#granvillecountynews - WIZS

GVPH Local COVID-19 Update as of 11/05/20

November 6, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of November 5, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

2,144 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 2,144, 1,460 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 1,460, 1,256 have been released from isolation.

Of those 2,144, 528 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County, and 501 of those 528 have been released from isolation.

Of those 2,144, 156 are associated with outbreaks at long-term care facilities, including 50 at Murdoch Development Center and 95 at Universal Health Care.

The outbreaks at Central Regional Hospital, Brantwood and Granville House are no longer active.

Of the 156 cases in long-term care facilities in Granville County, 113 have been released from isolation.

Four individuals in Granville County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 51 deaths in Granville County: six in the community, one associated with Central Regional Hospital, one associated with Murdoch Development Center, 21 associated with Universal Health Care and 22 associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

1,259 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,259, 1,123 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 1,123, 925 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,259, 136 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities, including 12 at Senior Citizens Home.

The outbreaks at Kerr Lake Nursing Home, Alliance Rehabilitative Care and Pelican Health Nursing Home are no longer active.

Of the 136 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 97 have been released from isolation.

Five individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 47 deaths in Vance County: 14 associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 12 associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, two associated with Senior Citizens Home and 19 in the community.

WIZS Note: There are 198 total known active cases in the Vance County community and 204 in the Granville County community at large at this time (excluding congregate living numbers).

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily.

Oxford to Hold ‘Reverse Christmas’ Parade; Butner to Host ‘Christmas in the Park’ Event

November 5, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

With the COVID pandemic forcing many areas to cancel or revise holiday events this year, the City of Oxford and Town of Butner announce plans to bring Christmas cheer to residents while following safety guidelines.

Oxford’s Reverse Christmas Parade – Friday, December 4 ~ 6:30 – 8 p.m.

A parade where the floats, dancers and cars are stationary and spaced apart. Those wishing to soak up the seasonal merriment can simply drive-through and enjoy from the safety of their personal vehicles.

This year’s theme is “Oxford’s Whoville Holiday” for churches, businesses and non-profits wishing to participate (please decorate accordingly).

Spaces will be measured at 60-80 feet allowing for social distancing. No candy will be given out, only waves of cheer and
encouragement!

If you would like to be a part of the ‘Reverse Parade,’ please contact Mary Yount at (919) 603-1164. Applications will be accepted through December 1.

* Oxford’s Lighting of the Greens for 2020 will be virtual (more information to come).

Butner Christmas in the Park – Drive-Thru – Friday, December 4 ~ 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Load up the kiddies with their letters to Santa and participate in a guided drive-thru at Butner’s Gazebo Park for a celebration of Christmas music, beautiful lights and to visit Santa safely from your car.

Event sponsored by the Butner Community Association.

The annual Butner Christmas Parade is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Creedmoor’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade events have been canceled due to COVID. Click here for additional information.

Social Services Observes Adoption Awareness Month

November 4, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

During the month of November, the Granville County Department of Social Services joins in the observance of Adoption Awareness Month, a time to celebrate adoption and to help children find permanent homes. The 2020 theme for National Adoption Month is “Engage Youth: Listen and Learn.”

Each year, more than 400,000 children and youth are in foster care, with 100,000+ waiting for adoption. Many are at risk of aging out of the foster care system without permanent family connections or are children with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

According to information shared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

The average age of children in foster care is 8.5;
Almost 200,000 children in foster care in 2019 had been placed with a non-relative;
Neglect is the number one circumstance for children being removed from the home (63 percent);
Nearly 18,000 youth age out of foster care before being adopted; and
Five percent of children and youth waiting for adoption spend five or more years waiting for a family.

The Granville County Department of Social Services can help those interested in adoption to navigate through the process of providing a permanent home for a child in foster care. Homeownership is not required, and adoptive parents can be married, single, divorced or widowed. The cost of adopting a foster child with special needs will be provided by the child’s agency.

For more details, contact Laverne Smith, Adoption Specialist for Granville County’s Department of Social Services, at (919) 603-3348 or at laverne.smith@granvillecounty.org.

Gooch Sworn In as District 7 Granville County Commissioner

November 2, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Jimmy Gooch of Butner was sworn in as a Granville County Commissioner on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. Appointed to the Board of Commissioners at their October 19 meeting, Gooch will represent District 7.

