NCDOT

Permanent Street Closure in Granville County

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-Press Release, North Carolina Department of Transportation

The N.C. Department of Transportation will close Pine Street at West Lake Road beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019. This permanent closure is part of the realignment of N.C. 56.

An NCDOT contractor will be constructing a cul-de-sac. Driveway access will be maintained for residents during construction.

Motorists should use North Durham Avenue and turn left onto Sunset Road to get to Pine Street.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

VGCC Pins 19 Practical Nursing Graduates

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Nineteen Practical Nursing graduates were honored for their completion of the one-year program at Vance-Granville Community College during a pinning ceremony on July 24 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus.

Upon receiving their diplomas, the graduates are now eligible to sit for the national exam for licensed practical nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Nineteen Practical Nursing graduates were honored for their completion of the one-year program at Vance-Granville Community College during a pinning ceremony on July 24 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus. Front row (L to R): B. Williams, L. Clayton, M. Wanjiku, E. Ogachi, T. Onchiri, M. Casady, S. Mugambi; Second row (L to R): S. Nyambariga, J. Kortor, C. Howarth, S. Wilson, M. Sellers, S. Alston, C. Blakenship; Third row (L to R): S. Hawkins, M. Goedeker, T. Adesina, B. Kilmer. (VGCC photo)

Among the Practical Nursing graduates recognized at the ceremony were Candice Howarth of Bullock; Mary Wanjiku of Cary; Shaquile Hawkins and Sharlett Wilson, both of Creedmoor; Timothy Adesina and Justin Kortor, both of Durham; Stephanie Alston of Henderson; Laveasta Clayton of Knightdale; Megann Casady of Louisburg; Mikayla Sellers of Middleburg; Brittany Williams of Oxford; Marylou Goedeker, Sylvia Mugambi, Stephen Nyambariga, Esther Ogachi and Teresa Onchiri, all of Raleigh; Cindy Blankenship and Suzanne Wiley, both of Wake Forest; and Bryanne Kilmer of Youngsville.

Welcoming remarks were offered by Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs; Erica Jastrow, the chair of the college’s Nursing Department; and Candice Howarth, president of the Practical Nursing Class of 2019.

“Our Nursing program goes all the way back to 1970, almost to the founding of this great institution, of which we are celebrating 50 years of existence this year,” said Dr. Brown. “Now we are proud to add to that history the Practical Nursing Class of 2019, a diverse group of students from several towns in our region.” While many members of the class have chosen specific nursing specialties for their careers, many also plan to continue their education, he said.  He encouraged the graduates to “aspire, accelerate and achieve in every walk of life.”

“With success comes great responsibility,” Jastrow noted in her remarks. “The work that these graduates did a year ago was work for their future selves that are here graduating today. I hope that others are inspired by your success to begin working toward their future selves. We at VGCC would love to have the opportunity to work with others to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.”

Granville Crime Stoppers

Granville Co. Crime Stoppers Looking for Info. on Stolen Work Equipment

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS NEEDS YOU!

Sometime between Sunday, July 14 and Monday, July 15, 2019, an unknown person(s) unlawfully went upon private property off Antler Way Lane in Creedmoor and removed items from a work truck.

Stolen were one Husqvarna 395XP, one Husqvarna 372XP with 16-20″ bar, one Stihl MS200 and one Stihl MS261 16-20″ bar chainsaws.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers at 919-693-3100.

GAP Celebrates Parks & Recreation Month With Colorful Sound Garden

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Granville County is celebrating Parks and Recreation Month!

A sound garden is a new and welcome addition to Granville Athletic Park. Colorful, stationary chimes, chimes that swing and a fun set of drums have all been added to emphasize sensory play.

Have you visited Granville County’s largest recreational area lately? Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford, and is celebrating its 15th anniversary!

Pictured is two-year-old Cooper Frazier having fun and making music at Granville Athletic Park. (Photo/graphic courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)

 

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. to Hold Informational Sessions on Medicaid Changes

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-Press Release, Granville County Government 

Changes to Medicaid requirements will take effect on November 1, 2019. While most recipients will see no changes to the services they have been receiving, enrollment through a health plan will be required.

A health plan – through Medicaid – is a group of doctors, hospitals and other providers that will work together to provide healthcare to meet collective needs. The goal is for every medical service – physical health, mental health and medicine – to come through the same healthcare plan. A primary care provider (PCP) should also be selected to assist with health care needs, which could be in the form of a family doctor, clinic or other health care provider.

Granville County is in the first phase of the Medicaid transformation, with recipients to be enrolled by a September 13 deadline.

