Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Fruit Tree Pruning
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Vance County Schools Director of Communication Aarika Sandlin accepted 10 Blue Ribbon Awards during a virtual ceremony last week, and Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett called Sandlin’s creativity and commitment to sharing the accomplishments of students and staff is to be commended.
During the awards ceremony on Feb. 11, 2022, the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) recognized VCS for outstanding and effective communication across several categories, from graphic design to digital and electronic media.
VCS received three Gold level awards for outstanding work in Image and Graphic Design (2) and Special Events, three Silver level awards for work in Digital Media and Special Events (2) and four Bronze level awards given in Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing and Publications (2).
The judges praised the work, sharing it was “superb work from start to finish!” This is another strong finish for Vance County Schools, having earned nine Blue Ribbon awards in 2020.
In a written statement to WIZS News, Bennett said Sandlin “works diligently to ensure that publications, social media posts and presentations tell the story of the innovative spirit of students and staff.”
Ken Derksen, NCSPRA president and executive director for community engagement & student and family support for Wayne County Public Schools, said the work of the award winners exemplifies the high standards and qualities members demonstrate in their daily school communications programs. “Blue Ribbon Awards are among the highest and most prestigious honors that a member of our organization can attain. I congratulate all of this year’s winners for achieving statewide recognition as a Blue Ribbon Award winner. These awards highlight the superior work being accomplished in the area of school communications and all that our members are doing to support and promote public schools across North Carolina,” Derksen said.
NCSPRA recognizes outstanding communications through its Blue Ribbon Awards program each year. Vance County Schools was one of 37 school districts statewide to receive a Blue Ribbon Award. This year’s submission categories included: Marketing, Digital Media Engagement, Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing, Publications, Image/Graphic Design, Photography, and Special Projects and Events. The Georgia School Public Relations Association judged NCSPRA’s 2021 Blue Ribbon entries.
During the virtual event, Nicole Kirby, president of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) paid tribute to award winners and thanked all North Carolina school districts for their efforts to effectively communicate during difficult times. Kirby praised the districts and their communications teams for the powerful way they have responded to help parents, students, and staff during the COVID crisis. “At a time when we are all under extraordinary pressure, you have continued to produce award-winning work,” Kirby said.
NCSPRA is a statewide professional organization serving more than 150 members. Its mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations. For more information, visit the NCSPRA Facebook page or www.ncspra.org.
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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
Area fire departments and the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department are teaming up to host a free Junior Firefighter Program for young people while they’re out of school for spring break.
Vance County Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Wright said the three-day program will be a way to help educate youngsters between the ages of 11-15 about fire safety. But they’ll also get the chance to check out those shiny red fire engines and all the equipment and tools that firefighters use.
Wright spoke Thursday with John C. Rose on The Local Skinny! to discuss the program, which was first held in 2019. COVID-19 forced cancellation in 2020 and 2021, but “we’re kicking it back off this year,” Wright said.
Parents must register their child at Aycock Recreation Center by March 27. The program is open to the first 15 participants. The program will take place April 18-20, 2022.
The participants will tour the city and county fire departments, EMS and Rescue Squad. The Henderson Fire Department will provide their smoke trailer and the young people can experience simulated smoke conditions.
They’ll learn the importance of knowing two ways out of their house in case of a fire, as well as having a designated meeting place that all family members know about in case they get separated in a fire emergency.
In addition to safe home evacuations, the participants will learn safety basics of water rescue and removing victims from vehicles in an emergency.
“They’ll have projects to work on through the program,” Wright said, and then they will get the chance to present those projects to city and county officials at a culminating activity at the end of the three-day event.
“The guys here at the fire department love it,” Wright said of their participation in the junior firefighter program.
“It’s a good program that Kendrick (Vann) brought to our attention a few years ago,” Wright said, referring to the HVPRD director.
The junior firefighter program is a way to help draw interest from the younger crowd, which could result in a young person wanting to become a volunteer firefighter or even make it a career.
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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN
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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for February 8, 2022. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.
JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of February 08, 2022
Name of the Company: Vance County Sheriff’s Department
Jobs Available: Maintenance person for the Vance County Detention Center
Method of Contact: If interested please call Major Shelton or Captain Moss @252-438-3923
Name of the Company: Vance County Schools
Jobs Available: Communications Coordinator
Method of Contact: For more information and to apply go online to www.indeed.com
Name of the Company: Turning Point CDC
Jobs Available: Group Leader of Creating Success After School – Involved in the planning, implementation, evaluating and delivery of program for youth ages 5-12. All applicants must be available to work on-site Monday – Friday 2:00 – 5:30 pm and must have a valid driver’s license.
Method of Contact: Applicants can apply by visiting www.turningpointcdc.org/get-involved and can call 252-621-5190 with questions
Name of the Company: Benchmark Community Bank
Jobs Available: Customer Service Representative – This is at the Youngsville location
Method of Contact: Interested applicants please call Tish Elliott in their Youngsville Office at 919-750-8753
Name of the Company: Boys and Girls Club of NC
Jobs Available: Youth Development Professional – Creates an environment that facilitates the achievement of Positive Youth Development Outcomes and provides guidance and role modeling for members while promoting and stimulating daily learning. This is a part time position
Method of Contact: Interested applicants may send resume to SLAVETT@BGCNCNC.COM
Name of the Company: Vance County Government
Jobs Available: Positions are now available with Department of Social Services, Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department, Planning and Development, Emergency Operations, Register of Deeds and more
Method of Contact: For a list of all listings with job descriptions and qualifications go to Vance County website and look under job postings
Name of the Company: Vance County Department of Social Services
Jobs Available: Child Support Agent II, Income Maintenance Caseworker III, Social Worker II
Method of Contact: For more information call or go by your local NC Works Office
Name of the Company: Document Systems
Jobs Available: Looking to fill a Service Technician position
Method of Contact: If interested in applying, please call 252-433-4888
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.
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
Need some N95 masks? Look no further than Gang Free Inc. Founder Melissa Elliott said she’s got plenty, with more ordered and on the way.
Elliott told WIZS News Monday that anyone in the community who would like masks can simply head out to the Gang Free, Inc. location at 940 County Home Road any weekday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Elliott said the masks come from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and are free. She also has COVID-19 at-home rapid tests available.
She estimates that her organization has distributed more than 6,000 masks and 2,000 test kits in the past couple of weeks. Recipients include area police departments and other agencies.
“If people need them, they can come and get them,” Elliott said.
Each box contains 20 N95 masks, and she gives larger groups like churches a whole case – 240 masks in all – if they need them. The test kits come two to a box, with 90 boxes in a case.
She said she didn’t want anyone in the community to have to pay for taking a COVID-19 test when her organization has them available free for the asking.
According to the most recent COVID-19 update from Granville Vance Public Health, both counties continue to be in the high community transmission rate. Vance County reported 358 new cases for 28.7 percent and Granville County reported 439 new cases for 22.5 percent positivity rate.
There have been 13,461 cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and 11,380 cases of COVID-19 in Vance County for a total of 24,841 across the health district.
In the Bureau of Federal Prisons in Butner, there were 44 Granville County inmates whose positive test results were reported to the local health department in the last week. In addition, there are currently 20 staff of the federal prison with COVID-19 (including 17 Granville County residents and 3 Vance County residents).
Granville County has documented 110 deaths as a result of COVID-19 and Vance County has a total of 111 deaths for a total of 221 deaths across the health district.
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.