McClary, Purple Heart Recipient, To Speak At Living Stones Church Of God Aug. 8

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Clebe McClary said he enjoys playing golf, a sport he took up later in life, after meeting PGA golfer Billy Casper. It wasn’t the first time he’d met Casper however; the first time was when he was in a military hospital bed, facing a leg amputation.

First Lt. Patrick C. “Clebe” McClary III USMC (Retired) recounted the story to John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk:  He was a platoon leader in the First Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam when the Viet Cong attacked. He attributes his very existence today to a visit by the PGA golfer. “He said, ‘I’m praying for you. God’s got a plan for your life. Don’t quit,’” McClary said.

Casper wasn’t for the war, McClary said, “but he was for the troops.”

So when McClary got the chance to meet Casper at the Masters Tournament a few years ago, he took it. And he also took up golf.

He said he enjoys the beauty of the course, and the chance to witness to others while he’s out there.

McClary will be the featured speaker Sunday at Living Stones Church of God Worship Center in Oxford. He is speaking in conjunction with the annual observance of Purple Heart Day on Saturday, Aug. 7.

“Purple Hearts – that’s a medal you don’t want,” McClary said. “You’ve got to get shot to get that rascal,” he said. And he has three of them.

McClary shares his story and the message of having “a personal relationship with a living Savior. Know the Lord. You don’t know when it’s going to be your last day,” he said.

See more about McClary, visit www.clebemcclary.com.

Listen here to the full interview with Clebe McClary.

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Leadership Granville Deadline Fri, Aug 6

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Applications for the 2021-22 Leadership Granville class are due by Friday, Aug. 6.

The educational program, designed to offer leadership training and a broader knowledge of the county to its citizens, will kick off on Sept. 14.
Participants have the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the community and become personally and professionally acquainted with the county’s structure and life while developing leadership skills and networking opportunities, according to a statement from Lauren Roberson, executive director of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

Leadership Granville is sponsored by the local chamber, as well as Granville County Public Schools and Vance-Granville Community College.

Sessions involve field trips across the county, and include topics from county history and local government to recreational facilities, agriculture, business and industry.

Enrollment is limited. A limited number of scholarships are also available.

Applications are being taken until Aug. 6 and are available through the Granville County Chamber of Commerce Office, 124 Hillsboro Street in Oxford, or online at https://granville-chamber.com/member-services/leadership-granville.

For more information, call the chamber office at 919.693.6125 or email Roberson at lauren@granville-chamber.com.

Bring Your Mask: GCPS Students, Staff Must Wear Face Coverings To Begin School Year

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All Granville County Public Schools students and staff will be required to wear face coverings on all school property when school starts later this month, following a board of education decision made during its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 2.

The decision came following a presentation from Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison and GVHD Medical Director Dr. Shauna Guthrie about the COVID-19 Delta variant.

The new variant is more contagious and has caused a spike in hospitalizations – 97 percent of those hospitalized are unvaccinated. Citing guidance from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the health department officials recommended that GCPS follow the mask requirement while students, staff and visitors are indoors.

Masks must be worn except when students or staff are eating or drinking.

Masks will be provided free of charge to all students and staff as needed. The district has an ample supply of additional PPE, including gloves, gowns and face shields for staff which also are available upon request.

Individuals may apply for a mask exemption based on a medical condition or physical disability, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer. Applications are available at each school and Winborne added that documentation verifying the condition must accompany the application.

Adults should remain six feet apart from others when possible, and students should maintain three feet of physical distancing and school staffs will continue regular and thorough cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces and common areas will continue, Winborne said.

The board will revisit the topic at future meetings to determine if adjustments are needed, and the board will consider at its September meeting policies for visitors, volunteers and indoor facility rentals and indoor events or performances. Right now, none of these are allowed. The board is set to review each topic and adjust policies as needed, Winborne said.

Donations Of School Supplies Part of Oxford’s Back To School Bash Aug. 6

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Teachers get as excited as schoolchildren when it’s time to get back-to-school supplies. There’s just something about opening a new box of…black dry erase markers?

It doesn’t evoke the same feeling as when opening a new box of crayons, but dry erase markers, loose-leaf paper and index cards are a few of the items that folks in and near Oxford are encouraged to donate to a “Stuff the Bus” event scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

It’s part of a Back to School Bash in the Littlejohn parking lot from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be food trucks on site and a Cruz-In. The movie Inside Out will be shown beginning at 8 p.m.

The Granville Ed Foundation and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC) are joining forces to collect the school supplies for teachers.

