Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

Billy Ayscue Named Rebuilding Hope’s Dec. Volunteer of the Month

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-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope,  Inc.

Acquainted with the man who would be Rebuilding Hope’s founder and pleased with the camaraderie he later observed at the ministry, Billy Ayscue decided where to offer his time and talents.

“I knew Randolph Wilson before he started RHI and knew of his out-of-state trips to assist people with storm damage,” says Billy, now an eight-year RHI volunteer.

“Several years ago, I was looking for something to do when other activities were winding down,” he says.

Billy Ayscue, an eight-year volunteer, named Rebuilding Hope’s December 2018 Volunteer of the Month. (Photo Credit: RHI)

On a trip to donate some building materials at RHI’s old location on Oliver Drive, Billy says Randolph shared with him how he wanted the ministry to help meet housing needs in Vance and surrounding counties.

On another trip to RHI, Billy says he noticed the good-natured way volunteers were going about setting up a tent that would serve as a heated space for men’s prayer group meetings.

He concluded that RHI was “obviously a good place to be with a good group of people.”

The ministry “provides an opportunity to spend time in the company of Christian men and to be a part of helping others with their needs, both physical and spiritual,” he says.

Billy, a Vance County native and resident, served six years on RHI’s board of directors. Today he mans the application and phone desk a day each week and, as needed, assists with fundraising and delivering materials to work sites.

“We always ask to have prayer with applicants before they leave,” Billy says. “They’re asked about anything going on in their lives for which they may want prayer. Quite often, at the completion, tears are in the applicant’s eyes. It makes you wonder if this is the first time in their lives that someone has prayed specifically and directly for them.”

Billy retired in 1990 after 30 years with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. He managed several agricultural research stations, including those in Oxford, Clinton, Salisbury and Rocky Mount.

A member of Raleigh Road Baptist Church, he teaches the Adult Sunday School Class and served as association Sunday school director. He served as deacon and Sunday school director in other churches as his family moved around the state.

He is a former active-duty U.S. Navy aviator and is retired from the Navy Reserve.

Billy and Nancy have been married for 58 years and have two children, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In his leisure time, Billy says he enjoys woodworking and gardening.

News 12/07/18

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Vance County Logo

County of Vance Releases Fire District Reorganization Info.; Public Hearing Set for Jan.

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-Information courtesy Jordan McMillen, County Manager, Vance County

To assist the public, the County of Vance has posted several documents related to the fire commission’s proposed reorganization of the County’s fire services on their website. The County will be seeking public comments at the Vance County Board of Commissioners meeting to be held on Monday, January 7, 2019.

The proposal includes the following changes:

– Converts the Goldenbelt fire district into a volunteer district with the Rescue Squad reincorporating as a volunteer fire department and rescue to take on the district.

– Moves existing county fire staff out of Goldenbelt district and splits them between Hicksboro and Bearpond Volunteer Departments; moves the county fire staff under the fire marshal/fire services department for oversight of paid personnel and creates an Assistant Fire Marshal position.

– Utilizes savings from the general fund county fire department operational expenses to offset costs in fire fund for 12 part-time positions, two at each station for Cokesbury, Drewry, Kittrell, Townsville, Watkins, and the newly constituted Goldenbelt volunteer fire departments during the day-time.

– Provides $200,000 in annual funding to the Rescue Squad as the new volunteer fire department that would also take ownership and associated debt of County’s newly ordered fire truck.

– Includes paying off the existing Kerr-Lake substation and county tanker debt from the general and/or fire fund balance.

– Provides equal funding of $100,000 to the border departments, Drewry and Epsom.

– Eliminates the substation funding of $10,000 for Hicksboro and eliminates the rotating capital funding of $30,000, with the fire fund being used to assist departments with 50/50 grants and capital needs.

– Moves dispatch from three alarm to four alarm.

New Operators Hope to See Increased Traffic at Henderson-Oxford Airport

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Chris and Amanda Welsh, with the Henderson-Oxford Airport, were on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss their recent hiring as the local airport’s newest fixed-base operators (FBOs).

