Granville County News - WIZS

Reminder: Regular Voter Registration Deadline is Friday, October 9

October 7, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections

Eligible individuals who want to cast their ballot on Election Day 2020 have until Friday, October 9 to register to vote.

To register, eligible individuals have the following options:

Complete a North Carolina Voter Registration Application and return it to their county board of elections office by 5 p.m. October 9. If an application is received after the deadline, it will be timely if it is postmarked on or before October 9. If the postmark is missing or unclear, the application will be processed if it is received in the mail no later than 20 days before the election. Otherwise, the application will not be processed until after the election. If submitted by fax or email, the application must be received by 5 p.m. October 9, and a hard copy of the document delivered to the county board by 20 days before the election.
Existing NC Division of Motor Vehicles’ customers may register to vote online.

“We encourage all eligible individuals to register to vote and make their voice heard in 2020,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “It’s easy, and there’s still time, either through the regular process or at any one-stop early voting location in your county.”

Same-Day Registration Available During Early Voting Period

Individuals who miss Friday’s deadline may register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period, October 15-31, at any early voting site in their county. County-by-county early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board’s One-Stop Early Voting Site Search. (For early voting sites statewide, see this PDF.)

Except under rare circumstances, North Carolina residents may not register to vote on Election Day.

To register to vote, a person must:

Be a U.S. citizen;
Live in the county of his/her registration, and have lived there for at least 30 days before the date of the election;
Be at least 18 years old or will be by the date of the general election. 16 and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote; AND
Not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or post-release supervision.*

*By order of the court, you may now register and vote if you are serving an extended term of probation, post-release supervision, or parole, you have outstanding fines, fees, or restitution, and you do not know of another reason that your probation, post-release supervision, or parole was extended.

Updating Your Registration

The voter registration application may be used to change any voting information, including name, address, and party affiliation. The change notification must be signed and should be sent to the voter’s county board of elections by October 9.

Updates to name, address, and party affiliation must be signed, but can be provided by fax or email to your county board of elections. A wet ink (physical) signature is not required for voter registration updates in the same county.

DMV customers may update their voter registration residential or mailing address and party affiliation through the DMV service. This service does not currently allow voters to change their name.

Registered voters also may update an existing registration at a one-stop early voting site during the early voting period.

For more about registering to vote, visit the State Board website here: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering

Granville Fire Departments Report Improved Inspection Ratings

October 7, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County volunteer fire departments have been working for the past several months to complete requirements for lower insurance rates for local residents and businesses.

At the October 5 meeting of the Granville County Board of Commissioners, Emergency Services Director Jason Reavis provided details of the training, equipment, maintenance, staffing levels, water supply, inspections and communications that were evaluated during recent inspections by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

Ratings were released by N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey in a September 23 presentation at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center.

N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is pictured with chiefs of Granville County volunteer fire departments during a Sept. 23 presentation. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

The Insurance Services Office rates fire departments on a scale from 1 to 10 to determine how well-protected a community is by the district’s fire department, with 1 being the highest score. These ratings, which stay in effect for a five-year period, are provided to homeowners insurance companies to determine insurance premiums in fire districts across the state.

The assessment takes into consideration the readiness of the fire department itself, available water sources for water protection, and communication capabilities. Since communities with well-prepared and well-equipped fire departments are at less risk of extensive property damage, low ISO scores can result in lower insurance rates for homes and businesses.

“These new ratings may result in thousands of dollars in savings on Granville County insurance premiums to Granville County homeowners and businesses,” Causey said during his presentation.

Granville County’s volunteer firefighters have been preparing for the recent ISO assessments for over a year, culminating in drills that took place during the summer.

In June, volunteer fire departments in Antioch, Berea, Brassfield, Bullock, Corinth, Cornwall, Providence, Stem and Stovall, as well as Granville Rural Fire Department, began training with a timed tanker shuttle, using both a static water source (pond) and a pressurized water source (fire hydrant). Approximately 29 tankers and fire trucks from across the county and from neighboring vicinities participated, with inspectors from the North Carolina Fire Marshal’s Office conducting the drills.

Inspections followed at each fire department, with scene set-ups and all paperwork completed in mid-July.

