Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
Whitten Avenue Home Declared Total Loss in Tuesday’s Blaze
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
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
-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
-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!
Maria Parham Volunteer Services Announces Peanut Roaster Holiday Sale
Information courtesy Lisa Radford, Volunteer Coordinator, Maria Parham Health
Volunteer Services of Maria Parham Health will hold a one-day sale featuring holiday gift items from The Peanut Roaster on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The sale will be held inside the John T. Church Classroom.
Please come out and look for a few specials that will only be available here. Supplies are limited.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Henderson Fire Department’s Boot Drive Raises $13K+ for Maria Parham Oncology
On Monday afternoon, Chief Steve Cordell and other representatives with the Henderson Fire Department presented the administration and staff of Maria Parham Health with a check for $13,300 to be used for care and resources for cancer patients.
Over a period of three days in October, the fire department held their second annual Breast Cancer Boot Drive to raise money for Maria Parham Oncology Center’s “Angel Fund.”
The “Angel Fund,” according to Hope Breedlove with Maria Parham Oncology, was created to help patients overcome the financial hardships that serve as barriers to cancer treatment and care.
According to Captain Lee Edmonds, the fire department was proud to top last year’s donation amount. “This is our second year doing the boot drive; last year we raised $11,353,” said Edmonds. “We had our pink boots and helmets out on Dabney Drive in front of Henderson Fire Department Station 1 raising money.”
Chief Steve Cordell and other representatives with the Henderson Fire Department present the administration and staff of Maria Parham Health with a check for $13,300 to be used for care and resources for cancer patients. (WIZS Photo)
While the pink boot drive just wrapped up its second year, Edmonds said the idea to raise funds for breast cancer started five years ago with part-time fire department member Ian Arthur.
“Ian came to Chief one day and asked if the department could get pink shirts made for breast cancer awareness, and Chief said yes. He [Ian] had a design made up, and the guys sold the shirts. That’s when we said we had to have something to give the proceeds to and we found the ‘Angel Fund’ at Maria Parham.”
With t-shirt sales only raising $2,500 – $3,000 each year, Edmonds said Chief Cordell had the idea to try a boot drive instead. “We raised so much more money on the boot drive that we felt we should continue,” said Edmonds.
Edmonds said the firefighters are proud to be a part of a fundraiser that allows Vance County citizens to give back to their fellow community members. “We felt that with this money going to Maria Parham Oncology, it would help our own people in the community. In today’s time, everyone is touched by cancer in some way, whether it is family or friends.”
In addition to being a morale booster for the firefighters, Edmonds said the annual boot drive is also a lot of fun. “With 30 members, each shift wants to outdo the other on their daily amount raised. So it’s always fun at the end of the day when all the guys are standing there waiting for the final number to see who guessed the closest.”
The donated funds also mean a lot to Maria Parham. “It’s hard to put into words what this means to us,” said Breedlove. “In our community, we don’t have a lot of resources for patients. It means a lot to have the support of our fire department and we thank them for coming through and making this possible.”
Breedlove also expressed gratitude for all the community support of this drive. “We are very thankful for everyone who came down Dabney Drive those three days and put money in those pink boots. It’s going to stay right here in Vance County and help our patients here at Maria Parham.”
Gang Free, Inc. to Partner With Community Organizations in Toy Drive for Local Youth
Melissa Elliott, Henderson City Council member and founder of Gang Free, Inc., was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss her organization’s third annual partnership with other community groups in a toy drive for Vance County children.
In collaboration with Franklin-Vance-Warren (F-V-W) Opportunity, Deep South Tattoo and Coffey Bail Bonds, Elliott and the local youth involved with Gang Free will be collecting toys in the parking lot of both Roses locations in Henderson – Dabney Drive and Norlina Road – on Saturday, December 8, 2018, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
According to Elliott, the majority of youth receiving toys will be age 14 and younger. Suggested donations include educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) toys to promote learning, dolls, and winter outerwear such as coats, gloves and hats.
“You can specify the age and gender of the child that you’d like to receive your donation and we’ll make sure it happens,” said Elliott.
Toys will be distributed to local families in need on Friday, December 21. Elliott said the organizations have set a goal of assisting at least 250 families with Christmas toys this year.
“We aren’t trying to make Christmas for every family but hope to provide at least one special toy for a child that otherwise would not receive anything,” said Elliott. “There are a lot of children in our county that don’t receive Christmas toys because their parents just can’t afford it.”
If you are unable to drop your donation off at Roses on Saturday, Elliott said the group will be collecting toys at any of the following locations through Thursday, December 20:
Gang Free, Inc – 940 County Home Rd., Henderson
Deep South Tattoo – 626 Corbitt Rd., Henderson
F-V-W Opportunity – 180 S. Beckford Dr., Henderson
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
H-V Rec. & Parks Announces 2019 Winter Swim Lesson Schedule
-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department announces its 2019 winter swim lesson schedule. Lessons will be held at the Aycock Recreation Center’s swimming pool each Saturday from January 5 – February 9, 2019.
Parent-Tot Swim Lessons (6 months – 3 years old) – This class introduces being in the water in a safe and friendly environment using games to learn basic swimming skills. Parents in the water with children.
Preschool Swim Lessons (3 – 5 years old) – This class introduces being in the water in a safe and friendly environment using games to learn basic swimming skills. Parents are not in the water with children.
Beginner Swim Lessons (5 – 13 years old) – This class teaches basic swimming skills.
Advance Swim Lessons (5 -14 years old) – This class includes gliding off the pool wall and rolling over onto front and back. A combination of arms and legs in stroke is required. This class will also introduce the breast and back stroke.
Adult Swim Lessons (14 years old and older) – This class teachers basic swimming skills.
Fee of $30 is due, along with completed registration form, by Thursday, January 3, 2019. Class instructor will be Tanya Edwards.
For more information, please contact Aquatics Program Supervisor Lauren Newlin at 252.438.3160 or email lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us.
