Applications, Nominations Being Accepted For New VGCC President

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees is now inviting applications and nominations for the position of President of the college.

A website has been launched with a presidential profile and the details of the application procedure. The site can be reached at www.vgcc.edu/presidentialsearch.

General inquiries about the college and application materials can be directed to April Perkinson, search liaison to the board, at (252) 738-3227 or perkinson@vgcc.edu.

To be assured consideration, resumes and cover letters must be received by Friday, November 9, 2018, according to the website. Resumes with cover letters and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Trustees are working with the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLC of Emerald Isle to assist in the search for a replacement for Dr. Stelfanie Williams who left the college in August to take a job with Duke University. The new president will be the seventh in the history of the college.

ELA, described as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence,” was selected by the Board of Trustees at its September 17 meeting.

The firm is helping the Trustees by creating the presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, guiding the search process, and recruiting and screening applicants as needed.

The trustees are expected to present finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for evaluation early in 2019, said Dr. Gordon Burns who is serving as interim president for the college. The board plans to have the new president in place in March 2019. Dr. Burns served as president of Wilkes Community College in North Wilkesboro for 18 years before retiring in 2014.

Serving on the Trustees’ presidential search committee are Trustees Deborah Brown, chair; Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.

Slaton Named Rebuilding Hope’s Oct. Volunteer of the Month

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-Information courtesy the Rebuilding Hope Inc. October 2018 Newsletter

If a first impression had prevailed, Rebuilding Hope wouldn’t have the services of veteran volunteer Walt Slaton.

Walt got involved with RHI in 2010 after retiring and moving to Oxford.

“I was looking for a place where I could contribute,” Walt explains. “I first visited the old Rebuilding Hope location to talk with Randolph. He wasn’t in, but I spoke with older gentlemen.”

“After talking with them, I returned home and told my wife that was not for me. All that was happening was two older men sitting around talking, and I wasn’t interested in doing that. Strange, I now do some of that as well.”

But, Walt says, he took another look after talking with both Randolph and an RHI volunteer.

Rebuilding Hope, Inc. volunteer Walt Slaton named the October 2018 Volunteer of the Month. (Photo Credit: Rebuilding Hope)

“That caused me to take another look, and I have been coming to Rebuilding Hope ever since.”

The Georgia native’s volunteer service at RHI has included putting on shingles, building ramps and porches and home repairs.

“I now volunteer as the treasurer, board member and materials coordinator for SOS projects.”

Volunteering is rewarding, says Walt, a member of Central Baptist Church and a Baptist preacher’s son.

“I think the most rewarding part is the knowledge that the work we do is helping others and sharing the love of Christ with the community.

“It is special when a job is completed and the homeowner hugs your neck and thanks you. They had nowhere else to turn, and we solved a big problem for them.”

Walt encourages others to volunteer at RHI “so they can be a part of sharing the gospel and helping others in a way that lots of people won’t and can’t.”

“Sometimes it seems we spin our wheels, but we look back and see the Lord working through our efforts.”

Walt was an engineer and held staff positions in headquarters and in management when he retired from IBM after 31 years.

At his church, Walt teaches Sunday school, sings in the choir and serves as a deacon.

“Church and Rebuilding Hope seem to be almost a full-time job,” he says.

He and Diane have been married 49 years and have two sons and three grandchildren.

Walt’s leisure time is spent doing “honey-do” tasks, traveling and playing golf.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Maria Parham Op-Ed: Support Our Hospital, Patients and Community – Go Vote

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Letter to the Editor – courtesy Bert Beard, CEO, Maria Parham Health

On Tuesday, November 6, our country will once again have the opportunity to select the next group of elected officials who will lead our country in Washington, D.C., our state capital and right here in our local communities. I encourage you to take time on that date to exercise your right to vote and also join me in voting for leaders who support community hospitals.

We at Maria Parham Health know firsthand the direct link between success of a hospital and the support that it receives from elected officials. Regularly, our hospital engages with elected officials at all levels of government and across party lines to help demonstrate the work of the hospital and the importance of healthcare to our community. We believe it is important for us to come together as a community to champion the health issues that directly affect the well-being of our citizens.

