Rose Hill man arrested in connection with domestic assault
Wallace Authorities arrested a man Sunday in connection with a violent domestic assault. Wallace Police responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment in Wallace where they found signs of forced entry. O cers spoke with a victim, who had visible injuries. According to law enforcement, the victim told police her ex-boyfriend, 28-year- old Jamar Daeshawn, broke into her apartment, physically attacked her and injured her 11-year- old child by throwing a stroller while children were present. Newkirk was later located nearby, resisted arrest and caused damage to police property, authorities alleged. He is currently held without bond at Duplin County Jail, facing multiple charges including assault by strangulation and breaking and entering.
Mt. Olive Pickle to hold grand opening for new Pickle Parlor on June 26
Mount Olive
Mt. Olive Pickle is opening a new store in downtown Mount Olive. The grand opening and ribboncutting event will be on June 26 at 11 a.m. The new store, located at 109 N. Center St., will replace the long-standing gift shop at the Mt. Olive Pickle Company headquarters. The new store shares the story of the nearly 100-year-old company through video, images and artifacts. A standout feature of the store will be the pickle bar for daily tastings, a soda fountain and Pickle Soda produced by R&R Brewing of Mount Olive.
Duplin County Veterans Stand Down set for July
Rose Hill
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) mobile unit will be onsite at the Charity Mission Center, located at 1333 W. Charity Road in Rose Hill, on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Duplin County Veterans Stand Down event. Free meals will be provided for veterans. The Stand Down event is an opportunity for veterans to learn about important changes that may a ect them. Veterans in Duplin County who need transportation to the event can call 919-738 -2006 by June 30.
$2.00
Revenge Roughstock delivers thrills in Kenansville showdown
A powerful bull takes center stage, captured mid-buck as it launches a rider into the air during a dramatic moment at the Revenge Roughstock Pro Rodeo last Friday. Dust ies beneath the bull’s hooves in the outdoor arena at the Duplin Events Center in Kenansville, where the two-day event thrilled crowds with high-adrenaline action and top-tier rodeo performances.
Personnel is the largest expenditure of the total budget consuming nearly 43%
By Curt Simpson For Duplin Journal
WALLACE — It was a packed agenda, but members of the Wallace Town Council made short work of it in an hourlong meet-
ing Thursday, with the highlight being the adoption of a budget for the 2025-26 scal year.
The new budget commits the town to spending just over $11 million in the coming year, which begins July 1. The total
represents an almost 3% increase from the previous year, according to Town Manager Rob Taylor.
Compiling the yearly budget is no quick and easy process, with the state laying out a schedule that towns need to follow. The rst work begins on the budget in December, with department heads laying out their plans and needs for the coming year in bud-
Warsaw Police chief steps down
“I think he was with the Warsaw Police Department for about 10 years-plus.”
get requests. In March, those requests are reviewed during workshops with the town council and department heads, and in May a proposed budget is presented to the council and public for review and comment. The nal part of that process is a public hearing, which was held on Thursday
By Ena Sellers and Curt Simpson Duplin Journal
WARSAW — There has been a change in leadership at the Warsaw Police Department, though town o cials have been largely silent about it.
Police Chief Patrick Giddeons recently resigned from his position, but the town has not made a formal announce-
ment regarding his departure.
Last week at the June town board meeting, Town Manager Lea Turner introduced Steven Faircloth as the new interim police chief. When asked about Giddeons, Turner told Duplin Journal, “He resigned.” Mayor A.J. Connors shared that he resigned about a month ago.
“Mr. Giddeons decided to resign and to seek other employment,” said Connors on Friday.
Turner did not respond to voicemails or emails asking for clari cation. While details surrounding Giddeons’ resignation remain unclear, the decision came about a month after he acknowledged ongoing criticism of the police department. He expressed that some of this criticism was unfair, emphasizing the dedication and hard work of his o cers despite unseen efforts and sta ng shortages.
Magnolia thriving with uni ed vision for future
“It takes all of us, and I appreciate everyone’s e orts.”
Dawn Ward, Magnolia mayor
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
ONCE SEEN as a small town struggling to nd its footing, Magnolia is now condently stepping into a new chapter of growth, unity and community pride. During last week’s board meeting, town leaders re ected on a transformative journey — from a place Police Chief Jerry Wood described as “ a child left behind” to one that is now evolving and thriving.
“We are achieving great things,” said Wood. “Y’all are responsible for that. Y’all have the vision and the insight. You
want to see Magnolia improve. Years ago, I didn’t feel like there was a spirit here among some of the folks that were in your positions, that really wanted to see that improvement, that progress in Magnolia. But now, I see it. … We’re driving forward.”
A renewed spirit of teamwork and collaboration has emerged among the board, town o cials and the community. The shift is attributed to strong leadership, collaboration and community engagement.
“While you do have some naysayers out there, you’ve got a whole lot more of your citizens that are behind you, people throughout the county. I hear comments all the time
“These people are working really hard for all of you. You may not see it, but I want you to have some faith,” Giddeons said to the town board at its April meeting. “There ain’t a long line of y’all waiting to do this job. … If you want to take up arms with my brothers and sisters and do this dangerous job, I welcome it.”
According to state records, Giddeons has been in law enforcement since 2001 and joined the Warsaw Police Department in 2014. He could not be reached for comment. Faircloth was appointed interim chief on June 1. Faircloth began his law enforcement career in 2007 and has been with the Warsaw Police Department since 2018.
The board bid farewell to NC Lead Fellow Marco Barrientos
New Interim Police Chief Steven Faircloth takes over after Giddeons’ departure
Duplin
Neal Robbins Publisher
Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers
Ena Sellers News Editor
Michael Jaenicke Sports Editor
Loretta Carey O ce Manager
CONTACT US
O ce Phone: 910 463-1240
To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042
CRIME LOG
June 9
• Jackie Sanders, 59, was arrested by Wallace PD for breaking into a motor vehicle with theft, felony larceny, possessing stolen goods, breaking into a motor vehicle, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
• Raven Sierra Frear, 28, was arrested by Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce for impeding tra c by sitting, standing, or lying.
June 10
• Christopher Lee Tharpe, 41, was arrested by DCSO for communicating threats, domestic criminal trespass, and assault on a female.
• Sherrill Scott Hargrove, 47, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor larceny.
June 11
• Erick Evelin Perez Deleon, 26, was arrested by NCHP for habitual impaired driving.
June 12
• Daniel Allan Porter, 36, was arrested by Warsaw PD for attempting to obtain property by false pretense, common law forgery, misdemeanor larceny, identity theft, and obtaining property by false pretense.
• Francisco Lizardi Vargas, 49, was arrested by Kenansville PD for misusing the 911 system, seconddegree trespass, and being intoxicated and disruptive.
June 13
• Missy L Navez, 47, was arrested by Warsaw PD for identity theft, obtaining property by false pretense, and forging a deed or will.
June 14
• Michael Brandon Bradshaw, 37, was arrested by DCSO for possessing a rearm as a felon, possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possessing a weapon of mass destruction, simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, possessing marijuana paraphernalia, possessing drug paraphernalia, and interfering with an electronic monitoring device.
June 15
• Jamar Daeshawn Newkirk, 27, was arrested by DCSO for breaking or entering to terrorize or injure, assault by strangulation, assault on a female, assault causing serious injury with a minor present, assault on a child under 12, injury to personal property, resisting a public o cer, felony possession of cocaine, possessing a controlled substance on prison or jail premises, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
THURSDAY
FRIDAY JUNE
SATURDAY JUNE
Police: Watch for fake bills
Warsaw Police warn of counterfeit bills making the rounds
By Curt Simpson For Duplin Journal
WARSAW — There is some funny money making its way around the area, but Warsaw authorities warn that you will not be laughing if you end up with some of it in your hands.
Warsaw Interim Police Chief Stephen Faircloth said this week that his department has had reports of an increase in counterfeit cash being received at area businesses. He’s warning everyone to be mindful when they are receiving payment, or even change, from anyone. The fake stu often looks much like the real thing. In fact, the lm and television industry uses bills like these to portray cash transactions in movies and TV shows.
