Water Treatment Plant Project May See $3.5 M In Federal Funds

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The regional water plant improvement project continues to move forward, but so far, it’s more like a steady trickle than a blast from a firehose. Rep. David Price visited the water treatment plant last week and met with officials from the area to share that there likely will be $3.5 million in federal funds appropriated for the project, which has an estimated price tag of $66 million.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington said Price toured the Flemingtown Road facility and spoke with the tri-county delegation about the project, which will double the daily treatment capacity when it’s completed.

The KLRWS serves Henderson, Oxford and Warren County; Henderson is the managing partner at 60 percent and the City of Oxford and Warren County each have a 20 percent stake.

Ellington told WIZS News Tuesday that the visit  gave Price a chance to meet with mayors and managers to see first-hand how federal funding would be used.

“As the demand for water from our neighboring counties, new customers, as well as the growth we are experiencing, this is vital to our future,” Ellington said in an email. “I spoke with Rep. Price as he was leaving and he assured me he’s confident that this would make it through Congress for this fiscal year.”
Others on hand for the visit in addition to Ellington were KLRWS Chief Operator Steve Gupton, Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon, Oxford City Manager Alan Thornton, Warren County Manager Vincent Jones, Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and others, according to Ellington.

The city of Oxford is in Price’s district and he received a request for funding from city government officials; Warren County and Henderson are in G.K. Butterfield’s district and Henderson city officials requested funding on behalf of those entities. City Manager Blackmon said each congressional district was given the opportunity to submit the 10 best projects to be considered to receive federal funds in the 2022 Interior Appropriations Bill. This project represents a collaborative effort from both congressional districts, Blackmon said.

“This appropriation is only a small part of the total funding for the expansion project,” Blackmon said. The current funding commitment from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality SRF Program for the expansion project is more than $45 million, leaving a gap of about $20 million. The $3.5 million appropriation will assist in filling the funding gap for this project, he added.

Price issued a press statement in June about his efforts to fund projects in his home district. “Clean water is not a luxury – it’s fundamental to the health and safety of our communities, but our aging water infrastructure urgently needs funding,” Price stated. “I’m pleased that the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee included these critical projects in their annual funding bill, bringing them one step closer to reality with the passage of the House bill in Subcommittee.”

In addition to making repairs and forming expansion plans, the overall price tag is heftier because costs simply have gone up. The funding gap is preventing the project from getting underway.

One option would be to raise water rates slightly to cover the increased project cost.

In January 2021, the Henderson City Council approved a revised project cost of $57 million for upgrades to the regional water system, which serves 15 municipalities in three counties. At that time, Council member Garry Daeke, who also serves as the KLWRS advisory board chair, told WIZS that council’s action would allow the project to continue, but if additional grants or other funding streams couldn’t be secured, it could mean a rise in water rates.

Since talk of the project first began several years ago, there have been several challenges to overcome, including purchase of a new pump and rising construction costs. The original price was estimated at close to $40 million, but by the fall of 2020, the cost had risen considerably.

Town Talk: Hot Sauce Contest And Other Events Provide Entertainment For All

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Fall is still a few weeks away, but this weekend kicks off a bevy of events in Granville County designed to bring guests from near and far to enjoy everything from classic cars to beautiful glass pumpkins.

It all starts with Saturday’s Hot Sauce Contest, and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen said the 15th annual event is sure to please. She listed numerous events that will be going on throughout September and October on Tuesday’s TownTalk program with host John C. Rose.

Visit https://visitgranvillenc.com/ to find out about events in the county.

Several bands are scheduled to perform throughout the daylong event, and there will be plenty of food and beverage vendors sprinkled along the streets of downtown Oxford, she said.

Of course, one of the main events is the pepper-eating contest, which will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Winners of the hot sauce contest will be announced at 11:30 a.m. at the Overton Main Stage. Then, Allen said, there will be a special memorial to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. American flags are posted along the streets in Oxford already, she said, and after a moment of silence is observed to remember all those whose lives were lost in the terror attacks, local singer Jonathan Abbott will sing The Star-Spangled Banner.