Recipients who already have a primary care provider may keep the one they already have or choose a new one. If a PCP or health plan is not selected before September 13, the Granville County Department of Social Services offers a reminder that one will be chosen for you; however, depending on the type of health services needed, a small number of recipients will be able to continue enrollment through NC Medicaid Direct.

A series of informational and enrollment events have been scheduled through the Granville County Department of Social Services to guide local Medicaid recipients through the process of determining eligibility and/or selecting a health plan and primary care provider. These sessions will be held in various locations across the county and are scheduled for:

  • July 31 – 9:30 until 11:30 a.m., Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 Hwy. 15 in Oxford;
  • August 9 – 2 until 4 p.m., Granville County Expo and Convention Center, 4185 Hwy. 15 in Oxford;
  • August 14 – 9 until 11 a.m., Granville County Senior Services, 107 Lanier Street in Oxford; and
  • Aug. 23, – 10 until 11:30 a.m., South Granville Country Club, 2539 Sam Moss Hayes Road, Creedmoor

Participants are asked to bring valid identification or the notification letter sent from the Department of Health and Human Services which states, “there will be a new way to get Medicaid Health Care.” It is also recommended that recipients who are senior citizens should bring a trusted family member or friend to assist in the selection process.

If unable to attend any of these events, an outreach specialist is available for assistance at the Granville County Department of Social Services, 410 West Spring Street in Oxford, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services notes that there are several health plans Medicaid recipients can choose from.

For a list of doctors for each health plan, or to enroll, visit ncmedicaidplans.gov, use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app or call 1-833-870-5500. A language line is also available.

For eligibility information or for questions about Medicaid’s new requirements, contact Beverly Ferrell, Granville County Department of Social Services, at 919-693-1511.

VGCC Welcomes Two New Trustees

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently welcomed a pair of new members to its Board of Trustees.

Deborah M. Butler of Youngsville was appointed to serve on the college’s governing board by the Granville County board of commissioners. Butler is a retired school teacher with 40 years of experience in education.

Dorwin L. Howard of Oxford was appointed to the board by Governor Cooper. Howard served as a teacher and administrator for Granville County Schools, retiring as the system’s superintendent. He currently serves as a pastor at First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Both Butler and Howard were appointed to four-year terms on the VGCC board. Butler succeeds N. Annette P. Myers, while Howard assumes the seat formerly held by Herb Gregory.

The Board of Trustees has 12 voting members, with some appointed by the Governor of North Carolina and some by the county commissioners and the boards of education of Vance and Granville counties.

S. Quon Bridges, an attorney and former District Court Judge, administers the oath of office to Deborah Butler as a new member of the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees. (VGCC photo)

S. Quon Bridges, an attorney and former District Court Judge, administers the oath of office to Dorwin Howard (center) as a new member of the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees. (VGCC photo)

Annual NC Hot Sauce Contest to Heat Up Oxford in Sept.

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-Information courtesy Angela Allen, Director, Granville County Tourism Development Authority

There are less than two months to go until Oxford heats up with the annual NC Hot Sauce Contest! This year’s event will be held Saturday, September 14, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The NC Hot Sauce Contest brings thousands of people to downtown Oxford to interact with friends, merchants, fans, artisans and vendors. In 2018, the event topped 18,000 visitors!

North Carolina’s finest hot sauces and barbeque sauces, along with breweries and wineries spice up the blends and texture of downtown’s historic streets.

Enter the NC Pepper Eating Contest sponsored by Bailey Farms. Capture all the history of Oxford by visiting the Granville County Museum and their September Sensations Bazaar at the Harris Exhibit Hall, famous for showcasing local artisans.

The day will include activities for children, local shops waiting to greet you and great restaurants, all at your fingertips.

For more details, including sponsor information, vendor forms and contest entry, please visit the NC Hot Sauce Contest website at www.nchotsaucecontest.com.

Reminder: Youth to Entertain With ‘Lion King, Jr’ This Weekend

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PART OF THE ROSEMYR CORPORATION HENDERSON REC PLAYERS 2019 SUMMER SEASON:

The Henderson Rec Players’ first-ever summer theater camp for children and youth will culminate in performances of Disney’s “The Lion King, Jr” at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.

Three Performances: July 26, 27 at 8 p.m., July 28 at 2 p.m.

Featuring songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, the show tells the story of a young lion, Simba, and the rocky road to inheriting his father’s kingdom.

