the BRIEF this week
Sheriff’s Office warns public about scammer Duplin County
The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office has received reports from citizens about a scam involving an unknown white male wearing a reflective vest and driving an unmarked white Ford F-150. The individual is approaching residents and offering asphalt paving services for $1,000. It has also been reported that he presents fake documents, claiming they are county permits to persuade potential victims. The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to be cautious and not to provide any personal information or make any payments before verifying the legitimacy of the service. The Sheriff’s Office also asks that persons who encounter someone matching this description report it to the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office.
Kick off the holiday season with Christmas by Spotlight
Mount Olive
Start the Christmas season off at the University of Mount Olive’s Christmas by Spotlight event on Friday, Dec. 6. Show times are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall, located at 207 Wooten St. in Mount Olive. Designed to capture the true meaning of Christmas in a spirited and lively show, the production will feature a wonderful mix of cherished classics and contemporary holiday favorites. Tickets are $12 for adults and free for UMO students and individuals 18 and under.
Small Business Expo at JSCC on Dec. 5
Kenansville
James Sprunt Community
College Small Business Center will host a Small Business Expo at the Boyette Building, room 113 on Dec. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.
Senior Christmas at Duplin Events Center
Kenansville
The annual Senior Christmas Event will be on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Duplin Events Center, 195 Fairgrounds Drive in Kenansville. Special entertainment will include the Duplin Dulcimers and the Duplin Sparklers. In addition to the entertainment, seniors can participate in the Ugliest Christmas Sweater competition or the Dressed to Impress contest and win prizes for first, second and third places. The event will feature health screenings, educational resources, music and a holiday meal. For more information, call the senior center at 910-296-2140.
$2.00
Faison unveils memorial honoring late astronaut William Thornton
gathered at the site of the old gym in Faison, now home to the William Thornton Memorial monument and courtyard.
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
FAISON — Beautiful clear skies set the background for a
very special celebration honoring Faison’s homegrown astronaut, William E. Thornton, last Friday. Approximately 75 people
An
“We commend you for building a place where everyone can belong.”
Victoria
Jackson, Trillium Health Resources
Mayor Billy Ward welcomed the crowd, thanking them for joining the town for the unveiling.
Ward credited Carolyn Kenyon, former mayor, for getting the project off the ground and Anne Taylor for spearheading it.
He also acknowledged the Faison Library and Museum Committee, Faison Improvement Group, town employees who worked long and hard to make it a reality, and the support from generous citizens and businesses who contributed to funding the project. Colorful leaves danced in the
Residents hope to turn tap off on forever chemicals pollution
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Con-
cerns about PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have plagued residents of numerous
Trillium presents $150K to town of Wallace for inclusive playground See TRILLIUM,
The playground will be open in late 2025 at Clement Park
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
WALLACE — The town of Wallace is one step closer to a brand new inclusive playground, thanks in part to a $150,000 grant from Trillium Health Resources.
Victoria Jackson, vice president for Trillium Health Resources’ south central region, presented the check to Mayor Jason Wells and Parks and Recreation Director David Bizzell during a special ceremony on Nov. 20 at Clement Park.
“This playground would not only be a place where children can play, it will also be a place where everyone can feel welcome and supported, regardless
of their abilities,” Jackson said.
The project stems from a request made by the Parks and Recreation Department in December 2021 that emphasized the need for recreational opportunities for all children, including those with disabilities.
“It started as a request for a handicapped swing,” Bizzell said, “and grew from there to include an entire playground.”
The playground will feature updated equipment, rubberized flooring, fencing, and improved sidewalks and parking for ADA accessibility. The existing playground equipment at Clement Park will be relocated to Dobbins Park, giving the town one more playground area for local children.
“When David first came to the town board a couple of years ago and started talking
communities along the Cape Fear River, and most recently, heads have turned to Lear Corporation, an industrial textile facility near Kenansville that
GOOGLE EARTH
aerial view of the sampling collection points and the outfall where the water is discharged by Lear Corporation near Kenansville. Lear discharges treated domestic and industrial wastewater to the Northeast Cape Fear River.
Largemouth bass downstream of Lear contained PFAS levels 20 times higher than those in a section that led to a consumption advisory in 2023
The 6-foot commemorative monument will stand as a source of inspiration, bringing light to the life of a boy from Faison who reached for the stars and accomplished his dream
Center left: Simon Thornton (left) and Mayor Billy Ward reveal the William Thornton Memorial monument on Nov. 22.
Top right: Faison Mayor Billy Ward welcomes guests to the unveiling of the William Thornton Memorial monument and courtyard.
Bottom: Billy Ward, Jesse Dowe, Jimmy Dixon, Simon Thornton, Anne Taylor, Mary Kay Thornton, Andrew Taylor, Jimmy Tyndall, Susan Johnson and Christy Allen stand in front of the William Thornton Memorial monument after its unveiling.
Soldiers from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base present the colors on Nov. 22 to kick off the unveiling ceremony of the William Thornton Memorial monument.
PHOTOS BY ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Duplin Journal www.duplinjournal.com
Neal Robbins Publisher publisher@northstatejournal.com
Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers jim@northstatejournal.com
Ena Sellers News Editor ena@northstatejournal.com
Abby Cavenaugh Features/Business Editor abby@northstatejournal.com
Michael Jaenicke Sports Editor michael@northstatejournal.com
Karen James Advertising Sales Representative karen@duplinjournal.com
Loretta Carey Office Manager loretta@northstatejournal.com
CONTACT US
For a vacation hold or to report a delivery problem: 919 663 3232
To place a legal ad: 919 663 3232; Fax: 919 663 4042
To submit a news tip or correction: 919 663 3232
CORRECTION
In the Nov. 21st issue, Capt. Will Thurston’s last name was misspelled in a story in page A5. Duplin Journal regrets the error.
WEEKLY FORECAST
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
Nov. 30
• Join the Kenansville Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. Parade line up will be at 9 a.m. at Kenansville Elementary School with the parade concluding at the Duplin Events Center. For more information, call the Kenansville Area Chamber of Commerce at 910‑275‑0323.
• The Kenansville Chamber of Commerce presents a Holly Jolly Holiday Fair on Nov. 30 at the Duplin Events Center from noon to 5 p.m. The fair will feature pictures with Santa, vendors, food trucks and more.
Dec. 3
• Warsaw’s West Park will host a blood drive on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 946 Penny Branch Road in Warsaw. Those who donate can receive up to $40 in gift cards. Visit donate. thebloodconnection.org to register and enter sponsor code 12373.
Dec. 5
• James Sprunt Community College Small Business Center will host a Small Business Expo at the Boyette Building, room 113, on Dec. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.
Dec. 6
• St. John’s Lodge # 13 in Kenansville, NC is having a Barbecue Chicken Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Plates include chicken quarter, green beans, potatoes, and roll. The cost is $10 per plate. All monies raised will go to Masonic Charity.
• Warsaw’s annual Christmas tree lighting will be Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the DreamWorks playground. The event will feature Christmas Caroling, pictures with Santa, cookies, hot chocolate and more.
Dec. 11
• Celebrate the annual Senior Christmas on Dec. 11 at the Duplin County Events Center, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will feature health screenings, special performances, a holiday meal, an ugliest Christmas sweater contest, music, and a dressed to impress competition.
Dec. 14
• The Beulaville Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. For more information, call 910 298 4647.
• Celebrate Christmas in Calypso on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m., a Wreaths Across America ceremony will take place at the cemetery followed by a flag retirement ceremony. The Calypso Christmas Parade will kick off at 3 p.m., starting on East Albritton Street toward the railroad tracks, and will be followed by Christmas in the Park at Albritton Park. The event will feature a visit from Santa, local entertainment, a tree lighting ceremony, activities for kids and letters to Santa.
• Free over the counter medicine will be available for low income families at the Mobile Free Pharmacy on Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kenansville Eastern Missionary Baptist Association, located at 124 Water Tank Road. Participants may receive medicine for pain relief, cold and cough, allergies, digestion, and vitamins. Medicine for children will also be available.
Dec. 16
• Help the Warsaw Police Department make the holidays brighter for children ages 3 to 12. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy donation now through Dec. 16, at the Warsaw Police Department Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and support local children. For more information, call 910 293 7816.
Sheriff honors oldest living veteran in Duplin County
The World War II veteran celebrated his 99th birthday
Duplin Journal staff
THE DUPLIN COUNTY Sheriff’s Office recently honored retired United States Army Sgt. First Class Julian Davis “J.D.” Smith Jr. with a Resolution of Appreciation presented by Sheriff Stratton Stokes. According to the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Smith is the oldest living veteran in Duplin County. He served in the largest and deadliest war in history — World War II.
Nov. 19
• Christopher Ryan Wolfe, 31, was arrested by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) for selling, delivering, manufacturing, and possessing with intent to sell Schedule II controlled substances.
• Isaiah Cameron Stallings, 21, was arrested by DCSO for attempted first degree burglary and breaking or entering a motor vehicle.
The Sheriff’s Office said Smith fought on the front lines from April 1, 1945, through May 8, 1945, as a member of the 104th Infantry Division under the command of Gen. George Patton in the 1st and 9th Army. The 104th Infantry Division, known as the Timberwolves, distinguished itself by engaging in 195 consecutive days of combat and earned the nickname Night Fighters. According to the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Smith served four tours in Germany, in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and in the Vietnam War from 1963 to 1964, retiring on Dec. 1, 1968 at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
Smith celebrated his 99th birthday on Nov. 17 surrounded by family and friends at Kennedy Ranch on Pink Hill.
“At the birthday celebration, Mr. Smith was also presented with a certificate commissioning him as a Honorable Kentucky Colonel issued by Kentucky Governor Andy G. Beshear and Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams. He also received a framed United States Army 104th Infantry Division Insignia and History in World War II plaque,” wrote Duplin County Sheriff’s Office. “Happy Birthday Mr. J. D. Smith, you are a true American Hero!”
Dec. 21
• Celebrate the holidays, enjoy photos with Santa, train rides, food trucks, vendors and much more at the annual Christmas at Clement on Dec. 21, 2 6 p.m. at 513 South East Railroad Street, Wallace. The event is sponsored by the Wallace Parks and Recreation Department.
