Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: The Platinum Rule
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Tag Archive for: #thelocalskinny
Home And Garden Show
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
- Protect Lawn equipment by putting your contact information on the equipment, also photo equipment for insurance purposes.
- Chop up fresh garden herbs, place in ice cube trays, then fill with water and freeze. Save the herb cubes to add to your soups and stews over the winter.
- Start planning your fall landscape projects now
- Check out the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox to research plants for those fall landscape projects.
- Know what to plant and when in the garden with a copy of the Central piedmont planting guide
- Make plans for tall fescue fertilization and/or seeding in early September.
- Share excess vegetables with friends and neighbors who don’t have a garden.
- Make sure leftover garden seed is stored in a cool, dry location, or even better in the refrigerator or freezer.
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The Local Skinny! Louisburg College To Host Alumni Event
Alumni of Louisburg College are invited to the first of what, hopefully, will be many alumni socials in Durham this Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Hope Valley Country Club, 3803 Dover Rd. in Durham. The school’s Alitha Palich, Vice-President of Institutional Advancement and Kristen Hanzer-Powell, Director of Alumni Engagement and Community Outreach, joined Bill Harris on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny to talk about the event and the college.
“The event was started by alumni who wanted to be able to have events that were a little more localized,” Palich said. “We have included folks from Vance, Granville, Franklin Counties and the surrounding area,” Palich continued. Louisburg College has traditionally been the destination for many students in rural areas, and this event will give former students across several decades a chance to come to enjoy an afternoon of food, drinks, festivities and to have a great time with old and new friends who all shared the Louisburg College experience.
Other alumni events coming up are Homecoming in October on the 27th and 28th at the college on Main St. in Louisburg and the Golden Anniversary Club event next spring. The latter event is geared towards those who graduated fifty or more years ago but both events are open to everyone.
Smaller events do take place as well. “It’s a work in progress and we are trying to see where we can go with it, post-covid,” said Hanzer-Powell.
For those alumni here in Vance County as well as Granville, Warren and Franklin counties and all who would like to attend the event on Saturday, you should contact Kristen Hanzer-Powell at Louisburg College at 919-497-1244.
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Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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The Local Skinny! NCDHHS Prepares For Medicaid Expansion
-information courtesy of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced Oct. 1 is the anticipated start date for Medicaid expansion, which could make more than 600,000 state residents eligible to participate in the insurance program.
Medicaid expansion in North Carolina would increase the eligible population to adults aged 19-64 who have incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level on Oct. 1. The General Assembly still must act by Sept. 1 to set the wheels in motion.
The expansion would give health care coverage to single individuals making under about $20,000 a year. Likewise, a family of three earning under about $34,000 combined will now be eligible. Beneficiaries will get care the same way as existing Medicaid beneficiaries and be eligible for the same comprehensive benefits and copays as other non-disabled adults in Medicaid, according to information from DHHS.
“We are thankful for leadership and partnership in passing Medicaid Expansion which will save lives, increase access to care and bring billions of dollars to North Carolina,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “Moving forward now sets the department on a path to be able to get health care coverage to thousands of people as soon as possible.”
NCDHHS has opened for public comment the State Plan Amendment for Medicaid Expansion’s Alternative Benefit Plan, a legal document required to be submitted to the federal government.
Interested individuals may submit public comment at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/medex-state-plan-amendment-new-medicaid-expansion-20230726/download?attachment.
DHHS officials have stated that Medicaid expansion “will be transformative for access to health care in rural areas, for better mental health and for veterans, working adults and their families while bringing billions in federal dollars to the state.”
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Pesticides
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Your Car’s Air Conditioning
— For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.
In this summer heat, drivers want to be able to count on their cars’ air conditioning to keep them cool. But what to do if the air coming from the vents provides little, if any, relief?
The first thing to consider is whether the vehicle’s cooling system has enough refrigerant. The staff at Advance Auto Parts can help owners choose the right refrigerant for your make and model.
WIZS’s own John Stevenson joined co-host Bill Harris on Thursday’s segment of Pop the Hood. Stevenson, himself a do-it-yourself when it comes to maintaining his own cars, said lack of refrigerant is the most common reason a vehicle’s AC unit isn’t performing properly.
