Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

TownTalk: Police Chief Barrow Talks Shop With A Cop

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It may have been cold – it IS December, after all, but there’s a pretty good chance that area law enforcement officers and 47 youngsters in the community felt nice and warm on the inside during the annual “Shop with a Cop” event this week.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow said individuals representing the police department, sheriff’s office, fire department, highway patrol, animal control and park rangers got to shop with children at Walmart in Henderson.

“We got to see some kids that we interacted with throughout the year,” Barrow said on Thursday’s TownTalk. One child had a special request to shop with an officer who was working a shift, but Barrow said they were able to make some adjustments in the schedule to grant the child’s request.

“He was able to shop with that kid – it was heartwarming,” Barrow said.

In all, the bill came to about $8,000, and that’s after Walmart generously knocked a little bit off the final tally, Barrow said.

In years past, law enforcement agencies have worked in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce to raise money for the spending spree, but it just didn’t happen this year. Chalk it up to the residual pandemic restrictions and the strain on law enforcement agencies to provide adequate staffing.

“We look forward to partnering with them next year,” Barrow said.

In the meantime, it was important to keep the event alive, so that’s what they did.

It’s a time to let children be children and roam up and down the toy aisles. But it was sobering for Barrow to see some of the older kids get everyday items like hygiene products.

“We want them to think of themselves,” Barrow said. The adults usually steer the kids to clothing items, including coats, during the shopping spree.

But many of the children also wanted to pick out gifts for their parents or other family members, too.

Sometimes, the gift is in the giving, not in the receiving.

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TownTalk: Protecting Animals In Bitter Cold

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Whether you’re keeping up with weather forecasts as you stay warm indoors or whether you have to be out in the elements, here’s the main takeaway: it’s going to be bone-chilling cold for the next few days.

And while we humans can add an extra layer of clothing or stay bundled up by the fire if we’re lucky, Animal Services Chief Frankie Nobles reminds pet owners to be mindful of the needs of our furry friends, too.

If you have a pet outside, bring it inside the house or into a garage – anything you can do to block the wind, Nobles told John C. Rose on Thursday’s TownTalk.

“When that wind gets to blowing, it gets colder and colder” for pets who must remain outside. If possible, move doghouses to a more sheltered spot in the yard or throw an extra blanket on top of the doghouse for an extra layer of protection, leaving just enough of an opening for the dog to get in and out.

Use wood shavings inside dog houses instead of blankets, which can get wet and make matters worse.

If you use heat lamps, make sure they’re not too close to things that can catch fire, he warned.

In addition to these measures, it’s equally important to make sure outside animals have access to fresh water.

“Water’s gonna freeze, that’s a guarantee,” Nobles said. Clearing out water bowls is essential when temps dip below freezing.

And they need to have plenty of food, too. “Feed helps produce energy, which produces heat,”

He said. This goes for outside pets and livestock, too.

Some horse owners put blankets on their horses, which helps them stay warm.  Horses can be seen in pastures wearing blankets, Nobles said, “but you’ll also see a bunch of hay. Their body has to break that hay down (and) that’s what keeps them warm,” he said.

 

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Granville Residents Safely Dispose Of 31,000 Pounds Of Recyclables, Hazardous Materials During November Clean-Out Event

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The final tally is in and Granville County residents brought more than 16 tons of recyclable materials to the November 19 recycling and hazardous waste disposal event.

Teresa Baker, recycling and sustainability coordinator for Granville County and Granville County Public Schools, said that by the end of the event, more than 31,000 pounds of everything from paint to paper made its way to proper disposal at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center on Highway 15 just south of Oxford.

Here’s a breakdown from the Fall Clean-out event:

  • Veolia Environmental Services – 7,340 pounds of paint included in a total of 13,400 pounds of hazardous household waste
  • Department of Agriculture Pesticides Division – 1,110 pounds of pesticides
  • Green for Life (GFL) – 2,700 pounds of scrap metal
  • Shred Ace – 7,820 pounds of shredded paper
  • Granville County Sheriff’s Office – 154.3 pounds of medications and medical waste
  • METech Recycling – 4,334 pounds of electronics
  • Interstate Batteries – 817 pounds of various batteries
  • RMR Book Recycling – 860 pounds

In addition, residents dropped off donations for the Granville Humane Society, including 6 large bags of towels, sheets, toys, leashes and collars and 40 pounds of kibble, 16 cans of wet pet food, medical supplies and one crate.

Learn more about the county’s Environmental Services at  https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/solidwaste/.

