| Gaston officer assists
police Boy Scout volunteer receives Silver Beaver Award Chief probation parole officer helped recover $14 million Employee of the quarter selected |
Tyrrell
Work Farm employees give back to the community In an attempt to make a positive impact in Tyrrell County, employees at the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm recently participated in several charitable events to help the community. Tyrrell employees held a food drive and collected 232 non-perishable food items for the community’s newly formed food bank. In addition to collecting food, employees also spread some cheer throughout the community by delivering goodie bags filled with items donated by the staff to the Tyrrell County Senior Citizen Center and by collecting toys that were delivered to underprivileged children in the community. The residents of Tyrrell County have very much appreciated the endeavors of the employees of the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm. Dallas Police Chief E.F. Friday recently expressed his appreciation for the deeds of Gaston Correctional Officer Gene Jones. Several months ago, Jones was traveling along U.S. 321 when he came upon a crime scene where Police Officer Jerry Howell had been seriously injured by a suspect he was trying to arrest. Jones assisted officers at the scene and even went to the hospital to check on Howell’s condition. While at the hospital, Jones attended to the needs of Howell’s family members. "Officer Gene Jones is truly a fine example of your workforce, and his actions hold to the highest traditions of the Department of Correction," Chief Friday said. "Officer Gene Jones is definitely an asset to society and reflects the ideals of your fine organization." Boy Scout volunteer receives Silver Beaver Award Ben Daniels of Central Engineering was recently awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Tuscarora Council for his work as a Boy Scout volunteer. The Silver Beaver Award is the highest award a council can give to a volunteer. Daniels has been a Boy Scout volunteer for the past 13 years. He began working with the scouts in 1985 as an assistant scoutmaster. He went on to become a scoutmaster and instructor for scoutmaster courses, as well as serving as a staff member for the Wood Badge course, program director for the national Camp School and heading the committee to build a rappelling tower. Chief probation parole officer helped recover $14 million Division of Community Corrections Director Robert Guy recently congratulated Sandy Epperson, chief probation parole officer in Charlotte, for the vital role he played in the investigation of the Loomis Fargo Armored Car Company theft. Guy said the tireless hours that Epperson spent working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation was a profound demonstration of Epperson’s dedication to duty and commitment to community safety. "The apprehension of the guilty suspects and recovery of $14 million in cash and assets serves as the ultimate example of community corrections at its best," Guy said. Employee of the quarter selected Receptionist Grace Dilda has been selected as the Employee of the Quarter for the Controller’s Office for the period October through December 1998. Dilda was selected for her outstanding work managing the office’s front desk and high volume of telephone calls. Probation officer out-lifts the competition Tom Grant, a probation/parole officer from Division 3, Judicial District 17-A, recently took up weight lifting and after a year of hard work, has already won several competitions.
His second competition was in November at the AAU North Carolina State Bench Press Championship. In the 165-pound Sub-Masters RAW Division, he took first place and set a state record. The third competition was in December at the 98 AAU State Powerlifting Championship. He was again entered in the 165-pound Sub-Masters RAW Division where he took first place and was also presented with the Best Lifter award. He set state records with a squat of 360 pounds, bench press of 305 pounds and a deadlift of 475 pounds for a total weight lifted of 1,140 pounds. Grant began working with the department in Feb. 1992 after stints of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. He was recently promoted to a PPO II and resides in Rockingham County with his wife, Kelly, and their two children. Date set for Volunteer of the Year banquet The department will hold its Volunteer of the Year banquet at Ballentines Cafeteria in the Cameron Village Shopping Center on April 21 in Raleigh. The state Volunteer of the Year will be named during the banquet. For more information, contact Mae McLendon at 919-733-3226. u |
