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Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.
Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.
PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY
“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.
“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.
TownTalk guest Angela Allen, Granville Co. tourism director, described multiple events starting this week and weekend and into the spring.
With spring and Easter in the air and more and more people wanting to get out of the house, Allen listed off events for children and adults, including the upcoming bridal tour which still has availability. Four venues will be featured, with tours included. Granville Brides on Wheels on Eventbrite will get you signed up or visit www.brides-on-wheels.com.
Check out the Cedar Creek Gallery Glass Egg Fundraiser March 16 to March 26 in Creedmoor. All proceeds go to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. There are prizes including raffles for 55 blown glass eggs and the event is available online as well.
The Spring Fling Maker’s Market Food Truck Rodeo happens this weekend on Saturday (March 20th) from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in Oxford.
An inaugural Children’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday (March 20th) at Vino Oasi in Stem.
Carlee Farm presents the Spring Marketplace Sunday in Oxford.
A full listing of events in Granville County can be seen online at https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/.
For complete details and audio of Angela Allen click play.
(Granville Tourism is a paying advertising client of WIZS. This text, radio show and resulting podcast is not a paid ad.)
WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.
PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY
Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.
“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.
“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.
WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.
PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY
Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.
“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.
“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.
In “The Local Skinny!” audio podcast listed below, please find calls and emails with items for sale plus Wayne Rowland’s Vance Co. Cooperative Extension Report for Monday, March 15.
“The Local Skinny!” news topic planned for the day today was actually presented as the second segment of TownTalk today and pertained to Vance County Fire Reorganization. The script used was from the today’s (Monday, March 15) Vance County public safety committee meeting agenda packet.
One goal of the Vance County Commissioners, as set in an earlier retreat, is to bring closure to the fire reorganization discussion. The committee members are Commissioner Brummitt, Commissioner Faines, and Commissioner Wilder.
And, TownTalk on Tuesday, March 16 (tomorrow) will feature Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen with information from the meeting.
To catch up to the present, you can read the script below. The audio link here (or click the TownTalk logo to the right) has the script and some analysis as well.
Re-evaluation of Fire Reorganization
Committee Summary from August 2020 – Last Discussion on Fire Reorganization
In February 2019 the board voted to continue the Goldenbelt fire district in its current structure. During the retreat in January 2020, a commissioner brought up the fire reorganization plan and the board asked the committee to review the plan. At its June 30, and July 21, 2020 meetings, the committee reviewed and discussed organizational charts and an updated financial analysis associated with the reorganization plan. At its July 21, 2020 meeting the committee reviewed the updated financial analysis as prepared by county finance staff. The analysis indicates the plan would create an initial savings of $281,791 on the general fund while creating a $206,136 deficit on the fire tax fund which would require a 1.2 cent fire tax increase. The finance director discussed concerns with transferring monies from the general fund to the fire fund to cover the deficit and mentioned state law within the budget and fiscal control act that prevents paying for a service fund deficit with general fund monies. Committee members mentioned management, HR, and potential legal concerns with the plan having county fire employees report to county policies while also being subject to non-county operational policies with the employees physically being located in a volunteer station and operating volunteer department equipment. The committee then reviewed input from the Fire Association indicating that the fire association members had too many questions and concerns with the proposal to support its passage. As requested by the board, the committee has reviewed the plan and based upon input gathered and concerns raised, the committee recommended (2-1 vote) not proceeding with further conversations on the reorganization plan. For Your Information.
Board Actions related to Fire Reorganization
Whether you’re planting a few shrubs around the house, putting in a new mailbox at the driveway or starting some larger project around the yard, the first step should be dialing 811 to make sure where you dig is free of underground pipes or wiring.
Louis Panzer, executive director of North Carolina 811, Inc. told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that state law requires that homeowners and contractors alike call the agency before the first shovelful of dirt is moved.
The “Call Before You Dig” messaging campaign has been seen on billboards and other spots for about 10 years, and Panzer said the message has had a positive impact in the state.
“I’d say it has some traction,” he said. “It’s a pretty simple message we want to convey,” Panzer added.
With spring around the corner and warmer weather inviting homeowners to begin outdoor projects, Panzer said projects that require digging should always begin with a call to 811. April is Safe Digging Month, so remember to follow the process of calling 811 before you dig. According to NC 811, every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811 to learn the approximate location of underground utility lines.
“We do ask that folks take the time to notify us,” Panzer said. There may be easements or rights-of-way that contain underground utilities. “It’s the sensible thing to do to take the time to notify us,” he stressed. When the call is placed, Panzer said homeowners should provide as much detail as possible about the project and should expect to have a three-business-day wait period. This gives 811 staff time to communicate with utilities providers to come out to the property to mark where their lines are located. The caller will be informed about which utilities will be responding, then a follow-up email when the markings have been completed, Panzer said.
Mondays are always the busiest day for 811, he said, adding that in one day – a Monday – they logged 10,800 calls. Last year, the North Carolina 811 received more than 2 million requests for help locating underground lines.
Utilities will come in and mark their lines free of charge, but for private facilities there is a charge. Visit nc811.org to find a list of private line locators.
The call center is strict about the three-day wait period. There is an “emergency ticket” process, but that is reserved for cases where there is a “threat to life, health and property,” he said. Poor planning and time management don’t count. Homeowners can call up to 12 days before they intend to dig, according to information on the website.
Underground lines and pipes provide phone and internet service to homes and businesses, as well as essential services like water and gas. Calls to 811 can prevent damage to lines and costly repairs.
Gas lines are monitored and regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Panzer noted, and said that pipes are a very safe way to move the product. “As long as (the gas) is in there,” he said, it’s super safe.” Something as simple as a cut or a scratch in a gas line can create a weak point in the pipe that can cause problems in the future, he warned.
Any contact with a gas line should be reported immediately to the gas company. It also is a state requirement that any damage – even a nick or scrape – be reported to North Carolina 811. Of course, if there is a “product release” such as a release of gas, “your first call is 911,” Panzer said.
The 811 website says that the markings made by the utility companies are valid for up to 15 days. Try to avoid digging on top of or within 18-24 inches on all sides of the marks. This could mean moving your project to another site to a spot with fewer buried lines.
For complete details and audio click play.
Seventh Grader McKenzie Pendergrass scored her first points as a middle school basketball player for Vance Charter School Tuesday night against Roxboro Community School. However, Pendergrass isn’t just any player and those weren’t just any points. Those points scored put Pendergrass and Vance Charter on ESPN. Pendergrass is in a wheel chair and Head Coach Brian Howard says he became aware of Pendergrass’ desire to be on the basketball team after she wrote a story in class. In her story, Pendergrass said she didn’t think her disabilities should stand in the way of her taking the court. “She wanted to prove she could do just as well as anyone else,” Howard said. She did play in her 6th grade year but did not score. That changed Tuesday night.
Pendergrass got the bucket late in the game. Howard said “The gym was electric.” “When the ball went in the gym erupted,” added Howard. Howard went on to say that Pendergrass is well liked at the school, “She is outgoing, determined and doesn’t take no for an answer.” Her determination paid off with her first points of her middle school career and making it to ESPN.
WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.
PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY
Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.
“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.
“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.
They may not be on the front lines or in the spotlight as other types of professionals who work to keep the community safe and healthy, but social workers operate across society to provide services to those in need.
March is National Social Work Month and this year’s theme is “Social Workers are Essential.” Monica Kearney, executive director of Safe Space in Louisburg, stressed that social workers are as essential as doctors and nurses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kearney has a master’s degree in social work and has been director at Safe Space since 2014. She spoke with John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk and said a unique quality that social workers have is “meeting people where they are…to help people have a better way of life.”
Safe Space provides domestic violence/sexual assault services that help families break the cycle of domestic violence and sexual assault. Visit www.ncsafespace.org to learn more.
Pandemic restrictions have created challenges, Kearney said, but the non-profit continues to provide outreach and educational resources to reach those who may be in crisis. “Domestic violence is a public health issue,” Kearney noted, whether someone is a victim or someone who has witnessed it in the home. A second social worker at Safe Space helps children who have witnessed domestic violence. The Safe Space mission is “to help people move beyond fear into freedom,” she added.
Social workers serve at the front lines with physicians and nurses, but also are found everywhere from schools to large corporations. Social workers protect children, provide clinical therapy interventions and use evidence-based practices to help others, Kearney said.
Stay-at-home orders, working from home or facing unemployment as a result of the pandemic may put additional strain on families already dealing with domestic violence or sexual abuse, she said. People who have experienced domestic violence, whether they are victims or witnesses, can find help and resources at agencies like Safe Space, Kearney said.
Kearney noted that people who live in more rural counties like Franklin, Vance and Granville already face struggles, but layering the additional challenges brought by the pandemic have only made things more challenging. “It’s easy to say just leave the situation,” she said, but it rarely is as easy as that. More affordable housing is one thing Kearney said would help people who are ready to leave an unhealthy relationship.
Other services that Safe Space offers include a 24-hour crisis line (919.497.5444), a short-term shelter for victims fleeing domestic violence, support groups for victims and children, as well as court advocacy, community outreach and education.
Teenagers may be experiencing challenges because of the pandemic, too, she said. Limiting social interaction can be troubling for that age group, and Kearney said Safe Space can provide information about teens’ social emotional development, as well as other relevant topics such as dating violence and cyber-bullying.
“I was born with an innate desire to make a difference in the world,” Kearney said, “I just wasn’t sure how it would manifest itself.” One of her college professors sparked her desire to make that difference through social work; she currently is pursuing her Ph.D in social work administration and leadership. She has mentored numerous social workers and social work students to help them hone in on their own natural abilities, she said.
Social workers play “an essential role in helping people from all walks of life live life to their fullest,” Kearney said, whether it’s domestic violence, mental health or substance abuse disorders. “We are essential workers,” she explained, “because we are helping people who are struggling.”
Social workers, Kearney said, are a lot like teachers – “we don’t get paid a lot, but we are the unsung heroes in the community.”
In Franklin County, contact Safe Space at 919.497.5444.
In Vance County, contact Infinite Possibilities at 252.425.2492.
In Granville County, contact Families Living Violence Free at 919.693.5700.
For complete details and audio click play.
WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
Click Play for today’s Local News Audio.
PRESENTED IN PART BY OUR SPONSOR DRAKE DENTISTRY
Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.
“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.
“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.
