Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Discuss Budget Amendments, School Re-Entry Plans

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a Special Meeting on Monday, June 29, 2020, at 4 pm.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Board of Education to consider year-end budget amendments, consider technology purchases, receive updated budget information as requested, and receive updates on school re-entry plans for the upcoming school year.

However, due to the current statewide State of Emergency, and in order to protect the health and safety of board members, staff and the public, this meeting will be conducted electronically, with members of the public invited to view the live stream.

To join the live stream meeting, please use the following link:

https://live.myvrspot.com/player?udi=Z3Nj&c=Z3JhbnZpbGxlMQ%3D%3D

The Board will also meet in Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.

Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free Presents Domestic Violence Lunch & Learn Series

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-Information courtesy Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free (FLVF) invites the public to join its six-week Domestic Violence 101 Lunch & Learn series online via Zoom. Sessions will be held from 12 until 1 p.m. each Wednesday beginning July 8 and concluding August 12, 2020.

Sessions Include:

July 8, 2020 – Understanding Domestic Violence

July 15, 2020 – Why Victims Stay in Abusive Relationships

July 22, 2020 – Domestic Violence and the Effects on Children

July 29, 2020 – When Loving You is Hurting Me

August 5, 2020 – Healthy Relationships

August 12, 2020 – Personal Boundaries

Please visit FLVF’s website at www.flvf.org or call (919) 693-5700 to register. The link to each week’s Zoom session will be available on the FLVF website.

Book Bus

The ‘Book Bus’ Bringing Books, Snacks to Granville Co. Children

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools announces upcoming dates and sites for the “Book Bus.” The Book Bus will travel to different areas in the county to give a book and snack to each participating child.

This is a great way to build your home library! Drive-up and walk-up service, with social distancing, will be available. The Book Bus will not run if rain prevents the use of social distancing protocols.

Please see flyer below for times and locations:

Anne Tanner Berry Scholarship

New VGCC Scholarship Endowed in Memory of Anne Tanner Berry

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release and photo, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund board member Marshall Tanner and his wife, Martha, recently established a new scholarship at the college in memory of their daughter. 

VGCC will award the Anne Tanner Berry Memorial Academic Achievement Scholarship to a student in a medical field, with a preference for second-year students who are older than the “traditional” college age. VGCC Health Sciences programs include Nursing, Histotechnology, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology and Radiography.

“When Anne was in her twenties, she was diagnosed with diabetes, a diagnosis that changed her life and shortened it,” Marshall Tanner said. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 54. “Over the years, Anne was blessed to have many loving and caring healthcare professionals at her side through one health crisis after another,” Tanner continued. “Along with her husband, Tim, and her sisters, Cecelia, Lea and Beverly, we know Anne would be pleased that from this memorial scholarship, many others may join the ranks of Healthcare Heroes.”

Anne Tanner Berry

Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund board member Marshall Tanner and wife, Martha, recently established a new scholarship at the college in memory of their daughter, Anne Tanner Berry (pictured above – photo courtesy Anne’s family).

An alumna of Middle Tennessee State University and Oglethorpe University, Anne enjoyed a successful professional career in property management in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia. She was considered a leader and teacher in all her positions and was a regional vice president of her last employer. She had the ability to train and assist other employees to meet and exceed their goals and was recognized with several awards for her management skills and leadership talents.

“Anne had a very outgoing personality; she never met anyone who did not have a positive first impression of her,” her father recalled. “Her ability to interact in a warm, caring way enabled her to develop and maintain life-long friendships with many people.”

Marshall Tanner spent his career in the manufacturing sector, retiring in 2010 as a Vice President of Bridgestone Bandag. He moved to Oxford in 1991 to manage the local Bandag plant and has been active in the community ever since. Bridgestone Bandag is a longtime corporate supporter of VGCC, and Tanner has played in many VGCC Endowment Fund golf tournaments over the years. He joined the college’s Endowment Fund board of directors in 2017.  

“I became involved with supporting VGCC many years ago. I saw that the college provided an accessible educational outlet to local people who did not want to go away to a university but instead start their higher education right here,” Tanner said. “Playing in the VGCC golf tournament was a positive way to promote the college while raising money to provide more scholarships to help people get the job training that they needed. The recent addition of truck driver training is a prime example. Vance-Granville is a wonderful school, led by people who are thinking long-term about what our community will need in the future.” 

“We are honored that the Tanners would remember Anne in such a meaningful way, by supporting hard-working VGCC students who are pursuing careers of service in healthcare,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the community college president. 

