Noon News 05/20/20
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WIZS, Henderson – Your Community Voice
Noon Local News items for May 20, 2020
- City and County Budgets
- Student Remote Learning Packets
Vance-Granville Community College Holds Virtual ADN Pinning Ceremony
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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
A virtual pinning ceremony was held using Zoom on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 6 p.m., for the Vance-Granville Community College Associate Degree Nursing Class of 2020.
The family and friends of the 43 graduates were sent a link to the Zoom session so that they could watch the pinning ceremony, which opened with welcoming reflections from Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC Vice President of Learning, Student Engagement & Success/Chief Academic Officer; Dr. Anna Seaman, VGCC Associate Degree Nursing Program Head; and Henrry Rebollar-Miguel, class president.
Dr. Seaman noted that 2020 is the ‘Year of the Nurse’ and that no one could have imagined what this year would actually mean for Nursing. She noted that these graduates would soon put on their ‘superhero costumes’ and enter into the workforce.
Jamie Davis, VGCC Nursing instructor, presented cords to students who participated in the VGCC Student Nurses Association, which is a chapter of the National Student Nurses Association.
Maggie King-Harris, VGCC Nursing instructor, recognized those students graduating with honors (a GPA of 3.5 or higher). Those recognized include Reuben Aluoch; Jessica Baker; Susan Carr; Michelle Harris-Evans; and Stephanie Parham. Raine Tucker-Smith was recognized as the graduate with the highest GPA in the class.
Brande McILroy shared the story of the VGCC Nursing Pin and graduates were then ‘handed’ their pin virtually by Dr. Seaman. As each graduate received their pin, they shared where they planned to work; their plans for continuing their education; and their appreciation to family, friends and faculty for their support during their time in school.
After receiving their pins, the graduates recited the Nursing Pledge (written by Beverly Hansen O’Malley, RN) with Vanessa Ramseur, VGCC Nursing Instructor. Ugur Celimli, VGCC Nursing Instructor, presented the class as official graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing Class of 2020.
Even though the ceremony was not able to be held on the VGCC campus, as traditionally done, the graduates remarked that it was still a meaningful and memorable way to mark the end of their nursing school journey at VGCC.
The graduates are:
From Henderson: Bridget Eaton, Cassidy Ivey, Cayla Ranes
From Oxford: Tammie Davis, Taneisha Jordan, Erica Thorpe, Hannah Tuck
From Creedmoor: Eunice Ayaa, Caliegh Katz
From Louisburg: Brittany Sullivan, Shanika Upchurch
From Rolesville: Raine Tucker-Smith
From Zebulon: Joshua Miller
From Raleigh: Aniekan Akpan, Reuben Aluoch, Elizabeth Kenney, Dennis Mutisya, Andrew Zambrano
From Durham: Charles Ngeve, Annah Ongeri, Abigail Rodriguez, Solange Tant, Hser Tha
From Franklinton: Henrry Reboccar-Miguel
From Holly Springs: Irene Solomon
From Apex: Rebekah Speed
From Wake Forest: Jessica Baker, Christopher Ellis, Anne Onsomu
From Macon: Tracey Brown
From Bullock: Brittany Buchanan
From Rougemont: Susan Carr, Branice Chogo, Cherrie Satterfield
From Hollister: Tiara Daniel
From Youngsville: Patrisha Ferrick, Michelle Harris-Evans, Sheniqua Pruden, Wyverta Rawls
From Kittrell: Diedre Joyner, Stephanie Parham, Rachel Spall
From Norlina: Chiatyra Turner
In lieu of the class picture that is normally taken before the ceremony, graduates were asked to submit personal photos to be used in making a class collage that will be posted on the VGCC website.
Pictured from left: Reuben Aluoch; Eunice Ayaa; Jessica Baker; Tracey Brown; Brittany Buchanan; Susan Carr; Branice Chogo; Tiara Daniel; Tammie Davis; Bridget Eaton; Christopher Ellis; Michelle Harris-Evans; Patrisha Ferrick; Cassidy Ivey; Taneisha Jordan; Deidre Joyner; Caliegh Katz; Elizabeth Kenney; Shanika UpChurch-McBride and Henrry Rebollar-Miguel.
