Tag Archive for: #franklincountynews

FCSO: Two Arrested Under New ‘Death by Distribution’ Law

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-Information courtesy the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

On April 29, 2020, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group closed an investigation into a January 2020 incident involving the drug overdose death of Franklin County resident, Tiffany Moss.

The subsequent investigation led detectives to Kristen Jade Bailey and Matthew James Bond of Zebulon, who were arrested and charged with Death by Distribution, a Class C Felony in North Carolina.

Kristen Jade Bailey (FCSO photo)

Since January, detectives have executed several search warrants and conducted numerous interviews that confirmed Kristen Bailey and Matthew Bond were the sources of the controlled substance that led to the overdose death of Ms. Moss.

After confirming the cause of death was from Fentanyl, Heroin, and Gabapentin Toxicity, detectives conferred with the District Attorney’s Office and proceeded with the charge of Death by Distribution on both. This law was recently created and passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and became law on December 1, 2019. The intent of this law is to hold distributors of certain controlled substances that lead to a person’s death, accountable for their actions.

Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “These types of investigations are unfortunate and heartbreaking. Our office continues to put an emphasis on trying to prevent these tragedies from occurring. When they do occur, we intend to exercise every option we have to hold those who distribute these deadly drugs, accountable.”

Matthew James Bond (FCSO photo)

Kristen Jade Bailey was placed in the Franklin County Detention Facility under a $90,000 secured bond.

Matthew James Bond was placed in the Franklin County Detention Facility under a $100,000 secured bond.

Kristen Jade Bailey (30)
1115 Ridgecrest Dr.
Zebulon, NC 27597

Charges include:
Death by Distribution

Matthew James Bond (36)
1115 Ridgecrest Dr.
Zebulon, NC 27597

Charges include:
Death by Distribution

For more information concerning this investigation or to report drug activity in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 496-2186.

Franklin Co. Health Dept. Temporarily Closed; Six Employees Test COVID-19 Positive

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Government

As noted previously in prior communication, on Friday, 4/24/2020, the Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) received positive coronavirus test–results for two (2) employees. Those two (2) employees do not serve as healthcare providers within the department. Also as previously noted, on Friday 4/24/2020 a total of 48 Health Department staff had samples collected and submitted for coronavirus testing. 

As a precaution, the FCHD was disinfected on Saturday, 4/25/2020, and as of this current release, the Department is remaining closed for regular business from 4/27/2020 until operations resume on Monday 5/4/2020, at 8 a.m. 

The Health Department has received the results for all staff tested on Friday 4/24/2020, and those results indicate that an additional four (4) staff have tested positive, bringing the current total of Health Department Employees with positive test results to six (6). None of the Health Department‘s now six (6) total positive employees are healthcare providers. 

The Franklin County Health Department continues to conduct Contact Tracing for COVID-19, so any individual suspected of being exposed to the coronavirus will be notified by Health Department staff and given specific instructions on what they need to do next.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department is adopting a stringent response to this current situation. As of the date and time of this release, the following Health Department programs will be closed from Monday 4/27/2020 until they re–open on Monday, 5/4/2020: 

  • All clinical services; 
  • Care Management Services (clients may call their workers for call–back); and 
  • WIC (clients may call for assistance). 

After consultations with NCDHHS, the Health Department has been approved to move forward with the following plan for our CLINICAL closures this week: 

  • Clinic patients provided with the option of receiving some mandated services at our neighboring counties’ Health Departments;
  • Patients given the option to receive services at other healthcare providers both inside and outside the county. Patients whose appointments were canceled are being notified and those appointments will be rescheduled.

Environmental Health Services (septic, wells, food & lodging inspections, etc.) and the Franklin County Home Health Agency services will continue to operate remotely (as they have been doing for some time). Limited drop–off service will be available for Environmental Health needs. 

For the week of 4/27/2020 through 5/1/2020, only critical Health Department employees with a negative test and no current symptoms (i.e. with no fever as verified by temperature checks three–times per day) have returned to work to continue the County‘s Emergency Operations Center and to complete contact investigations. The Health Department will resume all services on Monday, 5/4/2020. 

Look for more updates from the Franklin COVID–19 EOC as more information becomes available.

