Filing Period Ends For November Elections; Stovall’s Mayor Janet Parrott Retiring After 42 Years

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The town of Stovall will choose a new mayor for the first time in more than four decades in the upcoming elections in November; incumbent Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent will face challenger Sherry Shavon Hester and the three other incumbent mayors of Butner, Creedmoor and Stem are running unopposed.

The filing period ended today (Friday) at noon for the Nov. 2 municipal elections, said Tonya Burnette, county elections director.

Janet Parrott, Stovall’s mayor, did not file for re-election. The two candidates who filed are Curtis S. Pugh and current town board member Mike Williford.

Parrott told WIZS News she is retiring from her role as mayor after 42 years. She was first elected in 1979 when she was 24 years old, she added, but will continue to work as administrator for the town of Stovall.

Eight candidates filed for seats on the Oxford Board of Commissioners – incumbents Patricia Fields and S. Quon Bridges filed for re-election and newcomers Bryan Cohn, Courtney Crudup, Walkiria Jones, Melanie Kaye Moseley, John L. Oliver and B. Seth Lumpkins also filed.

Three candidates for Stovall Commissioner are Douglas Lunsford, Jr., Carl T. Roberts and Tonya Sneed.

Susan Cope, Kevin Easter and Frank N. Shelton, III filed to run for commissioner in the town of Stem.

In Butner, Michel Branch, Judy Cheek and Tom Lane filed for seats on the Butner Town Council; in Creedmoor, Emma L. Albright and Robert Way filed for commissioners’ seats.

Butner Mayor Terry Turner, Creedmoor Mayor Bobby Wheeler and Stem Mayor Casey Dover face no opposition.

Oxford Police Dept

Oxford Announces Interim Police Chief

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The City of Oxford has announced that former Oxford Police Department Captain Pat Ford will return to the Police Department to serve as interim police chief. Ford will begin the job on Aug. 2 and will lead the department as it conducts a search for a permanent chief.

Chief Al Coley announced in June that he will retire, effective Aug. 1.

“The City of Oxford is both pleased and thankful to have someone with nearly 25 years of service and experience with the Oxford Police Department to serve in this capacity,” according to a press release issued from the city’s executive offices.

 

TownTalk: Granville County Celebrates 275 Years

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Question: What was the largest town in Granville County in 1880?

Answer: Henderson.

It’s not a trick question, but unless you’re a local history buff, you may not know that for about 135 years, a good part of Vance County was, well, in Granville County, as were Warren and Franklin counties.

Present-day Granville County residents are preparing to celebrate the county’s 275th anniversary with a day-long event at Granville Athletic Park. About two years in the making, the celebration has something for everyone, according to planning committee members Mark Pace and Chair Sue Hinman. They joined county tourism director Angela Allen on Thursday’s Town Talk to talk about the exciting details with John C. Rose and Bill Harris.

“This is truly a celebration,” Allen said, of the county’s history, its progress, its resources – all the great things that make Granville County what it is today.

The GAP will be filled to overflowing with activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the whole family to enjoy. Balloons and clowns and games and music, to name a few, Hinman said. At 9 a.m., there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open Phase III of the GAP, which contains new tennis courts and an inclusive playground.

Hinman, chair of the county commissioners board, said she is excited to be a part of the celebration and to be able to spread the word about the county’s 275th anniversary.

Allen said the park will be filled to overflowing with everything from live music to bouncy houses for the kids. Visit www.granvillecounty.org/275th to find a complete schedule of events.

At the sports pavilion, attendees will find a variety of resources where they can learn about the cities, towns and communities in the county.

Also available is a book written and compiled by local author Lewis Bowling. Looking Back: 275 years of Granville County History will be available for purchase, and Bowling will be on hand to sign copies, Pace said.

Of the hundreds of books that have been written about Granville and the surrounding areas, this is a “complete narrative history,” Pace said. “And this is the first one of Granville County,” he added. Among the 300 pages of the coffee-table style book are many never-before published photographs that capture Granville County’s past.

