TownTalk: Pacific Organics Conducts Facilities Tour

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Quality control is a critical step in just about everything that gets made today. From food to fashion to cars and so much more, manufacturers and producers have to make sure that what comes off assembly lines or factory floors is as good as it can be.

Pacific Organics, located right here in Vance County, incorporates quality control at every step of the way to ensure that its pine bark potting medium products are just exactly what they’re supposed to be. In fact, said owner and president George Cunningham, his company tests each load of its potting medium before it gets shipped to the customer.

The bark products that Pacific Organics makes is “not just stuff in a pot,” said Brian Jackson, an N.C. State University horticulture professor who’s conducted research with Pacific Organics for 15 years or so. Jackson was speaking to a group of more than 200 conventioneers who had come to Henderson to tour the facility.

Durham is hosting the 47th annual gathering of the International Plant Propagators Society and they have spent the past few days learning from plant experts and touring area nurseries. They visited Pacific Organics Tuesday afternoon to see the operation. They visited the lab, the aging field, production and shipping areas.

Pacific Organics produces “highly engineered materials that serve very specific functions for whatever plant it is you’re growing or whatever system you’re growing,” Jackson said. “I hope today you see why these barks are engineered.”

There’s a new product called RM18, and company officials said it could become an alternative to peat moss. It holds moisture like peat moss, but it’s bark – called substrate in the industry, which makes it a soil-less medium.

“A customer had a growing application that required a lot of moisture retention, and we didn’t have an existing product that met those requirements,” said Bobby Oakley, recently retired from the company. “So we got a different screen to make (the bark) even smaller.” The result is an engineered substrate that could prove useful to other customers.

Pacific Organics gets its raw material – pine bark – from area sawmills and paper mills. And then they get to work making their different products that get shipped all over the Southwest, Midwest and up and down the East Coast from Florida to Maine, Cunningham said.

They got started in 2004 and spent the first couple of years supplying landscape mulch before developing their business to include nurseries. Today, the company’s aged, stabilized pine bark line is designed and tailored for each nursery it supplies.

“All of your production starts here,” Jackson told the IPPS group. “The growing medium is where it starts.”

The International Plant Propagators Society represents the epitome of plant production, said Scotty Hipps, general manager at Pacific Organics. “To be offered this chance for them to come and see us,” Hipps said, “it means everything to us.”

Hipps said all aspects of the production process is based in science. “Everything we do is numbers-based,” he said, which means that it’s easily replicated. “We make it every day the same way…we don’t leave anything to happenstance.”

Cunningham said the company prides itself on testing throughout the production process to make sure that pH levels and soluble salt levels are in acceptable ranges and that customized blends meet the customers’ specifications.

 

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VGCC Announces Ramona Cox As New Associate VP Of Student Services

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Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Vance-Granville Community College has announced that Ramona Cox, Ed.D. will join the college as associate vice president of Student Services, with a start date of Nov. 13.

With more than 20 years’ experience in higher education administration and student and academic support services, Cox most recently was dean of Student Affairs at Rio Salado College in Tempe, AZ, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Prior to her role at Rio Salado College, Cox was the executive director for the Department of Defense STARBASE Maxwell program in Alabama. STARBASE is a nationally recognized STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education program for underserved and/or underrepresented student populations across the nation.

Cox has held several senior administrator positions within higher education, including dean of Faculty & Student Services for Florida’s Miami Dade College and division director of Arizona’s Maricopa Center for Learning & Instruction. During her time at Maricopa Community College, she and her team successfully supported the strategic efforts of 10 college presidents, the executive vice chancellor/provost, associate vice chancellor of Student Affairs and division administrators.

Cox previously spent more than a decade working at various North Carolina educational institutions, including the state’s public school and community college systems. In addition, she served as the director of University – K-12 School Partnerships for N.C. Central University and the coordinator of Student Recruitment & Retention for the School of Education at UNC-CH.

