Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Kerr-Tar COG Regional Housing Summit Sept. 11 At VGCC Civic Center

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Regional leaders, housing experts and community partners will come together on Thursday, Sept. 11 for the Kerr-Tar Regional Housing Summit, an event designed to address current housing challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The summit will bring together local officials, planners, developers, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening housing availability, affordability and accessibility throughout the region.

“Access to safe, attainable housing is central to our region’s long-term growth and quality of life,” said Kerr-Tar COG Executive Director Diane Cox. “This summit is an opportunity to share knowledge, identify common challenges, and work toward solutions.”

The summit will feature subject matter experts including Tyler Mulligan, professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC School of Government. He advises state and local officials as well as partner organizations on community economic development, affordable housing, public-private development partnerships, and revitalization initiatives. Also presenting will be Chris Allen, director of Events and Partnerships at Strong Towns, a national nonprofit that helps communities strengthen their housing markets and expand access to homes at prices residents can afford.

The event will take place at Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, 200 Community College Rd.  from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Registration is open to the public, with particular emphasis on participation from government officials, housing professionals, business leaders and community advocates.

For more information or to register, please visit kerrtarcog.org  or contact Desiree Brooks at 252.436.2040 or dbrooks@kerrtarcog.org.

TownTalk: Granville County Spicing Things Up For September

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If you’ve driven around downtown Oxford recently, perhaps you’ve noticed the street decorations and banners that have been installed, creating a festive atmosphere to usher in the 19th annual N.C. Hot Sauce Contest and Festival.

Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said this is the second year that the hot sauce festival will be a two-day affair, with evening music and other activities kicking off on Friday, Sept. 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13 is a full day of all-things-hot-sauce, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Allen said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

“Things are getting hot and spicy in downtown Oxford,” she said.

More than 300 vendors will be set up throughout downtown to share samples of their sauces, rubs, jams, jellies and more that they’ve created with peppers. “It’s a foodie paradise,” Allen said.

Some vendors have participated 15 years or more, and they’ll set up their tents and tables alongside others who may be new or nearly new to the experience. They come from all over the state and elsewhere to share their creations with pepper enthusiasts who like a little – or a lot – of kick in their salsas and sauces.

Peppers may take center stage for the host sauce festival, but pumpkins are also a favorite for fall.

In addition to Cedar Creek Gallery’s glass pumpkin patch in the front gallery on exhibit through October, there are a couple of harvest festivals that will be popping up across the county for folks to get their fall “fix.”

  • Sept. 14 – Carlee Farms Harvest Festival, hosted by Kissing Booth boutique. More than 25 vendors will have fashion, homemade crafts, seasonal décor and treats available
  • Sept. 27 – Harvey Hills Farm’s Harvest Days each weekend through Oct. 26. Festive vendor market featuring fall produce, décor, pumpkins and mums
  • Sept. 27 – Indian Branch Farm hosting Roots and Rows from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with more than 65 vendors featuring fashion, home décor, seasonal treats and more

Allen said farm festivals provide authentic experiences for people to meet farmers and craftspeople responsible for things we eat and things we put in our homes.

“It’s really awesome to go into these festivals and meet the people that actually make these things,” she said.

But it’s not all hot sauce and fall festivals in Granville County, she said. The city of Oxford has recently renamed the auditorium located in City Hall, and “The Ox” is set to host a varied lineup of live entertainment and performances through fall and into December.

The Granville Arts Council is bringing Red Bird Theater back, this time for a production of the play Revolution, on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m

Then, on Sept. 10, it’s “The Bad Moms of Comedy,” with a 7:30 performance.

Beach music fans will be happy to know that The Drifters are set to perform on Nov. 1 and then there are a couple of Christmas shows scheduled – Dec. 1 it’s Celtic Angels and Dec. 14 Nashville Nöel.

Check out https://visitgranvillenc.com/  to learn about all the events taking place across Granville County.

CLICK PLAY!

Maria Parham Health Emergency Department Renovation Complete

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— information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer

Maria Parham Health has received a Certificate of Occupancy for its Emergency Department renovation on the Henderson campus, marking a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality care—especially for patients facing behavioral health challenges in Vance and Franklin counties.

Construction on the renovation began Mar. 17, 2025. The project was designed to better serve vulnerable populations in the region, with particular emphasis on creating dedicated spaces within the Emergency Department to meet the growing need for behavioral and mental health services.

