NC Coop Extension

CPR Workshop En Español For Farmworkers

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-Information courtesy of Warren County Cooperative Extension Service

The N.C. Cooperative Extension in Warren County is hosting a CPR workshop for Spanish-speaking farmworkers in the area.

The workshop will be held Tuesday, May 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Warren County EMS building, located at 890 U.S. 158 Bypass in Warrenton.

The workshop will provide instruction in Spanish to farmworkers that will teach them the basics of CPR and resuscitation procedures.

For more information, contact Matthew Place, Warren County livestock agent, at 252. 257.3640.

Warren County Gets $500,000 Grant To Assess “Brownfields”

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Warren County has been awarded an EPA grant of $500,000 to conduct a community-wide assessment of properties that may contain hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, adversely affecting their future use or development.

The county is one 13 entities from across the state for funds from the EPA’s Brownfields Assessment Program, according to information from the office from County Manager Vincent Jones.

The money will be given over a three-year period beginning Oct. 1, 2022 and does not require a local match, according to a press statement.

A brownfield is defined by the EPA as a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

“This grant from the EPA is tremendous for Warren County. It falls right in line with the discussion the board of commissioners had earlier this year related to the work needed so that our potential sites for development or redevelopment are ready when opportunities arise,” Jones said in the statement.

“These funds will now allow us to move forward with identifying and conducting assessments on sites throughout the County, so we will be ready when development opportunities are presented,” he said.

Included in the project budget is funding for community meetings to engage citizens on possible brownfields identification as well.

“We can assess approximately 20 sites throughout the county,” said Charla Duncan, director of community & economic development for Warren County. “We will also be able to build out an inventory of sites for possible future funding, and work on a brownfields redevelopment plan, but also we can better understand concerns involving our land and community,” Duncan said.

For more information, contact Duncan at Warren County Community & Economic Development at 252.257.3115.

Mail Carriers’ ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Event May 14

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Postal carriers deliver all sorts of mail to boxes near and far every day. But there’s a special-delivery postcard that found its way into area mailboxes recently to promote the “Stamp Out Hunger” campaign, which takes place the second Saturday in May.

That day is THIS Saturday, May 14.

The request is simple: Leave healthy, non-perishable food items by your mailbox and the person who delivers your mail will pick up your donation.

Since 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers, along with various national partners, has worked to collect food items that are donated to local food pantries.

Visit www.stampouthungerfooddrive.us to learn more.

The Local Skinny! Ridgeway Opry House To Re – Open This Saturday Night

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The Ridgeway Opry House is back open for business as of this Saturday evening. And Frieda Harlow invites anyone interested in hearing – or playing – some good ol’ fashioned country bluegrass music to come on out. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the music commences at 6:30 p.m.

Locals Jimmy Barrier and Keith Aiken are among those musicians that are scheduled to perform, Harlow told Bill Harris on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Harlow owns the Opry House, located at 704 U.S. 1 in Ridgeway. She said she is dedicated to the preservation of old-time country bluegrass mountain music, but she’s open to other types of music that folks want to bring to the stage.

There’s been beach music and other types of music – “a lot of fine musicians” who have come to play.

“Dwight Moody came in one Saturday night,” Harlow recalled. “He came in all dressed up – boy, he looked good. He could really play the fiddle, he played guitar and sang.”

And then there’s Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange, now called Watchhouse. “He started out coming to the opry when he was about 14,” Harlow said of the Warrenton-born Marlin. She said she didn’t know much of the music he played, but that’s ok. “I always give them a chance,” she said of musicians and singers. “And look where Andrew is now.”

Just as she did when Marlin took the stage, she puts singers and musicians down to play three or four songs. Bands get an hour of playing time, she said.

“All you’ve got to do is call me and I’ll put you on stage,” Harlow said. “I’ll make you a star for a night and make your dreams come true.”

