Special Olympics Polar Plunge 2018

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The Vance County Polar Plunge for Special Olympics North Carolina is Saturday, February 3.  You must preregister by Friday, January 5.

Contact Crystal Allen at 252-431-6091 or vance@sonc.net for more information.

Freezin’ For A Reason – Polar Plunge – Check in at the Satterwhite Point Glasshouse between 9:30 and 10 a.m. on February 3.  Prize giveaway from 10 until 10:30 a.m.  JUMP! at 10:30 a.m.

Allen is the Local Coordinator in Vance County.  She also works for the City of Henderson.

In a release of information, Allen wrote the following:

“Our athletes are not charged any fee to participate in the program, and we need your support! We will be having our annual Polar Plunge Fundraiser on Saturday, February 3rd, 2018. This will be an event where courageous participants raise funds for our program to jump in Kerr Lake. In order to keep costs manageable for this event, we are asking for donations from the community. If your business provides $50 or more to the Polar Plunge, we will put your name and logo on our T-shirts, which will be given to each participant. Checks can be made payable to Special Olympics Vance County at P.O. Box 1556, Henderson, NC 27536. Please mail checks in by January 8th, 2018 in order to have logo put on the T-shirts.”

Allen also wrote, “Thanks to the continued support of communities across North Carolina, Special Olympics is proud to say we now serve more than 38,000 athletes. Here in Vance County, we currently have a basketball program, a volleyball program, and a bocce program that provide opportunities for athletes to compete locally and across the state. In the future, our local program plans to add more sports and competitions to increase participation and opportunities, creating long lasting growth and success.

“Special Olympics strives to provide children and adults with intellectual disabilities hope for a healthier, longer, and more fulfilling life through sports training and competition that keeps them engaged in regular physical activity within a structured peer network. Through participation in Special Olympics our athletes achieve goals, build self-confidence and improve their overall health and well-being.”

Search Party Formed To Look for Mike Bowes

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A Henderson man, Michael Bowes, has been missing for just over a week.  A search party has formed, consisting of 45 or so people who are friends and family.  They meet this morning at the local Hardees.

The group was organized by Donna Ayscue.  She said, “He even missed Christmas with his children, and this is not like Mike.  He wouldn’t a never done that.  There’s got to be something wrong.”

In addition to the length of time he’s been missing, there is concern for Bowes’ health, the fact that it’s been so cold and whether he may be injured.

Ayscue said it’s not known if he needs help and can’t get any, “so that’s why I arranged a search party so we can go look around for him.”

The search party had information about a couple of good places to look for Bowes, and so that’s where they started according to Ayscue.

Another individual who participated in part of the search, who asked to remain anonymous, said some areas searched included Gun Club Road, the road on which Bowes is a resident, John H. Kerr Dam and near Hibernia on Kerr Lake.

Areas near Fox Pond Park and Greystone mine were also searched, and so “we covered some ground,” Ayscue said.

Apparently when Bowes last left home he said he would be right back.

Both Bowes and his vehicle, a silver Kia with NC license plate EBS 5850, are missing.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252-738-2200.

Attempts to reach anyone at the Sheriff’s Office for additional information or to confirm an official missing persons report have failed as of this time.

A group on Facebook called “Our Missing Hearts” has listed information about Bowes if you click here.

The Daily Dispatch here in Henderson has a full printed article in today’s paper, and there is a picture of Bowes if you click here.

WRAL TV 5 in Raleigh has an update with Bowes’ picture if you click here.

 

News 12/29/17

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Magician Lozoff at McGregor Hall Jan. 6

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— courtesy McGregor Hall

The New Year Kicks Off With Magic & Mystery As Celebrity Joshua Lozoff Brings His ‘Life Is Magic’ Act To McGregor Hall On Jan. 6, 2018

HENDERSON, N.C. (DECEMBER 28, 2017) — Prepare to have your mind blown on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, as McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson, N.C., kicks off the New Year with a magical performance theater goers will never forget — Joshua Lozoff: Life Is Magic.