This is especially true with older vehicles, he explained, that have seals that start to go bad.
“It’ll work in the summer, but in the winter, the seals will start to shrink and some of that gas will start to seep out.” Then, when you next call on the AC to work its magic, it won’t cool.
Adding refrigerant is the quick fix – replacing a faulty compressor is more involved, Stevenson said. And way more expensive.
Whether you take your vehicle to a repair shop or try to do it yourself, Stevenson said it’s important to flush the system of refrigerant before the work begins. A bad compressor can throw pieces of shrapnel through the cooling system, he explained, and if it’s not removed, it could wreck the newly installed one.
It could take a do-it-yourselfer a few hours to replace a compressor, depending on its location under the hood, among other things.
“If you’re handy and have the tools,” it’s not that bad, Stevenson said. “But it can be a pain,” he said, because you have to disconnect lines and remove belts to get to the compressor that also has to be removed.
Make sure you replace something called a “receiver dryer” while you’re at it, he suggested, because it tends to get clogged up over time. “Replace it just to be on the safe side,” he said.
The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS. Safety First! Always seek proper help. This is presented for its informational value on and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Raising Chickens
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Home And Garden Show
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
- Make plans for your fall garden.Ex seed, transplants
- Be cautious with extended control herbicides.
- Remember Lawn Mower safety. Check for objects in the lawn. NO Extra Riders
- Stay diligent with weed control in landscape plantings.
- Know what to plant and when in the garden with a copy of the Central piedmont planting guide
- Use directed sprays for weed control by using a cardboard shield.
- Let children help in the garden. Teach them now and it will benefit them when they become adults
- Be cautious spraying weeds in and near ponds.
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Henderson Municipal Election 2023 Updates
— UPDATE 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 25
One candidate for the Ward 3 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council has withdrawn from the race and one of the five mayoral candidates faces a challenge that calls into question his eligibility.
Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan confirmed Tuesday that Daniel Blasky has withdrawn his name from consideration in the nonpartisan municipal elections set for Oct. 10.
Vance County GOP chairman Jimmy Barrier issued a statement to WIZS News, which read in part: ” After much consideration, Daniel Blasky has decided to withdraw his name from the ballot for Ward 3 At-Large seat on the Henderson City Council to support Michelle Wood in her campaign for that seat. They are friends and have come together to work for the common good.”
Wallace Cheek’s candidacy has been challenged, Vaughan said, adding that this challenge will be heard on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Board of Elections conference before the regularly scheduled board meeting.
Vaughan said Cheek’s residency is in question. At the hearing, Cheek will have to prove that he lives at the address he listed when he filed to run for mayor.
The Aug. 1 hearing is open to the public.
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— UPDATE 3 p.m., Friday, July 21
With the filing period now ended for the upcoming municipal elections in Henderson, the stage is set for possible sweeping changes in the makeup of city leadership. Only one incumbent filed for re-election for his seat on the council; three current council members have filed to run for mayor.
The filing period ended at 12 noon Friday and Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, who provided daily updates to WIZS each afternoon during the two-week filing period, said all candidates are eligible to run for the offices for which they filed.
Henderson voters will choose from among five candidates for mayor. Current Mayor Eddie Ellington announced last week that he would not seek a third term.
The candidates for mayor are:
Wallace Cheek
Sara Coffey
Melissa Elliott
Greg Etheridge
Jason Spriggs
Coffey, Elliott and Spriggs currently sit on the Henderson City Council; only Coffey would be eligible to retain her spot on the council, since she is not up for re-election this year.
Incumbent Mike Rainey filed Thursday, July 20 for re-election to Ward 2. Rainey faces opposition from Sam Seifert and Janice Ward.
Ward 1 has a four-way race, with candidates Geraldine Champion, Symia Crews, Clementine Hunter and Corey Pearson vying for the seat currently held by Marion Brodie Williams. Williams did not file for re-election.
There are now four candidates for the Ward 3 at-large seat and three candidates for the Ward 4 at-large seat.
Kory H. Franklin filed Friday to run for the Ward 3 at-large seat, joining Daniel Blasky, Michael Venable and Michelle Horner Wood; Melissa Elliott is the current council member for that seat.
