Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

GCPS to Encourage Winter Reading with ‘Books for Break’ Initiative

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools is celebrating reading and readers during this winter break with Books for Break, a literacy initiative of GCPS. GCPS is committed to growing strong readers and, therefore, allocated funds to purchase a book for every student in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Students will receive a book on the last day before break (Monday, December 17 for students on the year-round calendar, and Thursday, December 20 for students on the traditional calendar) to keep and enjoy at home. At GCPS, we want our students to continue to read and practice the reading skills and strategies they are learning in class. Providing our youngest readers a book is one small way to encourage them to continue reading during winter break.

WHO: Students in Pre-K through 3rd grade

WHAT: Books for Break, a literacy initiative of Granville County Public Schools

WHEN: Monday, December 17 (year round)

              Thursday, December 20 (traditional)

WHERE: All Granville County elementary schools

WHY: To encourage students to continue reading during winter break

National Weather Service

Elevated Flood Risk for All of Central NC Through Early Next Week

-Information courtesy Brian K. Short, Director of Emergency Operations, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations and Ready NC

Flash flooding and river flooding are expected for all of central North Carolina through early next week.

Periods of heavy rain are expected during this time. Flash flooding will be possible, especially in urban areas and the usual poor drainage areas.

River flooding is possible on many of the main stem rivers. Melting snow may aggravate the situation and increase the risk of flash flooding and subsequent river flooding.

Storm total rainfall amounts of 1.5” to 2.5” are expected, with locally higher amounts possible Friday through Saturday. The heaviest rain is expected Friday evening through Saturday morning.

Overall, minor flooding is expected on most main stem rivers, with the potential for the greatest rises along portions of the Neuse and the Cape Fear Rivers.

Granville County Public Schools

Public Hearing on Possible Middle School Consolidation Slated for Dec. 18

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., at Mary Potter Middle School. The purpose of the meeting is for the Board to address calendar adjustments due to recent inclement weather, review highlights of the study of potential consolidation of Mary Potter Middle School and Northern Granville Middle School, and address Board member questions regarding the potential consolidation.

The Board will also meet in a Closed Session for Attorney-Client Privilege 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.

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at Mary Potter Middle School, the Board will hold a public hearing on the possible consolidation of Mary Potter Middle School and Northern Granville Middle School. Members of the public wishing to speak on this topic may sign up beginning at 6:30 p.m. Each speaker who has signed up prior to 7 p.m. will be given the opportunity to address the Board on this topic for up to four minutes.

Dywanda Pettaway

Clerk to Board of Education

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Nominations Requested for Granville’s 2019 John Penn Citizen Award

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

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Recognition Committee announces that the committee is accepting nominations for the 2019 John Penn Citizen of the Year Award.  This prestigious award, named for Granville County’s signer of the Declaration of Independence, is presented at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Banquet.  The 2019 event will be held Monday, January 28, 2019, in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

Nomination forms may be obtained at a Chamber office or may be downloaded from the Chamber’s website, www.granville-chamber.com.

This award was designed to recognize a person(s) for outstanding service to the community. Past recipients include Dr. Joseph Colson, Mrs. Robinette Husketh, Hubert Gooch, Rev. G. C. Hawley, Mrs. Gladys Satterwhite, Hugh Currin, Sr., Rev. Harrison Simons, Tom Speed, John Mackie, Dr. Roy Noblin, Dr. David Noel, John K. Nelms, J. J. Medford, Mrs. Mildred A. Jenkins, Tom Johnson, Mrs. Virginia Tuck, L. Clement Yancey, Mrs. Nancy W. Darden, Leonard M. Dunn, Mrs. Carlene Fletcher, Hubert L. Cox, Leonard Peace, Sr., Marshall Tanner, Harold Sherman, Boyce Harvey, Paul Kiesow, Ms. Johnsie Cunningham, Stan Fox, Doan and Bette Laursen, Dr. John B. Hardy, Jr., L. C. Adcock, Jim Crawford, Xavier Wortham, Dr. Richard and Julia Ann Taylor, Gary Bowman, James “Lump” and Mary Ann Lumpkins and Laura Gable.

Nominations are due Wednesday, January 2, 2019. 

