100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of Vance-Granville Community College, joined WIZS on Monday’s edition of Town Talk to discuss college reorganization, expanded community outreach and enrollment growth.
The recent hiring of Jerry Edmonds as VGCC’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement aligns with Desmarais’ mission, as she stated in a previous Town Talk interview, to “leverage the gifts and talents that our people have here in the college to create more short-term workforce training to support our existing companies and to be a recruitment tool for economic development.”
“We did some reorganization in the college to make sure what has been traditionally considered corporate and continuing education, or non-credit training, was no longer the back door of our college,” said Desmarais. “We believe that needs to be front and center; we need two front doors.”
Edmonds’ background includes his most recent tenures as the Dean of Workforce and Economic Development and Small Business Center Director at Halifax Community College, along with prior leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson and IBM.
His familiarity with Henderson’s economic scene is also a plus, according to Desmarais. “Jerry’s parents moved here in the 80s and kept their family home here. Jerry owns a home in Henderson and is very familiar with local business and industry.”
Desmarais said Edmonds has hit the ground running in his new position by helping the college expand the Business Agriculture program operated through the VGCC Small Business Center.
As part of that expansion, VGCC will be offering CDL-A training for big rig truck driving beginning February 2020. This is part of a series of nine-week programs “designed to get people employed quickly,” according to Desmarais.
In addition to offering more programs at the college, VGCC is also expanding its community outreach endeavors. “VGCC is trying to get out more,” Desmarais said. We’re not expecting people to always come here. We are taking a critical look at how we can also be part of the community. It is something I believe in very passionately.”
Desmarais believes VGCC’s presence at various community events over the spring and summer led, in part, to the college’s 3.75% increase in enrollment for the fall semester. Such an increase is significant when viewing figures that show a steady decline of enrollment over the past six years, she explained.
A focus on providing tuition-free college classes to local high school students also helped provide an enrollment boost this semester.
“We’ve been very intentional with our K-12 programs. We don’t just educate adults; we also partner with our school systems to offer education to high school students. That’s usually done through Early Colleges – we have one in each of our four counties. We also offer general Career and College Promise classes to any high school student whether they be in public school, charter school, home school or private school. These are wonderful opportunities for high school students to take college classes tuition-free,” said Desmarais.
The college has also been focusing on increasing marketing efforts for its basic law enforcement program, increasing the capacities in the health programs and streamlining the financial aid and admissions process for students.
In looking forward to the 2020 Spring Semester, Desmarais said the college will be expanding hours of operation to better fit the schedules of working students.
In addition to the recent inclusion of office hours on Tuesday evenings, the college will soon open at least one Saturday each month and will include additional sections of evening and weekend classes.
Desmarais also announced that VGCC, in partnership with KARTS serving Vance, Warren, Granville and Franklin counties, will be tackling one of the largest barriers to higher education in the local area – lack of transportation.
“Beginning this spring, we are going to be offering vouchers that the college will be paying for out of grant funds and existing endowment funds. If we run out, we’ll be asking for more people to consider giving to our endowment funds,” said Desmarais. “It’s about partnerships; it’s about leveraging our assets along with other assets in the community.”
Desmarais wants to ensure that lack of transportation and/or funding is no longer an obstacle for those wishing to receive higher education or job training. To ensure funding, in particular, was no longer an obstacle, the college created a “VanGuarantee” program as a way to assist students with money not covered by financial aid.
“If someone wants to come to Vance-Granville, we are going to find a way for them to come whether it is through federal financial aid or scholarship money from our endowment,” Desmarais said. “The VanGuarantee is that we are going to get you here!”
To learn more about the VanGuarantee or Vance-Granville Community College’s programs, please visit the website by clicking here.
To hear Desmarais’ interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Greater Ransom Way of the Cross to Serve Free Pre-Thanksgiving Meal
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Laura Thomas, Harvest of Love Food Pantry
Greater Ransom Way of the Cross Temple will serve a Pre-Thanksgiving Meal again this year on Saturday, November 16, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The meal will consist of turkey and all the traditional trimmings.
Church members and volunteers are handling the cooking, preparing and serving the meal. Pre-packed food bags will also be distributed through the in-take process. Everyone is welcome!
This is a free community event, as we give thanks unto the Lord for all His many blessings. The Church is located at 90 South Lake Lodge Extension in Henderson (off US-1 South).
For more information, please call the church office at 252-492-1824.
