Terry Garrison

Rep. Terry Garrison: Still a Chance for DHHS Relocation

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Terry Garrison, local businessman and Democratic NC House representative for District 32, discussed budget negotiations and the proposed Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) relocation with WIZS News.

Garrison said all hope is not lost on the primarily Republican-backed proposal of moving DHHS’ headquarters from Raleigh to Granville County as part of an effort to revitalize rural areas in the state.

“I’m certainly going to be pushing for that chance to happen,” said Garrison.

Triangle North Granville, a business and industrial park that encompasses 527-acres in Granville and Vance counties, has been proposed as a relocation site for DHHS administrative offices.

Included in the Senate version of the budget as presented to Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, the $250 million proposal could still become a reality if the governor’s recent budget veto is overridden.

“We’ll have to see how things transpire during the negotiation process,” Garrison said. “When you look at all of the factors, it was my thinking that it was worth it for us to try to negotiate it.”

Benefits to the area would include the creation of multiple employment opportunities and potential partnerships with local educational institutions and organizations.

With no budget agreement reached by the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, Garrison said the government will continue at current funding levels until negotiations are completed.

Electronic Recycling Available at Oxford and Butner Convenience Sites

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Residents with old televisions, outdated computers and/or obsolete electronics can take these items to either the Oxford Convenience Site, located at 6584 Landfill Road in Oxford or the Butner Convenience Site, located at 2796 Old Route 75 in Butner.

In a meeting held earlier this year, Granville County Commissioners approved consolidating electronic waste (e-waste) recycling to the Oxford and Butner landfills. Items are now being collected by a private business, contracted with the county, to recycle all components of the electronics collected at the two convenience sites.

With any questions or concerns, please contact Jason Falls, Granville County’s Environmental Services Director, at 919-691-0928.

NC Dept. of Agriculture Asks Travelers to Watch for Spotted Lanternfly

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Plant Industry Division is asking travelers to several northeastern states to take precautions against the spread of the highly destructive Spotted Lanternfly this summer.

“If your summer travel plans have you driving through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware or New Jersey, please review the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine map and do your part to prevent bringing the pest to our state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This invasive pest poses a significant threat to our $91.8 billion agriculture industry.”

North Carolina has no reports of this invasive pest. Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive planthopper native to China that could cause billions of dollars in loss to NC agriculture, tourism and trade should it become established in our state. This pest is a hitchhiker and can be easily moved long distances on vehicles, campers and outdoor equipment.

If you plan to visit any of the indicated northeastern states in which Spotted Lanternfly has been found, it is recommended you thoroughly wash and inspect your vehicles before leaving. Also, do not move firewood.

All life stages of Spotted Lanternfly can hitchhike, but the eggs and adults pose the greatest risk for movement. In northern states, adults can lay their eggs on any outdoor flat surfaces from July to December.

We hope you enjoy your summer travels, and we appreciate your attention to ensure this pest does not hitch a ride home with you.

For more information on current counties that are under quarantine, please visit: https://nysipm.cornell.edu/environment/invasive-species-exotic-pests/spotted-lanternfly/

 

Vance & Granville Co. Donate Surplus Law Enforcement Vehicles to VGCC

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Officials from Vance and Granville counties recently approved the donation of surplus law enforcement vehicles from their respective fleets to the Vance-Granville Community College Campus Police Department.

These vehicles, both of which are Dodge Chargers, will prove to be valuable resources to help ensure a safe and secure working and learning environment for the faculty, staff, students and visitors of the college, according to Sean Newton, the chief of the campus police department.

The donations of the vehicles were made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of the County Managers, County Commissioners, and Sheriffs’ Departments in both Vance and Granville counties.

Vance-Granville Community College Chief of Police Sean Newton (right) accepts a donated vehicle from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame (left). (VGCC photo)

Vance-Granville Community College Chief of Police Sean Newton (right) receives the keys to a donated vehicle from Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins, Jr. (left). (VGCC photo)

A New Look for JF Webb High School’s Mascot & Logo

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Big changes are underway at JF Webb High School.  New staff, newly renovated facilities, and a new instructional focus are all on the way. These updates, new ideas and student-focused changes will bring exciting new opportunities for the community.  But something folks may notice first is the school’s new look…

A school’s mascot can mean a lot, and not just to current students and past alumnae, but to the community at large. A high school mascot often embodies the spirit and personality of a school, depicting a real sense of what a school is about.