Franklin County Logo

Two Franklin Co. Health Dept. Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Government

On Friday, 4/24/2020, the Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) received positive coronavirus test-result notifications on two (2) employees. The two (2) employees do not serve as healthcare providers within the department.

The first employee was last at work on Thursday, 4/09/2020 at 5 p.m., and first reported mild symptoms on Saturday, 4/11/2020. This employee has not been inside the FCHD since 4/9/2020.

As per the employee’s healthcare provider’s guidance, a coronavirus test sample was collected on Monday, 4/20/2020, but the results were “inconclusive.” A second sample was collected on Wednesday, 4/22/202, with positive test results being reported to the Health Department later in the morning on Friday, 4/24/2020. As noted above, this employee was last in the health department on 4/9/2020.

The second employee was tested on Wednesday, 4/22/2020, after reporting symptoms they initially thought were allergies. Following sample collection, the employee was sent home and given instructions to isolate. Their positive coronavirus test-results were received a little after 9 a.m. on Friday 4/24/2020.

Immediately after the Health Department received notification of the first positive test result, all non-health department staff were instructed to leave the department. All appointments were canceled, and a total of 48 Health Department staff were tested for coronavirus, with 42 employees being sent home with written instructions on isolation and symptom monitoring. The remaining seven (7) department staff canceled all appointments for Monday, 4/27/2020, and prepared the facility for disinfecting which occurred on Saturday, 4/25/2020.

Test results for all staff should be available by late Sunday (4/26/20) afternoon, or earlier Monday (4/27/2020) morning. Only staff who receive a negative test result are allowed to return to work.

As of the date and time of this release, all face-to-face: clinical services; care management services; and WIC are canceled for Monday, 4/27/2020. Patients will be able to speak by phone to staff in those programs on Monday, 4/27/2020 if needed.

Patients whose appointments were canceled have been notified and the department will contact you on rescheduling those appointments. The Health Department anticipates a resumption of these services on Tuesday, 4/28/2020.

Environmental Health Services (septic, wells, food & lodging inspections, etc.) and the Franklin County Home Health Agency services will continue to operate remotely (as they have been doing for some time). Limited drop-off service will be available for Environmental Health needs.

The Franklin County Health Department continues to conduct contact tracing for COVID-19, so any individual suspected of being exposed to the coronavirus will be notified by Health Department staff and given specific instructions on what they need to do next.

As noted above, only Health Department employees with a negative test result will return to work on Monday, 4/27/2020 or thereafter.

Look for more updates from the Franklin COVID-19 EOC as more information becomes available.

Town of Louisburg Logo

Town of Louisburg Awarded $2.4 Million for Industrial Park 

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-Press Release, Town of Louisburg

On April 16, 2020, the Town of Louisburg was awarded a grant in the amount of $2,439,100 to assist the Town in the construction of water, sewer, and electric infrastructure, as well as industrial access, at the Louisburg Industrial Park.

The Town has made the site a critical piece of its economic development strategy and intends to commit additional resources focused on business recruitment to the industrial park.

The broad plan is to create a 10-parcel industrial park for the recruitment of industrial and commercial businesses. A major economic development goal is to produce large-scale employment centers to provide jobs to local residents, increase tax base and expand Louisburg’s utility services.

The grant was awarded by The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) under The Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account that provides grants to local governments located in the 80 most economically distressed counties of the State.

“Communities across our state are going through challenging times right now, and we must continue to help rural North Carolina prepare for future economic growth,” Secretary Copeland said. “Rural Infrastructure Authority grants provide needed support for job creation in our rural areas, which are appealing places to live, work and grow a business.”

“We very much appreciate the IDF’s confidence in Louisburg and Tommy Hester’s leadership with the RIA. This is a testament to our Town Administrator, Jonathan Franklin, his staff, and their commitment to improving our Town and bringing this project to fruition.” – Councilman Boyd Sturges.

Mayor Karl Pernell added, “This is a big moment for Louisburg and a great opportunity. We look forward to the jobs and the investment this project will attract, and the improvements it will bring to the quality of life of our citizens.”

Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools Online Enrollment System Open for 2020-21

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

Franklin County Schools’ online enrollment system is currently open and accepting registrations for Kindergarten, new students and transfers for the 2020-2021 school year.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to complete registration online at www.fcschools.net.

Maria Parham Health Physician Practices Launch Telemedicine Services

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

Virtual visits connect patients and providers beyond the clinic setting. Maria Parham Health Physician Practices announced today that it has added telemedicine to its offerings. The announcement comes on the heels of the Trump administration’s unprecedented expansion of telehealth services.

“We are pleased to offer convenient telemedicine solutions to help connect patients and providers and ensure the continued delivery of high-quality care,” shared Iris Berry, Director of Physician Practices at Maria Parham Health. “As the situation with COVID-19 continues to evolve, telehealth capabilities enable our clinical team to practice social distancing to further reduce the spread of illness while still meeting our patients’ health needs. We look forward to the many ways this new offering will further advance our mission of Making Communities Healthier.”

For patients who meet certain clinical criteria, Maria Parham Health Physician Practices are offering two types of telehealth visits: telephonic and televideo. A telephonic visit is simply a patient phone call with a provider, and a televideo visit is a virtual, face-to-face visit with a provider using a video conferencing service. Virtual visits may not be available in all cases and will be evaluated based on a patient’s specific clinical needs.

Patients can request a telehealth visit by calling their provider’s office, just as they would for an in-person visit. The provider will determine if a telehealth visit is appropriate based on the patient’s health condition. If the virtual visit is deemed clinically appropriate, the patient will be given an appointment time and instructions for the best way to connect given the available platforms. Then, instead of coming to the office, he or she would call back at the scheduled time and be “checked in” by a nurse or office manager, and then transferred to the provider for the call or two-way video.

A few restrictions on telephonic visits may apply, including that they cannot be utilized to treat patients for a condition that the patient has been seen for in the previous seven days, and they cannot be used to treat a condition that the patient is already coming in for within the next 24 hours.

Patients who are concerned they may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to consider telemedicine appointments to help further reduce the spread of respiratory illness. Leveraging telemedicine also conserves personal protective equipment (PPE) and other clinical resources that are needed when treating a patient with suspected COVID-19 in the clinic or hospital setting.

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham CEO Asks Community to ‘Thank a Healthcare Hero’

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-By Bert Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Maria Parham Health  

As we continue to fight COVID-19, it has been so encouraging to see the outpouring of support from our community for Maria Parham Health. We have always striven to be a place where you choose to come for healthcare, and we take our responsibility as a community leader very seriously.

As our neighbors have come together to do everything possible to slow the spread of this vicious virus amid unprecedented challenges, we have never been more proud to be a part of this community. It is more important than ever that we all continue to take the important steps necessary to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible, including staying home as much as we can, practicing social distancing and following sound medical guidance.

Today, I would ask one more thing of our community, including myself: thank a healthcare hero.

Some moments ask more of us as a society, as a community and as individuals. Moments like those need heroes. From grocery store employees and delivery workers to educators teaching remotely and those keeping our infrastructure and essential services running, this current moment has no shortage of heroes. And that includes our heroes on the frontlines of this crisis – our healthcare workers.

Our healthcare workers are not only a cornerstone of our hospital’s mission of Making Communities Healthier, they are integral members of our community. They are moms and dads. Brothers and sisters. Friends and neighbors. And – today especially – they are heroes, fighting on the frontlines to provide compassionate, quality care when it’s needed most.

At Maria Parham Health, we honor all our providers and employees working hard to ensure a safe place of care and a healthier community for all of us. I hope you will join me and add your voice to the chorus of appreciation for our community’s healthcare heroes by posting your own message of thanks on your favorite social media, with the hashtag #ThankAHealthCareHero.

Let’s show our hometown heroes how much we appreciate their incredible and inspiring efforts to keep us safe.

And thank you again for supporting Maria Parham Health and trusting us with your care as we help guide our community through the COVID-19 situation as safely as possible. We will get through this together.

Franklin County Logo

Franklin County to Impose Curfew Effective Sun., April 5

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-Press Release, Franklin County Government 

A public safety curfew will be imposed within the County of Franklin, NC daily from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., beginning Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 9 p.m. and extending through the effective dates of the Governor’s Stay at Home Order (Executive Order 121) and any extensions enacted for that order for all persons.

