Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

U.S. Attorney For Eastern District Of N.C. Announces Whistleblower Pilot Program

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— information courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. has announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina has implemented the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program.

“In this office, we are focused on enhancing the identification and prosecution of white-collar crime,” Easley said in a written statement released Friday. “The EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program achieves that by incentivizing individuals to proactively come forward with information about crimes taking place within corporations.  The benefit to the participant, if qualified, is avoiding prosecution.  We encourage all who may have information on fraud, corruption, or corporate crime, to fill out the short form on our website.”

To encourage early voluntary self-disclosure of criminal conduct and to promote effective enforcement of criminal laws, the office has implemented the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program.  The program applies to circumstances where an individual discloses information regarding certain covered subjects identified in the policy to this office, Easley’s statement explained.  Covered subjects include criminal conduct undertaken by or through public or private entities or organizations, including corporations, partnerships, non-profits, exchanges, financial institutions, investment advisers, or investment funds involving fraud or corporate control failures; intellectual property theft and related violations; or offenses affecting market integrity.

The policy also applies to disclosed criminal conduct involving state or local bribery or fraud relating to federal, state or local funds.  The policy does not apply to offenses involving violence.  Provided all policy conditions are met, this office will enter into a deferred or non-prosecution agreement with the whistleblower.

By clarifying the requirements and benefits of such self-disclosure, this office seeks to incentivize individuals (and their counsel) to provide actionable and timely information.  This will, in turn, help us expose more misconduct and better protect the communities we serve.

Find a complete copy of the policy, along with the application at:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/ednc-whistleblower-pilot-program

(Originally posted to WIZS.com Jan. 24, 2025)

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N.C. Main Street Programs Plans Feb. 12 Workshop In Oxford

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Downtown business owners and others looking for ways to revitalize, re-develop or otherwise preserve their downtown spaces can attend a daylong workshop in Oxford presented by the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning program,

The workshop will be held in the city hall auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Register online at MS&RP, according to information from Sabrina M. Richards, communications specialist for the City of Oxford.

The workshop is titled “Small-Scale Development and Historic Tax Credits” and will offer participants ways to use historic preservation as a tool for economic development, while boosting investment, creating jobs, fostering business growth and enhancing quality of life.

The workshop is open to anyone with an interest in revitalizing their downtown districts, including directors of Main Street programs, economic developers, historic preservationists, city staff like building inspectors and fire marshals, accountants, architects, engineers, neighborhood commercial district property owners and small-scale developers working in small to mid-sized communities.

Henderson and Oxford are members of the N.C. Main Street program, which operates under the N.C. Dept. of Commerce.

11th Annual “Granville Ambulance Chase” Mar. 15

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— courtesy of Lauren B. Roberson, Granville Health System Marketing & Foundation Director

The 11th Annual Granville Ambulance Chase and Food Truck Rodeo is headed to Oxford on Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025, in the heart of downtown Oxford. Sponsored by Granville Health System, this event combines fitness, family fun and community celebration and features races for all skill levels – not to mention live music and a diverse lineup of food trucks.

The races begin at 11 a.m. and include a 10k, 5k, 5k Fun Run, 1-Mile Family Walk, and a Kids Dash.  A Food Truck Rodeo and live music will be at the finish line, ready for racers and onlookers to enjoy.

Race Schedule:

  • 11 am: 10k Competitive Race Starts on Main Street
    • This is a USA Track & Field Certified Course Race
    • Participants must maintain a 12 minute / mile pace

 

  • 11:20 am: 5k Competitive Race Starts on Main Street
    • This is a USA Track & Field Certified Course Race

 

  • 11:25 am: 5K Fun Run starts on Main Street
    • perfect for those prioritizing enjoyment over race time.

 

  • 11:40 am: 1-Mile Family Walk begins on Main Street
    • Bring the entire family for a walk through beautiful downtown Oxford.

 

  • 12:30 pm:  Kids Dash begins at Littlejohn Street
    • A quick dash down Littlejohn gives your little ones the chance to cross the finish line.
    • Free of charge for children.

 

  • 11 am -2 pm: Food Truck Rodeo in Littlejohn Parking Lot
    •  **Free Admission**
    • Live music will begin at 12 noon

Registration Costs:

  • 10K: $45 pre-registered, $50 same-day registration
  • 5K: $35 pre-registered, $40 same-day registration
  • 1-Mile Family Walk: $25 pre-registered, $30 same-day registration

Group rates available for groups of 10 or more.

