Images Johnston County, NC: 2008

2008 | IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM | VIDEO TOUR ONLINE TM

OF JOHNSTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

Retail is Rockin’ Population boom leads to economic boon

IMAGINE THAT Arts council supports many efforts to promote creativity

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2008 EDITION | VOLUME 3 TM

OF JOHNSTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

22 CO NTE NT S

JOHNSTON COUNTY BUSINESS

F E AT U R E S 12

ALL THE COUNTY’S A STAGE Johnston County knows what it takes to create and nurture artists.

16

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY County officials attribute the surge of newcomers to many factors – primarily location, location, location.

18

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES Johnston County entrepreneurs are feeding a growing industry of food manufacturing.

22 RETAIL IS ROCKIN’ Johnston County rakes in the big bucks when it comes to retail sales.

30 The Power of People The Johnston County Workforce Development Center supplies the area with a trained and talented workforce.

32 Biz Briefs 34 Economic Profile

D E PA R TM E NT S 8 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Johnston County culture

25 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Johnston County

38 Health & Wellness 39 Education

43 IMAGINE THAT Whatever the art form, the Johnston County Arts Council is involved.

44 Sports & Recreation 45 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

ON THE COVER Photo by Ian Curcio The Hall and Gardens at Landmark

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ACTION! ADVENTURE! “IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!”

“JOHNSTON COUNTY LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

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What’s Online More lists, links and tips for newcomers

OF JOHNSTON COUNTY

IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM

SENIOR EDITOR SUSAN CHAPPELL COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, KIM MADLOM, ANITA WADHWANI ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA MORGAN, KRISTY WISE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MARY BEST, MELANIE HILL, GARY PERILLOUX ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER DESHAUN GOODRICH ONLINE SALES MANAGER MATT SLUTZ SALES COORDINATOR SARA SARTIN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, WES ALDRIDGE, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, MICHAEL W. BUNCH, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN M CCORD PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS. MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, CANDICE HULSEY, JANINE MARYLAND, LINDA MOREIRAS, AMY NELSON WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SHULTZ WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER ALISON HUNTER COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL AD TRAFFIC MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART EXECUTIVE EDITOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA M CFARLAND, LISA OWENS, JACKIE YATES RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH MARKETING COORDINATOR AMY AKIN IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR NICOLE WILLIAMS SALES SUPPORT MANAGER/ CUSTOM MAGAZINES PATTI CORNELIUS

Images of Johnston County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce 1115 Industrial Park Drive • Smithfield, NC 27577 Phone: (919) 934-9166 • Fax: (919) 934-1337 E-mail: chamber@smithfieldselma.com www.smithfieldselma.com VISIT IMAGES OF JOHNSTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM ©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

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EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; find related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online references in this issue.

A GARDENER’S PARADISE North Carolina’s diverse climate affords opportunities for growing plants that are indigenous to many continents.

There is also abundant rainfall and a long growing season.

Find out more at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.

BARBECUE: A SIMPLE SOUTHERN PLEASURE Pork is the meat of choice in North Carolina, served either with a vinegar-based sauce or a sauce rich in vinegar and tomatoes, depending where you are in the state. Get a taste of regional cuisine at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.

A B O U T T H I S M AG A Z I N E Images of Johnston County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Johnston County Association of Chambers of Commerce and its member businesses. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Johnston County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

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Member Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce

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“Find the good – and praise it.”

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Almanac

Johnston County | At A Glance POPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE) Johnston County: 152,143 Smithfield: 12,271 Clayton: 11,584 Selma: 6,841 Benson: 3,380 LOCATION Johnston County is in east-central North Carolina, about 30 miles south of Raleigh. The Atlantic Coast is a two-hour drive from Johnston County, while the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains are four hours to the west.

BEGINNINGS Johnston County was formed in 1745 and named after Gabriel Johnston, a royal governor of the state. The town of Smithfield was officially chartered in 1777. Two years after the Civil War ended in 1865, a settlement four miles northeast of Smithfield became the town of Selma.

Lighting Up the Screen She lived in Hollywood for much of her life, yet her modest grave is in Smithfield.

Ava Gardner was born on Christmas Eve, 1922, in Brogden, a rural community located seven miles east of Smithfield. She posed for a professional photographer at age 17 in New York, after which theatrical agents brought her to Hollywood. She starred in 60 movies over a career that spanned 44 years, and her Hollywood husbands included Frank Sinatra and Mickey Rooney.

Gardner’s last visit to Smithfield was in 1985, and she was buried in 1990 alongside her parents and siblings at Sunset Memorial Park. The Ava Gardner Museum on East Market Street hosts an annual two-day Ava Gardner Fest in September.

SEE MORE ONLINE | To learn more about the Ava Gardner Museum, visit the archives at imagesjohnstoncounty.com/07.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce 1115 Industrial Park Drive P.O. Box 467 Smithfield, NC 27577 (919) 934-9166 Fax: (919) 934-1337 www.smithfieldselma.com

Johnston County

96 40

Raleigh

Clayton

95 301

JOHNSTON Cleveland area

Kenly

50

Selma Smithfield

40 301

Four Oaks

70

Benson 701

95

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Tomatoes & Gourds Out of collard greens or persimmons?

The new Downtown Smithfield Farmers Market opened in May 2007 in the parking lot of the historic Roberts & Wellons Hardware Store on Bridge Street. The market is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday from mid-April to October.

Besides fruits and vegetables, the spacious market offers beef, chicken, pork, eggs, honey, bread, bee pollen, bath/body items, herbs, flowers and gourds.

A Place for Kids After-school issues are easily solved with Selma’s new Boys & Girls Club. Opened in 2007, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County-Selma Unit provide young people ages 6-18 with a fun, safe and constructive after-school environment. The goal of the Selma club is to offer programs and services that build character and strengthen life skills.

The Boys & Girls Clubs serve a diverse population, offering programs in education and career development, the arts, creative writing and sports/ fitness/recreation.

A Global View All students learning Spanish? You bet, if you go to Neuse Charter School in Selma.

The school, which has an international studies focus, opened in 2007 as the first public charter school in Johnston County.

The mission of Neuse Charter School is to nurture the unique talents and interests of each child, all in a caring, vibrant and innovative academic environment. Tuition is free since it is a public, K-5 school, and it is located on the site of the former Richard B. Harrison Junior High School.

Fast Facts ■ Johnston County has 10 municipalities, including Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Kenly, Micro, Pine Level, Princeton, Selma, Smithfield and Wilson’s Mills.

■ Johnston County is conveniently located along Interstates 95 and 40 and U.S. Hwy. 70.

■ The commercial center of Johnston County is anchored

by Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield, which features 83 retail stores.

■ The Battle of Bentonville, fought from March 19-21, 1865, was the last major Confederate offensive of the Civil War and was the largest battle ever fought in North Carolina.

■ The county has more operating farms – 1,200 – than any other county in the state.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Johnston County, visit imagesjohnstoncounty.com.

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Almanac

Rub the Right Way The next time you have a cold, think about Selma, N.C. Pharmacist Lunsford Richardson, who grew up on a plantation near Selma in the mid-1800s, opened a small drugstore in his hometown before moving to Greensboro in the 1880s. It was in Greensboro where he developed the formula for the cold salve called Vicks VapoRub, which was named for his brother-in-law, Dr. Joshua Vick, a Selma physician.

The Vicks Chemical Co. eventually formed and was sold in 1985 to Proctor & Gamble. VapoRub is currently manufactured and packaged in Mexico.

Let Nature Take Its Course The color purple doesn’t refer to the movie at the Flower Hill Natural Area.

Rather, the 10-acre refuge, located along the southern banks of Moccasin Creek, is home to the largest stand of native purple rhododendrons found in the Coastal Plain. The preserve is situated in northeastern Johnston County, along a 100-foot mountain in Kenly.

The Flower Hill Natural Area is a conservation project backed by the Triangle Land Conservancy, an organization that helps to protect stream corridors, forests and wildlife habitats in Johnston and five other surrounding counties.

TLC has protected more than 9,500 acres of the Triangle region since it was founded in 1983.

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For the Record Books It has only been open since 2000, but the Johnston County Heritage Center is already regarded as one of the best-equipped genealogy facilities in the country.

The center is owned and operated by the Johnston County government and is housed in the renovated former home of First Citizens Bank in downtown Smithfield. It has exhibits and artifacts from the county’s past, but it is primarily known for the acclaimed Johnston County Room that features a collection of local history and genealogy.

