TownTalk 12-10-20 Local History With Mark Pace

Emigrating Over the Horizon; Where Did They Go?

WIZS TownTalk host Bill Harris and guest Mark Pace discuss emigration from Old Granville County.

What were the reasons people left the area in the early to mid 19th Century?  The need of land was one reason and land was cheap in areas such as Tennessee and Alabama. Land grants from the Revolution also provided incentive, and larger quantities of land were needed as large families with eight to 10 to 12 children grew.  Land quality was a factor as well because without enough land, proper crop rotations could not occur.

Where did they go? Numerous communities such as Macon, Georgia or Granville, Tennessee were named for people or locations in the immediate vicinity of Henderson and Oxford. Many families moved to and founded the communities in these areas for better opportunities.

For more details and TownTalk audio click play…and continue reading below…

Additionally, many people with roots here went on to become famous nationally and internationally. Playwright Tennessee Williams, Gen. Braxton Bragg, former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and “Lady Bird” Johnson all had or have roots tying them to the area.

Just as Vance, Granville, Warren & Franklin Counties were shaped by those who moved here from Southern and Tidewater Virginia, many areas in Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas and other southern states were equally influenced by those who left here to make their mark in these states and others.

For more on local history and genealogy visit Mark Pace at the NC Room at Thornton Library in Oxford and visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/fgvwgeneaology on the web for more information on Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren county history and genealogy.

Dr. Kayla Cagle-Colon MPH

Dr. Kayla J. Cagle-Colon Joins Maria Parham Women’s Care

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health (MPH), a Duke LifePoint hospital, is excited to announce that Kayla J. Cagle-Colon, MD, has joined their women’s care practice, Maria Parham Women’s Care. Dr. Cagle-Colon joins the community from New York, New York where she has completed her residency program.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cagle-Colon to North Carolina to practice at Maria Parham Health,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Women’s Care is a growing need in our community, and Dr. Cagle-Colon’s training at Yale and fellowship at Bellevue Hospital (New York, New York) have given her a great breadth of experience in a wide range of procedures that people in our region need. This expertise will be important as Maria Parham Health works to make our community healthier.”

Kayla J. Cagle-Colon, MD, has joined Maria Parham Health’s women’s care practice, Maria Parham Women’s Care. (Photo courtesy MPH)

Dr. Cagle-Colon earned her medical degree from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD. She completed a residency program at New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Dr. Cagle-Colon is a member of the American Medical Women’s Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.

When she is not working, Dr. Cagle-Colon enjoys fishing, horseback riding, reading, traveling, and quality time with her husband and two dogs.

Dr. Cagle-Colon is now accepting patients at Maria Parham Women’s Care, located at 1209 SE Industry Drive in Oxford, North Carolina. This practice offers women’s health care services including, well-woman visits, obstetrical care, birth control management, high-risk pregnancy care, and menopause management.

To schedule an appointment, please call (252) 492-8576.

Antoinette Dickens

VGCC’s Dickens Receives Statewide Award for Work-Based Learning

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Antoinette C. Dickens, Department Chair of Public Service and Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Vance-Granville Community College, was recently named the winner of the North Carolina Work-Based Learning Association (NCWBLA) Jon A. Young Award for 2020. This award recognizes the outstanding NCWBLA member of the year, one who exemplifies the ideals of Work-Based Learning by making significant contributions to the mission and goals of the association.

Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an academic program at VGCC that combines classroom studies with on-the-job, career-related work experience. The goal is to provide students with not only the curriculum to succeed but also with the hands-on and on-site experience they will need to succeed in the workforce.

Antoinette Dickens holds her plaque for the NCWBLA Jon A. Young Award. (Photo courtesy VGCC)

“We congratulate Antoinette for being recognized at the state level for her talents and her contributions to Work-Based Learning,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of VGCC. “She has revised and streamlined the WBL processes at VGCC, helping our students gain skills and prepare for promising careers.”

A resident of Rolesville, Dickens has served as the WBL Coordinator at VGCC since 2016. Under her leadership, the Work-Based Learning program saw a 27% increase in student hours completed from 2018-2019 to 2019-2020. In her other role at the college, Dickens provides leadership for several curriculum programs: Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education and Paralegal Technology.

She has served in leadership roles at the NCWBLA, as an at-large board member and as Treasurer.

