Duke Energy

Winter Weather: Forewarned Is Forearmed

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Meteorologists are watching a cold front march across the Midwest today, and Duke Energy officials are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for the next couple of days. While nobody is predicting frozen precipitation here, things could get a little dicey as blustery winds and single-digit lows combine to make for extreme winter conditions.

Duke District Manager Tanya Evans said Thursday that high winds early Friday could create issues in the area, and utility crews stand at the ready to restore power if outages occur.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Blaze said an Arctic cold front will blast through the area Friday morning and temps will plunge as the day goes on.

The combination of the arctic air mass and the strong winds will result in very cold wind chills across the region from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.

As winter weather approaches, Duke Energy suggests that residents prepare in advance for outages.

“While there is never a good time to be without power, we recognize that the possibility of outages over the holidays is particularly worrisome for the customers and communities we serve,” said Jason Hollifield, Carolinas storm director. “Our crews are prepared and will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power when outages occur.”

High winds and saturated ground may lead to downed trees, limbs and power lines. These winds can also impede Duke Energy workers’ ability to assess storm damage and restore power, and any outages that occur early Friday could linger into the evening as high wind gusts are forecast throughout the day.

Duke’s 24-hour hotline is 800.559.3853.

Below is a list of suggestions to consider before, during and after a storm:

Before the storm

·       Create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable time later. The kit should include everything an individual or family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines, water, nonperishable foods and other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm hits.

·       Keep a portable radio or TV or a NOAA weather radio on hand to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local officials.

·       Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of storms to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.

·       Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended power outage occurs, or evacuation is required.

·       Pet owners should arrange to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends’ or family members’ homes; or pet-friendly hotels.

After the storm

·       Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines.

·       If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.

Outage reporting

After a storm hits, restoring power as safely and quickly as possible is our top priority, while keeping our customers informed.

·       Customers who experience an outage during a storm can report it the following ways:

·       Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.

·       Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.

·       Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).

·       Call the automated outage-reporting system, at: 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).

·       Visit our interactive outage map to find up-to-date information on power outages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration.

Understand how Duke Energy restores power

Our crews are ready to respond should outages occur. Learn more about the restoration process following damaging winds.

Diabetes: Living With, Preventing Disease

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Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy and causes blood sugar levels to rise to abnormally high levels. As the seventh leading cause of death, diabetes is one of the most common – and dangerous – health issues in the U.S. In fact, more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and one in five who do have it are unaware of their condition.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. Cheryl Hester, a registered nurse at Maria Parham Health, said diabetes can be treated with medication and its risks reduced by making a few key lifestyle changes.

Children as young as 1 year old have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a result of the body stopping production of insulin altogether.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your body turn food into energy and manages your blood sugar. Symptoms for Type 1 typically develop early and intensely, and this type is primarily diagnosed in children, teens and young adults. Those with Type 1 take insulin regularly to compensate for their body’s inability to produce it.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common iteration of the disease and usually occurs when your body has difficulty maintaining normal blood sugar levels as a result of an inability to use insulin properly.

Generally speaking, risk factors including unhealthy weight, age and a family history of Type 2 diabetes can contribute to a person being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes also are at a greater risk for a Type 2 diagnosis, as are people from higher-risk ethnic groups such as African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian and Alaska Native (some Pacific Islanders and Asian-Americans are also at higher risk).

Gestational diabetes occurs only in females and results when pregnancy-related body changes affect the ability to make sufficient inulin. It typically goes away after birth, but it can increase the mother’s and the child’s risk for Type 2 diabetes later in life.

A related condition is prediabetes. Prediabetes presents when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. More than one in three American adults – around 96 million – have prediabetes, and more than 80 percent don’t know it. Diabetes can also lead to other, more serious health issues, like heart and kidney disease, vision loss and stroke. The good news is that Type 2 and gestational diabetes can be prevented. Eating healthy foods, engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can help.