At 10 a.m., an opening ceremony will kick off the event, with presentation of colors and remarks from local dignitaries. After that, Allen said it’s time to enjoy live music in the amphitheater, food from a variety of vendors and even visit an outdoor classroom space where folks can learn about such things as the history of tobacco in the area as well as where the walking trails in the county can be found.

The Granville-Vance Health District will be on hand for COVID-19 testing as well as COVID-19 vaccines, Allen said.

The committee was formed and began planning before the pandemic, and Pace said, to be honest, there were times during the planning process when the group didn’t know whether the celebration would be able to take place at all. Allen said the committee members come from across the county and all municipalities are represented.

“It’s a great mix of community pieces,” she said. “We wanted to make this as inclusive as we possibly could.” The celebration represents the thought that went into the planning process.

Until the original county was carved up into the four counties we know today, Allen said she has learned through planning for this event that Granville County was truly a hub for the state. She said it is great to be able to “live, work and play in a community that already has a reputation of bringing people together.”

Today, about 60,000 people call Granville County home. Back in the late 1780’s, when it was just more than 40 years old, there were about 6,500 residents, and one of those residents was John Penn, North Carolina’s only signer of the Declaration of Independence. Penn died in 1788, but chances are slim to none that he ever ate a funnel cake or enjoyed a sno-cone. Visitors to the GAP next Saturday, however, could glimpse such an anachronistic sight – sort of.

Mark Pace will portray Penn during the event, sharing stories and insight from a time more than 200 years ago. And who knows? Maybe he’ll wander over to the sno-cone stand to see which flavor he prefers.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Repair Café NC Information Event Coming To Oxford July 15

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An organization called Repair Café NC is having an informational meeting for Granville County residents on Thursday evening at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.

Repair Café NC has numerous programs across the state, and it’s a way to connect people who have broken household items with others in the community who can fix them. The local organizers are Oxford resident Tom Fick and Teresa Baker, the county’s recycling coordinator.

Sometimes a simple repair is all it takes to keep an item working – and keeping it out of the landfill.

According to the group’s website, Repair Café “brings together people to share skills and solve problems. Valuable practical knowledge is getting passed on. Things are being used for longer and don’t have to be thrown away.”

The event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., located at 117 Wall St., Oxford.

To register, visit www.repaircafenc.org.

Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free Has Moved

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Families Living Violence Free has moved.

The new location is 211 West Antioch Drive, Henrahand Cottage, Oxford, NC 27565.

Learn more at (919) 693-3579 or www.flvf.org.

The 24/7/365 crisis line is 919-693-5700 for English and 919-690-0888 for Spanish.

Hot Sauce Festival Seeking Volunteers

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Are you ready for the heat? Volunteers are needed for the 15th Annual Hot Sauce Contest and Festival that will take place in downtown Oxford Saturday, September 11th from 11am until 5pm. If you are interested in volunteering for the Hot Sauce Contest and Festival or for other city or Department of Economic Development Commission events contact Alyssa Blair at 919-603-1102 or Rebekah Guiterrez-Olivares at 919-603-1101. Free T-shirts will be given to volunteers.  The festival features barbecue & hot sauces and locally crafted products along with food trucks, selected crafted brews, unique sounds from local bands, a pepper eating contest, classic car show, and attendees can cheer for their favorite sauce to win a 2021 medal naming best sauces.

The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year, this is sure to be one Smokin’ Hot event.

Stephen Horton of Oxford to serve as commissioner of NC State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision

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Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Stephen Horton of Oxford to serve as the commissioner of the North Carolina State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision. The Appointment became effective June 17.

Horton is the deputy compact administrator for the Interstate Compact for Juveniles at the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.

Horton and other state and territory commissioners serve on The Interstate Commission for Juveniles, the governing body of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. Commission members include representatives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands, who work together to preserve child welfare and promote public safety.

The Interstate Compact for Juveniles (ICJ) is the law that regulates the interstate movement of juveniles who are under court supervision or have run away to another state. The ICJ is a contract that has been adopted as law throughout the United States. The Commission is responsible for promoting and enforcing rules to implement the ICJ.

