Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville Co Sheriff

Wilkins, Granville Narcotics & Interstate Interdiction Under Investigation

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A recent indictment of Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins for his alleged role in the potential homicide plot of a former sheriff’s deputy is not the only concern for the man who has been sheriff since 2009.

In a second, pending North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) matter, Sheriff Wilkins, the Granville County Narcotics Division and the Interstate Interdiction Team are under investigation for allegations of financial wrongdoing, according to a letter sent by District Attorney Michael D. Waters to the SBI in March.

Waters serves as DA for the 9th Prosecutorial District which includes Granville County.

WIZS will provide additional information as it becomes available.

 

Granville’s Tourism Development Authority Awarded for Marketing Campaign

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) has received a top honor for marketing from the North Carolina Travel Industry Association. The TDA earned the coveted platinum award in the Community Relations category for its innovative approach to communicating and building relationships within a community.

The partnership between the TDA and members of the community was the result of a recent re-branding effort, in which the tourism brand “Uniquely Carolina” was created for Granville County Tourism’s new marketing campaign.

As part of the re-branding process, the TDA and the Hughes Marketing Group (brand consultant) interviewed over 100 county stakeholders for their ideas and input. Focus groups were also incorporated, with more than 650 completing surveys online and through intercepts.

A final community outreach session, broadcast on Facebook Live, reached an additional 680 people who viewed the presentation on social media, with more than 60 people in attendance to see the results of the marketing campaign in person. Attendees included representatives of the tourism industry and the TDA Board, as well as interested residents and government/community leaders.

“Tourism is not the charge of a single person or department,” says Angela Allen, Executive Director of the TDA. “Everyone in a community impacts and is part of attracting visitors, and – more importantly – greeting, interacting with and making a visit to the community either positive or negative.”

“The primary challenge,” she added, “was to get folks to partner with us in developing our new brand. In the process, we broke through walls by incorporating our stakeholders in this effort. This award validates the community approach we used to promote tourism in Granville County.”

For more information on this community relations effort and the re-branding of Granville County Tourism, contact Allen by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org or by phone at 919-693-6125. Those interested can also visit the new website at www.visitgranvillenc.com

To learn more about the North Carolina Travel Industry Association, visit nctia.travel.

Granville Co Sheriff

Granville Sheriff Brindell Wilkins Indicted for Obstruction of Justice

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-Press Release, Wake County District Attorney’s Office

On Monday, the Grand Jury of Granville County returned indictments against elected Sheriff Brindell Wilkins for two counts of felony obstruction of justice. These charges come following a ten-month investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at the request of Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.

District Attorney Freeman adopted the case at the request of District Attorney Mike Waters, whose district includes Granville County, following a determination by Waters that he had a conflict in the matter.

Wilkins was voluntarily served with the indictments by agents with the State Bureau of Investigation, assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and processed on the charges. He appeared before a magistrate and released on a $20,000 unsecured bond.

His first court date will be October 9, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. in Granville County.

A second investigation into allegations concerning the Granville County Sheriff’s Office’s accounting practices and controlled substance interdiction efforts remains pending.

WIZS will bring you more on this story as it develops.

Granville Heritage Association to Hold Annual Harvest Show

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-Information courtesy the Granville County Chamber of Commerce

The Lord Granville Agricultural Heritage Association will hold its 13th Annual Harvest Show featuring lawn and garden tractors October 4-5, 2019, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the corner of 12th and G Streets in Butner, NC.

Highlights include antique tractors and equipment, food, tractor games, Mama’s Kitchen old-time cooking, antique homestead display, a blacksmith at work, farm shop, free games and rides for children and other vendors.

A tractor parade will go through town on Saturday.

Daily admission $5; Two-Day admission $8. Children under 12 are free. Family rate is available.

Proceeds support the Heritage Association’s scholarship program.

For exhibitor information, contact Al Gulvin at (919) 528-1652. For vendor information, contact James Adams at (919) 575-6043.

For additional information, visit www.lgaha.com.

Granville Shrine Club to Hold Fall Fish Fry

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-Information courtesy Randy Newman, Granville County Shrine Club

It’s fish fry time again! The Granville County Shrine Club will hold a fish fry on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Shrine Club on Roxboro Road in Oxford. Proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospital.

Eat-in or take out plates available for $8. Plates include fish, slaw, potato salad and hushpuppies.

Families Living Violence Free

FLVF to Hold Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Victims

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-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free

Please join Families Living Violence Free as we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month with our annual candlelight vigil to honor Granville County survivors and victims who have lost their lives as a result of family violence.