“The cool part about the hot sauce festival,” Allen said, “is that there’s something for everyone.”

The classic car show will be on Little John Street between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., featuring vintage vehicles and souped-up, tricked out cars and trucks, she said. Children’s games and activities can be found along Williamsboro Street between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Vendors also will be selling their own hot sauces, and Allen said that she considers that to be one of the event’s biggest draws. “It’s just a really good foodie event,” she said. “People love that hot sauce.”

Check out all the details at nchotsaucecontest.com.

But Granville County events don’t stop with the Hot Sauce Contest, Allen said.

The Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor has opened its pumpkin patch, she said. But these pumpkins aren’t grown on vines – they are made of glass and there are hundreds of them ready for purchase at the local art and pottery gallery.

Allen said there’s something for everyone, from traditional orange to beautiful blues and reds – a kaleidoscope of colors. Beginning on Oct. 1, about 100 limited-edition pumpkins will be available for purchase at the gallery or online. Glass blower Lisa Oakley, owner of the gallery, will sign, date and number each work.

Cedar Creek is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pumpkin patch will be open through Nov. 7. And the gallery’s fall festival returns this year for the first two weekends in October, featuring live glass blowing and pottery demonstrations.

Events are planned for outside, she said, adding that face coverings and social distancing protocols will be observed inside the gallery.

“This is a really neat time to be surrounded by art and see how it’s made,” Allen said.

Visit cedarcreekgallery.com to learn more.

A short distance from Creedmoor is Butner and the annual Harvest Show, hosted by the Lord Granville Agricultural Harvest Association, will take place on Oct. 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event will be held at the corner of 12th and G streets in Butner and will feature displays of antique farm equipment, a working blacksmith and farm shop, and something Allen called “tractor games.”

Daily admission is $5 or $8 for a two day pass.

Back in the northern part of the county, the 6th annual military history show at the Henderson-Oxford Airport will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23. Proceeds go to the local Veterans Affairs committee, which provides advocacy, resources and services to local military veterans.

In addition to various military displays of uniforms, equipment and vehicles, Allen said there will be helicopter rides and reenactors, in period gear representing soldiers from various wars that the U.S. has been involved in.

And if you’re not too tuckered out from all the activity, this year’s edition of the Granville Haunt Farm is a destination that is a must-see – or a must drive-through.

Grey Blackwell said this year’s theme conjures up images from horror movies. “You’ll get to drive through their version of a gigantic movie screen,” Allen said, “as it comes to life on the other side.”

It’s a total drive-through event again this year, and there will be timed ticketing as well, eliminating long lines and traffic jams during the times that the haunt farm is in operation.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 1, the haunt farm will be open each Friday and Saturday in October.

Visit Granvillehauntfarm.com to learn more.

 

 

COVID-19 Concerns Halt MHCO Homecoming Event For Second Straight Year

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The 2021 Homecoming celebration at Masonic Home for Children in Oxford has been cancelled, marking the second year in a row that plans have had to be put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MHCO Administrator Kevin Otis issued a statement to WIZS News stating that the event would be cancelled due to health concerns. The executive committee of the board made the decision, with staff input, Otis said.

“We’re going to have a quiet weekend,” Otis said, adding that perhaps some sort of special meal would be shared by those on campus.

The event had been scheduled for Oct. 7-9, with food trucks, children’s activities, parade, live music and a barbecue cookoff, just to name a few.

The homecoming weekend is a time when alumni, Shriners, Masons, staff and families converge to have fun, reminisce and conduct business.

Visit mhc-oxford.org to learn more about services MHCO provides or to donate.

Granville Central AD Ray Noel Earns National Certification

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Granville Central High School’s Athletic Director Ray Noel has completed the requirements to be a certified athletic administrator from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Noel completed the voluntary certification process which involves an evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience and professional contributions, in addition to a comprehensive written examination, according to information from Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer for Granville County Public Schools.

