Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Salvation Army

Henderson Salvation Army Welcomes Majors Jonathan And Staci Gainey As Corps Officers

/by

The Salvation Army announces the appointment of Majors Jonathan and Staci Gainey as new Corps Officers for The Salvation Army in Henderson. Their ministry will officially begin on Sunday, June 15 to serve in Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Halifax and Northampton counties.

The Gaineys bring more than two decades of faithful service as Salvation Army officers, with deep roots in both personal and pastoral ministry, according to information from Gina Eaves, office coordinator at the Henderson office on Ross Mill Road.

Married in November 1988 in Jacksonville, FL, Jonathan and Staci have four children and also enjoy being grandparents.

Staci was born into a family of Salvation Army officers and raised in a life of ministry, with her parents, Majors Thomas and Kareen Nicholls, now retired from active service. Jonathan, on the other hand, had no personal connection to The Salvation Army before meeting Staci. After 10 years of marriage, he began attending the Salvation Army corps in Jacksonville with Staci and their children. There, he experienced the transforming call of God upon his life and responded with a wholehearted commitment to ministry.

Jonathan is also a veteran of the U.S. Army and active-duty National Guard, having served honorably for more than five years before his discharge in 1998. In 2002, the Gaineys were commissioned and ordained as Salvation Army officers as part of the Crossbearers session, beginning a journey that would take them across North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama in seven different corps appointments.

Jonathan has also served as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church from 2012 to 2015 and as ordained clergy within the Global Methodist Church from 2023 until earlier this year.

Their educational backgrounds reflect their dedication to spiritual formation and Christian leadership. Staci holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership from Nazarene Bible College and is especially known for her gift of pastoral care and leadership.

Jonathan holds both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has a strong passion for biblical study and theology, and he enjoys helping others grow in their understanding of Scripture and faith.

Music also plays a central role in their lives and ministry. Staci is an accomplished pianist who enjoys playing for worship and is often invited to provide accompaniment at divisional and territorial events throughout The Salvation Army. Her musical sensitivity brings richness and depth to the worship experience. Jonathan plays both acoustic and electric guitar, offering rhythm and lead accompaniment that enhances congregational singing and contemporary praise. Together, their musical gifts help create Spirit-filled worship environments that are both reverent and joyful.

They describe their leadership style as both delegative and coaching—empowering others through encouragement, accountability, and intentional development. They uphold an open-door policy and strive to create a culture of approachability, professionalism, and care. They believe in cultivating meaningful relationships with staff, volunteers, donors, and members of the community.

Jonathan and Staci are already in prayer for the corps family, staff, Advisory Board, friends of The Salvation Army, and the many lives that are touched through its outreach in the Henderson region. They look forward to building upon the excellent work of Major Beth Mallard, whose faithful service has made a lasting impact.

They said they are excited to continue the ministries of The Salvation Army, including providing food for those in need, serving children through the Red Shield Club’s after-school and summer programs, offering excellent worship experiences, and growing lasting relationships with volunteers, supporters and community partners throughout the region.

In both life and ministry, the Gaineys are guided by the words of Micah 6:8 (NIV): “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Click Play!

Rabies Cases Confirmed In Dead Raccoons Found On White Oak Drive South Of Oxford

/by

— Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

 

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has confirmed a rabies case from several deceased raccoons picked up on White Oak Drive near US Highway 15. White Oak Drive is approximately one mile south of Interstate 85 at Exit 202.

Residents are urged to ensure that pets are up to date on their rabies vaccines. Vaccines are available at the Granville County Animal Shelter at a cost of $10 per vaccine. Rabies vaccines are administered Tuesday through Friday from 12 noon p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

The Local Skinny! Oxford Armory Farmers Market Off To A Strong Start

/by

The Oxford Armory Farmers Market has gotten off to a good start. In just a few Saturdays, organizers say the open-air market has had about 2,400 visitors. That number makes Wendy Tatum very happy, and hopeful for future sustainability.

Tatum is the Food and Built Environment associate with Granville County Cooperative Extension, a new position supported by N.C. A&T State University.

Using information from a 2022 needs assessment, Tatum assembled a core group of volunteers to create a place for local producers could sell their produce and farm products. What began as a series of pop-up markets in downtown Oxford morphed into dozens of vendors setting up shop on the grounds of the Armory.

“We’re very much centered around agriculture,” Tatum said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny! with WIZS’s Scout Hughes. The market is open on Saturdays May through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Craft vendors are at the market on the third Saturdays of each month.

She credits strong partnerships with the city of Oxford, the Granville County Board of Commissioners, the Kerr-Tar COG Food Council and many volunteers to get off on a positive note and to have such strong support from the community.

