TownTalk: Infinite Possibilities Shines A Light On Domestic Violence Awareness

/by

Erin Carter says events like the one coming up Saturday at Aycock Rec Complex are about more than awareness – it’s a public demonstration of support to show victims and survivors of domestic violence that they aren’t alone in the fight to put an end to what has become all-too-common in society.

Carter and Bretanya Simmons work with Infinite Possibilities, Inc., a place where victims of abuse can go for support and help during a crisis. Carter is a victim’s advocate and Simmons is a court advocate and also works with area youth struggling with domestic violence situations.

The “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event will start at 10 a.m., Carter told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

“Events like this show our clients that we are all on the same page,” Simmons said. “It’s important for our clients to see us outside our roles sometimes,” she added.

Carter and Simmons are hoping to see lots of like-minded walkers Saturday. “We are hoping for a great turnout,” Carter said, adding that participants just need to show up, sign in to get a number from the information desk and be ready to walk by 10 a.m.

The main office is in Henderson, and Simmons’s office is in Warrenton, right beside the magistrate’s office.  Clients often are referred to her when they come in to get restraining orders for partners or spouses, she said. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she saw an uptick in clients. But volume fell, she said, as the pandemic wore on: victims were stuck at home with their abusers, she said, and didn’t have an opportunity to seek help.

“Once the world stopped, and the majority of (people) were working at home, we didn’t see as many coming in – they didn’t get that time they normally would to reach out and get help with their situation,” Simmons said.

Those “situations” aren’t limited to physical abuse, Carter said. “Domestic violence is so much more than just physical abuse,” she added. Just because we don’t see bruises or other physical harm, doesn’t mean it’s not domestic violence, she said. There’s emotional abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse, as well as cyber bullying.

“That’s why education is so important,” Carter explained. “If we are educated, then we can help someone else.” Being able to create a conversation with someone you suspect may be a victim of domestic violence can be the first step to getting help for that person. “Create a conversation – not a coercive conversation, but an empathetic conversation, a gentle conversation…to provide information, could go a long way to help someone,” she said.

The Infinite Possibilities hotline is 252.425.2492. Learn more at infinitepossibiltiesinc.net or find them on Facebook.

Click Play

 

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Brame Reports Arrests In Recent Vehicle Break-Ins, Theft of Catalytic Converters

/by

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that two men have been arrested and charged in separate incidents – one involving theft of catalytic converters and the other with breaking into vehicles in the Dabney community.

According to information from Sheriff Curtis R. Brame, the criminal investigation division of the sheriff’s office arrested Dakota Wilson of Chase City, VA on Tuesday on three counts of felony larceny and three counts of injury to property to obtain non-ferrous metal – catalytic converters. The thefts were concentrated in the southern part of the county. Wilson was given a $120,000 bond and transported to the Vance County Detention Center. He has a court date of Nov. 16, 2021.

Orlando Lucas of Kittrell was arrested on Monday and charged with two felony counts of breaking and entering of a vehicle and one count of felony larceny. He was placed in Vance County Detention Center under a $60,000 secured bond. He has a first court appearance on Dec. 20, 2021.

Show Shine Shag and Dine 2021

/by

The wait is over. It’s showtime for the annual Vance County Tourism Show Shine Shag and Dine car show and events.

Friday morning the pre-show cruise-in happens at Satterwhite Point Park on Kerr Lake from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. SG Smoke House food truck will be on site. Enjoy great brisket and more. Classic cars on display, a DJ, fun and fellowship. Open to all makes and models 1988 and older. NO admission fee, open to participants and the public. Again, open to the public … Head out and enjoy these beautiful pieces of automotive history.

Friday night…It’s the Show Shine Shag and Dine evening cruise-in. Head to downtown Henderson from 6 to 9 p.m. hosted by Southern Classic Cars on Horner Street. Be sure to check out the classic cars on display in the showroom. Enjoy the DJ on site and seeing the cars and memorabilia. Open to the public. Free – No admission charge.

Saturday…The Show, Shine, Shag and Dine car show will feature hundreds of 1988 and older antique and classic cars, muscle cars, trucks and more on display along Garnett Street in historic downtown Henderson. Other displays include the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Reunion and the Corbitt Truck Show. You can also visit the Corbitt Truck Museum on Church Street. Enjoy food, vendors, and live entertainment throughout the day, including performances by Brake Tyme Band. FREE admission, open to the public.

