Hiring Event Jan. 31 At Butner’s C.A. Dillon Juvenile Detention Center

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The North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will host a hiring event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 at C.A. Dillon Regional Juvenile Detention Center, located at 100 Dillion Dr., in Butner.

The division is seeking applicants to fill juvenile justice officer positions at C.A. Dillon. Applicants for these positions may qualify for a $3,000 sign-on bonus and are eligible for inclusion on a step pay plan that includes annual salary increases.

JJDP will be conducting in-person interviews and making on-the-spot recommendations for hire. Applicants will be able to apply on-site; applicants also can apply online prior to the event.

To learn more about juvenile justice careers available statewide, visit www.ncdps.gov/jjdpcareers.

More High-Speed Internet Coming To Granville County

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Board of Commissioners recently approved a partnership with the N.C. Department of Information Technology and Spectrum under the Completing Access to Broadband program that will provide more than 1,500 addresses across the county that currently don’t have high-speed internet access.

Granville County will pay $10,000; the state will provide $4 million and Spectrum will kick in $7.9 million to fund construction of the fiber-optic broadband infrastructure.

The locations serviced with broadband internet as part of the CAB program will be in addition to the previously announced partnership with Brightspeed under the Growing Rural Communities with Access to Technology program that will provide service to at least 1,914 addresses and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund project currently underway by Spectrum that will service an additional 1,120 addresses.

Once all three projects are completed, more than 4,564 homes and businesses will have gained access to broadband internet in rural Granville County because of funding from federal, state, and county governments combined with partnership agreements with Internet Service Providers. Additional information about these projects and a full map of the awarded addresses can be found at https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/administration/broadband-initiative/ or the NC One Map at https://www.nconemap.gov/pages/broadband.

“This partnership showcases the ongoing effort made by Granville County to ensure that our citizens have access to high-speed broadband internet,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Timothy Karan. “We are pleased to partner with Spectrum on this project that with minimal use of county tax dollars will service over 1,500 homes and businesses across the county. We will continue to work with internet service providers to ensure this vital resource is available for all who choose to live or work in our community. There are many parts of the county yet to be served and we will exhaust every possibility to make it happen.”

The areas served by the CAB project with Spectrum are spread throughout the county, with notable areas serviced including northern and western Granville County in the Berea, Cornwall, and Oak Hill communities along NC Highway 49, NC Highway 96, US Highway 158, Old NC 75, Grassy Creek-Virgilina Road, Oak Hill Road, Cornwall Road, Mountain Creek Road, Goshen Road, Old Roxboro Road, Sunset Road, Pine Town Road, Hobgood Road, Moriah Road, Range Road, Culbreth Road, and Enon Road among many others. The project will also service areas east of Oxford including Tom Parham Road and Salem Road and in southern Granville County including US Highway 15, NC Highway 50, Bryans Hill Road, Tar River Road, Smith Road, Lyon Station Road, Cash Road, Will Suitt Road, Brassfield Road and Lawrence Road among others.

 

 

SportsTalk: Local Coaches Prep For Basketball Tournaments And Spring Sports

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John Hammett and Scottie Richardson may be athletic directors for different schools in different counties but they are both facing the same things: a basketball season that is winding down and the start of spring sports.

Hammett, Oxford Prep’s athletic director, says his boys’ basketball team is having a real strong year despite a loss this week to Vance Charter.  “We’ve got some real good shooters,” Hammett said.  They take on Roxboro Charter Friday night. “Roxboro is young but they have a couple of good player,” Hammett said of the team’s opponent. The girls team is currently 7-9. “They have been getting better throughout the year,” said Hammett.  Oxford Prep has five games remaining before they start the conference basketball tournament.

Meanwhile, at Crossroads Christian, athletic director Scottie Richardson says his girls team will be the second seed for their upcoming tournament. The boys could be.  “We control our own destiny,” Richardson said.   It will take a few more wins in the remaining four games for Crossroads to secure that second seed.

