The Local Skinny! Teacher Bags Being Prepared by Chamber

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce wants to help new teachers in the county feel welcomed as they begin – or continue  – their careers providing instruction to students in the area.

Now through July 11, the Chamber is collecting donations from area businesses for its annual New Teacher Bags program, and Chamber Events Coordinator Vanessa Jones said she’s already had a good response.

“There’s been a flood of emails from businesses that want to help us out,” Jones said.  “We’re excited for the opportunity…to make sure our teachers are having a good welcome” to the county and to their respective schools.

Donations in increments of 160 are what’s needed to fill up those bags, as that is the expected number of new educators across all schools – that includes Vance County Schools, Vance Charter School, Crossroads Christian, Kerr-Vance Academy and Henderson Collegiate.

The Chamber has set the mid-July deadline so all the bags can be ready for distribution for any new teacher orientations that may be held prior to the start of the teacher workdays at the beginning of the school year.

Items with business logos on them help identify local retailers and others that support the program – and the new teacher bags also are a great way for individuals new to the area to learn about where they can find certain goods and services.

Jones said any business or organization that cannot deliver the items to the Chamber office should contact her to arrange pickup. Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 or email her at vanessa@hendersonvance.org.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • If you are harvesting more vegetables than you can use share some vegetables with a friend.
  • PPE tip – wash your gloves before removing them.
  • When we have excessive rain from storms, open flooded rows to let that excess water out.
  • Watch out for wilts. What to do when wilt disease attacks vegetables
  • Take lower leaves off tomato plants below the first fruit set.
  • Stake or pinch tall blooming perennials.
  • Japanese beetles can damage a lot of plants shaking them off early in the morning will help lessen extent of damage
  • Check ponds for aquatic weeds. Call us for help with identification as well as management options.
  • Check for squash bugs on squash
  • Check shade trees for broken branches after summer storms. They could fall days or weeks later and cause damage or injury.
  • Check the product label every time you use a pesticide.
  • Check mower height on lawn mowers replace blades.

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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Walk into Perry Memorial Library in the coming days and weeks and you just may find something more than reading material, thanks to a craft workshop that is taking place today afternoon.

Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters joined WIZS co-host Bill Harris on Tuesday segment of The Local Skinny! to let families know about some interesting upcoming programs at the library.

Kindness Rocks! Is a program that has just a few simple ingredients: Young people, paint and rocks, Peters said.

The young artists will paint a simple inspirational word or picture on the rock, then place it somewhere for it to be discovered by someone walking by.

The idea is “to leave messages around the community where you live,” she said. Participants will find spots inside and outside the library to place their “kindness rocks,” with the hope that it brightens the day for the person who finds it.

Next Tuesday, June 27, at 11 a.m., the Farm Bureau Room will become a concert venue as the band “Big Bang Boom!” takes the stage. The group plays kid-friendly music, Peters said, and invites all to come enjoy.

Later that day, beginning at 4:30 p.m., representatives from the local animal shelter are going to bring along some adoptable pets for children to interact with and maybe even read a story to, Peters said. Kids will get a chance to make toys for dogs out of old t-shirts.

And on Thursdays, don’t forget the Mother Goose story time and Lego Fun Club. The story time is at 11 a.m. and the Lego group kicks off at 4 p.m. Last week, there were 35 kids enjoying their time creating with the classic plastic bricks.

Visit  https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn more.

 

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The Local Skinny! Warren County To Discuss School Consolidation

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The Warren County Board of Education will hear a proposal from district leaders to combine Warren New Tech High School with Warren County High School for the 2023-24 school year.

A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20 at 6 p.m. at Warren County Middle School to hear from the community about the proposal before the board makes a decision on July 25.

This meeting will be streamed live on social media at: http://www.warrenk12nc.org/live . Anyone wishing to speak at the public hearing is asked to sign up in person 30 minutes before the start of the meeting. Each person has up to 3 minutes to speak.

“The combined school will be a hub for education innovation that offers a student-centered learning experience that is customized to address the needs of our students, families and staff,” according to information on the Warren County Schools webpage.

Only 11 rising 9th graders applied to attend WNTHS for the 23-24 school year, making the total enrollment 64 students.

“We simply can’t afford to operate such a small school,” the statement from leadership read.

Additionally, the school was scheduled to close in the 2024-35 school year, making it challenging to hire a principal for only one year.

The proposal calls for the New Tech campus to be used as an alternative learning school for the 2023-24 school year before being renovated to be the new home of the consolidated elementary school.

The ultimate goal is to have three consolidated schools in the county – one for elementary, middle and high school students.

