Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville County Sheriff

One Man Dead After Officer-Involved Shooting Near Stovall On Feb. 9

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One man is dead following a shooting involving a sheriff’s deputy in northern Granville County Wednesday.

County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood released a statement Thursday evening about the incident, which occurred on Feb. 9.

“Granville County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 hang up call about a disturbance at a residence located at 7646 Reavis Road at approximately 5:25 p.m,” the statement began.

According to the report, a male subject at the residence  had committed an assault and then left, armed with a shotgun.

Attempts to locate the male subject were unsuccessful. Deputies responded to a second call at 6:29 p.m. and were advised that the male subject had returned to the residence, still armed with a shotgun. The 23-year-old male subject exited the residence  with a shotgun and ran into the woods. As deputies were searching for the subject and attempting to secure the scene, the subject fired at one of the deputies. The deputy returned fire, striking the subject. Deputies rendered first aid to the male subject and EMS was called to the scene. The subject was transported to Duke University Medical Center where he later died. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating. The deputy who shot the subject has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

TRLC Volunteers Plant 1,700 Trees and Shrubs To Create Buffers Along Streams

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Winter is tree planting time for Tar River Land Conservancy (TRLC). With the help of 70 volunteers, TRLC planted 1,700 tree and shrub seedlings over five days in January. Seedlings were planted on 4.5 acres of fields located near Dickens Creek and Lake  Holt on TRLC-owned land in Granville County. Volunteers for these events included students, families and individuals from Granville, Durham, Wake and Alamance counties.

The January events were the continuation of a multi-year project to create forested buffers along streams that flow into Lake Holt and Falls Lake. The reservoirs supply drinking water to  Granville and Wake counties. Since 2019, TRLC staff and volunteers  have planted more than  4,000 seedlings to reforest 11 acres of conservation land near Butner and Stem.

The staff at N.C. State’s Butner Beef Cattle Research Farm helped TRLC prepare the tree-planting areas before volunteers arrived. Holes were dug for each seedling using a tractor-powered auger. This allowed volunteers to easily plant seedlings using hand tools. Additionally, the loose soil will give the seedling roots more space to grow over the first year.

“We planted two dozen species of tree and shrubs,” noted David Thomas, TRLC land stewardship manager. “The goal is to restore a diverse stand of trees that will filter runoff from adjoining fields while also providing food for wildlife and nectar for pollinator insects.”

Seedlings should begin growing in March and April once spring temperatures arrive. Seedlings planted during the events included several types of oaks, hickories and hollies, as well as tulip poplar, beech, dogwood, redbud, crabapple, persimmon, blackgum, blueberry and witch hazel.  Translucent tree shelters were installed to promote seedling growth and to protect each seedling from damage by whitetail deer. The tree shelters will be removed when the saplings are fully established in five to seven years.

TRLC received funding for seedlings, tree shelters and preparing the sites from the N.C. Land and Water Fund, Raleigh’s Watershed Protection Program, and the alumni and families of the Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Since 2017, TRLC has acquired11 properties totaling 1,442 acres in the Lake Holt watershed in Granville County. This land will remain permanently undeveloped to protect water quality in Lake Holt and to limit develop around Camp Butner, a military installation managed by the N.C. Army National Guard. TRLC’s land holdings in this area includes the Roberts Chapel Conservation Area – located at 792 Roberts Chapel Road – where TRLC opened 1.5 miles of public hiking trails last year.

Visit www.tarriver.org to see photos of the January 2022 tree planting events taken by photographer Sam Upchurch and others. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Tar River Land Conservancy, send an email volunteer@tarriver.org or call 919.496.5902.

Granville School Board Approves More Staff Changes

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The Granville County Board of Education announced several changes in leadership roles across the district at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 7.

Beth Day, who has been assistant superintendent of finance for GCPS for 14 years, will leave her post at the end of February. Day has accepted the position of chief financial officer for “Voices Together,” a non-profit that provides music therapy for children with special needs.

