U.S. Department of Justice

Oxford Man Sentenced on Firearm Charge After Attempting to Flee From Police

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

Xavier Santonio Bobbitt of Oxford was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. No stranger to federal courts, this was Bobbitt’s third conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 21, 2020, an officer of the Oxford Police Department was traveling along College Street in Oxford, North Carolina, when he observed a silver 2005 Buick LeSabre improperly pass another vehicle at high speed. The LaSabre continued at a high speed as the officer pursued. The vehicle eventually came to an abrupt stop. The driver, later identified as Xavier Bobbitt, jumped from the vehicle and ran.  Officers apprehended Bobbitt on foot shortly thereafter.

A nearby witness advised law enforcement that someone threw two firearms from the passenger side window of the vehicle as it stopped. Officers recovered the firearms, a Springfield .45 caliber pistol loaded with 29 rounds in an extended magazine and a Stag Arms 5.56 caliber rifle loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition. Both had been reported stolen. In the car’s trunk, officers found a black mesh bag that contained various caliber ammunition, two loaded pistol magazines, and a loaded drum magazine.

Bobbitt was transported to Oxford PD, where he waived his Miranda Rights and was interviewed. He said he bought the firearms off the street and had instructed his passenger to throw them out the window when he realized they were going to be stopped by the police.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017, the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices in those communities on a sustained basis to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Oxford Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case.

NC Dept of Agriculture

Peak Season Soil Testing Fees Begin Dec. 1

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agronomic Services Lab announces its peak-season testing fee effective Dec. 1 through March 31, 2021. Samples must be delivered by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, to avoid being charged peak-season fees.

During this peak-season time period, the cost of soil testing is $4 per sample. The fee originated in 2013 to encourage earlier sampling in the fall, one of the busiest times of the year for the lab. By submitting samples before Dec. 1, users can avoid peak-season fees and get results back quickly. Outside of the peak-season, soil testing is free to growers.

Samples with completed soil sample information forms must be delivered and received by the Agronomic Services Division prior to Dec. 1 to avoid the fee. Samples will not be accepted without completed paperwork.

“Despite the pandemic, the agricultural industry has marched forward and continues to be our number one economic driver in the state. Soil fertility is critical to crop success, and soil testing can help ensure optimal plant growth,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I encourage growers to try to get samples submitted early to avoid the fee; however, the fee does help our Agronomic Division continue to provide one of the best soil testing services in the United States.”

Growers are reminded that all money collected during the fee period is dedicated to improvements in the soil testing lab as well as hiring additional staff for the peak-season.

Due to the pandemic, the Eaddy Building is closed to the public, but growers still have access to the loading dock seven days a week, 24 hours a day until Monday, Nov. 30, at 5 p.m. at which time the gate to Agronomic Division property will close.

During the fee period, sample drop-off times will be between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except during state holidays. There will be no after-hours drop-off times for samples during peak season.

Growers who visit the loading dock will find new signage and directions of where to unload and pick-up sample supplies. If interaction with clients is necessary, a new protective kiosk can be used.

“The division has taken a lot of precaution in delivering safe, customer-friendly service during the pandemic,” Troxler said. If growers need supplies, they are advised to call a day or at least several hours ahead of arrival so supplies will be ready for pickup.

As to submitting samples, growers are encouraged to submit sample information forms online, so their information can be accurately and quickly uploaded into the database system. Peak-season fees can be paid with a credit card using a secure online payment service called PayPoint. Online submission can be accessed through the PALS homepage at www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/PALS/ after a user account is established under the Utility link.

Up-to-date turnaround times can always be found at www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/PALS/. If a faster turnaround time is needed, the lab offers an expedited soil testing service on a limited basis.

Growers can purchase expedited shippers, which can hold up to 36 soil samples, for $200 each while supplies last. The service guarantees a seven-business-day turnaround time if the lab is contacted and notified 24 hours in advance of the quantity being delivered. Otherwise, the guaranteed turnaround time of two weeks upon delivery at the lab is offered. These guarantees exclude the Christmas season. Unused expedited shippers can be used in the following years. Currently, only a small supply of expedited shippers is available.

Contact the Agronomic Services Division at (919) 733-2655 for questions regarding the peak-season soil testing fee, online sample submission or the purchase of expedited shippers.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville BOE’s Academic Subcommittee to Meet Dec. 1

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education Academic Subcommittee will meet virtually on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 2 p.m. to discuss information related to academic performance.

