Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Families Living Violence Free

Quarter Auction Oct. 7 To Benefit Families Living Violence Free

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Join the fun to raise money for a good cause at the Quarter Auction to benefit Families Living Violence Free on Friday, Oct. 7. The event will be held at The Barn at Vino in Stem.

FVLF Executive Director Peggy Roark said a $20 ticket includes dinner and a bidding paddle. Bring an appetite, lots of enthusiasm and a few rolls of quarters! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:15 and the auction kicks off at 7 p.m. Bring some extra cash to purchase items from your favorite participating vendors.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the auction is just one way to support agencies like FLVF as its staff provides services to those in the community who have experienced trauma in the form of domestic violence or sexual assault.

The Barn at Vino is located at 3200 Bliss Trail in Stem.

Phone 919.693.3579 to purchase tickets.

High School Students Can Apply For Youth Leadership Council Through Sept. 30

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-information from Granville County Cooperative Extension

The Granville County Youth Leadership Council (GCYLC) is accepting applications through Sept. 30 to join the council. Any student in grades 9-11 who is interested in honing leadership skills and learning how to make a difference in their community is encouraged to submit an application, according to Charissa Puryear, Granville Unit Director at the N.C. Cooperative Extension office.

The GCYLC is being formed as a partnership between the Granville County Board of Commissioners and N.C. Cooperative Extension. The council will offer 20-25 youth from diverse backgrounds across the county a chance to participate in a leadership development program while serving as ambassadors and youth voices to the county commissioners and other local boards. The council is being created to elevate youth voices and contribute to community development, programming and vision while providing youth a unique opportunity to be drivers of their own ideas from conceptualization to implementation and reflection, Puryear noted in a press statement.

Members will also be encouraged to represent GCYLC at board meetings, conferences, and special events.

Students interested in applying should be enrolled in high school, live in Granville County, and be available for meetings at least one time per month. Community, youth and faith-based organizations and educators are encouraged to nominate youth. If interested in applying, visit www.granvilleylc.weebly.com or contact Charissa Puryear at cmpuryea@ncsu.edu or 919.603.1350.

Masonic Home for Children

Visit Sept. 15 Open House At MHCO To Learn More About Community Support Center

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Plans are underway to create a community support center on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford to offer resources, training and other services to families in the community.

Through a partnership with the Granville County United Way, FGV Smart Start, Granville Education Foundation and Baptist Children’s Home the Masonic Home for Children invites interested community agencies  to an open house on Thursday, Sept. 15. Drop by between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more about how to identify and address family needs, provide services, network and make referrals for services on behalf of families in need.

Some of the proposed services include:

  • Parenting Education
  • Nutrition Classes
  • Family Counseling
  • Foster Care Training
  • Adolescent Group Counseling
  • Financial Management Education
  • Recreation
  • Networking to a variety of services

Visitors can come to the Parham Cottage at the children’s home, whose main campus is located at 600 College St., Oxford.

Granville Announces Drew Cummings As New County Manager

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-information courtesy of Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Board of Commissioners has selected Drew Cummings as the new county manager. Cummings has been an assistant county manager and chief of staff in Durham County for 14 years. He will begin his new job on Oct. 17.

“I am so excited to come to Granville County and look forward to working with the commissioners, staff, and the community to continue building on the strong groundwork that has already been laid,” Cummings said.

Cummings is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children and in his spare time Cummings enjoys exercise, woodwork, and singing in his church choir.

“The Granville County Board of Commissioners is unanimous in its selection of Drew Cummings,” said Tony Cozart, board chair. “His educational level and extensive experience make Mr. Cummings the desired candidate to serve as our next county manager.”

Before his time in Durham County, Cummings, worked in other areas of municipal government and was a middle school teacher for seven years before entering work in local government, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood..

While in Durham County, Cummings focused on a wide range of issues including economic development, education, transportation, affordable housing, and homelessness. He has been a member of the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) as well as the North Carolina City and County Managers Association since 2004.

Cummings achieved his ICMA Credentialed Manager status in 2021 and is also a 2015 graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy. He is a graduate of Harvard University, holding a BA in Government and received his Master’s in Public Policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy.

Cummings comes to us with outstanding references, is very well trained in county administration, and has shown throughout his career that he is a person who has committed himself to getting results. His longevity with Durham County shows that he is willing to ingrain himself in a community and weather a few storms while moving towards a long-range vision of success. As a longtime Durham resident, Mr. Cummings is already familiar with this region and knows the needs and opportunities for success that we have in Granville,” Cozart said.

“I look forward to getting to know the community and staff much better in the coming months as we re-commit ourselves to the goals of responsive, innovative, efficient government and seek to seize the positive out of all the change we have seen over the past few years. It is a true honor.”

