Warren Co. Memorial Library

Warren Library Gets $28,500 Grant To Better Serve The Community

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Thanks to a grant totaling more than $28,000, the Warren County Memorial Library is kicking off a plan to seek community input that will expand the services it provides to patrons.

The $28,500 grant comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is administered through the State Library of North Carolina. The IMLS provides funding to agencies affiliated with the State Library by using a population-based formula.

“This assessment will help the library to gather feedback from the community on how to best serve the residents in Warren County,” stated Library Director Christy Bondy.

“We want to expand our services as much as we can,” Bondy said. “To do that, we need to find out where our blind spots are. We’re looking for creative ways to serve the community and want to see everyone’s basic needs get met when it comes to literacy. But as libraries evolve, we’re here to help people in whatever way we can.”

The information gathered through the surveys and focus groups scheduled for the fall will be used to learn what services patrons use, but Bondy said it also will help learn why the community is not using the library.

“We will use the survey and focus group input to learn what services and resources the community is using, as well as what services are being provided that the population is unaware of,” Bondy said. “The feedback will also aid us in determining what could be added to improve the overall experience.”

The assessment will be conducted by Rethinking Libraries, LCC, a library consulting firm that helps clients to see their institutions differently and embrace changes to become more vibrant, 21st Century libraries. Rethinking Libraries has been involved in numerous facilities projects, strategic planning processes, building programs and other consulting work with hundreds of libraries across the United States. Clients range from small rural public libraries to large urban facilities.

The needs assessment portion of the project kicked off Aug. 4; paper copies are available at the library’s circulation desk; complete the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCMLPRMedia.

The Warren County Memorial Library is located at 119 S. Front St. in Warrenton. For more information, visit www.wcmlibrary.org.

State Fair 2023 Taking Applications For ‘Farm Family Of The Day’

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-information courtesy of the N.C. State Fair Office

 

The N.C. State Fair is looking for 11 farm families to recognize during the fair for its Farm Family of the Day, presented by Tractor Supply Company. Nominations are being accepted through Sept. 15.

If you are proud to be an N.C. farmer, work hard to contribute to the state’s No. 1 industry and love both farming and the N.C. State Fair, your farm family could be one of the lucky ones selected.

Families recognized as Farm Family of the Day honorees will be awarded an N.C. State Fair gift basket including fair tickets to use on any day of their choice during the 2023 N.C. State Fair, ride passes and additional swag from Tractor Supply Company and the N.C. State Fair.

Families will be chosen by both nomination and application. Applications can be found at https://www.ncstatefair.org/2023/Attractions/FarmFamilyOfTheDay.htm.

The “Farm Family of the Day” program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company, is returning for its third year to recognize and celebrate more of our state’s rich agricultural heritage and the farm families that are behind our $103.2 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.

“The State Fair’s earliest beginnings sought to elevate the understanding of new agricultural practices and technology. Helping people make the connection between farming and the food that they enjoy is one of our top missions at the N.C. State Fair each year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

“Thanks to Tractor Supply Company, we can help tell the story of our farmers because they are the individuals out there every day working to grow the food, fiber and fuel that we need to survive.”

The 2023 N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 12-22 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The fair offers an experience unique to North Carolina for all who attend, and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights.

For more information, visit www.ncstatefair.org.

Warren Meeting To Discuss Use Of Opioid Settlement Funding Set For July 31

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Warren County leaders and others from the local area are invited to attend a community meeting later this month to learn more about how best to spend the opioid settlement funding the county will receive.

In addition to county leaders, leaders from the towns of Warrenton, Norlina and Macon are amond those expected to attend the July 31 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the Warren County Armory Civic Center, 501 US Hwy 158 Business East in Warrenton.

Attendees will learn more about the N.C. Opioid Settlement and evidenced-based strategies from staff of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners. In addition, community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas/experiences relating to the need and barriers to receiving behavioral health services. Local service providers will also be on-hand to answer questions and provide information on what services are currently available to residents.

For more information, contact Vincent Jones, County Manager at 252.257.3115, or Public Health Director Dr. Margaret Brake at 252.257.1185.

