TownTalk: December Events In Granville County

Santa may need to trade in those clunky black boots for some sensible sneakers if he’s going to keep up with all the activities that are going on in Granville County this holiday season.

From breakfasts to afternoon and evening parades, Jolly Old St. Nicholas is going to be the man of the hour, and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen said things are just gearing up.

This marks the fourth year that Grey Blackwell has transformed the popular Granville Haunt Farm into Granville Christmas Farm, taking it from “scary to merry” for a drive-through event that’s sure to dazzle young and old alike.

“It’s definitely an awesome time to spend with your family,” Allen told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Monday’s TownTalk. The light display is open now, Allen said. Check https://www.granvillechristmasfarm.com/ to see the complete schedule and to purchase tickets.

Downtown Oxford is the place to be on Friday afternoon for a pre-parade event and lighting of the greens that will include live music, performances and more from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parade begins at 7 p.m.

Highrock Farm on Enon Road outside Oxford is hosting “Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. It’s a fun way for the little ones to spend some quality time with Santa, Allen said.

The morning may be for the children, but the afternoon will feature an “Art Walk” from 12 noon to 4 p.m. to take care of some holiday shopping with gifts handcrafted by local artists. Visit https://www.highrock-events.com/ for the particulars.

Make reservations at Thorndale Oaks for their sumptuous Christmas dinner on Dec. 7 or Dec. 8, Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy everything from appetizers to a buffet-style meal. Call 919.603.3701 to reserve your spot.

In this season of giving, you’ve got a chance to support Granville little Theatre by attending the Broadway and Beyond gala, which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Verdi Gris, the restaurant located at Oxford Oaks Distillery.

It’s a “great excuse to get dressed up and give back” to a community group,” she said. During the gala, patrons will enjoy pop-up performances from members of the theatre group – sure to be a fun time.

Grab some friends and head out to Central Children’s Home on Saturday, Dec. 7 for a cornhole tournament. Enter teams for $50 and participate in some friendly competition, all for a good cause.

Carlee Farms is hosting its annual Holiday Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. Allen said the venue, located in Stem, will feature a variety of vendors with all types of handcrafted items to give at Christmas.

And just in case you want to remember the true meaning of Christmas, visit Delrayno Baptist Church for the annual “Back to Bethlehem” drive-thru event Dec. 14, 15 and 16 between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Take a trip back in time, thanks to the volunteers at Delrayno who transform the church property to recreate Bethlehem, from the marketplace to the stable where the baby Jesus lay in a manger.

“You take the same journey that Mary and Joseph took through Bethlehem,” Allen explained.

“It really does make you appreciate that particular story and its significance.”

Stay up-to-date with all the happenings at the Visit Granville website https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/.

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The Local Skinny! Holiday Fest Dec. 7 After Parade

The first “Very Merry Henderson Holiday Fest” is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 following the Christmas parade that begins at 3 p.m.

The event will be held in the Breckenridge Street area from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will include activities for all ages, including horse-drawn carriage rides, a hot cocoa station, a S’mores booth and free photos with the Jolly Old Elf himself.

Trish Burroughs is one of the organizers, and she said it’s a way to bring the community together “to embrace the joy of the season.”

Mayor Melissa Elliott will kick things off at 4 p.m. with the lighting of the greens outside McGregor Hall, Burroughs said on Monday’s The Local Skinny!

With evening temps expected to be dipping into the 30’s by sunset Saturday, folks can enjoy the parade and then come to the Breckenridge area to enjoy the annual Festival of Trees in the McGregor Gallery, as well as a bouncy house, food trucks and music.

“It’s just going to be a great event,” Burroughs said.

The idea grew from suggestions about how to make the Christmas tree lighting more robust, said Gateway CDC Founder and President Heather Joi Kenney, another member of the planning committee.

Tracy Mosley, executive director of Helping All People Excel, said once the mayor got on board, she “called others to the table and it has become a beautiful collaboration of the city and citizens.”

Burroughs said anyone interested in being a volunteer, a vendor or a sponsor can contact her at 252.430.9057 and she will be happy to provide more information.

Visit the event’s website at https://sites.google.com/view/verymerryhenderson/home to learn more.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Christmas Tree Selection

 

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: Henderson High School Thanksgiving Day Game History

SportsTalk on WIZS 12:30 p.m. M-Th 

The Thanksgiving Day Game for the Henderson High School Football Team used to be an annual tradition. According to research done by WIZS, the Bulldogs played in five Thanksgiving Day Games. Winning four of them and losing one. Scout Hughes and George Hoyle speak on the history of the Thanksgiving Day Games that Henderson High School played in. That and much more on SportsTalk!

“Amy Snyder, curator of collections & archivist, at the Museum of Regional History in Mount Airy told WIZS she received this picture from the Mount Airy football coach at the time, Coach Wally Shelton’s wife Christine.”

Below are the results of the Thanksgiving Day Games that the Bulldogs played in:

  • 1945: Oxford 14 Henderson 6
  • 1947: Henderson 25 Mount Airy 14
  • 1948: Henderson 52 Whiteville 0
  • 1949: Henderson 20 Reidsville 14
  • 1950: Henderson 13 Rockingham 6

Thank you to those who called into today’s show as well for your information.

Reminder: No SportsTalk on Thanksgiving for the Holiday. 

