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City Manager Frazier Talks Redevelopment Master Plan, Veterans’ Memorial

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City Manager Frank Frazier was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to provide listeners with updates regarding the City of Henderson.

Major topics of discussion included the City’s Redevelopment Master Plan, the progress of the Breckenridge outdoor pavilion in downtown Henderson and the creation of a Veterans’ Memorial in the city.

Henderson’s Redevelopment Master Plan

The City of Henderson is currently working with a firm to develop a master plan for redeveloping areas that have been in decline for several years. “We are looking at areas to redevelop in such a way as to help aid growth and help our tax base,” said Frazier. “Unfortunately, a lot of funding sources have declined through the years.”

According to Frazier, the plan would start with an area that the City feels redevelopment efforts would benefit the most. “We will begin with an area that we feel will be successful and will grow. We don’t want to bite off too much more than we can chew.”

Redevelopment efforts are expected to include the reconfiguration of existing streets, the addition of sidewalk or greenways, studying existing infrastructure and remodeling or building new homes.

“We are also looking at areas for small industrial or commercial use to appeal to businesses,” said Frazier.

The entryways into the city, including Andrews Ave., I-85 and parts of US-1, are also being reviewed. “In conjunction with the master plan, we’re looking at our corridors in order to improve the view when coming into the city,” said Frazier.

City of Henderson and Vance County leaders are all keen on heavily factoring the downtown area into the redevelopment plan. “Downtown has to be marketed as a destination where people can come and enjoy the city,” Frazier said. “We are a friendly town and we want you to have confidence that you can run a successful business here.”

Part of that marketing campaign is already underway as City officials are busy developing drafts of new signage to appeal to drivers on I-85 as well as around town. Many drafts are completed and the City is now working on receiving estimates for printing, according to Frazier.

Frazier believes the completion of the years-long I-85 construction work will bring more visitors to the area as well. “A lot of the I-85 work is winding down, thank goodness. From what I understand, it’s even a little ahead of schedule.”

While the redevelopment plan is still a work in progress with timeframes being determined, Frazier expects to have some preliminary mock-ups to share with both the City Council and the public in the next 2-3 weeks.

“We think it’s important that whatever we do, the public fully understands what we are trying to accomplish.”

Breckenridge Outdoor Pavilion/Veterans’ Memorial

The architectural firm hired by the City has completed their blueprint for the outdoor Breckenridge pavilion. The pavilion, to be located near the Henderson Police Department in downtown Henderson, will serve as the last piece of the overall Breckenridge Commons project and as the corner piece of the block.

“Right now, the City has obtained pricing from several contractors and we are waiting on a few additional bids,” explained Frazier. “My goal is to have something back to the City Council at our November meeting.”

City officials are also currently working with veterans on creating a Veterans’ Memorial to be located on the back of the Henderson Police Department.

Speaking of the area comprising the police department, Perry Memorial Library, McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center and the future site of the outdoor pavilion, Frazier said, “We feel that the memorial would tie all of these things together; a new park for our veterans.”

In order for the memorial to become a reality, Frazier said fundraising would be necessary. He believes the very nature of the memorial would make any fundraiser for the project a success.

To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.

Beard: Maria Parham is Committed to ‘Making Communities Healthier’

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health. Editorial by Bert Beard, CEO, Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health’s mission is Making Communities Healthier. We are proud to partner with the communities we serve to achieve this mission. Our physicians, employees, volunteers, and board members work hard every day to provide the highest quality care possible for our community, collaborating with patients and family members, employers, community leaders and others to create a legacy of care that will last for generations to come.

Because of the strength of our partnership with our region, we have been able to support our shared communities in many ways. The most important contribution we make is providing high-quality care close to home. Quality and service are at the center of how we care for our patients, and we continually invest in our facility to ensure we can meet the healthcare needs of our community.

In 2017, we made $3,594,560 in capital improvements, including new entrance canopies for our cancer and heart and vascular centers, a new telemetry monitoring system for expanded coverage in the hospital, and the addition of Maria Parham Franklin – an emergency department and psychiatric care facility in Franklin County.

Recruiting talented physicians into our community and supporting them also is a key driver of our efforts to ensure that our communities have access to high-quality care and service. During the past year, Maria Parham Health added 50 new providers in interventional cardiology, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, telepsychiatry, wound care, radiation oncology and more.

To create places where physicians want to practice and employees want to work, we strive to create an environment where talent is recognized, job satisfaction is valued and our 700 employees can effectively use their skills in providing high-quality care and service. We provided more than $47,044,014 in salaries, wages and benefits so that our employees and their families can live, play and grow in the place they call home.

