N.C. Department of
Correction--Correction News--December 1997
BRAME PICKED AS 1997 DOC EMPLOYEE OF THE
YEAR
Raleigh - Secretary Mack Jarvis presented DOC’s
top employee award to Black Mountain Superintendent Renae Brame
during a reception in the Governor’s Press Conference Room
Oct. 28.
| "Ms. Brame’s numerous talents and skills
have been a tremendous asset to the Department of
Correction," said Secretary Jarvis. "She’s
energetic, dedicated and a model employee who is highly
respected across the state. I’m proud to bestow this
honor upon such a deserving person." Brame, who
has been supervising the Black Mountain prison since
1989, has a long list of accomplishments. She spearheaded
a campaign to raise $16,000 in private funds to construct
a chapel and multipurpose room at her prison. She
designed a stained glass window in the chapel which
Secretary Jarvis described as "beautiful and
inspirational." Brame also established the first
Community Service Project in DOC. Selected inmates and
staff work alongside Prison Fellowship volunteers to
renovate and repair the homes of elderly and low-income
residents. A 25-year veteran of DOC, Brame started a
Mother-Child retreat at her prison. This program allows
inmate mothers (accompanied by volunteers) to spend
quality time with their minor children at a local retreat
center.
|
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Also honored at the same reception were DOC’s 1997
nominees for the Governor’s Awards for Excellence. The
following is a short bio on each of the nominees.
| Clayton Bennett, Jr. is chief probation and
parole officer in Anson, Moore and Richmond counties.
Although he’s affiliated with several local
organizations, one of those closest to his heart involves
children and education. Mr. Bennett has been a member of
the Anson County Board of Education for fifteen years and
board chairman for the last two years. During his time on
the board, there have been constant improvements in
school buildings and academic achievement. Johnny L.
Deyton, judicial district manager for the 24th
district, is based in Madison County. He also has a
strong interest in children and education. He’s been
a member of the Yancey County School Board for seven
years and has served as chairman the last two years.
Although demanding, school board activities have not
detracted from Mr. Deyton’s continued hands-on
involvement with children. He has served as a mentor for
a youth-at-risk program and is always active in the
coaching and promotion of athletics. He currently serves
as volunteer volleyball coach at Mountain Heritage High
School.
|
 DOC’s 1997
nominees for the
Governor’s Awards for Excellence
|
If you think that everyone with 36 years of employment at DOC
is ready for retirement, then you haven’t met Ruth Dupree.
She recently took on the tremendous challenge of opening the
department’s first regional employment office at McCain. Ms.
Dupee has trained the staff in salary administration, employment
processing, testing policies and procedures. Her expertise will
be helpful when the next regional employment office opens in the
western part of the state. The regional office has improved
employment procedures, reduced the length of time to get
applicants hired and has resulted in a cost savings to DOC.
Betty McGuire is assistant director for administrative
services in the Division of Prisons. I don’t know what her
middle name is but it should be savings. At a time of massive
growth and change at DOC, Ms. McGuire’s accounting skills
have made the entire budget process clear. Her management of the
budget allows me to make legislative and executive office
presentations in an accurate and persuasive manner. Ms. McGuire
has established operating budgets for all 92 prisons. She has
negotiated better rates with utility companies for prisons saving
taxpayers nearly $40,000 annually. Ms. McGuire worked with the
purchasing officer to acquire more warehouse space, allowing DOC
to purchase in larger quantities. This translates into a savings
of more than $500,000 annually in food purchases alone.
Horace Ryan Aycock is a correctional officer at
Caledonia. Last December, Mr. Aycock was on his way home from
work when he noticed smoke coming from the roof of a house and a
child in the front doorway. Mr. Aycock quickly pulled over and
ran to the burning house. The child said his mother and sister
were still in the house. Without regard for his own safety, Mr.
Aycock searched the house until he found the other occupants and
helped them outside to safety. Although the family lost their
home, thanks to Mr. Aycock, they have something much more
important, their lives.
Officers John Andrews and Paul Jones work at
Franklin Correctional Center. Earlier this year, these men were
loading a medium custody inmate road squad into a security van.
Andrews noticed a pickup truck nearby pulling a trailer filled
with landscaping hay that was on fire. Officers Andrews and Jones
maintained armed supervision of the inmate work crew. Another
officer motioned to the truck driver to stop. Flames shot three
feet above the top of the hay. Officers grabbed a fire
extinguisher and two garden rakes from the DOC work van. They put
out the fire and raked the hay off the trailer. This is the type
of team work that makes DOC admired and respected across the
state. Thanks to quick thinking and excellent team work, the
inmates remained under armed supervision and the truck driver was
not injured and didn’t lose his trailer.
Sgt. Eddie Overby and Officer Linzy Clifton also
work at Franklin Correctional Center. They were traveling down
the highway when they discovered two vehicles that had just been
involved in an accident. Officer Clifton stopped traffic while
Sgt. Overby checked on two accident victims who suffered minor
injuries and helped them to the side of the road. The officers
assisted in having the vehicles removed from the highway to avoid
another accident. Then they used their radio to alert highway
patrol and stayed at the scene until help arrived. These men
could have looked the other way and chosen not to get involved
but they didn’t. They quickly sprung into action to help
someone in need and I thank you.
Betty M. Beam is judicial district manager in Forsyth
County. Working with the local district attorney’s office,
Ms. Beam developed a separate court calendar for probation
violation hearings. This increased efficiency by eliminating
extra time in court awaiting hearings. She has also helped to
establish an electronic fingerprinting repository between her
staff and the local police department. This has enhanced crime
solving in Forsyth County.
