Auto Owners, Brace Yourselves For Possible Insurance Rate Increase

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North Carolina insurance companies have requested a statewide average 22.6 percent increase in automobile insurance rates.

The North Carolina Rate Bureau, which represents the automobile insurance companies in the state and is not a part of the Department of Insurance, filed the request with the Department on Monday. The insurance companies requested that the rates take effect on Oct. 1.

State law gives the Commissioner of Insurance 60 days to review the rate request to determine if the increase is justified based on the data submitted.

If Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey does not agree with the requested increase, he and the Department of Insurance can negotiate a settlement or call for a hearing.

Settlements have been reached on automobile rate filings in the past. If the case goes to a hearing, a hearing officer would make a ruling on the request.

This rate filing follows a February 2023 filing in which the insurance companies requested a statewide 28.4 percent increase. That filing resulted in a settlement of an overall average 4.5 percent increase per year for two years.

NC Community Foundation Scholarship Info

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The North Carolina Community Foundation administers nearly 140 college scholarships totaling close to $1.8 million. Most of the applications are open until Mar. 3 for students looking for ways to help pay for college.

There is no cost to apply and students can apply online using NCCF’s Universal Scholarships Application, which matches student information with criteria for about 130 scholarships for which they may be eligible.

There are a dozen or so other NCCF scholarships that have separate applications with different due dates. Students should review the criteria for those and follow instructions on how to apply.

All scholarships are established through endowment funds at NCCF with criteria determined by the donor. In 2024, NCCF awarded almost $1.5 million in scholarships to 360 students.

Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Scholarships for detailed application instructions.

VCHS Band Director Jaron Cox To Take Conductor Role In 3rd Annual Community Youth Honor Band

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— information courtesy of Vance County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College

More than 100 of the region’s best young musicians will show off their skills at the 3rd annual Community Youth Honor Band Concert, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 7 at the VGCC Civic Center.

The concert, which is free and open to the public. begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Campus Civic Center in Henderson. All family, friends and community members are encouraged to come support these talented students and the schools they represent.

Jaron Cox, a founding member of the honor band event, will lead the intermediate group – the Green Honor Band. Cox is the band director at Vance County High School. VGCC music instructor Brian D. Miller will lead the advanced group, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

Middle and high school students representing schools throughout VGCC’s four-county service area were nominated by their respective band directors for their musical talent and passion. They will gather for the first time to rehearse on Thursday, Feb. 6, reconvene Friday morning, and present a concert that evening.

The student musicians will learn new songs especially for this event. Music selections had not yet been finalized at the time of publication, but event organizers offered a preview of what songs attendees might hear: “Ballad for Peace,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Ready the Castle” (JaRod Hall), and “Shadow Fire” (Randall D. Standridge), among others.

Cox said he is honored to lead this talented group of students. “The opportunity to conduct the Green Honor Band is a privilege,” said Cox. “This concert brings together young musicians from across the region to showcase their talents, and I look forward to helping them create a memorable performance.”

The Community Youth Honor Band includes middle and high school students from Granville, Vance, Warren and Franklin counties. It offers a special opportunity for students to collaborate with peers from other schools and perform in a large concert band. The preparation begins the day prior to the performance, with students rehearsing intensively for the big event.

Last year’s concert featured 95 students—45 from middle schools and 50 from high schools—performing before an audience of more than 300 in the VGCC Civic Center. This year promises to be another exciting display of musical growth and community spirit.

Cox also expressed gratitude for the continued support of the event by Betsy Henderson, VGCC Department Chair of Fine Arts and Humanities, Dr. Thomas Koinis, MD, FAAFP, VGCC Community Band member, and Tiffany Stone of Hill’s Music, aas well as Miller, who also is director of the Community Band.

This event was planned by a committee comprised of VGCC representatives, area band directors and school administrators, local business owners, and other community members. To learn more about the band or Fine Arts programs at Vance-Granville, contact department chair Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3371.

Granville County Implements “Property Check” To Guard Against Property, Mortgage Fraud

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Granville County Register of Deeds Kathy Taylor has announced the implementation of Cott System’s “PropertyCheck” that will help protect residents from property and mortgage fraud. This service, free to Granville County residents, will send a notification when an official  document is recorded on their property. Residents can activate alerts based on their name, property address or parcel number by visiting https://recordhub.cottsystems.com 

Property fraud can occur if someone forges your identity, transfers your property in their name, and records the document. This fraudulent activity can make it appear as if that person owns your property – and you may not have any idea that this happened.

The program works in the background of the Granville County Register of Deeds records management software, automatically alerting subscribers if a document with matching name or address is recorded. Property owners will need to create an account, create alerts for their name and/or property address and choose alert preferences – email or text message.

