The Local Skinny! Lee Anne Peoples, ACTS

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Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) had a successful fundraiser Monday which Executive Director Lee Anne Peoples said probably would bring in more than $2,000 for the local agency that provides food to hungry people in Vance County.

“We are excited about it,” Peoples said, referring to the fundraiser held at 220 Seafood. She said the final total isn’t in yet, but 947 have been turned in and she expects the proceeds to be in the $2,000 to $2,500 range. It’s always a good time when you can raise money and have fun in the process, she told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

The money raised “turns right around and helps (ACTS) minister to others,” she said. Similar to running a household, there are costs to keeping ACTS open – like paying for electricity and water. Fundraisers like the one held Monday “go a long way toward helping us out,” Peoples said.

The volunteers stay busy during the week with all that is involved in preparing the daily meal distributed between 11 a.m. and noon. “Anybody can come by and get a nice, hot plate of food,” she said.

In addition, food boxes are given out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 252.492.8231 if you need food.

The volunteers help make and distribute the meals, but they also have to clean up and get the food boxes ready, too. Peoples welcomes anyone who would like to stop by for a tour or wants to become a volunteer. “We can always use volunteers, of course,” she said.

Donations are accepted most any time during the week, but if people could avoid dropping off donations when the meals are being distributed, Peoples and the ACTS volunteers would appreciate it.

The 220 fundraiser originally was the only planned fundraiser for this year, but Peoples said she and others are looking at another possible fundraiser – one that would make good use of the commercial kitchen facilities at ACTS.

“We’re looking at possibly doing a spaghetti plate fundraiser,” she said. Stay tuned for more details about that.

Besides monetary donations from individuals, businesses and churches in the area, fundraisers and grants are the chief ways that ACTS gets funded. And grant season is just about in full swing, she said. One grant has been submitted, but several others will be completed as well. “The summer and into early fall really opens up the grant window that we apply for,” she said. “It’s getting to be crunch time as far as those things go,” she said.

Learn more at https://actsofvancecounty.tripod.com or stop by ACTS at 201 S. William St., Henderson.

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Wreck, Speed Split Car in Two

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Wednesday night shortly before 8:30, a single-vehicle wreck occurred along Spring Valley Road, between the intersection with Spring Valley Lake Road and NC 39.

At the scene, it appeared a black Acura was traveling south along Spring Valley Road and veered off the pavement to the right and struck a tree. The car broke into at least two large pieces with the engine compartment separating completely from the remainder of the car, and the engine and front wheels continuing for at least another 40 feet.

The driver was the only occupant.

Local first responders, Vance County Rescue Squad personnel, Vance County EMS and Vance County Firemen collectively not only put out flames but also extracted the man who was at least partially trapped in the main compartment of the car.

When asked at the scene what happened, one of the investigating North Carolina Highway Patrol Troopers simply replied, “speed.”

Vance County Rescue Squad Chief Doyle Carpunky said the only reason the man had survived was because “he was wearing a seat belt.”

The same highway patrolman who indicated speed was a factor would only say about the man’s condition as of about 45 minutes after the wreck that “he is making it now.”

The pavement was wet but it was not raining at the time.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright was at the scene. About a combined 20 emergency-related vehicles, trucks and ambulances responded.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame was on the scene as were several deputies.

It may be a few days before there are more details.

Small Farms Week 2022

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Whether you look forward to that first vine-ripened tomato of the season or simply enjoy strolling the aisle at the farmers market to see what is seasonally available, chances are, that produce comes from a local farmer.

And as the bumper sticker says, “If you’ve eaten today, thank a farmer.”

North Carolina celebrates Small Farms Week Mar. 21-26 and local officials joined producers Wednesday in Warren County for a luncheon to celebrate the contributions that small farmers make to their communities.

“We’re blessed in North Carolina,” said Paul McKenzie, N.C. Cooperative Extension ag agent for Vance and Warren counties. McKenzie said North Carolina’s tremendous variety of agricultural products – from apples to blueberries – is topped only by California and Florida for the wide range of crops it can produce.

