Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: Shop With A Cop & Friends Kicks Off

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Shop With A Cop And Friends is officially underway! The annual group effort of the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Social Services and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce raises money to help brighten the Christmas holiday season for needy children in the community.

The kickoff took place last Friday morning at the Breckenridge Street Circle in front of the police station.

Last year, the Chamber was able to give $16,000 to foot the shopping bill, which included more than 50 children who had a blast shopping at the local Walmart with various representatives from law enforcement agencies and first responders.

“It’s an excellent community outreach program,” said Chamber Board Chair Scott Burwell. Looking at pictures of the children having fun during the holiday outing tells the whole story, Burwell said. “I hope it continues to grow.”

This year’s presenting sponsor is Walmart Distribution, said Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson. Additional sponsors help to make the program a success.

Wilkerson said it’s not just the joy of seeing the children having fun, but she also loves to see the community come together to support those children. “It’s a great thrill, seeing that happen,” she said.

Here’s how it works: There are a total of 180 numbered tickets – divided evenly among the police department, sheriff’s office and Chamber office – that will be sold. The number of the ticket is the price you pay, so whoever purchases the #1 ticket pays $1, all the way up to $180.

Everyone who buys a ticket in the 100-180 range will be included in the Nov. 19 celebratory reception, when the final tally will be revealed. Additional tickets to the 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. reception are available for $20. There will be appetizers, tea and lemonade available, as well as a cash bar.

Contributors giving $1 – $40 will be entered to win $200. When you purchase a ticket for $41 – $80, you will be entered to win $500.  Tickets of $81 – $120 will be entered to win $1,000.  The grand prize of $2,000 will be for those tickets in the amount of $121 – $180.

Following is a complete list of sponsors for the event:

Gold Sponsors:  Fred’s Towing and Transport, Inc., Clearview Church, Cypress Creek Renewables, Vance Recovery, Crossroads Christian School, Vulcan Materials, and South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church

Silver Sponsor:  Benchmark Community Bank

Bronze Sponsors: S.a.M Child Advocacy Center, Rosemyr Corporation/AA Self Storage

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TownTalk: Recognizing Peripheral Artery Disease

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Maria Parham Health is hosting a Lunch and Learn on Thursday, Sept. 25 to share information about the causes, symptoms and treatment of peripheral artery disease, a fairly common condition that is caused when narrowed arteries reduces blood flow to the arms and, more often, the legs.

Dr. Dennis Narcisse, a cardiologist and interventional cardiologist will lead the program, which will begin at 12 noon. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Find the registration link at https://www.mariaparham.com/events/2025-09-25/peripheral-artery-disease-lunch—learn and simply at mariaparham.com.

Vance County and surrounding areas have been shown to have among the highest rates of PAD in the state, Narcisse said, according to research conducted by Duke University.

Some of the symptoms of PAD are discoloration of the toe or foot, indicating poor circulation. Severe cramping or burning in your legs when walking that eases when you stop – called claudication – is another symptom.

Narcisse said this is an oft-overlooked symptom of PAD, because people associate the pain or discomfort with being out of shape and tend not to mention it to their regular physician.

Not surprisingly, a healthy diet, quitting smoking and regular exercise all help the fight against PAD.

“Exercise is one of the most important aspects of this,” he said. “It just means moving.”

Narcisse sees patients at Maria Parham Health in Henderson, as well as at Duke University Hospital and a Duke clinic in Morrisville. Even in the decade since he’s been practicing medicine, he said there have been many advances in treating PAD.

“I like to help people in two types of ways,” Narcisse said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. In addition to performing procedures to open up blocked arteries around the heart or also in the leg, Narcisse said he also wants to help his patients either prevent PAD or avoid a recurrence.

He said patients who have poor circulation in their legs may experience symptoms like cramping – especially in the calf – and pain when they walk. Left undiagnosed or untreated, PAD can create additional problems that keep people from normal physical activity and exercise to poor wound healing.

In a worst-case scenario, patients suffering with severe PAD could face amputation. But earlier diagnosis could result in undergoing a minimally invasive technique that involves inserting a tube into an artery, going to the problem area and opening up the restricted vessel with balloons and stents.

