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The Granville Education Foundation Awards $50,500 in Grants to Granville County School Teachers

December 18, 2020/by John C. Rose

(Please Note – This is the second version of this story to be posted on WIZS.com. The first version had omissions which were unknown to WIZS at the time. WIZS apologizes to the parties who were originally left out. It was strictly unintentional on our part but was our responsibility to know nonetheless. This version replaces anything you may have seen earlier, in which two schools were omitted.)

— press release courtesy of Granville Education Foundation

The Granville Education Foundation (GEF) recently awarded over $50,500 in grants to Granville County School teachers. This year, 48 grant applications were received and GEF awarded 26 grants in 11 different schools. Teachers were eligible to submit grant applications that were reviewed and scored by GEF Grant Committee members. The grant applicants name and school were made anonymous before the grant committee members read and scored the grant. On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the GEF “Prize Patrol” visited and celebrated the grant recipients in person and via Zoom.

“My second experience with Prize Patrol was a bit different this year due to COVID-19, but I am thrilled we were still able to host this wonderful event. This day was filled with surprises, excitement, and tears of joy for many deserving teachers and students. We secretly notified the school principals we would be awarding the grants, but the teachers were unaware. Balloons and grant acceptance letters were delivered to the schools in advance to prepare for the virtual celebrations. It was delightful to witness these very happy Granville County School teachers receive their grants!” said GEF Executive Director, Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter. “Our grant funding goes directly into the classrooms for these teachers’ innovative projects, which is exciting not only for the teachers receiving the grants, but for their schools, their students, and for our GEF Board of Directors. We are excited about these projects and look forward to hearing how these grants impact our Granville County Students”, says Susan Hiscocks, President of the Granville Education Foundation Board of Directors.

GEF will remain in contact with the grant recipients throughout the 2020-2021 school year to gather the progress of their grant projects. Please join us in congratulating the following schools and teachers on their success.

2020-2021 Success Through Technology Grants (eligible to apply for an amount up to $5,000):

Pictured: J.F. Webb High School teacher, Carole Griffin, 2020-2021 Success Through Technology Grant recipient for her grant “Fostering Foundations Building Vocabulary for our Educational Futures” in the amount of $3,000.00. Photo credits to Mrs. Amy Rice, Principal of J.F. Webb High School. J.F. Webb High School received 4 grants from the Granville Education Foundation this year, making them the top grant recipient out of 9 Granville County Public Schools.

Oxford Preparatory School – Heather Williams
West Oxford Elementary School – Karla Gravitt
Wilton Elementary School – Tasha Blalock
Creedmoor Elementary School – Kathy Clement
Granville Central High School – Audra Neunkirchner
Oxford Preparatory School – Ashley Barnette
Oxford Preparatory School – Cindy Clark
F. Webb High School – Carole Griffin
Creedmoor Elementary School – Victoria Jones
Oxford Preparatory School – Jade Currin
Tar River Elementary School – Holly Navo

2020-2021 Experience Grants (eligible to apply for an amount up to $1,000):

Mount Energy Elementary School – Kelly Herman
Oxford Preparatory School – Jade Currin
Creedmoor Elementary School – Niekietta Grillo

2020-2021 Performing & Visual Arts Grant (eligible to apply for an amount up to $1,500):

Northern Granville Middle School – Sherria Grubbs
Granville Central High School – Brent Hammer

Pictured: Oxford Preparatory School teacher, Jade Currin, 2020-2021 Success Through Technology Grant recipient for her grant “Tech Savvy Kinders” in the amount of $1,387.68 and 2020-2021 Experience Grant recipient for her grant “Covid Can’t Stop Science” in the amount of $594.00. Oxford Preparatory School received 7 grants from the Granville Education Foundation this year, making them the top grant recipient overall in Granville County Schools.

