News Briefs

North Carolina Department of Public Safety

News Briefs

Sandhills Holds Ceremony In Former Volunteer’s Honor

McCAIN- About 50 people gathered Nov. 14 at Sandhills Youth Center for a ceremony renaming its inmate religious activity center in honor of long-time volunteer Paul C. Seabolt Sr. who passed away in June.

"He was really a dedicated person," said J.P. Smith, assistant superintendent at Sandhills. Smith added that Seabolt served on the facility’s Community Resource Council, volunteered to take inmates to religious services, was a mentor and a generous friend to staff and inmates for more than 25 years.

Supt. D.G. Wood, Asst. Supt. J.P. Smith, Asst. Supt. Jerry Kelly, South Central Region Director Robert Lewis and several community leaders spoke at the ceremony. The S.Y.C. Inmate Choral Group performed.

Avery/Mitchell Publishes High Country Herald

SPRUCE PINE- If you want to know what's going on at Avery Mitchell Correctional Institution, pick up a copy of the High Country Herald. The monthly paper was launched earlier this year when Keith Johnson, assistant superintendent for programs at Avery/Mitchell, started looking for ways inmates could share information on classes, programs and activities at the prison. He also wanted to give graduates of the facility's GED and computer applications classes a chance to keep their writing and computer skills sharp.

The paper's first issue came out in March with a circulation of 125 copies all distributed within the prison. Now inmates print 175 copies each month, including some sent to the Division of Prisons area office and staff in the Education and Program services offices.

"We have a great staff of inmates working on the paper," said Bryan Johnson, who coordinates the program. "They put a lot of effort forward."

A staff of 10 inmates plans each month's issue. There are designated editors for layout, copy, sports, religion, features and graphics. Other inmates participate as contributing writers, creating their own original material, or editing material drawn from other publications.

Articles in November's issue included a health story on the negative effects of smoking, news of a proposal in the General Assembly for DNA testing of felony suspects, results of a recent weightlifting competition and several religious, inspirational and historical articles.

Community Work Crew Supervisors Sharpen Their Skills

MORGANTON- Ten officers from various facilities recently sawed some logs during a national power saw course held by the N.C. Forest Service. The course, which taught participants techniques and safety in using power saws, was held Nov. 28-30.

There are 22 chain saw crews run by community work crew officers throughout the state. One of those crews was just started at Carteret Correctional Center. The officers who participated in the course will train community work crew inmates on how to use the chain saws.

The officers who participated in the course are: Richard Brinson of Bladen Correctional Center; Sgt. Theodore Howell, A.Q. Barlow, A.J. Deese and James Montanye of Carteret Correctional Center; Deral Raynor of Greene Correctional Center; Otis Bridgers of Robeson Correctional Center; Kenneth Wrenn of Tillery Correctional Center; and Walter McIntire of Tyrrell Prison Work Farm.

Employees Hit The Greens During Conference

SUNSET BEACH- A number of employees scored big at the Captain’s Choice 4-Person Superball Golf Tournament Nov. 15 at the Byrd Signature Golf Course, Sea Trail. The North Carolina Correctional Association sponsored the tournament. Awards and door prizes were presented during the opening session of the NCCA Annual Conference.

The first place team was from Craven Correctional Institution and included: David Chester, superintendent; Capt. Kevin Lee; Jim Raeford, programs assistant; and Rick Waters, physician extender. The second place team included: Lenny Foskey, correctional officer at Pender Correctional Institution and Steve Hagler, who retired from Central Prison as a nursing supervisor. Mack Jarvis, former secretary of the Department of Correction, was on the third place team. The putting contest winner was Lt. Michael Lammonds of Craven Correctional Institution. Winners for closest to the pin were Chester, Waters, Lammonds and Duncan Daughtry, superintendent at Carteret Correctional Center.

Clinical Director Articles Published In National Newsletter

Two articles written by Steven Hanusa, clinical director with the Division of Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, were published in the Nov. 17 issue of the national newsletter, The Corrections Professional.

An article titled "NCDOC proposes office to improve teambuilding, critical skills" stemmed from Hanusa’s Correction Leadership Development Program project and focused on critical incident stress debriefing, internal management consultation and teambuilding. In "Teambuilding unites corrections staff, enhances facility safety," Hanusa discussed the benefits of teamwork.

The Corrections Professional is a bi-weekly newsletter published by LPR Publications. For more information on how to get a copy of the newsletter call 1-800-341-7874 ext. 275.