Duplin Journal Vol. 10, Issue 10 by North State Journal

Duplin Journal

the BRIEF this

week

Smoke expected to linger after blaze

Mount Olive Authorities warned residents to expect smoke in the area for several days due to a fire that broke out Monday night at Potter’s Wheel Ministries in Mount Olive, affecting the pallet shop. The blaze, which involved a large quantity of wooden materials, prompted an extensive response with personnel from 19 fire departments and support agencies. Firefighters brought the fire under control by early Tuesday morning, but smoke may linger because of the combustibles involved.

NC Pork Council recognizes female farmer

Duplin County Tammy Peterson of Hubbs Farm recently received the NC Pork Council Award for Excellence in Innovation for her significant contributions to agritourism. At Hubbs Farm, Peterson created a unique destination that allows kids and families to experience agriculture firsthand. According to the NC Pork Council announcement Peterson’s interactive activities and immersive farm tours, promote a greater understanding and appreciation of food production, emphasizing the vital role of farming. Peterson was one of six outstanding industry leaders recognized by the NC Pork Council at their annual conference in Raleigh.

I-40 crash prompts large-scale response

Sampson County A major accident on I-40 East near mile marker 355 prompted a large -scale emergency response Tuesday morning from fire departments and EMS units from Duplin, Sampson and Wayne counties. According to authorities, a tractor-trailer carrying fuel crashed into a passenger vehicle, overturned and caught fire after being hit by a pickup truck. The accident halted traffic for hours and involved at least five other vehicles. One person sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. More than 18 agencies responded to the incident.

Thousands gather for annual NC Pickle Festival

Haley Yu emerged as the ultimate pickle-eating champion, devouring a jaw-dropping 12 pickles at the 2025 NC Pickle Festival last Saturday. The streets of downtown Mount Olive came alive with cheerful energy as thousands gathered for the yearly celebration. Turn to A6 for more photos.

Family of 2023 hit-and-run victim offer $10K reward for answers

“She would pray for whoever did this to her — that’s the kind of person she was”

Misty Brammer

Granddaughters Michelle Bunn and Misty Brammer traveled from Colorado to speak with the community

By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — Mary Ella Bunn loved to talk and tell stories nearly as much as she loved tending her garden. Self-educated and fiercely independent, the 96-year-old Mount Olive native affectionately known to neighbors as “Ma Bunn” grew crops year-round, often sharing them with the community she cherished. Her winter garden was flourishing when her son reported her missing in February of 2023. Officials discovered her body a few hours later in a ditch by her driveway on Summerlin Crossroads Road.

The fatal hit-and-run that robbed Bunn’s family of their beloved matriarch over two years ago remains unsolved, leaving her grieving granddaughters seeking answers and much-needed closure. Michelle Bunn and Misty Brammer are offering $10,000 for any information leading to the conviction of the party or parties responsi-

ble for their grandmother’s tragic death.

Although investigators have been able to determine that Bunn was hit by a large black or dark-colored GMC truck or SUV that suffered substantial damage to its right side in the collision, the vehicle’s specific model remains a mystery.

“Any help the community could offer in terms of finding the vehicle, whether it’s been repaired or sold, that would help tremendously,” Michelle Bunn told Duplin Journal. “Someone or everyone needs to come out and do the right thing.”

According to First Sergeant Jason Casteen with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the case is one of six unsolved pedestrian hit-and-run deaths being actively investigated in Duplin County, with some dating back to 2008. He indicated that while authorities have received leads in these cases — and specifically, in Bunn’s — they have been unable to substantiate or corroborate the information provided.

“I’m sure there’s somebody out there that knows what happened. Whether they want to

See REWARD, page A2

Bob Johnson inducted into NC Poultry Science Hall of Fame

“Today, we gather to celebrate the incredible contributions of two outstanding individuals”

Cowan Johnson

$2.00

J. Walter “Gator” Pelletier III joins Johnson in accepting the honor

Duplin Journal staff

ROSE HILL — Last week, House of Raeford Farms announced the induction of CEO Robert C. “Bob” Johnson into The North Carolina Poultry Science Hall of Fame. The North Carolina Poultry Federation (NCPF) recognized Johnson for his significant contributions to the state’s poultry industry on April 25, highlighting the multigenerational leadership of the Johnson family within the industry.

“As I look at this list of Hall of Fame inductees, I see so many that I have admired over the years. Especially my grandfather Nash and my fa-

Magnolia man acquitted in murder trial

The jury deliberated less than an hour before clearing the man of charges in the fatal shooting of Tammy James, citing self-defense claims

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

Victor Thomas Parker Jr., a resident of Magnolia, was found not guilty by a jury in Duplin County Superior Court following a brief deliberation of less than an hour. This verdict came after an intense four-day murder trial that concluded on April 17. According to a media release from the office of attorney Kennedy L. Thompson, the events leading to the trial stemmed from a tragic incident that occurred on July 14, 2021. During this incident, Parker shot and killed 53-year-old Tammy James on his front porch, claiming that he acted in self-defense. Evidence presented by the defense attorneys during the trial indicated that James had previously made threats against Parker, contributing to his fear for his safety. Furthermore, the defense argued that Parker was justified in his actions because he believed he was protecting his home from unlawful entry after having previously asked James to leave the property, driven by concerns about her suspected drug use.

ther,” said Johnson. “I learned so much from them, including to always do the right thing.

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

COURTESY HOUSE OF RAEFORD FARMS

Robert C. “Bob” Johnson was inducted into The North Carolina Poultry Science Hall of Fame on April 25. Johnson is the CEO and owner of House of Raeford Farms.

Duplin

Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers

Ena Sellers News Editor

K.D. Beard Reporter

Michael Jaenicke Sports Editor

Loretta Carey Office Manager

Office Phone: 910 463-1240

To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042

We stand corrected

To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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REWARD from page A1

come forward and identify somebody as a potential suspect, that’s a decision they’re going to have to make within themselves,” said Casteen. The First Sergeant encouraged those with knowledge of the incident to contact authorities and explained that the identity of anyone providing information would remain anonymous.

from page A1

Something I try to live by each day.”

Under Johnson’s leadership, House of Raeford Farms has become one of the top 10 chicken producers in the U.S. and a major revenue generator in North Carolina. In 2009, he founded House of Raeford’s FLOCK, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development, hunger relief, mental health support and addiction recovery. This initiative reflects a commitment to the well-being of the communities where House of Raeford operates, continuing a legacy of leadership based on the values passed down from previous generations.

By serving on key industry boards like the NCPF, the National Chicken Council, and the International Poultry and Egg

CALENDAR

Happening Monthly

• The Board of County Commissioners meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 224 Seminary St., Kenansville. For information, call 910-296-2100.

• The Beulaville town board meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at 508 East Main St., Beulaville. For more information, call 910-2984647.

• The Town of Calypso meets at the council chambers the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 103 W.

vented her family from finding peace. “If you can imagine, it’s not just us as a family, it’s our community.”

The sisters say they’ve received information indicating that at least a handful of people know what happened — and that some are making concentrated efforts to prevent the truth from coming to light.

“How do you say it? ‘You need to come forward; this is the

Trade Street. For information, call 919-658-9221.

• The Faison town board meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at 110 NE Center St., Faison. For more information, call 910-267-2721.

• The Economic Development Board meets the first Friday of the month at 7 a.m. at the Duplin County Airport Conference Room.

• The Duplin County NAACP holds its monthly meetings on the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church, 336 West Hill St., Warsaw.

• The Greenevers town board meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m., at 314 E. Charity Rd. For information, call 910-289-3078.

• The Teachey town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 116 East 2nd St. For information, call 910-285-7564.

• The Warsaw town board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m., at 121 S. Front St. For information, call 910-293-7814.

• The Magnolia town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., at 108 Taylor St., Magnolia. For information, call 910-289-3205.

