Stories include:
– Corbitt Preservation Society raises funds
– Applying for Low Income Energy Assistance
– Livestock Emergencies Webinar
– Vance Charter Basketball
For full details and audio click play.
Local Vance and Granville Government meeting times around the area are “Things to Know!”
— by Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties, NC Cooperative Extension
The Advisory Board for the Vance County Regional Farmers Market will meet on Thursday, January 7th at 2 p.m. This will be a virtual meeting using the Zoom video conferencing platform. The Board will be reviewing the 2020 farmers market season and begin discussing plans for 2021. The Board will also conduct its annual review of the Vendor Guidelines. These Advisory Board meetings are open to the public, and there will be an opportunity for public comment. Anyone who would like to attend should contact the NC Cooperative Extension Center for Vance County at 252-438-8188 by 1 p.m. on January 7 to request meeting access credentials.
Imagine you’ve just purchased a vintage vehicle that looks oh, so beautiful. As you lower yourself into the driver’s seat, hands gripping the steering wheel, you can’t help but make a little wish: Please start. Just let that motor turn over.
Charles E. Powell may have had a similar wish in October 2020 when he issued his President’s Challenge as a fundraiser for the Corbitt Preservation Association. Please, let those donations come in.
And come in they did. Nothing short of a Christmas miracle, according to Powell. Total donations, at his last count, stand at $18,390.
Powell set a goal of $5,000 and chose the month of October 2020 to issue the challenge for donations. Every person making a $50 donation received full membership to the organization as well as their choice of swag – t-shirt, hat, coffee mug or travel mug. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of all the shows and events that usually help to bring attention and donations to the Corbitt Preservation Association, whose mission since 2003 has been to keep alive the love for the trucks that were built in Henderson between 1899 and 1954.
Ken Stegall on behalf of the Corbitt Preservation Association and association president Charles Powell.
In a letter provided to WIZS, Powell provided an update as of Dec. 15, recalling the initial days of the challenge. “After it was announced in the middle of September people started donating right away,” he wrote. “We were doing well through the first two weeks of October, averaging $1500 a week,” adding that they were on track to meet the goal. And just when donations had slowed to a trickle, an anonymous fellow member made a matching donation: if the President’s Challenge raised $5,000, the anonymous donor would contribute an additional $5,000. “We got super excited then!” Powell stated in the letter. At that point, the challenge had raised about $3,000, but the chance to get the matching donation kick-started the giving and more donations came in.
“The last week we were up to $4000 and then it stopped again. At this point I was about ready to concede defeat,” Powell recalled. He and fellow CPA’er Ken Stegall were feeling dejected when, with just a couple of days left, the thing they had hoped for happened: “and just like that, we had OVER $10,000!”
A total of $2,080 came in the form of memorial donations for Lou Almand, who died in October. Through their work with the Vance County Historical Society, Almand and his wife, Anne, had been instrumental in making the first Corbitt show in 2002 a success. Her husband had requested that, instead of flowers, any donations were to go to the Corbitt Preservation Association, according to Powell.
The challenge itself, minus the $2,080 in memorials, stands at $16,310. In the spirit of true gratitude, Powell stated, “I can honestly say our people love and believe in the brand name of Corbitt. I will always be grateful and never again will I forget how much you love our group and what we are doing for Corbitt and the community. LONG LIVE CORBITT!”
It isn’t too late to make a contribution. Donations can be in the form of a check sent via mail, by PayPal or by credit card over the phone.
Checks may be mailed to CPA, PO Box 74, Henderson, NC 27536. If you wish to use PayPal, please email gjammer35@aol.com for an invoice. To pay by credit card, please call Ken Stegall at (252) 432-6476 or Charles Powell at (252) 767-2247 for assistance.
For more information, please visit The Corbitt Preservation Association’s Facebook page or website at www.corbitttrucks.com.
— press release courtesy of NCDA
RALEIGH –The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is issuing a warning to consumers to not purchase or let their dogs or cats consume certain lot codes and types of Sportmix brand dog and cat foods due to high levels of aflatoxin found in the products during testing. There have been reports of illnesses and deaths in dogs associated with some of the products identified in this recall. No cat or human illnesses have been reported.
