Windy, Rainy Hurricane Ian Largely Spared Vance County Area

/by

Residents in Vance County and the surrounding area may be picking up scattered branches and limbs from Friday’s storm, but overall damage was limited to downed trees and minimal property damage. Crews spent Friday evening and Saturday restoring power to customers who lost electricity in the pouring rain and driving wind. On Saturday, 7,028 customers were without power in Vance County.

But all in all, Hurricane Ian could have left a much worse path of destruction as it blew through this part of the state.

Emergency Management Services Director Brian Short said there were more than 30 reports of trees down in the area, as well as numerous alarms, fire alarms, traffic accidents and electrical-related calls, Short said, but no major injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the storm.

“All of our public safety agencies worked well together throughout the storm as they always do. Our 911 telecommunicators worked very hard answering your calls for help and coordinating our field response personnel,” Short said. “Fire and rescue crews worked tirelessly responding to trees down, keeping roadways clear and responding to fire-related alarms and other calls. Our EMS crews responded to numerous accidents and medical related incidents and our law enforcement officers patrolled areas without power, and responded to numerous alarms and traffic accidents,” Short reported.

Thankfully, the area saw mostly just rain and wind, which gusted up to the 35-37 mph range and the rainfall measured at the emergency operations center was 1.81 inches.

A wind gust of 39 mph was recorded at the emergency operations center in downtown Henderson, Short said in a written statement. And three inches of rain was the highest amount recorded in the county.

At the height of the storm, more than half a million customers were without power in the Carolinas, and Duke Energy had 10,000 crew members out working to get the power back on. As of 11 a.m. today, there were just under 100 households in North Carolina still waiting to get power restored.

Ian had departed the area by Saturday, and the cleanup and recovery process could be undertaken in earnest, Short said in a report issued over the weekend.

“The most intense weather did not arrive until around 5 p.m. Gusty winds and heavy rains caused downed trees and power outages as well as localized flash flooding, as predicted,” Short said. The highest wind gust recorded at the County Emergency Operations Center was 39 mph. Our data matches that captured by the National Weather Service as well,” he noted.

The Local Skinny! Clayton Homes Of Oxford Supports KidsCan! At Duke Cancer Institute

/by

Clayton Oxford is known as #929 in the larger corporate family that is Clayton Homes, so what better day than Sept. 29 – 9/29 – to kick off the local manufacturer’s monthlong fundraising effort called Pink October?

One long table in the breakroom at the Knotts Grove Road plant was filled Thursday with all sorts of sweets for the first of several events of Pink October. Sandra Santos, Clayton Oxford’s team member experience manager, said the bake sale would probably earn close to $400 toward a $20,000 goal. Add that to $3,700 from “Stronger Together” t-shirt sales, and they’re about a fifth of the way there. And it isn’t even October yet.

Santos said other events will be held throughout the month – hotdog lunch fundraisers, 50/50 raffles and a carnival closer to Halloween are just a few of the fun things planned.

Clayton Oxford raises money each year for Duke Cancer Institute, Santos said. The roughly 220 team members had no problem meeting last year’s goal of $15,000, and Santos predicts this year will be no different.

On hand for Thursday’s kickoff event was Kristy E. Sartin, director of external relations for Duke Supportive Care and Survivorship Center. Sartin’s program is part of the umbrella organization that is Duke Cancer Institute, which provides a range of services – at no cost – to cancer patients and their families.

Leslie Dixon, a customer care advocate for Clayton Oxford, is one such patient.

Dixon was diagnosed with melanoma in late 2020, and she said she received “amazing care” not only from her medical team but also from the folks at Duke Cancer Institute. The KidsCan! Program helped her young son process his mom’s diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

“KidsCan! helped with counseling and tutoring for my son, who was 10 at the time of my diagnosis,” Dixon said Thursday. The support he received from KidsCan! gave him a different outlook on cancer, she said.

“KidsCan! gave him an outlet and access to therapists for counseling,” Dixon said. And, he realized “they can also help me get my math grade back up,” she added.

“KidsCan! is a great program,” Santos said, “that provides support for children and teenagers…who can share their concerns and be treated with love and respect.”

Dixon said that during her six years at Clayton Oxford, there have been a number of fellow employees who have gotten a cancer diagnosis. They all went to Duke for their treatment, so it’s easy to support programs like the Duke Cancer Institute and KidsCan! because those programs have helped their friends and fellow team members.

“We’re part of a wonderful company,” Santos said. One of their core values is Do Good. And Pink October fits perfectly with that value, she said. “We do it and we serve our community in this way. We do good because it is good for everybody.”