“We wanted a place that was highly visible,” Tatum said, in the choice made for the location of the market. “We needed it to be a walkable space – and comfortable,” she added. The Armory, located at 105 W. Spring St., is just a block or so away from the main downtown area of Oxford.

With a grant for $8,500 from Triangle North Healthcare, Tatum said the market buys produce from vendors at the end of the market day to stock the “Farm to Fridge” coolers located in library branches in the county.

Visit https://granville.ces.ncsu.edu/oxford-armory-farmers-market/ to learn more about the market or call Tatum at 919.603.1350.

Click Play!

Granville County Library System

Granville Library System Kicks Off Summer Reading Program June 7

/by

–information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Library System kicks off its summer reading program Saturday, June 7 with a Comic-Con at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford. Events and programs will run throughout the summer at all four branches of the Granville County Library System.

Participants at the Comic-Con can learn about all the great things happening across the library system this summer. Register to keep a reading log to win prizes.

Comic-Con will also include sword fighting and cosplay demonstrations, and there will be food trucks and other craft vendors on hand, too.

Mark your calendars for another summer highlight – the Blow-Out Party at the Granville Athletic Park on Monday, June 30. It’s a chance for participants to take part in family-friendly yard games, face painting and free ice cream from Southern Snow.

Other program highlights for the summer include:

  • Bob Ross Painting Party on June 19 at Thornton
  • Eco Explore on June 20 at Berea Branch
  • Tie Dye Extravaganza at South Branch on July 2
  • Chalk Painting at Berea on July 11
  • Mario Kart Tournament at Thornton on July 15 and South on July 23
  • Teen Chef Competition on July 17 at Thornton

Weekly recurring events include:

  • Mondays: Lego club at South
  • Tuesdays: Storytime at South and elementary activities at Thornton and Stovall libraries
  • Wednesdays: Storytime and family art workshops at Thornton
  • Thursdays: Special events including Bright Star Theater, Museum of Life and Science and Japanese Drumming (These events will be held in the morning at Thornton and in the afternoon at South)

For the full schedule and more information about the four branches of the Granville County Library System, visit  https://granville.lib.nc.us/.

Visit any of the four branches: Richard H. Thornton, located at 210 Main St., Oxford;  South, at 1550 South Campus Dr., Creedmoor; Stovall, 300 Main St., Stovall; and  Berea, 1211 US Highway 158, Oxford.

Ronald Garrett Appointed To Lead State USDA Farm Service Agency

/by

Ronald Garrett has been appointed State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in North Carolina.

Garrett began his new role on May 5. As SED, he is responsible for overseeing the delivery of FSA programs to the state’s agricultural producers. The commodity, conservation, credit and disaster assistance programs ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food, fiber, and fuel supply for all Americans.

“FSA State Executive Directors serve in a critical role carrying out USDA’s mission at the state level — ensuring that our focus is on meeting the needs of local agricultural producers by putting farmers and ranchers first,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Rural communities need our support now more than ever. Our newly appointed state leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their position as SED and they will play an integral role in shaping the future of agriculture in their state.”

Garrett served as an FSA county Executive Director for more than 34 years. He started his career with FSA as a county Operations Trainee in 1991 and worked in several county offices after completing his training. Garrett has received numerous awards from the National Association of State and County Office Employees for service to his community, FSA and agriculture. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business management from N.C. State University.

In a press release announcing the appointment, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said, “When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again.”

NC DOT

NCDOT Awards $2.9 M Contract For Roadwork In Vance, Granville, Warren Counties

/by

— information from the N.C. Department of Transportation

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $2.9 million contract to Sunrock Industries LLC to improve more than 16 miles of roads in Granville, Vance and Warren counties.

The roads to be upgraded include:

  • US 1 / 158 / Norlina Road from just north of Satterwhite Point Road to the U.S. 1 Bypass
  • U.S. 158 (North Garnett Street/Norlina Road) from near Satterwhite Point Road to U.S. 1 Bypass in Vance County
  • U.S. 1/U.S. 158 from U.S. 1 Bypass to the Vance-Warren County line
  • U.S. 1 Business/U.S. 158 from the Vance-Warren County line to Terrell Street in Norlina
  • NC. 56 (East C Street/Butner Creedmoor Road/West Lake Road) from Central Avenue to South Durham Avenue (U.S. 15) in Granville County

The project will include milling, resurfacing, shoulder reconstruction and curb replacement. Work is set to begin this spring and should be finished by late fall 2026.

