Noon News for 12 Jan. 2021. Stories include:
– Obituary for Vance Co. basketball coach Wilton Baskett
– Update on Covid 19 vaccinations for area counties
– Vance Co. Manager Jordan McMillan receives credential
– Maria Parham Hospital announces first birth of 2021
For full details and audio click play.
Area health departments continue to update the public on progress with administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Please see below for updates from the Granville Vance Public Health, the Warren County Health Department and Franklin County Health Department. Although some details differ, all health department officials stress that residents’ patience and continued vigilance in the use of the 3 W’s – Wear, Wait, Wash – are vital components to combating the pandemic.
Three counties remain in Phase 1a, but are scheduled to open up Phase 1b, Group 1 soon. Franklin County began vaccinating eligible residents in Phase 1b last week.
Granville and Vance counties
Granville and Vance counties remain in Phase 1a distribution and plan to move to Phase 1b, Group 1 (only those aged 75 and over), on Thursday, Jan. 14. Health Director Lisa Harrison hopes to complete vaccinating groups 1a and 1b by March.
Phase 1a is only for eligible health care organizations and individuals with additional instructions to sign up for the vaccination. Harrison urges all others to wait to ask for an appointment until news outlets announce or publish that the phase for which you’re eligible to receive the vaccination is underway. Residents can also visit the GVPH COVID-19 website https://gvph.org/covidvaccines/ to find updated information. More information is forthcoming about how to register in the mandatory statewide COVID Vaccine Management System (CVMS). There is a survey everyone must fill out as part of registration and the system is not accessible to individuals at this time, Harrison added.
Individuals 75 years and older may call the health department now to schedule an appointment. Phase 1b, Group 1 vaccinations are scheduled to begin Thursday, Jan. 14. Any other instructions that may help make your vaccine appointment move faster (such as forms you need to fill out ahead of your appointment) will be posted on our website.
If you are not in Phase 1a or Phase 1b Group 1, but want more information, please call the COVID Vaccine Information Hotline at 252-295-1503.
Only hospitals and health departments have the vaccine at this moment, but in the coming weeks and months, primary care offices, pharmacies, and federally qualified health centers will receive vaccine and be able to vaccinate community members as well. The health department is working with Granville Health System and Maria Parham Health to make sure that the vaccination process is working as efficiently as possible.
Warren County
The Warren County Health Department is giving COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment to all healthcare workers in Phase 1a, which includes:
Individuals who fall in the category of Phase 1b can begin getting the vaccine the week of January 19, 2021.
Anyone 75 years and older, regardless of health status or living situation, is eligible to get the vaccine. Call the health department at (252) 257-1185 to make an appointment.
Franklin County
Franklin County began Phase 1b, Group 1 (residents 75 and older) on Jan. 7, 2021 in a drive-through event and delivered 323 vaccinations.
Franklin County residents who think they are eligible to get the vaccine should email covidvax@franklincountync.us and will receive an automated reply with instructions about how to register for the vaccine. You may also phone the health department’s dedicated COVID-19 phone line at 919–729-0654. If you leave a message, please leave a phone number and your call will be returned.
County Health Director Scott Lavigne said that although the line was long at times during the Jan. 7 drive-through vaccination event, everyone who had signed up got their shot.
— press release
The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is accepting applications for the 2021 grant cycle. The key objectives for 2021 are supporting the agricultural industry, impacting rural communities and stimulating economic development. Funds will be awarded in the fall of 2021 for selected innovative projects.
Applications information is now online at www.tobaccotrustfund.org for qualifying organizations. “Creating opportunities for North Carolina producers and creating jobs in current or former tobacco-dependent regions are our 2021 priorities,” said William H. “Bill” Teague, NCTTFC Chairman. “Applications will be accepted online for innovative projects within North Carolina. Selected projects should expect to start in November of 2021.”
The NCTTFC was established in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to help members of the tobacco community including farmers, tobacco workers and related businesses. Its original funding was established through tobacco industry annual payments as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement. Funding is now appropriated to the NCTTFC which then reviews, selects and disperses the funds to grant projects.
Past NCTTFC projects includes fair and farmers market improvements, cost-share grant programs for farmers, commodity marketing, researching alternative crops and support of agricultural education programs.
More information can be found at the NCTTFC’s website (www.tobaccotrustfund.org), or by calling Jeff Camden at 919-397-6766. The deadline for applications submission is Friday March 5, 2021.
Stories include:
– Death of Vance Co. basketball coach Wilton Baskett
– Davis Chapel partners with Raleigh Firebirds for basketball tournament
For full details and audio click play.
The Davis Chapel Park in Henderson is the place to be on January 18 – that’s where members of the professional men’s basketball team the Raleigh Firebirds will come to town to host a 3v3 basketball tournament. The event is from noon to 2 p.m.
Firebirds owner Wade Harris told WIZS host Trey Snide and guest Brandon White during a recent WIZS SportsTalk program that his team is partnering with Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church to put on the event. There is no cost to sign up; visit the team’s website Raleighfirebirds.net for more information, or text or phone 919.830.0305 to learn how to enter the tournament. Winners will get 4 season tickets to the Firebirds home games.