Hired in October to manage day-to-day operations such as fueling, hangaring and maintenance, the Welsh family brings a lifelong love for aviation and their years of experience working at the Triangle North Airport in Franklin County with them on this new venture.

“I’ve been involved with airplanes basically my entire life,” said Chris. “My father got his pilot’s license when he was in college, so I’ve been exposed to them, literally, since birth.”

With aviation in his blood, Welsh began working with a mechanic at the Louisburg airport after his own graduation from college and has spent the past six years there honing his skills.

Upon learning that the Henderson-Oxford Airport was in need of a new FBO, Welsh said he and his family put together a presentation for the airport’s Board Authority and the rest is history.

From people forming big lines to board flights to people walking freely who charted private jets using the Jettly website, he has seen it all and met those people. He has asked the airport authority to put forth a proposal to make the terminal bigger with longer runways so that there can be a separate allocated runway strip for both private and commercial planes.

The Welshes’ main goal for the airport, located on the aptly named Airport Rd. in Oxford, is to increase the general aviation traffic and to make businesses and corporations more aware of its existence and amenities.

“General aviation has ebbed and flowed [recently], said Amanda. “We are just at an ebb. Right now, we have a great condition runway at a good length [5,500 ft]. We just had our apron redone and are having work done on our lights to get them up to LED spec.”

“The facilities of the airport have outpaced operations,” she further explained.

The Welshes anticipate that continuous growth in Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park will help push business their way. “I think Raleigh’s going to come north and that the people of Henderson and Oxford are going to see growth from those who want to get just outside of North Raleigh,” Amanda said.

Proximity to the interstate is another plus for aviation traffic, according to Chris. “This airport has good access, via I-85, to the Durham area. As RDU grows and becomes less friendly to very small aircraft – piston/propeller-type, you’re seeing the movement of these traffic operations go to the Sanford or Louisburg airports. We’re hoping to draw some of that traffic to the Henderson-Oxford Airport.”

The airport is also increasing awareness by participating in events such as the annual military history show. Celebrating its third year this past October, the event coordinated by Harry Coombs features various military displays from the Revolutionary War, World War II, Vietnam and more. The Welshes hope to make the event even bigger next fall with the addition of rides and games for the whole family.

The airport also offers flying lessons for all interested potential pilots. Instructor Paul Hesse with Empire Aviation runs the flight school and can be contacted by clicking here.

To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.

National Weather Service

Forecasters Predict ‘Significant Snowfall’ for Area; When & How Much Still Uncertain

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-Information and weather chart courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Emergency Operations, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations and Ready NC

Below is a briefing slide from the National Weather Service regarding a significant storm system that will affect our area over the weekend. The storm is still a few days away, making a definitive forecast difficult, but all indications are that we could receive significant snowfall before the system moves out on Monday.

A mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow are possible depending on the timing and where exactly the low pressure tracks along our coast. Again, while nothing is certain, confidence is high that we could see a significant winter event with this storm.

We will continue to forward along additional information as it is received. Please visit www.weather.gov/raleigh anytime for updated information.

 

News 12/06/18

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Henderson Fire Dept

Whitten Avenue Home Declared Total Loss in Tuesday’s Blaze

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Henderson Fire Department personnel responded to a fire at 520 Whitten Avenue at approximately 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Though firefighters were quickly able to control the blaze, the rental property, valued at $21,400, was declared a total loss.

According to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell, the fire was caused by improper use of drop cords.

Deadra Fuller of Henderson was reported to have rented the property from owner Larry Richardson.

Both Fuller and daughter Erin Fowler were forced to escape the home through a bedroom window, said Cordell. Fowler sustained minor injuries to her leg and foot and received medical attention on the scene.

The 16 members of the Henderson Fire Department on the scene were assisted by three personnel from the Vance County Fire Department, two personnel from Vance County EMS and two personnel with the Vance County Air Truck.

Increased Alzheimer’s Funding, Expanded Research Methods Offer Hope for a Cure

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Alice Watkins, a 27-year member of the NC Alzheimer’s Association, called into Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

While only one of several types of dementia, Alzheimer’s is, according to Watkins, “certainly the most prevalent.” Typically affecting those age 65 to 85, the currently irreversible disease is characterized by a progressive loss of memory and ability to complete everyday tasks.

