VGCC Succeeds By Going ‘All-In’ for CDL

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The new Truck Driver Training class that began at Vance-Granville Community College in early February 2020 is full to capacity, with demand even greater than the college could accommodate. That is due not only to the growing need for qualified commercial truck drivers with a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) but also to a highly successful enrollment marketing campaign.

Above: Students listen during the classroom instruction portion of VGCC’s CDL/Truck Driver Training program. (VGCC photo)

A team of VGCC staff from numerous departments collaborated in creative ways to design, coordinate and implement several strategies, ranging from the traditional — signs placed in the ground around the community, a press release and print advertising — to the more high-tech social media and video advertising.

“This success demonstrates the power of partnership – including not only our own VGCC professionals but also employers in the community and workforce development partners,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “We went ‘all-in.’ Our students and our community will benefit from this new program, along with all the other valuable education and training programs that we continue to provide.”

Students started the process of completing the CDL credential by attending an orientation session on Jan. 23. Lead instructor Roger Chester gave the students information on the requirements of the nine-week program. Meanwhile, to connect the training to careers, seven local employers set up information tables. “They took the time to speak with students about employment prospects in CDL and trucking at their respective locations,” said VGCC Director of Occupational Extension Kyle Burwell.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for qualified commercial truck drivers is expected to grow by 21 percent through 2020, and trucking companies actively seek quality student drivers right out of programs like this one. “The logistics experts estimate a national shortage of over 50,000 drivers,” added Ronald Bennett, Director of Transportation for Variety Wholesalers, Inc., located in VGCC’s service area. “Variety Wholesalers, as well as other area businesses, will certainly benefit from this program.”

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the opportunity to be employed by commercial trucking companies, become an owner-operator, or take advantage of local jobs. This Truck Driver Training program is certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). VGCC offers the program in collaboration with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, a sister institution of the N.C. Community College System.

“Our Truck Driver Training program is an excellent example of how North Carolina community colleges connect students to fulfilling careers and provide a pipeline of qualified talent to employers,” said Jerry Edmonds, VGCC’s vice president of workforce and community engagement. “We’re responding to the region’s economic needs and providing easy access to low-cost, high-quality job training.”

The college plans to offer a second class starting in August.

For more information about enrolling in the Truck Driver Training program in the future, contact Kyle Burwell at burwellk@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3276, or Gina Brewer at brewerg@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3324.

Reminder: Granville Co. Animal Control to Offer Free Rabies Vaccines

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County Animal Control will be offering free rabies vaccines for dogs and cats on Saturday, February 29, 2020. From 9 until 10:30 a.m., residents can bring their pets to Gazebo Park in Butner for one and three-year vaccinations.

North Carolina rabies law (NCGS 130A-185) requires that all owned dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and that rabies vaccinations be kept current.

On Feb. 29, one-year vaccinations will be available for all dogs and cats over this age requirement. Pet owners must bring proof of prior rabies vaccination to receive the three-year option. Accepted proof of vaccination is the paper certificate provided by the pet’s veterinarian when the shot was administered. A rabies tag will not be accepted as proof.

Granville County Animal Control offers a reminder that all cats must be in a carrier and all dogs must be leashed to receive this free service. Vaccinations will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Gazebo Park is located at 416 Central Avenue in Butner. With questions, please contact the Granville County Animal Shelter at 919-693-6749.

Free Tax Assistance Available to Granville Co. Seniors

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Free tax assistance is available to Granville County Seniors! Representatives of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program are available at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford from 5 until 8 p.m. each Thursday until April 9, 2020.

Appointment times are reserved for Granville County residents age 60 or older. This is a free service and appointments are required.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford at (919) 693-1930.

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VGCC Offering Free Entrepreneurship Training Retreat

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, in partnership with the Economic Development Commissions and Chambers of Commerce of Franklin, Granville, Vance & Warren counties, is offering a FREE all-day entrepreneurship training retreat entitled “Fostering An Entrepreneurial Mindset: The Entrepreneur in Us All” on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Granville County Expo Center located at 4185 US-15 in Oxford.

 This session features the well-known Ice House Entrepreneurship Training program based on the book “Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons From An Unlikely Entrepreneur.” Inspired by the life story of Pulitzer nominee Clifton Taulbert and the life-changing influence of an unlikely entrepreneur, the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is an experiential, problem-based learning program that immerses attendees in experiences that develop entrepreneurial skills and mindsets.  They will learn to:

  • Identify and Evaluate Opportunities That Others Overlook
  • Embrace an Entrepreneurial Mindset as a Life-Skill
  • Identify and Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs
  • Take Imperfect Action to Test an Idea
  • Map Out an Opportunity Canvas and Share It
  • Interact With Local Entrepreneurs and Business Counselors

Local successful entrepreneurs will speak to the group during the lunch break to share some things about their personal stories and local chamber and economic development directors will be on hand to observe and talk with attendees as well.

