WIZS Radio Local News Audio 12-1-21 Noon
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
New Program Can Help Eligible Households That Face Water Disconnection
A new emergency program launched today (Dec. 1) to help low-income households afford water and wastewater services. The program, called Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is scheduled to run through September 2023 or until the funds are all used up. It is a federally funded program administered through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Households that have already had the water or wastewater services cut off or have received notice of being cut off because of past due bills may be eligible to apply for the one-time payment, which will be paid directly to the utility company, according to a press release.
Families that already receive assistance from federal programs such as Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services are automatically eligible. Households that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 also are automatically eligible. These households should contact the local Department of Social Services for more information.
There are certain eligibility criteria, according to the press release. A household must have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen and have income equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, have household services that are already disconnected, in danger of disconnection or have a current outstanding bill that they are responsible for paying.
If your water has been cut off, or if you have gotten a notice of disconnection, apply online at www.epass.nc.gov, apply in person at your local department of social services or by phone. In addition, a paper application is available at the website above and can be completed and dropped off or faxed to the department of social services.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, any household needing help paying its water bill can apply for help if they meet eligibility requirements.
Visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/energy-assistance/low-income-household-water-assistance-program-lihwap to learn more.
Passenger Rail Plan Seeks Input As S-Line Project Continues
The community is invited to participate in a couple of activities this weekend that are part of the NC DOT study of the proposed S-Line rail project. Henderson and Norlina are both being considered for stops along the line.
There will be a pop-up community meeting in Norlina on Friday, Dec. 3 as the plan moves forward. The Norlina meeting will be held at Rachel’s Whistle Stop Café, according to Warren County Economic Development Director Charla Duncan. The gathering is open to all and will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café is located at 123 Hyco St, Norlina, NC 27563.
Then, on Saturday, Dec. 4, a team from the engineering firm hired by the state to lead and assess the needs/feasibility study will be at the Henderson Christmas parade to conduct public interest surveys about the plan, according to Downtown Development Director Tracy Madigan. Stop by Sadie’s Coffee Corner on Saturday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to provide input and give thoughts about the proposed rail plan.
The engineering firm is interested in hearing from the public about such things as how the transit-oriented development should look, things you would consider exciting to change or improve and items you believe present concerns.
Duncan told WIZS News that the Dec. 3 meeting is not about the design of the rail line itself, but “about the possibility for development around a potential stop in Norlina.” She invites the public to come out to share input.
The same is true in Henderson.
Transit-oriented development is defined as a way to build compact, walkable cities and town and preserving rural and natural areas. Having a mix of residential, business and retail development within walking distance of a transit station reduces the need for driving while creating walkable destinations for recreation and other activities.
According to information about the study from NC DOT, the S-Line is a 95-mile long missing link within the plan for passenger rail service along the southeast rail corridor. The proposed S-Line section begins in Sanford and continues through Apex, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Franklinton, Henderson and Norlina. The Henderson and Norlina stops are among 13 that are noted along the proposed line. The transit-oriented development (TOD) study “will evaluate market conditions, affordable housing considerations, multi-modal transportation opportunities, and regulatory conditions in the various jurisdictions,” according to materials provided by the engineering firm.
Sheriff Brame: Two Drug Arrests In Separate Traffic Stops Over Long Holiday Weekend
Vance Sheriff Curtis R. Brame announced the arrests of two people on drug charges in separate incidents over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Gregory Brown was stopped by members of the patrol division on Tiny Broadwick Boulevard on Nov. 25 for an expired tag. During the traffic stop, Brame said Brown told a deputy that he had narcotics in the vehicle.
In searching the vehicle, deputies located a substance in a clear bag, along with some drug paraphernalia.
Brown, who lives in Durham, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine, maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and for expired vehicle registration. He posted a $50,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27, 2022.
On Saturday, Nov. 27, members of the sheriff’s office criminal investigation division conducted a traffic stop on Rice Road on a vehicle for littering. Deputies observed what they considered to be narcotics in plain view during the stop. During a search of the vehicle, officers located 42 small white envelopes of a substance they determined to be heroin. The passenger in the vehicle, Katlyn Duncan of Nathalie, VA, was arrested and charged with possession of heroin. Duncan was given a $10,000 secured bond and was transported to the Vance County Detention Center. She has a court date of Jan. 24, 2022.
Vance County High School Announces Changes to Basketball Schedule
According to Vance County High School Assistant Principle and Athletic Director Joe Sharrow the following changes are taking place to the Vance County Basketball schedules:
– Tonight’s home game vs. Northern Durham will be Varsity Girls only at 5:00.