• The Rose Hill town board meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., at 103 Southeast Railroad St. For more information, call 910-289-3159.

• The Duplin County Health Department is offering Diabetes Self Management Classes from 1-5 p.m., the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 340 Seminary St. Kenansville. For information, call 910-372-9178.

• The Wallace town council meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at 316 East Murray St., Wallace. For more information, call 910 285 4136.

• Duplin County Beekeepers meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Duplin Extension Center.

• Friends of Horticulture meet the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m., at the Duplin Extension Center.

• The Duplin County Airport Commission Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Duplin County Airport.

right thing to do, the human thing to do.’ This started as an accident, but now it’s purposeful — they’re putting themselves before the life of my grandma and the peace and closure of our family,” explained Bunn. “And that, to me… it just can’t be like that. It can’t be like that for our family or in other unsolved hitand-runs.”

“On a very basic, human level, they’ll need that too,” she said, referring to the party or parties responsible. “She would pray for whoever did this to her — that’s the type of person she was.”

Anyone able to provide information on the case is asked to contact the State Highway Patrol Office in Kenansville at 910-296-1311.

Brammer expressed that in order for the family to find peace and heal from the tragedy, the truth must come out.

HOF

Robert C. “Bob” Johnson and J. Walter “Gator” Pelletier III were inducted into the North

Poultry Federation Poultry Science Hall of Fame on April 25. For the past 50

the NCPF has recognized industry pioneers and leaders who have made significant contributions to the state’s poultry industry with this prestigious honor.

CAROLINA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

California just isn’t working

Communist China has built more than 29,000 miles of highspeed rail.

FOUR MONTHS AGO, the Palisades fire destroyed more than 6,800 homes in Los Angeles. Three months later, only four permits had been issued to rebuild the community.

Clearly, California just isn’t working.

The radical environmentalism, wokeism, and unionized bureaucratic micromanagement that Sacramento has imposed on the whole state is distorting reality and grinding things to a halt.

I talked with Environment Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin about the fire and recovery. He was surprised at the tiny number of permit approvals. Under his aggressive, dynamic leadership, the EPA already cleared the burned-out neighborhoods for federal permits. Of course, as he noted, the federal permits require city and county permission.

This permitting logjam is happening even with a supposed one-stop local permit office and other efforts to cut through the red tape.

But this is only the latest part of the story. Years before the fire, two new reservoirs were approved to ensure there would be enough water for firefighting. They were never built. Some fire hydrants simply did not work. Further, emergency vehicles were trapped in government parking lots because they needed oil changes. They could not be used to fight the fires because the bureaucracy’s firm rules about routine maintenance overruled common sense and public safety.

And fire is a real danger in the whole

state. I spoke with Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi and Fire Chief Niko King on my Newt’s World podcast. They shared their strategy for fire prevention. Laguna Beach brought in 400 goats to eat underbrush. It was a low-cost solution to clear out the vegetation that leads to hot uncontrollable fires.

The California government is trying to eliminate their goat fire prevention because the goats might eat endangered plants. (You have to wonder: What do state bureaucrats think fire does to endangered plants?) The powers in Sacramento want Laguna Beach to switch to human vegetation removal, which is four times more expensive. Meanwhile, a couple hundred goats might have saved the Palisades.

But the tragedy of the Palisades fire is just one example of how California is falling apart. The combination of weird values, ossified bureaucracy, and state legislators devoted to principles and ideas that simply don’t work are slowly destroying the state.

On a totally different front, California had more than $20 billion stolen from its COVID-19 related unemployment compensation funds. Much of the theft came from California state prisoners using the state prison’s computer system. They used identity theft and partners outside the prison to defraud taxpayers. Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert joined me on Newt’s World to discuss the fraud. The story is unbelievable. When we spoke in February 2021, the estimate was

Musk half right about fertility crisis

China is projected to go from 1.4 billion people to under 670 million by the end of the century.

THE WORLD’S RICHEST MAN isn’t just juggling multiple companies. He’s juggling multiple baby mamas.

The Wall Street Journal recently had a long piece on Elon Musk’s complicated personal life. He has at least 14 children with four different women. The “harem drama” — in the words of Musk’s exgirlfriend Ashley St. Clair — is a mess. There are fights about custody and questions about paternity. There are details about Musk using a message on X to unsuccessfully recruit a woman to have his child. Reportedly, Musk has a compound where he wants his children and their mothers to live. There are enough emotions and chaos here to make a soap opera blush.

But the reason Musk has fathered so many children isn’t mere sexual hedonism. Musk has four children with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink. Zilis previously said Musk offered to donate sperm that she could use to have children. Musk also donated sperm to a “high-profile woman” at the request of Japanese officials, the Journal reported.

“I think for most countries, they should view the birthrate as the single biggest problem they need to solve,” Musk said last year at an investment conference. “If you don’t make new humans, there’s no humanity, and all the policies in the world don’t matter.”

The interviewer then jokingly referenced Musk’s many offspring.

“You’ve got to walk the talk,” Musk replied. “So, I do have a lot of kids, and I encourage others to have lots of kids.”

Musk is right about the need for more babies. Last year, the CDC announced that America’s fertility rate had dropped to “another historic low.” For a generation to replace itself, there needs to be 2,100 births per 1,000 women, as measured over their lifetimes. In 2023, the total fertility rate was under 1,620 births per 1,000 women. For now, immigration drives U.S. population growth.

It’s worse in many places around the world. In South Korea, women have less than 0.7 children on average. Its population is projected to drop from more than 51 million now to under 22 million by 2100. China is projected to go from 1.4 billion people to under 670 million by the end of the century.

This drop in population will usher in a host of problems, including an epidemic of loneliness and reduced economic growth.

But Musk’s approach to fixing this problem is wrong, immoral and ultimately counterproductive.

Children aren’t robots to build in a factory. They are human beings whose future depends greatly on the people around them. Statistically, the best thing

only $11.5 billion had been stolen. It has since doubled and no one really knows the upper limit. This astonishing incompetence drives up taxes on businesses to replenish the unemployment funds that have been drained by crooks. It’s a vicious cycle.

One final example of California not working is the proposed high-speed train from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was originally proposed in 2008 for $33 billion. It was supposed to be completed by 2020. Now, a small portion has been built between small towns. The projected cost has ballooned to $128 billion — and at the current rate it will not be completed in this century. It will never reach San Francisco or Los Angeles but instead stop at small towns about 25 miles outside the cities.

While California has been squandering money on costly failures, the Japanese have had more than 60 years-experience with high-speed trains. Communist China has built more than 29,000 miles of high-speed rail.

California simply doesn’t work anymore.

Since California is our largest state, this collapse of competence and common sense is a national problem. The state represents 14 percent of the national economy.

We need a serious commitment to get back to a commonsense, problem-solving California that works again. It should be a national priority.

Newt Gingrich was Republican speaker of the U.S. House.

for children is to be raised by their married biological parents. That’s why intentionally creating fatherless babies is a grave mistake. Moms and dads approach parenting differently. That doesn’t make one sex better at parenting than the other. It allows them to complement each other.

Moms and dads play with and talk to their kids in different but important ways. A child needs both the comfort of a mother’s love and the confidence that comes from a father pushing him or her to take safe risks.

Marriage brings stability that children need. Growing up with a single parent significantly increases a child’s likelihood of growing up in poverty and going to jail. It decreases their chances of graduating from college.

Married women are more likely to have children too. In 2022, the fertility rate among married women was 84.2 births per 1,000 women. Among unmarried women, it was 37.2 per thousand. Obviously, there will be outliers when you’re talking about hundreds of millions of people, but the trends are obvious.

If Musk wants to boost birth rates and improve outcomes for children, he should promote marriage, not sperm donations.

Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

ECU Health Duplin Hospital celebrates five-star patient experience rating

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — ECU

Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville recently received a prestigious five-star Patient Experience rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a milestone the hospital staff and leadership celebrated on Monday, April 28.