To learn more, visit http://www.dukecancerinstitute.org/ and click Supportive Care.

CLICK PLAY!

Home And Garden Show

/by

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

  • Vegetables to plant now Chinese cabbage, Garlic, bulb onions, spinach
  • Don’t apply lime to your lawn out of habit or routine.
  • Any vegetables growing now still needs 1 inch of rain or irrigation
  • Scout for fire ants and treat active mounds.
  • If renovating your lawn make sure you pack the seed into the soil. Good seed to soil contact is a must for good seed germination.
  • Plant trees and shrubs.
  • Soil Test season is now! 1 week analysis time
  • Plant strawberries, if you can find them.
  • Visit local nurseries to plan for your fall landscape projects.

Click Play!

 

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance 09-27-22

/by

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for September 27, 2022. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email michele@hendersonvance.org to be included.

····························

Name of Business- Community Workforce Solutions, Inc

Title of Job- Community Employment Trainer; Full time, $17-18/hour, duties may include conducting program orientation for participants entering services, review case files, determine areas of interest, and coordinate job tours. Minimum qualifications include, one year experience working with individuals with disabilities or believe that you would have a background that would bring value to this position. This position requires the use of your personal vehicle on a routine basis.

How to Apply- Fill out their application on their website at http://www.communityworkforcesolutions.com/careers.html. Send in the application along with your resume to the email address: employment@nc-cws.org.

····························

Name of Business- Henderson Collegiate School

Title of Job- Middle School English Teacher; Full time, Salary of $41,000-48,000, in addition they are offering a sign-on bonus of $2,000 for the 2022-23 school year. All candidates must have a bachelor’s degree. Preferred experience teaching and working in low-income community but not required.

How to Apply- Apply on company site at https://hendersoncollegiate.org/careers/.

····························

Name of Business- Vance County Schools

Title of Job- School Nutrition Cafeteria Assistant; Salary of $21,000-$28,000. Full time (6 hours per day). Nature of work includes prepare foods including breakfast items, meats/main dishes, breads/grains, fruits, vegetables, salads, sandwiches, soups, snacks. Serve food on line. Correctly identify reimbursable meals & snack items. Use cash register to process financial transactions. Follow written cash collection procedures. Cleaning to include washing pans, utensils and equipment. Wipe dining tables & chairs. Empty trash.

How to Apply- Apply on Company Site https://www.vcs.k12.nc.us/ or Indeed.

····························

Name of Business- Vance-Granville Community College

Title of Job- Federal Work-Study Student Only; Part-Time, $10-12/hour. Duties may include Assisting students, answering telephones, scanning documents, Filing, Administrative duties, Preparing mailings and promotional material, and Data entry. Qualifications are must be eligible for Title IV Aid, must have financial need, must be enrolled in a least 6 credit hours each semester at VGCC, must submit a resume, and must submit a cover letter.

How to Apply- Visit company site to apply. https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/vgcceduNC/.

····························

Name of Business- Vance County Schools

Title of Job- High School Principal. Salary of $50,000-$65,000. Looking for an experienced secondary principal for our high school. There is a $10,000 new hire signing bonus for this position with a two-year commitment.

How to Apply- Apply at https://vcsnc.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=181.

····························

Name of Business: George’s of Henderson

Title of Job: Multiple Positions

How to Apply: Apply by stopping by the Restaurant to pick up an application or dropping off your resume at the Restaurant.  They are located at 210 N. Garnett St Henderson, NC 27536.

····························

Name of Business: Vance Chapter of Boys & Girls Club Organization

Title of Job: Part-time positions open for after-school counselors. Requirements are must love working with youth, have good reading skills, and a desire to come to work on time 2:30 – 7:00 pm Monday – Friday.

How to Apply: Apply by calling or emailing Evelyn Taylor at

252-438-5830 or etaylor@bgcncnc.com.

····························

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

Click Play!

 

The Local Skinny! Free Prostate Cancer Screening To Be Held At Maria Parham

/by

Maria Parham Health is sponsoring a free prostate cancer screening on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cancer Center Director Kim Smith and Hope Breedlove, a social worker who helps clients navigate the process of getting screened, reviewing results and understanding treatment options encourage men in the community to come take part in what they describe as a simple, and necessary, process for early detection of prostate cancer.

Smith and Breedlove spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s The Local Skinny! and said the two-hour event is free and will observe COVID-19 safety protocols. There is no need to make an appointment – simply show up to the main entrance of the hospital, located on Ruin Creek Road.

As an added bonus, Smith said the “Strollin’ Colon” will be on hand to remind people to schedule their colonoscopies.

