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Granville Closer To Satellite DSS Office in Creedmoor

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Granville County officials may find out Tuesday, June 1 whether its application will be considered for more than $1.8 million from the N.C. Local Government Commission (LGC) to lease a property in the southern end of the county for a satellite social services center.

Granville County officials have requested $1,871,616 to lease a 9,600 square-foot space in Dutch Village, 2531 East Lyon Station Road in Creedmoor.  “We are excited that there was space available in Creedmoor for us to grow into as the county grows,” said Granville County Manager Michael Felts. “We intend to look at the county’s changing needs over the next 10 years as we continue to bring services to where our residents are,” Felts said in a statement to WIZS News Friday.

Back in 2016, the Granville commissioners projected in a five-year strategic plan to “improve inter-local government relationships through partnerships and shared services;” according to county spokesperson Lynn Allred. The lease is a 10-year lease arrangement, with two five-year options to renew, she added. Currently, county residents must travel to the DSS offices in Oxford to conduct business. A satellite office would make it more convenient for residents in the southern end of the county to access services.

If all goes according to plan, the new satellite office will be open for business on Jan. 1, 2022. Design work and upfitting will begin in September 2021 and is expected to take several months to complete.

The county’s request is a small part of the more than $1 billion in financing applications from counties and municipalities from across the state, according to a press release from State Treasurer Dale Folwell. The LGC meeting will be held virtually, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Although the bulk of the requests comes from the cities of Raleigh and Charlotte, and Forsyth, Hoke, Moore and Orange counties.

The request was made because a satellite DSS is “necessary and expedient to meet an ongoing need for additional office space to better serve the southern side of the county,” according to LGC agenda information.

The Department of Social Services in Oxford has a staff of about 90 employees, and Allred said about one-third would be re-located to the new satellite office in Creedmoor. The satellite office will be a full-service site for residents in the southern end of the county – the area experiencing the largest population growth, Allred noted.

State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, chairs the LGC.

Local governments must get LGC approval before it borrows money for projects. The LGC determines that the amount being borrowed is an amount that the government can reasonably afford to repay, according to its webpage. The LGC is responsible for selling the debt, or bonds and oversees independent audits each year to monitor the fiscal health of local governments.

Other major requests to LGC include:

  • Charlotte has two major items on the agenda. It wants to obtain $250 million in bond anticipation notes to pay for capital improvement projects on the city’s aging water and sewer systems. And it seeks to take advantage of lower interest rates and reap savings of nearly $9.6 million by refunding $200 million that was previously issued for the city’s transit system.
  • The City of Charlotte Housing Authority, now known as INLIVIAN, is seeking $9 million in bonds as part of a $15.9 million package to build 80 one- and two-bedroom units on land leased from Park Ministries northwest of the downtown area.
  • Raleigh is seeking $200 million in bonds to improve water and sewer systems under the city’s Capital Improvement Program. The Raleigh Housing Authority is seeking $18 million to loan to Primavera Seniors to build 164 one- and two-bedroom apartments for low-income residents in two residential buildings.
  • Forsyth County wants to obtain $160 million in limited obligation bonds to acquire, build and equip a new county courthouse and a new children’s museum, to renovate and expand Smith Reynolds Airport facilities and to refund existing bonds at a savings of $2.8 million.
  • Moore County wants to acquire, build and equip a new county courthouse, county offices and other support facilities, and refund prior loans at a savings of $1.1 million. It is seeking approval of $71 million in limited obligation bonds to meet those needs.
  • Hoke County is asking approval for $50 million in limited obligation bonds to build the James E. Leach Aquatic and Recreation Center, two basketball courts, ball fields and Parks and Recreation Department office space. The facility will serve as the county’s emergency services shelter. Some of the money would be used to refund prior financing at a savings of more than $4.2 million.
  • Orange County is asking for approval of $28 million in limited obligation bonds for equipment and school projects and to refund previous financing at a savings of about $374,267.

VGCC Graduates 47 With Associates Degree In Nursing

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Vance-Granville Community College held a virtual pinning ceremony on May 14 at 6 p.m. for the associate degree nursing Class of 2021. The ceremony celebrated the 47 graduates of the program. Family and friends were able to join in the virtual event to see the graduates receiving their pins and marking their graduation.