Jeff Dial, president of ECU Health Duplin Hospital, told Duplin Journal that he was elated about this milestone. He was excited for his team, as patients took the time to recognize the hard work put in by team members, physicians, providers, nurses, and others. Dial emphasized that this recognition reflects the team’s dedication to providing compassionate, individualized care.

“I think it says a lot about the level of care that our patients recognize that they receive

in our community,” said Dial.

This achievement marks the hospital’s first time receiving the prestigious patient experience recognition. Dial noted, “To my understanding, we are the only community hospital our size, east of I-95 in North Carolina, that has received that achievement.”

The five-star rating signifies the lasting impact of the staff’s dedication to the community, and it was the result of strategic efforts. For the hospital it symbolizes a milestone and a standard to uphold. Dial shared that their senior leaders established multiple fivestar committees about a year or two ago.

“One of those that comes to mind is the first impressions committee,” said Dial, explaining that the committee examined specific elements of the patient experience, assessing initial impressions of the hos-

“It says a lot about the level of care that our patients recognize that they receive in our community.”

Jeff Dial, president of ECU Health Duplin Hospital

pital in areas ranging from the physical environment to food, parking, and even landscaping. Dial emphasized that the goal was not just to achieve the fivestar rating but to sustain it over time.

Dial attributes the recognition to a culture rooted in personalized care and community connection. He shared a story about Dr. John Kornegay, the medical director of the hospitalist program and Duplin County EMS medical director, highlighting the compassionate care patients experience.

According to Dial, a couple of years ago, while off duty from the hospital, Dr. Kornegay overheard a call about a pregnant woman being picked up by EMS. He located the ambulance and was able to

help the woman who went into labor.

“I think there were twins,” said Dial. “But the fact that he was willing, while he was off shift, to locate that call for care and then stay on, I think, is a testament to the loyalty, to the care, to the personal touch.”

Dial noted that compassionate acts and personal dedication are common among all team members, from nurses to support staff.

“We don’t look at our patients as statistics or bodies in beds,” said Dial. “They are our next-door neighbors. They are family members that are in beds that are treated here … and that’s part of the culture. I routinely hear those stories, not just about our physicians, about all of our team members.”

Duplin County VAD votes to keep current chair, vice-chair

The meeting involved the review of various forms in addition to the extension of the current chair and vice-chair into 2026

By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Representatives from Duplin County’s Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD) moved to extend the term of their current chair and vice-chair at their quarterly board meeting in Kenansville last Tuesday, foregoing an election to retain the leadership Amanda Hatcher and Cynthia Blackmore in their respective roles as chair and vice-chair until June of 2026. The meeting also included the review of updated Notice of Withdrawal/Revocation forms, and an update on the county’s revised VAD application.

Hatcher provided answers Tuesday night to various questions posed by board members at January’s meeting regarding the recording process, the addition of land to an existing VAD, ownership transfer and more. She explained that she consulted with attorney Andrew Branan, who is affiliated with North Carolina State University and possesses significant legal expertise in VAD and farm law and received valuable insights in response.

“I ran all these questions by him, and he really gave me a lot of information,” she explained.

Hatcher provided those in attendance with a printed Question and Answers sheet for their review.

“I know ya’ll asked about how Sampson County handles enrollment when the land that’s in a VAD no longer qualifies to be enrolled in VAD, so I called Eileen about that,” added Hatcher, explaining that Ei-

leen Coite was in charge of Voluntary Agricultural Districts in Sampson County. “She said it really depends on how they happen to find out. Right now, if a landowner comes to them and says, ‘Hey, I need to pull it out of the VAD’, that’s how they handle it. She said they would be looking at changing that in the future.”

The board was supplied with copies of the updated VAD application and conservation agreement, featuring changes based on member feedback from January’s meeting.

“Organization’s very good, more concise, less busy. I like it,” said J.W. Kilpatrick with

the Duplin County Agribusiness Council upon his review. With no changes suggested by the board, the updated documents will go to the county attorney for approval.

A form providing notice of withdrawal or revocation of property from VAD may also see an update in the future, with board members expressing concerns about wording in certain areas of the document and whether multiple owners can be listed on the withdrawal sheet. After discussion, the board decided the forms required further review of Duplin County Register of Deeds Anita Savage.

Hatcher and Blackmore have served as the chair and vicechair of the Duplin County VAD Board since the positions were created in July of last year. Though Hatcher attempted to open the floor for nominations for chair, the board voted unanimously to instead extend the terms of their current chair and vice-chair by another year through June 2026.

In other business, members can now purchase an optional sign for $39 that designates their property as belonging to the VAD, with a brief summary of what that entails. The board meets next on July 22 at 7 p.m.

Beulaville Area Chamber recognizes TCEMC as Business of the Month

Beulaville

Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation (TCEMC) has been selected by the Beulaville Area Chamber of Commerce as Business of the Month, according to a post to the organization’s Facebook page. The company supplies approximately 24,000 customers across Duplin, Lenoir, Johnston, Jones, Sampson and Wayne counties with electricity. “This achievement highlights the hard work of our dedicated employees, our committed to the communities we serve, and our ongoing mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable electric service to our memebers,” read the post. “We are proud to power our communities and even prouder to be a part of them.”

New hours of operation effective May 3 for Duplin County Animal Services

Kenansville Duplin County Animal Services will be operating under new hours as of May 3. Though the shelter will be closed Sunday and Monday, it will remain open from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Animal interactions will end 30 minutes prior to close. Adoptions at the shelter are walk-in only, with no appointment required. Contact the shelter for more information at 910296-2159 or dcanimals@ duplincountync.com

N.C. Department of Commerce releases March employment figures

Raleigh The North Carolina Department of Commerce has released employment figures for March, indicating a gradual increase in unemployment rates compared to 2024’s state and county figures. Non-seasonally adjusted data shows Duplin County’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.1 to 3.3% over the last year, mirroring the 0.1 % increase on the state level to 3.7%. Seasonally-adjusted data shows the number of employed North Carolinians has decreased by 574 over the last month to 5,098,097 while increasing by 1,627 over the year. While the number of unemployed persons declined by 350 over the month to 195,233, the total number of unemployed persons in the state increased by 8,235 over the year.

K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

The Duplin County Voluntary Agricultural Districts Board discusses proposed changes to their application form at April’s meeting. Pictured from left to right: Jeb Smith, Wanda Hargrove, Amanda Hatcher, Cole Smith, Cynthia Blackmore, James Sauls III and J.W. Kilpatrick.

Duplin Journal for Thursday, May 1, 2025

NC Pickle Festival returns

Large crowds flocked to Mount Olive last weekend for the 2025 NC Pickle Festival. The event was filled with fun, featuring live music and captivating performances that entertained everyone. Participants reveled in the thrilling pickle-eating contest, joined Ollie Q. Cumber during the costume contest, and enjoyed tons of activities and hundreds of vendors pickled throughout the streets, showcasing all things pickles.

Top, thousands gathered in downtown Mount Olive for the NC Pickle Festival.

This two-day event featured live music and entertainment with various performances throughout the day. Bottom, celebrity chef Vivian Howard was among the pickle-eating contestants at the festival on Saturday.

PHOTOS BY ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Sheila Beck (left) and celebrity chef Vivian Howard (right), a native of Duplin County, share a laugh while preparing for the pickle-eating contest last Saturday in Mount Olive.

Cheerful crowds flocked to the streets of downtown Mount Olive to enjoy the festivities at the NC Pickle Festival last Saturday.

Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton (right) poses for a photo next to Haley Yu who was crowned as the pickle- eating champion last weekend at the NC Pickle Festival. Participants in the contest had five minutes to eat as many pickles as possible.