The complete list of items to donate for teachers is:

looseleaf paper
graph paper
single-subject spiral notebooks
pencils
pens
glue sticks
staples
construction paper
student scissors
dry erase markers (black)
white board cleaner
highlighters
crayons
paper clips
plastic spoons/forks
index cards
boxes of facial tissue
disinfectant wipes
tape
colored copy paper
laminating sheets
multi-colored card stock

Vance, Granville, Warren Masks

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Visitors to any indoor Warren County facility must wear masks while conducting business, effective Monday, Aug. 2. As of this publication, there are no mask mandates in Henderson or Vance County buildings, but officials told WIZS that they continue to monitor updates regarding mask recommendations from the state.

All visitors entering a Granville County facility should wear a face covering effective Tuesday, August 3, according to Lynn Allred, public information officer/grants coordinator. In a written statement, Allred said, “Employees should wear a face covering when engaging with the public; Employees – whether vaccinated or unvaccinated – should wear a face covering inside the workplace when within 6 feet of other people. (Face coverings are not necessary if the employee has a private workspace); Social distancing should be practiced wherever possible.”

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen acknowledged that guidance changes, and “at the current time, we are not planning to require masks within the county buildings,” McMillen said in a statement to WIZS News. He added that officials are “highly encouraging the use of masks within the common areas and courtrooms at the courthouse due to the large concentration of individuals within these areas.” According to McMillen, Chief District Court Judge John Davis issued a memo requesting the recommended use of masks in these areas.

“We … continue to watch the guidance as it changes daily. Our intent is to follow state mandates as it relates to social distancing, mask wearing and other precautions if they are implemented again,” McMillen said.

Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon said city officials currently are assessing the situation. “As we solicit additional feedback from the health department, a similar announcement may be forthcoming,” Blackmon told WIZS in reference to what Warren County is doing.

In Warren County, County Manager Vincent Jones and Health Director Dr. Margaret Brake issued a statement concerning the updated mask requirement. Warren County is among the 92 N.C. counties with a high or substantial transmission of COVID-19, the statement read. The CDC recommends that residents of those areas need to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. County staff also will be wearing masks indoors.

As of this publication, Warren, Vance and Granville counties are considered “substantial” spread areas. Franklin County is a “high” spread area.

HOPE Program now accepting tenant referrals from landlords, increasing assistance

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— press release courtesy North Carolina Department of Public Safety

The Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program has announced program changes to accept referrals of tenants from landlords and increase financial awards to North Carolina households that apply for pandemic-related rent and utility assistance. The new guidelines aim to help even more renters get back on their feet while also assisting landlords that have lost income due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Since opening last fall, the HOPE Program has awarded more than $305.5 million to ​81,039 households, with ​$219.2 million already paid to landlords and utility companies statewide.

“We established the HOPE Program to keep low income tenants hit hard by COVID-19 in their homes with the lights on,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “HOPE has already assisted more than 81,000 families, and these program changes will make sure even more people get the help they need while our state recovers.”

Landlords whose tenants are struggling to pay rent due to the pandemic can submit names and contact information using the HOPE Program website or by contacting the HOPE Call Center at 888-9ASK-HOPE (888-927-5467). A program specialist will then follow up with the tenant to help start the application process.

Additionally, starting Aug. 1, the HOPE Program monthly rent award limit will increase by 30%, which will allow the program to cover approximately 95% of all rent awards requested by tenants. Similarly, the utility award limit will increase by 100%, a change that will cover nearly 90% of all past-due amounts requested by program applicants. The new limits will apply to all new applications received, including applicants reapplying for assistance.

The HOPE Program promotes housing stability by providing rent and utility bill assistance to prevent evictions and the disconnection of utilities. The program currently serves 88 North Carolina counties, with 12 counties and five Native American tribes receiving direct federal funding to operate their own emergency rent and utility programs. A complete list of the counties served by the HOPE Program, county programs and tribal government programs can be found using the online NC HOPE Interactive Map.

Information about the HOPE Program, including eligibility requirements, program benefits and an online application, is available at www.HOPE.NC.gov. Applicants who cannot access the website should call 888-9ASK-HOPE (888-927-5467) for help with the application process. The HOPE Call Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both English- and Spanish-speaking representatives are available to assist callers. Applicants who applied for assistance during the first phase of the HOPE Program are eligible to reapply for additional help.

Funding for the HOPE Program is provided to the state through U.S. Department of Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund allocations and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. The HOPE Program is managed by the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, a division of the Department of Public Safety. To learn more about the HOPE Program, visit www.HOPE.NC.gov.

 

Blood Drive Aug. 24 At Oxford Public Works Building

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The City of Oxford is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 at the Public Works Building, 127 Penn Ave.

The event will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Schedule an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code Oxford, download the Blood Donor app or phone 1.800.RED.CROSS.

Granville Board of Education Set To Meet Aug. 2 At South Granville High

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The Granville County Board of Education will hear public comment at the beginning of its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 2. The meeting will be held in the South Granville High School auditorium and will begin at 6 p.m.

