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INSIDE ▼ Group plans women's health conference
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PAGE 3A Friday, March 20, 2026 • Vol. 26 • No. 11
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UCPS ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2026-27 TEACHING AWARDS MONROE – Union County Public Schools has named finalists for its Teacher of the Year and Beginning Teacher of the Year awards.
“These finalists represent the very best in UCPS,” Superintendent Andrew Houlihan said. “They build relationships, have high expectations for themselves and their students and help students discover their potential every day.” Winners will be announced in May.
Amy Blanton
Jessica Miller
Matthew Dowell
Olivia Skinner
Major Chad Richardson
Megan Frost
Gabriella Anne Paonessa
Laikyn Tyson
Emma Laws
April Knight
Teacher of the Year Finalists
• Amy Blanton – An English language arts teacher who uses a co-teaching model, Blanton blends literacy instruction with specialized support. Since joining Marvin Ridge Middle in 2016, she has led initiatives including the Peer Pals program and district curriculum teams. She believes growth begins with ownership, empowering students to set goals, track their progress and celebrate their achievements. • Jessica Miller – A sixth-grade English language arts teacher at Parkwood Middle, Miller embraces the “science of mattering,” ensuring students feel valued and connected. She integrates interdisciplinary learning and strengthens family engagement through programs such as Family Leadership Night and Leadership Day. • Matthew Dowell – As director of bands
at Porter Ridge Middle, Dowell leads more than 320 students in grades six through eight. He fosters structure, high expectations and belonging, helping students discover both their musical talents and their personal potential. • Olivia Skinner – With 25 years of experience spanning special education and classroom instruction, Skinner believes all students can learn and that each child brings unique strengths and talents. She has mentored teachers, written curriculum and led professional development at Unionville Elementary.
• Chadrick Richardson – Richardson serves as senior aerospace science instructor and AFJROTC department head at Piedmont High. Richardson leads more than 100 cadets in leadership development, service and competition. Under his guidance, the AFJROTC program has expanded and emphasized integrity, service and excellence as foundational values. Beginning Teacher of the Year Finalists
The Beginning Teacher of the Year award recognizes educators in their first, second or
third year who exemplify passion, dedication and student-focused instruction. • Meagan Frost – A UCPS graduate and Communication Behavior Social Skills teacher at Marvin Elementary, Frost empowers families and builds student confidence through structured routines and evidence-based strategies. • Gabriella Anne Paonessa – An eighthgrade English language arts and AIG English I teacher at Sun Valley Middle, Paonessa emphasizes Universal Design for Learning, purposeful scaffolding and responsible technology use to remove barriers and build student independence. • Laikyn Tyson – A UCPS graduate and fifth-grade teacher at Poplin Elementary, Tyson fosters community through morning meetings, inquiry-based learning and high expectations that promote responsibility and communication. • Emma Laws – Laws emphasizes handson learning, collaboration and student autonomy while building meaningful connections beyond the classroom at Porter Ridge Middle. • April Knight – After transitioning from a successful career in hairstyling, Knight now models resilience and lifelong learning while fostering confidence, curiosity and strong relationships in her East Union Middle classroom.
Union County commissioners consider options for jail expansion by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MONROE – Commissioners are considering four options to expand capacity at the Union County Detention Center and whether to put a bond referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot to finance it.
County staff encouraged commissioners to provide them with direction by May 4 at the latest to allow them enough time to meet regulatory deadlines associated with a bond referendum. Commissioners voted in August to move forward with a study on whether the existing jail and office building can continue to function for the next 15 to 20 years. Thomas Carlson-Reddig, principal of Little Diversified Architecture, presented the findings of this study during the board's March 12 planning retreat. The options are as follows: • Option 1: Use the existing jail for 100 beds and build a new space with 400 beds. Estimated construction cost ranges from $178,915,938 to $181,696,629. • Option 2: Build a new 500-bed jail but leave the existing jail and sheriff’s building for overflow use. Estimated construction cost ranges from $214,121,548 to $216,902,236. • Option 3: Build a new 500-bed jail, leave the existing sheriff’s building and demolish the existing jail. Estimated construction cost ranges from $203,998,119 to $206,778,807. • Option 4: Build a new 500-bed jail and demolish the existing jail and sheriff's building. Estimated construction cost ranges from $208,572,034 to $211,352,722. Carlson-Reddig also shared some estimates for first-year staffing and operational costs at full capacity. The most affordable option for operating a
new jail would cost $15,200,000 for staffing and $17,724,000 for operations. These estimates can increase to as much as $16,600,000 for staffing and $18,927,890 for operations if the county were to reuse existing buildings. Carlson-Reddig pointed out that with Option 2, the county could reach a point of diminishing returns after about 10 years, when you factor in escalation and other increases. “The other thing to think about is staffing two different locations and trying to work between two locations,” he said. “Yeah, it’s done, but it’s a little more complicated. So that has to be taken into consideration.” County Manager Brian Matthews said staff met with the Union County Sheriff’s Office to talk through the options. He said the sheriff’s office would like to continue to use the administrative building but not necessarily have to operate two jail facilities. Commissioner Brian Helms asked what it would look like functionally if the county moved forward with the option to keep the existing office space. He wanted to know who would be using those offices. Matthews said that has not been determined yet. Helms asked how the estimated operations and staff costs of a new jail compared to what the county is currently paying. Chris Boyd, facilities and fleet director for Union County, said the total staffing and operational cost for the existing facilities, including the 264-bed jail, is $13,120,000. Commissioner Melissa Merrell said she was thrown off by some of the options, considering the administrative building had structural issues, yet the sheriff’s office wanted to continue using that space. “We’ve been hearing about floodplains and
structural damage,” Merrell said. “That structural damage was not at the jail portion. It was at the admin portion.” Staff explained the administrative portion would be more cost-effective to reuse for offices than converting the jail space. “This is a building that the taxpayers of Union County have paid for, whether that was 30 years ago or whether it's today,” Helms said. “That's something that again the taxpayers have paid for and I think that it is incumbent upon this board to try to make the best use of this facility or whatever we can salvage of this facility to get the most value out of their dollars.” Commissioner Clancy Baucom asked the room of experts if anyone had a strong opinion about a particular option. Matthews said he didn’t have a strong opinion but suggested narrowing the decision to Options 2 and 4. “Ultimately, you’re just not trying to fix something that’s old and broken and continue to use it,” he said. “I think it’s really more trying to function with a new facility.” Merrell mentioned one consideration in their decision involves whether using existing space would require the county to upgrade the buildings to meet current code. Helms requested staff bring back more information about code requirements if they opted to use existing space for overflow. Finance Director Beverly Liles explained how each option would affect the county’s tax rate. Liles shared the following data for the legislative required interest rate of 5.344%: • Option 1 would require a total debt service of $284,123,840 to finance $182 million. This would result in a property tax rate increase of 2.83 cents. A $400,000 home would see an Story continues, see JAIL page 3A
Monroe Police Department launches ABC Unit MONROE – The Monroe Police Department has established a new unit to strengthen enforcement efforts involving alcohol-related laws and illegal conduct occurring in and around licensed establishments.
The primary mission of the ABC Unit is to enforce North Carolina’s Alcoholic Beverage Control laws and the Controlled Substances Act. Officers assigned to the unit have the authority to inspect businesses that hold ABC permits, including all areas of licensed premises, to ensure compliance with state law. When violations or criminal activity are discovered, officers may take enforcement action ranging from criminal citations to administrative violations. ABC units, which are commonly used by law
enforcement agencies across North Carolina, are designed to address issues connected to licensed businesses and nightlife activity. “This unit is about being proactive, not reactive,” said Police Chief Rhett Bolen. “We want businesses operating responsibly, patrons staying safe and those using licensed establishments as a place to commit crimes to understand that Monroe is paying attention.” The Monroe Police Department also announced that Cody Eiss, one of the detectives assigned to the ABC Unit, has been sworn in as an officer with the North Carolina Anti-Counterfeiting Trademark Task Force. This role expands the department’s reach in investigating counterfeit goods and trademark-related crimes that often overlap with organized criminal activity.
Quick Hits
• The Monroe Police Department has promoted four officers: Sgt. Corey Helms, Sgt. Matthew Sierk, Lt. Steven Helms and Lt. Lewis McLendon. • The Union County Sheriff’s Office collected 35.8 pounds of expired medications during a recent Operation Medicine Drop event. • The community can get to know officers with the Stallings Police Department during Coffee With a Cop from 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 25 at Good News Brews, 3119 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Stallings. • Lt. Morgan Malone, of the Monroe Police Department, completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Leading Edge Mindset course.
Police investigate death of husband, wife WAXHAW – Officers with the Waxhaw Police Department responded to a call for service at about 4:20 p.m. March 12 in the 8200 block of Prescott Glen Parkway.
Officers discovered a man, identified as 49-year-old Inol Toussaint, dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Officers then found a woman, identified as 42-yearold Eusther Toussaint dead upstairs. Waxhaw detectives, along with agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, began investigating. Police said the preliminary investigation indicates Inol Toussaint killed his wife inside the home, then went to the backyard and took his own life. Police described this as an isolated incident with no danger to the public. The Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released the causes of death. “We are heartbroken by this tragic act of domestic violence that has deeply impacted our community. We ask everyone to keep the victim’s family and loved ones involved in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time,” Police Chief Dexter Wilson said. “We want our community to know that help and resources are available for anyone experiencing domestic violence, and we encourage those who need support to reach out.” Confidential help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, www. thehotline.org or Turning Point in Monroe at 704-283-7233.