Vance County News - WIZS

Governor’s Volunteer Service Nomination Forms

January 19, 2021/by WIZS Staff

Know someone who has made or is making an outstanding contribution in a volunteer role in your county? There is still time to make nominations to the Governor’s Volunteer Service award, but the time is growing short. All nomination packets must be received in the Governor’s Office by Feb. 12, 2021.

Visit the website NC.gov (https://www.nc.gov/agencies/volunteer/volunteer-awards) to download the nomination form and to read further instructions about submitting nominations to the coordinator in your county.

The deadline in Franklin County is was Jan. 15, said Charles Mitchell, Director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Louisburg. Applications should now be completed online and emailed to charles_mitchell@ncsu.edu.

Warren County’s deadline is Feb. 1.

Granville submissions are due Feb. 5 and should be sent to Deborah Ferrell at deborah.ferrell@dhhs.nc.gov.

Vance County nominations should be emailed to volunteernc@nc.gov, according to Gianna Quilici, Page Program Coordinator for the governor’s office.

The award, created by the Office of the Governor in 1979, recognizes North Carolina’s most dedicated volunteers. Since its inception, thousands of North Carolinians have been honored for their concern and compassion for their neighbors through volunteerism.

Each county can submit names of up to 10 individuals, businesses, groups or teams and/or one paid director of volunteers to be considered for the award. The review committee in each county can additionally nominate one individual to receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service. This award is given to the top 20 volunteers in the state. A local committee evaluates all nominations.

Nomination forms are available in Warren County at the Cooperative Extension Center, 158 Rafters Lane, Warrenton and at the Warren County Memorial Library, 119 Front Street, Warrenton. Email Crystal M. Smith at cmsmith2@ncsu.edu to request a nomination form. Completed forms may be returned to the Cooperative Extension office or can be emailed to Smith in .pdf format no later than Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. For more information, call 252.257.3640.

Noon News 1-19-21 Food Insecurities; Food Drive; ACTS Fundraiser; Leaf Collection

January 19, 2021/by Bill Harris

Stories include

– Food insecurities in the area

– local food drives

– Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) fish fry fundraiser

– City of Henderson leaf collection

For complete details and audio click play.

City of Henderson Loose Leaf Collection Extended to Jan 29

January 18, 2021/by WIZS Staff

— from the City of Henderson

The City of Henderson has extended the Loose Leaf Collection season through January 29, 2021. As a reminder, please note that rows or piles of loose leaves or pine straw shall:

Be placed behind the curb not to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic
Not to be placed in an open ditch, gutter or street area as this can interfere with the City’s storm drainage system
Be free of trash and debris such as glass, cans, rocks, limb cuttings, etc. as they may damage collection equipment
Not be placed on top of your water meter

If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at 252-431-6115 or 252-431-6030.

“Things to Know” about PPP Loans from SBA.gov

January 18, 2021/by WIZS Staff

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has two loan programs open now through the end of March 2021 to help businesses keep their doors open and employee wages paid during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PPP, offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides loans for first-time applicants as well as employers who previously had requested and received help in 2020 as part of the federal government’s response to the pandemic, according to information on the SBA.gov website.

The First Draw PPP Loans are for first-time participants. The SBA reopened this loan program on Jan. 11, 2021 and is currently accepting applications from participating community financial institutions (CFIs) and lenders with under $1 billion in assets. This category includes approximately 5,000 institutions, including community banks, credit unions, and farm credit institutions. Lender Match can help find a participating lender. The program will be opened up to all lenders on January 19, 2021.

The Second Draw PPP loan opened on Jan. 13, 2021 and is designated for certain businesses who have already received a PPP loan. At least $25 billion is being set aside for eligible borrowers – those employers with a maximum of 10 employees or for loans of $250,000 or less to eligible borrowers in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods.

First Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll, including benefits, as well as rent and mortgage interest, utilities, and even uninsured property damage caused by vandalism or looting in 2020, among other things, according to information published on the SBA.gov site. Loan forgiveness is an option, as well, if certain criteria are met, including whether employees are still employed and compensation levels are maintained and at least 60 percent of the money is spent on payroll costs.

