Duke Energy

Duke Energy Reports First Storm Outages, Provides Important Reminders

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Please check the WIZS website, Facebook page and listen live to WIZS 1450 AM and 100.1 FM for storm updates. The latest briefing from the National Weather Service can be found any time by clicking here.

-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

We are beginning to see the first storm-related outages this afternoon as Hurricane Dorian storm bands reach our state. And while we aren’t expecting hurricane force winds locally, we do anticipate severe weather conditions which will lead to outages.

Across the state, we are still projecting as many as 700,000 customers or more could experience extended outages from this storm.

How to see outages in your area

See the outage map at www.duke-energy.com/outages.

You can view outages in a few ways. On all devices, you can use the search bar to find a specific address or location.

When looking at the map, you will see circle icons of varying sizes indicating the location and number of customers without power. One outage on the map could represent multiple homes and businesses. Pan the map and select a circle to zoom in on your location.

Or you can select the zoom (+/-) in the lower right corner of the map, and then use the mouse to drag left, right, up or down to navigate to the location you want to view. Or, you can select the zoom (+/-) in the lower right corner of the map, and then use the mouse to drag left, right, up or down to navigate to the location you want to view.

On a mobile device, use the pinch open gesture to zoom in and the pinch close gesture to zoom out, and then use the drag gesture to move the outage map to the desired location.

Email and text communication

We have been sharing prepare messages and updates with customers who have email addresses registered with us. In addition, a text message was sent today to customers who do not have an email on file with us:

“Duke Energy Storm: Dorian is bringing high winds & excessive rainfall to parts of our state. Prepare for dangerous conditions & extended outages. Our crews are nearby and ready to move as soon as conditions allow.  Visit https://duk.us/06 for latest info. Heed all warnings and stay safe. Text STOP to cancel.”

 Outage reporting  

Customers who experience an outage during the storm can report it by:

Visiting duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.

Texting OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).

Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800.419.6356.

For storm or power restoration updates, follow Duke Energy on Twitter (@DukeEnergy) and Facebook (Duke Energy). See the outage map at www.duke-energy.com/outages.

Important reminders

The following tips can help you and your family stay safe if the power goes out:

  • Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines.
  • Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of the storm to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.
  • Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended power outage occurs or evacuation is required.
  • Pet owners should make arrangements to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends’ or family members’ homes; or pet-friendly hotels.
  • Report all power line hazards using the following phone numbers:
  • Duke Energy Carolinas customers – 800.769.3766
  • Duke Energy Progress customers – 800.419.6356
  • Please do not use 911 to report a downed power line unless it is a life-threatening emergency. If a power line falls across a car that you’re in, stay in the car and dial 911. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.Click here for a video demonstration and to read more about safety around power lines.
Henderson Police Department

HPD: Suspect Caught on Video Breaking Into ACTS Located, Arrested

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Henderson Police Department

On September 3, 2019, at 11:46 a.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to ACTS, 305 South Chestnut Street, in reference to a breaking and entering to the business. Forced entry was made into the business and several items were taken. With the assistance from employees on scene and video footage, the suspect was identified.

On September 4, 2019, at 8 p.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department reported to 825 Nicholas Street locating Quincey Fuller. Mr. Fuller was taken into custody and most of the items taken previously were recovered.

Mr. Fuller was charged with B&E, larceny after B&E, possession of stolen property and injury to real property. Mr. Fuller received a $40,000 secured bond and was secured at the Vance County Jail.

As always, information can be given by contacting the Henderson Police Department directly at 252-438-4141, through contacting Crime Stoppers 252-492-1925 or through the P3 mobile app.

Vance Co. Schools Surpass State Graduation Rate for First Time

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

The performance of the Vance County Public Schools ticked up last year in several areas and revealed areas needing continued focus on the state’s annual School Performance Grade accountability measurements. This year more schools met or exceeded expectations for student gains and more schools earned grades of C or better than in previous years. VCS also posted the highest graduation rate in the history of the district.

At the end of our first year with our newly consolidated schools, while improvements were made at both schools, these data reveal mixed reviews. Vance County High School, while improving its biology scores by 26 points from 23% in 2018 to 49.4% in 2019, earned a school performance grade of D, missing improving their overall grade to a C, by less than one percentage point.

