Tag Archive for: #kerrtarregionalcouncilofgovernements

Kerr-Tar Family Caregiver Conference November 13

/by

People who provide care to family members or loved ones with chronic conditions like dementia can face relentless challenges, running the gamut from finances to time management.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, in partnership with Dementia Alliance, will offer resources and services to caregivers that may prove useful in overcoming some of the challenges that go along with caring for family members with long-term health issues.

The conference is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be held at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, according to Michael Patterson, KTCOG family caregiver specialist. Registration is $10 for family caregivers and $25 for professional caregivers.

Professional caregivers can receive 1.5 continuing education credit. Register at www.dementianc.org/2025henderson. Patterson said walk-up registrations also will be taken the day of the conference.

“This is a great opportunity for our caregivers to receive resources, services and skills they need to support their caregiver journey,” Patterson said on Monday’s TownTalk.

The guest speakers include Michael Lewis, chief behavioral officer and senior financial advisor at Family Legacy Financial Solution, Dr. Delon Canterbury, a pharmacist consultant at GeriatRx, Inc. and Lisa Levine, executive director at Dementia Alliance.

Patterson said the half-day conference will give participants a chance to hear from experts that he said may be outside the traditional box of resources as they gain knowledge and make connections with local resources and services.

A caregiver’s main concern is on the safety, health and well-being of the care recipient, Patterson acknowledged, but finding support for that care provider is also very important, according to feedback he’s gotten as he networks throughout the KTCOG service area.

“Finances is a big challenge for our family caregivers,” Patterson said, so the session on financial resources is an important topic. The majority of those caregivers are providing that care for free – and it’s something that they may choose to do for their loved ones, but it can have an impact, he said, affecting personal and work lives.

Canterbury’s session will focus on how to be an advocate for loved ones when it comes to medications they are taking. The concept of “de-prescribing” focuses on reviewing medicines, understanding particular side effects and making sure a patient isn’t being over-prescribed.

The final session of the conference will turn to a lighter side of caregiving, highlighting the importance of self-care with a segment called Laughter Yoga.

Caregiving can be an emotional journey, Patterson said, and caregivers must balance, as best they can, caring for their loved one as they care for themselves.

It’s important to “bring joy to yourself and to those around you,” he said.

Once a family member has gotten a diagnosis of dementia or other long-term health condition, it’s also important to be proactive in setting up a process for care.

“The longer you wait, the more stressful it can be to try to find resources,” Patterson said.

To learn more, contact Patterson at 252.436.2040 ext. 6072 or by email at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org

CLICK PLAY!

(Original post just above made Oct. 27, 2025)

********************

Who: Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

What: Kerr-Tar Family Caregiver Conference

When: Thursday, November 13 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Where: Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center

Additional Details: Dementia Alliance of NC. Hear from Director of Dementia Alliance, Lisa Levine, and from Pharmacist Consultant, Dr. DeLon Canterbury. Learn practical skills for engaging and supporting those living with dementia, and how to care for yourself in the process. A Family Caregiver Ticket is $10 – For those caring for someone living with dementia, neighbors, friends, students, clergy and anyone else who would like to attend. Limited scholarships available. Professional Caregiver Tickets are $25. Breakfast and refreshments will be provided. To learn more about how to sign up, please reach out to Michael Patterson at (252) 436-2040 ext. 6072 or email mpatteron@kerrtarcog.org.

(Original post just above made Oct. 23, 2025)

State of Region – When Will Triangle Overflows Get to Vance

/by

Economists analyze data and then make projections about things that matter to individuals, governments and other organizations. They do research, make evaluations and help make sense of money, taxes and how much things cost.

N.C. State University professor emeritus Dr. Mike Walden shed some light on prospective growth in Vance County and surrounding areas on Wednesday during a ‘State of the Region’ event sponsored by the Kerr-Tar COG and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

There were no big surprises or ‘aha’ moments in Walden’s remarks to those who’d gathered for the lunchtime program at Henderson Country Club, but Walden’s observations served to rekindle some enthusiasm about what’s possible when it comes to economic growth.