Generally speaking, most borrowers who received help through the First Draw PPP may apply for a second loan.

According to the website, a borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if a first loan was applied for and received; the business fewer than 300 employees and if the employer can show at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable periods of time in 2019 and 2020.

For a comprehensive look and details about the PPP loans, visit SBA.gov. Your local banker likely will have additional information about the loan program as well.

Noon News 1-18-21 MLK Day; Food Drive; Basketball Tournament; Food Giveaway; Hiring Event

January 18, 2021/by Bill Harris

Stories include:

– MLK Day

– Food Drive at Perry Library

– 3 on 3 basketball tournament

– Food giveaways/covid testing

– hiring event

For full details and audio click play.

WIZS Radio · Noon News 1-18-21 MLK Day; Food Drive; Basketball Tournament; Food Giveaway; Hiring Event

Why I Got the COVID-19 Vaccine by Adrian Ogle

January 15, 2021/by WIZS Staff

Submitted by Adrian Ogle, Chief of Staff, Maria Parham Health

For most of us, this past holiday season was unlike any other we have experienced. Instead of the typical hustle and bustle of holiday parties, family gatherings and being surrounded by those we love – this year was just different. I know for me personally, I missed seeing my mother and other beloved family members due to the restrictions of COVID-19.

While changing traditions this year was hard, I know there are people here in our community who are facing much greater difficulties because of how COVID-19 has impacted their lives. I see these challenges every single day in my role on the frontlines of fighting this pandemic as a Chief of Staff.

That’s why I’m excited and proud to be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I know many people have questions or concerns about the vaccine – I did too, at first. However, after talking to other clinicians I know and trust, reviewing the facts and being tired of missing so much in 2020, I feel very confident in my decision to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the same rigorous process to gain authorization that all vaccines available in the United States have gone through – no steps were skipped, and no corners were cut. Researchers anticipate that the vaccine will be approximately 95% effective. This is significantly higher than other common (and important) vaccines like the flu vaccine, which is typically between 40-60% effective.

You’ve probably heard about the potential side effects, which can include pain at the injection site and sometimes headaches, muscle pain, body aches, fatigue or fever. I personally experienced mild soreness and achiness around the injection site, which were mild and went away within two days. I can tell you from personal experience serving patients and families every day during this crisis that these potential side effects pale in comparison to the challenges that come with a serious case of COVID-19.

For me, I chose to get the vaccine because it is very important that we as a community all take measures to control Covid-19 to allow us to return to a sense of normalcy.

With the COVID-19 vaccine, I believe we are on the right path toward reaching an end to the pandemic and returning to normal life – but it is going to take all of us doing our part by choosing to get vaccinated, continuing to wear masks, maintaining social distancing and practicing hand hygiene until the vaccination is widely administered. I want to encourage every member of our community to step up and be a vaccine hero once it is available to you. Do it for your family, your friends, yourself – and all of us at Maria Parham Health.

While there is much that we all missed last year because of the pandemic, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community, and I will continue to do my part to help ensure that brighter days are ahead in 2021.

(This is not a paid ad. Maria Parham Health is a paying advertising client of WIZS.)

Tar River Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Meeting Jan 28th

January 15, 2021/by WIZS Staff

There will be a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 28 to discuss updates to the Tar River Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which covers Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties. The virtual meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. and will discuss next steps to update the hazard mitigation plan. The plan outlines steps to prepare, respond and reduce losses in the event of floods, severe storms, wildfires, extreme winter weather and other natural hazards.

Local governments are required to develop a hazard mitigation plan as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for hazard mitigation projects, which stems from passage of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.

The upcoming meeting is the part of the first of six steps that will be addressed in the update, according to information from area emergency management officials. In addition to public outreach is risk assessment, capability assessment, mitigation strategy development, plan maintenance and plan adoption. The updated plan is expected to be ready for review by the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency by June 2021.

In addition to two open public meetings, residents of the four counties are invited to complete a survey. Find the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MPWRNC2 and to visit the Tar River Hazard Mitigation Planning website click on https://gis.aecomonline.net/irisk2/NCHMP.aspx?region=30.

