N.C. Department of Correction--Correction News--April 1998

News Briefs

Nash Officer Loses Shirt Helping Others

It’s not everyday that a man will ruin a nice shirt and his golf towel to help out complete strangers. Yet, that’s exactly what Edison Page, a correction officer at Nash Correctional Institution, did early one Sunday morning.

Page was traveling to work at 5:30 a.m.- a time when most people are still asleep in their beds - when he came upon a Ford Explorer that had run off the road and flipped several times.

Two young girls involved in the accident spotted Page’s vehicle traveling in their direction and ran out in the road and flagged him down. Nine people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Page said the passengers were all fairly young, ranging in age from about 14 to 20. They were all shaken up and several were cut and bleeding.

Page immediately called the rescue squad on his cellular phone and then tended to the accident victims. Since it was only 28 degrees outside, he brought several victims to his truck to get warm.

"One of the girl’s face was cut and her jaw was busted open," he said. Searching for something to stop the bleeding, Page used the only thing he could find in his truck - his golf towel. In the process, Page also got blood all over a $65 shirt which he had to throw out, but he said it was all worth it just knowing that he’d been able to help.

Employee Wellness Focus of Fair

The Department of Correction will participate in the first-ever interagency health fair for Raleigh-based state employees May 13 and 14 at the State Fair grounds. The Wellness Fair will focus on employee wellness and will afford employees an opportunity to participate in a variety of health screenings designed for early detection and prevention of medical problems. DOC participation includes set-up and tear-down of the exhibits by IMPACT-East, T-shirts printed by Enterprise and a booth sponsored by the Office of Staff Development and Training. For more information, contact Cathrine Garner, Benefits Section, at 919-733-4465.

Employee of the Quarter Selected

Michele Strickland, accounting clerk V, has been named the Employee of the Quarter by the Controller’s Office for the period of November 1997 through January 1998. Strickland was selected for the award by Khalid Awan and Julie Carpenter for her extra effort in assisting other employees in solving computer problems and in recognition of her initiative to learn more about IE reports and Dataease programming techniques. Controller Sam Newman said he has been impressed with how well Strickland works with others in the Enterprise Accounting section.

Catawba Officers Assist with Reforestation Project

Department of Transportation officials recently expressed their appreciation to Program Supervisor Bill Richards and Correction Officer Jeff Fox for their assistance in DOT’s reforestation project. In twelve working days, inmates planted several thousand seedling trees consisting of ten different varieties. Fox helped coordinate planting areas along Interstate 40 and U.S. 321 in Catawba County and along U.S. 321 in Lincoln County.

Golf Tournament Scheduled

Forsyth Correctional Center’s 20th Annual Golf Tournament for Special Olympics will be held May 7 and 8 at Grandview Golf Club in Winston-Salem. The entry fee is $70 per golfer which includes golf for two days and refreshments. Format will be play your own ball. Players will be flighted after the first round. Contact Ronnie Evans, Brad Wiggins or J.W. Johnson at 336-896-7041 for more information.

Epiphany Ministry Held at WYI

The first "Epiphany" prison ministry event in a North Carolina prison was recently held at Western Youth Institution. More than 35 United Methodists from across western North Carolina worked for more than two years to plan and carry out the event. Epiphany is an ecumenical Christian ministry with incarcerated juveniles convicted of criminal offenses. The purpose of Epiphany ministry is to manifest God’s love to the incarcerated youths through a three-day short course in Christianity and an on-going follow-up program.

Margie Hatcher Retires

Margie Hatcher, longtime SEANC member and assistant superintendent for Programs at Franklin Correctional Center, recently retired from the Department of Correction. A member of SEANC District 41, Hatcher served as the membership chairwoman and the hospitality room hostess for several years.

Hatcher began her career with the department in 1974 as a clerk stenographer III in the North Central Area Office. She worked as a CPA and program supervisor at Triangle Correctional Center and Wake Correctional Center before transferring to Franklin Correctional Center in April 1989. She was promoted to program director in 1990 and assistant superintendent for programs in 1994. u

NC DOC Correction News- April 1998
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