Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Dale Folwell

Folwell Announces One-Month “Bump” In State Employees’ Retirement Benefits

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School systems across the state are offering bonuses of all sorts to attract and retain educators. The Social Security Administration recently announced a bump of more than 8 percent in the amount it pays to folks who receive benefits.

And today, there’s some good news from State Treasurer Dale Folwell that should put smiles on the faces of benefit recipients of retired state employees – they’re getting a supplement, too.

It’s only this month, but it’s a 4 percent bump, and Folwell issued a press release today that coincides with the day that those payments are issued. Retired employees of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System, as well as the  Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, Legislative Retirement System and the Local and Governmental Employees’ Retirement System should see a little extra in their monthly benefits, Folwell said in a written statement.

“When retired state employees and teachers check their bank accounts or open their mail, they will find an additional 4 percent of their annual benefit included with this month’s payment,” Folwell stated.

“The TSERS, CJRS and LRS payments were appropriated by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Roy Cooper. The LGERS payment will come from retirement funds. The LGERS one-time supplement was approved by the LGERS Board on Jan. 27 following my recommendation and is in line with the funding policy. We were able to provide the LGERS benefit without increasing the rates we charge to cities and counties across the state,” Folwell continued.

“While payments starting in November will return to the levels they would have been without the supplemental increase, the October payment will include a much-needed boost for those who served the citizens of North Carolina as we see rising costs in everyday expenses.

I want to thank the General Assembly, retirement boards, North Carolina League of Municipalities, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and staff for recognizing a need and providing those that taught, protected or otherwise served the citizens of North Carolina a timely increase to the October benefit,” the statement concluded.

TownTalk: Military History Show Coming To Henderson – Oxford Airport

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Military buffs from near and far are more than likely to be found Saturday at the 7th annual Military History Show at the Henderson-Oxford Airport, which will feature military re-enactors, a variety of vehicles used during wartime and other activities.

What started out as a way for Harry Coombs to display his collection of military items has evolved into a day-long family-oriented event that gives back to the Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee.

The show – open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – is free to the public, but Coombs said there will be a donation basket at the entrance for those who wish to contribute.

Last year’s event raised $2,100 that is used to provide services for veterans in Granville and surrounding counties, and if history repeats itself, this year’s event will top that.

There’s a silent auction packed with close to 100 items that folks can bid on, and Coombs told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk that he would welcome bidding wars, since all proceeds will go to benefit veterans.

There also will be a 50/50 raffle taking place during the day.

Another popular item is a helicopter ride, courtesy of Total Flight Solutions of Louisburg. Tickets are $40 a person for a ride. If you’ve got your heart set on having a bird’s-eye-view of the surrounding countryside, Coombs suggests arriving early – there’s usually a wait.

“Take advantage of it if you can,” Coombs said.

As the chopper takes off and lands nearby, a contingent of military re-enactors will be on the ground, representing different time periods – “from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War and everything in between,” Coombs said.

They’ll be in uniform, with equipment and gear for each time period represented.

There also will be weapons demonstrations throughout the day. “They fire blanks, so it’s all safe,” Coombs assured.

And if you’ve ever wondered what a World War II Half Track looks like, you’ll get your chance to see it up close and personal. Coombs’s 1938 BMW motorcycle will be on display, too.

There will be food vendors on hand, as well, so come hungry.

Details on the upcoming Military History Show at Henderson-Oxford Airport taking place this Saturday.

 

Families Living Violence Free

FLVF Candlelight Vigil Oct. 27 To Remember Victims, Survivors Of Domestic Violence

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Families Living Violence Free presents a domestic violence candlelight vigil on Thursday, Oct. 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The community is invited to participate in the vigil, as FLVF honors those who have lost their lives to domestic violence as well as those survivors in the community, according to information from FLVF Executive Director Peggy Roark.

FLVF is located at 211 W. Antioch Dr., in the Georgia Henrahand Cottage on the campus of Central Children’s Home, in Oxford.

Visit www.flvf.org or call 919.693.3579 to learn more.

Granville County Animal Shelter

Granville Animal Shelter’s Schedule Changing To Better Meet Needs Of Public

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– information courtesy of Granville County 

The Granville County Animal Shelter will transition to a new schedule beginning Tuesday, Nov. 1 to better serve the public during the highly in-demand weekend hours and allow additional time for animal care, cleaning and training during the week.

The new public operating hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. The shelter will be closed to the public on Sunday and Monday. The shelter is located  off NC 96 at 515 New Commerce Dr. in Oxford.

The shelter’s operating hours are when the public may come to meet adoptable animals, have vaccines administered or surrender animals. As is the case now, Animal Control Officers answer calls for service even when the shelter is not open and the new hours will have no effect on this service.

“This new schedule will allow additional hours on Saturday for our critical public-facing services like allowing folks to come in to meet our adoptable animals,” said Animal Management Director Matt Katz. “We have consistently heard from the public that Saturdays are the easiest time to get the entire family to the shelter so that they can make these adoption decisions together. Animal Management staff will still man the phones at the shelter on Mondays during business hours and our Animal Control Officers are ready and able to answer calls for  ervice to protect the animals and citizens of Granville County at all times.”

For more information about the Granville County Animal Shelter and services offered by Animal Management,  visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/granville-county-animal management/.

The Local Skinny! Granville Co. Beekeepers Are Abuzz With Events

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Christina Henthorn stays as busy as the proverbial bee, and this weekend she and fellow bee enthusiasts are putting on a couple of events that will serve several purposes, not the least of which is to provide the community with some great entertainment.

Bring the family to a free event on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Highrock Farm, located just outside Oxford on Enon Road, for the inaugural “Bees and Boos.” This event features outdoor games and trick-or-treating for the children and more than 30 vendors and other activities sure to please. There will be a table set up where tickets may be purchased, which creates a carnival-like atmosphere, she said.

There will be freshly pressed cider and a do-it-yourself candy apple station, thanks to a generous donation of apples from Moore’s Produce in Stovall, Henthorn said.

The first part of the Saturday doubleheader is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., she told John C. Rose on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

The Lord Granville Association will bring its locally famous hit-or-miss ice cream maker and the Model A Car Club will wheel in some of its vehicles for folks to admire.

The second part of this double feature begins at 6 p.m. with a costume party and concert by Nashville recording artist Zach Top. This kicks off what Henthorn hopes will become an annual “Hum of the Hive” concert series.

Not interested in wearing a costume? No problem, Henthorn noted. “Costume or not, everyone is welcome,” she said. Honey Girl Meadery will bring their mead, which is like honey wine, and a local brewery will bring a beer made with Granville County honey.

“This is not a 21 and over show,” Henthorn said of the evening event, but ID will be checked at the door.

“All proceeds go to N.C. State’s endowment for honeybee research,” she said, adding that the university conducts world-renown research on the little pollinators. Beekeeper associations across the state are helping to raise funds to establish an endowment to ensure that NCSU continues its apiary work.

Can’t make it to the event but want to contribute? Again, not a problem.

“We want to involve everyone around the state,” Henthorn said. “If you can’t make it, you can buy a ticket for a veteran.” Any tickets purchased for veterans will be taken to a military history event being held at the Henderson-Oxford airport Saturday, where they will be donated.

The Granville County Beekeepers, known for its summertime Bee Jubilee, is branching out to create a fall event that focuses on the importance of bees in everyday life. The honeybee was named North Carolina’s official State Insect in 1973 because of its critical role in pollination of the variety of crops produced in the state.

“Raising awareness is just as important” as fundraising, Henthorn said. But she says this weekend’s emphasis is on the “fun” part of fundraising.

Visit Granville County Beekeepers Facebook or the Visit Granville County tourism page to find out all the details.

And visit https://www.ncbeekeepers.org/ to learn more about the endowment.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Drew Cummings Sworn In As Granville’s New County Manager

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The Granville County board of commissioners officially welcomed new county manager Drew Cummings this week, following a swearing-in ceremony and oath of office at the Monday board meeting.

Chairman Tony Cozart administered the oath of office, and Cummings had wife Amy and children at his side. Cummings had spent the past 14 years as Durham’s assistant county manager and chief of staff. Before that, he held several positions in municipal government and had been a middle school teacher for seven years before beginning a career in local government.

Doug Logan had served as interim manager since July 29, following the resignation of Michael Felts.

During his tenure 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 also is a graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy, participating in the 2015 cohort.

He is a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in government. He got a master’s degree in public policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. Cummings is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children (Webb, Isa, and Doran) and in his spare time Cummings enjoys exercise, woodwork, and singing in his church choir.

‘Operation Green Light’ Nov. 7-13 In Granville To Show Support For Military Veterans

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Support for military veterans gets the “green light” across Granville County in advance of the Veterans Day holiday. County officials announced that all county-owned buildings will be illuminated green between Nov. 7 and Nov. 13. Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 11.

Residents and businesses also can get in on the action of Operation Green Light, by replacing an outdoor light with a green bulb as part of the national collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties to support military veterans, which raises awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state and federal level to assist veterans and their families.

“Our nation’s voluntary military force members, and their families, have always made an immense sacrifice for the safety and security of our citizens,” said Veterans Services Officer Christopher Dethmers. “Similar to the sacrifices of previous generations of our armed forces, our current generation of veterans often suffer significant stress when transitioning to civilian life. We want to make sure our veterans and their families know that their service mattered, that we are grateful for their sacrifices, and that it is now our turn to make sure they are  served by their county government as well as the community.”

“By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported,  Dethmers said. “While this event is focused around the week of Veterans Day participants are encouraged to continue shining the light year-round.”

Granville County residents can share their participation on social media using the hashtag  “#OperationGreenLight.” Visit www.naco.org/operationgreenlight for more information and visit the Granville County Veterans Services Office website for more information about resources available locally:  https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/veterans-services.