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All the

County’s

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a Stage JOHNSTON COUNTY IS PERFECTING THE ART OF ENTERTAINMENT

STORY BY MARY BEST PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

J

ohnston County, an area of 152,000 residents, knows what it takes to create and nurture artists who appeal to a wide audience. The 10 towns of the region enjoy a variety of entertainment options, from bluegrass to contemporary plays.

A FACILITY FOR ALL REASONS Take, for example, Johnston Community College in Smithfield, which offers a thriving performing arts venue and hosts more than 200 events each year.

According to Ken Mitchell, director of the auditorium, the 1,000-seat facility has three purposes.

“First, we provide cultural enrichment through our Performing Arts Concerts series and have featured such national and international entertainers as Tony Orlando, Three Dog Night, Doc Watson and Mickey Rooney,” Mitchell says.

“We have also hosted national musical productions such as Guys and Dolls and even Footloose.”

The performing arts center also hosts the bimonthly JCC Country Music Showcase for local artists, which enables regional talent to perform with a live band in a professional setting.

CLAYTON’S CENTER OF ATTENTION The Clayton Center is another thriving performance venue, where many national headliners come to entertain audiences.

Best-selling author and humorist David Sedaris brought the house down with his self-deprecating style and razor-sharp wit. Musical legends Ricky Skaggs and Doc Watson have awed visitors to the

Johnston Community College hosts more than 200 events each year.

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I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Above and right: The Clayton Center showcases national headliners, as well as local productions. Below: The renovated Rudy Theatre in Selma hosts a variety of musical performances, including the American Music Jubilee.

600-seat auditorium with their mastery of bluegrass. And The Harlem Gospel Choir, one of the world’s most renowned gospel choirs, has touched the souls of the faithful from the region.

The auditorium, which consists of a main floor and balcony, is a work of art itself. Originally built in the 1920s as a school auditorium, the Classical Revival structure was renovated in 2002.

“What’s remarkable about the center is what it means to the community and how much the community supports the center,” says Heidi Stump, the center’s executive director. “The community really came together to build the center, and now they buy season tickets and they volunteer – the investment that the community has made is amazing.

“Clayton is really growing,” Stump adds, “and the center is important to that growth. The center represents the progress that Clayton has made as a town and the potential Clayton has for the future. It is a symbol of a town that is developing into a vibrant artistic community.”

THE GRAND OLE RUDY THEATRE Another Johnston County success story is the American Music Jubilee, JOHNSTON COU NT Y

which performs in Selma’s Rudy Theatre.

Begun in 1998 by Tony Davis and Spook Joyner, the variety show resembles performances in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Branson, Mo. Audiences always enjoy the Jubilee’s two-hour extravaganza of music and wholesome comedy. Now in its ninth year, the high-energy, musical variety show has entertained more than 350,000 people.

In addition to the musical variety show, the festive American Music Jubilee’s Southern Christmas Show is a perennial favorite.

The 565-seat Rudy Theatre also hosts a concert series, including Eddie Miles’ popular “Salute to Elvis.”

“The old theater was built in 1948,” Joyner says, “and when we started, it was all boarded up. We have done a lot of renovation to it. People in town knew it as the Rudy Theatre, so we call it the Grand Ole Rudy Theatre.

“We take pride in presenting a good family show,” he continues. “We don’t serve alcohol, only sodas and popcorn.”

Two other performing arts facilities in Johnston County provide entertaining, well-produced theater.

Affectionately referred to as “The Hut,” the Neuse Little Theatre recently

celebrated its 100th performance and has contributed to the high-quality theater for which Johnston County has become known.

The W.J. Barefoot Auditorium has hosted plays by the Benson Little Theatre since its inception in 2000. The 350-seat auditorium also stages concerts, pageants and theatrical productions.

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Land of

Opportun RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BOOM MEANS ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME ARE EASY TO FIND

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ity G

rowth is no stranger to Johnston County. Much of this rural county’s history has been written by its economic anchor – farming. And even with the area’s decline in agricultural production, it continues to be home to more farms than any other North Carolina county.

But the past 20 years have brought changes to Johnston County. It has become the fastest-growing county in the state; its modest population of 66,000 in 1958 has expanded to what county officials predict will be 160,000 by 2010. Yet, the popularity the county currently enjoys stems from those same wholesome roots cultivated by industrious farm families.

COME ONE, COME ALL County officials attribute the surge of newcomers to many factors – primarily location, location, location.

As the neighborhoods of the Research Triangle become more populated, residents are slipping below Raleigh’s crowded radar screen to Johnston County’s less hectic lifestyle while still enjoying the metropolitan amenities of the Triangle.

Also propelling the county’s growth is its strategic location at the crossroads of Interstates 95 and 40, both major north-south and east-west arteries.

“It doesn’t hurt that we are also only an hour and a half from the beach,” adds

STORY BY MARY BEST | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Joey Millard-Edwards of Carolina Realty.

Others are discovering the gracious appeal of Johnston County, too. Floridians and New Yorkers are moving to the area to purchase much more residential bang for their buck.

“They can get affordable housing with all the bells and whistles,” MillardEdwards says. “They know we have high-quality builders that add a lot of amenities.”

Rebecca Riley of RealCorp & Development Inc. agrees.

“We are seeing a lot of commercial growth, and you have to have rooftops to have commercial growth,” Riley says.

For instance, food service giant Sysco Corp. is bringing 600 jobs to the county and investing $37 million here.

In addition, the county’s schools are highly rated due to outstanding teachers and high test scores. Even the area’s mild climate provides a hospitable salutation.

“You just couldn’t ask for a better location,” Millard-Edwards adds.

BLOSSOMING FLOWERS Take, for example, Flowers Plantation, an ambitious planned community a couple miles from the town of Clayton and some 20 miles from Raleigh.

Its pastoral setting spreads over more than 3,000 acres, offering a quiet yet convenient respite from the congestion of Wake County.

Once completed, 8,000 homes of varying sizes and price levels will be

built in exclusive communities such as Mill Creek West, North Farm, North Farm Cottages, Plantation Pointe, The Townes @ The Village, Walker Woods and Watson’s Mill.

Many of the development’s amenities – including a country club, shopping, cafés, day care, a swimming pool, tennis courts and two schools – are within walking distance.

Newcomers to Clayton, the county’s second-largest town, are also impressed with Riverwood, a “new traditional” neighborhood featuring townhomes and single-family houses ranging from $90,000 to the $400,000s. Amenities include a 27-hole golf course, a swimming pool and athletic facilities.

LAKESIDE LIVING Smithfield, the county seat, has introduced a new, private neighborhood near Holt Lake, appropriately named Lakeside.

In addition to its greatest amenity – water-related recreation – the area has not forgotten a single detail with its elegant homes, wooded lots and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

Communities include Berry Downs, British Court, Cyprus Point, Holt Lake South, Hunting Ridge, Lakeside and Lake Park Villas.

In contrast, Smithfield’s quintessentially Southern homes are also popular purchases for those who prefer the turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival houses, cottages and bungalows.

Left: Smithfield’s Historic District, with its striking Colonial Revival homes, remains a popular place for residents.

Above: Flowers Plantation in Clayton, a planned community on 3,000 acres, will eventually have 8,000 homes.

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Incredible

Edibles A HANDFUL OF SCRUMPTIOUS FOOD PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY

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STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

I

t took Jan Matthews-Hodges 12 years to develop the perfect pound cake recipe, but her efforts are finally paying off.

As owner of The Pound Cake Co. in Benson, Matthews-Hodges is one of several Johnston County entrepreneurs who manufacture food products that are distributed and sold nationwide.

“I started the company in 2003 after I won a blue ribbon and Best of Show for my pound cake at the North Carolina State Fair,” Matthews-Hodges says. “It grew from a retail business into wholesale the following spring, and now my cakes are carried in Fresh Market stores in North Carolina and Virginia. We also do a huge amount of corporate sales during the holidays.”

The company’s cakes are “true pound cakes,” made with only four ingredients: butter, eggs, sugar and flour. The trick, Matthews-Hodges reveals, is using the correct proportions.

“If a chef looked at the recipe, they would say it isn’t right.

The proportions were difficult [to get right],” she says. “We don’t even use flavorings. When you bite into our pound cake, you get a very clear taste of butter and sugar.”

They may sound simple, but Matthews-Hodges’ pound cakes are really turning heads. Southern Living magazine featured The Pound Cake Co. on the cover of its “North Carolina Living” section in January 2006.

“The fun part of this is providing customers with a handmade cake,” Matthews-Hodges says. “In this industry, there’s very little handmade left. But ours truly is.”

