U.S. 117 South near West Trade Road and South Fourth Street in Calypso will be closed until Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. Crews from the N.C. Department of Transportation will conduct work on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to refurbish the deck of the bridge built in 1958. A detour will be available using U.S. 11 to N.C. 50 to N.C. 403.
Veterans stand down slated for July 18
Duplin County Free meals for veterans will be o ered at the Duplin County Veterans Stand Down event on July 18 at the Charity Mission Center. Additionally, the Disabled American Veterans mobile unit will be available on-site.
Candidate ling for 2025 municipal elections closes July 18
Duplin County The candidate ling period for the 2025 municipal elections closes at noon on July 18. Those interested in running should contact the Duplin County Board of Elections for details. Candidates wishing to withdraw and receive a refund must do so by 5 p.m. on July 15. The 2025 municipal elections will be on Nov. 4.
Tra c stop leads to drug bust, stolen vehicle recovery
Albertson
Last week, the Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce arrested William Jordan Bailey, 38, and Alonza Eric Barton, 45, during a tra c stop on N.C. Highway 111/903 in Albertson. Barton ed but was quickly caught. A search revealed illegal drugs and a stolen vehicle. Bailey was charged with felony possession of a stolen vehicle and misdemeanors for driving with a revoked license and altered registration. Barton faces felony possession of methamphetamine, obstruction of justice and two misdemeanors. Both are in the Duplin County Jail.
Duplin teen wins Miss North Carolina Teen 2025
Duplin County Kate Ward from Duplin County was recently crowned Miss North Carolina Teen 2025 and will compete for Miss America’s Teen 2026 in Orlando this fall. She has earned a $7,500 scholarship, plus $500 for winning preliminary awards in talent and evening gown.
$2.00
Fewer volunteers, higher stakes
Fire chiefs warn that the shortage not only increases the burden on the remaining volunteers but also puts homeowner insurance rates at risk
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
THE OFTEN-REPEATED observation, “It ain’t like it used to be,” applies to Duplin County’s many volunteer re departments. One of the biggest challenges they face today is recruiting enough volunteers to adequately sta their departments.
“People just do not have the extra time anymore to volunteer for such a cause because they’re spending the extra time that they once had to work a second job.”
Matthew Barwick, Public Safety director
As recently as 20 years ago, it was not uncommon for local volunteer re departments to have 30 or more volunteer members. Today, that number has frequently dropped to half that number or lower, not only placing additional burdens on the volunteers they do have, but
also threatening to a ect the grade their re department receives under state insurance rules.
When Duplin Journal reached out to local re chiefs and the Duplin County Fire Marshal, they all agreed there are likely several factors causing the problem.
Duplin County Public Safety Director and Fire Marshal Matthew Barwick believes societal changes are a big factor.
“Things seem to be driven more toward personal success. I think that’s a derivative of a tighter economy,” Barwick said in an interview with Duplin Journal. “People just do not have the extra time anymore to volunteer for such a cause because they’re spending the extra time that they once had to work a second job.”
Teachey Volunteer Fire Department Chief Richard Williams
Water dominates Mount Olive board meeting
O cials approved an equipment purchase to help tackle drainage amid sewer struggles
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
MOUNT OLIVE — The main issue discussed at Monday evening’s board of commissioners meeting in Mount Olive boiled down to one word — water. The cost of water, its treatment and dealing with the large amounts of it falling from the
sky were all addressed during the meeting.
An increase in water and sewer bills was raised during the public forum. Resident Kathy Turner of Main Street told commissioners she had been trying to get a resolution to a drastic increase in her water and sewer bill for some time.
“My water bill went from $64.72 to $122.50,” Turner said. “That’s a gain of $57.78. I’ve been to the water department
See WATER, page A6
Veterans gather for patriotic observance at historic lodge
“I’ve never let anybody tell me to quit.”
Jerry Davis
A former Navy SEAL spoke at a local masonic lodge, re ecting on his service
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Members and guests of St. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 13 in Kenansville gathered on the eve of the nation’s 249th birthday last week for a patriotic observance dinner featuring former Navy SEAL Jerry Davis. Davis, a Duplin County native, shared powerful stories of service, sacri ce and the untold missions that shaped his military career. Davis inspiration to join the U.S. Navy stemmed from the movie “Top Gun.” The lm was credited with increasing interest in joining the Navy
substantially across the country. Davis’ enlistment came quickly after he graduated from Wallace-Rose Hill High School.
“I graduated on June 7, 1990,” Davis said. “Two weeks later, I was on a plane to San Diego.”
While his hopes were to become a pilot after seeing “Top Gun,” he had only a high school diploma. The recruiter tried to convince him to become a mechanic on F-14s instead of ying them. Davis ended up entering the Navy as a hospitalman, more commonly known as a corpsman.
Right after Davis graduated from boot camp, a major event happened. On Aug. 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, which would result in what became known as the Gulf War when the United States became involved. Shortly
See VETERANS, page A6
thanks citizens for attending the board meeting and encourages them to continue to attend meetings in the future.
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Teachey Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Ronnie Page says Teachey is luckier than many area departments when it comes to volunteers — like Bryan Padilla, right — but they could always use more. Page has been a volunteer for 22 years. Padilla began volunteering four years ago.
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton
O ce Phone: 910 463-1240
To place a legal ad: 919
CRIME LOG
July 1
• Christopher O’Neal Branch, 42, was arrested by the Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce (DCSO) for assault on a female.
Alexsia Tyteinna Leak, 24, was arrested by DCSO for domestic violence.
• William Jordan Bailey, 38, was arrested by DCSO for possession of stolen motor vehicle, driving while license revoked and ctitious or altered title registration card or tag.
Alonza Eric Barton, 45, was arrested by DCSO for possessing methamphetamine, obstructing justice, possessing drug paraphernalia and injury to personal property.
July 2
• Alex Latrell Farrior, 24, was arrested by DCSO for assault on a female.
Tyia Nyesha Thomas, 50, was arrested by the Beulaville PD for felony possession of cocaine, conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possessing marijuana up to 1/2 ounce, possessing marijuana paraphernalia and open container alcohol violation.
July 3
Taylor Blake Fortin, 30, was arrested by the NC Highway Patrol for driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and failure to maintain lane control.
• Francisco Lizardi Vargas, 50, was arrested by the Kenansville Police Department for disorderly conduct.
Franchesca Dominique Fennell, 27, was arrested by DCSO for breaking and entering to terrorize or injure.
Megan Rae Lacomb, 30, was arrested by DCSO for possession of stolen rearm, felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance, shoplifting by concealment of goods, driving while license revoked (not impaired revocation), carrying a concealed gun and possessing stolen goods or property.
THURSDAY
10
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
11
SUNDAY
13
MONDAY
14
Chinquapin High School Class of 1957 holds 68th reunion
The 1957 graduating class of Chinquapin High School recently celebrated their 68th annual reunion at Rose Hill Restaurant. There were 11 classmates in attendance, along with three spouses and four guests.
Standing from left to right: Eloise Sholar Register, Judy Sholar (spouse), Jimmy Sholar, Bobby Ray Lanier, Leon Sanderson, Jimmie Bostic, Johnny Pickett (mascot), Billy Pickett (spouse) and Bobby Bar eld (spouse).
Seated from left to right: Joanne Sanderson Lasseter, Mary Sue Gurganus Sanderson, Marie James Hinson, Berena Sholar Alston, Anita Swinson Pickett and Emily Batchelor Bar eld. Not pictured: Dana Bostic, Jimmie Bostic’s daughter, Sherry Myers, Marie Hinson’s daughter, and Albert Sauls.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Anita Marie Savage, Duplin County Register of Deeds issued 25 marriage licenses for the month ending on June 30, 2025.
