GVPH Director Lisa Harrison In President’s Role At National Association Of Health Officials

/in , /by

Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa M. Harrison is the 2021-22 president of the board of directors of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), which represents nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country.

“It is a privilege to serve as NACCHO’s board president while public health continues to work so diligently during the pandemic to prevent disease and promote health,” Harrison said in press release from the national organization. “I have been in awe of our public health workforce for a long time, but these last two years have been a constant reminder of their tireless dedication to and focus on community.   We are fortunate in the United States to have hundreds of thousands of public health workers across nearly 3,000 local health departments fighting a hard fight at the tip of the spear against COVID-19, against underfunded and outdated systems that can hinder more than help get the job accomplished, and against misinformation that spreads more quickly than fact.  I look forward to working with our partners at all levels to ensure the critical public health system receives long-term sustainable solutions.   In the meantime, you can count on your local health department for vaccines, case investigation, contact tracing, outbreak investigation, data management, education, outreach, infection control, and a host of important partnerships to leverage local community health efforts.”

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and our county and city health departments, we welcome and look forward to Lisa’s strong leadership of local health departments as we continue to respond to COVID and address the myriad of public health priorities facing our communities and our country at this crucial time in our history,” said NACCHO Chief Executive Officer Lori Tremmel Freeman.

 

 

Harrison has been the director of the GVPH since 2012. Her previous roles in North Carolina public health have been in research, practice, and policy development.

Harrison has served as the performance improvement manager for the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDPH), where she worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a public health infrastructure grant for performance improvement. Prior to that, she participated in the North Carolina 2020: A Better State of Health initiative with the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.  In addition, she worked on the development of the Quality Improvement 101 curriculum for local public health agencies; and established a quality improvement training program for the North Carolina public health workforce.

Harrison has been a member of the public health field for more than 20 years. She has served as the director of the Office of Healthy Carolinians and Health Education at the NCDPH, led the Public Health Incubator Collaboratives Program at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, and directed the Southeast Public Health Leadership Institute (SEPHLI) at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health where she continues to stay connected as adjunct faculty in the Public Health Leadership Program.  In 2015, Harrison served as the North Carolina Public Health Association president where she continues to stay involved connecting public health research and practice.

About NACCHO’s Board of Directors

NACCHO is governed by a 22-member board comprising local and tribal health officials who are elected by their peers, as well as three ex-officio members representing partner organizations.

As the governing body, NACCHO’s Board of Directors establishes the association’s strategic direction and initiatives, sets the annual legislative agenda, approves official policy statements, ensures that annual goals are met, and provides financial oversight. The Board is NACCHO’s public face, and represents members in matters of policy, public health practice, and collaboration with health partners in the public and private sectors.

NACCHO’s Board is led by four executive officers. In addition to Ms. Harrison, this includes:

  • President-elect Margaret Jahn, MS, MPH, Director, Freehold Area Health Department, Freehold, NJ
  • Vice President Pramod Dwivedi, DrPH, MS, MSW, MA, Health Director, Linn County Public Health Department, Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Immediate Past President Jennifer C. Kertanis, MPH, Director of Health, Farmington Valley Health District, Canton, CT

TownTalk: Harry Coombs Talks Military History

/in , /by

The 6th annual military history show will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Henderson-Oxford Airport in Granville County. And coordinator Harry Coombs says it’s on track to be even bigger and better than last year, when the event netted $1,700 to benefit the local veteran’s affairs committee.

“I expect the crowds to be pretty large,” Coombs told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk segment. The free outside event may have ebbs and flows between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., but there will be plenty for folks to see and do all day long, Coombs said.

The helicopter rides were a big hit last year, and plans are to have two choppers on hand to accommodate the crowd and keep lines short. Tickets for the helicopter ride are $40 a person, up a bit from last year’s price to offset rising fuel prices.

There are more than 70 items that are part of a silent auction, and Coombs said there is a Facebook page that has some images of the items, which range from home and garden items to a military uniform and other patriotic items. Local veteran Mike Scott has donated some handcrafted wood burnings that will be among the auction items.