Pictured from left: Charles Ngeve; Annah Ongeri; Anne Onsomu; Stephanie Parham; Sheniqua Pruden; Cayla Raynes; Wyverta Rawls; Abigail Rodreguiz; Cherrie Satterfield; Raine Tucker-Smith; Irene Solomon; Rebekah Speed; Solange Tant; Hser Tha; Erica Thorpe; Hannah Tuck; Chiatrya Turner and Andrew Zambrano.
Not Pictured in either collage — Aniekan Akpan, Jr.; Joshua Miller; Dennis Mutisya; Rachel Spall, and Brittany Sullivan.
Vance Co. Proposed FY 2020-21 Budget Includes Cost of Living Adjustment
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In a followup to his discussion on WIZS Town Talk last week, Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen reported that the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Vance County proposed budget does include a three percent cost of living adjustment.
The $49,268,824 proposed budget was presented to the Vance County Board of Commissioners at their May meeting and includes four major recurring items that increase the budget expenditures by more than $100,000 each. These items include a cost of living adjustment for County employees, a state-mandated increase in retirement costs for employees, new departmental positions/overtime increases and increases in jail healthcare to change medical providers.
The cost of living adjustment totals $522,120 and is deemed necessary as the County’s starting and current salaries are falling behind inflation and beginning to fall behind neighboring jurisdictions, according to McMillen. “A cost of living adjustment not only moves employees’ salaries up, but it also moves the entire salary schedule upward adjusting starting salaries by the same percentage. Although human resources recommends we implement a five percent cost of living adjustment for the upcoming year, we were only able to include three percent due to lack of revenue growth,” McMillen explained.
McMillen said it would be advisable to revisit revenues in the early part of 2021 to see if further adjustments can be made to the salary schedule mid-year. The last cost of living adjustment given to County employees was one-and-half percent in January 2017, and, since that time, inflation has increased over six percent.
Additionally, McMillen stated that Granville, Franklin, and Warren counties are currently undertaking a salary plan which will cause Vance County’s salaries to fall even further behind.
A public hearing to receive citizens’ comments on the proposed budget will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1. To adhere to current social distancing guidelines, the public is asked to email comments regarding the budget to Vance County Clerk Kelly Grissom at KGrissom@vancecounty.org prior to the hearing or up to 24 hours after the hearing.
VGCC Nursing Chair Erica Jastrow Earns Doctorate
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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Erica Jastrow, Vance-Granville Community College’s department chair of Nursing, received a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership from Arizona-based Grand Canyon University. Jastrow is a resident of Oxford.
Erica Jastrow, VGCC’s department chair of Nursing, received a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership from Arizona-based Grand Canyon University. (Photo courtesy VGCC)
“We congratulate Dr. Jastrow on this milestone in her life, and we applaud Erica’s commitment to professional development,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “Erica’s education will allow her to continue to grow as a leader in higher education and provide services that help our students.”
Jastrow has taught at VGCC since 2004 and became head of the Nursing department in 2011. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Lenoir-Rhyne University and later completed a master’s degree in Nursing Education at UNC-Greensboro. As a longtime Registered Nurse, Jastrow has experience in Intensive Care Units and Nursing Supervision in local and teaching hospitals.
In 2013, Jastrow became a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) through the National League for Nursing (NLN). She was one of the first three VGCC Nursing faculty to become certified through this program.
In 2014, she completed the Department Chairs Institute offered by the N.C. Community College System, in collaboration with N.C. State University. Jastrow is a past recipient of the VGCC President’s Leadership Award.
Measures Expanded to Prevent, Respond to COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities
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-Press Release, NCDHHS
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is taking further action to prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities. All long-term care facilities in the state will receive personal protective equipment (PPE) packs of needed supplies, and facilities will receive a limited increased rate for some Medicaid services to support infection prevention and management.
