A full meeting of the Vance County Commissioners occurred today, Wednesday afternoon, for about two hours. It was a work session for commissioners to hash out differences, ask questions and obtain data from county staff. Everything done up to and including this latest meeting has constructed the framework for meaningful discussion to continue regarding fire services in Vance County.
It is unclear if enough commissioners are decided on how to proceed with the fire commission study information and the accompanying recommendations already brought before the full board at January’s regular board meeting a couple of weeks ago.
To be more specific, it is unclear if each commissioner has decided his or her position on making the Vance County Fire Department a volunteer department, in that it would be a combination paid/volunteer department if the original fire commission and public safety committee recommendation was followed to a T. It is also not entirely clear how commissioners would vote on placing two paid part-time fire fighters at each volunteer company five days per week for 11 or 12 hours per day, mostly being what you would call the daylight hours.
When asked by Commissioners Board Chairman Archie Taylor, Commissioners Leo Kelly and Tommy Hester indicated they were satisfied, that they knew how they would vote to proceed. Commissioners Dan Brummitt and Yolanda Feimster indicated a need for more information. Brummitt has been a driving force behind the previously stated fire commission data and public safety committee recommendation because he indicates the plans provide more equal protection for all in Vance County with funds being distributed more equally. Carolyn Faines, who serves as the Chair of the Fire Commission as well as on the Public Safety Committee with Gordon Wilder and Brummitt, did not really say one way or the other but spoke a couple of times about tweaking things so they are in the best interest of all Vance County citizens.
The stated goal of the day by Wilder, who chairs the public safety committee, was to find solutions.
The main take away from the meeting, it seems, is that a fire reorganization or county manager’s report by Jordan McMillan or similar open-ended wording would likely appear on the February 4, 2019 regular board meeting agenda, thus allowing the conversation to continue along with any motions and votes that may take place.
A range of opinions seems to exist from waiting until the 2019-2020 budget starts, to taking action to enact some portions of the recommendation as soon as possible, to a phasing-things-in approach so actual actions take place but do not go too far too fast.
Specific motions could come at the next meeting too, such as funding two paid part timers in each volunteer company, with equal funding assured to departments like Epsom and Drewry which also get funding from and serve portions of Franklin and Warren Counties respectively.
Chairman Taylor made his views known at the top of the meeting. He said he can support two part timers at each volunteer company. He said citizens are due the best fire department protection, and he could not support the Vance County Fire Department being volunteer. He said fire departments really need to be 24 hours per day.
A main point made by Brummitt was that fire protection and first responder calls is a team sport and that the fire commission findings and public safety committee recommendations to date equalize things so all in the county are served and that it takes all, the Vance County Fire Department and the volunteers and EMS and first responders, to get the job done.
A main point made by Commissioner Hester was that if the Vance County Fire Department was not left intact it would hurt the chances of being able to find employee fire fighters in Vance County, it would hurt economic development, and if the Vance County Fire Department was dismantled that we would never be able to put Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again. He urged not moving too quickly.
Commissioner Wilder seemed to lean, although he said after the meeting to WIZS News he wanted to work on it more, towards his motion made at the regular January meeting of leaving the Vance County Fire Department alone for now and funding the two paid firefighters in each department. The motion died in that regular meeting for lack of a second.
A fire tax increase of 1.6 to 2.2 cents could be on the horizon too, if the County funds the additional workers, if the County could then fill all the available spots, which is a problem in and of itself, and depends on what is decided ultimately in regards to the Vance County Fire Department and the equipment therein.
In all honesty, it is all terribly confusing and cries out for someone to make a chart or map to visualize it all. It is all really almost too much to hold in your head as a means of trying to set policy. There are many good arguments for a variety of existing and proposed measures as well as possible future plans to reexamine fire district lines.
It is worth noting a couple of other things too. It is perhaps clearer from the outside looking in that some clear options exist and some clear majorities exist on the board, and a majority vote is what is required.
Also, no one is putting down anyone who is a fire fighter, paid or volunteer, or first responder, EMS, Rescue Squad or anyone for the hard work done. In fact, just the opposite. Each of these hardworking individuals is really being praised.
Lastly, the Vance County Fire Commission of Carolyn Faines, Doyle Carpunky, Daren Small and Fire Marshall Keith Duncan has done its job and done it well, and so has the public safety committee of Wilder, Faines and Brummitt. Nothing has been done yet, and all are still discussing it and gathering information. That’s what they are suppose to do. The commission, the committee and the commissioners have laid a framework by which the County can proceed with its business.
Software Glitch Prompts Vance Co. Schools to Reassess Student Grades
/by Kelly BondurantSoftware used by multiple school systems across the state suffered a glitch in programming that resulted in miscalculated student grades recently, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Terri Hedrick, public information officer for Vance County Schools said the local school system was affected by the software glitch.
“We use the software for grade calculations for our high school semester grades in PowerSchool, which is the online application used by public school systems throughout the state to manage student information – from their personal information to test scores and classroom grades.”
