Granville School Board Announces Leadership Changes For 2025-26 School Year

— Information courtesy of Granville County Public School Public Information Officer Dr. Courtney Currin

The Granville County Board of Education announced a number of leadership changes that will take effect in the 2025-26 school year. The changes come as a result of school closings and consolidations.

Kevin Ferrell was named director of Transportation, succeeding Dr. Chris Ham, who will retire at the end of the calendar year. Ferrell has served as the principal of South Granville High School since July of 2021. He has an undergraduate degree from Duke University and a graduate degree from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Janita Allen has been named the High School Success and Math Coach in an interim role. Allen has been with Granville County Public Schools for her entire career, which spans almost 29 years. She currently is principal of Granville Central High School, which will close at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree from N.C. Central University, a master’s degree from N.C.  State University and a doctorate from East Carolina University.

Ashley Clark will replace Ferrell as principal of South Granville High School. Clark was the 2022-2023 GCPS Principal of the Year and currently is principal at Butner-Stem Middle School. She has undergraduate and graduate degrees from East Carolina University.

Jessie Shore will be the first principal of the new Granville Central Middle School. Shore currently serves as the principal of G.C. Hawley Middle School, which will close at the end of the school year.

Shore was born and raised in Winston-Salem, and attended Western Carolina University for her undergraduate degree and, later, administration licensure. She also holds a master’s degree from Salem College.

Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne commended school administrators from across the district for their dedication to students and to education. “I want to publicly thank our amazing school administrators who dedicate countless hours to ensuring the best education possible for the students of Granville County Public Schools. I am confident that the administrators who have new positions will help our schools and district thrive.”

The board also named the following administrators to new roles as assistant principals:

  • Shaun Daniel, Granville Central Middle;
  • Dane Fields, Wilton Elementary;
  • Cierra Harris, C.G. Credle Elementary;
  • Regina Harris, J.F. Webb High School;
  • Ruby Mondell-Long, South Granville High School;
  • Chastity Rivera, South Granville High School;
  • Kendalyn Smith, Granville Central Middle;
  • Michael Spradlin, J.F. Webb High School.

SportsTalk: NCHSAA Finalizes Overall Draft of Conference Realignment

SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has finalized the conferences for the next realignment cycle. The NCHSAA Board of Directors met all day Monday to hear final pleas from many schools for conference realignment. One of those pleas was from Vance County Athletic Director Philip Weil. Weil urged the board to consider moving Vance County from 6A/7A Conference C, to 4A/5A Conference A, which is the home of J.F. Webb and South Granville. The Vance County AD cited that from a competitive standpoint, it would be better if Vance County was in 4A/5A Conference A. Weil also stated that the travel for schools in 6A/7A Conference C is much greater than what he proposed. The conference, Weil proposed, would include: Vance County, Carrboro, Cedar Ridge, Durham School of the Arts, Orange, Seaforth, South Granville, and J.F. Webb.

The Board of Directors voted unanimously in an 18-0 decision to deny Vance County’s request. Therefore, for the next four years, Vance County will be a part of 6A/7A Conference C.

Another change that went into effect was that The North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham requested to move to 1A/2A Conference D as the only 3A from 2A/3A/4A Conference A. A motion to approve the move was made and seconded. This means that the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham will no longer be in a conference with Louisburg and Bunn.

Below are the finalized conferences for teams in Vance County and the surrounding counties:

6A/7A Conference C

  • Vance County (6A)
  • Franklinton (6A)
  • Wake Forest (7A)
  • Heritage – Wake Forest (7A)
  • Knightdale (7A)
  • East Wake (7A)

1A/2A Conference E

  • Vance Charter (1A)
  • Oxford Prep (1A)
  • Falls Lake Academy (1A)
  • Discovery Charter (1A)
  • Excelsior Classical (1A)
  • Henderson Collegiate (2A)
  • Eno River Academy (2A)

4A/5A Conference A

  • Carrboro (4A)
  • J.F. Webb (5A)
  • South Granville (5A)
  • Orange (5A)
  • Cedar Ridge (5A)
  • Seaforth (5A)
  • Durham School of the Arts (5A)

2A/3A/4A Conference A

  • American Leadership Academy, Johnston – Clayton (2A)
  • Louisburg (3A)
  • Wake Prep (3A)
  • Bunn (4A)
  • Nash Central (4A)
  • Roanoke Rapids (4A)

1A/2A Conference C

  • KIPP Pride (1A)
  • Southeast Halifax (1A)
  • Weldon (1A)
  • Warren County (2A)
  • Northwest Halifax (2A)
  • Northampton County (2A)

Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue give all their reaction and analysis right here on SportsTalk!