Tickets are $7. Soft drinks are available, and feel free to bring some snacks for the evening. The opry can hold about 100 people and Harlow said she hopes to fill it up on Saturday night.

Contact Harlow at 252.456.3890 or 919.702.2464 to arrange to be on the program.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Upcoming Blood Drives Scheduled; Make An Appointment To Give

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-information courtesy of the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina

 The school year is almost over, and it’s about time for afternoons at the pool and family road trips. While summer means fun for many of us, it’s business as usual in hospitals across the country. The need for blood doesn’t take a break, and it’s critical that donors take time to give blood or platelets to ensure a strong blood supply in the coming months.

In thanks for helping boost the blood supply, all who come to give through May 19, 2022, will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice and will also be automatically entered to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps eight. Details are available at rcblood.org/camper. Those who come to give May 20-31 will receive an exclusive 20-ounce Red Cross aluminum water bottle and customizable sticker set, while supplies last, according to Cally Edwards, regional communications director for the Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina.

Upcoming blood drive schedule by county:

Vance

Henderson

5/18/2022: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Maria Parham Medical Center, 566 Ruin Creek Rd.

5/19/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Raleigh Road Baptist Church, 3892 Raleigh Rd.

Granville

Creedmoor

5/27/2022: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Creedmoor United Methodist Church, 214 Park Ave.

Warren

Macon

5/20/2022: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Macon Baptist Church, 159 Church St.

How to donate blood

Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

 

 

 

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

‘Operation Fan Heat Relief’ Provides Fans To Eligible Elderly, Disabled

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-Information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging and Adult Services is partnering with the N.C. Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief.

People over the age of 60, as well as adults with disabilities, are eligible to sign up for assistance now through the end of October at local aging agencies across the state, according to information from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Residents in Vance, Granville, Warren, Person and Franklin counties can contact the Kerr Tar Regional COG, 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson at 252.436.2040 or visit their website https://www.kerrtarcog.org/

Since 1986, the relief program has purchased fans for older adults and adults with disabilities, providing them with a more comfortable living environment and reducing heat-related illnesses.

The program is made possible by donations from Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, Dominion Resources and Valassis, and allows regional area agencies on aging and local provider agencies to purchase fans for eligible individuals. Local provider agencies can also purchase a limited number of air conditioners based on a person’s specific health conditions.

Last year, DAAS received $85,500 in donations, allowing for the distribution of 3,240 fans and 26 air conditioners.

As individuals age and develop chronic medical conditions, they are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature, and they may also be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. Operation Fan Heat Relief helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe during the summer.
In addition to applying for fans, people ages 60 and older, as well as adults with disabilities, can take the following steps during high temperatures:

  • Increase fluid intake
  • Spend time in cool or air-conditioned environments regularly
  • Reduce strenuous activity during the afternoon
  • Speak with their physician before summer about how to stay safe while taking medication that can affect the body’s ability to cool itself (e.g., high blood pressure medications)

For more details, individuals may contact their area agency on aging or the Division of Aging and Adult Services’ housing program consultant at 919.855.3419.

More information about Operation Fan Heat Relief, including tips on preparing for extreme heat and a list of local agencies distributing fans, is available at www.ncdhhs.gov/operation-fan-and-heat-relief.

Warren Co. Schools Gets $24M Slice Of Lottery-Funded Pie For Capital Improvements

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-Information courtesy of the N.C. Dept. of Public Instruction

Warren County Schools is getting $24 million from the state that can be used for school construction, renovation or other capital improvements.

More than two dozen school districts across North Carolina will share the nearly $400 million in new state lottery-funded grant awards, according to information from the N.C. Dept. of Public Instruction.

The grants, awarded under the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, represent the largest annual allocation under the program, created by the General Assembly in 2017 from state lottery revenues. The grants are in addition to the state’s lottery-supported Public School Building Capital Fund, from which all districts receive an allocation each year.

N.C Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said the needs-based grants are a key support for districts where local tax resources fall short of needs for modernizing or replacing aging school facilities.

