Reminder: Vance Co. Sheriff Candidates’ Forum is This Sun., Oct. 14

WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM, The Daily Dispatch and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce will host a public forum for Sheriff of Vance County candidates on Sunday, October 14, 2018.

The forum will take place at the old courthouse on Young Street in the County Commissioners Meeting Room, and it will begin at 3 p.m. and last for approximately two hours.

WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM will broadcast the forum in its entirety on a slight delay to accommodate the completion of the Carolina Panthers at Washington Redskins football game. The first half of the forum will begin airing via “tape” delay at 4 p.m. and it will simply continue on uninterrupted on the air.

The goal is to help citizens discern the differences among the candidates prior to the start of early voting in Vance County.

The Vance County Board of Elections web page says, “One-Stop Early Voting starts: Wednesday, October 17, 2018, and ends on Saturday, November 3, 2018. Locations and time will be announced as soon as the one-stop plan is approved.”

Mailed absentee ballots are already underway and continue until October 30, 2018, at 5 p.m.

Election day is Tuesday, November 6, 2018. All polling sites will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. WIZS will provide live election results starting at 7:30 p.m. when the polls close.

Voter registration is available online by clicking here.  Once you have filled the form out, send it to the Vance County Board of Elections Office at 300 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC. 27536 – if you are a resident of Vance County.

The public is strongly encouraged to attend the forum.

Each candidate will have an opportunity to make an opening statement followed by a question and answer session from representatives of The Chamber, The Dispatch and WIZS. Each candidate will also be given the opportunity to make a two-minute closing statement.

The public will be given an opportunity to suggest the questions that will be asked at the forum. Those questions should be submitted to john@hendersonvance.org. Prior to the forum, a panel represented by the media and the Chamber’s governmental affairs committee will select the order of questions.

The public will also be given the chance to submit questions to the panel on the day of the forum.  For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or sandra@hendersonvance.org.

Henderson Fire Dept

‘Look, Listen & Learn’ Fire Prevention Day Canceled

-Information courtesy Sandra Wilkerson, Director of Admin and Events, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Day that was scheduled for Saturday, October 13 has been canceled.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, Duke Energy, 911 Operators and all first responders for all they did last night and continue to do today due to the storm.  Our local media, WIZS, 98.3 and The Daily Dispatch are all working to keep everyone informed of closing and delays.  Be safe everyone!

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Fire Commission to Discuss Restructuring – Wed., Oct. 17

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

Please be informed that the Vance County Fire Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday, October 17 at 4 p.m. in the administrative conference room.  The commission will discuss a proposal to restructure fire services in Vance County.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Update: 27K+ Without Power Locally, Restoration Could Take Days

-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

After an intense evening of wind and rain, Duke Energy has restored power to 180,000 customers in the Carolinas in the wake of Tropical Storm Michael. This morning, over 430,000 customers remain without power in the Carolinas. You can always check our outage map<https://www.duke-energy.com/outages/current-outages> for county-specific information, but currently, here are the outage numbers in the local district:

  • Caswell – 5,849
  • Edgecombe – 190
  • Franklin – 5,749
  • Granville – 8,832
  • Halifax – 425
  • Nash – 5,080
  • Person – 5,485
  • Vance – 9,351
  • Warren – 3,459
  • Wilson – 26

We will provide estimated power restoration times once field crews complete damage assessments, which could take up to 24 hours. Some outages could take several days to repair.

6,000 workers – including power line technicians, damage assessors and tree specialists – are responding to the storm’s impact in the Carolinas. Additional repair crews from Florida and the Midwest are traveling to the Carolinas to assist.

For the latest storm or power restoration updates, visit https://www.dukeenergyupdates.com/michael/carolinas – or follow Duke Energy on Twitter (@DukeEnergy) and Facebook (Duke Energy).

Powerline safety:

  • Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging.
  • Consider all power lines – as well as trees, limbs and anything else in contact with power lines – energized and dangerous.
  • If a power line falls across a car that you’re in, stay in the car. 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<https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/what-happens-when-something-touches-a-power-line> for a video about power line safety. You are welcome to share this on your social media channels.

Outage reporting:

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

  •  Visiting www.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
  • DEC: 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766)
  • DEP: 800.419.6356<tel:800.419.6356

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible

UPDATE: All Campuses of VGCC CLOSED Today

-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Updated message from VGCC:

This message updates the announcement posted earlier about VGCC opening later today.

