WIZS Radio Local News Audio 10-11-21 Noon
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The Local Skinny! Domestic Violence Awareness Event Scheduled For Oct. 23
Sheriff Curtis Brame R. Brame and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with Clearview Church in Henderson to provide a program designed to remember victims of domestic violence as well as to raise awareness within the community about a problem that is all-too-prevalent.
The public is invited to the third annual “Think Community” event, set for Saturday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m., according to Debbie Scott, domestic violence coordinator and gang resource specialist with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
This event is all about collaboration, she told Bill Harris on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment.
Raleigh’s new police chief, Estella Patterson, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker, Scott said, and the event will pay special tribute to a young woman – a survivor of domestic violence – who also happens to be a poet. Special musical guests will be Roy Burroughs & Work in Progress.
Domestic violence affects the whole community, she said, adding that this event can help community members learn how to spot signs of domestic violence and better deal with the associated challenges.
It’s so important to break the silence of domestic violence, she said, to alleviate the stigma and the shame that victims may feel.
“It’s about everybody,” Scott noted. “This challenge is not just a survivor’s issue – it’s a community issue.
It’s community sponsors like Betty B’s, the Optimist Club, Salvation Army and Vance-Granville Community College and others who help make this annual event a success. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Scott thanked the sponsors and Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church, for their ongoing support.
Clearview Church is located at 3485 Hwy 158 Business, Henderson, NC 27537.
For more information contact Scott at 252.738.2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org.
Henderson Man Sentenced to Prison for 21 Years Following Shooting of a Raleigh Police Officer
From the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina:
A Henderson man was sentenced yesterday to 252 months in prison for carjacking and aiding and abetting, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of stolen firearms. On March 10, 2020, Cedric Jamal Kearney, 26, pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on January 4, 2019, Kearney and a co-defendant, Sherry Marie Richmond, robbed a Raleigh man of his car keys and cellphone at gunpoint. The crime spree continued on January 9, 2019 as Kearney and other co-defendants broke into a Holly Springs, NC apartment and stole several firearms and pairs of shoes. Finally, later that night on January 9, 2019, the Raleigh Police Department responded to a reported sighting of the stolen vehicle in the area of Shaub Drive and Teakwood Place. Upon arrival, the officers witnessed Kearney and another man attempting to get inside of the stolen vehicle. Officers gave out commands to the men and while one complied, Kearney fired shots at the officers and fled on foot. Kearney shot Raleigh Police Officer Charlie Ainsworth two times. Ainsworth had to be rushed to WakeMed hospital with life threatening injuries, but ultimately survived. Body Camera surveillance captured the harrowing incident in its entirety. Kearney was found several hours later in a shed of a nearby homeowner; still in possession of the gun used to shoot Officer Ainsworth. Kearney had one prior conviction for reckless driving out of Virginia.
“Today was a good day for both the Ainsworth family and the justice system. The Court sent a very clear message that these type of assaults on law enforcement simply will not be tolerated,” Acting U.S. Attorney Acker said of Judge Flanagan’s sentencing.Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Boykin and Daniel Smith prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 10-8-21 Noon
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VCS Middle Schoolers May Attend Sports Events Without Adult
Vance County Schools recommends, but will not require, a parent or guardian attend sports events with their middle school-age students.
According to information from VCS public information officer Aarika Sandlin, the district will place additional middle school staff to be on hand at high school sports events to make sure the VCS code of conduct is upheld.
“Our athletic events have been and will continue to be a family-oriented atmosphere where we encourage our community to come together to support our student athletes and our schools,” according to the press statement.
Sandlin reminds all parents, guardians and students that the code of conduct and school rules are in effect during all school-sponsored events, including athletics.
TownTalk: Upcoming Job Fairs In Warrenton And Roxboro Are Open To All
The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments is hosting a job fair next week at the Warren County Recreational Complex. Desiree Brooks, business services manager for the workforce development board, said more than 20 employers will be on hand at the event, set for Thursday, Oct. 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“One thing we have been taking advantage of is the nice weather,” Brooks told Town Talk host Bill Harris Thursday. She said taking the job fairs into the counties of the region is one way to match prospective employers with employees. Previous job fairs in Vance and Granville counties proved successful, and Brooks said she hopes the Warren event will be, also.
The recreational complex hosts a weekly adult kickball game, and Brooks said she listened to local officials to take the job fair to a spot that gets a lot of foot traffic.
In addition to watching the 6 p.m. kickball game, there will be food vendors on site and the Turning Point CDC Mobile Learning Lab for those who may need computer access.
“We wanted to not just pick a central location,” Brooks said, “but have a job fair in each county.” Of course, the job fairs are promoted across the region, but placing them across the five counties gives everyone a chance to participate.
A job fair is scheduled for Person County in late October, she added.
Employers are motivated, she said, and there are many opportunities for job seekers. “Everybody needs employees,” Brooks noted. “(Employers) want to meet everybody who’s looking for work.”
There are many opportunities in the Kerr-Tar region, especially in the fields of manufacturing and health care, she said.
Prospective employees should know that training through Kerr-Tar’s NC Works can help them gain job skills, too. “It’s not a deal breaker,” Brooks said, for a prospective worker to have most, but not all, of the skills needed for a specific job. “Employers are in such a need…for employees who are trainable and willing to work. We can assist with getting those employees where they need to be,” she said.