Flint M. Benson is assistant superintendent at Bladen
Youth Center. He has coached local youth athletic teams giving of
his time, money and energy to help our young people. He walks
several miles each year in local parades as a Shrine
"Ghostbuster," raising money for crippled children. At
Christmas time last year, Mr. Benson heard of a need in Bladen
County to collect toys for foster children. He went to an auction
house and set up boxes where patrons could make donations. He
collected hundreds of dollars worth of toys on behalf of
employees at Bladen. A lot of children had happy holidays thanks
to Mr. Benson.
Phillip K. Bowen is a correctional officer at Odom.
Last year he was in the prison’s tower doing inventory when
a car quickly pulled up and the doors flew open. The occupants
were calling for assistance and indicating that a child in the
car was not breathing. Bowen raced to the car and discovered a
two-year-old who was neither responsive nor breathing. Bowen used
his DOC training and began rescue breathing while another officer
called for more medical assistance. Odom’s nursing team
worked on the child until a rescue squad arrived and took the
little girl to the local hospital. She’s doing fine now,
thanks to Mr. Bowen’s quick action.
Scott Henry Britton is a transportation officer at
Green Correctional Center. He was in Germany and Bosnia from July
1996 through March of this year. His National Guard unit was
mobilized for service during the Bosnian crisis. DOC appreciates
Mr. Britton’s service not only to this state but to our
country. He bravely put himself in the middle of extreme danger
for his country. I’m really glad to have him back home and
I’m sure he’s glad to be back.
David W. Chester is superintendent at Hyde Correctional
Center. He’s had one of the toughest jobs in this
department...opening and staffing a medium custody prison in a
remote section of the state. In spite of the many obstacles and
challenges, Mr. Chester got the prison open and running and is
doing a fine job overseeing one of our newest prisons. Mr.
Chester has earned a reputation as an efficient administrator who
can develop and implement a large project and then see it through
to completion. Through Mr. Chester’s efforts, the groundwork
has been laid for continued community support through the
establishment of a good relationship with county leaders and
local industry.
David E. Cothron is a correctional officer at Marion
Correctional Institution. He consistently comes in early and
works late to cover staff shortages. He trains new employees in
the standard operating procedures at Marion. He also trains other
staff on the OPUS system. Although he has taken on the
responsibilities of an acting sergeant, Mr. Cothron still manages
to fulfill his duties as a correctional officer and he does this
well. His positive, upbeat attitude helps take the edge off a
stressful profession.
Cathy S. Dixon is the grievance screening officer at
Pender Correctional Institution. Ms. Dixon is very dedicated to
her job and often goes beyond the call of duty. When Ms.
Dixon’s mother passed away earlier this year, Ms. Dixon
reported to work long enough to make sure the grievances over a
holiday weekend were taken care of and up-to-date. She was also
very helpful in the command center during hurricanes Bertha and
Fran.
Isiah Gore is a correctional officer at Pender
Correctional Institution. Last April, he just happened to be
glancing out the window in his home when he noticed a vehicle
being driven at a high rate of speed and crashing into a pine
tree. Officer Gore immediately dialed 9-1-1 and reported the
accident. He then rushed outside to check on the driver, a
teenager who had already been removed from the vehicle. The
victim was not breathing and had no pulse. Officer Gore began
C-P-R until a rescue squad arrived. The victim soon began
breathing and showing a pulse. Although the teenager later died
at the hospital, Officer Gore is to be commended for doing
everything he could to help out someone in need.
Melvin D. Noles is an administrative assistant in the
infirmary at Central Prison. His work never ends. If he’s
not scheduling incoming appointments, he’s arranging for
inmate appointments at outside medical facilities. He plans,
documents, and coordinates information regarding the special
medical needs of critically ill patients. He assists other
prisons in completing diagnostic evaluations that have been
requested by doctors at Central Prison. Mr. Noles also assists
with the notification of inmate deaths to families, DOC personnel
and other state agencies.
Christina Peck is a correctional officer at Pender. She
was working in the dining hall last January when she noticed an
inmate walk by her holding his throat. After following the inmate
and realizing that he was choking, Officer Peck applied the
Heimlich Maneuver. A piece of food in the inmate’s throat
was dislodged. Officer Peck’s sharp eyes and quick reaction
helped save an inmate’s life.
Gloria Pinkston is in charge of the Exceptional Student
Program at Morrison Youth Institution. This program assists
students with emotional, mental or behavioral problems. Ms.
Pinkston must screen, interview and test all students. Each of
them placed in the program is the culmination of hours of work
and dedicated service. Ms. Pinkston always double checks and
insures that every form is filled out correctly and every step is
followed.
Danny Safrit is deputy administrator for the North
Piedmont Area. He is also safety coordinator for the area and has
ensured that all facilities are in compliance with the safety
policy. His assistance with bringing six more prisons on line
when the western area closed was invaluable. Even before coming
to the area office, Mr. Safrit was respected for his management
style. While superintendent at Sandy Ridge, Mr. Safrit saw other
prison administrators tour his facility - which was considered a
model. State health inspection scores improved dramatically.
Jackie Townsend is classification coordinator at
Foothills. She developed an OPUS step-by-step instructional
booklet for all Foothills staff. At one point, when her staff was
down by 50 percent, her office maintained a high level of
productivity. That’s because of Ms. Townsend’s
foresight to cross-train her employees. Her office is responsible
for population control, transfers, paroles and releases. Her
office regularly faces stressful and last-minute decisions that
require special planning. She’s always come through.
NC DOC Correction News-
December 1997
NC Department of Correction News
NC
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