Learn about the plan and the reasons for the recommended change: https://bit.ly/3qOjPR6

If you have questions concerning this process, please contact Warren County Schools’ Central Administrative Office at 252.257.3184.

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“Pop The Hood” – Brakes

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— For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

It’s important that our vehicles go when we step on the gas, but it’s just as important that they stop when we apply the brakes.

Drivers who hear a scraping or grinding sound when braking should take heed: It could mean your brakes need some attention. Ignoring it could only make the problem worse, so Michael Puckett, manager of Advance Auto Parts on Raleigh Road, recommends getting it checked out.

Those sounds could mean the brake pads or shoes need replacing or the rotors need turning.

“It could be the brake pads have gone down to the metal,” Puckett explained, adding that if the rotors have been damaged beyond the point of being turned, they’ll need replacing.

If the vehicle pulls to the right or left, it could be a sign that the brake calipers need work.

A lot of times the configuration is brake shoes on the back with pads on the front, but if you don’t know exactly what you need, the team at Advance Auto can help. With just a little information about your vehicle, or the VIN, customers can find exactly the right parts for their project.

Many parts manufacturers are making brake pads and shoes from ceramic these days, which can mean they last longer.

The staff at Advance Auto keeps safety first, Puckett said, and will help educate customers about specific parts for specific needs. If you use your truck for towing, you may need a certain type of brake pad or shoe.

Once your vehicle repair has been made, it’s important to do a road test to make sure the problem has been resolved. Steps to ensure safety during a repair and afterward are what Advance Auto is all about.

Visit https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/ to learn about the complete line of parts and services available at Advance Auto Parts.

The information contained in this post and its associated audio is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • If going on vacation have someone harvest vegetables for you,
  • PPE tip when using gas powered equipment: Eye protection guards against possible injury. Hearing protection guards against almost certain injury.
  • Harvest vegetables in the morning and refrigerate as soon as possible.
  • Learn to recognize invasive plants such as paulownia, tree of heaven, Chinese privet and others. Eliminate them when you find them.
  • Make sure weeds are actively growing before using weed control post emergence herbicides.
  • There are hundreds of species of bees and wasps in NC and the vast majority are non-aggressive and beneficial.
  • Watering your garden thoroughly once a week is much better than watering just a little each day.
  • Leave snakes alone. The majority are harmless and beneficial. Learn to recognize copperheads and leave them alone. Trying to move or kill them will likely increase your risk of getting bitten.
  • Check garden each day for harvestable vegetables ex Squash
  • Avoid spray drift. Don’t spray in windy conditions and set the nozzle to spray larger droplets.
  • Check the product label every time you use a pesticide.

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The Local Skinny! Elder Abuse Walk To Be Held Thursday In Creedmoor

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Kerr Tar Council of Governments, Granville County Senior Services and Granville County Department of Social Services are hosting an Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Conference and commemorative walk Thursday, June 15. The event will be held at the Creedmoor Community Center on 108 East Wilton Street in Creedmoor, according to Kimberly Hawkins, regional ombudsman for the Agency on Aging and a key organizer of the day’s event.

The conference will include various workshops and information sessions on topics including avoiding scams, identifying and preventing financial abuse and much more, Hawkins said.

The walk is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served about 12 noon. The activities will be held at the Creedmoor Community Center on 108 East Wilton St. in Creedmoor. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and end around 1 p.m. There will be more than 30 vendors onsite from a variety of agencies that support the prevention and mistreatment of our disabled adult population.

This is a free event open to the public of all ages. The first 200 people will receive a free t-shirt, a tote bag and lunch will be provided. There will be a contest with prizes for 1st,2nd and 3rd place to the individuals that show the most “spirit” or express their efforts to support the prevention of elder abuse, Hawkins said.

Even if you can’t attend, please support this international opportunity by wearing purple and silver on this day.

Community partners are very supportive of the event, from sponsoring meals and providing t-shirts to donating space to hold the event.

“By doing all that we can to strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a nation that lives up to our promise of justice for all,” Hawkins stated.

There will be presentations on Financial Abuse by the NC Attorney General Office and the Butner NCSECU branch, Fraud and Scams by the Creedmoor Police Department, Healthy living thru exercise by Ms. Rumsey and Elder Abuse Trivia Bingo hosted by Mr. Ed Wilson. Staff from our local Departments of social services and senior centers will be on hand to answer questions about their services, several Long Term Care facilities such as Louisburg Healthcare and Rehab, Roxboro Healthcare and Rehab, Warren Hills, and Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation centers. Medicare service vendors, NC DOI/ SHIIP and United HealthCare, Granville Medical Center, NCDHHS Services for the Blind, The Help Center, Warren County Health Department, Land Loss Prevention Project, NC PACE, VGCC, SafeKey Staffing and Respite care and more.

