Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Longtime VGCC President, Dr. Ben F. Currin, Dies

/by

Dr. Benjamin Fleming Currin, long-time president of Vance-Granville Community College,  died on Nov. 23, 2024. Under his leadership, VGCC grew from a single campus to four campuses, doubled its enrollment and saw its Endowment Fund swell to $5 million. He was 88.

Ben was born on November 13, 1936 in Granville County to Sophia Hunt Currin and Elam Ray Currin. He attended the public schools of then Oxford City Schools. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1955 and earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is survived by his wife, Betsy, a son, George and a granddaughter, Catherine.

According to his obituary, “Ben was a man of the people and had the rare ability to relate to and care about people from all walks of life. He and Betsy devoted their lives to education—he was a teacher, school principal, school superintendent, and community college president.”

Current VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais sent a message to staff and board members on Sunday afternoon to share the news of Currin’s passing. “It is with sadness that I communicate with you this weekend,” the statement read. “I know that some of you worked with him or went to college when he was president,” Desmarais stated. He held a variety of positions in public schools systems across the state, beginning in 1959 in Durham as a teacher and coach. He rose through the ranks and became the youngest principal in the state just a couple of years later when he was named principal at Eureka Elementary in Wayne County. By 1970, he was named superintendent of Rocky Mount City Schools and led the school system for more than a decade.

Currin was named VGCC president in 1981 and retired in 1998. During that time, VGCC experienced exponential growth.

In 2016, Ben received the I.E. Ready Award, the highest honor given by the North Carolina Community College System, which recognizes individuals who have made significant, statewide contributions to the establishment, development or enhancement of the community college system. Currin also was a Mason and a Shriner.

A graveside service will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, North Carolina, 530 Hillsboro St., at a date and time to be announced.

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home is handling arrangements. View the full obituary at dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/raleigh-nc/benjamin-currin-12104838. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dr. Ben F. Currin scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College, or to Transitions LifeCare.

In an article about the I.E. Ready award written in 2016, WIZS News spoke with L. Opie Frazier Jr. about Currin’s accomplishments. Frazier was chair of the VGCC board of trustees for many of the years during Currin’s tenure as president, and Frazier called Currin “a godsend” as part of the written nomination for the award. “His greatest asset was his emphasis on students. The second was his enthusiasm. His successes are many – for example, the satellite campuses started under his leadership and the scholarship program that grew dramatically – because he wanted the best for students, and his enthusiasm helped him win friends at various levels to help him grow the college and serve more students,” Frazier wrote.

In remarks at the 2009 ceremony at which Currin received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Dr. J. Reid Parrott Jr., retired president of Nash Community College, cited the positive impact Currin had on VGCC. “I want to tell you, I’ve been doing this community college stuff a long time, and there is no president of all 58 of our schools that has transformed an institution as quickly and as magnificently as Ben Currin did at Vance-Granville,” Parrott said.

NC State Board of Elections

Sossamon Files Protests To Results Of Nov. 5 Election As Recount Continues

/by

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon has filed protests with the Vance and Granville elections boards, citing that, at least in Vance County, votes were counted when, for a variety of reasons, they shouldn’t have been.

In an emergency meeting of the N.C. State Board of Elections, Sossamon was among four candidates from across the state whose protests were considered for review.

The three irregularities Sossamon is citing about the election results include:

  • counting ballots of voters who died before the Nov. 5 election;
  • incomplete voter registration information;
  • overseas voters whose ballots should not have been counted because they have not lived in the state

 

According to Paul Cox, general counsel of the state board of elections, Sossamon filed protests with Vance County and with Granville County. WIZS News has received a copy of the 4-page letter and three different letters of protest to Vance County on Wednesday afternoon from Phil Strach, Sossamon’s attorney with the law firm Nelson Mullins of Raleigh.

Among the documents accompanying the protest about incomplete information is a 7-page spreadsheet containing the names of inf more than 250 individuals in Vance County who needed to provide additional information to confirm voter registration – information like a driver’s license and the last 4 digits of a social security number.

WIZS News has asked the Granville County Board of Elections Director Tonya Burnette for information about the protests received in her office; we will update this news story when that information is available.

The state board adopted a draft proposal that basically states a county’s board of elections will be the first line of defense for the protests that are “fact-dependent,” leaving the state board to consider other types of protests to maintain uniformity and consistency across the state’s 100 counties.

