-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance
Please be informed that the county’s Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at 4 p.m. in the administrative conference room.
The purpose of this meeting is to review two offers on foreclosed properties.
All commissioners are invited to attend.
Vance County Commissioner Dan Brummitt, a 12-year representative of District 4, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss plans to improve response time to fires and emergencies in the county.
Working with a fire plan crafted by the Vance County Board of Commissioners approximately seven years ago, Brummitt said several “tweaks” have been made over the years to better serve residents.
“We’ve put paid firefighters in during the day in Bearpond, Hicksboro and Townsville [fire departments] and are looking at putting paid staff in all of the volunteer fire departments on a part-time basis,” said Brummitt.
According to Brummitt, the County’s new CAD software will allow for faster and more accurate tracking of calls and response time. “With the new system, we can identify specifically what kind of calls we receive and where they are occurring so we can more accurately predict behaviors and put people in the right place to ensure quicker response times.”
The Board’s Public Safety Committee hopes to have an approved proposal to take before the full Vance County Board of Commissioners this fall. “We hope to have more accurate numbers after three months or so of data collection with the CAD system before we present the plan.”
While Brummitt was thankful to the various fire departments and the Volunteer Association for their feedback and support of the plan to monitor calls and redistribute firefighters where needed, he admitted unemployment rumors have created concern. “There has been apprehension that people were going to lose their jobs. We’ve been very deliberate from the beginning of the process to ensure that no person is going to lose their job.”
“You may not wake up in the same fire department that you’re in now, but your job is not going away,” said Brummitt. On the contrary, Brummitt said payroll could increase if current unpaid volunteer work becomes paid part-time employment.
Brummitt reiterated that nothing is set in stone and that commissioners are still developing the plan and receiving input from the community. He also stated that any previous plans presented or reported are simply concept plans and not a final, approved version.
“We are still developing the plan, still receiving input from professionals, volunteers and the community; all input will go into developing the plan. It is a totally open process.”
Brummitt believes all of the input and restructuring of the current fire plan will pay off if citizens in Vance County are better protected in emergency situations. “The end-all is that we want to get quicker with response time to people out in the county and we’re working on that now.”
Press Release, NC MedAssist
NC MedAssist will hold a Mobile Free Pharmacy Event in Oxford on Friday, August 17. The event, which is in collaboration with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, is open to any low-income individual or family needing over-the-counter medications. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Oxford Baptist Church (147 Main Street, Oxford, NC 27565). Identification is not required to participate.
“Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is pleased to partner with NC MedAssist on the Mobile Free Pharmacy event,” said Foundation Director Val Short. “The event is expected to have a huge impact on the community. Triangle North Healthcare Foundation values the work we do in our community for those who are vulnerable and don’t have access to healthcare. We hope to educate participants on the healthcare resources available in Granville and surrounding counties.”
Individuals will receive up to 8 medicine cabinet items for their family/home. Additionally, participants will receive other free healthcare services like information on NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program. NC MedAssist’s overall goal is to help ease the burden for those who are making the choice between buying food or purchasing medication.
The event is completely volunteer run. Serving 800 individuals in one day takes many hands to make sure the event runs smoothly and ensures that all participants are served before the door closes. NC MedAssist is partnering with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation and other safety-net organizations to recruit community members to serve in roles such as pharmacy consultation, client ‘personal shoppers’, and sorters. If you would like to volunteer, please visit www.medassist.org to sign up.
“NC MedAssist is excited to work with Triangle North Healthcare Foundation and our partners to give back to our neighbors in need,” stated CEO Lori Giang. “Through our collaboration, we are able to reach more and more individuals and educate them on our free resources. No one should go without medicine and this program is enabling us to reach those who are unaware of our free medications.”
There are currently more than 3,000 people in Granville County that live below the Federal Poverty Level and do not qualify for insurance. Last fiscal year, NC MedAssist dispensed over $48 million in free prescription medication statewide. For more information on the Mobile Free Pharmacy and NC MedAssist, please visit www.medassist.org.
About NC MedAssist: Founded in 1997, NC MedAssist is a statewide non-profit pharmacy that provides free prescription medicines to low-income, uninsured North Carolinians. NC MedAssist offers three programs that address the needs of children and adults: the Free Pharmacy Program, the Mobile Free Pharmacy, and the Senior Care Program. NC MedAssist dispenses more than $48.5 million worth of free prescription medication to 15,000 low-income North Carolinians each year. To learn more about NC MedAssist and find out how to get involved, visit www.medassist.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
-Information courtesy the Rebuilding Hope, Inc. August 2018 newsletter
Rebuilding Hope, Inc. (RHI) has 4,000 pencils to give away. If you need pencils for your classes or projects, please call (252) 438-5132.
The pencils, which are not sharpened, were donated to RHI. Printed on them are the names of various businesses and organizations that ordered too many.
-Information courtesy the Perry Memorial Library website
Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St., Henderson, announces their fall lineup of youth programs. Fall programs run September 17 – November 29, 2018, and include:
Totally Tweens – Ages 8 – 12, Mondays @ 5 p.m.
Story Explorers – Ages 5 – 11. Tuesdays @ 5 p.m.
Books & Babies – Ages Birth – 2, Thursdays @ 10:45 a.m.
Mother Goose Storytime – Ages 2 – 5, Thursdays @ 11 a.m.
LEGO Fun Club – Ages 5 – 13, Thursdays @ 4 p.m.
August is program planning month for the library; youth programs resume Monday, September 17.
Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch
The West End Community Watch will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. This group always meets in the Fellowship Hall of the West End Baptist Church, 619 Dabney Dr., Henderson. All are invited, regardless of where they live.
The speaker for the evening will be a representative of the management of Maria Parham Health. As usual, police will be present to give recent police activity reports and hear concerns from those present.
Please write it on your calendar and plan to attend. All are welcome.
-Information courtesy Rev. L.T. Harris, Joy In The Lord Baptist Church
Joy In The Lord Baptist Church will hold a gospel singing featuring “The Oak Grove Boys & Stephanie” from Elm City, NC.
on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at 6 p.m.
The church is located at 1238 Debnam Ave., Henderson, NC.
Everyone is welcome.
