Tag Archive for: #towntalk

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Town Talk 08/13/19: What You Need to Know About NC’s Medicaid Transformation

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Vance County Department of Social Services’ Denita DeVega, director, and Goldie Davis, program administrator of economic services, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss changes to Medicaid requirements.

As part of the first phase of the Medicaid Transformation, Vance County recipients must enroll in one of four State-approved health plans and select a primary care physician by Friday, September 13, 2019.

“The process for being eligible for Medicaid and maintaining Medicaid remains the same,” Davis said. “You will still go to your local DSS to apply for Medicaid, benefits will still be maintained at your local DSS and your questions can still be answered at DSS.”

Changes to Medicaid requirements will take effect on November 1, 2019.

Medicaid recipients who have not selected a health care plan by the September 13 deadline will have one chosen for them by the State, Davis reported.

According to a recent press release from DSS, a health plan – through Medicaid – is a group of doctors, hospitals and other providers that will work together to provide healthcare to meet collective needs. The goal is for every medical service – physical health, mental health and medicine – to come through the same healthcare plan.

A primary care provider (PCP) should also be selected to assist with health care needs, which could be in the form of a family doctor, clinic or other health care provider.

Recipients who already have a primary care provider may keep the one they have or choose a new one.

“Ideally, what the State wants is for all of the physicians that are currently enrolled and contracted with Medicaid to be enrolled and contracted with all four plans,” Davis explained. “This will give the recipients the liberty to continue with the same primary care physician regardless of which health plan they choose.”

DeVega announced that a series of informational sessions have been scheduled to guide local recipients through the requirements.

These sessions will be held at Vance Co. Department of Social Services at 350 Ruin Creek Rd in Henderson and are scheduled for Monday, August 26, from 9 – 11 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m., and Tuesday, August 27 from 9 – 11 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m.

It is recommended that those who are senior citizens bring a trusted family member or friend to assist in the selection process.

If unable to attend the information sessions, an outreach specialist is available for assistance at Vance Co. DSS from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For a list of doctors for each health plan, or to enroll, visit ncmedicaidplans.gov, use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app or call 1-833-870-5500. A language line is also available.

For eligibility information or with questions about Medicaid’s new requirements, contact Cathy Hope, 252-492-5001 x 3221, Shelonda Boyd, 252-492-5001 x 3266, Shalonda Daye, 252-492-5001 x 3204, or Vance County Department of Social Services, at 252-492-5001.

To hear the Vance Co. DSS interview in its entirety, including an introduction of new director DeVega, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Town Talk 08/12/19

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John Rose, Trey Snide and Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow discuss Business District (B1) zoning, code enforcement and a potential “curfew” for downtown Henderson businesses in advance of the Henderson City Council meeting at 6 p.m.

Town Talk 08/09/19

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Town Talk 08/08/19: Owens, Mayoral Candidate, Discusses ‘Concern’ for Henderson

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Sharon Owens, candidate for the position of Henderson Mayor, was the guest of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.

A resident of Montgomery Street in Henderson, Owens is running against incumbent Eddie Ellington in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election.

Noting that her decision to run for mayor has been a topic of much self-reflection over the past year, Owens, a budget analyst with Durham Public Schools and an evangelist with Greater Refuge Church Henderson, said it was both prayer and her concern for the City of Henderson that led her to file.

Sharon Owens, candidate for the position of Henderson Mayor, is running against incumbent Eddie Ellington in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election. (Photo courtesy Sharon Owens)

“I have a deep concern for the City of Henderson,” Owens said. “When I look at the area now and compare it with other cities of the same size, or even compare it to our past, I am concerned.”

Owens, who has lived in Henderson all of her life minus a year she spent in Richmond, VA, said she is saddened by what issues such as crime, drugs, gangs and lack of viable job opportunities have done to the area she calls home.

“It breaks my heart when I look at how the downtown buildings have gone down, the stores have moved; nothing is like it used to be,” lamented Owens. “I can’t help but wonder what is the mindset of the City Council for downtown development and the city as a whole.”

