December 2015

The Connecting LINC

The Connecting LINC Lincoln County Employee Newsletter

Inside this issue:

Employee/Director of the Year 2

Tax Office 3

Senior Services’ Award 4

Social Services’ Donations 5

Cooperative Extension’s

Class

6

“Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best.” – Unknown

County Offices will be

closed in observance of

Christmas on December

23rd, 24th and 25th and ...

January 1st for New

Year’s. January 18th for

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Day.

Dear Agent Trowel: You and your Cooperative Ex-tension office sell all sorts of berry bushes each year right after Christmas in your annual plant sale. But don’t you think it would be OBVIOUS to any 1st grader that you should sell them BEFORE Christmas? Every YEAR I stress-out over finding the perfect gifts to give. Last year I gave blaze orange ear muffs with antlers, and tiny Tup-perware tea tumbler key chains. I need something far more excit-ing to give this year. I’m ready to give gifts that keep-on giving…like your fantastic berry plants. But you sell them too late! If you would just start selling plants now, I could give the best gifts EVER this year and finish my holiday shopping way early! Signed, Mr. Earl E. Shauper Dear Mr. Shauper:

I asked my first grader what she thinks. It turns out that you are right. It was OBVIOUS to her that we should sell our plants before Christmas. So…. by demand we are selling gift orders for our plants BEFORE the holi-days this year. This is how the simple process works. First, you choose one of three custom holiday card de-signs and the fruit plants you want to give. Next we give you the free card, already printed with the list of plants you have purchased for your recipient. Then you get to write your per-sonal message in the free card and give it to your family or friends. Of course, it won’t be time to plant the plants until early March, so the nursery is going to take good care of them until then. When the plants arrive, we will contact everyone who was given

plants and invite them to come and pick them up just in time to plant! We will even give them instructions on how to plant and grow them, for those who are just learning. Contact our office if you have questions, or want to place an order! You can choose blueber-ries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and elderberries, and select your colorful gift card from three unique designs. Make a gardener happy this year; drop-by and get an order form from the Extension Office on the first floor of the James Warren Citi-zens Center (115 W. Main St. Lincolnton), or call 704-736-8461. Wishing you fruitful and Happy Holidays! Tom Dyson

Ask Agent Trowel By: Tom Dyson, CED, NC Cooperative Extension

Page 2 The Connecting LINC

Our Employee of the Year Award is a very special honor for a Lincoln County Government employee to receive. Nomi-nations are accepted from fellow county employees and a committee reviews all nominations received and selects the award recipient based on three catego-ries of eligibility. The 2015-2016 Lincoln County Employee of the Year Award recipient is Patty H. Dellinger of the Soil & Water Conservation Department. In the award recipient’s nomination letter, it states: “The nominee is known for her hard work and dedication to her job, her depart-ment, and to the County. She wears sev-eral hats. Not only does she handle all the clerical work in her department, she also holds several offices on multiple boards for which she is responsible for either taking minutes or keeping up with funds, or both. She frequently takes on

tasks to the point of overload, but she does it willingly and with a smile. She is solely responsible for multiple programs through the schools. She is always coming up with new ideas to bring knowledge of soils and conserva-tion to children and adults alike. She is responsible for Conservation Field Day for all the 6th graders in the school sys-tem, Earth Day programs, essay con-tests and many more programs. When you look up the words dedication, drive, or loyalty in the dictionary, this employee exemplifies this meaning! She is a tremendous asset to Lincoln County! Our award recipient has been employed with the County for 27 years. She gladly offers to help on multiple projects, includ-ing this luncheon, and has such a posi-tive attitude which, in turn, affects the

attitudes of those around her. Some would say she is the “Dirt Baby Queen”.

Congratulations Dirt Baby Queen!

2015 Employee of the Year

2015 Department Manager of the Year

Along with

the Employ-

ee of the

Year, Lin-

coln County

will now

recognize a

Department

Manager

each year.

While it is

true that all

of our Department Managers are outstand-

ing leaders, only one manager can be se-

lected each year. The Manager of the year

was selected by their peers, the County

Manager and the Board of Commissioners.

This year, the manager of year is a person

that selflessly gives of their time to accom-

plish goals and objectives for TEAM Lin-

coln. This person consistently goes above

and beyond the scope of their duties to

help other departments and employees.

They are always courteous and profession-

al to citizens and employees alike; addi-

tionally, this manager is always willing to

come in early or stay late to get the job

done. This employee and their staff repre-

sent Lincoln County in a very professional

manner; as a result, this manager and their

staff have earned the respect of fellow staff

members and citizens alike.

