Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville County Logo

Granville Board of Commissioners to Meet Remotely Mon., May 18

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

NOTICE OF REMOTE MEETING

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 7 p.m. for the regularly scheduled meeting.

In order to adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting may be accessed by utilizing the link and/or phone number included below.

Public comments will be accepted in written format and must be received by Monday, May 18 at 12 p.m. by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org

Join Zoom Meeting

https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/j/96676016140?pwd=bHc0OUNobFhISitaU2tLd0pKMkIxdz09

Meeting ID: 966 7601 6140

Password: 858871

Dial by your location

877 853 5247 US Toll-free

888 788 0099 US Toll-free

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

Census 2020

Census Response Deadline Extended to October 31

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The U.S. Census Bureau has announced that, due to COVID-19 and the temporary suspension of field operations, the 2020 Census response deadline has been extended to Oct. 31. A previously-extended deadline date had been announced for Aug 14, which has now been rescheduled. This most recent extension will help ensure that all households have an opportunity to be counted.

Most households received their initial invitation to respond to the 2020 Census in March. By the middle of that month, the Census Bureau had started the process of hand-delivering paper questionnaires in rural areas; however, the temporary suspension of field operations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a delay.

As of May 13, Area Census Offices and 2020 Census field operations have been re-opened in nine states, including North Carolina. This means that more households – especially those who are known to have poor internet service in their area –  should expect to find paper questionnaires left outside their front doors in the coming weeks. All Census workers are expected to be trained in preventing the spread of the virus, with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

There are three options to respond to the 2020 Census – by phone, by mail or online. Households can respond safely from home by using the online form on the U.S. Census website at www.census.gov; by phone at 844-330-2020; or by mailing back the paper questionnaire being sent/delivered to their homes. 

Approximately 86 million households have already responded to the U.S. Census, with the national self-response rate at just over 58 percent, as compared with North Carolina’s rate of 55.1 percent. Granville County’s response total was reported at 58.1 percent as of May 12, with the Town of Butner falling in at 55.1 percent; the City of Creedmoor at 58.6 percent; the City of Oxford at 53.6 percent; the Town of Stem at 64.9 percent and the Town of Stovall at 14.9 percent.

In August, in-person visits to non-responsive households are scheduled to begin. A quick response to the Census by one of the three available methods will reduce the need for door-to-door visitation.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the country’s entire population be conducted every ten years. Results of this survey are used to determine how many congressional seats and Electoral  College votes each state gets through 2030, as well as guiding the distribution of an estimated $1.5 trillion a year in federal funding for hospitals, health clinics, fire departments, schools, roads and other public services in local communities.

The 2020 Census marks the 24th time that the United States has counted its population since 1790.

To learn more about the 2020 Census, visit www.census.gov.

Families Living Violence Free ‘Still Here’ to Assist Victims of Abuse

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-Information courtesy Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free is “still here” during the coronavirus crisis and is available to help those who feel unsafe at home and may be the victim of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Families Living Violence Free will remain open during normal business hours to respond to client needs. After hours, the crisis line will remain open. Clients are strongly encouraged to conduct business via phone or email when appropriate.

If further services are needed, you can contact advocates on the hotline at (919) 693-5700 (English) or (919) 690-0888 (Spanish).

The hotline will be fully operational 24/7 for advocacy, connection to resources, supportive counseling and safety planning. Services will be provided by advocates.

If you are in immediate physical danger, please call 911.

Thornton Library Welcomes New Adult Services Librarian

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 -Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Library System welcomes Melanie Baldwin to the Richard H. Thornton branch in Oxford.

As Adult Services Librarian, Baldwin will be responsible for developing, promoting, presenting and evaluating programs and displays for adult patrons, as well as assisting in the development of the materials for the collection of books/resources and other duties.

Baldwin began work in her new role on April 1.

The Granville County Library System welcomes Melanie Baldwin to the Richard H. Thornton branch in Oxford. Baldwin began work in her new role on April 1, 2020. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

A native of Vance County, Baldwin lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for seven years before returning to the area. She is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Math and attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and North Carolina State University, where she earned her undergraduate degree. While working at the college library at UNC Wilmington, she decided to pursue a career as a librarian, later earning her Masters degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University.