“Most of our fire departments are staffed by volunteers,” said Granville County Fire Marshal Ken Reeves. “These dedicated firefighters have worked day and night – between their full-time jobs and their volunteer service – in an attempt to get insurance scores lowered in their communities. The result of their hard work is something we all should be proud of.”

Finals scores for each participating department are as follows:

Antioch: 6 (previous score of 9)

Berea: 6 (previous score of 9)

Brassfield: 6 (previous score of 9)

Bullock: 5 (previous score of 9)

Corinth: 5 (previous score of 9)

Cornwall: 6 (previous score of 9)

Granville Rural: 5 (previous score of 9)

Providence: 4 (previous score of 9)

Stem: 5 (previous score of 4 in town limits, 9 outside)

Stovall: 5 (previous score of 9)

There are 14 fire departments in Granville County, with 10 being part of the recent ISO assessments. The Creedmoor Fire Department (also volunteer-based), as well as the City of Oxford and the Town of Butner (paid municipal departments), were not included in these inspections, but are set to be evaluated soon. The Virgilina Fire Department is rated by the State of Virginia.

During his presentation to the County Board of Commissioners, Reavis also expressed appreciation to 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Director Trent Brummitt, Byron Currin of Soil and Water Conservation, the County’s Addressing Coordinator Sandy Woody, and Fire Marshal Ken Reeves for their work during the ISO inspections.

For more information about fire departments/districts in Granville County, contact Fire Marshal Reeves by phone at (919) 603-1310 or by email at ken.reeves@granvillecounty.org.

Granville Co. Public Schools Moves Toward Plan A Reentry

October 7, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 5, 2020, the Granville County Board of Education approved a new timetable for the gradual, staggered shift for students to return to school.

Currently, the district is in the process of welcoming students back to school under Plan B. Plan B allows for different groups of students to physically return to school on different days of the week. Under this plan, strict social distancing is required along with other safety protocols mandated by the state. COVID symptom screening and the use of face masks are mandatory for all persons entering school grounds.

The Board also approved a shift to Plan A for elementary students, as allowed under the Governor’s recent executive order, which allows these grade levels of students to return to school in one single group, with relaxed restrictions on social distancing.

The Board approved this new plan with input from a wide range of stakeholders, including our local health care professionals, parents, teachers, administrators and students. The chart below references the specific dates for transitions for different grade levels as the district gradually shifts toward more students attending school in person.

*BASED ON READINESS INDICATORS*
	Plan B Staggered (1 Day F2F)	Full Plan B (2 Days F2F)	Plan A (4 Days F2F)
PK, K, & Self Contained EC	September 28, 2020	October 19, 2020	January 6, 2021
Grades 1 – 5	October 12, 2020	October 26, 2020	January 6, 2021
Grades 6-12	October 12, 2020	October 26, 2020	Remain on Plan B
*EC Self-Contained maintain current schedule
Virtual at the base school remains an option

It was also shared at the meeting that families should remain flexible, as schools could potentially shift back to full remote learning in the event there was a shift in the readiness indicators. This could include a sudden rise in COVID cases, clusters within schools, or issues related to school staffing availability or operational readiness.

GCPS will report suspected, presumptive, or positive cases of COVID-19 to the Granville-Vance Health Department and work with them for follow-up and conduct contact tracing. If a person with COVID-19 was in a GCPS facility while infectious, staff will coordinate with local health officials to notify affected employees and families.

Because of the district’s obligation to protect the privacy of students and employees as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) federal laws, the district cannot release specific information about a confirmed case. The names of the people affected and other personally identifiable information will be provided to public health officials in accordance with reporting requirements; however, this information will not be released to the public or the media.

Unless a positive COVID-19 case results in a significant disruption of a campus’ ability to safely operate or deliver instruction, only those identified as close contacts will be notified.

In the event of a reported cluster, it may be necessary for a school to shift to fully remote learning for a certain period of time. Staff and families should be prepared for potential shifts to online instruction if they become necessary. Any changes to a school’s instructional plan will be communicated to families with as much notice as the circumstances allow.

GVPH COVID-19 Update as of 10/5/20

October 6, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of October 5, 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.

