SportsTalk: UNC Baseball Starts Friday

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Former Kerr-Vance Academy standout and Granville County native Daniel Wilkerson is excited about Friday!  Wilkerson, assistant to the head coach for UNC Baseball, is ready to get the 15th-ranked Tar Heels on the field for the first game of the season Friday.  “I can’t sleep the night before.  It’s like Christmas morning,” Wilkerson said.

The Tar Heels open the season with a three-game series against Wagner.  The first game is Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.  The Tar Heels are just one of six ACC teams ranked in the top 15 nationally including No. 1 ranked Wake Forest.  “We didn’t play them last year and I can’t wait to go to Winston-Salem this year,” Wilkerson said.  “The rankings are meaningless.  I ignore the rankings.  We still have to go win baseball games,” Wilkerson added.

Wilkerson is also excited about his team’s prospects.  “We’ve got young arms and a good pitching staff.  We are deep in the bull pen,” said Wilkerson.

Daniel Wilkerson joined the UNC baseball program as Assistant to the head Coach and Clubhouse/Equipment manager during the 2022 fall semester.

 

Early Voting Information For Granville Voters

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One-stop early voting for the Mar. 5 primary begins in less than two days and the Granville County Board of Elections reminds voters to bring a photo ID to make your trip to the polls smooth and simple.

The early voting begins Thursday, Feb. 15 and continues through Saturday, Mar. 2. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on each day and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 2. Granville County have three options to cast their vote before the Mar. 5 primary:

  • Oxford Public Works building meeting room 127 Penn Ave., Oxford
  • South Branch Library multipurpose room, 1550 South Campus Dr., Creedmoor
  • Tar River Elementary School gymnasium, 2642 Philo White Rd., Franklinton

*Philo White Road is located off Hwy. 96 before the intersection with Hwy. 56 and is within Granville County, despite the Franklinton mailing address

To learn more about the upcoming elections, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/board-of-elections/2024-primary-election/ or call the Board of Elections at 919.693.2515.

Openings On Several Boards, Committees In Granville County

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Live in Granville County and want to volunteer in some capacity? There are openings on several citizen advisory boards and committees, and the board of commissioners is accepting applications now.

Most positions will be filled by citizens who reside in the district listed, but final appointment decisions are at the discretion of the board, according to information from Clerk to the Board Debra Weary. Some positions must be filled by residents that reside within the Extra-Territorial  Jurisdiction of a municipality, which is roughly a one-mile radius outside of the municipal limits. These appointees serve as county representatives on those municipal advisory boards.

Vacant seats are available for the following boards and committees:

  • Butner Board of Adjustment (ETJ, should reside in District 7). The Butner Board of Adjustment meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
  • Butner Planning Board (ETJ, should reside in District 7). The Butner Planning Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
  • Granville County Planning Board (District 7). The Planning Board meets monthly on Thursdays at 7 p.m.
  • Granville County Social Services Board (At-Large County Appointment). The Social Services Board meets monthly on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Applications, as well as details about the various boards and committees, are available on the Granville County website:https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/other-boards-commissions/

Completed applications should be returned to Debra Weary, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, by email at debra.weary@granvillecounty.org, hand delivered in person to the county administration office located at 104 Belle St. in Oxford, or by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 to the attention of Debra Weary.

To verify your district, please visit the N.C .State Board of Elections website: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/  and look for the district number beside “County Commissioner” under “your jurisdictions.” If you need additional assistance, contact the Granville County Addressing and GIS Mapping Coordinator at 919.692.1278.

 

Granville County Public Schools Leadership Changes

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-information courtesy of GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin

The Granville County Board of Education approved several changes in district leadership positions at its Feb. 5 meeting and, in doing so, reduced the number of central services staff by two positions.

Vickie Hines was named the district’s Chief Financial Officer. She has been serving as an interim in that role since March 2022. Hines has worked with GCPS since 2007, and has held roles as Early Childhood Education coordinator, grants program coordinator and assistant finance officer.

Courtney Currin was named assistant superintendent of Human Resources and Operations and will begin that role July 1, 2024. She currently is the executive director of Human Resources and public information officer; Currin will continue as public information officer for the district, but will be succeeded by Latisa McKnight as the new executive director of Human Resources, also effective July 1, 2024.

Currin has close to 20 years of experience in public education – all in GCPS. She began her career as an English teacher at J.F. Webb High School and has served as an assistant principal and principal at multiple grade spans. She has served in the Human Resources department since July 2021.

McKnight, currently the personnel coordinator within the Human Resources department, will assume the director duties in the new fiscal year. McKnight came to Granville County School as a principal intern at Butner-Stem Elementary and went on to be assistant principal for five years and then principal for six years at Creedmoor Elementary.

