Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

BBQ Contest, Parade Planned for 9th Annual Oxford Masonic Homecoming

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford

The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College St., will hold its 9th Annual Masonic Homecoming Festival on Saturday, October 12, 2019, from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Admission is free and festivities are open to the public. Campus tours of the Masonic Home will be available.

Enjoy a fun day full of games and activities for kids, homecoming activities for alumni, music, food and the annual Shrine and Community Parade. Parade begins at the fire department at 11 a.m.

$10 lunch tickets will be sold on-site and include all-you-can-eat samples from the BBQ contest.

Don’t miss music performances by The Tams with hits such as “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy,” “What Kind of Fool” and “Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me.”

For more information, please visit www.mhc-oxford.org.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Town Talk 09/04/19: State Tourism Campaign to Feature Oxford Hot Sauce Contest

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

With less than two weeks to go, the countdown is officially on for one of Oxford’s largest tourism draws – the annual NC Hot Sauce Contest. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m in downtown Oxford.

Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, said thousands of people are expected in downtown Oxford next weekend to interact with friends, merchants, fans, artisans and vendors. In 2018, the event reportedly topped 18,000 visitors.

“If you plan on visiting us, just put Main Street, Oxford in your GPS and you will find it,” Allen said.

According to Allen, 40 of North Carolina’s barbeque and hot sauce vendors are participating, along with approximately 30 food vendors and eight breweries and wineries.

An NC Pepper Eating Contest sponsored by Bailey Farms will begin at 1 p.m. and always proves interesting to watch, said Allen. “I love to see the faces of those going through the many rounds and to see who can actually stand the heat!”

The day will also include activities for children, antique car displays, music, entertainment, shopping at downtown stores and dining at local restaurants.

Participants may also see a film crew on site as the NC Tourism Department will be recording portions of the event to include in its Visit NC “Firsts That Last” state-wide advertising campaign. “They will be there to capture those first experiences that people have at the contest, whether it be trying a pepper for the very first time or sampling sauces that are way too hot,” Allen said.

While the annual contest is literally a lot of fun and games, Allen said the bigger picture is the tourism dollars generated from sales tax on travel expenses such as hotel stays, gasoline, food and entertainment.

“Every time a person travels, they are going to spend money,” explained Allen. “All that sales tax comes back to that particular area and destination.”

In her Town Talk interview, Allen explained that the local area has often been easy for travelers to overlook in the past as they drive through via the interstate to other destinations.

“Tourism departments focus on making their location unique from other destinations,” she said. “You’ve got to play up those things that make you stand out. The hot sauce contest is definitely one of those things that has the platform to make Oxford unique.”

To hear Allen’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Granville County Logo

Open Broadband Meeting, Business & Industry Day Among Granville’s Sept. Events

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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.

CodeRED Logo

Granville Co. to Test CodeRED Community Notification System

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Granville County’s free emergency notification system, CodeRED, will be tested between 6:30 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10. The purpose of the test is to validate telephone numbers in the Granville County database.

The CodeRED system allows Granville County’s emergency officials to effectively reach residents and personnel through telephone calls, text messages and e-mails. If a resident receives this call, no action is needed. Granville County is merely testing the system to ensure it is operational and to encourage additional residents to enroll to receive future notifications.

This process helps to continually improve the system already in place by increasing the efficiency and speed at which notifications will be delivered during an actual emergency. If citizens of the county are not registered and their phone number is not in the database, they will not receive this call or any other notifications during an emergency.

Robin Edwards, Granville County’s Emergency Services Coordinator, notes that the number of residents who actively add/update their contact information in the emergency database directly impacts the protection that can be provided to people and property.

“Residents, as well as businesses, are encouraged to visit our website and update their contact information,” Edwards said. “In particular, those who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year and those who use a cellular phone or VolP phone as their primary number.”

A reminder is also offered that if a citizen is already registered for a municipal CodeRED system in their city or town of residence, they are not automatically enrolled in the county-wide database. Granville County enrollment is an entirely separate process.

