Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Communication, Pt. 3
Listen 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!
Listen 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!
There’s a lot of planning that goes into any construction project, a statement to which Vance County Director of Tourism Pam Hester will attest. But in the case of a possible convention center complex that is in the works for the area, it’s a matter of turning a vision into reality.
Hester was John C. Rose’s guest on Wednesday’s Town Talk and she shared some initial ideas about how acreage just off Parham Road could be transformed into a spot that locals – and visitors – can enjoy. The property is owned by the Vance County Department of Tourism.
“Hopefully, this will be the catalyst for change,” Hester said, in an interview recorded earlier and aired Wednesday. A healthy economic environment is one that has a mixture of businesses, large and small. This convention center and the focus on increased tourism, she said, can be an economic driver.
Initial plans show a 27,000 square foot convention center, which Hester said would be included in the first phase of the three-phase project. “It’s in the conceptual stage right now, (and) we’ve got to go back for some tweaks.” The size could increase to about 30,000 square feet, with a main room that can accommodate 500 for dinner, but as many as 1,000 for trainings and other types of meetings. The main room can be divided into three separate meeting spots, each with its own separate entrance, so Hester said each smaller room could house a different event at the same time.
The Tourism office will be located there, too, which will allow staff to oversee facility usage and rentals – anything from boat and car shows to corporate training events, weddings and sports camps.
“It’s more than just a convention center,” she explained. “It’s more like a community/convention/welcome center.”
The second phase would include addition of a hotel, which is important for tourism in a couple of different ways: Visitors need a place to stay when they attend events in the area, and tourism programs are funded by the 6 percent occupancy tax that hotels and motels generate.
“That would open up a world of opportunities for us,” Hester said of the additional space for visitors to stay. Add a restaurant and the complex becomes more attractive for groups looking to hold events there.
Although Vance County has 319 fewer available hotel rooms, Hester said the county enjoys the highest occupancy tax rate ever. “That six percent that hotels collect is up significantly – it’s much higher than it’s ever been,” she said.
The project’s third phase would be addition of a greenway or walkway to connect with other parts of the city. And there will be a handicap-accessible children’s playground, she added, as well as a place to walk dogs and even a charging station for electric cars.
Like all projects, area officials have been discussing possible timelines for construction and completion.
“I would like to see it start tomorrow,” Hester said, “but that’s not realistic.” More than likely, getting the project underway in 2025 is more realistic.
In the meantime, planning continues and ideas keep percolating among tourism staff, its governing board and the county commissioners. Hester said she is hopeful to get some grant funding as well as developing a plan for corporate sponsorships.
CLICK PLAY!
Listen 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!
— On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
Click Play!
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance forJuly 19, 2022. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email Michele@hendersonvance.org to be included.
Jobs Openings for Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Business Name – Henderson Collegiate School
Job Opening – Job openings for multiple positions at a high performing K-12 Public Charter School in Henderson, NC. These include: Elementary Lead Teacher, Elementary Teacher Assistant, High School (HS) ACT Prep Teacher, HS English Teacher, HS Spanish Teacher, College Counselor, Middle School (MS) Art Teacher, MS Science Math Teacher, MS Science Teacher, MS Social Studies Teacher, MS Technology Teacher, ESL Teacher, and Special Education Teacher,
How To Apply – Apply online at HendersonCollegiate.org or Contact Kate Liddle, Director of Talent Acquisition at kliddle@hendersoncollegiate.org. Henderson Collegiate is located at 1071 Old Epsom Road in Henderson, NC>
Business Name – Henderson Family YMCA
Job Opening – Position open for Director of Human Resources. Reports to the CEO, oversees daily operations of HR/Payroll. Strategically plans and processes new employees from applicant, to orientation that meet organization standards, towards organization goals. Communicates with insurance carriers on risk management, reporting, and policies, to insure safety and compliance of the YMCA. Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource or equivalent, with HR experience. Good communication skills, proficient in computer skills, and good interpersonal and critical thinking skills.
How To Apply – Apply online at www.hendersonymca.org, Click on Get Involved – Employment Opportunities.
