WIZS Radio Local News Audio 04-06-23 Noon
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The Local Skinny! Reflecting On The Chamber Banquet
Commentary: There is more going on in this speech than just the business portion that’s on the surface. And while it’s about business and was offered in a business setting and in a business context and does in and of itself have deeper business significance than just what is on the service, is this message not also about life itself? Should each person everywhere not hear it? Listen in and decide for yourself.
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2023 Chamber board chair Bert Long, of HG Reynolds, spoke at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting and banquet on Thursday, March 30, 2023 and said each chamber year has a theme. He spent some time pondering to help come up with this year’s theme, naming 2023 “A Year of Collaboration.”
The idea is to propel the business community forward, work together or cooperate.
Long said, “In the current environment, working together can go a long way. We need conflict, but hear me out. We need healthy conflict. We must have conversation and spend time to understand each other, and we can’t learn and grow without it.”
“How,” he asked. “It starts by listening. Sometimes business leadership is looked to for answers, but there also needs to be respect. Once we listen, we must respond in a respectful manner. The tone is important.”
Rather than saying “Yes, but…” Long said, “What if we could say ‘yes and.’”
That could make a difference because as Long noted, everyone has a unique perspective but may need to put themselves in the other person’s shoes because that person has also had defining experiences and perspective as well.
We must work at it, he said, and celebrate the success of others.
Long concluded, “Take some time to connect. Explore how you can collaborate. It could be with someone in this very room.”
TownTalk: Happy Easter
WIZS Radio wishes everyone a Happy Easter!
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TownTalk: NARCAN The Subject Of Public Safety Committee Meeting
The Public Safety Committee of the City of Henderson met Wednesday to discuss several topics including planning for how to spend money coming the city’s way from the second wave of the national opioid settlement.
Sara Coffey chairs the committee, which includes Melissa Elliott, Lamont Noel and Jason Spriggs. They were joined by City Manager Terrell Blackmon and assistant manager Paylor Spruill to discuss possible uses for the money, which is expected to be about $166,000. The city of Henderson got more than $200,000 in the first wave of the opioid settlement.
The city is one on only a handful of municipalities to get an appropriation – the bulk of the $600 million of North Carolina’s second-wave allotment goes to counties – Blackmon said.
And the money is supposed to be spent on treatment for those with opioid addiction, he noted.
One form of treatment is administration of NARCAN, which reverses the overdose effect of opioids. It’s a nasal spray and is fairly simple to administer.
Perhaps some of the funds – which the city will receive over the course of time and not in a lump sum – could be used to purchase NARCAN and have it available for use by police officers, first responders and even in schools.
This approach would satisfy the requirement that the money be used in ways that help people affected by opioids. Spruill said in the meeting that an over-the-counter form will be available soon.
The medicine causes no harm if administered to someone who isn’t in an opioid crisis, but it can be life-saving if administered to someone who is overdosing.
Coffey said she would hope the money would be used to help prevent more opioid issues in the community; she said first responders and the hospital deal with overdoses every single day.
This topic is on the agenda for the April 10 City Council meeting.
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Henderson Man Faces Multiple Drug Charges; Police Seize Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana
A Henderson man faces numerous drug charges as a result of an investigation by the Henderson Police Department Narcotics Unit.
Cedric Antwon Neal, 36, of 212 Charles St. is in the Vance County Detention Center under a $469,998 bond.
Three search warrants were executed on April 4, 2023 – one at 408 Young Street, a second at 212 Charles St., and the third at the Scottish Inn, 1759 N. Garnett St., according to information from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.
Officers confiscated 148 bricks of Schedule I, an additional 40 dosage units of Schedule I, 458 grams of cocaine, 52.5 grams of Schedule VI, as well as five semi-auto handguns, and $11,919 in U.S. currency.
According to the press release, Neal is a convicted felon and is currently under federal probation.
The charges against Neal are:
- 5 counts of possession of a firearm by a felon
- 6 counts of trafficking heroin
- 2 counts of trafficking cocaine
- 1 count of felony maintaining a dwelling
- 1 count each of possession with intent to maintain, sell and deliver cocaine and marijuana
- 1 count of manufacturing cocaine
- 1 count manufacture, sell, deliver, possess within 1000 feet of a school
In addition to the bond, Neal remains in jail under a federal detainer for a probation violation.
West End Baptist Establishes Scholarship At VGCC
- information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
West End Baptist Church has endowed a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College. The newly established scholarship represents years of dedication and contributions from West End Baptist Church.
The $15,000 donation to the VGCC Foundation creates a “Presidential Merit Award” level scholarship which means that the scholarship will provide $750 a year to cover tuition, books and college fees. The scholarship will be available to students in Vance County from the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 academic year onward. Preference will be given to students who have a minimum 2.5 high school or college GPA, are enrolled in at least 9 credit hours, have membership at West End or are referred by a church member.
Students interested in applying for VGCC scholarships are encouraged to apply beginning in mid-April.
“This scholarship presents another wonderful opportunity to expand resources that will allow us to educate, inspire, and support a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success,” said Tanya S. Weary, VGCCF Executive Director.
Church treasurer Jerry Parrish and church member Bobby Van Brunt recently joined Pastor Cade M. Patterson in presenting a check to the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. Van Brunt is both a WEBC member and former VGCC employee, and he played a major part in making the scholarship a success.
“We are proud to partner with VGCC to enable deserving students to further their education,” Van Brunt commented. “Whether the choice is technical education or foundation for a university degree, students will achieve success for themselves while becoming an asset to the community.”
