Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: Faith In Mental Health Program Coming Sept. 21

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The Faith in Mental Health initiative is taking its project to the next level when it kicks off a free year-long program on Monday, Sept. 21 that is open to churches in Vance and Granville counties.

Karl Johnson, program coordinator with Granville Vance Public Health, said there’s still time to register to participate. The meeting will take place at the Salvation Army, 2292 Ross Mill Rd. in Henderson.

Find a registration link at www.gvph.org.

In the couple of years since its inception, the Faith in Mental Health program has held community forums, formed an advisory board and has provided trainings for more than 100 people.

The Sept. 21 event puts in motion another layer of the initiative designed for churches and the role they play in the community.

The term “cohort” may sound a bit formal and structured, but Johnson said there will be plenty of room for flexibility as the program moves forward.

Having conversations about substance abuse disorders and other mental health issues isn’t always easy, Johnson said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

Being part of the Faith in Mental Health cohort provides a nice mix of structure with open-ended flexibility depending on a particular church’s wants and needs – a way to have conversations in the context of a faith community.

The hope is that churches will pursue different activities, whether it’s forming a support group at church, creating a mental health library or having a special bible study on relevant topics.

The project aims to lessen the stigma that surrounds mental health, substance abuse and addiction.

“Stigma is a huge barrier that’s come up again and again in the different community health assessments that we’ve conducted at the health department,” Johnson said. The Faith in Mental Health initiative seeks to view an individual’s struggles through the lens of faith, whether it’s through particular spiritual practices, spiritual passages of scripture or theological voices to better understand how to care for someone caught in the web of mental health or addiction challenges.

“For all the topics that we’ll address in the next year,” Johnson said, “we’re trying to center them with people’s concrete lived experiences.”

Hearing from people who speak openly about their struggles with mental health and addiction is a helpful way to learn how they sought and received the care they needed.

“Hopefully it humanizes this topic can be so hard,” Johnson said. It also demonstrates to those who are currently struggling that there are people in our own communities who have faced the same challenges and have overcome them.

“That’s life,” Johnson said. “And we are called to come around people who are struggling to support them where they’re at.”

Visit https://gvph.org/ to learn more, email Karl Johnson at kjohnson@gvph.org or call him at 616-298-5626.

Learn more about the program at https://gvph.org/faith-in-mental-health

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Dangers of Clearing Land

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Today’s segment warns of the dangers associated with clearing land too quickly and ends with a reminder of today’s pesticide class.

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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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Lawn Renovation

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Lawn renovation can be done  by killing the lawn  first before reseeding your lawn.

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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The Local Skinny! VCS Celebrates Academic Progress

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Vance County Schools is celebrating academic progress following the release of the 2025–2026 accountability results, with the data showing student growth, improved School Performance Grades, and substantial school turnaround across the district.

The 2026 results reflect positive momentum for Vance County Schools. Thirteen schools met or exceeded overall growth expectations, including Aycock Elementary, Carver Elementary, Clarke Elementary, Dabney Elementary, EM Rollins STEAM, EO Young Elementary, LB Yancey Elementary, New Hope Elementary, Pinkston Street Elementary, Zeb Vance Elementary, Vance Virtual Village, Vance County Middle, and Vance County Early College.

A total of ten schools improved their year-over-year growth status, including Aycock Elementary, Clarke Elementary, Dabney Elementary, Vance County Middle, New Hope Elementary, EO Young Elementary, Pinkston Street Elementary, Vance County High, LB Yancey Elementary, Zeb Vance Elementary, and STEM Early High.

The district also made a significant stride in reducing the number of schools receiving an “F” School Performance Grade from 4 to just 1. The district’s 2026 School Performance Grade distribution includes one A, five Cs, nine Ds, and one F. 

Seven schools improved their School Performance Letter Grade, including Aycock Elementary, Clarke Elementary, Dabney Elementary, New Hope Elementary, E.O. Young Elementary, L.B. Yancey Elementary, and Zeb Vance Elementary.

Superintendent Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney said in the press release from Vance County Schools … “These results belong first to the teachers, instructional specialists, school leaders, and support staff who have done the hard work of turning strategy into stronger instruction for students every day. Over the past few years, we have been very intentional as a district about strengthening core instruction, using data differently and putting targeted supports around schools and classrooms. It is incredibly rewarding to now see that work reflected in sustained growth across so many of our schools.”

E.O. Young Elementary improved its School Performance Grade 24 points over the last two years, earning a “C” and demonstrating substantial academic progress. Zeb Vance Elementary recorded the district’s largest single-year increase in School Performance Grade score, gaining 11 points in 2026, while also meeting growth expectations.

Vance County Early College continues its tradition of academic excellence, earning an “A” School Performance Grade for the 11th consecutive year. In 2026, the school recorded an 89.4% overall proficiency rate while meeting growth expectations.

Vance County Schools also recorded a four-year cohort graduation rate of 80.8%, another indicator of the district’s continued focus on helping students maintain the momentum to stay on track for graduation and future success.

Aycock Elementary continues sustained student growth, having exceeded growth expectations in four of the last five years. In 2026, it increased its School Performance Grade score by eight points, earning a “C.” The school also recorded an impressive 90.6% growth score.

Vance County Middle demonstrated substantial instructional progress in 2026. The school exceeded growth expectations with a 91.3% growth score, reflecting strong academic progress among students and continued efforts to address achievement gaps.