For more than 50 years at JF Webb High School, the mascot of the “Warrior” has come to signify courage, strength and overcoming adversity. Being a warrior means being tough and triumphant. While this meaning has stayed true, the actual artwork or logo that represents the warrior has seen some changes over time.

J.F. Webb High School graduates prior to 2004 know that the Warrior mascot was a Native American Warrior. If you ask the most recent 2019 Webb graduates to describe what their Warrior looks like, the majority would be unable to do so. They would likely tell you their school’s logo is simply the letters “JFW.”

Most are unfamiliar with “Wally” the futuristic Warrior that replaced the Native American Warrior around 2004 when most schools in the state of North Carolina, in an effort to be more culturally sensitive, redesigned their Native American Warrior mascots. Over the years, “Wally” has faded into the background and Webb’s logo became its initials.

When the school board voted to merge J.F. Webb and J.F. Webb School of Health and Life Science in 2020-21, a redesign committee consisting of administrators, teachers, students and parents was created. One of the first suggestions that the redesign committee made was to design and select a new Warrior mascot/log design.

Mrs. Amy Rice, Principal of J.F. Webb shared, “I believe it was important to the committee, especially the students, to move forward with a new mascot design that embodies the pride that we want all students and our community to have in J.F. Webb.  We wanted a mascot and logo that students and athletes would proudly wear and promote.”

After reviewing a variety of possible ideas, Webb narrowed down its mascot and shield logo ideas with help from a graphic design company that has experience working for school districts on similar projects.

With the help of 1988 JFW alumni Grey Blackwell, some final touches were added to provide the finished product that everyone on the committee was pleased with.

While the school campus is receiving extensive physical upgrades, including a new HVAC system, fresh paint, new furniture and security upgrades, big changes are underway on the academic side as well. All of the current Biomedical Science courses offered through JFW HLS will continue, with plans for expanded offerings in Career and Technical courses, as well as college level courses offered through VGCC.

As part of the overall redesign of the school, Principal Rice looks forward to rolling out the new Warrior look, explaining, “I’m a proud graduate of J.F. Webb, and I hope that our new mascot and logo will help all of our students hold dear to the phrase ‘Warrior Pride.’ JF Webb High School is on the move!  If you haven’t stopped by recently, come give us a visit and I will be happy to give you a personal tour of the NEW and IMPROVED Warrior Country.”

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. School Board to Meet in Closed Session – July 15

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet in Closed Session, Monday, July 15, 2019, at 4 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina, for a consultation 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.

Mary Potter School to Honor 130th Anniversary With Reunion, Parade

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Come join the fun and celebrate the 130th anniversary of Mary Potter Academy/High School. A school reunion will be held July 19 – 21, 2019, in Oxford, NC.

A parade will be held Saturday, July 20 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The parade is open to the public and will start and end at the George C. Shaw Museum located at 202 McClanahan Street in Oxford.

The parade will follow Williamsboro, Hillsborough and Broad Street in downtown Oxford.

Event planners are looking for bands, floats of all kinds, vintage cars, fancy trucks and your team spirit.

Food trucks and more will be available at the gym on Lanier Street.

For more information, please call Rosalyn M. Green (301) 351-4850, Gloria G. Hawkins (919) 691-1291 or Janet Baptiste Jones (240) 447-2014.

For more information on the Mary Potter School, visit their Facebook page (click here).

NC Dept of Agriculture

State Veterinarian Reminds Livestock & Pet Owners to Watch Out for Ticks

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

State Veterinarian Doug Meckes is reminding livestock and pet owners to be vigilant in their tick preventative measures during warm weather. Recently, the deaths of five cows in Surry County were linked to acute anemia caused by tick infestations. Samples were sent to the N.C. Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch for identification which confirmed Asian longhorned ticks.

“This is the fourth confirmed case in North Carolina since 2018, and the first case reported this year. Previous cases were found in Polk, Rutherford and Davidson counties,” Meckes said. “The deceased young bull brought to our Northwestern Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab had more than 1,000 ticks on it and the owner had lost four other cattle under the same circumstances.”