Warren County’s CERT Class Set For Jan. 28-29

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The Warren County Community Emergency Response Team will have a class to prepare individuals to help during emergencies, natural disasters and other events.

The class will be held Jan. 28 and 29. There is no charge to take the class, which will take place at the Warren County Emergency Services Headquarters, 890 US Hwy 158 Bypass in Warrenton.

CERT members receive training in the following areas to help them care for themselves, their families, and their communities: disaster planning, damage assessment, emergency operations center assistance, team organization, disaster psychology, and disaster simulation.

Volunteers in the CERT program learn how to prepare for natural and man-made disasters that may affect their community. The program provides a consistent approach to disaster preparedness training and organization that first responders can rely on during a disaster.

Individuals 18 years and older who live in Warren County may become a certified CERT member by meeting and maintaining the following requirements:

  • Obtain FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) online training certificates after completing the 21-hour CERT training series;
  • Take the American Heart Association’s CPR class;
  • Volunteer for at least 16 hours a year in emergency management, training, outreach and community involvement programs;
  • Must be of good moral character and adhere to the Warren County Emergency management beliefs and ethics; and
  • Submit a signed Code of Conduct form.

The classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Class size is limited and the deadline to apply is Jan. 23, 2023. Students must complete all 20 hours of the course to receive a certification of completion. Contact Chris Tucker or Lewis Mustian to learn more. Tucker can be reached at

252.257.1191 or by email at  christucker@warrencountync.gov; Mustian’s phone number is 804.512.3045 and email is lmustian@verizon.net.

 

Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Check local nurseries and garden centers for gifts for Gardeners.
  • Shop for garden tools with improved ergonomics. Thicker handles, extended handles, less force required, etc.
  • Inventory your seed supply. Order newly released varieties now before they sell out
  • Consider getting a copy of the NC Extension Gardener Handbook for a gardener on your gift giving list.
  • Check moisture of holiday plants, especially Christmas trees
  • Yes, you can scatter wood ashes in your garden, but use them judiciously. They have liming properties, and you don’t want to over do it.
  • Review your garden journal about what was successful and even what didn’t do well so you can plan for next year.
  • Visit Public Gardens through the winter. You may be surprised at what you find in bloom.
  • Construct a cold frame to be able to grow your own seedlings for 2023
  • Monitor indoor plants through the winter for insect pests such as aphids, white flies and mealybugs. These are easily treated with insecticidal soap.

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TownTalk: St. Paul’s Lutheran Plans Food Ministry

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St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ridgeway is launching a food ministry to try to help residents in Vance and Warren counties who find themselves struggling with having enough food for themselves and their families.

The food ministry, modeled after the story in the Bible of feeding 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, will have its first event on Saturday, Jan. 28 and will be held on the last Saturday of each month thereafter, said Corey Brooks, pastor at St. Paul’s.

The church fellowship hall will host the first several months, but as the weather warms, Brooks said the hope is to travel into different areas of the county to provide food.

Brooks spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s TownTalk about how the idea for a food ministry got started.

“We still have a few minor details (to work out), but we’re excited to be kicking this off,” Brooks said. “It’s easy to say ‘let someone else take care of them,’” Brooks said, but added that we’re called to love all of God’s children.

Providing a hot meal through the food ministry is a way to show that love for one another.

There also will be a “blessing box” located near the Norlina post office that people can visit, whether it’s to take food or to donate non-perishable items.

The box will have food to nourish the body and plenty of Bibles to nourish the soul.

“Take what you need and leave what you can,” Brooks said.

The blessing box is a place where folks struggling with food insecurity can go in the time between the last Saturdays of the month, he said.

St. Paul’s belongs to the southeastern district of the Lutheran Church’s Missouri Synod, and pastors like Brooks receive mission insight reports that provide information about the area, from income levels to people’s beliefs about God. Through his service as a chaplain for first responders, he said he’s seen the need himself.

But food insecurity rose to the top as a concern in the area, so the church is trying to do something about it.

Brooks invites other churches to help out, too.

“It’s not just our church,” he said. “It’s a time for us all to come together as brothers and sisters in Christ to provide” for others in the community.

He acknowledged that transportation could be a challenge, so help in that area would be most helpful.

But most of all, Brooks said he wants to let folks know that regardless of their struggles, their walk in life that they are children of God. “We want to walk with you and help you carry your burden as best we can.”

 

 

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Granville County Public Schools

Southern End Elementary Schools Could Shrink From 5 to 4 In Granville County

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The topic of school consolidation once again is circulating in Granville County, and the school board voted Monday to reconsider closing an elementary school in the southern end of the county and make it a middle school.