Over the last couple of years, regular checkups and screenings may have been postponed because of the ongoing pandemic, but Smith said it’s time to get back on schedule “we’ve got to get our screenings the way we’re supposed to,” she said.

Breedlove said her role as social worker is to help get patients registered, guide them through the process of the screening, then help get lab results out in the mail. If patients need additional follow-up care or treatment of some sort, Breedlove is available to help manage that part of the process, too.

“I get them linked up with the care they need,” Breedlove said.

Men over the age of 50 are more likely to see elevated PSAs, Smith noted. African American males are at a higher risk, and she said it is important to spread the news of the screening throughout the community.

“This is something that has to be done as (men) get older,” she said of the prostate screening.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

The Local Skinny! COVID-19 Update

/by

Although daily updates about COVID-19 transmission rates, sickness and deaths have evolved to weekly and now monthly updates, Granville-Vance Health Director Lisa Harrison’s updates have become regular reminders that although vaccines have reduced the threat of severe illness and worse in the community, the transmission rate in Vance County remains high.

In the latest update, Harrison is quick to point out that health professionals are still dealing with COVID-19 and its repercussions, despite the fact that so much of society has opted for a return to almost normal life.

“Although there is some confusion in the news lately about whether we are still in a pandemic or not, the World Health Organization is the entity that gets to declare when the pandemic is over,” Harrison wrote. In the U.S. and in North Carolina, she added, health officials are more confident in their ability to effectively fight COVID-19.

But we’re entering that time of year where folks are rolling up their sleeves for the seasonal flu shot. Harrison said it’s important to consider getting a COVID-19 booster as well.

“An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for people 12 and older, two months after they finish their primary series, and/or two months after illness from COVID-19. It offers the most up-to-date protection against the latest Omicron variants. Omicron is the most common form of COVID-19 in circulation so this new booster identifies variants related to Omicron,” Harrison stated in the weekly update.

Click Stay up-to-date to learn more.

Whether it’s COVID-19, or the flu, or just the common cold, Harrison said it bears repeating a few simple actions that can reduce spread of any virus germs:

 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick, and when you are sick.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
  • Consider wearing a mask around other people if you have respiratory symptoms.
  • Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you or your child has trouble breathing or has a sudden onset of limb weakness.
  • Ensure you or your child are following an up-to-date asthma action plan if you or your child have asthma.
  • Stay home when you are sick. Let me say that again: Stay home when you are sick.  One more time for those in the back: Stay home when you are sick.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Home And Garden Show

/by

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

  • Vegetables to plant now Chinese cabbage, Garlic, bulb onions, spinach
  • Plant tall fescue NOW. Discussion about choosing grass seed.
  • Any vegetables growing now still needs 1 inch of rain or irrigation
  • Consider adding late-season pollinator forage to your garden.
  • If renovating your lawn make sure you pack the seed into the soil. Good seed to soil contact is a must for good seed germination.
  • Avoid pruning. Wait until late November at the earliest.
  • Soil Test season is now! 1 week analysis time
  • Divide perennials to spread and reinvigorate them.

Click Play!

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance 09-19-22

/by

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for September 20, 2022. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email michele@hendersonvance.org to be included.

···························

Name of Business – Chick-fil-A

Title of Job – Kitchen Staff Professional Needed, 3rd Shift, 10 am – 4 pm, Sunday – Friday.  duties will include food prep, assembly and cooking, including produce, raw, cold, desserts and preparing the store for next day. Cleaning and maintenance, storage and waste disposal areas, and catering orders.  Minimum age is 18 years old.  Must have proficient reading and writing skills.

How To Apply – Text “kitchen” to 252-359-3232.  Or apply online at https://www.chick-fil-a.com/career.

···························

Name of Business – City of Henderson, NC Public Works Dept.

Title of Job – Multiple positions open:  Part- Time Leaf Seasonal Worker; Full-Time Administrative Support Specialist; Full-Time Utility Maintenance Crew Leader; and Full-Time Solid Waste Equipment Operator.  Excellent employee benefits are offered for these positions.

How To Apply – Apply online at https://henderson.nc.gov/departments/human_resources/jobs.  You should also review the full job description, and download and complete a City of Henderson application, which is required for all positions. Submit by email a completed application and your resume to elginlane@henderson.nc.gov.

···························

Name of Business – Perry Memorial Library (Breckenridge Street in Henderson, NC)

Title of Job – Library Assistant (part-time) Approximately 19 hours per week.  Rate of Pay: $12.00 per hour.  Details: Hours may include evenings (close at 8pm Monday and Tuesday) and weekends (Saturday 10am-2pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm). High school graduate or equivalent required.  More details about the job responsibilities can be seen at the Vance County, NC website, under job openings.

