4-H Dairy Program Interest Meeting April 25 For Warren, Franklin Youth

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A 4-H Dairy Program interest meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 25 at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office, 103 S. Bickett Blvd. in Louisburg.

Youngsters and their parents who want to learn more about the project are welcome to attend and get answers to questions they may have.

The program spans eight weeks, during which participants will have the chance to learn about dairy calves as they prepare for a local livestock show. In addition to learning about livestock handling, the youth will learn problem solving, effective communication and public speaking, record keeping, teamwork and more.

Contact the Franklin County Center at 919.496.3344 to learn more or email local agents Matthew_Place@ncsu.edu, Meg_Wyatt@ncsu.edu or Martha_Mobley@ncsu.edu

Register at https://go.ncsu.edu/franklin-warren-4h-youth-dairy-interest-mtg

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.

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.

Franklin County Names New Parks & Rec Director

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Information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks

Franklin County has selected KP Kilpatrick as its new Parks & Recreation director. Kilpatrick will begin work April 1.

“I can’t wait to get started here in Franklin County to be a part of the great things going on in the Parks & Recreation Department,” Kilpatrick said.

Kilpatrick has been Athletic Program Specialist for the town of Wake Forest since 2018. Prior to that, Kilpatrick served as Athletic Coordinator for the city of Lexington, Recreation Center director for the city of Thomasville, and an assistant coach at High Point Central High School.  Kilpatrick also served as a police officer for the City of Winston-Salem for five years.

“KP brings a wealth of experience that will benefit Franklin County’s Parks & Recreation department,” Assistant County Manager Will Doerfer said.

Kilpatrick graduated from N.C. A&T State University with a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration and a master’s degree in sport management from Middle Tennessee State University.

Franklin County Welcomes Louisburg Native Cooper Bolton As Staff Attorney

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

Franklin County has selected Cooper Bolton to fill the staff attorney position. He will begin his new job April 1.

“I am excited to join the dedicated team at Franklin County to assist with legal matters and do my part to improve the community where I grew up,” Bolton said.

Bolton comes to Franklin County from Marcilliat, & Mills, PLLC. He has served as an associate attorney since September 2022, representing clients in North Carolina State Court as well as Federal Court. He has previously interned with the Town of Cary’s Legal Department and the Alamance County District Attorney’s Office.

“Franklin County’s growth has resulted in an increased interest and demand for services and projects which require legal input,” County Manager Kim Denton said. “Cooper will help us expedite the review of legal matters in response to this growth.”

Bolton is a native of Franklin County and grew up in Louisburg. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from N.C. State University and a juris doctorate from Campbell University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina.

The Board of Commissioners approved adding a staff attorney to the County Manager’s office in December 2023. The staff attorney will complete legal work under the direction of the county attorney.

Vance Sheriff Curtis Brame: Two Arrested On Drugs, Weapons Charges

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– Information from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On Friday, Mar. 8, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant for illegal drugs at a residence located at 87 Pueblo Lane near the Vance and Franklin county line.  Entry into the home was gained by tactical units from both counties. No injuries were reported.

Two men were arrested and charged with various drug offenses:

Demarius Vass was charged with:

Possession of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (A Glock pistol converted to fully automatic)

Felony Maintaining a Dwelling

Possession of Marijuana

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Vass was placed under a $20,000 bond.

A second person, Jatavious Boyd, was charged with:

Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Heroin (2 Counts)

Felony Maintaining a Dwelling

Possession of Marijuana

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 Counts)

Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

No bond was issued for Boyd because at the time of his arrest, he was out on bond for a previous charge.

Law enforcement officers recovered 100 Dosage Units of Heroin as well as approximately 2 grams of a substance suspected to be Cocaine Hydrochloride.  Four firearms and an undisclosed amount of US Currency was also seized.

Multi-Agency investigations into illegal drug trafficking will continue throughout both Vance and Franklin counties, to include the assistance of the NCSBI and other local jurisdictions.

 

 

SportsTalk: Former KVA Baseball Standout R.J. Johnson Returns To NC

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Rutgers University in New Jersey may seem like a long ways away from North Carolina but former Kerr Vance Academy and current Rutgers standout baseball player R. J. Johnson gets back to the area more than one might think.  “We are here almost every weekend,” Johnson said on SportsTalk.  Johnson and Rutgers were in the state this week as the school took on UNC.  The school plays a lot of teams in the south due to weather conditions during the early spring.

Johnson, an outfielder, is having a great season as a leadoff batter with a .300 batting average helping Rutgers to a 10-5 record so far this season.  Johnson, a Franklin County native and 2021 graduate of KVA, is looking forward to the rest of the season.  “We are in a rough patch right now but the future is bright,” Johnson said.

His advice for younger players?  “Always work hard and have fun everyday,” he says.  His former coach at KVA, Mike Rigsbee, had this to say about his former player: “He’s a great player and a great student.”

CLICK PLAY! 

Mar. 7 Is Social Security Administration’s “Slam The Scam” Day

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Today is the fifth annual “Slam the Scam” observance to raise awareness about protecting sensitive Social Security information from fraudsters.

The Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are partnering once again to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams.

“As public servants, we must use every tool at our disposal to raise awareness and protect the American people against Social Security imposter scams,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “Scammers use fear and deception to scare people out of their critical benefits. We urge everyone to protect their personal information, remain vigilant, do not give money, and report any scam attempts to oig.ssa.gov.”

Keep in mind that Social Security employees will never:

  • tell you that your Social Security number is suspended
  • contact you to demand an immediate payment
  • threaten you with arrest
  • ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone
  • request gift cards or cash
  • promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information or money

Social Security employees do contact the public by telephone for business purposes. Ordinarily, the agency calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, are already receiving payments and require an update to their record, or who have requested a phone call from the agency. If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, Social Security will typically mail a letter.

Social Security scams–where fraudsters mislead victims into making cash, gift card, or wire transfer payments to fix alleged Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest–are an ongoing government imposter fraud scheme. Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Social Security continues to make concerted efforts to address this issue, through extensive outreach and investigative initiatives.

Criminals use sophisticated tactics to trick potential victims into disclosing personal and financial information. Typically, they use these P’s – Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure, and Payment. For example, scammers pretend they are from Social Security in phone calls, texts, emails, and direct messages on social media, and claim there is a problem with the person’s Social Security number. The scammer’s caller ID may be spoofed to look like a legitimate government number. Scammers may also send fake documents to pressure people into complying with demands for information or money. Other common tactics include citing “badge numbers,” using fraudulent Social Security letterhead, and creating imposter social media pages to target individuals for payment or personal information.

To report a scam attempt, go to oig.ssa.gov.

“On our fifth National Slam the Scam Day, we are just as committed as we were in 2020. The scammers have not stopped, and we will not stop in our commitment to increase public awareness of these pervasive scams,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for SSA. “We are grateful for the many partnerships we have formed over the last five years in support of this initiative and the collaborative efforts that have come forth. We must continue to work together to slam the scam.”

For more information, please visit www.ssa.gov/scam and www.ssa.gov/fraud.

 

Franklin County Property Owners, Get Ready For Revaluation Notices

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

Franklin County property owners will be getting notices soon about the latest tax revaluation.

Notices will be hitting mailboxes as early as today for property assessed as of Jan. 1, 2024, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III.

The notice is NOT a bill, but provides property owners the new taxable assessed value of their property as part of the tax revaluation process, which is usually undertaken every eight years, per state law.

The county contracted with Pearson’s Appraisals to conduct countywide reappraisal of property values.  The last reappraisal was conducted in 2018.

Reappraisal is a process of revaluing all real property in the county at its current market value Property owners will likely see an increase in their property value which is consistent with recent market trends.

An increase in value could result in an increased tax bill, however, the tax bill will be determined by the tax rate set annually by the board of commissioners during the approval of the fiscal year budget.

Any property owner who disagrees with the new assessed value of their property can file an informal appeal; if these results are not satisfactory, a formal appeal can be requested.

To learn more, visit https://www.franklincountync.gov/county_services/tax_gis/2024_revaluation.php

NC Forest Service

N.C. Forest Service: Safety First To Prevent Wildfires

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The N.C. Forest Service reminds everyone to use extreme caution with all outdoor fires, especially yard debris burns, as thoughts turn to spring and tidying up landscapes. And don’t forget:  You need a valid burn permit before you start a fire.

In 2023, the Forest Service responded to more than 5,300 wildfires across the state. The main culprit: Escaped burn debris, according to information from fire service officials.

“Last year, 99 percent of wildfires in our state were directly related to human activity,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This means that most of our wildfires could have been prevented. Before choosing to burn yard debris, make sure you have a valid burn permit, check the weather and avoid burning on dry, windy days. You are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing wildfires.”

Spring weather tends to draw people outdoors to work in their yards and many choose burning as a method to dispose of leaves, limbs and other yard debris.

“During the spring season, fires can spread quickly,” said State Forester David Lane. “Your N.C. Forest Service county ranger is a resource and can provide guidance about when, where and how to burn safely outdoors. Contact your local NCFS county ranger’s office before starting an outdoor fire.”

Rob Montague is the ranger for Vance and Granville counties. His email is Vance.ncfs@ncagr.gov and his phone is 919.693.3154.

Brian Champion is the ranger for Franklin County. His email is Franklin.ncfs@ncagr.gov and his phone is 919.496.3665.

Jim Short serves Warren County; reach him via Franklin.ncfs@ncar.gov or 252.257.5960.

The N.C. Forest Service also offers the following tips:

  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
  • Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out.

 

To learn more about fire safety and preventing wildfires and loss of property, refer to Fire Safety Outdoors. For information about creating defensible space and a fire-resistant landscape around your home and property, visit www.resistwildfirenc.org.