Granville County Public Schools

Granville Board of Education to Hold Financial Work Session April 27

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet (electronically) for a Financial Work Session on Monday, April 27, 2020, at 6 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Board to receive a presentation and updates from staff on the School Systems finances and general budget-related topics.

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.

Members of the public may watch the open session portion of the meeting live through a link to be posted on the Board’s website. To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/player?udi=Z3Nj&c=Z3JhbnZpbGxlMQ%3D%3D  

Oxford Logo

Oxford Commissioners to Hold April 28 Meeting on Capital Improvement Plan

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 4 p.m. in the 3rd-floor Commissioners’ Board Room of City Hall.

The purpose of this meeting is to consider amending the City’s CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) and submitting DWI funding request(s) for the Spring 20’ round of available funding.

In order to observe Governor Cooper’s Order limiting the number of those gathered in a single place to ten (10), a call-in option is being provided for the public. If you have questions or concerns regarding the use of Zoom, please call 919-603-1102.

To attend the meeting by way of Zoom, please use the following information:

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Meeting ID: 860 8880 1212

Password: 239344

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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kuya3UlGB

Boys and Girls Clubs

Boys & Girls Club to Resume Dinner Meal Program

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-Information courtesy BGCNCNC

Beginning on Monday, April 27, 2020, the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central North Carolina will restart its dinner meal program.

BGCNCNC understands the needs and struggles for some of our families and hopes that this meal will relieve some of the burden as they continue to maneuver the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meals are provided Monday – Friday from 4:30 until 6 p.m. at the following locations:

Granville Club – 105 West St. in Oxford

Vance Club – 212 N. Clark St. in Henderson

Roanoke Rapids Club – 116 W 3rd St. in Roanoke Rapids

Guidelines:

  • Your child must be a member to receive a meal.
  • Stay inside your vehicle unless directed otherwise – no walkups.
  • Please be patient, follow the direction of staff and volunteers and respect social distancing guidelines.
  • Please look for signage at each site. You will be directed where to line up.

Please visit www.bgcncnc.com for more information.

VGCC Logo

VGCC Small Business Center to Offer Free ‘Business Resiliency’ Webinar Series

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-Information courtesy the VGCC Small Business Center

The Small Business Center of Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled another webinar series entitled “Business Resiliency in 2020” where participants will learn various ways to move small businesses forward during and after COVID-19.

There will also be time allowed for questions and answers. This is part of the Small Business Center’s continued effort to support local businesses and offer encouragement and help.

These free sessions will be held from 2 – 3 p.m. on the following dates:

April 28 – Best Practices for Effectively Working Remotely

April 30 – Stabilizing Cash Flow in an Unstable Market

May 5 – Why Marketing Your Business is More Important Now Than Ever Before

May 7 – Know Your Small Business Resources: Navigating the Small Business Pipeline

May 12 – Stay Flexible and Moving Forward Business in 2020

May 14 – Relationship Building = Repeat Business

Please register for each session at www.vgcc.edu/coned/small-business-center/#schedules

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Second COVID-19 Related Death Reported in Vance; Five at Butner Prison Complex

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of April 23, 2020, there were 118 known cases of COVID-19 in Granville County, 37 cases in Vance County and 7,608 confirmed cases in North Carolina. Of the positive test results in Granville County, 76 are being reported at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC.

There have been a total of seven deaths in the health district – two in Vance County and five with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

Of the 41 community-based cases in Granville County, 18 have been released from isolation. At the Federal Correctional Complex, 41 of the 76 cases have been released from isolation.*

Of the 37 cases in Vance County, 10 have been released from isolation.*

*Granville Vance Public Health (GVPH) does not have official guidance at this time to determine whether someone is ‘recovered’ since many details about this virus and its effects are still being discovered. GVPH shares the number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ as determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

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

NC Governor Logo

Governor Extends Stay At Home Order Through May 8

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper today issued Executive Order No. 135  extending North Carolina’s Stay At Home order through May 8. The orders extending the closure of restaurants for dine-in service and bars and closure of other close-contact businesses are also extended through May 8.

Governor Cooper shared details about North Carolina’s plan to lift restrictions in three phases once the data show that key metrics are headed in the right direction.

