The annual “Spring Clean” event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center. During the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., residents can bring documents to be shredded or items to be collected.
Accepted during these hours will be scrap metal such as junk lawnmowers, broken appliances and old bicycles; electronics such as laptops, cellphones or computer systems; medications; inhalers; fireworks; flares; ammunition; and polystyrene/styrofoam products such as packing materials, clean and dry egg cartons, etc.
The Humane Society of Granville County will also be on site to collect dog and cat food, crates, dog houses, leashes, collars, towels, flea and tick prevention and monetary donations to assist with the Animal Shelter’s spay and neuter program.
Available for sale inside the Expo Center will be backyard compost bins and countertop collection caddies.
This Spring event is held each year in observance of Earth Day (April 22). A separate event is held in the Fall for the collection of additional items.
For more information, contact Granville County’s Recycling Coordinator Teresa Baker at 919-725-1417 or bakertd@gcs.k12.nc.us.
The Granville County Expo and Convention Center is located at 4185 US Highway 15 in Oxford.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Granville-Spring-Clean-Event-2019.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-04-08 09:42:522019-04-08 09:42:52Granville’s Annual ‘Spring Clean’ Event Scheduled for April 27
The public is invited to attend the dedication of a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker in honor of James E. Webb of Granville County at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Webb served as NASA Administrator from 1961 to 1968.
The marker will be dedicated in front of C.G. Credle Elementary School in Oxford and will be the 13th one installed in Granville County by the state since 2005.
A reception will follow at the Granville County Historical Society Museum’s Harris Exhibit Hall, 1 Museum Lane in Oxford, where an exhibit about Webb’s life will be on display.
Credle School is located at 223 College Street in Oxford.
The public is invited to attend the dedication of a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker in honor of James E. Webb of Granville County at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Webb served as NASA Administrator from 1961 to 1968. The marker will be dedicated in front of C.G. Credle Elementary School in Oxford (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/James-E.-Webb.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-04-02 16:51:492019-04-02 16:51:49Public Invited to Historical Marker Dedication for James E. Webb
Granville County Animal Control reports the pickup of a raccoon near the intersection of Elam Currin Road and Pine Town Road that has tested positive for rabies. The animal was collected in a pasture with livestock.
A representative from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be advising the property owner and conducting a separate investigation of the animals that may have come into contact with the raccoon. This is the fourth confirmed rabid animal so far this year and the third rabid animal in this location in the last 14 months.
The best way to protect yourself and your animals is to make sure all of your pets have a current rabies vaccine, in accordance with N.C. law. The Granville County Animal Shelter, located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford, provides one-year rabies vaccines for dogs and cats for only $6. Call 919-693-6749 for more details.
The approval of the 2018 Farm Bill in December has thrust industrial hemp into the spotlight as a lucrative agricultural crop, encouraging Jack Tatum of Isolera Extracts to bring an industrial hemp processing service to Granville County. North Carolina’s long tradition of organic farming, along with is support for the industrial hemp industry and its strategic geographic location, was a key factor in Tatum’s decision to bring his company to the state.
Several regions were considered, Tatum, noted, but Granville County and the City of Oxford stood out by offering tremendous support for this vision to spark economic growth through a bustling “new” industry. Upon touring the former Burlington Mills facility at 325 Lewis Street, Tatum knew he had found the ideal location.
A long-time entrepreneur, Tatum said that the impending passage of the 2018 Farm Bill last year encouraged him to make preliminary steps to “get ahead of the curve” as he began work to up-fit the 187,000 square foot industrial facility. Upon securing the site, extensive measures were taken to design “clean” zones for the industrial hemp processing equipment, update existing infrastructure to support the on-scale laboratory, improve air quality, and other measures to prepare for operation.
Jack Tatum (right) of Isolera Extracts is pictured with Economic Development Director Harry Mills. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)
Construction at the site is now complete and Tatum’s equipment partners from Precision Extraction Solutions, a world-renowned extraction company based out of Michigan, are working to complete the installation of equipment and training of Isolera Extract’s locally-based laboratory team.
