The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Health Remembers Lives Lost In Service To Country

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-Information courtesy of Donna Young, MPH Marketing & Communication Coordinator 

Maria Parham Health invites the public to its third annual Memorial Day Service on Thursday, May 25, 2023. This year’s theme is “Reflection and Celebration.” The service will begin at 10 a.m. by the flagpoles in front of the hospital, where attendees will remember and honor those who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Maria Parham’s keynote speaker this year will be Hartwell Wright, Vietnam veteran and recent recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina. It is awarded for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina that is above and beyond the call of duty that has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina communities. Hartwell Wright received the award in February 2022.

The Maria Parham Memorial Day Service will include prayers from Harriett Baptist Church Pastor Will Breedlove, as well as special music, the hanging of a memorial wreath and the reading of names In Memoriam.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the auditorium.

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TownTalk: Kerr Tar Council of Governments Presents Bike Safety Bash

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When it comes to sharing the road, it’s important for both vehicle drivers and bicyclists to know what the rules are to keep everyone safe.

Young bicyclists will have the chance to learn about bike safety, get some free safety equipment  and test their skills on an obstacle course during the upcoming Bike Safety Bash on Saturday, June 10.

And the first 150 folks who stop in will get a free ice cream, compliments of Lewis Express and a local church sponsor.

The Bike Bash and Rodeo will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in front of the Henderson Police Department, according to Kenia Gomez-Jimenez with the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, which has organized the safety event.

Kids riding their bikes or walking to and from school during the week may be a more common sight in big cities, but even in rural areas, Gomez-Jimenez said, bike safety is important.

“We want to make sure they have all the education and materials they need to be safe,” she said on Monday’s TownTalk.

KTCOG received close to $200,000 in the latest round of state funding to have programs like the Bike Bash. “We’re so excited that we get to continue our Safe Routes to School endeavors across the Kerr-Tar region,” Gomez-Jimenez said.

“I believe in the power of teamwork,” she said, adding that the Granville Vance Health District, as well as the city of Henderson and AIM High, Keep Pressing are partners for the event. Reed Kenny said the health department will have 100 bike helmets to distribute to youngsters who attend the event, and Jessica Hawkins with AIM High will contribute 100 more. In addition, AIM High will raffle off 20 bicycles throughout the morning’s event.

The helmets are part of a NCDOT initiative to reduce bicycle injuries among youth by providing them with equipment and education on bike safety. Share the Road specialty license plates fund this initiative.

“We want to make sure they’re well protected,” Kenny said of young bicycle riders.

Bicyclists need to keep safety in mind, but they also need to be able to fix a bike that may break down during a ride.

Tracy Madigan, DDC director, said the event will kick off with a ribbon cutting to officially dedicate five bike racks and a newly installed bike repair station in the downtown area. The bike repair station is located on Breckenridge Street near the police station, Madigan noted.

“It will be helpful for everybody to work together to learn about bike safety, she said, as well as learning to share the roadways.

Although Henderson doesn’t have any specially designated bike lanes at present, Madigan hinted of plans to accommodate bicyclists in the future.

“The goal is to work together and to show our community that Henderson…has a sense of community,” Gomez-Jimenez said. “When we unify for a common goal, great things happen.”

When we unify for. A common goal, great things happen.”

 

 

NC State Board of Elections

Specifics On New Voter Photo ID Rules

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In response to the state’s new voter ID law, the state board of elections has issued information that may be helpful for citizens to keep in mind before their next trip to the polls.

Voters will be asked to show a photo ID, starting with the 2023 municipal elections. A driver’s license or other photo ID will be accepted.

Those without a photo ID can get a No Fee ID Card from NCDMV and soon, it is expected that a free ID will be available from your local board of elections office.

When a voter checks in to a polling place, poll workers will ask for an ID, and they are supposed to look to make sure the photo reasonably resembles the voter; the address doesn’t have to match the voter registration records

It is important to note that all voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. Those without an ID will use the ID exception form and a provisional ballot.

For complete details, visit ncsbe.gov/voter-ID and “FAQ: Voter ID” to learn more.

