Trump supporter Ed Wahnker signed the Team Trump Bus last Friday. Wahnker is one of many Trump supporters who gathered at the Wayne County Republican Party headquarters in Goldsboro for the multi-stop Bus Tour featuring surrogates including
Free over-the-counter medicine for low-income families
Warsaw
The Mobile Free Pharmacy will provide low-income families with free over-the- counter medicine on Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kenansville Eastern Missionary Baptist Association located at 124 Water Tank Road in Warsaw. Participants may receive medicine for pain relief, cold and cough, allergies, digestion and vitamins. Children’s medicines will also be available. For questions, contact Anita Boswell-Russell at aboswellrussell@ medassist.org.
The town of Magnolia seeks residents’ feedback on land-use plan survey
Magnolia
The Town of Magnolia is asking residents to fill out the town’s land-use plan community survey to help them gather your input on how the town should manage future growth and development in Magnolia. “The preferences expressed by respondents to this survey will be considered by Town staff and advisory boards in developing the town’s landuse plan,” stated the town’s social media announcement, asking residents to take the 10-minute survey, which is available on the town’s Facebook page. A hard copy of the survey is available at Magnolia Town Hall.
The facility received more than $33K in civil penalties this year
By Ena Sellers Dupling Journal
WARSAW’S overburdened astewater treatment plant has been a significant topic of concern for area residents and leadership. According to Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors, the town needs approximately $44 million to expand the wastewater treatment plant infrastructure needed to keep up with the town’s growth.
The WWTP provides treatment for a service population of approximately 3,120 people. The facility discharges wastewater to Stewarts Creek in the Cape Fear River Cape Fear River subbasin.
This year, the town was fined $33,243.51 for violating discharge limitations and monitoring requirements set by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
Last month, the town re -
ceived a notice of violation for exceeding the levels of Coliform, Fecal MF, and MFC Broth, more than three times the limit in June. In May, the town had to pay a fine of $12,323.51 for violations in February, and in April, a $20,920 fine for 14 violations in January. According to the May civil penalty assessment, while it is understood that costs were incurred to resolve the upset impacts caused at the WWTP since 2023, “it seems that actions may have been delayed by the possible continued use of disinfectant agents at a nearby production facility that impacted wastewater treatment operations.”
The assessment notes that the WWTP facility has a concerning track record with three previous enforcement actions for some of the same parameters in the preceding 12-month period.
In April, the assessment noted that while the Wilmington Regional Office was notified,
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sors warned Wolf about Trump’s energy level and the workload he’d be taking on in the job.
GOP bus tour
By Shawn Krest Duplin Journal
GOLDSBORO — Chad Wolf remembers a night from late 2019, when he was acting secretary of Homeland Security under then-president Donald Trump. When he took the job, advi-
“I’m a little bit younger than he is,” the 48-year-old former college tennis player recalled thinking. “So, when I got there, I was like, ‘I can keep up with it. I’ve heard this before. I got it. I got this.’”
“I was worn out,” he said with a laugh. ”So, there’s one night where it had been a couple hard weeks in a row. I look
If approved, four houses will be demolished and reconstructed
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
ROSE HILL — During a special meeting on Oct. 15, the Rose Hill Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution for the town to apply for a community development block grant for neighborhood revitalization from the NC Department of Commerce.
The grant totals $950,000, of which $95,000 would go to administrative costs, leaving $855,000 for the renovation or reconstruction of four homes within the town. In Rose Hill’s case, all four applicants and one alternate are reconstruction projects, meaning their homes will be torn down and reconstructed.
“Severe systems means that it could be a faulty electrical system, it could include uneven floors, holes in the floor. We tallied a number of those severe systems … there’s a severe need.”
Kevin Amory, Insight Planning and Development
Kevin Amory with Insight Planning and Development, who’s assisting the town with the process, said 16 total applications were received, with four of those chosen, plus one alternate.
“So when we reconstruct the house, we try to give them a similar house, the same size house,” Amory explained to the town board. “If somebody’s got a two-bedroom, we rebuild them a $2.00
In order to be approved for CDBG-NR funding, the homeowners in question must be at 80% or below the county’s median income.
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Duplin Journal www.duplinjournal.com
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THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Oct. 1
• Kendrick Worthington, 32, was arrested by DCSO for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Oct. 2
• Jaime Lopez, 52, was arrested by the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office for injury to personal property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 3
• Darmius Lee, 57, was arrested by DCSO for multiple counts of trafficking in opium or heroin.
Oct. 4
• Jumar Malik Gilliam, 38, was arrested by DCSO for speeding and driving while license revoked.
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
• 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, trunk-or-treating and more! If you would like to host a trunk for the Trunk-or-Treat, contact 910-650-6311.
Cabin Lake will host Trunk-or-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. to noon, in the Monk Auditorium. The first half will be the film screening, and second half will be a Q&A session with Charlie Albertson.
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two-bedroom. The only exception is all of our houses have two bathrooms, which is normal. A lot of times, we may be tearing down a house with three bedrooms and one bath; we’re not taking out a bathroom, we’ll build a new bath.”
A portion of the grant funding would also go to help temporarily relocate residents of the homes being demolished and reconstructed.
Commissioner Ross Powell questioned how the homeowners chosen were selected.
Amory explained that several criteria are used, including their income, special populations like over age 62 and the disabled, and what he called
• Melissa Ann Laffan, 51, was arrested for driving while license revoked not impaired, possessing methamphetamine, and possessing marijuana up to 1/2 oz.
• Jeffrey Josue Mejia-Rivera, 20, was arrested by the Rose Hill Police Department for felony possession of Schedule I controlled substance and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 10
• Tiffany A Miranda, 35, was arrested by DCSO for seconddegree trespass, resisting a public officer, and disorderly conduct.
Oct. 11
• Ralph Dahu Carter, 54, was arrested by the Warsaw Police Department for assault on a female.
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. to 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. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.
“severe systems” in the home.
“Severe systems means that it could be a faulty electrical system, it could include uneven floors, holes in the floor,” Amory explained. “We tallied a number of those severe systems, and the first four are all six, so there’s a severe need.”
When asked if the homes are habitable, Amory replied, “I would hate to live in some of them.”
He opted not to use names or addresses in the public hearing, but said that some of the homes have windows missing and are open to the outside, while in other homes, wires are sticking out of the walls and to turn on the lights, two wires have to be put together.
Oct. 12
• Francisco Lizardi Vargas, 49, was arrested by the Kenansville Police Department for seconddegree trespass and begging for money.
Oct. 13
• Robert Samuel Yopp, 32, was arrested by DCSO for intoxicated and disruptive behavior, communicating threats, and shoplifting concealment of goods.
Oct. 16
• Christina Jana Lamb, 30, was arrested by the Wallace Police Department for simple assault and injury to real property.
• Jaychon Xavier Lee-James, 18, was arrested by DCSO for second-degree burglary, possession of stolen goods, and larceny after breaking and entering.
Happening Monthly
• The Duplin County Board of County Commissioners meets the first and third Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 224 Seminary St., Kenansville. For information, call 910-296-2100.
• The Beulaville town board meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at 508 East Main St., Beulaville. For more information, call 910-298-4647.
The Town of Calypso meets at the council chambers the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 103 W. Trade Street. For information, call 919-658-9221.
The Faison town board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at 110 NE Center St., Faison. For more information, call 910-267-2721.
• The Economic Development Board meets the first Friday of the month at 7 a.m. at the Duplin County Airport Conference Room.
The Greenevers town board meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at 314 E. Charity Rd. For information, call 910-289-3078.
• The Teachey town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 116 East 2nd St. For information, call 910-285-7564.
• The Warsaw town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 121 S. Front St. For information, call 910-293-7814.
The Magnolia town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., at 108 Taylor St., Magnolia. For information, call 910-289-3205.
• The Rose Hill town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., at 103 Southeast Railroad St. For more information, call 910-289-3159.
He explained that the process of applying for, receiving the grant funds and contracting all the projects could take up to a year. The homes themselves should take about four months to build, he said.
Amory also explained that the program is “a self-forgiving loan” for the homeowners. “It forgives one-eighth per year, so 12.5%. If they sell the house before the full eight-year term is up, then whatever loan amount is thereupon sale, that money will revert to the town.
At the end of the eight years, the deed of trust is vacated and it’s 100% their house.” Commissioner Adam Quinn asked what happens if one of the applicants dies. It really depends on the specific cir-
• Dustin Blake Madden, 28, was arrested by DCSO for breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, and possession of stolen goods.
• Tyler Chase Sanderson, 26, was arrested by DCSO for possessing a stolen automobile and felony probation violation.
Oct. 17
• Justin Denice Whitley, 34, was arrested by DCSO for injury to real property and multiple counts of injury to personal property.
Oct. 18
• Korey Jaquan Dixon, 32, was arrested by the Beulaville Police Department for carrying a concealed gun, possessing drug paraphernalia, and shoplifting concealment of goods.
cumstances, Amory said. “If they die before construction starts, they’re out. They would be withdrawn from the program,” he said. “If they die after construction starts, we have to finish construction. If it goes to an heir and that heir is also low- to moderate-income (LMI) and would qualify for the program, they could keep the house but the deed of trust would remain. If they sell it, and by sell it, minus the deed of trust, it would still have to be an LMI. The LMI person would still have the deed to the house.”
After a bit more discussion on the details, the board voted unanimously to approve the resolution for the grant application.
Oct. 20
• Jack Hernandez, 36, was arrested by DCSO for nonsupport of child.
• Shana Diane Miller, 28, was arrested by DCSO for obstructing justice, driving while license revoked not impaired, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 21
• Nikki Garner, 35, was arrested by DCSO for possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing methamphetamine.
• Alexander Glaspie, 35, was arrested by DCSO for probation violation.
• Jim Lee Grady, 31, was arrested by the Kenansville Police Department for possessing drug paraphernalia and simple possession of Schedule II controlled substance.
at my wife, and I was like, ‘I just, I need, like, five or six hours of uninterrupted sleep.’”
He went off to bed at 10:00 that night.
“I’m just gonna get some sleep refresh,” he said. “I was like, ‘Yep, I’m turning my phone off.’ Terrible idea.”
At 1:30 in the morning, his wife nudged him awake.
“Someone’s in the house,” she said.
“I was like, ‘That can’t be. There’s like a team of Secret Service agents that monitor the house. We’re fine,’” Wolf recalled.
His wife insisted, however.
“Finally, I go down the stairs,” he said. “And yeah, I’ve got an agent standing in my front door, just yelling. ‘The President would like to speak with you now.’” Wolf placed a secure late-
WARSAW from page A1
“it seems that no further actions have been taken to prevent the violations that have occurred since June 2023.”
According to a report from the Division of Water Resources issued to Warsaw, the extent of harm to the state’s natural resources and public health has not been quantified. However, the winter Instream Waste Concentration (IWC) was estimated at 86.6% above the allowed. In February, the facility exceeded the weekly Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) by 2347% and the monthly average by 1007%.
The higher the BOD, the less oxygen is available for aquatic life. The wastewater plant also exceeded a weekly fecal coliform by 505%.
While the effect on surface water quality has not been evaluated, according to the most recent Discharge Monitoring Report readings obtained by Duplin Journal, many fecal coliform readings show 2,420 bacteria per 100ml. Also, there was a spike in ammonia levels during August, which reached 12 mg/L — four times the limit.
night call to Trump, who was still hard at work.
“He just wants to chat about a couple of things,” Wolf said. “He said, ‘Chad, we need to do this.’
