Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Plant A Tree In Honor Of Arbor Day

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-story courtesy of N.C Dept. of Agriculture

Today is Arbor Day in North Carolina, a day to remember the important role trees play in the lives of the state’s human residents, but also to the many animals who need wildlife habitats to thrive.

This year marks the 150th observance of Arbor Day, which first was observed in Nebraska in 1872, according to information from the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

“Trees clean our air, filter our water and are essential to wildlife habitats, which are benefits to all of us,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

One goal identified in the recently updated North Carolina Forest Action Plan is to conserve and enhance the sustainable management of urban forests. Planting trees and responsible urban forest management at the local level including community involvement and participation in urban forestry recognition programs are critical to sustaining healthy forest resources in North Carolina.

“Planting trees is an easy way we can all contribute to the sustainable management and preservation of North Carolina’s forests for future generations,” Troxler said.

North Carolina is fortunate to have a variety of state forestry programs that protect forest resources by supporting landowners and communities with tree-planting, site preparation and forest improvement, said David Lane, state forester. Among these are cost-share programs such as the Forest Development Program and the Urban and Community Forestry grant program, both managed by the N.C. Forest Service. The NCFS Urban and Community Forestry program also oversees the application and award process for Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education and Tree Line USA.

Learn more about N.C. Forest Service urban and community forestry programs and services at www.ncforestservice.gov/Urban/Urban_Forestry.htm. Learn more about the updated North Carolina Forest Action Plan at www.ncforestactionplan.com/.

 

Reserve Your Place Today For Rescheduled Granville Chamber Banquet

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The deadline to reserve tickets for the upcoming Granville County Chamber of Commerce banquet is fast approaching – members have through Friday, Mar. 18 to register to attend, according to information from Chamber Director Lauren Bennett.

The banquet is scheduled for Monday, Mar. 28 at 6 p.m.  at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. The speaker is UNC basketball legend Phil Ford.

The Chamber also is accepting nominations for 2021 Small Business of the Year.

Click form to complete a nomination form.

All nominations should be returned to the Granville Chamber by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18.

Nominations may be submitted in several ways:

Hand deliver:    124 Hillsboro Street, Oxford, N.C.
Mail:                            P.O. Box 820, Oxford, N.C. 27565
Email:                        lauren@granville-chamber.com

Avian Influenza Still A Threat To Local Poultry

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Poultry owners are being encouraged to step up biosecurity measures due to the continued threat of a highly contagious bird influenza responsible for more than 100 bird deaths since mid-January.

State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin said poultry owners from backyard chickens to commercial facilities should be aware that High Path Avian Influenza continues to be a concern in the state. He said poultry should stay indoors if possible.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the United States Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has been tracking the highly pathogenic Eurasian H5 avian influenza first identified in January in wild waterfowl in our state.

“Since Jan. 16, more than 100 wild birds have tested positive for HPAI in North Carolina,” Martin said. “The wild waterfowl that tested positive in our state are still wintering in the Carolinas. HPAI has also been confirmed in 17 commercial poultry farms across seven states and 10 backyard/independent flocks in seven states. These positive cases in domestic poultry flocks in other states continue to rise, which is concerning. North Carolina has not had a case of HPAI in domestic poultry.”

This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but is dangerous to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry.

If your birds are sick or dying, report it right away to your local veterinarian, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division, 919.707.3250, or the N.C. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System 919.733.3986.

If you have questions about migratory birds, hunting, or wild waterfowl found dead on your property, visit the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org.

Granville County Sheriff

Investigation Continues Into Inmate Death At Granville Co. Detention Center

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The SBI and Granville County Sheriff’s Office are investigating to learn what happened last week that left one inmate dead and sent a second inmate to the hospital.

At 5:04 a.m. Friday, Mar. 11, , two inmates were found unresponsive in their cell at the Granville County Detention Center, according to a press statement from Granville County Sheriff John B. Hardy III.

Life-saving measures were undertaken by Granville County Sheriff’s Office personnel and EMS  was called. EMS also attempted life-saving measures, but one inmate was pronounced dead at the scene. The inmate’s name is being withheld at the request of his family at this time.

Inmate Kevin Burton Munn was transported for medical treatment and remains hospitalized. The Granville County Sheriff requested assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation and the SBI will investigate the matter.

