Community Partners of Hope

CPOH Shelter Making Progress Toward May Move; Many Ways For Community To Help

The transformation from church facility to men’s shelter continues at the former City Road Methodist Church location, and there are many opportunities for the community to help in advance of a hopeful May move-in date.

An immediate need is for groups to provide or sponsor meals for the next couple of months, according to information from Community Partners of Hope, especially for dates leading up to and including Easter Sunday – Most needed dates are Mar. 28, Mar. 29 and Mar. 31 (Easter Sunday).

Sign up HERE with this link if you or your organization can provide a meal for the men at the shelter.

There are numerous other ways to help:

  • Replenish snack items – PopTarts or breakfast bars, peanut butter crackers, bags of single-size chips and other items individually wrapped items that the men can take with them during the day
  • Laundry pods

Visit THIS LINK HERE for dropoff instructions for donated items.

Church groups, civic organizations and others can provide help through service projects – here are just a few tasks that need to be completed:

  • Help assemble and paint 3 new bunkbeds
  • Help disassemble, move, re-assemble and touch up 5 existing beds
  • Help paint exterior doors and windows (this can happen after the move)
  • Help move items from old shelter to new – washer/dryer, shelving, supplies and more
  • Clean bathrooms, carpet, etc. in the sanctuary wing to make it ready to lease to a congregation who needs a church to call home
  • Help arrange supplies in the new shelter

Please call 252.432.9494 to sign up to help.

Community Partners of Hope also needs the following items – free would be great, but at least for purchase at a reasonable price:

  • 8 single mattresses for bunk beds
  • Heavy duty washer/dryer – we will have 2 sets in the new shelter
  • Folding cots to use with air mattresses (need 12)
  • Air mattresses – easy inflatable – we have a pump (need 8)
  • TV monitor for security system – prefer 42-inch

If you or someone you know has experience with technology, the shelter needs help selecting, purchasing and installing the following:

  • WiFi router – mesh system – probably 3 nodes – need help with research
  • Electronic combination door locks – WiFi enabled (6 or 8) – need help researching best brand to purchase

And, as always, financial donations are much-needed and welcome. The 365 Dream Team campaign is one way to sustain the shelter ministry with $1/day contributions – the goal is to get 365 donors to become members of the 365 Dream Team. Learn more at www.cp-hope.org.

 

Items to Buy and Sell

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS ~ YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE

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Monday, March 18, 2024

  • Firewood for sale.  Call 252-767-6792
  • Wanted: Tread Mill.  Call 252-430-8175
  • Wanted: enclosed trailer.  6 x 12 or 6 x 14, single or dual axle.  Call 252-213-1697

Thursday, March 7, 2024

  • Pair of titanium rear exhaust pipes for a Porsche 911.  $150, Negotiable.  Call 919-345-8590

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

  • Crochet bag asking $15, soap saver $4, ear warmers $4, baby girl newborn hat $8, shawls $15 (2), dishcloth $4, dog bandana $4, crock pot $10, kitchen appliances and more available until 3-6-24 after lunch.  Call 252-432-7752

Monday, March 4, 2024

  • Looking for a wine bar at reasonable price.  Call 919-339-8297
  • Have a Roundabout Power Chair in excellent condition. Never been on the ground. Regular Price $1,897, asking $900.  Call 919-339-8196

Thursday, February 29, 2024

  • Double and single vanities for bathroom.  Call 252-213-3141

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

  • Wanted, someone to remove old tobacco barn.  Call 252-492-0289

Monday, February 26, 2024

  • Air conditioner, $50; exercise bike, $50; gas logs still in box never used, $200; desk with file table $20.  Call 252-767-2369 or 252-432-7752.

Friday, February 23, 2024

  • Looking for a good priced music keyboard for sale….Yamaha, Casio or anything in good condition. You can call and/or text a photo image to Jake at 252-213-1065
  • Looking to sit with a person or do light house cleaning. 3-4 hours a day.  Call 252-267-8431

Monday, February 12, 2024

  • Lcp crimson trace laser sight. $50.  Call 252-492-0289
  • Looking for a floor splitter at reasonable price. Call 919-339-8206
  • All Trac 2 electric wheelchair in very good condition. Just replaced batteries. Originally $8000.00, new, top of the line.  Used very little.  Want $500.00.  Call or text 252-308-2181 Call 252-308-2181
  • Construction Metal Brake used to fold or bend material.  Call 270-585-6985
  • Large dual wheel capacity metal wheel barrow in very good condition. $ 100.00. Text is better tfor contact. Call 252-204-0908

Monday, February 5, 2024

  • Stainless Steel Microwave and Range (Frigidaire Professional). $300 for the range. $200  for microwave.  Call 252-226-2214
  • Looking for a stove and refrigerator at a reasonable price for a rental property . Call 252-657-9266
  • Treadmill, 3 hours of use, like new.  $325.  Call 252-213-2848

 

 

TownTalk: Police Chief Concerned With Litter Problem

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow wants the public to be on the lookout for…signs in their neighborhoods that are part of an anti-litter campaign.

