Last week was a busy one for Rowan County native Clark Walton.
Walton, a 1996 East Rowan High graduate and Charlotte attorney, was named Young Lawyer of the Year for 2008-2009 by the Mecklenburg County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section at its annual meeting in uptown Charlotte.
At the N.C. Bar Association annual meeting in Asheville, he also was recognized for his work with the nonprofit group “Wills for Heroes,” which provides free estate planning services to first responders, and was elected to a one-year term as the District 9 representative to the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.
Walton, who recently left private practice to serve as an assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County, was honored by the local bar primarily for his commitment to pro bono legal services.
This past year Walton co-chaired the N.C. Bar Association’s Wills for Heroes committee, which during his term hosted eight events across the state and provided nearly 1,600 North Carolina first responders with estate planning documents free of charge.
The first of those events took place in Salisbury last July, was co-sponsored by the Salisbury Fire Department and the Rowan County Rescue Squad and provided estate planning services to 130 Rowan area first responders and their spouses.
In addition, Walton spent a significant amount of time in the past year working on military-related issues and presently serves separately as a liaison to the ABA’s Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law. He has become certified to handle benefits claims before the Veterans Administration and participated in a pro bono project in Charlotte earlier this year.
Walton also worked closely with a nonprofit group called The List Project, which provides legal assistance to Iraqis being threatened because they worked for the U.S. military and its contractors in Iraq.
Walton assisted several Iraqi clients and their families in refugee and visa applications, and his first such client was able to obtain resettlement out of Iraq in only 10 months. The average application takes 12 to 18 months to process through both the State Department and Department of Homeland Security.
Walton’s former firm, Mayer Brown LLP, received a 2008 National Law Journal award for its involvement in The List Project.
As an assistant district attorney, Walton said, the ethics rules no longer allow him to provide direct pro bono legal services.
“But I will still do what I can to support these organizations when permissible, especially local support for Wills for Heroes” he said.
Walton has practiced law in Charlotte since 2005 and has held several bar leadership positions since first being elected in 2003 to American Bar Association national office while a student at Georgetown Law Center.
He is married to the former Julia Vickers-Koch of Charlotte, and his parents are Ralph and Colleen Walton of Salisbury.
Elation Station health store open in Spencer
SPENCER ó Elation Station, a health and wellness store, has opened at 109B Fifth St.
Owners Tweena and Ashley Myers specialize in sports nutrition, providing building blocks at the store for a complete regimen, whether a person is a power-walker or triathlete.
The store offers products that can be used before, during or after workouts to help build strength and energy and aid in recovery and hydration.
The couple had been selling products from their Spencer home since February. Tweena is a nurse at Salisbury Pediatrics Associates, and Ashley works for Salisbury-Rowan Utilities.
Store hours are from 5-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday.
Starting in mid-August, the store will be open noon-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday.
The telephone number is 704-633-0236.
“We decided to open a store in Spencer to promote healthy lifestyles,” Tweena Myers said. “… We have premium vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements.”
The store has supplements formulated to meet the nutritional needs of men, women and children, she said.
Some of the other items for sale include sugar-free and carb-free energy drinks, sports drinks, protein shakes, green teas, low-fat coffee beverages and meal replacements.
Artistry True Beauty products are available to meet skin-care needs, including anti-aging formulas.
Customers can visit the store to sample the items.
Dr. Kathleen Russo of Salisbury Pediatrics said in the store’s press release that she was excited to see Spencer had its own health and wellness store.
“As a pediatrician,” she said, “I know how important it is to start children off with a healthy foundation and teach them good nutrition and the importance of exercise.”
Russo said the store has as good line of pediatric vitamins and supplements including Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) that all children should have.
Russo, a marathoner, said she uses some of the store’s products to support pre-run and recovery-run aspects of her training.
Lake Norman hospital names director of women’s services
MOORESVILLE ó Lake Norman Regional Medical Center has appointed Marie Marks, a registered nurse, as director of women’s services.
Marks has more than 22 years experience in the maternal child nursing field. She has been assistant director for several years and interim director since March 20.
Marks is president of the N.C. Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses and was a featured speaker at the recent HMA Perinatal Seminar.
“We are fortunate to have Marie in this role as we continue to provide highest quality care to our patients, families and community,” Chief Nursing Officer Becky Dunlap said.
McDonald joins Tastefully Simple as a new consultant
Ginger McDonald of Rockwell has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct-sales company featuring easy-to-prepare food products.
As a consultant, McDonald offers the company’s gourmet foods and beverages to guests at home taste-testing parties. Guests receive samples, easy meal ideas, recipes and serving suggestions.
Tastefully Simple offers opportunities for those seeking new or additional business options, supplementary income, more time with children, or control and freedom, a company press release says.
For more information about Tastefully Simple products, taste-testing parties or the business opportunities, contact McDonald at mollymc19@windstream.net.
Walker Marketing names Cary as account manager
CONCORD ó Walker Marketing Inc. has added Kevin Cary to the agency’s public relations department as an account manager.
Cary will be responsible for generating coverage for Walker Marketing’s clients through press releases, media pitches and integrating social media tools that will best benefit the clients.
Cary, an award-winning writer, comes to Walker Marketing after more than 15 years with the Charlotte Observer. His writing covering the Davidson College basketball program helped the Observer win national recognition, and his columns won a first-place award from the N.C. Press Association.
“We are excited to have Kevin join our team at Walker Marketing,” said Gary Walker, president and chief executive officer of Walker Marketing. “His journalism background will help us pinpoint our efforts, and his writing ability will be an asset in many platforms.”
Cary has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Home Instead honors caregiver of the month for July
Cecelia Goodman has been named Caregiver of the Month for July at Home Instead Senior Care, 625 W. Innes St.
The award is given to an employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty in caring for seniors with whom they are entrusted.
Goodman joined Home Instead Senior Care in May 2007. She also is a full-time employee with the Rowan/Salisbury school system.
Home Instead Senior Care, a provider of non-medical, in-home care and companionship services for seniors, can be reached at 704-636-2010 or www.homeinstead.com.
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