Winborne Sworn In As Granville County Schools Superintendent

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The Granville County Board of Education approved several changes in leadership during a work session Thursday, but the big change occurred at the conclusion of that session, when Dr. Stan Winborne was sworn in as the district’s new superintendent.

Dozens of colleagues, city and county officials, family and friends were present for the ceremony, which took place at 5 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center for Education.

The Hon. Caroline Burnette administered the oath of office.

Winborne officially begins his new role on July 1 when Dr. Alisa McLean retires with 30 years of education service – the last six years in Granville County.

Other leadership changes include:

 

  • Kelly Helner – principal of Granville Academy, the district’s blended in-person and virtual K-12 school. Helner has been with Granville County for five years as an assistant principal at Granville Central High and Creedmoor Elementary.
  • Mike Carroll – director of Maintenance and Environmental Safety, and district Athletic Director. Carroll is a 1994 J.F. Webb and began his career with the school district in 2003. Carroll is a Certified Athletic Administrator through National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and Accredited Coach with the National Federation of High Schools. He will have the job of taking care of the schools’ physical plants and will help to coordinate the renovations and upgrades to campuses in the future.
  • Katherine Kaleel – district K-5 math coach
  • Susan Randau – district K-12 math coordinator
  • Tinisha Wharton – federal programs coordinator

Gov. Cooper Releases Info On County Boards Of Elections Chairs

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The office of Gov. Roy Cooper has released a list of chairmen and chairwomen of the state’s county boards of elections.

James Baines has been named chairman in Vance County. Baines has previously served as the board secretary.

James Wall, Sr. continues as chair in Granville County, according to information from the governor’s office.

Esther Terry has been named chair in Warren County and Bobbie Richardson will begin a term as chair of the Franklin County board.

North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections conduct local elections, operate voting sites, maintain voter registration lists and handle many other aspects of elections administration. The State Board works with county boards of elections offices to ensure elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Names New Community Relations Manager

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Duke Energy has announced Elizabeth Townsend as its new Government and Community Relations manager, succeeding Tanya Evans, who recently accepted a new position with the company and relocated to South Carolina.

“This is an exciting transition for me after having served in various capacities at Piedmont Community College for the last 17 years,” Townsend said in a press statement. Townsend served most recently as the community college’s vice president for advancement and communications.

“Duke Energy believes our success is tied directly to the success and strength of our communities and the customers we serve, and I couldn’t agree more. Tanya ensured a tradition of responsiveness and community involvement, and I look forward to building upon that commitment,” she said.

As a reminder, Townsend said Duke Energy’s customer service center is available to help with billing and service inquiries, as well as when outages are rerported. That number is 800.452.2777.

Duke Energy monitors storms throughout the state to be ready to respond to outages and emergencies.

Customers who experience an outage during storms can report it by:

  • Visiting duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device
  • Texting OUT to 57801
  • Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800-POWERON

SportsTalk: JF Webb’s Burnette To Play College Lacrosse At Sewanee

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Henderson’s Beau Burnette’s list of activities and accolades while at JF Webb High School is quite impressive. He played five sports: lacrosse, golf, baseball, football and basketball.  Burnette was the Triangle North Conference Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons, academic all conference all four years, all conference in lacrosse, football and golf and was awarded the Tony Cullen Scholarship Award.  While this was happening, Burnette developed a love of history and maintained a 4.29 GPA.

Burnette, the son of Scott and Caroline Burnette, will take his love of lacrosse to Sewanee, whose official name is The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee – where he has received a scholarship. He appeared on Thursday’s SportsTalk to discuss his high school career, love of lacrosse and his upcoming college experience.

While not playing summer travel ball, Burnette isn’t taking the summer completely off. “I’m lifting weights and running,” Burnette said as he prepares for the start of his college career on August 19.

So how does a young man handle five sports and academics?  “I try to keep a good balance between practice and grades,” Burnette said.  While he played many sports at JF Webb, Burnette will limit his college career to just lacrosse while in college.  He said he enjoyed the camaraderie of the other sports he played but the speed of lacrosse combined with the physicality of the sport is what he loves and that’s what he will concentrate on as well as his academics.