Vickie Hines, the district’s finance and early childhood coordinator, will fill in as interim finance direction, beginning Mar. 1, until a new finance director is named. Hines has served previously as assistant finance officer.

The board announced that Shelby Hunt will be the new senior director of federal programs. Hunt, who has worked in the district for 23 years. She has had numerous roles, including classroom teacher and principal. Most recently, she was grants and special projects manager, which included managing Title I funds for the district.

The board also accepted the resignation of Mt. Energy Elementary Principal Billy Moore.

Assistant Principal Kimberly McNeill will serve as interim principal until a new principal is named.

In a written statement from GCPS, Day said that she will miss her colleagues. “You are all so much more than coworkers and I know you will continue to do great things for the children of Granville County.”

She continued by saying, “As many of you know, my son, Will, had special needs during his short life and music was a window to his soul.  I am passionate about both honoring Will’s memory and helping others that are going through similar challenges as we have faced.  I am excited about the opportunity to meet those life goals through this new role at Voices Together.”

NC Dept of Agriculture

Updated State Forest Action Plan Approved, Ready For Use

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– Story courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

North Carolina’s updated forest action plan has been approved by the USDA Forest Service and is now ready to be implemented by forestry stakeholders across the state.
The plan is a thorough review of the state’s forestland, focusing on changes and trends that have occurred since 2010. The plan not only evaluates past and current forest conditions, but also addresses factors that may impact forest health and sustainability moving forward.

Ninety-six percent of the state’s 18.75 million acres of forests is timberland, according to the plan, which classifies it as capable of commercial production and not in reserved status or unproductive. Most of the forestland in Vance County is privately owned, according to the details in the plan.

“Input from our forestry partners, along with the efforts of stakeholder working groups and our forest service staff, has paved the way for this plan,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With the continued work of our N.C. Forest Service and forestry partners across the state, this plan will serve as a roadmap for efforts on the ground to protect, conserve and enhance our forest resources and the many benefits we enjoy from them.”

Updating North Carolina’s Forest action plan was a collective effort, involving feedback from nearly 70 organizations on the conditions, needs and opportunities of North Carolina’s forests. 

Many of the recommended strategies identified in North Carolina’s initial forest action plan, which was released in 2010 as a result of the 2008 Farm Bill, have been successfully put into action. Among those accomplishments have been reforestation projects, prescribed burns and the mitigation of forest fuels to reduce wildfire risk. Longleaf restoration and the conservation of priority species and habitats have made significant gains as well.

“One trend worth noting has been the collaboration between new partners, often resulting in opportunities for private forest landowners and for land conservation that may have otherwise been unavailable,” said Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Scott Bissette. “The intent is for all forest stakeholders in North Carolina to use this plan as a guide for including applicable strategies into their organization’s efforts so we can collectively roll out this plan, keeping our woodlands healthy, resilient and productive.”

To learn more about North Carolina’s updated forest action plan, the national priorities and goals behind it and the plan’s associated Geospatial Viewer, visit https://www.ncforestactionplan.com/.

Granville Board Of Education To Meet Monday, Feb. 7

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education, 200 Taylor Street, Oxford, NC 27565. Members of the public are invited to view via livestream. Join the livestream meeting here: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The board will also meet in closed session for attorney/client privilege.

Public comments for this meeting can be made in person at the board meeting, or in writing by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6z. Comments made using the link must be submitted between the hours of 12 noon and 4 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2022.  A copy will be distributed to the board of education members.  A maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment.

All those in attendance at the meeting are required to wear mask in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Granville Tourism Mini-Grant Application Period Open Through April 18 For 2022-23

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The Granville Tourism Development Authority (GTDA) is now accepting grant applications for the upcoming fiscal year.

The primary purpose of the GTDA’s mini-grant program is to assist Granville County organizations and agencies in the promotion and marketing of events and activities that encourage tourism and create an economic impact from visitor spending. The goal is to help stimulate events/activities that can grow and eventually thrive on their own merit, without direct funding. Any approved funding should be considered as a supplemental resource only.

