Employee of the quarter selected

Probation and parole officers in Judicial District 26 treated to lunch

Stanly auto mechanics program saves state money in repairs

Gates accounting clerk crowned queen of Eastern Star

McDowell Technical Community College has begun a new horticulture technology program at Marion Correctional Institution.

The program will provide inmates with job skills training and valuable work experience. The department has a need for trained inmates to assist facilities throughout the state in maintaining grounds and landscaping. Graduates of the program will help fill this need as they are promoted in custody level and transferred to other facilities. The instructor for this new program is Ken Kincaid.

Kincaid is a graduate of the horticulture technology program at Western Piedmont Community College, with eight years of experience in curriculum and therapeutic horticulture. His previous work experience includes horticulture programs at Foothills Correctional Institution and Western Youth Institution.

DOC employees awarded Advanced Certificate

The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education Standards Commission recently awarded the Advanced Certificate to Correctional Officer Ricky D. Hoyle, Correctional Lieutenant John Michael Habuda and Marchanda S. Lewis, program assistant II.

The Advanced Certificate is the highest professional certificate awarded to law enforcement and criminal justice officers in North Carolina. Typically, only 275-300 Advanced Certificates are awarded yearly.

Employee of the quarter selected

Accounting Clerk Pam Brooks has been named Employee of the Quarter by the Controller’s Office for September through November 1998. Controller Sam Newman said Brooks was selected for her outstanding work in paying medical bills for the department.

Probation and parole officers in Judicial District 26 treated to lunch

Probation and parole officers working for Cynthia Mitchell in Judicial District 26 in Charlotte were treated to lunch at Kabuto’s Japanese Steak House restaurant in recognition of their hard work during employee appreciation week. Team members include Levi Dellihunt, Jacqueline Murphy, Zeritha Bass, Secretary Berry Smith, Pam Perry, James Fisher-Davis, Joseph Byrne, Scott Haynie and James Lamont Taylor.

Stanly auto mechanics program saves state money in repairs

Inmates enrolled in the automotive mechanics program at Stanly Correctional Center have saved the state and Stanly County thousands of dollars by repairing and maintaining state vehicles since the program’s inception in 1973.

Inmates enrolled in the program, offered by Stanly Community College, have not only repaired state vehicles but have also repaired numerous vehicles for volunteer fire and rescue squads. McCord Barbee and Oren Huneycutt have been the instructor team at the unit for more than 10 years. Huneycutt retired in December while Barbee continues to teach at the facility as it converts from medium to minimum security.

During 1998, 20 students successfully graduated from the program.

Gates accounting clerk crowned queen of Eastern Star

Anne Boone, an accounting clerk at Gates Correctional Center, was recently crowned the 1998-99 Queen for the Order of the Eastern Star, District Four. Boone received a certificate of recognition, awards, a trophy and other gifts for her outstanding work. u