2020-2021 Lela Eaton Creative Teaching Grants (eligible to apply for an amount up to $1,000):

Falls Lake Academy – Sara Allen
Mount Energy Elementary School – Kelly Herman
Oxford Preparatory School – Mary Newton
F. Webb High School – Lori Puryear
Stovall-Shaw Elementary School – Tammy Hughes
Tar River Elementary School – John Fiedler
F. Webb High School – Mary Lundquist
Oxford Preparatory School – Mary Ann Crews
F. Webb High School – Amanda Baker
Mount Energy Elementary School – Farrah Preddy

Contact: Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter, Executive Director Granville Education Foundation, Inc.

Phone: 919.693.7047

Email: GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com

The Granville Education Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing student performance. Funds raised through the Granville Education Foundation are used to provide resources and enrichment programs for the students of Granville County Schools. Please visit the website www.GranvilleEdFoundation.org for more information.

Local Vance County Covid-19 Update 12-17-20

December 17, 2020/by John C. Rose

For the seven day period December 10 to December 16 in Vance County, there were a total of 182 positive test results for Covid-19. For the same time period, 96 people in Vance County were released from isolation.

Those figures equal a net increase of 86 in a week or about 12 people per day more.

Two deaths occurred December 10 to December 16 in Vance County attributed to Covid-19, and the total daily count of those receiving inpatient care decreased by one, which lowered the figure to 22.

Of the 704 active cases in Vance County on December 16, a total of 694 cases were in the community at large and 10 were divided six to four at two nursing facilities.

This information was compiled by WIZS based on data from Granville Vance Public Health.

Henderson Vance Chamber Informs Businesses About Covid

December 17, 2020/by John C. Rose

Covid news for member businesses is out from the Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce and President Michelle Burgess.

An email this week from Burgess to Chamber members asks for area businesses to “Help Keep Our Economy Open!”

Burgess wrote:

The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce has been alerted to the surging COVID-19 cases here in the county. Because the number of COVID cases doubled in Vance County since December 1^st, Vance County has been added to a list of the state’s Top 10 Priority Counties to work with to try and curb the spread of transmissions. Vance County remains in the Red: Critical Community Spread, on the statewide COVID-19 Alert System which uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county. There is concern that if the number of cases continues to climb, we may be faced with our economy having to close down again.

Our Chamber has been asked to help get out key COVID information to our local employers. Your immediate help is needed to encourage your employees and their families to stay safe during the holiday season and in the upcoming winter months by avoiding travel and gatherings with people they don’t live with. If they must travel or gather, encourage getting tested ahead of time, wearing a mask all the time, and keeping any gatherings small and outdoors. In a statement this week, Gary Salamido, president and CEO of the NC Chamber, encouraged NC employers to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19 “North Carolina employers know how to keep people safe and their success relies on it. If all North Carolinians work together, we can protect lives and livelihoods.”

Detailed guidance for businesses is available at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#businesses (open hyperlink for additional information). Granville-Vance Public Health is available to provide technical assistance and help people access testing and PPE if needed. They also provide free testing at their Henderson facility on Tuesday and Thursday, and at their Oxford location on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. Their phone number is (919) 693-2141.

Christmas Toy Drive at Gang Free, Inc.

December 17, 2020/by John C. Rose

Gang Free, Inc. here in Henderson will be giving toys to over 600 children for Christmas.

At the present time, the organization still needs about 100 to 120 more toys to match with the number of youngsters already signed up.

Gang Free founder Melissa Elliott said, “Gang Free has over 600 children for Christmas. Toys For Tots provided us with 491 toys. Can you please ask people to stop by Gang Free and drop off a toy?”

Located at 940 County Home Road in Henderson and online at gangfreeinc.org, you can drop off toys Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm or call 252-598-0067 to make arrangements. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Noon News 12-17-20 Safe Neighborhood Initiative; David Smith; Covid19; School Re – Entry Plan

December 17, 2020/by Bill Harris

Stories include:

– Safe Neighborhood Initiative

– David Smith awarded Long Leaf Pine

– Covid19

– Re-entry plan for Vance Co. Schools

For full details and audio click play.

