Granville Board of Education announces graduation dates, Plan A for middle and high schools

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The Class of 2021 in Granville County Public Schools may have a “normal” graduation after all following a called meeting of the board of education Monday. The board voted 7-0 to allow modified, outdoor, in-person graduation ceremonies, as well as bringing back middle- and high school students to in-person learning beginning April 19.

Graduating seniors will have the option of participating in the in-person graduation ceremony OR a district-wide drive-through ceremony on June 5 if families are not comfortable attending the graduation ceremony at their child’s high school, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, assistant superintendent for human resources & operations and public information officer

Seniors will NOT have a traditional senior prom this year; the board voted 7-0 to follow state DHHS recommendations and cited COVID-transmission risks associated with a dance celebration. Instead, high schools will plan “special socially-distanced outdoor events to celebrate the senior year experience,” Winborne said, which will be linked to positive school attendance and focus on the senior class. Details would be shared with the public no later than April 15, 2021.

Below is the list of schools and graduation dates and times:

  • Granville Early College: May 21 at 7 p.m.; rain date, 5/22, 10 a.m.
  • Granville Central: June 4, 9 a.m.; rain date, June 11, 9 a.m.
  • Granville Academy: June 4, 11 a.m.; rain date, June 11, 11 a.m.
  • F. Webb: June 4, 7:30 p.m.; rain date, June 11, 7:30 p.m.
  • South Granville: June 5, 9 a.m.; rain date, June 12, 9 a.m.

Granville Central, Granville Early College and Granville Academy will hold their graduations on the Granville Central football field, weather permitting; Webb and South Granville also will have their ceremonies on their respective football fields, weather permitting.

The drive-through graduation is scheduled to be held at Northern Granville Middle School. Individual high schools will release more information as details are finalized.

The approved motion directed staff to prepare for students in grades 6-12 to shift from in-person learning from two days a week to four days a week, according to Winborne.  Currently, students in grades 6-12 who attend school in-person are assigned to 2 groups (A or B), each physically reporting to school two days a week.  Both groups attend school virtually for the other three days they are not physically in school.

Beginning on Monday, April 19, the two groups will merge into a single group and all in-person students will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Wednesday remains a remote learning day for all students.  All families who previously chose to have their students remain on full virtual learning will do so for the remainder of the school year, Winborne said.

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TownTalk 03-23-21: H-V Chamber Advances will help with Human Resources

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The newly formed Human Resources Council, a program of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, will have its first meeting on Thursday, Mar. 25 at 1 p.m. There’s still time to register to participate in the virtual meeting, according to Chamber President Michele Burgess.

Burgess said the council, which falls under the chamber’s business growth and development division, will bring together human resources professionals from a variety of businesses and industry to network, problem-solve and share ideas. The council will meet monthly, she said, and will feature guest speakers.

The purpose of the council is “to help our members grow and to help them solve problems that they’re losing sleep over at night,” Burgess told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk. Until the group can gather in person again – which Burgess hopes it will be able to do by the fall – virtual meetings can help connect area human resources professionals to one another. And this, she said, will build relationships as well as a network for sharing ideas and helping solve HR problems.

One of the challenges that businesses, both large and small, face in the Vance County area is finding employees to fill job openings, Burgess said. These days, besides asking for information about COVID-19 related loans and grants, the Chamber fields calls from companies wondering how and where to find good employees. “That’s really how the whole human resources council came to be,” she said. “It really started even before COVID,” she said, adding that she hopes through strengthening relationships with the public school system and VGCC, the talent pool and workforce development can improve for area business and industry.

Thursday’s speaker is Cherrelle Lawrence, dean of corporate learning and professional development at Vance-Granville Community College. The topic is “Investing in Talent.” Lawrence, who also serves as dean of VGCC’s Franklin campus, will kick off the council gathering with an overview of topics related to human resources. “I’m excited for my business members to hear her,” Burgess said. “She is really dynamic and full of energy!”

TownTalk Podcast with Michele Burgess.

The HR Council will serve to inform human resource officers and managers in local businesses about innovative programs including specific training, apprenticeships and internships offered in the community, she said. “We like being involved,” Burgess said of the Chamber, “but we also like to share with our other partners like VGCC’s Small Business Center, local economic development commission and other entities that attract new business.

“We feel like the workforce issue is very important at this particular time,” Burgess continued. “We want to keep our local businesses here and operating (and) workforce pool is key to that,” she said. “We realize (at the Chamber) that we can’t do everything. But getting people employed and helping our industry” is a top priority.

The Chamber’s business growth and development division is co-chaired Chamber members by Brian Williams, account manager at Temperature Control Solutions, and Stephanie Hoyle, broker associate with Century 21 Country Knolls Realty.

To learn more or to register for the Thursday meeting, email michele@hendersonvance.org or call 252.438.8414.

