New Granville Finance Director Begins April 15

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Granville County has announced that Jennifer Baird will become the county’s finance director and she will begin her new job on April 15.

Baird joins Granville County after three years as senior fiscal analyst and accounting operations supervisor for the city of Durham. With 19 years of state and local government finance experience, Baird will lead operations in the county’s finance office as Steve McNally transitions to his retirement in the coming months, according to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

“I am thrilled and honored to have been selected as Granville County’s next Finance Director,” said Baird. “I look forward to working with county administration, our board of commissioners, and staff from all county departments to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, and the county’s finances are protected.  Granville County has a sterling reputation of financial management, and I am proud to join and continue that legacy.”

During her time in Durham, Baird helped develop the personnel and operating budget  for the Water and Sewer Fund and managed all operations of the city’s Utility Finance Department. Prior to her time in Durham, Baird served as Business Officer II, Assistant Finance Manager and other accounting and finance positions for the State of North Carolina departments of Health and Human Services, Public Instruction and Agriculture and Consumer Services.

She was responsible for preparing state budget requests and certifications for various grant programs and managed accounts payable operations for the statewide Child Nutrition grant. She also served as the Chief Finance Officer for Granville-Vance Public Health for two years in between her time with the state and the city of Durham. Baird began her career as a family preservation Caseworker for Person County Cooperative Extension before moving into accounting.

A Person County native, Baird graduated from Person High School in Roxboro and holds degrees in Accounting and Human Services from Vance-Granville Community College and Piedmont Community College. She is also completing the North Carolina Finance Officer Certification Course at the School of Government at UNC. Baird and her family moved to Granville County in 1993 and reside n the Berea community.

VCSO: One Shot Fired, Not by Law Enforcement, In Search Warrant Execution, No One Injured

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UPDATE: 4:24 PM Wednesday, April 3

— Press release from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

A Vance County man was arrested Wednesday a shot was fired from inside a home on St. Matthew’s Street. There was no exchange of gunfire and no injuries were reported, according to information from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office, along with members of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, were executing a search warrant at 2215 St. Matthew’s St. earlier Wednesday when a gunshot was fired from inside the residence in the direction of law enforcement officers at the front door, Brame stated.

After making entry into the residence, a single male was located and detained. The male was identified as 46-year-old Samer Othman, a resident of 2215 St. Matthew’s St.

Othman was arrested and charged with 10 counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

Othman received a $750,000 bond and has a court date of April 26.

No residents or law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at 252.738.2200, Henderson -Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925 or use the P3 app.

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UPDATE 9:30 AM Wednesday, April 3

WIZS News spoke to Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame.  He said during the execution of a search warrant on St. Matthews Street this morning that one shot was fired, not by a law enforcement officer, and that no one is injured and no one was hit by the shot.

More details to follow.

Franklin Property Owners Have Extra Week To File Appeal Revaluations

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— Information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners extended the deadline to file an informal appeal in the 2024 Tax Revaluation process by one week – from Apr. 6 to Apr. 13.

Informal appeal forms were attached to the Change of Value notices that were sent out on Mar. 6, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III. Forms can be found at appeals.franklincounty.tax. Informal appeal forms can be emailed to 2024reval@franklincountync.gov or submitted online at the Tax Department’s page of www.franklincountync.gov.

Revaluation staff can be reached at 844.286.3532 or 2024reval@franklincountync.gov for any questions about this process.

Additionally, the Board of Equalization and Review — which will convene on Apr. 15 — will consider any formal appeals that are filed. If unsatisfied with the decision of the Board of Equalization and Review, the property owner can file an appeal with the N.C. Property Tax Commission within 30 days of the decision by the Board of Equalization and Review.

Property owners can appeal the market value if the assessed value is significantly higher or lower than the actual current market value, the assessed value is based on inaccurate data, or the assessed value is not equitable when compared to similar properties in the market area.

Warren County Health Fair April 5

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The Warren County Health Department will hold its annual Health Fair on Friday, Apr. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 at the Lion’s Den (fairgrounds) in Warrenton. In case of rain or other inclement weather, the event will be held at the Warren County Armory Civic Center. 

This year’s health fair will feature several exhibitors and food vendors, according to Crystal Smith, interim Warren County manager. Exhibitors include Halifax-Warren Smart Start, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, Warren County Emergency Medical Services, Warren County Emergency Services, Hope Regional Medical Center, Warren County Memorial Library, On Target Preparedness, Warren Hills, Elite, Therapeutics Alternatives, Henderson Fire Department, N.C. Forestry Services and Trillium Health Resources.

Local food trucks on site are Moots Mobile, The Wandering Dawg, Wing Master E. & Trinity Eats, Sims & Sims and Big Red’s. 

