The Purple Heart is a combat medal for members of the military who have been wounded in battle.
Sometimes, the person gets the award while he or she is living; but the award can be given at any time to veterans who qualify and also can be awarded posthumously.
At a recent ceremony in Henderson, local veterans, city leaders and others gathered to officially designate – with signs along key roadways and elsewhere – that the city is a “Purple Heart City.”
The original designation was made more than a decade ago, in 2012, said Hartwell Wright with American Legion Post 60 and with Chapter 637 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
But that’s as far as things went, Wright said. “No formal action was ever taken,” he said.
The state didn’t provide funds to create signs for the designation, but city leaders decided to change that.
There are signs at NC 39 North near the water treatment plant, two small signs on Beckford Drive, one at the movie theater and one at the Henderson Fruit & Produce on Old Norlina Road, and city staff may be placing additional signs soon, if there aren’t more up already. The Purple Heart chapter donated some of the smaller signs that have been placed in the city; the city created signs that are placed at the city limits.
The signs are tangible ways to recognize all purple heart recipients as they come through town, either as visitors or as residents – “to show we appreciate them and show them they’ll never be forgotten,” Wright said.
According to information provided Tuesday by Henderson Public Information Officer Salonia Saxton, the city is providing 25 Purple Heart signs that are located under each entrance to the city and under the speed limit signs throughout the area.
Wright, himself a Purple Heart recipient, provided remarks during the Mar. 7 ceremony to provide those in attendance a little history of the medal.
It is the oldest U.S. military award still given, he said.
Originally known as the Badge of Military Merit, it was established by George Washington in 1782 as a way to recognize rank and file fighting men, Wright said. At the time, only the elite officers would receive any type of commendation for combat-related actions, but Washington sought to create a medal for the average soldier.
In 1932, it was reimagined and was given the name it still has today.
Although there’s no way to know exactly how many Purple Heart recipients reside in Vance County today, Wright said he is among a group of people that is planning – with input from city staff – a veterans memorial that will be located just in front of the police department.
“We don’t have one in Vance County,” Wright said. Once the plans make their way through the design phase, Wright said the fundraising will begin.
Veterans are invited to a free veterans breakfast next Monday, Apr. 7 beginning at 8 a.m. at the VGCC Civic Center (Building 9), located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.
Contact Albert Spiess with Granville County Veterans Services
at 919.693.1484 or via email albert.spiess@granvillecounty.org to learn more.
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SportsTalk: Duke Makes the Final Four
/by WIZS StaffSportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Torpedo Bats, Duke Heading to San Antonio for the Final Four, and High School Baseball this week? Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue discuss it all on this edition of SportsTalk!
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Maria Parham Health Earns Accreditation For Chest Pain Center, Included Among America’s Best Hospitals For Quality Heart Care
/by WIZS Staff— information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer Donna Young
Maria Parham Health has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Quality Heart Care, underscoring the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional cardiovascular care and to improving patient outcomes.
Maria Parham Health was featured in a recent issue of U.S. News & World Report specifically for its Chest Pain Center Accreditation, according to a press release issued Monday. This accreditation by the American College of Cardiology focuses on the hospital’s ability to deliver efficient and effective emergency care for acute coronary syndrome patients. The Chest Pain Center Accreditation program helps hospitals refine their cardiovascular care processes, ensuring they meet the highest standards in the care and treatment of heart patients.
“Receiving the Chest Pain Center Accreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our cardiovascular team at Maria Parham Health,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We are honored to be recognized by the American College of Cardiology and to be listed among the nation’s best hospitals for heart care. This recognition highlights our commitment to providing the highest standard of care to our community, ensuring that our patients receive the best possible outcomes.”
In addition to the Chest Pain Center Accreditation, Maria Parham Health’s Cath Lab has also been recognized for its registry in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry. This registry assesses the characteristics, treatments and outcomes of cardiovascular disease patients who undergo diagnostic catheterization and/or percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. By participating in the NCDR, Maria Parham Health is able to leverage data-driven insights, research and analysis that inform clinical and operational decisions to enhance the overall quality of care delivered to every patient.
