the BRIEF this week
Two killed in car crash
Chinquapin
Navy Chief Simba Wallace and his wife, Natalie Castro, were reportedly killed in an crash near Chinquapin on Nov. 13 around 5:30 p.m. According to the N.C. Highway Patrol, a Jeep Wrangler was traveling south on Ludie Brown Road near Willie Hatcher Road when it failed to yield to a tractor trailer carrying chickens, which was traveling west.
The couple’s Jeep was hit by the tractor trailer, which overturned causing major damage to both vehicles.
Both occupants of the Jeep died at the scene.
The driver of the tractor trailer was transported by EMS to ECU Health Duplin Hospital with minor injuries.
Beulaville Speedy Mart employee arrested for theft
Beulaville
An employee of the Beulaville Speedy Mart has been arrested after stealing from the business while on duty. On Nov. 11, Speedy Mart management notified the Beulaville Police Department that Ryan Hunter was suspected of stealing while working her shift. An investigation by Beulaville police revealed that Hunter had stolen cash and cigarettes from the business on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4. Hunter was arrested and charged with three counts of larceny by an employee. She was taken to the Duplin County Magistrate’s Office where she was served and given a $10,000 secured bond.
Celebrate Christmas by the Tracks
Rose Hill
Christmas by the Tracks is only two weeks away.
The event will feature craft vendors, food, children’s variety show entertainment and a parade on Saturday, Dec. 7. The craft fair will kick off at 10 a.m. with the Children’s Variety Show at 2 p.m. The lighted nighttime parade will start at 5 p.m., and the adult’s variety show will be after the parade.
Stuff the Cruiser Toy Drive now through Dec. 16
Warsaw Help the Warsaw Police Department make the holidays brighter for children in need. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy donation for children ages 3 to 12 at the Warsaw Police Department Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 pm. or at the Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and to support local children now through Dec. 16. For more information, call 910-293-7816.
Southern lights ring holiday season with stunning displays
A
Allegations continue to surface in Warsaw
Commissioner raises concerns about town leadership
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
WARSAW — Controversy continues to swirl in Warsaw as a growing voice in the community vocalized discontent with the local government, citing a lack of transparency and accountability. Many residents have expressed concerns about the town manager’s failure to follow through on important issues.
Month after month, frustrated residents come to the town hall meetings hoping to have their voices heard and find solutions they are often unable to get through the regular channels.
Last week at the town board meeting, Anece Best stood before the board to present a signed petition requesting an audit investigation of the town’s financial management, operational practice and overall governance.
“We have observed issues related to the transparency of Warsaw’s financial records and reported practices. Community members report difficulty obtaining access to financial statements
and supporting documents, leading to concerns about the accuracy and completeness of information ” said Best, adding that allegations of “potential mismanagement of public funds” have emerged.
Concerns include “possible misuse of designated funds, irregularities in procurement and contracting practices … misreporting of project costs, and insufficient oversight noted by various stakeholders,” said Best, adding that “reports of conflicts of interest, lack of transparency” have raised questions about the “overall effectiveness and accountability of town leadership.”
Mayor A.J. Connors told Duplin Journal that Warsaw has not experienced any issues with their audits, and he believes the majority of residents are satisfied with the town’s administration.
He also explained that the town has an audit company that audits the books every year.
“The books are in order and it will come back clean this year because we do not have anything to hide,” Connors told Duplin Journal, adding that Warsaw has ordinances and general statutes they have to follow, and they plan
See WARSAW, page A5
New body scanner brings extra layer of safety at Duplin jail
The high-tech scanner has already stopped attempts to smuggle drugs
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office unveiled its new body scanner for contraband de -
tection, Tek84. This new technology allows a four-second head-to-toe scan to detect drugs, weapons and contraband hidden in body cavities.
Sheriff Stratton Stokes told Duplin Journal that about a year and a half ago, they experienced issues with contraband entering the jail despite
Wallace approves annexation of Pender County property
“It was not included in the original annexation, but the owner and developer, Tony Davis, was able to negotiate that into the annexation.”
Rod Fritz, Wallace planning director
Johnson Furniture seeks to close an alley between two buildings
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
WALLACE — During a relatively short meeting on Nov. 14, the Wallace Town Council unanimously approved a voluntary annexation request from Tony Davis for a portion of property on U.S. Highway 117 just across the Pender County line.
The property is located near 150 acres of property that were annexed into the town several months ago to make way for a new residential and commercial development.
house on the right hand side of the road if you’re going toward I-40,” explained Planning Director Rod Fritz. “It was not included in the original annexation, but the owner and developer, Tony Davis, was able to negotiate that into the annexation.”
There were no comments during the public hearing, and the request was unanimously approved.
The council also set a public hearing for the Dec. 12 meeting to consider the closure of an alley between the two buildings currently used as Johnson Furniture on Main Street in downtown Wallace.
“It would allow (owner Eric Kosterman) to construct a facade at the front of those two buildings, connecting the $2.00
“Tonight, we’re here to open a public hearing to do the Hughes property, which is 2.66 acres, which is the farm-
Lt. Erica Williams demonstrates the use of the Tek84 Intercept body scanner at the Duplin County Jail on Nov. 14.
THURSDAY 11.21.24
WEEKLY FORECAST
THURSDAY
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Nov. 22
CALENDAR
Nov. 23
• Christmas at Twilight is set for Saturday, Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. in downtown Wallace.
• Cabin Lake invites the public to celebrate Thanksgiving with a special lunch on Saturday, Nov. 23 at noon. Kick off the holiday season, share some laughs and make memories while enjoying delicious food, warm company and gratitude at 220 Cabin Lake Road in Pink Hill.
Nov. 30
• The town of Faison invites the public to the William Thornton monument dedication on Friday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. Thornton, a Faison native, was the first NASA astronaut from North Carolina. The unveiling will be held on the site of the original Faison gymnasium at 176 Park Circle.
• Kenansville Lions Club Big Buck Round-Up will be held on Nov. 22-23 at the Duplin County Events Center at 10 a.m.
Nov. 12
Francisco Lizardi Vargas, 49, was arrested by the Kenansville Police Department for misuse of the 911 system and second-degree trespass.
• Steven Gerald Holland, 55, was arrested by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office for felony probation violation and interfering with an electronic monitoring device.
Nov. 14
• Conner Ray McGaha, 19, was arrested by DCSO for larceny of a motor vehicle and possessing a stolen motor vehicle.
• Julie Ann Cavenaugh, 43, was arrested by the Dublin Police Department for larceny of a motor vehicle, possessing a stolen automobile, misdemeanor larceny, and probation violation.
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. Vendors and persons interested in being part of the parade can sign up until Nov. 15. For more information, call the Kenansville Area Chamber of Commerce at 910-275-0323.
Nov. 16
Nathan David Bonneville, 31, was arrested by DCSO for interfering with an electronic monitoring device and felony probation violation.
• Annyia Williams, 26, was arrested by DCSO for communicating threats and simple assault.
Courtney Elizabeth Barnes, 33, was arrested by DCSO for driving while impaired, misdemeanor child abuse, reckless driving to endanger, no operator’s license, failing to maintain lane control, trafficking opium or heroin, possessing controlled substance on prison/jail premises, and simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substance.
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. 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 No. 13 in Kenansville is having a Barbecue Chicken Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 6 from 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.
Nov. 17
Justy Jean Davidson, 33, was arrested by DCSO for fleeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle and center lane violation.
Nov. 18
• Jacklyn May Brutus, 44, was arrested by DCSO for simple assault.
• Kaleb Allen Jones, 26, was arrested by DCSO for resisting a public officer.
• Dasmin Jamar Morrisey, 33, was arrested by the Warsaw Police Department for fleeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle, possessing methamphetamine, driving while impaired, open container after consuming alcohol, resisting a public officer, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Beulaville PD searching for man on child sex charges
The individual was last seen in the Beulaville area
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
Beulaville police began investigating an incident in August 2023 and obtained arrest warrants for Cano-Zuniga on the following charges:
• Two counts of first-degree statutory rape
• Two counts of first-degree statutory sex offenses
• Two counts of incest with
BEULAVILLE — Last week, the Beulaville Police Department posted on Facebook that it was seeking the public’s help in locating Luis Fernando Cano-Zuniga, who’s wanted on numerous charges involving inappropriate acts with a child.
a child under 13 years of age
• Two counts of intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury
• Two counts of felony child abuse by sexual acts
• Two counts of indecent liberties with a child
• Two counts of crimes against nature. According to the Beulaville PD, Cano-Zuniga has not been located and warrants are still
active. “He is 33 years old and is believed to be in the area,” the department wrote on its Facebook post.
