Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

U.S. Department of Justice

DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day Declared Big Success

-Press Release, U.S. Dept. of Justice

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announces the results of the DEA April 27, 2019, 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Nationwide, DEA, along with their law enforcement partners collected nearly 469 tons of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. In the Eastern District of North Carolina, approximately 7,229.92 pounds were collected and 8,968 pounds were collected statewide.

“Across the country and here in the Eastern District of North Carolina, we are facing a real and dangerous threat from opioids and other prescription drugs,” said United States Attorney Higdon. “We have unprecedented levels of addiction, frightening numbers of overdoses, and an alarming number of deaths because of the over-prescription and improper use of these drugs. This requires each of us to work to solve it. By properly disposing of prescription medication we do not need, we can reduce the risk that these drugs will fall into the wrong hands.”

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 91 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Some painkiller abusers move on to heroin: Four out of five new heroin users started with painkillers.

Flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards. This initiative addresses the public safety and public health issues that surround medications languishing in home cabinets, becoming highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

DEA’s next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 26, 2019.

For complete results of the recently concluded Spring Take Back Day visit www.DEATakeBack.com. If you missed the Take Back Day click here https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 to locate an authorized collector in your area.

VGCC Community Band to Perform at McGregor Hall, Raleigh Rd Outdoor Theatre

The Community Band of Vance-Granville Community College will perform a spring concert on Monday, May 6, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson. Admission is free.

The band will also perform a Memorial weekend performance at Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre, 3336 Raleigh Rd in Henderson, on Saturday, May 25 at 6 p.m. The concert will be performed prior to the showing of that evening’s feature film.

The Vance-Granville Community Band offers free membership to area musicians. The band rehearses on Monday nights from 7 until 9 p.m. during the academic year at the Main Campus in Henderson. If you are interested in joining, please contact Brian Miller at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu.

Above, the Vance-Granville Community Band performs under the direction of Brian Miller in this file photo from its May 2017 concert in McGregor Hall. (VGCC Photo)

 

Timberlake to Present ‘All Things Kerr Lake’ Lecture at Granville Senior Center

-Information courtesy Frank Timberlake

Granville County native and Kerr Lake enthusiast Frank Timberlake will present a lecture, “All Things Kerr Lake” on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Granville County Senior Center on Lanier Street in Oxford.

As a part of the Creative Life Learning Series, the lecture will focus on a little history but mostly public opportunities at the more than 30 recreational facilities around Kerr Lake.

Seating is available for nominal fees for adults of any age. Register by calling (919) 693-1930.

About Timberlake:

Timberlake manages the 850-member Kerr Lake Park Watch, is a co-founder of the Friends of Occoneechee, former Chairman of the NC State Parks board, and former governor’s liaison with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

He grew up in Stovall and Grassy Creek.

Granville County Logo

Granville County Board of Commissioners to Meet Mon., May 6

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

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, May 6, 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. Schedule of Discounts for Prepayment of Ad Valorem Taxes and Fees Resolution

Recognitions and Presentations

4. Introduction of Adonica Hampton – Director of Social Services

5. Recognition – Yosselin Baylon Alvarez

Public Comments

6. Public Comments

Planning Matters

7. Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) Petition

8. Determination of Cost for Fieldstone West Subdivision

Budget Matters

9. Recommended FY 2019-2020 Budget

Economic Development Matters

10. Public Hearing for Economic Development

Solid Waste Matters

11. Solid Waste Ordinance Revision(s) – Second Reading

Purchasing

12. E-911 Additional MDIS License Purchase

Surplus Property

13. Surplus Property

Appointments

14. South Granville Memorial Gardens Board of Trustees

15. Granville County Board of Adjustment

County Manager’s Report

16. Joe-Toler Student Fun Day at Camp Oak Hill

17. Assessment Collections

18. Collections from 2010 and Earlier County EMS Fees

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

Closed Session

22. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) – Attorney-Client Matter

23. Closed Session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(5) – Property Acquisition

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

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet May 6; All Meetings Now Recorded

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting Monday, May 6, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The board will also meet in a Closed Session for a consultation with the Board’s attorney and Personnel/Attorney-Client Privileges in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 on this evening.

To find a copy of the agenda for the meeting, please use the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/gcsd/Board.nsf/Public

All Board of Education meetings are now video recorded and indexed on the online Board meeting site. To access the site, go to https://www.boarddocs.com/nc/gcsd/Board.nsf

Click on “Enter Public Site”

Select the meeting date or search for particular items.

WIZS Celebrates 64 Years of Informing & Entertaining the Community!

John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS, was on Town Talk this morning to announce this day, May 1, 2019, as the 64th anniversary of the local radio station.

