Archive for December, 2020

Sheriff’s Office provides holiday assistance

Deputies and staff of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office delivered Angel Tree gifts during the Christmas holidays, Items were personally delivered to go underneath the Christmas tree, along with a special Christmas message.

The Sheriff’s Office also sponsored a local family in need of resources this year, and delivered food, gifts and other items right to their front door.

“Many are experiencing difficult times this year,” said Granville County Sheriff Charles Noblin, “and it was uplifting to see the surprise and gratitude on the faces of those who received gifts for the holidays. We are grateful to all who participated, with special thanks going to ACIM and to Veneto’s Pizza of Creedmoor for their support and assistance.

Holiday schedule announced for Granville County Government

Offices of Granville County Government will be closed for the Christmas holiday on Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 28. Offices will re-open on Tuesday, Dec. 29 during normal operating hours of 8:30 to 5:00 p.m.

All branches of the Granville County Library System will be also be closed from Dec. 24 through Dec. 28, re-opening on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Due to COVID-19, limited hours continue for use by the public. Please contact your local library branch for their operating schedule.

The Granville County Landfill in Oxford, as well as convenience sites in Butner, Wilton, Berea, Grassy Creek, Oak Hill and Bullock, will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

For emergency calls, the 911 Emergency Communications Center remains on duty throughout the holiday season. For non-emergency calls, please dial 919-690-0444.

Howard retires after 42 years of service

After a 42-year career, Ernestine Howard of Granville County’s Department of Social Services (DSS) has announced her retirement. Hired in 1978, her long service with Granville County Government has set a record for the most years of employment with the County.

During her career, Howard transitioned to several key areas as needs in the Department changed, moving from a Clerk/Typist in the food stamp program to an Eligibility Specialist. After ten years in that role, she was promoted assistant to the supervisor before being moved to Fraud Investigator for the Public Assistance Program, where she conducted home visits and participated in legal actions. In 2006, Howard was promoted to Food Stamp Supervisor, earning the title of Program Administrator seven years later.

“You have to know about all the programs available and keep up with changes,” Howard said of her experience with Social Services. “You also have to care about the people you serve. That’s what it’s all about.”  

Social Services Director Adonica Hampton notes that it has been “her privilege” to serve with Howard each day.

“In the short time I have worked with Ms. Howard, I have seen her commitment to serving our citizens,” she said. “She could have chosen other human services opportunities, but she decided to serve at home, where her heart is. I have the highest regard for her, both personally and professionally.”

A floating reception was held on Dec. 10 in Howard’s honor, with co-workers, colleagues, Commissioners, friends and family in attendance. In his remarks, County Commissioner/Vice-Chair Tony Cozart described Howard as being a valuable asset to the Social Services team.

“Although we wish her the best in her retirement, her years of experience and her compassion for others will be sorely missed,” Cozart said. “She has a heart for public service, and has set a great example for others to follow.”

Howard’s retirement is effective Dec 31.

Smith awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Granville County Commissioner David T. Smith has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina. The award, established in 1963 and reserved for those making significant contributions to the state and to its communities through “exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments,” was made in honor of Smith’s long and dedicated service to Granville County.

The award was presented on Dec. 7 by Senator Mike Woodard.

Smith began his career in law enforcement in 1972 as a Granville County Detention Officer. During his tenure, he was promoted to Road Deputy, to Detective, and then to Chief Deputy, being appointed to the position of Granville County Sheriff by the Board of Commissioners on July 1, 1998. After his 2009 retirement, he successfully ran for the District 2 seat on the Granville County Board of Commissioners and has served in that capacity since December of 2010.

As Commissioner, Smith represents the county on the Granville Health System Board of Trustees; the Board of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments; the City of Oxford’s Downtown Economic Development Commission Board; the Region K Community Advisory Committee’s Board of Directors; and the Triangle North Board. He also serves on the Audit Review Committee; the Board of Equalization and Review; the Emergency Services Committee; Granville County’s 275th Anniversary Planning Committee; the Human Relations Commission; and the Senior Center Advisory Committee (Liaison).

Smith’s extensive career in law enforcement led to a 2019 appointment by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve on the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission. He is also a charter member of Granville County Crime Stoppers, where he serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors.

Smith is a strong advocate for the quality of life for older adults. In 2015, he was awarded the National Aging Impact Award by the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging (SE4A), one of the highest honors given by the SE4A Board.

As an Order of the Long Leaf Pine honoree, Smith is now included on a roster maintained by the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, joining notable recipients such as Maya Angelou, Dale Earnhardt, William C. Friday, Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Michael Jordan, Coretta Scott King, Richard Petty, Bob Timberlake, Dean Smith, Jeff Gordon, and Charles Kuralt, as well as many others who have demonstrated proven records of service to the state of North Carolina.

Smith is married to Denise Dixon Smith and has three children (Scott, Steve and Megan), two daughters-in-law (Jennifer and Kari) and three grandchildren (Taylor, Isabella and Liam). The family continues his legacy of service, as both sons are First Sergeants with the North Carolina Highway Patrol and his daughter is a registered nurse at Duke Regional Hospital.

County moves forward with Open Broadband Initiative

At their Dec. 7 regular meeting, Granville County Commissioners received an update on the progress of the Open Broadband Initiative and approved a Wi-Fi agreement with Open Broadband, LLC. Contracted in 2019, Open Broadband has been working with Granville County Government to develop preliminary plans to expand internet service in unserved and underserved communities.

Identified to host broadband equipment for individual paid subscription-based services have been the Wilton Tower in Wilton and the Oak Hill Tower in the northern part of the County, which was the first identified need in 2019. Following a lengthy plan review process, engineers conducted a structural analysis of the Oak Hill Tower and developed construction drafts. With final approval and permitting this past November, equipment has now been delivered and Open Broadband is in the process of scheduling installation dates and tower climbers in that area. After a brief testing period, Open Broadband will reach out to Oak Hill residents who are on their wait list to notify them of service availability.

In Wilton, an engineering consultant has begun work on a structural analysis of that tower’s capacity to support broadband equipment. Revised construction drawings for the site will follow completion of the analysis.

Projects at the Oak Hill Tower and at the Wilton Tower will continue the focus on improving broadband access in the County. The network build is expected to take place over a four-year time period, with Open Broadband working on two new “sectors” each year. Those interested in being added to the Open Broadband contact list for newsletters and service requests should contact Open Broadband LLC at 919-205-5400 or visit openbb.net. Updates are also available at www.granvillecounty.org/Broadband.

Installation of Wi-Fi “hot spot” services has now been completed at the Expo and Convention Center on Highway 15 South in Oxford, enabling internet access in the building and in areas of the parking lot. Installation at the Granville Athletic Park (GAP) on Belltown Road is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. Coverage will include field spectator areas, the covered area at the concession stand and the new tennis courts/playground area currently under construction (Phase III) at the recreational park.

A Wi-Fi “hot spot” map is now available on the Granville County Government website at www.granvillecounty.org.

Wedding vendors invited to participate in “BOWs” Tour

Granville County vendors are invited to participate in the 2021 “Brides on Wheels” Bridal Tour, scheduled for March 28, 2021. Brides planning a 2021-2022 wedding will be taking a scenic “caravan” tour to learn more about wedding locations and resources available to help plan the “perfect” event.

The day includes stops at five wedding/reception venues: Cedar Grove Acres (Creedmoor), The Barn at Vino (Stem), Carlee Farm (Oxford), Thorndale Oaks (Oxford), and The Orpheum (Oxford). Florists, photographers, caterers, event planners, disc jockeys, rental companies, etc. will be set up to welcome new brides throughout the tour and to display a variety of wedding service options.

Vendors interested in participating in the “Brides on Wheels” Bridal Tour are requested to register by Jan. 8, 2021. Space is limited, with first priority being given to Granville-based vendors. After Jan. 8, vendors outside of Granville County will be able to sign up to participate, depending on space limitations and availability. All vendors need to register by Feb. 5, 2021.

