UPDATED July 19, 1:30 p.m.
information from the office of Interim Warren County Manager Crystal Smith
The Virginia Department of Health is lifting portions of the recreational water and fish consumption advisories issued in response to the July 6 chemical storage facility fire in South Hill. The portion of the advisory being lifted is for a section of the Meherrin River that starts at Route 138 (Union Mill Road) flowing Southeast through the Town of Lawrenceville and the City of Emporia to the North Carolina state line.
The advisory is being lifted for this section of river because the presence of chemicals is no longer at levels that pose a health risk, according to information from the office of Interim Warren County Manager Crystal Smith. The concentrations of chemicals in the waterways have diluted due to recent rainfall as it has traveled downstream. Advisories still remain in place for Mountain Creek, Dockery Creek, Roanoke River to Lake Gaston.
For additional updates visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/2024-regional-news-releases/vdh-lifts-portion-of-recreational-water-fish-consumption-advisories-for-meherrin-river/
Warren County Health Department and Emergency Management are participating in daily briefings with state and local officials from Virginia and North Carolina and will continue to monitor this incident and provide relevant updates as they become available.
information courtesy of Warren County and N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality
The Warren County Health Department continues to monitor the possible downstream effects of the July 6 fire at a chemical storage facility in South Hill, VA.
The warehouse held a large quantity of agricultural chemicals, and runoff from the firefighting efforts has entered several water systems in southern Virginia, including the Meherrin River from its confluence with Mountain Creek, and the Miles and Dockery Creeks, upstream of the Roanoke River.
At this time, there is no immediate danger to the North Carolina public or to those near Lake Gaston. There is no timeline, however, on when – or if – contaminants will reach Lake Gaston or North Carolina in measurable concentrations.
The Virginia Department of Health has issued a recreational swimming and fish consumption advisory until further notice for surface waters, including the Meherrin and Roanoke rivers, that extend to the North Carolina-Virginia border and local health officials have been in contact with the appropriate local, North Carolina and Virginia authorities monitoring the progress of this event for any potential impact to Warren County, according to information from the office of Interim County Manager Crystal Smith.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are testing the affected waterways routinely and reporting those results to WCHD and partner agencies, Smith said in a press release.
Virginia DEQ reports that the chemical plume is moving slowly, and that as of July 15, 2024, there is no indication that the chemical plume has made its way to Lake Gaston or any other waterway in Warren County.
The N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services has recommended that local health departments in the impacted areas issue recreational water advisories mirroring those in Virginia. The need for and timing of those advisories will depend on available data. NCDEQ is monitoring for potential impacts, staff plan to conduct additional water sampling once the wastewaters are believed to reach North Carolina waterbodies. If you discover any water sheens, odors, discolored vegetation or dead wildlife in the potentially impacted areas, please contact your NCDEQ regional office, or call 1.877.623.6748. Fish kill activity can also be reported on the NCDEQ website.
NCDHHS is working with officials in Virginia to determine what the potential health impacts could be from this incident. This information will inform any future protective actions that may be needed in North Carolina.
The NC DHHS Communicable Disease Branch has begun syndromic surveillance of Warren, Halifax, and Northampton County hospitals. This effort, mirroring Virginia’s Department of Health, is focusing on tracking symptoms including eye and skin irritation, allergic skin reactions, drowsiness or dizziness, respiratory irritation, nausea, and loss of consciousness reported in emergency departments.
Anyone who has been in the affected waterways and is experiencing these symptoms is asked to seek medical care and notify their practitioners of the waterbody exposure.
If you notice any plumes, sheens or fish kills in these waterways avoid contact with these waters and report these conditions to 1.877.623.6748.
Warren County Health Department will continue to update citizens as the incident progresses.
For more information related to the incident, please visit www.deq.virginia.gov.
Fish consumption and recreation advisories have been issued for Dockery Creek and Miles Creek to its confluence with the Roanoke River and Lake Gaston, as well as the Meherrin River to the North Carolina state line.
North Carolina updates will be posted to a NCDEQ website located here.
VADEQ has established a website with information on their response located on their website here.
Officials Monitoring Possible NC Impact Following July 6 South Hill Fire
/by WIZS StaffUPDATED July 19, 1:30 p.m.
information from the office of Interim Warren County Manager Crystal Smith
The Virginia Department of Health is lifting portions of the recreational water and fish consumption advisories issued in response to the July 6 chemical storage facility fire in South Hill. The portion of the advisory being lifted is for a section of the Meherrin River that starts at Route 138 (Union Mill Road) flowing Southeast through the Town of Lawrenceville and the City of Emporia to the North Carolina state line.