James Kristopher Clendenin, Chinquapin, and Felicity Mckayla Evans, Wallace;
• Gerardo Gabriel Gonzalez Borrallas, Dudley, and Elisa Irumi Hernandez Perez, Dudley;
• Yaiko Nikita Murray, Rose Hill, and Robert Randolph Watson, Rose Hill; Lynn Bryant Maready, Wallace, and Hazel Marie Quinn, Wallace;
• Cristopher Javier Contreras Ramos, Rose Hill, and Karen Saray Fuentes Alvarado, Rose Hill;
• Gary Steaven Toler, Wallace, and Minnie Whaley Jones, Wallace;
• Julius Antonio Medford, Kenansville, and Gabriella Marie Rose, Warsaw;
• Angela Marvette Williamson, Clinton, and Sunday Patrick, Clinton;
• Pamela Campbell Mcdew, Clinton, and Artis William Smith, Clinton;
Ethan Ray Bedding eld, Kenansville, and Melissa Botello, Kenansville;
• Fredys Antonio Cruz Alvarez, Teachey, and Keylin Alexandra Medina Garcia, Teachey; Carlos Ernesto Meza, Rose Hill, and Carletta Chasten Brown, Rose Hill;
• Matthew Bryant Hinkle, Pink Hill, and Michaela Elaine Dixon, Grimesland;
• Lisbet Jaime Cervantes, Pink Hill, and Jose Luis Osorio Rivas, Warsaw;
• Sarah Carmen Kunz, Teachey, and Eric Lee Murr, Teachey; Jeremy Adam Thomas, Pink Hill, and Courtney Elizabeth Rhodes, Beulaville;
• Da’quan Coremaine
West, Wallace, and Karissa Belle Sullivan, Wallace;
• Shamika Adore Chaney, Kenansville, and Hydiea Abal Anje Sauls, Kenansville; Mardoqueo Oved Angel Garcia, Mount Olive, and Acsa Herrar Solis, Mount Olive;
• James Ryan Gore, Faison, and Ashley Renee Harvell, Mount Olive;
• Joshua Brent Maready, Beulaville, and Courtney Renee Martin, Beulaville;
• Terrell Eugene Grant, Wallace, and Catyra Monique Scott, Wallace;
• Jennifer Renee Halinka, Magnolia, and Leaha Marie Robbins, Magnolia;
• Nancy Lopez Aguirre, Wallace, and Ricardo Lopez Haschak, Rose Hill;
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@duplinjournal.com | Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
DUPLIN happening
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County:
July 12
Family fun awaits at Memorial Park 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Warsaw Parks and Recreation will host a Community Fun in the Park event July 12 at Memorial Park. The free event will kick o at 11 a.m. and will feature food, fellowship and fun activities for the whole family. 309 Memorial Drive, Warsaw Volleyball tournament at Boney Mill Pond Park
10 a.m.
Visit the Boney Mill Pond Park in Wallace on July 12 at 10 a.m. for an exciting day of volleyball hosted by the Wilmington Beach Academy. The tournament features 4-on-4 divisions for both men and women, with upper and lower skill levels. The registration fee is $100 per team, and cash prizes await the champions. Food and drinks will be available on-site.
128 Rose Ave, Wallace 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 14
Duplin County Public Library photography workshop
The Duplin County Public Library is inviting all third to seventh-grade shutterbugs to join their Summer Photography Workshop at the Beulaville branch on Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. July 14 to Aug. 4. Kids will learn how to frame, focus and capture amazing shots. No experience is needed, but spots are limited.
807 E Broad St., Beulaville.
County Commissioners Meeting
6 p.m.
The Board of County Commissioners will meet on July 14 at 6 p.m. at 224 Seminary St. in Kenansville.
The Board of County Commissioners meets the rst Monday of each month except for holidays and the months of May and June, where the board will also meet on the third Monday. For information, call 910-296-2100.
224 Seminary Street, Kenansville
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COURTESY PHOTO
Vietnam veteran helps keep stories alive
What began as an attempt to avoid the draft turned into a decades-long journey across the Paci c
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
WARSAW — Earl Rouse never wanted to leave home.
“I enlisted running away from the draft,” he said with a laugh. Born and raised in Warsaw, Rouse graduated from James Kenan High School and enlisted in the Coast Guard in July 1965. He chose the Coast Guard because the recruiter promised him that he would stay close to home and be able to visit his parents every weekend, but he was sent straight into the Vietnam War instead. Rouse and about six of his friends from Duplin County signed up and served together in many of the same stations. During basic training at Cape May, New Jersey, they were given a choice: Hawaii or Alaska.
“I signed up for Hawaii. When we got there, we had to race to the boat (Cutter Bering Strait) where we were stationed,” Rouse told Duplin Journal.
Instead of a sunny tour on the beaches of Sand Island, Hawaii, Rouse was immediately shipped o to Japan (Cutter Ocean Station Victor) and into the Paci c theater.
He would spend the majority of his active-duty career in the Guam and Saigon areas. Pulled into service in the Vietnam War, Rouse was a yeoman on the boat. Part of his duties in Guam included ferrying 82 boats from Subic Bay, Philippines, to Da Nang, Vietnam. Patrolling borders and facilitating medical checks on shing boats were a large part of the job in that area. Rouse was responsible for a lot of clerical activities, including transmitting target coordinates to bomber planes.
home to visit his family, as he had been promised from the beginning.
“I enlisted running away from the
Earl Rouse
Rouse recalled being stationed at the Loran Station in Yap.
“That was a year of paradise,” he said. In this rural island, natives went around half-dressed and participated in ceremonial dances sporadically throughout the day. Rouse shared how he took pictures and Kodak refused to develop the lm because they thought the people were being exploited.
“I told them this was how the
people lived and dressed normally, and they developed the lm and sent rolls with it. We never had to pay for the lm again,” he said, “it was like we were National Geographic.”
Some of those pictures are on display now in an exhibit honoring Rouse’s service at the Duplin County Veterans Museum.
Now in his 70s, Rouse serves as the museum’s curator. For 12 years, he has told the stories of Duplin County soldiers from the Revolutionary War through the more recent wars in Afghanistan. The stories were passed along with the uniforms and artifacts or researched by Rouse himself. Rouse remembers and retells them all as if the soldiers
were all his high school buddies.
Two oors of stories are housed in the historic Victorian Best home, originally donated to the Warsaw Presbyterian Church. Near the entrance to the museum stands a book more than 400 pages long, listing all the veterans from Duplin County. When you ask Rouse if he knows any other veterans in the area, he proudly answers, “Yeah, I know about 2,000 of them.”
Rouse eventually returned to North Carolina during his active duty service. His last station in July 1971 was at the Aircraft Repair and Supply Center in Elizabeth City. From there, he was able to make trips
During some of these visits, he met and fell in love with a girl from Warsaw. Because she didn’t want to leave the area, Rouse left active duty and became a part of the Coast Guard Reserves. He took a job at General Electric, settled down and started a family. Rouse credited his boss at GE for helping him make the rank of petty o cer rst class.
“He pushed me on to every opportunity (to better myself),” he recalled. Rouse served in the Coast Guard Reserves from August 1972 to December 1988. He was stationed in Oak Island, Southport and Buxton as well as Yorktown, Virginia, before nishing his service at Wrightsville Beach.
As a retiree now, all the stations “treat (him) like a king” when he visits. At Wrightsville Beach, his last station of duty, they still allow him to come and sh o their dock with them. Overall, Rouse loved his time in the service.
“I’d go back now, if they let me,” he told Duplin Journal.
Local veteran brings Marine values to community service
Sam Dixon served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a top-secret mission in Vietnam
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
BEAUTANCUS — Sam Dixon is an understated man. Born into a farming family in Beautancus, he became enamored with the history of the Marine Corps as a young boy. At 18, he enlisted.
“The Marine Corps teaches you pride. Once a Marine, always a Marine,” Dixon said. “It is the pride that you are taught and the attitude you have toward winning.”
From 1962 to 1983, Dixon served in the Marine Infantry in California, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and overseas. For 21 years, he loved that every day presented a new challenge, and he worked his way up the ranks to become a rst sergeant. Although six years were spent on recruitment, most of Dixon’s service required such a high clearance
that he still does not feel free to talk about it.
It was that high clearance that pulled him into the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968.
Called in on a top clearance mission, Dixon was wounded at least three times and awarded three Purple Hearts. He recalled one wound to his leg, stating, “I had to just lie there in the grass with this shrapnel wound burning in my leg, and there was no pain medication, no crying out, nothing you could do but just lie there.”