During a work session to discuss the matter of closing and consolidation, the Granville County Board of Education voted unanimously to move forward with making Creedmoor Elementary the new home of G.C. Hawley Middle School.

The updated study will be presented to the board at its Jan. 9, 2023 meeting, according to information from GCPS Public Information Officer Stan Winborne and a public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2023 at 6 p.m.at South Granville High School, 701 North Crescent Drive, Creedmoor.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments from the public regarding the proposed closure and relocation of the Creedmoor schools.

Members of the public wishing to comment on the proposed consolidation may sign up beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Each speaker who has signed up prior to 6 p.m. will be given the opportunity to address the board on this topic for up to three minutes.

View the hearing via livestream here:  https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

If the plan goes through, the attendance zones of five elementary schools in the Butner/Creedmoor/Wilton area would be redrawn to redistribute the students currently in the Creedmoor Elementary zone.

Portions of the current Hawley Middle School campus, including athletic facilities, would still be used by students and staff, Winborne noted.

New school board member Dr. Taylor Frederick made a motion to study additional middle school redistricting, K-6 schools and K-8 options in the future to be presented by staff no later than June 2023.

Additional information may be found at BoardDocs, at this link, https://www.boarddocs.com/nc/gcsd/Board.nsfto,

 

 

Representative-Elect Sossamon To Be Sworn In On Jan. 10 At McGregor Hall

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Frank Sossamon will be sworn in as the newest representative for N.C. House District 32 Tuesday and the public is invited to attend.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at McGregor Hall on Jan. 10 at 6 p.m.

Superior Court Judge John Dunlow will administer the oath of office.

District 32 includes Vance and Granville counties.

During the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, candidate Sossamon focused on priorities which include generating local jobs, encouraging small business development, improving education and reducing crime throughout the district.

TownTalk: Does Anyone Want To Talk About The Jail?

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No matter where you stand on the issue, the Vance County Detention Center is not an ideal facility, neither for staff nor inmates. Sheriff Curtis Brame has been vocal about the physical condition of the jail, which has racked up numerous deficiencies in recent state inspections.

The Vance County commissioners asked a Raleigh firm to conduct a facilities needs assessment, which County Manager Jordan McMillen is still in the early stages. The county is paying Moseley Architects more than $48,000 to complete the needs assessment.

“It is a comprehensive study,” McMillen told WIZS News via email Tuesday. “I would anticipate some results as we get into the spring” of 2023, but said commissioners may hear an update at the regular meeting in January.

Brame acknowledged that a cell phone video – aired Monday on a Raleigh television station – showed an inmate on the floor, surrounded by several other inmates who were hitting him.

In a brief written response to WIZS News Tuesday, Brame said charges had been filed in connection with the assault, but he provided no further details about the incident.

It is the latest challenge for Brame and county leaders, who seem to be at odds at times over what exactly needs to be done at the jail.

“The county has invested a good bit into the jail the past few years as the sheriff has requested items,” McMillen stated.

In fact, over the past five years, capital expenditures for the jail have increased almost $1 million – from $3.47 in 2018 to $4.34 million.

The 2023 budget is $4.86 million, which includes an extra $400,000 that commissioners approved in October that is designated for providing health care for inmates.

Brame has said he would like to see a new jail facility built for Vance County. Running the jail is the sheriff’s responsibility, and he has called for increased salaries for detentions staff.

According to McMillen, the new part of the jail was built in 1990 and comprises 32,355 square feet of space. The older part of the jail is smaller – about 2,400 square feet – and was also renovated in 1990 when the new portion was constructed.

The entire facility was renovated in 2010.

In addition to the needs of the physical plant are needs to have sufficient staff at the jail. Detention staff was included in a salary study the county put into place in July 2022 that raises hiring rates from $33,432 to $36,433.

“We are in a facility that has long outgrown its needs,” Brame told WIZS News back in August 2022. “Our detention center is antiquated and outdated,” he said, and noted safety issues – for staff and detainees alike – as a result of the condition of the physical plant.

Commissioners received the 9-page report at its August meeting, which detailed everything from non-functioning locks on food passage doors to dirty showers, as well as deficiencies in staff trainings and supervision.

But the overall physical condition of the jail, located at 516 Breckenridge St., looms larger for Brame. “Over 31 years ago the county decided to renovate the detention
center,” he said at the time, adding that the renovations do not meet current standards and needs and he maintains that the jail is unsafe for both staff and detainees.

 

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