100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Sennica Nicholson, chairperson for the Vance County Board of Elections, and Michele Brigandi, aging program coordinator with the Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m. as part of a paid advertising sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.
Nicholson discussed voting requirements, voter registration, absentee mail-in ballots, early voting and answered some commonly asked questions. “We are in a very busy voting season,” Nicholson stated. “It’s no longer just an election time; we are now in an election season.”
Click Play for the Broadcast Audio
Voting Requirements/Deadlines
Basic voter requirements, according to Nicholson, include being at least 18-years-old, being a U.S. citizen and not being incarcerated.
The last day to register to vote in the November General Election is Friday, October 9, 2020. Forms submitted to the Vance County Board of Elections Office must be received by 5 p.m. on that date.
Early Voting
Those that miss the October 9 deadline can register and vote during one-stop early voting. Early voting begins October 15 and ends October 31, 2020.
Vance County’s early voting will be held at the Henderson Operation Center (900 S Beckford Dr., Henderson) and Aycock Recreation Complex (307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson). There will be no early voting at the Vance County Board of Elections Office for this election due to COVID restrictions.
Proof of residence is required to register to vote; however, no photo ID is required for this election.
Nicholson recommends that all first-time voters, as well as those who haven’t voted in some time, contact their local BOE office to make sure they are “on the books.” If there does appear to be an issue with registration, the BOE office can assist.
Vance Co. One-Stop Early Voting Schedule for the November 3, 2020, General Election
Locations: Aycock Recreation Complex and Henderson Operation Center
- October 15, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 16, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 17, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- October 18, 2020 – CLOSED
- October 19, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 20, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 21, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 22, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 23, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 24, 2020 – 1 to 6 p.m.
- October 25, 2020 – 1 to 6 p.m.
- October 26, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 27, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 28, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 29, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 30, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- October 31, 2020 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Absentee Mail-In Ballots
Addressing absentee ballots, Nicholson clarified, “Absentee mail-in ballots and voting by mail are the same thing. Anyone in NC can request an absentee ballot as long as they are a registered voter.”
This year, in NC, voters are not required to have a reason or give an explanation for requesting an absentee ballot.
Voters can request an absentee ballot by calling their local BOE office or by visiting the State Board of Elections website, printing the mail-in ballot request form and mailing the completed form to their local BOE. Mail-in request forms will be received by the BOE and logged into the system. An official absentee ballot will then be mailed back to the voter. The voter can then complete the ballot and return their vote by mail to their local BOE.
According to Nicholson, the absentee ballot will include a security sleeve, a self-addressed return envelope and barcodes on the documentation to identify the voter. “All legitimate mailings from your local BOE will be identified with the State BOE seal, as well as your local BOE address and information,” she said.
In Vance County, absentee ballots may be returned by mail from the residence, mailed at a post office, brought in-person to the BOE office or delivered in-person to one of the designated early voting sites during one-stop voting.
Those that initiate the absentee ballot request process and then decide to vote in-person must contact their local BOE to cancel the mail-in process before attempting to vote in-person.
“Once the ballot request has been made, the process has begun for you to be identified as an absentee mail-in voter,” said Nicholson. “If you show up in-person, the system will indicate whether you requested a ballot and the status of that ballot. You cannot show up and try to vote twice.”
Requests for absentee ballots that are sent from the BOE must be initiated by the voter; the BOE will not send absentee ballots without a request.
Nicholson urged caution against using the absentee ballots sent by third parties, which may or may not be legitimate. “I’m encouraging our voters to disregard those notices because they are third-party, and the State BOE is not responsible for those ballots. If you have an envelope and the return address is not going to your local BOE office, I would not use it.”
In the same vein, Nicholson urged caution if registering during voter registration drives held by third parties. “If the organization sponsoring the event is not well-known or well-established, then I would second guess them. A lot of these events are legitimate and they do what they are supposed to do; however, my advice is to always be on the side of caution.”
Additional Notes
Voters with special needs in Vance County may contact the BOE and speak to Director Faye Gill. The BOE has a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT) available to help those with special needs register to vote, receive voting materials and fill out ballots.
COVID safety precautions will be taken at voting sites including sanitizing voting booths after each use and supplying one-time use pens. Curbside voting is also an option for senior citizens and the immunocompromised.
The Vance County Board of Elections is located at 300 S. Garnett Street in Henderson, NC. With questions or for additional information, please call the BOE at (252) 492-3730.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This edition of Town Talk is part of a paid sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.)
