Five-County Aging Agency Offers Chronic Pain/Disease Management Classes

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Representatives from the Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments (KTCOG) were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the Area Agency on Aging’s evidence-based chronic pain and disease management programs. The KTCOG represents the five-county area of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties.

Classes are currently offered to community members “age 60 and better” with chronic pain or chronic disease issues. These sessions consist of six-week, two-and-a-half hour workshops that are free to the qualifying public and their caregivers.

According to Jillian Hardin, aging director for KTCOG, classes will introduce tools that can be used to better manage pain and/or disease symptoms. “You will learn about exercise and walking,” Hardin said. “You will also learn about managing emotions because depression is a big part of chronic pain or chronic disease.”

The chronic disease self-management class, titled “Living Healthy” is currently offered at the Senior Center in Vance County for those with two or more chronic conditions. “We say you have a chronic condition if it lasts more than three months,” said Hardin. “People often say ‘I don’t have a chronic condition,’ but I have heart disease or diabetes; those are chronic conditions.”

Hardin said the importance of these classes demonstrating positive, evidence-based results cannot be discounted, “Evidence shows that when people take these six-week workshops, they have less pain, can better control their symptoms, have fewer trips to the doctor and hospital and save money in healthcare costs.”

Harvey Holmes, family caregiver specialist with the Area Agency on Aging, was also on the program to discuss the “huge” need for caregivers and caregiver support.

Holmes mentioned former first lady Rosalynn Carter’s famous quote about caregiving to sum up the importance of the role, “There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”

Referred to by Holmes as the “godfather” of aging services in the five-county region, KTCOG offers services and classes to help participants cope with the emotional battlefield that is caregiving.

“You’re always going to have ups and downs, pitfalls and stumbles, and a lot of people can get discouraged,” said Holmes. “Your emotions do tend to change along the journey. Caregiving, as a whole, is a journey and the journey is different for each individual.

For more information on the chronic pain or disease classes or caregiver services, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at (252) 436-2040.

You may also call NC 2-1-1, a 24/7 information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina and supported by local United Ways and public and private partners across NC. Service is available in all NC counties.

Callers may dial 2-1-1 to obtain information on health and human services and resources within their community. The service is free, confidential, and available in most languages.

To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.

‘Shop Granville First’ on Small Business Saturday

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— Information and graphic courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

It’s here! Shop Granville First and celebrate Small Business Saturday all across Granville County on Saturday, November 24. Get a tote bag at a Chamber office or at the Thanksgiving Breakfast to get first dibs on coupons, flyers, specials and more, and support the small business community in Granville County!

Click here to check out our Facebook video for more info!

Seiferts Honored By Family As New Scholarship Level Created At VGCC

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

As hundreds of students were being honored with scholarships at Vance-Granville Community College’s annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, the college announced the creation of a new level of scholarship and celebrated the first Presidential Excellence Award in honor of Donald and Betsy Seifert.

The new award was fully endowed with a gift of $60,000 from the family of the Henderson couple, and future student recipients will receive an annual award of $3,000 to cover tuition, books and fees at the college.

The announcement came as hundreds of scholarship donors and VGCC students gathered for dinner in the Civic Center on Tuesday, Nov. 13, to recognize more than 300 students receiving scholarships for 2018-2019.

Above, Dr. Gordon Burns, interim president of Vance-Granville Community College, and Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, gather with Donald and Betsy Seifert, shown holding the check in the center of the photo, and the Seifert family to celebrate the creation of the first-ever Presidential Excellence Award scholarship. From left are Dr. Burns, the Seiferts’ son Sam Seifert, daughter-in-law Jennifer Seifert, son Brent Seifert, Donald Seifert, son Clem Seifert, Betsy Seifert, daughter-in-law Donna Seifert, son-in-law Sandy Gabel, daughter Laura Gabel, and Ferguson. Unavailable for the photo was daughter-in-law Amine Seifert. (Photo Credit: VGCC)

Donald C. Seifert Sr. has been a member of the VGCC Board of Trustees since 1996 and served as the chair of the board for nine of those years. Appointed to the board by the Vance County Board of Education, he also serves on the college’s Endowment Fund Board of Directors.

“Our parents have shown us, through their good examples, that we should give back to our community,” the members of the Seifert family said in their statement announcing the honor. “They have demonstrated over and over again just how to give and why.” The statement was read by Eddie Ferguson, director of the college’s Office of the Endowment.

“Community can be defined in many ways,” Ferguson read. “Community is our home, our neighborhood, our workplace, our church and our community college. (Our parents) give – and have given – generously of their time, their talent, and their treasure for many years…. Their community is so important to them – they have dedicated themselves to their community – their hometown.”