“I wish I had been able to meet our patrons in person,” Baldwin said, “but, unfortunately, we are all doing our best to slow the spread of COVID-19. I hope everyone is taking care at this time, and I hope to be able to bring some library services to you over the internet.”

A fan of young adult fiction and fantasy books, Baldwin is married and resides in Henderson. She can be reached online through “Ask a Librarian” on the Granville County Library System website (https://granville.lib.nc.us) and at melanie.baldwin@granvillecounty.org. A new “chat” option is also available at https://granville.lib.nc.us/chat/.

While the four branches of the Granville County Library System continue to be closed to the public, Baldwin offers a reminder that curbside pickup service has again been made available from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library in Oxford and at the South Branch library in Creedmoor.

Those wishing to reserve materials can simply call in or message either library branch with a list of requested materials, park at a curbside library space and give the library a call. Your materials will be placed on an outside table to be conveniently retrieved. (Limit five books, five DVDs and five audiobooks.) Contact the Thornton Library at 919-693-1121 and the South Branch at 919-528-1752 to make your materials requests.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update: 17 Deaths in District, Three Congregate Living Outbreaks

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 7, 2020, there are 145 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 140 cases in Vance County, and 13,397 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are currently three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, one at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC, and one at Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC.

Of the total positive cases in each county, 81 in Granville County are associated with the prison, 46 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health nursing home, and 10 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 64 community-based cases in Granville County, 36 have been released from isolation and 58 of the 81 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation.

Of the 140 cases in Vance, 22 have been released from isolation and 12 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 17 deaths in the health district – 11 in Vance County and six with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

U.S. Department of Justice

Butner Federal Inmates Indicted for Inciting Riot, Assault on Federal Officers

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Wednesday charging two inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina (“FCI Butner I”) with assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers, as well as inciting or participating in a mutiny or riot within a federal penal institution.

According to the indictment, on April 22, 2020, Rene Moreno-Castillo and Javier Tijerina allegedly assaulted, resisted, or impeded federal officers during the performance of their official duties at FCI Butner I.

Specifically, Moreno-Castillo is alleged to have pulled a fire extinguisher from the wall during an open disagreement with staff about housing assignments and sprayed them with its chemical contents.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that on the same day, prior to the discharge of the fire extinguisher, Tijerina, expressing the same perceived disagreement, incited and attempted to cause or assisted in a mutiny or riot within FCI Butner I by openly yelling, gesturing, and threatening “action” by the inmates if housing assignments did not change.

According to the indictment, after spraying staff, inmate Moreno-Castillo barricaded the unit door with lockers which he ripped from the wall and slid against the door, tied the door shut with a bedsheet, and continued to spray the fire extinguisher, filling the unit with the powder contents. FCI Butner I staff, including a tactical Complex-wide Quick Response Force, were emergently called to the scene to regain control of the unit.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina commented: “Effectively managing a federal prison is a complex and difficult job but is one that is critical to the enforcement of our criminal laws and to ensuring the safety of people in every community across the country.  The men and women who serve us from behind the walls of facilities like those at Butner deserve our support and swift enforcement when prisoners take any action that impedes their work or, as here, threatens the security of those officers and risks the proper order and management of the prison.  This indictment deals with the offenders who tried to incite a riot within the Butner facility but is also designed to send a message to anyone else who might consider this type of action; there will be consequences if you jeopardize the security of our prisons or endanger the brave officers and employees who serve us from within the facility.”

Moreno-Castillo is charged with the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 and 18 U.S.C. § 1792. If convicted, he faces a maximum potential penalty of eight or ten years in prison, respectively. Inmate Tijerina is charged with a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1792, he faces a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Higdon made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH COVID-19 Update: Outbreak Reported at Kerr Lake Nursing Home

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 6, 2020, there are 149 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 135 cases in Vance County, and 12,758 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, one at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC, and one at Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC.

Of the total positive cases in each county, 87 in Granville County are associated with the prison, 47 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health Nursing Home and 10 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 62 community-based cases in Granville County, 36 have been released from isolation and 47 of the 87 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation.