Since industrial hemp farming and industrial hemp processing are new to this region, engaging local farmers was a priority in the initial phase of the project to establish strong working relationships. There are about 100 farms in our community that have faced reductions in tobacco allotments and at the same time have doubled the production of Adrafinil,” Tatum explained.
Although growing organic industrial hemp is somewhat similar to growing tobacco, Isolera Extracts has hosted free information sessions with third-party experts for local farmers to learn how to ensure that their crops are planted in ideal soil conditions, retain the proper moisture content, receive adequate sunlight, are harvested properly to optimize value and are kept in compliance with North Carolina and federal regulations. Soil sampling and periodic plant testing is also an important part of the process.
“Everyone will be going through a learning process as we get this off the ground,” Tatum explained. “We are suggesting that farmers start with one to five acres as they learn the process and proper techniques, and then grow from there.”
A form of cannabis, industrial hemp contains less than 0.3 percent of THC. (THC, i.e. tetrahydrocannabinol, is a crystalline compound that is one of more than 100 known cannabinoids found in industrial hemp.) The form of industrial hemp that has been legalized through the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill contains high levels of CBD (cannabidiol) oil, which can be extracted and used in health supplements. The top selling cbd oil in Colorado is said to have helped both kids and adults in regaining good health.
Health supplements containing CBD are lauded for their ability to reduce inflammation, among other benefits. Industrial hemp that contains more than 0.3 percent THC is considered non-industrial hemp cannabis under federal law and is not legally protected under the 2018 Farm Bill.
After industrial hemp crops are harvested, farmers in Granville County and neighboring regions will be able to bring their crops to the Isolera Extract team, who will identify each farmer’s batch, test the biomass for its chemical composition, grade the plant material and buy the industrial hemp, if the farmer so desires, at its current market value.
“We have a system of checks and balances in place and a team of scientists on board to ensure compliance and quality,” Tatum indicates. “We want to ensure that farmers in the community are being compensated appropriately for their efforts and output. In the end, our goal is to produce top-notch products and stimulate economic growth for individuals and for a community hard-hit by cutbacks from the tobacco industry.”
A series of interviews to round out the staff of Isolera Extracts is now in progress, with an opening phase of the company’s rollout employing a workforce of approximately 40 people. Tatum says that Isolera Extracts will hire approximately 100 local employees as production grows.
“The quality of the workforce here is exceptional,” Tatum remarked. “There is a lot of local talent and we are looking forward to working with our team to push the boundaries forward in this new and exciting industry.”
Initially, Isolera Extracts plans to process about 3,000 pounds of industrial hemp per eight-hour shift. Within six months, however, the estimate is a production level of about 10,000 pounds of industrial hemp each eight-hour-shift.
North Carolina is quickly becoming more accustomed to the idea of industrial hemp as a “cash crop.” In data shared by the USDA, N.C. has been listed in the “top ten” in a ranking of the nation’s hemp-growing states, falling behind Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon, North Dakota, Minnesota and New York.
“North Carolina has gone all-in on hemp” the USDA noted in its ‘Hemp Industry Daily’ report. “State officials see it as a natural fit for an economy once dominated by tobacco farming and textile manufacturing.”
With the addition of Isolera Extracts to its industrial base, Granville County will play a major role in this trend as a new agricultural phenomenon sweeps the country.
“We could not be more pleased to operate Isolera Extracts in Granville County,” Tatum said. “We’ve received a warm reception from Granville County, the City of Oxford and the state of North Carolina. The entire community is behind us and our partnership with Granville County and its farmers is an exciting opportunity for everyone.”
“We would especially like to thank Economic Development Director Harry Mills,” Tatum added, “who has been essential in this process and has facilitated making this a reality.”
Plans are for Isolera Extracts to be operational by the beginning of April. A ribbon cutting at its 60-acre home will take place with local, regional and state officials on April 5.
For more information on Isolera Extracts and other local industries, contact Granville County Economic Development Director Harry Mills at 919-693-5911 or email him at harry.mills@granvillecounty.org.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Isolera-Extracts.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-29 16:58:482020-03-11 06:35:25Industrial Hemp Processor to Open in Granville County
National Professional Social Worker Month is celebrated each year in March. It’s an opportunity to spotlight the profession and the contributions social workers make every day.
