VOLUME 8 ISSUE 44 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Centennial celebrations in 2023 Duplin County John A. Stallings, a World War II veteran who served with the U.S. Army, 2nd Infantry Division, 38th Regiment, celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec. 20. Stallings was born in 1923. The Teachey native fought battles in France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He received a European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, a Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. John Taylor celebrated his 104th birthday on Dec. 12. Elizabeth Hicks celebrated her 103rd birthday on Nov. 20, she was born in 1920 to the late Rose and Albert Middleton. Mabel Branch Henry celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 20, she was born in 1923 in Pink Hill. She is the eldest daughter of the late Gaston and Minnie Branch. Andoria Kenan Middleton celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 8. She was born in the town of Rose Hill in 1923, to the late William H. and Sarah B. Kenan. Edith Garrett celebrated her 104th birthday on July 25. Garrett was born in 1919 to the late Louis and Katie Hall in Kenansville. Margaret Wood Oakley celebrated her 100th birthday on July 12, she was born in 1923 to the late Arthur and Louise Wood in Cedar Fork. Henrietta Sandy celebrated her 102nd birthday on July 9. Sandy was born to the late Anna and Henry Cupid in 1921 and lived in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands for 50 years before moving to Chinquapin. These seniors are part of Duplin County Senior Center Centennial program. Anyone 90 years or older may join this elite club by calling 910-296-2140 to complete a brief registration and get their birth date verified with the local Register of Deeds office. DJS
Duplin County Dog 4-H’ers make donation to Animal Shelter Warsaw For a community service project, members of Duplin County’s own Dog 4-H Club collected pet supplies at Warsaw Animal Hospital and Tractor Supply in Wallace throughout the holiday season. On Thursday, Dec. 21, the 4-H’ers delivered the supplies to Duplin County Animal Services and took a tour of the animal shelter. So many donations were received that they could barely fit in the vehicles to be delivered, said Dog 4-H leader Judith Hawk. Duplin County Dog 4-H started in April 2023, under Hawk’s direction and the group will continue to do service projects in the coming months. DJS
ABBY CAVENAUGH | DUPLIN JOURNAL
Wallace PD introduces new K-9 Officers The Wallace Police Department recently added two new K-9s, Viper and Maverick, to the police force. Maverick and Officer Taylor Meshaw, and Viper and Officer Ivan Sanchez were introduced at the Wallace Town Council meeting on Dec. 14. The K-9s and their handlers graduated from six weeks of training on Dec. 6, and began working with the Wallace Police Department soon after. “Both are certified in narcotics detection, article searches and tracking,” said WPD Chief Jimmy Crayton.
2023 Year in Review
Duplin experienced a steady pace of growth By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WALLACE – Duplin County has been on a steady pace of growth for the past couple of years with 2023 bringing numerous noteworthy highlights and wrapping up the year with a healthy unassigned fund balance of $35.849,716 according to County Manager Bryan Miller. Duplin welcomed new staff members, faced staffing challenges, and endured the loss of beloved leaders. In January, the biennial economic impact study from the Division of Aviation revealed that Duplin County Airport generated more than $70 million in economic output and produced $6.25 million in state and local tax revenue. The Economic Development Commission recruited Scotty Summerlin as EDC director on Jan. 3. In February, the Town of Wallace announced Rob Taylor as their new town manager,
he started in this role on Feb. 2. In March, the town of Calypso mourned the loss of mayor David “T-Bone” Tyndall who passed away at age 66, on March 11. On April 17, former county manager Davis Brinson announced his resignation after serving with the county for nearly three decades in different capacities. His last day was July 31. An EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds hit near Beulaville on April 22, destroying a camper and ripping off several large trees near Lester Houston Road. No one was injured. Jimmy Jerome Memorial Park in Rose Hill received a serious facelift thanks to generous donations from House of Raeford and Smithfield Foods, the big reveal took place in late April. Beulaville Elementary School unveiled its new 5,637-square-foot multi-purpose gym on April 24. On May 8, Duplin County longtime volunteer Doris See REVIEW, page 2
Magnolia family loses home to fire Community rallies to help family of six By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal MAGNOLIA – A Magnolia family lost everything in a house fire on Monday, Dec. 18. The cause of the fire was still under investigation as of press time. At around 10:30 p.m. last Monday, the fire broke out in a home in the Plantation area of Magnolia, Fire Chief Luis Arellano said. The family lost all of their clothing, household items, furniture, and Christmas gifts. Because of this, the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department put out a call on social media, asking for donations for the family. “I’m glad everybody has come together and helped out this family,” Arellano said. Luckily, the family was able to secure a place to stay in town, and they do have another house set up for them. As for the day-to-day items, they’re still in need, however. As of Friday, Dec. 22, Arellano said the donations were “coming slowly but surely.” The family has received some household items, mattresses, blankets and bedclothes, and some clothing, but more is still needed.
“I’m glad everybody has come together and helped out this family.” Luis Arellano, Magnolia Fire Chief
Below is a list of the victims and their sizes: •
10-year-old girl: size L adult shirts; pants size 7-8; shoes size 6-7
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11-year-old girl: size L adult shirts; pants size 7-8; shoes size 8-9
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16-year-old boy: size XXL shirts; pants size 38x32; shoes size 11.5-12
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4-year-old boy: size 7 shirts; pants size 6; shoes size 1
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Mom: size L/XL shirts; pants size 12-13; shoes size 9
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Dad: size M shirts; pants size 32x30; shoes size 7
Those interested in donating should contact the Magnolia VFD via its Facebook page, or call 910-590-6337.
Military roots run deep for combat veteran Ben Parrish “We’ve acquired $6.2 million worth of equipment -- all free. The Humvees when they have outlived their life cycle with us, we turn them in, and we get another one or whatever the latest model is replacing that. The only caveat to it is we have to go and pick it up wherever it is located in the system.” Ben Parrish
Part two of a two-part series By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal ROSE HILL – Located just a few miles from the county seat is the Sheriff’s Office Training Center. As Ben Parrish, Sheriff’s Office training coordinator would say, “this is where all the magic happens.” Each time a new officer is hired, the training center is their first stop. “We have roughly 75 officers within the agency, at one point or another I’ve had all of them out here,” said Parrish. The training facility is a true
example of the kind of support that exists in the community and the collaborative efforts between government and businesses who year after year, champion for the people in Duplin County. According to Parrish, in 2014, when he became the training coordinator, the property that serves now as the training center was being used as a clay pit for compost for the landfill. “We approached Smithfield Foods Engineering Department,” said Parrish, explaining they asked for any help the company would be willing to provide for the construction of the range. “Six weeks later, the ranges were finished, the berms and everything. That was their give back to the community,” said
Parrish explaining that at the very begining they had not even thought about a classroom, but as things progressed they were able to get a great deal for the construction of a shell building and the concrete. “We were able to utilize our county maintenance department to come in and cut all the panels. Inmate labor hung See VETERAN, page 6
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