Maria Parham Health Releases 2023 Community Benefit Report

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–information courtesy of Donna Young, MPH Health Market Coordinator, Communications & Marketing

Maria Parham Health has published its annual community benefit report for 2023, outlining the indirect impact it has on the community as well as the obvious impact to provide a variety of medical services and treatment available to patients.

The report outlines the various ways the hospital is working to support the health and economic vitality of the Henderson/Vance County community as part of its mission of making communities healthier®, according to hospital officials.

“As a leading healthcare provider in Henderson and Vance County, Maria Parham Health is committed to providing high-quality care close to home, investing in our region’s overall well-being and making a positive impact on those we serve,” said Bert Beard, chief executive officer of Maria Parham Health. “This year’s report highlights our continued efforts to provide compassionate care – both inside and outside our hospital walls,” Beard said.

In 2023, Maria Parham Health added 67 providers in anesthesiology, behavioral health, cardiology, family and emergency medicine,  gastroenterology, genetic counseling, neurology, OB/GYN, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry,  radiology, wound care and more. Maria Parham Health also made more than $1.6 million in capital improvements, including an ultrasound machine for Women’s Health, new orthopedic workstations for blood testing and opening a new Franklin County physician office.

Additionally, Maria Parham Health donated nearly $63.6 million in health services to those in need, demonstrating its continuous commitment to ensuring everyone has access to care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Maria Parham Health is also devoted to creating environments where providers want to practice and where employees want to work. Last year, the hospital distributed more than $68 million in salaries, wages and benefits for its approximately 770 employees, while contributing more than $124,000 in professional development and tuition assistance to give all employees the opportunity to learn, grow and improve the care they provide their patients.

MPH also paid $13,279,020 in local and state taxes to support local organizations and activities like Shop with a Cop and Friends, The Salvation Army and McGregor Hall.

“We are proud to call Henderson and Vance County our home, and we feel incredibly grateful for the continued support of all those who entrust us with their care. Our success would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our providers, employees, and volunteers,” said Beard. “As we look ahead to the future, we are so excited to continue improving the ways we serve our neighbors and communities.”

View the full community benefit report here:

https://www.mariaparham.com/community-benefit-report?query=community+benefit+report

 

 

Vance County Schools’ March Student Spotlight Honorees

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– Information courtesy of Aarika Sandlin, VCS Chief Officer of Communication & Innovative Support

Two students share the March Student Spotlight in Vance County Schools as young people whose exceptional qualities and contributions make a difference in their school communities.

Rawan Almuntsr, a kindergartner at L. B. Yancey Elementary and Isabella Jaimes Hernandez, a 5th grader at Zeb Vance Elementary, demonstrate excellence in academics and show kindness to others, as well as a commitment to personal growth.

Rawan is celebrated for her warm character and her academic excellence. Rawan’s kindness shines brightly as she is always willing to lend a helping hand to her peers, uplifting words of encouragement to those around her and for sharing heartwarming hugs with her teachers, brightening everyone’s day. Rawan exhibits determination through her academic efforts and goals. She finds joy in participating in science experiments, as she loves to witness everything come to life. When she envisions her future, the excitement of becoming a doctor fuels her aspirations and dreams. Rawan appreciates learning in centers because they provide her with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects.

Outside of school, Rawan enjoys watching the Disney television show, Bluey in her free time. If granted a superpower, she wants the ability to run incredibly fast so she can play tag and win. With a magic wand, Rawan wishes for her favorite candy —a watermelon lollipop. Rawan’s advice to her peers is to always prioritize doing the right thing and to remain dedicated to school, especially reading. She admires her mom for her unconditional love and support in all that she does, but she gives credit to Ms. Taylor Evans as her motivation to attend school. She shared that Ms. Evans’s kindness to her and all of her classmates is one of her favorite things about being at L.B. Yancey Elementary. An inspiration to all, Rawan is a shining light and a source of inspiration for the entire Bulldog family.

