Drugs a major issue during forum

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Five candidates for the post of Wilkes County sheriff participated in a forum held Thursday evening at the Wilkes County Public Library in North Wilkesboro.

Curbing the growing problem of illegal drug use was the focus of many questions submitted by readers of The Record and in the responses from candidates Republicans Chris Shew, Zach Henderson, Sharon Call-Diaz and Tony Combs and Democrat David Pendry.

Republican candidate Willie Tharpe was injured while working on his farm a couple of hours before the event and did not attend because he was being treated at Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

The event was moderated by WKBC Radio New Director Ed Racey and was hosted by The Record. Record Publisher Ken Welborn welcomed the crowd which packed the main floor of the library.

Each candidate was allowed to give a two-minute opening and closing remark and was given one minute each to answer the questions.

Opening statements:

Chris Shew, 51, told the audience that he has worked for the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department for 29 years, starting his career as a patrol officer and has worked in various department and capacities including telecommunications, detention, detective, chief of detectives and is currently working as chief deputy.

“I’ve worked in all areas of the sheriff’s department and by having done that I can direct our people,” he said.

Zach Henderson: “Being out on the campaign trail for the last couple of months, I’ve heard a lot of people express concerns, particularly about drug related crimes.”

He said he worked in the criminal justice system for 32 years, most recently as a probation officer, a job he retired from in 2008.

Sharon Call-Diaz: She told the crowd that she was born and raised in Wilkes and moved to Florida where she attended Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy. After going into law enforcement she has worked for sheriff’s offices, and served in various capacities such as a SWAT team leader and hostage negotiators.

“I left Wilkes County to go in law enforcement and come back and run for sheriff,” she said. “This was my career plan.”

David Pendry: “I filed as a candidate for Wilkes County sheriff because I continue to see a need in a change of leadership and the mode of operations. I have served in various capacities of law enforcement. I feel like we need to change the operation within the sheriff’s department. I have held multiple positions. I feel like I am qualified to serve as your sheriff.”

Tony Combs said he served in the U.S. Marine Corps then as a sheriff’s deputy and narcotics officer. “All these have prepared me to be your next sheriff. I have reached a point in my career where I feel I need to give something back. My decision is not ego driven. I want to make sure Wilkes County is a place where our children can grow up safely. I’m not a politician. I will work to reduce wasteful spending and not be a burden to our taxpayers.”

 

Racey then drew questions at random from a box and Welborn kept time, letting the candidates know when they were close to using up their minute.

 

Question 1: What will you do specifically for the sheriff's department employees?

Zach Henderson: I have a unique understanding what the constraints are regarding the economy in Wilkes. We are continuing to lose money in sales taxes. We have limited amounts of money to spend on employees and equipment. I know as a result of trying to downsize our government, some people have expressed the desire to retire within the sheriff department.

Sharon Call-Diaz: For the employees, one of the things I want to institute is for the department to have a sounding board. I want there to be staff members appointed to represent them. They could make the decision themselves when they meet. The person appointed to represent them can come to the sheriff. It is a way for the sheriff to find out about things without anyone having to go over anyone’s head.

David Pendry: “First of all I would want to make all our employees to feel at home. We would work as a group not as a separate function. We need to work together to build a common ground. We should be able to hear each others comments without worrying that somebody is going to get fire. We can all work together.”

Tony Combs: “When I become sheriff I want to evaluate each employee on a one on one basis. A study should be conducted with possibly using peers in the department. We have a very good group of officers and I would be proud to serve as the leadership for these folks. We will continue to serve the people of Wilkes County on the level they would expect.”

Chris Shew: “I will have an open door and I will be open minded. I want our employees to get the best training they can get to make sure they are the best they can be and do the best job they can do.”

 

Question 2: What makes you qualified to be sheriff?

Sharon Call-Diaz: “I have for the past 20 yeas been planning to run for sheriff. My whole career is based on law enforcement. I haven’t just stayed in one area of that. I’ve tried to learn about all aspects of the law. I feel that with my background and experience, I will be a good leader. I know I can work with the community and with the officers.”

