Bill Harris and Mark Pace, joined by Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue, talk about the Famous Sports Figures and Teams from the Old Granville County Area on this edition of Around Old Granville.
(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)
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— press release
A federal judge sentenced Shamar Wayquis Evans, also known as “sly dollar”, 35, to eight years in federal prison for possession of a gun by a convicted felon and possession with intent to sell crack. He pleaded guilty on June 16, 2026.
“This gun toting and drug pushing ne’er–do-well will pose no threat to the law-abiding citizens of Eastern North Carolina. Through hard work, focus, driven efforts by local and federal law enforcement, we removed him from our community,” said Ellis Boyle, EDNC U.S. Attorney. “This case demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who endanger our neighborhoods and families through violence and selling deadly drugs. Simple lesson; drugs kill, prison awaits, do better.”
From September 2025 through January 1, 2025, ATF and the Oxford Police Department investigated Evans’s drug‑trafficking activities. Law enforcement officers conducted multiple controlled purchases of crack from Evans. On January 3, 2025, officers executed search warrants at two residences connected to Evans. At the first residence, officers found a firearm and drug paraphernalia in his bedroom. At the second residence, officers located Evans with 14 grams of crack inside his jacket.
Evans is a previously convicted felon with several North Carolina state court convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon on a government official and selling heroin in 2017, and selling heroin 2018.
“When a convicted felon possesses of a gun, the threat of violence increases putting innocent lives at risk,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “ATF is committed to protecting our communities by identifying the biggest threats to our public safety and holding them accountable for their crimes.”
“The results of this case are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the law enforcement community at the Local, State, and Federal levels. We understand the unique challenges that come along with drug enforcement, but we will be relentless in our efforts to pursue those who threaten our communities by distributing dangerous drugs and illegally possessing firearms,” said Chief Brandon Goins of the Oxford Police Department. “This investigation took time, resources, and tenacity and highlights our continued commitment to removing dangerous drugs and illegal firearms from our streets. The Oxford Police Department remains committed to working collaboratively with our partners to ensure the safety of our community.”
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. ATF and the Oxford Police Department investigated this case.
— Information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College celebrated new apprentices and the employers supporting their career journeys during its Apprenticeship Signing Ceremony held earlier this month at the VGCC Civic Center in Henderson.
The first event of its kind in VGCC history, the Oct. 12 ceremony recognized 22 apprentices’ commitment to advancing their education and developing skills in their chosen professions, according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel. It also highlighted the role of employer partners in providing hands-on training, mentorship, and opportunities that connect classroom learning with workplace experience.
Dr. Kim Sepich, Vice President of Instruction & Student Services, and Dr. Krystal Foxx, Director of Career Services & Experiential Learning, opened the program. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais and Reginald Baker of ApprenticeshipNC also delivered remarks, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among education, industry, and workforce partners in building meaningful career pathways and strengthening the region’s workforce.
The signing honored both the apprentices working toward their professional goals and the employers investing in their growth. Participating employer partners include Ardagh Group of Henderson, Dill Air Control Products of Oxford, Eaton Corporation of Youngsville, Mandolin HVAC & Plumbing of Raleigh, Ontic of Creedmoor, and Sunrock of Butner.
Apprenticeships combine structured workplace training with related instruction, allowing participants to earn while they learn and apply new knowledge in real work settings. For employers, these partnerships support the development of skilled employees while creating opportunities to prepare talent for their organizations’ workforce needs. For the apprentices, such opportunities offer not only the chance to perfect the skills they learned in a classroom, but they also provide industry connections not usually available for entry-level positions—potentially changing the trajectory of their careers for years to come.
VGCC Mechatronic Engineering Technology graduates and Ontic apprentices Omar Ramos-Espinoza and Joseph Richmond shared personal testimonials about their apprenticeship experiences. Their reflections offered guests a firsthand perspective on learning while working and illustrated how employer-supported training can contribute to professional growth. Their participation also brought a personal connection to the ceremony, highlighting the individuals at the heart of these partnerships.