The Asian longhorned tick is an exotic, East Asian tick. The first case identified in the U.S. was in West Virginia from a tick taken from a white-tail deer in August 2010. Since then, 67 counties in the United States have confirmed local Asian longhorned tick populations. Virginia has the most counties with 24 confirmed.

It is a serious pest of livestock in its native regions, and the means of introduction into the U.S. is unknown. It is an aggressive biter and frequently builds intense infestations on animals causing great stress, reduced growth and production, and blood loss. The tick can reproduce parthenogenetically (without a male) and a single fed female tick can create a localized population.

While the Asian longhorned tick has not been linked to any human infection in the United States, the N.C. Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch is working with NCDA&CS to understand its distribution and monitor for diseases it may carry.

The finding of this tick in the state corresponds with a continued effort by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to identify ticks in all 100 counties of the state. Veterinarians are encouraged to submit ticks they find on clinical patients to help track and identify tick populations in North Carolina. If you are a veterinarian practicing in North Carolina and are interested in participating in this study, email Dr. Alexis M. Barbarin at NCTickID@dhhs.nc.gov.

Ticks attack people, domestic animals and wildlife. Prevention remains the best method to deter tick-borne illnesses. Protect yourself while outdoors by wearing long clothing, wearing permethrin-treated clothing, and using DEET, picaridin, and other EPA-approved repellants. It is also good practice to shower immediately once you return home. Checking for ticks can help deter tick attachment or allow for early removal. For domestic animals, talk to your veterinarian about effective options to treat your pets and livestock for ticks.

Town Talk: Granville Co. Summer Leadership Interns On Air – 07/08/19

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Four of the five student interns in the Granville County Board of Commissioners’ Summer Civic Leadership Program were on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss their experiences.

The interns were joined by Charla Duncan, management analyst for Granville County Government. Duncan provided background information on the program and expressed her pride in the interns’ accomplishments and work ethic.

Interns for 2019 include rising high school seniors Brooklyn Pridgeon of Oxford, a student at J.F. Webb High School; Anthony Goreman of Oxford, a home-schooled student; and Tanaura Harrison, Sarah Elliott and Akoya Penny-Campbell, all of Creedmoor, who are students of Granville Early College High School.

The five-week program, which began on June 13, allows the interns to rotate through various Granville County departments to learn more about general government, human services, public safety and community services.

“It’s been really interesting learning a lot about the government and how it works,” Goreman said.

Harrison and Penny-Campbell echoed that sentiment and said they were introduced to the program through their guidance counselor at Granville Early College High School.

Pridgeon said she was initially interested in the internship because it coincided with her future career goals. “I want to be a social worker when I grow up, so I said, ‘hey, why not do something that can get me some experience in the field?’”

Elliott was unavailable for the Town Talk interview.

Upon completion of the program, each participating student will receive educational assistance in the amount of $1,400.

To hear the interview with the interns 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.

Thornton Library Welcomes New Adult Services Librarian

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Richard H. Thornton Library announces the addition of Stefani Perry as Adult Services Librarian.

A New Hampshire native, Perry grew up in the Butner/Creedmoor area and is a graduate of Granville Central High School. With a major in Liberal Studies/Humanities from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she also holds a Masters degree in Library Information Science.

The Richard H. Thornton Library announces the addition of Stefani Perry as Adult Services Librarian. In her role as Adult Services Librarian, Perry will oversee the programs, services and special events provided by the library for those over the age of 18. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Government)

In her role as Adult Services Librarian, Perry will oversee the programs, services and special events provided by the library for those over the age of 18. Her plans include to establish a new book club for young adult novels, as well as initiating a regularly-scheduled “Coffee with Stefani” event, where library patrons can come in and discuss suggestions and concerns in an informal setting.

Perry is married and has recently moved back to the Granville County area after living several years in California and in Japan with her husband, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her first day of work at the Thornton Library was June 3, as Adult Services Librarian Ashley Wilson phases out her employment with the Granville County Library System. Wilson will be moving out of the area in mid-July.

The Richard H. Thornton Library is located at 210 Main Street in Oxford, and is one of four public libraries in the Granville County Library System. Other branches are located in Creedmoor (South Branch), Stovall and Berea. For a schedule of upcoming library events and programs, or to learn more about what your local library has to offer, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/.