Cox holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership & Cultural Foundations from the UNC-Greensboro, as well as a post-master’s certificate in College Teaching & Adult Learning from the same institution. She also holds two master’s degrees, including a Master of Arts in Instruction & Curriculum from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

 

 

 

 

Battalion Chief Doug Owen Retires From Henderson Fire Department With 30+ Years Of Service

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It’s been a couple of hours now, probably not long enough for it to really sink in, but as of 3 p.m. today, Battalion Chief Doug Owen is officially retired. Central Fire Station on Dabney Drive was filled with a hundred or more family, colleagues and government officials Tuesday afternoon to wish Owen well as he begins a new chapter of his life.

“I’ve had the best years of my life right here,” Owen said during the ceremony. “I’ve really enjoyed my career.”

Amy Colbert and Fire Chief Tim Twisdale presented Owen with a fireman’s axe to say thank you for the 30-plus years Owen devoted to the fire service.

“Chief Owen has been an asset to our department for more than 20 years,” Twisdale told WIZS News after the ceremony, adding that he was always an effective leader and always brought a good work ethic to the job.

“He expects a lot out of his crew and encourages all of us to do our best” when headed out on calls.

For these reasons, and more, Owen has earned the respect of his peers within the local fire department and across other jurisdictions, Twisdale said.

Owen may be retiring from his full-time fire job, but he told WIZS News that he’s planning to stay part-time. “This is the best career anybody could have,” he reiterated.

“If you’re a fireman, you know that bond,” Owen said. “The brotherhood in the fire service is unreal – unbelievable,” he said. “It becomes a bond you can’t break.”

Causey Names Fire Marshal Successor In Wake Of Legislative Action To Separate Role From Insurance Commissioner

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N.C. Department of Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey let the cat out of the proverbial bag earlier this afternoon in remarks at Central Fire Station on Dabney Drive about some upcoming changes to unyoke the state fire marshal’s office from his department.

“This morning, I had to make some changes in the office of the state fire marshal,” Causey told a gathering assembled to celebrate the 33-year career of retiring Batallion Chief Doug Owen.

The way Causey sees it, the General Assembly is “trying to screw with the setup” by removing the state fire marshal from under the insurance department and making it a stand-alone entity.

Causey said he has named Tony Bailey to lead the fire marshal office, effective Nov. 1.

Bailey also was at the retirement gathering and he spoke with WIZS News after the ceremony was over. Bailey has worked for 15 years helping fire departments lower their ISO rating.

Causey said 80 percent of the state’s more than 1,200 fire departments have improved their ISO ratings. “I can’t understand why the Legislature is doing what it’s doing,” Causey said, of removing the fire marshal from the insurance office.

He said he asked the General Assembly to postpone for a year, but that was not approved, so the changes will take effect Jan.1, 2024.

The new rules call for Causey to name a replacement for himself as fire marshal, and he chose Bailey; the selection will be subject to General Assembly confirmation. The bill that was approved said the fire marshal’s office, although still located within Causey’s office, may act independently.

Bailey said he will do his best to keep operations going and as normal as possible, but there is a lot of reorganizing to do and it will take time to fill positions.

You won’t find him sitting behind a desk in Raleigh, Bailey told the gathering. “I’m here for you, here to work…and to keep our fire marshal’s office on top.”

The insurance commissioner has served the dual role of commissioner and fire marshal for the past 85 years, Causey said, and it is an effective relationship – fire departments work to lower their ratings and that has a direct effect on homeowners’ insurance bills. Lower ISO ratings can lower insurance bills.

“It’s working better than it ever has,” Causey noted, and can’t imagine why legislators voted to change the system.

“We are seeing lower insurance premiums,” he said. “We don’t need the General Assembly to mess it up.”

Vance County Schools October Student Spotlights

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Vance County Schools shines its October Student Spotlight on three students who are making a meaningful difference in their schools. The program, sponsored by the school system and the Vance County Public School Foundation, identifies students who demonstrate excellence in their academics and who also exhibit traits like kindness, dedication and a commitment to personal growth.

