Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

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‘Freedom Fest’ to Raise Money for Children of Fallen Soldiers

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

The Chosin Foundation will hold a “Freedom Fest” on Friday, September 28, 2018, at Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena, Butner

Show starts at 4 p.m.; event ends at 10 p.m.

Live music will be provided by former Army medic Ian Wagner. Mature (PG-13) performances by comedians Jiovani, Angel Perez, Tank Smith, Ben Brainard, Freddy Valoy, Tim Payne and Marcus Crespo.

Local food, beer and wine will be served. Proceeds benefit children of fallen soldiers.

Tickets are $10 online, $15 at door. Veteran tickets are $10.

For more information on “Freedom Fest” or the Chosin Foundation, please visit www.chosinfoundation.org.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

VGCC Health Sciences Clubs Conducting Second ‘Prom Attire’ Drive

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Health Sciences clubs are collecting donations at all four VGCC campuses for a “Prom Attire” collection drive through February 28, 2019.

All donations will be collected for a giveaway event to provide local high school students free attire to fulfill their prom dreams, according to Stacey Soles, VGCC’s program head for Medical Assisting and clinical coordinator for Radiography.

The drive is the second for the Health Sciences Clubs in Radiography, Human Services, Pharmacy, Histotechnology, Medical Assisting and Nursing.

Dozens of prom dresses were donated for the first “Prom Attire” collection drive held earlier this year on Vance-Granville Community College’s four campuses. A drive is now underway through February 2019 to collect suits, shirts, dresses, shoes and accessories to be donated to high school students for free to fulfill their prom dreams. Donations can be dropped off at any VGCC campus. (Photo Credit: VGCC)

The club leaders are asking that only clean, gently-used or new items be donated. All sizes will be accepted. The clubs also request that no dated items be donated.

Items that will be accepted are:
• Suits & Shirts: Tuxedos, suits, suit separates, dress shirts, slacks, vests;
• Ties & Shoes: Neck ties, bow ties, dress shoes;
• Dressy Dresses: Gowns, prom, party, formal; and
• Accessories & Shoes: Jewelry/hair accessories, handbags/clutches.

Soles said that the clubs could use more items for males. “In our initial drive, we received a good number of dresses that are available for distribution next year,” she said. “We are especially in need of suits, dress shirts and slacks for men.”

Drop-off locations are located at:
• Main Campus, Building 5, Room 5225: Audrey Stainback;
• South Campus, Building 2, Room G2212: Stacey Soles;
• Franklin Campus, Building 1, Room F1101: Priscilla Lewis; and
• Warren Campus, Building 1, Room W1101: Ruthie Davis.

For more information, donors should contact Stacey Soles at (252) 738-3515 or soless@vgcc.edu.

Granville Co. Provides Relief to Hurricane Victims, First Responders

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-Press Release, County of Granville

Granville County emergency responders have been assisting storm-ravaged North Carolina areas as recovery efforts are underway.

Deployed to Jones County was Granville County Emergency Services Director Doug Logan, who is part of the N.C Emergency Management Central Branch Overhead Incident Management Team. This task force and public adjusters in Florida helped coordinate the disaster response in Jones County, based in the Trenton area, where there was record flooding along the Trent River. Many residents of the county had to be rescued by fire, EMS and Sheriff’s Office personnel, Logan reported, and emergency staff members had been on duty around the clock since before the storm even made landfall, making preparations and responding to calls for assistance.

The Central Branch Team was air-lifted into the area by helicopter to find the majority of Jones County cut off from surrounding areas by flood waters, without electricity or telephone service. The county water system had completely failed and the only food sources for the citizens were what little stocks they had left in pantries.

Jones County Task Force

“We had assets from all over North Carolina – as well as New York, California, Vermont, Arizona – all there to assist through the National Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC),” Logan noted. “Additional resources arrived daily to assist in the response and relief efforts, while military air assets dropped food and water supplies to be distributed to isolated communities.”

As of Wednesday, September 19, the rivers were starting to recede and approximately 60 percent of the county remained without power as water pressure made a slow and steady return. Local drinking water sources will likely remain unsafe for several weeks, due to flooded wells and contaminated water treatment plants.

“We are anticipating a need to provide intermediate and long-term sheltering, as well as disaster housing for residents who will return to their homes as the water continues to go away,” Logan reported on Wednesday. “The team is diligently trying to merge the operation into recovery instead of response.”