DUPLIN SPORTS

Armwood takes Rebels under his wings after massive player losses

MR. BASKETBALL

2025: Donavan Armwood, ND

2024: Dujuan Armwood, ND

COACH

OF THE

YEAR Byrd wins in consecutive seasons for second time

Jeff Byrd repaired the Rebels after an 0-7 start to win his second straight Coach of the Year award, which he also won in consecutive seasons while coaching at James Kenan

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — Eight years ago, Jeff Byrd led James Kean to the third round of the 1A playoffs and was named the Coach of the Year in Duplin County for the second consecutive season. He left the Tigers the following season and was a North Duplin assistant coach for the next four years. Four years into his latest gig, Byrd has a coaches’ double-double after being named the top coach in Duplin for the second consecutive season. Byrd, who played on a 1A title team at North Duplin in 1988 and coached at Hobbton for many years, may have had to work the hardest for this coaching repeat, though he prepped for the experience by coaching a team to 13 consecutive wins last season. That produced the school’s first Carolina

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

CALYPSO — For as long as he can remember, Donavan Armwood has lived in the shadow of the fame created by his older brother.

And if he ease-dropped the North Duplin senior would hear, “Donavan’s pretty good, but Dujuan is better.”

Little brother made a revenge statement by doing at least what his older sibling did in turning the Rebels around after a 0-7 start.

His consistent on-court play and leadership were second to none in

Duplin County, and if Mr. Basketball wasn’t the best player he was absolutely the best leader.

Bye-bye sibling shadow

So, this is what Armwood had to follow.

Brother Dujuan, a 2024 Rebel graduate, led the football team to a 9-3 mark by running for 1,785 yards and 27 TDs as the Journal’s Offensive Player of the Year and then averaged 16 points in basketball season to win

2023: Jalen James, WRH

2022: Jalen James, WRH

2021: Kavel Donaldson, JK

2020: None

2019: Darryl McCaster Jr. JK and Chase Ingram, ED

2018: Darryl McCaster Jr., JK

2017: Darryl McCaster, Jr, JK

2016: Johnnie Glaspie, WRH

2015: John Brooks, JK

Devon Sloan’s emphasis on being an all-around player pushed him to the first-team list with WRH teammate Matthew Wells

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WALLACE — Some players seem to be gifted basketball players and can rely on their shooting, speed or ability to run, jump and dribble. The rest of the court is filled with nesting wanna-bees, most of which are unwilling to do the little things in the game. Not Devon Sloan or Ryan Jenkins.

Neither possess superior hoop skills, but both have high basketball IQs. Sloan, a Wallace-Rose Hill junior, worked hard enough to catch the attention of his coach and is a first-team member of the Duplin Journal’s All-Duplin boys’ basketball team. Jenkins, an East Duplin senior, narrowly missed the cut, after progressing by leaps and

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Donavan Armwood averaged a Duplin County-high 17.4 points, with 4.9 rebounds and

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Jeff Byrd played on North Duplin’s 1A title team in 1998 and has coached many years at Hobbton and for two at James Kenan.

Donavan Armwood follows his brother Dujuan as the top player in Duplin County after leading a depleted ND team into the playoffs following a winless December

Matthew Wells Calvin Harper

Tyquise Wilson

Devon Sloan

Rebels, Wildcats seek softball crowns during rivalry week

North Duplin and Richlands look to take care of business, while the Tigers and Bulldogs have rivalry games in three sports

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

WALLACE — When the Easter break ended it summoned season-ending rivalry games and conferences matchup that affect the postseason in baseball, softball and girls’ soccer.

Here’s a peek at the agenda for the final two weeks of the regular season.

The playoffs begin May 6 for baseball and softball and May 12 for soccer.

SOFTBALL

Rebels seek revenge, CC’s top seed on softball diamond

Revenge and the chance at the top seed in the 1A playoffs are top motives for the North Duplin softball team, which will play Rosewood on Thursday at Hobbton High for the CC Tournament title.

That’s assuming the Rebels (10-3, 7-1) roll the host school on Tuesday, which they have twice this season by a combined total of 32-2.

ND lost 6-3 to Rosewood two weeks ago to set up the showdown after beating the Eagles 6-4 on March 27 in Calypso.

North Duplin has four players with off-the-charts hitting numbers.

The two biggest bashers are Addy Higginbotham (.632, seven doubles, six triples, home run, 11 RBIs, three walks, eight times hit by a pitch and 24 total hits) and Lilly Fulghum (.679, six doubles, two triples, six homers, 13 RBIs, nine walks and 19 total hits).

Both have scored 24 runs.

The next wave features Ady Spence (.415, four doubles, HR, nine RBIs) and Marissa Bernal (.424, nine walks, eight times HBP).

But a hurler can’t let up with Abby Brown (.357) and Gabby Zamudio (.357), who have combined for 21 hits for a Rebel team that is hitting .409.

A win against Rosewood guarantees at least two home games in the state playoffs. The victory should be enough to move ahead of the Eagles on the state’s RPI system of seeding teams.

Rosewood began the week at No. 8 in the 1A East, while ND was 10th.

ND lost to 4A Topsail 5-2 during the break.

Higginbotham tripled and scored. Fulghum had a double and Zamudio, M’chelle Jaco and Kaydanyce Locklear each ripped a hit.

It was the Rebels’ second loss in three games.

The tournament was played at Hobbton High School, which has arguably the worst diamond in the conference.

Wildcat seeks outright Coastal title

By the time this is in print, Richlands will either be the champion or co-champion of the Coastal 3A Conference.

The Wildcat (16-4, 8-0) beat West Carteret (16-3, 7-1) in a 4-2 thriller that ended in 10 innings, on April 3 in Richlands. The Pats host the Tuesday game.

Richlands’ regular season finale is two days later in Swansboro.

The showdown is on because the Wildcats survived Dixon 2-1 in 10 innings last Thursday.

Jalilah Wilson homered and singled and drove in a run and LeNayah Jackson double in a Camaron Cubas.

Richlands had other scoring opportunities but left 12 runners stranded on the bases. Dixon abandoned seven against Makenzie Goin, who scattered three hits, whiffed 15 and didn’t allow a walk.

Addison Woods knocked in Kailei Dawsey in the seventh to force extra innings.

Panthers gain momentum for final stretch

East Duplin swept its way past Dixon and Rosewood during the holiday at its oneday, four-team tournament.

The Panthers (11-7, 8-3) will finish behind North Lenoir (122, 8-1) and South Lenoir (10-6, 8-1) in the ECC and play Southwest Onslow (7-13, 3-8) and East Bladen (7-17) this week.

During the two wins, RBIs were passed around like dugout gum.

Morgan Brown, Kinsey Cave, Sophia Jones and Karsyn Parker each drove in a run in both games.

Jones, a freshman, gave up eight hits but beat White Oak 11-2, as ED scored four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Brown laced a pair of hits and Jones drove in two run.

Bulldogs-Tigers renew rivalry

Wallace-Rose Hill and James Kenan clash on Thursday in a game that means little to anyone outside the Duplin sports neighborhood.

The Bulldogs (7-10, 4-6) and Tigers (5-9, 4-6) play for pride and possibly a spot in the 2A playoffs as both are near the 32team RPI cutoff for schools in the East.

The ’Dawgs best weapons are Jansley Page(.442, three doubles, two triples, 11 RBIs, 18 runs), Sophia Sloan (.349, four doubles, HR, 12 RBIs) and Payton Tyndall (.349, double, two triples, 12 RBIs, 84 strikeouts in 82 innings in the circle) and Chloe Straughn (.367, three doubles).

The Tigers counter with Jourdan Joe (.526), Kenadi Gideons (.426) and Shylah Sloan (. 455).

WRH has won three of its last four. JK has lost five of its last six.

The Bulldogs have beaten the Tigers seven times in a row and lead the series 21-4.

