Town Talk 09/10/19: Vance Co. Vipers Defeat J.F. Webb Warriors
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Town Talk 09/09/19: Restaurant 39 Holds Free Appreciation Breakfast
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
If you were anywhere near the Crossroads Shopping Center in Henderson this morning, you may have wondered about the large gathering of police officers, deputies, fire personnel, EMS/EMT, Rescue Squad, State Highway Patrol and other public and civil servants.
Thankfully, the cause of the gathering at 946G West Andrews Avenue was not of the emergency variety but was instead a show of gratitude.
Restaurant 39 owner J.R. Stainback held a free breakfast buffet for law enforcement and first responders from 8 until 10 a.m. to show his appreciation for those who serve and protect.
“We are just trying to let them know we appreciate everything they do for our city and our community,” Stainback said. “I worked with Sheriff Curtis Brame and Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow to get this breakfast together, and I hope we can get other businesses to follow suit.”
Local law enforcement, fire, EMT/EMS, Rescue Squad and other first responders attend a free appreciation breakfast courtesy of Restaurant 39 in the Crossroads Shopping Center, Henderson. (WIZS photo)
Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell spoke to WIZS’ John Charles Rose during the station’s live broadcast and expressed his gratitude to Stainback and the restaurant staff for their generosity.
“It means the world to us to know that we’ve got business owners and volunteers that are here today looking after local fire, EMS and law enforcement. Knowing that the community and people like JR and his staff have public safety in their thoughts and prayers means the world to us,” he said.
Sheriff Curtis Brame remarked on the good turn out and said, “We don’t often get that pat on the back; it’s great to be appreciated.”
WIZS John Charles Rose brings listeners a live, on-location broadcast from Restaurant 39’s appreciation breakfast. (WIZS photo)
Brame also informed the crowd that Chief Barrow was unable to attend due to a prior engagement but did have a big part in planning and promoting the breakfast.
Javier Plummer, director for Vance County EMS, said he and his crew were glad to be included in the occasion. “Hopefully, we don’t have any interruptions and then we can enjoy and fellowship,” joked Plummer. “We do the best we can for the citizens and we are proud that we can be here and represent.”
Before partaking of the meal, David Barnett, associate minister at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church, offered a blessing and words of encouragement.
“Your jobs are very difficult, very dangerous and very demanding,” he said. “I hope you find them very rewarding also. It’s not just a grab and it’s not just a job. Restaurant 39 and the rest of the people gathered here today want to say we love and appreciate you. Lives are changed because of what you do.”
To hear WIZS’ broadcast from Restaurant 39, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 09/06/19
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Town Talk 09/05/19: H-V Crime Stoppers to Hold 24th Annual Banquet
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
The 24th Annual Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.
James Baines, Crime Stoppers president, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to encourage the public and business community to support the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Individual tickets for $12 and reservation of tables are available by contacting Lorraine Watkins at Henderson’s Screen Master on S. Garnett St., John Faucette at Carolina Carpet & Flooring on Parham Street or by calling Baines at (252) 430-9218.
Speaker for the occasion will be Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, with dinner provided by Ted Wheeler Catering.
The Tom Long Memorial Award, Sam Pearson Memorial Award, Community Award and Citizen of the Year Award, among others, will be issued to deserving community members and are always a big draw for the banquet.
“I’m hoping the community will come out and support Crime Stoppers because we support our community and our law enforcement,” Baines said.
To hear Baines’ interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 09/04/19: State Tourism Campaign to Feature Oxford Hot Sauce Contest
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With less than two weeks to go, the countdown is officially on for one of Oxford’s largest tourism draws – the annual NC Hot Sauce Contest. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m in downtown Oxford.
Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, said thousands of people are expected in downtown Oxford next weekend to interact with friends, merchants, fans, artisans and vendors. In 2018, the event reportedly topped 18,000 visitors.
“If you plan on visiting us, just put Main Street, Oxford in your GPS and you will find it,” Allen said.
According to Allen, 40 of North Carolina’s barbeque and hot sauce vendors are participating, along with approximately 30 food vendors and eight breweries and wineries.
An NC Pepper Eating Contest sponsored by Bailey Farms will begin at 1 p.m. and always proves interesting to watch, said Allen. “I love to see the faces of those going through the many rounds and to see who can actually stand the heat!”
The day will also include activities for children, antique car displays, music, entertainment, shopping at downtown stores and dining at local restaurants.
Participants may also see a film crew on site as the NC Tourism Department will be recording portions of the event to include in its Visit NC “Firsts That Last” state-wide advertising campaign. “They will be there to capture those first experiences that people have at the contest, whether it be trying a pepper for the very first time or sampling sauces that are way too hot,” Allen said.
