Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Jacob Comer

VGCC Student Receives Top Academic Honor 

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College student Jacob A. Comer of Rougemont was recently named the recipient of the North Carolina Community College System’s Academic Excellence Award for 2020. One student from each of the 58 colleges in the state system is honored with the award each year. 

Comer, a home-schooled high school student, has taken college transfer classes at VGCC through the “Career & College Promise” program since 2018. He took classes not only in the fall and spring semesters but also in the summer, thus reducing the time it would take him to complete an Associate in Arts degree. Twice, he has made the VGCC President’s List, which recognizes students who achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) while carrying a least 12 curriculum credit hours per semester.

Jacob Comer of Rougemont is the VGCC recipient of the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award for 2020. (VGCC Photo)

Recently, Comer completed his VGCC classes, meaning that he is now a high school graduate and a graduate of the community college. During his last semester, he continued to excel even while taking on extra responsibilities at home to help his family as his mother recovered from a major medical operation.

While at VGCC, Comer was not only focused and determined to reach his own academic goals, but he also helped other students with science, math and writing, as a peer tutor for the college’s Academic Success Center. 

Soon, with the college transfer credits and enhanced confidence he gained at VGCC, Comer will continue his education at Concordia University Wisconsin. He intends to complete a bachelor’s degree, double-majoring in Applied Theology and Theological Languages.

“We are proud that Jacob has been recognized among North Carolina’s outstanding community college students, and we congratulate him on his success,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC. “At a young age, Jacob is off to a strong start in his educational journey, and with his perseverance and dedication to academics, we are sure he will continue to excel.”

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Free Community COVID-19 Testing Event at Shiloh Baptist Church – Wed., June 24

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville-Vance Public Health

The Granville Vance Public Health Department (GVPH), local health professionals and Shiloh Baptist Church of Henderson will offer free community COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of Shiloh Baptist on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The church is located at 635 College Street in Henderson.

This is a “walk-through” event. For those who will be driving to the church, GVPH asks that vehicles use the Arch Street entrance to the parking lot.

Nasal swab testing will be performed and those tested will be contacted with their results approximately 3-5 days after the event.

Testing is free to all who attend, however, a limited number of testing supplies are available. The purpose of the event is to focus on particularly vulnerable populations. This includes those who may not have a primary care provider, those who lack access to transportation, and/or those who are uninsured or under-insured.

For those who have transportation and/or a primary care provider, there are many opportunities to be tested. If you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you can call your provider or the health department to see if you should be tested.

GVPH encourages the public to stay tuned to its website (click here) for additional times and locations for community testing events throughout the summer.

H-V Chamber Logo

H-V Chamber of Commerce to Welcome New Teachers; Donated Business Items Needed

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce is preparing to welcome approximately 140 new teachers to the Vance County area for the new school year. The schools include Vance County Public Schools, Henderson Collegiate, Crossroads Christian School, Kerr-Vance Academy and Vance Charter School.

The Chamber is looking for donations from local business owners to pack into bags for these teachers. Suggested items include pens, pencils, pads, hand sanitizer, coupons/discount cards, key chains, etc.

A business donation of the actual bags is also needed.

If your business would be able to donate an item for each teacher, or with any questions, please contact the Chamber at (252) 438-8414.

ACTS of Henderson Food Pantry

ACTS of Henderson Announces Food Pantry, Volunteer Needs

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-Information courtesy ACTS of Henderson

ACTS of Henderson is currently in need of the following items: boxed pasta, 18 oz. jars peanut butter, any type of canned fruit, canned diced tomatoes, canned soups, canned spaghetti sauce, jelly, canned beans (like pinto, navy, great northern, black-eyed peas, etc.), canned vegetables (like peas, carrots, any type of greens, mixed vegetables, peas & carrots, etc.), canned meats (like chicken, tuna, salmon, beef stew, chicken & dumplings, etc. – especially those with pull tops), canned baked beans.

Items may be dropped off at the ACTS location at 201 South Williams Street in Henderson any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you need to drop off at a time other than this, please call ACTS at (252) 492–8231 to make arrangements.

Volunteers are also needed any days from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call ACTS at (252) 492-8231 for more details on volunteer opportunities or visit ACTS of Henderson on Facebook to stay updated on current needs.

VGCC Food Industry Webinar

VGCC Small Business Center Presents Free Food & Beverage Industry Webinars

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-Information courtesy the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center announces the newest FREE training series of webinars.  This 12-week series aims to help those in the food industry navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re in the restaurant or food shop business, you know that a normal day is no longer normal. There are a multitude of new tasks, service limitations, sanitizing requirements and customer expectations. This series is designed to help navigate your new normal so that your business can reopen with confidence.

Sessions will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays June 22 through July 29, 2020, from 9 until 10:30 a.m.

