Rutherford County, NC, Western North Carolina, News,arrests, RC Catalyst, Judicial District 29A Press Release – Foothills Catalyst

Advisory: McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Need Your Help Identifying This Individual and/or Locating This Vehicle

McDowell County Sheriff’s Office investigators need your help identifying this individual and locating this vehicle.

The individual pictured is a person of interest in the recent theft of a 1999 F350 stolen from Cumberland Sand & Gravel in the Glenwood area.

Anyone with information that can help identify this suspect or locate this truck is asked to call Detective Richard Pittman of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME(652-7463). You can also text your tips to Crime Stoppers by texting TIP MCDOWELLSO and your information to 888777. With Crime Stoppers, your identity remains anonymous.

 

Extra Federal Food Benefits Due to COVID-19 Will End in March

Los beneficios federales adicionales de alimentos debido a COVID-19 se terminarán en marzo

In North Carolina and nationally, emergency allotments for COVID-19 in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program will end in March 2023. Households that have been receiving extra FNS benefits (called “emergency allotments”) each month since March 2020 or after will see a reduction in benefits because of a federal change that ends emergency allotments for all states.
RALEIGH

In North Carolina and nationally, emergency allotments for COVID-19 in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program will end in March 2023. Households that have been receiving extra FNS benefits (called “emergency allotments”) each month since March 2020 or after will see a reduction in benefits because of a federal change that ends emergency allotments for all states.

As part of the COVID-19 public health emergency, families enrolled in the FNS program in North Carolina have been receiving at least $95 extra per month since March 2020 through emergency allotments. With the end of emergency allotments, the average FNS benefit per person per day will decrease from $8.12 to $5.45.

These emergency allotments have been critical in helping families compensate for financial and economic hardships due to COVID-19.

“Families needed these additional benefits to get healthy and nutritious food throughout the pandemic,” said Susan Gale Perry, NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being. “While FNS emergency payments are ending, the need is not. We will continue to prioritize food security for all North Carolinians.”

Since March 2020, an average of 900,000 North Carolina households received FNS emergency allotments, giving more families access to nutrition meals that support healthy and productive lives, and bringing approximately $150 million federal dollars each month into local economies.

Beneficiaries will continue to receive their regular monthly benefit amounts in March 2023 based on a person’s or household’s current eligibility, income, household size and other federal eligibility requirements. FNS recipients can view their regular monthly FNS benefit amount and their emergency allotment amount online at www.ebtedge.com. NCDHHS encourages families to keep their FNS information up to date to help them get the greatest benefits they are eligible to receive.

NCDHHS is working to increase access to food support by growing the NCCARE360 network to help connect families in need to resources in their communities. Additionally, the NC Medicaid Healthy Opportunities Pilot program is connecting people in certain counties with food vouchers and other services to boost their overall health.

North Carolinians in need of additional food assistance can learn more about additional food and nutrition resources at www.ncdhhs.gov/foodresources. Residents can apply for FNS benefits online with ePass or by filling out a paper application and mailing it to or dropping it off at their county Department of Social Services.

 

En Carolina del Norte y a nivel nacional, las asignaciones de emergencia para COVID-19 en el programa de Alimentos y Servicios de Nutrición (FNS) se terminarán en marzo de 2023. Los hogares que han estado recibiendo beneficios adicionales de FNS (llamados “asignaciones de emergencia”) cada mes desde marzo de 2020 o después, verán una reducción en los beneficios debido a un cambio federal que termina las asignaciones de emergencia para todos los estados.

Como parte de la emergencia de salud pública COVID-19, las familias inscritas en el programa FNS en Carolina del Norte han estado recibiendo al menos $95 adicionales por mes desde marzo de 2020 a través de asignaciones de emergencia. Con el fin de las asignaciones de emergencia, el beneficio promedio de FNS por persona por día disminuirá de $8.12 a $5.45.

Estas asignaciones de emergencia han sido vitales para ayudar a las familias a compensar las dificultades financieras y económicas debido a COVID-19.

“Las familias necesitaban estos beneficios adicionales para obtener alimentos saludables y nutritivos durante toda la pandemia”, dijo Susan Gale Perry, Subsecretaria Principal de Oportunidades y Bienestar de NCDHHS. “Si bien los pagos de emergencia de FNS se están terminando, la necesidad no. Continuaremos priorizando la seguridad alimenticia para todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte”.  