Supporting local organizations and delivering healthcare to all of our neighbors, regardless of their ability to pay, are foundational to our commitment to the overall well-being of our communities. In addition to numerous sponsorships and charitable gifts to organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, American Cancer Society, United Way, American Red Cross and many more, we delivered more than $7.74 million in healthcare to those in our community who were in need. And as a fiscally responsible member of our community, we paid a total of $ $5,961,113 in taxes.

It is our honor to serve our communities. We are proud that, in a constantly changing – and increasingly challenging – healthcare landscape, we have been able to continue to expand the many ways we contribute to and serve our communities. This is only possible with your support, and we need your partnership now more than ever to continue the important work that we do in collaboration with you each day.

Healthcare involves many choices, and when you choose a local healthcare provider like Maria Parham Health for your care, you help us to do more for our community. Choosing our hospital over one of the many regional facilities vying for your attention helps us to ensure access to quality care locally, provide care for those in need, ensure local jobs and create opportunities for professional growth regionally, fuel economic development and contribute to the prosperity of our region, and boost support for regional organizations.

On behalf of our dedicated staff, board members and volunteers, thank you for your partnership and for entrusting us with your healthcare, and thank you for your continued support as we seek new ways to work with you to make our community healthier in 2018 and beyond.

VGCC Franklin Campus Hosting Education Night For Adult Learners

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus is hosting a special event for new and returning adult learners to learn more about its plans for Evening & Weekend College.

Education Night for Adult Learners will be held on Thursday, November 1, at 6 p.m. at the campus located at 8100 N.C. Highway 56 in Louisburg.

“The Evening & Weekend College will serve all learners at Vance-Granville, with an emphasis on the adult learner,” said Bobbie Jo May, dean of the Franklin Campus. “Our campus will provide placement testing and counseling services on some evenings and weekends, and we’ll offer hybrid sections of courses with classes on campus once per week or even once per month to meet the busy schedules of adult learners. The college is strategically planning to meet the diverse needs of this population.”

As a part of the Evening & Weekend College, Franklin Campus will offer many courses for the upcoming Spring Semester through the College Transfer program, including English, Math, Biology, Introduction to Computers and Psychology. The Career and Technical Division will offer courses in the Welding, Paralegal, Medical Office Administration, Business Management, Biotechnology, Medical Assisting and Early Childhood Education curriculum programs.

VGCC’s Franklin Campus also offers a robust selection of courses through the Continuing Education division during the day, evenings and weekends for the Spring Semester and the Summer Terms in 2019: among them, Nursing Assistant, Medication Technician, Phlebotomist, Notary Public, Biotechnology, Human Resource Specialist, and Healthcare Administration.

“We encourage those who are interested in how the Evening & Weekend College can accommodate their schedules to come to the Franklin Campus on November 1 so that we can help them achieve professional and personal success in their lives,” said May.

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Annual Military History Show to be Held at Henderson-Oxford Airport – Sat., Oct 27

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-Information courtesy the 3rd Annual Military History Show’s Facebook page

The 3rd Annual Military History event will be held at the Henderson-Oxford Airport, 6514 Airport Rd., Oxford on Saturday, October 27, 2018. Events are scheduled from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Set-up is available Friday evening. All time periods are welcome.

A P-51 Mustang is scheduled for fly-in for this event (weather depending).

Point of contact: Harry Coombs

Granville’s ‘Cluck ‘N Shuck’ Rescheduled Again! Now Being Held Thurs., Nov. 1

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— Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual fall seafood event – “Cluck ‘N Shuck” – has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 1, 2018, due to the rainy weather forecast for the end of this week.

The event will be held from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at The Red Barn on Golf Course Road (off Lake Devin Road) in Oxford.

Caterer Leon Nixon’s dinner menu offerings will include steamed oysters, fried shrimp, fried fish, fried chicken tenders, slaw, buttered potatoes, hushpuppies, tea, Pepsi-Cola products and cold beverages.

The event will be held at the same venue – The Red Barn – where it has been held the past five years. This location provides an incredible setting for those desiring to eat on the decks overlooking Lake Devin. Inside seating on the ground floor of The Red Barn is also available.

Event sponsors are Duke Energy, Granville Health System, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Roxboro, Carolina Sunrock, Touchstone Bank, The Pegram Agency, Shalag Nonwovens, Vino Oasi, For Your Occasion Party Rentals, Butner-Creedmoor News, Oxford Public Ledger, The Daily Dispatch, US 98.3FM and WIZS 1450AM.

News 10/24/18

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Henderson Police Dept. Weighs In

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In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WIZS’ Town Talk program has featured several organizations that respond to abuse and domestic violence situations in the local area. On Tuesday’s edition of Town Talk, representatives from the Henderson Police Department (HPD) discussed their experiences in dealing with domestic violence calls.

“Each time we get a call, it’s a different situation,” said Lt. Jessica West. “Domestic violence is not just people that live in the same house; it’s many different kinds of relationships.”