Lincoln County is fortunate to have a De-

partment Manager that is willing to go the

extra mile and one that practices what they

preach. This employee has spent their

entire career with Lincoln County and is

very active in the community; for example,

when he is not at work, you might find him

acting in a play or spinning records as a

DJ. During the Rotary Auction, you can

find him working behind scenes and on the

microphone as one of the auctioneers.

It is our pleasure to announce Dante’ Pat-

terson, Director of Information Technology

as Lincoln County’s Department Manager

of the Year 2015.

Online Shopping Do’s and Don’ts

• Be wary of promotional emails from unsolicited sources. ESPECIALLY of those with links or attachments.

• Turn on banking alerts and notifications to easily monitor your accounts and credit cards while shopping

• Avoid saving your credit card(s) to sites

• Do not use public Wi-Fi when shopping

• Use a Password Manager to keep unique passwords for each site you shop at

Page 3 The Connecting LINC

Highlights

During the month of December any dog under the age of 1 year, the adoption fee is $40.00.

Upcoming Events

• December 12, 2015- Toys for Tots Special- anyone who brings in a new unwrapped toy will receive a $40 adoption on any dog.

• December 19, 2015- Santa Special- We will be doing pictures with Santa (children or pets) from 12:00-3:00 pm. All dogs $40 adoption fee this day.

• Cat Adoptions will stay as $20 until further notice.

• All dogs that go to offsite adoption events are now $40 adoption fee.

• Also any animal that comes into the shelter already spayed/neutered or returned adoptions are $20 Adoption Fee. If you are interested in adopting a pet, please contact the Animal Shelter at: 704 736-4125 or to view our adoptable pets, visit our website at: http://www.lincolncounty.org/index.aspx?nid=973\

Animal Shelter Events,

David Workman, Director

The Tax Dept is collecting Toys for Tots and items for the elderly for the Holiday season. If anyone would like to contribute please let us know. Toys for Tots a toy for a boy or girl for $5 or over please drop it off before December 7th. For the elderly by December 15th. For more information, please contact Susan Sain, Tax Administrator, at 704-736-8540.

Tax time is back… Tax listing begins January 1, 2016 Thru February 1, 2016. Listing forms will be mailed December 31, 2015 to anyone whom owns personal property and has listed in the previous tax year. For anyone who does not receive a listing form or who recently acquired prop-erty that needs listing please call or come by the Tax Department. Types of proper-ty that must be listed annually include:

Aircraft, Watercraft, Manufactured Homes (Not classified as Real Estate), Unregis-tered Vehicles, Permanent, Multi-Year and IRP Plated Vehicles, Business Ma-chinery and Equipment, Office Furniture & Fixtures, Leasehold Improvements, Com-puter Equipment, Farm Equipment, or property rented to others as part of a business.

The tax office is located at 100 E. Main Street Lincolnton, NC (formerly Bank of American building) Hours: Monday- Fri-day 8:00am – 5:00pm Phone: (704) 736-8550 (704) 736-8551.

LIST YOUR TAXES FOR 2016

Donations Accepted at Tax Office for Toys for Tots and the Elderly

Important Reminder…

As a reminder, 2015 Property taxes should be fully paid by January 5, 2016 to avoid interest. Unpaid balances are considered delin-quent as of January 6, 2016(USPS Postmark applies) and are subject to collection remedies (levy, garnishment, debt set-off, bank attachment, advertisement, and/or foreclosure) as allowed by NC General Statutes. For your convenience, you may choose from the following payment options:

Visit our office location - 100 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092(Cash, Check or Money Order) **Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Mon – Fri) Mail your payment to PO Box 938, Lincolnton NC 28093 (Check or Money Order) Use the drop-box located in front of our office (Check or Money Order) Phone 1-877-261-6081 or visit our website www.lincolncounty.org to pay with Credit/Debit Card **Convenience Fees Apply

Visit our website www.lincolncounty.org or www.officialpayments.com/echeck to pay with Electronic Check (E-Check) ** Conven-ience Fees Apply

Should you need further information regarding tax payments, please contact the Lincoln County Tax Department (Collections Divi-sion) at 704-736-8542 or 704-736-8544.

