Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Cameron Hope Breedlove

Cameron Ford Breedlove Named KVA Varsity Girls Tennis Coach

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Kerr Vance Academy has named alumna Cameron Ford Breedlove coach of its varsity girls tennis team.

Breedlove played on the KVA tennis team her seventh through twelfth-grade years and said she was “excited to be back as the coach.” Upon graduating KVA, Breedlove attended William Peace University in Raleigh.

Breedlove said former classmate George Hoyle, Jr., who now serves as athletic director for KVA, knew of her love for tennis and reached out when the coaching position became available.

Losing five seniors to graduation last year, Breedlove will have her work cut out for her coaching a younger team limited in practice ability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With four girls returning, Breedlove hopes to recruit more players for the upcoming season.

“The team is younger; however, these are very talented girls with great skills who have been playing for a while,” Breedlove said.

To hear the interview with Breedlove in its entirety, click on the play button above.

Kerr Vance Academy has named alumna Cameron Ford Breedlove coach of its varsity girls tennis team.

Vance GOP

Vance County GOP to Hold Grand Opening of Headquarters

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-Information courtesy Vance County GOP

Chairman Dwight Fraizer and the Board members of the Vance County GOP cordially invite Vance County Republicans and all/any like-minded people to the official opening of the 2020 Vance County GOP Headquarters, located at 1700 Parham St. in the Corbitt building (between Cruzers and the Corbitt Depot) in Henderson.

The event will take place outside to provide for social distancing from 4 – 8 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2020. Meet, Greet & Mingle time is designated from 4 – 5 p.m.

Free hot dogs and drinks will be available as long as supplies last, starting at 5 p.m. Music will be provided by Jimmy Barrier and the Cabin Pickers.

Featured speakers at the event will be:

* Sandy Smith, GOP candidate for the NC District 1 Congressional Seat
* Bruce LeGates, Pastor of Joy Christian Center Ministries
* Other GOP candidates (or their representatives)

Tents will be set up with GOP items and for voter registration if you have not yet registered to vote in Vance County or if you would like to switch your party affiliation to the Republican Party.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Athletic Drills, Scavenger Hunt & Virtual 5K Among Upcoming H-V Rec. & Parks Events

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-Information courtesy Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department

The Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department announces several upcoming events, including:

Elite Skills & Drills: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are so many restrictions placed on youth athletics. Our number one priority is the safety of our citizens. While we don’t recommend partaking in group competition, we also understand the importance that staying physically active has on your overall health.

Because of this, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks will be working with coaches to put together skills and drills videos that your child can use to help develop their skills right at home. We will post links to our videos regularly on the Henderson-Vance Athletics page starting Friday, July 24, 2020.

For more information, please contact Darius Pitt at (252) 438-3408 (dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us).

Recreation Rocks Scavenger Hunt: Registration extended to Friday, July 31:  Participants ages 17 and under will design and submit rocks to participate in the scavenger hunt. Registration and rocks must be submitted at Aycock Recreation Center (307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson, NC) Monday –Friday between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The deadline to submit rocks is Friday, July 31, 2020, by 5 p.m.

Participants will receive an e-mail at 8 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2020, with clues to find the location of the decorated rocks. Participants take pictures with each rock and submit to Lauren Newlin by email (lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us) or any HVRPD social media (Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram). The FIRST participant to submit ALL pictures with rocks will win a gift basket filled with goodies from HVRPD!!

For more information, please contact Lauren Newlin at (252) 438-3160 (lnewlin@henderson.nc.us).

Virtual 5K– Join our Virtual 5K Run & Walk on Sunday, July 26, 2020. Run or walk your own 5K and tag the Henderson-Vance Athletics Facebook page with your photos or videos.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

GVPH: Local COVID-19 Update as of 7/20/20 – Hospitalizations, Deaths Holding Steady

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of July 20, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

1,035 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,035, 535 are community-spread cases located across Granville County, Of those 535, 397 have been released from isolation and seven are hospitalized.

Of those 1,035, 486 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County. Of those 486, 95 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,035, 11 are associated with an outbreak at long term care facilities including six at Murdoch Development Center, two at Central Regional Hospital, one at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center, and two at Universal Health Care in Oxford, NC.

Of the 11 cases in long term care facilities in Granville County, five have been released from isolation.

There have been a total of 25 deaths in Granville County, three in the community, one at Central Regional Hospital, and 21 of whom were associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Vance County

607 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 607, 484 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 484, 383 have been released from isolation.

Of those 607, 123 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 48 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and 17 associated with Senior Citizens Home. The outbreak at Pelican Health nursing home is no longer active.

Of the 123 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 44 have been released from isolation.

Three individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 40 deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 11 of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, and two of whom were associated with Senior Citizens Home.

WIZS Note: There are 101 total active cases in the Vance County community at large at this time. This is an increase of 13 active cases since Monday, July 13, 2020. Fortunately, COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations are holding steady.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information from Granville Vance Public Health and to sign up for daily email updates.

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health Urges Community Members to Wear Masks

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health is urging community members to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in public areas where social distancing is not easily achieved in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

This aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and North Carolina mandate, as being an effective way to prevent the spread of the illness. The hospital has already instituted a universal masking protocol within its facilities and requires anyone entering to wear a face mask at all times.