Desde marzo de 2020, un promedio de 900,000 hogares de Carolina del Norte recibieron asignaciones de emergencia de FNS, dando a más familias acceso a comidas nutritivas que apoyan vidas saludables y productivas, y aportando aproximadamente $150 millones de dólares federales cada mes a las economías locales.

Los beneficiarios continuarán recibiendo sus montos regulares de beneficios mensuales en marzo de 2023 en función de la elegibilidad actual, los ingresos, el tamaño del hogar y otros requisitos federales de elegibilidad de una persona o hogar. Los beneficiarios de FNS pueden ver su monto mensual regular de beneficios de FNS y su monto de asignación de emergencia en línea en www.ebtedge.com. NCDHHS anima a las familias a mantener su información de FNS actualizada para ayudarles a obtener los mayores beneficios a los que califican para recibir.  

NCDHHS está trabajando para aumentar el acceso al aoyo alimentario mediante el crecimiento de la red NCCARE360 para ayudar a conectar a las familias necesitadas con los recursos en sus comunidades. Además, el programa Piloto de Oportunidades Saludables de NC Medicaid conecta a las personas en ciertos condados con cupones de alimentos y otros servicios para mejorar su salud en general.  

Los habitantes de Carolina del Norte que necesitan asistencia alimentaria adicional pueden obtener más información sobre recursos adicionales de alimentos y nutrición en www.ncdhhs.gov/foodresources. Los residentes pueden solicitar los beneficios de FNS en línea con ePass o completando una solicitud en papel y enviándola por correo o dejándola en el Dpartamento de Servicios Sociales de su condado.

NCDHHS Announces Funds for Collegiate Recovery Programs to Support Students with Substance Use Disorders

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $3.2 million to nine colleges and universities across the state to increase access to recovery services and supports on campuses for students with substance use disorders. These awards address a growing need for behavioral health care among young adults and the Department’s top priority to improve Behavioral health and resilience in North Carolina.
RALEIGH

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $3.2 million to nine colleges and universities across the state to increase access to recovery services and supports on campuses for students with substance use disorders. These awards address a growing need for behavioral health care among young adults and the Department’s top priority to improve Behavioral health and resilience in North Carolina.

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) have been in existence for more than 40 years. They were developed in response to the growth in drug and alcohol use among adolescents and young adults, the risks posed to students while on campus and the unique needs of students in recovery. CRPs provide services and educational opportunities in a supportive environment as well as promote personal accountability while attending a public or private college or university.

“These recovery programs support young adults at a critical juncture in their lives,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “College can be very stressful, especially for young adults struggling with substance use or mental health issues. These programs provide an educational opportunity alongside recovery support to ensure students do not have to sacrifice one for the other.”

Campuses will use these funds to develop and implement comprehensive collegiate recovery programs that provide access to drug- and alcohol-free places and locations for students to live, study and socialize, provide peer mentorship and receive other recovery supports. Funds may also be used to provide alcohol-free and drug-free social activities for students, as part of the collegiate recovery programming.

An identified priority for NCDHHS, funding for collegiate recovery programs has been provided since 2015 and supported programs in 13 out of the 17 universities in the UNC system. Last year, $873,760 was distributed and helped serve approximately 320 students. Today’s awards will significantly expand this investment and increases access to substance use disorder recovery services available at public or private, non-profit colleges and universities across the state.

The nine colleges or universities receiving grant funds are:

  • Appalachian State University (expansion programming), Boone   $262,549
  • Elizabeth City State University (expansion programming), Elizabeth City   $400,000
  • Elon University (new program), Elon   $257,576  
  • Fayetteville State University (expansion programming), Fayetteville   $399,090
  • High Point University (new program), High Point   $797,807
  • Mars Hill University (new program), Mars Hill   $75,770
  • Methodist University (new program), Fayetteville   $514,093
  • University of North Carolina (expansion programming), Chapel Hill   $130,700
  • University of North Carolina (expansion programming), Greensboro   $394,727

Students should reach out to the school’s student counseling center for more information.

These grants are made available through funding from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.

High schoolers learn hospitality skills

SPINDALE (Jan. 20, 2023) — Twenty-two students from East Rutherford High School learned the ins and outs of the hospitality business last month.
The students successfully completed the Certified Guest Service Professional credential from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. This is a nationally recognized hospitality professional credential.
This credential focuses on employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution. These are critical skills for the hospitality industry; however, these same skills are foundational skills applicable to any potential career path.
Karen Marshall, the class instructor, said the class had a 100 percent pass rate.
For more information, contact Marshall at kmarshall@isothermal.edu or 828-395-1163.