Vance-Granville Community College’s Career Services office empowers and equips job seekers with the tools, resources, and support to succeed. Its mission is to build a culture of success through career exploration, career readiness and development, and connections with employers and community partners. Employers interested in exploring apprenticeships or other work-based learning opportunities are encouraged to contact LaShawn Hawley, VGCC Experiential Learning Coordinator, at hawleyl@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3336 to discuss workforce needs and potential next steps.
— information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood
The Granville County Veterans Services Office and the Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee invite residents to participate in several upcoming events that will honor the service and sacrifice of United States military veterans in November.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Wednesday, Nov. 11
Operation Greenlight
This annual commemoration encourages homes and businesses to install green lights outside of their buildings as a show of support to veterans and raise awareness for the sometimes difficult transition that many face transitioning from military to civilian life.
Saturday, Nov. 7
Deploy Operation Art: Smartphone Photography Workshop
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Deploy Operation Art is a series of free workshops designed to help veterans and their families connect with their creative side and form social connections with other creative Veterans and family members. This workshop is sponsored by The Joel Fund, Granville County Veterans Services and the Granville Arts Council.
Wednesday, Nov. 11
City of Creedmoor Veterans Day Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Willow Oak Room at the Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Dr., Creedmoor
A free breakfast will be served to the first 100 veterans and their families. Please RSVP at https://creedmoor.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1818. The event will feature guest speaker CSM (Retired) Montigo White, U.S. Army and JROTC Instructor at South Granville High School and the Presentation of Colors by the South Granville High School JROTC.
Town of Butner Veterans Day Ceremony
Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena, 416 24th St., Butner
Join the Town of Butner, the Butner Community Association and the Butner Holiday Committee for this annual event honoring local veterans and the proud military history of Butner, which dates to Camp Butner during World War II.
City of Oxford Veterans Day Ceremony
Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. – 12 noon
at the Ox Theater at Oxford City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St., Oxford
Join the City of Oxford and the Ernest F. Hart American Legion Post 90 for the annual Oxford Veterans Day ceremony featuring guest speaker Jay Price, Military and Veterans Affairs Reporter for WUNC News and the American Homefront Project. Price is a journalist who has been embedded in several domestic and foreign posts, including with the 82nd Airborne Division. The J.F. Webb JROTC and Bugles Across America will also participate in the event.
Veterans Day Celebration
Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.at
Enon Baptist Church, 2298 Enon Rd., Oxford
This event will feature a dinner followed by guest speaker Brooke Dickhart, Executive Director of the Joel Fund.
Friday, November 20
Veterans Breakfast
8 a.m. – 9 a.m. at
Family Diner, 1213 Goshen St., Oxford
This breakfast is free for all veterans and is sponsored by the Joel Fund and Granville County Veterans Services.
— From N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Fall is a time for planting and preparing for the upcoming growing season. It is also a good time to submit soil samples to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Soil tests are free through Nov. 30, so now’s the time to submit those little brown boxes with samples of your yard, garden or other areas you’re interested in.
During peak season, the fee is $5 per sample. For 2026-27, peak soil testing season begins Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, and runs through Mar. 31, 2027.
Samples must physically arrive at the Agronomic Services Division at 4300 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, to avoid the peak-season fee. The date of shipping, delivery to a local Cooperative Extension office, or postmark does not determine whether the fee applies. The samples must physically arrive at the Agronomic Services facility before the fee goes into effect. “The peak-season fee has helped us spread the sample processing time out, which benefits our farmers and residents,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Before it was initiated in 2013, turnaround time to receive test results was often greater than 12 weeks, and the lab was incredibly busy until mid-April. The fee encouraged early sampling, which enabled the lab to do a lot of analysis in the fall rather than in the winter.
“Another important aspect of the fee is that all revenue is invested back into the lab. This plays a critical role in helping the lab operate at high capacity,” Troxler said. “The lab hires temporary employees with these funds and uses additional revenue to maintain equipment and, in some cases, replace equipment.”