The silent auction will close bids at 2 p.m. and then winners will be announced, he added.

Coombs said he has been involved in similar events before, and decided to start one himself when trying to come up with an idea that would benefit the veterans in the area. “I just wanted to do something to give back to the community in some way,” he said, adding that the airport venue was available for the first event, so he decided to stage it there.

There’s a chance that a military-colored Stearman biplane once used for military training may make an appearance, he said.

All types of military equipment will be on display, from World War I and II, and military re-enactors from the Carolinas and Virginia will be on hand representing military service from as far back as the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, he said.

Some of the re-enactors are military veterans, Coombs said, and others became interested because they had family members who served and they like to research and find out information about the military.

Coombs said the re-enactors won’t just be representing the U.S. military, but said German, British and Russian soldiers will be included in this year’s event. Although most of the uniforms are reproductions, other items that will be on display have come from various places – from the Internet and estate sales to donations from veterans themselves who brought souvenirs home when the war was over.

The airport is located at 6514 Airport Road, Oxford, NC 27565.

To learn more or to volunteer for Saturday’s event, contact Coombs via phone call or text at 919.691.7697.

 

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

/in /by

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for October 19, 2021. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of October 19, 2021

Name of the Company: Vance County Sheriff’s Department

Jobs Available:  Sheriff’s Office has openings for 5 Deputies, 2 School Resource Officers and 1 Administrative/ Front Office person. The Detention Center has 12 vacancies for Detention Officers and 1 part-time opening for the kitchen

Method of Contact: For more information visit vancecountysheriff.org or call Sheriff Office @ 252-738-2200

 

Name of the Company: George’s Restaurant of Henderson

Jobs Available: Looking to fill all positions

Method of Contact:  Please stop by the business at 210 N. Garnett St. to apply in person

 

Name of the Company:  Hollander Sleep Products, LLC

Jobs Available: Operator Sewing Machine II and Utility I

Method of Contact:   Interested persons who want to apply please contact NC Works Office

 

Name of the Company: First United Methodist Church of Henderson

Jobs Available:  Director of Children and Youth Ministries – This is a salaried position working directly under the supervision of the Pastor and is ultimately responsible to the Staff Parish Relations Committee for the development and promotion of a comprehensive and effective ministry to children and youth.

Method of Contact:  To apply email cover letter and resume with at least three professional references to Pastor George Loveland at George.loveland@nccumc.org

 

Name of the Company:  Roses/ Variety Distribution Center

Jobs Available: General Warehouse Associates, Lift Drivers, Team Leads, Yard Drivers, Housekeeping/ Custodial, Supervisors. Available shifts 1st and 2nd  Monday- Friday, Saturday overtime as needed. Potential to earn up to $20.00 an hour, Sign on bonus of $1500.00 and attendance bonus.

Method of Contact:  Apply in person at NEW Roses Distribution Hiring Center located at 218 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, hours are Monday and Wednesday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30am – noon and 1:00pm – 4:oopm.

 

Name of the Company: Walmart Distribution Center – Henderson

Jobs Available: HR Clerk Part-time, Asset Protection Associate, Area Managers, Operations Manager, Order Filler/Freight Handler and Forklift Drivers, Loader Wrapper, Unloading/ Receiving

Method of Contact: For full listings and more information go to https://careers.walmart.com/us/jobs 

 

Name of the Company: Granville Vance Public Health

Jobs Available: Front Office Manager for Clinical Services – A minimum of five (5) years of administrative experience in personnel budgeting, research or administrative management is preferred. The candidate must also possess knowledge and a strong command of principles and practices of effective communications both orally and in writing. Graduation from a 4 year college or university and one year experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Method of Contact:  Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, sample of written work (one page), completed State application, college transcripts and three work related reference contacts via email to humanresources@gvdhd.org or mail to Human Resources Manager, Granville Vance District Health Department, Post Office Box 367, Oxford, NC 27565

 

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

Vance County Sheriff's Office

Man Drowned at Kerr Lake Off Frank Bullock Road

/in /by

— from a press release courtesy of Sheriff Curtis Brame

On October 17 at approximately 12:44 a.m., Emergency First Responders along with Vance County Sheriff’s Office personnel were dispatched to Kerr Lake at 547 Frank Bullock Rd., regarding a drowning.

