100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties
Join the Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Vance/Warren Counties on Saturday, October 5, 2019, for their fall Gardening Symposium, which will be held in historic Warrenton, NC.
The symposium will feature Brie Arthur, author of The Foodscape Revolution. Brie studied Landscape Design and Horticulture at Purdue University and since has worked as a grower, propagator, author, and correspondent on the Growing A Greener World show on PBS. She has a passion for sustainable, local food production and will share advice on how to practice this in your own backyard, with an emphasis on native plants.
The presentation by Brie Arthur will take place at 1 p.m. in the Warren County Courthouse. Registration is $20 and may be submitted by downloading a registration form from https://go.ncsu.edu/foodscapewarren.
As a special bonus, the Master Gardener volunteers are partnering with Preservation Warrenton to offer a free walking tour of historic downtown starting at 10 a.m. that morning, which will highlight many fascinating stories from the town’s past. The tour will end in plenty of time for folks to enjoy downtown shopping and dining before heading over to the Courthouse for the 1 p.m. main event.
For more information, call the NC Cooperative Extension office for Warren County at 252-257-3640, or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/VCRFM-Memorial-Garden.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-30 16:50:222019-08-30 14:32:33Join the Master Gardener Volunteers for a Fall Gardening Symposium
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Press Release, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments
The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) has been awarded $200,000 by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) under the 2019 cycle of the Urgent Repair Program to assist residents in the counties of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren.
The Urgent Repair program finances emergency home repairs for homeowners who are elderly or have special needs and whose incomes are below 50% of the median for the area. Only repairs that address imminent threats to the life and/or safety of occupants of the dwelling unit or accessibility modifications will be performed under the program. A total of 18 households are projected to be assisted.
In the Urgent Repair Program, one or two critical problems may be repaired, but the entire house is not addressed. Examples of work typically done under this program include roof or HVAC system repair, well or septic system repairs, adding accessibility features like ramps, bathroom grab bars and wider doors.
The COG will provide assistance to those whose homes are selected for repairs in the form of a loan. Homeowners will receive an unsecured deferred, interest-free loan, forgiven at a rate of $2,000 per year until the principal balance is reduced to zero. The maximum amount of the loan available is $10,000.
Applications are available starting September 2, 2019, and must be returned to the COG office by 5 p.m. on November 1, 2019. Clients to be assisted will be selected by January 1, 2020.
The application and program information are available on the Kerr-Tar Regional COG website at www.kerrtarcog.org or by calling 252-436-2040.
The funds provided by the NCHFA for the Urgent Repair Program come from the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0096_1-1.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-29 16:53:092019-08-29 16:53:09Kerr-Tar Regional COG to Offer Eligible Residents Emergency Home Repairs
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Press Release, NCDOT
To ensure the safest and most efficient travel possible for North Carolina residents and visitors this Labor Day weekend, the N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most road construction projects causing lane closures on major routes across the state.
Where possible, closed lanes will be opened from Friday morning until Tuesday evening. There are, however, some locations where the type or stage of construction will not allow an opening for safety reasons.
Drivers can check the status of the route they plan to take in advance by visiting DriveNC.gov. They can also follow NCDOT on social media to track travel updates by region or route.
NCDOT encourages drivers to follow these tips to navigate the roads safely over the holiday weekend:
Leave early to get a head start on your drive. Travel at non-peak hours when possible;
Stay alert. Even if construction work is suspended, you may encounter narrowed lanes and traffic shifts in work zones;
Be patient and obey the posted speed limit;
Use alternate routes when possible to avoid traffic congestion;
Travel at times when you are normally awake and take frequent breaks;
Avoid distracted driving; and
Don’t drive drunk or impaired.
Labor Day weekend is also a time for law enforcement to crack down on drunk driving. The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program has already started its “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, geared toward catching people who are driving under the influence.
Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will be in place in all 100 counties through Monday to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you plan to drink over the holiday period, NCDOT and GHSP strongly urge you to call a friend, use a ride-share service or take a cab or public transit.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NCDOT-Logo.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-28 16:55:462019-08-28 16:55:46NCDOT Suspending Most Major Lane-Closing Projects for Labor Day Travel
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Adult Basic Skills and Continuing Education at Vance-Granville Community College, was the guest of honor on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.
Celebrating 50 years of serving and educating the community, Tucker said the college continues to excel because it adapts to the changing needs of both residents and employers alike.
Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Adult Basic Skills and Continuing Education at Vance-Granville Community College, was the guest of honor on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk. Celebrating 50 years of serving and educating the community, Tucker said the college continues to excel because it adapts to the changing needs of both residents and employers alike. (WIZS photo)
“While there are careers that require a two-year or four-year degree, there are also careers that require a specific skillset or certifications,” said Tucker. “VGCC’s Continuing Education Department works to quickly ascertain the needs of the workforce and then builds a skilled workforce for the employers.”
In fact, Tucker said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais has been committed to providing an educated workforce to meet the current and future needs of local employers since taking the helm in January.
“One of Dr. Desmarais’ visions is that we meet the needs of our workforce in a short-term, workforce development kind of way,” said Tucker.
On the Adult Basic Skills side of the house, Tucker said the majority of jobs now have a minimum requirement of an Adult High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (GED).
“When you complete an Adult High School Diploma or receive your High School Equivalency, you are laying the groundwork to an employer that you are capable of completing a basic level of education. They know if you complete a high school credential then you have a certain level of academic skill,” explained Tucker.
Offering programs primarily to adult learners 18 years and older, VGCC provides High School Equivalency classes free of charge at all four campus locations. Daytime and evening classes are available.
Other programs and areas that fall under the Con. Ed. umbrella include Fire and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement Training, Occupational Extension, Occupational Healthcare, Personal Enrichment and VGCC’s Small Business Center.
For more information on VGCC’s Continuing Education division or to register, please visit www.vgcc.edu/coned, register in person at any campus location, or call (252) 738-3324/(252) 738-3345.
To hear Tucker’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension
Raising produce in high tunnels (essentially a greenhouse heated only by the sun) offers many advantages over field production, such as extending the growing season and providing better control over growing conditions. However, it also adds to the complexity for growers. Farmers and others who would like to learn more about them are invited to a two-part learning opportunity.
Part one is an evening workshop on Thursday, September 26 at the NC Cooperative Extension office in Warrenton. The workshop starts at 4 p.m. with an outdoor demonstration showing the principles of high tunnel construction.
Following the demonstration, there will be two classroom presentations addressing high tunnel management and funding options. Our special guest presenters include Dr. Sanjun Gu, Extension Specialist from NC A&T State University and Jerome Evans of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. A catered meal will be served.
Part two is a tour of local farms that have high tunnels in use. The tour will take place on Saturday, September 28, and will feature stops at two farms (one in Franklin County, another in Vance). The tour will convene at 8 a.m. at the NC Cooperative Extension office in Warrenton, returning by 12:30 p.m. Snacks will be provided, and the first 20 registrants will have the option to ride in provided transportation.
Registration is required for these free events, and participants may register for one or both parts. Get all the details including a downloadable flyer and on-line registration form by clicking here or call 252-257-3640.
This learning opportunity is made possible thanks to the generous support of AgCarolina Farm Credit.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/High-Tunnel-Workshop.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-22 16:57:012019-08-22 16:57:01NC Coop. Extension to Offer Two-Part High Tunnel Produce Learning Opportunity
Vance-Granville Community College held Convocation on Friday, August 16, 2019, at the Main Campus in Henderson.
Faculty and staff with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service were recognized and are pictured below.
5 Years of Service (front row, seated, left to right) Dr. Erica Fleming, Julie Hicks, Erin Folz (second row, left to right) Leslie Hurt, Stacey Soles, Victoria Whited, April Rossi, Melanie Copeland, Faith Harris, Stephen Barney (third row, left to right) Stewart Lyon, Isaac Talley, Robert Newby, Gregory Wilson, Steven Graham, Luther Curtis, Wallace Evans, Ken Wilson, Mike Brodie.
10 Years of Service (front row, left to right) Frankie Frink, Veta Pierce-Cappetta, MaryBeth Vick (back row, left to right) Sean Newton, Lyndon Hall.
15 Years of Service (left to right) Rusty Pace, Dr. Tracey Carter, Lisa Edwards.
20 Years of Service (seated, left to right) Julie Jones, Wille Mae Foster-Hill, Jennifer Allen (standing) Craig Saunders.
25 Years of Service (left to right) Susan Cease, Donna Gill, Tomeka Carter.
30 Years of Service Larraine Abbott.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VGCC-Service-Award-2019.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-20 16:58:112019-08-20 16:58:11VGCC Holds Convocation, Recognizes Employees’ Years of Service
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Vance-Granville Community College invites the public to join administrators, faculty, students and staff in a celebratory event, sponsored by Duke Energy, in honor of the college’s “50 Years of Excellence Since 1969.”
