Archive for November, 2019

Brummitt and Hicks earn certifications from NENA

Granville County’s Emergency Communications (9-1-1) Director Trent Brummitt and Training Coordinator Stacy Hicks have been certified by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

ENP Certification is a tool that establishes benchmarks for performance, signifying competence in the field. Those who successfully complete certification demonstrate a mastery of the knowledge required for emergency number program management, help raise industry standards, and confirm their commitment to the 9-1-1 profession. Candidates must meet eligibility requirements, complete an application (after an approval process) and pass the ENP exam. Once certification is earned, the credentials must be maintained by fulfilling re-certification requirements every four years, or passing the exam again prior to the re-certification deadline.

The Emergency Communications Center is under the direction of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office. All telecommunicators are certified through the N.C. Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission, as well as being certified as Division of Criminal Information (DCI) terminal operators through the State Bureau of Investigation. In addition, telecommunicators are certified and trained in Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), which enables them to give pre-arrival first aid over the telephone and in Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD), which enables them to gather scene-specific information to relay to responders.

In addition to the required certifications, Brummitt and Hicks are now two of 84 certified ENP’s (Emergency Number Professionals) across the entire state.

Granville County book recognized by N.C. Genealogical Society

Granville County Library Clerk Chotsey Winborne of the Berea Branch Library has been recognized by the N.C. Genealogical Society with the Award for Excellence in a Publication Relevant to North Carolina Genealogy. Her book, “Berea Notebook: Tracing the Early History of Berea, North Carolina through Property Deeds,” was singled out at the organization’s annual conference, held on Nov. 2 in Raleigh.

The N.C. Genealogical Society’s website lists all winners awarded at the conference, calling Winborne’s work “painstaking,” as well as “an interesting take on researching the history of an area.” The book details the early history of the Berea vicinity by tracing land ownership through property deeds. Many of the deeds are platted and the book includes colorful illustrations with clear links to ownership of the properties. 

“Berea Notebook” is available at all four branches of the Granville County Library System in Oxford (Richard H. Thornton branch), Creedmoor (South Branch), Berea and Stovall. Learn more about the statewide awards at https://www.ncgenealogy.org/latest/2019-ncgs-awards/.

(Winborne is pictured on the far right, back row, along with winners from all over the state.)

Public hearing to be held at December Commissioners meeting

All interested persons please take notice that a public hearing will be held by the Granville County Board of Commissioners pursuant to N.C.G.S. 158-7.1 on December 2, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter in the auditorium of the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, located at 4185 US Hwy 15 South, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of the public hearing is to hear the views of the public on aiding and encouraging the location or expansion of industrial facilities in Granville County, Project FNP, specifically as follows: the expansion of a manufacturing company in Granville County to expand its existing facility. The company will invest approximately $893,000 and employ potentially 22 new employees. The maximum cost of the County-funded improvements will be up to $8,750 in accordance with the County’s funding policy.

This project will be funded with general County operating funds. The cost to the County of the County-funded capital improvements will be offset by new tax revenues generated by the company’s capital investment in the project over a period not to exceed five years.

The public benefits to be derived from the making of these improvements include the development of industrial properties which will increase the County’s tax base to better provide for County services, and to increase employment opportunities within the County.

All interested citizens are invited and urged to attend.

Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Granville County

Board of Commissioners

Notice of Public Hearing, scheduled for Dec. 2

All interested persons please take notice that a public hearing will be held by the Granville County Board of Commissioners pursuant to N.C.G.S. 158-7.1 on December 2, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter in the auditorium of the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, located at 4185 US Hwy 15 South, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of the public hearing is to hear the views of the public on aiding and encouraging the location or expansion of industrial facilities in Granville County, Project Adam, specifically as follows: the expansion of a manufacturing company in Granville County to expand its existing facility. The company will invest approximately $400,000 and employ potentially 10 new employees. The maximum cost of the County-funded improvements will be up to $5,000 in accordance with the County’s funding policy.

This project will be funded with general County operating funds. The cost to the County of the County-funded capital improvements will be offset by new tax revenues generated by the company’s capital investment in the project over a period not to exceed five years.

The public benefits to be derived from the making of these improvements include the development of industrial properties which will increase the County’s tax base to better provide for County services, and to increase employment opportunities within the County.

All interested citizens are invited and urged to attend.

Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Granville County

Board of Commissioners

It’s Native American Indian Heritage Month

The month of November marks an observance of Native American Indian Heritage Month, and the Richard H. Thornton Library is helping showcase this observance with a display of arrowheads and other artifacts from the private collection of North Carolina Room Specialist and historian Mark Pace. The collection includes pottery shards, spear points, arrowheads and primitive tools that Pace has collected for more than 50 years.