If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the Beulaville Police Department at 910 -298-5360, or call 911. Tips can also be submitted via the Beulaville Police Department’s Facebook page through Messenger.
Cano-Zuniga
Rose Hill OKs this year’s Christmas by the Tracks event
A citizen complained about fire department’s use of an “air raid siren”
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
ROSE HILL — The Rose Hill town board approved a request by Ronda Rivenbark for another Christmas by the Tracks event this year. Rivenbark said the event will be Dec. 7 by Railroad Street in Rose Hill and will include a craft fair, entertainment by children and adults, and a holiday parade. Christmas by the Tracks was held for the first time last year in conjunction with the town’s annual parade.
“The town was so gracious to give me port-a-johns, and that’s
buildings, and eventually put a roof there and be able to pass furniture from one store to another without taking it outside,” Fritz explained to the council.
The facade will have to go through the historic commission to ensure that it is in line with the other buildings in the area.
“If we pass the resolution of intent to close that right- of-way, the historic district commission will have to approve whatever that facade looks like on that street front,” Fritz said, “because it is smack dab in the historic district and comes under their authority. They need to make sure it matches the buildings that are already built.”
The council voted to approve a resolution of intent for the closing of the alley, and set a public hearing for the next meeting, on Dec. 12.
In other business at the Wallace Town Council’s Nov. 14 meeting:
The council approved the
the only thing I need,” Rivenbark said. “I collect no money. I ask for no money. I don’t go to the businesses and ask for money. I went to every business in Rose Hill and handed them a letter inviting them to be in the parade. Tomorrow, I will do outside Rose Hill. It’s fun. I’ve got a great staff. It’s a joy of mine.”
In other business at their regular monthly meeting on Nov. 12, Rose Hill commissioners heard from Main Street resident Sarah Kritikos, who wanted to ask that the fire department no longer use its air raid siren for fire calls.
“I enjoy the fire station being there, but the one thing that is upsetting is the air raid siren used for everyday calls,” she said. “I’d like to propose a petition to use it only for evacuations (and)
Capital Improvement Plan for 2025-29.
• A public hearing was scheduled for the next meeting on Dec. 12 to consider a rezoning request from Roland and Cindy Hatcher to rezone their property on Old Wilmington Road to I-Industrial so that they can build an office and have storage and materials outside, Fritz said. “They will be required to have buffers on the north, east and west sides because they’re adjacent to residential zoning properties,” Fritz said.
• Donnie Stiles, code enforcement officer, gave updates on several building repairs and demolitions around town.
• The council tabled the appointment of an individual to the town’s
tornadoes. I noticed response time is very good, which means they must live very close to the station. So I’m hoping that we can reduce the noise pollution, the stress and waking up in the middle of the night. I know some people have expressed that they don’t like that.”
Commissioner Billy Wilson said the siren has been in use since the mid-1940s or early 1950s, and when it was not working, some folks in town had said they missed hearing it.
“We do have pagers; it’s just something that we as a fire department and the citizens have really wanted back up and going,” he explained. “I’m sorry that it disturbs some people.”
Mayor Davy Buckner asked that Kritikos put together a peti-
ABC board to fill the vacancy left by Twig Rollins, who moved out of the area.
• The council reappointed
Mayor Jason Wells and Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Rivas-Diaz as the town’s representative and alternate, respectively, on the Cape Fear Council of Governments.
Town Manager Rob Taylor gave an update on the town’s finances, stating that the town is about 25% through the fiscal year and everything is “in pretty good shape.” Melinda Maguire has been hired as the town’s new finance director, a duty Taylor has been covering since the resignation of former finance director Joseph Trollinger.
• Councilman Jason Davis said he would like to see
tion and present it to the board at a future meeting. In other business at the Nov. 12 meeting:
• The board unanimously approved a resolution prohibiting viewing pornography on town networks or devices.
• The commissioners approved a budget amendment for $38,683.44, which is for interest earnings from the ARPA Fund, Town Administrator Angela Smith explained.
• Smith reported that the police department will need about $8,000 to move into the old fire department. This would include replacing the old fixtures in the bathroom, replacing ceiling tiles and then the IT work necessary to move the police department, Smith said. She will present a
the town pursue grants to help remove power lines from downtown Wallace. “I swear, when you go to other small towns and you don’t see all those wires and bent poles, it does take away from downtown,” he said.
• Councilwoman Penny Thorne requested a 25-mph speed limit sign on Currie Street.
Rivas-Diaz thanked the town for helping make the Latino festival a well-attended and successful event.
Taylor gave updates on several ongoing town projects, including the Clement Park community center, which he said should be finished by the end of December, and the new town hall, which is “a ways down the road,” he said, “with a lot of steps still to go.”
budget amendment to the board at the next meeting.
• Smith also reported that the STRAP grant project has been completed, and Phase 2, which will include the remainder of the ditch on Dogwood Street, will be part of next year’s grant cycle.
• Smith gave an update on a generator grant for Ridge Street/ Brice’s Store well, saying that the concrete has been poured for the project, and the generator should be delivered within two or three weeks.
• Work on the street paving project was scheduled to get underway on Nov. 18, Smith said, and work should be concluded by the first week in December. The Rose Hill town board will next meet on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.
Warsaw’s West Park to host blood drive Dec. 3
Warsaw West Park Business and Technology Center, located at 946 Penny Branch Road in Warsaw, is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those who donate can receive up to $40 in gift cards. Visit donate. thebloodconnection.org to register and enter sponsor code 12373.
JSCC Foundation offers gift wrapping this holiday season
Kenansville
The James Sprunt Community College Foundation is offering gift wrapping services this Christmas season. For a donation, foundation staff will wrap your gifts for the community, staff, faculty and students. The foundation is located in the McGowen building, Room 130, on the main campus in Kenansville. For more information, contact Alex-Ann Huffman at 910-275-6135 or email ahuffman@jamessprunt. edu.
WALLACE from page A1
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
Deconstruction 4
THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA, following the Civil War until about 1900, challenged the country to reconstitute the Union North and the Confederate South into the “Re-United” States.
History gives this effort mixed reviews. The South experienced crushing punishment for supporting slavery and resented the new laws leveled against them. The North feared the freedmen integrating their cities, taking their jobs and spoiling their culture.
With great resolve, Congress passed three constitutional Reconstruction amendments that changed the course of history. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th defined citizenship rights and equal protections for all Americans, and the 15th secured the right for all eligible citizens to vote. The struggle to internalize the tragedy of the Civil War led to the 100year Civil Rights movement and continues today as we seek to afford peace and justice for all members of American society.
On Nov. 5, 2024, tiny Anson County voted Republican for only the second time since the Reconstruction Era. Settled along the Pee Dee River in 1750, Anson County’s population is 22,500, the median income is $42,000, 98% of the residents are U.S. citizens and 40% are black.
What were they thinking?
The conservative sweep of the 2024 election has demonstrated a desire to peel off the layers of accumulated bureaucracy. Americans want to be confident, not suspicious, of our leaders to fairly apply the law. Obscure regulations are yesterday’s tools of governance. The voters of Anson County may be asking for a “Deconstruction Era.”
In November, 46% of all voters aged 18-29 voted Republican, up 10 points from 2020. The media and Hollywood endorsements could not prevent the younger generation from placing their bet on a thriving, innovative economy if given the right combination of education and incentive. Conservative innovators appealed to the entrepreneurial spirit of the younger worker, fed on the idea of realizing their dream job. For some, it was building the family legacy; for others, the shiny objects of the future, like cryptocurrency and AI, appealed to their sense of adventure.
What was once a noble effort to raise awareness for women’s rights morphed into a rant of unfulfilled promises. This fall, fewer women voted for the liberal agenda than in 2022.
The goal to elevate women to a level playing field has compromised the game, leaving young women unprotected on the field and in the classroom. The original mission of the movement devolved into a
single voting issue that many younger women could not support. The hope of many to raise a family defeated the demand for unrestricted abortion.
Expect to hear more about the other A word: adoption.
Another A word: aspiration. Bill Clinton knew “it’s the economy, stupid” in 1992. The 2024 voters knew it also. They recognized that the economy cannot function if it is shackled in regulation, stuck with a combustion engine in a hybrid world. The case was made not by politicians but by the greatest minds in manufacturing, technology and finance today. These innovators campaigned for conservatism with confidence and enthusiasm, saying America is not broken; it is disabled with debt.
