Former Granville Sheriff Gets 18-Month Sentence For Falsifying Training Records

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Former Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins was convicted late last week by a Wake County jury on multiple counts of obstruction of justice and obtaining property by false pretenses.

The jury found Wilkins guilty of falsifying in-service training and firearms records necessary to maintain law enforcement certification for himself and other certain deputies under his command, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. The court sentenced Wilkins to a minimum of 18 months in prison followed by two years’ probation. He was immediately taken into custody.

Wilkin, originally indicted in September 2019, faces additional criminal charges, including two counts of felony obstruction of justice charges arising from allegations that Wilkins withheld knowledge of a credible threat to kill a former deputy and that he failed to make reasonable and professional efforts to protect the deputy. Two felony and two misdemeanor charges relating to allegations that Wilkins failed to discharge the duties of his office are also pending.

Following Wilkins’ original indictment on Sept. 16, 2019, Granville County Attorney Jim Wrenn brought an action to remove Wilkins as sheriff of Granville County. On Sept. 23, 2019, Wilkins agreed to a consent order suspending his service as sheriff pending resolution of the criminal charges. Following Wilkins’ suspension as sheriff, the Granville County board of commissioners authorized Wrenn to lead an internal investigation.

Details of the above-referenced internal investigations can be found on the Granville County website at this link: https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/county-commissioners/special-investigation-reports/.

Russ May Named Chair Of Granville Commissioners

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Russ May has been named chair of the Granville County Board of Commissioners. Tim Karan was installed as vice-chair and newly elected District 2 commissioner Rob Williford was sworn in as the newest member of the county board during its December meeting on Monday.

May represents District 5 and Karan represents District 6; in addition, District 7 commissioner Jimmy Gooch was sworn in for his first full term on the board.

Each December, the board votes to appoint a new chair and vice-Chair to serve for one year. Cr May, who was first elected in 2020, was named vice-chair last year. This is Karan’s second turn as vice-chair, having held it previously in 2014-15. Karan chaired the board in 2016-17, having been first elected in 2010. This is his fourth term in office.

Gooch was originally appointed in October 2020 to fulfill the unexpired term of Edgar Smoak, who died in September 2020.

Karan and Gooch were sworn in by commissioner Tony Cozart and were joined on stage by their wives Liz and Wendy, respectively. Williford was sworn in by NC 9th District Court Judge Katherine Burnette and was joined on stage by his wife Lori.

Williford won his District 2 seat in November, taking the place of David Smith who retired from his nearly 50-year career in public service. Smith served three terms as a commissioner. He was sheriff in Granville County from 1998 to 2009, but spent close to four decades in various roles in the Granville County sheriff’s office.

The Granville County Board of Commissioners typically meet on the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center, located  at 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.

For more information, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/county commissioners/.

Check Receipts To Avoid Scanner Overcharges

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Four area stores in Vance County and one in Granville County have racked up more than $20,000 in civil penalties as a result of excessive price-scanner errors, according to information from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Standards Division.

These five area locations are among 70 stores in 38 counties across the state that were identified by the department’s standards division during the third quarter of 2022.

If it passes reinspection, the Raleigh Road Dollar General will not have to pay the $5,000 it was assessed. It has paid fines for excessive scanner errors earlier in the year. The other four stores – two Family Dollar stores and two Dollar Generals – paid fines ranging from $1,530 to $5,000.

“Our Standards Division continues to see a significant increase in stores with price scanner errors, as many stores continue to deal with staffing shortages,” N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a press release announcing the fines.

“During the holidays especially every penny counts, and we want consumers to pay attention during check out. Over the last year we have seen about 26 percent of price scanner inspections fail. It is always a good practice for consumers to check their receipts as well as the price on the shelf to make sure that they are paying the correct amount and alert managers if they are not correct.”

The department conducts periodic, unannounced inspections of price-scanner systems in businesses to check for accuracy between the prices advertised and the prices that ring up at the register. If a store has more than a 2 percent error rate on overcharges, inspectors discuss the findings with the store manager and conduct a more intensive follow-up inspection later. Undercharges are also reported, but do not count against a store.

Penalties are assessed if a store fails a follow-up inspection. In addition to the penalties paid, the store will be subject to re-inspection every 60 days from the last inspection until it meets the 2-percent-or-less error rate. Additional penalties may be assessed if a store fails a re-inspection.

Following is a breakdown of the information provided by the state:

• Family Dollar at 1414 East Andrews Ave. paid $3,715 in fines. An inspection in April found an error rate of six percent based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store also failed its previous three inspections and paid additional fines. The store passed inspection in June.

• Family Dollar at 901 South Beckford Drive, Henderson paid $5,000 in fines. An inspection in August found an error rate of 33.33 percent based on 100 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store also failed four previous inspections and paid additional fines. The store passed inspection in October with zero overcharges.

• Dollar General at 4500 N.C. Highway 39 South paid $1,530 in fines. An inspection in July found an error rate of 6 percent based on 18 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store passed inspection in September.

• Dollar General at 394 Raleigh Road was assessed a $5,000 fine. An inspection in October found an error rate of 27.67 percent based on 83 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store also failed three other inspections this year and paid additional fines. The store will be reinspected.

• Granville Dollar General at 108 Highway 15 North, Stovall paid $5,000 in fines. An inspection in October found an error rate of 17.33 percent based on 52 overcharges in a 300-item lot. The store also failed and paid fines for three previous inspections this year. The store will be reinspected.

Consumers who would like to file a complaint about scanner errors they encounter can call the standards division at 984.236.4750.

SportsTalk: Mize Goes Out On Top At Webb??

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While Lisa Mize is definitely on top, the question is whether she is actually going to retire. Mize was a guest on SportsTalk on Thursday, and she said it is not yet set in stone, but her plans are to fold up the volleyball net. Mize was recently named as North Carolina 2A Volleyball Coach of The Year at J.F. Webb High School. The Warriors made it into the second round of the state playoffs this season.

Mize has served as JV and varsity head coach at Webb for many years, and she’s watched the girls grow up. “I’ve taught some of them in elementary school,” Mize said.”  She continued, “The seniors are why I came back this year.”  She was recently honored for her achievements by the Granville County School Board for her service in the school system.

“It’s very hard to step away.  I’ll miss the girls, but I won’t miss the long hours,” Mize said. She said she will keep up with her players and expects a few road trips to watch some of them play in college, but when pressed about whether she will actually retire she said, “Nothing’s final. Nothing is in stone.”  While she may have ideas of retirement, her players have other ideas. “They are begging me to stay,” Mize said.

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TownTalk: Disc Golf At Granville Athletic Park

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We see them everywhere: those flexible plastic discs that get flung through the air on beaches, college campuses and playgrounds.

Toy manufacturer Wham-O was the first to call them Frisbees in the late 1950’s and since then, the flying discs have been tossed about for fun – and competitively.

Local disc golf enthusiasts have a high-quality 18-hold course to practice their sport at Granville Athletic Park, and the board of commissioners recently recognized their efforts to bring such a course for the public to enjoy.

The course is called “The Incinerator,” the result of Granville County native David Nicholson and a group of dedicated volunteers who partnered with GAP parks and grounds crew to create. It began in 2018 with nine holes and the final nine was completed in 2022.

It was built with minimal labor and expenses by county staff and has already put Granville County on the map in the disc golf world, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

“These volunteers have succeeded in creating a destination for disc golf enthusiasts from across the state in a uniquely themed course that pays tribute to the rich history behind the park’s development,” the statement continued.

For more information about the Incinerator Disc Golf Course, please visit the Granville County website:  https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/recreation/granville-athletic-park-gap-2/34051-2/

In addition to Nicholson, commissioners also recognized the following disc golf course volunteers: Kyrston Nicholson, Jeff Schons, Michael Fortlage, Ben Lewis Benjamin, Fermin Calderon, Russell Davis, Heyward Gignilliat, Andy Mathews, Joe Tartamella, Justin Crow, Dilon Lawson, Dionicio Salazar, Paul  Shelton Jr., Parker Schons, Samuel Sirianna, Adam Weisbrodt, Larry Smith, Davis Lever and Sam Taylor.

 

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Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH Community Assessment Released

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Every three years, health departments across the state evaluate community health priorities and create a community health assessment to guide their efforts and inform programs and projects that are important to the people they serve.

Granville Vance Public Health recently released its 2021 health assessment, in partnership with the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, local agencies and Triangle North Healthcare Foundation. According to the document, the top three community health priorities in Vance and Granville counties are:

  • mental health and substance use disorder
  • access to health care – including affordability
  • engaging youth to advance community health and safety

“The CHA demonstrates synergy and informs Granville and Vance County residents about the strengths of our local community as well as opportunities for improvement,” said GVPH Director Lisa Harrison.
“The CHA results are used regularly by many groups in grant applications, program development, and can serve as an important consideration for economic development opportunities,” Harrison said in a press statement accompanying the health assessment document.

