The Alexander County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) makes available the county’s Emergency Response Plan and chemical inventory forms in accordance with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). These documents are available for public review at the Alexander County Emergency Management Office. To review these materials, please schedule an appointment by emailing dmfox@alexandercountync.gov.
REAL ID applicants: Know what records the Alexander County Register of Deeds can provide
Alexander County Register of Deeds (RoD) Scott H. Hines is reminding residents that access to certified copies of vital records—such as birth, death, and marriage certificates—is governed by North Carolina laws. Both the Register of Deeds and staff are legally bound to follow these regulations, and some records can only be obtained by certain people from the county or state office that holds them.
Under N.C. General Statute § 130A-93, certified copies of vital records may be issued only to the person named on the record, certain immediate family members, or an authorized legal representative. These restrictions are in place to protect the security and privacy of vital records and to combat the growing problem of identity theft. The Register of Deeds cannot legally override these limitations.
REAL ID applicants should know the rules on vital records access
This reminder is especially important for residents preparing to obtain a REAL ID. Many people are mistakenly told that the Register of Deeds office can provide any vital record they need. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and the RoD office wants to help residents avoid unnecessary trips and wasted gas.
What the Alexander County Register of Deeds CAN provide for REAL ID purposes:
• Certified copies of birth certificates if:
• You were born in Alexander County no matter the year and were not adopted.
• You were born between 1971–2025 in another North Carolina County and were not adopted.
• Certified copies of marriage certificates, if your marriage license was issued in Alexander County.
What the Alexander County Register of Deeds CANNOT provide:
• RoD cannot issue a certified copy of a marriage license if your marriage was recorded in another NC county.
• RoD cannot issue a certified birth certificate for people born in a different North Carolina county before 1971, or if you were adopted.
• Note: NC Office of Vital Records in Raleigh is working to digitize records from 1961-1970 so records will be available for those years, but as of September 2025, records before 1971 are not available through the statewide certified copy system.
Residents whose records fall outside these parameters will need to contact the Register of Deeds office in the county where the record was originally filed, or in certain cases such as adoptions, the North Carolina Vital Records office in Raleigh.
By understanding these requirements ahead of time, residents can save valuable time and ensure they get the proper documents for their REAL ID or other official needs.
For more information, please contact Register Hines or staff at the Alexander County Register of Deeds Office at (828) 632-3152 or visit https://alexandercountync.gov/rod.
Commissioners approve resolution for additional opioid settlement funds
Alexander County will receive additional opioid settlement funding to support the county’s efforts to curb the opioid epidemic and resulting overdoses. At the September 8th meeting, the Alexander County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to enter into opioid settlement agreements with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, along with eight generic opioid manufacturers.
According to County Attorney Ben Faulkenberry, a revised Purdue/Sackler settlement is expected to result in approximately $150 million in additional funds for North Carolina over the next 15 years. Also, settlements with eight generic opioid manufacturers (Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun Pharma, and Zydus) are expected to generate approximately $23 million for the state over the next 10 years.
Faulkenberry said 85 percent of the settlement funds will be distributed to local governments for opioid abatement and remediation activities.
“The funds will be deposited into the county’s existing special revenue fund created for opioid settlement dollars,” said Faulkenberry. “There is no spending deadline, and staff continue to evaluate strategies to ensure the greatest impact in addressing the opioid crisis.”
More than 41,500 North Carolinians lost their lives to a drug overdose from 2000 to 2023. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in the United States to be $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.
“Certain counties and municipalities in North Carolina joined with thousands of local governments across the country to file lawsuits against opioid companies, manufacturers, pharmaceutical distributors, and chain drug stores to hold those companies accountable for their misconduct,” said Chairman Marty Pennell. “These settlement funds will help Alexander County fight the opioid epidemic by supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. This is about saving lives and restoring hope in our community.”
In other business:
• Commissioners approved a resolution to support a North Carolina Department of Commerce Building Reuse Grant for Urgent Care of Mountain View’s new location. David Moose, Consolidated Human Services Director, said the state awarded $175,000 to the county to assist with the renovation of a facility located at 50 Macedonia Church Road, which is owned by Catawba Valley Medical Center. The grant requires a 5 percent local match from the county, totaling $8,750.
Chairman Pennell said he recently toured the facility and doesn’t believe a lot of modifications will be necessary, so he hopes the project will move swiftly so residents will once again have walk-in and after-hours medical care.
• Commissioners approved a budget amendment, which resulted in a $21,215 net increase in the general fund. The amendment increases the budget for the NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs state grant to match the funds available to spend in fiscal year 2025-2026; increases the sheriff’s office budget for the NC Association of Chiefs of Police Performance and Wellness Grant program which will cover the first year of a personnel management software program; and increases the human resources department budget for speakers on wellness topics, wellness fair, and employee appreciation events with funds received from an insurance rebate.
• Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which includes: tax refunds of $1,537.95 and tax abatements and adjustments of $23,784.82; minutes from the August 4, 2025, regular meeting; board and committee appointments to CVCC Board of Trustees – Larry Yoder, 4 years; Juvenile Crime Prevention Council – Nicky Harmon, 2 years; Animal Control Advisory Board – Dr. Hannah Shaffer, Billie Walker, Mark St. Clair, Mike Deal, Garrett Davis, Maggie Dahlstrom, and Shakira Ballin – 2 years; Jury Commission – Dale Fox, 2 years; Consolidated Human Services Advisory Committee – Vance Carrigan, Dr. Jonathan Goodnight, Lauren Kiziah, and Chris Howes – 2 years; two line item transfers; amendments to the fire prevention and protection ordinance to change payment location from the Clerk to the Board to the Fire Marshal’s Office; proclamation for 2025 Alexander County Preparedness Month; and renewal of annual contract with Alexander County Schools to provide school nursing services.
Consolidated Human Services Board meeting
Following the regular meeting, commissioners convened a meeting of the Consolidated Human Services Board.
• Billie Walker, Health Director, presented the health department’s quarterly update. An engineer has been approved to serve on the health advisory board and the department continues to seek an ophthalmologist for the board. Walker said they are accepting applications for a Behavioral Health Licensed Clinical Social Worker, but are not rehiring for two positions due to federal funding issues. A new School-Based Dental Health Coordinator started on August 18.
Walker then provided an accreditation update. The NCLHDA (North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation) dashboard is changing, which will begin with Alexander County in the fall of 2026. She said the state decreased the number of benchmarks from 147 to 45.
Emily Vick, Communicable Disease Nurse, presented the communicable disease report for calendar year 2024. She said prevention and control of communicable diseases is one of the most important functions of public health. The top sexually transmitted diseases in Alexander County in 2024 were chlamydia (54 cases) and gonorrhea (18 cases), while salmonella was the top food-borne illness (9 cases). The health department continues to provide educational outreach via schools, social media, clinics, and community events. She said individual COVID-19 cases have not been counted since the end of the public health emergency in May 2023, but cases linked to outbreaks in congregate living facilities are still investigated and reported, with four COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities in 2024. There have been 1,431 confirmed measles cases in 42 states, including one case in North Carolina. Vick said the flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, and the health department will begin taking appointments on October 1.
Walker said the health department is very active in the community and will have representatives at numerous events throughout the year.
• The DSS update was presented by David Moose, Consolidated Human Services Director; Keri Jerrell, DSS Director; Trena Riddle, Economic Services Program Administrator; and Lakeshia Feaster, Child Welfare/Adult Services Program Manager. Feaster said HB 612, which is known as the Fostering Care in NC Act bill, was signed into law on June 26, and the department is still learning the ramifications of the new law. Jerrell said proponents of the bill believe counties need more supervision in certain areas of foster care, and it is supposed to give foster parents more rights.
Feaster said the department’s employee vacancy rate has been 7 percent for the past month, and qualified child welfare and adult services social workers are being sought. Currently, there are 49 children in DSS custody, eight children in Links, and four children in the 18-21 program, with 10 foster homes in Alexander County. There are five adoptions in process. For adult protective services, there are 11 wards. The Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina (PATH NC) went live in Alexander County on August 11, which enhances interagency communications, comprehensive case management, data accessibility, and more.
Riddle provided an adult/children Medicaid update. She said the One Big Beautiful Bill may affect Medicaid cases, but they are still monitoring the situation. Moose said DSS doesn’t have a lot of information yet about the bill, so they must wait to determine the local impact. Riddle said there are 10,000 Medicaid cases in Alexander County.
• Kristy Hunt, Senior Center Director, provided an update. The center’s annual craft fair was held on July 19 with almost 300 people in attendance. Senior activities continue with sewing and crochet classes, card games, book club, computer classes, musicians’ jams, exercise classes, ice cream socials, candle-making class, and more. The center hosted a MedAssist event on May 30 with 684 participants, which is believed to be a MedAssist record in North Carolina. The center continues to offer Diamond Tours trips, with a trip to Vermont scheduled this month. The overnight trip for 2026 will be a nine-day adventure in Ireland. The center also offers popular day trips. Medicare open enrollment is October 15 through December 7. In 2024, the center assisted more than 400 people with savings of over $1.5 million. Open enrollment will kick off on October 10 with a “Hoedown.” Average daily attendance from January through July 2025 is 97.98 people, which is a 17 percent increase compared to 2024.
The next meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners is set for Monday, October 6, at 6:00 p.m. at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education (room #103). Regular meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the county’s Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192 or the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. Meeting agendas, minutes, videos, and more are available on the county’s website at https://alexandercountync.gov/commissioners.
