Local News - WIZS

Free OTC Medicine Giveaway at Warrenton Armory Sept. 17

September 16, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist is offering a free over-the-counter medicine drive-thru event at the Warrenton Armory on Thursday, September 17, 2020, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Armory is located at 501 US 158 Business East in Warrenton, NC.

The event is held in collaboration with the Warren County Health Department and Cardinal Innovations Healthcare. Participants must be at least 18 years old to receive medication. No identification is required. Face masks are required to participate.

Available over-the-counter items include cold/cough medicine, pain relief, vitamins, children’s medicine and more.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Click here to order your medication online prior to picking up at the event.

McGregor Hall: ‘The Drifters in Concert’ Rescheduled for Next Fall

September 15, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information and featured image courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center has rescheduled “The Drifters in Concert” to Sunday, October 3, 2021, at 3 p.m.

The Drifters linked Fifties rhythm and blues with sweet Sixties soul music. They have enjoyed a string of honey-voiced lead singers, including Henderson native Ben E. King. Hit after hit followed, including “There Goes My Baby,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “This Magic Moment,” “Up on the Roof,” “On Broadway,” and many, many others.

All tickets purchased for the original 2020 concert date will be honored. Additionally, reserved seating will remain the same from the original ticketing orders. If you have purchased tickets for this event, a McGregor Hall representative will be in touch with you via email or phone.

If you have further questions regarding this concert, please contact McGregor Hall:

Email: info@mcgregorhall.org
Facebook Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/McGregorHallHenderson/
OR
Leave a voicemail on the McGregor Hall Box Office phone line at (252) 598-0662

PURCHASE TICKETS: https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557/mcgregor-hall-performing-arts-center

Thank you for your patience as McGregor Hall endeavors to navigate this unprecedented, challenging time in the arts industry, and ultimately, in world history.

Warren County Tops State in 2019 Tourism Expenditures Growth

September 11, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Domestic visitors to and within Warren County spent $31 million in 2019, an increase of 16.6% from 2018 ($26.65 million); this growth rate is the highest the county has seen going all the way back to 1990. This growth was the highest increase seen in all 100 counties in North Carolina from 2018 to 2019.

The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“We, as residents, know that Warren County is a special place; it’s great to see that being recognized by visitors as well,” said Charla Duncan, Economic Development Director (Interim). “It’s encouraging to know that our existing businesses are feeling a positive impact from our tourism draw, and we hope that potential businesses can look at this growth and see the value of operating in Warren County.”

2019 state tax revenue generated in Warren County totaled $1.13 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $2.75 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses. This translates into about $194 in tax savings per resident in Warren County.

Visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2019. The $26.7 billion in total spending represented an increase of 5.6 percent from 2018.

These statistics are from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2019,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.

“The numbers confirm the strength of North Carolina’s tourism industry as an anchor of economic development,” said Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina. “As the No. 6 state in the country for overnight visitation, we can attribute our success to the natural beauty and authenticity that visitors experience, and to a passionate effort to inform and inspire travelers. The money they spend benefits everyone by sustaining jobs and reducing our residents’ tax burden.”

Statewide highlights include:

State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending rose 5.0 percent to more than $1.3 billion in 2019.
Visitors spend more than $73 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $5.92 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.7 million in state taxes and $2.2 million in local taxes).
The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 235,000 North Carolinians.
Each North Carolina household saves on average $551 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.

NC House Rep. Terry Garrison Provides Updates on COVID-19 Relief Bill

September 10, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy NC House Rep. Terry Garrison’s Sept. 2020 Newsletter

Terry Garrison, North Carolina House Representative for District 32, has released his latest update from the NC General Assembly.

In his September 2020 newsletter, Garrison said the North Carolina General Assembly recently approved its final round of COVID-19 relief for the year (HB 1105) unless additional funding is appropriated by the federal government.

Included in the bill:

$50 increase in weekly unemployment insurance compensation
$335 tax credit for families with children
$52 million in funding for public schools
$30 million in additional grants to expand high-speed Internet access
$20 million in funding to stabilize operations at North Carolina museums, zoos, and other cultural attractions
$6 million in direct assistance to food banks and nutritional programs
$14 million for personal protective equipment (PPE)
$13 million in assistance to farmers
$13 million in funding for the UNC System
$5 million in funding for community colleges
$41 million for early childhood services
$38 million for mental health services
$59 million to expand COVID-19 testing and contact tracing
$23 million for aging adult services
$3.5 million for small business grants

According to Garrison, items missing from the bill include Medicaid expansion, pay increases/bonuses for teachers and public school employees, “significant” investment in public schools, small business assistant, long-term unemployment solutions and “significant” assistance to local governments.

