Horseowners: Annual Coggins Test Key To Reduce Threat Of Disease

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-information courtesy of N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences

A total of 17 horses in nine counties across the state have had to be euthanized in the past few months to help prevent spread of equine infectious anemia. Wake County is the closest county to Vance and Granville where an infected horse has been located, according to information from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences.

In addition to Wake County, infected horses have been found in Duplin, Forsyth, Henderson, Mecklenburg, Randolph, Sampson, Surry and Yadkin counties. The majority of the EIA positive cases have been associated with unsanctioned horseracing, the press statement noted.

“All facilities where infectious horses were discovered are placed under quarantine, which restricts movement of equine,” said Dr. Catherine Harris, director of Livestock Health Programs. “The remaining equines will be observed and re-tested in 60 days. We are also monitoring neighboring facilities for the disease.”

The test for EIA is commonly called a Coggins test. There is no approved vaccine for EIA in the United States.

A Coggins clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 in Granville County. Contact the Granville Cooperative Extension office at 919.603.1350 to make an appointment for the clinic, which will be held at the Southern States in Oxford from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

EIA is an incurable disease commonly spread by biting flies or shared medical equipment between equines, such as horses, mules and donkeys. Clinical signs of EIA include fever, weakness, weight loss, anemia, edema and death. However, many infected equines may not show symptoms. All infected equine, including those that are asymptomatic, are carriers of the disease. The disease does not affect people.

There are typically a small number of cases of EIA in the United States every year, although the disease is common in other parts of the world. EIA is controlled in the United States by regular testing before traveling across state lines and/or exhibition.

To help prevent infection, follow these guidelines:

  • Use sterile, disposable needles and syringes, one per horse, for all vaccines and medications.
  • Test all horses for EIA every year, and at the time they enter a new premises.
  • Keep stables and other facilities sanitary. Regularly clean stalls and properly dispose of manure away from horse stabling areas.
  • Implement approved insect controls, such as insecticides and good drainage of standing water, to minimize fly presence.
  • Only participate in events that require evidence of negative Coggins test.
  • Isolate new horses on a property until they are tested for EIA.
  • Never mix infected and healthy animals. Do not breed horses infected with EIA.

Equine owners who have concerns about their animal’s health should contact their local veterinarian.  “Contact your local veterinary practitioner for more information and to obtain a current Coggins,” said Harris. “In addition, there are several clinics and practitioners offering Coggins and vaccination clinics. These are great opportunities for horse owners to get an updated Coggins test in addition to vaccines for other diseases.” For more information about EIA or other reportable animal diseases please call the Veterinary Division at 919.707.3250 or visit NCDA&CS – Veterinary Division (ncagr.gov).

Mills Appointed To State Economic Development Advisory Council

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Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills has been appointed to the North Carolina Economic Development Advisory Council, a statewide group that provides advisory direction and support to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Mills was selected to represent the “North Central Prosperity Zone” along with Michael Haley, executive director of the Wake County Economic Development office.

Mills was appointed to serve on this council by the current members of the EDPNC board, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. He joins the 16-member council which represents eight “prosperity zones” across North Carolina. These zones are determined by the North Carolina Department of Commerce and subdivide the state geographically to provide localized support for economic development projects.

In addition to Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties, the North Central prosperity zone encompasses Person, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Wake, Nash, Edgecombe, Chatham, Wilson, Lee, Harnett and Johnston counties.

“I’m excited to serve on the EDPNC Advisory Council,”Mills said in a press statement. “This is a fantastic group of professionals that work to improve the economic prospects of their communities and North Carolina as a whole. So many of the projects that come to Granville County and other parts of North Carolina would not be possible without the staff and advisory board members that work on behalf of the EDPNC. I’m excited to represent Granville County and I look forward to working with this group of my peers to attract new businesses to North Carolina.”

For more information about the EDPNC, visit https://edpnc.com/.

Warren Youth Baseball, Softball Registration Open Through Feb. 28

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Registration for Warren County Parks and Recreation youth baseball and softball leagues is open the month of February. The cost is $10 per person and is for young people between the ages of 4 and 17. High school students interested in registering may register up to 18 years.

Registration can be completed online at www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation.

or by stopping by the Parks and Recreation office in Warrenton, 113 Wilcox St.

For more information or register, please visit the website or call the office at 252.257.2272.

Parks and Recreation is also seeking volunteer coaches for youth basketball season. Submit volunteer application and background check online at www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation.

 

 

 

Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Clean and sanitize your seedling trays
  • Buy fertilizer for the mid February application to tall fescue
  • Clean and sharpen pruning equipment. Purchase new equipment if needed.
  • Begin scouting pastures for buttercups. Treatments need to be applied in late Feb.
  • Check spraying equipment. Have one designated sprayer for Roundup.
  • Begin pruning grapevines.
  • Use landscape cloth for weed control in raised beds.
  • Learn more about Spotted Lanternfly so you can keep an eye out for it this spring.
  • Add compost to your raised beds.

CLICK PLAY!

 

TownTalk: Helping Care Givers Of Those With Dementia

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Professional caregivers and family members who care for loved ones with dementia can attend a workshop later this month at Vance-Granville Community College to learn about ways they can manage their roles.