Yes, Mr. President. We can do that. I hang up, go back to bed and get up at six. I’m starting to get ready for work. Another call comes in from the White House. ‘The President would like to speak with you.’”
Wolf was connected with Trump, who asked him, “Chad, how we doing? What we talked about—how’s that coming?”
“That was five hours ago,”
Wolf recalled. “Most of the people in my department are still asleep.”
The former Trump cabinet member told the story while in Goldsboro last week. Wolf crisscrossed the state in the Trump/ Vance campaign bus, joined by North Carolina Republican candidates such as Buck Newton and Dan Bishop, as well as fel-
Connors told Duplin Journal that the town’s engineers are working on solutions to help mitigate the problem.
“It’s just taking more time than what we thought it would take,” said Connors, adding that the $7.5 million grant they received to help with the expansion is being allocated as engineers devise a plan to use it. “It’s not enough money to expand in the fashion that is needed,” he explained. “Things will be fine if they just be patient for a little while. Nobody’s losing anything.”
Commissioner Ebony WillsWells declared in a social media post that the town monitors two industrial users for their harmful discharges into the wastewater treatment plant.
“These industrial users should have been mandated to have pretreatment programs in place but haven’t,” wrote WillsWells. She explained that this ongoing issue has been damaging to the community and the environment and is affecting those downstream. “To be transparent, this has not just started, but has been going on for many, many years due to lack of enforcement in the
low members of Trump’s first administration like Peter Navarro and Matthew Whitaker.
Speaking in front of more than 60 GOP supporters at the Wayne County Republican party offices in downtown Goldsboro, Wolf discussed what it was like working for the former president.
“I was at the department for all four years, the acting secretary for the last 15 months, and I was in a lot of Oval Office meetings,” he said. A couple of things that I took away from those encounters with President Trump—one is accountability.
I don’t know if you remember, the President like to fire people. As someone who worked for him, that keeps you focused. But he ran it like a business, right? And if you weren’t performing and you weren’t producing, it’s time to go. How many people have been fired by President Biden? The economy, withdraw-
al from Afghanistan, absolute disaster. The border is a wreck. No one has been fired. Probably the worst example is the President gets shot in Butler, Pennsylvania. Do they fire the Secret Service Director? No, they allow her to resign a week later. That is unacceptable.”
It’s an issue that resonates with Wolf, who, as Homeland secretary, was in charge of the Secret Service.
Wolf also recalled Trump’s unorthodox approach toward debate in the Oval Office.
“His leadership style, which is unique, but it’s also refreshing all at the same time,” he said. “I hear a lot of criticism from folks who say, ‘Oh, well, you know, President Trump only surrounds himself by people that agree with him. So it’s like, a yes fest all day.’ That’s not what I saw. I was at many Oval Office meetings where you would have 10-12, people in there. You
“This has not just started, but has been going on for many, many years due to lack of enforcement in the Town of Warsaw.”
Commissioner Ebony Wills-Wells
Town of Warsaw. Citizens were informed that there are some legal issues in process and the town is working to enforce state rules and regulations to try and fix the problems.”
However, these are only some of Warsaw’s problems involving the plant. The town is also considering a moratorium on new sewer lines until improvements are made to the treatment facility.
Connors told Duplin Journal that they have yet to officially implement a moratorium and are evaluating each situation as it arises. He asks business owners for their patience while they work through these matters.
“We’re not trying to brush people off. It’s just the fact that there are certain rules and regulations in place. We have to honor those, or else we get in trouble,” said Connors. “We
do our best with what we have in front of us, and that’s what we do. And not everybody’s happy because some people just don’t understand the rules and regulations.”
Cecil Lennon, a Warsaw resident and small business owner who builds homes to rent, expressed his frustration with how things are handled in the town.
Lennon told Duplin Journal that he applied for two permits and received both. Still, with the new restrictions, he won’t be allowed to connect to the sewer after he has invested more than $80,000 in his project.
“If you know that you’re going to enforce a moratorium, why would you wait until I pay for my permit and it’s issued and then put it on hold? That’s not fair,” said Lennon. “I have
have his senior advisors. You would even have cabinet secretaries, and they’re arguing with one another about issues, arguing with the President about issues. That’s the way he absorbed information. He learned this way and made decisions, and it got heated at times. It wasn’t the best. It was a little colorful language at times.”
“I think that’s what the American people want,” Wolf continued. “These are all issues that were being debated that affect everyone, whether it was your paycheck, your national security, whatever it might be. … We need someone back in that in that position, back in the office, going in every day, having tough conversations, and making tough decisions instead of deferring to advisors or (saying) we’ll study that.”
And yes, it could also mean the occasional late-night visit from a secret service agent.
two projects going that I already paid for. But I can’t tie into the sewer once I finish my projects.”
Issues with the wastewater treatment plant could potentially hinder the town’s growth. While plans for a subdivision with 62 new homes have been approved, the plant currently lacks the capacity for the increased wastewater load.
According to town documents, in an email from Cecil Madden of McDavid Associates, Madden shared her professional opinion that the state likely will not approve additional sewer extensions until the wastewater treatment plant meets its effluent limits and can satisfactorily handle the increased wastewater load a subdivision would bring.
“We do not anticipate this will be resolved very soon. If subdivisions have been approved, the owners should be advised that the sewer lines will require a NC Division of Water Resources permit that the State may not approve at this time because the Town’s WWTP does not currently have the treatment capacity,” stated Madden.
Nov. 1st
Wing Cook Off
Free Carnival Rides
Food Vendors
Band Of Oz at 7 - 10 a.m.
Duplin Wine Beer and Wine Garden
Nov. 2nd
Vendors start at 9 a.m.
First Piece of Chicken is dropped into the Worlds Largest Frying Pan at 10 a.m.
Open Ceremonies at 1 p.m.
Food and craft vendors
Carnival rides
Cake Auction
Local dance and music talent
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
| PHILIP GLADDEN
Start with why: Share the
Vision and mission statements are the foundation for every decision made and program implemented.
HOW WOULD YOU answer if someone were to ask you, “What is the purpose of our local public schools and how should they fulfill their purpose?”
The most obvious answer would be to educate our children. As far as that goes, that is a good answer, but it really doesn’t address the fundamental questions “Why?” and “How?”
In 2009, Simon Sinek published a book called “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.” Sinek argues that businesses and organizations are quick to focus on the “How?” or the “What?” without clearly defining their “Why?”
In other words, if you don’t know what your purpose is, it’s hard to know the best ways and methods to achieve successful results. This is why it is important for an organization to have a clear vision and mission statement. Although they sound like the same thing, a vision statement looks to the future and inspires the team with an image of what can be, while a mission statement describes who is served by the organization and what the team will do to reach the desired outcomes.
As one source puts it, “Statements
of vision and mission are important so that everyone involved in the organization, including outside stakeholders, understands what the organization will accomplish and how it will be accomplished.”
Duplin County Schools (DCS) has very good vision and mission statements that express the “Why?” of the overall purpose of our local public schools and the “How?” to realize that purpose.
According to the DCS website, duplinschools.net, “The vision of Duplin County Schools is to become an exemplary school system where all students and staff excel in a globally competitive society” and “The mission of Duplin County Schools is to work collaboratively with the community to prepare all students for career, college, and life success.”
The particular strategic goals that have been set to help our local public schools accomplish their purpose and mission include making student academic success a priority, providing a personalized education for each student, supplying instruction by innovative leaders, teachers and
personnel, developing partnerships supported by 21st-century financial, business and technology systems, and providing safe and nurturing environments and facilities for all students and staff.
These vision and mission statements are the foundation for every decision made and program implemented in our local public schools in Duplin County. While it is important for members of the administration and school personnel to know these goals, it is just as important for the stakeholders (you and me) to understand and support them, and then share the vision.
The words of Zoey Norris, a student at Beulaville Elementary, translate the overall mission and vision statements into reality. “Duplin County Schools is preparing me with the best education to become a doctor one day. I enjoy how the teachers are respectful at my school. Beulaville Elementary is a very special place because of the nice administrators and teachers who help to keep my learning on track during the day.”
Philip Gladden lives in Wallace and writes on behalf of Duplin Schools
COLUMN | RHONDA DILLINGHAM
NCAPCS has organized daily check-in calls for WNC school leaders and charter community members to get and give support, ask questions, and lean on each other.
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WNC) is experiencing a generational tragedy. Amidst this tragedy, it is inspiring to see how the charter school community is coming together to support schools impacted by Hurricane Helene.
There are 209 charter schools in North Carolina serving over 150,000 students ― 20 charter schools are located in WNC. Some schools sustained structural damage, with one school’s entire K-4 building destroyed. Schools in the Asheville area cannot reopen as they are without water. The destruction of roadways has created transportation challenges for schools across WNC. Schools have students and staff that have been displaced from their homes.
The North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS), joined by the North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools, launched an Adopt a WNC School Initiative to find schools and businesses interested in adopting a WNC charter school affected by Helene. WNC schools have communicated their needs and those adopting them are sending those items to the schools in need.
To date, 10 schools have been adopted and 11 charter schools are ready to adopt more schools in need. Serdar Yuksekkaya, principal of TMSA Apex, is participating “because this initiative aligns with our core values, offering our students a meaningful opportunity to give back. By assisting schools in WNC, we are not only helping to rebuild and provide essential resources, but also teaching our students the importance of empathy and civic responsibility. We hope this effort fosters a sense of unity and demonstrates the power of coming together to support those facing hardship.”
NCAPCS has organized daily check-in calls for WNC school leaders and charter community members to get and give support, ask questions and lean on each other. On one of these calls, we learned about Jamie, a fifth grader at Brevard Academy in Transylvania County.
He faced a life-changing experience during Helene. When the storm hit, Jamie and his family lost everything. Their
home was destroyed, and Jamie was trapped under debris for several hours as the hurricane unleashed its devastation. The family’s rescue came in the form of a swift boat team, bringing them to safety amidst the chaos.
Jamie was located by the family dog who guided the rescuers when they could not find him visually. The local hospitals, overwhelmed by the hurricane’s impact, couldn’t accommodate him, so he was airlifted by helicopter to Charlotte. As Jamie recuperates, he and his family have been adopted by the PTO at a charter school in Charlotte, Community Public Charter School, which has launched a campaign to support Jamie and his family. In discussing the motivation for their school to assist Jamie and his family, Monica Dellinger, the executive director of Community Public Charter School, shared that “what our school did seems unusual to those that are not in the education field. But this is what we do daily. We’re moms. We’re dads, aunts, grandparents, neighbors, we are the village.” When Jamie’s family was not able to immediately join him in Charlotte, Dellinger visited with him in the hospital.
Charter school administrators and staff, many evacuated from their homes themselves, have spent the past few weeks calling to check on their students and their families. As a staff member from Brevard Academy was displaced in Tennessee, she used phone calls and social media messaging to help locate students to ensure they were safe. Even without power and water, many charter schools have opened their doors for respite care for families.
The recovery process will take years for WNC, and NCAPCS is committed to being a partner on this long journey. As I visited schools in WNC, I was amazed by the resilience displayed by our charter school leaders, staff, students and families during this challenging time.
Rhonda Dillingham is executive director of the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools.
Local election officials work diligently to address concerns over voter registrations
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
RECORD NUMBERS of votes have been registered across North Carolina. As of Sunday, more than 1 million voters in North Carolina had cast their ballots, hitting record numbers compared to the previous presidential election in 2020. In Duplin County alone, there were more than 1,900 voters on the first day of early voting.
“We have seen great turnout so far for Early Voting. We saw 1,968 voters on the first day with continuous lines of excited voters,” Carrie Sullivan, Duplin County Board of Elections director, told Duplin Journal.
