Granville Co Sheriff

Granville Sheriff Brindell Wilkins Indicted for Obstruction of Justice

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-Press Release, Wake County District Attorney’s Office

On Monday, the Grand Jury of Granville County returned indictments against elected Sheriff Brindell Wilkins for two counts of felony obstruction of justice. These charges come following a ten-month investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at the request of Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.

District Attorney Freeman adopted the case at the request of District Attorney Mike Waters, whose district includes Granville County, following a determination by Waters that he had a conflict in the matter.

Wilkins was voluntarily served with the indictments by agents with the State Bureau of Investigation, assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and processed on the charges. He appeared before a magistrate and released on a $20,000 unsecured bond.

His first court date will be October 9, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. in Granville County.

A second investigation into allegations concerning the Granville County Sheriff’s Office’s accounting practices and controlled substance interdiction efforts remains pending.

WIZS will bring you more on this story as it develops.

VGCC Introduces Online Career Coach Program for Students

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently introduced a new web-based service that will help students explore careers and make plans for their future.

Through the interactive “Career Coach” program, students can:

  • take a career assessment and get suggestions for possible career goals, based on their interests;
  • access the latest information about jobs and salaries in the region for various career fields; and
  • learn about particular VGCC education and training programs that lead to the careers they want.

By linking jobs to education, current or future students can see the potential “return on investment” of community college programs. They can even see a list of employers in the region who have posted jobs for a particular type of career within the last year.

“Not only current students, but also people who are thinking about becoming students, can use the site to learn more about various career options and the VGCC programs that prepare them for those careers,” said VGCC Director of Career Services Linda Fletcher. “Users can create accounts which allow them to save the results of their assessments and their favorite careers or programs of study. We think this will help members of our community make well-informed career decisions and get training for skills that are in demand by employers.”

Other special features of Career Coach include a tool that allows veterans of the armed services to find civilian careers that are related to their military occupations and a tool that helps users create a professional resume.

Career Coach is linked from the VGCC.edu home page and can be accessed directly at vgcc.emsicc.com.

Thorndale Oaks to Host Fall-Themed Women in Business Luncheon

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-Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce

You are invited to the Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Luncheon at Thorndale Oaks in Oxford on Wednesday, October 9, 2019. The event will be held from 12 until 1:30 p.m.

In addition to a delicious lunch, participants will learn about the latest fall trends in home decor, floral and apparel shared by local women in business.

Chamber member entrepreneurs Cathy Crews, owner of C Squared, and Stephanie Walker, owner of The Home Decorator Shoppe, will be guest speakers for the occasion.

Fall exhibits by Annie’s Flowers and Gil-man Florist will also be on display.

Cost to attend is $20 for Chamber members and $22 for non-members.

Please RSVP to Wanda, (919) 693-6125/wanda@granville-chamber.com or Toni Anne, (919) 528-4994/tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.

Event is sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

VGCC Experiences Enrollment Growth

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College received welcome news as it celebrated its 50th anniversary recently: an increase in enrollment over the same time last year. As of the beginning of the fall semester in August, VGCC had 3,073 students enrolled in curriculum programs. That represented a 3.7% increase compared to the beginning of the fall 2018 semester when enrollment stood at 2,963.

VGCC Board of Trustees Chair Danny Wright and President Rachel Desmarais, Ph.D. cut the cake at VGCC’s 50th celebration. (VGCC photo)

A significant source of the increase was enrollment by high school students in college programs, either through Early College High Schools or other Career & College Promise pathways. There were 15% more of those students enrolled than there were at the beginning of fall 2018.

“We are pleased that an increasing number of students are participating in our high-quality education and training programs, which are preparing them to achieve their career goals,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of VGCC. “For 50 years, Vance-Granville Community College has been providing opportunities for education and training, with the strong support of the community. Thanks to that support, we continue to serve as an accessible, innovative, student-centered higher education partner for our region.”

Established in 1969, VGCC offers more than 40 curriculum programs, in which students work toward certificates, diplomas and degrees.

Area residents and businesses can also take advantage of a variety of Continuing Education opportunities, as well as the High School Equivalency and Adult High School Diploma programs.

High school students can also get a step ahead by starting their college education early with VGCC courses.

The college has four campuses – one each in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties – and offers online programs, as well.