If you would like to attend the meeting, use the following links and information:

Join on your computer or mobile app by CLICKING HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING or use this link BY CLICKING HERE. Or call in (audio only) (877) 286-5733,,456918094# (Toll-free) Phone Conference ID: 456 918 094#

Updates and draft documents will be available on the website during the planning process, which began in September 2020.

Granville County Emergency Management is leading this regional effort. The planning committee is made up of local officials, representatives, and key stakeholders.

To learn more about the project, contact any of the emergency management coordinators below:

Robin Edwards, Granville County

919.603.1310 / robin.edwards@granvillecounty.org

Brian Short, Vance County

252.438.8264 / bshort@vancecounty.org

Dennis Paschall, Warren County

252.257.1191 / dennispaschall@warrentcountync.gov

Christy Shearin, Franklin County

919.291.9420 / chearin@franklincountync.us

IRS Warns About New Wave of Covid Scams

January 15, 2021/by WIZS Staff

— press release

IRS Criminal Investigation warns North Carolina taxpayers about new wave of COVID-19 scams as second round of Economic Impact Payments are delivered

The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) is warning North Carolina taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments.

In the last several months, IRS-CI has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment (EIP) scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information from taxpayers. Criminals are taking advantage of the second round of Economic Impact Payments – as well as the approaching filing season – to trick honest taxpayers out of their hard-earned money.

“As this second round of Economic Impact Payments are being issued and as we approach tax filing season, I’d like to remind taxpayers to remain vigilant. Fraudsters continue to exploit this pandemic to victimize the American public by seeking ways to gain access to taxpayer’s personal and financial information in an effort to line their own pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line.

Some common COVID-19 scams include:

Text messages asking taxpayers to disclose bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payments.
Phishing schemes using email, letters and social media messages with key words such as “Coronavirus,” “COVID-19,” and “stimulus” in varying ways. These communications are blasted to large numbers of people and aim to access personally identifying information and financial account information (including account numbers and passwords).
The organized and unofficial sale of fake at-home COVID-19 test kits (as well as offers to sell fake cures, vaccines, pills, and professional medical advice regarding unproven COVID-19 treatments).
Fake donation requests for individuals, groups and areas heavily affected by the disease
Bogus opportunities to invest in companies developing COVID-19 vaccines while promising that the “company” will dramatically increase in value as a result.

Although criminals are constantly changing their tactics, taxpayers can help protect themselves by acting as the first line of defense. The best way to avoid falling victim to a scam is knowing how the IRS communicates with taxpayers. The IRS does not send unsolicited texts or emails. The IRS does not call people with threats of jail or lawsuits, nor does it demand tax payments on gift cards.

IRS-CI continues investigating hundreds of COVID-19-related cases with law enforcement agencies domestically and abroad and educating taxpayers about scams.

COVID-19 scams should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or submitted through the NCDF Web Complaint Form. The NCDF is a national coordinating agency within the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division dedicated to improving the detection, prevention, investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct related to natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies.

Taxpayers can also report fraud or theft of their Economic Impact Payments to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Reports can be made online at TIPS.TIGTA.GOV.

Taxpayers who receive unsolicited emails or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, should forward the message to phishing@irs.gov. Taxpayers are encouraged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone.

To learn more about COVID-19 scams and other financial schemes visit IRS.gov. Official IRS information about COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments can be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief page, which is updated frequently.

Hollander Virtual Hiring Event January 19th

January 15, 2021/by WIZS Staff

WIZS has been asked to announce, by the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments’ Workforce Development Board, Hollander Sleep Products is holding a virtual hiring event.

It will take place Tuesday, January 19 at 11 a.m.

Visit the Weebly events page to register. (https://ncworkskt.weebly.com)

You can join for this hiring event with Hollander Sleep Products to find out about their current openings and how to apply.

Email joseph.jung@ncoworks.gov or lonnda.brothers@ncworks.gov.

The NCWorks Career Center can be reach by phone at 919-693-2686.

(This is not a paid ad or sponsorship.)