Audience members will likely remember Lozoff from his days acting on the TV show “Cheers” or performing on the big screen in movies like “Clueless.” After his show at McGregor Hall, you’ll never forget Lozoff for his sleight-of-hand mastery.

Lozoff has been studying and sharing magic around the world for nearly 20 years. Today, Lozoff is regarded as one of the top magicians and recently had the honor of being one of only two magicians to receive an invitation to perform at the World’s Fair in Japan. He spent two weeks as a featured performer for the USA Pavilion, entertaining visitors from around the globe.

The award-winning documentary Metacarpus, about the power of the human hand, featured Joshua’s sleight-of-hand mastery alongside an orthopedic surgeon and sign language interpreter.

Joshua’s motto is “Life is Magic,” and he walks his talk by performing everywhere from penthouse suites to the slums of Guatemala City; sharing magic with Fortune 500 CEOs, folks on the street, and everyone in between. Joshua says, “the most beautiful thing about magic is how it appeals to everyone. I can go from a black-tie gala to a backyard barbeque, and everyone has a few moments in time which transcend our ordinary reality; moments of awe, of astonishment, and just a flat-out fun time.”

His performances combine his love for the art of magic, and his fascination with psychology as well as the powers of observation and influence. In one moment, he makes a drawing come to life just by pointing; in the next, he predicts an audience members choices even before they know it themself. “Audience members will be amazed by Joshua’s magic and mental demonstrations,” said Mark Hopper, Vice President of McGregor Hall’s Board of Directors. “We are honored to kick off the New Year at the hall with his caliber of magical, jaw-dropping entertainment.”

Tickets are on sale for $17 or $20 plus sales tax. Group and student rates are available.

Tickets can be purchased directly at the McGregor Hall Box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Box Office is located at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. The Box Office can also be reached by phone by calling (252) 598-0662. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.McGregorHall.org by using the secure and trusted purchasing platform, eTix. Online fees apply.

Joshua Lozoff: Life Is Magic is the first of several performances to be held in 2018. The lineup through April includes:
Daddy’s Boys: Broken Promises – January 13, 2018
Al Stewart and The Empty Pockets – February 17, 2018
Karen Peck & New River – February 23, 2018
Masters of Soul – March 3, 2018
Hotel California –  March 16, 2018
The Talleys with Tribute – April 7, 2018
Rod of God – April 14, 2018

For more information on these performances, visit www.McGregorHall.org.

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(McGregor Hall is an advertising client of WIZS.  This is a press release from McGregor Hall.)

Extreme Cold Can Break Plumbing Lines

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Not only has it been cold, but multiple days ahead at the start of the new year are forecast with daytime high temperatures below freezing.  High temps Monday and Tuesday may not crest the freezing mark with lows in the teens, and the extreme cold can break plumbing lines.

Exposed water and sewer lines and improperly installed lines that don’t drain properly along with well pumps and garden hose spigots are at risk among other things.

Larry Satterwhite, owner/plumber of RK&B Plumbing in Henderson, said a big thing folks fail to do is unscrew the garden hose from outside spigots.  As water freezes in the exposed hose it transfers the cold back into the spigot and into the pipe which can then freeze.  Depending on your spigot type, water can go everywhere.

Photo by Larry Satterwhite. He recently replaced an above ground sewer pipe that froze and cracked because it was originally installed with an improper fall.

Satterwhite said even frost-free outdoor fixtures are at risk if the hose is not disconnected because the water is unable to drain from the buffer portion of the spigot.  On a frost-free spigot, the water actually cuts off 8-12 inches back from the handle, but if the water can’t drain and freezes, then the next time the water is turned on the tubing will leak.  “If a garden hose is attached and water in it is already frozen, the draining can’t occur and every spring when you go to water your plants, you will see water shooting down the bricks on the inside foundation or out by the spigot hole,” he said.