You can almost hear the citizens of Anson saying, “How can I get some of that?” While the liberal media was reporting the dire condition of our country, Americans were watching the SpaceX Starship hit the mark on the docking station. Nothing but net.
The big loser in the 2024 election was identity politics. To the race-baiting industry, RIP.
The fault line of our two-party system has been blurred by shared friendships, experiences, diverse families and cultures. Our country is no longer a paintby-numbers canvas where voters are stereotyped by color. We are a collage of dynamic, broad brushstrokes with an infinite palette. The paint will not go back into the tube. The free expression of multiethnic, workingclass Americans may have created a renaissance unimagined in 2022.
The big winner was education. Polls suggest this was the biggest factor in the election outcome. William Galston said it best in The Wall Street Journal: The liberal party has shifted from the factory floor to the faculty club. Conservative values have trumped envy and elitism. We witnessed the awesome power of American ingenuity and the muscle of volunteers who responded to the biblical devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. No questions asked.
President Abraham Lincoln struggled with Reconstruction. Before his assassination, he conjured the 10% Plan, a “Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction.” In part, the Southern states could rejoin the Union when 10% of the people in that state took the oath of allegiance to the United States.
Let us consider a “Deconstruction Plan” for the United States. Imagine the debt reduced by 10% and allegiance to our new administration increased by 10%. A pollster would tell you that is a 20-point swing, a solid foundation for a prosperous future.
Connie Lovell lives in Pinehurst.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Key NC asset: low energy costs
To the Editor: I was surprised and disappointed to see executives of Parkdale Mills blame the imminent closure of their company’s Sanford textile plant, laying off 74 workers, on an alleged “rapid increase in energy costs, which has rendered our business model unsustainable.” Nonsense.
The reality is that North Carolina’s energy costs are well below the national average; electricity rates will decrease Jan. 1; our state’s economy is booming; and longstanding, unrelated trade issues plague Parkdale, which has closed factories throughout the low-cost Southeast.
As Parkdale CEO Andy Warlick noted last year in testimony to Congress, America’s textile industry is struggling because of an archaic and unfair “de minimis” trade policy that lets foreign producers and e-commerce distributors such as Shein and Temu export goods here in small batches (under $800 each) to avoid import tariffs.
In his almost 4,000-word plea for help, Warlick did not mention energy costs or electricity a single time. He had no reason to.
Manufacturers and other major energy users such as data centers are flocking to North Carolina in part because our electricity is affordable, reliable and plentiful. Our industrial electricity rates are 23% below the national average. North Carolina is a less expensive place to do business than most other states, thanks also to its low taxes, favorable regulatory environment, modest construction costs, affordable cost of living and well-trained workforce.
Parkdale Mills faces serious economic challenges that Congress should address. But claiming that North Carolina’s energy costs are high is to spin a mighty yarn indeed.
Linda Hunt Williams lives in Sanford and formerly served in the state house.
Climate change was the big election loser
A FEW DAYS BEFORE last week’s election, Bernie Sanders issued a dire warning to voters: “If Donald Trump is elected, the struggle against climate change is over.” He had that right.
Climate change fanaticism was effectively on the ballot last week. The green energy agenda was decisively defeated. It turns out that the tens of millions of middle - class Americans who voted for Trump weren’t much interested in the temperature of the planet 50 years from now. They’re too busy trying to pay the bills. That result shouldn’t be too surprising. Every poll in recent years has shown climate change ranks near the bottom of voter concerns. Jobs, inflation and illegal immigration register much higher on the scale of concerns.
But if you asked the elite of America in the top 1% of income, climate change is seen as an immediate and existential threat to the planet. Our poll at Unleash Prosperity earlier this year found that the cultural elites were so hyperobsessed with climate issues, they were in favor of banning air conditioning, nonessential air travel and many modern home appliances to stop global warming. Our study showed that not many of the other 99% agree.
Wake up, Bernie and Al Gore.
Climate change has become the ultimate luxury good: The richer you are, the more you fret about it.
Among the elite, obsessing about climate change has become a favorite form of virtue signaling at the country club and in the faculty lounges. There is almost no cross the green elites — the people who donate six figures or more to groups like the Sierra Club — aren’t willing to make lower-income Americans bear to stop global warming.
Herein lies the political curse of the climate issue. A millionaire doesn’t care much if the price of gas rises by $1 per gallon or if they have to pay another $100 a month in utility bills. But the middle-class hates paying more. It wasn’t just economic concerns that turned voters against climate crusaders like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Workers weren’t too thrilled with the heavy fist of government commanding them to buy an electric vehicle — whether they wanted one or not.
It hasn’t helped the greens’ cause that the same progressives out to save the planet with grandiose transformations and global government seem to have no problem with the garbage polluting the streets of our major cities, or the graffiti or the feces and urine smell on the street corners of San Francisco and New
York City. That’s real pollution. And it’s affecting us here and now.
The good news is, this year’s voter revolt against the radical green agenda isn’t a vote for dirtier air or water. The air we breathe and the water we drink is cleaner than ever — a point that Trump correctly made. We will continue to make progress against pollution.
But the nonsense of “net zero” use of fossil fuels is a bridge way too far. The destruction of jobs historically held by blue-collar union workers ripped right into the heart of the Democratic Party’s traditional voting base.
In their zeal to save the planet, Democrats forgot to visit the steel mills, construction sites and auto plants to ask those workers what they thought.
Well, now we know. Americans recognize their shrinking paychecks and the higher price of gas they pay at the pump is the real clear and present danger to their way of life. If Democrats don’t start to get that, they too will go to bed worrying about their jobs.
Stephen Moore is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He is also an economic adviser to the Trump campaign. His new book, coauthored with Arthur Laffer, is “The Trump Economic Miracle.”
COLUMN | CONNIE LOVELL
COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE
LINDA HUNT WILLIAMS
their best efforts, resulting in several overdoses. He explained that despite conducting strip searches, some individuals managed to smuggle items by hiding them in body cavities.
“An actual strip search is probably the most invasive thing you can do here, as far as our staff, but even that does not keep contraband from getting in the back,” said Stokes.
To address the problem, Stokes worked with Commissioner Wayne Branch, the Board of County Commissioners and the Opioid Settlement Funds Board to secure funding to purchase the body scanner.
“Everybody who comes into the facility now is scanned,” said Stokes, adding that in the short time they had the scanner they’ve already stopped contraband and drugs from getting into the jail. “If there’s anything that we question, we’ll send them over to the hospital and once they clear them, they can come back.”
Stokes explained that in the past when they conducted a strip search on someone suspected of concealing something, they had to establish reasonable suspicion, obtain a search warrant and then take them to the hospital for a more thorough examination.
He added that the challenge was that they had no way of knowing whether people had
to stick to them even if they get complaints.
“We’re going to follow the letter of the law. And that’s what we’re doing,” he explained, mentioning that they are in the process of updating some ordinances. “We operate based on the law that is given to us to work from.”
Additionally, Connors noted that anyone seeking information from the town can do so by filling out a request form.
“Ask for it or email a request in so we can have paper trails showing who asked for this information and how we responded to them,” he said.
During the same meeting, Commissioner Ebony Willis-Wells addressed Connors.
“I want to know why several mornings that I wake up, my family, myself and I see the mayor at the corner of my driveway,” said Willis-Wells. “There’ll be mornings that I come home, and it’s wee hours of the morning and the mayor is sitting out there as well.”
Willis-Well questioned the use of tax dollars and emphasized that monitoring her activities is not part of the mayor’s job.
“If we are paying the mayor to drive around to watch me, then the town should cancel that project because that is not what his job is,” she said. “If we have a policy that is in place for the mayor to drive a town vehicle, it does not authorize him to sit at the corner
drugs in their system or hidden in their bodies.
Another challenge they have faced is that individuals who have been incarcerated for a while often have reduced tolerance to substances, and if someone enters with drugs, it can lead to other problems.
“If (inmates) get a hold of it, that’s when you have an overdose and possibly a death,” said Stokes. “Everybody here at the jail has been trained with Narcan. Unfortunately, we’ve had to use it several times.”
Stokes added that since they installed the body scan, they haven’t experienced any overdose incidents and hope that continues.
“We wanted an extra level of protection for everybody,” said Stokes. “We’ve even had officers exposed to possible fentanyl. It’s just dangerous for everybody, the staff, the inmates.”
