Granville County Library System

Granville Library System Adds LinkedIn Learning To Patron Amenities

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County Library System patrons now have access to a free service that offers thousands of courses and trainings that can be used for professional and personal development.

LinkedIn Learning offers more than 16,000 courses – from leadership and computer skills to foreign language classes, according to information from Director Will Robinson.

Need to brush up on your Microsoft Office skills? There’s a class for that. What about that resume you’ve been meaning to update? Check. There’s a class for that, too. And if you wish you’d paid more attention during your foreign language class in high school, there’s something for you, too. Users can enroll in courses in seven different languages  – English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, and Mandarin – and follow customized learning paths at their own pace.

“LinkedIn Learning is one of the top online professional development curriculums available,” Robinson said. “We are excited to offer this resource for free to all residents with the added benefit of making the same training available to all county employees. It was an easy win-win decision to provide this valuable resource to Granville County residents while simultaneously improving the professional training available to county employees.”

The addition of LinkedIn learning aligns with several priorities identified in Granville County’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan including improving resident services with online access, retaining local talent through skill development for the workforce, creating community and employee education opportunities and improving training resources to ensure Granville County is a preferred destination for the top public service employees in  this region.

Granville Library users can login to LinkedIn Learning with their library card number and Personal Identification Number. Need help? The library staff is happy to help. Contact the Thornton Library at  919.693.1121 or the South Branch Library at 919.528.1752.

Visit www.granvillecounty.org/linkedin to get started.

LinkedIn Learning is also available for mobile devices allowing offline access and learning on the go.

Download  the IOS version in the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linkedin-learning/id1084807225) or for  Android devices visit the Google Play store

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linkedin.android.learning&hl=en_US&gl=US). On the mobile app, select “Sign in with a Library Card” and enter “granvillecountylibrarysystem” as the Library ID and follow the prompts to enter the library card number and your PIN.

 

Oxford Police Dept

Oxford Police, ALE Agents Arrest Four On Drug Charges

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Four Oxford residents face a slew of drug charges following an investigation by the Oxford Police Department and ALE special agents earlier this week.

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, ALE special agents and the Oxford Police Department, executed a search warrant at Four Corners Food Mart, located at 1104 Goshen St. in Oxford, after receiving complaints of drug sales at the location.

As a result of the investigation, two employees and two owners were charged with a total of 21 charges, which included 14 felonies. During the search, agents seized more than 3.5 pounds of marijuana,oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax pills, Ecstasy tablets and Suboxone, as well as one handgun and more than $11,000.

“The Oxford Police Department is appreciative for the joint effort in making our community safer,” Chief Pat Ford said in a press release issued Thursday. “Thank you to the agents and officers involved.”

Charged in connection with the case are:

  • Abraham Saif Assaedi, 27, was charged with Felony Conspire to Sell Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Maintain a Dwelling/Vehicle/Place for Controlled Substances and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
  • Saif Alsaidi, 71, was charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Conspire to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Felony Maintain a Dwelling/Vehicle/Place for Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
  • Nikki Davis, 47, was charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Conspire to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Felony Trafficking Opium or Heroin, Possession with Intent to  Manufacture/Sell/Delivery Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Maintain a Dwelling/Vehicle/Place for Controlled Substances, Felony Possession Schedule II Controlled Substances, Felony Possession Schedule I Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule III Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia.
  • Felicia Ann Hayes, 47, was charged with Felony Possession with the Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Felony Conspire to Sell Marijuana and Simple Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Community Resource Festival

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By all accounts, Thursday’s Community Resource Festival at the Vance-Granville Civic Center was a success as hundreds of participants visited more than 60 vendors to learn about services they provide and more. For Michelle Walker, this event was the culmination of months of planning with community partners to help local residents learn about available programs and services that are right here for the asking.

Walker is the sales and account manager with Huff Consulting. She and other key planning partners invested time and energy into Thursday’s result, and she couldn’t be more pleased.

“As long as I have the opportunity, I’m going to do things like this to help people,” Walker told WIZS as she surveyed the activity around her. Walker and others no doubt have poured their heart and soul into making this festival a success, and Walker could barely hold back tears as she watched community agency representatives interact and connect with individuals from the community.

