Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie What Works in the Garden

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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TownTalk: Stanley Takes On New Role At Kerr Lake

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In his previous role as Superintendent 1 at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, Bill Stanley said his main focus was on the rangers and their development and making sure the other staff also was properly trained to do the wide assortment of jobs that take place across the various campgrounds, public access points and shelters with the park.

In his new role as lead superintendent, Stanley chuckled when he said there’s a lot more paperwork involved.

But the ultimate mission remains the same: “making sure Kerr Lake is moving forward in a direction for the future,” Stanley told John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk.
He’s got his sights set on three broad areas: conservation, education and safe recreation.

Those umbrella categories cover a wide range of projects, from prescribed fires to making sure all visitors can have an enjoyable lake experience.

“Prescribed fires are a big thing in NC state parks,” Stanley said. “It’s a good thing for the environment and a really good things for visitors also.” Prescribed fires help reduce leaf litter and help clear out the understory of wooded areas, which helps campers have a better lake view and reduces the chance of a campfire getting out of control.

But there’s the little detail of when to conduct a prescribed fire. “When there’s tons and tons of campers here, you can’t smoke ‘em out,” Stanley said.

There are 13 rangers that serve the entire recreation area, he said. They are law enforcement officers in addition to all the other duties that go along with the job. Some will be joining other local law enforcement officers in the “Shop with a Cop” event happening this week, he said. And they also do programs at schools and at Perry Memorial Library.

In addition to the ranger staff, Stanley said there’s the 15-member maintenance team stays busy with various improvement projects throughout the recreation area. Add 60 or so seasonal employees to keep grass mowed and bathrooms cleaned during the peak season and suddenly the staff becomes a small army.

Maintenance recently completed a renovation of 13 campsites at Hibernia. By doing the job themselves, the team was able to make the money go further, he noted.

He said visitors who use the campsites love the fact that they’re so close to the water. “They say they love our campsites,” Stanley said, adding that many have been camping at Kerr Lake for many years.

Whether you just want to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake or whether you’d prefer to be in a bass boat on the water, Stanley said Kerr Lake is the perfect spot.

“Kerr Lake is a great fishing lake,” he said and 2023 is shaping up to be another good year for fishing competitions here.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Sheep & Goat Production

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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IRS Reminder: Dec. 31 Deadline For Certain Taxpayers Who Deferred In 2020

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If you’re an employer or self-employed and you chose to defer paying part of your 2020 Social Security tax liability, you have until the end of the month to make your second annual installment of the deferred amount, the Internal Revenue Service reminds.

As part of the COVID relief provided during 2020, employers could choose to put off paying the employer’s share of their Social Security tax liability, which is 6.2 percent of wages. Self-employed individuals also could choose to defer a similar amount of their self-employment tax. Generally, half of that deferral was due on Dec. 31, 2021. The other half is due on Dec. 31, 2022.

Earlier this fall, the IRS sent reminder notices to affected employers and self-employed individuals. The agency noted, however, that those affected are still required to make the payment on time, even if they did not receive a notice.

Employers and individuals have several options for making this payment. Deferral payments can made through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), Direct Pay, by debit card, credit card or digital wallet, or with a check or money order. No matter which payment option is chosen, it must be made separately from other tax payments and deposits. This will ensure that it is credited properly and will help avoid follow-up bills or notices.

Employers and individuals can make the deferral payments through enrollment in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, a free service available from the Treasury Department. On the Tax Type Selection screen, choose Deferred Social Security Tax and then change the date to the applicable tax period (the calendar quarter in 2020 for which tax was deferred). Visit EFTPS.gov, or call 800-555-4477 or 800-733-4829 for details.

Alternatively, self-employed individual taxpayers can choose Direct Pay to pay directly from a checking or savings account. This service is available free only on IRS.gov/payments/direct-pay. Select the “Balance Due” reason for payment and apply the payment to the 2020 tax year where the payment was deferred. Direct Pay is not available to pay employment taxes.

If paying with a credit card, debit card or digital wallet, select “installment agreement.” Apply the payment to the 2020 tax year where the payment was deferred. Note that the IRS does not charge a fee for this service, but the authorized third-party payment processors do. Visit IRS.gov/Payments for details.

Make any check or money order payable to United States Treasury, not IRS. For more information on where to mail payments see Instructions for Form 941.

Franklin Health Dept. Getting $631K To Reduce Infant Mortality Rate

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The Franklin County Health Department is getting more than half a million dollars from the state over the next three years to reduce infant mortality in the county.

The health department was notified that it will receive $631,914 in grant funds from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services – $210,638 each year, according to a press statement from public information officer James Hicks.