Citing economic development as one of Henderson’s major issues, Owens said she would like to focus on bringing more jobs to the area by offering companies additional incentives. “We need to give some kind of incentive for jobs to come to the City of Henderson. When people have income and good housing, it makes them feel good about themselves and makes them want to do better.”

Acknowledging that the mayor works very closely with the city manager, Owens said she’d like to see those two positions take a more grassroots approach to affecting change in the community.

“I think that relationship should be such that we could go out into neighborhoods and talk to people at their level about [issues such as] drugs, gangs and murder, talk to people who it directly affects,” said Owens. “If we are being honest, it does not affect everyone.”

After stating the entire City of Henderson should be treated as a whole, Owens conceded, “Some areas of the city require a little more attention than others, especially the areas of high poverty.”

Owens said that she feels progress is being made in addressing issues that often accompany areas of high poverty but believes more can be done. She also believes that she is just the person to do it.

“I’m not saying that the Mayor and City Council aren’t doing a great job; they are doing a magnificent job,” Owens said.”I just believe that I can take it a little bit further.”

For more information on Owens’ campaign, visit her website by clicking here.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. WIZS is in communication with incumbent Eddie Ellington to participate in a similar interview.)

To hear Owens’ Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Town Talk 08/07/19: Artist Spotlight Rewind With Wes Collins

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Town Talk 08/06/19: Local Marinas Offer Summertime Fuel & Refreshment

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Catherine Hughes, co-owner of Satterwhite Point Marina in Henderson and Rudd’s Creek Marina in Boydton, VA, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss the steady business that the busy summertime months provide.

“It is a really busy time,” said Hughes. “We are open every day except Monday. Gas stock is really busy right now with the sale of non-ethanol gas, and ice cream is also a big seller, believe it or not. It’s a big thing for a lot of families to stop by and get some ice cream and some other things that we have in the store.”

Satterwhite Point Marina on Kerr Lake offers boat storage, lakeside cabin rentals, a public launching ramp, gas dock and a convenience store. Located off Interstate 85 – Exit 217 – and down Satterwhite Point Road, Satterwhite Point Marina is located by water off Buoy K.

The Hughes’ new Rudd’s Creek Marina offers wet slips, a gas dock with convenience and a marine store on Bugg’s Island Lake. Rudd’s Creek Marina is located at the end of Rochichi Drive, next to Rudd’s Creek Park and Campground off US 58 in Boydton, VA.

To hear the interview with Hughes in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Town Talk 08/05/19: Governor’s Veto of Regional Water Systems Bill

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Town Talk 08/02/19

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

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Town Talk (08/01/19): George Daye Seeks Reelection to Henderson City Council

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

George Daye, the incumbent candidate for the Henderson City Council’s 4th Ward At-Large seat, was the guest of honor on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.

Daye is running against Jason A. Spriggs in the October 8, 2019, City of Henderson election.

Also serving on the Human Resources, Public Safety and Regional Transportation Committees for the City of Henderson, Daye said he would like to continue to seek affordable housing opportunities for residents should he be reelected to the City Council.

“It would help the community a lot if we had decent housing,” said Daye. “The City is doing a good job. When you have a complaint, [the solution] doesn’t just happen the next day. It takes time to get things resolved, but we’ve seen progress.”

Promoting additional rent-to-own opportunities to help residents achieve the pride that comes with homeownership is one way Daye said the City can help with the housing situation.

Daye, a resident of N. Pinkston Street, said he was “blessed” to achieve homeownership through a similar rent-to-own opportunity.

Another area of concern, according to Daye, is Henderson’s high crime and drug rate. “We need to somehow get control of our young people because what they are doing is killing our city.”

To accomplish that, Daye, who is also the president of Raemac Transportation, suggested working closely with law enforcement and local churches.