For the best service, it is critical that the lab receives all essential information along with a good-quality sample.
The following steps can help prevent delays that may occur when samples are submitted without the required information:
Remember: the dates of online submission, shipping, postmark, or drop off at a local Cooperative Extension office do not determine the fee. Whether the cost is $0 or $5 is based on the date the samples physically arrive at the Agronomic Services facility.
For more information, contact the NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division at 919-664-1600 or visit the Agronomic Services Soil Testing webpage.
Two Granville County Commissioners have been appointed to statewide committees and workgroups that will give them opportunities to advocate for rural communities, build partnerships across county and regional lines, and help identify solutions to challenges facing rural North Carolina.
According to information from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Russ May has been appointed to the N.C. Dept. of Transportation’s Strategic Prioritization Office of Transportation workgroup and Mark Griffin has been appointed to the NCACC’s Legislative Goals Committee and the Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Steering Committee.
May, serving in his second term on the Granville County Board of Commissioners, said his and Griffin’s appointments will give the county an opportunity to be at the table and to make sure the needs of rural North Carolina are part of the conversation.
“Our rural counties are the lifeline to the prosperity of North Carolina. We need to continue building relationships and partnerships that allow us to find ways to bring more resources, projects and opportunities to the communities we represent,” May stated in a press release announcing the appointments.
The NCDOT SPOT workgroup helps review and refine the state’s process for prioritizing transportation projects and ensuring communities’ needs are represented. May also has worked with regional transportation organizations for approximately six years, focusing on the challenges rural counties face in competing for transportation resources.
“Transportation funding is finite, and we have many projects that need attention,” May said. “We have to make sure rural counties have a voice in determining where those investments go and that there is equity in the process.”
May said improved transportation infrastructure is particularly important to Granville County’s agricultural economy, where roads are essential to moving crops and other commodities from farms to markets. “Transportation affects agriculture. It affects economic development. It affects public safety and education. When we improve one area, we can create opportunities in others. The goal is to work collectively to improve the region and, ultimately, the state.”
Griffin, in his first term as a commissioner, grew up on a tobacco farm in Granville County and still enjoys tending a vegetable garden.
His experience in agriculture has shaped his belief that protecting farmland, supporting farmers and introducing younger generations to agriculture are essential to the future of rural communities. “Agriculture is at the very core of everything I do,” Griffin said. “We have to maintain and preserve our farms because agriculture is essential not only to Granville County, but to our state and our country. We also have to make sure young people understand that agriculture can be a career and that there is a future in farming.”
Griffin has been active in a wide range of community initiatives, including Granville County’s Soil and Water Conservation efforts, the local Cooperative Extension’s Advisory Leadership Council and numerous other groups.
Through these roles, Griffin has worked on issues ranging from farmland preservation and agricultural education to healthcare, emergency services, community programs and quality of life.
His experience also includes 35 years with the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked in communities of varying sizes and developed a strong commitment to working directly with residents and community organizations. “I’ve always believed that you have to get out into the community, listen to people and understand what they need in their everyday lives,” Griffin said. “Serving on these committees gives us another opportunity to bring those local concerns forward and work with others to find solutions.”
People may look back in time and identify particular dates or specific short-term events that are, decades or centuries later, now viewed as being historical. Dates like July 4, 1776, December 7, 1941 are just two particular dates etched into most Americans’ minds as having great significance. Most folks can tell you the importance of those two dates – Independence Day and Pearl Harbor.
But sometimes it’s the regular – the mundane – that are rightly added to that category of “historical events,” and WIZS’s Bill Harris and local historian Mark Pace talked about several in Thursday’s TownTalk segment called “Around Old Granville.”
Take road expansion as one example. Road projects take years (sometimes decades) to complete, but the widening of U.S. 1 from Raleigh to Henderson and later the Hwy. 401 project between Raleigh and Louisburg, both are game-changers for the area.