The CHA includes information collected from a variety of focus group meetings of area residents, as well as other data from agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau, local government agencies, school districts and the state and federal health agencies. A steering committee met regularly to guide the process and members of the community offered feedback throughout the process.

The Community Health Improvement Plan, conducted in October, engaged partners in the two counties to develop measurable objectives to address each priority, identify evidence-based strategies to achieve those objectives, and plan evaluation and accountability throughout the next three years.

Next steps include identifying specific evidence-based interventions and programs to incorporate into their overall plan for health services that address the three health priorities that were identified in the community assessment.

The comprehensive report provides a wealth of information about the two counties served by the health district, from high school graduation rates and access to grocery stores, to safety and recreational outlets.

View the full report at http://www.gvph.org/wp 

content/uploads/2022/09/GVPH-2021-CHA-Report_v2.pdf.

Granville Brimming With Holiday Happenings

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Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said the county is brimming with activities as December ushers in the Christmas holiday season – and things get underway today in Oxford with the city’s traditional Lighting of the Greens festivities.

At 4 p.m., there will be activities for children, musical performances, food vendors and more, Allen said on Thursday’s TownTalk. After the ceremonial Lighting of the Greens occurs at 6:45 p.m., followed by the Christmas parade at 7 p.m. Head for Main Street in front of the courthouse to take part in all the pre-parade action. Check out the city’s Facebook page for a rundown of events.

“It’s a great time to gather with family and friends,” Allen said. “You are definitely going to get into the Christmas spirit here in Granville County.”

The town of Butner is also light things up this evening, with Christmas in the Park at Gazebo Park. Parents, bring the kids between 5:30 and 6:45 to come visit with Santa, and then at 7, the park lights will be displayed for all to enjoy.

Not to be outdone, the city of Creedmoor is sponsoring a program at 7 p.m. at the recreation center, 108 E. Wilton Ave. Allen said there’s a promise of some hot cocoa and maybe even a bonfire to gather around as a variety of local choirs perform.

“You definitely have an opportunity to welcome the season,” Allen said, no matter where in the county you choose to be.

Other events of note include:

Dec. 3

  • Creedmoor Christmas parade – 11 a.m., downtown Creedmoor
  • Butner Christmas parade – 2 p.m.
  • Holiday Gala at The Orpheum in Oxford – black tie affair with proceeds to benefit Hope House, Oxford. Go to The Orpheum’s Facebook page or pick up tickets at The Hub on Main in person or via the Facebook page.

Dec. 4-6

  • Granville Little Theatre’s radio play production of “A Christmas Carol – 7 p.m. each night at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.

Dec. 7

  • Cocoa with Santa at The Barn at Vino, Stem. There will be vendors on hand from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Santa’s rolling in on a fire truck at 2 p.m., ready for a photo with the kids. Free to attend, but a professional photographer will be taking pictures with Santa for purchase. Check Eventbrite online and look for “Cocoa with Santa and Vendor Fair” for details.

Dec. 8

  • Downtown Oxford’s after hours “Jingle and Mingle” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visit participating merchants and restaurants to take in some holiday shopping and sipping. Check Oxford’s Facebook page for updates leading to this event.

Dec. 10-12

  • Delrayno Baptist Church’s annual “Back to Bethlehem” drive-through live Nativity. Open each night from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 10

  • Carlee Farms in Stem is having its Holiday Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • “Jingle Jangle Bazaar” at the Stem Ruritan Club. More than 40 vendors will be on hand with holiday gifts galore from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. And there may be a visit from St. Nick himself!
  • Grassy Creek Christmas parade – 2 p.m.

And sometime during the holiday season, be sure to check out the Granville Christmas Farm. If you visited the Granville Haunt Farm around Halloween, the address will be familiar – 4534 Hwy. 15 South. But that’s where the similarities end, Allen said, because Grey Blackwell and his crew have gone from scary to Merry!

This drive-through lights display has all the traditional themes: “all the things that you love so much about Christmas,” she said. This is the first of what Allen said she hopes becomes an annual event, creating “another great tradition that we do for the holiday.” The Christmas Farm began the day after Thanksgiving and will continue through Jan. 1.

Visit https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/ for a complete listing of events coming up.

