With COVID-19 vaccines now approved for use with the youngest children – ages six months through 5 years, Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison encourages parents to ask questions of health care professionals to determine the best course of action when deciding which vaccine to choose.
Harrison spoke on Town Talk Wednesday with John C. Rose and said there is a wealth of information for parents located at www.gvph.org. She said it’s important to get information from trusted sources – like your child’s pediatrician or from the local health department.
Specialized nurses and immunization nurses administer the vaccines at the health department for anyone who wants a shot, including this youngest group of children most recently approved to get the vaccine.
The Pfizer shot is a three-series shot and is cleared to be given to children six months through 4 years. The Moderna shot is a two-dose series and is cleared for children through age 5. Both vaccines are now at the health department, and parents can consult with health professionals before deciding which one to ask for.
“Both are certainly well tested and effective,” she said.
Side effects are similar to those that adults have after getting shots and boosters – swelling and redness at injection site, slight fever or feeling tired for a day or two, but that’s about it, Harrison said.
Vance and Granville counties both have returned to “high” transmission rates recently, and Harrison said as long as the counties remain in this category, she personally will choose to wear a mask when she is indoors with a lot of people. When she’s outside, she opts to not wear a mask.
It’s more difficult for younger children to keep masks on, and to follow the other W’s – “wait” 6 feet apart and “Wash” your hands frequently, she said, so vaccines for this youngest group just makes good health sense.
In fact, masks are not recommended for children ages 2 and under.
Vaccines “are the biggest and most important intervention we’ve had over the last hundred years,” she explained. And the various COVID-19 vaccines are more tested than any other vaccine.
One thing that health professionals have learned over the course of the pandemic is the unpredictable nature of the virus. “It’s hard to have this much patience with a mutating virus, for sure,” she said. Being vaccinated, however, is “the way we get through to the other side of the pandemic,” she added.
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Retired EMS Director Doug Logan Named Interim Granville Manager
/by WIZS StaffThe Granville County board of commissioners have appointed Doug Logan as interim county manager to take the reins until a new manager can be hired.
Logan is a Granville County native and retired in 2020 from his role as the county’s emergency services director and fire marshal. He will take over from Michael Felts, who leaves at the end of July to take a job with the N.C. Association of County Commissioners Risk Management Pools.
According to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood, Logan will begin work on July 11 to begin the transition process. He will remain in the manager position until a permanent manager is appointed by the board.
“I’m honored that the board of commissioners placed their trust in me to serve as interim county manager,” Logan said in a prepared statement. “This is my home, and I spent the entirety of my professional life serving the citizens of this county. I can’t wait to get started and help ensure that our residents continue to enjoy the quality of service they have come to expect across all county departments.”
Board Chair Tony Cozart said Logan’s appointment will allow the county time to complete the search process for the next manager. “Doug has proven throughout his career that he is a steady and accomplished leader. We are confident that he is the right person to guide our staff in the coming months,” Cozart said. “We are thrilled that Doug was willing to accept this challenge and we know that he is prepared to step up and continue to serve his fellow Granville County citizens.”
Logan retired in January 2020 after a distinguished career in public service. He began his career with the county with the public school system and then went on to be an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Granville EMS and a firefighter with Granville Rural Fire Department. In July 1994, he became emergency services director and remained there until his retirement.
Following news in May that Felts was leaving, the commissioners engaged the services of Developmental Associates, Inc. to lead the recruitment process for the next county manager. “Recognizing that it would not be possible for this process to conclude before Felts’ last day of employment, the board identified Doug Logan as someone who could shepherd Granville County through this transition,” the statement read.
Since his retirement, Logan has served as an emergency management planner with On Target Preparedness, LLC.
TownTalk: COVID-19 Vaccines Now Available for Children Under 5
/by Laura GabelWith COVID-19 vaccines now approved for use with the youngest children – ages six months through 5 years, Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison encourages parents to ask questions of health care professionals to determine the best course of action when deciding which vaccine to choose.
Harrison spoke on Town Talk Wednesday with John C. Rose and said there is a wealth of information for parents located at www.gvph.org. She said it’s important to get information from trusted sources – like your child’s pediatrician or from the local health department.
Specialized nurses and immunization nurses administer the vaccines at the health department for anyone who wants a shot, including this youngest group of children most recently approved to get the vaccine.
The Pfizer shot is a three-series shot and is cleared to be given to children six months through 4 years. The Moderna shot is a two-dose series and is cleared for children through age 5. Both vaccines are now at the health department, and parents can consult with health professionals before deciding which one to ask for.
“Both are certainly well tested and effective,” she said.
