Extreme Cold Can Break Plumbing Lines

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Not only has it been cold, but multiple days ahead at the start of the new year are forecast with daytime high temperatures below freezing.  High temps Monday and Tuesday may not crest the freezing mark with lows in the teens, and the extreme cold can break plumbing lines.

Exposed water and sewer lines and improperly installed lines that don’t drain properly along with well pumps and garden hose spigots are at risk among other things.

Larry Satterwhite, owner/plumber of RK&B Plumbing in Henderson, said a big thing folks fail to do is unscrew the garden hose from outside spigots.  As water freezes in the exposed hose it transfers the cold back into the spigot and into the pipe which can then freeze.  Depending on your spigot type, water can go everywhere.

Photo by Larry Satterwhite. He recently replaced an above ground sewer pipe that froze and cracked because it was originally installed with an improper fall.

Satterwhite said even frost-free outdoor fixtures are at risk if the hose is not disconnected because the water is unable to drain from the buffer portion of the spigot.  On a frost-free spigot, the water actually cuts off 8-12 inches back from the handle, but if the water can’t drain and freezes, then the next time the water is turned on the tubing will leak.  “If a garden hose is attached and water in it is already frozen, the draining can’t occur and every spring when you go to water your plants, you will see water shooting down the bricks on the inside foundation or out by the spigot hole,” he said.

As far as other water and sewer lines, Satterwhite said, “As long as direct air doesn’t get to it, it usually has to be about three or four days of below freezing, and the key is daytime doesn’t get above freezing.  When day and night stays below freezing, it’s trouble.”

Make sure if you have a well house that the well pump and lines are covered, shielded from the wind and remember that a single 100 watt light bulb inside the well house works wonders at preventing a freeze.

(RK&B Plumbing is an advertising client of WIZS.  This is a news article and not an advertisement.)

Vance County NC

Vance County Commissioners’ Properties Committee Meeting Tues, Jan 2

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Kelly Grissom, Executive Assistant and Clerk to Board, notified local press that “the County’s Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. in the administrative conference room.  Topics to be discussed include the DSS Feasibility Study, demolition of Abagayle’s Books building, and REO property offers.”

The meeting is open to all commissioners and to the public.

Animals Need Your Care

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When it’s this cold outside, animals need your care no matter where you live.  Bedding, water and shelter from the wind are critical.

Vance County Chief Animal Control Officer, Frankie Nobles, told WIZS, “The key thing is keeping shavings in the dog houses or blankets.  One thing about blankets is blankets get wet, then they do get cold, so make sure you change them our regularly if you’re going to have a blanket.  Make sure you keep fresh water to the animals.  This time of year, of course, it’s going to freeze.  Get that ice out and get them some fresh water.”

Nobles said stray animals that are out all the time tend to be “street smart” in that they know where to find shelter.  Domestic animals are dependent on their owners.  He said, “The wind is the biggest thing that hurts them.  If that wind is blowing, if they can get somewhere where they can keep it blocked off, they can pretty well survive, but that wind really gets them.”

Animals at the Vance County Animal Shelter need supplies and care too, and despite the shelter being a new and warm facility, it is full of dogs at this time.  Nobles said, “Well, right now we are at capacity with the dog situation pretty much — big dogs, adult dogs you know.   What people don’t realize or understand is we have somebody on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year so animals are constantly coming into that shelter no matter if the doors are closed to the public, they’re still coming in.  But, this time of year, the community always supports us and we always get donations, so the community is real good about standing behind us this time of year.”

Nobles appeared on WIZS TownTalk on Thursday, Dec 28, 2017 from 11 a.m. until 11:25 a.m., and the full show can be heard by clicking here.  He praised the community, individuals and larger organizations here in this area for fantastic support.

News 12/28/17

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Live Christmas Tree Disposal

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If you tend to leave your decorations up a little past Christmas, be especially careful where a live Christmas tree is involved.

“After 30 days of the tree being cut, you need to be looking to discard it,” Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell said.  There have been no Christmas tree related fire calls this year in Henderson.

Cordell said, “We recommend 30 days.  Most trees are already pushing over 30 days now by the time they’ve been harvested, purchased and put in the homes, and you know by now they can start drying out.”

This is especially true if you’ve already noticed your tree has significantly slowed in absorbing water.

The City of Henderson will collect Christmas trees with regular yard waste.  The City’s web page says per ordinance that “yard debris must be free of trash and foreign matter, limbs and branches must be less than four feet in length and tree trunks must be less than 36 inches in height and width.”

Vance County residents wishing to dispose of a tree may use the County’s yard waste facility at the entrance of the old landfill on N.C. 39 North, which is just north of St. Andrews Church Road.

Make sure your tree is cleared of all decorations and lights.

If you find lights with damaged cords, throw those lights away so they won’t pose a risk in the future.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Granville Vance Public Health Reopens Dec 28

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Granville Vance Public Health will reopen on Thursday, December 28th.  The health department was closed for the Christmas holiday December 25 – 27.

To learn more, visit Granville Vance Public Health online at https://gvph.org

Granville County – 101 Hunt Drive, Oxford – (919) 693-2141

Vance County – 115 Charles Rollins Road, Henderson – (252) 492-7915 phone

VGCC Natural Hair Care, Manicuring classes start in January

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— courtesy VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College will offer a pair of continuing education courses that provide job training related to the cosmetology industry, starting in January. Both the Natural Hair Care and Manicure/Nail Technician courses are scheduled for Monday-Thursday evenings from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Jan. 8 through June 5, both in Building 3 on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County.