Page 4 The Connecting LINC

Press Release

N.C. DHHS Recognizes World AIDS Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

news@dhhs.nc.go

December 1, 2015

Participants from the Division of Public Health and Saint Augustine’s University create a human ribbon in recognition of World AIDS Day. RALEIGH, N.C. – Today is World AIDS Day, which renews opportunities for health service agencies to work actively and collabo-ratively with partners to raise awareness about HIV and move closer to an AIDS-free generation. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health employees came together with Saint Augustine’s University to create a human ribbon in recognition of World AIDS Day. Participants wore red to raise awareness, and formed a ribbon on the Saint Augustine Falcon’s football field. “As we pause today to honor all those who have lost their lives to AIDS, and all those who continue to live with HIV, we also have great reason to look to the future with hope,” said State HIV/STD Director Jacquelyn Clymore. “We know how to treat HIV so that each person living with the virus stays healthier and lives longer.” While there is no cure for the HIV infection, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs can control the virus so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy lives. “We now have more tools than ever to prevent HIV transmissions,” said State HIV/STD Director Victoria Mobley, M.D. “Healthcare providers should routinely assess their patients’ HIV and sexually transmitted infection risks and discuss risk reduction strategies.” A proclamation signed by Governor Pat McCrory proclaims today World AIDS Day in North Carolina, and encourages efforts to improve education, prevention, research and community service in North Carolina to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. For more information on HIV and AIDS prevention, testing and treatment visit: http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/hiv/individuals.html or your local health department.

World AIDS Day

The City of Lincolnton and the Downtown Development Association held the annu-al Lincolnton Christmas Parade on Sun-day, November 29th. Representatives from the Arts Council judged the entries in the Christmas Parade, the four cate-gories were: Best of Show, First Place, Second Place and Third Place. The Lincoln County Senior Center won 2nd Place for their entry. A group of seniors from the Senior Center walked with canes behind the decorated float. Some of them seemed to limp while other tried to keep pace with canes. Suddenly the music cranked up and the group of sen-iors sprang to life and began to move and dance. The group finished their

dance routine, marched with their canes and surprised another group of parade spectators two hundred yards down Main Street who had not yet seen what “miracle” that had just transpired. The senior adults had a great time participat-ing in the parade and entertaining the crowd. Please contact Senior Services at 704-732-9053 for more information regarding programs for Lincoln County senior’s age 60 or better. Submitted by: Marti Hovis, Director Lincoln County Senior Services

Lincoln County Senior Center 2nd Place Winners at the Lincolnton Parade

Page 5 The Connecting LINC

If you have ever visited the Lincoln County Department of Social Services in mid-December, chances are you felt as if you were in Santa’s workshop. Bicycles line the walls, neatly wrapped boxes are ready to be delivered and tables overflow with donations that pour in during the Christmas season. Beginning in October, DSS staff begin making referrals for those children who may not otherwise have gifts to open Christmas morning. It is during the Christmas season, that many of our community’s churches, businesses, schools, and citizens come together to make the holiday’s brighter for those less fortunate. Angel trees are set up within these organizations, and from there, miracles begin to happen. Although those who donate are not able to see the fruits of their labor, that does not stop them from sharing the love in their heart and making this dark world a little bit brighter.

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored an “angel”. You ARE making a difference!

“Thank You” from the Department of Social Services

New Employees November, 2015New Employees November, 2015New Employees November, 2015New Employees November, 2015 Samantha Casey Social Worker I Scarlett Canaday EMT Basic Lindy Dalrymple Paramedic Stacey Montelongo Paramedic Zachary Wells EMT Basic Laura Welsh EMT Basic Harry Martin Detention Officer Angela Miller Library Associate Rusty Carpenter Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Larry Heafner Convenience Site Attendant Montgomery Fortenberry Van Driver Paul Mauney Van Driver

Retirees Who Are Retiring Dec. 1, 2015

Kathy Ivey Home Health Shannon Reep Home Health Caroline Wilcox DSS

Lincoln County Vegetable Lincoln County Vegetable Lincoln County Vegetable Lincoln County Vegetable

ProductionProductionProductionProduction SchoolSchoolSchoolSchool

December 16, 2015 9:30am

to 1:30pm

Hulls Grove Baptist Church

6670 W. Hwy 27, Vale

Presentations by NC State University Specialists:

Commercial Vegetable Production Update

Dr. Chris Gunter, Commercial Vegetable Production Specialist

Disease Management in Vegetable Production

Dr. Frank Louws, Plant Pathology Specialist Director NSF-Center for

Integrated Pest Management

Insect Pest Management in Vegetable Production

Dr. Jim Walgenbach, Extension Entomology Specialist

Production Questions and Answers—Panel of Specialists Catered Lunch

provided for participants

Please call Lincoln County Cooperative Extension to register

704-736-8461