“Right now, we’re just asking the counties to make a factual determination…to do a data analysis,” Hirsch told the board.

Protestors have by close of business Wednesday, Nov. 27 to file legal briefs; respondents – the other candidate in the four contests – must submit their briefs by close of business on Friday, Dec. 6.

The protest filings add yet another wrinkle to an already complicated and drawn-out process, now more than two weeks after the Nov. 5 general election. Sossamon currently trails challenger Bryan Cohn by 233 votes, but the protests bring into question the vote totals.

With the state canvass set for Tuesday, the board agreed Wednesday that the certification of statewide election results would take place – except for those with a pending recount, including the District 32 House seat that Sossamon currently holds.

As part of the county canvass process, the state generated lists sent out to county boards of elections as part of the review process to remove any ballots with irregularities – ballots cast by felons; ballots cast by voters who died before the Nov. 5 election date; and voters who had their registration denied or removed.

The state board will consider the other three categories of protests  – registered voters who are challenging eligibility, overseas or military ballots cast by a U.S. citizen and military/overseas citizen voters using absentee process to cast ballots without providing a photo ID –

in an effort to keep uniform and consistent the interpretation of election law across the state.

VGCC Logo

VGCC Drama Dept. Opens “Agnes Of God” Thursday For Weekend Run

/by

— Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

 

VGCC Drama returns to the stage Thursday with a three-member cast performing “Agnes of God,” the award-winning 1979 play by John Pielmeier.

Vance-Granville students Saylor Gray, JayAnn Gupton and KB Wiggs make up the all-female cast who take the stage for four performances. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The story is about a young novice, Agnes, who has been accused of killing her newborn child. A court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Martha Livingstone, is summoned to the convent to assess the young woman’s sanity. Miriam Ruth, the Mother Superior, determinedly keeps young Agnes from the doctor, further arousing Livingstone’s suspicions. Who killed the infant, and who fathered the tiny victim? Livingstone’s questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax.

Because of the adult themes and language, the performance is suggested for audience members 16 and older or children accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Tickets for “Agnes of God” are on sale now. The cost is $20 General Admission, $15 for Seniors/Military, and $10 for Students and VGCC Faculty/Staff.

Purchase tickets online at www.vgcc.edu/vgcc-drama-agnes-of-god.

Headed to the opening night show? Stay afterward to participate in a “talkback” discussion led by VGCC psychology instructor Dr. Kristie Polk.

All shows will take place in the Small Auditorium on VGCC’s Main Campus in Henderson. The venue is located on the lower level of Building 2 (Room #2105), which is accessible from the campus’s central courtyard.

Some audience members may be triggered by content such as abuse, religion, death, and use of cigarettes. Disclaimer: the theatrical cigarettes used in the production contain no harmful ingredients for either the audience of the actors.

VGCC Drama presents “Agnes of God” by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

To learn more VGCC Drama or Fine Arts at Vance-Granville Community College, contact Betsy Henderson, Department Chair of Fine Arts & Humanities, at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252. 738.3371.

Granville County Library System

Granville Library System Gets $10,000 From Anonymous Benefactor

/by

– information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Library System recently received a $10,000 donation to support children’s programming.

The donor, who wants to remain anonymous, designated the gift for projects aimed at improving children’s reading abilities in creative ways with a  primary focus on the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, but with potential to impact other library branches  across the county, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The money will be used for projects that the library system otherwise could not afford, including innovative reading programs, literacy support and educational initiatives that inspire young readers.

“We are incredibly fortunate to receive this support,” said Thornton Branch Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson. “This donation will allow us to create impactful programs that foster a love of reading and learning among children. We look forward to using these funds to expand the library’s community reach and resources in meaningful ways.”

The Granville County Library System will begin planning and implementing new initiatives with these funds by helping children develop stronger reading skills and a lasting connection to literacy. Further updates on the use of this donation will be shared with the community at a later date.

Visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ to learn more about the programs and services the library system offers.

 

 

3 GCPS Elementary Schools Earn Kudos In US News And World Report Ranking Program

/by

Three elementary schools in the southern end of Granville County have earned “Best Elementary Schools” badges from U.S. News and World Report, according to Granville County Public Schools Public Information Officer Courtney Currin.

Butner-Stem Elementary, Tar River Elementary and Wilton Elementary each placed among the top 40 percent of public elementary schools in North Carolina.