All persons who wish to address the board must sign up between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. A signup sheet will be posted outside the school and include their names and the topic they wish to speak about, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer.

Speakers will comment in the order they signed up, and each speaker will be limited to no more than five minutes. Per board policy 2310, public comment is limited to 30 minutes.

The meeting is open to the public, but all in attendance must wear a mask and undergo a health screening before entering the building.

The meeting also will be livestreamed via the link https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

 

Granville County Observes National Night Out on August 3rd

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Granville County municipalities are observing National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, Aug. 3. Events are planned in Oxford and Creedmoor and residents are invited to come out and enjoy food and activities.

The Oxford event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at D.N. Hix Field, located at 313 E. Spring St. There will be free hotdogs, chips, cupcakes, lemonade and tea available, and attendees can participate in lots of activities, from a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to visiting with McGruff the Crime Dog.
In addition, there will be a public safety vehicle display, a food truck rodeo and music at the Oxford event.

The Creedmoor event will be held at South Granville High School from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and includes children’s activities and free hotdogs, popcorn, sno-cones and beverages, according to information from the Granville Chamber of Commerce.

“National Night Out is a unique opportunity for the police department and our community members to bond and build relationships while having a little fun,” said Creedmoor Police Chief Keith King.
Activities include an inflatable obstacle course, impaired-vision course, several emergency vehicle displays and a visit from Duke Life Flight. The Creedmoor Volunteer Fire Department will be on hand to provide water activities, so children are encouraged to wear play clothes and to bring a towel!
Friendly competitions will pair police officers with kids for an obstacle course challenge as well as the ever-popular sixth annual doughnut eating contest.

This year marks the 38th annual National Night Out. More than 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world are involved. In all, more than 40 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”
Volunteers are still needed for the Creedmoor event. If you or your community group would like to volunteer and support this family-friendly event, call Angie Perry, Event Coordinator, at 919.764.1013 or email events@cityofcreedmoor.org.

South Granville High School is located at 701 North Crescent Drive.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk: Latest Granville Vance Public Health Guidance

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Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison was Wednesday’s Town Talk guest and discussed COVID-19 updates with John C. Rose, from the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about mask-wearing in schools as well as vaccinating children over the age of 12.

The CDC issued updated guidance Tuesday that recommends all students, staff and visitors of K-12 schools wear masks indoors.

“It’s important to take a layered approach to safety for schools,” Harrison said. A universal indoor masking policy for K-12 schools, regardless of a person’s vaccination status, is one way to ensure children’s health and wellness. Harrison said that currently 32 percent of children ages 12-18 are vaccinated.

Students need to return to full-time, in-person learning, she said. The health department is working closely with school nurses in the two counties to make sure they have the most current information to share and answer questions that may arise. In addition, Dr. Shawna Guthrie hosts regular webinars with school leaders to review any changed guidance as well as vaccination opportunities.

In response to the new guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, area schools officials said Wednesday that they will be considering the recommendation that all students, teachers, staff and visitors wear masks at school.

Vance County Schools public information officer Aarika Sandlin said district leaders will announce its plan by the end of the week; Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer for Granville County Schools, told WIZS News that the school board would be receiving recommendations at its regular monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2. Winborne said the plan is to approve a policy for the upcoming school year at that time. The current policy for GCPS requires everyone to wear a mask while on school property.

Wear a mask, even if you are fully vaccinated, she said, if “you just want to be extra kind and protective and ensure that nobody feels uncomfortable. It’s just the polite thing to do.”

Harrison said she is pleased that Vance and Granville counties are NOT among the 80 N.C. counties that have been identified as “areas of substantial and high transmission” of COVID-19. But this data is updated every week using data from a two-week trend line.

“We know over the last two weeks, we have had more cases, and we know 90 percent of the cases in North Carolina are testing positive for the Delta variant. I fully suspect that our color will change, from yellow to orange to red in the coming weeks – if people don’t take those precautions,” she said.

“We need everybody out there to do their part,” she said, noting that demand for the vaccination has slowed in both counties.  Vance County currently has 42 percent of its population fully vaccinated; Granville County is slightly higher at 44 percent. But Harrison said she wants to get to at least 50 percent by fall – and 70 percent fully vaccinated would go a long way to reduce spread of new variants.

“If we have tools that prevent our children from getting COVID, we need to use every tool we have.” And, she added, a vaccine is the best tool in the toolkit.

While it’s true that the long-term effects of the vaccine simply are not known, Harrison said health experts know more about the long-term effects of COVID-19. “It’s really clear where the risk lies – the risk lies in getting COVID.”

“We have a lot of evidence and true, scientific factual information from experts that say long-term effects of the COVID virus are a lot more dangerous and prevalent and likely than any long-term effects of a vaccine.”

To hear Lisa Harrison, GVPH Director, click play.