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Oxford Commissioners to Hold Public Hearing on New Floodplain Regulations

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

The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, City Hall in Oxford.

Agenda items include:

Public hearing to hear citizen input on amending the Oxford Zoning Ordinance – section 1100 – in order to adopt the new floodplain regulations required by NC Dept. of Emergency Management.

Consider amending the Oxford Zoning Ordinance – section 1100 – in order to adopt the new floodplain regulations required by NC Dept. of Emergency Management.

Consider calling for a public hearing to be held at the October regular meeting regarding request from the UDO Committee regarding placing a moratorium on any new internet sweepstakes establishments.

Consider awarding bid for the 2019 City Street Resurfacing Project and approve a budget amendment in the amount of $24,000.

Consider adopting a tentative resolution to award the bid for the 2017 USDA Water and Sewer Improvements Project.

Resolution providing for application to the LGC for approval of Water and Sewer System Revenue Bonds and Bond Anticipation Note and certain related matters and findings.

Consider approval of Amendment #6 to the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Agreement.

Consider approving a budget amendment in the amount of $226,398.00.

Resolution for tentative award of bid for the 2017 DWI Sewer Main Project.

Please click here for the full meeting agenda.

Majority of Granville Co. Public Schools Exceeded or Met Growth

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

The NC Department of Public Instruction released the standardized test scores for the 2018-19 school year, and the results show some positive trends for the district. The majority of schools either exceeded or met growth, according to state analysis.

Growth measures the overall academic progress a student makes during the course of the entire year, compared to their counterparts across the state. Proficiency measures whether or not a student achieves a particular score, typically designated as level III or above on most tests.

Using a combination of the growth measure (20%) and percentage of students who are proficient (80%), the state assigns a school letter grade. Granville Early College High School earned an A. Wilton Elementary and Mt. Energy Elementary both earned a B, and seven other schools earned a C.

Eight schools earned a D, with four of those schools only two points away from earning a C. Northern Granville Middle School earned an F, but was one point away from earning a letter grade of a D.

Superintendent McLean offered her perspective on the outcomes, stating, “While our growth measures continue to remain strong, we did see some slippage in the overall letter grades of our schools. Since this past June, we have been using the raw data to make adjustments in our approach, including making changes in school leadership, reallocating curricular resources, and renewing our focus on literacy.At our lowest performing schools, we have already made significant changes to address areas of concern, which we are confident will yield positive results.”

Dr. Brenda Williamson takes on the newly merged and energized Northern Granville Middle School as the principal for the 2019-2020 school year. JF Webb School of Health and Life Sciences also prepares for its merger in 2020 with JF Webb High School under new leadership. JF Webb High School improved its letter grade from a D to a C this past year under Principal Amy Rice’s leadership.

A variety of external factors may have also contributed to the variance in test scores. This past year, the NCDPI administered newly designed math assessments at all grade levels, which resulted in statewide standard-setting, causing scores to be re-calibrated on a new scale. There were also no retests for any math tests, which did not afford some students a second chance to improve their score.

In addition, this was the first year that all students took all standardized tests online using their laptop computers as recommended by NCDPI. In the past, most tests have been administered using paper and pencil test booklets and answer sheets.

A deeper analysis of results by subject area, grade level and subgroup of students show some areas of marked improvement.  For example, there was a double-digit increase in 8th grade math proficiency of 25 percentage points. In addition, 3rd grade reading proficiency increased by almost 8 percentage points for all students across the district. Finally, all but one high school improved their graduation rate, with JFW HLS boasting a 100% and Granville Early College at a 98% graduation rate for the year.

Dr. McLean further explained, “While important, these test scores are but one measure of student success. Our teachers work very hard to provide a safe environment where our students are prepared academically, socially and emotionally for what lies beyond graduation. This is our number one goal. We love our students, and together, our teachers, support staff and administrators will stay on the move!”

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Board of Education to Hold September Meeting

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting on Monday, September 9, 2019, 6 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The Board will also meet in a Closed Session with the Board’s attorney 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 on this evening.

To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Reports First Storm Outages, Provides Important Reminders

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Please check the WIZS website, Facebook page and listen live to WIZS 1450 AM and 100.1 FM for storm updates. The latest briefing from the National Weather Service can be found any time by clicking here.