“Their children, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, and grandchildren establish this scholarship to honor two special people and their commitment to the place they call home. They will, no doubt, downplay their role and the many ways they support and contribute to this community. That is who they are and that is what makes them special to us and, we hope, to their community. Those of you who have helped to create scholarships that we honor tonight, thank you. Those of you who are scholarship recipients, go and be a blessing to others in your community – however you define your community,” the statement concluded.

The announcement by Dr. Gordon Burns, VGCC’s interim president, and Ferguson was a surprise to the father and mother. As the details of the scholarship were being announced, the family members filed into the Civic Center to join them on stage.

“It’s exciting to see the bar raised in our efforts to help students receive the financial assistance they need in getting an education so that they can pursue their dreams,” said Dr. Burns. “We commend the Seifert family for their passion for community and expressing that passion through the support of our students.”

The Seiferts have one daughter and three sons, all of whom attended the event, along with their son-in-law and two daughters-in-law: Laura Seifert Gabel and husband Sandy, of Oxford; Donald C. “Clem” Seifert Jr. and Donna, of Wilmington; Brent Seifert and Jennifer, of Salisbury; and Sam Seifert of Decatur, Ga., whose wife, Amine, was unable to attend.

With the new scholarship level, the Endowment Fund now has four tiers of scholarships. In addition to the new Presidential Excellence Award, a $25,000 donation creates a Presidential Scholar Award that provides $1,250 per year to a student; a Presidential Merit Award, started with a $15,000 donation, awards $750 per year to a student; and a gift of $10,000 starts an Academic Achievement Scholarship, which awards $500 a year to a student.

The scholarships presented to students at Vance-Granville this academic year bring the total to more than 9,400 awarded by the college to date. VGCC scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

More photos: Check out our Scholarship Awards Dinner album on Flickr!

Waste Industries Announces Holiday Pick Up Schedule

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

Waste Industries will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 22, 2018. To make up for the missed day, regularly-scheduled Thursday pick up will be done on Friday, November 23; regularly-scheduled Friday pick up will be done on Saturday, November 24.

Waste Industries will also be closed Tuesday, December 25, 2018, in observance of Christmas and Tuesday, January 1, 2019, in observance of New Year’s Day. For the time period of December 25-28, 2018, and January 1-4, 2019, regularly-scheduled pick up will be delayed by one day.

For additional information on the holiday schedule for the Vance Granville branch,  please visit the Waste Industries website by clicking here.

Oxford’s Annual Turkey Trot Scheduled for Thanksgiving Morning

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-Information courtesy Laura Gabel, Area Congregations In Ministry (Food Bank – Oxford, NC)

The 14th Annual Turkey Trot is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 22 – Thanksgiving morning – in downtown Oxford. Registration for the fun run/walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at Oxford United Methodist Church, located at the corner of College and McClanahan streets. The entry fee is two cans of food or a monetary donation for Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM).

The route begins at the church, goes down College Street, through the campus of the Masonic Home for Children and ends at the Methodist Church. Come out for a fun morning as we give thanks while helping others!

Camp Recognized as an ‘Educator of Excellence’ at Recent Reception

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-Information courtesy Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools 

Robin Camp, an Exceptional Children’s Program (ECP) “Teacher of Excellence“ with Granville County Public Schools (GCPS) was recognized last week at the Educator of Excellence Reception at the ECP Conference. Camp works at Granville Central High School in Stem, NC.

Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer for GCPS, congratulated Camp on her well-deserved honor. “Please join us in congratulating Robin. She demonstrates daily ‘Excellence and Achievement for all!’ We are so proud of her, and can’t wait to see what she does next!”

Robin Camp, an Exceptional Children’s Program (ECP) “Teacher of Excellence” with Granville County Public Schools (GCPS) was recognized last week at the Educator of Excellence Reception at the ECP Conference. Camp works at Granville Central High School in Stem, NC. (Photo Credit: GCPS)

 

Granville County Logo

Granville Board of Commissioners to Hold Public Hearing on Economic Development

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, November 19, 2018, at 7 p.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.

Agenda items include:

Consent Agenda

1. Minutes

2. Contingency Summary

Public Comments

3. Public Comments

Public Hearings

4. Public Hearing-Economic Development

Solid Waste Matters

5. Litter Removal Services

Purchasing

6. Material Testing & Special Inspections for Law Enforcement Center/Animal Shelter Project

Appointments

7. Butner Board of Adjustment – ETJ

8. Butner Planning Board – ETJ Member

9. Orange Street Community Center

County Manager’s Report

10. Recap of Granville County Public Schools’ Funding History

County Attorney’s Report

11. County Attorney’s Report

Presentations by County Board Members

12. Presentations by County Board Members

Any Other Matters

13. Any Other Matters

Closed Session

14. Closed Session – Personnel

 

Samaritan’s Purse Collecting Boxes for ‘Operation Christmas Child’ Through Monday

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Robin Pate, area coordinator with Samaritan’s Purse, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss “Operation Christmas Child,” the global ministry’s program to provide children around the world with both fun and necessary items.