The Pound Cake Co. is housed in the former Benson Elementary School cafeteria and employs 18 full- and parttime bakers. Together, they turn out between 5,000 and 6,000 pound cakes for Valentine’s Day and Easter orders and more than 10,000 during the holidays. (For ordering information, visit www.thebestcake.com.)

Johnston County Hams in Smithfield is another local company that’s attracting attention. The business produces mouth-watering country hams, spiral-sliced honey hams, smoked turkey, prosciutto, and dry-cured and hickorysmoked bacon.

“Our country hams are aged more than most. We use a longer curing process,” says Rufus Brown, “Cure Master” and plant manager at Johnston County Hams. “They’re also less salty than most country hams. People like that because they can taste the salt, but it’s not overwhelming.”

Johnston County Hams was started in 1946 by Smithfield resident Richard Edmonson, who owned a commercial freezer locker business. But it wasn’t until 1967, when Brown’s father, Jesse, joined the business that the hams started flying off store shelves.

“They brought my dad down from Virginia to be the plant manager, and he changed the curing process,” Brown explains.

Left: Jan Matthews-Hodges has perfected pound cakes and now ships them out to retailers across the country from her company headquarters in Benson.

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Lee Farms in Four Oaks is a family-owned farm known for its sweet potatoes. Top: Johnston County Hams in Smithfield has been going strong since 1946.

“That really got things turned around.”

Jesse Brown died in 1996, but Rufus has continued his legacy of producing flavorful hams.

“A lot of ham companies have faded out, so it’s an artisan trade now,” he says. “Curing is a unique process.”

Johnston County Hams have been featured in publications such as Esquire and Southern Living, and Men’s Journal has named them among their “100 Best Things to Eat in America.”

The hams are sold online (www.countrycuredhams.com) as well as in specialty markets, delis and catalogs. The company also operates a retail store called Smithfield’s Ham Shop that sells hams and gourmet food items such as jams, jellies, peanuts, chocolates, cheese straws and coffee.

Sweet potatoes are a tasty compliment to ham, and Johnston County knows all about those, too. In fact, the county is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the state.

Lee Farms in Four Oaks is a third-generation, familyowned farm that has been producing sweet potatoes since 1993. The Lee family is committed to improving sweet potato handling in the industry and preserving quality, storage time and nutrition.

Additional food products produced in Johnston County include sausage and other pork products by Carolina Packers and Stevens Sausage Co. in Smithfield; shrimp raised by DJ & W King Prawn Farm in Kenly; biscuit, cornbread, hushpuppy, breading and coating mixes produced by House-Autry Mills in Four Oaks; and breading, biscuit and pancake mixes and grits made by Atkinson Milling Co. in Selma.

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The Picture

of Health JOHNSTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OFFERS STATE-OF-THE ART CARE STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

S

ay aahh – as in so many accomplishments.

Johnston Memorial Hospital is embarking on two major construction projects that are the largest in its 57-year history.

Beginning in 2007, work started on a $100 million renovation to the Smithfield campus that will include construction of a new, five-story patient tower.

In addition, JMH will build a $39 million outpatient facility in Clayton that will feature an emergency department, outpatient operating rooms, diagnostic imaging services and a laboratory.

The Clayton building will open in late 2009 near the Johnston County/Wake County borderline.

“Actually, three different phases of the Clayton project have been planned, with hopes that the facility will eventually become a full-fledged hospital in itself,” says Jim Perpich, director of marketing and community relations at Johnston Memorial Hospital. “The Clayton effort will put us on the map as a health system since JMH won’t simply be a one-site community hospital anymore. We are expanding to a second campus.”

As for the long-standing Smithfield 20

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building, 119 parking spots will be added as part of the $100 million project.

In addition, construction of the fivestory patient tower will allow the hospital to expand from 175 beds to 199 all-new suites.

“When completed in 2009, all of the patient rooms at JMH will be private, with modern amenities such as flatscreen TVs, wireless Internet and pullout beds for visitors,” Perpich says.

Other plans at Smithfield include the installation of a high-energy linear accelerator to assist in the treatment of cancer patients. A 12-bed hospice for terminally ill patients will be constructed in Bingham Park, directly behind JMH. Perpich says all the expansions are necessary for Johnston County’s only hospital because the county’s population will balloon to an estimated 155,000 residents in 2008 – up from 122,000 in 2000.

“Other good news for JMH is that we welcomed three new physicians to the staff in 2007,” Perpich says. “We added a surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon and the county’s first infectious disease specialist.”

Perpich says the addition of phy-

sicians stems from a recent survey that JMH conducted, polling 700 Johnston County residents on what the No. 1 health-care need was at the hospital.

“The people said we needed to add more physicians, so that is exactly what we did,” he says. “Now that we have new doctors in place and our construction plans are finalized, the next step for this hospital is to begin a marketing campaign to inform residents of all the positives that JMH has to offer.”

Perpich says a mailing campaign began in fall of 2007 to inform residents about all the changes taking place at JMH. “Not many people know that we have doctors on staff who graduated from top medical universities such as Johns Hopkins, Duke and Pennsylvania,” he says. “We want to get the word out that patients don’t need to drive all the way into Raleigh for expert medical attention.

Patients simply need to make the easy drive to Johnston Memorial Hospital.”

Johnston Memorial Hospital is in the midst of two major construction projects in Smithfield and Clayton.

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21

Retail Is

ROCKIN’ POPULATION BOOM SPELLS ECONOMIC BOON IN JOHNSTON COUNTY STORY BY GARY PERILLOUX | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

Smithfield is at a crossroads for interstate traffic from all directions.

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I

t’s something of a North Carolina conundrum. How can a county without a town of even 15,000 people amass annual retail sales of better than $1 billion?

In Johnston County, the solution to this puzzle lies in traffic patterns.

Interstate 40, traversing the county’s southern end, boasts daily car counts topping 50,000 near Benson, where it meets the north-south Interstate 95. More than a dozen spots touch traffic counts of 40,000 in the county, a number of them near the 83-store Carolina Premium Outlets on I-95 in Smithfield.

And good schools, industry and affordable quality of life are attracting droves of new residents from the Research Triangle west of the county.

Growth in rooftops means rocketing retail sales, says Don Johnson, who directs the Small Business Center of Johnston Community College.

Johnston County’s population – up 44 percent in the last decade – is approaching 160,000 and will surpass 200,000 in the next decade. Since 1991, taxpayers have invested more than $400 million in 23 school construction projects.

“The rooftops have brought in the national chains,” says Johnson, mentioning the arrival of a third Wal-Mart Supercenter in the county, southwest of Clayton. “There are a lot of heavy big-box retailers with the outlets along I-95 in Smithfield – tremendous retail sales there.”

Sales tax collections have grown better than 11 percent annually for three years running. Fueling the local retail trade is the county’s strategic location along I-95, halfway between New York and Florida. That has meant a flourishing hotel and travel business.

Jobs in Johnston County are growing at an annual rate of 5 percent, healthier even than the Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Growth is coursing new blood through the county, making the need for local, serviceoriented and professional businesses even greater to help the wave of new residents, says Johnson, who advises people hoping to launch businesses.

“It’s an attractive area, for sure, because there’s a market here,” he says. “But the competition is fierce when you’re talking about Wal-Mart and the retailers in outparcels and the mall-type atmospheres.”

Great opportunity exists, though, for independent merchants who provide investment and insurance services, child care, personal services such as salons and spas, and high-end or distinctive gift, accessories and furnishings shops, Johnson says.

Existing retailers are raising the bar, too.

Among them is Smithfield’s Carroll Pharmacy, launched by pharmacist Alan Carroll’s father, Kay, in a shopping center 30 years ago. Father and son are both active in the business they upgraded in 2000 by building a freestanding, 5,000-square-foot pharmacy with drive-through service and one-hour photo processing.

Behind the retail floor, they added a robot with programmable controls, 250 cells for dispensing medication and a laser counter.

“It can fill a prescription in about 20 minutes,” says Alan Carroll, who’s quick to point out these retail enhancements aren’t a replacement for what built the store’s success. “We have had a very loyal client base, and we’ve been fortunate to grow with the county. The underlying goal of all of it is to be, JOHNSTON COU NT Y

as our slogan says, ‘your friendly neighborhood drugstore.’ ” Johnson, himself a veteran of a family appliance business, says maintaining that customer bond could be more important than ever now.