“The health and safety of people in North Carolina must be our top priority,” Cooper said. “This plan provides a roadmap for us to begin easing restrictions in stages to push our economy forward.”

Last week, Governor Cooper laid out the path forward centered on three things: testing, tracing and trends. Today, Governor Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of NC Department of Health and Human Services, shared more specifics on those key metrics. The Stay At Home and other orders are extended today because North Carolina has not yet seen a downward trajectory of those metrics needed to begin gradually lifting restrictions.

“North Carolina cannot stay at home indefinitely,” added Governor Cooper. “We have to get more people back to work. Right now, the decision to stay at home is based on public health data and White House guidance. North Carolina needs more time to slow the spread of this virus before we can safely begin lifting restrictions. I know that this pandemic has made life difficult for many people in our state and I am focused on keeping our communities safe while planning to slowly lift restrictions to help cushion the blow to our economy.”

“Data has driven our decisions, starting with the aggressive measures Governor Cooper took early on to slow the spread of COVID-19. Those actions combined with North Carolinians’ resolve to stay home to protect their loved ones have put our state on the right path. If we stick to these efforts right now we will continue to see a slowing of virus spread and we can slowly begin easing restrictions,” said Secretary Cohen.

The metrics that North Carolina is considering align with the White House guidance for Opening Up American Again.

In order to begin lifting restrictions, North Carolina needs to see progress in these key metrics:

  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
  • Currently, North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing over the last 14 days.
  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
  • Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days cases is still increasing, although at a slower rate.
  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
  • Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is increasing at a slow rate.
  • Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
  • Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is largely level with a slight trend upward.

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

  • Increase in Laboratory Testing
  • Currently, North Carolina is testing approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people per day and is working to increase to at least 5,000 to 7,000 per day.
  • Increase in Tracing Capability
  • Currently, North Carolina has approximately 250 people doing contact tracing across its local health departments and is working to double this workforce to 500.
  • Availability of Personal Protective Equipment
  • The state is working to ensure there are adequate supplies to fulfill requests for critical PPE for at least 30 days. This includes face shields, gloves, gowns, N95 masks, and surgical and procedural masks. Currently, the state has less than a 30 day supply of gowns and N95 masks. The availability of PPE is calculated based on the average number of requests for the last 14 days compared to the supply that the state has on hand.

Governor Cooper also shared information about how North Carolina can gradually re-open over three phases to prevent hot spots of viral spread while also beginning to bring our economy back. These phases are based on the best information available now but could be altered as new information emerges.

In Phase 1:

  • Modify the Stay At Home order to allow travel not currently defined as essential allowing people to leave home for commercial activity at any business that is allowed to be open, such as clothing stores, sporting goods stores, book shops, houseware stores and other retailers.
  • Ensure that any open stores implement appropriate employee and consumer social distancing, enhanced hygiene and cleaning protocols, symptom screening of employees, accommodations for vulnerable workers, and provide education to employees and workers to combat misinformation
  • Continue to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people
  • Reopen parks that have been closed subject to the same gathering limitation. Outdoor exercise will continue to be encouraged.
  • Continue to recommend face coverings in public spaces when 6 feet of distancing isn’t possible
  • Encourage employers to continue teleworking policies
  • Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings
  • Local emergency orders with more restrictive measures may remain in place.

Phase 2

At least 2-3 weeks after Phase 1

  • Lift Stay At Home order with strong encouragement for vulnerable populations to continue staying at home to stay safe
  • Allow limited opening of restaurants, bars, fitness centers, personal care services, and other businesses that can follow safety protocols including the potential need to reduce capacity
  • Allow gathering at places such as houses of worship and entertainment venues at reduced capacity
  • Increase the number of people allowed at gatherings
  • Open public playgrounds
  • Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings

Phase 3

At least 4-6 weeks after Phase 2

  • Lessen restrictions for vulnerable populations with encouragement to continue practicing physical distancing and minimizing exposure to settings where distancing isn’t possible
  • Allow increased capacity at restaurants, bars, other businesses, houses of worships, and entertainment venues
  • Further increase the number of people allowed at gatherings
  • Continue rigorous restrictions on nursing homes and other congregant care settings

Governor Cooper and Dr. Cohen both underscored the need for the testing, tracing and trends to move in the right direction for each of these phases to move forward. If there is a spike in infections, tightening of restrictions may be needed temporarily.