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events at Perry Memorial Library

Springtime is just around the corner, and Perry Memorial Library’s Youth Services Director Melody Peters is gearing up for a busy time, filled with themed programs wedged in between the regular favorites.

“We will be getting really busy,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! February was filled with programs to observe Black History Month and April’s calendar is shaping up to be busy, if not busier.

Not only is April National Poetry Month, but there’s Week of the Young Child and National Library Week, it’s a time when students will be enjoying Spring Break so they may have extra chances to visit the library.

But before April, there’s Women’s History Month, and Peters said she’s invited a female author to come speak toward the end of March.

The Sunday afternoon Family Story Time will be held on Mar. 16, which is just one day away from St. Patrick’s Day, when mischievous leprechauns roam around and have some innocent elfin fun.

Peters said she feels the luck of the Irish all year long as she plans and creates programming for young people.

“I talk to kids all the time,” she said, “and I listen to what they’re saying.”

From those interviews have come programs about teen mental health and the Crochet Club, among others. “I want to find out what’s exciting to them and try to make it happen,” she said.

Peters said she visited Pinkston Street Elementary on Monday and a youngster came in with her grandmother after school was out – it was the 6-year-old’s first visit to the library.

“It was just great!” Peters exclaimed. “That’s why you do what you do.”

Visit perrylibrary.org to learn about all the programs and services the library offers.

 

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TownTalk: Chestnut St. Park Update, Basketball Court Renovations Underway

Anyone who’s driven by Chestnut Street Park since last weekend surely has noticed that there’s something going on – a transformation is taking place at the park, and Charles Turrentine, Jr. is happy to see the renovation get underway.

Turrentine cares about his community – Henderson, Vance County and certainly the area where he grew up near the Chestnut Street Park, where he and others grew up shooting hoops.

With funds now in place for Phase 1 of the park’s renovation, Turrentine said he’s fielded more than a few inquiries from people who’ve been by the park and noticed the work going on.

It started Saturday, and Turrentine said the asphalt has been broken up and the fences removed. “We’re turning up dirt,” he said. He remembers Chestnut Street Park as a safe place for young people to be, playing basketball or watching those pickup games that invariably broke out most days.

But it hasn’t had any attention since it first became a park, and it was time to do something. Past time, truth be told.

“It’s time we look at it and give it some much-needed love and care.” He said he appreciates the support and regular meetings with Rec and Parks Director Kendrick Vann and Henderson City Manager Hassan Kingsberry to help with plans for the Chestnut Street Park renovation.

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TownTalk: NC Dept. of Public Safety Joins Bridge To Peace Vance County For Listening Session Mar. 17

A local organization is teaming up with a couple of state agencies to host a community listening session as a way to gather insight, opinions and possible solutions around the growing concern of violence the area.

Bridge to Peace Vance County is organizing “Breaking the Cycle: A Community-Driven Approach to Ending Violence,” which will take place Monday, Mar. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Southern Charm Event Center, 200 S. Garnett St. in Henderson.

Charles Turrentine, Jr. is one of the members of a steering committee responsible for planning the listening session, which will include representatives from the Governor’s Crime Commission and the N.C. Office of Violence Prevention.

Turrentine said a recent conversation with N.C. Dept. of Public Safety Deputy Director Robert Epstein is what got this started; “Vance County has come up on the radar at the state level,” he said on Tuesday’s TownTalk, when it comes to violence and crime.

Now it’s up to residents in the community to show up and share their thoughts on the matter. Turrentine said he would love to see kids, teenagers, young adults and older citizens at the listening session. He wants to hear from all segments of the community about what people see as challenges to overcome when talking about violence and about shifting the mindset and changing the narrative of Henderson and Vance County.

“We’re just going to listen,” Turrentine said. Vision boards will be used to capture the information generated at the listening session.

“We’re going to take all that information and we’re going to come back with legitimate ways to attack common issues that need to be addressed,” he said.