“The two things that I always try to get people to understand about Alzheimer’s is that it is a form of dementia and that it is not a normal part of aging,” said Watkins. “We have found, through research, that the disease can start 20 years before noticeable symptoms appear,” Watkins said.

As the disease progresses, the afflicted may forget how to engage in tasks such as brushing their teeth or taking a bath. “Getting them to take a bath and taking their license away are two of the most critical things children of parents with Alzheimer’s have to deal with,” said Watkins. “They are accustomed to their parents being in charge and telling them what to do.”

Watkins cautions that not all issues with memory or the completion of tasks lead to a diagnosis of dementia. “Things that can be fixed, such as a vitamin B-12 deficiency or a urinary tract infection can often mimic signs of dementia.”

While deficiencies and infections can often be cured, currently Alzheimer’s cannot. “Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death and the most feared of the diseases in the United States,” Watkins said. “There is currently no cure.”

Watkins remains hopeful that one day a cure will be discovered and is encouraged by upcoming research efforts. “We are seeing more young researchers getting involved, exploring new avenues of research and examining how diseases link. We are also seeing more of an international effort to find answers.”

One branch of dementia research is currently focused on traumatic brain injury and its effect on the military, specifically. “Researchers are finding that more and more returning military personnel are suffering from traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and many of these cases are progressing into Alzheimer’s,” said Watkins.

Increased research, additional funding and getting people into clinical trials is the key to speeding up the process of finding both a cause and cure, Watkins believes.

“We are getting better with diagnostic tools. If we find one tool that can definitively say ‘this is Alzheimer’s disease,’ then we will be one big step ahead. Right now, there is not such a tool; instead, everything else is ruled out.”

Even with a “ruling out” diagnosis made, the only way to know for sure that the disease was Alzheimer’s is with an autopsy after death, said Watkins.

According to Watkins, groups such as UsAgainstAlzheimer’s based out of Washington, D.C., are responsible for Congress’ recent allocation of $425 million to Alzheimer’s research. “That brings the disease, for the first time, to $2.3 billion in research.”

That figure, while staggering, is still well below funding allocated for heart disease and cancer research.

“The part that is desperately needed in all of this is funding,” Watkins explained. “I encourage people to stay on top of this by checking in with Congressional leaders. Encourage them to look at acts like the Change Act that focuses on care being provided to these patients by families and the costs they incur.”

To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.

Henderson Fire Department to Bolster Fire Prevention Efforts with FM Global Grant

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-Press Release, Henderson Fire Department

The City of Henderson Fire Department has received a US $2,832 fire prevention grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.

FM Global representatives presented the award to Fire Chief Steve Cordell at the City of Henderson Fire Department Station 1 located at 211 Dabney Drive in Henderson, NC 27536. The award will be used to assist with fire prevention activities in the community to help educate the community and reduce the number of fires.

Cordell further indicated in correspondence with WIZS that the grant will go towards the purchase of a new Sparky costume that will be used to help educate and promote fire safety locally.

Because fire continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide, during the past 40 years FM Global has contributed millions of dollars in fire prevention grants to fire service organizations around the globe. Locally, the company has awarded grants to a number of North Carolina–based organizations.

“At FM Global, we strongly believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable,” said Michael Spaziani, assistant vice president/manager of the fire prevention grant program. “Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organizations working to prevent fires from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve property risk in the communities they serve.”

Through fire damage restoration experts at Smart Dry Restoration in collaboration with FM Global awards grants to fire departments—as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide—that best demonstrate a need for funding, where dollars can have the most demonstrable impact on preventing fire, or mitigating the damage it can quickly cause.

To learn more about FM Global’s Fire Prevention Grant Program and other resources for the fire service, please visit www.fmglobal.com/fireservice.

Baskerville Funeral Home Giving Away Free Holiday Fruit Bags to Children

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-Information courtesy Charlie Baskerville, Jr., Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC. 

Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC. will be giving away FREE HOLIDAY FRUIT BAGS to all children on Saturday, December 22, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please come by at 104 S. Chestnut Street in Henderson and let us share with you through the spirit of giving.

All children are welcome!