Granville County News - WIZS

Granville County Continues Partnership With Open Broadband, LLC

June 23, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County residents in unserved/underserved areas continue to join the list for service and updates through Granville County Government’s broadband initiative.

Partnering with Vance and Franklin Counties through a project developed by the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, Granville County Commissioners approved a contract with Open Broadband, LLC in June of 2019. Each county is working through separate contracts that will allow high-speed, wireless internet to become more obtainable, especially in rural areas.

Plans are now being developed for broadcast antenna locations, as well as a rollout schedule for Granville County. The entire network build will be taking place over a four-year period.

Those interested in the project should enter their name and address through the Open Broadband website (https://openbb.net) to be included on the contact list for updates and to be placed on the testing schedule. (There is no charge and no commitment to be included on this list.)

The North Carolina-based company is currently working with 19 counties across the state to provide fixed wireless internet service to unserved/underserved communities. Monthly newsletters and project updates are being made available to those who have signed up on the waitlist.

To learn more about this ongoing project, please visit https://openbb.net or call 919-205-5400.

Free Community COVID-19 Testing Event at Shiloh Baptist Church – Wed., June 24

June 23, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville-Vance Public Health

The Granville Vance Public Health Department (GVPH), local health professionals and Shiloh Baptist Church of Henderson will offer free community COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of Shiloh Baptist on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The church is located at 635 College Street in Henderson.

This is a “walk-through” event. For those who will be driving to the church, GVPH asks that vehicles use the Arch Street entrance to the parking lot.

Nasal swab testing will be performed and those tested will be contacted with their results approximately 3-5 days after the event.

Testing is free to all who attend, however, a limited number of testing supplies are available. The purpose of the event is to focus on particularly vulnerable populations. This includes those who may not have a primary care provider, those who lack access to transportation, and/or those who are uninsured or under-insured.

For those who have transportation and/or a primary care provider, there are many opportunities to be tested. If you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you can call your provider or the health department to see if you should be tested.

GVPH encourages the public to stay tuned to its website (click here) for additional times and locations for community testing events throughout the summer.

Granville Co. Commissioners to Hold Emergency Meeting This Afternoon

June 22, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, County of Granville

Please take notice that the Granville County Board of Commissioners will hold an emergency meeting pursuant to N.C.G.S. §143-318.12(b)(3) in the Granville County Board of Commissioners Meeting Room located at the Granville County Expo & Convention Center, 4185 US Hwy 15 South, Oxford on Monday, June 22, 2020, at 1 p.m.

Members of the Board who cannot attend in person may participate via simultaneous communication. Members of the public may only attend via simultaneous communication using Zoom.

The Board anticipates going into closed session pursuant to G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3) and (a)(9).

To join the Zoom meeting:

https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/j/94683608829?pwd=UW01K2loT1VOc3o4R3I3cXVLdFd6Zz09

Meeting ID: 946 8360 8829

Password: 495443

Dial by your location

888 788 0099 US Toll-free

877 853 5247 US Toll-free

Meeting ID: 946 8360 8829

Find your local number: https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/u/aiOTzfXL

City of Oxford Encourages CodeRED Enrollment, Contact Update

June 22, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, City of Oxford

The City of Oxford encourages all citizens and businesses to sign up for CodeRED in order to ensure quick communication when an emergency situation arises.

The CodeRED link can be found on the City of Oxford website, along with a description of its use. Please click the sign up in order to be taken to the CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment page.

If you have already signed up for this service, but have since moved and/or changed phone numbers and addresses, please go online and update this information. This will ensure your account is current and you will receive all necessary information.

If you are signing up as a business, please make sure to include the phone number for your business. This will ensure notification to your business if a situation arises.

Should you have any questions and/or concerns about the use of CodeRED, signing up, or information shared through CodeRED, please reach out to Oxford City Hall at (919) 603-1100.