“It is great to see so many people excited to have their voices be heard. Lines have been moving quickly and our voters seem to be happy with that. We look forward to seeing a great turnout in the county for this election.”
As of Sunday, a total of 4,332 votes were cast; of those, 4,123 were in-person, early voting, and 208 by mail.
The Duplin County Board of Elections is actively working to ensure a smooth voting process and to address citizens’ concerns.
Sullivan shared that earlier this year, a group conducting voter registrations raised worries among local voters when they didn’t collect necessary information such as dates of birth or the last four digits of Social Security numbers from the persons filling out the voter regis-
tration forms. Instead, they wrote down arbitrary numbers and submitted those to the DC BOE office.
“They were performing drives in parking lots in Kenansville at the Speedway and IGA, in Wallace at the Piggly Wiggly and Wal-Mart, and in Beulaville at the IGA,” Sullivan told Duplin Journal. “When this occurred, we did not change the voter’s information. Instead, we issued the voter an incomplete letter letting them know that there was a discrepancy between their original registration and the one that we had just received.”
Sullivan noted that the issues were addressed and they have not seen the group back in Duplin County since July. Under federal law, noncitizens who register to vote could face up to five years in prison and be subject to deportation.
“At the top of the application, they must check a box stating that they are a U.S. citizen. Individuals registering to vote must also sign the application, under penalty of perjury, that they are U.S. citizens,” said Sullivan. “The language above the signature box states: ‘Fraudulently or falsely completing this form is a Class I felony under Chapter 163 of the N.C. General Statutes.’”
This is the third installment of Questions and Answers with Duplin County Board of Elections Director Carrie Sullivan:
The number of groups and individuals who say they want to help make elections more secure has grown rapidly in recent years. Many believe that voter fraud is widespread. Are there such groups in Duplin? What are they
doing, and what impact do they have?
Voter fraud has become a big topic in elections in recent years. North Carolina has many checks and balances to ensure that elections are safe and secure. There are no such groups in Duplin that I am aware of at this time. I can assure the community that Duplin County follows all election laws, and we are committed to transparency and honesty in our processes.
What, if any, election misinformation is circulating in the community, and what are election officials doing to counter it? How is it affecting voters and their confidence in the election?
There is a lot of misinformation going around. It is easy for anyone to say something misleading on social media. And when people believe that misinformation and share it across their platforms to their friends, it spreads like wildfire. It is important for voters to fact-check their sources. One false piece of misinformation is that your ballot choices can be changed by the machine after you insert your ballot into it. This is completely FALSE. The ballot reads your markings for the choices that you selected; it cannot mark your ballot or change any information.
What we want voters to know is that we, just like them, want a fair election. We want the voters in Duplin County to call us if they have questions. Don’t just assume that everything rumor that you hear is correct.
A number of communities have restricted voter
registration drives by partisan and nonpartisan groups. This has traditionally been an important way to sign up new voters, although sloppy registration drives have sometimes caused logistical or administrative headaches for election administrators. What is your take on this issue, and do we track how voters are registered?
I feel that registration drives are a very important part of the democratic process. It is good to have extra boots on the ground to get people registered. I believe on a large scale that most of these groups are doing the right thing, because they are increasing registration numbers around the state and are ultimately helping increase voter turnout. In my opinion, these drives should be happening every year because local elections are just as important as the presidential elections.
I will say that we have seen a group in Duplin County that was not doing the right things when it came to registration drives and were making voters concerned. We have addressed the issues with this group, and we forwarded our concerns about them to the State Board of Elections. Our office will always do our due diligence to ensure that no misinformation is spread and to instill continued confidence in our processes throughout the community. Why are drop boxes so controversial?
I have no idea why people have issues with drop boxes. Ballot boxes are for voters to conveniently drop absentee ballots off to be processed. There are no ballot boxes in Duplin County. But to give voters a better understanding of the absentee process, every absentee ballot is numbered and assigned to a specific voter. You must also already be a registered voter to even obtain an absentee ballot. Again, there are checks and balances so that every ballot is accounted for. No absentee ballot gets accepted until all requirements are completed and met by the voter and until the Board approves them at an absentee meeting. The system flags and restricts voters from getting more than one ballot, even if they submit multiple requests. The system also prevents voters from voting by mail and in person in the same election cycle. Despite the misinformation out there, absentee voting is secure and there are safeguards in place to ensure that. I will say that we have seen a group in Duplin County that was not doing the right things when it came to registration drives and were making voters concerned. We have addressed the issues with this group, and we forwarded our concerns about them to the State Board of Elections. Our office will always do our due diligence to ensure that no misinformation is spread and to instill continued confidence in our processes throughout the community.
Early voting will continue through Nov. 2, persons who missed the voter registration deadline may register and vote during this period. Absentee ballots must be requested by Oct. 29 by 5 p.m. and they must be received in the Duplin County Board of Elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day on Nov. 5.
Duplin’s 3D mammography technology helps patients catch breast cancer early
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — When it comes to breast cancer, early detection is key in helping battle the disease that affects one in every eight women in the U.S. ECU Health Duplin Hospital is on the front lines of the battle against breast cancer, with the latest in mammography technology, plenty of patient information and an oncologist on staff, all of which contribute to early detection and ultimately, defeating this deadly disease.
“The average risk is one in eight; that increases for African-American and Jewish populations,” said Cindy Dixon of ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s Radiology Department. “They have a 25% greater risk of developing breast cancer.”
Along with Eve Stroud, with the hospital’s Community Health Program, she works to reach out to populations that may not be aware they’re at higher risk for developing breast cancer.
“What we’ve currently done is, in a hospital setting and with insurance, you have to have a physician’s order to get a mammogram. However, we started a new push and so if you do not have a primary care provider,” Dixon
explained, “we’ll provide one for you so that you’re able to get a mammogram. Everyone 40 and above should have a screening mammogram.”
Added Laura Maready, the hospital’s director of strategic relations, “Women who don’t have a primary care provider or a OB/ GYN, we have providers that have stepped up and that all is about that continuum of care because hopefully, they’re not going to detect anything, but if there are some abnormalities and some diagnostic work needs to be done, those doctors can help along that process.”
ECU Health Duplin Hospital also has the best technology available to help detect breast cancer early, the GE Prestina 3D Mammography machine. Because Duplin’s mammography is 3D, it enhances breast cancer detection, Dixon said. “It
Cindy Dixon looks over a mammogram taken at ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s Radiology Department. All mammography is now 3D, which allows radiologists to look deeper into breast tissue and find abnormalities more easily.
especially helps women with dense breasts,” she said. “You hear a lot of stuff in the news now about dense breast tissue. It makes it a little hard to screen, because the breast is thicker. The 3D helps see through that tissue and detect breast cancers earlier.”
With older two-dimensional models, tissue may have overlapped, Dixon added, “whereas 3D does a sweep through the tissue and you’re able to look through different slices of that globe. It’s like a round globe and you’re cutting through it.”
“What we have here in rural Duplin County is the same thing they’ve got in Wilmington, in Greenville, or Raleigh, so there’s no need for folks to have to travel,” Maready pointed out.
Mammograms usually take no longer than 15 minutes and are available at ECU Health Du-
plin Hospital from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Though mammograms are highly recommended for early detection, Dixon, Stroud and Maready all stress the importance of women doing self-exams on their own at home.
When she’s out at health fairs, events or screenings, especially during October because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Stroud said she always brings along a breast model, which women can practice doing self-exams on, and see what a lump may feel like within their own breast tissue. “During Breast Cancer Awareness Month especially, we’ll take the teaching aid and talk about how to locate [a lump] in the breast, how to do it in the shower. Use two fingers and go in a circular motion.”
Oftentimes, though men may be shy to practice on the breast model, they help find lumps in their wives’ breasts, Dixon said. Maready pointed out as well that women need to take charge of their own health. “Women really do make a lot of health care decisions in a family, so putting themselves first to make sure that they get this screening is so important,” she said. “You worry about your kids are getting what they need, your partner’s getting what they need, but really, it is important for women, especially, to make sure they are taking care of themselves. This type of screening is really import-
ant. In addition to self-exams.”
Stroud has a breast cancer bingo game she plays with seniors at nutrition sites throughout the county, and said she finds that whenever you can include health care information in a game, people tend to remember that information more readily.
“This bingo talks about the different things you can do to lower your risk,” Stroud said. “It talks about seeing your doctor, watching your weight, especially after menopause, getting your mammograms, making sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise, limit alcohol consumption and avoid tobacco products. It’s got some facts and statistics on the back that we go over.”
“We tell them, we’d rather see them there in the community than in our [emergency department],” Stroud added. “I think it shows the community a completely different side of the hospital than what they’re used to saying.”
Maready said building those relationships in the community is very important for a hospital like Duplin. “It’s a way for us to establish that relationship so they know that they can trust us with their care when they need it,” she said. “That’s special in a small community, too, that we have an advantage to folks who live in a large, metropolitan area.”
To schedule a mammogram, contact your primary care physician or call 910-296-8875.
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Auction Date: Nov. 29,
Early voters in Duplin County share their thoughts
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
in the 2024 General Election
well underway, Duplin Journal asked a handful of individuals who voted early in Duplin County last week about the biggest issues in their minds as they cast their ballots. Early voting started Oct. 17, and will continue through Nov. 2. Individuals may vote early 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (Oct. 21-25, Oct. 28 through Nov. 1) and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Early voting sites are in Kenansville at the Ed Emory Auditorium, 165 Agriculture Drive, and in Wallace at the American Legion, 529 E. Southerland St.
So what are the biggest issues in Duplin County voters’ minds as they head to the polls?
Douglas Walter, Warsaw
“One of the big issues for me is women’s health. It affects more than just birth control or abortion. Integrity and honesty are also important. I think locally, we reflect the same issues as nationally. We’re a rural area, and I believe both parties don’t pay enough attention to us. The environment is also one of the most crucial issues. Just look at what we’ve dealt with over the past month. Education is a big one. Locally, we haven’t seen the infighting here that you see in other places. Diversity
is important in this county. I don’t see it as a negative. And a lot of our immigrant workers are important. I think we need to think this thing through on immigration. If we kick them all out, who’s going to do the work? We need to not be short-sighted on this.”
Jessie Jarmon, Kenansville
“The main issue to me is saving our democracy because of Donald Trump. Locally, I like somebody who’s voting for environmental health. That is a big issue for me, and one of the candidates is talking about it, the other isn’t. The health of our environment is very important.”
Alan Wilson, Beulaville
“The biggest issues to me are a secure border and lower prices. Basically, prices are high around here on everything and that needs to come to a stop. Also, a lot of illegals are coming in to the Rose Hill area, and are taking over.”
Earleen Southerland, Wallace
“The main issue for me is to take care of the elderly and to get the price of medicines down. I want to make sure people are able to see a doctor without having to wait months and months. That’s the way I’m voting.”
Town moves forward with water and sewer grant
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — At the end of the regular monthly meeting on Oct. 14, the Teachey Board of Commissioners and Mayor Bobby Jones honored Public Works Director James Parker for his 20 years of service to the town.
“I’m a huge proponent of celebrating people while they’re here,” Jones said. “One thing I really appreciate here in our town is public works. [James has] probably seen a lot of good days and probably plenty of bad days.”
Up until recently, Parker was the entire public works department for Teachey, but an assistant was hired in July.
“I appreciate the town for putting up with me, working with me,” Parker said after receiving an award for his 20-year service. “Like the mayor said, there have been good times and bad times, but I see good times ahead. With this new administration, this new mayor, things are coming together. I really appreciate the support.”
