WIZS Local News Audio 5-27-21 Noon
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TownTalk 05-27-21 Memorial Day Weekend
Host John C. Rose discusses Memorial Day Weekend travel and honoring soldiers.
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WIZS Local News Audio 05-26-21 Noon
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The Local Skinny! May 26 Home And Garden Show
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The Local Skinny! each Wednesday on WIZS is the Vance County Cooperative Extension Service Home and Garden Show.
TownTalk 05-26-21 Jayden Watkins Helping Others To Reach ‘Higher Heights’
Like most teenagers, Jayden Watkins likes to spend time on social media, watching TV and talking with other kids his age. But unlike other kids, Watkins is a preacher, a podcast host and author.
Watkins is completing 7th grade at Henderson Collegiate this year. He and Town Talk host John C. Rose spoke earlier in the week. The conversation was recorded for presentation Wednesday because Watkins is in school when the show airs.
“I love what I do and all the honor goes to God,” Watkins said. His podcast is called The Preferable Podcast, and the title comes from a song that – you guessed it – the young man wrote. The podcast launched in March 2020, “right when we hit the pandemic,” he said, adding that he wanted to create a “platform for people to come and learn how to make themselves a better person and then make a better world.”
The song is dedicated to his community, he said, and he wrote it in response to numerous negative things that were happening in the area. “I was trying to help other people, most of all, to leave the past behind them and reach the heights that God would have them reach,” he said.
“Higher Heights: The Past Is Behind Me And The Future Is Before Me is the title of the book he wrote – when he was a preteen. It contains 40 devotionals and targets young people between 13-18 years.
Watkins will have a book-signing on June 13 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Tiffany’s, 110 S. Garnett St., in downtown Henderson.
Watkins said he remembered getting a little pushback from people when he was writing his book. “’What does a 9-year-old have to say?’” he said he heard from naysayers. That skepticism, which he called a roadblock, “only proves that you are doing something right,” he said. Being told he was too young to be preaching, too young to write a book, served to inspire him to persevere.
“I have a desire to encourage people,” Watkins said. The podcast is one way that he uses social media in a positive way and to provide encouragement. Along with special guests and different perspectives, the podcast includes motivational quotes to help people start their day, Watkins said.
His twin sister, Jaydah, has contributed in her own way to the podcast, Watkins said. He admits that his exposure to music popular with young people was limited, but Jaydah introduced him to hip-hop. When he listened to some of the lyrics, he could better incorporate positive messages to reach his audience.
Way back when Watkins was 9 years old, he preached his first sermon. What he called his “debut message” was given at Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church. Since then, he has preached at Nutbush and Big Ruin Creek. Watkins said he remembers his grandfather recording him as a 9-year-old so he could practice and become a better public speaker.
Yamlet Foster is Jayden’s mom. “She helps me with my ministry,” he said. “She makes sure I have what I need and that I am happy.”
He said he hopes to study political science and biblical studies in college, but he hasn’t decided which school he would like to attend.
Watkins’s book is available for purchase online at retail outlets including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target.
Click play for Jayden’s TownTalk broadcast audio.
SportsTalk 5-25-21 Malia Simmons, Vance County High School
Just after graduation from Vance County High School yesterday, Vipers Softball player Malia Simmons signed a letter of intent to play for Winston-Salem State yesterday. Simmons, who has set a number of school records, began as a Southern Vance Raider but finished her high school career as a Vance County Viper. “We were not the best. We had what we had. We had to make it work,” Simmons said about her high school years.
In addition to playing softball at Winston-Salem State, Simmons will be majoring in nursing. She said Winston-Salem State has one of the top nursing programs in the state and after talking to the school’s head softball coach, she said choosing the school was the best decision for her.
“Super Excited,” said Kim Simmons, Malia’s mother, about the choice of schools. “She had several college offers,” added Ms. Simmons. Kim said of her daughter, “I didn’t expect her to succeed like she has.” She also encouraged her daughter by telling her, “Reach for your dreams, the sky is the limit.”
“I’m really proud of the choice she is making,” said Malia’s father when asked about her decision to attend Winston-Salem State.
In addition to school and softball Malia also worked full time creating a difficult schedule for her and her parents. The hard work and commitment has paid off for Malia as she will continue her softball career and further her education at Winston-Salem State.
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WIZS Local News Audio 05-25-21 Noon
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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance
In partnership with the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce…Jobs in Vance on WIZS for the Week of May 25, 2021…The Chamber compiles and provides the information, and it is presented here and on the radio.
Name of the Company: Supply Line Country Market
Jobs Available: Cashier
Method of Contact: Stop by store located at 235 Raleigh Rd. or call 252-438-2836
Name of the Company: Charles Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC of Henderson, NC
Jobs Available: Automotive Service Technician – Experience with 2 plus years preferred with certifications
Contact Person: Tony Crabtree
Method of Contact: Stop by showroom or call 252-492-6161
Name of the Company: Legacy Human Services
Jobs Available: Director of Mental Health Services – This part-time position serves to administratively and clinically manage the mental health line of business which includes: The ADP Center, Warren Street Group Home, and Burnette Road Apartments.
Substance Abuse Aide – This part-time position serves as a presence and a resource within the adult male substance abuse halfway house.
Part-time Direct Support Professionals (DSP) for our group homes which are 24-hour residential facilities serving adults with Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren Counties. These positions are for every other weekend and require sleepover.
Qualified Substance Abuse Professional – The primary purpose of this full-time position is to provide LCAS clinical services as a member of the Assertive Community Treatment Team.
Contact Person: Laura Newton
Method of Contact: If you are interested, please come by our office at 626 S. Garnett Street in Henderson for an application or call 252-438-6700 ext. 204 for more information.
