Recent inclement weather across the country has hampered blood drive efforts, and demands for blood and plasma and blood donations continues to be greater than supply. There are several local opportunities to give blood in Vance and Granville counties through February.
The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to continue to strengthen the national blood supply.
Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. People of all blood types – especially type O blood donors, the most needed blood group by hospitals – and platelet donors are needed daily to ensure blood products are available for hospitals at a moment’s notice.
As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives and the ability to provide critical blood products to hospitals. While thousands of donors have answered the call to donate in recent weeks to combat a significant drop in the blood supply, more donors are needed now to ensure the blood supply remains ready for those in need of lifesaving medical procedures.
As a way to say thanks for helping, all who come to give in February will get a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Heart.
Upcoming blood drives:
Vance
Henderson
2/20/2024: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Vance Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road
2/20/2024: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kerr Lake Country Club, 600 Hedrick Road
Granville
Butner
2/29/2024: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Butner Town Hall, 415 Central Avenue
Creedmoor
2/16/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive
Oxford
2/23/2024: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W McClanahan St
2/28/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Thornton Branch, 210 Main Street
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 02-19-24 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Container Gardens
/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!
VGCC Set To Launch Court Reporting Program At Franklin Campus In March
/by WIZS Staff– Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
When its new Court Reporting program launches next month, Vance-Granville Community College will become the only community college in North Carolina to offer the program to students.
The court reporting profession plays a critical role in ensuring that legal proceedings are accurately documented for future reference. Using specialized dictation equipment, court reporters produce real-time transcriptions of courtroom proceedings.
At the time of publication, there are open reporting positions in North Carolina state courts with annual starting salaries above $45,000 and maximum salaries surpassing $80,000 per year, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.
The program will be part of the school’s Continuing Education program, which means it’s designed for adults who are already in the workforce; participants can successfully complete the training for their new career without the demands of a full-time class schedule.
The program consists of four courses, each of which typically lasts four to eight weeks. According to Instructor Richard Jester, students committed to an accelerated pace could potentially complete the full program in the span of a single semester. Upon completion, students will be prepared to take the career’s national certification test.
At its launch, the new program will only be offered at the VGCC Franklin Campus in Louisburg. Jester anticipates offering portions of the program online in the future.
To learn more about Court Reporting and other career-enhancing programs at Vance-Granville Community College, please contact Lisa Rodwell, Director of Occupational Extension, at rodwelle@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3276. Register for this program today at www.vgcc.edu/coned/oex.
Upcoming Blood Drives
/by WIZS StaffRecent inclement weather across the country has hampered blood drive efforts, and demands for blood and plasma and blood donations continues to be greater than supply. There are several local opportunities to give blood in Vance and Granville counties through February.
The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to continue to strengthen the national blood supply.
Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. People of all blood types – especially type O blood donors, the most needed blood group by hospitals – and platelet donors are needed daily to ensure blood products are available for hospitals at a moment’s notice.
As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives and the ability to provide critical blood products to hospitals. While thousands of donors have answered the call to donate in recent weeks to combat a significant drop in the blood supply, more donors are needed now to ensure the blood supply remains ready for those in need of lifesaving medical procedures.
As a way to say thanks for helping, all who come to give in February will get a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Heart.
Upcoming blood drives:
Vance
Henderson
2/20/2024: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Vance Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road
2/20/2024: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kerr Lake Country Club, 600 Hedrick Road
Granville
Butner
2/29/2024: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Butner Town Hall, 415 Central Avenue
Creedmoor
2/16/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive
Oxford
2/23/2024: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W McClanahan St
2/28/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Thornton Branch, 210 Main Street
VCS Second Graders Learn Water Safety Through YMCA “Safety Around Water” Program
/by WIZS Staff– Information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin
Second-graders from all 10 elementary schools in Vance County Schools are participating in a five-day swim training program with staff at the Henderson Family YMCA. The Safety Around Water initiative is a national program that teaches young people basic safety techniques – using the buddy system and how to use life jackets, for example – when facing water rescue situations.
