Business Spotlight: AdVance Joint Regeneration

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Most anybody experiencing knee pain, brought on by injury, arthritis or something else, probably would choose any therapy or procedure over the more invasive option of surgery.

With surgery, there’s some expected post-op downtime, then perhaps rehab – weeks of recovery, even in the best of circumstances.

For some, however, AdVance Joint Regeneration offers an alternative: it’s called visco supplementation and Clinical Director Brad Johnson said the procedure often delays or prevents the need for surgery.

“To delay or prevent surgery is always a good thing,” Johnson said.

Their specialty is knee joint injections, and Johnson said it’s covered by most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. As the clinic’s director, it’s part of his job to answer patients’ questions, handle insurance and generally make sure the place runs smoothly, Johnson said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

An initial exam and x-rays, followed by an arthrogram – injecting a bit of dye into the joint – helps staff determine good candidates for the joint injection of hyaluronic acid.

Joints like knees are encapsulated, which keeps the body’s natural lubrication contained within the joint and doing its job. Johnson said his staff uses a fluoroscope during the arthrogram to make sure the dye stays within the encapsulated joint and that there is no damage that would cause it to leak out.

The hyaluronic acid is “very similar to what’s in your joints already,” Johnson explained. During the arthrogram, as the dye is injected, the examiner “can see it moving around and staying in place. As long as it doesn’t migrate, she can go ahead and do the treatment.” Physician Assistant Katheryn Lordy and Andrew Stock, M.D. staff the Henderson clinic.

In case the tests show some damage, there’s a way to “trick” the brain into cleaning up the damaged tissue to promote healing using the patient’s own blood platelets.

A platelet rich plasma is injected into the damaged joint, Johnson said, which triggers the brain to start repairing the tissue.

Patients receive five weekly injections and go home with a knee brace to support and gently realign the knee and leg. Sometimes, they’ll need physical therapy or a home exercise device to help improve range of motion, but that’s about it as far as post-injection care goes.

“The downtime is basically none,” Johnson said. Patients “can basically go back and do what they want to do and what they’re comfortable doing.”

Contact AdVance Joint Regeneration at 252.572.2944 to make an appointment for a no-obligation consultation. Visit https://advancejointregeneration.com/ to learn about all the services offered.

This WIZS Business Spotlight is not a paid ad. However, the business featured is an advertising client of WIZS Radio.

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Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Secondary Nutrients

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Cooperative Extension 

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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TownTalk: Information On The Upcoming Election

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There are several ways to cast your vote in the upcoming November general election – all well before the first Tuesday in November.

In-person early voting begins next Thursday, Oct. 17, at two polling sites in Vance County – the former Eaton Johnson gym on Beckford Drive and Aycock Rec Center on Carey Chapel Road.

Early voting continues on weekdays through Nov. 1, and concludes with Saturday voting on Nov. 2, according to information from the Vance County Board of Elections. The polling sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each weekday through Nov. 1 and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2.

County residents who still need to register to vote have a couple of options – if you want to vote on Election Day – Nov. 5 – you need to register by 5 p.m. this Friday – Oct. 11.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot from the board of elections. All absentee ballots must be received by the board of elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Same day registration is available at the early-voting sites as well.

Elections officials remind voters that whether they vote in person early, by mail or on Election Day, poll workers will ask voters for a photo ID. For many voters, this will be a driver’s license, but there are other acceptable forms as well, including a free ID available from the county board of elections office or NCDMV. Voters without ID can still vote by filling out a form explaining why they can’t show ID, or by casting a provisional ballot and showing their ID at their county board of elections office by 5 p.m. Nov. 14, according to state board of elections officials.

In addition to the high-profile national and statewide races, Vance County voters have a couple of contested races that will be decided, including one seat on the board of county commissioners.

District 1 incumbent Democrat Carolyn Faines faces Republican challenger William Heitman; the other three commissioners – District 2’s Valencia Perry, District 5’s Leo Kelly, Jr. and District 6’s Yolanda Feimster are running unopposed.