How To Apply – Apply online at https://www.vancecounty.org/.

···························

Name of Business – Vance County, NC Sheriff’s Office

Title of Job  – Multiple full-time positions open at the Detention Center, including:  Detention Center Officers, Salary $36,433;  Detention Supervisor (Lieutenant) Salary $45,402;  Detention Shift Supervisor (Sergeant) Salary $39,785.  
How To Apply –  Apply online at http://www.vancecountysheriff.org

···························

Name of Business – Henderson Family YMCA

Title of Job  – Multiple Positions Open –

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE (EXEMPT, FULL-TIME): Under the supervision of the CEO, the Henderson Family YMCA Director of Finance is responsible for the financial operation needs of the YMCA, responsible for managing the financial functions of the YMCA in accordance with the stated mission, goals, and policies established by the administrative staff and Board of Directors.

BUS DRIVER (PART-TIME): Under the supervision of the Director of Youth Development, safely transport children from designated school pickup locations to the Henderson Family YMCA. Safely transport children, members, program participants, staff, and others to designated locations for field trips and related activities.

LIFEGUARD (PART-TIME):
Maintain a safe environment in our pool, deck, and surrounding areas. Active surveillance of the pool area. Ability to respond to emergency situations in accordance with YMCA policies and procedures. Performs equipment checks and ensures appropriate equipment is available. Maintains a positive and engaging relationship with members, staff, and guests. Qualifications: Current YMCA lifeguard, CPR and AED certifications.

MEMBER SERVICES (PART-TIME Front Desk, NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS):
Responsible for welcoming members and guests into the facility, for answering and transferring calls, and for communicating policy and program information. The individual must be able to provide exceptional customer service with a positive and welcoming attitude by helping multiple people at one time, uphold standards and policies and handle situations that require conflict resolution. This individual should be able to retain and promote a variety of information on programs and membership. Minimum requirements: age 18; basic math and reading skills; computer skills; phone skills and accountability with money.

WELLNESS CENTER ATTENDANT (PART-TIME, NIGHT AND WEEKENDS):
Promote member engagement, build relationships, and establish good rapport with our members. Staff is responsible for providing assistance with the fitness equipment, maintaining a safe environment, keeping equipment clean, organized, and enforcing fitness center rules.

How To Apply – Download an application at www.hendersonymca.org/get-involved/employment-opportunities or stop by the YMCA Member Services desk (380 Ruin Creek Road Henderson) during operating hours for an application. Call (252)438-2144 with questions or assistance.

···························

Name of Business – Boys & Girls Club of North Central North Carolina

Title of Job – Youth Development Professional – Serves youth ages 5-18-years-old, provides guidance and discipline best practices, ensures the overall safety and well-being of members, promotes and engages daily learning and participation in our Core Program Areas.  Required availability M-F 2:30-7:00 PM

How To Apply – Contact Evelyn Taylor for more information (252) 438-5830, extension 105

···························

Name of Business – MR Williams, Inc

Title of Job – Multiple Positions Open for the 2nd Shift Operations and Truck Drivers (CDL – A License with 2 year driving experience).  Positions being hired are: Cooler Freezer Order Selector; Loader; Repack Order Selector; Tote Module Loader; Warehouse Order Selector; Delivery Driver – CDL A; Deliver Driver – Non CDL; Driver Helper.  There are full-time and/or part-time positons available (Sundays & Wednesdays with flexible hours).  High school diploma, GED, or 2 years of warehouse experience.  At least 18 years old.  Ability to stand, walk, kneel, crouch, etc. for 8+ hours. Experience in a cooler/freezer area preferred. Experience operating motorized equipment preferred.  Complete benefit package available.

How To Apply – Email resume to Kristy Granger, Human Resource Manager at kgranger@mrwilliams.com.  Apply online at https://www.mrwilliams.com/careers/.  Complete job descriptions are available online, on homepage, click on About icon at top, and scroll down to careers.

···························

Name of Business – Guardian ad Litem – A Child’s Advocate In Court – Judicial District 9

Title of Job – Immediate opening for Guardian as Litem Volunteer Advocates.  Accepting applications until October 3rd.  Volunteers will train on advocacy for children who have experienced abuse and neglect.  No legal experience required, just the desire to make a difference in the lives of children.  Training is free and 100% virtual interactive training class begins on October 18.

How to Apply – Information and applications are available at www.volunteerforgal.org.  If you have questions, call 919-690-4921 or email gal.district09@nccourts.org.