BASEBALL

Kern notches 100th, seeks to shut down SWO

Panthers have outside chance at second place in the ECC, but needed to beat SWO last Tuesday and also have South Lenoir beat rival North Lenoir to finish ahead of the Hawks, who they swept during the regular season.

No bones about it, East Duplin wants to payback the Stallions after a 3-2, 12-inning loss in Jacksonville on March 28.

And ace Kyle Kern will be on the hill.

Kern got his 100th strikeout in a 5-2 win over Rosewood during the Kinston Easter Classic at Grainger Stadium.

The senior has 110 whiffs after counting out 13 Eagles. He’s 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA. It was the seventh time he struck out 10 or more in a game. Cain Graham and Austin Rouse drove in runs, and Calvin Harper had a pair of singles.

Gavin Holmes pitched a hitless seventh in relief.

East Duplin beat Southern Wayne and fell to C.B. Aycock in its other two tourney affairs. The Panthers (11-7, 8-3) have won five of six entering this week’s action.

Tigers-Bulldogs 2:

It’s always big

Expect a battle anytime Wallace-Rose Hill and James Kenan meet.

This Thursday in Warsaw, the Tigers will be looking to shock the Bulldogs, who have a 21-7 series lead since 2009, who have won the past three games after JK had a rare sweep of four games in 2022 and 2023.

WRH (6-13, 3-7) stopped JK (4-9, 2-8) on March 13 when Kaiden Lui fired a one-hit, 11-strikout 7-0 shutout.

The Tigers have gone 2-6 since then, even with the bats of Eli Avent (15 hits and a .500 mark), Cal Avent (.393) and Paxton Smith (.379).

WRH (5-15, 3-7) is 4-8 during the same stretch behind the heat and hitting of Lui (423, six doubles, three triples, HR, 15 RBIs) and swings of freshman second baseman Reese Buckner (.333) and Caden Gavin (.317), who each drove in nine runs.

Yet the biggest surprise is se-

nior Khalil Mathis’ rise to .372. Tonight (Thursday) no statistics will matter as JK alum and coach Lee Sutton and WRH grad and coach Logan Kissner play for all what feels like all the marbles.

Rebels look toward rematch with Eagles

North Duplin (9-9) lost to 2A schools South Lenoir, North Lenoir and Midway at the Kinston Easter Classic and were to play Hobbton for the third time in the Carolina 1A Conference Tournament, which started on Monday.

A win will likely pit the Rebels against regular season champ Rosewood. The two schools split two close games earlier in the campaign. ND won 3-2 on April 15 in Goldsboro. Rosewood (15-3) won 2-1 on March 27 in Calypso.

The finals are today (Thursday) at Hobbton High School.

SOCCER

Panthers seek share of title vs. Stallions

It might take a monumental effort, but East Duplin can beat Southwest Onslow on Monday and earn a share of the ECC title.

The Panthers (10-7-2, 7-1) have won five straight by outscoring the opposition 20 - 0. ED has eight shutouts this spring.

SWO (12-3-3, 9-0), though, have surrenders a mere 16 goals and have scored 43, including 18 by Oriyana Galloway and 16 from Payton Berg.

ED lost the first encounter 4-0 and will have more healthy players than when the two schools collided on March 28 in Jacksonville.

Anamarie Rodrigues nearly single-handedly beat the Stallions twice last season. She had 12 goals. Running partner Katelyn Jones has nine and Miranda Roblero seven.

Buckle up, Bulldogs invading Tigers pitch

Wallace-Rose Hill (7-7, 3-5) will go for a sweep of its biggest rival today (Thursday) when it travels to Warsaw to knock heads with James Kenan (7-5, 4-4).

The first match was a physical encounter with the Tigers pulling out a 1-0 verdict via a goal by leading scorer Katherine Enamorado, who has 27 goals this spring.

The Bulldogs have won three of their last four matches but are 11-4-3 against their rival since 2012.

Rebels get third shot at Leopards

No. 3 North Duplin (8-5, 7-3) lost two matches to Hobbton by 4-1 and 5-1 counts this season, but were to face the No. 2 Wildcats (9-7-1, 7-2) in the first round of the Carolina Conference 1A Tournament in Hobbton.

Even a loss wouldn’t prevent the Rebels from making the state tournament field, a rare feat for girls’ soccer in Calypso. No. 1 Neuse Charter (11-4-1, 8-2) meets No. 4 Union (5-8, 5-5) in the other semifinal match. The winners play today (Thursday).

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@duplinjournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

East Duplin’s Calvin Harper ran to the left field line in an attempt to catch a ball hit during a game at the Kinston Easter Classic at Grainger Field.

Left, ED’s Kinsey Cave, left, and Morgan Brown are in the stretch run of the season, with the playoffs starting on May 6. Right, ED’s Kayleigh Chase, left, and WRH’s Bri Maradiaga spar for possession of the ball.

Conference championship in 22 years. This winter he had to totally rebuild the Rebels and fended off a 0-7 start.

ND was a different team two days after New Years following a 90-69 loss to Princeton, its fourth setback to a 2A school and losses to Lejeune (17-7) and Wayne Country Day (28-8).

The Rebels won three of their next four games, which included a 61-60 triumph over the Bulldogs in Princeton.

The ball was only starting to roll in favor of the Rebels.

A loss to CC champ Lakewood (22-2) didn’t deter the progress. ND won eight of its next nine games before falling a third time to the Leopards and 6-foot-8 freshman phenom Xavier Hall, who averaged 16.4 points, 13.5 boards and 6.5 blocks.

ND would not win a league title, but its lone loop losses were to Lakewood.

Now for the real backstory to the Rebels’ season, which starts at the end of the 2024 season.

The Rebel had gone 17-10 and advanced to the third round of the playoffs, and though graduation took Mr. Basketball Dujuan Armwood, Dylan Tyndall and Brady Byrd, a solid foundation was slated to return.

But juniors Micah Lesesane (11 points, 6.2 rebounds) and Tev Collins (5.6 points) transferred, and Division 1 football signee Trashawn Ruffin (6.3 points, 5.3 rebounds) decided to skid basket-

Mr. Basketball honors in Duplin County.

While it would be going too far to say Donavan topped his brother’s accolades, he certainly kept of the family tradition.

No Duplin County player was as consistent as Armwood, who averaged a county-high 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists.

He was the Rebels’ second-leading tackle as a defensive back last fall for a North Duplin team that went 10-1 and captured a Carolina 1A Conference title.

Yet the school year hasn’t been easy for Armwood, whose mother died just before the playoffs last fall.

He missed the regular season finale win against Hobbton that was too close for comfort (34-31) as the Wildcats’ picked apart the Rebel secondary in the second half, and then a 35-8 thrashing of East Bladen in the first round of the postseason.

He returned and North Duplin suffered a third-round loss to bitter and longtime rival Lakewood. Armwood did it all on the basketball court for head coach Jeff Byrd, from leaping for the opening tip, to playing all five positions on the court.

The Rebels fed off his play.

Yet first it must be understood that the players around Armwood were not as experienced as those around his brother. What could have been vanished last year when Dujuan, Brady Byrd (4.3 points per game) and Dylan Tyndall (5.6) picked up diplomas and juniors Micah Lesesane (11 points, 6.3 boards) transferred and Division 1 football recruit Trashawn Ruffin (6.3, 5.3) decided not to play basketball.

Lesesane, Collins and Donavan played on played on one of Byrd’s two platoon squads that helped North Duplin win 13 straight to end the season.

ball to concentrate on football.

Byrd pieced his early lineups together a lineup early in the season that was far from his plans when the 2024 campaign ended.

He used Mr. Basketball Donavan Armwood (17.4 points) as the Rebels’ anchor, with forwards Branson Martin (9.1) and Luke Kelly (6.5), Lucas Dail (4.4) and Holden Williams (5.8) as key contributors, though he was not able to platoon troops onto the floor as he did the previous season.