Happening Monthly
• The Duplin County Board of County Commissioners meets the first and third Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 224 Seminary St., Kenansville. For information, call 910 296 2100.
• The Beulaville town board meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at 508 East Main St., Beulaville. For more information, call 910 298 4647.
• The Town of Calypso meets at the council chambers the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at 103 W. Trade St. For information, call 919 658 9221.
• The Faison town board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at 110 NE Center St., Faison. For more information, call 910 267 2721.
• The Economic Development Board meets the first Friday of the month at 7 a.m. at the Duplin County Airport Conference Room.
• The Greenevers town board meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at 314 E. Charity Road. For information, call 910 289 3078.
• The Teachey town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 116 East 2nd St. For information, call 910 285 7564.
• The Warsaw town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 121 S. Front St. For information, call 910 293 7814.
• The Magnolia town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., at 108 Taylor St., Magnolia. For information, call 910 289 3205.
• The Rose Hill town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., at 103 Southeast Railroad St. For more information, call 910 289 3159.
Nov. 20
• Tony Delacruz Lazaro, 39, was arrested by DCSO for identity theft and possessing/manufacturing fraudulent identification.
• Tyler L Medcalf, 29, was arrested by the Wallace Police Department for misuse of the 911 system.
21
• Michael Brandon Bradshaw, 36, was arrested by DCSO for possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to sell Schedule II controlled substances, possession of a weapon of mass destruction, possession of Schedule VI controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Denny Franklin Jones, 46, was arrested by DCSO for driving while impaired, driving while license revoked, and exceeding posted speed. • Hector Nepomuceno Ayala, 66, was arrested by DCSO for felony secret peeping and second degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Nov. 22
• Mauro Ramirez, 32, was arrested by DCSO for felony possession of Schedule II controlled substances, driving while license revoked, and multiple traffic violations.
• Tiera Nichelle Vandiver, 32, was arrested by DCSO for driving while impaired, identity theft, resisting a public officer, and multiple traffic violations.
• Hannah Rose Mobley, 30, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor larceny.
• Lamonta Devonta Wallace, 31, was arrested by the Warsaw Police Department for larceny of a motor vehicle, possessing a stolen motor vehicle, and obtaining property by false pretense.
COURTESY DUPLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Sheriff Stratton Stokes, left, poses with Julian Davis “J.D.” Smith Jr., a U.S. Army veteran who served during World War II.
Teachey holds tree lighting after town board meeting
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
Bobby Jones, Teachey Mayor Town commissioners discussed zoning, finances amd closing an alleyway
TEACHEY — The town of Teachey held its tree lighting ceremony after the Nov. 18 Board of Commissioners meeting at Town Hall.
Mayor Pro Tem Ethylen Powell campaigned for the town to get a new tree this year and had asked for the tree lighting to be held before the December meeting in order to prolong the Christmas season.
“Ms. Ethylen championed our new tree; we really needed a new tree,” said Teachey Mayor Bobby Jones. “Our tree last year was kind of a Charlie Brown tree. We’re excited about Christmas and celebrating that together.”
Powell read about the Christmas story and the meaning of the Christmas tree before the mayor lit the tree.
Prior to the tree lighting, the board held its regular monthly meeting.
The first item of business was the proposed closure of an alleyway between Page Street and Lodge Street, which belongs to the Whitman family. Town Attorney Joseph Ezzell said it wasn’t uncommon for small towns like Teachey to have unused alleys and roads. The alleyway is currently not being used, and the owners wish to close it off.
The commissioners approved a resolution to close the alleyway, and set a public hearing for the January meeting so that adjacent property owners
“Ms. Ethylen [Powell] championed our new tree; we really needed a new tree. Our tree last year was kind of a Charlie Brown tree.”
can be notified.
Public Works Director
James Parker also pointed out during the meeting that recently an issue has come up with mobile homes located within town limits. Ezzell said he’d just been made aware that the N.C. legislature passed a statute in 2019 which states that towns cannot place restrictions on mobile homes due to age. “A town can have a restriction on the size of the mobile home, they can have some restrictions on the appearance of a mobile home, requiring some kind of underpinning or something like that, and they can have a restriction on where they’re allowed in the towns,” Ezzell explained. “But the two things they can’t do: they can’t outright ban them altogether, and they can’t put age restrictions on the mobile homes. That’s changed, that’s not the way it’s always been. That changed in the past five years.”
Jones said the town needed to look at its ordinances and zoning to ensure they are in line with the statute.
“I’m not for excluding (mobile homes) completely,” he said. “I grew up in a mobile home. At the same time, you have established neighbor -
hoods, people that have worked for years and years to finally pay off their house and have a nice house, and then you have
two or three mobile homes that depreciate in value, or are not appreciating in value. That can hinder the value of the people’s
homes that have really worked hard for their homes and see the fruits of their labor. If people are buying a home for $200,000, they want it to be what it should be in 10 years, not depreciated by depreciating assets around them.”
The commissioners agreed there will be an ongoing discussion on the issue.
Town Clerk Morgan Jacobs also shared with the board the latest financial information for the town, stating that the town’s current balance is $288,717.65. At the same time, in August, the town moved $1.2 million to an account with N.C. Capital Management, and since that time, the account has generated $12,125.69.
Finally, the board unanimously approved a budget amendment for $40,448 from the general fund to the water and sewer fund to pay a bill from A.C. Schultes.
The Teachey Board of Commissioners meets the second Monday of each month at Town Hall.
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Teachey Mayor Pro Tem Ethylen Powell, far left, and Teachey Mayor Bobby Jones, right, led the town’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony after the regular monthly town board meeting on Monday, Nov. 18.
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Ethylen Powell, mayor pro tem of Teachey, shared the story of the Christmas tree before the town’s new tree was lit on Nov. 18.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
Working today to meet tomorrow’s needs
Duplin County Schools is working hard today to meet the needs of tomorrow.
ACCORDING TO HR Future Magazine, eight of the 20 fastest growing jobs in the next 10 years will be in the health care field, including nurse practitioners, home health aides, physical therapy and physician assistants, and substance abuse and mental health counselors.
In order to achieve its top priority of providing opportunities for individual students to succeed, our Duplin County School System sponsors the Health Sciences Academy (HSA), a part of the Duplin County Career Academies.
The mission of the HSA is “to provide a rigorous educational program in collaboration with local strategic partners to position students for future success as health care providers.”
Several providers in the county offer hands-on experiences for students to explore various health care careers. The Duplin Agribusiness Academy (DAA) is another member of the County Career Academies.
We are all aware of the major role agriculture plays in Duplin County’s economy and the lives of so many of our citizens.
Did you know that, according to the 2023 North Carolina Agricultural Statistics from the United States Department of
Agriculture, Duplin County ranks No. 1 in the state in the cash receipts from livestock, No. 4 from crops and No. 1 overall for both combined in the entire state?
According to the website, “The DAA provides college and career readiness (with) several pathway options that lead to an associate’s degree in agriculture (and) college transfer credits to major universities.”
The DAA helps students interested in agriculture learn skills through internships and work-based learning.
The third member of the Duplin County Career Academies is the Duplin Industrial Trades & Technology Academy.
In our fast-changing society, workers proficient in skilled trades continue to be in demand. These trades include electricians, plumbers, welders, mechanics, HVAC technicians, pipefitters and masons. In partnership with James Sprunt Community College (JSCC), Duplin County Schools offers occasions for high school students to be introduced to demonstrations of different trades.
Earlier in November, students from Duplin County Early College, East Duplin, James Kenan, North Duplin and Wallace -Rose Hill high schools attended the Trade Up exhibition at
Breaking up Google will be a great American catastrophe
Few, if any, companies spend more money on product innovation and refinement than Google does.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, in one of the most absurd court rulings in modern times, federal judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google violated U.S. antitrust law by gaining a monopoly in the search engine markets.
In the days or weeks ahead, the courts will decide whether to break up one of America’s most iconic companies or to sell off some of its activities and products. The latest reports are that the courts may require Google to sell off its popular Chrome browser. (To whom? China?) It may also require Google to surrender other products to help erase its market lead. With a market cap of roughly $2 trillion, Google is one of the five most profitable companies in the world. It got there by offering a search engine service for free to hundreds of millions of customers. This may be the largest benefit to consumers of any company in world history. Yet the courts ruled that: “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly.” It was found guilty of violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act. Yet the Sherman Act was meant to protect against companies that use their size and scope to raise prices. Google’s sin is that it produces superior products at prices that are too low. One statistic was cited as evidence of monopoly behavior: Back in 2009, Google controlled 80% of the search engine market, and today it is closer to 90%.
What was remarkable and dangerous about this decision is that the courts openly conceded that Google gained this dominant market share by making the best search engine, and that it is made easily available to almost all consumers at very low costs. How weird is this? Keeping prices low and relentlessly improving product
performance is illegal because it is unfair to a company’s competitors? This is doubly absurd given that we have the Biden administration accusing companies like grocery stores of raising their prices. So in America today, if you raise your prices, you are a greedy profiteer, and if you lower your prices, you’re a monopolist that has to pay restitution to your less efficient competitors.
The argument for breaking up Google gets even more nonsensical when you listen to the Biden administration’s cockeyed excuses for punishing Google.
The Department of Justice’s chief antitrust officer says: “This landmark decision ... paves the path for innovation for generations to come and protects access to information for all Americans.”
This is a preposterous statement. Few, if any, companies spend more money on product innovation and refinement than Google does. And as far as “protecting access to information for all Americans,” no company in history has opened up more access to information than Google. No other company even comes close. It has brought the equivalent of the entire Library of Congress to the fingertips of everyone with a laptop computer in a matter of a few seconds. That’s not an antitrust violation. It is a miracle of innovation that deserves our deepest appreciation.
Even worse, this lawsuit piggybacks off the hostile actions by America’s European and Chinese tech rivals, whose inferior search engines can’t compete with Google. As recourse, they want to loot tens of millions of American shareholders who invest in Google. Instead of defending an American company against foreign raiders, we have the U.S. Justice Department and federal courts giving aid to those hostile
JSCC’s WestPark Campus in Warsaw.
