Oxford Prep School

SportsTalk: Oxford Prep’s Challenging Schedule Could Pay Dividends Later

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It takes a young team time to learn and Oxford Prep Athletic Director John Hammett hopes the school volleyball team’s challenging schedule to open the season will do exactly that.  Oxford Prep opened with two losses against Wake Prep and East Wake.  Both schools field strong volleyball programs. Those losses were followed by two close wins against Kerr Vance Academy.

Conference play opened with a loss against Roxboro community this week.  “We hope the schedule will pay dividends later,” Hammett said of his young team on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  “We just have to play through it,” Hammett continued.

On the soccer field Oxford Prep won against Kerr Vance Academy last week but lost to Granville Central. Hammett is also optimistic about the soccer program.  “Our numbers are up,” Hammett stated.  “We are taking small steps building our program,” Hammett added.

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State Highway Patrol

Driving This Holiday Weekend? Remember: Booze It And Lose It

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State and local law enforcement officers will be out in force over the holiday weekend and beyond as part of the “Labor Day Booze It & Lose It” campaign, so as you plan to enjoy a last summertime hurrah, make sure those plans include having a designated driver. Don’t drink and drive.

Increased patrols and checkpoints will be conducted statewide through Sept. 10, to keep impaired drivers off North Carolina roads. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein helped lead Monday’s kickoff event at the Davidson County Rest Area off Interstate 85 South.  “Keeping people safe has to be Job One for all of us,” Stein said. “If you drink and drive, you will get caught. Protect yourself and others – never operate a motor vehicle if you’ve been drinking.”The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign aims to eliminate impaired driving using outreach and stepped-up law enforcement efforts. Nearly every law enforcement agency in North Carolina participates in the 29-year-old campaign.   “This Labor Day, we want you to plan ahead by arranging a sober ride home from any festivities that might involve alcohol or other impairing substances,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program, a part of the N.C. Department of Transportation. “Law Enforcement will be working extra patrols during this campaign to keep all motorists safe by catching those who don’t heed this message. There’s really no excuse.”

Alcohol is a leading contributor to fatal crashes in North Carolina, according to crash data compiled by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. Between 2017 and 2022, North Carolina has averaged more than one alcohol-related vehicle fatality each day. Last year, there were 462 alcohol-related fatalities on North Carolina roads and 16 of those deaths came during the Labor Day period.

Granville Health System Gets 4 Stars From Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services

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Granville Health System has received a four-star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for delivering exceptional patient-centered care and ensuring their well-being.

“The Hospital Compare ratings evaluate crucial facets such as patient experience, safety protocols, care efficiency, and clinical outcomes and are paramount for healthcare institutions nationwide,” according to information from GHS Marketing & Foundation Director Lauren Roberson.

Adam McConnell, GHS Interim CEO, expressed pride in the achievement. “Our medical staff and the entire Granville Health System team have shown unwavering commitment to ensuring excellence in patient care,” McConnell said in the press statement. “This four-star rating validates the tireless dedication of our medical professionals, administrators and support staff, all united in our mission to positively impact the lives of our valued patients every single day.”

Granville Health System has implemented various initiatives to enhance patient safety, optimize treatment outcomes, and elevate the overall patient experience. Investments in medical technology, as well as fostering a compassionate environment and placing a strong emphasis on patient-centered care all contribute to the hospital’s overall quality.

The Granville Health System main campus is located at 1010 College Street, Oxford. Visit www.ghsHospital.org to learn more.

AAA Offers Reminders About Sharing The Road With School Buses

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-information from N.C. Department of Insurance and AAA

More than 1.5 million students across the state started a new school year today and AAA and the N.C. Department of Insurance have some important reminders when it comes to sharing the roads with buses transporting their precious cargo – schoolchildren.

It’s not new information, but the reminders bear repeating this time of year, with school bells ringing in Vance, Granville and Franklin counties. Schools on year-round calendars, charters  and Warren County schools have been in session for a few weeks, but many other young people have enjoyed summertime for a bit longer.

N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey also serves as Chair of Safe Kids N.C.,  and he reminds everyone to keep safety in mind when walking, driving or riding the bus to school.

“We all have an important role to play in keeping our children safe,” said Causey. “Drivers need to be on the lookout for crowded crosswalks and school buses on the road and parents need to talk to their children about the importance of traveling to school safely. It only takes one mistake to cause a tragic injury or death to a child.”

Statistics highlight the need for a call to action. On a typical day, more than 14,000 school buses carrying nearly 800,000 students operate on North Carolina roads. According to DOT, there were 1,075 crashes involving school buses in 2022. A total of 786 people were injured and eight people died.

There were also 5,189 charges for speeding in a school zone and 968 charges for failure to stop for a stopped bus.

