Duplin Journal Vol. 9 Issue 5

Duplin Journal

the BRIEF this week

Sheri ’s O ce issues consumer alert about scammers on the rise

Duplin County

The Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce issued a consumer alert for citizens to be aware of a phone scam that’s on the rise. People have been receiving calls from someone claiming to be a law enforcement o cer asking victims to pay a ne immediately to avoid being arrested. According to the Sheri ’s O ce the scammers may use names of real law enforcement o cers and spoof the phone number to make it appear legitimate.

“No legitimate law enforcement o cer or government o cial is going to call you to threaten you with arrest or other legal consequences,” stated the alert. Law enforcement is asking people to stay calm, hang up and call the agency’s number directly. Also to never use gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to pay anyone. “It’s usually a scam. It’s understandably scary to get a call from a law enforcement o cer telling you that you may be arrested, but don’t act out of fear.”

If you receive a call from a scammer, report it to the Sheri ’s O ce at 910-2962150 or le a complaint with the North Carolina Attorney General’s O ce at www. ncdoj.gov/complaint.

DJS

State seeks public comment on proposed changes to disaster recovery plans

Statewide

The N.C. O ce of Recovery and Resiliency is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to action plans for the use of HUD Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery for Hurricane Florence and Community Development Block GrantMitigation funds. Proposed changes include allocations to the Homeowner Recovery Program, A ordable Housing Development Fund, Homeownership Assistance Program, Infrastructure Recovery Program, and Strategic Buyout Program, among others.

The public comment period closes at 5 p.m. on April 15. The public is encouraged to submit comments to publiccomments@rebuild. nc.gov or by mail to NCORR Public Comments, P.O. Box 110465, Durham, NC 27709. Visit rebuild.nc.gov for more information. DJS

10th graders meet industry professionals at career fair

Students from Duplin County Schools visited the Duplin Events Center last Friday for the Career and College Fair Day. The event featured 22 booths with local and regional professionals who spoke about their trade. Above, students learn about careers in the military. Turn to page 3 for the story and photos.

Wallace citizens get a chance to give feedback on Clement Park plans

An inclusive playgroundand tennis court refurbishment are two of the biggest aspects of the master plan

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

WALLACE — Residents of the Wallace area got a chance to look over a master plan outlining the future of Clement Park over the next eight to nine years during a public forum on Wednesday night, March 20.

“We’ve worked very hard on

a parks master plan for Clement Park,” said Benjamin Simpson, a senior project manager with Benesch, a rm that helps towns and cities design and build projects like parks, as well as bridges, roads, and community developments. “These plans show a vision for the changes and the modernization of the parks that we would want for the future.”

Since Clement Park is arguably the most used park in the town, Simpson said the master plan re ects that, and the proposed changes and upgrades are in line with the town’s expected growth

New Dollar General Market coming to Beulaville

The store is set to open this summer

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — Since construction started at a site on NC Highway 24 in Beulaville, citizens have been wondering what new business is coming to town. Well, it turns out, it will be a second Dollar General store, though this one will be more of a grocery store, called DG Market. The new DG Market location is at 2976 East NC Hwy. 24 in Beulaville, next to the Subway restaurant. “At this time, a store opening is slated for early summer 2024,” a statement from Dollar General’s public relations o ce stat-

ed, “but understand that construction progress may alter this date.”

Beulaville’s original Dollar General store at 416 N. Jackson St. will continue to remain open even after the new store is in business. The DG Market has more of a grocery store feel, something that may be needed in the Beulaville area.

“Dollar General’s DG Market format o ers expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food o erings, dairy products and more, in addition to an assortment of fresh meats, alongside the general merchandise customers trust Dollar General to provide,” the statement read. “Each Dollar General, regardless of format, sells quality, name-brand and

over the coming years.

The two major changes coming to Clement Park as part of the plan are the addition of an inclusive playground, and moving and

upgrading the tennis courts.

In addition to the overall

Duplin County Hall of Fame to induct four this year

Banquet moves to April 9

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

The Duplin County Hall of Fame will induct four new honorees this year during its annual banquet on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ed Emory Auditorium in Kenansville. The annual banquet has moved from its original date in November to the spring in hopes of working better with attendees’ schedules, said Marilynn Hroza, president of the Duplin County Hall of Fame board. The Duplin County Hall of Fame was first organized in Kenansville on Nov. 22, 1994 as a way to honor the contributions of the county’s most influential and accomplished citizens.

The first meeting had three members present — Anne Houston, representing the Kenansville Area Chamber of Commerce; Anne Taylor, representing the Duplin County Historical Society; and Joyce Williams, representing the Duplin County Strategic Long-Range Planning Committee.

The initial work of these three ladies led to the board expanding to 16 individuals from all over Duplin County. The first Hall of Fame Banquet was held in November 1996, with one living and one deceased nominee inducted.

“The board gets together and chooses one living and one

“I think the history and how the Hall of Fame began are so important. There are so many people in the county that have served and are very deserving.”

Marilynn Hroza, president of Duplin County Hall of Fame board

deceased honoree each year,” Hroza said. “The membership on the board is a cross-section of the county.” Members of the board are regularly rotated off and new members chosen, she explained. An independent group of judges makes the decision on who the Hall of Fame recipients will be, after nominations are gathered by the board.

“I think the history and how the Hall of Fame began are so important,” Hroza said. “There are so many people in the county that have served

See HALL OF FAME , page 2

ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Wallace Town Manager Rob Taylor, left, explains some of the proposed aspects of the master plan for Wallace’s Clement Park to former Mayor Charley Farrior and Town Clerk Jackie Nicholson during a public forum on Wednesday, March 20.

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Ena

News Editor ena@northstatejournal.com

Abby Cavenaugh, Features/Business Editor abby@northstatejournal.com

Michael Jaenicke, Sports Editor

David

CONTACT US

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Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County:

MARCH 28

ECU Health Duplin Hospital is helping teach about the importance of colon health with an 8-foot inflatable colon. The colon will be at the Duplin Events Center on Thursday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 910-2968836. Easter Resource Event & Food Drive at the Duplin Events Center on March 28 at 11 a.m. This drive-through event will provide food boxes and community resources to all participants on a first comefirst served basis.

MARCH 30

The Faison Easter Egg Hunt will be on March 30 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 184 Park Cr., in Faison. The free event will feature an egg hunt, train rides, a visit from the Easter Bunny and more! Join the Easter Palooza on March 30, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 435-457 N Main St., Kenansville. The event hosted by Kenansville Baptist will feature a family day at the park with free food, live music, games, bouncy houses, an egg hunt, and more!

The Wallace Blossom Festival will be on March 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wallace Crossing Shopping Center on Norwood Street. The festival will feature more than 30 vendors, including four food trucks, and a chance to win $500. The drawing will be held at 1 p.m. and the person whose name is drawn must be present to win.

CRIME LOG

MARCH 20

Juan Ruiz Esparza, 22, was booked into the Duplin County Jail on charges including possession of marijuana paraphernalia, driving while impaired, reckless driving, and various other traffic violations, with a bond set at $3,500.

Keri Jean Melville, 39, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for two counts of misdemeanor larceny and driving while license revoked, with a bond set at $2,000.

MARCH 21

APRIL 4

Enjoy a Murder Mystery Night at the Magnolia Dreams Inn on April 4 at 7 p.m. The event promises an unforgettable evening of suspense, intrigue and tasty deserts. Tickets are $25. Visit magnoliadreamsnc. com for details.

APRIL 11

Persons interested in starting a business can now participate in free entrepreneurship workshops that will be offered on April 11, May 2 and May 30 at University of Mount Olive. According to the announcement, the workshops will focus on rural and agricultural businesses.

APRIL 12

The Spartan Sprint 5K and Fun Run will be held on JSCC’s campus on Friday, April 12. If you sign up within the next two weeks, you will also receive this year’s race t-shirt. If you have any questions call 910-2756135 or 910-275-6152. All proceeds will benefit JSCC’s Presidential Scholarship.

APRIL 13

Cabin Lake will host its Youth Fishing Tournament on April 13. The tournament is free to all participants between the ages of 4 to 14. There will be first, second, and third place prizes in each of the three age brackets. The grand prize will be awarded for the biggest fish overall. To register, call Cabin Lake County Park at 910-2983648. Refreshments will

be available for purchase, cash only. Registration is at 8 a.m. The final weigh-in is at 11 a.m., at 220 Cabin Lake Road, Pink Hill.

The Royal Hanneford Circus is coming to the Dupin Events Center, located at 195 Fairgrounds Dr., Kenansville, on April 13 and 14. For details, call 910-275-0009.

APRIL 18

Join JSCC and NC Works for their annual Duplin County Job Fair on Thursday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the JSCC campus and meet with employers. Be sure to dress to impress and bring copies of your resume. For more information, email kblanton@jamessprunt.edu.