WIZS has reached out to the SBI but has not heard back as of this publication.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

New COVID-19 Cases Drop In Vance, Granville

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For the first time in months, Vance and Granville counties COVID-19 percent positive rates have dropped to the “low” level. There have been no new deaths reported in the last few weeks in either county.

Vance reported 17 new cases over the past week, and Granville reported 27, according to the weekly update from Granville Vance Public Health.

Those numbers represent a 3.4 percent positivity rate for Vance County and a 3.0 percent positivity rate in Granville.

No new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the last two weeks from the Granville buildings of the Federal Prison in Butner, NC.

There have been 14,118 cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and 11,783 cases of COVID-19 in Vance County for a total of 25,901 across the health district.

Granville County has documented 111 deaths as a result of COVID-19 and Vance County has a total of 112 deaths for a total of 223 deaths across the health district.

“We have reached a number of milestones in the COVID-19 pandemic as we have rounded out year two and are all collectively hopeful that no more variants of concern are around the corner,” said GVPH Director Lisa Harrison.

As mask restrictions loosen, Harrison said health professionals and others will continue to pay close attention to the level of disease in the population and to make sure the public remains healthy and safe from communicable disease.

“For those in public health, the epidemic curve (in this case, the pandemic curve) shows us a visual picture of what we have been through together,” Harrison said.

 

 

 

City of Oxford

Oxford Makes Mask Mandate Optional For Employees, Visitors – With Exceptions

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Oxford City Manager M. Alan Thornton said Tuesday that, effective immediately, the city is changing its mask requirement policy.

“Face coverings will become optional in all city-owned  facilities, vehicles and  operations for employees and visitors,” Thornton said in a press statement. Department directors, however, may continue to require face coverings in certain settings determined to be high-risk transmission for COVID-19. Examples include responding to medical calls or transporting suspects in patrol cars, the statement continued.

“Employees may continue to wear face coverings, even when not required,” the statement continued. All unvaccinated employees are “strongly encouraged to wear face coverings, even in situations where not required.”

City Hall will re-open to visitors and the public, and visitors are encouraged to continue to wear face coverings. All routine utility payments will continue to be accepted at the kiosk locate at the front entrance. Residents who need to establish new utility accounts or handle other account management issues will be served in the city’s finance department.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Vance’s Reported COVID-19 Cases Drop By Half In Last Week

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Vance County’s new COVID-19 cases dropped by half in the last week, with 24 new cases being reported in the 7-day period that ended Mar. 4, according to information from Granville Vance Public Health.

That reduction puts the county’s percent positivity rate at 5.3 percent, lowering it from high transmission to substantial transmission.

Granville County’s community transmission rate remains in the high category, with 4.7 percent positivity and 65 new cases in the same 7-day period. The state’s percent positive rate is slightly lower than either Vance or Granville at 4.3 percent.

Total cases of COVID-19 in Vance total 11,763 and Granville cases total 14,105. There have been no new deaths reported in the last week; total deaths across the health district are 223, with 112 in Vance County and 111 in Granville County.

A total of 60 percent of the population in Vance County over the age of 5 have gotten at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or the single-shot J & J. In Granville County, that figure is 65 percent. Both counties fall below the statewide average of 71 percent who are fully vaccinated.

GVPH Director Lisa Harrison stated in the update that North Carolina has begun to move to monitoring weekly trends rather than daily data points.

“The NC DHHS data dashboard is shifting into a model where individuals can check in with the data track once a week and make decisions about their own risk and determine whether they need to add layers of protection, such as masking indoors or avoiding crowds,” Harrison said.

As restrictions ease and mask mandates Iifted, Harrison said it is important to remember that the risk for infection remains.

It’s important to remember that COVID-19 is still with us even though we are reaching less risky phases across our community and state. It is okay to choose to wear masks even when the risks have diminished – please remember there are those who may be especially vulnerable to illness,” she said.

Visit https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/25/health/cdc-covid-metrics-mask-guidance/index.html to learn more.

Filing Period Ends For May 17 Primary

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The filing period for the May 17 primary election ended at noon today, and several candidates filed the necessary paperwork before the deadline, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan

Randy Oxendine, a Democrat, filed for the District 2 seat on the Vance County Board of Education, a seat currently held by his wife, Darlynn Oxendine.