Granville Recreation Grant Application Window Open Through Jan. 31, 2023

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The Granville County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee is accepting applications for the 2023 recreation mini-grant cycle. The application period will close at 3 p.m on Jan.31, 2023.

Submitted requests may not exceed $25,000, according to information from county public information officer Terry Hobgood. Applicants must be a government entity or a non-profit organization. While it is not mandatory that the non-profits have 501c-3 designation, it is encouraged.

The programming funds are used to facilitate the development  and support of active and passive recreation and leisure activities for Granville County residents. The objective is to make these activities available to as many residents as possible, and to include a broad spectrum of  participants, especially in areas of the county that are underserved by recreational opportunities (such as the southeastern portion of the county) or areas have not received prior funding. Recreation programming should seek to serve all age groups. The Granville County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Committee bylaws  prohibit discrimination in the use of funds.

The grant application is available at https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/recreation/recreation-grant/ or request a paper copy from the Granville County Planning Department in Oxford.

Applications should be submitted by email to:

justin.jorgensen@granvillecounty.org, or in person/by mail to the Granville County Planning Department, 122  Williamsboro St., P.O. Box 877, Oxford NC, 27565.

To learn more about this grant, contact Justin Jorgensen, senior transportation planner, by phone at 919.603.1332 or by email at justin.jorgensen@granvillecounty.org.

Don’t Fall Victim To Fraud – Attend “Scam Jam” Dec. 5 At Person Co. Senior Center

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The Person County Senior Center in Roxboro is the site of the upcoming 2022 Scam Jam event, sponsored by the Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging, on Monday, Dec. 5.

What’s a Scam Jam? It’s a collection of educational presentations designed to help consumers learn about different types of scams and frauds, and how to keep from being a victim, according to Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, KTCOG’s communications coordinator.

Whether it’s consumer fraud, identity theft or telemarketing fraud, guest speakers will help educate attendees about how to spot, avoid and report such activities. The event starts at 1:30 p.m., with presentations beginning at 2 p.m.

Among those scheduled to speak are N.C. Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, Ann Elmore, agency legal consultant with the N.C. Dept. of the Secretary of State and Kevin Roberson, NC senior Medicare Patrol director and SHIIP compliance officer.

The Scam Jam is free and open to anyone in the five-county area that KTCOG serves, including Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties.

Refreshments will be provided.

The Person County Senior Center is located at 87 Semora Rd., Roxboro.

TownTalk: Ragland Produces Christian Stage Play

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Connie Ragland’s newest play is called “This Is Why We Don’t Come To Church,” and it premieres on Saturday, Dec. 10 in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center.

The Christian stage production takes a somewhat satirical look at a serious topic – attitudes about church.

Have you ever known a “pew-owner” – that person who gets into a snit when someone else is sitting in “their” pew? Or have you seen churchgoers shun someone simply because they didn’t dress the right way for church?

Ragland said that these behaviors may contribute to a decline in church membership, and she said her play is going to poke a little fun at some stereotypes.

Things have shifted in the church and in the country, Ragland told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk. Whether it’s because churches had to close their doors during COVID-19 and embrace virtual services, or whether it’s for other reasons, church membership is down, she said.

The play’s title, she said, “is a way to grab your attention and say ‘hmmm, I wonder what that’s all about,” Ragland said.

The play includes plenty of local talent, but some cast members are traveling from as far away as Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City.

“There’s something in it for everyone,” Ragland said. “A lot of the cast are millennials,” she said, with other age groups and generations represented as well.
With a blended cast representing a wide range of ages, she said “everyone will get something out of this show.”

As she was writing the play, she said a particular person’s name popped into her head for a particular role. She called that person, who immediately accepted, saying she had been searching for a way to return to the stage.

“I’m just overwhelmed with joy when people say ‘yes’ to me,” Ragland said, “that people want a part of something of this nature.”

The play is made possible thanks to a joint effort with Connie Ragland Productions, Youth Christian Center and its board, led by Delthine Watson “to help bring positive things back to the community.”

Formed several years ago by the Rev. Eddie Williams, the Youth Christian Center’s mission is to educate and inspire young people, whether they’re learning the finer points of etiquette or how to tie a necktie.

“We’re excited – we’ve got more rehearsals coming up, but the general feeling is yes, we’re ready to get the message out there,” Ragland said.

The play is for the whole family. “It will make you laugh, cry and think,” Ragland said.

Tickets are $15 for youth and and $25 for adults. Purchase them at eventbrite.com or call Vincent Ragland at 252.213.2095. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local charities.

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