“We are thankful for the state of North Carolina making this significant investment toward reducing infant mortality in Franklin County,” said Franklin Health Director Scott Lavigne.

“We look forward to using these funds to implement evidence-based strategies designed to reduce this health inequity in Franklin County as it furthers our mission to prevent disease, provide care, promote health and protect our community.”

Funding is set to begin on June 1, 2023 and will continue for three years based on continued availability of funds and program performance.

For more information about his grant or the Health Department, contact Scott LaVigne at 919-496-8111 or slavigne@franklincountync.gov.

According to information from NCDHHS, Franklin County had eight infant deaths in 2020 per 1,000 live births, the most recent year for which data is available.

By comparison, Vance County reported five deaths per 1,000 live births, Granville and Warren counties each reported four. The two counties with the most infant deaths were Wake County with 69 and Cumberland County with 50.

Weekend Holiday Events To Add To The Calendar

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Amid the holiday hustling and bustling, there are numerous opportunities to share fun – and free – activities with family and friends in the Henderson area between now and Christmas. The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of events and programs happening over the next week or so that can be a welcome respite from crowded shopping areas and stressful schedules.

 

Friday, Dec. 16 – through Christmas 

  • Stop by the lobby between McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library to see the Christmas tree display, decorated by downtown businesses for the community to enjoy.
  • Find the photo backdrops and booths around downtown Henderson to snap a fun family photo – or selfie! – to create a new holiday memory.

 

Saturday, Dec. 17

  • 2 p.m. – informational meeting of the teen entrepreneur club. Register at http://bit.ly/VanceTeenEntrepreneur.com or call Wykia Macon at 252.438.8188.
  • 7:30 p.m. – Get an infusion of the holiday spirit at a free concert by Northeast Piedmont Chorale, McGregor Hall.
  • Concerts not your thing? Then head down to Movie Night@Sadie’s. $15 gets you a spaghetti dinner, popcorn, drinks and the movies “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Bad Santa.” RSVP to 252.572.2542.

 

SportsTalk: Adcock Hopes To Move Up In Mariners’ Organization

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There’s that old baseball saying about a swing and a miss.  One has to wonder if that phrase hasn’t gone through Oxford native Ty Adcock’s mind once or twice.  Adcock is about to begin his fourth year in the Seattle Mariners organization and hopes this year sees him transition from the minors to the parent organization.  It’s been a tough road for Adcock so far.

After graduating from South Granville High School, Adcock spent four years playing for Elon College.  He started as a catcher but by his junior year was pitching and his college coaches saw that he had what it took to go further pitching and promoted him to closer in his senior season.  He soon caught the attention of Major League Baseball scouts and was drafted by the Mariners.

Things were looking good for Adcock but injuries and Covid has played a factor in his career. “I was hurt in my freshman year at Elon. I had a back injury,” Adcock explained.  He had fractured his L5 vertebra and then in his senior year shoulder issues appeared.  The Mariners felt it best to have him rehab all of 2019 so he didn’t throw at all.  In 2020 Covid came along and wiped out the entire season.

In 2021 baseball returned and so did Adcock, but not for long. “I was facing my 6th batter of the preseason when I tore my UCL ligament in my elbow,” Adcock said.  This meant that Adcock would have to undergo Tommy John Surgery.  After 17 months of rehab, Adcock is ready to get back to work.  He spent the autumn playing in the Arizona Fall League and is ready to start spring training in February.  “I’m 25 and that’s not old but, in baseball I know the clock is ticking,” Adcock stated. “I’ve got to make some big strides in 2023. I have to make a name for myself.  I’ve really got to show the organization what I’ve got,” Adcock added.

Perhaps, with a little luck, the phrase a swing and a miss will be applied to the batters that Adcock is facing instead of himself.

 

SportsTalk: Holiday Tournament Shaping Up At Kerr Vance

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Mike Joyner, Athletic Director at Kerr Vance Academy, is coming to the end of his first year on the job. Joyner, who was a guest on SportsTalk Thursday, expressed gratitude to those who have helped make his transition from bigger schools to KVA a success. “We have great support, lots of tradition and a great booster club,” Joyner said. After 27 years the smaller school size works well for Joyner. “Everyone knows everyone on a first name basis,” Joyner added.

Joyner and KVA are in preparation for the annual holiday tournament at the school, which kicks off Friday morning at 10:30 and will continue on Saturday.  The school will use both gyms for the tournament, which will feature Brunswick Academy, Thales Academy, Oxford Prep, Oak Forest and, of course, Kerr Vance Academy.  The tournament will start with JV games followed by women’s games and then the men’s games.  Championship games will take place on Saturday with the women’s game at 1:30pm and the men’s game at 3pm. All games are at Kerr Vance Academy.