Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Town Talk 01/08/20: ‘Science in the Summer’ Provides Free, Hands-On Learning

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

Zenovia Hogue, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Science in the Summer (SIS) Coordinator for the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center in Chapel Hill, NC, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Bringing summer science activities to rising second through eighth-grade students in 10 counties throughout Central North Carolina since 2008, Hogue said the free program is “an engaging, fun way to prevent the proven slide that happens when kids don’t participate in academic activities over the summer break.”

“SIS is free to all participating children because GSK covers all program expenses,” Hogue explained. “Science in the Summer would not be possible without their support.”

The 2020 SIS theme is “Chemistry is everywhere!” According to the SIS website, students will enjoy everything from “discovering polymers with color-changing slime to investigating how zombie worms use chemicals to survive. Students will use common, everyday materials and ingredients to understand that almost everything they do is connected to science. Along the way, not only will they discover that science is exciting, but that it will be a key part of their future – no matter which career they choose.”

Local teachers may also join in on the summer fun by applying to be a paid SIS educator. A current teaching license is required and an application process must be completed. Those interested may visit the Morehead Planetarium’s employment website by clicking here.

For Vance County residents, the first SIS student session will be held at the Perry Memorial Library for rising second through fifth graders June 15 – 19, 2020, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration date is March 2.

The second session will be held at the Perry Memorial Library for rising sixth through eighth graders July 13 – 15, 2020, from 1 – 4 p.m. Registration date is March 10.

Spaces are limited in all summer sessions and registration is required. For more information, including Granville and Franklin County sessions, and to register, please visit the SIS website at www.moreheadplanetarium.org/sis.

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

State Broadband Office Expanded Access, Worked to Close Digital Divide in 2019

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

-Press Release, NCDIT

While it may seem that internet is universal, there are still areas of North Carolina that lack the infrastructure, called broadband, to support high-speed internet in addition to residents who lack the technology to use it. This access – to infrastructure and to devices – is critical for children to complete homework assignments, for farmers and other businesses to run their operations and for providers to deliver improved healthcare for our residents.

The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO) is working to close this digital divide and made great strides in 2019 to achieve its goal that every resident has access to affordable, high-speed internet at all times.

“Access to broadband is a life-line and a critical piece in North Carolina residents’ making meaningful connections in order to live a healthier and more fulfilling life,” said Eric Boyette, DIT secretary and state chief information officer. “We’re going to use the momentum we’ve created this past year to help even more residents in 2020.”

Governor Roy Cooper demonstrated his commitment to this goal by issuing Executive Order 91 (EO 91) and establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Connecting North Carolina. EO 91 directs state government leaders to work collaboratively to identify and remove barriers to affordable, high-speed internet access, eliminate the homework gap that results from students not having internet access, and facilitate private-sector deployment of last-mile infrastructure.

BIO made significant progress toward this goal by awarding the first round of grants through the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program, which allows internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives to compete for funding to lower financial barriers that prevent broadband expansion in rural communities. Nearly $10 million was awarded to 20 broadband service providers to facilitate the deployment of broadband service in 19 Tier One counties. Of the 13 companies receiving funding, 11 are NC-based small businesses, telephone cooperatives and an electric membership cooperative.

With more than $6 million in matching funds from the providers, around $16 million in total investment will bring service to more than 10,000 households, businesses, agricultural operations and community institutions such as libraries, schools and hospitals. The N.C. General Assembly approved and Gov. Cooper signed legislation providing an additional $30 million for grants through June 2021 to continue the program.