Granville Central Principal Dr. Janita Allen praised Noel for his efforts. “I am so proud of Coach Noel. He works so hard to support our student athletes on and off the field. The Panther family celebrates this recognition!”

Noel, a Granville County native, graduated from J.F. Webb High School in 2002. He graduated from Averett University in 2007 and has been at Granville Central since 2007. He is the son of Becky Noel and the late Ron Noel.

The NIAAA is a national professional organization consisting of all 50 state athletic administrator associations and more than 12,000 individual members. It is dedicated to promoting the professional growth of interscholastic athletic administrators and preserving the educational nature of interscholastic athletics and the place of these programs in the secondary school curriculum.

TownTalk: Local Author Michael Elliott Has Faith In The Music Of John Hiatt

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His name may not be a household name, but John Hiatt is the force behind many popular singers and bands – and Mike Elliott has written a book of the singer-songwriter’s life.

For longtime WIZS listeners, the answer is yes, OUR Mike Elliott. The Oxford native and former program director and operations manager of the radio station, who spent more than a decade on the local airwaves, got caught up in a different medium – writing stories, reviews and now a book which chronicles the life of someone he has admired for many years.

The biography, Have a Little Faith: The John Hiatt Story, is set for release on Sept. 14, but pre-orders can be made now, Elliott told Bill Harris on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

“It’s great to be back on the radio,” Elliott said. He left in June 2001 to continue his career, which ultimately took a turn to print media on sort of a whim.

“I’ve always written for fun,” Elliott said. Then one night while writing, he decided to submit a story to Bitter Southerner, a nationally known online publication. A few months later, he got word that the story he’d written about growing up around music and loving music would be published as part of its folk life collection. That was a few years ago, and Elliott said he branched out from there to include album reviews, among other things.

The research for this biography was done by phone and Skype, Elliott said, thanks to COVID-19. Which turned out to be sort of a blessing in disguise – everyone he wanted to interview would normally have been on the road and hard to catch up with. But not during COVID-19.

“It made people slow down, take stock and reassess,” Elliott said of the pandemic. “And they were home – not touring.  So they said, yes, they’d talk to me.”

Elliott was a teenager when he first learned of Hiatt. He said he was probably watching the music video channel VH1 when he took note of Hiatt’s voice – it was an “amazing raspy, soulful voice,” Elliott recalled.

The more he listened and learned, the more he was enamored of this man called John Hiatt who was writing songs for the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Suzy Boggus and many others.

“The man is a powerhouse – he’s writing all this stuff,” Elliott said, adding that the song “Have a Little Faith in Me” has been recorded by many singers and is considered a current standard.

And it’s that song that Elliott said encapsulates Hiatt’s story of resilience, hitting rock bottom and coming back better and stronger.

His first two records weren’t great, Elliott said, and his record label dropped him. From there, he got gigs playing at colleges – even standing atop a table in a cafeteria singing for students eating all around him.

There were some other twists and turns that brought him to seek treatment for substance abuse and addiction – read the book to find out details – and that’s when he wrote “Have a Little Faith in Me.”

Hiatt, sober since 1984, was writing it about himself, Elliott said. “(That song) gave him the strength he needed to go forward.”
Big-time names like Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy all have recorded Hiatt’s songs. And although his name may not be a household name, Hiatt’s songs are probably familiar to many.

Hiatt’s story isn’t the typical rags-to-riches type story of a musician who hit it big, lost it all, then climbed back up the ladder of success. No, Elliott said, Hiatt’s story is about someone who was “kind of fair to middlin’, cleaned up and became artistically huge.”

Elliott said he was very pleased when Hiatt’s management team helped clear the way to talk to the artist himself. “I was planning to write the book without him…but I did want his personal take.” He said he was indebted to the 69-year-old for his contributions to the book

“When he started opening up about his life, he gave me stuff that he’d never given anyone before. He felt like it was time to just tell it,” Elliott recalled, for which he is grateful.

