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November 23 2022

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• By NEWS-TOPIC STAFF
• Nov 22, 2022

LENOIR — A restructuring has led to the Economic Development Commission to become a function under Caldwell County’s government, instead of a contracted service.

“The board has a vision to continue advancing economic development efforts and the most efficient and effective way to do that is to build a new county department focused on workforce development,” County Manager Donald Duncan said.

Part of the reorganization includes new leadership with Ashley Bolick named as the director of the EDC.

“We are pleased to have Ashley join our team as we bring the EDC back in house,” Duncan said. “She is a natural leader who will work diligently to recruit new industries and bring more jobs to our area.”

In her new role, Bolick will help the EDC transition from a contracted service to a county-operated department.

“I am excited to bring my passion for service and to continue to build upon the successes of the Commissioners, EDC Board, and staff,” Bolick said. “Together we can generate advanced economic growth and development in our great county.”

Bolick replaces Deborah Murray, who has been executive director of the EDC. Murray will continue to serve until Dec. 31.

A lifelong resident and strong advocate for Caldwell County, Bolick brings nearly 20 years of Human Resources and Management experience to her new role. For the last 7½ years, she has served the Western Piedmont Council on Governments as director of Administration and Human Resources. In this role, Bolick’s duties have included managing a $2.8 million annual budget, pay plan studies, and executive searches for local governments.

“During my time at the WPCOG, I have learned so much through my interactions with the region’s public officials and public policy influencers, and I plan to use those experiences to build cooperation to help Caldwell County thrive,” Bolick said.

Bolick will take her oath of office on Monday, Dec. 5, at 5:45 p.m. in the City/County Chambers. A reception welcoming Bolick will begin at 5:15 p.m.

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November 22 2022

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Caldwell County Manager Donald Duncan recently named Ashley Bolick as director of the county’s reorganized Economic Development Commission.

“We are pleased to have Ashley join our team as we bring the EDC back in house. She is a natural leader who will work diligently to recruit new industries and bring more jobs to our area,” said Caldwell County Manager Donald Duncan.

In her new role, Bolick will help the EDC transition from a contracted service to a county-operated department.

“I am excited to bring my passion for service and to continue to build upon the successes of the Commissioners, EDC Board, and staff,” said Bolick. “Together we can generate advanced economic growth and development in our great county.”

A lifelong resident and strong advocate for Caldwell County, Bolick brings nearly 20 years of Human Resources and Management experience to her new role. For the last 7½ years, she has served the Western Piedmont Council on Governments as Director of Administration and Human Resources. In this role, Bolick’s duties have included managing a $2.8 million annual budget, pay plan studies, and executive searches for local governments.

“During my time at the WPCOG, I have learned so much through my interactions with the region’s public officials and public policy influencers, and I plan to use those experiences to build cooperation to help Caldwell County thrive,” said Bolick.

Bolick will take her oath of office on Monday, December 5, at 5:45 p.m. in the City/County Chambers. A reception welcoming Bolick will begin at 5:15 p.m.

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November 22 2022

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Welcome to Duke Street Cottages “pocket-neighborhood” development by Rob Howard in Granite Falls, NC. Eleven Net-Zero Ready homes in 1.5 acres! Ribbon Cutting on Nov. 18^th, 2022.

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November 17 2022

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By NEWS-TOPIC STAFF

Nov 16, 2022

GREENSBORO — Dr. Don Phipps, superintendent of Caldwell County Schools, was named the 2023 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year at an awards presentation and reception held Tuesday, Nov. 15 in Greensboro.

The award is jointly presented annually by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA), the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), and the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA). Scholastic Education Solutions, who sponsored the event, also provided $5,000 in recognition of Phipps’ monumental achievement.

Phipps joined Caldwell County Schools as superintendent in 2018 and since that time has been a driving force in creating positive change in his district, particularly in the areas of budget management, student wellness, and community involvement.

“It’s overwhelming and a real honor for me to represent the superintendents in North Carolina with the work that they do and to call them all my peers,” said Phipps. “Gratitude is not a strong enough word. I look forward to serving them and representing them.”

Jack Hoke, executive director of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association, praised Phipps for the leadership that has earned him the top honor for local superintendents in the state.

“Dr. Don Phipps is a leader among leaders,” Hoke said. “His focus on addressing the critical needs of students and families in his community and his efforts to be a strong voice for his colleagues in state and federal education policy work all make him an exemplary district leader who is very worthy of the Superintendent of the Year honor.”

Since becoming superintendent of Caldwell County Schools, Phipps has made it his mission to establish robust resources to support student safety and well-being and to foster positive relationships between the school district and families.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Phipps directed CCCS to deploy school buses, equipped with Wi-Fi, to help students and families with limited internet access. When students began returning to school, Phipps and his team continued their focus on student support and launched a partnership with three community mental health providers to offer school-based mental health services for the 2022-23 school year.

“This work is critical, in my opinion,” said Phipps. “This work has significantly and positively impacted the gap that existed where our students’ mental health needs were identified and not being met.”

