Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

The Local Skinny! Free Prostate Cancer Screening To Be Held At Maria Parham

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Maria Parham Health is sponsoring a free prostate cancer screening on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cancer Center Director Kim Smith and Hope Breedlove, a social worker who helps clients navigate the process of getting screened, reviewing results and understanding treatment options encourage men in the community to come take part in what they describe as a simple, and necessary, process for early detection of prostate cancer.

Smith and Breedlove spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s The Local Skinny! and said the two-hour event is free and will observe COVID-19 safety protocols. There is no need to make an appointment – simply show up to the main entrance of the hospital, located on Ruin Creek Road.

As an added bonus, Smith said the “Strollin’ Colon” will be on hand to remind people to schedule their colonoscopies.

Over the last couple of years, regular checkups and screenings may have been postponed because of the ongoing pandemic, but Smith said it’s time to get back on schedule “we’ve got to get our screenings the way we’re supposed to,” she said.

Breedlove said her role as social worker is to help get patients registered, guide them through the process of the screening, then help get lab results out in the mail. If patients need additional follow-up care or treatment of some sort, Breedlove is available to help manage that part of the process, too.

“I get them linked up with the care they need,” Breedlove said.

Men over the age of 50 are more likely to see elevated PSAs, Smith noted. African American males are at a higher risk, and she said it is important to spread the news of the screening throughout the community.

“This is something that has to be done as (men) get older,” she said of the prostate screening.

 

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Henderson Figures Big In 2022 Class Inducted Into Strength Sports Hall Of Fame

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The N.C. State Strength Sports Hall of Fame inducted a dozen power lifters earlier this month in a ceremony at Aycock Rec Center in Henderson, which saved drive time for most of the inductees – most of them live right here in the community.

Henderson inductees honored on Sept. 10 are Joe Daniel, William Hawkins, Bobby Jones, Harry Orr, Casey Orr, Ralph Peace, James Perry, Zelmo Perry, Dennis Renn and Jake Roberson. Paul Bossi and Ed Brooks also were inducted into the hall of fame, according to Harry Orr, who also serves as assistant director for the organization.

And Sara Coffey of Henderson was inducted, “for her commitment, volunteering to fill anything needed to help promote the sport of powerlifting,” Orr said in a statement to WIZS News.

Induction to the Hall of Fame is the highest honor given to the sport of powerlifting in the state, Orr said. “To be from North Carolina and (have) that many people from a small town like Henderson, that makes it special to all of us that live here,” Orr said.

According to its website, there are six induction criteria for candidates to be considered for induction:

  • Be a current resident of NC
  • Be at least 25 years old
  • Have a minimum of 7 years’ participating in weightlifting, power lifting, coaching, refereeing, volunteering and/or strength sports
  • Have demonstrated outstanding participation in the categories of Strength Athletes, Lifter, Coach, Referee and Volunteer
  • Must submit a written resume with details that specify reasons for the specific category that the candidate wishes to represent
  • Be drug-free, with no history of failed drug test

Orr said the organization plans to continue inducting a couple of new members each year.

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Elliott Pleased With Come Back Win

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20-0.  That was the half time score last Friday night and the score wasn’t in favor of the Vance Co. Vipers.  By the time the whistle blew the Vipers had turned the game around and walked off the field with a 28-27 comeback victory to move to 3-2 on the season.  Head Coach Aaron Elliott attributes the win to players trusting the plan that the coaches had laid out for them.  “We made zero adjustments at half time,” Coach Elliott said.  He felt that if the team would work together they could turn the game around.  “The mood was down and a lot of finger pointing was going on at halftime,” Elliott said.  Coach Elliott said he felt that at halftime that the coaches wanted the win more than the players.

That changed in the second half when Nazir Garrett began to connect on passes in his first game back after a two week absence due to a concussion.  Garrett had struggled in the first half as had the Viper defense but it all worked out for the Vipers as they scored 28 points in the second half.  “It was an emotional win,” Elliott said.  Now the Vipers have a week off before taking on Carrboro on Oct. 30th in the first conference game of the season. Elliott gave his team a couple of days off to enjoy the victory but are now focused on a Carrboro team that Elliott says is better than there record would indicate. The extra week off means that players like Sean Alston, who has been injured will be able to return to the Viper lineup.

You can catch all the action next Friday night, Oct. 30 as Vance Co. takes on Carrboro at Viper Stadium. Airtime on WIZS is 6:50pm with airtime at 7pm.

 

The Local Skinny! COVID-19 Update

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Although daily updates about COVID-19 transmission rates, sickness and deaths have evolved to weekly and now monthly updates, Granville-Vance Health Director Lisa Harrison’s updates have become regular reminders that although vaccines have reduced the threat of severe illness and worse in the community, the transmission rate in Vance County remains high.

In the latest update, Harrison is quick to point out that health professionals are still dealing with COVID-19 and its repercussions, despite the fact that so much of society has opted for a return to almost normal life.

