Students At 3 VCS Campuses Start A New School Year

/by

Students headed back to class Monday in three Vance County Schools – getting the 2023-24 school year off to a good start with smiles, high fives and lots of excitement.

The first day of class at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, Vance County Early College and Vance County High School began without a hitch, and VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin stated that teachers and staff are ready to educate students and empower them to engage in opportunities and experiences, taking learning to the next level.

The annual back-to-school convocation for all staff is scheduled for Aug. 22 at McGregor Hall in advance of the Aug. 28 start date for all traditional calendar schools in the district.

Keep Immunizations, Vaccines, Up-To-Date For Maximum Protection

/by

-information provided by Betsy Hunt, Chief Nursing Officer at Maria Parham Health

Although the COVID-19 virus still poses a health risk to many Americans, the widespread panic brought on by the pandemic as it raged and surged over the past few years is a thing of the past, thanks largely to the development and use of vaccines.

In May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced an end to the public health emergency brought on by COVID-19.1 Since the peak of the Omicron variant in January 2022, COVID-19 cases have declined rapidly – though the disease still poses a health risk to many Americans, COVID-19 death rates have dropped 95 percent from their height in 2021.2

Much of our achievement in combatting the virus can be attributed to a record-breaking vaccine rollout, according to information from Betsy Hunt, chief nursing officer at Maria Parham Health.

Since the first COVID-19 vaccine was released to the public, more than 270 million Americans have received at least one dose, and over 70 percent are considered fully immunized,3 making this the largest adult vaccination program in our nation’s history. As more of us become resistant to the virus, we are able to return to the activities we love – visiting restaurants, traveling outdoors and hosting social gatherings – without fear that we’ll endanger ourselves or the people around us.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Each year, we take this time to recognize that vaccines are essential to our health and the health of our community – a lesson that the past few years have made especially clear. For centuries, immunization has been one of the most effective ways we can protect ourselves from preventable illness.4 Diseases that were once deadly, such as polio, have all but vanished thanks to the power of community-wide vaccination, while others such as COVID-19 are becoming much less dangerous. Whether we’re young or old, we can stop the spread of disease by following vaccination guidelines.

Although COVID is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it’s important to remember that other diseases have not gone away. The CDC has observed that over the past few years, many children missed yearly check-ups due to concerns surrounding COVID.5 September is approaching, which for many Americans means the start of the school year – as you gear up your child with books and pencils, make sure to also check their immunization record, and talk to their pediatrician about making up any missed appointments.

Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Adults also benefit from certain vaccinations, to protect against diseases such as shingles, tetanus, and the common flu. Some vaccines can even reduce your risk of cancer – the Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent liver cancer, while the HPV vaccine immunizes you against the most common cause of cervical cancer.6 Your recommended vaccines may vary, depending on your age, lifestyle, and prior immunization history – for instance, adults who travel frequently, or who missed important vaccinations during childhood, may be due for a check-up. Talk to your primary physician about your vaccine history, and ask if any of the following vaccines are right for you:

If there is a lesson we should take away from the past few years, it’s that our community’s health is everything, and protecting our health is everyone’s responsibility. When you get vaccinated to strengthen your immune system, you’re not just safeguarding yourself from common illnesses – you’re also protecting your family, neighbors, and the most vulnerable members of your community.

Different vaccines are recommended, depending on the age of the patient. COVID-19 and flu vaccines, for example, are recommended for anyone between the ages of 6 months and 80+. Shingles vaccines are recommended for anyone over 50 and HPV vaccines target those in the 11-26 age group.

Schedule a check-up with your primary care provider today. To find a provider, call 800.424.DOCS. For more information on immunization recommendations by age, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html or talk to your primary care provider.

State Fair 2023 Taking Applications For ‘Farm Family Of The Day’

/by

-information courtesy of the N.C. State Fair Office

 

The N.C. State Fair is looking for 11 farm families to recognize during the fair for its Farm Family of the Day, presented by Tractor Supply Company. Nominations are being accepted through Sept. 15.

If you are proud to be an N.C. farmer, work hard to contribute to the state’s No. 1 industry and love both farming and the N.C. State Fair, your farm family could be one of the lucky ones selected.

Families recognized as Farm Family of the Day honorees will be awarded an N.C. State Fair gift basket including fair tickets to use on any day of their choice during the 2023 N.C. State Fair, ride passes and additional swag from Tractor Supply Company and the N.C. State Fair.

Families will be chosen by both nomination and application. Applications can be found at https://www.ncstatefair.org/2023/Attractions/FarmFamilyOfTheDay.htm.

The “Farm Family of the Day” program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, is returning for its third year to recognize and celebrate more of our state’s rich agricultural heritage and the farm families that are behind our $103.2 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.