For more information, visit www.vgcc.edu.

Granville Heritage Association to Hold Annual Harvest Show

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-Information courtesy the Granville County Chamber of Commerce

The Lord Granville Agricultural Heritage Association will hold its 13th Annual Harvest Show featuring lawn and garden tractors October 4-5, 2019, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the corner of 12th and G Streets in Butner, NC.

Highlights include antique tractors and equipment, food, tractor games, Mama’s Kitchen old-time cooking, antique homestead display, a blacksmith at work, farm shop, free games and rides for children and other vendors.

A tractor parade will go through town on Saturday.

Daily admission $5; Two-Day admission $8. Children under 12 are free. Family rate is available.

Proceeds support the Heritage Association’s scholarship program.

For exhibitor information, contact Al Gulvin at (919) 528-1652. For vendor information, contact James Adams at (919) 575-6043.

For additional information, visit www.lgaha.com.

Granville Shrine Club to Hold Fall Fish Fry

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-Information courtesy Randy Newman, Granville County Shrine Club

It’s fish fry time again! The Granville County Shrine Club will hold a fish fry on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Shrine Club on Roxboro Road in Oxford. Proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospital.

Eat-in or take out plates available for $8. Plates include fish, slaw, potato salad and hushpuppies.

Families Living Violence Free

FLVF to Hold Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Victims

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-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free

Please join Families Living Violence Free as we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month with our annual candlelight vigil to honor Granville County survivors and victims who have lost their lives as a result of family violence.

We will honor and celebrate their lives with a vigil that will take place in front of the office of Families Living Violence Free located at 125 Oxford Outer Loop Road in Oxford on Thursday, October 3, 2019, from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by WIN of Creedmoor.

For further information, please call FLVF at (919) 693-3579.

 

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. Economic Development Advisory Board to Meet Bi-Monthly

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board/Assistant to the County Manager

The Granville County Economic Development Advisory Board will now meet bi-monthly instead of quarterly as previously advertised.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Economic Development Department located at 310 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC.

Creedmoor Music Festival to Offer Eight Bands on Two Stages, 100+ Vendors

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-Information courtesy City of Creedmoor

The 28th annual Creedmoor Music Festival will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Main Street in Creedmoor, NC.

Main Street Creedmoor will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. from W. Lyon Street to Park Avenue for the safety of festival attendees.

The highlight of the annual Creedmoor Music Festival is, of course, the music! Enjoy local performances on two stages by Rhythm Express Band of Rocky Mount, Buckshot Betty, The Invaders Band, GrassStreet, Tim Cifers, River Ratz, Tyler Kinchen & the Right Pieces and Cumberland County Line Bluegrass.

Over 100 local craft and food vendors will be in attendance, including two local craft breweries.

Josh Chapin, with ABC11 Eyewitness News, will be the guest emcee.

Parking is available at South Granville High School with a complimentary shuttle service running every 15 minutes beginning at 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

For additional information, including the no pet policy and how to purchase a festival t-shirt, please visit the City of Creedmoor’s Music Festival page by clicking here.

Oxford Prep. Student Iannuzzi Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

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-Information courtesy Oxford Preparatory School

Oxford Preparatory Upper School Director Victoria Bradsher proudly announces that senior Emily Iannuzzi is one of less than 400 North Carolina students to be named a semifinalist in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

Emily, daughter of Chris and Marisol Iannuzzi, has been named a semifinalist for the Class of 2020. Emily has attended Oxford Preparatory School since 2014 when she enrolled as an 8th grader. Currently a senior, Emily has pursued a highly rigorous course of study including accruing more than 24 college credit hours through AP exams and CCP courses.

She is also a talented artist, chef and key member of the OPS Equestrian team. Emily loves her horses and has been the recipient of a number of awards at the state and national level.

Emily Iannuzzi is pictured center with her parents, OPS Director Bradsher and OPS Executive Director Andrew Swanner. (OPS photo)

Approximately 1.6 million juniors around the United States took the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) last year. Fewer than 400 students were named semifinalists in North Carolina. These semifinalists represent the highest-scoring entrants in the state.

The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. The semifinalists now have the opportunity to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her school must submit a detailed application in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed by and recommended by a school official, write an essay and earn qualifying SAT scores.