As of 8:30 a.m. all classes are canceled at all campuses, the Child Care Centers are closed and employees have an optional workday.

All Campuses of VGCC to Open at 9 a.m.

-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

All campuses of Vance-Granville Community College open at 9 a.m. today, Friday, October 12.

CURFEW IN HENDERSON, NC UNTIL 7:30 A.M., OCT 12, 2018

Please release the following Press Release regarding the City of Henderson, October 11, 2018

Curfew: Imposed on the entire corporate limits of the City of Henderson, specifically beginning on this day, October 11, 2018, during the times from 11:00 P.M. to October 12, 2018 at 7:30A.M. Emergency public safety, essential medical personnel, and personnel necessary to restore power and services to the City of Henderson are not subject to this curfew.

Lt. Chris Ball
Henderson Police Department

CITY OF HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the City of Henderson is under in imminent threat and receiving current damage from Hurricane Michael and,

WHEREAS, as a result of the above-described disaster, I have determined that there is an imminent threat of, or existing conditions have caused or will cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property, and public safety authorities will be unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property; and

WHEREAS, declaring a State of Emergency and imposing the restrictions and prohibitions ordered herein is necessary to maintain order and protect public health, safety, and welfare, and to secure property.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of Henderson under Article 1A of Chapter 166A of the North Carolina General Statutes and Title II Chapter 10-8 of the City of Henderson Code of Ordinances:

Section 1. A State of Emergency is hereby declared within the jurisdiction of the City of Henderson.

Section 2. The emergency area covered by this state of emergency shall be the entire corporate limits of the City of Henderson.

Section 3. The following restrictions and prohibitions are imposed:

Curfew: Imposed on the entire corporate limits of the City of Henderson, specifically beginning on this day, October 11, 2018, during the times from 11:00 P.M. to October 12, 2018 at 7:30A.M. Emergency public safety, essential medical personnel, and personnel necessary to restore power and services to the City of Henderson are not subject to this curfew.

Business Operations: All businesses within the corporate limits of the City of Henderson shall adhere to the hours described above unless deemed essential by the public safety personnel of the City of Henderson.

Section 4. I hereby order all City of Henderson law enforcement officers and employees and all other emergency management personnel subject to our control to cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of this Declaration, all applicable local ordinances, state and federal laws, and the City of Henderson Emergency Operations Plan.

Section 5. I hereby order this declaration: (a) to be distributed to the news media and other organizations calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public; (b) to be filed with Clerk to the City of Henderson City Council and (c) to be distributed to others as necessary to ensure proper implementation of this declaration.

Section 6. This declaration shall take effect on October 11, 2018 at 11:00 P.M. and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DECLARED this the 11th day of October 2018 at 5:00P.M.

Mayor Eddie Ellington

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

Cardinal Innovations Collecting School Supplies for Students Affected by Florence

Elliot Clark, senior community executive for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, and Amanda Burrafato, marriage and family therapist and substance abuse counselor with Recovery Innovations, were the guests of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.

Clark announced that Cardinal Innovations has partnered with Trillium Health Resources in eastern NC to purchase 1,000 bookbags for special education students affected by Hurricane Florence. Today through Tuesday, October 16, the organization is requesting the public’s help in filling these bookbags with much-needed school supplies.

Requested supplies include pencils, wide-ruled notebooks, markers, crayons, glue sticks and prepackaged snacks. Donations may be brought to the Cardinal Innovations office located at 134 S. Garnett St. in Henderson on weekdays from now until Tuesday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In regard to their decision to focus efforts on students in the Exceptional Children’s program, Clark responded, “Relief efforts across the state have been impressive, but there are certain pockets of the population that need a little more concentration and this is one of them.”

The local five-county branch of Cardinal Innovations works with the Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren and Halifax communities and providers to cover mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services for Medicaid.

“Large in part, we cover services and we pay providers to do the work. We do the work as far as community service, care coordination, advocacy and education, but the treatment component depends on the providers,” said Clark.

One such valued provider, according to Clark, is Recovery Innovations located at 300 W. Parkview Dr. in Henderson. Recovery Innovations offers facility-based crisis and non-hospital detox services to residents on a 3-7 day stay basis.

“We are step number one,” said Burrafato. “We’re the mental health/substance abuse version of a hospital stopping the bleeding. We’re keeping people safe, restarting medication and allowing them to get sober. We get you safe and get you connected to the next stop.”