APRIL 27

The NC Pickle Festival kicks o Friday, April 26 from 5-10 p.m., with the main day on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Mount Olive. The festival will feature Cuke Patch 5K, Tour de Pickle, a pickle eating contest, a recipe contest, live music, dancer stage, a car show, a pickleball tournament, beer and wine garden, special guests and a pickle princess pageant. The Carolina Strawberry Festival Garden Gala will be on Saturday, April 27, 1-6 p.m. at the Gardens at Johnson Nursery and will feature food, drinks, music, and an opportunity to explore the beautiful Gardens. Entertainment will be provided by The Catalinas. VIP tickets are $75, and

general admission tickets are $35.

The Wallace Moose is hosting

Touch A Truck community event on April 27, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 175 Skydive Ln. near the Wallace Airport. Kids will be able to explore vehicles like a police car, fire engine, dump trucks, live haul trailer, and tractors! The event is rain or shine. Proceeds will benefit the Moose Heart Children’s Home.

Power Lifting Competition on April 27, at 11 a.m., at 138 Town and Country Shopping Center in Wallace. Weigh-in is at 10 a.m. Become part of the Men’s 1,000lb Club & Women’s 600lb Club. Deadline to enter is April 1.

HAPPENING MONTHLY

The Duplin County Board of County Commissioners meets the rst and third Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 224 Seminary St., Kenansville. For information, call 910-2962100.

The Beulaville town board meets the rst Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at 508 East Main St., Beulaville. For more information, call 910298-4647.

The Town of Calypso meets at the council chambers the rst Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 103 W. Trade Street. For information, call 919-6589221.

The Faison town board meets the rst 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 rst Friday of the month at 7 a.m. at the Duplin County Airport Conference Room.

The individuals who are inducted in to the Duplin County Hall of Fame are individuals who “have made contributions beyond the ordinary and have done so unselfishly,” according to a program from a past banquet. “It is the purpose of the Duplin County Hall of Fame to express gratitude by recogniz -

Christopher Allen Penny, 31, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for escape from state prison and failure to register as a sex offender, with a bond set at $90,000.

MARCH 23

Gregory Scott Taylor, 43, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for seconddegree trespass, with a bond set at $3,000.

Christopher James Houston, 33, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for four counts of misdemeanor probation violation, with a bond set at $10,000.

ing their achievements and in so doing, lift up their deeds as inspiration for others.”

“Some of the accomplishments honored are right here in Duplin County,” Hroza said, “and others have made contributions statewide, and even worldwide.”

Previous inductees in to the Duplin County Hall of Fame include former Senator Charlie Albertson, Dr. William Dallas Herring, James Sprunt, longtime Duplin County Commissioner Zettie Williams, and many others.

Carmen Larelle Hobbs, 34, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for felony probation violation out of county (two counts), interference with electronic monitoring device, and resisting public officer, with a bond set at $87,000.

MARCH 24

Alterick James Murphy, 24, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for DWI level 5, failure to maintain lane control, and misdemeanor probation violation, with a bond set at $3,000.

Johnathan Tyler Holmes, 29, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for injury to personal property, unsupervised probation violation, resisting public officer, assault on government official/ employee (two counts), and communicating threats, with a bond set at $21,000.

Juan Angel Soria

Nominations for the Hall of Fame are received from “anybody who wants to make a nomination,” Hroza said. Nominations are placed in a pool for three years, so if a person isn’t chosen the first year they’re nominated, they may be selected a year or two later. Nomination forms are available from board members, and are open all year-round. Right now, Hroza said the process isn’t at all digital, but there may be a website in the future. A Facebook page exists for the Hall of Fame, but has not been

updated in recent years. “It’s been an odd time for the past three or four years,” Hroza said, adding that the last banquet before the COVID-19 pandemic was held in November 2019. “In November 2020, we weren’t in a position to be active. Then in 2021, we were active but we were not in a place to have a banquet.”

To report crime anonymously, call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 910-372-9202 or you may also submit information at cc.southernsoftware. com/tipsubmission/ through the Duplin County Citizens Connect website.

Castaneda, 27, was booked into the Duplin County Jail for misdemeanor stalking. No bond information is available. and are very deserving. We have had astronauts, chiefs of staff, even a woman who was born in Duplin County and invented finger painting.”

“This will be one more catch-up year,” she said. “We will have two recipients for 2023 and two recipients for 2024.”

Recipients of the honor are always a surprise. “We go to great lengths to have a big reveal,” Hroza said. Check http://duplinjournal. com after the banquet, and see the April 17 print edition to find out who the 2023 and 2024 honorees are.

So, in 2022, there was a banquet, which caught up on the missed years by having six honorees. By 2023, Hroza said the board realized that November banquets had “become a bit of a challenge,” and they decided to transition to having a spring banquet.

Career Fair brings industry professionals, 10th graders together

Students meet area pros to learn about future opportunities

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Nearly

700 students from Duplin County Schools gathered at the Duplin Events Center on March 22 for the Career and College Fair sponsored by the DCS Duplin County Partnership for Career Planning.

Professionals from 16 career clusters were grouped into 22 booths, where each spoke to the students about their eld of expertise and answered questions.

The day was split in two parts with three sessions in the morning and three in the afternoon. Students rotated though the booths spending approximately 45 minutes at each booth.

“The kids signed up for what their interests are and we kind of matched their interests to the

employers we invited,” said Erica Jones, Duplin County Schools director of curriculum 9-13 and career technical education.

“We have been doing it for 20 plus years,” said Jones about the event. “We have people from everywhere here.”

“I truly appreciate the community, the college and the school system for teaming up together to put this event. It is truly a blessing,” said Jones. She also gave a shout out to Debra Sholar, who is

responsible for coordinating with the employers who participate in the career expo.

While the event runs as smoothly as a well-oiled machine, it requires a lot of planning and coordination ahead of time to make it happen. According to Jones they start planning the career fair every year in October/November.

“The students register right before Christmas, and it takes us up to right before now to secure all the employers,” she added. “I truly appreciate the community, the college and the school system for teaming up together to put this event. It is truly a blessing.”

Erica Jones, DCS director of curriculum 9-13

PHOTOS BY ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Professionals from across Duplin County and surrounding areas visited the Duplin Events Center last Friday to share about their trade, skills required and career opportunities with 10th grade students from Duplin County Schools.

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON

Apprehension about our nation’s future at an all-time high

We, the people need a revival of Christian values, and we need to arm our children with the moral courage to defeat the designs of those who try to make that which is so wrong look so right.

CONDITIONS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., or at our southern border predominate in many of our conversations.

Additionally, con dence in objective unbiased media coverage is also at an all-time low. I often hear, “I can’t watch, or I don’t watch or it’s hard to watch the national news coverage.”

Since the elections of 2020, Americans have become increasingly skeptical and distrustful of the media coverage of the Biden administration. There is, most certainly, the portent of stormy weather that threatens our Constitutional Republic.

Well, enough gloom and doom!

Hey folks, this is the United States of America. America still has connotations of what freedom and liberty really looks and feels like.

We have a Constitution that was inspired of God. He trained up men, albeit imperfect men, and inspired them to be willing to give up everything they owned even their lives if necessary to declare their independence and form a unique government.

A government Lincoln would later say “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” God wanted a nation with the articulated freedoms in our Bill of Rights to be a nation with major responsibilities in preparing the world for the Second Coming of His Son. Is it any wonder then that evil men inspired by the father of all lies, now call good evil, and evil good?

When I learned and accepted the reality of that purpose a calm feeling soon came upon me. That calm feeling was a little surprising at rst but then I realized that this nation has experienced much stormy weather over her entire existence. America has come through troubled times before.

Actually, many times before. I have learned by experience that this has been a troubled world for a long time. And, with historical perspective, I now understand that issues come and go but the constant is always right versus wrong.

Or should we say good versus evil?

John Adams once observed: “The Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

He also re ected further; “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There has never been a democracy that did not commit suicide.”

Of course, we understand that our forefathers created a Constitutional Republic based on a pattern of democracy; and therein lies our hope!

Are we witnessing the ful llment of both of these observations of John Adams? Are we becoming an immoral and irreligious nation? Are we bound to commit suicide as a nation?

I say yes to the second question and no to the third question. Certainly, we

are not bound to commit constitutional suicide.

However, to avoid the fate of constitutional collapse we must have a rival of thought and action consistent with old fashioned morality combined with and motivated by religious vitality centered in Christian values.

The fabric of stable homes has been ravaged and torn by evil men for many years. Evil and conspiring men and women on the far left try to motivate young people to do wrong things in the name of individual freedom.

America has been an ensign to the nations of the world largely because generations of loving mothers and fathers have “rocked the cradles” of their children. They taught them the sound doctrines of honesty, work, industry, thrift and self-reliance.

We can feel peace during the storms of life if we understand that ultimately good will prevail over evil.

The “empty tomb” can bring us peace and the courage to save our nation; but only with the help of He that left the tomb.