Getting Property, Emergency Plans Ready For 2025 Hurricane Season, Which Begins Sunday, June 1

/by

 

Topping this year’s list of unwanted guests between June and December include Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter – those are names designated for the first four named hurricanes of the 2025 season, which officially begins Sunday, June 1.

It’s not too soon to think about ways to protect your property to reduce potential damage in the event a hurricane or its after-effects cause problems.

Western North Carolina is still dealing with the aftermath of destruction caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene last fall.

And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting an “above-normal” season.

With that in mind, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association suggests that homeowners review insurance policies to make sure you can financially weather a storm.

“Natural disasters in recent years have caused billions of dollars in damages, which is a key reason why insurance costs have risen,” says Michael Richmond-Crum, senior director of personal lines at APCIA. “To help make insurance more affordable and available long-term, it is critical to increase the resiliency of homes and communities and reduce costly damage from severe weather. Many insurers offer premium discounts for certain steps that homeowners take to reduce the potential for damage from a storm. Discounts vary by company, so talk to your insurer or agent to see what discounts are available.”

The following steps are low-cost ways homeowners can strengthen their property for hurricane season:

  • Start by checking around your home or business and trimming back any nearby branches or trees, especially ones that hang over or close to your home.
  • Inspect the roof and repair any loose or damaged shingles.
  • Secure loose gutters and seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to prevent water intrusion.
  • Installing a wind-rated garage door or hurricane shutters and upgrading the home to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s FORTIFIEDconstruction standard are additional measures to consider.

In recent years, costs to repair and rebuild homes and businesses after a natural disaster have risen significantly. In the last five years, the cost of construction labor has increased 36.3 percent while the cost of building materials are up 42.7 percent.

“As part of your hurricane season prep, take time to review your insurance policy and verify with your insurer or agent that your coverage is keeping pace with these cost increases,” added Richmond-Crum.

When reviewing your insurance policy, consider the following:

  • Carefully review your policy limits and deductible (i.e., the amount you will pay out of pocket if you have a claim), and make adjustments, if needed, to ensure you have an appropriate amount of coverage to recover if your property is damaged. Raising your deductible is one way to potentially lower your premium, but make sure you can afford the higher deductible and understand that any damage that falls below the deductible will be out of pocket.
  • Ask if your policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value. Actual cash value takes depreciation into account and replacement cost is the amount necessary to rebuild your home with materials of like kind and quality up to policy limits.
  • Consider adding key additional coverages, such as automatic inflation guard, extended replacement cost, and building code/ordinance coverage.
  • Evaluate your need for flood insurance.Flood damage is typically not covered under a standard homeowners policy. Flood insurance is available as a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or the private market.

Other steps to take to prepare for hurricane season:

  • Make a home inventory using your cell phone to take pictures and videos of your home and your home’s contents.
  • Gather copies of your home, auto, and flood insurance policies and keep them in a safe, accessible place.
  • Save your insurer’s contact info to your phone’s contacts so you can easily and quickly start the claims process if your home is damaged.
  • If your insurer has an app available, download it on to your phone for easy access to policy information.

For the record, in addition to Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter, the following names will be used if needed for the 2025 hurricane season:

Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

TownTalk: Granville County Tourism Ramps Up

/by

Granville County is bustin’ at the seams with springtime events designed to get families out and about, from Quittin’ Time in downtown Oxford on Thursday evenings, live music in Bullock and a Memorial Day wreath-laying service at Butner Gazebo Park on Monday, May 26.

Angela Allen, now a decade in as the county’s Tourism director, said these are just a few of opportunities available in the coming weeks to keep folks entertained and connected with the community.

In her early days in the job, she said springtime events were much fewer. “All I had was the Easter Bunny,” she joked on WIZS’s TownTalk segment Wednesday. “Spring is springing all over the place,” she said.

The RedBird Theater is bringing Eureka Day to the city hall auditorium Saturday, May 24. The show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., combines comedy and drama to reveal how a progressive private school deals with making tough decisions about a measles outbreak and more divisive issues. There’s a link to purchase tickets at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

Crokinole, anyone? How about disc golf? Oxford has clubs for both. Crokinole – pronounced CROW (like the bird) kuh nole – is a game played on a round tabletop board. The goal is to flick a small disc into the hole in the board’s center, sort of like shuffleboard, Allen explained.

The local club normally has Open Nights on Thursdays at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. for anyone interested in learning more about the game, but Allen said it’s on pause for now because of Quittin’ Time. Check out their Facebook page to find out more.