Town Talk 10/01/20: Henderson Chick-fil-A Set to Close Oct. 15 for Remodeling
/by Kelly Bondurant100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Joshua Towne, owner, operator and franchisee of Chick-fil-A in Henderson, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m. as part of a paid advertising sponsorship.
Towne announced that Chick-fil-A in Henderson will temporarily close at the end of the business day on Thursday, October 15, 2020, for remodeling. The store will remain closed for the duration of construction, which is expected to take approximately eight weeks.
Fil A Remodel
Operating at its current location at 200 Trade Street in Henderson since 2004, the restaurant will undergo renovations to include new décor inside and out, a double lane drive-thru with canopy, a larger kitchen and a new parking lot with 25 additional parking spaces behind Advance Auto.
“Our volume and customer numbers have outgrown our current facility by three times its capacity,” explained Towne. “That’s because people here in Vance County and the surrounding areas have been so gracious to continue to purchase their food through us and allow us to continue to serve them.”
Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington joined the Town Talk segment via phone to express the City’s well wishes.
“Chick-fil-A is one of our shining stars in the community and certainly a beacon for us,” Ellington said. “While this is an exciting time, we are a little sad that we are going to have to go two months or so without their service.”
Witnessing the crowds that flock to the local restaurant is encouraging for the community, said Ellington. “It’s been overwhelming to see the outpouring of love and support every day when I ride by there. I’m so happy and thankful that the Towne family is here with us. It means a lot to me personally and to the City.”
Sandra Wilkerson, events coordinator with the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, also joined Town Talk by phone to congratulate Towne. “We are so excited about your expansion and remodel of the Henderson Chick-fil-A. We are going to miss all that great food and outstanding service that’s beyond compare.”
The restaurant is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Thursday, December 10.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This edition of Town Talk is part of a paid advertising sponsorship with Henderson Chick-fil-A.)
Local Noon News 10/01/20
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Chick-fi-A of Henderson Closing Temporarily Beginning Oct. 15 for Remodeling
Vance County Voting Deadlines, Guidelines, Absentee Ballots and More
County of Vance Reviewing Ambulance Franchise Ordinance
Click Play for Full Details and Local News Audio…
Regional COG 2020 Election; Ambulance Franchise Ordinance
Granville Chamber’s 7th Annual Golf Tournament Rescheduled for Oct. 6
/by WIZS StaffTHIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Granville County Chamber of Commerce
Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s 7th Annual Golf Tournament, originally scheduled for September 29, 2020, was postponed due to severe weather. The tournament will now be held at Chamber member Henderson Country Club, 300 Country Club Drive in Henderson, on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
If you have not yet registered and would like to play, there is still room for a few teams.
Both the Chamber and the Henderson Country Club are committed to offering a safe and enjoyable play environment. Thus, there will be a morning and an afternoon round so that a one golfer per golf cart policy may be adhered to during the tournament. There will be eight teams playing in the morning and eight teams playing in the afternoon. Masks and social distancing will be practiced.
Registration for the morning round will begin at 8 a.m. with a boxed lunch provided (at the conclusion of the round completion). Tee time for the morning round will be at 8:30 a.m. Two teams of four players will begin on the first and tenth holes. Twelve (12) minutes later, at 8:42 a.m., a second group will begin on the first and tenth holes, continuing every 12 minutes until all morning teams have begun.
A boxed lunch will be provided for those playing in the afternoon round upon their arrival. The afternoon round will begin at 1:30 p.m., following the same start instructions as the morning round – two teams of four players will begin on the first and tenth holes, four players will begin off the front, and four players will begin off the back. Twelve (12) minutes later, the second group will begin with other groups following the same procedure.
Corporate sponsorships of $450 offer a hole sponsorship and a four-man team. Hole sponsors are $100, and individual players pay $100 to play. All players receive 18 holes of golf w/cart, boxed lunch and concessions. Mulligans and tee busters will be $10 per player.
There will be contests for a 50/50 raffle, closest to the pin challenge, longest drive and hole-in-one shootout. Prizes and participant goodie bags are being provided by local Chamber members.
Volunteers are needed throughout the morning and afternoon of October 6, beginning at 8 a.m., to assist with registration and driving snack/beverage carts. Anyone who is available to volunteer from 8 a.m. until noon and/or 1 until 4:30 p.m. for an hour or two will be appreciated.
Come enjoy the afternoon with golfers and other volunteers for this, the Chamber’ seventh annual golf event.
Please contact the Chamber to play in the tournament or to volunteer – Toni Anne at (919) 528-4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com or Wanda at (919) 693-6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com.
