Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville County Library System

No More Overdue Fines For Granville Library Patrons

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How fitting that as the upcoming Independence Day holiday nears, the Granville County Library System (GCLS) announces that the library is now fine-free. As of July 1, library patrons no longer face overdue fees for items checked out from any library branch.

Fees for lost or damaged items, however, remain in effect, as well as fees for various library services, such as printing and copying fees, according to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The Library Board of Trustees and the County Board of Commissioners chose to implement this new policy based on successful programs in large and small library systems across the United States that did away with library overdue fees. Library systems that eliminated late fees have noted an increase in library use, a decrease in overdue items in their collections, and have noted through testimonials from library patrons how meaningful it was to not have previous late fees, or the fear of future fees, impede their use and enjoyment of the public library.

“Going fine-free helps remove barriers to library access,” said Library Director Will Robinson. “This policy has been successful across the country, and we want to make sure that all Granville County residents know they are welcomed at their library,” Robinson said.

He added that he and his staff don’t want children to have the lasting image of the library as an unfriendly place associated with debt.

“It is especially disheartening to know that these families accrue debt that was caused simply by wanting to enjoy books and the other resources that libraries offer. We can open a lot of doors to learning and enrichment when our residents feel like the library is a welcoming, inclusive environment,” Robinson said.

For more information about resources and programs offered by GCLS, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ or any of the branches in Oxford, Berea, Stovall or Creedmoor.

Pick One Or More Area Fireworks Displays This Weekend

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If you plan your holiday weekend right, and don’t mind spending a little money for gas, there are several fireworks displays planned in the area that are sure to light up the night sky and dazzle onlookers.

• The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department is hosting its annual event on Friday evening at Fox Pond Park. The park will close at 7 p.m. and no parking will be allowed at the park, but a free shuttle service will pick up visitors at Aycock Rec Center beginning at 5 p.m. and will continue until about 8:45 p.m. There will be food vendors on site at the park and the fireworks show is set to begin about 9 p.m. Visit https://www.kerrlake-nc.com/event-details.php?event=268 to learn more.

• Lake Holt in Creedmoor is the site of Granville County’s fireworks show on Friday, July 1. The lake entrance is located at 1100 Lake Holt Rd. off Old Hwy. 75 in Butner. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the event, and parking and security is provided by officers of the Creedmoor Police Dept, Butner Public Safety, the Oxford Police Dept., the Granville County Sheriff’s Dept., Creedmoor Fire Dept., Stem Fire Dept. and the Junior Volunteer Fire Dept. Make sure you’re through the gates no later than 8:45 p.m., because no one will be allowed to enter after that time. The show will begin once it’s dark. Visit https://www.cityofcreedmoor.org/departments/recreation/events/fourth-of-july-picnic-fireworks to learn more.

• Then, on Saturday, July 2, head on out to Satterwhite Point to watch the fireworks display sponsored by Vance County Tourism. Director Pam Hester said the event will feature food, live music and other vendors from 4 p.m. until dark, with fireworks beginning around 9:15 p.m. Reminder: alcohol is not permitted at state parks – including Satterwhite Point – and there is a $7 park entrance gate fee. Visit http://www.kerrlake-nc.com/event-details.php?event=267 to learn more.

• If you’re closer to Cokesbury than Satterwhite Point on Saturday, you can check out what Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department has to offer. Chief Adam Pegram said gates open at 6 p.m. There will be food vendors on site and the fireworks will begin around dark.

• Unfortunately, the fireworks show scheduled for Franklin County was cancelled for this year following a recent fatal fire at a Lenoir County warehouse where the fireworks that were to be used in Franklin County had been stored. In addition to the fatality, several firefighters were injured in the June 11 blaze. There was not enough time to find replacement fireworks, so Franklin County officials cancelled the event.

5 Granville Students Participating In Summer Leadership Program

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Five local high school students are participating in Granville County’s Summer Civic Leadership Program.

The students, all rising seniors, began the program on June 16, according to a statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. The program continues through July and the students will be present at the Aug. 8 meeting of the Granville Board of Commissioners to talk about their experience and share the results of a group project.

The summer program began 22 years ago and is designed to allow high school students to gain exposure and on-the-job-experience in all aspects of county government operations.