We, the people need a revival of Christian values, and we need to arm our children with the moral courage to defeat the designs of those who try to make that which is so wrong look so right.

Jimmy Dixon (R-NC04) represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Schumer plays to left, turns on Israel

WHO WAS SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER

speaking to when he denounced Benjamin Netanyahu and urged Israel to hold new elections to replace him? And who was he speaking for?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m no fan of Netanyahu’s. Not one bit. When the history of Oct. 7 is nally written, Hamas will rightly be blamed for unspeakable evil. It was their doing and their fault. But is there any doubt that the massive intelligence and political failure that allowed that to happen was due to the malfeasance, shortsightedness and selfinterested failings of the Netanyahu administration? Public opinion polls in Israel make absolutely clear that if elections were to be held today, Netanyahu would lose. But that is for Israelis to decide.

We provide massive support for Israel. As we should. They are staunch allies in a part of the world where we need their support. They are a democracy, deserving of respect. We have the right to try to in uence what they do with the military aid that we supply them.

But there are ne lines to be respected. Americans overwhelmingly support aid to Israel. We recognize that Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorists

who slaughter their citizens just as we had the right to defend ourselves after our fellow citizens were slaughtered on 9/11. Innocent civilians were killed when we went after Osama bin Laden and his men, and the world did not turn on us as a result.

So why has the world turned on Israel?

Why has Schumer?

Public opinion polls in Israel show that Israelis overwhelmingly remain committed to winning this war. They have not won, not yet. They continue to live next door to a state run by terrorists who are committed to repeating the sort of slaughter and butchery of Oct. 7. The Israeli public says never again. Wouldn’t we? Are we to say they must live with the prospect of terror? That they have no right to destroy Hamas?

The Democratic left is noisy. The war is hurting Joe Biden. It’s ironic on all counts. By my lights, Biden has been terri c. He came immediately and forcefully to Israel’s defense. At the same time, he and his administration have been responsive to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, have used every diplomatic resource to try to secure a temporary cease re, to get aid into Gaza, to seek the return of the hostages.

For this, he gets picketed everywhere he goes. And what would Trump do?

Try to make hay? Trump attacks Jewish Democrats, saying we hate Israel and hate our religion and that Israel won’t exist if we vote for Biden. Exactly who does the noisy left want to help — and who do they want to punish?

Schumer is playing to the Democratic left in America. Instead of telling them to stand down, he is standing up with them. And playing into the hands of the Republican senators, who had their own meeting with Netanyahu, to embrace him. They would turn support for Israel into a partisan issue, to help Trump, at the expense of not only Biden but Israel. With the world e ectively turning on Israel’s right to defend itself — and thus its right to exist — plunging Israel further into our partisan divide is bad policy in the service of short-term partisan gain. It is the last thing true friends of Israel should do, which is not what Trump is.

The Israeli public doesn’t need Schumer to tell them what to do. The Democratic left in America does. Biden needs support, not support for the protestors. And Israel needs a united America on its side so it can end this war by winning it and, with it, the right to exist in peace.

The Democratic left is noisy. The war is hurting Joe Biden.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

NC Pickle Festival: a big dill for Mount Olive

The annual celebration will be downtown on April 26-27

By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal

The two-day North Carolina Pickle Festival returns to Mount Olive in a month, on April 26-27. The festival has “become a local rite of spring,” according to the event’s website, and this year’s Pickle Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The website describes the festival as “part street fair, part community festival, part family reunion.”

Though Saturday, April 27, is the main day of the festival, events begin on Friday evening, with the Cuke Patch 5K Glow Run from 8-9 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for best male and female costumes, and best group costumes. The early bird registration deadline is April 1. To register and for more information, visit ncpicklefest.org/ events/cuke-patch-5k/ .

Also on Friday night, Steel County Express will perform on the Ribeyes Stage from 7-10 p.m.

On Saturday, the Pick-

PARK from page 1

le Festival gets in full swing. Vendors will line the streets of downtown Mount Olive, and live music will start at 9 a.m. with Wood and Steel, a country/party band. Musical entertainment will continue all day,

with country group Southern Trouble performing at 11:20 a.m., bluegrass group Riggsbee Road at 1:40 p.m., and Jimmy Bu et tribute Island Time Past at 4 p.m.

First thing on Saturday

morning, the Tour de Pickle bicycle ride winds its way through Wayne and Duplin counties. Check-in starts at 8

Duplin Hospital’s Katie Knowles selected as presenter at Nurse Leaders Conference

Kenansville

ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s Katie Knowles was recently selected as a poster presenter at the North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders Conference. Knowles shared ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s model for covert hand hygiene observation with conference attendees last week.

Covert hand hygiene observation is a process the hospital utilizes to evaluate team member hand hygiene adherence. “We do this because research has shown that hand hygiene is one of, if not the most important practices to reduce the spread of germs,” a Facebook post from the hospital read.

Got local business news?

Let us know about any grand openings, new businesses, and noteworthy achievements, and we’ll share it with the community! Email Abby Cavenaugh at abby@ northstatejournal.com. The Duplin Journal reserves the right to edit for content, brevity, and clarity.

“We will apply for both,” Simpson said. “The likelihood we can do both if we get approved for both is very high.”

Parks and Recreation Department Director David Bizzell explained that the idea of an inclusive playground came about after talks of putting in a handicapped-accessible swing on the current playground. “Now, it’s turned into doing a whole renovation of the park,” he said. An inclusive playground means it’s accessible to any kind of handicap, Bizzell explained. There will be more walking trails and areas where wheelchairs can be pushed if the town receives the appropriate grant funding.

In fact, the closest inclusive playground to Duplin County is in Wrightsville Beach, Wallace Mayor Jason Wells said. “We want our town to grow, and we want to grow our parks as well,” Wells said. “They’ve all done a great job laying out the plan, and reviving this old park.”

“With the population increase, it’s very well needed,” Bizzell said. “There is no inclusive playground anywhere in Duplin County. It would de nitely give the special needs community something to do, and that will be great.”

Wells added that he played on the playground at Clement Park as a kid, and he’s excited to see future generations continue to use the playground at the park for many years to come. “The park needs a little updating, that’s for sure,” he said. “It’s been the heartbeat of our Parks and Recreation for many years.”

Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Ri-

vas-Diaz also said it’s important to keep Clement Park relevant. “The location of the park makes it very accessible to the community,” he said. “It’s nice to have it in a place where there are neighborhoods.”

The tennis courts are also heavily used by the local community, and could draw in folks from other communities as well. With the tennis courts moved and refurbished, the park could become a Mecca for tennis players around the region.

The existing basketball court will also be refurbished if the PARTF grant is approved.

The Campbell Center at Clement Park is currently undergoing

a renovation, but Simpson said it’s so heavily used by the community that another community center may be built in town, possibly at the new Farrior Park. But that is a future project that hasn’t even begun yet.

Former Mayor Charley Farrior, the namesake for the town’s newest park, said he’s very excited for the plans that are already in place. “I’m just excited about what we have planned,” he said. “We’ll be utilizing land we haven’t used yet, which is just very exciting.”

The next step in the process, Simpson said, will be for the town council to approve the plans at a future meeting.

PHOTO COURTESY OF N.C. PICKLE FESTIVAL

A youngster tries to t a handful of cucumbers into a jar during a previous N.C. Pickle Festival in downtown Mount Olive. This year’s festival is April 26-27.

Smith eld Foods announces $250K scholarship during AgFEST

Funding will support UMO’s agriculture students

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — More than 2,500 students participated in the 2024 AgFEST last week held at Mount Olive University. The event featured interactive exhibits and informational booths highlighting careers in agriculture peppered throughout the campus.

Students had the opportunity to learn about some of the newest technologies used in today’s agriculture including tools used in precision ag, livestock management and crop production.

Participants had a chance to interact with live animals, learn about drone technology, forestry, greenhouse management and watch live demonstrations.

According to Edward Olive, Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center director, many exhibitors were returning UMO alumni.

“It is very rewarding to see so many of our graduates who are now agricultural education teachers come back to AgFest year after year and bring their FFA chapter,” said Edward Olive, Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center director about the event.

The day was buzzing with excitement, as students lined

“Recruiting top talent is a priority not only for the university, but also for the business community at large that experiences the workforce shortage.”

Dr. Edward Croom, UMO president

up for the di erent activities o ered throughout the campus, from mechanical bull riding and ax throwing to corn hole. Large groups gathered by the stage as they waited for their favorite performers, while others danced, or joined their friends for sel es at the various tractor exhibits.

Kraig Westerbeek, Smitheld Foods Production president, presented the Smith eld Endowed Scholarship — a $250,000 scholarship for agriculture students at UMO.

“We’re proud to be able to make these scholarships available to give dedicated young men and women the resources they need to succeed,” said Westerbeek.