According to a news release about the recent event, “Through JSCC’s Career and College Promise Program (CCP), students can learn about trades and accumulate certificates, diplomas, and degrees while finishing high school. Not only does this allow students to jump-start their college education or career ambition, but CCP is available for high school students in Duplin County with little or no cost.”
The Duplin County Career Academies is just one outstanding example of the innovative programs that our local public schools are offering in order to prepare our students for life.
Each of us in Duplin County will benefit greatly in the years to come by having highly skilled health care workers, tradespeople and agricultural leaders who have been educated, encouraged and nurtured by our local public schools. and the dedicated teachers, staff and administration members.
We know what the needs will be in the future. Duplin County Schools is working hard today to meet the needs of tomorrow. Philip Gladden lives in Wallace and writes on behalf of Duplin County Schools.
lawsuits and bolstering their legitimacy.
Can anyone imagine for a moment that a German or a Japanese or a Chinese court would be stupid enough to rule against their own domestic company that has come to dominate a globally strategic industry and has created tens of thousands of highpaying jobs for its citizens while making hundreds of billions of dollars for its own citizen shareholders? Only in America.
Many conservatives moan that Google has developed algorithms that discriminate against viewpoints and studies that have a right-leaning perspective. That’s definitely a problem, but there are many other search engines available, like Bing and DuckDuckGo, that consumers can use as alternatives to Google. We certainly don’t want the government or politicians like Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren regulating what can and can’t be accessed on a private search engine platform. Even worse would be handing more business over to Chinese browsers that will clearly serve up misinformation.
Several years ago, a landmark study by economists Erik Brynjolfsson of Stanford University and Avinash Collis of Carnegie Mellon University estimated that the median U.S. user values search engines at $17,500 per year. Today, that number is easily more than $20,000 of value added for the average person with a laptop computer or a smartphone — which is nearly all of us.
This is the very definition of a gift horse to nearly all Americans. And our government and its throng of lawyers with goofy legal theories are risking killing it.
Stephen Moore is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He is also an economic adviser to the Trump campaign.
COLUMN | PHILIP GLADDEN
COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE
Board discusses cleaning up feeder creeks
The county moved from .com to .gov
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — The Board of County Commissioners gathered for a short meeting on Nov. 18. County Manager Bryan Miller provided several updates.
Among the highlights was an update related to an emergency meeting held earlier this year to discuss storm debris removal from the Northeast Cape Fear River and its tributaries.
“The board appropriated $1,250,000 to address the storm debris in sections one through six, as well as Muddy Creek, Rockfish Creek, and Island Creek,” said Miller, adding that the process had to be bid out.
“Our soil and water conservation team, led by Billy Ivey, has almost completed that process. Each section was bid out separately, and we have several apparent low bidders for the process. The apparent total for all six sections and the creeks was $757,275.50, which leaves approximately $493,000 for continued improvements on the river.”
Miller also explained that the soil and water board will meet this week to discuss and approve the bids.
“After the approval, a notice to proceed will be issued, and the work can begin,” he said.
Chairman Dexter Edwards
MEMORIAL from page A1
chilly breeze while guests bundled together as Taylor took to the floor. Taylor, a lifelong resident of Faison and classmate of Thornton, reminisced about their childhood and spoke about how deeply everyone cared about education.
She shared that Thornton credited his achievements to three aspects of his life — good parents, education and a nurturing hometown.
“When William was very young, he had a dream he called his crazy dream. In this dream, he built an airplane and flew it from our schoolyard. He never built his airplane, but later in his life, he really did fly over our schoolyard,” said Taylor with a smile, explaining that Thornton flew over the school in a supersonic jet, rattling the old school’s windows. “That was his way of saying thanks.”
Thornton lost his father when he was just 11 years old. According to Taylor, Thornton repaired radios and record players for people in the community to help his mom. His determination led him to open a small radio repair shop in high school, where he worked tirelessly every day after school and on Saturdays.
Taylor shared that even in college, he would return home every weekend to work in the shop to pay for his education and ensure his mother was cared for. Thornton earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the UNC Chapel Hill and enlisted in the Air Force after graduating. He served his first tour during the Korean War. Thornton developed a target system for air-toair missiles, earning the Legion
inquired about possibly cleaning up the feeder creeks to protect the residents in those areas, especially since extra funding was available.
“What steps are needed to pursue this option?” he asked. Miller suggested that the Soil and Water team assess the river and develop various scenarios.
“We’ll get it back in front of the bidders and see how we need to proceed from there,” said Miller.
Edwards said it seems to be more cost-effective to clean out the feeder channels while their equipment is on-site, and that he would like for them to pursue that opportunity if they have the budget for it, adding that he would support cleaning the channels as far as they can, ideally to the top.
“I really do think it’s probably best to let our soil and water people evaluate that, how far they need to go up certain creeks, and make that determination, and then approach the apparent low bidders with the creek section,” said Miller.
“Our whole objective when we called that emergency meeting was to protect people’s property from the flood and all we could,” said Edwards. “And I think feeder creeks are as important as the river. But again, our Soil and Water people are the people that know. I don’t. So I’d be more than happy for you to get them involved and listen to their recommendation.”
The commissioners echoed
Edwards’ idea and asked Miller to follow up when he had more details.
Another notable highlight Miller shared with the board was that James Sprunt Community College will offer a finance course focused on local government starting Dec. 13. The 10week course will be taught by Chelsea Lanier, the county’s finance director.
“We’ll probably have local government finance professionals from several different surrounding counties attending that course,” said Miller, adding that it is an online course.
“We think much of the curriculum is really appropriate for our department heads, and we’re going to ask them to look into the course. So we’ll keep you abreast of what we come up with.”
The course consists of 13 different modules that include discussions, quizzes and various projects, including creating a balanced budget. Additionally, it will cover several statutes related to finance. Participants can complete the course at their own pace.
“I feel very fortunate that Chelsea is the instructor,” said Miller. “She has a great deal of local government knowledge. She’ll be helping other counties, our department heads. Moving forward, I can see this becoming a reoccurring course.”
The county manager also updated the board that as they migrate from .com to .gov they will
also be moving their finance and human resources software.
“We have servers that we do that with,” Miller said. “We’ll be moving from there to a cloud-based system, which will increase our finance offices and, really, all of our departments’ ability to work remotelywhenever they need to.
“We’ll be able to more easily access our financial software, and we’ll also be able to cut down on some of the redundant pieces of equipment that we now have when we have to work remotely. We’ll be able to cut out on some of the server costs and things like that as well. So you’ll probably be seeing a contract on the next consent agenda regarding that.”
In other business:
• The board held a public hearing to name a private lane at the 300 block of S. N.C. 41 Highway in Wallace. There were no public comments. The board approved the request to name it Camacho Duarte Lane.
• The board held a public hearing to receive public comments on the proposed schedule of values for the 2025 revaluation. There were no public comments.
• County offices will be closed on Nov. 28 29 for Thanksgiving.
The next meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 2.
family lived just one block behind them, highlighting the close-knit nature of their community.
Kenyon said she hopes the monument will stand as a source of inspiration for future generations so they can see that even coming from a predominantly rural community with limited industry can lead to great things.
Andrew Taylor, president of Faison Improvement Group, was next to address the guests.
of Merit Award in 1956. He returned to school, this time to study medicine, and in 1963 after graduating, he rejoined the Air Force.
This time, he invented the first device for measuring mass in space. In 1967, Thornton became the first scientist-astronaut, logging over 300 hours in space on two missions. After retiring from NASA, Thornton became a clinical professor at UTMB, where he developed a computer-based training system for assessing virtual patients. Throughout his life, Thornton received numerous awards and holds more than 60 patents covering various applications, from military weapons systems to the first real-time EKG computer analysis.
Former Faison mayor Carolyn Kenyon shared that in the 1950s, her younger brothers used to mow Rosa Thornton’s yard. Rosa was Thornton’s mother, and their
“If in all the future, only one child looks at this monument and sees for the first time that their hard work and tenacity can take them anywhere, even in a place like here, well, then this monument has succeeded in achieving that,” said Andrew, adding that they placed the monument in the park in hopes that Thornton’s life inspires the community and future generations, showing them that no matter their circumstances in life anyone can contribute to their community, their nation, and even humanity by working hard and embodying the spirit of relentless curiosity.
“They say that every journey begins with a single step, and Dr. William Thornton took a lot of those steps right where we are today,” said Jimmy Tyndall, executive town administrator. “It is likely on these very grounds that he began to dream of things that would have seemed near impossible to a young man from such a small town. How would he make those dreams a reality and where would he even start?
“Like this courtyard, it likely began with a simple idea. The idea that it could be done, regardless of the doubters or, I am sure, the many naysayers. It requires determination, hard work, and a certain amount of
stubbornness to see it through, but it also requires a support system. People who believe in you even more than they believe in the project.”
Simon Thornton, who came from Texas to witness the memorial in honor of his father, spoke about his time in Faison.
“Growing up we would come to visit and stay with the Taylors,” said Simon. “I got to experience Southern food, and one in particular was barbecue,” he shared, adding that he and his brother enjoyed Taylor’s cooking and developed a taste for pork barbecue.
“My grandmother Rosa worked in Cate’s Pickle plant,” said Simon, explaining that his father looked forward to receiving a package with all their pickled goodies every Christmas when Cate’s Pickle was still in business.
Simon also spoke about the farm the Thornton family established on the outskirts of town where they planted 8,000 longleaf pines.
“My father was so attached to the land there that he went to a great deal of trouble to plant longleaf pines. We still maintain that property, and its pine trees are now 20 years old. If you have an opportunity to go by — it’s quite spectacular,” he said.
“We want this monument to be admired for many years to come and to show the youth of our future generations that no matter where you come from, how small or how big, or where you grew up, the sky truly is the limit,” said Ward. “Dr. William Thornton portrayed this in his life, his education, and his many accomplishments, both on Earth and in outer space.”