The signs will feature brightly colored handprints – about the size of a child’s hand – and will include a QR code that is linked directly to Crime Stoppers, so the public can report instances of littering by pointing their cell phone at the code.

Barrow told WIZS Monday on TownTalk that the campaign is as much about education and prevention as it is about catching litterbugs.

With a modest $6,000 budget from a federal asset forfeiture funds allocation, Barrow said he plans to target elementary school-aged children across the city to impress upon them the importance of keeping litter off the streets.

“It’s going to be an inclusive campaign,” Barrow said, adding that there will be ways to tie in with businesses, pastors and churches and individuals. “We’re just going to try to throw the kitchen sink at this thing,” he said.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon helped get quarterly cleanups started when he came on board, which complements the state’s annual Litter Sweep campaign, which this year is April 26.

Barrow said he still recalls those catchy phrases he learned when he was in elementary school, and they’ve stuck with him – “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” and “Give a Hoot – Don’t Pollute,” to name a few.

This campaign’s catch phrases aimed at schoolchildren can have a similar lasting effect on today’s young people – “Don’t Trash Our Future” and “Children Deserve a Clean Community” bring home the message to put trash in its place.

There’s even talk of having stickers that fast-food restaurants will put on their bags that will contain the anti-litter messaging, Barrow said, “to put it in as many faces as we can to prevent (littering) instead of taking punitive measures.”

More information about the upcoming campaign should be available in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Friday Ceremony Names Satterwhite Point Bridge Over I-85 For Master Trooper Brent Montgomery

Dozens of uniformed State Highway Patrol troopers stood solemnly Friday afternoon around a crowd of easily more than 100 friends and family members gathered for the first part of a dedication ceremony to honor the late Master Trooper James Brent Montgomery.

The bridge that carries SR 1319 – Satterwhite Road – over I-85 in northern Vance County was officially named in Montgomery’s memory.

Montgomery died in March 2021 of complications from COVID-19. He was 50.

In opening remarks, Brandon Jones, division engineer for NCDOT, said Montgomery will be remembered for the integrity and compassion that he displayed in the pursuit of law and order.

“He was a loving husband, father and friend,” Jones said, and active in his community and church.

Pastor Gary Harper offered the invocation and benediction for the brief ceremony held indoors at Kerr Lake Country Club. Harper said he married Montgomery and his wife, Heather, and he dedicated their children.

He called Montgomery a “dreamer,” someone with a vision – whether it was for a good-looking vehicle or a fancy watch, both things he was fond of.

SHP Maj. William P. Moore II was one of several speakers who recalled his friend and colleague and said the sign on the bridge will serve as a public reminder of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make every day in the line of duty.

Montgomery’s compassion wasn’t something he learned, Moore said; rather, that compassion was “simply the core of Brent’s spirit.”

That green highway sign with the words “Master Trooper Brent Montgomery Bridge “is an outward reminder of (our) gratitude for his service…we owe it to our fallen heroes to uphold his memory.”

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon recalled how the whole community rallied around Montgomery and his family when illness struck. There was an outpouring of support to pull together fundraisers during his sickness and everybody pitched in to make them successful.

“He left us too soon…but he gave us so much,” Sossamon noted. “He was loved, respected, valued and appreciated.”

Unlike the other speakers, N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said he had not had the pleasure of knowing Montgomery. Robinson said he recalled attending the trooper’s funeral, and felt a little awkward because this was someone that he really didn’t know.

“But I see him every day in the faces of the troopers…in other police officers across this state…in the faces of all these people in this room,” Robinson said.

When people drive across the newly named bridge, some of them will only know that a law enforcement officer who lost his life is remembered by the state.

“There are many more people…who will ride across that bridge and smile,” because they knew just who Brent Montgomery was.

“His name on that bridge is more than a plaque,” Robinson said. “It stands as a legacy.”

And speaking directly to the trooper’s family seated on the front row, he asked them to consider one thing when they pass over the Master Trooper Brent Montgomery Bridge and remember their loved one: “Don’t shed a tear, but smile.”