When he was wounded, Dixon chose not to notify his family. He felt that keeping them from having to “sit around and wonder” about his condition made him stronger. Overcoming the pain taught him an important lesson: Humans can survive anything.
“I fought for this country, not for what it could do for me, but for what I could do for this country,” Dixon said. “Giving back (to our communities and others in need) is just the American way. America is a great country. If we have to bleed in a foreign land, that’s
such a small sacri ce for what this country gives back to us. It’s given a lot back to me.”
In Vietnam, Dixon served in “Waste City” during the Tet O ensive — one of the longest and bloodiest engagements, yet the worst pain he experienced was when he came home.
“When I came home, people spat in my face and called me a killer,” Dixon recalled. “You don’t expect that; it tore my heart out.”
It took years of therapy to get past the mental anguish and anger this caused Dixon.
“I was 60 years old when I nally realized I couldn’t win the war by myself; I had to have people help me,” he said. “The mind is a great tool, but sometimes tools wear out and have to be xed again. Therapy did that for me. When a veteran goes to therapy, I think it is the greatest thing that can happen to him.”
Now Dixon has a new perspective on the protesters.
“They were just exercising their rights, the rights we fought for,” he says now. “We didn’t sign up for a con ict, we
signed up to defend our country,” Dixon said. “We signed up to defend our 100% right to freedom. Where we were ordered and what we were ordered to do was just a part of it.”
Dixon had years of military training in leadership and a natural talent for numbers. In 1983, that helped him transition out of service and into other positions in Jacksonville, including banking. Although he took college classes to further challenge himself, he never pursued a degree.
“It wasn’t going to secure me a better job,” he explained. “Getting a degree is now something that everyone needs, but if an opportunity comes to do something from your natural talent, you should do it,” Dixon told Duplin Journal.
After 18 years of working in Jacksonville, Dixon returned to the family farm in Beautancus and bought 15 acres to retire on. Now in retirement, Dixon supports his family and community as an active member of Bear Marsh Missionary Baptist Church, Beautancus Commu-
nity Center and several veteran organizations.
“The VA, VFW, DAV, American Legion and Military Order of the Purple Hearts are all great organizations that do a lot for the community and veterans,” Dixon said. “I’ve got 20 years experience with the VA and nothing but positive to say about it. They do any kind of medical treatment you need; if they don’t have it there, they have a community service where they partner with someone within the community to get it done.”
Dixon believes community service is just part of the American way.
“I think every young person should serve in the military, Reserves or the National Guard because they support the local community,” Dixon said.
“My mother was a great woman. She was very religious ... and she taught (her seven children) to support others. If you don’t give back some of your talent and help those in need, what would they do? That’s the American way, and it’s what we are also taught in the military.”
PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Earl Rouse, a Coast Guard veteran and longtime curator of the Duplin County Veterans Museum, explains photographs from his memorial wall — now featured in a special exhibit honoring his decades of service.
draft.”
Earl Rouse, a Warsaw native and James Kenan High graduate, joined the U.S. Coast Guard in July 1965. He is pictured here during basic training at Cape May, New Jersey.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
A reminder of what’s so great about America
We have the most powerful economy in the history of the world because we have largely embraced a free market system.
IN HONOR OF AMERICA’S recent 249th
birthday, let’s take a moment to celebrate some of the most incredible things about her. We are a nation of settlers. This is the country where ancestors risked — and often lost — their lives in pursuit of religious freedom and opportunity. From the May ower to the Oregon Trail, they persevered in extreme hardship. Davy Crockett and Laura Ingalls Wilder continue to inspire children.
We defeated the mighty British Empire to secure our independence. American soldiers endured the cold, disease and death of Valley Forge. Under the instruction of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian, the Army emerged with greater discipline, unity and skill.
Our country’s founding documents are marvels. The Declaration of Independence eloquently lays out the purpose of government — to secure our God-given, unalienable rights. The Constitution, drawing from the wisdom of the Bible, history and political philosophers, uses checks and balances to limit the government’s power.
At the cost of hundreds of thousands of Union lives, we threw o the scourge of slavery. Our heroes are too numerous to mention, but include Nathan Hale, Harriet Tubman, Teddy Roosevelt and Billy Graham. Our land is beautiful. Consider the vastness of the Grand Canyon, the power of Niagara Falls and the stunning views in Canyonlands National Park. Our beaches, from Hawaii to California to the East Coast, draw people from around the world.
We conquered the continent with the Transcontinental Railroad and later, the Interstate Highway System. We completed the Empire State Building in less than 14 months. We built the Hoover Dam. We carved the faces
AP PHOTO
Workers laying tracks for Central Paci c Railroad pause for a moment at camp “Victory,” a few miles from Promontory, Utah, on April 28, 1869. The “last spike” was driven on May 10, 1869 in Promontory to complete the rst transcontinental railroad.
of our greatest presidents into the side of a mountain.
We created the rst airplane in 1903. Less than 70 years later, we put a man on the moon.
We have the most powerful economy in the history of the world because we have largely embraced a free market system. The average American enjoys luxuries, like air conditioning, air travel, cell phones and microwaves, that the richest people 200 years ago could scarcely have dreamed of.
We have the best athletes in the world.
We have more than twice as many Olympic medals as the next-closest country — the Soviet Union, which doesn’t even exist
anymore. American football is way more exciting than the world’s version of that sport.
We have the mightiest military in the history of the world. We played pivotal roles in winning World War I, World War II and the Cold War. Our B-2 bombers can take o from Missouri, successfully bomb a buried Iranian nuclear site and return home without landing. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have given their lives for the freedom we enjoy. Here are two ways leftist cynics attempt to disparage America. For one, they’ll claim America is de ned by her faults, not her accomplishments. Note well that they don’t apply that standard to their heroes. In 1969, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy drove o a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island. That accident resulted in the death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. The left spent the next 40 years celebrating him anyway.
This hypocrisy shows the left doesn’t truly believe you should de ne countries or people by their aws. They just hope those who love America and her heroes do.
The left also attempts to sever our connection to this marvelous history. They tear down monuments to American heroes like Thomas Je erson and Christopher Columbus. They rename holidays. They teach children that America’s success comes from oppressing others. You aren’t just an individual. You are part of a family, which is part of a community, which is part of a state, which is part of a country. Celebrating your country is both good and natural. It should be easy to do when it’s the greatest country in the history of the world.
Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and host of the “Sharpening Arrows” podcast.
Terminate the Green New Scam now
Our $37-trillionin-debt government ought not be wasting taxpayer money on subsidies that are premised on an illegal regulation.
AS OF THIS WRITING, it’s impossible to know exactly how much Green New Scam spending has been cut by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Even members of Congress have no idea. But I’m not worried. President Donald Trump can terminate all Green New Spending any day he chooses.
Goldman Sachs estimated that the climate spending portion of the 2022 In ation Reduction Act (i.e., the Green New Scam) was worth about $1.2 trillion by 2032. The total may actually have been greater as it’s extraordinarily di cult to kill o federal subsidies.
By the time Trump was inaugurated, the Biden administration had spent somewhere around $150 billion of the money, including much in red states buying Republican politicians so that they would be reluctant to roll back the spending during opportunities for scal responsibility like the OBBBA.
The House version of the OBBBA may have cut as much as 50% of the remaining Green New Scam spending. The Senate version that passed on July 1 “gutted” what the House did, according to Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas). So where are we? Who knows. The good news is it really doesn’t matter.
Green New Scam spending on wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and utility-scale batteries is aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. The supposed need to reduce such emissions is factually premised on a 2009 determination, called the “endangerment nding,” by the Obama
EPA. The nding concluded that man-made emissions of greenhouse gases are harming the public health and welfare through global warming. Regardless of how you feel about climate science, the Supreme Court made the Obama EPA’s determination de facto illegal in its 2022 decision in West Virginia v. EPA. In that case, the Court determined that EPA requires the express authorization by Congress to engage in major undertakings such as greenhouse gas regulation. No such authorization has ever existed.
On Day 1 of his second term, Trump ordered the endangerment nding to be reviewed with an eye toward terminating it. Trump has, after all, repeatedly stated that he believes global warming is a “hoax.”
