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-Press Release, Granville County Government
Byron Currin is the newly-hired Natural Resources Conservationist for Granville County’s Soil and Water District. A native of the area, Currin has prior experience from the Vance County Soil and Water Conservation District, where he worked for the past seven years.
Byron Currin is the newly-hired Natural Resources Conservationist for Granville County’s Soil and Water District. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)
Currin holds certifications from the N.C. Forest Service as well as completing training in cropland conservation planning, watering facilities/piping, pasture planning, herbicide application, customer service and other trainings that have helped prepare him for this role.
A 2006 graduate of J.F. Webb High School, Currin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. He has also completed training with the UNC School of Government for Soil and Water Conservation Supervisors.
He officially began work with Granville County Government in October of 2019, where he shadowed Soil and Water Conservation District Director Warren Daniel, who recently retired after a 35-year career.
Currin’s office is located at 518 Lewis Street in Oxford, where he can be reached at 919-693-4603 (ext. 3) or at byron.currin@granvillecounty.org.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Byron-Currin.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2020-01-15 16:55:462020-01-15 16:55:46Currin Named Granville County’s New Natural Resources Conservationist
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
The N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation announces that applications are now being accepted for the Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program. Scholarship recipients will be students who have firm plans to pursue a college degree in natural resource management and are committed to supporting the mission of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Up to $5,000 is available per student per school year, renewable at the discretion of the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Online applications are available to students who have declared a major in agronomy, agricultural engineering, agriculture sustainability, agriculture education, animal science, forestry, natural resource conservation/management, plant science, soil science, water management, water quality, wildlife management or other closely related degree programs. The goal of the Foundation is to increase the number of professionals entering the field who are committed to working in soil and water conservation.
Applicants must be a resident of North Carolina and must have achieved academic excellence in their high school or in their undergraduate studies.
The Foundation is accepting online applications through Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. An application form is available at https://forms.gle/qdpDXVPEVLb6ryCJ8.
Those interested in learning more about this scholarship opportunity are asked to contact Michelle Lovejoy, Executive Director of the N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, at 919-510-4599 or ncfswc@gmail.com.
Applicants may also visit ncsoilwater.org for additional information.
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
Employees of Granville County Government were recognized for milestone years of service at an appreciation breakfast held earlier this month. Earning recognitions were staff members with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 year-careers, representing many departments and agencies under the Granville County Government “umbrella.”
Employees of Granville County Government were recognized for milestone years of service at an appreciation breakfast held earlier this month. Earning recognitions were staff members with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 year-careers, representing many departments and agencies under the Granville County Government “umbrella.” (Granville Co. Govt photo)
35 years:
Warren Daniel, Granville County Soil and Water District
30 years:
Dale Evans, Inspections Department
25 years:
Luanne Cox, Department of Social Services
Angela Wright, Granville County Senior Services
Chris Smoot, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
20 years:
Sharon Ellis, Granville County Library System
Sharon Jones, Granville County Tax Office
Amy Humphries, Granville County Library System
Lowell Wilkins, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
Emma Green, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
Timothy McCall, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
Tara Short, Department of Social Services
Laura Thomas, Department of Social Services
Benji Laws, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
15 years:
Angela Balmer, Register of Deeds Office
Charissa Puryear, Granville County Cooperative Extension
Stacy Adams, Department of Social Services
Sherry Stainback, Department of Social Services
Robin Edwards, Granville County Emergency Services
Willie Richards, Environmental Programs
Nicole Duke, Department of Social Services
10 years:
Debra Weary, Administration
Justin Jorgensen, Planning Department
Raymond Allen, Parks and Grounds Department
Brad O’Briant, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
Daniel Tillotson, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
Chris Brame, Information Technology
Kimberly Hargrove, Department of Social Services
Stacy Hicks, Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Communications
5 years:
Jontrell Bullock, Granville County Detention Center
Danya Rumple, Granville County Animal Management
Beverly Ferrell, Department of Social Services
Elliott Carver, Granville County Sheriff’s Office
Matthew Katz, Granville County Animal Management
Trent Brummitt, Granville County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Communications
Jennifer Griffin, Granville County Tax Office
“Each of these employees demonstrates dedication to the job every day,” said Board of Commissioners Chair David Smith in his welcoming remarks. “Their hard work makes a difference in our county, our region and our state, and we thank them for all they do for the many residents who live here.”
The annual breakfast was held on Dec. 5 in the fellowship hall of Oxford United Methodist Church. On behalf of the Board and County Manager Michael Felts, Chairman Smith also thanked volunteers of the church who served the meal and helped organize the event.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Granville-Co.-Govt-Service-Awards.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-12-19 16:56:102019-12-19 16:56:10Granville County Government Employees Recognized for Service
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
Holiday Calendar of Events for the Granville County Library System and Creative Lifelong Learning Program:
A Gift Wrapping and Cookie Swap will be held at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford on Saturday, Dec. 7. Hours are from noon until 5 p.m.
While wrapping gifts and enjoying hot chocolate, participants will sample cookies and share cookie recipes. All gift wrapping supplies will be provided. For more details, contact Adult Services Librarian Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121.
