NC State Board of Elections

State Elections Officials Want Input On New Voter Photo ID Rule

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Now that voters have had a chance – or two – to cast their ballots in municipal elections, the N.C. State Board of Elections wants to hear comments about the new photo ID requirement. A public comment period opened today and runs through Jan. 16, 2024 to allow the public to comment on the rule, which the General Assembly passed into law in 2018.

There are several ways to send comments:

An in-person public hearing will be held on Dec. 13, 2023 at 11 a.m. State Board of Elections Office on the Third Floor of the Dobbs Building at 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Granville Vance Public Health Launches Tooth Club To Promote Oral Health In Children

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Thanks to a $50,000 grant, Granville Vance Public Health is launching a school-based oral health program called the Tooth Club to support and improve dental health among children.

The grant comes from the Triangle North Health Care Foundation and the GVPH Carolina Fellows Family Dentistry clinic will oversee the program to provide preventive and restorative care in various school settings, including Headstart, Henderson Collegiate and Vance County Schools, according to information from GVPH Workforce Development Jesus Peralta.

Regular preventive dental care is essential for good oral health, and early childhood tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States. Not all children in Vance and Granville counties have access to dental care. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to infection and pain that can inhibit a child’s ability to eat, sleep, speak, play, and learn, as well as cause chronic childhood health challenges such as diabetes, heart disease and malnourishment.

The Tooth Club will offer preventive oral care, such as cleanings, x-rays, fluoride, sealants and oral health education to uninsured students enrolled in the SBOH clinics. Services are provided at no cost to the student or family – regardless of insurance status, household income or immigration status. Student participants can also receive restorative oral health care services at no cost.

Dr. Navid Nesab, the dentist at Carolina Fellows Family Dentistry, stated: “Our School Based Oral Health clinics allow students to receive preventive oral health services within a familiar school environment, reduce the amount of time students are absent from school for oral health appointments, and keep parents from having to miss work to take their child to the dentist for needed oral health services. Triangle North Health Care Foundation’s grant also allows us the ability to perform restorative care for uninsured SBOH patients at no cost to the families.”

Any child attending HeadStart, Henderson Collegiate, or Vance County Public Schools is eligible to enroll for the SBOH clinics, held at each school location periodically. To enroll your student, please contact the School Nurse at your child’s school to obtain the consent form or contact the dental clinic directly at 919.693.8797 or by email at dental@gvph.org. Visit  https://www.gvph.org/clinic/dental/ to learn more.

 

TownTalk: The Salvation Army Is More Than Just Kettles And Bells

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Whether you’re gearing up for the traditional Black Friday sales crush or someone who chooses to wait until December to think about shopping for holiday gifts, one thing’s for certain: When you hear that bell ringing and see that familiar red kettle, you know the Christmas season is near.

For more than a century, the Salvation Army has been a fixture in communities all over the country, and its volunteers ring bells and stand watch over those red kettles that are waiting to be filled with coins and folding money outside retail stores in the community.

The local Red Kettle Campaign kicked off last week, and Capt. Josh Keaton of the local Salvation Army said folks will see the iconic kettle outside the local Walmart beginning this Saturday.

Of course, there will be kettles in other locations across Henderson, including the Rose’s store and Food Lion stores.

And each kettle needs volunteers – 15 to 20 volunteers for each kettle during the week, he said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. This year’s local goal is $75,000, Keaton said. There are about 25 kettle locations, and all donations stay right here in the area served by the Salvation Army.

Visit RegisterToRing.com to sign up to volunteer or call the Salvation Army at 252. 438.7107.

“Spots are filling up this year,” Keaton said, but “the more volunteers we have, the better off we are.”

Keaton said it’s important for young people to see others giving back to the community, and he said “the older generation is our driving force” when it comes to volunteers. Be it a civic group or church group, the older volunteers serve as a reminder to the youth to give back to the community, Keaton said.

“We can’t do what we do without our volunteers,” Keaton said – not just during the holidays when folks may feel more inclined to be generous, but throughout the year.

“I’m grateful to be a part of this community,” he said, adding that there is a great need, but also a great level of generosity which support the efforts of the Salvation Army.

Customers at area Walmarts can choose an Angel from the Salvation Army’s Angel Trees and shop right in the store for gifts for children and senior adults, Keaton said.

The Angel Tree campaign runs from Nov. 9 to Dec. 9. Keaton said he expected that more than 200 children will experience the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning because of the Angel Tree project.

When you pass a kettle on your way into a store this holiday season and find yourself with no cash, don’t worry. The Salvation Army has got you covered. There’s a QR code that you can scan with your phone and make a quick payment through any of several online payment options.

“It seems to be working well,” Keaton said, adding that online payment options may add a convenience factor to holiday giving.

“We can’t continue to put our eggs in one basket,” he said.

Or, in this case, kettle.

 

 

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon Invites Community To Mental Health Forums Nov. 28, 30

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Mental health and access to quality care for substance use disorders are buzz phrases that continue to capture the attention of government leaders, medical professionals and the community. A couple of forums are scheduled for later this month in Vance and Granville counties, and N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon invites interested individuals to come out to learn more.

Working together with Granville-Vance Public Health and Vaya Health representatives, Sossamon said the programs offer residents a chance to gain insight into current conditions in the two counties with regard to mental health and substance use disorders.

In addition learning just what the two topics encompass, there will be two panel discussions – one on youth mental health and one on substance use disorder and addiction, according to a press statement issued from Sossamon spokesperson Clai Keel.

Providers also will be on hand to share information about available resources.

The Vance County forum will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church, 511 Orange St., Henderson.