In April, Trump issued an executive order directing that regulations made illegal by recent Supreme Court decisions could be terminated summarily, and without the lengthy public notice and comment usually required by the Administrative Procedure Act. This makes total sense. Why keep illegal regulations in e ect?
If the illegal endangerment nding were terminated summarily there would be no factual basis for any Green New Scam spending. Trump could simply stop cutting checks for subsidies, thereby solving the Green New Scam problem.
The Trump administration, of course, would soon nd itself in court, but that is nothing new. And Trump would clearly have the high legal and moral ground: Our $37-trillion-in-debt government
ought not be wasting taxpayer money on subsidies that are premised on an illegal regulation.
Coincidentally, the EPA submitted just its proposal to roll back or terminate the endangerment nding to the White House O ce of Management and Budget this week. No one outside the government knows what’s in the proposal or when it would be issued. There are two general ways to accomplish rollback of the endangerment nding. The preferred way is what has been previously described. It’s quick and easy. The other way is to do it through standard public notice and comment, which will take longer and be much less certain in outcome. Both would wind up in court, but the preferred way tees up the issue better from a legal standpoint. Republicans are often squirrely when it comes to green issues, imagining that the public is more supportive of green policies than it really is. Trump had the courage to drop multiple 30,000-pound bombs on a nuclear facility in Iran. It is certainly much easier to simply terminate an illegal regulation we can’t a ord. He should just do it now. Steve Milloy, a biostatistician and lawyer, publishes JunkScience.com. This article was published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
Regenerative farming at the heart of Kornegay
Hereford Farms
Everything has a purpose on this third-generation family farm — even weeds
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
IN NORTHERN Duplin
County between the forks of the northeast Cape Fear River and Goshen Swamp, Kornegay Hereford Farms is entering its 76th year. Cecil and Jean Kornegay started the farm in 1949 with a family of four children. The farm continued a long-standing family tradition of growing row crops and raising livestock.
Today, their youngest daughter, Karen Scalf, and her husband, Gary, continue the farm with Heritage Hereford cattle and a micro dairy of Jerseys. A wife, mother, grandmother, and businesswoman, Karen Scalf juggles many hats. To stay balanced, she starts by putting herself rst, then by making decisions quickly using the C2 positive approach.
“Every decision is either positive or negative and has a compounding, cascading (C2) effect,” Scalf explained. “It is never, ever neutral.”
Mornings at the farm are a simple, repetitive process of checking and feeding the free -range ducks and caged chickens. Then it’s time for milking. Jersey cows are treated to a spa treatment at the milking shed, lovingly referred to as the Taj Mahal. Clean concrete hog slats surround the entrance while the shed itself is equipped with air conditioning and commercial milking equipment. Jersey cows are massaged, cleaned and talked to before the machine is attached to them.
“You can try to get a cow’s milk all day long, but they won’t release it to you if they are not comfortable,” Scalf explained. “The more comfortable a cow feels and the more they like you, the more cream they release as well.”
The Taj Mahal is a welcome respite from a hot summer’s day, and the cows come in with little coaxing. The milk is collected in large stainless steel containers that are still warm to the touch after just being removed from the cow. Later in the farm store, the fresh milk will be added to a larger vat of milk where it will be cooled, separated, bottled and sold. Some of the raw milk will also be churned into butter.
This micro dairy is part of how the farm has evolved under the current leadership; however, micro dairies remain controversial and heavily regulated. The sale of raw milk is illegal for human consumption due to concerns about the potential presence of illness-causing bacteria in the milk. Bad bacteria is a risk some people are willing to take for the proposed “miracle of milk” that
can only be found when milk is in its raw form. Raw milk is still a living thing; it carries bene cial bacteria and properties that support gut health, immunity and overall well-being when sourced correctly.
With a small, well-managed herd on a farm practicing regenerative agriculture, Kornegay Hereford Farms (KHFarms) is poised to be a choice that sources raw dairy right.
KHFarms also produces grass-fed beef for meat production. “Grass-fed beef has more oxygen in it,” Scalf said. “Red liquid in the packaging is not blood, it’s myoglobin. It is the liquid that carries the oxygen throughout the muscles, so the grass-fed beef is more healthy and nutrient-dense. Our meat has more moisture, and it doesn’t shrink on you. We have also had customers say it dethaws faster than other beef.”
Like her father, Scalf continues to raise Hereford cattle for breeding stock, but she has also expanded the farm’s beef market through RealFoods United.com. Through this business, farmers and gardeners come together to sell healthy foods and healing herbs directly to the consumer through the farm’s onsite store and website. Contributing to the food freedom movement and providing healthy food is a passion project that began with her desire to feed her own family nutritious meals.
Scalf believes that quality food helps restore balance to the body.
On KHFarms, every living thing has a job to do — even the weeds.
“The weeds provide shelter for the plants and shade from the heat,” Scalf explained. “I can also tell what the soil needs
agrees there are many challenges in keeping departments sta ed with volunteers, adding the state-required training to become certi ed as a reghter is a contributing factor.
“To reach the level of 1 and level 2, you’re talking about over 300 hours of training required,” Williams told Duplin Journal. “That’s a challenge for busy people to commit to that much time, as well as the cost.”
Williams also said the loss of volunteers has added to the time commitment of those who do serve the department, and that can result in burnout. That makes the need even greater.
“We de nitely need more re ghters trained for interior res,” he said.
Barwick agrees with Williams on the problem of burnout.
“The more people you have, the lighter the workload for each of them,” Barwick said. “I feel like the days of the old volunteer re department, when you had 50 people on a roster, each giving about 10% of their free time, may be gone. Now that we’ve dropped down to 15 or 20 people, they’re really getting burned out because now they’re giving 50% of their free time.”
by which weeds are growing in the garden.”
Good health starts with the soil and sourcing your food responsibly. Scalf has been vice president of the North Carolina Soil Health Coalition, Duplin County Farm Bureau and the Duplin County Cattleman’s Association. Now an active member of the Farm Bureau and Cattleman’s Association, she has been a voice for agriculture and an advocate for soil health.
Taking samples of dirt directly from di erent elds, Scalf explained soil health.
“There is a di erence between dirt and earth,” she said. “Dirt is what is left after you have overproduction. It lters through your hands like sand; there is nothing holding it together. But earth has nutrients to it. It smells di erent. It’s darker. It has glue dirt holding the soil particles together around the roots of plants. That’s what you want to see.”
Good or bad, this quality transfers to the food that is grown in or on that ground. Good soil produces food that meets your body’s needs quicker. You consume less and live healthier on nutrient dense foods. Bad soil has little nutrients to transfer to food, so we consume more of it and never feel as full or healthy.
“Our strength as a nation does not come from a strong military, but from the ability to feed ourselves,” Scalf said. “Without food and good health, we have no defense.”
Scalf encourages people to connect with local farmers and focus on restoring their health.
“What are you waiting for?” she said. “The farmer down the road needs you as much as you need the farmer.”
“Each re department in the state of North Carolina is rated by the Department of Insurance every ve years,” Barwick explained. “The rating they receive is called a ‘public protection classi cation.’ The better the grade they receive causes a parallel e ect on your homeowner’s insurance premiums.” Even a slight change in the public protection classi cation of a re department can have a dramatic e ect on a homeowner’s insurance policy. In some cases, it can more than double the rate, or even exceed that in some cases, according to Barwick.
Several years ago, a substation of the Kenansville Fire Department, near the corner of West Wards Bridge Road and Holland Road, was forced to close due to a lack of manpower. That has a ected homeowner insurance rates in that area.
Homeowners in the area are hoping the substation can be reopened. There will be a public hearing on the issue July 14 at 7 p.m. at Unity Methodist Church in Warsaw. Barwick hopes the substation will be able to bring in enough volunteers to reopen. However, their staing level would need to remain adequate to continue meeting the state insurance requirements.
“Otherwise, they’ll be right back to where they were when they had to close,” Barwick said.
In the meantime, Barwick and the re chiefs hope more residents will consider volunteering with their local re department.