Earlier in the meeting, Parker shared that a planned development for eight homes in front of Town Hall is going back to the drawing board. “They were wanting to put a two-inch water line tap in off of ours and go on the property and go both ways,” he explained. “I told them in order to do that, they had to get an extension because it’s a water line extension. They didn’t know whether or not they wanted to do that. Instead of pulling off that six-inch with a three-quarter-inch line from each house, they’re going to go off our sixinch with a two-inch, and go all the way down the property and tap into that for each home. … They would have to dig down to our main line each time.”
Teachey
Jones,
and the Teachey Board of Commissioners honored Public Works Director James Parker for 20 years of service to the town at the Oct. 18 meeting.
So, he said, the developers agreed to draw up another plan, and he will come back to the town board with that at a future meeting.
In other public works items at the Oct. 14 meeting, the board unanimously approved two budget ordinances so that the town can move forward with a water and sewer project. At the July board meeting, Teachey commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with procuring two grants for water and sewer services, which total $399,975. The grant funding was part of the American Rescue Plan Act in 2020 and was offered by the N.C. Department of Environment Quality. The water project totals $188,000 and the sewer project is $211,975. The projects and their associated budget ordinances were approved unanimously.
In other business, the mayor recognized Parker and Commissioner Ronnie Pope for both volunteering for trips to western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Parker went with a group from his church, and Pope, along with firefighters from Rose Hill and the Northeast community near Wallace, helped staff a fire department in Weaverville so that the members
there could be home with their families during this tough time.
“We responded to 51 calls in 96 hours,” Pope said.
The town has had ongoing talks with the county about animal services over the past few months. Jones said that the town is still pursuing some sort of remedy for the stray dog and cat problem in the community.
“We went to the county and asked for their help, but their route is not going to be feasible for us because it would allow hoofed animals, which would be horses and cows, on halfacre lots so we’re pursuing alternative methods right now,” he said. “We’re meeting with all the towns in the county once a month.”
The commissioners also approved a request from the Duplin County Partnership for Children to place a little library in front of Town Hall. “They take care of it, the town wouldn’t have to do anything,” said Town Clerk Morgan Jacobs. “It’s give a book, take a book, bring a book back, whatever you want to do, but they are 100% going to take care of it.”
The mayor added, “It’s a great program that encourages literacy for kids and will also get more kids to know where we’re at.”
Jones also announced a family movie night for the town of Teachey and surrounding communities on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the town park. The movie will either be “Home Alone 2,” “Despicable Me 3” or “Toy Story.” Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Grilled hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks will also be available during the event.
The commissioners also agreed to move the November meeting to Nov. 18, due to the Veterans Day holiday on Nov. 11. After the town board meeting, the town’s new Christmas tree will be lit. The community is invited to attend.
Wallace-Rose Hills’ defense holds Kinston to a pair of first-half scores to remain in the hunt to repeat as ECC champs
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WALLACE — Wallace-Rose Hill’s unofficial “playoff schedule” has started with three known opponents — Kinston, East Duplin and James Kenan — which are also their top-rated foes in the East Central 2A Conference.
The defending champs need a sweep to keep their crown after being upset earlier 18-15 by North Lenoir.
The Bulldog defense played one of its best games in several years last Friday during a 14-13 win over Kinston’s high-powered passing attack.
Yet head coach and defensive coordinator Kevin Motsinger saw a big effort coming following the Bulldogs’ bye week.
“They were testing off the charts, physically hot,” he said.
“We did a lot well defensively, knowing we had to pres -
sure the quarterback and make them (the receivers) earn what they got. We showed a lot of resolve, too.”
WRH also had to overcome two lost fumbles on a pair of long drives in the first half and a rash of questionable calls in the third quarter to take the lead, as the drive chewed up all but 2:45 of the clock.
Down 13-7 at halftime, WRH’s sacks were the key to putting the key win away in the scoreless fourth quarter.
WRH (5-3,3-1) stayed in the ECC race with the win and faces rival East Duplin (4-4, 2-2) on Friday in Beulaville in a game that will move one school up the ladder and pretty much drop the other out of ECC title contention.
Lately, the game has been about first or second place.
But JK (8-0, 4-0) via a win over ED, has the inside edge, since they need just a win at home this week over Southwest Onslow and a final triumph at WRH to take the crown.
Yet an ED win over WRH this week and a JK win over
East Duplin wins second in a row ahead of clash with ’Dawgs
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
LA GRANGE — East Duplin needed its bye week to heal injuries. The Panthers needed to face North Lenoir and South Lenoir after losses to Kinston and James Kenan.
Consecutive shutouts have the Panthers (4-4, 2-2) ready for their annual clash against longtime rival Wallace-Rose Hill (5-3, 3-1) on Friday in Beulaville.
ED crushed the Blue Devils (63-0) last Friday after embarrassing the Hawks (54-0) a week earlier.
Bring on the Bulldogs who themselves have struggled to a 5-3 overall mark and 3-1 in the East Central 2A Conference.
“It’s going down to the wire,” said Panther coach Battle Holley, whose team trails in the all-time series 41-21-
1 but is 15-15 since 1996 and has a 6-3 mark against WRH coach Kevin Motsinger. “It’s been a crazy year and whoever does the little things best will win.”
Yet the last nine games have been decided by eight points or less, with one decided by less than six inches. Most were determined by a drive or play.
WRH barely leads scoring in those nine games 177-174 (19.7-19.3).
Here’s the other thing: there’s no favorite and no underdog.
Winning when “you should” is not a rational concept.
And the throngs of fans that pack around Brian Aldridge Field is legendary.
WRH captured last year’s confrontation 28-26 to win the ECC.
The previous season ED eeked out 13-12 and 28-26 wins, during its class 2A run to its first state title. The latter win came over WRH came in the East Region final. Panther fullback Shawn
Davis (77-765, 12 TDs) is back to full strength following two injuries and he’s got backup from Keeshon Mckinnie (49 - 466, 4 TDs, 6-94 receiving). Also steady contributors are Aaron Hall (70-455, 5 TDs), Allen Stukes (45-248) and Jordan Hall (14-170, TD).
Starting quarterback Branson Norris (15-40 for 254 yards), who has played four games after suffering a broken collar bone in the preseason, is warming up to the offense and his duties in Holley’s Wing-T attack, the same scheme run by WRH offensive coordinator Adam Scronce, a protege of Holley’s father Jack (41296-9 and second all-time in the state).
“They’ve played a lot of good teams and are battle-tested,” Holley said. “There’s a lot on the line and I’m hoping we’ll play like we normally do this time of the year. Out best ball. We’re starting to play good football. “We both know each other well.”
North Duplin hosts Rosewood on Friday in the game that could decide the Carolina 1A Conference
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
UNION TOWNSHIP — Milestones are falling at North Duplin like rocks from a landslide.
Here’s a few from last week:
The Rebels are 7-0 for the third time in nearly two decades after toasting Union 49-8.
Running back Carell Phillips passed the 1,000-yard plateau. Classmate and defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin gave
a verbal commitment to Texas A&M.
ND is two wins from posting its third-most wins under head coach Hugh Martin, a 1981 ND graduate who has been head coach there since 2006. According to research by Bill Rollins, a former longtime Duplin County sportswriter, Martin’s Rebel record to date is 119-99 in his 20th year. He trails only Ken Avent Sr., who was 172-105 in 25 seasons (1975-99).
The Rebel defense is on fire, holding the opposition to one touchdown or less in five of their seven games. They have yielded less than 10 points per game, while the offense is averaging 40.
And another week has passed and the question remains: How good are the Rebels? They have the No. 2 Ratings Percentage Index in the 1A East Region behind perennial powerhouse Tarboro. RPI helps figure into seeding for the state playoffs. That question might be better answered after Friday’s game against Rosewood (5-3, 3-0) at H.E. Grubbs Field in a matchup that will likely decide the Carolina 1A Conference title. ND travels to Hobbton (2 - 6, 0-2) for its regular-season finale.
Make no mistake, ND is
JK can take the title with two wins or with a win over SWO and an ED win over WRH this Friday
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
LAGRANGE — The team that seemed to have nothing but bad breaks in down years beginning in 2016 is close to winning the East Central 2A Conference and a No. 1 East Regional seed in the state playoffs.
James Kenan routed North Lenoir 63-14 to stay unbeaten with two games left in the regular season.
In a phrase, it’s up to the Tigers (8-0, 4-0) to lose the title.
They are a heavy favorite over Southwest Onslow (2-6, 1-3) on Friday, the same night East Duplin (4-4, 2-2) and Wallace-Rose Hill (5-3, 3-1) battle in a game in which the winner will definitely move up in the ECC standings and playoff seedings, and the loser will tumble.
“We will not sleep on the Jacksonville boys (SWO),” JK coach Tim Grady said. “Last year, we let down our guard a little and they got us. Their JV team has been good the past two years, and they have the talent, toughness and players are still there. They’re a team waiting for an upset.”
JK enters the week with the No. 1 seed in the East in 2A.
“Our kids deserve it,” Grady said. “We battled through some rough years and our fans stuck with us. Our seniors have
earned this. It’s been tough on fans, too, going back to the Will Clark days (13-19 as Tiger head coach from 2017 to 2019) when we won three and five games a year.”
In fact, JKs’ last outright conference crown was as a member of the Carolina 1A in 2014.
The Tigers’ last share of a conference title was with Lakewood, also in the Carolina 1A in 2015. Between all-time winningest JK coach Ken Avent Jr. and Grady’s promotion in 2021, Kenan went 20-27. Grady guided JK to 6-4, 9-3 and 6-5 campaigns before breaking out again this season.
During the past decade JK’s
chief 2A rivals — ED and WRH — have excelled.
The Bulldogs have beaten JK 11 straight times 13 of the past 14, and the Bulldogs won two of three 1AA East Region finals between the two from 2013-15.
The Tigers fell to ED in the second round in 2022 when the Panthers went on to capture their first state title. That year, East Duplin beat WRH twice, by a total of three points.
Handling ED 43-20 on Sept. 20 in Beulaville has ignited enthusiasm in Warsaw.
Mitchell, Hall running hot
Running backs Josh Mitchell
and Jeremiah Hall had arguably their best games of the season against the Hawks, who upset Wallace-Rose Hill two weeks previous.
Hall ran for 117 yards on 11 carries and scored three times, while also taking a 24-yard pass from Eli Avent to the house.
Mitchell scored twice while toting the ball eight times for 70 yards.
“Josh and Jeremiah have stepped up immensely weekly,” Grady said. “Our ground-andpound is developing through those guys.”
JK jumped in front 14-0 after one quarter and 35-0 by halftime.
Fullback Cal Avent, quarterback Eli Avent’s twin brother, and Talil Pearsall also had touchdown runs.
Eli Avent (7-21) let his running backs carry the load, unlike other games in which he’s been a key to the offense.
SWO had been competitive in losses to ECC cousins Kinston (26-17), North Lenoir (20-15) and on opening night against once-beaten 3A Jacksonville (28-14).
Win or lose to WRH, the Tigers and many other schools will have a week off, as the NCHSAA moved the first round of the playoffs from Nov. 8 to Nov. 15 because of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in Western North Carolina.
Schools can play during this time — if they can find a school to schedule. The results of the games won’t count on a team’s RPI index, part of the
formula for playoff seeding.
“I just don’t want the kids to lose that killer instinct,” Grady said. “I think there were some player suspensions over there (North Lenoir) and the drop-off has been real. We came out cold after halftime and I’ll take the blame for that one.”
