Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Cycle Open Now

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The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission is accepting applications for the 2023 grant cycle. The key objectives for 2023 are supporting the agricultural industry, impacting rural communities and stimulating economic development. Funds will be awarded in the fall of 2023 for selected innovative projects, according to Jeff Camden NCTTFC program officer.

“North Carolinians are great at innovation and creating jobs. We produce outstanding agriculture products and market them to the world. Providing funds for projects in current or former tobacco-dependent regions that enhance these efforts is our 2023 priorities,” said William H. “Bill” Teague, NCTTFC chairman. Applications will be accepted online for innovative projects within North Carolina. Selected projects should expect to start in November of 2023.

 

The NCTTFC was established in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to help members of the tobacco community including farmers, tobacco workers and related businesses. Its original funding was established through tobacco industry annual payments as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement. Funding is now appropriated to the NCTTFC which then reviews, selects and disperses the funds to grant projects.

 

Past NCTTFC projects includes fair and farmers market improvements, cost-share grant programs for farmers, commodity marketing, researching alternative crops and support of agricultural education programs.

Qualifying organizations can access the online application here: www.tobaccotrustfund.org.

For more information, contact Jeff Camden at 919.733.2160 Ext 1. The deadline to submit application is Friday March 3, 2023.

Granville Tourism Kicks Off ‘Project Uplift’ Partnership At Jan. 26 Event

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The Granville County Tourism Development Authority, in partnership with Uplift North Carolina, invites the public to attend a kickoff meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center (4185 US Highway 15  South, Oxford) to begin Project Uplift.

“We are excited to work with Uplift North Carolina to boost tourism and support local businesses in Granville County,” said TDA Director Angela Allen. “We know that visitors to are not concerned with exactly where county lines fall, and we know we can work with Person and Caswell counties as a team to boost all local tourism in this region and across rural North Carolina. We believe Granville is ‘Uniquely Carolina’ and we know anyone who comes to visit us will agree.”

Project Uplift is a collaborative effort between Appalachian State University, NC State University, and NatureScapes. Its goal is to boost tourism in rural North Carolina by working across county borders to support local tourism leaders and practitioners to realize their unique vision for tourism in their communities. Project Uplift will work to boost tourism connections in Granville, Person and Caswell counties, as well as four other county cohorts spread throughout the state.

Uplift North Carolina’s goals for each region are to provide more than 200 businesses with strengthened skills, products or operational models that ultimately will reach more than 3 million people about tourism in rural North Carolina.

The Jan. 26 session will begin with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. followed by a presentation from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP by Friday, Jan. 20 to angela.allen@granvillecounty.org or 919.693.6125.

To learn more about Project Uplift, visit www.uplifttourism.com.

The Local Skinny! Valentines For Veterans

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Gentiva Hospice in Oxford is hosting a Valentine’s For Veterans event later this month to make Valentine’s cards that will be shared with veterans in five different are counties.

This is the third year that Gentiva, formerly Kindred Hospice, has sponsored the activity, and Patient Care Coordinator Whitney Allen told WIZS’s Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! that she invites people of all ages to come out and show support for the veterans.

Allen said she’s not quite sure just how many cards will get made, but the group will make as many as it can.

“It’s not just for kids,” she said, “it’s for anyone who wants to come out and help our veterans.”

Volunteer Coordinator Brittany Wilson had the idea a few years ago to have a card-making party and open it up to the community to participate.

Gentiva employees bring their children, she said, and a Girl Scout group has participated in the past. But it’s not just for groups – any individual who wants to come and put their art skills to work as they enjoy some pizza and music are welcome.

Gentiva has about 20 clients who are veterans and they will get cards, but they’ll also be distributed at the VA in Durham, Allen said; cards will end up in the hands of veterans in Vance, Granville, Person, Durham and Wake counties.

“They just love it,” Allen said of previous card distribution program.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Gentiva Hospice, located at 136 Roxboro Road in the Food Lion shopping center.

Individuals also can purchase cards and drop them by the Gentiva office. Before Feb. 1.

Call Gentiva at 919.603.0126 to learn more or find details on Gentiva’s Facebook page.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Sossamon Sworn In As Dist. 32 Rep In N.C. House

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Frank Sossamon was sworn in last week as the new legislator representing Vance and Granville counties in the N.C. House before an audience of supporters in the lobby of McGregor Hall.

The Hon. John Dunlow administered the oath of office following remarks from county officials representing the local county commissions and chairmen of the Republican party.

Sossamon defeated incumbent Terry Garrison in the November mid-term elections. He had an official swearing-in on Wednesday in Raleigh.

In comments during the ceremony in Henderson earlier in the week, Sossamon recounted how he reached the decision to put throw his hat into the proverbial ring.

“The Lord used my own words against me,” Sossamon quipped, explaining that he told his church members to “be that somebody” to make change.

“I became that somebody,” Sossamon said. “I’m in it to serve the people.”

The retired pastor of South Henderson Pentecostal Church, Sossamon said he is going to have to “work hard and work fast and work smart” to get things done in Raleigh in his two-year term.

“Under my watch, I want us to be able to say that District 32 is one of the most prosperous districts” in the state; he said it currently ranks among the poorest districts.

He wants to focus on community development in both counties, which he said would have the side effects of decreasing crime, increasing educational opportunities and give young people hope.

“If we want company to come, we’ve got to clean up our house,” he said.

In an interview with WIZS News following the swearing-in, Sossamon said he looks forward to serving the people in District 32 to get some things done, and he said he will challenge the citizens he represents to join him in the effort.