North Carolina also has a wonderful network of farmers markets that supply consumers with fresh, local produce. Roadside stands – think Ridgeway cantaloupes – also are a critical link in the food-supply chain, he said.

Johnny Coley, N.C. Cooperative Extension agent in Granville and Person counties agreed.

“They may not raise a lot of any one thing,” Coley told WIZS News Wednesday, but add together all their efforts, and it’s what makes the supply chain work.

Most producers sell directly off the farm or in a local farmers market like the Vance Regional Farmers Market. Coley said one local grower is venturing out into the larger grocery chains to market his products.

“It doesn’t take a huge grower to really make an impact,” he said.

Small Farms Week is in its 36th year to spotlight the contributions of small farmers. The weeklong celebration is being held virtually, and there are five satellite sites across the state – Warren County being one site – that will have “watch parties” to allow for large-scale participation. North Carolina A & T State University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences sponsors Small Farms Week.

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State Board of Elections: Expect Mass Mailings In Advance of May Primary

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The State Board of Elections wants everyone to know one thing as the May 17 primary creeps closer: they aren’t to blame for the predicted onslaught of mass mailings that voters are almost certain to be getting in their mailboxes soon – both physical boxes and email inboxes.

The deadline to register to vote in the May primary is April 22. If you miss the deadline, you may register and vote at the same time at any early voting site in your county. Early voting in Vance and Granville counties begins April 28 and ends May 14.

“A number of voter advocacy and political organizations have begun to send mass mailings to voters and prospective voters across North Carolina as the 2022 statewide primary election approaches,” reads a press statement from Patrick Gannon, the board’s public information director.

While it welcomes efforts to engage voters and promote voter participation, the statement reads, the board “recognizes…that many mailings come unsolicited and can be confusing to some recipients.”

First of all, the mailings didn’t emanate from the state board of elections. Secondly, if you have questions or concerns about a mailing you receive, you should contact the organization who sent it. Some mailings will include the organization’s contact information; with emails, there may be a way to unsubscribe to allow voters to opt of future mailings.

The state board said voters may routinely check their registration status using the online tool  Voter Search.

For information about registering to vote in North Carolina, go to the Registering section at ncsbe.gov

As an example of such mailings, in the coming days, private organizations called the Voter Participation Center (VPC) and the Center for Voter Information (CVI) are sending about 490,000 voter registration mailings to certain North Carolina residents.

The registration mailings will contain voter registration applications and information for unregistered voters. According to the groups, the mailings will go to unregistered young people who will be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections for the first time, to voters who have recently moved and have not re-registered or updated their voter registration records, and to others who are unregistered in the voting-age population.

Election officials encourage recipients with questions about the mailings to contact these groups directly. Voters may contact the groups by phone at (202) 659-9570 (VPC) and (866) 290-1599 (CVI).

If you want to be removed from the mailing lists, the letter will have a code near the bottom that you can email to VPC or CVI to be automatically removed (unsubscribe@voterparticipation.org and unsubscribe@centerforvoterinformation.org).

HPD Investigation Results in Shooting Suspect Nabbed at Traffic Stop

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According to information from the Henderson Police Department, on March 6 officers responded to 804 Old Epsom Road because of a shooting. Police discovered a male subject with a gunshot wound to his left thigh, and he was later identified as Clarence Powell.

After substantial investigation, warrants were obtained on 23-year-old Joseph Vic Jeffreys Jr., of 993 Maple Street in Henderson, for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflict serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present.

On Monday, March 21, investigators with the Henderson Police Department apprehended Jeffreys while conducting a traffic stop. He received a $100,000.00 secured bond for those charges along with the charge of possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, which was the result of items found during the traffic stop.

Police indicated this was an isolated incident that occurred as a result of a dispute between the two individuals who knew each other.