In addition to physically expanding broadband access, digital inclusion is critical to closing the digital divide. This includes ensuring residents have equal access to digital resources, technology and the skills needed to use them. BIO is an active partner in the NC Digital Equity and Inclusion Collaborative and works diligently to level the playing field for N.C. residents. Notable achievements in digital inclusion efforts this year include:

  • In early 2019, BIO partnered with the NC Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Rural Health (ORH) to secure a $98,273 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER fund to investigate and identify gaps, challenges and opportunities in the existing telehealth infrastructure resources in 20 western N.C. counties and explore how to better use technology to improve health and healthcare in the region.
  • In March, BIO published “The Homework Gap in North Carolina,” a report that provides communities and state and local policymakers with strategies to bridge the homework gap that occurs when students are assigned homework that requires internet access but lack an internet connection at home. The report was developed in conjunction with The William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University.
  • BIO and The State Library of North Carolina won a $250,000 two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and to launch a pilot program to address the homework gap. The program, which began in Robeson County in January, provided digital literacy workshops to 34 families. In July, the program expanded to include four counties, and 62 families have attended workshops.
  • As a result of Gov. Cooper’s Hometown Strong program to support rural communities, NCDIT and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, home to the State Library, partnered with nine library systems and four municipalities for a pilot program to improve internet access in rural communities. Each of the libraries received $35,000 to purchase equipment such as Wi-Fi hotspots or computers to make available to students or other library patrons for home use. Communities were able to use the funds at their discretion to shape a program that best fit their needs.

BIO further affirmed its commitment to increasing rural broadband by developing a survey and speed test for farmers in partnership with the North Carolina Farm Bureau (NCFB). The survey and speed test will gather data that will provide a clear picture of current connections and speeds available at farms and pinpoint those that lack sufficient connectivity to run their business with 21st-century technology. BIO and NCFB will use this information to develop connectivity solutions for farmers, both in their offices and in the fields.

This project followed the launch of BIO’s Broadband Speed Test, a self-reporting tool that allows residents and businesses to report the actual speeds they receive at home or at work. This tool allows for better mapping of areas of the state that unserved or underserved by broadband providers.

As part of its services, BIO provides a technical assistance team as an on-the-ground resource to work with counties and communities across the state to provide needed broadband expertise. Over the past year, this team aided 70 counties with planning and resource identification, including all 36 counties included in Gov. Roy Cooper’s Hometown Strong program, a partnership between state agencies and local leaders to champion rural communities.

In addition, BIO launched the FirstTech initiative to support state and local public safety and emergency response organizations with identifying emerging communications technologies. It is also monitoring the build-out of FirstNet, the nationwide wireless broadband public safety communications network.

BIO is gearing up for an exciting 2020 that builds upon the success of the past year.

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Broadband Infrastructure Office leads the statewide initiative to expand high-speed internet access for all North Carolinians.

Gang Free

Gang Free Inc. to Offer Overnight Shelter, Free Meal Wed. Evening

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Melissa Elliott, the founder of Gang Free Inc., announced that the local Gang Free facility will be open the evening of Wednesday, January 8, 2020, for those who need shelter from temperatures that are expected to drop below 25 degrees.

Located at 940 County Home Road in Henderson, Elliott told WIZS News that those needing a place to sleep and shelter from the cold can begin arriving at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening and will depart by 6 a.m. on Thursday, January 9.

Men, women and children are welcome. A hot dinner will be served Wednesday evening and breakfast will be provided early Thursday morning before departure.

According to Elliott, mental health professionals will also be available through the evening to assist those who may be in crisis mode, or just need a little extra help and support.

To learn more about Gang Free Inc., to become a volunteer or to donate, please visit the organization’s website at www.gangfreeinc.org.

Vance County Logo

Commissioners Vote to Add Middleburg to Vance Co. Zoning Jurisdiction

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

The Vance County Board of Commissioners met Monday evening, and Chairman Gordon Wilder and the full board administered two public hearings.

The first was a pre-budget public hearing in which suggestions and priorities could be voiced by residents. The only people who actually spoke were Frankie Nobles, Chief of Vance County Animal Services, and Michelle Wood, the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society’s rescue coordinator.

Overall, their remarks were to demonstrate the continued success Vance County is seeing as a result of the “outstanding partnership between the shelter and RCAPS,” Nobles said.