Oxford Prep School

SportsTalk: Oxford Prep Athletics With John Hammett

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John Hammett patrolled the football sidelines as a head coach for many years but the former JF Webb coach now finds being athletic director at a small school such as Oxford Prep to be quite satisfying.  Even though there are aspects of being a football coach that he misses, one of the reasons he made the change was it began to become more like work.

Being a football coach meant Hammett had to deal with injuries, something he says Oxford Prep takes very seriously. “You have to teach players differently about how to deal with injuries.  The more education the better,” Hammett says. “Athletes have to be honest,” according to Hammett. That’s hard he says because the kids are competitive and don’t want to miss any time on the field or the court.

According to Hammett, Oxford Prep is becoming more competitive on the basketball court.  After a slow start, the school won a big rivalry game last week over Eno River.

So while Hammett may not be patrolling the sidelines of a football field, Oxford Prep’s AD position seems to be working out for him. “It’s nice, because it’s small,” Hammett summed up.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Youth Leadership Council Ensures Young People’s Voices Are Heard

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Sixteen Granville County high school students have been selected to serve on the Youth Leadership Council for 2022-23.

The council works with the Granville County Board of Commissioners and the local cooperative extension service to ensure that youth are represented as county leaders make decisions, according to Charissa Puryear, county extension director.

“The purpose of this council is to ensure that youth in the community have a voice, but most importantly, that their voices are heard, recognized and valued, “ Puryear said in a press release. The youth council members will learn leadership skills through service on selected county board, outreach activities, youth-led projects and other initiatives.

The group meets on the second Saturday of the month.

The new term began with a planning retreat and orientation in November at Camp Oak Hill, during which time they learned more about the council’s role in general and their roles as members.

They crafted a mission statement for the council, which reads: “The mission of the Granville County Youth Leadership Council is to provide representation, opportunities and direct connections for Granville County youth by support and amplifying youth voices and focusing on causes that affect our peers and us through education, resources, activities, community outreach, and partnerships.”

To learn more, contact the cooperative extension office at 919.603.1350 or email granvilleylc@gmail.com.

Following is a list of the new council members, the districts they represent and their roles on the council:

Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Elaina Eley, Vice Chair, Board Liaison, District 6 

Carissa Jackson-Rodriguez, Secretary, Board Liaison, District 3 

Jaden Easow, Treasurer, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Media and Public Relations Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Vashti Pearson, Social Media/Content Creator, Board Liaison, District 5 

Chloe Hernandez, Social Event Chair, Board Liaison, District 1 

Asia Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Morocco Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Annie Drake, Board Liaison, District 2 

Elijah Griffin, Board Liaison, District 1 

Joydan Johnson, Board Liaison, District 6 

Iesha Landis, Board Liaison, District 6 

Amber Necessary, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Board Liaison, District 3 

Brodie Winborne, Board Liaison, District 1

Oxford Welcomes Interim City Manager

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The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners have selected Steven L. Harrell to be the city’s interim manager.

Harrell was sworn in last week and brings close to four decades of experience in municipal government – 28 years of which he has held the position of city manager – to this most recent role.

His comprehensive experience overseeing multiple departments includes not only those that the City of Oxford has, but also sanitation, electricity, economic development and inspections. He also has experience in planning, community development, parks and recreation, and as a chamber of commerce executive working as chief liaison with local, state and federal governments.

Harrell retired in 2020 as the town manager of Ayden, and has since served as interim manager in Robersonville and Brevard. Mayor Jackie Sergent said, “The board feels that Harrell’s extensive credentials position him well for leading the city in the coming months, especially with the utility projects underway and the upcoming KLRWS plant expansion about to begin. His planning expertise will also be a boon as the City faces further development and related discussion.”

Vendors: Sign Up Now For Mar. 4 Wedding & Events Expo In Granville County

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Planning a big event in 2023? Whether it’s a wedding or other special occasion, the Granville Wedding & Events Expo may be just the thing to get your planning off to a great start.

Vendors are invited to join in the fun event, which is set for Mar. 4, 2023, according to Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen.

The daylong expo will be held at the Granville Convention & Expo Center, and it’s the place to learn more about wedding venues, vendors and other resources available to pull off a perfectly planned event, Allen said.

Vendors interested in participating in the expo should register before Jan. 13 by visiting:  https://surveyheart.com/form/6318838d543b010b1328e9d8.

Space is limited, with first priority being given to Granville-based vendors. After Jan. 13, vendors outside of Granville County will be able to sign up to participate, depending on space limitations and availability. All vendors will need to reserve space by Feb. 10, 2023.

Sponsorships for the expo are also available, as well as opportunities to distribute items to participants in “VIP bags” that will be given out at the event.

For more information about the expo, contact Allen at 919.693.6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

Chamber Accepting Nominations For John Penn Citizen Of The Year Award Through Feb. 14

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Nominations are now being accepted for the annual John Penn Citizen of the Year award, according to information from the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber will take nominations through Tuesday, Feb. 14 and the honor will be awarded at the Chamber’s annual banquet on Mar. 6.

Nominees must be residents of Granville County and the nomination form should list contributions and accomplishments, as well as evidence of the person’s impact on Granville County.

Find the nomination form here: 2022 JOHN PENN CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM.

This award is named for Granville County’s first and perhaps most outstanding citizen, John Penn, who was one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Submit completed forms to the Chamber office, P.O. Box 820, Oxford, NC 27565.

Swearing-In Ceremony For N.C. Senator-Elect Bode Jan. 7 In Oxford

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Senator-elect Mary Wills Bode will be sworn in at a ceremony this weekend in Oxford.

Bode was elected to the N.C. State Senate’s newly formed District 18 in the November midterm elections.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 outside the Granville County Courthouse.

Granville County and a small portion on northern Wake County comprise District 18, which  was formed by the General Assembly during redistricting following the 2020 Census.