Business Name – Vance County Government
Job Opening – Multiple positions open. These include: Deputy Register of Deeds, full-time; Perry Memorial Library Assistant, part-time; Fire Department Engineer, full-time; Dept of Social Services Social Worker I and II, full-time; Custodian for Veterans and Cooperative Extension Offices, full-time; Detention Officers; full-time.
How To Apply – Apply online at www.vancecounty.org. Click on Departments tab at top of page, click on human resources and then Job Postings.
Business Name – Walmart Distribution Center #6091 in Henderson, NC
Job Opening – Freight Handler/Order Filler, Full-time. Salary – $17.55-$23.55 an hour. Fulfill store orders through pulling merchandise through layer using electronic voice control equipment, stacking onto pallets, placing labels in appropriate area on freight, and transporting using power equipment. Inspect merchandise for damage and mis-placement. Moves, lifts, carries products up to 60 lbs., and work in varying temperature conditions.
How To Apply – Apply online at www.walmart.com/us/jobs/freighthandler or apply on Indeed.com website.
Business Name – Versatrim
Job Opening – 1. Customer Service Representative – provides information in response to inquiries about products and services, handle and resolve complaints. Need enthusiastic individual who can listen to customer issues and then offer unique and innovative solution to each problem. Must be 18 yrs old older. HS diploma/GED required. Must be available to work M-F, 9am – 6pm. Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills. 2. Sales Support Specialist – responsible for providing administrative and clerical support to the sales team and customers during the sales process. They assist customers in resolving sales-related issues in a timely manner, generally providing real-time support. Requires proficiency in MS Office, Good time-management skills, ability to work and think independently, must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
How To Apply – Apply online at www.versatrim.com, click on Careers tab at the top of the homepage.
Business Name – Vance-Granville Community College
Job Opening Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Learning, Student Engagement and Success, full-time. Salary $34,276 – $51,415. Requires Associate Degree in business or related field with experience in community college a plus. Provides administrative duties including scheduling meetings, make travel arrangements, enter and retrieve data using Datatel, file and retrieve electronic and hard copy documents, handle mail, coordinate meetings, skilled in office machines and proficient in computer skills.
How To Apply – Mail or deliver resume to the Human Resource Office at VGCC main campus on Ruin Creek Road, Henderson NC or apply online at www.vgcc.edu or on www.indeed.com.
Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS. Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast. This is not a paid ad.
Click Play!
The upcoming Ruin Creek Cruise-In is the perfect time to celebrate the successes of a collaboration of public and private agencies whose mission is to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the area.
The Cruise-In will be held on Saturday, July 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the former Boyd dealership, 284 U.S. Hwy 158 Bypass. Admission is free to the public; all proceeds will benefit the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society.
RCAPS founder and president Brandon Boyd said the Cruise-In is the group’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year’s presenting sponsor is Vance County Department of Tourism.
“Not only is it a fundraiser event, but it’s also a time of community fellowship for people in our area to get together and share an evening of safe and enjoyable fun together,” Boyd said in a written statement to WIZS News.
“This is a time we get to see all of our generous donors that allow the work of Ruin Creek to take place and gives us the opportunity to simply tell everyone, ‘thank you,’” Boyd added.
The Cruise-In is surely an event for human enjoyment, but the real winners are the hundreds of dogs and cats that find their way to rescue organizations for foster care or for adoption.
Vance Animal Services Director Frankie Nobles said RCAPS, working alongside his staff, has been a valuable partner.
In the last six years or so, the number of dogs and cats coming through the animal shelter has basically been cut in half – from more than 3,000 a year to last year’s count of below 1,800, Nobles told John C. Rose during Tuesday’s Town Talk.
“We’re seeing that number of animals drastically dropping,” he said, but over the past several weeks, the daily intake is a dozen or more animals. “The shelter is seeing a lot of intakes,” Nobles added.
But RCAPS programs like the Friday Freedom Rides get animals out of the shelter, freeing up space and reducing the need to euthanize animals because there simply is no room to house them.
