Walk-In Behavioral Health Center in Granville County Celebrates a Successful Opening and Community Partnership 
 

Oxford, N.C.– Local officials, law enforcement, health care providers, and other community partners came together Thursday to celebrate the opening of a new walk-in center in Oxford. 
 

The center will primarily serve residents of Granville County, offering support and services to help people experiencing a behavioral health crisis in the same way an urgent care clinic serves people who need immediate help for physical health issues. 
 

Vision Behavioral Health Services will operate the facility. Nicole Qualls, Vision’s Owner and Clinical Director, expressed her appreciation for the trust Vaya and the community place in her agency, saying, “We are humbled by the opportunity to serve Granville County, and understand the responsibility given to us today.” 
 

Donald Reuss, vice president of behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disabilities network operations for Vaya Health, recognized the outpouring of local support that made the walk-in center a reality. 
 

“At Vaya, we’re thrilled to see this walk-in center come to life for this community,” said Reuss. “This is why we are passionate about the work we do, and none of it would be possible without the support from the people who call Granville County home.”
 

The new facility will offer an array of services to help individuals in crisis, including same-day assessments with recommendations for care, de-escalation, stabilization and safety planning. Other services, such as medication management and individual and group therapy will be available for individuals seeking ongoing support after a behavioral health crisis. 
 

Granville County Commissioner Russ May called the opening a “giant step” in the county’s efforts to address mental health challenges and substance use recovery. 

“We can never give up or stop trying. We must explore a full array of tools, and this clinic, I hope, will be such a tool,” said May, a member of Vaya’s Regional Board for Granville, Vance, and nearby counties. 
 

In addition to May, officials attending the event included Granville County Sheriff Robert Fountain Jr.; state Sen. Mary Wills Bode; state Reps. Frank Sossamon and Matthew Winslow; Granville County commissioners Tony Cozart, Jimmy Gooch, Sue Hinman, Zelodis Jay, Tim Karan, and Rob Williford; and other community leaders. 
 

To learn more about walk-in crisis centers and the services they provide, visit https://www.vayahealth.com/get-help/walk-crisis-centers/. 

About Vaya Health 
 

Vaya Health is a specialty managed care organization that oversees publicly funded behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services across a 31-county region of North Carolina. Vaya manages Medicaid, federal, state and local funding to meet member and community needs while advancing whole-person health. Together with our members, provider network and local partners, we’re moving forward to a healthier North Carolina. Access to care and crisis assistance is available 24/7 at 1-800-849-6127. Learn more at vayahealth.com. 

Senior Services Medicare Open Enrollment Assistance Program Helped 645 Granville Seniors in 2022 
 

GRANVILLE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES: Granville County Senior Services provides assistance to local seniors during the annual federal Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Open Enrollment period. In 2022, Granville’s certified Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) staff helped 645 seniors explore their options and enroll in the plan that would best meet their needs. This enrollment assistance program helped Granville County seniors save a total of $264,312 on their prescription drug costs. Granville’s SHIIP counselors work with seniors to ensure that they are enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan that best meets their needs and will provide medications at the best price.  
 

“The best Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for each individual can change from year to year,” according to Granville County Senior Services Director Kathy May. “Our counselors spend months researching the differences in each plan utilizing an online tool released by the federal Medicare Office. We know that plan changes can be stressful and overwhelming for Medicare enrollees, so we are glad that we can offer the peace of mind for our seniors that there are trusted and qualified counselors at their local senior centers ready and willing to help.” 
 

Granville County has offered SHIIP counseling services at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford for many years and was able to expand services to the South Granville Senior Center in Creedmoor in 2022. During the seven-week open enrollment period, 562 seniors were served at appointments at the Oxford Senior Center and 83 seniors received the same service at the South Granville location in Creedmoor. The North Carolina Department of Insurance oversees the SHIIP certification program, a rigorous course with quarterly trainings required to maintain credentials. Currently, Granville County Senior Services has seven SHIIP counselors on-staff:  Jill Floyd, Judy Gray, Marilyn Howard, Carolyn Keith, Kathy May, Teresa Rowland, and Christy Southall.  
 

