New VGCC Scholarship Endowed in Memory of Local Couple
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Dr. M.W. Wester, III, and his wife, Sara Wester, of Henderson have endowed a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College in memory of Dr. Wester’s parents.
The new Presidential Merit Award-level scholarship honors the legacy of the late Dr. and Mrs. M.W. Wester, Jr., better known as “Wes” and “Dee Dee” to their friends.
The late Dr. M.W. Wester, Jr. and Dee Dee Wester. (Photo contributed by the family)
The Westers met and married at Duke University, while he was a medical student and she was studying physical therapy. After completing school, they returned to his hometown, Henderson, where he opened a family medicine practice. He brought in a partner, Dr. Reg Tucker, and later Dr. Beverly Tucker, Dr. Roddy Drake, Dr. Randolph Mills and Dr. Franklin Mills.
The practice eventually became known as Henderson Family Medicine Clinic and is now Duke Primary Care Henderson. Dr. Wester was always interested in the education of new physicians and served as an adjunct faculty member at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill. He brought a number of medical students to the clinic in Henderson to complete their family practice rotations.
Mrs. Wester, born Eleanor Clardy, practiced physical therapy at Maria Parham Hospital for many years. Her hobby, however, was teaching ceramics, china painting and doll making at VGCC. She started teaching when the college was still a technical institute that was housed in the former Maria Parham Hospital in downtown Henderson, and she continued until 2008. Mrs. Wester also served on the VGCC Endowment Fund Board while she was serving as president of the Hospital Guild.
Sara Wester has continued her mother-in-law’s tradition of involvement with VGCC, as a member of the college’s board of trustees since 2004.
The new scholarship will be awarded to a student in a Health Sciences program.
VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson, Endowment Specialist Kay Currin and President Dr. Rachel Desmarais join Sara Wester and Dr. M.W. “Buddy” Wester, III, to celebrate the creation of the new scholarship in memory of Dr. Wester’s parents, during the 35th annual VGCC Endowment Fund Golf Tournament at the Henderson Country Club. (VGCC photo)
“This scholarship is a fitting tribute to the Westers’ lifetime of service and will inspire the students who receive it, as they pursue their own careers serving others through health care,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “At the same time, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vance-Granville, we are reminded of the important role of continuing education classes like those taught by Mrs. Wester, which have provided not only skills but also joy to members of the community throughout our history.”
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,400 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.
Enjoy ‘Fireworks Under the Stars’ at Satterwhite Point – Sat., July 6
-Information courtesy Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Enjoy an Independence Day Celebration with “Fireworks Under the Stars” at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point on Saturday, July 6, 2019.
This year’s event will offer fun for the whole family with food vendors, kid’s activities, t-shirts and glow sticks.
Activities are planned from 3 until 10 p.m. The state parks gate fee of $7 per car will apply.
No alcohol is allowed.
For additional information, please call (252) 438-2222, (866) 438-4565 or visit www.kerrlake-nc.com.
Town Talk: Vance County Schools’ Year-End Events
Terri Hedrick, public information officer with Vance County Schools, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to announce the school system’s end-of-year events and activities.
This Friday, June 7 will be the last day of VCS’ 2018-19 school year.
Hedrick discussed the Vance County Early College High School’s recent graduation ceremony on May 23 and announced upcoming commencement dates and times for AdVance Academy and Vance County High School.
For additional events and details from Hedrick’s segment, click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Vance Co. Middle School Eighth Graders Recognized at Year-End Ceremony
-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Eighth graders for the 2018-2019 school year at Vance County Middle School were recognized for their achievements during a special year-end ceremony held in the school’s gymnasium on Tuesday, June 4.
Principal Heddie Somerville began the ceremony by welcoming everyone in attendance, including the approximately 350 eighth graders and an audience of about 1,000 family, friends and community members.
Eighth graders at Vance County Middle School march into the school’s gymnasium to begin their year-end recognition ceremony. (VCS photo)
Eighth graders who led the ceremony included: Zephaniah Young and Anayia Harris, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner;” Devine Williams, who served as mistress of ceremonies; Kylie Newhouse and Breanna Kipp, who provided reflections on the school year; Makayla Terry and Isabel Cruz, who offered superlatives for their class; and Daniel Bolanos, who introduced the featured speaker Kimberly Jefferson.
Jefferson, who works for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and is a Vance County native, made remarks to the students and audience during the ceremony. She encouraged all of the students to work hard as they begin their high school careers to be successful and achieve their goals.
She talked about her own past as a student going through Vance County Schools and eventually graduating from Northern Vance High School, in the same facility as the middle school today. Jefferson even mentioned her time as a student-athlete at Northern Vance and playing basketball games in the same gymnasium.
The eighth-grade class at Vance County Middle School for the 2018-2019 school year is the first eighth grade to complete its time at the newly consolidated middle school.
Principal Heddie Somerville welcomes everyone to the eighth-grade recognition ceremony. (VCS photo)
Flying Drones Near Wildfires Could Result in Felony Charge
-Press Release, NCDA&CS
An increased use of drones, or unmanned aerial systems, around active wildfires are putting wildland firefighting operations at risk. These devices fly within the same altitude as aerial firefighting aircraft, which is between ground level and 200 feet.