WIZS Radio · Noon News 12-17-20 Safe Neighborhood Initiative; David Smith; Covid19; School Re – Entry Plan

Vance County Schools Re-entry Plans Ready; Just Need Date

December 16, 2020/by John C. Rose

The Vance County School system has been hard at work on a re-entry plan for students, and this week at the Vance County Board of Education meeting that re-entry plan was approved.

No date was set.

VCS Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin provided the information in her latest board briefs. She wrote, “The Board of Education approved the re-entry plan for students; however, the re-entry date was not determined. The Board of Education will continue to review metrics, along with discussions with The ABC Science Collaborative, NCDHHS and Granville Vance Public Health.

“The re-entry plan approved allowed for two days of face-to-face instruction and a staggered entry, beginning with PreK, K and 6 grades, followed by grades 1 and 2 and then grades 3-5. Additionally, self-contained EC students in grades PreK-12 begin re-entry.”

The plan will allow any student wishing to remain fully remote to do so, with live instruction on specific days and times.

Sandlin can be heard each morning on WIZS at 7:45 and each afternoon during the WIZS Local News with school information.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson will join WIZS on TownTalk Tuesday, December 22 at 11am.

Granville County’s David Smith Receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine

December 16, 2020/by WIZS Staff

Granville County’s David Smith was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine earlier this week. The award is one of the most prestigious in North Carolina and comes from the Governor.

Smith, presently chairman of the Granville County Commissioners, is a former Sheriff of Granville County.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine society’s web page (https://longleafpinesociety.org/) indicates North Carolina Governors have presented the award since 1963 “for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.”

Comm. David Smith, District 2, is pictured with his family as Granville County’s Clerk to the Board, Debra Weary, administers the oath Dec 3, 2018. (Photo Credit: County of Granville)

On the web site granvillecounty.org (https://www.granvillecounty.org/2020/12/16/smith-awarded-order-of-the-long-leaf-pine/) you can see additional details. For 48 or more years, Smith has served Granville County.

Henderson-Vance Benefit as U.S. Attorney Takes Back Eastern NC

December 16, 2020/by WIZS Staff

The U.S. Department of Justice has recognized the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina because of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative.

Relationship building among prosecutors and federal, state and local law enforcement has led to arrests and convictions for drug, drug trafficking and violent crimes and the involved criminal organizations.

Since the initiative started in 2018, more than 1,600 individuals have been prosecuted, representing a 50 percent increase in the number of people charged compared to 2016-2017 in eastern North Carolina.

The aggressive Take Back North Carolina effort has resulted in a 60% reduction in robberies in Henderson and a 21% decrease in aggravated assaults, according to the press release below.

You’ve heard the phrase Project Safe Neighborhoods on WIZS News or read it on WIZS.com 58 times in 2019-2020. Those times were just for Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina said, “When I took office as the United States Attorney, the President and the Attorney General made it clear that job one in our District was to reduce crime rates and to attack drug trafficking organizations operating here. We have taken that task very seriously and, because of the hard work of so many, we have seen those crime rates decline as we have removed the drivers of those crime rates from our cities and towns. This award honors a sustained effort by many, many dedicated public servants and it is a privilege to accept this award on their behalf.”

The press release also indicates Vance County has enrolled in the Educating Kids about Gun Violence (EKG) program, which assisting in reducing violent crimes in Fayetteville by 10 percent in the last five years for student-aged young people.

– Press Release

U.S. Department of Justice Recognizes U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina for its Work with Project Safe Neighborhoods

Take Back North Carolina Receives National Award as the Outstanding Overall Partnership/Task Force

RALEIGH – The Department of Justice has recognized the Take Back North Carolina initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina with its Outstanding Overall Partnership/Task Force Award in support of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Initiative.

“We are extremely gratified and humbled by the Attorney General’s recognition of the important work being done by federal, state and local law enforcement, our partners in the District Attorneys’ Offices and by the men and women of my office as we seek to drive down crime rates and deliver safer communities to all the citizens of the Eastern District.” Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina said. “When I took office as the United States Attorney, the President and the Attorney General made it clear that job one in our District was to reduce crime rates and to attack drug trafficking organizations operating here. We have taken that task very seriously and, because of the hard work of so many, we have seen those crime rates decline as we have removed the drivers of those crime rates from our cities and towns. This award honors a sustained effort by many, many dedicated public servants and it is a privilege to accept this award on their behalf.”

