RFP Staff

♦ Reginald Carlton Weeks, Jr., 57, of Salisbury, convicted of the rape and murder of his stepdaughter Brittany Loritts back in July of 2005 and out on parole since January of 2015, was jailed Thursday at the Rowan County Detention Center for violating parole. He is being held without bond and is on temporary hold.

Weeks was incarcerated for 7 years after pleading guilty to the rape and murder of teenager Brittany Loritts a high-school student. Weeks and Loritts lived on Scales Street in Salisbury at the time of her murder. Two years later when the Loritts case went to trial, Weeks entered an Alford plea to reduce his charges to second degree murder and second degree rape. The two charges were consolidated, leading to a 9-year sentence for Weeks. An Alford Plea, common to the courts, permits a defendant to plead to lesser charges without having to admit guilt.

Two TV docudramas of the Loritts murder case, “Nightmare Next Door” and “Redrum”, appeared on the Investigation Discovery Channel AKA Discovery ID and are rebroadcast from time-to-time. Also the videos often show up in the Netflix collection of Discovery ID.

Posted below are a large collection of articles on the Loritts murder case on the website: “My Life in Crime”.

Reginald Carlton Weeks, Jr.’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1057469&searchLastName=weeks&searchFirstName=reginald&searchMiddleName=c&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

History of the Brittany Loritts Murder on My Life In Crime:

Brittany Loritts murder 7/11/2005 Salisbury, NC *Stepfather, Reginald Weeks Jr., pleads guilty, sentenced to 9 – 12 years in prison*

Reginald Carlton Weeks, Jr.:

Brittany Loritts:

Public Announcements

♦ On Wednesday January 13th at 6:30 p.m. Nancy Brewer, an author of historical novels and reenactor, will present a program “Between the Pages” based on “War Between the States” artifacts and discuss how she researched local history to write her books.  The program will take place in the Stanback Room of the Rowan Public Library in Salisbury, N.C.  The program is free and open to the public.  Bring your friends.

For more information contact: Steve Poteat at 704-633-7229 or E-mail Rowan SCV@Carolina.RR.Com

WWW.RowanSCV.Org

Magic Math Productions

♦ Was John Sofley Interim Salisbury City Manager When the Alleged Embezzlement Occurred?

Steve Mensing, Editor

♦ On Tuesday Salisbury City Manager W. Lane Bailey announced his appointment of Assistant City Manager John “Magic Math” Sofley the chief architect of “Fibrant Turning the Corner and Showing a Profit Ruse” through the deft manipulation of hiding Fibrant employees in other city departments. And lest we forget squirreling away Fibrant’s deficits in other areas of the budget.  Sofley’s “magic math”, alleging the Fibrant “turned the corner”, proved an embarrassing episode for Salisbury’s City Hall.

What could be done with John Sofley to lessen the heat directed at City Hall and its math department?  The recent audit revelations and the attempts to squelch inquiries about it at city council raised eyebrows.  So how does City Manager Bailey turn down the thermostat short of handing out another “golden parachute?”

We found out yesterday when Bailey shuffled Sofley over to Public Services and Parks and Recreation and got him away from managing the Fibrant.

In a public announcement Bailey stated: “…John’s business and financial experience really came through for us during a challenging transition period, and for that we are grateful.  As we enter the new year, it is now a prime opportunity for John to lend his talents to some of our other departments within the city.”

John Sofley will now emerge in Public Services which includes Stormwater services and Parks and Recreation.  Puzzling.  Those city departments have no real need of a certified public accountant or hide the losses artist.  Will John be twiddling his thumbs?  Or will John covertly engage in “magica mathematica” elsewhere?  After all Salisbury’s City Hall is not known for transparency.

RFP Staff

♦ Salisbury Teen Duo Anthony Mason Cunningham, 16, of Bringle Ferry Road and Daedrion Tramail Blake, 18, of Heilig Road were arrested Tuesday night for allegedly breaking into vehicles parked near “El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina” on 1030 Freedland Drive and by a home on the 800 block of South Main Street.

