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TownTalk: Latest Granville Vance Public Health Guidance

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Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison was Wednesday’s Town Talk guest and discussed COVID-19 updates with John C. Rose, from the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about mask-wearing in schools as well as vaccinating children over the age of 12.

The CDC issued updated guidance Tuesday that recommends all students, staff and visitors of K-12 schools wear masks indoors.

“It’s important to take a layered approach to safety for schools,” Harrison said. A universal indoor masking policy for K-12 schools, regardless of a person’s vaccination status, is one way to ensure children’s health and wellness. Harrison said that currently 32 percent of children ages 12-18 are vaccinated.

Students need to return to full-time, in-person learning, she said. The health department is working closely with school nurses in the two counties to make sure they have the most current information to share and answer questions that may arise. In addition, Dr. Shawna Guthrie hosts regular webinars with school leaders to review any changed guidance as well as vaccination opportunities.

In response to the new guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, area schools officials said Wednesday that they will be considering the recommendation that all students, teachers, staff and visitors wear masks at school.

Vance County Schools public information officer Aarika Sandlin said district leaders will announce its plan by the end of the week; Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer for Granville County Schools, told WIZS News that the school board would be receiving recommendations at its regular monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2. Winborne said the plan is to approve a policy for the upcoming school year at that time. The current policy for GCPS requires everyone to wear a mask while on school property.

Wear a mask, even if you are fully vaccinated, she said, if “you just want to be extra kind and protective and ensure that nobody feels uncomfortable. It’s just the polite thing to do.”

Harrison said she is pleased that Vance and Granville counties are NOT among the 80 N.C. counties that have been identified as “areas of substantial and high transmission” of COVID-19. But this data is updated every week using data from a two-week trend line.

“We know over the last two weeks, we have had more cases, and we know 90 percent of the cases in North Carolina are testing positive for the Delta variant. I fully suspect that our color will change, from yellow to orange to red in the coming weeks – if people don’t take those precautions,” she said.

“We need everybody out there to do their part,” she said, noting that demand for the vaccination has slowed in both counties.  Vance County currently has 42 percent of its population fully vaccinated; Granville County is slightly higher at 44 percent. But Harrison said she wants to get to at least 50 percent by fall – and 70 percent fully vaccinated would go a long way to reduce spread of new variants.

“If we have tools that prevent our children from getting COVID, we need to use every tool we have.” And, she added, a vaccine is the best tool in the toolkit.

While it’s true that the long-term effects of the vaccine simply are not known, Harrison said health experts know more about the long-term effects of COVID-19. “It’s really clear where the risk lies – the risk lies in getting COVID.”

“We have a lot of evidence and true, scientific factual information from experts that say long-term effects of the COVID virus are a lot more dangerous and prevalent and likely than any long-term effects of a vaccine.”

To hear Lisa Harrison, GVPH Director, click play.

 

TownTalk: North Carolina BBQ Is More Than Just Great Food

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Barbecue is serious business. Around these parts, barbecue is a noun, not a verb. We eat barbecue, and it’s not necessary to say the word “pork” before you say the word “barbecue.” Because, well, isn’t ALL barbecue pork barbecue?

These opinions and others may be topics to discuss with members of the North Carolina Barbecue Society.

Pit master Alan Nichols is an instructor at the NCBS Boot Camps, two-day sessions during which participants learn all about grilling. And not just pork, but chicken, beef and seafood as well.

Nichols discussed grilling tips and more with Bill Harris on Tuesday’s Town Talk.

The NCBS is a non-profit organization created in 2006 by Jim Early, who was born right here in Henderson. He wanted to preserve barbecue the way it was originally made — pit-cooked using wood, pellets or charcoal, Nichols said. Early even wrote a book, The Best Tar Heel Barbecue: Manteo to Murphy. There’s even a Barbecue Trail, which takes folks on a culinary trail across the state, sampling barbecue all the way.

Early died a couple of months ago, Nichols said. “We’re trying to keep this thing going for him.”

The group of folks that compete in barbecue contests form a family of sorts, Nichols said. And it was back in 2011 that the Operation Barbecue Relief Disaster Team was formed to provide meals in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado hit.

Two of the guys decided they were going to cook for Joplin’s residents. They planned to provide, from their own pockets, what they thought would be a couple of thousand meals. They underestimated. Nichols said they served up 120,000 meals in the tornado’s aftermath.

“This past summer, I was part of the nine millionth meal that we’ve cooked,” Nichols said.

With only a handful of paid employees and continued support from sponsors like Blue Rhino and Prairie Fresh, Nichols said the Barbecue Relief Disaster team has fired up grills after tornadoes ripped through Tennessee, Iowa, Texas, Louisiana and Alabama.