Tune in to WIZS TownTalk at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to hear separate interviews with Faines and Heitman.

Three members of the Vance County Board of Education face no opposition in the upcoming election – District 3’s Dorothy Gooche and District 5’s Linda Cobb are running for re-election. District 4’s Ayana Lewis, appointed to the seat in Feb. 2024, seeks her first election to the board.

Incumbent State Rep. Frank Sossamon, a Republican, is seeking a second term for the District 32 seat that includes Vance and Granville counties. He faces opposition from Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn, a former Oxford Town Commissioner, and from Libertarian candidate Ryan Brown.

A portion of Vance County is in House District 7, which has Republican incumbent Matthew Winslow facing two challengers in the upcoming election – Democrat Jesse Goslen and Libertarian Party candidate Gavin Bell.

In the District 11 State Senate race, State Sen. Lisa Stone Barnes faces off against Democratic challenger James Mercer.

In a judicial race with local interest, incumbent Carolyn J. Thompson seeks to retain her seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals. She faces challenger Tom Murry in this race. WIZS will air recorded interviews with Thompson and Murry on Thursday’s TownTalk at 11 a.m.

When voters enter the voting booth with their ballots, poised to exercise their Constitutional right, there may be some down-ballot races that include candidates whose names don’t ring a bell.

The N.C. State Board of Elections website offers a wealth of information for registered voters, including a voter guide to judicial races and even a sample ballot for voters to preview.

Visit www.ncsbe.gov to access all this information and more.

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The Local Skinny! Gun Safety And Children Next Forum Topic Hosted By Rep. Frank Sossamon

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Rep. Frank Sossamon is hosting forums to underscore the need for gun safety, especially as it pertains to children.

The evening forums are designed to share information about gun safety with families. Representatives from the N.C. Dept. of Public Safety and the Center for Safer Schools, along with others, will be on hand during the events, according to information from Sossamon’s office.

The Granville County forum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Northern Granville Middle School, 3144 Webb School Rd, Oxford.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 10, the Vance County forum will be held at E.M. Rollins Elementary School, 1600 S. Garnett St., Henderson. That forum also runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The forums are free and open to the public.

 

Cooperative Extension With Wayne Rowland: Mites

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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 Senior Services Director Kathy May Receives Order Of The Long Leaf Pine

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– information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County Senior Services Director Kathy May was recognized for her decades of service to Granville County and the state of North Carolina when she was named as one of the newest recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award last week. State Sen. Mary Wills Bode presented the award to May on behalf of Gov. Roy Cooper during a surprise ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest civilian honor awarded by the North Carolina Governor’s Office.  Established in 1963 by Gov. Terry Sanford, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the state and to their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Recipients become honorary North Carolina ambassadors and their names and award dates are recorded on a roster maintained by The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society.

Assistant Senior Services Director Angela Wright spoke during the ceremony about May’s accomplishments since she arrived on the scene in 1987. Now approaching her 38th year as Senior Services director, May has led the department through significant changes over the years.

In 1987, Senior Services was located in the former Orange Street School, and because renovations were being made to the building to ultimately house the Department of Social Services, there were no dedicated facilities for senior activities beyond basic services like congregate meals in Oxford and Creedmoor. Under May’s leadership, the Senior Services Department has expanded to a true county-wide service model that includes continuing education, fitness classes, technology training, Medicare enrollment assistance, housing improvements, and so much more at three locations throughout the county.

As of 2024, the Oxford location has relocated a second time to the current facility on Lanier Street and sites have been established in Creedmoor and Stovall in partnership with those local municipalities providing many of the same services to northern and southern areas of the county. Work is currently underway on a major expansion  in downtown Stovall for a new North Granville Senior Center, scheduled to be complete in 2025.

“Name The Robot” Contest On Now For Maria Parham’s New Surgical “Assistant”

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Maria Parham Health extends an invitation to the community to come out and meet its surgical robot. The state-of-the-art da Vinci robot will be officially welcomed at a “Meet the Robot” event on Nov. 4 at the hospital.

