Register Now For Hot Sauce Contest Car Show

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Just past the food trucks, live music stages and hot pepper contest is another popular aspect of the annual Hot Sauce Festival in downtown Oxford: The car show.

Whether it’s a restored Model A or a souped-up Chevy, car enthusiasts flock to the car show to ooh and aah over the shiny, well-cared-for vehicles.

Owners of classic, antique and custom cars and trucks may enter their vehicles to be judged. Trophies will be awarded to the winners and all participants will receive a dash plaque.

Registration is required, and details regarding site and entry points will be sent via email prior to the day of the hot sauce festival.

Visit https://oxfordnc.recdesk.com/Community/Program to register for the car show.

Registered participants can come as early as 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, but everyone must be parked by 10:45 a.m. Please have the exhibitor’s entry number clearly displayed on the driver’s side windshield for judging.

Show organizers recommend that car owners be on hand during the contest to answer any questions from the judges. Judges also must have access to all areas of the show vehicle including trunk, interior and engine compartment. But the judges will not open these areas themselves.

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Latest Local Virus Data as of Friday, Aug 27

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— courtesy of Granville-Vance Public Health

In the past 7 days, there have been 127 new cases in Vance County, a 51% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 5.2%. According to the CDC Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Vance County.

In the past 7 days, there have been 227 new cases in Granville County, a 33% increase from the previous 7 days. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 6.3%. According to the CDC Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Granville County.

In Vance County, 59% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 53% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 64% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of vaccine and 59% are fully vaccinated.

In North Carolina Friday, there were 8,105 newly reported cases. The daily percent positive rate is 12.8%.

As of Friday in the state, there were 3,651 hospitalized.

65% of the adult population in NC is at least partially vaccinated and 60% of the adult population is fully vaccinated!

Siplen Arrested, Charged with First Degree Murder

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— Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame Press Release

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of Suzette Siplen for the First Degree Murder of Xavier “Peter” Vann.

Vann was located in the front yard of his residence located at 1609 Nicholas Street, Henderson N.C., on the morning of the 5th day of August 2021. It was determined that Vann was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Vann was transported to Duke University Medical Center where he later died.

Through investigative technique Siplen became a person of interest in this incident. Investigators with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office established Probable Cause for an Arrest Warrant on Suzette Siplen on the 17th day of August 2021.

Having obtained warrants for the arrest of Siplen the investigation then focused on the apprehension of the suspect.

On the 24th day of August Suzette Siplen, age 52, was located in Durham N.C. residing in a local motel. Siplen was arrested without incident.
Siplen has been placed in the Vance County Detention Facility on a single charge of First Degree Murder. No bond has been set at this time.

Assisting with the investigation were the N.C. SBI and the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.

Volunteer Fire Depts in Warren/Franklin Counties Receive Funds

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Volunteer fire departments in Warren County received $213,576.50 and Franklin County departments were awarded $73,454.55, according to the complete listing from N.C. Department of Insurance.

The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created to assist North Carolina’s volunteer fire departments with purchasing equipment and making capital expenditures. It is administered through the N.C. Department of Insurance/Office of the State Fire Marshal. Eligible volunteer fire departments must be rated/certified by the N.C. Department of Insurance.

Here’s a breakdown for Warren and Franklin County, by department:

Warren County:

  • Afton-Elberon Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $7,400
  • Arcola Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $10,950
  • Churchill-Five Forks Volunteer Fire Department Inc. – $30,000
  • Hawtree Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $22,717.50
  • Lake Gaston Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $25,010
  • Long Bridge Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $9,918.50
  • Macon Rural Fire Department, Inc. – $5,315
  • Norlina Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $28,272.50
  • Palmer Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $30,000
  • Ridgeway Volunteer Rural Fire Association – $9,992
  • Soul City Volunteer Rural Fire Association – $8,560

Franklin County:

  • Gold Sand Rural Fire Department, Inc. – $23,495.50
  • Justice Rural Volunteer Fire Association, Inc. – $29,463.00
  • White Level Rural Fire Department, Inc. – $9,367.93

TownTalk: Vance GOP Chair Barrier Planning 9/11 Memorial Event

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So many Americans can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on that morning almost 20 years ago when the 9/11 attacks occurred.

When Jimmy Barrier realized that there were no local plans to commemorate the 20th anniversary of that fateful day, he wasn’t about to let the day go unnoticed.

Barrier, chairman of the Vance County GOP, has planned a public memorial event on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Henderson to honor those whose lives were lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

“It was almost like war,” Barrier told John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk, as he recalled the events of that day in 2001. “It was unfathomable to people – people were horrified by it and didn’t know what was going on.”

Anyone old enough to remember may have similar feelings as Barrier, but for those who may be too young to remember, Barrier said he wants to hear about what they think about the events of 9/11.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will begin at 10 a.m. and should run until about noon. It will be held outside the American Legion hut on Garnett Street and will include music and several different speakers, from local youth to state-level politicians.

