Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Upcoming Blood Drives

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Recent inclement weather across the country has hampered blood drive efforts, and demands for blood and plasma and blood donations continues to be greater than supply. There are several local opportunities to give blood in Vance and Granville counties through February.

The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to continue to strengthen the national blood supply.

Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. People of all blood types – especially type O blood donors, the most needed blood group by hospitals – and platelet donors are needed daily to ensure blood products are available for hospitals at a moment’s notice.

As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives and the ability to provide critical blood products to hospitals. While thousands of donors have answered the call to donate in recent weeks to combat a significant drop in the blood supply, more donors are needed now to ensure the blood supply remains ready for those in need of lifesaving medical procedures.

 

As a way to say thanks for helping, all who come to give in February will get a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Heart.

Upcoming blood drives:

Vance

Henderson

2/20/2024: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Vance Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road

2/20/2024: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kerr Lake Country Club, 600 Hedrick Road

 

Granville

 

Butner

2/29/2024: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Butner Town Hall, 415 Central Avenue

 

Creedmoor

2/16/2024: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive

 

Oxford

2/23/2024: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W McClanahan St

2/28/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Thornton Branch, 210 Main Street

VCS Second Graders Learn Water Safety Through YMCA “Safety Around Water” Program

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– Information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin

Second-graders from all 10 elementary schools in Vance County Schools are participating in a five-day swim training program with staff at the Henderson Family YMCA. The Safety Around Water initiative is a national program that teaches young people basic safety techniques – using the buddy system and how to use life jackets, for example – when facing water rescue situations.

YMCA Director of Aquatics Kim Davis and staff help the children through three rounds of training: “Submerge!” helps to build comfort in the water; “Swim, Float, Swim!” teaches basic swimming skills; and “Jump, Push, Turn and Grab!”  teaches pool exit techniques.

“The hardest part is helping them to overcome their fear,” Davis said. “We care about these students, and this program helps to build trust and faith between the children

and our instructors. It is very exciting to see the progress from one day to the next.”

At the end of training, each student receives a certificate to celebrate their hard work.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation partners with the YMCA to provide the training.

Students from Clarke Elementary participated in early February, and Principal Dr. C’monee’ Wilkins said she appreciates the partnership with the YMCA to provide the experience.

“The Safety Around Water program is a rich experience that opens our students up to embracing new things and stepping outside of their comfort zone,” she said.

“Each year there are drownings but lately the drownings have increased. We live in an area with large lakes and pools. The SAW program teaches safety skills to help the students to be able to help save themselves until help arrives.”

 

First Baptist Church To Provide Shuttle From ACTS To RAM Clinic Saturday

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Volunteers from First Baptist Church will be at ACTS, 201 S. William St., Saturday to provide shuttle service for anyone who may need transportation to the Duke RAM pop-up clinic.

Church Deacon Bert Long said the plan is to run two vehicles to the clinic between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Day 1 of the two-day clinic. The clinic doors open at 6 a.m. on Saturday and a cadre of physicians, dentists and other health care professionals will provide free care until 4 p.m. The clinic opens at 6 a.m. again on Sunday and will run through 12 noon or 1 p.m., depending on the number of clients.

This is the third year that the free medical, dental and vision clinic has set up shop in the parking lot of Vance Charter School on Ross Mill Road.

“We don’t know how much demand there will be…we’ll play it by ear,” he said of the shuttle service.

“If folks don’t have transportation, (and) they have a way to get to ACTS, they’ll have a ride to and from the clinic.

Long said providing transportation adds a new facet to the clinic, and he said that Duke University senior Saajan Patel, one of the clinic’s organizers, is excited at the prospect.

Early Voting Underway Through Mar. 2 For March 5 Primary Election

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One-stop early voting is now underwat and will continue through Saturday, Mar. 2.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin reminds voters they have two locations where they can cast their votes in advance of the Mar. 5 primary:

  • The county’s Youth Services building (Eaton-Johnson gymnasium) at 500 N. Beckford Dr.
  • Aycock Recreational Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd.

Weekday hours are from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the polls will be open Saturday, Mar. 2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Voters will be asked to show a photo ID.

Visit https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-elections/ to learn more.

 

WIZS Continuing Coverage For Local Elections

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With early voting now underway for the upcoming March primary elections, WIZS continues to provide comprehensive coverage to give listeners information about candidates in local contests.

On Monday, Feb. 19, hear from the two candidates vying for the District 2 seat on the Vance County Board of Commissioners. Democratic incumbent Archie B.Taylor, Jr. faces opposition from Democratic challenger Valencia Perry. Their interviews were recorded and will be aired – unedited – in their entirety.

The other contested race is for the District 5 seat on the Board of Education – incumbent Democrat Linda Cobb faces challenger William Earl Purvis, also a Democrat. Find interviews with Cobb and Purvis on wizs.com, as well as a write-up on the WIZS webpage. The interviews were aired on TownTalk Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Stay tuned to wizs.com for complete election coverage.

Vance County Logo

Bigelow Out As County’s Chief Finance Officer

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Vance County Deputy County Manager/Chief Finance Officer Katherine Bigelow was relieved of her duties last week, according to County Manager Renee Perry, for fraud and falsification of records for personal profit.