Applicants eligible for grant funding must be a Granville County-based community group, nonprofit organization, or a municipality or recognized community located within Granville County. For-profit groups cannot apply for grant funding unless the event’s proceeds will go to a community-supported organization.

Projects to be considered should encourage out-of-county visitors, with primary consideration given to those that promote the GTDA’s mission of marketing the area as a travel destination. (The tourism industry’s definition of a “visitor” is an individual trekking outside of 50 miles to attend an event or activity.) Events planned for off-peak times may receive higher priority.

Total funding of any event, project or program will not be greater than 25 percent of the total project budget and will not exceed $5,000. Included with the request can be a one-time artist/entertainment allowance of up to $1,000.

Grants applications will be accepted until April 18, 2022, for inclusion in the upcoming fiscal year (July 2022 through June 2023). The GTDA Board will review applications and will be prepared to make recommendations for approval during their June board meeting. Award recipients will be notified after July 1, 2022, when the new fiscal year begins.

Applications are available online or through the Granville County Tourism Development office, 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford.

Visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/visitors/tda-mini-grant-2022-2023/ to access the application or to learn more about grant requirements and/or the review process. Those interested may also contact Angela Allen, Tourism Director, at 919.693.6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

The Local Skinny! Vance Eats: Tru Soul

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Breakfast…most of us start off the day with some type of breakfast. It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If that’s truly the case, then perhaps we should all eat breakfast more often! Breakfast for supper? Sure, why not or, as Trey Snide found out today on The Local Skinny’s Vance Eats segment, breakfast makes for a pretty good lunch as well. Vance County’s Raynard Fitts has opened Tru Soul in Oxford and Creedmoor and his food was featured on today’s show.

The “Multiverse”, as it is called, is perhaps best described as a pancake sandwich. In between the pancakes, the hearty eater will find bacon, eggs and hamburger. This is all topped off with syrup which Trey had high praise for. In fact, he was so pleased with the syrup he added more after a couple of bites.

Tru Soul Food is more than breakfast as they also serve fried chicken, fried fish, hamburger steak and gravy, oxtails, a wide variety of vegetables and much more.

According to Fitts it’s delicious. “I promise you, you will not be disappointed,” he told Trey this morning. Fitts also explained that the business is about to change the name and are in the process of rebranding. Tru Soul is located at 1102 Goshen St. in Oxford and at 1597 NC 56 in Creedmoor. They are open 11am until 8pm seven days a week.

The Local Skinny! on WIZS can be heard at 11:30am Monday – Through Thursday on WIZS 1450am, 100.1fm and at wizs.com.

Seven GCPS Educators Successfully Complete National Board Certification

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Seven educators in Granville County Public Schools have been recognized by the school board for successful completion of their national board certification, a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that ensures that board-certified teachers have proven skills to advance student achievement.

The following teachers have most recently completed their board certification:

  • Megan Belshaw – Mt. Energy Elementary School
  • Michael Carroll – J.F. Webb High School
  • Bridget Craddock – Creedmoor Elementary School of the Arts
  • Jennifer Crisman-Kleczek – South Granville High School
  • Carole Griffin – J.F. Webb High School
  • Chris Leas – Stovall-Shaw Elementary School
  • Stacy Splees – based at Butner-Stem Elementary School

National board certification is an advanced teaching credential and a standards-based assessment. These teachers’ scores reflect the degree to which assessors were able to locate clear, consistent and convincing evidence of meeting the national board standards specific to their certificate field, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, district public information officer and associate superintendent.

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Omicron Variant Accounts For 99 Percent Of New COVID-19 Cases In Vance, Granville

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The Omicron variant accounts for 99 percent of all new cases across the Granville Vance Health district, which reported a total of almost 1,400 new cases as of Friday, Jan. 28.Vance County reported 569 new cases and Granville reported 825 in the past seven days which ended Jan. 27, according to GVPH Director Lisa Harrison’s weekly update.

Vance County’s 32.7 percent positive rate and Granville’s 27 percent positivity rate still put both counties in the high transmission for new cases.There have been 13,095 cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and 10,959 cases of COVID-19 in Vance County for a total of 24,054 across the health district.