You can place pre-orders for Elliott’s book from online retailers or visit michael-elliott.com to find a link to purchase. The book also will be available on Audible. Listeners to the audio format may recognize a familiar voice  – Elliott will be reading the introduction.

 

 

Bowling To Sign Copies Of His Book On 275 Years Of Granville History

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Local author Lewis Bowling will be signing copies of the book he wrote to commemorate the 275th anniversary of Granville County during the 15th annual Hot Sauce Contest in downtown Oxford on Sept. 11.

Bowling researched and wrote the book, Looking Back: 275 Years of Granville County History and will be at the Granville County Historical Society Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the museum’s special exhibit to highlight the anniversary, according to information from Lynn Allred, county public information officer.

Granville County’s history dates back to 1746 – 30 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence – and Bowling’s book chronicles that rich heritage.

“There is so much history here,” Bowling said. “Even with all my research I have not even come close to covering all of it.”

Bowling, a regular contributing columnist to the Oxford Public Ledger and the Butner Creedmoor News, has published a variety of books that spotlight the history of the area including commemorative books for the City of Oxford’s bicentennial in 2016 and Camp Butner’s 75th anniversary in 2017.

Copies of his coffee-table style book are available for purchase online through the Granville County website www.granvillecounty.org and locally at the following locations:

  • Ace Hardware, 119 Hillsboro St., Oxford
  • This ‘n That, 125 Main Street, Oxford
  • Granville County Chamber of Commerce, 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford
  • Butner Town Hall, 415 Central Ave.
  • Creedmoor Town Hall, 111 Masonic St.
  • Granville County Government Administration Office, 104 Belle St., Oxford
  • Oxford Public Ledger, 200 West Spring St.
  • All branches of the Granville County library system

The Granville County Historical Society Museum is located at 1 Museum Lane in Oxford.

For more information about the book signing, contact the museum at 919.693.9706.

TownTalk: Voluntary Ag Districts Benefit Local Farmers

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Statistics back up the anecdotal evidence – rural landscapes, once dotted with crops and livestock pastures, are changing. The seemingly endless rows of corn, cotton or tobacco have been replaced with homes and subdivisions right here in our own back yards.

North Carolina has a program that serves to protect and preserve existing farmland. Of the state’s 100 counties, 90 have established voluntary agricultural districts as a way to preserve farmland and to let prospective neighbors know what it means to live near a working farm.

Granville County is one of the newest participants in the VAD. Kim Woods spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk to share details about the program. Woods said that North Carolina ranks in the top five states in the nation in terms of loss of agricultural land in recent years.

Woods is the livestock agent for N.C. Cooperative Extension in Granville and Person counties. The Granville office is the lead agency for establishing the VAD, she said. The former unit director started the process, and after he retired, Woods said she continued to work with the local advisory board to finish the process.

Many North Carolina counties have a rich history of agriculture and farming, and VADs are a way “for counties in North Carolina to promote and enhance agriculture,” she said. There’s a pride factor involved, too, in promoting the importance of agriculture.

“Agricultural land provides our food and fiber that we need to survive,” Woods said. It also preserves desirable greenspace in the landscape, she noted.

In addition, the VAD offers some protection of farmland, ensuring that it will remain in use as productive farmland. But a VAD also serves to inform people who may be looking to purchase property in the county just where those farms are located.

Woods has lived on a farm her whole life and she and her husband currently live on that farm in nearby Orange County. And she well knows that farming is not an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. proposition – the drone of irrigation pumps running late into the night to deliver crop-saving water, she said, is just one of the many sounds a farm may produce. The dust from tractors in the summertime, bawling calves at weaning and other sights, sounds and smells that emanate from a working farm are just part of the territory.

“I don’t see a negative to this program,” Woods said, adding that her Orange County farm is in the VAD. “I wouldn’t be promoting something I don’t agree with,” she said.

