TownTalk: DMV Commissioner Offers Insight, Updates To Increase Customer Satisfaction

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When Paul Tine stepped into his new role as the state’s DMV commissioner back in May, he knew his role was largely to steer the department through some upgrades and challenges that presented lots of roadblocks to customer service. Hours of waiting in line just to get in the door and impossible-to-get appointments were common complaints, and Tine said he and his team continue to work to make things better.

“Demand is certainly high,” Tine said on Wednesday’s TownTalk, “based on population and the Real ID initiative.”

He acknowledges the need for greater efficiency with internal processes, including upgrading and replacing the record-keeping technology that DMV uses. Customers expect a strong platform, he said, and he hopes to deliver before too long. He said he hopes to award by year’s end a contract to modernize the DMV technology. Until then, Tine and the DMV staff are constantly looking for ways to improve customer satisfaction.

The COVID-19 era requirement that customers make appointments is over, and walk-ins are welcome any time. Tine said 87 percent of clients are walk-ins these days, with the other 13 percent making appointments to conduct their business at DMV.

Moving toward more online transactions is helping ease the crunch at brick-and-mortar DMV offices, and there’s a new queueing system in place that allows customers to wait in their vehicles or other locations nearby instead of braving adverse weather conditions while they wait to get inside the DMV office.

“You can wait wherever you like,” Tine said, and a quick text message from DMV will let customers know when it’s their turn for assistance.

Thanks to more funding from the state legislature, Tine said more examiners have been hired – “the majority of those people in 30 days,” he said. The department is clearing a backlog of employee training by shifting to “in the field” training, which allows employees to serve while they are learning, he said.

Having third-party contractors step in to provide services is proving to be beneficial, too. There are self-serve kiosks in selected areas of the state, and a recent announcement that teen drivers can take their driving tests with a driver education group are just two examples of this partnership.

“We’re hoping to have that first certificate coming in the office any day,” Tine said.

The vast majority of North Carolinians will have to conduct business with the DMV at some time or another, and Tine said he’s sure about one thing:

“Our customers do not care about me…they care about that person they talk to in the office, on the phone, and how good our website is.”

Visit www.ncdmv.gov to learn more.

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American Red Cross: Create An Escape Plan In Case Of Fire – And Then Practice!

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– information courtesy of the American Red Cross

During Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), the American Red Cross North Carolina Region reminds everyone of the dangers of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

“Home fires don’t wait for the right moment, but being prepared makes all the difference,” said Sharonne Hayes, the Red Cross regional Communications Manager of the North Carolina Region. “When a smoke alarm sounds, your family should be ready to act fast. Testing your smoke alarms and practicing your escape plan helps ensure your family knows what to do when every second matters.”

Here are a few tips for creating a home fire escape plan and practicing a 2-minute drill:

  • Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.
  • Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!
  • Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
  • Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.
  • If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutesto get to safety. Time your fire drill and find out: What’s your escape time?
  • While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Smoke alarm safety:

  • Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
  • In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
  • Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Local Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers provide emotional support, financial assistance, and information to help families begin the process of recovery. Most of the 65,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are home fires.

For emergencies like home fires, our volunteers provide comfort during what can be the worst days of people’s lives. Learn how you can volunteer for our Disaster Action Team at redcross.org/DAT. Since October 2014, the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,479 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in neighborhoods across the country. Our local Sound the Alarm initiatives have helped save 87 lives across North Carolina by installing more than 83,600 free smoke alarms in high-risk communities. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

If you need assistance, visit redcross.org/NC for a free smoke alarm installation.

NC Dept of Agriculture

Visit NC Farms Mobile App Helps Visitors Find Local Agritourism Destinations

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— information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services

 

People looking for fun agritourism activities this fall can now find statewide listings through the Visit NC Farms website as the platform transitions from a mobile app to expand access for farms and visitors. The website will also allow agritourism farms to update their event information quickly.

Visitors can find information, or farms can list information, at visitncfarms.com

Launched in 2018, the Visit NC Farms mobile app helped connect thousands of residents and visitors with local farms, farmers markets, food and drink experiences and agritourism destinations. The app provided a strong foundation for raising awareness of agritourism and local food across the state, which the website will build on.

“Interest in agritourism continues to grow and visitors have even more options today,” said Erica Calderon, agritourism marketing specialist. “Visit NC Farms has always been about connecting people to the food, farms and communities that make North Carolina unique, and we hope visitors will check out the new website when they are looking to make plans.”

On-farm activities and experiences can be sorted by nine category filters, including farm visits, u-pick, farm stays, farmers markets, trails, workshops, sips + bites and special events. This helps make exploring simple and intuitive, Calderon said.