According to Joe Tartamella, Supervisor for Adult Services, Foster Care and Adoptions for the Granville County Department of Social Services, local social workers provide services to meet the needs of community members who want and need assistance, including those who may not yet know how to ask for or accept help from anyone.
More than 80 social workers are trained and on hand to work directly with Granville County residents or to provide referrals to those who may be facing issues of substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual and physical abuse, parent/caretaker neglect, dependency, exploitation, mental health issues and economic hardships. Of all the workers in DSS, there are 10 in Child Support Services, 20 in Direct Services, 51 in Economic Benefits/Income Maintenance and the rest in administrative and support positions.
The Granville County Department of Social Services, located at 410 W. Spring St. in Oxford, NC, employs over 80 social workers to assist with issues ranging from substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual and physical abuse, parent/caretaker neglect, dependency, exploitation, mental health issues and economic hardships. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)
“Our social workers are the front line, boots-on-the-ground-type people,” Tartamella explains, “and requests for assistance are made every day. For most all that seek our services, we are generally their last hope in their journey to survive.”
With a goal to “enhance the quality of life in the community through programs and services to help the vulnerable, the aged, the young, the sick and the economically disadvantaged,” the Granville County Department of Social Services exists to serve local individuals and families.
From government aid to assistance for low-income households, disabled individuals, seniors and dependent children, social workers provide services that include medical, financial, nutritional and emergency assistance, as well as help with daycare costs, the coordination of transportation services and the investigation of fraudulent practices.
Assistance begins at the reception desk of the Granville County Department of Social Services, which is where the initial contact often begins.
“Every other department depends on them to link the people asking for assistance to the right people to serve them,” Tartamella explains. From there, daily work includes accessing the situation, developing plans to assist and working with families to meet their goals/objectives.
Many of the Social Services staff are office-based, serving Granville County citizens in need of public assistance programs such as Medicaid, Work First, Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps and SNAP) as well as energy programs, child care referrals, child support services, emergency assistance or other programs and services that are available to eligible Granville County residents.
Other social workers may work either in the office or in the field to provide assistance through Child Welfare Services or through the Adult Services unit.
The Child Welfare Services Unit accepts and responds to reports of child abuse, neglect and dependency, evaluating levels of risk to children through assessments and investigations. Appropriate action is then taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the child through In-Home Treatment (case management and skill development services) or by providing out-of-home foster care services, with a goal to establish a permanent living arrangement for the children. Options considered include re-unification with parents, custody or guardianship arrangements, or adoption.
The Adult Services unit locates, coordinates and monitors services to provide preventative, supportive and/or protective services to adults and families needing assistance in learning to function efficiently and independently. These services include Adult Protective Services, Daycare and Day Health Services, Adult Placement Services, Guardianship Services, Representative Payee Services, Case Management and In-Home Aide Services. The goal is to provide the tools needed to ensure efficiency and independent living in their own environment and in the community.
The Granville County Department of Social Services also works in conjunction with social workers from Granville Medical Center, all three Granville County Senior Centers, the Harold Sherman Adult Day program, adult and family care homes, Granville County schools, home health agencies and the many clinical social workers in the mental health system.
“We wear many hats,” Tartamella explains, “and often work long hours to make sure we serve our clients.”
For those who may need assistance with blind and visually impaired challenges, the DHHS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired has a social worker who is available on-site at Granville County DSS two days per week.
Anyone wishing to pursue a career as a social worker is reminded that this profession is for people who are called to serve. What is most needed, Tartamella says, is a desire to help others succeed.
“To be in a service profession,” he says, “you have to have a love and respect for human dignity, as well as compassion and the ability to use it. You also have to be ready and able to set and enforce hard lines of accountability. You have to be a dedicated soul.”
The Granville County Department of Social Services is located at 410 West Spring Street in Oxford and is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about the Granville County Department of Social Services and the role of social workers in our community, visit www.granvillecounty.org.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Granville-Co.-Dept-of-Social-Services.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-19 16:58:302019-03-19 16:58:30National Social Worker Month: Recognizing Those With ‘A Need to Serve’
-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County
The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, March 18, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.