“It is very convincing if you just glance at it,” Faircloth said. “It is made to look real.”
Though no charges have been led yet, Faircloth said police believe they know where it is coming from and that criminal charges could be coming. Passing o fake money as real is a felony, and a conviction could come with prison sentences of four to 47 months, depending on the severity of the crime.
Passing fake money as real is a felony and could lead to a conviction anywhere from four to 47 months in prison, depending on the severity of the crime.
“It is very convincing if you just glance at it.”
Stephen
Faircloth, Warsaw interim police chief
DUPLIN happening
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County:
June 20
Juneteenth
7 p.m.
Celebrate Juneteenth at the Duplin Events Center on June 20 at 7 p.m. Special guest 803 Fresh and line dancers will take the stage with their performance of the viral song “Boots on the Ground,” blending music, line dancing and fan popping. 195 Fairgrounds Drive Kenansville
Bow Ties & Tiaras
“At the point someone possesses, transports or passes it in an attempt to injure or defraud any person, nancial institution or governmental unit, it then becomes counterfeit,” he said. The feel of the money is often a little di erent from the real thing, and he said that upon proper inspection, it’s easy to see that the money is not real. Some bills even have the words “Motion Picture Purposes” written across the top or bottom of the bill, but in the same colors, designs and fonts as real money.
from page A1
about the great improvements in Magnolia and where we’re headed to,” Wood commented on the support from the community. He encouraged everyone to take pride in their contributions.
He also commended the teamwork of the board and town leaders. The sentiment was echoed by nearly every speaker.
The board recognized not only the achievements of town leaders but also highlighted outgoing Lead for North Carolina fellow Marco Barrientos, along with the police, legal and administrative sta for their roles in Magnolia’s progress. In addition to infrastructure and nancial matters, there was a notable cultural shift toward pride and empowerment within the town.
“In the six months that I’ve been here, this town and the people involved here and all the citizens that I’ve come about have all kind of had the same vision, and I think we’re all moving in the right direction,” remarked Town Manager Charles Banks.
Financial stability was another focal point. The Capital Management Trust currently holds over half a million dollars, ensuring that daily operations are adequately funded.
“We are holding our own, and we’re making some really good progress,” Banks noted, indicating that the budget process is nearing completion, allowing for a focus on new projects. Magnolia is e ectively managing its resources and is on a steady path of progress.
Mayor Dawn Ward expressed gratitude to Barrientos, highlighting his contribu-
“Pay extra attention if a customer seems to be rushing
tions during his tenure. This meeting was Barrientos’ nal o cial board meeting before his departure on June 26.
“He has been a huge asset,” said Ward. “The work that you have seen is just a small, small snippet of what he has done. … We were very blessed whenever we got him as our NC Lead fellow, and he has truly become part of our Magnolia family.”
The meeting also addressed the importance of community engagement. Plans for a Community Resource Day are underway, along with the establishment of a Community Engagement Committee aimed at increasing resident involvement and awareness of local resources.
The Magnolia Community Engagement Committee will hold its rst meeting June 19 at 6 p.m. at town hall. Residents interested in serving on the committee are encouraged to attend or contact Mayor Pro Tem Jeanine Cavanaugh.
Attendees were also reminded that the Community Resource Day is scheduled for June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Magnolia park. In closing, Ward emphasized the collective e ort required to maintain the day-to-day operations of the town, stating, “It takes all of us, and I appreciate everyone’s e orts.”
In other business
• A motion passed to o cially close the undeveloped portion of Dogwood Drive in Magnolia. The property will revert to adjoining landowners.
• The board unanimously approved a recommendation from Banks to select
through the transaction and take the time to closely look at any money exchanged,” Faircloth advised. He also suggested that all businesses use a counterfeit bill detector pen, which can be purchased for just a few dollars at any o ce supply store. Even customers could unknowingly receive one of the bills as change in a transaction, so everyone, not just cashiers, needs to be on the lookout. Unfortunately, if someone accepts one of these bills as payment or change, there is no way to get the money back.
McDavid & Associates as the lead engineering rm for several upcoming infrastructure projects based on quali cations and experience.
• A public hearing was scheduled for June 24 for the Land Use plan. A special meeting to vote on the plan will follow immediately after the hearing.
• The board held a public hearing to comply with North Carolina’s Chapter 160D updates. The updates were mostly technical and legal clari cations. No changes to zoning districts or land uses were implemented. The public had an opportunity to comment; no opposition was noted. A motion passed to approve the ordinance updates.
• Practical issues like overgrown grass near re hydrants and broken stop signs are being addressed to ensure public safety and improve the town’s appearance.
• Commissioner Eric Graham honored local gures who embody Magnolia’s spirit of generosity and service, reinforcing a sense of community pride.
• O cials encouraged residents to attend meetings, stay informed, and participate in upcoming public hearings on the budget and land use plan.
The meeting concluded with a reminder of collective responsibility and optimism about Magnolia’s future.
Daddy-Daughter Dance
6 to 9 p.m.
Dress to impress and make unforgettable memories at the Bow Ties & Tiaras Daddy-Daughter Dance on Saturday.
Wallace Woman’s Club 216 NE Railroad St. Wallace
June 21
Community Day
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The public is invited for a day of fun and connection on June 21 at the Thell B. Overman Football Field in Wallace. This Community Day celebration is a free, family-friendly event with Syara Kornegay serving as emcee and a special appearance by Javonte Williams of the Dallas Cowboys. The event will feature face painting, bouncy houses, balloon animals and more.
203 N. Teachey Road Wallace
June 21
Magnolia Community Day
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The town of Magnolia is inviting residents and neighbors to come together for a Community Day on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Magnolia Park. This event will feature community resource booths, food distribution, food trucks and plenty more to explore. For details, call 910-289-3205. 2830 S. U.S. 117 Highway, Magnolia.
Got a local event? Let us know and we’ll share it with the community here. Email our newsroom at community@duplinjournal.
SPONSORED BY
MAGNOLIA
COURTESY WARSAW POLICE DEPARTMENT
Community walk shines light on elder abuse
The event empowered seniors and caregivers promoting awareness and planning
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Duplin
County Senior Services held an elder abuse awareness event on June 11 to educate the community about issues a ecting older adults.
The day began at the Duplin County Senior and Veteran Services building with an Elder Abuse Walk. Sta and volunteers showed their support by wearing purple, the o cial color for elder abuse awareness. Participants walked around the Duplin Commons trails, which featured signs that highlighted important information about elder abuse.
Melisa Brown, Duplin County Senior Services director, told Duplin Journal that 20 people participated in the walk. “One of the 20 is 93 years young,” Brown noted.
Following the walk, seniors had the opportunity to hear from key speakers from Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging (ECC-AAA) and ECU Health, which presented an informative session on elder abuse. The speakers highlighted warning signs and prevention strategies. According to Brown, there
were 50 participants in the morning presentations.
“January Brown and Angelia Pridgen with ECC-AAA are great presenters, and the seniors enjoy the way they portray difcult topics with an easy application of how to avoid and endure whatever comes their way,” said Brown. She also praised Mary Lou In nito, community outreach coordinator with ECU Health, who discussed advance directives and the impor-
tance of advance care planning.
“She will be coming back at another time to provide the advance directives for seniors that have had time to review the packet and speak with their family members,” Brown told Duplin Journal.
Brown shared that the event served as a platform to bring attention to a critical issue while also sharing valuable information to empower both seniors and caregivers. It also emphasized the
importance of unity in the ght against elder abuse.
“The real-life examples provided by the presenters really provided the direct impact of the education to empower the community on how to recognize and report suspected abuse,” said Brown.
“The seniors were engaged in the conversations and shared how they have been targeted with phone scams, etc.”
In the afternoon, caregivers of family members with dementia,
“Seniors enjoy the way they portray di cult topics with an easy application of how to avoid and endure whatever comes their way.”
Melisa Brown, Duplin County Senior Services director
along with sta members who serve seniors at home, participated in Dementia Live empowerment sessions. These sessions aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals living with dementia. Brown reported that 11 participants attended the afternoon session.