Wood told WIZS News that the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society “pulled 760 dogs and 686 cats for a total of 1,446 animals in 2019. Fifty-five were medical cases averaging $1,000 per medical case.”

There is an obvious opportunity for Vance County to allocate more towards animal services, given the tremendous benefit and results being enjoyed as a result of the public-private partnership presently at hand.

The second public hearing resulted in a unanimous vote to add the town limits of Middleburg to the Vance County Zoning Jurisdiction.

Middleburg Mayor Ray Bullock addressed the commissioners and said Middleburg’s old zoning ordinance was created in 1974, a time he said a handshake would really take care of things and when “neighbors looked after each other.”  He said, “We appreciate you all looking at this.”

Vance County Planner Angie Blount and Interim Vance County Planning Director Sherry Moss told WIZS News the result would be zoning enforcement, code compliance, subdivision ordinances, zoning permit, building permit and perc testing among other things that Vance County will now administer for Middleburg.

The board also approved proceeding with the NC Department of Transportation to clear the way to construct a turning lane on Warrenton Road at the manned waste management site, a location that dates back to a time when such locations were referred to as “the green box.”

While the price tag of more than $300,000 would tend to raise an eyebrow or two, the board’s actions actually are expected to introduce a savings of about $100,000 to the county, with $81,000 expected to be out of pocket for the turn lane itself and the balance to additional site development.

Town Talk 01/07/20: Girl Scout Cookie Sale Begins This Weekend!

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

Teresa Wimbrow, membership director for Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren County Girl Scouts, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m. Wimbrow discussed the 2020 Girl Scout cookie sale and benefits to the girls involved in the program.

This year’s sale begins Saturday, January 11 at 9 a.m. Wimbrow said the local area should be prepared for “girls ringing your doorbell with cookies in hand.” Cookies will also be available in the coming weeks at booths set up by girl scouts and adult volunteers at local participating businesses and restaurants.

Cookies are available for $4 a box with proceeds being used for trips and activities for the scouts.

Flavors available locally this year include Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot, Girl Scout S’mores, Shortbread and a gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip.

According to Wimbrow, this is expected to be the last year that the Thanks-A-Lot shortbread and chocolate fudge cookies will be available, so if they are your favorite, make sure you stock up. A new cookie will be introduced next year to join the tried and true originals.

Wimbrow, a former educator and basketball, volleyball and softball coach, has been with the Girl Scout organization for 11 years and says she enjoys fulfilling the organization’s motto by helping to “build girls of courage, confidence and character.”

“I love young people and I love this area,” said Wimbrow. “Girl Scouts is a great organization that offers a positive alternative to some of the other things that are happening that get so much negative publicity.”

The four-county area is part of the larger Girl Scout NC Coastal Pines, a council consisting of 41 counties. For information on the Girl Scout cookie program or testimonials from girls and volunteers alike, please visit www.nccoastalpines.org.

If you know someone interested in joining Girl Scouts, have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Teresa Wimbrow at (252) 438-8103 or email twimbrow@nccoastalpines.org.

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

Volunteers, Donations Needed for Local ‘Rise Against Hunger’ Event

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

-Information courtesy Brian Daniel, Rise Against Hunger

A “Rise Against Hunger” meal packing event and ACTS Food Drive will be held on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 20, 2020, at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with two-hour shifts available for volunteers.

The entire community is invited to partner for this exciting community day of service event. The purpose of the event is two-fold: a time to bring the community together, while at the same time helping fight hunger both on a local and international level.

According to event organizers, Vance County Farm Bureau has graciously endorsed the drive, providing the Farmers Market facility for the venue and seed money to launch this fundraising campaign. 

Donations are requested to help reach the fundraising goal of $17,280 (50,000 meals), and 1,600 non-perishable canned or box goods for ACTS of Henderson! All checks should be made payable to Rise Against Hunger, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Requested food donation items include dry pasta, peanut butter, boxes of cereal, bags of rice, dried beans, gallon size string beans, corn, peas, canned soup and broth.