“Participation in the NCDR allows us to monitor and improve the care we provide to our cardiovascular patients by utilizing comprehensive data and evidence-based practices,” Beard said. “This registry enables our team to make informed decisions that ultimately result in better care and better outcomes for our patients.”
The ACC’s accreditation and the NCDR registry provide patients and caregivers with assurance that Maria Parham Health is committed to delivering the best cardiovascular care. The ACC’s Seal of Approval serves as a symbol of the hospital’s excellence in the field of heart care and its ongoing efforts to improve patient care and safety.
Patients and caregivers can trust hospitals and centers that participate in the NCDR and receive the ACC’s Accreditation Seal of Approval for delivering the best cardiovascular patient care. For more information on Maria Parham Health’s cardiovascular care programs and its recognition as one of America’s Best Hospitals, visit https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/nc
Granville County’s Summer Civic Leadership Program For High School-Aged Residents
/by WIZS StaffGranville County government is seeking local students to participate in the 2025 Summer Civic Leadership program. Selected students will have the opportunity to learn more about careers in public service by working in various county departments.
Students who successfully complete this program will gain valuable insight into how their local government operates while exploring possible career paths. Summer Civic Leadership is a nine-week program and students must complete 120 hours to be eligible for an educational stipend. Selection to the program is based on a competitive application and interview process.
Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors that live in Granville County are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about the program and to access the application, visit the Granville County website: https://www.granvillecounty.org/168/Summer-Civic-Leadership-Program
Applications are due Friday, Apr. 25. Interviews will be held on the afternoons of Apr. 30 and May 1.
For additional information, please contact the Granville County Administration Office at 919-693-5240 or email Karen.Evans@GranvilleCounty.org and Jessica.Todd@GranvilleCounty.org.
TownTalk: Purple Heart Signs Reign In Henderson
/by WIZS StaffThe Purple Heart is a combat medal for members of the military who have been wounded in battle.
Sometimes, the person gets the award while he or she is living; but the award can be given at any time to veterans who qualify and also can be awarded posthumously.
At a recent ceremony in Henderson, local veterans, city leaders and others gathered to officially designate – with signs along key roadways and elsewhere – that the city is a “Purple Heart City.”
The original designation was made more than a decade ago, in 2012, said Hartwell Wright with American Legion Post 60 and with Chapter 637 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
But that’s as far as things went, Wright said. “No formal action was ever taken,” he said.
The state didn’t provide funds to create signs for the designation, but city leaders decided to change that.
There are signs at NC 39 North near the water treatment plant, two small signs on Beckford Drive, one at the movie theater and one at the Henderson Fruit & Produce on Old Norlina Road, and city staff may be placing additional signs soon, if there aren’t more up already. The Purple Heart chapter donated some of the smaller signs that have been placed in the city; the city created signs that are placed at the city limits.
The signs are tangible ways to recognize all purple heart recipients as they come through town, either as visitors or as residents – “to show we appreciate them and show them they’ll never be forgotten,” Wright said.
According to information provided Tuesday by Henderson Public Information Officer Salonia Saxton, the city is providing 25 Purple Heart signs that are located under each entrance to the city and under the speed limit signs throughout the area.
Wright, himself a Purple Heart recipient, provided remarks during the Mar. 7 ceremony to provide those in attendance a little history of the medal.
It is the oldest U.S. military award still given, he said.
Originally known as the Badge of Military Merit, it was established by George Washington in 1782 as a way to recognize rank and file fighting men, Wright said. At the time, only the elite officers would receive any type of commendation for combat-related actions, but Washington sought to create a medal for the average soldier.
In 1932, it was reimagined and was given the name it still has today.
Although there’s no way to know exactly how many Purple Heart recipients reside in Vance County today, Wright said he is among a group of people that is planning – with input from city staff – a veterans memorial that will be located just in front of the police department.
“We don’t have one in Vance County,” Wright said. Once the plans make their way through the design phase, Wright said the fundraising will begin.
Veterans are invited to a free veterans breakfast next Monday, Apr. 7 beginning at 8 a.m. at the VGCC Civic Center (Building 9), located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.
Contact Albert Spiess with Granville County Veterans Services
at 919.693.1484 or via email albert.spiess@granvillecounty.org to learn more.