– Tomorrow’s home games (JV Boys, Varsity Girls, Varsity Boys) vs. Warren County are all postponed to February 9.
– Friday’s away games (JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys) at Wakefield are going to be postponed until the schools are able to agree on a rescheduled date.
– Next Monday’s (12/6) home game vs. Franklinton will be Varsity Girls only at 5:00.
– Next Wednesday’s away games (JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys) (12/8) at Warren County have been postponed until January 19.
– Next Friday’s away game (12/1) at Rolesville will be girls only at 6:00.
WIZS had planned to carry tonight’s game between Northern Durham and Vance County. Due to the boy’s game cancellation, WIZS will now broadcast the game between Crossroads Christian and Cape Fear Christian. Air time will be 7:00 p.m. with Trey Snide on the call.
Burn Ban Issued For All North Carolina Counties Due To High Risk Of Wildfire
The N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective Tuesday at 5 p.m. until further notice. Breezy conditions, low humidity, a lack of rain and so many fallen leaves are factors that contribute to the higher risk of wildfire, and N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the burn ban was necessary “to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state.”
A fire at Pilot Mountain State Park near Winston-Salem has been burning since Saturday and forest and fire officials have said it was “human caused.”
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.
The N.C. Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions. Residents with questions regarding a specific county can contact their local forest service county ranger or their county fire marshal’s office.
Contact Warren County Fire Marshal Joel Bartholomew at 252.257.1191
Contact Rob Montague, Vance/Granville county ranger at 919.693.3154
Some frequently asked questions include:
Q: What is open burning?
A: Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal.
Q: May I still use my grill or barbecue?
A: Yes, if no other local ordinances prohibit their use.
Q: How should I report a wildfire?
A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.
Q: How should I report a person who intentionally starts a wildfire?
A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.
Q: My local fire marshal has also issued a burn ban for my county. What does this mean?
A: The burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest service does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and has asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. If a fire within a 100-foot area of a dwelling escapes containment, a state forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
Q: Are there other instances which impact open burning?
A: Local ordinances and air-quality regulations may impact open burning. For instance, outdoor burning is prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts. Learn more about air quality forecasts at https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-quality-outreach-education/air-quality-forecasts<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__deq.nc.gov_about_divisions_air-2Dquality_air-2Dquality-2Doutreach-2Deducation_air-2Dquality-2Dforecasts&d=DwMFAg&c=fbOpD4v6yU6VwcPvyZl0C3QdqqqCOrAgPLygDLFppvY&r=IyIHd7tTbjxa1bArBCZqPDoNlFh3yK7PED2wGuymDwo&m=XNsUgefvZO08yA17DOqm6VZCXHZ7tAP9zRSew7d7cmg&s=LewwnDSljxIi0jCpB44wASVXiMoMfDUj_JUOCoxa8sk&e=>.
Q: Can I have a campfire when I go camping?
A: Campfires would be considered open burning and are not exempt from the burn ban. During a burn ban, portable gas stoves or grills are alternate methods for cooking food while camping.
Q: What can I do to protect my house against the risk of wildfire?
A: Learn about wildfire risk assessments and preparedness and prevention plans on the N.C. Forest Service website at https://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_wui.htm<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_wui.htm__;!!HYmSToo!JfiVdRLCpZq0QebLbz_SoVSV9nEvibS3SsI4_bQ-eI5lmtBcdv4_5ejW67nJPRnqXbyN$> or https://www.resistwildfirenc.org/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.resistwildfirenc.org/__;!!HYmSToo!JfiVdRLCpZq0QebLbz_SoVSV9nEvibS3SsI4_bQ-eI5lmtBcdv4_5ejW67nJPS6lH2UC$>.
TownTalk: Iozzio Helps Veterans Through Outreach
Derrick Iozzio’s phone is always on, he says. Always. And that’s one of the things that sets him and his organization apart from other groups that provide services to military veterans and others in crisis.
Iozzio, a trained peer support mental health specialist and facilitator, founded Catch-22 Peer Support in response to what he saw as a growing need to address the suicide crisis, especially among veterans.
Guest co-host Phyllis Maynard teamed up with John C. Rose for Tuesday’s Town Talk program and they spoke with Iozzio about two nonprofit organizations he helped launch. In addition to Catch-22, he is the co-founder of Save Vets. Both groups have a presence online and on social media. https://catch-22-peer-support-llc.business.site/ and www.savevets.org.
An Army veteran himself, Iozzio said he works to bridge the gaps in services that are provided to veterans. Those “big organizations with big bank accounts” provide valuable resources to so many, but oftentimes, veterans need help outside the 9-5, Monday-Friday time frame.