H-V Rec. & Parks Hosting ‘Bingo for Seniors’ With Home Delivered Prizes
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department
The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department will host Bingo for Seniors, ages 55 or better, on Thursdays during the months of October, November and December from 12:45 until 1:45 p.m.
Bingo will not be held on October 29, November 26 and December 24, 2020.
Participants will be able to join Virtual Bingo by computer, phone, or at the Aycock Recreation Center. There are only 10 spots available.
Prizes will be delivered to your home using social distancing practices.
Participants must contact Crystal Allen at (252) 431-6091 or callen@ci.henderson.nc.us by the Thursday before the scheduled Bingo to register.
VGCC Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College is presenting activities every Thursday during October as part of the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
VGCC’s Counseling department and Psychology Club are partnering with local domestic violence prevention organizations Families Living Violence Free, Safe Space and Infinite Possibilities, along with mental/behavioral health provider Cardinal Innovations.
The series kicks off on October 1, at 11 a.m., with an online panel discussion featuring representatives of those organizations.
“Domestic Violence is on the rise, and this is another topic that we will not remain silent about,” noted VGCC Counselor/Accessibility Coordinator/Student Assistance Program Coordinator/Title IX investigator Cathy Davis.
This hourlong Zoom session is open to students, faculty, staff and the community. Participants must register in advance for this webinar at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bR5vp7M1QF6bzyF1ldwLLw
On October 8, at 11 a.m., a second online event will feature a video presentation on “Healthy Relationships,” hosted by Safe Space. After watching the video, there will be an opportunity for discussion and questions. Participants must register in advance for this webinar at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sX745OJsSGS_K4aD__s2HQ
On October 15, there will be a drive-through giveaway on each of VGCC’s four campuses, between 12 and 1:30 p.m.
Later in the month, on October 22, students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to wear purple and to use social media to spread positive messages about domestic violence awareness, using the hashtags #ChangeHappensHere and #LoveShouldntHurt.
Finally, on October 29, VGCC students should pay attention to www.vgcc.edu and college social media accounts for information on a “scavenger hunt.”
Davis encourages all students to use the free services of the Student Assistance Program (SAP) if they have domestic violence concerns, in addition to reaching out to their local organizations. More information on the SAP is available at www.vgcc.edu/sap. To seek assistance through the SAP, call 1-800-633-3353.
For more information, contact Cathy Davis at davisc@vgcc.edu or (252) 226-9547.
Town Talk 09/30/20: Voting in Vance County – When, Where, How
/by Kelly Bondurant100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Sennica Nicholson, chairperson for the Vance County Board of Elections, and Michele Brigandi, aging program coordinator with the Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m. as part of a paid advertising sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.
Nicholson discussed voting requirements, voter registration, absentee mail-in ballots, early voting and answered some commonly asked questions. “We are in a very busy voting season,” Nicholson stated. “It’s no longer just an election time; we are now in an election season.”
Click Play for the Broadcast Audio
Voting Requirements/Deadlines
Basic voter requirements, according to Nicholson, include being at least 18-years-old, being a U.S. citizen and not being incarcerated.
The last day to register to vote in the November General Election is Friday, October 9, 2020. Forms submitted to the Vance County Board of Elections Office must be received by 5 p.m. on that date.
Early Voting
Those that miss the October 9 deadline can register and vote during one-stop early voting. Early voting begins October 15 and ends October 31, 2020.
Vance County’s early voting will be held at the Henderson Operation Center (900 S Beckford Dr., Henderson) and Aycock Recreation Complex (307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson). There will be no early voting at the Vance County Board of Elections Office for this election due to COVID restrictions.
Proof of residence is required to register to vote; however, no photo ID is required for this election.
Nicholson recommends that all first-time voters, as well as those who haven’t voted in some time, contact their local BOE office to make sure they are “on the books.” If there does appear to be an issue with registration, the BOE office can assist.
Vance Co. One-Stop Early Voting Schedule for the November 3, 2020, General Election
Locations: Aycock Recreation Complex and Henderson Operation Center
Absentee Mail-In Ballots
Addressing absentee ballots, Nicholson clarified, “Absentee mail-in ballots and voting by mail are the same thing. Anyone in NC can request an absentee ballot as long as they are a registered voter.”
This year, in NC, voters are not required to have a reason or give an explanation for requesting an absentee ballot.
Voters can request an absentee ballot by calling their local BOE office or by visiting the State Board of Elections website, printing the mail-in ballot request form and mailing the completed form to their local BOE. Mail-in request forms will be received by the BOE and logged into the system. An official absentee ballot will then be mailed back to the voter. The voter can then complete the ballot and return their vote by mail to their local BOE.
According to Nicholson, the absentee ballot will include a security sleeve, a self-addressed return envelope and barcodes on the documentation to identify the voter. “All legitimate mailings from your local BOE will be identified with the State BOE seal, as well as your local BOE address and information,” she said.
In Vance County, absentee ballots may be returned by mail from the residence, mailed at a post office, brought in-person to the BOE office or delivered in-person to one of the designated early voting sites during one-stop voting.
Those that initiate the absentee ballot request process and then decide to vote in-person must contact their local BOE to cancel the mail-in process before attempting to vote in-person.
“Once the ballot request has been made, the process has begun for you to be identified as an absentee mail-in voter,” said Nicholson. “If you show up in-person, the system will indicate whether you requested a ballot and the status of that ballot. You cannot show up and try to vote twice.”
Requests for absentee ballots that are sent from the BOE must be initiated by the voter; the BOE will not send absentee ballots without a request.
Nicholson urged caution against using the absentee ballots sent by third parties, which may or may not be legitimate. “I’m encouraging our voters to disregard those notices because they are third-party, and the State BOE is not responsible for those ballots. If you have an envelope and the return address is not going to your local BOE office, I would not use it.”
In the same vein, Nicholson urged caution if registering during voter registration drives held by third parties. “If the organization sponsoring the event is not well-known or well-established, then I would second guess them. A lot of these events are legitimate and they do what they are supposed to do; however, my advice is to always be on the side of caution.”
Additional Notes
Voters with special needs in Vance County may contact the BOE and speak to Director Faye Gill. The BOE has a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT) available to help those with special needs register to vote, receive voting materials and fill out ballots.
COVID safety precautions will be taken at voting sites including sanitizing voting booths after each use and supplying one-time use pens. Curbside voting is also an option for senior citizens and the immunocompromised.
The Vance County Board of Elections is located at 300 S. Garnett Street in Henderson, NC. With questions or for additional information, please call the BOE at (252) 492-3730.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
(This edition of Town Talk is part of a paid sponsorship with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.)
NC to Move Into Phase 3 on Friday
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper
North Carolina will cautiously ease some restrictions while continuing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 as the state’s metrics remained stable in September, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
“Our top priority remains getting children back to in-person learning. This month marks a major shift for many families now and in the coming months as schools open their doors, some for the first time since the pandemic,” said Governor Cooper. “The virus continues to spread, so we must take the next steps methodically, and responsibly.”
“We must continue our hard work to slow the spread of this virus,” said Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “By practicing the 3Ws — wear, wait and wash, — getting your flu shot, and downloading the SlowCOVIDNC app, each of us can protect the progress we have made.”
Dr. Cohen reviewed the state’s key metrics:
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.
No-cost testing events are being deployed across the state and testing turnaround times are improving. New contact tracers are bolstering the efforts of local health departments. A new NCDHHS app, SlowCOVIDNC, is notifying users of exposure to the virus. Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.
As these metrics and capacity remain stable, the state will ease some restrictions starting Friday. Executive Order 169 begins Oct. 2, 2020, at 5 p.m. and continues for three weeks through October 23. Its new provisions include:
State and public health officials will continue watching the key COVID-19 trends over the next several weeks to determine if any further restrictions can be eased when the current Executive Order expires on October 23.
Read Executive Order 169.
Read the FAQs on Executive Order 169.
Read the slides from today’s briefing.
Home and Garden Show 09-29-20 – Soil Samples, Tall Fescue, Leaves and Fire Ants
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com on Tuesday at 4:30 PM.
Local News Audio 09/30/20 Noon WIZS
/by John C. Rose– Vance County Commissioner Archie Taylor Up For Re-election
– Kerr-Tar Regional Council Of Governments Election Prep
– Middleburg Voter Registration Drive Today
– Granville County Public Schools Looking Substitute Teachers
Click Play for Full Details and Local News Audio…
City of Oxford’s Halloween House Decoration Contest Begins Oct. 1
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy the City of Oxford
The City of Oxford will accept nominations for its Halloween House Decoration Contest October 1-27, 2020. Get together with the family, brainstorm ideas and start decorating!
The winner of the contest will receive a Halloween-themed “candy bucket” filled with goodies.
Questions and nominations can be made through the City of Oxford’s Facebook page, by emailing socialmedia@oxfordnc.org or by calling (919) 603-1102.