approximately $118,600,” Currin said in an email to WIZS News.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Board Of Education Approves 2024-25 Calendar With Aug. 12 Start Date

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Parents with children in Granville County Public Schools, take note: The first day of the 2024-25 school year is inching forward a couple of weeks after the Granville County Board of Education approved the traditional-year calendar Monday.

Students will return to school on Monday, Aug. 12, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin. The earlier start date means an earlier end date, with the school year coming to a close before the Memorial Day holiday. Students returned to school this year on Aug. 28.

Another bonus comes for high school students, who will complete exams and first semester before the winter break.

Currin said the the calendar committee incorporated feedback from parents and significantly reduced the number of early release days to better meet the needs of the district’s families. This calendar also includes a small fall break in mid-October and puts the district’s calendar in line with local charter schools, she said.

The Granville Early College High School’s calendar is closely aligned with Vance-Granville Community College’s calendar to facilitate cross-enrollment for its students. The first day of class for Early College students is Wednesday, Aug. 7.

View both calendars at https://www.gcs.k12.nc.us/.

 

 

TownTalk: Business Spotlight with Midnight Blue Martial Arts

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Midnight Blue Martial Arts takes center stage in the Business Spotlight on Tuesday’s TownTalk and owner Kimberly Harris invites the community to join her at the karate studio on Saturday afternoon for a Valentine’s Sip and Shop event.

This is the second year for the event, Harris said, which will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the studio, located at 101 N. Garnett St.

Midnight Blue, celebrating 25 years of providing classes in the area, has been in its downtown location since 2008, she said.

The karate studio will be filled with more than 25 vendors from across the area, featuring handcrafted items from jewelry to personalized Valentine’s Day cards for that special someone in your life.

During the pandemic, Harris said she turned to sewing to help keep her busy since she couldn’t get back into the studio to teach.

That pastime turned into something bigger and she took her new business on the road to some vendor fairs. She decided to host her own last year, and this year’s event features some return vendors, as well as new vendors who wanted to get in on the fun.

Bun on the Run will be parked out front and Sadie’s is bringing delicious hot chocolate.

Folks familiar with the karate studio will know that there’s a Black Belt Wall featuring each student who has achieved that level of proficiency.

“We take a picture (of them) in front of the American flag,” Harris said, which serves to motivate students to keep working hard toward their goal.

The students range in age from 2 to 68, but everyone learns a key element through the classes they take: being respectful.

Call 252.767.8398 to learn more about Midnight Blue Martial Arts Academy, LLC or visit https://hendersonkarate.com/

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TownTalk: Helping Shelter Cats with The Kitten Lady

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Hannah Shaw loves kittens.

She’s written numerous books – about kittens – and fosters the fuzzy little furballs whenever she can.

So it’s not surprising that the online influencer calls herself “The Kitten Lady,” and helps to educate the kitten-loving public at https://www.kittenlady.org/

Shaw spoke by telephone from her home in California Tuesday with WIZS co-host Bill Harris in observance of February as National Cat Health Month.

“Any time anything seems a little bit off with our pets, going to the vet is a great idea,” she said, noting that cats’ generally stoic nature may serve to mask a medical issue.

Plus, any cat owner will tell you they’re notorious for hiding when they don’t feel their best.

About 15 years ago, Shaw lived in the Triangle area and first became involved in animal rescue.

The author of the book “Tiny But Mighty” said she started helping shelters in the area with the kittens.

“Things have improved since that time,” she said, but she added that there’s still much work to be done to reduce the unwanted kitten population.

The most obvious way to reduce the unwanted pet population is for owners to spay or neuter their pets.

But, Shaw said, more than three-quarters of all kittens born are born on the streets – that is, nobody owns them.

A whopping 3 million cats find their way to shelters each year, which can put a strain on resources to provide. Many will be euthanized; others will be adopted or go to foster homes.

But during their time in the shelter, they need food, medical care and kitty litter.

Lots of kitty litter.

One litter manufacturer, Cat’s Pride, has a program called “Litter for Good” that donates cat litter to shelters. According to its website, https://catspride.com/litterforgood/, they’ve donated more than 37 million pounds of litter on their way to a goal of 50 million.

Shaw said she’s witnessed pallets of litter being delivered to shelters. “It frees up so much of the budget” for other needs,” she said.

Learn more about Shaw at her website

https://www.kittenlady.org/about.

 

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