“The residential construction has really been driving the core economy in this county,” he says. “I think one of the reasons Johnston County has been so successful is where it’s located and what’s happening around it. You couldn’t ask for a better place to be.”

Carolina Premium Outlets’ 83 stores draw shoppers from all over the region. Top: Alan Carroll is active in the family business, Carroll Pharmacy, in Smithfield.

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Portfolio

Grape Expectations HINNANT FAMILY VINEYARDS HAVE MADE THEIR WINE BUSINESS A SWEET SUCCESS

H

innant Family Vineyards & Winery in Pine Level is making quite a name for itself.

“Each of our wines has won numerous awards,” says Wesley Dills, assistant manager of the tasting room and gift shop. “Our strawberry won a double gold this year at the state fair, which is the highest award you can win.”

HinnantFamilyVineyards’Muscadine Blush wine has won the most awards of all, including Best Muscadine in North Carolina from the North Carolina State Fair. The winery has also brought home medals from New York’s Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Dallas Wine Competition and the Florida State Fair.

The Hinnant family planted the vineyard in 1971, and it has since become the largest Muscadine vineyard in the state. Father-and-son team Willard and Bob began producing wine commercially in 2002.

“Bob owned a bridge and crown dental lab and decided to sell the

practice to make wine,” Dills says.

“Willard is a dentist.”

The pair’s move to the wine business from has proven very successful.

The winery produces 13 kinds of wine, including reds, whites, blushes, strawberry and peach.

“The Muscadine Blush and Scuppernong, a sweet white, are our best sellers,” Dills says. “Our wines are unique because of their crisp, clean f lavors. They are all handcrafted, authentic and unusual.”

Visitors to Hinnant Family Vineyards & Winery can take a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, taste the wines and take home a souvenir glass.

They can also browse the gift shop’s collection of wine, bar accessories, clothing, candles, wind chimes and other items.

The winery is expanding and now hosts weddings, receptions and other events. For more information, visit www.hinnantvineyards.com.

Since the first vines went into the ground in 1971, the Hinnant family has been cultivating the largest Muscadine vineyard in North Carolina.

PHOTOS BY ANTONY BOSHIER

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Portfolio

A Bed, Breakfast and Much More N

eed a little R&R? Hunker down in one of Johnston County’s cozy B&Bs. Morning Glory Inn in Clayton is a 6,400-square-foot Victorian home that was built in 1907. It offers five guest suites – Bluebonnet, Magnolia, Sunflower, Wild Rose and Wisteria – all with private baths.

“We have a lot of common areas – two large parlors, a dining room and a kitchen for our guests with complimentary beverages and snacks 24 hours a day,” says

Betsy Grannis, who owns Morning Glory Inn with her husband, Michael. “People can come and make it their own.”

The Grannises opened the bed-andbreakfast in 2003.

“We had lived in Clayton a few years and then moved away to California. But we always wanted to come back because we love it here,” Grannis says. “We came to visit and saw this house was for sale. We said, ‘This could be our ticket back to North Carolina.’ ”

They purchased the home from a couple that had renovated it as a bedand-breakfast but never opened it because of illness. “We continued their dream,” Grannis says.

Morning Glory Inn serves a gourmet breakfast each morning in the dining room or on the wraparound porch that looks out over the yard.

“I bake every day, so there’s always a baked item, and we serve juices and hot beverages, fresh seasonal fruit and a main course, like an egg dish or stuffed French toast with blueberries,” Grannis says.

The Preston Woodall House in Benson is also an inviting bed-and-breakfast. A Queen Ann residence, it was built between 1900 and 1920 for Preston Woodall, who operated a large department store in Benson in addition to 20 farms and five sawmills in the area.

The Dwelling Place Bed & Breakfast in Four Oaks is another Johnston County inn. It was built in the 1930s and is decorated to take guests back in time to a more relaxed era.

a great place

JOHNSTON COUNTY

TO WORK

AND PLAY!

JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Cookie Pope,

Jeffrey P. Carver

CHAIRMAN

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VICE-CHAIRMAN

DeVan Barbour

Allen L. Mims, Jr.

Tony Braswell

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IAN CURCIO

W. Ray Woodall Wade M. Stewart,

Morning Glory Inn in Clayton offers five nicely appointed guest rooms.

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Musical Masters M

usicians in Johnston County don’t have to travel to Nashville or New York to record an album – they have a professional, commercial recording studio in their own backyard.

MasterTrax Recording Studio in downtown Selma is owned and operated

by Smithfield natives Jon Owens and Adrian Howell, who started the studio in 1988.

A custom-built studio, MasterTrax offers a large tracking room, a separate drum/isolation booth and a comfortable lounge where clients can relax between recording sessions.

“We do everything audio, from background CDs for people who sing to putting music together for dance recitals,” Owens says. “We also clean up old audio and transfer it to new media and record bands doing a full CD.” Owens and Howell have been working together since they were teenagers and started their first recording studio in Smithfield.

“It was a small project studio. We did one project there, and by word of mouth, business spread,” Owens says.

“Our clients wanted us to expand because they liked our work.”

The pair chose Selma for its convenient location.

“It’s in close proximity to I-95, I-40 and Highway 70, and there are plenty of motels, restaurants and shopping for our clients,” Owens says.

Owens has been a drummer for 25 years and currently plays in the local CC Ryder Band, which does mostly country cover songs. He has also played drums on the road with a variety of different bands.

“Adrian is more of the technical guru,” he says.

In addition to recording services, MasterTrax offers CD burning and printing with a resident graphic artist and photographer. Experienced studio musicians are also available to clients who don’t have their own.

“I enjoy the creativity of the studio and helping people get their sound on tape,” Owens says.

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27

Portfolio

Mules, Strawberries, Ham and Yams F Held the first weekend in May, the Ham & Yam Festival includes a barbecue cook-off, pageant, a 5K run called The Hog Trot, pig races, live entertainment, car shows, 125 food and craft vendors, children’s activities and a sweet potato pie eating contest.

“Vendors sell baked sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries, and the Kiwanis always sells ham and biscuits,” Johnson says. “The entertainment stages feature national

entertainment, such as Eddie Money.”

Downtown Smithfield Development also sponsors the annual Friends of the 4th Independence Day celebration at the historical Smithfield Town Commons. The celebration includes rides, games, musical entertainment and fireworks.

The fourth weekend of September, Benson hosts its annual Benson Mule Days, which draws as many as 70,000 spectators for rodeos, mule-pulling contests, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, bluegrass shows, carnival rides and parades. Also in September, Clayton sponsors a Harvest Festival that packs Main Street with rides, food, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.

Several Johnston County communities hold Christmas tree lightings and parades in Dec ember and, in April, Cleveland welcomes visitors for its annual Strawberry Festival. Now in its eighth year, the Strawberry Festival includes traditional festival attractions as well as The Great Strawberry BakeOff, where bakers can win cash prizes.

For more information, visit www.johnstoncountync.org.

PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

olks in Johnston County love a party. They have festivals throughout the year that celebrate everything from strawberries and mules to ham and yams.

“2008 will be our 24th annual [Smithfield] Ham & Yam Festival. It’s grown from a Saturday gathering to two full days with more than 20,000 visitors,” says Chris Johnson, executive director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corp., which sponsors the Ham & Yam Festival.

Fourth of July festivities take place in the Smithfield Town Commons.

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Horsey Hobby

T

hanks to an abundance of horse farms and riding schools, horseback riding has become a popular hobby among Johnston County residents.

Promise Land Farms LLC in Smithfield has been offering riding lessons for seven years on a 134-acre farm with a 22-stall barn and indoor riding arena. Owner Natalie Killebrew is certified by the American Riding Instructors Association and has been training horses since the age of 14.

“I grew up loving horses and children, so I decided to put them together and offer riding lessons,” Killebrew says.

Her mother, Pam, is also a riding instructor at Promise Land Farms, and they offer boarding and horse-training services as well.

“We have about 35 students and an active show team, so we travel at least twice a month to shows in Raleigh, Greensboro and South Carolina,” Killebrew says.

Some of Killebrew’s students own their horses, and others use Killebrew’s horses for weekly lessons. She believes riding has valuable benefits.

“Number one, it teaches responsibility. It’s not just about riding; we also instruct them on taking care of the animal,” Killebrew explains. “It’s also a sport, so they have to be athletic to compete. That helps kids stay healthy and involved.”

Triple J Farms in Kenly also offers riding instruction to about 15 clients on a 50-acre farm with a 12-stall barn.

“The farm has been passed down for generations, and we’ve had horses all my life,” says JoAnna Hinnant, riding instructor at Triple J Farms. “There are between 25 and 30 horses running here all the time.”