While two spouses verbally arguing or physically fighting may come to mind when the words domestic violence are mentioned, West said it is just as often siblings, parents and children, cousins or ex-boyfriends/girlfriends involved.

Domestic violence also extends to all genders, races and socio-economic backgrounds. “It’s a stereotype that women are always the victim. Men are victims as well but may be less likely to report,” said West.

In cases of repeated domestic violence issues, West said that the problem often starts out as emotional abuse and quickly turns to physical violence. “A lot of abuse begins as emotional abuse and control methods and escalates to physical abuse. Many victims can’t see that they are being abused, but others around them see it.”

According to West, while there are some referrals after the fact, the HPD mainly gets involved when either the victim or a concerned family member or neighbor calls to report an in-progress incident.

“The 911 dispatchers are trained on how to handle a domestic dispute call and know how to dispatch officers to the scene accordingly,” West said.

Calls involving a weapon of any kind get the highest priority. “Whether it be a gun or someone swinging a stick around, if a weapon is involved the call becomes a high priority,” said West.

West said when the call is first answered, the dispatcher will verify the name and address to ensure they are sending officers to the correct location. “This is why it is so important to make sure that children know their address, their name and their parents’ names,” West explained.

Officer Ryan Woodlief, also on Town Talk representing the HPD, described how advances in technology allow officers to view a “narrative” of the 911 history of the call location, including previous incidents, whether there are juveniles living in the home and vehicle information.

When asked how he handled calls of such a sensitive nature, especially as they may involve children, West responded, “I try to relate to the people that I’m serving as much as I can and try to put myself in their shoes.”

This understanding often goes a long way to help calm frayed nerves and volatile situations.

To assist those victims who are in immediate need of removal from their home or situation, the HPD has a relationship with Infinite Possibilities, Inc, an organization that helps victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence find temporary shelter in a safe, discreet location.

Infinite Possibilities, Inc. is available 24/7 by calling their hotline at (252) 425-2492. For help in an emergency situation, call 911.

To listen to the interview in its entirety, please click here.

Granville’s ‘Cluck ‘N Shuck’ Rescheduled for This Thurs., Oct. 25

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— Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual fall seafood event – “Cluck ‘N Shuck” – has been rescheduled for this Thursday, October 25, 2018, due to Friday’s rainy weather forecast.

The event will be held from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at The Red Barn on Golf Course Road (off Lake Devin Road) in Oxford.

Caterer Leon Nixon’s dinner menu offerings will include steamed oysters, fried shrimp, fried fish, fried chicken tenders, slaw, buttered potatoes, hushpuppies, tea, Pepsi-Cola products and cold beverages.

The event will be held at the same venue – The Red Barn – where it has been held the past five years. This location provides an incredible setting for those desiring to eat on the decks overlooking Lake Devin. Inside seating on the ground floor of The Red Barn is also available.

Event sponsors are Duke Energy, Granville Health System, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Roxboro, Carolina Sunrock, Touchstone Bank, The Pegram Agency, Shalag Nonwovens, Vino Oasi, For Your Occasion Party Rentals, Butner-Creedmoor News, Oxford Public Ledger, The Daily Dispatch, US 98.3FM and WIZS 1450AM.

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Granville Vance Public Health to Hold Community Forum at Expo Center

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health’s Facebook page 

Granville Vance Public Health will hold a Community Health Forum at the Granville County Expo Center, 4185 US Hwy 15-S in Oxford on Thursday, October 25, 2018, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. A light meal will be served.

The health department is looking for community input to help set priorities that are critical for improving the health and well-being of communities in both Granville and Vance Counties. You will hear highlights from the recent assessment finding and will have the opportunity to provide input on health priorities to be addressed over the next four years.

A long-time role of the health department is to solicit input from the community regarding strengths, resources and needs, as well as prioritize the issues of most concern.

A similar community forum was held at the Perry Memorial Library in Henderson on October 16.

For more information, please call (919) 693-2141, ext 148.

VGCC Announces Community Fall Festival – Mon. Oct. 29

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is inviting the community to attend a Fall Festival on Monday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Civic Center on the Main Campus.

Admission will be free. Tickets for “Family Fun” activities and games will be 25 cents each, according to Jermiel Hargrove, VGCC’s coordinator of student activities and athletics. Popcorn, cotton candy, pizza, candy and drinks will also be available for purchase. The proceeds from the Fall Festival will benefit VGCC’s Athletic Department.

Activities will include face painting, a costume contest, a bounce house and crafts. Games will feature a bean bag toss, corn hole, witch pitch, a pumpkin walk and fish cup toss.

The college’s Civic Center is located at 200 Community College Road in Henderson.

For more information, contact Jermiel Hargrove at (252) 738-3246.