“If you want to be notified of emergencies across the entire county, then you are urged to register on our website – and to keep your contact information up to date to be better informed,” Edwards adds. “And if you know anyone who is not registered and lives in Granville County, please encourage them to do so.”

To register or for more information about CodeRED, visit the Granville County website, www.granvillecounty.org, and click on the CodeRED logo located on the Emergency Management page. This page can be accessed through the “Community” heading at the top of the home page.

Those without internet access should contact a friend or family member to assist in the online process of adding/updating contact information to the county’s emergency database.

Questions regarding this system test or about CodeRED should be directed to Granville County Emergency Services at 919-603-1310.

Granville Co. Board of Commissioners to Meet This Evening

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, September 3, 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. Tax Releases and Refunds

4. Resolution Designation of Applicant’s Agent (DAA) Hurricane Florence Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Recognitions and Presentations

5. Recognition of Service – Carolyn W. Trappiel

Public Comments

6. Public Comments

Public Hearings

7. Public Hearing for Economic Development – Project Cookie

Tax Matters

8. Oxford Preparatory School 2019 Property Tax Exemption

Solid Waste Matters

9. Solid Waste Residential, Collection Franchise and Convenience Site Management – Second Reading

Purchasing

10. Smoke Testing Amendment to Agreement

11. Inspections Department Pickup Truck

12. Detention Center Transit 250 Cargo Van and Van Insert

Appointments

13. Research Triangle Regional Partnership Board of Directors

14. Granville County Human Relations Commission

15. Granville County Economic Development Advisory Board

16. Granville County Digital Infrastructure Planning Committee

County Manager’s Report

17. Granville County Volunteer Services Enhancements

18. Granville County Employee NCDOT Fall Litter Sweep Event

County Attorney’s Report

19. County Attorney’s Report

Presentations by County Board Members

20. Presentations by County Board Members

Any Other Matters

21. Any Other Matters

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here. 

Granville Crime Stoppers

Granville Co. Crime Stoppers to Host Seminar on Ministry Safety

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Granville County Crime Stoppers will host a seminar on Ministry Safety and Security on September 4.

This one-day course, to be held at West Oxford Baptist Church (627 Hillsboro Street), will instruct participants on how to build a security team, how to deal with difficult people and situations and ways to protect people from harm.

The purpose of Granville County Crime Stoppers is to help make Granville County a safer place to live, work, and raise a family by assisting law enforcement in the fight against crime.

The church is a public place and is susceptible to a variety of safety and security situations.

Fees for this seminar include the cost of materials and lunch.

Registration is available at www.AmericanChurchGroup-NorthCarolina.com. For more details, call 877-766-7981.

Granville Co. Libraries Seeking Old Toy Donations

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Granville County Government 

Granville County Libraries need your old toys for library programming! Plastic only please, and the toys DO NOT have to be in good condition!

Examples of toys include Barbie dolls, baby dolls, action figures that can be disassembled, etc.

Those interested can drop off donations to the Thornton Library in Oxford (210 Main Street) or to the South Branch Library in Creedmoor (1550 South Campus Drive) from September 3 through October 21.

Triangle North Industrial Park Selected for Site Visit

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Rep. Terry Garrison and N.C. Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland visited the Triangle North industrial site on Friday, August 23, in Vance and Granville Counties.

Along in Vance County were Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen and Henderson-Vance Economic Development Director Dennis Jarvis along with the site’s original developer Eddie Ferguson.

Ellington told WIZS News, “We were very appreciative of NC Secretary of Commerce Tony Copeland making the trip to tour our Triangle North-Vance Business and Industrial Park. He was very impressed with the former Semprius building site that totals roughly 50,000 square feet and is already equipped with production and manufacturing space, offices, cubicles and conference rooms. It is ‘move-in’ ready to accommodate a viable business. The Secretary expressed with the current business growth along with educational and economic growth aligning together that he needed to be in Vance County to help sell this facility and region.” Ellington added, “We are thankful, ready and ‘Open for Business!’”

Jarvis told WIZS, “I was pleased to speak with Secretary Copeland, I stressed to him our exit 209, off of I-85, is the premier industrial site north of Durham. We have over 500 acres of industrial property and two buildings that provide over 200k square feet of prime industrial space with direct access to the main campus of VGCC.