“The State Fair’s earliest beginnings sought to elevate the understanding of new agricultural practices and technology. Helping people make the connection between farming and the food that they enjoy is one of our top missions at the N.C. State Fair each year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

“Thanks to Tractor Supply Company, we can help tell the story of our farmers because they are the individuals out there every day working to grow the food, fiber and fuel that we need to survive.”

The 2023 N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 12-22 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The fair offers an experience unique to North Carolina for all who attend, and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights.

For more information, visit www.ncstatefair.org.

VGCC Protocols Help Maintain Safety

/by

Campus safety is a priority at all educational institutions.

Thursday morning at Vance-Granville Community College, the protocols in place helped maintain safety and order on the main campus in what was a real situation that turned out to involve a BB gun.

Law enforcement responded to the Poplar Creek Road location shortly before 9:30 a.m.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais described the situation to WIZS about two hours after it happened, and she said, “There was no threat to the campus … We determined that but we didn’t know to begin with … I am proud that our systems held up, that we responded appropriately.”

Two parents were using the campus as a halfway point to exchange custody of a child. The offending parties, including a dad and his two minor-age children, were in fact trespassing. While they were waiting for the mom, some horseplay broke out along the tree line towards Poplar Creek Road, and a BB gun was in plain view.

Desmarais used a couple of words while talking to WIZS News such as “astounding” and “inappropriate” and “harrowing.”

She said, “I was one of the people who observed it and you don’t know that that’s play acting.”

Neither parent nor the children were affiliated with the school at all. Desmarais said campus was a “halfway point for them so it had nothing to do with us. Unbeknownst to us they had used the campus previously to make this transfer between the children, but obviously not when school is in session.”

Of the protocols, Desmarais said, “They were followed, and they worked.”

Sheriff Curtis Brame told WIZS that no charges would be filed.

Apparently the parents were told not to be on campus again.

“Safety is really important to us,” Desmarais said.

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Introduce New Defensive Coordinator

/by
The Vance County Vipers first football game is against Warren County in two weeks, and Coach Aaron Elliott is busy getting the team ready to take the field.  Camp was this past weekend, and Elliott called it a success.  “Camp went well, but we were tired on Monday,” Elliott said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  He expects to have about 75 kids on the team, meaning that fewer players will have to play both offense and defense.  Some will still see action on both sides of the ball. “We have to put our best athletes on the field,” Elliott said.
Elliott also took the opportunity to introduce the Viper’s new defensive coordinator, Thomas Oothoudt.  He played for Elliott at Louisburg High School and was defensive coordinator at Corinth Holders in Johnston County. So far, Oothoudt has liked what he has seen of the Vipers.  “I have been impressed by the athleticism,” he said of the Vipers.  “We have to play with full effort and play with fundamentals,” he continued.
The first game will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 18th at Viper Stadium.  You can hear the game live over WIZS Radio if you cannot attend or if you take your radio to the game.  Fans who are not in range of the terrestrial radio station can click on Listen Live at WIZS.com.

CLICK PLAY!

 

TownTalk: 15-Year-Old Jayden Watkins Strives To Be Unique

/by

Jayden Watkins is not your ordinary teenager.

And that suits him just fine – in fact, Watkins said, he’s known for some time that his uniqueness is a gift from God. It’s a gift that he embraces as he continues to answer God’s call to service.

“It’s OK to be unique and different,” the 15-year-old said on TownTalk this week. “I’m grateful and blessed and honored to be unique,” he told WIZS co-hosts (and for the summer, colleagues) Steve Lewis, Bill Harris and John C. Rose, all of whom chatted with Watkins about his accomplishments and what’s ahead for the future.

A synonym for the word “unique” is “different,” which can carry a negative connotation. And Watkins is all about being positive. God’s call for us, he said is to make positive changes – within our families, households, jobs and the community.

“We must work in unity, despite our differences,” he said. “The needed change will not come if we only dream or think it,” he added. But if we are brave enough to be it.”

Watkins currently is in the middle of his Limitless 2023 tour, which has him speaking and preaching in the area from June through September.

Chances are he won’t be wearing the football jersey Watkins said he used to don on Sunday afternoons as a young child pretending to be a minister delivering the Word.

“It was my preacher’s robe,” Watkins said of that jersey, recalling that his father has shared the story when introducing his son to a group or congregation.

The purpose of the Limitless tour, he said, is “to inspire people to activate and maximize their God-given potential.” He has several upcoming engagements, including Sunday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. at New Grassy Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Oxford and Sunday, Aug. 20 at 11:15 a.m. at St. Andrews Christian Church in Henderson.

And his ministerial licensing service will be held Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. at 16 Big Ruin Creek Lane in Henderson.

Whether you listen to him live or tune in to his Preferable podcast, the message Watkins delivers is one of positivity and finding purpose.

The Preferable podcast, which he started in March 2020 can be found on platforms like Spotify, Amazon and YouTube, just to name a few. According to Fox 50 and ABC 19, Preferable is one of the longest-running podcasts by a person of Watkins’s age.