Sponsorships are also available, as well as opportunities to distribute items to future bridal couples in “VIP bags” given out to all who participate in the Bridal Tour.

For more information about the Bridal Tour, contact Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen by phone at 919-693-6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org. Brides who would like to save a seat on the “Brides on Wheels” caravan tour can register at https://granvillebows2021.eventbrite.com.

It’s Winter Weather Preparedness Week in N.C.

In North Carolina, Dec. 6 through Dec. 12 is Winter Weather Preparedness Week. Granville County Emergency Services urges all residents to plan now before potentially dangerous winter weather arrives:

Be ready for winter weather by:

• Keeping at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food in your home;
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• Dressing warmly, wearing multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing;
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• Keeping fresh batteries on hand for weather radios and flashlights;
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• Storing an emergency kit in your vehicle which includes an ice scraper,
• jumper cables, a tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, a flashlight, a first aid kit and a road map, as well as masks and hand sanitizer to combat COVID-19;
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• Keeping alternative heating sources and fire extinguishers on hand and knowing how to use them;
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• Properly venting kerosene heaters and keeping electric generators outside and away from open window or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning;
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• Using a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio to monitor changing weather conditions.

If you must travel during severe winter weather conditions:

• Be sure to leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles;
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• Reduce your speed, if driving along snow- or ice-covered roadways;
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• Pull off the highway, if conditions worsen, and remain in your vehicle. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you can take shelter, if needed;

Don’t forget to include pets in your emergency plans. To keep animals safe during winter weather:

• Make an emergency supply kit for your pet that includes medical records, a first aid kit, enough canned/dry food and water for three to seven days, a pet travel bag or carrier;
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• Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time;
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• Ensure your pet has a well-fitting collar;
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• Bring pets inside when temperatures drop below freezing;
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• Move livestock and other animals to a shelter location with food and water.

Granville County Emergency Services reminds all residents to be prepared for inclement weather throughout the year, and to stay informed about the hazards where they live.

For information about enrolling in CodeRED, Granville County’s free emergency notification system, please visit www.granvillecounty.org or call Granville County Emergency Services at 919-603-1310. For more information on how to prepare for winter storms, visit www.readync.org.

Granville County Register of Deeds sworn into office

Register of Deeds Kathy Taylor was sworn into office on Monday, Dec. 7 at the Granville County Courthouse. Administering the oath was Clerk of Court Yancey Washington.

The Register of Deeds is an elected office with a four-year term. Duties include providing proper maintenance, storage, recording, and indexing of the County’s public records, including birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, real estate documents, military records and other vital records. The office, located inside the Courthouse at 101 Main Street in Oxford, also provides copies of all documents when requested by the public.

Taylor was re-elected Register of Deeds on Nov. 3 and will be serving her fourth term in this office.

For more details about Granville County’s Register of Deeds office, please click here.

Notice of Recount – Board of Elections

The Granville County Board of Elections will conduct a hand-to-eye recount for the NC Supreme Court Chief Justice seat for candidates Cheri Beasley and Paul Newby. The hand-to-eye recount will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 7, 2020 in the Granville County Board of Elections office auditorium located at 208 Wall Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

Due to COVID-19, 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 in person, please RSVP by email to the Director at Tonya.Burnette@granvillecounty.org.

The meeting will be broadcast by Zoom and the link is:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/j/94885338836?pwd=SXlWZjgyZjl5ZEtJdVVvM0FZMGZ3QT09
Meeting ID: 948 8533 8836
Passcode: 894657

888 788 0099 US Toll-free
877 853 5247 US Toll-free

Tonya C. Burnette

Notice of remote meeting, Board of Commissioners

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. for the regularly scheduled meeting. Please contact the County Administration Office at 919-693-5240 to receive the registration link.

Public comments will be accepted in written format and must be received by Monday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m. by mail to PO Box 906, Oxford NC 27565, or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org.

To view the agenda, please here.

-Debra A. Weary

Clerk to the Granville County Board of Commissioners