Granville County

1,794 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,794, 1,132 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 1,132, 1,022 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,794, 526 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County and 494 of those 526 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,794, 136 are associated with outbreaks at long-term care facilities including 30 at Murdoch Development Center, two at Central Regional Hospital, one at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center and 95 at Universal Health Care.

The outbreak at Granville House is no longer active. Of the 136 cases in long term care facilities in Granville County, 112 have been released from isolation.

11 individuals in Granville County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 50 deaths in Granville County: five in the community, one associated with Central Regional Hospital, one associated with Murdoch Development Center, 21 associated with Universal Health Care and 22 associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

1,051 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,051, 926 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 926, 804 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,051, 125 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 49 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

The outbreaks at Alliance Rehabilitative Care, Senior Citizens Home and Pelican Health nursing home are no longer active.

Of the 125 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 96 have been released from isolation.

12 individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 45 deaths in Vance County: 14 associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 12 associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, two associated with Senior Citizens Home and 17 in the community. Unfortunately, there has been another death in the community: a 72-year-old male passed away on October 3, 2020.

WIZS Note: There are 122 total known active cases in the Vance County community and 110 in the Granville County community at large at this time (excluding congregate living numbers). One additional COVID-19 related Vance County death and no additional Granville County deaths have been reported in the last seven days,.

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.

Dr. Michael A. Myrick Receives State Leadership Award

October 6, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Jack Hoke, the executive director of the NC School Superintendents Association, presented Dr. Michael Myrick with the Dr. Sam Houston, Jr. Leadership Award.

This prestigious annual award is presented to graduates of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development’s Aspiring Superintendent Program, a program that is designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina’s public schools.

On Friday, September 25, 2020, Jack Hoke (right), the executive director of the NC School Superintendents Association, presented Dr. Michael Myrick (left) with the Dr. Sam Houston, Jr. Leadership Award. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

The award is named in honor of Dr. Samuel Houston who is president and chief executive officer of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Dr. Houston served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for ten years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina.

Dr. Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st-century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships. Dr. Houston also served as the first executive director of the University of North Carolina Center for Leadership Development.

Dr. Myrick has served the students of Granville County Public Schools as the assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and Student Services for the past seven years. He has also held numerous leadership positions at the district level and is a former high school and elementary school principal.

He began his career in education teaching high school English classes in Halifax County. He earned his BA from Elizabeth State University, and his Masters and Doctoral Degrees from Virginia State University. He is also the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Oxford. He is married to his wife of 20 years, Florence, and has two children, Andrew and Jadyn, who both attend Granville County Public Schools.

Upon receiving this honor, he commented, “I was excited to be selected to participate in the Aspiring Superintendents Program, which is one of the premier professional development opportunities for senior-level administrators. Participation in the program was an honor, but I was humbled to be one of only four recipients selected to receive the 2020 Dr. Sam Houston Leadership Award. The distinction is one that I will cherish for years to come.”

Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean also shared her remarks, saying, “Dr. Michael Myrick is deserving of this esteemed award. Our district is extremely proud of him.”

Register Now: GVPH’s Free Diabetes Prevention Program Begins Oct. 6

October 5, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting approximately 5,000 Granville County residents and 3,000 Vance County residents.

In response to these statistics, Granville Vance Public Health will continue its free Diabetes Prevention Program with a pre-diabetes screener and Diabetes Prevention class beginning Tuesday, October 6, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. The class is open to Granville and Vance County residents.

Classes will meet on Tuesdays from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. for one year. Participants must fall in the pre-diabetic category to qualify. Pre-diabetic status can be determined by a paper screener or by diagnosis/referral from a doctor.

The class will be held in the fellowship hall of Oxford United Methodist Church located at 105 W McClanahan St. in Oxford, NC. Participation will be limited to ten to ensure social distancing guidelines are met. Those who participate in-person will be spaced out and sit one to a table, tables will be wiped down prior to class, temperatures will be taken upon arrival and masks will be required.

For those uncomfortable with attending in person, a virtual option will be offered.

For more information on GVPH’s Diabetes Prevention Program or to register, please contact Diabetes Prevention Coordinator Ashton Johnson at (919) 690-2114 or ajohnson@gvdhd.org. Registration ends October 13, 2020.