The health fair is designed to provide information about local programs/services, health screenings, food and fun activities for the entire family. The health fair is part of a week-long celebration to observe National Public Health Week. For questions about the health fair, please call the Warren County Health Department at 252.257.1185.

TownTalk: Community Info Series To Focus On Dementia

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It’s something that many of us worry about as we get older and can’t remember things like we once did, but Michael Patterson, a family caregiver specialist for Kerr-Tar COG Agency on Aging breaks down what falls in the “normal forgetfulness” category and what does not.

Patterson was a guest on Wednesday’s TownTalk and previewed some of the information that he will share at the monthly community form series sponsored by the Hon. Charlie Baskerville.

The program “Dementia Friends,” which will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 9, is designed to promote awareness about what dementia is and how it affects caregivers and their families who care for those in the grips of dementia.

“When it comes to individuals caring for those with dementia, (I) stress this is a journey,” Patterson said, “a chronic condition.” It’s not like caring for someone with flu – follow doctor’s orders and you’ll be good as new in a week or so.

Some people can live for decades with dementia, and others’ lives are cut short. Whatever the scenario, caregivers carry a heavy load and experience a different relationship with their loved one.

“I work with caregivers to understand that this is a journey,” Patterson said. Self-care is important, he emphasized. What caregivers need to understand is that they are not alone.

A couple of his favorite resources include the Dementia Alliance of NC and Duke Dementia Family Support. Both provide education and support group opportunities; the Duke group offers respite vouchers, as does the KTCOG Agency on Aging.

“Dementia is a brain disease,” Patterson said, but its onset can be triggered by numerous factors, including genetics or other health conditions like hypertension or high cholesterol.

So when your doctor or health care team encourages you to eat right, take your meds and live a healthy lifestyle, a secondary effect could be lowering your risk for any of the types of dementia.

“Dementia is the umbrella and then under it are the other subcategories,” Patterson explained, adding that many people equate dementia with Alzheimer’s.

Granted, Alzheimer’s accounts for between 60 percent and 80 percent of most dementia cases, but it’s not the only type of dementia that researchers have identified.

Now that Baby Boomers are reaching the age of 65-70, this generation of adults that accounts for a larger percentage of the overall population may skew the prevalence for dementia diagnoses.

But, Patterson said, “just because you are getting older, doesn’t mean you’re going to get dementia.”

Memory loss is a normal part of aging, as our mental and physical abilities change over time.

It’s when that memory loss has an adverse impact on your daily living that dementia may be coming into play.

Can’t find your car keys? Normal aging. Can’t remember what the car key is used for? Not normal aging.

If you get in your car to go home but forget how to “get” home, that also could be more than normal aging.

Learn more at the April 9 program, which will be held at Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut St., Henderson.

Contact Patterson at 252.436.2040, extension 6072.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Cleanup perennial flower beds. Cut back plants, pull weeds and refresh mulch
  • Finish up your pruning chores. Fruit trees,blueberries,grape vines, broadleaf evergreens and ornamental trees.
  • Increase pollination of your garden by purchasing Honey bees or contacting a beekeeper to place a hive on your property
  • Keep your garden notebook up to date
  • Check vegetable seedlings that you are growing indoors daily, light,soil moisture
  • Plan your spring garden on paper before planting your garden
  • Check all Garden equipment have it ready when needed
  • Avoid the temptation to plant tender flowers and vegetables. Trees and shrubs are fine to plant now April 20 avg frost free date
  • Refrain from tilling wet soil.
  • Conduct a germination test on old seed.

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NCDMV Employs Online Tools To Tackle Customer No-Shows

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– Information courtesy of NCDMV

To combat folks not showing up for their scheduled appointments at driver license offices, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is now requiring new appointments to be confirmed.

In the month of February, 33.5 percent of appointments were no-shows, according to NCDMV officials.

“This confirmation process is necessary to address the high no-show rate for appointments we have been experiencing in our driver license offices,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

Now, when appointments are reserved online at SkipTheLine.ncdot.gov, customers will receive a text message and email with a confirmation link and they will need to confirm their appointment by clicking either link within 15 minutes, or the appointment will be canceled. Upon confirming their appointment, customers will receive a text and email notification letting them know the appointment was successfully confirmed.

Four days before the appointment, customers will receive a reminder text and email with a confirmation link. Within 24 hours, customers will need to again confirm their appointment. Once confirmed, another email and text will be generated confirming the appointment.

For appointments booked less than four days out, the second confirmation link will not be sent.

“Folks are used to having to confirm their medical and other appointments in this way,”  Goodwin said, “so we’re applying this standard from the private sector to our business model and expecting good results and increased appointment availability.”

A handful of self-service kiosks have opened up in grocery stores in Raleigh, Charlotte and Fayetteville that allows for a variety of DMV transactions. There are additional online tools Walk-In Wait Time Tool and Q-Anywhere to cut down on customers’ wait time in DMV offices.

