Be Safe, Be Responsible

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Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory is reminding motorists to be careful as they enter the New Year’s holiday period. The State Highway Patrol will be stepping up its enforcement against impaired driving.

“A little planning and common sense will ensure the New Year’s holiday will be a time of celebration and optimism instead of a time of tragedy and mourning,” Governor McCrory said. “The Highway Patrol will be out in force to apprehend impaired drivers and enforce traffic laws in order to keep the New Year’s holiday period as safe as possible.”

Last year, troopers investigated five fatal collisions and 139 injury-related collisions during the New Year’s holiday period. This year’s holiday period will begin on Thursday, December 31, 2015 and end on Friday, January 1, 2016.

To combat impaired driving, troopers will be conducting DWI checkpoints and enforcing all state laws. The Patrol will be increasing the number of troopers on the interstates and heavily traveled corridors. The Highway Patrol will also be participating in the state’s “Booze It and Lose It” anti-drunk driving campaign.

The Highway Patrol is soliciting the public’s help by reporting impaired drivers. Motorists can simply dial *HP or *47 on a cellular phone should they observe an impaired driver.

Governor McCrory and the State Highway Patrol are asking for motorists to help with ensuring safe travel by following these simple suggestions:

Be responsible.
Plan ahead.
Designate a sober driver.
Call a cab, friend or family member if you have consumed too much of an alcoholic beverage. Do not drive.
Spend the night where you are, if possible.

“Holiday travel can be a very dangerous time on our highways if our motorists fail to drive responsibly,” said Colonel Bill Grey, Patrol Commander. “We take impaired driving very seriously and urge everyone to make the right choice – don’t drink and drive. Preventing drinking and driving must be a partnership between those who educate the public, those who enforce the law, and our citizens.”

For more information, please contact Lt. Jeff Gordon at (919) 733-5027 or Jeff.Gordon@ncdps.gov.

Ask A Ranger 12/30/15

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News 12/31/15

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Cooperative Extension 12/29/15

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News 12/29/15

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News 12/28/15

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VGCC to offer Agricultural Entrepreneurship program in Vance & Granville counties

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With partners at the local and state levels, the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center will soon offer the “NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship” program in Henderson and in Oxford.

The seven-week course is designed specifically to help local farmers and budding entrepreneurs succeed in developing profitable, environmentally-sound small farms or agricultural businesses.

The class will be offered at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market (210 Southpark Drive, Henderson) on Saturdays, Jan. 23 through March 5, from 8 until 11 a.m.

At the Granville County Expo & Convention Center (4185 U.S. Highway 15, Oxford), the class will be offered on Mondays, Feb. 8 through March 21, from 6 until 9 p.m.

Space is limited to 20 students at each location.

NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship is designed for small business owners who grow crops or trees, raise livestock, or make sauces, pickles or jams with items from a garden. The goal is for participants to strengthen their business savvy in order to gain the highest profit margin possible.

Participants will consider challenges such as pricing their products; the logistics of getting their products to the market; selecting the best market; and how to generate income between growing seasons. Other topics include business development and management, finance and regulatory requirements, quality and safety standards. Participants will also be introduced to resources and contacts that can help them operate more efficiently and effectively.

The instructor at both locations will be Carrie Harvey of Harvey Hills Farms in Oxford, who is also a client of the VGCC Small Business Center.

“This is a hands-on, interactive program, beneficial to farmers or anyone who grows a marketable agricultural product, who wishes to start a business or has been in business less than three years,” said Tanya Weary, director of the Small Business Center. Each participant will receive free, one-on-one counseling as a client of the Small Business Center, which will help them take their ideas to the next level of business planning.

Tuition for the course is $70, and the cost of the textbook is $25. Scholarships to offset the cost of tuition are available to qualified participants, thanks to support from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

For more information and to register, contact Kyle Burwell, coordinator of Human Resources Development, at (252) 738-3276 or hrd-wk@vgcc.edu, or Tanya Weary at (252) 738-3240 or smallbusiness@vgcc.edu.

Propel GPS holds Ribbon Cutting

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Propel GPS, LLC held a ribbon cutting on December 8th to celebrate the expansion of their offices at 946X Crossroads Shopping Center on Highway 39.  A Chamber member for over 2 years, the company opened in Henderson over 3 years ago.

Company owner and CEO Rick Burtner welcomed attendees to the event which was part of a Christmas Open House featuring catered refreshments and introductions of team members from various parts of the US. The company offers a one-stop solution for asset management and sensor monitoring in a robust, secure, reliable platform that combines the accuracy of Global Positioning System (GPS) wireless communications using global satellite and cellular technology.  It’s user-friendly application is easy to install, operate and manage and allows for the ease of tracking vehicles and/or critical assets directly from a desktop or mobile phone.

If your company has a fleet to manage, drivers to monitor or temperature sensitive perishable goods to haul, Propel GPS may be just the solution for you.  In addition, the company takes pride in their involvement with area universities and Vance-Granville Community College through the use of interns, practicum classes and student hires as well partnerships with veterans and veteran groups.

The company has offices in Reston, VA and in Henderson, NC and can be reached for business inquiries at 901-359-4731 or on the web at www.PropelGPS.com.

News 12/23/15

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