NC Farmers should prepare for hurricane season

RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s annual plea for farmers to prepare for hurricane season is especially poignant this year, considering many are still recovering from Hurricane Matthew.

“Hurricane Matthew is a painfully fresh reminder of just how important it is to have an emergency plan for your farm, food company or agribusiness,” Troxler said. “Take precautions and think through your plan now, and discuss it with your employees and family. Doing this can help no matter what emergency strikes.”

Scientists at N.C. State University are predicting 11 to 15 named storms in the Atlantic basin this year, numbers in line with the average since 1950. Of those storms, four to six could become hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season typically runs June 1 to Nov. 30, but this year has already seen one tropical storm, Arlene, which made a brief appearance in April.

Planning helps farmers protect their families, workers, equipment and buildings, Troxler said. “Livestock operations should maintain emergency plans that address power needs and on-site feed capabilities,” he said. “Also, identify places to relocate animals from low-lying areas. We saw farmers take those precautions before Matthew, and I believe it played a role in reducing animal losses from the storm.”

Farmers and businesses should review insurance policies to ensure they have proper coverage, including wind, hail, flood and catastrophic coverage if necessary. Some coverage takes 30 days to go into effect.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a website, www.ncagr.gov/disaster, with links and resources for different types of agribusinesses to plan and recover from a disaster. A Farm Emergency Plan Template is available on the site to help organize information that is needed after a disaster.

Henderson Students Dominate Inaugural Oxford Prep Graduation Marshal List

Marshals who will serve at the first Oxford Preparatory Commencement ceremony honoring the class of 2017 have been announced. Marshals are chosen from the sophomore and junior class. Students chosen from either class must have a weighted GPA above 4.25. The chief marshal will be chosen from the junior representatives and will be announced at the May 26th awards ceremony. Marshals for the 2016-2017 year are:

Layla Alashmli, junior from Henderson, NC

Megan Ayscue, junior from Oxford, NC

Alex Bare, sophomore from Creedmoor, NC

Andrew Crumpler, junior from Henderson, NC

Jason Corbett, sophomore from Henderson, NC

Andrew (Whitt) Daniel, junior from Henderson, NC

Zach Ellington, sophomore from Henderson, NC

Shawn Matthews, sophomore from Oxford, NC

Mira Patel, sophomore from Henderson, NC

Catherine Stallsmith, junior from Oxford, NC

Madeline Stallsmith, junior from Oxford, NC

Jackson Vaughan, junior from Henderson, NC

Jacinthia Wiliams, junior from Henderson, NC

Granville Chamber to host Women in Business Luncheon

WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 ~ 12:00 noon

THORNDALE OAKS, 105 West Quailridge Road, Oxford

You are invited to lunch and an outstanding program by

Holly Boyd & Anna Cate Fleming

Fashion Blogger Anna Cate Collection

Lunch:  $15 Chamber members

$18 non-Chamber members

Reservations are REQUIRED by Monday, May 22nd

(Reservations not cancelled prior to May 23rd will be invoiced.)

WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON SPONSORS:

CENTURY 21/HANCOCK PROPERTIES/ANNE HANCOCK, TRACY DOZIER

GRANVILLE INSURANCE AGENCY/SANDRA D. PRUITT

JIMMY WILLIAMS & ASSOCS. – NATIONWIDE INS./GLENDA M. WILLIAMS

REVLON

THORNDALE OAKS/ FAITH C. WATKINS

BRUMMITT ELECTRIC/HELEN H. BRUMMITT

EDWARD D JONES/ WANDA ELMORE

FONVILLE MORISSEY REALTOR/SUZANNE BORNEMANN

LEGAL SHIELD/RUTH ANN BULLOCK

LEWIS ELECTRIC OF OXFORD/CAROLYN E. WILSON

LYDIA CROUSE PHOTOGRAPHY/LYDIA CROUSE

NORTH CENTRAL MEDICAL TRANSPORT/CARRIE R. CURRIN

RODAN & FIELDS INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT/SUSAN S. CREWS

Butterfield to GOP: Time to Put Country Over Party

WASHINGTON, DCCongressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement in response to reports that President Donald Trump shared highly classified intelligence with Russian officials:

“The reports that President Trump may have shared classified intelligence with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador is alarming and deeply disturbing.  This sharing of highly classified intelligence with Russian representatives is the latest in a pattern of reckless ineptitude from the White House that puts our national security and our ability to work with our allies at risk.

“Enough is enough.  This is just another incident in a long line of troubling revelations that call into question the President’s relationship with Russia.  Congressional Republicans must put country over party and join the American people in demanding answers and accountability from President Trump and his administration.  Anything less is a grave mistake that could have ramifications far beyond Mr. Trump’s presidency.”

https://butterfield.house.gov

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Maria Parham Health to offer free sports physicals

Maria Parham Health will be offering free sports physicals from 5:00 p.m. –  7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17th for those students who plan to play sports in a school setting.

Please enter through our main entrance and directions the waiting area will be provided.

Please bring the form’s your child’s sports program requires for participation and make sure the parent’s section is already filled out and signed.