Hope for the Warriors offering free career webinar for military
Jacksonville
Geared toward the military community, Hope For The Warriors will be presenting a free career readiness webinar with Robert Half, a talent solutions and business consulting firm, on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. Two Robert Half career experts will share expertise in career readiness, helping participants with essential skills for the job search process, such as resume building, interview preparation and networking. The goal of the event is to provide attendees with career strategies, industry insights and practical resources to guide them in navigating the competitive job market. The workshops offer tools and tips, as well as opportunities to network with other service members, military spouses and companies committed to hiring those with military backgrounds. To register for the free workshop, visit hopeforthewarriors.org. The workshop will also be streamed via Facebook Live at facebook.com/ HopeForTheWarriors.
JSCC offers free online seminars for small business owners Duplin County James Sprunt Community College’s Small Business Center offers free online seminars every month for small business owners or those wishing to start their own businesses. Here are the online seminars available over the next few weeks: Branding with a Bang, Dec. 3, 6-8 p.m.; Forecasting and Negotiating for Win-Win Solutions in Business, Dec. 5, 6-8 p.m.; Crafting You Airbnb Listing Story: Connect with Guests and Boost Your Bookings, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m.; Startup Loans: How to Start the Process, Dec. 11, 6-8 p.m.; How to Determine Retail Prices for Products and Services, Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m.; Impuestos, información básica para dueños de salones de belleza y barberías, Dec. 14, 8:3010:30 a.m.; Publicidad y marketing para tu pequeño negocio, encuentra tu Nicho, Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; How to Start a Mobile Food Business, Dec. 18, 7-9 p.m.; Tax Prep for First-time Business Owners, Dec. 19, 6-8 p.m. To register for any of these courses, visit ncsbc. net/Events.aspx, choose “At Center” as the location, and then select James Sprunt Community College as the center.
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL Simon Thornton, the son of William Thornton, came from Texas with his family to join the special celebration in honor of his father.
RIVER from page A1
discharges treated domestic and industrial wastewater to the Northeast Cape Fear River.
In April, Duplin Journal reported about a draft permit that, if approved, would allow Lear to legally discharge PFAS into the river after a violation landed them in hot water and a requirement to report the discharges. Since then, residents like Jessica Thomas, who lives only a couple of miles downstream from Lear, have become aware of the contamination and sought help from local and state officials to protect the communities exposed to these dangerous chemicals.
Thomas appeared before the Duplin County Board of Commissioners in August, hoping to find solutions.
“Their stance was we’re not a regulatory agency, but I wasn’t asking them to regulate Lear. I was asking them to speak up in an official capacity on behalf of their community,” Thomas told Duplin Journal, adding that she also reached out to Kemp Burdette, the riverkeeper who discovered the illegal PFAS discharges.
“I went out and I tested fish,” said Cape Fear River Watch’s Burdette. “I caught fish in the Northeast Cape River downstream of the Lear facility near Sarecta. I was about five miles downstream of the discharge at the Lear facility.”
Burdette told Duplin Journal that he submitted the fish samples to Gel Laboratories — the same lab the state used to test fish from a section of the Cape Fear from Fayetteville to the mouth of the Black River that led to a fish consumption advisory about a year and a half ago.
The lab results revealed the largemouth bass downstream of the Lear facility contained PFAS levels that were 20 times higher than those found in fish from the Cape Fear River downstream of Fayetteville. What is most concerning is that people in Duplin County are fishing and going about their lives, completely unaware of this.
The advisory issued on July 13, 2023, for the middle and lower Cape Fear River, stated that children, women of childbearing
TRILLIUM from page A1
about building an inclusive playground, it sounded like a great idea,” the mayor said. “We have a lot of great ideas in the town of Wallace, and the biggest challenge we usually have is, ‘How do we pay for these things?’”
In addition to the $150,000 grant from Trillium Health Resources, the town council allocated $75,000 to the initiative, while fundraisers organized by Parks and Recreation have added an additional $25,000. The town also has received a $400,000 PARTF (Parks and Recreation Trust Fund) Accessibility Parks Grant.
“Next year, we plan to apply for a $150,000 matching grant from Cunningham Recreation,” said Town Manager Rob Taylor. “Together with the funds already allocated by the Town Council, this will bring our total funding for the playground and accessibility enhancements at Clement Park to $800,000.”
Bizzell said he hopes the inclusive playground will be finished and operational by late 2025.
age, pregnant or nursing, should avoid eating largemouth bass, bluegill, flathead catfish, striped bass and redear altogether. And the rest of the population should not consume more than one bluegill, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass or redear per year combined across all species.
“The small bluegills were 12 times higher, and the large bluegills were eight times higher,” Burdette told Duplin Journal. “So the fish in the Northeast Cape River downstream of Lear have way more of this toxic pollutant in their flesh than the fish in the Cape Fear that we’ve all been focused on because Chemours got a lot of focus because it was a large emitter of PFAS above the drinking water source.
“But it turns out that Lear is actually worse — a lot worse, 20 times worse. We know that people eat those fish. You can go to the bridge at Sarecta and you can walk out on that bridge, and you can look in the trees on either side of the bridge and you can see all of the fishing lures that are stuck in the trees where people have been trying to catch fish. … That’s always a clear indication that people are fishing there.”
Burdette shared that they reported it to DEQ, urging them not to issue a permit that allows Lear to continue discharging PFAS. PFAS are multiorgan toxicants associated with altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancers. According to the EPA, they can accumulate in individuals who are exposed to them over extended periods. There is no known way to get them out of our bodies except for giving birth and breastfeeding, resulting in mothers offloading it into their newborn babies, unleashing a chain of potentizl health problems with implications for future generations to come.
“If we know that PFAS are dangerous, toxic pollutants that have clear links to a variety of cancers and other health conditions, and a company says we’re not going to discharge it, then why would we issue them
a permit to discharge it?,” said Burdette. “The company itself has said that they are going to phase out PFAS. … Yet the state is about to issue them a permit that would allow them to discharge PFAS for the next five years.”
Burdette emphasized that the new permit will allow Lear to discharge PFAS, “and what that says is that the company and the state think it’s more important for this company to save money on waste treatment technology than it is to protect human health and the environment,” he said.
While the draft includes a compliance schedule with requirements to conduct studies to analyze PFAS, technology, and management practices to control PFAS, there is a growing concern that with each passing day, more toxic chemicals continue to be discharged into the waters Duplin residents use for fishing and recreation.
“Every day they spend studying is another day that stuff goes into those fish. They can study it for years,” said Burdette, adding that the technology to remove PFAS is well understood and used across the state.
“They have chosen not to do that in the past because it costs money, so it means that they felt like their profits were more important than putting this toxic chemical into the river and letting it go downstream and contaminate fish.”
For the past several months, Thomas has been asking for a new public comment session. Last week, DEQ announced Tuesday, Dec. 17, as the date to hear public comment on the proposed renewal of the national pollutant discharge elimination system permit for Lear Corp. The session starts at 6 p.m. at James Sprunt Community College Monk Auditorium.
“We need the landowners and the people that use the river to fish and recreate to show up and say, ‘Hey, this is our backyard. These are our lives, and we don’t want you playing with it anymore,’” Thomas told Duplin Journal.
“My family’s property is at the last part of the navigable waters for the Northeast Cape Fear River. You cannot get much further
than my backyard on a boat, but the river is a big fishing spot for a lot of people. We need to make sure that people know about this issue and that they are involved … one person speaking up, yes, of course, it makes a difference, but when you have everyone speaking up in unison, that’s when we’re heard.”
Thomas has three sons, age 8, 10, and 12, who have been playing in the river their entire lives.
She recounted that she first noticed the foam in 2018 when she and her husband were on a boat passing the Lear discharge site.
“We just assumed that because they are permitted by the state that everything was fine,” said Thomas.
“I wrote emails to Jimmy Dixon, Brent Jackson, all of the county commissioners, Greg Murphy, just about everybody under Kamala Harris trying to get help here,” said Thomas, adding that in the past couple of months, she has reported them to DEQ twice for visible foam on the river, “which is a violation of their permit,” said Thomas. “Lear says that they are phasing this out. … Our concern is what are they putting in place of this stuff?”
Thomas noted that Lear Corp is a large taxpayer in Duplin County and provides a lot of jobs.
“I think that’s probably another reason people are being quiet about this,” she said. “But the people that work out there need to be asking what chemicals are we around? What have y’all been exposing us to?”
Burdette noted that river contamination can easily seep into well water during flooding, posing a significant health risk. He explained that the interaction between groundwater and surface water is common, requiring ongoing monitoring. Groundwater can both feed rivers and receive water from them, depending on the flow conditions. In low-flow periods, water typically moves from aquifers to rivers, while during high flow, contaminated river water can enter aquifers. He emphasized that during significant floods, such as those caused by hurricanes, contaminated river water can infiltrate wells, leading to well contamination.
Wells talked about how important it is for the town of Wallace to have an inclusive playground.
“If you think about kids having a place to go where they can feel included, the word inclusive says a lot,” he said. “They get to feel included and participate in
everyday activities, but it’s not just the kids that need this. It’s families that need to be teaching their kids how do you treat others with respect, how do you include others, and it just from a moral standpoint, it’s an educational opportunity, not just for the kids that need special equip-
ment, but for the kids who are learning how to socially interact with others who may be a little different from them.”
Trillium Health Resources is a managed care organization (MCO) that oversees mental health, substance use, traumatic brain injury and intellectual/de-
• Sample 1: Largemouth Bass from the Northeast Cape River downstream of the Lear facility near Sarecta.
PFOS: 559 ng/g or .559 mg/kg
Local samples show PFOS more than 20 times greater than the DHHS trigger for the consumption advisory for largemouth bass issued for PFOS levels of 0.0248 mg/kg from a section of the Cape Fear from Fayetteville to the mount of the Black River issued July 13, 2023.
• Sample 2: Large Bluegill Sunfish from the Northeast Cape River downstream of the Lear facility near Sarecta.
PFOS: 182 ng/g or .182 mg/kg
Local samples show PFOS levels almost eight times greater than the DHHS trigger for the consumption advisory level for bluegill issued for PFOS levels of 0.0230 mg/kg.
• Sample 3: Small Bluegill Sunfish from the Northeast Cape River downstream of the Lear facility near Sarecta.
