Korena Weichel, Author at Granville County

Commissioners Recognize Volunteer Service for Animal Welfare

Last night at the Granville County Board of Commissioners meeting, Roxanne Blackburn was awarded the Granville County Volunteer Service Award for Animal Welfare. Roxanne is the first to receive this award for her animal welfare work since the Commissioners began this awards program. Commissioner Sue Hinman presented the award along with Animal Control Director, Matt Katz, and Dr. Trudi Bowden, a member of the Granville County Animal Control Advisory Committee.

Roxanne has spent hundreds of hours working with the animal shelter, including taking photos of all the dogs that come through the shelter and working with rescue groups to get dogs into foster programs. She is integral to the great work that is done at the Granville County Animal Shelter. We also use her photos on the county website and Facebook pages, so she helps more than one county department!

Thank you, Roxanne, for all that you have done, and we know will continue to do, for Granville County residents with two AND four legs!

Guthries Chosen as Area IV Conservation Farm Family of the Year

Randy and Barbara Guthrie were chosen to represent Area IV as the Regional Outstanding Conservation Farm Family. The Guthries were selected by the Granville Soil and Water Conservation District to compete in the area competition which included the following 11 counties: Granville, Durham, Wake, Franklin, Warren, Halifax, Nash, Johnston, Wilson, Edgecombe and Vance. As Area IV winners, they will go on to compete in the regional competition (N.C. Piedmont area). From there, the winner will compete against winners from the coastal and mountain regions. A state winner will be selected from the three regions. The North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Outstanding Conservation Farm Family award recognizes farmers/farm families who are taking the initiative to implement sound, innovative and cost-effective conservation techniques and are actively involved in conservation education.

Visitors to the Guthrie Farm will see an extensive list of conservation practices. More than 300 of the 335 acres they own are in one of four types of conservation easements: the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, Ecosystem Enhancement Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and a donated easement. These easements are held and monitored by Tar River Land Conservancy. Much of the Guthrie farm was used for tobacco and was considered highly erodible and has since been converted to pasture, wildlife or trees. Randy keeps his Soil and Water Conservation, Wildlife and Forestry Plans current and participates in many of the cost-share programs offered by the NRCS, Granville Soil and Water District and the NC Forest Service. In addition to wildlife and forestry, Randy raises over thirty Angus heifers that are sold for herd replacements. Following his conservation plan, he has implemented Best Manage Practices, such as livestock exclusion (to streams), prescribed grazing and installed waterers. Guthrie enjoys his farm and implements most of the Conservation Best Management Practices himself.

Mr. Guthrie retired as the Superintendent from the NC State University Butner Beef Cattle Field Lab in Butner. His wife, Barbara, is retired from the Granville County School System. Randy and Barbara reside on their 335 acre farm near Berea on the Gooch’s Mill Road bordering Shelton Creek. Randy has been active with conservation for many years. He has served as District Supervisor for more than 12 years, currently as Vice Chairman. He has also worked with the Tar River Conservancy and hosted their field day celebration on his farm on two different occasions. Their farm was also used to host The National Wild Turkey Federation Youth Day. Guthrie serves on the Granville Soil and Water Local Advisory Committee and was an advisor for the Granville County Volunteer Agriculture District. Randy is an active member of the NC Cattleman’s Association and NC Forestry Association. He is an avid hunter.

Paint the County Purple

RTRP Hosts USDA Listening Tour in Granville

The Research Triangle Regional Partnership hosted the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director and his staff as part of a regional listening tour at the Granville County Expo Center in Oxford today. Folks from all over the region came out to take part. Thanks for listening! #GrowwithGranville

Rabies Vaccine Clinic to be Held May 19

Rabies Alert

Kids in Parks TRACK Trail Opens at the GAP

To help gear up for Earth Day on Friday, April 20th, the Granville Athletic Park held a grand opening event for Granville County’s first ever Kids in Parks TRACK Trail system.

The Granville Athletic Park TRACK Trail follows an easy 1.3 mile loop around the park. Along the way, you will traverse forest and wetlands. Keep your eyes open for birds and other animals that their home in these habitats.

The trail follows the woodline around athletic fields and other recreational resources. In the southeast corner of the park, hikers will be able to explore the Jonesland Environmental Preserve, a beautiful wetland ecosystem.

The TRACK Trail brochures will help you explore this environment and learn about the things you may find on your hike.

Learn more about Kids in Park.

County Participates in NC DOT Litter Sweep

How did we celebrate Earth Day and the close of Volunteer Appreciation Week? We picked up trash. Thanks to our dedicated county employees and officials that went out to the Brassfield area in District 6 to participate in NC DOT’s Spring 2018 Litter Sweep!

Volunteer Appreciation Week

It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week! We know that we have some wonderful volunteers in Granville County, especially volunteers that help our government agencies do some amazing work. We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their willingness to give of their time, energy, and resources to make our community a safe, vibrant, and healthy place. Thank a volunteer today!

Walking Track and Playground Dedication in Oak Hill

The Toler Reach Out Community Club held their walking track dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday, April 15th, 2018. The ceremony was held on-site in the Oak Hill community. Both the walking track and playground equipment were funded through the Granville County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commmittee Recreation Grant Program. Commissioners Sue Hinman and Zelodis Jay attended, in addition to Jimmy Williams, representing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Charla Duncan, Granville County Management Analyst and staff support to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, was also in attendance. Congratulations to the Toler Reach Out Community Club for all of their hard work and dedication to bettering their community!