“There’s always a need for volunteers,” Barwick said. “More than anything, we need structural re ghters.”
Barwick commended the volunteers who are making a signi cant commitment to ful ll the time requirements of the role.
“They’re doing the best they can under the circumstances,” he said.
Chinquapin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Chief Matthew Casey, who has been a volunteer at the department for 18 years, said he has had to go on a few calls alone because of volunteers not being available. Casey told Duplin Journal there are many challenges to rural re departments, including the cost of equipment. A new re truck that meets the standards of regulations today can cost between $500,000 and $1 million. One of their expensive rescue units, Rescue 1, was damaged by gunre not long ago in a gang-related shooting across the street from the department on N.C. Highway 41. The volunteer re departments are not the only ones su ering when there is a lack of adequate sta ng, according to Barwick. Homeowners also su er because it a ects their insurance rates.
PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Farm assistant April milks Cookie in the Kornegay Hereford Farms’ micro dairy.
Karen Scalf, Kornegay Hereford Farms owner, poses with one of the Jersey cows for the micro dairy.
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Chinquapin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Chief Matthew Casey has followed in the steps of his father to become chief of the department. He has been a volunteer for 18 years and is both a re ghter and a paramedic.
Homegrown candle business nds its ame in Calypso
Local entrepreneurs ignite passion for candles and expand with 160 fragrance options
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — Husband-andwife duo Jimmy Tyndall and Daniela Nieves have transformed a family hobby into a thriving business in Calypso. Heart’s Desire Candle Company was established in 2007 and initially operated from their home. However, due to various life events, the business became dormant for a period of time.
A decade later, the couple started up again with 24 to 25 di erent fragrances along with the tools they had stored in their barn. They began ful lling small orders from their home once again. Over time, customers expressed a desire for a physical location where they could experience the products in person. In the fall of 2023, they decided to return to business full time and began searching for a shop location.
“When you step outside of your home, it is a risk,” Tyndall said. “It takes a lot of faith to jump out there, but this happened so organically that it was hard to say no.”
In his full-time job, Tyndall serves as the executive administrator for the Town of Faison and is also a part-time water operator for Calypso. Nieves works full time at the Sampson County Health Department.
As a team, it was their goal to set up shop in Faison, but the opportunities were not opening there for them.
“If the door doesn’t open, we’re not going to pick the lock,” Tyndall said. Then they met the owner of a vintage building in Calypso.
“They were very gracious and welcoming to us,” Tyndall said. “It was not where we thought we
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several times. ... Nobody has helped.”
Turner had a printout of her water bills for over a year. She said the highest bill prior to her current one was $88.39, with the average being around $62.
“It’s not my fault the water meters are not working,” Turner added. “I’d like for it to be adjusted.”
The commissioners did not address Turner’s remarks during the public forum, but the subject came up during the town manager’s report. Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland told Turner he would be contacting her about her bill.
During closing remarks, Commissioner Delreese Simmons said that all bills were going up due to a recent increase in water and sewer bills amounting to 8% for each service, meaning water and sewer bills total increases amount to 16%.
Simmons suggested some of the rapid increases could be attributed to errors by the town.
“For the past two years, the rate has not been put into the system correctly,” Simmons said. “That means some bills may go up higher than 16%. Once that’s corrected, everybody’s water bill will go up.”
Holland con rmed an issue regarding the system had been discovered.
“It was not put into the system correctly,” Holland said. “We are working to nd out exactly how much.” Water and sewer bills are just one of the challenges facing Mount Olive when it comes to providing water and sewer services to the town. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has placed speci c restrictions on just how much wastewater can be run through the system.
The department issued a special order of consent to the town in April, stating the town was exceeding its ow rates through the wastewater treatment facility, which a ects how much
would be, but here we are, and everyone has been very welcoming to us.”
On March 18, 2024, Heart’s Desire Candle Company opened to the public at 109 W. Trade St. in Calypso. In their shop, they o er a variety of products, including soaps, lip balms, lotions, shampoos, hand sanitizers, candles, wax melts, re llable plug-ins, car fragrances, beard oils, beard balms and sugar scrubs. The fragrance list grew to 160 primarily as customers requested speci c smells to be found or created. Searching for the right ingredients is like an Easter egg hunt: It’s a challenge
Heart’s Desire is proud to take on. Scents are diverse, from Hershey’s trademark chocolate to layered scents like leather vanilla and spiced fruit cider.
“The whole premise of this shop was to be able to o er the public something that we feel can stand up against anybody in quality and at a price that makes sense,” Tyndall said. “We are unique in a lot of ways; the sky’s the limit as far as what you want.”
Heart’s Desire is unique because it can make the same fragrance available in a variety of products, mix the ratios, and do all of this at an a ordable price. Most orders are also available within 48 hours. All scents are available year-round; one can purchase Christmas tree candles in July if they desire.
Heart’s Desire can also do custom pours.
“If it is heat resistant and will hold up in the microwave or oven, we’ll use it,” Tyndall said.
Some interesting pours in the past have included family heirloom china and antique brass bowls.
Heart’s Desire is very picky about their ingredients; raw materials have been sourced from California to the Carolinas.
“Ninety-eight percent of our fragrances are all skin safe and ve-star quality,” Tyndall said.
treated wastewater is being discharged into the Northeast Cape Fear River.
The special order of consent states, “Noncompliance withnal e uent limitations constitutes causing and contributing to pollution of the waters of this state.”
The state has placed a moratorium on the amount of wastewater that can be discharged through the town’s treatment system. The moratorium prohibits the town from o ering water and sewage services to some new businesses in the area.
Making matters even more challenging is the increase in drainage issues because of the recent heavy rains. This causes debris to accumulate in drainage ditches, which places an even greater load on the existing wastewater infrastructure, Holland explained to Duplin Journal.
One way the town hopes to deal with the debris is with the purchase of a Schwarze 2020 A4 Storm System. The board approved the purchase of the used unit at a cost of $225,000 during Monday’s meeting.
Mount Olive utilities director Jordan Conley made a presentation to the board showing a video of the unit at work. While the unit resembles a street sweeper, it is substantially more complex, with special parts that clean debris from the road and vacuum additional debris from drains and ditches.
In addition to the current restrictions on wastewater treatment outlined in the state agreement, it also lists many inspections and repairs that will be required in the near future.
In other business, the town issued certi cates of appreciation to several of the town’s police o cers and employees, including Chief of Police Jason Hughes. The commissioners also approved a proclamation honoring resident Danny King for his dedication and contributions to the community.
The next town board meeting will take place July 28.
Sample waxes are available for customers to explore each scent before placing a custom order. At Heart’s Desire, any fragrance can be crafted into a wide range of products.
“We search really hard to nd materials that are mostly vegan, always cruelty-free and natural. Our wax is a soy-coconut natural blend.”
Now starting into their second year at the Calypso location, Heart’s Desire is always thinking of new ways to appeal to customers.
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after Iraq’s attack, Davis’ track as corpsman changed.
“Two men came walking through in camou age,” Davis shared in his speech. “They sat us all down and said, ‘This is your one free opportunity. If you want to try out, be at the pool at such and such hour.’”
Another sailor, Rick Ellsworth, decided to go with Davis to try out.
“I had no idea what a Navy SEAL was, but we both made it,” Davis said.
According to Davis, training to be a Navy SEAL is as tough as its public perception.
“At rst, you think it’s going to be six months of your life and it will be done,” he said. “It’s not like that. You start convincing yourself if you can just make it through the day, I’ll be OK. That eventually becomes, if I can just make it through one more minute.”
Getting through the training gave Davis enormous con dence.
“I’ve never let anybody tell me I could not do something,” he said. “I’ve never let anybody tell me to quit.”
The Navy SEALs have been in every major con ict since its inception.
“Very few people know that during the operation in Somalia known as Black Hawk Down, there were four Navy SEALs on the ground with them that day from SEAL Team 6,” Davis said, adding that it was not publicized because SEAL operate in classied operations.
Navy SEALs evolved from what were originally called UDTs, meaning underwater demolition teams. They began to become involved in more extensive operations during the Korean War.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress for $100 million to develop an unconventional warfare group. Kennedy handpicked a World War II enlisted man named
“At the end of the day, it is up to the customer whether or not that door stays open or not,” Tyndall said. “So far, we have been very well received. This business pays for its right to be here.”
