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.

Click Play!

 

Granville Health System Gets 4 Stars From Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services

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Granville Health System has received a four-star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for delivering exceptional patient-centered care and ensuring their well-being.

“The Hospital Compare ratings evaluate crucial facets such as patient experience, safety protocols, care efficiency, and clinical outcomes and are paramount for healthcare institutions nationwide,” according to information from GHS Marketing & Foundation Director Lauren Roberson.

Adam McConnell, GHS Interim CEO, expressed pride in the achievement. “Our medical staff and the entire Granville Health System team have shown unwavering commitment to ensuring excellence in patient care,” McConnell said in the press statement. “This four-star rating validates the tireless dedication of our medical professionals, administrators and support staff, all united in our mission to positively impact the lives of our valued patients every single day.”

Granville Health System has implemented various initiatives to enhance patient safety, optimize treatment outcomes, and elevate the overall patient experience. Investments in medical technology, as well as fostering a compassionate environment and placing a strong emphasis on patient-centered care all contribute to the hospital’s overall quality.

The Granville Health System main campus is located at 1010 College Street, Oxford. Visit www.ghsHospital.org to learn more.

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The Local Skinny! Gain Computer Skills At VGCC Franklin Campus Training Hub

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Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with a Wake Forest company, has opened up a computer hub at its Franklin Campus to improve the community’s access to technology.

Not only will DigitalBridge provide classes to help individuals learn how to use technology, but the hub is a place where people can come in a get a document printed, for example.

Stephanie Tolbert, VGCC dean of Business, Applied Technologies and Public Services, said the training hub addresses three challenges underserved communities face when it comes to using technology: connectivitiy, affordability and workforce skills training.

The hub is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Franklin Campus, located at 8100 Hwy 56 just outside of Louisburg. Additional times and days are available by appointment, Tolbert noted during Monday’s TownTalk.

They had a ribbon-cutting recently and have placed signs outside and in to direct people to the hub.

“We are ready, willing and able to help,” Tolbert said. “Just come to Franklin Campus and walk right into the lab.”

Let’s say you received a document via email, but you need help printing it, Tolbert said. Stop by the hub and get help making a copy. Or say you want to add a certain technology certification to boost your resume – there are more than 130 courses available in a self-paced format, Erica Hixon said.

And it’s all provided at no cost to the participant, Hixon, DigitalBridge’s project lead, said.

The information is all tailored to the individual, depending on goals and skill levels, Hixon said.

“Training is offered in-person or remote,” she added, with career coaches available to guide their efforts.

Whether it’s learning how to print a document, complete an online application all the way up to learning to write computer code, there’s something for everyone. A simple assessment will help target skill levels, so students won’t have to sit through learning information they already know.

It’s all about helping people get jobs, or get better jobs, while they’re gaining confidence with using technology.

“DigitalBridge is an initiative that serves to meet people where they are,” said VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

The idea for the training hub began when VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais was at a national community college conference on entrepreneurship, Tolbert said. Once Desmarais learned about the Wake Forest group, the links were established and the training hub is the result.

“We had to go all the way to a conference to be introduced to someone in our own backyard,” Tolbert said. Desmarais recognized the need for the community, she said, adding that it’s not just a good partnership for the institution, but also for the community.

Learn about all the services the hub can provide by visiting https://mydigitalbridge.org/ or by calling 919.246.5700.

Franklin Commissioners Approve 5 Percent Pay Bump for Emergency Medical Services Staff

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-information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks

Salaries for Franklin County’s Emergency Medical Services staff got a 5 percent bump from county commissioners recently, all part of an effort to boost retention and recruitment.

The board Commissioners approved recommendations from County Manager Kim Denton to increase the pay.

“Franklin County EMS continues to experience challenges that are felt nationwide by EMS systems and healthcare organizations,” Denton said. “EMS works hard every day to answer calls and provide the highest quality care for Franklin County.”

Salary increases are aimed to retain qualified staff and increase recruitment efforts. In addition to increased salaries, Franklin County offers sign-on bonuses for all employees including $1,500 for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), $2,000 for Advanced EMT and $3,000 for Paramedics.

Franklin County also added another 12-hour peak demand shift in the FY24 budget.  This second peak demand shift provides additional EMS coverage for hours that experience higher emergency call volumes. Additionally, Franklin County has committed to purchase at least one new ambulance each year because of the supply chain challenges across the nation.