Garrison said he ultimately voted Yes on HB 1105, explaining, “We have a strict deadline to finish spending the federal money we received for COVID-19, and there is much in the bill that is good and badly-needed right now. However, the items we failed to do are critically important and remain on the top of my ‘Must Do’ list for when we return to Raleigh in 2021.”

VGCC Reports Increase in Credit Hour Enrollment

September 10, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The fall semester recently began at Vance-Granville Community College, and officials see positive signs regarding enrollment.

Early data shows an approximate 4 percent increase in the total number of credit hours that students are taking — typically known as Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment — compared to the same point in 2019. The FTE measurement is important in calculating state funding for each North Carolina community college.

“Thanks to the work of our dedicated, innovative faculty and staff, VGCC continues to move forward, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, college president. “Students are responding positively to how we provide education and training in a way that is affordable, accessible and safe.”

When looking at student headcount, the college has taken a slight dip in comparison to this time last year. However, college leaders are encouraged that students are taking more courses. “We are excited that our students are taking more classes than they did last year this time at Vance-Granville. This should translate into students completing their credentials and degrees at an accelerated pace,” said Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of learning, student engagement and success. “We are pleased to be able to provide quality instruction, academic support, student engagement opportunities, and support services to our students, as most of them are taking online courses with us at VGCC.”

The college invites students from Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties and the surrounding region to take advantage of the second 8-week courses that begin on October 14 and end on December 15, 2020. These include general education classes that students can take as part of the College Transfer program, as well as classes required for degrees in fields such as Bioprocess Technology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, and Medical Office Administration.

Most courses are being offered in an online format, while some are in a hybrid format that combines online learning with an on-campus component.

VGCC has campuses in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. For more information on enrollment, visit www.vgcc.edu.

Fraud Alert: Scammers Claiming to be With DOJ, Preying on Elderly

September 9, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Department of Justice

The Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has received multiple reports that individuals claiming to represent the Department of Justice are calling members of the public as part of an imposter scam. The department strongly encourages the public to remain vigilant and not to provide personal information during these calls, which appear to target the elderly.

Reports to the National Elder Fraud Hotline indicate these scammers falsely represent themselves as Department of Justice investigators or employees and attempt to obtain personal information from the call recipient, or they leave a voicemail with a return phone number. The return phone number directs users to a recorded menu that matches the recorded menu for the department’s main phone number. Eventually, the user reaches an “operator” who steers the user to someone claiming to be an investigator. That “investigator” then attempts to gain the user’s personal information.

“Phone scams are an ugly and pervasive act of victimization. The scams being reported to our National Elder Fraud Hotline are especially heinous because they show the perpetrators are preying upon one of the most vulnerable segments of our society – the elderly,” said OVC Director Jessica Hart. “As if this were not despicable enough, the scammers do so posing as employees of the Justice Department, usurping public trust in the agency that serves as a bastion of fairness and lawfulness while these scams exploit the elderly for financial gain. The first step to identifying these criminals is to have their crimes reported.”

“In a time of a national pandemic it is unconscionable for these scammers to prey upon our nation’s most vulnerable victims by pretending to be associated with the United States Department of Justice,” commented United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. “Your Department of Justice does not do business this way and does not seek your personal identifying information over the telephone. We don’t make threats over the phone; we don’t cut deals over the phone and we don’t use investigators who do it for us.”

Those who receive these calls are encouraged not to provide personal information and to report these scams to the FTC via their website or by calling 877–FTC–HELP (877-382-4357). Fraud can also be reported to the FBI for law enforcement action at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/report-fraud.

The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a resource created by OVC for people to report fraud against anyone age 60 or older. Reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible, and within the first 2–3 days, can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open seven days a week. For more information about the hotline, please visit https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.

Double Voting is a Violation of NC Law, Class I Felony

September 8, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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The following is a message to North Carolina voters from Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections:

It is illegal to vote twice in an election. N.C.G.S. § 163-275(7) makes it a Class I felony for a voter, “with intent to commit a fraud to register or vote at more than one precinct or more than one time…in the same primary or election.” Attempting to vote twice in an election or soliciting someone to do so also is a violation of North Carolina law.

