Duplin Journal Vol. 9, Issue 34 by North State Journal

Duplin Journal

the BRIEF this week

104th Veterans Day Celebration and Parade set for Nov. 2

Warsaw Come to downtown Warsaw and celebrate the nation’s oldest consecutive Veterans Day parade on Saturday, Nov. 2. The 104th Veterans Day Celebration and Parade will kick off at 11 a.m. The parade lineup starts at 10 a.m. The event will feature live music with 581 South Band playing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a North Carolina Forestry flyover, the 82nd Special Forces Parachute jump team, a kids zone with bounce houses, food trucks, concessions, vendors and more! Warsaw was selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a regional site for the 2024 Veterans Day commemoration. The annual Veterans Day parade has become a staple of the Warsaw community and a yearly event families look forward to celebrating.

UMO celebrates homecoming, pickle classic weekend

Mount Olive Homecoming and Pickle Classic Weekend is scheduled for Nov. 15-16, and the theme for this year is Celebrating the Art and Soul of UMO. The weekend’s lineup of activities will feature concerts from a variety of genres, food trucks, vendor booths, Kid’s Korner, the Annual Golf Tournament, the Trojan Trot 5 K Walk/Run, Alumni and Hall of Fame awards ceremonies and, of course, Pickle Classic basketball. Visit umo.edu/homecoming for tickets and event times.

Small Business Expo coming to JSCC

Kenansville

James Sprunt Community College Small Business Center will be hosting a Small Business Expo at the Boyette Building in room 113 on Dec. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Basic Law Enforcement Training increases contact hours

Kenansville

James Sprunt Community College announced changes in the Basic Law Enforcement Training course which will increase to 868 hours to obtain certification effective Jan. 1, 2025. The last opportunity to take BLET under the old curriculum of 640 hours is Dec. 18. For more information, call 910 -275-6205.

Gubernatorial candidate visits Rose Hill

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the embattled Republican nominee for North Carolina governor, met with supporters and delivered a speech at the Rose Hill Restaurant on Friday. See the full story on Page A7.

Wallace OKs rezoning for Royal Farms development

Citizens spoke out during a contentious public hearing

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

WALLACE — The Wallace Town Council meeting last Thursday night was packed with residents of Plantation Acres, a community that borders the new proposed Royal Farms gas station development at the corner of Highways 41 and 11 in the Tin City area of Wallace. The residents were unanimously against the coun-

cil granting a rezoning request to Two Farms, the owners of Royal Farms, which would change the zoning from residential to highway business-conditional (HB).

Despite protests from the Plantation Acres residents, the council unanimously approved the rezoning request.

The request has been on the council’s agenda for several months after being postponed once due to a tropical storm and, secondly, after Two Farms requested more time.

See WALLACE, page A2

Randy Royal, an engineer with Kimley-Horn and Associates, shows the Wallace Town Council and Plantation Acres residents the plans for a retention pond that will likely go next to the proposed Royal Farms gas station.

Brinson receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine

County Commissioners honored four former county employees with prestigious awards

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Davis Brinson, former Duplin County manager, was one of four former county employees honored during the Oct. 7 County Commissioners meeting.

Brinson, who retired on July 31, 2023, after serving in Duplin County for nearly three decades, was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award and a retirement flag.

“It was a very rewarding career working for Duplin County. I think I had a unique perspective on county government growing up two blocks from the courthouse and starting in an entry-level position at the Sheriff’s De -

Cowan Johnson named NC Poultry Federation president

Johnson aims to address industry challenges and opportunities

Duplin Journal staff

THE NORTH CAROLINA poultry federation has named Cowan Johnson of House of Raeford Farms as their president for 2024-25. The announcement was recently made at the organization’s annual meeting in Greensboro.

Johnson, a seasoned professional with 23 years of service at House of Raeford, a poultry business founded by his grandfather, has been a key figure in the company’s growth.

“It is an honor to accept

“I like to think that I put a staff in place that left the county in a better place than where we found it, at least financially.”

Davis Brinson

partment,” said Brinson, who began his journey as a telecommunicator deputy sheriff in 1995.

Brinson’s roots in local government run deep. His father, grandfather, and mother all played significant roles in government, setting a solid foundation for his civic journey. He worked as a social worker with DSS and a probation parole officer with the North Carolina Department of Corrections. In 2000, Brinson was elected Register

DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

See BRINSON, page A6

COURTESY HOUSE OF RAEFORD FARMS

Cowan Johnson of House of Raeford Farms was recently named North Carolina Poultry Federation president for 2024-25.

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WEEKLY

THURSDAY

Oct. 19

• The Faison annual ghost walk, Voices from the Past, will be happening on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 5-7 p.m. at the Historic Faison Cemetery, located at 348 East Main Street. The free event is hosted by Faison Improvement Group (FIG) and the Town of Faison, and this year, it will feature six ghosts portraying real Faison people who lived through or fought in World War I. There will be light refreshments. Donations are welcomed.

Oct. 21

• The Town of Rose Hill is seeking the public’s engagement to help the town develop Rose Hill’s comprehensive plan to prepare for future growth. The meeting will take place on Oct. 21 at 109 S. Sycamore St., Rose Hill. The first 50 participants will receive a free meal. Visit planrosehill.com to participate in the Citizen Survey.

Oct. 24

James Sprunt Community College’s WestPark Campus offers a pesticide certification course on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-9:30 p.m. from Oct. 24 through Nov. 5. For more information or to register, call 910-659-6010.

Oct. 26

DUPLIN CALENDAR

Join the Kenansville Fire Department on Saturday, Oct. 26, 6-10 p.m. for their annual Fireman’s Day on Front Street, Kenansville. There will be food trucks, bounce houses, a DJ, trunkor-treating and more! If you would like to host a trunk for the Trunk-or-Treat, contact 910-650-6311.

Cabin Lake will host Trunkor-Treat on Oct. 26 starting at 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the best trunks for most scary and most creative. Cabin Lake is located at 220 Cabin Lake Rd., Pink Hill. If you would like to have a scary trunk and hand out candy, call the office at 910-298-3648 to sign up.

Oct. 30

• James Sprunt Community College will host a screening of The Singing Senator, a documentary about Charlie Albertson, on Oct. 30, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., in the Monk Auditorium. The first half is a film screening, and the second is a Q&A session with Charlie Albertson.

Oct. 31

• Come dressed in your favorite costumes to the Warsaw Trunk-or-Treat and enjoy a spooky good time! Take your little ghouls, ghosts, and goblins for a safe, family-friendly fun night to Front Street, Warsaw on Oct. 31, 6-7.30 p.m. For more information, call the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce at 910-2937804.

Nov. 2

• Come to downtown Warsaw and celebrate the oldest consecutive Veterans Day Parade in the nation. The 104th Veterans Day Celebration and Parade will be on Saturday, Nov. 2. Line up will start at 10 a.m., with the parade kicking off at 11 a.m. The event will feature live music with 581 South Band playing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a NC Forestry fly over, the 82nd Special Forces Parachute jump team, a kids zone with bounce houses, food trucks, concessions, vendors and more!

• The NC Poultry Jubilee Car Show will be held Nov. 2, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Rose Hill Fire Department with awards going to the best of show, people’s choice, and other prizes. Registration starts at 9 a.m. For information or to sign up, call 910- 604-1769.

St. John’s # 13 Masonic Lodge AF & AM will host a pancake, eggs and sausage breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Warsaw Baptist Church from 7 - 9:30 a.m. The cost is $ 10 per plate. All proceeds will go to help Masonic Charity.

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.1 p.m. The event is open to the public.

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 910-2962100. The Beulaville town board meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at 508 East Main St., Beulaville. For more, call 910-298-4647.

Wallace town hall to move to Medical Village Drive

The police department will occupy the current town hall

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

WALLACE — The offices for the town of Wallace will be moving about this time next year, Town Manager Rob Taylor reported last week. Town Hall will be moved from its current location on Murray

“Conditions include — and this is what they will not put in on the list of things that are permitted in HB — adult uses, alcoholic beverages or packaged retail resales, no bars, no distilleries or breweries, no electronic gaming operations, no event centers, no hospitals, no hotels or motels, no mail order houses, no manufacturing complexes, no motor fuel vehicle stations, no nightclubs, no outlet sales, no parking as principled use, no personal vehicle sales, no petroleum product storage or distribution, no recycling materials collection center, no research facility, no transit passenger terminal and no transit lots,” explained the town’s planning director, Rod Fritz. “The other items that are approved on the list of HB are the ones that could potentially be there: professional offices, retail space.”

Brent Whitfield, a resident of Plantation Acres, stat-

Street to occupy the Parks and Recreation building on Medical Village Drive. As a result, Parks and Recreation will be moved to the new Clement Park Community Center once it’s completed, and the police department will occupy the entirety of the current town hall building. The changes have come about over the past few weeks, Taylor said.

“We have leased [the Medical Village Drive] building from ECU Health for over 10 years

ed that residents have no concerns with the gas station going on that corner, but they are concerned that Two Farms has asked for the additional six acres to be rezoned.

“It’s been my concern that this is a bit backwards,” he said. “You’re telling us what it’s not going to be. You’re saying this is what it not’s going to be, hoping that this will comfort us and assure you that this will protect us.”

Plantation Acres resident Thomas Stracuzza stated, “As a resident, it benefits me zero. If you were living on Washington Circle, would you want to rezone that property that’s already zoned residential? I don’t think you would.”

Residents Sherry Aramini and Carl Fussell expressed concerns about traffic and a buffer between them and the property, while Sally Whitfield talked about drainage concerns.

In an attempt to allay those concerns, Randy Royal, en-

for $1,” he explained. “They have agreed to transfer the building to the town at no costs.”

ECU Health will transfer the deed to the town of Wallace on Oct. 28.

Renovations to the Clement Park Community Center have been ongoing for several months. In March, the town council awarded the renovation project to Hatcher Builders at the cost of $808,000. Since then, costs have fluctuated, but the project remains ongoing.

gineer for the project with Kimley-Horn and Associates, showed a map of the proposed zoning, sharing where traffic patterns would change and where a retention pond would go.

“If you have problems with drainage now, you should have less problems in the future,” he said. “There will be nothing from this site going on to your site.”

Sam Frank, representing Two Farms, also explained that the retention pond would be nothing like a hog lagoon, which one resident had said might be the case.

“HB makes sense for this site, with or without conditions,” he said. “It is a logical zoning for that parcel.”

Once the public hearing closed, Councilman Frank Brinkley stated that he has patronized many Royal Farms facilities in other communities, and he felt confident that it would be a clean site.

“I think it’s going to be bet-

At the time the contract was awarded, Taylor explained some of the renovations that would happen to the community center building. “That building will be almost completely gutted,” he said at the March 14 meeting of the town council. “We’re putting in new windows, new flooring, painting, new HVAC systems, two new bathrooms — male and female bathrooms. You’ll have meeting areas, six meeting areas, where Scouts can meet. Two of the rooms are current-

ter than what’s there now,” he said.

Councilman Jason Davis also spoke up, saying he understood the residents’ pain, but he felt Two Farms had worked with them and compromised.

“I can’t sit here and say no because there has been give and compromise. In fact, I think we have come to a very, very good compromise.” The council then voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request. In other business at the Oct. 10 meeting:

• The council unanimously approved a request from Wilmer Cruz to rezone a portion of his property on Maple Street so that he could add on to his home.

• The council set a public hearing for the Nov. 14 meeting for an annexation request from Avery-Davis Investments of Knightdale for 2.66 acres in Pender County.

• Town Manager Rob Taylor was sworn in as the tempo -

ly being used as the town gym; those will also be rehabbed.”

With the project nearing completion, Taylor said he expects that Parks and Recreation will be able to move to the facility within a few months, and then renovations can start on their current offices to make it the new town hall.

“I would expect, with all of that work going on, we might be in the new town hall at this time next year,” he told Duplin Journal.

rary finance director and deputy tax collector.

• The council adopted a resolution to finance three town vehicles for $105,800.

• A capital project amendment was approved for the fiscal year 2023-24.

• The town manager presented a capital improvement plan to the council for their consideration. Action will be taken on the plan at a future meeting.

• Town Clerk Jackie Nicholson requested that the council recodify its town ordinances, which have all been recently updated. As new ordinances are approved, they will be posted on the town website and eventually added to a book that Nicholson created.

• The council approved the purchase of a trailer for the fire department, which will be donated to the fire association.

• Police Capt. Weston Padgett shared information about his time in the FBI National Academy recently.