“The Dementia Live empowerment allows all sta to have a great level of empathy to support and care for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia or memory impairment,” she explained, adding that for the caregivers in attendance, the sessions “helped them understand to some degree how the care recipient feels” and how they can be better able to assist or understand their behaviors.
“Knowledge is power, and it is our goal to love and support in the process,” said Brown.
PHOTOS COURTESY DUPLIN COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES
Participants in the Elder Abuse Walk raise their hands as they begin marching outside the Duplin County Senior and Veteran Services Center on June 11.
Left, Angelia Pridgen, Elouise McMahan, January Brown and Lauren Latshaw pose for a photo at the Duplin County Senior and Veteran Services Center on June 11. Center, a group of women walked along the trail outside the Duplin County Senior Services Center in Kenansville last week. Right, education met action at the Senior Services Center as seniors had the opportunity to engage in simulation sessions to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals living with dementia.
PHOTOS COURTESY DUPLIN COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES
Sta from Duplin County Senior Services and local seniors gather outside the center to raise awareness during the Elder Abuse Walk on June 11.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
Without a doubt?
No matter how long we live, we will never have all the answers. In fact, we may have even more questions.
MY MOTHER LIVED to her late 90s and had a deep faith in God. Once, she said, “When I was younger, I thought if I lived to be this old, I would have all the answers. But I have more questions now than ever.” Yet she continued to trust God’s promises. In the Oscar-nominated movie “Conclave,” Cardinal Thomas Lawrence manages the election of the pope. He struggles with doubts about his ability to do the task and matters of faith. In his homily to his fellow cardinals, Cardinal Lawrence says, “Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery — and therefore no need for faith.”
Some declare faith equals certainty and to think otherwise makes you unfaithful. However, certainty is not the same thing as assurance, such as Hebrews 11:1 describes, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” In both the Old and New Testaments, faith is trust in the living God rather than a certitude of doctrine or knowing the answers to all of life’s questions. God’s people are called to have faith — to trust — when life circumstances seem to give them no reason to do so.
Ann Lamott writes in her book “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith,” “The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be
COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI
there until some light returns.” In a similar way, in his book “Wishful Thinking,” writer Frederick Buechner portrays faith and doubt this way: “Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.”
Two gospel scenes deal honestly with faith and our human doubts. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, the risen Jesus gathers 11 disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Matthew is transparent enough to tell us, “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted (28:17).” Another story tells of a man whose son su ered from a malicious spirit. When he asked Jesus for help, Jesus said, “All things can be done for the one who believes.” The distraught father cried, “I believe; help my unbelief.”
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the rst step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” This is what the apostle Paul meant by, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly. ... Now I know only in part (1 Corinthians 13:12).” No matter how long we live, we will never have all the answers. In fact, we may have even more questions. That’s OK, for as one writer has put it, “Faith is not about achieving a state of absolute certainty, but rather committing to a relationship with God.”
Philip Gladden is a retired minister who lives in Wallace.
Greta Thunberg, useful idiot for Hamas
The day after Thunberg whined to reporters in Europe, at least eight aid workers were murdered by Hamas trying to bring food to the population.
PROFESSIONAL LEFTIST Greta
Thunberg was brought to Israel this week after the “sel e yacht” she was traveling on attempted to break through a naval blockade of Gaza. Her boat, the “Madleen,” was part of a otilla pretending to deliver aid to alleviate an imaginary famine.
The 22-year-old was given food and shelter, and sent home by the Israeli government, which she accused of “kidnapping” her. All the usual suspects went along with this predictable framing.
If Thunberg really wanted to better understand the concept of an abduction, she might have asked Hamas to visit the Israelis still being tortured in a dank basement somewhere in Rafah. But the “human rights activist,” which is how the legacy media unironically describes her, has never once called for the release of the hostages taken by Islamists. Indeed, the otilla e ort was reportedly organized by a “Hamas operative.”
“(The Israelis) tried to make us watch all kinds of propaganda videos,” Thunberg told reporters after landing in Paris, “but I didn’t watch. This is nothing compared to what is happening in Gaza, which is in desperate need of humanitarian aid.” Referring to GoPro videos made by Palestinians that document the gleeful slaughter of women, children and the elderly as “propaganda” is a bold accusation
coming from a cosplay revolutionary whose biggest problem was getting a vegetarian meal from her hosts.
As this was all going on, incidentally, Israel has been sending hundreds of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip. Hamas opposes this e ort, as it uses food and aid to control the Palestinian population. The day after Thunberg whined to reporters in Europe, at least eight aid workers were murdered by Hamas trying to bring food to the population.
The real question is: Why is she in the news at all?
Thunberg was named Time’s Person of the Year in 2019 after dropping out of high school and “raising awareness for climate change.” It was quite a historic accomplishment. No one was talking about global warming before Greta came around, apparently. Me? I tend to think the kid who stays in school and learns a thing or two about biology before lecturing me about science is the real hero. But we live in a time where emotionalism and vapidity are often confused with decency and wisdom. Thunberg is the embodiment of this trend.
Thunberg’s most infamous moment was a frivolous emotional outburst at the United Nations, where she screamed at those who had bequeathed her with unprecedented wealth, safety and freedom: “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with
your empty words,” she claimed. But really, her dream was to be famous. Or, maybe, it was rst the dream of exploitative parents who persuaded their child that the world was on the precipice of Armageddon.
Since her Time magazine cover, Thunberg has achieved nothing. Her native Sweden has turned back to fossil fuels. Europe, as well. The Earth, however, is still here.
Subsequently, Thunberg has moved on to champion other trendy leftist causes, such as Black Lives Matter and now “Free Palestine.” The only thing she understands less about than climate science seems to be the Middle East.
As far as I can tell, Thunberg has never once said anything remotely compelling, witty or smart. There are millions of young people far more worthy of attention. For years, youth shielded Thunberg from criticism. Even now, journalists fail to ask her a serious, in-depth question about the issues she champions. The chances she could answer one are incredibly slim. Well, Thunberg is now a young woman, and so we can freely point out that she’s always been an extraordinary imbecile. But now, she’s also a useful idiot for terrorists. For that, there is no excuse.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.
COLUMN | PHILIP GLADDEN
Rose Hill nonpro t empowers children though generous donations
FLOCK helps send 64 military children to camp with $30,000 match
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
IN AN ANNOUNCEMENT made last week by House of Raeford Farms FLOCK, the Rose Hill nonpro t celebrated a record-breaking fundraising achievement by Camp Corral totaling $80,479. The amount raised was possible with the
evening, and then the council votes the budget up or down. In this case, no one spoke during the public hearing, and the council unanimously approved the plan, with some minor last-minute adjustments, in just a few short minutes.
A property revaluation that was performed by the Duplin County Tax O ce earlier this year made things a little easier, Taylor said.
“We have been waiting for the revaluation as it had been postponed for a couple of years,” he said. “We’ve been successfully juggling expenses to keep the town’s property tax rate unchanged for the last eight years, but it has been increasingly dicult to keep pulling a rabbit out of the hat. We’ve seen increases in operating costs over the years like most folks and, again, have done a good job absorbing those without touching the tax rate.”
The new tax rate adopted with the budget represents a decrease from 62 cents to 53 cents per $100 valuation, or about a 15%
help of a $30,000 matching gift donated by FLOCK.
The funds will enable 64 children of wounded and fallen service members to attend a weeklong summer camp in Raleigh designed to support their emotional and developmental needs.
“FLOCK’s partnership with Camp Corral is ful lling our mission of helping those who are called to do good, do more,” said Dave Witter, a member of FLOCK’s board of directors, in a news release.
rate decrease. However, the value of properties has increased signi cantly, with some residential properties growing 25% to 100% in value and commercial property values increasing by an average of 25%. The total assessed value of properties in Wallace stands at just over $336 million.
Still, property tax bills will be higher this coming year, Taylor said. To have kept the budget “revenue neutral,” the tax rate would have been set at 45.6 cents per $100 valuation.