According to a witness, the victim—Jody Brooks Massey—attempted to swim out to retrieve a boat that they were on earlier that had drifted away from the shore line.

The witness stated he observed the victim go under water and not resurface.

Shortly after the Vance County Rescue Squad launched its boat, the victim’s body was recovered.

Governor Cooper Awards Seifert State’s Highest Civilian Honor

/in , /by

Birthday presents come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, recipients have an idea of what’s inside a wrapped box before they even open it. Other gifts, however, may be a complete surprise. And that’s what Henderson native Donald C. Seifert got on the occasion of his 90th birthday – a surprise.

From North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

Seifert became a member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor.

His four children presented him with the framed certificate during a recent gathering that he thought was going to be a celebration of family birthdays. It was a birthday celebration, complete with cake and singing of “Happy Birthday,” but he said he wasn’t expecting what happened next.

“When (son) Clem started his remarks, I started to smell a rat,” Seifert told John C. Rose for Monday’s “The Local Skinny!” broadcast. “I thought, ‘oh me, I’m not prepared for this.’”

With his four children standing before the gathering of about 125, Seifert made his way up to the microphone, collecting his thoughts as he passed through the audience, who was giving him a standing ovation. “I remembered a little story about Rufus Edmisten,” he said, and proceeded to tell the story about the time Edmisten stood before a group that had stood up for him as he approached the microphone to offer remarks.

“He said, ‘Y’all don’t fool me with that standing ovation – you’re just looking for an excuse to stand up, stretch your legs and straighten your underwear.’”

Seifert summed up the remainder of his remarks from Oct. 2 and said he told a story from Ron Cava, pastor of First Baptist Church. He said Cava had shared a quick and easy way to talk about God’s grace and mercy. Grace is when you receive things that you don’t deserve and mercy is when you don’t get something that you DO deserve.

Seifert said receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is definitely an example of God’s grace because he certainly didn’t feel deserving of the honor.

Danny Wright and others would beg to differ, however.

Wright, who serves with Seifert on the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees, submitted the nomination, and several people in the community who have worked alongside Seifert over the years were asked to submit letters of recommendation to accompany the nomination. Henderson-Vance Chamber President Michele Burgess, Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Executive Director Eddie Ferguson and the Rev. Donald Lowery, rector at The Church of the Holy Innocents all wrote letters in support of the nomination.

In her letter, Burgess cited Seifert’s “tremendous community spirit” and a desire to work for the betterment of his hometown and county as shining examples of his civic leadership. “Mr. Seifert is a man of integrity and is a very respected member of our community. He is fair to all and shows compassion for those less fortunate.”

Seifert serves as assistant treasurer for his church, The Church of the Holy Innocents, and Rev. Lowery said one of the things he relies on Seifert for is maintaining the rector’s discretionary fund. Seifert has “a heart for charitable needs in our community,” Lowery wrote. “As a person who both donates to it…(and) who balances it on my behalf, he makes sure it is able to do the work it is established to do. I am grateful for this.”

Seifert has been a member of the VGCC board for many years and was its chair from 2003 to 2012. His family established an endowed scholarship a few years ago to honor Seifert and his wife of 61 years, Betsy.

“Donald is humble and shuns any limelight; however, his thoughts and counsel have proven time and time again to be encouraging and insightful. Donald not only symbolizes the ‘best in people,’ but he also models those attributes daily in the life he lives,” Ferguson wrote.

One of those attributes, surely, is humility. He said he appreciates the honor, and it was especially meaningful that his children presented it to him.

“It was one of the proudest and most humbling experiences of my life,” he said, reading from the letter of thanks that he sent the governor. And so as to put a face with a name, Seifert said he enclosed a photograph of him, his wife, their children and grandchildren taken the night he was presented with Cooper’s gift.