Harris and Pace wrapped up a three-part series on events since 1960 that have historical significance for the four-county area.
Add to those road expansions the completion of “the Missing Link” that connected I-85 in southern Granville County back in 1973, and Pace said road construction has had a significant impact on the area.
Water systems, like roads, are critical pieces of infrastructure that communities rely on for daily life. A severe drought in 1974, coupled with the need to provide water to Soul City and the possibility of landing a beer manufacturer in Warren County led to the development of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, Pace said.
“Old Milwaukee wanted to relocate to Warren County,” Pace said, adding that the manufacturer would require a tremendous amount of water. At the time, there wasn’t a water system capable of handling their demands.
Well, it didn’t work out with Old Mil but the water system today processes millions and millions of gallons of water a day. It is completing a huge expansion to grow the amount to 20 million gallons a day.
The area has seen its share of protests since 1960 – some successful and others less so.
Landowners in southern Granville had been upset over the creation of Camp Butner during World War II because they didn’t feel like they were being fairly compensated for the property the government was taking.
Ditto the creation of Kerr Lake in the 1950’s and Falls Lake in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s.
Those projects prevailed and are part of the fabric of the community, but there were other protests that caused a stir.
There have been protests against proposed repositories for hazardous materials and waste incinerators, Pace said. In fact, the PCB landfill protests of 1982 is largely credited with being the driver for coining the phrase “environmental justice.”
Pace said it was a “grassroots resistance movement that’s actually been echoed nationwide. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 50 years.”
What events, projects or particular dates will be added to that list of historical events in 50 or 60 more years?
But there could be other events that, for now, are considered regular, ordinary…mundane.
Will it be the Dabney Drive project, long-talked about but – so far, anyway – still in the planning stage?
Will there be “that date” when folks first learned about plans for a proposed data center, sparking a rise in protests and opposition?
Time will tell.
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Granville County has selected Siri Emereje as its new tourism director. Emereje is scheduled to begin the new position on Oct. 26, 2026.
He brings to the role more than eight years of experience in destination marketing, tourism development, public sector tourism funding and community and stakeholder engagement. As director of the tourism authority, Emereje will lead Granville County’s efforts to promote the county as a destination, strengthen partnerships with tourism and hospitality stakeholders, and support the continued development of the local visitor economy.
Mallory Richard, chair of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, welcomes Emereje to the position. “His experience and perspective will be a valuable addition as we continue to strengthen tourism efforts throughout the county,” Richard said in a a press release announcing the hire.
Most recently, Emereje worked as a destination strategist, supporting destination marketing organizations with website content and digital visibility strategies.
“With transition of tourism under the Granville County Economic Development Department umbrella, we want to continue our destination marketing efforts but also look at ways to grow our tourism-based economy,” said Charla Duncan, Granville County’s Economic Development director and TDA board member. “Siri’s experience will be key in that transition, and we look forward to welcoming him as a new developer on our team, focused on tourism.”
Emereje describes his approach to destination marketing as creative storytelling. He finds and shapes the moments that capture the heart of a community, then shares them in ways that make people want to visit, and residents proud to call that place home.
From 2022 to 2026, he served as marketing communications manager for destination promotion with Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau, in Atlanta. In that role, he directed marketing and communications for an organization serving three municipalities and unincorporated DeKalb County. He also managed a $1.2 million annual advertising budget and more than 110 integrated destination promotion campaigns annually across digital, social, traditional and experiential channels.
His experience also includes tourism product development and partnership building. At Discover DeKalb, Emereje developed and launched the East Side Hops Trail, a multi-partner tourism initiative designed to drive visitation to local businesses, culminating with the project receiving the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau’s “TravelBlazer Award” in 2024. He also led a full destination website relaunch and served as a public-facing representative working with elected officials, hospitality and attraction partners, media, and community and industry organizations.
