When it comes to sharing the road, it’s important for both vehicle drivers and bicyclists to know what the rules are to keep everyone safe.
Young bicyclists will have the chance to learn about bike safety, get some free safety equipment and test their skills on an obstacle course during the upcoming Bike Safety Bash on Saturday, June 10.
And the first 150 folks who stop in will get a free ice cream, compliments of Lewis Express and a local church sponsor.
The Bike Bash and Rodeo will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in front of the Henderson Police Department, according to Kenia Gomez-Jimenez with the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, which has organized the safety event.
Kids riding their bikes or walking to and from school during the week may be a more common sight in big cities, but even in rural areas, Gomez-Jimenez said, bike safety is important.
“We want to make sure they have all the education and materials they need to be safe,” she said on Monday’s TownTalk.
KTCOG received close to $200,000 in the latest round of state funding to have programs like the Bike Bash. “We’re so excited that we get to continue our Safe Routes to School endeavors across the Kerr-Tar region,” Gomez-Jimenez said.
“I believe in the power of teamwork,” she said, adding that the Granville Vance Health District, as well as the city of Henderson and AIM High, Keep Pressing are partners for the event. Reed Kenny said the health department will have 100 bike helmets to distribute to youngsters who attend the event, and Jessica Hawkins with AIM High will contribute 100 more. In addition, AIM High will raffle off 20 bicycles throughout the morning’s event.
The helmets are part of a NCDOT initiative to reduce bicycle injuries among youth by providing them with equipment and education on bike safety. Share the Road specialty license plates fund this initiative.
“We want to make sure they’re well protected,” Kenny said of young bicycle riders.
Bicyclists need to keep safety in mind, but they also need to be able to fix a bike that may break down during a ride.
Tracy Madigan, DDC director, said the event will kick off with a ribbon cutting to officially dedicate five bike racks and a newly installed bike repair station in the downtown area. The bike repair station is located on Breckenridge Street near the police station, Madigan noted.
“It will be helpful for everybody to work together to learn about bike safety, she said, as well as learning to share the roadways.
Although Henderson doesn’t have any specially designated bike lanes at present, Madigan hinted of plans to accommodate bicyclists in the future.
“The goal is to work together and to show our community that Henderson…has a sense of community,” Gomez-Jimenez said. “When we unify for a common goal, great things happen.”
When we unify for. A common goal, great things happen.”
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 05-23-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
/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.
Click Play!
Third Overtime Score Propels Vance Charter School Women’s Soccer to Elite 8
/by John C. RoseThe Vance Charter School women’s soccer team defeated Voyager Academy Monday night 2-1 on an Addison Clary assist to Abby Cole for a one-touch score.
Coach Johnny Yount told WIZS News, “(The) second overtime 10-minute period was ours and carried over to the first 5-minute OT.”
The winning score came in the first minute of the third overtime as the 12th-seeded Knights upset 4th-seeded Voyager in Durham.
Yount said, “(This is) such an incredible achievement for this program and everyone involved.”
Vance Charter will face top-seeded Woods Charter on Wednesday at 6 p.m., according to Coach Yount, in the Elite 8 round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state playoffs.
High school soccer overtime rules require two 10-minute periods which are not sudden victory. The contest becomes sudden victory in the third OT.
N.C. Rep Sossamon Takes Field Trip To Visit Vance County Schools
/by Laura Gabel– Information courtesy of Vance County Schools
N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon visited several Vance County Schools recently as a participant in the first year of “Bring Your Legislator to School” Day.
Sossamon represents District SS, which includes Vance County. He visited E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, Dabney Elementary, STEM Early High School and the district’s Center for Innovation.
Lawmakers were invited by members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and bi-partisan legislative sponsors to visit schools in their respective jurisdictions and engage with school communities. Sossamon joined more than 70 fellow legislators who accepted the invitation to visit schools in their districts.
School principals, as well as Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett joined Sossamon as he toured the schools and chatted with teachers and students.
The goal of this visit was to show legislators what current state investment in education looks like in practice during the day-to-day reality of North Carolina’s elementary and secondary schools.
N.C.’s Ag Impact Keeps Growing…And Growing
/by WIZS Staff-information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Maybe you’ve seen the bumper sticker that reads “If You’ve Eaten Today, Thank a Farmer.”
The impact that farmers and farming have in this state is huge. And Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has put that statement in measurable terms – for the first time, the economic impact of agriculture and agribusiness industry in North Carolina has topped $100 billion.
The exact figure, in fact, is $103.2 billion.
The numbers come from Dr. Mike Walden, N.C. State University economist and professor emeritus. These numbers reflect the economic value of growing, processing and delivering food, natural fiber and forestry products, Troxler said in a press release, and were calculated using the latest USDA statistics.
“When I took office in 2005, the economic impact of agriculture and agribusiness was $59 billion and $100 billion seemed like a good goal to work toward,” Troxler said. “In 2016, I made a prediction that North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness industry would soon reach $100 billion,” he added.