Huff Consulting is a recruiting firm that works with a wide range of employees – from day laborers to corporate executives, Walker said, adding that her company has recognized the struggles that face many in the community. “Everybody has a need,” Walker said on an earlier TownTalk broadcast to promote the event. And this resource festival is a way to bridge the gap between available resources and the folks who are looking for them.

Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilkerson said things got off to a good start in the morning and continued throughout the afternoon.

“We have absolutely packed the house,” Wilkerson told WIZS during the initial hour of the resource festival. During the planning process, she said, she and other organizers had a vision to bring under one roof community resources for the public to come and get information.

Sixty-plus organizations appeared from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – there were representatives from fire and police departments, as well as churches, non-profits and businesses from Vance and Granville counties. The event was free to attend, and more than 150 people were in attendance around 11 a.m., visiting the various information tables located throughout the Civic Center.

The Vance and Granville Chambers of Commerce, along with VGCC and Huff Consulting, teamed up to put on the festival.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais said she didn’t hesitate when she was approached with the idea for a community resource festival.

“We think of ourselves as a convener and a catalyst,” Desmarais said in an interview during the Thursday event. “The community is serving its constituents – this is how we all get better…and do better.”

This event was just one more way to empower people to care for themselves as they networked with community businesses, non-profits, churches and other resources in the area. “Whatever their goal may be, they’re welcome here. We want (the community) to remember that Vance Granville really does care.”

Granville Vance Public Health – As the name implies, the agency serves the two counties, and Tayshah Josey was on hand to discuss a variety of programs available to residents. From family planning and maternal care to STD and HIV testing, Josey said the health department is here for the community.

Josey said a new program designed to reduce infant mortality will be rolled out in the next few months. Participants who complete a infant safe sleep training will get rewarded with a new crib.

HIV test kits are available at the health department, too. These are home kits and individuals can request two free kits within a 90-day time frame. The STD clinic is available for walk-ins, but appointments also are available.

Family planning clinics use a sliding-scale for payment, Josey added. Visit https://www.gvph.org/ to learn about all the services GVPH provides.

Maria Parham Health – Donna Young, MPH marketing director, was on hand to network and provide information about the hospital, which enjoys high marks from Leapfrog, a national organization that measures patient safety. “We got an A for the Fall of 2022,” Young noted, which means that hospital staff puts patient safety first.

Whether getting care at the Duke-accredited cancer center, heart catheterization lab or any of the other departments, patients can be assured they’ll be taken care of.

Young said she fielded questions on a variety of topics at the resource festival, including inpatient rehab services. Whether you’re speaking to her in person or contact her via email at Donna.Young@lpnt.net, Young said you’ll get the answers you need.

“Every one of those inquiries goes straight to my inbox,” she explained, and she then routes each question to the right person to answer the question.

State Farm – In addition to medical care, a community needs other services as well, including insurance. State Farm Insurance Agency in Henderson provides the full range of insurance services in the area, and local agent Margier White had her sister, Davida Rascoe, with her at the vendor table Thursday.

State Farm is all about helping people when they’re in trouble, Rascoe said. “You need someone who cares,” she said, “who have your concerns at heart.” Her sister does a great job at making sure they cover whatever you need.”

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame was in attendance, among other area law enforcement agencies.

“This is an awesome opportunity for citizens,” Brame said Thursday morning. Many agencies –  the sheriff’s office among them – also has applications available at the community resource festival.

Granville Health System – Granville Primary Care offers a complete range of services, from pediatrics to geriatrics, and Renita Timberlake said the Butner office offers primary care as well as express care services. A team of 10 providers in the Oxford office also works with businesses to provide services like drug screens for employees and workers’ comp claims.

Gail Barnes-Hall is the director of the Harold Sherman Adult Day Center, which provides respite care for those who care for loved ones with physical or cognitive issues. The center is open Monday through Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Barnes-Hall said. Participants get three meals a day and participate in engaging activities, all while giving their caregivers a break from their care-giving duties.

Visit https://ghshospital.org/ to learn more.

HubZone Technology Initiative – Bryan Davis and Mark Williams work with HubZone, whose mission is twofold – refurbishing donated laptops and distributing them to those who need them, which keeps them in use and out of landfills.

“We help bridge the digital divide,” Williams said Thursday morning. The donated laptops have their data wiped before they’re converted to Chromebooks and donated to local nonprofits.

“We serve them so they can help the broader community,” Williams said.

Davis started out with HubZone as a photographer – until they found out he had experience with refurbishing computers himself.

Learn more about HubZone, located at 208 N. Garnett St., at https://www.hubzonetech.org/

Henderson Family YMCA – Tesa Alexander is membership director for the Henderson Family YMCA. The Y, located at 380 Ruin Creek Road, is the only Y in the four-county area, and Alexander said joining fees were waived for anyone who signed up at the resource festival.

“We try to partner with the community and make it a better place,” Alexander said. “We build our community by working with one another.” The Y will sponsor “Healthy Kids Day” Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors, food trucks and more will be on hand at the Y to celebrate the nationwide observance.

Guardian Ad Litem, 9th Judicial District – Samantha Branch is supervisor of the guardian ad litem program for the 9th Judicial District, which includes Vance and Granville counties. April is Child Advocate Month and Branch said her agency is always looking for volunteers to be a voice in the court system for abused and neglected children. “The goal is to get children back with their family unit,” Branch told WIZS. “We gather information and report back to the court (about) what is going to be in the best interest of the child.”

Visit www.volunteerforgal.org to learn more.

 

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Viper Football Starts Spring Workouts

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Football may be months away but the Vance County Vipers are busy with preparations as they start Spring workouts. Coach Aaron Elliott is back for his second season and is the only coach in the school’s history to return after their initial year. “We have been wide open for Spring workouts with great numbers. We had 45 kids on Monday. A lot more than we expected,” Elliott said, on Thursday’s SportsTalk.

The team is returning a number of star players from last year’s playoff team including all of last year’s starting linebackers. One of those returning players is Tashon Alston. Alston is also getting looks from division one schools. South Carolina has made an offer to Alston. “It felt good. It felt awesome to hear about the offer,” Alston said while joining his coach on the show.

Elliott is also pleased that his entire coaching staff from last season has remained intact and, while pleased with all of the players and coaches that are returning, he is also excited about new faces to the program. For the first time the Vipers now have a weight training instructor. “That was the missing piece to the puzzle,” Elliott said.

The Vipers will practice through the end of next week and then take a break for exams and graduation before ramping back up in June.

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Oxford Prep School

SportsTalk: Best Season Ever For Oxford Prep Softball

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It’s been a great year for Oxford Prep softball.  “We’re having a really good season. It’s the best year we’ve ever had,” said coach Tommy Anstead on Thursday’s SportsTalk.   Currently, Oxford Prep is 13-3 on the season with just three games remaining on their conference schedule.  One of those games is with Vance Charter while a double header with Voyager will take up the final two games.

Currently, Oxford Prep is number seven in the RPI rankings and will likely move up. “A lot of people underestimated us,” added coach Anstead.  One of the reasons is no one knew of the strong freshmen class.  These freshmen players included Addison Faucett. The freshmen pitcher has 118 strikeouts on the season.  Additionally, the team has five players batting over .400 on the season and Oxford Prep as a team has a batting average of .355.

If the final three games go as expected, meaning wins, then Oxford Prep will get a first round playoff game at home and a strong possibility of a second home playoff game. However, Anstead and Oxford Prep are trying not to look ahead.  “I tell the girls all the time to take it one game at a time,” Anstead said.

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Granville Opioid Advisory Committee To Hold Public Input Meeting May 4

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Opioid Advisory Committee will host a second public input meeting on Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. to educate and engage with the community on strategies to fight the opioid epidemic in Granville County.

The meeting will be held in the Willow Oak Room at the Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive in Creedmoor. The public will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about how money should be allocated to combat the opioid crisis, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

Granville County is set to receive $6.8 million over the next 16 years as part of the National Opioid Settlements. This litigation against large manufacturers and distributors of opioids who contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States will provide funding to state, county, and municipal governments to grow or implement proven strategies that will help prevent, treat, and foster recovery from opioid addiction.

In conjunction with public input meetings, the Opioid Advisory Committee has issued a brief survey to help the committee form its final funding recommendations that will be presented to the county commissioners for approval. Take the survey at www.granvillecounty.org/opioidsurvey.

“Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey and join us on May 4 to help us fight the opioid epidemic here in Granville County,” said committee chair Jimmy Gooch. “As a county government, we have an obligation to utilize these funds to help as many of our residents as possible while also being careful stewards of the dollars we receive. Gaining a better understanding of how our community would like the county to prioritize our spending is a critical step to improving how the opioid crisis is addressed in Granville County.”

The Opioid Advisory Committee was established in 2018 by the Granville County Board of Commissioners to engage in shared leadership and collective action to advance a comprehensive response to opioid and other  drug use. The committee includes representatives and stakeholders from within Granville County government as well as Granville-Vance Public Health, Granville Health System, Vaya Health, law enforcement,  local pharmacy owners, behavioral health professionals, affected families and other concerned citizens.

For more information about the National Opioid Settlements, visit the “More Powerful NC” website:  https://www.morepowerfulnc.org/opioid-settlements/nc-memorandum-of-agreement/.

Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover Balancing Family And Work, Pt. 4

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Vance Charter FFA Students Attend AgFest, Set Goals For Future

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Members of Vance Charter School’s Future Farmers of America were among the more than 1,800 FFA and 4-H’ers who attended the 8th annual AgFest recently at the University of Mount Olive in Wayne County.

The club’s advisor, Kelly Dixon, said Vance Charter is one of only four charter schools in the state with an FFA chapter. Since its inception in 2019, Dixon said the local FFA has grown and will continue to add programs.

“I am excited for our future and proud of the progress we have made,“ Dixon said. “In the near future we will have students raising and showing livestock. We will have a running greenhouse and a great laboratory facility for our students to learn in.”

AgFest, a daylong event to celebrate and promote agriculture, is just one way for FFA chapters like the one at VCS to meet other FFA members from across the state, participate in activities and educational opportunities to learn about more about career paths in agriculture and related fields.

“My favorite aspect of FFA is … being able to learn new things about doing what I love while doing it with hands-on opportunities,” said Katelin Guerrant, a VCS 9th grader who attended AgFest. Guerrant and fellow FFA’er Haleigh Burnette spoke about their experience at AgFest.

Burnette, a senior at VCS, reflected on her time in FFA.

“FFA prepares kids for success, whether they travel the country in their corduroy jackets or never leave their high school shops.”

The event included music and line dancing, friendly games of corn hole, spike ball and chicken slinging BINGO. Lambs from UMO’s Kornegay Student Farm were a big hit with the crowd, as were horses from the Wilson County Mounted Search Team, Horseback Heroes and the N.C. Troopers Association Caisson Unit.

High school students had the chance to test their skills in archery, bull riding, log rolling, virtual welding, and on a zero-turn lawnmower course.  Country music artist Drake White performed an afternoon concert, along with others who took the stage during the day.

“This by far has been our biggest and best AgFest to date,” said Dr. Sandy Maddox, dean of the School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.  “The purpose of this event is to introduce FFA members and advisors to what the University of Mount Olive has to offer academically and to what the agriculture industry has to offer (for) career opportunities.”

“Many of these students have never been on a university campus,” said Edward Olive, director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center.  “Our UMO students in the School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences and other departments across campus enjoyed hosting these high school students and sharing what life is like at UMO.”

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University is sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists.  For more information, visit www.umo.edu.

SportsTalk: Highland Games Coming To Oxford Saturday

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Kilts and haggis and all things Scottish will descend on Oxford’s Central Children’s Home this Saturday for the Premier Highland Games.  Buck Buchanan, a board member of the Central Children’s Home, Organizer of the games and Scottish Descendent is expecting a big turnout for the event. “Last year we raised $10,000 in our first year. This year we are hoping for $25,000,” Buchanan said.  The money will all go to the Central Children’s Home.  “We want to provide a beautiful place for the children,” added Buchanan, and the money raised at Saturday’s free event will help.  While the event itself is free, there is a $20 fee for parking which also goes back to support the home.

The events will feature “large men and women” according to Buchanan.  These large men and women will be hurling heavy objects including 56 pound weights, 16 pound burlap bags, 20 pound Scottish hammers, 21 and 28 pound metal blocks, 18 pound river stones and logs in a variety of competitions.  All part of a Scottish tradition that goes back 700 years.

After the heavy objects are hurled you may need food, and there will be plenty of traditional Scottish food on hand from sausages and meat pies to haggis. Music will be provided by three pipe and drum bands to bring not only the sights but the sounds of Scotland to Oxford.

The event will take place 9  a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Central Children’s Home in Oxford at 211 W. Antioch Dr.

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