Additionally, Vance County Middle School, while making tremendous progress including increases in grade level proficiency by 6.2 points in reading from 30% in 2018 to 36.2% in 2019; 12 points in math, from 13.9% in 2018 to 26.4% in 2019 and 20.5 points in science from 34% in 2018 to 54.7% in 2019, earned a school performance grade of F. This was extremely disappointing, as they missed earning the next letter grade of D, by less than .04 of a percent.

The district also had several other bright spots in the report – 9 of 15 schools (60%) earned a letter grade of C or better.

Two schools – STEM Early High Middle School and Vance County Early College High School – earned the School Performance Grade of A.

Seven schools – Aycock, Carver, Clarke, Dabney, LB Yancey, Pinkston, and Zeb Vance – earned the School Performance Grade of C.

Four schools – EM Rollins, EO Young, New Hope and VCHS – earned the School Performance Grade of D and one school – VCMS earned the School Performance Grade of F.

8 of 15 schools (54%) met or exceeded growth – VCECHS, STEM-EH, Aycock, Carver, Dabney, EO Young, New Hope, and Pinkston Street.

Additionally, we are extremely proud of our STEM Early High Middle School and Vance County Early College students who posted perfect scores of 100% on the 8th grade science end-of-grade test and the Biology end-of-course exam.

We are also pleased to report that our 2018-2019 graduation rate is 86.7%, compared to the states graduation rate of 86.4.  This represents an increase of four-points over last year’s four-year graduation rate and a 21.8 point increase in six years.  This is the highest graduation rate in the district’s history and the first time VCS has ever surpassed the state average.

Superintendent, Dr. Anthony Jackson said, “This is a tremendous accomplishment and credit must be given to our entire team. We have worked diligently to implement strategies over the last few years to address the graduation rate and we are pleased to see a return on these efforts.”

Six years ago, Vance County Schools’ posted a graduation rate of 64.9% – the lowest in the state. “The graduation rate this year is a huge jump and we certainly are proud of that,” said Jackson. “The high school diploma gives our students options after graduation to pursue higher education, enlist in the military or to join the workforce prepared to be successful. We will not be satisfied until all of our students graduate on time, the stakes are too high to accept otherwise.”

The district is already working to address areas of deficit, train staff and implement new structures to support students. The district invites the community to its annual State of OUR Schools address on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, at 6 p.m. at Vance County High School to hear both our challenges and accomplishments as well as our plans for continuous improvement.

Town Talk 09/05/19: H-V Crime Stoppers to Hold 24th Annual Banquet

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The 24th Annual Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.

James Baines, Crime Stoppers president, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to encourage the public and business community to support the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Individual tickets for $12 and reservation of tables are available by contacting Lorraine Watkins at Henderson’s Screen Master on S. Garnett St., John Faucette at Carolina Carpet & Flooring on Parham Street or by calling Baines at (252) 430-9218.

Speaker for the occasion will be Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, with dinner provided by Ted Wheeler Catering.

The Tom Long Memorial Award, Sam Pearson Memorial Award, Community Award and Citizen of the Year Award, among others, will be issued to deserving community members and are always a big draw for the banquet.

“I’m hoping the community will come out and support Crime Stoppers because we support our community and our law enforcement,” Baines said.

To hear Baines’ interview in its entirety, 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.

Vance County Logo

Adopt-A-Highway Volunteers Needed to Tackle Local Litter Problem

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-Press Release, Vance County Appearance Commission

The Vance County Appearance Commission is seeking help from citizens in our community to join together to improve the appearance of Henderson and Vance County.

We can all help with this endeavor by doing some small and easy things like throwing trash in proper receptacles, recycling appropriate items and doing what we can to keep the property around our homes and businesses as clean and orderly as possible.

Through the years, we have found that citizens joining the N.C. Adopt-A-Highway Program have made a real difference in improving the appearance of our community with their efforts. Groups who join the Adopt-A-Highway Program simply commit to cleaning up a two-mile stretch of a roadside in our county at least four times each year and report their clean-up efforts to the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Officials with NCDOT will post signs at each end of the adopted section of roadside with the Adopt-A-Highway group’s name on the signs to show their participation in the program. The local Adopt-A-Highway coordinator will work with each group to record their efforts and ensure they have the proper materials, including safety vests, gloves and bags for trash and recyclables, for cleanups.