Other advantages of the new Visit NC Farms website include:

  • Free platform for farmers: Businesses and event hosts can be listed at no cost, opening the door for broader statewide participation.
  • Broader accessibility: Available on any device, without requiring a download.
  • Faster updates: Farms and event organizers can update listings quickly, ensuring accurate information year-round.
  • Industry support: Dedicated resources make it easier for agribusinesses to get listed and submit seasonal events.

 

“The app gave us a strong start, and now the website allows us to take that mission even further,” Calderon said.

The launch of the new website underscores NCDA&CS’s long-term investment in agritourism and agribusiness marketing. It maintains the program’s core mission while opening opportunities for more farms to share their stories and for more visitors to discover authentic North Carolina farm experiences.

For more information or to explore farm-fresh experiences, visit visitncfarms.com.

TownTalk: Masonic Home For Children At Oxford Has New CEO In Time For 2025 Homecoming Oct. 10-11

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The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford is having its annual Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 11. This year’s event marks the end of one administrator’s tenure and the beginning of new leadership. But no matter who’s at the helm, one thing’s for sure: MHCO is a place where children are nurtured and loved.

Kevin Otis had served for 13 years as MHCO administrator. Upon his retirement, Chris Allabaugh has been named the home’s chief executive officer. A welcome reception will be held Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cobb Center on the MHCO campus, located at 600 College St., Oxford. The public is invited to drop in and welcome Allabaugh as he begins his new role. He will offer brief remarks at 6 p.m.

“I am excited to be here,” Allabaugh said. “The Masonic Home has a long, long history for doing good things,” and he added that he is looking forward to building on that history. He said the home had flourished under Otis’s leadership. “He built a solid, solid foundation that we can grow and build upon.”

Allabaugh said the team that makes up the staff at the home are dedicated to their mission. “They are world-class at what they do,” he said, adding that part of his job is “to clear a way for them to be able to do their work.”

Part of that work is what goes into the Homecoming celebration, which includes a parade on the campus at 11 a.m., barbecue cook-off and live music and carnival games for the kids.

Otis said folks should arrive on campus by 10 a.m. so they can get parked and ready for the day’s activities. Bring a lawn chair to enjoy the parade, which Otis said “isn’t a real long parade, but it’s a really good parade.”

Barbecue plates are $10 and can be purchased beginning about 12 noon. And The Band of Oz takes the stage at 12:30 p.m. There are complimentary amusement rides, tours and more for participants of all ages.

Homecoming is a way for the home to say “thank you” to alumni, Masons and to the community for its support over the years.

The current residents help out, Otis said. They get to enjoy the day’s activities, but they also help get things set up and you’ll see others in the parade – from JROTC to the Homecoming float.

“It really is a celebration of the kids of today,” Otis said.

The children who reside at the home are resilient, Allabaugh said. “They’re incredible. They just need a fighting chance at being a kid…(I’m) confident that we will continue to do that.”

He said he looks forward to meeting people in the coming days and weeks – and hopes to get started this weekend at the Homecoming festivities.
“I am just thrilled to meet the people of Oxford this weekend…saying thank you for the support they’ve given over the years,” Allabaugh said.

Check out the complete Homecoming schedule at https://mhc-oxford.org/

 

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VGCC Foundation’s ‘Fill The Pantry’ Craft Fair Set For Friday, Oct. 10 At Civic Center

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— Information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College Foundation

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation is planning its third annual Fill the Pantry Craft Fair on Friday, Oct. 10 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the College’s Civic Center in Henderson.   The event supports the VGCC food pantry, which provides essential resources to students in need.  This indoor craft fair is open to the public.

Cost of admission will be three (3) canned goods, nonperishable food items, or paper goods at the door.

Join in for a day of shopping, community, food, raffles and giving back. Local vendors will offer a variety of handmade goods—perfect for early holiday shopping—while helping to stock the pantry shelves.  In addition, grab a bite to eat from Bun on the Run or enjoy a coffee and/or treat from The Double Shot.

“With the holiday season quickly approaching, this show is a fantastic way to celebrate our local crafters while also supporting the community,” said Angela Douglas, VGCC Food Pantry Assistant. “We are excited to host this family-friendly event and help our students at the same time.”

Sheri Jones, VGCC Foundation associate director, said, “We are supported by donations from The Food Bank of North Central NC as well as one of the local Food Lion stores.  We also do a weekly donation pick-up from Strong Arm Baking Company in Oxford and have employees who make monetary donations and product donations.  Since we are able to do our event indoors, we have moved it to Friday afternoon and early evening this year so that it doesn’t compete with numerous other events – most outdoors – that take place on Saturdays in October.”

