Grace Ministries

Town Talk 11/23/20: Grace Ministries Announces Toy Drive, Free After-School Child Care

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Jamie Elliott, founder of GRACE Ministries of Henderson, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

After-School Program

Elliott announced that GRACE Ministries will offer a free-of-charge, Christ-centered after-school program for children in grades 1-5 beginning January 11, 2021. After-school care will be offered at the group’s 961 Burr Street facility in Henderson on Mondays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

With 20 spots already filled, space is available for approximately 20 more children. According to Elliott, masks will be worn at all times, and children will be divided into smaller groups in separate classrooms to follow social distancing recommendations during the COVID pandemic.

“We are offering this to the youth in our community at no charge,” said Elliott. “If someone wants to give donations to the after school program, then that will be accepted. We want to do something to give back to the youth in our community.”

Christmas Toy Drive

While COVID has altered GRACE Ministries’ annual toy drive and its usual drop off locations, Elliott said new and gently-used toys are being collected at participating Henderson Dollar General locations or by contacting Elliott directly at (252) 204-3617.

A specific date and more details regarding the toy distribution event will be announced closer to Christmas.

Tuesday Night Addiction Ministry

GRACE Ministries holds ongoing, weekly addiction recovery meetings on Tuesday evenings starting at 7 p.m. at the Burr Street location.

Participants are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing; all are welcome.

While COVID concerns have reduced the in-person numbers, Elliott said meetings are still averaging 20-25 people a week. If meetings become too crowded to follow COVID guidelines, a parking lot radio service can be made available.

“We try to give something different every week whether it be a devotion out of the bible or scripture to let people know there is hope with drugs and alcohol,” said Elliott. “That hope is through Jesus Christ.”

For more information on GRACE Ministries, please visit the website at www.graceofhenderson.org, the Facebook page at GRACE Ministries of Henderson or call Elliott at (252) 204-3617.

To hear the interview with Elliott in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Townsville Railroad

Town Talk 11/19/20: Historic, Local Significance of the Railroad

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Mark Pace, local historian and director of the NC Room at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

In an ongoing Town Talk series focusing on the history of Henderson, Vance County and the immediate four-county vicinity, Pace and WIZS’ own Bill Harris discussed the importance of railroads on the emergence of local communities and towns.

The first railroad in the area was the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad that opened in 1840 between Raleigh and Gaston, NC.

“After 1840, some of the local communities that came into existence as a direct result of the railroad include Littleton, Vaughan, Macon, Norlina, Ridgeway, Manson, Middleburg, Henderson, Franklinton, Kittrell, Youngsville, Bullock, Stem, Creedmoor, Virgilina, Bunn, Hollister, Wise, the Watkins Community, Dabney and Stovall,” said Pace.

“The coming of the railroad to our area was one of the most significant events since the settlement of this area by Europeans and their descendants,” Pace stated. “It profoundly changed things on so many levels.”

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

The Warren Plains Depot, originally part of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, remains in use for the sale of antiques today. Its appearance has remained relatively unchanged for over 150 years. (Photo courtesy Betsy and Billy Frazier)

Locomotive in front of J.J. White’s store in Townsville, NC circa 1908-1918. (Photo courtesy the North Carolina Room – Thornton Library)

Wood-fired engine of the Roanoke Valley Railroad at Townsville, NC circa 1918. (Photo courtesy the North Carolina Room – Thornton Library)

The Roanoke River Railway near Townsville, NC – March 1918. (Photo courtesy the North Carolina Room – Thornton Library)

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Town Talk 11/18/20: Mental Health & the Holiday Blues

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Nancy Hux, the community engagement specialist with Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m. Nancy Francis, director with the Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging, facilitated the segment.

This edition of Town Talk is a paid advertising sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

With over 20 years in the mental health field, Hux currently provides training in the areas of mental health, substance use and intellectual developmental disabilities.

With the holidays quickly approaching, and with the COVID-19 pandemic and related news still very much a part of daily life, Hux said now is an opportune time to discuss mental health.

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being,” Hux explained. “It affects how we think, feel, and act. Our mental health determines how we handle stresses in our lives, how we react or respond in our relationships with others and determines the choices we make. Mental health is important at every stage of life – from childhood to adolescence and throughout adulthood.”

Hux said one in five people, while not necessarily officially diagnosed, will experience a mental health issue in any given year.

“No one is immune to mental health issues, so that is why it is so important to know yourself and know when you are not feeling your best. It’s also important to identify key people in your life that you are comfortable reaching out to when you need to talk,” said Hux.