“Even if the evaluation hadn’t happened this year, we were going to need to do something this year,” Taylor said. “While we did reduce the rate from the 62 cents to 53 cents — about a 1415% reduction — folks are still going to see an increase in their property taxes based on the new valuations.”
Taylor remains optimistic that the rate will be able to held at in the future due to increased residential and commercial development that is planned for the town. Hundreds of new homes and many new business plans
According to the organization, FLOCK has contributed more than $94,000 to the non-pro t since 2022. Camp Corral provides activities that foster growth, con dence and connection, helping military children form lasting friendships and giving them a safe space to heal, grow and thrive.
“House of Raeford Farms FLOCK has, once again, given America’s military children a week of summer camp and a lifetime of memories,” said Sheri Oberhelman, vice presi-
have been approved and are set to begin construction soon.
The largest source of revenue for the town is property taxes, with an expected revenue of almost $1.8 million, followed by different levels of sales taxes which combine for another $1.1 million.
The largest expenditure for the town is personnel, taking up about 43% of the budget, and the most expensive department for the town is the police department, which claims about 40% of the budget through personnel, training, vehicle and equipment costs.
“I extend my sincere thanks to the department heads, budget committee and town sta for their dedication and thoughtful input,” Taylor said in his budget message. “I also thank the mayor and town council for their continued leadership and commitment to the success and well-being of Wallace.”
Police Chief Jimmy Crayton said he appreciated the e orts to get his department as much funding as possible.
“While no department receives everything it requests, the bud-
Locations Pink Hill / Mt. Olive 252.568.3911 / 919.658.6027 www.kornegayinsurance.com
dent of development and outreach at Camp Corral. “Their support of Camp Corral’s mission has helped to change thousands of lives over the past several years.”
“House of Raeford Farms FLOCK has, once again, given America’s military children a week of summer camp and a lifetime of memories.” Sheri Oberhelman, Camp Corral
With over 3,000 campers registered for summer sessions this year, the ongoing support from donors like FLOCK gives kids a chance to nd renewed hope. The camp often serves as a transformative milestone, helping children discover their inner strength, develop social skills and connect with peers who face similar challenges.
geting process provides an opportunity for us to communicate our priorities,” he said. “As department heads, we are committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and understand the importance of operating e ciently and transparently.”
The newly adopted budget is on the town website, wallacenc. gov, for review.
In other business, the council unanimously adopted several amendments to the town’s Code of Ordinances. The new amendments will give the town more ability to assess civil nes on property owners if they do not maintain their properties. Not only can the town ne an owner for failing to keep grass and weeds to a minimum, but it can also direct property owners to clean up trash and debris from their yards. Also, a new amendment was adopted making it a code violation to use a generator as a sole source of power when a natural disaster has not occurred. Residents have complained about the noise from generators that run 24 hours a day, and one home even burned sever-
“They are strengthening military families one child at a time by giving them a chance to build lifelong friendships, grow in their self-con dence, and realize their own strengths,” said Oberhelman. “On behalf of the entire Camp Corral team and the children we serve, thank you.”
al months ago when a generator that was left running on a front porch malfunctioned.
“I’d like to stress that this is not in regard to the general use of a generator,” Mayor Jason Wells said. “This is only in the case when it’s the sole source of power at a home.”
Taylor explained that in most cases, property owners will be given a warning rst, but if they do not clean things up, the town will have the ability to levy increasing civil nes, as well as hire contractors to clean up the mess and send owners the bill for the work.
The council also unanimously adopted a new ve-year Economic Development Strategic Plan that was presented to the council in May and approved a conditional zoning change to a portion of the Southpark Industrial Park on N.C. 11.
The change was approved to allow for the construction of a new 50,000-square-foot shell building, which economic development o cials hope will attract a new industry to town in the future.
Greenevers re chief honored with Governor’s Medallion Award
Gregory Carr (center) received the 2025 Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service at the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh on May 12. Carr is the re chief of the Greenevers Volunteer Fire Department. This award is presented to the top 20 volunteers in the state.
Pictured from left to right: S. Briles Johnson, Carr and Kenneth McLellan. Visit Duplin Journal for the story published on our May 8 edition.
TOWN OF WARSAW – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Chief Of Police – Warsaw, pop. ~2,800, is seeking applications & resumes for the Chief of Police position. Town seeks chief who is both motivated & an innovative leader to perform admin., supervisory, mgmt., & leadership functions w/in the department. Must possess excellent communication skills & demonstrate ability to work e ectively w/ other depts. as part of the town’s management team & take pride in the position, as well as, lead by example. Must have the ability to make the department as e cient/e ective as possible when ful lling the commitment to serve & protect, develop & maintain budget, e ectively operate computer, possess exp. to seek grant-funding opportunities, as well as, establish & maintain e ective community & public relations. Quali ed candidate must also have skills in managing H.R. aspects of the job including the recruitment/hiring of promising o cers, as well as, carrying out disciplinary actions when necessary. Must be able to work varying shifts as needed which could include occasional nights & weekends. Desired education. & experience: Minimum of ten years
experience in law enforcement to include signi cant supervisory experience of a progressive responsible nature, completion of high school supplemented by extensive law enforcement training and course work, with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice or related subject preferred, or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Must possess NC BLET certi cation, valid NC Drivers License; be able to pass thorough background investigation, psychological & medical evaluations. Salary range is DOQ. Town provides competitive salary along with excellent bene t package which includes NC local gov’t retirement system and 401(k) match, medical insurance, etc. Detailed resume, town application, salary history, and notarized CJTS Form F-3 must be submitted to: Lea Turner, Town Manager, PO Box 464, Warsaw, NC 28398. The position is open until lled. Required applications can be obtained at www.townofwarsawnc.com or by calling the Warsaw Town Hall at (910) 293-7814. EOE.
WALLACE from page A1
COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
and
the
Local reading clinic initiative bene ts from $67K grant
The funding boost will fuel expansion and impact Duplin and Wayne counties
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
THE UNIVERSITY of Mount Olive recently announced that its reading clinic program received a grant of $67,725 from the Anonymous Trust for the 2025-26 academic year. This funding will support elementary students struggling with literacy while providing education majors with handson teaching experience.
“The UMO Reading Clinic is an innovative initiative that exempli es a win-win opportunity for both our students and the community,” said Aman-
da Bullard-Maxwell, assistant dean of education, in a press releasse. “Not only does it provide our future teachers with invaluable experience, but it directly re ects UMO’s commitment to community engagement and service.”
The program began as a pilot in 2023, working with 10 students from North Duplin Elementary. The clinic uses research-based resources like Flyleaf decodable texts and tailors instruction to each student’s reading level to provide personalized and e ective literacy development.
“The students are always eager to learn, and they arrive at the clinic excited and motivated,” said Ashley Johnson, associate professor of education and eldwork coordinator at UMO.
“One student even tells his
parents he’s ‘going to college’ when he comes for his tutoring sessions,” said Johnson. “It’s inspiring to see both the academic growth and the condence these young learners are developing.”
The new funding — almost three times the original grant amount — will support several major upgrades, including expanded small group tutoring, a new summer reading camp, stipends for lead teachers, a partnership with Carver Elementary School, and e orts to widen the clinic’s impact across Duplin and Wayne counties.
“The continued generosity of the Anonymous Trust allows us to expand our reach, deepen our services, and ultimately impact more students and future educators,” Johnson said.
PHOTOS COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE
A UMO education major works with elementary students with literacy while getting hands-on teaching experience.
Left, the UMO Reading Clinic enhances reading comprehension for local elementary students
strengthens
practical training experiences for UMO’s education majors. Right, the clinic uses research-based resources like Flyleaf decodable texts and tailors instruction to each student’s reading level to provide personalized and e ective literacy development.
DUPLIN SPORTS
Addy Higginbotham was at least half of the heart of the North Duplin softball team the past four seasons as it compiled a 67-17
Rebels’ Higginbotham leaves big legacy as talented leader
There wasn’t much Addy Higginbotham didn’t do on a softball eld for ND, and her team-centric intangibles leave a legacy
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — Addy Higginbotham was a pitcher in title only as a freshman as North Duplin waited for its next star in the circle after the departure of Callie Thornton in 2021.