Individuals and groups joining the Adopt-A-Highway must sign a contract with NCDOT agreeing to remove litter from their adopted roadside a minimum of four times each year. Contracts initially are for four years and can be renewed at the end of the four-year period and if the required number of cleanups have been completed. Volunteers in the Adopt-A-Highway Program also receive safety training.

To become involved in the N.C. Adopt-A-Highway Program, interested persons may visit the N.C. Department of Transportation website at https://apps.ncdot.gov/LM/ or call 1-800-331-5864 for information on the program and how to contact the local program coordinator.

We have about 60 Adopt-A-Highway groups now in Vance County, but we hope local citizens will get involved to create more participating groups to help deal with the roadside litter problems we have in our county. Such efforts would greatly enhance our work to improve the appearance of Vance County.

Our County Appearance Commission also continues to work with county officials to increase recycling efforts in households and businesses, clean up abandoned and unkept properties and encourage the Sheriff’s Department to hire a full-time litter control officer.

To deal with our littering, illegal dumping and abandoned properties issues in an effective manner, it will take all of us working together.

News 09/05/19

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Henderson Police Department

HPD: Two Arrested, Two Wanted in Rockspring Street Murder

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-Press Release, Henderson Police Department

In the early morning hours of August 14, 2019, Quintin Rogers, 27, of Durham, NC, succumbed to gunshot wounds that he received while in the area of the 600 block of W. Rockspring Street in Henderson.

The investigation of this matter has led to the arrest of Erica Champion, 25, of Vance County, for First Degree Murder and Antavis Jones, 30, of Henderson, for Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Conspiracy to Sell/Deliver Schedule I Narcotics. Both are in the Vance County Jail.

The Henderson Police Department has also obtained warrants for First Degree Murder on Morey Bernal Champion, 30, and Tradarius Delmont Jones, 29.

If you have information on their whereabouts or more information about this case, please contact the Henderson Police Department at (252) 438-4141, Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925, or through the use of the P3 mobile app.

National Weather Service

Local Dorian Effects to Begin Late Thursday, Significant Impact Not Expected

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Information courtesy Brian K. Short, director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations

Please check the WIZS website, Facebook page and listen live to WIZS 1450 AM and 100.1 FM for storm updates. The latest briefing from the National Weather Service can be found any time by clicking here.

Hurricane Dorian is now expected to maintain its category 2 status as it approaches our coast. Additionally, the Tropical Storm Warnings have been extended inland to now include Franklin and Wake County.

If the current track and timing of the storm hold true, we should begin to feel the effects of the storm late Thursday afternoon and evening. At the height of the storm we can expect periods of heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 35 mph that could cause isolated downed trees, blocked roadways and power outages, but overall our impact is not expected to be severe.

Vance County and the City of Henderson remain under a local State of Emergency and will continue to be as long as needed.

At this time, we do not plan to implement any additional emergency protective measures and do not feel that our impact will be significant enough to open any emergency shelters.

The 911 center will be overstaffed throughout the event just in case there is a surge of emergency calls.

Please like and follow us on Facebook – Vance County Emergency Operations – to stay informed on current preparedness efforts and other storm related information.

‘Cops on Top’ Event at Chick-fil-A POSTPONED Due to Weather

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Due to the threat of inclement weather from Hurricane Dorian, the “Cops on Top” Fundraiser originally scheduled for September 5 has been postponed and will now be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Chick-fil-A of Henderson.

Officers and deputies from the Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting donations at the restaurant’s drive-through and side entrances. Money raised will cover the expenses Vance County athletes incur while participating in the Special Olympics.

A bouncy house and face painting will be provided by BoHo the Clown with Character Antics. Guest appearances by kid-friendly characters are also scheduled.

Please mark your calendars for this rescheduled event!

Clearview Church to Offer Free Outdoor Screening of ‘Do You Believe?’

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-Information courtesy Clearview Church

Join Clearview Church, 3485 Hwy 158 Business in Henderson, on Friday, September 6, 2019, for a Movie Under the Stars evening!

Grab your lawn chair and a bag of popcorn and get ready to settle in for a family-friendly screening of “Do You Believe?” from the makers of “God’s Not Dead,” and “Unplanned.”

Admission and refreshments are free. Movie starts at 7 p.m.

Enjoy a great movie under God’s beautiful stars at Clearview Church.