TownTalk: What’s Happening In May In Granville County

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If the phrase “a rolling stone gathers no moss” applied to a geographic entity, then Granville County would be that moss-less stone. The array of activities is dizzying, and Tourism Director Angela Allen shared just a glimpse into what’s in store for May on Wednesday’s TownTalk with WIZS’s Bill Harris.

First up is Quittin’ Time in downtown Oxford, which kicks off May 4 stretches across May and June on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Area restaurants and other retail outlets have joined forces to create what Allen called a “little version in downtown Oxford of Spanish-style tapas dining.” Patrons can stroll from spot to spot, ordering up small plates and specialty drinks along the way.

“For me, Quittin’ Time takes it up to a whole ‘nother notch,” Allen said. “We really want people to think of this as a gathering time – a great excuse to get outside.”

Participating businesses include:

  • Strong Arm Baking Co.
  • Main St. Oasis
  • The Hub on Main
  • Milano’s
  • Orpheum
  • Harvest
  • Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.
  • Oxford Oaks Distillery
  • Uptown 101

Find details about menus and more on Visit Downtown Oxford’s Facebook page.

Other upcoming events in Granville County include:

  • Granville Little Theatre’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which runs consecutive weekends beginning the weekend of Friday, May 5. Shows are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and there will be a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15, with tickets for students, seniors over 65 and veterans $10. The shows will be held in the auditorium of City Hall, located at 300 Williamsboro St. in Oxford.
  • Butner’s Friday Movie in the Park – Bring lawn chairs and blankets to Gazebo Park on Central Avenue in Butner on Friday, May 5 to enjoy the family movie “The Sandlot.” There will be free popcorn and water, courtesy of a local church, Allen said. The movie begins about 8:15 p.m., so make sure you get there early to get all set up. Just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate, the movie will move to the Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena.
  • Alive After Five – The kickoff will be Thursday, May 11, a raindate from the original date in late April. Everything else is the same – Things crank up at 5 p.m. with The Konnection Band and then The Orpheum will host an “after party” until about 11 p.m.
  • CultureFest – Saturday, May 13 is the date for this year’s CultureFest, which celebrates world cultures with food trucks, vendors, performers and demonstrations. From cloggers and African drummers to the art of tortilla making and blacksmithing, the area around Littlejohn Street in downtown Oxford will come alive with tastes, sounds, sights and aromas from all around the world. “It’s a wonderful experience to get together (to) learn about other cultures and enhance your love for your own culture,” Allen said.
  • Cedar Creek National Teapot Show – The Creedmoor gallery puts on this show every three years, Allen said. It kicks off on May 20, but the teapots will be on display through September. While many are functional, Allen said that some of the teapots are quite artistic. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at 1150 Fleming Rd. off Hwy 15 outside Creedmoor.

 

Find all these events and more at www.visitgranvillenc.com, or follow Granville Tourism on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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Granville County Library System

Granville Library System Adds LinkedIn Learning To Patron Amenities

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County Library System patrons now have access to a free service that offers thousands of courses and trainings that can be used for professional and personal development.

LinkedIn Learning offers more than 16,000 courses – from leadership and computer skills to foreign language classes, according to information from Director Will Robinson.

Need to brush up on your Microsoft Office skills? There’s a class for that. What about that resume you’ve been meaning to update? Check. There’s a class for that, too. And if you wish you’d paid more attention during your foreign language class in high school, there’s something for you, too. Users can enroll in courses in seven different languages  – English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, and Mandarin – and follow customized learning paths at their own pace.

“LinkedIn Learning is one of the top online professional development curriculums available,” Robinson said. “We are excited to offer this resource for free to all residents with the added benefit of making the same training available to all county employees. It was an easy win-win decision to provide this valuable resource to Granville County residents while simultaneously improving the professional training available to county employees.”

The addition of LinkedIn learning aligns with several priorities identified in Granville County’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan including improving resident services with online access, retaining local talent through skill development for the workforce, creating community and employee education opportunities and improving training resources to ensure Granville County is a preferred destination for the top public service employees in  this region.

Granville Library users can login to LinkedIn Learning with their library card number and Personal Identification Number. Need help? The library staff is happy to help. Contact the Thornton Library at  919.693.1121 or the South Branch Library at 919.528.1752.