“Martha and Marshall Tanner are outstanding citizens and strong supporters of Vance-Granville,” added VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson. “This new scholarship serves as a fitting tribute to their beloved Anne, and will help students in her name for years to come.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,700 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Local COVID-19 Update: Increase in Total Cases, Related Deaths

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health and the Warren County Health Department

As of June 24, 2020, there are 773 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 483 cases in Vance County, 155 cases in Warren County and 56,174 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

Granville County:

There are three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Granville County: Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, Murdoch Development Center in Butner, NC, and Central Regional Hospital in Butner, NC.

Of the cases in Granville County, 402 are associated with the prisons, five are associated with Murdoch, and two are associated with Central Regional Hospital.

Of the 402 cases in the prison system, 89 have been released from isolation and two individuals with Murdoch have been released from isolation.

Of the 364 community-based cases in Granville County, 196 have been released from isolation and four are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 19 deaths in Granville County, 17 of whom were with the Bureau of Prisons and one with Central Regional Hospital.

Vance County:

There are two active outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Vance County: Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC, and Senior Citizens Home in Henderson, NC.

There was also an outbreak at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC that is no longer active.

Of the cases in Vance County, 111 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 43 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and 10 associated with Senior Citizens Home.

Of the 111 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 42 have been released from isolation.

Of the 372 community-based cases in Vance County, 171 have been released from isolation.

Ten individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 36 deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with Pelican Health and 10 of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Warren County:

There are 155 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases with no known results currently pending. Of the known positive cases, 127 are considered recovered.

One individual in Warren County is hospitalized.

There have been a total of five deaths in Warren County.

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced on Wednesday that North Carolina will remain in Safer at Home Phase 2 for at least three more weeks – until July 17, 2020.

Governor Cooper also announced that face coverings must be worn when people are in public places as officials seek to stabilize concerning trends of increasing viral spread. Growing evidence shows that cloth face coverings, when worn consistently, can decrease the spread of COVID-19, especially among people who are not yet showing symptoms of the virus.

For more information about the extension of Phase 2 and these new measures, see the NC Staying Ahead of the Curve web page (click here)

GVPH updates its website daily at approximately 5 p.m. with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

GVPH also emails updates about COVID-19 in Granville and Vance counties each evening. You can sign up to receive these emails at www.gvph.org/covid-19.

NC Governor Logo

NC Extends Safer at Home Phase 2, Adds Statewide Requirement for Face Coverings

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen today announced that North Carolina will remain in Safer at Home Phase 2 for three more weeks. Cooper also announced that face coverings must be worn when people are in public places as officials seek to stabilize concerning trends of increasing viral spread.

Cooper and Cohen were joined by Dennis Taylor, President of the North Carolina Nurses Association and Eugene A. Woods, President and CEO of Atrium Health.

“North Carolina is relying on the data and the science to lift restrictions responsibly, and right now our increasing numbers show we need to hit the pause button while we work to stabilize our trends,” said Governor Cooper. “We need to all work together so we can protect our families and neighbors, restore our economy, and get people back to work and our children back to school.”

“I know North Carolinians are strong, resilient and care deeply about our communities. We pride ourselves on helping our neighbors. The best way we can do that now is by taking the simple action of wearing a face covering that covers your nose and mouth. If we each do our part, we can get back to the people and places we love,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, NCDHHS Secretary.

Growing evidence shows that cloth face coverings, when worn consistently, can decrease the spread of COVID-19, especially among people who are not yet showing symptoms of the virus. Until now, face coverings had been strongly recommended. Under today’s executive order, people must wear face coverings when in public places where physical distancing is not possible.

In addition, certain businesses must have employees and customers wear face coverings, including retail businesses, restaurants, personal care and grooming; employees of child care centers and camps; state government agencies under the Governor’s Cabinet; workers and riders of transportation; and workers in construction/trades, manufacturing, agriculture, meat processing and healthcare and long-term care settings.

“Wearing a face covering is an easy thing to do that can make a huge impact for all of us. A major spike in cases would be catastrophic to the system, and without your cooperation, nurses and our fellow healthcare providers will have a harder time caring for sick patients for weeks and months to come,” said Dennis Taylor, a nurse, and President of the North Carolina Nurses Association.

“As the leader of the state’s largest health system, I am pro-health and also 100 percent pro-business. In fact, the two are inextricably connected and I’m very proud of the way business leaders and health experts are working together to keep our economy strong,” said Eugene A. Woods, President and CEO of Atrium Health. “Medical science says to reduce the spread of COVID-19 masking works, and my sincere hope is that all the people of North Carolina can join forces to make wearing a mask not something we feel we have to do – but something that we want to do to keep each other, our neighbors, our children and our loved ones healthy and safe”

Based on the metrics laid out in April by Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen, North Carolina is evaluating a combination of the data from the following categories that shows the indicators moving in the wrong direction, causing officials to implement today’s pause in Phase 2.

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is increasing.

Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases starting to level, but is still increasing.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive remains elevated.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations are increasing, though we have capacity in our healthcare system.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These areas include:

Laboratory Testing

  • North Carolina is averaging more than 17,000 tests a day for the past week and there are more than 500 sites listed online plus additional pop-up sites.
  • North Carolina labs and labs around the country are seeing supply shortages for laboratory chemicals needed to process tests.

Tracing Capability

  • There are over 1,500 full-time and part-time staff supporting contact tracing efforts at the local health department level, including the 309 Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative contact tracers. These new hires reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, and 44% are bilingual.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • Our personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.
Curbside Kids Book Bags

Granville Co. Libraries Offering Curbside Kids Book Bags

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Even though Granville County libraries are currently closed to the public, kids can still receive library books!

With just a bit of information about your child’s interests, a librarian can select a bag of books for pickup during the curbside hours of 10 a.m. through 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Request your books online at https://forms.gle/3fzHQTRpV276G77b9 or call (919) 693-1121 (Richard H. Thornton Library, Oxford) or (919) 528-1752 (South Branch, Creedmoor).

Jacob Comer

VGCC Student Receives Top Academic Honor 

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College student Jacob A. Comer of Rougemont was recently named the recipient of the North Carolina Community College System’s Academic Excellence Award for 2020. One student from each of the 58 colleges in the state system is honored with the award each year. 

Comer, a home-schooled high school student, has taken college transfer classes at VGCC through the “Career & College Promise” program since 2018. He took classes not only in the fall and spring semesters but also in the summer, thus reducing the time it would take him to complete an Associate in Arts degree. Twice, he has made the VGCC President’s List, which recognizes students who achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) while carrying a least 12 curriculum credit hours per semester.

Jacob Comer of Rougemont is the VGCC recipient of the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award for 2020. (VGCC Photo)

Recently, Comer completed his VGCC classes, meaning that he is now a high school graduate and a graduate of the community college. During his last semester, he continued to excel even while taking on extra responsibilities at home to help his family as his mother recovered from a major medical operation.

While at VGCC, Comer was not only focused and determined to reach his own academic goals, but he also helped other students with science, math and writing, as a peer tutor for the college’s Academic Success Center. 

Soon, with the college transfer credits and enhanced confidence he gained at VGCC, Comer will continue his education at Concordia University Wisconsin. He intends to complete a bachelor’s degree, double-majoring in Applied Theology and Theological Languages.

“We are proud that Jacob has been recognized among North Carolina’s outstanding community college students, and we congratulate him on his success,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC. “At a young age, Jacob is off to a strong start in his educational journey, and with his perseverance and dedication to academics, we are sure he will continue to excel.”

Open Broadband

Granville County Continues Partnership With Open Broadband, LLC

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County residents in unserved/underserved areas continue to join the list for service and updates through Granville County Government’s broadband initiative.

Partnering with Vance and Franklin Counties through a project developed by the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, Granville County Commissioners approved a contract with Open Broadband, LLC in June of 2019. Each county is working through separate contracts that will allow high-speed, wireless internet to become more obtainable, especially in rural areas. 

Plans are now being developed for broadcast antenna locations, as well as a rollout schedule for Granville County. The entire network build will be taking place over a four-year period.

Those interested in the project should enter their name and address through the Open Broadband website (https://openbb.net) to be included on the contact list for updates and to be placed on the testing schedule. (There is no charge and no commitment to be included on this list.) 

The North Carolina-based company is currently working with 19 counties across the state to provide fixed wireless internet service to unserved/underserved communities. Monthly newsletters and project updates are being made available to those who have signed up on the waitlist.

To learn more about this ongoing project, please visit https://openbb.net or call 919-205-5400.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Free Community COVID-19 Testing Event at Shiloh Baptist Church – Wed., June 24

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville-Vance Public Health

The Granville Vance Public Health Department (GVPH), local health professionals and Shiloh Baptist Church of Henderson will offer free community COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of Shiloh Baptist on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The church is located at 635 College Street in Henderson.

This is a “walk-through” event. For those who will be driving to the church, GVPH asks that vehicles use the Arch Street entrance to the parking lot.

Nasal swab testing will be performed and those tested will be contacted with their results approximately 3-5 days after the event.

Testing is free to all who attend, however, a limited number of testing supplies are available. The purpose of the event is to focus on particularly vulnerable populations. This includes those who may not have a primary care provider, those who lack access to transportation, and/or those who are uninsured or under-insured.

For those who have transportation and/or a primary care provider, there are many opportunities to be tested. If you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you can call your provider or the health department to see if you should be tested.

GVPH encourages the public to stay tuned to its website (click here) for additional times and locations for community testing events throughout the summer.