Now’s The Time To Think About Entering A State Fair Exhibit

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-information courtesy of the N.C. State Fair Press Office

October seems a long way off, but for anyone interested in entering any of the competitions at the annual N.C. State Fair, fall is just around the corner.

The fair is slated for Oct. 12-22 in Raleigh and its Competitive Exhibits Coordinator John Buettner wants to make sure all prospective exhibitors have plenty of time to check out rules and deadlines for all the different exhibit categories.

Whether it’s culinary arts, handicrafts and hobbies, livestock exhibitions, horticulture or something else, there probably is a competition for most everyone to enter.

“We have a lot of classic categories and even a few new categories for competitions, and only a few require an entry fee” Buettner stated. Now is the time to read about competition rules and deadlines.

“With 4,027 classes of competitions available for entry, there is truly something for everyone. We love to see all of the talent in our state, so don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of one of North Carolina’s most cherished traditions,” he added.

To enter a competition, go to ncstatefair.org and click on competitions. The website offers a guide to all competitions, events and attractions visitors can expect during this year’s fair. Entrants can start registering online now. The deadline for submitting entries is Sept. 15, but don’t hesitate to enter in your preferred competitions early.

All contest entrants are required to submit W-9 forms along with their entry submissions. This ensures that necessary tax-related information is collected from participants. Guides and sample forms can be found on the Fair’s official website, ncstatefair.org.

The N.C. State Fair works with ShoWorks, a data management software, to compile entries. Entry forms can be mailed in or entered using the ShoWorks website or app.

“We are always excited to see what competitiors bring each year,” Buetnner said. “Whether it’s your first time entering or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s a great idea to get started early on your entries.”

Granville Hosts Five-County Beef Tour July 21

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Granville County is hosting the 2023 Five County Beef Tour on Friday, July 21. Participants will visit several spots across the county to learn about different aspects of cattle production.

Registration is open until July 14, according to information from Kim Woods, livestock agent for N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Granville Center. The counties that rotate hosting the tour are Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Wake, but participants from other counties are welcome to attend.

The tour will begin at 8 a.m. at the Butner Bull Test Station, 8800 Cassam Rd., Butner. The second stop will be Mill Creek Farm, owned by Randy and Barbara Guthrie. The Guthries have a heifer development program.

The final stop will be High Rock Farm, owned by Beth and David Hollister. The Hollisters have a stocker/finisher operation.

The group will have lunch at High Rock, during which

Evan Davis with NCDA&CS Farmland Preservation Division is scheduled to discuss farmland preservation. The tour should conclude around 2 p.m.

Carpooling is encouraged.

Pre-registration is required. Contact Woods at kim_woods@ncsu.edu or 919.603.1350 to learn more.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5-county-beef-tour-tickets-650768063797.

Gov. Cooper Releases Info On County Boards Of Elections Chairs

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The office of Gov. Roy Cooper has released a list of chairmen and chairwomen of the state’s county boards of elections.

James Baines has been named chairman in Vance County. Baines has previously served as the board secretary.

James Wall, Sr. continues as chair in Granville County, according to information from the governor’s office.

Esther Terry has been named chair in Warren County and Bobbie Richardson will begin a term as chair of the Franklin County board.

North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections conduct local elections, operate voting sites, maintain voter registration lists and handle many other aspects of elections administration. The State Board works with county boards of elections offices to ensure elections are conducted lawfully and fairly.

Warren Co. Memorial Library

Warren Library Gets 3 Grants Totalling More Than $58K

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Warren County Memorial Library plans to use more than $58,000 in grant money to get a few projects off the ground.

The three grants total $58,468, according to information from Charla Duncan, Warren County’s public information officer. One grant will be used for creating storywalks at Buck Spring Park and Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park; another grant is for the expansion of the library’s collection through the NC Cardinal system; and the third grant is to hire consultants to assist in developing a new five-year strategic plan.

“The library is looking forward to implementing these three grants to better serve the county,” stated Library Director Christy Bondy. “The strategic plan updates will help gather feedback from the community on shaping the future of the library.”

The projects are supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the federal Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The federal funds help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services for their communities. At Warren County Memorial Library, the LSTA grants will help expand the library’s collection through the NC Cardinal system. Users can borrow materials from 60 other participating library systems statewide.

