Vance County Schools Logo

VCS Updates: School Buildings to Remain Closed Through May 15

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools continues the journey through COVID-19 and how it is impacting not only our education system but our families as well. We learned today that the Governor is mandating that school buildings remain closed for students through May 15, 2020.

Remote Learning

The Vance County Schools Remote Learning platform and many resources are available on our district website for students Pre-K through 12th grade. Students have a variety of ways to receive instruction: learning packets, online or a blended model of the two. We are working with each individual student’s situation to ensure we are meeting their needs academically.

An opportunity to pick up new packets, as well as drop off completed ones will be provided after Spring Break. Each school will send out instructions on this process. If you have any questions about your child’s remote learning, please contact the school for further guidance.

Meal Distribution

Meal pick up continues this week, Monday through Thursday (March 23 – 26) from 11 a.m – 1 p.m. Pick up sites include Aycock Elementary, EM Rollins Elementary, Zeb Vance Elementary, New Hope Elementary, Vance County Middle and Vance County High.

Spring Break

As a reminder, Spring Break will be from March 30 – April 3. During that time, we have coordinated with several churches and organizations for meal distribution to take place on March 31. Please check our website for updates on pick-up locations.

Events/Facility Rentals/Athletics

Due to the Governor extending the executive order for the closure of school buildings, all school and district-wide events scheduled now through May 15, 2020, are canceled. Arts Alive, previously scheduled for April 25, 2020, is postponed, with the hope to reschedule.

Additionally, all facility rentals are canceled during that time and athletics will remain suspended until at least May 18, 2020.

Office Hours

Vance County Schools is continuing to work to ensure we are available for our families as we face the impacts of COVID-19. To curb the spread of the coronavirus, we are moving towards conducting business with minimal personal contact. Every school office and district office will continue to be available by phone from 9 a.m.  -4 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience but safety continues to be a priority for our district.

We will continue to keep our families up-to-date with the latest information. We realize that things are not easy at the moment for many in our community, but we are committed to doing all that we can for each and every child. As a reminder, should you have any questions or concerns about remote learning, meals, the calendar or other issues, please reach out to your child’s school.

Spring Street Missionary Baptist

Spring Street Missionary Baptist to Offer Community Free Food, Clothing

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Pinky Davis-Boyd, Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church

On Friday, March 27, 2020, from the hours of 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church will provide free food and clothing to the community in the church parking lot.

The church is located at 511 Orange Street in Henderson.

NC Governor Logo

Governor Orders Increased Access to Childcare, DMV Clarifications

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper has waived restrictions to increase access to caregivers to provide flexible child care and elder care during the coronavirus emergency. The Order provides flexibility to local health departments working to adapt to the increased need for their resources.

Additionally, it provides for ways for Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices to enact social distancing protections and waives some registration requirements to ensure resources can be delivered by truck throughout the state.

“Doctors, nurses, first responders and other critical personnel need to know their children are safe so they can continue to respond during this time of crisis,” said Governor Cooper. “And we’re loosening trucking requirements so important medicine and equipment can get quickly to the people in all 100 counties that need it.”

The Order provides for the following provisions:

  • Improve access to safe, flexible child care for first responders, emergency personnel, food preparers and others;
  • Transfer authority to local health departments to be more flexible with mandates during the crisis, so they can prioritize the most needed services;
  • Lifts some restrictions so that volunteers and other caregivers may care for children and elders during the crisis.

The transportation waiver includes provisions to:

  • Allow DMV offices to ensure appropriate social distancing including requiring appointments and making sure offices have enough space for DMV customers;
  • Postpone DMV hearings that can reasonably be delayed during the crisis response;
  • Offers clarity around regulations so that critical supplies can get where they are needed throughout the state;
  • Waive Commercial Driver’s License requirements to ensure school buses can be utilized in responding to the crisis.

The North Carolina Council of State concurred with the order Friday. The full order is available here.

For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which includes daily updates on positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.

Situation Report – As Expected, Vance Has A Case

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Henderson-Vance Emergency Management Director Brian Short has released the latest situation report, and included in it is information about Vance County’s first positive Coronavirus case.

In an adjoining press release from Granville-Vance District Health Department Director Lisa Harrison, she wrote, “There is one confirmed case of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that we know of in Vance County. The affected person is currently in isolation at home and has cooperated with the restrictions since being tested. Local public health officials will notify individuals if they may have been at risk of being in contact.”

Short wrote in his latest local situation report, “Today, we had our first instance of an individual who tested positive for the Coronavirus in Vance County. The individual is being isolated at home and our local health department is conducting contact tracing to determine the level of exposure to others. This was anticipated and presently does not constitute any changes to our current response posture or our recommendations to the general public.”

The case count is above 250 in North Carolina, but the death count is zero.  You can track information online.  Short wrote, “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.”

Harrison wrote, “Both Granville and Vance County’s first cases are considered community spread – neither one has traveled out of North Carolina recently that we know of at this time.”

The local health department and health care professionals continue to work tirelessly to identify cases through testing, tracking the cases and notifying the public while maintaining the privacy of the individual patients.