While there are many mental health disorders, the most common are anxiety and depression.

“Life affects our mental health,” Hux said. “I typically tell people in our trainings that as long as you are living, life happens, and when life happens, it brings with it the ups and downs that affect our mental health.”

Signs of a mental health issue include:

  • Changes in how you feel (both mentally and physically)
  • Less desire to do the things that you used to enjoy (hobbies, socializing, etc.)
  • Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or not sleeping enough)
  • Changes in your appetite (eating too much or not enough)
  • Becoming more emotional or less emotional

With COVID-19 changing routines and social interactions, the holidays will look very different for many this year. According to Hux, one of the best ways to ease loneliness is to reach out to someone else, in a safe manner, that may also be lonely.

Tips for reaching out include:

  • Ask a friend or loved one to pick up greeting cards and stamps so you can handwrite cards and mail them to your friends and family. You could also include one of your simple, favorite recipes for them to cook during the holidays.
  • Reach out by phone; it will brighten your day as well as theirs.
  • Talk to others online with programs such as Zoom.
  • Stay spiritually healthy; identify what is important to you spiritually and keep those practices in place (reading, listening to music, meditation, etc.). Attend church online.
  • Decorate for the holidays, even if you are not having the traditional family get together.
  • Have a friend drop off a holiday or Christmas puzzle to put together or do word search or crossword puzzles.
  • Talk with your physician about your health and a safe level of exercise.

Additional resources include:

  • Local Senior Centers
  • Meals on Wheels programs that provide one meal a day for five-to-seven days a week; check with your local Council on Aging programs for assistance.
  • Your general physician/doctor’s office.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare also has a network of providers that are available to assist with linking you to professional counselors, therapists or other resources. Please call 1-800-939-5911 or visit online at www.cardinalinnovations.org.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

(This edition of Town Talk is part of a paid advertising sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.)

Town Talk Logo

Town Talk 11/17/20: Should President Trump Concede?

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John Charles Rose and Bill Harris appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m. to discuss the 2020 presidential election and whether or not President Trump should concede.

Click play to hear the audio…

Frank B. Newell III

Town Talk 11/16/20: Remembering Frank ‘The Bluebird Man’ Newell III

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-Photos courtesy Kristye Steed

Kristye Steed, wildlife rehabilitator and daughter of Frank “The Bluebird Man” Newell III, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

A long-time wildlife rehabilitator and Warren County native, Newell, age 80, died peacefully at home on November 7, 2020.

Newell served active duty in the US Army for 38 years and as an NC State and Federal Wildlife Rehabilitator for more than 60 years. Steed said her father saved the lives of thousands of sick and injured animals, rehabilitating them on the family farm and releasing them back into their natural habitat.

According to Steed, upon retiring from the military, Newell began to notice that the changing landscape was affecting the population of the Eastern Bluebird in Warren County.

“He noticed that hardwoods and forests had been cleared, and most wooden posts had been replaced with metal posts.” Steed explained, “Bluebirds are cavity nesters; they can’t build a nest on a tree limb like a robin or a cardinal.”

It was a chance encounter with a bluebird that gave Newell a sense of direction in how to solve that problem. Steed said, “He always told the story that he was sitting on his front porch one morning, drinking a cup of coffee, and saw a bluebird in the dogwood tree next to him. He felt like it was a sign that the bluebird was asking to have a home built. So, he went to his woodshop and started building a bluebird house.”

What started at a pace of approximately two bluebird homes completed each weekend grew to include “hundreds of volunteers” that have completed 365,000 houses to date. Newell’s bluebird houses have been distributed to all 50 US states as well as several other countries.

Steed said many of the volunteer builders are members of the Lake Gaston Striper Club that “fish in the summer and build bluebird houses in the winter.”

Once considered an endangered species due to their decline, the work of Newell’s Eastern Bluebird Rescue Group resulted in the removal of bluebirds from the list. “That is one of his major accomplishments in life,” Steed said. “In fact, Warren County Commissioners deemed Warren County the bluebird capital of the world several years ago.”

In addition to bluebirds, Steed said Newell was also well-known for his work with wolves. “They are his second love,” remarked Steed. “They are often portrayed as big, bad and angry in stories like ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ but they are actually very docile animals.”

Acquiring several wolves from a zoo in Ohio, Newell used the animals for educational purposes, conducting lectures and programs for schools, scouts, church groups and more.