The Local Skinny! March 23; H-V First Responders Doing Benefit

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Past and present individuals who serve various local fire, law enforcement, EMS and volunteer agencies, who form what’s commonly called Henderson Vance First Responders, are planning a 3,000 plate BBQ chicken sale for the local families of Ret. Capt. Mike Davis (HPD) and Master Trooper Brent Montgomery (SHP).

Both served in their respective areas of law enforcement, and both died as a result of covid complications. For a $10 donation, community members at large can enjoy the food, which will be available April 30th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will take place at 210 Industry Drive in Henderson. That’s the physical location the Tri-County Shrine Club uses, nearby to Mako, Servpro and Fred’s Towing.

The fundraising project is the brainchild of a number of current and past first responders according to Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow. He and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame are helping too along with the Tri-County Shrine Club, formerly known as the Henderson Shrine Club.

Sheriff Brame told WIZS News last week, “All the proceeds will go to the families of Captain Mike Davis and Trooper Brent Montgomery. Follow social media where you can make a donation. Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office have tickets on hand, so please stop by and make your donation.”

Subsequently, Brame has posted on his Facebook page, “The following persons and businesses have tickets; Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, Eastside Barber Shoppe, Ray Fields, James Lilley, Sheriff Brame, Chief Barrow, Billy Currin. If you would like to join us in helping get these tickets out please call 432-4307, and I will get you a stack of tickets. God Bless and thank all of you.”

The Local Skinny! Podcast

TownTalk 03-22-21 William Landis, Small Farms Week

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Small farmers make up about 80 percent of farmers in this area and provide the community with delicious produce and pasture-raised meats that consumers can find at local farmers’ markets. But small-scale farmers are not necessarily trying to compete with, or become, large-scale farmers, according to William Landis with Franklin County Extension Service.  He told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that small farmers who can find a niche product or a niche market can position themselves to be successful.

Landis is the small farms agent for Franklin and Warren counties. Part of his job is to help small farmers with resources to become as efficient and productive as possible. These days, with so much information available via the internet, it may be challenging for producers to make choices about how and what to grow on their farms.

“Come to us,” Landis said of cooperative extension services. “Bounce what you’ve heard off your local extension agent. We’re here to help you out,” he said. Many small farmers around here, he said, have full-time jobs off the farm and do their farm work when they get off work.

March 21-27 is Small Farms Week in North Carolina, thanks to the Cooperative Extension program at N.C. A&T State University. And a Franklin County farmer is in the running for Small Farmer of the Year.

Mike and Suzanne Jones run MAE Farm and they market their pasture-raised meats at the State Farmers Market. Jones has been a farmer since the early 2000’s, long before Landis became an extension agent. “It’s good to see that he’s finally getting recognized,” he said.

The winner will be announced on Mar. 24 during the virtual Small Farms conference.

Small Farms Week TownTalk Podcast

Selection criteria include how small farmers are engaged in the community, as well as innovative practices that are used on the farm, Landis said. Jones is involved with the local Farm Bureau and uses innovative pasture management practices like silvopasture – letting animals graze in forested areas – and rotational grazing of multiple species.

Landis said a small farm is one that has less than $250,000 a year in income. Advances in technology, from tractors with built-in GPS systems to the use of drones, have been helpful additions for producers. Other types of technology – like phone apps – are also being used to help boost the agritourism industry, Landis said. One such app is called Visit NC Farms. Producers load information about their farm and it’s accessible via the app. Agritourism is a growing trend and has helped small farmers weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Other online tools like MeatSuite can help consumers find locally sourced meats in their area, he added.

Franklin County, he said, is situated in a perfect spot to respond to the huge Raleigh-Durham market. “Within 30 minutes, you can be in Raleigh and deliver your product,” he said. The Raleigh-Durham market is one of the largest markets in the U.S., he said. Responding to the needs and wants of a market that size is what can put a small farmer on the road to success.

Right now, the Franklin County Farmers Market is located near the Carly C’s on Bickett Boulevard in Louisburg. It currently operates under a shelter on Fridays from 9 to noon, but Landis said there is some movement afoot to create a closed-in market.

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Warren Countywide Zoning Basics via Zoom March 25

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If you own property in Warren County, then you may want to attend the upcoming Warren County countywide zoning information session.

It’s a virtual session and will take place Thursday, March 25th from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Discussion will be centered on: What is countywide zoning; When do you need a conditional use permit, and how do you get one; What is a voluntary agricultural district; What types of business can you put on your land?

You must pre-register to attend ⸺ https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpd-uuqjwiGN0DhuJsr51tqqb1M-F776Il

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 03-22-21 – Garden Types

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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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The Local Skinny! March 22; Covid Update

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Thank you for listening to WIZS — Your Community Voice.