The advisory is being lifted for this section of river because the presence of chemicals is no longer at levels that pose a health risk, according to information from the office of Interim Warren County Manager Crystal Smith. The concentrations of chemicals in the waterways have diluted due to recent rainfall as it has traveled downstream. Advisories still remain in place for Mountain Creek, Dockery Creek, Roanoke River to Lake Gaston.
For additional updates visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/2024-regional-news-releases/vdh-lifts-portion-of-recreational-water-fish-consumption-advisories-for-meherrin-river/
Warren County Health Department and Emergency Management are participating in daily briefings with state and local officials from Virginia and North Carolina and will continue to monitor this incident and provide relevant updates as they become available.
information courtesy of Warren County and N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality
The Warren County Health Department continues to monitor the possible downstream effects of the July 6 fire at a chemical storage facility in South Hill, VA.
The warehouse held a large quantity of agricultural chemicals, and runoff from the firefighting efforts has entered several water systems in southern Virginia, including the Meherrin River from its confluence with Mountain Creek, and the Miles and Dockery Creeks, upstream of the Roanoke River.
At this time, there is no immediate danger to the North Carolina public or to those near Lake Gaston. There is no timeline, however, on when – or if – contaminants will reach Lake Gaston or North Carolina in measurable concentrations.
The Virginia Department of Health has issued a recreational swimming and fish consumption advisory until further notice for surface waters, including the Meherrin and Roanoke rivers, that extend to the North Carolina-Virginia border and local health officials have been in contact with the appropriate local, North Carolina and Virginia authorities monitoring the progress of this event for any potential impact to Warren County, according to information from the office of Interim County Manager Crystal Smith.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality are testing the affected waterways routinely and reporting those results to WCHD and partner agencies, Smith said in a press release.
Virginia DEQ reports that the chemical plume is moving slowly, and that as of July 15, 2024, there is no indication that the chemical plume has made its way to Lake Gaston or any other waterway in Warren County.
The N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services has recommended that local health departments in the impacted areas issue recreational water advisories mirroring those in Virginia. The need for and timing of those advisories will depend on available data. NCDEQ is monitoring for potential impacts, staff plan to conduct additional water sampling once the wastewaters are believed to reach North Carolina waterbodies. If you discover any water sheens, odors, discolored vegetation or dead wildlife in the potentially impacted areas, please contact your NCDEQ regional office, or call 1.877.623.6748. Fish kill activity can also be reported on the NCDEQ website.
NCDHHS is working with officials in Virginia to determine what the potential health impacts could be from this incident. This information will inform any future protective actions that may be needed in North Carolina.
The NC DHHS Communicable Disease Branch has begun syndromic surveillance of Warren, Halifax, and Northampton County hospitals. This effort, mirroring Virginia’s Department of Health, is focusing on tracking symptoms including eye and skin irritation, allergic skin reactions, drowsiness or dizziness, respiratory irritation, nausea, and loss of consciousness reported in emergency departments.
Anyone who has been in the affected waterways and is experiencing these symptoms is asked to seek medical care and notify their practitioners of the waterbody exposure.
If you notice any plumes, sheens or fish kills in these waterways avoid contact with these waters and report these conditions to 1.877.623.6748.
Warren County Health Department will continue to update citizens as the incident progresses.
For more information related to the incident, please visit www.deq.virginia.gov.
Fish consumption and recreation advisories have been issued for Dockery Creek and Miles Creek to its confluence with the Roanoke River and Lake Gaston, as well as the Meherrin River to the North Carolina state line.
North Carolina updates will be posted to a NCDEQ website located here.
VADEQ has established a website with information on their response located on their website here.
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-19-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
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TownTalk: City Of Henderson Approves Social Media Policy
/by WIZS StaffCLICK PLAY for the TownTalk radio show.
The Local Skinny! Carolina Payroll Partners Business Spotlight
/by WIZS StaffMel Manning and Carolina Payroll Partners, LLC received a recent shout-out from the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce as recipient of the Chamber Spotlight.
Manning works out of Morehead City now, but he said he and partner Seth Ward can successfully meet their clients’ needs, thanks to technology and online software.
For the past four years, the local Chamber has been a client of Carolina Payroll Partners. Manning, who used to live in Henderson, has kept his Chamber membership current. In fact, he spent eight years on the Chamber board and one more as chair, he said during a recent interview with WIZS.
“I’m always trying to let people know about what an opportunity it was to join the Chamber, to work with the Chamber,” Manning said. “It’s a great opportunity to get your name out and meet a lot of people.”
Manning and Ward are both accountants, and have clients spread out across Vance and Granville counties, all the way to the Triangle down to the Crystal Coast. Ward is located in Cary. Together, the two handle payroll processing services for 15 clients.