Here’s a quick rundown of upcoming events in and around Granville County:

  • Thursday evenings in May and June: Quittin’ Time – 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Oxford. Stroll from spot to spot and enjoy specialty cocktails and small plates, as well as live music and art exhibits. Get a “passport,” scan a QR code over the course of Quittin’ Time and have a chance to win prizes at the end of the nine-week run.
  • TWBC has paired brunch with local music and an open stage for others to perform. Brunch runs June through August. Email taproom@tobaccowood.co to sign up for your time on stage.
  • There’s a new farmers market in Oxford called the Oxford Armory Farmers Market to go along with the existing market on McClanahan Street across from the Oxford Police Department and the market in downtown Creedmoor. The new market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is set up on the grounds of the Armory at Linden Avenue and Spring Street with a wreath-laying ceremony to observe Memorial Day. The park is located at 416 Central Ave.
  • The Town of Butner continues a tradition Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m. with a wreath laying ceremony at Butner Gazebo Park, located at 416 Central Ave.
  • “Live After Six in the Stix” returns to Williamson’s Country Store and Grill in Bullock on June 5. Bring your lawnchairs and your dancin’ shoes, because JB and the Get Down Browns will perform. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Tammy and Rod Williamson will have the grill fired up and the drink coolers stocked for you. The admission is free.
  • Saturday, June 14 is a shaping up to be busy – Oxford’s Juneteenth celebration takes place at Wall and Hunt streets from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and The Barn at Vino is hosting a beach music festival from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • The annual Bee Jubilee and Food Truck Rodeo takes over the Granville Expo Center on Saturday, June 28 for a day of food, fun and all things “bee.”

Read more details at these and other events taking place in Granville County at www.visitgranvillenc.com

CLICK PLAY!

The Local Skinny! N.C. Rep. Bryan Cohn Says $10M For Water Plant Expansion Is Spent

/by

N.C. Rep. Bryan Cohn said House Bill 74, signed into law last week by Gov. Josh Stein, is not anticipated to have any impact on the $10 million that had been reappropriated away from the City of Oxford as part of the Kerr Lake Regional Water expansion.

“That money has been distributed and contractors have been paid,” Cohn told WIZS News Monday morning. “That money no longer exists.”

Cohn learned in early March that the bill contained language that would “claw back” money that had been appropriated to the City of Oxford in 2023 to expand the water plant. The project is underway, and once complete, will increase capacity to up to 20 million gallons a day.

“The facts are that the city of Oxford, through the water authority, applied for reimbursement to DEQ. DEQ evaluated that reimbursement request, just like they would any other reimbursement request, and they issued the final payment,” Cohn explained. “So that money has been distributed and the contractors working at Kerr Lake Regional Water plant have been paid – at least they’ve been paid using the funds allocated by the General Assembly.”

You can’t spend money twice, and Cohn said he is unsure what will happen next, but he added “the law is on our side.” The money was originally allocated in 2023 by the N.C. General Assembly for the regional water expansion project.

“That project is underway and they followed all the proper protocols and procedures for executing the work and getting reimbursement as required,” he said.

Cohn said when he learned that there was an attempt to reallocate the funding, he said he recommended that they needed to request reimbursement and follow the process given.

“At no point did I ask DEQ or anyone to circumvent or expedite anything,” Cohn explained, adding that he “simply asked the regional water authority and the city of oxford to go ahead and put in for reimbursement before this became law.”

In House Bill 74, South Granville Water and Sewer Authority was appropriated $3 million for an expansion project of its own, and Cohn said he fully supports those efforts. The other $7 million was to have been used in Franklin County and a couple of other counties, for similar projects.

“We have the opportunity to do something right now with this budget,” he said, referring to the fact that legislators are in the middle of creating the state’s budget. But he said he didn’t want to be in a situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Click Play!

NCDOT

NCDOT: $2.3M Contract Awarded To Improve 18 Miles Of Granville County Roadways

/by

— from the N.C. Dept. of Transportation

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $2.3 million contract to Sunrock Industries, LLC to enhance more than 18 miles of roadway across Granville County.

The project will focus on improvements to seven sections of secondary roads, including:

  • Old N.C. 75 from the bridge over Ledge Creek to Providence Road
  • Lawrence Road from Horseshoe Road to the Wake/Granville County line
  • Thad Carey Road at Old N.C. 75
  • Joe Pruitt Road from Graham Hobgood Road to Cornwall Road
  • Bodie Currin Road from Graham Hobgood Road to Cornwall Road
  • Cornwall Road from Joe Pruitt Road to U.S. 158
  • John Watkins Road from Oak Hill Road to Cornwall Road

The scope of the work includes milling, resurfacing, shoulder reconstruction, and curb replacement. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring, with completion anticipated by late fall 2026.