Formal invitations will be mailed to Chamber members.  Persons interested in attending may contact one of the Chamber’s offices – wanda@granville-chamber.com, 919.693.6125; tawheeler@granaville-chamber.com, 919.528.4994.

There’s Still Time to See a Christmas Parade! Stem’s Annual Event to be Held Dec. 15

-Information courtesy Stem Christmas Parade & Festival Facebook page

There is still an opportunity to see a local Christmas parade this holiday season! Stem’s annual Christmas parade starts promptly at 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2018.

Line up will begin at 11 a.m. on School Street.

This year, the parade route will begin on School Street, cross over Old 75 and proceed down W. Talley Ho Road becoming E. Talley Ho Road and ending at Hopkins Street.

Come out and enjoy the festivities!

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Down to Fewer Than 30 Outages in Aftermath of Winter Storm Diego

-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

The sun is shining (finally!) in NC, and that means this should be a great day for MELTING SNOW and ICE! We are wrapping up the few remaining outages in our region. At this time, we are down to fewer than 30 outages affecting 250 customers across my 10-county district.

Estimated restoration times for the remaining customers have been posted to our website.

We deeply appreciate the patience our customers have shown, and we’re doing all we can to restore every customer as fast as possible. Unless conditions change dramatically, this will be my final update regarding Winter Storm Diego.

H-V Emergency Operations

State of Emergency Declared for Vance County; Area Braces for Inclement Weather

Updated – 12/07/18:

You may report weather delays and cancellations by email to news@wizs.com or by text at 432-0774. Delays and cancellations will be posted on WIZS’ Facebook page.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington and Archie Taylor, chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners proclaimed a State of Emergency for the City of Henderson and County of Vance beginning Friday, December 7, 2018, at 5 p.m. The State of Emergency will be in effect for a period of four days unless rescinded by authorities.

General Emergency Protective Measures are in place. No public restrictions are in place at this time.

U.S. Department of Justice

Fisher Sentenced on Firearms Charge

-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today, Chief United States District Judge Terrence J. Boyle sentenced KYLE VICTOR FISHER, 29, of Henderson to 42 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. FISHER pled guilty to the Indictment, charging one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, on August 22, 2018.

On November 30, 2017, law enforcement received a report that FISHER had violated a protective order by going to the Henderson, North Carolina, apartment of his former girlfriend. The woman reported that FISHER pointed a silver revolver at her while verbally threatening to shoot her.

Later the same day, officers of the Oxford Police Department were able to locate and arrest FISHER at a hotel in Oxford where his current girlfriend was employed. FISHER had been driving his girlfriend’s car, and she gave officers permission to search the vehicle. In it, officers found a small amount of marijuana and a .38 caliber revolver matching that described in the earlier assault. The firearm was loaded and had an obliterated serial number.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Since 2017, the United States Department of Justice has reinvigorated the PSN program and has targeted violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

That effort has been implemented through the Take Back North Carolina Initiative of The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This initiative emphasizes the regional assignment of federal prosecutors to work with law enforcement and District Attorney’s Offices on a sustained basis in those communities to reduce the violent crime rate, drug trafficking, and crimes against law enforcement.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Oxford Police Department and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Pugh prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

News releases are available on the U.S. Attorney’s webpage located at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_EDNC

Granville County Logo

Fourteen Cases of Rabies Reported in Granville This Year

-Press Release, County of Granville 

With fourteen cases of rabies reported in both wild and domestic animals since February of 2018, Granville County Animal Control and Granville-Vance Public Health continue to enforce the state’s rabies law, which requires all owners of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets to have pets vaccinated by four months of age, and to maintain the animal’s current rabies vaccination status throughout its lifetime.

According to County Ordinance, an animal control officer has the power to arrest and the responsibility to enforce all state laws and all county ordinances pertaining to the ownership, control, care and custody of dogs and other animals, cooperating with the health director and other law enforcement officers within the county and adjoining areas.

Violation of the N.C. Rabies Law is a misdemeanor and anyone not in compliance may be charged. In Granville County, 17 pet owners have been issued civil citations this year and there have been nine warnings given. Court records also indicate that three cases have appeared in Granville County Court for pet owners who were in violation of this law.

