Got To Be NC Festival Set For May 20-22 At State Fairgrounds

/by

Planning is underway for the 2022 Got to Be NC Festival and registration is open now for commercial vendors and homegrown marketplace vendors to participate in the three-day event coming up in May.

The annual event will be held at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh from May 20-22. It will feature food, wine and beer from across the state, according to information from the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

The festival also will feature one of the largest displays of antique tractors and farm equipment in the Southeast, and organizers are looking for tractor collectors and clubs to be part of the event. Plans include a daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds for tractors in working order. Participation is free and open to individuals and clubs, but pre-registration is required. Contact Pat Short at 336.706.9796 to register or for questions. National farm broadcaster Max Armstrong will be on hand to announce the Sunday, May 22, tractor parade lineup.

Food concessionaires, commercial vendors and organizations interested in exhibiting at the festival have until March 1 to complete their application at ncstatefair.org. For more information, contact Letrice Midgett, commercial space administrator, at 919-839-4502 or email at Letrice.Midgett@ncagr.gov or phone her at 919.839.4502.

April 1 is the deadline for North Carolina-based food and beverage companies to register for the festival. Prospective vendors must be members of the Got to Be NC marketing program. Got to Be NC program members should contact Sherry Barefoot at sherry.barefoot@ncagr.gov with questions.

Registration forms and vendor applications for the Homegrown Marketplace are available at https://gottobenc.com/event/gtbnc-festival/.

McGregor Hall

The Local Skinny! McGregor Hall — A Lot To Look Forward To

/by

 

 

Click Play

That familiar saying “the show must go on” holds true for the way Mark Hopper feels about upcoming events at McGregor Hall. Events that had been put on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are being rescheduled and Hopper said there’s a lot to look forward to.

Garret Davis’s “Living with Ruthie Mae” has been rescheduled for Sunday, Mar. 20 at 2 p.m.

Ticketholders need only show up and will be honored at the door, Hopper told John C. Rose during Tuesday’s Town Talk.

Tickets are still available for “Living with Ruthie Mae” at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557.

On April 22, the Duke Ellington Orchestra will bring the Big Band sound to McGregor Hall. On this date, Margaritas with Mazatlán will take place, he said, noting a change in the original schedule. The program begins at 7:30 p.m.

A “constant string” of dance competitions are scheduled to be held starting in March, Hopper said. A smaller, more local competition was held last weekend, setting the stage for the upcoming events.

“They’ll start in earnest in March,” Hopper said, adding that they will get a lot of people here in the motels and spending money in the community.”

Events at McGregor Hall help to increase visitors to the area, which in turn pumps some extra dollars into the economy. That was part of the vision since McGregor Hall’s inception.

As chair of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, Hopper said he couldn’t be prouder of the way the community has supported McGregor Hall during its first five and half years in operation.

“We should have been bankrupt in two years,” Hopper said, reflecting on the early days of the cultural arts center. “But we’re solvent and paying our bills and still able to bring good quality entertainment to the area. Some funding is pandemic-related and comes from grants from entities like the N.C. Arts Council, the N.C. Community Foundation and the John W. Polk Foundation.

But it’s the support from the local business community that Hopper said has been something special. “It’s been extraordinary,” he said. And when events were suspended or cancelled because of the pandemic, Hopper said that’s when the business community stepped up.

“They know what we’re offering and what we bring to the community,” he said. “They value what we’re offering.”

One offering will be observing the 50th anniversary of the Henderson Rec Players. This group has become a regional operation, drawing actors from towns like Hillsborough, Fayetteville and Fuquay-Varina. Hopper said it’s a wonderful opportunity for children in the community to get to work alongside semi-professional and amateur actors.

In true dramatic fashion, Hopper left us with a cliff-hanger: stay tuned for a major announcement coming up this summer…

Visit https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ to learn more.

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

/by

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for February 15, 2022. 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 February 15, 2022

 

Name of the Company:   Vance County

Jobs Available: Social Worker II and Program Assistant V

Method of Contact:  For more information contact your local NC Works Career Center or apply online at ncworks.gov

 

Name of the Company: Penn Pallet

Jobs Available: Laborer

Method of Contact: For more information contact your local NC Works Career Center or apply online at ncworks.gov

 

Name of the Company:  City of Henderson

Jobs Available:   Camp Counselor

Method of Contact:  For more information contact your local NC Works Career Center or apply online at ncworks.gov

 

Name of the Company:  Kerr-Tar Council of Government

Jobs Available:  Family Caregiver Resource Specialist

Method of Contact:  :  For more information contact your local NC Works Career Center or apply online at ncworks.gov

 

Name of the Company:  Turning Point CDC

Jobs Available: Group Leader of Creating Success After School – Involved in the planning, Implementation, evaluating and delivery of program for youth ages 5-12. All applicants must be available to work on-site Monday – Friday 2:00 – 5:30 pm and must have a valid driver’s license.

