Local SECU Branches Collecting School Supplies Through August

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Teachers and students are gearing up for the start of a new school year, and that surely means school supply lists. Sometimes, those lists are long.

So if you’ve got children still in school and will be doing your back-to-school shopping soon, consider adding a couple of extras to your cart for donation to a drive sponsored by area State Employees’ Credit Unions.

Collection boxes are located at SECU branches in Henderson, Louisburg, Warrenton, Oxford and Butner, just waiting to receive your donation, according to Anna Lemert, a vice president at the Henderson SECU.

All items collected will be given to the school district where the branch is located, Lemert said.

Don’t have a child in school? No problem! Your donations will be gratefully accepted and appreciated.

Calling All State Fair Competitors: Enter By Sept. 15 Deadline!

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Think you’ve got a blue-ribbon zucchini bread recipe? Want to see how that batch of blackberry jam or fig preserves stands up to state competition? Or do you have an exquisite quilt or other handcrafted item that you’d like to show off a bit?

Then consider entering the 2022 N.C. State Fair competitions, which are open now through Sept. 15.

The Fair will be held Oct. 13-23 in Raleigh. This year’s theme is “So Happy Together,” surely a nod to reclaiming participation in events that had been hindered by COVID-19 restrictions for the past two years.

In addition to the traditional competitions like artwork, honey, livestock, cooking, canned food, flowers and decorating skills, new competitions include ink pen decorated seashells and artwork-inspired floral arrangements, according to information from fair organizers.

“It is exciting to announce new competitions to go along with categories that are always so popular, like decorated cakes and quilts,” said John Buettner, competitive exhibits coordinator. “We have competitions to appeal to a wide variety of individuals from seashell painting, painted rocks, terrarium building, shoe decorating and even coloring sheets. I encourage everyone, and all ages, to check out the competitions because just like the N.C. State Fair itself, there is something for everyone.”

In 2021, more than 36,000 items were entered in competitions at the fair.

Most entry deadlines are Sept. 15. Exhibitors must have registered prior to the entry deadline. Entry forms can be mailed in or exhibitors can enter online using ShoWorks, an online application system that is widely used at fairs across the country.

“Exhibitors can enter at the website or by downloading the ShoWorks app. This will help streamline the process, report results quicker and be a way that exhibitors can manage multiple exhibits at a fair or even several fairs,” Buettner said. “Since this is new, we have provided instructions for entering each competition on our website as well.”

Find more information at ncstatefair.org and click on competitions.

Warren County Farm Tour Oct. 12

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Several agencies are partnering to host a farm-based business tour on Wednesday, Oct. 12 in Warren County. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature three stops that showcase agritourism and agribusiness in the area.

Warren County Cooperative Extension, Warren County Community & Economic Development, Vance-Granville Community College and the VGCC Small Business Center are joining forces for the event, which will begin at 8 a.m. at the Warren County Cooperative Extension Office located at Rafters Lane in Warrenton.

During the tour, which will conclude about 12 noon, participants will visit Matthews Creek Farm, Fowl Play Poultry Farm and Rockin’ E Ranch.

Transportation will be provided and personal vehicles will not be permitted on the tour, according to information from the Warren County Cooperative Extension office. Registration will be capped at 34 participants, so register now to ensure you have a space!

Learn more about the event and register here: http://go.ncsu.edu/wcfarmtour.

For more information, call Cooperative Extension at 252.257.3640 or Warren County Community & Economic Development at 252.257.3115.

Matthews Creek Farm is located on 20 acres near Norlina and its owners offer farm stay experiences, with lodging available or campsite hookups.

Fowl Play Poultry Farm is a free-range chicken ranch in Warren County that focuses on producing a quality product with local feed and tried-and-true techniques.

Rockin’ E Ranch is a horse training and boarding facility in Warren Plains.

Warren County Board Opens FY 23 Non-Profit Grant Funding Cycle

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Warren County is now accepting applications for its FY 23 non-profit grand funding cycle. The FY 23 budget allocates $50,000 for this program. The grant program is accepting applications until Aug. 31. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply.

