VOLUME 9 ISSUE 17 | THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
inside A group of dancers from Los Colores de mi Tierra perform a choreography native to Panama during NC Field’s Community Fair Camino al Bienestar on Saturday in Mount Olive. Read the story on Page 3.
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Five-mile section of I-40 dedicated to former state Rep. Larry M. Bell
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Faison A five-mile section of Interstate 40, from mile marker 352 to 357, was recently dedicated to former State Rep. Larry M. Bell. The unveiling of the sign took place at a ceremony held at Poplar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Faison. The section was dedicated as Representative Larry M Bell Highway. Bell worked nearly two decades in the General Assembly serving the residents of Duplin, Sampson and Wayne counties. DJS
Public feedback sought on EV charging stations development
Andrew Odom, chair of the Duplin County Republican Party, addresses the Board of County Commissioners Monday night, asking for more transparency by broadcasting future meetings.
Duplin GOP asks for more transparency in county meetings County Commissioners approved the FY 2024-25 budget unanimously By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
Duplin County The North Carolina Department of Transportation wants the public’s feedback on deploying the second phase of electric vehicle charging stations. Phase 1, which is planned to start in 2025, will involve the installation of fast chargers capable of charging a vehicle in about 20 minutes. In Duplin County the stations would be located on Exit 364 at N.C. 24, College Street, exit 369 at U.S. 117, and exit 373 at S. Kenansville Bypass. Phase 2 will focus on the buildout of community-based fast chargers and Level 2 chargers that take between four and eight hours to charge a vehicle. NCDOT will host a webinar on June 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. to provide more information about this project. Visit ncdot.gov to register. DJS
Man guilty of 2018 murder in Harrells gets life in prison Harrells Lajona Carr was sentenced to life in prison last week for the murder of Jamaris Pridgen, of Harrells, in 2018. Carr was jailed at the Sampson County Detention Center on outstanding felony warrants in a Duplin County case when the murder warrant was issued. The victim, whose body was found in a shallow grave on Wilber Pridgen Road, died of a single gunshot wound to the torso. DJS
KENANSVILLE — There was a full house at the County Commissioners meeting Monday night as the board approved the FY 2024-25 budget ordinance. During public comment, Angela B. Mainor praised County Manager Bryan Miller and his team for a job well done putting the budget together and making it easy for the people of Duplin County to understand. She also thanked the board and said it was the first time in many years she was pleased with it. Andrew Odom, Duplin County Republican Party Chair who had also signed up for public comment, addressed the board asking for them to consider video recording the meetings and live streaming or broadcasting them after the fact. “There are a number of counties, including Wayne, Onslow,
“Y’all have done a tremendous job keeping our employees in mind and the taxpayers — that can be a hard battle.” Commissioner Elwood Garner
Jones, Lenoir, Pender, Sampson, that all do that in some regard,” said Odom, pointing out that technology makes the process simple, and that churches are live streaming on Sunday mornings. He added that having that feature would be an asset for the county as they can better serve the public who are not able to attend. “We just feel like it would be a great way to maintain the transparency of the commissioners’ meeting, as well as allow some of the members of the community that can’t get out, whether it be because they are homebound, or they’re just older, or they have meetings See GOP, page 6
Wendy Murphy elected UNC System Board of Governors chair Duplin’s hospitality industry businesswoman makes history as chair of the first all-female-led board By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal DUPLIN COUNTY hospitality businesswoman Wendy Murphy was recently appointed by the state House of Representatives to serve as UNC System Board of Governors Chair, making history as chair-elect of the first all-female-led board. She is also the first Duplin resident to hold the prestigious role. “I’m honored to be elected chair at a time when three women will assume leadership roles as Board officers for the first time in history,” Murphy told Duplin Journal in an email. “This is a critical moment for higher education, and I’m blessed to serve alongside Vice Chair-elect Kellie Hunt Blue and Secretary-elect Pearl Burris Floyd. Together, we have meaningful experience on university boards in North Carolina, and I know we will always keep students at the forefront of our minds when making decisions about the university.” Murphy, a native of Rose Hill who currently lives in Wallace, will assume her new role on July 1, She will be taking over the role held by longtime Board of Governors’ chair Randy Ramsey. Murphy, who is serving her second four-year term on the Board of Governors, told Duplin Journal she is hopeful the legislature will appoint her to serve one more four-year term, which will allow her to complete her time as
WENDY MURPHY chair. Board of Governors are appointed by the House or Senate and can serve three fouryear terms. Murphy’s immediate goals, as she assumes her new role, are to keep the board’s focus on quality education, student success and affordability. “These are key themes in our strategic plan, but we also have specific goals that include raising graduation rates, improving campus efficiency, and increasing enrollment of adult and military learners and students from underserved counties,” said Murphy. “We have an enviable track record of keeping tuition low and lowering student debt — I want to maintain that. And we want to produce more graduates in high-demand fields such as engineering, healthcare and teaching.” Murphy is a big advocate of approaching literacy standards aggressively and arming future See MURPHY, page 6
Wallace council decides not to move forward with downtown apartment ordinance A proposed vehicle tax was nixed as part of budget approval By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal WALLACE — During a busy meeting Thursday night, the Wallace Town Council continued its discussion on groundfloor downtown apartments and ultimately decided not to move forward with an ordinance amendment that would have allowed ground-floor apartments in the downtown area. The item has been on the council’s radar since April, when the council requested that Town Manager Rob Taylor and Plan-
ning Director Rod Fritz work on an ordinance amendment that would allow apartments on the ground floor of buildings. Cameron Lee, planning board chairman, addressed the council and stated the planning board has reviewed this request three times, and all three times unanimously recommended denying the request. Lee stated the reasons the planning board recommended denial included access to utilities, garbage collection, parking, deliveries and input from other downtown business owners as well as other municipalities. Lee stated that there are currently 39 planned apartments in the central business district (CBD). Allowing ground-floor
apartments would bring that total to 59 available apartments and would include one-story buildings like Family Dollar, Piggly Wiggly and the former A&P. “I think we’re being a little anxious or impatient about residential development in and around Wallace,” Lee said. “Residential for Wallace is coming. It’s just a matter of getting the infrastructure in place.” He reiterated that the planning board still recommended denying the request. “I will say personally, this was very eye-opening,” Council Member Jason Davis said. Taylor then went into detail See WALLACE, page 6
“I love the idea of having some sort of ADA-compliant apartment downstairs because we don’t have any. But it’s also got to be done the right way.” Jason Wells, Wallace mayor
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