Method of Contact:  Applicants can apply by visiting www.turningpointcdc.org/getinvolved or call 252-621-5190 with questions

  

Name of the Company:  Document Systems

Jobs Available: Looking to fill a Service Technician position

Method of Contact: If interested in applying please call 252-433-4888

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.

 

TownTalk: HPD Chief Barrow Discusses the “9pm Routine” and Local Public Safety

/by

It’s just good sound advice, but coming from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, getting into a #9PMRoutine, it sure sounds like something everyone in the area should pay attention to.

Barrow joined John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk to discuss how a few simple steps at the end of each day could give residents peace of mind about their safety.

“We’re supposed to feel safe in our homes,” Barrow said. A nationwide campaign that is #9PMRoutine reminds folks to lock their vehicle doors, close and lock exterior doors of the home and turn on exterior lights to keep yourself from being an “easy victim” of crime.

Grownups may remember growing up in a time where nobody locked their car doors and may not have even locked their doors at night, but they also didn’t have all those shiny, portable electronic devices – GPS systems, cell phones, computers – that are easy targets for theft.

The main idea of the #9PMRoutine is just that – getting people in a routine that they remove their valuables from their cars and remove the temptation for would-be thieves.

“Portable things that you can easily walk away with that have value” are what thieves are looking for, Barrow said.

Additionally, he said his department gets lots of calls about firearms being stolen from vehicles. Barrow suggests that those gun owners who support the Second Amendment right to bear arms also need to know the responsibilities associated with that right.

“Be responsible about how you leave it in your vehicle,” he said.

Visit the Henderson Police Department’s Facebook page to learn more about the #9PMRoutine.

 

 

Click Play

 

High School Seniors Interested In Health Care Have Scholarship Opportunity From Triangle North Health Foundation

/by

Area high school seniors with an eye on college in the fall are getting their ducks in a row  – or have already gotten their ducks in a row – to be ready for their next adventure once those high school tassels have been turned in a few months.

But those students with an interest in pursuing a health or medical career have an opportunity to apply for a scholarship to offset tuition costs.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is offering a scholarship that will be awarded to one student in each of the four counties that TNHF serves – Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin  – to the tune of $10,000.

Students should submit completed applications to their guidance counselors by March 11, 2022. Each high school in the four-county region may nominate one candidate. The scholarships will be paid directly to the schools in 2 $5,000 payments.

Winners will be announced in the spring. Funds may be used for tuition, room, board and books.

Visit www.tnhfoundation.org for details about scholarship criteria and to download an application.

TownTalk: Nobles Seeks To Bring More Visibility To H-V Crime Stoppers

/by

As the new president of the local Crime Stoppers, Frankie Nobles said he’s impressed at just how willing the board members are “to step up and do what needs to be done.”

Nobles said he’d like the community to do the same when it comes to providing information to solve crimes.

He told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that there was not a single payout request in 2021, which means that either there were no indictments or convictions as a result of tips sent in anonymously or, more likely, no tips sent in at all.

“We need the community to step up,” Nobles said. He also said he believes that people may be worried that their identity will be discovered. But Nobles said that is not the case.

Calling or texting the Crime Stoppers number is completely anonymous, Nobles said. The calls or messages get routed through a maze of different servers. The software that is used is safe and confidential.

“I think people are scared to make a tip because they think somebody’s going to know.” But he assures the public that is not the case. “We never even know who’s getting the money.”
Tips that do come in to Crime Stoppers are given to the appropriate agency, he explained. When an indictment is handed down or a conviction is made, the law enforcement agency submits the information to the Crime Stoppers board, which determines the amount of the payment to be made.

The board meets monthly, Nobles said. The executive board consists of Tonya Moore, who serves as vice president; Danny Wright, treasurer; and James Baines, secretary. Additional board members include Lorraine Watkins, Mike Fisher, Henry Gupton, Edward Woodlief and McKinley Perkinson, who is the fundraiser chairperson.

The Crime Stoppers will have a chicken plate fundraiser on March 11 at the Vance County Rescue Squad on 1735 Maynard Road. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available from any board member. Tickets must be purchased in advance, he said. It’s takeout only, and delivery can be arranged for 10 or more plates.

