Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 07/20/20
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Local News 07/20/20 Noon Audio
WIZS News
Your Community Voice
Local News 07/20/20 Noon Audio
- Covid Update
- Heat Advisory
- Vance County Schools Plan B and Athletics
Maria Parham Health Urges Community Members to Wear Masks
THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Press Release, Maria Parham Health
Maria Parham Health is urging community members to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in public areas where social distancing is not easily achieved in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
This aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and North Carolina mandate, as being an effective way to prevent the spread of the illness. The hospital has already instituted a universal masking protocol within its facilities and requires anyone entering to wear a face mask at all times.
“Maria Parham strongly encourages our community members to wear masks because each of us plays an important role in helping to keep our community safe and protect one another from the spread of infectious diseases,” says Dr. Ronald Stahl, chief medical officer at Maria Parham. “One of the easiest and most effective ways we can look out for each other and aid in the fight against COVID-19 is to wear a face mask in public spaces right now.”
Recent studies have shown that universal masking can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, especially in individuals who may be asymptomatic and unaware that they are ill. Face masks and cloth face coverings should be worn over the nose and mouth, and be held securely in place with loops or ties.
“Until there is a vaccine, wearing a mask in public, practicing social distancing and proper hand hygiene are our best lines of defense in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Stahl says. “That’s why we’ve established a universal masking protocol in our facilities to help protect our patients, providers and employees, and we’re encouraging our fellow citizens to do the same in other public places. By looking out for each other, we’ll get through this together and continue making our community healthier.”
For more information from the CDC on face coverings and how to make your own, visit https://bit.ly/30mMOu8. To learn more about how Maria Parham is working to ensure the safety of patients during this time, visit https://bit.ly/2ZMXP9j.
Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments Receives $1.2 Million CARES Act Grant
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-Information courtesy U.S. Department of Commerce press release
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $8.4 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to capitalize and administer Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs in North Carolina that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“These investments come at a crucial time to help North Carolina’s and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and EDA is pleased to invest these CARES Act funds to help North Carolina businesses with their capital needs as they respond to coronavirus.”
Locally, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, Henderson, North Carolina, will receive a $1.2 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to assist small businesses by providing much-needed capital through a RLF that will serve coronavirus impacted businesses in Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties.
The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 7, Secretary Ross announced that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.
EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
For complete information, please visit EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.
Granville Chamber Seeking Donated Items for New Teacher Welcome Bags
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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 recognition and welcome for new teachers to the county will be a gift bag filled with donations from Chamber members.
The 100 gift bags will be distributed to Chamber member school systems Falls Lake Academy, Granville County Public Schools and Oxford Preparatory School. Large gift bags are being provided by Granville Health System.
Chamber members are encouraged to provide gift bag donation items by Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Please call or email to request staff to pick up items, or items may be delivered at either Chamber office location – 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford, (919) 693-6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com or 1598 NC Hwy 56, between Butner and Creedmoor, (919) 528-4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.
Chamber staff will prepare the gift bags with the many goodies members will donate. Donor businesses will be recognized on a sheet included in the gift bags.
In past years, members have donated items such as business swag, pens, pencils, note pads, coupons, gift cards, key chains, rulers, tape measures, hand sanitizer, health and beauty products, candy/microwave popcorn/small bag of coffee/small snack bag of crackers or chips with a business card attached.
Granville’s new teachers are always very appreciative of these efforts!
Oxford Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on Gun and Drug Charges
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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice
A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an Oxford man with illegally possessing a firearm and crack distribution.
According to the indictment, Connell Clayton Lester, 55, is charged with possessing a firearm while subject to a domestic violence protective order, possessing a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (crack).
According to the indictment, on March 5, 2020, Lester, a convicted felon, possessed a Hi-Point 9mm handgun while subject to a domestic violence protective order from New York. It is alleged that the order restrained Lester from harassing, stalking, assaulting, or threatening an intimate partner and prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Lester possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and distributed crack cocaine. If convicted, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment for the drug charge and ten years for the firearm count.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.
For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Youth Encouraged to Enter ‘I Exist 2020’ Short Film Contest
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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department
Calling all young filmmakers! The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department’s Youth Services Unit presents the “I Exist 2020” short film contest for amateur filmmakers ages 11-18.
Videos cannot contain excessive violence or obscene content. The deadline to submit a video is Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
A prize will be given to three winners, and videos will be featured on all of the Rec. Department’s social media sites.
For more information, please contact Shantel Hargrove at (252) 430-0382 (shhargrove@ci.henderson.nc.us
Vance Co. Schools to Begin School Year Under Fully Remote ‘Plan C’
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-Press Release, Vance County Schools
The Vance County Board of Education met on July 17, 2020, in a special called meeting to consider options for the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year. By a vote of 5 – 2, the board accepted the Superintendent’s recommendation to begin the year under the state’s Plan C fully remote option for the first nine weeks of the school year, with plans to implement Plan B at the start of the second nine weeks.
The district has aspirations to begin option A at the start of the second semester in January. Staff will continue to evaluate data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as well as guidance from the Granville Vance Public Health to ensure that we are making decisions in the best interest of our students and staff.
As we work to implement our plans over the next few months, we are committed to ensuring that every student is equipped for success in whatever format we choose to operate. Very soon, we will begin sharing information with all families in preparation for the beginning of the school year.
As we continue working to navigate these uncharted waters, please know that we remain committed to ensuring that our decisions are supportive of providing the safest environment possible for our students, families and community. For that reason, all athletics and extracurricular events are currently suspended until further notice.
The 2020-2021 school year promises to be one of tremendous transitions for our school system and community. As we work through our responses to COVID-19, we ask for your patience, your support and your grace.
Local News Audio 07/17/20 Noon
WIZS – Your Community Voice
Local News Audio from Noon, July 17, 2020
- Time Capsule
- Covid Closes Courthouse for Afternoon
- Maria Parham and Covid Testing
Information Sought for Two Persons of Interest in Berea Mini-Mart Robbery
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-Information and photos courtesy Granville County Crime Stoppers
Information about two persons of interest is being requested after a July 13, 2020, robbery of the Berea Mini-Mart, located off Hwy 156 W in Oxford, NC.
During late evening hours, $1,000 was criminally removed from the cash drawer. The Granville County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors has authorized the payment of a reward for information leading to the arrest/indictment of those responsible for this crime.
If you can help identify the men pictured below or have any information to share about this incident, please contact Granville County Crime Stoppers at (919) 693-3100 or the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 693-3213.