Franklin County is conducting a job fair on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Franklin Plaza, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg.  Interested applicants can talk with department representatives about available positions during the job fair.

Enjoy Fresh Produce And More From Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market Vendors

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will be open one more Wednesday this season before it drops back to Saturday-only hours.

Wednesday, Aug. 30 marks the unofficial end to summertime at the Farmers Market, but Market Manager Pat Ayscue says vendors still have lots of produce as summer transitions to fall.

The vine-ripe tomatoes just keep getting better, Ayscue said. Fruits such as watermelons, cantaloupe, peaches and apples are displayed alongside veggies including peas, butterbeans, okra, sweet corn, squash, zucchini and onions

Ayscue encourages patrons to chat with vendors and farmers about the grass-fed beef and pork – and don’t forget the tasty farm-fresh eggs!

There’s local honey, delicious fresh baked goods as well as fresh-cut flowers and handcrafted items for sale.

The market will be open until sometime in December, Ayscue said. Saturday hours remain 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Stop by and put a smile on a farmer’s face where the produce is so fresh it looks like it’s still growing,” Ayscue says.

And, as always, thanks for supporting your local farmers market.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Drive, just off Beckford Drive, Henderson.

Home and Garden Show

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The Home and Garden Show for Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Click play below for the audio, brought to you by Satterwhite Point Marina.

The Home and Garden Show airs each week on WIZS on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

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TownTalk: VGCC Community Engagement Sessions Begin Sept. 7

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A slight turn of phrase can provide a whole different perspective on things, and Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Desmarais is looking forward to hearing from the wider community as plans for the future develop.

Take the phrase “community college” for example. Change that to “community’s college,” and you gain some insight into plans for an upcoming series of community engagement nights the college is planning.

“We really want to listen to our community,” Desmarais said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. As a way of implementing its new theme, “Your Community, Your College,” Demarais said the meetings are a way to be intentional about creating a plan that will be the best fit for the communities that VGCC serves.

There’s always room for improvement, she said, and getting feedback from these meetings is a good start.

“We don’t want to stop doing something that is helpful,” she said, adding that “feedback is part of the learning process.”

As students in a classroom need feedback on their activities and work, so does an institution like VGCC, she said.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing right or wrong, you’re not learning anything,” she said.

Individuals interested in participating in the meetings are encouraged to RSVP. A link to the sessions is expected to be available on the www.vgcc.edu website Thursday.

Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until about 7:30 p.m. Small groups – each with a VGCC rep and a person taking notes – will discuss various issues related to their community’s needs.

With the understanding that different people and different communities need different things, Desmarais said she wants VGCC to “be a convener and a catalyst” that brings different organizations together to work for common good.

“Little nudges that we each do can have a wonderful ripple effect in the end,” she said.

And that’s the point of the meetings – to point the community’s college in the direction that the community needs and wants in order to grow.

Below is a list of sites and dates for the community meetings: 

  • Thursday, Sept. 7 – Warren County Armory Civic Center, Warrenton
  • Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Perry Memorial Library, Farm Bureau Room, Henderson
  • Wednesday, Sept. 13 – VGCC Main Campus Civic Center, Henderson
  • Thursday, Sept. 14 – Wake Electric Operations Facility, Youngsville
  • Thursday, Sept. 19 – Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Complex, Louisburg
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Mary Potter Center for Education, Oxford
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27 – VGCC South Campus, Room G1131, Creedmoor

Arrest Made In Early-Morning Robbery At Sheetz

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-information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

A Vance County man was arrested early Wednesday by officers of the Henderson Police Department following the report of a robbery at the Sheetz on Ruin Creek Road.

Police officers responded to the call about 1:15 a.m., according to information from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Barrow stated that a middle-aged black male entered the business and demanded the clerk to give him the money from the register or he would shoot. No weapon was seen, but the suspect indicated he had a firearm. The clerk gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash, and he then fled from the store taking a few other items.
Once on scene, the officers were able to gather vital information on the suspect and the vehicle used during the event through video, witnesses and other sources. Officers began searching the area and at 3:30 a.m., an officer observed the vehicle near Dabney Drive and Parham Street.
Taken into custody during a traffic stop at Parham and High streets was Howard Perry, Jr., 55, of Lone Wolf Drive. Perry was charged with robbery and possession of stolen goods. He was placed under a $150,000 bond and transported to the Vance County Detention Center.