NC Opens 24/7 911 Network Monitoring & Assistance Center

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-Press Release, NC DIT

The N.C. Department of Information Technology on Thursday officially opened the Network Monitoring and Assistance Center (NMAC), which will help support an uninterrupted flow of communication for emergency call centers that have adopted next-generation 911 technology.

NC DIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Eric Boyette and N.C. 911 Board Executive Director Pokey Harris were joined by 911 board members and staff in Raleigh for a ribbon-cutting unveiling the center. The first of its kind in the nation, it is staffed 24/7 and equipped to monitor service and performance on North Carolina’s new digital emergency services network, called ESInet.

N.C. 911 Board Members watch as members of the N.C. Department of Information Technology cut the ribbon on the N.C. 911 Network Monitoring & Assistance Center. From left: network engineer Gerry Means, NMAC manager Stanley Meeks, NC DIT Secretary Eric Boyette and N.C. 911 Board Executive Director Pokey Harris. (Photo courtesy NC DIT)

Sixteen of the state’s 127 911 centers – including those in Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Martin, Polk, Robeson, Richmond, Scotland, Vance, Wake and Wilson counties – have already migrated to ESInet.

Under state law, the remainder must develop and fully implement plans to migrate no later than July 1, 2021.

“As more and more 911 centers across the state upgrade their technology to support next-generation 911 services, the Network Monitoring and Assistance Center will play an important role in making sure services run smoothly across the state,” Boyette said.

For example, technicians monitoring ESInet can quickly reroute emergency calls to other 911 centers as they identify increased trends in emergency calls – particularly in cases such as severe weather or major events that draw large volumes of people to a particular area.

During Hurricane Dorian, technicians at the NMAC were prepared to assist in rerouting calls from the coast to counties farther inland, however, it was not necessary.

“The NMAC can immediately troubleshoot network issues and help behind the scenes to provide seamless 911 coverage, so emergency personnel can focus on helping North Carolina residents get the assistance they need as quickly as possible,” Harris said.

ESInet, or the Emergency Services IP Network, makes that possible.

It enables call centers to connect through high-speed internet-based routing services to more quickly and effectively communicate with callers as well as other 911 centers.

The ability to reroute emergency calls is one important capability. Call centers also have the option to let users send photos and videos, in addition to voice calls and text messages.

ESInet is a core function of Next Generation 911 – an upgrade to the current 911 system, which was developed in the 1960s – to ensure residents can access 911 services regardless of their location or how their communicating.

“Although reliable, our current 911 system can no longer accommodate how we communicate today,” Boyette said. “Fewer people are using landline phones, and the popularity of wearables and other digital communication services are on the rise. Our residents expect to be able to communicate these ways. And that’s where NC DIT comes in.”

Town Talk 09/19/19

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VGCC Gearing Up for Medical Assistants Recognition Week Celebration

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Medical Assisting Program is gearing up to celebrate Medical Assistants Recognition Week, October 21 – 25, 2019, as designated by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Medical assistants across the country will be recognized during this special week and honored on Medical Assistants Recognition Day, October 23, 2019.

In celebration of Medical Assistants Recognition Week, the Vance-Granville Community College Medical Assisting Program has planned the following special events and activities:

MED Mini Health Fair to be held at Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin Campus Student Lounge, 8100 NC 56 Hwy, Louisburg, NC on Monday, October 21, 2019, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.

“Medical Assistants are at the heart of healthcare and we support our community,” says Tonia Boyd, Vance-Granville Medical Assisting Class President of the 2020 graduating class.

Medical assisting is an allied health profession whose practitioners function as members of the health care delivery team and perform administrative and clinical procedures. With their unique versatility, medical assistants are proving to be the allied health professional of choice for this decade and beyond. Medical assisting is one of the nation’s careers growing much faster than average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The American Association of Medical Assistants is the only organization devoted exclusively to serving the professional interests and educational needs of all medical assistants. The association provides numerous services that help medical assistants put their careers on a successful and rewarding track and keep them there.

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Vance Co. Properties Committee to Discuss Dennis Building, City Properties

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please note that Vance County’s Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Monday, September 30, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

Topics to be discussed include the Dennis Building and city properties.

News 09/19/19

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Brian Short Named NCAPCO Director of the Year

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Brian Short, the Henderson-Vance Emergency Management Director, has been named Director of the Year for the North Carolina Chapter of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials.

At a Monday evening meeting of the Vance County Firemen’s Association, Short smiled and said, “They caught me by surprise on that one.”

The Firemen’s Association met and Short was there in his capacity as E-911 and Emergency Operations Director. As he recently explained on WIZS TownTalk, mapping of the County and City remains essential so firemen and other emergency personnel can quickly arrive at precise locations.