The VGCC Foundation is still accepting craft vendors to participate in this indoor community event, but spaces are limited. Craft vendors who would like to participate should complete the online Craft Show Interest Form. Vendor fees will be $25 for a 10 x 10 space plus a donated item to be used for raffles. For more information, please contact the Vance-Granville Community College Food Pantry at 252-738-3323 or douglasa@vgcc.edu.

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Mold Issues Prompt Granville School Board Vote to Shutter Mary Potter Campus

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The Granville County Board of Education voted Wednesday to close the Mary Potter Center for Education, moving Granville Academy, Phoenix Academy and Central Office personnel housed there to the former Hawley Middle School in Creedmoor.

The reason: a four-letter word. Mold.

Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne said the annual air quality testing turned up no unusual results back in May, but subsequent testing conducted earlier this month – prompted by a complaint from an employee who works on the campus – showed that 24 of 30 air samples taken and 10 of 16 surface samples revealed the presence of mold spores.

Winborne offered two options to the school board but requested that it take action at the special called meeting held Wednesday afternoon.

One option called for relocating students and staff to the Creedmoor campus, which had previously been Hawley Middle School and before that Creedmoor Elementary, for the time it takes to get rid of the mold and fix the problem before returning to the historic Oxford campus. This option, he estimated, could take up to 18 months and cost north of $6 million.

The second option called for closing the campus and relocating students and staff to Creedmoor permanently, at an estimated cost of closer to $220,000.

Granville Academy students have already switched to modified remote learning; the Phoenix Academy, housed in a relatively newer one-story metal building on the school’s campus, doesn’t have the same issues as the other brick structures where some central office staff and Granville Academy are housed.

Board Member Gwen Russell made the motion to select the second option, which was seconded by Board Member Vicki Baker and passed 5-0. Board Member Ethel Anderson was not present, and Board Member Amanda LeBrecque attended virtually.

The county office staff and Granville Academy will move first, then the rest will relocate in phases.

“We won’t waste any time,” Winborne said.

Strong Arm Baking Co. rents out the kitchen at the school, and Winborne said he’d spoken with the owner, who has expressed interest in using the kitchen in Creedmoor.

The gym on the Mary Potter campus has been a polling place, and it’s set to be put to use in the upcoming municipal elections. Winborne said he’d spoken with Granville Board of Elections Tonya Burnette. The gym was included in the annual air quality testing conducted in May, but it was not part of the re-testing. It does not have air conditioning but does have two big exhaust fans that provide adequate air circulation.

The future of the campus is uncertain, but it’s possible that the school board would declare it surplus property and sell it.

“This is a historic place, and it deserves to be honored in some way,” he said.

School board member Katrina Waters said, “It hurts that this has happened to this historical facility. But I do understand that dollars talk…I hope this is a lesson that we need to be more proactive when it comes to our facilities.”

Sossamon Announces Bid For District 32 House Seat In 2026

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Frank Sossamon has announced that he will run again in 2026 for the District 32 seat in the N.C. House of Representatives.

In a press release dated Aug. 27, Sossamon said, “I have been serving in this community as a pastor, job creator, grief counselor and volunteer for over four decades. My life is about direct service to our community and I look forward to returning to Raleigh and representing the true voice of District 32.”

Sossamon said he is running to reclaim House District 32 to bring a true voice of Vance and Granville counties back to Raleigh. Initially elected in 2022, Sossamon served one term and was beaten in the 2024 election by Granville County’s Bryan Cohn. He has listed several priorities in the upcoming campaign, which include protecting Medicaid for the most vulnerable, fully funding classrooms, safeguarding agriculture and more access to mental health services.

During his first term, the press release stated that he brought a record $45 million to Vance and Granville counties in appropriations for economic development, infrastructure and property beautification. He also voted to increase Medicaid which has improved healthcare access to rural communities.

Sossamon served on the Appropriations on Education K-12 Committee, as well as the Appropriations, Commerce, and Transportation committees. After leaving the House, Sossamon continued his service to District 32 leading the “Faith in Mental Health” initiative, a groundbreaking pilot program for Vance and Granville counties, and sits on Vance County’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Council where he has served for 40 years.

Granville County Crime Stoppers Establishes Scholarship For VGCC Criminal Justice Students

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–       Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation (VGCCF) is proud to announce the establishment of a new academic achievement scholarship for Criminal Justice students, made possible by a generous $10,000 donation from Granville County Crime Stoppers.

The newly created Granville County Crime Stoppers Criminal Justice Academic Achievement Scholarship will support and encourage students pursuing careers in criminal justice. This contribution reflects Crime Stoppers’ ongoing commitment to crime prevention and community development through education.

“We are deeply grateful to Granville County Crime Stoppers for investing in the future of our students and our community,” said VGCC Foundation Executive Director Tanya Weary. “This scholarship will help remove financial barriers and empower students who are passionate about making a positive impact through criminal justice.”

