Tag Archive for: #warrencountynews

Growing Up in the Digital Age

/by

By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Que Tucker, Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

From the Greatest Generation to Baby Boomers, Generation X to Millennials, teenagers in every era have had challenges growing up.

In today’s digital world, high school students are being tested in unique and demanding ways. The Washington Post confirms that 73 percent of all American teenagers own their own smartphone and, on average, spend almost nine hours a day texting, chatting, gaming, blogging, streaming and visiting with friends online.

Although conclusive research showing a direct correlation between the mental health of teenagers and smartphone usage won’t be complete for years, it isn’t a great confidence builder for a student to discover online that everyone else seems to have more friends.

In addition, recent figures indicate that more than 31 percent of America’s 42 million teenagers are overweight or obese, compared to only five percent in 1980. According to the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, North Carolina is ranked the 25th most obese state in the nation with 30.9 percent of all teenagers considered overweight.

Not surprisingly, many psychologists and researchers agree that today’s teenagers are more lonely, anxious and depressed than ever before.

As the new school year gets underway and social pressures increase, statistics like these verify how important it is for teenagers to participate in high school sports and other activities such as marching band, choir, speech and debate.

The most recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) indicates there are almost eight million participants in high school sports and more than four million in performing arts activities. Most of these students would agree the primary advantage of playing a sport or participating in an after-school activity is the opportunity to meet new people and develop meaningful friendships. An online chat is no substitute for working toward a common goal face-to-face, side-by-side for weeks on end with teammates.

And positive social relationships are only the beginning. Among other benefits, high school sports are instrumental in helping teenagers establish nutritional and exercise habits that will carry them for a lifetime. Participating in a sport in high school is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, establish good eating and sleeping habits, discourage the use of alcohol and drugs and develop a greater sense of self-esteem.

Additional benefits of participating in a high school sport or activity are shared by the NFHS on a new website at MyReasonWhy.com, where dozens of high school students address this topic in their own words through videos.

A new school year brings with it an opportunity for teenagers to make new friends and establish new lifestyle habits. Encouraging them to make friends on the field of play as well as online is a great way to start.

Warrenton’s ‘Fright Night’ Promises a Scary Good Time

/by

-Information and flyer courtesy the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page

The Warrenton Revitalization Committee presents “Fright Night” on Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse Square, 109 S. Main St., Warrenton.

Wear your costume, register for prizes, enter drawings, get your face painted and take a ghost walk. A “local spirit” will lead the ghost walk at 8:30 p.m.

Music will be provided by DJ Lee Burrows with Solid Sound Productions and refreshments will be available for purchase.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

 

Good Food, Music Highlights of ‘Chefs on the Farm’ Fundraiser

/by

-Photo credits Jeannie Rose and John C. Rose

Good food, good people, good music and a great, local cause all came together on Sunday evening at the Chefs on the Farm event held at the Warren Estate in Warren County.

The event, a fundraiser for Working Landscapes in Warrenton, paired farmers and their products with local chefs for a delicious outdoor dinner complete with a festive “on the farm” fall setting.

Working Landscapes is a nonprofit rural development organization with a mission to advance the economic and environmental resilience of the region. Among their visions, the organization seeks to help people recognize, appreciate and have access to local food and the natural environment.

They clearly accomplished just that as the community dined on such delectables as short rib gumbo, pizza, ratatouille, smoked chicken rillette, beef dumplings, apple turnovers, cocktails and much more.

The food was presented on covered tables with signs stating the dish, the known allergens and the chef/farm pairing.

On the local scene, Chefs Michael Ring, Nick Garrison and A.J. Garrelts with Warrenton’s Robinson Ferry Restaurant & Spirits were paired with G&D Produce, to present the short rib gumbo.

Other restaurant and farm participants included Saint Jacques French Cuisine in Raleigh partnered with Bender Farms; Coronato Pizza partnered with Taber Farms and AAA Farm and Ranch; Sassool of Raleigh/Cary partnered with Nash Produce; 18 Seaboard in Raleigh partnered with Taber Farms; Umma Foods partnered with Sunrise Ridge Farm; Whiskey Kitchen in downtown Raleigh partnered with Taber Farms; and 41Hundred partnered with Y’mijer Farm.