TownTalk: hmwPreservation Works to Document Historic Architecture

/by

Heather Slane said matching locations on maps with properties that she actually sees at the end of driveways and through wooded areas is sort of like putting together a puzzle. When the pieces all fit together, the end result is rewarding. But sometimes it can take a while before the picture begins to take shape.

Slane is an architectural historian whose firm, hmwPreservation, has just completed part of Phase 1 of a 3-phase project to update Vance County’s architectural survey.

If the survey were a building, it would be considered historical – the most recent one was completed in the mid-1970’s, she said. And today, the general rule of thumb is that a structure is considered historical if it’s at least 50 years old.

Slane joined host Bill Harris on Tuesday’s Town Talk to discuss the project and the progress being made. The first couple of days, she admitted that she had a bit of a learning curve. “We had to make sure we were looking for the right thing in the right place,” she said about using the maps and lists to match up with the properties they were viewing.

The survey is a result of some federal grant funding distributed to North Carolina to complete architectural surveys in six counties. Slane and her group won the contracts for Vance and Person counties.

There was a survey conducted in the early 1980’s in Henderson, which resulted in the formation of the downtown Henderson Historic District, but Slane said her focus right now is updating the county’s list of historical properties that is maintained at the state’s historic preservation office.

So far, Slane’s work has been to identify the approximately 350 properties previously listed in files, using GIS and other documents to locate the properties.

That part of the work is completed, and she said she and her team plan to return in February to begin Phase 2. Before the work is completed in the spring of 2023, she will have identified properties within the city limits of Henderson, too.

“We drove up and down every road in the county and made a list of all the properties that the state did not already have information on that we can go back and create files for,” Slane said.

She’s mindful of the “No Trespassing” signs, she said, and sometimes just has to photograph from along the roadside. But when a property is in obvious disrepair, showing no sign of being cared for, she said she feels comfortable going in for a closer look.

There are some properties listed that no longer exist, either falling victim to demolition or neglect over the last 50 years. But there are other structures that will find their spot on the updated list, and Slane said schools and churches are two types of architecture that are sure to be included.

“One of the things we always try to document, in addition to the condition of the buildings, are schools and churches,” she said. “Those tend to tell the stories of communities even better than most houses do.”

Something she has noticed in her drives through the county is the abundance of ranch-style homes. Instead of trying to document each individual property, she said she looks for unusual roof lines or other interesting details to include a representative of the style that permeates the rural roadsides.

Slane also is interested in hearing from residents who have a particular story to tell or want to share a remembrance about a particular structure or area.

“I don’t know Vance County all that well,” Slane said, adding that having locals tell her which buildings are important and special for them is a real gift. “It’s always helpful to have people who’ve lived in Henderson for a long time” share information with her. It’s that personal perspective that gives context to the survey.

She will welcome input up until January or February of 2023, just in advance of the completion of the survey. Email her at heather@hmwpreservation.com.

“We want something that’s useful, not just something that’s a file for the state,” she said.

 

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

/by

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for October 12, 2021. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of October 12, 2021

 

Name of the Company:  Legacy Human Services, Inc.

Jobs Available: Full-time Licensed Professional to function as NC Medicaid Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team Leader. The purpose of this position is to administratively and clinically manage the ACT Team. Must be Master’s level qualified professional according to rules for the Division of MH/DD/SAS and three years’ experience with SPMI population with a minimum of two years’ experience Post Graduate.

Method of Contact:  Please stop by the office at 626 S. Garnett Street Henderson to pick up an application or call 252-438-6700 ext. 4 for more information

 

Name of the Company: First United Methodist Church of Henderson

Jobs Available:  Director of Children and Youth Ministries – This is a salaried position working directly under the supervision of the Pastor and is ultimately responsible to the Staff Parish Relations Committee for the development and promotion of a comprehensive and effective ministry to children and youth.