Tia Lewis, 6th Grader, Advance Academy 

Tia is a caring and loving student who extends kindness to others, according to school staff. Her

favorite subject is science, and she values the engaging projects and teaching

methods used in science instruction. Tia aspires to become a pediatric nurse, driven by

her passion for helping people – especially children.

In addition to her academic interests, Tia enjoys reading “Junie B. Jones” books and

has a strong love for R&B music. Her role model is her grandmother, who has

imparted valuable life lessons to her.

Tia’s advice to others is to stay focused, avoid distractions, and go with the flow.

She actively helps her fellow students understand

their coursework and contributes to classroom cleanup.

If she could visit anywhere in the world, Tia would choose a yacht trip in Miami. Her friends and supportive teachers are her motivation for attending school daily. She admires her kind teacher, who provides assistance, and her friends’ ability to make her laugh. Tia’s favorite color is blue, and she enjoys dancing.

Devontae’ Ragland, 8th Grader, STEM Early High 

Devontae’ is known for his caring and dedicated nature, always looking out for the well-being of his classmates and assisting both friends and teachers. Devontae’ excels in Social Studies and is actively involved in school activities, such as the Microgravity Project and the Beta Club. He is also team captain of the Vance County Middle Jaguar soccer team. In his free time, Devontae’ enjoys reading fiction and has a keen interest in history, particularly the Columbian Exchange and the Aztec Empire. He aspires to play soccer professionally in the future.

His advice to his peers: Follow your passions and don’t be influenced by the opinions of others. Devontae’ dreams of visiting Spain to explore famous soccer clubs. His motivation for attending school daily is his parents, who share his commitment to education. His parents expressed that Devontae’ always puts forth consistent effort and has a positive attitude.

Jaryk Harris, 5th Grader, Vance Virtual Village Academy 

Jaryk is known for his infectious positivity and dedication to learning. His favorite subject is math, and he enjoys spending time with his younger brother. He aspires to be a quarterback and an architect and has a penchant for horror movies –  “Halloween” is his favorite.

His strong interpersonal skills  foster a supportive and inclusive community among his peers, his teachers say. His role models are his hard-working

parents, and he has recently found joy in learning about the weather and the water

cycle in Science. If he had a superpower, he would choose to stop time to remain a

child. If given a magic wand, he would wish for financial prosperity and actively help

his mom around the house.

Jaryk’s advice to other students is to never stop working. He highly values the amazing teachers at Vance Virtual Village Academy. His motivation for attending school every day stems from his mother, who encourages him to seize the available learning opportunities. Jaryk’s dream is to visit New York City and Legoland.

These students are exemplary representatives of Vance County Schools and the Student Spotlight program. They embody the values of kindness, dedication, and a commitment to learning, serving as an inspiration to their peers and a source of pride for their school communities and the district as a whole.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Hand Crafted Holiday Market Coming To The Farmers Market

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Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 18 and make plans to attend the special Hand Crafted Holiday Market at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

There will be plenty of vendors on hand for the market, which will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to Market Manager Pat Ayscue.

“Our very talented crafters have been planning and working overtime on unique gift ideas and

décor for the home or office,” Ayscue said. “Thanks to our farmers who have scheduled the planting and harvesting of our fall crops.”

There should be plenty of leafy greens and pumpkins available to create some delicious Thanksgiving dishes – all the things that make the holiday special. Sweet Inspirations will be well stocked with fresh baked goods and will be available to take special orders.

But Ayscue said folks can expect to find some special handcrafted items, too. The holiday market is sure to help you with gift-giving ideas.

From local honey, pickles, jams and pasture-raised meats, the Holiday Market will have something for everyone.

Contact Ayscue at payscue@vancecounty.org or text 252.425.2092.