David Pendry: “I began my law enforcement career in 1968 and worked every position from bottom to top including police chief of North Wilkesboro. I have more than 3,000 hours of continuing education in law enforcement and completed police supervision school. I have continued my certification since I retired and feel like that qualifies me to serve the people of Wilkes County as the next sheriff.”

Tony Combs: “Being sheriff is not all law enforcement. My last 20 years been involved in the private sector. I’ve been working with a budget. It’s time to put those qualities to work in our sheriff’s department. I have eight years of experience in law enforcement. Matching the budget and giving the officers what they need and providing service to the citizens are my concerns.”

Chris Shew: “I have 29 years in law enforcement with 27 of those years being in management positions. I have been chief deputy for 10 years and I know what I am managing. I have helped prepare the budget. I think I am qualified to be sheriff.”

Zach Henderson: “I have 32 years experience in the criminal justice system. I feel like my experience over the yeas help me get people to work together effectively. I have a BS from Western Carolina and feel like I have management skills from working with the court system and law enforcement. With all those things, I feel like I have the ability to be an effective sheriff.”

 

Question 3: What makes you different from the other candidates?

David Pendry: “I have made it a top goal of mine to prepare myself for this position for a long time. I want to show the citizens of Wilkes what the sheriff’s department can do. I want to work and take what they built and build it bigger. I’m qualified to do it. I hope the people give me the chance.”

Tony Combs: “What makes me different is that I have passion, commitment and the courage to wage war against drugs in Wilkes County.”

Chris Shew: “My dedication. I have spent 29 years at sheriff’s department. There’s not a job there I don’t know how to do myself. I think I can direct our people since I know what they do and what needs to be done.”

Zach Henderson:  “My experience over the years. I think everyone at this table wants a safer Wilkes County to live in. In am very interested in our community and making it a safer place to live. Some of my concerns are drug-related deaths and the growing numbers of breaking and entering cases. I want to try to stop those as much as possible.”

 Sharon Call-Diaz: “This is my passion. Law enforcement is my career. I’m sure we would all make great sheriffs. But, being the sheriff, I believe, everybody can get along as far as getting to the common goal. I would be willing to work with all of these individuals. I think the main thing that makes me different is that this is my life and this is my career.”

 

Question 4: What are your plans for participation with Federal, State, and other agencies to provide Wilkes County sufficient Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness? 

Tony Combs: “We would need an officer within the sheriff’s office to be physically responsible for any homeland security money out there, and keep us up to date on any mandates as needed.”

Chris Shew: “First of all I would maintain a good relationship with my allies. I have met several contacts over the yeas with the FBI, SBI and DA’s office. They contact us before anyone else as far as domestic and international terrorism. I would be on board with our emergency management office and continue to train officers.”

Zach Henderson: “There is at least one officer responsible for grant writing and management of programs. I would want to give the officers every bit of equipment needed to do an effective job.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “It is a big priority as far as funding. I have worked with the feds, the state and also with Homeland Security. That is a standard protocol we have to adhere with. I know that protocol so that won’t be an issue.”

David Pendry: “I would want an open line of communication with the state attorney general’s office for current events, and contact emergency management and the fire departments. I think we should do a mock situation two or three times a year that way everyone would know what they needed to do.”

 

Question 5: Many crimes in Wilkes are considered drug-related. What are your plans for stopping illegal drug trafficking in Wilkes?

Chris Shew: “I am in it every day. I think I have a better understand than most. It’s being hammered every day. We need additional narcotics officers. If I told you it was going to stop, it would be a lie. It will be here as long as there is a demand for it. As far as drug abuse, I want to stop these drug abusers from going out of state to get their drugs.”

Zach Henderson: “I believe the greatest resource we have is the people here. People are quick to let others know what’s going on in the various areas they are living in. This problem has gotten progressively worse. We need to use federal and state law enforcement to assist us. We need to all work together to make it effective, but mainly we need to get the people in the county to buy into this and help us stop it.”