In addition to offering riding lessons, Triple J Farms hosts a summer riding camp every year in June.

Both instructors agree horseback riding has gained momentum in Johnston County in recent years.

“It has really grown in Johnston County,” Killebrew says. “Children feel relaxed at our facility because of the family atmosphere. They do it for enjoy ment. It’s something they look forward to.”

– Stories by Jessica Mozo JOHNSTON COU NT Y

Zane Gwaltney, age 5, rides a small horse at his home and ranch in Clayton.

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29

Business

The of

Power People

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ENERGIZE JOHNSTON COUNTY’S ECONOMY

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STORY BY GARY PERILLOUX

Left: Teacher Barry Keith works with students at the Johnston County Workforce Developmental Center.

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IAN CURCIO

U

tilities undergird every successful economic development project. Without them, jobs go elsewhere.

Yet, beyond the essential gas, electric, water, telecommunications and wastewater connections, there lurks in contemporary industry circles an asset more prized than energy or circuitry.

A pipeline to people – supplying a trained, tested and talented workforce – may be the most powerful connection of all.

A valuable North Carolina nexus for that manpower is the Johnston County Workforce Development Center, which opened in 2005 as a $4 million, 30,000square-foot facility focused on preparing people for biotechnology, business and industry careers.

“We’re the best-kept secret for a lot of industries,” says Joy Callahan, the center’s director. Since 1999, the center has prepped 500 people for the pharmaceutical sector alone through a one-semester program.

BioWork’s 128 classroom hours produce a high placement rate with such local employers as Novo Nordisk, Hospira and Talecris Biotherapeutics.

The biotech employers formed the impetus for the center, agreeing to be part of a research-training zone that pumps payments in lieu of taxes to fund the center. Those employers tap the power of the center to train existing workers, too.

For Talecris, Donna Steele oversees the training of hundreds of employees each year at the center, where Talecris donated a filling line that simulates that production of the company’s blood plasma products. Talecris employs 1,800

Andrew Corp. found a willing workforce for its facility in Smithfield.

just a mile away, but the sanctuary of the Workforce Development Center is invaluable to Steele.

Because a single batch of Talecris product on a fill line can cost $1 million, training is critical – and it peaks as parts of the plant close for maintenance.

“That’s a wonderful time for us to train,” says Steele, the company’s performance development manager.

“And this facility fits our needs. Before, we had to travel all over the county to have classes.”

Beyond line training, Talecris conducts American Society for Quality certification, software training and technical writing instruction at the center. A branch of the Smithfield-based Johnston Community College, the center can deliver four-year degrees through partnerships with North Carolina State and East Carolina universities.

Creative workforce solutions occur beyond the center, too. When Illinoisbased Andrew Corp. planned to close a Smithfield satellite dish facility after acquiring the assets of Channel Master, Andrew changed its mind when an industrial real estate group offered to buy and lease back the building, enabling the company to keep a valuable 260-person workforce.

“We hope to hire more,” says Brian Sawyer, Andrew’s director of program management. “We hope to grow. There was a good workforce here. We had an established workforce and professional staff available here, and it’s a good market to recruit factory labor here.”

Steele’s pharmaceutical career had taken her through Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Virginia before arriving in Johnston County in 2004.

“I never had this cooperation before when you would go to seek training solutions for hundreds of people to be trained in a short period of time,” she says. “I have never seen such cooperation between the entities of economic development, the community colleges, North Carolina State and the governments.”

Unlike the Andrew Corp. story, sometimes facilities do close permanently. And that’s when the Johnston County Workforce Development organization does some of its best work – by tapping people’s potential, Callahan says.

“The most rewarding thing is we’ve been able to go in and help these people who have been displaced,” she says.

“They’ve been able to get a job in one semester – and better-paying jobs because of what we’ve done here.”

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Business | Biz Briefs

PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

“We provide tables, chairs, linens, silver – even a moveable dance floor,” Turner says. “And we offer planning services.”

Corporate clients appreciate the relaxed setting for business events, Turner says. “We also have audiovisual capabilities, with a projector and dropdown screen for presentations.”

The Hall and Gardens at Landmark specializes in weddings and other events.

A GARDEN PARTY Wedding bells in your future? Then you’ll want to check out The Hall and Gardens at Landmark, an exquisite wedding and special events venue.

In addition to weddings and receptions, The Hall and Gardens at Landmark hosts corporate luncheons and training seminars, chamber of commerce events, holiday dinners and leadership conferences.

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“We have beautiful gardens where we do the weddings,” says The Landmark’s Bobbie Turner.

The elegant gardens feature three bronze fountains and two waterfalls and can seat up to 400 guests. The reception hall inside the French Chateau-style building includes a men’s lounge and ladies’ dressing room, in addition to the fully equipped catering kitchen and separate buffet room.

TUNED IN TO THE COUNTY If you watch television, talk on a cellular telephone or use wireless Internet technology, chances are you have used products made by Andrew Corp., global manufacturer of telecommunications infrastructure products.

The branch in Smithfield makes satellite antennas for the home-television and commercial communicationssystems markets.

Illinois-based Andrew Corp.’s original encounter with Smithfield came when it acquired the assets of Channel Master, then operating in the former Sylvania facility.

“Andrew’s original intent was to exit this building because the building was bigger than we needed,” says Brian Sawyer, Andrew’s director of project management.

But when the company looked at the valuable workforce and location, it decided to stick around.

“It’s not difficult to get anywhere from the airport in Raleigh,” Sawyer says. “You also have good access to I-95 for distribution. And we’re not far from ports for import and export, so it’s a good location logistically.”

The company currently employs 260 workers at its Smithfield plant, but that number will likely grow.

“We’re continually evaluating opportunities to bring other business into this facility,” Sawyer says. “There’s a lot more capacity for growth here.”

START YOUR ENGINES Manheim Aycock Auto Auction has gone high-tech. The eight-lane, 100-acre facility, located off Interstate 95 near Kenly, sells cars to buyers online and on-site, using simulcast technology.

“Dealers log on at their home offices,” Aycock Manager Ellie Johnson says.

“Cars are driven into the showroom at Kenly, where cameras broadcast the JOHNSTON COU NT Y

auctions. The dealers can see the cars and hear the auctioneer and place their bids online in real time. It’s all very high-tech.”

Originally opened by Johnson’s father, the late Kenneth Aycock, in 1984, Aycock Auto Auction was purchased

by Manheim in 2001, making it part of the largest auction company in the world.

Although its customer base extends the length of the East Coast, the company remains dedicated to the local community.

“We raised over $52,000 for the 2006 Relay for Life,” Johnson says. “And we are involved in chambers of commerce in Kenly and Smithfield-Selma.”

The company employs 130 full-time and 200 part-time employees and brings an estimated 1,300 visitors into the area each week.

IF YOU BUILD IT …

You can’t go very far in Johnston County without seeing something built by the E.D. Parker Corp. That’s because the general contracting firm has been building in Benson for 31 years.

The company has constructed everything from Harley-Davidson dealerships and banks to medical clinics and apartment complexes.

E.D. Parker Corp.’s workmanship earned six Building of the Year awards between 1997 and 2002, and its customer service keeps clients coming back again and again.

Over the years, commercial building needs have changed and grown, so much so that E.D. Parker has expanded operations all over North and South Carolina and Virginia and now employs anywhere from 300 to 400 people.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” owner Dale Parker says. “We have wonderful employees that have been with us for many years, and this is a great area to be in business and to raise a family.”

The couple moved their company from Raleigh to downtown Clayton in 1986, and these days, the retail showroom features cake-decorating, candy-making and party supplies and balloons.

“So many individually owned stores are gone now, so we’ve had to change our business to reflect that,” Joyce Haynes says. “Retail sales are very important, but the bulk of our business is still wholesale.”

The company supplies independent restaurants, meat markets, day-care facilities and religious groups with all kinds of paper products. It carries paper paper, toilet paper and paper towels, and a variety of dispensers for them.

“We buy direct from manufacturers,” Haynes says. “And we have salesmen that call on customers and trucks to deliver the goods.”

– Carol Cowan E.D. Parker Corp. built this HarleyDavidson dealership in Smithfield.

FROM PIGS’ FEET TO PARTY SUPPLIES Joyce and Byron Haynes remember the days when the North Carolina Paper Co. – founded by Byron Haynes’ grandfather back in 1919 – carried pigs’ feet and giant pickles in glass jars lining the storefront counter.