Of the 135 cases in Vance, 20 have been released from isolation and 8 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 16 deaths in the health district – 10 in Vance County and 6 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

N.C. Air National Guard Flyover ‘Operation American Resolve’ to Include Butner, NC

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-Press Release, North Carolina Air National Guard

The 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard will be conducting a one aircraft C-17 flyover of various North Carolina cities, hospitals, and food banks on Thursday, May 7, 2020, as part of Operation: American Resolve.

The flyover is to demonstrate the Department of the Air Force’s continued readiness during the national COVID-19 response while saluting the American heroes at the forefront in our fight against COVID-19. These flyovers will incur no additional cost to taxpayers and are being conducted as part of regularly scheduled training.

The C-17 will depart the Charlotte Douglass International Airport at 10 a.m. and travel to the locations listed below.

Please remember proper social distancing and protective measures while viewing.

Questions can be directed to the 145th Airlift Wing, Public Affairs Office at 910-916-0868.

Route of Flight:

All times are subject to change.

Asheville, NC (10:50 a.m.) – Mission Hospital, Manna Food Bank, Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center
and J.F.K. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center

Morganton, NC (11:02 a.m.) – Broughton Hospital, J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

Hickory, NC (11:07 a.m.) – Frye Regional Medical Hospital

Statesville, NC (11:12 a.m.) – Iredell Memorial Hospital

Winston Salem, NC (11:21 a.m.) – Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, Bowman Gray Campus, Second Harvest Food Bank of NW, NC

Greensboro/Burlington, NC (11:30 a.m.) – High Point Regional, Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, Lab Corp Burlington Corporate Headquarters

Chapel Hill, NC (11:39 a.m.) – UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital

Durham, NC (11:42 a.m.) – Durham VA Medical Center, Duke University Hospital

Butner, NC (11:46 a.m.) – Central Regional Hospital, Murdoch Developmental Center, R.J. Blackley Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center

Raleigh, NC (11:50 a.m.) – UNC REX Hospital, NC National Guard JFHQ, Wake Med Hospital, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, Duke/Raleigh Hospital, Downtown Raleigh

Goldsboro, NC (12:09 p.m.) – Cherry Hospital, O’berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center

Wilson, NC (12:15 p.m.) – Longleaf Neuro-Medical Treatment

Greenville, NC (12:21 p.m.) – Vidant Medical Center, Walter B. Jones Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment Center, Greenville Veteran’s Health Care Center

Kinston, NC (12:28 p.m.) – Caswell Development Center

Jacksonville, NC (12:35 p.m.) – Onslow Memorial Hospital

Wilmington, NC (12:48 p.m.) – New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Charlotte, NC (1:25 p.m.) – Harris Teeter Distribution Center, Novant Health Presbyterian Med Ctr, Atrium Health Charlotte, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

MISSION COMPLETE

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

14 COVID-19 Deaths, 254 Confirmed Cases in Granville, Vance Health District

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 4, 2020, there are 144 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 110 cases in Vance County, and 11,848 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are two outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC and one at Pelican Health Nursing Home in Henderson, NC.

Of the total positive cases in each county, 87 in Granville County are associated with the prison and 47 in Vance County are associated with the nursing home.

Of the 57 community-based cases in Granville County, 34 have been released from isolation and 46 of the 87 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation.

Of the 110 cases in Vance, 19 have been released from isolation and 6 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 14 deaths in the health district – 8 in Vance County and 6 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

Granville’s Spring Recycle & Collection Event Scheduled for Sat., May 16

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

The Spring Recycle and Collection event is still scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2020, at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center. The hours are from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

To ensure proper social distancing and precautionary measures, those bringing items in to be properly disposed of and/or recycled will be directed to designated areas and will be assisted with their items.

Accepted items: documents for shredding, scrap metal, junk lawnmowers, broken appliances, broken bicycles, medications, sharps, inhalers, laptops/computers, cell phones, flares, ammunition, fireworks, hardback books, household batteries, pet items, packing materials (no packing peanuts) and more.

Backyard compost bins and countertop caddies will be available for sale.

The Granville County Expo Center is located at 4185 US Hwy 15 in Oxford, NC.