The pair’s alleged undoing started when a witness spotted the two teenagers allegedly shining a flashlight into a Jeep Liberty and breaking into it earlier by a home on the 800 block of South Main Street and reported it to the Salisbury Police. The duo allegedly corralled $10 worth of change.

Later Cunningham and Blake were allegedly caught by Salisbury Police after breaking into 3 vehicles owned by El Patron employees sometime after 9 p.m. and rifling them for earphones, a CD player, and an iPod. The police spotted the two who matched the witness’s description and were said to be carrying items stolen from the vehicle break-ins.

Cunningham was charged with 4 counts of breaking and entering vehicles-RR cars and other vehicles (felony), 3 counts of larceny (misdemeanor), resist/delay/obstruct public officer (misdemeanor), possessing stolen goods (misdemeanor), and larceny (felony). Under a secured $5,000 bond, Cunningham remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Blake was charged with 4 counts of breaking and entering-vehicle–rr cars and other motor vehicles (felony) and 3 counts of larceny (misdemeanor). Under a secured $4,500 bond, Blake remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Daedrion Tramail Blake’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1410870&searchLastName=blake&searchFirstName=daedrion&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Anthony Mason Cunningham:

Daedrion Tramail Blake:

Salisbury’s Top Mexican Restaurant–El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina:

Todd Paris, Associate Editor and Salisbury Attorney

♦ Tuesday night at Outreach Christian Ministries, the City of Salisbury hosted an event called a “Community Conversations”. It was the first of many planned events to allow regular people to ask questions and have an open dialog with City Staff and Officials. Now, this is some of the transparency we have been talking about! Way to go, guys!

This how you conduct a “Community Conversation” – Salisbury City Government style:

You take everyone’s questions and instead of answering them. You write them on a whiteboard and tell the questioners to leave their phone numbers and (or) emails with an employee at the back of the room and that staff will contact them soon to answer their questions.

That’s it. I’m dead serious. Of course, a few city employees were there to inform the public about city services, but reports on the conversation are that few questions were answered. But the answer to almost all questions essentially came down to, “We’ll get back to you.” Pitiful! As transparent as Yadkin river water.

Of course, they have to avoid a debacle like last year when a pesky City Council candidate and perennial pain in the municipal “keester” asked questions that exposed how the Chief of Police was working a second job, had no idea of the numbers of unsolved murders, could not give a single victim’s name, and that the City Clerk had received thousands of dollars of furniture for her office from her husband’s internet sales job. Horror of horrors, that was in front of the media! I bet that does not happen again!

This “conversation” was a bad idea, as executed. The least they could have done is for Lane Bailey, Council and Staff to answer the questions that they could, and use the whiteboard stunt for questions that require specific facts and figures.

This was just like a public comment period, like at normal City Council meetings. Citizens say things within a three minute limit, and council rarely responds other than to have the mayor thank them for coming. A dialogue is defined as an exchange of ideas or opinions on a particular issue, especially a political or religious issue, with a view to reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.  “We will get back to you, privately by email at a later time” does not meet the definition.

Perhaps they are scared of me after the candidate question and answer debacle. I will make them a deal. If they will actually bring the staff to the next meeting and actually answer questions from the public, as best they can, and reserve “We will get back to you” for questions that honestly require facts and figures, I will agree to sit that one out.

This format was disrespectful to the citizens that attended. Those asking questions might as well have stayed home and emailed the staff directly. The one saving feature was that unlike City Council meetings, it was held late enough in the day so that people with jobs could attend. Mayor Alexander and Lane Bailey should have meetings where citizens can have a true conversation instead of being controlled to the point where participation is all but meaningless.