The “Young At Heart Chorus” will present a Holiday Sing-A-Long on Monday, Dec. 9 at 11 a.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. This singing group, formed through the Creative Lifelong Learning Program of Granville County Senior Services, will include holiday favorites and special treats.
The Senior Center is located at 107 Lanier Street. Call Marilyn Howard at 919-693-1930 for more information.
Learn how to make holiday candles and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate at your Granville County public library. The Library System’s “Crafternoon” series continues with a workshop at the Stovall Library on Dec. 9 (2 p.m.), the South Branch in Creedmoor on Dec. 11 (6:30 p.m.) and the Berea Library on Dec. 19 (5:30 p.m.)
Registration is required to reserve materials for this event. For details, contact Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121.
Want to make your own personalized Christmas gift? Join the Granville County Library System for these fun Cricut workshops. Bring your own coffee mugs, plates or other items you would like to have personalized to the Stovall Library (Dec. 11), the Berea Library (Dec. 12), or the South Branch in Creedmoor (Dec. 18).
All workshops will be held at 2 p.m. and supplies will be provided. The event is for ages 18 and up. Call Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121.
A Barn Quilt Painting Class will be held on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. Scheduled through the Creative Lifelong Learning program, the class offers an opportunity to learn more about quilt designs as participants create their own painting for themselves or for a holiday gift. Nancy Peele will serve as the instructor for this class.
Register by calling Marilyn Howard at 919-693-1930.
Make a wooden snowman with “Crafts for Every Season,” offered through the Creative Lifelong Learning program of Granville County Senior Services. This hands-on workshop will be held on Dec. 13 from 9:30 until 11 a.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. The instructor is Christine Luscavich.
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
Granville County’s Emergency Communications (9-1-1) Director Trent Brummitt and Training Coordinator Stacy Hicks have been certified by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
ENP Certification is a tool that establishes benchmarks for performance, signifying competence in the field. Those who successfully complete certification demonstrate a mastery of the knowledge required for emergency number program management, help raise industry standards, and confirm their commitment to the 9-1-1 profession.
Granville County’s Emergency Communications Director Trent Brummitt (left) and Training Coordinator Stacy Hicks (right) are now ENP certified. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)
Candidates must meet eligibility requirements, complete an application (after an approval process) and pass the ENP exam. Once certification is earned, the credentials must be maintained by fulfilling re-certification requirements every four years, or passing the exam again prior to the re-certification deadline.
The Emergency Communications Center is under the direction of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office. All telecommunicators are certified through the N.C. Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission, as well as being certified as Division of Criminal Information (DCI) terminal operators through the State Bureau of Investigation.
In addition, telecommunicators are certified and trained in Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), which enables them to give pre-arrival first aid over the telephone and in Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD), which enables them to gather scene-specific information to relay to responders.
In addition to the required certifications, Brummitt and Hicks are now two of 84 certified ENP’s (Emergency Number Professionals) across the entire state.
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
The month of November marks an observance of Native American Indian Heritage Month, and the Richard H. Thornton Library is helping showcase this observance with a display of arrowheads and other artifacts from the private collection of North Carolina Room Specialist and historian Mark Pace.
The collection includes pottery shards, spear points, arrowheads and primitive tools that Pace has collected for more than 50 years.
North Carolina Room Specialist and historian Mark Pace is pictured with his collection of pottery shards, spear points, arrowheads and primitive tools. The Thornton Library in Oxford, NC is showcasing Pace’s collection in observance of Native American Indian Heritage Month. (Granville Co. Govt photo)
Pace says he found his first arrowhead when he was eight years old on his grandfather’s farm in Johnston County. That find – with a fluted point – got him hooked, and led him to continue his quest to uncover more. In all, he has more than 25,000 pieces in his collection, some of which have been verified as being thousands of years old.
“Looking for artifacts is therapeutic to me,” Pace says of this passion he has followed for most of his life. “I’m not a golfer, but I compare this to making a hole in one. When I find one, it’s a great win.”
Pace’s collection includes artifacts from many areas of the state. The most he has found in one day, he recollects, were 60 pieces uncovered near Williamsboro. Those finds, as well as many others, he keeps in boxes in his home, with a few choice pieces displayed in a handcrafted case in his living room.
“I often wonder about the people who made and used these,” he says. “If whole civilizations were here so many years before us, how permanent are we?”
Ironically, the first piece Pace found in Johnston County, back when he was an eight-year-old, has since been dated to be 10,000 years old. This fluted point arrowhead, one of the oldest in his collection, is a rare find that has since been documented in archeology journals and is part of the display at the Thornton Library through the end of this month.
“Everyone knows how much I love history and genealogy,” Pace adds. “We all have to remember that history goes back way before 1746, when Granville County was formed. Years from now, there will be those who will be learning about us. I wonder what they will find?”
(A display for Native American Indian Heritage Month is also featured at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor, as well as books available for checkout at the Stovall and Berea branches.)
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl was a special guest of the Granville County Library System on November 15 as she shared her book and her writing journey with fourth and fifth graders of six local elementary schools.
