Vance County Schools’ March Student Spotlight Honorees

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– Information courtesy of Aarika Sandlin, VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support

Two students share the March Student Spotlight in Vance County Schools as young people whose exceptional qualities and contributions make a difference in their school communities.

Rawan Almuntsr, a kindergartner at L. B. Yancey Elementary and Isabella Jaimes Hernandez, a 5th grader at Zeb Vance Elementary, demonstrate excellence in academics and show kindness to others, as well as a commitment to personal growth.

Rawan is celebrated for her warm character and her academic excellence. Rawan’s kindness shines brightly as she is always willing to lend a helping hand to her peers, uplifting words of encouragement to those around her and for sharing heartwarming hugs with her teachers, brightening everyone’s day. Rawan exhibits determination through her academic efforts and goals. She finds joy in participating in science experiments, as she loves to witness everything come to life. When she envisions her future, the excitement of becoming a doctor fuels her aspirations and dreams. Rawan appreciates learning in centers because they provide her with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects.

Outside of school, Rawan enjoys watching the Disney television show, Bluey in her free time. If granted a superpower, she wants the ability to run incredibly fast so she can play tag and win. With a magic wand, Rawan wishes for her favorite candy —a watermelon lollipop. Rawan’s advice to her peers is to always prioritize doing the right thing and to remain dedicated to school, especially reading. She admires her mom for her unconditional love and support in all that she does, but she gives credit to Ms. Taylor Evans as her motivation to attend school. She shared that Ms. Evans’s kindness to her and all of her classmates is one of her favorite things about being at L.B. Yancey Elementary. An inspiration to all, Rawan is a shining light and a source of inspiration for the entire Bulldog family.

Isabella was recognized for her genuine spirit and commitment to lending a helping hand. Nominated by her 5th-grade teachers, Isabella embodies kindness and responsibility in all aspects of school. She is known for always supporting classmates and teachers. She consistently goes above and beyond to lend a helping hand. Isabella is a member of the Beta Club, as well as the Safety Patrol. She is dedicated to all that she does and extends compassion to those around her that need support. With a passion for sports, Isabella loves soccer and basketball. Inspired by the late Kobe Bryant, Isabella aspires to become a professional athlete.

She enjoys math class, specifically equations, as well as doing experiments in science class. She also enjoys both physical education and art, adding to her well-rounded personality. Her positive attitude and commitment to excellence have allowed her to be a great friend to many. Her advice to others is “Don’t give up, keep trying, and keep up with doing your work.” She also shared that as long as students keep trying, they will never fail! With a rooted passion for helping others, Isabella shared that she could see herself as a firefighter one day, adding to her selflessness and determination. When she is not busy with her studies or sports, Isabella enjoys reading graphic novels and watching her favorite show, Spongebob Squarepants.

Given the opportunity to have a superpower, Isabella would love to fly and, given a magic wand, she would love to visit Myrtle Beach. Isabella’s heartwarming personality, along with her dreams and positive outlook, make her a true inspiration to her peers as the Student Spotlight for Zeb Vance Elementary.

2024 Alive After Five! Kicks Off April 25 In Oxford

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The 2024 Alive After Five! concert season kicks off Thursday, Apr. 25 with Brake Tyme Band in the Littlejohn parking lot from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce, along with other local sponsors including Duke Energy, brings the annual free entertainment event to towns across Granville County for all to enjoy.

Beverage tickets will be available for purchase at check-in tables the day of the event.

Visit the Chamber’s website, http://www.granville-chamber.com, or follow on Facebook or Instagram – Granville County Chamber – to stay updated with all the details, including a list event sponsors and contributors.

Sponsorships are still available, so contact Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Ratliff at cynthia@granville-chamber.com if you or your business would like to be added to the list.

Come early, visit our local downtown businesses, bring a chair, listen to this incredible music, dance, and enjoy visiting with friends.

 

Henderson’s CommUnity Clean Up Day Friday, Apr. 26

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The city of Henderson will sponsor a CommUnity Clean Up Day Friday, April 26 – churches, businesses and other groups are invited to take part and spruce up different areas of the city where litter may collect and create an eyesore.

The day’s event is held in conjunction with the NC DOT’s Spring Litter Sweep, a statewide effort to clean up along roadsides.

To learn more and to get the materials needed to help in the CommUnity Clean Up Day, contact Cindy Norwood, executive assistant to City Manager Terrell Blackmon at 252.430.5700.

Haley Rawles New Director At Vance County Board Of Elections

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The Vance County Board of Elections has selected Haley Rawles to become its new director. Rawles, former deputy director in Granville County, started her new job today, Thursday, Apr. 4.

“I’m super excited to be here in Vance,” Rawles told WIZS News earlier today in a telephone interview.

In a recent interview, Board Chair James Baines said the county had made its selection, but was awaiting final approval from Raleigh to begin the transition.

