Guild Gift Gallery Volunteers Create New VGCC Scholarship

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The volunteers who operate the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Health have endowed their 13th scholarship to help students enrolled at Vance-Granville Community College. The new award is the second that specifically honors the service of the past and present volunteers who have donated their time to work at the gift shop over the years.

When 10 of the volunteers met last month for a photo in the lobby of the hospital on Ruin Creek Road, they represented more than 100 years of work in the gift shop. Altogether, there are two dozen volunteers who currently staff the gallery with a combined number of 170 years of service.

The new gift continues a tradition of the organization’s support for education. Since 2008, the Guild Gift Gallery has given over $350,000 to the VGCC Endowment Fund to create scholarships that help deserving students who will become the nurses and other health-care professionals of the future. A small team of the guild is also dedicated to sending out single mothers gifts on Mother’s Day. The same team also operates on sending out provisions to the street urchins so they could send gifts for dad who work outside the town.

Above, a group of volunteers gathers at the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Health with representatives of Vance-Granville Community College’s Endowment Fund to celebrate the creation of their newest scholarship. Seated, from left, are Charlotte Ayscue, Gean Bobbitt, Shaaron Reynolds and Jean Hutchins. Standing, from left, are Kay Currin, Judy Campbell, Vernell Champion, Pat Ayscue, Jimmie Ayscue, Lou Reavis, Sylvia Edwards and Eddie Ferguson. Currin and Ferguson represent the Endowment Fund. (Photo Credit: VGCC)

The latest award is being called the Guild Gift Gallery Past & Present Volunteers Presidential Scholar Award, according to Eddie Ferguson, director of VGCC’s Endowment Fund. The scholarship will award $1,250 each year to a student enrolled in a Health Sciences curriculum program at VGCC.

Of the 24 volunteers who are currently active, the years of service are as follows: Gean Bobbitt, 27 years; Lou Reavis, 22; Louise Bennett, Jean Hutchins, Jean Norwood, and Betty Stevenson, 13 years each; Charlotte Ayscue and Sylvia Edwards, 10 years each; Vernell Champion, 9; Margie Moss and Shaaron Reynolds, 8 years each; Tricia Kleczek, 7; Betty Abbott, 5; Gail Malone, 3; Shannon Clark and Carol Pegram, 2 years each; and Sylvia Anderson, Jimmie Ayscue, Pat Ayscue, Judy Campbell, Fern Ellington, Dave Kleczek, Beverly Parrish, Stephanie Stringer, and Linda Washburn, 1 year each.

“This new scholarship beautifully connects all of the people who worked at the gift shop in the past with those who volunteer today to benefit the students who will help us carry forward into the future,” Ferguson said. “These volunteers have made and continue to make the Guild Gift Gallery such a success.”

Gean Bobbitt, coordinator of volunteers, said, “These women and men go above and beyond to provide the highest level of service to patients and to hospital visitors in a caring and friendly way. It’s so easy to see that they are excited about the work they do and the contribution they make.” She thanked Duke LifePoint and Maria Parham Health for their support of the Gallery.

Dr. Gordon Burns, interim president of Vance-Granville Community College, offered his praises for the work of the volunteers. “This gift shop demonstrates that it is an essential part of the hospital and the community,” he said. “Its local impact is evident as the money that the shop generates stays right here in the local community and it helps local students who are pursuing a career in healthcare at Vance-Granville.”

In addition to the scholarships honoring past and present volunteers, the Guild Gift Gallery volunteers have created presidential scholar awards honoring Bobbitt and in honor of Ann Rose Allen, who is now deceased, and in memory of Leslie Carswell, Dr. J. Franklin Mills, and Dr. W. Beverly Tucker.

The VGCC Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program has now awarded more than 9,000 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been established by individuals, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving VGCC students. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Restores Power to Majority of Local Area

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-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

Duke Energy has made tremendous progress in restoring customers’ power yesterday and this morning. I am pleased to report that we have restored power to most, and in some areas all, of our customers in Person, Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties. However, we are not letting our guard down. We will continue to work until every customer is back on, and if any additional outages occur, we still have the crews in place to respond if necessary.

I encourage you to check the online outage maps for information about any remaining outages.

Backed by more than 10,000 people from the Carolinas and at least 7 other states, we have restored more than 1.1 million customers in less than 4 days. A photo gallery has been created to show Tropical Storm Michael’s damage and restoration efforts across the Carolinas. It is available here – click on ‘Scenes from Hurricane Michael’ to view the images.

