Take the plunge to support Special Olympics

PolarOrganizers are looking for more jumpers to join the 50 participants registered for the annual costumed Polar Plunge to be held Saturday, Feb. 6, to support the North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Registration onsite begins at 11:30am at the outdoor pool of The Fitness Center, 861 Old Winston Road, Kernersville. The Polar Plunge begins at 1 p.m. Jumpers must raise $50 to participate, or can raise $25 to “dip a toe and go.” All participants are encouraged to come in costume. Teams can choose a theme.

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North Carolina police unit to add ‘In God We Trust’ decals to patrol cars

Police CarsPolice cars in a North Carolina county will soon display “In God We Trust” decals thanks to support from a local church.

Rutherford County Sheriff Chris Francis said he’s been trying to display the nation’s motto on patrol cars for quite some time now, but it wasn’t in the budget, WLOS reported.

Fairview Baptist Church Pastor David Ledford learned of the project and decided to get involved. He offered to fund the decals and agreed to continue to fund the project as new vehicles were added to the unit.

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Sheriff receives award from Special Olympics NC: Second annual Polar Plunge kicks off this year’s fundraising season

Special OlympicsCleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman was recognized by Special Olympics North Carolina as 2015 Sheriff of the Year for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Norman was honored at this year’s kickoff for the fundraising season for Special Olympics, Sgt. Melanie Martin of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said. Norman was selected out of the 100 sheriffs in the state for his “leadership and dedication” concerning Special Olympics.

Over the past four years, the sheriff’s office has raised more than $30,000 for Special Olympics, including more than $13,000 in 2015 alone. This year, the sheriff’s office is hoping to increase that, Martin said.

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Dobson police officer killed in off-duty crash on Interstate 77

DobsonSURRY COUNTY, N.C. — A Dobson police officer was killed in an off-duty crash Thursday night on Interstate 77.

Officer Alexander “Dave” Wilmoth, 23, died at the scene of the crash just before 11 p.m. on the southbound side between mile marker 97 and 98. Wilmoth is the nephew of Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson.

Wilmoth was driving his personal Toyota pickup truck when he lost control of the vehicle, investigators said. The truck went into the median, crossed back over both southbound lanes, went over a guardrail, overturned several times and hit a tree, investigators said.

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Car companies implement new safety features to combat distracted teen driving

teensGREENVILLE, NC (WNCT) – According to the CDC, six teenagers die every day in car accidents.

Car manufacturers are working to stop distracted teen driving by implementing new safety features.

Ford, Hyundai, and Chevy all have new systems that are available in some models. The 2016 Chevy Malibu has a new system called Teen Driver.

Parents can program the teen’s key fab, so they know what the driver is doing when behind the wheel.

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Pitt County to start CodeRED, a new emergency notification system

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)- Pitt County is putting new emergency notification system in place.

CodeRED will serve as a communication outreach to both citizens and Pitt County staff through phone calls, texts, e-mails, etc. to inform residents of critical information.

“CodeRED’s robust system will provide Pitt County staff with a reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use interface to quickly disseminate critical information to our citizens during emergencies,” said Emergency Management Director Noel Lee. “We are very eager to use this technology to enhance our emergency preparedness plans.”

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Things to know about police shootings and mental illness

IllnessST. MARTINVILLE, La. – The killing of a mentally ill man in his south Louisiana home during a struggle with sheriff’s deputies last month appears to fit a troubling, tragic pattern.

Michael Noel, 32, struggled for years to get treatment for his paranoid schizophrenia. The deputies who confronted Noel last month were carrying out a protective custody order so he could be involuntarily hospitalized. Experts see evidence suggesting the problem of deadly confrontations between law enforcement officers and people with mental illness has worsened as governments dismantle networks of health care services.

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Senator Apodaca receives Defender of Public Safety Award

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association recognized Senator Tom Apodaca in early January as a 2015 Defender of Public Safety for the work he did during the 2015 legislative session to protect public safety in North Carolina.

Senator Apodaca dedicated time and effort during the session advocating for law enforcement issues that impact the office of sheriff, local communities and the state.

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New sheriff in town: Robert Graves

ASHEBORO — GravesRobert Graves, a retired state trooper, will be the next Randolph County sheriff.

Graves will take the oath of office at the Feb. 1 meeting of the Randolph County commissioners.

“I’m very humbled and excited to go to work,” Graves said Monday night moments after members of the Randolph County Republican Executive Committee tapped him as their nominee to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Maynard Reid.

“I look forward to the challenge of working with all the fine employees at the sheriff’s office. I’m ready to go to work.”

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Virginia sheriff adds ‘In God We Trust’ to cruisers

TAZEWELL COUNTY, Va. — CruisersA Virginia sheriff’s office is adding a new feature to its cruisers: a simple decal that says “In God We Trust.”

All patrol cars for the sheriff’s office in Tazewell County will now include the saying, WJHL reported.
“Our department feels very strongly about having ‘In God We Trust’ on our vehicles. We know there is nothing we can do for our community without the guidance of our Lord,” Sheriff Brian Hieatt said.

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