The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will open for the 2020 season on Saturday, April 25th, according to Tracy Madigan, Market Manager. Ms. Madigan reports that she has been carefully reviewing expert recommendations on procedures that minimize risk for customers, vendors and employees. “The Farmers Market is a vital community resource for both consumers and farmers,” noted Madigan, “so we want to set an example of using good practices.” Thus, all customers will be asked to strictly observe social distancing and hygiene practices, and Madigan indicated that signage and floor markings will be in place as reminders.
Paul McKenzie, Horticulture Extension Agent for Vance County, said that Farmers Markets across the state are sharing information about best practices so that they can continue serving as a source of fresh and nutritious food. “Most markets,” he reports, “are providing additional hand washing facilities, doing more frequent cleaning, and spacing vendors further apart. North Carolina producers raise the best farm products you could find, and I’m very glad farmers markets can continue to make it available. In many cases,” he said, “farmers markets have been way ahead of the curve in implementing safety practices.”
Customers of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market are asked to wear face coverings, wash hands frequently, and keep visits short. “We are asking customers to let vendors handle the product and to make pre-orders that can be picked up quickly,” said Madigan. She also asked customers to please visit the Farmers Market website or Facebook page for complete details on the new shopping procedures. “Above all, we want our customers to have access to the fresh and nutritious food that is grown by our local farmers.” The web address for the Vance County Regional Farmers Market is http://go.ncsu.edu/vcrfm. The Market will be open on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday hours will start on June 1st. For more information call 252-438-8188 or email farmermarket@vancecounty.org.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0072_Vance-Co.-Regional-Farmers-Market-front-042816.jpg.png265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2020-04-20 11:57:072020-04-20 11:57:07Vance County Regional Farmers Market Opens Sat, Apr 25
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0032_American-Red-Cross.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-20 11:20:522020-04-20 11:20:52Henderson Family YMCA to Hold American Red Cross Blood Drive
-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce
To extend a helping hand to small businesses suffering from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations, and philanthropic donors – is working to provide financial relief through the Save Small Business Fund.
The Fund is providing $5,000 in short-term relief to employers across the United States. These one-time supplemental cash grants are for businesses that have between three and 20 employees and operate in an economically vulnerable community. You will be asked to put in your zip code (27536 is an approved area) and you will need your business W-9 form.
Grants will be awarded on a weekly basis, but you only need to apply one time to be eligible for funding. Once the grantee has been notified and submitted payment information that meets compliance checks, it will take 3-5 days to process the payment. The number of grants awarded will be scaled in proportion to the demand and available funds.
The grant application will go live on Monday, April 20, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET. To learn more about the Save Small Business Fund and to apply for a grant, visit savesmallbusiness.com.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/US-Chamber-of-Commerce.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-20 10:42:222020-04-20 10:42:22Local Area Eligible for U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Financial Relief Initiative
Brian Short, H-V Director of Emergency Operations, and Lisa Harrison, Director G-V District Health Department, provide email correspondence daily and include WIZS News.
To quote a few lines from Short’s Sunday afternoon situation report:
“As of now, the total number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Vance County has increased to 30. Five (5) individuals have now been released from isolation, three (3) more remain hospitalized, 22 individuals are currently isolated at home and [there has been] one (1) death as a result of complications associated with Coronavirus infection.
“Keep in mind that even though you are not feeling sick, you could still be infected with this virus. Please think not only of yourself but of those around you. Each and every one of us has the power to directly affect how quickly or slowly this virus spreads.
“Testing is ongoing through both Maria Parham Health, our local Health Department and private institutions. There are currently 6,493 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in North Carolina with 465 currently hospitalized and thus far 172 deaths. Please visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services Coronavirus statistics page at the following link to stay current on the number of cases in our state: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-nc”
As you will see, there are still a lot of ifs, ands and buts to declaring someone recovered. Harrison said making that declaration is “a clinical assessment.”
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-Information courtesy Dorothy Wimbush, Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church
The Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church fundraiser has been rescheduled for Monday, July 6, 2020, from 4 – 7 p.m. at 220 Seafood Restaurant in Henderson.
Tickets are still the same price of $8 in advance or at the door. Eat-in or take out. Plates include trout, french fries and slaw. Beverage provided for eat-in meals only.
Contact Dorothy Wimbush at (252) 425-7366 for advance tickets. Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of the event.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Faith-Cross-Graphic.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-17 12:18:522020-04-17 12:18:52Big Ruin Creek Baptist Church Moves 220 Fundraiser to July
-Information courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations
As of April 16, 2020, the total number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Vance County increased to 27. Presently, 25 individuals are self-isolating at home with two (2) others currently undergoing treatment at Maria Parham Health.
One death has been reported in Vance County as a result of complications associated with Coronavirus infection.
According to Granville Vance Public Health, there are 105 known cases in Granville County, with 74 of these cases being reported at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner. The NC Department of Health and Human Resources reports four (4) virus-related deaths in Granville County.