Sessions include:

  1. CDC Guidelines for Reopening Your Food & Beverage Business
  2. Keeping Your Restaurant Employees and Customers Safe While Dealing With a Pandemic
  3. Learn How to Step Up Your Customer Service Game in Your Food Business in the Era of COVID-19
  4. Tips & Tricks to Market Your Food & Beverage Business
  5. The Magic of Upselling in the Food & Beverage World
  6. Using Social Media to Promote Your Restaurant or Food Business
  7. Communicating Effectively to Your Employees – Food & Beverage Business
  8. Leaders vs. Managers – Food & Beverage Teams
  9. How to Deal With Difficult People in the Food & Beverage Industry
  10. Building Your Food & Beverage Business Around Your Community
  11. Improving the Physical Image, Layout and Presentation of Your Food & Beverage Business
  12. Angry Food & Beverage Customers Can Actually Become Your Best Friends

Register by 12 p.m. the day before the event at www.vgcc.edu/coned/small-business-center/#schedules

For more information, contact the VGCC Small Business Center at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu

 

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Public Safety’s Fire Reorganization Meeting Rescheduled for June 30

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

Please be informed that the Vance County Public Safety Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 23 has been changed to Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

The topic of discussion is fire reorganization.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

H-V Rec. & Parks Offering DIY Crafty Kids Kits for Summer Entertainment

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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Program Superintendent

The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department presents DIY (Do it Yourself) Crafty Kids. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase craft bags that will include crafts, coloring pages and stickers.

Drive-through pick up will be held on Friday, June 19 and June 26, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Aycock Recreation Center located at 307 Carey Chapel Rd. in Henderson.

The cost is $5 per craft bundle and can be purchased online at https://hvrpd.recdesk.com/ or in-person on the day of the event, but you must bring exact cash.

For more information, please contact Lauren Newlin at (252) 438-3160 or (lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us).

NC Governor Logo

Local Health Departments to Receive Combined $1+ Million in COVID-19 Funding

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is allocating $35 million in federal funding to local health departments to support the COVID-19 response. Per federal guidelines, counties will be able to use these funds to support COVID-19 staffing, infection controls, testing and tracing, IT infrastructure and data sharing and visualization.

“Our local health departments are critical partners with the state as we fight this virus, and this funding will help them continue and expand their important work,” said Governor Roy Cooper.

“Since the start of the pandemic, our local health departments have been working around the clock to protect their communities and slow the spread of the virus. These funds continue to support their ability to address the overwhelming demands they are facing,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.

North Carolina’s local health departments are on the frontlines supporting people in getting tested for COVID-19 and knowing if they have been exposed. Testing and contact tracing are core public health activities and key components of North Carolina’s strategy to responsibly ease restrictions while continuing to slow the spread of COVID-19. These responsibilities are in addition to their ongoing work to promote health and prevent disease.

Local health departments will receive a base allocation of $90,000 per county with additional funding based on population size and their cumulative positive COVID-19 caseload. Some local health departments represent multiple counties. CLICK HERE to see how much each health department will receive.

Local health district allocations include:

Granville-Vance (two counties) – $650,568

Franklin – $242,158

Warren – $149,803

This one-time, non-recurring funding is part of NCDHHS’ cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC), which awards annual funding to state, local and territorial health departments to support vector-borne disease surveillance and response. The coverage period runs from the beginning of the 2020 calendar year through the end of FY 2021-22.

Visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov to learn more about testing and contact tracing in North Carolina. For more information about the state’s response to COVID-19, go to nc.gov/covid19.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update: Outbreak at Pelican Health Nursing Home ‘No Longer Active’

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As of June 17, 2020, there are 709 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 433 cases in Vance County, and 46,855 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are two outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Granville County at Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC and Murdoch Development Center in Butner, NC.

Of the cases in Granville County, 395 are associated with the prisons and five are associated with Murdoch. Of the 395 cases in the prison system, 89 have been released from isolation and one individual with Murdoch has been released from isolation.

Of the 309 community-based cases in Granville County, 180 have been released from isolation and 10 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 17 deaths in Granville County, 16 of whom were with the Bureau of Prisons.

There are two active outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Vance County: Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC, and Senior Citizens Home in Henderson, NC. There was also an outbreak at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC that is no longer active.

Of the cases in Vance County, 103 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 42 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and three associated with Senior Citizens Home. Of the 103 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 42 have been released from isolation.

Of the 330 community-based cases in Vance County, 160 have been released from isolation.

Six individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 35 COVID-19 related deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with Pelican Health and nine of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

GVPH updates its website daily at approximately 5 p.m. with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

GVPH also emails updates about COVID-19 in Granville and Vance counties each evening. You can sign up to receive these emails at www.gvph.org/covid-19.

$20 on the 20th - Relay

Town Talk 06/17/20: Support Relay For Life With $20 on the 20th Fundraiser

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Jon Charest, senior manager of community development for the American Cancer Society, Inc., appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Relay For Life of Vance County is partnering with Relay teams all across the state to ask volunteers and partners to donate $20 on Saturday, June 20, 2020, in honor of the estimated 20,410 North Carolinians who will pass away from cancer this year.

With cancer patients being among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and with the pandemic putting the mission of the American Cancer Society in jeopardy due to its impact on fundraising, the goal of the June 20 event is to raise $20,000 for research.

Many in-person Relay events have been canceled this year due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, but cancer never rests. Mark your calendar for this Saturday to rally team members, friends, family and/or your social media following to donate $20.

Donations may be made through the Relay For Life of Vance County event website (www.RelayForLife.org/VanceNC), Facebook Fundraising, or the American Cancer Society FUNdraising app.

To hear the interview with Charest in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.