Stories Across Granville

New Faces Join County Administration Office

Posted September 21, 2023

Granville County has welcomed two new additions at the Administration Office. Karen Evans joins the Administration Department as Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners and Tammy McGhee comes on board as Recruitment Specialist for the Human Resources Department. Evans and McGhee bring significant experience and skillsets to Granville County as they begin their new roles.

Karen Evans joins Granville County for the second time after working from 2011 – 2015 as a Child Support Agent with the Department of Social Services before joining Cabarrus County Social Services in the same role. Following her time in Cabarrus County, Evans moved to a different career path and worked as Adult Literacy Director with Reading Connections in Greensboro. In her spare time, Evans volunteers as a tutor teaching English to adult immigrants and refugees. She is a native of Oxford and a graduate of South Granville High School. Evans holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Certificate in American Politics and Public Affairs from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Evans currently resides in Oxford.

Tammy McGhee brings a wealth of experience in private sector Human Resources and talent recruiting to her new role with Granville County. McGhee has worked for Reichold, Inc in Durham making her way to Human Resources Specialist before moving to Biogen in Morrisville to work in recruitment, talent acquisition, and onboarding. Most recently, McGhee specialized in training and development with GKN Automotive in Mebane. In her spare time, McGhee enjoys volunteering with the National MS Society, Stop Hunger Now, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boy Scouts of America where she served as Committee Member and Treasurer for Durham Lion’s Club Pack and Troop 17 where her son, Jordan, rose to the rank of Eagle Scout. McGhee currently resides in Durham.

Both McGhee and Evans work out of the Granville County Administration Office located at 104 Belle Street in Oxford. They can be reached at 919-693-5240.

Granville Street Library Historic Marker Dedication

Posted September 21, 2023

Community leaders gathered on September 15 to honor the history of the former Granville Street Colored Library with the dedication of a new historic marker. Former US Representative G.K. Butterfield, who represented North Carolina’s 1^st Congressional District from 2004 to 2022 was joined by Granville County District 4 Commissioner Tony Cozart, Reverend Edward Davis, Jr. of First Baptist Church, City of Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent, former CEO of NC Mutual Life Insurance Company James Speed, Reverend Willie Darby, Reverend Floyd Greenwood, Granville County Library System NC Room Specialist Mark Pace, and former Granville Street Library Branch Manager Helen Currin Amis to dedicate the historic marker.

“This marker represents the importance of literacy for generations of Granville residents,” said Commissioner Cozart. “My hope is that when people see this marker, they will strive to educate themselves and others. Literacy is how we continue to strive for equality and justice while also enjoying all of the resources that this county offers. We were so blessed to have people in this community who understood how important it was for all residents of Granville County to have access to literacy resources. I hope all those that see this marker will realize the work and sacrifice that so many were willing to put forth the to open and operate this facility that served so many members of Granville’s African American community.”

G.K. Butterfield recalled the rich history of the Granville Street Colored Library not just as an educational resource, but as a community gathering place by stating “I began my political career by meeting with Granville residents right here in this building. I was working on Howard Lee’s congressional campaign while I was a student at NC Central University and our goal was to increase African American voter registration in this district. I would meet with local community leaders to organize and register voters in Granville County where only ten percent of African American voters were registered to vote at that time. Now we have voter rolls that truly reflect Granville County’s diversity, and this is reflected in the elected officials that you see on the Board of County Commissioners, Board of Education, and cities and towns throughout this county.”

The Granville Street Colored Library opened its doors to the African American community on June 12, 1942. Maude Warren Lassiter served as the library’s director for many years and she and the library hold a special place in the history of Oxford and Granville County. The Granville Street Colored Library received visits from numerous African American leaders throughout its history including poet and social activist Langston Hughes, educator and President of Howard University Mordecai Johnson, and historian and longtime Duke University professor John Hope Franklin. In 1965, the Granville County Library System integrated and added the Granville Street Library as a new branch. Helen Currin Amis served as Branch Manager until 1975 when the Granville Street branch closed and was merged with the Richard H. Thornton Library.