“WBL is an experiential class/program that provides students with the opportunity to apply theories and skills learned in class to the workplace,” Dickens noted. “It is a win-win-win situation for all parties involved! First, students are able to gain experience and work skills needed to be successful in their careers. Second, employers benefit from having students and graduates who possess the skills and education to successfully meet their employment needs. And third, VGCC benefits from WBL in that it allows the college to forge new community relationships, or strengthen existing ones.”

Dickens started her higher education at VGCC, earned a Paralegal Certificate from the American Institute of Paralegal Studies, and later completed a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies at North Carolina Wesleyan College, and a master’s degree in human services counseling: criminal justice at Liberty University.

She has held a variety of positions in the justice system, as a Deputy Clerk of Superior Court in Vance County, a legal assistant in the District Attorney’s office in Oxford, a juvenile court counselor, and a paralegal working for law firms in Louisburg, Warrenton and Raleigh. Dickens was an instructor for VGCC’s Criminal Justice Technology program from 2004 through 2010. She rejoined VGCC in 2013 as the first person to head the college’s Paralegal Technology program.

For more information on participating in WBL at VGCC, contact Dickens at (252) 738-3609 or dickensa@vgcc.edu.

NC Governor Logo

NC to Begin Modified Stay at Home Order Dec. 11

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen today announced that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order after a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and takes effect Friday, December 11, 2020, and will be in place until at least January 8, 2021.

“We already have strong safety protocols and capacity limitations in place – including a statewide mask requirement. With this additional action beginning Friday, we hope to get these numbers down,” Governor Cooper said. “Our new modified Stay At Home order aims to limit gatherings and get people home where they are safer, especially during the holidays. It’s also a reminder that we must be vigilant the rest of the day – wearing a face mask when we are with people we don’t live with, keeping a safe distance from others and washing our hands a lot.”

The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and more to close at 10 p.m. Travel to and from work; to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services; or to take care of a family member is exempted. Read more in the Frequently Asked Questions document.

In the past week, North Carolina’s case count has broken single-day records on three separate days, including crossing more than 6,000 cases per day on two of those days. Just a month ago, cases were under 3,000 per day. In recent days, the percent of tests returning positive has increased to more than 10%.

Governor Cooper was clear that further action would be taken to slow the spread of the virus if trends do not improve. This could require further limiting of restaurant dining, indoor entertainment or shopping and retail capacity restrictions, among other safety protocols.

Dr. Cohen also provided an update on North Carolina’s COVID-19 County Alert System map. The number of red counties (critical community spread) has more than doubled since November 23, up to 48 red counties from 20 red counties. There are now 34 orange counties (substantial community spread), as compared to 42 orange counties from the previous report. With today’s report, more than 80% of the state’s counties fall into the red or orange tier. Read the update to see where each county stands and how the system was designed.

“Your actions can keep people from getting sick, save lives, and make sure our hospitals can care for people whether it’s for a heart attack or a car accident or COVID-19. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community now,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.

Dr. Cohen also provided an update on North Carolina’s data and trends.

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is increasing.

Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is increasing.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is increasing.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is increasing.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.

Testing

  • Testing capacity is high, surpassing 50,000 tests per day for much of the past week.

Tracing Capability

  • The state is continuing to hire contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.
  • There have been more than 500,000 downloads of the exposure notification app, SlowCOVIDNC.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.

Read Executive Order 181.

Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.

Read the slides from today’s briefing.

Winter Weather

It’s Winter Weather Preparedness Week: Are You Ready?

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-Press Release, Granville County Government 

In North Carolina, Dec. 6 through Dec. 12 is Winter Weather Preparedness Week. Granville County Emergency Services urges all residents to plan now before potentially dangerous winter weather arrives:

Be ready for winter weather by:

  • Keeping at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food in your home;
  • Dressing warmly, wearing multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing;
  • Keeping fresh batteries on hand for weather radios and flashlights;
  • Storing an emergency kit in your vehicle which includes an ice scraper, jumper cables, a tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, a flashlight, a first aid kit and a road map, as well as masks and hand sanitizer to combat COVID-19;
  • Keeping alternative heating sources and fire extinguishers on hand and knowing how to use them;
  • Properly venting kerosene heaters and keeping electric generators outside and away from open window or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning;
  • Using a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio to monitor changing weather conditions.