Nichols was named the 2019 Volunteer of the Year, an honor he feels a little uncomfortable with. “So many people do so much for the organization,” he said, adding that 70-75 local volunteers routinely come out to help when they are on site after a hurricane or tornado.

Last year – 2020 – the team was called into action a couple of times, but because of COVID-19, no volunteers were able to assist. That meant extra-long hours for the grill teams.

When he’s not competing or teaching at boot camps or responding to a disaster with his grilling gear in tow, Nichols judges competitions.

He reckons he’s judged more than 100 competitions, which means that he is sitting at a table with six other judges, sampling ribs before deciding upon a winner.

“I’m not one to sit around,” Nichols confessed. When he’s at home, he’s usually reading or watching videos about how to cook barbecue.

There are barbecue events everywhere, he said. “They will all talk to you about how to cook things,” Nichols said of the grill masters. But they’re not going to tell you all their secrets.”

Learn more, including how to be an NCBS volunteer, at www.ncbbqsociety.com.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

 

The Local Skinny Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for July 27, 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.

VANCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES – See experience required or apply online: www.vancecounty.org

Finance Office

Deputy Finance Director

Performs professional work assisting with department operations; coordinating accounting, budgeting and revenue collections functions; preparing and maintaining detailed records and files; preparing reports, and related work as apparent or assigned.

 

Social Services

Social Worker III – Foster Care

This social work position provides Foster Care placement services for children (ages 14 – 21), LINKS services to teens ages 14-18 and extended foster care services to young adults ages 18-21. This social worker will also, perform On-Call duties during after- hours and weekends when the agency is closed and Disaster Duty as needed.  This position is expected to and required to work overtime as needed, outside of the normal work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Accounting Specialist

Work involves making basic journal entries, reversing and correcting entries, auditing program expenditures and the interpretation of fiscal policies.

Social Worker IAT (Investigations)

The social worker will complete CPS Investigations/Assessments alleging the abuse, neglect and dependency of children. This social worker will also, perform on-call duties during after- hours and weekends when the agency is closed. This position also, is required to perform Disaster Duty as needed and required to work overtime prior to and after the regular work schedule Monday thru Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm.

Income Maintenance Supervisor – Family & Children’s Medicaid

This position is responsible for the administrative and technical supervision of a staff of income maintenance caseworkers.

Income Maintenance Caseworker III – Adult Medicaid

This position involves taking applications and determining eligibility and maintaining cases for Adult Medicaid services in Long Term Care, CAP and SA benefits. It includes interviewing clients receiving or applying for Long Term Care, CAP and Special Assistance benefits to gather data to determine eligibility. Verification of information, maintaining records and will also include maintenance of an ongoing caseload.

Income Maintenance Caseworker II – Adult Medicaid

This position involves taking applications and determining eligibility and maintaining cases for Adult Medicaid Services and SA Benefits.

Staff Development Specialist I

The position is to function as staff trainer and monitor for DSS staff, with emphasis on policy and NCFAST functionality.

Staff Development specialist II

Plan and conduct multiple training programs to meet organizational training needs. Work involves performance of tasks designed to enhance the competence of individual employees, in-service training, and training to develop skills in administrative and supervisory development.

Processing Assistant V

This position performs a variety of office assistance tasks in support of the administrative program and technical operations. Employee performs functions that include a diversity of records, reports, filing, public contact and other general office duties. This employee will be creating reports, compiling data, assisting caseworkers in providing services to clients and acting as back up for the agency’s front desk and providing other duties as assigned.

Social Worker III – Adult Services

This position provides case management to adults at risk of institutionalization. This position is also, responsible for On-Call duty for after hours, weekends, and holidays. Disaster Duty is an essential function of this position.

Social Work Supervisor III – Children’s Services

This position will provide oversight to three CPS ln-Home Social Workers and an intake Social Worker. This position will have the responsibility of overseeing timely case decisions regarding service delivery to children and their families.

 

Elections

Elections Specialist

Performs responsible administrative and clerical work in assisting the Director of Elections with various aspects of the elections process, especially registration and verification of voter information.

 

Fire Department

Fire Engineer

Performs responsible fire suppression and incident response activities including operating fire apparatus and participating in firefighting; may act in the absence of the Captain.

Required Certifications: Firefighter I/II, Driver Operator Pumps and Aerials, Emergency Vehicle Driver, Class B License, Hazardous Materials I, NIMS 100,200,700,800, EMT-Basic or ability to obtain in 18 months.

Firefighter

Performs responsible fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical and incident response activities; may require ability to operate fire apparatus in the absence of an Engineer.  This is a 24-hour position.

Requires Firefighter Level I/II Certification, EMT-Basic, NC Emergency Vehicle Driver, Hazardous Material Level I Certification, NIMS 100,200,300,400 or the ability to obtain in 18 months. Attach all certifications and transcripts.