West End Baptist Church will celebrate its centennial anniversary in May, and it has been at its current location on Dabney Drive since 1944. Patterson said he sees this gift as a natural extension of the church’s mission within the community.
“I’m grateful to serve this generous congregation,” said Patterson. “As a church, West End strives to love our neighbors, just as Jesus commanded us. We hope that this scholarship is a gift that will lead people to consider Christ’s incredible generosity toward us.”
The VGCC Foundation offers more than 300 endowed scholarships for VGCC students—more than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, and churches, as well as the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call 252.738.3409.
Maria Parham Health Adds Midwife To Women’s Care Staff
-information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Donna Young, Market Coordinator, Communications and Marketing
Maria Parham Health will have the services of a new midwife available to see patients in the hospital’s Women’s Care clinic.
“We are pleased to welcome Liz Carr to our Women’s Care team,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We pride ourselves on our capacity to give new parents more choices in the childbirth experience, and Carr’s background as a Certified Nurse Midwife will be an important addition to Maria Parham’s award-winning Labor & Delivery Unit.”
Carr earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Versailles, KY. She also received midwifery education, training and experience from NorthShore Health Center in Indiana, the University of Louisville Midwife Clinic in Kentucky, Sterling Women’s Care in Kentucky and the University of Kentucky Midwife Clinic.
She specializes in obstetrical care, general gynecological care, postpartum care, hormone replacement therapy, high-risk pregnancy, contraceptive counseling and menopause management.
Carr will be seeing patients at Maria Parham Women’s Care. For a referral or to schedule an appointment, please call 252.492.8576.
SportsTalk: Local AD’s Preparing For Playoffs
The life of an athletic director at any level can be busy. This time of year not only are there sporting activities, but there are proms, graduation and other end of school year events taking place to add to the load ADs face. Both Ray Noel at Vance County High School and George Hoyle Jr. at Thales Academy certainly have full plates.
Noel says the Vance County Vipers are about at the halfway point for baseball, softball and soccer. Playoffs for baseball and soccer will begin in the first week of May with soccer following in the second week of May. The baseball and softball teams are coming off wins against Granville Central and the girl’s soccer team, which is described as young by Noel, has now started to win some games with two conference victories under their belt.
The baseball team is down a player at the moment according to Noel. “Chris Jones is in California for an All-Star Football game,” Noel said. Jones, a star on the Viper’s football team, is also a big part of the baseball team as well. Noel also said the Isman Alston Jr., another Vipers football standout, has just signed with St. Augustine. He also plays on the baseball team.
Over at Thales Academy in Rolesville, Henderson’s George Hoyle Jr. is the athletic director, and he is as busy as Noel. He also has a young soccer team with only one senior and a tough non-conference schedule has now resulted in a couple of conference wins, with the team having won its last two games. His softball team is in the same position, young but improving with a 3-5 record. Varsity baseball is definitely on the upward track at Thales as they are now 6-3. Thales’ is set to be good for the foreseeable future as well. “Our middle school talent is ridiculous,” Hoyle said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. The school, which started in 2007, has shown tremendous growth as they are now a 3A school and could soon be a 4A.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 04-05-23 Noon
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
TownTalk: Kittrell Job Corps’ Positive Impact On Students
Kittrell Job Corps Center is a place where young adults can find their way – to education, support services, training and a career. Center Director Norman Turner said there are just a few criteria that applicants must satisfy to start their KJCC journey. A
One student, Ken’Dal “Della” McCants, is currently in the CNA program and said Kittrell Job Corps just “works” for her.
Turner, McCants and Outreach Career Transition Director Vernell Milon were guests on TownTalk to discuss all that KJCC has to offer.
Turner has been working at KJCC for about 16 years, and he said there are abourt 200 students currently enrolled in one of the many programs that Kittrell Job Corps offers – from getting a high school diploma to office administration, facilities management, culinary arts and security, just to name a few.
Like so many other programs, the COVID-19 pandemic created a wrinkle how KJCC operates. The school, which has two dorms for students to live on campus, also has programs for the non-traditional college student.
“COVID put a damper on our ability to recruit students,” Turner said, “but we’re back fully open and ready to roll,” he continued. The school can accommodate 350 students.
Milon and her team of a dozen counselors and eight career transition specialists consider the individual needs of the students they work with to make sure they are successful as they continue along the path to financial independence and gainful employment.
The programs at KJCC are totally free, and there are a good number of wraparound services like medical care, clothing allowances and the like to make sure students have proper attire for jobs and can get the medical attention they need.
Milon and her team of counselors spread the word throughout the community about what the Job Corps is, what it does and who it’s for.
“It’s not just for underserved or at-risk students,” Milon said; rather, it’s for anyone between the ages of 16-24 who wants to make a difference in their lives – and find a career that they enjoy.
Not everyone is meant to go to college, Milon said, but everyone can work. And she wants all her students to have jobs that pay at least $17/hour.
“We want them to be better off than when they first got here,” she said.
McCants, the CNA student, considers herself a good fit for the Job Corps program because the teachers give you the “time and space to learn” instead of trying to get through the curriculum and moving on to the next thing.
She said her teachers are very helpful and are helping her reach her goal of becoming a traveling nurse.
The Kittrell location is one of more than 120 Job Corps programs across the country. New students are enrolled every Tuesday and Turner said there are 10 more students starting their Job Corps journey this week.
“We’re wide open,” Turner said. “We’re open for business.
Want to learn more? Contact Milon at 252.438.9116 or visit
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