Archive for November, 2020

Coppock named Crime Stoppers “Officer of the Year”

Through personal visits to each precinct and law enforcement station, Granville County Crime Stoppers honored the 2020 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year during the month of October, which is Crime Prevention Month. Representing the Granville County Sheriff’s Office was Lieutenant Joshua Coppock, who was recognized during an on-site plaque presentation.  Lt. Coppock has served the community and its citizens for the past 10 years and was awarded on Oct. 28.

Nominated by their superiors for outstanding job performance and work ethic, Granville County Crime Stoppers recognized an officer from each community and from the County. Due to COVID-19 mass gathering restrictions, the plaque presentations, usually held during the annual Crime Stoppers Banquet, were made at each site by Granville County Crime Stoppers President Frank Sossamon.

Also recognized as Law Enforcement Officers of the Year for 2020 were:

• Andrew Spritzer, Butner Public Safety;
• Thomas A. Wallace, Creedmoor Police Department;
• Lynn Curl, Oxford Police Department;
• Jay Long, Stem Police Department; and
• Steven Hayes, Stovall Police Department.

The purpose of Granville County Crime Stoppers is to help make Granville County a safer place to live, work, and raise a family by assisting law enforcement in the fight against crime. Crime Stoppers is comprised of members of the community, law enforcement agencies, the media and businesses, working together to help solve crimes. Citizens are encouraged, through cash rewards and a promise of confidentiality, to provide information leading to the arrest and indictment of criminals. Each law enforcement agency in Granville County is an important part of the local Crime Stoppers organization.

To provide helpful, anonymous information regarding crime in Granville County, call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 919-693-3100 or the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213.

Commemorative book, souvenir coins to be available soon

Granville County’s 275^th Anniversary Planning Committee announces that reservations are now being accepted for a commemorative book chronicling the county’s history, and that distinctive collector coins will soon be available to the public. These keepsake items are being introduced in observance of the County’s milestone anniversary in 2021.

Local author Lewis Bowling has been commissioned to produce the coffee-table style book , which is now in the publishing stages. Bowling has written several books featuring the history of his home county, including celebratory works for the City of Oxford’s bicentennial and for Camp Butner’s 75^th anniversary. Written in Bowling’s familiar conversational style, the County’s 275^th anniversary book will follow the development of the area from its early history to present day, and will include photos not yet seen by the public.

Pre-orders for the book are now being taken, with a $5.00 discount for those who reserve their copy by Dec. 31. Orders and payments may be made online through the Granville County Government website at www.granvillecounty.org. (Information about the 275^th Anniversary can be located under the “Community” heading at the top of the page.) Those preferring to order and send payment by mail can complete an order form, which can be downloaded and/or printed from the website, to ensure early reservation. After Dec. 31, the book will be sold at the $49.95 price.

The collector-style coins will be available to the public in time for the holiday season. Measuring less than two inches in diameter, these heavyweight souvenirs will depict the full-color 275^th Anniversary logo on the front and an engraved image of Granville County’s iconic courthouse on the flipside.

Coins will be available for purchase in mid-December for $5.00 each. Books are scheduled to arrive by July of 2021.

A 275^th Anniversary committee was established by Granville County’s Board of Commissioners to plan the celebration of this historic milestone. Chaired by Commissioner Sue Hinman, the committee includes Comm. David Smith (Vice-Chair) Comm. Zelodis Jay, Helen Amis (Oxford), Toni Anne Wheeler (Creedmoor), Emily Champion (Butner), Janet Parrot (Stovall), David Pavlus (Stem), Mark Pace (Granville County Library System), Angela Allen (Granville County Tourism), Stephanie May (Granville County Historical Society Museum), Patrice Wilkerson and Lynn Allred (Granville County Government).

For more information on the book or the coin, or for a book reservation form, please see one of the above committee members or contact Patrice Wilkerson of the County Manager’s Office at 919-603-1308.

Board of Elections announces statewide recount

The Granville County Board of Elections will conduct a statewide recount for the election for the NC Supreme Court Chief Justice seat for candidates Cheri Beasley and Paul Newby.

The recount will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2020 in the Granville County Board of Elections office located at 208 Wall Street, Oxford, North Carolina. If not completed on Saturday, November 21, 2020, the recount will continue on Sunday, November 22, 2020. The time for Sunday has not been set and will be determined.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Fire Chief has restricted the number of non-Board of Elections employees in the auditorium to 12 people. If you would like to attend the meeting, please RSVP by email to the Director at Tonya.Burnette@granvillecounty.org. The meeting will also be broadcast by Zoom. Contact the Board of Elections at 919-693-2515 for more information and for instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting.

