Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church Moves 220 Fundraiser to July

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-Information courtesy Dorothy Wimbush, Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church

The Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church fundraiser has been rescheduled for Monday, July 6, 2020, from 4 – 7 p.m. at 220 Seafood Restaurant in Henderson.

Tickets are still the same price of $8 in advance or at the door. Eat-in or take out. Plates include trout, french fries and slaw. Beverage provided for eat-in meals only.

Contact Dorothy Wimbush at (252) 425-7366 for advance tickets. Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of the event.

H-V Emergency Operations

Vance County COVID-19 Cases Rise to 27; Granville Reports 105

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

As of April 16, 2020, the total number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Vance County increased to 27. Presently, 25 individuals are self-isolating at home with two (2) others currently undergoing treatment at Maria Parham Health.

One death has been reported in Vance County as a result of complications associated with Coronavirus infection.

According to Granville Vance Public Health, there are 105 known cases in Granville County, with 74 of these cases being reported at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner. The NC Department of Health and Human Resources reports four (4) virus-related deaths in Granville County.

North Carolina reports a total of 5,465 cases.

It is still very likely that given the progression of this virus elsewhere in the world and in our country, cases will continue to increase over the days and weeks ahead.

At this time, the Henderson-Vance Emergency Operations coordinated response posture remains the same. We strongly encourage our citizens to continue to observe the social distancing parameters and closing orders issued by the governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies.

Treasurer Folwell Announces $2 Billion Received as Part of CARES Act

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-Press Release, NC Department of State Treasurer

State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, and the Financial Operations Division (FOD) of the Department of State Treasurer (DST) announced on Thursday that North Carolina has received more than $2 billion from the federal government as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The CARES Act, as passed by Congress and signed by the President, will provide $150 billion for the Coronavirus Relief Fund including direct payments to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and eligible units of local government based on population as provided in the CARES Act.

Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) along with the Office of the State Controller and staff at DST completed the application on April 14 and the funds were received by the State Bank (DST/FOD) the next day. The money is the first disbursement from the federal government of more than $4 billion slated for North Carolina.

“As keepers of the public purse, we’re responsible for receiving money and putting it in interest-bearing accounts,” said Treasurer Folwell. “We’ll process the withdrawal when directed by the legislative and executive branches.”

The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) will decide how the state’s money will be spent as part of legislation expected near the end of the month. Once an agreement has been reached, OSBM will distribute the funds. In the interim, the Investment Management Division at DST will invest the money in a short-term investment fund (STIF) that is high quality, low risk and interest-bearing. The money will be held until the NCGA and/or OSBM directs where it will be spent.

DST serves the people of North Carolina through a variety of functions related to the financial health of the state and its citizens. Folwell serves as the state’s banker and chief investment officer and is responsible for approximately $200 billion in assets.

The department administers the employee retirement systems for more than 900,000 public workers, along with their 401(k), 457 and 403(b) plans. DST also oversees the State Health Plan, which provides health care coverage to more than 727,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, current and former lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, and their dependents.

Fiscal assistance and expertise are provided by the department to local governmental units by aiding them in the sale of local government debt obligations and in maintaining sound budgeting, accounting, and reporting procedures. The department also administers the NC Cash unclaimed property database.

Town Talk 04/16/20: Tribute to Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., Fire & COVID-19 Fighter

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Debbie Scott, niece of Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., the first person to die in Vance County from complications of COVID-19, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Scott contacted WIZS directly to pay tribute to her uncle, who passed away on Easter morning, Sunday, April 12, 2020, at the age of 72, following a confirmed positive case of the virus.

Fuller was well-known and respected in the community as a former Henderson Fire Department (HFD) lieutenant who retired with over 28 years of service in 2000, said Scott, and served as a “father-figure” to many, herself included.

Long-serving Henderson firefighter Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., passed away on Easter morning, Sunday, April 12, 2020, at the age of 72, due to complications of COVID-19. (Photo courtesy the family of Fuller).

“Most people would know him as Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., but we knew him in the family as Uncle Peewee,” Scott said. “That was his nickname because he only weighed three pounds when he was born.”

Prior to his decades-long service with the HFD, Fuller served as a firefighter for two years in Philadelphia before returning home to Henderson.

According to Scott, Fuller was also a professional photographer who captured joyful moments for his family and community members at weddings and other special occasions.

“He was a good person who went about doing good deeds; his profession was saving lives. He was a father, grandfather and great grandfather, and he was a wonderful uncle,” Scott said. “He was brave; he was the rock of our family and our hero. We looked up to him.”

While Scott would prefer Fuller to be remembered for his service to the community as opposed to his distinction as the first Vance County death due to COVID-19, she also warned listeners of the dangers of the virus.

“This virus is very serious and dangerous. I think we should do everything we can to follow protocol at this time. The way you have to deal with this is painful – you can’t see your loved one, talk to them or even be in the same building with them. No one wants to experience this.”