Dr. Edward Croom, UMO president, expressed his appreciation for the company’s continued support to UMO’s agricultural programs, adding that “Recruiting top talent is a priority not only for the uni-

versity, but also for the business community at large that experiences the workforce shortage. This Smith eld scholarship is the newest partnership that will impact our future students and further impact the communities of our graduates.”

The scholarship, which will be administered by UMO, will be awarded to one rising junior and one rising senior each year.

According to Smith eld

Foods, the scholarship will be available for students pursuing a career in agriculture, engineering, operations, or supply chain. One of the scholarship requirements is that the recipient completes a paid summer internship with Smith eld Foods.

“Rising seniors must plan to work for the company full-time following graduation or be employed full-time by a current hog producer for Smith eld,”

stated Smith eld Foods in a media release.

“Following graduation, interested students may enroll in Smith eld’s Career Foundations Program, which provides high-potential candidates with critical training and career mentorship resources at the onset of their professional careers.”

AgFEST concluded with a performance by country music artist Eli Winders.

Ivan Danchev, a professor of physics, makes a demonstration about the conservation of momentum as he shows students how to shoot a rocket.

Left, a group of students dance to the tunes of “Wobble” last Thursday at the University of Mount Olive. Right, Students watch a demonstration presented by one of the local electric membership cooperatives.

Left, Payton Hopkins and Hayden Bruce enjoy the festivities at theAgFEST last Thursday. Right, A student tries her hand a the mechanical bull riding booth during the Mount Olive AgFEST held last week.

Left, students learn about equipment safety during the AgFEST held last Thursday in Mount Olive. Right, many of the day’s exhibits provided students with opportunities to interact with live animals during the AgFEST held last week at Mount Olive University.

DUPLIN SPORTS

Panthers seek rhythm in roller-coaster season

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — It’s been a spring of blowouts for East Duplin.

The Panthers have either lashed their foes or been thrashed by high-caliber competition.

ED has not played in a one-run game, and the closest game was an 11-9 loss to East Central 2A Conference foe South Lenoir on March 15.

Every other game, sans a 9-6 win over Wallace-Rose Hill, has been a di erence of ve runs or more.

The trend showed up in red letters last Thursday as Southwest Onslow ripped the Panthers 14-0. The loss followed 14-4 and

20-0 triumphs over North Duplin and Kinston, respectively. Two other lopsided losses came against Southern Wayne (11-5) and Midway (13-2), while ED had a dominate victory against Princeton (11-6) and a ve-run di erence over Richlands (7-2) and James Kenan (6-1).

It all plays out into the second half of the season in which the Panthers (6-5, 3-2), SWO (4-4, 3-2), South Lenoir (6-2, 3-1) and North Lenoir (7-1, 4-0) jockey for a title and postseason playo berths.

ED takes down Rebels in ve innings

The Panthers were on-time hitting machines against the Rebels, scoring ve times in the rst and adding three in the second and two in the third to go in front 10-1.

A four-run rush in the fth nulli ed three runs in the visi-

tor’s half of the inning to force a quick ending to the Duplin County rivalry game.

The two teams split a pair of games last season when ND had Richard Noble, 2023’s Duplin’s Elite Mr. Baseball on the mound.

The rematch is April 17 in Beulaville.

It was a monumental day for sophomore catcher Sawyer Marshburn, who ripped a homer, two singles and drove in ve runs.

Senior Eli Thigpen (1-for-2) and freshman Gavin Holmes (2for-3) combined to plate ve more runs. Three came via Thilgpen’s single and two walks, and two from a pair of singles by Holmes, who also scored three times.

Leado hitter Zach Brown, walked, singled, knocked in a run and score twice.

Baine Raynor also crossed the plate two times and had two RBIs.

PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Rebels recover, capture pair of conference wins

North Duplin hit its way past the Cougars and Leopards; James Kenan and WRH snap skids

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — Things are not always as they seem, and objects in the way can appear larger than they actually are.

That’s a good way to describe the North Duplin baseball team, which entered the week with a 5-3 mark and had a showdown with Rosewood on Wednesday over positioning in Carolina 1A Conference standings.

First, to deal with the past. Two of North Duplin’s losses are to 2A programs (East Duplin, South Lenoir) and the other came when ND split two games against Wayne Christian Academy.

Now. Let’s get things straight. North Duplin’s pitching carried it to consecutive CC titles, and the sta

is not on that elite level right now. It’s developing.

Yet the Rebels have no shortage of o ensive power as Austin Du (.500), Tanner Kornegay (.407), Hunt Pate (.400), Wesley Holmes (.455) are tearing the cover o baseballs. The ve Rebels can hit against good arms and destroy mediocre pitching.

Holden Williams (.429) and Garris Warren (.333) are also stepping into the limelight. ND is hitting .352 as a team.

Buit the sta ERA is 2.89 with a 54-37 strikeout-towalk ratio. North Duplin’s The ERA last season was 1.75 during a 21-4 campaign, and 1.80 in 2022 during an 18-4 season.

North Duplin lost 14-4 to East Duplin to start last week, but rallied for blowout wins over Neuse Charter (17-2) and Lakewood (13-1).

Kornegay, a lefty swinger, lashed four hits and scored three times against the Cou-

Rebels roll over Panthers for Duplin bragging rights

East and North Duplin are both seeking to repeat as conference champs

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — Lilly Fulghum gave up a rst-inning homer to Ava Noble last Monday, but limited softball rival East Duplin to four hits as North Duplin rolled to an 11-1 win in a match of Eastern Carolina su-

per powers. The two teams split last year’s series and East Duplin went on to nish 19-5 and win an ECC 2A title, eventually losing in the third round of the playo s. North Duplin took the Carolina 1A Conference and made it to the 1A nals, nishing with a school record 23-5 mark. The Rebels took the rst game last year 8-0 and fell 8-4 two weeks later on the Panthers’ diamond. The two school meet again

Our team has 50 years of combined experience focusing on Duplin County real estate. How can we help you?

on April 17 in Beulaville.

Yet longtime East Duplin coach Greg Jenkins, whose club is 7-4 overall and 4-0 in the ECC, plays the best competition he can schedule.

North Duplin scored often and almost without a stoppage, notching two in the rst, one in the second, and ve in the third to go in front 10-1.

Reece Outlaw and Addy Higginbotham were familiar o ensive stars.

Shortstop Outlaw, a UNC recruit, rocked two singles and two doubles, while second baseman Higginbotham had three base knocks and a double. Each drove in a pair of runs.

East Duplin took down the Rebels ahead of a key series with South Lenoir

DUPLIN JOURNAL

Gavin

North Duplin shortstop Reece Outlaw attempts to put a tag on East Duplin’s Kinsey Cave.

DUPLIN JOURNAL

WRH’s Reid Page hasn’t hit too many ground balls in the in eld, since he’s hitting .417.

Williams takes over as Tigers seek to build winning program

James Kenan hopes to be competitive with several underclassmen on its roster

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WARSAW — The James Kenan soccer team is showing spunk as the Tigers seek to return to the state playo s after a twoyear absence.

First-year soccer coach Kenny Williams’ club is starting to erase memories of last season’s 2-12-1 nish .

Yet the Tigers are digging out of a big hole. JK went 8-7-2 in 2022, but was 3-11 in 2019 and 2-9-1 in 2021. They were 2-2 in the 2020 season that was eventually cancelled by Covid 19. In the three-year period of 2019-2021, JK was 7-22-1.

“We’re young,” Williams said, “and that youth showed up against East Duplin and Southwest Onslow. “A little thing like over-rotating and losing our space in front of the goal. That kind of [on-the- eld] communication takes a while to develop.”

Entering this week’s action, JK is 5-3 overall and 0-3 in ECC play. The latter is a bigger concern, especially given JK’s team goal.

“We’d like to nish in the top half of the conference and get into the postseason,” Williams said.

“We weren’t ready for East Duplin and Southwest. Let’s see if we can close the gap when we play them again.

“Right now we’re nding out where the pieces are best t. We need the right group and then get them playing together. There’s some skill out there, and also a lot of growth that is coming.”

Junior Katherine Chirinos’ 12 goals is tops on JK.

Sophomore Arely Patino is a center mid elder, with junior wings Karla Diaz and Daniella Garcia to each side.

Junior Shania Jones, sophomore Deisy Guzman and freshmen Aleyah Wilson, Keyla Diaz and Ashleigh Liconaosario shore up the defense in front of senior goalie Tytinia Wilson.

Assistant coaches Mario Funes and Lizh Martinez, a 2015 JK grad, are two other teaching sources for the young Tigers.

“Mario is good on the o ensive end and my experience is mostly with the defense, while Lizh has good overall knowledge and is a big asset to our sta ,” Williams said.

“We have something like 13 or 14 freshmen or sophomores. So we’re on a ride with some young players that de nitely have potential.”

North Lenoir, South Lenoir and Wallace-Rose Hill are JK’s competition for third place in the ECC. Kinston does not eld a team.