The Medicare Part D Open Enrollment window will once again run from October 15 through December 7, 2023. Enrollment assistance from qualified SHIIP counselors will be offered at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford and the South Granville Senior Center in Creedmoor. Granville seniors will be invited to make appointments for counseling and enrollment assistance in late summer or early fall. 
 

For more information about SHIIP counseling or other services and programs offered by Granville County Senior Services, please visit their website https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/ or call 919-693- 1930. 

Cooperative Extension to Host Two Screenings of Hog Farmer: The Trials of Joey Carter 
 

GRANVILLE COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION: N.C. Cooperative Extension, Granville and Person County Centers will host movie nights on February 3, 2023 (Granville) and February 10, 2023 (Person) screening the documentary “Hog Farmer: The Trials of Joey Carter.” This documentary tells the story of a Duplin County, North Carolina hog farmer that found himself in the middle of a federal lawsuit involving some of the nation’s most ruthless lawyers and one of the world’s largest food companies.  
 

The screening in Granville County will be at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center (4158 US Hwy 15, Oxford) on February 3. The doors will open at 6:00 pm and the movie will start at 6:30 pm. The showing in Person County will be at the Person County Administration Building auditorium located at 304 S. Morgan St., Roxboro. The doors will open at 6:00 pm and the movie will begin at 6:30 pm for the Person County showing as well. 
 

Admission is FREE; however, donations will be accepted for the NC Agromedicine Institute in support of farmer mental health awareness and suicide prevention. There will be snacks and drinks available to purchase with any profits also going to the NC Agromedicine Institute. 
 

For more information, please contact N.C. Cooperative Extension, Granville (919-603-1350) or Person (336-599- 1195) County Centers. 

BOE Votes to CLOSE Creedmoor Elementary School and RELOCATE GC Hawley Middle School to that Campus!

At a special called meeting on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 4:00 pm, the Granville County Board of Education voted 6-1 to close Creedmoor Elementary School and relocate GC Hawley to that campus effective with the 2023-2024 school year.

This action follows extensive research and analysis of a wide variety of information and data, which were included in a formal study (linked here), as well as input from a variety of stakeholders, including opinions provided at a recent public hearing held on January 17, 2023.
 

Following this decision, specific actions steps will follow, which include:
 

• The creation of a transition plan for the reassignment of Creedmoor Elementary School students.
• the creation of a tranisition please for the reassignment for Creedmoor elementary School faculty and staff.
• The development of new southern area elementary school attendance zones.
• The development of a facility transition plan with specific tasks for the renovation of facilities and relocation of furniture, equipment, and supplies.

Regular meetings will be held in the coming weeks and months to share progress and updated with all stakeholders.

Durham, N.C. - Antonio King has been named the Head Football Coach at Charles E. Jordan High School. 
 

Coach King takes over the Falcons football program after most recently serving as the Head Football Coach at South Garner High School. He has also served as Head Football Coach at Cedar Ridge High School, Hargrave Military Academy (Virginia), and Hillside High School.
 

At Hillside, Coach King joined the Hornets in 2005 as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before being promoted to the head coaching position in 2009. As head coach, he led the Hornets to a 72-20 record, including a 40-1 record in the PAC-6 Conference, six straight conference championships, and the 2010 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 4A State Championship with a perfect 16-0 record. King was also named the PAC-6 Coach of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. 


 

Following his successful stint at Hillside, Coach King served as Running Backs coach at both East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. 

A native of Durham, Coach King is a 1993 graduate of Hillside High School, where he played quarterback. He began his collegiate career at Howard University before transferring to North Carolina Central in 1996, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management.

