Granville Co. Board of Commissioners to Meet This Evening

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.

Agenda items include:

Consent Agenda

1. Contingency Summary

2. Minutes

3. Tax Releases and Refunds

4. Resolution Designation of Applicant’s Agent (DAA) Hurricane Florence Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Recognitions and Presentations

5. Recognition of Service – Carolyn W. Trappiel

Public Comments

6. Public Comments

Public Hearings

7. Public Hearing for Economic Development – Project Cookie

Tax Matters

8. Oxford Preparatory School 2019 Property Tax Exemption

Solid Waste Matters

9. Solid Waste Residential, Collection Franchise and Convenience Site Management – Second Reading

Purchasing

10. Smoke Testing Amendment to Agreement

11. Inspections Department Pickup Truck

12. Detention Center Transit 250 Cargo Van and Van Insert

Appointments

13. Research Triangle Regional Partnership Board of Directors

14. Granville County Human Relations Commission

15. Granville County Economic Development Advisory Board

16. Granville County Digital Infrastructure Planning Committee

County Manager’s Report

17. Granville County Volunteer Services Enhancements

18. Granville County Employee NCDOT Fall Litter Sweep Event

County Attorney’s Report

19. County Attorney’s Report

Presentations by County Board Members

20. Presentations by County Board Members

Any Other Matters

21. Any Other Matters

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here. 

VGCC Holds Convocation to Start New Academic Year

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently held its annual fall convocation to bring faculty and staff together for a kick-off to the new academic year.

Much of the event focused on a discussion of student success. Special guests for the convocation were representatives of “Achieving the Dream” (ATD), a national education reform organization designed to assist community colleges with improving student success. VGCC joined the ATD network of colleges in 2018.

ATD Leadership Coach Dr. Joanne Bashford and ATD Data Coach Dr. Linda Hagedorn presented information about the college’s progress in moving the needle on student success in the past six months.

VGCC Director of Planning & Research Julie Hicks and English faculty member Frankie Frink provided their colleagues with updates on key data points and forms of support to address the needs of students who are food insecure, respectively.

VGCC’s participation in Achieving the Dream and the leadership of Dr. Rachel Desmarais, who became college president earlier this year, have caused the college to place a greater emphasis on data related to teaching and learning, and equitable student outcomes for all.

Approximately 44 VGCC faculty and staff members serve on one of four ATD teams: the Core, Data, Communications, and Strategies teams. These teams will continue to work collaboratively throughout the fall semester to develop an Action Plan derived from the feedback and planning that took place during the fall convocation. This ATD Action Plan will be connected to the VGCC Strategic Plan.

“Convocation provided an opportunity for all new and returning faculty to learn more about the latest with ATD and provide feedback,” said Dr. Levy Brown, the college’s vice president of Learning, Student Engagement & Success. “We are committed to equitable student outcomes, which ultimately impact student success.”

The event also included the opportunity to recognize VGCC employees who have recently hit milestones by completing five, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years of service.

“As we mark the 50th anniversary of Vance-Granville Community College’s service to the community, we celebrate the dedicated people who have made the college a wonderful place to work and learn, while we also look ahead to the future through the Achieving the Dream program,” said Dr. Desmarais.

Wildcats Softball to Host 220 Seafood Fundraiser

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information and photo courtesy Amanda Pegram, Wildcats Softball 

The Wildcats Softball team will hold a fundraiser at 220 Seafood Restaurant in Henderson on Monday, September 9, 2019, from 4 to 7 p.m.

$7.00 per plate. Eat-in or take out.

Dinner includes fried trout, french fries, coleslaw and hushpuppies. Drink included for eat-in only. Glad to serve walk-ins.

Proceeds will be used to fund tournaments and purchase needed equipment.

Please help support this great group of girls from Granville, Vance, Warren, and Halifax counties.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Kerr-Tar Regional COG to Offer Eligible Residents Emergency Home Repairs

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) has been awarded $200,000 by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) under the 2019 cycle of the Urgent Repair Program to assist residents in the counties of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren.

The Urgent Repair program finances emergency home repairs for homeowners who are elderly or have special needs and whose incomes are below 50% of the median for the area. Only repairs that address imminent threats to the life and/or safety of occupants of the dwelling unit or accessibility modifications will be performed under the program. A total of 18 households are projected to be assisted.

In the Urgent Repair Program, one or two critical problems may be repaired, but the entire house is not addressed. Examples of work typically done under this program include roof or HVAC system repair, well or septic system repairs, adding accessibility features like ramps, bathroom grab bars and wider doors.

The COG will provide assistance to those whose homes are selected for repairs in the form of a loan. Homeowners will receive an unsecured deferred, interest-free loan, forgiven at a rate of $2,000 per year until the principal balance is reduced to zero. The maximum amount of the loan available is $10,000.

Applications are available starting September 2, 2019, and must be returned to the COG office by 5 p.m. on November 1, 2019. Clients to be assisted will be selected by January 1, 2020.

The application and program information are available on the Kerr-Tar Regional COG website at www.kerrtarcog.org or by calling 252-436-2040.

The funds provided by the NCHFA for the Urgent Repair Program come from the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund.