Commissioner Wayne Branch, who serves on the committee responsible for opioid funds allocation, told Duplin Journal that when it was brought to their attention that other counties effectively used these funds to purchase similar scanners, it was an obvious choice.
“It was somewhat of a no-brainer ,” said Branch. “And the end result is safety. Is safety for the sheriff’s department, the staff, as well as the individual that’s coming inside of the facility, anything that’s going to make us more safe, make us more efficient. I’m
of my street,” said Willis-Wells.
“Mayor Connors, there is no purpose for you to be sitting at the corner of my driveway or my property watching me as I’m going or coming. We gave you authorization to drive the vehicles but not at your leisure. And it must be business-related. As a citizen, we know that there are commissioners as well as elected officials who have conflict of interest in various forms.”
In an interview with Duplin Journal, Connors said he has only been on Willis-Wells’ property once.
“I have not been on her property but one time, and that was with one of our individuals from public works when he had a water leak,” said Connors. “I’ve been on Victoria and Addylin. I turn on Addylin, which is over a football field length from her house — nowhere near her house.
“I’ve been on Addylin, which is in my rights because I am the mayor and I can travel on any street in Warsaw that I deem fit to deal with. So she’s telling a lie when she says I’ve been on her property or I’ve been in her driveway. Victoria Street is the town of Warsaw’s street. Addylin is a town of Warsaw street. And that’s the only place she’s seen me at is on Addylin.”
Connors emphasized that he is permitted to use town vehicles at his discretion when handling matters related to the town of Warsaw.
“There’s no streets that I’m
all about it. We voted unanimously in support of moving forward with the funds to purchase this device. I’m really happy that it’s here, it’s installed, and it’s already doing things to help keep the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department and their staff, as well as those inmates that come in here, safe. So it was easy peasy to go ahead and do what’s right and what’s in the best interest of our citizens to keep everyone safe.”
Stokes shared that they began working on this project in April, coordinating with the Opioid Settlement Funds Board, County Commissioners and the Health Department to obtain the necessary license from the Depart-
barred from because they belong to the town of Warsaw,” said Connors.
Willis-Wells also addressed Town Manager Lea Turner during the meeting, requesting that her concerns be documented for public record. She noted the lack of response from the town manager to her phone calls and text messages regarding issues affecting town citizens.
Willis-Wells also noted there hasn’t been any update from the town manager regarding the $7.5 million grant, expressing her concern about how this funding is supposed to be allocated before the deadline to use the money expires. Turner remained quiet as Willis-Wells continued to ask questions, pointing out that the town manager did not include in her report that the wastewater treatment plant received another notice of violation on Nov. 6 and questioned why that information was not being shared.
“DEQ is providing the town with notices of violations as well as civil penalties,” said Willis-Wells, adding that the town manager has the authority to contest those civil penalties and asking if she had responded.
Willis-Wells noted the importance of the town manager responding back within the 10day timeframe.
“I think as commissioners, we should receive updates when the town manager does meet with DEQ and the state, and we should not be blindsided to re-
ment of Health and Human Services to ensure safety since it involves radiation.
“All the staff got these little cards they wear just to protect them against exposure,” Stokes said. “We got to turn them in every three months. It’s taken a long process, but everybody worked together. And now we have it.”
Stokes explained that the body scanner also enables them to keep track of how many times a person is exposed to radiation, and that if they were exposed to the maximum safe dose in a year, the machine would not scan them. He also shared that the body scanner is straightforward and takes about two hours of training.
ceive the information after the fact.”
Willis-Wells concluded by emphasizing the importance of transparency. She stated that the town is responsible for anything that affects the wastewater treatment plant and highlighted the need to hold industrial users accountable for their impact on it.
During an interview, Willis-Wells told Duplin Journal that it’s time for the town to take a stand, do what is right and prioritize transparency in addressing these challenges.
“Our leadership knows what’s right,” Willis-Wells said. “But so much has been brushed under the road from the previous administration to this current administration. And we’re not being transparent.”
The commissioner explained that it was the town manager’s duty to enforce permit compliance, but ultimately it was the town board’s responsibility to hold her accountable.
“That’s what she was hired to do and handle,” said Willis-Wells. “But at the end of the day, as you know, as a commissioner, we’re her boss. So it’s our job as commissioners to hold her accountable to do her job. I ask for total transparency at every meeting. And as I said, I get pushback. I’m only one voice for the people. And it’s going to take all the other voices to stand up.”
Duplin Journal asked Connors to share about the status of the $7.5 million grant.
“The biggest thing is once you start getting the photos of the individuals, that’s where you have to have training and really look and try to see if there’s any type of drugs or contraband inside the body,” explained Stokes. “A lot of it is just on-the-job training. You’ve got to get in there and look at it because every person is different. And you have to know the anatomy of the human body.”
Capt. Will Thurton noted that operators don’t need to take immediate action other than recognizing something suspicious in someone’s body. He explained that if an officer identifies something unusual, the individual will be evaluated by a certified X-ray technician at the hospital who can determine if what’s observed is normal or requires further investigation.
“And let the medical experts actually dig a little deeper into it,” said Thurton. “All this is pretty much an awareness level, recognizing that something does not appear to be right. Now, of course, like weapons or knives, things like that will immediately show up and they’ll be completely visible, no question about that. But if they’ve swallowed something internally or put something into a body cavity, you know, if it looks abnormal to one of our officers utilizing the instrument, then we’ll carry them for further review and let a medical technician actually take a look at them and see what’s going on.”
“The $7.5 million was given to us under the cloud that it would be to increase the size of the waste treatment plant,” said Connors, explaining that this amount is insufficient because $44 million is needed to expand the plant to meet future demands.
“The engineers have laid out a plan of the cost to increase the size of the waste treatment plant, so they have that report. It’s not like we’re just sitting here.”
Connors stated he requested approval from the board to change the language of the grant and to present it to state Sen. Brent Jackson and state Rep. Jimmy Dixon for approval to amend the grant language.
“We’re just waiting for the Senate to get into the session,” Connors explained. “Hopefully, they will give us the OK to go ahead and change the word of that grant from increase to improve. Then we can take the $7.5 million and start working on projects and things that hopefully will help us out more at the waste treatment plant until we can get the $44 million.”
Duplin Journal also contacted Turner for comment but received no response.
Since the meeting, an online petition has circulated calling for an investigation of all operational departments over the last five years and the resignation of three town officials.
This article is part one of a two-part series.
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Chief Deputy Phil Humphrey, Sheriff Stratton Stokes and Commissioner Wayne Branch stand next to the jail’s new body scanner, Tek84 Intercept, at the Duplin County Jail on Nov. 14. Branch played an instrumental role aiding the Sheriff’s Office to secure funding for the new technology.
WARSAW from page A1
DUPLIN SPORTS
Tigers warm up to playoffs with dusting of Blue Jackets
James Kenan won its 10th game of the season in the first round of 2A playoffs and play at No. 5 Martin County on Friday
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WARSAW — No. 12 East 2A seed James Kenan was efficient in pushing past first-round playoff foe and No. 21 Roanoke Rapids 35-13 last Friday at Bill Taylor Field.
Jeremiah Hall and Josh Mitchell charged up the offense, while Tyquise Wilson and Keyshawn Murray each delivered a pick-six in the second half to thwart comeback-drive attempts by the Blue Jackets.
The Tigers won their first playoff game since 2022 when they toppled Camden County 41-10 in head coach Tim Grady’s second season.
JK has advanced to the second round for just the second time since 2015, when the
Tigers fell to Wallace-Rose Hill in the East Region final (fourth round). That had also been the most recent time JK had double-digit wins (12-2).
The Tigers and fourth-seeded Bulldogs are on another postseason collision course if both roll into the third round.
That Duplin County showdown would be in Wallace, site of WRH’s 17-14 victory in the final game of the regular season that left the two tied for the ECC title. It was also the Bulldogs’ 12th straight win in the JK series, which it leads 46-28. No. 12 James Kenan (10 -1) visits No. 5 Martin County (9 -3) in Williamston; No. 4 Wallace-Rose Hill (9-3) hosts No. 20 Southwest Edgecombe (6-5).
Shepherd and Sheppard key Gators’ attack
The Martin County Gators (8-3) are beatable if a team can contain quarterback Jysen Shepherd (83-133 for 1,115
yards, 13 TDs) and running back Jah Sheppard (175-1,524, 25 TDs), though that is a tall task.
Wideouts Anthony Killebrew (40-639, 7 TDs), Kwahi Basnight (42-526, 7 TDs) and Noah Congleton (12-120, 4 TDs) are capable catch-and-run players.
Martin County has gone 2-2 in its last four games, though one loss was to perennial power Tarboro, the No. 1 seed in the 1A East, which won the Four Rivers 2A/1A Conference. Martin County’s other two setbacks came 16-14 to Bertie (16-14) and at North Pitt (34-32), both of which are 4-5.
The Gators were second in Four Rivers league play with a 3-2 mark.
The school consolidated the athletic programs at Riverside and South Creek in January. Hunter Jinks is 41-10 since coming to coach the Gators. He has coached at Clayton, Vance
Bulldogs burn through Pam Pack as Brown tops 1,000-yard mark
No. 4 Wallace-Rose Hill dropkicks Washington and advances to host upset-seeking Southwest Edgecombe
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WALLACE — Building momentum.
That’s perhaps the best way to describe the recent trend at Wallace-Rose Hill, which beat Washington 27-13 in the first round of the 2A playoffs at the Jack Holley Football Complex.
The eighth win in nine games for the No. 4 Bulldogs (8-3), who led 20-0 in the third quarter. After the game there were numerous “shout-out” players and high marks for a defense that once again limited the opposition to two touchdowns.
• Running back Irving Brown ran for his 13th touchdown and had his first score of the season as a receiver. In addition, the senior ran for 152 yards and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season while scoring for the 64th time in his career.
It was his fourth consecutive 100-yard game. He’s averaging 162 yards during that span.
• Jamarae Lamb continued his rising-star status by running for 78 yards on 15 carries and a score. The junior running back (153-1,215) was 12 yards shy of his eighth 100-yard game, having gone for that much on all six ECC schools he faced.
Lamb added a 30-yard catch to his card. He is third in the Duplin Journal-area in rushing to ED’s Shawn Davis (143-1,298, 17 TDs) and ND’s Carell Phillips (154-1,468, 25 TDs). Brown, who missed time with an injury is at fourth with yards (1,046) and third in touchdowns (13).
• It was the seventh time in eight games that the WRH defense held its opposition to two touchdown scores or fewer. The Bulldogs are giving up 18 points per game, six less on average than they did in 2023. The No. 29 Pam Pack was unable to run the ball effectively and got both of its scores on fourth-down plays.
Yet there were things that won’t bode well for the next round and beyond. WRH had
more than 4,365
East Duplin rallies from a 13-0 deficit on the road for its first signature win of the season; No. 24 West Craven is next on Friday in Vanceboro
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
ST. PAULS — The East Duplin football team picked up a significant win last Friday by “upsetting” No. 8 St. Pauls 33-13, even after the Robeson County school scored the first touchdowns of the game.
Yet it was hardly unexpected by alert fans, as the Bull-
dogs were outcoached by ED coach Battle Holley’s chew-upthe-clock offense that used long drives to tally the final 33 points.
The win gives the Panthers a shot this week at avenging a loss earlier this season at second-round foe West Craven. It also kept ED (now 6-5) from finishing with a sub-.500 mark for the season.
Holly’s lone nonwinning year came when the Panthers went 3-4 during the COVID-19 season of 2020 that was shortened to seven regular season games and postponed to spring 2021.
The Panthers’ offense kept the ball for more than 28 minutes. St. Pauls had possession for just over 20 minutes.
“It was a big win for us, and it’s what we’ll have to do against West Craven,” Holley said. “It felt like we played East Duplin football. We converted on fourth down a lot (four of four times). It will come down to taking care of the football and not giving up big plays.”
ED spotted St. Pauls 13 points and then used the running of Shawn Davis (29-228, 3 TDs) and Aaron Hall (22-111, TD) to dominate the next three quarters.
No. 25 seed East Duplin lost to Eastern Plains 2A Conference foe and No. 24 West
EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLINJOURNAL
Ty Morrisey, left, and Josh Mitchell have been key defensive players for the 10-1 Tigers.
THURMAN PARKER
Landen Bond, Calvin Harperand and East Duplin upended St. Pauls and will travel to in the second round for a rematch with West Craven.
PJ WARD-BROWN / DUPLIN JOURNAL Irving Brown has ran for
yards in three seasons and has 64 career touchdowns.
’Dawgs fall to Stallions to end 22-win season
Wallace-Rose Hill advanced to the third round of the 2A playoffs for the second consecutive season, going 39-9-4 over that stretch
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — Rain fell throughout the match, and the Bulldogs soccer pitch and what would be the final goal of Chris Mejia’s prep career looked as if it would send Wallace-Rose Hill into the fourth round of the 2A playoffs.
But the equalizer with 18:35 left in the match and a score on a bobbled ball was all No. 7 Southeast Alamance needed to skate to a 2-1 upset of the No. 2 Bulldogs.
“We thought the rain would help us, but in the second half it made it more difficult,” said WRH coach Rodrigo Diaz, whose team whipped Jordan-Matthews 3-0 two days earlier. “They couldn’t score off us except for a header (from a corner kick). Then a bobble from our keeper and it’s a wrap.
“We shot well, had chances, especially in the first half.
Horses strike early to trip Tigers in fourth-round thriller
No. 1 Clinton scored twice in the first 12 minutes to beat No. 13 James Kenan, advancing to the East Region final
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CLINTON — Immediately after beating Seaforth 3-0, James Kenan coach Mitchell Quinn said his team needed to score the first goal in the Tigers’ fourth-round 2A playoff matchup against Clinton on Saturday on the Dark Horses’ turf.
JK put the first one in on Sept. 9 on the same field during a 3-1 loss.
Two early lightning bolts gave Clinton a lead it would hold onto to advance via a 2-1 win. The Dark Horses (26-2) got goals from Griffin Williams and David Paz in the first 12 minutes of play.
“It was not the kind of match we wanted, and I felt we weren’t ready for it mentally,” Quinn said. “Minute by minute, we got out of our game. I was happy we got to halftime to relax and rethink and plan.”
Ronald Ramirez cut the margin in half with his 16th score of the season. No. 1 Clinton, which plays No. 3 Greene Central (21-5) in the East Region finals. The winner takes on the West survivor of No. 1 Southwest Randolph (24-2) and No. 14 Lincolnton (20-5-1).
“We had a lot of close chances but couldn’t get that second one,” said Quinn, who has guided the Tigers to a 102-40 -11 mark in the past 12 seasons. “They’re a very good team, and when we lost to them and they moved to
of this fall’s crown, advanced to the fourth round in 2022 before falling 1-0 to Manteo.
JK finished 17-5-1 in swansong season for senior striker Peter Omega, who scored twice in a 3-1 win over Seaforth on Friday. The Tigers scored two of the 13 goals allowed by Clinton this fall. The Horses whipped WRH (5-1) and ED (8-2) during the regular season, with their lone hiccups coming via losses to Franklin Academy and Croatan.
“Not a lot of people thought we would be this good or go this deep,” Quinn said. “And again, I felt we could easily have won the first game against Clinton. So, it’s been a very satisfying season.”
No. 1, I thought, ‘Where does that leave us,’ because I felt we could have won that game from the chances we had.”
Dark Horsez coach Brad Spell has built a program in which the East Region title runs through annually. Yet he’s had spirited matches against JK, Wallace-Rose Hill and East Duplin the past 15 years.
His team ruled before a crowd of more than 800 people.
“I thought we played defensively really well,” Spell said. “We shifted, tucked in and contained the pressure. Of all the opponents we faced this season, JK, in my opinion, has been the scariest.
“Their speed and offensive pressure are hard to handle, but we stepped up and protected our turf as a unit. Congrats to JK and coach Quinn on a very successful season.”
Quinn, who pushed the Tigers to at least a share of four-consecutive ECC titles and beat WRH twice to nab a chunk
Junior Robert Ordones scored the first goal against Seaforth during the 4 p.m. matinee start for the No. 13 Tigers. It stayed that way despite a number of quality chances by JK in the first half.
“I’m not sure how he got on that side since he’s left-footed,” Quinn said.
Ramirez assisted on Omega’s first goal with 7:35 left in the match on a long shot he bent into the corner of the cage where no keeper could touch it.
He added a score about two minutes later.
“It was a hard-fought, and I was worried until the second or third goal,” Quinn said.
JK’s midfield play and defense pushed the ball in front of the goalie the bulk of the second half. Tigers keeper Emerson Gomez made two great saves.
“I told our guys at halftime that if they don’t’ have the ball they can’t score, and that possession is key to us controlling the game,” Quinn said.