WALLACE

Election day is only 19 days away

The sale of unfortified wine and malt beverages on and off premises will be on the ballot

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

THE COUNTDOWN is on for the general election on Nov. 5 — only 19 days away. Persons who missed the voter registration deadline can take advantage of same-day voter registration during the early voting period from Oct. 17 through Nov. 2 to register and vote. Absentee ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and they must be received in the Duplin County Board of Elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. During the general election

Duplin voters will be able to vote for or against a proposed constitutional amendment to provide that “only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age or older and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State.”

“If passed, the proposed amendment would change the language in the State Constitution from “every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age” to the new wording in the referendum,” explained Duplin County Board of Elections Director Carrie Sullivan. Duplin County voters will also have the opportunity to vote for or against the proposed alcohol referendum, which concerns the on- and off-premis-

es sale of unfortified wine and malt beverages. This is the second installment of Questions and Answers Sullivan:

More than half a million homeless are eligible voters but face obstacles registering because of their lack of a stable address or ID. What is being done to help these voters?

State legislature allows for all eligible voters in each county to register where they lay their heads. Once they are registered, all voters are able to come into our office and get a free voter ID. Our office is devoted to ensuring that all eligible voters in Duplin County have the opportunity to cast their vote.

Do ID requirements instill more confidence in the legitimacy of the election?

I believe that ID requirements do instill more confidence in voters with the legitimacy of elections. North Carolinians want to feel secure in the fact that only eligible voters actually vote. Utilizing photo ID requirements reassures voters that everyone can only vote under their own registration.

What are your top three priorities as we move closer to November?

1. Keeping voters calm and informed.

2. Giving my team of precinct officials all of the support they need to get through this busy election cycle.

3. Providing a fair and safe environment for the citizens of Duplin County to cast their votes. There has been recent talk about absentee ballot containers, can you clarify if absentee ballots need or don’t need to be returned in sealed container-return envelopes in order to count?

All absentee ballots that are returned via mail should be sealed inside the completed ballot envelope and then sealed in the larger return envelope. Ballots must be sealed inside the envelope in order to be accepted. Voters with questions can contact the Duplin Board of Elections at 910-296-2170.

Detention chief named Jail Administrator of the Year

Mitchell was the first African-American promoted to lieutenant at the detention center

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Capt. Denise Mitchell with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office was recently presented with the North Carolina Jail Administrator of the Year award. The award was presented at the NC Jail Administrators Association banquet. Mitchell was nominated for this prestigious award by Sheriff Stratton Stokes. As a jail administrator, she is entrusted with the crucial tasks of planning, directing, and supervising the jail’s personnel, daily activities, and administrative functions.

With more than 25 years of

service in the Sheriff’s Office Detention Center Division, having assumed the role of jail administrator in 2007 and serving as a board member of the NC JAA since 2016, Mitchell brings a wealth of experience to her position. Mitchell made history as the first African American lieutenant for the Duplin County Detention Center, and her election as vice president of the North Carolina Jail Administrators Association last year stands as one of her most notable achievements. This prestigious position, a first for anyone from Duplin County, underscores her influence and the high esteem in which she is held by her peers across the state. Her involvement at this level is a testament to her expertise and leadership in jail administration.

“Her journey with the Sheriff’s Office is a testament to her

exemplary service and unwavering commitment,” said Sheriff Stokes. “In her role as Jail Administrator, Captain Mitchell has proven herself to be a reliable and dedicated leader. She consistently goes above and beyond her duties, demonstrating a handson approach that sets her apart. Whether she is assisting in the kitchen, ensuring that meals are prepared with care, or personally accompanying detainees to the hospital, Captain Mitchell leads by example. Her commitment to the welfare of both staff and detainees is evident in every aspect of her work.”

According to Sheriff Stokes, outside of her professional responsibilities, Mitchell is deeply committed to her community.

“She volunteers with her church and various local organizations, demonstrating her dedication to making a positive im-

pact both within and outside the detention center. Her community engagement reflects her belief in service and her desire to contribute to the betterment of society,” said Sheriff Stokes.

The Sheriff’s Office credited Mitchell’s leadership as pivotal in the development of the new detention center.

“Working closely with Sheriff Stokes, she is spearheading this initiative, ensuring that the facility meets the highest standards. Her vision and expertise are crucial to this project, showcasing her forward-thinking approach and commitment to excellence.”

The sheriff added that Mitchell exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding jail administrator, and her leadership and dedication make her a role model.

“Her exemplary service and accomplishments truly merit this recognition.”

Schedule a 3-D mammogram with ECU Health and we will give you the results in as little as 1-2 days. These breast screenings detect issues early, when they’re easiest to treat. And if we find something that needs attention, ECU Health’s nationally accredited breast cancer physicians and support teams will help you understand your results, make decisions with you, and give you peace of mind.

ECU Health offers 3-D mammography at 11 convenient locations throughout eastern North Carolina. Find a location near you at ECUHealth.org/3DScreening

If you have signs and symptoms talk with your doctor right away. Starting at age 40 begin talking with your doctor about the need to receive regular mammograms. Women at higher risk may need to start screening earlier. Discuss your risks with your doctor.

COURTESY DUPLIN SHERIFF’S OFFICE Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes stands next to Capt. Denise Mitchell, who was awarded the North Carolina Jail Administrator of the Year award on Sept. 26 at the North Carolina Jail Administrators Association banquet.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

| PHILIP GLADDEN

Let’s do better

“It doesn’t matter if you’re Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, or any other denomination. We’re working together to help our neighbors.”

ON OCT. 1, I attended an organizational meeting for a collection center for items for people who were in dire need following Hurricane Helene.

After the pastor explained the logistics and the responsibilities of volunteers, he called on a woman to tell us how a distribution center in the mountains would handle our donations. She thanked everyone for attending and being willing to help our across-the-state neighbors. Then she said, “It doesn’t matter if you’re Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal or any other denomination. We’re working together to help our neighbors, just as people have helped us after Floyd and Florence. The storms don’t ask the people about their church or their politics. And now people are in need.”

The internet and social media can be very helpful when you want to know how best to respond to the needs in different areas and stages of recovery. However, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, social media has proved to be harmful to those recovery efforts. False reports, misinformation and lies about what is happening in western

Random ramblings

If Bidenomics is working, why is there such an increase in bankruptcies?

PHOENIX BUSINESS OWNERS have won a legal battle at the Court of Appeals. The court upheld a lower court order that requires the municipality to clean up a homeless encampment known as “The Zone.” Business owners claim the area surrounding their businesses is soaked with urine and feces, and public nudity is commonplace. The court said, “Municipalities are responsible for enforcing public nuisance laws on land they own or are responsible for.”

An illegal immigrant from El Salvador was arrested for having two boys chained to a post near a sleeping cot in Virginia. The boys were aged 7 and 9. The perpetrator had been deported in 2018 but wandered back in across our open border. No report on who the boys are and where they are from.

Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado is facing a lawsuit for forcing a girl to sleep with a boy on a trip to Philadelphia and Washington. The school had communicated that “girls will be roomed together on one floor and boys together on a different floor.” The lawsuit claims that the school redefined the definition of “girl” and “boy” to align with a student’s gender identity.

Some small towns in our country are being overrun with a huge influx of immigrants. Charleroi, Pennsylvania, has had a staggering 2,000% increase in migrants. Springfield, Ohio, is dealing with a similar issue. Small-town economies can not deal with this type of influx. It’s a tremendous burden on the residents.

Mark Zuckerberg, the gazillionaire who owns Meta, is a true hypocrite. He lectures against climate emissions and tries to have us peons limit our output. He has purchased a $300 million yacht. That will likely emit more than some small nations.

If Bidenomics is working, why is there such an increase in bankruptcies?

Bankruptcies for businesses are up 61% and 15% for individuals, the highest since the 2008 crash.

The administration keeps touting the number of jobs created. What they don’t tell you is that those jobs are mostly part time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that

North Carolina have gone viral despite factual proof of their inaccuracies and falsehoods.

When citizens are trying to work together to help our neighbors, some people are trying to drive wedges between groups, and many others are accepting at face value their divisive claims.

There is a story about the great philosopher Socrates being stopped on the street by one of his students. “Teacher,” he said, “do you know what I just heard about one of your students?” Socrates told him, “Before you say anything else, I want you to use the three-filter test. The first filter is truth. Are you absolutely sure what you’re going to tell me is true?”

“No,” admitted the student, “I just heard about it.”

Socrates continued, “The second filter is goodness. Are you going to tell me about the student doing something good?”

“Just the opposite,” the student replied.

“Well,” said Socrates, “the third test is usefulness. Is this news about my student going to be useful to me?”

The man admitted, “Not really.” Socrates looked at his student and said, “If what you are going to tell me is neither true nor good nor useful, why would you want to tell it to me?” In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus (4:25), the apostle Paul wrote, “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.”

Since Paul was describing how to live in community, his words are good advice to all of us before we repost information online or share conclusions that don’t pass Socrates’ three-filter test.

A friend who was disturbed by what he was reading online about the situation in western North Carolina shared his observation. His words are food for thought: “Spreading unfounded (and easily debunked) conspiracy theories violates at least two commandments ... it bears false witness, and it doesn’t honor your mama ... let’s do better.”

Philip Gladden is a retired Presbyterian minister. He lives in Wallace.

Letters

year over year, the U.S. lost 1.02 million fulltime jobs and added 1.06 million part-time jobs. We do know that many of the full-time jobs created were government jobs, 87,000 new IRS agents, for example.

Democrat John Kerry thinks the First Amendment is a problem. He said, “Our First Amendment stands as a major block to the ability to be able to hammer (disinformation) out of existence.” Of course, you and I won’t be the ones deciding what is “disinformation.” We now know that censorship was alive and well during the COVID pandemic, with government and Big Tech deciding what was “disinformation.”

Food prices have skyrocketed, and meat and poultry have seen the biggest increases. The EPA is poised to issue new regulations that will put many meat processing companies out of business and will cause even higher prices. The changes are a result of lawsuits filed by a coalition of 13 environmental organizations.

A University of Kansas professor is under fire for some recent comments. Since they’re on tape in his own words, there’s no chance it was taken out of context or misreported. He told his classroom that any men not voting for Kamala Harris think that “women are not smart enough to be president.” He then said these people should be lined up and shot because they “clearly don’t know how the world works.”

What has happened to our institutions of higher learning? That’s not the kind of instructor who should be in any classroom. He has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation. I feel certain it’s with full pay, and he will be back in the classroom as soon as this blows over. Shameful.

Please continue to keep the hurricane victims in your prayers. The General Assembly reconvened this week to appropriate emergency funding for the relief effort. As the damage is assessed and needs are identified, we will be going back on Oct. 24 for another round of appropriations. The needs are extensive, and our citizens have been amazing to step up and help our western neighbors. Please continue to donate if you can with your time and resources.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec has represented Forsyth County and the 31st District in the N.C. Senate since 2014. She lives in Kernersville.

Thomas Jefferson wisdom

Does the truth no longer matter?

In this land of the USA?

Are we at a place where you can’t believe

What some people have to say

“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest,”

Thomas Jefferson said

If the truth no longer matters

This democracy as we know it may soon be dead

Charlie Albertson, Beulaville

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline. com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

COLUMN

TRIAD STRAIGHT TALK | SEN. JOYCE KRAWIEC

Rose Hill board appoints new commissioner

Adam Quinn will serve Gary Boney’s unexpired term until November 2025

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

ROSE HILL — Rose Hill’s town board has a new addition. Adam Quinn will serve the term left vacant by former Commissioner Gary Boney’s resignation. Quinn will serve until the term expires in November 2025, and may file for election to the seat, if he so chooses. He was sworn into office at the Oct. 8 meeting of the Rose Hill Board of Commissioners.

Quinn is a native of Kenansville, who has lived in Rose Hill for the past two years with his wife and daughter. He works in Wilmington as a material planner at GE Vernova.

“I look forward to making decisions that will hopefully better the community,” he said. “This is a place I love to be. There’s a good community feeling here, and I hope to help keep that strong.”

After Quinn was sworn in and seated, the board got into its regular monthly meeting.

First up, Town Administrator Angela Smith reminded the board that at the August meeting, the board had approved the bid for the fiscal year 2024-25 street resurfacing program to Legion Asphalt. “Since the bid came in well under what was budgeted, the board decided to add two additional streets to the list: North Elm Street (Center to Ridge) and South Hall Street (Church to Main),” Smith said.

“The quote amount was $47,556, which would bring the total cost to $295,144.”

The board unanimously approved the resolution authorizing the two additional streets to be added to the project.

Smith also reported that a representative from Duke Energy had contacted her regarding a pole they wanted to move from one side of Sixth Street to the other, due to a tree encroaching. The board approved a request for an easement so the pole can be moved.