“I’m proud to say that we’ve reached that goal and surpassed last year’s economic impact by more than 11 percent. Reaching this milestone is a big accomplishment for everyone in agriculture and agribusiness and proves how much we can accomplish when we are all pulling together.”
Agriculture is North Carolina’s No. 1 industry, employing about one-fifth of the state’s workforce. Last year’s economic impact figure was $92.9 billion.
“We are blessed to have a strong, resilient, and engaged agriculture community that includes farmers, agribusiness owners, commodity associations, agricultural associations and effective leadership in the North Carolina General Assembly,” Troxler said. “I can assure you we will set new goals and keep North Carolina agriculture growing.”
Henderson Police I-85 Traffic Stop Yields Large Quantity of Drugs
/by WIZS StaffPress Release Courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow —
On Saturday, May 20, 2023, at approximately 4:50AM, members of the Henderson Police Department conducted a traffic stop on I-85 for a traffic violation. After a positive alert by our agency’s K-9, a vehicle search was conducted. During the course of the investigation and search 1,000 Bricks of Heroin and 5 kilos of cocaine were located within the vehicle.
The sole occupant of the vehicle, Jonathan Gordan (age 41) of Albany, New York, was arrested and charged with three (3) counts of Trafficking in Cocaine, three (3) counts of Trafficking in Heroin, one (1) count of Possession with the Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Cocaine, one (1) count of Possession with the Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, one (1) count of Maintain a Vehicle to Keep Controlled Substances, and one (1) count of Manufacture Cocaine.
Jonathan Gordan was taken before a Vance County Magistrate and received a secured bond of $500,000.00. He was remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 05-22-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Health Remembers Lives Lost In Service To Country
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy of Donna Young, MPH Marketing & Communication Coordinator
Maria Parham Health invites the public to its third annual Memorial Day Service on Thursday, May 25, 2023. This year’s theme is “Reflection and Celebration.” The service will begin at 10 a.m. by the flagpoles in front of the hospital, where attendees will remember and honor those who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Maria Parham’s keynote speaker this year will be Hartwell Wright, Vietnam veteran and recent recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina. It is awarded for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina that is above and beyond the call of duty that has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina communities. Hartwell Wright received the award in February 2022.
The Maria Parham Memorial Day Service will include prayers from Harriett Baptist Church Pastor Will Breedlove, as well as special music, the hanging of a memorial wreath and the reading of names In Memoriam.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the auditorium.
CLICK PLAY!
TownTalk: Kerr Tar Council of Governments Presents Bike Safety Bash
/by Laura GabelWhen it comes to sharing the road, it’s important for both vehicle drivers and bicyclists to know what the rules are to keep everyone safe.
Young bicyclists will have the chance to learn about bike safety, get some free safety equipment and test their skills on an obstacle course during the upcoming Bike Safety Bash on Saturday, June 10.
And the first 150 folks who stop in will get a free ice cream, compliments of Lewis Express and a local church sponsor.
The Bike Bash and Rodeo will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in front of the Henderson Police Department, according to Kenia Gomez-Jimenez with the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, which has organized the safety event.
Kids riding their bikes or walking to and from school during the week may be a more common sight in big cities, but even in rural areas, Gomez-Jimenez said, bike safety is important.
“We want to make sure they have all the education and materials they need to be safe,” she said on Monday’s TownTalk.
KTCOG received close to $200,000 in the latest round of state funding to have programs like the Bike Bash. “We’re so excited that we get to continue our Safe Routes to School endeavors across the Kerr-Tar region,” Gomez-Jimenez said.
“I believe in the power of teamwork,” she said, adding that the Granville Vance Health District, as well as the city of Henderson and AIM High, Keep Pressing are partners for the event. Reed Kenny said the health department will have 100 bike helmets to distribute to youngsters who attend the event, and Jessica Hawkins with AIM High will contribute 100 more. In addition, AIM High will raffle off 20 bicycles throughout the morning’s event.
The helmets are part of a NCDOT initiative to reduce bicycle injuries among youth by providing them with equipment and education on bike safety. Share the Road specialty license plates fund this initiative.
“We want to make sure they’re well protected,” Kenny said of young bicycle riders.
Bicyclists need to keep safety in mind, but they also need to be able to fix a bike that may break down during a ride.
Tracy Madigan, DDC director, said the event will kick off with a ribbon cutting to officially dedicate five bike racks and a newly installed bike repair station in the downtown area. The bike repair station is located on Breckenridge Street near the police station, Madigan noted.
“It will be helpful for everybody to work together to learn about bike safety, she said, as well as learning to share the roadways.
Although Henderson doesn’t have any specially designated bike lanes at present, Madigan hinted of plans to accommodate bicyclists in the future.
“The goal is to work together and to show our community that Henderson…has a sense of community,” Gomez-Jimenez said. “When we unify for a common goal, great things happen.”
When we unify for. A common goal, great things happen.”
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Edible Gardening
/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.
Click Play!