Southeast is a quality team. They are skilled, technical and well-coached, and they were all over Alex (Zepeda).”
Zepeda, an all-state striker with 47 goals, had at least four opportunities to score. Steven Acosta, Josthin Alvarado, Cristian Calderon and Mejia all had chances as well.
Mejia nearly scored two minutes before his goal after being set up by Zepeda. The second time was almost 10 minutes later.
Zepeda’s shot with 15:54 left hit the top cross bar. He had one-on-one, one-on-two, two shots inside the box and a couple of long-range rockets that were also just off target.
The first-half rain seemed to be a lubricant for both teams. It made for a soggy field in the second half, though did not drastically affect the outcome.
The Stallions’ Cinderella run ended on Saturday with a 4-2 loss to No. 3 Greene Central (21-5), which will face No. 1 Clinton in the East Region final.
The Dark Horses nipped James Kenan 2-1 on Saturday.
Zepeda scored twice and Eliel Estrada added a cage ringer during a 3-0 win in the third round over the Jets.
“We came out with intensi-
TIGERS from page B1
County and South Johnston. He went 29-3 in three seasons as the Comets’ top man and left in August of 2019 amid a scandal at Clayton. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the school district.
Yet Friday’s matchup could come down to the his players, and not the coaching staff.
JK will be favored. Its loss to WRH took the Tigers from the No.1 seed to No. 12.
WRH hosts No. 20 Southwest Edgecombe (6-5) in what looks like a Bulldog-flavored matchup, even though SWE crushed No. 13 Burlington Cummings (8-3).
Tigers race to lead, respond to Jackets’ pushes
JK scored on two of its three first-half possessions to stake a 13-0 halftime lead in a half in which a recovered onside kickoff following a score by Roanoke Rapids trimmed it to 13-7.
The Tigers marched to the Jackets’ 18 in their final possession before the second-quarter clock expired after JK’s Cal Avent, Hassan Kornegay and Ty Morrisey converged on a ball carrier on fourth-and-2 to turn the ball over to the Tigers 1:13 before the extended intermission.
JK needed 10 plays to cover 74 yards and go in front 7-0 af-
ty and took control against a school with a very respectable program,” Diaz said.
The win reversed a 1-0 decision last season in the third-round that ended WRH’s campaign.
The Bulldogs finished 22- 4 -2, their best mark since going 20-5 during Diaz’s second season at WRH in 2019.
“We had a special group of boys all working together and battling every day,“ Diaz said. “We beat Franklin Academy and Greene Central during a schedule that helped us get the No. 2 seed. We don’t duck anyone and want to play the best teams.”
WRH loses nine seniors, four of which were starters.
“We had a lot of guys step up,” Diaz said. “It was a great season. Yet the margin of error in the ECC was slim. Two losses to James Kenan forged a three-way tie between the Tigers, Panthers and Bulldogs atop the final standings. WRH won it outright in 2023. JK won the previous three seasons.
Zepeda left as one of the biggest scorers in WRH history, following in the footsteps of Hector Reyes-Zevala (2018-19) and Maynor Espinosa (2014-16).
ter Emerson Gomez’s PAT. Mitchell (10-95) hit pay dirt from the 6 after runs of 13, 10 and 14 yards during the march. Eli Avent connected with Wilson for nine yards on fourth-and-4 from the Roanoke 28.
Hall (14-123) had an 11-yard effort and scored from the 4 to push it to 14-0. He had a sprint of 13 and eight yards during the nine-play march, which also included two totes from Wilson that totaled 16 yards and took it to the 8. Defensive ends Dakota Henderson and defensive backs Wilson and Jacquez Smith made key tackles to force the three-and-out before the second score.
A bad snap on a punt gave JK the ball at the Roanoke 38 early in the third quarter.
Avent scored for the eighth time this season with a quarterback sneak after Mitchell and Hall stormed the ball to the 1 in six plays.
Roanoke made it 21-13 seven snaps later as Bobby Hawkins (24-93) scored from the 22. Murray scored from 32 yards and Wilson from 49 following interceptions that came 2:15 apart. It was the fourth of the season for Wilson.
Kornegay paced JK in tackles with 16 and has a team-high 155 for the season. Morrisey had 13 and is at 105 for the fall. Cal Avent had 11, Wilson eight and Hall and Smith five apiece.
EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Chris Mejia scored the final goal of his career and the final score for WRH during a 2-1 loss to Southeast Halifax in the third round of the 2A playoffs.
EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
James Kenan goalie Emerson Gomez played a soccer game at 4 p.m. on Friday and kicked PATs for the football team later that night.
EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
The Tigers won their first playoff game since 2022 and will now play at fifthseeded Martin County on Friday.
Turnovers, penalties burn Wildcats in loss to Gryphons
Richlands’ miscues caught up with the Wildcats late in a first-round playoff loss to Rocky Mount
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
ROCKY MOUNT — In the end, what got Richlands during a 24-7 loss to No. 15 Rocky Mount in the first round of the 3A playoffs were self-inflicted wounds: fumbles, interceptions and turnovers.
Yet even more meaningful were the memories of a Wildcats team that went 9-2.
And fourth-year coach Pat Byrd remembers the ties that bound his team together, and winning was a byproduct.
“It’s been a fun ride,” said Byrd, whose second team in 2021 went 0-8.
“I do wish it had ended better for this group. They helped me get through my mother’s death, and we’ve went through all kinds of things together. From their personal and family problems and tragedies to whatever came up.
“We were there for one another, and watching them handle the success we had and their growth has been special. They’ve been my refuge. They’ve helped me more than I helped them”
Perhaps not.
Byrd spearheaded a birth of competitiveness in the Wild-
cats that hasn’t been seen in Richlands in a long time, perhaps never, and at least long enough ago that few people remember the program as a contender.
“We had a heck of a season,” Byrd said. “We’ve never done what we did at the 3A level.
“Our defense played extremely well, and other than penalties and turnovers, we’re right there.”
Richlands quarterback Caleb Simco scored to cut the lead to 14-7 early in the third quarter, and the Wildcats got a three-and-out, hoping for a game-tying drive.
“We get to their 39 and fumble the football,” Byrd said. “We had our chances. We have four running back fumbles. We get a stop at the 2 and drive down only to turn it over. They kick a field goal to make it 177, and we’re still not panicking. We know we have to score and throw an interception. Just too many mistakes.”
The Gryphons (7-4) won for the fourth time in five tries as Jack McKellar recovered three fumbles, and Ryan Jones and Isaiah Silver had interceptions.
Rocky Mount travels to No. 2 Seventy-First (11-0) on Friday.
“We had penalties on both sides of the ball,” Byrd said. “False starts, holding calls, facemask grabbing. We probably had 13 of 14 flags thrown
at us. But (Rocky Mount) had three stinking good running backs and a good team we helped with our mistakes.”
Richlands pauses as a flock of seniors left a mark on a school not known for its success in football.
Until now.
“It was a tough after-game speech,” Byrd said. “It’s hard to sum up what these kids have done for themselves, one another, our school and the community. This made it even more important to be an example, knowing there were 80 to 90 eyes on me each day. We handled things the only way you can: together and with God.”
Richlands beat longtime rivals East Duplin this season to break a long streak and added victories over Southwest Onslow and Princeton the previous two seasons. The Wildcats lost just three times in Coastal Conference play the past three seasons.
Richlands won its most games since 2003 and the fourth most in school history. A loss to White Oak dropped the Wildcats’ stock when the NCHSAA seeded the field.
Nonetheless, Byrd raised the bar for Richlands, and his Wildcats responded in a big way.
Richlands has just six football coaches for its varsity and junior varsity teams, making it all the more difficult climb.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED
BILL CARONE
BY
Bill Carone
Peter Omega
James Kenan, soccer
Peter Omega had a sensational season, leading the James Kenan soccer team to the third round of the 2A playoffs.
His goal was the difference when the Tigers beat No. 4 Franklin Academy 1-0 win last Tuesday in second-round action.
Two days later, he scored twice during a 2-1 win over Seaforth.
No. 1 Clinton beat James Kenan 2-1 on Saturday as the Tigers finished 17-5-1.
Omega tallied 31 goals after netting 35 as a junior. While he’s generally the fastest player on the sod, his dribbling, passing and playmaking skills are far better than most of his peers.
BULLDOGS from page B1
three lost fumbles and two interceptions. And some of the turnovers came deep in Washington territory.