The Tigers and the SL Blue Devils (5-4, 1-2) play twice this week. The former was Tuesday. The latter is today (Thursday) in Warsaw at 6 p.m.

Panthers soccer working toward showdown with conference foe Stallions

The rst of two matches is key in the ECC title race

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — Heavy rain last Friday postponed the biggest girls’ soccer match in the East Central 2A Conference.

The wait gives East Duplin more time to prepare for Southwest Onslow. Those two schools have captured the league ag in the past two seasons.

The match has been rescheduled to April 9 in Beulaville. The rematch is April 30 in Jacksonville.

Both have clean conference records.

SWO beat and tied East Duplin last year to capture the crown. The Panthers won it in 2022 with a 10-0 ECC mark.

In fact, East Duplin has dominated Duplin schools James Kenan and Wallace-Rose Hill since both started their respective programs.

In the old ECC (pre-2017),

the ag usually came down to grudge matches between East Duplin and Clinton. The Panthers (6-3-1, 3-0) have played many quality soccer programs (Clinton, Richlands, West Carteret, East Carteret).

The defense has limited foes to 16 goals, while the o ense has cranked 49 balls between the pipes.

Senior workhorse Riley Kisler, who could play anywhere on the pitch, is the ringleader of the defense in front of goalie Isla Miller or Raquel Chavarria, who is waiting on an MRI to see if she can resume playing.

“Riley’s a really strong player who is having a solid year,” said East Duplin coach Joey Jones. “Isla and Raquel have been pretty close in terms of what they do for us.”

Junior Bella Gaby, sophomore Savannah Hill and senior Ellie Kreige are fullbacks for East Duplin, which always stresses defense with Jones calling the sideline shots.

“They’ve played pretty well together,” said Jones, whose mid eld includes Miranda Roblero and Elleanna Rogers as outside running backs and Ashley Sarmiento, Anna Hernandez and Yulianna Chavarria as stay-at-home middies.

Senior Ketelyn Jones and freshman Annamarie Rodrigues both play central roles as strikers. The pair has accounted for 10 goals. Rogers has six.

Jones said he hasn’t gotten a good read on SWO -- yet.

“I’m hearing mixed reports that give o some con icting messages,” said the longtime coach, who coached boys and girls for a number of seasons, and was the rst soccer head coach at East Duplin.

If an ECC comparison is logical, East Duplin beat South Lenoir 9-0, while SWO needed two overtimes to overcome the Blue Devils 5-2.

“We’ve played what I would consider a good schedule with a team that has players from all four classes,” said Jones, who is assisted by Kevin Whitehurst and Brent Gochanour.

“We’re the only school in the conference with a junior varsity team, and we’ve been lucky to get 13 or 14 games for that group.”

East Duplin will get playo -tuned later in the season against Clinton, Dixon (4-1-1) and East Bladen (5-1).

Bulldogs turn soccer fortunes around with young roster

WRH has won six of its rst eight matches for new beginning

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — Wallace-Rose

Hill girls soccer coach Jordan Bose knows it takes technique and teamwork, but feels a winning attitude in the crunch is a timeless key to victory.

“Find a way to win,” he said. “Sometimes that’s what it comes down to. It sounds like a cliché, but we treat every game the same. It’s about playing like we can.

“What we’ve discovered so far is that we can play with anyone, now let’s nd ways to win.”

WRH has done that in nabbing six wins in its rst eight matches. The Bulldogs’ (6-2, 2-2) losses were to East Duplin (6-1) and Southwest Onslow (2-0), the top two teams in an ECC that is layered with twin favorites with the rest of the league scrambling for a playo position.

WRH’s roster includes three seniors, two juniors, four sophomores and nine freshmen.

The Bulldogs went 3-14-2 last spring after a solid 7-9-2 mark in 2022. WRH has not won more than seven matches since 2015’s 9-10-1 nish.

“Everyone from last year’s team bought in and it’s a testament to our kids that they didn’t want the kind of season we had last year,” Boser said. “Our kids want to do things the right way. They practice their butts o . We’re young and they don’t know they aren’t supposed to win.”

Freshmen Bayleen Flores and Gabby Debnam both have

ve goals from the forward line.

“Bayleen is our heart and soul up there,” Boser said. “And Debnam runs like a deer and has goals because of her athleticism and also how she plays the game.”

Sophomores Yaslin Melendez, Bri Maradiaga and Bella Sabillon and freshman Melissa Canales and Karni Sabillon have been key players in the mid eld.

The defense is shored up by junior Melanie Maradiago, who works with freshman Sally Martinez and Kaylee Guzman and senior Astrid Vega. Junior Katerin Garcia is the goalie.

WRH has given up 37 goals, while scoring 42.

“Every player can play and contributes,” Boser said. “We’ve set the foundation. We have a chance to show we can play better against East Duplin and Southwest Onslow. Beyond that we’re on a level with anyone on our schedule.”

WRH has won three straight since back-to-back setbacks to ED and SWO, including triumphs over James Kenan and North Lenoir. All three wins were by one goal.

The Bulldogs sit in third place in the ECC standings. They take an ECC break this week to face Trask and Southeastern Home School.

MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Katherin Chirinos, left, leads JK in scoring with 12 goals.

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JOURNAL

Yaslin Melendez, right, is playing tough in the

eld for WRH.

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Katelyn Jones is one of East Duplin’s top scorers this spring.

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Annmarie Rodrigues nds a spot to place the fall for an East Duplin goal.

Bulldogs drop heartbreaker to ECC foe North Lenoir

Wallace-Rose rebounded to win its next two games to improve to 7-2 for the season

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — What’s the di erence between a Texas League single into shallows of the out eld and a pop y that is ruled an out because of the in eld y rule because the bases were loaded?

North Lenoir used the play in the sixth inning to get an out and empty rst base so the Hawks could walk Wallace-Rose Hill’s Lexi Kennedy, who’s hitting a sizzling .636 and is slugging at a .954 mark.

Two strikeouts later Wallace-Rose Hill lost a heartbreaking East Central 2A Conference encounter 4-3.

Luck was not on the Bulldogs side either later in the game when Kennedy reached third base.

“I was going to squeeze her in but thought I’d give Chloe (Straughan) a chance to swing it,” said WRH coach Cory Lovelace.

Straughan made solid contact, rocking the ball past the pitcher, but on a line with the second baseman, who caught it out of self-defense. Kennedy raced back to third base, but was ruled out by the men in blue.

“I thought she made it,” Lovelace said of the bang-bang play.

WRH’s Kennedy laced a pair of doubles to drive in two runs. Sophia Sloan, Kaylee Powell, Jansley Page and Isabella Parker each came through with a hit during a tough loss in a key ECC matchup.

Move on to win for fourth time in ve games

The stunner didn’t a ect the rest of the week for the Bulldogs (7-2, 2-2), who crushed Clinton 17-4 last Thursday and followed it up with a 17-3 pasting the next day of American Leadership Academy-Johnston the next day.

WRH scored early and often to end the Dark Horse a air after ve innings.

They put up eight runs in the rst inning and nine more in the next three frames.

Sophomore catcher Mattie Gavin drove in a pair of runs and Parker and Payton Tyndall added run-scoring at-bats.

Kennedy, Powell and Page each crossed the plate twice as the Bulldogs took advantage of 14 walks by Brandi Sessoms and NIah Torres.

Tyndall, a frosh, hurled the nal two frames for WRH, as Lovelace gave ace Kennedy a break. The duo combined for eight punchouts and did not walk a batter.

WRH won for the fourth time in ve games with its triumph over the Johnston County private school, which is 5-4.

Sloan had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 and driving in four runs.

Kennedy and Page combined to go 4-7 with three RBIs and six runs.

Straughan added an RBI single.

Kennedy struck out seven, walked two and lowered her ERA to 1.40 with the win.

Diamond Notes

WRH has a break of sorts this week when it plays winless school.

The Bulldogs had a doubleheader scheduled on Monday against Kinston (0-5, 0-3) and were to host

Hobbton (0-8) two days later.

WRH then faces a 7-1 Trask club on April Fools Day (Monday), but then puts its energy into nishing o its ECC slate. That features a six-game swing, which includes a rematch with North Lenoir on April 23 and the season nale against South Lenoir the nal day of the month.

Another confrontation with the Titans is in the mix on April 25 Page, who leads WRH in home runs with three, is hitting .435. Powell (.400 )and Sloan (.350) are likewise swinging hot sticks. WRH is hitting .301 as a team.

Armstrong, Leon, Joe power Tigers past Stallions

Wins in the ECC have been rare -and hard earned-- for James Kenan the past four seasons.

So it was last week on Tuesday when the Tigers took an early 8-1 lead and held o Southwest Onslow for an 11-9 win on JK’s home eld.

Kaylyn Leon knocked in three runs and Anna Morgan Armstrong and Jourdan Joe two apiece. Joe rocketed a homer, legged out a double and walked.