“Just as all students in North Carolina need an excellent teacher in every classroom,” she said, “students and teachers need high-quality schools in good repair that help support learning. These needs-based grants are an important boost for many districts and communities – and most importantly, their students.”

Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery, said support for school construction has been part of the lottery since it started in 2006.

“Our state Department of Public Instruction, working in partnership with counties all across our state, is putting this money to work for a great cause. We look forward to seeing all these new schools opening soon,” Michalko aIS.

Robert Taylor, deputy state superintendent for School and Student Advancement, noted that the reach of this year’s grants exceeds those of previous years.

“Not only were we able to award over $395 million, we were also able to touch a district in each of the state’s eight educational regions,” Taylor said. “We were able to support districts in desperate need of replacing entire buildings but did not have the funding to do so. We were also able to support several smaller projects, that while not costing millions such as a building replacement, proved to be equally important in the funding structure for districts. A $2 million renovation is a significant undertaking for a small/low-wealth district.”

The needs-based grant applications were reviewed by NCDPI based on priorities provided in the law, including ability to generate revenue, high debt-to-tax revenue ratio, and the extent to which a project will address critical deficiencies in adequately serving the current and future student population.

Over the last five years, the Needs Based Public School Capital Fund has awarded a total of $739 million dollars to local school districts, providing funding for 60 new K-12 construction projects, including 33 new schools, eight new buildings, and the replacement of 44 existing schools.

Warren Announces New Community Services Hire, Will Serve As Recreation Director

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The Warren County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the appointment of Bonnie Fitz as the new assistant director of community services.

Fitz is scheduled to begin work on May 16, 2022, according to a press release from Charla Duncan, senior assistant to County Manager Vincent Jones and the community & economic development director. Fitz’s primary role will be to serve as the county’s recreation director. Her annual salary will be $71,500.

Fitz brings more than 20 years of experience in the parks and recreation industry to her new role in Warren County. Most recently, Fitz was the parks and recreation manager for York County, Virginia. Her recreation background spans multiple local government organizations in South Carolina and Fitz has received multiple awards in her past roles, including the National Association of Counties Parks and Recreation Achievement Award in 2019 and 2020 in her role with York County.

“We are excited to diversify and grow our recreation programming,” said Commissioner Victor Hunt, who serves on the Parks and Recreation Commission. “We are confident Ms. Fitz will take us in the right direction.”

NC Dept of Agriculture

Horse Owners: Protect Your Animals From Mosquito-Borne Diseases

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Information courtesy of the N.C. Department of Agriculture

N.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus.

“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said in a press statement issued Tuesday, May 3. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent,” he said. However, both diseases are preventable by vaccination.

Last year, there were three recorded cases of EEE and two cases of WNV.

State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.

Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellents can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it may take three to 10 days for symptoms to appear.

Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.

People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying the diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.

“It’s also a great time to make sure your animal is current on its rabies vaccination,” Troxler said. “In 2021, seven cases of livestock infected with rabies was reported to our Veterinary Division. Since January we have already had four positive cases in livestock. Most of the cases have been in cows but all livestock are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line.”

Equine Nutrition Workshop May 3 At Granville Livestock Arena

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Area horse owners are invited to attend a workshop next week to learn more about what equines need to eat to maintain good health.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Granville livestock arena, 4200  Cannady Mill Rd.

Topics that will be discussed include understanding hay analyses and various supplements that are on the market to improve everything from a horse’s coat to strong hooves as well as reducing stress and improving gut health.

Feeding horses is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Just like people, different types of horses require different types of nutrition. Athletic horses that compete in events may require feed that is totally different from other equines that may be used for the occasional trail ride. Learn more about equine nutrition at the workshop, hosted by the cooperative extension agencies in Warren and Granville counties.

Registration is required by Sunday, May 1.

To register, CLICK HERE.

Or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-does-your-horse-really-need-tickets-292592440867