According to their mission statement, Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

“Operation Christmas Child,” an annual project of Samaritan’s Purse since 1993, collects small gifts and fills “shoe boxes” with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. The boxes are then delivered to children ages 2-14 in war-torn and/or impoverished countries all over the world.

“We work with countries that we know have few resources for children due to famine, poverty, war or disease,” said Pate. “We always work through local churches, but distribution may happen at an orphanage or a school.”

Packaged boxes are collected predominantly in the United States and are then delivered to approximately 100 countries all over the world. Samaritan’s Purse has set a goal this year of delivering 11 million boxes. “We start distributing boxes around Christmas and continue throughout the year,” Pate explained.

Participants are asked to start with a medium-sized cardboard or plastic box and to decide whether to pack for a boy or a girl in the age range of either 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. “We ask that you select a ‘wow’ item such as a soccer ball, stuffed animal or a doll and then fill in around the box,” Pate said.

According to Pate, the number one gift for both boys and girls is a soccer ball with a pump. Other suggestions of well-received items, in addition to stuffed animals and dolls, include roll-up fleece blankets, tee shirts, polo shirts, dresses, shoes and flip-flops.

“For most of these children, it is the first gift they’ve ever received, and it may be the only gift they ever receive,” said Pate. “We ask that people consider this and send good stuff – stuff that’s not going to tear up the first time the child uses it.”

The ministry also asks that candy, toothpaste, used or damaged items, war-related toys, breakables, food, liquids and seeds not be included as these items will not clear customs.

A donation of $9 is also suggested to cover project costs including collection, shipping and distribution of boxes. Participants can even see which country received their box by giving their donation online via the ‘Follow Your Box’ link. Donations are tax-deductible.

With November 12 -19 being National Collection Week for “Operation Christmas Child,” now is the time to bring your boxes to a local drop-off site. If you do not have a suitable box, a box will be provided for you to pack your items at the drop-off location.

Local drop-off locations include:

  • North Henderson Baptist Church – 1211 N. Garnett St., Henderson
  • Central Baptist Church – 2310 Ruin Creek Rd., Henderson
  • Tar River Baptist Association – 92 NC-56 Hwy. E, Louisburg
  • Flat River Baptist Association – 118 W. McClanahan St, Oxford

Additional drop-off hours and locations may be viewed by clicking here.

To find out more about Samaritan’s Purse and “Operation Christmas Child” including suggestions for box items, drop-off information, videos of the fun way boxes reach children and local volunteer opportunities, please visit www.samaritanspurse.com/occ.

To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Hear on School System Finances at Nov. 19 Meeting

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet Monday, November 19, 2018, at 5 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina. The purpose of the meeting is to receive a presentation from staff on School System finances and consideration of other items as listed in the online agenda.

The next regular scheduled Board meeting is Monday, December 3, 2018, at 6 p.m.

Henderson Police Arrest Two Oxford Residents Suspected in String of Robberies

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-Press Release, Henderson Police Department

On November 14, 2018, around 8:30 a.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department located the vehicle matching the description of the vehicle used in a string of robbery incidents throughout the region.

The officers conducted a traffic stop and the occupants were detained pending further investigation.  Another individual identified as being involved in the robberies was located at an area hotel and detained.

The Henderson Police Department contacted investigators with Butner Public Safety and through a collaborative investigative effort, Quavon Henderson, 18, of 101 Dove Road Oxford, NC and Robert Dylan West, 21, of 101 Dove Road Oxford, NC were identified as the suspects involved in various robberies that have occurred in Henderson, Butner, Wake Forest, and in South Hill, Virginia.

Quavon Latrell Henderson and Robert Dylan West were identified as the suspects involved in various robberies that have occurred in Henderson, Butner, Wake Forest, and in South Hill, Virginia between Nov. 6 and Nov. 13, 2018. (Photo Credit: HPD)

These incidents occurred between November 6, 2018, and November 13, 2018.

The following charges were obtained on Quavon Henderson: three counts of felony conspiracy to commit common law robbery; two counts of common law robbery; one count of attempted common law robbery; one count of felony breaking and entering; and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor/neglect due to a two-year-old being present during the offense.

Quavon Henderson received a $150,000 secured bond pending a court hearing on November 27, 2018.

The following charges were obtained on Robert Dylan West: three counts of felony conspiracy to commit common law robbery; two counts of common law robbery; one count of attempted common law robbery; and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor/neglect due to a two-year-old being present during the offense.

Robert Dylan West received a $200,000 secured bond pending a court hearing on November 27, 2018.

If anyone has any additional information related to these cases or other cases, please contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141, Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in criminal acts.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow