Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

TownTalk: Local Author Michael Elliott To Hold Book Signing

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Oxford native Mike Elliott has fond childhood memories of the Richard Thornton Library – it’s a place he frequented after school and he said it’s where he got to discover all kinds of wonderful music. Oh, yeah, books, too. But also albums. Stacks and stacks of record albums, he said.

Elliott returns to Thornton Library this Saturday, Oct. 8 to talk about his new book called “Have A Little Faith: The John Hiatt Story,” a biography of legendary singer-songwriter John Hiatt.

Elliott, a former staff member here at WIZS, told Bill Harris Tuesday that the library was a place “near and dear to my heart…where I got to discover all kinds of wonderful music.”

And from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, he’ll be reading from his own book, entertaining questions about it and signing books that will be available for sale. Now out in paperback, the hard cover was released in September 2021.

Hiatt may not be a household name to some, but his songs surely are recognizable. Artists from Bonnie Raitt to B.B. King have sung the lyrics he’s penned since he came onto the music scene in the early 1970’s. “He has written so many songs that people will know,” Elliott said. “So many people have done John Hiatt music.”

Interestingly enough, it was a “horrible” song that first caught Elliott’s attention. Although he didn’t like the lyrics he was listening to on one of those college stations in the mid-‘80’s, he was drawn to the voice singing it. Elliott said he remembered thinking “This song’s terrible, but I love that singer” with the bluesy voice.

Fast forward to another Hiatt song called “Slow Turning,” and it hit Elliott that both songs were performed by the same guy. On a subsequent visit to Henderson’s Nits, Nats, Etc. was where Elliott said he found “Bring The Family,” which he called “an amazing album…that made me a fan for life” of Hiatt’s music.

“He’s a brilliant lyricist,” Elliott continued, with an ability to take the mundane and create sweet perspectives on everyday life. Hiatt’s lyrics are quirky, but not maudlin, he said.

Hiatt turned 70 in August, Elliott said, and he had a chance to sit and chat in person after a recent performance at Carolina Theater in Durham. The initial interviews for the book had to be done over the phone because of COVID, but Elliott said he caught a show in Ft. Lauderdale and then “was thrilled to finally be able to meet in person.”

What’s next for Elliott?

In addition to the regular contributions to numerous online and print publications, Elliott said he’s narrowing down topics for his next book.

“I’ve got some irons in the fire,” he said, adding that the next book will more than likely be a biography, again with a music theme.

Learn more at https://michael-elliott.com/

 

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Granville County Public Schools

Granville School Board Selects Helen Lindsey To Fill Vacant Seat

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A retired schools employee has been appointed to fill the unexpired term on the Granville County Board of Education.

Dr. Helen Lindsey was selected from a field of five candidates interviewed Thursday for the seat made vacant when Dr. Tom Houlihan tendered his resignation effective July 31.

Following the interviews, the board discussed the candidates before casting their votes.

“This was a very difficult process in that all of the applicants brought their own unique strengths and experiences,” said Board Chair Glenda Williams. “One thing they all had in common was their willingness to serve, and we are grateful to each of them for investing their time and effort in this process,” Williams added.

Dr. Lindsey will be sworn in at the next regularly scheduled meeting, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 3.

The agendas, minutes and video recordings for board meetings may be found at

https://www.boarddocs.com/nc/gcsd/Board.nsf

 

The Local Skinny! Clayton Homes Of Oxford Supports KidsCan! At Duke Cancer Institute

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Clayton Oxford is known as #929 in the larger corporate family that is Clayton Homes, so what better day than Sept. 29 – 9/29 – to kick off the local manufacturer’s monthlong fundraising effort called Pink October?

One long table in the breakroom at the Knotts Grove Road plant was filled Thursday with all sorts of sweets for the first of several events of Pink October. Sandra Santos, Clayton Oxford’s team member experience manager, said the bake sale would probably earn close to $400 toward a $20,000 goal. Add that to $3,700 from “Stronger Together” t-shirt sales, and they’re about a fifth of the way there. And it isn’t even October yet.

Santos said other events will be held throughout the month – hotdog lunch fundraisers, 50/50 raffles and a carnival closer to Halloween are just a few of the fun things planned.

Clayton Oxford raises money each year for Duke Cancer Institute, Santos said. The roughly 220 team members had no problem meeting last year’s goal of $15,000, and Santos predicts this year will be no different.

On hand for Thursday’s kickoff event was Kristy E. Sartin, director of external relations for Duke Supportive Care and Survivorship Center. Sartin’s program is part of the umbrella organization that is Duke Cancer Institute, which provides a range of services – at no cost – to cancer patients and their families.

Leslie Dixon, a customer care advocate for Clayton Oxford, is one such patient.

Dixon was diagnosed with melanoma in late 2020, and she said she received “amazing care” not only from her medical team but also from the folks at Duke Cancer Institute. The KidsCan! Program helped her young son process his mom’s diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

“KidsCan! helped with counseling and tutoring for my son, who was 10 at the time of my diagnosis,” Dixon said Thursday. The support he received from KidsCan! gave him a different outlook on cancer, she said.

“KidsCan! gave him an outlet and access to therapists for counseling,” Dixon said. And, he realized “they can also help me get my math grade back up,” she added.

“KidsCan! is a great program,” Santos said, “that provides support for children and teenagers…who can share their concerns and be treated with love and respect.”

Dixon said that during her six years at Clayton Oxford, there have been a number of fellow employees who have gotten a cancer diagnosis. They all went to Duke for their treatment, so it’s easy to support programs like the Duke Cancer Institute and KidsCan! because those programs have helped their friends and fellow team members.

“We’re part of a wonderful company,” Santos said. One of their core values is Do Good. And Pink October fits perfectly with that value, she said. “We do it and we serve our community in this way. We do good because it is good for everybody.”

To learn more, visit http://www.dukecancerinstitute.org/ and click Supportive Care.

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NCDOT

Henderson Gets $463K in Powell Bill Funds From NCDOT

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Henderson is the big winner among area municipalities in the recent $154.8 million Powell Bill allotment announced by the N.C. Department of Transportation for street improvements.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS Wednesday that he and the City Council will be working to help prioritize where and how to use the $463,634.73 allotment, about half of which has been distributed.  The remaining amount to be paid by Jan. 1, 2023, according to a press statement from NCDOT.

Officially called the State Street Aid to Municipalities, the program also is known as Powell Bill funds. This year, a total of 508 municipalities statewide benefitted from the allocation.

The Powell Bill funds are used primarily to resurface municipal streets but also may be used to maintain, repair, construct, or widen streets, bridges, and drainage areas. Municipalities can also use Powell Bill funds to plan, construct and maintain bike paths, greenways or sidewalks.

The amount each municipality receives is based on a formula established by state law, with 75 percent of the funds based on population and 25 percent based on the number of municipality-maintained street miles.  The annual population figures are provided by the Office of State Budget and Management.

“Powell Bill funding allows us to complete a lot of transportation projects important to North Carolina communities from Murphy to Manteo,” said State Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette.  “Municipalities can use these funds on projects that make our state a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

The fund is named for Junius K. Powell, a former state senator and mayor of Whiteville. Powell was the primary sponsor of the 1951 bill to help the state’s cities with urban road problems. The first allocation of Powell Bill funds was for $4.5 million and was distributed to 386 cities and towns.

Here’s what other area municipalities received through the Powell Bill:

  • Oxford – $255,752.37
  • Butner – $211,071.63
  • Creedmoor – $136,485.84
  • Louisburg – $95,153.03
  • Franklinton – $81,171.29
  • Youngsville – $61, 422.29
  • Norlina – $36,146.25
  • Stem – $29,567.39
  • Warrenton – $29,013.37
  • Stovall – $12,849.72
  • Middleburg – $6,201.01
  • Kittrell – $5,248.47

Oxford’s CultureFEST Postponed; New Date Set For May 2023

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This Saturday’s CultureFEST in downtown Oxford has been rescheduled, thanks to the likelihood that the area will be dealing with the remnants of Hurricane Ian, now poised to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast tomorrow.

Two of the event organizers  – Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and Ajulo Othow – were on TownTalk Monday to spread the word about the event, which was going to mark its second year of being held in the parking lot at Littlejohn Street.

Sergent contacted WIZS News Tuesday morning to share the news of the postponement.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel and postpone until next May,” Sergent said.

With weather forecasts predicting that North Carolina will be hit with heavy rains from the storm, it was a case of better safe than sorry.

Chamber’s 2022 ‘Alive After Five’ Concert Finale Thursday In Downtown Oxford

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The final Alive After Five concert of the 2022 season is set for  Thursday, Sept. 29 in the Littlejohn parking lot in downtown Oxford.

The band “Spare Change” takes the stage at 5:30 p.m., according to information from Granville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lauren Roberson. The event is free – bring a lawn chair, your dancing shoes and enjoy three hours of music in the cool fall weather.

Food vendors will be on hand, including Southern Snow Company, and Smoken Souls BBQ, along with Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., The Hub on Main, Coca-Cola and Long Beverage.