“We have a team dedicated to supporting our long-term care facilities as they protect our aging family members and loved ones who require round-the-clock care and the staff who care for them,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “We want to help them do all that they can because once an outbreak occurs in a congregate living setting, it can be difficult to prevent the spread of the virus.”
PPE packs will go to more than 3,000 state-licensed long-term care facilities and include a fourteen-day supply of face shields, procedure masks, gloves and shoe covers. Adult care homes, family care homes, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health facilities will receive supplies. NCDHHS is partnering with North Carolina Emergency Management and the National Guard to deliver the packs at local distribution centers.
In addition to the PPE distribution, NCDHHS is providing a time-limited Medicaid rate increase for nursing facility services such as skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. The increase is intended to support strengthening infection prevention and management capacities with technical support from NCDHHS. The increase will also apply to personal care assistance and home health services to help providers who support people being able to stay at home where there is less risk of exposure.
NCDHHS also released updated testing guidance to clinicians that recommends testing people who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings such as long-term care facilities.
These actions build on earlier measures North Carolina has taken to protect residents and staff in long-term facilities. Previous actions include:
- Issuing Executive Order 130, which codified public health and safety requirements for nursing homes, including requiring staff to wear surgical masks, screenings for all staff and residents for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 daily and closing communal areas.
- Conducting remote infection prevention and control consultation with skilled nursing and other long-term facilities across the state through a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology.
- Providing targeted funding to support nursing homes and adult care homes to provide the more intensive care needed for residents with COVID-19 and limit the spread of the virus to other residents and staff.
- Providing a toolkit to support long-term care facilities in preparing for and responding to COVID-19 outbreaks in their facility. The toolkit contains an infection control assessment, infection staffing worksheet, infection prevention educational resources and other tools.
- Helping to fill staffing shortages in long-term care facilities and other health care facilities through a partnership with East Carolina University School of Nursing to match Registered Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants with facilities, particularly long-term care facilities, that are seeking to urgently hire staff for temporary, part-time or full-time roles. Interested health care employees can register at nc.readyop.com/fs/4cjq/697b.
- Implementing several temporary regulatory changes to assist providers in caring for their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, including adopting an emergency rule granting reciprocity to nurse aides certified in other states to work as nurse aides in North Carolina, and allowing facilities to exceed the number of licensed beds if needed to provide temporary shelter and services to adequately care for residents with COVID-19.
- Providing virtual training for more than 2,000 staff working in long-term care sites. Trainings are available online at www.ncahec.net/covid-19/webinars.
For NCDHHS and CDC guidance for long-term care facilities, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#long-term-care-facilities. A list of congregate care settings with outbreaks is available on the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard.
Free Lunch for Area Youth at Spring Street Missionary Baptist This Sat.
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Information courtesy Katrina Tunstall, Vance County Chapter of FSU National Alumni Association
The Vance County Chapter of the Fayetteville State University National Alumni Association will provide a free lunch to area youth on Saturday, May 23, 2020.
Lunch will be provided from 12 – 1:30 p.m. at Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church located at 511 Orange Street in Henderson.
Vance Co. Schools: Final Remote Learning Packet, Meal Distribution, Laptop Requests
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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools
The final remote learning packet for all of Vance County elementary school students and Vance County Middle School students will be available for pick up on Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20 from 9 a.m – 11 a.m., as well as from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Stop by your child’s school during those times so that VCS students can finish strong in this home stretch.
Vance County Schools will continue distributing free meals Monday – Thursday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. through June 9, 2020. Meal distribution will not be available on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
Meals are available in a drive-thru format at Aycock Elementary, Clarke Elementary, EM Rollins Elementary, EO Young Elementary, New Hope Elementary, Zeb Vance Elementary, Vance County Middle and Vance County High.
If your child needs a laptop, computers are available by appointment only at the District Office. Please go to the district website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us, scroll down and complete the request for a laptop.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school.