Visit www.granvillecounty.org/linkedin to get started.

LinkedIn Learning is also available for mobile devices allowing offline access and learning on the go.

Download  the IOS version in the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linkedin-learning/id1084807225) or for  Android devices visit the Google Play store

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linkedin.android.learning&hl=en_US&gl=US). On the mobile app, select “Sign in with a Library Card” and enter “granvillecountylibrarysystem” as the Library ID and follow the prompts to enter the library card number and your PIN.

 

Oxford Police Dept

Oxford Police, ALE Agents Arrest Four On Drug Charges

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Four Oxford residents face a slew of drug charges following an investigation by the Oxford Police Department and ALE special agents earlier this week.

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, ALE special agents and the Oxford Police Department, executed a search warrant at Four Corners Food Mart, located at 1104 Goshen St. in Oxford, after receiving complaints of drug sales at the location.

As a result of the investigation, two employees and two owners were charged with a total of 21 charges, which included 14 felonies. During the search, agents seized more than 3.5 pounds of marijuana,oxycodone, Adderall, Xanax pills, Ecstasy tablets and Suboxone, as well as one handgun and more than $11,000.

“The Oxford Police Department is appreciative for the joint effort in making our community safer,” Chief Pat Ford said in a press release issued Thursday. “Thank you to the agents and officers involved.”

Charged in connection with the case are:

  • Abraham Saif Assaedi, 27, was charged with Felony Conspire to Sell Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Maintain a Dwelling/Vehicle/Place for Controlled Substances and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
  • Saif Alsaidi, 71, was charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Conspire to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Felony Maintain a Dwelling/Vehicle/Place for Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
  • Nikki Davis, 47, was charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Felony Conspire to Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Felony Trafficking Opium or Heroin, Possession with Intent to  Manufacture/Sell/Delivery Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Maintain a Dwelling/Vehicle/Place for Controlled Substances, Felony Possession Schedule II Controlled Substances, Felony Possession Schedule I Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule III Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia.
  • Felicia Ann Hayes, 47, was charged with Felony Possession with the Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Felony Conspire to Sell Marijuana and Simple Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Granville Opioid Advisory Committee To Hold Public Input Meeting May 4

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Opioid Advisory Committee will host a second public input meeting on Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. to educate and engage with the community on strategies to fight the opioid epidemic in Granville County.

The meeting will be held in the Willow Oak Room at the Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive in Creedmoor. The public will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about how money should be allocated to combat the opioid crisis, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

Granville County is set to receive $6.8 million over the next 16 years as part of the National Opioid Settlements. This litigation against large manufacturers and distributors of opioids who contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States will provide funding to state, county, and municipal governments to grow or implement proven strategies that will help prevent, treat, and foster recovery from opioid addiction.

In conjunction with public input meetings, the Opioid Advisory Committee has issued a brief survey to help the committee form its final funding recommendations that will be presented to the county commissioners for approval. Take the survey at www.granvillecounty.org/opioidsurvey.

“Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey and join us on May 4 to help us fight the opioid epidemic here in Granville County,” said committee chair Jimmy Gooch. “As a county government, we have an obligation to utilize these funds to help as many of our residents as possible while also being careful stewards of the dollars we receive. Gaining a better understanding of how our community would like the county to prioritize our spending is a critical step to improving how the opioid crisis is addressed in Granville County.”

The Opioid Advisory Committee was established in 2018 by the Granville County Board of Commissioners to engage in shared leadership and collective action to advance a comprehensive response to opioid and other  drug use. The committee includes representatives and stakeholders from within Granville County government as well as Granville-Vance Public Health, Granville Health System, Vaya Health, law enforcement,  local pharmacy owners, behavioral health professionals, affected families and other concerned citizens.

For more information about the National Opioid Settlements, visit the “More Powerful NC” website:  https://www.morepowerfulnc.org/opioid-settlements/nc-memorandum-of-agreement/.

SportsTalk: Highland Games Coming To Oxford Saturday

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Kilts and haggis and all things Scottish will descend on Oxford’s Central Children’s Home this Saturday for the Premier Highland Games.  Buck Buchanan, a board member of the Central Children’s Home, Organizer of the games and Scottish Descendent is expecting a big turnout for the event. “Last year we raised $10,000 in our first year. This year we are hoping for $25,000,” Buchanan said.  The money will all go to the Central Children’s Home.  “We want to provide a beautiful place for the children,” added Buchanan, and the money raised at Saturday’s free event will help.  While the event itself is free, there is a $20 fee for parking which also goes back to support the home.