The ceremony was opened by Ugur Celimli, VGCC’s interim department chair of nursing.  Dr. Levy Brown, vice president of learning, student engagement, & success, gave welcoming remarks, along with Dr. Anna Seaman, associate degree nursing program head; and ADN Class of 2021 President Cortney Ragan. Seaman noted that 2020 and 2021 presented challenges for nurses and nursing students that no one could have imagined, but he commended them for their perseverance.

Nursing instructor Jamie Davis presented cords to students who participated in the VGCC Student Nurses Association, a chapter of the National Student Nurses Association. She also recognized those students graduating with honors (a GPA of 3.5 or higher): Joel Nyamohanga, Cortney Ragan, Steven Pierce, Alicia Moussa, Jolina Chiong, James Ogidi, Diana Orina, Rebekah Edwards, and Kirstie Koski. Mary Wanjiku and Susan Zenker were recognized as the two graduates with the highest GPA.

Brande McILroy shared the story of the VGCC nursing pin.  The graduates were then pinned by a person of their choosing at home.  Seaman shared where the students plan to work or their area of interest in nursing, plans for continuing education, as well as appreciation to family, friends, and the faculty for their support during their time in school. After this time, the graduates recited the nursing pledge (written by Beverly Hansen O’Malley, RN) with Vanessa Ramseur, Nursing Instructor. Dr. Anna Seaman presented the class as official graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing Class of 2021. Even though the ceremony was not able to be held on campus in the Civic Center as traditionally held, the graduates remarked that it was still a meaningful and memorable way to mark the end of their journey. The ADN students were excited to have President Rachel Desmarais and other VGCC employees in attendance virtually.

Following is a list of all graduates and where they live: Karla Garcia Cervantes and Karlee Michalina, both of Butner; Emely Aguaviva Reyes of Clayton; Jessica Haskins, Sarah Riley and Sharlett Wilson, all of Creedmoor; Cara Blalock, Justin Kortor and Chris Trotman, all of Durham; Natasha Alston, Kati Hand, Stephen Nyambariga and Esther Ogachi, all of Franklinton; Kelsie Park of Fuquay Varina; Montrella Alston of Garner; Jolina Anne Chiong, Rebekah Edwards, Adrienne Pegram, Steven Pierce, Jaslin Renteria, Ashley Speed, Chelsea Troutman and April Zuniga-Trejo, all of Henderson; Jaysia Brown and Peninah Mburu, both of Knightdale; Cortney Ragan and Leslie Mata Ruiz, both of Louisburg; Cindy Blankenship, Dianne Davis, Wyatt Holley and Monique Watson, all of Oxford; Kirstie Koski, Alicia Moussa, James Ogidi, Angela Okpara, Diana Orina and Mary Wanjiku, all of Raleigh; McKenzie Howerton of Rougemont; Rocio Crews of Stem; Jessica Black and Susan Zenker, both of Wake Forest; Tiffany Eddie, Shaquile Hawkins, Amy Matthews and Georgina Vanegas Reyes, all of Warrenton; Pamela Rucker of Youngsville; and Joel Nyamohanga of Zebulon.

32 Graduate From VGCC Radiography Program

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Thirty-two new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year radiography program were honored in a virtual pinning ceremony earlier this month.

Although not held in the traditional manner, the May 10 event incorporated the traditional welcomes and congratulatory remarks that go along with graduations. But Angela Thomas, dean of health sciences and head of the radiography program went a step further when she welcomed all in attendance in the various languages represented in the diverse class – Amharic, English, Swahili and Spanish.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais spoke about the students’ accomplishments amidst the trying times of a global pandemic. Desmarais wished the group well in their future endeavors and reminded the group that should they need courses in the future, VGCC would be there with open arms.

Class President Mariah Lawson delivered remarks highlighting the trials the class had to overcome and the good times they all shared throughout the 21-month journey. She concluded with a poem written especially for the radiography class of 2021 which has been coined “The Best Class Ever!” Additionally, some of the graduates communicated what the program meant to them. The overall consensus was that they were more than Radiologic Technologists; they were professionals, according to a statement from VGCC’s Chris LaRocca.