Sharon Call Diaz: “You’ll never get rid of drugs. We approached it differently where I worked. We didn’t try to get rid of the drug users, but the drug dealers. Once you go out in a community and discuss how you are going to do it they try to outwit you every time. A separate tip line where a number doesn’t show up and people don’t have to give a name should be set up. It would mainly be for communications so that people can talk to the sheriff’s office.”

David Pendry: “I think you have to get out in the community and get your trust from them. I think that you need to have ties with North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro police departments. I think you have to work together because if you get the drug dealers on one side of the county, they’re just going to move to the other side – they just go somewhere else. It takes help from citizens.”

Tony Combs: “Wilkes County is second to only San Francisco in drug-related deaths. There is a drug supply chain alive and well in Wilkes We have to go out and get the trust of people out in the community and get the trust of other agencies. You have to have that trust in order to combat it effectively. I have the passion, commitment and courage to go out and do what it’s going to take.”

 

 

Question 6: How do you plan to make Wilkes County safer without raising taxes?

Zach Henderson: “One way is by not hiring back some of the people who are retiring and use that money to better train and equip officers. Another way is to have open lines of communications with the citizens and be responsive to them so we can respond to their complaints in a timely manner.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: We need districted patrol. We need to district the county to have to have substations in each section and get the deputies out of the cities and in the county. Those are some of the things I will be doing.”

David Pendry: “Going back to area officers and having them out at night patrolling areas where we’re having the most crime. While they are patrolling they can cut their engines off and get out and walk in neighborhoods. I also think we could do it by going to buying used cars instead of new cars. When I was chief of police we bought used patrol cars. They were nice cars we bought them for a third of what new cars would cost. In times of need we need to do what we need to do.”

Tony Combs: “It’s not all law enforcement. It goes back to the administrative end as well. As most of you know what a profit and loss statement means, your biggest expenditure is salary. We need to make sure no redundancy is there. Transportation is something else we need to look at. We should do a study to see.”

Chris Shew: “I understand that the budget for Wilkes County is in a state of emergency. The officers we have, we need them. We have the third largest county in the state as far as square miles. Sometimes our response time is tough because of that. We need to train our people the best we can. Training is offered free through the community college and though the state. The communities are going to have to be on board with us more than before because crime is always bad during a bad economy.”

 

Question 7: What are your basic values?

Sharon Call-Diaz: “Honesty, integrity and character. Those are values I believe in. I am a religious person. I believe in God. I believe all these things go hand in hand.”

David Pendry: I believe do unto others. I believe in honesty and being straight forward with people. I am a Christian and I love the Lord.

Tony Combs: A person has to be honest. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking at you. If you don’t do it then, you don’t have the integrity to do this job.”

Chris Shew: “Morality and honesty. There is a thing inside of all of us when you do something wrong you feel it. I believe in morality. I have morals.”

Zach Henderson: “Honesty is number one. I also believe in integrity and professionalism. I believe in the saying that your word is your bond. I think all these things play a part in the person you are.”

 

Question 8: What are your leadership skills?

David Pendry: “I started off as a patrolman, was promoted to sergeant, went to sergeant of the detective division, then captain of the detective division and worked for eight years as captain of the patrol division. Then I went to the sheriff’s department and patrolled the county then worked in the detectives division then was chief of police for North Wilkesboro for six years.”

Tony Combs: “I would have to go back to many years ago to my days in Marines where I learned leadership qualities and work ethics that I still possess. They also taught me motivation skills. I think I can take those skills to the officers and help them get work done with less effort. I want to just plain lead through example. I want to do what they do and do it better.”

Chris Shew: “I think I bring a lot to the table. I have been in a supervision position since I was 25 years old. Two years after I started the sheriff’s department I was managing second shift. Now I help lead the department. I never ask anyone to do something wouldn’t do myself.”