“Maria Parham strongly encourages our community members to wear masks because each of us plays an important role in helping to keep our community safe and protect one another from the spread of infectious diseases,” says Dr. Ronald Stahl, chief medical officer at Maria Parham. “One of the easiest and most effective ways we can look out for each other and aid in the fight against COVID-19 is to wear a face mask in public spaces right now.”

Recent studies have shown that universal masking can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, especially in individuals who may be asymptomatic and unaware that they are ill. Face masks and cloth face coverings should be worn over the nose and mouth, and be held securely in place with loops or ties.

“Until there is a vaccine, wearing a mask in public, practicing social distancing and proper hand hygiene are our best lines of defense in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Stahl says. “That’s why we’ve established a universal masking protocol in our facilities to help protect our patients, providers and employees, and we’re encouraging our fellow citizens to do the same in other public places. By looking out for each other, we’ll get through this together and continue making our community healthier.”

For more information from the CDC on face coverings and how to make your own, visit https://bit.ly/30mMOu8. To learn more about how Maria Parham is working to ensure the safety of patients during this time, visit https://bit.ly/2ZMXP9j.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments Receives $1.2 Million CARES Act Grant

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-Information courtesy U.S. Department of Commerce press release

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $8.4 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to capitalize and administer Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs in North Carolina that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“These investments come at a crucial time to help North Carolina’s and our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and EDA is pleased to invest these CARES Act funds to help North Carolina businesses with their capital needs as they respond to coronavirus.”

Locally, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, Henderson, North Carolina, will receive a $1.2 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to assist small businesses by providing much-needed capital through a RLF that will serve coronavirus impacted businesses in Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties.

The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 7, Secretary Ross announced that EDA is accepting applications for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funding opportunities.

EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

For complete information, please visit EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.

I Exist 2020

Youth Encouraged to Enter ‘I Exist 2020’ Short Film Contest

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department

Calling all young filmmakers! The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department’s Youth Services Unit presents the “I Exist 2020” short film contest for amateur filmmakers ages 11-18.

Videos cannot contain excessive violence or obscene content. The deadline to submit a video is Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

A prize will be given to three winners, and videos will be featured on all of the Rec. Department’s social media sites.

For more information, please contact Shantel Hargrove at (252) 430-0382 (shhargrove@ci.henderson.nc.us)

 

Vance County Schools Logo

Vance Co. Schools to Begin School Year Under Fully Remote ‘Plan C’

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

The Vance County Board of Education met on July 17, 2020, in a special called meeting to consider options for the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year. By a vote of 5 – 2, the board accepted the Superintendent’s recommendation to begin the year under the state’s Plan C fully remote option for the first nine weeks of the school year, with plans to implement Plan B at the start of the second nine weeks.

The district has aspirations to begin option A at the start of the second semester in January. Staff will continue to evaluate data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as well as guidance from the Granville Vance Public Health to ensure that we are making decisions in the best interest of our students and staff. 

As we work to implement our plans over the next few months, we are committed to ensuring that every student is equipped for success in whatever format we choose to operate. Very soon, we will begin sharing information with all families in preparation for the beginning of the school year.

As we continue working to navigate these uncharted waters, please know that we remain committed to ensuring that our decisions are supportive of providing the safest environment possible for our students, families and community. For that reason, all athletics and extracurricular events are currently suspended until further notice. 

The 2020-2021 school year promises to be one of tremendous transitions for our school system and community. As we work through our responses to COVID-19, we ask for your patience, your support and your grace.

Andrea Harris Task Force

Governor Cooper Names Members of Andrea Harris Task Force

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Earlier this week, Governor Roy Cooper named the members of the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force.

The Task Force, established by the Governor’s Executive Order 143, will address the social, environmental, economic, and health disparities in communities of color that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first meeting is anticipated in early August.

“Inequities in North Carolina are not new, but COVID-19 is shining a bright light on disparities that have gone unchecked in our health care and economic institutions for communities of color,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This task force is the right way to address these inequities as we recover from the pandemic so that as we come back from this, we improve access to affordable healthcare and quality economic opportunities.”

“Health inequities are the result of more than individual choice or random occurrence — they are the result of the historic and ongoing interplay of inequitable structures, policies, and norms that shape lives,” said NC Department of Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders. “I am deeply honored to carry Andrea Harris’ torch on this new task force, as we grapple with these complex and critical issues for North Carolina.”

To read the full press release, including the list of individuals named to the task force, click here.

Vance County Courthouse

Vance Co. Courthouse Temporarily Closed for COVID-19 Related Cleaning

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Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m., the Clerk of Court in Vance County, along with other local leaders, made the judgment call to close the Vance County Courthouse for the remainder of the day for a thorough cleaning.

The Clerk of Court, Henry Gupton, told WIZS News a lady who had a positive test result for COVID-19 had entered the building earlier in the day. As Gupton described it, the lady in question had been told she was negative for COVID-19, but, while she was inside the courthouse today, her provider called and said there had been a mistake and that, in fact, her test result was positive.

Gupton said there was no cause for panic. He said he, Sheriff Curtis Brame, Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison and others involved, like District Attorney Mike Waters, had made the precautionary decision to close for the afternoon and extensively clean the affected areas.

Gupton said he wanted the public to be aware of what was going on and why.

The local courts have been taking pleas and conducting continuances in recent weeks and allowing those accused of actions to pay citations and go about their business when possible and appropriate.