Horton also serves on the ICJ Rules Committee, which provides oversight and guidance regarding proposed rule amendments throughout the ICJ rule-making process.

Horton began working in Court Services District 24, which includes Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties, in April 1999. He’s worked in various positions during his 22 years with Juvenile Justice, including court counselor, court counselor supervisor, and staff development specialist. In May 2014, he began serving as the deputy compact administrator for Interstate Compact for North Carolina.

Horton graduated from Appalachian State University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Literacy Tutors To Help K-3 Students Overcome Loss Of Instructional Time During Pandemic

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The plea from N.C. Education Corps is as simple as A-B-C: school children in grades K-3 need literacy tutors to help overcome lost instructional time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications for paid, part-time tutors are being taken now, but the deadline is July 20, 2021 to be considered for the next wave of tutors that will work in specific counties across the state, including Vance and Granville.

Tutors will commit to work for nine months, according to information received from the non-profit organization, which is “committed to helping all NC students have the support they need to thrive.”

Vance County Schools has openings for 16 literacy tutors; Granville County Public Schools has 6 slots open. The organization hopes to send 250 literacy tutors to more than 20 N.C. counties to work directly with K-3 students during the school day. There also are 3 positions open at Henderson Collegiate; applicants should have a high school diploma and some college experience. The pay rate is $13.15/hour.

The pay in Vance for the tutor position is in the $13.15 – $25 per hour range, depending on experience. Applicants must have at least a high school diploma. In Granville, the pay range is $15-$25 per hour, depending on experience. Applicants must have a minimum of 48 hours of college credit.

The group recruits community college and university students, recent college graduates, retirees, and adults who are actively engaged in their community, with a “special focus on recruiting students from universities and community colleges with teacher prep programs,” according to the statement, with the hope that “young corps members consider a career in public education and public service after working with NCEC and our school partners.”

Visit www.nceducationcorps.org to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

Granville Chamber Announces Roberson As New Executive Director

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Vance County native Lauren Bennett Roberson has been named the new executive director of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce. Roberson will begin her job on Monday, July 12, according to a press release.

The Chamber’s board of directors made the announcement on Thursday. Roberson is a 2012 graduate of NC State University and has experience in working in a family business, as well as with marketing and social media, the press release stated.

In accepting the position, Roberson told the board she looks forward to working in the community.  “The chamber has and will continue to be a vital part of the county by advocating for our members and shining a spotlight on this thriving community,” Roberson said. “I love Granville County and cannot wait to meet with and show our members and potential members what the Chamber has to offer them.”

The statement from the chamber board said “she brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to the position as well as an innovative spirit that will serve as a basis for growing and supporting out membership.”

Roberson and husband Colin are members of Island Creek Baptist Church in Vance County. They have one daughter, Everly.

Longtime director Ginnie Currin retired in late 2020, after serving as director since 1997. The chamber board statement said it looks forward to Roberson continuing the work begun under Currin’s leadership.

NCDOT

US 15-Hester Road Intersection Will Become A 4-Way Stop On July 21

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The N.C. Department of Transportation has announced that the intersection of U.S. Hwy 15 and Hester Road will become a 4-way stop on July 21, weather permitting.

The intersection is located a couple of miles north of Creedmoor and currently requires vehicles to stop on Hester Road, but not on U.S. 15.  The change comes after the DOT investigated traffic volumes and the number and severity of crashes at the intersection.

In addition to the extra “stop” signs, crews will also be installing “stop ahead” and “stop” pavement markings on U.S. 15 to help warn motorists of the new traffic pattern. Additionally, LED stop signs and stop ahead warning signs will be installed.

Drivers should slow down, obey workers controlling traffic and proceed through the intersection with caution during its reconfiguration, which will be completed by that afternoon, according to a press release from NC DOT.

These improvements are being made through NCDOT’s SPOT Safety Program, which identifies safety projects that are expected to be the most beneficial and feasible and address departmental goals.

Converting intersections into all-way stops has been shown to reduce fatalities and injuries by 77 percent.

Visit the department’s all-way stop webpage to learn more.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.