A steady drizzle Friday afternoon didn’t affect the procession of Highway Patrol cars, blue lights blazing, down the ramp to northbound I-85 at Parham Road to reach their destination at the Satterwhite Road bridge. Rescue vehicles and fire trucks of all shapes and sizes blocked traffic to allow the entourage to pass unhindered. A ladder truck was parked along the interstate at the Satterwhite Road bridge displaying a giant American flag as part of the dedication ceremony.

One Man Injured In Shooting On N. Clark Street

 

PRESS RELEASE from Henderson Police Department

On Wednesday, March 13, around 10:28 PM, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to 213 N. Clark Street in reference to a person who had been shot. Upon arrival, officers found a 67-year-old male suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment and has since been released from the hospital. Members of the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigations Division are actively investigating the incident and following up on promising leads.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252.438.4141, your local law enforcement agency, Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in criminal acts.

VGCC Logo

Tickets On Sale Now For VGCC Foundation Beer, Wine Tasting Fundraiser Apr. 13

– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation is hosting a wine and beer tasting event on Saturday, April 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at HighRock Farms in Granville County. Tickets are $75. Proceeds of the fundraiser will be used to help support students who find them facing unforeseen financial crises.

The theme for the event is “Be the Light in a Student’s Life,” and there will be an array of wineries represented to highlight their signature wines. Local brewery Tobacco Wood Brewing Company will be showcasing their craft beers  Guests will be able to pair their beverages with an assortment of sweet and savory foods, including seafood, chicken and beef, according to a press release from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Unexpected burdens can easily derail some students. Having initiatives like a stocked food pantry, emergency assistance, transportation vouchers, and career closet, The VGCC Foundations steps in to meet students’ basic needs when the unexpected gets in the way of their academic progress.

Attendees will receive a souvenir wine glass and have the option to purchase their favorite finds. In addition, a variety of silent auction items will be on display for bidding throughout the evening. A short program showcasing students who have benefited from donor contributions will open the evening, and local students will provide the event’s entertainment.

Beth and David Hollister operate HighRock Farms, a 200-acre property located at 2317 Enon Rd., Oxford. The venue is handicap accessible.

Dress for the evening is business attire.

Purchase tickets at The VGCC Foundation office, online at www.vgcc.edu/the-vgcc-foundation-online-gifts and enter “Gala” in the Designation box. To purchase tickets using any other form of payment, please contact The VGCC Foundation by email at foundation@vgcc.edu or by calling 252.738.3264.

GVPH Director Lisa Harrison Receives State Honor As Health Director Of The Year

Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Macon Harrison was named Health Director of the Year at the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors’ annual awards ceremony in Raleigh.

Harrison, who has been at the helm of GVPH for 12 years, was selected based on her commitment to public health and “lifting the work, value and voice of health departments locally, statewide and at the national level,” according to a press release.

NCALHD President Quintana Stewart presented the award to Harrison. “Lisa is a leader not only for her health department but also for several local health departments in North Carolina and across the United States as she has shared their stories and passion while advocating for needed resources to support their dedication to improving the lives of our neighbors,” Stewart stated.

In a telephone interview Wednesday with WIZS News, Harrison said the award was “a huge surprise – I wasn’t expecting it.” She did say, however, that as she sat in the audience, listening to the presenter talk about the not-yet-named recipient, she thought the list of accomplishments sounded familiar.

“I thought, ‘That sounds a lot like my resume,’” Harrison said. “And then, all of a sudden, comes in the leadership team and  Michael,” her husband. “It totally surprised me – I didn’t know a thing about it until the end,” she added.

“It’s been such a fun experience,” Harrison said. “Being in public health is working with some really caring, skilled, talented, smart people who are just nice to work with. It’s just such a pleasure to get up and go to work every day – I’m very lucky.”

Harrison called her leadership team “amazing,” and said the staff of 100 works hard every day. “There’s so much work to be done in a health department and our people just do it really, really well, so we’re held up as an example in rural public health,” Harrison said.

Growing up in Cullowhee in the western part of the state and working in a largely rural area has shaped her career – and her passion – for rural North Carolina. Harrison became a leader and champion for rural communities throughout the state and nation and focusing on the importance of public health in all communities.

During her 12 years at GVPH director, Harrison has created, led and supported a multitude of public health service enhancements and expansions. The health department’s budget has increased by 129 percent under her leadership, a testament to her advocacy efforts with local and state elected officials as well as her gift of successful grant writing.

Since 2015, GVPH has secured more than $6 million in grant funding to combat mental health and substance use disorder challenges in the two counties it serves. GVPH was the first health department in North Carolina to offer Medication Assisted Treatment, building on the success of the primary care services model to provide regular visits with a healthcare provider and linking individuals to behavioral healthcare and support resources. As a result, the National Association of Counties selected GVPH for a Peer Exchange site visit in April 2023, bringing leaders from across the U.S. to the rural communities in Vance and Granville counties.