One of the problems both men face is an overlap between basketball and baseball.  “I would like to see both basketball and baseball seasons shortened to eliminate the overlap,” Hammett said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  Richardson said it is difficult to coordinate with coaches when players play multiple sports.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Mike Waters

Two Men Sentenced During Recent Granville County Criminal Superior Court Session

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-information courtesy of District Attorney Mike Waters

Two men were sentenced last week during a session of Granville County Criminal Superior Court, one receiving an active sentence of between 21 months and 35 months for driving while impaired and the other one between and 5 and 7 years for trafficking cocaine and related offenses.

According to a press release from District Attorney Mike Waters, Jose Antonio Guillen was found guilty by a Granville County jury of driving while Impaired, driving while license revoked for an impaired driving offense. After that verdict, Guillen pleaded guilty to habitual DWI, in that he had three prior convictions of DWI within 10 years before this date of offense. Guillen was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Josephine Davis to an active sentence of 21 to 35 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

On Sept. 24, 2022, Guillen approached a checking station set up by members of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. After an investigation, it was determined that he was in fact impaired while operating the car, and his license was revoked because of a previous Driving While Impaired conviction from Wake County. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated that case. The State of North Carolina was represented by Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps.

Orlando Latta faces up to 7 years after pleading guilty to two counts of trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon for offenses that were discovered after a traffic stop on I-85 in Granville County on Dec. 14, 2021.

Latta pleaded to possession of a handgun by a convicted felon,and 30 grams of cocaine. This incident was investigated by a deputy with the Granville County Sheriff’s Office.  Latta also pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in opiates or heroin, and possession of a firearm by a felon, for offenses that were discovered after a traffic stop on Gate #1 Road in Butner on Apr. 4, 2022.  During that stop, Latta was found to be in possession of two firearms as a convicted felon, and over 8 grams of Fentanyl. This incident was investigated by Butner Public Safety, Judge Davis sentenced Latta to an active sentence of 70 months to 93 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. The State of North Carolina was represented by Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps.

VGCC Logo

VGCC Hosts FAFSA Day Jan. 27

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-information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Vance-Granville Community College’s Financial Aid Office invites high school students, current college students, families and adult learners to attend FAFSA Day on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. – 12 noon.

The event will take place at VGCC’s Main Campus in Henderson; attendees should check in at the Building 7 front lobby upon arrival.

Organized by the College Foundation of North Carolina, this free event provides one-on-one or small group help with FAFSA completion and submission, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

The college welcomes anyone in the community seeking financial aid for college, not just current or prospective Vance-Granville students.

There is no requirement to accept any aid offered, but the FAFSA can help you understand your options. By filling out the FAFSA, you could access:

  • Grants and scholarships that you do not have to pay back
  • Work-study programs that allow you to earn money working at the school you attend
  • Student loan options

Completing the FAFSA is more important than ever this year for North Carolina students. It’s the process through which eligible students could receive the Next NC Scholarship, which awards a minimum of $5,000 for those attending a public state university or at least $3,000 for those attending community college. Students with the greatest need for financial aid could qualify for even more funding to help make paying for college more manageable.

Learn more or RSVP for Vance-Granville’s FAFSA Day event at www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/fafsa-day. For additional questions, please contact VGCC’s Financial Aid Office at fao@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3280.

Red Cross To Host Volunteer Open House Jan. 25 In Granville County

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Granville County doesn’t currently have a chapter of the American Red Cross, but a group of local organizers are planning a Volunteer Open House to share information about what it will take to form a volunteer team there.

The open house will take place Thursday, Jan. 25 at The Venue at HighRock Farm, located at 2317 Enon Rd., Oxford from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Red Cross is known for blood drives and disaster relief efforts across the globe. But did you know that the organization also needs volunteers to help deliver the blood that gets donated and that most of the U.S. disasters are house fires?

“Just knowing that someone is there to lend a helping hand during these trying times provides a light of hope for Granville County residents,” said Laurie Hughes, Executive Director of the Greater Triangle Area Chapter, American Red Cross of North Carolina. “Please join us by resolving to help as a Red Cross volunteer and ensure no one faces life’s emergencies alone.”