Michele Burgess Named George Watkins Citizen Of The Year

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Michele Eaves Burgess has been named the George Watkins Citizen of the Year by the Occoneechee Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Burgess officially received the honor at an awards ceremony Thursday in Henderson. This award is Scouting’s premier event and major fundraiser in Vance County, and honors extraordinary community leaders in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the quality of life in the Eno River District and who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law, according to a press release issued by the Occoneechee Council.

“I am honored to be recognized by our community for my involvement and dedication to making Vance County a better place for our future leaders and today’s youth,” Burgess said in a prepared statement. “Being selected to receive this award, named for Mr. George R. Watkins, Sr., who I admire and have had the pleasure to work with for many years is very special to me. George and his family have set a positive example of how volunteerism and giving back makes such an impact.”

In presenting the award, Ronald Bennett, event chairman, praised Burgess for the energy and excitement she brought in her role as president of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce. She recently retired but Bennett said Vance County and the surrounding communities are better places because of her efforts through the Chamber.

Burgess has led the Chamber three different times over the years. Tem Blackburn, who shared remarks Thursday evening, was on the interview committee that chose Burgess over others. Although she had less experience than those other candidates, there was something that clearly set her apart, he said.

“In the years that followed, whenever I needed help on a project for the Library, the YMCA, the public schools, anything of benefit to the community I called Michele and I always felt she was not only glad to help, but she was so glad I had called her and asked her to help,” he said.

Nancy Bobbitt also spoke about her friend and told those gathered that Burgess “has never faltered in her love and support of this community.” Through Burgess’s leadership over the years, the Chamber established Leadership Vance and Business After Hours, Bobbitt said. And Burgess was the first Chamber executive from Henderson to graduate and receive certification from the National Institute of Organizational Management.

“She always has a smile and good word for everyone she meets,” Bobbitt said. “She has a wealth of experience and ability to lead others to do their best to make Henderson and Vance County live up to its potential.”

Blackburn said Burgess has been working on behalf of Vance County and its residents to build community. It’s a lot of work, but Burgess has a way of approaching tasks that makes them a bit more enjoyable, Blackburn said.

“Speaking for myself, and for many others who have worked with Michele over the years, she has made it not only rewarding, but great fun!”

 

 

 

Chamber’s “Local Ladies In Leadership” Program Set For June 8

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Registration is now open for the next “Women in Business” session.

Vance County Economic Development Director McKinley Perkinson will be the speaker for the second in a series titled “Local Ladies in Leadership.”

Perkinson will bring updates and information about local trends in economic development.

The lunch and learn will begin at 12 noon on Thursday, June 8, in the Farm Bureau Room at Perry Memorial Library.

This is an opportunity for women in the community to hear first-hand how the community is growing and what is in store for the future of Henderson and Vance County.

Contact Vanessa Jones, director of programs for the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at vanessa@hendersonvance.org by June 5 to register. The fee is $20 a person.

Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 for more information.

Pop The Hood: Maintaining Your Car’s Cooling System

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

Nobody wants to get stuck on the side of the road with an overheated engine. With just a little maintenance – and an abundance of caution – vehicle owners can make sure all is well under the hood.

Michael Puckett, with Advance Auto Parts on Raleigh Road, can walk customers through the process of checking to make sure radiators and cooling systems have the proper antifreeze and coolant to keep drivers on the road and out of the shop.

It’s safety first, Puckett said on Thursday’s Pop the Hood segment on WIZS Radio. Safety goggles and protective clothing – including gloves – are important when dealing with antifreeze or coolant.

Antifreeze can be dangerous to people and to animals, so DIY’ers should always store and dispose of it properly. It’s important to remember to disconnect the battery and make sure the engine is cold, whether you’re simply topping off fluids or doing a system flush.

The staff at Advance Auto Parts can help you get just the right product for your make and model vehicle, as well as provide you with the manufacturer’s specifications.

“There’s a bunch of different colors of antifreeze,” Puckett said. “You always want to make sure you’re doing it per OEM (original equipment manufacturer) specs.” The wrong type of antifreeze could affect engine performance.

Advance Auto also offers online purchase for its products for quick and easy pickup in as few as 30 minutes.

“Call the store and we can help you with anything you have questions about” when placing an online order, he said. Visit shop.advanceautoparts.com to learn more.

Call the Raleigh Road store at 252.438.2049 and the Prosperity Road location, just off Dabney Drive, at 252.438.4183.