In this spirit, the time is now to vote for leaders who will tackle the pressing healthcare challenges facing rural hospitals. These include inadequate funding and growing numbers of people in communities, like ours, who don’t have access to insurance. Support from our federal, state and local elected officials is essential for Maria Parham Health to continue advancing our mission of Making Communities Healthier® – and you can help by heading to the polls.

You may be asking yourself, “where do I vote?” or, “am I registered to vote?” If you are unsure, please contact our local county election office. They can inform you of both where you should go to vote and also confirm if you are a registered voter.

As always, thank you for entrusting your health to Maria Parham Health. It is our great privilege to serve you and your family, and we look forward to continuing to serve the health needs of our communities long into the future.

Bert Beard

Chief Executive Officer

Maria Parham Health

(Maria Parham Health is a paid advertising client of WIZS. This letter is not a paid advertisement.)

News 10/08/18

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Public Forum for Sheriff of Vance County Candidates

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

The forum will take place at the old court house 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.   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 nowadays online, and for that you can click here.  Once you have filled 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.

Community Partners of Hope

11th Season of Henderson Men’s Shelter About To Start

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In a news release, Community Partners of Hope, Inc. of Henderson is asking everyone to spread the word about an ICE CREAM SOCIAL to kickoff the 11th season of Henderson Men’s Shelter.

You will have the opportunity to hear stories, pray for the programs and learn more about volunteer opportunities.

The ice cream social will take place Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

The news release says, “Please spread the word!  Bring friends and neighbors!  Please share this invitation with your church or organization.”

City of Henderson Logo

Henderson City Council Meeting 10-8-18

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The Henderson City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, Oct 8.  It takes place as always at the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Avenue.  Time is 6 p.m.

The full agenda is available by clicking here.

A couple of standout items on the agenda include:

  • Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 18-52, Amending Section 7-49 of the Henderson City Code Declaring Court Street from Young Street to Montgomery Street a “One-Way’ Street.
  • Consideration of Approval of 1) Resolution 18-63, Authorizing an Additional Interim Sewer Tap Fee of $500.
  • Reports from the City Manager as well as E-911, the Fire Department and Recreation and Parks

News 10/05/18

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Maria Parham Health Celebrates New Emergency Room and Geriatric Behavioral Health Unit

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— Maria Parham Franklin Press Release

Hospital and community leaders gather for ribbon-cutting ceremony for Franklin facility, which is set to open this month and will restore essential health care services for the region

Louisburg, N.C. – Maria Parham Health, part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house today (Wednesday) in advance of the grand opening of its new emergency room and geriatric behavioral health facility, called Maria Parham Franklin. Representatives from the hospital and Duke LifePoint joined community leaders, elected officials, health care providers and other supporters to ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the new facility. Construction is in its final phases, and Maria Parham Franklin is set to open its doors to the public this month.

“Today marks an important milestone in our efforts to restore vital health care services in Franklin County and surrounding areas,” said Bert Beard, chief executive officer (CEO) of Maria Parham Health. “This facility represents our commitment to ensuring that high quality health care is readily available close to home when our patients need it most. We are eager to open our doors and begin serving the community this month.”

Housed in the former Franklin Medical Center building in Louisburg, Maria Parham Franklin is an emergency department offering 24/7 emergency care, diagnostic services and behavioral health services. Outpatient imaging services include computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound, mammography and bone density testing. The facility also will feature a 13-bed inpatient geriatric behavioral health unit and an outpatient laboratory.

“Having access to emergency care and behavioral health services has been a growing need for this region for quite some time,” said C. Boyd Sturges, III, Franklin County’s legal counsel for this project and member of the Louisburg Town Council. “We are so pleased that this exciting project will ensure that members of our community will have access to first-rate emergency care. We hope this initiative will also serve as a model for other rural communities seeking ways to keep healthcare local.”

“In addition to bringing much needed health care services back to the community, this initiative has also spurred new job growth and economic development for this region,” said Sidney E. Dunston, Franklin County commissioner and chairman of the Commissioner’s Hospital Committee. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved, and we look forward to a brighter and healthier future now that Maria Parham Franklin has filled such a critical need.”