RFP Staff

♦ The Salisbury Police arrested Patricia Ann Fleming, 45, of the 600 block of West Horah Street in Salisbury for Allegedly beating Phebe Daniels, 18, with a heavy stick with a nail in it at the corner of Cherry and Clay Streets in Salisbury back on December 27th.  Daniels wound up allegedly hospitalized with deep nail wounds to the head.  Daniels’ mother Abigail, who attempted to intercede in the fight, was allegedly bitten on the shoulder and wrist by Fleming.  Phebe Daniels wound up being transported to Novant Rowan Medical Center and later to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for surgery.

Tuesday Fleming was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury (felony) and simple assault (misdemeanor). Under a secured $15,000 bond, Fleming was detained in the Rowan County Detention Center and later released on bond.

The alleged stick beating occurred after Phebe Daniels was said to come to the aid of her cousin who allegedly was being attacked by two women who piled out of a jeep at the corner of Cherry and Clay Streets in Salisbury. At this point Fleming allegedly lit into Daniels with the nailed stick and then was said to bite Daniels’ mother when she tried to wrestle the stick away.

Patricia Ann Fleming’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0130505&searchLastName=fleming&searchFirstName=patricia&searchMiddleName=a&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff/China Grove Police Department

MISSING!–Kassey Zapata–Jesse C. Carson Student–MISSING Since January 11th

RFP Staff

♦ Raymond Joseph Anglin, 40, of the 4700 block of Jack Brown Road was arrested for an alleged assault at the King Tut Café & Hookah Lounge on 220 North Lee Street in Downtown Salisbury on Wednesday night.  Anglin, convicted of assaulting both men and women, allegedly was intoxicated when he started swapping punches with his first victim who turned his back and staggered off.

Anglin wanted more as he stalked back into Café at 11:30 p.m. and allegedly started pounding on someone identified as Austin Wood.  A looping right hand mashed squarely in Wood’s face and turned the air around his head into a warm red mist.  Wood’s legs offered little support.  He had no idea why Anglin attacked him.

Anglin swayed and looked on numbly on as Salisbury Police entered the Café.  He loudly berated the officers when they arrested and handcuffed him.

Anglin was charged with simple assault (misdemeanor), disorderly conduct (misdemeanor), and intoxicated and disruptive (misdemeanor).  Under a secured $4,000 bond, Anglin was locked up in the Rowan County Detention Center before he was released on bond.

Raymond Joseph Anglin’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0518228&searchLastName=anglin&searchFirstName=raymond&searchMiddleName=j&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

RFP Staff

♦ On Tuesday evening around 11:20 p.m. Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to 714 China Grove Highway in Rockwell on the report of a fight.  When they arrived at the address they found a badly battered man sprawled on the ground surrounded by a cluster of neighbors.  Witnesses allege that earlier a man named Cody Gulledge from Gold Hill was robbed of $100.  The robbers were said to be Joshua Luke Jones, 27, and Scotty Lee Lewis, Jr., 25, who live on the 700 block of China Grove Highway.

Not long after the robbery, two friends of Gulledge, Joshua Yost and Brandy Dixon, attempted to get the money back from Jones and Lewis who had other ideas.  Jones and Lewis started beating Yost and Dixon who was sixteen weeks pregnant.  Dixon attempted to shield Yost from to the face and head.  Cassandra Durden AKA Cassandra Lewis, 46, living on the 700 block of China Grove Highway, allegedly joined in kicking the pregnant Dixon in her stomach.

Yost was taken at first in Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury and then later transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center with rib and facial fractures.  He was placed in the critical care unit where he is said to be in critical, yet stable condition. Dixon’s condition is not yet disclosed at this time.