PFOS: 274 ng/g or .274 mg/kg
Local samples show PFOS levels almost 12 times greater than the DHHS trigger for the consumption advisory level for bluegill issued for PFOS levels of 0.0230 mg/kg.
SOURCES: CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH AND NCDHHS
velopmental disability services across North Carolina. Their Inclusive Playground Grants have enabled the creation of 35 inclusive playgrounds for individuals with special needs throughout eastern North Carolina, though the closest one to Wallace is at Wrightsville Beach.
“We are especially excited because any time we can partner with our communities, it just brings forth so much excitement,” Jackson said. “We commend you for building a place where everyone can belong. It reflects the mission of our agency and what we want to accomplish.”
Wells pointed out that without grants like the one from Trillium, an inclusive playground can’t become a reality.
“None of this is possible without the generosity and support that your organization has shown us,” he told Jackson. “A special thanks to our Parks and Rec, our town manager, our town staff. … Without all the hard work that has taken place, none of this would be possible. I look forward to seeing the vision come to fruition.”
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
On Nov. 20, Trillium Health Resources presented a check for $150,000 to the town of Wallace for an inclusive playground. Pictured (l-r) are Mike Biddle and Victoria Jackson with Trillium, Wallace Mayor Jason Wells, Parks and Recreation Director David Bizzell, Parks and Recreation board member Ray Rosso and County Commissioner Jesse Dowe.
DUPLIN SPORTS TIGERS RIP GATORS, REMATCH WITH WRH SET
David Zeyela, Tyquise Wilson and Jeremiah Hall push James Kenan to it 11th win and sets up a showdown against Bulldogs
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WILLIAMSTON — “History Chasers” isn’t a new cable documentary, it’s the unofficial theme of the James Kenan football team.
“We’ve been overlooked from Day 1 and challenged this team to make history,” said Tigers coach Tim Grady following a 42-20 road win against No. 5 Martin County last Friday on the Gators’
field in the second round of the 2A playoffs. “We asked our kids for a dominating night, they went to work and delivered it.”
James Kenan (11-1) travels to face No. 4 Wallace-Rose Hill (9-3) on Friday at the Jack Holley Football Complex.
“There’s nothing that needs to be said to our players about that one,” Grady said. “It’s just another big one and would be no matter what because it’s a third-round game. I think we’ll be motivated.”
The inspiration could come from the Tigers’ lone loss, a 17-14 setback to the Bulldogs on the final day of the regular season that pushed JK from the top seed in the East to the No. 12 slot
WRH has won the previous 12 encoun-
ters, so that too could make it historic.
Furthermore, JK’s 11 wins is the most since the 2015 squad was 12-2 (losing to WRH in the East Region final). Yet Grady’s club has the 10th-best record in school history, which dates to before he was born (1957).
Smash-mouth formula to win No. 11
It was a familiar formula for the Tigers, who had three running backs find the end zone, got a kickoff return for a touchdown and had three interceptions from a defense that didn’t allow the Gators to run or pass the ball effectively. David Zeleya, key in many wins, had
his best game in backfield, running the ball 20 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
“Our guys blocked it up for me to hit a gap,” said the junior. “I felt it, stepped into it and hit it. Our guys did a great job because their defensive line was good
So were running back Jeremiah Hall, fullback Cal Avent and SE/RB/DB Tyquise Wilson, who combined for four scores.
Wilson might have had the most impactful touchdown when he returned a kickoff for a score following a Martin County score that cut the margin to 21-12 midway through the third quarter.
No. 4 Bulldogs flex muscles to power past Cougars
Wallace-Rose Hill’s logged its third shutout in a 43-0 blowout of Southwest Edgecombe in the second round of the 2A playoffs
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WALLACE — Dexter Moses’ development as a defensive lineman is a bit like the growth of that unit, which started the season with just two returning starters.
Wallace-Rose Hill (9-3) used a strong defensive effort last Friday to clobber Southwest Edgecombe 43-0 in the
second round of the 2A playoffs.
The No. 4 Bulldogs’ fifthstraight win sets up a rematch with No. 12 James Kenan (11-1) on Friday in Wallace.
And in that affair, defense will be featured front and center.
WRH beat JK 17-14 on Nov. 1.
Moses and the entire noname defense will be tested, even though the Bulldogs have won the previous 12 games.
He’s bloomed despite not much time as a freshman and sophomore on the junior varsity and last season on the top club, which was senior-heavy.
“He just kept working, killing it in the weight room,” said Kevin Motsinger, head coach and defensive coordina-
tor.
“He’s so much faster and so much stronger and finally got confidence and self-belief. He got where we thought he could be.
“He realized he was his worst enemy, his own anchor. He let it go and the boat really took off. Now he stands out like a little lighthouse.”
Mostinger was also happy to see the return of one of his two defensive starters from last fall, LB/DB Jamari Shaw.
“Our secondary is getting better and better,” Motsinger said. “The D-line has been good all season, in pass and run situations.”
MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Tim Grady haș guided James Kenan to an 11-1 mark, the 10th-best record in school history, which dates to 1957.
EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Wallace-Rose Hills’ Andre Allen, Avery Murray, Khalil Mathis and Will Brooks have been tough to run against.
WRH logged its third shutout and has held opponents to two touchdowns or fewer in eight of its last nine games.
Blitz Cougars on cold night
The No. 20 Cougars, who thrashed No. 13 Cummings 40-12 in Burlington a week previous, had no answers for WRH, which had its top two running backs combine for 139 yards and three scores.
Irving Brown toted the pig 11 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, while Jamarae Lamb needed seven carries to get 62 yards and a score. He caught a 67-yard touchdown pass.
The supporting cast got plenty of reps, too, as Adrian Glover (3-37), Lonnie Wilson (5-22), Matthew Wells (3-34), Jamari Carr (4-24) and Logan Marks (2-21, TD) made contributions to the running game.
Quarterback Wells was 5 of 6 for 93 yards, and he also found Dane Turner for a 1-yard touchdown.
Glover hit on both of his passes as WRH compiled 121 yards through the air and 286 on the ground.
“Our kids had a great week of practice and were locked in,” Motsinger said. “With the defense playing well, we moved and protected the football well. I was proud of how we buckled down when they had the ball in the red zone.”
Three ECC schools in top eight of the East
Yet the matchup could feel a bit early in the playoffs, it assures Duplin County of a team in the fourth round, facing the winner of No. 2 Northeastern (12 - 0) and No. 24 West Craven (6 - 6), which beat East Duplin 36 -20 last Friday.
No. 9 Kinston (8-4), also an ECC school, faces No. 6 Ayden-Grifton (8-4) in another game of interest in the third round. The other quar -
terfinal matchup is No. 7
Eastern Wayne at No. 2
Whiteville (11-1), whose only loss was a 21-20 overtime setback to JK on Sept. 6.
Yet no ECC school had a nonconference schedule as brutal as WRH, which lost to Havelock, the No. 1 seed in 3A, and Hoggard, the No. 3 seed in 4A.
“People forget we came into the season with just four returning starters,” Motsinger said. “Our football team has come a long way. We played really well on a cold night. We never let up. We’ve grown. But we have to weather the storm against James Kenan”
The Tigers could have a couple of grudges against their rivals, as the loss this season forced a tie in the standings and moved JK from the No. 1 seed to No. 12.
Motsinger is 10-0 vs. JK since coming to Teachey.
The Tigers’ last win over WRH came in 2015, a 33-15 dusting that the Bulldogs reversed 29-13 in the 1AA East Region final (fourth round).
WRH went on to its second straight state title among four straight winner-take-all crowns through 2017, the first three under coach Joey Price and the fourth in Motsinger’s first year at WRH year.
Motsinger, of course, coached JK from 2003-05, going 24-14.
Sideline snapshots
While Lamb and Brown don’t have 100-yard games, both rank among the leaders in the Duplin Journal-area.
Brown has 1,126 yards and 14 touchdowns and Lamb 1,277 yards and eight scores.
Lamb, a junior, has 2,176 yards in two seasons, while Brown, a senior who will play for Division I Ohio University next fall, has 4,444 yards and 65 touchdowns in three campaigns.
Will Brooks leads WRH in tackles with 67, one ahead of Kam Thomas. Shaw has 50, Andre Allen 46 and Jeremiah Baker 42. Wells has three of the Bulldogs’ six interceptions.
Eagles second-half burst sends Panthers to offseason
No. 24 West Craven scored the final 26 points, all in the second half, to stump No. 25 East Duplin
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
VANCEBORO — Staying on top of the mountain is tough.
East Duplin has been there long enough to know that its football program is at a level that other schools respect and want to achieve.
Some seasons, even the best fall from their perches.
No. 24 West Craven coach
Michael Twichell said his team reached a cornerstone moment following the Eagles’ 36-20 win over No. 25 East Duplin in the second round of the 2A playoffs. West Craven (6-6), who also beat East Duplin 34-29 on Aug. 30, face No. 2 Northeastern (12-0) in the third round on Friday. Three of the Panthers’ ECC foes remain alive as No. 4 Wallace-Rose Hill squares off against No. 12 James Kenan and No. 9 Kinston (8-4) plays No. 6 Ayden-Grifton (8-4).
The other quarterfinal features a matchup between No. 7 Eastern Wayne (10-2) at No. 2 Whiteville (11-1).
For head coach Battle Holley, defensive coordinator Seth Sandlin and assistant Brian Aldridge, the season is a bit of a head-shaker.
ED got its only significant win the previous week by dumping No. 8 St. Pauls 33-13, though the Panthers played well enough to beat WRH (a 20-15 setback).
Yet both playoff games had a theme: One team pulling away late in the game.
This time it was the Eagles, who scored the final 26 points of the game, all in the second half.
“To beat a team and program twice that is that well-coached moves us up to where we want to be,” Twichell said of the Panthers, who were 10-2 last season and 15-1 and 2A champs in 2022. “It’s where we wanted to be and I felt like we were teetering there for a while.”
DJ Davis, Cuthbertson, Lancaster leads the way
West Craven quarterback DJ Brown didn’t let a past ankle injury hamper his performance.