The crowd dined while enjoying live music from the GrassStreet Bluegrass Band. GrassStreet, based in central North Carolina, features Wayne Kinton (guitar, vocals), David Kinton (upright bass, mandolin, vocals), Ricky Hargis (banjo, vocals) and Tab Kearns (dobro, vocals).

The band has entertained fans of all ages since 2003 with their mixture of original material and bluegrass standards ranging from the traditional to the progressive.

According to WIZS’ own John C. Rose, the event was quite the success. “My wife and I attended the event as paying customers to help the cause and it was awesome,” said Rose. “We are already planning to go back every time they have future Chefs on the Farm events. All of the food was great. The atmosphere of being on the farm and seeing some folks you know and meeting some new people, and GrassStreet playing in the background, was just perfect.”

(L to R – Nihya Alston, Kamini Hudson, Nyasia Warren)

(L to R – Beth Aiken, Anna Walker, Amanda Ellis)

Applications, Nominations Being Accepted For New VGCC President

/by

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees is now inviting applications and nominations for the position of President of the college.

A website has been launched with a presidential profile and the details of the application procedure. The site can be reached at www.vgcc.edu/presidentialsearch.

General inquiries about the college and application materials can be directed to April Perkinson, search liaison to the board, at (252) 738-3227 or perkinson@vgcc.edu.

To be assured consideration, resumes and cover letters must be received by Friday, November 9, 2018, according to the website. Resumes with cover letters and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Trustees are working with the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLC of Emerald Isle to assist in the search for a replacement for Dr. Stelfanie Williams who left the college in August to take a job with Duke University. The new president will be the seventh in the history of the college.

ELA, described as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence,” was selected by the Board of Trustees at its September 17 meeting.

The firm is helping the Trustees by creating the presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, guiding the search process, and recruiting and screening applicants as needed.

The trustees are expected to present finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for evaluation early in 2019, said Dr. Gordon Burns who is serving as interim president for the college. The board plans to have the new president in place in March 2019. Dr. Burns served as president of Wilkes Community College in North Wilkesboro for 18 years before retiring in 2014.

Serving on the Trustees’ presidential search committee are Trustees Deborah Brown, chair; Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.

Food, Music & Pie Contest All Part of Warrenton’s Upcoming Harvest Market

/by

-Information and flyer courtesy the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page

The Warrenton Revitalization Committee will hold a Harvest Market event on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse Square in downtown Warrenton.

Crafts, art, gifts, jewelry, candles, produce, festival foods and more will be available. Enjoy live music by The Jimmy Weaver Trio.

Also, don’t miss the first ever Harvest Pie Competition! Categories for pie judging include apple, sweet potato, pumpkin and pecan. Judging will take place around 2 p.m. and cash prizes will be awarded.

Contest registration forms may be printed from the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page by clicking here.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

 

Important Voter Registration/Election Dates

/by

-Information courtesy the North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement

Important Dates:

Friday, October 12, 2018 – Regular Voter Registration Deadline

Voter registration forms must be postmarked or delivered to your county elections office by 5 p.m. on October 12. Same-day registration will be available in your county during the One-Stop Early Voting period, beginning October 17 and ending November 3.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018 – Start of One-Stop Early Voting

Voters may register and vote at any One-Stop Early Voting location in their county of residence. For locations and hours, check with your county elections office or vt.ncsbe.gov/OSSite.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 – Regular Deadline to Request a Mail-In Absentee Ballot

Requests must be received by your county elections office by 5 p.m. on October 30.

Saturday, November 3, 2018 – End of One-Stop Early Voting and Same-Day Registration

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 – ELECTION DAY

Polls will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Locate your polling place at vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup.

Warren County Logo

Warrenton Christmas Parade Set for Dec. 8; Parade Entry Forms Now Available

/by

-Information courtesy Butch Meek, Rotary Club of Warrenton

The Rotary Club of Warrenton announces that they are partnering with the Town of Warrenton as civic sponsors of the 2018 Christmas Parade to be held Saturday, December 8, 2018, at 5 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Be the Inspiration.” Rotary is asking parade participants to showcase how their organization is involved with environmental issues that affect health and welfare both locally and around the world. Participants in the parade are encouraged to show how they are providing inspiration in their communities. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best floats.