“The Firebirds are really all about community service, engaging in the community and finding ways that we can support our youth,” Harris said. “We figured the 3-on-3 tournament would be a nice way to not only introduce the Firebirds to the community, but also to introduce the community to the game of basketball,” he said.
Click Play to Listen to Wade Harris on WIZS SportsTalk…
Although the fan base and sponsorships are in and around Wake County at the moment, Harris said the Firebirds are “here to provide opportunities for young men still chasing that dream of being a professional basketball player. This is really a platform for them to be able to do that, as well as to develop certain aspects of their games, so that they can expand and grow,” he added.
Spectators will probably get a chance to see some of the Firebirds put on an exhibition as well, Harris said.
The Davis Chapel Park, located at the corner of Chestnut and Rock Spring streets, was chosen as the site of this event for a couple of reasons. The church has adopted the park and Harris spoke with the son of the pastor there. “(The park) is a great setting for a tournament like this,” Harris said. “We want to bring even more life to the park itself,” he said, “and if there are some things that we can do to uplift that park and to uplift the people that go and frequent that area, then we want to do that,” he continued.
“Everything happens for a reason…Martin Luther King Day is certainly a good day for us to celebrate in general, but it’s a great day for us to bring the 3-on-3 game to Henderson, North Carolina,” Harris said. Originally set as a New Year’s Eve celebration, the threat of inclement weather forced organizers to reschedule the event.
“It’s a way to bring the community together and identify some needs… and to see how we might be able to support in addressing those needs,“ Harris said.
Henderson City Council Regular Meeting scheduled for Monday, January 11. Click here for AGENDA.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Henderson City Council Scheduled Regular Meeting
Monday, 11 January 2021
6:00 PM
City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536
Due to COVID-19 health mandates issued by Governor Cooper, the number of citizens allowed into Council Chambers is limited. However, members of the community are strongly encouraged to provide questions/comments for Council in writing as follows and to listen via Zoom:
Written Comments:
ZOOM MEETING INVITE:
City of Henderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: City Council Meeting
Time: Jan 11, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85250543071?pwd=L2tqMzRzU3R1T2N2YThlL0dNMURGUT09
Meeting ID: 852 5054 3071
Passcode: 346554
— press release
RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. recognizes the service of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is being observed Saturday, January 9, 2021. On this date, communities across the country will show their appreciation and support for law enforcement agencies and their personnel in various ways.
“I ask every citizen of the Eastern District to join me in recognizing the tremendous service and sacrifices that our law enforcement officers have made this past year and make every day,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. “Together, with our ongoing partnerships, commitment, and dedication, we will continue to work together to ensure that our citizens, here in the Eastern District of North Carolina, are safe and secure.”
As part of this national day of recognition, citizens across the country are encouraged to share their expressions of gratitude and support for local law enforcement agencies, officers, and public safety personnel within their respective communities. Likewise, citizens and officers alike are encouraged to share their positive experiences and collaborations with each other.
The Eastern District of North Carolina serves the 44 easternmost counties of North Carolina.
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The yearslong animal rescue “Ride To Freedom,” done weekly by Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society and Vance County Animal Services, continues tonight after a one-week covid disruption.
The plan that has rescued into the thousands of Vance County animals and gotten them to loving, safe homes continues this evening. While the Vance County Animal Shelter remains closed to the public, and Chief Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles continues to be unsure when it will reopen, arrangements for the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society’s “Ride To Freedom” were confirmed earlier this week so the tradition can continue.
Brandon Boyd, president of Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, said, “We would like to thank our very important partners Chief Frankie Nobles and (the) Vance County Animal Shelter for their support and effort which allows this to happen along with our many passionate and faithful supporters that give to support this deserving cause.”
The loading of the animals can typically be watched online live via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RCAPS.Henderson.
Stories include:
– Snow in the forecast
– animal rescue event to take place
– free wifi coming to downtown Henderson and Kittrell
– National Stalking Awareness Month
– Girl Scout Cookies to go on sale
– Tar River Conservancy to hold tree planting event
For full details and audio click play.
The Vance County Commissioners approved an agreement Monday with an Internet broadband provider that will bring free Wi-Fi to parts of downtown Henderson and to the town of Kittrell.
County Manager Jordan D. McMillen said the Wi-Fi Zone agreement is a joint effort between the city and the county and begins a five-year commitment with Open Broadband, LLC.
“Now that the agreement has been signed it will take a few weeks or months for them to order the equipment and determine the areas downtown for equipment to be located,” McMillen said in a written statement to WIZS. Next steps include identifying downtown business owners to partner with Open Broadband to place antennas.
The plan is it to have Wi-Fi available in the general area between Orange Street and Rose Avenue along Garnett Street, as well as along the side streets which extend to Chestnut Street, McMillen added. “We are excited about this initiative and (are) glad to partner with the City to make it happen,” he said. The free public Wi-Fi for Kittrell will be available within the town limits.
Open Broadband, LLC is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that seeks to bring broadband internet service to underserved markets and rural areas, according to information provided on its website. It provides service in about 20 North Carolina counties.