Morning coffee, snacks and lunch will be provided and each participant will receive a copy of the “Who Owns the Ice House” book. To register, go to https://www.vgcc.edu/coned/small-business-center/#schedules and click on the class title.

This project received support through a grant from NC IDEA.

Granville Co. Elementary Students to Compete in District Spelling Bee

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Ten students from elementary schools around Granville County will compete for the Local Spelling Bee Trophy in two weeks. “All of these children are already winners,” stated Dr. Tonya Thomas, Director of Student Services for GCS, “and we know they are going to succeed!”

The 3rd Annual Granville County District Spelling Bee for third, fourth, and fifth-grade students will take place on March 10, 2020, at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose hall at Tar River Elementary with a reception to follow provided by the office of Granville County’s Superintendent, Dr. Alisa McLean. The public school system is sponsoring the Spelling Bee again this year.

Families, friends and the community are invited to come out and show their support for these excellent students!

Four fourth graders will be representing their elementary school at the Bee:

Joel Jose, winner from C.G. Credle Elementary; Aubrey Canada, winner from Mt. Energy Elementary; Jasper Luffman, winner from Stovall-Shaw Elementary; and Bree Blackley, winner from Wilton Elementary.

Six fifth graders will round out the competition:

Cayden Middleton, winner from Butner-Stem Elementary; Belen Elizarraras, winner from Creedmoor Elementary; Payton Gary, winner from Falls Lake Academy Charter School; Jordan Hershberger, winner from Granville Academy; Morgan Congleton, winner from Tar River Elementary School; and Dacari Burrell, winner from West Oxford Elementary School.

Two of our spellers are return competitors from last year’s bee – Dacari Burrell and Joel Jose. Joel took the winner’s trophy home at the 2019 District Bee. He then went on to represent Granville County at the Nationals. He is hoping for a return trip this year.

For the District Bee, these students are studying 1,200 words from the Scripps Spelling Bee list. Each one has a chance to move on to the National Spelling Bee in May if they can out spell the others!

Joel Jose, winner from C.G. Credle Elementary

Aubrey Canada, winner from Mt. Energy Elementary

Jasper Luffman, winner from Stovall-Shaw Elementary

Bree Blackley, winner from Wilton Elementary

Cayden Middleton, winner from Butner-Stem Elementary

Belen Elizarraras, winner from Creedmoor Elementary

Payton Gary, winner from Falls Lake Academy Charter School

Jordan Hershberger, winner from Granville Academy

Morgan Congleton, winner from Tar River Elementary School

Dacari Burrell, winner from West Oxford Elementary School

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Oxford Commissioners Call Public Hearing on Oxford Prep. School Annexing

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON REQUEST FOR NON-CONTIGUOUS ANNEXATION – OXFORD PREPARATORY SCHOOL – 6041 LANDIS ROAD

The public will take notice that the Board of Commissioners of the City of Oxford has called a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in the Commissioners’ Board Room, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC, on the question of annexing noncontiguous territory, requested by petition filed pursuant to G.S. 160A-31:

16 +/- Acres
Oxford Preparatory School
6041 Landis Road

The Kingsmen & The Perrys to Perform Gospel Hits at McGregor Hall

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

The Kingsmen and The Perrys, two gospel music greats, will be performing at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 7 p.m.

For more than half a century, no group has secured such a far-reaching legacy as The Kingsmen. Through the late 1970s and 1980s, they recorded hit after hit, including “Old Ship of Zion,” “Beautiful Home,” and “Saints Will Rise.” In 1981, “Excuses” became The Kingsmen’s biggest hit of the era, steady at number one for 18 months, making it the longest-running number-one song in Southern Gospel Music History.

If you have ever seen The Perrys in concert, you have undoubtedly sensed the power and conviction with which they sing. From the high-octane, hand-clapping hit, “I Wish I Could Have Been There,” to the anointed anthem, “If You Know Him,” the Dove Award-winning group has been delivering soul-stirring performances across North America for nearly five decades.

Tickets for this event may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

James Allred Accepted Into NCSSM Summer Accelerator Program

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-Press Release, Oxford Preparatory School 

James Allred, a 7th grader at Oxford Preparatory School, has been accepted into the summer accelerator program with the North Carolina School of Science and Math. James is the son of Todd and Julie Allred of Oxford, NC.

James Allred, a 7th grader at Oxford Preparatory School, has been accepted into the summer accelerator program with the North Carolina School of Science and Math. (OPS photo)

For the past several years James has been highly interested in microbiology as a potential career, so he’s excited to get some hands-on experience, especially the experiments with DNA. He will be staying in the dorm at Brevard College with like-minded students from all over the globe.