TownTalk: Fentanyl Is Killing America’s Future – Young People

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Patricia Drews is on a mission – it’s a mission that won’t bring her daughter back, but she is determined to try to help other families learn more about what she calls drug-induced homicide that took the life of her only child.

Her daughter, Heaven, died in 2019 – one of approximately 200 young people dying each day back then in the U.S. from opioids. That figure has doubled to about 400 a day as the opioid epidemic rages. The NC DHHS reported Monday that an average of nine North Carolinians died each day in 2020 as a result of a drug overdose – a 40 percent increase from the previous year.

Drews has written and published a book titled Death of America’s Future: China’s Fentanyl that she said should be available for purchase by the end of the week. It is a compilation of more than 80 accounts – including the tragic story of her daughter Heaven – of families that have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning.

“I wanted a mother’s perspective,” she told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk, “of losing a child.” The first 50 copies of the book, which she paid for herself, should be available this week on Amazon. It was expensive endeavor, Drews noted, but if the book sales do make a profit, she wants to donate the proceeds to several different organizations, including Lost Voices of Fentanyl, a national organization with more than 10,000 members.

The book contains a color photograph of every mother and child, which was important to Drews so she could show families as they had once been – “that they lived, they loved, they laughed,” she said.

Drews said 104,000 young people in the United States died from drugs, and the numbers just keep climbing, she said.

Drews draws a clear distinction between a drug overdose versus the lethal opioid poisoning responsible for the deaths of so many young people. “Yes, they made a choice to experiment,” she said, “but they did not choose to die. The drug dealer that sold them that fentanyl made that choice for them.”

Raising awareness is critical to keeping young people safe – “we need to educate ourselves and we need to educate our children,” Drews said.

In December 2019, North Carolina enacted a law that allows prosecutors to charge drug dealers who illegally sell a controlled substance that causes someone’s death. The “death by distribution” act carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison.

Her daughter’s case remains active, she said. “I refuse to let it go – they need to be held accountable.”  Her daughter died in January 2019, just months before the new law went into effect that December.

“But there’s no statute of limitations on homicide,” she said.

To learn more about how to purchase a copy of the book, visit the local Forgotten Victims page on Facebook or contact Drews directly at 252. 204.9611.

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The Local Skinny! BBQ Fundraiser Will Benefit Masonic Home In Oxford

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The John H. Mills Masonic Lodge 624 in Epsom is having a barbecue fundraiser coming up on April 2, and Jeremy Hetrick, local lodge secretary, said tickets are on sale now from any lodge member.

Hetrick spoke with John C. Rose and Bill Harris about the upcoming event on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny! One-pound containers of pork barbecue will be ready for pickup at the lodge on Saturday, April 2 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $10. The lodge is located on NC Hwy 39 in Epsom, just across from the fire department.

Proceeds will benefit lodge activities and the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford.

Hetrick is retired from the U.S. Army and currently is commander of the Department of American Legion Division 1. He works full-time at Henderson Collegiate Charter School and also is a member of the Henderson Masonic Lodge.

The Henderson and Epsom lodges are in the same 13th district of the Division 1, which includes a total of 49 lodges from Person County all the way to the Outer Banks and toward the Wilson area, he said.

The Epsom lodge was founded in 1935 by local farmers who decided to name it after a local minister and Mason, who was instrumental in the founding of the orphanage in Oxford.

Hetrick explained that it was Mills who recognized the need for a home for the numerous orphans at the end of the Civil War.

The group is being a little conservative this year with how many pounds of barbecue they’re producing, largely due to the fact that the fundraiser hasn’t been held in a couple of years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re only going to do 500 this year,” Hetrick said, about half the amount as in previous pre-COVID-19 years.

He encourages anyone interested in purchasing a ticket to do so now – there won’t be many left as the April 2 event day nears. Lodge members will oversee the cooking, which will begin by mid-afternoon on Friday. The pork butts will cook all night and then will be chopped and put in containers Saturday morning in time for pickup.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Hetrick at 252.204.4742.

