New VGCC Nursing Scholarship Named in Honor of Retired Registered Nurse

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Hutson Wester of Henderson recently made a donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to create the Brenda McGee Wester, R.N., Academic Achievement Scholarship in honor of his wife.

Wester has long been a supporter of the college’s scholarship program. He started his first scholarship in the 1980s, recently elevating the Hutson Wester Insurance scholarship to the Presidential Merit Award status. He started the Virginia L. Wester Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2015 in memory of his former wife. He was also instrumental in endowing the Henderson Rotary Club Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2008.

Now retired from Wester Insurance Agency in Henderson, Wester also taught Continuing Education classes on insurance at VGCC for several years.

Brenda McGee Wester retired after 30 years as a Registered Nurse in 2005, having worked at Duke Raleigh Medical Center and Wake Medical Center as well as spending a portion of that time in State government. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Johnston Community College and is considering enrolling into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at a four-year institution, she said.

Hutson Wester and his wife, Brenda, present a donation to Vance-Granville Community College’s Endowment Fund to start the Brenda McGee Wester, R.N., Academic Achievement Scholarship. From left are Eddie Ferguson, Endowment Fund director; Kay Currin, Endowment specialist; Brenda Wester; Hutson Wester; and VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams.

Mrs. Wester said her career in Nursing was sparked by her mother’s interest in helping neighbors in the McGee’s Crossroads community while growing up as one of six daughters on a 100-acre tobacco farm in Johnston County. “My mother, Lillie McGee, was the one that they called on when a mother was having a baby,” said Mrs. Wester. “My mother was a nurse by what came natural to her,” serving as a midwife in addition to providing loving care to members of her family.

“I know what it’s like to come along and want to be a nurse, but some students can’t afford to go to college,” said Mrs. Wester. “Having a scholarship available will help them be able to make it. That means a lot to me.”

In awarding the newest scholarship, preference will be given to students enrolled in eight or more credit hours in one of the college’s Nursing programs. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 will be required. VGCC offers Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Transition, RIBN (Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nursing) and Practical Nursing among its Health Sciences programs.

“I think Vance-Granville is one of the best things that ever happened in our four-county area,” said Hutson Wester. “I’ve seen what the college has done since the very beginning when it was located in the former Maria Parham Hospital building on Chestnut Street in Henderson.”

VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams voiced her appreciation of the new scholarship. “Students who are preparing for careers in Nursing have a new source of support, thanks to the generosity of Hutson Wester. This scholarship, like those he started earlier, is so essential in helping us meet our mission of educating, inspiring and supporting our students.”

Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, added, “Hutson Wester has been such a strong supporter of the college — in the classroom, in the community and also on the golf course as a regular participant in our annual Endowment Fund golf tournament. He has chosen a meaningful way to honor his wife.”

The new scholarship will add to the more than 9,000 scholarships that have been awarded to students since 1982, funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving students. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business, industry or organization with a lasting gift to education. In the Fall of 2017, Vance-Granville awarded scholarships to 306 students.

For more information, the Office of the Endowment can be reached by calling Endowment Specialist Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.

Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Program Now Offered in Warren, Granville & Vance

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Mary Cervini, founder of Community Partnership for Pets based out of Western NC, was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss her organization’s spay/neuter program now offered in partnership with the Warren County Animal Shelter and Warrenton Animal Clinic.

With $13,000 ear-marked for Warren County specifically, funding is available to assist qualifying, low-income Warren County families with the cost of surgery for their dog or cat.

Families must provide proof of income and may purchase their voucher at the Warren County Animal Shelter, 142 Rafters Lane, Warrenton. Dr. Amy O’Malley, veterinarian with the Warrenton Animal Clinic will perform the surgery locally.

Vouchers are $10 for cats and $20 for dogs of any size and cover the pet’s surgery, rabies and distemper vaccinations and pain medication.

For more information about this new program, please contact the Warren County Animal Shelter at (252) 257-6137.

Starting in Henderson County in 2005, Community Partnership for Pets currently provides funding for spay/neuter programs in Vance, Granville, Warren, Pitt, Polk and Rutherford counties.

According to Cervini, the program focuses on two main criteria when selecting a county to partner with: an increasing number of animals in county shelters and the percentage of the population living below the poverty line.

“People love their animals, regardless of income,” Cervini said. “Families that are struggling to put food on the table love their pets, but sometimes the cost of surgery is expensive.”

Cervini hopes that the affordable pricing of the surgery/vaccination package will help relieve the financial burden and bring attention to the importance of spaying or neutering pets. “We will never get to the end of homeless animals until we provide spay and neuter programs as well as adoption and rescue programs.”

Similar spay/neuter services are already available in Vance and Granville counties. To find out more about their programs, please call the Vance County Animal Shelter at (252) 492-3136 or the Granville County Animal Shelter at (919) 693-6749.