David Richardson, Granville School Board Chair, Dies

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David Richardson, chairman of the Granville County Board of Education, died Tuesday evening. Friends, church colleagues and education supporters across the county reflected Wednesday on Richardson’s life and legacy in the community.

Granville County Public Schools Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne said district officials received word of Richardson’s death, but he had no further information about funeral service arrangements.

Richardson was pastor at Peace’s Chapel Baptist Church, located in the Fairport community. He also served on the advisory committee for the Granville Crime Stoppers, and President Frank Sossamon said he had known Richardson through that organization, as well as through their shared work in the ministry.

“It was a shock to all of us,” Sossamon said, of learning of Richardson’s death.

“He was a caring man…He deeply cared for people,” he said, adding that he wanted to do something that would positively affect his community. He was recently re-elected to the District 7 seat on the Granville County school board. “He wanted what was best for the county,” Sossamon continued.

A post by Board President Dr. Linda Frederickson on the Granville Education Foundation social media page said, “David was a champion for Granville County Schools and so supportive of GEF. He had a kind and giving heart and truly wanted to do what was best for Granville County Schools.”

State Highway Patrol

Booze It & Lose It Campaign Aimed At Reducing Alcohol-Related Car Crashes

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State and local officials have a simple message – never drink and drive.

Doing so over the long holiday weekend could mean a trip to jail rather than to the beach or pool.

Through Sept. 11, law enforcement statewide will be stepping up patrols to stop impaired drivers during the annual Labor Day Booze It & Lose It campaign.

Driving while impaired is against the law and could be deadly, not to mention expensive. People charged with DWI can lose their license and pay thousands of dollars in court fees.

“By finding a sober ride home, you can prevent a fun summer night from turning tragic,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “More than 400 North Carolina families lost loved ones last year in alcohol-related crashes, and if we can stop even one family from experiencing this kind of loss, it will have been worth it.”

In 2021, 423 people died on North Carolina roads due to alcohol-related crashes, including 15 during the Labor Day Booze It & Lose It enforcement campaign period.

Increased enforcement during specific campaign periods year-round is a key part of making North Carolina roads safer. That’s especially important this year, as officials seek to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, which in 2021 marked the most traffic deaths in North Carolina since 1973.

Granville Tourism Dollars Up 26.9%, Topping $50M For 2021

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Visitors to Granville County spent $50 million in 2021, an increase of 26.9 percent from 2020 of more than $13 million. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.  “Visitors are truly finding that Granville County is uniquely Carolina,” said Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority. “From big events like the NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival, to the first female, veteran-owned brewery at Tobacco Wood Brewery, or an art gallery that features more than 250 artists at Cedar Creek Gallery, Granville has so much to offer. Visitors are finding that Granville County is a great place for a day trip or a quick getaway weekend that is so close and convenient to the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area but feels like a world away.”

Tourism impact highlights in 2021 for Granville County: 

  • The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 275 people.
  • Total payroll generated by the tourism industry was $11.6 million.
  • State tax revenue generated totaled $2.3 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $1.8 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

 

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2021,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association.  Statewide, visitor spending in 2021 rebounded by 44.9 percent to reach $28.9 billion. Following the devastating pandemic-related losses of 2020, the total fell just short of the record $29.22 spent in 2019. Direct tourism employment increased 10.5 percent to 197,500. “These findings are something that everyone in North Carolina can celebrate,” said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell.  “They’re a testament to the resilience of our businesses and our residents, and to the enduring appeal of destinations that include everything a traveler might want. The economic well-being of the state and all its communities rises with the pleasures travelers find in the natural beauty of our public spaces, our culinary traditions and innovation, our remarkable towns, and our spirited cities. North Carolina can claim it all.”

 

 

Schools Still Looking For Teachers To Fill Vacancies

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As students return to classrooms for a new school year, many are finding understaffed schools. Schools across Vance, Granville and Warren counties also are experiencing vacancies.

There simply are not enough teachers to fill openings, and Rep. Terry Garrison cited recently released statistics that underscore the challenge that schools face.

Garrison said in an email dated Aug. 31 that Vance County Schools have 26 vacancies, Warren County Schools have five vacancies and Granville County Public Schools has 56 vacancies.

Zooming out to school districts across the state, Garrison’s office cited a recent survey from the North Carolina School Superintendents Association which counted at least 11,297 teacher and staff vacancies in North Carolina, including:

  • 3,619 K-12 teachers
  • 1,342 bus drivers
  • 850 special education teachers
  • 354 counselors, social workers and psychologists
  • 70 assistant principals
  • 698 central office employees
  • And more than 4,362 other support staff

Those numbers are low estimates, since only 98 of 115 school districts responded, according to Garrison’s press statement.

“The General Assembly needs to act quickly to ensure that students have teachers in their classrooms,” Garrison said. “There are solutions available to us. We could revisit the policy used during the pandemic of allowing retired teachers to come back, for example. Our state also has billions of dollars in reserves that could help recruit more teachers in districts that are understaffed.”