Phipps also has worked with ministers in his community to create a Ministerial Alliance, a program which has helped to spread valuable information about critical issues such as free school lunch. In addition, CCS engages the local community by offering needs-based services like college application and scholarship nights, Bootcamps for Grandparents seeking computer skills, and even an AgExpo focused on agricultural-related careers targeted at students.

“We must respond to needs in our community, but we only know what those needs are if we are part of the community,” said Phipps. “We must be seen as trustworthy and genuine in our work.”

As the 2023 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year, Phipps will compete at the national level for Superintendent of the Year at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education, in San Antonio, TX, Feb. 16-18, 2023.

The 2023 North Carolina Regional Superintendents of the Year, all of whom were nominees for this prestigious state award, were also recognized as such at the Nov. 15 ceremony:

• Region 1 | Northeast | Dr. Ethan Lenker, Pitt County Schools
• Region 2 | Southeast | Dr. Jerry L. Oates, Brunswick County Schools
• Region 3 | Central | Ms. Catty Q. Moore, Wake County Schools
• Region 4 | Sandhills | Dr. Aaron Fleming, Harnett County Schools
• Region 5 | Piedmont/Triad | Dr. Todd Martin, Yadkin County Schools
• Region 6 | Southwest | Dr. Jeff Booker, Gaston County Schools
• Region 7 | Northwest | Dr. Don Phipps, Caldwell County Schools
• Region 8 | Western | Ms. Angela Knight, Graham County Schools

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November 1 2022

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By NEWS-TOPIC STAFF

Oct 31, 2022

HICKORY — Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital, is bringing a wide range of health care services to Caldwell County. The Frye Regional HealthPark, located at 1041 Morganton Blvd. SW in Lenoir, will open its doors today (Tuesday, Nov. 1) with cardiology and family medicine practices. It will continue to grow with needed services for the community over the coming months as new providers and services move into the 25,000-square-foot, multi-specialty outpatient facility.

“I am excited to relocate my office from nearby Hudson to a modern, spacious suite at the Frye Regional HealthPark,” said Amada Du Sablon, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician at the new FryeCare Family Medicine — Lenoir. “We will continue to offer personalized care for our existing and new patients of all ages and in all stages of life — from children and teens through adults and seniors. My focus is to build strong, lasting relationships through open communication and a commitment to Frye Regional’s mission of Making Communities Healthier.

“Caldwell County is a great place to live, work, go to school and play — and Frye Regional Medical Center and the FryeCare Physicians Network are pleased to expand our offerings here to better serve this community,” Du Sablon added.

Jesse Gullett, DNP, FNP, a family nurse practitioner, is also joining Dr. Du Sablon and their staff at FryeCare Family Medicine — Lenoir. To schedule an appointment with a provider, call 828-323-2460.

FryeCare Cardiology — Lenoir (formerly Piedmont Cardiology Associates), which has been serving patients in Lenoir for more than 20 years, is also relocating to the Frye Regional HealthPark, effective Tuesday, Nov. 1. The new clinic will include a range of resources and services for heart and vascular conditions, including testing, monitoring and therapies. The providers also offer guidance to help patients learn how to prevent and manage heart disease through healthy lifestyle choices.

The following board-certified cardiologists will see new and existing patients at the multi-specialty outpatient facility in Lenoir as well their offices in Hickory, Connelly Springs and Lincolnton: Ghassan Alkoutami, MD; Srinivas Mikkilineni, MD; John Morrison, MD; Phillip Paspa, MD; Vincent Patrone, MD; and Pairoj Rerkpattanapipat, MD.

The heart specialists perform cardiac catheterization and other interventional procedures exclusively at the Frye Regional Heart Center, the first Duke Health heart affiliate in Western North Carolina. To schedule an appointment with a cardiologist at the Frye Regional HealthPark, call 828-754-1919.

FryeCare Pain Management will open in the Frye Regional HealthPark on November 7. Sarah Buff, FNP, a nurse practitioner formerly with the Unifor Pain Treatment Center in Hickory, specializes in pain management for low back pain, neck pain, cancer pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathies, and pain from peripheral vascular disease. To schedule an appointment, call 828-304-2529.

In 2023, additional providers from the FryeCare Physicians Network, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, pulmonologists, vascular surgeons and women’s health specialists, will be scheduling appointments at the convenient new location in Lenoir. Plans are also in development for an outpatient imaging center with the latest technology as well as outpatient physical therapy services.

“We are pleased to expand services for patients and families in the Lenoir area,” said Chris Brown, RN, interim CEO of Frye Regional Medical Center. “This location offers convenience and accessibility of services for patients. We are excited about what the future will bring and are committed to providing quality care in this area, backed by the services of Frye Regional Medical Center.”

The architect for the multi-specialty outpatient facility is HMK Architects + Planners, Inc., using largely local subcontractors. The Frye Regional HealthPark represents a nearly $2 million investment in Caldwell County by Duke LifePoint Healthcare.

To learn more, visit https://www.fryemedctr.com/frye-regional-healthpark.

Meet the providers: Join the providers and staff of FryeCare Cardiology, FryeCare Family Medicine and FryeCare Pain Management for a Caldwell Chamber of Commerce Ribbon-Cutting Celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Frye Regional HealthPark in Lenoir. Tours will be offered immediately after the ceremony and remarks until 4 p.m.