-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

We are beginning to see the first storm-related outages this afternoon as Hurricane Dorian storm bands reach our state. And while we aren’t expecting hurricane force winds locally, we do anticipate severe weather conditions which will lead to outages.

Across the state, we are still projecting as many as 700,000 customers or more could experience extended outages from this storm.

How to see outages in your area

See the outage map at www.duke-energy.com/outages.

You can view outages in a few ways. On all devices, you can use the search bar to find a specific address or location.

When looking at the map, you will see circle icons of varying sizes indicating the location and number of customers without power. One outage on the map could represent multiple homes and businesses. Pan the map and select a circle to zoom in on your location.

Or you can select the zoom (+/-) in the lower right corner of the map, and then use the mouse to drag left, right, up or down to navigate to the location you want to view. Or, you can select the zoom (+/-) in the lower right corner of the map, and then use the mouse to drag left, right, up or down to navigate to the location you want to view.

On a mobile device, use the pinch open gesture to zoom in and the pinch close gesture to zoom out, and then use the drag gesture to move the outage map to the desired location.

Email and text communication

We have been sharing prepare messages and updates with customers who have email addresses registered with us. In addition, a text message was sent today to customers who do not have an email on file with us:

“Duke Energy Storm: Dorian is bringing high winds & excessive rainfall to parts of our state. Prepare for dangerous conditions & extended outages. Our crews are nearby and ready to move as soon as conditions allow.  Visit https://duk.us/06 for latest info. Heed all warnings and stay safe. Text STOP to cancel.”

 Outage reporting  

Customers who experience an outage during the storm can report it by:

Visiting duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.

Texting OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).

Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800.419.6356.

For storm or power restoration updates, follow Duke Energy on Twitter (@DukeEnergy) and Facebook (Duke Energy). See the outage map at www.duke-energy.com/outages.

Important reminders

The following tips can help you and your family stay safe if the power goes out:

  • Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with lines.
  • Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in advance of the storm to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.
  • Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended power outage occurs or evacuation is required.
  • Pet owners should make arrangements to stay at evacuation shelters that accept pets; friends’ or family members’ homes; or pet-friendly hotels.
  • Report all power line hazards using the following phone numbers:
  • Duke Energy Carolinas customers – 800.769.3766
  • Duke Energy Progress customers – 800.419.6356
  • Please do not use 911 to report a downed power line unless it is a life-threatening emergency. If a power line falls across a car that you’re in, stay in the car and dial 911. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.Click here for a video demonstration and to read more about safety around power lines.

BBQ Contest, Parade Planned for 9th Annual Oxford Masonic Homecoming

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-Information courtesy the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford

The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College St., will hold its 9th Annual Masonic Homecoming Festival on Saturday, October 12, 2019, from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Admission is free and festivities are open to the public. Campus tours of the Masonic Home will be available.

Enjoy a fun day full of games and activities for kids, homecoming activities for alumni, music, food and the annual Shrine and Community Parade. Parade begins at the fire department at 11 a.m.

$10 lunch tickets will be sold on-site and include all-you-can-eat samples from the BBQ contest.

Don’t miss music performances by The Tams with hits such as “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy,” “What Kind of Fool” and “Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me.”

For more information, please visit www.mhc-oxford.org.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Town Talk 09/04/19: State Tourism Campaign to Feature Oxford Hot Sauce Contest

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With less than two weeks to go, the countdown is officially on for one of Oxford’s largest tourism draws – the annual NC Hot Sauce Contest. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m in downtown Oxford.

Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, said thousands of people are expected in downtown Oxford next weekend to interact with friends, merchants, fans, artisans and vendors. In 2018, the event reportedly topped 18,000 visitors.

“If you plan on visiting us, just put Main Street, Oxford in your GPS and you will find it,” Allen said.

According to Allen, 40 of North Carolina’s barbeque and hot sauce vendors are participating, along with approximately 30 food vendors and eight breweries and wineries.

An NC Pepper Eating Contest sponsored by Bailey Farms will begin at 1 p.m. and always proves interesting to watch, said Allen. “I love to see the faces of those going through the many rounds and to see who can actually stand the heat!”

The day will also include activities for children, antique car displays, music, entertainment, shopping at downtown stores and dining at local restaurants.

