-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Dr. M.W. Wester, III, and his wife, Sara Wester, of Henderson have endowed a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College in memory of Dr. Wester’s parents.
The new Presidential Merit Award-level scholarship honors the legacy of the late Dr. and Mrs. M.W. Wester, Jr., better known as “Wes” and “Dee Dee” to their friends.
The late Dr. M.W. Wester, Jr. and Dee Dee Wester. (Photo contributed by the family)
The Westers met and married at Duke University, while he was a medical student and she was studying physical therapy. After completing school, they returned to his hometown, Henderson, where he opened a family medicine practice. He brought in a partner, Dr. Reg Tucker, and later Dr. Beverly Tucker, Dr. Roddy Drake, Dr. Randolph Mills and Dr. Franklin Mills.
The practice eventually became known as Henderson Family Medicine Clinic and is now Duke Primary Care Henderson. Dr. Wester was always interested in the education of new physicians and served as an adjunct faculty member at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill. He brought a number of medical students to the clinic in Henderson to complete their family practice rotations.
Mrs. Wester, born Eleanor Clardy, practiced physical therapy at Maria Parham Hospital for many years. Her hobby, however, was teaching ceramics, china painting and doll making at VGCC. She started teaching when the college was still a technical institute that was housed in the former Maria Parham Hospital in downtown Henderson, and she continued until 2008. Mrs. Wester also served on the VGCC Endowment Fund Board while she was serving as president of the Hospital Guild.
Sara Wester has continued her mother-in-law’s tradition of involvement with VGCC, as a member of the college’s board of trustees since 2004.
The new scholarship will be awarded to a student in a Health Sciences program.
VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson, Endowment Specialist Kay Currin and President Dr. Rachel Desmarais join Sara Wester and Dr. M.W. “Buddy” Wester, III, to celebrate the creation of the new scholarship in memory of Dr. Wester’s parents, during the 35th annual VGCC Endowment Fund Golf Tournament at the Henderson Country Club. (VGCC photo)
“This scholarship is a fitting tribute to the Westers’ lifetime of service and will inspire the students who receive it, as they pursue their own careers serving others through health care,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “At the same time, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vance-Granville, we are reminded of the important role of continuing education classes like those taught by Mrs. Wester, which have provided not only skills but also joy to members of the community throughout our history.”
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,400 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.
New Sandy Creek Baptist to Hold ‘GiddyUp Junction’ VBS for Kids, Adults
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Jackie Ayscue, New Sandy Creek Baptist Church
GiddyUp Junction Vacation Bible School will be held June 10-14, 2019, at New Sandy Creek Baptist Church, 1699 Weldon’s Mill Road, Henderson. This is a free event that has something for every age, nursery-adult.
Kids will learn about Jesus’ love and how to take that love to new frontiers through Bible lessons, crafts, music and games. The adult class will be studying the Art of Marriage series.
Dinner will be served Monday through Thursday at 5:45 p.m., with a special Fun Finale on Friday that includes a program, photo booth, store and ice cream!
You can register at the door or online at www.myvbs.org/NewSandyCreek.
Granville County Intersection to be Realigned
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, NCDOT
Work will begin soon on a project to realign N.C. 56 where it intersects U.S. 15 and N.C. 50 in Creedmoor.
The N.C. Department of Transportation recently awarded a $3.4 million contract to have Carolina Sunrock LLC of Raleigh improve the junction.
Currently, drivers headed east on N.C. 56 must make a series of turns to stay on the highway as it follows West Lake Road to Durham and Wilton avenues. The realignment will create a direct tie between West Lake Road and Wilton Avenue, improving traffic flow by eliminating the turns needed to stay on N.C. 56 in the Creedmoor city limits.
A new two-lane, median-divided connector will be constructed to the north of the existing West Lake Road, and a new alignment for West Lake Road will branch off the N.C. 56 connector. The project also calls for sidewalks that will connect to a city sidewalk project.
Work is expected to begin next week, and the new roads are scheduled to be open to traffic by June 1, 2020.
West Lake Road and North Pine Street will maintain partial access throughout the project. The plans are phased to avoid complete road closures and allow access at all times to properties and businesses in the project area.
City of Oxford: Planning, Public Safety Committees to Meet Mon., June 10
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford
The Planning, Business & Community Development Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Monday, June 10, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the City’s procedures for public hearings related to planning and zoning issues.
All those interested are invited to attend.
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The Public Safety Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Monday, June 10, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the disposition of a 1989 Fire Cat truck.
All those interested are invited to attend.
Franklin Co. Board of Elections to Conduct Seminars on Voter ID Requirement
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Franklin County Board of Elections
The Franklin County Board of Elections will hold two educational seminars about voter photo identification requirements as follows:
The 1st educational seminar will be held on Thursday, June 20, at 6 p.m. at:
Cedar Creek Middle School in the cafetorium
2228 Cedar Creek Rd
Youngsville, NC 27596
The 2nd educational seminar will be held on Wednesday, August 14, at 6 p.m. at:
Terrell Lane Middle School in the cafetorium
101 Terrell Ln
Louisburg, NC 27549
These seminars are free and open to the public.
Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the N.C. Constitution to require voters to present photo ID at the polls.
Session Law 2018-144 requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before September 1, 2019. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, One-Stop early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.
For more information on the voter ID requirement in North Carolina, please go to www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-ID.
Questions? Please contact the Franklin County Board of Elections at (919) 496-3898 or mchavis@franklincountync.us.
News 06/06/19
/by LarryNew VGCC Scholarship Endowed in Memory of Local Couple
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Dr. M.W. Wester, III, and his wife, Sara Wester, of Henderson have endowed a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College in memory of Dr. Wester’s parents.