Treasurer Folwell Delivers More Than Half-Million Dollars at NC Board of Education

Stock Proceeds and Dividends Associated with Old Insurance Policy Found in NCCash.com
RALEIGH, NC

State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, a staunch advocate of public education who strongly supports the work of classroom teachers, showed up at the State Board of Education (SBE) meeting today with a check for the Department of Public Instruction exceeding a half-million dollars in misdirected funds that were placed with the Department of State Treasurer (DST) for safekeeping.

Treasurer Folwell presented a check for $519,029.16 to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt.

The money resulted from shares of stock issued in the name of “Department of Education State of North Carolina” based on a Prudential Financial group life insurance plan that SBE held at some point. Upon the shares and accrued dividends being deemed unclaimed and held by Prudential for the required holding period, the property was placed with DST’s Unclaimed Property Division (UPD), commonly called  NCCash.com.

“At a time when so many schools are in need of money and resources, especially in rural and inner-city districts, every penny found to further North Carolina’s educational mission is a blessing,” said Treasurer Folwell. “I see that need not only as a member of SBE, but as chairman of the Local Government Commission, which reviews and approves financing for school projects throughout North Carolina.”

“As keeper of the public purse, a North Carolina taxpayer and a believer in the power of education to change a person’s trajectory in life to achieve upward mobility and the joy of achievement, I am honored to return this money to its rightful owners so that it can be put to use where it’s most needed,” Treasurer Folwell said.

The money originated from a process called demutualization. That occurs when a private business, owned by its members, such as a mutual life insurance company, changes its structure to a public-traded company owned by stockholders.

Prudential went through that transition in 2001, and policy holders at the time became shareholders, with or without the policy holder’s knowledge. Prudential Financial shares were issued in the name and address on file for the policy. Any correspondences related to the shares were being sent to a previous address of SBE. In 2012, the shares and any accrued unclaimed dividends were deemed unclaimed and subsequently reported to DST in October 2015 after the required three-year dormancy holding period. During a recent review of data in the system, UPD staff identified these funds.

UPD paid 178,857 claims amounting to more than $105 million during the 2022 fiscal year that ended June 30. Both numbers were historical records. The returns are on pace to set another record this fiscal year. Through Nov. 30, UPD has paid 74,979 claims totaling just over $44 million from NCCash. Part of that total has been disbursed through the NCCash Match program, a no-hassle, expedited system that eliminated paperwork processing. As of Nov. 30, DST paid 44,200 Cash Match claims totaling nearly $12.6 million.

Under state law, UPD receives and safeguards funds that are escheated, or turned over, to DST. The unclaimed property consists of bank accounts, wages, utility deposits, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned.

Unclaimed property can result from a person or entity forgetting they are due money, or from a move of location and forgetting to provide a new address. It also could result from a typing error in a house number or zip code in an address, a name change, or data loss from a business converting its computer system. As society becomes more mobile and steadily moves to electronic transactions, the risk of having unclaimed property has increased.

More information, including how to find out if you are owed money, can be found at https://www.nccash.com/.

Treasurer Folwell (left) presents the check to Catherine Truitt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Eric C. Davis, State Board of Education Chairman.

Marion Motor Vehicle Crash Update

 

On Tuesday January 3, 2023 a motor vehicle collision occurred in the intersection of North Main Street and McDowell High Drive involving two vehicles.

Preliminary investigation at this point has shown that a 2014 Ford Truck, occupied by two juveniles, one legally licensed 16yoa and his passenger 15yoa, were leaving McDowell High School. According to numerous witnesses, the truck had a green light and was attempting to make a left turn from McDowell High Drive onto North Main Street. It was at this point when a 2006 Ford SUV driven by Brandon Pierce Love 32yoa of Kathy Street in Marion, was traveling South on Main Street. Love did not stop for the red light in his direction and traveled into the intersection where the two vehicles collided. Also inside Love’s vehicle in the rear seats were two juveniles ages 8yoa and 6yoa.

It appears at this time through the investigation that none of the occupants in either vehicle, including the drivers were wearing seatbelts. When the collision occurred, both the driver and the passenger of the Ford Truck were ejected out of the passenger side door. After the ejection, both of those occupants came to rest in the grass on the shoulder of the road beside First Citizens Bank. After the collision the SUV traveled into the oncoming lanes and back into his lane of travel before coming to rest on the shoulder near Bojangles.

