Tag Archive for: #oxfordnews

City of Oxford

Fire Department, City of Oxford Encourage Residents to Develop Home Escape Plan

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford

The Oxford Fire Department and the City of Oxford stress the importance of understanding what to do and where to go if there is a fire in your home.

According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) surveys, only one of every three American households have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Out of 71% of American households with a fire escape plan, only 47% have practiced it; and, one-third of American households believed they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become threatening, whereas, in reality, the time is less.

So, what can you do to prepare yourself and your family? 

  • MAKE a home escape plan; draw a map of your home including all doors and windows and make sure to discuss the plan with everyone living in your home.
  • KNOW at least two ways out of every room, if possible.
  • HAVE an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home.
  • PRACTICE your home fire drill at least twice a year and PRACTICE using different ways out.
  • TEACH children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help.
  • CLOSE doors behind you as you leave;  a closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.
  • INSTALL smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home.
  • TEST smoke alarms monthly.
  • If your smoke alarms sound, GET OUT AND STAY OUT.
  • If you have to escape through smoke, GET LOW AND GO UNDER.
  • CALL the fire department from outside your home. 

Planning ahead for a fire can make a difference in your life and your family’s lives. All of the information provided and more education tips can be found on the NFPA website at nfpa.org

If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the Oxford Fire Department at (919) 603-1140, by email at ofd@oxfordnc.org or call Oxford City Hall at (919) 603-1100.

Oxford Animal Donation Drive

Rescued Kitten Prompts City of Oxford to Organize Animal Shelter Donation Drive

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-Press Release, City of Oxford

The sound of faint meowing surprised Allen West and Roger Elliot, of the City of Oxford Street Department, as they were working to fix a damaged storm drain grate off of College Street on Monday, July 13.

After assisting Granville County Animal Control, the kitten, who has been dubbed Juniper, was rescued and taken to the Animal Shelter to be evaluated. He was extremely dehydrated and a bit ill, but all who have met Juniper have described him to be a very friendly kitten. He is currently being fostered until he is well enough to be put up for adoption. 

The City of Oxford has been inspired by Juniper’s spirit and has started a donation drive in his honor. You can drop off items at City Hall located at 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford. 

Items needed include:

  • Friskies canned food
  • Cat litter
  • Kitten formula
  • Kitten food
  • Dog and puppy food
  • Chew toys (please no raw-hides)
  • Laundry soap
  • Dish soap
  • Fabuloso cleaning products
  • SMALL aluminum pans

All donations collected will go to the Granville County Animal Shelter. The donation drive will run from August 3 – September 3, 2020. 

It is essential to look after all of our neighbors, including the furry ones. Help the City of Oxford take care of Juniper and all the cats and dogs currently at our local shelter. 

If you’re looking for a new addition to your family, consider adopting Juniper or one of his new friends at the shelter. Make sure to contact the Granville County Animal Shelter through their Facebook page Granville County Animal Shelter Friends to set up appointments for any adoptions. 

U.S. Department of Justice

Oxford Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury on Gun and Drug Charges

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an Oxford man with illegally possessing a firearm and crack distribution.

According to the indictment, Connell Clayton Lester, 55, is charged with possessing a firearm while subject to a domestic violence protective order, possessing a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (crack).

According to the indictment, on March 5, 2020, Lester, a convicted felon, possessed a Hi-Point 9mm handgun while subject to a domestic violence protective order from New York. It is alleged that the order restrained Lester from harassing, stalking, assaulting, or threatening an intimate partner and prohibited him from possessing a firearm.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that Lester possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and distributed crack cocaine. If convicted, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment for the drug charge and ten years for the firearm count.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Dodson is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Oxford Logo

Oxford Commissioners to Hold July 14 Board Meeting

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-Information courtesy City of Oxford

The Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold a regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 7 p.m. online via Zoom.

To Join the Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87138845754?pwd=L1AvbTMxK3VSeTI0YUZ5aXNEWnhjQT09 

Meeting ID: 871 3884 5754

Password: 828030

Dial by your location

+1 929 205 6099

Agenda Items Include:

Public Hearing to receive citizen input on the adoption of a System Development Fee Resolution.

Consider adopting the Water and Sewer System Development Fee (SDE) Resolution.

Consider appointing Wilkinson & Carpenter. P.A., to serve as the legal advisor to the Oxford Planning Board.

Please click here for the full meeting agenda.

CodeRED Logo

City of Oxford Encourages CodeRED Enrollment, Contact Update

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, City of Oxford

The City of Oxford encourages all citizens and businesses to sign up for CodeRED in order to ensure quick communication when an emergency situation arises.

The CodeRED link can be found on the City of Oxford website, along with a description of its use. Please click the sign up in order to be taken to the CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment page. 

If you have already signed up for this service, but have since moved and/or changed phone numbers and addresses, please go online and update this information. This will ensure your account is current and you will receive all necessary information.

If you are signing up as a business, please make sure to include the phone number for your business. This will ensure notification to your business if a situation arises. 

Should you have any questions and/or concerns about the use of CodeRED, signing up, or information shared through CodeRED, please reach out to Oxford City Hall at (919) 603-1100.

Hot Sauce Contest 2020

Downtown Oxford Announces Cancellation of Annual Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation

Due to growing concerns of COVID19 and guidelines surrounding physical distancing and enhanced precautions issued by the State of North Carolina, the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC) Board, along with input from the Hot Sauce Committee and the City of Oxford, has decided to cancel the 14th Annual Hot Sauce Contest & Festival for the coming date of September 12, 2020. There will be no rescheduling this year.