With his recent passing, Steed said she and her family plan to honor her father’s legacy by keeping the bluebird operation and the wildlife rehabilitation going. So far this year, the family has released 39 baby fawns in addition to numerous squirrels, rabbits, hawks and eagles.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

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Town Talk 11/16/20: Deputy Sheriff Charged With Extortion; Increase in COVID Cases

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– Vance County Deputy Sheriff Mitch Pittman turned himself into the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation after being charged with two counts of Extortion and two counts of Obstruction of Justice.

– Local cases of COVID-19 continue to rise.

Click play for the Town Talk audio…

Mako Medical

Town Talk 11/12/20: Mako Medical One of Country’s Largest COVID-19 Labs

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As part of a rebroadcast of Tuesday’s Sports Talk, Chad Price, Founder/CEO of Mako Medical, was featured in the second segment of WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Price discussed how Mako, with a location in Vance County, has quickly transitioned into one of the largest COVID-19 laboratories in America with over 2 million tests performed.

Prior to COVID, the lab performed approximately 3,000 types of tests for hospitals, urgent care facilities and labs.

“When COVID hit,” Price explained, “we made the decision as a team to pivot and reallocate these resources and really focus on helping people with the virus. We did that early on, and it has just continued to grow.”

According to Price, Mako currently serves as the official testing partner for 17 states in the country.

“We’ve done a really great job of getting the results out quickly, which is what people really need, especially as you start to see a resurgence [of COVID]. We also have a good program in place to prevent false positives,” Price stated.

Price’s comments come at a time when the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting new highs in COVID numbers daily.

To hear the interview in its entirety, including Mako’s dedication to hiring veterans and sports talk, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Oxford Tree Lighting

Town Talk 11/12/20: Granville Tourism Announces Holiday Events

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Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m. Allen discussed upcoming holiday events in Granville County.

“In the midst of this challenging year of 2020, we still want to be able to open it up where people can have their holiday traditions,” said Allen. “We know that the holidays are a time for family and friends. Here in Granville County, we want to make sure that we are maintaining the well-being and the health of those around us, but we still celebrate the holiday season.”

Zoom Call With Santa ~ November 21

Join Santa on a special Zoom call Saturday, November 21 at 3 p.m. live from the North Pole. All participants will take part in Santa’s Elf Academy and receive a digital Elf-In-Training completion certificate.

Complete this google form (click here), and a link for the call will be sent to you on the day of the event.

Turkey Trot ~ November 26

This year’s 2.4 mile Turkey Trot has been modified but NOT canceled. Plan your trot, walk or run with neighbors, friends or family at your favorite location and please tag ACIM on Facebook @AreaCongreationsInMinistry.

A food donation box will be set up at Main Street Fitness, 110 Main Street, Oxford on Thanksgiving Day from 9 -10:30 a.m. to collect food or monetary donations.

Oxford Virtual Tree Lighting ~ December 3

Oxford’s Virtual Tree Lighting will be held on December 3. Details will be provided closer to the date. Please check https://www.facebook.com/VisitOxfordNC/ for updates.

Oxford’s “Reverse” Drive-Thru Christmas Parade ~ December 4

In this “reverse” parade to be held December 4 in downtown Oxford, floats, dancers and cars are stationary and spaced apart. Those wishing to soak up the seasonal merriment can simply drive-through and enjoy from the safety of their vehicles.

This year’s theme is “Oxford’s Whoville Holiday.” Churches, businesses and non-profits wishing to participate are asked to decorate accordingly. Spaces will be measured at 60 – 80 feet apart, allowing for social distancing. Candy will not be distributed.

The parade line up will start at 5 p.m. with the parade beginning at 6 p.m.

Butner Christmas in the Park Drive-Thru ~ December 4

Load up the kiddies with their letters to Santa and participate in a guided drive-thru at Butner’s Gazebo Park for a celebration of Christmas music and lights. Visit Santa safely from your car, and drop off the kids’ letters.

The event, sponsored by the Butner Community Association, will be held from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. on December 4.

Please note that the annual Butner Christmas Parade is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carlee Farm Marketplace ~ December 5

Come out and show your support for 20 different local vendors selling unique items just in time for the holidays. Stem Fire & EMS will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers.

A holiday setup for family pictures you can take yourself will be available. Social distancing and masks will be required.

Granville Little Theatre Presents “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” ~ December 6-15

Granville Little Theatre’s Dinner and a Show series presents “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play December 6-15.

This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.

Please visit the Granville Little Theatre’s website www.granvillelittletheatre.net for additional information.

The Barn at Vino ~ December 6

Each child will get to decorate Christmas cookies, make an ornament, enjoy hot cocoa and write a letter to Santa.