The Lunch and Learn is an ideal opportunity for individuals with risk factors including being overweight, diabetic or a smoker to hear about steps they can take to reduce their chances of PAD.

Or, individuals who want to know more about treatments and how they can best communicate with their own physicians are welcome to attend.

Primary care providers and other health professionals can learn more about how cardiologists manage patients with PAD.

Learn more at www.mariaparham.com

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(Maria Parham is an advertising client of WIZS and WIZS.com.  This is not a paid ad.)
Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Activities For All In The Fall At Perry Memorial Library

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If you’ve got a pair of pants that are too long and you’re 13 years old – or older – there’s a class at Perry Memorial Library on Sunday that could fit you just right.

Youth Services Librarian Melody Peters is having a “Fix It” Lab that will help participants learn how to hem a pair of pants.

The class takes place at 2:30 p.m. at the library. “It’s a simple skill,” Peters told WIZS’s Scout Hughes on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny!

Peters revealed that she has a background in costume and theater, where she learned some of her sewing skills.

Offering the “Fix It” Lab is also a way to bring people of all ages together to enjoy time together.

“We used to have more community settings,” Peters said. Church events and extended family get-togethers provided young people access to older folks that may not be in their immediate family circle.

This library offering is another way to address patrons’ requests to have more intergenerational programs.

“We’re going to get some going and see what happens,” she said.

Here are some other events coming up at the library:

  • Michael McCray of “Occasions by M” has cooked up a series of free cooking classes for young people 13 years and older beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Space is capped at 16, so if you’re interested, sign up soon. The class will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. McCray is going to fire up the library’s Charlie Cart, which Peters said has everything on it you need to learn how to cook – without being in a regulation-size kitchen.
  • Students in grades K-12 are encouraged to hop on the anti-litter bandwagon as part of a county-wide effort to clean up trash. “We are on board, we’ve signed our pledge,” Peters said. The “Essay and Art Clean Community Contest” winners will be announced at National Night Out Celebration in downtown Henderson, set for Thursday, Oct. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The deadline to submit entries is Sept. 30. Three students from elementary, middle and high school levels will win gift cards for their winning entries.

Contact Peters at mpeters@perrylibrary.org for more details.

Learn more about all the happenings at Perry Memorial Library at https://www.perrylibrary.org/

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Dangers to Avoid within Compost

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Today’s segment focuses on compost, but serves as a counterpart for Wayne’s recent recording. Specifically, I speak about some dangers to avoid.

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: WIZS 2025 Election Coverage

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Editor’s note: WIZS News asked the 13 candidates – four incumbents and nine challengers – in the upcoming Henderson City Council election to respond to a series of questions that will be aired on WIZS and published on wizs.com in advance of the beginning of early voting for the Oct. 7 election.

Early voting begins on Thursday, Sept. 18 and ends on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Of those 13 candidates, WIZS received seven responses before the stated deadline of Friday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.

The following candidates responded:

Ward 1 at-large:

  • Kenia Gómez-Jimenez
  • Clementine “Tina” Hunter

Ward 2 at-large:

  • Lamont Noel (incumbent)
  • George Mayo

Ward 3:

  • Garry Daeke (incumbent)
  • Jason Spriggs

Ward 4:

  • Catherine “Kitty” Gill

The WIZS team has compiled the responses from the candidates and they will appear in their entirety, unedited on the radio and on the website.

Visit https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-elections/ to view a complete listing of candidates for the four seats in the upcoming nonpartisan municipal election.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Composting

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Composting can benefit your garden and landscape.

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! Middleburg Baptist Church BBQ Plate Fundraiser September 20th

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The Middleburg Baptist Church Brotherhood is having a barbecue plate fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Justin Simmons, a member of the men’s group that is organizing the event, said plates will be ready for pick up beginning at 12 noon. The cost is $15 and includes baked beans, potato salad, slaw, bread and homemade desserts – courtesy of the church’s Women on Missions group.

The church is located at 80 N. Plummer Ave. in Middleburg.

Simmons said the goal is to provide at least 250 plates – just come on out to the church with cash or a check to pick up the plates.

Proceeds from the fundraiser help the Brotherhood provide financial support to local ministries including Rebuilding Hope, Inc., as well as providing school supplies for E.O. Young Elementary and providing gifts to needy children at Christmas.

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