If you must travel during severe winter weather conditions:

  • Be sure to leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles;
  • Reduce your speed, if driving along snow or ice-covered roadways;
  • Pull off the highway, if conditions worsen, and remain in your vehicle. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you can take shelter, if needed;

Don’t forget to include pets in your emergency plans. To keep animals safe during winter weather:

  • Make an emergency supply kit for your pet that includes medical records, a first aid kit, enough canned/dry food and water for three to seven days, a pet travel bag or carrier;
  • Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time;
  • Ensure your pet has a well-fitting collar;
  • Bring pets inside when temperatures drop below freezing;
  • Move livestock and other animals to a shelter location with food and water.

Granville County Emergency Services reminds all residents to be prepared for inclement weather throughout the year, and to stay informed about the hazards where they live.

For information about enrolling in CodeRED, Granville County’s free emergency notification system, please visit www.granvillecounty.org or call Granville County Emergency Services at (919) 603-1310. For more information on how to prepare for winter storms, visit www.readync.org.

VGCC Logo

VGCC Solidifies Partnership With North Carolina A&T State University

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College continues to build new partnerships that support transfer student success with senior institutions in North Carolina.

Earlier this semester, VGCC solidified a partnership with North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. The North Carolina A&T ‘Aggie Plus’ agreement provides students with guaranteed admission to the university and promotes the success of transfer students seeking to earn a baccalaureate degree.

The co-admission agreement represents innovations that are being put into place by community colleges and universities in NC. VGCC is one of a growing number of community colleges to partner with NCA&TSU on the Aggie Plus Program. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais and NCA&TSU Chancellor Dr. Harold Martin signed off on the partnership effort, and now students will benefit.

As a part of the agreement, VGCC students will receive career, financial aid and academic counseling from assigned N.C. A&T and VGCC advisors. Following completion of the associate degree, Aggie Plus participants will receive priority review in the final N.C. A&T admissions process. The application fee for Aggie Plus participants will be waived and students will engage in an Aggie Plus program orientation session at VGCC. Further, N.C. A&T will organize at least one Aggie Plus program visit day to N.C. A&T each year.

“Our college continues to be intentional about providing multiple pathways to success for students. The Aggie Plus Program is yet another example. Ultimately, N.C. A&T provides a quality education for students in many areas including STEM. VGCC students will benefit from this opportunity!” said Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of learning, student engagement and success.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Aggie Plus Program, please contact our staff at (252) 738-3234. Further, if you are interested in applying for general admissions to the college, please apply at www.vgcc.edu or call (252) 738-3234.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update: Vance Nears 2,000 Confirmed Cases

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

GVPH provided the following update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of December 7, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Vance County

Total Cases: 1,949
Active Cases: 600

Total Cases in Community: 1,768
Active Cases: 595
Cases Off-Isolation: 1,153

Total Cases at Long-Term Care Facilities: 181
Active Cases: 5
Cases Off-Isolation: 136

There is currently an outbreak at Senior Citizens Home and Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Total Hospitalized with COVID-19: 25

Total Deaths: 60
Community: 20
Pelican Nursing Home: 14
Kerr Lake Nursing Home: 12
Senior Citizens Home: 14

Granville County

Total Cases: 2,798
Active Cases: 551

Total Cases in Community: 1,972
Active Cases: 436
Cases Off-Isolation: 1,526

Total Cases at Federal Prison: 533
Active Cases: 7
Cases Off-Isolation: 504

Total Cases at Long-Term Care Facilities: 293
Active Cases: 108
Cases Off-Isolation: 157

There are currently outbreaks at Universal Health Care, Murdoch Development Center, Granville House, RHA Health Services – Stem and Polk Correctional Institution.

Total Hospitalized with COVID-19: 9

Total Deaths: 60
Community: 10
Central Regional: 1
Granville House: 2
Murdoch Development Center: 3
Universal Health Care: 22
Federal Prison: 22

Unfortunately, another death has been reported from the community: a 57-year-old female passed away on December 4, 2020.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily.

Oxford Logo

Oxford Board of Commissioners to Hold Regular Meeting This Evening

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford

The Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold a regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 7 p.m. online via Zoom.