“The more money they can raise, the more animals we can help get out of here,” Nobles said. Some of that money is used to pay for the transport, but RCAPS also helps offset the cost for the shelter’s spay and neuter program, as well as provide vet care for sick or injured animals who are brought in to the shelter.
County residents who receive government assistance – like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – can qualify to get their pets spayed or neutered for free through the shelter. The only out-of-pocket expense for eligible pet owners is their animal’s rabies shot, $5 at the shelter or $10 on the day of the spay or neuter procedure.
Residents who don’t qualify for the free spay or neuter services can still get their animals fixed at a reduced rate – $50 for male cats and $60 for female cats, and $70 for male dogs and $80 for female dogs.
Nobles said they’ve done more than 400 community animals – and that doesn’t include those animals that are in the shelter.
The spay/neuter program, coupled with education programs in the community, Nobles said the unwanted pet situation has improved.
“That’s our goal – to reduce that number as low as we can get it,” he said.
In just a few months, the shelter will celebrate six years at the new facility on Brodie Road. Nobles said he appreciates the work of Lead Officer Megan Cottrell as well as Animal Service Officers Chris Vick and Waverly Saunders.
Heather Lovings is the shelter’s office assistant and ever-present volunteer Ellen Wilkins provide invaluable service to keep the office running smoothly.
Nobles said RCAPS volunteers Michelle Wood and Taylor Pitkowsky are a big help, too.
The Cruise-In is a chance to say “thank you” to the community for its support of the work of all the staff at the shelter and the volunteers at RCAPS. Last year’s crowd was in the 3,200 to 3,500 range, and organizers are hoping to exceed that number.
Classic and collector cars from all across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will be participating in this event, and local vendors will offer a variety of craft items for sale as well. Vehicle owners can register and check in beginning at 1 p.m.
Stock car racing television broadcaster and classic car enthusiast Mike Joy will be on hand for the festivities, as will Richard Petty’s “Petty Garage,” a traveling display with some of the latest gizmos and gadgets from the world of car racing. There will be demonstrations of some of the equipment for participants to enjoy, too.
South Hill’s Shep Moss and Party Time Music will provide musical entertainment during the Cruise-In, Boyd said, and there will be raffle drawings for prizes throughout the evening.
CLICK PLAY!
Click Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s Business Growth and Development Division invites minority business owners and managers to a Minority Business Information Exchange on July 28, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event, co-sponsored by Rebuild Communities African-American Cultural Center, Benchmark Community Bank and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, will be held at the Rebuild Communities African-American Cultural Center, 1513 Oxford Rd. in Henderson.
This event is open to all minority owned and managed small businesses in Vance County, including Chamber of Commerce members and non-member businesses (such as African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Vietnamese, Native Indian, women, military veterans, etc.).
This will be a great opportunity to meet and network with other small business owners, to share ideas and best practices, to discuss business needs and concerns and to identify local resources that aid and support small business growth.
To learn more, contact Chamber President Michele Burgess at 252.438.8414 or michele@hendersonvance.org
There are several blood drives scheduled for the area, and the American Red Cross could use your help. June’s donations were down by 12 percent, and donations are desperately needed to prevent a blood shortage this summer, according to information from Cally Edwards, regional communications director for the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina.
Following is a list of upcoming blood drives in the four-county area:
Vance
Thursday, July 21
Granville
Friday, July 22
Warren
Friday, July 22
Franklin
Saturday, July 23
There are several ways to register to give blood, Edwards said in a press release. Donors can download the American Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit http://RedCrossBlood.org or call 1.800.REDCROSS (800.733.2767).
Save time at the appointment by completing the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online. Before you arrive. Visit
https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/manage-my-donations/rapidpass.html
or use the blood donor app to complete the pre-donation checklist.
Individuals who donate blood during the month of July are entered into a chance to win a Shark Week merchandise package, thanks to a partnership with Discovery. The package includes a beach bike, smokeless portable fire pit, paddle board, kayak and a $500 gift card to put toward additional accessories.
All donors who come in between July 21-24 get a Shark Week t-shirt while supplies last, she said.
CLICK PLAY!