The following students are participating in the program:

  • Kristopher Arias – Granville Early College
  • Jayla Gregory – Granville Early College
  • MacKayla McBride – Granville Early College
  • Kenyan Smith – J.F. Webb High School
  • Courtney Williams – Granville Early College

Leadership Granville Deadline Is July 1

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The deadline to register for the upcoming Leadership Granville program is July 1.

Leadership Granville is a program that offers residents of Granville County the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the community and develop leadership potential. It’s a great way for those new to the community to become personally and professionally acquainted with county structure and life, which can benefit present and future leadership. Participants visit local businesses and industry and spend time learning about the county’s history, agriculture and government. The program kicks off in September and concludes with graduation in April.

The application, with program details about schedules and meeting times, can be found on the Chamber of Commerce website:

https://granville-chamber.com/member-services/leadership-granville/

There are sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and other agencies to highlight products and services.

The Silver Sponsor is filled, but the Presenting Sponsor level is available for $2,000, one Gold Sponsor ($1,000) is available, and there are unlimited spaces for Bronze Sponsors ($500) and Lunch Sponsors ($300).

Sponsorships at the presenting, gold and silver levels include registration fee for one participant and various types of recognition at Leadership Granville events and promotional advertising.

Contact Roberson at lauren@granville-chamber.com to learn more.

Completed applications can be emailed to Roberson or sent to the Chamber office, P.O. Box 820, Oxford, NC 27565.

Butner Inmate Sentenced After Assaulting, Injuring Officer

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  • Information courtesy of the U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of North Carolina

An inmate at FMC Butner was sentenced to 114 months in prison for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer at the Federal Medical Center in Butner. The inmate had pled guilty to the charge earlier this year.

According to court documents, Michael Anthony Mata, 47, an inmate at FMC Butner at the time of the offense, struck the law enforcement officer in the face after the officer told him he was in an unauthorized area and asked him to return to his assigned housing unit.  As a result of the contact, the officer suffered a severe fracture to his left orbital wall that required surgical repair.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said, “The brave men and women who put themselves on the line every day to keep the rest of us safe, have the well-deserved support of our Office. We will vigorously prosecute anyone who assaults a correctional officer, or any other law enforcement personnel, and seek a firm punishment to deter others who may be inclined to do the same.”

Citing Mata’s extensive criminal history and the severity of the assault, U.S. Federal District Court Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Mata to 114 months in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus prosecuted the case.

 

Project Pizza – Granville County Board of Commissioners Public Hearing Mon, Jun 20

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The Granville County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday.  The location will be the Granville County Expo Convention Center at 4185 Highway 15, Oxford.

The notice of public hearing sent to local media states the purpose is to hear public comments about industrial expansion, matching grants and incentives.

The notice states, “…specifically as follows: the relocation and expansion of a manufacturing company in Granville County. Project Pizza will invest approximately $2.7 million and employ potentially 23 new employees. The maximum cost of the County-funded improvements will be up to $50,000 in accordance with the County funding policy to include a 50% match of $25,000 towards the One NC Grant, a 5% match of a potential Building Reuse Grant provided by The North Carolina Department of Commerce and a cash incentive.”

The notice continues, “This project will be funded with general County operating funds. The cost to the County of the County-funded capital improvements will be offset by new tax revenues generated by the company’s capital investment in the project over a period not to exceed five years.

“The public benefits to be derived from the making of these improvements include the development of industrial properties, which will increase the County’s tax base to better provide for County services, and to increase employment opportunities within the County.”

The County invites interested individuals and encourages attendance.

Oxford Designated As Affiliate Main Street America Program

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-information courtesy of the City of Oxford

The City of Oxford and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Commission have been designated as an Affiliate Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards.

Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Affiliate programs to recognize their commitment to creating meaningful improvements to their downtowns using preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

The City of Oxford and DOEDC’s performance is annually evaluated by North Carolina Main Street which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that are committed to comprehensive, place-based revitalization efforts and achieving meaningful community outcomes.

We are thrilled to acknowledge this year’s 383 Affiliate Main Street America programs and their commitment to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” Main Street America President and CEO Patrice Frey. “During another incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of their communities, driving essential local recovery efforts, supporting small businesses, and nurturing vibrant neighborhoods.”