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance 03-22-22

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WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for March 22, 2022. WIZS has compiled the information, and it is presented here and on the radio.

 

All of these jobs can be applied to through the NC Works website or at the local NC Works office.

 

KARTS DRIVER

Drivers are responsible for the operation of KARTS’ various vehicles and for the safe and orderly transportation of passengers to and from their destinations. Work includes completion of daily inspection of vehicle, fueling, interior and exterior cleaning of vehicle, maintaining accurate trip records, assisting passengers as required, receiving and accounting for fares, radio communications and any other related duties as assigned by the Transportation Assistant. Examples of Duties Performed – Inspects the vehicle daily prior to beginning route. Follows a prescribed checklist in reviewing the vehicle’s operational and safety features; records all repair needs/problems on checklist and reports findings requiring immediate attention to Maintenance Coordinator; completes check of all fluids and maintains proper level; washes and cleans vehicle inside and outside as require

 

STAFF DEVELOPMENT COORD/ADON, Senior Citizens Home

$35.00-$40.00 Hour

… This person will be responsible for training our staff as it relates to their Staff Development Coordinator (SDC) responsibilities and for being the Assistant Director of Nursing. The ideal candidate will be a Registered Nurse with long-term care experience. We are looking for a person who is a self-starter, who enjoys working with the elderly and has strong clinical skills. You will work directly with the Director of Nurses to manage the nursing department. A working knowledge of the nursing home regulations is extremely helpful but not required. We are a family owned facility that has been providing quality care to the residents of Vance and surrounding counties for over 50 years. If you are an RN, come in and chat with us about this great opportunity!!!

 

Housekeeper, Senior Citizens Home

$8.00-$9.00 Hour

… Applicant will be responsible for cleaning resident rooms, hallways and other areas in the building.

 

 

Inspector Quality

Hollander Sleep Products, LLC. – Henderson, NC

$56,000-$125,090 Year

… SUMMARY : Inspect product quality within the plant, ensuring that product inspections and quality assurance procedures are carried through as defined in the Hollander Quality Manual and meet the standards required by our customers and the end-user. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Includes the following; other duties may be assigned.) Ensure the guidelines, procedures, specifications and reports in the Quality Manual are executed at the plant level and work with Quality Manager/Supervisor to submit suggested improvements to the Corporate Quality Department as needed. Ensure that quality standards are maintained and communicated to all plant employees. Train associates as needed. Participate in weekly Quality Meetings and follow up on action items and improvements agreed upon. Assist the Quality Manager/Supervisor to maintain and provide access to Quality reference materials as needed, consisting of component standards, design folders, customer s

 

Supervisor Distribution

Hollander Sleep Products, LLC. – Henderson, NC

$33,915-$89,270 Year

… OVERVIEW Distribution Supervisors direct and manage Finished Goods Inventory and Distribution processes and personnel, to achieve Company and Departmental goals. Manage to key performance metrics to maximize departmental productivity. The person in this role will perform team management duties to include coaching, training, disciplinary action, scheduling and motivating. All Hollander Associates are expected to support Operations by working efficiently and maintaining a high level of productivity for the organization to meet and exceed customer demands. This position places a strong significance on effective teamwork, clear communication, sound judgment, initiative, safety orientation, reliability and a strong work ethic. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Ensure direct reports are properly trained in their job functions and responsibilities in order for them to complete their tasks accurately and in a timely, safe and efficient manner Ensure all safety proc

In Home Aide

Mary Louise Health &Home Care Services, LLC – Henderson, NC

… In home aide Mary Louise Health &Home Care Services, LLC Occupation: Nursing Assistants Job Description Serving Durham, Wake, Orange,Person,Chatham, Granville, Vance Franklin, and Warren counties Provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. Perform duties such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, or move patients, or change linens. May transfer or transport patients. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