Burnette will major in history at Sewanee.

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Chamber’s Student Spotlight Shines On Cassie Peele

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A rising senior at Granville Early College is the inaugural recipient of a Chamber of Commerce award that shines a light on teen employees in the county.

Cassie Peele has worked at Strong Arm Baking Co. in Oxford for close to two years, and owner Julia Blaine nominated Peele for the Student Spotlight, sponsored by the Granville Chamber.

“(Cassie) arrives to work every Saturday morning at 4:30 a.m., before most high school students could even dream about waking up,” Blaine wrote in her nomination. She began with basic cleaning tasks, but always asked for more. Now she leads the wholesale packing operation, leading four others who are responsible for packing all the items for Strong Arm’s dozens of wholesale accounts.

But that’s not all. “Cassie also represents our business at two farmers markets, keeping a clean and efficient selling space and treating customers and coworkers alike with respect and kindness. She is a true shining star for our business… continually rising to meet new challenges, and consistently surprising us with her problem-solving ideas, and positive, contagious attitude,” Blaine said.

In addition to her outstanding work ethic and leadership, Peele is committed to making a difference in her local community. She is a volunteer with Granville County Teen Court and is a member of the Granville County Youth Leadership Council.  She is also a member of the National Honor Society and serves on the Granville County Library Board of Trustees at the Richard H. Thornton Library, which allows her to give adult staff feedback on how teens view the changes and policies of the library. As if that wasn’t enough, she gives blood to the American Red Cross Association and creates holiday cards for the children’s hospital.

“Cassie is so deserving of this recognition.  She is a humble, intelligent, and kind person and it has been my pleasure to serve as her College Liaison over the past 3 years. I am very proud of her and the contributions of her time and talents to the Granville County community.  In addition to her work at Strong Arm Bakery, her service to various organizations will have a lasting impact.  I encourage her to keep shining bright and to continue the awesome work on and off the job!” said Reba Bullock, Chamber board president.

Cassie told the Chamber, “Strong Arm Baking is like my second home.  This work environment is helping me obtain more knowledge for my future career which will probably be in business administration. Thomas and Julia Blaine are role models in the Granville County community that can show that anything is possible!”

Cassie Peele exemplifies the qualities of a well-rounded, accomplished student who is poised to make a lasting impact in their community. Her achievements in academics, leadership, and community engagement have set a high standard for excellence. The Chamber of Commerce recognizes and applauds Cassie’s outstanding accomplishments and looks forward to watching her continue to shine!

Granville Poll Workers Get Pay Boost

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-Courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Poll workers in Granville County will receive a pay increase beginning with the 2023 municipal elections on Nov. 7. The Granville County Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation from the Granville County Board of Elections to increase the pay rate by about 25 percent, bringing pay to $11.50/hour for poll workers and $13/hour for poll workers in charge, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The commissioners also approved overtime pay for Poll Workers who staff the One-Stop Early Voting locations in Granville County.

“Poll workers are critical to ensuring that Election Day and One-Stop early voting runs smoothly in Granville County,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Russ May. “We listened to the feedback from the Board of Elections and their staff and understand the challenges they face in recruiting poll workers each election cycle. Hopefully, this pay increase for poll workers will help ease the burden and show our appreciation for the valuable service these individuals provide.”

Board of Elections Chair James A. Wall, Sr. thanked commissioners for their consideration in this matter. “In my view, the (board’s) decision to increase the pay for poll workers is a recognition of their dedication and hard work and an acknowledgement that poll workers are essential to the Granville County Board of Elections mission,” Wall said.

The 2023 municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information about becoming a poll  worker, contact the Board of Elections at 919.693.2515.

Learn more about upcoming elections in Granville County at  https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/board-of-elections/.

 

 

Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free Seeks Volunteers To Fill Openings On Board

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Families Living Violence Free, the only domestic violence and sexual assault center in the area, is seeking volunteer leaders to join its board of directors.

The FLVF staff provides an array of services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. All services are free and confidential, said Peggy Roark, FLVF executive director.