Local Input Needed on Future of Food Availability in Kerr-Tar Region
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Information courtesy Michael Kelly, Regional Planning Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments
A Kerr-Tar Regional Food Policy Community Input Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, from 1 until 3 p.m. in Perry Memorial Library’s Farm Bureau Room in Henderson.
Your input is needed to develop the Kerr-Tar region’s food strategy. Join the conversation to grow our region’s food economy, make healthy food available to everyone and support local farmers.
Refreshments and door prizes will be available to participants.
This event is free, but registration is required. Interested participants may use the following link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kerr-tar-county-food-policy-community-events-registration-78889044255.
Crime Stoppers: Catalytic Converters Stolen From Vehicles at Oxford Express Mart
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Granville County Government
Do you have any information about these crimes?
Sometime between the early morning and late afternoon hours of Friday, October 18, 2019, an unknown person(s) unlawfully went upon the private property of Oxford Express Mart, located off Hwy 158 E, Oxford, and criminally removed catalytic converters from vehicles.
Also, sometime between Wednesday, October 23 and Saturday, October 26, an unknown person(s) unlawfully went upon private property off Old NC Hwy 75 in Stem and criminally removed one homemade tobacco trailer, about 12 feet long and 3 feet wide.
If you have information concerning these incidents, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers at 919-693-3100.
The Granville County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors has authorized the payment of a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest/indictment of those responsible for these crimes.
Two Oxford Prep Fifth Graders Selected for NC Elementary Honors Chorus
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Oxford Preparatory School
Congratulations to Oxford Preparatory Lower School fifth-graders Abagail Williamson and Lilly Hicks, for being selected as members of the 2019 NC Elementary Honors Chorus. Over 600 fourth – sixth-grade students from across the state auditioned; only 200 were chosen for this auspicious honor.
After four weeks of preparation, Abby and Lilly will travel with their music teacher, Cindy Clark, on November 9 to Winston-Salem to join the other 198 top elementary singers for a day of rehearsal with renowned composer, music educator and choral conductor, Dr. Andrea Ramsey.
On Sunday, November 10, as part of NC Music Educators’ State Conference, the 2019 Elementary Honors Chorus will present a noon concert in Stevens Auditorium of the NC School of the Arts.
Oxford Preparatory Lower School fifth-graders Abagail Williamson and Lilly Hicks were recently selected as members of the 2019 NC Elementary Honors Chorus. (Photo courtesy OPS)
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 11/05/19
/by Charlene100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
News 11/05/19
/by Larry100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Town Talk 11/04/19: VGCC President Talks Reorganization, Power of Partnerships
/by Kelly Bondurant100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of Vance-Granville Community College, joined WIZS on Monday’s edition of Town Talk to discuss college reorganization, expanded community outreach and enrollment growth.
The recent hiring of Jerry Edmonds as VGCC’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement aligns with Desmarais’ mission, as she stated in a previous Town Talk interview, to “leverage the gifts and talents that our people have here in the college to create more short-term workforce training to support our existing companies and to be a recruitment tool for economic development.”
“We did some reorganization in the college to make sure what has been traditionally considered corporate and continuing education, or non-credit training, was no longer the back door of our college,” said Desmarais. “We believe that needs to be front and center; we need two front doors.”
Edmonds’ background includes his most recent tenures as the Dean of Workforce and Economic Development and Small Business Center Director at Halifax Community College, along with prior leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson and IBM.
His familiarity with Henderson’s economic scene is also a plus, according to Desmarais. “Jerry’s parents moved here in the 80s and kept their family home here. Jerry owns a home in Henderson and is very familiar with local business and industry.”
Desmarais said Edmonds has hit the ground running in his new position by helping the college expand the Business Agriculture program operated through the VGCC Small Business Center.
As part of that expansion, VGCC will be offering CDL-A training for big rig truck driving beginning February 2020. This is part of a series of nine-week programs “designed to get people employed quickly,” according to Desmarais.
In addition to offering more programs at the college, VGCC is also expanding its community outreach endeavors. “VGCC is trying to get out more,” Desmarais said. We’re not expecting people to always come here. We are taking a critical look at how we can also be part of the community. It is something I believe in very passionately.”
Desmarais believes VGCC’s presence at various community events over the spring and summer led, in part, to the college’s 3.75% increase in enrollment for the fall semester. Such an increase is significant when viewing figures that show a steady decline of enrollment over the past six years, she explained.
