Tag Archive for: #louisburgnews

Franklin County Approves Incentives for Palziv North America Manufacturer to create 40 jobs and invest $5.7 million in Louisburg

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Franklin County, N.C. – April 26, 2017: Franklin County welcomes the expansion of Palziv North America (Palziv) at 7966 NC 56 Highway in Louisburg. Palziv is a leading manufacturer of polyethylene foam-based products used in packaging, automotive, construction, orthopedic and the leisure industries.

Palziv is expanding its capacity with the relocation of its Canadian manufacturing division at its North American headquarters in Louisburg. This $5.7 million expansion will increase its production with new manufacturing lines.

Palziv North America’s Louisburg facility serves as the North American headquarters for Israel-based Palziv, Inc. The company is one of Franklin County’s largest employers with 157 full-time employees. This expansion will create 40 new jobs over the next four years in the advance manufacturing sector that include machine operators and technicians.

“Franklin County continues to offer an attractive location for advanced manufacturing industries to thrive,” stated Richie Duncan, Director of Franklin County Economic Development. “Palziv’s continued investment further demonstrates our strength in having a skilled workforce to meet the demands of industry within the Research Triangle region.”

Palziv’s Louisburg facility opened in 2010 and serves the company’s North American, South American and Canadian markets for chemically cross-linked foam. Palziv continues to experience tremendous growth over the past six years that has led to this expansion.

“We are excited to grow our manufacturing presence at our North American headquarters in Louisburg in Franklin County,” said Paul Robertson, Chief Operating Officer of Palziv North America. “Due to the growing demand for our products, this expansion will allow Palziv to serve our markets and meet the demands for new foam-based products in the future. We are grateful to Franklin County and the state of North Carolina for their support for our operation.”

Contact: Richie Duncan Economic Development Director Phone: (919) 554-1863 Fax: (919) 496-2683
228 Park Avenue Youngsville, NC 27596 www.franklinedc.com rduncan@franklincountync.us @FrankliNCoEDC
FRANKLIN COUNTY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 25, 2017 END

Palziv’s expansion will be facilitated, in part, by a local Franklin County cash grant incentive of $131,982 paid over a four-year period after taxes are paid and requirements are fulfilled. Palziv also has been recently awarded $40,000 from the Governor’s One North Carolina Fund as well as a customized training grant through the North Carolina Community College System. “This is a great day for Franklin County,” said Cedric Jones, Chairman of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. “We are excited to see Palziv’s continued growth in jobs and tax base for our citizens and county as it expands its manufacturing capacity.”

Franklin County was joined by numerous partners in supporting Palziv’s expansion. They include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Community College System.
About Palziv North America: Located in Louisburg, NC, Palziv North America (Palziv) is the North American headquarters for Israelibased Palziv, Inc. Palziv supplies the North American markets with chemical Cross-Linked bun (Vizion™) and chemical Cross-Linked roll (Fuzion™). These Cross-Linked foams are produced with the latest technological advancements and offer superior product performance. Visit www.palzivna.com for more information.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

Franklin County Schools Receives $192,000 Golden LEAF Technology Grant

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Louisburg, N. C. – Earlier this month, Franklin County School officials received word that the district was awarded a $192,000 technology grant from the Golden LEAF foundation. The grant will build on the district’s current technology initiatives by providing additional Google Chromebooks, compact web-based laptops, for high school students during the 2017-18 school year.

At the County School Board’s April meeting, Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga commended Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, Associate Superintendent, and the team who worked on this project, saying that technology skills are a big part of the District’s strategic plan.

“In order to be competitive, our students need to have access to technology so that they can gain the skills they need to be successful in school and beyond,” Mubenga said, adding “Thank you to Dr. Schuhler and our team that worked diligently on this proposal – we’re excited to continue to work towards a one to one initiative in our district.”

The grant will allow the district to purchase 700 Lenovo Chromebooks and 28 Laptop Management Carts in total. Devices and carts will be distributed using a formula that takes each high school’s enrollment into consideration to ensure that devices are distributed equitably based on student population.

As the largest high school in the district, Franklinton High School will receive 11 management carts housing 308 devices. Bunn High School will receive 252 devices and nine management carts; Louisburg High School will receive 168 devices and six management carts. Franklin County Early College High School, which houses just 185 students, will receive 56 devices and two management carts.