There were 35 Butner Federal Prison inmates reported as COVID positive to the health department on the Granville County side this week and 16 staff members of the Butner Federal Prison who are currently positive for COVID-19 are residents of the health district.

Each county has documented 110 deaths as a result of COVID-19 for a total of 220, up three from last week’s total of 217. In Vance County, a 47-year-old male died in hospital on Jan. 22 and in Granville County, a 73-year-old male died in hospital Jan. 25.

The update also included the most recent seven-day rolling average of new COVID-19 deaths across the United States, which continues to climb. As of Thursday, Jan. 27, 2,267 deaths had been reported. “Nearly all cases of COVID-19 which are typed across the country right now are Omicron,” Harrison stated in the update. “Just because less severe disease is happening with this variant for many people – and many people may not even show or feel symptoms – that doesn’t mean Omicron isn’t still deadly to some. It’s especially dangerous for the unvaccinated who are more likely to have severe illness and need hospitalization. Given the sheer amount of spread we are experiencing across the country of this variant, we still see high numbers of those hospitalized and those dying from COVID-19.” High numbers of hospitalizations also are being recorded in the state and in the region.

Vaccinations, boosters, mask wearing and maintaining social distancing protocols are still the best protections against COVID-19.

Here are the most recent county numbers:

In Vance County:

·       65 percent of those over the age of 5 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 59 percent have been vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       19 percent of those ages 5-11 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 11 percent are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines.

·       48 percent of those ages 12-17 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 42 percent are vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       10,000 of those over the age of 12 are vaccinated with at least one booster/additional dose

In Granville County:

·       69 percent of those over the age of 5 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 64 percent are vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       21 percent of those ages 5-11 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 15 percent are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines.

·       45 percent of those ages 12-17 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 41 percent are vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       15,304 of those over the age of 12 are vaccinated with at least one booster/additional dose.

COVID-19 tests are available in the following locations in the two counties:

·       Rural Health Group at Henderson, 100 Parkview Dr. West, Henderson, Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

·       Vance County Schools Central Office, 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

·       CVS and Walgreens, by appointment

·       Butner-Stem Middle School, 501 E. D St., Butner, Mon-Wed., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

·       Mary Potter Center for Innovation, 200 Taylor St., Oxford, Thur.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

·       Spectrum Medical Solutions, 119 Hilltop Village, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

 

 

The Local Skinny! Register Now To Attend Feb. 1 Expungement Clinics In Henderson, Oxford

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Learn how to get your criminal records expunged tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 1) at two free informational clinics – one in Henderson and one in Oxford.

The Kerr-Tar Reentry Roundtable is partnering with Legal Aid of North Carolina to host the events, during which Legal Aid staff will walk participants through the process of getting previous records expunged, or cleared, which could have a positive impact when applying for jobs or housing.

The clinics will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St., Henderson and at the Oxford Housing Authority, 101 Hillside Dr., Oxford, according to KTCOG strategic initiatives coordinator Kisha High.

High told John C. Rose on Monday’s The Local Skinny! that the clinics are informational only; those who attend and qualify for record expungement will be notified to attend an April 12 clinic at Hix Gym in Oxford to complete the expungement process.

“This is our very first expungement event,” High said. Monthly information sessions are planned and she said most likely the expungement clinics would be held quarterly.

The Second Chance Law that went into effect in June 2020 provides information about which offenses can be expunged from a criminal record, and changes that took effect on Dec. 1, 2021 give more hope to those who wish to have records cleared.

Legal Aid staff will be ready Tuesday to clarify which charges and what type of offenses can be removed, she said.

Maybe it was a DWI or some other activity that happened earlier in a person’s life that is affecting their adult life now, High said. Even if a person’s criminal record is not able to be expunged, High said a “certificate of release” can be issued by a judge that indicates the prior record should not be held against the person.

Interested in participating? Contact Kisha High at 252. 436.2040, ext. 2008 no later than noon on Tuesday, Feb. 1.