Macon County Newsletter
An Electronic Newsletter from
the County Managers Office
for Residents of Macon County
Wesley Price Retires after 221/2 years of Service.
When you say Macon County Department of Social Services - Child Protective Services you think of Wesley Price.
Wesley, with his giving heart and warm smile, touched the lives of many people in Macon County.
The most precious lives he touched were the children in Macon County.
His kind deeds and gestures will be missed by all. We wish him well as he hits the golf course or you
can always catch up with him at Watauga Baptist Church.
Animal Control
Well, it's been another great month. In June it was National Adopt a Cat Month, and boy did we have the cats
and kittens.
To help celebrate that month we reduced the adoption fee, and WLOS TV came over and did a
segment on TV which helped to reduce the over population of cats and kittens at this shelter.
We did so
well in finding homes for these animals that we extended the adoption special to the 15th of July. We
ended up adopting out 41 cats and kittens.
Parks and Recreation
We have had a busy summer here at the Rec Park! The pool has stayed lively with swim lessons, lap swimmers
and plenty of families trying to cool off in this summer heat.
Our hours are 11-4 Monday-Thursday, 11-5 Friday and Saturday and 1-5 Sunday, as well as a family swim every
Friday night from 6-8. We'll be open weekdays until school starts August 4th and then weekends until August 14th.
It isn't too late to schedule a "back to school" pool party. For more information, contact Sarah Wilkins at 349-2090.
Fun was had by all at the Fourth of July festivities in the park. We've also had several successful All-Star
tournaments played on our fields. Along with badminton, the tennis courts and pickle-ball courts stay busy
with regulars who are always open to new players.
There are so many opportunities to stay active here in the park!
The Senior Games participants are gearing up for the State Games in Raleigh in late September.
We know Macon County will continue to perform well at a State Level.
To help fund this program, they'll be holding a flea market at the Community Building September 3rd.
Be sure to check out the deals and support our Seniors.
Youth Football is getting ready to begin, and we're all looking forward to supporting our Panthers!
Fall Soccer sign-ups are underway and we are anticipating a wonderful season for our boys' and girls' teams.
Social Services
On May 16th, Macon County Department of Social Services received an Award of Excellence at
the Food and Nutrition Services Manager and Supervisors Meeting held in Raleigh NC.
Attending were Sheila Conley, Food and Nutrition Supervisor, and Jennifer Alexander, Food and
Nutrition Team Leader.
Food and Nutrition Services, as we know, is an entitlement program, so all eligible individuals
and households may receive assistance. This program began in 1939 with paper domination to the
now used EBT debit cards.
The number of Americans receiving food stamps reached 43 million in November 2010, the highest
number since the program began in 1939.
We appreciate our Food and Nutrition Team. They are Sheila Conley, Supervisor; Jennifer Alexander,
Team Leader; Marie McClure; Elaina Worley; Kathy Norris; Sheila Green & Holly Maloy.
On May 26th, we honored our Food and Nutrition Team with a Healthy Salad Lunch.
Foster Care Update
As stated in the previous issue of E-News, May was Foster Care Recognition Month. Macon County DSS
recognized our Foster parents and our Foster children with an outdoor meal at Wesley's Park.
Our Foster parents were given special gifts and awards, which included picture frames
for their families. Pictures were taken after the awards for the Foster Children's memory books.
We would also like to thank Bojangles for their commitment in serving Macon County's Families and
Children and for our own employees who baked or furnished desserts for the occasion.
If you would like to become a foster parent in Macon County, please contact Stacey Messer, Social
Worker with The Macon County Department of Social Services at 828-349-2546 for the next
MAPP
(Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) class and qualifications.
Guardian Ad Litem
Can You Help?
Could you help the court determine what's best for a child? All across North Carolina cases of child abuse and
neglect are petitioned to the court system. In each case a volunteer advocate is needed to investigate
and recommend a safe place and services for the child. Could you step in and represent the best interest of
such a child? If so, you could become a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer.
The Macon/Jackson/Swain County Guardian Ad Litem office is currently recruiting new volunteers for an upcoming
class. For more information, contact: Shannon Cowan or Connie Barker (828) 349-2409. There is a child in the
system that needs you!
Health Department Staff Recognition
Diane Keener recently completed the Health Informatics Certificate Program at Southwestern
Community College.