Guard Duquan Stevens (6.5) got involved and Byrd brought up junior two junior varsity players — Noah Bennett (5.0 in nine games) and Noah Price (1.2) — and the freshmen made positive strides, while mostly avoiding young-player mistakes.

The end result of a lot of “little efforts” forged North Duplin into a team that did more together. No one doubted that Armwood was the brightest star most nights, even as his teammates were both supporting him and finding ways to make an impact.

Top-coach talk: Lanier turns around Panthers’ fortunes

Byrd beat out East Duplin coach Blake Lanier for the award. The Panthers recovered from a 2-22 campaign in ’24 with an 11-11 overall mark. Even though East Duplin beat North Duplin 65-51, the Panthers went 3-9 in ECC play.

The same goes for JK (8-1`2, 4-9), who beat ND 81-67.

Kudos to Lanier, though, who an ED alum.

JK coach Taylor Jones (ND)

COACH OF THE YEAR

2025: Jeff Byrd, ND

2024: Jeff Byrd, ND

2023: Ervin Murray, WRH

2022: Ervin Murray, WRH, Taylor Jones, JK

2021: Ervin Murray, WRH

2020: Blake Lanier, ED

2019: Reggie Melvin, JK

2018: Reggie Melvin, JK

2017: Jeff Byrd, JK

2016: Jeff Byrd, JK

2015: Robert Ross, ED

and WRH coach Ervin Murray likewise both have Duplin diplomas and player profiles at their respective schools.

So does Southwest Onslow head coach Breon Hall, a former Panther who led the Stallions to their second straight ECC crown. SWO went 23-6 this winter and 24-2 the previous season.

Hall had somewhat average overall talent this past season, yet still pushed SWO past 2A powerhouse Kinston by using a team concept.

Meanwhile, Byrd won Duplin’s COY crown for a record fourth time. Murray seemed to have his fourth honor locked up before WRH (11-8, 7-6) lost five of six games the first two weeks of February. JK’s Reggie Melvin is the only other multiple winner.

The rebuilding-with-a-coreof- experience plan went down the drain.

ND’s only other scoring returnee was Branson Martin (9.1 points). He and Luke Kelly (6.5) were solid, allowing other players to gain confidence. Freshmen Noah Price and Noah Bennett came along late in the season, and juniors Holden Williams (5.8) and Duquan Stevens (6.5) found ways to contribute around the play of Armwood.

He set the tables and saved the season for the Rebels, who lost three times to Lakewood (22-2), which had a talented club, which included 6-foot-8 frosh Xavier Hall (16. 4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 6.5 blocks), who was a third-team all-state player as per MaxPreps.

Armwood’s biggest deficiency might be he does not move well to his left. Yet on most plays his speed and quickness were overcoming factors in his drive to the iron or his elevation on shots and rebounds.

North Duplin finished 11-12 overall and 9-3 against schools its size.

It’s hard to easy to imagine where the Rebels might have been with Lesesane, Collins and Ruffin and hard to imagine where the season would have gone without the fearless play of Armwood.

North Duplin ran to the beat made by his long-reaching arms, fast-breaking legs and inside moves.

Notes from the trophy case

A James Kenan player has won the award six times, including Darryl McCaster, who won it outright twice and shared it with East Duplin’s Chase Ingram in 2019. Ingram, an ECU grad, is an assistant coach for the Panthers.

WRH’s Jalen James has captured the honor twice.

Byrd won his second Coach of the Year title in a row. He claimed that honor in 2016 and 2017 as the coach of James Kenan.

No Mr. Basketball was awarded in 2021 because an argument could have been made for a handful of players with similar stats and strengths.

Visit richsheatandairnc.com or scan the

ATHLETE OF

Sawyer Marshburn

East Duplin, baseball

Sawyer Marshburn is a two-tool catcher.

The East Duplin junior has yet to make an error this season and has stroked seven hits and driven in five runs in his last five games to raise his batting average to .304.

He’s delivered 17 hits, eight walks and stuck out just five times in 66 plate appearances while driving in 11 runs.

The Panthers have won five of six and entered the week 12-7 overall and 8-3 in ECC play.

Marshburn made his way to the field as a freshman and last season hit .258.

He’s also handled ED’s hurlers — Kyle Kern, Cain Graham, JP Murphy and reliever Gavin Holmes — differently to fit their style of pitching.

EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL

Donavan Armwood averaged a Duplin County-high 17.4 points, with 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Bill Carone

bounds and 3-pointers the second-half the season.

“He’s always where he’s supposed to be and doing what he’s supposed to be doing,” said Bulldog coach Irvin Murray. “He gets the round for the basket someone else makes. He makes the pass to set up the play. He just does things a coach likes to see.”

Sloan, who averaged 5.7 points, was joined on the first team by teammate Matthew Wells, James Kenan’s Tyquise Wilson, East Duplin’s Calvin Harper, who was second in scoring among all players to Mr. Basketball Donavan Armwood, whose brother Dujuan wore the crown a year ago.

Bulldog Jamarae Lamb paced the second unit, which includes Jenkins, Branson Martin, T.J Oats and Marlo Harris.

The third team consists of Luke Kelly, Zack Ball, Dujuan Stevens, Darius Howard and Aaron Hall.

Three ’Dawgs -- Sloan, Wells and Lamb -- were the only juniors among the top-10.

Players were selected after conversations with area coaches.

FIRST TEAM

Donavan Armwood, ND, Sr. G/F

(See Mr. Basketball story)

Matthew Wells, WRH, Jr., SF

“Anytime I remember Wallace making a run No. 15 made a shot or two.”

That’s what James Kenan coach Taylor Jones said about Wells, whose Bulldogs beat the Tigers three times.

The most-heavily mark player by the opposition was Wells, who averaged 11.6 points as the best catch-and-shoot craftsman in the county.

Wells worked well in the halfcourt set and in transition and can pass and dribble and defend. While fundamentally sound, shooting the ball is his forte.

He was WRH’s starting quarterback in the fall and is an athlete who battles each play until the final whistle.

Wells moved up from his spot on the third team in 2024.

Calvin Harper, ED, Sr. SG

Calvin Harper canned 50 3-pointers en route to averaging 16.8 points as a first-team repeat performer.

The senior scored 754 points in two years, while averaging 75 percent from the free-throw line and zipping in 116 bombs.

Harper did a lot of damage to a lot of teams as a 5-foot-6, 145-pound gunner.

He scored 18 or more points 11 times.

The Panther carved out North Lenoir for a season-high 29 on Jan. 9 and knocked down 21 vs.

Wallace-Rose Hill in the Panthers’ best win of the campaign.

Devon Sloan, WRH, Jr. F

It was never about points when evaluating the play of Sloan, who averaged 5.7 points.

It was about how he executed each play. And that summation came from head coach Irvin Murray.

Sloan teamed up with Wells and Lamb to guide WRH to an area-best mark of 11-8, which included a 4-1 mark against ED and JK, ECC 2A rivals until the fall when WRH and JK move to an all-3A league, while ED stays in the ECC, which is a 4A loop this fall after the NCHSAA’s four-year realignment program of classes and conferences based on a schools population.

Look for Sloan to be a mover and shaker on two fields of play during his senior year.

Tyquise Wilson, JK, Sr., PG

Tyquise Wilson season started slowly because he was a key player on the football team that advanced to the fourth round of the 2A playoffs, playing as a DB, WR and kick-return specialist.

He also missed a game because he was playing in an all-

SIDELINE REPORT

star football game featuring players across the nation.

In the second half of the season, Wilson showed his talent by averaging 13 points, four assists, 4.2 rebounds, and three steals as a lightning quick point guard. Wilson is playing Division 2 football this fall at Johnson C. Smith University. He was an all-Duplin first team wide receiver.

Wells was a second-team selection in 2024.