Granville Crime Stoppers

Granville Co. Crime Stoppers to Host Seminar on Ministry Safety

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Granville County Crime Stoppers will host a seminar on Ministry Safety and Security on September 4.

This one-day course, to be held at West Oxford Baptist Church (627 Hillsboro Street), will instruct participants on how to build a security team, how to deal with difficult people and situations and ways to protect people from harm.

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.

The church is a public place and is susceptible to a variety of safety and security situations.

Fees for this seminar include the cost of materials and lunch.

Registration is available at www.AmericanChurchGroup-NorthCarolina.com. For more details, call 877-766-7981.

VGCC Honors Faculty and Staff Members of the Year

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

At Vance-Granville Community College’s recent fall convocation, college President Dr. Rachel Desmarais announced awards to a pair of outstanding employees for the 2019-20 year.

Tammy Ball, an instructor for Office Administration and Medical Office Administration and Online Retention Specialist, was named Faculty Member of the Year, while Jennifer “Jenny” Luffman, Accounts Receivable and Third Party Billing Coordinator for the VGCC Business Office, was selected as the Staff Member of the Year.

The honors are two of VGCC’s three Glen Raven Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards. Glen Raven, Inc., the custom fabrics manufacturer with a facility in Warren County, is a longtime partner and supporter of the college. In addition to sponsoring the annual stipends to recognize excellence among VGCC instructors and staff members, Glen Raven has endowed several scholarships for students.

Ball and Luffman are now eligible to be considered for the N.C. Community College System’s statewide R.J. Reynolds Excellence in Teaching and BB&T Staff Person of the Year awards, respectively.

“This year, Vance-Granville Community College celebrates 50 years of excellence, which would not have been possible without outstanding faculty and staff members like Jenny and Tammy,” said Dr. Desmarais. “The fact that both are not only dedicated members of our team but also VGCC alumni is a testament to the quality education they received here, as well as the community atmosphere that this institution has maintained.”

Tammy Ball

A Youngsville resident, Ball has been teaching at VGCC for the past six-and-a-half years but first developed a great passion for the college over 20 years ago, when she was a student. “I came to VGCC to study in the college transfer program,” Ball recalled. “After graduation, I looked to the college for classes to support my career in healthcare, and when I finally did decide to transfer, returned to VGCC once again to take business and accounting classes to take with me to the university.”

Tammy Ball (left) accepts the Faculty Member of the Year award from Dr. Rachel Desmarais, president of VGCC. (VGCC photo)

After working as a medical records manager and clinical secretary at a retirement community, Ball completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration at N.C. State University. She then worked full-time at the university for several years, primarily in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Since joining VGCC, Ball has taught not only curriculum but continuing education courses, many of which she also developed, and has advised many on-campus and online students. She was lead advisor for the Office Administration Club for three years and has served on a variety of college committees.

“I’ve seen first-hand how the college can help our community through workforce training and transferable courses,” Ball said. “I love each day at VGCC where I can give back and help my own community learn and grow!”

Jennifer Luffman

Luffman, a resident of Bullock, said that she set a goal of one day working at VGCC while she was a student at the college, earning associate degrees in Accounting and Business Administration. “The staff and faculty were always energetic and helpful, and I could tell they loved their jobs,” Luffman recalled.

Dr. Rachel Desmarais (left), president of VGCC, presents the Staff member of the Year award to Jennifer Luffman. (VGCC photo)

She first went to work in the medical billing field for a neurologist, but two years after graduating from the community college, she was hired as a cashier at VGCC’s Main Campus. That was 14 years ago.

“I held the cashier position for a couple of years, and then I became a Lead Accounting Technician,” Luffman said. “Currently, I am the Accounts Receivable and Third Party Billing Coordinator. VGCC has helped me to grow professionally.”

She has also served as chair of the VGCC Scholarship Committee, on various N.C. Community College System task forces, and as president of the Vance County Association of Educational Office Professionals.

Luffman added, “I love VGCC and I love working with the staff and faculty, but most importantly, I love helping our students.”

NCDOT

NCDOT Suspending Most Major Lane-Closing Projects for Labor Day Travel

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, NCDOT

To ensure the safest and most efficient travel possible for North Carolina residents and visitors this Labor Day weekend, the N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend most road construction projects causing lane closures on major routes across the state.

Where possible, closed lanes will be opened from Friday morning until Tuesday evening. There are, however, some locations where the type or stage of construction will not allow an opening for safety reasons.

Drivers can check the status of the route they plan to take in advance by visiting DriveNC.gov. They can also follow NCDOT on social media to track travel updates by region or route.

NCDOT encourages drivers to follow these tips to navigate the roads safely over the holiday weekend:

  • Leave early to get a head start on your drive. Travel at non-peak hours when possible;
  • Stay alert. Even if construction work is suspended, you may encounter narrowed lanes and traffic shifts in work zones;
  • Be patient and obey the posted speed limit;
  • Use alternate routes when possible to avoid traffic congestion;
  • Travel at times when you are normally awake and take frequent breaks;
  • Avoid distracted driving; and
  • Don’t drive drunk or impaired.

