Seven Dare County Employees were awarded pins for their service to Dare County. Combined the group has served the citizens of Dare County for 105 years.

Pictured from the left: Brandi Combs, Finance Technician, received her 20 year pin; Eleen Bryant, Purchasing Technician with the Finance Department, received her 10 year pin; Ken Flatt, Public Utility Director, received his 20 year pin; Tommy Ambrose, Detention Shift Leader, received his 15 year pin; Paige Meads, Detention Shift Leader, received her 15 year pin; and Toni Midgett, Assistant Register of Deeds, received her 15 year pin.

Six Dare County Employees received pins for their service to Dare County at the May 4, 2009 Dare County Board of Commissioners Meeting. Their 80 years of combined work and dedication has helped to provide a variety of services to Dare County citizens.

The recipients are pictured from the left.
June Knotts, EMT Intermediate with EMS, received her 20 year pin; Linda Webb, Detention Transportation Class Officer with the Sheriff’s Office, received her 10 year pin; Orbie Little, Parks Maintenance Crew Leader with Parks and Recreation, received his 10 year pin; Kelly Lawson, Deputy Sheriff Master Officer, received her 10 year pin; Debbie Simmons, Income Maintenance Caseworker III with Social Services, received her 20 year pin; and Beverly Lafferty, Public Health Nurse II with the Health Department, received her 10 year pin.

Four Dare County Employees with the Public Works Department were recognized at the April 20, 2009 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting for their total of 65 years of service to the County.

Pictured from the left are Al Hardy, Sanitation Superintendent, who received a 30 year pin; Edward Lee Mann, Public Works Director, who received a 10 year pin; Carl Walker, Recycling Coordinator, who received a 15 year pin; and Aulander Liverman, Sanitation Truck Driver, who received a 10 year pin.

Six Dare County Employees were awarded pins for their 100 years of combined service to the citizens of Dare County.

Luz Valentin, a Detention Officer with the Sheriff’s Office, was presented her 10 year pin by Sheriff Rodney Midgett. Sheriff Midget also presented a 25 year pin to Telecommunicator Shift Supervisor, Pamela Meekins.

Anne Thomas, Health Director, presented 10 year pins to Cynthia Huscroft, Public Health Nurse II at First Flight Elementary, and Laura Youmans, also a Public Health Nurse II at First Flight High School.

Jerry Morris, Aircraft Mechanic for EMS, was presented a 20 year pin by William “Skeeter” Sawyer, Public Safety Director.

Finally, Michelle Evans, Tax Collector, was presented her 25 year pin by County Manager, Terry Wheeler.

There were no Service Pins for the Month of March.

Two Dare County Department of Social Services employees were award service pins at the Dare County Commissioners meeting on Monday, February 2.

Theresa Edwards, Social Worker Supervisor, introduced (pictured left) Susan Saulsbury, Social Worker III, who received her 20 Year Pin and (pictured right) Deborah Bratton, Income Maintenance Caseworker, who received her 10 Year Pin.

Saulsbury has held several positions with the department. Her starting position was as an Emergency Services Intake Social Worker. After five years in that position she became an In-Home Services Social Worker. She held that position until 2003. She is currently working as an Adult Protective Social Worker.

As an Adult Protective Social Worker, Susan performs several important functions, some of which include receiving, investigating, and evaluating reports of adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation. She also counsels clients and their families who are in need of assistance with financial, medical, social and psychological problems. Saulsbury was the 2007 Employee of the Year for Dare County.

According to Edwards, “She does wonderful work. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that, when it comes to Susan’s clients, she is the best advocate any of them has ever had and probably the best friend they ever had.”

Bratton started with the Department of Social Services working at the front desk as a receptionist and earned several promotions including Income Maintenance Case Worker II and has gone on to become the Lead Worker for that unit’s clients.

She researches policies and supports the work of the other case workers.
“She is a real problem solver and participates in everything that goes on in the agency. She is always there for everyone,” commented Edwards in the introduction.

Four Dare County Employees were awarded service pins in recognition of their service to Dare County. The pins were awarded at the January 5, 2009 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Almey Gray (far left), Deputy Sheriff Major, received his 25 year pin from Rodney Midgett, Sheriff. Major Gray was appointed to lead the Communications Division when Sheriff Midgett was first elected. The Sheriff said that he can always rely on Major Gray and he does an outstanding job. Major Gray also graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Douglas Oberbeck (left center), Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant, received his 10 year pin from Rodney Midgett, Sheriff. Lt. Oberbeck is Supervisor in Charge of the Hatteras District and has proven to be an outstanding leader there. He graduated from the FBI National Academy last month, which is one of the most prestigious law enforcement programs in the nation.

Richard “Rick” Koenig (right center), Plant Maintenance Mechanic, received his 10 year pin from Ken Flatt, Utilities Director. Rick is responsible for maintaining the pumps, generators and valves at the five water facilities. He started as an operator for the department and it became clear that he had a lot of mechanical skills so he was promoted when his current position opened. He is currently working on his B Distribution license and is a great asset to the Water Department.

James “Jim” Meads (far right), Flood Plain Enforcement Specialist, received his 15 year pin from Ray Sturza, Planning Director. Jim is the local CAMA permit officer and makes sure that we are in compliance with federal FEMA regulations. We do everything right and Jim is a big part of that. He is an active member of the local community and Mr. Sturza thanked him for all that he does.