For secure online donations and volunteer opportunities, visit https://events.riseagainsthunger.org/Vance. For additional information on the event, please email Brian Daniel at hendersonhawk96@gmail.com.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Drive (off Beckford Dr.) in Henderson.

Henderson Police Department

Town Talk 01/06/20: HPD Chief Marcus Barrow Discusses New Year, Firearms

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

Barrow, who was happy to report that the Henderson Police Department is starting the new year fully staffed, discussed numerous topics including the discharge of firearms inside city limits, the sheer number of guns in both the community and the country as a whole and the right to bear arms.

Plans for new initiatives for the new year, including a possible local version of the national “Coffee With a Cop” open community dialogue program, are already underway. To be more inclusive of the entire community, Barrow said the department is looking at changing the name of the program to shift the focus from law enforcement to citizen input and discussion.

The HPD is currently in talks with the newly opened Sadie’s Coffee Corner in downtown Henderson to provide the location and, of course, the coffee.

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

‘Into the Woods’ to Bring Modern Fairy Tale Twist to McGregor Hall

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

-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center is gearing up for its presentation of “Into the Woods,” a fully staged Broadway-style musical presented with a live, professional orchestra.

Evening performances include Sat., February 1, Fri., February 7 and Sat., February 8 at 8 p.m. Matinee performances will be offered at 2 p.m. on Sun., February 2 and Sun., February 9, 2020.

Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece “Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the beloved fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, entwining the classic stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood with an original story about a baker and his wife wishing to start a family and live a more wonderful life. The moral of this story? Be careful what you wish for!

Tickets for this event may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Vance County Logo

County Awaiting Testing Results Before Resuming Fire Restructuring Talks

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

In a brief update to WIZS, Vance County Commissioner Dan Brummitt stated that restructuring of the volunteer fire departments, a topic that has been much discussed and debated in recent months, is currently in a holding pattern pending test results.

“Most of the fire departments underwent testing for fire ratings, and we are waiting on the results before we proceed,” said Brummitt. “Preliminary results indicate that they all did well, and we should see some ability for insurance rates to be lowered in some parts of the county.”

Under the current fire restructuring proposal, paid part-time positions would be added to the County’s volunteer fire departments with the exception of the Vance County Fire Department, which would remain as currently structured.

“As soon as we get official test results, we anticipate starting the conversation again,” Brummitt said.

Vance County NC

Officials Estimate $15K Grant Will Remove 10 Abandoned Mobile Homes

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen provided WIZS with the following summary of the County’s recent award of a $15,000 grant to remove abandoned mobile homes:

The County applied for a grant through the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service which is under the State’s Department of Environmental Quality. We applied for $40,000 and were awarded $15,000.

This program has been on our radar since our first two iterations with it in 2010 and 2016. Our Board mentioned an interest in the program during their retreat last year in January and, once the funding was finalized in this year’s state budget, we had our Solid Waste Department prepare the application.

The funds will come to the County and is for the deconstruction, removal and disposal of abandoned mobile homes. We believe these funds, coupled with our matching requirement of $7,500 and with the participation fee, will remove approximately 10 units.

We will choose which units to address based upon a first-come-first-serve interest from property owners. First, we will inspect the unit to ensure it is abandoned and in a condition where it should be removed, and then we will handle the selection of a contractor to complete the work.

This program has been very satisfying because it gets right at beautifying our community. When we received the funding in 2010, there were multiple highly visible units that were removed. I recall one instance on NC 39 North where two abandoned mobile homes were right along the roadway, and every time folks traveled to the lake it was a visible blight. We are hoping this latest round of funding will allow us to identify and work with property owners to do the same.

For more information about the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service’s Abandoned Manufactured Homes (AMH) Grant Program, please click here.