During the effective curfew period, all persons except for those who are expressly exempt as essential businesses or operations as identified within the Governor’s Stay at Home Order (Executive Order 121), shall not be or travel upon any public street, alley or roadway or upon public property, unless in search of medical assistance, food or other commodity or service necessary to sustain the well-being of him/herself or his/her family.

To read the amended proclamation in its entirety, click here.

Franklin County Schools

Franklin Co. Schools Home-Based Assignments, Wi-Fi Access Available April 6

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-Information courtesy Franklin County Schools

On Monday, April 6, 2020, Franklin County Schools will issue new student assignments and begin providing enhanced Wi-Fi access at certain school locations.

The home-based, academic assignments will cover a two-week period. They will be available online, as well as in paper packets for elementary and middle-school students who do not have Internet access. High school students will receive additional guidance from their school principals concerning their assignments and pick-up options.

Paper packets for elementary and middle school students must be picked up between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday, April 6. They will be available at the following locations only, which are the same as FCS’ current meal pickup sites:

  • Bunn High School
  • Franklinton Elementary School
  • Laurel Mill Elementary School
  • Louisburg High School
  • Youngsville Elementary School

Also on Monday, April 6, FCS is adding drive-in, Wi-Fi access at five schools for students and staff only who do not have Internet access at home. Students, staff, their families and guests are required to stay in their vehicles and park in specific areas to access the enhanced, Wi-Fi signals. School Resource Officers will be on site to monitor and provide directions.

Wi-Fi access will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following locations:

  • Bunn Middle School (front drop off)
  • Edward Best Elementary School (back lot/bus drop off)
  • Long Mill Elementary School (bus lot)
  • Louisburg Elementary School (bus lot)
  • Royal Elementary School (bus lot)

Three Arrested After Drugs Thrown Over Fence at Franklin Correctional Center

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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

On March 27, 2020, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested three individuals for multiple drug offenses related to possessing and attempting to distribute controlled substances to inmates at Franklin Correctional Center in Bunn, NC. 

The investigation began when a citizen observed a vehicle stop in front of the Franklin Correctional Center, and one of the passengers jumped out and threw an object over the fence. The concerned citizen contacted the Franklin County Sheriff‘s Office to report the incident and was able to provide information that aided deputies in locating and stopping the vehicle. 

Ditereal Harris (FCSO photo)

Once the vehicle was stopped, members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit contacted employees at Franklin Correctional Center and were informed that two of their correctional officers also observed the incident and were able to quickly locate the item thrown over the fence. The correctional officers were able to confirm that controlled substances were in the item thrown over the fence. 

Drug Unit detectives retrieved the item and discovered marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and MDMA inside the item thrown over the fence. As a result, Ditereal Harris, Xavier White and Rotonia Lowery Moore, all of Raeford, NC, were arrested.

Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “This case began when a concerned citizen saw something suspicious and they acted. By calling the Sheriff‘s Office and giving vital information, our deputies were able to find and stop the vehicle. The investigation that developed as a result of their initiative kept dangerous drugs out of the hands of individuals inside of Franklin Correctional Center.” 

Xavier White (FCSO photo)

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit was assisted in this investigation by the Franklin Correctional Center. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

Ditereal Harris – 310 Locust Lane Raeford, NC 28376, 18-years-old 

Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Heroin, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Methamphetamines, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver MDMA, Deliver Cocaine, Deliver Marijuana, Deliver Heroin, Deliver Methamphetamines, Deliver MDMA, Felony Possession of Marijuana.

Xavier White – 526 East 6th Avenue Raeford, NC 28376, 18-years-old 

Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Cocaine, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Heroin, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver Methamphetamines, Possess with Intent to Sell and Deliver MDMA, Deliver Cocaine, Deliver Marijuana, Deliver Heroin, Deliver Methamphetamines, Deliver MDMA, Felony Possession of Marijuana. 

Rotonia Lowery Moore (FCSO photo)

Ditereal Harris and Xavier White are both being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.

Rotonia Lowery Moore – 116 Dalmation Drive Raeford, NC 28376, 33-years-old

Maintain a Vehicle for the purpose of Storing Controlled Substances. 

Rotonia Lowery Moore was given an $15,000 unsecured bond. 

For more information concerning this investigation or to report drug activity in your neighborhood, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 496–2186.