Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Granville Chamber Seeking Donated Items for New Teacher Welcome Bags

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 recognition and welcome for new teachers to the county will be a gift bag filled with donations from Chamber members.

The 100 gift bags will be distributed to Chamber member school systems Falls Lake Academy, Granville County Public Schools and Oxford Preparatory School. Large gift bags are being provided by Granville Health System.

Chamber members are encouraged to provide gift bag donation items by Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Please call or email to request staff to pick up items, or items may be delivered at either Chamber office location – 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford, (919) 693-6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com or 1598 NC Hwy 56, between Butner and Creedmoor, (919) 528-4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.

Chamber staff will prepare the gift bags with the many goodies members will donate. Donor businesses will be recognized on a sheet included in the gift bags.

In past years, members have donated items such as business swag, pens, pencils, note pads, coupons, gift cards, key chains, rulers, tape measures, hand sanitizer, health and beauty products, candy/microwave popcorn/small bag of coffee/small snack bag of crackers or chips with a business card attached.

Granville’s new teachers are always very appreciative of these efforts!

U.S. Department of Justice

Oxford Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on Gun and Drug Charges

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an Oxford man with illegally possessing a firearm and crack distribution.

According to the indictment, Connell Clayton Lester, 55, is charged with possessing a firearm while subject to a domestic violence protective order, possessing a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (crack).

According to the indictment, on March 5, 2020, Lester, a convicted felon, possessed a Hi-Point 9mm handgun while subject to a domestic violence protective order from New York. It is alleged that the order restrained Lester from harassing, stalking, assaulting, or threatening an intimate partner and prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that Lester possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and distributed crack cocaine. If convicted, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment for the drug charge and ten years for the firearm count.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Berea Mini Mart Robbery

Information Sought for Two Persons of Interest in Berea Mini-Mart Robbery

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-Information and photos courtesy Granville County Crime Stoppers

Information about two persons of interest is being requested after a July 13, 2020, robbery of the Berea Mini-Mart, located off Hwy 156 W in Oxford, NC.

During late evening hours, $1,000 was criminally removed from the cash drawer. The Granville County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors has authorized the payment of a reward for information leading to the arrest/indictment of those responsible for this crime.

If you can help identify the men pictured below or have any information to share about this incident, please contact Granville County Crime Stoppers at (919) 693-3100 or the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 693-3213.

NCHSAA

NCHSAA Delays Start of Fall Sports Season Until at Least September 1

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, NCHSAA

On Tuesday, Governor Cooper announced the reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. He also indicated that the NCHSAA would be making the decisions relative to sports. The NCHSAA Board of Directors approved the following rule and calendar changes:

  • The start of NCHSAA fall sports is delayed until at least September 1.
  • The first five (5) student days of the 2020-2021 school year will be designated as a “dead period” for ALL sports, allowing school staff to focus on the start of school.
  • NCHSAA Phase One of the summer conditioning and workouts will continue until further notice.

Commissioner Que Tucker provides the following statement at this time.

“For now, we believe these steps provide hope for our student-athletes, and the possibility for playing fall sports We know that many decisions are being made relative to the reopening plan your school(s) will follow. After each LEA has had an opportunity to formalize and finalize those reopening plans, the NCHSAA Staff will survey the membership to determine how sports should and/or can fit into the various models that will exist across the state. Please understand this delayed start date is not “in cement” and can be delayed even further if we do not have improved data from DHHS, or some other reason exists for delaying further into September or beyond.

We acknowledge that playing certain sports are more problematic at any time without a vaccine; however, we remain in consultation with our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) members, and they believe we can and should offer a sports program, with all necessary modifications, delays, etc. In the coming weeks, we will continue working with the SMAC as we plan our next steps for the fall, as well as determining when equipment could be shared—i.e. balls— and/or if we can move into Phase 2 of the summer workouts/conditioning.

Each NCHSAA Board Member believes in the value of education-based athletics and is committed to SAFELY offering a fall, winter, and spring sports program during this school year; however, there is also a commitment to the health and safety of students and coaches. Towards this end, we all will continue to follow the guidance of the Department of Health and Human Services relative to the data and how we all safely move forward.

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. Board of Commissioners to Hold Special Meeting July 20

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-Information courtesy the County of Granville

Special Meeting Notice

Please take notice that the Granville County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020, at 7 p.m.

In order to adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions, members of the Board will participate via simultaneous communication.  Members of the public may only attend via simultaneous communication using call-in information.

The Board anticipates going into closed session pursuant to G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3), (5) and (a)(6).

Public Dial-in Information

1-866-423-8755

Passcode is 583341

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here.

Andrea Harris Task Force

Governor Cooper Names Members of Andrea Harris Task Force

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Earlier this week, Governor Roy Cooper named the members of the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force.