“Katherine was terminated as of Feb. 9 – last Friday,” Perry told WIZS News.

Perry said Bigelow, who had said she was a licensed certified public accountant, used a license number that does not belong to her. “Katherine is not licensed as a CPA,” Perry said.

“The county has to go through an audit every year,” Perry explained, adding that “if a person identifies as a CPA, then auditors request copies of your certification.”

She said Bigelow, who has been the finance director since 2019, submitted “a certification for a CPA licensure that did not belong to her…she misrepresented herself with someone else’s licensure as a CPA.”

Just last month, Perry announced that county commissioners had agreed to a $25,000 bump in pay for Bigelow, bringing her salary to $136,503. That’s when her title was updated to Deputy County Manager/Chief Finance Officer.

Perry said the job posting was put on the county’s website after Bigelow was terminated.

“I wasn’t playing,” Perry said. “I couldn’t wait.”

Chuck Murray, who served as interim finance director before Bigelow came on board, will again serve as interim, beginning Monday, Perry said. He will help out two or three days a week.

A CPA licensure is not a requirement for the position of county finance director.

Perry cited the section in the county personnel policy that refers to “detrimental personal conduct for fraud and falsification of records for personal profit, to gain special privileges or to obtain employment” as the basis for the termination.

Early voting begins Thursday, Feb. 15 For March 5 Primary

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Early voting begins Thursday, Feb. 15 for the upcoming March primary elections, and there are two contested local races on the ballot for Vance County voters to consider, according to information from Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin.

There are a total of four seats on the board of commissioners, as well as three seats on the board of education; District 2 Commissioner Archie Taylor faces challenger from fellow Democrat Valencia Perry to determine who will be on the November 5 ballot.

In the District 5 School Board race, Democratic incumbent Linda Cobb faces Democratic challenger William Earl Purvis in the primary election.

The other seats on the ballot include Districts 1, 5 and 6 for the board of commissioners and seats for Districts 3 and 4.

Each candidate is running unopposed in the primary election; however, there are two candidates – one Republican and one Democrat – in the race for the District 1 seat on the board of commissioners.

The incumbent, Democrat Carolyn Faines, faces opposition from Republican challenger William Heitman.

Gardening “Organic” Topic Of Feb. 19 Cooperative Extension Workshop

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If you like the idea of growing your own vegetables without having to use pesticides and fertilizers, there’s a workshop coming up at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market just for you.

The class, presented by Vance County Cooperative Extension technician Wayne Rowland, will be held on Monday, Feb. 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

This workshop will benefit beginner gardeners as well as those with years experience growing fruits and vegetables.

You’ll learn how to increase your crop production and how to provide plant nutrients and manage pests that satisfy the principles of organic vegetable production.

Please register for the workshop by calling Rowland 252-438-8188 or via email at dwrowlan@ncat.edu.

Maria Parham Health Recognizes Directors, Employee Of The Year

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Maria Parham Health staff, administrators and community leaders gathered Wednesday to honor several hospital employees for their contributions.

Shannon Satterwhite, director of the Medical and Surgical Unit, and Travis Thompson, director of Imaging, received Director of the Year awards in the clinical and ancillary fields, respectively.

Amy Darnell was named Employee of the Year for her “unwavering dedication and positivity” that makes a “profound difference every day,” according to social media posts about the event.

The winners are determined by the votes of MPH employees and providers, which hospital officials say make these awards meaningful recognitions of the recipients’ accomplishments in the workplace.

Arts Alive 2024 Comes To McGregor Hall Mar. 16

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Arts Alive 2024 is gearing up to showcase the varied talents of students across Vance County.

This year’s event will take place Saturday, March 16 at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson and will include singers, artists, dancers, musicians and actors from across the school district who will share their creativity and talent with the community.

The Art Gallery will open at 3 p.m., followed by Heart of the Art at 3:30 p.m.  and the Talent Showcase will begin at 5 p.m., according to information from the Vance County Public School Foundation. The event is free.

Show your support by purchasing an Arts Alive  t-shirt and wearing it the day of the show- but hurry, you need to order by Saturday, Feb. 10 to receive it before the show.

Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us,  locate the box for K-12 Payment Center on the right side of the page and follow the prompts. You’re just a few clicks away from purchase.

Contact VCS Director of Fine Arts and Physical Education Andrew Markoch at amarkoch@vcs.k12.nc.us or 252.739.7110 to learn more.

Follow updates to the annual arts showcase at https://sites.google.com/vcs.k12.nc.us/artsalive2024/home?authuser=0

The foundation also is seeking sponsors for the event, and all donations support the foundation’s work within the county to provide students and staff enriching experiences as they grow in their educational journey.

Sponsorship levels range from $25 to $2,000. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this annual event by Mar. 1. All sponsors will be listed in the Arts Alive  program.

Here’s a breakdown of the sponsorship levels:

Friend – $25-$50

Bronze – $51-$150

Silver – $151-$250

Gold – $251-$499

Platinum – $500-$999

Diamond – $1,000-$1,999

Pinnacle – $2,000+