Warren County adopted its current funding for local non-profit agencies policy in 2014. Funded services through this program must be equally available to all residents.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at 252.257.3115 or visit the website at warrencountync.com.

Warren Co. Memorial Library

Symphony Trombonist Coming To Warren Co. Library For Musical Program Aug. 10

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Normally, a library is a quiet place where book lovers can sit and read and students can do research and get their homework done. But thanks to a partnership with Warren County Schools and the North Carolina Symphony, Warren County Memorial Library is pulling out all the stops for a morning of music and fun on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Families are invited to stop by the library at 10 a.m. as Matthew Neff with the N.C. Symphony reads a book about music, talks about the sounds that instruments make, especially his instrument, the bass trombone.

The fun-filled event is part of the symphony’s Music Discovery program, funded by PNC Grow Up Great and the Warren County Community Foundation. It is geared for preschool and elementary-age children and their families.

Neff joined the symphony in January 2020 as a bass trombonist. Prior to joining the symphony, he was a member of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C., where he performed bass trombone in the Commodores jazz ensemble, brass quintet and ceremonial band. During his years in Washing on, he had an extensive freelance career and performed with symphonies across the Mid-Atlantic States. An advocate for music education, Neff has conducted master classes and clinics throughout the country and served as Adjunct Professor of Trombone at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, all while maintaining an active private low brass studio in his home. Neff is enjoying his new home in Raleigh with his wife, Tricia, and two of their four daughters.
For More Information about the Library or to Access eResources: Go to www.wcmlibrary.org for event details and additional services offered. All library programs are free to access. Call the library for more information at 252.257.4990. The library is located at 119 S. Front St., Warrenton, NC 27589.

Terry Garrison

TownTalk: Garrison Seeks 4th Term, Discusses Water, Sewer Projects In District 32

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Several towns in the area have recently received state and federal funding to make improvements to water and wastewater services, and N.C. Rep. Terry Garrison said it was important to him to make sure projects in his district were on the state’s “radar” to get that much-needed money.

Garrison is seeking his fourth term as a legislator representing District 32, which includes Vance, Warren and most of Granville counties. He faces challenger Frank Sossamon in the November midterm elections.

Although the General Assembly is in recess right now, Garrison told John C. Rose Tuesday that it’s less of a vacation and more of a quasi-adjournment. Legislators regularly are called back into session, not necessarily to take votes, but to hear information and discuss issues. In fact, they were called back last week. “We can pretty much expect to go back each month through December to address matters,” Garrison said.

When legislators are called back into session, you need to be ready, he said. “You never know what may occur in your absence.”

Garrison, along with colleagues, was able to secure millions of dollars in funding to help several municipalities in the district with water and water treatment projects. The city of Henderson has gotten more than $10 million from a couple of different funding streams, the legislator explained.

One $5 million allotment is for the Kerr Lake Regional Water System and a second $5.4 million comes from the American Rescue Plan and was awarded through the state’s Department of Environmental Quality.

The ARP appropriation was dedicated to address drinking water and wastewater projects, he said. “Our situation was severe enough to qualify us to receive the money,” Garrison noted.

“I yelled as loud as I could to make sure persons were aware of our critical needs,” he continued.

During the most recent long session, as it’s called, legislators made history, Garrison said. “The last session was the longest in the history” of the General Assembly. It convened in January 2021 and didn’t adjourn until March 2022. “It was extensive and it was intense,” Garrison recalled.

Then the “short session” began in May. Although the bulk of the work of the state House and Senate has been done, there are matters that are lingering, he said. “We’ll just have to see how it goes – we’re on standby.”

He said he’s hopeful about the possibility of Medicaid expansion, which had been a sticking point in getting the most recent state budget passed. “It does appear that we’re back on track to get something on Medicaid expansion,” he said, adding that the fate of the issue most likely will be determined by the November elections.

Garrison said he voted for the budget, despite its shortcomings. “We absolutely needed to have a budget,” he said.