The Task Force, established by the Governor’s Executive Order 143, will address the social, environmental, economic, and health disparities in communities of color that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first meeting is anticipated in early August.

“Inequities in North Carolina are not new, but COVID-19 is shining a bright light on disparities that have gone unchecked in our health care and economic institutions for communities of color,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This task force is the right way to address these inequities as we recover from the pandemic so that as we come back from this, we improve access to affordable healthcare and quality economic opportunities.”

“Health inequities are the result of more than individual choice or random occurrence — they are the result of the historic and ongoing interplay of inequitable structures, policies, and norms that shape lives,” said NC Department of Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders. “I am deeply honored to carry Andrea Harris’ torch on this new task force, as we grapple with these complex and critical issues for North Carolina.”

To read the full press release, including the list of individuals named to the task force, click here.

Science in the Summer

GSK Science in the Summer™ Returns Virtually for 2020

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-Press Release, GSK Science in the Summer™

GSK Science in the Summer™, a free summer STEM program that aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, returns this summer as an entirely virtual offering with a new theme: Chemistry is Everywhere!

Traditionally held at local libraries and community-based organizations, this new online format for 2020 in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic ensures that GSK Science in the Summer™ can continue to offer high-quality, interactive STEM learning for its 34th year. With experiments available online, this year even more students entering second through sixth grade can participate at a critical time in their education journey and following the disruption of the 2019-20 academic year.

To ensure students without access to high-speed internet or devices at home can participate, GSK and the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center have created packets replicating the online instruction that they will disperse at libraries and Boys & Girls Clubs while maintaining social distance and all other COVID-19 precautions.

The all-new curriculum invites children to play the role of chemists by practicing real scientific techniques and exploring basic principles of chemistry—including the chemistry of polymers, glow sticks, and bombardier beetles. The program provides opportunities for students to embody science careers, think scientifically, use real science tools and techniques and have fun.

Families in Central NC who registered to participate in the week-long camps that typically took place at libraries and Boys and Girls Clubs a week at a time will participate during that same week this summer but at home.

Through accompanying online videos, educators from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center guide students through several activities and share more about the hands-on chemistry research projects they’ll be exploring at home.

After conducting their experiments at home, students with access will join a live virtual research meeting with a Morehead Planetarium and Science Center educator to share results from their experiment, ask questions about the chemistry topic highlighted in the activity, and reflect on how they each were like scientists.

All virtual content will be made available beginning in late July or early August at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s website for students throughout the state who didn’t enroll in the program to use and enjoy.

Provided by GSK in partnership with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and administered at science centers across the nation, this fun, 100% free STEM enrichment program helps prevent the summer slide and keeps all students, including students from underserved and underrepresented populations, engaged in STEM learning through hands-on experiments. The program reaches more than 3,000 students at 50 locations across Central NC each year.

“We hope that GSK Science in the Summer™ programs continues to inspire more children to put on their goggles and explore the wonders of science. Our goal is to encourage students, particularly those from populations underrepresented in the scientific community, to pursue STEM career paths later in life,” said Becki Lynch, Director, US Community Partnerships at GSK.

“Through the GSK Science in the Summer™ curriculum and online resources, we are proud to continue to serve our participants as they explore chemistry at home with their families,” says Glenda Hairston, Science Programs Outreach Manager, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. “Through our curriculum and online resources, we hope that children will be inspired to see themselves as scientists who can improve the world using their critical thinking skills, natural curiosity, and creativity.”

For more information, visit the GSK Science in the Summer™ website (click here) or the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center website (click here).

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH: Local COVID-19 Update as of 7/15/20

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of July 15, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

983 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 983, 509 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 509, 371 have been released from isolation, and seven are hospitalized.

Of those 983 cases, 465 are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County, and 95 of those 465 have been released from isolation.

Six of those 983 are associated with an outbreak at the Murdoch Development Center, five of whom have been released from isolation.

Two of those 983 are associated with an outbreak at Central Regional Hospital.

One resident has tested positive for COVID-19 at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center. Three staff members have also tested positive.

There have been a total of 25 deaths in Granville County, three in the community, one at Central Regional Hospital, and 21 of whom were associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

586 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 586, 463 are community-spread cases located across Vance county, and 365 of those 463 have been released from isolation.

Of those 586, 123 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities, including 48 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and 17 associated with Senior Citizens Home.

The outbreak at Pelican Health nursing home is no longer active. Of the 123 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 44 have been released from isolation.

Two individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 40 deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 11 of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, and two of whom were associated with Senior Citizens Home.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

North Carolina has a prevention and detection-focused approach to testing for COVID-19 in long term care facilities. Because people are living in close proximity, these are settings that many states monitor for the spread of COVID-19. NC DHHS considers long term care facilities to be experiencing an “outbreak” if at least two individuals who are staff and/or residents have tested positive. An outbreak is considered over after 28 consecutive days with no new positive test results.