For more information or to receive a link to the virtual meeting, please contact Dr. Michael A. Myrick, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at myrickm@gcs.k12.nc.us or Mrs. Alston Shave at shavea@gcs.k12.nc.us.

Miss NC Christmas Spectacular

McGregor Hall to Host Miss North Carolina Virtual Christmas Spectacular

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Welcome in the holiday season with McGregor Hall and the Miss North Carolina Scholarship Organization! McGregor Hall is thrilled to be the host venue and streaming sponsor for a Virtual Christmas Spectacular Show on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 7 p.m.

The show will feature the reigning Miss North Carolina, Alexandra Badgett, and Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen, Karlee Sanderford; Former Miss North Carolinas and Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teens from years past; and 10 current local Miss and Outstanding Teen candidates vying for the state crown in 2021.

Purchase a $25 ticket reservation (click here) to receive an exclusive viewing link to tune in virtually on December 12 in the comfort and safety of your home. This Christmas Spectacular will be streamed across the state (and nation) for all ages to enjoy.

The event will be pre-recorded, following all state and health protocols, at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson, North Carolina. Performers will be recorded individually to ensure personal safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Cherrelle Lawrence

VGCC Names Lawrence Dean of Corporate Learning & Professional Development

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently named Cherrelle Lawrence as its new Dean of Corporate Learning & Professional Development. In this role, Dean Lawrence will identify and develop corporate training and external professional development offerings for companies, local government agencies and civic organizations.

Lawrence will also serve as the lead administrator (Dean) for the VGCC Franklin Campus and work with Franklin Campus faculty and staff to ensure successful implementation of the mission of the satellite campus.

Vance-Granville Community College recently named Cherrelle Lawrence as its new Dean of Corporate Learning & Professional Development. (Photo courtesy VGCC)

Lawrence is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator & Trainer (GCDF) and has worked in Career Services & Employer Relations in higher education and the non-profit sector for over five years.

Lawrence most recently served as Assistant Director of Employer Relations at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. During her time there, she led the Undergraduate Business Program’s Diversity & Inclusion initiatives and fostered strong working relationships with over 200 companies across a variety of sectors.

Prior to working at UNC-Chapel Hill, Lawrence served on the TAACCCT & TechHire grant teams at VGCC, where she built relationships with local companies and directly engaged with VGCC students, staff and faculty.

“It has always been my vision and plan to grow in Higher Education, with a specific interest in Training & Development,” Dean Lawrence said. “I look forward to being able to share my expertise, learn from others and ultimately help cultivate our Workforce and Community Engagement Department.”

Lawrence holds a master’s in Business Administration from East Carolina University and a bachelor’s in Business Education & Marketing from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.

“We are glad to welcome Cherrelle Lawrence back to VGCC in this new capacity, and we are excited about the leadership she will provide to help our area’s employers succeed through training and to continue the outstanding services and programs available at our Franklin Campus,” said Dr. Jerry Edmonds, VGCC’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement.

NC State Board of Elections

State Board Certifies Results from Historic 2020 General Election

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-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections

The bipartisan State Board of Elections on Tuesday voted to certify nearly all contests in the 2020 general election, including the presidential contest.

“Canvass” means the entire process of determining that the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly, culminating in the authentication of the official election results. The State Board canvasses the votes cast in statewide, multicounty, and judicial contests and authenticates the count in every ballot item in the counties by determining that the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly.

This certification came after the 100 county boards of elections certified results at the county level and after a series of post-election audits by election officials verified the counts.

“Today, we officially recorded the voices of more than 5.5 million North Carolinians in certifying this historic election,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.

More than 5.5 million registered voters cast ballots in the election, or 75.4 percent of registered voters.

To view the canvass documents, go here: State Board Meeting Documents 11/24/2020: Canvass.

To view the post-election audit report, go here: November 2020 Election Audit Results.

The following contests were not canvassed or authenticated due to pending election protests:

  • Chief Justice of the N.C. Supreme Court
  • District Court Judge – 10F (Wake County)
  • N.C. House District 36 (Wake County)
  • Hoke County Board of Education
  • Wayne County Register of Deeds

Tuesday’s state canvass was the culmination of an extremely busy year for election officials across North Carolina.

