Each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on WIZS 1450 AM / 100.1 FM Your Community Voice, “The Local Skinny!” will feature the Home and Garden Show.
Vance County Cooperative Extension agents Paul McKenzie and Wayne Rowland announce the show each week live and take phone calls at 492-5594 with home, lawn and garden questions.
During the week, you can also call them directly in their office downtown at 438-8188.
Home and Garden Show Podcast of March 17, 2021.
In “The Local Skinny!” audio podcast listed below, please find calls and emails with items for sale plus Wayne Rowland’s Vance Co. Cooperative Extension Report for Monday, March 15.
“The Local Skinny!” news topic planned for the day today was actually presented as the second segment of TownTalk today and pertained to Vance County Fire Reorganization. The script used was from the today’s (Monday, March 15) Vance County public safety committee meeting agenda packet.
One goal of the Vance County Commissioners, as set in an earlier retreat, is to bring closure to the fire reorganization discussion. The committee members are Commissioner Brummitt, Commissioner Faines, and Commissioner Wilder.
And, TownTalk on Tuesday, March 16 (tomorrow) will feature Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen with information from the meeting.
To catch up to the present, you can read the script below. The audio link here (or click the TownTalk logo to the right) has the script and some analysis as well.
Re-evaluation of Fire Reorganization
Committee Summary from August 2020 – Last Discussion on Fire Reorganization
In February 2019 the board voted to continue the Goldenbelt fire district in its current structure. During the retreat in January 2020, a commissioner brought up the fire reorganization plan and the board asked the committee to review the plan. At its June 30, and July 21, 2020 meetings, the committee reviewed and discussed organizational charts and an updated financial analysis associated with the reorganization plan. At its July 21, 2020 meeting the committee reviewed the updated financial analysis as prepared by county finance staff. The analysis indicates the plan would create an initial savings of $281,791 on the general fund while creating a $206,136 deficit on the fire tax fund which would require a 1.2 cent fire tax increase. The finance director discussed concerns with transferring monies from the general fund to the fire fund to cover the deficit and mentioned state law within the budget and fiscal control act that prevents paying for a service fund deficit with general fund monies. Committee members mentioned management, HR, and potential legal concerns with the plan having county fire employees report to county policies while also being subject to non-county operational policies with the employees physically being located in a volunteer station and operating volunteer department equipment. The committee then reviewed input from the Fire Association indicating that the fire association members had too many questions and concerns with the proposal to support its passage. As requested by the board, the committee has reviewed the plan and based upon input gathered and concerns raised, the committee recommended (2-1 vote) not proceeding with further conversations on the reorganization plan. For Your Information.
Board Actions related to Fire Reorganization
Each Wednesday “The Local Skinny!” is the Home and Garden Show, which features co-hosts Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie of the Vance County Cooperative Extension service.
Vance County COOP agents and staff can be reached throughout the week locally at 438-8188.
As you will hear in today’s podcast below, listener calls at 492-5594 with questions or comments pertaining to your home and garden are more than welcome.
Listen each Wednesday throughout the year at 11:30 a.m.
Brent Montgomery is in a fight with Covid 19. The Henderson resident and North Carolina State Trooper has been hospitalized with the virus since Feb. 1st. 1st Sgt. Jeff Rowan, who works with Montgomery at the Highway Patrol, spoke with Trey Snide about Brent and a chicken plate fund raiser that will take place Thursday starting at 11:30 a.m.
“He is a pivotal part of our team,” Rowan said of Montgomery. Montgomery is a field training officer, taser instructor and heads up the school safety program with the highway patrol. Rowan also said that Montgomery has “done a lot for the community both on and off duty.” “As you can tell by the outreach from the community, he is well known and well liked here.” Rowan said the support of the community has been overwhelming.
With the help of local businesses who have covered the costs of Thursday’s fund raiser, 100% of the proceeds will go to the Montgomery family. According to Rowan, tomorrow’s goal is to sell 2000 plates at $10 each. The location of the fund raiser is the old Charles Boyd Cadillac building located at 284 158 Bypass here in Henderson.
“All we can ask from anybody is to keep praying,” Rowan said.
According to Brian Short, director of Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations, now is the time to be prepared for Spring storms. This is the season that the threat of severe thunderstorms with the potential for lightning, tornadoes and flash flooding can occur. These conditions can develop rapidly with little advance warning. Short says that a great way to be prepared for severe weather is to update family emergency plans and supply kits before the severe weather season gets underway.
This week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in North Carolina and serves as a reminder to all, the importance of planning for unexpected thunderstorms and tornadoes that could impact our area.
A tornado drill will be conducted on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and all government agencies, businesses and schools are encouraged to participate. During the exercise, participants are encouraged to practice severe weather safety plans and seek shelter on the lowest floor of your building, keeping away from windows while continuing to practice social distancing and wearing masks.
Preparation for severe weather is critical. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service have combined forces to encourage residents to plan and prepare. Emergency officials recommend the following safety tips:
Develop a family emergency plan so each member knows what to do, where to go and who to call during an emergency.
Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room away from windows.
Know the terms: WATCH means severe weather is possible. WARNING means severe weather is occurring; take shelter immediately.