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J.F. Webb Takes $10,000 Prize In Altec’s ‘Innovation Challenge’

— information courtesy of GCPS Public Information Officer Dr. Courtney Currin

On Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, a team from J.F. Webb High School took home the top prize of $10,000 during Altec’s first-ever Innovation Challenge at the Granville County Expo Center. The competition combines science, technology and engineering through a student-driven, project-based approach. Participating student teams were asked to present their solution addressing real-world problems using an innovative approach to benefit their school or community. Students from the winning team have earned $10,000 for their school to implement their project idea – slated to begin in the spring of 2025.

The team’s winning proposal was to create a state-of-the-art maker space at their school. This creative hub will feature innovative tools and technologies, including programmable robotic arms, 3D printers, laser cutters, virtual reality headsets, a high-powered Lenovo computer, a sewing machine and more. Located near the school’s media center, the maker space will be accessible to all students, fostering innovation and hands-on learning opportunities.

The money awarded from Altec will fund the purchase of these tools, bringing the team’s vision to life and empowering J.F. Webb students for years to come.

All three high schools were invited to enter teams; two teams came from Granville Central and one team from J.F. Webb, with a total of about 15 students participating.

The Altec Innovation Challenge began earlier this fall, with individual students coming together to create teams. Each team had a faculty sponsor from their school and was also paired with engineers from Altec to help mentor and guide them in developing their plans.

The event concluded with final presentations to a panel of judges comprised of local business, education and community leaders.

The prize-winning team includes Claudio Cheluca, Kaylee Hernandez, Jayden Kufahl, Iyy’Anna Lester, Madison Ragland, Isaiah Terry and Rileigh Warner.

Two Vance County Men Face Drug Charges In Stop On I-85

information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

Two Vance County men face a variety of drug charges following a vehicle stop on I-85 in Durham County.

The arrests took place on Thursday, Nov. 7 and were the result of a combined investigation by the Henderson Police Department, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and through assistance from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, according to Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Cristopher Terry, Jr., 31, and Dakwane Jones, 32, both of Vance County, face charges that include trafficking cocaine and marijuana, among other charges, according to a press release Barrow issued Wednesday. The driver, Terry, initially refused to stop, but after a brief pursuit and subsequent foot chase, both suspects were arrested.

A search of the vehicle netted 1,291.26 grams of cocaine and 10.16 grams of marijuana.

Terry faces the following charges:

  • one count of felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle
  • one count of trafficking cocaine
  • one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver marijuana
  • two counts of maintain vehicle/ dwelling place for a controlled substance
  • one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver cocaine
  • four counts of assault government official/employee
  • one count of aggressive driving
  • one count of resisting public officer

Jones faces the following charges:

  • one count of trafficking cocaine
  • one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver marijuana
  • one count of alter/steal/destroy criminal evidence
  • one count of resisting public officer
  • one count of possession drug paraphernalia

Both men were remanded to the Durham County Detention Center. Terry received a no bond and Jones was placed under a $750,000 bond.

Franklin County ‘Care And Share Center’ Gets $2,500 To Fight Food Insecurity

Courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks III

Franklin County Care and Share Center Inc. has received $2,500 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help nourish neighbors experiencing hunger.

The “Nourishing Our Neighbors” grant supports the Franklin County Department of Social Services Care and Share Center’s efforts to purchase nutritional food for distribution in the community. In addition, the grant supports community feeding partners by helping neighbors increase their access to nutritious food and providing nutritional education initiatives to help eliminate health risks for those experiencing food insecurity.

It is the mission of the Franklin County Department of Social Services to serve the community through the effective delivery of family-centered services, which will promote and achieve self-sufficiency and enhance the quality of life for all its residents.

Franklin County Department of Social Services and the Care and Share Center staff and volunteers are dedicated to the management of resources and enhancing the quality of life of the county’s residents.

“We are excited to again receive these funds provided by the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation as it will enrich our efforts to address food insecurity in our county,” said Franklin County Director of Social Services Andrew Payne.

Care and Share Center Inc. is located at 110 Industrial Dr., Louisburg and is open to the public on Wednesday mornings to provide nutritious food items to county residents in need of emergency food assistance.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is committed to supporting families facing food insecurity across its 10-state footprint. Established in 2001, the foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding local neighbors in the communities it serves. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $19.6 million in grants.

One Arrest In Traffic Stop That Turned Into Two-County Chase

Members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office patrol division attempted a traffic stop Monday that turned into chase across two counties before the suspect was apprehended.

Jatavious Reid, wanted on outstanding felony warrants, was driving a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and failed to stop as sheriff’s officers attempted the stop.

A chase ensued into Granville County and then back into Vance County, where Henderson Police successfully deployed Stop Sticks.

Reid ran from the vehicle and fled into a nearby wooded area. He was apprehended after a brief period when he ran across the road and officers pursued him on foot.

Reid faces the following charges:

  • two counts of felony flee to elude arrest with motor vehicle
  • possession of firearm by felon
  • second-degree kidnapping
  • resisting public officer
  • two counts of reckless driving to endanger
  • fail to feed light or siren
  • fail to maintain lane control
  • felony larceny
  • two counts of burglary
  • child abuse

Reid is in the Vance County Detention Center with $55,000 secured bond for a previous incident and was given no bond for the car chase on Monday.