Armstrong got slammed for ve runs in the fourth inning and single tallies in the next two frames. She whi ed nine and walked four.

Anna Marshburn lashed three hits and Jamie Cook-Watt had two hits and two RBIs.

A day earlier, JK broke a threegame skid by taking down Lakewood 12-9.

Tied at 9-9, the Tigers scored once in the sixth and added two more in the seventh, out-hitting the Leopards 15-9.

JK hit the gaps with ve doubles, hitting a crispy .424 o hurlers Danica Carter and Caitlyn Bass.

Armstrong, Kendi Giddons and Shylah Stone each had three hits. Armstrong homered and knocked in three runs, while Giddons singled and doubled twice. Joe scored three times via two hits and a walk.

JK faces ECC foe South Lenoir twice this week, the latter of which is Thursday in Warsaw. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.

Wildcats clip Pirates for revenge, fourth straight win

It took nearly a month, but Richlands exacted revenge on Topsail

with a 6-2 win last Wednesday on the Wildcats’ diamond.

The Vikings, who beat Richlands 2-0 on opening day (Feb. 26) in Wilmington, lost for the rst time in eight games.

LeNayah Jackson drove in three runs in the four-run inning as one of four Wildcats with a pair of hits.

Makenzie Goin, Tashi Allen and Abigail Huller each knocked in a run , while Megan Pittman, Reagan Stapleton and Erin Thibault each ripped two hits. Richlands recovered from a 2-0 de cit with single runs in the third and fourth innings.

Kennedy Sloan and Jaylyn Noble combined for three of the ve hits the Pirates scattered o Mckenzie, who struck out a season-high 18 and did not allow a walk. She lowered her ERA to 0.49.

The win was the fourth straight for Richlands (6-3), which has tough losses to 3A DH Conley (2-1) and 2A South Lenoir (6-5) of the ECC .

A day earlier, Richlands socked Northside-Jacksonville 16-0 in a mercy-rule shortened game. Jackson had three RBIs, Thibualt and Pittman two apiece.

Batts, Carr lead Crusaders past Patriots

Sabrina Batts had as many hits and more RBIs than Parrott Academy. Both were key in Harrells Christian Academy’s 15-1 win last Thursday in Harrells.

The senior struck out eight and yielded two hits, and drove in two runs with her two base knocks.

Classmate Brianna Carr pitched in big-time with ve RBIs and Reagan Cannon went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run as HCA improved to 3-5. The win was a reprieve after Halifax Academy whipped HCA 12-4 the previous day.

Batts, Carr and Riley Cannon drove in teammates.

Peyton Odem scattered seven hits for the win, aided by six Crusader errors.

Becky Garner had two hits and a pair of RBIs for Halifax (4-5, 1-2).

HCA ios scheduled against Wake Christian, Wayne Christian and Wilmington Christian this week.

North Duplin, softball

Lilly Fulhgum has already made a name for herself after pitching North Duplin to the 1A nals last season.

But that was her sophomore campaign.

Fulghum has picked up where she left o by hitting .632, with eight doubles in 19 plate appearances. She has driven in 11 runs and has an on-base percentage of .667. All of this happened over the course of just ve games.

She 2-0 in the circle as the Rebels (4-1, 1-0) go for their third consecutive Carolina 1A Conference title.

Fulghum was a starter of the basketball team this past winter and did the same in the fall for the volleyball squad.

EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

Jansley Page has three home runs and is hitting .435 for WRH.

ROIUNDUP from page 7

gars (1-4, 1-1) as ND collected season-high s in hits (17) and RBIs (10) that were only topped playing the opener against Lejeune (0-7).

Du , Holmes and Noa Quantanilla (a rising .263 average as a rst-year rst baseman) each had three RBIs. Pate scored three times and knocked in a run.

Eric Santos-Clark limited the Cougars to three hits and did not give up an earned run in ve frames. His teammates had two errors, which is four less than the total North Duplin had against East Duplin. The Rebels scored 15 times in the second and third innings after both clubs got two in the rst.

North Duplin crashed the plate for 11 runs in the opening inning against Lakewood and Pate and Warren held the Leopards at bay with three hits, an earned run, nine strikeouts and ve walks after a rst inning in which Lakewood scored its lone run.

Du , Holmes, Williams and Santos-Clark each had a pair of RBIs. Pate added a single, double, walk and two RBIs. Kornegay scored three times.

North Duplin’s Easter break starts with a game against 3A Hunt on Saturday in the rst

North Duplin catcher Austin Du is one of the hottest hitters in Duplin County. He’s hitting .500 with four doubles, a triple and 13 RBIs.

round of the Golden Leaf Tournament in Wilson at historic Fleming Stadium, a historic venue for baseball.

Bulldogs pop Patriots to end skid

Reid Page (.417) and Caden Gavin (.520) hit in the top two positions in the Wallace-Rose Hill lineup for good reasons.

The pair each stroked four hits last Friday during a 15-8 win over American Leadership Academy-Johnston in Teachey.

Dallas James, Kaiden Lui and Dane Turner were a step behind with three hits.

Lui had a single, double and triple and a team-high four RBIs. Page lashed a single, two doubles and a triple. Gavin drove in three with a double and three base knocks.

James picked up the mound win by throwing 94 pitches in four innings.

WRH led 8-1 until the fth when ALAJ got ve runs to cut the de ct to 8-6.

But the Bulldogs tacked up ve runs in the home-half of the inning to regain full control.

WRH (4-5, 1-1) fell to Clinton 6-3 the previous day and lost 12-2 to North Lenoir (6-1, 4-0) on Tuesday. Page was the top gun with two hits in three plate appear-

ances in the ECC tussle in which NL scored seven times over the fourth and fth innings.

Page, Gavin, Lui and Turen each had two hits in the setback to Clinton (8-1).

Early this week, WRH played a doubleheader against Kinston (1-8) on Tuesday, and the Bulldogs hosted Hobbton (5-3) the following day.

Tigers stop losing streaks twice

James Kenan (3-6, 1-3) recovered from a pair of losses with solid wins against Lakewood and Kinston. A 9-4 victory over the Leopards helped James Kenan forget about a tough 6-2 setback to WRH. Thursday’s 10-0 dusting of the Vikings got some of the taste of a 17-0 loss to Southwest Onslow o the plate of the Bulldogs.

Hansley McGee ripped four hits and knocked in a run.

Brody Batchelor had two singles, a double, and four stolen bases. Hunter Whitman also punched three hits and Cal Avent added two hits and three RBIs.

Daniel Grady’s single was the lone hit given up by SWO’s Cole Jarman in the 17-0 JK loss in which the Tigers shot themselves in the foot with seven errors.

Fulghum had two hits and knocked in three, while limiting ED to a pair of singles by Carley Grace Jenkins and scratch hits from Emory Raynor and Karsyn Parker.

But she took care of the heart of the order – Addison Tuck, Neyland Tate, Kinsley Bond and Morgan Brown –who were a combined 0-for12.

Fulghum, who struck out two and walked four, let her defense produce outs, and North Duplin had just one error. East Duplin had three elding miscues. ND also turned a double play.

Brown (nine hits, eight earned runs) made it through four innings in the circle before being pulled for Tuck.

Rebels hitting on all cylinders

While it’s not nearly the midway point of the season,

ED’s Neyland Tate is about to squeeze the ball into her glove for the nal out of an inning against Southwest Onslow.

North Duplin (4-1, 1-0) appeared to be in playoff form — at least for one game.

The Rebels demolished Carolina 1A Conference foe Lakewood 24-4 three days later in a game that was only close before ND got off the bus.

Higginbotham (3-for-3) and Fulghum (3-for-4) each had four RBIs and Iala Overton three.

North Duplin faces Rosewood (8-1, 2-0) and Union (5-2, 1-1) this week, and 3A Topsail (7-1) on April 2. No school in the Carolina Conference could hang with the Rebels the past two seasons, and that could well prove to be the case this spring.

Panthers push forward for two wins

East Duplin (7-4, 5-0) responded to the setback with blowouts over Kinston (15 - 0) and Southwest Onslow (14 - 4).

Both are East Central 2A Conference rivals.

The Panthers pounded out eight hits from six players versus the Vikings in a three-inning laugher. Sophomore Zoe Turner struck out the side three times and did not allow a hit.

Brown returned to the circle for Thursday’s triumph over the Stallions. The junior southpaw scattered seven hits over six innings.

East Duplin led 7-4 before putting the game on Ice in the sixth with a seven-run outburst.

Noble had four RBIs, Parker and Tuck two apiece. Eight players drove in at least a run.

Tate, Bond and Turner each laced a pair of hits.

East Duplin plays two games against North Lenoir (6-1, 3-1) this week, the latter of which is today (Thursday) in Beulaville at 6 p.m., and then hosts Dixon (6-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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BASEBALL from page 7

The Panthers also feasted on six Rebel errors.