Assemble an emergency supply kit for use at home or in your vehicle. Make sure to include a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water.
If driving, leave your vehicle immediately to seek shelter in a safe structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle and do not stop under an overpass or bridge.
If there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area.
If a severe weather warning is issued it’s also important to knew where to go. If you are at home it is suggested that you should go to a basement, under stairs or in a bathroom or closet.
If you are at work, the basement, if available, should be your first choice if not, then stairwells, bathrooms or closets are also options.
For school buildings it is suggested to seek shelter in inside hallways, small closets and bathrooms. Mobile classrooms, gymnasiums and auditoriums are not good places to shelter due to expansive roofs.
If you get caught outside in a storm you should try to find a sturdy building and if that is not an option, a ditch or other low-lying area can be used but remember to cover your head and watch for flying debris.
If you are in a car, pull over and seek shelter in a building, don’t try to outrun a tornado.
For more information visit www.readync.org.
March is Women’s History Month and Vance-Granville Community College has put together a series of programs and resources that are just a click of the mouse away for anyone who would like to participate and learn more.
Natasha Thompson, a history instructor at VGCC, spoke with John C. Rose Monday – International Women’s Day – on The Local Skinny about the various virtual events that will take place in March to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of women.
The theme “No Limits, No Obstacles, No Ceilings: Fighting for a Future of Limitless Potential” is adapted from a speech delivered by then-President Barack Obama in honor of Women’s History Month, Thompson said.
The virtual sessions begin at noon on Mar. 11, Mar. 18 and Mar. 24 and are open to the public; it is not necessary to be a VGCC student, she added. The programs promote women’s history, as well as current conditions and how women can move into the future, she noted.
The Mar. 11 topic is how to stay healthy while maintaining a busy lifestyle. An agent with Warren County Cooperative Extension will lead this program. A panel discussion is scheduled for Mar. 18 and will include VGCC faculty, staff and other community leaders. The panel will discuss historical factors that have limited women in the past, as well as “big-picture” changes and ways current and future VGCC students can work to continue to overcome barriers, Thompson said.
The final topic on Mar. 24 is titled “Minority Women’s Guide to Financial Confidence.” Faith Bynum, a certified public accountant in Raleigh, will lead this workshop on overcoming financial stigmas for minority women.
Visit vgcc.edu to find the links to register for the virtual workshops. Also on the website is a LibGuide, a compilation of additional online events, books and other resources to learn more about Women’s History Month.
(Audio with Natasha Thompson begins at the 8:30 mark of the file)
Each Wednesday “The Local Skinny!” is the Home and Garden Show, which features co-hosts Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie of the Vance County Cooperative Extension service.
Vance County COOP agents and staff can be reached throughout the week locally at 438-8188.
As you will hear in today’s podcast below, listener calls at 492-5594 with questions or comments pertaining to your home and garden are more than welcome.
Listen each Wednesday throughout the year at 11:30 a.m.
On “The Local Skinny!” today, with the podcast audio below:
“The Local Skinny!” will always take your calls at 492-5594. Call with items to buy or sell. Call with a gripe or praise or question or comment. Let us know about something in the news you’d like to know more about.
Mark Pace, director of the North Carolina Room at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford was the guest on The Local Skinny! on Thursday. He said that while the library has limited access and hours the library is open to the public from 10am to 12 Noon and 2pm to 4pm Monday through Friday and the North Carolina Room is also open, by appointment only, from 10am to 12 Noon and 2pm to 4pm Monday through Wednesday and Friday. The Library is currently allowing 30 minute access to computers along with access to copiers. Tax forms are also available and patrons can use curbside service to check out books.
The North Carolina Room is currently allowing one person or one couple at a time to come into the room to conduct research. Those interested in making an appointment to visit the North Carolina Room can call 919-693-1121 to do so. Pace says, “I’m twice as busy as I was before the pandemic and I’ve doubled the number of patrons.”
Recent additions to the collection at the North Carolina Room include 355 genealogy books from an estate in Maryland, eight boxes of film negatives from the J.B. Clay estate, 100 books from the estate of Elizabeth Hicks Hummel who was a local historian active in the 1950’s and 1960’s, along with what Pace called, “nice cash donations”.
With 46 years of genealogical research experience Pace is available through the North Carolina Room at Thornton Library to help with all types of historical and genealogical research. Once again the phone number is 919-693-1121. Thornton Library is located at 210 S. Main St. in Oxford.
On “The Local Skinny!” today, with the podcast audio below:
“The Local Skinny!” will always take your calls at 492-5594. Call with items to buy or sell. Call with a gripe or praise or question or comment. Let us know about something in the news you’d like to know more about.
“The Local Skinny!” will always take your calls at 492-5594. Call with items to buy or sell. Call with a gripe or praise or question or comment. Let us know about something in the news you’d like to know more about.
Below is our rundown for the Tuesday, Feb. 23 show as well as the audio podcast.
11:30 a.m. – Your Calls and Items
11:40 a.m. – Follow Up on Call from Yesterday about Andrea Harris
11:45 a.m. – Sports Flash about High School Playoff Basketball Tonight and High School Football Thursday on WIZS
11:50 a.m. – Vance County Cooperative Extension Report with Paul McKenzie on spring gardening
