Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: Nobles Seeks To Bring More Visibility To H-V Crime Stoppers

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As the new president of the local Crime Stoppers, Frankie Nobles said he’s impressed at just how willing the board members are “to step up and do what needs to be done.”

Nobles said he’d like the community to do the same when it comes to providing information to solve crimes.

He told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that there was not a single payout request in 2021, which means that either there were no indictments or convictions as a result of tips sent in anonymously or, more likely, no tips sent in at all.

“We need the community to step up,” Nobles said. He also said he believes that people may be worried that their identity will be discovered. But Nobles said that is not the case.

Calling or texting the Crime Stoppers number is completely anonymous, Nobles said. The calls or messages get routed through a maze of different servers. The software that is used is safe and confidential.

“I think people are scared to make a tip because they think somebody’s going to know.” But he assures the public that is not the case. “We never even know who’s getting the money.”
Tips that do come in to Crime Stoppers are given to the appropriate agency, he explained. When an indictment is handed down or a conviction is made, the law enforcement agency submits the information to the Crime Stoppers board, which determines the amount of the payment to be made.

The board meets monthly, Nobles said. The executive board consists of Tonya Moore, who serves as vice president; Danny Wright, treasurer; and James Baines, secretary. Additional board members include Lorraine Watkins, Mike Fisher, Henry Gupton, Edward Woodlief and McKinley Perkinson, who is the fundraiser chairperson.

The Crime Stoppers will have a chicken plate fundraiser on March 11 at the Vance County Rescue Squad on 1735 Maynard Road. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available from any board member. Tickets must be purchased in advance, he said. It’s takeout only, and delivery can be arranged for 10 or more plates.

This is the first time the organization has had a chicken plate fundraiser, he said. Crime Stoppers formed in 1982 and VGCC law enforcement instructor Tom Long was its first chairman in 1985.

Nobles said the group has got some good things planned for the community and for the law enforcement personnel it supports.

COVID-19 has created a few wrinkles in the past couple of years, but the golf tournament is being planned and there will be another 50-50 raffle, for starters.

He wants Crime Stoppers to be more visible in the community by participating in events like the downtown car show and Night Out Against Crime.

But most importantly, he wants law enforcement agencies to know that Crime Stoppers supports them. Each agency will submit a name of an officer to be recognized for exceptional service in 2021, he said. “These officers are out there every day, putting their life on the line for us – the least we can do is recognize them.”

Visit the Crime Stoppers Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events.

 

The Local Skinny! VCS Grabs 10 Blue Ribbon Awards For Excellence In Multimedia Communications

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Vance County Schools Director of Communication Aarika Sandlin accepted 10 Blue Ribbon Awards during a virtual ceremony last week, and Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett called Sandlin’s creativity and commitment to sharing the accomplishments of students and staff is to be commended.

During the awards ceremony on Feb. 11, 2022, the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) recognized VCS  for outstanding and effective communication across several categories, from graphic design to digital and electronic media.

VCS received three Gold level awards for outstanding work in Image and Graphic Design (2) and Special Events, three Silver level awards for work in Digital Media and Special Events (2) and four  Bronze level awards given in Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing and Publications (2).

The judges praised the work, sharing it was “superb work from start to finish!” This is another strong finish for Vance County Schools, having earned nine Blue Ribbon awards in 2020.

In a written statement to WIZS News, Bennett said Sandlin “works diligently to ensure that publications, social media posts and presentations tell the story of the innovative spirit of students and staff.”

Ken Derksen, NCSPRA president and executive director for community engagement & student and family support for Wayne County Public Schools, said the work of the award winners exemplifies the high standards and qualities members demonstrate in their daily school communications programs. “Blue Ribbon Awards are among the highest and most prestigious honors that a member of our organization can attain. I congratulate all of this year’s winners for achieving statewide recognition as a Blue Ribbon Award winner. These awards highlight the superior work being accomplished in the area of school communications and all that our members are doing to support and promote public schools across North Carolina,” Derksen said.