But hospital officials want the community to help name the newest member of the surgical team – and the person who submits the winning entry gets a $100 Amazon gift card, said Donna Young, MPH marketing & communications coordinator.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to engage with us and be part of the exciting advancements in our healthcare services,” Young said. “We look forward to seeing the creative names our community comes up with!”

Submit your entry via private message on the Maria Parham Health Facebook page. Entries should include the participant’s name, email address, and phone number to qualify. The winning name will be announced on Nov. 4.

Attendees will get a chance to see the da Vinci robot up close and learn how it will be used to improve surgical outcomes for patients.

VCS September Student Spotlight

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Vance County Schools recognizes two students for the September Student Spotlight.

Rylee Williams, a student at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy and Nicola Thompson from Vance County Early College have been honored for their exceptional contributions and leadership within their school communities, according to information from VCS Aarika Sandlin.

The Student Spotlight program is sponsored by Vance County Schools, in partnership with the Vance County Public School Foundation, and highlights students who go above and beyond. These remarkable students embody qualities inclusive of kindness, dedication, and a strong commitment to personal growth and service to others.

Rylee Williams

Rylee Williams, a 4th– grader at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, was nominated by her principal, Dr. Carnetta Thomas, who praised Rylee for her integrity, resilience and empathy.

“Rylee demonstrates excellent communication skills and can inspire and motivate others. Her adaptability and eagerness to learn allow her to take on challenges, such as teaching herself Korean,” Thomas said.

Rylee’s favorite subject is writing, where she focuses on improving both her writing skills and handwriting. She is also a member of the school’s Art Club.

Outside of school, her favorite hobbies are skateboarding and drawing. She enjoys listening to music by Jvke and is a fan of the movie Inside Out 2, finding the character Anxiety particularly relatable.

Looking to the future, Rylee is passionate about helping others—whether it is people or animals. She is considering becoming a veterinarian or pursuing a career in the medical field. When asked who she admires most, Rylee did not hesitate to name her mom as her role model, saying her mom supports her even when she makes mistakes. Her advice to other students is simple yet profound: “Have a positive attitude and be kind to others.”

Rylee loves coming to E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy because she is constantly learning new things. She describes the school as a wonderful place filled with loving and supportive teachers and staff, especially highlighting Dr. Thomas as joyful and kind. If given a superpower, Rylee would love to be invisible, fly, or even see ghosts. She dreams of traveling to Japan, South Korea, and Brazil one day.

Nicola Thompson

Nicola Thompson is the 2024-2025 Student Spotlight at Vance County Early College. Nominated by her English Language Arts teacher, Shanice White, Nicola has been recognized for her remarkable ability to adapt to a new school and community while maintaining academic excellence.

“Her diverse achievements not only showcase her exceptional commitment and versatility both in and out of the classroom, but also reflect her graceful, kind, and helpful nature, which has allowed her to build strong and meaningful friendships and become a positive role model within our school community.”

Nicola is a well-rounded student involved in numerous clubs and activities, including the BETA Club, Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Math and Psychology Club, and Quiz Bowl. Her favorite subjects are Chemistry and Biology, but her true passion lies in math, as she aspires to become an engineer.

Beyond academics, Nicola actively volunteers at the Aycock Recreation Center and participates in AAU Basketball. As a dedicated student-athlete, she excels in both soccer and basketball while making significant contributions through community service. She greatly admires her father, Errol Thompson, who has taught her everything she knows about sports.

If she could choose any superpower, Nicola would want to be the Thinker from DC Comics, allowing her to know everything and develop solutions to global challenges, such as addressing climate change. She shares, “My favorite thing about being a student at VCEC is being focused at school, which gives me more time outside of school. Time management has been instilled in me, allowing me the freedom to enjoy the campus.”

These students are exemplary representatives of Vance County Schools and the Student Spotlight program. They embody the values of kindness, dedication, and a commitment to learning, serving as an inspiration to their peers and a source of pride for their school communities and the district as a whole.