Jones and Yost were each charged with common law robbery (felony) and assault with serious bodily injury (felony).  Under secured bonds for $75,000 each, Jones and Lewis were locked up in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Cassandra Gay Durden was charged with simple assault for kicking pregnant Dixon in the stomach.  Under a secured $2,500 bond, Durden remains in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Cassandra Durden AKA Cassandra Lewis’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0850055&searchLastName=Durden&searchFirstName=cassandra&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Joshua Luke Jones Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1072395&searchLastName=jones&searchFirstName=joshua&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Scotty Lee Lewis, Jr’s. Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1141021&searchLastName=lewis&searchFirstName=scotty&searchMiddleName=l&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1

Cassandra Gay Durden:

Joshua Luke Jones:

Scotty Lee Lewis, Jr.:

Steve Mensing, Editor and RFP Staff

♦ Without fail anytime I show up on Facebook to post an article or read about what my friends are saying and doing, I see my friend Kenny Hardin, the embodiment of boundless energy, pithy sayings, doing the “right thing”, and initiating and following through on objectives to make young people’s lives and communities better. I’m heartened when people are transparent with their thoughts and feelings or tell you where they actually stand on something. Kenny’s that guy. He is the real deal “Mr. Everywhere”. Like a savvy and intuitive middle linebacker, he’s where the ball is or where it’s going to be, and he’ll make that game changing tackle.

Many of us who watched him in action know him from being a key initiator of the Tsunami Literacy Program, Man Up Mondays, or bringing fire from the sky down at City Council when he would raise issues during public commentary. His mover and shaker resume needs an all terrain 4-wheel drive vehicle to carry its weight.

And recently Kenny was elected to city council as a complete “outsider” a rare event in Salisbury’s notorious history. Already Kenny is standing out when he asked those questions about the budget audit that made the incumbents “circle the wagons” and want to hide that information in private meetings. Kenny took a stand about refusing to honor former police Chief Rory Collins.

Here are just a few days of recent photographs of “Mr. Everywhere” in action:

Kenny Hardin at the first Community Conversation held in the West End:

Kenny Hardin listening intently down at the Community Conversation:

Kenny Hardin raising transparency questions about the city’s budget audit and getting a circle the wagons response from the incumbent council:

West End Initiative Community Meeting:

West End Initiative Community Meeting:

Kenny Hardin weighs in at the Advisory Board for City Parks and Recreation:

Kenny Hardin gets photographed for City Council:

Kenny Hardin at the Tsunami Development Literacy Program office:

Kenny Hardin breaking bread with Tsunami Development Literacy Program friends at O’Charley’s Restaurant in Salisbury.

RFP Staff

♦ Kassey Zapata, the Jesse C. Carson student who disappeared on January 11th, is safe and has returned home early Friday evening according to Kristen Godair Zapata.

According to the China Grove Police Department Eric Jose Santos, 18, Kassey Zapata’s companion was arrested Friday and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor (misdemeanor) and possession of controlled substance schedule IV (misdemeanor). Under a secured $3,000 bond, he is currently being held in the Rowan County Detention Center.

Eric Jose Santos:

**This article will be updated as more information becomes available**

Kenny Hardin, Salisbury City Councilman

RANDOM MORNING THOUGHTS ON RACISM:

For the past 20 years being in the public eye writing for the paper, being vocal about issues and recently taking public office, I receive a number of messages, calls and frequently approached by folk while out.

Some of the messages are supportive, but many are hate filled, racist and threatening in tone.

The ones I enjoy most are from people who try to tell me how to act and feel about racism. One of my colleagues on the Council told me last week they were “disappointed in me” as we discussed race and recent issues. I responded that when you’ve been Black for more than 30 minutes and endure the things I do, then I’ll be concerned about your level of disappointment with me.

I was then told I didn’t always need to use a hammer in my responses, find other tools to use in communicating and I should seek to change my approach to get along better with Whites.

Although I don’t feel as if I have issues working with anyone who treats me respectfully, I responded that when it comes to racism and disrespect directed towards me, I have zero tolerance and will use an even bigger hammer to respond, so the Council just needs to be prepared. I then asked why do I and Black people have to always be the ones to do all the compromising? Why can’t those who create the racial animosity be held accountable and expected to change their behavior?

