Posts written by Lynn Allred

Granville County student named a winner of national art contest

Artwork submitted by a student of Granville County Public Schools has been selected by the National Association of Counties (NACo) to be included in a 2022 calendar distributed nationwide.

Brim Royster, a junior at J.F. Webb High School, is one of 18 winners selected from a pool of entries submitted through local county governments across the nation. The “I Love My County Because…” art competition, sponsored by NACo, was held for students in grades 1 through 12, who were asked to explain in words and in art why “their county matters.” Royster’s entry depicts his strong family connections in the area.

J.F. Webb High School art teacher Ophelia Staton was recently notified of the selection.

“I am so excited for Brim and for our art program,” Staton remarked. “We have some talented students, and this recognition means so much for our school and – of course – for Brim. We are very proud of him. His talent is sure to take him very far.”

In addition to being featured in the NACo calendar, Royster will receive prizes and a certificate, as well as having his artwork published in the NACo newspaper “County News,” which is distributed to county members in all 50 states. More than 3,000 U.S. counties are active NACo members, including Granville County Government.

“Granville County was well represented in this contest,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman. “We thank all the students who participated, as well as the art teachers who submitted entries on behalf of their students. We are also grateful to Granville County Public Schools, who assisted us in this project.”

Students from J.F. Webb, Tar River Elementary and Creedmoor Elementary submitted artwork for the 2021 competition, which was introduced this year as part of the “Counties Matter” campaign. All entries are currently on display at the Harris Exhibit Hall of the Granville County Historical Society Museum, 1 Museum Lane in Oxford.

Quorum of Granville County Commissioners may be present on Aug. 19

PUBLIC NOTICE

A quorum of the Granville County Board of Commissioners may be present on Thursday, Aug. 19 2021 at 3 p.m. for a tour of the Granville County Courthouse, located at 101 Main Street in Oxford. For more information, please contact the County Manager’s Office at 919-693-5240.

-Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board

County Commissioners attend national conference

Granville County’s Board of Commissioners attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference in July. The conference, held in Prince Georges County, Maryland, included elected and appointed county officials from across the country to discuss current issues and topics of interest to counties in all 50 states.

Discussions and presentations scheduled during the conference included topics of technology, workforce development, community health, public safety, transportation, the environment, recreation, education, public land use, agriculture, finance and others.

Among those addressing the conference and serving as featured speakers were U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Founded in 1935, the National Association of Counties brings county officials together to exchange ideas and build leadership skills. Granville County is an active NACo member and is one of more than 3,000 counties included in the organization, which advocates for county needs and prioritizes local and regional issues in federal policy making.

Pictured are County Commissioners Zelodis Jay (District 1), Sue Hinman (District 3), David Smith (District 2), Tony Cozart (District 4), Jimmy Gooch (District 7) and Tim Karan (District 6) with Dr. Deborah Birx,  who served as White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator under President Donald Trump. (Not pictured but also attending the conference was Comm. Russ May of District 5)

To learn more about NACo, please visit www.naco.org.

Granville County Sheriff offers back to school safety tips

Granville County Sheriff Charles R. Noblin, Jr. offers safety tips for students, parents and residents as the new school year begins.

If riding the bus, students should:

• * Stand a distance away until the bus comes to a complete stop and the door opens:
• * Make eye contact with the driver to be sure he/she sees you;
• * Never walk behind the bus;
• * Use the handrail when entering and exiting the bus;
• * Be sure that clothing, drawstrings or book bags do not get caught on the handrail or in the door when entering and exiting the bus.
•  

When biking:

• * Always give proper signals, keeping a firm grip on the handlebar;
• * Make sure you obey all traffic signs and signals, stopping completely at stop signs and always looking both ways before starting out again;
• * Allow plenty of room for a safe stop. Never follow cars of other bikes too closely;
• * Only one person belongs on a bike. Never let a second person ride with you.
•  

When walking:

• * Remember to travel with a friend, whenever possible.
• * Don’t tell anyone your name or address if you don’t know them;
• * Never take money, candy or anything else from a stranger;
• * Always tell your parents or a teacher if a stranger has approached you;
• * If you think you’re in danger or don’t feel safe, get to the nearest public store or home of someone you know as quickly as you can.
•  

Motorists should:

• * Take extreme caution when traveling in a school zone;
• * Be alert to the possibility of youngsters walking or riding bikes in the road;
• * Slow down and prepare to stop whenever yellow school bus lights are flashing;
• * Never pass a school bus when there are flashing red lights and the stop arm is extended;
• * Learn and obey North Carolina school bus laws.
•  

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of 128 fatalities in school transportation-related accidents have been reported each year.

“Practicing safety and using precautions every day can help save our kids from serious injury,” Sheriff Noblin said. “We should all be extremely cautious when traveling, especially before and after school hours.”

The Granville County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 919-693-3213 for any safety concerns.

Learn more about popcorn with NC Cooperative Extension

NC Cooperative Extension – Granville County Center – will host a tour of a local popcorn plot with Crops Agent Gary Cross on Aug. 24. From 9 until 11 a.m., participants can hear about the history of popcorn and see more than 140 varieties of locally-grown popcorn.

This is also a great networking opportunity.

The NC Cooperative Extension, Granville County office is located at 125 Oxford Outer Loop Road in Oxford. Call 919-603-1350 or 336-599-1195 to register or for more information.