Completion of this program is going to put MCPH ahead of other Health Departments as
we transition to an electronic medical record system in compliance with the Meaningful Use criteria of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
This criteria requires that all medical providers begin
using an electronic record for documentation of care provided by 2014.
Stan Polanski completed his certification in performing Colposcopy exams through the American
Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP).
Colposcopy is a gynecological procedure
that illuminates and magnifies the cervical area in order to detect and examine abnormalities of these
structures following an abnormal pap smear result.
ASCCP is a national multi-disciplinary organization that represent obstetrician-gynecologists and other
health care practitioners and provides a three-tiered certification program which includes a "mentorship"
or hands-on period of supervised coploscopy training, and two comprehensive exam tiers.
Wes Bintz was recently recognized by the DPH Environmental Health Section for developing
forms and processes related to Onsite Waste Water activites.
These forms will now be recommended for
implementation statewide.
Veterans' Affairs
Click the banner below to go to VA.GOV
Sheriff's Office
DATE: August 8, 2011
On Friday, August 5, deputies arrested a Franklin man on multiple charges related to Child Pornography. After
receiving information from a concerned citizen, John Kennedy of Shady Cove Lane, age 47, was arrested by
MCSO deputies following the execution of two separate search warrants.
During an interview with Mr. Kennedy, he admitted to trading hundreds of photographs of children that
were pornographic in nature. Investigators have seized evidence during the execution of the search warrants
where numerous items were seized, including computers.
Investigators are requesting your assistance in locating any potential victims or anyone that may have information
that could be useful in the prosecution of John Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy admits that he used the internet and
frequently used FaceBook as well as other means of social networking including AOL and YAHOO Chat rooms to
commit these offenses.
If anyone feels that they or their children may have received any inappropriate communications with Mr. Kennedy
we are encouraging you to contact the MCSO Juvenile Investigations Unit immediately.
Sheriff Holland states, "This case was initiated following a telephone call from a concerned citizen
who had a "gut feeling" that something was not right about Mr. Kennedy and his behavior."
While conducting their investigation and working with California and Texas authorities, MCSO
investigators were able to gather enough information to allow them to successfully obtain and
execute search warrants at the suspect's residence. The hard work of investigators led to Mr.
Kennedy's subsequent arrest.
Investigators with
the MCSO are currently analyzing the computers looking for additional evidence against Mr.
Kennedy and any other individuals who may have been involved. In closing Sheriff Holland states,
"We will be analyzing these computers and evidence searching for any and all individuals who
were involved with trading pornographic material involving children with Mr. Kennedy. All
individuals will be aggressively sought, investigated, arrested and prosecuted."
John Kennedy is currently charged with 1 Felony Count of 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of Minor
and 1 Felony Count of Identity Theft with additional charges expected today. Magistrate Brandon
McDowell set a Secured Bond of $50,000.00 on his initial charges with his first court appearance
set for August 18, 2011 in Macon County District Court. John Kennedy remains in custody at this
time.
Below you will find several names that Mr. Kennedy used while taking part in this alleged activity:
KNOWN FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS:
(Generally using cartoon characters as profile photo)
•John Kennedy
•John Philip Kennedy (spelled with one "L")
•J.P. Kennedy
•Uncle J.P
•Phillip Dewayne Kennedy
•John Paul Kennedy
•John Fitzgerald Kennedy
•Jonathan Jackson
•Analesa Rose Kennedy
•Leann Michelle Elizabeth Kennedy
•Lisha Stanton
•J. Philip Kennedy (again with one "L")
KNOWN AOL Accounts:
•daddytoonomad@aol.com
•eagelsnestychapel@aol.com
•scoobysmaiden@aol.com
•tinkersmaiden@aol.com
•military2cowboy@aol.com
•calcowboy@aol.com
KNOWN YAHOO Accounts:
•Calcowboy@yahoo.com
•Military2cowboy@yahoo.com
•Anikki33@yahoo.com
•Elisha_mason_stanton@yahoo.com
•spacecowboynomad@yahoo.com
•specialistbilly87@yahoo.com
•tinkerbell_wonderwoman@yahoo.com
•calcowboy007@yahoo.com
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office Juvenile Investigations Unit at 349-2155 or CRIMESTOPPERS 349-2600