The swearing-in ceremony was officiated by Board Chair David T. Smith at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center. Holding the Bible for the oath was Vickie Smoak, wife of former Comm. Edgar Smoak, who passed away on September 11.

Jimmy Gooch of Butner was sworn in as County Commissioner on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)

After the ceremony, Wendy Gooch, wife of the newly-sworn-in Commissioner, placed the lapel pin on her husband’s jacket.

As a representative of Granville County Government and the Board, Gooch has been assigned to the following committees:

Audit Review Committee
Board of Equalization and Review
Opioid Advisory Committee
Public Safety Liaison
Soil and Water Board Liaison
Transportation Plan Work Group
Water/Sewer Matters Liaison

Born and raised in the Wilton community of Granville County, Gooch is a graduate of South Granville High School and has extensive experience in water management. He is retired from the City of Durham.

Gooch previously served on the Butner Town Council, having been elected in 2017. In that role, he served as the Town’s representative to the Granville County Animal Control Advisory Committee and the Granville Greenways Advisory Council, as well as serving as a member of the Camp Butner Society and Chairman of the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority Board.

Granville Co. Board of Commissioners to Meet This Evening

November 2, 2020/by WIZS Staff

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy the County of Granville

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call on Monday, November 2, 2020, at 7 p.m. for a regular scheduled meeting.

In order to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting may be accessed by a Zoom link. Please contact the County Administration Office at (919) 693-5240 to receive the registration link.

Public comments will be accepted in written format and must be received by Monday, November 2 at 12 p.m. by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here.

Granville Board of Education To Hold Regular Meeting Mon., Nov. 2

October 30, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular Board meeting on Monday, November 2, 2020, 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.

To join the livestream meeting, please use the following link: https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Board will also meet in Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will be required to wear face coverings, undergo health screenings before entering the building and cooperate with social distancing requirements. There will be limited seating available.

To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.

Granville County Sheriff Offers Tips for a Safe Halloween

October 30, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Although Halloween may be celebrated differently this year, there are ways to enjoy safe trick-or-treating. The Granville County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to follow common-sense practices, along with adhering to statewide health requirements.

In some communities across the county, traditional house-to-house trick-or-treating is at the discretion of individual households and neighborhoods. If choosing to participate, the Sheriff’s Office asks that door-to-door treats – where candy is handed out to children – be limited. Also, please use hand sanitizer between visits. Households are encouraged to have hand sanitizer readily available, as a precautionary measure.

The Sheriff also reminds trick-or-treaters that a costume mask is no substitute for a protective cloth mask. Please remember to cover the mouth and nose, as required by the Centers for Disease Control, for the most effective protection from COVID-19. Social distancing is also required, as mandated by the State of North Carolina.

Other safety tips include:

Costumes should not include any sharp objects;
Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes;
Carry a flashlight or glow stick after dark;
Only visit homes with the porch light on;
Don’t go inside anyone’s home;
Travel only in familiar areas and along an established route;
Watch for obstacles on lawns, steps or porches
Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully;
Walk, don’t run, from house to house;
Throw away any candy that is unwrapped or has a strange odor, color or texture.

“The Halloween season has always been filled with enjoyment,” said Sheriff Charles R. Noblin, Jr. “If choosing to participate in trick-or-treating in your neighborhood this year, let’s make it a fun and safe experience for everyone.”

The Granville County Sheriff’s Office is now open in their new location at 525 New Commerce Drive in Oxford, in the newly-constructed Law Enforcement Center. For any questions or for more information, their phone number remains the same at (919) 693-3213, or you can send emails to granville.sheriff@granvillecounty.org.

Grassy Creek Community Center Dedicates New Picnic Shelter

October 29, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release and photos, Granville County Government

A new picnic shelter was dedicated at the Grassy Creek Community Center on Saturday, October 24, 2020. The new structure was made possible through grant funding provided by the Granville County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee, and was approved by Granville County’s Board of Commissioners for the 2019/2020 fiscal year.

Granville County’s Parks, Greenways and Recreation programming funds are used to develop and support active and passive recreation and leisure activities for the County’s residents. The objective is to make these activities available to as many residents as possible, seeking to serve all age groups.

The new picnic shelter at the Grassy Creek Community Center was made possible through grant funding by the Granville County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee and was approved by the Granville County Board of Commissioners.