The open house is free and all ages are welcome. There will be Hands Only CPR training, and participants can learn more about all the volunteer opportunities available with the Red Cross.

Light refreshments will be served, and organizers would like anyone interested in attending to RSVP by contacting Lesley Ireland at 919.709.8129 or Lesley.Ireland@redcross.org.

The need for volunteers is constant. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including the most-needed positions:

  • Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists: Blood donations are essential to the health of our communities, and blood donor ambassadors are a vital part of this work by welcoming visitors and taking their temperatures before entering Red Cross facilities and blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. We also have a high need for transportation specialists in Durham and Wake Counties to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.
  • Disaster response volunteers: Most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes are local home fires, which can destroy nearly everything a family owns in a matter of minutes. Partnering with local fire departments, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers connect with families by video or phone call to provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.
  • Volunteer from home (virtual positions): Help from the comfort of your own home through a wide range of virtual opportunities.

VGCC Celebrates MLK At Jan. 23 Event

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Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

 

The community is invited to Vance-Granville Community College Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 12:30 p.m. to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The celebration, titled “Decreasing Inequities and Increasing Opportunities” is hosted by the VGCC Men’s Achievement Academy and V.I.E.W., Vance-Granville’s Initiative on Equity for Women.

The event will be held at the VGCC Main Campus Civic Center and is free to attend.

“Expect an inspiring speech from Dr. Kelvin Bullock, Executive Director for Equity & Professional Development for Durham Public Schools, as well as songs from the VGCC Staff Choir,” said VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Please RSVP at www.vgcc.edu to help event organizers get a count of projected attendance. Refreshments will be served.

Golden Leaf Scholarship Application Period Open Now For 2024-25

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Applications are being accepted now for the 2024-25 Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities scholarships, which assists incoming college freshmen and transfer students pay for school.

There are more than 200 scholarships that will be awarded, according to information from the office of N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon, whose District 32 includes Vance and most of Granville counties. Students in both counties are eligible to apply based on criteria that include being rural counties, economically distressed and tobacco dependent.

The scholarships could be as much as $14,000 – that breaks down to $3,500 a year for four years – for incoming freshmen attending a North Carolina college or university. Students transferring from a N.C. community college can get $3,500 a year for up to three years.

Students must be a graduating North Carolina high school senior or a currently enrolled North Carolina community college transfer student, enrolling full-time in the fall 2024 semester at a participating North Carolina public or private college or university. If a student intends to return to a rural North Carolina county after graduation, this can increase his or her chances of earning the scholarship.

Applicants must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the application process; have a cumulative GPA of no less than 2.5; and be a resident of a rural North Carolina county that is economically distressed and/or tobacco dependent.

For more information, visit CFNC.org or scholars.goldenleaf.org/apply/colleges-and-universities/.

NCDOT

Washout Closes Section of Old NC 75 In Stem

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A section of Old North Carolina 75 near School Street in Stem washed out and will remain closed, according to a N.C. Department of Transportation press release, through late Thursday (01-18-2024).

Maintenance crews made the discovery and are “working to fix the problem and will reopen this section of Old North Carolina 75 as soon as possible.”

For a detour, drivers will use Otho Mangum, Lyon Station, and Brogden Roads.

NC DIT Survey To Collect Info About Internet Accessibility

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Granville County residents are being asked to take part in a survey about internet capabilities where they live and their accessibility to the internet with phones, computers, tablets and more.

Having reliable broadband internet continues to be an important factor facing communities across the state and nation, and Granville County is no exception.

“In an effort to bridge the digital divide and ensure that every resident of North Carolina has access to high-quality internet services, we have launched the North Carolina Broadband Survey,” according to information from the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s division of broadband and digital equity. The survey will help gather information about which areas throughout the region lack adequate internet access and high-speed connectivity, officials noted.

Access the survey at: https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EpNXtAhUn7IOQS