Former City Council member George M. Daye is seeking to return to the council, filing Friday for the seat he previously held in Ward 4. The two-term council member joins Lora Durham, and Tami Walker, who previously had filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat. The Ward 4 at-large seat is currently held by Jason Spriggs. Wallace Evans withdrew his name for consideration on Friday, Vaughan said.
The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is Oct. 10; early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
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(PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHAT’S BELOW IS A RUNNING ACCOUNT AND NOT THE FINAL STORY. THE FINAL STORY IS ABOVE.)
— UPDATE 5 p.m., Thursday, July 20
The filing period will end at 12 noon Friday, and presently at least a three-way race exists for each seat available, including a five-way race for mayor and a four-way race for the ward 1 ward seat.
Two additional people filed Thursday, and both filed for the Ward 2 seat. Incumbent Mike Rainey filed, and Sam Seifert filed. So far, Rainey is the only incumbent to file for re-election, in terms of filing for his/her existing seat.
Three sitting council members have filed to run for mayor, and Mayor Eddie Ellington has said he will not seek a third term.
Ward 1 incumbent Marion Williams has not filed to run. While Williams has made no official statement to WIZS nor any statement to local media that WIZS News is aware of, the number of filers from her ward and the public general consensus indicate she will not file.
The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is October 10. Early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.
At present, the following races exist:
Filings for Mayor
Wallace Cheek
Sara Coffey
Melissa Elliott
Greg Etheridge
Jason Spriggs
Ward 1
Geraldine Champion
Symia Crews
Clementine Hunter
Corey Pearson
Ward 2
Mike Rainey (Incumbent)
Sam Seifert
Janice Ward
Ward 3 At Large
Daniel Blasky
Michael Venable
Michelle Horner Wood
Ward 4 At Large
Lora Durham
Wallace Evans
Tami Walker
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 19
A fourth candidate filed Wednesday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson City Council, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.
Symia Crews added her name to the list for the Ward 1 seat.
The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 18
The field is getting a bit more crowded for a couple of Henderson City Council seats, as three more candidates filed Tuesday, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.
Wallace Evans and Tami Walker filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, currently held by Jason Spriggs. Corey Pearson filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.
That brings to three candidates each for the Ward 1 seat, and the at-large seats in Wards 3 and 4.
Janice Ward is the sole candidate thus far in the Ward 2 race.
The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Monday, July 17
According to information Monday afternoon from Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, Wallace Cheek has filed for the second time to run for mayor of Henderson. This brings to five the number of candidates vying for the office of mayor.
Two others have filed for seats on the Henderson City Council – Michelle Horner Wood filed for the Ward 3 at-large seat and Lora Durham filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, Vaughan reported Monday.
Susan Pulley filed Monday for commissioner for the town of Kittrell; Robert B. Tunstall filed Friday, July 14 for commissioner for the town of Kittrell.
The filing period for the upcoming municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
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— UPDATE 7 p.m., Thursday, July 13
There is now a four-way race for mayor of Henderson following Jason Spriggs’s filing today. Spriggs currently holds the Ward 4 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council.
Clementine Hunter also filed Thursday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson council, according to Melody Vaughan, director of the Vance County Board of Elections. Geraldine Champion had already filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, which is currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.
The Ward 3 at-large seat is also a contested race, with both Daniel Blasky and Michael Venable candidates who have filed to run. This seat currently is being held by Melissa Elliott, who is one of the mayoral candidates. Sara Coffey is the other council member who has announced her candidacy for mayor. Coffey is the only one of the three council members who could retain her seat on the council since her term is not ending.
Gregory Etheridge filed Wednesday to run for mayor. Etheridge is president of Gupton Services.
The Ward 4 at-large seat remains without a filer at this time, since Spriggs put his hat into the ring with his filing Thursday.
Janice Ward filed for the Ward 2 seat, currently held by Mike Rainey.
The filing period continues through 12 noon on Friday, July 21.
The municipal election is Oct. 10 and there will be an early voting period, but the early voting polling sites have not been determined at this time, Vaughan said.
Hazel Baskett has filed for a seat on the Middleburg Town Council.
Mary Jo Floyd has filed to run for Kittrell town commissioner.
Wallace Cheek had filed to run for mayor of Henderson, but state elections officials removed his name late Tuesday after it was confirmed he does not live within the Henderson city limits.