In addition to the safety concerns these charges carry, they also hold repercussions to motorists’ auto insurance premiums. Passing a stopped school bus can result in the motorist adding four insurance points to their policy and potentially doubling their auto insurance premiums.

As part of  its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign, AAA reminds motorists to:

  • Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
  • Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
  • Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
  • Share the road with bicyclists. Children on bicycles are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist.
  • Talk to your teen. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurs during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Get evidence-based guidance and tips at TeenDriving.AAA.com.

Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. The only exception is on a divided highway with a raised divider. Here’s a breakdown of the rules of the road as they relate to buses:

  • Two Lane Street – All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
  • Multi-Lane Paved Median – All drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
  • Divided Highway – Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.

Students who are walking or riding their bikes to school have some important safety reminders as well.

Walkers:

  • Pay attention at all times. Avoid texting or wearing headphones, so you can detect nearby traffic.
  • Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.
  • Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright colored clothing.

Bicyclists:

  • Wear a helmet and neon or bright colored clothes.
  • Ride in the same direction as traffic and stay as far to the right as possible. Use bike lanes when you can.
  • Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic.
  • Cross the street at intersections. Do not pull into the roadway from between parked cars.
VGCC Logo

TownTalk: VGCC Community Engagement Sessions Begin Sept. 7

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A slight turn of phrase can provide a whole different perspective on things, and Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Desmarais is looking forward to hearing from the wider community as plans for the future develop.

Take the phrase “community college” for example. Change that to “community’s college,” and you gain some insight into plans for an upcoming series of community engagement nights the college is planning.

“We really want to listen to our community,” Desmarais said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. As a way of implementing its new theme, “Your Community, Your College,” Demarais said the meetings are a way to be intentional about creating a plan that will be the best fit for the communities that VGCC serves.

There’s always room for improvement, she said, and getting feedback from these meetings is a good start.

“We don’t want to stop doing something that is helpful,” she said, adding that “feedback is part of the learning process.”

As students in a classroom need feedback on their activities and work, so does an institution like VGCC, she said.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing right or wrong, you’re not learning anything,” she said.

Individuals interested in participating in the meetings are encouraged to RSVP. A link to the sessions is expected to be available on the www.vgcc.edu website Thursday.

Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until about 7:30 p.m. Small groups – each with a VGCC rep and a person taking notes – will discuss various issues related to their community’s needs.

With the understanding that different people and different communities need different things, Desmarais said she wants VGCC to “be a convener and a catalyst” that brings different organizations together to work for common good.

“Little nudges that we each do can have a wonderful ripple effect in the end,” she said.

And that’s the point of the meetings – to point the community’s college in the direction that the community needs and wants in order to grow.

Below is a list of sites and dates for the community meetings: 

  • Thursday, Sept. 7 – Warren County Armory Civic Center, Warrenton
  • Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Perry Memorial Library, Farm Bureau Room, Henderson
  • Wednesday, Sept. 13 – VGCC Main Campus Civic Center, Henderson
  • Thursday, Sept. 14 – Wake Electric Operations Facility, Youngsville
  • Thursday, Sept. 19 – Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Complex, Louisburg
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Mary Potter Center for Education, Oxford
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27 – VGCC South Campus, Room G1131, Creedmoor

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon Plans Sept. 16 Meeting To Discuss Future Of Broadband Internet In Granville

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N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon will be in Oxford on Saturday, Sept. 16 to have a dialogue about broadband internet access – how to improve it, why it’s important and its future role in daily life.

The town hall-style meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Granville County Expo Center, 4185 U.S. 15 South, Oxford.

“In today’s interconnected world, access to reliable and high-speed internet has become an essential utility, impacting education, healthcare, business and communication,” according to a press release from Sossamon’s office.  “Unfortunately, many members of our community still face challenges in accessing quality broadband services, hindering their ability to fully participate in the digital age.”

Representatives of the N.C. Dept. of Information Technology will be present to share information during the meeting, whose purpose is to facilitate an open and informed discussion about the state of broadband internet access in Granville County and to explore potential solutions and opportunities for improvement.

The meeting will feature informative presentations and will allow those in attendance to voice concerns, ask questions and contribute their perspectives.

Buy State Fair Tickets Now And Save

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Daydreaming about the cooler days of autumn, when colorful leaves are beginning to fall to the ground and that little nip in the air has you reaching for your sweater?

Well, those cooler October days are also when folks make plans to attend the North Carolina State Fair – so quit your daydreaming and purchase advance tickets and wristbands now to save a little money!

Advance sales will run through Oct. 12 and are $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 6-12. Unlimited ride wristbands are $30 each and can be purchased online. Wristbands are for one day only and vouchers can be redeemed at the Ride Ticket Plazas once the Fair begins. They are not valid for the State Fair Flyer or the State Fair SkyGazer.