The junior hit on 9 of 15 for 143 yards and three touchdowns while running for 47 yards on 11 carries.
The Panthers led 20-14 at halftime before Davis found Jimmie West Jr. for a 35-yard score to knot the affair at 20-20.
The junior speedster waiting patiently for blocking in the middle of the field and then cut it to the left sideline to sprint, untouched, 81 yards to pay dirt.
“We played our game,” Wilson told the press after the game.
That meant using JK’s punishing running between the hash marks.
Hall (12-96), who has 899 yards this fall, was steady, while Avent (8-50) showed his toughness by scoring twice from close range.
His 22-yard ramble in the fourth, the longest of his career, led to a 2-yard surge that upped the tally to 35-12. A 4-yard push with 2:52 to play was JK’s final score.
Tigers send early message
JK fumbled the ball twice in its first six snaps but recovered through the work of Zeyela, who had a 22-yard run before scoring from the 2 for the game’s first touchdown.
An interception by Zamarion Smith on the second snap set up the Tigers.
Ty Morrisey’s pick on Martin County’s next play had JK in position at the Gators’ 36.
Zeleya ran for a first down on fourth-and-3 and then for his second score from the 1, though JK benefited from a 15-yard face mask flag during a run from Hall.
Martin County countered
The downward spiral would not stop for East Duplin as West Craven scored quickly and took command.
The fourth quarter was all about the Eagles.
Reginald Lancaster’s 37-yard pick-six was the first hard blow.
Xavier Cuthbertson had running scores from 3 and 12 yards out and then hit pay dirt from the 3 via a pass from Lancaster. Davis’ two first-half touchdown passes and short run to the end zone kept West Craven close.
Shawn Davis (26-166) put East Duplin on top 7-0 with a 2-yard score. ED’s Davis had two runs of 10 and 14 yards during the drive. Aaron Hall (18-88) had a pair of 10-yard pushes.
DJ Davis put his team in front 8-7 with a 23-yard pass to Jimmie West Jr. and then ran for the 2-point conversion.
Eight snaps later it was 13-8 when Panthers quarterback Branson Norris scored from the 4.
Two snaps later, West Craven led 14-13 when DJ Davis hit Lancaster for a 24-yard score.
Two more snaps later, Shawn Davis’ 44-yard burst gave the Panthers their halftime edge.
ED drove to the West Craven 29 before turning it over on downs on fourth-and 10.
Points there could have been key for East Duplin.
And for as much as the Panthers did right, West Craven’s explosion in the second half was simply too much to burden.
ED ran for 308 yards and kept the ball for more than 24 minutes. WC had 125 on the ground and 166 through the air by having the pig for almost 15 minutes.
The Panthers also struggled on third down, converting just 5 of 14 times, though they were 2 of 3 on fourth down.
Two interceptions of Norris and one of Gavin Holmes proved costly as well. ED was 2 of 10 passing the ball for a total of four yards.
David Zeyela ran for 127 yards and two TDs in the win over Martin County. He leads the Tigers with 13 scores.
with a 13-play scoring drive to make it 14-6, as Jeyson Shepherd fired a 21-yard strike to Jah Sheppard one play after he was sacked for an 8-yard loss by defensive lineman Dakota Henderson.
Zeyela then had runs of 15, 10 and eight yards. Hall scored from the 15 with 5:05 left in the first half.
JK held the Gators on fourth-and-6 from their own 47, in part because of a good play by Alex Vazquez on the previous down.
But a three-and-out to open the third quarter left an opening for the Gators as Shepherd connected with wide receiver Anthony Killebrew three times,
Parting shots of a 6-6 campaign
While the Panthers (6-6) lose a bulk of their two lines, Shawn Davis, Norris and Hall return. Davis, a bruising fullback, ran for 1,464 yards and 19 touchdowns this season even though he battled an ankle injury. Norris missed early games with a broken collar bone from the preseason.
Davis had 1,444 yards and 18 scores his junior campaign. Sophomore running back Keeshon Mckinnie (52-486, 4 TDs) never got into a groove and should return healthier after suffering cracks in both of his knees.
Junior Hall (132-799, 9 TDs) was somewhat a surprise and should be improved by next fall as well. The two combined for four 100-plus yard games. Davis had six and averaged 130 yards per outing.
ED loses all-Duplin performer Luke Hughes (111 tackles), Jordan Hall (109), Calvin Harper (77) and Landen Bond (71), all of which provide more than takedowns.
Yet next season when the NCHSAA moves from four to eight classifications, the Panthers will be a 4A school. WRH and JK will be 3A schools. While ED may still play both longtime Duplin County rivals, it could be early in the season as the Panthers may not be in the same conference.
Yet the biggest positive is that the East Duplin junior varsity team went 10-0. And on Monday, the offseason started — in the weight room for East Duplin.
Holley, who is 124-51 in 14 seasons in Beulaville and has a career mark of 155-59, isn’t through making memories for Panthers fans.
In a season of parity in 2A, East Duplin took an unusual spot in the middle of the field.
the last of which was a 20-yard score to close the gap to 21-12. Martin County (8-4) didn’t have any other answers for JK’s defense.
Gridiron notebook
JK had to travel 100 miles to Martin County High, a new school that combines students from South Creek and Riverside. Keyshawn Murray had his second interception in two games. Josh Mitchell (68-586, 6 TDs) had just two carries for six yards. Zeyela’s 13 touchdowns are tops among all Tigers — Hall has 10, Wilson and Eli Avent have nine, with Cal Avent and Mitchell logging six apiece. Eli Avent (50919 yards) has 11 touchdown tosses. Grady is hopeful the Tigers can play long enough for CJ Hill to return from an injury.
JK fell behind WRH 17-0 on Nov. 1 before rallying for two late TDs. The third-round survivor will face the winner of. No. 2 Northeastern (12-0) and No. 24 West Craven (6-6), which beat East Duplin 36-20 last Friday. No. 9 Kinston (8-4), another ECC school, faces No. 6 Ayden-Grifton (8-4) in another game of interest in the third round. The other quarterfinal matchup is No. 7 Eastern Wayne at No. 2 Whiteville (11-1), whose only loss was a 21-20 overtime setback to JK on Sept. 6.
EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN
THURMAN PARKER
David Zeyela ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Martin County. He leads the Tigers with 13 scores.
North Duplin’s defense is allowing just 11.5 points per game this season. The Rebels’ offense is hitting for 38 points.
Rebels won’t overlook Leopards in third-round playoff rematch
No. 1 North Duplin had a little rust following a two -week layoff in a 35-8 dusting of East Bladen and will host CC rival Lakewood on Friday
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — The stakes will be unusually high on Friday when North Duplin takes on Lakewood at H.E. Grubbs Field for a third-round confrontation in the 1A playoffs.
The two Carolina Conference rivals have heated and physical football games regardless of the prize for the winner.
The Rebels beat the Leopards 43-24 on Oct. 11, a season after falling 23-15 in a game that cost North Duplin an outright league title.
Veteran head coach Hugh Martin, who is 122-99-1 in Calypso and 140-122-1 during his career, returns virtually the same team from a season ago, though the Rebels are clearly a better team than the one that went 9-3.
Lakewood (9-3) has won five straight since falling in Calypso, including 56-6 and 56-7 playoff wins over Northampton and Pamlico in the first two rounds, respectively.
The Leopards other losses came to North Johnston (8-7) and Midway (37-34).
Expect a war on the turf with a number of penalties. That’s the normal trend.
Quarterback Reed Amonds (6-15 for 164 yards) fired three touchdown passes and had a pair of interceptions against the Rebels in the first game.
Running back Donavan Smith had 109 yards on 11 carries.
Neither matched Rebels running back Carell
Phillips, who ran for 252 yards and scored three times.
Vance Carter and Luke Kelly also had scores as ND led 29-6 at halftime.
Martin and defensive coordinator Brad Rhodes are expecting a tougher fight in the playoffs.
In real terms, the Rebels (10-0) have yet to be tested more than their game against Lakewood.
The winner takes on the survivor of No. 3 Wilson Prep (10-1) and No. 6 North Moore (7-5) in the fourth round.
No. 1 Tarboro (10-1) and No. 4 Pender (9-3) are favorites to clash in the top half of the bracket in the fourth round.
Rebels blast Eagles after two-week wait
No. 2 North Duplin had a first-round bye before clobbering No. 15 East Bladen 35-8 last Friday night.
Phillips (15-234) scored three times, while Vance Carter (10 -51) and Bryan Zambrano (7-34) each added a score as North Duplin cranked out 341 yards on the ground.
The Rebels led 28-0 at halftime and tacked on a third-quarter score before allowing a token touchdown in the fourth quarter.
North Duplin’s defense, a strength of the team, held East Bladen to 192 yards of total offense.
Phillips, who has gone over the 100-yard mark every game this season and past 200 three times, sprinted for a 39-yard touchdown to open the scoring during a five-play, 63-yard march.
He scored from the 6 later in the quarter as ND went 69 yards in seven plays.
Martin had a tackle on fourth-and-2 to give the Rebels the ball at their own 47.
Carter scored from the 3 at the 6:42 mark of the second quarter to up the ante to 21-0.
Phillips’ electrifying 80 -yard score came 33 seconds before the extended intermission.
Zambrano’s touchdown was the most bizarre. Carter fumbled the ball on first-and-goal from the 8, but lineman Isaac Davis scooped it up, only to fumble it at the 2. Zambrano picked it up and crossed the goal line to end the eight-play, 52-yard drive.
ND missed an earlier chance to have a 42-point lead and thus run the clock continuously via the mercy rule.
Gridiron notebook
ND’s 10 wins are the 11th most in school history, dating back to 1955.
Martin has the two best seasons, as he guided the Rebels to the 1A finals in 2007 and 2017, going 15-1 both seasons. ND captured a state title in 1972, going 11-2 under head coach Richard Kaleel (113 -77- 5 all time). Ken Avent Sr.’s best season was in 1991 (12-1). He was 172-105 from 1975 to 1999.
The Rebels welcomed back Donovan Armwood, who returned after missing two games because of the death of his mother. His brother Dujuan (1,785 yards, 27 TDs) was the star back last season and Duplin County’s Offensive Player of the Year. He was also Mr. Basketball in Duplin, leading the Rebels to the third round of the playoffs.
