Granville Ed Foundation Awards More Than $50,000 In Grants To Local Teachers

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The Granville Education Foundation (GEF) has distributed awards totaling more than $50,000 to schools across the county during its recent “Prize Patrol” celebration.

The foundation funded 40 grants in 16 different schools, according to GEF Executive Director Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter.

A total of 82 applications were reviewed and scored by GEF grant committee members. Names and schools were not included on the applications during the evaluation process. A GEF team presented the awards to happy recipients on Nov. 19 and on Nov. 22.

“This day was filled with surprises, excitement, and tears of joy for many deserving teachers and students.  We secretly notified the school principals we would be awarding the grants, but the teachers were unaware.  Balloons, checks, and grant acceptance letters were delivered to the schools during the celebrations.  It was delightful to witness these very happy Granville County School teachers receive their grants!” Carpenter said in a press release.

GEF board president Dr. Linda Frederickson was among the team that visited schools to celebrate with the recipients. “Our grant funding goes directly into the classrooms for these teachers’ innovative projects, which is exciting not only for the teachers receiving the grants, but for their schools, their students, and for our GEF board of directors,” Frederickson stated. “We are excited about these projects and look forward to hearing how these grants impact our Granville County Students.”

GEF will remain in contact with the grant recipients throughout the 2021-2022 school year to stay updated on the projects made possible with the grant funding.

There are four types of grants available – “success through technology” grants for a maximum of $5,000; “experience” grants for a maximum of $1,000; “performing & visual arts” grants for a maximum of $1,500; and the Lela Eaton Creative Teaching grants for a maximum of $1,000.

visit www.GranvilleEdFoundation.org to learn more.

Below is a list of winners in each category:

2021-2022 Success Through Technology Grants

  • Oxford Preparatory School – Cindy Clark
  • Wilton Elementary School – Tasha Blalock
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Ashley Barnette
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Wendy Short
  • J.F. Webb High School – Carole Griffin
  • Granville Central High School – Joshua Carter

2021-2022 Experience Grants   

  • Stovall-Shaw Elementary School – Maureen Bellissimo
  • Creedmoor Elementary School – Andrea Auclair
  • Butner Stem Elementary School – Carolyn Vickers
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Jade Currin
  • C.G. Credle Elementary School – Brenda Williamson
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Angela Satterwhite
  • Tar River Elementary School – Zane Hill
  • Creedmoor Elementary School – Niekietta Grillo
  • Tar River Elementary School – Amber Shaw
  • C.G. Credle Elementary School – Brenda Williamson

2021-2022 Performing & Visual Arts Grants   

  • Oxford Preparatory School – Cindy Clark
  • Granville Central High School – Joshua Carter

2021-2022 Lela Eaton Creative Teaching Grants   

  • Granville County Public Schools OT – Scharla Keeton, Leslie Currin, Michelle Collier
  • J.F. Webb High School – Leslie Magnanti
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Jade Currin
  • Tar River Elementary School – Karen Floyd
  • Stovall-Shaw Elementary School – Tammy Hughes
  • Granville Central High School – Joshua Carter
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Riley Olsen
  • West Oxford Elementary School – Bethany Bonnemere
  • Falls Lake Academy – Kelly Good
  • Tar River Elementary School – Madison Parker
  • Northern Granville Middle School – Mary Newton
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Heather Williams
  • Granville County Public Schools ESL – Ivelisse Rosario de Marín
  • Tar River Elementary School – Sherry Thompson
  • West Oxford Elementary School – Regina Harris
  • Stovall-Shaw Elementary School – Lisa Carver
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Katrina Bria
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Allison Satterfield
  • Oxford Preparatory School – Heather Daniel
  • Tar River Elementary School – Madison Parker
  • South Granville High School – Michele Sherer
  • Falls Lake Academy – Mary Tunstall
NCDHHS

New Program Can Help Eligible Households That Face Water Disconnection

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A new emergency program launched today (Dec. 1) to help low-income households afford water and wastewater services. The program, called Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is scheduled to run through September 2023 or until the funds are all used up. It is a federally funded program administered through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Households that have already had the water or wastewater services cut off or have received notice of being cut off because of past due bills may be eligible to apply for the one-time payment, which will be paid directly to the utility company, according to a press release.

Families that already receive assistance from federal programs such as Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services are automatically eligible. Households that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 also are automatically eligible. These households should contact the local Department of Social Services for more information.

There are certain eligibility criteria, according to the press release. A household must have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen and have income equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, have household services that are already disconnected, in danger of disconnection or have a current outstanding bill that they are responsible for paying.

If your water has been cut off, or if you have gotten a notice of disconnection, apply online at www.epass.nc.gov, apply in person at your local department of social services or by phone. In addition, a paper application is available at the website above and can be completed and dropped off or faxed to the department of social services.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, any household needing help paying its water bill can apply for help if they meet eligibility requirements.

Visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/energy-assistance/low-income-household-water-assistance-program-lihwap to learn more.

Secretary Mandy Cohen to step down as DHHS Secretary, Governor Cooper selects current DHHS Deputy Secretary to lead department

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Raleigh

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. will be stepping down from the agency after 5 years of service to the state. Governor Cooper has appointed Kody Kinsley, current NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary for Health and lead for COVID operations, to succeed her beginning January 1st.

“Mandy Cohen has shown extraordinary leadership during her tenure and she has worked every day during this pandemic to help keep North Carolinians healthy and safe,” said Governor Cooper. “We are stronger because of her efforts and I am enormously grateful for her service. She has built a remarkable team of talented people including Kody Kinsley, and I know he will continue the strong legacy of competence, effectiveness and efficiency as he takes over as Secretary.”

Secretary Cohen, an internal medicine physician, was appointed by Governor Cooper in January of 2017 and has served as Secretary of DHHS leading the state during some of the most challenging times in North Carolina history. She has led the state’s response to COVID-19 and served as Governor Cooper’s chief advisor and strategist on beating the pandemic.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this state at such an important moment in history,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen. “I am grateful for Governor Cooper’s leadership, and I am so proud of what we have accomplished to improve the health and well-being of the state over the last five years. There is much work still to do, and I am so pleased the Governor selected Kody Kinsley to take the baton to run the next leg of this race.”

Under Dr. Cohen’s leadership, North Carolina has been a model for best practices to provide equitable access to COVID-19 testing and support to families so that they could safely quarantine and isolate; been recognized as best in the nation for data quality for vaccinations by race and ethnicity; and eliminated a vaccination gap between Hispanic and non-Hispanic North Carolinians and narrowed the gap for Black/African American communities.

Secretary Cohen has been lauded for her outstanding leadership during the COVID crisis. In September of 2020, Secretary Cohen was awarded the Leadership in Public Health Practice Award from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She was named the 2020 Tar Heel of the Year by the Raleigh News and Observer newspaper and Dr. Cohen was also elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021.

In addition to her COVID response leadership, Secretary Cohen and her team successfully launched Medicaid managed care, receiving national recognition for the state’s innovative approach to whole-person care, including the integration of physical and mental health and using Medicaid to address drivers of health such as housing, transportation, and employment. Under Secretary Cohen’s leadership, NCDHHS hired its first Chief Health Equity Officer and has focused on reducing disparities in opportunity and outcomes for historically marginalized populations. In addition, North Carolina implemented the first-in-the-nation statewide coordinated care network, NCCARE360, to electronically connect those with identified needs to community resources. This private-public partnership has been a key feature of NC’s COVID response and backbone to the innovative Health Opportunities pilot authorized under North Carolina’s 1115 Medicaid waiver.

Dr. Cohen is leaving DHHS in a strong position to continue to carry out its mission, Cooper said. Dr. Cohen plans to spend more time with her family while exploring new opportunities to carry on her work improving the health and well-being of communities.

Kody H. Kinsley, a native of Wilmington, NC, currently serves as the Chief Deputy Secretary for Health at NCDHHS and Operations Lead for NC’s COVID-19 pandemic response. During his nearly four years of service at NCDHHS, Kinsley has overseen the state’s response to the Opioid Epidemic; increased investments in services and supports for individuals with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities; created strategic interventions to transition justice-involved populations to care; and has been a driving force behind the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including North Carolina’s vaccine distribution efforts.

Kinsley returned home to North Carolina after serving as the presidentially appointed Assistant Secretary for Management at the U.S.  Department of the Treasury where he led operations and finances for the cabinet-level agency, a position he held during both the Obama and Trump Administrations. He has also held roles at the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kinsley is a recipient of SEANC’s Unsung Hero Award, the Alexander Hamilton Award, and is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brevard College in Brevard, NC and a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School at the University of California at Berkeley.

Kinsley will be the first openly gay cabinet Secretary in North Carolina history.

Looking Back: 275 Years of Granville County History Still Available for the Holiday Season

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In celebration of Granville County’s 275th Anniversary, the commemorative book by local author Lewis Bowling is available for Christmas gift giving!

Looking Back: 275 years of Granville County History can be ordered online from the Granville County Government website or can be purchased at a convenient location near you. Point of sale sites include all four branches of the Granville County Library System (Oxford, Creedmoor, Stovall and Berea), Creedmoor City Hall, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce in Oxford, the Granville County Administration Office on Belle Street in Oxford, the Granville County Historical Society Museum in Oxford, Oxford Ace Hardware, the Oxford Public Ledger Office, and This ‘n That in Oxford.

A limited number of signed copies of Granville County’s 275th Anniversary Book are also available by calling 919-603-1308.

Take a “Look Back” at Granville County history while “looking forward” to the holiday season! Visit www.granvillecounty.org/275th for more details on this commemorative keepsake edition!

 

Michael Easley, Jr. Sworn In As U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of NC

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Michael F. Easley, Jr. is the newest U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 19, 2021 and U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III administered the oath of office last week, according to a press statement.

 “It is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of the Eastern District of North Carolina as United States Attorney,” Easley said in the statement. “I am grateful to President Biden for this opportunity, and I want to thank Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis for their strong support through the confirmation process.”

As U.S. Attorney, Easley is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of North Carolina, which includes Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties among the 44 easternmost counties of North Carolina. He oversees 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.

Easley was a partner in McGuire Woods LLP prior to his appointment and was a litigator focused on internal investigations and trial court work in state and federal courts.  He represented businesses and individuals in civil, criminal, and regulatory matters over a wide range of topics, including criminal law, environmental, consumer protection, business torts, professional negligence, government contracting, as well as matters involving financial services and securities.

Easley also has advised clients facing inquiries by the U.S. Department of Justice, North Carolina Ethics Commission, and matters before other governmental regulatory bodies.

Born in Southport, Easley attended the University of North Carolina where he graduated with honors and distinction in political science. He later received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

In addition to his work at McGuireWoods, Easley contributed time to various bar and community organizations.  He served as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of North Carolina.  He was also a member of the Criminal Justice Section Council and the Integration, Equity & Equal Justice Task Force of the North Carolina Bar Association. Mr. Easley also served as a mentor in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Success in Law School Mentoring Program.

Granville Teen Takes State Fair Prize With Her Hereford Cow/Calf Pair

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A Granville County teen is among the winners of the annual livestock competitions held during the N.C. State Fair in Raleigh.

Lillian “Lillee” Bissett, 16, won reserve supreme champion in the cow/calf pair class, according to the final results released recently by the N.C. Department of Agriculture. Jamie Byers of Jonesborough, TN took supreme champion honors in the cow/calf class. Bissett also won Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair class in the Open Beef Cattle – Hereford division.

Bissett’s mother, Pam Bissett, said her three girls all started showing sheep by the time they were 4 years old and then moved to cattle by age 6. “We’ve never missed a state fair,” she said, adding that they participate in regional and national shows.

Lillee Bissett showed the mama cow in the show ring and her friend Mazie Bunn handled the calf for the cow/calf class. The Bissett family operates Grassy Creek Farm in Bullock, NC where they raise Hereford cattle. Bissett said she loves Herefords for their easy disposition.

Like her father and grandfather before her, Pam Bissett has served at the state level for Hereford associations. She currently is a director of the N.C. Hereford Association.

TownTalk: Bishop Works To Help The Next Generation Of Law Enforcement Officers

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Brandon Bishop wants to make sure that the cadets in the basic law enforcement training classes he oversees understand some key concepts about what it means to be a police officer.

Bishop wants the officers-in-training to have the communication tools they need in order to avoid having to use a weapon or other means of force when they’re on duty.

As director of Basic Law Enforcement Training and Law Enforcement Training at Vance-Granville Community College, he brings the experience of almost two decades in uniform with the Henderson Police Department. He was a lieutenant for six years and he holds a degree in social work.

Bishop is implementing some of those “soft” skills into the BLET classes, including courses like “Duty to Intercede,” “Surviving Verbal Conflict,” and “Facilitating Mental Health Training.”

He described the program on Tuesday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and said tomorrow’s law enforcement officers must be able to interact with citizens – it’s important to be able to talk to people, get to know them and understand them. Basic communication skills are a must-have to achieve the goal, he said.

Most folks who pursue law enforcement as a career are service-oriented people, he said. Helping people and helping to make a difference in their communities are just part of a profession that provides “the integrity and status they’re looking for,” Bishop said.

Obviously, police officers are charged with enforcing the law, but through effective communication, law enforcement officers also can help people make good choices.

(VGCC PHOTO) – VGCC Basic Law Enforcement Training Class 112 graduates included, in front (from left), Jose Angel Deleon and Jennifer Quick; and in back (from left), Reed Danehy, Kameron Gregory, Regina Andranowska and LeDrevion Richardson; not pictured: Kaleb Evans

“We try to get them to understand that we all need to get along,” Bishop said. “The best way to do that is to help each other through our problems. I try to teach our cadets that we’re more there to help people solve their problems than to solve them for them.”

It’s not all theory and lecture in the program, Bishop said. The cadets use a firearms simulator, which he describes as a giant, 3-D video game, that trains cadets and agency officers in the use of force options. It’s a way to reinforce what they’ve learned in the classroom about communication, which can de-escalate a situation before it gets out of hand. The goal is “to alleviate our use of force incidents and injury to officers and others they are dealing with,” Bishop said. It gives cadets a chance to see exactly what they may face on the street.

Similarly, a driver training simulator allows for cadets and experienced officers as well the chance to get initial training or a refresher on driving vehicles to avoid obstacles all the way to driving in pursuit or other emergency situations. “It’s as close to real-life situations as possible, without the inherent dangers,” Bishop said.

During his time with the Henderson department, he was primarily assigned to the patrol division. He also was a supervisor for the Street Crime unit and the interdiction team and spent 15 years on the department’s tactical team – a team he helped to create and on which he worked all positions, including team commander.

And now, he’s helping guide cadets and prepare the next generation of law enforcement officers to deal effectively with the communities they will serve and protect.

“It’s a challenging career, but it’s a rewarding career,” he said.

The next class is scheduled to begin Jan. 18, 2022 and will wrap up in mid-May. Interested in learning more? Contact Bishop at bishopb@vgcc.edu or phone 919.738.3263. Visit www.vgcc.edu to see more about the BLET program.

Click Play to Hear More

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Those Wanting CV-19 Vaccine Can Get CV-19 Vaccine

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The bottom line on CV-19 vaccine is if you want a shot you can get a shot, including first and second doses as well as boosters and for children age 5 and older.

As Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison explained in a weekly email she publishes, “You can come in any day of the week to either location of the health department from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to receive any CV-19 vaccine being offered – first doses, second doses, booster doses, and even pediatric doses are all available. Only Pfizer is authorized for kiddos, but we have all three types available – Pfizer, Moderna, and J & J depending on what you are eligible for and interested in. Come see us.”

Harrison continued that the data are abundantly clear that getting vaccinated is much safer than not getting vaccinated. She cited a report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and wrote that “unvaccinated individuals are five times (or 564%) more likely to get COVID-19 as vaccinated individuals.”

She said the next page of the NCDHHS report said that “unvaccinated individuals are 25.30 times (or 2,530%) more likely to die of COVID-19 as vaccinated individuals.”

Lastly, she wrote that it’s important to get a flu shot.

NC Forest Service

Forest Service Urges Residents To Hold Off Burning Yard Debris, Leaves

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There’s a slight chance of rain early next week, but local forest service officials are encouraging area residents to hold off burning those leaves or other yard debris until the area has had some good rainfall.

It’s fall wildfire season and the area has been put in the abnormally dry to moderate drought category, according to N.C. Forest Service County Ranger Rob Montague. Local fire departments and the forest service have responded to 24 fire calls in Vance and Granville counties so far in November, according to information from the local forest service office.

“Due to limited rainfall, falling leaves adding dry fuel to the ground and dry conditions, the N.C. Forest Service urges citizens to be cautious with campfires and when burning yard debris,” according to the statement.

The fall wildfire season typically lasts from mid-October until mid-December, the time of year when people do a lot of yard work that may include burning leaves and yard debris. The leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina is debris burning. When left unattended, debris fires can escape and start wildfires. Most of the recent fires started from debris burning or discarded wood stove ashes.

There are many factors to consider before burning debris. The N.C. Forest Service encourages residents to contact their local county forest ranger before burning debris. The ranger can offer technical advice and explain the best options to help ensure the safety of people, property, and the forest. The local number for Granville and Vance counties is (919) 693-3154. To find contact information for other offices, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

For people who choose to burn debris, the N.C. Forest Service offers the following tips to protect property and prevent wildfires:

  • Consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass and stubble, may be of more value if they are not burned, but used for mulch instead.
  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any N.C. Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
  • Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.
  • Household trash should be hauled away to a trash or recycling station. It is illegal to burn anything other than yard debris.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out.

Burning agricultural residue and forestland litter: In addition to the rules above, a fire line should be plowed around the area to be burned. Large fields should be separated into small plots for burning one at a time.

Before doing any burning in a wooded area, seek input and technical advice from County Ranger Rob Montague at 919.693.3154.

Granville County Logo

Ontic Launches Expansion At Creedmoor Plant

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An aerospace engineering company that provides thousands of products to customers worldwide has announced plans to almost double their existing footprint in southern Granville County.

Ontic launched “Project Sunrise” this week, setting in motion a major commitment to expand their facility on E. Lyon Station Road in Creedmoor. The three-phase expansion will nearly double the office space and production capacity, according to information from Granville County government.

Ontic staff, joined by representatives from across the county, had a groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting to mark the occasion. Local partners include Granville County government, the Town of Butner, Granville County Public Schools, Granville County Chamber of Commerce, and Vance-Granville Community College.

Ontic’s President and CEO Gareth Hall noted how critical the work of local elected leaders and staff was to move this project forward. “It’s clear how important local leadership is to make momentous events like ‘Project Sunrise’ happen,” he said. “We work with a lot of governments around the world, and the cities and counties ready to foster smart growth are obvious from the start. The work and support of elected officials and staff from Granville County Government and the Town of Butner definitely made this project possible.”

In just a few years, the Granville County facility has grown from just more than 50 employees to more than 100. Once “Project Sunrise” is complete, the local workforce and production capacity likely will double again. “We are looking for exponential growth in Granville County, not just small incremental gains,” explained Hall. “Granville County has the local infrastructure in place to help us achieve this goal.”

“I’m thrilled to have Ontic in Granville County, and I know that this is the right place for them to expand their footprint in the United States,” said Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills. “Ontic has already proven they are ready to Grow with Granville, and today’s announcement only solidifies their commitment to making sure there are career opportunities for our current and future residents.”

Ontic is a global leader in aerospace engineering, providing thousands of products for customers in the aircraft industry worldwide. In addition to their Granville County location, Ontic has additional facilities in Chatsworth, California; Plainview, New York; Cheltenham, United Kingdom; and Singapore.