Butterfield Statement on SCOTUS Voter ID Decision

WASHINGTON, DCCongressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ unanimous finding that the North Carolina General Assembly acted with discriminatory purpose in enactment of a 2013 Voter ID law:

“Today’s announcement is a victory against those who try to implement discriminatory voter ID laws written to suppress the vote of certain North Carolinians.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the case left in place the Fourth Circuit’s well-reasoned finding that the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enacting its 2013 voter ID law that also included other discriminatory voting changes like limitations on early voting predominately used by African Americans.

“Today, the Supreme Court rightly refused to hear the appeal of a law that I have long said discriminates against African American voters.  I hope this is finally the end to one of the most undemocratic and disgraceful voter ID laws in the country.”

https://butterfield.house.gov

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Oxford Alive After 5 Postponed

Due to the weather predictions and uncertainty, a decision has been made to POSTPONE tomorrow night’s ALIVE AFTER FIVE until Thursday, June 29th.

Please know that this decision was made after careful consideration for the band, concession vendors, sponsors, volunteers, law enforcement — everyone we can think of!

The Chamber appreciates everyone’s support and understanding!  We will look forward to the June 29th event!

Ginnie Currin

Executive Director

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Granville Relay Postponed Due to Weather

COUNTYWIDE RELAY EVENT DELAYED
Due to the anticipated weather conditions on Friday, May 12th, the countywide Relay for Life event scheduled for the J.F. Webb High School track has been delayed to Saturday, May 20th .

The event will commence with the opening ceremony on Saturday, May 20th at 6:00 p.m. on the track. The events will conclude at 11:00 p.m. The county co-chairs, captains and team members thank you for your support and they hope to see you at the track on May 20, 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

The survivors will meet in the cafeteria by 5:30 p.m.

Food, music, entertainment for young and old will be available.

Come join your friends, support the cure for cancer and walk a lap or more for good health.

May is Focus on Membership Month for Granville County Chamber of Commerce

TAKE NOTE

May 11-19 – Annual Spring Membership Blitz – kicked off at the May 11 -Downtown Oxford – Alive After Five- at special attraction table for Chamber. Join during the Blitz receive 15 months for the fee of 12 months along with many other benefits! Refer a potential member and they join receive during the Blitz, you will be entered in a drawing for a “mystery” prize.

Tuesday – May 16 – Lunch and Learn -12 Noon – Chamber Board Room 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford – Kevin Bullock of WIZS presenter – “Marketing Techniques to Boost Your Business” – Lunch provided – RSVP by Monday -May 15 to a Chamber Office.

Wednesday – May 17 – Navigating the Chamber Orientation and Refresher – 4:00 pm – Creedmoor Business Center – Bring business cards and materials to share about your business, organization or non-profit. RSVP to a Chamber Office by Noon on May 17.

Friday, May 19- Membership Appreciation Picnic hosted by our Chamber Ambassadors to say, “Thanks for being a Granville County Chamber Member!” – 11:00-2:00 (floating) @ Granville Athletic Park (The GAP) Belltown Road.

FREE – Hot dogs and Hamburgers with the trimmings for all to enjoy and be APPRECIATED! New members will be recognized! RSVP to a Chamber Office by May 18th.

We look forward to seeing you and any of your staff at as many as of these “May Member Focus” events as you can participate in. To learn more about any of these events contact a Chamber Office: wanda@granville-chamber.com  /919-693-6125 or tawheeler@granville-chamber.com  /919-528-4994.

Two VGCC campuses to host Mini-Medical School summer camps

High school students from throughout the region are invited to learn about health sciences and careers in medicine by participating in the 2017 “Mini-Medical School” Summer Camp, conducted by the Wake Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in partnership with Vance-Granville Community College.

The intensive, week-long day camp is being offered twice: June 12-16, at VGCC’s South Campus, located between Butner and Creedmoor, and July 24-28, at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus, just outside Louisburg. At either location, students will be on campus from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This will be VGCC’s fourth summer hosting a Mini-Medical School, which uses computational science (computer simulation) and hands-on activities to study key aspects of medicine. Topics include anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, cardiology, epidemiology, medical genetics and genomics. Becky Brady, a registered nurse and chemical engineer, will serve as the lead instructor.

Participants will not only learn about training for careers in the medical field, but they will also have opportunities to become certified in CPR and Youth Mental Health First Aid (for students aged 16 and over) during the course of the camp.

Campers will be able to learn more about VGCC programs that prepare students for medical careers, including Histotechnology, Nursing, Medical Assisting, Radiography, Pharmacy Technology, Human Services Technology, Emergency Medical Services and Occupational Healthcare.

Wake AHEC serves nine counties in central North Carolina from its office in Raleigh: Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Lee, Person, Vance, Wake, and Warren counties. AHECs are located throughout North Carolina and are affiliated with the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill School of Medicine. The mission of the statewide AHEC Program is to meet the state’s health and health workforce needs. NC AHEC provides educational programs and services that bridge academic institutions and communities to improve the health of the people of North Carolina with a focus on underserved populations.

The registration fee for the camp is $200, which includes materials, CPR and Youth Mental Health

First Aid Certifications, catered lunches and snacks.

For more information and to register, visit www.wakeahec.org/hchome.htm or contact Heather Schafer at hschafer@wakeahec.org or 919-350-0468.

 

–VGCC–