In 2021, Main Street America programs generated $5.76 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,601 net new businesses, generated 30,402 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,595 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,427,729 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support its operations, it generated $19.34 of new investment back into Main Street communities.

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $95.33 billion in new public and private investment

generating 161,036 net new businesses and 717,723 net new jobs and rehabilitated more than 314,431 buildings. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

VGCC Logo

Spriggs Guest Speaker at VGCC Juneteenth Program June 17

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Vance-Granville Community College will present an educational program Friday, June 17 as part of an observance of Juneteenth.

Members of the public, as well as VGCC students, faculty and staff, are invited to attend the program, which begins at 12 noon in the VGCC Civic Center, located on the college’s main campus, according to a press statement from Dr. Jerry Edmonds, III, VGCC vice president of workforce and community engagement. The event also will be livestreamed on the VGCC YouTube channel.

Guest speaker is Jason Spriggs, a Henderson City Council member. Spriggs, elected to the council in 2019, is also a board member of the Vance County United Way and the founder of Rural Change America.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 – June 19, 1865 – when Union troops reached Galveston, TX and announced the news of the last enslaved people in the country. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but it currently is not a state holiday in North Carolina.

Visit library.vgcc.edu  to read more.

Granville Shares Totals From Spring Clean-up Event At Expo Center

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

On Saturday, May 14, the Granville County Convention and Expo Center was the site of another successful recycling and hazardous waste disposal event. By the end of the day, over 30,000 pounds of materials had been collected for recycling and safe disposal by vendors. Participants also stepped up by donating pet food and supplies to the Granville Humane Society.

Teresa Baker, recycling and sustainability coordinator for Granville County and Granville County Public Schools, reported the following totals from the spring clean-out event:

  • Veolia Environmental Services – 4,540 pounds of paint and 10,630 pounds of hazardous household waste.
  • Department of Agriculture Pesticides Division – 170 pounds of pesticides.
  • Shred Ace – 8,300 pounds of shredded paper, which will save 70 trees.
  • Granville County Sheriff’s Office – 125 pounds of medications and medical waste.
  • METech Recycling – 3,721 pounds of electronics.
  • Interstate Batteries – 686 pounds of various batteries.
  • Scrap Metal – 2,400 pounds.
  • RMR Book Recycling – 400 pounds.
  • Dart Containers (Polystyrene) – 300 pieces.
  • Granville Humane Society – towels, sheets, 2 dog beds, 3 dog crates, cat food, dog food, cat litter and cash donations.

Residents who participate in Granville County’s bi-annual clean out events leave knowing that these waste materials will either be recycled or properly disposed of instead of harming the local environment.

Granville County Environmental Services would like to thank all vendors, staff, volunteers, and participants who helped make the event a success. The next clean-out will take place on November 19, 2022. Details will be announced closer to the event date.

For more information about environmental services, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/solidwaste/.

Harold Sherman Adult Day Center Open House Set For June 22

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Caregivers and family members who want to learn more about the Harold Sherman Adult Day Center in Granville County can attend an open house later this month in Oxford.

The open house will be held Wednesday, June 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1038-B College St., Oxford.

The Harold Sherman Adult Day Center provides services for residents of Granville, Vance and Warren counties, according to information from its director, Gail Barnes-Hall. Granville Health System established the adult day center in 1998 to meet the needs of disabled adults and their caregivers.

The purpose of the open house is to provide families and caregivers in the community with information about the adult day services program, Barnes-Hall said in a written statement. During the open house, caregivers will have an opportunity to tour the facility, speak with staff and discuss available funding options.

To register for this event, please email Barnes-Hall at ghall@granvillemedical.com. You may also contact the center directly at 919.690.3273.

The open house will feature informational discussions with staff who will share an overview of the services provided by the center, including:

  • Health Care Monitoring
  • Healthy Meals and Snacks
  • Assistance with Mobility, Eating and Toileting
  • Daily Activities to Promote Mental Stimulation
  • Gentle Exercises
  • Educational Program

For more information about HSADC visit www.ghsHospital.org/HSADC or call 919.690.3273.