We were able to discuss areas of progress for our community like workforce development, industry sectors, and the potential for investments for our community.”

In Granville County, the tour was led by Granville County’s Economic Development Director Harry Mills, according to a press release from Granville County Government, and included an overview of park sites with a focus on its close proximity to Interstate 85 and the airport.

Located in Oxford, Triangle North Granville includes more than 500 acres of development-ready land in an easily accessible location, offering state-certified sites, access to water and sewer, electric system plans in place and a short drive to the Research Triangle Park.

Also participating in the tour and presentation were Granville County Commissioner Tony Cozart, Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent, and Katherine Noel of the Economic Development Advisory Board.

Pictured: Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington, Secretary Tony Copeland and Rep. Terry Garrison.

Pictured: Harry Mills, Comm. Tony Cozart, Secretary Tony Copeland, Rep. Garrison, Mayor Sergent and Kathrine Noel at the Triangle North entrance. (Granville Co. Govt. photo)

Economic Development Director Harry Mills provides an overview of park sites at Triangle North. (Granville Co. Govt. photo)

Town Talk 08/27/19: Oxford’s Huntsboro Hemp Company Discusses CBD

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Huntsboro Hemp Company’s Garrett and Katie Brewer, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Product Development respectively, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss CBD and their production process.

CBD, or cannabidiol, continues to gain popularity among the general public as a potential, and more natural, remedy for anxiety and inflammatory-related disorders. So popular has it become that you can now ship it online from Synerva.

While producers and distributors of CBD refrain from making specific health claims, the Brewers said customers’ testimonials include reports of relief of everything from headaches and joint pain to more chronic conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Industrial hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of the cannabis species and does not provide the “high” typically associated with the THC compound found in its “sister” plant, marijuana.

According to Katie, industrial hemp must contain 0.3% or less THC to be considered legal.

“Testing is very crucial in our industry,” said Garrett. “We get certificates of analysis, which are lab reports essentially, from the time the flower is in the field all the way until it gets to the consumer. So we test at every stage of the process – from ingredients to final product.”

Garrett explained that it is this strenuous testing and dedication to providing quality ingredients, that makes Huntsboro Hemp Company unique. “That is what sets us apart – the way we make our recipe. Every time you get a bottle, you are going to get the exact same experience.”

Huntsboro Hemp currently offers three products including tinctures – used as drops placed under the tongue, bath “bombs” that enter through the skin by soaking in a bathtub and local honey infused with CBD to be consumed orally.

Huntsboro purchases hemp from local growers, including their own family farm, to ensure a pesticide and herbicide-free product that is sold at local retailers.

For the sake of transparency, Katie explained that not only does the company provide a superior product but is also dedicated to keeping the process as local as possible, even using Durham-based lab Avazyme, Inc. as their testing facility.

In a testament to the popularity and growth of the CBD industry, the Brewers quickly outgrew their first location established in 2018 and have recently set up headquarters at 123 Williamsboro Street in downtown Oxford.

Katie said the new building offers a wonderful view and provides “an office, room for production, space to meet with vendors, an area to host events and puts us right in the middle of downtown.”

To learn more about Huntsboro Hemp Company, please visit huntsborohempco.com.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

To hear the Brewers’ interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Address Canvassing Begins for 2020 U.S. Census

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Every ten years, America comes together to count all the residents and households in the country, providing the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting and distributing federal funds that support vital programs in communities, counties, states and across the nation.

Census results impact housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone.

Address canvassing for the 2020 Census has begun, with representatives of the U.S. Census Bureau in the field to update and verify local addresses.

These address listers may be knocking on doors across the area and asking a few simple questions to confirm the address and to request information regarding additional living quarters on the property.

For identification purposes, badges and briefcases will be visible indicating affiliation with the Census Bureau.

This operation is one of several activities the Census Bureau conducts for an accurate and complete count and will continue through mid-October as the 2020 Census prepares to officially start counting people in March 2020.

For more details, visit the Census Bureau website a https://www.census.gov/.