Oxford Welcomes Interim City Manager

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The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners have selected Steven L. Harrell to be the city’s interim manager.

Harrell was sworn in last week and brings close to four decades of experience in municipal government – 28 years of which he has held the position of city manager – to this most recent role.

His comprehensive experience overseeing multiple departments includes not only those that the City of Oxford has, but also sanitation, electricity, economic development and inspections. He also has experience in planning, community development, parks and recreation, and as a chamber of commerce executive working as chief liaison with local, state and federal governments.

Harrell retired in 2020 as the town manager of Ayden, and has since served as interim manager in Robersonville and Brevard. Mayor Jackie Sergent said, “The board feels that Harrell’s extensive credentials position him well for leading the city in the coming months, especially with the utility projects underway and the upcoming KLRWS plant expansion about to begin. His planning expertise will also be a boon as the City faces further development and related discussion.”

Maria Parham Franklin To Hold Job Fair Jan. 19

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Maria Parham Franklin will hold a job fair on Thursday, Jan. 19 in Louisburg.

Job seekers can visit with MPH representatives from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to learn more about available positions at Franklin Behavioral Health, some of which include a $500 sign-on bonus, according to Donna Young, coordinator of marketing and communications.

Openings include day and evening RN positions for both adult and geriatric areas, as well as behavioral health techs for both adult and geriatric areas. Come prepared, as job offers may be made on the spot!

Learn more about the available positions at MariaParham.com/Careers. Applicants can pre-register for this event at https://www.mariaparham.com/event/44.

VGCC Site Of Free Technology Class For Senior Adults

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Rebuild Communities NC is partnering with AARP’s Senior Planet to provide a free class for senior adults to help them boost their technology skills.

It seems like computers and websites, online troubleshooting chats and QR codes are quickly becoming the norm in today’s daily experiences, and the Digital Skills Ready@50+ program may be a way to gain skills to help navigate an increasingly digital world.

Classes begin on Tuesday, Jan. 9 and continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February, according to information from Edythe Thompson, executive director and CEO of Rebuilding Communities NC. Each class is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Whether you need to learn how to participate in video conferencing for work or if you just want to be able to visit online with faraway friends and family, the class offers trainings on a wide range of technologies.

All classes will be held at Vance-Granville Community College, Building 9, Seminar Room 2 – except the Jan. 12 class, which will be held in the conference room of Building 8.

VGCC is located at 200 Community College Rd., Henderson.

To learn more, email info@RebuildCommunitiesNC.org.

Vendors: Sign Up Now For Mar. 4 Wedding & Events Expo In Granville County

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Planning a big event in 2023? Whether it’s a wedding or other special occasion, the Granville Wedding & Events Expo may be just the thing to get your planning off to a great start.

Vendors are invited to join in the fun event, which is set for Mar. 4, 2023, according to Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen.

The daylong expo will be held at the Granville Convention & Expo Center, and it’s the place to learn more about wedding venues, vendors and other resources available to pull off a perfectly planned event, Allen said.

Vendors interested in participating in the expo should register before Jan. 13 by visiting:  https://surveyheart.com/form/6318838d543b010b1328e9d8.

Space is limited, with first priority being given to Granville-based vendors. After Jan. 13, vendors outside of Granville County will be able to sign up to participate, depending on space limitations and availability. All vendors will need to reserve space by Feb. 10, 2023.

Sponsorships for the expo are also available, as well as opportunities to distribute items to participants in “VIP bags” that will be given out at the event.

For more information about the expo, contact Allen at 919.693.6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

Chamber Accepting Nominations For John Penn Citizen Of The Year Award Through Feb. 14

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Nominations are now being accepted for the annual John Penn Citizen of the Year award, according to information from the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber will take nominations through Tuesday, Feb. 14 and the honor will be awarded at the Chamber’s annual banquet on Mar. 6.

Nominees must be residents of Granville County and the nomination form should list contributions and accomplishments, as well as evidence of the person’s impact on Granville County.

Find the nomination form here: 2022 JOHN PENN CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM.