Scott said the healthcare workers at Maria Parham Health, Fuller’s ICU nurse, in particular, were instrumental in providing comfort during an emotional time for the family.

“We called his nurse for two days, and she was so wonderful. She gave him messages for us. We wanted him to know we loved him; he couldn’t talk. I called her back yesterday to thank her for what she did.”

In a touching surprise to Scott, WIZS reached out to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell and former chief Danny Wilkerson, both who worked with Fuller for years, for comment.

Chief Cordell had this to say about Fuller, “He was a good, Christian man. When I came to work at the fire department in 1992, Lt. Fuller was a fire engineer, and I worked under him for my first six months. Lt. Fuller took me under his wing and taught me the ropes. I will always appreciate the effort he put into me as a young, 20-year-old coming in the door.”

Cordell continued, “I was able to see Lt. Fuller go from fire engineer to fire lieutenant over fire prevention, and he excelled in that position; he made a tremendous impact on young kids. He was able to take the enthusiasm that he brought every day to the job and use that to educate young kids and adults on fire safety.”

Wilkerson said, “He was a great person and a very good firefighter. He was at the fire department a few years before I started in 1975. Being a new firefighter, he gave me a lot of guidance, and I really took that to heart. He is also one of the first African-American firefighters that the Henderson Fire Department had.”

“The one thing Walter did that really stood out to me,” Wilkerson added with a chuckle, “was that he was all for enforcing the City’s fire lane and handicapped parking. I believe he wrote more fire lane and handicap parking violations than any firefighter or police officer at the time.”

Wilkerson’s final thoughts on Fuller echoed Scott’s sentiments expressed during the interview, “The thing that I always respected about Walter is that he put God first, then his family and then his fire department family, and he would tell you that is how your priorities in life should be.”

To hear the interview with Scott in its entirety, including comments from Cordell and Wilkerson, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Salvation Army

Union Bank Helps Salvation Army Fight Pandemic

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-Press Release, The Salvation Army of Henderson

Two gifts totaling $20,000 from Greenville, NC based Union Bank, to The Salvation Army of Henderson (serving Vance, Granville, Franklin, Northampton, Halifax and Warren Counties) will provide much-needed help and hope to Granville and Franklin County families and individuals impacted by COVID-19. The donations are earmarked to provide food and meal assistance to children and families impacted by the pandemic.

“On behalf of our Union Bank family, we are proud to offer a measure of relief during this unprecedented time,” said Rob Jones, CEO of Union Bank.  “One of our core values is to make a difference in our communities. This contribution recognizes the challenges that individuals and families in our markets currently face. I am especially proud to say that this gift includes contributions from Union Bank, members of our Board of Directors and personal contributions from Executive Management.”

Annually, The Salvation Army serves thousands of people in the six-county service area through programs that provide food and meals, shelter, clothing, disaster relief, rent and utilities assistance and Christmas gifts for needy children and seniors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed major financial setbacks for North Carolina residents and The Salvation Army has received an influx of requests for assistance.

“COVID-19 continues to bring challenges for many people,” said Lieutenant Derrick Smith of The Salvation Army of Henderson. “The need for Salvation Army social service programming is essential in our community. This gift from Union Bank will strengthen our feeding programs to help people facing financial difficulties at this time.”

NC Governor Logo

Governor Roy Cooper Shares Path Forward for North Carolina

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper today charted a path forward for eventually easing certain COVID-19 restrictions while still protecting North Carolinians from a dangerous second wave of the virus.

“This virus is going to be with us until there is a vaccine, which may be a year or more away,” said Governor Cooper. “That means that as we ease restrictions, we are going to enter a new normal. We want to get back to work while at the same time preventing a spike that will overwhelm our hospitals with COVID-19 cases.”

Expert modeling has shown it would be dangerous to lift the restrictions all at once because it would increase the chances that hospitals become overwhelmed and unable to care for severely ill patients. Cooper emphasized that changes in restrictions must protect public health, especially those who are most vulnerable to severe illness, including people over age 65, those with underlying health conditions and people living in congregate settings.

“Experts tell us it would be dangerous to lift our restrictions all at once. Rather than an on/off light switch, we are viewing this as a dimmer switch that can be adjusted incrementally,” said Governor Cooper.

In order to ease restrictions, the state needs to make more progress in three areas: testing, tracing and trends.

TESTING

State planning relies on an increase in testing capabilities to identify, isolate and track new cases of COVID-19. This means having the supplies and lab capacity to do more testing across the state. Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has brought together laboratory partners from the public and private sector to coordinate efforts to ensure testing – diagnostic and antibody – is widely available across the state while also conserving protective equipment.

TRACING

Tracing requires the state to boost the public health workforce and the ability to trace contacts of new cases of COVID-19. Contact tracing can be effective at containing new outbreaks, but it requires more personnel. When a person tests positive, the tracing efforts will help identify who that individual may have been in contact with so those people can get tested and take the right precautions. NC DHHS is working with its partners to increase this critical piece of our public health workforce. New digital tools can also help scale this effort.

TRENDS

In order to ease restrictions, the state needs to understand how COVID-19 is impacting the state and impacting specific populations and regions of the state to determine when to strengthen or ease social distancing policies. Trends that will influence policy decisions will be based on data like the new positive cases, hospitalizations, deaths, as well as the available supply of personal protective equipment, hospital capacity.

“Because we acted early and because we acted together, we have averted the devastating scenarios we have seen playing out in other parts of our country and across the globe. We now need to look ahead at how we stay ahead of the curve. Widespread testing, aggressive contact tracing, and data-informed policy decisions are our best tools to keep our communities safe and protect our frontline workers,” said NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD.

Henderson Police Department

Fight Leads To Shooting On North Cooper Drive

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Press Release – Wednesday, April 15, 2020

On April 15, 2020 around 1:45 PM, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to Dollar Tree, 302 N. Cooper Drive Henderson, NC in reference to a fight that was in progress. While in route, officers were advised that someone had been shot. Upon arrival to the scene, officers located the shooter and the victim. The shooter was detained and the firearm was recovered. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Witnesses on scene were interviewed and the ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. There is no active threat to members of the public. If anyone has any additional information related to this incident they are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-492-0202.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow

Dale Folwell

Town Talk 04/15/20: Treasurer Folwell Discusses State Pension Plan, COVID-19 Recovery

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

North Carolina State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Folwell, who has served as NC State Treasurer since 2017, is recovering after being hospitalized for five days with COVID-19. “I am thankful for all the caregivers, God, my family, and the prayers and thoughts that got me through this,” Folwell said.

He also expressed appreciation for the healthcare workers who encouraged him through the recovery process. Folwell said doctors and nurses offered emotional support while he was separated from his family due to the strict no visitor policies currently implemented at many hospitals.

Cleared by doctors and health officials to resume his duties, Folwell reassured listeners that the state pension plan is “one of the most conservatively managed in the country, if not the world.”

“Last time we talked [WIZS Town Talk January 23, 2020], we were reassuring people that we were still in the check delivering business, and that’s still the case,” stated Folwell. “Obviously, we’ve had a lot of market volatility since then, but our state pension plan is in great shape, and we continue to be in the check delivering business.”

As of earlier this week, the state pension plan was down approximately 4.2% for the calendar year, while the S&P 500 was down by almost 14%. For the fiscal year that began June 2019, the state plan is up .6%, while the S&P is down approximately 5%. While down, Folwell said he is encouraged by the fact that the state plan is still currently outperforming the stock market.

To help offset some of the losses, Folwell said the state is “looking at some of our cash balances and taking advantage of some of the opportunities being presented to us. Those who depend on this – those that teach, those that protect and those who otherwise serve – will not have to think about this.”

Calling the current economic downturn a “combination of 9/11 and the Great Recession, all combined into one,” Folwell admitted, “Revenues are down, expenses are up, collections are down, and it’s just not a good circumstance for any business.”

Following today’s interview with WIZS, Folwell addressed the current state of the pension plan, among other treasury-related topics, in a monthly “Ask Me Anything” session open to media representatives.

The monthly calls are an opportunity for reporters to ask Folwell questions about N.C. Department of State Treasurer (DST) initiatives, including the Retirement Systems Division, the State Health Plan, the State and Local Government Finance Division and the Unclaimed Property Division.

Audio of the monthly “Ask Me Anything” calls is available by clicking here.

To hear the interview with Folwell in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Local Response Rates for US Census; Bureau Seeks Additional Days for Final Count

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-Press Release, United States Census Bureau

The 2020 Census is underway and more households across America are responding every day. Over 70 million households have responded to date, representing over 48% of all households in America.

North Carolina’s overall self-response rate is 45.7%.

According to the US Census Bureau’s website, as of April 14, 2020, the following percentage of households in the local area had self-responded:

Franklin County – 44.4%

Granville County – 47.8%

Vance County – 41.5%

Warren County – 35.3%

The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March. Steps are already being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1.

In-person activities, including all interaction with the public, enumeration, office work and processing activities, will incorporate the most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the public. This will include recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing practices.

Once 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau begins a lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.

In order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.

Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021.

H-V Emergency Operations

Vance Co. Reports 23 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, One Virus-Related Death

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

As of now, the total number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Vance County has increased to 23. Presently, all are self-isolating with no one currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

There has been one death reported in Vance County as a result of complications associated with coronavirus infection.

It is still very likely that given the progression of this virus elsewhere in the world and in our own country, our cases will continue to increase over the days and weeks ahead. At this time, the Henderson-Vance Emergency Operations coordinated response posture remains the same, and we are not altering our recommendations to the general public.

We strongly encourage our citizens to continue to observe the social distancing parameters and closing orders issued by the governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies.

Vance County and the City of Henderson continue to operate under a local state of emergency. Being under a local state of emergency allows the implementation of certain emergency protective measures if, or when, they should become necessary.