Isabella was recognized for her genuine spirit and commitment to lending a helping hand. Nominated by her 5th-grade teachers, Isabella embodies kindness and responsibility in all aspects of school. She is known for always supporting classmates and teachers. She consistently goes above and beyond to lend a helping hand. Isabella is a member of the Beta Club, as well as the Safety Patrol. She is dedicated to all that she does and extends compassion to those around her that need support. With a passion for sports, Isabella loves soccer and basketball. Inspired by the late Kobe Bryant, Isabella aspires to become a professional athlete.

She enjoys math class, specifically equations, as well as doing experiments in science class. She also enjoys both physical education and art, adding to her well-rounded personality. Her positive attitude and commitment to excellence have allowed her to be a great friend to many. Her advice to others is “Don’t give up, keep trying, and keep up with doing your work.” She also shared that as long as students keep trying, they will never fail! With a rooted passion for helping others, Isabella shared that she could see herself as a firefighter one day, adding to her selflessness and determination. When she is not busy with her studies or sports, Isabella enjoys reading graphic novels and watching her favorite show, Spongebob Squarepants.

Given the opportunity to have a superpower, Isabella would love to fly and, given a magic wand, she would love to visit Myrtle Beach. Isabella’s heartwarming personality, along with her dreams and positive outlook, make her a true inspiration to her peers as the Student Spotlight for Zeb Vance Elementary.

Henderson’s CommUnity Clean Up Day Friday, Apr. 26

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The city of Henderson will sponsor a CommUnity Clean Up Day Friday, April 26 – churches, businesses and other groups are invited to take part and spruce up different areas of the city where litter may collect and create an eyesore.

The day’s event is held in conjunction with the NC DOT’s Spring Litter Sweep, a statewide effort to clean up along roadsides.

To learn more and to get the materials needed to help in the CommUnity Clean Up Day, contact Cindy Norwood, executive assistant to City Manager Terrell Blackmon at 252.430.5700.

Haley Rawles New Director At Vance County Board Of Elections

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The Vance County Board of Elections has selected Haley Rawles to become its new director. Rawles, former deputy director in Granville County, started her new job today, Thursday, Apr. 4.

“I’m super excited to be here in Vance,” Rawles told WIZS News earlier today in a telephone interview.

In a recent interview, Board Chair James Baines said the county had made its selection, but was awaiting final approval from Raleigh to begin the transition.

Former director Jennifer Cocklin will stay on another week, Rawles said.

Once they get that approval, the candidate can go before Clerk of Superior Court Henry Gupton and take the oath of office. Rawles said she expects to be sworn in next week.

“We plan to do our best for the citizens of Vance County,” Baines said.

The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Catalytic Converters

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For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Ask a mechanic about your vehicle’s catalytic converter and you’re likely to hear about how it reduces pollution and toxic gases that come from the engine.

An environmentalist may tell you how essential this little piece of metal is to protect the air we breathe.

Ask an unscrupulous so-and-so and you’ll likely hear that they’re super easy to steal, strip of its precious metals and make some serious money, all at the vehicle owners’ expense.

This relatively small, but essential, piece of equipment has attracted thieves looking to make a fast buck. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says claims of catalytic converter thefts have increased by nearly 300 percent since 2020.

Vehicles can run without a catalytic converter, but legally, they’re supposed to have one. If you notice that your vehicle makes a very loud sound when you start it, you may want to check to see that the catalytic converter is there – if not, that 18-inch gap in your exhaust system where the converter used to be is the reason for the noise.

So, what’s a car owner to do? There are several suggestions to keep your vehicle safe:

  • Always park in your garage or a brightly-lit area, ideally in view of a security camera. At home, put in a motion sensor light that covers your driveway.
  • Install an anti-theft device that makes it impossible to cut off your catalytic converter. Several manufacturers sell shields, cables or plates that are bolted onto your car to cover the component.
  • Spray paint the catalytic converter a bright color with high-temperature exhaust manifold paint, which should alert a recycler that it could be stolen property.
  • Etch your license plate or vehicle identification number on the converter so it’s easier to track if stolen.