All long term care facilities in the district are testing staff and residents regularly and participate in a weekly call with Dr. Shauna Guthrie at Granville Vance Public Health. For schools, businesses, and other settings that are not congregate living facilities, the state considers multiple cases to be a “cluster.” A cluster is defined as both a minimum of five cases in the same facility within a 14-day period and a plausible epidemiological linkage between cases.

Some additional cases being reported currently out of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) are related to a building on the Durham County side, and those cases will be reported to the Durham County Health Department for data entry into the NCEDSS system. The Bureau of Prisons is doing its own testing on-site. For more about the response from the Bureau of Prisons, please visit the Prison’s website.

Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information from Granville Vance Public Health and to sign up for daily email updates.

Granville County Library System

Granville County Library System to Ease Restrictions on July 21

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Library System will ease restrictions to the public beginning Tuesday, July 21, 2020. The re-opening will be accompanied by procedures put into place to ensure the safety of staff and visitors, which include: 

  • The number of patrons in each library branch will be limited to support social distancing guidelines. Each patron should limit the number of people brought in with them;
  • Library patrons may browse the shelves or pick up holds Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and from 2 until 4 p.m. at the Richard H. Thornton and South Branch Libraries. (Contact Stovall and Berea branches for their hours);
  • An emphasis will be placed on mobile printing and the quick selection of materials;
  • Face coverings over the nose and mouth will be required;
  • Computer usage will be limited to 30 minutes a day with limited, remote assistance;
  • Curbside pick-up will continue;
  • Designated areas will be closed off, such as the Children’s area; and
  • Some materials will be restricted, including magazines, newspapers, Legos, and puzzles.

To follow public health requirements, hand sanitizer will be available and high-touch public areas will be cleaned frequently. Protective barriers at circulation and information desks have also been installed. 

Areas that will remain closed to the public include:

  • The Children’s Library at the Thornton Library in Oxford;
  • The Picture Book section at the South Branch Library;
  • Tables;  and
  • Meeting rooms.

Visitors are encouraged to follow the “Three Ws” as outlined by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services – WEAR a cloth face covering; WAIT in line at least six feet away from others; and WASH hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. Library visits should be postponed if experiencing symptoms of illness.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all four branches of the Granville County Library System (in Oxford, Creedmoor, Stovall and Berea) have been closed to the public since March 21 for safety precautions. “Virtual” programming, curbside service and other precautionary measures have been in place since that time.

Keep up-to-date by visiting the Granville County Government website at https://granville.lib.nc.us/ or following the library system’s social media page.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools Moving Forward With ‘Plan B’

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

On Tuesday, July 14, 2020, Governor Cooper announced that all schools will open this fall under the state’s “Plan B.” Plan B includes moderate social distancing, in which only half of the students may physically report to school at a given time, while the other half of the students will participate remotely.

This is a balanced, flexible approach that also includes extensive daily screening and cleaning processes as well as a requirement for ALL students and staff to wear a face mask while at school.

Our Board of Education recently approved the general framework for Plan B in GCPS, which includes two separate groups of students alternating between two consecutive days of face-to-face school each week, with Wednesday being a remote learning day for all students. So, essentially, students will physically report to school for two days of “face-to-face” learning at school and remain at home for three days of remote learning each week.

Our Board also approved a provision to allow the district to begin this schedule on August 17, 2020, using a ‘staggered entry’ approach. This means for the first two weeks of school, smaller groups of students will physically report to school in order to learn and understand the new screening processes, social distancing expectations, use of PPE and modified class schedules.

This school year, all students and parents will be learning about many new expectations, processes and procedures for how school will operate. Therefore, it is important that we do this with smaller groups of students in a staggered manner, initially, to ensure the safety of everyone on our campuses.

Granville Early College High School will also operate under Plan B, but with a modified format, which will be different from all other schools. Their individual plan will accommodate VGCC’s decision to have all of its courses delivered in an online format only.

GCPS is committed to providing CHOICES to our families. Starting later this week, families can expect to receive additional information about how to sign-up for other choices they have available. This process, known as “SaFE”, or Sign-up for Fall Entry,” will allow parents who do NOT want their children to physically report to school under Plan B to either: (1) apply to Granville Academy (our K-12 blended learning school); or (2) receive full remote instruction at their base school. We want parents to feel comfortable about their decision for their children. Everyone should remain on the lookout for more information about the “SaFE” process in the next few days.

Finally, GCPS will join a number of other districts in extending the suspension of all athletic activities until the NCHSAA gives further guidelines following Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement today. We understand that may come later in this process. Therefore, summer workouts that were planned to begin on July 20 will be suspended until further notice. All other non-athletic extracurricular activities are suspended until further notice, as well.

We understand that this is a very difficult and stressful time for our families and students. We will continue to provide frequent communication and updates to our families using our automated phone system, emails, social media, our district website and our partners in the local media.