Vance, Granville 6 Percent Behind NC for Full Vaccinations

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Each year National Public Health Week, which is always celebrated the first week of April, has bookends, but the latest battle for public health workers hasn’t yet reached its conclusion as Covid continues.

Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison, in a weekly email she provides like clockwork, wished a happy National Public Health week to staff and partners of GVPH. “This year, I think we all have a little more understanding and appreciation for the work of public health – usually we’re pretty far in the background fighting disease and promoting health. We’re not quite used to this much work at once, but are glad to be serving our communities in the way we are trained and experienced to do,” Harrison wrote.

She said the vaccine effort continues.  “Our hotline remains open Monday through Thursday and ready for calls to register anyone 18 and older for our upcoming vaccine clinics. If you have already had your vaccine, please find another person who may need assistance calling the hotline and getting registered. We are happy to answer questions about the vaccine. More about safety and effectiveness of the vaccines here: https://gvph.org/covidvaccines/,” Harrison wrote.

Vance County has seen 13,559 people partially vaccinated and 9,829 people fully vaccinated.  At the time of Harrison’s email Friday, that amounts to 30.4 percent partially vaccinated and 22.1 percent fully vaccinated.

Over 19,000 Granville County people are partially vaccinated with nearly 13,850 fully vaccinated.  The percentages from Granville resemble those from Vance County with 31.6 percent partially and 22.9 percent fully inoculated.

Across North Carolina, 40% of the adult population is at least partially vaccinated and 28.4% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Rec Sports Signups – Baseball, Softball, Football, Soccer

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Update 4-9-21 at 3 p.m.

Soccer, Baseball & Softball and 7 on 7 Football registration has been extended to Sunday, April 25, 2021. Registration fees are $40 for Vance County residents and $60 for non-residents. For information, please contact Darius Pitt at 252. 438.3408 (dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us).

— submitted by Tara  Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Program Superintendent

Soccer–  This is a soccer program for those participants who wish to play recreational soccer.  Youth participating in this program will gain soccer knowledge in rules and skills of the game. Registration begins on Monday, March 15th  and ends on Sunday, April 11th  Registrations fees are $40 for Vance County residents and $60 for non-residents.  For information, please contact Darius Pitt at  252. 438.3408 (dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us).

7-on-7 2-Hand Touch Football-Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Athletics will be having its first 7-on-7 2-Hand Touch Football League this spring. Based on the current climate, it’s a safer way for our children to play and learn the game of football, while getting the exercise needed for healthy child development.  Registration begins on Monday, March 15th  and ends on Sunday, April 11th Registrations fees are $40 for Vance County residents and $60 for non-residents.  For information, please contact Darius Pitt at  252. 438.3408 (dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us).

Spring Baseball/Softball Registration- Registration begins on Monday, March 15th  and ends on Sunday, April 11th .  Registrations fees are $40 for Vance County residents and $60 for non-residents.  For information, please contact Darius Pitt at  252. 438.3408 (dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us).

37th Annual VGCC Golf Tourney May 3 and 4

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Vance-Granville Community College’s 37th annual golf tournament is less than one month away, and VGCC Foundation Executive Director Eddie Ferguson said the event is shaping up to be the most successful ever.

There’s a wait list for golfers, and more than 70 sponsors have signed on so far, Ferguson said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny.

He said the tournament has pledges of about $131,000. Last year’s tournament netted about $110,000. There are still plenty of opportunities to sponsor – $500 to be a greens sponsor and $150 to sponsor a tee box. Each of these sponsorships includes signage with the sponsor’s name, logo and phone number, Ferguson said.

This year’s tournament will be held at Henderson Country Club over two afternoons – Monday, May 3 and Tuesday, May 4. Proceeds are used to help students not only with tuition and books, but with other emergency needs that arise as well.

The tournament consistently brings in at least $100,000 that can be given “directly to students with these different needs and other initiatives of the community college,” Ferguson said. The support over the years from the community and the success of the tournament year after year is “a testament to the community and how they perceive and recognize and value the community college,” he said.

Employers in the four counties that VGCC serves rely on the college for future employees, as well as workforce training and other points associated with economic development. “Honestly, the biggest thing is that the community appreciates what the community college does,” Ferguson said.

Other sponsors include:

Title Sponsor – Gupton’s Services

Afternoon Round Sponsors – Altec and Killian Engineering

Health care Sponsor – Granville Health System

Scoreboard Sponsor – Rose Oil

Car Sponsor – Charles Boyd Chevrolet

Pharmacy Sponsor – Mast Drug.

Driving Range Sponsor – Wester Insurance

Soft Drink Sponsor – Durham Coca-Cola

Contact Ferguson at fergusone@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3264.

 

NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist to Henderson April 30; Free OTC; Pre-Order Now

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NC MedAssist is coming to Henderson at the end of the month and is giving away free over-the-counter medication. The event will take place at the Salvation Army, 2292 Ross Mill Road, on April 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to information from Sheila Kidwell, NC MedAssist’s director of foundations and communications.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation of Vance County is partnering with the Charlotte-based organization to host the giveaway, which is open to people 18 years or older. Some of the medicines that will be distributed include cough and cold medicine, vitamins, allergy medication and first-aid supplies. No identification is required; however, all participants must wear facemasks.