NCSPRA recognizes outstanding communications through its Blue Ribbon Awards program each year. Vance County Schools was one of 37 school districts statewide to receive a Blue Ribbon Award. This year’s submission categories included: Marketing, Digital Media Engagement, Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing, Publications, Image/Graphic Design, Photography, and Special Projects and Events. The Georgia School Public Relations Association judged NCSPRA’s 2021 Blue Ribbon entries.

During the virtual event, Nicole Kirby, president of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) paid tribute to award winners and thanked all North Carolina school districts for their efforts to effectively communicate during difficult times. Kirby praised the districts and their communications teams for the powerful way they have responded to help parents, students, and staff during the COVID crisis. “At a time when we are all under extraordinary pressure, you have continued to produce award-winning work,” Kirby said.

NCSPRA is a statewide professional organization serving more than 150 members. Its mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations. For more information, visit the NCSPRA Facebook page or www.ncspra.org.

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SportsTalk: Coach’s Corner: Craddock And Rogers WIZS Players Of The Week

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When not in a pool or on the soccer field, you might find Kailen Craddock on horseback.  Craddock wasn’t named women’s varsity WIZS Player of the Week for her equestrian skills but for her work in the pool at Vance Charter. The sophomore swimmer placed 3rd in the regionals and 13th overall after turning in a time of 116.15 in the 100 meter breaststroke.  Her performance was good enough to make her this week’s women’s player of the week.

For the men’s varsity player of the week, the honor goes to Drew Rogers, a senior basketball player at Crossroads Christian.  Rogers is averaging 20 points per game. On February 4th he scored 20 against Lee Christian and last night he scored 25 in the semi-finals of the Mid Carolina Conference tournament also against Lee Christian.  His performance for the team makes him the men’s varsity player of the week. Tonight Crossroads Christian plays Grace Christian for the conference championship.

The WIZS Players of the Week can be heard every Friday at 1 p.m. during the Coach’s Corner segment of Sportstalk on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM and online at wizs.com.  Congratulations to both Kailen Craddock and Drew Rogers.

 

Granville County Sheriff

One Man Dead After Officer-Involved Shooting Near Stovall On Feb. 9

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One man is dead following a shooting involving a sheriff’s deputy in northern Granville County Wednesday.

County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood released a statement Thursday evening about the incident, which occurred on Feb. 9.

“Granville County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 hang up call about a disturbance at a residence located at 7646 Reavis Road at approximately 5:25 p.m,” the statement began.

According to the report, a male subject at the residence  had committed an assault and then left, armed with a shotgun.

Attempts to locate the male subject were unsuccessful. Deputies responded to a second call at 6:29 p.m. and were advised that the male subject had returned to the residence, still armed with a shotgun. The 23-year-old male subject exited the residence  with a shotgun and ran into the woods. As deputies were searching for the subject and attempting to secure the scene, the subject fired at one of the deputies. The deputy returned fire, striking the subject. Deputies rendered first aid to the male subject and EMS was called to the scene. The subject was transported to Duke University Medical Center where he later died. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating. The deputy who shot the subject has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Supervision And Safety Pt2

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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.

 

The Local Skinny! Junior Firefighter Program

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Area fire departments and the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department are teaming up to host a free Junior Firefighter Program for young people while they’re out of school for spring break.

Vance County Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Wright said the three-day program will be a way to help educate youngsters between the ages of 11-15 about fire safety. But they’ll also get the chance to check out those shiny red fire engines and all the equipment and tools that firefighters use.

Wright spoke Thursday with John C. Rose on The Local Skinny! to discuss the program, which was first held in 2019. COVID-19 forced cancellation in 2020 and 2021, but “we’re kicking it back off this year,” Wright said.

Parents must register their child at Aycock Recreation Center by March 27. The program is open to the first 15 participants. The program will take place April 18-20, 2022.

The participants will tour the city and county fire departments, EMS and Rescue Squad. The Henderson Fire Department will provide their smoke trailer and the young people can experience simulated smoke conditions.