The scholarship is available to qualified students currently enrolled in VGCC’s Criminal Justice Technology program who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to public service. Interested students may apply now at vgcc.academicworks.com.

 

Granville County Crime Stoppers continues to be a vital partner in making our community a safer place to live and work. This scholarship further strengthens their mission by supporting the next generation of criminal justice professionals.

 

For more information about The VGCC Foundation, contact 252.738.3264 or foundation@vgcc.edu.

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TownTalk: ‘Faith In Mental Health’ Partnership Off To A Strong Start; 2 Meetings Added

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The Faith in Mental Health certificate program has gotten off to a strong start, with more than 100 people representing about 30 churches taking part in the initial program in June. Organizers are expanding this pilot phase in Vance and Granville counties and welcome others to join at upcoming meetings, one in Vance and one in Granville.

The Vance County meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Henderson. The Granville County meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Butner.

Local pastor Frank Sossamon, in partnership with Granville Vance Public Health, Vaya Health and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Mental Health, introduced the idea to his colleagues in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Sossamon and GVPH’s Karl Johnson, PhD, talked about how the Faith in Mental Health program works to help church communities be a bridge to services and to resources for members of the congregations and for the larger community.

“It’s a mechanism for churches to become more knowledgeable about resources,” Sossamon said on Thursday’s TownTalk. Services are available, he said, but if you don’t know how to access those services, they’re of no help to someone struggling with mental health issues.

“We have already gotten some positive response back,” Sossamon said of the first training session held in June.

They decided to add more sessions to allow even more churches to get involved. “Every church can be involved and should be involved,” he added.

Johnson is on the faculty of UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, but he said he spends a good bit of time as part of the GVPH staff. He said he helps connects both work sites – things happening at the university and things happening on the ground in Vance and Granville counties.

Those connections include financial resources and networks of professionals who can support the kind of work the Faith in Mental Health program does.

“It’s exciting to work with Pastor frank Sossamon,” Johnson said, as well as Vaya and the professionals at the state level to be able to tailor programs to meet the diverse needs of churches.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all program,” he said. Program organizers work with churches to help them identify the topics that best suit their needs, whether it’s addiction, depression, anxiety, the mental health of the elderly, among others.

This set up “gives churches a lot of agency in pursuing the kinds of activities that they think will better equip their congregations and community,” Johnson said.

The program is free and open to all local religious leaders and church members of any denomination in Vance and Granville counties. Designed to help faith communities support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges—through both practical resources and a faith-based perspective – the Faith in Mental Health program is one way to help churches and their members to become more knowledgeable about available resources and agencies.

“Churches have long been a source of strength and support in our communities,” Sossamon said in a press release from GVPH announcing the extra meetings. “With the right tools and knowledge, faith communities can play a powerful role in walking alongside individuals in their recovery journeys—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.”

Participants will learn about local providers of mental health and substance use treatment; understand the science behind conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and suicidality; explore available treatment options; and discover how faith and spirituality can provide unique forms of support for those in need.

If a church were to develop a mental health ministry that highlights each month a different theme related to mental health, Sossamon said it would go a long way to educated and inform the congregation.

But more than that, just talking openly about mental health and the challenges associated with it, are helpful. “Talk about it and remove the stigma,” Sossamon said. “That in itself is healing.”

For more information or to get involved, contact Sossamon at pastorfrank1954@gmail.com.

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Granville County Litter Prevention Program Kickoff Set For Oct. 4 At Butner Gazebo Park

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— Courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County is proud to announce the Granville County Litter Program Kickoff hosted by the Town of Butner on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. at Gazebo Park, 416 Central Ave., Butner.

Litter has plagued our state, county, and municipalities for too long. Addressing litter in our community improves far more than our roadways – it strengthens education, community safety, pride, and a host of social and behavioral outcomes. Growing partnerships with county government, our municipal governments, schools, churches, civic organizations, and citizens are advancing that vision through a coordinated countywide effort.

What sets this program apart is true coordination:

  • Granville County Government will align resources
  • Granville County Public Schools will help educate and engage students and families
  • Our municipalities will synchronize local cleanups and enforcement
  • Private citizens, faith communities, civic groups, and the business community will power the on-the ground action

At the kickoff, we’ll share how these partners are working together – not in silos – to prevent litter, expand cleanups, improve reporting and enforcement, and build a culture of stewardship. You’ll hear from our partners and learn practical ways to get involved with your family immediately.

This is our chance to show – with our presence – that all of Granville County means business. Bring your family, invite your neighbors, and join us at Gazebo Park in Butner on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. Together, we’ll launch a sustained, countywide partnership for a litter-free Granville County.