Archive for February, 2022

Senior Services to Host Driver Safety Course

Posted February 23, 2022

Registration is now open for AARP Driver Safety Courses hosted by Granville County Senior Services. The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation’s first and largest driver safety course designed especially for drivers 50 and older. The course is intended to help drivers live more independently as they age and remain safe on today’s roads.

The AARP Driver Safety Program course covers defensive driving techniques and the normal changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time associated with aging. The course also provides practical techniques for adjusting to these changes to ensure the driver’s own safety and that of others on the road. Participants learn about current rules of the road and how to operate their vehicles safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. Course topics include maintaining proper following distance, methods of changing lanes and turning at intersections, effects of medications on driving, minimizing the effect of dangerous blind spots, limiting driver distractions such as eating, smoking, and cell phone use, properly using safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes, maintaining physical flexibility, and monitoring the driving skills and capabilities of yourself and others.

The North Granville Senior Center in Stovall will hold this class on Monday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. You must preregister for this class by calling the center at (919) 693-3383.

The Granville County Senior Center in Oxford will hold this class on Thursday, March 31 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. You must preregister for this class by calling the center at (919) 693-1930.     

The course cost is $20.00 for AARP members and $25.00 for non-members, which includes all course materials. Course participants may be eligible to receive a state mandated, multi-year discount on their auto insurance premium. Participants should contact their insurance company or agent for more details. The instructor for this class will be Lynroy Thomas, a certified AARP Driver Safety Program instructor.

Granville Athletic Park Announces Staff Office Hours

Posted February 23, 2022

Visitors to the Granville Athletic Park (GAP) can now access park staff at the new reservations office Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. During office hours, visitors to the GAP can connect with park staff and find out more about reservations for athletic fields, tennis courts, and facilities at the GAP or renting the meeting and event facilities at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.

The GAP office will be primarily staffed by the County’s Venue and Activities Coordinator, Andrew Smith. Andrew joined the County in October 2021 and is the new primary point of contact for renting facilities at the GAP and the Expo Center. Customers can stop by the reservations office for any questions they may have about the GAP or the Expo Center or to pick up paper rental forms, complete an in-person payment, or to pick up keys before an event rental date.

The reservations office is located near the main entrance of the Granville Athletic Park, 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford. Just look for the walk-up window on the restroom building near the picnic shelter, playground, and large soccer fields.

Available rental space at the Expo Center includes a 163-seat auditorium, a 2,028 square foot meeting room, a covered outdoor exposition area, and a catering kitchen. Rental facilities at the GAP include tournament-ready baseball/softball/soccer fields and tennis courts, a picnic shelter, sports pavilion, sand volleyball pits, amphitheater, and a spray park (open Memorial Day through Labor Day).

In alignment with the Granville County 2021-2025 Strategic Plan’s first objective to expand service delivery options to residents through online access, County Administration launched an online portal for facility reservations at the GAP and Expo Center. Customers may create an account in the Civic Rec catalogue to complete the entire reservation process from home. The online portal also includes an interactive calendar showing facility availability to aid in event planning.

To browse the online reservation system and view available dates and facilities, please visit our website or call (919) 693-3716. For in-person assistance, visit the GAP Reservations Office Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Soil and Water Conservation Seeks Students to Sponsor for 2022 Workshop

Posted February 21, 2022

Board of Commissioners Annual Retreat

Posted February 18, 2022

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet at the Granville Expo & Convention Center, 4185 Highway 15, Oxford, NC on Monday, February 21, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. and at Camp Oak Hill, 1528 Oak Hill Road, Oxford, NC  on Friday, February 25, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. for their annual retreat.

Any questions should be directed to Debra Weary, Clerk to the Board, at 919-603-1307 or emailed to  debra.weary@granvillecounty.org. 

View the retreat agenda.