Michael Patterson is a family caregiver specialist with the Kerr-Tar COG, the agency sponsoring the event on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The daylong workshop is $15 for individuals who are caring in some capacity for a family member with dementia and $40 for professional caregivers.

Patterson spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s TownTalk and he discussed details of the regional workshop, as well as a couple of other programs that may be of interest to caregivers.

Sharing information about available community resources takes up a good bit of Patterson’s time, but that’s his job, he said.

“I like to be an asset to our caregivers in the region. Sometimes, they just need someone they can call and ask questions to,” he said.

The respite voucher is one program that caregivers can access, he said.

This program provides up to $750 that caregivers can use to pay for in-home aid assistance, so they can have a break to run errands or complete other tasks and be assured that the loved one will be cared for in his or her absence.

This program isn’t tied to family income or the person’s financial situation, Patterson said. Rather, it has more to do with the age, diagnosis and the ability of the patient to complete certain daily living tasks, which Patterson calls activities of daily living, or ADL.

Another program involves a community partnership with Harold Sherman Adult Day Care. There are scholarships available to allow patients to spend the day at the center.

“It’s been a great partnership,” Patterson said, adding that he has worked closely with its director to get the partnership established. “It’s a fairly new program and we’re excited about expanding our reach and opportunity.”

The day program enhances patients’ mental capacity and keeps them active and engaged throughout the day, Patterson said.

Dementia expert Teepa Snow will be the featured speaker at the Feb. 21 workshop, and Patterson said she will help participants fine tune communication skills with those individuals suffering from dementia.

It can often be very stressful dealing with family members and loved ones who may ask repetitive questions or exhibit personality changes as a result of their health condition. Knowing how to effectively engage with them may be helpful, he said.

Patterson said the workshop also will help caregivers learn “how to physically approach (dementia sufferers) and how to care and have compassion for those with dementia.”

Workshop participants also will learn differences between early onset dementia, as compared to mid-stage and late-stage dementia.

Learn more at www.Kerrtarcog.org and click on Adult and Aging Services in the options listed.

Email Patterson at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Warren Parks and Rec Offers Holiday Kids Crafts Program At Library

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Warren County Parks and Recreation is offering a Holiday Kids Crafts program for ages 5-12. This program will be held at the Warren County Memorial Library on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. beginning Feb. 7 through Feb. 21. This program will provide instruction and all supplies to make 2-3 crafts per week. Register by Feb. 3  cost is $5 per child for the three-week session. Limited space is available, so register early.

Registration can be completed online or in person:

For more information or register, please visit the county website or call the Parks and Recreation office at 252.257.2272.

Parks and Recreation is seeking have volunteers for this and other programs. Submit volunteer application and background check online at www.warrencountync.com/345/Parks-Recreation

Granville County SHIIP

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Granville County Senior Services provides assistance to local seniors during the annual federal Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Open Enrollment period. In 2022, Granville’s certified Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) staff helped 645 seniors explore their options and enroll in the plan that would best meet their needs. This enrollment assistance program helped Granville County seniors save a total of $264,312 on their prescription drug costs. Granville’s SHIIP counselors work with seniors to ensure that they are enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan that best meets their needs and will  provide medications at the best price.

“The best Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for each individual can change from year to year,” according to Granville County Senior Services Director Kathy May. “Our counselors spend months researching the differences in each plan utilizing an online tool released by the federal Medicare Office. We know that plan changes can be stressful and overwhelming for Medicare enrollees, so we are glad that we can offer the peace of mind for our seniors that there are trusted and qualified counselors at their local senior centers ready and willing to help.”

Granville County has offered SHIIP counseling services at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford for many years and was able to expand services to the South Granville Senior Center in Creedmoor in 2022. During the seven-week open enrollment period, 562 seniors were served at appointments at the Oxford Senior Center and 83 seniors received the same service at the South Granville location in Creedmoor. The North Carolina Department of Insurance oversees the SHIIP certification program, a rigorous course with quarterly trainings required to maintain credentials. Currently, Granville County Senior Services has seven SHIIP counselors on-staff:  Jill Floyd, Judy Gray, Marilyn Howard, Carolyn Keith, Kathy May, Teresa Rowland, and Christy Southall.

The Medicare Part D Open Enrollment window will once again run from October 15 through December 7, 2023. Enrollment assistance from qualified SHIIP counselors will be offered at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford and the South Granville Senior Center in Creedmoor. Granville seniors will be invited to make appointments for counseling and enrollment assistance in late summer or early fall.

For more information about SHIIP counseling or other services and programs offered by Granville County Senior Services, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services or call 919.693.1930.

Public Invited To Community Info Session Feb. 14 At Baskerville Funeral Home Chapel

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The chapel of Baskerville Funeral Home, LLC is the site of an upcoming community information session, during which a variety of topics of interest to local residents will be discussed.

The info session will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

The public is invited to attend, and topics for discussion include gang activity, COVID updates, at-risk youth, food insecurity, social and emotional learning and community health workers, according to information received at WIZS.

The funeral home is located at 104 S. Chestnut St. in Henderson.