“Our last two games should have been shutouts,” said WRH coach Kevin Motsinger. “We found ways to win against a well-coached football team. We’ve got to protect the football, and if we do that, we can play with anyone. We’re a lot like everyone in that we do our best to cover up what is not strong.”
Cougars of the wild, wild Eastern Plains 2A
Up on Friday is a visit from another school from the Eastern Plains 2A Conference.
All seven of the loop’s schools got into the playoffs. Ayden-Grifton won the league crown at 4-1, with four other schools at 3-3 and two at 2-4 it was the wild, wild East of parity.
Nine of the 16 teams left in the 2A East are from the ECC or Eastern Plains Conference. Little is known about the No. 20 Cougars, despite a 40 -12 lashing it put on No. 13 Cummings (8-3) in Burlington.
“They are big up front and athletic,” Motsinger said.
“They’ve always had folks and they always will.
“They have a very athletic sophomore quarterback,
tough kids up front and seven that can run the ball, even using a 260-pound kid to run in short-yardage situations. They just want to pound you.” Running backs Tyson Ayers, Kia Hopkins and Jayvean Sprull, and receivers Justin Brigers (6-5, 195) and Ricky Smith are tools for lefty quarterback Devion Mayo.
Yet the bulk and power in the trenches comes from DT/ TE Quay Darden (6-5 300), center/DT Emmanuel Deberry (6-3, 289) and linemen Parker Gay (6-2, 250), Ryan Taylor (6-4, 310) and Samauri White (6-3, 230).
Motsinger was happy with the win last Friday, but less happy over the performance.
“An open week and we looked flat, and if that happens again it will be time to turn the equipment back in,” he said. “We played well defensively the first half. But I think we feel good about where we are right now.
“We’re getting better.”
A win could mean a rematch with No. 12 James Kenan (10-1) in the third round in Wallace. WRH beat JK 17-14 in the regular season finale to win the ECC even though both had a league loss. WRH has won 18-15 on Oct. 4 and then toppled Kinston, ED and JK in consecutive weeks.
After that, the target could be No. 1 Northeastern (11-0).
THURMAN PARKER
Caleb Simco’s running score was the only time Richlands dented the scoreboard as turnover and mistakes helped Rocky Mount to a 24-7 win.
SIDELINE REPORT
NCAA BASKETBALL
Pitino defeats son in latest coaching clash as No. 22 St. John’s tops New Mexico
New York Rick Pitino defeated his son in their latest coaching clash as No. 22 St. John’s passed its first real test this season, topping New Mexico 85-71. All five starters scored in double figures for the Red Storm to make a winner of their Hall of Fame coach in a family affair at Madison Square Garden. Richard Pitino, coach of the Lobos, fell to 1-3 in matchups against his father. The previous two losses came when Rick Pitino was at Louisville. Richard Pitino beat his dad’s Iona team two years ago at The Pit.
NCAA FOOTBALL
LSU coach Kelly screams at one player, gets yelled at by another in loss at Florida Gainesville, Fla.
LSU coach Brian Kelly was caught on camera screaming at one player and getting yelled at by another. The sideline scenes were clear signs of frustration as LSU lost a third consecutive game, 27-16 at unranked Florida. The LSU fanbase might be out of patience with Kelly. The coach appeared to get into it with receiver Chris Hilton in the first half. Late in the third quarter, cameras captured receiver Kyren Lacy yelling at Kelly on the sideline after an empty possession.
TAKE NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
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
Craven 34-29 on Aug. 30 in Vanceboro.
The winner will meet the survivor of No. 1 seed Northeastern (11-0) and No. 17 Greene Central (7-4), also an Eastern Plains school. So will No. 4 Wallace-Rose Hill, as it hosts No. 20 Southwest Edgecombe (6-5).
Ayden-Grifton captured the league title, yet every school in the loop took turns beating up on its fellow-league foes to create five dangerous schools as trouble-making underdogs in the 2A East bracket.
East Duplin’s East Central 2A Conference also fared well with ED, WRH, James Kenan and Kinston moving into the second round.
A-G won its league with a 5-1 mark, four schools went 3-3, while WC and SWE were both 2-4 in loop play.
“Nine of the 16 teams left in the East are from those two conferences,” Holley said.
“Most of those teams and the ones from our conference are pretty equal. Right now, everyone’s suffering through injuries or things that didn’t go right. It’s about time for the teams that want to still be practicing and getting better.
“I think we’re better, and I’m sure West Craven is as well.”
Yet this time ED will have a healthy Davis as WC’s quarterback JD Davis looks to return to a form that saw him run and pass the Eagles past the Panthers.
The Panthers fullback’s ankle injury limited him to two carries for 10 yards in the first encounter.
“We’re going to have to control the ball and get some three-and-outs,” Holley said.
“Their quarterback is very explosive, and the corps of receivers dynamic. We know what they can do, and I think we’re better than what we were in the second game of the season.”
WC’s Davis missed several games because of an injury and also may have morphed back to health. The junior missed a month of the season but returned to throw for 357 yards and a touchdown and run for 114 yards and another score in a 65-34 win over No. 9 Nash Central.
“We’ve got to find a way to contain him,” said ED defensive coordinator Seth Sandlin, whose unit has given up two touchdowns or less in three its last four victories, sans nearly a three-TD 49-20 triumph over Southwest Onslow.
ED limited the Southeastern 2A Conference champs to
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
THURMAN PARKER
Aaron Hall has run for 711 yards and nine touchdowns this season for East Duplin.
12 first downs and 264 yards. Stopping the Bulldogs on third down eight of 12 times.
“We gave up a couple of big plays early, but it does help a lot when our offense holds onto ball like they did,” said Sandlin. “We had a lot of guys step up.”
Linebackers Luke Hughes (11 tackles), Landen Bond (seven tackles, sack, fumble recovery), D.J. Davis (eight tackles, two pass breakups) and Jordan Hall (10 tackles) had big efforts.
Davis cut the margin to 13-7 with a 31-yard push in the second quarter.
Quarterback Branson Norris connected with wide receiver Zachary Ball for a
30 -yard score to tie it in the third at 13-13. Davis gave ED a 20-13 lead with a 54-yard effort in the middle of the third. Hall and Davis added fourth-quarter touchdowns from close range. Hall scored from the 4 after a 15-play, 70 -yard march. Davis went in from the 3 after the ED defense sacked quarterback Theo Setzer on firstand-10 from his own 20 and one play later when Bond forced and recovered his fumble. Setzer (13-135) ran for first-quarter scores from 31 and 54 yards out to stake the home team to an early edge. He was 6-of-17 passing with an interception by D.J. Davis. His coun-
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
terpart Norris was 4 of 8 for 81 yards and didn’t have a pick.
Panther paws
Davis (143-1,298 yards, 17 TDs) is second in rushing and scores to North Duplin’s Carell Phillips (154-1,468, 25 TDs) among the six Duplin Journal-area schools. Norris had other completions to Garrett Sholar (25 yards), Bond (10) and caught one for five yards from JP Murphy. Aaron Hall (114-711, 9 TDs) in seventh in both categories. Norris (24-62 for 387 yards, 3 TDs) missed six games with a broken collarbone. Jordan Hall leads the team in tackles with 106. Hughes has 101, Calvin Harper 72 and Bond 64. PANTHERS from page B1
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
NOTICE OF AUCTION FOR NONPAYMENT
The storage units contents will be sold for nonpayment of storage rental fees. Bid amounts start at the price owed on the units. All payments must be remitted by cash or money order prior to Oct 11, 2024.
#5 – Rodriguez Alexander #58 – Belinda Blanton #60 - Deborah White # 35 – Andrea Hill
Eurla Johnson Lee
July 6, 1938 – Nov. 10, 2024
Eurla Johnson Lee, 86, of Wallace, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at her residence in Wallace.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witness in Rose Hill. Burial followed at Rose Hill Funeral Home Cemetery in Magnolia.
Left to cherish her precious memories: five sons, Pazel Lee of Magnolia, Darimus Lee of Wallace, Vernon Lee of Greenevers, Everette Lee of Jamaica Queens, New York, and Aubry Lee (April) of Jonesboro, Georgia; seven daughters, Ludina Johnson of Jamaica Queens, New York, Arlene Lytle (James) of Fayetteville, Wendy Johnson of Bushnell, Florida, Bridgette Jones of Teachey, Mylene Mathis (James) of Wallace, Daphne Wallace of Watha, and Rima Lee of Wallace; four brothers, Leon Lee of Bronx, New York, Anthony Lee of Charlotte, Andre Lee of Far Rockaway, New York, and Terry Stevenson (Anita) of Abingdon, Virginia; three sisters, Ann Marie Johnson of Roselle, New Jersey, Laura Johnson of Newark, Delaware, and Valorie Johnson of Staten Island, New York; 32 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.