Contact Garrison by phone at 919.733.5824 or by email at terry.garrison@ncleg.gov.

September Is National Preparedness Month – Be Ready For Emergencies

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-Information courtesy of American Red Cross, Eastern North Carolina Region

People everywhere are feeling the impacts of climate change with more frequent and intense weather events threatening our communities. September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina Region urges everyone to get ready for these emergencies now.

In 2021 more than 40 percent of Americans — some 130 million people — were living in a county struck by a climate disaster. Recent deadly flooding in Kentucky and Missouri, fast-moving wildfires in California and multiple heat waves nationwide are clear examples of how more intense climate-related disasters are happening more often and devastating communities. You can get prepared by visiting redcross.org/prepare.

The Red Cross suggests three steps to keep your family safe during disasters: 1- Get a Kit, 2- Make a Plan and 3- Be Informed.

  1. Build your emergency kit with a gallon of water per person, per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio. Also include a first aid kit, medications, supplies for infants or pets, a multi-purpose tool and personal hygiene items. And don’t forget to add copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, blankets, maps of the area and emergency contact information.
  2. Plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and what to do if you have to evacuate. Make sure to coordinate your plan with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plans.
  3. Stay informed by finding out what emergency situations may occur where you live, work and go to school, how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders.

Include your pets in your emergency plans. Remember, if you and your family need to evacuate, so does your pet. It’s important to plan in advance to know which pet-friendly hotels are in your area, and where your pets can stay in an emergency situation.

Take any special considerations into account as part of your emergency planning. Older adults or people with mobility, hearing, learning or seeing disabilities may need to create a support network of people that can help during an emergency. Create a plan that takes into account your capabilities, any help you may need and who can provide it, especially if you need to evacuate or if the power goes out for several days.

You can help ensure your community is ready for an emergency by volunteering, donating blood or learning lifesaving skills. Visit redcross.org to learn more.

Red Cross volunteers play critical roles in their local communities, including helping families affected by home fires and other disasters get back on their feet. Join us as a Disaster Action Team volunteer to help make sure that families don’t have to face tough times alone.

Learn lifesaving skills so you can help people in a crisis until medical professionals arrive. Sign up for first aid, CPR or other classes available online or in-person.

A strong blood supply is key to preparedness for disasters and medical emergencies, and donors can ensure blood is on the shelves the moment it’s needed. As a thank-you, all who come to give Sept. 1-18 will get a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Plus, those who race to give Sept. 1-30 will automatically be entered for a chance to win a VIP NASCAR experience, including two tickets to a 2023 race, and will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, all thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts.* Donors can schedule an appointment to donate using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). If you are unable to give blood you can volunteer to support blood collections. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more.

Area Unemployment Rates Fall Slightly In July 2022, Follow State Trends

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Vance County’s unemployment rate stands at 6.4 percent for July 2022, slightly lower than the rate so far for 2022, which is 6.8 percent. However, these rates remain well below the state averages of 3.7 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively.

According to data released yesterday by the N.C. Department of Commerce, Vance joins the other 99 counties in the state which experienced a decrease in the unemployment rate.

In Granville County for July, the rate is 3.2 percent. In Warren County, the number is 6.6 percent and in Franklin County the rate is 3.6 percent.

August figures are scheduled to be released in mid-September.

Henderson and Oxford are categorized as “micropolitan statistical areas,” a term coined in the 1990’s to describe growing population centers that are not near larger cities, and that draw workers and shoppers from a wide local area.

Henderson’s unemployment rates dropped 2 full percentage points from July 2021 to July 22 – from 8.4 percent to 6.4 percent, according to the data. Oxford also saw its unemployment rate drop over the same period, from 4.3 percent to 3.2 percent.

The number of workers employed statewide (not seasonally adjusted) increased in July to 4,966,822 – up by 31,277 – according to the data and unemployed individuals decreased by 18,851 to 190,340. Since July 2021, the number of workers employed statewide increased by 214,946, while those unemployed decreased by 65,092.

Vance and Warren counties are among 14 counties with unemployment rates between 5 percent and 10 percent; Granville joins 85 other counties with rates 5 percent or lower. None of the state’s 100 counties has a rate that exceeds 10 percent.

According to data from the Commerce Department, Franklin County has the largest labor force – or number of employed individuals – with 33,966. There are 1,218 who are unemployed for a rate of 3.6 percent.

Granville County follows with 30,571 people in the labor force. There are 991 unemployed for a rate of 3.2 percent. Vance has a labor force of 16,770, with 1,069 unemployed, which makes a 6.4 percent unemployment rate. And Warren County has the smallest labor force – 6,558 – with 436 unemployed for a rate of 6.6 percent.