On May 1, 1955, Howard V. Harrell, a tv and radio repairman from Oxford, started the station under the call letters WHVH – his initials. The station has been on the air continuously ever since bringing the community local news, sports, music and entertainment.

The call letters were changed to WIZS around 1959, shortly after the station was sold to Stan Fox and his business partners Irv Fox and Seymour Dworsky.

Rose Farm & Rentals purchased WIZS and assumed operation on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III. A month from today, the Rose family will celebrate 30 years of WIZS ownership.

“Our continuing commitment to the community and the radio staff have made it possible for us to celebrate 64 years as a station,” said Rose. “The various personalities, the various people who are very good at their jobs, and of course our loyal advertising base have all made it possible.”

Rose reminded listeners that news is free and available 24/7 at www.wizs.com and on WIZS’ social media pages.

For the last 30 years, local news has been broadcast on air on 1450AM, as well as on the more recently licensed translator 100.1 FM, at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily; mid-day news has been reported at various times throughout the years. News has been on the air at set times since day one of operation.

WIZS’ online presence grew exponentially in 2018 with 100,000 people visiting the website and daily additions of viewers who like and/or follow the station on Facebook and Twitter.

Putting the “community” in the locally owned and operated community radio station, WIZS offers approximately 250 public service announcements free of charge each month to non-profit organizations, schools, churches and government institutions. PSAs can be submitted and viewed online at any time by clicking here.

Rose also reminded listeners of the current weekday station schedule, including a mix of news, music, sports, talk and entertainment:

“Weekday Wakeup with Brandi Leigh” from 6 – 9 a.m.

Music from 9 – 11 a.m.

“Town Talk” at 11 a.m.

“Tradio” at 11:30 a.m.

“Beach Music Blast” with Trey Snide at 12 p.m.

“Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m.

Music from 2 – 4 p.m.

“Afternoon Drive” with John Stevenson at 4 p.m.

Weekend programs include “Country Grass” with Ms. Velvet from 7 – 9 a.m. and “Choice Country Classics” from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon brings a mix of Country, Beach and Oldies music for your listening pleasure.

Robert Wright provides live news, local church happenings and gospel music on Sunday mornings from 7 – 11 a.m. in a segment titled “Sounds of Jordan.” This is followed by Ms. Velvet’s “Sunday Afternoon Gospel Jamboree,” a popular variety of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music, from 12 – 2 p.m.

“Thanks for listening to WIZS,” Rose concluded his segment. “We’re proud to know you, we’re proud to try to help you, we’re proud to try to do good things for you and we’re proud you’ve chosen to make WIZS your home on the radio.”

 To hear the Town Talk segment with John Charles Rose in its entirety, click here.

VGCC Student Receives Top Academic Honor

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College has named student Hope Crute of Youngsville as its recipient of the North Carolina Community College System’s Academic Excellence Award for 2019. One student from each of the 58 colleges in the state system is honored with the award each year.

Crute will be officially recognized at Commencement in May when she is scheduled to graduate from the college with both an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science. Not long afterward, she is set to graduate from Franklin County Early College High School. That challenging five-year program, along with the guidance and support of teachers and peers, has helped her develop into the person she is today.

Hope Crute of Youngsville is the VGCC recipient of the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award for 2019. (VGCC Photo)

“Vance-Granville Community College is a school that successfully brings together ambitious, hard-working students who encourage one another and challenge each other to do better academically and professionally,” Crute said. “The magical thing I have found as a student at VGCC is that the school does not just teach academic lessons, but also life lessons.”

Crute has excelled in the classroom while also taking on numerous responsibilities at home to help her family as they dealt with her father’s serious health issues. She has served as a peer tutor in the VGCC Academic Skills Center and has been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for community college students, as well as the National Honor Society at the high school level.

Crute plans to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall to complete a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field.

“Hope’s determination and dedication to academic success have earned her recognition as one of North Carolina’s outstanding community college students,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC.

“Thanks to her experience at Vance-Granville and at Franklin County Early College, Hope now enters the next stage of her education equipped with confidence, clarity, enhanced skills, and a thirst for further knowledge.”

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Granville Chamber Hosting 6th Annual Golf Tournament – June 6

— Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 6th Annual Golf Tournament Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Henderson Country Club, 300 Country Club Drive, Henderson, as announced by tournament co-chairs Kyle Puryear/BB&T and Jason Jones/Granville County Farm Bureau.

Registration will begin at 11 a.m. with a boxed lunch provided and a 12 p.m. shotgun start for the 4-man Captain’s Choice tournament.

Corporate sponsorships of $450 offer a hole sponsorship and a 4-man team. Hole sponsors are $100, and individual players pay $100 to play. All players receive 18 holes of golf with cart, boxed lunch and concessions. Mulligans and tee busters will be $10 per player.