Margaret Angelita Martin Johnson
July 4, 1928 – Nov. 11, 2024
Margaret Angelita Martin Johnson, 96, passed away Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 at The Gardens of Rose Hill. Mrs. Johnson was born July 4, 1928 in Duplin County, NC to the late Charlie and Lessie Summerlin Martin.
Visitation was Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 at Community Funeral Home in Rose Hill. A funeral service followed visitation in the funeral home chapel with burial concluding the service in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Johnson is survived by son, Dean Johnson and wife, Geraldine of Warsaw; daughters, Janet Frederick and husband, LeRoy of Warsaw, Joann B. Jones of Warsaw; special daughter, Marsha Ellis and husband, Frank of Rose Hill; brother, Billy Martin; sister, Eunice Simmons of Winston Salem; eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, four great-greatgrandchildren.. She was preceded in death by husband, David Richard Johnson; granddaughter, Susan Blanchard; brother, Wilbert Martin; and sisters, Martha Knowles and Della Hill.
Bee J. Lee
Sept. 15, 1932 – Nov. 18, 2024
Bee J. Lee, 92, Mount Olive resident, went to be with the Lord early Monday morning, Nov. 18, 2024. Death came as he was being cared for at Wayne UNC Hospital.
His family will receive friends at Mount Olive First Pentecostal Holiness Church on Thursday, Nov. 21, beginning at 12:30 p.m.with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m. at the church sanctuary. Pastor Jeffrey Dail will officiate. Burial will follow at Wayne Memorial Park.
Rev. Ronnie Allen Mohn
Sept. 17, 1947 – Nov. 10, 2024
Rev. Ronnie Allen Mohn, born Sept. 17, 1947, went to see our Heavenly Father on Nov. 10, 2024.
Ronnie is survived by his wife, Sherry Taylor Mohn, and four children, Michael A. Mohn (Amy), Sissy M. Turner (Larry), Tammy M. Brister, O. Bryan Mohn; seven grandchildren, Hali McCord (Andrew + 2), Matthew Mohn (Caitla +1) , Taylor Turner (Adriene + 2), Caleb Brister, Savannah Brister, Kyle Ryan (Chelsea + 3), Mariel Lodge (Connor); and sister, Lois Brown. Ronnie was a pastor for the Free Will Baptist denomination in eastern NC for 40 years. He served at Harrell’s Chapel FWB, Marlboro FWB, Mt. Zion FWB, Jackson Heights FWB, Owen’s Chapel FWB, First FWB Church in Williamston, Powhatan FWB, and Cape Colony FWB. Ronnie enjoyed fishing, golfing, trips to the NC mountains, singing in the choir. He spent hours studying God’s Word. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
Funeral service was Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, followed by visitation, at Sandy Plain Church, 949 NC 241 Hwy., Pink Hill. Interment was private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ministers Program, 500 Red Banks Rd. Suite C, Greenville, NC 27858 or Lesser Ministries, 164 Baker Road, Pink Hill, NC 28572.
Mavis G. Pigford
June 2, 1931 – Nov. 13, 2024
Mavis Pigford, Calypso resident, and a former longtime resident of Warsaw, passed away quietly at home Wednesday night, Nov. 13, 2024, surrounded by the love and devotion of her family.
This native of Des Moines, Iowa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Douglas Hicks Pigford; a son, Jefferson Douglas Pigford; a granddaughter, Katharine Elizabeth “Katie” Wallace; her parents, William Gustafson and Neota Ruth Gatchell Gustafson; and her six siblings. She had received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity Bible College, now Trinity University. She was a retired school teacher, having enjoyed a fulfilling teaching career with Duplin County Public Schools.
She is survived by three of her four children and their spouses, Cynthia and Mike Reynolds of Calypso, Hicks Pigford of Calypso, and Janis and James Hogan of Lenoir; a niece who was more like another daughter, Janet Meinke and husband, Kevin, of Salisbury; a sister-in-law, Adele P. Baker of Calypso; grandchildren, Brandon Gray Albertson and wife, Jacqui, of Garner, Lauren Wallace Albertson and husband, Mike, of Calypso, LoriBethe Pigford of Dudley, Arthur Pigford of Calypso, Clay Hogan and wife, Erin, of Boone, and Paul Hogan and wife, Yvonne, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; great-grandchildren, Andrew Douglas Albertson, Griffin Wallace Albertson, Katharine Mavis Albertson, Levi Ellis Hardison, Walter Harrison Hogan, and Paul William Hogan Jr.; an honorary grandson, Colton Meinke and his wife, Anna, of Salisbury; and several nieces, nephews, and their families.
The Pigford family received friends at Tyndall Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 15, and at other times at the home of Mrs. Pigford in Calypso. Funeral serivces were conducted Saturday, Nov. 16, at Calypso Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Nick Nielsen officiating. Burial followed in Faison Cemetery in Faison. In lieu of flowers, it is the request of the family that memorial gifts be made to Calypso Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 321, Calypso, NC 28325; St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; Gentiva Hospice, 2309 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534; or Faison Baptist Church Celebrate Recovery Program, PO Box 280, Faison, NC 28341.
Annual Southern Lights kicks off the holiday season
Johnson Nursery is a nonprofit botanical garden spanning more than 300 acres of land
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
WILLARD — Guests at the annual Southern Lights premiere party at the Johnson Nursery in Willard marveled in awe as the first tree lighting of the season got underway last Friday.
A winter wonderland came to life showcasing a stunning display of lights. The crisp night and a beautiful full moon provided the perfect ambiance to welcome the holiday season as joyful attendees explored the gardens.
“Santa is going to be here every night in December that we’re open and in the garden center; this is the first year we’ve done the garden center, and Mrs. Claus will be there. So it’s just fun for the kids and fun for everybody,” said Jill Johnson, owner and manager of the Garden Center at Johnson Nursery, adding that they will soon have a gingerbread house in the garden. “We’re adding a little stuff every time. It’s just been a lot of fun.”
Visitors wandered through trails illuminated by colorful trees and giant ornaments, humming their favorite Christmas songs. Some participated in the Elf Quest scavenger hunt, adding to the festivities. The event featured breathtaking light displays throughout the venue, along with picturesque food stations. Families enjoyed photo opportunities in the beautiful surroundings, while couples found romantic spots under the moonlight surrounded by curtains of lights as they sat by a cozy fire. Children excitedly navigated a whimsical maze of lights, while others gathered around fire pits to enjoy hot cocoa and s’mores.
Indoors, guests mingled while enjoying wine selections sourced from Italian vineyards beneath giant tree ornaments that adorned the ceiling. Guests had the chance to purchase fine art from local artists, enjoy food and listen to violin performances by Anna Witzenman and Sofia Lucasik from the Wilmington Youth Symphony Orchestra.
The Johnson Nursery is a nonprofit botanical garden spanning over 300 acres of land, providing a beautiful natural space that allows the family to be creative.
“I love to be creative, especially while working in the garden center. (This project) is taking that creativity to another level; it’s a passion, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Johnson.
Jill and David Thompson, who hail from Wallace, have been married for 37 years. The couple and their adult children, Annie and Chason, work together at Johnson Nursery to establish the facility as a premier destination for plant and nature enthusiasts.
“David is the mastermind of this,” said Jill Johnson. “Chason does the outside marketing and Annie does the events. I do the garden center. We work really well together and we have a blast.”
Johnson told Duplin Journal that their landscape designer inspired them to pursue this project last year, and it has now become their signature project.
“Last year, we rented the lights for the garden display, but this year we decided to buy them,” she said. “It has been a lot of fun. It’s like solving a little puzzle — putting pieces together and figuring out how to make everything fit. (David) really enjoys it.”
The gardens are open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
PHOTOS BY ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Crowds wander through a winter wonderland featuring stunning trails illuminated by colorful trees and giant ornaments at the Southern Lights premiere party last weekend.
Left: Friends and families gathered around the fire pits as they enjoyed holiday music and the beautiful scenery at the Southern Lights premiere party last Friday. Right: Jill Johnson, left, and Olivia Dawson smile for the camera at the annual Southern Lights premiere party at the Johnson Nursery in Willard last Friday.
A couple enters a whimsical maze of lights at the Southern Lights premiere party at the Johnson Nursery last Friday.