Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

South Granville Senior Center Has New Program Coordinator

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The South Granville Senior Services center has a new program director on site at the Creedmoor Community Center.

Christy Southall brings almost two decades of experience to the job. She replaces Cheryl Carrier, who retired in July.

Southall has worked at Franklin County’s Department of Aging Services and Nash County’s Department of Senior Services, according to a press release from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. She most recently served as the Senior Services Program  Supervisor for the Franklinton Senior Center, and before that filled roles as the Senior Center Coordinator for Nash  County and Senior Center Activity Specialist for the Louisburg Senior Center. She is a native of Nash County and spent her childhood in Rocky Mount. Southall  lives in Franklinton with her two daughters Halie and Michelle.

“We are thrilled to have Christy join us as program coordinator for the South Granville Senior Center,” said Senior Services Director Kathy May. “Our seniors in southern Granville County should know that they are in good hands with someone as experienced as Christy joining our team,” May said.

“The South Granville Senior Center is such a great asset for our residents by serving the southern Granville County population without always expecting our seniors to make a trip to Oxford,” May added.

The South Granville Senior Center is located within the Creedmoor Community Center, 114 Douglas Dr. in Creedmoor.  The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/

TownTalk: NC Hospitals During The Civil War

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Wade Sokolosky has done a lot of research on the Civil War. He’s from Beaufort in Carteret County, so he’s familiar with nearby Fort Macon. In fact, his great-great uncle was an artilleryman who was captured at Fort Macon and later lost his life in the Battle of Goldsboro.

And when Sokolosky was in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, he said he and a soldier friend visited the old battlefields that dot middle Tennessee, which further piqued his interest. So much so, that his master’s thesis was on Gen. Sherman’s Logistics, especially the Carolina Campaign and the March to the Sea.

All that research and searching through historical documents led him to be curious about hospitals that had been set up to treat and house soldiers. But he couldn’t find a single book about North Carolina Confederate hospitals.

In the last few years, Sokolosky, a retired Army colonel, has been working to change that. His first book, “North Carolina’s Confederate Hospitals 1861-1863” has been out since mid-July. But it will be Volume 2 that will have information about Vance County’s own Confederate Hospital, which was set up at Kittrell Springs.

Sokolosky spoke with Bill Harris and Mark Pace on Thursday’s tri-weekly history segment of TownTalk. He said that during the time he’s spent researching, he’s run across a lot of interesting tidbits of information about the hospitals, so he decided to organize the information he’d uncovered into a study of the Confederate hospitals and why and how they came to be.

The Kittrell Springs Hotel became the site for the Vance County hospital, known as General Hospital Number One.

“When it comes to hospitals, North Carolina didn’t have as many as Virginia,” Sokolosky said, but the state was in the top three or four. He said he hopes his books will help “fill a gap in our study of our state’s role in the war.”

He visited the National Archives in Washington, DC during his research phase for the first volume, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down hopes for a subsequent trip.

North Carolina only had two hospitals at the time of the Civil War – the marine hospital on Portsmouth Island was for seamen, not locals. And “Dix Hill” was the asylum in Raleigh.

Residents received medical care from physicians who made house calls, and only when the family remedies didn’t work.

The whole notion of hospitals to house wounded and sick soldiers during the Civil War was a novel concept. But Sokolosky said that it was during Gen. Grant’s Overlands Campaign that countless sick, wounded and recovering soldiers had to be evacuated away from battlefield hospitals to make room for new casualties.

“They were evacuated to Raleigh and (soon), they’re bustin’ at the seams,” he said. “All those Confederate wounded are coming South.” Thanks to the proximity of the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad, Kittrell seemed a fitting spot to transform a hotel into a hospital and soldiers didn’t have to go all the way to Raleigh.

The government paid rent to business owners or schools for use of the facilities for hospital space. Peace College and Wake Forest College also became sites for hospitals.

And the Confederacy maintained detailed records of what happened in those hospitals – who was treated, who died, which surgeons worked where. Sadly, most of those medical department records were destroyed by fire where they were kept in Richmond.

So Sokolosky has pieced together information by delving into the service records of individual surgeons.

He has found letters and other documents during his research, adding that when he’s able to connect the dots through his research, it’s very satisfying.

“I enjoy the research, especially when the dots come together.”

 

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The Local Skinny! Immunizations For Children Returning To School

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-information courtesy of N.C. Department of Health and Human Services

As children across North Carolina head back to school this month, the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services reminds families that vaccinations are an important part of back-to-school success and overall health and well-being.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes August as National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life.

Whether children are homeschooled or attend a public, private, charter or religious school, state laws require they stay up-to-date for certain vaccinations based on their age, as recommended by the CDC.

Gov.Roy Cooper also proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina. Alongside the proclamation, the NCDHHS is partnering with health care providers and stakeholders in a statewide awareness campaign to help ensure school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Following CDC recommendations to control the spread of all vaccine-preventable diseases is an essential piece of both child and family well-being,” said Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist. “NCDHHS is helping health care providers, parents and guardians take this essential step to protect children’s health in school and at home.”

Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chicken pox, meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others are still seen across North Carolina. Keeping children up to date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce unnecessary absences from school.

Children who are uninsured can still be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program which offers free vaccines to children through 19 years of age. “Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective and successful means available for preventing disease and death,” said Steven Gunn and Karin Szymanski, co-chairs of North Carolina Immunization Coalition.

“They help protect vaccinated individuals and our entire community by reducing and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.” Teens also face unique risks related to communicable diseases. “As children move into their preteen and teen years, they become more susceptible to certain diseases, making it especially important to stay current with immunizations. At the same time, preteens and teens tend to have fewer visits to their doctor’s office, increasing the chance that they are not up to date,” said Dr. Dimitrios Hondros, president of the N.C. Academy of Family Physicians. “This decrease in immunizations accelerated among adolescents during the pandemic, when stay-at-home orders went into effect.”

“You can use any health care visit, including for sports or camp physicals, school health assessments, checkups and sick visits to receive vaccines,” said Dr. Christoph Diasio, FAAP president of the N.C. Pediatric Society. “Talk with your pediatrician or health care professional to make sure your kids are protected against vaccine preventable diseases.”

NCDHHS encourages parents to talk with their child’s healthcare provider about recommended vaccinations. During that same visit, parents can talk with their physician about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children ages 6 months and older. Many pediatricians and family practitioners will provide the COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible family members, as well as teens, during that same visit.

Visit MySpot.nc.gov for more information about COVID-19 vaccines.

The CDC has more information and resources for parents and guardians, including a list of all vaccines required for school attendance from kindergarten through high school.

Find out more at immunize.nc.gov/family

 

 

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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover Communication part 5

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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: 911 Dispatchers Recognized For Their Role In Saving Woman In Burning House

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When we see firetrucks or emergency vehicles dashing down the road with sirens blaring and lights flashing, chances are that the men and women in those vehicles are on their way to help someone in distress. But an important group of people who aren’t on those trucks are vital team members – they are the 911 telecommunicators, stationed in front of computers and phones to receive and dispatch calls.

A team of Vance County dispatchers were recognized Monday during the county commissioners’ meeting for their life-saving role during a housefire earlier this year.

Emergency Services Director Brian Short presented Meritorious Service Awards to the dispatchers, who, on March 27, were able to stay on the line and help the victim – trapped in the burning home – find her way to a safer part of the house until firefighters could arrive.

Short and Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright spoke with John C. Rose during Wednesday’s Town Talk and offered praise and appreciation for the 911 dispatchers and the role they play in emergency services.

“We’ve got the best technology, we’ve got the best things money can buy to do our jobs, but all that is completely worthless without the people that actually do the job,” Short said.

The county’s dispatchers have completed emergency fire dispatch certification that equips them with a checklist of tools, suggestions and advice to help those who call 911 with an emergency.

“They gave this lady life-saving instructions,” Short said, adding that the situation was a perfect example of everybody working together and doing their best, which resulted in saving the woman’s life.

Seconds can seem like minutes when you’re in distress, and that also holds true when you’re a dispatcher receiving a call from someone in distress. Short said it was bound to be gut-wrenching for dispatchers to keep a victim focused while providing those step-by-step instructions that prolong safety until help arrives.

Those instructions and prompts, Wright said, are critical components. “It gives them an extra few minutes,” he said, “that could mean a life-changing experience for them.”

In this case, “the whole front end of the house was on fire,” Wright recalled. Dispatchers were able to get the woman to the back part of the house while firetrucks were en route. The front entry had a vaulted ceiling, which meant that the fire went up before spreading to the back of the house.

“That open floor plan and vaulted ceiling played a role in the fire behavior,” Wright said, allowing the woman to seek safety at the rear of the home.

But it was 911 dispatchers who started the process and then helped put the plan in place, all of which helps emergency responders on the scene. “The advice they were able to give her gave first responders the extra time that was needed to go in and make the save,” Wright said.

“Of course, they were overjoyed to receive the award, and to see that they were being appreciated,” Short said of the Monday recognition before the county commissioners. But in reality, dispatchers have to be able to pivot flawlessly from one call to the next.

“We do our very best with every call we take and then try to move on to the next one.”

The county reviews all multi-agency calls as a matter of course, and the March 27 housefire was no exception. In addition to ensuring that all agencies performed their duties in a satisfactory manner, Short said a review also can help determine if grief counseling is needed. “They’re not machines, they’re human beings,” he added. We have to be aware of their mental health, too.”

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Granville School Board Opens Process For Filling Unexpired District 2 Seat

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The Granville County Board of Education approved the formal process for filling the District 2 seat after the resignation of school board member Tom Houlihan.

Houlihan’s resignation was effective July 31, and the board met Monday, Aug. 1 to determine how to proceed to fill the unexpired term.