In early 2018, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina launched Take Back North Carolina in an effort to drive down spiraling crime rates and to attack drug trafficking organizations – specifically violent crime and drug activities caused by gangs and other national and transnational organizations. Through the initiative, teams of Assistant United States Attorneys and legal support staff were deployed across the 44 counties of the Eastern District focusing on six broad geographic areas. Each team was tasked with building strong relationships with federal, state and local law enforcement operating in those areas and they worked in close coordination with the 15 elected District Attorneys who prosecute state crimes in North Carolina courts in the eastern half of the State. Building on these relationships, our prosecutors worked to identify the individuals who are driving the crime problem in the communities in their assigned area and with charging and prosecuting those individuals in an effort strategically designed to reduce violent crime rates and disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking operations across the District.

Since the Initiative’s inception, more than 1600 individuals have been prosecuted as part of this Initiative, representing a more than 50% increase in the number of defendants charged by this office over those charged in 2016 and 2017. But, more importantly, due to the strategic targeting of the drivers of our violent and drug crime problems, many communities have seen measurable – and in some cases dramatic – reductions in the violent crime rates. For example, based on data analyzed and provided by our research partners at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, the following cities saw significant reductions in crime rates during 2018 and 2019[1] while participating aggressively in the Take Back North Carolina Initiative:

-Jacksonville – 50% reduction in homicides; 42% decrease in robberies; 83% reduction in aggravated assaults;

-Henderson – 60% reduction in robberies; 21% decrease in aggravated assaults;

-Greenville – homicides down 60%; robberies reduced by 15%.

And, these results have been replicated in communities of all sizes all across the Eastern District. We have also seen the prosecution of the leadership of numerous sects of violent, drug-trafficking gangs across the District. Targeting the leadership of the various Bloods organizations, the Take Back North Carolina Initiative has worked to disrupt and dismantle their operations in this federal district.

Drugs fuel gun violence and the opioid crisis is no exception. Aside from increasing the number of deaths resulting from heroin overdose cases prosecuted, TBNC has also focused on educating the public about the heroin epidemic through the establishment of the USAO Heroin Education Action Team (USA-HEAT). USA-HEAT works to reduce the growing harm to North Carolina families caused by heroin/opiate abuse, partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration, local law enforcement, community health professionals, and family members who have lost a loved one to a drug overdose. In the last six months, the USAO has conducted 17 training events, each lasting 1-3 hours with content tailored to that audience (e.g., first responders and community groups). Other prevention efforts include the Educating Kids about Gun Violence (EKG) program – part of the Fayetteville Police Department’s Operation Ceasefire, created in 2002 under the umbrella of PSN and USAO-EDNC. In the past 5 years, 25,241 students in Fayetteville have been educated through EKG. Overall violent crime for this age group has decreased 10% city wide since EKG began. Other PSN sites – Goldsboro, Pasquotank County, Kinston, and Vance County have adopted the EKG program. Other prevention efforts include re-entry programs, and an outdoor movie series to engage the community and create public awareness about gun violence. In 2019, 1,425 people attended 6 movie nights in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

TBNC PSN sites have worked hard to develop an effective public messaging strategy for each community utilizing press releases, press conferences, and advertising campaigns highlighting the penalties for committing federal crimes. In the last two years, the USAO-EDNC issued over 250 press releases highlighting PSN cases and has held numerous press conferences highlighting TBNC success stories. The USAO has produced hundreds of posters for PSN sites to help spread public awareness and has worked with the Executive Office for United States Attorney’s to develop multiple Public Service Announcements (PSA) focusing on violent crime and opioids. These PSA’s have been widely distributed across EDNC for use by the media and communities.

Revitalized in 2017, PSN is a critical piece of the Department’s crime reduction efforts. PSN has focused on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.

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