In continuation of previous meetings’ discussions, the board again talked about how the old fire department may be used now that the new fire station is open on Sycamore Street.

Smith said she and Police

Chief Michael Tyndall recommend the police department move into that area.

Commissioner Ross Powell asked what needs to be done to that space for the police department to move in. Tyndall responded that there would probably need to be some walls constructed, but he hasn’t yet made a detailed plan. “My only concern would be the evidence room,” he said. “Something would probably have to be done to make sure that’s secure.”

Quinn asked if any other uses had been considered. The board consensus was that it had been discussed to have the public be able to rent out the space, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to have the public use that facility when parts of it need to be secure.

The current police department would be used for storage, with some office space set aside for Parks and Recreation.

“We kind of need to know what [the police department is] going to need before we ask for bids or anything,” said Commissioner Marsha Whaley. “We need to make sure they’ve got wifi and the correct phone service.”

The board agreed that Tyndall will draw up some maps of what

he expects to need, and they will discuss at a future meeting.

Smith reminded the board of a special meeting that was scheduled for Oct. 15, which was after the print deadline for this week’s issue.

As for the Golden Leaf project on Walnut Street and Charity Road, Smith said Stroud Engineering has completed the field survey and is working on the construction plans. “We expect to have preliminary plans in about two weeks,” she said. “Once those plans are approved, we can move forward with the bid process.”

Smith also reported that the town’s lead line inventory had been completed, and no lead lines were found. However, one galvanized line was located, and that will have to be replaced.

In addition to the Oct. 15 special meeting, the town of Rose Hill is hosting a public engagement meeting on Oct. 21 at the Rose Hill Fire Department, to get feedback on the town’s comprehensive plan for future growth. The first 50 participants will receive a free meal. Town residents can also go online to planrosehill.com to complete a citizen survey.

ECU Health Duplin Hospital honors top performers

Kenansville

Some of the staff at ECU Health Duplin Hospital were recently honored as part of the ECU Health Patient Choice Awards. These are teams that are rated highest by patients and their families. The top performing teams for final year 2024 are: Women’s Center (honorary mention), Surgery Services (PACU) (honorary mention), Food and Nutrition Services (highest rated), and Home Health (highest rated). Most improved teams for the fiscal year from ECU Health Duplin were: Medical Surgical Unit (honorable mention), Surgery Services (ASU) (top performer) and Environmental Services (top performer).

JSCC offers free online seminars for small business owners

Duplin County James Sprunt Community College’s Small Business Center offers monthly free online seminars. Here are the workshops available over the next few weeks: Can You Manage a Business, Deal with Mistakes, Do You Have the Ability to Accept Critical Guidance?, Oct. 21, 6:308 p.m.; Leveraging AI for Growth, Oct. 22, 7-8:30 p.m.; How to Start a Mobile Food Business, Oct. 23, 7-9 p.m.; Do You Have the Support System to Succeed and Are You the Right Person for the Business?, Oct. 28, 6:30-8 p.m.; Empoderando a Pequeñas Empresas: Introducción a la Inteligencia Artificial, Oct. 29, 7-8:30 p.m.; Start-up Loans: How to Start the Process, Oct. 30, 7-8:30 p.m. To register, visit ncsbc.net/ Events.aspx, choose “at center” as the location, and then select James Sprunt Community College.

BBQ Sandwich Sale, $7 for 1 or $12 for 2

BBQ Pork by the Pound, $20

Live Music: Mount Olive’ s Zack Lee, 11-1:30 pm 42 West of Wilson, 1:30-4 pm

Craft Beer by R&R Brewing

Pickle Train Rides, $3

Petting Zoo

Classic Car Cruise In Vendors

Corn

CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL

VolunTEEN opens opportunities to various careers

ECU Health Duplin Hospital offers a path to

higher education

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

EVERY YEAR, ECU Health Duplin Hospital welcomes a group of teens to their VolunTEEN program. Here students learn about potential careers in healthcare and gain hands-on experience in various hospital areas where they can immediately start making a difference.

Nancy Farrior, ECU Health Duplin Hospital Volunteer Services manager, has been running the program for the past six years. Last summer Farrior had 20 teen volunteers who went above and beyond the program requirements completing more than 900 hours as a group.

“They were supposed to do, per their application, 30 hours a piece, so 600 hours. But they actually did 999 hours,” said Farrior, adding that the volunteers shine for going above and beyond the call of duty.

“I have four college kids that started out as teens that are still coming back and volunteering during the summer,” said Farrior, adding that two young ladies who volunteered with her when they were teenagers are now full-time employees. “And I have several that are in college going into the medical field, that I wrote their college recommendation letters for.”

This summer, ECU Health Duplin Hospital hosted 20 VolunTEEN student participants who collectively dedicated more than 900 hours to serve in various hospital departments.

VolunTEENs go through an orientation comparable to that of a new employee and have to complete educational modules, learn about infection control, and personal protective equipment.

“It’s very hands-on and exposes them to different areas of the hospital,” said Farrior. “It’s just not all clinical.”

The group of young VolunTEENs actively contributed to the operations of the emergency room. Stationed in the nurses’ area of the emergency room, the students had the opportunity to observe patient care, learn how to properly escort a patient on a wheelchair, and even run specimens to the lab.

“They’re basically a leg. But they get to see a lot. It’s just been a wonderful experience all the way around,” Farrior told Duplin Journal, explain-

ing that these young volunteers were active learners in different departments, gaining valuable experience along the way.

“They really liked working in the Women’s Center because of the babies,” Farrior added.

VolunTEENs also assisted at the second north nurses station, answered call bells from patients, and helped in diverse areas such as oncology and surgical units.

“ECU Health also supports Duplin County Health Sciences Academy as well. It’s one of two in our system,” Laura Maready, ECU Health Duplin Hospital director of strategic relations, told Duplin Journal.

“We’re really proud of it.”

“Our volunteer program is the very same. They come in and they’re able to observe and get a feel for what working in the healthcare field might look

like, said Maready, explaining the program complements the school curriculum… It’s a great pool to jump into here as a small fish.” Farrior added that most of the students, including those who are now in college, take advantage of the Duplin County Health Care Academy.

“We’re very fortunate in our county to have this. [Students] are required to do 25 hours of volunteer time,” said Farrior. “I moved away for 28 years, and it has just been a fabulous experience to be back here with this hospital and back in Duplin County.”

Farrior also oversees adult volunteers and currently has 14.

“We have volunteering time year-round at the hospital in a variety of different positions,” said Maready, adding that they have volunteer chaplains who serve the community.

“I have eight chaplains and actually have one employee that volunteers,” said Farrior, adding that employees pursuing higher levels of education often take advantage of the programs offered.

The healthcare industry needs more workers, making this program particularly important to make young adults aware of the opportunities.

“The healthcare industry right now is struggling as far as really losing a lot of the workers, specifically nurses,” said Maready. “It’s a tough industry to work in, but it’s a very rewarding industry to work in,

especially for our community. … You’re helping your family, your neighbors, your friends. ... So it’s just vitally important that we reach out to these kids and make them aware of what we’re doing here. … The technology that we have at this hospital that we’re able to serve patients with, and our community with is on the leading edge.”

For Maready, the volunteer program provides a great starting point for young adults to explore various career paths and could lead to a pathway through community college for an associate degree, a fouryear school for an undergraduate degree, and even on to graduate school.

She shared that they have volunteers who have progressed to work in different departments and even pursued higher education to further their careers. One of them is a volunteer who went on to work in food and nutrition services, then went to college, and now she is working there as a dietician.

“Once the volunTEENS see the possibilities, they can actually work here. And then once they start working here, we encourage them to really rise up in whatever they’re in and seek opportunities for higher education,” said Maready. “We’re a one-stop shop for a young person coming in.”

For more information about any of the volunteer programs at ECU Duplin Hospital, call 910-296-2629.

Beulaville moves forward with neighborhood revitalization grant

Four homeowners and three alternates have applied for CDBG-NR

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — At the October meeting of the Beulaville town board, commissioners voted unanimously to apply for a community development block grant for neighborhood revitalization. If approved for the CDBG-NR, the town would receive up to $950,000 in funding that will be used to rehabilitate or completely reconstruct homes owned by low- to moderate-income individuals.

During a public hearing, Tammy Daniels with The Adams Company shared that seven individuals had been selected to be part of the town’s application for the grant, with four homeowners chosen, as well as three alternates.

They are Vereta Flowers of West Parker Street, Fernando Garcia of West Brinson Street, Ruth Humphries of South Jackson Street and Robert Hargrove of Robertson Street. The three alternates are Brian Maddox of West Brinson

from page A1

of Deeds and re-elected five times; during this time, he was honored with the Eunice Ayers Distinguished Service Award, a prestigious recognition in local government. Brinson also served as chairman of District 5 and as the legislative cochair for the association. After 17 years as Register of Deeds, he was appointed the Duplin County manager. He was involved in the Duplin Rotary Club, Duplin County Agribusiness Council, the Charity Fund, and St. John’s No.13 Masonic Lodge, demonstrating a solid commitment to civic involvement and community service.

“I always enjoyed working with the Board of Commissioners,” said Brinson, adding that he admires the commissioners’ work ethic and how they always seem to find common ground to do what is best for Duplin County.

“I like to think that I put a staff in place that left the county in a better place than where we found it, at least financially. I think we have some very strong department heads,” Brinson said.

Street, Herbert Sloan of Cottle Street and Nadine Davis of Stokes Street. A third party will verify that the individuals are homeowners and that they are lowto moderate-income. Sometimes, people drop out of the program at that point, Daniels said, because their circumstances may have changed or they may have sold the homes in question.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution to apply for the CDBG-NR, as well as a required citizen participation plan and housing selection committee bylaws.

In other business at the Oct. 7 meeting, neighbors of a home on Deer Run Lane again appeared before the board to get an update on the status of the home, which is in violation of a zoning ordinance by having a camper in the yard.

Jessica Thomas stated that the camper is still on the lot, and has been hooked up with water and electricity for 10 weeks now. She also complained that the residents of the home have too many vehicles parked on the street. “That’s an accident waiting to happen,” she said.

Town Manager Lori Williams said that the town did disconnect water and sewer, but had to turn it back on because it couldn’t be disconnected due to a zoning violation.

“As far as the zoning violation for the travel trailer, they are now being fined daily. It has now become a civil matter,” Williams explained. “Now it will go before the court system. A judge will have to order the camper to be removed. There are fines being issued each day until it is remedied.”

Public Works Director Ricky Raynor reported that the town has started seeing washouts and tiles caving in along some town streets.

“We’re going to write a letter to the state office and try to get someone down here to investigate,” Williams said. “There’s probably going to be a backlog with the storm, but we are trying to get someone to work on those issues.”

Williams also reported that there will be a delay on Christmas decorations in the town as well, because some of the electric poles on Highway 24/ Main Street had been replaced as part of a Duke Energy project. However, crews work-

ory, “I remember roaming the halls of the courthouse when I was a little boy with my mom and never did I dream that I would have to work with you

ing on that project were called to western NC to help restore power after Tropical Storm Helene. It may be that the decorations cannot be posted on Main Street at all, she said. Also at the Oct. 7 meeting, the town board:

Unanimously approved the Duplin County Animal Control Ordinance and repealed the town’s old animal control ordinance.

• Unanimously approved an equal opportunity agreement and assurance agreement with the USDA, which basically ensures that the town will not discriminate against anyone applying for water and sewer services, employment or contracts, since the town has several water and sewer grants funded by the USDA.

• Renewed the contract with Tons of Trash for trash and recycling pick-ups, with the cost rising to $18.50 per month per household for 96-gallon trash carts and blue can recyclables picked up weekly. The board

one day, I was gonna stay at home and farm. I found myself in Kenansville working with you. Thank you for welcoming me onto this board with open arms.”

“Davis and I go way back. I can say I’ve always appreciated the fact that you were genuine, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you upset, which means that you’re a God-fearing man. You walk by faith and not by sight, and that will carry you a long way as you’ve already accomplished a lot,” said Commissioner Wayne Branch.

Chairman Dexter Edwards thanked Brinson adding that his comment about the board working well together was really meaningful, acknowledging that while they are lucky to have a great board, his leadership and efforts made it easy for them to be a united board.

“You’ve done your job to make sure you communicated with each one as they needed to be communicated with, and we didn’t have to come here and have controversy because leadership is where it all starts. We’re elected officials and we come here to try to help advise, but we don’t run the county,”

discussed another option, which would increase the cost to $20 per month per household but would include a 96-gallon recyclable container picked up biweekly. The board tabled a decision on the second option, and will discuss it further in the future. The $18.50 charge will start with the November billing statements, Williams said. Approved a project budget ordinance for a project replacing water lines and fire hydrants. The scope of the project had to be reduced, due to bids coming in over budget. The total project is now $3.4 million, rather than the originally planned $3.6 million.