This is the first time the organization has had a chicken plate fundraiser, he said. Crime Stoppers formed in 1982 and VGCC law enforcement instructor Tom Long was its first chairman in 1985.

Nobles said the group has got some good things planned for the community and for the law enforcement personnel it supports.

COVID-19 has created a few wrinkles in the past couple of years, but the golf tournament is being planned and there will be another 50-50 raffle, for starters.

He wants Crime Stoppers to be more visible in the community by participating in events like the downtown car show and Night Out Against Crime.

But most importantly, he wants law enforcement agencies to know that Crime Stoppers supports them. Each agency will submit a name of an officer to be recognized for exceptional service in 2021, he said. “These officers are out there every day, putting their life on the line for us – the least we can do is recognize them.”

Visit the Crime Stoppers Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events.

 

The Local Skinny! VCS Grabs 10 Blue Ribbon Awards For Excellence In Multimedia Communications

/by

Vance County Schools Director of Communication Aarika Sandlin accepted 10 Blue Ribbon Awards during a virtual ceremony last week, and Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett called Sandlin’s creativity and commitment to sharing the accomplishments of students and staff is to be commended.

During the awards ceremony on Feb. 11, 2022, the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) recognized VCS  for outstanding and effective communication across several categories, from graphic design to digital and electronic media.

VCS received three Gold level awards for outstanding work in Image and Graphic Design (2) and Special Events, three Silver level awards for work in Digital Media and Special Events (2) and four  Bronze level awards given in Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing and Publications (2).

The judges praised the work, sharing it was “superb work from start to finish!” This is another strong finish for Vance County Schools, having earned nine Blue Ribbon awards in 2020.

In a written statement to WIZS News, Bennett said Sandlin “works diligently to ensure that publications, social media posts and presentations tell the story of the innovative spirit of students and staff.”

Ken Derksen, NCSPRA president and executive director for community engagement & student and family support for Wayne County Public Schools, said the work of the award winners exemplifies the high standards and qualities members demonstrate in their daily school communications programs. “Blue Ribbon Awards are among the highest and most prestigious honors that a member of our organization can attain. I congratulate all of this year’s winners for achieving statewide recognition as a Blue Ribbon Award winner. These awards highlight the superior work being accomplished in the area of school communications and all that our members are doing to support and promote public schools across North Carolina,” Derksen said.

NCSPRA recognizes outstanding communications through its Blue Ribbon Awards program each year. Vance County Schools was one of 37 school districts statewide to receive a Blue Ribbon Award. This year’s submission categories included: Marketing, Digital Media Engagement, Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing, Publications, Image/Graphic Design, Photography, and Special Projects and Events. The Georgia School Public Relations Association judged NCSPRA’s 2021 Blue Ribbon entries.

During the virtual event, Nicole Kirby, president of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) paid tribute to award winners and thanked all North Carolina school districts for their efforts to effectively communicate during difficult times. Kirby praised the districts and their communications teams for the powerful way they have responded to help parents, students, and staff during the COVID crisis. “At a time when we are all under extraordinary pressure, you have continued to produce award-winning work,” Kirby said.

NCSPRA is a statewide professional organization serving more than 150 members. Its mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations. For more information, visit the NCSPRA Facebook page or www.ncspra.org.

Click Play

SportsTalk: Coach’s Corner: Craddock And Rogers WIZS Players Of The Week

/by

When not in a pool or on the soccer field, you might find Kailen Craddock on horseback.  Craddock wasn’t named women’s varsity WIZS Player of the Week for her equestrian skills but for her work in the pool at Vance Charter. The sophomore swimmer placed 3rd in the regionals and 13th overall after turning in a time of 116.15 in the 100 meter breaststroke.  Her performance was good enough to make her this week’s women’s player of the week.

For the men’s varsity player of the week, the honor goes to Drew Rogers, a senior basketball player at Crossroads Christian.  Rogers is averaging 20 points per game. On February 4th he scored 20 against Lee Christian and last night he scored 25 in the semi-finals of the Mid Carolina Conference tournament also against Lee Christian.  His performance for the team makes him the men’s varsity player of the week. Tonight Crossroads Christian plays Grace Christian for the conference championship.

The WIZS Players of the Week can be heard every Friday at 1 p.m. during the Coach’s Corner segment of Sportstalk on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM and online at wizs.com.  Congratulations to both Kailen Craddock and Drew Rogers.