This is a message I received this morning from a guy who lives in China Grove: “Do your job as a city council member. The city needs a police officer who can handle this wave of crime. Y’all were voted in not to discuss the crap about race relations and all that mess. Although the crimes that are being committed are majority African Americans and gang activity. The goal of the city council should be to get a police chief who can do the job and second to pay our police officers more as they are so underpaid.”

I’ve met with a number of City and County leaders, business leaders and individual residents, and each one has said to me how poor race relations are in this City. My response to one leader recently was that everyone sees the problem, but no one wants to really do anything about solving it.

People want to engage in useless, feel good initiatives that yield no measurable benefits. Many others would rather you just ignore it so as not to make them feel uncomfortable. I told a business leader last week that if we don’t get comfortable with being uncomfortable and address this divisive issue, our City will not prosper.

I refuse to be fake or silent on this issue. I will not laugh when nothing is funny, scratch when I don’t itch or dance when there is no music. So people can stop trying to dictate my thoughts and how I feel on something they don’t experience firsthand.

RFP Staff

♦ A photo gallery containing both the Saturday January 16th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade through Downtown Salisbury and a selection of Dr. King’s historic civil rights marches from the 1960’s:

Parade Crowd near the Square:

Martin Luther King leads a civil rights march in the 60’s:

City Councilman Kenny Hardin at the Martin Luther King Day Parade in Downtown Salisbury:

March on Selma, Alabama

Mayor Karen Alexander waves at the crowd:

March on Detroit in 1963:

Livingstone College Band:

Martin Luther King marches with labor in the late 60’s.

Council persons David Post, Mayor Karen Alexander, and Brian Miller:

Martin Luther King, Jr. waves to those gathered at the historic March on Washington:

North Rowan High School Band:

Crowd by Spanky’s in Downtown Salisbury:

Crowd in front of Caniche:

Toward Parade’s End in Downtown Salisbury:

RFP Staff/University of North Carolina system

♦ Rowan-Salisbury School System high school graduates perform lower than the average NC graduate attending universities in the University of North Carolina system.  In the latest data released by the University of North Carolina system, freshmen who graduated from Rowan-Salisbury School System performed below the state average in almost every area, including the following:

SAT Scores 

• The average SAT verbal score for RSSS university freshmen from RSSS is 515, which is 22 points fewer than the state average.
• The average SAT math score for RSSS university freshmen from RSSS is 533, which is 22 points fewer than the state average.

Academic Status

Making a C

• 21% fewer university freshmen from RSSS made a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above than the state average. 2.0 is equivalent to a C letter grade.

Making a B

• 59% fewer university freshmen from RSSS made a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above than the state average. 3.0 is equivalent to a B letter grade.

Enrollment

Returning

• Fewer university freshmen from RSSS returned for the second semester or for the second year than the state average.
• Fewer university freshmen from RSSS returned for the second year than the state average.

Number of Courses Taken

• RSSS freshmen who made a grade of 2.0 their second year took fewer courses than the state average while doing so.

Course Placement

Remedial Classes

• 59% more freshmen from RSSS were enrolled in remedial English classes than the state average.
• 62% more freshmen from RSSS were enrolled in remedial math classes than the state average.

Advanced Classes

• 50.7% fewer university freshmen from RSSS were enrolled with Advanced Placement credits than the state average.
• 56% fewer freshmen from RSSS were enrolled in Honors classes than the state average.

The source of this information is the University of North Carolina system. You can view the data at http://old.northcarolina.edu/ira/ir/analytics/fresh.htm .

RFP Staff

♦ Mayor Karen Alexander and the incumbent City Council continues to thwart public audit discussion.  The Salisbury City Council will meet again on Tuesday January 19th, the second public meeting since the city made its audit public. The audit disclosed Fibrant is in violation of state law and that embezzlement occurred in the collections department due to improper procedure. These two audit findings were labeled significant deficiencies by the audit company Martin and Starnes.