North Carolina reports a total of 5,465 cases.
It is still very likely that given the progression of this virus elsewhere in the world and in our country, cases will continue to increase over the days and weeks ahead.
At this time, the Henderson-Vance Emergency Operations coordinated response posture remains the same. We strongly encourage our citizens to continue to observe the social distancing parameters and closing orders issued by the governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0063_H-V-Emergency-Operations.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-17 08:58:062020-04-17 08:58:06Vance County COVID-19 Cases Rise to 27; Granville Reports 105
State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, and the Financial Operations Division (FOD) of the Department of State Treasurer (DST) announced on Thursday that North Carolina has received more than $2 billion from the federal government as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The CARES Act, as passed by Congress and signed by the President, will provide $150 billion for the Coronavirus Relief Fund including direct payments to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and eligible units of local government based on population as provided in the CARES Act.
Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) along with the Office of the State Controller and staff at DST completed the application on April 14 and the funds were received by the State Bank (DST/FOD) the next day. The money is the first disbursement from the federal government of more than $4 billion slated for North Carolina.
“As keepers of the public purse, we’re responsible for receiving money and putting it in interest-bearing accounts,” said Treasurer Folwell. “We’ll process the withdrawal when directed by the legislative and executive branches.”
The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) will decide how the state’s money will be spent as part of legislation expected near the end of the month. Once an agreement has been reached, OSBM will distribute the funds. In the interim, the Investment Management Division at DST will invest the money in a short-term investment fund (STIF) that is high quality, low risk and interest-bearing. The money will be held until the NCGA and/or OSBM directs where it will be spent.
DST serves the people of North Carolina through a variety of functions related to the financial health of the state and its citizens. Folwell serves as the state’s banker and chief investment officer and is responsible for approximately $200 billion in assets.
The department administers the employee retirement systems for more than 900,000 public workers, along with their 401(k), 457 and 403(b) plans. DST also oversees the State Health Plan, which provides health care coverage to more than 727,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, current and former lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, and their dependents.
Fiscal assistance and expertise are provided by the department to local governmental units by aiding them in the sale of local government debt obligations and in maintaining sound budgeting, accounting, and reporting procedures. The department also administers the NC Cash unclaimed property database.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/State-Treasurer.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-17 08:29:122020-04-17 08:29:12Treasurer Folwell Announces $2 Billion Received as Part of CARES Act
Debbie Scott, niece of Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., the first person to die in Vance County from complications of COVID-19, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.
Scott contacted WIZS directly to pay tribute to her uncle, who passed away on Easter morning, Sunday, April 12, 2020, at the age of 72, following a confirmed positive case of the virus.
Fuller was well-known and respected in the community as a former Henderson Fire Department (HFD) lieutenant who retired with over 28 years of service in 2000, said Scott, and served as a “father-figure” to many, herself included.
Long-serving Henderson firefighter Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., passed away on Easter morning, Sunday, April 12, 2020, at the age of 72, due to complications of COVID-19. (Photo courtesy the family of Fuller).
“Most people would know him as Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., but we knew him in the family as Uncle Peewee,” Scott said. “That was his nickname because he only weighed three pounds when he was born.”
Prior to his decades-long service with the HFD, Fuller served as a firefighter for two years in Philadelphia before returning home to Henderson.
According to Scott, Fuller was also a professional photographer who captured joyful moments for his family and community members at weddings and other special occasions.
“He was a good person who went about doing good deeds; his profession was saving lives. He was a father, grandfather and great grandfather, and he was a wonderful uncle,” Scott said. “He was brave; he was the rock of our family and our hero. We looked up to him.”
While Scott would prefer Fuller to be remembered for his service to the community as opposed to his distinction as the first Vance County death due to COVID-19, she also warned listeners of the dangers of the virus.
“This virus is very serious and dangerous. I think we should do everything we can to follow protocol at this time. The way you have to deal with this is painful – you can’t see your loved one, talk to them or even be in the same building with them. No one wants to experience this.”
Scott said the healthcare workers at Maria Parham Health, Fuller’s ICU nurse, in particular, were instrumental in providing comfort during an emotional time for the family.
“We called his nurse for two days, and she was so wonderful. She gave him messages for us. We wanted him to know we loved him; he couldn’t talk. I called her back yesterday to thank her for what she did.”
In a touching surprise to Scott, WIZS reached out to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell and former chief Danny Wilkerson, both who worked with Fuller for years, for comment.
Chief Cordell had this to say about Fuller, “He was a good, Christian man. When I came to work at the fire department in 1992, Lt. Fuller was a fire engineer, and I worked under him for my first six months. Lt. Fuller took me under his wing and taught me the ropes. I will always appreciate the effort he put into me as a young, 20-year-old coming in the door.”
Cordell continued, “I was able to see Lt. Fuller go from fire engineer to fire lieutenant over fire prevention, and he excelled in that position; he made a tremendous impact on young kids. He was able to take the enthusiasm that he brought every day to the job and use that to educate young kids and adults on fire safety.”