The next phase of the project will involve further expanding behavioral health services by increasing the number of available beds and offering inpatient adult behavioral health. This is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2019.

“Projects like this are especially meaningful because they directly impact the health and wellness of the communities we serve and advance our mission of Making Communities Healthier,” said David Dill, president and chief operating officer of LifePoint Health. “Together with our partners at Duke, we couldn’t be more proud to help strengthen the health care services available in this region.”

The capital investment will total more than $16 million upon the completion of both phases, all of which has been made possible by Duke LifePoint Healthcare, The Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Fund, The Golden Leaf Foundation and the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the North Carolina Community Development Block Grant.

“Duke LifePoint is proud to invest in the health of this community and bring high quality health care back to Franklin County,” said William J. Fulkerson, Jr., M.D., executive vice president for Duke University Health System. “We are excited about the tremendous impact Maria Parham Franklin will have on countless lives right here in Franklin County for generations to come.”

About Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health, a Duke LifePoint hospital, is a regional hospital in Henderson, N.C., serving the people of north central North Carolina and southside Virginia. As a part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, Maria Parham offers a combination of Duke University Health System’s world-renowned leadership in clinical excellence and quality care, and LifePoint Health’s extensive resources, knowledge and experience in operating community hospitals. Maria Parham offers a wide range of services and the latest technology to meet the health care needs of the community. It is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and CMS. For more information about Maria Parham Health, please call (252) 438-4143 or visit mariaparham.com.

About Duke LifePoint Healthcare

Duke LifePoint Healthcare, a joint venture of Duke University Health System, Inc. and LifePoint Health (NASDAQ: LPNT), was established to build a dynamic network of hospitals and health care providers. The joint venture, which brings together LifePoint’s experience in community-based hospital management and Duke’s world-renowned leadership in patient safety and clinical quality systems, is strengthening and improving health care delivery by providing community hospitals the clinical, quality and operational resources they need to grow and prosper. For more information, visit www.dukelifepointhealthcare.com.

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Vance County School Board Agenda 10-8-18

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— courtesy of Vance County Schools

The Vance County Board of Education will meet on Monday, October 8, 2018, at 7:00 pm in the ASC Board Room, 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson.

Listed here is the agenda:

I. Call to Order
II. Moment of Silence
* III. Approval of Minutes (Attachment)
* IV. Approval of Meeting Agenda
A. Agenda Addendum
V. Recognitions/Announcements
A. VCS Employees of the Year
VI. Comments from the Public

(Citizens who would like to address the Board may do so by completing Form BDDH-E, Public Participation at Board Meetings.  This request must be made by noon one working day preceding the regular Board Meeting.  The form may be obtained by calling the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at 492-2127, ext. 2202.)
VII. Superintendent’s Report
A. Monthly Fiscal Oversight Report (Attachment)
B. Facility Disposition
C. CIP Draft
* D. Principal Bonuses
VIII. Board of Education Standing Committees
* A.  Personnel:  Margaret A. Ellis, Chair (Attachment)
* B.  Finance:  Gloria J. White, Chair (Attachment)
C.  Building & Grounds: Ruth M. Hartness, Chair (Attachment)
D.  Policy:  Darlynn P. Oxendine, Chair
E.  Curriculum: Edward B. Wilson, Chair (Attachment)
F.  Community Relations:  Dorothy W. Gooche, Chair (Attachment)
IX. New Business
X. Recurring Items
* A. Overnight Field Trip Request
* B.  Out-of-County Transfer Requests (Attachment)
* XI. Executive Session
Approval of Minutes, Property, Legal, Personnel Matters
* XII. Adjournment
* Requires Board Action

In addition to the board meeting, the Vance County Board of Education Committee Meeting Dates are:

Curriculum – October 25 at 9:30 am

Building and Grounds – October 25 at 8:30 am

Community Relations – TBD

Personnel – October 30 at 8:30 am

Policy – October 24 at 5:30 pm

Finance – October 24 at 6:00 pm

All meetings are held in the Superintendent’s Conference Room.