Please click here to register in advance. Advance registration is required to attend the virtual meeting.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you have trouble accessing the meeting, please call (919) 603-1100.

Please click here for the full meeting agenda.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools – Return to “Plan C”

— courtesy Granville County Public Schools

GCPS Makes Winter Shift to Full Remote Instruction – Return to “Plan C”

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 7, 2020, the Granville County Board of Education voted unanimously to shift all students back to remote learning effective Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Superintendent McLean, working closely with officials from the Granville Vance Health Department, recommended this shift due to the surge in the pandemic, which has negatively impacted the readiness indicators for the school district.

Dr. McLean explained, “We have been closely monitoring the metrics that impact our ability to provide in-person learning to our students. The recent trends have made it increasingly difficult to do so in a safe and effective manner. Therefore, in order to keep our students and staff safe, we will be shifting to full virtual learning to bridge us through the winter holiday season.”

In person learning, or a shift back to “Plan B”, could resume as early as Monday, January 25 if the readiness indicators improve. The Board will review updated metrics at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021. Until then, all students will be served remotely, with the exception of traditional calendar high school students, who are required to take NC standardized final exams in person on December 16 – 22. These high school students’ individual schedules are being shared with students and their families for each school.

Since all students will be shifting to remote learning during this time, families are encouraged to take advantage of the various services offered by the district. Additional support with laptop repairs, free MiFi hotspots and paper learning packets are available for students. In addition, the district will also be giving away a limited number of student desks to families just before the winter holiday break. These desks are being provided to partner with our families in providing productive home learning centers. Also, the meal service program will provide enough meals for students to have breakfast and lunch for each day during the winter break. More information about these programs will be provided to families via email, phone calls and letters home.

Chairman David Richardson offered his perspective on the change in instructional services, stating, “We know that this shift to Plan C will create some new challenges for our families. However, based on the recommendations from our local health experts, we feel that the safety of our students and staff must be our top priority. We will do all we can to continue to keep students’ learning the focus during this time while remembering that grace and flexibility should be practiced by all.”

Written and provided to WIZS Radio by Dr. Stan Winborne, Assistant Superintendent of Operations & Human Resources, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools

Elizabeth City State University

VGCC Forms New Partnership With Elizabeth City State University

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Faculty, staff, and leaders from Vance-Granville Community College and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) recently attended a virtual signing ceremony to formalize an agreement that creates new opportunities for students from the community college to complete bachelor’s degrees.

The co-admission agreement, which is designed to improve transfer student access and success through a collaborative baccalaureate degree program, was signed by ECSU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon and VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais.

“ECSU continues to collaborate with North Carolina community colleges to afford transfer students a greater opportunity to earn their undergraduate degrees,” Chancellor Dixon said in a statement from the university. “We are excited to work with President Desmarais and her staff to provide these students with a clear path to ECSU so they can continue their education.”

VGCC is the fourth community college to sign such an agreement with ECSU, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system offering more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

“This strong new partnership with Elizabeth City State University will help VGCC students achieve their academic and career goals,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of the community college. “We look forward to supporting Vanguards who choose to continue their education as Vikings.”

Under the agreement, VGCC students can choose a “co-admission” transfer pathway in which they can take ECSU degree programs without actually leaving the community college. Students will receive special joint academic advising services and virtual support. There will also be assistance for active-duty military and veteran education benefits and resources available to qualifying students. Students will receive either on-site or virtual classroom presentations; joint virtual financial aid counseling; access to the ECSU library online resources; and access to programming through the university’s Office of Student Activities and other campus organizations.

Alternatively, eligible students can complete the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Fine Arts degree programs at VGCC, and if they maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA), they will be guaranteed admission to ECSU. Application fees for these transfer students will be waived.

“We are excited about creating opportunities for our students that will assist them with long-term success!” said Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of learning, student engagement & success. “Our team has worked diligently to create multiple pathways for students, including non-credit to credit, and from our institution to four-year institutions. A special thanks to Kali Brown, Dean of Student Access and Support, and Dr. Antonio Jordan, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Services, for partnering with me on this important work for our students. Further, I appreciate the visionary leadership of Dr. Rachel Desmarais, as we continue to strategically seek partnerships that will benefit our students.”

For more information, prospective students can apply for admission online at www.vgcc.edu or call (252) 738-3234.