Labor Day weekend is also a time for law enforcement to crack down on drunk driving. The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program has already started its “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, geared toward catching people who are driving under the influence.

Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols will be in place in all 100 counties through Monday to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you plan to drink over the holiday period, NCDOT and GHSP strongly urge you to call a friend, use a ride-share service or take a cab or public transit.

Granville Co. Libraries Seeking Old Toy Donations

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Granville County Government 

Granville County Libraries need your old toys for library programming! Plastic only please, and the toys DO NOT have to be in good condition!

Examples of toys include Barbie dolls, baby dolls, action figures that can be disassembled, etc.

Those interested can drop off donations to the Thornton Library in Oxford (210 Main Street) or to the South Branch Library in Creedmoor (1550 South Campus Drive) from September 3 through October 21.

Triangle North Industrial Park Selected for Site Visit

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Rep. Terry Garrison and N.C. Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland visited the Triangle North industrial site on Friday, August 23, in Vance and Granville Counties.

Along in Vance County were Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen and Henderson-Vance Economic Development Director Dennis Jarvis along with the site’s original developer Eddie Ferguson.

Ellington told WIZS News, “We were very appreciative of NC Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland making the trip to tour our Triangle North-Vance Business and Industrial Park. He was very impressed with the former Semprius building site that totals roughly 50,000 square feet and is already equipped with production and manufacturing space, offices, cubicles and conference rooms. It is ‘move-in’ ready to accommodate a viable business. The Secretary expressed with the current business growth along with educational and economic growth aligning together that he needed to be in Vance County to help sell this facility and region.” Ellington added, “We are thankful, ready and ‘Open for Business!’”

Jarvis told WIZS, “I was pleased to speak with Secretary Copeland, I stressed to him our exit 209, off of I-85, is the premier industrial site north of Durham. We have over 500 acres of industrial property and two buildings that provide over 200k square feet of prime industrial space with direct access to the main campus of VGCC.

We were able to discuss areas of progress for our community like workforce development, industry sectors, and the potential for investments for our community.”

In Granville County, the tour was led by Granville County’s Economic Development Director Harry Mills, according to a press release from Granville County Government, and included an overview of park sites with a focus on its close proximity to Interstate 85 and the airport.

Located in Oxford, Triangle North Granville includes more than 500 acres of development-ready land in an easily accessible location, offering state-certified sites, access to water and sewer, electric system plans in place and a short drive to the Research Triangle Park.

Also participating in the tour and presentation were Granville County Commissioner Tony Cozart, Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent, and Katherine Noel of the Economic Development Advisory Board.

Pictured: Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, Secretary Tony Copeland and Rep. Terry Garrison.

Pictured: Harry Mills, Comm. Tony Cozart, Secretary Tony Copeland, Rep. Garrison, Mayor Sergent and Kathrine Noel at the Triangle North entrance. (Granville Co. Govt. photo)

Economic Development Director Harry Mills provides an overview of park sites at Triangle North. (Granville Co. Govt. photo)

Town Talk 08/27/19: Oxford’s Huntsboro Hemp Company Discusses CBD

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Huntsboro Hemp Company’s Garrett and Katie Brewer, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Product Development respectively, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss CBD and their production process.

CBD, or cannabidiol, continues to gain popularity among the general public as a potential, and more natural, remedy for anxiety and inflammatory-related disorders. So popular has it become that you can now ship it online from Synerva.

While producers and distributors of CBD refrain from making specific health claims, the Brewers said customers’ testimonials include reports of relief of everything from headaches and joint pain to more chronic conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Industrial hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of the cannabis species and does not provide the “high” typically associated with the THC compound found in its “sister” plant, marijuana.

According to Katie, industrial hemp must contain 0.3% or less THC to be considered legal.

“Testing is very crucial in our industry,” said Garrett. “We get certificates of analysis, which are lab reports essentially, from the time the flower is in the field all the way until it gets to the consumer. So we test at every stage of the process – from ingredients to final product.”

Garrett explained that it is this strenuous testing and dedication to providing quality ingredients, that makes Huntsboro Hemp Company unique. “That is what sets us apart – the way we make our recipe. Every time you get a bottle, you are going to get the exact same experience.”

Huntsboro Hemp currently offers three products including tinctures – used as drops placed under the tongue, bath “bombs” that enter through the skin by soaking in a bathtub and local honey infused with CBD to be consumed orally.

Huntsboro purchases hemp from local growers, including their own family farm, to ensure a pesticide and herbicide-free product that is sold at local retailers.

For the sake of transparency, Katie explained that not only does the company provide a superior product but is also dedicated to keeping the process as local as possible, even using Durham-based lab Avazyme, Inc. as their testing facility.

In a testament to the popularity and growth of the CBD industry, the Brewers quickly outgrew their first location established in 2018 and have recently set up headquarters at 123 Williamsboro Street in downtown Oxford.

Katie said the new building offers a wonderful view and provides “an office, room for production, space to meet with vendors, an area to host events and puts us right in the middle of downtown.”

To learn more about Huntsboro Hemp Company, please visit huntsborohempco.com.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

To hear the Brewers’ interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.