While the annual contest is literally a lot of fun and games, Allen said the bigger picture is the tourism dollars generated from sales tax on travel expenses such as hotel stays, gasoline, food and entertainment.
“Every time a person travels, they are going to spend money,” explained Allen. “All that sales tax comes back to that particular area and destination.”
In her Town Talk interview, Allen explained that the local area has often been easy for travelers to overlook in the past as they drive through via the interstate to other destinations.
“Tourism departments focus on making their location unique from other destinations,” she said. “You’ve got to play up those things that make you stand out. The hot sauce contest is definitely one of those things that has the platform to make Oxford unique.”
To hear Allen’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 09/03/19: 10th Annual Ducky Derby to Feature Festival-Like Atmosphere
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start will hold its annual Ducky Derby Festival and rubber duck race, a fundraiser for the local Smart Start program, on Saturday, September 21, 2019, in downtown Henderson. The festival begins at 12 p.m. on Breckenridge Street between Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.
According to Garry Daeke, development coordinator for F-G-V, this year’s activities include a bounce house and slide, face painting, corn hole, ring toss, balloon animals and performances by the Baby Shark and Paw Patrol characters.
Vendors will be on hand serving hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage dogs, fish sandwiches, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, ice cream and snow cones.
Entertainment will include a DJ, singing performances from several daycare programs, music from Henderson Collegiate, Mary Potter Elementary School band and choir and the drumline from Granville Central High School.
The YMCA will lead line dancing and Zumba in the street and children will have the opportunity to man a real firehose with the assistance of the Henderson Fire Department.
Each child that attends the event will receive a free book, courtesy of Smart Start. Parents will also have the opportunity to enroll any child age birth to 5 in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that sends a book each month to children at their home.
“Our goal is to enroll 1,000 more children from this area into the program,” said Daeke. “We recently reached over 3,000 children enrolled and we are trying to get to 4,000 before the year is over. That would put us at 45-50% of the young children in the Franklin, Granville and Vance County areas that will be getting books in the mail.”
Safe Kids will also be present and will set up childcare safety seat inspections.
At 2 p.m., the entertainment switches to Garnett Street, where the rubber duck race will take place. Up to 2,000 rubber ducks will be poured into the Garnett Street “river” by a Greystone Concrete cement mixer.
The first duck to cross the finish line at Orange Street wins $1,000, second place $500 and third place finish is $250. Even the last duck to cross the finish line wins $100. There will be an additional drawing with one lucky winner receiving free “Chick-fil-A for a year,” a set of 52 meal tickets. Winners of the prizes do not have to be present to win.
In Henderson, tickets are on sale at EZ Car Care, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and State Employees Credit Union. All Smart Start staff and board members also have tickets, please call (252) 433-9110.
Tickets will also be on sale the day of the race. Ducks are $5 each, a “Quack Pack” of 6 tickets is $25 and a “Flock” of 25 tickets is available for $100.
Sponsors include:
Super Duck: Duke Energy, Union Bank, Granville Medical Center, Boyd & Royster Funeral Services
Top Duck: Charles Boyd Chevrolet and Cardinal Innovations
Feathered Friends: Henderson Family Dentistry, United Healthcare, Wester Realty, Greystone Concrete, City of Henderson, Chick-fil-A and Rose Oil Co.
To hear Daeke’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 08/30/19
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Town Talk 08/29/19: Medicaid Deadline Approaches, DSS Adds Evening Info. Session
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-Information courtesy WIZS’ Town Talk and a Vance County DSS press release
An evening informational event has been scheduled through the Vance County Department of Social Services to guide local Medicaid recipients through the process of selecting a health plan and primary care provider. The evening session will be held at Vance County Department of Social Services and is scheduled for:
- September 10, 2019: 6 -8 p.m. Vance County Department Social Services, 350 Ruin Creek Rd, Henderson, NC
It is recommended that recipients who are senior citizens bring a trusted family member or friend to assist in the selection process.
If unable to attend this event, an outreach specialist is available for assistance at the Vance County Department of Social Services, 350 Ruin Creek Rd, Henderson, NC from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Vance County is in the first phase of the Medicaid Transformation, with recipients to be enrolled by a September 13 deadline. Changes to Medicaid requirements will take effect on November 1, 2019.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services notes that there are several health plans Medicaid recipients can choose from.
For a list of doctors for each health plan, or to enroll, visit ncmedicaidplans.gov, use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app or call 1-833-870-5500. A language line is also available.
