Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Kerr-Tar COG Hosts Cultivate 2024 Sept. 12 At Louisburg College

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The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments is hosting this year’s Cultivate 2024 regional economic development summit at Louisburg College on Thursday, Sept. 12.

The summit will be held at the Jones Performing Arts Center on the college’s campus and begins at 8:30 a.m., according to information from local Chamber president Sandra Wilkerson.

Business leaders, elected officials and others interested in economic development across the Kerr-Tar region can register HERE; although there is no fee associated with the event, registration is required.

Keynote speaker is Jennifer Pharr Davis, an author and small business owner. Other speakers include Ryan Combs, executive director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and Scott Peacock, director of Tourism, Marketing & Communication for Visit NC.

In addition to the speakers, participants will have the chance to visit a trade show and hear panel discussions. The summit will discuss how rural communities can foster innovation to create thriving futures.

Jones Performing Arts Center is located at 501 N. Main St., Louisburg.

Visit  https://www.kerrtarcog.org/ to learn more about KTCOG and the programs it offers in its service area that includes Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Granville Vance Public Health Closes At 2 PM Because Of Storm Conditions

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Granville Vance Public Health announced that it will close its offices Thursday at 2 p.m. due to flooding and downed trees from Tropical Storm Debby.

GVPH is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 9, at 10:30 a.m.

 

Maria Parham Clinics Cancel Afternoon Appointments; Planned Surgeries Not Affected

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Due to adverse weather conditions, all Maria Parham Health Physician Practice Clinics closed at 12 noon today, Aug. 8. If you have an appointment scheduled for this afternoon, our team will be reaching out to reschedule as soon as possible.

Good news: The hospital itself is fully operational with no loss of power, so all scheduled surgical procedures will proceed as planned.

Donna Young, the hospital’s marketing and communications coordinator and public information officer, said patients can find the latest information at the Maria Parham Health Facebook page.

 

TownTalk: Mary Emma Evans’s Legacy Lives On With Foundation

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The Mary Emma Evans Foundation is hosting a school supply giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Director Phyllis Evans and her daughter Phylicia are encouraging the community to step up and make some donations between now and then.

Evans is the daughter of the late Henderson City Council member, who died in 2011. She and other family members established the foundation to honor the memory of a woman who gave tirelessly to the city of Henderson as a pastor, advocate and elected city official.

But in order for the giveaway to take place, the community needs to step up and bring donations to the foundation’s office – any basic items such as notebook paper, pencils, pens, binders, composition books will do, she said. Please donate between now and Aug. 10 so there will be time to get the supplies organized in time for the back-to-school event.

The giveaway will take place at the foundation’s office, 901 Dorsey Ave. (just behind the post office on Garnett Street) from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Stop by to pick up some basic school supplies and stay for a “meet and greet” with hometown celebrities Varonica “VV” Mitchell and her sister, Danielle.

Varonica is the star of “The VV Show” and Danielle has her own tutoring enterprise and is known for her involvement with the I Dance Praise Academy. The Mitchell’s office is conveniently located right beside the foundation’s office, Evans said.

She said she’s happy to partner with the two Mitchell sisters “before they go off and do great things,” she said. “Come on out on the day and meet these celebrity guests.”

Visit https://www.maryemmaevansfoundation.org/ to learn more or follow the foundation on FaceBook to learn about the various community projects, from the Cook’s Chapel food pantry to the monthly prayer sessions and Bible study.

Each Monday, Cook’s Chapel welcomes the community to choose items from its food pantry, Evans said. On Tuesdays, the foundation office is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents to pick up emergency food boxes, clothing and more.

The foundation recently was approved to provide weekend meals to Vance County high school students.

No doubt, Mary Emma would be pleased with the way family members and others are uniting to make their community a better place.

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TownTalk: Rebuilding Hope’s Kids’ Construction Camp

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There’s still time to sign youngsters up for next week’s Kids’ Construction Camp at Rebuilding Hope. The three-day camp is free, and Rebuilding Hope’s Director Randolph Wilson says the camp is a fun way to introduce young people to the trades as well as to community service.

The camp runs from Monday, Aug. 5 through Wednesday Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Raleigh Road headquarters.

Children in grades 3-6 will learn how to use hand tools, but also will be introduced to new-fangled equipment like nail guns and screw guns, Wilson said.

They’ll also learn some basics about electricity and plumbing, as well as hanging Sheetrock and laying shingles.

There is a Bible study component, too, which Wilson said is just as important as learning about trades.

“We need to get back to teaching people about trades,” he said on Monday’s TownTalk. Who knows? Maybe this construction camp will be the place where a young boy or girl develops a passion for a particular trade, he said.

“We’re excited – and we have fun. The kids enjoy it,” Wilson said.

Wilson and co-director Tom Wille oversee the various projects and programs at Rebuilding Hope, from next week’s camp to the recent Servants on Site and ramp construction across the area.

The SOS was a huge success, with 85 young people coming together to put six roofs on in just four days’ time.

“We had a great week,” he said. The youth worked all day – with a daily lunchtime devotional with the residents they were helping – and then had a worship service each night.

“It’s a great time of helping people, also a time of sharing the love of Christ in the community they were working in,” Wilson said.

And when the Kids’ Construction campers and SOS participants get a little older, Wilson said he would welcome them to help out with ramp construction – so far this year, teams have built 90 ramps, on a pace to beat last year’s 116 total.

“We can’t keep up with the ramps,” Wilson said, noting that they’ve got a wait list of close to 25 now. “We need volunteers – people who have a passion to get out and help their community.”

Visit https://rebuildinghopeinc.org/ to learn more about how you can help.