Emereje holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing and a certificate in Advertising, as well as a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of West Georgia, in Carrollton, Georgia. He also holds a Certificate in Business Analytics from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is a certified Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) through the Southeast Tourism Society and a Professional in Destination Management (PDM) through Destinations International. He is also a graduate of Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College.
Emereje’s industry recognition includes being named a 2025 Destinations International 30 Under 30 Honoree, as well as receiving the 2024 GACVB Travel Blazer Award for the East Side Hops Trail.
The tourism director position is funded in full through county occupancy tax revenues, derived primarily from overnight stays at hotels located in Granville County.
Until Emereje begins, tourism-related communication should be directed to the Granville County Economic Development office, 919.693.5911 or by emailing Stephanie Velazquez, Economic Development program manager, at Stephanie.Velazquez@granvillecounty.org.
— Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
Vance-Granville Community College is partnering with a New York-based university to provide its students with access to a wide range of online undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs.
Through the collaboration with Excelsior University, VGCC graduates can continue their education and advance their careers, according to a recent press release from VGCC.
VGCC Vice President of Instruction & Student Services Kim Sepich said, “Our partnership with Excelsior University provides Vance-Granville Community College graduates with many options for continuing their education. The flexibility Excelsior offers allows students to pursue degree programs in ways that work for them, which is really important for people managing a variety of life responsibilities.”
In addition to offering a rolling admissions calendar, Excelsior offers other benefits, including a 10 percent tuition discount for undergraduate and graduate students, access to personalized support, more than 40 degree programs and professional development courses and skills training.
These educational partnership benefits are also available for eligible Vance-Granville Community College employees, as well as their spouses or domestic partners and children.
“As the needs of students and employers continue to evolve, it is increasingly important for institutions to create clear and affordable pathways for lifelong learning,” said Excelsior University President David Schejbal. “Through this partnership with Vance-Granville Community College, learners can move seamlessly between institutions, with new possibilities for personal and professional growth at every stage of the educational journey.”
Excelsior University provides online degrees to working adult students in six fields of study that directly align with Vance-Granville Community College’s educational offerings, including programs in Business, Liberal Arts, Health Sciences, Nursing, Public Service, and Technology.
For more information on this partnership, visit www.excelsior.edu/partner/vance-granville-community-college.
To learn about other transfer partnerships available to Vance-Granville Community College students, visit VGCC’s online Transfer Center or call 252.738.3255.
The weekend of October 9, 10 and 11 will feature Homecoming festivities at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, but Saturday, Oct. 10 is the big day for the public including food, live music, rides for the children plus the parade route along College Street.
Alvis Billings, MHCO’s annual giving director said more than 30 Shrine units are wheeling into town for Saturday’s parade, which will once again delight parade watchers all along the route.
You won’t want to miss it – it’s the biggest Shrine parade in the state. The parade steps off at 10 a.m., Billings said on Monday’s TownTalk.
The ‘Pit’ will be cranking out all types of delicious barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 10 and the Embers will take the stage from 12 noon to 2 p.m. The public is invited to come out and enjoy the day, beginning with the parade at 10 a.m. and going through 3 p.m. Enjoy the barbecue – all you care to eat – for a $10 donation.
There are other events going on through the weekend for alumni and former residents of the home, which Billings said is the oldest children’s home in the state.
This is the 14th Homecoming festival, Billings said. Organizers expect several hundred former residents to return this weekend – to celebrate, remember and reminisce.
“It’s a fun time, but it’s also a very solemn time,” he said. The home’s mission, simply put, is to create a safe, nurturing and loving environment for children. “We create this space where kids can excel,” he said.
The home will celebrate 154 years in February and Billings called his work a passion. In his role as annual giving director, he keeps a sharp eye on what it takes to provide for the children.
The Freemasons do provide support, and the alumni association is active, but the children’s home relies heavily on financial donations, will and estates.
The Homecoming festival is a way to show appreciation for donors, as well as engage and inform the community about the home’s mission and needs.
Visit https://mhc-oxford.org/ to see a complete schedule of activities.
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