How do you know if you have diabetes? There are classic symptoms, including frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, unintended weight loss, blurry vision, fatigue, abnormally dry skin, numb or tingling hands or feet, slow-healing sores and more infections than usual.

But you may not have any of the above-mentioned symptoms and still have diabetes. Your primary care provider can conduct a simple blood sugar test to determine whether you have diabetes or prediabetes. Being equipped with the knowledge of your status can empower you and your provider to work together on a treatment plan and lifestyle changes to improve and protect your health if needed.

For more information on diabetes, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes and www.diabetes.org.

Need to make an appointment with a provider for a talk about diabetes and blood sugar testing? Call 800.424.DOCS or visit https://www.mariaparham.com/

 

Weekend Holiday Events To Add To The Calendar

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Amid the holiday hustling and bustling, there are numerous opportunities to share fun – and free – activities with family and friends in the Henderson area between now and Christmas. The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of events and programs happening over the next week or so that can be a welcome respite from crowded shopping areas and stressful schedules.

 

Friday, Dec. 16 – through Christmas 

  • Stop by the lobby between McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library to see the Christmas tree display, decorated by downtown businesses for the community to enjoy.
  • Find the photo backdrops and booths around downtown Henderson to snap a fun family photo – or selfie! – to create a new holiday memory.

 

Saturday, Dec. 17

  • 2 p.m. – informational meeting of the teen entrepreneur club. Register at http://bit.ly/VanceTeenEntrepreneur.com or call Wykia Macon at 252.438.8188.
  • 7:30 p.m. – Get an infusion of the holiday spirit at a free concert by Northeast Piedmont Chorale, McGregor Hall.
  • Concerts not your thing? Then head down to Movie Night@Sadie’s. $15 gets you a spaghetti dinner, popcorn, drinks and the movies “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Bad Santa.” RSVP to 252.572.2542.

 

WIZS Local, Live Election Coverage

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Tune in to WIZS radio Tuesday evening for a local perspective on tomorrow’s mid-term election results.

Brandon Boyd joins John C. Rose live on the air through the evening, commenting on state and national races, overall voter turnout and trends – all while keeping a keen eye on local races that affect Vance County and the WIZS listening area.

Candidates in some local races are running unopposed, but several other races will be decided following Tuesday’s vote.

Incumbent Curtis Brame and challenger Patrick Bailey are vying for the job of Vance County Sheriff. There’s also a close race for sheriff in Granville County, which has three challengers vying for the job.

In the race for N.C. House District 32, incumbent Terry Garrison is being challenged by political newcomer Frank Sossamon.

Mark Speed and Lisa Barnes are running for the N.C. Senate to represent District 11, which includes Henderson and Vance County.

But there are other state races that have significance locally, including district court judgeships, court of appeals races and battles for seats on the state Supreme Court.

Carolyn Thompson and Julee Flood face each other in a race for district court seat 8, and Don Davis and Sandy Smith are each hopeful to take the U.S. House District 1 election.

Boyd said he hopes others enjoy hearing and seeing tomorrow’s election results as much as he does.

“It’s going to be so much fun watching this thing play out from coast to coast,” he said.

As polls close in the East and then later through the evening on the West Coast, Boyd said he is interested in watching national races here in North Carolina with the Cheri Beasley-TeddBudd matchup for U.S. Senate – but also named Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona as key states to watch.

 

 

 

WIZS WILL PROVIDE LOCAL, LIVE ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE STARTING AT 7:30 P.M. ON NOV. 8.

HERE IN VANCE COUNTY, YOU’LL RECEIVE INFORMATION ON THE VANCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S RACE, THE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 2 RACE AND THE LATEST ON THE NC HOUSE 32 RACE.

JOIN US RIGHT HERE AT 1450 AM / 100.1 FM AND STREAMED LIVE ANYWHERE YOU GO BY CLICKING ON LISTEN LIVE AT WIZS.COM.  (player.listenlive.co/53101)

CLICK PLAY!