Austin Du (2-for-3), Noa Quintanilla (1-for-1) and Garris Warren (1-for-2) each knocked in a teammate.

Credit ED junior pitchers Kyle Kern and Kolby Holmes for taming the Rebels on ve hits, though they didn’t dominate the ND order. They combined for three strikeouts, but were careful in allowing just two walks. Kern went 2.2 innings and Holmes 2.1.

Conversely, ND used four pitchers, who each had their individual struggles, especially given the elding blunders by the Rebels.

Stallion Jonathan Pittman let his defense do the bulk of the work. Pittman didn’t allow a hit, striking out ve and walking one, and he retired 16 of 18 hitters he faced. Cain Graham reached on an error, and a walk from Marshburn provided the only baserunners for ED. And then there’s the stat-improving conquest of Kinston, where baseball is a past-time and not in the present.

ED scored 16 rst-inning runs in the rout, giving sophomore hurler JP Murphy his rst career victory. Gabriel Faulkner also

TAKE NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA

DUPLIN COUNTY

threw in the nal two frames for the Panthers.

Freshman Holmes had three of the Panthers’ 20 hits.

Brown, a senior and an all-star since breaking into the lineup as a freshman, had two hits and scored twice. Other Panthers with a pair of hits included Marshburn and reserve Jack Tuck.

Diamond notes

The Panthers will have two dog ghts with North Lenoir this week, which they’ll nish with a Saturday contest against Rosewood (6-3).

The Hawks come to Beulaville today (Thursday). Raynor and Graham are expected to play key roles in the series from the mound. The rst game was set last Tuesday in LaGrange on a eld where the Hawks have had a decided advantage over the years.

NL moved from 3A to 2A in 2018, but was a pest to schools in a 3A/4A conference that Included baseball powers C.B. Aycock, DH Conley, South Central and JH Rose.

Raynor (.486) leads ED in hits with 17. Brown (.378) is tops in runs (15,) also has 14 RBIs to tie Graham (.241) among all Panthers.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The undersigned DEBORAH C. BAKER, having quali ed on the 1ST day of MARCH, 2024, as CO-EXECUTOR of the Estate of WILLIAM REX CARLTON, deceased, of Duplin County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE, 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 13TH Day of MARCH, 2024.

DEBORAH C. BAKER, CO-EXECUTOR

718 JOHNSON CH. RD.

WARSAW, NC 28398

Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

DUPLIN COUNTY

The undersigned BRENDA SUE S. CRANFORD, having quali ed on the 8TH day of MARCH, 2024, as CO-EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOHN ALFRED STALLINGS, JR. aka JOHN A. STALLINGS, JR., deceased, of Duplin County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11TH Day of JUNE, 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 13TH Day of MARCH, 2024.

BRENDA SUE S. CRANFORD, CO-EXECUTOR

377 STALLINGS RD.

TEACHEY, NC 28464

SANDRA S. STALLINGS, CO-EXECUTOR

432 CHICKEN NECK RD.

TEACHEY, NC 28464

TOMMY RAY STALLINGS, CO-EXECUTOR

667 HILLWOOD COURT

DACULA, GA 30019

Run dates: M13,20,27,A3p

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

DUPLIN COUNTY

The undersigned DEBORAH K. KORNEGAY, having quali ed on the 15TH day of MARCH, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of HERVY

BASIL KORNEGAY, SR. aka HERVY B. KORNEGAY, SR., deceased, of Duplin County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 25TH Day of JUNE, 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 27TH Day of MARCH, 2024.

DEBORAH K. KORNEGAY, EXECUTOR

141 EDWINA KORNEGAY RD.

MOUNT OLIVE, NC 28365

Run dates: M27,A3,10,17p

Zach Brown leads ED in runs and is tied with Cain Graham in RBIs.

SOFTBALL from page 7

EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

EDUARDO PUAC FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

obituaries

Gregory Wayne Lee

Jan. 24, 1960 - March 14, 2024 (age 64)

Gregory Wayne Lee, 64, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in Rex Hospital, Raleigh.

Wayne was born January 24, 1960 in Kenansville to Robert Carroll Lee and Hannah Jean Jones Lee.

Wayne graduated from John T Hoggard High School in 1979.

Wayne is preceded in death by his father, Robert Carroll Lee, and a nephew, Brandon Kyle West.

Wayne spent most of his adult life as a truck driver. He loved traveling to all corners of this country. He was most happy when he was able to spend time with his nephews and nieces. Wayne also enjoyed shing with his brothers-in-law, David and Je . Visitation was held Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville.

Graveside Service was Monday, March 18, 2024 at Brock Family Cemetery, Kenansville (Sarecta community).

Survivors include: mother, Hannah Jean Lee of Kenansville; sisters, Joanne Lewis (Je ) of Leland and Ramona Lisa West (David) of Kenansville; brother, Robert Carroll Lee, Jr. (Mary) of Columbia, South Carolina; nephews and nieces, Robert Lee III, Je rey Lewis, Jr., Amanda Lee Bilbo, Kristina Lewis Coggins and Grady West. There are also many great nephews and nieces.

Betsy Edwards

Browning

April 23, 1948 - March 15, 2024 (age 75)

Betsy Edwards Browning, 75, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024 at ECU Health.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Ethel Edwards, husband, Bob Browning, brothers, Larry Edwards, Dale Edwards, Winzell Edwards, Buster Edwards, Lewis Wayne Edwards, George Edwards and a sister, Hazel Wood.

Funeral service was Tuesday, March 19, 2024, with visitation following, at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Interment will be Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 3 p.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville.

Survivors include: son, Robert Browning of Ohio; daughter, Tina Burgess (Jerry) of Ohio; sisters, Anniebell Higginbotham (Eugene) of Raleigh, Dunnie Mae Ho man of Richlands, Irene Trent of Richlands, Judy Colantoni of Havelock, Faylene Edwards of Beulaville; brothers, Eugene Edwards of Beulaville, Richard Edwards of Ohio, Eddie Earl Edwards (Kathleen) of Beulaville; grandchildren, Derik Browning, Mikey Ramirez, Anthony Browning, Tyler Ramirez, Chris Browning; and great-grandchildren, Jordan Browning, Kohen Ramirez, and Isaiah Ramirez.

Baby Emerson

Jacob Sloan-Davis

March 13, 2024 - March 13, 2024 (age 0)

MAGNOLIA — Baby

Emerson Jacob Sloan-Davis was received by God on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at UNC Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville. A funeral service was held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Rose Hill Funeral Home Cemetery, Highway 903 in Magnolia. He will always be remembered by his loving parents, Jermila Sloan and Trevon Davis along with his grandparents and family.

Wilbert Shepard Jr.

June 28, 1938 - March 14, 2024 (age 85)

ROSE HILL — Mr. Wilbert Shepard, Jr., age 85, of Rose Hill passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at Lower Cape Fear Life Care in Wilmington. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Duplin Memorial Gardens in Teachey. He leaves to cherish his precious memories several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.

Jerry Richard Atkinson

Oct. 2, 1945 - March 23, 2024 (age 78)

Jerry Richard Atkinson, 78, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Kitty Askins Hospice Center, Goldsboro. Funeral service is at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2024, with visitation at 1p.m., at Community Funeral Home, Beulaville. Interment will be in Devotional Gardens in Warsaw. Survivors include: spouse: Dale Atkinson of Rose Hill; sons, Jerry Atkinson, Jr. of Rose Hill, Thomas Atkinson of Potters Hill, Eric Atkinson (Eva) of Kenansville, Aaron She eld (Danielle) of Magnolia,Willie She eld of Magnolia, Clayton Brock of Plant City, Florida; daughter, Annie Lego (Troy) of Kenansville; sister, Janet Hales (Cli ) of Grifton; brother, Keith Baker (Hazel) of Greensboro; 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

SPONSORED BY QUINN MCGOWEN FUNERAL HOME

Isabella Inestroza-Meza

June 5, 2020 - March 18, 2024 (age 3)

TEACHEY — Little Miss Isabella Inestroza-Meza, age 3, of Teachey transitioned from her earthly home to her heavenly playground on Monday, March 18, 2024 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 29, 2024 at Principe De Paz located at 804 N. Norwood Street in Wallace, starting at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at Duplin Memorial Gardens, Highway 117 in Teachey at 1:30 p.m.

Kirby S. Jones

Jan. 16, 1936 - March 20, 2024 (age 88)

Kirby S. Jones, 88, life long resident of the Oak Ridge community near Mount Olive, passed away early Wednesday morning, March 20, 2024, at his home with many of his loved ones by his side.