The historical marker was made possible by a partnership between the Granville County Library System Board of Trustees and First Baptist Church of Oxford. Funding for the marker came from the Granville County Library System Memorial Fund. The marker can be viewed at the site of the former Granville Street Library located at 314 Granville Street in Oxford.

A video of the event can be viewed on the Granville County YouTube page by visiting www.granvillecounty.org/youtube or the Granville County Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GranvilleCountyGov

Sheriff’s Office Announces Citizens Academy Dates

Posted September 20, 2023

The Granville County Sheriff’s Office is now taking applications for a new Citizens Academy scheduled to begin Monday, October 2, 2023.  This Academy is offered to Granville County residents that are 18 or older.  It will provide a GENERAL OVERVIEW of the Sheriff’s Office, including duties, functions, responsibilities, crime prevention, community involvement, as well as other topics of interest to our community.  Classes will be held on Mondays primarily from 6pm-9pm at the Granville County Sheriff’s Office

Applications will be taken until Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Come by and submit your application today!  Space is limited.

Granville County Sheriff’s Office
525 New Commerce Drive, Oxford, NC 27565
For more information, please call 919-693-3213

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 begin in September of 2023 and typically meet once per week at the Granville County Sheriff’s Office (525 New Commerce Drive, Oxford), and registration is required.

The Academy is open to all persons age 18 and older. For more information, please call 919-693-3213 or click here for a downloadable brochure and application.

Granville County Celebrates the Career of Harry Mills

September 15, 2023

Harry Mills Retirement Celebration – September 14

September 5, 2023 Board of Commissioners Meeting Recap

Posted September 6, 2023

The Granville County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 5 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center. The meeting featured a welcome for two county employees starting in new positions along with recognitions of service and achievement for several county residents.

The Board of Commissioners extended a welcome to Veterans Services Officer Albert “A.J.” Spiess who began his tenure with Granville County in 2022 and was promoted to his current position in August 2023. Granville’s new Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Karen Evans was also introduced at this meeting after starting work with the county the same day.

Howard Tyler was recognized for his twenty-eight years of service to the Granville County Planning Board. Commissioner Tony Cozart thanked Tyler for his decades of service to the county and the citizens of District 4. Chair Russ May and Commissioner Zelodis Jay then recognized the thirty-year career of recently retired NC State Highway Patrol Master Trooper Joe Sinnema. Sinnema spent the entirety of his career patrolling Granville County and quickly rose to the rank of Master Trooper in 2002 after beginning his Highway Patrol career in 1995.

Commissioners Zelodis Jay and Jimmy Gooch also recognized Ronnie Norwood, Elnora Morehead, and Patricia Penn for their medal winning performances in the National Senior Games held in Pittsburgh, PA. Norwood received a gold medal in the cornhole competition and Morehead and Penn won the silver medal in the bowling competition.

The Board also conducted the following business:

• Received an update from Granville County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne and approved a joint Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars and the Ratification of House Bill 306 (School Calendar Flexibility/Granville & Vance).
• Received an update from Upper Neuse River Basin Association Executive Director Forrest Westall.
• Received an update about Granville County’s participation in the NCDOT Fall Litter Sweep scheduled for September 15.
• Held a public hearing and approved a $300,000 incentive ($275,000 cash and $25,000 grant match) for Altec Industries to expand their existing facility in southern Granville County. The cash incentive will only be paid out after increased tax revenues resulting from the expansion are received by the county.
• Held a public hearing and approved a $25,000 grant match incentive for Auction Direct USA to open their new facility in Oxford.
• Held a public hearing and approved a $22,500 grant match incentive for Bridgestone-Bandag to expand their existing facility in Oxford.
• Approved the purchase of remote-control lighting for GAP Phase II youth baseball and soccer fields at a cost of $21,795.
• Approved the purchase of 100 oversized and 56 regular sized cots for emergency shelter use. Funding was made available from the federal Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) revenue.
• Approved funding for a part-time paid firefighter position at the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department to match the same level of funding provided to all other fire districts in Granville County.
• Appointed Cynthia Ratliff and Marvin Davis to the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Committee.
• Appointed Sandy Woody to the Oxford Board of Adjustment.
• Approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Creedmoor for the shared Grants Officer position.
• Approved Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Amendment #1.
• Approved North Granville Senior Center Project Ordinance.
• Approved tax refunds, releases, and write-offs.
• Approved a request that NCDOT abandon 0.2 miles of Fleming Road between US Highway 15 and Northside Road.
• Approved Federal Title VI Civil Rights Program for Granville County Senior Services.
• Approved Minutes from January 3, 2023; January 17, 2023; February 6, 2023; March 20, 2023; April 3, 2023; April 17, 2023; and May 1, 2023.
• Received an update from County Manager Drew Cummings about the scheduled County Manager listening sessions that will be held in each county district from September through November. The first session will be Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stem Ruritan Club (3595 Old NC 75, Stem).

To stay informed about upcoming meetings of the Granville County Board of Commissioners, visit the Granville County website www.granvillecounty.org where you can sign up for the “Sunshine List” and follow the county on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GranvilleCountyGov. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.

County Manager Listening Sessions Scheduled

Posted August 31, 2023

Granville County Manager Drew Cummings will host a series of listening sessions in each Granville County district from September through November 2023. The listening sessions will provide the opportunity for members of the public to learn more about county government, the role of the County Manager, and to ask questions or give feedback about county operations in a relaxed informal environment. Cummings will be joined by members of the Granville County Board of Commissioners along with other county staff members.

“We have had an eventful year since I began as County Manager and I thought it was time to get out in the community and make sure that I’m getting face-to-face time with our residents,” said Cummings. “I have spent time in all corners of Granville during my tenure as County Manager, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know some of these communities better and to having the time to sit down and talk with our residents. I think it’s critical to my performance that each citizen can inform me about the issues that are truly important to them.”

The listening sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the dates and locations listed below:

• Thursday, September 14 at Stem Ruritan Club (3595 Old NC 75, Stem)
• Thursday, October 5 at Granville County Senior Center (107 Lanier Street, Oxford)
• Thursday, October 12 at Tar River Elementary (2642 Philo White Road, Franklinton)
• Tuesday, October 17 at Camp Oak Hill (1528 Oak Hill Road, Oxford)
• Thursday, October 26 at Creedmoor Community Center (116 Douglas Drive, Creedmoor)
• Monday, October 30 at Butner Town Hall (415 Central Avenue, Butner)
• Tuesday, November 14 at Stovall Library (300 Main Street, Stovall)

For more information, contact the Granville County Administration Office at 919-693-5240.

Granville Street Library Historic Marker

Posted August 30, 2023

The site of the former Granville Street Colored Library will be recognized with an historic marker, which will be unveiled to the public on Friday, September 15 at 12:00 p.m. The event will be in front of the former Granville Street Colored Library located at 314 Granville Street in Oxford. The public is invited to the celebration of this important Granville County historical landmark, which will feature remarks from former US Representative G.K. Butterfield.

The Granville Street Colored Library opened its doors to the African American community on June 12, 1942. Maude Warren Lassiter served as the library’s director for many years and she and the library hold a special place in the history of Oxford and Granville County. The Granville Street Colored Library received visits from numerous African American leaders throughout its history including poet and social activist Langston Hughes, educator and President of Howard University Mordecai Johnson, and historian and longtime Duke University professor John Hope Franklin. In 1965, the Granville County Library System integrated and added the Granville Street Library as a new branch. Helen Currin Amis served as Branch Manager until 1975 when the Granville Street branch closed and was merged with the Richard H. Thornton Library.

The historical marker was made possible by a partnership between the Granville County Library System Board of Trustees and First Baptist Church of Oxford. Funding for the marker came from the Granville County Library System Memorial Fund.

For more information about the event, contact the Thornton Branch Library at 919-693-1121.

8th Annual Military History Show – October 28, 2023

Posted August 25, 2023

Tax Administration Launches New Payment System

Posted August 23, 2023