Tiger defense has put crunch on foes
Blame hasn’t been a word used much this fall as JK’s defense has limited five teams to two touchdowns or less.
MLB Hassan Kornegay’s 13.9 tackles per-game is tops, but Ty Morrisey (9.1), Dakota Henderson (6.7), Mitchell (6.5), Cal Avent (5.3) and David Zeleya (7.6, six interceptions) follow the push of Duplin County’s and the ECC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Zeleya is third in the state in picks. He’s returned two interceptions for a touchdown and also taken a punt to the endzone.
Tyquise Wilson has three picks and has 18 catches for 348 yards and three touchdowns as a wideout.
Yet JK lost a key player, possibly for the season, when Christopher Hill went down during a hard-fought 28-25 win over Kinston.
Hill was JK’s deep-threat at WR (7-216, TD) and a key in the secondary (5.2 tackles per game).
“It’s something (an injury) we anticipated because of how we are going with two-way players,” Grady said. “Others will step in and fill the gaps.”
Richlands whipped West Carteret to stay unbeaten before a matchup on Friday against White Oak
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
MOREHEAD CITY — The Richlands football team has a chance to win its first outright conference title in three decades on its home field.
That revelation came after the Wildcats dumped longtime Coastal champion West Carteret 61-27 last Friday night.
The win was the eighth straight for Richlands, which hasn’t been seriously challenged this fall.
The Wildcats were the better football team and played that role to perfection. Friday they host White Oak (7-1, 3-0). The following week they finish the regular season at home against Dixon (2-6, 1-2).
“To me, we beat all the teams we were supposed to and haven’t played down to their level,” said Richlands coach Pat Byrd, whose team has outscored the opposition 315-79. “But we’re going to have to weather the storm on Friday (against White Oak) because they’re a very good football team.
“For us, the mindset is to go 1-0 this week, because you can’t win nine games in one week.” White Oak quarterback
Joshua Smith has hit 27 of 58 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns, while running for 789 yards and eight scores.
“To me, he’s the third-best running back in the conference,” Byrd said. “He’s a running back who plays quarterback.
“They run some option, and we’ll have to tackle better this week. This game is a tossup between two good teams.”
Running back Tareavion Mageo (269-1,510 yards, 19 TDs) is averaging 215 yards per game. Wide receiver Trevor Highsmith (6-104, TD) leads
a core of six other players who have been Smith’s targets.
White Oak’s lone loss was a 15-9 setback to Jacksonville (6 -1) on Aug. 30. “They will be the most physical team we’ve played,” Byrd said. “Coach (Jonathan) Byrd (no relation) will have his team ready. He’s got some strong kids and athletes all over the field.”
Yet running the football could play into two of Richlands’ strengths: its tough defensive line and agile ball-seeking linebackers.
Post season-high 61 to stump Patriots
Caleb Simco (5-7 for 187 yards). threw four touchdown passes, including two to Tyler Clouatre 2-104); and Noah LeBlanc (11-152) ran for two scores and the Wildcat defense forced five turnovers to stump the Patriots.
Wideout Lenny Halfter-Hunter (2-68) also found the end zone. Richlands did not have a turnover.
“We played well and we’re getting better,” Byrd said. “Our players are getting better, and our coaches are making the right adjustments for the kids to be successful. I also like how we played turnover-free football.” Simco connected with Clouatre for 50- and 55-yard scores to open a 14-3 lead.
A 27-yard push by LeBlanc made it 21-9 at halftime. Christian Diaz (7-30) hit pay dirt less than a minute into the third quarter to up the tally to 28-9.
The Pats scored twice to cut the deficit to 28-21 and Richlands answered with Halfter-Hunter scoring on a 20-yard toss from Simco. LeBlanc went over from the 15 and free safety Jo’Nathan Kennon added a pick 6. Nate Mummert and Rocco Welsh also had interceptions.
LeBlanc’s 10-yard score in the fourth quarter more than sent the home crowd away with a frown as Richlands’ 61
points marked a season high.
“I liked how our kids responded when it got to 28-21,” Byrd said. “And I love our offensive balance. I also have a good feeling about the improvement of our special teams.”
Richlands has 17 senior starters, eight of which played on that unit as sophomores.
“They don’t panic,” Byrd said. “It’s always, ‘next play.’ They’ve been in tight situations before. I really think mistakes are going to figure directly into our game against White Oak.”
Semaj Thompson and Marcus Branthoover have been unmovable players on the defensive line and could give Richlands an edge over the run-orientated offense of the Vikings.
Gridiron notes
Simco has thrown for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns and run for 508 yards and 15 scores.
Two more wins and he’s the uncontested MVP of the Coastal 3A Conference. LeBlanc, a sophomore, has 740 yards and nine scores. Clouatre has 12 catches for 411 yards and five TDs.
In case anyone forgot, Richlands went 0-8 in 2021.
The Wildcats shared a league title with White Oak and West Carteret the next year and went 7-4 last fall. Byrd is 24-19 in five seasons, which include a 3-2 mark in the postponed 2020 COVID-19 season, played in the spring of 2021.
playing exceptional football, with few turnovers or self-defeating plays.
Martin is not allowing overconfidence, even though nearly everyone is saying the Rebels are a few stiff-arms ahead of their foes. He’s had two 7-0 starts (2007 and 2017). Both ended up 14-1, dropping close games in 1A finals both years.
“It’s about staying focused and continuing to improve, doing things to our expectations, which has now become the player’s standard,” said Martin.
Last season, ND went 9-3 and most of that team that beat Rosewood 39-32, returned this fall.
Eagles flying under the radar?
Beating Rosewood hasn’t been easy for any Carolina Conference school. The Eagles are 24-4 against the CC since 2018 and could be an overlooked 1A school.
While 5-3, Rosewood has losses to Wayne County 2A rival Princeton, unbeaten 3A C.B. Aycock and Northside-Pinetown (6-3 and the No. 7 RPI school), which the Rebels handled 31-14.
The Eagles are coming off a bye week.
“Their quarterback is very athletic has really blossomed and they spread the ball around well,” Martin said. “We’ve played teams with mostly different offensive concepts.”
Signal caller Hunter Sasser has hit on 35 of 75 for 616 yards and 11 touchdowns, while running for 149 yards and three scores.
Running backs Bryson Hobbs (74-595, 6 TDs) and Micah Williams (33-294, 3 TDs) and wide receiver Talan Collins (29-621, 3 TDs) are other weapons in the Eagles arsenal.
PANTHERS from page B1
WRH has also had injuries affect some of its best players, including running back Irving Brown (99-607, 8 TDs), who is “still not 100 percent,” according to Motsinger. Nor is backfield speedster Lonnie Wilson.
“They got their guys back healthy and for us it’s about ignoring all the stuff we hear in the community,” said Motsinger, whose team hosts James Kenan the following week.
“We found a way around two first-half turnovers against Kinston, but we can’t allow that to happen in the weeks to come. That made it interesting. It will cost us a game if it continues.”
Jamarae Lamb (105-910, 6 TDs), Jamari Carr (53-410, 6 TDs) are strong assets. Glover (20-250, 2 TDs), who plays as a RB, QB and punter, faked a kick against Kinston for a long gain that kept a WRH scoring drive alive.
Matthew Wells, the starting
BULLDOGS from page B1
SWO would also give the Tigers their first conference crown since 2015. That one was shared in the Carolina 1A with Lakewood.
Kenan’s most recent ECC title was 33 seasons ago in 1991 under coach Billy Byrd, the Tigers’ No. 2 wins leader with 119, behind Ken Avent Jr.’s 123. Some of that had to do with James Kenan being shuffled around to three other conferences by the NCHSAA in realignments.
The Tigers did win eight league titles in those 16 years, in the Carolina 1A (5) and the Super Six (3).
Last Friday, WRH held Kinston to its second-fewest points of the season and stormed the quarterback for seven sacks.
“We tried to take away their running game and we told our kids this was the first time Kinston came in with a chance to beat us,” Motsinger said. “This was playoff football. We made adjustments and our players responded.”
The go-ahead score featured five WRH penalties, but primarily a successful fake punt by Adrian Glover and a number of runs by Irving Brown (23-137) and Jamarae Lamb (18-141).
Yet the Bulldogs pushed
Two-way linemen Micah Bell (6-foot-4, 236 pounds) and Isaiah Jenkins (6-3, 250) are defensive studs.
Bell is being recruited by many Division I colleges. Jenkins has college potential as well.
“Rosewood is very sound defensively and makes you pay a price if you are out of position,” Martin said. “I’m impressed with their quickness.
“It’s going to be a tough game.”
Rebels roll Spartans
Phillips needed just seven totes to account for 100 yards and two scores against Union. He has 1,078 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
Vance Carter (8-86) and Donovan Armwood (1-16 running, 46-yard pick 6) added two touchdowns apiece.
Garris Warren and Ethan Turnage also came up with interceptions. It was Warren’s sixth steal of the season, tying him with James Kenan’s David Zeyela on the NCHSAA leader-
signal caller, has made progess of late, throwing the ball (15-34 for 253 yards and 3 TDs, including an impressive 5 of 8 for 82 yards against Kinston in which he hit several key passes on critical downs.
Defensively, the 14-13 win was one of the Bulldog’s best defensive games in years.
Yet ED has a knack for playing tough, drive-stopping defensive against WRH.
ED linebackers Jordan Hall (81 tackles), Luke Hughes (74) and Landon Bond (42, plus DE Calvin Harper (61) have had solid seasons for defensive coordinator Seth Sandlin.
Keying the Bulldog defense are linebacker Will Brooks (40 tackles), Kam Thomas (45), Jamari Shaw (38), Andre Allen (32), Jeremiah Baker (31), Andre Allen (32) and DBs and CBs Lamb, Brown and Wells .
Jerard Smith is also making waves on the defensive line, getting three sacks against Kinston.
through on many plays where the first-down marker seemed like a long-distant commute.
Brown got the ball to the WRH 41 and Glover to the Kinston 31. Lamb took it to the 14 four plays later. He went over from the 3 on the 23rd play of the drive. Cesar Peria-Fuentes’s second PAT just squirted through the uprights in one of the lowest-scoring WRH games in many seasons.
One point was more than enough, though no one would believe that until the clock at Thell Overman Field expired.
WRH trapped Kinston for a pair of three-and-outs to set the tone in the first quarter during Homecoming Week.
Jerard Smith’s sack of Tyler Jones and two plays by Will Brooks and Khajari Murphy were march-stoppers.
Four plays after the first stop, Lamb raced away for a 50-yard score.
Yet the junior fumbled the ball at the Kinston 36 on the eighth play of WRH’s next drive.
Jerard Smith’s sack of Tyler Jones (13-19 for 155 yards and two TDs) and two plays by Will Brooks and Khajari Murphy were march-stoppers.
Kinston went 60 yards in eight plays to tie it at 7-7 after Jones hit Okie Edwards for an 8-yard score. The Vi-
board for all classifications.
Turnage’s six tackles were tops Friday for ND. Armwood and Austin Wolfe each had five takedowns.
ND led 21-0 after 12 minutes and 42-0 by halftime.
Sideline banter
Martin is 27th in wins among all active coaches.
Phillips leads Duplin Journal schools in rushing and touchdowns. Due to Hurricane Helene, the state playoffs will start Nov. 8, giving schools a bye week or a chance to schedule a game (which will not be included in the RPI index).
Martin retired from teaching history a few yers ago, though he’s the assistant athletics director to Ricky Edwards. He has coached in both the N.C. Coaches’ East-West all-star game and Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. He also was head coach at 2A East Duplin from 1990-93 with an 18-23 record.