SECOND TEAM

Jamarae Lamb, WRH, Jr., G

Any time Jamarae Lamb has success, WRH follows. The junior averaged 8.4 points following a gridiron season in which he led the Bulldogs in rushing. He will play football in college and if the past is any indication, this was his final prep hoop campaign. That was the routine for RBs Kanye Roberts (Appalachian State), Irving Brown (Ohio University) and Javonte Williams (UNC).

Ryan Jenkins, ED, Sr., PG

No player had more “want-to” than Jenkins, whose love for the game can be seen in his game.

The point guard averaged

7.1 points and 3.3 assists, while having sharp ball skills. He is the most improved player in Duplin and became that by constantly showing improvement game to game.

He’ll never win a shooting contest, but Jenkins was steady and a team player.

Branson Martin, ND, Sr., F

Martin averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds as the second scoring source for North Duplin. He made 43 tackles as a LB in the fall for the school’s 10-1 football team.

T.J Oats, JK Sr., G/F

Oats lite up like a Christmas tree in the first half of the season, only to cool like the weather. In fact, he might was on pace to capture Mr. Basketball.

But his shooting and play in the second half of the season didn’t keep pace with his pre-Christmas fireworks.

Oats averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 boards, after being a firstteam selection as a junior.

Marlo Harris, WRH, Sr. G

Harris averaged 6.1 points playing in coach Murray’s rotational lineups, showing prow-

Coach of the Year

Jeff Byrd, North Duplin

Mr. Basketball

Donavan Armwood, ND, Sr.

First Team

Calvin Harper, ED, Sr. Matthew Wells, WRH, Jr. Tyquise Wilson, JK, Sr. Devon Sloan, WRH, Jr.

Second Team

Jamarae Lamb, WRH, Jr. Ryan Jenkins, ED, Sr. Branson Martin, ND, Sr. Darius Howard, JK Sr. T.J Oats, JK, Sr.

Marlo Harris, WRH, Sr.

Third Team

Zack Ball, ED, Jr. Luke Kelly, ND, Sr. Zamarion Smith, JK, Jr. Darrius McCrimmons, WRH, Jr. Duquan Stevens, ND, Jr.

ess in ball handling, rebounding and passing. He was a steady experienced player on a young up-and-down team.

THIRD TEAM

Zack Ball, ED, Jr.

Averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 boards as a key player in ED’s nine-game improvement from the previous season.

Luke Kelly, ND, Sr.

Kelly didn’t make ill-advised plays or play beyond his skills. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, which followed a football season in which he was the QB for a 10-1 team that won a conference flag.

Zamarion Smith, JK, Jr.

Hustled and then hustled more to make up for a teammate. This was the creed of Smith, who averaged 10.1 points and never stopped moving on the floor.

Darrius McCrimmon, WRH, Jr.

McCrimmon introduced himself to the sport by averaging 6.3 points. Look for big things in two sports from the junior, who is also played well as a cornerback for the school’s grid team.

Duquan Stevens, ND, Jr. Stevens tapped into his potential this winter by averaging 6.5 points and 4.1 boards. It would be no stretch to see him double those figures next season.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY FILE#25E001058-300 The undersigned, WILMA L. COLE, having qualified on the 14TH DAY of

NASCAR Legge claims she’s receiving death threats after Xfinity crash at Rockingham

Rockingham

NASCAR driver Katherine Legge said she has been receiving “hate mail” and “death threats” after a crash last weekend at Rockingham. Legge was off the pace when she was hit by William Sawalich and collected Kasey Kahne. Legge said “the inappropriate social media comments I’ve received aren’t just disturbing, they are unacceptable.” The 44-year-old Legge has started four Indianapolis 500s and been a regular in several series around the world. But she is a relative novice when it comes to stock cars. She crashed in her Cup Series debut at Phoenix earlier this season.

NCAA SPORTS Judge delays $2.8B NCAA settlement to address roster limit concerns

San Francisco

The judge overseeing the sprawling $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit settlement involving the NCAA and the nation’s five largest conferences has delayed final approval of the plan until it is modified to address concerns about roster limits. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken signaled she is ready to approve the rest of the settlement but wants both sides to come up with a way to not harm current athletes who will lose their spots on teams. The settlement calls for scholarship limits to be replaced by roster limits. Some attorneys argued that Wilken’s order could throw college sports into chaos.

Ryan Jenkins

Sharon Tucker Davis

Feb. 5, 1960 – April 14, 2025

Sharon Tucker Davis, 65, passed away on April 14. She is survived by her son, Scott Tucker (Shulamite) of New Mexico; and her brother, Gregory Tucker (Shon) of Wilmington. All arrangements are private.

Vernon Glenn McCrimmon

April 12, 1962 – April 20, 2025

Vernon Glenn McCrimmon, 63, of Beulaville passed away April 20 at his residence. Funeral service was held Monday, April 28 at Hallsville Missionary Baptist Church in Beulaville. Interment followed the service at Hallsville Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Nelson Sasser Baker

Aug. 6, 1957 – April 28, 2025

Nelson Sasser Baker, 67, of Kenansville passed away Friday, April 25 in Georgia. Nelson was born August 6, 1957 in Duplin County to the late Earl Nelson Baker and Carolyn Sasser Baker.

Nelson was a very loving husband, daddy to his children and poppie to his grandchildren. Nelson was a trusted member of the Kenansville Fire Department. He served as a Town Commissioner for many years and served on the board of the State Employees Credit Union Board for 11 years. Nelson was an avid supporter of James Kenan Sports. Nelson touched most of the lives of the people in our area in one way or another.

A funeral service was held May 1 at Duplin Commons in Kenansville, with visitation prior to service. Burial followed in the Devotional Gardens.

Nelson leaves to cherish his memory his son, Brian Baker of Wilmington; daughter, Dana Baker and husband Brian Jones of South Carolina; brother Stanley Baker and wife Maria of Magnolia; grandchildren, Ella Grace, Easton, Lucas and Elsa Rose.

In addition to his parents, Nelson was preceded in death by wife, Pamela Sue Baker; and son, Kevin Allen Chambers.

Garland Hines Jr.

Feb. 20, 1968 – April 24, 2025

Garland Hines, Jr. age 57, of Rose Hill left this earthly life much too soon on Thursday, April 24.

He was born on February 20, 1968, in Pender County to Brenda Batts Hines of Wallace and the late Garland Hines Sr. Jr., as he was affectionately called, was the owner and operator of Johnny’s Body Shop in Wallace. During the many years working at Johnny’s Body Shop, Jr. acquired many customers that became his friends. He was a very dedicated hard worker who made a wonderful life for he and his wife. Jr. is survived, in addition to his mother, by his loving wife of 16 years, Beverly Lanier Hines of the home; his children, Christopher Shane Hines and wife Charlie Beth, Justin Hines, Hannah Hines Lanier and husband Ladarrius, and Kylee Raynor; grandchildren Delaney Raynor, Addison Hines, Charlotte Hines, Camden Hines, Walker Hines, Jayden Hines, Jaxon Lanier, Jordyn Lanier, Jakob Lanier, Jeslie Lanier and Jenley Lanier; sisters Donna Benton and husband Tony, Susan Savage and husband Jamie, Marcie Hines and Sheila Hines; his best friend and canine companion, Winnie; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved Jr. dearly.

Jr. was a devoted husband and caring daddy, granddaddy, son, brother, and uncle. He was a simple man who enjoyed the simplest things in life, but his greatest joy was family. Jr. adored his wife; she was his rock, and he was hers. He was a good daddy who provided for them and loved them. Jr. was a great fan of Donald Trump, he was not ashamed to let you know it. He enjoyed deer hunting, sitting by a fire listening to music, relaxing in “his building,” spending time with his wife at their 2nd home at the beach, dipping and drinking a beer and spending time with the family. Jr. considered his friends and coworkers a part of his family. Jr. was a very talented body man. He worked hard to please his customers and always did his best for his customers. With a big heart, Jr. would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it. He was a caring, and compassionate man to everyone, including strangers. Most of all, he loved his grandchildren. They were the apple of his eyes, and he enjoyed every minute he spent with them. Jr’s family, friends and community have a huge void in their hearts today. He will surely be missed and never forgotten. Funeral service was held on Monday, April 28 at Crossroads Church in Harrells, with Pastor Joseph Tew officiating. The family received friends one hour prior to the funeral service on Monday at the church. Graveside service followed at Harrell’s Cemetery.