This “golden” anniversary celebration will include a food truck rodeo on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the gazebo of the Main Campus in Henderson (200 Community College Road).
The band “Liquid Pleasure” will also be entertaining the crowd with live music.
*Please note that alcoholic beverages and drugs are strictly prohibited at VGCC.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/VGCC-50th-Anniversary.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-16 16:55:032019-08-16 16:55:03VGCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration to Include Food Truck Rodeo, Live Music
Approximately one year ago today, WIZS quietly celebrated a big event in its now 64-year history – its first broadcast on an FM radio station.
Since first flipping the switch to enter the airwaves on May 1, 1955, WIZS has broadcast on 1450AM. At exactly noon on August 17, 2018, after years of planning and dreaming, WIZS flipped the switch again to add 100.1 FM as a live simulcast.
Trey Snide and John C. Rose put finishing touches on FM transmission line equipment to isolate the FM antenna which is mounted on the AM tower
John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS, and Trey Snide were on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program (08/14/19) to discuss the FM simulcast and what it has meant for the station in its first year of existence.
With its ability to reach a younger audience more familiar with the FM format, the simulcast helps ensure a viable future for WIZS as a provider of local news, sports, music, talk and entertainment.
As is often the case in life, the addition of the FM channel was not without its fair share of blood, sweat, tears and a few “hold your breath” moments.
“When we first flipped the switch a year ago, there was an unbelievably long, almost nauseating period of dead air on the AM station,” Rose remembered.
Feeling reassured once the two channels synched moments later, Rose said, “The FM translator is required to be a simulcast of its AM parent. The AM station that has been here since 1955 is the foundation of everything we do.”
The first moments on 100.1 FM were even more poignant for Rose because his mother, Susan Rose, who serves as president of WIZS’ parent company Rose Farm and Rentals, Inc., was the very first person to speak the very first words WIZS ever broadcast on an FM station.
FM Anniversary Celebration
To recognize both the one-year anniversary of FM simulcasting and 30 years of Rose family ownership of the station, WIZS will hold a community celebration on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at Ribeyes Steakhouse of Henderson. Ribeyes is located at 2002 Graham Avenue, and the event will be held in the parking lot from 3 until 7 p.m.
The Rick Strickland Band, featuring the award-winning music of entertainers Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson, will be performing live.
Drinks and food specials will be available for purchase; entertainment and good fellowship are free of charge. Rose invited the community to “bring your family, bring your good mood, bring a chair or bring a tent and plan on having a good time.”
Brief History of WHVH/WIZS
On May 1, 1955, Howard V. Harrell, a tv and radio repairman from Oxford, started the station under the call letters WHVH – his initials. The station has been on the air continuously ever since.
The call letters were changed to WIZS around 1959, shortly after the station was sold to Stan Fox and his business partners Irv Fox and Seymour Dworsky.
Rose Farm & Rentals purchased WIZS and assumed operation on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III, father of John Charles Rose.
For the last 30 years, local news has been broadcast on-air on 1450AM, as well as on the more recently licensed translator 100.1 FM, at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily; mid-day news has been reported at various times throughout the years.
Along with the addition of FM, WIZS’ online presence grew exponentially in 2018 with 100,000 people visiting the website and new viewers “liking” and/or following the station on social media daily.
The popularity of WIZS’ Facebook and Twitter pages has grown throughout 2019, prompting the station to begin the process of adding an Instagram presence.
WIZS offers the following weekday broadcast schedule:
“Weekday Wakeup with Brandi Leigh” from 6 – 9 a.m.
Mix of County, Beach and Pop/Rock Oldies music from 9 – 11 a.m.
“Town Talk” at 11 a.m.
“Tradio” at 11:30 a.m.
“Beach Music Blast” with Trey Snide at 12 p.m.
“Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m.
Mix of County, Beach and Pop/Rock Oldies music from 2 – 5 p.m., including the “Afternoon Drive” with John Stevenson starting at 3 p.m.
Weekend programs include “Country Grass” with Ms. Velvet from 7 – 9 a.m. and “Choice Country Classics” from 9 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, and Saturday afternoon brings a mix of County, Beach and Pop/Rock Oldies music for your listening pleasure.
Robert Wright provides live news, local church happenings and gospel music on Sunday mornings from 7 – 11 a.m. in a segment titled “Sounds of Jordan.” This is followed by Ms. Velvet’s “Sunday Afternoon Gospel Jamboree,” a popular variety of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music, from 12 – 2 p.m.