“The Local Skinny!” also features Tradio — click here — and the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report — click here.

The latest local data update on Covid-19, as of March 21, indicates right at 13 percent of the population of Vance County and Granville County are fully vaccinated.

In email correspondence that Lisa Harrison, health director at Granville Vance Public Health, sends out at least once per week, she wrote “Vance County — Total Doses Administered: 15,299; First Doses Administered: 9,614; Second Doses Administered: 5,685.  Granville County — Total Doses Administered: 21,036; First Doses Administered: 12,929; Second Doses Administered: 8,107.

“Vance County — Percentage of population at least partially vaccinated: 21.6%. Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 12.8%.

“Granville County — Percentage of population at least partially vaccinated: 21.4%. Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 13.4%.”

Additional links you are encouraged to use are “the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard. Relevant graphs from these dashboards are available on our website at https://gvph.org/covid-19_dashboard/,” Harrison wrote.

For a seventh time overall and for the fifth straight NCAA tournament, seven ACC teams made the field (two remain at of 3-22-21 at 2 p.m.), and Harrison says the NCAA has a good model of safety for players, staff and fans  — https://www.ncaa.org/themes-topics/health-and-safety.

Harrison says the NCAA model is good, and it’s clear.  And Harrison and others around the country say we are at a turning point in the fight against the virus, a fork in the road if you will.

To continue the original basketball/model theme of Harrison’s email to WIZS News, the other type of models, like the ones you would use for forecasting the weather for example, these models being run on covid make one thing clear.  “Get your vaccine when it’s your turn and keep practicing the 3 Ws if we want to get out of this as fast as we can! We need to keep making an effort to flatten any future curves that could happen if we let our guard down too quickly or if we allow these variants to take off unchecked. We’re in this until we’re over the hump – and we don’t want any more upward trends,” Harrison wrote.

She wrote, “GVPH had the opportunity to participate in a pilot project recently to understand better how researchers at UNC, NC State University, and Georgia Tech (all good basketball schools I might add) are able to use systems engineering and simulations to model future scenarios related to the pandemic and our response. Very cool! Even more cool is they want to help us in public health with decision-making and communicating where it’s helpful.”

Presently in North Carolina, the daily percent positive is 4.9 percent.

Covid has claimed a lot of loved ones

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This week beloved North Carolina State Highway Patrolman Brent Montgomery passed away, with his celebration of life service Saturday.

In June of last year, beloved Ret. Capt. Mike Davis of the Henderson Police Department passed away due to covid complications.

Now, Henderson Vance First Responders are planning a 3,000 plate BBQ chicken sale for these two families. For a $10 donation, community members at large can enjoy the food, which will be available April 30th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will take place at 210 Industry Drive in Henderson. That’s the physical location the Tri-County Shrine Club uses, nearby to Mako, Servpro and Fred’s Towing.

In fact, the Tri-County Shrine Club, formerly known as the Henderson Shrine Club, is involved. There was a meeting last week and Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame are helping too. The fundraising project is the brainchild of a number of current and past first responders according to Chief Barrow.

Sheriff Brame also spoke to WIZS News Friday afternoon to reiterate his Facebook post of Thursday night, which we’ve also shared at facebook.com/wizsradio. In the post Brame said, “All the proceeds will go to the families of Captain Mike Davis and Trooper Brent Montgomery. Follow social media where you can make a donation. Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office have tickets on hand, so please stop by and make your donation. There will be other locations.”

Based on some previous conversations — including a quote from Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell who said last week, of the specific Brent Montgomery fundraiser at the time, that probably 6,000 plates could have been sold if the chicken was available — one would be lead to believe the community wants to do more.

Barrow said Davis always worked, even up to the very end of his life last June. When the pandemic first started, according to Barrow, Davis drove Vance County School buses to make food deliveries to children and families in need. He delivered lunch packages, and now the community can support his family, and Montgomery family, by enjoying some chicken and helping the Henderson Vance First Responders benefit/fundraiser.

And, Sunday is Ret. Capt. Davis’ birthday. Barrow said Davis-Royster Funeral Service has something planned to celebrate, to commemorate how many funeral escorts Capt. Davis ran for the funeral home.

Davis served the Henderson Police Department and the Vance County community for 45 years.

Barrow told WIZS News last June, “We did the last call yesterday (for Capt. Davis) at the graveside service, and that finalizes so many things, but it’s still surreal that he’s gone,” said Barrow. “For those who aren’t familiar with a last call, a 911 communicator calls out for the officer three separate times. After the third call, the officer will be announced as 10-42, or out of service. The responding dispatcher will then thank the person for their service. It’s very solemn and heartfelt.”

For the family and friends and fellow officers of Davis and all service personnel everywhere, including Montgomery’s family, friends and fellow troopers this weekend, the final call is another moment no one ever forgets.