Board of Elections schedules Candidate Challenge Hearing

The Granville County Board of Elections announces that a hearing has been scheduled for 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. This will be a remote meeting and can be accessed through Zoom.

To join the meeting:

https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/j/89614428409?pwd=NjRBSVJBZFgyVVcwb0FtMWdYS3pVZz09

Meeting ID: 896 1442 8409
Passcode: 034735
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Find your local number: https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/u/kblXTpJnN9

County Commissioners to hold budget workshop on Aug. 19

Notice of Budget Workshop:

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet at the Granville Expo & Convention Center, 4185 Highway 15, Oxford, NC on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. for a budget workshop regarding the American Rescue Plan.  

For questions or for more information, please contact Debra Weary, Clerk to the Granville County Board of Commissioners, at 919-603-1307 or at debra.weary@granvillecounty.org.

StoryWalk® now featured at the Granville Athletic Park

The Granville Athletic Park (GAP) has been added to a growing list of recreational areas that now feature the StoryWalk® Project, a family-friendly activity that combines outdoor exercise with early literacy. Implemented by the Granville County Library System and strongly supported by the Granville County Board of Commissioners, StoryWalk® offers an innovative way to get families out walking together while enjoying the pages of colorfully illustrated children’s books.

The project was created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, a former chronic disease prevention specialist, who had an idea to create “something different, fun and interesting” to bring families together. Through a collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library, StoryWalk® was developed, introducing children to reading while encouraging outdoor activity.

“I knew I wanted to create something where the parents had to be as active as the children,” Ferguson has said about her idea. “Active parents have active children, and physical activity is a key component to chronic disease prevention.” 

Since being introduced, the StoryWalk® Project has spread to all 50 states and has been added to parks in several North Carolina counties. County Commissioner Tim Karan (District 6) was instrumental in soliciting support for the project and in bringing it to Granville County.

“Granville County Government continues to provide wraparound services to its residents,” Commissioner Karan remarked. “Recreation and literacy are important to the lives of young families. Every opportunity we have to get a book in front of a child, especially in a setting where physical activity can be included, is a win-win, and what better place to introduce StoryWalk® than in the County’s largest recreational space.”

Pages included on each colorfully illustrated storyboard take children along an educational path through the Granville Athletic Park, with the first page located at the new playground (near the tennis courts) in the park’s Phase III expansion. The book currently featured on the StoryWalk® is “One Duck Stuck,” a rhythmic counting tale. Amy Carlson, Children’s Librarian for the Richard H. Thornton Library, notes that stories will rotate several times during the year.

The Granville Athletic Park now totals 80 acres and is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford. To learn more about the GAP, please visit the GAP home page. To learn more about the StoryWalk® Project, please visit www.kellogghubbard.org.

County requests proposals for consulting services

Granville County is requesting proposals for consulting services to assist in the development  and implementation of a service district (or service districts) for fire protection, ambulance and rescue service, consistent with North Carolina State Statutes.

Proposals will be accepted through 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 and may be mailed to:
     Office of the Granville County Manager
     P.O. Box 906
     Oxford NC 27565

Proposals may also be delivered in person to 104 Belle Street in Oxford. (Faxed copies will not be accepted.)

Please mark all envelopes containing proposals as “Proposal for Fire, Ambulance and Rescue District(s) Consulting Services.” 

To view the proposed scope of services for this project, please click here.

Granville Athletic Park expansion officially dedicated

The Phase III expansion of the Granville Athletic Park (GAP) was formally opened on Saturday, July 24 with an unveiling of the dedication rock and engraved plaque on the 11-acre site. The ceremony was held in the park’s newly-completed pavilion, with Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman presiding.

The vision to expand the 69-acre Granville Athletic Park began in 2013 when the County obtained additional acreage to construct tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, an inclusive playground space, a fitness station, open green space, corn hole pads and a nearby shelter area. Future plans include an additional nine holes for the existing disc golf course.

Funding for the expansion project included grants from:

• * Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), $300,000
• * Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), $250,000
• * U.S. Tennis Association, $50,000
• * U.S. Tennis Association Southern, $20,000

Instrumental in the planning and support of the Park expansion was Michael McFadden, Chair of Granville County’s Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee, who joined others in providing comments during the dedication ceremony.

“I’ve seen this Park go from Phase I, and then the dedication of Phase II, and now it’s a real pleasure to watch Phase III get dedicated,” McFadden said. “I am very grateful and humbled about how Granville County Government operates and works to meet the recreational needs of our citizens, including the inclusive parts of the Park.”

Manager of the project was Scott Phillips, Granville County Development Services Director, with assistance from C3 Design and Engineering and construction by H.G. Reynolds Company, Inc.

Now at 80 acres, the Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford and is Granville County’s largest outdoor recreational area. To learn more about the Park, please visit www.granvillecounty.org. 

Pictured are Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman; Assistant County Manager Korena Weichel; former Granville County Management Analyst Charla Duncan; Granville County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Committee Chair Michael McFadden; Commissioner Russ May; Commissioner Zelodis Jay; County Manager Michael Felts; Commissioner Jimmy Gooch; Commissioner Tony Cozart; Commissioner Tim Karan; Commissioner David Smith; and Charlynne Smith, Director of Recreation Resources Service (PARTF and LWCF funding).