VGCC Small Business Center Presents Free Food & Beverage Industry Webinars

June 19, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center announces the newest FREE training series of webinars. This 12-week series aims to help those in the food industry navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re in the restaurant or food shop business, you know that a normal day is no longer normal. There are a multitude of new tasks, service limitations, sanitizing requirements and customer expectations. This series is designed to help navigate your new normal so that your business can reopen with confidence.

Sessions will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays June 22 through July 29, 2020, from 9 until 10:30 a.m.

Sessions include:

CDC Guidelines for Reopening Your Food & Beverage Business
Keeping Your Restaurant Employees and Customers Safe While Dealing With a Pandemic
Learn How to Step Up Your Customer Service Game in Your Food Business in the Era of COVID-19
Tips & Tricks to Market Your Food & Beverage Business
The Magic of Upselling in the Food & Beverage World
Using Social Media to Promote Your Restaurant or Food Business
Communicating Effectively to Your Employees – Food & Beverage Business
Leaders vs. Managers – Food & Beverage Teams
How to Deal With Difficult People in the Food & Beverage Industry
Building Your Food & Beverage Business Around Your Community
Improving the Physical Image, Layout and Presentation of Your Food & Beverage Business
Angry Food & Beverage Customers Can Actually Become Your Best Friends

Register by 12 p.m. the day before the event at www.vgcc.edu/coned/small-business-center/#schedules

For more information, contact the VGCC Small Business Center at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu

Downtown Oxford Announces Cancellation of Annual Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

June 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation

Due to growing concerns of COVID–19 and guidelines surrounding physical distancing and enhanced precautions issued by the State of North Carolina, the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC) Board, along with input from the Hot Sauce Committee and the City of Oxford, has decided to cancel the 14th Annual Hot Sauce Contest & Festival for the coming date of September 12, 2020. There will be no rescheduling this year.

As stated by a DOEDC Board spokesperson, “We do not feel comfortable going ahead with an event estimated to bring in approximately 15,000 people without being able to provide the necessary measures to keep everyone safe. Furthermore, we feel the reduction of the festival’s footprint to a small, less engaging event would damage the current reputation of this long-standing, local event.”

The DOEDC Board understands the sadness and frustration this news brings, however, the Board feels this action better serves the public safety of our citizens, businesses and visitors.

Should you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Oxford City Hall at (919) 603-1100.

Local Health Departments to Receive Combined $1+ Million in COVID-19 Funding

June 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is allocating $35 million in federal funding to local health departments to support the COVID-19 response. Per federal guidelines, counties will be able to use these funds to support COVID-19 staffing, infection controls, testing and tracing, IT infrastructure and data sharing and visualization.

“Our local health departments are critical partners with the state as we fight this virus, and this funding will help them continue and expand their important work,” said Governor Roy Cooper.

“Since the start of the pandemic, our local health departments have been working around the clock to protect their communities and slow the spread of the virus. These funds continue to support their ability to address the overwhelming demands they are facing,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.

North Carolina’s local health departments are on the frontlines supporting people in getting tested for COVID-19 and knowing if they have been exposed. Testing and contact tracing are core public health activities and key components of North Carolina’s strategy to responsibly ease restrictions while continuing to slow the spread of COVID-19. These responsibilities are in addition to their ongoing work to promote health and prevent disease.

Local health departments will receive a base allocation of $90,000 per county with additional funding based on population size and their cumulative positive COVID-19 caseload. Some local health departments represent multiple counties. CLICK HERE to see how much each health department will receive.

Local health district allocations include:

Granville-Vance (two counties) – $650,568

Franklin – $242,158

Warren – $149,803

This one-time, non-recurring funding is part of NCDHHS’ cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC), which awards annual funding to state, local and territorial health departments to support vector-borne disease surveillance and response. The coverage period runs from the beginning of the 2020 calendar year through the end of FY 2021-22.

Visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov to learn more about testing and contact tracing in North Carolina. For more information about the state’s response to COVID-19, go to nc.gov/covid19.

GVPH COVID-19 Update: Outbreak at Pelican Health Nursing Home ‘No Longer Active’

June 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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As of June 17, 2020, there are 709 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 433 cases in Vance County, and 46,855 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are two outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Granville County at Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC and Murdoch Development Center in Butner, NC.