 

Tune In Monday At 11 AM For Interviews With Vance Sheriff Candidates

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Tune in to WIZS Monday morning for special programming that will feature the two candidates vying for the office of Vance County Sheriff in the upcoming Nov. 8 elections.

Interviews with Incumbent Curtis Brame and challenger Patrick Bailey will be aired beginning at 11 a.m., the regular TownTalk slot.

The candidates will be interviewed separately and then the recorded 23-minute segments will air.

Both candidates have appeared on previous TownTalk segments as part of the station’s commitment to continuing election coverage. Bailey has worked with the Henderson Police Department and said as sheriff he would work to address the drug issue in the community and make sure that deputies receive additional training to combat the problem.

He also has said the county jail is antiquated and outdated and needs attention, a point that Sheriff Brame agrees with.

Brame is seeking a second term as sheriff and said, in addition to the conditions at the county jail, priorities include the opioid epidemic and gun violence. But he also has advocated for better pay to attract and retain employees, who often leave for higher-paying jobs in nearby counties.

Early voting beings Oct. 20.

News and Announcements Related to Ian

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With the likelihood of downed trees and power lines, travel could be hazardous in some areas.

If you should lose power, please do not call 911 to report it. This is not an emergency and your call could prevent someone with a true emergency from getting through.

Duke Energy District Manager Tanya Evans wrote in an information release that customers who experience an outage during a storm can report it the following ways, according to Evans.

  • Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
  • Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
  • Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy App from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
  • Call the automated outage-reporting system: Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356; Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766)

Click here for more from Duke Energy.

Remember to check on your elderly neighbors, friends and family both before and after the storm to make sure they have what they need. Remember your pets and bring them indoors if possible or at least make sure they are safe outside.

When the storm is over, be careful when venturing outside particularly in areas that receive damage as unseen hazards could be present.

Oxford Logo

TownTalk: CultureFEST To Liven Up Downtown Oxford (POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 2023)

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UPDATE NOON 9-27-22:

DUE TO FORECAST WEATHER EVENTS, CULTUREFEST ORGANIZERS HAVE MADE THE “DIFFICULT DECISION TO CANCEL AND POSTPONE UNTIL NEXT MAY.”

BE SURE TO READ THE FOLLOWING UPDATED NEWS TEXT:

This Saturday’s CultureFEST in downtown Oxford has been rescheduled, thanks to the likelihood that the area will be dealing with the remnants of Hurricane Ian, now poised to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast tomorrow (Wednesday).

Two of the event organizers  – Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and Ajulo Othow – were on TownTalk Monday to spread the word about the event, which was going to mark its second year of being held in the parking lot at Littlejohn Street.

Sergent contacted WIZS News Tuesday morning to share the news of the postponement.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel and postpone until next May,” Sergent said.

With weather forecasts predicting that North Carolina will be hit with heavy rains from the storm, it was a case of better safe than sorry.

ORIGINAL STORY 9-26-22:

The parking lot at Littlejohn Street will be the site for the second annual CultureFEST on Saturday, Oct. 1 in downtown Oxford.

The sights and sounds are local, to be sure, but the flair – and flavor – of the event is international, as dance groups representing the diversity of cultures are featured or all to enjoy. In addition to the dance performances, there will be food trucks and children’s activities during the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Two of the event organizers spoke Monday with John C. Rose on TownTalk. Ajulo Othow expressed appreciation to the City of Oxford and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation for their collaboration and partnership to make CultureFEST a downtown event.

“Our goal is to grow this event from year to year,” said Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring people from a variety of backgrounds…to enjoy all the different things that culture brings to the table.”

At 11:30 a Hawaiian dance group kicks off a slew of performances that will take the stage through the course of the afternoon. “They did a wonderful job setting the tone last year,” Othow noted. A new group representing the Haliwa Saponi tribe will join this year’s event, and there will Orgullo y Alma Latina presenting traditional dances of Guerrero, Mexico, and the Carolina  Indian Arts performing dances from the Punjab region of India. The African American Dance Ensemble and the Cane Creek Cloggers also will perform.

