Tag Archive for: #oxfordnews

May is Focus on Membership Month for Granville County Chamber of Commerce

TAKE NOTE

May 11-19 – Annual Spring Membership Blitz – kicked off at the May 11 -Downtown Oxford – Alive After Five- at special attraction table for Chamber. Join during the Blitz receive 15 months for the fee of 12 months along with many other benefits! Refer a potential member and they join receive during the Blitz, you will be entered in a drawing for a “mystery” prize.

Tuesday – May 16 – Lunch and Learn -12 Noon – Chamber Board Room 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford – Kevin Bullock of WIZS presenter – “Marketing Techniques to Boost Your Business” – Lunch provided – RSVP by Monday -May 15 to a Chamber Office.

Wednesday – May 17 – Navigating the Chamber Orientation and Refresher – 4:00 pm – Creedmoor Business Center – Bring business cards and materials to share about your business, organization or non-profit. RSVP to a Chamber Office by Noon on May 17.

Friday, May 19- Membership Appreciation Picnic hosted by our Chamber Ambassadors to say, “Thanks for being a Granville County Chamber Member!” – 11:00-2:00 (floating) @ Granville Athletic Park (The GAP) Belltown Road.

FREE – Hot dogs and Hamburgers with the trimmings for all to enjoy and be APPRECIATED! New members will be recognized! RSVP to a Chamber Office by May 18th.

We look forward to seeing you and any of your staff at as many as of these “May Member Focus” events as you can participate in. To learn more about any of these events contact a Chamber Office: wanda@granville-chamber.com  /919-693-6125 or tawheeler@granville-chamber.com  /919-528-4994.

Granville County Crime Stoppers May Report

TO:                           News Media

FROM:                    Granville County Crime Stoppers  

DATE:                     May 4th 2017

SUBJECT:             BURGLARY/LARCENY/VANDALISM

 

On Thursday, March 30th, 2017 during late evening hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon the driveway of private property off Thad Carey Road, Stem, NC and criminally removed one Glock 19 pistol magazine, which was loaded with ammunition from the center console of a private owned vehicle.

On Sunday, April 9th, 2017 during early morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property off Rivers Edge Road, Oxford, NC and criminally forced entry of a shop, which caused property damage to door and jam and unlawfully removed three (No. 10) 100 ft. extension cords (one yellow and two orange in color), and two (No. 12) 500 ft. rolls of copper wire.

On Wednesday, April 12th, 2017 during late evening hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of a residence located off Appaloosa Trail, Franklinton, NC, which was damaged by fire on March 11th, 2017 and criminally removed items from the property.

Sometime between December 2016 and Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of a residence off Jack Clement Road, Oxford, NC and criminally removed an air conditioner unit.

Sometime between Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 late evening hours and Thursday, April 27th, 2017 early morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of Carroll’s Outdoor Power Equipment Sales and Service located off Roxboro Road, Oxford, NC and criminally cut a lock, which was on a “2016” Master Tow 6X8 ft. utility trailer, that is black in color with a wooden floor and lift gate on the back and removed trailer from the property.  The trailer has a registration number displayed on the left fender and silver wheels.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 during mid-morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of a residence off West Tom Parham Road and forced entry, which caused criminal property damage and removed a dresser drawer with numerous pieces of jewelry.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 between mid-morning and late evening hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of a residence off Indian Trail ,Oxford, NC and forced entry, which caused criminal property damage and unlawfully removed one 12 gauge Benelli Nova pump action shotgun and one 12 gauge Browning Lite automatic shotgun.

If you have information concerning this incident, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers 919-693-3100.

THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AUTHORIZED THE PAYMENT OF A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST/INDICTMENT(S) OF PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME.  IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CRIME OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CRIME(S) IN GRANVILLE COUNTY.  YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS IN OXFORD AT 919-693-3100.