Participants may also see a film crew on site as the NC Tourism Department will be recording portions of the event to include in its Visit NC “Firsts That Last” state-wide advertising campaign. “They will be there to capture those first experiences that people have at the contest, whether it be trying a pepper for the very first time or sampling sauces that are way too hot,” Allen said.

While the annual contest is literally a lot of fun and games, Allen said the bigger picture is the tourism dollars generated from sales tax on travel expenses such as hotel stays, gasoline, food and entertainment.

“Every time a person travels, they are going to spend money,” explained Allen. “All that sales tax comes back to that particular area and destination.”

In her Town Talk interview, Allen explained that the local area has often been easy for travelers to overlook in the past as they drive through via the interstate to other destinations.

“Tourism departments focus on making their location unique from other destinations,” she said. “You’ve got to play up those things that make you stand out. The hot sauce contest is definitely one of those things that has the platform to make Oxford unique.”

To hear Allen’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

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Open Broadband Meeting, Business & Industry Day Among Granville’s Sept. Events

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville Co. Community Calendar Items

A COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING, hosted by Granville County Government and Open Broadband, LLC will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Camp Oak Hill and Retreat Center. The 7 p.m. meeting is scheduled to share details and to answer questions about Granville County’s new Broadband Initiative, which will bring high speed internet service to unserved and underserved areas of the county. All interested residents are encouraged to attend and to have questions prepared.

Camp Oak Hill and Retreat Center is located at 1528 Oak Hill Road in Oxford.

THE ANNUAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY APPRECIATION DAY EVENT is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center in Oxford. Local businesses are invited to join Granville County Economic Development, in partnership with the Granville County Chamber of Commerce and Vance-Granville Community College, for an opportunity to network and to learn more about services and resources that are available to assist them. The event is free and open to the public.

For information on reserving a table, contact Lynn Cooper at 919-693-5911 or cooper@granvillecounty.org.

THE CREATIVE LIFELONG LEARNING (CLL) PROGRAM, offered by Granville County Senior Services, has kicked off its fall season with a wide range of classes, activities and educational tours. Upcoming classes include Barn Quilt Painting, taught by Nancy Peele on Monday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.; Nutrition, taught by Linda Robinson on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m.; The Romanov Dynasty, taught by George Robinson on Thursdays from Sept. 19 to Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.; Clogging, taught by Linda Cash on Thursdays from Sept. 19 to Oct. 24 at 8:30 a.m., Decoupage, taught by Christine Luscavich on Friday, Sept. 20 at 9:30 a.m.; and Learning to Play Duplicate Bridge, taught by Chip Hughes, on Fridays from Sept. 20 to Nov. 22 at 10 a.m.

Classes are open to any interested adult in Granville County – you don’t have to be a senior to participate. To learn more about the CLL program or to register for these classes, contact Marilyn Howard at 919-693-1930.

Town Talk 09/03/19: 10th Annual Ducky Derby to Feature Festival-Like Atmosphere

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Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start will hold its annual Ducky Derby Festival and rubber duck race, a fundraiser for the local Smart Start program, on Saturday, September 21, 2019, in downtown Henderson. The festival begins at 12 p.m. on Breckenridge Street between Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.

According to Garry Daeke, development coordinator for F-G-V, this year’s activities include a bounce house and slide, face painting, corn hole, ring toss, balloon animals and performances by the Baby Shark and Paw Patrol characters.

Vendors will be on hand serving hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage dogs, fish sandwiches, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, ice cream and snow cones.

Entertainment will include a DJ, singing performances from several daycare programs, music from Henderson Collegiate, Mary Potter Elementary School band and choir and the drumline from Granville Central High School.

The YMCA will lead line dancing and Zumba in the street and children will have the opportunity to man a real firehose with the assistance of the Henderson Fire Department.

Each child that attends the event will receive a free book, courtesy of Smart Start. Parents will also have the opportunity to enroll any child age birth to 5 in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that sends a book each month to children at their home.

“Our goal is to enroll 1,000 more children from this area into the program,” said Daeke. “We recently reached over 3,000 children enrolled and we are trying to get to 4,000 before the year is over. That would put us at 45-50% of the young children in the Franklin, Granville and Vance County areas that will be getting books in the mail.”

Safe Kids will also be present and will set up childcare safety seat inspections.