Entries will be judged December 8 at 5 p.m. The parade rain date is set for Sunday, December 9. Parade entry forms can be obtained from the Town Hall located at 133 South Main Street or from Tar Heel Tire Company, or visit the Warrenton Festivals page on FaceBook.

Warrenton Revitalization Committee to Host First Harvest Pie Competition

/by

-Information courtesy the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page

The Warrenton Revitalization Committee is hosting our first ever Harvest Pie Competition during this year’s annual Harvest Market Festival on Saturday, October 13! The categories include apple, sweet potato, pumpkin and pecan pies.

We will be accepting entry forms at the festival from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Judging will take place around 2 p.m. and cash prizes will be awarded, amounts to be determined.

We have added a youth division to make the competition more accessible to kids and teenagers who want to participate. We have edited the registration form with”Adult” and “Youth” boxes. The form may be printed from the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page by clicking here.

We hope to see you there!

(This is not a paid advertisement)

First Nationwide Presidential-Level Emergency Test to be Conducted Wed., Oct. 3

/by

-Information courtesy Lynn Allred, Public Information Officer/Grants Coordinator, County of Granville

IPAWS National Test

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system on October 3, 2018.

• The test will assess the readiness to distribute an emergency message nationwide and determine whether improvements are needed.

• The test messages will be sent using FEMA’s IPAWS, which enables authorities to send emergency messages to multiple communications networks, including the EAS and WEA as part of the nation’s modern alert and warning infrastructure.

• Sending the WEA test message will begin at 2:18 p.m. EDT. The EAS message will be sent at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

• This will be the first nationwide Presidential-level WEA test and cannot be opted out.

• Originally planned for September 20, 2018, the test has been postponed until October 3, 2018. A back-up date is always planned in case of severe weather or other significant events.

Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) Test

Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 2:18 p.m. EDT. During this time, WEA-compatible cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless carrier participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the message only once.

The WEA test message will be a Presidential Alert and will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

WEA messages are sent by public safety officials to warn the public about dangerous situations in other critical emergencies. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (e.g. tornado warnings and AMBER Alerts).

The EAS test message is distributed to radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.

The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar and interrupts programming for approximately one minute.

The EAS message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar Wireless Emergency Alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”

For additional information, please visit the FEMA website by clicking here.

I Voted Sticker

NC Voter Registration Tips & Deadline Reminders

/by

-Information courtesy the State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement website

With Election Day quickly approaching on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, WIZS would like to take the opportunity to remind you of the upcoming deadlines and the steps to take to register to vote in North Carolina:

Register to Vote

In order to register to vote in North Carolina, a person must meet the legal qualifications to vote and complete a voter registration application. When completing the application, applicants must provide their full name, residential address, date of birth, and citizenship status. After completion, the application should be mailed to the board of elections office in the county in which the applicant resides. You can find the address of your county board of elections office by clicking here.

If the application is complete and the applicant meets all qualifications to vote, the county board of elections will mail a voter registration card to the applicant to provide notice of the registration.

Voter registration applicants who have met the voter registration deadline should expect to receive their voter card within 1 to 2 weeks. Applicants should contact their county board of elections if they do not receive their voter card within two weeks. Note: The applicant must have transmitted the registration application by the registration deadline; otherwise, the voter card will not be mailed until after the completion of the election.

Qualifications to Vote

To register to vote in North Carolina, a prospective voter must meet all of the following qualifications:

  • Must be a citizen of the United States.
  • Must live in the county of his/her registration, and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election.
  • Must be at least 18 years old. A prospective voter can submit a registration form up to two years before his/her 18th birthday, if and only if he/she will be 18 at the time of the next general election.
  • Must not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction (including probation or parole). If a prospective voter has previously been convicted of a felony, his/her citizenship rights must be restored. For more information on voting rights for those in the North Carolina criminal justice system, click here.
  • Must rescind any previous registration in any other county or state.

Voter Registration Deadline

The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is 25 days before the date of an election. The voter registration application must be received by the applicant’s county boards of elections by this date. If an application is received after the deadline, the application may still be timely if it was mailed and it is postmarked on or before the voter registration deadline; otherwise, the application will not be processed until after the election.

For more detailed NC voting information, including One-Stop Early Voting and Same-Day Registration, click here.

(This is not a paid advertisement)