Ending the Town Talk segment of August 14, 2019 with a final discussion on the magnitude of being a part of the FM airwaves, Rose said it was a long-time dream of both his and his father.
“Can you imagine being able to flip a switch and make something happen,” Rose asked. “Can you imagine the preparation that goes into that moment? Can you imagine years and decades about dreaming of doing something and then being able to flip a switch and make that happen? I cannot describe what that moment felt like. I cannot describe in words what it felt like to witness my mother flip that switch.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/flippingswitch.png294560Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-08-14 20:45:162019-08-18 09:22:43WIZS Celebrates FM Anniv., Announces Sat. Event at Ribeyes
Ethan Cole starts his first semester as a full-time student at North Carolina State University on August 21, making history as a pioneer in a partnership between NCSU and his former school, Vance-Granville Community College.
Cole, who hails from Kittrell, enrolled at VGCC after graduating from Franklin Academy High School in 2017. The next year, VGCC joined N.C. State’s Community College Collaboration, or “C3,” program, and Cole was among the first to sign up. Essentially, that meant he would apply for dual-enrollment and then be guaranteed admission to NCSU to earn a baccalaureate degree, once he had completed an associate degree at VGCC while maintaining good grades.
Ethan Cole (pictured here) starts his first semester as a full-time student at North Carolina State University on August 21, making history as a pioneer in a partnership between NCSU and his former school, Vance-Granville Community College. (VGCC photo)
For Cole, it was an ideal way to pursue a longtime dream. “I already knew I wanted to go to N.C. State when I first enrolled at Vance-Granville,” he said. “I’ve had that goal for many years. My dad went there, we’re Wolfpack fans in my family, and I knew it was a good school for things like business and engineering.”
The new C3 program presented Cole with a chance to get “a foot in the door to the university,” he said. “Not a whole lot of people knew about it at the time, but it seemed like a good avenue to go down, so I went for it.”
Cole completed what he recalled as a straightforward NCSU application process, was accepted, and met with Martha Harmening, the C3 director from the university, for advising. She came to the VGCC campus, so Cole did not even have to drive to Raleigh.
“She helped me to know the right classes for my major,” Cole said. “I told her that, initially, I had been thinking I would study business administration after transferring from VGCC to N.C. State, but then I started thinking about moving to engineering, particularly mechanical engineering. She explained the criteria and the classes I needed to be accepted specifically into the engineering program.”
By enrolling in C3, Cole was technically an NCSU student, even though he was taking VGCC classes. Getting into the competitive engineering program was never guaranteed, however.
After graduating from Vance-Granville with an Associate in Science earlier this year, Cole took a single chemistry class at another community college in order to become eligible for his chosen major. “I’ve now been accepted into the engineering program,” he said. “I am particularly interested in engineering on the automotive side, developing newer, more efficient vehicles.”
With his VGCC credits in hand, Cole is scheduled to graduate from the university in 2022, for a total of five years in higher education.
He feels that the community college has prepared him well for the next level. “One of the best things VGCC has is the atmosphere of being around other students who are focused and trying to do their best, and that keeps you focused, too,” Cole reflected. “Also, the teachers are down to earth and give extra time and attention to their students.”
Cole excelled as a student, earning Presidential Scholar Award-level endowed academic scholarships, making the Dean’s List and working as a peer tutor at the VGCC Academic Skills Center.
Now, he is looking forward to new experiences at N.C. State, continuing to learn and preparing to start a career.
“The C3 program helps students to transfer and to have a guaranteed spot at N.C. State,” Cole said. “I would recommend it to people who want to get a four-year degree, especially if they are still searching for what they want to major in because it gives you some security and another option.”
Students who may apply for C3 include graduating high school seniors as well as current community college students who have completed less than 30 credit hours of college work.
For more information, contact VGCC’s Admissions Office at (252) 738-3234 or click here for additional details on the C3 program.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ethan-Cole-1.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-14 16:59:532019-08-14 16:59:53VGCC Grad Pursues NCSU Degree Through New Partnership
“KING MICHAEL: A Spectacular Tribute to the King of Pop” will be performed at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center, 201 Breckenridge Street in Henderson, on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.
From early moments with his brothers to his stratospheric rise to become the greatest entertainer of all time, this sensational tribute will include all Michael Jackson’s most popular songs.
Performed by a LIVE band, dancers, and backup singers, this stunning spectacle will bring to life the energy and charisma for which KING MICHAEL was so famous.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/King-Michael-Tribute.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-08-12 16:58:172019-08-12 16:58:17KING MICHAEL: McGregor Hall to Pay Tribute to Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’