Being smart, practicing good hygiene and limiting unnecessary trips is the guidance right now regardless of the number of positive cases in the local community.

“Personal protective equipment (PPE) continues to be very scarce as global competition for the same supplies is occurring. Responders and health care providers are being encouraged to reuse PPE, in particular masks as often as possible to ensure that we hold on to our supplies for as long as possible. Once they run out, they could be out for an extended period of time,” Short wrote.

Henderson and Vance County remain under a local State of Emergency, a necessary precaution which allows implementation of certain emergency protective measures if and when they should become necessary.

Based on press releases from the respective agencies, both the Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office are responding to nonemergency calls via telephone.  Both arms of the local law enforcement community are still responding as they always have to emergency calls.

Short concluded his local situation report as follows:

“We continue to encourage our citizens as they shop for groceries and other related items to please shop smart. Our local convenience stores and grocery stores and working hard to restock their shelves and for the most part, items are available for them to do so, however we have to allow them to do that. That means using good shopping practices and buying only what you need for yourself and your family.

“We are strongly encouraging our citizens to continue to observe the social distancing parameters being order by the Governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies. If you need to go to work, the grocery store, pharmacy or other necessary trip, please do so but we are encouraging everyone to stay home as much as they possibly can. In particular those individuals that are already at risk due to age or other medical conditions.

“Many of our local restaurants have been very creative about continuing to provide their services to our citizens whether it be keeping their drive through services open, offering online ordering or curbside services and this is greatly appreciated.”

Harrison wrote, “Please rely on accurate sources of information from the CDC (www.cdc.gov) and State Division of Public Health (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina) as well as your own local public health officials. Granville Vance Public Health will provide the most up-to-date and accurate information for COVID-19 in our district online at https://gvph.org/.”

GVPH included the following additional information in the press release from Harrison:

“Although we have enough sample test kits to work with those who are showing symptoms of illness, we do not have the supplies to test everyone at this point. Dr. Guthrie, Granville Vance Public Health Medical Director, offers a reminder there are things we can all do to stay protected from COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a generous amount of hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol, on all surfaces of the hands and wrists.
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Disinfect surfaces – especially ones that are frequently touched – using household cleaning spray or wipes.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Listen to the advice about social distancing and reducing the spread of this virus – we all have a part to play and staying home is a simple way to reduce spread.
  • Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Understand things are changing quickly and everyone is still learning.

“What to do and when to seek medical evaluation and advice:

  • If you or a family member has fever AND lower respiratory symptoms (cough or difficulty breathing), call your healthcare provider first. The person who tested positive in Vance did all the right things – called first, was able to prepare the provider for testing and everyone addressing the patient was able to remain at low-risk for exposure in the situation. That is the ideal way to ask for a test – to talk through it first – and that is what we ask of everyone.
  • Emergency rooms need to be able to serve the most critically ill so do not use the Emergency Room unless you are very sick. Emergency warning signs include, but are not limited to: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; Persistent pain or pressure in the chest; New confusion or inability to arouse; Bluish lips or face
  • Only call 9-1-1 if you are having an emergency.
  • You may call the statewide Coronavirus Helpline if you have questions at 1-866-462-3821, which is answered 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.”
U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. ATTORNEY URGES PUBLIC TO REPORT SUSPECTED COVID-19 FRAUD

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

— press release

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by sending an e-mail to disaster@leo.gov.

In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes.

“As our health care professionals and first responders work tirelessly to defeat COVID-19, we can be certain that criminals will attempt to profit from the fears of the public and will take advantage of this dangerous pandemic for their personal gain. The Department of Justice is committed to detecting, investigating, and aggressively prosecuting those who commit this wrongdoing. As we fight to address COVID-19 related fraud that is unfortunately emerging across the country – we want to raise awareness and forewarn those who might otherwise fall victim to these scams,” said United States Attorney Higdon.

Some examples of these schemes include:

  • Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
  • Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
  • Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
  • Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.

In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. The Eastern District of North Carolina’s Fraud Coordinator is Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes.

The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.

To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Walmart D.C. Hiring On 24-Hour Application Cycle

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

— info submitted by the H-V Chamber of Commerce from Walmart D.C. Human Resources Department

Walmart is hiring 150,000 new associates in our stores, clubs and distribution centers to help support the current level of demand.

At our distribution center we are hiring Order Fillers and Lift Drivers. These are full time jobs with great benefits.

To quickly hire these individuals, the company has approved to temporarily reduce our usual two-week application cycle to be just 24 hours.

If you know of individuals who are out of work and would make a good addition to the Walmart team, please encourage them to apply through www.walmartcareers.com or text “DC” to 240340.

(This is not a paid advertisement.)

Vance Co. Schools Announces Meal Schedule for March 23-26

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools served 15,220 meals the week of March 16 – 20, 2020. Despite school taking place virtually, VCS is committed to taking care of our students academically and emotionally, as well as by providing meals.

Meal Schedule for March 23 – 26

Meals will be distributed each day Monday, March 23 – Thursday, March 26 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the following locations:

    • Aycock Elementary
    • EM Rollins Elementary
    • New Hope Elementary
    • Zeb Vance Elementary
    • Vance County Middle
    • Vance County High

Meal pick up will be drive-thru. Meal units that are passed out Monday – Wednesday will include two meals – lunch for that day and breakfast the following morning. Thursday distribution will include two breakfasts and two lunches.

We have a blended model of learning in place for our students as we navigate COVID-19, which can be found on our website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us under Remote Learning.

For students who may be feeling depressed, anxious, sad and/or lonely during this time, crisis counselors are available to help by calling 1-844-772-9669. In the event of an emergency, always call 911!

VCS will continue to update you all with the latest information as it becomes available.

 

 

 

Suspect in Kittrell Food Mart Incident Charged With Seven Armed Robberies

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, Vance County Sheriff’s Office

On Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 9:48 p.m., the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to Kittrell Food Mart, located at 1243 U.S. Highway 1 South in reference to an armed robbery.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division arrived at the scene and began the investigation. A person of interest was developed.

Wesley Deandre Anderson (Photo courtesy VCSO)

After conducting interviews, Wesley Deandre Anderson, age 20, became a suspect.

Criminal Investigation Division made contact with other jurisdictions that had similar incidents in Franklin County and Wake County (Knightdale and Raleigh, North Carolina). Anderson was subsequently charged with a total of seven (7) armed robberies.

Anderson was charged with one count of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon for an incident the occurred on March 7, 2020, in Vance County.

Anderson has no bond and is currently in the Wake County Detention Center. His court date was set for May 11, 2020. This investigation is continuing.

NC State Board of Elections

State Board Investigating Possible Text Messaging Scam

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections

The State Board of Elections is investigating a possible scam targeting North Carolinians with unsolicited text messages regarding their voter registration status or asking them to register to vote.

Recipients of the text messages should not click on the link embedded in the text and delete any such text messages from their phone.

The link sends recipients to what purports to be Vote.org’s website, but Vote.org officials confirmed Thursday that they are not sending the text messages.

The State Board is investigating and will alert state and federal authorities about the issue.

The State and County Boards of Elections have received numerous calls and emails from concerned recipients of the text messages.

“We know these texts can be confusing to voters, and we take this situation very seriously,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We urge all North Carolinians to get information about voting and voter registration from trusted, reliable sources, including your state and county boards of elections.”

Voters can check their registration status at any time using the State Board voter lookup tool here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.

If you would like to register to vote, the voter registration application can be found here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Voter_Registration/NCVoterRegForm_06W.pdf.

For more information on voter registration in North Carolina, visit the State Board website at https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voters/Registering-to-Vote.

Vote.org also released a statement on Thursday:

“We at Vote.org take voter integrity and protection very seriously and ask that voters reach out directly to officials if they believe they have been contacted without solicitation. Text messages received in the last week were not that of Vote.org. We will continue to protect your vote, stay in communication with the North Carolina State Board of Elections and encourage voters to reference state registration websites and our official platforms at Vote.org. All communications received from Vote.org are marked as being such and can be found on official platforms.”

Alexis Simmons Awarded Barker-Ferguson Endowed Scholarship to Barton College

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, Oxford Preparatory School

Alexis Simmons, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has been awarded the Barker-Ferguson Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship provides full-tuition, room and board.

Alexis Simmons, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has been awarded the Barker-Ferguson Endowed Scholarship and has also been named a Nursing Scholar at Barton College. The scholarship provides full-tuition, room and board. (Photo courtesy OPS)

Alexis has also been named a Nursing Scholar at Barton. Alexis is the daughter of Steve and Lisa Simmons of Henderson, NC. During her time at Oxford Prep, Alexis has earned a number of academic distinctions including being named marshal, earning membership in Beta Club and a Director’s List recipient every semester.

Alexis not only excels in academics, she is also a talented dancer and thespian, having performed in numerous roles with the Henderson Rec Players.

The Barker-Ferguson Endowed Scholarship was established through a gift by Eddie and Debra Ferguson in honor of her father, William L. Barker, and in memory of her mother, Birdie Parham Barker, and of his parents Jack E. and Dorothy Hunt Ferguson. One full scholarship is renewable as long as the recipient maintains a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.

The Barker-Ferguson Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a resident of Granville or Vance counties, North Carolina, who attends high school in those counties. Nominations are to be made by the guidance counselor(s) and/or principals of each school to the Barton College Scholarship Committee.

The recipient must meet the following minimum requirements: SAT score of at least 1,000, unweighted high school grade point average of a 3.40 on a scales of 4.00, and rank in the upper ten percent of the high school class (where available). Demonstrated leadership potential and exemplary extracurricular performance are also weighed heavily in the selection process.

Alexis competed in a Barton’s selective, early acceptance program that allows high school students who meet GPA and test score requirements to be accepted directly into the nursing program without competing for upper-level courses at the conclusion of the sophomore year.

As a Nursing Scholar, Alexis met rigorous academic requirements including maintaining a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and having an ACT composite score of 24 or higher; or SAT 1170 or higher (Evidence-based Reading, Writing, and Math).