McGregor Hall

Vance County Allocates $50,000 to McGregor Hall; City Considers Funding Request

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The Vance County Intergovernmental Committee (Taylor[C], Feimster & Kelly) met on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, to review a request from McGregor Hall for funding assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the County’s write-up of the meeting, the committee discussed the impact of COVID-19 on McGregor which includes a $100,000 overall decrease in revenue compared to last year (from March 16 – July 10) and recognized the County could not provide the requested funding level of $250,000.

The committee recognized the local economic impact of McGregor ($2.34 million according to a 2019 economic impact study) and discussed the importance of McGregor to the continued growth and success of downtown Henderson and Vance County.

The committee discussed a recommendation from Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen to allocate $50,000 in one-time funding to McGregor from the County’s Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF). Two of the three committee members were in agreement and recommended supporting McGregor with $50,000 in CRF funds. The third committee member mentioned a concern with allocating all of the remaining CRF funds and suggested providing $30,000 to McGregor.

According to McMillen, following the committee report, the Vance County Board of Commissioners approved the County’s updated plan for allocating the remaining CRF that came from the Federal Government through the state. The vote was 4-2 with Commissioners Dan Brummitt and Carolyn Faines voting against the final allocation of CRF. (Commissioner Yolanda Feimster was absent.)

McMillen said the $50,000 to McGregor Hall was one of the final allocations approved and funds will be distributed to the performing arts center over the next few months.

Henderson City Manager E. Terrell Blackmon said McGregor Hall reached out to the City to request a financial contribution at the same time they contacted Vance County, which was shortly after the City’s FY 2020-2021 budget had been adopted.

“Council does have an opportunity to consider making a contribution to McGregor Hall utilizing CARES Act funding similar to what Vance County Government has recently done,” Blackmon stated in correspondence with WIZS News. “The City’s pot of funds is much smaller than that of Vance County since we are only a sub-recipient of a portion of the County’s funds. Our first priority with the funding is to up-fit our facilities to make them more COVID-friendly, improve technology for virtual meetings/teleworking and purchase additional PPE. Up-fitting our facilities will take up the lion’s share of the $459,733 we received from Vance County. However, in my proposed budget activities, I have recommended that the Council consider a contribution to McGregor Hall.”

Blackmon stated that he could not provide a specific funding amount at this time, citing the need to await quotes and finalized numbers, but anticipates a final decision could be made at October’s City Council meeting after the presentation of the final CARES Act budget. Ultimately, he explained, the final decision of the City’s contributions to McGregor Hall’s funding request will be up to the Henderson City Council.

Edgar Smoak

Flags Lowered in Honor of Granville Commissioner Edgar Smoak

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County Government will lower flags to half-staff until September 15 at all facilities in honor of Commissioner Edgar Smoak, who passed away on September 11, 2020.

Smoak, who represented Granville County’s District 7, was sworn into office in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. He had served in several key positions, which included the Area Mental Health Board, the Audit Review Committee and the Board of Equalization and Review.

He also represented the County on Granville Health System’s Board of Trustees, as well as serving as Liaison for Public Safety, the Soil and Water Board, South Granville Water and Sewer Authority (SGWASA) and for Water/Sewer Matters. In addition, he was instrumental in forming Granville County’s Opioid Advisory Committee, for which he served as Chair.

Smoak was retired from the U.S. Military (National Guard). His most recent term of office would have expired in 2022.

Granville County Commissioner Edgar Smoak passed away on September 11, 2020. Smoak, who represented Granville County’s District 7, was sworn into office in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. (Photo courtesy Granville County Govt.)

H-V Rec Parks Reopen

Most Parks & Playgrounds Open; Aycock Rec. Center to Reopen Next Week

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department

With North Carolina moving into Safer at Home Phase 2.5, the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department’s parks and playgrounds opened on Friday, September 11, 2020, with the exception of Fox Pond Park (may still access trails through Aycock Recreation Center) and Jackson Street Park.

Aycock Recreation Center will be opening on Monday, September 21, 2020, with the following operating hours:

  • Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 5 p.m., 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 5 p.m.
  • Sunday 1 – 5 p.m.

Chestnut Street Basketball Court will be operating daily between the hours of 4 p.m. – dusk.

All patrons must adhere to the following guidelines at indoor and outdoor facilities:

  • Social Distancing
  • Wear Face Coverings
  • Mass gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks will closely monitor and follow guidelines set by the City of Henderson, State of North Carolina and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Any changes or updates about facilities, classes/programs and events will be available on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter) and website at http://ci.henderson.nc.us/departments/recreation_and_parks/.

Local News Audio

Local News Audio 9-14-20 Noon

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– Henderson City Council to Hold Rezoning Hearing, Fill Vacant Ward 4 Seat

– State Board Launches Absentee Ballot Tracking Service for Voters

– VGCC Names 255 Students to President’s and Dean’s Lists

Click on Play for Local News Audio and Full Details…

 

Jim Gusler

Gusler Named Franklin Co. Emergency Medical Services Director

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-Press Release, Franklin County Government

Franklin County Manager Angela L. Harris has named James R. (Jim) Gusler, Jr Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director. Mr. Gusler will assume the position on October 5, 2020.

Jim Gusler

James R. (Jim) Gusler, Jr. has been named Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director for Franklin County. Gusler will assume the position on October 5, 2020.

Mr. Gusler has served in various roles in the EMS field, most recently as EMS Training Officer for Orange County since 2016. In that role, he was the training liaison for the County. Mr. Gusler‘s previous experience includes over five years as a Planner/Trainer at the UNC Burn Center and six years as the Emergency Services Director in Caswell County. He holds an EMS Management Program and Community Preparedness Certificate and is currently a member of the NC EMS Advisory Board.

Mr. Gusler also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an Associate’s Degree in Emergency Medical Science from Guilford Technical Community College. Mr. Gusler is a dedicated public servant and community volunteer. He has been a volunteer for Boy Scouts for many years and has two sons who have both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Franklin County Administration is delighted to welcome Mr. Gusler to the Emergency Services Department,” Harris said. “Emergency Medical Services are essential services for our citizens, and ensuring the ongoing delivery of high-quality services will continue to be our goal.”

For additional information, please contact Angela L. Harris, Franklin County Manager, at (919) 496-5994.

Oxford Logo

Oxford Public Works Committee to Discuss KLRWS Project, Resurfacing Initiative

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford

The Public Works Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 2 p.m. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.

Topics to be discussed include:

  • Discussion of the status of the KLRWS Water Treatment Plant Renovation and Expansion Project.
  • Update on the status of the City’s Upcoming Resurfacing Initiative.

The City will adhere to strict COVID-19 requirements of checking attendee’s temperature at the door of City Hall, limiting the number of attendees, requiring appropriate social distancing spacing and requiring all in attendance to wear a mask.

Town Talk Logo

TownTalk: Tribute to Local “Character,” Historian Bill Alston

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Host John C. Rose pays tribute to local historian Bill Alston, who passed away on Sept. 8th.  Alston is remembered by David “Doc” Ayscue, Velvet Satterwhite, Mark Pace, Chocky White and Bill Harris.  Alston is remembered for his historical collection, sharp memory of people and events around Warren and Vance County and his love of old music.

Click Play to Listen in Won’t You…!

City of Henderson Logo

Henderson City Council to Hold Rezoning Hearing, Fill Vacant Ward 4 Seat

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-Information courtesy the City of Henderson

The Henderson City Council will meet on Monday, September 14, 2020, at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave. in Henderson, NC.

Due to COVID-19 health mandates issued by Governor Cooper, the number of citizens allowed into Council Chambers is limited. Members of the community are strongly encouraged to provide questions/comments for Council in writing as follows and to listen to the meeting online via Zoom.

Written Comments:

  1. Email written comments to emccrackin@ci.henderson.nc.us
  2. Emails received by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be read aloud at the meeting. Comments are limited to three minutes per person.

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Agenda Items Include:

Public Hearing on rezoning Parkview Drive, Vance County Tax Parcels 0201 06001, 0210 06008, 0210 06009 and 0210 0610 from B-4 (Neighborhood Commercial) District to 0-1 (Office Institutional District).

Authorizing the submission of Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) to the North Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Division.

Authorizing an engineering agreement with Little Environments, PLLC in the Amount of $25,160 for the engineering evaluation of Fox Pond and Rowland Pond.

Authorizing the sale of two parcels of City-owned land located at 427-425 South Garnett Street, recorded in Vance County Tax Deed Book 1346, page 1154, further identified as PIN #0002 05008 and 0002-05008-A respectively and to advertise for upset bids per North Carolina General Statute 160A 269.

Ratifying a letter of engagement between the City of Henderson and Nelson Price & Associates, P.A., for audit activity to comply with yellow book requirements for the annual audit for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.

Approving financing terms between the City of Henderson and First Citizens Bank and refinancing terms with Benchmark Community Bank.

Authorizing an appointment to fill the vacant unexpired Ward 4 Ward Seat of former City Council Member Fearldine A. Simmons.

Council previously approved the protocol and procedure for filling the unexpired term of Mrs. Fearldine A. Simmons. Notice was made for those interested to submit a Letter of Interest to the City Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020. 

Council then met on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, to review the next step in filling the vacant unexpired Ward 4 Ward Seat.

During that meeting, the consensus was to ask each candidate to make a brief presentation to Council during the September 14, 2020, Council Meeting. Following the presentations, Council will appoint an individual to fill the vacant Ward 4 Ward Seat.

The individual selected will be sworn in during the October 12, 2020, regularly scheduled meeting.

Click here to view previous and current Henderson City Council meeting agendas and minutes. 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

COVID-19 Update: Whitmore Retirement Added to Active Outbreak List, Other Centers Come Off

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of September 10, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

1,629 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,629, 971 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 971, 836 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,629, 522 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County and 440 of those 522 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,629, 136 are associated with outbreaks at long term care facilities including 28 at Murdoch Development Center, two at Central Regional Hospital, one at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center, 96 at Universal Health Care, and one at Whitmore Retirement Center.

The outbreak at Whitmore is newly reported. The outbreak at Granville House is no longer active.

Of the 136 cases in long term care facilities in Granville County, 83 have been released from isolation.

Nine individuals in Granville County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 48 deaths in Granville County: five in the community, one associated with Central Regional Hospital, one associated with Murdoch Development Center, 20 associated with Universal Health Care, and 21 associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

932 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 932, 807 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 807, 665 have been released from isolation.

Of those 932, 125 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 49 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

The outbreaks at Alliance Rehabilitative Care, Senior Citizens Home, and Pelican Health nursing home are no longer active.

Of the 125 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 96 have been released from isolation.

15 individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 43 deaths in Vance County: 14 associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 12 associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, two associated with Senior Citizens Home, and 15 in the community.

WIZS Note: There are 142 total known active cases in the Vance County community and 135 in the Granville County community at large at this time (excluding congregate living numbers). One additional COVID-19 related Vance County death and three additional Granville County deaths have been reported in the last ten days,.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily.