Reminder: Registration Deadline for Focus 20/20 is Feb. 13

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-Press Release, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments announces Focus 20/20, a Regional Economic Development Summit to be held at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson on February 20, 2020. The summit kicks off at 9:30 a.m.

Keynote speaker for the event is Doug Griffiths, author of the bestselling book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community. Doug works with communities across the US and Canada to identify and overcome challenges that prohibit their ability to become thriving, sustainable, and desirable.

Other featured speakers for the Summit include ● Dr. Michael Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist at North Carolina State University ● Hillary Sherman, NC Economic Development Representative, US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration ● Thom Ruhe, President & CEO, NC IDEA ● Jennifer Lantz, Executive Director, Wilson Economic Development Council ● Dr. Jenni Harris, Executive Director of Business Services, North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions ● Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Continuing Education and College & Career Readiness, Vance-Granville Community College ● Dr. Pamela G. Senegal, President, Piedmont Community College ● Judy Bradsher, M.Ed., Director, CTE Programs/GEAR UP Liaison, Person County Schools ● Rhonda L. High, Customized Training Director, Halifax Community College.

“This Summit is a timely and relevant event for citizens who seek to learn more about the advantages and challenges of preparing their communities for economic development success. It will provide best practices and examples that can be applied locally.” -Diane Cox, Executive Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

Summit presentations will focus on the following: ● Setting the Stage for Economic Development in Your Community ● Advancing Entrepreneurship ● Talent Development-Best Practice Workforce Initiatives ● 13 Ways to Kill Your Community – lessons on what really makes the difference between a prospering community and a failing one.

The event is complimentary, but registration is required and limited to the first 400 registrants. If you are interested in attending, please register at www.kerrtarcog.org. The deadline for registration is February 13, 2020.

Granville Vendors Invited to Participate in 2020 ‘Brides on Wheels’

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County vendors are invited to participate in the 2020 “Brides on Wheels” Bridal Tour and Vendor Show, scheduled for April 19. Brides planning a 2020-2021 wedding will be taking a scenic tour on the “Bridal Bus” to learn more about wedding locations and resources available to help plan the “perfect” event.

Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.

The day includes a stop at four wedding/reception venues, as well as early access to a brand new venue, The Orpheum at Oxford, located in downtown Oxford. Florists, photographers, caterers, event planners, disc jockeys, rental companies, etc. will be set up to welcome the new brides at this venue throughout the bridal tour – to display a variety of wedding service options.

Vendors interested in participating in this show – a special feature of the “Brides on Wheels” Bridal Tour – are requested to register by Feb. 15. Space is limited, with first priority being given to Granville-based vendors. After Feb. 15, vendors outside of Granville County will be able to sign up to participate, depending on space limitations and availability.

Sponsorships for the Vendor Show are also available, as well as opportunities to distribute items to future bridal couples in “goodie bags” that will be given out to all who participate in the Bridal Tour.

For more information about the Bridal Tour, contact Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen by phone at 919-693-6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

Brides who would like to save a seat on the “Brides on Wheels” limo-style tour bus can register at https://granvillebows2020.eventbrite.com.

Town Talk 02/04/20: Jobs, Removing Barriers Focus of Desmarais’ First Year

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of Vance-Granville Community College, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Desmarais, who celebrated her one-year anniversary with the college in January, said she is pleased with the recent strides the college has made in workforce development, marketing and removing “barriers” to education.

Making it her mission from day one to “find the programs that could get people into jobs more quickly,” Desmarais and VGCC staff have worked with EMSI, Inc., a national firm that reviews job data, to provide information on the most needed types of employment in the local area.

“The number one and number two jobs of availability in this area were truck drivers and heavy equipment operators,” Desmarais explained of EMSI’s findings.

In response to the community’s need for truck drivers, VGCC, in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, now offers a truck driving program that gives students the training required to operate tractor-trailer rigs, obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and become professional truck drivers.

Orientation for the first nine-week program was completed last week with classes to begin Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Students will participate in a combination of classroom instruction, range driving and road driving.

According to Desmarais, 17 students are currently participating in the program and a waitlist has been started for others who are interested. “Local companies that need truck drivers are very excited about the opportunity to have local folks who can take those jobs.”

For more information on the truck driving program, please click here.

By changing the way the college approaches marketing, including getting back to basics with “going out, talking and listening to the people in the community,” Desmarais said the college is learning what local organizations and residents need while strengthening existing partnerships and creating new alliances.

“We are going back to some of the things we use to do such as offering classes out in the community,” said Desmarais. “We have started a new partnership and are offering classes at the Mary Potter School in Oxford, for example.”

Desmarais said VGCC staff are also focused on removing what is frequently considered “barriers” to education, with the recent announcement of the college’s partnership with public and rural transportation service KARTS being a prime example of this commitment.

“This program removes one of the larger barriers of education – students getting to and from college,” Desmarais said.

Thanks to a combination of grant funds and VGCC Endowment Fund donations, the KARTS service is provided free-of-charge to students attending all four VGCC campus locations – Henderson (Main), Louisburg (Franklin), Creedmoor (South) and Warrenton (Warren).

Students can make appointments for KARTS by calling (252) 438-2573 and then dialing “0.” Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance. For more information on the KARTS program, please click here.

VGCC is currently piloting and tracking the success of another program aimed at reducing perhaps the largest barrier in education – the financial barrier.

“We know that students who get Pell Grants have a lot going on in their lives,” Desmarais stated. “They have a lot of challenges in terms of working and going to school, transportation, living arrangements, and sometimes they aren’t as successful at the school part as they’d like because life gets in the way.”

Explaining that students have to maintain a certain grade point average (GPA) to keep their financial aid, Desmarais said the college is offering a “Second Chance Scholarship” to those that may have fallen below the required GPA.

“We [VGCC] help connect them with other agencies to help them solve non-school problems that are getting in the way of them being successful here. Once we do that, we provide what we call a second chance scholarship for them to improve their GPA so that they can get back on financial aid.”

With all of this, Desmarais said the college is writing its narrative as a student-ready college. “We are going to be here for the students that we have. We are not a selective institution, but we are a quality-proud institution.”

To learn more about VGCC, please visit the college’s official website at www.vgcc.edu or visit its YouTube channel by clicking here.

To hear the interview with Desmarais in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

 

 

 

Oxford Logo

Oxford Officials Discuss Recent Crime Uptick, Offer Possible Solutions

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

Present: Chairman Quon Bridges, Members Commissioners Pat Fields & John Tovey. Staff Advisors: Fire Chief David Cottrell III and Police Chief Al Coley.

Others Present: Mayor Jackie Sergent, City Manager Alan Thornton, City Clerk Cynthia Bowen, Commissioners Danny Currin, Ron Bullock, Patricia Gilreath, Captain Pat Ford, Lieutenants Lynn Curl, and Michel Stockwell.

Agenda Item: Discuss the City of Oxford’s coordinated response efforts to reduce unlawful activity. Chairman Bridges recognized Chief Coley, who gave the following response to the recent shootings and crime in the City of Oxford. (This is an abbreviated version of the Chief’s speech, the full version is on file at the City Clerk’s office.)

This is to inform and update everyone on the efforts of the Oxford Police Department in regards to the recent shootings and violent crimes that have occurred over the last few months. Additionally, it is my intention to illustrate some of the strategies and plans of actions that we are taking to combat these community ills. However, I will be limited in some instances from describing certain details that may compromise our objectives and/or increase the dangers to officer safety.

From November 13, 2019, through January 13, 2020:

 Oxford has experienced eight aggravated assault cases, including one (1) murder case. Of those cases, Oxford Police has arrested two (2) juveniles, one (1) adult was arrested and charged with (Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury), warrants are on file for three (3) of the cases, and three (3) cases are pending lab results, and one case is active with few leads.

 Oxford Police was dispatched to nine (9) calls of service for shots fired. Seven (7) were unfounded, and two (2) were founded, whereby we have an active investigation ongoing and awaiting lab results. These cases are active and continuous.

 Oxford Police has investigated six (6) robberies resulting in one (1) arrest, one (1) warrant, one (1) case closed leads exhausted, and three (3) active cases.

 Oxford Police has investigated five (5) Breaking & Entering cases. Four (4) B&E cases are active, and one (1) case is inactive.

In many of the cases listed above, Oxford Police is faced with the major challenge of victims and witnesses refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The reasoning for lack of cooperation varies. However, we have found that in most instances, it is the fear of retaliation by the perpetrator.

The victim and witness fear is understandable since the law enforcement community, including Oxford Police, has experienced violent criminals making bond within hours after being arrested.

Strategies to deter crime in the City of Oxford:

 We believe the greatest leverage we have against these types of criminals is the partnership of the public and police and, to that extent, we have initiated a community watch campaign. This new initiative will begin on February 18, 2020, with a meeting at City Hall to generate momentum throughout the entire city. Detective Fields will lead the meeting explaining the operation of community watch, and City Clerk Bowen will be a point of contact in the coordination of the program throughout the city.

 Another strategy we are developing is an increased awareness campaign, whereby members of Oxford Police and I will meet citizens to discuss and answer questions related to their concerns about safety within Oxford.

 Oxford Police is exploring the use of technology to solve crimes and increase the apprehension of criminals through the use of technology. Law enforcement agencies throughout the country have begun to use the “Ring” doorbell camera technology to identify criminals during criminal activities.

 Oxford Police has initiated a “Power Shift,” whereby four selected officers have been assigned to a team to enforce and patrol high crime areas. This team has a unique schedule that constantly changes to meet the challenges and threats that our intelligence information or evidence guides us.

Although we are using many strategies and practices to deter the criminal elements within Oxford, we cannot do it alone. Therefore, we have made great relationships with other law enforcement agencies throughout the state and federally such as the Granville County Sheriff’s Department, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, neighboring agencies to include Henderson Police, Creedmoor Police, Butner Police, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and others.

The Oxford PD Command Staff and Chief Coley will review and evaluate their goals continuously to ensure that they are obtaining results that are reflective of a safe community.

After a brief question and answer period on the information above, the meeting was adjourned.

‘ABBAMANIA’ Taking Over McGregor Hall This Valentine’s Day

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at McGregor Hall with a night of “ABBAMANIA: An ABBA Tribute” on Friday, February 14, 2020. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

Come enjoy a rock musical which takes you back to the disco era with one of the best pop bands in history, ABBA. “ABBAMANIA” features nine incredible musicians and singers performing 21 of ABBA’s hits, with all the costume changes, choreography, live band, backup singers and the big studio sound.

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)

Woodland Owner Workshops Offer Tips From Planning to Harvesting

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

Whether you own 10 acres of woodlands or 1,000 acres, proper planning and management offer countless benefits. Woodland owners who follow a professionally prepared management plan are likely to reap rewards in the form of improved aesthetics, better wildlife habitat and, in the end, more profit.

To learn more, woodland owners can attend a series of free classes in Henderson and Oxford that will take them through the whole process from planning to harvest. The instructors will include professionals from the NC Forest Service and NCSU Extension Forestry. Each class will also feature landowner testimonials.

The classes will meet at 7 p.m. on February 13, May 14, August 13 and November 12, 2020. Topics to be covered include planning, planting, thinning, prescribed fire, harvest and much more. Classes will meet at the Granville Expo Center (2/13 & 8/13) and at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market (5/14 & 11/12).

Complete details and registration information are available at https://go.ncsu.edu/manageyourwoods or by calling 919-603-1350 or 252-438-8188.

Senior Games Registration Forms Now Available, Due Feb. 28

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Region K Senior Games are set to begin on Friday, March 27, 2020. Athletic events are scheduled during the months of April and May and will include tennis, horseshoes, shuffleboard, golf, bowling, track/field and many other contests. Games are open to any adult age 50+ in Granville, Franklin, Person, Vance and Warren Counties.

Photo courtesy Granville County Govt.

Registration forms are now available at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford (107 Lanier Street), the North Granville Senior Center in Stovall (318 Highway 15 South), the temporary location of the South Granville Senior Center in Creedmoor (2539 Sam Moss Hayes Road) and the City of Oxford’s Parks and Recreation Department (Hix Gym, next to City Hall). The registration deadline is February 28.

This year’s Senior Games will open in Warren County and will conclude at the National Guard Armory in Louisburg on May 27. Closing events include the 2020 SilverArts Showcase, hosted by Franklin County, and the Senior Games Awards Ceremony.

For more information about the Region K Senior Games, contact Angela Wright, Granville County Senior Games Coordinator, at 919-693-1930.

District Court Judge Asks Voters to ‘Keep Katherine Burnette’

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Katherine Burnette, the incumbent district court judge for the Ninth Judicial District of North Carolina, faces challenger Brian Cloninger in the March 3, 2020 Primary election. The district court judge position serves Vance, Franklin, Granville, Warren and Person counties.

Katherine Burnette, the incumbent district court judge for the Ninth Judicial District of North Carolina, faces challenger Brian Cloninger in the March 3, 2020 Primary election. (Photo courtesy Katherine Burnette)

Appointed district court judge by NC Governor Roy Cooper in 2018, Burnette filled the vacancy created by Judge Carolyn J. Thompson who was appointed to serve as a Superior Court Judge in the Ninth Judicial District earlier that year.

With 15 months of experience as a district court judge, Burnette said her current service coupled with her varied legal experience make her the ideal candidate for the job. “I have 35 years of legal experience, and it’s been broad legal experience; it’s been private practice, clerking for court of appeals judges and bankruptcy judges. I have also been a public servant since 2002 when I became an assistant district attorney in this district.”

Describing the district court process in an interview with WIZS, Burnette said she oversees a range of cases including mental health, child support, abuse/neglect/dependency, family law, domestic violence and criminal.