The NCHSAA’s realignment that goes into effect in the fall. of 2025, will have eight classifications for the regular season and playoffs, instead of the four that have prevailed in both cases these past four seasons, while the NCHSAA planned for the expanded classifications, now named 1A through 8A. That will return the state championship brackets to eight, which were in place from 2001-20, but named 1A/1AA, etc.
Martin’s 2006 club that went 11-3 made it to the West Region final. That season the Rebels were in the 1A West and not the East, and also came out of the West Region in 2007, when it fell to Plymouth in the state final.
ND won its only state title in 1972 in Class 1A under Coach Richard Kalee, whose Rebel record was 113-79-5 from 1956 -74.
Panthers dropkick Blue Devils
ED led 42-0 at halftime against winless South Lenoir last Friday night.
Davis ran the ball six times for 137 yards and scored twice.
Jordan Hall (2-23), Aaron Hall (4-47), Mckinnie (1-49) and reserve Dwayne Davis (4-26) added touchdowns.
Mckinnie returned a kickoff 67 yards to open the third quarter.
Norris (3-8 passes for 59 yards) had TD connections to Ball (1-40) and Aaron Hall (1-15).
The Blue Devils had minus-10 yards of total offense, converted only twice on third down and were 0-14 on fourth down.
ED’s Yoska Canales was 6 for 6 on PATs. He’s the top-scoring player on the Panther soccer team trying to win an ECC title. Junior Gavin Jarman is 17 for 22 (80%). ED has yet to make a field goal this season in two tries.
kings overcame a sack by Dexter Moses and a fourth-and-3 from the WRH 13.
Jamari Carr dropped the ball six plays later to set up the Vikings, who scored in seven plays, three of which were passes to Tyreek Cooper. On the third, Jones hit a wideopen Edwards for a score 32 seconds before halftime.
WRH frustrated Kinston in the fourth quarter when it became apparent that the Vikings were not strong and fast enough to escape the Bulldogs grip.
The Bulldogs got to the Kinston 16 late but were turned away on fourth-and-15 following another penalty on a play Brown took to the house via a pass from Matthew Wells (5-8 for 82 yards). Wells made several nice throws, three of which went to Lamb for 38 yards.
Smith had two more sacks late and WRH stopped Kinston with 2:28 left to play deep in its own territory.
Brown and Lamb ran WRH to the first down it needed to count out Kinston.
WRH forced Kinston make outstanding catches and while the Vikings had several, it was not enough.
For more on the WRH-ED game on Friday, see the Panthers story on B1.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED
Alex Zepeda has scored 35 goals and collected 10 assists as the leading scorer of a Wallace-Rose Hill team that is two wins from repeating as ECC champ.
The senior was an all-state performer in 2023, scoring 45 goals and dishing out 24 assists to lead WRH into the third round of the 2A playoffs.
This fall, though, he’s playing on a less experienced team. Even so, the Bulldogs entered the week 15-2-2.
Wallace-Rose Hill is seeking a repeat title, while East Duplin wants its first ECC crown since 2017
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — The hottest soccer team in the ECC is East Duplin, who is making a run at its first league title since winning back-to-back crowns in 2016 and 2017.
Last Tuesday, the Panthers 10-5-1 swept their regular season series with James Kenan, league champ from 2020 to 2022 for their fifth straight win.
Yoskar Canales notched his team-leading 15th goal and Orlando Rodriguez his fifth of the fall in a 2-1 triumph over the Tigers (10-4, 6-2), whose goal came via Peter Omega.
The came six days after East Duplin rallied for three goals to push past James Kenan 3-2 in Warsaw.
East Duplin’s last loss came in a 6-5 slugfest against Wallace-Rose Hill (15-2-2, 7-1). Both schools are tied atop the ECC standings and face one another next Tuesday on the Bulldogs’ pitch.
This week, ED travels to North Lenoir (7-10, 3-5) and hosts South Lenoir (10-8-1, 2-7).
The Panthers beat the Blue Devils 3-1 in overtime and knocked off the Hawks 2-1 during their first run through a five-team ECC slate. ED also has Southwest Onslow (8-8, 4-5) on Oct. 30 and have added a road match
against Swansboro on Nov. 4 because the NCHSAA pushed the playoffs back a week due to Hurricane Helene.
If the Panthers continue to win they would likely have their best season since going 16-7-2 in 2018. ED has been 53-50-9 since that season, which includes this fall’s matches.
The Panthers’ other league titles came in 2011 (24-2, 14-0) and 2013 (18-4-1, 10-0).
Canales needs four more scores to match his total from 2023. His nine assists are tops among all Panthers.
Oscar Ramirez has six goals this season, Marvin Sanchez five and nine other players have pushed a goal into the net.
No. 3 Bulldogs have toughest remaining schedule
WRH, which lost to JK 2-0 on Oct. 2 in Beulaville, closes out the regular season with a trip to JK on Oct. 30. WRH is the No. 3 team in the 2A East according to the RPI index. JK is No. 8 and ED No. 9. Clinton is the top team and Greene Central No. 2.
Kinston has forfeited its final two matches against WRH, leaving the Bulldogs without an opponent this week. Beating JK and ED in a span of three days next week is what the defending champs will have to do to keep their crown.
The Bulldogs have also not scheduled a game for the extra week following the regular sea-
’Dawgs seeking a deep run after nabbing No.
No. 16 ED has a rematch with No. 17 Clinton, and No. 23 ND meets No. 10 Woods Charter in 1A
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WALLACE — The Wallace-Rose Hill volleyball team won its first conference championship in 40 years last week.
Now, the Bulldog spikers have plans of making a run in the 1A state tournament, which will feature at least two home matches.
No. 5 WRH (19-2) hosted No. 28 East Carteret (10-12) on Tuesday with the winner taking on the survivor of No. 12 Camden County (16-6) and No. 21 Goldsboro (14-6) two days later.
If the Bulldogs smash their way past two foes, expect a trip to Pittsboro to for a faceoff against No. 4 Seaforth (20-4), which went 14-0 in a 1A/2A conference.
It will take three wins for coach Kevin Williams’ squad to match the school record for wins set in 2016 (22-4) by WRH, which came in second to Midway in the old Four County 1A/2A
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#2023E000183
Conference. Its season came to a halt in the third round.
The Bulldogs certainly have attacking power as three players have provided 760 kills.
Angelina Cavallaro has slammed down a Duplin Journal area-high 374 kills, while Jansley Page adds 225 and Analeise Rivenbark 161.
Cavallaro, who was Ms. Volleyball in Duplin County last fall, has an incredible 86 aces, Page 46 and Rivenbark 27. The trio have 218 blocks Page (136) and Rivenbark (106) have combined for 242 digs. Page’s 121 assists are second to Mattie Gavin’s 634.
Not many schools can boast the numbers WRH has compiled, though Seaforth might be a good comparison. The Hawks’ have received 697 kills from four players — Ally Forbes, Keira Rosenmarkle, Josie Valgus and Maris Huneycutt.
Both of WRH’s losses came to No. 2 Midway (18-3).
The Bulldogs were true to form last Tuesday with a 3-1 (25-10, 25-10, 10-25, 25-23) victory over East Duplin.
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
Cavallaro had 26 kills, Page 13 kills and 18 digs and Rivenbark nine kills. Gavin logged 13 digs and 44 assists, and Gabby Debman had a team-high seven blocks to run WRH’s winning streak over the Panthers to six games.
Kinsey Cave had 11 kills and Zoe Turner and Zoe Cavanaugh combined for 10. Bella Johnson had a game-high six aces.
ED (14-4) picked up the No. 16 seed and had a rematch with No. 17 Clinton (16-5) in the first round in Beulaville. The Dark Horses beat the Panthers 3-1 on Aug. 26 in Clinton after the Panthers had won their first four matches.
ED is in the top half of the bracket and the winner would likely get No. 1 Ayden-Grifton (26-1) in the second round.
A three-game tailspin against North Lenoir, South Lenoir and WRH dropped ED to third place in the ECC.
No. 2 Manteo (18-4) and Midway are threats to emerge from the bottom bracket and into the East Region final.
ED won its final match of the regular season by beating South-
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY FILE#2024E-000430 The undersigned, BRAXTAN JAMES AND MARY MICAL, having qualified on the 4TH DAY of OCTOBER, 2024, as CO-ADMINISTRATORS 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
Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by the Town of Beulaville, North Carolina (the “Owner”) for the Humphrey Athletic Park Phase I Improvement project and be opened and read in public at Beulaville Town Hall, 508 E. Main Street, Beulaville, NC 28518 on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. The Project consists of five (5) Bid Items for the Humphrey Athletic Park Phase I Improvements in the Town of Beulaville, North Carolina. Base Bid improvements include construction of new perimeter walking trail, construction of 2 new basketball courts, construction of a sand volleyball court, and reconstruction of a parking area as shown on design plans. The Town is purchasing a play area directly that will be installed under a separate contract and may require coordination. The Town also is planning to install pedestrian lighting throughout the park from Duke Energy, that will need coordination.
All work on this contract must be completed within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from issuance of a Notice to Proceed.
Contract documents and drawings for the proposed work (the “Contract Documents”), which have been prepared by the firm Colliers Engineering & Design, Inc.
son and before the playoffs start.
Yet coach Rodrigo Diaz’s club has won five straight, including a 3-2 over NL and 4-0 against SWO.
Alex Zepeda scored twice and Chris Mejia once in the win over the Hawks, who got goals from Angel Martinez and Christopher Romero. Steven Acosta and Gabriel Cubas each picked up their eighth assist of the season.
Zepeda and Acosta struck twice against the Stallions in WRH’s eight shutout of the season.
James Kenan, a game off the pace to start the week, should push by North Lenoir and SWO before attempting to sweep WRH.
A Duplin school win the ECC outright or share it with one of its county rivals.
That will could change next season when the NCHSAA realigns from four classifications to eight, as ED will likely move to a higher class and be in a different conference than JK and WRH.
The Bulldogs entered the week as the No. 2 RPI school in the 2A East. The Tigers are No. 8 and Panthers No. 9. Former ECC rival Clinton (17-1) is No. 1.
west Onslow in three sets (2515, 25-12, 25-20). Cave came through with 10 kills and seven assists. Cavanaugh added three aces and combined with Turner for seven kills, as head coach Susan Raynor played her entire squad, sans setter Emory Raynor, who was lost for the season with an injury three weeks previous.
James Kenan (7-13) won its
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
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 in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.
This the 17h day of October, 2024.
SUSAN BASDEN
EXECUTORS OF THE ESTATE OF SUSAN BASDEN
c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405
are available electronically or via delivery by common carrier by making a request to Town.
Bidders will be furnished with a copy of the Contract Documents by request upon proper notice to the above e-mail addresses. In the e-mail message, the contractor shall indicate if they request an electron copy (PDF format) or paper copy. Electronic copies will be provided via e-mail at no charge. Paper copies will be provided after a non-refundable charge payable to Colliers Engineer & Design Inc. is received. Paper copies will be sent via UPS or Fedex if the contractor provides UPS or Fedex account information to defray the cost of this shipping method. Otherwise, paper copies will be sent via USPS. The Contract Documents will be available during business hours beginning on October 24, 2024.
Proposals must be made on the standard proposal forms included with the Contract Documents in the manner designated in the Contract Documents, must be enclosed in sealed envelopes bearing the name and address of the bidder and the name of the project on the outside and be addressed to the Town of Beulaville and must be accompanied by a statement of consent of surety from a surety company authorized to do business in the State of North Carolina acceptable to the Owner
most matches since 2012, but did not make the playoff field. No. 23 North Duplin needed an upset to extend its season after being paired with No. 10 Woods Charter (16-5) in the first round of the 1A tournament.