Information about K-12 public schools is expected tomorrow.

NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist Offers Free Pharmacy Program to Qualifying Individuals

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-Press Release, NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist is the only free mail-order pharmacy serving all 100 counties in NC since 1997. Although they are most known for their mobile pharmacy events where they distribute over-the-counter medicine into impoverished communities, this organization’s primary focus is their Free Pharmacy Program.

Last year, NC MedAssist served 18,805 patients and dispensed 229,805 prescriptions valued at $68 million dollars to low-income, uninsured individuals throughout North Carolina. Once enrolled in the Free Pharmacy Program, prescription medication is mailed directly to the patient’s home, usually providing a 90 day supply.

“As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, thousands of North Carolinians are losing both their jobs and their health insurance. However, not everyone knows that our program exists, especially people who may have never needed our services before,” said Lori Giang, CEO of NC MedAssist. “Without our health, we have nothing. So we want our neighbors across the state to know that we are here and ready to help them in any way we can.”

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, NC MedAssist has restructured its services to be more digitally available. They have added their enrollment application online, as well as transitioned their Free Over-the-Counter Store (located in Charlotte) into a curbside pick-up retail pharmacy with online ordering available. They have also extended re-certification deadlines for current patients who may need additional time to gather their required documentation.

“We realize this is a critical time for everyone,” said Giang. “Our number one goal is to ensure that families across the state continue receiving the medication they need to live.”

To learn more about the NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy Program and to see if you qualify, please visit https://medassist.org/ or call 1-(866)-331-1348.

Oxford Logo

City of Oxford Accepting Bids for Sewer Line Replacement Project

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-Information courtesy The City of Oxford

Sealed bids for the project entitled 2017B Sewer Line Replacements will be received by the City of Oxford until 10 a.m. local time May 21, 2020, at City Hall located at 300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, North Carolina. At said place and time, all Bids that have been duly received, will be publicly opened and read aloud.

THE PROJECT GENERALLY CONSISTS OF the replacement of approximately 8,700 linear feet of 8-inch diameter and 2,600 linear feet of 10-inch diameter gravity sewer lines located along various streets and existing sewer line outfalls within the Oxford sewer system including manholes, service connections, and related appurtenances.

The project also generally consists of the replacement of approximately 1,200 linear feet of 6-inch diameter water lines with valves, hydrants, and related appurtenances to be replaced concurrently with the sewer line on Green Street.

A pre-bid conference will be held at 10 a.m. local time on May 7, 2020. The meeting is nonmandatory. Due to current travel restrictions, the meeting will be conducted via video conference with a phone-in option. Video Conference: https://call.lifesizecloud.com/431863, Call in Number (audio only) 312-584-2401. Meeting extension: 431863# For additional numbers: https://call.lifesize.com/numbers

The Contract Documents for the project may be examined at the following locations:

McGill Associates, PA (5400 Trinity Road, Suite 107, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607)

City of Oxford Engineering Department (300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, North Carolina 27565)

However, due to limited hours and social distancing practices, it is preferable that prospective bidders view plans online via McGill’s Website https://www.mcgillassociates.com/bids/.

Digital copies of Bid Documents are available for purchase at www.mcgillassociates.com for a fee of $50 per set. These documents may be downloaded by selecting this project from the “Bids” link and finding the appropriate Quest Project Number. For assistance and free membership registration, contact QuestCDN at (952) 233-1632 or info@questcdn.com. No partial sets of plans and specifications can be purchased.

Each bid shall be accompanied with a cash deposit or certified check drawn on a bank or trust company insured by the FDIC or a Bid Bond prepared on the form of Bid Bond contained in the Bidding Documents or a Surety Company’s standard form and properly executed by a corporate surety licensed under the laws of North Carolina to execute such bonds. The amount of the bid bond shall be equal to five (5) percent of the total of the bid. The bid deposit shall be retained by the Owner if the successful bidder fails to execute the contract or fails to provide the required bonds, as stated above, within ten (10) days after the proper notice of award of the contract.