Tyndall and Nieves do what they do for the love of it; labor costs have not been added to the products.
“For the past two years, the rate has not been put into the system correctly. That means some bills may go up higher than 16%.”
Commissioner Delreese Simmons
Roy Bowman to create the rst Navy SEAL team.
Bowman came to Fort Bragg and talked with a captain of one of the Special Forces groups.
“I’ll do you a favor,” Davis said Bowman told the captain.
“I’ll teach your guys how to scuba dive if you teach my guys how to jump out of planes.”
There were just two Navy SEAL teams formed in 1962, one on the East Coast and another on the West Coast. The team on the West Coast became involved in Vietnam. The East Coast team would go on to become engaged in a Russian nuclear scare during what would become known as the Bay of Pigs in Cuba.
Davis served during the Clinton administration and spent much of his time in South America, as well as a few deployments through the Mediterranean. In South America, his SEAL Team 4 unit served with the CIA in attempting to stop the ow of drugs into the United States.
“We always worked hand in hand with the CIA,” Davis said. “They’re secretive. They are not a ghting force. The CIA gave us missions they were not equipped to do. We would jump into di erent countries in South America and watch drug lords and note when they would send shipments. We would pass that info to the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).” Davis said each SEAL team has their own specialty. There is a team trained for Asia and
“We entered this thing together, and that makes a huge di erence. It’s really easy to work together in this because it’s what we do; It doesn’t feel like work,” they agree. Still, they both have their roles to play in the business. Nieves handles all the meticulous, detailed aspects like pictures and labels, as well as their online presence on Etsy and Instagram. Tyndall handles Facebook and all the math; he can tell you what every component in the store costs. Though they both manufacture the products, Tyndall is the primary maker.
“Everyone likes their stu to smell good. There seems to be a stereotype that only women want their stu to smell good, yet I’m the guy (here making stu to smell good),” Tyndall said. While both have great support from their full-time jobs for the venture, they recognize that work comes rst.
“As much as we love this,” Tyndall said, “it does not interfere with what we do for a living. It can’t.”
Heart’s Desire Candle Company is open from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
another one for South America. There was also a team trained for snow operations.
One mission Navy SEALs performed that not many people are aware of involved the days of NASA’s Space Shuttle launches.
“The Space Shuttle had rocket boosters that would be jettisoned after launch,” Davis said. “They would splash down in the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. A SEAL Team was tasked with securing the sites around the water where the rocket boosters went in so the Russians could not get them.” Davis shared there are many details he and other Navy SEALs cannot talk about due to the highly sensitive and classi ed nature of many of their missions. He was not the only former Navy SEAL who is a Duplin County native attending the patriotic observance dinner last Thursday. Fellow SEAL veteran Niko Bouboulis was recognized by Davis.
After serving as a SEAL, Davis eventually left the U.S. Navy and joined the Army National Guard. He was deployed three times after 9/11 and was injured in 2008.
“It was pretty signi cant,” Davis said. “I broke my neck and my back.”
Despite his injuries, the National Guard kept him listed on active duty until his retirement.
“I’m far from a hero,” Davis said. “I’m just a guy who served with a bunch of heroes.”
Many other veterans from all branches of the military also attended the dinner.
During the program, the Masons from St. John’s Lodge 13 presented checks to the Wallace-based Feed Our Hungry Children Ministry and to the Duplin County Shrine Club to transport children in need of care to Shriners Hospitals for Children. The Kenansville Lodge is the 13th-oldest Masonic Lodge in North Carolina. Its building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Husband-and-wife duo Jimmy Tyndall and Daniela Nieves work seamlessly together. Their son, Alex, is also learning to help make the products.
WATER
VETERANS
DUPLIN SPORTS
Bill Good, who has three daughters and a wife who graduated from Richlands and two more children at the Onslow County high school, takes over a Wildcats team that went 9-2 last season.
GOOD VIBRATIONS
and 12-3 in Coastal 3A Conference action the next three seasons.
Byrd returned to Jacksonville to be the o ensive coordinator for the Cardinals.
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
RICHLANDS — Bill Good and the Wildcats have a point to make this fall.
Richlands and its new head coach feel, despite losing 22 seniors from an 9-2 team, they will be a force on Friday nights.
“The big thing with our kids is that they want to prove everyone wrong,” Good said. “Sure, we lost 20-plus seniors, but we had some players playing down on JV that got some good reps.”
Good replaces Pat Byrd, who went 25-21 in ve seasons. Richlands hit rock bottom during the COVID-19 pandemic but recovered from an 0-8 campaign in 2021 to go 22-11 overall
Tigers,
JK’s Ronald Ramirez was the Tigers’ secondleading scorer last season.
Good, who was the defensive coordinator, is putting together a sta . So far he has Eddie Floyd and John Anderson on board. Last fall, Floyd was the head coach of the junior varsity team and Anderson the JV o ensive coordinator.
“I found out late in the game about the opening, so we’re a little behind.”
Good said. “I put it for it before coach (Gene) Boley came, but the timing wasn’t right. But, yes, I was surprised by the o er, even though coach Byrd told me he was pushing for me to get the job. It’s been a process getting here.”
It is the rst head coaching assignment for Good, 40, who will teach civics and American history after being an in-school suspension di-
rector the past three years. He also taught at Trexler Middle School for ve years and has been active in the community for more than a decade.
“I’ve coached most of these players since they were 5 years old and playing rec ball,” said the retired Marine who hails from Pennsylvania. “This is home for me and my family. I’m excited, and the kids are excited.
“It’s my 10th year here, and while a lot of decisions have to be made, it’s a good time nonetheless.”
Richlands opens the season Aug. 22 against Southwest Onslow, a team it has beaten two years straight following a three-decade losing streak.
The Wildcats will play in the revamped Coastal Conference, which includes 5A schools Northside-Jacksonville, West Carteret, Havelock, Dixon and Croatan and 4A Swansboro.
JK, WRH and ED look to be top the contenders in the newly formed conference following the NCHSAA’s move from four to eight classi cations
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WARSAW — Duplin County is known for its prep football, yet over the last two decades, soccer has grown at a faster pace, and success has come raining down on its trio of 2A teams: James Kenan, Wallace-Rose Hill and East Duplin. The parity and rivalries came
ND’s Addy Higginbotham was named District 2 Player of the Year, and teammate Lilly Fulghum is the top pitcher
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — Five Duplin County Players were named to the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association’s all-state list, with North Duplin’s Addy Higginbotham and Lilly Fulghum leading the parade of talent.
Higginbotham, Duplin Journal’s Ms. Softball, was the Player of the Year in Region 2, while Fulghum was the Pitcher of the Year after taking the O ensive Player of the Year in Duplin two weeks earlier.
East Duplin’s Karsyn Parker, who was a Heart of a Champion winner, and James Kenan slugger Jourdan Joe also made rst-team status in the 2A classi cation.
Higginbotham, who will play at Wingate University, hit .560 with seven doubles, eight triples, a home run, 13 RBI and 28 runs.
She was a four-year starter who, like Fulghum, contributed to the Rebels’ winning ways from her rst day on the diamond.
Fulghum, who has already committed to play at UNC Charlotte, hit .632 with eight doubles, three triples and seven homers. She went 6-2 in the circle with a 0.98 ERA, whi ng 55 and walking 24 as the Rebels cut her
to a peak last fall when all three nished with 10-2 marks atop the East Central 2A Conference.
The Panthers stay in the ECC as a 5A, while the 4A Tigers and Bulldogs form the power source of a new league, the Swine Valley Conference. Meanwhile, North Duplin, which has struggled to nd success on the pitch, moves from 1A to 2A and remains in what was previously the Carolina 1A Conference.
Duplin’s Big 3 have produced top- ight talent
JK, ED and WRH have solid programs that are among the
best in the East, and will still play one another as nonconference foes, and perhaps that will help one Duplin school from knocking out another Duplin school early in the playo s. Also, the NCHSAA is moving away from automatic bids and will seed schools by RPI ratings, which will help Duplin schools who frequently beat proven contenders.