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Business | Economic Profile

JOHNSTON COUNTY BUSINESS CLIMATE Johnston County is a part of North Carolina’s “Triangle Region,” located only 29 miles from Research Triangle Park. The area offers a diversified economy and high-tech jobs.

PROPERTY TAX RATE

Selma $83,096,835

Johnston County 78 cents per $100 valuation

Clayton $267,930,825

LABOR FORCE

JOHNSTON COUNTY GROSS RETAIL SALES

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Johnston County (2005)

Johnston County $1,679,606,868

Raleigh, N.C.,20 Miles

Annual average labor force 71,539

Smithfield, $530,621,600

Atlanta, 410 miles

2005 Washington, D.C., 260 Miles

Annual average employed 68,466

EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES BY SECTOR (4th Quarter 2004)

Avg. Weekly Wage

39,375

$583

Total government

8,253

$576

Total private industry

31,122

$572

Accommodation and food services

3,689

$218

Administrative and waste services

1,656

$421

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting

793

$361

Arts, entertainment and recreation

285

$200

Construction

3,394

$588

Educational services

4,521

$626

746

$759

Health care and social assistance

4,126

$609

Information

505

$447

Management of companies and enterprises

NA

NA

Finance and insurance

Manufacturing Mining Other services except public administration Professional and technical services Public administration

6,857 4

$872 $1,704

1,079

$407

732

$938

2,077

$608

341

$446

Retail trade

5,459

$406

Transportation & warehousing

1,097

$813

Unclassified

118

$562

Utilities

154

$963

Wholesale trade

1,181

$637

Real estate and rental and leasing

34

Avg. Emp.

Total all industries

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Unemployment rate, 4.3% Source: North Carolina Employment Security Commission

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company Product/Service

Johnston Co. Schools Public school system Talecris Biotherapeutics Pharmaceuticals

Number of Employees

3,000+ 1,400

Johnston County County Government

1,000+

Johnston Community College Education

1,000+

Johnston Memorial Hospital Health care

1,000

Wal-Mart Stores Discount retailer

1,000

Caterpillar Inc. Construction equipment

900

Sysco Food distribution

500

Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals

400

PGI Nonwovens Fabric

400

Andrew Corp.

Satellite systems

300

Precision Air/Flanders Air Filters

300

ThyssenKrupp Precision Forge Metal forging

300

Carolina Packers Meat processing

200

Eaton Corp.

Electronics

200

Environ Products Flexible underground tubing

200

Hagemeyer Electrical assembly

200

Hospira Pharmaceuticals

200

TT Electronics/AB Automotive Electronic resistor

200

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Greater SmithfieldSelma Area Chamber of Commerce 1115 Industrial Park Drive P.O. Box 467 Smithfield, NC 27577 Phone: (919) 934-9166 Fax: (919) 934-1337 www.smithfieldselma.com Johnston County Economic Development Office 212 E. Market St.

P.O. Box 1179 Smithfield, NC 27577 Phone: (919) 989-5001 Fax: (919) 989-5178 www.co.johnston.nc.us Johnston County Visitors Bureau 1115 Industrial Park Drive Smithfield, NC 27577 Phone: (919) 989-8687 Fax: (919) 989-6295 www.johnstoncountync.org

Source: www.smithfieldselma.com

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Health & Wellness

Johnston OB/GYN Associates, P.A. Providing complete women’s health care for all ages.

Siamak Marzbani, MD

Efrain Perez, MD

Madhu Parmar, MD

Carol Flaugher, WHNP

Tammy Woodard, OGNP

Accepting New Patients

520 North Street Smithfield, NC

(919) 934-3015 (919) 359-3050

•

Comprehensive women’s health care

•

Advanced laparoscopic surgery

•

Gynecologic surgery

•

Urogynecology

•

Routine and high-risk obstetrical care

•

Treatment for bladder issues

•

4-D ultrasound

•

•

Preconceptual counseling

In office endometrial cryoablation

•

Infertility treatment

•

Mesotherapy

•

Colposcopy

SMITHFIELD HEART & VASCULAR ASSOCIATES (Medical Care Provided By Wake Heart & Vascular Associates)

Eric M. Janis, MD, FACC Franklin C. Wefald, MD, FACC Benjamin G. Atkeson, MD, FACC • Cardiovascular Disease • Pacemakers

• Invasive/Non-Invasive • Nuclear Cardiac Imaging

The Highest Quality Cardiology Care ... Close To Home.

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SMITHFIELD (919) 989-7909

CLAYTON (919) 359-0322

423 N. 7th St.

555 Medical Park Place Ste. 201

I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Clayton Comprehensive Dental Care Harold E. Rogers, D.D.S. • 319 E. Second St., Clayton, NC

“Just as the eyes are the mirror to the soul, our mouths are the mirrors to our body.”

Dr. Ted Rogers

Jennifer

Kristi

Donna

Brian

Good oral health is important to the overall health of each and every one of us. Your safety, comfort and good health are our first priority. By combining a traditional approach with the most current advances in dental care, we are committed to help maintain your smile as well as your health. Please do not neglect your dental visits! Semi-annual visits to your dentist could help you to avoid costly dental treatment in the future and provide early detection of various forms of cancer, infectious diseases and other conditions. Heart disease and low birth rate have been attributed to untreated periodontal or gum disease. A regular dental visit should never be viewed as “just a cleaning.” Protect your health and the health of your family by making dental care a priority. Your dentist can work with you to prevent or treat conditions that may not be obvious to you, yet present themselves in the oral tissues.

WE OFFER: Complete oral evaluation Diagnosis and treatment planning considering your needs and desires Preventive and restorative care including crowns, bridges and partial dentures Oral surgery and in-office and outpatient day surgery Root canal therapy – joint therapy and appliances Tooth whitening (in-office and take-home) • Oral conscious sedation Laser dentistry for increased comfort and improved care Serving Clayton since 1983, Dr. Ted Rogers and his dedicated staff are looking forward to continuing to serve the dental needs of this community in their new location.

Dorothy

JOHNSTON COU NT Y

Darlene

P.O. Box 599 • Clayton, NC 27528 • (919) 553-3173 • Fax: (919) 553-0163

I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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IAN CURCIO

Health & Wellness

Carl Boykin exercises at the Clayton Senior Center, which is serviced by the Council on Aging of Johnston County.

Dignity and Independence COUNCIL ON AGING HELPS LOCAL SENIORS ENJOY THE GOLDEN YEARS

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he staff and volunteers at the Council on Aging of Johnston County make a difference in people’s lives every day.

The private, nonprofit agency that was chartered in December 1972 provides services that enable older adults to live quality lives with dignity and independence. The council’s programs are aimed at seniors 60 and older.

“With baby boomers getting up in age, our services will be needed more and more in the very near future,” says Donna Creech, executive director for the Council on Aging of Johnston County. “We offer everything from thriving senior activities centers to programs where the elderly themselves can volunteer their time and service in order to further fulfill their own lives.”

Creech says one of the most recent programs that the council offers is specific training for caregivers who look after the elderly.

“More adults than ever are being cared for in their own homes instead of under institutional care,” she says. “For that reason, we train in-home caregivers because they themselves wear out and can often die before the patient they are serving passes away. We teach caregivers how to cope with the stressful situations they are in and how to care for themselves while they are caring for others.”

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The Council on Aging operates with a $3.5 million annual budget. Federal and state governments fund approximately 70 percent, while the remaining 30 percent comes from individual donations.

“Today, we operate 15 programs and have 58 employees,” Creech says. “Our programs include 126 subsidized apartments, in-home aides, a lifeline emergency call system, eight senior centers and home-delivered lunches.”

The council also manages a JCATS (Johnston County Area Transit System) bus/van service, with 25 vehicles in its fleet.

“It can be difficult for seniors to get to their doctor’s office without our help,” Creech says. “We want the public to know that we are here for them, especially in the case of a medicaltransit issue.”

Creech says that as for volunteerism at the council, there are currently more than 400 people who volunteer for various elderly-based activities throughout the county.

“Volunteering among seniors is growing because it keeps folks active and involved in life,” she says. “Volunteering can include delivering noon meals to homebound seniors, grocery shopping for a frail adult or providing minor home repairs for someone. We are all going to get old someday, and the Council on Aging is here to help whenever that time occurs.”

– Kevin Litwin JOHNSTON COU NT Y

Education

A Visionary Partnership INNOVATIVE PROGRAM ALLOWS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT

A

with a variation from traditional high school organization.”