They’ll learn the importance of knowing two ways out of their house in case of a fire, as well as having a designated meeting place that all family members know about in case they get separated in a fire emergency.

In addition to safe home evacuations, the participants will learn safety basics of water rescue and removing victims from vehicles in an emergency.

“They’ll have projects to work on through the program,” Wright said, and then they will get the chance to present those projects to city and county officials at a culminating activity at the end of the three-day event.

“The guys here at the fire department love it,” Wright said of their participation in the junior firefighter program.

“It’s a good program that Kendrick (Vann) brought to our attention a few years ago,” Wright said, referring to the HVPRD director.

The junior firefighter program is a way to help draw interest from the younger crowd, which could result in a young person wanting to become a volunteer firefighter or even make it a career.

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TownTalk: How One Veteran Uses Art, Journaling And Genealogy To Battle Brain Injury And Cancer

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Following is Part 1 of an interview with a U.S. Army veteran who is using art to deal with physical challenges, including PTSD, a traumatic brain injury and cancer. Part 2 is scheduled to air on Feb. 24.

 Kim Knight’s experience in the U.S. Army working in Medevac flight operations may have prepared her – on one level – for the medical challenges she now faces. But it’s her grit and determination and faith that keep her moving forward in the face of those physical challenges.

Knight has been a single mom putting herself through college, she’s owned several businesses and she’s been an emergency medical technician in several states during her adult life.

And most recently, Knight is learning how to manage her “new” life as she deals with the lingering effects of traumatic brain injury.

Speaking from her home in Carson City, Nevada, she told Town Talk co-host Phyllis Maynard and John C. Rose that when she finally was discharged from the hospital, after being in a coma for weeks, that she felt without purpose.

It has been a very long struggle to try to find that purpose, but Knight said she thinks she’s on the right path.

“I very recently joined a traumatic brain injury artist group,” she said. “We share different mediums – from crayons to oil paints, and crafts of every kind.” Knight is part of a new series on Town Talk called Former Active Duty: Still Boots on the Ground which focuses on how military veterans are facing challenges in their lives after service.

Knight said that before her TBI event, she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The art has helped her, she said.

“It has helped tremendously. When I start to feel stressed or feel that anxiety that comes on from PTSD or I start feeling down, I can pick up my watercolors and start creating.”

“Sometimes it’s beautiful and sometimes it’s a ghastly mess,” she admitted. “It’s a process of diving into something and the rest of the struggles and the rest of the traumas melt away.”

Knight also is a cancer patient. She said she chooses to focus on the here and now and to live for the moment, and not in the shadow of a cancer diagnosis.

She marvels a little at this newfound ability to create art, but said perhaps it took a TBI for her to tap into this creative side that she’s uncovering. She said earlier in her life, maybe she was too busy raising children and going to college and running businesses.

“I don’t know where it comes from,” she said, adding that having the time to relax and create has allowed her “to just let go.”

The brain can create new neuropathways, she said, “to work around the broken partsl” These new pathways can produce improvements in areas like memory and executive function – the ability to plan and carry out plans.

Journaling is an activity that Knight had enjoyed long before her TBI event. She said she found it very therapeutic and healing. And now, she said, “journaling helps me to get the things out that I am struggling with.” She also uses journaling as a memory tool.

She said it’s tough to know that her brain doesn’t work like it used to and coming to grips with reduced cognitive ability is difficult.

“I tend to be extremely hard on myself,” she said. But despite that, she said she is happy to be able to continue doing something now that she had done before the TBI event.

Something else that Knight was interested in long before her brain injury is genealogy and she said she’d probably be researching genealogy until she could no longer read at the computer or until the day she dies.

“Genealogy is something I’ve been doing for nearly 50 years,” she said. “It brings me so much joy to be able to piece together the history of our families – it’s one of my passions.”

 

You’ll hear more about genealogy and Knight’s research which helps individuals piece together information about their families’ histories in Part 2 of the Town Talk interview.