The Local Skinny! March 9; Severe Weather Preparedness Week

/by

According to Brian Short, director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations, now is the time to be prepared for Spring storms. This is the season that the threat of severe thunderstorms with the potential for lightning, tornadoes and flash flooding can occur. These conditions can develop rapidly with little advance warning. Short says that a great way to be prepared for severe weather is to update family emergency plans and supply kits before the severe weather season gets underway.

This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina and serves as a reminder to all, the importance of planning for unexpected thunderstorms and tornadoes that could impact our area.

A tornado drill will be conducted on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and all government agencies, businesses and schools are encouraged to participate. During the exercise, participants are encouraged to practice severe weather safety plans and seek shelter on the lowest floor of your building, keeping away from windows while continuing to practice social distancing and wearing masks.

Preparation for severe weather is critical. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service have combined forces to encourage residents to plan and prepare. Emergency officials recommend the following safety tips:

Develop a family emergency plan so each member knows what to do, where to go and who to call during an emergency.

Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room away from windows.

Know the terms: WATCH means severe weather is possible. WARNING means severe weather is occurring; take shelter immediately.

Assemble an emergency supply kit for use at home or in your vehicle. Make sure to include a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water.

If driving, leave your vehicle immediately to seek shelter in a safe structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle and do not stop under an overpass or bridge.

If there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area.

If a severe weather warning is issued it’s also important to knew where to go. If you are at home it is suggested that you should go to a basement, under stairs or in a bathroom or closet.

If you are at work, the basement, if available, should be your first choice if not, then stairwells, bathrooms or closets are also options.

For school buildings it is suggested to seek shelter in inside hallways, small closets and bathrooms. Mobile classrooms, gymnasiums and auditoriums are not good places to shelter due to expansive roofs.

If you get caught outside in a storm you should try to find a sturdy building and if that is not an option, a ditch or other low-lying area can be used but remember to cover your head and watch for flying debris.

If you are in a car, pull over and seek shelter in a building, don’t try to outrun a tornado.

For more information visit www.readync.org.

 

Franklin County Sheriff

Franklin County Detention Officer and Inmates Charged; Drugs and Contraband

/by

— press release from Franklin County Sheriff Kent D. Winstead

Drug Arrest

On March 8, 2021, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group arrested Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Detention Officer, Chase Garnett Strickland for providing contraband to an inmate. In addition to the arrest of Mr. Strickland, inmates Deaven St Charles Holmes, Joseph Butler Bradley Jr., and Jason Todd Wrenn were also charged with felony drug
charges.

These charges originated after the Sheriff’s Office received information that inmates were getting access to marijuana, marijuana edibles, cigarettes, and other contraband inside jail facilities. The Special Operations Group began an investigation and, through various investigative techniques, was able to validate the information. As a result of this investigation, detectives determined Mr. Strickland was a supplier of these illegal and prohibited items to inmates.

The investigation also exposed an elaborate pyramid-type scheme involving multiple inmates that gained access to these prohibited items and distributed them to other inmates once the contraband entered the facilities. Multiple outside sources were established to handle the finances of each transaction to ensure payment before delivery of the illegal substances and/or
prohibited items.

In addition to the arrest warrant, a search warrant was executed at Strickland’s residence at 694 Hill Road Franklinton, NC. Detectives discovered marijuana during the search. Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “Once we received information alleging illegal activity, our Special Operations Group made this investigation a priority and then reacted quickly to identify the
source and others that were involved in distributing contraband to inmates. There is zero tolerance for this type of activity inside or outside of our facility. This investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are expected.”

Charges Include:

Chase Garnett Strickland
28 years old
694 Hill Road
Franklinton, NC 27525

Chase Garnett Strickland was charged with one (1) count of Provide Contraband to an Inmate.

Chase Garnett Strickland was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $25,000
secured bond for the above charge.

Deaven St Charles Holmes
29 years old
15 Casino Lane
Franklinton, NC 27525

Deaven St Charles Holmes was charged with one (1) count of Provide Contraband to an Inmate and one (1) count of Possession of Controlled Substance/Jail Premises.

Deaven St Charles Holmes is currently in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond for the above charges.

Joseph Butler Bradley Jr.
34 years old
3862 Emmaus Church Road
Mount Olive, NC 28365

Joseph Butler Bradley Jr. was charged with one (1) count of Conspire to Provide Contraband to an Inmate.

Joseph Butler Bradley Jr. is currently in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond for the above charge.

Jason Todd Wrenn
37 years old
3420 Hwy 39 S.
Louisburg, NC 27549

Jason Todd Wrenn was charged with one (1) count of Conspire to Provide Contraband to an Inmate.

Jason Todd Wrenn is currently in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond for the above charge.

For more information concerning this investigation or to report drug activity in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 496-2186.

Vance County NC

Vance County Getting New Voting Machines

/by

The Vance County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of new voting machines at its March 1 meeting, and County Manager Jordan McMillen said local election officials are already making plans to have new machines in place for the fall 2021 elections.