Name of the Company: Vance Charter School
Jobs Available: K- 8 Math Interventionist
Contact Person: Julie Finch
Method of Contact: If you are interested please send a resume to Julie Finch at finchj@vancecharter.org
Name of the Company: Vance Charter School
Jobs Available: School Social Worker/ Counselor
Contact Person: Brian Mathis
Method of Contact: If you are interested please send a resume to Brian Mathis at mathisb@vancecharter.org
Name of the Company: M.R. William, Inc.
Jobs Available: Repack Order Selector and Cooler Freezer Order Selector – 2nd Shift Operation. Sunday – Thursday starting at 7 a.m. daily. Also hiring for Sales Support
Contact Person: Kristy Granger – Human Resources Director
Method of Contact: They can website at www.mrwilliams.com / About / Careers to apply for any open positions or email their resume to kgranger@mrwilliams.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. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.
TownTalk 05-25-21 There’s Lots Going On In Granville County – For Locals and Tourists
From farmer’s markets and flock swaps to sports tournaments and bee extravaganzas, Angela Allen says there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Granville County.
Allen is the county’s tourism director and talked with John C. Rose Tuesday on Town Talk about a variety of upcoming events of interest to anyone looking for ways to get out and enjoy the springtime – and looser COVID-19 restrictions.
All during the pandemic, Allen said she was getting the word out about supporting local businesses. “Now, they can really get out and support them,” she said. And it’s not just local folks supporting local businesses, she said. People from outside the area “want to get on the road and explore neighboring counties – they want to get away,” Allen said. Advertising with a statewide reach has helped her help local businesses, she said.
“We’ve laid the groundwork for people to come and explore the area as we slowly but surely open back up,” Allen added.
It may be something of a new phenomenon, but in the post-COVID world “people are really starting to search in their own backyards to see what they can ‘get into’ and how they can support local businesses,” Allen said.
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The Creedmoor Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is located at the American Legion building, 50 Legion St., Creedmoor. The Oxford Farmers Market is open on Saturday mornings 7 a.m. to noon. It is located at the corner of McClanahan and Lanier streets, near the police station.
If you’d rather go visit the farm itself, check out Lyon Farms in Creedmoor, Christmas Place Farms in Bullock or Dixon Farms outside Oxford for fresh strawberries, plentiful right now.
For a complete list of farms close by or across the state, download the Visitncfarms app, Allen said.
There are a couple of Memorial Day events – one at the Veterans Memorial at City Hall in Oxford and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Butner Gazebo at 10 a.m.
Although traditional media outlets continue to be effective ways to reach a wide audience, social media outlets have also become popular when it comes to “getting the word out” about events. Allen said she used to get information 3-6 months in advance of an event so she could promote it, “that window has gotten a lot shorter” since COVID, she said.
“As soon as I get the information, I try to put it up on website and social media,” Allen said. Sometimes, the event comes together in just a couple of weeks. “It’s a little bit ‘off trend’ now, but in the era of COVID, it can almost be on the day of the event” that people decide to attend.
Creedmoor’s new recreation center will kick off a “First Friday” event for families on June 4 at 7 p.m. The theme for the first event is “Wildlife” – a wildlife expert will show off some special animals and then have a “meet and greet” session, Allen said. There will be food trucks and other activities.
Southern States in Oxford is the site of a June 20 Flock Swap, where folks can find small farm animals, as well as other farm products like eggs, honey, plants. This event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Granville Beekeepers will host its annual Bee Jubilee on June 26 at the Expo Center on Hwy. 15 south of Oxford. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and beekeepers will share information about bees and pollinators. There will be a bevy of bee products available, as well as a kids zone and a farmers market.
Also on June 26, Dogs Deserve Better of Piedmont will host a Family Fun Fair at The Barn at Vino in Stem. There will be food trucks, live music, outdoor games and more than 40 vendors.
Learn more at visitgranvillenc.com.
(Granville Tourism and specifically visitgranvillenc.com is a sponsor of WIZS and wizs.com. This is not a paid ad.)
The Local Skinny! Public Hearing June 7 To Discuss Proposed County Budget
WIZS – The Local Skinny! May 24
The proposed Vance County budget is in its final stages, and could be approved as early as June 7, when the next public hearing is scheduled, according to County Manager Jordan D. McMillen.
“We are looking to hold the tax rate steady at 89 cents per $100 in value and are not proposing any increases in water usage fees or fire tax,” Jordan said in a written statement to WIZS News Monday.
The solid waste household fee most likely will rise from $117 to $120 to assist in covering increasing disposal costs, as well as a “large influx of solid waste that has been seen during the pandemic,” McMillen said.
The major increase in revenue in the new budget comes from sales tax revenue, he noted. The current budget – created in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – was conservative in anticipated sales tax revenue, McMillen said. He expects an additional $2 million in sales tax revenue over the current budget, and that bump will help the county avoid a tax increase for the coming year.
“Without the increase in sales tax, we would have been in a much different situation that could have facilitated a tax increase for the coming year,” he said.
On the property tax side and tax base we are expecting a $20 million increase in the county tax base, which will bring in roughly $100,000 in property tax revenue. McMillen said the county typically sees between $100,000 to $200,000 in property tax increases each year.
The county will begin a revaluation process in early 2022, which will result in new property values in 2024. Based on the current market, the department of revenue is telling us our tax values are significantly lower than what properties are selling for, McMillen said. “With this in mind, property owners are getting a better value than we are taxing currently.”
“All in all, the board appears satisfied thus far with our budget work for next fiscal year,” McMillen said. He presented the recommended budget earlier this month, and the commissioners have held two work sessions since then – one on May 11 and a second on May 13. Commissioners may elect to approve the budget following the June 7 public hearing, McMillen said, or may decide to call an additional work session before the budget is adopted.