If you would like more information about Community Partnership for Pets and their statewide spay/neuter initiatives and/or to donate to the cause, please call (828) 693-5172 or visit www.communitypartnershipforpets.org. Donors may specify a specific county.

Warren County’s First Annual Cookoff Rescheduled for Sat., July 7

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— courtesy The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County | Kathleen Derring, Chamber President~ 252-257-2657 ~ info@warren-chamber.org ~ Facebook

On Saturday, July 7, the Stone Square Lodge of Warrenton will host the first ever Warren County Cookoff on the Historic Courthouse Square in Warrenton. This family-friendly event will feature music, games and of course lots of great food.

Currently, they’re seeking vendors and sponsors. Judging will take place to determine the best beef, chicken, ribs, BBQ & Specialty Food. For more information contact Jonte Hawkins @ 252-767-4051 or via email at jontehawkins@gmail.com.

Here are the details from their website:

This competition is open to anyone who wants to see if they are the best. There will be five categories:

 Chicken

 Beef brisket

 Ribs (Pork and Beef)

 Barbecue (Pork)

 Specialty items

Also, they will have a People’s Choice award where people will vote for the best in each category. This event is still in the planning stages. Vendor and competition applications are available…

1. Go to the Contest Registration or Vendor Application by clicking here.

2. Print Registration

3. Applications may be mailed (but email is faster and ensures a better probability of securing a spot)

4. If you are submitting your application via email send in your application then purchase a vendor space via Paypal link on each registration page

For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

American Flag

Wise’s Annual Parade & Car Show, Wed., July 4

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— courtesy The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County | Kathleen Derring, Chamber President~ 252-257-2657 ~ info@warren-chamber.org ~ Facebook

Mark your calendars for the greatest small town celebration in NC! For those of you who have been…just a simple “Don’t miss the celebration in Wise on the 4th…” is all you need! For those of you who haven’t been yet, it is a “must” event for 2018.

Wednesday, July 4 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. all roads lead to Wise. For nearly an hour they close down US 1 through Wise for a hometown parade. Following the parade, everyone gathers on the grounds of the Wise Baptist Church (the Stone Church) for fellowship, food, fun, live music from The Deep Creek Band and some of the best homemade ice cream you’ll ever taste. With activities for the entire family and lots of vendors and crafts, you’ll remember your 4th in Wise for years to come!

As an added entry in this year’s parade, they will have a Vietnam era Huey Medivac Helicopter. Mr. Jesse McGee of Hollister, NC will be the Grand Marshal this year. Mr. McGee is a WWII, US Army Air Corp veteran. They are proud to have a Native American veteran joining them for the 2018 parade and celebration.

This year there’s the additional Classic Car Show. A $10 entry fee gets your classic rod in the competition for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophies.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Roanoke Rapids’ First Baptist Invites Youth to Vacation Bible School

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-Information courtesy Rev. Donald West, First Baptist Church – Roanoke Rapids

TEAM JESUS Vacation Bible School will take place at First Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids July 9 – 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The Olympic themed VBS will include Olympic Bible lessons, games, snacks, crafts, music, puppet shows and great Olympic fun. This exciting VBS is for preschoolers through 12th graders.

The church is located at 515 Becker Drive in Roanoke Rapids just one mile from Interstate 95 and 20 minutes east of Littleton.

For more information, call 252-537-6171 or access the church website at www.fbcrrweb.org or the church Facebook page. All kids and youth are invited to experience this Olympic challenge!

Kerr Lake’s Independence Day Celebration Set for Sat., June 30

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-Information courtesy Norman Dickerson, Admin. Assistant, Vance County Department of Tourism

Independence Day Weekend Celebration – Fireworks, Entertainment & Food

Fireworks over the water at Kerr Lake, Satterwhite Point, in Henderson, NC on Saturday, June 30, 2018.

Entertainment presented by “Frankie Faucet & The Drips” Band.

Food vendors on site. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. Enjoy the music and good food.

FREE event admission, but $7.00 per car gate fee charged by NC State Parks.

7 – 10 p.m.

NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED!

Directions: From I-85, take Exit 217 and follow the signs to the park. Park entrance located directly across from 6254 Satterwhite Point Road.

Sponsored by Vance County Department of Tourism – www.kerrlake-nc.com

(This is not a paid advertisement; however, there are paid advertisements on WIZS for this event)

Families Living Violence Free

High Number of NC Homicides Makes Families Living Violence Free Say “Enough!”

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-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free

As of June 3, there have been 32 domestic violence homicides in North Carolina in 2018!

The youngest victim was 7 months old…

It’s time to say “Enough!” SPEAK UP!

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call Families Living Violence Free at 919-693-5700 Crisis Line or the Hispanic Crisis Line at 919-690-0888 Day or Night!