Local WIZS Noon News Audio 05/18/20
WIZS – YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE
Local News at 8a, 12 Noon and 5p; M-F
Noon Local News for May 18, 2020
- VGCC to E-books
- Free Youth Meals on May 23
- VCS Continues Food Distribution until June 9
- Covid-19 Updated Figures in Vance-Granville
NCDHHS Updates Guidance on Who Should be Tested for COVID-19
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-Press Release, NCDHHS
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued updated guidance on who should be tested for COVID-19. The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.
The new guidance recommends clinicians ensure the following populations have access to testing, regardless of symptoms:
- Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
- Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
- Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
- Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
- Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
- Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
- Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain
“We want anyone who needs a test to get one. This is particularly important for those at high-risk for severe illness, those at greatest risk for exposure and those who are being disproportionately impacted by this virus,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.
Testing, along with contact tracing and supplies of personal protective equipment, is part of the state’s strategy to slowly ease restrictions, while protecting North Carolinians from COVID-19. The state is looking at a composite of metrics to guide its path forward, including the number of cases, the percent of tests that are positive, the number of hospitalizations and the number of emergency department visits for COVID-like illness. Last week, Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Cohen shared these metrics remain stable for the first week of Phase 1.
The new guidance updates testing criteria for the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Those include hospitalized patients, health care workers or first responders, persons who live in or have regular contact with a high-risk setting, persons who are at higher risk of severe illness and for whom a clinician has determined that results would inform clinical management, and uninsured patients.
Staying home is still the best way to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect North Carolinians. When going out, remember the 3 Ws. Wear a face covering. Wait at least six feet apart. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
For information on the North Carolina COVID-19 response across state government, visit nc.gov/covid19.
Vance Co. Early College HS to Recognize Graduates Thurs., May 21
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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools
Vance County Early College High School’s graduation event is set for Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 6 p.m. at Vance-Granville Community College. Vance County Schools released the following information for those participating in the drive-thru style event:
Program of Events
Arrival: At 5:15 p.m., and not before, enter from Poplar Creek Road to the Main Entrance of Vance-Granville Community College. Proceed down the main road to the parking lot of building 7. No open-air vehicles or passengers in truck beds are permitted.
Station 1: Graduate Check–in
One vehicle per graduate will stop at the check-in station. A paper with the graduate‘s name will be placed under the windshield wiper.
Station 2: Line-up
Follow directives of staff for vehicle line up. Pay careful attention to the line to keep it moving smoothly.
Station 3: Processional
When the graduate nears the graduation point, a runner will take the windshield wiper sign to the name reader.
Graduate Preparation Zone
Pay attention to signs for directions.
Station 4: Graduation
Wait for the sign to show the graduate may exit the vehicle. The student will walk to the graduation point. The student‘s name will be called as they walk to receive a diploma cover and photo opportunity. The student will return to the vehicle immediately. The vehicle will then join the recessional line.
Station 5: Recessional
Watch for signs and move to the graduate pick up spot. All vehicles must make a right onto Poplar Creek Rd upon exiting graduation.
Guidelines
- No restroom facilities will be available.
- Cap & gowns with VCECHS stole are required to participate in graduation.
- The graduate should be positioned in the vehicle to be the only person that needs to step out of the car upon arrival at the graduation point.
- Graduation signs can be picked up after all graduation ceremonies have concluded.
Note from Vance County Schools: We are excited about graduation! It is our hope that seniors will celebrate by decorating their cap or even their vehicle. As a reminder, no open-air vehicles are permitted (convertibles, bikes, open-top jeeps, etc) and no one will be permitted to ride in the back of a pickup truck. Only one vehicle is permitted per graduate.
As you proceed through the graduation line-up, you will see signs giving instructions. We ask that you pay close attention to ensure a smooth process. Everyone must remain in their vehicle throughout. The graduate will be informed when they are able
to exit the vehicle. We also ask that you avoid loud music and horn honking.
We cannot wait to celebrate the Class of 2020!