Of the cases in Granville County, 395 are associated with the prisons and five are associated with Murdoch. Of the 395 cases in the prison system, 89 have been released from isolation and one individual with Murdoch has been released from isolation.

Of the 309 community-based cases in Granville County, 180 have been released from isolation and 10 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 17 deaths in Granville County, 16 of whom were with the Bureau of Prisons.

There are two active outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Vance County: Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC, and Senior Citizens Home in Henderson, NC. There was also an outbreak at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC that is no longer active.

Of the cases in Vance County, 103 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 42 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and three associated with Senior Citizens Home. Of the 103 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 42 have been released from isolation.

Of the 330 community-based cases in Vance County, 160 have been released from isolation.

Six individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 35 COVID-19 related deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with Pelican Health and nine of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

GVPH updates its website daily at approximately 5 p.m. with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

GVPH also emails updates about COVID-19 in Granville and Vance counties each evening. You can sign up to receive these emails at www.gvph.org/covid-19.

Completion of 2020 Census Encouraged Through Local Mailing Campaign

June 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

A local appeal from Granville County Government has been mailed out to encourage county-wide participation in the 2020 Census. As of June 9, roughly 60 percent of Granville’s population has responded.

Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Census is used to determine how billions of dollars in federal funding is distributed. “We’d love to get as many people as we can to complete the census, and in turn hopefully see more dollars come to Granville County,” remarked Comm. Tony Cozart, who made the motion to approve this mailing at the June 1 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.

Census results will also determine the number of seats each state has in Congress, as well as political representation at all levels of government.

The 2020 Census can be completed by mail, by phone or online in thirteen languages. This is the first year that three options have been made available for a more convenient response. Completed surveys are kept confidential and are protected by law for 72 years.

Those responding by mail should complete and return the questionnaire received in their mailbox earlier this year, which includes a Census ID. Other options are to call 1-844-330-2020 to respond by phone (1-844-468-2020 for Spanish-speaking residents) or to visit my2020census.gov to respond online.

Those who do not have a Census ID should visit the my2020census.gov website, click on START QUESTIONNAIRE, and click below the login where the following prompt is displayed: “If you don’t have a Census ID, click here.” Then, simply answer the questions.

Granville County is currently ranked in the top 20 in the statewide response report, tying with Mecklenburg and Craven Counties. As of June 9, the statewide response rate is reported at 57.1 percent.

On a more local level, the Town of Stem continues to lead Granville County’s response rates at 67.7 percent, followed by the City of Creedmoor at 60.6 percent, the Town of Butner at 57.6 percent, the City of Oxford at 57 percent and the Town of Stovall at 18.1 percent.

Self-response surveys will be accepted through Oct. 31, with Census workers scheduled to visit non-responsive households beginning Aug. 11. Those assigned to follow up door-to-door will be trained to practice social distancing and to follow health guidelines. According to an update sent through the North Carolina State Data Center, Area Census offices in our state are now re-opening, with census workers currently in the field dropping off Update/Leave packets to households in remote and rural areas.

Appropriations for roads, schools, hospitals, emergency response and many other community needs are determined by population, which is reflected through Census data every decade. “We all know how important this is for federal and state dollars, as we’re seeing this through the COVID crisis,” reminded Granville County Board Chair David Smith. “Let’s all do our part to make Granville County count.”

The Census appeal, signed by Sandy Woody, Addressing/GIS Manager and the county’s liaison for the 2020 Census, was mailed out on June 10 and is available for viewing on the Granville County Government website at www.granvillecounty.org.

‘A Discussion For Awareness’ to be Held at Creedmoor City Hall – June 18

June 17, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce

“A Discussion For Awareness” will be held at City Hall in Creedmoor, NC, 111 Masonic St., on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 6 p.m.

The public is welcome to join the meeting to advocate for equality and to dismantle racial injustices in the United States.

Speakers will include influential members of the Creedmoor community. Facial masks and social distancing are required.

For more information, please contact thelma.mungo@gmail.com.