Tanya Evans

District Manager

Duke Energy

State Highway Patrol Announces ‘Operation Stop Arm’

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-Press Release, North Carolina Department of Public Safety

While many schools across the state have been in operation for more than two months, the State Highway Patrol is taking proactive steps to ensure school bus safety is not overlooked.

Beginning Monday, October 15, troopers statewide will participate in Operation Stop Arm, a week-long event held each year.  Objectives of the campaign include an increase in educational programs and enforcement in and around school zones.  Throughout the week, troopers will ride on school buses and use unmarked vehicles to monitor bus routes to and from school.

“Every child should be afforded a safe means of travel as they attend their respective educational institution”, said Colonel Glenn McNeill Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol.  “While this operation is scheduled to conclude on Friday, our efforts will continue throughout the school year.”

In partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, a PSA has been produced to raise public awareness regarding school bus safety.  The message can be located by visiting the SHP’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/122457348546/posts/10156132596588547/

Maria Parham Franklin to Open Doors on October 15

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Franklin

Maria Parham Health, part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, today announced that it will officially open the doors of its new emergency room and geriatric behavioral health facility, called Maria Parham Franklin, on Monday, October 15. The facility hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house event for the community on October 3 to celebrate the impending opening, which marks the restoration of vital health care services in Louisburg and surrounding areas.

“We are excited to finally open our doors and fulfill our promise of bringing high-quality care back to this region,” said Bert Beard, chief executive officer (CEO) of Maria Parham Health. “The outpouring of community support for this initiative has been incredible, and we could not be happier to be advancing our mission of Making Communities Healthier right here in Louisburg.”

Maria Parham Franklin occupies the former Franklin Medical Center building in Louisburg, which has been renovated. It provides 24/7 emergency care, diagnostic services and behavioral health services. Outpatient imaging services include computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound, mammography and bone density testing. The facility also features a 13-bed inpatient geriatric behavioral health unit and an outpatient laboratory.

The project has been made possible by Duke LifePoint Healthcare, The Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Fund, The Golden Leaf Foundation and the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the North Carolina Community Development Block Grant.

For more information, visit https://www.mariaparhamfranklin.com/.

About Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health, a Duke LifePoint hospital, is a regional hospital in Henderson, N.C., serving the people of north central North Carolina and southside Virginia. As a part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, Maria Parham offers a combination of Duke University Health System’s world-renowned leadership in clinical excellence and quality care, and LifePoint Health’s extensive resources, knowledge and experience in operating community hospitals. Maria Parham offers a wide range of services and the latest technology to meet the healthcare needs of the community. It is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and CMS. For more information about Maria Parham Health, please call (252) 438-4143 or visit mariaparham.com.

About Duke LifePoint Healthcare

Duke LifePoint Healthcare, a joint venture of Duke University Health System, Inc. and LifePoint Health (NASDAQ: LPNT), was established to build a dynamic network of hospitals and healthcare providers. The joint venture, which brings together LifePoint’s experience in community-based hospital management and Duke’s world-renowned leadership in patient safety and clinical quality systems, is strengthening and improving healthcare delivery by providing community hospitals the clinical, quality and operational resources they need to grow and prosper. For more information, visit www.dukelifepointhealthcare.com.

Franklin County Logo

Franklin Co. Reports Discharge of Untreated Wastewater From Two Pump Stations

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-Press Release, County of Franklin

Notification of Discharge of Untreated Wastewater

General Statute 143-215.1C requires that the owner or operator of any wastewater collection or treatment works to issue a press release when an untreated wastewater discharge of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface waters.

In accordance with that regulation, the following news release has been prepared and issued to media in the affected county:

Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a discharge of untreated wastewater from the Youngsville Regional pump station in Youngsville. The spill was a result of rain generated by Hurricane Michael. The spill occurred at 4:15 p.m. on October 11, 2018, and discharged until 8:30 p.m. The discharge of wastewater was estimated to be 7,650 gallons and it entered into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek which is a tributary of the Neuse River Basin. Franklin County Public Utilities staff was dispatched to the site and started clean up after the overflow stopped.

Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a discharge of untreated wastewater from the Franklinton Regional pump station in Franklinton. The spill was a result of rain generated by Hurricane Michael. The spill occurred at 4:15 p.m. on October 11, 2018, and discharged until 7:30 p.m. The discharge of wastewater was estimated to be 9,750 gallons and it remained on the pump station site. Franklin County Public Utilities staff was dispatched to the site and started clean up after the overflow stopped

The division of Water Quality was notified of these events on October 12, 2018, and is reviewing the matter. For additional information concerning this event, please contact Chris Doherty, Franklin County Public Utilities Director at (919) 556-6711.