 

Planning & Development

Planning Technician

Performs a variety of technical and administrative/clerical support duties for the Planning & Development office including reviewing development site plans for compliance to land use, watershed and related ordinances as well as floodplain requirements and issuing development permits after approval by the supervisor; assisting customers with land use and zoning regulation interpretations, answering questions and providing back-up to other administrative support staff; creating and maintaining records on all developmental permits.

Ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of the planning field and of the County’s development regulations; good judgement and initiative required in the review of development applications; tact, courtesy and firmness required with considerable public contact with developers, property owners and the general public.

 

EMS Department – The Department is transitioning to a new 24/72 schedule

EMT-Paramedic/FTO

An employee in this class performs emergency medical procedures at the certified Paramedic level, performing professional advanced life support work in operating an approved mobile medical unit, rescuing victims and performing advanced emergency care including the administration of life sustaining treatment to patients on-site and while in route to  area hospitals. In addition, the employee serves as a Field Training Officer working with new and existing employees to improve and document skills.  Work involves responding to the scene of emergency and non-emergency calls, applying necessary medical treatment to sick or injured persons, and transporting persons to a medical facility.  Work requires considerable independent judgment in assessing the condition of patients and applying short-term relief. Employees are exposed to the normal hazards of emergency rescue work, including risk of exposure to human body fluids and infectious diseases, thus the work is subject to the OSHA requirements for blood borne pathogens.  Work is performed in accordance with established EMT and medical procedures and under departmental and local medical director approved protocols. Shift work is performed under the supervision of a Shift Supervisor, while training activities are under the supervision of both the Shift Supervisor and the departmental Training Officer.  Both training and paramedic duties are evaluated through peer review, conferences, observation, discussion of procedures at emergency scenes, and public feedback.

EMT-Basic

Performs basic life support, stabilization procedures, and emergency medical care at the EMT-Basic level of training and certification on a twenty-four hour shift providing EMS services for the County.

Currently this position works a 24 hour shift rotating 24 on, 24 off for three cycles before going on a 4-day off cycle.  The Annual Salary is $28,728, depending on years of experience as an EMT-B.  This salary range does not include mandatory overtime that comes with this position.

Community Paramedic

An employee in this class provides proactive care that is intended to help improve the overall health and wellness of program participants.  Expands access to non-urgent health care through in-home patient visits and/or community-based services.  Works in cooperation with other stakeholders/key medical providers.  Serves as a trained “navigator” of community resources.  Provides outreach education to citizens.  Employees perform emergency medical procedures at the certified Paramedic level.  Work includes participating in community outreach education, prevention programs, and participating in continuous in-service training.  Work is performed in accordance with established Emergency Medical Standard Operating Procedures Manual and under local medical director approved protocols.  Work is performed under the supervision of the EMS Director and EMS Division Chiefs.

 

Sheriff’s Office

Detention Officer

Performs inmate detention and care work in the County Detention Center.

Employees in this class work a rotating 12-hour shift and perform inmate intake, detention, care, transport, observation and release work in accordance with established policies and procedures. Work includes the observation and accompaniment of inmates inside the Detention Center and related care and recordkeeping requirements; and employees may be assigned to any work area within the facility and may also be assigned to accompany inmates to court or other assigned locations. Patience and firmness are required in frequent contacts with some violent, suicidal, and mentally unstable inmates. The employees are subject to hazards associated with custody work including working in inside environments, exposure to various hazards such as noise and a variety of physical conditions and close quarters. Employees may be exposed to blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the shift supervisor on the assigned shift, and is evaluated through observation.

Vance County has a couple of sponsorships with WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

Apply Now for Vance/Warren Master Gardeners Program 2021

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– submitted by Paul McKenzie –

Cooperative Extension is looking for a few good volunteers to join the Vance/Warren Master Gardeners program. Applications are now being accepted for the 16 week training program, which will begin on August 3rd, 2021. The class will meet on Tuesday mornings, and covers all aspects of gardening including fruits, vegetables, weeds, insects, diseases, trees, shrubs, turf, and more. Some classes will meet in person, while others will convene using the Zoom video conferencing platform.

After training, each volunteer intern is required to provide 40 hours of service in various community outreach projects. No green thumb required, and many other skills are needed including public speaking, writing, photography, social media, event management, graphic design, and much more. Recent volunteer projects have included demonstration gardens in both counties, newsletters, gardening workshops and seminars, youth education and more. The training fee is $125.

For more information, please visit http://go.ncsu.edu/mgvw or call 252-438-8188 (Vance County) or 252-257-3640 (Warren County).