Catch-22 offers peer support and a way to “interact with our heroes and to help them find resources to live the life they want to live,” he said.
A few months ago, his phone rang in the middle of the night. On the other end was a person in crisis. “It was a veteran who called with a pistol in his hand,” Iozzio said. “He didn’t have anyone to talk to.” Iozzio convinced him to put the gun away – and convinced him to seek help, which he did.
Quick to point out that he is not a licensed medical professional or crisis interventionist, Iozzio says simply, “I am there for people, if you need help.”
Catch-22 addresses what Iozzio said were shortcomings in the way veterans were able to access help in their communities and can provide a bridge in the gap of accessibility to resources.
It’s one way that he continues to provide “the best resources for my brother and sister veterans and for first responders,” he said.
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Secretary Mandy Cohen to step down as DHHS Secretary, Governor Cooper selects current DHHS Deputy Secretary to lead department
Raleigh
Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. will be stepping down from the agency after 5 years of service to the state. Governor Cooper has appointed Kody Kinsley, current NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary for Health and lead for COVID operations, to succeed her beginning January 1st.
“Mandy Cohen has shown extraordinary leadership during her tenure and she has worked every day during this pandemic to help keep North Carolinians healthy and safe,” said Governor Cooper. “We are stronger because of her efforts and I am enormously grateful for her service. She has built a remarkable team of talented people including Kody Kinsley, and I know he will continue the strong legacy of competence, effectiveness and efficiency as he takes over as Secretary.”
Secretary Cohen, an internal medicine physician, was appointed by Governor Cooper in January of 2017 and has served as Secretary of DHHS leading the state during some of the most challenging times in North Carolina history. She has led the state’s response to COVID-19 and served as Governor Cooper’s chief advisor and strategist on beating the pandemic.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this state at such an important moment in history,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen. “I am grateful for Governor Cooper’s leadership, and I am so proud of what we have accomplished to improve the health and well-being of the state over the last five years. There is much work still to do, and I am so pleased the Governor selected Kody Kinsley to take the baton to run the next leg of this race.”
Under Dr. Cohen’s leadership, North Carolina has been a model for best practices to provide equitable access to COVID-19 testing and support to families so that they could safely quarantine and isolate; been recognized as best in the nation for data quality for vaccinations by race and ethnicity; and eliminated a vaccination gap between Hispanic and non-Hispanic North Carolinians and narrowed the gap for Black/African American communities.
Secretary Cohen has been lauded for her outstanding leadership during the COVID crisis. In September of 2020, Secretary Cohen was awarded the Leadership in Public Health Practice Award from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She was named the 2020 Tar Heel of the Year by the Raleigh News and Observer newspaper and Dr. Cohen was also elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021.
In addition to her COVID response leadership, Secretary Cohen and her team successfully launched Medicaid managed care, receiving national recognition for the state’s innovative approach to whole-person care, including the integration of physical and mental health and using Medicaid to address drivers of health such as housing, transportation, and employment. Under Secretary Cohen’s leadership, NCDHHS hired its first Chief Health Equity Officer and has focused on reducing disparities in opportunity and outcomes for historically marginalized populations. In addition, North Carolina implemented the first-in-the-nation statewide coordinated care network, NCCARE360, to electronically connect those with identified needs to community resources. This private-public partnership has been a key feature of NC’s COVID response and backbone to the innovative Health Opportunities pilot authorized under North Carolina’s 1115 Medicaid waiver.
Dr. Cohen is leaving DHHS in a strong position to continue to carry out its mission, Cooper said. Dr. Cohen plans to spend more time with her family while exploring new opportunities to carry on her work improving the health and well-being of communities.
Kody H. Kinsley, a native of Wilmington, NC, currently serves as the Chief Deputy Secretary for Health at NCDHHS and Operations Lead for NC’s COVID-19 pandemic response. During his nearly four years of service at NCDHHS, Kinsley has overseen the state’s response to the Opioid Epidemic; increased investments in services and supports for individuals with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities; created strategic interventions to transition justice-involved populations to care; and has been a driving force behind the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including North Carolina’s vaccine distribution efforts.
Kinsley returned home to North Carolina after serving as the presidentially appointed Assistant Secretary for Management at the U.S. Department of the Treasury where he led operations and finances for the cabinet-level agency, a position he held during both the Obama and Trump Administrations. He has also held roles at the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kinsley is a recipient of SEANC’s Unsung Hero Award, the Alexander Hamilton Award, and is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brevard College in Brevard, NC and a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School at the University of California at Berkeley.
Kinsley will be the first openly gay cabinet Secretary in North Carolina history.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-30-21 Noon
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.