“It feels a blessing to be able to host a podcast and to receive that recognition,” Watkins said, adding that he hopes the podcast’s message inspires listeners “to activate their God-given talents…to go out and build beloved communities.”

There are challenges, he acknowledged, like sending a flurry of emails just to book one particular guest. “But when I hear the testimonies that people give…I am encouraged to keep going,” he said.

His humble nature shines through during his daily routine, from his work at the radio station to the simple act of holding the door for an elderly woman making her way into the library. She recognized him, by the way, as “that” young man who makes the podcasts, Watkins recalled. She said she listens as part of her nighttime routine, which helps her have a good night’s sleep.

Check out Preferable, follow Watkins on Facebook and Instagram, email him at iamjaydenwatkins@gmail.com  and complete a booking form at https://jaydenwatkins.com/

 

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Maria Parham Primary Care Welcomes New Family Nurse Practitioner

/by

– information courtesy of Donna Young, market coordinator, communications and marketing

Maria Parham Primary Care announces the addition of Jennifer Stockwell, MSN-FNP to its team of medical professionals. Stockwell is a family nurse practitioner,  specializing in family medicine.

Maria Parham Health CEO Bert Beard welcomed Stockwell to the MPH team. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and  experience that will be invaluable to our patients, and we’ve seen it firsthand as she’s worked in  our emergency departments with Maria Parham,” Beard said in a press statement.

Stockwell said she looks forward to helping patients. “I am passionate about preventative healthcare and look forward to working with my patients to implement practices that will better their well-being,” she said.

“That experience and knowledge base will surely distinguish her in the primary care setting and it’s always special to support someone growing in their career with us. Furthermore, Jennifer’s

dedication to delivering superior patient care aligns with our mission to provide the best possible care and treatment to our patients,” Beard stated.

Stockwell received her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner from South University and completed clinical rotations at Spectrum Medical Care in Raleigh.

Schedule an appointment at Maria Parham Primary Care by calling 252.436.0440.

Roses on Dabney Drive Closing Because of Lease

/by

Roses Discount Stores will continue to serve the Henderson area as a retailer at its Garnett Street location.

The Roses on Dabney Drive will continue to operate with its same store hours through September 30. However, the Dabney Drive location will then close.

A pair of corporate executives spoke to WIZS News Wednesday, and the company issued a statement.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to come to terms on a lease extension with the landlord for our Dabney Drive location after 54 years. We’re making changes and improvements to our Roses store at 1471 N. Garnett St. that will allow us to better serve all of our loyal customers. Each team member at the closing store has been offered a position within the company. We’re excited for the continued opportunity to serve Henderson and the surrounding communities for many years to come.”

Store executives expressed the company’s desire to remain at the existing Dabney Drive location, but in the absence of that option, committing to do more at the North Garnett Street location demonstrates at least part of the discount retailer’s desire to serve the area.

Also, Roses Discount Stores took to its Facebook page Tuesday to express, in bold red letters not unlike the ROSES brand itself, “THANK YOU DABNEY DRIVE,” for 54 amazing years!

Over the long term, additional opportunities may arise for a second Roses location in Henderson once again.

The local corporate underpinning is not affected by these retail changes.

The modern-day version of Roses is presently around 400 stores and growing, most recently with an expansion in Texas.

In addition, there may be an employment opportunity right for you. See more online at www.rosesdiscountstores.com/careers.

TownTalk: Choosing The Right Long-Term Care

/by

For many choosing a long-term care facility for a loved one can be a difficult choice.  Kim Hawkins, Regional Ombudsman at Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments, says there is variety in the level of care offered at area facilities.  She says there is a difference between a nursing facility and an assisted living facility. “A nursing facility requires an RN on site 24 hours a day and an assisted-living facility requires an RN be easily accessible. If you find an assisted-living facility with an RN on site 24 hours a day, that’s a plus,” Hawkins explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

Another thing to keep in mind is if a patient will require short-term or long-term care and to find the correct facility that meets those needs. Doctor recommendations should also be considered when deciding on the the type of facility that is right for your loved one.

“There are 47 licensed long-term care facilities in our area,” Hawkins says.  That area includes the five counties of Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person.  Hawkins says this is a fair amount for the region but that level of care provided at these facilities is more of an issue when choosing a place for your loved one.

Larger facilities in Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill offer the same basic minimum services as required by law but facilities in the larger cities may offer more amenities than those located in rural areas.

What if your loved one doesn’t like the facility they are placed in? “In theory, it’s easy to transfer but in reality it usually isn’t,” according to Hawkins.  If your loved one has an issue with a facility, Hawkins suggests giving the facility an opportunity to fix the problem.

If you have further questions about long-term care, call Kim Hawkins at 252-436-2050 or email her at khawkins@kerrtarcog.org.

CLICK PLAY!