Additional mini-grants had been awarded to the City of Creedmoor, the City of Oxford, the Town of Butner, the Town of Stovall, the Town of Stem, Granville County Senior Services, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, the Toler Reach Out Club and Hopping Frogs Forest School during the same grant cycle.

The Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee includes 11 voting members, one from each County district and four at-large members. District representatives appointed by the Board of Commissioners include Allen Nelson (District 1), Reginald Tyrone Harris (District 2), Glenda Williams (District 3), Betty Lou Davis (District 4), Joshua Averette (District 5), Ivan Washburn (District 6), and Michael McFadden (District 7). Serving as at-large members are Mara Shelton, Marilyn Howard, Richard Rote and Ginnie Currin.

The new picnic shelter at Grassy Creek’s Community Center joins the addition of playground equipment on-site, funded and installed during the 2018/2019 grant cycle.

“The new picnic shelter, along with the playground, walking track and grassy areas at the Grassy Creek Community Center, provides a great venue for community and family gatherings,” said Justin Jorgensen, Granville County’s Senior Transportation Planner and Committee Advisor.

The Grassy Creek Community Center is located at 9121 Grassy Creek Road in Bullock.

Due to COVID-19, the grant application process was suspended for the 2020/2021 budget year. Applications will be made available on opening day of the next grant cycle. For more information about the Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee, please contact Jorgensen at (919) 603-1332 or at Justin.jorgensen@granvillecounty.org.

Pictured at Saturday’s ribbon-cutting for the Grassy Creek picnic shelter are Justin Jorgensen, James Currin, Peggy Currin, David Smith, Travis Loftis, Pratt Winston, Ida Keeton, Sue Hinman, Ray Keeton and Zelodis Jay.

Justin Jorgensen, David Smith, Susan Hiscocks, Amy Sizemore, Francis Winston, Scott Loftis, Jr, Taylor Hiscocks, Scott Loftis, Rebecca Sizemore, Dylan Cash, Sue Hinman, Glenda Williams, Zelodis Jay, Easton Long, Michael Sizemore, Jeb Rector and Madalynn Long participated in the ribbon cutting for the playground equipment at the Grassy Creek Community Center.

Granville Board of Education to Create Task Force to Address School Closures

October 28, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education met in a special work session on Monday, October 26, 2020, to review and discuss school reorganization in the district.

Previously, the Board had commissioned the administration to prepare two separate, official studies for potential school closures. The Board had identified both Wilton Elementary School and Creedmoor Elementary School as the subject of the two written studies which were presented Monday night.

Following the presentation of both studies, the Board spent time deliberating and discussing the topic in detail, ultimately passing a motion 6-1 to defer taking further action. Instead, the Board will refer the matter to a special task force with members appointed by the Board Chairman to develop strategic thinking on potential reorganization models for the district. This task force could be convened as early as December 2020, following the appointment of three new Board members.

This effectively removed the possibility of any action being taken that could impact the operation of either school for the 2021-2022 academic year.

GVPH Local COVID-19 Update as of 10/26/20

October 27, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of October 26, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

1,991 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,991, 1,311 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 1,311, 1,153 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,991, 527 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County and 501 of those 527 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,991, 153 are associated with outbreaks at long-term care facilities, including 47 at Murdoch Development Center and 95 at Universal Health Care.

The outbreaks at Central Regional Hospital, Brantwood and Granville House are no longer active.

Of the 153 cases in long-term care facilities in Granville County, 112 have been released from isolation.

Five individuals in Granville County are hospitalized

There have been a total of 51 deaths in Granville County: six in the community, one associated with Central Regional Hospital, one associated with Murdoch Development Center, 21 associated with Universal Health Care and 22 associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

1,156 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,156, 1,031 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 1,031, 889 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,156, 125 cases are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities.

The outbreaks at Kerr Lake Nursing Home, Alliance Rehabilitative Care, Senior Citizens Home and Pelican Health Nursing Home are no longer active.

Of the 125 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 97 have been released from isolation.

Four individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 47 deaths in Vance County: 14 associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 12 associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, two associated with Senior Citizens Home and 19 in the community.

Unfortunately, there has been a recent death in the community: a 78-year-old female passed away on October 23.

WIZS Note: There are 142 total known active cases in the Vance County community and 158 in the Granville County community at large at this time (excluding congregate living numbers). One additional COVID-19 related Vance County death and one additional Granville County death have been reported in the last week.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily.

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