Donavan Armwood is a superb defensive player, blocker, runner and wideout on offense. He is an athlete ND needs on the field.
ND has outscored its opposition 380-115. The defense has allowed two touchdowns or less in eight of 10 games.
Carell Phillips
North Duplin, football
North Duplin junior running back Carell Phillips has passed the 100-yard mark in all 10 games this season. His 1,702 yards and 28 touchdowns are tops in Duplin County. The Rebels (10-0) host Lakewood on Friday in the third round of the 1A playoffs.
EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
PREP FOOTBALL STATS
(Through Nov. 22)
RUSHING
ATT–YDS TDs
Carell Phillips (ND) 169-1,702 28
Shawn Davis (ED) 143-1,298 17
Jamarae Lamb (W) 160-1,277 8
Irving Brown (WRH) 194-1,126 14
Noah LeBlanc (R) 111-869 9
Jeremiah Hall (JK) 103-899 9
Aaron Hall (ED) 114-711 9
Josh Mitchell (JK) 68-586 6
Jarrod Miller (HCA) 76-529 8
Caleb Simco (R) 77-522 16
Vance Carter (ND) 105-511 5
Demetrius Jones (HCA) 70-491 9
Keeshon Mckinnie (ED) 52-486 4
Jamari Carr (WRH) 57-421 6
Imir Sanders (JK) 44-403 2
Christian Diaz (R) 57-452 8
Bryan Zambrano (ND) 63-326 2
J’Kaeshi Brunson (HCA) 76-334 4
David Zeyela (JK) 40-275 7
Jeremiah Davis (HCA) 26-270 0
Eli Avent (JK) 65-274 8
Dashaun McKoy (HCA) 29-280 3
Adrian Glover (WRH) 27-302 2
Allen Stukes (ED) 45-248 3
Chamani Newton (HCA) 38-207 2
Luke Kelly (ND) 38-168 4
Noah Quintanilla (ND) 16-150 1
Jordan Hall (ED) 12-147 0
Lonnie Wilson (WRH) 21-121 2
Ethan Turnage (ND) 13-121 1
Cal Avent (JK) 23-121 6
Jamari Shaw (WRH) 12-106 2
RECEIVING
REC–YDS TDs
Tyler Clouatre (Rich) 13-613 6
L. Halfter-Hunter (Rich) 24-393 3
Tyquise Wilson (JK) 20-373 4
Dashaun McKoy (HCA) 7-235 3
David Zeleya (JK) 13-221 3
Chris Hill (JK) 7-216 1
Dashaun McKoy (HCA) 7-235 3
Jamarae Lamb (WRH) 9-234 2
Zachary Ball (ED) 6-165 3
Jamarae Lamb (WRH) 9-234 2
Christian Diaz (Rich) 7-137 1
Jamari Carr (WRH) 6-122
Garrett Sholar (ED) 3-100
Keeshon Mckinnie (ED) 6-94
Hall (ED) 3-73
LeBlanc (Rich) 8-64
PUSKAR
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson reacts after intercepting a pass by the Baltimore Ravens to help preserve a victory.
Acrobatic pick offered proof that Steelers rookie LB Wilson’s learning curve speeding up
The former NC State star is making an impact in his first pro season
By Will Graves The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — Payton
Wilson could have played it safe, but where’s the fun in that?
The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie linebacker saw Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill sprinting toward him and knew what was coming. Wilson figures the Steelers scout team had run the same play “100 times” in practice.
And every single time, Wilson overplayed the pass route, trying his best to stay in front of whomever it was impersonating Hill on a given play.
“It’s practice, so you want it to be perfect,” Wilson said.
Yet when the moment of truth arrived last week, with Pittsburgh holding a five-point fourth-quarter lead, Wilson did the opposite. Rather than make sure Hill didn’t get behind him, Wilson tried to match Hill stride for stride.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson lofted a rainbow down the left sideline that seemed to nestle into Hill’s awaiting arms.
The ball didn’t stay there long. In one fluid motion, Wilson rolled on top of Hill and ripped it away for his first career
pick, one that helped Pittsburgh eventually escape with an 18-16 victory.
“I took a chance because I kind of wanted to make a play in a big-time moment,” Wilson said. “It worked out.”
Like just about everything else has for Wilson since the Steelers selected the former NC State star last spring. The 24-year-old has given the Steelers a third down linebacker with the speed to more than hold his own when he drops back in coverage.
Watching up in the coach’s box, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin nodded as the football IQ that drew the Steelers to Wilson in the first place manifested itself on the field when his team absolutely needed it.
“When you see that happen, you’re happy for him because you know it’s coming together for him,” Austin said. “The game makes sense.”
And during the rare times it doesn’t, Wilson makes it a point to ask around until he figures it out.
During meetings, Wilson is constantly prodding in search of information and an advantage. Rather than rely on his own considerable talent, Wilson is not above challenging himself and even changing something that’s been working for him in search of a more efficient and effective way to go about his job.
“He doesn’t go on like, ‘OK, I’m going to get on and do this (my) way,’” veteran inside linebacker Elandon Roberts. “He wants to understand why and he’s very humble, so he just asks whatever he feels like he needs to ask.”
Though Wilson’s playing time has varied depending on the opponent — he’s played anywhere from 13 to 44 snaps through 10 games — his presence inside the team facility has not. He is not interested in doing “the bare minimum,” as longtime defensive tackle Cam Heyward put it. It helps to have a locker right next to Roberts and Patrick Queen, who have embraced their mentorship of Wilson.
“They’re just so smart,” Wilson said. “There’s no egos in our room. So it’s super cool to see that they help me out.”
It’s telling of the tightness of the group that Roberts and Queen were among the first people to celebrate with Wilson after the biggest play of his stillyoung career.
Asked if he was surprised by how Wilson made an incredibly difficult pick look incredibly easy, Roberts raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“How tall is this man?” Roberts asked of his 6-foot-4 teammate.” What did he run at the combine? Exactly. He’s got all the attributes to make that play. And he works his (tail) off too.”
TAKE NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#2024E-000463
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, JAMES MICHAEL HONEYCUTT, having qualified on the 31ST DAY of OCTOBER, 2024, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JAMES HOWARD COTTLE, JR., deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 26TH Day of FEBRUARY, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 28TH Day of NOVEMBER, 2024.
JAMES MICHAEL HONEYCUTT, ADMINISTRATOR 1116 SHORELINE DR. STANLEY, NC 28164
Run dates: N28,D5,12,19p
Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by the Town of Beulaville, North Carolina (the “Owner”) for the Humphrey Athletic Park Phase I Improvement project and be opened and read in public at Beulaville Town Hall, 508 E. Main Street, Beulaville, NC 28518 on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. The Project consists of five (5) Bid Items for the Humphrey Athletic Park Phase I Improvements in the Town of Beulaville, North Carolina. Base Bid improvements include, 1) demolition and site preparation, 2) construction of new perimeter walking trail, 3) construction of 2 new basketball courts, 4) construction of a sand volleyball court, and 5) reconstruction of a parking area as shown on design plans. The Town is purchasing a play area directly that will be installed under a separate contract and may require coordination. The Town also is planning to install pedestrian lighting throughout the park from Duke Energy, that will need coordination.
All work on this contract must be completed within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from issuance of a Notice to Proceed.
Contract documents and drawings for the proposed work (the “Contract Documents”), which have been
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DUPLIN
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, CAROL TOWNSEND MCGINNIS, having qualified as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of W. FRANCIS TOWNSEND aka WILTON FRANCIS TOWNSEND, Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said CAROL TOWNSEND MCGINNIS, at the address set out below, on or before February 23, 2025 or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.
This the 24h day of June, 2024.
CAROL TOWNSEND MCGINNIS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF W. FRANCIS TOWNSEND aka WILTON FRANCIS TOWNSEND
c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405
prepared by the firm Colliers Engineering & Design, Inc. are available electronically or via delivery by common carrier by making a request to Town.
Bidders will be furnished with a copy of the Contract Documents by request upon proper notice to loriw@ intrstar.net and/or gerald.defelicis@collierseng.com. In the e-mail message, the contractor shall indicate if they request an electron copy (PDF format) or paper copy. Electronic copies will be provided via e-mail at no charge. Paper copies will be provided a����era nonrefundable charge payable to Colliers Engineer & Design Inc. is received. Paper copies will be sent via UPS or Fedex if the contractor provides UPS or Fedex account information to defray the cost of this shipping method. Otherwise, paper copies will be sent via USPS. The Contract Documents will be available during business hours.
Proposals must be made on the standard proposal forms included with the Contract Documents in the manner designated in the Contract Documents, must be enclosed in sealed envelopes bearing the name and address of the bidder and the name of the project on the outside and be addressed to the Town of Beulaville and must be accompanied by a statement of consent of surety from a surety company authorized to do business in the State of North Carolina acceptable to the Owner
and wither a bid bond or a certified check drown to the order of Town of Beulaville for not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, except that the check shall not exceed $20,000.00. The successful bidder is hereby notified that a performance bond and labor and material (payment) bond for the full amount of this project is required.
The award of the contract for this project will not be made until the necessary funds have been provided by the Owner in a lawful manner.
Proposals for this contract will only be accepted from bidders who have properly qualified in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents.
The right is also reserved to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities where such informality is not detrimental to the best interest of the Owner. Further, the Owner reserves the right to abandon the project and reject bids entirely if any legal or state or federal administrative action is taken against the Owner which could delay or jeopardize the project from commencing. The right is also reserved to increase or decrease the quantities specified in the manner designated in the Specifications.
By order of the Town of Beulaville, North Carolina Lori Williams, Town Representative
GENE J.
/ AP PHOTO
obituaries
Robert R. “Bobby” Best
April 18, 1942 – Nov. 19, 2024
Robert Roscoe Best, best known as Bobby Best, passed away in the early hours of the morning Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, while in the care of Wayne UNC Healthcare. Mr. Best was 82 years old and was a Mount Olive area resident for all of his life.
