News 10/01/18

First Nationwide Presidential-Level Emergency Test to be Conducted Wed., Oct. 3

-Information courtesy Lynn Allred, Public Information Officer/Grants Coordinator, County of Granville

IPAWS National Test

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system on October 3, 2018.

• The test will assess the readiness to distribute an emergency message nationwide and determine whether improvements are needed.

• The test messages will be sent using FEMA’s IPAWS, which enables authorities to send emergency messages to multiple communications networks, including the EAS and WEA as part of the nation’s modern alert and warning infrastructure.

• Sending the WEA test message will begin at 2:18 p.m. EDT. The EAS message will be sent at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

• This will be the first nationwide Presidential-level WEA test and cannot be opted out.

• Originally planned for September 20, 2018, the test has been postponed until October 3, 2018. A back-up date is always planned in case of severe weather or other significant events.

Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) Test

Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 2:18 p.m. EDT. During this time, WEA-compatible cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless carrier participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the message only once.

The WEA test message will be a Presidential Alert and will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

WEA messages are sent by public safety officials to warn the public about dangerous situations in other critical emergencies. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (e.g. tornado warnings and AMBER Alerts).

The EAS test message is distributed to radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.

The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar and interrupts programming for approximately one minute.

The EAS message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar Wireless Emergency Alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”

For additional information, please visit the FEMA website by clicking here.

‘Paws, Tails & Boots’ Veterans Dog Walk to Return to Vance Co. Animal Shelter

-Information and flyer courtesy Mark Ferri

The fall Veterans Dog Walk “Paws, Tails and Boots” will be held at the Vance County Animal Shelter, 1243 Brodie Rd., Henderson, on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The public is welcome, with veterans and first responders strongly encouraged to attend. Participants will be walking and interacting with selected shelter dogs in an effort to provide companionship and trust-building activities.

The event was founded by veteran and Vance County Animal Shelter volunteer Mark Ferri. Ferri began the program in 2016 as a way to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by veterans.

For more information on the Vance County Animal Shelter and their services, please visit their website at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/animal%20control/.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

 

Oxford’s Masonic Home to Hold 8th Annual Homecoming Festival

-Information and flyer courtesy the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford website

Please plan to join The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford for the 8th Annual Masonic Homecoming Festival October 12 – 14, 2018. This celebration of North Carolina’s first Home for children honors those who have lived here and those who have made it possible – our Masons.

The weekend kicks off Friday, October 12 with the Oxford Orphanage/Masonic Home for Children Alumni Association’s annual golf tournament, Chipshots for Children. Spend Friday evening at MHCO’s Yard Party featuring music from The Moonlighters Orchestra.

Join us again on Saturday, October 13 to enjoy the state’s best Shrine parade, dance to the music of Bryan Mayer, and enjoy delicious BBQ and chicken on campus, courtesy of our cooking teams or participate as your own BBQ team.

While at our Home, celebrate our Masonic history of charity and visit the Sallie Mae Ligon Museum and Archives, take a tour of the children’s cottages, and see the School of Graphic Arts.  Make this a weekend trip, enjoy all the activities and support our Masonic Home for Children at Oxford.  Hope to see you there!

Visit www.mhc-oxford.org for more information and updates.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Rebuilding Hope Volunteers Help Hurricane Florence Victims

-Information courtesy the Rebuilding Hope, Inc. October 2018 newsletter

Teams of Rebuilding Hope (RHI) volunteers assisted with cleanup in Elm City on September 20 following a tornado spawned by Hurricane Florence and in Warsaw on September 22 with cleanup from the hurricane.

In another disaster relief effort, RHI called for donations of cleaning supplies, paper products, nonperishable foods and other essentials for hurricane victims. On September 22, the supplies were delivered to the Core City FWB Church in Craven County, a collection site for Craven and Jones County victims.

“The response,” says RHI coordinator Randolph Wilson, “enabled us to nearly fill one of our trucks. We met people in dire need of help, and they’re going to need help for a long time to come.”