Logan returned home last Thursday, after being deployed for five days.

Also instrumental in the disaster relief efforts were Donnie Boyd, Fire Marshal for Granville County Emergency Services, who played an integral role in moving equipment to impacted areas where there was the greatest need – as well as Robin Edwards and Reba Duke, who were activated through the Regional Coordination Center (RCC) in Central North Carolina. Fire Inspector Joe Seagroves aided in moving staging equipment for RCC-Central, which was set up in Butner.

Meanwhile, Trent Brummitt, Manager of the County’s 911 Emergency Call Center, along with Shift Supervisor Matt Faucette, traveled to Morehead City to provide assistance to telecommunicators there through a request more specific than a normal Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force (TERT) request.

On Sunday, September 16, a call had been made for assistance from areas using the same Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system as Carteret County. With no time to train responders from out of the area on how to use their system, the goal was to have those familiar with their emergency procedures in place to offer relief. Brummitt and Faucette were quick to respond, leaving just a few hours after the request was made. Ice, coolers, water, snacks and extra cots were packed to take along with them.

According to Brummitt, first responders in that area had been working rotating 12-hour shifts, and most had not been home since before the storm.

“They were grateful we came to help,” Brummitt said, adding that the Morehead Police Department, where they were stationed, was the only building with power when they arrived.

After checking in, Brummitt and Faucette quickly went to work, manning Morehead City’s 911 system and taking emergency calls in twelve-hour shifts. By Tuesday, Brummitt said, power had been restored as shifts continued around the clock over a two-day period. The two arrived back to Granville County late Tuesday night.

The Morehead City area was pounded with more than 15 inches of rain as a result of Hurricane Florence, with severe flooding reported. Providing additional assistance in relief efforts there were telecommunicators from Richmond, Chatham and Johnson Counties, as well from the National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.

“We learned a lot that will help us if we ever have a situation like that here,” Brummitt said. “Seeing the effects of Hurricane Florence first handmade us realize that Granville County was very fortunate.”

About Granville County Government:

Granville County Government enhances the quality of life for the citizens of the County by providing an array of services through a responsive, effective, and efficient local government. Learn more at www.granvillecounty.org. Follow Granville County Government on Facebook @GranvilleCountyGov. 

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Granville Co. Candidate Forum Scheduled for Oct. 2

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-Information courtesy Lynn Allred, Public Information Officer/Grants Coordinator, County of Granville

The Sunrise Forum Committee of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, the Granville County Human Relations Commission and the League of Women Voters of Granville County will sponsor a Candidate Forum on Tuesday, October 2, 2018,  in the Commissioners Board Room of Oxford City Hall. The event is slated for 6 p.m., with candidate presentations to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Participating candidates (on the local November ballot) will be allowed time for brief introductions before participating as a panel to answer prepared questions asked by a moderator. Light refreshments will be served.

Oxford City Hall is located at 300 Williamsboro Street. The public is invited to attend.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet for Work Session – Thurs., Sept. 27

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-Information courtesy Dr. Stan Winborne, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a BOE Work Session on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Public Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of the meeting will be to receive information and discuss long-term planning options to address school facility needs and capacity in light of declining enrollment. The board will also meet in a Closed Session for Personnel/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.

The next scheduled board meeting will be held Monday, October 1, 2018, at 6 p.m.

Red Cross: Blood, Platelet Donations Needed in Wake of Florence

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-Press Release, American Red Cross

As the American Red Cross responds to Hurricane Florence, providing food, shelter and comfort to those affected, blood and platelet donors are urged to give when it’s safe to travel to care for patients in the storm’s path and across the country. People can also help by making a financial donation to support relief efforts.

Hurricane’s impact on blood and platelet donations

Hurricane Florence’s wrath left catastrophic damage behind and also took a toll on blood and platelet donations. Nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast were forced to cancel, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. In North Carolina, 57 blood drives were called off due to the storm, causing nearly 2,100 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

“Natural disasters like hurricanes can disrupt blood drives and prevent donors from giving, but hospital patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies. Every donation can be a lifeline for patients.”

How to help

As conditions improve, donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and replenish the blood supply. Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS  (1-800-733-2767).

Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Up-to-date information about how the Red Cross is responding to Hurricane Florence is available at RedCross.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in your area:

Franklin County

Louisburg

9/22/2018: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Rock Spring Baptist Church, 34 Rock Springs Church Rd.