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The Local Skinny! Warren Correctional Institution Recommended For ACA Accreditation
/by WIZS StaffThe Warren Correctional Institution has been recommended for accreditation following a recent audit by American Correctional Association auditors.
Warren Correctional is the 49th N.C. Department of Adult Correction facility that has either been recommended for accreditation or been awarded ACA accreditation.
It is the goal of the NCDAC to have 100 percent of its facilities and operations pursue this distinction.
Following the Mar. 17-19 audit, ACA auditors found that Warren Correctional met 100 percent of mandatory practices and 98.7 percent of non-mandatory practices, according to information from NCDAC.
The ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will vote to formally grant accreditation at a future meeting.
“The staff of Warren Correctional Institution is dedicated every day, but they worked especially hard for us to meet this goal. I am extremely proud of them,” said Warden Kevin Barnes. “I also want to thank our department and Central Region leadership, as well as DAC’s accreditation and compliance specialists, for all the support and guidance they’ve provided throughout this process.”
Located in Manson, the facility houses approximately 670 men in minimum and medium custody levels. Opportunities for rehabilitative educational and vocational programs range from high school equivalency to the Correction Enterprises Janitorial Products Plant. Warren Correctional is also a site that hosts an ABEL (At Both Ends of the Leash) dog-training program.
ACA audits of performance-based standards evaluate fundamental correctional practices that
As part of the accreditation process, ACA auditors spent three days conducting visual inspections, reviewing policies and procedures, and evaluating the work being done to ensure best practices are met at the prison.
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TownTalk: Utility Payment Scam Calls
/by WIZS StaffThere’s another scam circulating in the area, according to the Henderson Police Department. This time, police officials say, they’ve received reports that someone is calling claiming to be from a utility company.
The caller says the utility service is being cut off and then provides another number to call to provide payment information – that can either be made from your bank account or cryptocurrency.
The police have one simple bit of advice: HANG UP!
Call the utility company yourself, using the number printed on your utility bill or from the company website – do NOT use the call-back number provided by the caller.
Often, the call-back numbers are fake, officials say. And if the message came via text, do not respond; rather, mark the number as junk or spam and report.
Customers should continue to use their regular method of payment and not follow the directions of the caller.
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WIZS Radio Henderson Local News 03-31-25 Noon
/by WIZS StaffListen On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Edibles Grown in Containers
/by WIZS StaffOn the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report from Wayne Rowland:
You can grow edibles in containers in limited space.
Listen 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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Granville County Schedules May 17 Spring Clean Out Event
/by WIZS StaffGranville County residents have an upcoming opportunity to recycle and properly dispose of a variety of household hazardous waste materials at the Spring Clean Out event on Saturday, May 17 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.
Granville County Solid Waste Management holds this event each year to give residents the opportunity to safely recycle or dispose of hazardous waste that cannot be accepted at the county landfill or the solid waste convenience sites.
This year, the event will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.
Accepted items at the May 17 clean out event include:
Prohibited items include:
The event is free and open to Granville County residents to dispose of personal household waste.
For more information about the event, contact Jason Falls at 919.691.0928 or jason.falls@granvillecounty.org.
Event sponsors include GFL Environmental, Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Iron Mountain, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Shred Ace and Veolia.
Franklin Cooperative Extension’s Small Farm Boot Camp Begins Apr. 3
/by WIZS StaffThe Franklin County Cooperative Extension is hosting a regional Small Farm Boot Camp designed to provide information for new and beginning farmers and homesteaders and others who are looking for innovative ways to market farm or garden products.
The series will be held on Thursdays in April, beginning Apr. 3 and continuing on Apr. 10, 17 and 24. Each session will begin at 4 p.m. and will be held at the Franklin County Plaza Conference Room, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., in Louisburg.
A culminating activity that includes a local farm tour is planned for Sunday, May 11.
The deadline to register for the program is Wednesday, Apr. 2. The cost is $150.
Register on Eventbrite at https://go.ncsu.edu/2025smallfarmbootcamp.
For additional information, call the Franklin County Extension Office at 919.496.3344, or contact Martha Mobley Ag Agent, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.
Learn more at https://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/.