McDowell County EMS transported a total of five patients to Mission Hospital in Asheville. Numerous injuries were sustained by occupants in both vehicles. At the time of this release, all but two of the individuals still remain at Mission Hospital in Asheville receiving care. One of the juveniles in the rear seat of the SUV was the most critically injured in the crash. That individual has undergone surgery and is in critical condition today.

This investigation by the Marion Police Department is still ongoing. No charges have been filed at this point, but are expected as the investigation is concluded. Our agency would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved including any witnesses or bystanders that rendered aid to those injured prior to emergency personnel arrival. We would also like to take this opportunity in the wake of this severe crash to remind ALL occupants to please wear seatbelts when inside of a vehicle.

Tory Shepherd Named CEO of Rutherford Regional Health System

Community: MISSING JUVENILE: Abagail Cantrell

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing juvenile: Abagail Cantrell.

Abagail is 16-year-old white female. She has long brown hair, blue eyes and is known to wear glasses. She is 5’8″ tall and weighs about 160 pounds.

She was last seen on Race Path Church Road and was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Her direction and method of  travel is unknown.

Images of Abagail are included in this message. Double click for a larger view.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Abagail or who she may be in the company of, please contact the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 828-286-2911 or Crime Stoppers at 828-286-TIPS.

State Historic Preservation Office Begins McDowell County Comprehensive Architectural Survey with Grant Funds from National Park Service

RALEIGH

Progress Continues on Effort to Revise NC School Grading Model

Raleigh, NC
Nov 7, 2022
Progress continues for the advisory group of school leaders who convened again today for the third time to discuss revising the state’s unpopular A-F school performance grading model. During today’s meeting, members split into groups to consider alternative indicators, academic and non-academic, that could be included in a final model to better measure school quality.

Following a statewide survey last month that showed strong interest in overhauling the current grading approach, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has worked to share those results and solicit deeper feedback from a broad range of audiences on additional indicators that could be used to measure school quality.

Results of the survey, conducted by the education news site EdNC in partnership with NCDPI, showed that 90% of respondents favored a school grading model that includes indicators beyond test scores. The advisory group and the education agency are now focused on engaging other education stakeholders on the work underway and seeking feedback to narrow the list of academic and non-academic indicators.

“This process is really important, as it allows us to hear from many educators and school leaders across the state,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said. “Importantly, we are starting to see some consensus and overlap among stakeholders on the indicators that should be included in the proposed redesign. The work ahead will encompass even greater stakeholder outreach as we continue to discuss possible indicators and seek feedback on emerging trends and themes.”

For weeks, NCDPI has been engaging education stakeholders during monthly convenings or annual conferences to discuss the work underway. During NCDPI’s “AIM” professional development conference for educators across the state in late October, teachers, principals, charter and district leaders had the opportunity to discuss the survey results and provide input on individual indicators that could be considered for the revised model. Chief Academic Officers from across the state were convened separately during the AIM conference to provide in-depth feedback on the various school performance grade indicators by ranking their preferences. This survey encouraged participants to rank their top 10 indicators, which were outlined in the EdNC-NCDPI survey disseminated in early September.

The agency also has pursued a robust stakeholder feedback process across several education groups. This strategy has involved defining the need for redesigning school performance grade models, describing the process and timeline underway, sharing with each audience the ranking survey to prioritize their top indicators, and gathering feedback on the indicators based upon each group’s perspective.

“This work is important and exciting,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michael Maher Maher said. “We’re starting to get a sense of which indicators are important. This advisory group has rolled up its sleeves and is working hard to inform other leaders about this process and the goal of the work outside of formal meetings. Within the next month, the NCDPI team tasked with overseeing this work will travel the state to continue presenting this information to education stakeholder groups as we work to narrow down the possible list of indicators for inclusion in the model.”

To date, the work around school performance grade redesign has been shared with the Superintendent’s Teacher Leadership Council, the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee, accountability directors for districts, educators, principals, charter school leaders, students, parents and more.

Over the next month, the narrowed list of top indicators will be presented to numerous stakeholders, including education leaders across the state for consideration and discussion.

When the advisory group meets again in December, it will consider implications and feedback from stakeholders on the narrowed list of indicators. This will help the advisory group formulate a final recommendation for the model.

To read more about this process, including prior releases and meeting topics: School Performance Grade Redesign | NC DPI