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City of Henderson Logo

The Local Skinny! City Council Adopts 2023-24 Budget

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The Henderson City Council adopted the 2023-24 budget at its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, but it was not a unanimous vote. The budget was approved on a 3-2 vote, with three council members absent. Council members Jason Spriggs, Ola Thorpe-Cooper and Lamont Noel voted to approve the budget, with Garry Daeke and Mike Rainey casting a ‘no’ vote.

Council members Melissa Elliott, Sara Coffey and Marion Brodie Williams were not present at the meeting. Daeke said Monday evening to WIZS after the meeting that although he was in favor of raising revenues, he thought the 3.8 cent tax increase was too much. Rainey said that the upcoming revaluation would bring extra revenue to the city’s coffers as well.

Mayor Eddie Ellington said if he had been called to break a tie vote, he would have voted against approval of the budget.

“The city’s budget is of the utmost importance and will have major consequences for the following fiscal year,” Ellington told WIZS News. “I have expressed my concerns during the budget work sessions and I am against raising our city tax rate and placing the burden on our taxpaying citizens, especially during this time of uncertainty with a county wide property value revaluation already underway.”

The budget includes a 3.8-cent tax increase and sanitation fee increases, but as of now, no increases in water and sewer rates.

The tax rate in the new budget is .75, up from .71 per $100 valuation, and the sanitation fee will rise to $32, up from $29.

The $23.4 million budget calls for a $1,500 bonus for all full-time employees of the city in lieu of a COLA (cost of living adjustment), except members of the police department, whose salary increases were approved in March.

The council received the budget on May 8,  and had several work sessions and offered at least one public hearing since then. The increases in the tax and sanitation fees is expected to add more than $500,000 to the city’s coffers.

These proposed increases would be the first since 2014, and Blackmon said there could be a slight increase in the water rate in the near future, now that financing for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System has been secured.

“Additional revenues will help sustain a stable fund balance to balance the budget and to help meet increased costs related to salaries, utilities, supplies such as chemicals, and other expenses impacted by inflation,” Blackmon told WIZS last week.

Some of the capital outlay expenditures budget highlights include IT upgrades police vehicles and equipment, fire truck upfitting and redevelopment.

Capital projects include McGregor Hall signage, Food Truck Court and redevelopment through land purchasing initiatives.

The Council also voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the request for purchase of bulletproof vests. Police Chief Marcus Barrow said the vests have a five-year life expectancy. The department has just hired four new officers, and the vests, which are custom made for each officer, will be provided. Barrow said the department is hoping to get additional funds from the N.C. League of Municipalities to help defray the cost of the vests.

The city is a step shy of designating a “social district,” which allows for public consumption of alcohol within a specifically defined area of downtown. The council approved giving the city manager authority to say “yay” or “nay” when event organizers request permission for the public to consume alcohol during particular events, upon his first receiving a recommendation on the request from a committee comprised largely of public safety officials.

Council also approved a request from Recreation and Parks to pursue a $150,000 grant from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation as it continues with construction of the new park at William and Montgomery streets, on property that once was the site of the Vance Hotel.

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June Blood Drives in Henderson and Oxford

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There’s just no way to say it any plainer: The American Red Cross needs donors to sign up and give blood. The need is great and ever growing.

June 14 is World Blood Donor Day, a day that focuses on raising awareness of the need for a safe, diverse and stable blood supply. This simply is not possible without blood donors.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion.

The Red Cross collected 26,000 FEWER blood donations than it needed last month alone to meet patients’ needs. Platelets are especially needed at this time.

Please take a moment to find a donation site in your area and sign up to give the gift of life.

In thanks for taking time to help, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma June 1-30 will receive a $10 gift card by email to a merchant of their choice. Those who come to give throughout June will also be automatically entered for a chance to win a backyard theater package. Details for both offers can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/June.

Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS 1.800.733.2767 to schedule a time to give now.

Upcoming drives are listed below:

Oxford

6/16/2023: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W. McClanahan St.

Henderson

6/23/2023: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Maria Parham Health, 566 Ruin Creek Rd.

6/29/2023: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kerr Lake Country Club, 600 Hedrick Rd.

Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Check squash for squash bugs
  • Avoid hand watering.
  • If you have young children or grand kids let them help you in the garden teach them how plants grow.
  • Avoid excess mulch around trees and shrubs.
  • Continue your succession vegetable planting
  • Avoid herbicide applications on tall fescue lawns.
  • Watering your garden thoroughly once a week is much better than watering just a little each day.
  • Fertilize warm season lawns
  • Check garden each day for harvestable vegetables ex Squash
  • Shape up shrubbery

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