Yet the Rebels may have already overachieved in a rebuilding season. ND enters at 12-9 with third-place landing in the Carolina Conference. It finished 2023 with an 8-11 mark and in the fourth slot in the league.
The Rebels beat Lakewood 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-13) last week in the first round of the CC tournament.
Eva Quintanilla punched down 11 kills, while Maggie Brown and Abigael Norris-Brown combined for 12. Tateyawna Faison had seven blocks and four kills, Lilly Fulghum 21 assists and Marissa Bernal 24 digs. ND fell to Neuse Charter (16-8) in the semifinals as Faison had six kills and eight blocks, while Brown and Qunitanilla combined for 10 kills.
The Cougars fell to regular season champ and No. 4 Rosewood (22-2) in the finals.
PUBLIC NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY FILE# - 2024 E 000378
NOTICE
Having qualified as Administrator of the estate of John Wesley Sanders, Jr, late of Duplin County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned Administrator on or
and wither a bid bond or a certified check drown to the order of Town of Beulaville for not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, except that the check shall not exceed $20,000.00. The successful bidder is hereby notified that a performance bond and labor and material (payment) bond for the full amount of this project is required.
The award of the contract for this project will not be made until the necessary funds have been provided by the Owner in a lawful manner.
Proposals for this contract will only be accepted from bidders who have properly qualified in accordance with the requirements of the Contract Documents.
The right is also reserved to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities where such informality is not detrimental to the best interest of the Owner. Further, the Owner reserves the right to abandon the project and reject bids entirely if any legal or state or federal administrative action is taken against the Owner which could delay or jeopardize the project from commencing. The right is also reserved to increase or decrease the quantities specified in the manner designated in the Specifications. By order of the Town of Beulaville, North Carolina Lori Williams, Town Representative
May 13, 1947 – Oct. 14, 2024
Patricia Powell Welch, known to most as Pat Welch, passed away Monday morning, Oct. 14, 2024, at Heritage Place in Fayetteville, where she had been for a short amount of time. She was 77. Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 18, at Lafayette Memorial Park on Ramsey Street in Fayetteville. Officiating was the Rev. Wanda Simmons. The family greeted relatives and friends at the cemetery.
Born in Fayetteville, Pat had been married to the late William Francis “Bill” Welch, also a Fayetteville native. With his career involving the financial and lending market, he, Pat, and their family faced many relocations through the years to include a long number of years in Georgia, with other stays in Charleston, South Carolina, Lexington, South Carolina, Michigan, Richmond, Virginia, Fayetteville, and Goldsboro. After becoming a widow, she made Mount Olive her home so that she could be near to her oldest sister, Jo. She worshipped at Trinity Methodist Church at Magnolia. She had been a homemaker and stay-at-home mom, and had worked at Sears, Roebuck, and Co., and later, she and Bill had founded their own mortgage and lending company.
Pat is survived by a son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters, Chris, Addie, Georgia, and Greenlee Welch, all of Elberta, Alabama; a sister, Fay Powell Raynor of Eastover; two nephews, Todd Raynor and Brandon Raynor; and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; a son, Michael Jonathan “Jon” Welch; her parents, William Howard Powell and Vinnie Ann Johnson Powell; a toddler brother, Johnny Powell; a sister, Josephine “Jo” Powell Stephenson Johnson; her mother-in-law, Hazel Welch; a niece, Teresa Lynn “Teri” Stephenson; and brothers-in-law, Lynn “Pete” Raynor, William Gene Stephenson and Amos Johnson.
Dec. 7, 1929 – Oct. 18, 2024
Richard Allen Bennett, 94, passed away on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at his home. Funeral service, followed by visitation, was held on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Graveside service was on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024 at East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville.
Survivors include: son, Timothy Bennett (Brenda) of Minnesota; daughter, Debra Harris (David) of Chinquapin; sister, Barbara MacIver of Minnesota; brothers, Raymond Bennett (Elvira) of Minnesota, Lee Bennett (Kitty) of Virginia; grandchildren, Ryan Burgos, Ashley Harris, Tyler Bennett and Kelsey Giese; greatgrandchildren, Peytton, Jaxson, Stella, Willa, Elowyn, Landri, Miles and Crew.
June 12, 1931 – Oct. 17, 2024
Annie Lois Thigpen Sutton, resident of the Scott’s Store community near Mount Olive, passed away early Thursday morning, Oct. 17, 2024, at Willow Creek Nursing Center in Goldsboro where, for the last several months, she had received care. She was 93 years old.
Known locally as “Dinah,” she, along with her husband, were poultry farmers. A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she worshipped at the Albertson Ward where, in years past, she had been a Sunday School secretary, a visiting home teacher, and was involved with the Women’s Relief Society of the Church. She was a member of the 1949 graduating class of the B. F. Grady High School. Also, during the couple’s stay in Goldsboro, she had been a teacher’s assistant with the Goldsboro City Schools.
Mrs. Sutton is survived by two sons and daughters-inlaw, Thomas Harold “Tommy” Sutton and Ketia Hood Sutton of Goldsboro, and Donald Becton Sutton and Jill Bowden Sutton of the Scott’s Store community, Mount Olive; grandchildren, Thomas Harold Sutton Jr., Jennie Marie Sutton Gray, and Regina Dawn Sutton Grantham; several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivey Harold Sutton; a daughter, Regina Lois Sutton; a grandson, Daniel Becton Sutton; her parents, Roland and Viola Carter Thigpen; a sister, Marie Thigpen Malpass; and a brother, Carl Elmore “Jack” Thigpen.
Aug. 6, 1937 – Oct. 12, 2024
William McKinley Dewitt, 87, of Rose Hill, answered the Master’s call Oct. 12, 2024 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. Funeral service was Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024 at Hawes Funeral Home Chapel in Warsaw. Visitation was one hour prior to the service.
William McKinley Dewitt was born in Duplin County to the late William and Frances Dewitt. He was employed with Rose Hill Poultry for many years.
William had many hobbies. His favorites were fishing and collecting items he would fix and later sell. He loved family gatherings, where he would joke around with his friends at cookouts. We will forever cherish these memories.
William leaves to cherish his memory: son, William Dewitt (Michelle); daughters, Elizabeth Jones (Edward), Alice Hayes (Darryl) and Sharon Dewitt Mayo; grandchildren, Keisha Dewitt, Renea Dewitt, Phoniecia Dewitt, Victoria Best (Lafayette), Surrail Jones (Virginia), Briana Dewitt and Irieal Dewitt; former wife, Leanna Dewitt Reynolds; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and special friends, Annie Dewitt, Brenda Nicholson, Diane Hall (Steve), Rose Faison and his best friend for over 40 years, Reginald Boney.
Feb. 21, 1940 – Oct. 15, 2024
Mary Elizabeth Couser, 84, of Jacksonville, passed peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at Onslow ECU Health Hospital.
She was born on Feb. 21, 1940, in Charles City, Iowa to the late Gallus and Anna Hillsman Heit. Mrs. Couser was also preceded in death by her husband David George Couser and her sister Wilma Ethun Heit.
Surviving to cherish her memory is her daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Couser of Jacksonville; her son, Joseph “Joe” Couser and wife Dawn of St Louis, Missouri; brother, Donald Heit of Chicago; nieces, Ann Oleneck and Tammy Powell; nephews, Andrew Aubrey, Brad Heit and Chris Heit; and numerous extended family and friends that loved Mary dearly.
Mary was a loving mother and caring lady who was loved by all. She was a woman of uncommon character, beauty and grace; and to those who knew her, “an instrument of God’s love on this earth.” Mary was a friend to all, a strong yet gentle presence who looked for and encouraged the best in everyone. She was an avid dog lover and enjoyed watching birds and plants. With a big heart and loving personality, Mary was always ready to help everyone. She will surely be missed but treasured memories will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved Mary Elizabeth Couser.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Dec. 12, 1928 – Oct. 19, 2024
Lessie Whaley Brown, 95, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 at her daughter’s home.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Norman Brown, brothers, Bennie and Frank Whaley, and a grandson, Kevin Teachey.
Mrs. Brown was a member of Hallsville Baptist Church. She loved going to church, teaching Sunday school, her family and friends, reading, coloring and puzzles.
She was a housewife. She loved her husband Norman for 58 years. They farmed and raised their four children.
Funeral service was Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024 at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment followed the funeral service at Hallsville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Survivors include: children, Norita Boney (James), Patricia Tyndall (Tim-Deceased), Chester Brown (Louise), Dianne Teachey (Dennis- Deceased); sister, Pearline Eury; sister-in-law, Jeannie Whaley; brother-in-law, Richard Brown; grandchildren, Gwendolyn Joyner (David), Christopher Boney (Rebecca), Amanda Boney, Donna Rowe, and Lorraine Orr; greatgrandchildren, Jake Joyner, Jamie Rowe, Shelby Rowe and Tammy Wells.
Oct. 20, 1947 – Oct. 17, 2024
Kevin Charles Calderwood, 76, of Wallace and formerly of Milford, Connecticut, passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice and LifeCare Center.
He was born on Oct. 20, 1947, in New Haven County, Connecticut. Mr. Calderwood was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years, Elizabeth Thennes Calderwood.
Mr. Calderwood proudly served his country as a military police officer in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era. He then served the city of Milford, Connecticut as a police officer and later retired as a detective. After retirement, Kevin served the Chief State Attorney’s Office to continue to serve his state as a detective.
Surviving to cherish his memory are his children, Donald J. Hannon and wife Sharon of West Haven, Connecticut, Ronald D. Hannon and wife Holly of Milford, Connecticut and Nancy McNary and husband Ken of Wallace; grandchildren, Jonathan Hannon, Spencer Hannon, Ryan Hannon and wife Taylor, Ethan Hannon, Emily Hannon, Brittany McNary and Taylor McNary; siblings, Jim Calderwood and wife Lynda of Branford, Connecticut, Susan DeAngelo and husband George and Nadin Calderwood, all of Middletown, Connecticut, and Clifford Calderwood and wife Peggy of Florida; his loving canine companion “Micky” who brought him so much joy; extended family and friends that loved Kevin dearly.
Kevin was a caring father and grandfather who loved his family very much. He was a man of few words and observed more than he spoke. But when he spoke it was profound, and everyone listened. Kevin grew up on a farm in Connecticut. He loved animals, motorcycles, cars and especially going sailing with the love of his life, Elizabeth. He enjoyed shooting and going to the shooting range. Kevin spent most of his life serving others. He will surely be missed but treasured memories will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
A memorial service to honor the life of Kevin is being planned for a later date.
Sept. 14, 1937 – Oct. 15, 2024
Barbara Ann Grice Tyndall, 87, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 at Warsaw Health and Rehabilitation in Warsaw. Mrs. Tyndall was born Sept. 14, 1937 in Duplin County. Visitation was held Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at Community Funeral Home of Warsaw. A graveside service followed in Pinecrest Cemetery, Warsaw.
Mrs. Tyndall is survived by husband, John William “Bill” Tyndall of the home; sons, Billy Tyndall of Warsaw and Allen Tyndall and wife, Tonya of Warsaw; grandson, Cody Brown and wife, Renee; and two greatgrandchildren, Kelli and Levi. Mrs. Tyndall was preceded in death by her mother, Louise Lewis Grice.