The new Presidential Merit Award-level scholarship honors the legacy of the late Dr. and Mrs. M.W. Wester, Jr., better known as “Wes” and “Dee Dee” to their friends.
The late Dr. M.W. Wester, Jr. and Dee Dee Wester. (Photo contributed by the family)
The Westers met and married at Duke University, while he was a medical student and she was studying physical therapy. After completing school, they returned to his hometown, Henderson, where he opened a family medicine practice. He brought in a partner, Dr. Reg Tucker, and later Dr. Beverly Tucker, Dr. Roddy Drake, Dr. Randolph Mills and Dr. Franklin Mills.
The practice eventually became known as Henderson Family Medicine Clinic and is now Duke Primary Care Henderson. Dr. Wester was always interested in the education of new physicians and served as an adjunct faculty member at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill. He brought a number of medical students to the clinic in Henderson to complete their family practice rotations.
Mrs. Wester, born Eleanor Clardy, practiced physical therapy at Maria Parham Hospital for many years. Her hobby, however, was teaching ceramics, china painting and doll making at VGCC. She started teaching when the college was still a technical institute that was housed in the former Maria Parham Hospital in downtown Henderson, and she continued until 2008. Mrs. Wester also served on the VGCC Endowment Fund Board while she was serving as president of the Hospital Guild.
Sara Wester has continued her mother-in-law’s tradition of involvement with VGCC, as a member of the college’s board of trustees since 2004.
The new scholarship will be awarded to a student in a Health Sciences program.
VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson, Endowment Specialist Kay Currin and President Dr. Rachel Desmarais join Sara Wester and Dr. M.W. “Buddy” Wester, III, to celebrate the creation of the new scholarship in memory of Dr. Wester’s parents, during the 35th annual VGCC Endowment Fund Golf Tournament at the Henderson Country Club. (VGCC photo)
“This scholarship is a fitting tribute to the Westers’ lifetime of service and will inspire the students who receive it, as they pursue their own careers serving others through health care,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “At the same time, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vance-Granville, we are reminded of the important role of continuing education classes like those taught by Mrs. Wester, which have provided not only skills but also joy to members of the community throughout our history.”
Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,400 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.
Enjoy ‘Fireworks Under the Stars’ at Satterwhite Point – Sat., July 6
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Enjoy an Independence Day Celebration with “Fireworks Under the Stars” at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point on Saturday, July 6, 2019.
This year’s event will offer fun for the whole family with food vendors, kid’s activities, t-shirts and glow sticks.
Activities are planned from 3 until 10 p.m. The state parks gate fee of $7 per car will apply.
No alcohol is allowed.
For additional information, please call (252) 438-2222, (866) 438-4565 or visit www.kerrlake-nc.com.
Leadership Changes Announced for Granville Co. Public Schools
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 3, 2019, the Granville County Board of Education approved recommended changes to numerous leadership positions at the school and district levels. These positions will become effective July 1, 2019, and will be in effect for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Superintendent McLean offered these remarks regarding these changes, saying, “We have made tremendous progress in the past two years. I am so proud of the amazing opportunities our staff provide for our students day in and day out. With these new appointments, it is my hope we will continue our trajectory of excellence and be poised for an even brighter future for our pupils.”
New Principal Assignments:
Billy Moore – Mt Energy Elementary School
Bethany Bonnemere – West Oxford Elementary School
Ashley Clark – Butner Stem Middle School
David Hackney – JF Webb School of Health and Life Sciences
New Assistant Principal Assignments:
Sophelia McMannon – Butner Stem Elementary School
Donald Johnson – CG Credle Elementary School
Benjy Downing – Wilton Elementary School
Charmain Day-Heggie – Butner Stem Middle School
Nancy Russell – GC Hawley Middle School
Sherria Grubbs – Northern Granville Middle School
Ashley Lloyd – Northern Granville Middle School
District Assignments:
Bill Graham – Principal of Granville Academy & District Disciplinary Coordinator
Angie Salisbury – CTE IMC & Secondary Coordinator
Shelby Hunt – Title I Instructional & Grants Coordinator (Elementary MTSS)
Gwen Loftin – Interim Technology Director
Vickie Hines – PK & Early Childhood Day Coordinator
Lauren Curtis – STEAM and Code Coordinator (Secondary MTSS)
All district-level staffing represent placements or re-assignments of pre-existing positions and duties that were previously held by other individuals.
Town Talk: Vance County Schools’ Year-End Events
/by Kelly BondurantTerri Hedrick, public information officer with Vance County Schools, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to announce the school system’s end-of-year events and activities.
This Friday, June 7 will be the last day of VCS’ 2018-19 school year.
Hedrick discussed the Vance County Early College High School’s recent graduation ceremony on May 23 and announced upcoming commencement dates and times for AdVance Academy and Vance County High School.
For additional events and details from Hedrick’s segment, 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.
Granville Board of Elections to Conduct Seminar on Voter ID Requirement
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Granville County Board of Elections
The Granville County Board of Elections will hold an educational seminar about voter photo identification requirements at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford, NC 27565.
The seminar is free and open to the public.
Beginning in 2020, voters will be required to provide photo identification before they vote. This includes both in-person and by-mail voting, with some exceptions. In November 2018, North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the N.C. Constitution to require voters to present photo ID at the polls.
Session Law 2018-144 requires each county board of elections to hold at least two voter ID seminars before September 1, 2019. Attendees also will receive information about voting options, including absentee-by-mail, One-Stop early voting and Election Day voting. Information about provisional voting, the availability of free North Carolina voter ID cards and residency requirements for voting also will be provided.
For more information on the voter ID requirement in North Carolina, please go to www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-ID.
Questions? Please contact the Granville County Board of Elections at 919-693-2515 or Granville.boe@granvillecounty.org.