The Academic Achievement Award given to the student with the highest GPA went to Travis Banka of Durham, NC. Banka maintained a 4.0 GPA each semester for the entirety of the program. In accepting the award, he thanked the radiography program and faculty. On behalf of the class, he thanked the faculty for giving them all the tools necessary to ensure success in the program.

Instructor Anthony Twisdale shared the history of the radiographer’s pin before Dean Thomas led the graduates in reciting the radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.

Following is a list of all graduates and where they live: Laura Andersen and Mackenzie Cates, both of Efland; Travis Banka, Belete Dress, Eden Ketema, all of Durham; Taylor Beck of Kittrell; Elizabeth Brogden, Glenn Burgess, Coleen Green, Kaylor Lawrence, Terri McGarr, and Katie Rumsey, all of Creedmoor; Cassidy Burton, Datoka Chabala, Dora Dial, and Edwin Vargas, all of Franklinton; Theresa Carrillo, Matthew Denton, Geneva Duncan, and Jakea Spruill, all of Henderson; Raegan Ellis of Prospect Hill, Lawrence Haymond of Wake Forest; Cristal Herrera and Ashley Hicks, both of Louisburg; Sierra Holland, Mariah Lawson, and Charles Maina, all of Raleigh; Osvaldo Martinez of Butner; Robyn Perry of Zebulon; Victoria Swain of Roxboro; and Carly West of Littleton. Not in attendance was Sean Murphy of Raleigh.

J.F. Webb Students Complete Art Project For Display At “Bonnie’s House”

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Two J.F. Webb High School art students recently completed a special project commissioned by Families Living Violence Free (FLVF). The artwork has been completed and will be displayed in the FLVF safe house for domestic violence victims.

Sofia Serba-Davis and Brim Royster each received a $100 gift card in appreciation for their efforts, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer and assistant superintendent of operations & human resources.

FLVF board member Jackie Harris worked with JFW’s art teacher Ophelia Staton to commission the work. Staton received a $50 gift card for her assistance and support of the project, Winborne said.

Both pieces of art depict Bonnie Hawley, a Granville County resident who was killed in a domestic violence incident. The safe house is known simply as “Bonnie’s House.”

L to R: Brim Royster, Mrs. Staton, Sofia Serba-Davis

“Their artwork is phenomenal,” Harris said. “The FLVF board and I are extremely honored to hang their artwork in this special location.  It speaks volumes of the students and their teacher.”

Families Living Violence Free is Granville County’s domestic violence and rape crisis center. All services are free and confidential. Learn more at  https://flvf.org/

Coach's Corner Logo

SportsTalk 05-27-21 Barry Moore, Granville Central Baseball

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UPDATE 9:30 P.M. THURS –

FINAL SCORE GRANVILLE CENTRAL 7 TO 3 OVER LOUISBURG.

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The Granville Central Panthers Varsity Baseball team started off 0-3 but have since put together five consecutive wins and look for a sixth tonight as the school welcomes the Louisburg Warriors for a 6pm game.

Head coach Barry Moore said freshman Brenden Chamberlain will pitch. The team has struggled with pitching this season and have walked too many batters which he attributes to the youthfulness of the team. “Our team is still young,” Coach Moore said. He said the team has three seniors that are big contributors as well as a couple of freshman who have helped out. Despite the pitching struggles Coach Moore says that aspect of the team is improving.

“Now is a lot better than it was several weeks ago. It feels like over the last couple of weeks that we are where we should have been at the beginning of the season,” Coach Moore said.

He feels the team missed some opportunities to beat Roanoke Rapids in the season opener but are now dialed in to where they should be. The team currently has a .306 batting average and their on base average sits at .455 this season.

Coach Moore expects a big turnout for tonight’s game as the Granville Central Panthers look to improve to 6-3 against Louisburg.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

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TownTalk 05-25-21 There’s Lots Going On In Granville County – For Locals and Tourists

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From farmer’s markets and flock swaps to sports tournaments and bee extravaganzas, Angela Allen says there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Granville County.

Allen is the county’s tourism director and talked with John C. Rose Tuesday on Town Talk about a variety of upcoming events of interest to anyone looking for ways to get out and enjoy the springtime – and looser COVID-19 restrictions.