Election workers pulled off a successful election with the highest voter turnout in North Carolina history and a staggering increase in absentee-by-mail voting. They did so while protecting themselves and millions of voters from a deadly virus, ensuring that no COVID-19 clusters were tied to voting sites in North Carolina.

“From the Grape Creek precinct in Cherokee County to the Stumpy Point precinct in Dare County, election officials worked countless hours in 2020 so voters could cast their ballot without fear of disease,” Brinson Bell said.

Certificates of election will be issued to prevailing candidates on or about November 30, unless an election protest is pending.

Historic 2020 General Election by the Numbers

7.36 million: Registered NC voters (most in NC history)

5.55 million: Ballots cast (most in NC history)

75.35: Percent turnout of registered voters (most in modern NC history)

1 million: Absentee by-mail ballots cast (most in NC history)

471: Early voting sites (most in NC history)

77,887: Early voting hours (most in NC history)

348,000: In-person early votes cast on October 15 (most ever in a single day)

3.63 million: In-person early votes cast (most in NC history)

900,000: Approximate ballots cast on Election Day (November 3)

2,660: Precincts open on Election Day

57,017: Poll workers recruited through Democracy Heroes program

14 million: Items of personal protective equipment delivered to county boards of elections

6 million: Single-use pens delivered to county boards

0: Clusters of COVID-19 tied to voting sites in North Carolina

NC DOT

Thanksgiving Statewide ‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign Underway

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-Press Release, NC Department of Transportation 

The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program is reminding drivers this Thanksgiving week about their responsibility to buckle up when behind the wheel.

Law enforcement will be out patrolling North Carolina roads as part of the Thanksgiving ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign, running through Sunday, November 29.

“Our goal is to save lives by increasing public awareness about the importance of seat belt use,” said Mark Ezzell, Director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

Despite reduced traffic volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic, roadway deaths and serious accidents have increased in North Carolina in 2020. Last year there were 434 total unbelted deaths across the state. Already in 2020, 440 people have lost their lives while not wearing a seatbelt.

“This year, we’re facing two public health crises at the same time,” Ezzell said. “One, the pandemic, is getting a lot of attention. But the other, an increase in unbelted traffic deaths, can’t be ignored. We need to stay vigilant and stay careful this holiday season to save people from losing their life to either.”

During Thanksgiving Week 2019, eight people lost their lives on North Carolina roadways while not wearing a seatbelt, and another 22 were seriously injured.

North Carolina law requires all passengers in a vehicle to be properly restrained. Violations are punishable by fines up to $179.

To help you and your loved ones stay safe this Thanksgiving holiday, GHSP recommends the following safety tips to drivers and passengers as they travel:

  • Buckle Up. Every Seat. Every Time. It’s the law.
  • Don’t drink and drive. Make sure you have a sober designated driver.
  • Obey the posted speed limit.
  • Keep a safe following distance.
  • Turn on your headlights in the rain or snow.
  • Put away all distractions including cell phones.

Social media users can show NCGHSP how they are practicing good driving behavior by buckling up. Mention @NCGHSP on Facebook or tag @NC_GHSP on Twitter and Instagram with #NCGHSP to show how you are celebrating this Thanksgiving, Click It or Ticket It.

3 W's

GVPH Addresses Increase in COVID Cases, State’s New Alert System

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-Press Release, Granville Vance Public Health

UPDATE: Granville Vance Public Health is really proud of our communities in their collective efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We know so many people and agencies are working hard. A better economy depends on keeping everyone safe and healthy. We are grateful for our continued partnerships with individual citizens, businesses, and organizations that make our communities better. Thank you!

We must keep practicing those 3 W’s – washing our hands, waiting six feet apart, and wearing a mask – and as tired as we all are of this virus, it’s time to double down on these behaviors, not let up. In this “land of the free and home of the brave,” we want EVERYONE to be around in 2021 to celebrate holidays together and to pursue life, liberty and happiness individually.

Public health is not about restricting freedoms, it’s about preserving life and quality of life so we can enjoy more of those freedoms in the future. THANK YOU for being with us in this community effort.

Although the number of active cases in our counties had been trending downward over the past few months, our data have quickly begun trending in the wrong direction again. Unfortunately, we have set numerous records this week for the number of new cases and deaths in North Carolina and the United States.

As of November 23, we have 255 active cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and have recorded 56 deaths over the course of the pandemic response. In Vance County, we have 414 active COVID-19 cases and 54 deaths.