The board of directors is a group of volunteers that come together for monthly meetings to govern, organize and support FLVF’s strategic planning. In addition, each member serves as a goodwill ambassador for FLVF and serves on at least one board committee. Board members are expected to participate in community events and make a personal financial contribution to the organization.

Families Living Violence Free’s board also is seeking to fill the position of treasurer. This also is a volunteer position. Candidates with experience in accounting, budgeting and finance are encouraged to apply.

The board plans to expand its membership and needs individuals with a variety of skills, with a strong emphasis on board candidates with accounting, legal, fundraising, and media expertise.

If you are interested in an opportunity to volunteer your time and talents to an organization committed to giving voice and support to domestic violence and sexual assault victims, please submit your resume to proark@FLVF.org or P.O. Box 1632 Oxford, N.C. 27565.

NC MedAssist Plans Giveaway Event In Oxford Friday, June 30

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NC MedAssist will host a local Mobile Free Pharmacy Event sponsored by Triangle North Healthcare Foundation on Friday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., Oxford.

This free medicine giveaway is open to individuals 18 and older and families needing over-the-counter (OTC) medication items. No identification is required, and there are no income restrictions. Everyone is qualified.

Participants will be able to learn more about NC MedAssist’s free prescription pharmacy program and receive free OTC items such as cough and cold medicine, vitamins, children’s, allergy medication and first aid supplies. The event will occur rain or shine, and all OTC items will be given first-come, first-served while supplies last.

If you can volunteer for this event, sign up at https://medassist.org/volunteer/, scroll down, click on the “Granville County Mobile Free Pharmacy-Alliance 6/2023” tab, and sign up for a timeframe that best suits your schedule.

Last year, NC MedAssist held 53 Mobile Free Pharmacy events across North Carolina. For each event, NC MedAssist is committed to bringing enough OTC medicine for 1,000 people in need. NC MedAssist’s overall goal is to help ease the burden of those in need by aiding people who have been forced to decide between buying food and purchasing life-saving medication.

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit regional grant making organization that supports and invests in health & wellness initiatives in Vance, Warren, Franklin & Granville counties that will result in immediate and long-term improvement in the health status of the region. Learn more at http://www.tnhfoundation.org/.

 

 

NC Cooperative Extensions Offer Pesticide Application Recertification Hours June 27

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Anyone who needs recertification hours to stay certified for pesticide application can register to attend a class offered June 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Participants can earn two recertification hours for categories A, B, D, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, T or X.

Class locations are listed below.  Registration is required. Sign up by calling the Person County Extension Center 336-.599.1195 or by visiting https://go.ncsu.edu/2023multicredit.

This will be an in-person class only.

Be sure you have all your credit hours to remain certified for applying the pesticides you need. If you have any questions regarding this information or about requirements needed for your current licensure, contact Mikayla Berryhill at 336.599.1195 or 919.603.1350 or by email mikayla_berryhill@ncsu.edu.

 

CLASS LOCATIONS:

  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Granville County Center, 125 Oxford Outer Loop, Oxford
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Person County Center, 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Warren County Center, 158 Rafters Ln, Warrenton

SportsTalk: Ellington Participates In Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament

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Most of us have spent a little time at a local pond, river or Kerr Lake trying to catch a fish for fun or for supper. An eight pound bass can sometimes put up a good fight and be difficult to reel in so imagine what it’s like to have a 500-pound fish on the line.  Oxford’s Mark Ellington knows all about trying to land that big fish.  He has just recently competed in the 65th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City trying to catch the big fish and some big prize money.

“I’ve fished that tournament for seven years,” Ellington said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. He typically participates in around four tournaments a year, but for Ellington fishing really takes 365 days a year. “I go to check on the boat every other week,” Ellington said.  The boat is a 58-footer that Ellington built himself.  “It took four years to build,” Ellington stated.  During tournaments he takes two mates and a captain.  Even with the extra hands, Ellington said he spends 20 percent of his time worrying about the boat instead of worrying about the fish.

Ellington said his interest began as a kid going to Harker’s Island with his father and seeing the boats docked there.

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