Granville County Public Schools

Granville Central High School Holds Military Fair

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-Information courtesy Dawn Hicks, GCHS Counselor

A military fair was recently held at Granville Central High School located in Stem, NC on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Representatives from various branches of the military were present to provide information and answer questions.

All grade levels were invited to attend.  The fair provided students the opportunity to learn about the military, and if interested, which branch would be the best fit for them.

                          Picture courtesy of Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville Co. Public Schools

Munn Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of First Degree Murder

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-Press Release, Office of District Attorney Michael D. Waters

On Monday, April 30, 2018, during a session of Warren County Criminal Superior Trial Court, Kevin Burton Munn entered pleas of guilty in two counts of First Degree Murder. One count of First Degree Murder in the death of Vance County businessman James Thomas “Tommy” Ellington, Jr., and one count of First Degree Murder in the death of Lake Gaston resident Nancy Bowling Alford.

As part of his agreement, Mr. Munn will cooperate with authorities as to the investigation of other individuals involved in these cases, in exchange for two consecutive life sentences. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Henry W. Hight, Jr. continued sentencing in this matter.

Below are statements from the Ellington and Alford families:

“The Ellington family continues to be grateful for the dedication of local and state law enforcement working in conjunction with the DA’s office to pursue justice in Tommy’s murder case. While today’s events will not replace the void we all feel with Tommy’s loss, our prayer is that it will aid the healing process for family and friends, as well as bring more peace of mind to the community. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to comment further at this time.” – The Ellington Family

“The events of March 9, 2018, changed our family forever. We will forever be grateful to all of the law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to apprehend the men responsible and who continue still to work in the investigation process. We are also very thankful to the Office of the District Attorney for their dedication to this case. We know that all of these people have put us on the path toward justice and pray daily for their continued resolve to bring safety to the communities they serve.” – The Alford Family

Granville Chamber of Commerce Sunrise Forum – Friday, May 11

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-Press Release, Granville County Chamber of Commerce

You are invited to the Granville Chamber Sunrise Forum on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 7:45 a.m. featuring guest speaker Anthony M. Copeland, N.C. Secretary of Commerce. The forum is hosted by the Town of Butner.

Location: Butner Town Hall – 415 Central Ave., Butner, N.C.

Light breakfast items will be served!

Please RSVP by Friday, May 4 to Butner Town Hall – 919-575-3032 or Granville County Chamber – 919-693-6125 or 919-528-4994 or by email – wanda@granville-chamber.com or tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.

ANTHONY M. COPELAND, Secretary of Commerce, the State of North Carolina

Tony Copeland became North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce in January 2017, named to the post by Governor Roy Cooper and marking a return to the agency for the experienced business executive. Earlier in his career, Mr. Copeland served as Assistant Commerce Secretary, leading the recruitment of nearly $12 billion in investment and the creation of 100,000 jobs. In this capacity, he worked with numerous international companies in China, Japan, Europe, South Korea and Israel, as well as a variety of domestic companies. 

 

Tony Copeland’s experience spans a wide range of economic development and business leadership roles. During the past decade, as a partner of a major law firm and owner of his own firm, Mr. Copeland has brought significant new corporate investment into North Carolina from both domestic and international sources. He brings an insider’s knowledge of the ways corporate investment and site decisions are made.

Mr. Copeland also served as executive vice president, secretary and general counsel of a telecommunications company, where he led the company’s growth from $38 million in revenues to more than $250 million. He led the senior executive team that secured $500 million in equity financing and planned, financed and installed more than 5,000 miles of fiber optic cable in the Carolinas and along the eastern seaboard. A native of Perquimans County, Mr. Copeland is a graduate of Duke University and the Western Michigan University School of Law.

Oxford Board of Commissioners’ Meeting – Tuesday, May 8

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The Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their next regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 7 p.m. inside the Commissioners Board Room at City Hall – 300 Williamsboro Street, Oxford.

At this meeting, there will be a public hearing to receive citizen input as to the needs of low and moderate income residents and neighborhoods within the City of Oxford.

WIZS Beach Music Blast Debut

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Starting (tomorrow) May 1, 2018, the WIZS Beach Music Blast program will air M-F from 12 noon until 1 p.m.