• Received word that the town qualifies for Powell Bill funding from the NC Department of Transportation, in the amount of $51,918.32. The town will receive bids on the proposed project in November, and will award the project at the December meeting.

said Edwards. “I really thank you for what you’ve done for this county.”

Maddie Elizabeth Batts, who served Duplin County for 30 years, was also honored during the meeting and was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. Batts is known for her advocacy role at the senior center and dedication to serving others.

Neal Mobley, who has worked in Emergency Services for over 30 years, including four years with Duplin County, was honored with the Order of the Longleaf Pine and a retirement plaque. Mobley was recognized for his mentorship and commitment to the citizens of Duplin County. Patricia Williams was presented with the Old North State Award for her exceptional dedication and service to North Carolina. Williams retired last December after serving for more than 30 years, 25 of those years she worked in Duplin County. Williams served with the Board of Elections, Veteran Services and the town of Rose Hill. The next county commissioners meeting will be on Monday, Oct. 21.

One

one, the county commissioners thanked the former county manager. Commissioner Justin Edwards shared a personal mem-

BRINSON

COURTESY BRANDI BRINSON

Davis Brinson, former Duplin County manager, stands in front of the Board of Duplin County Commissioners after being presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award and a retirement plaque on Oct. 7. Brinson retired on July 31, 2023, after serving in Duplin County for nearly three decades. Standing behind him are Commissioners Jesse Dowe, Justin Edwards, Dexter Edwards and Wayne Branch.

COURTESY ECU HEALTH DUPLIN HOSPITAL

Mark Robinson campaigns in Rose Hill

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

ROSE HILL — A meeting room in the Rose Hill Restaurant was packed Friday afternoon for a visit from gubernatorial candidate and current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The crowd heard a speech from Robinson and were able to meet with him briefly for photos and autographs afterward.

North Carolina Rep. Jimmy Dixon, who represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the state legislature, introduced Robinson, saying the two became friends about six years ago.

“That friendship has increased and intensified over the years,” Dixon said. “I consider myself a good friend of Mark Robinson.”

When it was his turn to speak, Robinson asked for prayers for the folks of western North Carolina and said he was focused on making sure hurricane survivors are ready for the winter and also ready to vote in November.

“I want to clear up a few misconceptions that’s floating around out there,” he said, referring to what he called “great big fat whopper lies” from Democrats and the news media. “If anyone asks you if Mark Robinson voted for the funding that the Senate passed on Wednesday, tell them Mark Robinson presided over the Senate while it was being passed. I was actually there. The vote that they talked about me missing was nothing more than a ceremonial vote of the Council of State.”

He also admitted that two of his staff members quit after a CNN report alleging Robinson’s controversial statements on a porn website. But Robinson said the campaign was better without them. He hinted at a

lawsuit against CNN, which his campaign formally announced on Tuesday.

“For an elected official, I have said some outlandish things,” he said. “I don’t back off of the things I say, folks. But I’m not going to back up and cower when somebody tries to say that I said something that I did not say. I’m not going to take it lying down.”

Robinson said people call him “mean” and “arrogant.”

“It’s time for us to stop focusing on personalities, people being nice,” he said.

He ended his speech by encouraging those in attendance to vote Republican.

After meeting with his supporters for photos, Robinson spoke with Duplin Journal specifically about the county and what it needs at the state level.

“We want to partner with the people of Duplin County, and the people of North Carolina and leave it a better place than we found it.”

Mark Robinson, lieutenant governor

“The number one thing we have to do, and this applies to just about everything in the state, I think people underestimate the importance of us staying fiscally responsible,” he said. “Being fiscally responsible and remaining fiscally responsible and … having the money we need, we can come to places like Duplin County and identify places of growth so that we can

POULTRY from page A1

this important role, and I look forward to our federation making great strides over the next year in support of the North Carolina poultry industry,” said Johnson. “I am also pleased to follow in the leadership footsteps of my father and current House of Raeford CEO, Bob Johnson, and my late grandfather, Marvin Johnson, both of whom served as NCPF presidents.” Johnson, who most recently served as vice-president of

make investments. And that’s what we need to be doing at the state level. We don’t need to be spending money on projects just because we have the money or think a project would be a ‘good idea.’ We need to make investments to help those places continue to grow. I think that’s the number one and number two things we can always do to help counties like Duplin.”

He said he sees the biggest challenge facing counties like Duplin as “climate change extremists that want to take away the implements and some of the materials that farmers need to be able to continue to do what they need to do.”

He added that rural, agricultural counties also need to find industries that can help farmers and help the farm base grow.

“One of those, I believe, is pharmaceuticals from agricultur-

NC Poultry Federation, is the president of House of Raeford’s ready-to-cook and further processing divisions, and president of sales. He serves on the corporation’s board of directors and is the operations manager of House of Raeford’s largest ready-to-cook processing location in Wallace. His journey within the company has seen him take on increasing responsibilities in diverse roles. Notably, Johnson also manages his chicken houses, contributing to House of Raeford’s Rose Hill and Wal-

al products,” he told Duplin Journal. “I think one great idea would be to take some of those agricultural products and cultivate them right here in counties like Duplin and then build facilities right here in Duplin County, manufacturing facilities that can turn those into the products we desperately need.”

“Each individual county in this state has its own unique set of standards and its own unique perspectives and there’s great things about all of them,” he added. “With Duplin County, I think the thing that sets it apart is the pride of the people.”

Robinson summed up by saying he’s running to be a “servant leader.”

“We want to partner with the people of Duplin County, and the people of North Carolina and leave it a better place than we found it.”

lace processing operations. In addition to his roles at House of Raeford, Johnson is a member of the National Chicken Council’s board of directors. Under Johnson’s leadership, the North Carolina Poultry Federation aims to address the industry’s evolving challenges and opportunities, acting as a unified voice for the industry, promoting a favorable business environment for all those involved in the poultry industry in North Carolina.

The lieutenant governor met with supporters on Friday

As part of his campaign for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson held a town hall event at Rose Hill Restaurant on Friday, speaking with supporters and posing for photos.

PHOTOS BY ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Left, Rep. Jimmy Dixon and Mark Robinson, lieutenant governor and candidate for governor, embraced after Dixon introduced Robinson at a town hall event at Rose Hill Restaurant. Right, Harvey Knowles, left, of Wallace, played “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and “God Bless America” for Robinson at Friday’s campaign event.

Slow Roasted Prime Rib

Horseradish Cream & Rosemary Au Jus

Hardwood Smoked Pit Ham

Carmel Apple Glaze

Pan-Roasted Turkey

Cranberry Relish & Gravy

Fall Salad

Corn Casserole

Fruit Salad

Southern Deviled Eggs Collards

Butter Whipped Mashed Potatoes

Traditional Stuffing

Smoked Gouda & White Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Field Peas & Snaps

Broccoli & Rice Casserole

Honey Glazed Carrots & Parsnips

Assorted Breads & Rolls

Assorted Desserts

ADULTS:

DUPLIN SPORTS

Tigers push aside Vikings to remain No. 1 RPI in East

James Kenan had several defensive stands and long offensive drives to beat Kinston 28-25 and take sole possession of first place in the ECC

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — If defense wins championships, James Kenan collected a big chip atop the East Central 2A Conference’s table.

The Tigers stayed perfect with a 28-25 win over Kinston last Friday to take sole possession of first place in the league.

In fact, JK won the way many coaches prefer. They overcame adversity early, continued to play solid defense, scored three times in the third quarter and ran the final 8:34 off the clock with a game-ending drive.

“This team is focused and have long-term goals now,”

Panthers

said coach Tim Grady. “The kids made it happen against a very good team. It’s definitely a challenge to stop them. They have one if not two Division I receivers and a quarterback who can put it on the dot.”

Josh Mitchell (13-126) scored a pair of touchdowns, Eli Avent (5-21) added another and Jeremiah Hall (15-147) had the score that clinched it.

“It’s a big win,” said Avent. “We were able to run the ball and played great defensively. We knew we couldn’t get down after the first bad play that happened.”

The play ended up going from a one-touchdown lead to a one-touchdown deficit when Mitchell fumbled the ball heading to the end zone and Alex Moore returned it 100 yards to make it 6-0.

“I love that we kept our heads high and kept playing hard,” said Hassan Kornegay, middle linebacker and the ECC’s Defensive Player of the Year last fall who had a team-

high 12 tackles. “Ty (Morrisey), Cal (Avent), Chris (Hill), Tyquise (Wilson) and our whole defense got motivated. The first big hit came from Ty, and that set the tone even though we had to go through adversity. It was always, ‘next play.’”

Avent scored from the 1 to tie it, but a Moore score from the 2 gave the Vikings a 13-7 halftime lead.

Move over, Mitchell is coming through

Mitchell’s put JK up 14-13 with a 10-yard push to pay dirt and then again at 21-19 after Tyler Jones (14-23 for 143 yards, 2 TDs, interception) hit Tyreek Cooper (6-79, 2 TDs) for his first passing score to give the Vikings their final lead at 19-14. Mitchell then burst 60 yards and Hall 35 for scores.

“Josh had a great day,” Grady said.

Phillips, stingy Rebels defense spark landslide of Leopards

Carell Phillips ran for a career-high 252 yards and the ND defense smothered Lakewood during CC win

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — It’s a block, tackle and run game for the North Duplin football team.

The Rebels lines are tight, tough and aggressive.

Solid, old school, fundamental football as it once was in America.

They’re going to beat you between the hash marks, like a boxer inside the ropes.

The smashmouth kids from Calypso have neutralized their first six foes, the latest last Friday when the Rebels pounded away at Lakewood for a key and decisive 43-24 Carolina 1A Conference win.

“We did a lot of good things,” said ND coach Hugh Martin, whose team is 6-0 for the first time since 2017 when the Rebels went to the 1A finals.

“Defensively, we gave up a couple of throws, but how our line stopped No. 24 (sophomore Calvin Lacewell), who is a really, really good back.”

Trashawn Ruffin, Ricky

Castro, Isaac Davis, Marcus Hill and Rahmear Gates were chewing up their Leopards counterparts, and linebackers

Ethan Turnage, Branson Martin, Austin Wolfe, Garris Warren and Anthony Kornegay played athletically, physically and showed quickness as linebackers and defensive backs. Lakewood hardly had a chance once the Rebels warmed up to a medium brew when ND got a safety to go in front 15-6 late in the opening quarter. It appeared closer at H.E. Grubbs Stadium, but any replay will show that ND dominated, exacting revenge for a 23-15 loss in 2023 that cost the Rebels an outright conference title, though they did make it into the second round to finish 9-4. ND travels to face winless Union on Friday and hosts Rosewood (5-3, 2-0) on Oct. 25 in what could decide the league title.

Rebels take control early

The Rebels led 29-6 at halftime and 43-18 before a long play with less than 40 seconds left provided the final margin.

REBELS, page B4

ED used its bye week to get healthy and refocused after losses to JK and Kinston

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — The bleeding stopped for the East Duplin football team, though it’s hard to think things are normal for the Panthers after a 54-0 win over North Lenoir last Friday.

ED (3-4, 1-2) got is first ECC win and broke a two-game skid, yet there’s still work to do until the playoffs, as the Panthers will likely need wins against South Lenoir, Wal-

lace-Rose Hill and Southwest Onslow to make a push into the postseason. Yet schools with good records in the 2A East are hard to find after James Kenan and Northeastern, both 7-0 and No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the RPI index. It’s a wide-open field, though the Panthers have to play like a reborn and hungry team, unlike most seasons in coach Battle Holley’s 12-year tenure.

ED came off its bye week healthier and looking more like the Panthers teams from the past. Yet the game of note will clearly be between No. 17 ED

and No. 18 WRH (4-3, 2-1) on Oct. 25 at the Jack Holley Sports Complex.

Kinston (5-3, 2-1) beat ED 52-22 three weeks ago and the Vikings travel to WRH on Friday.

Return to glory

The Hawks (3-4, 2-1), who upset WRH 18-15 two weeks ago, were humbled by the Panthers from opening kickoff to the final gun, though it took only a half for ED to go in front 34-0.

Shawn Davis, who has been hobbled with an ankle inju-

EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

The James Kenan defense has been solid all season as Tigers swam to the ball.

THURMAN PARKER

ED’s Keeshon McGinnis had an interception and three tackles against North Lenoir.

EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Lucas Dail, Carell Phillips and North Duplin are three wins away from an unbeaten regular season.