In this job market, an employee taking an entry-level job can quickly move up. Pay is higher overall, and competitive wages and sign-on bonuses are just a couple of things to consider when searching for a job.
KARTS is available for those who need transportation. Contact the NC Works office at 919.693.2686 to learn more about how to make an appointment.
Visit NCworks.gov to learn more.
McGregor Hall Announces 2021-22 Lineup
The McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center announces its 2021-22 lineup and there seems to be something for everyone, from a holiday ballet to the Big Band sound, with a little Parrothead music thrown into the mix.
Tickets are now on sale for the McGregor Live! Series package and the five individual shows.
The ticket booklet is available for $130 plus tax.
First up is a ballet performance of A Christmas Carol, on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.
Then, on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., Christmas With The Celts will take the stage..
North Carolina playwright Garrett Davis’s work “Living With Ruthie Mae” will kick off the 2022 offerings on Jan. 16 at 2 p.m.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville show will be held Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and the season finale is
The Duke Ellington Orchestra on April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Call the McGregor Hall ticket office Monday-Friday between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. at
252.598.0662 to purchase tickets or visit www.mcgregorhall.org.
‘Walk A Mile In Her Shoes’ To Honor, Remember Domestic Violence Victims, Survivors
Infinite Possibilities Inc., a Henderson-based domestic violence and comprehensive support services agency, invites the public to “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” to support awareness of domestic violence.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the 2021 theme is #Every1KnowsSome1. The walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aycock Recreational Complex.
Erin Carter, a victim’s advocate at Infinite Possibilities, invites the public to join the walk to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched nationwide in October 1987 as a way to connect and unite individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues, while raising awareness for those issues.
In the past 30 years, there has been progress to support victims and survivors of domestic violence incidents, and strives to hold abusers accountable while creating and updating legislation.
Contact Bratanya Simmons 252.257.1044 or Carter at ehill@infinitepossibilitiesinc.com to learn more.
Mammograms Key To Early Detection, Treatment For Breast Cancer
According to data from the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., second only to skin cancers. Moreover, it is the most common cancer globally, accounting for 12 percent of new cancer cases.
But deaths from breast cancer have been steadily dropping, according to information from Emma White, DO, a women’s health physician at Maria Parham Health. White said deaths from breast cancer have decreased a full percent each year between 2013 and 2018.
And she attributes that decline to early detection – so if you’re a woman and you haven’t scheduled your mammogram yet, there’s no time like the present.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and White said women over the age of 40 should have an annual mammogram. It takes about an hour from start to finish, and it is a key tool to early detection.
Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, a mammogram that picks up a problem could result in easier and more effective treatment.
There are additional risk factors to consider – genetic mutations, sedentary lifestyle, hormone replacement therapy and a history of radiation therapy – but White said 85 percent of breast cancer cases are in women with no family history of the disease.
Schedule a mammogram by calling your primary care provider or call 800.424.DOCS. To learn more about breast cancer, visit breastcancer.org and cdc.gov/cancer/breast.
SportsTalk: Pender Preparing Vipers For Rain And Vikings
While the Vikings of South Granville High School may not come from the land of ice and snow, as the song says, weather may very well be a factor in tomorrow night’s homecoming game at Vance County High School.
South Granville brings a 1-5 record to Henderson to face the 4-1 Vipers but Vipers Coach Wilber Pender explained that the South Granville record is somewhat deceiving. Pender said the Vikings losses have been to some very strong competition such as Orange, Hillside, Heritage, Southern Nash and Lee County. “South Granville has challenged themselves,” Coach Pender said on Thursday. “They are battle tested,” he added. South Granville will likely keep the ball on the ground which, considering the 70% chance of rain Friday night, might be smart. “They are not going to stop until you decide to stop it,” Pender said of the South Granville offense. However, the Vipers have a ground attack of their own with Dave Vines-Holder, who racked up nearly 200 yard last week against Carrboro and Carl Stephens who added nearly one hundred yards in the 36-12 win over the Jaguars last Friday night.
Coach Pender felt that while the team played well against the Jaguars he is still not satisfied. “We are making progress and improving each week. We are putting in the work and it’s starting to show on the field,” the coach said.
Those are things Pender can control but the weather is not. He says that rain is just another element to the game. He has had the Vipers practicing with a wet ball in anticipation of a wet field and while the weather may have an impact, Pender says that the game “comes down to focus”. For Vance County the rain will pose more challenges for the passing game than the ground game and the staff feels that receivers must focus on catching the ball. Those pass routes may be a bit shorter too.
As Pender prepares for the Vikings and the elements he says he has concerns about about inconsistencies with the Vipers. On some series, he says, the team looks great while others are not. As the team plays their second conference game Friday night Coach Pender says the team in the conference that gives him the most nightmares is Vance County because of those inconsistencies.
Tomorrow night will be the Vipers first home in several weeks and with homecoming taking place Pender expects to have a great home turnout, rain or not.
The Vipers kick off against the South Granville Vikings at 7:00 tomorrow night. WIZS will have live coverage with Trey Snide and Doc Ayscue beginning immediately following the Joy Christian Center Broadcast around 6:45.