Local Covid Update; Granville Vance Public Health Vaccine Hotline Reminder

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— written from information provided by Lisa Harrison, director Granville Vance Public Health.  The information was provided March 10, but this article was not written or published until March 11.

Since the pandemic began, Vance County has seen 4,450 positive test results, and Granville County has seen 5,341.

As a result of covid, 82 have died from Vance County, and 76 have died from Granville County.

Over 11,500 have died from North Carolina, and 1,075 are presently hospitalized.

Local Health Director Lisa Harrison indicated, “As our focus shifts to vaccine efforts, we will begin reporting updates about the numbers vaccinated in each of our counties. This information, as well as demographic information, can also be found at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/vaccinations.”

In Vance County, 8,328 first doses of vaccine have been administered, and 4,865 second shots have been provided.  With that, 18.7 percent of the populations is at least partially vaccinated, and 10.9 percent is fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 11,280 first doses have been given along with 6,635 second doses.  That means 18.7 percent has been at least partially vaccinated with 11 percent being fully vaccinated.

Harrison said, “We will deliver over 1,400 first doses this week and over 1,200 second doses. We are making great progress vaccinating our frontline essential workers! As a reminder, if you believe you may be eligible for a vaccine, please call our hotline to book an appointment.”

The health director is encouraging strength and courage through this transformative journey, and she said, “Thank you public health warriors (in this building and outside it)!!! You’re winning this battle. You’re doing hard things. You’re fighting disease and protecting health and life. Keep it up!!”

NC Dept of Agriculture

Use care when burning yard debris

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The sunny skies and warmer temperatures may be tempting area residents to get outside and burn yard debris, but a local fire ranger urges landowners to use abundant caution to avoid problems.

Just in the last week, fire departments in Vance and Granville counties and the NC Forest Service have responded to 13 wildfires. Of those, seven were caused by debris burning, according to Granville County Fire Ranger Rob Montague.

March through May is recognized as spring wildfire season, and the N.C. Forest Service said that as residents begin spending more time working in their yards, it is important to be responsible when it comes to burning yard debris.

“Every year, almost 40 percent of wildfires in North Carolina are the result of careless debris burning,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler stated in a press release from the forest service.  “To protect ourselves and our forestland from wildfire, we have to be responsible and vigilant. Check the weather. Make sure you’re prepared to burn before you do. Never leave a debris fire unattended, and always have a water source and phone nearby in case you need them,” Troxler’s statement continued.

Contact your county forest ranger for technical advice and options to help ensure the safety of people, property and the forest. Visit www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts to find the ranger in your county.

Consider the following factors before burning yard debris:

  • Choose to compost or make mulch. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass and stubble can be turned into mulch or compost.
  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours; others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any open authorized permitting agent or online at www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires. Keep your pile small, not tall.
  • Stay informed about the weather and possible weather changes. Postpone outdoor burning during high winds or gusts, or periods of low relative humidity. Even if you have a valid permit, stop burning if strong winds develop.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out. To learn more about fire safety and preventing wildfires and property damage or loss, visit www.ncforestservice.gov.

To learn more about protecting your home and property from wildfire, visit www.resistwildfirenc.org.

Local News Audio

WIZS Local News 03-10-21 Noon

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WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM

Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.

PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY

Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.

“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.

“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.

 

The Local Skinny! March 10; Home And Garden Show

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Each Wednesday “The Local Skinny!” is the Home and Garden Show, which features co-hosts Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie of the Vance County Cooperative Extension service.

Vance County COOP agents and staff can be reached throughout the week locally at 438-8188.

As you will hear in today’s podcast below, listener calls at 492-5594 with questions or comments pertaining to your home and garden are more than welcome.

Listen each Wednesday throughout the year at 11:30 a.m.

 

Vance County Logo

Vance County Goals for 2021-2022

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners discussed and prioritized a wide range of goals for the 2021-22 during its recent board retreat, from attracting new businesses to finding ways to lowering EMS call volume.

The number one goal is to retain or create new jobs and attracting $10 million in new investment in the county, according to information from County Manager Jordan McMillen.

Next comes exploring options that will support the county’s economic development efforts. Options include creation of “pad ready sites, construction of a shell building and/or repurposing existing buildings.”