Vance and Warren counties have taken a backseat to Granville and Franklin counties as growth from the Triangle area overflows outside the Raleigh-Durham metro area.

“The counties that have lagged the most were Vance and Warren. Franklin and Granville look better.”

Walden pointed out that Vance County has all the things that attract economic growth – great people, the community college, proximity to the interstate, among others.

And yet, Vance and Warren counties are “one row back” from that inevitable growth – the first wave is hitting Granville and Franklin first, he said. It boils down to one simple, yet immutable thing: Geography.

Walden noted that Vance County is not part of Gov. Josh Stein’s new program to expand internet access, but Granville, Warren and Franklin counties are. He said if he were a Vance County leader, he’d definitely check into that and find out why.

Vance County lags behind the state in households with internet access, for example. About 64 percent of households in the county have high speed internet, compared to 91 percent for the state, he said.

Internet accessibility will continue to be important for businesses looking to locate in the area, but also for residential growth to accommodate employees who may be looking to work remotely.

“I think that there are some positives for you for the future,” Walden said. “The biggest thing that will improve the economic outlook for your future,” he said, is that Vance County is in the path of growth.

Let developers know that Vance County is re-energized, he said, and geared up to work with businesses interested in coming to this part of North Carolina.

Hopefully, the takeaway from his remarks, Walden said, is optimism.

“The growth is going to come,” he said.

Click Here to Listen to this Story!

KTCOG Budget Process Looks Different This Year In Light Of Federal Funding Uncertainty

/by

It’s budget season, a time when cities and counties look at that tricky balance between revenues – money coming in – and expenditures – paying for services that residents need.

The Kerr-Tar Council of Government budget, however, relies mostly on federal money to fund its programs.

And KTCOG Executive Director Diane Cox said recent uncertainty with federal agencies reducing workforce and closing whole programs, this year’s budget process was different than in years past.

“I’ve always taken the conservative approach when it came to our budget,” Cox said in an interview with WIZS.

The 2025-26 budget represents a decrease of more than $2 million from the current year budget and does not include any salary or cost of living increases. Cox is proposing a roughly $5.8 million budget and is hopeful that additional federal funding will be available. The 2024-25 amended budget was just more than $8.3 million.

“Over 90 percent of our funding at COG comes through the state but they’re federal funds,” Cox explained.

“No one’s saying anything yet,” she said. “The state folks haven’t heard from that federal folks what those funds are going to look like.” So until then, Cox and the KTCOG staff wait.

“It’s sort of a wait and see position that we’re in,” she said. “We’re preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”

One area that she’s particularly concerned about is the Area Agency on Aging, which relies on mostly federal funds. Cox said earlier Monday that she’s expecting to hear about the Area Agency on Aging grants sometime this week.

“This is the first year in the 14 or 15 years that I’ve been here that we’ve gone into the budget season without some initial numbers,” she said. For that reason, she said the budget is “very conservative” and included an across-the-board decrease.

The Area Agency on Aging programs provide services for the senior centers in all five counties, as well as their in-home aide programs, among others.

Since the pandemic, the KTCOG has provided assistance to many local governments in the region in some form or another.

Cox said while she and her staff wait for word on grant funding, KTCOG will continue to provide services and programs for the region – there’s a disaster recovery and relief expo on Thursday, June 12 at the VGCC Civic Center, which will provide information to community groups and individuals about how to cope in the event of a disaster.

“We have always had a much larger budget at the end of the year than we do at the beginning of the year” because the COG receives grant funding throughout the year.

So, while our budget may look much lower than what our current budget is, the hope (is) – and I pray – that there will be several budget amendments,” Cox said, allowing for the provision of more service.

Kerr Tar COG Adds Cynthia Pernell To Finance Staff

/by

The Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments has selected a Vance County native as its new finance and administrative assistant.

Cynthia Pernell, a Vance County native, is a graduate of Vance-Granville Community College with a double associates degree in Business Administration and Accounting, according to the December issue of the Kerr Tar COG newsletter.

