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Vance County Adopts Budget; Fire Study Coming

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners adopted the upcoming fiscal year 23-24 budget Wednesday afternoon. The special called meeting led to a 6 to 1 vote to adopt the budget as presented by the county manager.

Immediately after the budget was approved, the board adopted a motion which freezes the four empty, full time Vance County Fire Department positions and stops funding of any new capital expenses. That motion carried 5 to 2.

After about 90 minutes of meeting time and some heated discussion, it’s clear that a fire study is coming. And unlike some meetings that see motions, seconds, discussion and votes on topics, several sequences were gone through like that. In the process, two motions and seconds were withdrawn and another voted down.

In the short term with the likelihood that the study will take up to 90 days to complete once started, some commissioners and citizens may draw the conclusion that a reasonable compromise was reached.

From the angle of the fire service, which has been closely discussed publicly and by the citizenry in the last 35 to 40 days, there is a general maintaining at this point of the status quo. With the budget in place, a freeze in place, and the study coming, the board, with a great deal of county staff help, has preserved its option to act on the study, including amending the budget.

After the meeting, Finance Director Katherine Bigelow said, “What is being approved is freezing the four vacant Vance County Fire Department positions and their capital expenses consisting of turnout gear and fire boots, for example,” as she went over some items with WIZS.

Interim County Manager Scott Elliott said, “At the July 10 meeting, staff will bring forth the proposed scope of the work to be conducted by the fire study and seek board approval and for execution of a contract,” as he spoke to WIZS.

The roughly $57.5 million budget calls for no increase in the property tax, holding at 89 cents per $100 valuation, as well as appropriating more than $1.8 million from the fund balance to plug a gap between expected expenses and expected revenues. The proposed budget is 4.5 percent more than the 2022-23 budget.

The budget does increase part time firefighter pay to $15 per hour from $14. The $16 amount was part of the public safety committee recommendation and that recommendation was not included in the budget.

The “reorganization” of the Vance County Fire Department is not occurring at this time.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright remains the Vance County Fire Marshall at this time.

Granville Animal Shelter Gets $10K Grant From Petco Love

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County Animal Management has received a $10,000 grant investment from the national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for animals in Granville County.

Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested $350 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations across North America — like the Granville County Animal Shelter — with 6.7 million pets adopted and counting.

“Our investment in Granville County Animal Management is part of more than $15M in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us.  We recently launched Petco Love Lost, a national lost and found database that uses pet image technology to simplify the search for lost pets.”

“We are so thankful for the continuing support provided by Petco Love to help the Granville County Animal Shelter in its mission to protect the animals of our community,” said Commissioner Sue Hinman, who also serves on the Animal Control Advisory Committee. “Our staff will utilize this generous grant to enhance our spay/neuter program, provide heartworm treatment to dogs, and pay for emergency veterinary care. This is such an awesome gift from Petco Love and we hope they know how grateful our community is to be included in this grant award.”

The Granville County Animal Shelter operates Tuesday through Saturday, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all services. For more information, call 919.693.6749 or visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/granville-county-animal-management/animal-shelter/.

Learn more about Petco Love by visiting https://petcolove.org/.

N.C. First Lady Kristin Cooper Stops In For A Visit On 100-County Tour

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North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper paid a visit to downtown Henderson today as part of her statewide tour to visit all 100 counties.

Cooper toured McGregor Hall with Director Mark Hopper and other local officials before heading to George’s for lunch and then stopping by Sadie’s Coffee Corner, Nella Roo’s Boutique and the Vance County Arts Council before departing by mid-afternoon.

“This place is absolutely amazing,” Cooper told members of the media following the tour of McGregor Hall. “I didn’t expect to see something like this…y’all should be real proud of it.”

Cooper made her way across the state not so much by geography, but in alphabetical order. “This is my 98th county,” she noted.

She said she’s had a wonderful reception everywhere she’s visited, and as a self-professed “city girl,” has learned a lot about what North Carolina has to offer.

“It’s amazing to see the pride of place that people have,” she continued. “Even cities that are struggling…have enormous pride in their community” and are willing to sacrifice to make it better.

Throughout her tour, she’s ridden ferries, climbed mountains, walked in forests and on sand dunes. And now, having completed her tour in this community, she can add McGregor Hall and downtown Henderson to the list.

Vance County’s issues surrounding public education, health care and attracting medical professionals and educators to rural areas are not unique, unfortunately, she said.

Cooper encourages individuals to get out and find destinations in the state that may be unfamiliar.
“There may be something great just around the corner from you,” she said.