Beverage tickets are available for purchase at check-in sites located at Littlejohn and Gilliam streets. There will also be face painting and chalk for entertainment for the children, so bring the family to enjoy the free community event.

 

 

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TownTalk: CultureFEST To Liven Up Downtown Oxford (POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 2023)

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UPDATE NOON 9-27-22:

DUE TO FORECAST WEATHER EVENTS, CULTUREFEST ORGANIZERS HAVE MADE THE “DIFFICULT DECISION TO CANCEL AND POSTPONE UNTIL NEXT MAY.”

BE SURE TO READ THE FOLLOWING UPDATED NEWS TEXT:

This Saturday’s CultureFEST in downtown Oxford has been rescheduled, thanks to the likelihood that the area will be dealing with the remnants of Hurricane Ian, now poised to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast tomorrow (Wednesday).

Two of the event organizers  – Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and Ajulo Othow – were on TownTalk Monday to spread the word about the event, which was going to mark its second year of being held in the parking lot at Littlejohn Street.

Sergent contacted WIZS News Tuesday morning to share the news of the postponement.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel and postpone until next May,” Sergent said.

With weather forecasts predicting that North Carolina will be hit with heavy rains from the storm, it was a case of better safe than sorry.

ORIGINAL STORY 9-26-22:

The parking lot at Littlejohn Street will be the site for the second annual CultureFEST on Saturday, Oct. 1 in downtown Oxford.

The sights and sounds are local, to be sure, but the flair – and flavor – of the event is international, as dance groups representing the diversity of cultures are featured or all to enjoy. In addition to the dance performances, there will be food trucks and children’s activities during the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Two of the event organizers spoke Monday with John C. Rose on TownTalk. Ajulo Othow expressed appreciation to the City of Oxford and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation for their collaboration and partnership to make CultureFEST a downtown event.

“Our goal is to grow this event from year to year,” said Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring people from a variety of backgrounds…to enjoy all the different things that culture brings to the table.”

At 11:30 a Hawaiian dance group kicks off a slew of performances that will take the stage through the course of the afternoon. “They did a wonderful job setting the tone last year,” Othow noted. A new group representing the Haliwa Saponi tribe will join this year’s event, and there will Orgullo y Alma Latina presenting traditional dances of Guerrero, Mexico, and the Carolina  Indian Arts performing dances from the Punjab region of India. The African American Dance Ensemble and the Cane Creek Cloggers also will perform.

“It’s going to be a wonderful day!” Othow said. “We’re excited about all of the different performers.”

It was Othow’s mother, the late Dr. Helen Othow, who founded the John Chavis Historical Society and it was this group that started the festival, but it was last year that CultureFEST was held in downtown Oxford for a larger audience.

“We are so grateful to the City of Oxford and the DOEDC for seeing all of the ways in which our community is on display – valuing culture, different ways of performance, dance and music.”

Folks can get a close-up view in demonstrations including tortilla making, glass blowing and the art of karate.

The Food trucks also will serve food representative of a variety of cultures – from the Soul Food of Butner’s Tru Soul to Mexican food provided by Mixed Cultures and Truly Delicious Jamaican-style food, there will be something for everyone.

The St. Cyprian’s Drummers will provide entertainment and if folks recognize some familiar faces in the bluegrass band that will accompany the Cane Creek Cloggers, they will have correctly identified Tim and Brenda Currin of Granville County.

Sergent said CultureFEST is a way to experience different cultures and to break from a natural tendency to stay in our own comfort zones. “We owe the existence of this event to Ajulo’s mom, who always wanted us to do more,” Sergent said, “pushing us to make us do (and) be more than we had been.”

Helen Othow died in January 2022 at the age of 89. There will be a special tribute to her life and legacy during Saturday’s event.

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Granville County Library System

Granville Libraries Offer Programs For Children Of All Ages

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

 

 The Granville County Library System is ready to serve residents with a full schedule of programs for the 2022-23 school year. After another successful summer reading program, programs aimed at pre- and school-aged Granville residents are back at all four library branches. Check out the recurring programs hosted by the Library System below to make plans for your children throughout the school year.

Storytime (ages 0-6): Young children and their caregivers enjoy stories, rhymes, games, songs, crafts, and interactive learning at the library. Storytime is offered Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the South Branch Library, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Richard H. Thornton Library, and monthly on Fridays at 11 a.m. at the Berea Branch Library.

LEGO Club (ages 3-12): Unleash your LEGO creativity! This weekly drop-in program will allow children to create LEGO masterpieces with materials provided by the library. Imagination is required! Lego Club meets Mondays at 4 p.m. at the South Branch and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Craft Hour (ages 5-12): Get creative, explore different art mediums, and take home a new project every week! Craft hour occurs on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. at the Stovall Branch Library.