We will honor and celebrate their lives with a vigil that will take place in front of the office of Families Living Violence Free located at 125 Oxford Outer Loop Road in Oxford on Thursday, October 3, 2019, from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by WIN of Creedmoor.

For further information, please call FLVF at (919) 693-3579.

 

Granville County Logo

Granville Co. Economic Development Advisory Board to Meet Bi-Monthly

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board/Assistant to the County Manager

The Granville County Economic Development Advisory Board will now meet bi-monthly instead of quarterly as previously advertised.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Economic Development Department located at 310 Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC.

Creedmoor Music Festival to Offer Eight Bands on Two Stages, 100+ Vendors

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-Information courtesy City of Creedmoor

The 28th annual Creedmoor Music Festival will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Main Street in Creedmoor, NC.

Main Street Creedmoor will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. from W. Lyon Street to Park Avenue for the safety of festival attendees.

The highlight of the annual Creedmoor Music Festival is, of course, the music! Enjoy local performances on two stages by Rhythm Express Band of Rocky Mount, Buckshot Betty, The Invaders Band, GrassStreet, Tim Cifers, River Ratz, Tyler Kinchen & the Right Pieces and Cumberland County Line Bluegrass.

Over 100 local craft and food vendors will be in attendance, including two local craft breweries.

Josh Chapin, with ABC11 Eyewitness News, will be the guest emcee.

Parking is available at South Granville High School with a complimentary shuttle service running every 15 minutes beginning at 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

For additional information, including the no pet policy and how to purchase a festival t-shirt, please visit the City of Creedmoor’s Music Festival page by clicking here.

Oxford Prep. Student Iannuzzi Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

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-Information courtesy Oxford Preparatory School

Oxford Preparatory Upper School Director Victoria Bradsher proudly announces that senior Emily Iannuzzi is one of less than 400 North Carolina students to be named a semifinalist in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

Emily, daughter of Chris and Marisol Iannuzzi, has been named a semifinalist for the Class of 2020. Emily has attended Oxford Preparatory School since 2014 when she enrolled as an 8th grader. Currently a senior, Emily has pursued a highly rigorous course of study including accruing more than 24 college credit hours through AP exams and CCP courses.

She is also a talented artist, chef and key member of the OPS Equestrian team. Emily loves her horses and has been the recipient of a number of awards at the state and national level.

Emily Iannuzzi is pictured center with her parents, OPS Director Bradsher and OPS Executive Director Andrew Swanner. (OPS photo)

Approximately 1.6 million juniors around the United States took the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) last year. Fewer than 400 students were named semifinalists in North Carolina. These semifinalists represent the highest-scoring entrants in the state.

The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. The semifinalists now have the opportunity to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her school must submit a detailed application in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed by and recommended by a school official, write an essay and earn qualifying SAT scores.

Granville Visitors Spent More Than $52 Million in 2018

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-Press Release, Granville County Tourism Development Authority

In a recent announcement, Gov. Roy Cooper reported that visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2018. The 2.3 billion in total spending represented an increase of 5.6 percent from 2017. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Granville County tourism helped contribute to this statewide increase, bringing in more than $52 million in 2018. This reported total equates to a 5.9 percent increase from the previous year’s expenditures, which is higher than the increase reported for the state. According to data shared in the report, Granville County’s share of local tax receipts for 2018 totaled $1.49 million, with $3.07 million in state tax receipts reported.

Granville County Tourism Development Director Angela Allen attributes the county-wide growth in tourism and visitor spending to a growing local economy, such as the opening of new restaurants and gathering places, as well as a greater awareness of events and attractions that can be enjoyed in our area.

“As more and more people are discovering what Granville County has to offer  – our welcoming atmosphere, hometown charm and relaxed lifestyle –  we are quickly becoming a choice destination,” Allen remarked. “Our recently-launched marketing campaign bears this out – we are ‘Uniquely Carolina.’”

Visitor spending in Granville County has seen a steady increase over the past decade, rising from approximately $36 million in 2009 to $43 million in a time span of four years. The report from 2014 reflected $44 million generated by visitor spending, with an increase to $45 million in 2015, $47 million in 2016 and $49 million reported last year.

According to a press release issued by Gov. Cooper’s office, North Carolina visitors spent more than $65 million per day in 2018, with each household saving approximately $530 (on average) in state and local taxes as a direct result of the tourism industry.

“North Carolina is a welcoming place to stay for the nearly 50 million visitors who travel here each year, employing more than 225,000 people across more than 45,000 businesses last year,” Gov. Cooper remarked. “I’m proud of the way tourism continues to fuel growth in communities across our state.”

To learn more about tourism and events/attractions in Granville County, log onto www.visitgranvillenc.com, or contact Angela Allen, Tourism Director, by phone at 919-693-6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.