Method of Contact:  To apply email cover letter and resume with at least three professional references to Pastor George Loveland at George.loveland@nccumc.org

 

Name of the Company: City of Henderson

Jobs Available: Recreation and Parks Assistant Director

Method of Contact:  for more information and full job description visit the City of Henderson website. Potential candidates can pick up an application at Aycock Rec. Center at 307 Carey Chapel Rd. in Henderson, City Hall 134 Rose Ave. in Henderson or apply online on the City of Henderson website

 

Name of the Company: Vance County

Jobs Available: Multiple job opportunities including: Processing Assistant, IMC III (Family and Children’s Medicaid), Human Services Coordinator III (Child Care), Part-time Custodian, SW Supervisor III (Children Services), Income Maintenance Caseworker II (FNS), SW Investigations and Assessments, SW Supervisor III (Adult Services),

Method of Contact:  All applicants can apply on Vance County Government website under job postings

 

Name of the Company: Express Employment Professionals

Jobs Available: Several Administrative Positions, Accounting Assistants, Buyer Assistants and Clerical Help and warehouse positions.

Method of Contact:  If interested please call 919-693-1730 or send resume to OxfordNC@Expresspros.com

 

Name of the Company: Walmart Distribution Center – Henderson

Jobs Available: HR Clerk Part-time, Asset Protection Associate, Area Managers, Operations Manager, Order Filler/Freight Handler and Forklift Drivers, Loader Wrapper, Unloading/ Receiving

Method of Contact: For full listings and more information go to https://careers.walmart.com/us/jobs 

 

Name of the Company:  Roses/ Variety Distribution Center

Jobs Available: General Warehouse Associates, Lift Drivers, Team Leads, Yard Drivers, Housekeeping/ Custodial, Supervisors. Available shifts 1st and 2nd  Monday- Friday, Saturday overtime as needed. Potential to earn up to $20.00 an hour, Sign on bonus of $1500.00 and attendance bonus.

Method of Contact:  Apply in person at NEW Roses Distribution Hiring Center located at 218 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, hours are Monday and Wednesday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30am – noon and 1:00pm – 4:oopm.

 

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.

 

Trunk-Or-Treat! Maria Parham Hosts COVID-Safe Drive-Through Event For Youngsters On Oct. 29

/by

The parking lot of Maria Parham Health will be the site of a COVID-safe, drive -through Trunk or Treat event on Friday, Oct. 29. Children in costumes don’t have to navigate sidewalks or uneven driveways to fill their bags with goodies – they stay in their cars and get their candy and treats handed to them through open windows.

The trunk-or-treat will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the hospital’s back parking lot. All participants should enter through the main entrance and follow signs to the right upon arrival, according to Donna Young, hospital spokesperson.

Civic groups, as well as church groups, local government and other community groups are invited to decorate car trunks and distribute candy to the trick-or-treaters as well. Please contact Young at donna.young@pnt.net by Oct. 26 to join in the fun.

Town Talk: Gang Free Events Coming To Downtown Henderson

/by

Vance County middle schoolers have a unique opportunity this Thursday that involves food, gift cards, COVID-19 vaccinations and pumpkins. Lots of pumpkins.

Henderson-based Gang Free Inc. has partnered with Food Lion, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, among others, to sponsor “Pumpkin, Paint and Pizza at Vance County Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Gang Free founder Melissa Elliott shared details about the upcoming event on Monday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose.

The term “food insecurity” has become a more commonly used familiar phrase recently, but Elliott said it’s less-often associated with children. With great support from Food Lion, she said the first 100 children to arrive will get $50 Food Lion gift cards.

The evening is “designed to bring middle school students and their parents out to a night of creative fun, while also promoting vaccination equity and education,” Elliott said.

Any person getting a first vaccine also will receive a $100 gift card, she noted. A $10 incentive is available for anyone who gets tested for COVID-19.

This three-pronged approach to a community event – fighting food insecurities, vaccine education and (of course) fun – is one way that Gang Free, Inc. strives to be “an answer to challenges… (W)e continue to use innovative ways to educate and empower to keep our community safe,” Elliott said in a written statement to WIZS.

The Hub Zone Tech Initiative also will be on-site to accept donated laptops that will be refurbished and re-distributed into the community.

Vance County Middle School Principal Stephanie Ayscue reached out to Elliott in search of pumpkins, but, through partnerships, the event has become so much more.

Students will have a chance to eat pizza, decorate a pumpkin and take home a gift card for future use.

Elliott said she and Principal Ayscue hope the event will increase community and parent support. “We’re here to support them,” Elliott said, adding that she wants everyone to know that no one in this community has to be hungry and no one has to go unvaccinated.

The idea of vaccination inequity often revolves around misinformation, she said. A key to combat that misinformation lies “in getting the right message into the community.”

Barriers to vaccination, in addition to misinformation, include access to transportation to get to a shot location or access to the internet to make an appointment.

