Tag Archive for: #warrencountynews

Warren County Memorial Library Celebrates National Library Week

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

April 19 – 25, 2020, is National Library Week, and Warren County Memorial Library invites all community members to “find the library at their place” by visiting www.wcmlibrary.org to access virtual services and resources.

This is a time to highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The original theme for National Library Week 2020 – “find your place at the library” – was chosen months ago before the emergence of a global pandemic forced libraries to close their buildings.

In response to our rapidly changing times, the theme was revised to “find the library at your place” to bring attention to how libraries are open for business online, offering the electronic services and digital content their communities need now more than ever.

While the library’s physical spaces may be temporarily closed due to COVID-19, the public can discover ebooks, movies, online storytimes, language learning software, virtual tours of NC parks, and much more—all from home.

In times of crisis, libraries respond to their community’s needs in innovative and inspiring ways. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, libraries are continuing to make a difference in people’s lives by providing electronic resources, including virtual homework help, resume building tools, and information about keeping your family well and safe.

At the Warren County Memorial Library, there is a wide array of free virtual services available from providers such as NC Kids and NC Live.

Library staff encourage Warren County residents to make use of the myriad of electronic materials as well as screen-free activities highlighted on the library’s website www.wcmlibrary.org. All of the services mentioned can be accessed completely free of charge.

For more information, or help accessing electronic resources, call library staff Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., at 252-257-4990.

Warren Co. Schools Postpones Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration

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-Information courtesy Warren County Schools

Governor Roy Cooper has closed all NC public schools until May 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, all Pre-K and Kindergarten registration events for Warren County Schools are postponed until further notice.

Updates and rescheduled dates will be posted on the WCS website after the reopening of school.

Pre-K teachers and staff will be available to assist with the application process at that time. Pre-K applications and required documents can be accessed on the WCS website under “Documents.”

Town of Warrenton Follows County – Curfew Begins Thurs., April 9

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-Information courtesy the Warrenton Police Department

The Town of Warrenton has declared a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning Thursday, April 9, 2020, effective through the dates of Governor Cooper’s Stay At Home Executive Order. The Warrenton Police Department will be enforcing this curfew.

During the hours of the curfew, travel is allowed for the following reasons:

1. Medical
2. Grocery Store
3. Traveling to/from an essential job

We understand that this is a small list of reasons for traveling but, we implore you to abide by this order for the protection of everyone. Our agency will be stopping vehicles and pedestrians during this time of curfew.

The Warrenton Police Department wants everyone to be safe, and we will get through this as a community if everyone does their part by adhering to the laws. Also, be advised that during this time, the WPD is and will continue to enforce all traffic laws.

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Warren County Commissioners Enact a Curfew Beginning Thurs., April 9

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

At the April 6, 2020, Warren County Board of Commissioners meeting, officials unanimously voted to amend the March 15 State of Emergency declaration to include a curfew for Warren County residents, as well as the towns of Norlina and Macon, beginning Thursday, April 9 at 9 p.m.

The 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. curfew will run for the duration of Governor Cooper’s Stay At Home Executive Order 121.

“Now is not the time for us as a Warren County community to be relaxed,” stated Chairman Tare “T” Davis, leading into the board’s consideration of a curfew. “We need to come together to keep each other safe. This means we must observe the Governor’s stay at home order, and we must practice social distancing.”

On April 6, the Warren County Health Department received confirmation of the county’s third known confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Warren County. As of April 6, the county has forty-one known residents who have been tested for COVID-19; of those forty-one tests, there have been thirty-eight known negative results.

Dr. Margaret Brake, Director of the Warren County Health Department, stated that the role of the health department in positive cases is to be involved in contact tracing for those individuals that have tested positive; health department staff is also involved in isolation and quarantine orders for those positive individuals. The health department has a responsibility for checking in with those positive persons and determining when their case has recovered and when insolation orders can be lifted.

County Manager Vincent Jones clarified that the curfew would not prevent residents from conducting essential business and making essential trips as provided for in the governor’s executive order. He also stated that surrounding counties -including Franklin and Halifax – also have the 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. curfew.

County Attorney Hassan Kingsberry stated that the guidance from the Governor’s Office for essential employees traveling after 9 p.m. and prior to 6 a.m. is to have your work identification, such as an ID badge, handy while commuting. Law enforcement will work with you as long as your reason for traveling past the curfew is related to essential business as outlined in the governor’s order.

“Now is not the time to become relaxed because the weather is changing… We have seen instances of people holding gatherings of larger than ten people – cookouts – while not observing social distancing,” stated Chairman Davis. “We understand we have major holidays coming up… this is not the time or the year for that, unfortunately. Teens are playing basketball and hanging out in groups. We have to take this seriously. Community spread is here. As a rural community with less access to medical resources, it is important that we recognize the seriousness of this pandemic. We have to do this together.”

Sheriff Johnny Williams joined the meeting via telephone and stated that the Sheriff’s Office will be working with the public to help enforce the curfew. If residents see a large gathering, they should call the 911 non-emergency line at 252-257-3456 and a deputy will respond.

The Town of Warrenton passed its own State of Emergency declaration; they will consider amending their own order should they chose to enact a curfew.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at 252-257-3115 or visit www.warrencountync.com. You may also call the Warren County COVID-19 Information Line at 252-257-7132.

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Warren County Confirms Third Case of COVID-19

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

A third case of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Warren County. The Warren County Health Department received confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test result on Monday, April 6, 2020.