State Board Reminds Voters Not to Photograph Their Ballots

October 5, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections

The State Board of Elections is reminding voters that North Carolina law prohibits taking photographs of or videotaping voted ballots. Please refer to N.C.G.S. § 163-166.3 for more information.

“Voters should not take a picture of their completed ballot, whether they vote in person or by mail,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We respect voters showing their pride in casting a ballot but ask that they do so in another manner.”

The State Board has received multiple complaints of photographed absentee ballots and has been alerted to additional violations on social media in recent weeks. If a voter has taken a picture of their ballot and shared the photo online, the voter should delete the photograph.

When voting in person, voters may have phones or electronic devices with them as long as those devices are not used to photograph or videotape a ballot or communicate with anyone via voice, text, email or any other method.

Photographing a marked ballot is illegal in part because such photographs could be used as proof of a vote for a candidate in a vote-buying scheme. Electronic communication while voting is prohibited because of limits on voter assistance and to prevent disruptions in the voting enclosure.

Voters may bring voting guides, notes and other materials into the voting booth. They also may use electronic devices to access a slate card or candidate information, provided they don’t use the devices to communicate with anyone.

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet This Evening

October 5, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular Board meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2020, at the Mary Potter Center for Education, 200 Taylor Street in Oxford. Members of the public are invited to view livestream.

To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Board will also meet in Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building, and cooperate with social distancing requirements. There will be limited seating available.

Individuals wishing to participate in public comment may do so in person. Those wishing to speak must provide their name and topic on a sign-up sheet to be posted in front of the Mary Potter Center for Education from 5-6 p.m. on October 5. Comments will be received by the board in the order of sign up and will be limited to no more than five minutes per person. Board Policy 2310 allows for 30 minutes of public comment.

To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.

Join WIZS Town Talk for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Coverage

October 2, 2020/by Kelly Bondurant

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In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, WIZS’ Town Talk will feature local organizations involved with various aspects of this prevalent type of abuse.

Please join us live at 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com at 11 a.m. to hear discussions with the following scheduled guests:

Monday, October 5 – Vance-Granville Community College

Monday, October 12 – Infinite Possibilities, Inc.

Monday, October 19 – Families Living Violence Free

Thursday, October 22 – Vance County Sheriff’s Office

According to Families Living Violence Free, on average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. Silence and lack of knowledge about these problems play a large part in why domestic and sexual violence continue to persist.

Understanding the warning signs or red flags for domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse is a critical first step in addressing and preventing these crimes.

Please tune in to these informative segments for more information.

New Animal Shelter to Open This Month; Tours Available to Public

October 2, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Animal Shelter will move to its new location at 515 New Commerce Drive in Oxford the week of October 19 through October 23, 2020. The newly-constructed facility has now passed all inspections and is ready for move-in.

Granville County Animal Management Director Matt Katz has announced that all operations, except for emergency calls regarding animal concerns and welfare, will be suspended for several days during the transition.

The Granville County Animal Shelter will move to its new location at 515 New Commerce Drive in Oxford during the week of October 19 to October 23, 2020. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

The Animal Shelter will be moving from the site of a former state prison, located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford, where it operates from several separate buildings. The new facility will allow operations for the Animal Shelter and Animal Control to be located under one roof and doubles its current size from 3,800 to 8,500 square feet.

Additional kennel space will provide housing for 40 to 60 dogs and 40 to 60 cats. The goal is to increase adoptions and to decrease the number of animals euthanized due to space limitations.

“We are pleased to finally have this project completed,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair David T. Smith. “It has been needed for a long time and will serve Granville County residents for many years to come.”

The public is invited for Open House tours the week prior to the move. Dates and times, which will be limited to ten participants per group, will be as follows:

* Saturday, October 10: 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

* Monday, October 12: 3 until 7 p.m.

* Tuesday, October 13: 3 until 7 p.m.

To tour the new facility, please contact the Shelter at (919) 693-6749 to schedule one of the above dates and times, or come by any time during these time slots to be fit into the rotation.

An aerial view of the new Granville County Animal Shelter. (Photo courtesy Bordeaux Construction)