All during the pandemic, Allen said she was getting the word out about supporting local businesses. “Now, they can really get out and support them,” she said. And it’s not just local folks supporting local businesses, she said. People from outside the area “want to get on the road and explore neighboring counties – they want to get away,” Allen said. Advertising with a statewide reach has helped her help local businesses, she said.

“We’ve laid the groundwork for people to come and explore the area as we slowly but surely open back up,” Allen added.

It may be something of a new phenomenon, but in the post-COVID world “people are really starting to search in their own backyards to see what they can ‘get into’ and how they can support local businesses,” Allen said.

Click Play or Continue Reading Below.

The Creedmoor Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays from 1-5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is located at the American Legion building, 50 Legion St., Creedmoor. The Oxford Farmers Market is open on Saturday mornings 7 a.m. to noon. It is located at the corner of McClanahan and Lanier streets, near the police station.

If you’d rather go visit the farm itself, check out Lyon Farms in Creedmoor, Christmas Place Farms in Bullock or Dixon Farms outside Oxford for fresh strawberries, plentiful right now.

For a complete list of farms close by or across the state, download the Visitncfarms app, Allen said.

There are a couple of Memorial Day events – one at the Veterans Memorial at City Hall in Oxford and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Butner Gazebo at 10 a.m.

Although traditional media outlets continue to be effective ways to reach a wide audience, social media outlets have also become popular when it comes to “getting the word out” about events. Allen said she used to get information 3-6 months in advance of an event so she could promote it, “that window has gotten a lot shorter” since COVID, she said.

“As soon as I get the information, I try to put it up on website and social media,” Allen said. Sometimes, the event comes together in just a couple of weeks. “It’s a little bit ‘off trend’ now, but in the era of COVID, it can almost be on the day of the event” that people decide to attend.

Creedmoor’s new recreation center will kick off a “First Friday” event for families on June 4 at 7 p.m. The theme for the first event is “Wildlife” – a wildlife expert will show off some special animals and then have a “meet and greet” session, Allen said. There will be food trucks and other activities.

Southern States in Oxford is the site of a June 20 Flock Swap, where folks can find small farm animals, as well as other farm products like eggs, honey, plants. This event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Granville Beekeepers will host its annual Bee Jubilee on June 26 at the Expo Center on Hwy. 15 south of Oxford. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and beekeepers will share information about bees and pollinators. There will be a bevy of bee products available, as well as a kids zone and a farmers market.

Also on June 26, Dogs Deserve Better of Piedmont will host a Family Fun Fair at The Barn at Vino in Stem. There will be food trucks, live music, outdoor games and more than 40 vendors.

Learn more at visitgranvillenc.com.

(Granville Tourism and specifically visitgranvillenc.com is a sponsor of WIZS and wizs.com.  This is not a paid ad.)

Dr. Michael Myrick Named Superintendent of Weldon City Schools

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Dr. Michael A. Myrick, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction & student services in Granville County Public Schools, has been selected to become the new superintendent of Weldon City Schools. Myrick will begin his new job on July 1, 2021, according to a press release from Granville County Public Schools.

“It comes as no surprise that Dr. Myrick has been selected to lead another school district as superintendent, said GCPS Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean.

Myrick’s career spans 14 years in GCPS; he has been a principal and program director, and has been an assistant superintendent for the past seven years, according to information released by Dr. Stan Winborne, public information officer and assistant superintendent of operations & human resources.

According to its website, Weldon City Schools has four schools and almost 700 students. Weldon is located in Halifax County in North Carolina.

Myrick puts children first, McLean said, and is “always thinking of their best interests. We wish him all the best as he takes the next step in his career continuing to serve children,” she stated.

School board chairman David Richardson expressed the board’s appreciation to Myrick for his time with GCPS. “The board is grateful for Dr. Myrick’s service to the students and community in Granville County,” Richardson said.  “He has worked hard to be a champion for children…I know that the students, staff and community of Weldon City Schools are fortunate to have him as their new leader,” he said.

Myrick was chosen from a field of 39 candidates, according to the GCPS release, based on his “experience, leadership and dedication to students, staff and community.”