Mr. Jones was a hard-working man and had been employed with Heavy-Duty in Goldsboro, Boling Chair Company in Mount Olive, had farmed, and had been employed with River Landing Golf Club as a gate attendant, and with Duplin County at its Calypso Waste Collection Site as site manager. He worshiped at Jones Memorial Community Church.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Mary Jane Brinson Jones; three children, Joy Jones Malpass of Mount Olive, Tim Jones and wife, Lisa, of Faison, and Matt Jones and wife, Billie Jo, of Moss Hill; grandchildren, Corine M. Holmes and husband, Glen, of Goldsboro, Abby M. Harper and husband, Gary, of Kenansville, Josh Malpass and wife, Kelly, of Mount Olive, Trevor Jones of Faison, Taylor Jones of Southport, Rylee Jo Jones and Madelyn Jones, both of Moss Hill; great-grandchildren, Emma Holmes, Allie Holmes, Landon Harper, Alivia Harper, Lucas Malpass, Savannah Malpass, and Ivy Malpass; a sister-in-law, Marolyn B. Brock of Wallace; and several nieces and nephews from both the Jones and Brinson families.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Cynthia Ann Jones; a son-in-law, Gerald Malpass; his parents, Samuel Elbert Jones and Mamie Lane Jones; two brothers, Edwin Jones, and Dalton Jones and wife, Evelyn B. Jones.

The life of Mr. Kirby Jones was re ected upon at a graveside service on March 24, in the Jones Family Cemetery in the Oak Ridge community. O ciating was Minister Coy Brock. The family received friends at the home, and also at the cemetery following the service. In lieu of owers, it is suggested that memorial gifts be made to Gentiva Home Health and Hospice, 2409 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534.

The family is most grateful to Gentiva sta members, especially to Nurse Nikki Wolfe, for exemplary service of love and compassion extended to Mr. Jones and to his loved ones.

William Orville

Bryan

Feb. 24, 1944 - March 23, 2024 (age 80)

William Orville Bryan, passed away on March 23, 2024.

He is preceded in death by his spouse, Linda Bryan. Memorial service will be at 7 p.m. March 29, 2024, with visitation beginning at 6 p.m. at Community Funeral Home of Beulaville. Survivors include: son, Billy Bryan (Michelle) of Beulaville; daughter, Monica Edwards (Ken) of Pink Hill; sister, Cleo Sholar (Vaden) of Pin Hook; brother, Stanley Bryan (Janet) of Richlands; grandchildren, Ivey Thompson (Timothy), Zachary Bryan, Erin Edwards and Payne Bryan (Ella); greatgrandchildren, Ava Thompson, Kinsley Foy and Magnolia Bryan.

Alberta Batts Boykin

May 30, 1925 - March 15, 2024 (age 98)

WALLACE — Mrs. Alberta Batts Boykin, age 98, of Wallace passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Funeral services were held on Friday, March 22, 2024 at New Christian Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Rose Hill. Burial followed at the church cemetery.

Left to cherish her precious memories: two children, James Earl Boykin (Alice) of Turkey, and Patricia Walls in Franklin, Virginia; two sisters, Mildred Brinson (Roman Lee) of Warsaw and Lucille Hill (Bobby) of Thomasville, Georgia; two daughters-in-law, Betty Boykin and Alice Boykin; one son-in-law, Lermon Loftin; 19 grandchildren, 24 greatgrandchildren, eight great, great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.

Juanita Faye

Wilson

July 19, 1939 - March 20, 2024 (age 84)

Juanita Faye Harris Wilson, 84, passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in ECU Health Duplin Hospital, Kenansville.

She is preceded in death by sons, Ronnie Wilson and Mark Wilson, and by a sister, Geraldine Donaldson, and brothers, Leonard Harris and Buddy Harris.

All services are private. Survivors include: spouse, John Wilson of Wallace; sons, John G. Wilson of Mt. Olive and Gordon Wilson of Wallace; daughter, Gloria W. Simpson of Wallace; sisters, Pauline Deppen of Delaware, Annie Ruth Moore of Burgaw; brothers, James Harris of Pennsylvania and Lloyd Harris of Burgaw.

UMO, WCC to o er free band concert

By University of Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE – A concert featuring the University of Mount Olive Symphonic Band and Jazz Group along with the Wayne Community College (WCC) Band will take place on April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Hazel Waters Kornegay Assembly Hall on the UMO campus. The concert is free and open to the public. Selected to provide entertainment on Carnival Cruise lines, the UMO Jazz Group is a unique ensemble that has also received invitations to perform at various jazz festivals. The hybrid ensemble will perform jazz standards by Dave Brubeck, Chic Corea, and Dizzy Gillespie.

The Wayne Community College Band, under the direction of Dr. Bill Ford, will join the UMO Symphonic Band in a collection of show tunes, marches, and new band literature.

UMO Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands Dr. Douglas R. Overmier said, “This concert will have something for everyone from the novice to the musical expert.”

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with de ning Christian values. The Convention of Original Free Will Baptists founded the University. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.

‘Savior…A Musical Experience’ comes to Mount Olive

By University of Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive will perform “Savior…A Musical Experience” at 7:30 p.m. on April 11 at the Paramount Theatre in Goldsboro.

The production will include a 50-plus-member choir containing students from the UMO Concert Choir, Carolina Sound, select UMO alumni singers, and select Rosewood High School Eagle Ensemble members.

Under the direction of Lester and Holly Rector, the production begins with the story of God’s creation, which is told through song, live narration, and video imagery. It portrays the separation of God from His people, which leads to the need for a Savior. It ends with the redemptive message of the

death and resurrection of Christ. The production features a special guest soloist, Charlie Harris, singing the role of God. Other soloists, duets, and trios, including Lester Rector and Abijah Graham, will be featured. Three selections will feature choreography and dance performances from Mrs. Robin’s Academy of Dance senior company troop in Mount Olive and graduate-level instructors from Arts Company in Faison.

“You do not want to miss this beautiful, heartfelt production of “Savior” performed by this elite collaboration of vocalists and dancers,” said Holly Rector.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets are available online at http://www. goldsboroparamount.com/carolina-sound-savior/.

“Dollar General’s DG Market format o ers expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food o erings, dairy products, an assortment of fresh meats, alongside the general merchandise customers trust Dollar General to provide.”

Dollar General public relations statement

PICKLE from page 5

a.m. with the 75-miler at 9 a.m., 50-miler at 9:10 a.m. and 25-miler at 9:20 a.m. The ride will begin at Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s Walker Warehouse, located at 100 Commercial Ave., just o Old Mount Olive Highway.

Cost is $30 for pre-registered riders, and those who register by April 1 will receive a T-shirt. The ride is $45 after April 1. To register online, visit http://www.eventeny. com/events/applications/application/?id=2731

Maps of the routes can also be downloaded at https:// ncpicklefest.org/events/tourde-pickle/.

One of the most popular events of the festival, the Pickle Eating Contest, will begin at noon on Saturday on the main stage. Each participant in the contest will receive a tray of 20 Mt. Olive whole Kosher Dills. Participants are given ve minutes to eat as many pickles as possible. The male and female who eat the most pickles will be named the winners, and will receive $100 in prize money, as well as a North Carolina Pickle Eating Champion trophy.

Speaking of eating, the N.C. Pickle Festival also hosts an annual recipe contest. Prizes will be given for

DOLLAR from page 1

private brand merchandise such as foods, health and beauty products, home cleaning supplies, housewares, stationery, seasonal items and basic clothing.”

The store is expected to employ 10-15 individuals, depending on the individual needs of the store. Those interested may apply for available positions online at www. dollargeneral.com/careers.

“Our customers are at the center of all that we do, and

the best dishes featuring Mt. Olive Pickles in the categories of appetizer, main dish, dessert, and beverage.

A pickleball tournament is also part of the festivities, and will be played Friday and Saturday, April 26-27, at the Goldsboro Event Center, 1501 S. Slocumb St. In the event of rain, the tournament will be held in the gym of the Carver Cultural Center, 612 S. Breazeale Ave. in Mount Olive. To register online, visit pickleballden.com.

The festival will have a beer and wine garden throughout the two days, with beer from R&R Brewing and wine from the Country Squire Winery.

In addition, there will be carnival rides in the Steele Memorial Library parking lot, with $10 wristbands on Friday night.

Throughout the day on Saturday, there will be free Mt. Olive Pickles, roaming clowns, a butter y garden, petting zoo and pony rides, helicopter rides, a dance stage, praise stage, art on display, and much more. Free parking and shuttle service will be available at the University of Mount Olive Kornegay Arena parking lot from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information on all of the events that are part of the festival, visit ncpicklefest.org.

meeting customers’ needs is Dollar General’s top priority when choosing store locations,” said Dollar General’s public relations o ce. “In selecting store sites, we take a number of factors into consideration, carefully evaluating each potential new store location to ensure we can continue to meet our customers’ price, value and selection needs. We further strive to provide convenience for customers who may not have a ordable nearby retail options.”

N.C. Pickle Festival

Friday, April 26 5-10 p.m.

Saturday, April 27

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Downtown Mount Olive ncpicklefest.org