Tickets may be purchased by:

DROP IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Granville County Logo

Granville Selects Open Broadband, LLC to Expand Internet Access

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County has joined neighboring Vance and Franklin Counties, through an initiative of the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, to improve internet connectivity and availability issues throughout the county.

This past June, the Granville County Board of Commissioners approved a seven-year contract with Open Broadband LLC to expand services of fixed-wireless broadband internet service into unserved and underserved areas of the county.

“Applying for jobs, access to medical records, access to student coursework and online banking all require good internet infrastructure,” said Open Broadband CEO Alan Fitzpatrick. “Affordable internet options also help address the ‘digital divide.’ We believe everyone should have access to home broadband internet service.”

In August of 2018, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) led a joint broadband enhancement Request for Proposal (RFP) for the tri-county region, with each county to implement its own contract and strategy.

In Granville County, the installation process will begin in the northwest portion, which is currently the most unserved area. The county is currently in the planning and research phase of how the wireless routers will be placed. As the service expands, more areas will be selected to be included as deployment continues.

“During the RFP process, we identified sectors of the county where broadband is in most demand,” explains County Manager Mike Felts. “Over the course of this project, we will be addressing the entire county, but want to make sure we’re starting in areas that are currently unserved so that everyone will have access to high-speed internet.”

Open Broadband is now accepting waitlist signups for enhanced services that range from 25 to 50 Mbps speeds. In certain areas, 100 to 1,000 Mbps speeds can be offered. Those on the waitlist will receive regular updates on the progress of the network build and will be contacted once service is made available in their area.

Granville County residents interested in being included on the waitlist should visit the Open Broadband website at https://openbb.net/granvilleco/ or call 919-205-5400 if internet access is not available.

Those interested in this initiative are also encouraged to attend a series of community information meetings, which are now being scheduled. The first meeting will be held on September 10 at 7 p.m., with a location to be determined. More information about these meetings will be announced when available and can be found at https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/county-commissioners/broadband-initiative/.

Open Broadband, LLC is currently working with 18 other counties within North Carolina to provide hybrid fiber and fixed wireless solutions for broadband services, along with providing gigabit fiber or fixed wireless internet to residential and business customers.

Engineers of the North Carolina-based company will also identify existing assets to install their equipment (for example, water towers, communication towers, church steeples, silos, etc.).

Open Broadband’s customer support service is based in Wilson, NC.

“We are pleased to be awarded the contract with Granville County to bring service to those in need,” said Fitzpatrick.

For more details about this project, please contact Charla Duncan, Management Analyst, at 919-693-5240 or charla.duncan@granvillecounty.org.

U.S. Department of Justice

US Attorney’s Office Partners With AARP & FBI on Elder Justice Initiative

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina partnered with the FBI and AARP to promote the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative by conducting outreach and educating older adults about the latest scams so they do not fall victim. Approximately 2,500 seniors in the Eastern District dialed-in to an interactive telephone town hall to learn about the latest financial scams affecting seniors.

The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat the financial exploitation of our senior citizens by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors, educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid getting ripped off by scammers and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners.

According to statistics collected by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center victims lost $2.71 billion dollars to fraud in 2018, and victims over the age of 60 lost $649,227,724.

Some examples of financial fraud targeting seniors discussed during the telephone town hall were:

• Affinity Fraud – in which the scammer pretends to have some connection to the senior or a basis for establishing trust, such as being a member of the same cultural, racial, ethnic, or religious community.

• Prize Scam – also known as “lottery scam” in which the scammer claims you won a prize or lottery money but you have to pay a “processing fee” or taxes before you can claim the prize.

• Grandparent Scam – where the scammer convinces seniors that their grandchild is in trouble and needs money to pay rent, bills, unexpected car repairs, or even money for bail.

• Tech Support Scam – in which seniors may be surfing the internet and a pop-up appears claiming the computer is infected with a virus and is designed to get access to your computer.

• Romance Scam – which scammers start an online romantic relationship and lull victims into believing they need funds for a visit to the U.S. or some other purpose.

Some tips shared with the participants on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam were:

• Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.

• Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.

• Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.

• Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.

• Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.

• Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.

• If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.

• Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.

• Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”

• A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.

Robert J. Higdon, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, notes “the elderly are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we are committed to arming them with the proper knowledge to recognize the signs of financial fraud schemes so they will not become a victim. This is a priority of the Department of Justice and of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.”

For more information about DOJ’s efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse, please visit the Elder Justice Website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877- FTC-HELP.

You can also contact the Victim Connect Hotline between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 1- 855-4VICTIM (1-855-4842846), or contact the Elder Justice Coordinator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina at (919) 856-4530.