The board will continue with six members until a replacement for District 2 is appointed, according to information from Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, along with a resume and three letters of recommendation by the close of business on Friday, Aug. 26.

The board will interview candidates during a special called meeting set for Thursday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. The interviews and subsequent vote will occur in open session, Winborne noted, and the candidate selected will be sworn in and take the oath of office on Sept. 12.

If no suitable candidate is selected, the process will be repeated – with new deadlines selected – until the position is filled.

The letter of interest, resume and references can be emailed, hand-delivered or mailed to:

Mrs. Alston Shave

101 Delacroix St.

Oxford, NC 27565

The phone number for Central Services is 919.693.4613; the email is

shavea@gcs.k12.nc.us

These documents should provide information that highlight and demonstrate the candidate’s ability and experiences related to education and service to children, Winborne said.

Candidates should review the “Duties of the Board” guidelines issued by the NC School Board Association, which may be found at the NCSBA website url:  https://www.ncsba.org/news-resources/board-member-knowledge-base/duties-of-the-board/

All candidates must reside in District 2 in order to be considered for this position.  Proof of residency will be required. District 2 map and information may be found at the Granville County website url:  https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/county-commissioners/approved-redistricting-map/

Terry Garrison

TownTalk: Garrison Seeks 4th Term, Discusses Water, Sewer Projects In District 32

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Several towns in the area have recently received state and federal funding to make improvements to water and wastewater services, and N.C. Rep. Terry Garrison said it was important to him to make sure projects in his district were on the state’s “radar” to get that much-needed money.

Garrison is seeking his fourth term as a legislator representing District 32, which includes Vance, Warren and most of Granville counties. He faces challenger Frank Sossamon in the November midterm elections.

Although the General Assembly is in recess right now, Garrison told John C. Rose Tuesday that it’s less of a vacation and more of a quasi-adjournment. Legislators regularly are called back into session, not necessarily to take votes, but to hear information and discuss issues. In fact, they were called back last week. “We can pretty much expect to go back each month through December to address matters,” Garrison said.

When legislators are called back into session, you need to be ready, he said. “You never know what may occur in your absence.”

Garrison, along with colleagues, was able to secure millions of dollars in funding to help several municipalities in the district with water and water treatment projects. The city of Henderson has gotten more than $10 million from a couple of different funding streams, the legislator explained.

One $5 million allotment is for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System and a second $5.4 million comes from the American Rescue Plan and was awarded through the state’s Department of Environmental Quality.

The ARP appropriation was dedicated to address drinking water and wastewater projects, he said. “Our situation was severe enough to qualify us to receive the money,” Garrison noted.

“I yelled as loud as I could to make sure persons were aware of our critical needs,” he continued.

During the most recent long session, as it’s called, legislators made history, Garrison said. “The last session was the longest in the history” of the General Assembly. It convened in January 2021 and didn’t adjourn until March 2022. “It was extensive and it was intense,” Garrison recalled.

Then the “short session” began in May. Although the bulk of the work of the state House and Senate has been done, there are matters that are lingering, he said. “We’ll just have to see how it goes – we’re on standby.”

He said he’s hopeful about the possibility of Medicaid expansion, which had been a sticking point in getting the most recent state budget passed. “It does appear that we’re back on track to get something on Medicaid expansion,” he said, adding that the fate of the issue most likely will be determined by the November elections.

Garrison said he voted for the budget, despite its shortcomings. “We absolutely needed to have a budget,” he said.

Before heading off to Raleigh to represent House District 32, Garrison had been dean of workforce development at Vance-Granville Community College. His realty firm, Tegarris Associates has been in business for more than 40 years. Much of that time, Garrison served as a Vance County commissioner.

“I stand for democratic principles and values, and I stand for you,” he said. In addition to being a proponent of Medicaid expansion, Garrison said education, jobs that pay a liveable wage, the expansion of rural broadband internet access are other top-of-mind issues for him.

Adequate and appropriate funding for schools, teachers and for community colleges are vital to the state’s education system. And although he acknowledges that charter schools and private schools both have a place in the education system, he does not favor using public funds to pay for families to send their children to private schools.

He is an advocate for affordable housing, as well as services for veterans the elderly. In addition, he supports community development – and redevelopment efforts.

“I will always play the game fair,” he said.

Subscribe to Garrison’s monthly newsletter to stay on top of legislative updates. Email terry.garrison@ncleg.gov to learn more. And he said constituents are always welcome to phone his office at 919.733.5824.

 

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Vance Sheriff’s Office, Kerr-Tar COG Host Bike Rodeo Aug. 13

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The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the Kerr-Tar COG to host a bike safety rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The rodeo is designed to test bike-handling skills of children ages 4 to 15 and will be held in the parking lot of the Vance County Courthouse, 156 Church St. in Henderson.

Participants may bring their own bikes, but there also will be bicycles available to borrow for the rodeo.

There will be a free helmet giveaway, as well as goodie bags, Pelican’s snoballs and more!

For more information, contact the sheriff’s office at 252.425.0933.