The Middle College, which opened in 2005, offers students in grades 11 and 12 a rigorous high school and college cur riculum. While students forgo trad itional extracurricular activities including sports, students – as well as their parents – soon appreciate the trade-off. Because tuition is waived, students who continue their collegiate careers do so debt-free and with one or

IAN CURCIO

t Johnston County Middle College High, students graduate with much more than a high school diploma.

The visionary school is the result of a unique partnership between Johnston Community College and Johnston County Schools.

“The school was opened to address issues related to high school reform,” says Principal Amelia McLeod. “It’s an option for high school completion

Johnston Community College has joined forces with Johnston County Schools to create a special high school for 11th- and 12th-graders.

JOHNSTON COU NT Y

more college semesters completed.

Students can be enrolled in as many as six courses each semester, one of which must be a college class.

Students have graduated with as many as 24 college credits, McLeod says.

Each of the courses available at Johnston Community College can be taken at the Middle College, including psychology, Spanish, English, math, sociology, philosophy and history. HVAC and cosmetology courses also are available.

“Course selection depends on the student’s individual goals and interests,” McLeod says. “Each schedule is tailored depending on the courses needed to complete that student’s pathway.”

The school varies from traditional high schools in other ways, too. With a maximum enrollment of 125, the Middle College offers smaller classes and more personalized instruction from teachers.

“Each teacher is a counselor and mentor,” McLeod says. “We all desire the very best for our students and continually challenge students to push themselves.”

The class hours and academic calendar also are unusual. The instructional day begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. And because admission is for fall semester only, students are unable to transfer in during the year, as they might at a traditional school.

The admission process also is more extensive and includes completion of a four-page application followed by an inperson interview. Students must have successfully completed typical high school courses such as English I, Algebra I and Health/PE. Once they are accepted, students must commit to one full semester.

While unarguably more stringent than traditional schools, Johnston County Middle College High holds a tremendous appeal to academically or career-minded students.

“Students with a desire to be successful, work at a fast pace and be challenged are the students who will succeed here,” McLeod says. “We have an impressive graduation rate and work very hard to provide each student with a rigorous and relevant curriculum.”

– Melanie Hill I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

questions

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I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

JOHNSTON COU NT Y

Education

Rethinking Educational Opportunities REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP HELPS STUDENTS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE

W

hen five local business leaders met with area school administrators in 2004, no one could have predicted how their efforts would affect the future of education in North Carolina’s Triangle region.

High Five: Regional Partnership for High School Excellence is the resulting partnership and high school reform initiative designed to increase the number of high school graduates, reduce the dropout rate and better prepare students for life after school.

“We are very much concerned about creating a regional vision and image,” says Vann Langston, executive director of the Triangle High Five program. “Equality of life for everyone improves when you think, plan and work together regionally.”

The five-year, $2.5 million initiative focuses on the establishment of professional learning communities. Through PLCs, teachers pool resources and work together (rather than individually) to improve student performance and establish clear educational goals.

High Five also encourages school districts to work together to identify and collaborate on the best practices in high school reform. The program fosters partnerships between families, communities, businesses, the state board of education and local higher-education institutions, and works with local government to promote state policy review and identify and obtain financial resources to support reform.

High Five’s goal of graduating 100 percent of students who enter high

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school by 2013 is a lofty one, but one that will have a lasting impact on students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties.

“The world has changed so much that there isn’t anywhere for dropouts to succeed anymore,” Langston says.

“Our goal is for all students to graduate with skills needed

for success in life and college.”

The High Five program was made possible through collaboration and funding from The News & Observer Publishing Co., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, SAS, Progress Energy and Capitol Broadcasting/Fletcher Foundation.

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(919) 209-2360 I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Welcome Home TO JOHNSTON COUNTY

Classic Realty

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850 Hwy. 42 West • Clayton, NC 27528 (919) 553-4-FUN • www.rainbowlanesclayton.com

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I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Arts & Culture

The Johnston County Arts Council brings in African artists and historians who teach kids about their culture.

Expose Yourself to Art JOHNSTON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY

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hatever the art form – be it dancing and singing or painting and acting – the Johnston County Arts Council is involved.

The council, which is headquartered in Clayton, helped establish the Ava Gardner Museum and was instrumental in the formation of the Johnston County Chorale.

The organization also secured grant money to help the Benson Little Theatre get on its feet and contributed to the artistic efforts of the Neuse Little Theatre and The Clayton Center.

The council was founded in 1972; today, its mission is to continue providing art opportunities for Johnston County residents.

“I’ve been with the arts council since 2005 and have noticed that people here are becoming more and more receptive to the arts being part of their lives,” says Jessica Meadows, executive director of the Johnston County Arts Council. “It’s an exciting time for arts enthusiasts in Johnston County.”

One of the council’s most successful programs is called Artists in the Schools, which began in 1999 as an initiative within the Johnston County Schools system. The council works with area schools to enrich the arts curriculum, which is offered to 29,000 students in 36 county schools.

“The program has gotten so big that it necessitated the creation of my job position in 2005 as the council’s executive director,” Meadows says. “We work closely with teachers to enhance lesson plans from an artistic standpoint.”

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For example, all seventh-graders in North Carolina learn about Africa. Meadows says the council often brings in African historians who demonstrate drumming, dancing, textile-making and authentic language to complement a teacher’s curriculum.

“Besides the Artists in the Schools program, the council also offers a summer Music for the Lunch Bunch get-together that is open to the entire community,” she says. “It features classical music performances on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Smithfield, and there are always at least 50 people in the audience.

“In 2007, we scheduled 10 different dates with 18 different musicians, and this was the council’s 23rd year for hosting that popular summertime event,” she adds.

Meadows says the council’s Web page – www.johnston countyarts.org – is updated every two weeks to help spread the word about area arts events.

“The Clayton News-Star and The Herald local newspapers have both been great about promoting local arts, and we even have our own MySpace page [www.myspace.com/johnston countyarts] that launched in March 2007 to help with timely arts promotions,” she says. “Those promotions include live music venues in Benson, Clayton, Kenly, Selma, Smithfield and Pine Level. The arts in Johnston County are alive and getting more exciting all the time.”

– Kevin Litwin I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Sports & Recreation

IAN CURCIO

The Country Club of Johnston County is just one of the many golf courses in the county.

Tee Time in Johnston County DUFFERS AND LOW-HANDICAPPERS HAVE A VARIETY OF GOLF COURSES TO TRY THEIR LUCK

W

ith its mild climate and picture-perfect landscapes, Johnston County offers a year-round golf haven for duffers in eastern North Carolina.

“Golfers in this part of the state enjoy sunny weather throughout the year,” says Nick Deaton, golf professional at the Country Club of Johnston County.

The 6,600-yard lakeside course in Smithfield opened in 1936 and is home to PGA player and Johnston County native Neal Lancaster.

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I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

“Because we’re a smaller, private course, our members feel like they own the place,” Deaton says. “Golfers can play whenever they want and can play a lot faster than at other courses.”

Golfers also enjoy three semiprivate courses in nearby Clayton.

Pine Hollow Golf Club, located on the Wake and Johnston county line, underwent a $3 million renovation in 2001.

The challenging 6,500-yard course is easy to walk and senior-friendly. Guests can browse the expansive pro shop,

while up-and-coming golf pros can test their tee skills in Pine Hollow’s junior golf clinic.

Riverwood Golf and Athletic Club is Clayton’s only 27-hole course. The 7,100-yard golf course opened in 1997 and boasts more than 2,000 members.

In 2007, Riverwood hosted a North Carolina Amateur Sectional Qualifier and held its own amateur tournament the same year. The course runs along the scenic Neuse River and offers golfers great views.

Clayton also is home to The Neuse Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole 7,010yard championship golf course designed

by John LaFoy. “The course has a variety of shots and is both appealing and challenging to players of all levels,” says Club Manager Steve Ostroff. “We’ve got something for everyone.”

The Neuse was awarded four-and-ahalf stars from Golf Digest magazine and was rated as one of the top five golf courses for course conditions and one of the top 10 courses for service in the state of North Carolina.

Located minutes from Interstate 95, the semiprivate Cardinal Country Club in Selma offers renovated greens, tees and cart paths. Tall pines, ponds and sand bunkers create an appealing challenge for golfers at the 6,600-yard course.

Cardinal Country Club often hosts corporate and group outings for tourists and locals, while its 300-plus members can take advantage of standing tee times.

Reedy Creek Golf Club in Four Oaks has been voted the top course in Johnston County by readers of The Smithfield Herald for nine years running. The 6,426-yard public course offers smooth, champion Bermuda greens, as well as chipping, putting and driving ranges. Tee times are readily available at Reedy Creek, where more than 35,000 rounds are played each year.