With his extensive experience in curriculum and instruction, the board is confident Dr. Myrick will lead the school system to high levels of academic achievement, the statement continued.

Myrick is a past president of the Oxford Rotary Club and is a member of the advisory board for Vance-Granville Community College School of Arts & Sciences. He also is a board member of the N.C. Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center.

NCDOT

Oxford’s Roundabout Construction Set To Begin In June; Drivers, Plan For 2-Month Detour

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Preliminary work has been completed at the Oxford intersection that soon will be the site of the city’s first traffic circle, or roundabout.

N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews will start building the roundabout on June 7 at the intersection of Main and Spring streets, located near the post office and the Richard Thornton library.

The $200,000 project will take a couple of months to complete, and the first vehicles should be able to use it in August, according to a statement from DOT spokesman Marty Homan. During construction, drivers will follow a posted detour along Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., Hillsboro Street/Williamsboro Street and Gilliam Street.

“Roundabouts improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. They also help reduce the congestion and backups more typically found at traditional intersections with stop signs and traffic signals,” according to the DOT statement. The intersection currently has stop signs on Spring Street but not Main Street.

NCDOT has produced a video showing how roundabouts work and improve overall safety. More details can also be found by visiting the department’s roundabout webpage.

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VGCC “Boot Camp” Offers Skills To Get Jobs, Plan For Careers

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Vance-Granville Community College is offering a job readiness “boot camp” for anyone interested in learning valuable skills to get employed and stay employed.

All four campuses are having the four-day sessions, designed to provide 24 hours of instruction, according to information from Tanya S. Weary, dean of business & industry solutions at VGCC.

The class is limited to 10 students, and will focus on several key topics, from interviewing and resume writing to goal setting and communication.

Participants should be at least 16 years old, according to Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of occupational extension. This type of employability skills class has been offered in the past by VGCC, but this is a new format designed to provide students with skills necessary to obtain and maintain employment.

Find the location to fit your schedule:

  • Main Campus: June 7-10
  • Warren Campus: June 21-24
  • South Campus: July 12-15
  • Franklin Campus: Aug. 2-5

For more information, contact VGCC at 252.738.3276 or visit https://www.vgcc.edu/coned/hrd/

Spring Recycling Event Diverts 22,000 Pounds of Materials To Proper Disposal

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The annual Spring Clean Out and Collection Event May 15 netted more than 22,000 pounds of material – from shredded paper to ammunition. That’s 11 tons of stuff that will not languish on a tractor barn shelf, be stacked in a storage shed in the backyard or clutter up someone’s garage. Granville County’s Environmental Services Department hosted the event, held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, and event organizer Teresa Baker said she appreciated everyone’s efforts to make the event a success.

Baker, who is recycling and sustainability coordinator for Granville County and for Granville County Public Schools, said the event went smoothly, thanks to volunteers who removed items from vehicles at the drive-through event, to the vendors who were on hand to accept the items and safely dispose of them.

Vendors included Veolia, Shred Ace, RMR Recycling, the N.C. Department of Agriculture/Pesticides Division, Recency Technologies, DART Containers, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and Interstate Batteries.

Here is a breakdown of materials that were collected:

  • Shredded paper: 5,460 pounds
  • Latex paint: 5,000 pounds (6 pallets)
  • Electronics: 4,132 pounds
  • Oil-based paint: 2,000 pounds
  • Books: 1,720 pounds
  • Pesticides: 1,624 pounds
  • Toxic compounds: 1,000 pounds
  • Flammable compounds: 1,000 pounds
  • Aerosols: 420 pounds
  • Fluorescent lamps: 150 pounds
  • Outdated prescriptions: 110 pounds
  • Ammunition: 25 pounds
  • Mercury devices: 5 pounds
  • Polystyrene: 1,000 pieces
  • Car/vehicle batteries: 30
  • Household batteries: Three (3) five-gallon buckets
  • Power tool batteries: One (1) pallet

“These numbers reflect thousands of pounds of materials that will not be harming our environment,” Baker said. “Thanks to the vendors who were on site, the many volunteers who came to help, and all the residents who participated by bringing items to the Expo Center.”