Republican Jonathan Collier added his name to the list of candidates for the office of Vance County Sheriff. Collier faces Patrick Bailey in the Republican primary race. Incumbent Curtis Brame and Sterlin Walker will be on the Democrat ballot for sheriff in the primary.

William Earl Purvis filed for Henderson City Council Ward Seat 2 At Large and will challenge incumbent William Burnette for the seat.

The City Ward 1 at large incumbent Sara Coffey has filed for re-election and faces opposition from Clementine Hunter, who also has filed for the seat.

Amanda Burnette, a Democrat, filed to run for Clerk of Superior Court. She faces incumbent Henry Gupton in that race.

In neighboring Granville County, a field of three Democrats and three Republicans are vying for the job of sheriff.

Democrats Keith Daniel, Robert D. Fountain, Jr. and Ronald M. Smith, Sr. have filed. Republicans Vance Johnson, Robert Morris and Clinton Owens also have filed.

In the race for Board of Education District 5, Samantha Harris and Danielle Hayes will vie for the seat. And in District 7, incumbent David Richardson faces Taylor Frederick for the seat.

Bradley Oldenburg, (R) has filed for Granville County Commissioner in District 2. He joins Rob Williford II, (D), who had previously filed.

In the newly created NC Senate District 18, four candidates have tossed their names into the ring: Republican Dimitry Slabyak filed in December, before the filing was suspended; Republican E.C. Sykes of Raleigh filed Feb. 28, Libertarian Ryan Brown of Creedmoor filed on Mar. 1 and Democrat Mary Wills Bode of Oxford filed Mar. 2.

The Local Skinny! From The Land Of Ice And Snow: Vikings Coming To Granville

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The Vikings are planning an invasion soon, right here in Granville County. But this invasion is filled with activities for the whole family, especially if you’re into axe-throwing and drinking mead.

The Viking Experience will take place at the Granville Expo Center on Mar. 26 and Mar. 27.

Hannah Reed and her mother Angela Reed are the business duo behind the weekend event, which they describe as part educational and part entertainment.

They talked with John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! about how those who attend the local venue will be transported back to the Middle Ages, when Vikings in their sailing ships were conquering and pillaging.

There will be plenty of activities for children and adults, including “Vikings in training” activities and fight demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Not into axe-throwing and sword-fighting? That’s ok, too. There will be music and dancing “pretty much all day,” as well as a Norse-inspired acrobatic groups to entertain attendees.

Purchase an extra “fight pass” to gain access to the fight pit, where foam swords and other “safe” weapons abound, the Reeds said.

Based in Creedmoor, the Reeds attend similar festivals in Maryland, but noticed that there weren’t any Norse-inspired events around these parts. So about five years ago, they set the wheels in motion that has resulted in the first Viking Experience in the area.

Vendors will sell food, drinks, jewelry and much more during the weekend. And re-enactors will mingle with the crowds. “Our characters are roaming constantly and will interact with you as if you are actually part of that world,” Hannah said.

The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mar. 26 and then from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mar. 27. Tickets are available online at https://www.thevikingexperiencenc.com/

Plan to stay for the dinner theatre, which is offered at a separate ticket price

Angela suggests buying tickets in advance.

“We are getting a huge, huge interest in this event – much larger than we even expected,” she said.

Click Play

 

 

NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist Distributing OTC Meds In Oxford Mar. 11

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NC MedAssist is coming to Oxford next week to give away an assortment of over-the-counter medications including pain relief products, as well as cold and flu medicines, allergy pills and children’s medication.

The distribution will take place on Friday, March 11 – rain or shine – from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., according to information from the non-profit based in Charlotte. Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is bringing the event to the area.

Registration is not required, but you may pre-register at www.medassist.org/mobile and pick up your order on the day of the event.

Items also may be picked up for a family member or friend.

All North Carolina residents over the age of 18 are welcome to pick up medications; there are no income or ID requirements.

NC MedAssist is a non-profit pharmacy that provides access to prescription medications to the uninsured and also provides free over-the-counter medications to anyone in need through its Mobile Free Pharmacy events.

Learn more at www.medassist.org.