McMillen recommended purchase of the new DS200 machines at a cost of $263,064. The county would be responsible for close to $150,000 of the total cost, he stated, which will come from the county’s fund balance. A $21,800 trade-in allowance, $30,461 from the City of Henderson (the city funds 17 percent of elections expenses) and $83,876 from HAVA (Help America Vote Act) offset the overall cost by more than $136,000. The HAVA funds must be spent by June 30. On top of those offsets, McMillen said he expected to be able to save about $25,000 in equipment maintenance once the new machines are installed.

McMillen told WIZS News that elections officials have begun the process of evaluating replacement voting machines.

The current M100 machines have outlived their 10-year life expectancy by four years, according to McMillen. In the 2020 election, he said, the machines had “challenges with sensors, batteries and tabulators.”

Christian Lockamy

TownTalk 03-08-21; New EDC director “impressed” with Vance

/by

Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission Director Christian Lockamy has been on the job for less than two months, but he said in that short period of time he sees “a strong economic development program…with a tremendous amount of potential” for good things to come.

Since his Jan. 19, 2021 start date, Lockamy said he’s been “very impressed” with people he’s met and things he’s seen, adding that the focus is on the right areas to support economic development.” He spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk and said he looks forward to what the future holds for the area.

He noted that industries looking for areas to establish or relocate often are attracted by what’s already in place. “Industry reps are not pioneers,” he said. They don’t want to go and be, in a lot of cases, the first person in an industrial park,” he said. “They like to locate where other industrial companies” are already located.

With the addition of such businesses like Raleigh-based Mako Medical Laboratories, Lockamy said the Henderson area is poised to continue to attract more industry. “They’re looking for a place to go and conduct their business” and educational institutions nearby to fill out their workforce. “If we do what we’re supposed to be doing, for economic development and really go after sites and buildings…we’ll be able to land more companies,” he explained.

Lockamy worked for 2 ½ years in the Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Economic Development Commission before coming to Henderson, and he said he is proud of the work there to develop the Tanglewood  industrial site project by building upon proximity to rail and interstate infrastructure, as well as creating a public-private partnership to further the project.

“Shovel-ready” sites and buildings are the key to attracting new business and industry to an area, he said.  “Those are the types of things that change a community forever.”

During his time in Elizabeth City, he helped create a strategic plan, led efforts to launch a new economic development website and was instrumental in securing a large industrial site and certifying two industrial parks, according to information released when his hiring in Vance County was announced.

Experience using GIS (geographic information systems) comes in handy, too, Lockamy explained, when it comes to helping counties land new businesses and industry. The GIS provides data that can help identify sites for future economic development.

For complete details and audio click play.

His time working with GIS for the city of Greenville gave him the chance to help city planners and decision makers, understand and make necessary changes to ordinances – all based on objective data from GIS. “It became instrumental when I got into economic development,” he said of GIS, and he began using GIS and research skills to understand the economic development climate, he added. GIS data can be used to analyze the demographics within a certain radius of a prospective site where a business may be looking to locate.

Besides attracting new industry, Lockamy said he looks forward to working with a new downtown director – once that person is in place. “I believe we have a lot of potential downtown,” he said, adding that Garnett Street has many old buildings that can be brought back to life. He said his experience working in Greenville with various mixed-use development projects as an asset he can use to provide support for the downtown development director. “I can work with them and provide support for them, not only with expertise but also in-kind services as well,” Lockamy said.  “It’s great working together with those types of relationships,” he said. “Anything I can do to help I certainly will.”

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 03/08/21 – Ornamentals

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.

VGCC Logo

“The Local Skinny!” March 8; VGCC Celebrates Women’s History Month

/by

March is Women’s History Month and Vance-Granville Community College has put together a series of programs and resources that are just a click of the mouse away for anyone who would like to participate and learn more.

Natasha Thompson, a history instructor at VGCC, spoke with John C. Rose Monday – International Women’s Day – on The Local Skinny about the various virtual events that will take place in March to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of women.

The theme “No Limits, No Obstacles, No Ceilings: Fighting for a Future of Limitless Potential” is adapted from a speech delivered by then-President Barack Obama in honor of Women’s History Month, Thompson said.

The virtual sessions begin at noon on Mar. 11, Mar. 18 and Mar. 24 and are open to the public; it is not necessary to be a VGCC student, she added. The programs promote women’s history, as well as current conditions and how women can move into the future, she noted.

The Mar. 11 topic is how to stay healthy while maintaining a busy lifestyle. An agent with Warren County Cooperative Extension will lead this program. A panel discussion is scheduled for Mar. 18 and will include VGCC faculty, staff and other community leaders. The panel will discuss historical factors that have limited women in the past, as well as “big-picture” changes and ways current and future VGCC students can work to continue to overcome barriers, Thompson said.

The final topic on Mar. 24 is titled “Minority Women’s Guide to Financial Confidence.” Faith Bynum, a certified public accountant in Raleigh, will lead this workshop on overcoming financial stigmas for minority women.

Visit vgcc.edu to find the links to register for the virtual workshops. Also on the website is a LibGuide, a compilation of additional online events, books and other resources to learn more about Women’s History Month.

(Audio with Natasha Thompson begins at the 8:30 mark of the file)

Local News Audio

WIZS Local News 3-08-21 Noon

/by

WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM

Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.

PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY

Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.

“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.

“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.

 

H-V Emergency Operations

Severe Weather Preparedness Week 2021

/by

— press release from Brian Short, director Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations

With pandemic lock downs and a cold, wet winter, most of us are looking forward to spring and warmer weather. However, with spring comes the threat of severe thunderstorms with potential lightning, tornadoes and flash flooding – all of which can develop so rapidly that an advance warning may be impossible.

A great activity to take on while still indoors awaiting the arrival of spring is to get prepared by updating your family emergency plan and supply kit so you are ready should severe weather strike.

To encourage planning and preparation for severe weather, March 7-13, 2021 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina and serves as a reminder to all, the importance of planning for unexpected thunderstorms and tornadoes that could impact our state.

Government agencies, businesses and schools are encouraged participate in the annual statewide tornado drill Wednesday, March 10th, at 9:30 a.m. While exercising social distancing and mask wearing we encourage everyone to practice their severe weather safety plan and seek shelter on the lowest floor of your building and away from windows. Practicing now will allow you to respond quickly when severe weather heads your way.

All residents should take this opportunity to practice what to do in the event that a severe thunderstorm or tornado takes place. Tornadoes and flash floods can develop at a moment’s notice; take time now to prepare and keep you and your loved ones safe.

Keep your home a safe haven this severe weather season and use the following safety tips:

Make Preparation a Priority

When it comes to severe weather, preparation is critical. The ability to recognize threatening conditions, develop a plan and act could help save your life. Thunderstorms include a variety of weather conditions such as tornadoes, straight-line winds, flash floods and hail; this assortment proves the importance of being ready for anything, anytime, anywhere.

North Carolina experiences on average 40 to 50 thunderstorm days per year, but about 10 percent are severe – producing hail at least an inch in diameter, winds of 58 mph or produces a tornado. Lightning is also a danger linked with severe storms and it can strike as far as 10 miles away from the rain area in a thunderstorm. If the sky looks threatening, residents should take shelter immediately and remember, if thunder roars, go indoors! Tornadoes form from powerful thunderstorms and appear as funnel-shaped clouds that reach from a thunderstorm to the ground with winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Although thunderstorms affect a smaller area than a hurricane or winter storm, if a tornado is produced, damage paths could be more than one-mile-wide and 50 miles long.

Safety Tips

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service have teamed to encourage residents to plan and prepare. Due to the variety of severe weather that can take place during spring season, emergency officials recommend the following safety tips:

  • Develop a family emergency plan so each member knows what to do, where to go and who to call during an emergency.
  • Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room away from windows.
  • Know the terms: WATCH means severe weather is possible. WARNING means severe weather is occurring; take shelter immediately.
  • Assemble an emergency supply kit for use at home or in your vehicle. Make sure to include a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water.
  • If driving, leave your vehicle immediately to seek shelter in a safe structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle and do not stop under an overpass or bridge.
  • If there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area.

Make sure you know where to go when disaster strikes.

  • Home – Go to the basement, under stairs or in a bathroom or closet.
  • Work – Go to the basement, if available. If not, stairwells, bathrooms and closets are options too.
  • School – Seek shelter in inside hallways, small closets and bathrooms. Do not retreat to mobile classrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums and other rooms with a large expanse of roof. Bus drivers should be alert for bad weather on their routes.
  • Outside – Find the closest sturdy shelter or seek shelter in a ditch or low-lying area, and cover your head with your hands. DO NOT get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Watch out for flying debris.
  • In a car – Do not try to outrun a tornado in a car. Pull over, and seek shelter in a building.

Find more information on tornadoes, severe storms and emergency preparedness by visiting the ReadyNC website, www.ReadyNC.org.

Vance County, take time now to prepare; it could make all the difference.

Click this link and print the Family Emergency Plan – https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/FamEmePlan_2012.pdf

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Baseball, Softball, T-Ball 2021 Interest Meeting

/by

— submitted by Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Program Superintendent

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks will be having  a Zoom interest meeting to discuss the possibility of playing Baseball /Softball/T-Ball this Spring. The meeting will be at 7:00PM on Thursday, March 11, 2021 via Zoom. We will discuss safety precautions, practice and game  scheduling.   Anyone that is interested in coaching/volunteering, parents of returning players or potential players are encouraged to attend. If you have questions/concerns you would like addressed during the meeting,  please email them to dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us by 3:00pm on Thursday, March 11, 2021.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91794198718?pwd=QnpTWUUvajNyWDVRdzhOUmxyRHhCZz09

Meeting ID: 917 9419 8718

Passcode: 354528

Virtual Hiring Event Tuesday, March 9th at 11 a.m.

/by

Virtual hiring events are becoming a thing.

Desiree Brooks, business services manager of the Workforce Development Board of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments told WIZS News about another virtual hiring event for Hollander Sleep Products.

It will take place Tuesday, March 9th at 11:00 am.

Brooks said in an email, “They still have job openings for scanners, cycle counters, and forklift operators.”

Register anytime at events.kerrtarworks.com.

(This is not a paid ad.)