Media Contact: Joseph Sharrow

Phone: (231) 392-4953

Email: joseph_sharrow@dpsnc.ne

Granville County Tourism Development Hosts Project Uplift Kickoff Meeting 
 

GRANVILLE COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: The Granville County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) in partnership with Uplift North Carolina invites the public to attend a kickoff meeting on Thursday, January 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center (4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford) to begin Project Uplift. 
 

Project Uplift is a collaborative effort between Appalachian State University, NC State University, and  NatureScapes. Its goal is to boost tourism in rural North Carolina by working across county borders to support local tourism leaders and practitioners to realize their unique vision for tourism in their communities. Project Uplift will work to boost tourism connections in Granville, Person, and Caswell counties, as well as four other county cohorts spread throughout the state. 
 

Uplift North Carolina’s goals for each region are to provide over 200 businesses with strengthened skills, products, or operational models, provide support for 100 grant/loan applications, provide video/image packages, and reach 3,000,000 people with information about tourism in rural North Carolina. 
 

“We are excited to work with Uplift North Carolina to boost tourism and support local businesses in Granville County,” said TDA Director Angela Allen. “We know that visitors to are not concerned with exactly where county lines fall, and we know we can work with Person and Caswell counties as a team to boost all local tourism in this region and across rural North Carolina. We believe Granville is ‘Uniquely Carolina’ and we know anyone who comes to visit us will agree.” 
 

The January 26 session will begin with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. followed by a presentation from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Please RSVP by Friday, January 20 to angela.allen@granvillecounty.org or 919-693-6125. 
 

For more information about Uplift North Carolina, visit www.uplifttourism.com.  

Angela Allen

OXFORD, NC – A significant land donation from Fred Battaglia to Tar River Land Conservancy (TRLC) has ensured that 59 acres of open space will remain undeveloped in the growing community of Oxford. The transfer of the land to TRLC was completed in December 2022. Mr.  Battaglia donated the land to TRLC to safeguard its forest, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. In the coming years, TRLC plans to work with local officials to create a new nature preserve on the property, which will include a network of hiking trails for visitors.  
 

The Battaglia Tract is located southwest of downtown Oxford near Lewis Street (US-15). The property adjoins the “Village at Hatchers Creek” neighborhood that is currently under construction. The Battaglia Tract is completely forested except for six acres of wetlands that provide habitat for dozens of species of wildlife. The wetlands buffer Hatchers Run, a stream that flows through the Battaglia Tract. Prior to Mr. Battaglia’s purchase of the land in 2001 and 2002, the property was owned by several generations of the Kersey family.  
 

“Fred’s incredible gift ensures that this land will remain green space forever,” noted Derek Halberg, TRLC Executive Director. “As the communities of Granville County continue to grow, TRLC is working with wonderful landowners like Fred Battaglia to set aside important tracts of land for conservation, and where possible, to create new outdoor recreational destinations for residents and visitors.”  
 

Since 2016, TRLC has opened 10.8 miles of public hiking trails on four nature preserves in southern Granville County. Mr. Battaglia’s land gift now opens the door for TRLC to begin planning for a future nature preserve in the central part of the county.  2 “The people of Granville County have been very kind to me, and the land has brought me great enjoyment over the years,” noted Mr. Battaglia. “I’m comforted to know that this land is now permanently protected and that TRLC will in the future open the property for the people to explore, enjoy and find a sense of tranquility that only nature may bring.” 
 

Streams on the Battaglia Tract flow into Fishing Creek, which is a tributary of the Tar River.  Since the protection of the property helps protect water quality and important wildlife habitat, TRLC was awarded a grant from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (nclwf.nc.gov) to cover costs of the land transaction. 
 

If you or a family member are interested in speaking with a TRLC representative about options to protect your land, please contact Derek Halberg by email at info@tarriver.org or by calling 919-496-5902 during business hours.  

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 Tar River Land Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust that works to preserve natural resources across Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Nash, Person, Vance, and Warren Counties, North Carolina. Since 2000, Tar River Land Conservancy has protected 22,854 acres of land and 196 miles of streams. For more information, please visit www.tarriver.org. 