Zach Henderson: “In 1975 I stated in the criminal justice system. I have been chief probation parole officer in three counties until I retired in 2008. I think my experience in managing people and working with the criminal justice system and being affiliated with various law enforcement agencies helps me bring a lot to the table.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “I’m a big policy and procedure person. I have been on several different boards making sure they were followed properly. I was also a hostage negotiator regional director over five counties. I was over analyzing, organizing and training. I was also in the search and recover team, making sure all equipment worked and was taken care of.”

 

Question 9: What changes in the sheriff’s department budget; if any, would you present to our county commissioners in order for you to run the department more efficiently?

Tony Combs: “One would have to look at the debacle we are currently faced with in regards to the budget deficit. Some of that is money that has already gone into proposals for the new jail. I would go through the budget line item by line item. There are always some fat to be trimmed. There is room for the county to seriously look at the number of employees out there.”

Chris Shew: “The newly elected sheriff is going to fall into a budget that is already prepared. The budget is nothing more than a projection based on what it took to operate the previous year. I will look to see what it t took to operate that previous year and do the best I can do.”

Zach Henderson: “County personnel record show that 115 people are working for the sheriff department.  As sheriff I would evaluate those positions to see how it could run most efficiently.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “You would have to see the budget to know what needs to be changed. Te department needs to be restructured. It is a little heavy with rank, but some are going to retire. A business plan needs to be done to see how to best utilize money for items like equipment, cars and salaries to see if it is properly being utilized.”

David Pendry:  “Any statement would be just guessing because I don’t know anything about the budget. I would call in all supervisors and get feedback. We could all come together and figure out a way where we could cut costs.”

 

Question 10: What changes do you feel need to take place within the sheriff’s department?

Chris Shew: “We need more training. I would do some minimal reorganization and put as much emphasis on our problems like drugs and breaks-in as I could.”

Zach Henderson: “I’d like to see more officer presence in the communities. I think that would help reduce crimes. That would probably be my main focus. I think officers respond the way they are trained.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “Restructuring the department is one of the first things like to do. I think if they were properly utilized. I am big on investigation. I want to do a misdemeanor unit to handle larcenies and break-ins. And a felony unit to handle bigger crimes like murders.”

David Pendry: “I think a change of leadership is needed. I think each employee should be evaluated to see what kind of work ethic they have. I don’t believe in going in and just letting people go. I think they should all have the opportunity to show they are there for the public.”

Tony Combs: “I don’t expect to make any wholesale staff changes. I would however reorganize some of the officers inside the department. I’d have officers do jobs they are more comfortable with and better at. That way we could get jobs done more efficiently. The taxpayers would be the big benefactors of these changes.”

 

Question 11: Do you feel as though the sheriff’s department provides enough information to the public in regards to its operations? Why or why not?

Zach Henderson: “A lot of times information can’t be released because it would impede the investigation. Better presence in the community and communication with residents would help us solve more crimes.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “Sometimes you see things in the newspaper sometimes you don’t. I think you need to install a communications officer to assure the community is informed and involved in what is going on.”

David Pendry: “I think the sheriff’s department should keep the citizens of the county aware of what is going on within the county. We have a good working relationship with the DA’s office. I think they should at least let the public know what’s going on.”

Tony Combs: “Why can’t we show pictures of our felons out in the county? People need to know who they are.  It may lead to other arrests. Let’s keep people informed about the process, and what happens to them in the court system. This could be done at little expense to the county.”

Chris Shew: “I’m an advocate of community watch. If there’s anything that is a danger that’s a good way to find out about it. We have a good rapport with the newspapers and we’re going to let people know what’s going on.”

 

Question 12: What do you consider to be the real issues for the people of Wilkes County regarding law enforcement?

Sharon Call Diaz: “I think one of the real issues getting rapport back with the sheriff office. People feel they are not ale to call the sheriff’s office. One person said it took a deputy 45 minutes to respond to their home. When you call the sheriff’s office they need to know where you live. That’s something we need to work on.”