Red-hot Crusaders crush Eagles for sixth straight win

Harrells Christian beat GRACE Christian for its second consecutive shutout in prep for rival Ravenscroft

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

HARRELLS — Not all birds of prey fly at the same height.

The Harrells Christian Academy football team ran over GRACE Christian 50-0 last Friday at Murphy-Johnson Stadium, as Demetrius Jones, J’Kaeshi Brunson and Jarrod Miller tallied scores against the Eagles.

The threesome will have tougher territory to cover on Friday when the Crusaders travel to face rival Ravenscroft, a Ravens’ team they have beaten just three times.

The Crusaders put their sixgame winning streak on the line.

“We’ve come a long way since our first game (a 28-6 loss to Covenant Day),” said first-year coach and longtime offensive coordinator Clayton Hall. “I’m really happy with our defense, our special teams are coming through, and offensively we’ve gotten better. We’re not missing assignments. We’re settling in and have shown we have six

backs who can run the ball.”

Indeed, HCA’s Wing-T offense is explosive.

Brunson was the hot man in the backfield on Friday, carrying the ball five times for 115 yards.

Jones (4-47), Miller (4 -25) and Jeremiah Davis (4-21) made the best of limited totes. And Hall is expecting another back, Chamani Newton, to return soon.

Quarterback Reid Strickland threw a 48-yard touchdown strike to Dashaun McKoy, who was also credited for a pair of 2-point conversions after scores.

GRACE (2-6, 0-4) hardly had a chance as HCA led 14-0 after 12 minutes and 43-0 by halftime. HCA’s third-quarter score was the lone dent of the scoreboard in the second half, as the mercy-rule clock ran continuously.

The Crusaders defense logged their second shutout and have held three other foes to a single score this season.

Coley Sasser, Xander Garcia and Amir Moore had sacks, while Conner Casteen, Brayden Frederick, Jamari Peterson and Sasser came up with interceptions.

Ravens’ quarterback Deifer will definitely air it out

Hall is expecting an all- out

aerial assault from Ravenscroft, who is better than its 3-5 mark and have losses to powers High Point Christian, Cannon/ Concord Academy and Trinity Christian, the Big East Conference favorite who will play HCA in the season finale for both schools on Oct. 25.

Quarterback Elijah Deifer has hit on 66 of 133 for 906 yards. His favorite receiver is the receiver that is open.

Bryan Copland (21-419, 4 TDs) would appear to be his No. 1 targetm, but seven other wideouts have 47 yards or more in receptions.

Running back Jaden Brown (93-420) is the workhorse runner in the backfield, and fullback Brandon Williams (52-262, 11 TDs) the short-yardage option.

HCA counters with a running attack that features Jones (48405, 8 TDs), Miller (49 -357, 5 TDs), Brunson (54-272, 4 TDs), Davis (20-167) and possibly Newton (38-207, 2 TDs), who looked like a game-breaker until he got hurt.

Strickland (17-29 for 247 yards, 4 TDs) has been solid in his role.

Ravenscroft won last season’s game 31-14.

HCA’s two most recent wins in the series were in 2020 and 2021. Its other triumph came via an 86-49 verdict in 2012.

Simco, Wildcats stuff Cougars for seventh straight win

Richlands will travel to West Carteret on Friday as one of two key games to winning an outright Coastal Conference title

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — Caleb Simco was the star of the Richlands football show last Friday during a 42-14 win over Croatan.

The senior quarterback ran for 217 yards via three long touchdown runs.

He also kept the defense confused by hitting on 8 of 15 passes for 126 yards as the Wildcats improved to 7-0 in front of a Friday confrontation with Coastal 3A Conference confrontation in Morehead City against West Carteret, the league’s best school over the past decade.

Simco found ways to make plays during his scrambles.

“That’s the element he brings, and it’s so good because he takes what the defense gives him,” said Richlands coach Pat Byrd. Byrd said Simco and his fellow classmates were backyard players growing up, playing competitive football and basketball or just being competitive on computers. And that all shows. They’re throwback kids.”

Richlands defense is likewise backstreet tough and deep. The Wildcats have 22 starters, and it’s rare for them to have two -way players.

Defensive lineman Semaj Thompson led the charge, making eight tackles, four of which were sacks.

He joins Marcus Branthoover,

TIGERS from page B1

Defensive coordinator John Bert Avent said the clock-chewing march in the fourth gave an assist to his unit.

“Coach Grady, Tyler (Pugh) and the offensive guys did a great job on offense,” said John Bert Avent. “That made things easier, and we didn’t give up any long passes or runs. We’ve got good team speed, though. Their quarterback threw hot routes, and we made tackles.

“Plus, we made them drive the field. That’s a real good offensive team, which tells you how well we played.”

David Zeleya picked off his sixth pass of the season to tie eight other players statewide for third place this season. He’s a pick off the pace of Charlotte Country Day’s Mac Summerville and South Wake’s Shane Gannon, who both have seven.

“We’ve got some little things to fix, for sure,” Kornegay said. “But we’re on our way.”

who had six tackles, on a line that has four shutouts and limited two other schools to 14 points. The closest encounter so far has been a 41-24 win over Princeton. Croatan was 3 of 11 (27%) on

That path includes a trip to Deep Run on Friday to take on North Lenior (3-4, 2-1).

Southwest Onslow and Wallace-Rose Hill are all that stand in front of the Tigers way in possibly earning the No. 1 seed in the 2A East for the playoffs. They currently hold the top spot in the RPI index, with No. 2 Northeastern and No. 4 Southeast Alamance as the only other unbeaten schools.

JK gets points each time No. 8 Midway (6-1) and No. 9 Whiteville win because of earlier nonconference wins against the Raiders and Wolfpack. The same holds true for No. 13 Kinston (5-3). “It’s been exciting,” said Grady, whose team is 7-0 for the first time since 2013. “They don’t panic.” Gridiron notes

Mitchell was on target on defense with 10 tackles. Jacquez Smith had three takedowns and

third-down conversions, while Richlands was 6 of 7 (86%). The defense limited the Cougars to 186 yards of total offense, while the Wildcats had 415.

“Our defense will get its

toughest test against West Carteret,” Byrd said. “They like to play what I call a run offense, which plays into our strength. But they will pass it. Byrd said Richlands must

limit yards after a catch, even as they prepare for White Oak (6-1, 2-).

“If you are going to catch a ball we’re going to hit you,” said Byrd. “That’s how we have to play it. Football is not a contact sport, it’s a collision sport, and that’s how our kids play it.”

Even so, Byrd overcritiqued his team’s performance against Croatan, as any coach might.

“We were a little sloppy and didn’t tackle well, and I blame that on me for not practicing tackling enough in practice,” he said.

“But yeah, it is a little different now after winning 42-14 and feeling like we didn’t play to our full potential. I even felt that way when I was at Jacksonville, and we won a state title. I just felt like we never fully peaked or played our absolute best.”

Simco ran 58 yards for his first score. Christian Diaz made it 14-0 with a 7-yard effort. Simco made it 21-7 by halftime. But the best came when he had 42and 66-yard scores in the third quarter to put the game away. Noah LeBlanc (9-54) hit paydirt from 2 yards out in the fourth quarter.

Simco used three receivers to shake the Cougar secondary, using LeBlanc (2-33), Diaz (1-19), Lenny Halfter-Hunter (3-28) and Tyler Clouatre (1-22) to move the chains.

Though unbeaten, Richlands is the 17th team in the RPI index for 3A schools in the East. No. 1 Seventy-First, No. 3 CB Aycock and No. 8 Southern Nash are the only other schools without a loss.

an interception. Cal Avent registered five tackles, including three for lost yardage.

JK running game shows diversity with Hall (50-493), Imir Sanders (41-383), Mitchell

(40 -355) and Eli Avent (35-228). Avent is 42 of 66 for 746 yards with seven touchdowns.

JAMAEL MOORE

Dashaun McKoy, left, Demetrius Jones and the HCA football team will have their hands full on Friday against longtime rival Ravenscroft in Raleigh.

JAMAEL MOORE

Dashaun McKoy, left, Demetrius Jones and the HCA football team will have their hands full on Friday against longtime rival Ravenscroft in Raleigh.

EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

JK’s Hassan Kornegay was all over the field dragging down ball carriers against Kinston.

Surging Panthers rally from 2-goal deficit to overcome Tigers

East Duplin improved to 5-1 in the ECC with its first win over James Kenan since 2021

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — Ask a coach early in the season and here’s the most likely soundbites:

“We just want to be playing our best when the conference season comes and at the end of the season.”

The Panthers are in the process of making both a reality, especially coming off a 3-2 win over James Kenan last Wednesday in Warsaw.

The win was the fifth in six East Central Conference affairs as ED (8-5-1, 5-1) turns the corner to the post just a game out of first place to Wallace-Rose Hill, which the Panthers fell to despite a number of rallies.

Panthers coach Blake Lanier said the recent success was in part due to an improved team chemistry.

“We’ve just played hard and played for each other,” Lanier said. “They’ve started to buyin and believe in what we’re doing.

“James Kenan is a very talented team with some great individual players. We made their players work hard for anything they got. I always tell our players that it’s not about the best players it’s about the best team.”

Yet the talent of the Tigers paved the way for a 2-0 lead.

Then Jeffrery Valasquez, Orlando Rodriguez and Brayan Mendez ripped in goals and Panthers goalie Gabriel Faulkner stopped a penalty kick.

The top guns for JK (9-3, 5-1) were stuffed by defenders Richard Reyes, Oscar Sanchez, Jeffrey Velazquez, Luis Ramirez and Faulkner.

Richard Reyes’ move to defense has provided ED with a midseason spark. The Panthers entered the week tied with WRH for the ECC lead.

“We don’t sub out much on defense, and those guys made it tough for James Kenan,” Lanier said. “We also had a good push from the midfield and our guy up top.

“Gabriel made some really important saves, and those defenders just play hard and tough.

It was ED’s first win over JK since 2021, a stretch of five games.

ED jolted Southwest Onslow two days earlier behind via two scores from both Os -

kar Canales and Yobani Gomez along with single goals by Georga Barrera, Enrique Perez, George Barerra and Enrique Perez.

The Panthers were to face the Tigers on Tuesday of this week and don’t play again until Oct. 2.

ED, WRH and JK all enter this week with one league loss.

The Tigers, which had their five-game win spree snapped, face SL, NL and SWO before the rematch against WRH on Oct. 28.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Analeise Rivenbark

Wallace-Rose Hill, volleyball

Analeise Rivenbark will finish her senior season in volleyball with the more wins than in 2023 (17-5) and 2023 (18-5) as Wallace-Rose Hill (17-2, 10-0) plays its final two regular-season matches.

The senior middle blocker/outside hitter has been a spark plug with 142 kills, 26 aces, 18 blocks, 41 digs and 243 service chances.

WRH won the ECC, the first time the Buildogs have captured a league title in 40 years.

Short-handed Panthers find a way to take down Blue Devils

ED has its best campaign since 2019 and ND since 2011 as WRH seeks a school-record for wins

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — East Duplin volleyball coach Susan Raynor’s team lost the first set to South Lenoir last week and then a tougher enemy hit the Panthers: a stomach virus.

Then it got worse when ED lost its top two setters and another player in the second set.

Playing with just one reserve, the Panthers won sets at 25-17, 25-16, 25-10 as Kinsey Cave stepped into the setter role.

“When those girls came off the court there was no way they were going back in,” Raynor said.

“Our group just got it together and stepped up, after I gave them a back-in-the-day Susan (motivational) speech. They hustled and worked together.”

The win avenged a 3-2 loss to the Blue Devils on Sept. 17 in Deep Run.

ED (13-5, 6-4) and SL (9 -7, 5-4) are fighting for third place in the ECC, with Wallace-Rose Hill 917-2, 10-0) having already clinched the title and North Lenoir (13-3-1, 8-2-1), which will nab the ECC’s second seed in the 2A playoffs.

WRH is No. 9 and ED is the No. 13 team in the 2A East RPI board of MaxPreps.

The two rivals tangled on Tuesday in Teachey this week, which missed the deadline for this week’s newspaper.

ED avenged a loss to the Blue Devils on Sept. 17 with a win in which the Panthers had just one reserve on the bench.

ED put the lid on its regular season a day later, on Senior Night, against Southwest Onslow.

The playoffs start Oct. 28, which was moved up three days to allow more time for mountain schools hit by Hurricane Helene.

Last Tuesday, Zoe Cavanaugh had eight kills and Cave six when ED lost 25-14, 25-23, 25 -15 to the Hawks.

ED’s overall mark is its best since 2019.

Bulldogs breeze past Vikings for ECC crown

WRH captured its first conference title in 40 years last Thursday after a three-set sweep of winless Kinston (25-7, 25-16, 25-11).