“Although there is some confusion in the news lately about whether we are still in a pandemic or not, the World Health Organization is the entity that gets to declare when the pandemic is over,” Harrison wrote. In the U.S. and in North Carolina, she added, health officials are more confident in their ability to effectively fight COVID-19.

But we’re entering that time of year where folks are rolling up their sleeves for the seasonal flu shot. Harrison said it’s important to consider getting a COVID-19 booster as well.

“An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for people 12 and older, two months after they finish their primary series, and/or two months after illness from COVID-19. It offers the most up-to-date protection against the latest Omicron variants. Omicron is the most common form of COVID-19 in circulation so this new booster identifies variants related to Omicron,” Harrison stated in the weekly update.

Click Stay up-to-date to learn more.

Whether it’s COVID-19, or the flu, or just the common cold, Harrison said it bears repeating a few simple actions that can reduce spread of any virus germs:

 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick, and when you are sick.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
  • Consider wearing a mask around other people if you have respiratory symptoms.
  • Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you or your child has trouble breathing or has a sudden onset of limb weakness.
  • Ensure you or your child are following an up-to-date asthma action plan if you or your child have asthma.
  • Stay home when you are sick. Let me say that again: Stay home when you are sick.  One more time for those in the back: Stay home when you are sick.

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TownTalk: Tyler Fleming’s Junior Shadowing Project

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Whether you know Tyler Fleming from school, swim meets, or First United Methodist Church, one thing’s for certain: The 17-year-old certainly is a wonderful ambassador for an age group that sometimes gets a bad rap.

Tyler, a junior at Kerr-Vance Academy, is smack in the middle of a three-day program called “junior shadowing,” which pairs students with different businesses in the community so they can learn a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes.

Wednesday was Tyler’s first day right here at WIZS, and today, on Day 2, he found himself in front of the microphone on TownTalk. He and John C. Rose talked about high schoolers’ busy schedules, his sports interests and the perks of attending a small school and living in a small community.

Whether it was watching car races and imitating the commentators as a 6-year-old or helping his church create videos during the COVID-19 pandemic, media and communications have held Tyler’s interest for much of his life. And when it came time for him to choose where he wanted to do his junior shadowing, he chose WIZS because “it’s a place where I could explore the world of radio and communications through digital media.”

There are just more than a dozen students in KVA’s junior class, and Tyler said “the goal is that each and every person in the class will do the shadowing.” The community agencies that partner with the junior shadowing project have been very receptive to having high school students come and see how their businesses operate.

“You can get out in the community (in a spot) where you have an interest and you can try things,” he said. “Being able to get somewhere (that) you can at least try it out – that directs us toward our future.”

The junior shadowing program gives students a chance to learn about something new, but it also can help them discern whether their interest in a particular field is something they wish to pursue.

As for Tyler’s experience, he said being a part of a small station has given him a chance for some hands-on learning from seasoned staff. He said time “to learn the small things” that keep a radio station like WIZS on the air – “like planning ahead and thinking about what you’ll be doing over the next few days…planning and dedication -it’s been really nice to have those insights,” Tyler noted.

Planning ahead and dedication are valuable commodities in everyday life as well, he observed. And he no doubt has to call both into play as he balances his academics with extracurriculars. He recently joined the KV cross country team as a way to cross-train for swimming, which he said he took up when he was about 7.

“It’s been a great sport not only to stay physically active, but leading me to other things like lifeguarding,” Tyler said. Swimming competitively keeps him aware of the other swimmers’ capabilities and keeps him hungry to be his best.

Listen to the complete interview at wizs.com

 

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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Sharing, Pt. 1

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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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Little Ducks Raise Big Bucks

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It’s always fun when the weather is right, people are excited, ultimately kids benefit and somebody wins something.

That’s what happened this past Saturday at the Duck Derby in downtown Henderson, and Garry Daeke, development coordinator with Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start sounded nothing but pleased when WIZS caught up with him late Monday afternoon by phone.

“It went great. We had a beautiful stay. We had a good steady crowd all day. When we did the race itself, we lined the sidewalks almost all the way down. I guess we got a 150 people out there I think. It was very nice,” he said.

And while it was about fun, games, education and getting out in one’s own downtown, the bigger purpose that’s often right there too is money.

Daeke said, “We had sold 1,779 tickets pre. And we sold about 200, I think (at the event). So right at 2,000 duck tickets sold. We’ll get the final numbers after we back out the expenses. With the ticket sales and sponsors, I think we’ll do about $10,000 net.”

He said the winners came from a smattering of locations across the three county area including the $1,000 winner having purchased the ticket at the event. Winners not present were notified by phone Monday.

Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Vegetables to plant now Chinese cabbage, Garlic, bulb onions, spinach
  • Plant tall fescue NOW. Discussion about choosing grass seed.
  • Any vegetables growing now still needs 1 inch of rain or irrigation
  • Consider adding late-season pollinator forage to your garden.
  • If renovating your lawn make sure you pack the seed into the soil. Good seed to soil contact is a must for good seed germination.
  • Avoid pruning. Wait until late November at the earliest.
  • Soil Test season is now! 1 week analysis time
  • Divide perennials to spread and reinvigorate them.

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