Historic Swearing-in for MAry Wills Bode to the North Carolina State Senaet Oxford, North Carolina
 

North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall administered the oath of office to Mary Wills Bode for North Carolina State Senate District 18 at a ceremony this past Saturday, January 7 at 3:00 P.M. at the Granville County Courthouse. Senate District 18 is a newly created district comprised of Northern Wake County (North Raleigh, Wake Forest and Rolesville) as well as all of Granville County. 
 

A crowd over 250 people gathered to watch the historic event, as it is the first time in over half a century that someone from Granville County has been elected to the North Carolina State Senate. Granville County Commissioner Tony Cozart presided over the ceremony, which included remarks from North Carolina State Senator Mike Woodard (Senate District 22, Durham County) as well as Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. In her inaugural speech, Senator Mary Wills Bode reiterated common themes from her campaign: she will be a bridge builder and problem solver on issues like expanding Medicaid in order to ensure people have access to quality healthcare, working with parents and teachers to ensure every child has a pathway to a productive future, and bringing good-paying jobs to the communities across the district. Senator Bode urges constituents to reach out to her office by email (marywills.bode@ncleg.gov) or phone (919- 733-5850) if they have any concerns or suggestions. 

Senior Services Continues Creative Lifelong Learning Classes in 2023
 

GRANVILLE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES: Granville County Senior Services is ready to continue offering classes to continue the popular Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program this winter. The CLL schedule promises to offer something for everyone with courses focused history, literature, healthy living, organizing strategies, and more.
 

Some upcoming program highlights include:

• Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and the Epic Cycle: Thursdays January 12 – February 2

• Prioritizing Me in 2023: January 18

• Duplicate Bridge for Beginners: Mondays February 6 – March 27 (must register by January 30)

• Behavioral Awareness: Do You Know Your Personality Type? February 7 and 14

• An Overview of Native American History: Wednesdays February 8 – March 15

• Coffee with Allison - Organizing Cabinets: February 9
 

For more information, please contact Granville County Senior Center at 919-693-1930. To view course flyers, visit the Senior Services Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064457631282 or the CLL website (https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/center-lifelong-learning/cll-program-

flyers/).
 

The CLL program’s mission is to provide opportunities to engage the mind, elevate the spirit, and foster the well-being of adult learners through a wide range of educational programs, physical activities, and social events.



The program is modeled after the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke and N.C. State University as well as other Triangle-area senior center programming, and is funded through a generours endowment and by annual memberhip, class fees, and donations. Course registration priority is given to Granville County residents over the age of 50. Those under the age of 50 may register if there are remaining seats.

To begin or renew your annual CLL mempership, visit the CLL webpage (https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/center-lifelong-learning/) or visit the Granville County Senior Center (107 Lanier Street, Oxford).

Granville Health System Receives Performance Leadership Award for Patient Outcomes from Chartis Center for Rural Health
 

OXFORD, NC, Jan. 6, 2023 – Granville Health System, one of North Carolina’s leading rural health care providers, today announced it has been recognized with a 2022 Chartis Rural Hospital Performance Leadership Award for excellence in Patient Outcomes. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (e.g., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals throughout the US in Quality, Outcomes and Patient Perspective.
 

“Granville Health System is very pleased to be recognized for its excellence in patient outcomes by The Chartis Center for Rural Health,” said John F. Snow, CEO, Granville Health System. “The entire team at Granville Health System remains committed to serving the health and wellness needs of Granville County.”
 

The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX™, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. INDEX data is trusted and relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across several areas impacting hospital operations and finance.
 

“Although the last two years have placed unprecedented pressure on the rural health safety net, the dedication to serving the community that we’re so accustomed to seeing from rural hospitals across the country hasn’t wavered,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “Let us celebrate the power of rural and honor the facilities working tirelessly to provide access to high quality healthcare services to their communities.”