The biggest three Bulldogs hitters combined for 26 kills, as Analiese Rivenbark netted 10 and Jansley Page and Angelina Cavallaro had eight apiece.

Cavallaro added five aces and Page three blocks and a pair of aces, while Mattie Gavin dished out 18 assists.

WRH is seeking to surpass the 22-win mark set in 2016 as the gold standard of seasons in Teachey.

Rebels’ Fulghum collects 1,000th assist

In nearly three seasons, Lilly Fulghum has contributed more than 1,000 assists. North Duplin has needed nearly every one during a rebuilding plan that pushed the Rebels into third place in the Carolina 1A Conference standings.

The junior had 34 and her 1,000th last Thursday when ND beat Hobbton 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-24) to nab third place in the league outright.

Eva Quintanilla had 14 kills, Maggie Brown 10 and Tateyawna Faison eight as ND upped its overall mark to 11-7 and loop slate to 6-4.

Marissa Bernal and Iala Overton added 25 and 11 digs, respectively. Brown and Quintanilla each netted seven kills and Faison five and five blocks in the setback to the Blue Devils. Fulghum notched 22 assists, giving her 362 for the campaign. She garnered 336 as a sophomore and 303 her freshman season.

ND (11-7, 6-4) faced Lakewood in the first round of the CC Tournament on Monday on the Rebels’ court, where a win would match last season’s total (12-10). The winner faces No. 2 Neuse Charter. No. 4 Hobbton and No. 5 Union vie in the first round to face No. 1 Rosewood.

Two more wins and it would be the most wins since the 2011 squad went 15-9 mark.

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Carell Phillips ran for a season-high 252 yards and three touchdowns, leaving him 22 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark.

He helped set up quarterback Luke Kelly’s 1-yard score to open the game with runs of 10 and 15 yards during a nineplay, 64-yard drive that made it 6-0.

The Leopards best comeback came on its first offensive snap as Ryan Godbold connected with Xavier Hall for a lunging 63-yard catch at the 8. One play later it was 6-6. But not after Phillips scooted around the right side for an 80-yard score.

The safety four plays later demoralized the Leopards and made it 15-6.

ND forced Lakewood (5-3, 1-1) into a pair of three-andouts in its next two series.

A fake punt that backfired on the Leopards set up ND’s next score.

Phillips went into the end zone on the seventh play, but only after he got bailed out of a fumble that lineman Gavin McLenny pounced on three plays earlier. Donovan Armwood also aided the march with a first-down run and Bryan Zambrano took the pig to the 4. Phillips’ 2-yard score upped the tally to 22-6.

The final touchdown of the first half came when Luke Kelly hit Phillips for a score on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to ring the victory cannon to 29-6.

Phillips’ 59-yard run to daylight made it 36-6 with 4:09 to play in the third quarter.

Lakewood fans could only hope from this point forward and the Leopards never changed the complexion of the game, even as backup quarterback Reed Ammons threw a pair of touchdown passes. Vance Carter’s 2-yard run put ND in front 43-18 to more than officially seal the victory.

ry, ran for 86 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Branson Norris, who missed five games with a broken collar bone, hit the end zone twice and running back Aaron Hall once.

Norris also had his best game throwing the ball, hitting on 5 of 7 for 150 yards to augment a rushing attack that cranked out 330 yards in ED’s Wing-T offense.

The Panthers defense limited the Hawks to 25 yards rushing and 59 passing the football.

Defensive stars were everywhere as Luke Hughes made 11 tackles, Calvin Harper had six takedowns, including two for lost yardage and a sack.

Keshon Mckinnie, Zachary Ball and Jordan Davis added interceptions.

NL made just six first downs

and were 0-12 on third-down conversions.

Mckinnie’s 23-yard punt return set up the first score as Davis hit pay dirt from the 9 following a 23-yard run by Ryan Jenkins.

Hall scampered 38 yards on ED’s next possession and then 3 more to score on the next play.

NL then marched to the ED 31 before a sack on third down forced a punt and then to the ED 29 where an incompletion on fourth down ended a chance to score.

A 40-yard reception from Norris to Hall started ED’s next scoring drive, which was finished when Davis had a run of 10 yards to the 1. He scored from the next play to increase the margin to 20-0. McKinnie’s pick put the Panthers back in business later in the second quarter. Davis scored from the 32 on

the third snap of the possession. Ball’s interception was key to the final score of the half and so was a 20-yard reception by Hall. Norris scored on the sixth play from the 6 and the Panthers went to the locker room with a 29-0 lead after Oskar Canales booted the kickoff out of the endzone. Norris had 22- and 28-yard receptions to Ball and Garrett Sholar as a leadup to the quarterback’s 2-yard score that pumped the volume up to 41-0 in the first possession of the third quarter.

ED missed a 39-yard field goal, but Jenkins intercepted a pass and three plays later reserve Tucker Costin scored from the 16. Dewayne Davis, a junior, rumbled 51 yards for the final tally.

The Panthers travel to Deep Run on Friday to take on ECC weakling South Lenoir (0-7, 0-4).

Gridiron notebook

Phillips (95-978, 16 TDs) leads the Duplin Journal area in yards and touchdowns. He’s averaging 10.3 yards per carry. Kelly could be the most efficient quarterback, connecting on 5 of 7 passes for three touch-

six

downs. Yet he’s adding to the offense this fall by running the ball (22.7 yards per game). Warren nabbed his fifth interception in six games and nearly had another. Four other players statewide have five picks. James Kenan’s David Zeleya joins eight other players

with

interceptions. Charlotte Country Day’s Mac Summerville and South Wake’s Shane Gannon have seven apiece through seven games. Union was winless in 2022 and 2021, and its only wins in 2023 were to Jones Senior and Spring Creek. Rosewood and ND’s only common foe so far has been Northside-Pinetown. ND beat the Panthers 21-7, while the Eagles lost to the Beaufort County school 31-14. ND is second in the RPI index in the 1A East to Tarboro (6 -1). Northside is fifth, Rosewood eighth and Lakewood ninth.

THURMAN PARKER

Jordan Hall ran (3-26), caught the ball (2-60) and made six tackles against North Lenoir.

EDWARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Duplin Journal area in yards (978) and touchdowns (18).

UMO establishes drop-off site for storm relief

The community teamed up to help hurricane victims

Contribution from the University of Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE — The University of Mount Olive’s School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences has announced that it will continue to support Western North Carolina as a relief drop-off site for supplies and materials. “The overwhelming community need and support are the driving force behind our continued efforts,” said Edward Olive, director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at UMO.

In partnership with Emerge Ministries and the Original Free Will Baptist (OFWB) Convention, UMO will collect and store much-needed hurricane Helene recovery supplies at its commodity building on Garner Chapel Road in Mount Olive. “Once we have a full load, we will arrange transportation to Western NC,” Olive said.

“Many areas in Western NC are facing storage limitations,” Olive noted.

“By using our commodity building as a central collection and sorting point for donated supplies, we can continue to serve and help our neighbors in a much-needed time and way.”

Olive and several members of the University’s School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences as well as Campus Ministries have volunteered in Western North Carolina, cooking meals, unloading trucks, and sorting and stacking supplies. They are planning another trip in early November. Their eyewitness accounts of the devastation and their understanding of the urgent needs are driving forces behind their continued desire to serve.

The University is calling on the community to continue their support by donating items like non-perishable goods, cleaning supplies, blankets,

The University of Mount Olive’s School of Agriculture and Biological

Sciences has announced that it will continue to support western North Carolina as a relief drop-off site for supplies and materials.

extension cords, storage containers, water, hats, gloves, and hand warmers. A complete list is below. Donations can be dropped off at the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at UMO or large quantity items at the commodity building located at 408 Garner Chapel Road in Mount Olive. Volunteers will sort, label, and stack the donations. Additionally, the University is seeking transportation support. While one U-Haul has been sponsored, more transportation resources are needed to move supplies.

Community members or businesses with access to box trucks are encouraged to lend their assistance. Those interested in volunteering or offering transportation help can sign up at Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Drive Volunteer Sign-Up. To offer transportation assistance, email EOlive@umo.edu or call 919-658-7510.

“The University of Mount Olive, in partnership with the OFWB Convention and Emerge Ministries, is committed to providing relief to Black Mount Cragmont and other areas in Western North Carolina,” said Olive.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

“Together, we can make a difference.”

For more information, or to get involved, please contact the University of Mount Olive School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists.

2024-25 Golden LEAF scholars celebrated at reception

Contribution from the University of Mount Olive

THE UNIVERSITY of Mount Olive (UMO) recently hosted a reception to honor the 2024-25 cohort of Golden LEAF Scholars. The event connected scholarship recipients with members of the Golden LEAF Foundation and the University’s academic deans.

UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom opened the event, recognizing the Golden LEAF Foundation’s ongoing commitment to providing educational opportunities for students in rural areas. “This scholarship program is about more than just education; it’s about strengthening the future of rural North Carolina,” said Croom. “We are proud to partner with Golden LEAF and support these talented students.”

Golden LEAF President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton said, “This scholarship program was one of the first initiatives our board implemented to help students from rural communities access higher education. The goal is for these scholars to take their education and bring it back to their communities, strengthening rural North Carolina. Each year, we receive over 1,800 applications for 215 scholarships.

Back Row (L-R): Golden LEAF Director of Programs Marilyn Chism, Golden LEAF Scholarship Program Manager Arlena Dongilli, Quinton Rouse of Seven Springs, Caroline Jones of Mount Olive, Ashleigh Smith of Pink Hill, UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom, Taylor Hall of Autryville, Mark Anderson of Asheville, Hannah Hoyle of Grover, and Riley Howard of Mount Olive. Front Row (L-R): Golden LEAF Board Member Jeffrey Lee, Kaleb Buckingham of Weeksville, Kaitlyn Ward of Belvidere, Macy Parkhurst of Pikeville, Evelyn Trejo of Goldsboro, Katelyn Gregory of Mount Olive, and Golden LEAF President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton.

This year, we are proud to have more than 600 current scholars across the state, including 12 at the University of Mount Olive.

Since 2011, UMO has produced 24 Golden LEAF alumni, and we are excited about continuing to connect our current and

Your

former scholars in meaningful ways to create a strong network of support.”

The Golden LEAF Foundation, represented by key staff members, including Director of Programs Marilyn Chism and Scholarship Program Manag-

er Arlena Dongilli, highlighted the program’s goals of connecting students to their home communities through internships and professional networking.

Golden LEAF Board Member Jeff Lee talked about ensuring rural students have the re -

sources needed to succeed. “Our board takes great pride in this program because we believe that when rural North Carolina thrives, the whole state thrives,” Lee said.

As part of the celebration, scholars from various disciplines introduced themselves, sharing their academic pursuits and hometowns. Ashleigh Smith, a senior animal science major from Pink Hill, spoke about Golden LEAF’s pivotal role in her educational journey. “Golden LEAF isn’t just a scholarship to me—it’s a family,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, especially the paid internship that helped me gain real-world experience in my field.”

The reception concluded with a discussion on the ongoing efforts to connect current scholars with alumni, ensuring a supportive network for both students and graduates of the Golden LEAF program. For more information on the Golden LEAF Scholarship program, visit scholars.goldenleaf.org/about.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE

UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE

‘The

mountains are calling, and so we go’

Women who lost homes in

victims

to Helene

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

WALLACE — In Emily Ludlum’s River Landing home, there hangs a painting of five men gathered around a red pickup truck. Those men were from western North Carolina, and came to Wallace to help victims of Hurricane Florence in 2018.

“Fast-forward six years, two of them were part of the disaster in western North Carolina,” Ludlum said. “Six years ago, they came as strangers when we needed help, and we ended up helping them.”

Ludlum and her friends, Melissa Blizzard Stevens and Jennifer Johnson, along with several other residents of the River Landing community, have mobilized and organized in the weeks since Hurricane Helene devastated the NC mountains to do their part to provide food, water, clothing, generators and lots of love and support to those who need it most.

It all started with a lemonade stand that their children put together every year. The kids decided to donate the proceeds from this year’s lemonade stand to the victims of Hurricane Helene.

“They ended up raising $3,500,” Ludlum said.

“That was what started everything, that initial run,” she explained. “With the $3,500, we purchased seven generators.”

Friend Georgia Farrior scoured the internet and found the best spots to go to deliver the generators and supplies.

“We decided to go to the remote, hard-to-reach places where no one was getting supplies,” Ludlum said.

Their first stops were Hendersonville, Fruitland and Hooper’s Creek.

“There was desperation there,” Stevens recalled. “They needed whatever they could get.”

Johnson’s parents live in the area, and helped to guide the team in and out of precarious places where the roads were closing or collapsing rapidly.