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.

CLICK PLAY to hear Pop The Hood: Maintaining Your Car’s Cooling System from May 18, 2023!

 

TownTalk: Duke RAM Clinic Is This Weekend

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The upcoming weekend pop-up medical clinic is as unconventional as its name implies – prospective patients will gather in a school parking lot, get a ticket to assure their place in line to receive free dental, medical and vision care. None of that sounds like the way we traditionally go about getting medical care.

And what medical facility or doctor’s office gives its clients a parting gift of a box of fresh, healthy foods?

The Duke Remote Area Medical clinic is hanging its shingle for two days only on the campus of Vance Charter School.

Organizers Anvi Charvu, Saajan Patel and John Bochman joined TownTalk Monday to discuss details of the clinic, which will be held Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.

This is the second year that a team of volunteer doctors and dentists have set up in Henderson to provide care to those who may need medical attention. Last year’s event served about 150 patients, but this year, Charvu said, the goal is between 250 and 300.

It’s a simple concept, really, and patients may begin lining up in the school parking lot just before midnight – 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 19. The clinics begin each day at 6 a.m.

Patients don’t need to provide ID or proof of insurance – if you need a tooth pulled or filled, it can be done right then. Eye exam? There are eye doctors set up to provide exams, and a lab will be on site to crank out prescription glasses to those who need them.

Bochman, who plans to attend med school at Duke, currently works with the Vance County EMS. He said he’s seen firsthand some of the needs of the community and is proud to be a part of the Duke RAM clinic again this year.

“It’s so nice that we can come in…and take care of their eye care and dental pain for an entire year,” Bochman said.

Those interested in getting medical care should consider coming early – by Saturday morning, the clinic was having to turn people away. Organizers were able to add providers to this year’s event, which should help, Charvu said.

“We’re going to try our best,” she said, to serve as many clients as possible. But waiting in the city’s largest waiting area overnight – the Vance Charter School parking lot – is the “only way to guarantee care, since there is such demand.

A free, once-a-year-clinic is a great way to help individuals access much-needed care, but the organizers understand that there needs to be more.

There will be representatives from N.C. Legal Aid on site at the weekend clinic, as well as others to help clients navigate the insurance enrollment process and obtain access to other resources as well.

“We would love to provide extra structure and strength for a more long-term solution,” Charvu said.

 

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CNA Anna Williams 2023 Mercy Award Winner For Maria Parham Health

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— Information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health’s Marketing & Communication Coordinator

Maria Parham Health recently announced that Anna Williams, CNA, is the 2023 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

“At Maria Parham Health, we share Lifepoint’s commitment to making communities healthier, and we recognize this is supported by the good work and service of our employees on and off the job,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We are extremely proud to recognize Anna for her efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. She goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person she encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”

Beard continued, “Anna has been a certified nurse assistant for more than 17 years with Maria Parham. For the entirety of her work at MPH she has remained at the bedside. Anna is part of the heart and soul of our inpatient services and punctuates the importance of every member of the care team, and the profound impact that one strong team member can have on others.”

Williams also was recognized by her pastor as a leader whom the community looks to for guidance. She is part of the prayer ministry at Union Chapel Holy Church, and for more than 30 years has helped the sick in her church, as well as those who have lost family members by providing food, transportation, financial assistance or just some sympathetic company in a time of need.

Upon receiving this recognition, Williams responded, “I enjoy my job and find happiness in seeing patients progress and return to health. It allows me to be a beacon of light in the lives of others.”

Each facility winner will be in contention for the companw-wide Mercy Award, which will be announced in August during a ceremony in Nashville, TN.

33 Year Old Resident of Henry Street Found Shot and Died on Shank Street

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame provided the following information to WIZS.

On Saturday, May 13, 2023 around 7:58 p.m., the Vance County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of 148 North Shank Street in reference to a report of a subject being shot inside a vehicle.

It was determined that a male subject, later identified as Adrian Espino, age 33, was suffering from a gunshot wound. Espino, a resident of 128 Henry street, Henderson succumbed due to his injuries while on scene.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office along with the State Bureau of Investigations is currently investigating the crime. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at (252)738-2200, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252)492-1925 or call 911.