GRANVILLE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM: 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. 

Frequently Asked Question: Why is Sewer Line Construction Taking Place During Daylight Hours Instead of Evening?

The city has been abuzz with a recurring question: Why is the ongoing sewer line construction being conducted during the daytime rather than at night? This strategic decision has been made to prioritize the safety of workers, residents, and commuters while ensuring the improvement of infrastructure.

This project is funded by a state agency, and it does not include the additional cost of work performed in the evening.

Evening construction activities will lead to additional costs of more than $1.5 million that the funding agency will not pay for. This financial increase is due to the necessity of paying higher wages to compensate workers for their overnight labor, the increased time it takes to do the work, the additional equipment such as lights, and more staff to address safety concerns. Daytime construction reduces the potential for accidental damage to existing infrastructure, such as water and sewer lines, internet, gas, and power lines. Also, there is an increased risk of damage to vehicles, equipment, buildings, and injuries or death to workers. In addition to worker safety, it is easier to manage vehicle traffic and pedestrians during the daytime, lowering the risk of accidents and incidents.

Supplies such as asphalt are available during the day. If the work is done during the evening hours, the cost of asphalt will be higher due to asphalt companies staying open later. In addition to the increased cost, it takes longer for the contractor to perform the work because they are managing more risks, it is more difficult to obtain supplies, and it makes them less efficient. Even though it is inconvenient, it is still the most cost-effective way to complete the work.

Will the Sewer Line Project Take Place During the NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival?

No, the sewer line project will not occur during the NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival. To ensure the success of the festival and to minimize disruptions for attendees and participants, it has been decided to temporarily suspend all construction work during the event. Once the festival concludes, construction work will resume as planned.

Projected Work Completion Schedule

The City of Oxford anticipates the sewer line construction to be complete on Hillsboro Street from Lewis to College and Bank Street, along with milling and overlaying of the utility patch on Hillsboro Street, around the beginning of November and before the Christmas shopping season. Unless unforeseen construction complications or weather-related factors arise that might affect the projected timeline.

For any inquiries, concerns, or questions, please direct them to our Communications Specialist, Sabrina Richards, at sabrina.richards@oxfordnc.org.

Abigail McKenzie, an esteemed educator at Butner-Stem Elementary, has been honored with a prestigious $15,000 GO Grant from the N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission. The award, presented by N.C. House of Representative Frank Sossamon, recognizes McKenzie's commitment to advancing outdoor learning experiences for students.

L to R:  BSES Principal, Dr. Day-Heggie, Abigail McKenzie, NC Representative Frank Sossamon

With the newly acquired grant, McKenzie envisions a groundbreaking initiative that will transform the school's educational landscape. Her visionary project involves the establishment of a state-of-the-art greenhouse facility within the school premises. The greenhouse will serve dual purposes: providing a sustainable source of fresh fruits and vegetables for the cafeteria and offering an immersive learning environment for the students. This innovative project not only addresses the importance of healthy nutrition but also creates hands-on opportunities for students to delve into the world of agriculture, biology, and environmental science. The N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission's GO Grant has long been recognized as a catalyst for transformative educational initiatives. Abigail McKenzie's pursuit of excellence perfectly aligns with the Commission's mission, and her grant is a testament to her exceptional contributions to the advancement of student engagement and environmental awareness.

GRANVILLE COUNTY VETEARNS SERVICES: A familiar face has been tapped as Granville County’s new Veteran  Services Officer. Albert “A.J.” Spiess takes on this new role after serving as Veteran Services Technician for the  past year. The Veteran Services Officer serves as the department’s director whose mission is to assist local  Veterans and their families with navigating the complex processes to access programs and resources at the state  and federal level. 

Originally from Lula, Georgia, Spiess is a retired Veteran of the U.S. Navy. He began his twenty-six years of  service after enlisting in Gainesville, Georgia and eventually rose to the rank of Senior Chief Master at Arms  (Military Police). Spiess served on six ships (USS Butte, USS Simpson, USS Briscoe, USS Truman, USS Harpers  Ferry, and USS Wasp). Before reaching the rank of Senior Chief Master at Arms, Spiess also served as Deck  Seaman and Signalman. 