The enrollment process is simple. Landowners complete a basic application that is submitted to the local VAD advisory board. Upon approval, the application passes through a couple of other county groups – mostly a formality. There is no cost to enroll, but Woods said a VAD sign would be available for $25; additional signs to mark other tracts would cost $50 each.

Although the farmer agrees to keep his land in agricultural use for 10 years when he or she enrolls in the VAD, that decision can be reversed at any time, Woods said, without penalty.

Landowners also sign a conservation agreement that goes along with the application. Farmers enrolled in the VAD can get a higher reimbursement rate on cost-share programs to improve their land, such as fencing livestock out of ponds and creeks.

A VAD can reduce the possibility of new neighbors complaining about living too close to a farm – Woods said the county’s computerized GIS will let prospective buyers know if the land they’re interested in is within one mile of a VAD-enrolled farm.

According to its website, there are 12,000 farms currently enrolled in VADs across the state. Granville and Warren counties have “regular” VAD ordinances; Franklin County established an enhanced VAD, which means that landowners have the choice to upgrade their commitment to the VAD; they may not un-enroll within the 10-year period, but must wait until that time has elapsed.

Vance County does not have a VAD ordinance.

To learn more about the Granville VAD, contact Woods by phone 919.603.1350 or via email at Kim_woods@ncsu.edu. Visit http://www.ncagr.gov/Farmlandpreservation/VAD/ to learn more about the statewide program.

 

 

 

Register Now For Hot Sauce Contest Car Show

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Just past the food trucks, live music stages and hot pepper contest is another popular aspect of the annual Hot Sauce Festival in downtown Oxford: The car show.

Whether it’s a restored Model A or a souped-up Chevy, car enthusiasts flock to the car show to ooh and aah over the shiny, well-cared-for vehicles.

Owners of classic, antique and custom cars and trucks may enter their vehicles to be judged. Trophies will be awarded to the winners and all participants will receive a dash plaque.

Registration is required, and details regarding site and entry points will be sent via email prior to the day of the hot sauce festival.

Visit https://oxfordnc.recdesk.com/Community/Program to register for the car show.

Registered participants can come as early as 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, but everyone must be parked by 10:45 a.m. Please have the exhibitor’s entry number clearly displayed on the driver’s side windshield for judging.

Show organizers recommend that car owners be on hand during the contest to answer any questions from the judges. Judges also must have access to all areas of the show vehicle including trunk, interior and engine compartment. But the judges will not open these areas themselves.

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Latest Local Virus Data as of Friday, Aug 27

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— courtesy of Granville-Vance Public Health

In the past 7 days, there have been 127 new cases in Vance County, a 51% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 5.2%. According to the CDC Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Vance County.

In the past 7 days, there have been 227 new cases in Granville County, a 33% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 6.3%. According to the CDC Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Granville County.

In Vance County, 59% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 53% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 64% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 59% are fully vaccinated.

In North Carolina Friday, there were 8,105 newly reported cases. The daily percent positive rate is 12.8%.

As of Friday in the state, there were 3,651 hospitalized.

65% of the adult population in NC is at least partially vaccinated and 60% of the adult population is fully vaccinated!

Mike Waters

Deon Patrick Bobbitt Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder

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— press release from District Attorney Mike Waters

In Granville County Criminal Superior Trial Court during the week of August 9, 2021, Deon Patrick Bobbitt was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Felony Death by Motor Vehicle, Driving While Impaired, Driving While Licensed Revoked and Careless and Reckless Driving. Mr. Bobbitt received an active sentence of 180 to 228 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC).

On May 30, 2018, Mr. Bobbitt drove the wrong way on I-85 north near mile-marker 202 in Granville County. Multiple witnesses called 911 to report a van driving the wrong way in the northbound lane. Minutes later, Mr. Bobbitt crashed into Curtis Wilkerson, who was operating his car in the left lane of I-85 northbound. It was a head on collision and Mr. Wilkerson was killed. Bobbitt was impaired and not licensed to drive a motor vehicle at the time of the collision. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated the case. The District Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison Capps and Brent Groce.