Mayor Karen Alexander and Councilman Brian Miller made repeated attempts in the last two council meetings to guide discussion of the negative audit findings into private closed-door meetings not open to the public. Councilman Kenny Hardin insisted that the discussion be at a council meeting so the public can be included, but so far the city has refused to place the audit discussion on the agenda.

Since the audit was made public, Assistant City Manager John Sofley was removed from management of both Fibrant and the Collections department, the two areas of the city budget resulting in the negative audit findings.

The city has not responded to requests for public records that disclose the amount of money embezzled in the collections department.

City Council Agenda for January 19th 2016:

http://www.salisburync.gov/Departments/Administration/2015_Agendas/01-19-2016%20Agenda.pdf

Todd Paris, Associate Editor and Salisbury Attorney

♦ On Sunday January 17th, Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander went public with her support of registering your guns.  She suggested creating a system by which guns would be registered into a database that would be shared by state and federal governments.

Gun registration will not prevent the type of shootings plaguing Mayor Karen Alexander’s city the last two years. Criminals will not register their guns.  A mayor supporting failed policies shows her inability to articulate effective solutions to solve Salisbury’s problems. 

As proven in New York, what gun registration does enable is regulation and confiscation of your guns.

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20000127/firearms-registration-new-york-city-s

Your second amendment rights should not be infringed upon simply because Mayor Karen Alexander can’t control gun violence in her city.

Those interested in speaking up for your 2nd Amendment rights might want to exercise their 1st Amendment rights next Tuesday, January 19th, at Salisbury’s City Council Meeting.

“Meetings of the City Council are held the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers located at City Hall, 217 South Main Street.”

Public Comment is on the agenda next for next Tuesday, January 19th.

http://www.salisburync.gov/Departments/Administration/2015_Agendas/01-19-2016%20Agenda.pdf

Todd Paris, Hired Gun:

RFP Staff

♦ The Rowan County Commission meets at 6 p.m. on January 19th in the J. Newton Cohen, Sr. Room at the County Administration Room at 130 West Innes Street in Salisbury, N.C.

ROWAN COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA

Call to Order
Invocation
• Provided By: Chaplain Michael Taylor
Pledge of Allegiance
Consider Additions to the Agenda
Consider Deletions From the Agenda
Consider Approval of the Agenda
Board members are asked to voluntarily inform the Board if any matter on the agenda might present a conflict of interest or might require the member to be excused from voting.
• Consider Approval of the Minutes: January 4, 2016
1 Consider Approval of Consent Agenda
A. Rowan County Airport Airfield Maintenance Contract
B. Refunds for Approval
C. Authorization For DSS To Apply for Woodson Foundation Grant
D. Accept Grassroots Grant for Therapeutic Recreation
E. Contract With McAdams For Parks Comprehensive Master Plan
F. Permission For Library to Apply for a Woodson Foundation Grant
G. Resolution in Support of Funding for Rowan County Airport Runway Expansion
H. Resolution Supporting Governor Pat McCrory’s Connect NC Bond Initiative
I. Rowan County Language Access Plan (LAP)
J. Set Public Hearing for February 1, 2016 For Project Spec
K. Munis Software Implementation
L. Exclusive Right To Sell Listing Agreement With R. Giles Moss Auction &
Real Estate
M. Change Order for Airport Office Addition
N. Contribution to COG Regional Freight Plan
2 Public Comment Period
3 Quasi-judicial Hearing for CUP 04-15
4 Hangar Construction Approval
5 Authorization for Phase I of Water Study
6 Budget Amendments
7 Adjournment

Commission Agenda and Information PDF.

http://agenda.rowancountync.gov/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MeetingID=189

Citizens with disabilities requiring special needs to access the services or public meetings
of Rowan County Government should contact the County Manager’s Office three days prior
to the meeting by calling (704) 216-8180.