2022 Granville County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy

Posted February 18, 2022

The Granville County Sheriff’s Office will host the second annual Citizens Academy, beginning in April 2022.  The Citizens Academy offers classes to provide a general overview of law enforcement issues, crime prevention, patrol procedures, and additional topics of interest regarding law enforcement for the community. This program will build a better understanding between law enforcement and those served by the Granville County Sheriff’s Office.  Classes will be held each Tuesday from 6 until 9 p.m. in the training room of the Law Enforcement Center (525 New Commerce Drive, Oxford), and registration is required. Apply now by picking up a paper application at the Granville County Sheriff’s Office or downloaded here.

For more information about the Citizens Academy, please call 919-693-3213.

Primary Election Candidate Filing to Resume on February 24

Posted February 8, 2022

Candidate filing for the 2022 statewide primary and rescheduled municipal elections will resume at 8 a.m. February 24 and end at noon March 4.

On December 8, the N.C. Supreme Court suspended the filing period, which had begun December 6, and moved the date of the statewide primary and rescheduled municipal elections to Tuesday, May 17. The general election is November 8.

Candidates who filed before the suspension of the filing period do not need to re-file if they still wish to run for the same office. However, those candidates may withdraw their candidacy during the new filing period and instead file for any other office for which they are eligible. The deadline to withdraw is the close of business on March 1.

“Choosing to run for an elected office is a major decision,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We want filing to be a smooth and customer-friendly process for all candidates, and we have strived to create an efficient and safe environment for everyone.”

Depending on the office sought, candidates will file their Notices of Candidacy with either their county board of elections or the State Board of Elections.

Candidates for the following offices will file with the State Board:

• U.S. Senate 
• U.S. House of Representatives 
• N.C. Supreme Court Justice 
• Judge of the N.C. Court of Appeals 
• Superior Court judge 
• District Court judge 
• District attorney

Candidates for the following offices file with their county board of elections: 

• N.C. Senate 
• N.C. House of Representatives 
• All county and municipal offices

Important: Candidates filing with the State Board will file at the Governor James G. Martin Building, 4381 Trinity Road, Raleigh, located on the N.C. State Fairgrounds. (Note: This is a change in location, as candidate filing in December was held in the Exposition Center, also on the Fairgrounds.)

Candidates, guests, and members of the media should enter the Fairgrounds through Gate 9 on Trinity Road. (See Fairgrounds map.)

February 7, 2022 Remote Meeting Notice

Posted February 3, 2022

Due to the recent rise in Covid numbers, the Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call for regular meetings through March 2022. This includes our regular meeting scheduled for Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 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, February 7th, at 12:00 p.m. by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org.

You may view the meeting agenda by following this link.

Tourism Mini Grants Call for Applications

Posted February 2, 2022

The Granville Tourism Development Authority (GTDA) is now accepting grant applications for the upcoming fiscal year.

The primary purpose of the GTDA’s mini-grant program is to assist Granville County organizations and agencies in the promotion and marketing of events and activities that encourage tourism and create an economic impact from visitor spending. The goal is to help stimulate events/activities that can grow and eventually thrive on their own merit, without direct funding. Any approved funding should be considered as a supplemental resource only.

Applicants eligible for grant funding must be a Granville County-based community group, nonprofit organization, or a municipality or recognized community located within Granville County. For-profit groups cannot apply for grant funding unless the event’s proceeds will go to a community-supported organization.

Projects to be considered should encourage out-of-county visitors, with primary consideration given to those that promote the GTDA’s mission of marketing the area as a travel destination. (The tourism industry’s definition of a “visitor” is an individual trekking outside of 50 miles to attend an event or activity.) Events planned for off-peak times may receive higher priority.

Total funding of any event, project or program will not be greater than 25 percent of the total project budget and will not exceed $5,000. Included with the request can be a one-time artist/entertainment allowance of up to $1,000.

Grants applications will be accepted until April 18, 2022, for inclusion in the upcoming fiscal year (July 2022 through June 2023). The GTDA Board will review applications and will be prepared to make recommendations for approval during their June board meeting. Award recipients will be notified after July 1, 2022, when the new fiscal year begins.

Applications are available online or through the Granville County Tourism Development office, 124 Hillsboro Street in Oxford or may be accessed on the Granville County website. Those interested may also contact Angela Allen, Tourism Director, at (919) 693-6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.