Community spread of COVID-19 in both Granville and Vance Counties is increasing. If you are looking at the state of North Carolina’s data dashboard and notice the new COVID-19 County Alert System, you will see that the alerts for Granville and Vance Counties changed color today. Granville turned from yellow to orange on the map and Vance turned from orange to red.

North Carolina has established the COVID-19 County Alert System to give individuals, businesses, community organizations, and public officials another tool to understand how their county is faring and to make decisions about actions to slow the spread of the virus. The COVID19 County Alert System uses metrics informed by the White House Coronavirus Task Force and North Carolina’s key metrics to categorize counties into three tiers:

1. Yellow: Significant Community Spread

2. Orange: Substantial Community Spread

3. Red: Critical Community Spread

Because no one metric provides a complete picture, the COVID-19 County Alert System uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county.” More about the alert system online here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard/county-alert-system.

As we move into the holiday season, we have the power to prevent more spread and more death. In considering how you’d like to celebrate with family, remember that any scenario in which people gather poses a risk for COVID-19 transmissions.

Getting together with others will always pose some risk. Therefore, we encourage you to consider hosting virtual events. Zoom has announced it will be lifting the 40-minute limit from midnight ET on Nov. 26 through 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 27 to enable easier virtual connections with loved ones.

If you do choose to gather in-person, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has provided the following suggestions for reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19:

• Consider getting tested for COVID-19 3 to 4 days prior to travel or attending family gatherings.

• Do not host or attend a gathering if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been told by the local health department to quarantine or isolate, or if you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

• Consider asking all guests to avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering.

• Practice the 3 Ws during the gathering: Wear a face covering, Wait six feet apart from others, and Wash your hands regularly.

• Arrange space so people from different households can stay distant (at least 6 feet apart) and plan activities where social distancing can be maintained. If you take your mask off to eat or drink, make sure you are 6 feet from others when you do so.

• Outdoor activities are preferred over indoor because it is easier to stay apart and there is more wind and air to help reduce the spread of the virus. However, even in outdoor settings, the more people that interact, the greater the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

• Gatherings should not exceed current mass gathering limits in North Carolina which are 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.

• Even with smaller gatherings, it is still very possible for the virus to spread, so when deciding how many people to invite, consider the amount of space you have and the ability to maintain social distancing.

• As difficult as it may be, try to limit physical contact and substitute waves and air kisses for handshakes and hugs.

• Limit the number of people handling or serving food. If serving food, have one person serve all food so that multiple people are not handling serving utensils. Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks and use disposable utensils and dishes.

• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces, such as door handles, sink handles, and bathroom surfaces.

• People at high risk of complications for COVID-19 (e.g., people over 65 years of age or with underlying chronic conditions) should avoid social gatherings. Consider having a virtual option for individuals that are at higher risk to join safely from their homes. If they do attend, ensure the 3Ws are strictly practiced.

• Anyone who develops COVID-19 within 48 hours after attending a gathering should notify other attendees as soon as possible regarding the potential exposure.

We cannot stress enough that just because we are tired of the virus and done with it, it is far from being done with us. Coronavirus can easily transfer through microscopic respiratory droplets, and it’s hard to always know the source and avoid it, especially when we’re around others or inside. Another tricky thing about this virus is that some people who do not feel bad and do not have symptoms yet can be spreading Coronavirus – this makes the mask wearing and distancing so very important.

Please remember – every action you take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in a given setting, whether at the grocery store, in your workplace, or at a family gathering, adds up to make it harder for the virus to transmit from person to person. And, the more we can reduce the spread, the more lives we can save. We want to gather again for the holidays next year, so let’s do all we can to preserve our health this year.

Granville Crime Stoppers Officers of Year

Granville County Crime Stoppers Honors Officers of the Year

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-Press Release and photos, Granville County Government

Through personal visits to each precinct and law enforcement station, Granville County Crime Stoppers honored the 2020 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year during the month of October, which is Crime Prevention Month.

Nominated by their superiors for outstanding job performance and work ethic, officers recognized represented the Town of Butner, the City of Creedmoor, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Oxford, the Town of Stem and the Town of Stovall.

Due to COVID-19 mass gathering restrictions, the plaque presentations, usually held during the annual Crime Stoppers Banquet, were made at each site by Granville County Crime Stoppers President Frank Sossamon.