This is a drive-thru service only – all participants will remain in their vehicles and volunteers will deliver their medicines. Participants are highly encouraged to preorder their over-the-counter medicine online at https://medassist.org/mobile/ and select Vance County.

Online ordering will be closed two days prior to the event. Anyone NOT able to order online should come as early as possible on April 30, Kidwell said, because the medicines will be given out on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last.

“Due to the pandemic, we had to create a new and innovative way to continue serving the community. We will be bringing close to $100,000 worth of OTC medicine to the event to be distributed to those most in need in our community,” Kidwell said. “We understand there is a pressing need, especially in the midst of allergy season. Our goal in this partnership with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is to improve the health of the community, one family at a time.”

If you can volunteer to help on April 30, please sign up at www.medassist.org/volunteer.

The medicine distribution depends on volunteers to ensure things run smoothly, Kidwell said. Community volunteers will help with pharmacy consultations, as well as sorting medicines and collecting medicines for clients.

All participants will receive information on NC MedAssist’s Free Pharmacy Program, which mails free prescription medications directly to a patient’s home.  NC MedAssist’s overall goal is to help ease the burden for those in need; it is aiding people who are making the choice between buying food and purchasing life-saving medication, Kidwell stated.

NC MedAssist is a statewide non-profit pharmacy that was founded in 1997. The organization provides free prescription medication to all low-income, uninsured North Carolinians who qualify for their Free Pharmacy Program. NC MedAssist offers three programs that address the needs of children and adults: The Free Pharmacy Program (for prescription medication), the Mobile Free Pharmacy Program (for over-the-counter medicine), and the Transitional Jobs Program (for individuals with barriers to employment). Last year, NC MedAssist distributed $76 million worth of prescription and over-the-counter medicine to NC residents across the state. Learn more about NC MedAssist right now at www.medassist.org. You can also visit their Facebook and Twitter pages, or contact them to find out how you can help.

Vance County Logo

Vance County Employee Satisfaction Survey Conducted in Dec. and Jan.

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Vance County commissioners got an update Monday regarding results from a recent employee satisfaction survey. Although there are some positive takeaways from the survey results – valuing diversity and general job satisfaction – the board’s Human Resources Committee has identified several priorities for follow-up attention.

County Manager Jordan McMillen said 70 percent of the county’s employees responded to the online survey, which was conducted in December 2020 and January 2021. The UNC School of Government, which facilitated the survey, reported that the results were “typical of government organizations that are early in the organizational development process,” McMillen told WIZS News.

“On the positive side our employees identify very well with the organization, they feel good about the level of teamwork shared across and within departments and generally employees feel good and are satisfied with their jobs,” he said.

But other employees said they feel “emotionally drained” from the work they do and turnover is higher in some departments than others, he noted. “We intend to bring the School of Government back in to take deeper dives into some of the negative areas,” McMillen added. Among the more negative comments from the respondents were  “organizational silence” and “workplace incivility.” McMillen said. Public safety and human services (Department of Social Services) respondents accounted for most of the negative results, he added.

The Human Resources Committee members Carolyn Faines, Archie B. Taylor Jr. and Gordon Wilder met on Mar. 30 to review staff recommendations for priorities and agreed to begin with workplace incivility and organizational silence. The committee also decided to revise a third issue to only include morale/burnout/emotional toll of work, McMillen said.

“We want employees to feel comfortable speaking up if they have ideas and want to ensure our employees feel their ideas are given the attention that is needed, McMillen said.

“As we strive for creativity from our employees, we want them to feel comfortable sharing ideas that can lead to improvements for our county and citizens.”

County staff will coordinate with the school of government to organize small groups of employees that will examine the priority areas and report back to the committee with recommendations later this year.

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health Visitation Policy Adjustments Made April 6

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Maria Parham Health’s visitation policy was adjusted effective Tuesday, April 6th.

Donna Young, coordinator of marketing and communications, told WIZS, “Maria Parham Health is pleased to announce that we are adjusting our visitation policy.”

The list of changes provided includes:

  • Patients are now allowed two visitors per patient per day on the inpatient floor, with no swapping out
  • Patients are allowed to have two new visitors the following day, under the same guidelines
  • ED patients will be allowed one visitor, who must remain at the patient’s bedside at all times
  • Patients will be allowed one visitor to stay overnight
  • Visitors must comply with mask mandate and pass the screening process (no temp, symptoms, recent exposure, etc)
  • All visitors must be 18 years or older, and should not roam the hospital

Young said, “We are continuing our current policy of no visitors for Behavioral Health Units, and no visitors for any COVID-19 positive patients.”

Visiting hours remain unchanged.  You may visit 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Local Skinny! April 7; Home And Garden Show

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Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie of the Vance Co. Agriucultural Extension Service offer home and garden tips.

For complete details and audio click play.