The role of personnel coordinator will not be filled, according to the press release. The second position that will not be filled is executive director of Operations, currently held by Bill Graham, who announced his retirement after 36 years in education, including terms as principal of South Granville High School, Granville Central High School and Granville Academy.

“I am very confident that these proven leaders will do an exceptional job in their new roles. As we continue to address the upcoming budgetary challenges, we will maximize efficiency and target our resources to where they matter most, closest to our schools, serving our students,” said Superintendent Stan Winborne.

“By consolidating services at the Central Office level and reducing positions, we will save approximately $118,600,” Currin said in an email to WIZS News.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Board Of Education Approves 2024-25 Calendar With Aug. 12 Start Date

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Parents with children in Granville County Public Schools, take note: The first day of the 2024-25 school year is inching forward a couple of weeks after the Granville County Board of Education approved the traditional-year calendar Monday.

Students will return to school on Monday, Aug. 12, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin. The earlier start date means an earlier end date, with the school year coming to a close before the Memorial Day holiday. Students returned to school this year on Aug. 28.

Another bonus comes for high school students, who will complete exams and first semester before the winter break.

Currin said the the calendar committee incorporated feedback from parents and significantly reduced the number of early release days to better meet the needs of the district’s families. This calendar also includes a small fall break in mid-October and puts the district’s calendar in line with local charter schools, she said.

The Granville Early College High School’s calendar is closely aligned with Vance-Granville Community College’s calendar to facilitate cross-enrollment for its students. The first day of class for Early College students is Wednesday, Aug. 7.

View both calendars at https://www.gcs.k12.nc.us/.

 

 

TownTalk: Events In Granville County

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Most coffee and tea drinkers have a favorite cup they reach for each day, but there’s a good chance they’re always looking for that “next” perfect vessel for a morning brew or afternoon cuppa. Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor has an exhibit called “CUPful – Celebrating the Daily Ritual” that will run through Feb. 25 to showcase handcrafted pottery from near and far.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen shared a laundry list of upcoming events in the area, from Creedmoor and Stem to Oxford.

Visit https://cedarcreekgallery.com/ to learn more.

On Friday, Feb. 9, the Orpheum in Oxford will transform to host a local version of Mardi Gras, a fundraiser for the Granville County unit of the Boys & Girls Club.

“It is a party with a purpose,” Allen said. Things crank up at 6:30 p.m. to welcome partygoers for an evening of fun, complete with heavy hors d’oeuvres, music and a silent auction.

Tickets are $75.

Wear your favorite cocktail attire, a Mardi Gras mask, she said, “and you know there’s gonna be some beads there,” she said.

The next evening, Saturday, Feb. 10, Thorndale Oaks is hosting a murder-mystery dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. The evening’s theme is “A Country Fried Caper,” Allen said, and the evening will include a cast of characters that could best be described as a group of “ off-the-wall country music stars,” one of whom will not make it through the evening.

Tickets are $65 and includes a full dinner. Allen said the evening’s events unfold throughout the different dinner courses.

Call Thorndale Oaks at 919.603.3701 to reserve your seat at the table.

If whodunits aren’t your style, perhaps a quarter auction to support the local Dogs Deserve Better organization is more to your liking. The “Puppy Love” fundraiser will be held at The Barn at Vino on Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This event has proved to be quite popular, Allen said, and she recommends getting your tickets soon. Find a link to purchase tickets at https://visitgranvillenc.com/

“It’s a wonderful organization and every year, they show these fur babies some love,” she said. In addition to a couple of food trucks on site to satisfy everyone’s appetites, there will be 65 different raffle baskets available, a 50/50 raffle and additional vendors who will be selling different items through the evening.

Some upcoming events in March include:

  • Saturday, Mar. 2 – Spring Granville Wedding and Event Expo – Creedmoor Community Center. Donations for ACIM food bank will be accepted during this event, so bring a can of food or other shelf-stable food to contribute to this worthy cause.
  • Saturday, Mar. 16 – Granville Ambulance Chase and Food Truck Rodeo – After a hiatus due to COVID-19, Granville Health System is bringing this fun event back to Oxford. Walk or run and then kick back for food and live music. Visit ghsambulancechase.org for all the details.
  • Saturday, Mar. 16 – Head over to Thorndale Oaks to catch comedian Dan Grueter. Visit the Thorndale Oaks Facebook page to get tickets. There will be appetizers available and a cash bar.
  • Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 23, 24 – the third annual Viking Experience, which will take place at The Barn at Vino from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Participants can immerse themselves in all things Viking. People have come from all across the country to attend this two-day event, Allen said. Visit https://www.thevikingexperiencenc.com/
  •  for details about ticket prices, schedules and more.

The county’s tourism website, www.visitgranvillenc.com has a complete listing of all the events happening in and around Granville County.

 

 

Granville Chamber Banquet Mar. 11

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce annual membership meeting and banquet is coming up on Monday, Mar. 11, 2024.