Bidders must comply with the requirements of the State of North Carolina and be appropriately licensed as a Contractor as provided in General Statutes Chapter 87. AB – 2

Neither the Owner nor the Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including any Addenda, obtained from any source other than the Owner’s representative, McGill Associates, P.A. Each Bidder shall be responsible for the review of all addenda for the project and shall acknowledge the addenda on the bid form.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive informalities, or to reject nonconforming, non-responsive, or conditional bids. The Owner reserves the right to award a contract to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder or bidders, taking into consideration quality, performance and time.

It is the policy of the City of Oxford to award public building contracts without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age or disabling condition. Each bidder shall make a good faith effort and shall document such efforts to utilize minority businesses and comply with the City of Oxford’s plan.

Bidders must comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 as amended, which prohibits discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex or national origin. Bidders must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Davis-Bacon Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Contract Work Hours Standard Act, and 40 CFR 33.1016, and 40 CFR 60-4.

Jacqueline vdH Sergent – Mayor, City of Oxford

‘Little Light Challenge’ Asks Community to Show Support for Local Heroes

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

A community challenge has been initiated to show support for local heroes while bringing residents and businesses together all across the county. The “Little Light Challenge” is a project of the Granville Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC), serving as a visible way to thank the many essential workers on the “front lines” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each Monday at 8 p.m., participants are asked to leave lighted luminaries, outdoor candles, porch lights and/or strings of Christmas lights outside their homes and businesses in honor of the local doctors, nurses, public health professionals, pharmacists, drug store employees, first responders, law enforcement officers, 9-1-1 operators, social workers, grocery store employees, truck drivers, farmers, trash collectors, plumbers, electricians, construction crews, government workers, nonprofit organizations, news reporters, assembly workers and many others working from the front lines on our behalf.

Those participating in the “Little Light Challenge” are asked to take photos to post on their social media pages, including a reference to the project through a hashtag mention. When posting pictures online, please add #littlelightchallenge to the posting, as well as #VisitGranvilleNC.

“We are grateful to our partners for their support,” said Tourism Director Angela Allen. “The hope is that we continue to rise to the occasion to support our community, doing our best to stay together while staying apart.”

Partners include Granville County Government, the Town of Butner, the City of Creedmoor, the City of Oxford, the Town of Stem and the Town of Stovall.

For questions or for more information, please contact Allen at 919-693-6125 (angela.allen@granvillecounty.org) or Mary Yount, Director of the DOEDC, at 919-603-1100 (mary.yount@oxfordnc.org).

U.S. Department of Justice

Butner Federal Prison Escapee Arrested

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announces that RICHARD R. CEPHAS of Wilmington, Delaware, was arrested on April 20, 2020, by the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

CEPHAS turned himself in at the Federal Courthouse in Delaware, approximately eighteen days after he is alleged to have escaped from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in Butner, North Carolina on or about April 1, 2020.

Yesterday, CEPHAS had an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Delaware. He waived all preliminary hearings and was remanded to the custody of the USMS.

CEPHAS is currently pending transfer back to the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) to face escape charges.

As alleged in a federal Criminal Complaint, signed by United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers, II on April 17, 2020, CEPHAS is charged with escaping from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in Butner, North Carolina on or about April 1, 2020. The USMS led the investigation of CEPHAS’ alleged escape. More here.

U.S. Attorney Higdon said the following, “We are grateful for our dedicated law enforcement officers, particularly the United States Marshals Service, who investigated Mr. Cephas’ alleged escape over the past several weeks. They pursued this case in the face of the heightened risk presented by the pandemic in order to ensure the public’s safety – an example of the critical role that law enforcement plays in protecting us every day. Mr. Cephas will be extended his Constitutional rights when he appears in Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, including the presumption of innocence and the requirement that the Government proves the escape case against him beyond a reasonable doubt. We look forward to presenting our case before the Court.”

At the time of his alleged escape, CEPHAS was serving the remainder of his prison sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Butner, NC.

In 2017, CEPHAS was sentenced by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware to a term of 66 months in federal prison – for his violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 (a)(l) and (b)(l)(A) and 846, Conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine. The conviction and sentence resulted from a long-term High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) federal wiretap investigation spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Trafficking Task Force in Delaware. More about that investigation here.

The charges and allegations contained in the Criminal Complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.