Additional goals, listed in order they were prioritized are:

  • Implement a 24/72 schedule for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), to keep the countywide response time to under 10 minutes. Included in this effort would be having enough staff and ambulances to achieve the response time.
  • Implement a community paramedicine program as a way to “improve community health, reduce frequent fliers, and assist in lowering EMS call volume.”
  • To bring closure to the fire reorganization discussion.
H-V Chamber Logo

H-V Chamber Will Launch New Human Resource Council

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— Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Press Release

The Board of Directors of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce voted in December 2020 to adopt a 2021 Program of Work which includes the formation of a new Human Resources Council. This new program is a goal under the Chamber’s Business and Growth and Development Division, a division co-chaired by Chamber board members Brian Williams, Account Manager of Temperature Control Solutions and Stephanie Hoyle, Broker Associate with Century 21 Country Knolls Realty.

The first meeting of the Human Resources Council will take place by Zoom video conference on Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 pm. The purpose of establishing the new program, as explained by Michele Burgess, President of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, is to bring together human resource professionals working in local industry, manufacturing, business, education, and governmental entities to share ideas, network, and get answers to human resource issues affecting their businesses. Burgess noted that each monthly meeting will include a guest speaker giving a presentation on a relevant human resource topic. Burgess said, “I had been having conversations all last year with our members who were calling to ask for the Chamber’s assistance looking to answers to their questions on where to find workers to fill their vacancies, asking about available professional development programs for their human resource department staff, and questions about employee time-off for quarantine during the pandemic. The Chamber doesn’t have all the answers, but we will work to find the available resources to help solve our members’ problems. It soon became evident that a Human Resource Council would help them tremendously.” The Chamber’s Human Resource Council will provide local member firms with training, networking opportunities, time to give an update on their business and a time for questions and answers. Later in the year, once the pandemic restrictions are lifted, the Human Resource Council will meet in person for a working lunch meeting.

Jessica Carroll Voss

The Human Resource Council will be led by Chamber business volunteer, Jessica Carroll Voss, Human Resource Manager with Hollander Sleep Products. Voss grew up in Vance County, and graduated from Northern Vance High School in 2006. She attended UNC-Wilmington and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management. Voss has 10 years of human resource experience, previously working for Snider Fleet Solutions in Greensboro, Express Employment Professionals in Oxford, and GKN Driveline in Roxboro and Sanford. She joined the Hollander company in October of 2020. Burgess said, “I was so excited to hear of Jessica returning to Vance County to work here last fall. Hollander Sleep Products is a very supportive Chamber of Commerce member, and Jessica is a great asset to them not only because of her degree and experience, but she knows the community, has many local contacts, and understands the local workforce needs. Having her step up and take on this leadership with our Chamber and this new initiative makes me proud.”

Cherrelle Lawrence

The featured presentation for the premier meeting of the Human Resource Council on March 25 will be Cherrelle Lawrence, Dean of Corporate Learning and Professional Development with Vance-Granville Community College. She also serves as Dean of the VGCC Franklin County campus. Her topic will be “Investing In Talent.” “I have heard Cherrelle Lawrence speak and our Council is in for a real treat” Said Michele Burgess. “She has a wealth of information about training programs that our local employers will be interested in hearing, such as fast tracked certificate training programs, as well as, programs that involve apprenticeships and internships that will benefit both the employer and the employees.

Chamber member firms who would like to sign up to receive the Zoom link for the March Human Resource Council meeting are asked to email Michele Burgess at michele@hendersonvance.org or call the Chamber office.  Anyone interested in being a part of the Human Resource Council who is currently not a member of the Chamber, is encouraged to call Michele Burgess to discuss membership at 252-438-8414.

Small Farms Week 2021

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The 35th annual celebration of Small Farms Week will be held virtually Mar. 21-27. Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University is sponsoring a series of virtual events and educational programs to inform the public and provide research-based information to support small farmers.

This year’s theme is “35 Years: Resilience. Strength. Diversity” and will begin with a kick-off event on Friday, Mar. 19, according to information from the Greensboro-based university. The programs are “designed for farmers with limited incomes and acreage and will provide them with information to become more resilient and more profitable,” according to the statement. Although focused on small-scale farmers, the public is also invited to attend.

The USDA census defines a small farm as “a farm that is 179 acres or less in size, or earns $50,000 or less in gross income per year.

The Mar. 19 event will feature agriculture in Avery County, located in western North Carolina. This session also will recognize Avery County’s Amos and Kaci Nidiffer, the 2020 Small Farmers of the Year. A panel of local farmers will discuss farming in that part of the state.