“I also recommend setting up multiple alerts based on first, middle and last name variations and your spouse’s name, to be sure that an alert will be triggered in case a recording happens with some kind of slight variation,”  Taylor said. “We hope that this service will give our residents peace of mind to monitor any activity that occurs relating to their name or property at the Granville County Register of Deeds.”

For more information, visit the Granville County Register of Deeds office located within the Granville County Courthouse at 101 Main St., Oxford or visit

https://www.granvillecounty.org/192/Register-of-Deeds.

Michael Easley, Jr. Stepping Down From U.S. Attorney Eastern District Office

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U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., will step down as attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina on Monday, Feb. 3.

Easley was nominated for the post in 2021 by President Joe Biden and, following Senate confirmation, he was sworn in on Nov. 26, 2021.

In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, Easley said, “It has been the highest honor to serve as the top federal law enforcement official for Eastern North Carolina – a place I was born, raised, and am proud to call home.” The press release did not contain details of Easley’s future plans.

Easley focused on driving down violent crime, white-collar prosecutions, protection of civil rights, and stemming the tide of narcotics into communities across the Eastern District. “We did it through partnering, shoulder to shoulder, with local law enforcement and community leaders to solve our region’s most challenging problems,” he stated, adding that he appreciates prosecutors, judges, law enforcement and staff “who give so much to see justice done every day.”

As the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the 44-county Eastern District that includes Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, Easley has overseen a staff of 119 employees, including 58 attorneys and 61 non-attorney support personnel.  The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics.  The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Throughout his term, Easley and his office have provided information to WIZS News about local cases, and he has even spoken with us as well. Over the years, he has praised the efforts of local law enforcement agencies and said they follow up and do what they say they are going to do.

In a January 2024 TownTalk program on human trafficking, Easley said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame are “reliable partners” and said they both are in his speed dial. He called District Attorney Mike Waters “one of the most forward-leaning prosecutors” he knows. “He’s an incredible partner and somebody I count on to help unravel these cases.”

In an interview Wednesday afternoon with WIZS, Barrow was equally complimentary of Easley, calling him and his office a “great partner” with local law enforcement. “He was easy to talk to…to communicate with. He had our back here (and) has helped us rid Henderson of a lot of violent offenders.”

In an August 2023 interview with WIZS, Barrow said some members of the local police department serve on different federal task forces of the DEA, ATF and the FBI, which provides a path for some cases to be tried in federal court.

“We truly did a big investment into the federal program,” Barrow explained. With input from local district attorneys to decide which cases – usually involving guns and drugs – should go to federal court, Barrow said the trials and sentencing can happen in a “pretty swift” manner.

The main thing, he said, is that “they are removed from our community – they are the worst of the worst.”

Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel of the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, said “U.S. Attorney Easley is the kind of partner every sheriff hopes for – sharp, decisive, and committed to results.  He didn’t just talk about law enforcement partnerships; he made them real, partnering with sheriffs for solutions and backing them up with action.  Under his leadership, we made real progress— violent crime down, overdose deaths falling, and tighter collaboration.  Easley set a new gold standard for what it means to lead in federal law enforcement.”

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(The story text above was originally posted to WIZS.com on 1-29-25 at 7 p.m.)

TownTalk: Love is in the Air with Granville Tourism

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February. It’s the shortest month, but that’s not stopping Tourism Director Angela Allen and Granville County from packing in a wealth of events and activities into 28 days.

From Cedar Creek Gallery’s ‘Cupful’ exhibit to the popular murder mystery dinner theatre, check out all that Granville County has to offer at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

Allen said she’s constantly updating the website and blog posts to keep the area in tune with all the goings-on.

Whether you appreciate the beauty of handcrafted pottery or enjoy the hunt for a vintage vinyl record, Allen said Granville County offers “a little bit of everything” for people to do – there’s plenty of activities for people to do and things for people to love, she said on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

And she said the collaboration that’s going on among downtown businesses – retail and restaurants – is something to behold.

Take Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., for example. It’s now offering a Saturday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. But invited to join in the fun during that time is Ox4d Music, which offers a pop-up shop on Saturdays while the finishing touches are being put on its stand-alone Main Street location.

Previously located in the lower level of The Hub on Main, the record shop will open soon at its new location.

“We are so proud of them,” Allen said. “They’re definitely a staple in downtown Oxford.”

And Angel Wings Bookstore recently opened  in the space that previously had housed Harvest Restaurant, Allen noted. But they don’t just sell books – there’s a bistro located inside that is being operated by the folks that run Bigfoot BBQ.

Allen said her webpage has a whole tab of listings dedicated to Valentine’s Day. Check out the latest – “Love is in the Air”at https://visitgranvillenc.com/blog/#!/2097-Love-Is-In-The-Air-In-Granville-County-This-Valentines-Season to view all the options for singles, couples, friends and families.

