Home Care In Alexander, NC

After reviewing an excellent list of nominees, the Alexander County Christmas Parade Committee has selected Mr. Darrell Adkins as the 2023 Grand Marshal. Area residents are encouraged to attend the 76th annual parade on Saturday, December 2 at 3:00 p.m. to show their support for Adkins.

One Grand Marshal nomination letter reads, “Darrell has been an exemplary citizen of this county for over 50 years… what Darrell has meant to his former students, family, friends, and this county is immeasurable… having lived in Alexander County for all of his 66 years, you’ll not find a better person who loves and supports this county better than Darrell.”

A native of Alexander County, Adkins was a standout athlete in football, basketball, and baseball at Alexander Central High School. After high school graduation, he attended Appalachian State University where he attained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1980.

Adkins worked in the computer industry for 16 years, followed by his long career in education and coaching in Alexander County Schools. He began teaching at East Alexander Middle School in 1996 where he also coached football, basketball, and baseball, earning five baseball championships, two football championships, and one basketball championship. He began teaching at ACHS in 2005 and also served as a football and baseball coach. From 2009-2015, Adkins served as a softball coach there, and was then named head softball coach. He led the Lady Cougars to their 10th state softball championship. In total, he earned five state championship rings at ACHS.

Over the years, Adkins volunteered for many seasons as a county recreation sports coach. He also coached travel baseball for 10 years as well as American Legion Baseball. In addition, he volunteered and worked for the Hiddenite Ruritan Club.

Adkins is an active member of East Taylorsville Baptist Church. He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 42 years. They have a son, Jordan, and two daughters, Lindsey and Jamie.

Adkins was inducted into the 2023 Alexander County Sports Hall of Fame on November 20.

“Throughout the years, I have been able to do what I love – teach and coach. These experiences are so valuable to me,” said Adkins. “I never thought that I would be the Grand Marshal of our Christmas parade and I’m very appreciative of this great honor. I truly love Alexander County and our people.”

For complete details about the 76th Annual Alexander County Christmas Parade, visit https://alexandercountync.gov/parade.

Alexander County is taking preliminary steps toward planning for a potential new courthouse facility. The county has contracted with the firm of Jenkins-Peer Architects, located in Charlotte, to provide programming, planning, and conceptual design services for a new courthouse in Alexander County. The new facility, if constructed, would replace the current courthouse which was built after the prior courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1967.

To facilitate the process, the Alexander County Courthouse Committee, architects, and stakeholders participated in a visioning forum on August 8-10.

County officials have cited numerous deficiencies in courtroom space and design, lack of proper jury facilities, and inadequate office space for court officials as some of the factors driving the decision to move forward with exploring the feasibility of constructing a new courthouse.

The current actions being taken by the Alexander County Board of Commissioners will provide the preliminary design concept and cost estimate necessary for the board to make the most informed decision on whether to move forward with construction.

Marty Pennell, Chairman of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners, said that he plans to petition the state for funding if a new courthouse is going to be constructed.

“The construction of a new courthouse in Alexander County is a large and costly undertaking which neither I, nor the other members of the board, take lightly. We are entrusted by the citizens of Alexander County to oversee the expenditure of public dollars in a fiscally responsible manner and for purposes which will serve the needs of all citizens in the most efficient way possible,” said Pennell. “A courthouse serves the needs of many citizens outside of the traditional function as a venue for court proceedings. The desire of this board is to ensure that if a new courthouse is built, it will be a resource which adequately serves all users of the facility for many decades to come.”

The initial step in the programming and concept design process is to evaluate the needs of all courthouse users. On August 8, that process began as staff hosted a visioning session which kicked off a two-and a-half day planning and information gathering process.

During the visioning session, the architects and county staff met with a large group of stakeholders to gather input on a broad range of topics including overall space needs, adjacency diagrams for interconnected spaces, security and access control concerns, and initial design features. The visioning session then led into numerous meetings with specific user groups over the course of the next two days where more in-depth discussions were held to fully explore needs specific to those spaces and users.

The results of these meetings will be compiled and analyzed by the architectural firm which will present its findings to the courthouse committee for review and discussion. Work sessions between the committee and Jenkins-Peer Architects is expected to continue until sometime in December when a finalized scope and opinion of probable cost will be presented to the Alexander County Board of Commissioners.

Alexander County Manager Shane Fox commented on the courthouse planning process.

“The construction of a courthouse, or any large public building for that matter, is a major undertaking. A project of this magnitude should yield a building that will not only meet our current needs, but also our needs for the foreseeable future,” Fox said. “We currently have a number of services and agencies housed in offsite locations due to space constraints in the current courthouse. One goal of this project will be to bring those back under one roof where they can best function together.”

County Manager Fox also commented on the initial plan to design the new courthouse so that it integrates with the footprint of the current building, citing the importance of leveraging the downtown site as a focal point and anchor.

“The courthouse committee members had explored several site options with the architect prior to my arrival in Alexander County,” Fox said. “The decision to focus on the site of the current courthouse stems from consideration of how it can integrate well with Alexander County Courthouse Park, which sits adjacent to the current building, as well as its potential as a catalyst for sparking revitalization of the surrounding downtown area.”