As stated by a DOEDC Board spokesperson, “We do not feel comfortable going ahead with an event estimated to bring in approximately 15,000 people without being able to provide the necessary measures to keep everyone safe. Furthermore, we feel the reduction of the festival’s footprint to a small, less engaging event would damage the current reputation of this long-standing, local event.”

The DOEDC Board understands the sadness and frustration this news brings, however, the Board feels this action better serves the public safety of our citizens, businesses and visitors.

Should you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Oxford City Hall at (919) 603-1100.

Oxford Police Dept

Oxford Police Dept. Makes Arrests in Recent Murder, Attempted Murder Cases

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-Information courtesy Oxford Police Department, NC

On June 10, 2020, Oxford Police Department Investigators arrested Darryl Lee Bumpass, Jr. for the murder of 19-year-old Kennedy Ashlynd Sloan. Kennedy Sloan was killed on the evening of May 31, 2020.

While traveling in her red 2018 Honda Accord in the 600 block of Raleigh St in Oxford, Kennedy Sloan suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

Darryl Lee Bumpass, Jr. was charged with second-degree murder and is incarcerated at the Granville County Jail and is currently being held under no bond.

Any person(s) having any information about this murder is asked to please contact Detective Gina Chappell at 919-693-3161 or the Granville County Crime Stoppers at 919-693-3100. Persons calling to give information do not have to disclose their identity.

————————————————————————————————————————————————–

On June 10, 2020, Cedric Williams was arrested on a warrant that was obtained on May 19, 2020, for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury.

Detective G. Chappell with the Oxford Police Department obtained a warrant on Cedric Williams after the May 18 shooting at Lake Devin in Oxford where the victim, Trayvon Bradford, was shot by Cedric Williams.

Cedric Williams was arrested and served with the warrant and was given a $90,000.00 secured bond.

Cedric Williams is incarcerated at the Vance County Jail.

————————————————————————————————————————————————–

On June 11, 2020, Abdul Malik Harris, age 27, was arrested by units with Oxford Police Department Criminal Investigation Division.

Harris was arrested in reference to outstanding warrants from the Henderson Police Department for 1st Degree Murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Harris is being held without bond.

Oxford Logo

Downtown Oxford March to Honor George Floyd Scheduled for June 2

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-Information courtesy the City of Oxford

There will be a march in Downtown Oxford to honor George Floyd on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, beginning at 3 p.m.

The March will begin on Hunt Street, turn onto Broad Street, then onto Hillsboro Street ending at the Granville County Courthouse.

Businesses on streets along the route of the march will be impacted. Motorists are encouraged to find an alternate route.

Those desiring to participate are requested and encouraged to wear face masks and honor social distancing guidelines.

Oxford Logo

Oxford Commissioners’ Meeting Recessed to Allow Public Comment on Annexation

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The Tuesday, May 12, 2020 meeting of the Oxford Board of Commissioners was recessed until Thursday, May 14 at 9:15 a.m. to allow the public 24 hours to comment on the requested annexation of the property at the corner of the on-ramp of I-85 and Hwy 158.

Please email any comments to the City Clerk’s office at cbowen@oxfordnc.org.

Please note that the recessed meeting will be an electronic meeting and you are able to join this meeting with the following information:

Join Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82301578683?pwd=d3RGUXh4ZHF0c29MMlc1WXJ2MlRuUT09

Meeting ID: 823 0157 8683
Password: 414128

Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US
Password: 414128

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keDpRbM7aB

All those interested are invited to join electronically.

Oxford Logo

Oxford Board of Commissioners to Meet Via Zoom Tues., May 12

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

-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The City of Oxford Board of Commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 7 p.m.

If you would like to participate in the public hearing/comment section of the meeting, please reach out to City Clerk, Cynthia Bowen, before the meeting. She can be reached by email at cbowen@oxfordnc.org.

Zoom Meeting Instructions:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87289743640pwd=RW1mWldjQVVTWXRVQmJVdVNXS1FRQT09

Meeting ID: 872 8974 3640

Password: 755973

Dial by your location

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 872 8974 3640

Password: 755973

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyUIASYs9

Agenda items include:

Public Hearing to hear citizen input on annexing and assigning a zoning classification to the property off Hwy 158 at the corner of the l-85 on-ramp. The zoning classification should be a B2 (highway business) if the property is annexed into the city limit.

Consider accepting the Sufficiency of Petition certified by the City Clerk on a noncontiguous annexation of 2 parcels of land totaling 4.91 acres of land located off of Hwy 158 by Land Seitz. LLC. Consider annexing and assigning the zoning classification.

Consider accepting the Sufficiency of Petition certified by the City Clerk and calling for a Public Hearing for the May 12, 2020, regular board meeting to hear citizen input to annex 2.89 additional acres for Oxford Preparatory School.

Receive Proposed Budget from City Manager Thornton. (A copy will be available on meeting night.)

Consider calling for a Public Hearing for the June 9, 2020, meeting to hear public input on the FY 2020-2021 Budget.

Consider request from Patricia H. Watkins for approving a one-lot subdivision requiring a fivefoot variance from section 81.42 of the subdivision ordinance.

Consider adopting a demolition ordinance in order to demolish structure located at 501 Henderson St. owned by Fellow Lewis of 8340 Perrypine Drive Apt. 102 Raleigh, NC 27616.

Consider adopting the 2017 B Water Line Resolution that accepts a loan offer in the amount of $2,855,562 and the associated Capital Proiect Ordinance for the 2017 B Water Line Replacement Project.

Consider authorizing the City Manager to sign a Task Order Amendment for additional engineering services for the 2017 B Water Line Replacement Project with McGill Associates.

Consider adopting the Water and Sewer System Development Fee (SDF).

Please click here for the full meeting agenda.