This year’s banquet will be held at The Barn at Vino in Stem, according to information from Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Ratliff. The recipient of the annual John Penn Citizen of the Year and the Small Business of the Year will be announced at the banquet – the deadline to nominate is fast approaching – submit completed forms before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8.

Tickets for the banquet are $60 each for Chamber members and $70 for prospective members; Tables of eight are available for $460. Reserve your spot now by purchasing tickets at

https://granville-chamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/4901

Here are links to the nomination forms:

2023 John Penn Citizen of the Year Award

 2023 Small Business of the Year Award 

Submit completed forms to the Chamber via email at   cynthia@granville-chamber.com or drop them off at the Chamber office, 124 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford, before 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8.

 

Hiring Event Jan. 31 At Butner’s C.A. Dillon Juvenile Detention Center

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The North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will host a hiring event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 at C.A. Dillon Regional Juvenile Detention Center, located at 100 Dillion Dr., in Butner.

The division is seeking applicants to fill juvenile justice officer positions at C.A. Dillon. Applicants for these positions may qualify for a $3,000 sign-on bonus and are eligible for inclusion on a step pay plan that includes annual salary increases.

JJDP will be conducting in-person interviews and making on-the-spot recommendations for hire. Applicants will be able to apply on-site; applicants also can apply online prior to the event.

To learn more about juvenile justice careers available statewide, visit www.ncdps.gov/jjdpcareers.

More High-Speed Internet Coming To Granville County

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Board of Commissioners recently approved a partnership with the N.C. Department of Information Technology and Spectrum under the Completing Access to Broadband program that will provide more than 1,500 addresses across the county that currently don’t have high-speed internet access.

Granville County will pay $10,000; the state will provide $4 million and Spectrum will kick in $7.9 million to fund construction of the fiber-optic broadband infrastructure.

The locations serviced with broadband internet as part of the CAB program will be in addition to the previously announced partnership with Brightspeed under the Growing Rural Communities with Access to Technology program that will provide service to at least 1,914 addresses and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund project currently underway by Spectrum that will service an additional 1,120 addresses.

Once all three projects are completed, more than 4,564 homes and businesses will have gained access to broadband internet in rural Granville County because of funding from federal, state, and county governments combined with partnership agreements with Internet Service Providers. Additional information about these projects and a full map of the awarded addresses can be found at https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/administration/broadband-initiative/ or the NC One Map at https://www.nconemap.gov/pages/broadband.

“This partnership showcases the ongoing effort made by Granville County to ensure that our citizens have access to high-speed broadband internet,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Timothy Karan. “We are pleased to partner with Spectrum on this project that with minimal use of county tax dollars will service over 1,500 homes and businesses across the county. We will continue to work with internet service providers to ensure this vital resource is available for all who choose to live or work in our community. There are many parts of the county yet to be served and we will exhaust every possibility to make it happen.”

The areas served by the CAB project with Spectrum are spread throughout the county, with notable areas serviced including northern and western Granville County in the Berea, Cornwall, and Oak Hill communities along NC Highway 49, NC Highway 96, US Highway 158, Old NC 75, Grassy Creek-Virgilina Road, Oak Hill Road, Cornwall Road, Mountain Creek Road, Goshen Road, Old Roxboro Road, Sunset Road, Pine Town Road, Hobgood Road, Moriah Road, Range Road, Culbreth Road, and Enon Road among many others. The project will also service areas east of Oxford including Tom Parham Road and Salem Road and in southern Granville County including US Highway 15, NC Highway 50, Bryans Hill Road, Tar River Road, Smith Road, Lyon Station Road, Cash Road, Will Suitt Road, Brassfield Road and Lawrence Road among others.

 

 

SportsTalk: Local Coaches Prep For Basketball Tournaments And Spring Sports

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John Hammett and Scottie Richardson may be athletic directors for different schools in different counties but they are both facing the same things: a basketball season that is winding down and the start of spring sports.

Hammett, Oxford Prep’s athletic director, says his boys’ basketball team is having a real strong year despite a loss this week to Vance Charter.  “We’ve got some real good shooters,” Hammett said.  They take on Roxboro Charter Friday night. “Roxboro is young but they have a couple of good player,” Hammett said of the team’s opponent. The girls team is currently 7-9. “They have been getting better throughout the year,” said Hammett.  Oxford Prep has five games remaining before they start the conference basketball tournament.

Meanwhile, at Crossroads Christian, athletic director Scottie Richardson says his girls team will be the second seed for their upcoming tournament. The boys could be.  “We control our own destiny,” Richardson said.   It will take a few more wins in the remaining four games for Crossroads to secure that second seed.

One of the problems both men face is an overlap between basketball and baseball.  “I would like to see both basketball and baseball seasons shortened to eliminate the overlap,” Hammett said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  Richardson said it is difficult to coordinate with coaches when players play multiple sports.

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