It would be another year until the Rebels pipeline pumped out is next hurler (Lilly Fulghum), and Higginbotham did as her mother ordered: She took the ball and did her best as a freshman hurler.
While her right arm struggled (1-3 with 26 strikeouts and 26 walks in 31 innings) her left-handed bat popped to the sound of success (.545 average, eight doubles, two triples and a home run).
Mom, the Rebels’ rst-year head coach, was also a misnomer back then being that she was the head coach at UMO for more than a decade.
Jaime Kylis Higginbotham watched her daughter go on to have one of the most productive seasons in school history.
“As her coach for many years, I couldn’t be prouder of the player she has developed into,” she said. “She has the highest game IQ of anyone I’ve ever coached, which is lacking in today’s game with younger players.
Ms. Softball’s career statistics are overwhelming, yet it was her leadership and positive vibes that put her in a class with former greats Rylee Pate, Haley Brodgen, Reece Outlaw, Courtney Brock and Rayanna and Mikayla Koch.
Yet none of these past Rebels greats have a four-year record as the inscription on Higginbotham’s prep monument: 67-17.
See SOFTBALL, page B2
2025: Addy Higginbotham, ND
2024: Reece Outlaw, ND
2023: Reece Outlaw, ND
2022: Rachel Blanchard, JK/Chandler Mobley, ED
2021: Callie Thorton, ND
2020: No season (Covid)
2019: Haven Williams, WRH
2018: Haven Williams, WRH
2017: Haley Brogden, ND
2016: Rylee Pate, ND
Higginbotham threepeats as area’s top coach
Jaime Kylis Higginbotham has built a family dynasty at North Duplin
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — North Duplin has become a softball power player the past decade.
But it’s not because every Rebels parent is motoring their daughters across the state playing to travel-ball tournaments on weekends in the spring, summer and/or fall.
To the contrary, the Rebels had only two players on their roster who play on travel teams.
“That’s not what everyone thinks,” said Jaime Kylis Higginbotham, who is Coach of the Year for the third straight season.
Higginbotham’s aggressive yet mellow and planned approach has molded the program into a perennial contender.
And that’s not been easy playing in the Carolina 1A Conference, a subpar league for softball.
Rebels’ Lilly Fulghum led the county in four o ensive categories while hitting for power, a high average and driving in runs
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — North Duplin’s Lilly Fulghum has become a hitter with few weaknesses, and those shortcomings are almost often overshadowed by her strengths.
The toughest out in Duplin County led her competitors in average (.632), extra-base hits (18), on-base-percentage (.732) and
home runs (seven), and she was second in RBIs (18) and fourth in runs (24).
The Rebels junior, who verbally committed to play at UNC Charlotte in 2027, is the O ensive Player of the Year.
“Lilly is the most competitive player I’ve ever coached,” said ND head coach Jaime Kylis Higginbotham. “She is an absolute joy to be around and keeps us all on our toes in practice.
“She knows how to win.”
ND’s winning trail to a 14-4 mark and third-round 1A playo exit was rooted in Fulghum, who had eight doubles, three triples and 11 walks. She was held hitless in only
two games (mercy-rule wins over Hobbton and Lakewood) and didn’t strikeout until whi ng in the second round of the postseason against Vance Charter.
Fulghum, a three-sport athlete who knocked in four runs four times and was on base every Rebels game, was counted on heavily in the circle.
She was 5-2 with a 0.98 ERA in 50 innings, which included 55 strikeouts and 24 walks.
While pitching in one-third fewer innings than 2023, her ERA dropped a full run from her 12-1 campaign.
As a sophomore, Fulghum hit .617 with 11 doubles, eight triples, ve homers and 31 RBIs.
PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
mark.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Lilly Fulghum hit .632, had an on-base-percentage of .732 and homered
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Jaime Higginbotham loses two seniors from this year’s team after capturing her thirdstraight Coach of the Year awards. She’s 67-17 in four seasons.
Lon Teachey
Lon Teachey is still pounding a football through the uprights.
The former Wallace-Rose Hill placekicker is prepping for his senior season at Mars Hill after a junior campaign in which he hit on nine of 11 eld goals and 28 of 31 PATs.
The son of Tom and Melanie Teachey was the second-leading scorer for the 5-4 Lions.
Teachey was tied for third in overall percentage among Division II kickers.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound native of Rose Hill knocked down 31 of 33 FGs and 5 of 12 PATs as a sophomore.
He was limited to 10 kicks as a freshman, a eld goal and nine extra points.
He was one of four students o ered an inaugural Laurel Scholarship in 2022.
Students must have two of the following: a 3.8 gradepoint average in high school; be in top 5% of the class or score at least 1,300 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT.
The Blue and Gold open the season Sept. 6.
Hits leader Parker specialized as Panthers’ run manufacturer
Super-sophomore Karsyn Parker kickstarted ED’s o ense by scoring and driving in runs from the leado spot in the lineup.
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — Karsyn
Parker can do a lot of things on the softball eld, but the biggest two are scoring and driving in runs.
The East Duplin sophomore, who led the county with 29 runs and 31 hits and was third in RBIs with 16, did all of this from the leado spot in the Panthers’ lineup.
Parker led her team in six offensive categories as the Duplin Journal’s Heart of a Champion honoree.
“She’s a great kid, a silent leader, so leads by example,” said East Duplin coach Greg Jenkins. “She does things the right way and is easy to coach.”
Parker hit a sizzling .408 average with six doubles, two homers, eight walks and nine stolen bases as the spark plug of the o ense. She had an incredible .483 on-base-percentage.
She scored at least a run in 17 of 22 games and was held hitless three times, the last being to Midway during a 2-0 loss in the second round of the 2A playo s.
Parker’s play was key in making ED competitive and with a shot to capture the ECC title.
SOFTBALL from page B1
And the mark could have included more wins since games were lost during a national pandemic.
Thorton pitched ND to a one-loss season during the rst Covid season around a Rebels squad that was young, inexperienced and not as talented or as deep as those either before or after them.
Her most impressive outing might have been when she had two hits and scored the lone run when ED beat South Lenoir 1-0 in a key league win.
But a pair of losses to North Lenoir pushed the Panthers into third place. The losses had a new feel when the Hawks won the East Region title.
Parker played shortstop, but
State championship dreams were foreseeable in the minds of players, coaches and fans during the Higginbotham era.
“She’s not just skillful and super athletic, but smart, which is a key reason why she stands out. She knows what to do with the ball.”
Higginbotham edged out teammate Fulghum and East Duplin’s Karsyn Parker for her marquee award.
Jenkins has other ideas in 2026 because of her athletic ability and versatility.
“She’s convinced me she can play anywhere on the eld,” he said. “She will see time in the circle next year.”
Her play isn’t shocking since her statistics were close to those she had as a freshman (.434, .506 OBP, 32 runs, 16 RBIs).
She follows a two-year reign by former teammate Reece Outlaw. She’s the sixth Rebels player to win the honor since 2015. Higginbotham, who was an all-Duplin rst-team performer in both basketball and softball, was the Duplin Journal’s Female Athlete of the Year. She led the Rebels to the fourth round of the postseason en route to a 24-5 record.
TOWN OF WARSAW – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Parks & Recreation Assistant - The Town of Warsaw, population ~ 2,800 seeks to hire a motivated, energetic, creative and detail-oriented individual to assist the Parks & Recreation Director with planning, organizing, and implementing a variety of programs and events for the residents of Warsaw and neighboring communities. Candidate will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of youth and adult sports. Assists with training of sta . Assists the director with department budget preparation. Manages social media marketing for the department and maintains
the department Facebook page. Ability to maintain con dentiality of sensitive information. Required exibility of night and weekend hours based on sports or gym rental. Experience and functional knowledge of Word, Excel and the ability to learn and implant new software programs. Ability to work with the general public in a respectful, tactful manner. Application Process: Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their quali
and experience to Lea, Turner, Town
464, Warsaw 28398; fax
lled.