The products are sold through Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. of Evansville, In. and distributed nationally.
“These products are registered for sale in North Carolina,” said Joe Reardon, assistant commissioner of consumer protection. “We know that they are available at brick-and-mortar retail locations as well as through online distributors. These products have shown high levels of aflatoxin and pet owners need to be diligent in not allowing dogs, cats or other animals, including wildlife, to consume the recalled products.”
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus and can grow on corn and other grains that are used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets. Signs of aflatoxin poisoning in pets include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice and/or diarrhea. If a pet owner suspects aflatoxin poisoning, they need to contact their veterinarian immediately.
Lot code information may be found on the back of bag and will appear in a three-line code, with the top line in format “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”
Recalled lot codes are as follows:
50# Sportmix Energy Plus Lots Exp 03/02/22/05/L2, 03/02/22/05/L3, 03/03/22/05/L2
44# Sportmix Energy Plus Lots 03/02/22/05/L3
50# Sportmix Premium High Energy Lots 03/03/22/05/L3
44# Sportmix Premium High Energy Lots 03/03/22/05/L3
31# Sportmix Original Cat Lots 03/03/22/05/L3
15# Sportmix Original Cat Lots 03/03/22/05/L2, 03/03/22/05/L3
Consumers should destroy the products and wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups and storage containers.
The Food and Drug Administration has more information on the recall at its website, https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/midwestern-pet-foods-voluntarily-recalls-pet-food-recall-aflatoxin-health-risk?fbclid=IwAR1wEhFpZgyCZA8U9H0HnDAzNJYJ_zG2POLWGZv12zWlGi4KlNGULRm02WY.
Contact Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at 800-474-4163, ext. 455 from 7AM to 4PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at info@midwesternpetfoods.com for additional information.
Stories include:
– Vance Co. Animal Shelter closed due to a Covid 19 related issue
– Sewer bypass and storm water issues
– livestock emergency webinar
– City Council woman Rev. Ola Thorpe Cooper
For full details and audio click play.
Leaders in the City of Henderson are trying to address sewer bypasses caused by heavy rain. Storm water inflow and infiltration continues to present issues and a lot of times in the same areas.
WIZS News finds not fewer than 10 press releases in 2020 about sewage bypasses in Henderson.
At the nearby RDU airport, the National Weather Service indicates rainfall amounts about 10 inches above normal this year. The Greensboro area is about 18 inches above normal. In Fayetteville, the 2020 total is about 15 inches above normal.
Most recently, the City of Henderson’s sewer collection system bypassed approximately 115,180 gallons of untreated water on December 24, 2020, as was disclosed by a press release from the City.
The press release read, “The overflows occurred at Sandy Creek Pump Station, and several manholes including Neathery Street, intersection of Alexander Avenue/S. Elizabeth Street, intersection of Alexander Avenue/Willow Lane, intersection of Pinkston Street/Farrar Ave, S. Pinkston treet (Green Acres). Approximately 114,420 gallons of untreated water entered a tributary to Sandy Creek. Approximately 760 gallons of untreated water was contained on the ground.
North Carolina General Statutes require a press release for all bypasses of 1,000 gallons or more that enter surface waters.
In an email to WIZS News, Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon said these issues “will continue to be here until we are capable of adequately and systematically addressing both our aging and in some cases non-existent infrastructure. I choose not to dwell too much on the past although it has impacted our present and how we address issues in the future. But, also, keep in mind that some weather events do create challenges that we just can’t prepare for that are not just confined to Henderson, but shared by other communities around the region.”
Blackmon continued, “The City of Henderson recently adopted a storm water ordinance which is a requirement by the State of NC if we intend to keep issuing building permits and encouraging development in our community. There are basic requirements that we have up to five years to comply with as a part of our storm water management program. Further, the City Council did agree to apply for a $2.5 million loan to assist with addressing some of our storm water issues. We will know in early spring whether or not we were successful with this effort. This process will be a marathon and not a sprint, but we have started making strides to address these issues.”
The Vance County Animal Shelter is closed until further notice, according to a printed notice on the front door of the facility.
This is a covid-related situation.
Chief Animal Control Officer Frankie Nobles told WIZS, “We had a positive case, and we are taking all precautions to keep the public safe.”
Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen said, “As far as operations within our animal services department, we are still able to make emergency response calls with the staff that we have available – albeit a limited staff at the moment. Although the shelter is shut to the public this week internally we will be able to continue with feeding, cleaning and working with the animals, but due to staff shortages and to keep the public safe we have closed the shelter this week.”
The Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society of Henderson, which normally loads up and transports shelter animals each Friday night, has indicated to WIZS that the normal two masked folks from the society are not being allowed inside the shelter this week. To complete the adoption run anyway, and attempt to keep the adoption lines open to the northeast to places like New York and Pennsylvania, Ruin Creek Animal Protection is attempting to work with others, including Granville County.
— press release courtesy of the Warren County Arts Council
Warren County Arts Council Awards Funding to Regional Artists
The Warren County Arts Council has awarded $6,701 in direct funding to 7 artists in the North Carolina Arts Council’s first ever Artist Support Grant program. The Warren County Arts Council was chosen by the North Carolina Arts Council to be the lead arts council in a grants region that includes: Warren, Vance, Halifax, Northampton, Granville, and Franklin counties.
“The Artist Support Grants program responds to the impact of the pandemic by ensuring that artists and the state’s arts infrastructure have the resources needed to help our state make a strong social and economic recovery,” said Wayne Martin, executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council.
“We are honored to serve as the lead arts council in this new initiative,” said Charla Duncan, Chair of the Warren County Arts Council. “Working with our regional partners in this new consortium of rural counties gives us a chance to impact local artists in ways we haven’t been able to do before.”
Twenty-two artists from all six counties and from various disciplines applied for funding in this competitive application process, requesting a total of $25,900 in funding. Artists were not allowed to request more than $1,200 in funding. This year the grants are non-matching, but will most likely require a match in future cycles.
“Our review panel had a tough decision to make. The state only granted our region $5,000. The Warren County Arts Council chose to contribute $1,000 to increase the impact,” stated Duncan. “The Vance County, Franklin County, and Northampton County arts councils also contributed, so in total we were able to increase our region’s funding by $1,700.”
Awards went to: Senora Lynch, a potter from Warren County; Marvin Richardson and the Stoney Creek Singers, contemporary pow wow singers from Warren County; Ellen Newbauer, a woodworker from Warren County; Jereann King Johnson, a quilter from Warren County; Lydia Dudley, a singer from Warren County; Allison Darcy, a writer from Granville County; and Brandi Parker, a theatrical director from Vance County.
Funding will be used to support projects or needs that enhance the artists’ craft and careers.
The grant review panel consisted of arts professionals from across the state, and not members of any of the arts councils in the qualifying region. The panel included: Trista Porter (Executive Director, Greenville Museum of Art); Amy Grossman (President & CEO, NC Folk Festival); Hobey Ford (master puppeteer and Kennedy Center Partner in Education); Antoine Williams (mixed media artist and Guilford College professor); and Sarah Bryan (Executive Director, NC Folklife Institute).
“We were so honored to have such a thoughtful and intentional group of panelists,” said Duncan. “It was clear that they value the arts in rural communities as much as we do.”
For more information or questions please contact the Warren County Arts Council at warrencountyartscouncil@gmail.com. The Warren County Arts Council can be found online at warrencountyartsnc.org and on Facebook and Instagram at @wcartcouncil.
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About the Warren County Arts Council
The Warren County Arts Council was founded on April 20, 1999 in order to promote and increase appreciation for the arts in Warren County.
About the North Carolina Arts Council
The North Carolina Arts Council builds on our state’s longstanding love of the arts, leading the way to a more vibrant future. The Arts Council is an economic catalyst, fueling a thriving nonprofit creative sector that generates $2.12 billion in annual direct economic activity. The Arts Council also sustains diverse arts expression and traditions while investing in innovative approaches to art-making. The North Carolina Arts Council has proven to be a champion for youth by cultivating tomorrow’s creative citizens through arts education. www.NCArts.org
WIZS Noon News 12-30-20:
Vance County Sheriff’s Office Charges Against Suspects
New Year’s Garbage Collection in Henderson
Granville County Public Schools Good Audit
GOLD!! Local Gold in Franklin County
Click Play For WIZS Local News Audio…