We are here for you!

You could be saving a life…it might be your own.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

NCDOT’s Office of Civil Rights Seeking Stakeholder Participation

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-Press Release, NCDOT

DURHAM – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is inviting stakeholders not limited to but including small businesses, general contractors, suppliers and supportive and professional service providers, to participate in the department’s next session of it’s 2018 Community Engagement Series.

“This series is designed to offer networking and learning opportunities for contractors, consultants and other companies seeking to do business with NCDOT, and is being hosted in each of NCDOT’s 14 Highway Divisions throughout the remainder of 2018,” said Chief Deputy Secretary David Howard.

“OCR’s motto is to ‘Recruit, Train, Retain and Grow,’ and this series is a conduit for us to execute that mission on behalf of the department and the taxpayers of this great state,” said Office of Civil Rights Director Shelby Scales.

The next meeting in the series will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, on the campus of North Carolina Central University inside the NCCU School of Law building at 640 Nelson Street, Durham.

NCDOT is committed to ensuring that no person shall – on the grounds of race, color, national origin, limited English proficiency, income status, sex, age or disability – be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any NCDOT program or activity, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other related nondiscrimination laws and authorities.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in the Series. Anyone requiring special services should contact Mark Whisenant at 919-508-1822 or mawhisenant@ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made.

For more information contact: NCDOT Office of Civil Rights at (919) 508-1808 or ncdotocr@ncdot.gov.

A Goodbye From Former Warren Co. Chamber Executive Director Craig Hahn

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— courtesy The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County |  info@warren-chamber.org ~ Facebook

— by Craig Hahn

It is with great sadness that I let you know I submitted my resignation recently to our Board of Directors as the Executive Director of The Chamber of Commerce of Warren County. My final day as Director was May 31.

Please know that I have tried for many months to find any other solution beyond leaving this wonderful job working for you and the Chamber; however, circumstances have made it necessary to make a change to focus on providing support for my family.

Working with the Chamber and with all of you has been a dream-come-true for me…promoting a community that I love dearly, working with incredible local businesses, telling stories (and learning those stories from the experts) and hopefully, making a difference in the quality of life for all of us here in Warren County. If there were any other option available to me, I would have chosen it over this.

Kathleen (Rose) Derring is the new President of the Board of Directors and is working with the rest of the Board to revamp and continue the operations of the Chamber to serve you and our Warren County business community. The email newsletter will continue to be delivered each week with a new editor.

Again, thank you for your support, belief and friendship. I know that the future is bright for Warren County and this wonderful business community.

-Craig Hahn

Heavy Equipment Operator Course Returns to VGCC’s Warren Campus in July

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

WARRENTON — The Heavy Equipment Operator course will be offered by Vance-Granville Community College starting Tuesday, July 10, at the college’s Warren County Campus.

A Short-Term Workforce Training Grant from the N.C. Community College System will be available to cover the cost of tuition and books for qualified students taking the nine-week course, according to Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of occupational extension.

“This course presents an excellent opportunity for students to learn the techniques and safety aspects of operating heavy equipment while exploring the various types and functions of the equipment,” Burwell said. “Students completing the course come away from it with the general understanding to secure a job for a company preparing a site for the construction of buildings, roadways and other structures.”

The college has worked with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to help course completers find jobs with companies that contract with the State.

“This is a new career opportunity that Vance-Granville began offering just a few years ago with training that previously had not been available in our service area,” Burwell said. Classes will be held on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 10 to Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.

Above: Matthew Paynter trains on a motor grader simulator in a classroom on the college’s Warren County Campus during a previous Heavy Equipment Operator course. (VGCC photo)

The Heavy Equipment Operator training program has three computerized training simulators, offering a safe and efficient way to train new operators in a risk-free environment, Burwell said. Highly detailed and realistic lessons teach proper operator technique, machine controls, and safe operation. The simulators feature real-world situations, job site hazards, safety violations, hand signals, equipment damage, budget-based scoring, and replica machine controls.

Each simulator allows students to train virtually on different types of equipment: a motor grader, a four-wheel drive loader and a backhoe. Students use foot pedals, joysticks and steering wheels that mimic those found in actual heavy equipment, while large computer monitors in front of them display a virtual job site in the first-person style of a video game. VGCC students use the equipment not only for practice and experience but also for testing that is required to pass the course.

The instructor for the course will be Steve Buus, who earned his diploma in Heavy Equipment Operation from Wake Technical Community College. Buus has held various positions with Caterpillar and similar companies as an operator and manager of heavy equipment. He has 30-Hour OSHA Certification in Construction Training from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

To register for the course, students may visit www.vgcc.edu/schedules/occupational-extension-schedule.

Students interested in applying for the grant should contact Kyle Burwell at (252) 738-3276 or burwellk@vgcc.edu.