Former director Jennifer Cocklin will stay on another week, Rawles said.

Once they get that approval, the candidate can go before Clerk of Superior Court Henry Gupton and take the oath of office. Rawles said she expects to be sworn in next week.

“We plan to do our best for the citizens of Vance County,” Baines said.

The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Catalytic Converters

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For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Ask a mechanic about your vehicle’s catalytic converter and you’re likely to hear about how it reduces pollution and toxic gases that come from the engine.

An environmentalist may tell you how essential this little piece of metal is to protect the air we breathe.

Ask an unscrupulous so-and-so and you’ll likely hear that they’re super easy to steal, strip of its precious metals and make some serious money, all at the vehicle owners’ expense.

This relatively small, but essential, piece of equipment has attracted thieves looking to make a fast buck. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says claims of catalytic converter thefts have increased by nearly 300 percent since 2020.

Vehicles can run without a catalytic converter, but legally, they’re supposed to have one. If you notice that your vehicle makes a very loud sound when you start it, you may want to check to see that the catalytic converter is there – if not, that 18-inch gap in your exhaust system where the converter used to be is the reason for the noise.

So, what’s a car owner to do? There are several suggestions to keep your vehicle safe:

  • Always park in your garage or a brightly-lit area, ideally in view of a security camera. At home, put in a motion sensor light that covers your driveway.
  • Install an anti-theft device that makes it impossible to cut off your catalytic converter. Several manufacturers sell shields, cables or plates that are bolted onto your car to cover the component.
  • Spray paint the catalytic converter a bright color with high-temperature exhaust manifold paint, which should alert a recycler that it could be stolen property.
  • Etch your license plate or vehicle identification number on the converter so it’s easier to track if stolen.

The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

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Gas Leak Near M.R. Williams

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FINAL UPDATE 12:57 PM Thursday, Apr. 4

According to Dominion Energy NC and its media relations department, the gas leak is no longer an issue of public safety, and the matter is now complete.

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UPDATE 11:45 AM Thursday, Apr. 4

From Dominion Energy NC: “Dominion Energy responded to a gas leak this morning at 235 Raleigh Road in Henderson that was caused by excavation activity striking and damaging a gas line. The natural gas leak was secured at 11:18 a.m. and Dominion Energy crews are now working on the gas line repair.”

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UPDATE 11:40 AM Thursday, Apr. 4

Raleigh Road is back open, according to Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

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UPDATE 11:25 AM Thursday, Apr. 4, 2024

From Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow – There is a gas leak on Raleigh Rd in front of MR Williams. Raleigh Rd at that location is shut down for an unknown time period.

Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Communication, Part 4

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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: NC Should Have Good Weather To View April 8 Eclipse

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As a meteorologist, Jonathan Blaes is a scientist well-versed in the vagaries of weather, especially in North Carolina and especially in the springtime. But next week, he just may divert his attention – for a few minutes, anyway – to observe a celestial event that has nothing to do with storms, or clouds or rain or anything else weather-related.

It’s the solar eclipse that will have his attention on Monday afternoon, which he called “a remarkable and really ‘far out’ kind of thing.”

The official forecast from Blaes, meteorologist-in-chief at the National Weather Service in Raleigh:  observers in North Carolina won’t see the most dramatic show when the eclipse occurs roughly at 3:15 p.m., but they will have clear skies and fair temps to make viewing more pleasant.

“It’s certainly going to be a neat event,” he said on Thursday’s TownTalk, “but be careful.”

Although the sun will seem a little bit less powerful during the eclipse because the moon is in the way, its harmful UV rays can still cause damage, so please do NOT look skyward during the eclipse.

Blaes offered an alternative to the traditional pinhole cameras and special glasses for those who want to experience the eclipse in a safe manner: Go for a walk in a wooded area.

“As you walk underneath the trees, you’ll see a crescent shape of the sun on the ground,” he said. It’s Mother Nature’s version of that pinhole camera – the leaves of the trees will create miniature eclipse sun images, he said. “It’s one of the neatest things I’ve ever experienced.”

As a scientist, Blaes said he’s experienced a lot of what Mother Nature throws at North Carolina over the course of a year – springtime storms and rotations aloft that can create tornadoes are just a couple of types of weather that keep him and others at the National Weather Service on their toes.

He said this spring, folks in this area can expect conditions this spring to be “a little bit warmer and a little bit wetter” than normal. Sure, anyone can predict that, but Blaes and his team have analyzed tremendous amounts of data to come up with such a simple-sounding pronouncement.

“Being a meteorologist is fun,” Blaes said. “It is challenging – every day is a puzzle.” The surge in data from satellite images and other sources produces more information than humans can manage, he said, so he and his team rely on statistics and AI – all of which contribute to improved weather forecasts.

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