Volunteers Leo Suitte and Steve Lyles equip a trailer with chainsaws, generator and other items needed to help Hurricane Florence victims. (Photo Credit: Rebuilding Hope, Inc.)

To further assist victims, RHI is working on plans to assist repairing homes. A partnership would be with either North Carolina Baptist Men or a local church in eastern North Carolina.

RHI began preparing to offer assistance to hurricane victims as the path of the hurricane was announced.

Within days, two tool trailers were outfitted with chainsaws, generators, ladders, ropes and chains, safety equipment and a variety of tools. A tractor and skid steer loader were serviced and readied for use.

As the path of the storm veered away from local communities, volunteers looked toward helping storm-ravaged communities in other parts of the state and waited for a call.

Gearing up for this kind of mission is a first for Rebuilding Hope.

“We have the equipment, and volunteers are eager to help,” RHI coordinator Randolph Wilson says.

“We can’t do much where the hurricane hit until the water recedes,” he says. “Then we’ll connect with others at operation centers.”

RHI’s mission is always Christ-centered.

“When we serve, we want victims to know that we come in the name of and with the love of Jesus,” Randolph says.

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Board’s Oct. Meeting to Address Vacant School Buildings, Camper Use

-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, October 1, 2018, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Pastor Ronald Cava, First Baptist Church.

Agenda items include:

Appointments –

a. Brian Short, Emergency Operations Director – CAD System Overview

b. Jonathan Jones, USDA Letter of Conditions – Water Project

Water District Board –

a. Monthly Operations Report

Committee Reports and Recommendations –

a. Properties Committee

– Vacant School Buildings Reuse Planning

– Jail Intercom/Video/Door Lock Control System Modernization

b. Planning/Environmental Committee

– Recreational Vehicle/Camper Use Regulations

County Attorney’s Report –

a. REO Properties – Bid Acceptance Resolutions

– H.G. Taylor Land

– Parcel 0325 02002

County Manager’s Report –

a. Mobile CAD Hardware Installation

b. Resolution – NC Rural Ready Sites Grant

c. Capital Project Ordinance – Economic Development Land

d. Selection of Engineering Firm – Economic Development Land

County Attorney’s Report –

a. REO Property – Bid Acceptance Resolution

– H.G. Taylor Land – Parcel 0325 02002

– Elm Street Lot – Parcel 0087 03011

Consent Agenda Items –

a. Budget Amendments and Transfers

b. Tax Refunds and Releases

c. Ambulance Charge-Offs

d. Monthly Reports

e. Minutes

Miscellaneous – 

a. Appointments

The agenda for the October meeting may be viewed in its entirety on the Vance County website.

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. Board of Commissioners Release Agenda for Oct. 1 Meeting

-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, October 1, 2018, at 7 p.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.

Agenda items include:

Consent Agenda

  1. Minutes
  2. Contingency Summary
  3. Granville County Conservation Easement for Smith Creek

Recognitions and Presentations

4. Recognition of Service – Yvonne A. McQuaig

5. Recognition of Service – Julie Anne Brockman

Public Comments

6. Public Comments

Grant Matters

7. ROAP Transportation Funding

Purchasing

8. Inspections Vehicle

9. Consider approving the Construction Manager at Risk GMP for the Law Enforcement/Detention Center & Animal Shelter            Project

Appointments

10. Granville County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority

County Manager’s Report

11. Consider adoption of the Resolution Providing Final Approval of Terms and Documents for 2018 County Installment                     Financing

12. Guardian ad Litem Furniture Request

County Attorney’s Report

13. Granville Central High School Lease Modification

Presentations by County Board Members

14. Presentations by County Board Members

Any Other Matters

15. Any Other Matters

Closed Session

16. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) – Attorney-Client Matter

City of Oxford Commissioners to Hold Agenda Meeting Oct. 1

-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold an agenda meeting on Monday, October 1, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, City Hall.

Among the agenda items:

  • Gift certificate drawings for the 2018 Yard of the Month
  • Set the agenda for the Tuesday, October 9, 2018, Regular Session

The Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, City Hall for their regular October meeting.

Town Talk 09/28/18

News 09/28/18