Christopher Shawn Rouse

July 11, 1977 – April 22, 2025

Christopher Shawn Rouse, age 47, of Wallace passed from this earthly life to his eternal rest on Tuesday, April 22.

He was born in New Hanover County on July 11, 1977; the son of Janice Rouse Stump and the late Larry Stump of Goldsboro. Preceding Chris in death are his brother, Benjamin D. Stump, and grandmother, Ferdelia Rouse.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Taylor Murray and husband Aaron of Willard, Caden Rouse, Carter Rouse and Christa Rouse, all of Willard; aunt, Debbie Pierce and husband Jeff of Wallace; numerous extended family and friends who loved him dearly.

Chris battled multiple medical problems for the past few years. Before he became disabled, he delivered LP gas locally for many years. He also drove an oil truck collecting used motor oil from many businesses around the area and did courier work parttime. Chris was a hard worker and dedicated to his jobs. He enjoyed driving around on Saturday mornings checking out yard sales; he loved finding a good deal. He enjoyed his Sundrop, a hot cup of coffee, fishing and spending time with his family. Chris loved his family more than anything. He will surely be missed, but never forgotten.

Funeral service was held on Tuesday, April 29 at QuinnMcGowen Funeral Home, Wallace Chapel.

The family received friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial followed the service at James Cemetery in Cypress Creek.

Grace Swartzendruber Reeve

May 19, 1959 – April 23, 2025

Grave S. Reeve, 65, passed away on Wednesday, April 23 in ECU Duplin Heath, Kenansville. She is preceded in death by a daughter, Angela Burnett. Surviving are her son, Rodney Burnett, Ohio; daughter, Miranda Hunt (Bert), Ohio; and sisters, Ruth Peterson, Ohio and Joyce Myers, Ohio. All services are private.

Christopher Allen “Chris” Heath

Oct. 25, 1959 – April 21, 2025

Christopher Allen Heath, 65, passed away on Monday, April 21. He was a devoted father, proud grandfather, and beloved son. His greatest accomplishment was his children and grandchildren - who brought endless joy to his life. His legacy is one of dedication and deep love for his family.

Chris is survived by his children: Sara Heath Stroud and husband Ben of Warsaw; Jordan Heath and wife Brittany of Kenansville; Anna Heath Herring and husband Morgan of Mount Olive; and his “second son,” Ray Hardy. He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Paxton and Pierson Stroud; Millie Ruth, Max, and Thea Heath; and Owen Herring.

He is also survived by his mother, Ethel Dail Heath; his brother, Donnie Heath; and his sisters, Melissa Newcomb and Kim Sugg.

Chris was preceded in death by his father, James Donald Heath, and his brother, Gregory Heath.

A Celebration of Life to honor Chris was held on Friday, April 25 at Kenansville Baptist Church. The family will received friends one hour prior to service.

Allen Futreal

Dec. 15, 1933 – April 21, 2025

Allen Futreal, age 91, died Monday, April 21 at Dayspring of Wallace. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Futreal of Chinquapin. Funeral service was held Thursday, April 24 at Muddy Creek Primitive Baptist Church, with visitation an hour prior to service. Internment followed at Brown Cemetery in Fountaintown.

Carolyn Partridge Reedy

Oct. 22, 1946 – April 22, 2025

Carolyn Partridge Reedy, 79, passed away on Tuesday, April 22 in ECU Health Duplin Hospital, Kenansville. She is survived by her sons, Alex Givens (Cynthia) of Arizona, Gary Simpson of Chinquapin, John Paul Simpson (Tracy) of Grandy, and Delbert Simpson (Emily) of Utah; 12 grandchildren; and 11 greatgrandchildren. All services are private.

H. Ray Bishop

Jan. 20, 1940 – April 28, 2025

H. Ray Bishop, 85, passed away at his home Monday morning, April 28. Ray had been a life-long resident of the Scott’s Store community near Mount Olive. In his early years, he was a painter, but changed career paths and joined Scott and Jones, Inc. where he excelled as a welder, metal fabricator, and millwright. In his retirement years, he enjoyed making custom stainless steel grills.

He is survived by his two children and their spouses, Lori Ann Bishop Whitted and Ormond Whitted, Jr.., and Tony Ray Bishop and Robin Britt Bishop, all of the Mount Olive area; his dear lady companion, Jo Deal, also of Mount Ollive; a sister, Mary Rose Brock of Georgia; three grandsons, Graham Whitted and wife, Amber Lawrence Whitted, Cody Ray Whitted, and Anthony Ray Bishop; five great-grandsons, Avery, Taylor, Rowen, Luke , and Devon Whitted; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Ann Brogden Bishop; his parents, Herman and Julia Rhodes Bishop; and eight of his siblings, Chancey “Bud” Bishop, Doris B. Carrell, Athalene B. Jones, Hubert Bishop, Hillburn Bishop, Haylon Bishop, Ruth B. Houston, and Marie B. Andrews.

Friends and family gathered on Wednesday, April 30 at Maplewood Cemetery in Mount Olive to remember Ray’s life. Officiating was the Rev. Mark S. Hobbs; Phillip Waters shared special thoughts.

Carolina Strawberry Festival Garden Gala 2025

PHOTOS BY K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL

The picturesque Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina delighted guests at the Carolina Strawberry Festival’s Garden Gala on April 26.

Left, Wallace Town Administrator Rob Taylor chats with former mayor Charley Farrior at the 2025 Garden Gala last weekend. Right, Rob Taylor, Jackie Nicholson, Jason Davis, Tasha Herring, Andy Raynor, Jennifer Raynor, Jason Wells and Brent Dean, from left to right, pose for a photo in front of the Carolina Strawberry Festival backdrop.

Left, Garden Gala guests look at options for refreshments, including an open bar and catering provided by the Mad Boar. Top right, The Blackwater Band performs a cover of Van Morrison’s Brown-Eyed Girl at the 2025 Garden Gala last weekend. Bottom right, Attendees could seek solace from the heat in the air-conditioned tent where refreshments were served at the 2025 Garden Gala.

Duplin Journal Vol. 10, Issue 10

Duplin Journal

the BRIEF this

week

Thousands gather for annual NC Pickle Festival

Bob Johnson inducted into NC Poultry Science Hall of Fame

Magnolia man acquitted in murder trial

Get in touch

CALENDAR

SPONSORED BY

Happening Monthly

CAROLINA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

THE CONVERSATION

VISUAL VOICES

Musk half right about fertility crisis

ECU Health Duplin Hospital celebrates five-star patient experience rating

Duplin County VAD votes to keep current chair, vice-chair

NC Pickle Festival returns

DUPLIN SPORTS

Armwood takes Rebels under his wings after massive player losses

COACH

YEAR Byrd wins in consecutive seasons for second time

Rebels, Wildcats seek softball crowns during rivalry week

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

SOCCER

COACH OF THE YEAR

Sawyer Marshburn

East Duplin, baseball

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

Sharon Tucker Davis

Vernon Glenn McCrimmon

Nelson Sasser Baker

Garland Hines Jr.

Christopher Shawn Rouse

Grace Swartzendruber Reeve

Christopher Allen “Chris” Heath

Allen Futreal

Carolyn Partridge Reedy

H. Ray Bishop

Carolina Strawberry Festival Garden Gala 2025