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Sheriff Brame: One Arrested On Drug Charges

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-Press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

 

On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit served an arrest warrant on Jerry Lee Lemay, Jr. at 457 Lemay Lane in Henderson. The warrant was issued as a result of an ongoing narcotics investigation prompted by numerous complaints from citizens regarding the sale of narcotics at the above location. Lemay had an additional outstanding warrant for the possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Lemay was served with two warrants charging him with Possession With Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Heroin; and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Lemay appeared before a t a magistrate and was given a $40,000 secured bond.

Area August Blood Drives

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The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets as the summer continues. Type O blood donors are especially needed to help keep hospital shelves stocked through August.

Anyone who donates blood or platelets during the month of August will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/Help for details.

 

Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. 

 

Upcoming blood drives by county:

Vance

Henderson

8/1/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Raleigh Road Baptist Church, 3892 Raleigh Rd.

Granville

Oxford

8/15/2024: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ernest F. Hart American Legion Post 90, 914 Williamsboro St.

Warren

Warrenton

8/12/2024: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Warren County Armory Civic Center, 501 US Hwy 158 Bus E

Franklin

Louisburg

8/2/2024: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Senior Citizens Center, 279 S. Bickett Blvd.

Online Workshops In August Designed To Support Caregivers To Those Living With Dementia

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Two chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association in North Carolina are partnering with the Parkinson’s Foundation Carolinas to host a series of free virtual weekly education workshops to help those who are providing care for family members or others living with dementia.

The series is titled The Empowered Caregiver and it is designed to help caregivers by sharing activities they can apply to their specific situations.

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer’s is a specific disease and the most common cause of dementia. Parkinson’s disease dementia also falls under that umbrella term. While the disease states are different, there are similarities in caring for both forms of dementia.

“Our latest Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report shows that dementia caregivers in North Carolina face significant emotional, physical and health-related challenges as a result of caregiving,” said Christine John-Fuller, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “Dementia is also common for individuals in later stage Parkinson’s. Our goal with this collaboration with the Parkinson’s Foundation is to offer tools and education to help caregivers feel supported and see pathways forward.”

The Empowered Caregiver education series will be offered via live webinar each Thursday in August from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. -with each week covering a new topic.

Building Foundations of Caregiving – August 1

Explores the role of caregiver and changes they may experience building a support team and managing stress.

Supporting Independence – August 8

Focuses on helping the person living with dementia take part in daily activities, providing the right amount of support and balancing safety and independence while managing expectations.

Communicating Effective – August 15

Teaches how dementia affects communication, including tips for communicating well with family, friends and health care professionals.

Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors – August 22

Details common behavior changes and how they’re a form of communication, non-medical approaches to behaviors and recognizing when help is needed.

Exploring Care and Support Services – August 29

Examines how best to prepare for future care decisions and changes, including respite care, residential care and end of life care.

“We are excited about this partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association because no matter the disease, care partners need help,” says Diana Parrish, senior advancement director, Carolinas Chapter of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “As a care partner for 19 years, we have found that the Parkinson’s Foundation’s resources, services, and programs have helped us on this journey!”

There is no charge to participate, but registration is required in order to receive the Zoom link for the series. To sign-up, visit tinyurl.com/CaregiverAugust or call 800.272.3900.

Drought? What Drought? WIZS Listening Area Removed From ‘Abnormally Dry’ Status

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Given the recent downpours, showers and afternoon and evening thunderstorms, the WIZS listening area no longer is in the “abnormally dry” status posted by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.

Just last week, most of the state was experiencing some level of drought conditions, according to NCDROUGHT.ORG, but since then, that level has decreased, thanks to substantial rainfall. Only five counties remain in severe drought, with 30 counties still in moderate drought and 47 others in the abnormally dry category.

Rainfall totals vary widely across the four counties, with some areas reporting 1-inch, 2-inch, even 5-inch totals just in the last week.

The rain has been a welcome sight for farmers with crops in the field. Hopefully, corn and bean crops in the southeastern portion of the state have gotten some relief as well.

Aug. 6, 7 Forums To Provide Updates On Broadband Internet Expansion

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– information courtesy of the Office of N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon has scheduled upcoming forums – one in Vance County and one in Granville County – to provide updates on the status of expanding broadband internet across the counties he serves.

Leaders from the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity will provide in-person updates on the state’s efforts to close the digital divide, according to a press statement from Sossamon’s office.

The Vance County forum will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Perry Memorial Library from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Equity Nate Denny will be the speaker.

The Granville County forum will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 7, also from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Granville County Expo Center. NCDIT Broadband Infrastructure Deputy Director George Collier will be the guest speaker.

To date, the Division of Broadband and Digital Equity has awarded more than $500 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to deploy high-speed internet infrastructure across North Carolina. This funding also supports initiatives to help residents afford internet access, obtain digital devices, and access digital literacy resources.

Specific to Granville and Vance counties, nearly $12 million has been awarded for projects connecting 5,828 homes and businesses. Highlights include:

  • Fybe: Awarded $1.8 million in June through the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program, with an additional $1.8 million from Granville County and over $1.5 million from Fybe, to expand high-speed internet to 1,720 homes and businesses in Granville County.
  • Spectrum: Awarded $4 million in CAB funds in 2023 to connect 1,530 homes and businesses in Granville County.
  • Brightspeed: Received $4 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants to connect 1,914 homes and businesses in Granville County and nearly $2 million to connect 664 locations in Vance County.

Granville County Schools have also benefited from these efforts, recently receiving $400,000 to expand device lending programs, offer digital literacy training led by student interns, and establish community Wi-Fi locations through the division’s Digital Champion grant program.

Attendees at both sessions will have the opportunity to ask questions about the state’s broadband initiatives and individual projects aimed at bringing high-speed internet service and digital literacy resources to their county.