TownTalk: Jayden Watkins Part of 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy

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Henderson’s own Jayden Watkins is set to board a plane Wednesday and head to Orlando, FL to participate in the Walt Disney World Dreamers Academy.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that almost wasn’t, but Watkins said, “God worked everything out.”

You see, his mom had accidentally thrown away the packet of information that Watkins was supposed to fill out to officially be accepted into the program. So there he was, on Christmas Day, searching for a way to get in touch with the folks at the Dreamers Academy and get his hands on the information before the deadline passed.

There’s a saying that goes, “Pray for rain, but keep on hoeing,” and that’s what Watkins did. He hunted and searched online and in emails, but he put his trust in God to “make it happen.”

And it did.

The four-day mentorship program brings together 100 high school students from all across the U.S. who demonstrate compassion, intellectual curiosity, courage, optimism and a positive outlook.

Watkins, who will turn 16 later this month, said it’s an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, recording artists and others who will share advice about how “to take our dreams and turn them into reality.”

While he’s in The Magic Kingdom, Watkins said he’d be producing an inspirational video that will be released on social media platforms. “I’ll be on a TV show and a couple of other programs that will reach millions,” he told WIZS co-hosts Bill Harris and Steve Lewis on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

The Henderson Collegiate student said the application process was like applying to college, but even more selective. This year’s participants were chosen from among thousands of applicants. Watkins said he simply told his story in the application. “I was authentic…I shared my dreams, my aspirations,” he said.

Actions speak louder than words, another timeless adage that couldn’t be more appropriate when talking about Watkins. In his short time on this Earth, he has become a licensed minister, an author, podcaster, CEO of a non-profit and part-time employee right here at WIZS.

One has to apply actions in order to make your dreams a reality, he said.

If all these accomplishments have elevated Watkins into something more than your typical teenager, he seems unfazed.

“I remember how important it is to be humble,” he said. “All of my talents, all of my gifts, come from God.”

While he’s off in Orlando, his 7-day Bible Study will be released. It’s called “Distance for Warfare” and it can be found beginning this Thursday on the YouVersion Bible app.

His “Empowered Teen Bible Study” was featured recently on CBS 17 for its work in the community, and Watkins said it provides a unique opportunity for teens, who meet monthly for Bible study and to give back to the community.

The group assembles “Blessing Bags” filled with toiletry items, socks and gloves, non-perishable food items and more that are taken to local shelters.

Upwards of 40 teens put the bags together, and Watkins said he’s always grateful for sponsors – groups and individuals – to provide the items for the Blessing Bags.

It may not be the traditional way that churches sponsor youth groups, but that’s ok. Watkins says it’s important to “change the method and keep the message” of helping others in the community.

Whenever he feels like he needs to step back and take a breath from all his work – when he just wants to be a normal teenager for a little while, “I remind myself of my purpose.”

He’s learning the importance of balance in his life – school, family, work, church, community service, entrepreneur all come together to create a busy schedule, no doubt.

But, Watkins said, “This is not only something I like to do, this is something I love to do.”

 

 

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library 04-02-24

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There’s lots going on at Perry Memorial Library in April – some of them are the regular monthly favorites, but there are some time-sensitive activities as well that are being targeted at children on Spring Break and for everyone interested in next week’s solar eclipse.

Youth Services Director Melody Peters said kids on spring break should check out Wednesday’s arts and crafts activities at 11 a.m.

There will be lots to do, Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

“We’re definitely going to have a couple of tables for painting,” Peters said. There will be beads for necklace making, foam crafts and teens can fashion their own jewelry.

“There are a lot of options for various ages,” she said.

Most kids will be back in school on Monday, Apr. 8, but that’s not stopping the library from participating in the Statewide Star Party to view the eclipse.

The fun begins at 1:30 p.m. and runs through 3 p.m. and there will be half a dozen or so activity stations for individuals to take part in. The height of the eclipse will occur at 3:16 p.m., Peters said, and she’s got those special glasses for anyone who comes to view at the library.

“We crave those natural events that shake us up,” she said. “People are going to be able to see it – it’s not made up – it’s real!”

The activities are STEAM centered and participants will learn more about the sun, moon, and what exactly an eclipse is before they get to witness it in person.

They “get to see something in real time,” Peters said. In this world of AI and all things virtual, this is a big deal. North Carolina will not experience a total eclipse, but 86 percent is pretty good, she said.

Teens can return to the library the next day – April 9 – at 4 p.m. to create a special type of poetry – black out poetry. Books that would otherwise be discarded because of disrepair are used to create poems.

“I hope kids come,” Peters said. “I love what you can do (with) recycling old books. It becomes art.”

No need to register – just show up at the library to participate.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn more.

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