David Pendry: “Child abuse is one thing we need to look at. We have a lot of battered children. I think that’s a big issue. Our domestic violence cases are the worst cases our officers go out and confront every day. That should be a big concern to officers and to the public. I think we should work out where we could answer these calls as promptly as we can. I think we need to start looking at the child abuse cases and see what we could do to reduce the number.”

Tony Combs: “It’s untelling how many calls these officers answer in a year’s time. If there is a long response time, be realistic folks, it’s going to happen. As far as other concerns, safety in our schools is one. I’m a grandparent. If we don’t have safe schools and protect those kids from drugs and dangerous activity, then who is going to? Domestic abuse and child abuse also are concerns. Let’s protect our children. To me that’s most important.

Chris Shew: “Response time is always an issue. When you have a limited amount of resources it makes it tougher. As far as the public having real issues with the sheriff’s department, I’m not aware of any other than that.”

Zach Henderson: “Having talked with a lot of people, I think they understand if an officer is on another call and don’t get there quick I think they understand . They just want to feel like they are getting service in a timely manner. Victims want to see that the officer is making an effort to solve the crime and stop people from committing crimes. Criminals are often repeat offenders. I think the citizens want to feel like the sheriff’s department is doing what it can.”

 

Question 13: Do you feel that the more rural areas of the county are getting the law enforcement attention they need? Explain.

David Pendry: “I think North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro get took care of pretty good. I don’t think it’s intended to be that way but it’s just happening that way. As far as any particular place in the county getting special attention I don’t know of any.”

Tony Combs: “Because of the significant size of our county, we need special patrol areas. We need territory officers living in specified districts. These officers, in a perfect world, would live in these communities. These officers would realize if there were suspicious activity in the area.  Response time would be cut down and officers would be much more effective and residents would be more comfortable.”

Chris Shew: “About 85 percent of what we do happens five miles within the cities. If you’re out patrolling in an area that has one percent of the crime rate, then your response time is a whole lot greater than it needs to be.”

Zach Henderson: “It requires a sheriff to evaluate what is going on in the county. We have the third largest county as far as area and 67,000 residents living here. If elected I will evaluate to see how things are going on in the outlying areas and take the appropriate actions needed.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “No. I do not think our department is patrolling rural areas like it should. I worked in a rural county. Our response time was better. We followed a protocol. I think our department is lax and not following protocol. I think everybody has the same rights and that they are should be treated fairly.”

 

Question 14: Sheriff Dane Mastin has been in office for 20 years. Do you think there should be term limits on the post? Why or why not?

Tony Combs: “When I was involved in politics it was back in the 70s. We expect our sheriff to go two terms. Two terms is more effective. You give better service to the people. I think there needs to be term limits. I would like to have at least two terms.”

Chris Shew: “I have no intentions of running for 20 years. I think if you have a sheriff in there doing a good job, if that’s what the people want why not give it to them.”

Zach Henderson: “I am a believer in term limits on all elected positions. You can argue that if you are in office you learn a lot about it, but I still think somebody new coming in bringing new ideas and more energy is good.”

Sharon Call-Diaz: “I believe in term limits, but I believe it’s up to the people. The people have to make the decision.”

David Pendry: “I’m a believer in term limits, but the way the structure is, the sheriff has to have three terms in order to retire. I think there ought to be a limit on three terms so he can get his retirement.”

 

Question 15: What are your thoughts on the issue of the need of a new jail?

Chris Shew: “Currently we can’t afford a new jail. We don’t have a plan for a new jail. I don’t want to build something we can’t afford. When we get on our feet, I’d be for building whatever we can afford and something that will last us until it is paid off.”

Zach Henderson:  “Building a jail in any community is an unpopular thing. To see tax money being spent on someone who is stealing from them. Our jail is supposed to house 68 offenders and it often houses around 100 with a similar situation for females and sending them to other counties gets expensive. We need a new jail, but we can’t afford one at this time.”