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina

♦ (Salisbury, NC) Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina has just completed extensive renovations on its Rowan County Career Connections Center, and is holding a grand reopening celebration and ribbon-cutting on Wednesday January 20. The public is also invited to an open house and tour which will showcase services, programs and facilities available at the Center, including:

• New training space

• Space for partner events and meetings

• Expanded space for veteran’s services and job fairs, including Operation Good Jobs, which offers employment services and resources to veterans and their families (see details below)

• Classes in partnership with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and

• Project Re-entry which provides transition services for ex-offenders

• The Career Connections Center, located at 1923 South Main Street in Salisbury, helps people find employment and also offers comprehensive resources to employers.

Ceremonies begin at 10:30am and the Open House is from 10am until 12noon. Light refreshments will be served at the Open House. To RSVP, or for more information call (704) 638-6434, or email radkins@goodwillnwnc.org

Veterans Intake & Employment Workshop (“V.I.E.W.”)

The newly renovated Rowan Career Connections Center in Salisbury will accommodate a full schedule of workshops for Veterans. The workshops, presented in partnership with Veterans Affairs, will accommodate Veterans who are enrolled in the Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT). Our mission in conducting these workshops is to find more efficient ways of introducing Veterans to community services, and allow them to enhance their personal growth and employment goals. The workshop will be held on the 1st and 2nd Fridays of each month. The VA Medical Center will bring in a different group of community partners for each session. Once those partners have presented and the Veteran decides he/she can benefit from the programs, then the remaining time is allotted for enrollment.

WEEK ONE includes:

* Introduction of Goodwill and VAMC staff , and explanation of rules and process.

* Orientation and jumpstart overview

* Complete Operation Good Jobs, profiles and Individual Career and Financial Plan

* Project Reentry, presentation with video

* Reps from Disabled Veteran’s Outreach Program (conducted by representatives from NC Works)and Workforce Services & ResCare Education and Training Services provide counseling, training and job placement to people of all ages with barriers to employment

.* Rep from VAMC discusses and sets up E-Benefits Premier Accounts

WEEK TWO includes:

* Rep from Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency explains self-sufficiency program, and completes applications for those who are interested

* Rep from Rowan Cabarrus Community College explains available services in the Employability Lab. They also enroll Veterans in computer classes as well as in the Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification course

* Rep from VAMC discusses chapter 31 and 36 benefits

* Rep from NC Vocational Rehab conducts orientation, explains services, and enrolls those who are interested

* Rep from VFW explains “Benefit Claims Rater”, discusses VA benefits, filing, and tracking claims

* Employers are scheduled to discuss their expectations of applicants

* Goodwill staff provides resume assistance, and schedules appointments for the VA Application Workshop

JOB FAIRS

The Goodwill Rowan County Career Connections Center will host a job fair on the third week of each month. Participating employers will include:

Automation Personnel Services

Mancan Staffing

Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency

Staff Masters

Onin Staffing

Insource Performance Solutions

Manpower2Horsepower, and

The Resource – Mocksville

COMPUTER CLASSES

Goodwill’s Rowan County Career Connections Center is offering computer classes.

RFP Staff

♦ With the surge of stolen firearms in Salisbury in recent months, Kasey Alyssa Fite-Turner, 26, of Spencer, was arrested Sunday at 3040 East Ridge Road in Salisbury for allegedly stealing a rifle and a shotgun from a man on the 1000 block of Kingsway Drive in Salisbury. Fite-Turner was also charged for allegedly stealing a shotgun from a Lexington area man and with allegedly attempting to sell two stolen firearms to Quick Cash Pawn at 2045 Statesville Blvd.

Fite-Turner faces 2 charges of larceny of firearms (felony) and obtaining property by false pretenses (felony). Under a secured $6,000 bond, Fite-Turner is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center.

Kasey Alyssa Fite-Turner’s Previous Record:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=1255441&searchLastName=turner&searchFirstName=kasey&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1