Oxford Prep Claims First Varsity Baseball Conference Championship

With the regular season over, the Griffins finished 14-10 overall and 11-1 in conference play, clinching their very first baseball conference championship.  The Griffins took another step forward in the young program’s history.  Last year, in the first season of varsity play the team finished 12-12 overall and 3rd in the conference.  The Griffins will likely earn a 4 seed in the Mideast Pod of the 2017 NCHSAA 1A Baseball Playoffs, where they will host a home playoff game on Wednesday against an opponent TBD.

Some of the highlights this year include a victory over Northern Vance, beating conference rivals Louisburg and Granville Central in the same week clinching the conference championship, and earning the right to host the first home playoff game in program history.  The Griffins were led by Senior Garrett Reaves with 6 pitching wins, Junior Trey Reese with 3 pitching wins and hitting .380, Freshman Ben Hester hitting .383 with 3 HRs on the year, and Senior Timari Perry hitting .356.

Oxford Prep Middle School jumps into Softball with an undefeated inaugural season

The Griffin’s Middle School softball team finished their inaugural season unbeaten.  “We are very proud of this team.  We go from not being certain if we have enough interest to actually have enough play, to having a history making season,” says Head coach Joe Don Cooper.  When Cooper and Assistant coach Eddie Blake opened try outs, they only had 12 young ladies interested in playing.  Coach Cooper remarked “this team is an example that overall great attitudes and work ethic breeds success.”

Plagued with some injuries early on, the Griffins adjusted quickly and blended inexperience with veteran softball players.  The coaches credit defense as a major factor for the success this season.  The defense was led by 8th grade standout Pitcher Jordan Dunn, as she partnered with 7th grade catcher Charly Cooper to create a very formidable battery.  Dunn only gave up an impressive 2 earned runs all season.   Solid and consistent play by veteran 8th grade players Emily Faucette, Claire Yancey, and offensive powerhouse Logan Privette (led the team in batting average) coupled with the effort and attitude of the cast of support players: Jaci Crute, Cayton Seivert, Averi Seivert, Ahlori Long, Laci Oettinger, Hallie Boone, and Ashlyn Roberson made for an incredible first season in Middle School softball.  Cooper stated “It’s really awesome to be a part of a team that when these girls look back 10 to 15 years from now when talking about Oxford Prep Softball, they can say ‘Hey, I was on the first ever middle school softball team there …and … We were undefeated!’”

The team finished 10 – 0 on the season and earned key victories against Falls Lake Academy and Vance CharterOxford Preparatory School will join the Central Carolina Middle School Conference, with local emerging rivals Falls Lake Academy and Vance Charter School.

Oxford Prep Continues Golf Success

On Wednesday, April 26th the Oxford Preparatory School Varsity Golf Team concluded their stint in the Tar Roanoke Athletic Conference with not only finished the regular season with a Team Championship but won the Conference Tournament as a team. The team has achieved both honors for the last two years, which is quite a feat as this is only the second year of the existence of the team. In addition, 3 of the total 6 TRAC all conference player positions went to Senior Noah Greenway, Sophomore Jacob Bliss, and Sophomore Adam Sizemore. Freshman Wesley Aitken just missed all conference honors in 7th position.

Still riding high from their accomplishment, the Griffin golfers consisting of Noah Greenway, Jacob Bliss, Adam Sizemore, Wesley Aitken, and Junior Christian Furr rolled in to Washington, North Carolina for the 1A East Regional Competition on Monday, May 1st.  After a disappointing showing finishing in third at the Regional last year, just making it through to the NCHSAA State Tournament the team was looking to make an improvement on their showing. They did just that taking the Championship as a team and advancing once again to the 1A Men’s State Chamionship, however, this time as Conference and 1A East Champions. The team will compete against all 1A team and individual qualifiers at Whispering Pines Country Club in Whispering Pines, NC on May 8th and 9th.

Rick Kenner, M.A.A.Ed.