Sharon Call Diaz: “It is apparent that  we need a new jail. I think the issue is if we can’t afford it why have there been blueprints drawn. If we have the blueprints we should continue with the plan.”

David Pendry: “I think we all know we don’t have the funds for a new jail, but we need one. My suggestion would be look inside at who they are housing Are they people who get 10 or 20 days they pull it at the county jail. I think they should be taken to DOC across the river to be housed.”

Tony Combs: “We all agree on the need of a new jail, but we have to live within our means. Let’s build a jail with no whistle or bells. Secondly, the county is not in the business to house criminals. We need a facility just to house local prisoners. It’s been brought up that federal prisoners are being considered. I don’t think the return would be worth the investment. Lastly, under our sheriff department, all of my leadership abilities would live totally within our means.”

 

 

War through the eyes of a girl

 Days with Belgian resistance recalled

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Lucia Bowen’s life as a young girl in Belgium during WWII was one of both high adventure and heartbreaking tragedy.

Bowen, a resident of Richmond, Va., was in town last week, visiting her late husband’s cousin Naydell Pardue of North Wilkesboro.

Having heard stories about Bowen’s teenage years, assisting her father as a resistance fighter against occupying German forces, Pardue said, “I thought it is a story that’s very much worth telling.”

Bowen married Brooks Bowen in 1947, after the two had met in her hometown of Ville-Haine, Belgium. He was in the U.S. Army during the war and had happened to come to stay in Lucia’s family home while he was working at a train depot across the street.

The years prior to their marriage were some of the toughest – and the most heroic - Lucia ever saw.

“I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t have done,” Lucia said. “Sometimes we don’t know the extent of our strength until we are tested.”

And tested she was.

Lucia was raised in a home that also housed a family-owned store and café which were ran by her parents, Leon and Renee Rochefort

After Hitler’s forces occupied Belgium, resistant fighters practiced their own brand of guerilla warfare against the invaders.

“Daddy begin doing this at the first of the war when the Germans were going after all the young men for forced labor,” Lucia said. “So many did not want to go.”

Lucia’s father helped many obtain papers and ID’s that would help hide them. He and other resistance fighters would receive limited help from the Belgian government-in-exile, which was then headquartered in London, England.

Her father and his comrades were also involved with blowing up railroad lines. At the time, Germans were stripping the country of many needed resources like food and fuel. Damaging railroad lines slowed the deportation of such goods, she said.

Lucia helped her father all the while.

“The Germans would stop men a lot faster than women,” she said.

They smuggled items needed by the resistance – coal, food, guns and ammunition.

“I would get on the street car with my shopping bag and sometimes there would be a German officer sitting next to me,” Lucia said. “They never searched me. I wonder now how we did something like that. But we were at war. We were driven to get rid of them. If they had caught me, I wouldn’t have had a chance.”

The family also helped hide Allied soldiers. A prison camp near their village was manned by Russian prisoners of war who worked in an adjacent coal mine. One Russian prisoner who escaped was housed with her family.

On another occasion, an American bomber was shot down near their town. Members of the resistance sought out the survivors – one, Donald Swanson, a 19-year old mid-west farm boy turned machine gunner, also stayed in Lucia’s family home.

“We never had much to eat, but we always managed a way to feed everyone,” she said. “I remember sitting around the table, my father would look at them (the Russian and the American) and shush them to be quiet in case anyone was walking around outside.”

Three weeks before Belgium was liberated, Lucia, her mother and father were startled on night by the sound of German soldiers kicking down their front door.

The soldiers took her father away. She and her mother went to stay with her aunt and uncle. Lucia said they found out later that her father had been taken to a concentration camp. At one point the Germans came back to their home, but the house was empty. Lucia said they likely came back for her and her mother.

But, the worst was yet to come.

On April 26, 1945, the German ship Cap Arcona was loaded with prisoners from the Neuengamme concentration camp near Hamburg. Lucia’s father was among them.