 

Home Health RN (Home Health Registered Nurse)

Mary Louise Health &Home Care Services, LLC – Henderson, NC

… Home Health RN Mary Louise Health &Home Care Services, LLC Job Description Serving Durham, Wake, Orange,Person,Chatham, Granville, Vance Franklin, and Warren counties Responsible for client care monitoring and communication with other appropriate team members and supervisors. Responsible for following agency policies regarding procedures or duties that a RN may perform. Provides assessment and reassessment of clients for personal care services and supervises all In Home Caregivers for in home care. Current unrestricted Registered Nurse License with the NC Board of Nursing. Responsible for following agency policies regarding procedures or duties that a RN May performed. Assist with Quality Assurance activities including 90 day client record reviews as assigned. Client files will be reviewed for compliance and to review qualifications.

 

Medical Laboratory Technician

GRRONC – Henderson, NC

… Job Summary Performs routine tests to provide information to medical professionals concerning diagnosis and treatment of diseases. General Accountabilities Determine the acceptability of specimens for testing. Prepare, test and evaluate reagents or controls. Perform routine and complex technical procedures according to Standard Operating Procedures. Develops and maintain cell/tissue cultures for testing purposes. Follows strict safety and health standards. Performs quality control tests to ensure validity and accuracy. Monitors test results and records results to give to doctor. Job Qualifications Education: Associate of Applied Science Degree OR Clinical Lab Technician Diploma Experience: 1-3 years of related experience Skills

 

Route Sales Representative – 326302

Rolling Frito-Lay Sales, LP – Henderson, NC

$58,000-$58,000 Year

$58000 / YR Target Earnings The Route Sales Representative is a full-time position that is responsible for delivering, selling, and merchandising Frito-Lays complete line of products to local stores including gas stations, dollar stores, and large grocery stores. As a Route Sales Representative, you drive a Frito-Lay truck to different stores, work independently to unload orders, merchandise product, partner with store managers to increase sales, order, and maintain records throughout the day

 

Regional Project Manager

KERR-TAR REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS – HENDERSON, NC

$40,000-$45,000 Year

The COG is seeking a resourceful, community-minded individual to fill the position of Regional Project Manager in the Planning and Economic Development Department. This is a full-time position with a comprehensive employee benefits package. The Regional Project Manager will have the opportunity to provide support and technical assistance to local governments on a wide variety of issues such as housing, broadband, transportation, water and sewer infrastructure, and other community and economic development initiatives. The ideal candidate for this position will be detail-oriented and able to work independently. This person will have excellent communication skills and a passion for improving the quality of life for all people who live and work in the region.

Regional Program Coordinator

KERR-TAR REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS – HENDERSON, NC

$40,000-$45,000 Year

… The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (KTRCOG) seeks a Regional Program Coordinator to perform education, outreach and administrative management of grant-funded transportation programs throughout the Kerr-Tar Region (Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties). Coordinator will also provide staff support to the Kerr-Tar Rural Planning Organization. The Regional Program Coordinator will administer programs funded by annual grants (such as Clean Fuel Advanced Technology and Safe Routes to School) and provide administrative support for the Kerr-Tar Regional Planning Organization. The successful candidate will develop marketing and outreach programs, coordinate with community organizations and local officials, and provide education opportunities to residents of the region (including school-aged children). The Coordinator will also provide technical planning and other support to the Kerr Tar Rural Planning Organization, including assisting with preparation

 

Planning Manager – R9435

Mars Incorporated – Henderson, NC

… This position has complete, end to end ownership and responsibility for the logistics organization at the site including inbound raws & packs, warehousing, OB logistics, yard management, and transportation. Position requires excellent team building & management, working closely with supply leadership, scheduling, demand planning, commercial, RDC network, transportation providers, and other corporate functions to support network logistics goals and provide excellent service internally and to end customers

 

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS. Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast. This is not a paid ad.

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