STEAM (ages 5-12): Have you ever wondered how bridges are built or how airplanes fly? Have you ever asked yourself what electricity is or why volcanoes spew lava? Well, if you’re in elementary school, come join us each week as we explore the curious world of science through hands-on experiments. Get creative, get innovative and get ideas for making our world a better place! STEAM meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. at the South Branch and weekly on Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Art Fusion (ages 5-14): Do you know someone who lives and breathes art? Join us as we dive into art history and practice different art techniques created by famous artists throughout history! Art Fusion meets monthly on the second Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Code Ninjas (ages 5-18): Learn how to code your own animations and games using SCRATCH, a program created by MIT to teach kids how to code! Code Ninjas meets monthly on the fourth Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Thornton  ibrary.

Battle of the Books Book Club (ages 9-17): Part book club. Part competition. All fun! Pick one of three book options to read, then chat about it with friends. Test your knowledge with a Battle of the Books style trivia contest! Battle of the Books Book Club meets monthly on Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the South Branch.

Teen Time (ages 12-18/grades 6-12): Grab your friends and join us for art projects, Cooking 101, monthly

challenges, theme nights, book clubs, and more! Teen Time meets Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Game On! (ages 13-18): Board games, card games, video games, and puzzles! Get your game on at the library! “Game On!” meets on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. at the South Branch.

For a full calendar of events, make sure you visit the Granville County Library System website  (https://granville.lib.nc.us/) and check out all the other programs and services offered across the Granville  County Library System.

Berea Branch Library (1211 US Highway 158, Oxford): Tuesday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Oak Hill Express Library (8061 NC Highway 96 North, Oxford): Lockers and book return open 24 hours a day. Deliveries occur on Tuesday.

Richard H. Thornton Library (210 Main Street, Oxford): Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

South Branch Library (1550 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor): Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Stovall Branch Library and Express Library (300 Main Street, Stovall): Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Express library lockers and book return open 24 hours a day.

Wilton Express Library (2547 NC Highway 96 South, Franklinton): Lockers and book return open 24 hours a day. Deliveries occur Tuesday and Thursday.

Butner Inmate Gets 20 Months For 2020 Escape Attempt

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-information courtesy of the office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of NC

A federal inmate has been sentenced to 30 months for attempting to escape from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner back in 2020.

According to court documents, Charles Asher, 62, an inmate at FCI Butner at the time of the offense, was found hiding in the bushes – and not in his designated housing unit, as required – on the compound at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2020, near the exit door of the institution.

“Asher was found with multiple unauthorized items that could be used to effectuate an escape, including: a homemade rope approximately 14 feet in length, gray gloves, a blue mattress cover, and a homemade cardboard replica handgun wrapped with black electrical tape,” according to a press statement from the office of Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Asher had pleaded guilty in June 2022 to the sole count of attempted escape from prison and U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Asher.

Learn To Construct Livestock Fence During Oct. 25 Workshop

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The old saying that “fences make good neighbors” could be amended to “good fences make neighbors happy” to describe an upcoming hands-on workshop that involves creating a safe fencing plan for livestock.

The day-long class will be held on Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Butner Beef Cattle field lab, located at 8800 Cassam Rd. in Bahama, NC 27503.

Whether you want to create new fenced pastures or just want to hone skills needed to keep fences in good order, this workshop is for you.

“A good fence is a critical component of a successful livestock operation no matter what species of animals,” according to a press release from Kim Woods and Matthew Place, livestock agents in Granville, Person and Warren counties, respectively.

The $40 cost per person includes lunch and all materials, and participants should dress appropriately for the weather and bring gloves and eye protection. There will be some indoor classroom work to discuss the economics of fencing and construction materials, as well as state laws regarding fencing. The group will then head outside and actually build a fence.

The event is sponsored by several fence product companies.

Fences keep animals in the safety of their pasture while – hopefully – keeping predators out. “Building a good fence that will last a long time is not near as easy as making the decision that you need a fence,” however. Come to the class to learn more about proper design and construction.

Visit https://person.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Fencing-School-Reg-8.pdf?fwd=no to find the registration page. Mail it, along with your payment, to

Granville County Cooperative Extension,

Attn: Kim Woods

125 Oxford Loop Rd. Oxford, NC 27565.

Make check payable to Granville County, with “Fencing School” in the subject line.  Registration is limited to the first 30 people in order for everyone to have adequate hands-on time with tools and materials.

To learn more, contact Kim Woods at 336.599.1195 or 919.603.1350 or Matthew Place at 252.257.3640.