According to Schuhler, even though the grant will be used to purchase devices, the project, which is entitled T3 – Technology, Teaching, and Transformation, is focused on student achievement.

“The scope and impact of the T3 project is directly focused on increasing student proficiency in core content areas, increasing digital skills and competencies, and creating more well-rounded, competitive students,” says Schuhler. “Our hope is to use this experience to better prepare for the implementation of a complete one to one initiative across the district,” she added.

Heavy Rain and Inflow of Stormwater into Sewer System Cause Wastewater Bypass

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Youngsville, North Carolina April 25, 2017: Franklin County Public Utilities experienced a bypass of untreated wastewater at two separate locations, one in the Youngsville District and the other in the Franklinton District. The spills occurred after receiving heavy rainfall over the course of 56 hours. The main cause of both bypasses is attributable to the direct inflow of stormwater into the sewer collection system. The spill in the Youngsville District (sewer main off of Railroad St) is estimated to have released 20,000 gallons into an unnamed tributary of Richland Creek and in the Franklinton District (manhole at lift station off Chavis St) is estimated to have released 19,000 gallons.

Franklin County staff was notified of the spill by electronic monitoring equipment and appropriate staff responded to the incident. All operating equipment was found to be in working order but was unable to handle the inflow of stormwater.

As required by North Carolina State Law, the spill was reported to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality and is currently under review.

For additional information concerning this event, please contact Mike Bailes, Franklin County Public Utilities Interim Director at (919) 556-6177. Additional contact numbers can be obtained by visiting Franklin County’s website at www.franklincountync.us.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

VGCC students inducted into honor society

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Vance-Granville Community College recognized 75 students who were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students of two-year colleges, on April 18 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus. VGCC students honored with induction into Phi Theta Kappa must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 in associate degree curriculum programs and have completed at least 12 credit hours toward their degrees.

As advisors for VGCC’s PTK chapter, instructors Olu Ariyo, Isaac Talley and Maureen Walters conducted the ceremony. Walters, the head advisor, told the new inductees and their families and friends in attendance that since VGCC’s chapter of PTK, “Alpha Sigma Chi,” was chartered in 1991, more than 1,900 students have been selected for induction. She said that while scholarship is the first aim of PTK, the society also encourages fellowship, leadership development and service to others, and she noted that the letters Phi Theta Kappa stand for the Greek words for “Wisdom,” “Aspiration” and “Purity.”

Serving as guest speaker for the ceremony was Danny Wright of Henderson, a retired Vance County commissioner and the current chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the trustees, we salute you for your accomplishments and achievements,” Wright said. “The most important element of a democratic society is the education of its citizens. The greatest anti-poverty program this country has ever administered is a good education. The foundation for any nation to become a peaceful, ordered society is the education of its people. Each of you has demonstrated how much you value and how much you believe in education, so you are well on your way.” Education, he noted, does not, in and of itself, make students better people. “Life is a constant exercise in self-improvement,” Wright said, and the most important thing in life is the cultivation of relationships. “Technical competency alone is not enough to achieve career success,” he added, but rather, students must develop their interpersonal skills as well.

This year’s inductees into the Alpha Sigma Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa are:

From Franklin County

Rebekah Glasheen, Christopher Plumley, Charles Sawyer and Mya Wilson, all of Franklinton;

Madison Waddle of Kittrell;

Loganne Driver, Michael Gokee, Katelyn Jensen, Mark Meinhart, Katlyn Riley and Charmaine Sutton, all of Louisburg;

Hope Crute, Skylar Davenport, Jordan Dowdy, Lindsay Henry and Sydney Venezia, all of Youngsville.

 

From Granville County

 

Jordan  Ligon and Katie Weary, both of Bullock;

Debra Duncan of Butner;

Caitlyn Good, Carlos Matinote, June Matinote, Sara Reid, Martin Spencer and Hunter Thompson, all of Creedmoor;

Cedric Rodebaugh of Franklinton;

Cecilia   Barrenechea, Nicole Bowman, April Brogden, Larecia Bullock, Kristel Dehart, Timothy Farley, Keodric Grant, Aaron McNeill, Sharon Ray, Francis Scotland, Sydney Towers, Alana Towles, Johnathan Williamson and Ymani Yancey, all of Oxford;

Alex Jackson of Stem;

Kellyann Cook of Stovall.