Pernell had worked for the past 11 years as fiscal coordinator at Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, having begun her career in the finance department of Henderson’s Camper Products, where she worked for eight years.

Franklin Manager Kim Denton Receives Kerr-Tar COG ‘Outstanding Manager’ Award

/by

Information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks III

Franklin County Manager Kim Denton received the Outstanding Manager award from the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments during their recent awards banquet.

Last year’s recipient, Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon, presented Denton with the award during the Sept. 28 event at Carlee Farms in Granville County.

 “Kim embodies the qualities of a visionary leader with unwavering dedication, exemplifying what it takes to steer Franklin County towards a prosperous future,” Blackmon said.

 Blackmon said Denton has brought innovation, jobs and investments to the region while overseeing responsible growth and infrastructure enhancements. Spearheading the expansion of broadband internet to previously unserved areas, securing a $160 million economic investment from private industry along U.S. 1 and executing a massive overhaul of the county’s public safety radio system were among the successes noted in the nomination.

 “Additionally, she played a key role in securing substantial grant funds for essential improvements to Triangle North Executive Airport, Triangle North Franklin Business Park, and Public Utilities projects,” Blackmon said.

 Denton’s commitment to education was also noted as she has served in various roles supporting the Louisburg Athletic Booster Club, Edward Best Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, and many years as yearbook coordinator.

 “Denton’s genuine concern for the county’s employees led her to advocate for the implementation of a pay-for-performance system, rewarding hard work and encouraging goal setting among County staff,” Blackmon said.

Denton – who was surprised and admittedly overwhelmed by the honor – said things have been busy in Franklin County.

 “I have to say you can’t be that busy without having the right kind of team behind you,” said Denton. “I can’t say thank you enough to all of the team at Franklin County that works so hard to make things happen.”

 Quoting Franklin County’s mission – adopted in 2022 by the board of commissioners, Denton reaffirmed the county’s commitment to exemplary public service and “expanding economic opportunities.”

She also represents the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s P7 workgroup for Strategic Transportation Prioritization (SPOT).

 “Her active participation in the work group reflects her commitment to advocating for vital transportation projects across the state and region,” Blackmon said.

 Denton said success in one part of the region benefits the entire region.

 “When good things happen in one county, good things happen throughout our region,” Denton said.

 The criteria for Kerr-Tar COG’s outstanding manager award includes contributions to local government, special accomplishments in the job, innovation and leadership in management or administration, professional skills and expertise, and service on regional, state or national committees or commissions representing local government.

 Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, consisting of Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties, is an association of local governments that exists to lead regional planning in the five-county area.

TownTalk: Choosing The Right Long-Term Care

/by

For many choosing a long-term care facility for a loved one can be a difficult choice.  Kim Hawkins, Regional Ombudsman at Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments, says there is variety in the level of care offered at area facilities.  She says there is a difference between a nursing facility and an assisted living facility. “A nursing facility requires an RN on site 24 hours a day and an assisted-living facility requires an RN be easily accessible. If you find an assisted-living facility with an RN on site 24 hours a day, that’s a plus,” Hawkins explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

Another thing to keep in mind is if a patient will require short-term or long-term care and to find the correct facility that meets those needs. Doctor recommendations should also be considered when deciding on the the type of facility that is right for your loved one.

“There are 47 licensed long-term care facilities in our area,” Hawkins says.  That area includes the five counties of Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person.  Hawkins says this is a fair amount for the region but that level of care provided at these facilities is more of an issue when choosing a place for your loved one.

Larger facilities in Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill offer the same basic minimum services as required by law but facilities in the larger cities may offer more amenities than those located in rural areas.

What if your loved one doesn’t like the facility they are placed in? “In theory, it’s easy to transfer but in reality it usually isn’t,” according to Hawkins.  If your loved one has an issue with a facility, Hawkins suggests giving the facility an opportunity to fix the problem.

If you have further questions about long-term care, call Kim Hawkins at 252-436-2050 or email her at khawkins@kerrtarcog.org.