Herman earns NCACC “Heroic Hands” award
The mission of the “Heroic Hands” initiative is to highlight the value of public service careers and the dedicated employees who fill those roles.
Interim County Manager Debra Bechtel nominated Herman for the award for her commitment to Alexander County, particularly for her critical role in developing the 2025-2026 county budget.
“Jennifer exemplifies exceptional dedication and service to Alexander County Government. She has consistently demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and a tireless work ethic in managing the county’s finances,” said Bechtel. “Her leadership and commitment were especially evident in 2025, when the county faced a leadership transition. During this challenging time, Jennifer stepped up in extraordinary ways, guiding the budget process with skill and composure. She collaborated closely with the board of commissioners and county staff to develop a sound budget, providing well-informed recommendations, adapting to changing needs, and helping navigate the county through uncertainty.”
Herman said she is honored to be selected as a “Heroic Hands” award recipient.
“I am truly grateful for this recognition. The preparation of the 2025-2026 county budget was a significant undertaking that required careful analysis, collaboration, and the hard work of our commissioners and staff,” said Herman. “This award is a reflection of their dedication as much as my own, and it inspires me to continue serving the citizens of Alexander County.”
Herman was hired as Alexander County Finance Director in 2001. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she previously served as a local government audit manager for Martin Starnes Associates CPAs. She also holds the title of Certified Local Government Finance Officer from the NC Government Finance Officers Association. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University.
She and her husband, Gary, reside in the Ellendale community. They have two sons: Robbie, age 21, and Charlie, age 19.
For more information about the “Heroic Hands” award, visit www.ncacc.org.
Feimster to lead Alexander County Board of Elections
The Alexander County Board of Elections has appointed Cheryl Feimster to serve as Elections Director. She was sworn in on July 10 by Clerk of Court Edwin P. Chapman.
Feimster was hired as the Deputy Elections Director in October 2019 and has now been promoted following the departure of former Elections Director Patrick Wike. She attained the Administrator of Elections certification in August 2021.
Alexander County Board of Elections Chairperson Martha Schronce said the board unanimously selected Feimster for the director position.
“I have all the confidence in the world in Cheryl and her ability to conduct elections here in Alexander County,” said Schronce. “She has big shoes to fill, but I’m confident that we chose the right person. I look forward to working alongside Cheryl to continue to conduct every election with honesty and integrity in Alexander County.”
Feimster agrees that the elections director position will be a challenge, but she is excited for the opportunity.
“I am truly honored to be named Elections Director for Alexander County. It is a privilege to serve our citizens and to work alongside a dedicated team to ensure our elections remain fair, transparent, and secure. I look forward to continuing our tradition of integrity,” Feimster stated. “Running elections is a significant achievement, especially given how complex and scrutinized the process has become. The best part is having made a meaningful contribution to helping Alexander County citizens vote.”
Feimster expressed her gratitude for the elections staff, board members, poll workers, polling locations, and others who come together for a successful election process.
Learn more about the Alexander County Board of Elections.
Hicks named new Alexander County Fire Marshal
Alexander County Fire Marshal
His fire service experience dates back to 1991, when he served as a junior firefighter for the Conover Fire Department. Hicks is a 1993 graduate of Newton-Conover High School and attained his Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification from CVCC in 1996. After a brief career in law enforcement, he was hired as a fire engineer with the Conover Fire Department, where he worked his way through the ranks as fire inspector and lieutenant. In September 2023, Hicks was hired as the fire marshal in Wilkes County.
“I’m honored to serve as Alexander County’s new fire marshal. I lived in Alexander County several years, and I love it here,” said Hicks. “I’m excited for the opportunity to work alongside our dedicated emergency personnel to help keep our citizens safe.”
Hicks also has a degree in Emergency Management and is certified through the Office of State Fire Marshal as a Firefighter, Driver Operator, Fire Officer, Arson Investigator, Hazardous Materials, and Fire Instructor, as well as multiple specialty rescue certifications.
While living in Alexander County, Hicks joined Bethlehem Community Fire & Rescue, where he served as assistant chief for approximately three years.
“I made a lot of good friends when I lived here, and I know that I can still depend on them today when I need them. Alexander County has that small-town feel, and I really like that,” Hicks related. “The fire departments here have great leadership and volunteers who want to keep up with the ever-changing times. I believe there has to be teamwork between all entities for an organization to succeed. If all gears are running in alignment, then there will be progress.”
The duties of the fire marshal include assisting staff with fire safety inspections of businesses within the county to ensure that all NC Fire Codes are followed. The fire marshal and the staff identify and address any issues that may be a safety and risk hazard throughout the county, and perform origin and cause reports for fires, as determining how a fire started can be a complex task. The fire marshal’s office also performs fire and life safety training to ensure citizens know how to prevent fires.
Learn more about the Alexander County Fire Marshal’s Office.