May 1, 2018 is also the 63rd birthday of WIZS Henderson, which first came on the air May 1, 1955 as WHVH.

The WIZS Beach Music Blast debuted today from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on WIZS 1450 AM in the Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin County area.  For upcoming shows, you can also listen anywhere on wizs.com.  Click on Listen Live.

Click here for a video about our new show.

Trey Snide (Host) and Mr. Pat Christie — first ever interview on the Beach Music Blast

Appearing as guests today were: Terri Gore, the original Carolina Girl, Craig Woolard of The Embers and Julian Fowler of KHP Music along with the show’s very first guest and guest host of the day Pat Christie.

The new WIZS program schedule for Monday through Friday will be:

11 a.m. – TownTalk

11:30 a.m. – Tradio

12 noon – Midday Local News

12:04 p.m. – WIZS Beach Music Blast

1 p.m. – Sports Mayhem

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market Reg. Season Begins Sat. April 28

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 — submitted by Tracy Madigan, Market Manager

The Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market’s regular market season begins Saturday, April 28, 2018!

Come out, shop and visit the market at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson. Each week the farmers will be adding more produce.

The Saturday Market features plants for the garden including vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Local crafts for your enjoyment.

In season, locally grown spring produce; hot house tomatoes, beets, sweet potatoes, kale and lettuce plus strawberries (weather permitting)!

Our beef and pork vendors will have meat for sale. Worth the trip!

Plus estate wine, canned goods and baked goods.

Beginning April 28, the Farmers Market will be open Saturdays only from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. from April 28 – May 12.

Beginning May 16, the Farmers Market will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Special Event: Our Master Gardeners will be in attendance this week providing gardening advice.

Social Media: For more information follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Contacts:

Market Manager: Tracy Madigan @ 252-598-0814

Extension Agent: Paul McKenzie @ 252-438-8188

**VCRFM accepts and welcomes SNAP/EBT**

(This is not a paid advertisement)

 

 

Health Sciences Dean Honored For Leadership At VGCC

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-VGCC Press Release

Angela M. Thomas, dean of health sciences at Vance-Granville Community College, was recently honored with the President’s Leadership Award from Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of the college.

The honor is one of three Glen Raven Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards presented to VGCC employees during each academic year. The others, the Faculty Member of the Year and Staff Member of the Year awards, are presented in the fall semester. Glen Raven, Inc., the manufacturer with a site in Norlina, is a longtime VGCC partner. The company’s support includes sponsoring the annual stipends to recognize outstanding VGCC instructors and staff members and endowing many scholarships for students.

President Williams praised Thomas for her dedication and commitment. “Under the leadership of Dean Thomas, our Health Sciences division has continued to demonstrate excellence in preparing students for successful careers, while also growing with the addition of three new credential offerings, including the associate degree in Histotechnology, as well as new partnerships with four-year universities,” she said. The president added that Thomas had directly led two departments during the past year, along with her duties as dean. In one case, she obtained a certification outside of her discipline (Radiography) in order to take on such a responsibility.

In accepting the award, Thomas gave credit to her Health Sciences team and thanked them for their support of her efforts to provide leadership and to assist them with their growth.  

A resident of Hillsborough, Thomas graduated with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Radiologic Technology from Pitt Community College and a bachelor of arts in Forensic Science from Guilford College, before completing a master’s degree in Health Care Management from Ashworth College. Thomas continues to work as a radiologic technologist at UNC Hospitals.

She started her association with VGCC in 1997 as a part-time Radiography instructor, later becoming the program’s full-time clinical coordinator and then head of the program. Thomas was named VGCC’s Faculty Member of the Year in 2011. As dean of health sciences since 2013, she leads a division that includes the Histotechnology, Nursing, Human Services Technology, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology and Radiography programs. Thomas is a graduate of the North Carolina Community College Leadership Program and completed the Executive Leadership Program through the College of Education at N.C. State University.