CLICK PLAY!

TownTalk: Kerr Tar Council of Governments Presents Bike Safety Bash

/by

When it comes to sharing the road, it’s important for both vehicle drivers and bicyclists to know what the rules are to keep everyone safe.

Young bicyclists will have the chance to learn about bike safety, get some free safety equipment  and test their skills on an obstacle course during the upcoming Bike Safety Bash on Saturday, June 10.

And the first 150 folks who stop in will get a free ice cream, compliments of Lewis Express and a local church sponsor.

The Bike Bash and Rodeo will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in front of the Henderson Police Department, according to Kenia Gomez-Jimenez with the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments, which has organized the safety event.

Kids riding their bikes or walking to and from school during the week may be a more common sight in big cities, but even in rural areas, Gomez-Jimenez said, bike safety is important.

“We want to make sure they have all the education and materials they need to be safe,” she said on Monday’s TownTalk.

KTCOG received close to $200,000 in the latest round of state funding to have programs like the Bike Bash. “We’re so excited that we get to continue our Safe Routes to School endeavors across the Kerr-Tar region,” Gomez-Jimenez said.

“I believe in the power of teamwork,” she said, adding that the Granville Vance Health District, as well as the city of Henderson and AIM High, Keep Pressing are partners for the event. Reed Kenny said the health department will have 100 bike helmets to distribute to youngsters who attend the event, and Jessica Hawkins with AIM High will contribute 100 more. In addition, AIM High will raffle off 20 bicycles throughout the morning’s event.

The helmets are part of a NCDOT initiative to reduce bicycle injuries among youth by providing them with equipment and education on bike safety. Share the Road specialty license plates fund this initiative.

“We want to make sure they’re well protected,” Kenny said of young bicycle riders.

Bicyclists need to keep safety in mind, but they also need to be able to fix a bike that may break down during a ride.

Tracy Madigan, DDC director, said the event will kick off with a ribbon cutting to officially dedicate five bike racks and a newly installed bike repair station in the downtown area. The bike repair station is located on Breckenridge Street near the police station, Madigan noted.

“It will be helpful for everybody to work together to learn about bike safety, she said, as well as learning to share the roadways.

Although Henderson doesn’t have any specially designated bike lanes at present, Madigan hinted of plans to accommodate bicyclists in the future.

“The goal is to work together and to show our community that Henderson…has a sense of community,” Gomez-Jimenez said. “When we unify for a common goal, great things happen.”

When we unify for. A common goal, great things happen.”

 

 

TownTalk: Economic Summit To Be Held In Littleton

/by

The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments and the Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board are teaming up to host a regional economic development summit later this month with the theme “Innovate 2023: Question. Design. Thrive.”

The half-day event will take place in Littleton at the Lakeland Cultural Arts Center on Thursday, Mar. 23 and will be packed with workshops, panel discussions, guest speakers and more, according to information from the KTCOG.

Participants from Region K, which includes the four-county area that WIZS serves will “explore the power of innovation, and its ability to ignite change within,” said Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, KTCOG’s communications & administrative coordinator.

Registration is required by Mar. 21. To register, visit https://www.kerrtarcog.org/innovate-2023/

The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During that time, speakers will cover a range of issues including how failure and resilience can lead to innovation, challenging bias and creating room for innovation in hiring practices and workplace culture, self-determination, innovative education for a more purpose-driven workforce and more. Participants will hear from a variety of speakers on relevant issues and be challenged to think about solutions to problems in new and innovative ways.

The workshop kicks off with an activity called “Unlocking Your Innovative Spirit,” courtesy of Innovate Carolina. Author and entrepreneur Inez Ribustello will share her thoughts on becoming resilient through experiencing personal tragedy, and a panel discussion on innovative human resource practices and innovative approaches in education.

This event is for anyone who has a stake in the economic future of the workforce, and specifically human resources, hiring managers, educators, government  employees, small business owners, executive directors and CEOs.