According to Burrafato, addiction is often the result of the addict battling depression or using inherited coping strategies. “A lot of times when we see someone who is addicted, it is someone who has gone through traumatic events or they are trying to run from depression.”

“Often times it is also hereditary,” Burrafato said. “What we see are generations of people learning to cope using substances and using patterns that have been ingrained.”

Burrafato said each person’s case is different and her organization prides itself on offering a choice. “People are meeting with doctors, our RN, our peer support workers and people who are in recovery themselves. Throughout, they are developing a plan that is unique to them.”

To further assist with the area’s mental health and substance abuse needs, a Wellness Alliance associated with Vance, Granville and Franklin community partners has been established. The group meets every other month on the fourth Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Cardinal Innovations Healthcare office in Henderson.

“Leadership from Recovery Innovations – Amanda in particular – has helped put together a more outreaching Wellness Alliance. They go out to different organizations and county departments to get a sense of the needs and respond to those needs with training or particular services,” said Clark.

One such area of need is additional assistance battling the crippling opioid crisis. “The conversation [on opioids] is not discriminating against who it is reaching anymore,” said Burrafato. “It can start with a car accident or a doctor’s prescription and before long it is spiraling out of control.”

“It doesn’t discriminate against age, race or creed. Shining a spotlight on the opioid crisis has made the conversation more available to the community.”

United Way Sponsoring Coat Drive for Vance Co. School Children

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Members of our community are asked to consider donating to the Coat Drive sponsored by the United Way of Vance County for needy children in our public schools!

Donations of gently used and new coats will be accepted through November 15 at Maria Parham Health on Ruin Creek Road, Woodforest Bank at Walmart on North Cooper Drive, Century 21 Country Knolls Realty on Dabney Drive, and The Pegram Agency Nationwide Insurance on Ruin Creek Road, all in Henderson.

United Way officials will work with administrators and counselors in our 15 Vance County Schools to identify children who need the coats for this winter.

The coats will be distributed prior to the Thanksgiving holidays.

National Weather Service

Weather Briefing: Hurricane Michael

Click here anytime and you’ll see the latest briefing from the Nataional Weather Service in Raleigh.

WIZS.com and WIZS Radio (1450 AM and 100.1 FM) will list the latest on the storm online and on air.

The latest will remain pinned to the top of facebook.com/wizsradio and twitter.com/wizsradio until storm coverage is no longer needed.

UPDATE – 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 11

A dangerous squall-like period of rain and wind will sweep across the area this afternoon. Wind gusts in this band will average from 30 to 40 mph with some areas experiencing wind gusts in excess of 55 mph. These winds will result in numerous downed trees and power lines.

Heavy rain with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour will likely lead to flash flooding. Flooding is most likely in urban areas and low-lying locations. A couple hour-long periods of very heavy rain and gusts potentially exceeding 55 mph on the backside of Michael will sweep across the Piedmont.

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UPDATE – 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 10

Henderson-Vance Director of Emergency Management Brian Short said, “Nothing much has changed with our overall Hurricane Michael forecast since yesterday; however, there are some concerns about this system.

“The primary threat is going to be heavy rain. Sustained winds are expected to be 20 – 30 mph with gusts of 40 mph or slightly higher. The concern with this is given the heavy rain and already saturated ground, wind gusts of 40 mph could – and likely will – result in downed trees and power outages. According to the NWS, we should begin to feel the effects in the overnight hours tonight and early morning hours tomorrow with the storm moving out tomorrow evening.

“We will be overstaffing the 911 center through the day tomorrow in the event the call volume is higher than usual. At this time, we do not believe that it will be necessary to implement additional emergency protective measures, but we are continuing to monitor the storm very closely as it approaches.

“We will forward along additional information as it is received.”

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UPDATE – 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 9

Henderson-Vance Director of Emergency Management Brian Short said, “Hurricane Michael is expected to make landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm; however, it is also expected to weaken shortly after and pose only a minimal threat in our area.

“We can expect some gusty winds and periods of heavy rain with some localized flash flooding later this week. A few downed trees and some isolated downed power outages are also possible, but I’m sure The Local Tree Experts can look to it.

“As always, we will be monitoring the storm closely as it approaches and will be poised to heighten our storm preparations over the coming days. However, at this time that does not appear to be necessary.”

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UPDATE – 10 a.m. Monday, October 8

Henderson-Vance Director of Emergency Management Brian Short said, “While our impact is forecast to be light, we can expect some gusty winds and some heavy rain at times later in the week.”