Residents should be diligent about complying with the Governor’s Stay at Home order; they should be practicing prevention measures and social distancing as the County tries to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Warren County.

Warren County will continue to update its COVID-19 resources page with updates on confirmed case counts. Residents may also check-in daily with the NC Department of Health and Human Services for their NC case count at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/covid19/covid-19-nc-case-count.

For more information, residents can call the Warren County Health Department at 252-257-1185, the Warren County COVID-19 Information Line at 252-257-7132, Monday– Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. or visit the Warren County Government website at https://www.warrencountync.com/712/COVID-19-Resources.

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Warren Co. Seeks Demolition Contractors for Abandoned Manufactured Homes

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

Warren County is seeking interested and qualified demolition contractors to participate in the County’s Abandoned Manufactured (mobile) Home Deconstruction Program.

Contractors will be responsible for deconstructing abandoned manufactured (mobile) homes by separating recyclable materials from non-recyclable materials and disposing of both at the appropriate waste disposal facilities with appropriate permits.

Contractors interested in submitting bids must contact Ken Krulik in the Warren County Planning/Zoning and Code Enforcement Department and complete a contractor application. Forms can be submitted by email or hard copy mail; email kenkrulik@warrencountync.gov for an application.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on May 8, 2020. Contact the Planning and Zoning Department by phone at (252) 257-7027 for more information.

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First Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in Warren County

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

An individual was tested for COVID-19 on Monday, March 30 and confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test result was received at the Warren County Health Department on Friday, April 3. The individual is currently receiving medical care at an inpatient facility. To protect privacy, no additional information about the individual will be shared by the health department.

“Given the spread of COVID-19 across North Carolina and in our region, we are not surprised to receive our first case,” stated Dr. Margaret Brake, Warren County Health Director.

Warren County Health Department’s Communicable Disease staff is working at this time to conduct contact tracing to make sure everyone who came into close contact with this individual is quarantined. Close contact is anyone who was within six feet of the individual for 10 minutes or more.

Contacts of individuals who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 will be given information about isolation and quarantine and asked to monitor symptoms. Due to the limited supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and test kits across the state and nation, Warren County residents should not seek testing for Coronavirus unless they have symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing, shortness of breath) or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive. State guidance continues to require those symptoms to be present in order to send in a sample for testing. Residents who are sick should call their doctor before going to the office, hospital or urgent care.

While this illness is not severe for most people and they can recover at home, it can be really serious for others. Individuals who have a higher risk for complications are those 65 years and older; have chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma; weakened immune systems; pregnant women and infants.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, at this time there are no approved treatments and no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. However, there are known methods to reduce and slow the spread of infection. Individuals can practice everyday prevention measures like frequent hand washing, staying home when sick, disinfecting surfaces, and covering coughs and sneezes.

Community-based interventions can also slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes measures collectively known as “social distancing.” Social distancing measures aim to reduce the frequency of contact and increase the physical distance between persons, thereby reducing the risks of person-to-person transmission. Implementation of these measures can slow the spread of this disease.

“Residents are advised to comply with Governor Cooper’s Stay at Home Order, only going out for essential needs. We urge you to stay home to save lives,” says Dr. Margaret Brake, Warren County Health Director.

For more information on COVID-19 and preventive measures you can take, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html or the NC Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina.

Residents can also call the Warren County COVID-19 Information Line at 252-257-7132, Monday– Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. or visit the Warren County Government website at https://www.warrencountync.com/712/COVID-19-Resources.

No Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Warren Co. to Date

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-Information courtesy Warren County Health Department

As of early afternoon on April 2, 2020, Warren County does NOT have any confirmed cases of COVID-19.

This does not mean the county is free from harm; every Warren County resident should heed Governor Roy Cooper’s Stay at Home Executive Order and only leave home for essential activities.

Wash your hands, maintain 6-feet of distance from other people and please stay home if you are sick. As we know, not everyone who is experiencing symptoms has been tested, and it is possible for someone to carry the virus and be an asymptomatic carrier (this means they do not show symptoms).

Have health-related questions about COVID-19? Call the Warren County Health Department at 252-257-6000.

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Warren Co. Board of Commissioners to Meet April 6 With Procedural Adjustments

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-Press Release, Warren County Government

The Warren County Board of Commissioners will hold its regular meeting on Monday, April 6, 2020, at 6 p.m. at the Warren County Armory Civic Center; however, adjustments will be made in regular procedure in accordance with the Governor’s Stay at Home Executive order.

Mitigation efforts are made in compliance with state law and as a means to keep citizens, officials, and staff safe.

The public will not physically be in attendance at the Warren County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 6. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook via the County’s Facebook page @WarrenCountyNCOfficial; video footage of the meeting will be linked via the County’s website the following day.

The public can make submissions for public comment via email at WCGOV@warrencountync.gov. Members of the public are limited to one submission per person; each submission is limited to 350 words. The deadline for submissions is Monday, April 6, at 3 p.m. Submissions made after this time will not be read aloud by the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners at the meeting.

For more information, contact the Warren County Manager’s Office at 252-257-3115 or visit www.warrencountync.com.

Warren Co. Schools to Offer Free Meal Service Pickup at WCHS April 6-9

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-Information courtesy Warren County Schools

The Warren County School’s Child Nutrition Department will have Meal Service Pickup at only ONE site during the week of Spring Break April 6 – 9, 2020.

Meals may be picked up at Warren County High School on Monday, April 6 – Thursday, April 9 from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

ALL sites will be CLOSED Friday, April 10 and Monday, April 13.