“These renovations reflect our unwavering commitment to improving the way we care for every patient who walks through our doors—especially those navigating mental and behavioral health issues,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the community support and funding that made this project possible, and we look forward to opening these new spaces to better serve our neighbors.”

Key improvements include the creation of dedicated, purpose-built areas within the Emergency Department that promote safety, privacy, and dignity for behavioral health patients. The enhancements are also expected to boost operational efficiency and support staff well-being.

To ensure continuous care during construction, temporary modifications were made to the hospital’s main lobby, which have served as a substitute intake, registration, and emergency care area for patients arriving via personal vehicle. These temporary areas have allowed for uninterrupted triage, waiting, and registration services throughout the renovation period.

With the Certificate of Occupancy now in hand, hospital staff began final preparations on Aug. 20 to bring the renovated Emergency Department online. The space opened to patients at 11 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2025.

The project was made possible by funding secured in October 2023 through a collaborative initiative involving the Vance County District Attorney’s Office, Granville Vance Public Health, the Vance County Board of Commissioners, and the North Carolina General Assembly. The investment demonstrates a shared regional commitment to strengthening mental health care infrastructure and improving outcomes for patients across the area.

Maria Parham Health will continue to provide renovation updates through its official Facebook page and local media outlets-

Michele Walker Named Granville Chamber Of Commerce Marketing, Administrative Coordinator

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Michele Walker has been named as marketing and administrative coordinator for the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

Walker most recently was the business development manager for Huff Consulting, LLC and brings experience in business development, marketing and community engagement to the role with the Chamber.

She has served on the Salvation Army Board, chaired the Business Advisory Council for Vance County Schools, and is a graduate of Leadership Vance. She is also the lead organizer of the annual Community Resource Festival, helping connect residents with essential services and programs, and has served as an ambassador for both the Granville County and Henderson-Vance Chambers of Commerce.

“Michele’s expertise and passion for building relationships will be a tremendous asset to our members and the local business community,” said Jennifer Cufalo, Executive Director of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact the Granville County Chamber of Commerce at 919.693.6125 or email jennifer@granville-chamber.com or michele@granville-chamber.com.

NC State Board of Elections

State Board Of Elections Registration Repair Project Underway To Update Voter Info

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The first wave of mailings is now going out to North Carolina voters who need to provide their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number as part of the State Board of Elections “Registration Repair Project.”

The SSBE is sending letters to about 82,700 individuals whose voter registration records lack one of these numbers, as required by state and federal laws.

According to the SBE database, which is updated daily, Vance County has 451 voters who need to provide the additional information to keep their voter registration current. Granville County has 384, Warren County has 133 and Franklin County has 649.

Individuals who receive the letter requesting the additional information can provide their driver license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number either by completing and returning the form at the bottom of the letter and returning it in the mail, in person at their local Board of Elections office or online through the NCDMV secure website at to payments.ncdot.gov.

There is no cost to make the registration update using the NCDMV website.

Updating the voter registration may not be done by phone.

“It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s free,” said Sam Hayes, State Board executive director. “We strongly encourage all voters on the Registration Repair list to take action now and avoid any issues the next time they show up to vote.”

North Carolinians can search whether they are on the list via the Registration Repair Search Tool, which is updated daily.

The Registration Repair Project launched on July 17, and already, the registrations of more than 20,000 voters have been fixed through a combination of research by the county boards of elections and the response of individual voters to update their registration records. As of Monday, Aug. 18, 82,540 registrants remained on the repair list, down 20 percent from 103,270 on the original list.

In future elections, in-person voters who still have not provided the required information to update their registration must vote provisional ballots and provide the information when they vote. That process is easy — the application for voting a provisional ballot includes prompts for DL# or SSN4.

The State Board is creating a flag to appear on these voters’ records in the electronic or paper poll books used at voting sites to alert poll workers that these voters must vote provisional ballots and provide the missing information for their ballot to count. Once a voter provides their DL# or SSN4 and that number is validated, the provisional ballot will count. County boards of elections will train poll workers accordingly.

For more information, go to ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair.

State Health Plan Board Approves Premium Increases For 2026

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 – information from the office of N.C. Treasurer Brad Briner

State Health Plan board of trustees approved Friday a plan that puts into effect higher 2026 health insurance premiums for many active employees on the State Health Plan.

This is the final step in the three-pronged effort to provide financial stability as the Plan faces a half billion-dollar deficit.