 

SSG (Ret), US Army

NIAAA Registered Athletic Administrator

NFHS Certified Interscholastic Coach

Visual Art Instructor

 

Oxford Preparatory School

6041 Landis Rd

Oxford, NC, 27565

GCPS Passes Budget, Includes $2.78 million in Budget Cuts

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

For Immediate Release

On Thursday, April 27, the Granville County Board of Education approved the budget for the 2017-2018 school year.  This year’s budget process was particularly difficult as the Board faced both increased costs and projected decreased revenues, which made necessary substantial cuts in personnel and program expenditures.  As a result, this budget includes more than $2.78 million dollars in total cuts from the previous year’s budget.

Specific areas where these cuts have been made include a reduction of the leadership positions in Central Services, including the elimination of two director positions and that of the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Operations, which will be made vacant by the retirement of Dr. Gillespie after July 1, 2017.  The following positions and job duties will be reorganized as a result of these changes:

 

Staff Member Current Position Title New Position Title and Responsibilities Effective July 1, 2017
Betty Crute Pre-K Coordinator Retired
Nancy Russell Principal, Creedmoor Elementary School Pre-K Coordinator
Ann Grey Newcomb Director of Professional Development Principal, Creedmoor Elementary School
Helen Lindsey Principal, CIL School Guidance Counselor
Calvin Timberlake Director of Innovative Services Principal, CIL

District Athletic Director

Driver’s Education Coordinator

 

Dr. Tonya Thomas Director of Middle Schools & AIG Director of Professional Development,

Student Services, &

AIG Services

Beth Cook Director of Testing & Accountability, The Arts Director of Testing & Accountability,

The Arts &

Community & Volunteer Coordinator

 

Dr. Lela Baldwin Director of Elementary Education,

Federal Programs &

Afterschool Programs

Director of Elementary Education,

Federal Programs,

Afterschool Programs &

McKinney-Vento Coordinator

 

Dr. Stan Winborne Director of High Schools, CTE & Public Information Officer Director of Secondary Schools (6-12),

Career and Technical Education &

Public Information Officer

Dr. Vanessa Wrenn Director of Instructional Technology Director of Instructional Technology &

District Webmaster

Russell Dixon Student Information Coordinator &

District Webmaster

Student Information Coordinator &

Student Transfer Coordinator

 

 

Additional cuts will be made in funding for Technology, Granville Online, teacher substitutes, and Central Services general expense items.  Projected reductions in student enrollment will also result in an accompanying reduction of the allotment for teacher assistants, teachers, custodians, guidance counselors, clerical positions and assistant principals.  No specific positions have been identified as the department of Human Resources will seek to accommodate these cuts through attrition first.

Superintendent Howard and Board Chair Dr. Tom Houlihan issued a joint statement, saying “This budget proposal is the result of conscientious steps taken by the Board and administration to provide human and material resources needed while at the same time reducing our dependence on fund balance.  For four years the school district has made significant budget cuts in an effort to be financially responsible, particularly with declining student enrollment and the fiscal limitations that are brought on by negative state and national budget changes.”

VGCC students inducted into honor society

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.

Boys & Girls Clubs Name Club Members of the Month

Meet Chris Blue 


Chris is the North Central North Carolina Region’s Youth of the Year for 2016 and 2017!
Chris grew up in Henderson and became a member of the Vance County Unit at a young age and is getting ready to graduate from high school and heading off to college. He will leave high school with two Associate degrees as well as his diploma. Currently he’s mulling offers between Fayetteville State University, UNC Greensboro, and UNC Charlotte. We are so proud of Chris and the amazing young man he has become.

Meet Nyree


Nyree is 8 years old and has been a member of the Franklin County Boys & Girls Club for one year. She is a 3rd grader and enjoys drawing and building with Legos. Nyree’s favorite subject in school is math and her favorite book is Geronimo Stilton. Nyree’s favorite video game is Super Mario Bros. and her favorite game to play at The Boys & Girls Club is dodgeball. Her favorite thing about the Boys & Girls Club is the awesome people and the awesome staff. She hopes to grow up and work as a staff at the club one day!