Kicker, WRH ’22, Mars
COURTESY MARS HILL ATHLETICS
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Karsyn Parker hit .408, scoring 29 runs and driving in 16, while leading the Panthers o ense from the leado spot.
Rebels, Panthers keep tradition of stockpiling Duplin with stars
Four players from ND and ED were among the top-13 players on a rst-team all-star squad, which has only two seniors
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — Rising softball-playing seniors in Duplin County will make a splash next spring.
Eight juniors made waves as members of the 13-player All-Duplin softball team.
Three sophomores added to the underclassmen super-majority, but a pair of seniors — Addy Higginbotham and Morgan Brown — concluded banner four-year varsity careers.
North Duplin’s Higginbotham is Ms. Softball, teammate Lilly Fulghum is O ensive Player of the Year and East Duplin sophomore Karsyn Parker is the Champions Heart honoree.
Rebels coach Jaime Higginbotham repeats as Coach of the Year for the third straight time.
Coincidentally, the all-county squad in 2023 had only two seniors as well and nine players from that squad were repeat rst-team players. Another might have been included if ED’s Ava Noble didn’t miss the season with an ACL injury.
Here’s the best in Duplin where softball “diamonds” are some girls’ best friend in the spring.
FIRST TEAM
Addy Higginbotham, ND, Sr., SS
Ms. Softball: Hit .560, with seven doubles, eight triples, a home run, 32 runs and 13 RBIs. (See story on B1)
Lilly Fulghum, ND, Jr., P/3B
O ensive Player of the Year: Hit .632 with eight doubles, three triples, six home runs and 18 RBIs. (See story on B1)
Karsyn Parker, ED, So., SS
Whacked 31 hits to wind up at .408 with 29 runs and 16 RBIs
(See story on B1)
Ady Spence, ND, Jr., 1B
A second-team selection as season ago, but pumped up her average to .396 after being above .400 for the bulk of the season. She had ve. doubles, a triple and drove in 12 runs. In the circle, she was 9-1 with 0.91 ERA in 34 innings. Spence generally pitched half of a game with Fulghum nishing it o .
Kinsey Cave, ED, So., 2B
Got a slow start after guiding the basketball team into the fourth round of the playo s but made up for it in short order.
Cave hit .362 with six doubles and two fence-clearers and was a key part of the in eld at second base.
Jourdan Joe, JK, Jr., 3B/C
Can put make a softball feel abused and is the most feared Tigers hitter. She hit .531 with seven doubles, a triple, six homers and an on-base mark of .581.
Marissa Bernal, ND, Jr., 3B
Hit .447 with ve doubles, four triples and two dingers and scored 24 runs. Hit well against the best teams on the Rebels’ schedule to move up from her spot on the second team in 2024. She a player that can be count on to deliver.
Payton Tyndall, WRH, So., P
One of four sophomores on the rst team learned a lot about pitching at the top level this spring. She already knew how to hit.
The sophomore went 8-10 in 1022⁄3 innings, whi ng 101 and walking 66 as head coach Cory Lovelace painfully started letting her work through rough stretches.
Tyndall threw better and better late in the season and hit .312 with 12 RBIs.
Look for her to lower her 4.75 ERA next spring and amp up her hitting stroke.
Jansley Page, WRH, Jr., SS
One of the top athletes in the junior class wrote her name unto the rst team after a second-unit nod in 2024 and a rst-team ticket in volleyball last fall.
An injury forced her to miss a few early games, but bat was on re the nal 10 games. She hit .407 with four doubles and three triples and had a team-high 22 runs. She found ways to get on base and then ran the bases exceptionally well, often forcing the defense into a miscue.
Morgan Brown, ED, Sr., P
Used her southpaw touch to carve out a 43-25 career mark in four seasons, averaging just over 100 strikeouts per season in nearly 394.2 innings. She was 11-7 in the spring with a 2.56 ERA. Her best outing came when she limited South Lenior to one hit during a 1-0 win to give ED a chance to win the ECC title.
North Duplin’s Ady Spence went 9-1 in the circle and hit
but she isn’t far o her pace all things considered. She hit .378 with four doubles, two triples and a dinger and was a good bunter or hitter who would move runners to the next base in a key game. Norris is a defensive workhorse behind the plate and has a strong arm.
Kinzley Sloan, JK, So., C/OF
Hit .521 with 15 RBIs in her debut of what promises to be a all-star track.
Ta’Niya Powell, WRH, Sr., 1B
Most of her 19 hits were bullets en route to a .388 mark.
Kenadi Gideons, JK, So., IF/OF
Her 20 hits were the most by a Tigers player this season. She hit .488 as one of the most improved players in the county.
Callie Mewborn, ED, So.,OF
But the Panthers were beaten twice by North Lenoir, which went on to win the league ag and then advance to the 2A nals.
Sophie Sloan, WRH, Jr., OF/2B
Another second-team jumper, joining the top 13 by hitting .346 with ve doubles and a homer and 12 RBIs.
Rebecca Beach, ED, Jr. C
A coach’s dream, she can hit, throw our runnings, protect the plate, support a pitcher, lead the in eld and isn’t afraid to dive for a ball.
The junior hit .391 with ve doubles, four triples and 19 RBIs. Her 27 hits were second on the Panthers to leado hitter Parker.
Shylah Sloan, JK, Jr., SS/P
Threw a team-high 302⁄3 innings and hit .333 for her second visit to the rst-team.
SECOND TEAM
Abby Norris, ND, So., C
Blocked from the rst team by Panthers backstop Beach,
Hit .265 with seven doubles and a homer and drove in 20 runs.
Leighton Davis, ED, Fr., 3B
Poisded to be a xture in the Panthers lineup following a season in which the freshman lashed 17 hits and had 12 RBIs. She displayed cat-quick re exes at third base.
Chloe Straughn, WRH, Sr., IF
Finished her career with a .345 mark, stroking three doubles and eight RBI.
Mattie Gavin, WRH, Jr., C
Undervalued for her defensive skills, Gavin hit .264 and had a pair of homers.
Gabby Zamudio, ND, So, 2B
Found ways to get on base (14 hits, seven walks, four times reached on error) to score 21 times.
Zoe Turner, ED, Jr., OF
Upped her hitting average from .220 to .315 and had ve extra-base hits and nine RBI.
TOWN OF WARSAW – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Town Planner/Code Enforcement O cer – Warsaw, pop. 2738.
The Town of Warsaw is located in western Duplin County. US Route 117 passes through the center of town and leads north 30 miles to Goldsboro and south 19 miles to Wallace. NC Highway 50 intersects US 117 at the north end of town and leads east 8 miles to Kenansville, the Duplin County seat. Interstate 40 passes to the south and west of Warsaw, with easy access to Wilmington or Raleigh. Warsaw is known for its designation for the Oldest Consecutive Veterans Day Parade: Job Responsibilities: Enforces and administers the Town’s local zoning ordinances, codes and regulations. Coordinate, attend and facilitate evening meetings of the Planning Board and Board of Adjustments. Oversee urban planning initiatives, including land use planning, environmental studies, and development proposals. Investigate and address complaints related to zoning violations, conducting site inspections when necessary. Issue notices of violation and citations and follow through with appropriate enforcement actions. Collaborate
with property owners, developers, and the community to ensure compliance with zoning regulations. Maintain detailed records of enforcement actions and urban planning activities. Prepare and present reports to the town board and other stakeholders. Stay updated on changes in local, state and federal laws a ecting municipal government and planning. Develop and implement strategies for e ective zoning enforcement and urban planning. Performs related special projects and activities as required; Minimum Quali cations: Bachelors degree in urban planning, public administration, or related eld; Signi cant experience in urban planning, code enforcement, or municipal government. Interested individual must also be in possession of, or have the ability to obtain, a valid North Carolina driver’s license. Salary: $60,000$75,000 DOE. Application Process: Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their quali cations and experience to Lea Turner, Town Manager, P.O. Box 464, Warsaw 28398; fax (910) 293-7701. Open until lled. EOE.
PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Left, ED’s Morgan Brown won 43 games in four years, striking out more than 100 per season in nearly 400 innings in the circle. Above, ED’s Kinsey Cave hit .362 as a rst-year starter.
.391.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Payton Tyndall hit .312 with 12 RBIs while going 8-10 and striking out 101 in 102 innings.
JK’s Jourdan Joe hit .531 and was second in Duplin in HRs with six.
Tar Heels embrace new world as part of coach Belichick’s rst college team
The 73-year-old coach is installing his system at UNC
By Aaron Beard
The Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL — Jordan Shipp remembers the conversation with his roommates after learning Bill Belichick was UNC’s new football coach.
“It was just like, ‘That’s the greatest coach of all time,’” the receiver recalled, “‘and he’s about to be coaching us.’”
Tar Heels players hadn’t spoken to reporters since last year’s team ended its season with a Fenway Bowl loss to UConn three days after Christmas, all of which came after Belichick had been hired as coach for the 2025 season.
So last week marked the rst time UNC had made players available to reporters since then to discuss Belichick’s arrival. That has meant being coached by someone with a long track record of success at the sport’s highest level, along with getting a peek behind the terse and grumpy persona he was known for with the New England Patriots.
Defensive back Will Hardy said the players are used to the curiosity that comes with being coached by the NFL lifer who is now giving college a try.
“There’s a lot of that, you get
Higginbotham is fed players with decent softball backgrounds, but the last ve seasons charter schools have become a fabric of the postseason, so much so that many coaches are calling for a separation.
Schools such as ND faced what must feel like a doubling of teams that could capture the East Region ag.
No. 6 ND made it to the quarter nals of the East Region before falling to No. 3 Bear Grass Charter. West champ Roxboro Community won the ag and fell to Union Academy in the 1A nal.
The Rebels fell to eventual East champ Northside-Pinetown in the 2024 postseason and to Union Academy in the 1A nal in 2023.
Higginbotham has kept the Rebels program among the frontrunners while not being able to “import” talent.
In today’s game, a softball team must have a dominate pitcher whose ERA is under two runs a game and at least ve .400 hitters. And only that’s only good enough for a league title and a trip to the third round.
Time and how the brackets are arranged also play into
a lot of ‘How is Coach Belichick? What’s new? What’s di erent?’” Hardy said. “So I’ve rehearsed these questions a lot with family and friends.”
The school hired Belichick in December to elevate the program at a time when football’s role as the revenue driver in college sports has never been bigger.
He and general manager Michael Lombardi have described their goal as building a pro-style model at the college level.
Belichick’s rst on- eld work in Chapel Hill came during spring workouts.
“Look, these are great kids to work with, they really are,” Belichick said. “We’ve had great buy-
in. There have really been no problems at all. These guys are on time, they’re early, they work hard, they put in the work in the weight room, out on the eld. They spend time on their own, whether it’s doing extra training or coming over and watching lm and that type of thing.
“They’ve made a ton of improvement, and these guys are a lot better than they were when we started in January, on every level. So it’s exciting to see where that’s going to take us.”
For the players, part of the adjustment had been the reality that their coach was winning Super Bowls with quarterback Tom Brady while they were
the postseason, which is talked about each season in Calypso, in part because of Higginbotham, who knows the game but more importantly knows how to connect with players she’s known since they had Tooth Fairy dreams.
Higginbotham, who is 67-17 in four seasons with the Rebels, beat out fellow three-time Coach of the Year Greg Jenkins to win the award. ND nicked ED 12-7 in the only meeting as rain canceled the rematch.
The Rebels lost two games to 1A schools this spring, falling to league foe Rosewood but winning two of three matchups with the Eagles and then Bear Grass Charter in the third round.
Higginbotham loses her all-state daughter and in elder Addy Higginbotham and M’chelle Jaco but returns every other starter and reserve next season. She’ll also add daughter Graice to the roster as a freshman.
She’s got “four more years”
UNC coach Bill Belichick watches his team during spring practice in March.
erybody with tremendous respect, and it’s been great.” Defensive back Thad Dixon had met Belichick before when he was at Washington, playing under Belichick’s son Steve — now the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
“I really just wanted the opportunity just to learn from somebody like that, that had did it in the league for so long,” Dixon said.
Yet not every surprise has been about X’s and O’s. Sometimes it’s simply when Belichick has dropped the all-business facade to expose an unexpectedly humorous side.
“I feel like that’s the biggest curveball, you’re coming to the rst meeting and you’re expecting it to be serious, 100% locked in,” said Shipp, who played 12 games for UNC last season. “He comes in and he introduces himself and then he busts a joke. That’s the second thing he said.” Hardy pointed out that vibe, too.
growing up and watching on TV.
Intimidating much?
“I mean, maybe at rst when you see him, all you see is the Super Bowls that he’s won,” said offensive lineman Christo Kelly, a Holy Cross transfer and Belichick’s rst portal commitment.
“But when you get here and you see the way he cares, you see the way that he approaches the game, you see how hard he works, there’s no question why he has the success that he has.
“The attention to detail, the emphasis on fundamentals and really just kind of creating competition for the guys, that’s what’s getting built here. Guys are embracing it. He treats ev-
SOFTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
2025: Jaime Higginbotham, ND
2024 Jaime Higginbotham, ND
2023: Jaime Higginbotham, ND
2022: Greg Jenkins, ED
2021: Ricky Edwards, ND
2020: No season (Covid)
2019: Greg Jenkins, ED
2018: Greg Jenkins, ED
2017: Cory Lovelace, WRH
2016: Ricky Edwards, ND
2015: Ricky Edwards, ND
in her, and that should mean four more chances at returning the Rebels to the state nals, this time as a 2A school in an NCHSAA that will have eight classi cations. That’s not hyperbole talking in Calypso; it’s what the community has come to expect.
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Duplin County Board of Equalization and Review will hold its last meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the Commissioner’s Room, Duplin County Administrative Building, 224 Seminary Street, Kenansville, NC. This meeting is held for the purpose of review and hearing appeals of listings and valuations.
“There are times when he’ll just crack a joke out of nowhere,” he said. “And just him being kind of monotone sometimes will make those jokes so funny.”
Still, Hardy noted it’s mingled amid the work, such as lm sessions when “there’s no hiding” when Belichick highlights a mistake.
“I’ve loved having 1-on-1 conversations with him,” Hardy said. “It’s cool to see and meet him personally because you grow up and see him on TV and everything. And he’s just a completely di erent coach and guy when you get to be around him all day. It’s cool.”
The Board expects to adjourn on June 26, 2025. In the event of earlier or later adjournment, notice to that e ect will be published in this newspaper.
Gary M. Rose Clerk to the Board of E&R
CHRIS SEWARD / AP PHOTO
COACH from page B1
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Jaime Kylis Higginbotham revived ND after a lull following the 2021 season. The Rebels will see three new schools and more competition when they play in the expanded Carolina Conference next spring.
obituaries
Clarence McKenly Herring Jr.
Sept. 28, 1941 – June 15, 2025
Mr. Clarence McKenly Herring Jr., age 83, of Rose Hill, NC passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at home.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 12:00 noon at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC.
Left to cherish his precious memories are three daughters: Cassandra Henderson of Wallace, NC, Michelle Wade (Portis) of Goldsboro, NC and Gloria Herring of Chicago, IL; two brothers: Linnell Herring (Thelma) and Willie Herring, both of Rose Hill, NC; one sister, Shelva Wilburn of Philadelphia, PA; eight grandchildren: one of which was raised in the home, Selena Herring Turner (Timothy) of Teachey, NC; sixteen greatgrandchildren and one great, great-grandchild; two aunts: Nicie Williams and Daisy Dixon; one uncle, Levi J. Batts (Deborah); numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.