As far as other water and sewer lines, Satterwhite said, “As long as direct air doesn’t get to it, it usually has to be about three or four days of below freezing, and the key is daytime doesn’t get above freezing.  When day and night stays below freezing, it’s trouble.”

Make sure if you have a well house that the well pump and lines are covered, shielded from the wind and remember that a single 100 watt light bulb inside the well house works wonders at preventing a freeze.

(RK&B Plumbing is an advertising client of WIZS.  This is a news article and not an advertisement.)

Vance County NC

Vance County Commissioners’ Properties Committee Meeting Tues, Jan 2

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Kelly Grissom, Executive Assistant and Clerk to Board, notified local press that “the County’s Properties Committee (Brummitt, Taylor, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. in the administrative conference room.  Topics to be discussed include the DSS Feasibility Study, demolition of Abagayle’s Books building, and REO property offers.”

The meeting is open to all commissioners and to the public.

Animals Need Your Care

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When it’s this cold outside, animals need your care no matter where you live.  Bedding, water and shelter from the wind are critical.

Vance County Chief Animal Control Officer, Frankie Nobles, told WIZS, “The key thing is keeping shavings in the dog houses or blankets.  One thing about blankets is blankets get wet, then they do get cold, so make sure you change them our regularly if you’re going to have a blanket.  Make sure you keep fresh water to the animals.  This time of year, of course, it’s going to freeze.  Get that ice out and get them some fresh water.”

Nobles said stray animals that are out all the time tend to be “street smart” in that they know where to find shelter.  Domestic animals are dependent on their owners.  He said, “The wind is the biggest thing that hurts them.  If that wind is blowing, if they can get somewhere where they can keep it blocked off, they can pretty well survive, but that wind really gets them.”

Animals at the Vance County Animal Shelter need supplies and care too, and despite the shelter being a new and warm facility, it is full of dogs at this time.  Nobles said, “Well, right now we are at capacity with the dog situation pretty much — big dogs, adult dogs you know.   What people don’t realize or understand is we have somebody on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year so animals are constantly coming into that shelter no matter if the doors are closed to the public, they’re still coming in.  But, this time of year, the community always supports us and we always get donations, so the community is real good about standing behind us this time of year.”

Nobles appeared on WIZS TownTalk on Thursday, Dec 28, 2017 from 11 a.m. until 11:25 a.m., and the full show can be heard by clicking here.  He praised the community, individuals and larger organizations here in this area for fantastic support.

News 12/28/17

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Live Christmas Tree Disposal

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If you tend to leave your decorations up a little past Christmas, be especially careful where a live Christmas tree is involved.

“After 30 days of the tree being cut, you need to be looking to discard it,” Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell said.  There have been no Christmas tree related fire calls this year in Henderson.

Cordell said, “We recommend 30 days.  Most trees are already pushing over 30 days now by the time they’ve been harvested, purchased and put in the homes, and you know by now they can start drying out.”

This is especially true if you’ve already noticed your tree has significantly slowed in absorbing water.

The City of Henderson will collect Christmas trees with regular yard waste.  The City’s web page says per ordinance that “yard debris must be free of trash and foreign matter, limbs and branches must be less than four feet in length and tree trunks must be less than 36 inches in height and width.”

Vance County residents wishing to dispose of a tree may use the County’s yard waste facility at the entrance of the old landfill on N.C. 39 North, which is just north of St. Andrews Church Road.

Make sure your tree is cleared of all decorations and lights.

If you find lights with damaged cords, throw those lights away so they won’t pose a risk in the future.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Granville Vance Public Health Reopens Dec 28

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Granville Vance Public Health will reopen on Thursday, December 28th.  The health department was closed for the Christmas holiday December 25 – 27.

To learn more, visit Granville Vance Public Health online at https://gvph.org

Granville County – 101 Hunt Drive, Oxford – (919) 693-2141

Vance County – 115 Charles Rollins Road, Henderson – (252) 492-7915 phone