                                                                                                                                       Angela Thomas holds her plaque for the leadership award. (VGCC photo) 

                                                                               

Oxford’s Second Annual Multicultural Festival – Saturday, May 12

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-Information courtesy of Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The public is invited to attend the second annual Multicultural Festival on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at the Central Children’s Home and Gym located at 211 West Antioch Drive in Oxford.

The event is sponsored by the John Chavis Historical Society and festivities will go from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vendors and food trucks will be on site and door prizes will be given to lucky winners.

The festival will feature the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, the Haliwa-Saponi Native American Dancers and Latin American Vocalist and Guitarist Juan Gomez.

Come enjoy a fun-filled, cultural and inspiring day!

The highlight of the festival will be the Instoolment of Dr. Helen Chavis Othow as Queen Mother with Chief Omotolokun Omokunde presiding.

Tickets: Adults – $10.00; Family Group of 5 – $35; Students and Seniors – $5; Ages 7 and under – FREE.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (919) 693-9133 or emailing hdothow@embarqmail.com. Please send a cashier’s check or money order payable to The John Chavis Historical Society.  Contributions to the John Chavis Historical Society may be mailed to P.O. Box 1737, Oxford, NC 27565.  Your donation is tax-deductible.

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Take Back North Carolina Initiative Press Conf

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Wednesday afternoon at 3:30, the United States Attorney’s Office conducted a press conference at the Henderson Police Department. The audio of the press conference is available here. Discussed was the beginning of a new initiative to combat violent and drug crime in the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative will bring the full weight and resources of the federal court system in the fight against crime in the counties of Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and all the counties of the Eastern District of NC in partnership with the District Attorneys’ offices and federal, state and local law enforcement. The initiative will also focus on the alarming level of opioid use and the deaths associated with it. The speaker was United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. and in attendance were the Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin County sheriffs as well as the Police Chief of Henderson, Oxford and Louisburg. Also present were the District Attorney for the 9th Prosecutorial District and the ADA. According to what was said at the press conference, the goal is to reverse the trends where violent crimes and drug-related deaths have shot up in the last couple of years both in North Carolina, specifically the Eastern District, and across the nation. Higdon said opioid use is higher in eastern NC than the rest of the state. He essentially said the federal government in recent years had stopped using all its tools to prosecute the worst offenders and charge them with the worst crime. He said the work was already underway and through cooperation among law enforcement agencies and local and federal prosecutors, the goal was to significantly reduce crime by getting the worst offenders in federal court as fast as possible. He said when death was involved in a drug case, a federal court can us a 20 year mandatory sentence. He said when a gun is in the possession of the offender five years can be added to the sentence, and that goes to seven years if the gun is brandished and 10 years if the gun is discharged. He said there would be a 14-day plea deadline, and it was best if the offender plead guilty to reduce his/her sentence and because the penalties would be consistent for offenders and the punishment would fit the crime. Crimes against a law enforcement officer would be given a priority. He said there would be seizure of assets – cash, car, house, business. He said the federal courts would be going after medical professionals who administer drugs inappropriately. He said he hoped to deter crime rather than have to prosecute.

Granville County Logo

4th Annual Hawg in the Holler Musical Festival – Sat. April 28

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-Information provided courtesy of the Granville Tourism Development Authority

Join us for the 4th Annual Hawg in the Holler Music Festival on Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Vino Oasi in Stem! Enjoy a great day of music, food, Kids Zone and much more. Bring the whole family! There will be great vendors and food trucks. This year’s beneficiary is Families Living Violence Free.

About the charity:

We honor families as the life of our community – where dreams are born, children are nurtured and adults find purpose. Because many members of our community who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are denied these rights to quality of life and to basic human dignity, Families Living Violence Free is dedicated to empowering Granville County families to live safe, non-violent lives.

Featured bands for the day include (in this order):

Mike Brooks from 98.3 is back as emcee; food vendors and some special family-friendly “surprises” throughout the day!

All parking will take place at the venue, Vino Oasi located at 3200 Bliss Trail, Stem, NC 27581.

Ticket price includes entry to festival and parking. No outside beverages or food allowed. Service animals only. All children must be supervised at all times.

Plan on bringing a lawn chair with you.

Visit our Facebook page to learn more and stay up-to-date on the festival!

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