TownTalk: Study Scheduled To Measure McGregor Hall’s Economic Impact

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An economic impact study conducted locally in 2019 showed that McGregor Hall brought in close to $3 million in direct revenue to the city and county – researchers conducting that study looked at receipts from restaurants, hotels and retail to come up with this figure, said Mark Hopper, McGregor Hall executive director.

Hopper said the downtown venue is a big tourism magnet that attracts people from across the state and the Southeast to attend performances, competitions and more. By late summer, a second economic impact study will be underway to measure the extent to which McGregor Hall is bringing money to the area. Hopper predicts that it could be twice the amount from just four years ago.

“We have come back with a big roar in the past year,” Hopper said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. “We’ve added a lot of rental events (and) bringing in a lot of people from outside the area – people who spend money for food, lodging and more.

Known as a spot for performances and concerts, McGregor Hall also has become a popular spot for dance competitions.

“Next year, we have 15 straight weekends of dance competitions,” Hopper said. The various events hosted at McGregor Hall serve to infuse the local economy with additional revenue, which is its main purpose.

“We are first and foremost an economic endeavor,” Hopper said. “Even before the arts.” The arts just happen to be the way McGregor Hall contributes to the local economy.

The economic impact study is a good way to measure in concrete ways how the venue is achieving its mission.

The research is expected to be conducted in late August or early September, and Hopper said he hopes to have results by the end of September. N.C. State’s Municipal Research Lab and Tom White will come back to do the second study for about half the cost of the first one, since much of the foundational work has been done already.

Measuring a venue’s economic impact is relatively easy compared to measuring the impact theater and performing arts has on the people who participate and enjoy them. Researchers can study a store’s receipts and compare them with days or weekends that competitions or events were held at McGregor Hall.

But Hopper said he can only provide anecdotal evidence of the way McGregor Hall performances have affected the lives of patrons and artists who come to the venue.

It’s not hyperbole that “theater can change lives. And save lives,” he said. So many people have found a community within the walls of McGregor Hall.

That community “starts with the way we work with people,” he added.

More than 50 children – half of whom have no experience with theater – met for the first time Tuesday to begin working on Seussical Jr., a production of a two-week long theater camp.

In just over a week, that same group of youngsters will take the stage at McGregor Hall for the opening performance.

Children from different schools, neighborhoods and backgrounds come together for the grand sum of $50 for the two-week camp, Hopper said.

“Children desperately crave communities,” he noted. We can provide a healthy community, or they’ll create their own. We’re creating community for them in the best way possible.”

That’s an impact that surely will pay its own kind of dividends.

 

 

Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • If going on vacation have someone harvest vegetables for you,
  • PPE tip when using gas powered equipment: Eye protection guards against possible injury. Hearing protection guards against almost certain injury.
  • Harvest vegetables in the morning and refrigerate as soon as possible.
  • Learn to recognize invasive plants such as paulownia, tree of heaven, Chinese privet and others. Eliminate them when you find them.
  • Make sure weeds are actively growing before using weed control post emergence herbicides.
  • There are hundreds of species of bees and wasps in NC and the vast majority are non-aggressive and beneficial.
  • Watering your garden thoroughly once a week is much better than watering just a little each day.
  • Leave snakes alone. The majority are harmless and beneficial. Learn to recognize copperheads and leave them alone. Trying to move or kill them will likely increase your risk of getting bitten.
  • Check garden each day for harvestable vegetables ex Squash
  • Avoid spray drift. Don’t spray in windy conditions and set the nozzle to spray larger droplets.
  • Check the product label every time you use a pesticide.

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Maria Parham Health Adds Midwife For Womens’ Health Care

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-information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health marketing & communication coordinator

Maria Parham Health has announced that Sofronia Germany, MSN, CNM has joined its staff and will be offering midwife services to patients throughout Henderson, Vance County and the surrounding area.

“We are pleased to welcome Sofronia Germany to our Maria Parham team,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Women’s care is an important need in our community, and Germany‘s midwifery experience will go a long way toward giving our area’s parents more choices in their families’ care. She is an important addition as Maria Parham Health works to make our community healthier.”

Germany graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of Cincinnati in Ohio and was a student Nurse Midwife at CareConnect OBGYN in Cordele, Georgia. Germany is an advanced practice midwife, and specializes in care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period; sexual and reproductive health; gynecologic health; and family planning services, including preconception care. She is seeing patients at her offices at Maria Parham Women’s Care. For a referral or to schedule an appointment, please call 800.424.DOCS.

SportsTalk: Oxford’s Adcock Called Up to the Majors

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Oxford’s Ty Adcock has been called up to pitch for the Seattle Mariners.  The South Granville High School Graduate made his Major League Baseball debut Monday night in relief during the Mariners 8-1 win over the Miami Marlins.  Adcock pitched two innings and gave up no hits, no runs and no walks.  The 26 year old pitcher is the son of Keith Adcock and Jennifer Strickland Adcock. He played college ball at Elon.