Collaborative partners include: Franklin County Economic Development Commission, Granville County Economic Development Commission, Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Person County Economic  Development Commission, Piedmont Community College, Vance-Granville  Community College, Granville County Chamber of Commerce, Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Person County Tourism Development Authority,  Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission, Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, and Warren County Economic Development Commission.

CLICK PLAY!

TownTalk: Helping Care Givers Of Those With Dementia

/by

Professional caregivers and family members who care for loved ones with dementia can attend a workshop later this month at Vance-Granville Community College to learn about ways they can manage their roles.

Michael Patterson is a family caregiver specialist with the Kerr-Tar COG, the agency sponsoring the event on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The daylong workshop is $15 for individuals who are caring in some capacity for a family member with dementia and $40 for professional caregivers.

Patterson spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s TownTalk and he discussed details of the regional workshop, as well as a couple of other programs that may be of interest to caregivers.

Sharing information about available community resources takes up a good bit of Patterson’s time, but that’s his job, he said.

“I like to be an asset to our caregivers in the region. Sometimes, they just need someone they can call and ask questions to,” he said.

The respite voucher is one program that caregivers can access, he said.

This program provides up to $750 that caregivers can use to pay for in-home aid assistance, so they can have a break to run errands or complete other tasks and be assured that the loved one will be cared for in his or her absence.

This program isn’t tied to family income or the person’s financial situation, Patterson said. Rather, it has more to do with the age, diagnosis and the ability of the patient to complete certain daily living tasks, which Patterson calls activities of daily living, or ADL.

Another program involves a community partnership with Harold Sherman Adult Day Care. There are scholarships available to allow patients to spend the day at the center.

“It’s been a great partnership,” Patterson said, adding that he has worked closely with its director to get the partnership established. “It’s a fairly new program and we’re excited about expanding our reach and opportunity.”

The day program enhances patients’ mental capacity and keeps them active and engaged throughout the day, Patterson said.

Dementia expert Teepa Snow will be the featured speaker at the Feb. 21 workshop, and Patterson said she will help participants fine tune communication skills with those individuals suffering from dementia.

It can often be very stressful dealing with family members and loved ones who may ask repetitive questions or exhibit personality changes as a result of their health condition. Knowing how to effectively engage with them may be helpful, he said.

Patterson said the workshop also will help caregivers learn “how to physically approach (dementia sufferers) and how to care and have compassion for those with dementia.”

Workshop participants also will learn differences between early onset dementia, as compared to mid-stage and late-stage dementia.

Learn more at www.Kerrtarcog.org and click on Adult and Aging Services in the options listed.

Email Patterson at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

TownTalk: Update On ARPA Funds

/by

The American Rescue Plan is infusing money – lots of money – into communities across the nation, one of the federal government’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the waves of economic havoc it has created over the past several years.

Marley Spencer, a regional project manager who works with Kerr-Tar COG, is someone who can help figure out how to best use the money allocated to various municipalities across the five-county region.

According to Spencer, Vance County is getting roughly $8.5 million in ARPA money; Granville County is set to receive $11.7 million and Franklin County is getting about $13.5 million of the $1.9 trillion – with a T – in ARPA funds.

She discussed with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s TownTalk some of the short-range and long-range planning that is involved in putting the money to use.

Spencer lends her expertise and training to help local governments to assess their needs, identify assets and infrastructure and then help them execute their plans for the ARPA funds, helping them “connect the dots and stretch those resources,” Spencer said.

The four main categories that municipalities can choose from are revenue replacement, negative COVID impact, premium pay for essential workers and infrastructure project – defined as water and sewer and broadband.

With those categories in mind, she said, municipalities have until December 2024 to designate where they want their share of ARPA funds to go; they have two years to spend the money – it all has to be spent by December 2026.

Simply put, ARPA funds can help municipalities “free up funds that they can use on other things to enhance the community,” Spencer explained.

Down the road, money from the ARPA-funded  Rural Transformation Grant also will be available to “enhance communities, revitalize downtowns and strengthen neighborhoods.”

 

CLICK PLAY!