 

TownTalk: American Legion Works to Better the Community

/in , /by

Ticket sales for Friday’s chicken plate fundraiser at the American Legion hut in Henderson have been brisk – so brisk, in fact, that Andy Roberson, commander of local post 60 said if you haven’t gotten a ticket yet, you’ll have to rely on luck to snag a plate. 

“We’ve actually sold 1,150 tickets,” Roberson told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk. “That’s the most we’ve ever done.” They shoot for 1,200 plates each time, he said. The fundraiser begins at noon and ends at 2 p.m.

There are usually some no-shows, however, and the cooks always prepare 50 or so extra plates, so if you’re feeling lucky, there’s a chance you can get a plate closer to 1:30 or 2 p.m. without a ticket.

Roberson said the legion post tries to hold the fundraiser twice a year – April and October – and tries hard to avoid other community fundraiser dates. 

Next year, the local post will celebrate 100 years of service in the community, Roberson noted. But it wasn’t too long ago that the post was in danger of having its charter revoked for lack of membership and activity.

Roberson has been involved with Legion Post 60 for about five years. Numbers had dwindled as members aged, he said, and he credits Ed Blue for keeping the post afloat. Blue’s efforts, along with a policy change that removed active military service as a requirement for membership.

The ranks have swelled to 125 members today, Roberson said, adding that service members who served in Afghanistan and Iraq now join veterans who saw action in Vietnam and Korea.

Roberson said it’s just as important for the legion to support the community as it is for the community to support the legion’s efforts.

In addition to raising money to send students to participate in Boys’ State and the N.C. State Highway Patrol Student Academy, Roberson said annual countywide oratorical contests the Legion sponsors could lead to thousands of dollars in scholarship money for local winners who win competitions at higher levels.

In addition, he said a local Girl Scout troop meets at the Legion building.

But mostly, the legion is active to support veterans’ needs, he said. Whether it’s building a home ramp or better accessibility or arranging transportation to the VA hospital for appointments, the legion wants to be available for veterans.

They meet on the third Thursday of the month, gathering at 6 p.m., sharing a meal and then having a meeting about 7, he said, and extends the invitation to any service member to consider joining. 

“If you have a DD-214 with an honorable discharge,” you’re eligible to join. 

“We all have something in common in that building,” Roberson said. 

“If you’re a veteran and you need some help, you call and we’re going to do everything we can to help you,” he said, from help with military service records or getting paperwork squared away to get VA services. “Whatever it takes, we will try our best to get it done.”

Roberson hopes to join Mako Medical and Chick-fil-A again this year to provide meals for veterans. The tentative date is Nov. 5 when veterans can “drive by and get a bag with some food in it,” Roberson said. 

Having such good community partners makes for a good relationship, he added. Other projects in and around the legion have been completed by others in the community, Roberson said. There’s a firepit with five benches representing the five branches of the military that was a scout project, and Franklin Brothers Nursery installed mulch and other landscaping during a recent facelift. The family of Harold Ivey donated a new heating and air system in memory of their loved one as well, he said.

“It just shows what you can do in a community where people want to be tied in to veterans,” Roberson said. 

Contact Roberson at 252.432.2432 to learn more.

 

 

Vance County Logo

Vance Water District Gets $4.4M In Grant, Loan Program For Improvement, Expansion

/in /by

The Vance County Water District is one of four in the state that will benefit from a federal program to help rural communities improve drinking water for its residents.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Vance County is set to get $1.6 million in loan and an additional $2.8 million in grant funds to build its Phase B waterline expansion project, according to a press statement from the USDA.

According to the statement, upgrades include installing 23 miles of water mains and expansion of the county’s coverage to 210 rural residents within the Kittrell township.

“Rural Development is providing much needed assistance to help rebuild these dated water systems in rural North Carolina,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Reginald Speight.
USDA water and environmental programs help rural communities obtain the financing and technical assistance necessary to develop, maintain and improve drinking water and waste disposal systems, Speight added.

The loan and grant program serves people and businesses in eligible rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less.  It provides money for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water damage.

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program is awarding $272 million to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater across 37 states and Puerto Rico, affecting more than 270,000 residents.