About Granville Health System
 

For 100 years, Granville Health System has been delivering quality health care close to home. To meet the growing needs of its community, Granville Health System has expanded its services throughout Granville County, offering convenient access to medical care where its citizens work and live. The GHS main campus is located at 1010 College Street, Oxford, North Carolina. For more information about Granville Health System visit GHS online at www.ghsHospital.org



 

Granville County Human Relations Commission to Host MLK Event on Monday, Janurary 16 at Oxford Baptist Church

GRANVLLE COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: On Monday, Janurary 16, the Granville County Human Relations Commission will hoat an event to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will be held at the Oxford Baptist Church sanctuary (147 Main Street, Oxford), with the program starting at 9:00 a.m. Due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 pandemic, seating will be limited to 200, masks will be required, and breakfast will not be served.

Granville County will also make the event available virtually for those unable to attent in-person. The event will be streamed live on Granville County's Youtube channel, which can be accessed at

www.granvillecounty.org/youtube. A recording of the event will also be made available on the Graville County Facebook page, and Granville's Spectrum Channel 17 government access channel later the same week. The videos will remain available for "on-demand" viewing on Youtube, Facebook, and the Granville County website (www.granvillecouny.org)

This year's program will include the middle school and high school winners of the annual Martin Luthr King, Jr. essay contest, a musical preformance, and numerous Human Relations Commssion members. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Dena Moss Moten, Academic Interventionist at Excelsior Classical Academy. S teacher for more that 15 years, Dr. Moten hails from Granville County and is a product of the Granville County Public School System. She has a BA degree in English from NC Central University and holds a master's degree in Counseling and a PhD in Education, both from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Be sure to join the Granville County Human Relations Commission in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our talented Granville County students and citizens on Monday, Janurary 16 at 9:00 a.m.

We are pleased to introduce the new Granville County Youth Leadership Council members for 22-23. This Council is in partnership with the Granville County Board of Commissioners and Granville County Cooperative Extension, and they represent a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives in our community. 

The purpose of this Council is to ensure that youth in the community have a voice, but most importantly, that their voices are heard, recognized, and valued. During their tenure, they will gain invaluable leadership skills through servi

ce on selected county boards, outreach, initiatives, and youth-led projects.  

The GCYLC members were chosen from a pool of applicants comprised of students from high schools across Granville County. The term of office runs from September 2022-June 2023. 

GCYLC Members 2022-2023 Term 

Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Elaina Eley, Vice Chair, Board Liaison, District 6 

Carissa Jackson-Rodriguez, Secretary, Board Liaison, District 3 

Jaden Easow, Treasurer, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Media and Public Relations Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 

Vashti Pearson, Social Media/Content Creator, Board Liaison, District 5 

Chloe Hernandez, Social Event Chair, Board Liaison, District 1 

Asia Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Morocco Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 

Annie Drake, Board Liaison, District 2 

Elijah Griffin, Board Liaison, District 1 

Joydan Johnson, Board Liaison, District 6 

Iesha Landis, Board Liaison, District 6 

Amber Necessary, Board Liaison, District 6 

Cassie Peele, Board Liaison, District 3 

Brodie Winbourne, Board Liaison, District 1

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are collectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, political beliefs, family and marital status, sex, age, veteran status, sexual identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, or disability. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. 

The members have already worked hard, participating in an orientation and planning retreat at Camp Oak Hill in November. This retreat served to help them understand their roles and provided an opportunity to conduct an informal needs assessment and strategic plan for youth in Granville County. Additionally, the members created the mission of the Council, which states,” The mission of the Granville County Youth Leadership Council is to provide representation, opportunities and direct connections for Granville County youth by support and amplifying youth voices and focusing on causes that affect our peers and us through education, resources, activities, community outreach, and partnerships.” 

Members will be meeting monthly on the 2nd Saturday. If you would like more information about the Granville County Youth Leadership Council, contact the Cooperative Extension office or email the Council directly at granvilleylc@gmail.com