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Granville County

Creedmoor

9/28/2018: 2  – 6:30 p.m., Creedmoor United Methodist Church, 214 Park Avenue

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Warren County

Norlina

10/13/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Zion United Methodist Church, 141 Zion Church Rd.

How to donate blood

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

City of Oxford Cancels Fall Litter Sweep

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford website

The City of Oxford has canceled its annual Fall Litter Sweep and lunch at the Public Works Building originally scheduled for Friday, September 21, 2018.  It will be rescheduled for Spring 2019. More details will be released at a later date.

VGCC Trustees Approve Firm For Presidential Search, Adopt 2018-19 Budget

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 -Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees approved a firm to assist in the search for a new president, adopted a budget for the current fiscal year, and welcomed a trustee who is returning to the board after being away for two years. The actions came at the bi-monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, on the college’s Main Campus.

The Trustees selected the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLC of Emerald Isle to assist in the search for a replacement for Dr. Stelfanie Williams who left the college in August to take a job with Duke University.

ELA describes itself as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence — one community college at a time.”

VGCC’s newest Trustee, Dr. Doris Terry Williams, was sworn in for a four-year appointment on the college board by retired District Court Judge J. Henry Banks. From left are Judge Banks, Dr. Williams and Jerry Stainback, the attorney for the Board of Trustees, who assisted with the swearing in. (Photo Credit: VGCC)

The firm will help the VGCC Board of Trustees by guiding the search process, creating a presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, and recruiting and screening applicants as needed. The search will begin in October with plans to have the new president in place in March 2019. The trustees are expected to present finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for evaluation early in 2019, according to Dr. Gordon Burns who is serving as interim president for the college. Dr. Burns served as president of Wilkes Community College in North Wilkesboro for 18 years before retiring in 2014.

Six firms responded to the requests for proposals, according to Trustee Deborah Brown, chair of the Trustees’ presidential search committee. Serving with Brown are Trustees Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.

Budget Adopted

The Trustees adopted a budget of $33,166,414 for the new fiscal year, approving VGCC’s budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 on a recommendation from the Budget Committee of the board, chaired by Trustee Abdul Sm Rasheed.

On the Current Expense side of the budget, $19,438,484 comes from the State of North Carolina, $2,587,868 from the four counties served by the college, and $9,273,716 from institutional funds. In the Capital Outlay budget, $1,726,846 comes from the State and $139,500 from the counties.

At the county level, Vance County is contributing $1,151,597 to the current operating funds; Granville, $752,184; Franklin, $369,168; and Warren, $225,625, with an additional $89,294 coming from institutional funds. Among capital improvement funds from the counties, Vance is contributing $73,874; Granville, $39,626; Franklin, $20,000; and Warren, $6,000.

The 2018-2019 budget is allocated as follows: institutional support: $5,433,372; curriculum instruction: $10,362,152; continuing education: $2,705,504; academic support: $1,368,526; student support: $2,075,516; plant operations and maintenance: $2,018,035; proprietary/other: $2,272,851; student aid: $5,064,112; capital outlay, excluding capital improvements: $786,141; and capital improvement projects: $1,080,205.

Dr. Doris Terry Williams Appointed To Board

Dr. Doris Terry Williams was sworn in to a four-year term on the VGCC Board of Trustees after being selected by the Vance County Board of Education to fill the vacancy created when long-time Trustee L. Opie Frazier, Jr., retired.

Dr. Williams, a retired educator and administrator, returns to the Board of Trustees after being off the board for two years. She was previously appointed to the board by the Governor’s Office in 2010 to fill an unexpired term and was reappointed in 2012 for a full four-year term.

As the owner and chief executive officer of EdComm, LLC, her own consulting group, Dr. Williams provides consultation regionally and nationally on education and community development issues.

A Vance County resident, she lived in Warren County and served on the Warren County Board of Education for 12 years, including five as the board chair. She has served as executive director of the Rural School and Community Trust and director of the Trust’s Capacity Building Program. She is now a senior fellow with the Rural Trust, which is a national non-profit dedicated to addressing the crucial relationship between good rural schools and thriving rural communities. She also has served as assistant dean and associate professor in the School of Education and director of University-School Partnerships at North Carolina Central University.