The 2026 accountability results demonstrate that Vance County Schools is continuing on a trajectory of academic growth and school improvement. While district leaders recognize that achievement gaps remain and additional work is necessary, the gains across schools provide evidence that focused instruction, strategic supports, and the commitment of students, educators, families, and community partners are producing meaningful results.

“We are proud of this progress, but we are not satisfied,” Superintendent Dr. Destiney Ross-Putney said. “Our responsibility now is to build on what is working, accelerate achievement where gaps remain, and make sure this kind of growth becomes the expectation across every school in VCS.”

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TownTalk: Granville Gold Mock Tobacco Auction & Event Coming Sept. 27

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If you’ve ever been to a live auction, you likely can recall the auctioneer’s singsong selling as he or she announces the current bid and asks for other bidders to bid more.

But did you know that tobacco auctioneers do the reverse? Yep, they start out with a high price and then that number goes down until the lot is sold.

The days of seasonal tobacco auctions in big warehouses filled with bundles of golden, aromatic leaf have given way to direct contracts with the big tobacco companies, but folks will get the chance to see a “real” tobacco auction later this month at the Oxford Tobacco Research Station.

Last year’s event brought hundreds out to see – and hear – a veteran auctioneer practice his craft.

The “Granville Gold: Mock Tobacco Auction & Farm Heritage Celebration” will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to Frank Timberlake, who is helping to promote the event, which is sponsored by the Granville County Historical Society and Museum.

“If you go back and look at what founded many of the rural counties, it was tobacco,” Timberlake said on Thursday’s segment of TownTalk.

The upcoming mock auction will showcase the spectacle that was the tobacco auction, when groups of men – buyers alongside the farmers who’d tended the crop – would follow the auctioneer up and down the rows of tobacco, piled in bundles on those familiar shallow woven wood baskets.

“That’s when everything happened, good bad or indifferent,” Timberlake said, recalling the auctioneer as he worked. “He’s walking – not even hardly taking a breath,” he added, “selling 500 piles of tobacco in an hour.”

Auctions are scheduled to take place at the top of each hour – 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

In addition, there will be plenty of exhibits on the grounds of the tobacco research station, located at 300 Providence Rd., near the intersection with Providence Road and the Oxford Loop near the N.C. Cooperative Extension offices.

There will be all kinds of vendors, too, and food for purchase.

Admission is free, and folks will have an opportunity to participate in a real auction of two antique tractors – a fundraiser for the historical society. That auction begins at 3:30 p.m.

Remember, though, that unlike tobacco, bids for the tractors will go up, not down.

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Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: The Mentor

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We continue our new series called the Theory of 7’s. This is a fatherhood framework for raising children, one stage at a time. We move on to a very important age group, ages 21 to age 28, where fathers take on a mentorship role for their children.

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: Business Spotlight – Deal By Me Podcast

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Dr. James W. Smith retired from his 32-year role as a pastor a few years ago, but what he decided to do in his post-retirement “next chapter” was formed by a desire to help others the way others had helped him so many years ago – before he was even a pastor.

These days, the former pastor of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Bahama is busy with a different type of ministry – one that involves being a church consultant, author and podcaster.

It was more than just finding something to do with his free time – he wanted to be encouraging, inspiring and transforming, he said during Wednesday’s Business Spotlight on WIZS.

He investigated the world of podcasting and has interviewed people from all over the world to share their stories that, you guessed it, encourage, inspire and transform.

With more than 330 Deal By Me podcasts under his belt now, he’s pivoted to shine a light on individuals in local communities who provide encouragement and inspiration in a transformational way.

The first local recognition took place in Franklin County, where he was born and raised. Five honorees were recognized at that event.

The second one takes place on Oct. 3, right here in Henderson, where Smith practiced law in the office with now-Judge Henry Banks.

The following individuals were nominated and then selected to be recognized at the event, which will be held at Crossroads Event Center:

  • Dorothy ‘Joy’ Bowser
  • Jessica Rice Hawkins
  • Karen Rice Christmas
  • Fran Cawthorne
  • Shelton Anderson
  • Dr. Thelma McClean
  • June Lewis
  • Annette Myers

 

Smith said he makes the selections from among the nominations he receives, and he simply wants to show appreciation to this “very deserving” group of people, who were nominated by others in the community because of the way they show encouragement to others.

Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at https://www.dealbymepodcast.com/event-list.

There was a time in Smith’s life when he needed encouragement, he said.

“I remember what people did for me,” Smith said, recalling the kindnesses he received.

“You don’t know what your encouragement can do for somebody,” he said. “That’s what happened to me.”

Visit https://www.dealbymepodcast.com/ to learn more.

 

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Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am-1pm.
  • Take your soil samples now to avoid the rush.
  • When planting turnip seed by hand, add nitrogen fertilizer to your bucket of seed and 1tbsp of water and mix well. This will help you see where you have sown your turnip seed.
  • Now is the time for lawn renovation season. Be sure to plant tall fescue. Use a three-variety mix of fescue seed.
  • Obtain your Central Piedmont planting guide so you will know what to plant for the fall garden.
  • Be on the lookout for yellow jackets when mowing fields.
  • Use row covers to protect young transplants.
  • Take pictures of your vegetable garden add them to your garden journal to know what was planted in each location of your garden.
  • Stay hydrated and take rest breaks in these high temperatures.
  • Harvest early in the day and get vegetables under refrigeration as soon as possible.
  • Get your vegetable publications from Cooperative Extension.
  • Check houseplants, dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension Building is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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