Funeral services were held by the graveside on Friday, Nov. 22, at Wayne Memorial Park. Officiating was the Rev. Bryan Wheeler and the Rev. Sherman Dilley. The family greeted friends at the cemetery at the conclusion of the service, and at the residence at other times. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Northeast Original Free Will Baptist Church, Attn: Geoffrey Merritt, 489 Northeast Church Road, Mount Olive, NC 28365.
Mr. Best was a long time employee of Burllington
Industries, where he was a sewing machine mechanic. Following its closure, he worked with NAPA Auto Parts in Mount Olive as a parts deliveryman. A devout Christian, he was a lifelong member of Northeast Church, where he had been a deacon, a church trustee, a Sunday School teacher, choir member, church poet, and served as secretary/treasurer of the men’s fellowship group.
His surviving loved ones include his wife of 63 years, Cecille Kornegay Best; two of his three sons and two daughters in law, Doug Best of Mount Olive, Michael and Amy S. Best, also of Mount Olive, and Sylvia Best of Clinton, widow of deceased son, Robert Allen Best; grandchildren, Machala Herring and husband, Daniel, of Seven Springs, Ryan Smith of Princeton, Andrew Sanders and wife, Rose, of La Grange, Mike Nelms of New York, and Ray Nelms of Ohio; several step great grandchildren; two sisters and a brother in law, Duck B. Macon of Raleigh, and Jeanie B. and Jimmy Merritt of Mount Olive; a brother, Ronnie Best of Mount Olive; and a sister in law, Merdie Best of Mount Olive; along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Allen; a daughter in law, Catherine Best; his parents, Roscoe and Carrie Peele Best; a brother, William Allen “Billy” Best; a sister and brother in law, LaRoyce B. and Donald Oates; and another brother in law, Charles Macon.
Lucile King Hatcher
March 10, 1935 –Nov. 19, 2024
Lucile King Hatcher, 89, died on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at home. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Bryan Hatcher and son, Charles Bryan Hatcher.
Mrs. Hatcher is survived by her sons, Raymond Edward Hatcher of Lyman, William Keith Hatcher of Lyman; grandchild, Melinda Katherine Hatcher Fox; and three grandchildren, Sara Renee LaFollette, Silvia B. Fox, and J. D. Fox. Graveside service was held on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 at East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the East Duplin Christian Outreach, P. O. Box 71, Beulaville, NC 28518
accolades
Isabelle Goodson Mallory
Oct. 4, 1929 – Nov. 20, 2024
Isabelle Goodson Mallory, Mount Olive resident, went peacefully to her eternal home early Wednesday morning, Nov. 20, 2024, while being cared for with love and compassion at her home. She was 95. She was the widow of William “Bill” Mallory and was a retired school teacher. Having been a native of the Garner’s Chapel community in Duplin County, she and Mr. Mallory had lived in Plymouth for the majority of their married life, and upon retirement, they returned to Mount Olive. Funeral services were Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Tyndall Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Paul Rose, with burial following in Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation was held during the hour before the service at the funeral home, and at other times at the Mallory residence.
Beulaville Elementary School announces Principal’s List, Honor Roll
Beaulaville Elementary School has released the Principal’s List and Honor Roll for the second nine weeks of the 2023 24 academic year. In order to qualify for the Principal’s List, students must maintain an A average for the nine weeks grading period, while Honor Roll students maintain an A/B average.
Principal’s List
Third Grade: Grayson Ashlock, Jaxon Basden, Logan Blackburn, Noah Blizzard, Riley Brock, Sawyer Fulginiti, Emily Garcia, Kevin Gaytan Mata, RaeLynn Henderson, Dillon Jenkins, Emma Johnson, Tierney Kinser, Jack Kirby, Kason Miller, Phillip Morrison, Easton Powell, German Rodas Mejia, Truett Rothstein, Amelia Sanchez, Jonah Southerland, Sebastian Tapia Contreras, Sawyer Taylor, Kainan Wells, Kelton Wells.
Fourth Grade: Cami Baker, Everly Barnette, Madison Brown, Corrine Burlingame, Hudson Byrd, Wyatt Davis, Leanna D’Errico, Jackson Futrell, Ky’Darian Gilmore, Presley Houston, Everhett James, Justin Jones, Kaleb Jones, Ellie Lassiter, Caiden Moseley, Ireland Parker, Judah Summerlin, Peyton Whaley Camden.
Fifth Grade: Easton Blackburn, Gabriel Brady, Ian Coleman, Shelby Jata, Evie Kennedy, Eleanor Mobley, Carlee Outlaw, Jace Ramsey, Lila Raynor, Maci Raynor, Levi Rothstein, Samuel Sanchez Solorzano, Carr Sholar, Cason Sumner, Donovan Thigpen, Jordan Thigpen, Bailey Thomas.
Sixth Grade: Ava Greene, Madison Hill, Whitney Hinson, Adelynn Johnson, Arly Jones, Elaina Jones, Ella Jones, Jason Judge, Braylei Kennedy, Jessie Kennedy, Savannah Kirby, Paulina Lozano Acero, Joseph Midkiff, Chesney Miller, Kolbie Morrison.
Seventh Grade: Marlee Bullock, McKinley Davis, Braxton Drinkwater, Elliott Evans, Miley Fleet, Abel Garcia, America
Gaytan Mata, Jaxson Griffin, Riley Harper, Brynn Keffer, Gavin Lanier, Tonantzin Martinez, Kase Miller, Carson Outlaw, Anabella Parker, Gabe Ross, Devin Southerland, Emma Thomas, Sherlynn Venegas Garcia, Zara Maley.
Eighth Grade: Maddox Albertson, Greyson Burch, Liam Greene, Jett Gutierrez, Charlotte Hill, Mary Blake Hunter, Eli Kennedy, Arden Kildow, Gage Kildow, Kiersten Lane, Berkley Marshburn, Marley Mirra, Benjamin Sutton.
A/B Honor Roll
Third Grade: Isla Kate Albertson, Parker Barry, Lucia Betancourt, Jahmari Foy Carter, Amelia Davis, Byron Funes, Leilani Hall, Alana Harper, Levi Heidenescher, Bennett Hobbs, Dawson Kennedy, Ellie Kennedy, Lawson King, Marie Miller, Jason Nunez Vazquez, Eva Quinn, Brinkley Riggs, Christopher Schlagentweith, Naomi Segers, Jade Smith, Logan Strickland, Ava Thompson.
Fourth Grade: Waylon Batchelor, Hector Cantera, Gianna Caputo, Kaylie Castevens, Lexus Castillo, Arianna Davis, Brian Garcia, Cayden Harvall, David Hernandez, RaeAnn Holley, Payton Houston, Hollyn Marshburn, Olivia Midkiff, Corbin Pate, Mason Price, Isaac Pedroza, Ryder Rowan, Kross Sumner, Braxto Todd, Liam Whaley, Treasure White, Triniti White.
Fifth Grade: Paxton Fleet, Aviana Harvall, Reba Jones, Imani Jordan, Tyler Kate Kennedy, Joshua Lanier, Oliver McMahon, Maxwell Mirra, Harley Raynor, Vance Ross, Caleb Rusell, Taylor Sloan, Aydn Thigpen, Karter VanBuren, Jayline Venegas Garcia.
Leah Iloma Devane
Feb. 13, 1971 – Nov. 15, 2024
Leah Iloma Devane, 53, of Wallace, passed away on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville. A viewing was held on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 472 Wells Town Road in Rose Hill, immediately followed by the funeral service. Burial followed at Newkirk Cemetery, Hwy 421, Willard.
Left to cherish her precious memories: grandmother, Eunice Devane of Harrells; sister, Simone Abbow (Morgan) of Paris, France; brother, Prentice L. Goodson of Columbia, South Carolina; aunts, Ann Murphy of Clinton, South Carolina, Elizabeth D. Smith of Harrells, Lee Gwendolyn Devane of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Mary R. Carr of Willard; special cousin, Winfred Lee Devane of Greensboro; one niece and one nephew; a host of cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.
Sixth Grade: Kyra Baker, Jeremiah Bizzell, Silas Dukes, Kyla Farrior, Makenzie Frizzelle, Axton Horton, Stratton Houston, Wilson Hunter, Sarah Jenkins, Jazmine Kennedy, Parker Kornegay, Calvin Montague, Michael Montoya Moreno, Genesis Padilla Sevilla, Alexa Ponce, Alexandra Rapalo, Braxton Raynor, Karsyn Raynor, Lilliana Roblero Hernandez, Ryder Rognlie, Ja’Daiya Smith, Samantha Turner, Hanna Whaley.
Seventh Grade: Bella Aldridge, Dylan Alonso, Samantha Arevalo, Skylar Barnett, John Carter Bostic, Jordan Browning, Mackenzie Buchanan, Khalif Carroll, Annsleigh Chasteen, Eli Costin, Kourtney Edmonds, Branson Frazelle, Ayden Hall, Lucas Heidenescher, Aneesah Hill, Harlan Holmes, Omar Hussein, Jackson Lanier, Jasmine McCurdy, Rylie McIntee, Adalee Miller, Anais Pablo Antonio, Luciano Pablo Flores, Caleb Rogers, Evelyn Samayoa, Mason Schuddekopf, Alex Serafin, Journey Segers, Laney Sholar, Mary Sholar, Sarah Thompson, Taylor Whaley, Riley Whitman, Taylor Williams.
Eighth Grade: Olivia Acevedo, Jaylenne Alvarez, Charley Grace Brown, Darwin Bonilla, Brayden Cartwright, Arianna Edwards, Aayan Farrior, Ronaldo Gomez Velazco, Sarah Hawkins, Danna Hernandez Rojas, Carly Holmes, Jacob Howard, Brayden Jones, Mary Jones, Arizona McCoy, Za’riyah Melvin, Brayden Miller, RaeAnn Moore, Joselin Pablo Flores, Grayson Padrick, Derrick Pemberton, Deziyah Ray, Ernest Rucker, Reagan Sanderson, Austin Sarmiento, Trelyn Savage, Blake Schuddekopf, Easton Sholar, JJ Street, Addison Teachey, Arianna Valerio Melchor, JC Williams.