A community outreach team spends a lot of time fanning out to areas known for low vaccination rates to help get the right message into the community regarding vaccinations, Elliott said.

The teams have been to the Williamsboro community, as well as Sandy Creek, and will be hitting South Henderson as well. “If we’re not out knocking on doors, we’re making phone calls,” she said.

 Whether it’s by canvassing pockets of unvaccinated areas in the county, doling out gift cards or providing pumpkins for children to paint and decorate, Gang Free, Inc. has a laser-sharp focus on making people’s lives better.

“We want to continue to be a blessing in the community,” she added.

Gang Free Inc. is sponsoring another event on Friday, Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Henderson, Elliott said.

The Hispanic Heritage celebration will fill up the entire block surrounding 200 Breckenridge St. with the sights, sounds and aromas from a wide range of Spanish-speaking cultures.

Dr. Alice Sallins joined Elliott on Town Talk to speak about the upcoming event.

“We have a strong Hispanic population in Vance County,” Sallins said. “We need to be supportive and to learn about their culture,” she added. With learning comes understanding, including what needs are unmet, she said.

Sallins, chairperson of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission’s Promotions Committee, said having this event in downtown Henderson shows the community’s involvement in downtown.

It’s not just for the Latinex community, Elliott said. “We don’t want just the Hispanic people to come,” she noted. “We want everybody to come out and participate,” she said.

Visit gangfreeinc.org to learn more.

Downtown Henderson

The Local Skinny! Events In Downtown Henderson

/by

Various organizers have a lot planned for everyone in the area.

Friday, October 15 – From 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., it’s the Hispanic Heritage Festival at 200 Breckenridge Street. Dr. Alice Sallins, chairperson of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission’s Promotions Committee, said, “It will be such a great honor to have the culmination activity downtown. We are trying to bring more business but at the same time community involvement downtown.” She said she thought this was one of the key pieces that had been missing. Henderson City Councilwoman Melissa Elliott, and Founder of Gang Free where the first part of the Hispanic Heritage Festival was held, said, “We don’t want just Hispanic people to come, even though it’s their heritage, we want to celebrate them, but like Dr. Sallins said, we want other people to learn about their culture and their heritage and the love.” She said the love of the Latinx community was overwhelming and others have a lot to learn. Some 500 members of the Latinx community appeared at the earlier event at Gang Free.

Friday, October 15 – It’s the Show Shine Shag and Dine evening cruise-in. Head to downtown Henderson from 6 to 9 p.m. hosted by Southern Classic Cars on Horner Street. Be sure to check out the classic cars on display in the showroom. Enjoy the DJ on site and seeing the cars and memorabilia. Open to the public. Free. No charge.

Saturday, October 16 – The Show, Shine, Shag & Dine car show featuring hundreds of 1988 and older antique and classic cars, muscle cars, trucks and more on display along Garnett Street in historic downtown Henderson. Other displays include the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Reunion and the Corbitt Truck Show. You can also visit the Corbitt Truck Museum on Church Street. Enjoy food, vendors, and live entertainment throughout the day, including performances by Brake Tyme Band. FREE admission, open to the public.

Saturday, October 23 – The Vance County Relay for Life is sponsoring a Luminaria ceremony that is shaping up to illuminate a portion of Garnett Street with little bags of light to remember or honor lives affected by cancer. Organizers Christy Bennett, Carolyn Williams and Jeanette Brummitt are keeping it real simple. People can drive down Garnett Street to enjoy the luminaries or they can walk along the sidewalks, if they have their masks on. Bags are $10 each and can be purchased on the day of the event, but they also are available ahead of time so they can be decorated with names of loved ones before being returned and placed along with all the others. Over 700 sold so far. Luminaries sometimes need a little weight to stay in place, but Bennett and her crew have thought of that, too. They will use canned foods to anchor the paper bags, which will be donated to ACTS afterward.

Friday, October 29 – The long-observed downtown trick or treat event is planned, and Henderson Vance Downtown Development Director Tracy Madigan said, “Right now we are still on go for Friday, October 29th on Garnett Street from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. The plan at the present time is for children to go door to door dressed in their costumes.

Saturday, December 4 – The downtown Henderson Christmas parade is tentatively set, according to Sallins, for December 4. She said, “The paperwork is in, but we have to wait for final approval before I put any (registration) forms out.”