“When we assessed our students’ grades, we found only a small number of students were affected. As we checked their first semester grades, we found that any student affected had a grade that was incorrectly increased by one point, in most cases. In all cases, no student grades were negatively affected or incorrectly calculated at a greatly inflated rate,” Hedrick explained.
According to Hedrick, the school system will continue to assess student data on a regular basis.
Granville Co. Social Services Accepting Applications for Energy Assistance
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, County of Granville
The Granville County Department of Social Services is currently accepting applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). Applications will be taken through March 31, 2019, or until funds are exhausted.
This program provides assistance to local residents for payment of their heating bills. To be eligible, applicants must meet income and resource requirements and be responsible for payment of their own energy bill.
All interested in completing an application should bring valid Identification and provide Social Security numbers for everyone in the household, as well as proof of income for the prior month. Applicants should also provide a copy of their heating bill – which includes account number – and a bank statement. If applying for someone else, a statement giving permission to apply on that person’s behalf will also be required.
The Granville County Department of Social Services is located at 410 W. Spring Street in Oxford. For more information, contact Social Services at (919) 693-1511. Visit granvillecounty.org for more details about the programs and services provided by the local Social Services Department.
Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover 01/24/19
/by CharleneNews 01/24/19
/by LarryTown Talk 01/24/19
/by LarryFramework Set For Vance County Fire Service Discussion
/by John C. RoseA full meeting of the Vance County Commissioners occurred today, Wednesday afternoon, for about two hours. It was a work session for commissioners to hash out differences, ask questions and obtain data from county staff. Everything done up to and including this latest meeting has constructed the framework for meaningful discussion to continue regarding fire services in Vance County.
It is unclear if enough commissioners are decided on how to proceed with the fire commission study information and the accompanying recommendations already brought before the full board at January’s regular board meeting a couple of weeks ago.
To be more specific, it is unclear if each commissioner has decided his or her position on making the Vance County Fire Department a volunteer department, in that it would be a combination paid/volunteer department if the original fire commission and public safety committee recommendation was followed to a T. It is also not entirely clear how commissioners would vote on placing two paid part-time fire fighters at each volunteer company five days per week for 11 or 12 hours per day, mostly being what you would call the daylight hours.
When asked by Commissioners Board Chairman Archie Taylor, Commissioners Leo Kelly and Tommy Hester indicated they were satisfied, that they knew how they would vote to proceed. Commissioners Dan Brummitt and Yolanda Feimster indicated a need for more information. Brummitt has been a driving force behind the previously stated fire commission data and public safety committee recommendation because he indicates the plans provide more equal protection for all in Vance County with funds being distributed more equally. Carolyn Faines, who serves as the Chair of the Fire Commission as well as on the Public Safety Committee with Gordon Wilder and Brummitt, did not really say one way or the other but spoke a couple of times about tweaking things so they are in the best interest of all Vance County citizens.
The stated goal of the day by Wilder, who chairs the public safety committee, was to find solutions.
The main take away from the meeting, it seems, is that a fire reorganization or county manager’s report by Jordan McMillan or similar open-ended wording would likely appear on the February 4, 2019 regular board meeting agenda, thus allowing the conversation to continue along with any motions and votes that may take place.
A range of opinions seems to exist from waiting until the 2019-2020 budget starts, to taking action to enact some portions of the recommendation as soon as possible, to a phasing-things-in approach so actual actions take place but do not go too far too fast.
Specific motions could come at the next meeting too, such as funding two paid part timers in each volunteer company, with equal funding assured to departments like Epsom and Drewry which also get funding from and serve portions of Franklin and Warren Counties respectively.
Chairman Taylor made his views known at the top of the meeting. He said he can support two part timers at each volunteer company. He said citizens are due the best fire department protection, and he could not support the Vance County Fire Department being volunteer. He said fire departments really need to be 24 hours per day.
A main point made by Brummitt was that fire protection and first responder calls is a team sport and that the fire commission findings and public safety committee recommendations to date equalize things so all in the county are served and that it takes all, the Vance County Fire Department and the volunteers and EMS and first responders, to get the job done.
A main point made by Commissioner Hester was that if the Vance County Fire Department was not left intact it would hurt the chances of being able to find employee fire fighters in Vance County, it would hurt economic development, and if the Vance County Fire Department was dismantled that we would never be able to put Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again. He urged not moving too quickly.
Commissioner Wilder seemed to lean, although he said after the meeting to WIZS News he wanted to work on it more, towards his motion made at the regular January meeting of leaving the Vance County Fire Department alone for now and funding the two paid firefighters in each department. The motion died in that regular meeting for lack of a second.
A fire tax increase of 1.6 to 2.2 cents could be on the horizon too, if the County funds the additional workers, if the County could then fill all the available spots, which is a problem in and of itself, and depends on what is decided ultimately in regards to the Vance County Fire Department and the equipment therein.
In all honesty, it is all terribly confusing and cries out for someone to make a chart or map to visualize it all. It is all really almost too much to hold in your head as a means of trying to set policy. There are many good arguments for a variety of existing and proposed measures as well as possible future plans to reexamine fire district lines.