The events will feature “large men and women” according to Buchanan.  These large men and women will be hurling heavy objects including 56 pound weights, 16 pound burlap bags, 20 pound Scottish hammers, 21 and 28 pound metal blocks, 18 pound river stones and logs in a variety of competitions.  All part of a Scottish tradition that goes back 700 years.

After the heavy objects are hurled you may need food, and there will be plenty of traditional Scottish food on hand from sausages and meat pies to haggis. Music will be provided by three pipe and drum bands to bring not only the sights but the sounds of Scotland to Oxford.

The event will take place 9  a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Central Children’s Home in Oxford at 211 W. Antioch Dr.

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Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen

McMillen Selected As New Butner Town Manager

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-information courtesy of the Town of Butner

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen will become the next town manager of Butner.

The town of Butner issued a press statement Wednesday announcing the selection of McMillen, who was chosen from a pool of 30 applicants generated by a nationwide search.

Finalists were interviewed in early April, and a contract with McMillen was approved on Monday, April 17. He will begin his new job on June 12, 2023.

McMillen brings to his new role nearly 15 years of government experience. He has served as Vance County’s manager since August 2016, and was assistant manager from 2013-2016. Before that, he was director of planning and development from 2008 to 2013.

“I appreciate the Council’s thorough selection process and am thrilled to come on board in Butner.  I look forward to building relationships, working with staff and the Council, and ultimately continuing the great work of serving the citizens in Butner,” said McMillen. “The Town has a bright future, and I am drawn to its rural character and close-knit atmosphere, its outstanding access to the Triangle and growth potential, as well as its family-friendly feel and vision for the future.”

“We are delighted to have Mr. Jordan McMillen join us as the new Town Manager,” said Terry Turner, Mayor of Butner. “We are confident in his skills and abilities to move Butner forward. He will be a great asset to the people of Butner.”

He has a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He was awarded the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments Outstanding County Manager of the Year in 2020 and the Egan Award for Application of Information Technology in 2008.

Jerry L. Ayscue, who has been serving as interim town manager since December 2022, will stay on until McMillen begins his duties in June.

Two J.F. Webb Students Selected To Attend 2023 Governor’s School

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Schools

Two J.F. Webb High juniors will be spending part of their summer at Governor’s School, the annual enrichment residential program for rising seniors across the state.

Both young women have chosen English as the discipline they will focus on during the summer program.

Chapman Burnette and Destiny Royster will participate in the summer residential program, according to information from Granville County Public Schools spokesperson Dr. Stan Winborne.

Burnette chose English because of her passion for reading and writing – especially writing. “I find writing stress-relieving and engaging, as I have to carefully think out every word and put it in the right place so that whatever I’m writing is clear and works cohesively,” Burnette stated.

Outside of school, Burnette enjoys playing volleyball and creating digital art. After graduation, she plans to attend a 4-year university to major in criminology. She is the daughter of Caroline and Scott Burnette.

Royster said the’s thankful for being selected. “Governor’s School is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I am incredibly thankful. She stated that she hopes it will open up opportunities in the future as senior year and graduation get closer.  Her hobbies include designing houses on her games and spending quality time with family.  Her post-high school plans are to study economics or business.  Destiny would like to pursue a career in architecture and real estate. She is the daughter of Tia Royster-Williams and Archie Williams.

The North Carolina Governor’s School is a 4-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students that integrates academic disciplines, the arts and unique courses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and does not involve credit, tests, or grades.

Governor’s School programs are located on the campus of Meredith College in Raleigh and Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem

The North Carolina Governor’s School is the nation’s oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted high school students. The program, which is open to rising seniors only, with exceptions made for rising juniors in selected performing/visual arts areas, is located on two campuses of up to 335 students each.

Springtime Vaccines Protect Equines From Deadly Diseases

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-information courtesy of the N.C. Department of Agriculture

If you’re a horse owner, listen up: It’s time to protect your equines against a couple of serious ailments.

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler encourages equine owners to have their animals vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus, two diseases with high mortality rates. Both, however, are preventable with a simple vaccination.