Tonya C. Burnette, Elections Director, Granville County

Low Income Energy Assistance Program begins Dec. 1

The Granville County Department of Social Services announces that the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) will begin Dec. 1, 2020 for residents age 60 or older, or for those disabled and receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS).

There are changes this year due to the pandemic. Some households will receive automated payments and will not need to apply for the LIEAP program. A payment will automatically be sent to their heating vendor.

The following requirements must be met:

• Persons aged 60 or older must live in household, or
• Household must include disabled individuals receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) AND receiving LIEAP payment for the 2019-2020 fiscal year AND are currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services.

Those eligible for the automated payment will receive a notice informing them they are eligible for the automatic payment. If there are any changes, such as change in heating vendor, address, etc., please make revisions on the notice and return to the Department of Social Services, or call Social Services at (919) 693-1511 to report any changes.

If you are age 60 or older or are disabled and receiving services from the Division of Aging and Adult Services – and if you do not meet the above specifications – you may apply by telephone, mail or fax, or you can drop off applications to the Department of Social Services (DSS) Dec. 1 through Dec. 31. There is no need to apply in person.

Applications for all other households will be taken beginning Jan. 1, 2021 by telephone, mail, fax, drop off or ePASS.

Please call the Social Services office at (919) 693-1511 to apply and to have an application mailed to you. Applications may also be picked up in the foyer at the DSS office, located at 410 West Spring Street in Oxford. Drop boxes are available in the foyer of DSS (8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.) and outside the building (24 hours, 7 days per week).

Painting honors county’s first African-American librarian

The Granville County Library System has announced the completed commission for an oil portrait of Maude Lassiter, the first African-American librarian in Granville County. Painted by artist Stephen Cefalo of Raleigh, NC, the portrait will soon be on permanent display at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford.

A native of the Jonathan Creek community, Lassiter was born on Sept. 12, 1892 and was a longtime educator in Granville County, having earned degrees in School Administration and Religion from North Carolina Central University, Shaw University and Atlanta University. In 1942, she was hired as a librarian at the Granville Street Library, the county’s first library for people of color. This was a position she would hold for more than 23 years. During her tenure, she is credited with introducing literature and knowledge to many people of the community, as well as for bringing luminaries Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, John Hope Franklin and Langston Hughes to the area. The impact of Mrs. Lassiter’s contributions to the community and to education are still being felt today.

Juanita Rogers, Head Chair of the Granville County Library System’s Board of Trustees, remembers Lassiter as being “the essence of kindness, caring and dignity” and the Granville Street Library as being a place that was “quiet and conducive to reading” throughout her childhood and teen years.

“Maude Lassiter’s leadership embraced an ambitious vision for the future of many children of color who were exposed to her skillful guidance and lectures in communication, stressing that ‘reading was the key to knowledge,’” Rogers recalls. “The library offered a variety of books and periodicals from different academic disciplines. There I enjoyed reading ‘Ebony,’ ‘Jet,’ ‘Life’ and ‘Time’ magazines. Some of the outstanding African-American newspapers were ‘The Journal and Guide,’ ‘The African-American,’ ‘The Carolinian’ and the ‘Carolina Times.’ Mrs. Lassiter’s bold and patient leadership encouraged young people from Oxford and Granville County to venture out in life in various positions and careers.”

Lassiter was also active in over a dozen community organizations and was particularly noted for her dedication to the First Baptist Church of Oxford. After four decades of public service and a lasting devotion to her community’s right to education and information, Lassiter retired in 1966 and died five years later. She is buried at the Plummer Cheatham Memorial Park in Oxford.

Andrew Maloney, Branch Manager of the Richard H. Thornton Library, notes that a ribbon cutting and reception to unveil the painting are now in the planning stages; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the date and time have not yet been determined.

“This painting was a collaborative effort by our staff to honor Maude Lassiter, a trailblazing woman who excelled in a field that had low black representation, in a state that was extremely segregated,” Maloney said. “We hope that this commission will also contribute to the representation of significant black citizens in our local history today, where they are often forgotten.”

Additional details about Maude Lassiter’s life and the history of the library she so skillfully directed are available through the North Carolina Room of the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford. Those interested in learning more can also contact North Carolina Room Specialist Mark Pace at 919-693-1121.

