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Oxford FD Receives Higher ISO Rating

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The city of Oxford has announced that its fire department has received a new rating following a recent inspection, which places it among the top 12 percent of all rated fire departments in the state.

The Oxford Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief David Cottrell, achieved a new rating of 3 from the Insurance Services Office, according to information from the City of Oxford. The ISO rating will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2022.  The inspection, conducted by officials with the NC Department of Insurance of the State Fire Marshal, is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS).

The scores range from 1 (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state). A higher rating means that a department is better equipped to respond to fires and also significantly lower homeowners’ insurance rates in their district. Among other things, the inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities, and availability of a water source.

In a statement, Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey congratulated Cottrell and his department for their “performance and for the hard work of all the department members. The citizens in the city of these districts should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”

 

 

The Local Skinny! Granville Gardeners Expo

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Stop by the Granville Gardeners Expo in Oxford on Saturday for a fun-filled day of plant and garden workshops, from beekeeping to composting. There will be more than 60 vendors on site at the Granville County Expo Center on Hwy. 15 south of Oxford, selling all types of plants and shrubs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Christi Henthorn is one of the the event organizers and she said this year’s event is more like a home and garden festival. And, she noted, it’s “a happy accident” that the expo will take place so close to Earth Day – which is tomorrow.

“We have a ton of stuff for everyone,” Henthorn told Bill Harris on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment. There is face painting, a petting zoo for the children, in addition to a wide variety of demonstrations and workshops scheduled throughout the day.

Local agriculture extension agent Johnny Coley will have a Gardening 101 class at 11 a.m. to dispel fears and encourage would-be gardeners to get a garden going. Whether they are vegetables, herbs or flowers, developing a green thumb is not that difficult, Henthorn said.

Coley will offer tips and tricks for the novice gardener, but even veteran gardeners are sure to pick up a thing or to, she said.

The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.thegranvillegardeners.com to see a complete schedule of events.

The parking lot in front of the expo center is reserved for those attendees who aren’t able to walk long distances and for those who are picking up pre-ordered plants. Henthorn said all others should park in the adjacent parking lot located in front of the former tobacco facility.

Henthorn said she expected a couple thousand people for the annual event. Come early for best plant selection!

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Provide cutworm protection around transplants by placing a cardboard collar around your transplant and tuck the collar down in the soil about 2 inches
  • Use good sanitation practices with garden tools and equipment to reduce risk of introducing weeds and transmitting diseases.
  • It should be safe now to put out your rain gauges
  • Doublecheck blade height on your mower.
  • Always wear PPE when mowing. Eye protection, sun protection, solid toe shoes
  • Use no more than about 3 inches of mulch around trees, shrubs and other plantings. Never place mulch against the trunk.
  • With the cost of fertilizer a good soil sample is really needed they are free of charge.
  • Repellant sprays can help with deer browsing on ornamental plantings, but will need to be reapplied periodically.
  • Check plants growing in planters each day for moisture they they can dry out quickly under warm conditions

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Angela Allen Highlights Granville County Events

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The events range from gardening to Scottish games, but families looking for some upcoming outdoor entertainment need look no further than Granville County for some fun and unique activities.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen joined John C. Rose and Bill Harris on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny! and reeled off a variety of activities teed up for the next couple of weeks.

Here are some highlights:

• Saturday, Apr. 23: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. art and wine festival, downtown Oxford. The event is free and will feature artists demonstrating their art for onlookers to watch and learn about various media, from painting to jewelry making.

• Saturday, Apr. 23: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Granville Gardeners Expo, held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center on Hwy. 15 south of Oxford. Shoppers can pick up herbs and other plants for sale, as well as participate in classes to learn about beekeeping, native plants and backyard composting, to name just a few. View the complete schedule at thegranvillegardeners.com.

• Saturday, Apr. 23: 4 p.m. Country and swing dancing at Cedar Grove Acres. Beginner two-step dance classes and beginner swing lessons at 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Apr. 28: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., downtown Oxford, sponsored by the Granville Chamber of Commerce. Music by Carolina Soul Band.

• Saturday, Apr. 30: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Granville County’s version of the Scottish Highland Games is coming to town. All proceeds from the event benefit the Central Children’s Home of North Carolina, which will be the site of the games. Dozens of athletes from across the country are coming to demonstrate a variety of classic Scottish games, thanks to organizer Buck Buchanan, owner of Lumpy’s Ice Cream in Wake Forest. He also happens to be an announcer for Scottish games and he wanted to do something to benefit the local children’s home, Allen said. Tickets are $20 for people $16 and older; younger attendees get in free. There will be bagpipe bands, Highland dancers and vendors specializing in Scottish food.

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for April 19, 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.

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Name of the Company: Jersey Mike’s Subs – Coming Soon to Henderson! 

Jobs Available: Hiring now for all positions.  Sub Shop is in shopping center off Beckford Drive in Henderson, NC, beside Postal Plus and movie theaters.

Method of Contact: Apply online at www.jerseymikes.com.  Under the careers tab at the top of the home page, put in Henderson NC 27536.

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Name of the Company: Belk Department Store

Jobs Available Several open positions.  Sales Associate and Beauty Associate.  Experience in retail helpful.  Full and part-time.  Positions provide competitive pay, flexible scheduling associate discount.

Method of Contact: Apply online at www.belkcareers.com.  Belk Store is located at 305 North Cooper Drive in Henderson, NC.

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Name of the Company:  Vance County Public Schools

Jobs Available Teachers, Head Football Coach, Elementary Principal, School Counselor, School Psychologist.

Method of Contact: Apply online to www.vcs.k12.nc.us – Under programs and services tab at top of page, click on job opportunities tab.  Or call Human Resource Office at 252-492-2127.

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Name of the Company:  Variety Wholesalers (Roses Stores) Corporate Office, located on Garnett Street in Henderson, NC

Jobs Available: Job Openings (multiple positions) for immediate hire.  Human Resource Coordinator, Payroll Specialist, Accounts Payable Clerk, Associate Buyer, Merchandise Analyst, Various Merchandise Department Buyers.

Method of Contact:  Send resume to poverton@vwstores.com or apply at www.indeed.com.

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Name of the Company Hoyle’s Tire and Axle

Jobs Available:  General Laborer, full-time work, day-shift 6:30 am – 3 pm.  Overtime available.  Benefits.

Method of Contact: Apply in person at business, located at 175 Bearpond Road in Henderson, NC.

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Name of the Company:  First Baptist Church, Henderson, NC

Jobs Available:  Administrative Support Coordinator.  Provide organizational and administrative assistance to church staff, maintain schedules for the use of the building, special events, and assist with printing and distribution of church publications.  Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Publisher, Exel.  Excellent verbal and written skills, interpersonal skills, recordkeeping skills, marketing on social medial.  High School diploma and 2 year college degree preferred. 9-5, Monday to Thursday, 9-noon on Friday.

Method of Contact:  Send resume to Ron Cava, Senior Minister at First Baptist Church. roncava@fbchenderson.net

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Name of the Company:  Versatrim, located at 101 Eastern Minerals Road, Henderson, NC.

Jobs Available:  Electrician. Maintenance Mechanic. Warehouse Department Leads.  Full-time work.

Method of Contact:  Apply online at Indeed.com or on the Versatrim.com websites.

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Name of the Company:  Kerr Lake Country Club

Jobs Available: Pro Shop Attendants.  Part-time.  Flexible hours for weekdays and weekends.  Must be 18 years old +.

Method of Contact:  Apply by calling Pro Shop Manager Robin Lascallette at 252-492-1895 or email robin@kerrlakecountryclub.com.

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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.

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The Local Skinny! Around Old Granville: Louise Sneed Hill

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Louise Sneed Hill was the daughter of a very prominent family that came to the Townsville/Williamsboro area in the late 1700’s. She was educated at an elite boarding school in New York City. She was accustomed to the finer things in life, and she spent her adult married life establishing that culture and high society in her new home of Denver, Colorado.

For all her accolades and accomplishments, there’s something else that Hill did: She snubbed the “unsinkable” Molly Brown, of Titanic fame. Mark Pace recounted the story on Thursday’s Around Old Granville segment during The Local Skinny!, and he and Bill Harris discussed her family’s importance in the area.

Louise’s mother died just 11 days after Louise was born, Pace said, apparently of complications from the birth. Louise was baptized on the same day that her mother’s funeral was held; both ceremonies took place at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Williamsboro.

Although Sneed’s Mansion still stands today beside the church in Williamsboro, it is in a general state of disrepair, Pace said. Louise Sneed is a good example of someone from a locally prominent family who moved away from North Carolina and made a big difference somewhere else.

For Louise, that “somewhere else” was Denver, in a state that had just joined the United States a few decades earlier.

“She kind of set the standard for high society in Colorado at the time,” Pace said. “She brought a lot of culture to Denver,” Pace said. Hill created the first published record of members of society and provided instructions on how to get one’s name on the list – chief among them were having lots of money, knowing how to entertain properly and knowing when to pay a visit to someone.

As for her limited interaction with Margaret “Molly” Brown, the story goes like this: Molly and her husband had struck gold – literally – and were fabulously wealthy, but Molly was not accepted into Hill’s circle of society. Only when she became famous for her role in helping fellow Titanic passengers to safety did Hill change her mind about Molly.

Historical documents, including court records,  chronicle the goings-on around Sneed’s Mansion, Pace said, which include entertaining and lavish parties to horse racing and general carousing.

“When the court adjourned to Sneed’s Mansion,” Pace said, it meant that partygoers would arrive at 6 p.m., have supper at 10, then dance from 1 a.m. to dawn. Then, if anyone remained standing in the morning, they’d have brunch and head home sometime around noon.

Hill never returned to North Carolina and she spent her last years occupying an entire floor of a nursing home that serves as a hotel today.

And sometimes, Pace said, come reports that the phone from Room 904 mysteriously rings, although no one has inhabited that space since Hill’s death in 1955.

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Home And Garden Show 04-13-22

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

  • Row covers can be used to protect sweetcorn from birds
  • Consider warm season turf.
  • Easter Lillies like to be in 65F during the day and 60F at night keepout of direct sunlight to prevent wilting.
  • No frost or freeze in 10-day forecast, but 37 in a few days
  • Never refuel a hot lawnmower. Take a break let the mower cool down,then refuel the mower.
  • If planting trees and shrubs, correct installation is crucial. Look it up, don’t assume.
  • We can identify problem weeds or insects and advise how to control them. Bring us a sample.
  • For deck and patio plantings, clean and sanitize containers, and be cautious about reusing container mix.
  • Check moisture of soil media before watering plants
  • Limited space for a vegetable garden? Try growing in containers.

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The Local Skinny! Henderson Partners With DOT For Cleanup

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Think about the roads you use frequently when running errands or from home to work or to drop the kids at school. Are there roadsides that could use a little spring cleaning?

Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon invites church and civic groups, school groups and individuals to participate in Community Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 23.

Armed with trash bags, teams of volunteers – including as many as 50- or 60 city employees – will set out from the Dr. Andrea L. Harris Operations Center on Beckford Drive to various sites throughout Henderson. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Blackmon told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny! that this cleanup event is in partnership with the spring Litter Sweep sponsored by NC Department of Transportation.

Blackmon said the city council discussed improving the city’s appearance and giving visitors a better perception of what Henderson has to offer during its annual planning retreat a couple of months ago.

“We’re asking the entire community at-large to join us on that day,” Blackmon said. Groups that have a particular area in mind are asked to contact Tracey Kimbrell at 252.430.5702 or email traceykimbrell@henderson.nc.gov to sign up. City staff will provide bags for the cleanup effort. “We’ll even provide a public safety officer to provide some visible presence from law enforcement on that day,” he added.

Groups or individuals also can just show up at the Harris Operations Center at 8 a.m. and join forces with other volunteers who will go out to pre-determined areas targeted for cleanup.

Blackmon said this event will kickstart an ongoing quarterly effort that the city is undertaking to give a little extra support to ongoing cleanup services the city already provides.

“We have a very good operations staff,” Blackmon said. But it’s not a large staff, so efforts like this are needed to help. “I don’t think we’ll run out of areas in the city that could use a little help,” he said.

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for April 12, 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 michelle@hendersonvance.org to be included.