Additional information can be obtained by visiting Franklin County’s website at www.franklincountync.us and our Facebook Page, search Franklin County Public Utilities.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

UPDATE: All Campuses of VGCC CLOSED Today

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-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Updated message from VGCC:

This message updates the announcement posted earlier about VGCC opening later today.

As of 8:30 a.m. all classes are canceled at all campuses, the Child Care Centers are closed and employees have an optional workday.

All Campuses of VGCC to Open at 9 a.m.

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-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

All campuses of Vance-Granville Community College open at 9 a.m. today, Friday, October 12.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

Cardinal Innovations Collecting School Supplies for Students Affected by Florence

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Elliot Clark, senior community executive for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, and Amanda Burrafato, marriage and family therapist and substance abuse counselor with Recovery Innovations, were the guests of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

Clark announced that Cardinal Innovations has partnered with Trillium Health Resources in eastern NC to purchase 1,000 bookbags for special education students affected by Hurricane Florence. Today through Tuesday, October 16, the organization is requesting the public’s help in filling these bookbags with much-needed school supplies.

Requested supplies include pencils, wide-ruled notebooks, markers, crayons, glue sticks and prepackaged snacks. Donations may be brought to the Cardinal Innovations office located at 134 S. Garnett St. in Henderson on weekdays from now until Tuesday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In regard to their decision to focus efforts on students in the Exceptional Children’s program, Clark responded, “Relief efforts across the state have been impressive, but there are certain pockets of the population that need a little more concentration and this is one of them.”

The local five-county branch of Cardinal Innovations works with the Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren and Halifax communities and providers to cover mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services for Medicaid.

“Large in part, we cover services and we pay providers to do the work. We do the work as far as community service, care coordination, advocacy and education, but the treatment component depends on the providers,” said Clark.

One such valued provider, according to Clark, is Recovery Innovations located at 300 W. Parkview Dr. in Henderson. Recovery Innovations offers facility-based crisis and non-hospital detox services to residents on a 3-7 day stay basis.

“We are step number one,” said Burrafato. “We’re the mental health/substance abuse version of a hospital stopping the bleeding. We’re keeping people safe, restarting medication and allowing them to get sober. We get you safe and get you connected to the next stop.”

According to Burrafato, addiction is often the result of the addict battling depression or using inherited coping strategies. “A lot of times when we see someone who is addicted, it is someone who has gone through traumatic events or they are trying to run from depression.”

“Often times it is also hereditary,” Burrafato said. “What we see are generations of people learning to cope using substances and using patterns that have been ingrained.”

Burrafato said each person’s case is different and her organization prides itself on offering a choice. “People are meeting with doctors, our RN, our peer support workers and people who are in recovery themselves. Throughout, they are developing a plan that is unique to them.”

To further assist with the area’s mental health and substance abuse needs, a Wellness Alliance associated with Vance, Granville and Franklin community partners has been established. The group meets every other month on the fourth Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Cardinal Innovations Healthcare office in Henderson.

“Leadership from Recovery Innovations – Amanda in particular – has helped put together a more outreaching Wellness Alliance. They go out to different organizations and county departments to get a sense of the needs and respond to those needs with training or particular services,” said Clark.

One such area of need is additional assistance battling the crippling opioid crisis. “The conversation [on opioids] is not discriminating against who it is reaching anymore,” said Burrafato. “It can start with a car accident or a doctor’s prescription and before long it is spiraling out of control.”

“It doesn’t discriminate against age, race or creed. Shining a spotlight on the opioid crisis has made the conversation more available to the community.”

Franklin County Logo

Franklin Co. Government Offices to Close Today at 3 p.m.

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-Information courtesy Kristen G. King, Clerk to the Board, Franklin County

Due to Hurricane Michael, Franklin County Government offices will close today, October 11 at 3 p.m.

The Franklin County Board of Elections office will remain open for their scheduled poll worker training.

Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools Closed Thurs., Oct. 11

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

Due to the impending inclement weather, all Franklin County schools are closed for students and staff tomorrow, October 11.

All school-related activities and events are also canceled Thursday.

Friday, October 12 will remain a teacher workday. There is no school for students on that day.

Please monitor the district website and our social media channels for further weather-related announcements including updates to this week’s schedule and make-up days.