“It’s going to be a wonderful day!” Othow said. “We’re excited about all of the different performers.”

It was Othow’s mother, the late Dr. Helen Othow, who founded the John Chavis Historical Society and it was this group that started the festival, but it was last year that CultureFEST was held in downtown Oxford for a larger audience.

“We are so grateful to the City of Oxford and the DOEDC for seeing all of the ways in which our community is on display – valuing culture, different ways of performance, dance and music.”

Folks can get a close-up view in demonstrations including tortilla making, glass blowing and the art of karate.

The Food trucks also will serve food representative of a variety of cultures – from the Soul Food of Butner’s Tru Soul to Mexican food provided by Mixed Cultures and Truly Delicious Jamaican-style food, there will be something for everyone.

The St. Cyprian’s Drummers will provide entertainment and if folks recognize some familiar faces in the bluegrass band that will accompany the Cane Creek Cloggers, they will have correctly identified Tim and Brenda Currin of Granville County.

Sergent said CultureFEST is a way to experience different cultures and to break from a natural tendency to stay in our own comfort zones. “We owe the existence of this event to Ajulo’s mom, who always wanted us to do more,” Sergent said, “pushing us to make us do (and) be more than we had been.”

Helen Othow died in January 2022 at the age of 89. There will be a special tribute to her life and legacy during Saturday’s event.

Click Play!

Register For SBA Webinar Friday At 2 PM To Learn Funding Options For Small Businesses

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The U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting a webinar Friday afternoon to discuss funding options that are available to small businesses, including new and existing resources to contend with inflation.

The webinar is part of “The Bottom Line” series, hosted by the SBA and Small Business Majority

Register here for the webinar, which begins at 2 p.m.

“Understanding how to deal with the impact of inflation as a result of the pandemic and other global factors, and knowing where to look for an navigate available resources to tackle it can sometimes be daunting,” according to information from the USBA. Speakers during tomorrow’s webinar include USBA Senior Advisor, Office of Capital Access Veronica Pugin; Gary Cunningham, president and CEO, Prosperity Now, Stephanie DeVane, vice president of the National Urban League’s entrepreneurship & business development and Mark Madrid, USBA associate administrator, Office of Entrepreneurial Development.

Click this link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Wur853uISLmA7Oh-Lfm3Pw?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Arrest Made In 2018 Murder Of Henderson Man

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame said one person has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a 2018 incident that resulted in the death of a 21-year-old Henderson man.

On or about Aug 31, 2022,  the Vance County Sheriff’s Office arrested Oakoya Monae Turner, 25, of Henderson on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Robert Archie, III, which occurred on Nov. 18, 2018.

The Vance County Grand Jury handed down a true bill of indictment against Turner on Aug. 22, according to the press statement from Brame received Friday.

Turner is in custody at the Vance County Detention Center.

Although an initial arrest has been made, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate this incident. Anyone with information regarding this matter is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

State Highway Patrol

Booze It & Lose It Campaign Aimed At Reducing Alcohol-Related Car Crashes

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State and local officials have a simple message – never drink and drive.

Doing so over the long holiday weekend could mean a trip to jail rather than to the beach or pool.

Through Sept. 11, law enforcement statewide will be stepping up patrols to stop impaired drivers during the annual Labor Day Booze It & Lose It campaign.

Driving while impaired is against the law and could be deadly, not to mention expensive. People charged with DWI can lose their license and pay thousands of dollars in court fees.

“By finding a sober ride home, you can prevent a fun summer night from turning tragic,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “More than 400 North Carolina families lost loved ones last year in alcohol-related crashes, and if we can stop even one family from experiencing this kind of loss, it will have been worth it.”

In 2021, 423 people died on North Carolina roads due to alcohol-related crashes, including 15 during the Labor Day Booze It & Lose It enforcement campaign period.

Increased enforcement during specific campaign periods year-round is a key part of making North Carolina roads safer. That’s especially important this year, as officials seek to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, which in 2021 marked the most traffic deaths in North Carolina since 1973.