Since 2016, GVPH has offered comprehensive primary care services to ensure whole-person care, including preventive services for obesity, diabetes, hypertension and medical nutrition therapy.

In addition, GVPH has also implemented, supported, or led partnerships aimed at reducing the number of people with mental illness in jails along with 30 agencies representing law enforcement, jail administration, public health agencies, EMS, social work agencies, behavioral  health agencies, and community through the Stepping Up program. Harrison brought together organizations and community members to help kids stay healthy through the Working on Wellness Coalition, which implements and evaluates the impact of evidence-based interventions focused on nutrition, physical activity and prevention of chronic disease to improve child health and well-being in Granville and Vance counties.

Harrison also makes sure that the health department provides “safety net” care for its clients. Since 2016, GVPH has offered comprehensive primary care services to ensure whole-person care, including preventive services for obesity, diabetes, hypertension and medical nutrition therapy.

But her influence extends beyond county lines as she has proven herself to be an unwavering champion for local public health in North Carolina and across the nation. Harrison has often represented local health departments in media campaigns, on commissions and to statewide leaders. She served as a Task Force Chair for the N.C. Institute of Medicine’s Future of Local Public Health Task Force and was inducted as a member of the N.C. Institute of Medicine.

In October 2021, as the COVID pandemic continued to affect so many people’s lives and livelihoods, Harrison, as president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, presented testimony to the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce highlighting the national public health workforce crisis and explaining that no other healthcare providers have the breadth of responsibility for communicable disease control as public health workers.

As a result of being a part of this national discussion, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra spent a day visiting Granville and Vance counties in November 2023 and participated in a GVPH-led roundtable discussion highlighting efforts to expand healthcare access and lower healthcare costs in rural areas.

GVPH Medical Director Dr. Shauna Guthrie, called Harrison a champion and strong voice for local public health in the state and nationally.

“Whether in her community, across the 100 counties of North Carolina, or the almost 3,500 local health departments across the nation, Lisa is a public health warrior,” Guthrie said. “She is an innovative leader who has highlighted Granville and Vance counties for community efforts to improve their health, and who finds partnerships across various healthcare groups to further the practice of public health.”

By partnering with agencies and organizations throughout the counties it serves, GVPH can effect positive change. Whether it’s with schools, hospitals or the juvenile justice system, these partnership touch people’s lives. “That’s what success means to me in public health,” Harrison said.

 

 

Bill Martin – Troop C District 4 – Order of the Long Leaf Pine

William “Bill” Nission Martin retired as a Master Trooper with the State Highway Patrol. His 30 years with the law enforcement agency – every one spent with Troop C District 4 – was a remarkable achievement.

But N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon put some icing on the proverbial cake Sunday, Mar. 10 and presented Martin with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor the state gives.

Sossamon presented Martin with the award at Tungsten Baptist Church with family, friends, retired co-workers, current Highway Patrol employees, members of the community and members of the church looking on.

Throughout his career, Martin garnered numerous accolades and recognitions for his exceptional service to the community. As a Trooper Training Officer, he played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of law enforcement professionals, imparting his wisdom and expertise to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens he swore to protect.

This dedication was underscored by the acquisition of several certificates, each a testament to his commitment to excellence. He earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Vance Granville Community College, laying the educational foundation for a distinguished career. He was also certified as a VASCAR Operator, Radar Operator, and Breathalyzer Operator, all of which showcased his proficiency in the latest law enforcement technologies and techniques.

Beyond his career in law enforcement, Martin is a proud Mason, exemplifying his commitment to principles of fellowship, charity, and personal growth. He has been a member at Tungsten Baptist Church since 1973, which is a testament to his strong faith and enduring dedication to his community.

Following his retirement from the SHP, Martin continued his service as a Vance County deputy sheriff for eight years. During this tenure, he served as both security for the court and court Bailiff, ensuring the smooth administration of justice in the county.

Within his cherished Tungsten Baptist Church, Martin has held various vital roles, including deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Superintendent of Sunday School. He is known to lend his technical skills by operating the soundboard during church services and offering comfort through prayer when needed.

Bill Martin’s life is a remarkable journey of dedication, faith and service. His enduring commitment to his community, both in his career and within the church, has left an indelible mark that continues to inspire and uplift those around him. Martin’s legacy is one of selflessness, and his impact on Troop C District 4 and Tungsten Baptist Church will be remembered for generations to come.