The approved premiums include increases for active members and, notably, a cost reduction for some employees who choose to cover children on their plan. To lessen the financial burden on the state’s lowest paid employees, the Plan will be introducing salary-based premiums in 2026.

Health Plan members include teachers, state employees and retirees. Active Plan members have seen little change in premiums or benefits for the last seven years, in part because the Plan used cash reserves to keep premiums flat while the Plan’s costs continued to rise, according to a press release issued Friday by the office of N.C. Treasurer Brad Briner, whose office oversees the health insurance program. Those cash reserves are now nearly depleted, and the current board of trustees was saddled with a $507 million deficit.

The General Assembly approved, and Gov. Josh Stein signed into law, an additional $100 million for 2026 to the Plan. Doctors and health care systems across the state have agreed to reduce their rates for Plan members – doing the same work for less money. The final step came from the Board of Trustees who approved 2026 benefit changes – which it voted on in May – followed by Friday’s vote on premium increases.

“Today’s vote was not easy, but these increases were necessary to keep the Plan solvent and to keep this benefit in place for those that serve and have served the state of North Carolina,” said Briner, who chairs the board. “The goal now is to move forward and focus on ways to improve benefits through transparency and better partnerships and programs to keep our members healthy.”

Plan members will receive more information regarding benefits and premium rates prior to the 2026 Open Enrollment period, which will take place Oct. 13-31, 2025.

The full board presentation, which includes all premium rates approved at today’s meeting is available on the Plan’s website.

N.C. State Fair Offers Online Discount Ticket Purchase Before Gates Open On Oct. 16

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If you’re planning a trip to the N.C. State Fair when the gates open in a couple of months, you’ll save a few bucks by purchasing discount advance tickets online now through Oct. 16.

Tickets can also be purchased daily at the Dorton Arena kiosk beginning Oct. 3 and walk-up tickets will be available at Gate 9 for the fair’s 10-day run,

Find all the latest information at 2025 N.C. State Fair.

“The fair is a great place to make cherished memories with your family and friends,” said Kent Yelverton, N.C. State Fair director. “These prices are the best ticket offers you’ll see this fair season, so be sure to buy your advance tickets today.”

The advanced ticket prices are as follows:

Adults (ages 13-64) are $10, youth (ages 6-12) and senior adult tickets are $5 and children 5 and under are free. Group tickets are also available for groups of 40 people or more with prices at $8 for adults and $4 for youth.

Advance tickets for ride ticket cards, ride wristbands, the State Fair Flyer and the State Fair SkyGazer are available through Oct. 16. These purchases do not include admission to the fair. The prices are $11 for 18 ride tickets, $31 per unlimited ride wristband, $6 one-way or $9 round-trip for the State Fair Flyer, and $6 for the State Fair SkyGazer.

It is important to note that each ride wristband will be valid for one day only during the duration of the fair. Ride ticket cards and wristbands are not valid for the State Fair Flyer or the State Fair SkyGazer.

Additionally, the State Fair offers online-only, special-themed ticket packages, including two new packages:

  • (NEW) Bright Lights and Boots Package – One gate admission and one ticket to the NCHSRA Rodeo Event held on Monday, Oct. 20 or Tuesday, Oct. 21 for $18. ($2 savings)
  • Dizzy Pass – One gate admission ticket and one unlimited ride wristband for $39 ($2 savings)
  • Kegs & Cork Pass – One gate admission ticket, one N.C. Public House Beer + Wine ticket for $18 ($2 savings)
  • (NEW) Sippin’ Spirits Package – One gate admission ticket and one Still House Cocktail ticket for $23. ($2 savings)
  • State Fair Flyer Package – Two gate admission tickets and two round-trip State Fair Flyer tickets for $34 ($4 savings)
  • State Fair SkyGazer – One gate admission ticket and one State Fair SkyGazer ticket for $14 ($2 savings)

This year the prices the consumer sees when they access the online purchase website will reflect an all-in price, which is the price with taxes and fees included. For more information on tickets, check out the “Important Information for Carnival Ticketing” section under the “Buy Tickets Now” tab on the State Fair website.

Ellis Boyle Sworn In As U.S. Attorney For The Eastern District Of NC

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W. Ellis Boyle has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The oath was administered by his father, U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle at the Terry Sanford Courthouse in Raleigh. Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Boyle as the interim U.S. attorney on Aug. 7, 2025.

