Vance County Logo

Technology Committee Discusses Public Wi-Fi in Downtown Henderson, Kittrell

/by

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

BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE BANNER BELOW TO SIGN UP FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE 8×12 STORAGE BUILDING FROM BUILDER’S DISCOUNT CENTER!

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen provided WIZS with the following summary of the Vance County Technology Committee’s meeting held Wednesday, September 11, 2019:

Public Wi-Fi: The committee (Brummitt [C], Taylor & Feimster) met with Rob Cranwell from Open Broadband, LLC on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, to discuss and determine final locations for proceeding with public Wi-Fi. The areas discussed included an existing water tank in Kittrell, the shopping and retail area near I-85 and Dabney Drive and the downtown Henderson area.

Open Broadband recommended moving away from the shopping and retail area as the necessary infrastructure was not in place making it cost-prohibitive to serve the area. The committee then focused their discussion on the downtown area and determined a service area between Rose Avenue to Orange Street to include Breckenridge Street and Chestnut Street around the library and McGregor Hall.

The committee desires to partner with the city for providing coverage in the downtown area and asked staff to discuss joint participation with the city. The committee asked Open Broadband to prepare final coverage maps and costs based on committee feedback.

Following the meeting, Open Broadband presented a cost of $600/month for Kittrell and $2,000/month for the downtown area with a one-time install fee of $4,000 for downtown. The Kittrell area would be served with a connection of up to 200 Megabits per second with the downtown area served by a gigabit capacity service.

The committee intends to review a contract at their next meeting.

VGCC to Hold 8th Annual Small Business Summit

/by

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

-Information courtesy Sheri Jones, Director, VGCC Small Business Center

Vance-Granville Community College’s upcoming 8th Annual Small Business Summit entitled “It’s All About the Path You Choose – Using the Right Strategy to Make the Best Moves.” will be held on Tuesday, October 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., with registration starting at 5:30 p.m., at the Warren County Armory & Convention Center.

Cost is $1o and includes dinner; attendance limited to the first 300 that register.

The registration deadline is Thursday, October 24. To register, visit https://warrencountync.tix.com.

Maurice Ashley, the first African – American International Grandmaster in Chess, will serve as the speaker. He is a commentator for the biggest chess events in the world including the World Chess Championships, the US Chess Championships, the Grand Chess Tour and the legendary Man vs. Machine matches between Garry Kasparov and IBM’s Deep Blue.

He is also the co-organizer of the Millionaire Chess Open, the highest stakes Open chess tournament in history and was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in 2016. His motivational speeches look at the character-building effects of chess and how the strategies used in the game translate into strategies for life.

The presenting sponsor for this year’s event is NC IDEA, a private foundation with a mission to maximize the economic potential of the people of North Carolina by supporting the formation and fruition of high-growth entrepreneurial endeavors in the state.

NC IDEA President and CEO Thom Ruhe will give a brief presentation on Ice House Entrepreneurship – an experiential, problem-based program designed to empower learners by exposing them to entrepreneurial thinking while immersing them in entrepreneurial experiences that will enable them to develop creativity and critical thinking, effective problem solving, teamwork, and other entrepreneurial skills – skills that will enable them to succeed regardless of their chosen path.

The event is brought to the area by the VGCC Small Business Center, the Warren County Economic Development Commission, Chamber of Commerce of Warren County and the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center.

First Methodist Church

‘Fabulous’ Fall Bazaar, Country Breakfast to be Held at First United Methodist

/by

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

-Information courtesy Mary Helen Jones,  First United Methodist Church

United Methodist Women will host a Fabulous Fall Bazaar, Country Breakfast and Tag Sale at First United Methodist Church in Henderson on Saturday, November 2, 2019. Breakfast will be served from 7 – 10:30 a.m.; Bazaar and Tag Sale will be held from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Activities will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the church, located at the corner of Garnett and Church Streets in downtown Henderson.

The full country breakfast includes country ham, eggs, grits, biscuits, coffee and juice. Tickets are on sale now for $7 and will also be available at the door.

Tag sale items include vintage/antique furniture and accessories – brass, china, glassware, flags, art, many Christmas decorating items and gifts.

The bazaar features home-cooked foods – pickled products, chow-chow, jam, cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, frozen entrees and vegetables, breads and crafts.

The silent auction will offer two long beach weekends. One will be a two-bedroom condo (sleeps six) at Horizons at 77th, Myrtle Beach, June 22-26, 2020. A second long weekend at Kure Beach will be available with flexible dates available from the owner.

Come to enjoy the food and fellowship and to kick off a fun holiday season!

News 10/17/19

/by

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

 

Town Talk 10/16/19: Aarika Sandlin, VCS’ New Public Information Officer, On-Air

/by

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

Aarika Sandlin, public information officer (PIO) for Vance County Schools, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss both her new role and the future of the local public school system.

Sandlin, who received her undergraduate degree from Mars Hill University and graduate degree from East Tennessee State University, believes her studies in journalism, corporate communications, public relations and education, along with her 16 years of work experience in education, will serve her well in her new position.