The Granville County Veterans Services Office is located at 141 Williamsboro St. in Oxford and staff can be reached at 919.693.1484.

TRLC To Open New Preserve In Creedmoor On Nov. 4

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Creedmoor is the site of a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Friday, Nov. 4 to mark the opening of Robertson Creek Nature Preserve.

The tract is part of Tar River Land Conservancy and is located along Hwy 56 E. in Creedmoor.

Parking for the ribbon-cutting will be at Creedmoor Commons, 2173 E.Wilton Ave. creedmoor.

An optional guided hike will follow the ceremony.

Volunteers have worked to complete hiking trails in the preserve over the summer and early fall. As with other TRLC tracts, the trails will have signs, footbridges and benches for hikers to use and enjoy.

To register, contact events@tarriver.org or phone 919.496.5902

Early Voting For Nov. 8 Election Kicks Off Thursday, Oct. 20

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North Carolina’s in-person early voting period begins Thursday, Oct. 20, and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.

There are two early voting locations in Vance County, three in Granville, one in Warren and four in Franklin, according to information from the N.C. State Board of Elections.

In-person early voting accounted for 65 percent of the votes cast in the 2020 election. There are 359 early voting sites open across the state, up 17 percent from the 307 sites for the 2018 midterm elections.

“The 100 county boards of elections have spent months preparing for the start of in-person voting for the important 2022 general election,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “The bipartisan election officials who work in each early voting site are prepared for a smooth voting process and to ensure the ballots of all eligible voters are counted.”

 

Below is a list by county of the early voting sites:

Vance County:

·      Andrea Harris Henderson Operations Center, 900 S. Beckford Dr., Henderson

·      Aycock Rec Complex, 307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson

Granville County:

·      Oxford Public Works Building, 127 Penn Ave., Oxford

·      South Branch Library, 1550 South Campus Dr., Creedmoor

·      Tar River Elementary School, 2642 Philo White Rd., Franklinton

Warren County:

·      Warren County Board of Elections Office, 309 N. Main St., Warrenton

Franklin County:

·      Franklin Plaza Service (County Training Room, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Suite 102, Louisburg

·      Franklinton Lions Club, 205 S. Chavis St., Franklinton

·      Sheriff Substation, 382 NC 98 W, Bunn

·      Youngsville Public Library Meeting Room, 218 US-1 Alt., Youngsville

 

For more information about early voting, please visit Vote Early in Person.

The State Board offers the following 10 tips for early voters:

1.    Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. For sites and hours in all 100 counties, use the One-Stop Early Voting Sites search tool. Also see One-Stop Voting Sites for the November 8, 2022 Election (PDF).

2.    Sample ballots for the primary election are available through the Voter Search tool. For more information on candidates for the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals, see the State Board’s Judicial Voter Guide 2022: Midterm General Election. The State Board does not provide information about candidates for other contests, but some media outlets and advocacy groups do. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Knowing your candidate choices in advance and being familiar with the ballot will help your voting experience go more smoothly.

3.    Individuals who missed the regular voter registration deadline on October 14 may register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of where they live. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting. This is the only option for individuals who missed the regular registration deadline to be able to register and vote in the general election.

4.    When you check in to vote at an early voting site, you may update your name or address within the same county, if necessary.

5.    Voters who receive an absentee ballot by mail may deliver their completed ballot to an election official at an early voting site in their county. Ballots will be kept securely and delivered to the county board of elections for processing. For more information on returning absentee-by-mail ballots, see Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail.

6.    Voters who requested an absentee-by-mail ballot but have not yet returned it may choose instead to vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day, November 8. Voters may discard the by-mail ballot and do not need to bring it to a voting site.

7.    Under state law, all early votes – by mail and in person – are considered absentee votes because they are cast “absent” of Election Day. You can see that your early vote counted in the “Your Absentee Ballot” section of the Voter Search database. Type in your first and last names to pull up your voter record. Scroll down to the “Your Absentee Ballot: By Mail or Early Voting” section. Once your ballot is received by your county board of elections, “Absentee Status” will show “VALID RETURN,” the “Return Method” will be “IN PERSON” and your “Return Status” will be “ACCEPTED.” Your ballot status also will show up in the “Voter History” section of your voter record as soon as your county completes the post-election process of compiling the information on who has been recorded as having voted during the election through the various voting methods. This may take a couple of weeks or longer.

8.    The State Board asks that all voters respect the rights of others to participate in the election. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.

9.    Voters at one-stop early voting sites are entitled to the same assistance as voters at a voting place on Election Day. Curbside voting is available for eligible individuals at all early voting sites. For more information, visit Curbside Voting.

10. North Carolina law prohibits photographing or videotaping voted ballots. Voters may use electronic devices in the voting booth to access a slate card or candidate information, provided they don’t use the devices to communicate with anyone or take photographs of their ballot.