With the ongoing possibility of fire redistricting in Vance County, new mapping will possibly be required to help lower ISO ratings as the County is looking at switching to 5-road miles districts, as in the distance from the fire station, from the existing 6-road miles districts.
As to the redistricting, WIZS News learned at the Association Meeting that the plan is to tackle this question in more detail after the early October ISO testing is completed. The plan in mid-to-late October is to involve the Volunteer Fire Department Chiefs and start looking at Vance County in four sections, addressing each quadrant until new plans can be proposed.

(Click the image, as it’s embedded courtesy of the NCAPCO on Facebook.)

Town Talk 09/18/19: Harvest Gala, Upcoming Downtown Events

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Dr. Alice Sallins, chairperson of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission’s Promotions Committee was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss the annual Harvest Gala event.

This year’s “fine dining in the street” experience is scheduled for downtown Henderson Saturday, September 21 on West Young Street. Participants will enjoy an eloquent, four-course meal courtesy of Chef Llew Sutton, owner of Uncle Llew’s Restaurant & Pub in downtown.

The Meet and Greet session begins at 6 p.m., with starters to follow at 6:30 p.m.

If weather is not cooperative, the event will be held inside at 130 West Montgomery Street.

Tickets are still available for $75 and may be purchased online by visiting Downtown Henderson’s website (click here), or by calling Sallins at (252) 767-4579.

Menu items for the evening include:

Starter
Salmon Cake Resting on House-Made Cocktail Sauce with Citrus Soli and Cilantro Atop

Chef Llew’s California Salad
Mixed Greens, Red Onions, Cherry Tomatoes, Peppered Bacon, Dried Cranberries, Blue Cheese Crumbles, with House- Made Balsamic Reduction Drizzle

Main Course
Thyme Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions complimented with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes along with Fresh Lemon Peppered Asparagus

Dessert
Creme Brulee in Mini Mason Jars

The gala is the only fundraising event for the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission, a non-profit organization focused on revitalizing Henderson’s historic downtown business district. According to Sallins, donations will be used for events and beautification projects in Henderson’s central business district in an effort to preserve historic integrity.

“The money raised at the Harvest Gala allows us to promote new downtown businesses by offering incentives and facade improvement grants,” explained Sallins. “We were recently able to offer a grant to the American Legion and Sadies Coffee Corner as well as organize a beautification project in the parking area of the former Gupton’s Sporting Goods thanks to those who support the gala.”

To hear Sallin’s interview in its entirety, including information on Downtown Trick-or-Treating and the 2019 Christmas Parade, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

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City of Henderson’s Loose Leaf Season Dates Announced

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson, NC

The City of Henderson’s Loose Leaf Collection Season will begin the week of October 14, 2019, and will end January 17, 2020. During this period of time, it is permitted to place rows or piles of loose leaves or pine straw at the roadside for the City’s Public Works Department to collect. 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 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 this may damage collection equipment.
  • Not be placed on top of your water meter.

Loose leaves and pine straw will generally be picked up on a two or three-week rotation; however, this is dependent on weather conditions and leaf accumulation. You may continue to bag leaves or place them in a container during loose leaf season, however, it is not required.

If leaves or pine straw are placed at the curb in loose form before loose leaf season begins or after loose leaf season ends, a $75 charge will be added to your sanitation bill.

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

Perry Memorial Library Announces Fall 2019 Youth Programs

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-Information courtesy the Perry Memorial Library website

Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St., Henderson, announces their 2019 fall lineup of youth programs. Fall programs run September – November and include:

Totally Tweens – Ages 8 – 12, Mondays @ 5 p.m. Program themes vary by week.

Story Explorers – Ages 5 – 11, Tuesdays @ 5 p.m. Explore books and stories in creative ways.

STEAMworks – Ages 10 – 14, Wednesdays @ 5 p.m. Weekly lessons in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

Books & Babies – Ages Birth – 2, Thursdays @ 10:45 a.m. A lap-sit program focusing on pre-reading skills.

Mother Goose Storytime – Ages 2 – 5, Thursdays @ 11 a.m. Songs, books, music and crafts.

LEGO Fun Club – Ages 5 – 13, Thursdays @ 4 p.m. Free build, drop-in program offered year-round.

December is program planning month for the library; youth programs resume January 2020.

For more information on youth and adult programs, please visit the library’s website by clicking here.

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Vance Co. Human Resources Committee to Meet Sept. 24

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Please be informed that Vance County’s Human Resources Committee (Faines, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

The committee will discuss a vehicle use policy.