Barrier said it’s actually an event for military veterans, firefighters, law enforcement officers and other front-line workers – people in these fields “who right now are the backbone and strength of America.”

— TownTalk Audio, Click Play —

One of the speakers is Will White, a 15-year-old from Henderson. Barrier said it’s important to hear the perspective of someone who wasn’t even alive in 2001.

Although Barrier said he is still working out details of the morning’s agenda, he said local pastor Bruce LeGates will offer an opening prayer, and Stephanie Cole is scheduled to sing the National Anthem. Steve Wilson is set to sing the Lee Greenwood hit “God Bless the U.S.A.” and Ronnie Lassiter, a retired firefighter and Navy veteran also is scheduled to speak.

If his schedule permits, Trey Allen, a UNC law professor and a candidate for the N.C. Supreme Court, will pay a visit to the event, Barrier noted.

And he’s invited Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance Sheriff Curtis Brame, as well as members of all the volunteer fire departments to come and have a presence at the event.

WIZS will broadcast the event live.

Sheriff Curtis Brame

Vance Sheriff Brame’s Advice To Avoid Phone Scams: “Don’t Do What I Did”

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When the phone rings, the first reaction many of us have is to anwer the call. These days, however, unless a name pops up on the screen that you recognize, perhaps the best thing to do is – let it ring. You just may avoid getting caught up in a scam.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame wishes he had followed the advice that he so often dispensed to others about that very thing; it may have saved him the inconvenience of contacting his bank and associated credit cards.

Brame told John C. Rose in an email Wednesday about getting a call from someone who claimed to be with Duke Energy. The caller said Brame’s electricity would be cut off, “due to delinquency and not paying my bill on time.”

At the time, the sheriff was in a hospital waiting room, and was in a vulnerable state because his wife had just undergone back surgery. “I was worried, concerned, not thinking straight,” Brame wrote in the email to WIZS News. He was waiting to go in and see his wife in recovery, and what he did next is what he tells others all the time NOT to do: He furnished information to that person on the other end of the phone.

The last thing he needed, after being at the hospital with his wife, was to return home to no electricity, he said.

When he was able to get to a computer and access his account online, he realized his mistake. Of course, “I had already paid my bills on time and had a zero balance with Duke Energy,” Brame said.

The worry and concern for his wife in the hospital shifted to Brame being “furious, upset and disturbed” for being a victim of a phone scam.

Now came the hassle of contacting his bank, put it on alert and cancel his cards.

“Please, please, please, don’t do what I did,” Brame said. “They are out there, regardless of who you are.”

— The Local Skinny! Audio, Click Play —

Vance Volunteer Fire Departments Awarded More Than $140,000 Through State Grant Fund

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Six volunteer fire departments in Vance County received grant funding from a state program designed to help smaller departments purchase equipment and make capital improvements.

In addition, two departments that serve Vance and adjoining counties received funding, which brings the total to more than $140,000, according to Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen.

Fire departments send requests each year for funding from the state’s Volunteer Fire Department Fund, which distributes money in the form of grants. The grants must be matched dollar for dollar, up to $30,000.

Here’s a breakdown by department:

  • Bearpond Rural Fire Department, Inc. –  $6,630
  • Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $28,530
  • Hicksboro Fire Department – $8,115
  • Kittrell Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $29,968.41
  • Townsville Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $1,328.60
  • Watkins Community Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. – $30,000

The total amount for the Vance County departments is $104,572.01, but that number climbs to $140,696.74 when grant funding to Epsom Fire Department, serving Vance and Frankin counties, is added ($11,128.12) and grant funding to Drewry, serving Vance and Warren counties, is added ($25,440.50).

Granville County received grants totaling more than $176,000 in the most recent disbursement of funds.

Fire departments in Warren County received $213,576.50 and Franklin County departments were awarded $73,454.55, according to the complete listing from N.C. Department of Insurance.

The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created to assist North Carolina’s volunteer fire departments with purchasing equipment and making capital expenditures. It is administered through the N.C. Department of Insurance/Office of the State Fire Marshal. Eligible volunteer fire departments must be rated/certified by the N.C. Department of Insurance.

Mike Waters

Deon Patrick Bobbitt Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder

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— press release from District Attorney Mike Waters

In Granville County Criminal Superior Trial Court during the week of August 9, 2021, Deon Patrick Bobbitt was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Felony Death by Motor Vehicle, Driving While Impaired, Driving While Licensed Revoked and Careless and Reckless Driving. Mr. Bobbitt received an active sentence of 180 to 228 months in the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Adult Correction (DAC).

On May 30, 2018, Mr. Bobbitt drove the wrong way on I-85 north near mile-marker 202 in Granville County. Multiple witnesses called 911 to report a van driving the wrong way in the northbound lane. Minutes later, Mr. Bobbitt crashed into Curtis Wilkerson, who was operating his car in the left lane of I-85 northbound. It was a head on collision and Mr. Wilkerson was killed. Bobbitt was impaired and not licensed to drive a motor vehicle at the time of the collision. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated the case. The District Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison Capps and Brent Groce.