There will be contests for a 50/50 raffle, closest to the pin challenge, longest drive and hole-in-one shootout. Prizes and participant goodie bags are being provided by local Chamber members.

Volunteers are needed throughout the afternoon of June 6, beginning at 12. Time slots are 12 until 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 until 5 p.m. Come enjoy the afternoon with golfers, Henderson Country Club staff and other volunteers for this, the Chamber’ sixth annual event.

Please contact the Chamber to play in the tournament or to volunteer – Toni Anne at 919.528.4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com or Wanda at 919.693.6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com.

Tickets on Sale Now for Granville Education Foundation’s ‘Pig ‘n a Raffle’

-Information courtesy the Granville Education Foundation

Join us for the 5th Annual Pig ‘n a Raffle on Friday, May 3, 2019, at Vino Oasi! Tickets are $50 and include a BBQ Dinner (catered by City BBQ), two beverage tickets, and a raffle ticket with the chance to win a variety of items all valued over $100!

You do not have to be present to win! However, for those who are present, tickets are re-entered into the raffle if drawn, giving you the chance to continue winning items!

We will be updating this years’ list of items soon!

Don’t miss out on this fun event that will support education grants, literacy initiatives and cultural arts opportunities for Granville County children!

Tickets are on sale! Please email GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com to purchase yours today.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Releases 13th Annual Sustainability Report

-Press release and additional information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

We are pleased to share Duke Energy’s latest Sustainability Report, which highlights how the company is charting a path to a cleaner, smarter energy future for customers. Released this morning, the report shows a company continuing to shift from coal to natural gas with a greater reliance on renewable energy, a company transforming the customer experience by investing in new technologies that help customers make smart energy decisions and save money, and a company that offers electric rates below the national average in all customer classes and all service areas for the fifth consecutive year.

A few highlights include:

  • As of year-end 2018, we owned or contracted over 7,100 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass energy. This includes 500 megawatts of solar added in North Carolina during the year, which helped the state remain second in the nation for solar capacity.
  • Our energy efficiency initiatives helped customers reduce energy consumption and peak demand by more than 16,700 gigawatt-hours and 5,900 megawatts, respectively, since 2008. This reduction in consumption is more than the annual usage of 1.25 million homes, and the peak demand reduction is equivalent to 10 power plants each producing 600 megawatts.
  • We installed 1.6 million smart meters last year, giving 62% of our total customers access to real-time information to help make smarter energy decisions.

Also reflected is how the company is contributing to North Carolina’s positive growth. During 2018, for example, we helped attract more than 4,000 new jobs and $2.4 billion in business investment here.

We continue to be proud of this important work for our customers and appreciate your interest and support. For more information on the 2018 Sustainability Report, I encourage you to view our news release included, in part, below:

Duke Energy News Release:

Duke Energy continues to generate cleaner energy at prices below the national average for its 7.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Those facts were spelled out today in the company’s 13th annual Sustainability Report – a report card on the company’s progress at meeting its sustainability goals. The report can be found here – and a PDF copy for download can be found here.

“Duke Energy is successfully reducing our environmental impact while keeping electric prices low for customers,” said Cari Boyce, senior vice president, stakeholder strategy and sustainability. “It’s not a question of clean or affordable. We’re safely and reliably achieving both.”

Among the highlights in this year’s report:

  • In the six states where Duke Energy has retail electric customers, the company’s electric rates were below the national averages, according to data from the Edison Electric Institute.
  • Duke Energy relies on a balanced energy mix that includes carbon-free nuclear, lower-cost natural gas, hydroelectric and coal. In 2018, nearly 38 percent of the energy produced by the company was carbon-free.
  • Duke Energy-owned and purchased renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric power) was equivalent to roughly 9.3 percent of its generation mix in 2018 – reflecting an 11 percent increase compared to 2017.
  • The company’s use of coal has dropped more than 50 percent from 2008 to 2018 – from 63 million tons annually to 29 million tons. The use of cleaner-burning and lower-cost natural gas has spurred much of that reduction.
  • Duke Energy’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions remained roughly flat in 2018 – despite producing 2 percent more energy versus the previous year. The company’s carbon intensity, the amount of CO2 produced per kilowatt-hour generated, fell 2 percent from the previous year. Overall, the company’s carbon emissions have dropped 31 percent since 2005.
  • Duke Energy established new goals in the report. One is to reduce water withdrawals by its generation fleet by 1 trillion gallons by 2030 – compared to its 2016 mark of 5.34 trillion gallons.
  • Duke Energy is also investing more in energy storage. The company is looking to install more than 400 megawatts (MW) of battery storage over the next 15 years. Today, work is underway at the Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station in South Carolina to increase its pumped storage output by more than 300 MW.