Pictured: Aarika Sandlin, public information officer (PIO) for Vance County Schools.

Of her time in the education field, Sandlin spent 11 years as a classroom teacher and five years as a high school test coordinator.

Taking the reins from long-serving VCS PIO Terri Hedrick, who retired in July with 21-years in the school system, Sandlin said one of her first tasks is to determine what has been working and what may need to be tweaked moving forward.

“We are looking at ways things have been, deciding what went well and then looking at things that we need to take down a different path,” said Sandlin.

One area of focus, according to Sandlin, includes getting more parents on-board with social media channels as a means of conveying information in a fast, effective manner.

In addition to Vance County Schools’ website and social media outlets, Sandlin explained that each school now has its own social media account that is managed by the principal or the principal’s designee.

It is beneficial for parents to follow both their child’s individual school account and Vance County Schools’ accounts to ensure updated information, said Sandlin.

Sandlin’s primary job is to “make sure the community, the parents, the staff and the teachers are aware of what’s going on in Vance County Schools, sharing the positive things and showcasing our students for the great things they are doing.”

To accomplish this, Sandlin must be on-the-go frequently. “I’m in my office very little,” she said with a laugh. “I’m in the schools. I’m meeting with community members and organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce to share what’s going on and to get them to partner with us.”

To hear the interview with Sandlin 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.

Reminder: Stew Sale in Memory of Tripp Watkins Set for Fri., Oct. 18

/by

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

-Information courtesy Morgan Watkins

 

BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE BANNER BELOW TO SIGN UP FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE 8×12 STORAGE BUILDING FROM BUILDER’S DISCOUNT CENTER!

A Brunswick Stew Sale will be held at Rose Oil Company in Henderson on Friday, October 18, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in memory of Tripp Watkins.

Stew is available for $8 per quart; proceeds will help fund the George Rose Watkins III Foundation.

The foundation was founded after Watkins, the son of Chip and Gayle Watkins, passed away after a long battle with addiction.

The George Rose Watkins III Foundation exists to bring awareness and aid to those suffering from mental illness in the form of addiction and their families who are suffering and striving to find help and solutions.

“The foundation was started to continue Tripp’s legacy after he passed away two years ago. This is our way of helping families get through addiction and bring awareness to those around us,” said Morgan Watkins. “This foundation is close to our hearts and we are looking forward to lending a helping hand to those going through this terrible struggle in life.”

Rose Oil Company is located at 613 US 158 Bypass in Henderson. Please call (252) 438-7141 for tickets.

Great Southeast Shakeout: World’s Largest Earthquake Drill Set for Tomorrow!

/by

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

-Press Release, NC Department of Public Safety

At 10:17 a.m. tomorrow, more than 2.3 million people will participate in the Great Southeast Shakeout, the world’s largest earthquake drill, including more than 350,000 school children in grades K-12.

Any individual, family, organization, school, agency, or business can register for the event. However, if you or your group haven’t registered you can still practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On, the recommended actions for people to take during an earthquake.

DROP – Get down on the floor when shaking starts before the quake drops you.

COVER – Take cover under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture. If you cannot find something to get under, crouch against an inside wall. Keep your head and neck safe by using your arms. Stay away from windows, hanging objects, mirrors or anything that might fall.

HOLD ON – Hold on to a desk, table or piece of furniture. Be ready to move with it during the quake

These simple steps allow you to get down before you’re thrown to the ground, provide protection from falling or flying items, and increase your chances of surviving a building collapse. If you are trapped, stay calm and tap on hard or metal parts of the structure to try and attract attention.

By identifying places you can shelter safely in your home or workplace and by practicing going to those places, you increase the likelihood of surviving an earthquake.

Visit https://www.shakeout.org/southeast/register/ where you can register, find fact sheets, drill manuals, drill broadcast recordings, flyers, videos and other materials that make it easy for your group to participate in the drill and be prepared.

North Carolina has its share of earthquakes, but large, damaging quakes are infrequent in our state, where severe weather and hurricanes are more common threats. Earthquake risk is highest in Western North Carolina, where small quakes occur regularly but are usually too mild to be detected without special instruments.

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Commissioners, Board of Education to Hold Joint Meeting

/by

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

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

Please be informed that a joint meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, October 21, 2019, at 12 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Perry Memorial Library’s Farm Bureau Room located at 205 Breckenridge Street in Henderson.

Agenda items include updates on NC’s Leandro Case, the consolidation process of Vance County Middle and High School, facility transfer agreements and broadband.

VGCC Nursing Students, Faculty Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

/by

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

-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the students and faculty of Vance-Granville Community College’s Nursing Programs wore pink to show support for breast cancer awareness.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please visit Wear It Pink (https://www.wearitpink.org/about/breast-cancer-awareness-month) or the National Breast Cancer Foundation website (https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month) to learn more about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

On Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the students and faculty of the VGCC Nursing Programs wore pink to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (VGCC photo)

 

News 10/16/19

/by

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