There are numerous checks in place in North Carolina that prevent people from double voting. Electronic pollbooks with information about who has already voted are used at every early voting site. If a voter tries to check in who has already voted, they will be prevented from voting a regular ballot. A voter will be offered a provisional ballot if they insist on voting, and this ballot will be researched after Election Day to determine whether it should be counted.

On Election Day, voters who have voted absentee are removed from the pollbook, which is updated before voting starts at 6:30 a.m. Absentee ballots that are received on Election Day are not counted until after the election, and this prevents double voting.

Also, the State Board conducts audits after each election that check voter history against ballots cast and would detect if someone tries to vote more than once in an election. Because absentee ballots and early voting ballots are retrievable, if someone tries to get around the system, their ballot can be retrieved and not counted, so it will not affect the outcome of an election.

The State Board has a dedicated investigations team that investigates allegations of double voting, which are referred to prosecutors when warranted.

If you request an absentee by-mail ballot but decide later that you would like to vote in person instead, you may. You should discard your absentee ballot. Do not send it back in.

If you have already placed your ballot in the mail but are not sure whether it has been accepted by your county board of elections, North Carolina offers a few ways to check the status of your absentee by-mail ballot without leaving your home.

Voters can:

Check your voter record at the State Board’s Voter Search Tool to find out whether your ballot was accepted by your county board of elections. This information will appear in the voter record after a ballot has been accepted.
Sign up for BallotTrax, when it launches in the next few days, to track your ballot through the system. BallotTrax is a new service that will allow voters to track their ballot through the mail and confirm receipt by the county board of elections, much like they can track their online order or pizza delivery. When it launches, a link will be available at NCSBE.gov.
Contact your county board of elections if you have questions about ballot status.

The State Board office strongly discourages people from showing up at the polls on Election Day to check whether their absentee ballot was counted. That is not necessary, and it would lead to longer lines and the possibility of spreading COVID-19.

North Carolina elections officials encourage voters to request their ballot as soon as possible and return it as soon as they are ready to do so. By doing so, you can track your ballot and ensure your vote counts.

Sober Driving ‘Essential’ for Safe Roadways During Labor Day

September 4, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, North Carolina Department of Transportation

This Labor Day, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program is joining forces with the North Carolina Trucking Association, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety also known as (NETS), the North Carolina Highway Patrol and members of more than 500 law enforcement agencies around the state to help curb impaired driving.

Over the 2019 holiday week, 10 people died and almost 600 were injured as a direct result of impaired driving across our roadways. In addition, 66 lives were claimed due to speeding, and distracted and sleepy driving.

“This Labor Day as we continue to monitor drunk-driving trends, we are calling on our partners in law enforcement to not only help remove drunk drivers from the roadways but to also encourage hard-working North Carolinians to find ways to safely unwind,” said Mark Ezzell, Director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (NCGHSP).

Tiffany Wright with AAA Carolinas projects that amidst Covid-19, many will be traveling, but closer to home, visiting North Carolina beaches, mountains, as well as family members and friends. Unfortunately, she says, some will be impaired behind the wheel.

“In response to the troubling number of deaths on the road as a result of impaired driving, we’re united in the plea encouraging North Carolina drivers to travel sober, obey traffic safety laws and drive vigilantly,” said Wright.

In addition to high-visibility saturation patrols across all 100 counties, the NCGHSP is utilizing the voices (download video here) of those who travel the most roadway miles across our state…truckers.

“I’ve seen a lot of bad decisions made behind the wheel; people getting dressed, texting, reading the newspaper, and putting on makeup,” said D. Luke Mallory, Road Team Captain with the North Carolina Trucking Association. “Some are even using prescription drugs, illegal substances and drinking while driving.”

North Carolina truckers travel about 7.7 billion roadway miles of the 111.9 billion driven annually by all motorists. That puts them and other essential workers from the fields of medicine, utilities, food, emergency, industrial and commercial industries at increased risk on our highways.

“Impaired and dangerous driving affects me and the other hard-working men and women who have been stretched thin working hard to replenish our supply chains,” Mallory said. “I’m personally asking people this Labor Day to make better decisions behind the wheel.”

Trucking industry positions account for about 1 in 16 jobs in the state. And while the North Carolina Trucking Association puts safety first through improved driver training, Tara Casanova Powell of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, a national industry group, urges all employers to consider traffic safety as an important part of employee wellness.