– Melanie Hill JOHNSTON COU NT Y

Community Profile

JOHNSTON COUNTY SNAPSHOT Johnston County was founded in 1745 and was named for Gabriel Johnston, royal colonial governor of North Carolina. Smithfield is the county seat and was incorporated in 1777. The other towns developed with the coming of the railroad in the mid-19th century.

HOSPITAL Johnston Memorial Hospital 934-8171 www.johnstonmemorial.org

NUMBERS TO KNOW Arts Council

553-1930

Board of Elections 989-5095 Clerk of Court

934-3191

weather and very little snow.

Telephone

Average July temperature 75.9 F

BellSouth, 780-2355

Average January temperature 43.2 F Annual snowfall, 4 inches Annual rainfall, 48 inches Elevation, 155 feet above sea level

UTILITIES Cable Television

989-5100

Time Warner Cable (866) 489-2669

Courthouse

989-5100

Electric, Water & Sewer

Driver’s License

934-3187

Town of Benson, 894-4953

License Plates

934-8707

Town of Clayton, 553-5002

Registrar of Deeds

989-5160

Town of Selma, 965-9841

Social Security

934-5888

Town of Smithfield, 934-2116

Tax Office

989-5120

United Way

934-1877

Johnston County (water and sewer only) 989-5075

359-9622

CLIMATE The area has four distinct seasons, with lots of warm

EDUCATION Johnston Community College 934-3051 www.johnstoncc.edu Johnston County Public Schools 934-6031 www.johnston.k12.nc.us

Cooperative Extension Service

YMCA

Embarq, 592-9111

The district comprises 38 schools, including a center for gifted elementary students and a Middle College High School for students who are not interested in high school’s extracurricular offerings and involvements but who plan to continue their education after high school. Johnston County Schools has 27,500 students and 3,500 employees.

ATTRACTIONS American Music Jubilee 202-9927

Progress Energy (800) 452-2777 Natural Gas

Atkinson’s Mill 965-3547

Piedmont Natural Gas (800) 275-6264

Ava Gardner Museum 934-5830 THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

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The area code for Johnston County is 919.

I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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The Bradley Corporation General Contractors

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Fax: (919) 553-0395 100 Guy Rd., Clayton, NC 27520

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P.O. Box 1283 • Smithfield, NC 27577 Office: (919) 934-8100 Fax: (919) 934-9256 E-mail: bradleycorp@aol.com

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I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

JOHNSTON COU NT Y

Community Profile Pine Hollow Golf Club 3300 E. Garner Road 553-4554

Bentonville Battlefield (910) 594-0789 Clemmons State Forest 553-5651

Four Oaks B & M Stables 1305-C Lakewood Road 934-1344

Riverwood Golf & Athletic Club 400 Riverwood Drive 550-1919

Howell Woods 938-0115 Johnston County Heritage Center, 934-2836 Tobacco Farm Life Museum 284-3431

Carolina High Hot Air Balloon Company 1730 Allen’s Crossroads Road 894-5893

The Neuse Golf Club 918 Birkdale Drive 550-0550

Devil’s Racetrack Road Scenic Byway Four Oaks

Cleveland Township Sluggers 9180 Cleveland School Road 989-3000

POPULATION (2006) Johnston County

772-4122

152,143

Benson

3,380

Clayton

11,584

Cleveland Township

10,125

Four Oaks

1,835

Kenly

1,868

Micro

513 1,456

Princeton

1,229

Selma

6,841

Smithfield

12,271

Wilson’s Mills

1,504

BUILDING BLOCKS Child Care and Development Center

an investment e k in ma

y alit qu

Pine Level

Happy Trails Campground 406 U.S. Hwy. 701 S. 796-1208

Langdo’s Fishing 664 Cornwallis Road

RECREATION

and educa care tio n

Benson Benson Singing Grove Main Street 1204 N. Johnson St. 894-5117 Dunn-Benson Dragstrip 555 Dragstrip Road 894-1662 Tucker Lake 3025 Allen’s Crossroads Road 894-6090 Clayton Clayton Parks & Recreation 340 McCullers St. 553-1550 Clemmons Educational State Forest 2411 Old U.S. 70 W. 553-5651 Neuse Adventures Canoe & Kayak Rentals 2975 Covered Bridge Road 553-3295

The area code for Johnston County is 919.

2029 Winston Rd. Clayton, NC 27520 (919) 553-1030

100 E. Clayton School Rd. Clayton, NC 27527 (919) 553-1215

622 S. Barbour St. Clayton, NC 27520 (919) 553-5814

•

Loving nurturing environment

•

Low ratios

•

Creative Curriculum©

•

Opportunity to learn in a secure and stimulating environment

•

Process-oriented curriculum

•

Educated & experienced staff

•

Computer-integrated instruction

•

Opportunity to develop athletic abilities

I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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Visit Our Advertisers A1-Labs www.a1-labs.com BB&T www.bbandt.com Building Blocks Child Care & Development Center www.bbchildcare.net

Reedy Creek Golf Course 585 Reedy Creek Road 934-7502

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Smithfield KOA I-95, Exit 90 497 U.S. Hwy. 701 S. 934-3181

Clayton Comprehensive Dental Care

Kenly

Carolina Packers Inc. www.carolinapackers.com

Clayton Medical Associates PA County of Johnston www.johnstonnc.com Eastern Carolina Ear, Nose & Throat Associates PA www.catzent.com Fancy That Four Oaks Bank www.fouroaksbank.com Great Expectation Mental Health Hometowne Realty www.hometownerealty.net Johnston Community College www.johnstoncc.edu Johnston County Schools www.johnston.k12.nc.us Johnston Memorial Hospital www.johnstonmemorial.org Johnston OB/GYN www.johnstonobgyn.medem.com KS Bank www.ksbankinc.com Novo Nordisk www.novonordisk-clayton.com Rainbow Lanes www.rainbowlanesclayton.com Re/Max Classic Realty www.classicrealtysellsnc.com ShipOnSite www.shiponsitesmithfield.com Sleep Inn & Suites Smithfield www.choicehotels.com/hotel/ nc466 Smithfield Heart & Vascular Stephenson General Contractors www.sgcdesignbuild.com Summer Wind Plantation www.parker-dev.com Talecris Biotherapeutics www.talecris.com The Bradley Corporation Tina Barletta – Re/Max Classic www.addressyourdreams.com Town of Benson www.townofbenson.com Town of Selma www.selma-nc.com Town of Smithfield www.smithfield-nc.com Triangle Insurance Group Inc. www.triangleinsurancegroup.com

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Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center 6601 Devil’s Racetrack Road 938-0115

I M AG E S J O H N S T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

Creech’s Recreational Complex 1700 Creech Church Road 284-9299 Flower Hill N.C. Hwy. 222 N. & N.C. Hwy. 42 E. 833-3662 Southern National Speedway 8071 Newsome Mill Road 284-1114 Pine Level Cardinal Country Club 363 Parrish Memorial Road 284-3647 Princeton Powell’s Gardens 9468 U.S. Hwy. 70 E. 936-4421 Selma RVacation Campground I-95, Exit 98 428 Campground Road 965-5923 Smithfield Arboretum at JCC 1240 E. Market St. 209-2052 BAHIA Canoe Outfitters 312 E. Market St. 989-8063 Neuse Bait & Sporting Goods 2838 S. Bright Leaf Blvd.

938-6171 Smithfield Parks & Recreation Hastings House 200 S. Front St. 934-2148 Smithfield Town Commons 200 S. Front St. 934-2148

FOR MORE INFORMATION Benson Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 246 Benson, NC 27504 Phone: 894-3825 www.benson-chamber.com Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 246 Clayton, NC 27520 Phone: 553-6352 www.claytonchamber.com Four Oaks Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 415 Four Oaks, NC 27524 Phone: 963-2581 www.fouroaksarea chamber.com Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce 5533 NC Hwy. 42 W Suite A4, Unit 1 Garner, NC 27529 Phone: 773-8448 www.greatercleveland chamber.com Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 467 Smithfield, NC 27577 Phone: 934-9166 www.smithfieldselma.com Kenly Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 190 Kenly, NC 27542 Phone: 284-5510 www.kenlynorthcarolina.com

Sources: www.census.gov www.johnstoncountync.org www.smithfieldselma.com www.johnstonco-cvb.org www.johnston.k12.nc.us

JOHNSTON COU NT Y