Pace says he found his first arrowhead when he was eight years old on his grandfather’s farm in Johnston County. That find – with a fluted point – got him hooked, and led him to continue his quest to uncover more. In all, he has more than 25,000 pieces in his collection, some of which have been verified as being thousands of years old.

“Looking for artifacts is therapeutic to me,” Pace says of this passion he has followed for most of his life. “I’m not a golfer, but I compare this to making a hole in one. When I find one, it’s a great win.”

Pace’s collection includes artifacts from many areas of the state. The most he has found in one day, he recollects, were 60 pieces uncovered near Williamsboro. Those finds, as well as many others, he keeps in boxes in his home, with a few choice pieces displayed in a handcrafted case in his living room.

“I often wonder about the people who made and used these,” he says. “If whole civilizations were here so many years before us, how permanent are we?”

Ironically, the first piece Pace found in Johnston County, back when he was an eight-year-old, has since been dated to be 10,000 years old. This fluted point arrowhead, one of the oldest in his collection, is a rare find that has been documented in archeology journals and is part of the display at the Thornton Library through the end of this month.

“Everyone knows how much I love history and genealogy,” Pace adds. “We all have to remember that history goes back way before 1746, when Granville County was formed. Years from now, there will be those who will be learning about us. I wonder what they will find?”

(A display for Native American Indian Heritage Month is also featured at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor, as well as books available for checkout at the Stovall and Berea branches.)

Granville County Emergency Services offers fire safety tips

During the Thanksgiving holiday, the danger of fire typically increases, with most of those fires starting in the kitchen or outside cooking area.

Granville County Emergency Services advises residents not to leave the stove or oven unattended when cooking, and to have working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in the home. It is recommended that there should be a smoke detector in each bedroom and on each floor.

“A good fire extinguisher can save lives and property,” Emergency Services Director Logan says. “Make sure to keep one handy and know how to use it!”

 Other fire safety tips provided by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration include these:

1.     Ranges account for the largest share of home cooking fire incidents. Be sure to watch what you are cooking;

2.     Frying poses the greatest risk of fire. Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby to quickly cover possible flames;

3.     Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove;

4.     Wear short sleeves or roll sleeves up when cooking. Clothing is often the first item ignited during cooking fires;

5.     Help prevent outdoor cooking fires by using grills and turkey fryers away from siding or deck railings;

6.     Never leave grills, fire pits, turkey fryers or patio torches unattended;

7.     If frying a turkey, remember that an over-filled cooking pot will cause oil to spill over when the turkey is placed inside;

8.     Dispose of coals – after they have cooled – in a metal can. If frying a turkey, let hot grease cool before disposing of it

9.     Turkey fryers can easily overturn and start a fire. Be sure the base is sturdy and watch carefully;

10.  Keep kids and pets away from hot surfaces.

“The holiday season shouldn’t be anything but happy reunions and celebrations, never tragedy as the result of a fire,” Logan says. 

If you have any questions about smoke detectors or fire extinguishers, Logan recommends a call to your local fire department.

Granville County Emergency Services wishes all residents a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Classes continue for Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program

The Fall calendar of classes, interactive activities and educational trips is winding down for the Granville County Senior Services’ Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program, with registration for Winter course offerings coming soon. Offering a variety of programming for all interests, the new tagline for the CLL program is “Never Stop Learning.”

Completing the current season are several courses scheduled during the month of December. Registration is still open for these final classes:

•    “Egypt’s Sacred Sites and Spiritual Journey” will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. This class will be instructed by Peggy Moore, an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Learn about Egypt’s ancient history and the legends of gods and goddesses, as well as the pyramids of Giza, the temples in Aswan and in Luxor and Moore’s travels to other sites;
•    A demonstration on Mary Kay Skincare will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 from 3 until 5 p.m., facilitated by Ella Fleming. This is an interactive class for participants to learn about their own skin types, as well as offering an afternoon of fellowship and fun;
•    On Thursday, Dec. 5, have “A Cup of Christmas Tea” as participants learn the art of Dutch tea-bag folding while learning the story behind the classic poem. This class will be instructed by Maxine Chauvaux at 1:30 p.m.;
•    The discussion group, “North Carolina, Our Home” continues to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. This month, the interest group is scheduled to meet on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m.;
•    The art of Barn Quilt Painting will be taught on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. by instructor Nancy Peele. A short history of barn quilts will also be shared with students, as well as hands-on painting of a quilt pattern;
•    On Dec.13, “Crafts for Every Season” continues with the making of a wooden snowman. This class follows other seasonal projects such as a decoupage wooden tray, a mason jar candle holder and a clay pot scarecrow and is being taught by Christine Luscavich.