This award is named for Granville County’s first and perhaps most outstanding citizen, John Penn, who was one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Submit completed forms to the Chamber office, P.O. Box 820, Oxford, NC 27565.

The Local Skinny! Fire Department Nets 20K For Maria Parham Cancer Center

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Anyone driving past Maria Parham Hospital Wednesday afternoon may have wondered what in the world was going on – the Henderson Fire Department’s Engine 1 was parked smack dab in the middle of the circular drive of the lower level where the cancer center is located.

The department’s ladder truck was parked nearby, too, but there were no lights flashing, no sirens blaring.

But the firefighters weren’t there responding to a call – they had come to make a donation to the cancer center’s Angel Fund – a check totaling $20,508.

Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds and more than a half-dozen other firefighters gathered under the canopied drive at the cancer center’s main doors and presented the check to hospital officials and staff who graciously accepted it.

Hope Breedlove, hospital social worker, thanked the firefighters for their generosity, calling their annual fundraiser an example of “our community coming together to support our community…that’s just love.”

Edmonds said he and fellow firefighters stop traffic each fall in front of Central Fire Station on Dabney Drive for its “fill the boot” campaign. Since 2016, the fire department has been able to donate more than $80,000 for the cancer center’s Angel Fund, which is used to provide transportation, medicine and more for patients during their treatment.

Edmonds talked to John C. Rose about the check presentation during Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Edmonds said he and the other firefighters “love being out there and being social with the community.” And drivers are generous with their donations, even though filling those empty boots does mean backing up an already-congested Dabney Drive.

For once a year, it’s ok, Edmonds said.

“It gives you time to get your money out of your pocket,” he said.

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SportsTalk: Richardson And Downey Talk Local Basketball

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Scottie Richardson, head men’s basketball coach and athletic director at Crossroads Christian, and Taron Downey, head men’s basketball coach at Vance Charter School, have both seen injuries to players throughout their careers.

Both men briefly discussed their thoughts on the tragic injury to Damar Hamlin in Monday night’s NFL game. “I thought the NFL made the right decision,” Richardson said and added that Crossroads has an on site defibrillator in case there is ever a need for one.  “It was a very unfortunate and tragic situation. It’s part of the game and coaches have to deal with it as best as we can,” Downey added.

Both coaches are coming off holiday breaks at their respective schools.  According to Richardson, Crossroads men’s basketball is ranked at third in the state but will meet a big challenge Friday as they hit the road to take on the top-ranked team in state, United Faith of Charlotte. “We are not getting on the road for three hours to lose,” Richardson said. It’s the longest road trip of the year for Crossroads.  The school won on Tuesday defeating Thales Academy, but Richardson said they were sluggish during the win after the holiday break.

“We are trying to get back in the swing of things,” Downey said of Vance Charter.  They are coming off a win this week against Eno River but travel to face rival Oxford Prep Friday, who Downey says has quick guards and tenacious defense. Downey also said the game will have a great environment.  Downey feels that’s important to home teams.

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City-County Deal Could Add 4th Officer To Animal Services Staff

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Vance County Animal Services is one step closer to adding an animal services officer to its three-member team who would be responsible for responding to calls within the Henderson city limits.

Frankie Nobles met with Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen and members of the commissioners’ Human Relations Committee Wednesday afternoon to discuss details of the arrangement, which basically states that the city of Henderson will foot the bill – roughly $51,000 in salary and benefits – for the additional position.

The city has been asking for increased service from animal services, and Nobles has asked for more staff for the past couple of years, but the money just wasn’t to be found. The city-funded position would provide another officer in the county department.

Nobles said that between Jan. 1 and Nov. 29, there were 761 incidents reported to animal services in the city; in that same period, there were 778 incidents received from the county.

Having a fourth officer will help the small staff, Nobles said.

“It really does help,” he said, adding that having another person in the rotation gives everybody else a break and helps reduce burnout. He said the animal services officers routinely work their regular shifts then log an additional 15-30 hours on the weekends when they’re on call.

The committee approved the recommendation, and the matter will come before the board of commissioners at its meeting next week for final approval.