It is worth noting a couple of other things too. It is perhaps clearer from the outside looking in that some clear options exist and some clear majorities exist on the board, and a majority vote is what is required.
Also, no one is putting down anyone who is a fire fighter, paid or volunteer, or first responder, EMS, Rescue Squad or anyone for the hard work done. In fact, just the opposite. Each of these hardworking individuals is really being praised.
Lastly, the Vance County Fire Commission of Carolyn Faines, Doyle Carpunky, Daren Small and Fire Marshall Keith Duncan has done its job and done it well, and so has the public safety committee of Wilder, Faines and Brummitt. Nothing has been done yet, and all are still discussing it and gathering information. That’s what they are suppose to do. The commission, the committee and the commissioners have laid a framework by which the County can proceed with its business.
Corbitt Featured on WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler; A Repeat With an Update
/by Kelly BondurantFor the second time in as many weeks, Henderson residents were pleasantly surprised to see their hometown represented on WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler series hosted by reporter Scott Mason.
This time, the focus was on the Corbitt Company, originally a horse buggy, and later an automobile and truck manufacturer, started by Richard J. Corbitt in Henderson in 1899. Corbitt’s were made in Vance County until the business closed around 1954.
While the clip originally aired on February 5, 2008, with commentary from Mason and Corbitt Historian Charles Powell, the recent showing included an update on the Corbitt Museum located at 180 Church St. in Henderson. The museum opened in 2015 and is available for tours by appointment only.
A followup to the original Corbitt story aired on February 24, 2010, and focused on the supposed haunting of the old Corbitt warehouse. That clip can be viewed by clicking here.
In an email to WIZS News, Mason said he always enjoys covering stories in Vance County, including the recent feature on the historic fire station in downtown Henderson.
To view the most recent Tar Heel Traveler episode featuring the Corbitt Company, please click here.
Granville Co. Librarians Announce Exciting New Year’s Initiative, Upcoming Events
/by Kelly BondurantGranville County Library System staff Ashley Wilson, Adult Services Librarian, and Amy Kemp, Children’s Librarian, were the guests of honor on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program.
With four branches, including the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, the South Branch in Creedmoor, the Berea Branch and the Stovall Branch, the library system offers a variety of programming and initiatives for the communities it serves.
The newest initiative, referred to as “New Director, New Year,” forgives library fines accrued prior to January 1, 2019, and fees prior to January 1, 2018. Amnesty has also been granted on all lost and missing books.
“We’ve received excellent feedback and we are getting our materials back,” said Wilson. “We feel there are people who felt driven away from the library because of an unpaid fee or a lost book. We want to invite everyone back to the library system.”
No refunds will be given for fines or fees previously paid.
Ashley Wilson (left), Adult Services Librarian, and Amy Kemp (right), Children’s Librarian for the Granville County Library System, discuss upcoming and ongoing library events on WIZS’ Town Talk program. (Photo Credit: WIZS)
The library system has also recently launched a new webpage that provides detailed information regarding upcoming programs and events as well as operating hours and locations for all four branches.
When asked about the part a physical library plays in the new digital age, Kemp responded, “There used to be more public community places; a lot of that has died away. We hold on to the library as one of the last true community spaces.”
Wilson said a love of reading often brings people in, but she has an answer for those who are hesitant. “For anyone who says they don’t like to read, I always say it’s because they haven’t found the right book yet.”
In addition to a large selection of written material, the Granville County library branches offer meeting rooms for community groups, computers and computer training, children’s services for education and entertainment and much more.
“I often hear people say that libraries are going out of style, but I don’t think that’s the case,” said Kemp.
“I think it’s a false, dirty rumor,” laughed Wilson. “It’s absolutely not true! Our circulation and door count have been up at all four branches.”
To keep the branches open and thriving, Kemp said it is important that others help spread the word on library offerings and upcoming events.
Wilson added that volunteers play a large role and that the library could always use “another people person.”
Supporting the library by becoming a member of the Friends of the Library program is also encouraged. Membership dollars from this program, along with money raised at various books sales throughout the year, help fund library programming.
Children’s Programming:
Upcoming Events for Adults:
To find out more on upcoming events, complete a volunteer application or join Friends of the Library, please visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/.
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
Vance Co. Early College High School Now Accepting Applications for 2019-2020
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Vance County Schools
Vance County Early College High School is now accepting applications from students for the 2019-2020 school year.
The deadline for receiving the applications is Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 3 p.m.
Applications are available on the Early College and Vance County Schools websites or they can be picked up from the school, located on the third floor of Building 2 on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson.
Granville Co. Board Calls Special Meeting on Broadband RFPs
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Granville County Board of Commissioners
NOTICE of SPECIAL MEETING
All interested persons please take notice that the Granville County Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center located at 4185 Highway 15 South, Oxford.
The purpose of the special meeting is to review Broadband RFPs (Requests for Proposals).