According to the US News and World Report, “the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students.”

GCPS Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne echoed that sentiment in praise of the school staffs, stating they “do everything they can to ensure their students succeed. Because of this and the students’ hard work, the students of those schools thrive. It’s exciting that their hard work and accomplishments are recognized.”

The rankings are based on students who scored at proficient or above proficient levels on math and reading state assessments, “while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects,” according to information from the national publication.

 

 

Chamber Hosts Business After Hours Nov. 14 At ACIM Food Bank

/by

Stop by Area Congregations in Ministry tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 14 on the way home from work or errands for a Business After Hours, sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

ACIM is located at 634 Roxboro Rd. The event will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet ACIM’s new executive director, chat with board members, and mingle with some of their dedicated volunteers. Light refreshments will be provided as attendees take a tour of the facility and gain insight into the work that goes on within the walls of the food bank warehouse.

To show support for ACIM, the Chamber staff encourages each guest to bring a non-perishable food item to help keep the ACIM shelves stocked. Your generous contributions will make a difference in ACIM’s mission to relieve hunger in Granville County.

TownTalk: The Barefoot Movement Headlines Hurricane Relief Concert At SGHS

/by

The Barefoot Movement’s Noah Wall and Tommy Norris have a deep connection to western North Carolina and east Tennessee, just over the Blue Ridge Mountains. They were dating and in a band when Norris was a student at Western Carolina and Noah was at East Tennessee State, and the two would meet in Asheville for a date night or band-related events.

But they also have connections to Granville County – both are 2006 graduates of South Granville High School in Creedmoor, and when Wall felt the urge to do something to help folks who lost so much in the devastation and flooding brought by Hurricane Helene, she turned to that high school and the choral department.

The result:  a hurricane relief concert on Friday, Nov. 22 featuring a couple of local groups as well as the bluegrass sound of The Barefoot Movement. The concert is sponsored by the South Granville Choral Association.

Tickets are $15 and are on sale now for the concert, which kicks off at 7 p.m.

First up is GrassStreet Bluegrass band, followed by the popular Granville County Southern Rock band Bryan’s Hill.

Wall said she has “zero ego” in being called the headline group, but she’ll take the stage with her fiddle and her husband – (Norris, if you didn’t know) – mandolin in hand, to finish out the concert.

“I wish I could just donate a million dollars,” Wall said on Tuesday’s TownTalk segment with WIZS’s Bill Harris. She said she has been moved by what the folks in the mountains have been going through, so she set about doing what she knows best. “I have my music and I know how to put on a concert,” she explained. The rest fell into place fairly easily.

The high school auditorium has a stage, a sound system and is a comfortable place for a concert. “It ultimately worked out great,” Wall said. All proceeds from the concert will go to Baptist on Mission, which has had teams of people on the ground helping in the disaster zone. They also have a specific Hurricane Helene Relief Fund, so Wall is confident the money will get to where it can be of most use.

Next week’s concert playlist may be a little different from what audiences hear when they’re on tour across the country, Wall said, hinting at what may be in store.

“It won’t be traditional bluegrass, necessarily,” said. “We may cover Ozzy Osborne, but we’ll do it with fiddle and mandolin.”

What it will be, she said, is fun. And she hopes all three bands play to a sold-out house.

“Its’ going to be a great night,” Wall said. “I just felt like I had to do something…just looking at pictures I’ve seen of Asheville, (recovery is) going to take a long time and they need our help.”

Find a link to ticket sales at https://www.thebarefootmovementofficial.com/  or find a link at https://onthestage.com/search 

CLICK PLAY!

 

NC Coop Extension

Free Soil Samples End Nov. 26; Submit Samples Now To Avoid $4 Fee Per Sample

/by

The time for getting free soil samples from The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services soil testing lab is almost over – it’s about to hit its busy season, but growers and homeowners have until Tuesday, Nov. 26 to squeak in under the wire before the fee of $4 per sample begins.

“Accurate lime and fertilizer recommendations are critical to producing healthy plants and crops and to avoid unnecessary expenses and protect our natural resources,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Recommendations that come from soil testing lets you know exactly what you need to add for optimal production. When it comes to fertilization needs, don’t guess, test.”

Peak-season fees are implemented annually to encourage growers to submit samples early, which helps spread out the testing time frame and to invest in equipment and temporary staff to decrease turnaround times. This year, the peak laboratory season starts Nov. 27 and runs through March 31, 2025.

Samples must physically arrive on the Agronomic Services’ loading dock no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to avoid that $4 per sample fee.

“This year the Agronomic Services Division is renewing its efforts to improve operational efficiency and optimize our customer service. To help in this mission, growers are asked to pay particular attention to the submission process,” said Dr. Don Edralin, soil testing section chief. “Small details matter when you consider that the Soil Testing Lab processes about 300,000 samples annually.”

Soil samples submitted without adequate grower, consultant, and/or sample information will not proceed through the lab but will be set aside.  This information is essential to associate samples with the correct existing client account or to establish a new unique client account. Samples will be held for at least five days, and an attempt will be made to obtain the missing information. Due to limited storage space, samples cannot be held indefinitely.

To avoid samples ending up in the “holding area,” simply follow the instructions listed below. In doing so, you will help the Soil Testing Lab be more efficient, and in turn, avoid unnecessary delays in sample processing.

  1. Only use soil sample boxes provided by NCDA&CS. Soil sample boxes and submission forms are provided at local county Cooperative Extension Centers and at the Agronomic Services Division, 4300 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. Fill the soil box to the red line found on the outside of the box. Required information on the box includes the client’s name, address and sample ID.
  2. With your samples, send a completed soil submission form. Needed information includes client’s name with their full address and a crop code which is critical for plant-specific recommendations. The list of codes is found on the second page of the sample submission form. Since soil test results are emailed to clients, it is extremely important that a valid email address is provided. Additionally, providing a current phone number is highly encouraged as it is helpful for faster contact if there is an issue with soil sample submission. For convenience, a fillable soil submission form for routine homeowner samples can be found at https://www.ncagr.gov/media/3727/open.
  3. Make sure that information listed on your soil submission form matches what is on your sample boxes.
  4. Save a copy/photo of your sample submission form for your records.
  5. Ensure that sample boxes are packed securely inside a sturdy shipper to avoid damage during transport. Do not use padded mailing envelopes. For faster delivery, private carriers such as UPS or FedEx deliver directly to the Agronomic building rather than an off-site mail center that USPS is required to use. Some Cooperative County Extension offices collect samples from homeowners for delivery to the division; clients are encouraged to make sure that delivery meets their intended expectations and needs.
  6. If you have access to a computer and printer, use the online data entry feature on PALS (www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pals) to ensure the most accurate delivery of sample information to the lab but enclose a copy of the submission form with soil sample boxes.

N.C. House Of Representatives District 32 Election Result 2024

/by

UPDATE: Thursday, Nov 7

The N.C. House District 32 race is one of several tight contests that played out across the state during Tuesday’s election. And although Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn ended the night with 182 more votes than incumbent Frank Sossamon, it remains unclear whether there will be call for a recount.

Local elections officials still have to review provisional ballots, which must be verified before they are counted and added to the official results.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles said the provisional ballot meeting will take place in Vance County Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

According to information released earlier Thursday by the N.C. State Board of Elections, Vance County had a total of 163 provisional ballots cast – 141 on Nov. 5 and 22 during the early voting period.

In Granville County, a total of 417 provisional ballots were cast – 380 on Nov. 5 and 37 during the early voting period.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools To Shutter Three More Schools In Consolidation Efforts

/by

-information courtesy of GCPS Public Information Officer Courtney Currin

The Granville County Board of Education voted earlier this week to close three more schools – Granville Central High School, Hawley Middle School and Butner-Stem Middle School. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the current Granville Central High School students will move to J.F. Webb or South Granville, making room for the middle school students to attend classes at high school-turned middle school campus in Stem.

The new name of the school is Granville Central Middle School.

The school board also approved new attendance zones for the district’s traditional middle and high schools.

The school board will have a work session on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to discuss topics including:

  • The creation of a student reassignment plan for middle and high school students based on new attendance zones;
  • The creation of a staffing reassignment plan at the affected schools (Butner-Stem Middle, G.C. Hawley Middle, Granville Central High School, J.F. Webb High School, and South Granville High School) that includes a timeline for staff notification;
  • The implementation of new high school and middle school attendance zones; and
  • The development of a facility transition plan with specific tasks for the renovation of facilities and relocation of furniture, equipment, and supplies.