The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

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Gas Leak Near M.R. Williams

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FINAL UPDATE 12:57 PM Thursday, Apr. 4

According to Dominion Energy NC and its media relations department, the gas leak is no longer an issue of public safety, and the matter is now complete.

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UPDATE 11:45 AM Thursday, Apr. 4

From Dominion Energy NC: “Dominion Energy responded to a gas leak this morning at 235 Raleigh Road in Henderson that was caused by excavation activity striking and damaging a gas line. The natural gas leak was secured at 11:18 a.m. and Dominion Energy crews are now working on the gas line repair.”

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UPDATE 11:40 AM Thursday, Apr. 4

Raleigh Road is back open, according to Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

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UPDATE 11:25 AM Thursday, Apr. 4, 2024

From Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow – There is a gas leak on Raleigh Rd in front of MR Williams. Raleigh Rd at that location is shut down for an unknown time period.

TownTalk: NC Should Have Good Weather To View April 8 Eclipse

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As a meteorologist, Jonathan Blaes is a scientist well-versed in the vagaries of weather, especially in North Carolina and especially in the springtime. But next week, he just may divert his attention – for a few minutes, anyway – to observe a celestial event that has nothing to do with storms, or clouds or rain or anything else weather-related.

It’s the solar eclipse that will have his attention on Monday afternoon, which he called “a remarkable and really ‘far out’ kind of thing.”

The official forecast from Blaes, meteorologist-in-chief at the National Weather Service in Raleigh:  observers in North Carolina won’t see the most dramatic show when the eclipse occurs roughly at 3:15 p.m., but they will have clear skies and fair temps to make viewing more pleasant.

“It’s certainly going to be a neat event,” he said on Thursday’s TownTalk, “but be careful.”

Although the sun will seem a little bit less powerful during the eclipse because the moon is in the way, its harmful UV rays can still cause damage, so please do NOT look skyward during the eclipse.

Blaes offered an alternative to the traditional pinhole cameras and special glasses for those who want to experience the eclipse in a safe manner: Go for a walk in a wooded area.

“As you walk underneath the trees, you’ll see a crescent shape of the sun on the ground,” he said. It’s Mother Nature’s version of that pinhole camera – the leaves of the trees will create miniature eclipse sun images, he said. “It’s one of the neatest things I’ve ever experienced.”

As a scientist, Blaes said he’s experienced a lot of what Mother Nature throws at North Carolina over the course of a year – springtime storms and rotations aloft that can create tornadoes are just a couple of types of weather that keep him and others at the National Weather Service on their toes.

He said this spring, folks in this area can expect conditions this spring to be “a little bit warmer and a little bit wetter” than normal. Sure, anyone can predict that, but Blaes and his team have analyzed tremendous amounts of data to come up with such a simple-sounding pronouncement.

“Being a meteorologist is fun,” Blaes said. “It is challenging – every day is a puzzle.” The surge in data from satellite images and other sources produces more information than humans can manage, he said, so he and his team rely on statistics and AI – all of which contribute to improved weather forecasts.

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VCSO: One Shot Fired, Not by Law Enforcement, In Search Warrant Execution, No One Injured

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UPDATE: 4:24 PM Wednesday, April 3

— Press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

A Vance County man was arrested Wednesday a shot was fired from inside a home on St. Matthew’s Street. There was no exchange of gunfire and no injuries were reported, according to information from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office, along with members of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, were executing a search warrant at 2215 St. Matthew’s St. earlier Wednesday when a gunshot was fired from inside the residence in the direction of law enforcement officers at the front door, Brame stated.

After making entry into the residence, a single male was located and detained. The male was identified as 46-year-old Samer Othman, a resident of 2215 St. Matthew’s St.

Othman was arrested and charged with 10 counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

Othman received a $750,000 bond and has a court date of April 26.

No residents or law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200, Henderson -Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925 or use the P3 app.

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UPDATE 9:30 AM Wednesday, April 3

WIZS News spoke to Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.  He said during the execution of a search warrant on St. Matthews Street this morning that one shot was fired, not by a law enforcement officer, and that no one is injured and no one was hit by the shot.

More details to follow.