At 2 p.m., the entertainment switches to Garnett Street, where the rubber duck race will take place. Up to 2,000 rubber ducks will be poured into the Garnett Street “river” by a Greystone Concrete cement mixer.

The first duck to cross the finish line at Orange Street wins $1,000, second place $500 and third place finish is $250. Even the last duck to cross the finish line wins $100. There will be an additional drawing with one lucky winner receiving free “Chick-fil-A for a year,” a set of 52 meal tickets. Winners of the prizes do not have to be present to win.

In Henderson, tickets are on sale at EZ Car Care, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and State Employees Credit Union. All Smart Start staff and board members also have tickets, please call (252) 433-9110.

Tickets will also be on sale the day of the race. Ducks are $5 each, a “Quack Pack” of 6 tickets is $25 and a “Flock” of 25 tickets is available for $100.

Sponsors include:

Super Duck: Duke Energy, Union Bank, Granville Medical Center, Boyd & Royster Funeral Services

Top Duck: Charles Boyd Chevrolet and Cardinal Innovations

Feathered Friends: Henderson Family Dentistry, United Healthcare, Wester Realty, Greystone Concrete, City of Henderson, Chick-fil-A and Rose Oil Co.

To hear Daeke’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

McGregor Hall Announces Audition Dates for ‘Black Nativity’

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Be a part of the retelling of Christ’s birth through gospel song and movement! “Black Nativity” incorporates the poetry of Langston Hughes with drama, dance, and both contemporary and traditional gospel song.

ALL actors of ALL appearances are welcome.

You may choose to audition on either Saturday, September 14 at 10 a.m. or Sunday, September 15 at 3 p.m. You may subsequently be asked to attend a callback audition on Tuesday, September 17 at 7 p.m.

Auditions will be held at McGregor Hall, 201 Breckenridge Street in Henderson. Please enter through the backstage door facing Winder Street at the top of the handicap ramp.

There will be a movement component for the auditions, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing.

The production opens on Thursday, December 12 with two daytime school field trip performances. There will also be evening performances at 8 p.m. on December 13-14 and a 2 p.m. matinee performance on December 15.

Rehearsals will begin Monday, October 7. Onstage chorus members may be asked to purchase or rent costumes at their own expense.

For more information or to sign up for auditions visit www.mcgregorhall.org/auditions or email markhopper@mcgregorhall.org.

Break a leg!

(This is not a paid advertisement)

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Granville Co. to Test CodeRED Community Notification System

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County’s free emergency notification system, CodeRED, will be tested between 6:30 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10. The purpose of the test is to validate telephone numbers in the Granville County database.

The CodeRED system allows Granville County’s emergency officials to effectively reach residents and personnel through telephone calls, text messages and e-mails. If a resident receives this call, no action is needed. Granville County is merely testing the system to ensure it is operational and to encourage additional residents to enroll to receive future notifications.

This process helps to continually improve the system already in place by increasing the efficiency and speed at which notifications will be delivered during an actual emergency. If citizens of the county are not registered and their phone number is not in the database, they will not receive this call or any other notifications during an emergency.

Robin Edwards, Granville County’s Emergency Services Coordinator, notes that the number of residents who actively add/update their contact information in the emergency database directly impacts the protection that can be provided to people and property.

“Residents, as well as businesses, are encouraged to visit our website and update their contact information,” Edwards said. “In particular, those who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year and those who use a cellular phone or VolP phone as their primary number.”

A reminder is also offered that if a citizen is already registered for a municipal CodeRED system in their city or town of residence, they are not automatically enrolled in the county-wide database. Granville County enrollment is an entirely separate process.

“If you want to be notified of emergencies across the entire county, then you are urged to register on our website – and to keep your contact information up to date to be better informed,” Edwards adds. “And if you know anyone who is not registered and lives in Granville County, please encourage them to do so.”

To register or for more information about CodeRED, visit the Granville County website, www.granvillecounty.org, and click on the CodeRED logo located on the Emergency Management page. This page can be accessed through the “Community” heading at the top of the home page.

Those without internet access should contact a friend or family member to assist in the online process of adding/updating contact information to the county’s emergency database.

Questions regarding this system test or about CodeRED should be directed to Granville County Emergency Services at 919-603-1310.