Spiess also has extensive experience serving as Anti-Terrorism Officer/Physical Security Officer conducing anti terrorism training, Department Leading Chief Petty Officer/Lead Investigator where he investigated larcenies,  assaults, suicides, and other security violations, and Senior Master Training Instructor at the Navy Police  Academy overseeing major curriculum changes and teaching students at all levels of experience. 

In addition to his professional experience, Spiess previously volunteered with the Disabled American Veterans  (DAV), serving as Chapter Veteran Services Officer where he aided veterans and their families in obtaining  benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other government agencies. 

Spiess also holds an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security and  Emergency Management. He and his wife Corie have one child, Brooke, who is currently attending nursing  school. Spiess began his tenure with Granville County as Veteran Services Technician in July 2022 and most  recently served as Interim Veteran Services Officer. 

“After a rewarding year working with Granville Veterans, I am humbled and honored to be chosen as Granville  County’s new Veteran Services Officer,” said Spiess “I feel so privileged to serve our Veterans and their families.  This work along with my previous volunteer experience with the DAV is truly my calling. I look forward to  continuing to work with Granville’s Veterans and help guide them to access all the services and programs they  deserve.” 

“The Veterans Affairs Committee is really pleased that A.J. has been chosen to lead the Veterans Services  Office,” said Committee Chair Charles Miller. “As Veteran Services Technician, he demonstrated his commitment  to serving the needs of the veterans in our community. We are confident he is the right person to guide this  department into the future.”

The Granville County Veterans Services Office is located at 141 Williamsboro Street, Oxford and Creedmoor City  Hall (111 Masonic Street, Creedmoor). The current office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from  8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Oxford and Wednesday from 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. in Creedmoor. To learn more about the  services and programs offered, visit the Granville County website  

(https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/veterans-services/) or call 919-693-1484.

OXFORD, NC, August 14, 2023 -- The Granville Health System Foundation today announced that Jenna Radford, Emma Hicks, and Holly Currin all of Oxford are the recipients of its 13th annual Sam Perry Scholarship Award. Ms. Radford, daughter of John and Lisa Radford, is currently attending Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and will attend East Tennessee State University in the fall with plans to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner. Ms. Hicks, daughter of Greg and Julie Hicks, is a graduate of Vance Charter School and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to major in nursing with plans to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse. Ms. Currin, daughter of Randy and Marie Currin, is a graduate of Oxford Preparatory School, NC School of Science and Math, and Vance-Granville Community College, and will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to major in pharmacy with plans to pursue a career as a pharmacist.

In 2009, the Granville Health System Board of Trustees and the GHS Foundation Board of Directors established a scholarship fund in honor of Sam Perry, a physician’s assistant whose specialized medical care earned him deep respect from both patients and peers throughout his career at Granville Health System.

The Sam Perry Scholarship is awarded to Granville County residents who have been accepted into a two-year or four-year allied health program at an accredited school and who intend to pursue a career in the health care field. Programs eligible for this scholarship include various health-related specialties including, but not limited to, clinical laboratory sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiological science, pharmacy, RN, BSN, ADN, LPN, dentistry and related careers, physician, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner.

“The GHS Foundation is pleased to honor Sam’s vision and commitment to the community by awarding this year’s Sam Perry Scholarship Award to Jenna Radford, Emma Hicks, and Holly Currin each of whom exemplify the qualities of leadership, community volunteerism and academic discipline that will help them realize their health care career aspirations,” said James W. Crawford, Jr., a member of the Board of Directors of the GHS Foundation. “The Scholarship Committee was impressed by each of these recipients’ academic achievements, broad list of extracurricular activities and community engagement experiences which exceeded the criterion we look for as part of the Scholarship Award selection.”

About Granville Health System Foundation

The mission of Granville Health System Foundation is to serve as a charitable resource for Granville Health System (GHS), supporting its commitment to providing quality health care to all citizens of the community, where they work and live. The Foundation builds support for GHS and provides financial resources to purchase new equipment, develop new services, maintain, expand, and improve facilities. For more information about the Granville Health System Foundation, or to make an online contribution, please visit www.ghsfoundation.org. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

About Granville Health System

For more than 100 years, Granville Health System has been delivering quality healthcare. 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 Granville Health System 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.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lauren Roberson

919-690-2148

lbroberson@granvillemedical.com