In other action:

  • The Trustees voted to close the Child Care Center on the Franklin Campus no later than June 1, 2019. The decision comes after an extended evaluation leading to the conclusion that the center is not financially sustainable, Dr. Burns told the board. Information packets that list other options for child care in the Franklin County area have been prepared for parents who currently have children at the center. The center, which currently has nine children, was originally created to provide Vance-Granville’s curriculum students with an environment to advance their Early Childhood experiences and to provide child care services for our students and staff. The center has been used mostly by the public in the past several years, Dr. Burns said.
  • In an update on capital projects, Trustee Donald C. Seifert, Sr., said a design contract was executed in August for $320,400 for fire alarm replacements and renovations to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems on the Main Campus. Fire alarm replacement work will be bid out in February 2019 with work expected to begin the following May. The HVAC renovations will begin in the summer of 2020. Meanwhile, renovation work is scheduled to start this month on the second phase of renovations to Building 10. Space is being renovated to add a Practical Simulation Lab for Law Enforcement, Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services programs.
  • Steve Graham, VGCC’s vice president of finance and operations, reported for the Investment Committee, citing a 12 percent growth in the college’s investments since the beginning of 2017.
  • Trustee Sara Wester, chair of the board’s Personnel Committee, provided an informational report on new employees, retirements, resignations and changes in positions.
  • The Curriculum Committee, chaired by Trustee Barbara Cates Harris, presented new appointments to the Advisory Committees for college programs for the 2018-2019 academic year. The appointments were approved by the Trustees.

Presiding over the meeting was Board of Trustees Chair Danny Wright.

The Board of Trustees will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, November 19 at the Main Campus.

Kansas Animal Rescue Organization Provides Assistance to Granville

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-Press Release, County of Granville

Weather conditions across the state led to some unexpected assistance in Granville County this week as a Kansas animal rescue group provided relief to the animal shelter.

In an effort to assist those impacted by Hurricane Florence, Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption of Mission, Kansas – with assistance from Polk County SPCA of Livingston, Texas and Paws4Life of Shreveport, Louisiana – reached out to North Carolina animal shelters who were at or near capacity, arriving with transport units to take animals back to safer areas.  According to Granville County Animal Control Director Matt Katz, there was room for several more animals on the return trip. This was a welcome relief locally, as kennels were already pressed for space before the storm even made landfall on our coast.

Over the weekend, several more pets had been surrendered to the Granville County shelter and no more kennel space was available, Katz explains. When volunteer Roxanne Blackburn was contacted by Sherry Davis with the Polk County SPCA about pulling animals on their way out of North Carolina, the offer couldn’t have come at a better time.

Granville County’s Animal Shelter’s save rate is 80 to 90 percent, Katz noted, but the “tough decisions” sometimes have to be made. Not this time, however, as 26 animals were rescued.

Unleashed Pet Rescue is a licensed, nonprofit animal shelter that works to save the lives of rescued pets, pulling them to safety. The organization works to find homes for pets of all ages, health, temperaments and history, giving each animal an opportunity for a better life. During Hurricane Harvey, Unleashed Pet Rescue was an integral part of the animal rescue efforts along the Gulf Coast, as well as offering assistance during other emergencies across the nation.

Katz says that this will be the first time all year that the shelter has had this many open kennels.

“These folks also pulled dogs from Franklin and Vance Counties on their way out of the state,” Katz said. “This may lead to another avenue for placement of our dogs.”

Katz credits Roxanne Blackburn for taking the initiative and “jumping on this opportunity,” and asks anyone interested in the welfare of local animals to thank these groups for their assistance.

“We are grateful to Roxanne for all her help in this, and ask everyone to please take a moment to thank these groups on their Facebook pages. This opens up so many opportunities for us, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

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Update to Granville Co. Road Closures; Three to Remain Closed Indefinitely

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-Information courtesy Lynn Allred, Public Information Officer/Grants Coordinator, County of Granville

Update on Road Closures – Wednesday, September 19

After an assessment of Granville County roads by the Department of Transportation yesterday, several will remain closed indefinitely, until long-term repairs can be made. These roads are Community Road, Smart Road and Enon Road. If traveling along these areas, please make plans to detour.

Aaron Church Road is still being evaluated by the DOT, due to extensive flooding. There may be other roads in the county that have not yet been reported. Drivers are urged to move with caution and to report any additional road issues to the Granville County Sheriff’s office at (919) 693-3213.