 

Here are a few highlights of upcoming events across Granville County in February:

  • Saturday, Feb. 22 – Puppy Love Quarter Auction at The Barn at Vino in Stem. Tickets are $10, and Allen suggests to purchase soon. Sponsored by the local nonprofit Dogs Deserve Better of the Piedmont, participants can expect a fun evening, great auction items and food and beverage trucks for food purchase. The doors open at 6 and the auction begins at 7. Bring a dog toy to donate and take part in a special drawing that evening. Call 919.283.1449 for more information or find details at https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/#!/288938-puppy-love-quarter-auction
  • Saturday, Feb. 8 – Couples can head over to Yoga for Good in downtown Oxford for a couples yoga class from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Once the class is over, participants can stop by Strong Arm Baking Co. with their yoga class ticket for a glass of bubbly, Allen said – the perfect wind-down after a yoga session.
  • Saturday, Feb. 8 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Take part in the Scavenger Hunt date night at Angel Wings Bookstore, 205 Williamsboro St.
  • Thursday, Feb. 13 – 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Kids ages 7-12 are invited to Hix Gym for their own version of Valentine’s Day fun, with crafts, games , pizza and more. The cost is $6 per child and the registration deadline is 12 noon on Feb. 13.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 12 – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Verdigris is the place to be to celebrate “Gal”entine’s with your best girlfriends. Finger foods, creative cocktails and music are on the menu.
  • Thursday, Feb. 13 6 p.m. – Angel Wings Bookstore hosts Book Besties Galentine’s Night. Wear comfy clothes and bring a book to share – as well as your book bestie for a cozy evening.

With all this talk about love being in the air, Allen just had to mention the annual spring Granville Wedding and Event Expo, scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 2 at the Creedmoor Community Center from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

Admission is free for all who bring a donation to Families Living Violence Free, the nonprofit agency that helps families in domestic violence situations. “If you bring a donation with you that day or go to the payment link and pay, you can get in free,” Allen said.

Come check out all the different vendors who can provide services for weddings, reunions and other big celebrations, all under one roof.

Tasting tickets are $10 and a limited number of VIP packages, which includes a tasting ticket and a swag bag, are available for $20.

https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/weddings-events/

Find out all the details at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

 

 

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NC Dept of Agriculture

NC Reports Second Bird Flu Case; Backyard Flock Owners Should Use Biosecurity Precautions

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A commercial turkey operation in Sampson County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza.

This is the second case of high path avian influenza in commercial poultry in North Carolina this year. The first case was in a commercial layer operation in Hyde County. Prior to this case, North Carolina has had 12 affected commercial flocks and eight backyard flocks.

“Since 2022, HPAI has impacted more than 141 million birds across all 50 states,” said State Veterinarian Mike Martin. “With HPAI being pervasive in some wild bird populations and the recent cases around the country, all flock owners, commercial and backyard, should remain vigilant with their biosecurity.

If your birds are sick or dying, report it right away to your local veterinarian, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division, 919.707.3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System 919.733.3986.

A positive sample in the Sampson County case was first identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh and confirmed by the USDA APHIS National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa.

Biosecurity reminders for anyone who owns backyard flocks include:

  1. Keep chickens, turkeys, quail, guineas and other poultry separately from ducks. Ducks are known reservoirs for HPAI virus and can carry the virus without signs of illness.
  2. The HPAI virus lives for a long time in cool, moist conditions, so eliminate standing water (which might attract wild birds and waterfowl) in your flock’s pen. Also, make certain your birds do not have access to other water sources that might be visited by wild waterfowl: ponds, streams, lakes. Commingling of domestic poultry with any wild waterfowl creates a real possibility for the spread of HPAI virus.
  3. Place a cover over your flock’s pen, if possible, to prevent introduction of wild waterfowl droppings into the area your flock inhabits. The droppings of infected waterfowl have very high levels of infectious HPAI virus.
  4. Feed and water your birds in a protected area to prevent attracting any wild birds. The virus infects many species of birds and can be spread to your poultry through contact with birds carrying the virus on their feet or feathers, though they may not be infected.
  5. Wear shoe covers or clean boots each time you enter your birds’ pen. This will prevent tracking HPAI virus into the birds’ pen if it is present on your grounds.
  6. Keep feeders and waterers clean and sanitized often. Wild birds infected with HPAI virus that drink or eat from your flock’s equipment can spread the virus to your flock.
  7. Do not share equipment with other flocks. If you must share equipment, be certain it is cleaned and disinfected before moving from one premises to another.
  8. If you purchase new birds, buy only from a reputable dealer. Keep the newly purchased birds separate from your existing flock for at least 3 weeks to rule out any infection that might be present, but not showing signs of illness when the birds were initially purchased.
  9. Watch your flock closely and know the signs of illness. Poultry infected with HPAI can have various signs of illness, but the most consistent sign of an infected flock is having many birds die within a short timeframe.
  10. If your flock suddenly becomes depressed and begins dying, please contact NCDA&CS, your cooperative extension office, your local veterinarian or USDA APHIS and report these deaths immediately. You can reach NCDA&CS Veterinary Division at 919.707.3250, or USDA APHIS at 1.866.536.7593.

More information on HPAI and a listing of all NC cases since 2022 can be found at

https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/AvianInfluenza.

Granville Appoints Carlos Landrau Interim Director Of Animal Management Dept.

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Granville County has appointed Carlos Landrau to serve as the interim director of the Animal Management Department following the departure of former Director Matt Katz.  Landrau brings nine years of experience to this role after previously serving as the deputy manager of Animal Services.

Landrau began his work with Animal Services in 2016 as a Granville County Animal Control Officer; a role he held for five years before being promoted to Animal Control Supervisor in 2021. Since 2024, Landrau has served as the deputy Animal Services manager. He is a certified Animal Control Investigator, with accreditations from the National Animal Care & Control Association, North Carolina Animal Control Federation, American Animal Cruelty Investigation School, Humane Society of the United State and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Landrau is a graduate of Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville and studied Mass Communications at UNC Pembroke. He is also a graduate of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Granville program.

The Granville County Animal Shelter is located at 515 New Commerce Dr., Oxford. The public hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. Adoptable pets are available to view on the Animal Shelter’s Petfinder site: https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NC135&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added 

For more information about Granville County Animal Management, visit the Granville County website:  https://www.granvillecounty.org/180/Animal-Management 

 

 

N.C. Main Street Programs Plans Feb. 12 Workshop In Oxford

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Downtown business owners and others looking for ways to revitalize, re-develop or otherwise preserve their downtown spaces can attend a daylong workshop in Oxford presented by the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning program,

The workshop will be held in the city hall auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Register online at MS&RP, according to information from Sabrina M. Richards, communications specialist for the City of Oxford.

The workshop is titled “Small-Scale Development and Historic Tax Credits” and will offer participants ways to use historic preservation as a tool for economic development, while boosting investment, creating jobs, fostering business growth and enhancing quality of life.

The workshop is open to anyone with an interest in revitalizing their downtown districts, including directors of Main Street programs, economic developers, historic preservationists, city staff like building inspectors and fire marshals, accountants, architects, engineers, neighborhood commercial district property owners and small-scale developers working in small to mid-sized communities.

Henderson and Oxford are members of the N.C. Main Street program, which operates under the N.C. Dept. of Commerce.

11th Annual “Granville Ambulance Chase” Mar. 15

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— courtesy of Lauren B. Roberson, Granville Health System Marketing & Foundation Director

The 11th Annual Granville Ambulance Chase and Food Truck Rodeo is headed to Oxford on Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025, in the heart of downtown Oxford. Sponsored by Granville Health System, this event combines fitness, family fun and community celebration and features races for all skill levels – not to mention live music and a diverse lineup of food trucks.

The races begin at 11 a.m. and include a 10k, 5k, 5k Fun Run, 1-Mile Family Walk, and a Kids Dash.  A Food Truck Rodeo and live music will be at the finish line, ready for racers and onlookers to enjoy.

Race Schedule:

  • 11 am: 10k Competitive Race Starts on Main Street
    • This is a USA Track & Field Certified Course Race
    • Participants must maintain a 12 minute / mile pace

 

  • 11:20 am: 5k Competitive Race Starts on Main Street
    • This is a USA Track & Field Certified Course Race

 

  • 11:25 am: 5K Fun Run starts on Main Street
    • perfect for those prioritizing enjoyment over race time.

 

  • 11:40 am: 1-Mile Family Walk begins on Main Street
    • Bring the entire family for a walk through beautiful downtown Oxford.

 

  • 12:30 pm:  Kids Dash begins at Littlejohn Street
    • A quick dash down Littlejohn gives your little ones the chance to cross the finish line.
    • Free of charge for children.

 

  • 11 am -2 pm: Food Truck Rodeo in Littlejohn Parking Lot
    •  **Free Admission**
    • Live music will begin at 12 noon

Registration Costs:

  • 10K: $45 pre-registered, $50 same-day registration
  • 5K: $35 pre-registered, $40 same-day registration
  • 1-Mile Family Walk: $25 pre-registered, $30 same-day registration

Group rates available for groups of 10 or more.

Registration fee includes a race T-shirt for the first 400 registered participants and awards for top finishers. Online registration can be found at www.ghsAmbulanceChase.org.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, contact Lauren Roberson, GHS Foundation Director, at 919.690.2148.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Granville Health System Foundation, supporting its mission to enhance healthcare services and resources in Granville County.