Verne Hill
Tuesday News for January 13, 2026
Reducing the fire risk in your home
With the cold temperatures comes an increase in the number of house fires.
Chimney fires are the #1 cause of home heating fires followed by space heaters.
*Test your smoke detectors (and Carbon Monoxide detectors) at least twice a year…
https://www.weather.gov/rnk/NCWinterWxPreparedness2024
Safety Tip: With bitter cold temperatures, many of us are using small space heaters. If so, DO NOT plug them into a power strip. Multi-plug power strips are not designed to handle the energy load of a space heater and can overheat – causing a fire hazard
Still looking for healthcare coverage options for 2026?
Visit HealthCare.gov to update your information or review your plan options.
Reminder: This Thursday (Jan15) is the deadline for ACA coverage starting February 1st.
Sample Ballots are now available for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election!
Find your voter profile at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ your sample ballot will be available for viewing there. You will need an approved ID to cast a vote.
Voters registered as ‘Unaffiliated’ will see multiple ballot options. *Unaffiliated voters will get to choose which primary election (Democrat or Republican) ballot they wish to vote.
Note: Voters registered as a Democrat or Republican may only vote in the party’s primary that matches their registration. Early voting begins Thursday, February 12 and runs through February 28 (Sat). Primary Election day is March 3. https://www.ncsbe.gov/
Contact your county’s Board of Elections office with any questions ahead of Early Voting and Election day. Important links on the News Blog at wbfj.fm
Pharmacist needed: ‘A Storehouse for Jesus’, a non-profit Christian ministry located in Mocksville, has an urgent need for a volunteer pharmacist with a NC license in good standing. Pharmacy hours are 8:30-11am Monday and Wednesday and 8:30-noon on Tuesday (clinic day). We dispense no controlled substances. For more details please call this number 336-751-2854 during the above listed operations hours.
Sad news: Scott Adams, the creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 68.Adams had announced last year that he was battling prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. Adams created “Dilbert” back in 1989.
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5686440-scott-adams-dilbert-trump/
Autism advocates are celebrating the release of the first-ever Barbie on the spectrum. The new doll joins Mattel’s Fashionistas line, featuring Barbies with diverse skin tones, hair textures, body types and health conditions. CNN
Today is Rubber Ducky day
Kids (and adults) in New York City are going quackers for those tiny “duck libraries,” where you can ‘take a duck, leave a duck’ while spreading a little joy. The joyful trend was started by an anonymous person who began leaving little ducks around the city. Local dog walker, JJ Cerillo, picked up the idea and helped turn it into a full-blown community project built around one simple rule — take a duck, leave a duck. JJ, who now jokingly calls herself the “duck librarian,” keeps watch over small metal boxes filled with colorful little rubber ducks placed in different neighborhoods around NYC. “It brings me joy, seeing others getting joy from little rubber ducks!”
Check out JJ’s growing collection of duck libraries on her Instagram page, @chelseaduckmags.
A Court Ruling Could End Nielsen Nationwide Radio Ratings
The Nielsen Company has briefly paused the preliminary injunction granted to Cumulus Media, warning it will “suffer significant irreparable harm” and may be forced to retire its Nationwide radio ratings product if the ruling stands.
https://radioink.com/2026/01/13/tunkel-court-ruling-could-end-nielsen-nationwide-radio-ratings/?
Plans for a proposed data center in Stokes County can move forward now that the Stokes County Board of Commissioners approved the land’s rezoning during Monday night’s meeting. https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/stokes-county-commissioners-approve-zoning-for-data-center-amid-vocal-opposition/
NFL Wild Card Playoffs
Houston Texans dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 last night.
Houston will play the New England Patriots this Sunday.
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/houston-texans-dominate-steelers-30-6-in-nfl-wild-card-playoff/
A Forsyth County deputy arrested a juvenile with a loaded handgun during a traffic stop involving a vehicle reported stolen from West Forsyth High School on Monday, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Four people were in the vehicle. Two passengers got out and managed to run away.
https://journalnow.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_70ec47e1-9297-504a-b860-b36539a3d65d.html
A manhunt continues for a man wanted in a shooting in Madison.
Thomas Mark Sharp, 50, is considered armed and dangerous, according to the Stokes County Sheriff’s Office. Sharp is wanted in connection with a shooting that took place just before noon on Monday at 1055 Poplar Springs Road off Madison Dillard Road in Madison…near the Rockingham County border. Sharp owns a silver Chevy Silverado truck with license plate VAN2265. Call Crime Stoppers with any tips: 1-800-222-8506
https://www.thestokesnews.com/news/active-shooter-situation-resolved-suspect-on-the-loose/article
Study: One in four US households is living paycheck to paycheck…
www.cnn.com/2025/11/13/economy/job-prices-debt-economy
If you or your family are in immediate need of food resources, call 2-1-1…
or visit nc211.org to find a food pantry near you. https://nc211.org/search/
Visitor Restrictions in place at all area hospitals due to a surge of the Flu.
Children 12 and under will not be allowed to visit patients. Face coverings are recommended,
BTW: Wash your hands frequently. And if you are sick, stay home!!!
A ‘clean’ car is a safer car? Experts with Consumer Reports stress the need to keep our vehicles clean – on the outside, especially newer model vehicles. Newer cars have advanced safety systems and rely on CLEAN sensors (and cameras) to work properly.