···························

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

Click Play!

 

The Local Skinny! Restaurant Week Comes To Oxford

/by

Local foodies, take note!

Next week, innovative dining experiences are a short drive away as Oxford kicks off “Restaurant Week.”

The event kicks off this Sunday, Sept. 25, with a Sunday Supper at Oxford Oaks Farm, located in Oxford Park, 3679 Oaklawn Dr., and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen told Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! Monday that the apps and drinks will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by a three-course meal at 6 that will be topped off with dessert and coffee.

This is a ticketed event and Allen said seating is limited. Visit https://strongarm.menu for details and to purchase tickets.

Q, the general manager for Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., said the idea for Restaurant Week grew out of the Quittin’ Time events that have been held in downtown Oxford for the past couple of years.

Quittin’ Time features small plates, or tapas, and patrons walk among the participating restaurants to sample food and beverages. But during Restaurant Week, each restaurant takes a turn at providing a specialty meal.

“Every restaurant in this town has superstars…who come up with some of the most creative dishes than I’ve seen in a long time – it’s gonna blow people’s minds,” Q said.

Up first is Harvest, with a prix fixe dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 27. There is a 5:30 p.m. seating and a 7:30 p.m. seating. Call Harvest this week between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 919.603.1460 to reserve a spot.

On Wednesday, the spotlight shines on Main St. Oasis, where reservations will be accepted, but are not necessary. A Mediterranean fish dinner is the featured dish.

Uptown and Strong Arm team up for Thursday evening’s culinary delights. Uptown and Tobacco Wood will be featured again on Saturday evening.

Tobacco Wood is pairing the music of a jazz trio with some kitchen vibes straight out of the Delta: “we’re going to do a little Cajun Creole night,” Q said, with some specialty dishes available – think jambalaya and shrimp and grits. Guests also can choose to spice up the wings or other regular menu items with a little Cajun dry rub or Cajun sauce, Q added.

The beauty of Restaurant Week, Q said, is that patrons “have a full night to understand what each restaurant has to offer…plus more. The plus more is what you’re going to see” next week, he added.

Check out the full listing of Oxford’s Restaurant Week at Visit Granville County NC’s Facebook page.

CLICK PLAY!

 

The Local Skinny! The Help Center, Helping Those In Need

/by

The Help Center provides an array of services for people who need help, but Twanna Jones, president and founder of the nonprofit organization, said that she and her team must also provide hope along with the help.

One cannot go without the other, Jones told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Thursday’s The Local Skinny!

“It’s the combination of the two that really is the fabric of what we do here,” she said, and by offering help through tangible services, as well as a generous dose of hope, “we change the dynamics of our community and the nation.”

Jones created The Help Center in 2017 out of a lifelong passion for helping her fellow man. In just a few short years, The Help Center operates in 11 counties, including the facility at 415 Raleigh Road in Henderson.

Area residents can sign up for the next pet clinic, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The first clinic was so successful – 45 pets came through – that Jones scheduled another one. Call 919.391.7300 to sign up for the Oct. 29 clinic.

“We were nonstop during the pandemic,” Jones said of the various programs that are tucked up under The Help Center. From food distribution to youth enrichment programs and support for the elderly,  volunteers and staff kept providing help and hope, hope and help.

But the cadre of volunteers has shrunk recently, and food donations are down, so Jones said The Help Center could use a little help from the community.

“We are truly in need,” she said, “not only volunteers, but resources, too, because of rising food prices.

A fairly new addition to The Help Center’s food distribution is the Healthy Food Pantry, which distributes pre-made boxes of fresh produce to clients who request them. Volunteers tuck recipes in the boxes, which come in handy for those who are unfamiliar with how to prepare some of the produce they receive.

They also offer a “fresh market,” Jones said, “to offer more fresh produce for families to come out and ‘choice’ shop – which means they choose the items themselves.

On the horizon is their Thanksgiving food distribution program the week before the Nov. 24 holiday and the winter proram, which will take place the week before Christmas. This program will hearken back to days gone by, when gifts included peppermint sticks, fruit and nuts, she said.

“We’ll set it up sort of like a parade,” Jones explained. Participants will receive a food box and some other Christmas goodies, but the emphasis this year will be on tradition. “We want to go back to that old-fashioned Christmas…to sit down and break bread together.”

Want to volunteer? Call 919.391.7300 ext 3, visit www.thehelpcenternc.com or text “mission” 833.241.4082.

Need help? Call 919.391.7300, visit www.thehelpcenter.com or text “help” to 833.241.4082.

 

CLICK PLAY!