It’s easy to feel trapped in hopeless situations and Turrentine said this grassroots effort is one way to show the community that someone is trying to do something.

“We can’t arrest our way out of crime…if we can show other options,” he said, it could be a good step toward breaking the cycle of violence and crime.

He’s excited to have put in place the listening session, and although he said working with state officials has been challenging at times, “it’s a challenge I’m willing to take on.”

Identifying existing resources is one action item Turrentine hopes to share with the community. He also wants to rekindle the idea of neighbors helping neighbors. “If we can bring that back,” he said, it’s a step in the right direction that says “I see you and I do care.”

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4-H Logo

Cooperative Extension with Micah Sharpe: All Things 4-H

On the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report with Micah Sharpe:

This week marks the start of the 4-H Science Embryology Program. Where local schools will participate in a hands-on 3-week experience. Students will have the chance to learn about the development of life from eggs to chicks and gain an up close look at the miracles of hatching.

We have the poultry show interest meeting on March 11th at 6:30pm via Zoom. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to get involved with the poultry show. Don’t miss this chance to learn more.

STEAM Night is coming to the Vance County Regional Farmers Market on March 19th from 6pm-8pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore all things Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Math. This is a special collaboration with James Brown from Vance-Granville Community College. All ages are welcome!

Earth Day is Approaching! On April 22nd at 4pm, we will be celebrating Earth Day at the Perry Memorial Library. Come out and join us as we honor the planet and discuss ways we all can contribute to a greener more sustainable future!

Our Summer Camps are still in the works. Micah Sharpe will be posting further details by the Spring.

District Activity Day is coming up soon. This is a chance for students to showcase their presentation skills. Sign-ups will be opening up very soon!

The Vance County Game of Drones Team is looking more promising than ever! They have strong hopes in taking first place at the upcoming competition in April! Best of luck to our team!

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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SportsTalk: High School Sports Update

SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th

Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue discuss the happenings of High School Sports in Vance County and the surrounding counties, from high school basketball playoffs to baseball games coming up this week. The guys also talk about the NCHSAA Realignment Committee’s meeting to finalize Conferences in North Carolina. That and much more on SportsTalk!

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NC Forest Service

The Local Skinny! Wildfire Season is Upon Us

A brush fire on Edwards Road in Vance County burned about 10 acres of land, and firefighters and forestry service crews were able to get things under control to prevent the fire from spreading further.

“We did have a busy weekend, both locally and statewide,” said N.C. Forestry Service Ranger Rob Montague, whose territory includes Vance and Granville counties. A fire near Uwharrie Forest in the western part of the state has burned about 400 acres.

The fire on Edwards Road was caused by a debris burn that took place on Wednesday, three days before the fire broke out.

The person who was burning the debris thought the fire was out, Montague said, but conditions became such that it escaped the ash pit where the fire had been and then rekindled on Saturday.

“That strong wind Saturday really made conditions right for fires to escape,” Montague said.

Another fire near Epsom burned 75 acres and started as a land clearing pile that was burned during last month’s snowfall.

“It does not take long this time of the year for fire fuels to dry out after a precipitation event and become available to burn,” Montague said. The brisk winds and low humidity over the past few days make conditions right for fires, he said.

Thankfully, none of the half dozen or so fire calls that the forest service received on Saturday resulted in any structure damage or other loss.

“Fire departments have really jumped on fires quickly and done excellent work to keep these fires contained,” he said.

Montague said property owners should remember this rule of thumb about burning: If it grows on your property, you can burn it – safely – on your property.

That means natural vegetation – leaves, limbs, etc. But nothing manmade can be burned, he said. Property owners found to be in violation of the county ordinance can be fined or face possible civil penalties.

It’s a lot simpler for those who live within the city limits: except for charcoal grills, no open burning is allowed. Period.

The N.C. Forest Service suggests that your local forest service office before starting any outdoor fire and offers the following tips to keep in mind:

  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any N.C. Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
  • Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out.
  • These same tips apply to campfires and grills as well. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. Drown all embers, not just the red ones. When soaked, stir the coals and soak them again. Make sure everything is wet and that embers are cold to the touch. If you do not have water, mix enough dirt or sand with the embers to extinguish the fire, being careful not to bury the fire. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Tree Care Professionals

On Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland:

Protecting your trees by hiring the correct Tree Care Professional.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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