Hackl’s book “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe” has been selected for North Carolina’s Battle of the Books competition, and schools who participated in the “meet the author” session will be taking part in this annual reading contest.
Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl explains her writing process to local fourth and fifth graders who are participating in “Battle of the Books.” (Granville Co. Govt photo)
Hackl says she spent her childhood “inventing characters and roaming the woods” in Mississippi, just outside of an actual ghost town.
Her childhood home is the setting for her book, which takes readers on an adventure with a twelve-year-old who follows clues to solve a mystery, along with her poetry-loving dog and the last resident of the town. The author’s goal is to inspire students to use the transformative power of reading to improve their academic performance and their creative writing skills. Her book has been awarded the Southern Book Prize for Children’s Literature.
Each student was able to take home their own copy of “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe,” courtesy of Granville Health System (Granville Co. Govt photo)
According to Granville County Library System Director Will Robinson, the visit was the result of a partnership between the libraries and a Wake Forest book store, who will be coordinating future author visits with Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson.
Carlson says that the common goal of the library and the book store is to put a book in the hands of every child who participates.
Hackl’s visit was the first one scheduled through this partnership. Schools that attended on November 15 included Butner-Stem Elementary, C.G. Credle, Mount Energy, Stovall-Shaw Elementary, West Oxford Elementary and Wilton Elementary. Each student was able to take home a signed copy of the book, courtesy of Granville Health System.
For more information about this event, contact Carlson at the Richard H. Thornton Library at 919-693-1121.
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
The “Thank-A-Vet” program is ready to launch in Granville County. Beginning November 12, the Granville County Register of Deeds will be providing Veterans with a FREE service as a photo identification card is offered that can be used for discounts at participating local businesses. This service will be available to all veterans who register or have already registered their DD-214 form.
A list of businesses offering discounts will be provided to each veteran who participates in this program and includes:
Air Works Heating and Air
Art and Antique Gallery
Black’s Tire Service
Butner Care Care Service, Inc.
Comfort Inn and Suites
Georges of Oxford
Granville Athletic Park (facility rentals)
Granville County Expo and Convention Center (facility rentals)
Granville Little Theater
Lake Rogers, Creedmoor (rentals)
Mark E. Bostic, DDS
NAPA Auto Parts
O’Reilly’s Auto Parts
Oxford Car and Truck
Peace Point Guest House and Retreat
Premier Eye Institute, OD, PLLC
Professional Pharmacy
T. Owen Electric Inc.
Select Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.
Southern States of Oxford
The Hub on Main
This and That
Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.
Verizon Wireless
Whitco Termite and Pest Control
To register for this service, veterans should bring a valid, state-issued driver’s license or identification card, such as their military ID, and an original DD-214 form. If the DD-214 form has already been registered with the Granville County Register of Deeds office, record verification will be provided prior to issuing this “Thank A Vet” photo identification card.
The Granville County Register of Deeds office is located at 101 Main Street in Oxford, inside the Courthouse building. Hours for issuing these cards will be Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Those with questions about this FREE photo ID service should contact Kathy Taylor, Granville County Register of Deeds, at kathyadcock@granvillecounty.org or at 919-693-6314.
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-Press Release, Granville County Government
Granville Co. Community Calendar Items
A COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING, hosted by Granville County Government and Open Broadband, LLC will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Camp Oak Hill and Retreat Center. The 7 p.m. meeting is scheduled to share details and to answer questions about Granville County’s new Broadband Initiative, which will bring high speed internet service to unserved and underserved areas of the county. All interested residents are encouraged to attend and to have questions prepared.
Camp Oak Hill and Retreat Center is located at 1528 Oak Hill Road in Oxford.
THE ANNUAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY APPRECIATION DAY EVENT is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center in Oxford. Local businesses are invited to join Granville County Economic Development, in partnership with the Granville County Chamber of Commerce and Vance-Granville Community College, for an opportunity to network and to learn more about services and resources that are available to assist them. The event is free and open to the public.
For information on reserving a table, contact Lynn Cooper at 919-693-5911 or cooper@granvillecounty.org.
THE CREATIVE LIFELONG LEARNING (CLL) PROGRAM, offered by Granville County Senior Services, has kicked off its fall season with a wide range of classes, activities and educational tours. Upcoming classes include Barn Quilt Painting, taught by Nancy Peele on Monday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.; Nutrition, taught by Linda Robinson on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m.; The Romanov Dynasty, taught by George Robinson on Thursdays from Sept. 19 to Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.; Clogging, taught by Linda Cash on Thursdays from Sept. 19 to Oct. 24 at 8:30 a.m., Decoupage, taught by Christine Luscavich on Friday, Sept. 20 at 9:30 a.m.; and Learning to Play Duplicate Bridge, taught by Chip Hughes, on Fridays from Sept. 20 to Nov. 22 at 10 a.m.
Classes are open to any interested adult in Granville County – you don’t have to be a senior to participate. To learn more about the CLL program or to register for these classes, contact Marilyn Howard at 919-693-1930.
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