The Granville County forum will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Community Church, 3237 Knotts Grove Rd., Oxford.

Provider booths will include those that specialize in medications for Opioid Use Disorder (e.g., Buprenorphine, Methadone), individual and family counseling, medication management, crisis management, intensive outpatient services, and residential treatment.

A wide range of topics will be covered, addressing crucial issues such as suicide prevention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, crisis events, anxiety management, substance use disorder and recovery, depression treatment, addiction recovery, and primary care services. The forums aim to empower attendees with approachable access points for seeking care and support.

“Representative Sossamon is dedicated to fostering an environment where residents can discuss their concerns, learn from experts in the field, and discover local resources that can make a difference in their lives,” the statement read. “These forums will be invaluable for individuals and families seeking guidance and support in the areas of mental health and substance use disorder.”

The Local Skinny! Commissioners Approve Tax Revaluation Schedule

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When Vance County residents get those much-anticipated tax bills early next year, just remember one thing: It’s been eight years since the last revaluation, so any increase – and most certainly there will be an increase – has occurred over eight years, not just one.

That reminder came from Ryan Vincent of Vincent Valuations, the company hired to complete the revaluation process.

Vincent spoke to the Vance County Board of Commissioners at the Nov. 6 meeting to request that the board adopt the scheduled values that were presented.

The commissioners did approve the request, so the next step is to publish the announcement in the local newspaper for four consecutive weeks and then they will be officially adopted.

And soon after that, tax bills will hit mailboxes throughout the county.

Commissioner Dan Brummitt explained in a phone interview after the meeting that there are values associated with different types of homes – brick versus stick-built, custom home versus tract-style – and inspectors assign each property to a level, which ultimately affects the tax value.

This most recent revaluation process involved individual exterior inspections of every residence, and walking the property to measure it.

“That’s typically not done every time,” Brummitt said.

Vincent said the county will work Atlas, a contract and mapping company, to help address disputes that taxpayers may have with the revaluation results.

He noted that there are “fairly substantial increases throughout the county” with this revaluation. The previous revaluation was done in 2016, which resulted in a drop in tax values.

Brummitt said the county encourages residents to speak up with questions they may have when they get their tax bills.

“Nobody’s going to understand it until they get their appraisal,” he said. “Some people will be validated in their complaints.”

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Vance County Logo

TownTalk: Commissioners Hear Presentation From Vaya Health About “Diversion Center” Plans

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners got an update on plans by Vaya Health to turn a vacant retail space into a 16-bed “diversion center” designed for individuals who are in a mental health crisis.

There are still many hurdles to cross, Vaya officials said, but first steps include getting support – and ultimately money – from the county to operate the facility. Vaya representatives presented the plan and update during the commissioners’ Nov. 6 meeting.

The space is connected to Tractor Supply on Dabney Drive, and it’s where the former Big Lots store was located.

“There’s not a lot of current space available that can be modified,” said Elliot Clark, Vaya’s community relations regional director.

The site would have to be rezoned, and they’ve spoken with city officials about that, Clark said. “It’s the best option we could find at the best price point,” he said.

The $4.5 million estimate is now a few months old, so the final figure to complete the project may be higher. Vaya is contributing $1.5 million of the total, and they’re pretty confident they can secure significant state funding, but it helps to know that Vance County leaders support the project – financially and otherwise.

The diversion center would serve Granville and Franklin counties, too, and the Vaya reps will ask those two counties for support as well. No definite amounts have been determined, but it could work out to be something along the line of $500,000 per county.

The main idea for this facility it to help take some of the heat off hospital emergency rooms, which often aren’t equipped to handle the specific needs of individuals suffering from behavioral and mental health crises.

“There is significant need in the community,” said Vaya Vice President Donald Reuss, adding that while there are numerous providers across the system, there’s no comprehensive crisis center in place.

Of particular interest is the planned walk-in clinic. “It’s really the core piece,” Reuss said, to support those in crisis and to prevent crises. Individuals can walk in, have access to a therapist or psychiatrist and get meds filled at the in-house pharmacy.

The walk-in clinic will provide “timely access to care when people need it.” The walk-in clinic would follow normal business hours, but the urgent care side would be available 24/7.

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‘Operation Christmas Child’ Sends Shoeboxes Of Gifts To Children Across The Globe

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The Samaritan’s Purse ‘Operation Christmas Child’ collection week runs through Nov. 20, and there are several local drop-off spots that will be collecting boxes filled with gifts that will be distributed throughout the world for Christmas. This year’s goal is to reach 11 million children with the traditional “shoeboxes.”

North Henderson Baptist Church is the drop-off location in Henderson, according to information from Dolores Brown with Samaritan’s Purse.

Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with toys, personal care items and school supplies may be dropped off now during National Collection Week, which began today and continues for the next week.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts to children worldwide for three decades. In 2023, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. This season, there’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. The project of Samaritan’s Purse partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage.

“This season, children around the world need a tangible reminder that there is hope and that God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Through these shoebox gifts packed with special items, children also receive the opportunity to hear about the eternal hope found in Jesus Christ.”

Participants can use the online lookup tool to find the nearest drop-off location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts. It is searchable by city or ZIP code. Signs at each location will identify the drop off.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world and, together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.

North Henderson Baptist Church, 1211 N. Garnett St., will accept shoeboxes at the following drop-off times:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 14: 12 noon  –  2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15:  3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 16: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 17:  2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 18: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
  • Sunday, Nov 19: 12 noon – 5 p.m.
  • Monday, Nov. 20: 10 a.m. to 12 noon