“I hope the main thing people say about me [as a judge] is that I am fair, that I listen to everyone and that I make reasoned decisions on the bench,” Burnette stated.

She graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University in 1981 with a BA in both English and politics and from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1984. In 2019, she was awarded a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Queens University in Charlotte.

According to Burnette’s website, she has practiced law in state and federal courts and has experience in family law, criminal law, and bankruptcy law as well as civil and commercial litigation. She served as an assistant district attorney for the former ninth (now eleventh) prosecutorial district from 2002-2007.

In her role as an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina from 2007-2011, Burnette received two national service awards for her work in financial litigation, as the civil division’s financial litigation attorney, primarily in the recovery of restitution for crime victims.

From 2011-2018, Burnette served the Violent Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office where she participated in multiple criminal trials and prosecutions for bank robbery, federal firearms, and controlled substance offenses in North Carolina.

Burnette has also held positions on the NC Board of Elections, NC Board of Ethics and State Personnel Commission.

Burnette and husband Tom, an attorney, reside in Granville County. For more information on her background, awards and volunteer work, please visit https://keepkatherineburnette.com

To hear the interview with Burnette in its entirety, please click the link below.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. Political candidates are offered equal time.)

 

Attorney Brian Cloninger Challenges Burnette for District Court Judge

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Brian Cloninger, a Henderson resident and private defense attorney at Cloninger Law Offices, PLLC, will challenge incumbent Katherine Burnette for district court judge of the Ninth Judicial District of North Carolina in the March 3, 2020 Primary election. This position serves Vance, Franklin, Granville, Warren and Person counties.

Brian Cloninger, candidate for the Judicial District 9, District Court Judge seat, is shown here being interviewed on WIZS’ Town Talk program. (WIZS photo)

Cloninger attended public schools and graduated from the Reich School of Education at Appalachian State University in 2000 and the North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2006.

According to Cloninger’s website, he is a current member of the Vance County Bar, the 9th District Bar, the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the VCS Board of Directors.

He is the Immediate Past President of the Vance County Bar, the Immediate Past Chair of the Criminal Defense Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the Immediate Past Chair of the VCS Board of Directors Policy and Personnel Committee.

He is also a former member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Association of Educators, and the American Institute of criminal defense attorneys in Festus.

Sharing his knowledge with other lawyers and judges, Cloninger teaches a class titled “Traffic Practice: Doing it Right and Solving Problems: Courthouse-Based Driver’s License Remediation,” which was approved by the North Carolina State Bar for credit toward required continuing legal education.

Cloninger has 14 years of legal experience practicing in the district courts of the 9th District with a concentration in civil and criminal cases. In a recent interview with WIZS, he said it is his experience and the encouragement of his peers that prompted him to enter the race.

“I’ve been asked by people in the system to run for judge, particularly for this seat. They think that I can help because I have been in the district courts of each of the counties in our district almost every day for 14 years. I know the law. I know about the people who make up the justice system and I know what they need to help make this particular seat a better seat.”

District court handles misdemeanor criminal and traffic matters, including domestic and family law cases. According to Cloninger, with 95% of cases ending in a plea deal or some form of deferred agreement, only 5% of district court cases go to trial. District courts see an exceptional amount of cases, with 200 cases on each criminal docket in Vance County alone.

For Cloninger, the incentive of serving as a district court judge is not financial but rewarding all the same. “The incentive is the ability to help more people, to make sure that our district court is a place that people feel like they can go to get equal justice,” he said.

“The role of a judge is to help victims feel safe and comfortable that justice has been served and help offenders get the rehabilitation they need so that once they’ve served their sentence, they can become productive members of the community.”

Cloninger is married and has two children. His wife, Alison Finch Cloninger, is also from Henderson. For more information on his campaign, please visit www.cloningerforjudge.com.

To hear the interview with Cloninger in its entirety, click on the link below.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. Political candidates are offered equal time.)

Ey’Mania Alston Receives Full Academic Scholarship for UNC Honors College

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-Press Release, Oxford Preparatory School

Ey’Mania Alston, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has been accepted into the Honors College at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a full scholarship.

Ey’Mania Alston, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has been accepted into the Honors College at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a full scholarship. (OPS photo)

Ey’Mania is the daughter of Shareena Alston and is from Henderson, NC. She plans to major in biology while at Carolina.

During her time at Oxford Prep, Ey’Mania has earned a number of academic distinctions including being named marshal and a Director’s List recipient every quarter. She is currently the president of Interact. Over the past years, Ey’Mania has partnered with her peers to lead many Interact service projects to benefit the community including blood drives and sponsoring roadside clean-up activities.

Ey’Mania is also a member of the OPS Chik-fil-A Leader Academy and a senior peer advisor for the Order of the Griffins.