Nov. 15, 1951 – Oct. 18, 2024
Susan Gail McLamb Smith, 72, of Wallace, passed from this life to her eternal rest on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She was born on Nov. 15, 1951, in Raleigh; the daughter of the late Nathan Orman and Nannie Cornelius Horne McLamb. Susan was also preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Allen Ray “Smitty” Smith Sr. She was a member of Grove Park Baptist Church.
Surviving to cherish her memory is her son, Allen Ray Smith Jr. and wife Cherlyn of Rose Hill; her daughter, Penny Smith Ellen and husband Scott of Castle Hayne; two grandchildren, Courtney Anne Smith of Burgaw and Nathan Odell Ellen of Carolina Beach; great-grandchildren, Micah Graham and Elex Graham; and numerous extended family and friends that loved Susan dearly. Susan was a loving mother and caring grandmother. She was a simple woman who enjoyed the simplest things in life, but her great joy was spending time with family. Susan loved going to flea markets, doing crafts, which included arranging flowers, making bows, lanterns and glass blocks. She was also an avid lover of cats. With a big heart, full of compassion, Susan was one that always tried to make everyone happy. She did not like any discord among her friends or family. Being proud of her grandchildren and their biggest fan, Susan never missed any of their games and constantly took pictures of them playing. Susan will surely be missed but treasured memories of her will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Funeral service was held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Wallace Chapel, 612 S Norwood Street (NC Hwy. 117 S) Wallace. The family received friends prior to the service on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 at the funeral home. Burial followed the service in Craft Cemetery, Norwood Blanchard Road, Wallace.
Sept. 17, 1956 – Oct. 17, 2024
Richard Lynn Kennedy, 68, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. Funeral service was Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, followed by visitation, at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Graveside service was Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 at Sand Hill Cemetery, Pink Hill.
Survivors include: mother, Margie Kennedy of Pink Hill; son, Jeremy Kennedy of Albertson; daughters, Michelle Garner (Derrick) of Beulaville and Vanessa Kennedy of Beulaville; sister, Connie Miller (Stuart) of Beulaville; grandchildren, Kelsey Kennedy, Emma Scott, Savannah Batchelor, Marian Kennedy and Ella Kennedy; great-grandchild, Corey Batchelor.
Sept. 11, 1976 – Oct. 9, 2024
Earl Alexander Sutherland Jr., 48, of Charlotte, answered the Master’s call and entered into his eternal rest on the evening of Oct. 9, 2024 at Atrium Health University Hospital in Charlotte. Funeral service was scheduled for Oct.19, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Teachey in Teachey, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment followed in Duplin Memorial Gardens located in Teachey.
Sept. 4, 1952 – Oct. 15, 2024
Candida Aurora Bardales, 72, of Wallace, a native of Honduras, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 at home.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 from 6-9 p.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel, 472 Wells Town Road in Rose Hill. Burial will follow on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Duplin Memorial Gardens, Hwy. 117, Teachey. Left to cherish her precious memories: husband, Lucas Martinez; four sons, Marvin Diaz, Osman Diaz, Alex Diaz and José Cruz; two daughters, Dunia Diaz and Yaka Diaz; a lot of family and friends that will miss her dearly.
April 26, 1943 – Oct. 15, 2024
Dolores Orellana Sanchez, 81, of Warsaw, a native of Honduras, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 at home. A funeral service was held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 at Iglesia Presbiteriana Fuente de Agua Viva, 114 NE Ave. in Teachey. Burial followed at Rose Hill Funeral Home Cemetery in Magnolia.
Jan. 9, 1939 – Oct. 12, 2024
James Davis Jones, 85, of Pink Hill, passed away on Oct. 12, 2024, at his home on Sarecta Road.
Born on Jan. 9, 1939, to Thad and Ardolia Jones, James was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who dedicated his life to his family, faith, and service to others.
James grew up in Beulaville, where he attended school and graduated from Beulaville High School in 1956. On Oct. 26, 1960, he was sealed for time and all eternity to his sweetheart, Betty Jo Brown, in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Together, they shared 64 years of marriage, a remarkable legacy of love, devotion, and faith.
James was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 31, 1959, and throughout his life, he served faithfully in many callings. He was known for his selfless service, serving as a Counselor in the Bishopric, Young Men’s Leader, as well as a High Councilor in both the Kinston and Goldsboro Stakes. His home congregation was the Albertson Ward, where he was a beloved member of the community.
Professionally, James worked in the textile industry for many years, beginning as a technician at the Kinston Shirt Factory, and later an Assistant Manager and Manager at factories in Richlands, Pink Hill, Maysville, Goldsboro, and Seven Springs. He later retired from the Firestone Corporation, where he was admired for his strong work ethic, dedication, and expertise. He loved classic cars, camping, and fishing.
James was preceded in death by his parents Thad and Ardolia Jones, his sister Hilda Howard, and his brother Dean Jones.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Betty Jo Jones; and their children and spouses, Lori and Terry Potter, Grant and Loni Jones, Brian and Delane Jones, and Thad and Lisa Jones. He leaves behind 14 grandchildren, Jed Potter, Janet Wooley, Reba Barnes, Grant Jones II, Alexis Cook, Michael Jones, Clark Jones, Molly Adams, Brittany Guzman, Ben Jones, Jacob Jones, Brock Jones, Gavin Jones, and Christian Jones. Additionally, he was blessed with 26 greatgrandchildren, Aubrey, Anna, Ashley, Audrey, Kayla, Charlie Jane, Milo, Jack, Rhett, Tate, Lexi, Grant III, Anson, Lorenzo, Evaloni, Tolika, Ezra, Michael, Marley, Merrick, Dean, Taylor, Luca, Nash, Fallon, and Porter.
James will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his dedication to his family, and his gentle spirit.
He was a man who powerfully influenced the lives of those around him. His legacy of service, love, and kindness will live on through the many lives he touched.
Funeral services were held at The Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, located at 3554 NC Hwy 903, Albertson, NC 28508 on Oct. 18, with a viewing beforehand. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support during this time. James will be dearly missed but never forgotten.
Oct. 24, 1946 – Oct. 13, 2024
Gene “Toot” Hatcher, 77, died peacefully in his home on Oct. 13, 2024, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Toot was born on Oct. 24, 1946 in Lenior County to Brosiah and Dorthy Hatcher. Toot was drafted into the Army in 1967, where he served two years in Washington.
Toot is survived by his wife, Beatrice Hatcher; sons, Gene (Krystal) Hatcher and Bro (Jessica) Hatcher; daughters, Chasity (Ryan) Beddingfield and Holly Hatcher; extended daughter, Wendy (Lewis) Daniels; his grandchildren, Kaine, Danica, Nadia, Ari, Aidan, Ryker, Rivers, Kerstyn, Sevanah, Ryley, Ryan, Kryssy, Chaysen, Anthony and Luke; and his greatgranddaughter, Ivory. Toot was proceeded in death by his parents, Brosiah and Dorthy Hatcher; son, Bradley Hatcher; brothers ,Tiny Hatcher and Ronnie Hatcher; and sisters, Peggy Dail and Janice Quinn.
Toot lived a life full of laughter and was devoted to spending time with his family and lifelong friends. Some of his greatest joys included fishing, hosting cookouts and playing cards. If you ever came to the house and wanted to find Toot, everyone knew to go to the building and you would find him cooking fish stew, turtle, roasting oysters or frying fish. He fed the crowd many times. If you ever went fishing with Toot, you better be ready to lose a dollar. There was always a bet on who would catch the biggest fish and without a doubt, he would be the winner. When it came to catching the most fish, he was bound to win because he would stick his fishing partner in the middle of the creek, and he would fish the edge. It was almost always a guarantee that one person on the boat would unwillingly go swimming before the fishing trip was over. In Toot’s earlier years, he enjoyed riding dirt bikes, motorcycles and horses. So many memories were made with family and friends on the back of a horse on the “Wattey Horn Road” and different trail rides. Toot will be remembered by his contagious laughter and the love he had for his family and friends. All services will be private.
Aug. 9, 1929 – Oct. 13, 2024
Mildred Mercer Kennedy, 95, passed away peacefully on Oct. 13, 2024, at her home in Pink Hill surrounded by her family.
A native of Duplin County, she was born on Aug. 9, 1929 to the late John Rommie and Margie Sumner Mercer of Beulaville.
She leaves to cherish her memories: daughter, Dianne K. Hunter (Milton) of Wallace; sons, Jerry L. Kennedy (Dianne) of Pink Hill and Mike Kennedy (Teresa) of Beulaville; daughter, Shelia K. Heath (Terry) of Beulaville.
Mildred was blessed with a very large family of whom she loved dearly consisting of nine grandchildren, Kim, Tony, Jessica, Christy, Stephanie, Jennifer, Josh, Matthew, Leslie; 17 great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Kaleigh, Alyssa, Dylan, Zachary, Andrew, Pippa, Nova, Justin, Brandon, Chris, Ryan, Holly, Brooke, Bryan, Olivia, Benjamin; and three great-greatgrandchildren, Ellie, Sydney and Walk.
She leaves behind a legacy to her family, which totaled 44. She was also blessed with several special nieces and nephews who stopped by to check on her.
The family would like to thank the staff of Care Providers of Wilmington and ECU Home Health and Hospice for their devoted care to our loving mother.
Visitation was Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 at Community Funeral Home of Beulaville. Funeral service was Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Interment was at East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville.
Nov. 4, 1926 – Oct. 19, 2024
Hazel Hardison James, 97, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 at her home.
She is preceded in death by her spouse, Roe James, a granddaughter, April Kay Raynor and a grandson, Perry Bennett Funeral service, followed by visitation, was Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024 at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Graveside service was Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 at LanierMeadows Cemetery, Maple Hill. Survivors include: son, Stanley James (Barbara) of Wallace; daughter, Yvonne Raynor of Wallace; sister, Mildred Jenkins of Wallace; grandchildren, James Raynor, Brook Holley and Monia Bennett; great-grandchildren, Dustin Raynor, Anastan Holley, Tabor Holley, Bennett Holley and Jack Holley.
Milton Mote
Oct. 7, 1950 – Oct. 9, 2024
George Milton Mote, 74, of Willard passed from this life to his eternal rest on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
He was born on Oct. 7, 1950, in Duplin County, the son of the late George Henry and Carolene Lanier Mote.
Milton was a member of The Church of Pentecostal Gathering. Surviving to cherish his memory are: his brother Harlan Keith Mote and wife Vivian of Willard; nieces Amanda Schambs and husband Brian and LeAnn Hunter and husband Eddie; great nieces and nephews Conner Beringer, Landen Beringer, Annsley Horne, Keith Cameron Schambs and Katherine Schambs and numerous extended family and friends that loved Milton dearly. Milton was a devoted son and caring brother, uncle and friend. He was a simple man who enjoyed the simplest things in life. His greatest joy was spending time with his mother and brother whom he loved with all his heart. Milton was a homebody and very laid-back. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. With an outgoing personality, Milton never met a stranger. He was as someone said, “A big teddy bear.” Milton will surely be missed but treasured memories will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Graveside service was held on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Rockfish Memorial Cemetery with Pastor Rodney Bonham officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent or given to The Church of Pentecostal Gathering, 1342 N. Norwood Street, Wallace, NC 28466.
Sept. 22, 1941 – Oct. 17, 2024
Lena Bruce Miller, 83, of the Sarecta Community in Pink Hill, answered the Master’s call Oct. 17, 2024 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital Kenansville.
Funeral service was held Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024 at St. Matthew AME Zion Church in Pink Hill. Visitation was one hour prior to service. Interment followed in Boney Field Cemetery in Sarecta.