According to a press release issued Monday, Aug. 11, Boyle becomes the lead federal law enforcement official in the Eastern District of North Carolina, which includes the 44 easternmost counties of North Carolina.

He oversees a staff of 119 employees, including 58 attorneys and 61 non-attorney support personnel. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes across the district, including crimes related to immigration, gang violence, National Security, drug trafficking and violent crime.  The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Before becoming the U.S. attorney, Boyle practiced law at Ward and Smith, P.A., where he practiced litigation, representing businesses, government entities, and individuals in complex matters. He also served as general counsel and deputy secretary at the N.C. Department of Public Safety, which employs over 27,000 people. The department oversees the state’s prison and probation/parole systems, the State Highway Patrol, Emergency Management, the National Guard and the juvenile justice system.

Prior to his role at DPS, Boyle was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina for two years. During his time in the Civil Division, he tried many cases in federal court. He gained extensive experience representing the United States in cases involving negligence and medical malpractice claims for personal injuries under the Federal Tort Claims Act, as well as in bankruptcy cases.

Before serving as an AUSA, Boyle was an associate in the business litigation practice group of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice in Winston-Salem, where he primarily represented companies in matters related to business disputes and dissolution.

Born and raised in Edenton, Boyle earned a degree in history from Davidson College. After graduating, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the U.S. Army where he served as an infantry officer for four years, eventually rising to the rank of captain. Following his time in the Army, Ellis earned a law degree from Wake Forest University Law School. After graduating, he spent a year as a law clerk for the Hon. Claude Hilton, a U.S. District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.

N.C. State Fair Accepting Applications For ‘Farm Family Of The Day’ Program

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Do you know a farm family deserving of recognition? The N.C. State Fair is accepting applications for the Farm Family of the Day program, sponsored by Tractor Supply Company.

Nominations and applications are being accepted through Sept. 5.

If you are a proud N.C. farmer who works hard to contribute to our state’s No. 1 industry, and loves both farming and the N.C. State Fair, your family could be one of the 11 lucky ones selected to represent the industry at the fair.

The Farm Family of the Day program is returning for its fifth year to recognize and celebrate more of the state’s rich agricultural heritage and the farm families that are behind our $111.1 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry.

Families recognized as Farm Family of the Day honorees will receive an N.C. State Fair gift basket, including fair tickets to use on any day of their choice during the 2025 N.C. State Fair, ride passes and additional swag from both Tractor Supply Company and the N.C. State Fair.

Families will be chosen by both nomination and application forms. Applications can be found online at https://www.ncagr.gov/public-affairs/tractor-supply-farm-family-day-app…or nomination forms can be found online at https://www.ncagr.gov/public-affairs/tractor-supply-farm-family-day-nomination-form/download?attachment.

 

“The State Fair’s earliest beginnings sought to elevate the understanding of new agricultural practices and technology. Helping people make the connection between farming and the food that they enjoy is one of our top missions at the N.C. State Fair each year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Thanks to Tractor Supply Company, we can help tell the story of our farmers because they are out there every day working to grow the food, fiber and fuel that we need to survive.”

 

The 2025 N.C. State Fair will run Oct. 16-26 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The fair offers an experience unique to North Carolina for all who attend, and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights. For more information, visit www.ncstatefair.org.

 

American Red Cross Blood Drives In August

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August is National Wellness Month, and the American Red Cross is encouraging people to prioritize their personal health and well-being while helping to save lives with a blood or platelet donation.

Donors of all blood types – especially those with type O positive or B negative blood – are asked to make an appointment now to prevent a further drop in donor turnout.

This month, the Red Cross will provide free A1C screening – a test commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes – for all donors who make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation. Fasting is not required for this test, and donors will be able to view their confidential results one to two weeks after their donation in the Blood Donor App or their donor account at RedCrossBlood.org. Donors will receive one A1C test result in a 12-month period.

Schedule a time to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give Aug. 1-28, 2025, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. For details on both offers, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Test.

Upcoming blood drives in the area:

Granville

Butner

8/20/2025: 12 noon – 4:30 p.m., Butner Town Hall, 415 Central Ave.

 

Oxford

8/23/2025: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Richard Thornton Library, 210 Main St.

8/28/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ernest F. Hart American Legion Post 90, 914 Williamsboro St.

Franklin

Youngsville

8/18/2025: 12 noon – 5 p.m., Youngsville Fire Department, 803 Wheaton Ave.