 

From Vance County

 

Lauren  Beauchamp, Angela Burrell, Anthony Henderson, Victoria Inscoe, Jacquella Jones, Lindsey Perry, Katelynn Ray, Janet Rodriguez-Morales, Fatima Saleh, Melissa Simmons, April Thompson,

Bailee Tippett, Makala West and Shanetta Wright, all of Henderson;

Beverly Ellis, Renee Jackson, Leslie Leake and Allison Long, all of Kittrell.

 

From Warren County

 

Shima’a Hauter of Norlina;

Ellen Denning, Nubia Lockett, Amanda Miller, Raina Mills, Rowan Morris, Daniel O’Malley, Hannah Ortiz and Joshua Taylor, all of Warrenton.

 

From Wake County

David Jeanblanc and Charles Keith, both of Raleigh;

Kathryn Catlett of Zebulon.

From other counties

Joshua Jacobs of Durham;

Brian Stevenson of Gastonia;

Brianna Lynch of Hollister.

Missing Person Reported in Franklin County

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The Following is a Press Release from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Rebecca Ann Jamason was last seen in the area of Nipper Lane, Youngsville, NC on 03/23/2017.

Her last clothing description was blue jeans, white shirt, and black boots.

Last known direction of travel was towards Louisburg, NC operating a 1999 silver Volkswagen Jetta.

North Carolina License Plate EEL-5518.

Anyone having contact or information regarding Rebecca Ann Jamason is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 919-496-2186.

Rebecca Ann Jamason

Age: 49

Height : 5 Feet 

Weight: 107 Pounds

Hair: Strawberry Blonde

Eyes: Blue

 

District Attorney’s Schedule May 2017

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Mon, May 1      Warren Trial Court (Hight) – Fuller, Gregory, Raymond

                                  **Franklin District Court (Keith) – Pelfrey, Roberson

Vance District Court (Stevenson) – Erdmann, Watson/Bristo

Granville District Court (Thompson) – Gardner, Allen

 

Tues, May 2              Franklin District Court (Davis) – Hunter, Roberson

##Vance District Court (Keith) – Louis, Watson/Bristo

Granville Juvenile Court (Thompson) – Putney

Granville County Clerk’s Office Hours, Attorneys 2:00 – 4:00 – Putney

 

Wed, May 3              Granville District Court (Davis) – Pelfrey, Allen

Warren District Court (Stevenson) – Erdmann, Gregory, Raymond

Granville County Clerk’s Office Hours, Public 2:00-4:00 – Putney

 

Thurs, May 4            Franklin Juvenile Court (Keith) – Putney

##Vance District Court (Burnette) – Erdmann, Watson, Bristo

Granville Dispo Court (Davis) – Gregory, Sellars, Louis

Vance Trial Prep – Pelfrey, Fuller

 

Fri, May 5                 Vance Juvenile Court (Banks) – Putney

Vance Trial Prep – Pelfrey, Fuller

 

Mon, May 8       Vance Trial Court (O’Foghludha) – Pelfrey, Fuller, Brickhouse

Franklin District Court (Stevenson) – Louis, Roberson

Vance District Court (Daivs) – Erdmann, Watson/Bristo

##Granville District Court (Keith) – Gregory, Allen

 

Tues, May 9              Franklin District Court (Thompson) – Erdmann, Gregory, Roberson

Vance District Court (Stevenson) – Louis, Gardner, Watson/Bristo

Warren Juvenile Court (Davis) – Putney

 

Wed, May 10            Granville District Court (Stevenson) – Sellars, Allen

Warren District Court (Burnette) – Putney, Raymond

 

Thurs, May 11           ##Vance District Court (Thompson) – Sellars, Watson, Bristo

Warren CMS Prep – Pelfrey

 

Fri, May 12               Warren CMS Prep – Pelfrey

 

Mon, May 15     Warren CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Pelfrey, Pendergrass, Raymond

                                    Franklin District Court (Burnette) – Sellars, Roberson

Vance District Court (Thompson) – Hunter, Watson/Bristo

**Granville District Court (Keith) – Gardner, Allen

Vance CMS Prep – Pelfrey

 

Tues, May 16     Vance Probation Court (O’Foghludha) – Gregory, Pendergrass

##Franklin District Court (Keith) – Sellars, Roberson

Vance District Court (Davis) – Erdmann, Hunter, Watson/Bristo

Granville Juvenile Court (Burnette) – Putney

Vance CMS Prep – Pelfrey

Vance County Clerk’s Office Hours, Attorneys, 2:00-4:00 pm – Gregory

 

Wed, May 17     Vance CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Pelfrey, Erdmann, Louis, Pendergrass, Brickhouse

                       Granville District Court (Burnette) – Gardner, Allen

**Warren District Court (Davis) – Putney, Raymond

Vance County Clerk’s Office Hours, Public, 2:00-4:00 pm – Gregory

 

 

Thurs, May 18    Vance CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Pelfrey, Erdmann, Louis, Pendergrass, Brickhouse

Franklin Juvenile Court (Keith) – Hunter/Gardner

Vance Dispo Court (Thompson) – Gregory, Putney, Sellars, Watson, Bristo

Franklin County Clerk’s Office Hours, 2:00-4:00 pm – Hunter/Gardner

Franklin CMS Prep – Gardner, Hunter

 

Fri, May 19               Franklin Dispo Court (Davis) – Erdmann, Louis, Gregory, Tart, Roberson

Franklin CMS Prep – Gardner, Hunter

 

Mon, May 22     Franklin CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Gardner, Hunter, Pendergrass, Johnson

                                   Franklin District Court (Davis) – Louis, Roberson

Vance District Court (Stevenson) – Erdmann, Watson/Bristo

Granville District Court (Burnette) – Fuller, Allen

Granville CMS Prep – Sellars, Putney

 

Tues, May 23     Franklin CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Gardner, Hunter, Pendergrass, Johnson

                                   Franklin District Court (Stevenson) – Erdmann, Pelfrey, Roberson

**Vance District Court (Keith) – Louis, Fuller, Watson/Bristo

Warren Juvenile Court (Davis) – Putney

Granville CMS Prep – Sellars, Putney

 

Wed, May 24     Granville CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Sellars, Putney, Pendergrass, Garrett

                                  ##Granville District Court (Stevenson) – Louis, Allen

##Warren District Court (Keith) – Erdmann, Raymond

 

Thurs, May 25    Granville CMS Court (O’Foghludha) – Sellars, Putney, Pendergrass, Garrett

                                    ##Vance District Court (Burnette) – Gregory, Watson/Bristo

 

Fri, May 26                Vance Juvenile Court (Thompson) – Putney

Granville Probation Court Prep – Sellars, Putney

 

Mon, May 29                                         HOLIDAY

 

Tues, May 30     Granville Probation Court/Grand Jury (Young) – Sellars, Putney

Franklin District Court (Burnette) – Louis, Roberson

Vance District Court (Stevenson) – Gregory, Watson/Bristo

 

Wed, May 31            Warren District Court (Stevenson) – Fuller, Raymond

 

**mediator available**

##9:30 am regular docket, PLUS POSSIBLE 2:15 pm DWI docket##

Granville Chamber Requests Nominations for Small Business of the Year Award

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The four area Chambers of Commerce – Granville, Franklin, Vance and Warren, along with Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center, are sponsoring the annual Small Business Award Luncheon May 3rd at Henderson Country Club.

The criteria is as follows:

  • Employs a maximum of 50 people
  • Member of the Chamber and located in the county
  • Viable, on-going business for three or more years
  • Provides critical service or product
  • May have overcome diverse or extraordinary circumstances to remain in business
  • Business is supportive of community growth sustainability
  • Is not a governmental agency or municipality

Anyone may nominate a business they feel deserves recognition and meets the criteria.

Companies may nominate themselves.  Past Granville County recipients are:  Cardiovascular Care; Stovall’s Gifts;  Preferred Communications; Royster, Cross and Hensley; House of Ribeyes; Lewis Electric of Oxford; The School of Graphic Arts,  Express Employment Professionals, Oxford Ace Hardware, Creedmoor Drug Company, Whitco Termite and Pest Control, F. O. Finch Insurance Agency and Floyd Management and Realty.