Wilkerson said, “He was a great person and a very good firefighter. He was at the fire department a few years before I started in 1975. Being a new firefighter, he gave me a lot of guidance, and I really took that to heart. He is also one of the first African-American firefighters that the Henderson Fire Department had.”
“The one thing Walter did that really stood out to me,” Wilkerson added with a chuckle, “was that he was all for enforcing the City’s fire lane and handicapped parking. I believe he wrote more fire lane and handicap parking violations than any firefighter or police officer at the time.”
Wilkerson’s final thoughts on Fuller echoed Scott’s sentiments expressed during the interview, “The thing that I always respected about Walter is that he put God first, then his family and then his fire department family, and he would tell you that is how your priorities in life should be.”
To hear the interview with Scott in its entirety, including comments from Cordell and Wilkerson, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Walter-Fuller-Jr..png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-04-16 17:02:192020-04-16 17:02:19Town Talk 04/16/20: Tribute to Lt. Walter Fuller, Jr., Fire & COVID-19 Fighter
Two gifts totaling $20,000 from Greenville, NC based Union Bank, to The Salvation Army of Henderson (serving Vance, Granville, Franklin, Northampton, Halifax and Warren Counties) will provide much-needed help and hope to Granville and Franklin County families and individuals impacted by COVID-19. The donations are earmarked to provide food and meal assistance to children and families impacted by the pandemic.
“On behalf of our Union Bank family, we are proud to offer a measure of relief during this unprecedented time,” said Rob Jones, CEO of Union Bank. “One of our core values is to make a difference in our communities. This contribution recognizes the challenges that individuals and families in our markets currently face. I am especially proud to say that this gift includes contributions from Union Bank, members of our Board of Directors and personal contributions from Executive Management.”
Annually, The Salvation Army serves thousands of people in the six-county service area through programs that provide food and meals, shelter, clothing, disaster relief, rent and utilities assistance and Christmas gifts for needy children and seniors.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed major financial setbacks for North Carolina residents and The Salvation Army has received an influx of requests for assistance.
“COVID-19 continues to bring challenges for many people,” said Lieutenant Derrick Smith of The Salvation Army of Henderson. “The need for Salvation Army social service programming is essential in our community. This gift from Union Bank will strengthen our feeding programs to help people facing financial difficulties at this time.”
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Salvation-Army-1.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-16 15:10:282020-04-16 15:10:28Union Bank Helps Salvation Army Fight Pandemic
Governor Roy Cooper today charted a path forward for eventually easing certain COVID-19 restrictions while still protecting North Carolinians from a dangerous second wave of the virus.
“This virus is going to be with us until there is a vaccine, which may be a year or more away,” said Governor Cooper. “That means that as we ease restrictions, we are going to enter a new normal. We want to get back to work while at the same time preventing a spike that will overwhelm our hospitals with COVID-19 cases.”
Expert modeling has shown it would be dangerous to lift the restrictions all at once because it would increase the chances that hospitals become overwhelmed and unable to care for severely ill patients. Cooper emphasized that changes in restrictions must protect public health, especially those who are most vulnerable to severe illness, including people over age 65, those with underlying health conditions and people living in congregate settings.
“Experts tell us it would be dangerous to lift our restrictions all at once. Rather than an on/off light switch, we are viewing this as a dimmer switch that can be adjusted incrementally,” said Governor Cooper.
In order to ease restrictions, the state needs to make more progress in three areas: testing, tracing and trends.
TESTING
State planning relies on an increase in testing capabilities to identify, isolate and track new cases of COVID-19. This means having the supplies and lab capacity to do more testing across the state. Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, has brought together laboratory partners from the public and private sector to coordinate efforts to ensure testing – diagnostic and antibody – is widely available across the state while also conserving protective equipment.
TRACING
Tracing requires the state to boost the public health workforce and the ability to trace contacts of new cases of COVID-19. Contact tracing can be effective at containing new outbreaks, but it requires more personnel. When a person tests positive, the tracing efforts will help identify who that individual may have been in contact with so those people can get tested and take the right precautions. NC DHHS is working with its partners to increase this critical piece of our public health workforce. New digital tools can also help scale this effort.
TRENDS
In order to ease restrictions, the state needs to understand how COVID-19 is impacting the state and impacting specific populations and regions of the state to determine when to strengthen or ease social distancing policies. Trends that will influence policy decisions will be based on data like the new positive cases, hospitalizations, deaths, as well as the available supply of personal protective equipment, hospital capacity.
“Because we acted early and because we acted together, we have averted the devastating scenarios we have seen playing out in other parts of our country and across the globe. We now need to look ahead at how we stay ahead of the curve. Widespread testing, aggressive contact tracing, and data-informed policy decisions are our best tools to keep our communities safe and protect our frontline workers,” said NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NC-Governor.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-04-16 08:18:382020-04-16 08:18:38Governor Roy Cooper Shares Path Forward for North Carolina