The virtual activities continue on Monday, Mar. 22, with sessions on the health benefits of community gardening and ways to boost your immune system during the pandemic. A virtual education forum on Tuesday, Mar. 23 will cover plant production, farm management, high-tunnel winter production and livestock production. A panel of N.C. A&T students will discuss the wide variety of career opportunities available in agriculture and related fields.

Wednesday’s program includes information on marketing and agribusiness, as well as a small farms update by members of A&T’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. The day also includes one of the highlights of the week: the virtual Small Farmers’ Appreciation Program. Keynote speaker is Jimmy Gentry, president of the North Carolina Grange. The 2021 Small Farmer of the Year will also be announced.

The final event of Small Farms Week 2021 will be a panel discussion among A&T students on Thursday, Mar. 25 about opportunities for young people in agriculture.

The registration link is

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/small-farms-week-35-years-resilience-strength-diversity-tickets-141203398165

Hear Billing Solutions Virtual Hiring Event Tuesday, March 16 at 11 a.m.

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Hear Billing Solutions is holding a virtual hiring event tomorrow (Tues, March 16, 2021) with guaranteed interviews.

You’ll find out about opportunities for billing specialists.

Interviews will be available Thursday for those who attend the virtual event Tuesday.

Register at events.kerrtarworks.com.

Contact the NC Works Career Center for more information at 919-693-2686.

Email Joseph.Jung@ncworks.gov or Lonnda.Brothers@ncworks.gov

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk 03-09-21; Lisa Harrison, Granville Vance Public Health

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The recent stretch of warmer, sunny days is a welcome sign that spring is just around the corner. For Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison, the break in the weather is another way to combat COVID-19 as well.

“The biggest help is that people spend more time outside,” Harrison said on Tuesday’s Town Talk. She spoke with John C. Rose and Bill Harris about how things are going with vaccinations in the area and what’s in store in the upcoming months.

“Making sure that we’re breathing fresh air,” she said, adding that the natural ventilation that being outdoors affords is very beneficial.

At this time, 17 percent of residents in Vance and Granville counties have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine and 10 percent are fully vaccinated. “That’s just excellent progress,” she said.

“We’re doing an excellent job,” Harrison said, and said the collaboration with community partners like schools, hospitals and local pharmacies has been a key component to getting vaccines in arms.

The very good news that Harrison shared Tuesday comes from a CDC update, as well as from Gov. Roy Cooper and DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen. People who have been fully vaccinated and have waited two weeks for full immunity to occur can gather in small groups – sans masks. “It’s absolutely fine for us to congregate in small groups,” she said, as long as everyone has waited two weeks after being fully vaccinated.

It is still important to wear masks in big public spaces, she said, or in spaces where you’re not sure that everyone has been fully vaccinated, she added.

More than 15,000 shots have been given in the two counties, she said, but she also acknowledged that some residents may choose not to be vaccinated. Being vaccinated, however, is “the best way to protect our entire population and each other.” Some people who have been exposed to the virus may have developed their own antibodies, which she said is a positive step toward overall community resistance or immunity to COVID-19.

For complete details and audio click play.  Story continues below including links.

Harrison reiterated that the three vaccines currently available in North Carolina – Phizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – are all safe and effective. All three prevent severe illness and hospitalization. “There is not a bad choice,” she stated. “Dr. (Anthony) Fauci is right – get the vaccine that is available to you first.”

Because the Phizer vaccine is the most fragile, it usually goes to hospitals because they can keep it in super-cold storage. The Phizer vaccine is shipped in lots of 975 doses and is used for large-scale clinics. The Moderna vaccine doesn’t have to be kept as cold, she said. She estimated that each county gets between 500 and 700 Moderna doses each week. Harrison said the health department probably would be ordering the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of March. It could be used for more vulnerable populations, such as those people who may have a difficult time coming back for a second dose, which is required of both the Phizer and Moderna vaccines.

Side effects such as achiness, soreness or fatigue after the second shot, Harrison said , simply mean “your immune system is working well.” You cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccine, she stressed. The vaccine “trains” your immune system to recognize and combat the virus. “It trains your immune system and then it disappears,” she said.

After the show, Harrison forwarded some links of interest to WIZS.

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/media/1469/open

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/media/905/download