Courthouse committee members worked with Jenkins-Peer Architects early on to explore how the new building could be constructed on the existing site while still maintaining full operation of the current facility.

“The project is still in its very early stages, and it will take a lot of planning and discussion to move toward any possibility of construction, but without taking this initial first step, it is difficult to ensure that the proper due diligence has been performed,” Fox stated.

Chairman Pennell added, “There are many needs and wants which have been expressed to commissioners by our citizens. The need for a new courthouse is undeniable but must also be balanced with other areas of need this county faces. The decision to move forward on construction will certainly warrant further discussion by the board once we have all the facts presented to us as a result of this programming process.”

County staff expect to have the results of the programming process ready for review as early as January 2024. Additional information about the project will be shared as it becomes available.

Alexander County Government is pleased to announce that David Moose has been promoted to the position of Consolidated Human Services Director. Formerly the Compliance and Procurement Specialist, Moose will continue those duties in addition to his new role as CHS Director.

“I want to thank County Manager Shane Fox and the Alexander County Board of Commissioners for this honor of being chosen for the role of Consolidated Human Services Director,” said Moose. “Having already worked closely in various roles with many of the staff members in these three departments, I know firsthand the level of dedication and passion that they bring to their job each and every day. I look forward to the opportunity to work alongside the directors, managers, and staff as we strive to further build upon the excellent level of service being provided to the citizens of Alexander County.”

As Consolidated Human Services Director, Moose will monitor the performance of and provide direct administrative supervision to the Directors of the Health Department, Department of Social Services, and Senior Center. He will work with the directors to support the achievement of agency goals. In addition, Moose will monitor legislation, trends, and best practices in human services to establish short- and long-term planning for effective delivery of services, and will network with external agencies, community groups, and other entities to build strategic partnerships.

“David has a proven track record of hard work and professionalism during his many years of service here in Alexander County. He is very deserving of this new position,” said County Manager Shane Fox. “The role of Consolidated Human Services Director has been vacant for some time and we are excited to have such a worthy candidate to take the reins for this challenging yet rewarding position. I look forward to working with David in his new role as we strive to provide the best services possible for our citizens.”

Moose began his career in Alexander County Government approximately 20 years ago. He has held positions in the Pretrial Release program (formerly known as Alexander Day Reporting), Tax Office, Sheriff’s Office, and Administration. During his nearly 14 years with the Sheriff’s Office, Moose served in a number of roles including the supervision of the School Resource Officer division.

While employed with Alexander County, Moose pursued opportunities to further his education and advance his career. He attended classes at night during his off time to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Gardner-Webb University in August 2006 and a Master of Public Administration degree from Appalachian State University in December 2013. Moose cited both programs as being instrumental in equipping him with the skills necessary to take on leadership roles.

Moose was named the county’s Compliance and Procurement Specialist in August 2018, a role in which he worked closely with the County Manager’s office and other county departments to help manage grants and capital projects, and to monitor various programs for compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines. Moose also assisted the County Manager with project management, primarily working with oversight of public infrastructure projects in the areas of water, sewer, and broadband. He also served on various boards at the direction of the County Manager.

Moose has been a resident of Alexander County for nearly 40 years, having grown up in the Ellendale community and currently residing in the Sugar Loaf community. He and his wife, Amanda, have been married almost 20 years and have three children, ages, 16, 12, and 7.

The Alexander County Department of Social Services (DSS) is busily making preparations for the launch of North Carolina’s Medicaid Expansion on December 1, 2023.

Statewide, approximately 300,000 eligible people currently receiving Medicaid Family Planning benefits will automatically be enrolled in full health care coverage. About 600,000 eligible people will receive additional benefits as a result of the expansion.

“The expansion of Medicaid is a momentous milestone that promises to bring numerous benefits to the residents of Alexander County. The dedicated Medicaid team at DSS is fully prepared to offer their support,” said Thomas Mitchell, Alexander County DSS Director. “As we embark on this journey, it’s important to note that we cannot predict the initial demand or turnout for application assistance. Presently, we are already managing nearly 10,000 Medicaid cases, so we kindly request patience as we navigate this surge in demand.”

Mitchell said the most efficient method to apply for Medicaid benefits is online at https://epass.nc.gov (QR code will also direct you to the website), but DSS staff will be prepared to assist citizens in person when the expansion launches.

“Applying online is the quickest and most convenient method for submitting your Medicaid application,” he said. “For those who wish to apply in person, our staff will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although citizens should be prepared for longer wait times as we strive to address each client’s unique needs.”

Medicaid expansion increases the eligible population to adults aged 19-64 who have incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, expansion gives health care coverage to single individuals making under $20,000 a year. Likewise, a family of three earning under $34,000 combined will now be eligible. Beneficiaries will get care the same way as existing Medicaid beneficiaries and be eligible for the same comprehensive benefits and copays as other non-disabled adults in Medicaid.