NCSSM Summer Accelerator courses are for exceptional rising 7th through 12th graders who must apply for admissions into this competitive program. Student applications are scored by a committee that considers many factors in order to admit students who will succeed in the program. The reviewers look at GPA, passion for the subject area, quality of writing, behavior and conduct, and experience in the subject area (if opportunities are available).

During this experience, students will explore the world of biotechnology, including the technology involved, importance to society, careers, and hands-on laboratory exercises. Over the course of the week, students will engage in hands-on exploration of the many areas of biotechnology, such as food and fuel production, restriction enzymes and recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineering, GMOs and their uses, forensic biotechnology and genomics.

Students will examine basic cellular structure, conduct environmental sampling for microbes, examine enzyme structure and function, engage in several fermentation activities including food and fuel production, extract DNA, digest it with restriction enzymes, conduct gel electrophoresis to separate and examine DNA fingerprinting, copy DNA through polymerase chain reaction and explore other DNA manipulation techniques.

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Granville Co. Activities: Feb. 22 – Feb. 29

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Mark your calendars for the following Granville County activities:

FOREST MANAGEMENT WEBINARS continue as the Granville County Center for NC Cooperative Extension hosts their informational series for landowners. The next webinar date is Feb. 27 at the Cooperative Extension office, 125 Oxford Loop Road in Oxford. The webinar begins at 7 p.m. and the topic will be “Launching Your Woodland Legacy.” For more details or to register, contact Paul Westfall at 919-603-1350 or at paul_westfall@ncsu.edu. Those interested in attending can also register online through Eventbrite.

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROUGH MUSIC as Teresa Cook Spruell, piano and voice presenter, performs music selections from slavery to present day at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor. This free concert is scheduled for Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.

A DOCUMENTARY FILM on the life of Malcolm X will be shown at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford on Feb. 22. The film, produced in 1972, will be shown in observance of Black History Month. The 3 p.m. showing is free and open to the public.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS HISTORY will be discussed during a program at the Richard H. Thornton Library on Feb. 24. From 6:30 until 8 p.m., Sallyann Marable Hobson will address the voting history in Granville County and Post Civil War North Carolina. Call 919-693-1121 for details.

A POP-UP GROCERY STORE TOUR will be offered on Feb. 25 at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. Jennifer Grable, Granville and Person County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, will instruct participants on how to get healthy food on a budget, how to read nutrition labels and much more. Helpful take-home information and giveaways will be available. Registration is required. Call 919-693-1930 for more information.

TAX ASSISTANCE is available each Thursday until April 9 at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. Representatives of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be available from 5 until 8 p.m. for Granville County residents ages 60+. This is a free service and appointments are required. Call 919-603-1930 for more details.

LEARN FIRST AID AND CPR as Betty Jones and Ruth Huff instruct a course at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. This training will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. on Feb. 25 and is offered through the Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program. Call 919-693-1930 for a fee schedule and to register.

A FREE RABIES CLINIC has been scheduled by Granville County Animal Control on Saturday, Feb. 29. This event will be held at Gazebo Park in Butner from 9 until 10:30 a.m. for dogs and cats. One and three-year vaccines will be provided, with proof of prior rabies vaccinations being required for three-year shots. Vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in a carrier. Call 919-693-6749 to learn more.

Granville Chamber’s ‘Cluck ‘N Shuck’ Seafood Event Rescheduled for April

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-Press Release, Granville County Chamber of Commerce

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce announces that its ninth annual fall seafood event – “CLUCK ‘N SHUCK,” which was postponed in October 2019 due to a shortage of oysters, has been rescheduled for Friday, April 3, 2020, from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at The Red Barn – Golf Course Road, off Lake Devin Road, in Oxford.

Caterer Leon Nixon’s dinner menu offerings include steamed oysters, fried shrimp, fried fish, fried chicken tenders, slaw, buttered potatoes, hushpuppies, tea, Pepsi-Cola products and cold beverages.

The event will be held at the venue – The Red Barn – where it has been held the past six years. This location provides an incredible setting for those desiring to eat on the decks overlooking Lake Devin. Inside seating on the ground floor of The Red Barn is also available.

Advanced ticket sales – $40 per person or two tickets for $75 – includes all-you-can-eat on the premises. As this is a limited ticket event, those wishing to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets early from one of the Chamber’s offices – 124 Hillsboro Street in Oxford (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.) 919-693-6125 or the South Office – 1598 NC Hwy 56, between Butner and Creedmoor (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Thursdays) 919-528-4994.

A limited number of event t-shirts are also available at the Chamber’s offices for $5 each.