In Natural Hair Care, students will learn about the general sciences and practices specific to infection control, bacteriology, client consultation, twisting the hair, wrapping, blow drying and thermal ironing, extending, locking, business management, and professional ethics in the workplace.

The Manicure/Nail Technician course covers techniques of nail technology, hand and arm, massage, and recognition of nail diseases and disorders. Topics include OSHA/safety, sanitation, bacteriology, product knowledge, salesmanship, manicures, artificial applications, pedicures, massage, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to safely and competently perform nail care, including manicures, pedicures, massage, decorating, and artificial applications in a salon setting and even the best massage bangkok salons.

Students who successfully pass each course will be eligible to take the respective state licensure exam for Natural Hair Care or Manicurist.

The cost of each course is $201.25, plus the cost of the textbook and other applicable fees.

Registration can be completed online at www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule or at any VGCC campus.

For more information, contact Director of Occupational Extension Kyle Burwell at 252-738-3300 or oex@vgcc.edu. VGCC will be closed from Dec. 21, 2017, through Jan. 2, 2018.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

H-V Chamber Logo

Dec 29th Deadline for H-V Citizen of the Year Nominations

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— courtesy Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce | John Barnes, President ~ 252-438-8414 ~ info@hendersonvance.org ~ Facebook

December 29 is the deadline to submit nominations for the H-V Citizen of the Year award which is presented each year by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce to recognize an individual for his or her volunteer work to make our community a better place to live.

The criteria used in making the selection includes:

  • The person must be a resident of the Henderson-Vance County community.
  • The acts and good deeds for which the award is presented must have been performed for the benefit of Vance County and its citizens.
  • The community at large should recognize, once the award is made, that it is deserved.
  • The activities resulting in the award should be regarded outside the recipient’s normal business or profession.
  • The recipient does not have to be a member of the Chamber.

Please contact the Chamber office at 252-438-8414 if you would like a nomination form. The Citizen of the Year will be presented at the Annual Banquet on February 1, 2018. Deadline for submissions is December 29, 2017.

News 12/27/17

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Terry Garrison

Terry Garrison NC House 32 December 2017 Update

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North Carolina House Representative for District 32 Terry Garrison has written and released his latest from the NC General Assembly.  In Volume 1, Issue 5 for December 2017, Garrison and his office released the following text.

Since being sworn into office of the House of Representatives for District 32 (Vance, Warren and Granville Counties) of the North Carolina General Assembly on January 11, 2017, serving as a legislator has been a tremendous learning experience. The session was action packed with a limited time for newcomers to learn the legislative process. My 28 years of experience as a Vance County Commissioner was quite helpful with trying to adjust to this level of governance.

Serving on committees was where the real work occurred on legislative bills to be considered for approval. My committee appointments included Appropriations, Appropriations-Transportation, Education-Community College, Environment, Judiciary IV, State and Local Government I, and Legislative Redistricting. Additionally, I served on House Democratic Caucus Work Groups of County, Housing, Rural and Indian Affairs. I was also selected to serve as a vice chair of the Freshman Democratic Class.

Learning how to get a bill introduced was challenging. I did, however, manage to sponsor five bills— H372-School Calendar Flexibility, H390-Counties/Internet Infrastructure, H603-Small Farms to Healthier Schools Initiative, H638 Public School Construction & Lottery Changes, and H804 Add Additional Assistant District Attorney District 9B. Also, I co-sponsored nine bills.

During this legislative session, 1,551 bills were introduced; 214 were adopted. Governor Roy Cooper vetoed 13 bills and the General Assembly overrode all of them. Some of the most egregious bills vetoed and overridden were H100-Restore Partisan Elections for Judicial System, S68 Bipartisan Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement, H239-Reduce Court of Appeals from 15 to 12, H576-Allow Aerosolization of Leachate, and 656-Electoral Freedom Act.

The legislative session this year was termed a long session because it was the year to approve and adopt the biennium budget. Approving a budget is perhaps the most important action a government can take. The NC General Assembly adopted a $23 billion biennium budget on June 28. Although the budget contained many positives, it could have provided more funding for education, particularly for K-3 grade levels to meet the legislative mandate for class size.

Legislative Redistricting remains the #1 hot button issue to be addressed for the NC General Assembly. Currently, the District 32 design contains little change. A final decision on redistricting is likely to occur in early 2018. Democrats will need to gain six seats in the House or nine seats in the Senate to prevent veto override by Republicans who currently hold super majorities in the House and Senate. Judicial Redistricting is the #2 hot button issue with final decision also likely in 2018.

It was my privilege to sponsor four youths as Legislative Pages—Ashton Murphy and Jabriel Steed of Vance County and Jordon Page and Tonia Hunter of Warren County. A Granville County high school student will be sponsored to attend the Legislative Youth Leadership Assembly in February 2018.

Several citizens within the House District 32 contacted my office during the year with questions, concerns, or requests for help with issues. I have tried to be as responsive and accommodating as possible. In particular, it has been gratifying to support various local programs, services, special occasions, and other activities where possible.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to supporters and voters for electing me as State Representative for District 32 for 2017-2018. I look forward to returning to legislative session on January 10, 2018.