Billy Randall Hall
June 17, 1947 – June 14, 2025
Billy Randall Hall, age 77, died Saturday, June 14, 2025 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. He is preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca Sue Hall and sister Annie Mae Moore. Mr. Hall is survived by his daughter, April Blizzard and husband Samuel Ashley Blizzard III of Hampstead; grandsons, Brody Garrett Vance and wife Casey Corley Vance of Cincinnati, OH, Brandon Chase Vance and wife Marissa Vance of Charleston, SC; granddaughters, Alecia Cox and husband Andrew of Fuquay Varina; Paxton Blizzard and ancé Javari of Apex; Alex Britt and husband Jared of Albertson; great grandchildren, Evan Garrett Vance, Eva Rose Holshouser, Eliza McNair Cox, Drew Robeson Cox, Marsh Samuel Britt, baby girl Violet Vance due October; brother Julius Ray Hall and wife Glenda of Clayton; and numerous special nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of owers, donations may be made to the Memorial or Building Fund at the Potters Hill Advent Christian Church, 984 Church Rd. Pink Hill, NC 28572 or to Serenity Funeral Home, PO Box 780, Beulaville, NC 28518.
Gina (Bivins) Matthews
May 22, 1961 – June 11, 2025
Gina Bivins Matthews, age 64 of Teachey, NC, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, surrounded by her family. A devoted wife, mama, Meme, and Gigi, Gina touched the lives of so many people with her kindness, warmth, and loving spirit.
Born in Jacksonville, NC on May 22, 1961, Gina was the daughter of the late Jackie and Mary Bivins of Wallace. Gina was the beloved wife of Bill for nearly 45 years. Together, they raised a family that Gina was so proud of: Brittany and husband David, Morgan and husband Eric, and Angel and husband Braxton. Being a Meme to Carrlee Jack, Skylar, and Fin, along with Gigi to Layton and Holden, was one of her greatest blessings. Gina was a loving sister-in-law to Kay and Delana Johnson. Along with many loving nieces and nephews, Gina found a sisterly love and best friend through Brenda Knight and Gail Ramsey. She was known as Ginka to a special boy, Lon Teachey.
Known for her generosity and caring ways, Gina always put the needs of others above her own.
Her love for Jesus and her family was the foundation of her life and something she held closest to her heart.
You would often nd Gina listening to praise and worship songs, baking treats for loved ones, reading her devotionals, and sending thoughtful messages — simply put, Gina nurtured the needs of others in all that she did. She led by example, o ered sound advice, and faithfully prayed for her family and loved ones every single day.
Gina’s greatest joys in life were being a devoted wife, a loving mama, and a proud Meme and Gigi. She took great pride in these roles. When her family was gathered together, Gina was at her happiest, her heart full.
She leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and unwavering love that will continue to live on in all who knew her. Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit will remain with us always — in every prayer, every act of kindness, and every moment shared with family, Whenever the wind whispers and a hummingbird’s wings utter by, we will feel her with us, knowing she is “all good” and walking with Jesus in her Heavenly home.
The memorial service was held on June 16.
In lieu of owers, the family would appreciate donations made in her honor to Albertson Missionary Baptist Church, 3736 NC 903 Hwy, Albertson, NC 28508 or ECU Health, Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice House, c/o Vidant Health Foundation, 690 Medical Drive, Greenville, NC 27834.
The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to our dear friend and nurse, Amanda, as well as the sta at The Service League of Greenville Hospice House, whose love, devotion, and tireless care brought comfort and peace to Gina during her nal journey. Their emotional support, unwavering presence, and tender heart supported her and our family every step of the way. We are forever grateful for the deep love and dedication they showed to Gina and to all of us.
Linda Faye Wright
August 4, 1950 –June 12, 2025
Ms. Linda Faye Wright, age 74, of Wallace, NC passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at UNC Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1:00 pm at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC. Burial will follow at Duplin Memorial Gardens in Teachey, NC.
Left to cherish her precious memories, one sister, Angela Wright Coleman of FuquayVarina, NC; numerous cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.
Melissa Miller Chase
May 1, 1972 – June 12, 2025
Melissa Miller Chase, age 53, died Thursday, June 12, 2025 at home. She is preceded in death by her husband, Brian Chase and mother, Joyce Ann Miller. Mrs. Chase is survived by her daughters, Kristian Long and husband Wesley of Richlands, Kayleigh Chase of Chinquapin; son, Donovan Chase of Chinquapin; father Milton Sherwood Miller of Pink Hill; brother, Milton Sherwood Miller Jr. and wife Tania of Potters Hill; three grandchildren, Zane Chase, Anna Long, Alyson Long; nieces, Taylor Miller, Lillie Miller, and nephews, Shane Bryan, and Cameron Kennedy.
Edwin “Eddie” Spencer Jr.
Nov. 7, 1947 – June 12, 2025
Edwin “Eddie” Ferebee
Spencer Jr., age 77, died Thursday, June 12, 2025 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents Edwin and Hazel Spencer and his former wife and rst love Twila Tucker.
Mr. Spencer is survived by his longtime companion and last love Debbie Martin of Chinquapin; daughter, Paige Spencer of Raleigh, step daughter, Ashley Holmes of OR; son, Hunter Spencer of Wilmington; brother, Wallace Spencer of Dover; and three grandchildren, Savannah Spencer, Walter Holmes, and Graham Holmes.
Eddie was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and his family moved to Kinston, North Carolina in 1961; he later moved to Dover, NC in 1964. He and his brother Wallace grew up amongst aunts, uncles, and cousins, and they enjoyed all the aspects of country living. His love for rock and roll started in the 1950s, listening to such greats as Elvis, Little Richard, Dion, and more. He started dancing at the old skating rink at the Kinston airport at the age of 12—little did he know shag dancing would become one of the most favorite things in his life. He graduated from South Lenoir High School and attended Lenoir Community College to become an electrician. Eddie proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. In 1971, he moved to Wilmington, NC where he met and married Twila in 1973. They started their family, and Eddie was a proud father, coaching softball for Paige and teaching Hunter how to play golf. One of the places Eddie was happiest was on the dance oor shagging to beach music. He danced in all the major clubs but the Pavilion at Atlantic Beach was one of his favorites. When
he moved to Wilmington, he got involved in the shag scene there. He started going to SOS in Myrtle Beach in 1982 and didn’t miss one for 31 years. In the shag world, he was known as “Crazy Eddie” and everybody understands why. Eddie served as the Cape Fear Shag Club President and Vice President in the early 2000’s. Eddie and Debbie met at SOS at Fat Harold’s and began their long-term relationship in August of 2002. They became engaged in December 2002, and they’ve been together ever since. Eddie was very romantic, bringing her owers every day when they were dating and even named a star after her. In their 23 years together, they shared many happy memories, most of them on the dance oor. He was inducted into the Atlantic Beach Shaggers Hall of Fame in 2015. Something Eddie always took great pride in was his career with General Electric in the nuclear division, which started in 1983 until he retired in 2008. He had a specialized job and was wellknown for his problem-solving skills in his position at GE.
Eddie had a strong faith and enjoyed being a member of Bethlehem Original Freewill Baptist Church in Fountaintown, where he and Debbie attended services regularly. After his GE retirement, he worked parttime in maintenance at Catalyst Church in Jacksonville, NC where he did just about everything except preach the sermon. Through his entire career, Eddie made lifelong friends with everybody he met in every job that he held.
Outside of the workplace, Eddie loved the game of golf and never gave up wanting to play another round. The hunting club was another big part of his life. Come October through January the 1st, Eddie was up at early dawn and didn’t come home until late in the day, deer hunting as often as possible. This is a re ection of his passion for hunting and his love for all of his hunting buddies.
To know Eddie was to love Eddie. He lived life in vivid color, unapologetically. He always said he would continue dancing until he couldn’t dance anymore, and he did just that. Eddie is already shadow shagging with his best friends of the past. We love you Eddie, and we know you’re throwing the ball to Rebel, our beloved dog.
Wallace PD visit teaches kids about safety
Wallace police Capt. David Morgan (left) and O cer Michael Murphy visited children at Awaken Daycare on June 11 for an educational safety presentation. During the visit, the o cers discussed gun safety, the dangers of talking to strangers, when and how to dial 911 and the importance of knowing one’s home address. The kids even got the opportunity to explore police patrol vehicles up close and ask questions.