“Mosquito-breeding season in North Carolina lasts from spring until the first frost and horses are at risk if not properly vaccinated,” Troxler said. “EEE is fatal 90 percent of the time in horses and WNV has a fatality rate of 30 percent.”

Last year, there were no recorded cases of EEE and one case of WNV. In 2021, there were three recorded cases of EEE and two cases of WNV.

State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin recommends that equine owners talk to their veterinarians about an effective vaccination protocol to protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases. The combination vaccination initially requires multiple injections for horses, mules and donkeys that have no prior vaccination history.

Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days, so removing any source of standing water can reduce the chance of exposing animals to WNV or EEE. Keeping horses in stalls at night, using insect screens and fans, and turning off lights after dusk can also help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Insect repellants can be effective if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Symptoms of EEE include impaired vision, aimless wandering, head pressing, circling, inability to swallow, irregular staggering gait, paralysis, convulsions and death. Once a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito, it could take between 3 and 10 days for symptoms to appear.

Symptoms of WNV include fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, head pressing, seizures and aimless wandering.

People, horses and birds can become infected from a bite by a mosquito carrying these diseases, but there is no evidence that horses can transmit the viruses to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.

Equine care also includes keeping up-to-date on equine infectious anemia (EIA) testing, commonly referred to as the Coggins test. “Since January there have been 20 cases of EIA in North Carolina. There is no vaccine and no cure for this disease so testing annually is important,” Troxler added.

“It’s also a great time to make sure your animal is current on its rabies vaccination,” Troxler said. “In 2022, seven cases of livestock infected with rabies were reported to our Veterinary Division. Since January, we have had two positive cases in livestock. Historically, most of the cases have been in cows but all livestock are naturally curious animals, which puts them at risk for a bite if a rabid animal gets through their fence line.”

Arts In Bloom Gala Features Granville Students’ Artwork

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More than 150 original pieces of art created by students from schools throughout Granville County will on display at the Granville Museum – and on the auction block – for the second Arts in Bloom Gala April 25 and April 27.

Granville Ed Foundation Director Jennifer Carpenter said bids will be accepted on the opening day of the event, Tuesday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, and she invites folks to come out and view the artwork and place bids. Bidding reopens at 1o a.m. on April 27 and closes at 8 p.m. when the winners will be notified.

Carpenter and Granville Chamber of Commerce Director Lauren Roberson were on The Local Skinny! to share details about the event, and how the two local organizations collaborated to showcase the art gala, the proceeds of which come back to schools in the county in the form of grants.

Last year’s auction netted more than $5,600, Carpenter said, and this year’s is expected to top that. A reception will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25. The museum is located at 1 Museum Lane, Oxford.

In planning the gala, the women said they intentionally coordinated the art gala on the same day as the kickoff of Alive After Five in downtown Oxford.

Roberson is on the GEF board and she invites the community to take a few minutes to walk through the museum on their way to, or from, the concert downtown on April 27.

The Konnection Band will perform from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., officially opening the 20th anniversary of the popular seasonal outdoor concert series. There will be food trucks, face painting for the kids, as well as offerings from Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. and The Hub on Main.

“We want to get as many people into downtown as possible,” Roberson said, to enjoy the concert and to enjoy the artwork from talented local youth.

Visit https://granvilleedfoundation.org/ or find GEF on Facebook for a sneak peek at some of the art pieces that will be included in the silent auction.

 

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Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free Offers Tips To Identify, Report Sexual Assault

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April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Families Living Violence Free offers information to the community to learn more about how to protect yourself and how to report incidents.

FLVF defines the term sexual assault as any type of sexual activity or contact that happens without your consent. “Sexual assault can include non-contact activities, such as someone “flashing” you (exposing themselves to you) or forcing you to look at sexual images. Sexual assault is also called sexual violence or abuse,” according to FLVF Director Nancy Roark.

Roark offers these tips about reporting a sexual assault:

  • First of all, ensure your own safety
  • After the experience of sexual trauma, the first and most important factor should be prioritizing your safety and well-being
  • Reach out for support
  • Consider your medical options

It’s important for victims to understand that it’s not their fault. A range of emotions swirls through victims’ minds, but it is crucial to understand the victim is not at fault.

For more information or help,  contact

Families Living Violence Free (FLVF) at 919.693.5700.