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Freight Handler/Order Filler

Walmart Distribution Center – 6091 – Henderson, NC

$17.55 – $23.55 an hour

Temporary

12 hour shift

Fulfill store orders through pulling merchandise through layer using electronic voice control equipment, stacking onto pallets, placing labels in appropriate…

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Parts Delivery

O’Reilly Auto Parts

Henderson, NC

Full-time

Must have a valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) per department standards.

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Patient Care Coordinator

Axiom Dentistry

Louisburg, NC

Estimated $32.7K – $41.3K a year

Responsible for administering the day-to-day activities of the business office, including: welcoming of patients, answering phone calls, scheduling of appointments.

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Office Clerk

CorTech

Oxford, NC

$25 – $30 an hour

Full-time

Assistance with marketing and community outreach efforts.

Willingness to work with outside vendors to achieve recruiting goals.

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Principal

Vance County Schools

Henderson, NC

Estimated $64.6K – $81.8K a year

Supervises and appraises the performance of the school staff through observation formulas derived for the state of North Carolina.

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Warehouse Associate

ADUSA Distribution, LLC

Henderson, NC

Full-time

12 hour shift

Able to use a personal computer for data entry and research purposes*.

Work in a warehouse environment with varying conditions

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Health Care Front Office Assistant

The Optometric Eye Site

Henderson, NC

$12 – $15 an hour

Part-time

Busy Eye Care Practice seeking a new front office assistant and health care technician.

No previous experience and specific education is required, however, some…

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Child Care Specialist Assistant

Vance-Granville Community College4.0

Henderson, NC

$13 – $14 an hour

Part-time

Must be willing to submit to local, state, and federal criminal background checks.

Must have be willing to obtain CPR/ First Aid certification with in 90 days…

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Human Resources

M.R. Williams

Henderson, NC 27536

Estimated $39.4K – $50K a year

Develops, facilitates, and implement all phases of the recruitment process.

Researches and executes industry recruitment standards/strategies.

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Retail Store Associate

CVS Health Retail3.4

Henderson, NC 27536

Accurately perform cashier duties – handling cash, checks and credit card transactions with precision while following company policies and procedures.

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Team Member

Petsense LLC

Henderson, NC 27536

Estimated $22.7K – $28.7K a year

Part-time

Operate cash register/computer following cash handling procedures as established by Tractor Supply/Petsense Company.

Engage with the customer and/or pet.

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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.

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The Local Skinny! City Council To Address Codes

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UPDATE 4/12/22 – City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS News the Municode contract was passed Monday night by the Henderson City Council. Original news article from 4/11/22 continues below.

The Henderson City Council meets Monday evening and one item up for discussion involves contracting with an outside agency to recodify a batch of city ordinances that would  bring infractions into compliance with state law.

John C. Rose explained on Monday’s The Local Skinny! that the council was scheduled to entertain a motion to contract with a company called Municode to help the city make the changes, which would begin the process of bringing city ordinances into compliance with what state law dictates.

Last year, Police Chief Marcus Barrow identified seven ordinances – ranging from the use of golf carts on city streets to carrying a concealed weapon on city property – to tackle first.

The ordinances must be worded in a way that specifies whether infractions would result in a criminal charge or a civil penalty.

Henderson City Manager has said that the city doesn’t have the manpower to complete the task within the required time frame, and city staff has recommended that the council adopt the contract with Municode, in an amount not to exceed $20,000.

According to information in the council agenda packet, all city ordinances had been considered Class 3 misdemeanors unless otherwise noted. State legislators, however, have adopted a change to this which states that ONLY if  the city ordinance specifies that the infraction is a misdemeanor will it be considered as such. Otherwise, an infraction will be considered a civil penalty subject to a fine.

“The extensive work needed to address this new session law is beyond the scope of staff,” according to the agenda packet. The ordinances cover a broad area affecting every department in the city and an extensive look into updating all ordinances to comply with this new law is required.

The police department can pay the initial fee of $5,580 and two additional payments would be made from the 2022-23 budget in the amount of $3,980 each, with the final payment due at completion. It is estimated to take between 10 months to one year to completely update the ordinances.

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