Law Enforcement Officers of the Year for 2020 included:

  • Andrew Spritzer, Butner Public Safety;
  • Thomas A. Wallace, Creedmoor Police Department;
  • Joshua Coppock, Granville County Sheriff’s Office;
  • Lynn Curl, Oxford Police Department;
  • Jay Long, Stem Police Department; and
  • Steven Hayes, Stovall Police Department.

The purpose of Granville County Crime Stoppers is to help make Granville County a safer place to live, work, and raise a family by assisting law enforcement in the fight against crime.

Crime Stoppers is comprised of members of the community, law enforcement agencies, the media and businesses, working together to help solve crimes. Citizens are encouraged, through cash rewards and a promise of confidentiality, to provide information leading to the arrest and indictment of criminals. Each law enforcement agency in Granville County is an important part of the local Crime Stoppers organization.

To provide helpful, anonymous information regarding crime in Granville County, call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (919) 693-3100 or the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 693-3213.

Sheri Jones VGCC

VGCC Small Business Center Recognized for Innovation

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center and its director, Sheri Jones, recently received the 2020 Innovation Award for Programs/Seminars from the North Carolina Small Business Center Network (SBCN). The award specifically recognized VGCC for creating and offering an eight-part, online webinar series entitled “Doing Business Remotely – Tools for the New Normal,” to help local small businesses respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Small Business Center collaborated with the Warren County Economic Development Commission and a local small business, Tabletop Media Group, LLC, on the series, which educated small businesses and individuals on technological tools that were mostly new to them, empowering them to communicate effectively with customers as well as employees.

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center and its director, Sheri Jones, recently received the 2020 Innovation Award for Programs/Seminars from the North Carolina Small Business Center Network (SBCN). (Photo courtesy VGCC)

“The Small Business Center of Vance-Granville Community College is fortunate to have wonderful community partners in our four-county Chambers of Commerce, economic development offices, downtown development organizations and libraries,” Jones said. “They relay community training needs that we then try to address, and they get the word out about our programs and counseling opportunities.”

In this case, Jones recalled, the community need was first brought up by Warren County EDC Director Stacy Woodhouse. “Stacy called and asked if Kristen Baughman Taber [founder of Tabletop Media Group and a Warren County resident] and I could meet with him to talk about what we could do to help small businesses in the early days of the pandemic shutdown,” Jones said. “This webinar series was born from that conversation.”

The partners moved quickly to help businesses in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties adjust to a rapidly changing situation. The state’s stay-at-home order went into effect on March 30, and the webinar series began on April 7.

Baughman Taber took the lead on creating content and then teaching the interactive class. The eight parts of the series included: Zoom Video Communications; Google Suite; Basecamp & Other Project Management Systems; Dropbox & Other Storage and File-sharing Tools; Scheduling Tools; Mailchimp, Constant Contact & Other Contact Management Tools; Slack & Other Collaboration Tools; and Virtual Team Building.

“Teaching the ‘Doing Business Remotely’ series brought me so much joy as an instructor during such an uncertain time in our world,” Baughman Taber said. “I was able to help so many small business owners learn how to use virtual tools to make them more effective in a world that had suddenly gone almost 100% online due to COVID-19. I believe these skills – like how to use Zoom for video conferencing, Google Drive for organizing and collaborating on documents and files, and Basecamp for project management, to name a few – will be helpful well into the future for these small business owners who attended.”

“I am appreciative of Sheri Jones and VGCC for partnering with Warren County EDC to make this timely series possible,” said EDC Director Stacy Woodhouse. “’Doing Business Remotely’ provided critical information in the midst of so much uncertainty and gave businesses the tools to move forward. We were able to utilize Warren County’s own Kristen Baughman of Tabletop Media as the instructor which gave attendees another valuable resource to follow up with post-class.”

“We congratulate and applaud Sheri for this award and for all her hard work to support the small businesses in our service area,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of VGCC. “This year, our Small Business Center and other college departments have partnered with the community to solve practical problems and meet the unique demands of the pandemic. We will continue to be here as a resource for our communities to promote economic recovery.”

The VGCC Small Business Center, part of a network of centers found at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges, was created to provide the small businesses of the community with a focal point for training, education, counseling and referral. Jones has served as director since 2019.

For more information about Small Business Center seminars and services, contact Sheri Jones at joness@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3240.