“Advance sale tickets are the best prices you will see all year for the State Fair,” said Kent Yelverton, State Fair manager. “Prices increase once the Fair begins, so buy your tickets now especially if you’re bringing a big group.”

This year, ride ticket credits will be placed on a chipped card which will be presented at each ride and will automatically debit the ticket count for that ride. Ride ticket credits will carry over year-to-year.

“Like many other big state fairs, we have decided to make the switch to ride ticket cards for our guests to use,” Yelverton said. “This new system is easy to use and ensures that everyone spends less time in lines and more time enjoying their time at the Fair.”

Other special themed ticket packages offered include:

  • Dizzy Pass – One gate admission ticket and one unlimited ride wristband for $38
  • Kegs & Cork Pass – One gate admission ticket, one NC Public House beer + wine ticket for $17
  • State Fair Flyer Package – Two gate admission tickets and two round-trip State Fair Flyer tickets for $34
  • State Fair SkyGazer – One gate admission ticket and one State Fair SkyGazer ticket for $14

The 2023 N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 12-22 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The fair offers an experience unique to North Carolina and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights. For more information, visit www.ncstatefair.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ncstatefair.org.

Emergency Department RN Receives DAISY Award For Patient Care

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A registered nurse in the emergency department at Granville Health System is the first recipient of the DAISY award, an honor given to healthcare professionals who provide professional, compassionate care to patients.

Mckenzie Porterfield received the award last month, according to information from Granville Health System Marketing and Foundation Director Lauren Roberson.

Porterfield was nominated by a patient, Roberson stated.

“I recently received care in the Emergency Department of Granville Health System for vertigo/nausea and Mckenzie was my nurse,” the nomination read in part. “She was very nice, respectful and helpful, which made my visit at this hospital uneventful. Thank you, Mckenzie, so much for your wonderful care!”

The DAISY Foundation gives the awards as part of its mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care that health professionals provide patients and families every day.

“It is my honor to present our first DAISY Award to Mckenzie,” said Ann Marie Holtzman-Wheeler, chief nursing officer for Granville Health System. “She has demonstrated exceptional nursing care and we are grateful for her commitment to care for our patients in the communities that we serve.”

Nurses are nominated by patients, families, and colleagues from Granville Health System. To submit an online nomination form, click here, or visit the GHS website at https://ghshospital.org/

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Health Department Gets Award For Efforts To Promote Breastfeeding To WIC Clients

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Granville Vance Public Health is one of eight agencies across the state to receive recognition for its efforts to promote a strong breastfeeding program among clients who participate in a federal assistance program for women and young children.

The health department received the USDA Breastfeeding Gold Award of Excellence, according to information from the health department.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known familiarly as WIC, is a program of the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of  Agriculture that provides healthcare and nutrition to low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women and to children under the age of five.

GVPH’s WIC program was selected for its strong commitment to the implementation and maintenance of their Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program program, as well as the effectiveness of the office’s peer counselor program and the extent to which the agency has partnered with other entities to build a supportive breastfeeding environment for women participating in WIC.

“We are pleased to have our GVPH BFPC program recognized with the Gold Award,” stated GVPH WIC Director Lauren Faulkner. “This program has increased participation through referrals received from our WIC nutritionists, taking this program from eight participants in October 2021 to 108 participants in June 2023.”

Currently, the health department has two certified lactation counselors and two designated breastfeeding  experts, with a goal of having all nutrition staff in both clinics become designated breastfeeding to manage complicated breastfeeding issues.

Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits. It lowers a baby’s risk of various illnesses, including ear infections, asthma and respiratory infections. It helps moms recover much faster from childbirth, and it reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and certain breast and ovarian cancers.

Rep. Sossamon Selected For Hunt Institute Elevate NC 2023 Cohort

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Rep. Frank Sossamon is among a group of individuals that form the Hunt Institute Elevate NC 2023 Cohort, a group that brings together leaders work on making positive impacts on education across the state.

In a press statement, Sossamon said it was an honor to be selected. “Education is the cornerstone of our society, and I am committed to exploring innovative solutions that will empower our students to reach their full potential. By collaborating with like-minded individuals, I am confident that we can create meaningful change that will positively impact our educational system,” he stated.

The Elevate NC program provides a platform for Sossamon and the others in the cohort “to engage in constructive dialogue, share insights, and collaborate with a diverse group of individuals who are equally passionate about the future of education,” the statement read.  The cohort will have interactive sessions, workshops and discussions to address pressing educational challenges, allowing the members to work together to identify actionable strategies that can be implemented at the state and local levels

Learn more at : https://hunt-institute.org/news/the-hunt-institute-announces-third-cohort-of-elevatenc/