“It was vital, I think, having someone local,” Stevens said. “We needed someone we could trust. They were counting on us, and we were counting on them.”

Ludlum and Stevens shared their trips through Facebook posts. “The Facebook posts were a way of showing just how bad it is,” Stevens said, “but also to show these people where their money was going.”

“We wanted people to believe us, trust us, and see that the job

TAKE NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY

FILE#2024E-000430

was being done,” Ludlum said. Things changed so quickly that the group had one destination in mind when they left, but the next morning, it had changed, because the needs had changed.

She recalled the second trip they took, they went to Newland. “It was chaotic,” she said. “One of the things we learned was to push further. Don’t go to the first place you get to because everyone’s already been there. So we said, ‘OK, get us further in.’

One of [Jennifer’s] family friends took us deep in, to a place called Spear. When we got there, there

The undersigned, BRAXTAN JAMES AND MARY MICAL, having qualified on the 4TH DAY of OCTOBER, 2024, as COADMINISTRATORS of the Estate of DAVID BRYON MICAL, 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 15TH Day of JANUARY 2024, 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 17th Day of OCTOBER 2024.

BRAXTAN JAMES, CO-ADMINISTRATOR 109 SR-682 THE PLAINS, OH 45780 Run dates: O17,24,31,N7P

was so much destruction and devastation, houses completely gone. All you saw was the footprint of the foundation, the river just full of cars and houses and mangled, tangled mess.”

Not only did they drop off supplies, they stopped and talked and prayed with the people right in the middle of the mess.

“I just wanted them to know that eastern North Carolina was supporting them, and we were bringing them things and just to stay strong,” Ludlum added.

Johnson told the story of one single-wide trailer, in which 10 people lived. The side of the

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY FILE#2023E000183

The undersigned, BERLINE DELVA, having qualified on the 4TH DAY of AUGUST, 2023, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of SOLADEAN YDUD DIXON, 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 15TH Day of JANUARY 2024, 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 17th Day of OCTOBER 2024.

BERLINE DELVA, ADMINISTRATOR 2806 MCLAIN ST APT.A GOLDSBORO, NC 27534 Run dates: O17,24,31,N7P

“Six years ago, they came as strangers when we needed help, and we ended up helping them.”

Emily Ludlum

thought we were slowing down, and thought, let’s pass this to someone else, but when we got back from Spear, the donations started rolling in, and we just said Melissa’s mantra. Her mantra this whole time has been ‘There’s a need, we go.’ And so, we go.”

From left to right, Jennifer Johnson, Melissa Stevens and Emily Ludlum with the generators they helped purchase for victims of

North Carolina.

The team also learned of a hospice center in Spruce Pine, where 30 patients were using battery-operated oxygen tanks, and desperately needed electricity to use their regular oxygen tanks. Ludlum remembers telling the hospice nurse that they would take care of it and hung up the phone. “At that point, we were out of generators,” Ludlum recalled. “We did not know where to get any from. We did not have enough money to get more than probably two. Within five minutes, I get a phone call saying the shipment of generators we’ve been waiting on have been delivered. Twenty generators. I said, ‘OK, let’s figure out how to pay for them.’ So I put a Facebook post up and said there’s an urgent need. By 10:30, we had 10 generators, 10 kerosene heaters, 10 drop cords, 10 kerosene jugs loaded and ready to go for her.”

She pointed out that Jamie Duff from Island Creek Outdoor Products has provided them with high-quality Generac generators at cost.

“Everyone has a God-given talent and they are using it in the best of ways,” Johnson said. “It’s like it all just comes together.”

mountain came down on top of them, and they all perished. Then there was a woman whose house had flooded, and she and her family were stuck in their attic, she said. “They got to the farthest point in the attic where they could get, and she sat down with her kids, and she prayed, ‘Dear Lord, I just pray that you let them die fast, because I don’t want them to suffer.’ Somehow, they were able to cut out themselves out of the roof.”

That was the town of Spear, which Ludlum said they thought would be their last drop-off trip.

“Spear was the one where we

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DUPLIN

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned, SUSAN BASDEN, having qualified as EXECUTOR of the Estate of CHARLES MOORE, Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said CHARLES MOORE, at the address set out below, on or before January 11, 2025, or this notice may be pleaded

Next up for the group is a trip Oct. 19-20 to Newland, where they plan to feed the entire community breakfast, lunch and dinner for two days. They’re also collecting coats and winter gear, and will have those available for folks to pick and choose what they want and need.

“This all started with our kids dreaming big,” Ludlum said. Their experience with Florence also helped ingrain in them the desire to help, Stevens said. “We’ve felt that kind of devastation. We know what it is to cry for two weeks.”

The ladies have no plans of slowing down their relief efforts either, even after eight trips, 31 generators delivered and 14 stops.

“The mountains are calling,” Stevens said, “and so we go.”

LEASE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND - COUNTY OF DUPLIN

Duplin County is considering leasing land at its WestPark Industrial Center near Warsaw, NC, for farming purposes for the 2025 calendar year. The lease runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. Renewals for 2026 and 2027 may be available if the lessee maintains the property in an acceptable manner. The WestPark property available for lease is approximately 100 acres, combined, along West Park Drive in Warsaw, NC (County parcel number 01-E116). The proposed lease excludes approximately 1.5 acres for a new Duplin County Water Supply Well, including

ingress and egress. Prospective lessees shall submit sealed offers by mail or in person to:

Duplin County Economic Development Commission WestPark Lease

Attn: Scotty Summerlin 260 Airport Road, Kenansville, NC 28349

Sealed offers will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024. Offers submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Offers must be submitted in a proposed annual dollar

amount per acre format. All offers must include the offeror’s name, phone number, and mailing address to be considered. Offers must be in a sealed envelope clearly marked “WestPark Lease.”

Duplin County will award the lease to a lessee that, in its discretion, is deemed most advantageous to the County. Duplin County reserves the right to reject any and all offers submitted. For additional information, contact Scotty Summerlin at 910-385-6236 or scott. summerlin@duplincountync.com.

Hurricane Florence give back

COURTESY HENRY STEVENS

Melissa Blizzard Stevens, left, and Emily Ludlum pose with Mark Searcy, who helped them muck out their homes after Hurricane Florence. They recently traveled to the mountains to help him recover from Hurricane Helene. They’re holding a painting of him and four other men who helped in 2018.

COURTESY JENNIFER JOHNSON

Hurricane Helene in western

obituaries

Donnie Jackson Byrd

Jan. 11, 1949 – Oct. 9, 2024

Donnie Jackson Harrell Byrd, 75, passed away early Wednesday morning, Oct. 9, 2024, while being cared for at Wilson Medical Center in Wilson.

Mrs. Byrd was a native of Calypso, and while life took her to other places, it was to Calypso that she returned to live the remainder of her days. She was a former co-owner of the Mount Olive Tire Service, for which she served as accountant/ bookkeeper. She had also done accounting work for Jimmy Finkley while she resided in South Carolina.

A collector of fine china, she was an expert at setting a pretty table, and she always had an eye for dragon flies.

Surviving family includes her two daughters, Robin Harrell Reynolds and husband, Russ Reynolds, of Calypso, and Amanda Suzanne Harrell and wife, Carol Schwerin, of Charleston, South Carolina; a granddaughter, Chesney Brown of Wilson; a sister and two brothers-in-law, Martha Jackson Davis and Roger Davis of Calypso, and Jimmy Outlaw of Dudley; her best friend who was like another sister, Judy Williams of Mount Olive; nieces and nephews and spouses, Brent and Libbi Davis, John and Angie Davis, Tammy and Keith Hayes, Gray and Shonda Outlaw; many greatnieces and great-nephews; along with two special cousins, Bobby Lambert and wife, Vickie, and Jerry Jackson. She also dearly loved her furry “grandchildren.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon B. and Mary Grace Lambert Jackson; a sister, Virginia Jackson Outlaw; and dear friends, Benny Rhodes and Dianne Lewis.

Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 14, by the graveside at Wayne Memorial Park. Officiating was Pastor Russ Evans. Following the service, the family remained briefly to receive friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to Maggie Society, 606 West Trinity Drive, Wilson, NC 27893 (an animal rescue — Donnie was an avid animal advocate and lover).

Oct. 7, 2024

Lois Ann Futrell Quinn, 59, passed away Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 at Nash UNC Healthcare in Rocky Mount.

A graveside service was held Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Rose Hill Cemetery, Rose Hill.

Ann is survived by daughter, Jennifer Hernandez and husband, Candido; mother, Emma Lois Jackson; grandchildren, Nicholas Davis, Brandon Davis, Emanuel Davis, Alexandra SanchezCastillo, Leigha Sanchez-Castillo; three great-grandchildren; brother, Roland Johnson; and sisters, Carolee King and Emma Jean Stanley.

Donations toward funeral expenses would be greatly appreciated and can be made to Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, P. O. Box 336, Warsaw, NC 28398 or by Venmo @communityfhwarsaw or in person at the Warsaw office.

Effie Moore Darden Hamilton

July 10, 1918 – Oct. 10, 2024

Effie Moore Darden Hamilton, 106, formerly of Magnolia, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 at Windsor Point Retirement Community in Fuquay-Varina. She was born July 10, 1918, in Falling Creek Township, Lenoir County, to the late Joseph Herring Darden and Gertrude Eliza Moore Darden.

Effie was valedictorian of her graduating class at Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville. After obtaining a degree in primary education from East Carolina Teacher’s College (now East Carolina University), she taught school in a two-room schoolhouse in Polk County, and she also taught in Onslow County. Later, Effie moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where she worked at the Old Pension Building in Washington, DC, taught at Peter Pan School and took graduate courses from the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia.

Effie married John Fisher Hamilton on March 15, 1947, in Washington, DC, and traveled with him to Texas, Virginia and New Jersey, while he pursued his military career. Effie worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard when she lived in Virginia. Upon her husband’s retirement from the military, they settled on the Hamilton family farm in John Fisher’s hometown of Magnolia, where Effie continued her teaching career in the Duplin County public school system. She loved young children and often spoke with pride of the many children she taught and their accomplishments. Following her husband’s death in 1991, Effie continued to reside in Magnolia until she moved to Windsor Point Retirement Community in Fuquay-Varina in 2001.

Effie was a member of Magnolia Baptist Church, a life member of the Duplin County Historical Society, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the NC Retired Government Employees’ Association. She researched family genealogy extensively for over 50 years, much of which she did without the benefit of the internet, and enjoyed sharing her discoveries with others. When she was in her 70s, she bought a computer and took classes at James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville to learn how to use it.

During her retirement years, she also enjoyed painting, crocheting, quilting and traveling.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Mary Darden Mason, and her two brothers, Flavius Allen Darden and Robert Joseph Darden, and grandson Gregory Todd Hodges.

Survivors include daughter Phyllis Hamilton Rich and husband Dwight Rich of Garner, daughter Joyce Hamilton and husband Joe Hodges of Newport, grandchildren Johnny Rich of Clayton, Theresa Hamilton Power of Aurora, Colorado, and Brian Hodges of Cary. She is also survived by five greatgrandchildren, one great-greatgranddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks for the care and support given to Effie by the dedicated staff of Windsor Point, her many special caregivers over the years and Transitions LifeCare.

A graveside service celebrating Effie’s life was held on Tuesday, Oct. 15,2024 at Devotional Gardens, Warsaw, with Minister Ricky Wood officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Effie’s memory to her church, Magnolia Baptist Church, P.O. Box 96, Magnolia, NC 28453.

Jerry Douglas Lane

Feb.17, 1948 – Oct. 6, 2024

Jerry Douglas Lane, 76, native of Mount Olive and a current resident of Goldsboro, passed away early Sunday evening, Oct. 6, 2024, while at home. He had been in declining health for some time.

A graduate of Southern Wayne Senior High School and Wayne Community College, he had served a four-year stint in the United States Air Force. He had studied at LSU School of Banking and also UNC School of Banking, which enabled him to have a fulfilling banking career which spanned over 39 years, all with Southern Bank and Trust Company. Most of his years of service were in Mount Olive, though for a few years he served as branch manager of the Warsaw location. Jerry retired as vice president and was also manager of the loan review and credit standards department. Jerry was a member of Mount Olive Presbyterian Church. He had been a member of Mount Olive Kiwanis Club and had served as club president in past years. He also had served Goshen Medical Center on its board of directors. Jerry had served tirelessly with Mount Olive Rescue Squad and had been the group’s lieutenant.