Manning said he and Ward can operate remotely to provide clients exactly what they need, but they have the ability to be on site with customers if they ever need it.
They offer a range of services, but position themselves as an alternative to the impersonal national online software companies. Clients can input payroll information themselves, or they can send the raw data to either Manning or Ward and they can do it for them.
“A lot of clients will email payroll,” he said, which they then enter into the software program, generate the results and submit it for processing on their clients’ behalf.
“We wanted to be very customer-oriented when we started this… (and) take as much off our clients’ plates as possible and make it as simple as possible,” Manning explained.
The vast majority of payments come in the form of direct deposit, which Carolina Payroll Partners offers as a free option for clients. “We might have an occasional paper check,” he said, to accommodate unique situations that may crop up. In such cases, the client can prepare the check and also receives a paystub to go along with it.
Manning’s continued connection with the local Chamber runs deeper than just a business partnership. He recognizes the benefits of having a Chamber of Commerce in any given community.
“The Chamber does a lot of great things in the community, through education and things that will better all the citizens of the area,” Manning said.
Visit https://www.ncpayrollpartners.com/ to learn more or contact Manning at 252.432.0768.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-18-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Sharing Part 1
/by Bill HarrisListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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City Council Adopts Social Media Policy In Special Called Meeting Wednesday
/by Laura GabelIn a special called meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Henderson City Council unanimously adopted a policy regarding the use of social media.
Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS News that the city has a social media policy for employees, but it does not apply to the city’s elected officials – the mayor and members of the City Council.
Adoption of the policy was the sole agenda item for the 3 p.m. meeting. The meeting was short, with no discussion or comments on the matter before the vote was taken. Council members Sara Coffey and Sam Seifert were not present.
The policy, just more than two pages in length, spells out best practices and suggestions for elected officials about the use of social media, including personal emails, and “liking” and forwarding posts on social media platforms.
The policy lists eight Professional and Personal Conduct Standards that range from expectations that officials follow the City’s policies and standards to reminding officials “should be honest and accurate when posting information or news, and should quickly correct any mistakes, misstatements and/or factual errors in content upon discovery. Officials should not post or share information to be false about the City, its employees, constituents, other public officials, suppliers, vendors, or contractors.”
Additionally, the policy contains eight additional best practices and guidelines for elected officials that are “strongly recommended to ensure that the personal and professional use of social media by elected and appointed officials is done in a responsible manner.”
“Other municipalities around the state have adopted social media policies specific to Councils, Boards and Commissions,” Blackmon stated in an email response to WIZS Wednesday.
“The policy Council is looking to adopt today is very similar to one that was adopted by the City of Durham which is considered a ‘model’ policy,” he continued, adding that the policy Council will review was developed with the assistance of the Mayor and City Attorney.
Blackmon said, “There is technically no violation by any member at this time,” and went on to say that the adopted policy “is not designed to be punitive, but to provide direction and guidance. However, violation of the policy could result in the code of conduct being invoked.”
TownTalk: Welcome Chapel Pastor Celebrates Anniversary With Aug. 4 Service
/by WIZS StaffWelcome Chapel Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a special celebration to mark the first anniversary of its minister, the Rev. Dennis White.
The community is invited to take part in the event, which is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 4 at 3 p.m.
White was a guest on Wednesday’s TownTalk to discuss details of what will be happening that day. He said any pastoral anniversary is cause for celebration and this one is no exception. “It’s always a drawing card to a church,” he said.
The guest speaker for the occasion will be Rev. Kevin L. Chandler from Trinity Baptist Church in South Boston, VA and the New Sandy Creek Missionary Baptist Church Male Chorus from Keely, VA will perform.
White comes to Henderson from Greensboro, where he founded Faith Walk Baptist Church. The pandemic took its toll on the small congregation, White said, so after 17 years with that church, he accepted the call to Welcome Chapel.
“It was God’s design and God’s plan,” he said. “There’s no better place to be than where God has placed you…I am so excited to be at Welcome Chapel.”
Founding a ministry helped White become a better leader – “I was able to be very involved with every aspect of the ministry…it helped sharpen my leadership skills.”
White describes himself as a humble, faithful, people-oriented pastor. “I love being a pastor and doing it God’s way,” he said.
But he’s also a father – two children and two grandchildren – and a husband – married 32 years – and a counselor by training. Those roles feed into the role of pastor, too.
Having completed a master’s degree in pastoral counseling at Liberty University, White said he considers himself someone who is very approachable to those who seek his guidance. “This day and time, people need counseling in many areas of their lives,” White said.
The church is located at 237 Welcome Ave. in Henderson.
Home and Garden Show
/by WIZS StaffOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance County Cooperative Extension Agent Wayne Rowland:
WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 07-17-24 Noon
/by WIZS StaffClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM