Federal Judge Sends Oxford Man to Prison for 7 Years Following a Shooting

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— press release courtesy of U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina

An Oxford man was sentenced to 84  months in prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.  On June 8, 2021, S Daques Shorter pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on April 6, 2020, the Oxford Police Department responded to a report of gunshots at the Oxford Food Mart.  Upon arrival, witnesses stated that several men, including Shorter, were engaged in an argument, and that Shorter later retrieved a firearm and shot at two men.  Video surveillance captured the incident confirming the witnesses’ account.  Spent shell casings were recovered on the scene and the firearm used by Shorter was recovered nearby.  Shorter is a convicted felon, having prior convictions for Breaking and Entering, and Attempted Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon.  He is also a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle.  The Oxford Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-224-BO.

Four-County 4-H Poultry Show Flies In To Vance Regional Farmer’s Market Oct. 23

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The 2021 Four County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale will be held Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Vance County Regional Farmer’s Market.

Check-in for youth and poultry will begin at 3 p.m. and the show will start at 4:15 p.m., according to information from Meg Wyatt, Franklin County 4-H agent.

Following the presentation of awards, the auction is scheduled to begin around 6:30 p.m. This year, Easter Eggers and Barred Rocks will be available at the auction.

The farmer’s market is located at 210 South Park Drive, Henderson.

Contact your county’s 4-H agent to learn more.
Read more at https://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/09/2021-four-county-4-h-poultry-show-and-sale-2/

Cyclists To Pedal Through Granville County Oct. 6 On Their Way From NC Mountains To The Coast

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Cycle North Carolina kicks off a week-long ride from the mountains to the coast on Oct. 3, with hundreds of cyclists taking to the state’s scenic backroads to get from Sparta to Topsail Beach over a six-day period. Granville County is on the itinerary for Day 4, and participants will get a glimpse at several different local spots during their visit.

The group consists of cyclists from 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, as well as Costa Rica and Canada. Tour stops include Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor, the Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena, Camp Butner Museum, Butner Town Hall, High Rock Farms outside Oxford and the Stem Fire Department.

From noon until 4 p.m., cyclists can enjoy lunch from area food trucks on the grounds of the Creedmoor Recreation Center. The Granville County Tourism Development Authority will also host a welcome tent where local maps and area information will be available.

The day will conclude at the Butner Gazebo Park for “Alive After Five,” sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, where cyclists will meet area residents and enjoy live music by the Band of Oz. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and food trucks will be on site, according to information from county public information officer Lynn Allred.

Volunteers are needed to assist on the day of arrival, Oct. 6, and will be assigned to distribute information at the welcome tent, transfer luggage, and handle other duties. Two-hour shifts are set up beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. For more information about volunteering or to sign up, please contact Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

The “Mountains to the Coast” Tour is the state’s only fully-supported ride. Luggage is transported in vehicles from one overnight host community to the next. Rider support vehicles are also available to aid cyclists who experience physical or mechanical issues. Outdoor camping areas are set up for interested participants, with rest stops available every 15 to 20 miles along the route. The group averages about 65 miles a day.

The stop in Granville County includes an overnight stay at a temporary campsite on the grounds of the Creedmoor Recreation Center, with reservations at local hotels for those who prefer additional amenities. Overnight stays for the 2021 tour are also scheduled for Mount Airy, Reidsville, Roxboro, Smithfield and Wallace, with the route passing through many other towns and communities along the way.

Over the past 21 years, Cycle North Carolina participants have made overnight stops in more than 100 North Carolina towns and have visited 700 communities while promoting heritage tourism, visitor attractions and state parks, as well as the benefits of bicycling and a healthy lifestyle.

Drivers should be aware that groups of cyclists will be on Granville County roads on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7. Please drive carefully and pass with caution.

Visit https://ncsports.org/event/cyclenc_mountainstocoast_ride to learn more about the “Mountains to the Coast” cycling tour.

Amy Rice Will Continue to Serve Schools/Community in District Leadership

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The Granville County Board of Education approved personnel changes Monday, moving a high school principal to a district-level position.

Amy Rice, principal at J.F. Webb High School, will lead the district’s testing and accountability, as well as coordinate K-12 Science, the arts and STEM programs. Rice replaces Beth Cook, who will retire later this month after a 32-year career in education.

Rice, a Webb alumna, has led her alma mater school for the past three years. The district plans to name an interim principal during the search process, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent for curriculum & instruction and district public information officer.

“These last few years at Webb have been the most rewarding of my career,” Rice said in a written statement from GCPS. “Serving as principal at the school I graduated from and where I started my teaching career has been an honor. I move into this next role knowing the students will be well taken care of by the wonderful Warrior staff. I look forward to continuing to serve my community, the staff and the students of Granville County Public Schools.”

Rice graduated from Appalachian State University and has masters degrees in Science Education and School Administration. She taught high school science for eight years. Before moving to administration as an assistant principal and then as principal for five years at Stovall-Shaw Elementary.

Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean said transitions are bittersweet. “We salute Ms. Cook for her dedication and service to the district and wish her well in her retirement. We also welcome Mrs. Rice into this new, critically important role at the district level,” McLean stated.

“We will work to ensure a smooth transition as we search for her replacement. The J.F. Webb High School community deserves the highest caliber of leadership available and they will certainly have direct input into the selection process of their next school leader,” she added.

BLET Cadets Provide Backup For Highway Litter Sweep

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Students in the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Vance-Granville Community College had the opportunity recently to apply what they are learning about service by answering a call for help from fellow students.

VGCC’s Criminal Justice Technology curriculum program participates in the Adopt-a-Highway program and tend to a stretch of Poplar Creek Road near the college’s main campus. But this year, program head Andrea Hyson, asked Brandon Bishop, BLET director/instructor, for a little backup.

“I was quick to volunteer the BLET Academy class in order to help out,” Bishop said. It was a perfect opportunity to give the 17 cadets a tangible teaching and mentoring activity to help the community. The cadets are on the path to becoming well-trained and well-rounded law enforcement officers, Bishop said. But there’s more to being a law enforcement officer than just enforcing the law.

“We also share the responsibility of being leaders and caretakers within the communities we serve,” he said. “We, as a profession, need to be grounded in service to our communities and their specific needs, whether those needs are large or small. When these cadets graduate and become sworn officers in our communities, our intention is for them to have obtained a sense of responsibility. We want them to have a sense of ownership for creating change, growth and positivity.”

Hyson said she is very grateful for the help from instructor Tony Clark, Bishop and all the BLET cadets.

Contact Bishop at 252.492.2061, ext. 3263 or bishopb@vgcc.edu to learn more.

VGCC Enrollment Up 7.4 Percent; Good News for Several Reasons

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Students at Vance-Granville Community College have signed up to take more 16-week and 8-week term classes over last year’s enrollment, which adds value for students and VGCC.

The college reported a 7.4 percent increase in the number of credit hours that students are taking and that full-time equivalent calculation affects the level of state funding that community colleges receive.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais said the more courses a student takes, the higher the reimbursement rate for the college. Community colleges don’t keep tuition, but rely instead on a redistribution of various funding streams to provide quality programs and training to the community.

“When students successfully complete more courses, they accelerate entry or re-entry into the workforce with their new skills,” Demarais said. “That’s good for individuals, the college, employers and our community.”

Dr. Levy Brown, vice president of learning, student engagement & success said the increase is a result of good teamwork from across VGCC’s campus – from admissions and financial aid to advisors, faculty and marketing.

“We are optimistic about this enrollment mark, and are committed to continuously connecting diverse individuals in our service area to our college, relevant academic programs, resources and supports,” Brown stated.

The second 8-week term begins Oct. 13 and enrollment is open now. Program choices include business administration, college transfer, criminal justice, early childhood education and medical office administration.

Visit www.vgcc.edu and click the Admissions tab for enrollment details.

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.  This is not a paid ad.)

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Local CV19 Update as of Sept 10

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— information courtesy of Granville Vance Public Health

In the past 7 days, there have been 167 new cases in Vance County, a 9.2% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 8.7%.

In the past 7 days, there have been 138 new cases in Granville County, a 26.2% decrease from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 5.8%.

Granville County has a total of 93 deaths as a result of CV19 and Vance County has a total of 92 deaths.

In Vance County, 61% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of their CV19 vaccine and 55% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 67% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of their CV19 vaccine and 62% are fully vaccinated.

67% of the adult population in NC is at least partially vaccinated and 62% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Town Talk: Kerr-Tar Loan Programs Help Homeowners With Repairs

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Homeowners in the five-county area that the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments serves can apply for a couple of loan programs for repairs or improvements to their residences.

The deadline to submit applications is early November, and Kerr-Tar finance assistant Katie Connor said the loans are completely forgivable, provided the home remains the property of the homeowner for the life of the loan.

That’s free money, folks.

Kerr-Tar serves Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties and the Urgent Repair Loan Program that it is offering provides up to $10,000 over five years – $2,000 a year, Connor told John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk. Applications are due in the Kerr-Tar office by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

As the name indicates, the repairs do need to be of an urgent nature – a leaky roof,  unsafe floors, ramp installation for the disabled, and HVAC repairs are just a few of the examples of acceptable repairs.

“There’s definitely some flexibility in the (type of) repair that can be done,” Connor said, “but they must be urgent.” The main goal of this loan program is to keep people in their homes, she added.

Visit kerrtarcog.org to see program criteria. There’s money for up to 20 houses in the five-county area, Connor said. This loan is considered an unsecured loan.

In general, homeowners need to be older than 62, and the home must be a stick-built structure – mobile homes and manufactured homes do not qualify. Veterans, disabled persons and families of five or more also would qualify, Connor said. Household income must be less than 50 percent of the median income in North Carolina, she added.

The other loan program is currently available for homeowners in Warren County. The Essential Single-Family Rehabilitation program offers $30,000 for repairs. This is a secured loan, Connor said, which means that qualified applicants would have a deed of trust placed on their property for the duration of the six-year loan. This also is a forgivable loan, which means that no money has to be repaid, provided the homeowner doesn’t sell the property during the life of the loan.

The criteria for both loan programs are very similar, but Connor said household income for ESFR program applicants must be 80 percent of the median income for the state.

Because of the larger amount of the loan, Connor said projects would have to be substantial enough to bring a home up to acceptable standards. “We can’t just do one thing for this house.” There is money for five houses, she said.

The deadline to submit applications for the ESFR program is Monday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. All applications should be submitted to the Kerr-Tar office, located at 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson.

The applications and related information are available at kerrtarcog.org. Connor said applications also can be mailed to interested applicants. Simply call 252.436.2040 ext. 6071 and leave your name and mailing address and Connor said she will put the paperwork in the mail. They also are available at area Senior Centers as well as county government offices.

As is often the case, demand usually exceeds the amount of money available, Connor said. And the Kerr-Tar COG must apply each year to receive the funds.

Click Play for complete details and audio.

 

VGCC Logo

VGCC Uses Federal Dollars Earmarked To Pay Unpaid Student Bills

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Vance-Granville Community College cleared unpaid balances for 261 of its students who attended between Spring 2020 and Summer 2021, to the tune of $153,332.14.

VGCC, like other colleges across the state, applied money from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to provide financial relief to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is important for us to help our students remove barriers that keep them from getting the skills they need to better their work or life situations,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “Leveraging HEERF funds to help students affected by the pandemic to continue their education is just one of those ways. Our students and our communities matter to us!”

Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of learning, student engagement & success, said the college’s business office and financial aid personnel were key players in making this debt forgiveness a reality. “This move speaks to the college’s true commitment to helping students succeed,” Brown said.  “We are glad that our students were able to directly benefit from the HEERF funds and are able to continue their educational and training journey.”

The VGCC admissions and advising teams will work directly with former students affected by this change to help them get re-enrolled at the college and continue pursuing their programs of study. For more information about enrolling or re-enrolling at Vance-Granville, visit www.vgcc.edu.

Granville School Board To Meet Sept. 13

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education, 200 Taylor Street, Oxford. The The livestream link is https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Board also will meet in closed session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

Public comments for this meeting can be made  in one of three ways:

  • In person at the board meeting
  • In writing by placing comments in a box that will be located outside of the board room at the Mary Potter Center of Education from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • In writing by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6zComments made using the link must be submitted between the hours of `12 noon and 4 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2021.

A copy will be distributed to the board of education members.  A maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment.

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings and cooperate with social distancing requirements. There will be limited seating available.

This information comes from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and public information officer for the school district.