All classes are taught at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford, located at 107 Lanier Street.

A course schedule for Winter is now being developed, with classes that will include Tai Chi, Spanish, Sewing, Line Dancing, Photography, Basic Defense, Arts and Crafts, and other topics. Also to be scheduled are courses such as the Criminal Justice System and The Road to World War I, as well as a discussion of the book “Freedom Road.” The popular “My Former Life” series also continues as local residents share their professional and personal experiences that made them who they are today. Those interested in serving as instructors for the Winter season are asked to contact Marilyn Howard at the Senior Center in Oxford.

Participants do not have to be “seniors” to participate, as the Creative Lifelong Learning Program is open to any resident over the age of 18. As of the month of November, more than 250 CLL members have participated in this program. This the second full year that the CLL program has been offered to residents of Granville County.

For a more complete listing of courses available, or to see how you can enroll, contact Marilyn Howard, CLL Coordinator, at 919-693-1930.

Residents can apply for heating assistance…

Beginning Dec. 2, some households in Granville County may qualify for assistance with their heating bill during the winter. Depending on the heat source, eligible households may receive $300, $400 or $500 toward their heating bill through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

Applications will be taken in December for the following people only:

• those with a household member age 60 or above who is responsible for their heating expense; or
• persons disabled and receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Every person in the household must complete an application. If approved, payments will be made directly to the heating provider.

Applications will be accepted Dec. 2 through Dec. 31 for this program and can be completed at the Granville County Department of Social Services, 410 West Spring Street in Oxford. Those interested in applying for this assistance – in the form of a one-time payment – should bring with them:

• valid identification;
• Social Security numbers for everyone in the home;
• proof of income for the month prior to the application;
• a heating bill that indicates the account number; and
• a current bank statement.

If applying for someone else, applicants should bring a signed permission statement from the person they are representing.

Applications for all other households will be taken from Jan. 1 through March 31, or until funds are exhausted.

For more information about the LIEAP program, please visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services or contact Ernestine Howard at the Granville County Department of Social Services, 919-693-1511.

U.S. Census Bureau gearing up for 2020

Residents of Granville County will soon be asked to respond to the 2020 Census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly every household will be invited to respond online, by phone or by mail starting in mid-March 2020. Most areas – about three out of every four households – will receive an invitation to respond online or by phone, while other households will receive a paper questionnaire, along with an invitation to respond online.

This is the first time that the three response options – online, phone and U.S. mail – are being made available. Information provided by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the data provided through any one of these three methods will reduce the number of follow-up visits needed as an accurate address list is developed.

The U.S. Constitution requires that a census of America’s population be taken every ten years. Information that is derived from the Census determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress, as well as helping determine needs for infrastructure, education, emergency services, etc. Businesses also use census data in making decisions that impact the economy. More than $675 billion is distributed in federal funds each year, based on information collected from the U.S. Census. Local governments also refer to results of the U.S. Census to allocate funding, as well as to develop programs and services for its residents.

To learn more about the U.S. Census, visit census.gov.

Thornton Library welcomes children’s author

Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl was special guest of the Granville County Library System on Nov. 15 as she shared her book and her writing journey with fourth and fifth graders of six local elementary schools. Hackl’s book “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe” has been selected for North Carolina’s Battle of the Books competition, and schools who participated in the “meet the author” session will be taking part in this annual reading contest.

Hackl says she spent her childhood “inventing characters and roaming the woods” in Mississippi, just outside of an actual ghost town. Her childhood home is the setting for her book, which takes readers on an adventure with a twelve-year-old who follows clues to solve a mystery, along with her poetry-loving dog and the last resident of the town. The author’s goal is to inspire students to use the transformative power of reading to improve their academic performance and their creative writing skills. Her book has been awarded the Southern Book Prize for Children’s Literature.

According to Granville County Library System Director Will Robinson, the visit was the result of a partnership between the libraries and a Wake Forest book store, who will be coordinating future author visits with Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson. Carlson says that the common goal of the library and the book store is to put a book in the hands of every child who participates.

Hackl’s visit was the first one scheduled through this partnership. Schools that attended on Nov. 15 included Butner-Stem Elementary, C.G. Credle, Mount Energy, Stovall-Shaw Elementary, West Oxford Elementary and Wilton Elementary. Each student was able to take home a signed copy of the book, courtesy of Granville Health System.

For more information about this event, contact Carlson at the Richard H. Thornton Library at 919-693-1121.