He was an avid fisherman and loved the coastal area, but his favorite form of leisure was playing golf.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 51 years. Brenda Batten Lane, of the home; a son and daughter-inlaw, Jonathan and Jessica Lane of Clinton; and three beloved granddaughters, Ambria Lane of Warsaw, Katlyn and Ansley Lane, both of Clinton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dempsey and Grace Cox Lane; a sister, Reba Jean Lane; and a brother, Jack Lane.

Jerry’s family will remember his life privately.

Jerry Rogers Kennedy

June 10, 1943 – Oct. 11, 2024

Jerry Rogers Kennedy, 81, died Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 at home.

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Eleanor Weston Kennedy, brothers, Lynwood Ralph Kennedy and Norwood Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy is survived by two daughters, Melisa K. Browning and husband James of Richlands, and Jeri Denise K. Humphries and husband Wayne of Beulaville; son, Jonathan R. Kennedy of Potters Hill; sister, Polly Jarman of Richlands; brother, Larry Kennedy of Jacksonville; five grandchildren, James Alex Browning, III and wife Christina, Megan E. Ray and husband Austin, Tyler C. Humphries, Trevan J. Humphries, Trista S. Humphries; and two greatgrandchildren, Rush A. Browning and Charlotte M. Ray.

Funeral service was held on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, followed by visitation, at Serenity Funeral Home, Beulaville. Graveside service with Masonic rites, was held Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 at Kennedy & Cole Cemetery, Beulaville.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, NC, 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.

Katherine Hall-McIver

Jan. 31, 1951 – Oct. 3, 2024

Katherine Hall McIver, 73, of Dudley, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 at PAM Health Specialty Hospital in Rocky Mount.

A viewing was held on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 472 Wells Town Road in Rose Hill. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Church of God and True Holiness, 611 Whitfield Drive in Goldsboro. Burial followed at Hall Family Cemetery in Beulaville.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories: her son, Lonnie McIver (Vickie) of Goldsboro; stepdaughter, Threase Evans (Dwight) of Rome, Georgia; five sisters, Mamie Williams and Lillian Bowen of Beulaville, Ruby Beanum (Lynn) and Zoye Marie Dobson of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Debra Batts (Richard) of Henderson; four brothers, Paul Hall (Marie) and Benjamin Hall (Mattie) of Beulaville, Milton Hall (Barbara) of Durham, and Dennis Hall (Teresa) of Dudley; two sisters-in-law; three brothers-inlaw; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.

Robin Jenita Boney

April 12, 1965 – Sept. 27, 2024

Robin Jenita Boney, 59, of Norfolk, Virginia, formerly of Duplin County and Raleigh, answered the Master’s call on Sept. 27, 2024 at Sentra Leigh General Hospital in Norfolk. A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Hawes Funeral Home Chapel, Warsaw. Robin Jenita Boney was born in the Bronx, New York on April 12, 1965, the older twin to the late Robert G. Boney and the fifth child to the late James A. Boney and Emma L. Boney. She was reared in a loving family with her five siblings, where she inherited a rich legacy of family and character. Robin was educated in the Duplin County Public School System after the family relocated to Warsaw. After graduating from high school she relocated to Raleigh for several years until she moved to Norfolk. Robin worked in the food service industry as a kitchen manager for several years prior to her brain aneurysm. Along the way she met a young lady we call Dee Dee and they became the best of friends and was adopted into her family, the Battles. Left to cherish her precious memories are her son, Joshua L. Boney; mother, Emma Boney; three brothers, James Boney (Susan), Dennis L. Boney (Melody), Charles E. Boney (Julie); sister, Vera D. Lowe (Ronnie); two godchildren, Isaha and Sasha Battle; two aunts, Joyce Lewis and Karen Burke; nephews, Chaz (Janine), Chris (Glorianna) Jaye, Ray, Tony; and nieces, Nyla (Charles), Chanelle, Sydny, Taylor, Nowamie, and a host of great nieces and great nephews, cousins and countless loving relatives and friends.

Oct. 4, 2024

Geraldine Hatcher, 90, died Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the Gardens of Rose Hill assisted living center. Born and raised in Onslow County, she graduated from Richlands High School in 1953. She and her husband Joseph Earl Hatcher married in 1954 and raised their two sons, Anthony and Dana, in Kenansville. They built a little pink house in 1956 — Geraldine insisted it be painted pink, 30 years before the John Mellencamp song — where they spent their marriage, and where Geraldine lived until she moved to Rose Hill in 2019. Over the course of 68 years, the house expanded in size, added a garage and an outbuilding, and changed color a few times.

Her husband Earl Hatcher was co-owner of the Kenansville Drug Store, along with Amos Brinson, and later Amos Brinson Jr., also known as “Doc.” Earl died in 1995. Dana Hatcher, their younger son, was a respected teacher at several North Carolina community colleges.

In the years after her husband’s death, Geraldine made a point of driving around town to visit friends and shut-ins. She was slowed by painful arthritis in her final decade, at first using a cane, and then a rolling walker to get around. Eventually, she could no longer care for herself and had to leave her beloved house where she had spent the majority of her life.

After an adjustment period, Geraldine bonded with the staff in Rose Hill, who reciprocated her friendship. They appreciated her conversation, told her about their families, and laughed at her sense of humor. They treated her well. Still, she enjoyed outings, especially going out for lunch, and especially when lunch included massive amounts of shrimp. No matter how much she ate, she always had room for ice cream. Geraldine loved visits from her family, which included Dana and his wife Marty; Anthony and his wife Tricia; Anthony’s daughter Katie; and her greatgranddaughter Clara, born in July. Katie and her husband Cameron took Clara to the Gardens of Rose Hill to meet her great-grandmother on Sunday, Sept. 29. The following Friday, Geraldine passed away in her sleep.

During her stay in assisted living, Geraldine always maintained that one day she would move home. Now, she has.

Geraldine is survived by son, Anthony Hatcher and wife, Tricia of Durham, daughterin-law, Marty Hatcher of High Point, granddaughter, Katie Muhlenkamp and husband, Cameron of High Point and greatgranddaughter, Clara.

She was preceded in death by husband, Joseph Earl Hatcher and son, Dana Hatcher.

Visitation was held Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, Inc. A funeral service was held on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Community Funeral Home Chapel in Warsaw. A private burial was held in East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville.

Flowers welcome or memorials may be made to: Gentiva Hospice, 126 E Elizabeth Street, Clinton, NC 28328 or Kenansville Baptist Church, P. O. Box 865, Kenansville, NC 28349.

Geraldine Hatcher

Lois Ann Futrell Quinn

Leroy McCrimmon

Nov. 4, 1956 – Oct. 9, 2024

Leroy McCrimmon, 67, of Beulaville, was led by the Master to his eternal home Oct. 9, 2024. Funeral service was held Oct. 15, 2024 at Hallsville Missionary Baptist Church in Beulaville. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Interment followed at Hallsville MBC Cemetery.

Leroy McCrimmon, affectionately known as “Fox,” “Kuda-Bug” and “Pee-Wee,” son of the late Willie McCrimmon and the late Jannie Mae Parker, was born Nov. 4, 1956 in Duplin County. “Fox” was educated at East Duplin High School. For 20plus years, “Fox” worked as a mechanic and a heavy equipment operator in pulp wood. He joined Hallsville Missionary Baptist Church later in life.

Along with his parents, Leroy McCrimmon was preceded in death by his uncle, James Southerland; aunts, Pauline Riddick, Mildred Murrill and Katie Houston.

Leroy McCrimmon leaves to cherish his memories: one son, Antonio (Kaila) McCrimmon; two daughters, Tawanta (Mickey) Harrison and Bianca Butler; brothers, William Miller and Vernon McCrimmon; sisters, Betty (Hallie) Melvin, Bobby (Terry) Grady and Doretta (Nathan) Gore; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, numerous relatives and countless friends to celebrate his memories.

Walter Bernard Moore

July 19, 1962 – Oct. 7, 2024

Walter Bernard Moore, 62, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 at his home.

A viewing was held on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 472 Wells Town Road in Rose Hill, followed by the funeral service. Burial followed at Moore Family Cemetery in Magnolia. He is survived by his wife, Kim Moore and son Jalen Moore of Columbia, South Carolina; one brother, Clarence Moore Jr. of Magnolia; two sisters, Clarice Moore of Magnolia and Joyce F. Frederick (Matthew) of Kenansville; mother and fatherin-law, Barbara and Lester Holas of Columbia, South Carolina; numerous cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.

UMO’s

Contribution from the University of Mount Olive

SENIOR HANNAH Loftin has been selected as the 2024 National Brown Swiss Youth Ambassador, a recognition honoring Loftin’s dedication to agriculture.

Loftin, a double major in agriculture education and business, has been actively involved in agriculture since childhood through her work in 4-H and FFA. Her selection as ambassador is the culmination of years of dedication to the Brown Swiss breed and the broader agricultural community. “Most of my spare time is spent on dairy cow shows, as I show all across the state, into Virginia, South Carolina, and nationally,” she said. The National Brown Swiss

Benson Bert Holland

May 27, 1979 – Oct. 9, 2024

Benson Bert Holland, 45, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. Mr. Holland was born May 27, 1979 in Parkersburg, West Virginia to Robert Donald Holland and the late Rona Ann Langley Holland.

A visitation was held Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw, Inc.

A funeral service followed in the funeral home chapel. Burial concluded the service in Devotional Gardens.

Mr. Holland is survived by daughters, Jordyn DeLiso of Richardson, Texas, and Leia Renee Holland of Faison; father, Robert Donald Holland; brother, Robert Glenn Holland and wife, Melinda of Faison and Thomas Lee Holland and wife, Ashley of Wilson; and sister, Sandra Holland Evans and husband, David of Lumberton.

Mr. Holland was preceded in death by his mother, Rona Ann Langley Holland.

Rodney Shiral Turner

Dec. 22, 1951 – Oct. 6, 2024

Rodney Shiral Turner, 72, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at his home.

Visitation was Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Funeral service was Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, also at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville. Interment followed in Oak Ridge Memorial Park, Pink Hill. Survivors include: sons, Rodney S. Turner Jr., Donald Miller, Jami Miller (Heather); daughter, Ella Lee Crumpler (Chris); brother, Melvin “Pee Wee” Turner; significant other, Ella Fay Smith; grandchildren, Dalton Turner, Bladen Miller, Sumner Miller, Luke Miller, Makensie Blackburn, Emma Blackburn and Nathan Crumpler.

Wallace celebrates Latino culture with inaugural festival

Youth Ambassador is a highly competitive role, with only one ambassador selected an-

nually from across the United States. As the ambassador, Loftin will represent the Brown Swiss breed at national shows and events, manage social media platforms to engage and educate youth, and lead fundraising efforts to support the National Brown Swiss Youth Association. She will also travel to major national events.

“I am beyond excited to have been selected for this role. This is a dream I’ve worked toward for many years, and it’s an incredible opportunity to combine my passion for dairy cattle, education, and youth development,” said Loftin.

Loftin’s leadership and passion for agriculture education shone through during rigorous application process, impressing the judging panel and ultimately earning her the title.

Although Loftin did not grow up on a farm, she and her dad have a small hobby farm, which is home to more than 15 show cows that she says are, “Spoiled rotten!”

Loftin’s interest in agriculture education as a career dates back to her middle school years when she participated in “Wake Up to Ag Day,” an annual event that teaches kindergarten students about the importance of agriculture. This formative experience, coupled with her involvement in 4-H and FFA, inspired her to pursue a career as an agriculture educator. In addition to her ambassador duties, Loftin is an active leader at UMO, serving as a Teach Ag Ambassador and participating in the Animal Science Club and Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) events.

UMO has provided me with opportunities to grow and meet incredible people in the agriculture industry,” she said. “I feel well-prepared for my future, and I look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.” After graduating in May 2025, Loftin plans to teach agriculture at the middle school level and ultimately open an educational creamery. Her longterm vision is to create a space where students and families can learn about dairy farming, from cow to cream.

PHOTOS BY ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL

All of the countries represented at the Festival Cultural Latino were paraded through Clement Park as part of the festival’s opening ceremony.

Youngsters got a chance to try to break the piñata during the Festival Cultural Latino in

Wallace on Saturday. Games and piñatas were available for kids throughout the daylong festival.

Numerous performers entertained at the inaugural Festival Cultural Latino in Wallace Saturday, including Wallace-Rose Hill High School International Club Folkloric Dance Group.

Wallace Mayor Jason Wells read a proclamation from the town at the inaugural Festival Cultural Latino in Clement Park on Saturday morning. He was assisted by Wallace-Rose Hill High School senior class president Katerin García, who interpreted the proclamation into Spanish for the audience.

student named National Brown Swiss Youth Ambassador

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE

Hannah Loftin has been named the 2024 National Brown Swiss Youth Ambassador.