Side effects are similar to those that adults have after getting shots and boosters – swelling and redness at injection site, slight fever or feeling tired for a day or two, but that’s about it, Harrison said.
Vance and Granville counties both have returned to “high” transmission rates recently, and Harrison said as long as the counties remain in this category, she personally will choose to wear a mask when she is indoors with a lot of people. When she’s outside, she opts to not wear a mask.
It’s more difficult for younger children to keep masks on, and to follow the other W’s – “wait” 6 feet apart and “Wash” your hands frequently, she said, so vaccines for this youngest group just makes good health sense.
In fact, masks are not recommended for children ages 2 and under.
Vaccines “are the biggest and most important intervention we’ve had over the last hundred years,” she explained. And the various COVID-19 vaccines are more tested than any other vaccine.
One thing that health professionals have learned over the course of the pandemic is the unpredictable nature of the virus. “It’s hard to have this much patience with a mutating virus, for sure,” she said. Being vaccinated, however, is “the way we get through to the other side of the pandemic,” she added.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 06-22-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Leadership Granville Deadline Is July 1
/by WIZS StaffThe deadline to register for the upcoming Leadership Granville program is July 1.
Leadership Granville is a program that offers residents of Granville County the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the community and develop leadership potential. It’s a great way for those new to the community to become personally and professionally acquainted with county structure and life, which can benefit present and future leadership. Participants visit local businesses and industry and spend time learning about the county’s history, agriculture and government. The program kicks off in September and concludes with graduation in April.
The application, with program details about schedules and meeting times, can be found on the Chamber of Commerce website:
https://granville-chamber.com/member-services/leadership-granville/
There are sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and other agencies to highlight products and services.
The Silver Sponsor is filled, but the Presenting Sponsor level is available for $2,000, one Gold Sponsor ($1,000) is available, and there are unlimited spaces for Bronze Sponsors ($500) and Lunch Sponsors ($300).
Sponsorships at the presenting, gold and silver levels include registration fee for one participant and various types of recognition at Leadership Granville events and promotional advertising.
Contact Roberson at lauren@granville-chamber.com to learn more.
Completed applications can be emailed to Roberson or sent to the Chamber office, P.O. Box 820, Oxford, NC 27565.
Butner Inmate Sentenced After Assaulting, Injuring Officer
/by WIZS StaffAn inmate at FMC Butner was sentenced to 114 months in prison for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer at the Federal Medical Center in Butner. The inmate had pled guilty to the charge earlier this year.
According to court documents, Michael Anthony Mata, 47, an inmate at FMC Butner at the time of the offense, struck the law enforcement officer in the face after the officer told him he was in an unauthorized area and asked him to return to his assigned housing unit. As a result of the contact, the officer suffered a severe fracture to his left orbital wall that required surgical repair.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said, “The brave men and women who put themselves on the line every day to keep the rest of us safe, have the well-deserved support of our Office. We will vigorously prosecute anyone who assaults a correctional officer, or any other law enforcement personnel, and seek a firm punishment to deter others who may be inclined to do the same.”
Citing Mata’s extensive criminal history and the severity of the assault, U.S. Federal District Court Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Mata to 114 months in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus prosecuted the case.
Home And Garden Show 06-22-22
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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SportsTalk: 7 On 7 Football Makes Positive Impact On Local Youth
/by WIZS StaffIn 2007 both Marcus Henderson and Theo Perry graduated from Southern Vance High School and Perry was a part of the Southern Vance Football team that went to the state championship game. While the Raiders were unable to cap off that season with a state title, both Henderson and Perry have continued to work in football and with youth. With the help of fellow Southern Vance alumni and others such as former Vance County High School Athletic Director Joe Sharrow, Henderson and Perry started the Vance County Venom. The Venom are a 7-on-7 football team that plays in a five-team league during the summer to help keep youth from not only Vance County, but Franklin and Warren as well, off the street and involved with something positive in the way of athletics.
Theo Perry serves as head coach and director of the Venom and Marcus Henderson is an organizer. The Venom are a 501c3 non-profit organization and they hope to provide mentorship to young people and to provide them with guidance as they grow as young men and athletes. As coaches, they try to be positive role models, Perry said. “We want to teach them how to be great human beings and to stay out of the streets,” he said.
“The street loves nobody,” Perry said on Tuesday’s SportsTalk. Henderson says “there are too many distraction for kids” out of school during the summer and the Venom provides kids with an opportunity to do something else to positively impact their lives.