Firefighting aircraft do not have any methods of detecting drones other than by seeing them. Visually detecting drones is nearly impossible due to their small size.
“To put it simply, drones and firefighting aircraft don’t mix,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “If you fly, the firefighters can’t. Aerial collisions between drones and aircraft could occur. Due to these safety concerns, when drones are spotted near wildfires, aircraft must land or move away to other areas. This means no fire retardant or water can be dropped, no tactical information can be provided to firefighters from above, and homes or other property could be put at risk if wildfires grow larger.”
The N.C. Forest Service is requesting the public’s help to keep wildland and aerial firefighters safe by not flying drones anywhere near a wildfire. N.C. General Statue 14-208.3 states that drone operators may not damage, disrupt the operation of or otherwise interfere with manned flights. Anyone in violation of this law can be found guilty of a Class H felony.
For more information, contact your local N.C. Forest Service office or visit www.ncforestservice.gov.
Town Talk: Brummitt Discusses Vance Co. Budget, Fire Restructuring
On Tuesday’s Town Talk edition, Vance County Commissioner Dan Brummitt provided an update on discussions held at the June 3, 2019, Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Continuing to hammer out the details of the FY 2019-20 Vance County budget – proposed at $48,362,611 – commissioners have a matter of weeks to finalize plans before the set July 1 implementation date.
One topic that has been much-discussed in recent months is the restructuring of the volunteer fire departments. Under the current proposal, paid part-time positions would be added to the County’s volunteer fire departments with the exception of the Vance County Fire Department, which would remain as currently structured.
Brummitt, who serves on the County’s Fire Commission, is not in favor of this plan.
“Under the current proposal, in order to accommodate adding part-time individuals to volunteer departments, the funds would have to come from somewhere else,” explained Brummitt. “I don’t agree with having a tax increase just to avoid going through some reorganization.”
“We can do more for the County and put more firefighters and first responders in our community for the same dollar amount we are currently spending.”
To hear the Town Talk interview with Dan Brummitt in its entirety, including more on his views of fire restructuring, listen to Town Talk by clicking the play button above. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Endows Third VGCC Scholarship
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation recently endowed a new scholarship specifically designed to support Vance-Granville Community College Nursing students who are enrolled in a program to complete bachelor’s degrees.
In awarding the “Triangle North Healthcare Foundation RIBN Presidential Scholar Award,” preference will be given to students in the “Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses” (RIBN) program. RIBN students are simultaneously enrolled at the community college and North Carolina A&T State University. They earn associate’s degrees in nursing through VGCC over three years (while also taking A&T courses online) and then continue for one year of additional courses at A&T required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
From left, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation (TNHF) executive director Val Short, VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais and Arline Richardson, a TNHF board member and chair of its Scholarship Committee, celebrate the creation of the new scholarship. (VGCC photo)
The new endowment marks a continuation of the partnership between the college and the foundation, which has already created two VGCC Academic Achievement Scholarships, one of which is also designed to be awarded to students in the RIBN program. The Presidential Scholar Award is the college’s second-highest scholarship tier.
“Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is pleased to support the RIBN program, which enables a local student to achieve a bachelor’s degree in nursing at a university while remaining in the community,” said Val Short, the Foundation’s executive director.
Based in Henderson, the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation provides grants to nonprofits organizations, governmental agencies, and schools in Vance, Warren, Granville and Franklin counties. The Foundation also provides scholarships to students in the region who are pursuing health care careers.
“We are grateful for the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s partnership with our college to further strengthen the RIBN program,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “This scholarship will be a new source of support to help outstanding Nursing students prepare for rewarding careers in health care and meet employers’ need for highly-trained professionals.”
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,400 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.
Ag. Commissioner Troxler: ‘Farmers Should Prepare for Hurricane Season’
-Press Release, NCDA&CS
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s annual plea for farmers to prepare for hurricane season is especially poignant this year in light of Hurricane Florence’s destruction in 2018.
“So many of us are still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Florence. This storm has been a disastrous reminder of just how important it is to have an emergency plan for your farm, food company or agribusiness,” Troxler said. “Take precautions, think through your plan now and discuss it with your employees and family.”
Scientists at N.C. State University are predicting 13 to 16 named storms in the Atlantic basin this year, which is the average as of recent years. Of those storms, five to seven could become hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season typically runs June 1 to Nov. 30.
Planning helps farmers protect their families, workers, equipment and buildings, Troxler said. “Livestock operations should maintain emergency plans that address power needs and on-site feed capabilities,” he said. “Also, identify places to relocate animals from low-lying areas. We need farmers to take these precautions to reduce animal losses from the storm.”
Farmers and businesses should review insurance policies to ensure they have proper coverage, including wind, hail, flood and catastrophic coverage if necessary. Some coverage takes 30 days to go into effect.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a website, www.ncagr.gov/disaster, with links and resources for different types of agribusinesses to plan and recover from a disaster. A Farm Emergency Plan Template is available on the site to help organize information that is needed after a disaster.