Registration fee includes a race T-shirt for the first 400 registered participants and awards for top finishers. Online registration can be found at www.ghsAmbulanceChase.org.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, contact Lauren Roberson, GHS Foundation Director, at 919.690.2148.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Granville Health System Foundation, supporting its mission to enhance healthcare services and resources in Granville County.

 

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Creates VGCC Presidential Scholarship With $25K Donation

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– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

 

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established a Presidential Scholar Award with a $25,000 donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation.

As a result of this donation to The VGCC Foundation, a $1,250 scholarship will be awarded to a student each year, beginning with the Fall 2025 semester. This is the fifth scholarship that the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established at VGCC to support a well-educated healthcare workforce, according to VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

“We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Triangle North Healthcare Foundation,” said Tanya Weary, Executive Director of The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. “This newly created scholarship will make a significant impact on the lives of students by enabling them to pursue their educational dreams at Vance-Granville Community College.”

The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit regional grant-making organization that supports and invests in initiatives that result in immediate and long-term improvement in the health status of the region. The organization focuses on Vance, Warren, Franklin and Granville counties – the same four counties served by VGCC. It was established in 2011 as the successor to the Maria Parham Healthcare Foundation.

The VGCC Foundation has more than 300 endowed scholarships for students—awarding more endowed scholarships than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. In addition to providing scholarships and emergency assistance to deserving students, VGCCF supports a broad range of special projects involving education, training, and economic development in our community.

Individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups and churches have endowed scholarships, as well as VGCC faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation have been used to honor or remember a person, group, busines or industry with a lasting gift to education.

To learn more about The VGCC Foundation, contact 252.738.3264 or foundation@vgcc.edu. For information about other scholarships available to Vance-Granville Community College students, please visit www.vgcc.edu/fao/scholarships.

Granville Human Relations Commission Hosts Annual MLK Jr. Program Jan. 20

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The Granville County Human Relations Commission will host its annual fellowship breakfast and program to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 9:30 a.m.  on Monday, Jan. 20 at Oxford Baptist Church, 147 Main St., Oxford.

Tickets are free, but are required for entry. Contact the Granville County Administration Office at 919.693.5240 to request tickets to the event or email jessica.todd@granvillecounty.org.

In addition to the breakfast, a program titled “Continuing the Dream: How Has Dr. King’s Legacy Inspired Me Today?” will feature readings by the winners of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest. This year’s contest entries came from G.C. Hawley Middle School, Granville Early College, and J.F. Webb High School.

Town of Butner Mayor Dr. Linda Jordon will serve as the keynote speaker and there will be musical performances by Tim Johnson and Benaiah Adesoji.

The event will also serve as a donation drive for Area Congregations in Ministry and attendees are encouraged to bring high-need items like deluxe-types of macaroni and cheese, tuna, peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, packaged meals, canned soup, spaghetti sauces,  tomato products, crackers, lunch-box items, condiments, personal care items, paper products, diapers,  cleaning products or any non-perishable food items.

The Granville County Human Relations Commission invites the community to celebrate diversity and unity while honoring the academic achievement and writing talent of local students.

Brad Knott Sworn In As Congressman Representing N.C. District 13

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Brad Knott took the oath of office last week to become North Carolina’s congressman representing the 13th Congressional District, comprised of eight counties, including Granville and Franklin counties.

“It is an honor to now serve as the representative for North Carolina’s 13th District. I am both excited and eager to begin working for stronger law enforcement, a secure border, safer communities and a prosperous future for North Carolina and the United States,”  Knott said in a written statement released Monday, Jan. 6.

Knott, a Republican, will serve on the House Judiciary, Transportation & Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees.

Constituents may contact Knott’s office for assistance with service requests at knott.house.gov or by calling 202.225.4531.