“I do think we have people in place that are willing to see Henderson go forward. People in [influential] positions should be willing to work with the community to see a better Henderson. We need to do everything we can to work with the Henderson Police Department to downgrade these things that are going on.”

“Then we need to carry the message forth to our churches. To me, the church should be the backbone of seeing that other people are living the best that they can. Many of us get in our churches and do our own thing and that is as far as we are going. I look at the need and the cry of the people that ride with me every day and there are some issues that we can help solve.”

Despite the issues, Daye said that he loves the city that he has called home for the majority of his life, “Henderson is a fine place to live; I’ve been here 76 years.”

Acknowledging his age, Daye said he has served in a mentoring capacity to current opponent Spriggs in the past, and initially questioned running for reelection because he was “looking for a younger person to take the position.”

Believing he has at least one more term left in him, Daye said he decided to file but will “support Jason all the way” if Spriggs is elected.

“As the time drew nigh, I said ‘well, if I win this election I’ll be 80-years-old when I get out of here. So, I refiled and if I win, I’ll give it my best shot.’”

(This is not a paid political advertisement. Jason Spriggs participated in a similar Town Talk interview with WIZS on July 24, 2019.)

To hear Daye’s Town Talk interview in its entirety, including discussion on a replacement for retiring Henderson City Manager Frank Frazier, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Town Talk (07/31/19): ‘Visit NC Farms Mobile App’ Launch Announced

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Representatives from NC A&T’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences toured several locations in Vance and Warren counties today to learn more about agricultural opportunities in the local area.

The group began the tour at the ReBuilding Communities NC Cultural Center, 117 Church Street in Henderson, where they were greeted by Executive Director Edythe Thompson, Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington and Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen.

From there, the tour continued to the Henry and Ardis Crews Micro Gardens located at 424 Hamilton Street in Henderson, where Vance Co. Cooperative Extension ANR Technician Wayne Rowland discussed the Crews’ efforts to provide sustainable and efficient gardening practices for the community.

The next stop brought the group to the Vance County Regional Farmers Market (VCRFM), 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson, where they heard the history of the market and learned of its various community uses.

Turner Pride, extension director for Vance Co., also announced the official launch of the “Visit NC Farms Mobile App” for the five-county region consisting of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren.

Developed by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the app connects users to local farms, restaurants and other agriculturally-related places and events.

“With this app, you can see places that can be toured such as wineries, Farm-to-Table restaurants, individual farmers markets, and farms that are open to the public,” Pride explained.

Pride said the launch of this app is just one way that the community is sharing with both residents and visitors alike that “goodness grows in Vance.”

Diane Cox, executive director for the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) said the app was a collaboration between her agency, NC Cooperative Extension and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

After a successful soft launch in June, Cox was happy to discuss the official launch of the app during Wednesday’s tour.

“Please let Kerr-Tar COG know or let your Cooperative Extension directors know if you are having an event so we can help you market those through the Visit NC Farms App,” said Cox. “It’s a great marketing tool for farmers and it is free.”

A free download of the app is available for Apple products and Androids. Please visit https://visitncfarmstoday.com/ for more information.

NC A&T’s Chancellor Harold Lee Martin, Sr., a tour participant, spoke with WIZS on the future of NC farming and the importance of technological advances in agriculture.

“We see lots of small farmers developing, growing and returning to NC,” Martin said. “We see younger farmers using their education, their technology and science skills to do farming differently from their parents and grandparents. There are going to be more demands from the farmers of the future who are using science, technology and strategy to enhance productivity and profitability.”

Martin said this technological movement mirrors the shift officials are seeing in the state’s economy. “We are seeing movement from more of a skills economy to a knowledge-based economy. Education plays a bigger part in helping us create jobs, retain jobs and attract jobs to NC.”

After departing the VCRFM, tour participants enjoyed lunch and presentations by representatives from Warren County Schools, Warren County Cooperative Extension and Warren County Government at the Warren County Armory Civic Center.

To hear the Town Talk interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.