The prisoners were brought to the Bay of Lübeck where two other smaller ships were loaded with prisoners. Although Red Cross officials had been notified the ships were loaded with prisoners, there was a communication breakdown somewhere. On May 3, 1945, British planes bombed the ships.

Lucia said that her family was later told by a survivor that her father had died on May 1 shortly after being forced unto the ship – before the planes raided the crafts.

“I just think God he (her father) was spared that,” she said. “He always had a feeling he would not live past 40. He was 41 when he died.”

Lucia, now 83, recalls good times too. Coming to America, marrying her longtime husband and working several successful jobs.

And, she says she enjoys visiting Wilkes and her friends here.

“I love it here,” she said. “I just love the mountains.”

 

 

 

Dr. Karolen Bowman says investigation won’t hinder practice

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Dr. Karolen Bowman met with officials and members of the North Carolina Medical Board on Friday, April 16, and received a reprimand.

 A mutually agreed upon consent order was signed following an investigation over the last 18 months regarding the use of certain prescription medications.

Dr. Bowman, a Wilkes County native, and a Board Certified Pediatrician who has practiced in Wilkes County for 29 years, told The Record, during an exclusive Monday morning interview, that beginning in 90 days she will no longer write controlled prescriptions to patients over 21 years of age.  She will continue to see children (from newborns just out of the hospital on up) and adults for general medical care.   She will still see specialized pediatric patients with behavioral disorders, autism, depression and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). 

Bowman said "I will admit I have taken care of difficult patients but I have encouraged people to seek help from psychiatrists and counselors.  Often they won't go and I can't make them.  There is a great shortage in our area for emotional and behavioral support.  I feel that after 29 years I know my limits."

 She has maintained at least 50 hours of continuing medical education each year throughout her career, she said.

The initial investigation was initiated by an anonymous complaint from a Wilkesboro pharmacist in the summer of 2008 regarding Dr. Bowman's writing of prescriptions for young patients being treated for ADHD and chronic pain medications for some adult patients. None of the complaints were initiated by her patients or their families. The Consent Order agreed upon recognizes that "these adult patients were the caregivers of Dr. Bowman's pediatric patients" and that her treatments "did however indicate a desire of Dr. Bowman to treat the patients in an attempt to stabilize the patient so the patient could be a better caregiver to a child who was also a patient of Dr. Bowman's."

Throughout the N.C. Medical Board's investigation, Dr. Bowman has continued to practice medicine.  She has recently added a child and family counselor for in-house services so that patients do not have to go elsewhere for this part of their care.  This was more feasible because of a grant sponsored by the Northwest Community Care Network. A similar grant has been issued to the Mountain View Medical Center. Dr. Bowman continues to refer to area psychiatrists, New River Behavioral Health and Triumph as needed.  Dr. Bowman is one of a few private physicians in Wilkes County who takes Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement.

"About 15 years ago I chose to have a different sort of practice because there was such a need in the community and I started Special Care for Special Kids, Inc.  I realized that I could not take care of these more complicated children and interact with their home caregivers through a quick visit.  I chose to make time in my practice to learn how to help these people and to work with them.  It involves a lot of communication back and forth, and fine-tuning treatments."

Dr. Bowman says that about one third of her pediatric patients involve special needs (21 and under) and 85 percent of her practice is Medicaid.  Four years ago she started seeing adult patients for their general preventive medical health needs. "There remains a great need in the care of adult patients on fixed incomes, those waiting on disability hearings with no insurance, or indigents who are NOT being taken care of through our current health care system."

As for the stipulations put upon her by the N.C. Medical Board, Dr. Bowman says it will not hinder her practice. 

 "It will make it easier for me not to have to deal with the use of chronic pain medications.  Personally I think it is a blessing for me to allow someone else to do this. Hopefully more quality pain clinics in this county will make it easier on all practitioners."