—
Paul McKenzie
Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties
NC Cooperative Extension
305 Young St., Henderson, NC 27536
158 Rafters Ln., Warrenton, NC 27589
http://vance.ces.ncsu.edu
http://warren.ces.ncsu.edu

The Local Skinny! Ruin Creek Cruise-In Brings Classic Cars and Community Together

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For some folks “a car was made for one purpose, to get from one place to tha ‘nother.”

For others, something happens along the way.  You fall in love with the car, or the engine, or the story of getting from that one place to another or the people riding with you.  And, when that happens, the car becomes a classic.

Car enthusiasts from North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and perhaps beyond will visit Henderson this weekend.  On Saturday, July 31 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., the second-ever Ruin Creek Cruise In will take place.

Admission is free for all.

Visit the car show that about 2,500 people showed up for in 2019.

It will take place across U.S. 158 Bypass from Charles Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac and is specifically at 284 US 158 Bypass if you’re putting it in your GPS.

The Ruin Creek Cruise In of Henderson is all about supporting the local Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, according to Brandon Boyd.

Boyd and the society’s volunteers, organizers and supporters have a passion about “saving animals from right here in Henderson at the Vance County Animal Shelter.”  Boyd said, “Krissie Newman, her non-profit The Rescue Ranch, is sponsoring this event this year.  Krissie is going to be there…It’s just going to be a special, special weekend here in Henderson.  We invite everybody to come out.  It’s going to be local vendors from all across this area, food, drinks, live music, and a good time had by all.”

Click play for Brandon Boyd’s Interview on The Local Skinny!

Center For Innovation Cutting-Edge Hub For VCS

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Vance County Schools officially opened its Center for Innovation at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning, and community representatives were on hand to see how the former Henderson High School building has been transformed into a high-tech hub for student learning.

“It is just a special day in Vance County,” said Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess. The building is a city landmark and has been outfitted with all sorts of technology to enhance students’ education. The new life of technology, innovation, virtual learning and robotics that the students will experience is going “to put our school system on top of the leader board for sure,” Burgess told WIZS News Monday.  (Click here to listen to Michele Burgess on WIZS News – 3 min)

There’s an audio room and a “green room” where students can come in and learn about broadcasting and recording, she noted, and added that there will be a community meeting room outfitted to accommodate all types of technology and an adjoining kitchen that can be used for catering. Community groups will be able to rent this space for their meetings, she said.

There will be another ribbon-cutting later to officially open the Wayne Adcock Community Auditorium.

Also housed at the 219 Charles St. location are AdVance Academy, STEM Early High, Vance Virtual Village, MakerSpace/Robotics Lab, a professional practice lab, technology resource center and family resource center.

TownTalk: VGCC Student Enrollment Day to Take Place on All Four Campuses

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The four campuses of Vance-Granville Community College will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 31 for Enrollment Day, a time when prospective students can drop in, learn more and get help as they plan their next steps in education.

Dr. Antonio Jordan, director of admissions and enrollment services and Kali Brown, dean of student access and support, spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk about the upcoming event. Fall semester classes begin on Aug. 16.

“There’s something special about a face-to-face interaction,” Brown said of the in-person event. It’s an opportunity to have students come to campus, have access to the offices they would need for the enrollment process in a face-to-face setting. Both the VGCC application and the financial aid application are accessed and completed online, and Saturday’s event is a time for students and their parents or family members to questions or get help navigating the process.

Jordan said he looks forward to having students back on campus. “We’ve done a great job virtually, but like Dean Brown mentioned, there’s just something special about having them on that campus, having them in tone of those computer labs, having them in the admissions or enrollment center and being able to talk with them and work with them,” he said.

Having weekend events to meet students’ needs is probably going to become more routine, he added. Increasingly, the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours just aren’t convenient for those who have full-time jobs or other commitments, so VGCC leaders are “thinking outside the box” by offering the Saturday opportunity, he said.

For complete details and audio click play.

In addition to the two applications, the enrollment process includes a new student orientation.

Jordan will be at the main campus in Henderson to facilitate the new student orientation, which will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. During the orientation, students will have an opportunity to learn about majors and careers, complete their own career assessment and then figure out the best way to achieve their goals.

Although VGCC uses social media, email and other methods to share information, Brown said it’s critical for students to be able to have a face-to-face conversation with college representatives to guide them. The Enrollment Day is a chance to set up student accounts, as well as set up meetings with advisors to select classes.

There is, of course, the matter of paying for classes. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a first step, but there also are grants like the Long Leaf Commitment grant that can help, as well as numerous VGCC scholarships through the VGCC Foundation, Brown said.

The VanGuarantee is a program that helps students pay for fees and books that financial aid may not cover. This program is available for students who take a minimum of six credit hours, Brown added.