Granville Health System Physician Practices Will Open At 12 Noon Monday, Jan. 6

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– information from Lauren B. Roberson, Granville Health System
The Granville Health System’s physician practices will delay opening until 12 noon on Monday, Jan. 6.
The physician practices include the following:
Granville Primary Care & OB/GYN
Granville Primary Care Butner-Creedmoor
Express Care
Granville Gastroenterology Associates
Granville Urology Associates
Granville ENT
Granville Surgical Associates
Granville Medical Rehabilitation
Granville Heart & Vascular
Granville Behavioral Health

Kerr-Tar COG Seeks Sponsors For 2025 N.C. Senior Games

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Local businesses and individuals still have time to become sponsors for the 2025 Kerr-Tar Regional Senior Games, held each spring across the five counties that comprise the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

Sponsorship levels include:

Gold – $1,500

Silver – $1,000

Bronze – $500

Family – $250

Friend – $100

Sponsors can choose to provide regionwide support or a specific county, according to information from KTCOG officials. Make checks payable to Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments to provide regionwide support or to your local Senior Center to support a particular county.

The Senior Games holds events in all five counties and involves adults 50 years and older in a variety of athletic events, as well as Silver Arts, which includes creative and performing arts.

In 2024, more than 223 local athletes participated in more than 50 sporting events and Silver Arts categories. Even more participants are expected for the 2025 games. First- and second-place winners qualify for the state finals, and state finals winners advance to the National Senior Games, held every two years.

For more information, contact local coordinator Michael Patterson or local co-coordinator Crystal Allen at 252.436.2040 or by email at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org or callen@kerrtarcog.org.

IRS Reminder About Deadlines For RMDs From Certain Retirement Accounts

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If you’re 73 years or older, the Internal Revenue Service reminds you of important deadlines regarding required minimum distributions for those with certain retirement accounts.

An RMD is an amount that an account owner must withdraw annually. The withdrawals are considered taxable income and may incur penalties if they aren’t taken on time, according to information from IRS officials.

The IRS.gov Retirement Plan and IRA Required Minimum Distributions FAQs webpage provides detailed information regarding the new provisions in the law.

If you turned 73 in 2024:

  • Your first RMD is due by April 1, 2025, based on your account balance on Dec. 31, 2023, and
  • Your second RMD is due by Dec. 31, 2025, based on your account balance on Dec. 31, 2024.

 

A new law called the Secure 2.0 Act raised the age that account owners must begin taking RMDs, while eliminating RMDs for Designated Roth accounts in 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans.

The minimum distribution rules generally apply to original account holders and their beneficiaries in these types of plans:

 

  • IRAs: IRA withdrawals from traditional IRAs and IRA-based plans occur every year once people reach age 73, even if they’re still employed.
  • Retirement plans:The RMD rules apply to employer-sponsored plans, with delays allowed until retirement unless the participants own more than 5% of the sponsoring business.
  • Roth IRAs:Roth IRA owners are not required to take withdrawals during their lifetime, however beneficiaries are subject to the RMD rules after the account owner’s death.

 

Designated Roth accounts in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan will not be subject to the RMD rules while the account owner is still alive for 2024. The RMD Comparison Chart outlines key RMD rules for IRAs and defined contribution plans.

 

Taxpayers can find easy-to-use tools such as forms, instructions and publications at IRS.gov.

Wallace Vaughan Receives Order Of The Long Leaf Pine

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Wallace T. Vaughan recently was presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for 45 years of exemplary service to Granville Vance Public Health.

GVPH Health Director Lisa Macon Harrison made the presentation on Nov. 26. “We are so proud of Wallace’s 45 years of service to public health as an Environmental Health Specialist. When he began his career with the Granville-Vance District Health Department on July 16, 1979, no one could have foreseen that his career with our agency would span over 40 years, with growth and development along the way. Thankfully, even as a retired member of our team, he returns to assist part-time with the important work of Environmental Health at GVPH.”

Vaughan began his career with the Granville-Vance District Health Department as a Sanitarian I, focusing exclusively on wastewater disposal. His position changed to Sanitarian II and then Environmental Health Specialist as duties and responsibilities increased through the years. When the environmental health supervisor retired in 2002, Vaughan took over, and was responsible for overseeing all environmental health duties and the professional development of eight employees in both counties. In 2007, his position was reclassified to Environmental Health Supervisor III to accurately reflect the complex duties of managing a district program.

Vaughan was presented the award at a luncheon in Oxford, NC – his lifelong home. In attendance were his wife, Brenda Vaughan, three children and four grandchildren. Also on hand for the presentation were several GVPH staff who have worked with him over his noteworthy career.

Vaughan is a lifetime member of Tungsten Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and Sunday School teacher, and he also trains Tennessee Walker horses.