Warren County Memorial Library received three of the 48 grants for fiscal year 2023-2024 awarded to North Carolina libraries from this year’s federal allotment of $2,590,904.  The LSTA grant program administered by the State Library of North Carolina funds library projects across the state that advance excellence and promote equity by strengthening capacity, expanding access, and community engagement in North Carolina’s libraries.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. Through the LSTA Grants to States program, IMLS provides funds to state library agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they may also distribute the funds through competitive subgrants to public and academic libraries.  To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

For more information about North Carolina’s LSTA program, visit the State Library of North Carolina’s LSTA web page at https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/services-libraries/grants-libraries/lsta-grant-information or contact the State Library’s Federal Programs Consultant at 919-814-6796.

The Warren County Memorial Library is located at 119 S. Front St.  Warrenton. For more information, visit www.wcmlibrary.org.

NC Cooperative Extensions Offer Pesticide Application Recertification Hours June 27

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Anyone who needs recertification hours to stay certified for pesticide application can register to attend a class offered June 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Participants can earn two recertification hours for categories A, B, D, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, T or X.

Class locations are listed below.  Registration is required. Sign up by calling the Person County Extension Center 336-.599.1195 or by visiting https://go.ncsu.edu/2023multicredit.

This will be an in-person class only.

Be sure you have all your credit hours to remain certified for applying the pesticides you need. If you have any questions regarding this information or about requirements needed for your current licensure, contact Mikayla Berryhill at 336.599.1195 or 919.603.1350 or by email mikayla_berryhill@ncsu.edu.

 

CLASS LOCATIONS:

  • Vance County Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Granville County Center, 125 Oxford Outer Loop, Oxford
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Person County Center, 304 S. Morgan Street, Roxboro
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension, Warren County Center, 158 Rafters Ln, Warrenton

TownTalk: Former NC Governor McCrory Talks Division In Politics

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In 2012, Pat McCrory was elected as governor of North Carolina. He served one term, having attained statewide recognition as mayor of Charlotte from 1995-2009. He lost a bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 2022.

No longer seeking election himself, McCrory in the last month has accepted a role as national co-chair of an organization called No Labels.

It’s not a political party and it won’t be endorsing candidates, but it has the potential to affect upcoming national elections, he explained, by offering voters a choice other than what’s on the traditional Democrat or Republican tickets.

McCrory was a guest on Tuesday’s TownTalk to discuss his association with No Labels and what it is working on at a national level.

No Labels, established in 2009, is oiling its political machine in advance of the upcoming 2024 Presidential elections.

McCrory cited recent polls that show voters are dissatisfied with the current frontrunners for President. And if Super Tuesday – the day many states hold primaries – produces a Trump-Biden race, then No Labels could jump into the race with its own candidates.

“No Labels is talking about running a bipartisan third-party option,” McCrory said. “A Republican and Democrat on the ticket.”

The main push now, he said, is getting on states’ ballots now. They have been added in five or six states, but the goal is 20 by December and, ultimately, all 50 states. “We hope to be in North Carolina in a short period of time,” he noted.

The group is expected to release a more detailed agenda in July with additional information about a variety of topics it will get behind.

He said No Labels seeks to provide a common-sense approach to address challenges that the mainline parties find little on which to compromise.

“I’m a conservative who believes the more competition, the better.” Divisions and failure to find compromise among political parties only create chaos, he said.

“I’m in favor of more choice,” McCrory said. And if No Labels does come up with a President/Vice President team as an alternative for voters, dissatisfied with the options from traditional parties, make no mistake: “It’ll be to win, not to be a spoiler.”

Read more at https://www.nolabels.org/ and listen to the complete interview with McCrory just below.

CLICK PLAY!

 

FSU Bronco Roundup Set For July 11 At Fox Pond Park

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Attention, Fayetteville State University alumni in the four-county area:

The annual Bronco Roundup & Sendoff is just a few weeks off and organizers hope alums will join in the fun!

The FSU Alumni Chapter representing Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties is hosting the free event on Saturday, July 22 beginning at 2 p.m. at Fox Pond Park Shelter #1.

Please RSVP by texting 252.213.5977 by July 10, so organizers can plan appropriately.

This event is open to any FSU alumni in the area, according to contact person Tannis Jenkins.