A focus on providing tuition-free college classes to local high school students also helped provide an enrollment boost this semester.
“We’ve been very intentional with our K-12 programs. We don’t just educate adults; we also partner with our school systems to offer education to high school students. That’s usually done through Early Colleges – we have one in each of our four counties. We also offer general Career and College Promise classes to any high school student whether they be in public school, charter school, home school or private school. These are wonderful opportunities for high school students to take college classes tuition-free,” said Desmarais.
The college has also been focusing on increasing marketing efforts for its basic law enforcement program, increasing the capacities in the health programs and streamlining the financial aid and admissions process for students.
In looking forward to the 2020 Spring Semester, Desmarais said the college will be expanding hours of operation to better fit the schedules of working students.
In addition to the recent inclusion of office hours on Tuesday evenings, the college will soon open at least one Saturday each month and will include additional sections of evening and weekend classes.
Desmarais also announced that VGCC, in partnership with KARTS serving Vance, Warren, Granville and Franklin counties, will be tackling one of the largest barriers to higher education in the local area – lack of transportation.
“Beginning this spring, we are going to be offering vouchers that the college will be paying for out of grant funds and existing endowment funds. If we run out, we’ll be asking for more people to consider giving to our endowment funds,” said Desmarais. “It’s about partnerships; it’s about leveraging our assets along with other assets in the community.”
Desmarais wants to ensure that lack of transportation and/or funding is no longer an obstacle for those wishing to receive higher education or job training. To ensure funding, in particular, was no longer an obstacle, the college created a “VanGuarantee” program as a way to assist students with money not covered by financial aid.
“If someone wants to come to Vance-Granville, we are going to find a way for them to come whether it is through federal financial aid or scholarship money from our endowment,” Desmarais said. “The VanGuarantee is that we are going to get you here!”
To learn more about the VanGuarantee or Vance-Granville Community College’s programs, please visit the website by clicking here.
To hear Desmarais’ interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
Rise Against Hunger Community Planning Meeting to be Held Thurs.
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
Calling all area churches, civic organizations, school clubs and other community businesses to the 2020 Vance County Community Day of Service event, benefiting Rise Against Hunger and ACTS.
This is a collaborative meal packing event and canned food drive which is planned for Martin Luther King Day, January 20, 2020, at the Vance County Farmers Market, sponsored by Vance County Farm Bureau.
The goal of this event is to fund and package 50,000 meals and to fill up the shelves of the new ACTS facility serving those in need in the Vance County community!
A second informational & planning meeting will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall, located at 114 Church St. in Henderson. All interested churches, civic organizations, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and other community businesses and organizations are invited to attend this meeting.
For more information on Rise Against Hunger, please visit their website – www.riseagainsthunger.org – or contact the First UMC Henderson church office at (252) 438-8804.
Jernigan Named Superintendent of Oxford Tobacco Research Station
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Press Release, NCDA&CS
Chris Jernigan has been named as the new superintendent of the Oxford Tobacco Research Station. The director of the NCDA&CS Research Stations Division, Kaleb Rathbone, made the announcement on Friday. Rathbone also thanked Sam Brake for his leadership while he served as interim superintendent over the past several months.
Jernigan’s new position marks a return to working at a research station. He previously worked as a summer intern in the Research Stations Division and after graduation served as the tobacco supervisor and later as assistant superintendent at the Caswell and Lower Coastal Plains Research Stations, which are both in Kinston.
More recently, Jernigan worked in the NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division as a regional agronomist and research coordinator.
In addition, Jernigan manages his family farm that produces corn, small grains and soybeans.
Jernigan graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in extension education. He is a certified crop advisor.
The Oxford Tobacco Research Station is about 40 miles north of Raleigh and consists of 426 acres of land. Cropland covers 110 acres, while the rest is woodland and infrastructure. NCDA&CS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture established the Oxford facility in 1910 to research diseases and pest related to tobacco production. USDA ended operations in 2013, and in more recent years, the station has been the base for NCDA&CS Bioenergy Research Initiative in Oxford.
Henderson Mayor Calls Special Meeting on City Manager Position
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson, NC
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Mayor Eddie Ellington has requested a Special Called meeting of the Henderson City Council on Friday, November 8, 2019, at 12 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments facility located at 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson.
The purpose of the meeting is to hold a Closed Session Pursuant to G.S. 143-318-11(a)(6) Regarding a Personnel Matter pertaining to the City Manager Position.