Before heading off to Raleigh to represent House District 32, Garrison had been dean of workforce development at Vance-Granville Community College. His realty firm, Tegarris Associates has been in business for more than 40 years. Much of that time, Garrison served as a Vance County commissioner.

“I stand for democratic principles and values, and I stand for you,” he said. In addition to being a proponent of Medicaid expansion, Garrison said education, jobs that pay a liveable wage, the expansion of rural broadband internet access are other top-of-mind issues for him.

Adequate and appropriate funding for schools, teachers and for community colleges are vital to the state’s education system. And although he acknowledges that charter schools and private schools both have a place in the education system, he does not favor using public funds to pay for families to send their children to private schools.

He is an advocate for affordable housing, as well as services for veterans the elderly. In addition, he supports community development – and redevelopment efforts.

“I will always play the game fair,” he said.

Subscribe to Garrison’s monthly newsletter to stay on top of legislative updates. Email terry.garrison@ncleg.gov to learn more. And he said constituents are always welcome to phone his office at 919.733.5824.

 

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NC State Board of Elections

State Court Of Appeals: Felons May Register To Vote In NC – For Now

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-Information courtesy of the N.C. State Board of Elections

Starting today – July 27, 2022 – an individual serving a felony sentence who is not in jail or prison may register to vote and vote. An individual must also have resided in North Carolina for at least 30 days prior to the election, be a U.S. citizen, and be at least 18 years old by the next general election.

Previously, under a North Carolina statute, a person serving a felony sentence could not register to vote or vote, whether they were in or out of prison, until they completed that sentence. This meant that felons serving probation, post-release supervision, or parole were not able to register or vote, until they completed their term of supervision.

Earlier this year, however, a North Carolina superior court determined that denying voting rights to people serving their felony sentences outside of jail or prison violates the state constitution. This decision has been appealed; however, while it is on appeal, the North Carolina Court of Appeals has ordered that the decision should go into effect as of July 27, 2022.

This means that, for the time being, any person serving a felony sentence outside of prison or jail is eligible to register to vote and vote. Those in jail or prison for a felony conviction are not allowed to register or vote. If a person is in jail awaiting trial for a felony but has not yet been convicted, they retain their voting rights. In North Carolina, a person never loses their voting rights for a misdemeanor conviction.

As of July 27, the State Board will update its website and voter registration forms and other voting-related documents to reflect this new information on felon eligibility. The agency will update this information upon any further order of the courts.

Take Kerr-Tar COG Survey By Aug. 19 To Weigh In On Economic Development

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is asking for help from all those who live or work in the region – Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin, Person – as it gathers information to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

The CEDS team has created an online survey that is open now through Aug. 19 which seeks input about the region’s strengths, challenges and opportunities. Data from the survey will be used to inform policymakers across the regions about what is going well, what needs improvement and ways to guide focus areas over the next five years.

Anyone who lives, works or has an interest in the Kerr-Tar region is encouraged to take part in the online survey.

In addition to the survey, the Kerr-Tar COG has scheduled in-person meetings to gather comments and opinions. The Vance, Franklin and Warren meetings were held earlier this week, and the Granville and Person meetings will be held on Tuesday, July 26, according to iformation on the Kerr-Tar COG webpage. The Granville meeting will be held at the Granville County Convention & Expo Center, 4185 U.S. Hwy. 15 in Oxford between 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon; the Person County meeting will be held in the Person County office building auditorium, 304 S. Morgan St., Roxboro between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Visit https://www.kerrtarcog.org/ to access a link to the survey, or simply click the link here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/survey-taken/?sm=fOW9Nqb_2BYpcyo73LmBCJHylTUVcNu_2BdTkwHeMJJTE7uFIIVtxeK2Pr3Zt_2BS2TjVcmEgkHM4BUUAyp0bavgB9TMZlZl_2BfCFp0WhBOvhzEAn8_3D

Keep Pets’ Safety In Mind – Never Leave Them In Vehicles

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  -information courtesy of American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region

The excessive heat that has been reported all across the country is not to be taken lightly, and the American Red Cross urges everyone to take precautions to avoid dangerous – and sometimes deadly – situations.