Agenda items include:
Consent Agenda
1. Contingency Summary
2. Minutes
3. Public Assistance for Tropical Storm Michael
Recognitions and Presentations
4. Recognition of Service – Yvette Davis
5. ABC Update
Public Comments
6. Public Comments
Tax Matters
7. Tax Discount Discussion
Solid Waste Matters
8. Leachate Hauling Agreement
9. Granville Employee NCDOT Spring Litter Sweep
Appointments
10. Senior Services Advisory Committee
11. Animal Control Advisory Committee
12. Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee
13. Granville County Library System Board of Trustees
14. Granville County ABC Board
County Manager’s Report
15. Social Services Medicaid Project Update
16. NCHIP Health Plan Option
17. Health Department Facility Needs and Site Options
County Attorney’s Report
18. RFQ for Engineering Services in Triangle North Granville
19. County Attorney’s Report
Presentations by County Board Members
20. Presentations by County Board Members
Any Other Matters
21. Any Other Matters
Closed Session
22. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) – Attorney-Client Matter
23. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) – Economic Development
24. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5) – Property Acquisition
For current and previous Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0062_granvillecountyseal.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-15 16:53:292019-03-15 16:53:29Granville Board of Commissioners to Meet Mon., March 18
The South Branch of the Granville County Library System, located in Creedmoor, will host the program “American Women in History” on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The 5 p.m. event entitled “We Can Do It” is scheduled through Brightstar Touring Theater in celebration of Women’s History Month.
The show features some of the world’s most remarkable female pioneers such as Amelia Earhart, Sacajawea, Susan B. Anthony, Laura Ingalls Wilder and many others. Those attending this production will discover the groundbreaking efforts of women like these in shaping American history. A discussion with the actors of Brightstar Touring Theater will follow the program, which is free and open to the public.
Brightstar has been providing professional theater to young audiences for the past 16 seasons. With plays and programs that are curriculum-based, a variety of shows are offered, from historical productions to diverse, character-based plays. This year, more than 2,000 performances are scheduled from Washington state to Florida and all areas in between, as well as in Germany, Russia and other countries around the world.
The South Branch Library, located at 1550 South Campus Drive in Creedmoor, welcomes this touring group and invites all ages to attend. For more details, contact the library at 919-528-1752.
To learn more about programs and services provided by all four branches of the Granville County Library System in Oxford, Creedmoor, Stovall and Berea, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/American-Women-in-History.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-07 16:52:412019-03-07 16:52:41‘American Women in History’ to be Presented at South Branch Library
Granville County Animal Control reports the pickup of a raccoon near the area of Rock Bottom Road, Needham Drive and Bob Daniel Road. The raccoon was picked up on Saturday, March 2, 2019, and has tested positive for rabies. It was reported to have been in a pasture with livestock.
Animal Control officers are in the process of posting notices on homes in the area. All pet owners are urged to ensure rabies vaccinations on dogs, cats and ferrets are up-to-date, as required by North Carolina law.
The Granville County Animal Shelter, located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford, provides one-year rabies vaccines for only $6. Call (919) 693-6749 for details.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0062_granvillecountyseal.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-06 16:56:092019-03-06 16:56:09Third Rabid Raccoon Reported in Granville Co. This Year!
Please SAVE THE DATE for Tuesday, March 12, 2019, for a “groundbreaking” ceremony for Granville County’s new Law Enforcement Center/Animal Shelter.
The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the construction site, 525 New Commerce Drive in Oxford. The public is invited to attend.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Granville-Law-Enforcement-Center-Groundbreaking.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-01 16:55:142019-03-01 16:55:14Reminder: Groundbreaking for Granville’s New Law Enforcement Center/Animal Shelter
Granville County Animal Control reports that a raccoon has tested positive for rabies. The animal was reported in the area of Hancock Street at the intersection of East Front Street and Leak Avenue.
All pet owners are advised to be sure rabies vaccinations are up to date, in accordance with North Carolina Law. One-year rabies vaccinations are available at the Granville County Animal Shelter from noon until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Shelter is located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford. Call (919) 693-6749 for details.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0062_granvillecountyseal.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-02-25 16:56:062019-02-25 16:56:06Raccoon Tests Positive for Rabies in Granville Co.