Nomination forms are available from a Chamber office or from the website, www.granville-chamber.com and are to be returned to the Chamber by April 13th.

 

Nurse Facing Seventy Five (75) drug related charges

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The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit has arrested a nurse on seventy five (75) drug related charges.

The arrest is the result of a joint on-going investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation; in consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.

The Investigation was initiated after FCSO personnel reviewed and became suspicious of invoices for prescription medication which was allegedly ordered by the alleged suspect (Tamsey H. Watkins) for inmates. An examination of the invoices determined that prescriptions were ordered for inmates that were no longer in the custody of the Franklin Detention Center.

Ms. Watkins is an employee of Southern Health Partners, who provides contract medical services to correctional facilities including the Franklin County Detention Center.

Tamsey H. Watkins

33 Duke Valentine Wynne Road

Louisburg, NC 27549

DOB: 03-09-1980

Ms. Watkins has been charged with the following offenses: 

25 Felony Counts of Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud

25 Felony Counts of Trafficking Opiates by Possession

25 Felony Counts of Trafficking Opiates by Transport

Ms. Watkins is being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $250,000 bond.

This is an on-going investigation and as a result the Sheriff’s Office will have no further comments at this time.

 

Terry M. Wright

Chief of Staff

 

Boston University Students Dedicate Spring Break to Serving Franklin County

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Louisburg, N. C. — Ten students from Boston University have spent last week supporting Terrell Lane Middle School as part of the University’s Alternative Spring Break Program. The program, which has served the Louisburg community and Terrell Lane Middle School students for more than ten years, is focused on providing volunteer support and community service to rural and low-income areas across the country.

During their visit, the team of student volunteers worked to provide various forms of instructional support to the school. This includes: tutoring small groups of students, presenting to classes and grade levels on various subjects, including character education, and assisting with the middle school’s annual spelling bee.

According to Lisa Rocco, program coordinator for the University’s internship program and chaperone for this year’s trip to Terrell Lane, the alternative spring break program is not only a leadership opportunity for BU students, it also gives them a chance to better understand many of the needs facing similar areas throughout the country.

“For both [BU] students and communities, these trips are an opportunity for them to engage in service, engage with people in the community, and to really get a feel for the needs of the people they’re working with,” she says.

The team of students drove more than 15 hours from Boston, Massachusetts before arriving at the school. Rocco says the drive was more than worth it for these students to better understand rural life and some of the challenges students in Franklin County face each day.

“Walking away feeling enlightened, feeling so much more aware and seeing first-hand some of the issues affecting people, it helps ground you,” she says.

However, without the support of local philanthropist and school board member, Paige Sayles, the visit wouldn’t be possible. Sayles has opened her home to nearly a dozen college students each year as part of the program’s visit.

Devin Harvin, a sophomore and double major in Political Science and History at BU, is one of the student coordinators for this year’s group. He said the welcome that Sayles and other members of the community have provided to him and the student volunteers he’s traveling with has been unbelievably positive.

“I really like Louisburg,” he said, adding “It’s been such a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that seems really focused on community.”

Harvin is from Baltimore, Maryland, but members of the student group are from all over the world – ranging from Abu Dhabi to California, and from Thailand to Georgia. On Friday, Schools Superintendent Pascal Mubenga visited Terrell Lane to thank the visiting students for choosing to serve Franklin County Schools and to invite them to return as teachers when they graduate.

“Programs like this really make an impact on our student’s perspective,” he said. “I would encourage you to think about returning to Franklin County after you graduate – we’re always looking for great, dedicated teachers.”

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Patrick Glace

Director of Communications

Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Sheriff: Suspect Arrested in the Death of his Mother

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On March 6, 2017 at approximately 12:47 p.m., the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to 90 Morgan Drive, Zebulon after receiving a call from the alleged suspect that he had killed his mother with a knife.

Upon arriving on the scene a deputy encountered the suspect who was taken into custody without incident.

As a result of the investigation, the following individual was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder and Placed in the Franklin County Detention Center with no bond:

 

 

Oliver Mauricio Funes Machada

90 Morgan Drive

Zebulon, North Carolina 27597

DOB: 06/15/1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry M. Wright

Chief of Staff