For eligibility information or for questions about Medicaid’s new requirements, contact Cathy Hope, 252-492-5001 x 3221, Shelonda Boyd, 252-492-5001 x 3266, Shalonda Daye, 252-492-5001 x 3204, Vance County Department of Social Services, at 252-492-5001.
To hear more on Medicaid changes and requirements, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 08/28/19: Community Events Show Law Enforcement in ‘Different Light’
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Sgt. Marti Stewart, with the Henderson Police Department, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss local law enforcement’s participation in the annual “Cops on Top” fundraiser as well as Vance County’s observance of the National Night Out Against Crime.
Stewart said these and other such community events allow the public to see law enforcement outside of their traditional roles. “These events let people see us in a different light. We, in turn, get to meet people and participate in community events.”
Cops on Top
Chick-fil-A of Henderson, the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, WIZS 1450AM/100.1 FM and other community organizations will once again team up for the annual “Cops on Top” fundraiser for the Special Olympics of NC.
The event will be held at Chick-fil-A of Henderson on Thursday, September 5, 2019, from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Officers and deputies will be collecting donations at the restaurant’s drive-through and side entrances. Money raised will cover the expenses Vance County athletes incur while participating in the Special Olympics.
“Look into your console, look into your dash where you throw change after paying for something. We’d appreciate it if you drop that spare change in the bucket for us,” said Stewart.
The event will also provide entertainment for families including a bouncy house in the Chick-fil-A parking lot and face painting courtesy BoHo the Clown with Character Antics.
Kids are sure to enjoy guest appearances by Henderson Fire Department’s Sparky the Fire Dog and the Chick-fil-A cow, along with a special guest appearance by Muddy the Mudcat from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m.
Stewart reiterated that all money raised goes directly to Special Olympics of NC and not law enforcement departments.
Night Out Against Crime
Vance County’s Annual Night Out Against Crime will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2019, from 5 until 8 p.m. in front of the Henderson Police Department on Breckenridge Street. In case of rain, the event will be held Tuesday, October 8.
Stewart encouraged the community to bring the family out for presentations and displays by the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, Henderson Fire Department, Vance County Fire and EMS, NC State Highway Patrol, Vance County Schools and many other agencies and organizations.
Bleachers will be set up for participants to enjoy performances by the Badd Boyz and Lady Badd Boyz Social Club of Henderson, line dancers, Ballet Arts Dance Studio, Midnight Blue Martial Arts, Vance County High School’s JV cheerleaders and South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church’s gospel group.
Free hotdogs will be served and bouncy houses and activities for children will be available.
To hear Stewart’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Town Talk 08/27/19: Oxford’s Huntsboro Hemp Company Discusses CBD
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Huntsboro Hemp Company’s Garrett and Katie Brewer, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Product Development respectively, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss CBD and their production process.
CBD, or cannabidiol, continues to gain popularity among the general public as a potential, and more natural, remedy for anxiety and inflammatory-related disorders. So popular has it become that you can now ship it online from Synerva.
While producers and distributors of CBD refrain from making specific health claims, the Brewers said customers’ testimonials include reports of relief of everything from headaches and joint pain to more chronic conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Industrial hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of the cannabis species and does not provide the “high” typically associated with the THC compound found in its “sister” plant, marijuana.
According to Katie, industrial hemp must contain 0.3% or less THC to be considered legal.
“Testing is very crucial in our industry,” said Garrett. “We get certificates of analysis, which are lab reports essentially, from the time the flower is in the field all the way until it gets to the consumer. So we test at every stage of the process – from ingredients to final product.”
Garrett explained that it is this strenuous testing and dedication to providing quality ingredients, that makes Huntsboro Hemp Company unique. “That is what sets us apart – the way we make our recipe. Every time you get a bottle, you are going to get the exact same experience.”
Huntsboro Hemp currently offers three products including tinctures – used as drops placed under the tongue, bath “bombs” that enter through the skin by soaking in a bathtub and local honey infused with CBD to be consumed orally.
Huntsboro purchases hemp from local growers, including their own family farm, to ensure a pesticide and herbicide-free product that is sold at local retailers.
For the sake of transparency, Katie explained that not only does the company provide a superior product but is also dedicated to keeping the process as local as possible, even using Durham-based lab Avazyme, Inc. as their testing facility.
In a testament to the popularity and growth of the CBD industry, the Brewers quickly outgrew their first location established in 2018 and have recently set up headquarters at 123 Williamsboro Street in downtown Oxford.
Katie said the new building offers a wonderful view and provides “an office, room for production, space to meet with vendors, an area to host events and puts us right in the middle of downtown.”
To learn more about Huntsboro Hemp Company, please visit huntsborohempco.com.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
To hear the Brewers’ interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.