The idea for the Venom came from coaching the Tri-City Seahawks at the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Dept. The Seahawks participate in the East Wake League and kids start playing at four years of age. From the Seahawks the idea of the Venom emerged. Sharrow and Vance County High School Principal Rey Horner agreed to let them use the practice field at the high school and parents helped contribute equipment and fund to buy equipment. And Perry and Henderson chipped in money from their own pockets to field the team, too.
Richard Terry of Eastside Barber in Henderson donated a quarterback tee, which Perry said has proven quite useful. In 7-on-7 football, the QB has five seconds to throw the ball. The tee is equipped with a timer, which has helped the quarterbacks improve their ball release.
Turnout from kids has been excellent and they have played games throughout the month of May in Franklinton; they’ll travel to Fuquay-Varina for a make-up tournament this weekend. Additionally, the kids involved with the Venom have had the opportunity to attend football camps with NFL players. Perry said he tells his guys to wear their jerseys to the camps – it’s just one more way to get their name out there. “We’ve gotten so much exposure,” he said. “Exposure is the key – when it’s time for these kids to go to college…you never know who’s out there watching them at an early age.”
“It’s bigger than football,” says Henderson. These young athletes also participate in volunteer work and reach out to the community. Perry says they want to teach how to become correct young men. They both praise the parents who have taken time to bring their kids to practice and games and have supported the Venom in general.
If you would like to help support the Venom, donations can be made to Vance Co. Venom Inc. The mailing address is 1025 Pinkston St., Henderson NC 27537 or via cashapp at $flySantana.
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South Henderson Ball Park Site of Fight with Shots Fired
/by WIZS Staff– HPD Press Release –
On Monday, June 20th of 2022, Officers responded to 1105 Victory Street (South Henderson Ball Park), in reference to a “Fight with weapons.” Initial officers arriving encountered a large crowd and multiple shots being fired.
One subject was observed attempting to charge his weapon (manipulate the slide), and then ran to a vehicle with the firearm in hand, after ignoring orders to drop his weapon. Three firearms in total were recovered from this vehicle. The driver, Jamaal Johnson (age 22), was found in possession of a concealed Glock 17 pistol, an American Tactical AR-15 was located in the front passenger area in plain view, and a 9mm Taurus pistol was recovered from a concealed location where the initial person, Ajamiar Robinson-Clack (age 21), was seated in the rear of the car.
While dealing with the large crowd and the four detained individuals, Officers were dispatched to Maria Parham Health in reference to a report of two individuals with “gunshot wounds.” When Officers arrived, they located Kavon Horton (age 26) and Samijai Haythe (18). It was
found that neither victim had been shot, but had received injuries from an assault that occurred at 1105 Victory Street (South Henderson Ball Park).
While at Maria Parham Health, Officers were notified about a large group of individuals outside the emergency department. These individuals were also involved in the same incident and had also been seen with firearms. A vehicle of interest was approached and a Glock 19 pistol, a Taurus PT1911 pistol, and a Palmetto State Armory PA15 Rifle were recovered.
The Glock 19 pistol was found on the person of a 17-year-old Juvenile, and was found to be modified to fire full-auto. The juvenile was released to Juvenile Justice after secured custody orders were filed for Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction and Possession of a Machine Gun.
This matter is still under investigation and possible further charges are pending its outcome. This would include the victims who sought medical treatment.
Jamal Johnson, Ajamiar Robinson-Clack and Isrrael Barreto Aguilar were charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon.
Authority Chief Barrow
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 06-21-22 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
The Local Skinny! Acquest Group Partners With City On Garnett St. Property
/by WIZS StaffIn the spirit of true public-private collaboration, a portion of South Garnett Street is getting a new lease on life. Alex Green, vice president and director of operations with Acquest Group is set to close on the purchase of property at 411 S. Garnett St. The city has purchased a lot next door, and, together, the area is gearing up for big things.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with the city,” Green told WIZS during a recent interview. The partnership will result in a mixed-use of retail space and restaurants at street level, with condominiums or apartments above.
“It’s absolutely going to change Henderson for the better and we’re so excited about it,” Green said. The interview aired on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny!
Green said the main restaurant space is spoken for, but there should be enough room for a smaller café style shop and one more retail outlet.
While there will definitely be new construction going up, Green said the hope is to keep as much of the existing building as possible. “It’s a beautiful piece of history for Henderson’s downtown and also has some interesting architectural pieces on the inside,” she said.
The area will be transformed into a space for fun activities, live music outdoors on summer evenings, Green said.
Seeing the potential in a location is half the battle, Green said. “That’s part of the challenge when you come into these awesome small towns in rural communities,” she said. It’s like putting together a puzzle – taking empty lots and abandoned buildings – and transforming them to becoming places of community.
Building community also supports generational wealth and keeps money in the local economy.
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