The road to the majors has been a long one for Adcock. While at Elon, Adcock developed a back injury in his freshman year, fracturing his L5 vertebra, and shoulder issues hampered his senior season.  After being drafted by the Mariners, the team kept him off the field in 2019 to rehab.  In 2020 Covid took care of the season. In 2021 Adcock tore his UCL ligament in his elbow while facing his 6th batter of the season during a stint in the Mariner’s farm system.  That injury resulted in Tommy John surgery and 17 months of rehab.

Adcock was called up to the Mariners after an injury to pitcher Penn Murfee.

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TownTalk: VGCC Hosts Off-Campus Enrollment Event

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Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled an Enrollment Day

Enrollment Day is set for Thursday, June 22 in Henderson and rather than having prospective students come to the college’s Main Campus, staff from Main Campus will be set up at Perry Memorial Library to assist individuals with registering for Fall 2023 classes, according to VGCC Director of Admissions Sherry Alston.

Taking the enrollment show on the road is just one way that VGCC officials are thinking outside the box to get the information out about the various programs and services that VGCC offers.

“Knowing that transportation can sometimes be a barrier, we wanted to go where the people are,” Alston said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

VGCC representatives will be at the library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide information on the enrollment process, as well as the academic programs and student support services available – including financial aid. Advisors will be ready to help with registration for the fall semester, which begins Monday, Aug. 14.

Both 8-week and the traditional 16-week classes will be available.

Unsure about whether this Enrollment Day is for you? No matter how far along in the enrollment and registration process you are, Alston said there will be VGCC staff on hand at the library to help. Linda Fletcher with Career Services has an interest assessment for prospective students who may not have a career path in mind.

The interest assessment helps individuals learn more about their likes and dislikes, and helps to match them with possible career paths.

“We interact with individuals who may not know or understand what their next step is – they know they want to go to school, but not much more,” Alston said.

An orientation for new students will be held at 10 a.m. on June 22 as part of Enrollment Day. Orientations can be completed online on June 22 or students can arrange for an in-person orientation at a later date.

Alston said participants will get a chance to learn more about all the academic programs available at VGCC, whether that’s a certificate or degree program or a college-transfer program.

“We want to make it a productive day,” Alston said.

For more information about Enrollment Day, or to sign up for orientation, visit www.vgcc.edu/enrollment-day.

 

 

 

The Local Skinny! Elder Abuse Walk To Be Held Thursday In Creedmoor

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Kerr Tar Council of Governments, Granville County Senior Services and Granville County Department of Social Services are hosting an Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Conference and commemorative walk Thursday, June 15. The event will be held at the Creedmoor Community Center on 108 East Wilton Street in Creedmoor, according to Kimberly Hawkins, regional ombudsman for the Agency on Aging and a key organizer of the day’s event.

The conference will include various workshops and information sessions on topics including avoiding scams, identifying and preventing financial abuse and much more, Hawkins said.

The walk is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be served about 12 noon. The activities will be held at the Creedmoor Community Center on 108 East Wilton St. in Creedmoor. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and end around 1 p.m. There will be more than 30 vendors onsite from a variety of agencies that support the prevention and mistreatment of our disabled adult population.

This is a free event open to the public of all ages. The first 200 people will receive a free t-shirt, a tote bag and lunch will be provided. There will be a contest with prizes for 1st,2nd and 3rd place to the individuals that show the most “spirit” or express their efforts to support the prevention of elder abuse, Hawkins said.

Even if you can’t attend, please support this international opportunity by wearing purple and silver on this day.

Community partners are very supportive of the event, from sponsoring meals and providing t-shirts to donating space to hold the event.

“By doing all that we can to strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a nation that lives up to our promise of justice for all,” Hawkins stated.

There will be presentations on Financial Abuse by the NC Attorney General Office and the Butner NCSECU branch, Fraud and Scams by the Creedmoor Police Department, Healthy living thru exercise by Ms. Rumsey and Elder Abuse Trivia Bingo hosted by Mr. Ed Wilson. Staff from our local Departments of social services and senior centers will be on hand to answer questions about their services, several Long Term Care facilities such as Louisburg Healthcare and Rehab, Roxboro Healthcare and Rehab, Warren Hills, and Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation centers. Medicare service vendors, NC DOI/ SHIIP and United HealthCare, Granville Medical Center, NCDHHS Services for the Blind, The Help Center, Warren County Health Department, Land Loss Prevention Project, NC PACE, VGCC, SafeKey Staffing and Respite care and more.

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