YMCA Director of Aquatics Kim Davis and staff help the children through three rounds of training: “Submerge!” helps to build comfort in the water; “Swim, Float, Swim!” teaches basic swimming skills; and “Jump, Push, Turn and Grab!” teaches pool exit techniques.
“The hardest part is helping them to overcome their fear,” Davis said. “We care about these students, and this program helps to build trust and faith between the children
and our instructors. It is very exciting to see the progress from one day to the next.”
At the end of training, each student receives a certificate to celebrate their hard work.
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation partners with the YMCA to provide the training.
Students from Clarke Elementary participated in early February, and Principal Dr. C’monee’ Wilkins said she appreciates the partnership with the YMCA to provide the experience.
“The Safety Around Water program is a rich experience that opens our students up to embracing new things and stepping outside of their comfort zone,” she said.
“Each year there are drownings but lately the drownings have increased. We live in an area with large lakes and pools. The SAW program teaches safety skills to help the students to be able to help save themselves until help arrives.”
First Baptist Church To Provide Shuttle From ACTS To RAM Clinic Saturday
/by WIZS StaffVolunteers from First Baptist Church will be at ACTS, 201 S. William St., Saturday to provide shuttle service for anyone who may need transportation to the Duke RAM pop-up clinic.
Church Deacon Bert Long said the plan is to run two vehicles to the clinic between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Day 1 of the two-day clinic. The clinic doors open at 6 a.m. on Saturday and a cadre of physicians, dentists and other health care professionals will provide free care until 4 p.m. The clinic opens at 6 a.m. again on Sunday and will run through 12 noon or 1 p.m., depending on the number of clients.
This is the third year that the free medical, dental and vision clinic has set up shop in the parking lot of Vance Charter School on Ross Mill Road.
“We don’t know how much demand there will be…we’ll play it by ear,” he said of the shuttle service.
“If folks don’t have transportation, (and) they have a way to get to ACTS, they’ll have a ride to and from the clinic.
Long said providing transportation adds a new facet to the clinic, and he said that Duke University senior Saajan Patel, one of the clinic’s organizers, is excited at the prospect.
TownTalk: Local News Items Of Interest
/by John C. RoseCLICK PLAY!
Police Charge Pedestrian For Hitting Cars With Broom
/by WIZS StaffTuesday evening around 7 p.m., Henderson police responded to a call on Oxford Road after several drivers had reported seeing a pedestrian in the roadway trying to strike cars with a broom.
At least one car sustained enough damage to file a property damage claim and one driver reported having to swerve to avoid hitting the person.
Police arrested Sierra Everett, 21, of 2223 Oxford Rd., charging her with assault on a government official, malicious conduct and injury to personal property.
One driver reported that the same individual had been sitting in the road earlier in the day at a different location nearby.
Everett appeared before a magistrate and was given a $5,000 secured bond and was taken to the Vance County jail.
Early Voting Underway Through Mar. 2 For March 5 Primary Election
/by WIZS StaffOne-stop early voting is now underwat and will continue through Saturday, Mar. 2.
Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin reminds voters they have two locations where they can cast their votes in advance of the Mar. 5 primary:
Weekday hours are from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the polls will be open Saturday, Mar. 2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Voters will be asked to show a photo ID.
Visit https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-elections/ to learn more.
SportsTalk: Oxford Prep Softball Looking For Back To Back Championships
/by Bill HarrisIt’s never easy to repeat as a champion, but Oxford Prep Softball Coach Tommy Anstead feels as though his team has a pretty good chance to win a conference championship in 2024. “We have 12 or 13 girls returning including all of our starters except one,” Anstead said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.
The team is counting on another strong performance from pitcher Addison Faucette. Last season, as a freshman, Faucette was 16-3 on the year with an earned run average of 1.79. Oxford Prep can hit the ball too. “We had seven players with a batting average of over .300 and of the seven, four were over .400,” Anstead said.
Anstead expects tough competition this season citing Roxboro and Vance Charter as teams that could cause problems for Oxford Prep this season. Anstead also says the team has a tougher schedule this season. Oxford Prep opens the season on March 1st against county rival J.F. Webb.
CLICK PLAY!