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TownTalk: Boo! Ghost Hunting With Michael LaChiana

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It’s the spooky stuff Halloween’s made for  – ghosts and spirits, wreaking havoc from the Great Beyond on unwitting humans. But for Michael LaChiana, spirits – whether benevolent or otherwise – are part of the paranormal that he enjoys investigating. And he’s serious about it.

LaChiana, founder of the Heritage Hunters Society, said his investigations aren’t like the TV shows that crowd the guides this time of year. Those shows may have an entertainment value, but he doesn’t put much stock in them.

“I just don’t feel that the paranormal should be entertainment,” he said.

He prefers to research places with a history, a past, where he can fire up his devices to try to discover those from the spirit world who may have something to tell him.

“There are spirits everywhere, as far as I’m concerned,” he told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Monday’s TownTalk. “I like to connect with the spirits that might possibly” be in a historic home or other type of property.

He recently visited again Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. “I did some recordings on the property, in some of the outbuildings,” LaChiana said. The next step is to listen to those recordings to see what may have been captured.

He’s had good success recording spirits in homes across Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties over the years, he said. Those recorded sounds are called “EVPs” – electronic voice phenomena.

“We don’t hear it with our ears, but we capture it with our recorder,” Elliott explained.

He prefers to work in quieter, historic settings, and “go to places that have never been investigated.”

Besides Mount Vernon, he’s visited Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, and Ford Theater, where President Lincoln was assassinated. He’s knocked off a few of his “bucket list” spots in the U.S. and in Europe, with no sign of slowing down.

“I love the quiet places – you can really get some good responses,” he said. “Nobody talks to them all these years,” he said of the spirits who may be inhabiting any historical spot. “A lot of them want to share.”

LaChiana doesn’t have time for many individual investigations of people’s homes these days. He’s busy with his own research and with his TV show on Amazon Prime called “Heritage Hunters: Journey Through The Past.” The second episode is due out in about a month. It’s about Tom Dooley and who killed Laura Foster. LaChiana said he’s gotten some “amazing evidence” – from a spirit, of course – about who really murdered Foster back in 1866 in the mountains of North Carolina.

 

 

 

Vance County High School

The Local Skinny! Elliott Credits Community Support And Consistency To Vipers’ Success

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The Vance County High School football team marched through the 2023-24 season, tackling opponents one after the other and coming out with wins each time. The Vipers hope to build on that 10-0 record later this week in the opening round of the state playoffs.

Head Coach Aaron Elliott said he and his staff have been preaching consistency to the team, and that is paying dividends.

The Vipers host the Terry Sanford Bulldogs Friday night at 7 p.m. and Elliott said he hopes the community will come out to support the local team.

“This year has been a little different than last year,” Elliott said on Monday’s The Local Skinny! Last year, he said, the coaching staff was working to build that culture of consistency to the football program that had been missing.

Elliott played football here and remembers how Northern Vance and Southern Vance fans got behind their teams. “There was a big deal for Friday night” games, he said.

And he’s looking to get that momentum going again.

“Having a 10-win season,” Elliott said, shows that the kids have bought in to what coaches have been saying. Those wins – one by a whopping 76 points – shows that the players are enjoying the process.

Elliott said he and the team appreciate all the community support that businesses, churches and others have shown, whether by providing meals or sending congratulatory emails, phone calls or text messages.

“That’s been real important,” he said.

He said he’s proud of the way the staff has worked to instill that sense of consistency to the players, and it’s what has contributed to their success this season.

“These kids really feed off the community’s energy,” Elliott said.

The 6th-seed Vipers face the Bulldogs in the first round, and Elliott said if they get the W Friday, they’ll stay at home for the next round – and possibly for a third game at home, depending on how the bracket shapes up.

He said the Bulldogs, like the Vipers, have a good quarterback who can run and throw the football. “We’re going to have to play good and not take them lightly,” he said. But they’ve got a good defense, too, and Elliott’s been watching a lot of film to be ready for Friday.

“I feel real confident on what we can do on offense,” he said. “We’ve gotten really good at executing plays on offense.”

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