 

 

 

 

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Community Happenings

The annual Letter Carriers’ food drive will be held Saturday, May 8.  Put your nonperishable food items into a bag by your mailbox and they will be delivered to a local food bank.

 

Please join us at Baptist Home Church, Highway 18 North, for the Second Annual Gospel Music Benefit for the Wilkes Senior Citizens Council.  Date and time is May 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. with Phil Barker, The Servants Quartet and The Faith Trio. Refreshments will be available at half time.  There is no admittance charge, but everyone will be given the opportunity to make a donation.  Hope to see you there!

 

Relay for Life Team, Circle of Friends, has planned a chicken salad croissant lunch (cost -$6) that will be held April 23, 2010. Delivery is available upon request.  Place your order with Avante at 838-4141.  Also,  a pancake breakfast will he held at Applebee's (cost- $7 per person, children under 6, $2) Tickets must be purchased before the day of the event on May 1, 2010 from 7-10 am. For more information about these events, contact the church at 838-8047.

Wilkes Toastmasters is an interactive workshop to improve your communication and leadership skills.  Meetings are held every Thursday 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm at the Addison Inn on Hwy 421 N in Wilkesboro.  For additional information, email wilkestoastmasters@gmail.com or visit Toastmasters.org.

 

A huge community yard sale will be held at Rachel Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in the Shepherds Crossroads Community on Sat. April 24 from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Ham biscuits will be available for breakfast and hot dogs with dessert will be available for lunch.  A wide variety of merchandise will be for sale and all proceeds will benefit the church mission fund.

 

Our First Gallery Crawl of 2010 in Downtown North Wilkesboro will he held on Friday, April 23 from
6-8 p.m.  The Wilkes Art Gallery presents: "Sisters on a Journey: The Art of Sisterhood"
featuring works by Beth Andrews, Tara Belk and Marsha Holmes.  After visiting the Gallery, be sure to visit Gallery3Fifteen to see their new exhibit: "Dog-Gonnit" featuring many of our community's favorite pets (a portion of all sales benefits the Wilkes County Humane Society.)

 

The Mulberry-Fairplains Ruritan Club will sponsor a chicken-que on Saturday, April 24. Serving will begin at 10:30. Dinners may be picked up at the clubhouse and at the Mulberry-Fairplains Fire Department. 

 

BROC will sponsor a chicken-que on Friday, April 23. Serving will begin at 10:30, and plates are $6.00 each. Dinners may be picked up at Memorial Park, or we will deliver. To order, call 667-7174.  

 

The Wilkes Habitat 2010 Women Build Schedule: May 6-8, Thursday- Women Build Luncheon, 12 p.m. at the Wilkes Art Gallery, $10. Friday- Build Day from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. located behind the Stone Center. Saturday- Build Day from 8-1 or 12-4- behind the Stone Center and at Beaver Dam Lane. *Lunch will provided during Build Days. To buy a ticket or sign-up for work, contact: Wilkes Habitat for Humanity (336) 838-3044 or aisha.little@wilkeshabitat.org.

 

Wilkes Central High School Senior, Shana Thomas, will be holding an Art Show at the Wilkes County Public Library during the Month of May.  There will be an Art Reception on Saturday, May 1, from 2-5 p.m. at the Wilkes County Public Library to Honor Miss Thomas and her accomplishments.  Open to all.

 

St. John’s Catholic Church will hold a yard sale on Saturday, April 24 from 7 a.m. to 12 noon at St. John Baptist de La Salle Catholic Church on C.C. Wright School Road at the intersections of Highway 115 and 421. The sale will be held in the lower level of the church.  Proceeds will benefit the July mission trip.

 

 A “Freedom Tea Party” will be held on Saturday starting at noon at the VFW Post in North Wilkesboro.

It is a chance for citizens to voice their opinions about taxation and learn about property and constitutional rights.

All veterans attending the event will be honored guests and all candidates for elected offices are invited and will be recognized.

A Tea Party will also be held in Ashe County at the Ashe Civic Center on Saturday.