Under G.S. 14-4, any person found guilty of a misdemeanor may be subject to a fine of up to $500.

“The state’s rabies law is in place to protect the health and well-being of residents and pets,” Animal Control Director Matt Katz explains. “If you or your pet contract the rabies virus, symptoms may not be obvious until it’s too late.”

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports that in North Carolina, raccoon rabies is present in the raccoon population in virtually every county. While most of the Granville County confirmations have involved raccoons, it is strongly recommended that residents keep away from any wild animal.

“As diligent as our Animal Control officers are, we are not able to monitor wildlife,” Katz notes. “If you see a wild animal acting strangely – such as being out in daylight hours when it is usually nocturnal – don’t come in contact with it. Protect yourself and your family and keep your distance.”

Per Granville County ordinance, any animal bite to a human must be reported immediately to the 911 center, who notifies Animal Control for an investigation. The local health department is also contacted and closely monitors rabies cases.

“The animal control team in Granville County is quite up-to-date on laws, rules, and protocols,” said Lisa Harrison, director for Granville Vance Public Health. “We work together hand-in-hand to ensure the safety of those in our communities.”

If a domestic dog, cat or ferret bites a human and the owner does not have proof that rabies vaccines are current, the animal must be confined for observation for not less than ten days, with the local health director designating the location. If rabies does not develop within the ten-day period, the animal may be released, with the owner responsible for the cost of the confinement. If not currently vaccinated, the animal must be immunized against rabies at the end of the confinement period.

Wild animals are not subject to the ten-day confinement regulation.

If any animal – wild or domestic – is suspected of being rabid, it can be quarantined for up to six months or may be euthanized, at the discretion of the local health director. If euthanized, testing of the animal is conducted by the N.C. State Public Health Lab, and – if confirmed positive for rabies – residents of the area are notified for public health reasons. Once a rabies case has been confirmed, the director of public health has the authority to order an area-wide quarantine, where local law enforcement can impound any animal found running at large in the county.

Since the confirmed rabies cases in Granville County are widespread and not specific to one particular area, no quarantines have been issued, Harrison says, but a feral cat colony that has been exposed is being closely monitored.

“All of this can be avoided if residents follow the law and have their animals vaccinated,” Katz says. “One shot is not enough. Be sure your pet is protected by receiving all of its booster shots. If unsure of when a booster is needed, contact your local veterinarian.”

State law requires that local health directors organize or assist other county departments in organizing at least one countywide rabies clinic per year. In response to the recent number of rabies incidents, Granville County Animal Control has hosted several clinics to provide vaccinations and to educate residents about the importance of rabies vaccines.

The Granville County Animal Shelter, located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford, also offers one-year rabies vaccines for dogs and cats Monday through Friday from noon until 4:30 p.m. at a cost of only $6. For more information, call 919-693-6749.

Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free in Need of Donations for the Holidays

-Press Release, Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free in Oxford, giving voice and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse through a myriad of programs and services, has a pressing need for donations this holiday season, Executive Director Wally Hurst disclosed today.

“At this time of year, there are always a high number of families and individuals in turmoil. This is especially true of victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. What for most of us is a joyful and loving time, the holiday season can be, for these victims, a time of isolation and terror instead. At these times, Families Living Violence Free wants to be ready to assist our clients in as many ways as possible,” Hurst said.

Items in short supply currently at FLVF include gift cards for gas and grocery stores, ready-eat foods, blankets and coats, laundry products, baby clothing and educational toys for babies, and gift certificates for local restaurants and services. Victims escaping violent behavior may present themselves at the very moment that they are escaping this volatile environment, and they may need immediate assistance with basic necessities, such a food, clothing, shelter and transportation, Hurst emphasized.

The services of FLVF are free to all and confidential. We seek to empower and support these victims on all levels.

Items may be donated in person at the FLVF office at 126 Oxford Outer Loop Road, 2d Floor, in Oxford, or mailed to FLVF, P.O. Box 1362, Oxford, NC 27565. Please call our office at 919-693-3579 if you need donations picked up, and we will do our best to accommodate all donors.

Thank you to the Granville County community in advance for your continued generosity!

(This is not a paid advertisement)