K.G. Photography will be there to capture pictures of your family with Santa & Mrs. Claus. (Digital images included in the price of admission).

COVID-19 guidelines for social distancing will be followed. Each family will have their own table. Masks are required when social distancing is unavailable.

Contactless ticket purchases are available online through Eventbrite (click here). Tickets will also be sold at the door, but purchasing tickets online gives you priority time slots.

“Back to Bethlehem” Drive-Thru Nativity ~ December 12-14

The Delrayno Baptist Church in Oxford will relive the miraculous events that proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ with a drive-thru, detailed recreation of the little town of Bethlehem. The drive-thru nativity will be open December 12, 13 and 14 from 6 until 8:30 p.m.

As you drive through, you will see the marketplace, various shops, people hustling about, the Inn that was full and angels announcing the birth of Jesus.

Contact Pastor Joe Don Cooper at (919) 691-9355 for more information.

For more information on upcoming events, please visit Granville County Tourism’s website at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

1983 Vance Basketball Team

Town Talk 11/11/20: Wilson Hoyle III Remembers Joe Stepusin, Wayne Adcock

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Wilson Hoyle III, Henderson native, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

As managing director and head of CAPTRUST’s Advisor Group, Hoyle oversees the firm’s business development and practice management initiatives.

Hoyle, not to be confused with his father Dr. Wilson Hoyle, Jr., dentist in Henderson, reflected on growing up in Vance County, the recent passing of community leaders Coach Joe Stepusin and Mr. Wayne Adcock and the lasting impact that educators have on a person’s life.

A retired teacher and coach with the Vance County School System, Stepusin passed away at the age of 86 on September 28, 2020.

Former superintendent, principal and educator with the Vance County School System, Adcock passed away November 1, 2020, at the age of 73.

Both men played a role in Hoyle’s upbringing. “When I got the news on both of them… A lot of things pop in your head, and you tend to reflect on your own life,” said Hoyle. “I just felt grateful to have people like those two men that have made my life richer.”

1983 Vance Senior High School Basketball Team. Coach Joe Stepusin standing – far right, back row. Wilson Hoyle III (number 15) on lower right. (Photo courtesy Ricky Stilley)

Hoyle said Stepusin – his high school basketball coach – was respected without having to raise his voice. “I was so proud to be a part of that team; he was my coach. The thing I remember most was just his kindness; he was so kind-hearted. I don’t recall him ever yelling at us at practice when we probably should have been yelled at a few times!”

Going on to play football at Wake Forest University, Hoyle said Stepusin would attend one or two games a year. “I would see him outside of the locker room, and he always told me he was proud; it makes you feel good.”

Remembering Adcock, Hoyle shared a story of how he would jump the fence of the former Henderson High/Middle School’s Veterans Field to practice and “act like I didn’t see Mr. Adcock seeing me.”

When Hoyle approached Adcock about his supposed trespassing, he said the then middle school principal expressed support for his practice and joked they would need to get a key made for Hoyle so he “wouldn’t get hurt jumping the stupid fence.”

“It really motivated me to know that people in my hometown were proud of me, supported me and encouraged me,” said Hoyle. “We all can’t do enough of that day in and day out.”

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Oxford Prep School

Town Talk 11/11/20: Donated Items Needed for Oxford Prep’s Senior Project

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

McKayla Boyd and Bryce Garrett, seniors at Oxford Preparatory School, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Boyd, of Oxford, and Garrett, of Bullock, discussed their senior project: collecting items for local families affected by abuse and domestic violence.

Partnering with Families Living Violence Free (FLVF) in Oxford, items collected will be distributed to families in need this holiday season.

Requested items include:

  • Toys for children ages 1-6 (new or used)
  • Adult and child hygiene products
  • Non-perishable food items (ramen, soups, breakfast items, snacks, canned food, etc.)
  • Throw blankets
  • Clothing items – size 2T to Adult (new only, please)

Donors are asked to sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AACA72BA2FDC34-griffin

Donations may be dropped off at the front lobby of the school located at 6041 Landis Road in Oxford. Items will be sanitized before taken to FLVF for distribution.

Stating that Oxford Prep is big on students giving back to the community via service hours, Boyd said the senior class is happy to partner with FLVF for this drive. “I spent a lot of time looking for an organization that would let us do something to give back to our community,” said Boyd. “When I found FLVF, they were very excited to work with us.”

Garrett said his class is looking forward to providing supplies to those in need, and he hopes to see the drive become an annual event. “Our goal for our school is to keep this a tradition,” he said.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.