Pet owners are especially encouraged to keep their pets’ best interests at heart by never leaving them in vehicles, even for just a few minutes while running errands.

“It’s critical that you don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region. “The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees in minutes, even with the windows cracked open.”

The advice for humans is to stay inside and out of the heat, if possible, and to stay hydrated to prevent medical emergencies like heat stroke. The same is true for pets – keep them inside, out of the heat, and make sure they have access to cool, fresh water all day long, according to advice from the Red Cross.

And just like humans, animal also can suffer heat stroke. Animals can suffer heat stroke in warmer weather. Dogs especially vulnerable are those breeds with short noses or snouts – think boxers and bulldogs – as well as overweight animals, or those with an extremely thick coat or who have been diagnosed with other upper respiratory problems.

Some of the signs of heat stroke to watch for:

  • Heavy panting and inability to calm down, even when lying down
  • Brick-red gum color
  • Fast pulse rate
  • Unable to get up

If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.

RESOURCES Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies, toxic substances, a pet profile for storing tag ID, photo and medical information, early warning signs for when to contact a veterinarian and an animal hospital locator. You can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETPET to 90999 for a link to download the app or going to redcross.org/apps.

You can also take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course so that you’ll know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. Access the course on your desktop or tablet and go through the content at your own pace.

The interactive course includes:

  • How to determine a pet’s normal vital signs so owners can notice if there are any irregularities
  • Step-by-step instructions and visual aids for what to do if a pet is choking, needs CPR, has a wound, or is having a seizure; and information on preventative care, health and tips for a pet’s well-being.

Find more information about pets and their safety during warm weather here.

The Local Skinny! Around Old Granville: Place Names In Warren And Franklin Counties

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In a continuing discussion of local communities with odd names or curious origins, Bill Harris and Mark Pace Thursday again shone the spotlight on Franklin and Warren counties in the Around Old Granville segment of The Local Skinny!

Harris had been studying a 1911 map that Rand McNally had published and tested Pace’s knowledge about communities, some of which would no longer make the cut to be included in current maps of the area.

There’s Union Hill, for one, which was in the vicinity of Rocky Ford down in Franklin County. It had a post office from around 1834-38, Pace said.

Then there’s Brookston, named for the Brooks family, which originally was in Warren County but got redrawn at some point into what is now Vance County.

Jack, in Warren County near Littleton, was named for Jack Johnson, postmaster for the short-lived post office there. It’s just one of numerous areas that sported the first names of prominent or affluent people of the day, Pace said.

He mentioned others, including Margaret, Catesville and Drewry.

Have you ever heard of Lumdsen, an area between the Tar River bridge and Kittrell in Vance County? Pace said his research has turned up no family with that surname in Census records, but he said the name could have come from someone who worked for the railroad that came through the area.

In cases where there were no stations for the trains to stop, “people would literally tie a white handkerchief to a tree” to indicate that the conductor needed to stop and pick up passengers. The area known as Lumsden could have been named to honor a rail official, he added.

Shocco Springs in Warren County had a post office from the early 1830’s to 1866. This area became known as Lickskillet, an amusing name for an area that, before the Civil War, counted among its residents some of the most prominent and affluent families around.

Communities sometimes got named by wealthy landowners that lived nearby, like Odell in Warren County – named by the Alston family as an homage to the family castle in England.

But oftentimes, it was a post office in a particular area that helped communities get their names.

One spot in Warren County was Mountain View, Pace said. Situated between Macon and Vaughan, the Riggan family provided a half dozen or so of Mountain View’s postmasters between 1879 and 1929.

At one time, there were 32 post offices sprinkled throughout Warren County. This would have been before the introduction of rural free delivery, when people had to go to a central spot to pick up their mail. Often, that local spot was inside a country store, he added.

Franklinton has one the oldest, continually used post offices in the area, Pace noted.

 

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