Meet Terrance


Terrance  is a club member at the Mariam Boyd Extension of the Warren Unit! He is an exceptional young man, always willing to help other club members and staff.  Very respectful and a model club member! He was chosen to be featured by club staff as member of the month! Terrance is a great joy to be around and admired by his peers.

Meet Lucas


Lucas is the member of the month at the Halifax Unit! Lucas is a first grader and the oldest of three boys. His favorite color is blue and favorite subject at school is math. Lucas loves karate and computer games, but his favorite thing to do is spend time with his family. When asked what is his favorite food, he said “anything my momma is making.” Lucas is the son of Clarissa and Christopher. You can see why Lucas is our member of the month!

Meet Landon


Landon is the Granville County Boys & Girls Club member of the month! He has been a member since August 2016 & has loved every second! He is in 3rd grade & very active in the club. His favorite activity at the club is Triple Play Dodgeball. He also enjoys hanging out with his buddies and eating snack. We are proud of Landon for representing us this month. He was chosen because he is often seen around the club completing random acts of kindness. He is always helping others & showing good character!

Author of “Blood Done Sign My Name” To Speak at VGCC Adult Basic Skills Commencement

 

Vance-Granville Community College will hold commencement exercises dedicated exclusively to new graduates of Adult Basic Skills programs on Thursday, May 4. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

Those being honored at the ceremony will include students who have completed either the Adult High School Diploma program or the High School Equivalency program in the past year.

Dr. Timothy B. Tyson, an author and professor who spent part of his childhood in Oxford, will serve as the guest speaker. Tyson is currently Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University and Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture at Duke Divinity School. He also holds a faculty position in American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His most recent book is The Blood of Emmett Till, published early this year.

Tyson is the author of Blood Done Sign My Name, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and winner of the Southern Book Award for Nonfiction and the Grawemeyer Award in Religion. His Radio Free Dixie: Robert F. Williams and the Roots of Black Power was the winner of the James Rawley Prize for the best book on race and the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize for the best first book in U.S. history from the Organization of American Historians. His Democracy Betrayed: The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 and Its Legacy, published with David S. Cecelski with a foreword by Dr. John Hope Franklin, won the 1999 Outstanding Book Award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights. He serves on the executive board of the North Carolina NAACP and the board of advisors for the UNC Center for Civil Rights.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students during the ceremony will be Spencer Bojan Boyd of Oxford. Boyd completed the Adult High School Diploma program online and is already enrolled in the College Transfer program at VGCC. Boyd is a native of Serbia and was adopted at the age of six by a family in Johnston County, who later moved to Granville County. He was born without a right leg and with a distorted left leg, which was later amputated. Boyd’s future plan is to continue his education at the four-year level and become a certified prosthetist in order to help other amputees.

–VGCC–

Oxford Prep Golf Sweeps Tar Roanoke Athletic Conference Regular Season

The Tar Roanoke Athletic Conference completed the regular season yesterday at the South Granville Country Club. There were two 9 hole matches yesterday and Oxford Preparatory School won both. Narrowly edging out Granville Central with a 180 to 181 win on the first match with Louisburg coming in at 208. OPS won the second match with a 186 to Louisburg’s 200 and Granville Central coming in at 203. With 2 wins yesterday OPS finished out the season with a sweep of all 6 conference matches for a season total of 1084, Granville Central 2nd with 1179, and Louisburg at 1206.

Top 6 Individual leaders for the TRAC going into the Conference Tournament are Reed Wheless – 206 (LHS), Jacob Bliss – 212 (OPS), Zack Currin – 214 (GCHS), Noah Greenway – 216 (OPS), Christian Rowe – 219 (LHS), and Brady Smith – 230 (GCHS). Nipping at the leaders heels are Adam Sizemore and Wesley Aiken that are 4 and 7 strokes out of the number 6 spot respectively.

The TRAC Team and Individual Conference Champions will be decided at the 18 hole Conference Tournament at Henderson Country Club on Monday, April 24th.

Rick Kenner, M.A.A.Ed.

Oxford Preparatory School