Mitchell emphasized that DSS staff are committed to providing clients with the individualized attention they deserve and are prepared to devote the time and resources necessary to serve each client’s specific needs. DSS will also add a computer center for individuals who need computer and internet access for online applications.

“We are thrilled that the expansion of Medicaid is now a reality for North Carolinians who have long awaited this moment,” Mitchell said. “Your patience is greatly appreciated as we work diligently to process the volume of applications.”

Medicaid expansion will be transformative for access to health care in rural areas, for veterans, working adults, and their families while bringing billions in federal dollars to the state. North Carolina is one of 41 states that has expanded Medicaid since it was authorized in 2014.

For more information about the expanded eligibility for NC Medicaid, visit https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/north-carolina-expands-medicaid.

Thanks to a partnership between Alexander County and Open Broadband, more than 400 local homes and businesses now have high-speed internet service. Alan Fitzpatrick, CEO of Open Broadband, presented a final update to the Alexander County Board of Commissioners at the October 16th meeting as the partnership has concluded.

Commissioners approved the agreement with Open Broadband in February 2021, with a combined total investment of approximately $582,000, to provide internet service to underserved and unserved areas of the county.

Fitzpatrick said the original goal was the provide internet speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, but all activated accounts have exceeded that goal in Alexander County. He said that while the official partnership has now ended, his company will continue to upgrade equipment and expand service in the county.

“We’re going to continue to turn up more customers in Alexander County,” said Fitzpatrick. “There is a continual evolution in technology. The network that you helped us get started here is just going to get better and better. We will continue to make our own investments and citizens will benefit from that.”

Open Broadband has fixed-wireless equipment on existing towers on Linney’s Mountain and in the Ellendale and Stony Point communities. They also installed a tower on Roundtop Mountain and All Uphill Drive, in addition to 24 hub locations which distribute the wireless signal to more customers.

Fitzpatrick said there is some new technology that will significantly boost internet speeds for their customers, beginning in Stony Point.

“The county is making strides in helping to provide broadband to homes and businesses where internet service is poor or nonexistent,” said Marty Pennell, Chairman of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners. “Having broadband internet service is a necessity these days and we’re proud to have partnered with Open Broadband to help provide a low-cost solution for these 400+ customers.”

For more information about Open Broadband, visit www.openbb.net/alexanderco or call (980) 246-8989.

In other business:

• County Attorney Ben Faulkenberry presented a non-profit organization funding policy to the board for review and approval. He said the purpose of the policy is to promote partnerships between Alexander County and non-profit organizations whose missions and goals are to improve the overall well-being of local citizens. The new policy will help the county to ensure accountability and transparency of the use of public funds and will allow a fair process for submitting, reviewing, and approving applications from local non-profits. Following the presentation, commissioners approved the non-profit funding policy. The application will be available on the county’s website and will be due by February 28 of each year.

• In the County Manager’s Report, Shane Fox said the county veteran services office has moved to the Alexander County Services Center to provide improved access and accommodations for local veterans and their families.

Fox expressed his appreciation to NC Senator Eddie Settle and NC Representative Jeffrey Elmore for helping to secure approximately $10 million for the county, school system, and town. The state funding will be used for the county’s current water line extension project, a new EMS building at station #1, an elevated water tank in Bethlehem, court system improvements, Alexander Central High School stadium upgrade, town sidewalks, non-profit funding, and more.

He said the new fire training facility at the fairgrounds is progressing as the land has been graded and footers have been poured. The containers are supposed to arrive next week.

There will be a second bid opening on October 18 for the “Housing Our Teachers” project at 16 West Main Avenue (the former Chamber of Commerce building). Once renovated, the building will have a ground-floor commercial space with two one-bedroom apartments on the second floor that will be designed to attract teachers. The NC Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Division awarded a $650,000 Rural Transformation Grant to the county to rehabilitate the property with the county contributing $100,000 to the project.

Fox said the Bethlehem Park improvement project should be bid before the end of 2023. The project includes approximately $1.5 million in much-needed improvements such as new concessions and bathrooms, additional picnic space, new ADA-compliant parking and walkway, field lighting improvements, tennis court resurfacing with pickleball and basketball courts, new batting cages, and more.

He said the bid documents for the Bowman Court sewer project should be ready by the end of the year.

The Alexander Senior Center held a Medicare Spooktacular on October 13 with 130 participants in attendance for the open enrollment event.

Fox said the Post-Overdose Response Team’s Community Paramedic is Shannon Childers, who currently has eight clients, two of whom are advancing toward true recovery from addiction. He said the program is beginning to see some significant progress.

• Commissioners approved three budget amendments, including one for a net increase of $40,000 in solid waste fund expenditures for the Sugar Loaf Convenience Site project.

• The board approved two road names as submitted: Daisy Lane (off Willie McLeod Road) and Eastfield Lane (off O.E. Teague Road).

• The board appointed Susan Fontyn to a 3-year term on the Library Board of Trustees.

The next meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education (room #103). Meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the county’s Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192 or the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. Meeting agendas, minutes, videos, and more are available on the county’s website at https://alexandercountync.gov/commissioners.