For more information about artist Stephen Cefalo, please visit his website at stephen.cefalo.com.

Notice of Public Hearing, Board of Commissioners

This is to inform the public that a public hearing will be held on the proposed SFY2022 Section 5310 – Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program grant application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The public hearing will be held on November 16, 2020 at or around 7:00 p.m. at the Granville County Board of Commissioners meeting in the Granville County Convention and Expo Center located at 4185 Hwy. 15 South, Oxford, NC 27565.

Those interested in attending the public hearing and needing either auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or a language translator should contact Kathy May on or before November 12 at telephone number 919/693-1930 or via e-mail at Kathy.may@granvillecounty.org.

The goal of these funds is to provide transportation services that meet the special needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities for whom mass transportation services are unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate.

The total estimated amount requested for the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022:

         Project                                   Total Amount                             Local Share

Capital (Vehicles & Other )           $161,000                                                $16,100 (10%)

Operating                                                     0                                                                      (50%)

Mobility Management                             0                                                                    (10%)

TOTAL                                                 $161,000                                                $16,100

This application may be inspected at the Granville County Senior Center, located at 107 Lanier Street, Oxford, NC from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, prior to November 16th.

Notice of public meeting, Board of Commissioners

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. for the regular scheduled meeting.  It had been hoped to meet in person, but due to current conditions and the Governor’s Executive Order limiting gatherings to 10 or less, the meeting will be held virtually by Zoom.

Please contact the County Administration Office at 919-693-5240 to receive the registration link.

Public comments and public comments for the 5310 Transportation Grant will be accepted in written format and must be received by Monday, November 16^th at 12:00 p.m. by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org.   

Debra A. Weary

Clerk to the Granville County Board of Commissioners

Westfall retires after thirty-six year career

Granville County Cooperative Extension Director Paul Westfall has retired after 36 years of service in the profession. He was honored on Oct. 29 with a retirement reception at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center.

Westfall served as County Extension Director (CED) in Granville County since 2008 and was the CED for both Granville and Person Counties for five of those years. Over the course of his career, he worked with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Westfall noted that the welcome he received in Granville County had been warm and encouraging. “None of the things I have been able to do would have been possible without the people around me,” Westfall said of his experience here. “Those I have worked with professionally and out in the communities, they are top notch people. I thank them for working with me and for what they do.”

In September of 2019, Westfall was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) by the National Association of County Agriculture Agents, presented to members who conducted outstanding programs and held in high esteem by their fellow workers.

Among those on hand to wish Westfall well in his retirement were colleagues, coworkers and friends from Granville County and from across the region. Offering congratulations from the reception podium were Dr. Richard Bonanno, Director of N.C. Cooperative Extension; Susan Kelly, District Director; Sandy Gabel, Cattlemen’s Association; Jason Falls, Citizens Advisory Board for Environmental Affairs; Harry Mills, Granville County Economic Development; Charissa Puryear, 4-H Youth Programs; Dr. Tony Cozart, Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership for Children; and David T. Smith, Granville County Board of Commissioners.

“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, we thank Paul for his service to the people of Granville County for a job well done,” said Chairman Smith. “He has done so much for the agriculture industry, both here and in other places where he has served, and we wish him well in his retirement.”

N.C. Forest Service offers discount to military members

In recognition of the service and sacrifice of members of the armed forces, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20 percent discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably-discharged or retired military personnel during the month of November. The discount applies to the first $500 of all new orders, up to a $100 discount.

“We are proud to offer this discount to our active military personnel and veterans,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Growing new forests and re-growing forests after harvest are critical to the long-term success of our forest industry in North Carolina. Our active military members and veterans are important partners in that success.”

To qualify for the discount, proof of service is required. A valid military ID, Department of Defense Form 214/215 or National Guard Bureau Form 22/22A is acceptable. Standard shipping rates still apply.

Tree seedlings may be ordered by calling 1-888-NCTREES or by visiting www.buynctrees.com.

The N.C. Forest Service Nursery program ensures that residents of North Carolina have access to the best native trees and genetics available for use on their land. Current available inventory includes longleaf pine, loblolly pine, white pine, a variety of hardwoods and native understory grasses.

For more information, contact County Ranger Rob Montague at the Granville/Vance office of the N.C. Forest Service at (919) 693-3154 or at rob.montague@ncagr.gov.