“We’re asking each employer, what happens when that worker who manages your payroll, or your website, or other employees, gets arrested for DWI,” Powell asks. “What happens if they hit and kill someone while under the influence? It doesn’t matter if this happens on- or off-the-job. The cost of impaired driving is not one that is exclusively paid by the perpetrator, as you as an employer also become a victim. Impaired driving costs lives, reputations, money and relationships, and it’s all preventable. Impaired driving costs incurred by employers include lost time, sick leave, and health insurance costs to name a few.”

Powell says while many companies are focused on shifting their office cultures, they should consider making pre-planning part of their business models as well.

“Encourage your workers to plan ahead, call a ride-share, take public transportation or phone a friend, maybe even you, before they get behind the wheel impaired,” she added.” Their lives and your bottom line are counting on it.”

But of course, if drivers don’t adhere to the harkening of these voices, they’ll be met by the keepers of the peace.

“Our roadways will not go unchecked by the Highway Patrol or any of the 500 law enforcement agencies across our state,” said Colonel Glenn McNeill of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. “If you are impaired behind the wheel, we will be there. If you are speeding, we will be there. If you are distracted, we will be there. If you are putting others at risk, we will be there.”

VGCC Vice President Appointed to Black Entrepreneurship Council

September 4, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Dr. Jerry Edmonds, III, a vice president at Vance-Granville Community College, is among 25 individuals recently appointed to serve on the inaugural North Carolina Black Entrepreneurship Council (NC BEC).

NC IDEA, a Durham-based private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, formed the council to serve the entrepreneurial aspirations and economic potential of North Carolina’s Black community.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with such an accomplished team of North Carolina entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders,” Edmonds said. “Collectively, we have the opportunity to provide valuable mentorship and access to capital through the NC Black Entrepreneurship Council. This important work aligns with that of VGCC in educating students for the workforce of tomorrow while promoting entrepreneurship as an important career option in an ever-changing workplace.”

“We are encouraged and humbled that our announcement of the Council drew an overwhelming response from accomplished individuals, affirming community support for this vital work,” said Thom Ruhe, CEO and President of NC IDEA. “The Council will focus on economically empowering Black people with entrepreneurship, thereby combating economic inequality that perpetuates racial disparities,” Ruhe added.

The NC BEC will help guide the NC IDEA Foundation in its programmatic and grant making ambitions in furtherance of North Carolina’s Black community. Council members will work closely with the Foundation to identify, recommend and support partners and programs with the expressed purpose of elevating Black Entrepreneurship in North Carolina. Service on the Council will also include input on the Foundation’s funding decisions, specifically grants awarded to partner organizations through the NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM program.

A resident of Henderson, Edmonds has served as Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement at VGCC since 2019. He oversees training programs that respond to community needs and prepare students for workforce success, including apprenticeship programs, and economic development support for the region. In addition, Edmonds leads the development of partnerships with businesses and government agencies and coordinates outreach and marketing for the entire college.

Edmonds previously served as Dean of Workforce and Economic Development at Halifax Community College. Prior to his role as Dean, he served as the Small Business Center Director at Halifax Community College, from 2014 until 2017. Edmonds worked for International Business Machines (IBM) and Johnson and Johnson in the private sector before entering the higher education field, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis on Marketing, from Marshall University and his Master of Science degree in Human Services Management from Springfield College. He recently received his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership from Wisconsin-based Edgewood College.

“We are proud of Dr. Edmonds’ appointment to the NC BEC, as it provides yet another avenue for VGCC to be a catalyst in supporting strong communities where everyone can experience a fulfilling quality of life,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of the community college. “Indeed, Dr. Edmonds is uniquely qualified to make an important contribution to this council, as he is one of the few members who represents an area that includes the rural ‘Tier 1’ counties that often have the most acute needs.”

Join N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Weekly Online Garden Chat

September 4, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

The local offices of N.C. Cooperative Extension will host a weekly online Garden Chat beginning Thursday, September 10, 2020. The public is invited to join Master Gardener℠ volunteers from the surrounding area each Thursday afternoon for a fun and engaging conversation about timely garden topics.

Each session begins at 2 p.m. and will feature an informative presentation on subjects such as plants for fall color, sustainable landscaping, selecting groundcovers and fighting fire ants. Seasonal gardening tips and helpful web resources will also be shared.

These interactive sessions will last about 45 minutes and will include time for participants to get questions answered about their own gardening challenges. The Garden Chats are hosted by the Master Gardener volunteers of Warren, Vance, Granville and Person Counties.

Registration is required to obtain access to these online sessions, and complete details are posted at http://go.ncsu.edu/mastergardenerchat or by calling (252) 438-8188 or (919) 603-1350.