Entries by Laura Gabel

MHCO Gala Features UNC Basketball Legend Phil Ford

The 3rd annual charity gala for the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford was a success by all accounts. Attendees enjoyed fellowship over the course of the evening, and the live and silent auctions proved a fun way to raise money to support the children and families that MHCO serves. But credit long-time Mason Gene […]

Public Safety Committee, Fire Commission Plan Joint Meeting July 29 To Discuss Fire Study, Future Of Rescue Squad

The county’s Public Safety Committee and the Vance County Fire Commission have scheduled a joint meeting on Tuesday, July 29 at 4 p.m. to discuss the fire study. The public safety committee consists of Commissioners Dan Brummitt, Valencia Perry and Board Chair Carolyn Faines. At Monday’s regular monthly meeting, commissioners discussed the pros and cons […]

Maria Parham Celebrates Phase 1 Of Emergency Department Renovation

Wednesday’s ribbon cutting that marks the near-completion of Phase 1 of the Maria Parham Health Emergency Department renovation is a giant step toward creating a safer space for staff and law enforcement officers working to help individuals experiencing a mental health crisis get the care they need. If the final inspections go as planned, the […]

The Local Skinny! Farmers Market Brimming With Fresh Produce

This time of year, the vendors at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market have to squeeze together just a bit to accommodate the tables of fresh produce, baked goods and more that are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. “The bay doors are full,” said Market Manager Pat Ayscue. “We […]

Pam Patron Named Oxford’s Economic Development Director

— information courtesy of City of Oxford Communication Specialist Sabrina Richards The City of Oxford has selected Pam Patron as its new Downtown Economic Development Director. With a strong track record of success and a career spanning over two decades, Patron brings deep expertise in business development, strategic planning, commercial and residential real estate, and […]

TownTalk: Keeping Teen Drivers Safe

Teens are four times as likely to be in a car crash and three times as likely to die in a crash, according to information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit organization that conducts research on crash testing and safety tests on vehicles, and rates them according to those results. The IIHS […]

TownTalk: Commissioners Expected To Adopt $66M Budget Monday, June 23

The Vance County Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt the FY 2025-26 budget at a meeting to be held at 4 p.m. on June 23. At a budget work session on Monday, June 16, commissioners discussed increasing teacher supplements, skyrocketing insurance costs and cost-of-living adjustments – all of which contributed to $3.1 million in […]