Wallace-Rose Hill’s talent pipe has produced such stars as Maynor Espinosa (2018), Jeyri Cano (2015), Hector Reyes-Zavala (2020), Brando Romero (2023) and Alex Zepeda (2024),
Richlands’ Bill Good takes over the gridiron program
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ND’s Marissa Bernal hit .447 with ve doubles, four triples and two homers
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE
Angelina Cavallaro
Wallace-Rose Hill, volleyball
To the surprise of no one in Duplin County, Angelina Cavallaro nailed her summer audition.
The two-time Ms. Volleyball recently reserved a spot on the NC Coastal Volleyball’s 17U Premiere team.
Cavallaro, a rising senior at Wallace-Rose Hill, got onto the elite squad as an outside hitter/defensive specialist.
But on the prep circuit, she’s a scoring machine.
The Bulldogs start practicing the rst week of August and open the season in nine weeks.
That’s far too long for the volleyball-crazed Cavallaro, who last season was all about scoring, swinging her way to 401 kills and 94 aces.
She was rst in the 2A East in kills and No. 19 among all classi cations. She was fourth in aces in 2A and 19th in the state.
WRH went 21-3 and won the ECC, though this season a move to the Swine Valley Conference will include matches against powerhouse programs at Midway and Princeton.
innings down from 2024 and let Ady Spence (9-1, 0.41 ERA) hurl about 65% of the innings.
Spence needed the break, and it worked out well to change pitchers during a game.
Fulghum, who usually came on in relief of Spence, was gold.
Parker, Joe, Bernal, ’Cat pair join elite list
Parker, the Panthers’ leado hitter, hit .408, scoring 29 times and driving in 16. Her 31 hits were the third-most in Duplin last spring. The rising junior hit .435 with 32 runs and 16 RBIs during her rst campaign.
Joe was a feared hitter in the ECC. She hit .529 with seven doubles, a triple, six home runs and a .581 on-base percentage.
Richlands’ Makenzie Goin and LeNayah Jackson were all-state players in the 3A classi cation.
Goin (15-5, 1.09 ERA) was fourth in the state in strikeouts with 282 and had a mere 17 walks in 1522⁄3 innings.
Jackson hit .412 with 10 doubles, two triples, a home run and 33 runs as Richlands won the Coastal 3A Conference and advanced to the fourth round of the playo s before ending their season 20-6.
The mark is believed to be the best for the Wildcats since the sport went to the fast-pitch format in 1995.
The addition of Bernal, a
Baseball is alive, barking in Kinston via Bird Dawgs
The Frontier League baseball team hosts teams from the North, South, Midwest and up and down the East Coast
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
KINSTON — Fans often go to Grainger Stadium to catch a rising star before he explodes in the major leagues.
While it might be like nding a needle in a haystack, the process of watching and waiting has continued in Kinston during warm summer nights since 1903.
Kinston, which had a long afliation with the Cleveland Indiana and last season with the Texas Rangers, has baseball considered similar to Single-A ball.
The Down East Bird Dawgs are a Frontier League team that replaced the Down East Wood Ducks, which were in Kinston for eight seasons.
Here’s what fans can expect: Good baseball at a price tag that is less than half of seeing the Braves play in Truist Park.
Kinston has two long homestands in both July and August. Tickets are $10 from Sunday to Thursday and $14 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Friday is the start of a three-game set against the New York Boulders. The opener is Mascot Appreciation Night. Saturday is Jersey Giveaway Night, and the nale features a Christmas in July theme.
Kinston, which is 20-27 in league action entering this week, will roll out the red carpet for a three-game set against the Brockton Rox on July 29-31.
The host Atlantic Division-leading Sussex Mills on Aug. 5-9 and the NJ Jackals on Aug. 19-23.
The Down East Bird Dawgs are one of ve Atlantic Division
teams. The Frontier League has four divisions and a total of 23 clubs.
Teams have fun mascot names — Mississippi Mud Monsters, Florence Y’alls, Lake Erie Crushers, Trois-Rivieres Aigles, Windy City Thunderbolts and Evansville Otters. Three teams are in Canada. Grainger (3,400) has the lowest seating capacity in the Frontier, which has stadiums that hold 5,000 to 6,000. The biggest is Ottawa Stadium, which sits 10,332 at full capacity.
Players in the professional independent league earn an average salary of $1,500 per month, though they are given lodging and a per diem for road trips. So they are on the eld for the love of the game and to pursue
their career goals, most of which is to break into “The Show” at one of MLB’s 30 stadiums.
While football is still preferred by 53% of all sports fans, baseball is second at 27%, according to the Pew Research Institute. Basketball is next at 8%. Soccer and hockey slip in with 3% each. Baseball is one of the few sports during hot and humid nights in July and early August, making it the only “game” in town other than hijinks with a ball on the beach. Kinston has had trouble keeping a baseball team in Grainger and did not have professional pinstripes in the dugout from 2012-16. The Wood Ducks left last season following their nal game.
junior who hit .447 with ve doubles, four triples and two homers, brings the total of rst-team all-state picks to seven.
Karrie Obie of Roxbury Community and Chloe Chappell of DH Holmes were the Players of the Year winners in 2A and 1A, respectively.
Duplin oods District 2 list
The NCSCA made its all-district selections in the third week of June. The District 2 list, which includes the above-mentioned players, covers Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Samson and Wayne counties.
Players from Duplin include Wallace-Rose Hill’s Jansley Page (.407), Sophie Sloan (.346) and TaNyia Powell (.388); East Duplin’s Kinsey Cave (.362), Rebecca Beach (.391) and Morgan Brown (.323, 11 RBIs, 11 pitching wins, 95 strikeouts); James Kenan’s Kenadi Gideon (.488); and North Duplin’s Ady Spence (.396) and Abbie Norris (.378). Richlands’ Jackson captured Player of the Year in the district in 3A. West Carteret pitcher Caitlin Dumarce was Pitcher of the Year even though Going and the Wildcats beat the Patriots two of three games, including an extra one to determine the Coastal champ for the NCHSAA playo s.
Taking it to the next level
The Wallace Coach-Pitch all-star team advanced to the Dixie Youth World Series later this month in Dunn after nishing runner-up to Reigelwood. The team is coached by Bubba James, top row from left, Blake Peterson, Cory Lovelace and Steven Paylor. Player include: Walker Rivenbark (front row from left), Carter Lovelace, Jimmy Cooper, Tate Bradshaw, Jack Newton, Bryson Powell; (middle row) is Axton Pickett, Nathaniel Paylor, Baylor James, Xander Peterson, Grayson Donnelley and William Blackwell.
The mere presence of super power Havelock has the rest of the league in fear. Richlands will also have nonconference a airs with East Duplin and South Brunswick. The Wildcats lost their entire defensive line and backeld, including quarterback Caleb Simco, a three-year starter who threw and ran for more than 2,000 yards last fall.
“We won’t abandon the pass,
but we won’t throw it as much either,” Good said. “We’ll run some form of the option, and we’re hoping to get the ball in the hands of our running backs faster. Richlands won because of its defense last season.
“We won’t be as big up front, but we’ll use some of the same concept, maybe add an extra lineman and go to a 40-looking front,” Good said. “We’ll have to game plan more intensely for teams and use multiple look fronts and coverages.”
Senior Cale Wilges steps in to ll the shoes of Simco. Running back/split end speedster Tyler Clouatre could be a key returnee after Noah LeBlanc transferred to East Duplin. Trea’vaun Flanagan is the top-returning lineman.
“We’re going to surprise teams because I rmly believe we can compete with anyone we play,” Good said. “And if we compete hard in every game, I’ll be happy. The results will take care of themselves if we do that.”
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
DOWN EAST BIRD DAWGS
Players in the Frontier League make an average of $1,500 per month, plus food travel and lodging expenses.
Post 511 loses heartbreaker to snap 7-game winning streak
Tabor City Post 507 scored ve times in the eighth inning to break open a tie
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — One major eruption is usually enough to win a baseball game, especially games between fairly even teams, and particularly on the American Legion circuit.
Tabor City Post 507 broke open a close game by scoring ve times in the eighth en route to an 8-3 win over Beulaville Post 511. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for manager Brandon Thipgen’s boys of summer.
The victory was there for the taking last Monday as both clubs were handcu ed at the plate by a superb pitching via duel between Jaxson Smith and Tyler Thompson.
The combo allowed just seven hits before handing the ball to their respective relievers after Post 511’s Smith hurled 105 pitches and Thompson 90.
The eighth frame quickly turned into a nightmare as Wyatt Clewis singled in Brycen Edwards, who was placed on second base via the extra-inning rule.
who will play in the NC Coaches Association’s East-West match later this month.
Rising senior Yoskar Canales, an all-Duplin and all-ECC performer in 2024, is making his way to the Panthers’ platform of excellence where Marcos Reyes (2018) and Jesse Navarro (2017) have set the bar high.
JK has had a number of players rise to become all-state players or stars who are di erence-makers by themselves — Alex Paz (2019), Maken Augustin (2023), Yahir Benegas (2020) and 2025 grad Peter Omega.
Here is a breakdown of teams in three new conferences.
WRH, JK, Spring Creek, Goldsboro and Midway are 3A schools. Rosewood is the lone 2A.
ED and Clinton are the only 4A schools in the ECC, which includes Pender, Trask, South Lenoir and Southwest Onslow. Will Dark Horses rule new ECC?
The move away from JK and WRH as league rivals is positive for East Duplin, but playing powerhouse Clinton two times during the regular season and having it count as a conference match is daunting.
Brad Spell has built an empire, winning 2A state titles in 2023 and 2018, and going 91-11- 6 in the past four seasons.
JK, WRH and ED have beaten Clinton and are always competitive against the Dark Horses, even in defeat.
It’s going to be hard for any ECC team to match up with Spell’s gang, which regenerates from one season to the next.
They are clearly regarded as the favorite to win the league.
Stallions, Blue Devils are familiar foes
The Panthers have a ton of
Jaxson Smith allowed just four hits and one earned run in seven innings but was the hard-luck losing pitcher when Post 511 fell 8-3 to Post 507 on Monday.
Clewis scored later on a passed ball and Cade Allen rapped a two-run RBI double and Jordan Hester knocked in the fth run with a single. Down 6-1, Post 511 was down to its nal three outs. Avent took second via the
experience facing Southwest Onslow and South Lenoir.
The Blue Devils have gone 30-47-8 in the previous four seasons, and while close, they’ve never had a season over the .500 mark.
Yet that record might fall as Yeshua Gonzalez returns after scoring 19 goals as a sophomore.
The Stallions were 9-11 last fall but return Zavier Davis and Gabriel Tovar, who combined for 26 goals.
The Panthers have had competitive matches against SWO, which is 31-41-8 in the past four seasons and should be a level above Blue Devils.
At the very least, both are familiar foes, so ED knows the drills necessary to beat both on most days.
Titans, Patriots have rising programs
It would be a mistake for the Dark Horses and Panthers to dismiss Trask and Pender, two schools that have improved dramatically from the past.
Pender has gone 65-28-3 over the past four seasons, cumulating in a 21-6-1 nish last fall before falling to Hobbton in the fourth round of the 1A playo s.
While losing Aiden Murray (36 goals) and Owen Davis (25), Elvis Hernandez returns after a 22-goal campaign.
The program is looking up, but it lost Aaron Murray, the NCHSAA 1A Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Murray takes over at his former school, WRH. Trask is coming o its best four-year run ever — 49-38-5 — and returns Diego Gomez-Reyes, who found the back of the net 17 times last fall.
Panthers have potential to stay in limelight
East Duplin had three tough seasons — 11-10-1, 8-12-3 and 10-11-2 — leading up to its 15-7-1 mark in 2024.
extra-inning rule and scored on Gage Howard’s ground out. Jake Howard followed with a home run to right eld to make it 6-3. Christian Wooten, who beat Post 10 Blue on June 30, was tagged with the loss after giving up four hits and four earned runs.
Eli Avent scored the game’s rst run when the James Kenan senior pounded a ball to left to plate Christian Coples, who was hit by a pitch to open the third inning., Jordan Hester’s solo shot to left tied it at 1-1 in the fourth.
Post 511 had a chance to win the game in the home half of the seventh as Coples walked and stole second base. Three strikeouts gave Post 507 a lift heading into the dugout.
Beulaville nearly went ahead in the sixth when Cole Jarman singled with one out. Austin Clements poked a single to center, but Jarman was tagged out at the plate by catcher Briar Johnson in a bang-bang play.
Avent was the o ensive spark during the triumph over Post 11. He had two hits in three trips, scored a run and drove in a run.
Pridgen and Jake Howard each added a pair of base knocks and an RBI.
Pridgen, Avent and Gage
It was the rst time the Panthers played completely unselfish soccer during the Blake Lanier era.
Orlando Ramirez (seven goals, three assists) and Brayan Mendez (eight goals, three assists) are among the returnees.
ED’s calling card has always been defense, so its offense doesn’t have glaring players with eye-popping statistics, yet is capable, nonetheless.
Will Tigers, Bulldogs be Swine Valley royalty?
While JK and WRH have had more success and better soccer reputations, don’t expect either to be king without due process.
Longtime Tigers coach Mitchell Quinn has his biggest rebuilding job in a decade, while the Bulldogs adjust to new coach Aaron Murray.
Both have a handful of players primed to be stars or to step up. But both have huge scoring holes to ll, as both Omega and Reyes-Zavala were all-state performers.
Yet there’s plenty of talent for both schools to win a conference title.
Gators will give teams ts
Coaches who face the Gators a few times know that Spring Creek is a soccer program that can compete against and beat any school on its schedule.
The Gators have gone 61-26-6 in the previous four seasons and won games in a similar manner to ED: through its defense and ball-control play across and up and down the eld.
They will always have scoring threats and get unexpected goals from players because of their style of play of passing and sharing the ball.
A lot of Swine Valley teams will lose 1-0 or 2-0 matches against the Gators and feel far more defeated than what is shown on the scoreboard.
Were Raiders a uke in 2024?
Midway went 15-5-1 in 2025 coming o one of its best seasons the previous campaign (19 -3-1).
So, are the Raiders legit?
Time will tell, but they will have to replace 47 goals that were scored by June graduates Luis Florido, Jayden Espino-Diaz and Luke McCray (who also had at team-high 11 assists).
Josh Santillan and Max Florido combined for 19 scores as juniors.
Midway is a team that can’t be overlooked.
Johnston teams bring interesting perspective
Johnston County’s Rosewood and Princeton bring an interesting unknown to the Swine Valley.
The Eagles were awful last fall (4-12-1) after going 49-11-1 the previous three seasons, winning the Carolina 1A each season.
Rosewood scored just 27 goals in 2024, 20 of which came from two players who graduated.
Sister school and longtime rival Princeton has gone 36-36-7 the past ve years in the Greater Neuse 2A Conference.
Look for senior Josh Coley to be an all-league pick. The Bull-
Howard singled in the two-run third. Avent singled to drive in Coples in the sixth.
Wooten limited the Blue Gang to two hits in ve frames, whi ng two and walking one. Keyle Kern hurled two hitless innings for the save.
Post 511, which has had several games moved because of rain, was to play Wilmington Post 11 Red on Tuesday in a key game in the Area 2 standings. Two teams from four areas will be invited to the American Legion State Tournament, a double-elimination event held in Cherryville on July 20-24.
Post notes
Howard (.467) leads Post 511 in hits (14), Smith (.320), Coples (.294) and Avent (.290) follow. Howard and Avent have each scored nine times. Gage Howard’s 10 RBIs are a team high. Clements has eight and Avent and Howard six apiece. Smith, a Clinton senior, has whi ed 21 in 172⁄3 innings. Thigpen feels his pitching sta – Kern, Wooten, Clements and Henry Bass, is a team strength.
East Duplin catcher Sawyer Marshburn has nearly recovered after being hit on the wrist by a swinging bat. Teammate Gavin Holmes is trying to get over a stress fracture to his hip.
dog scored 27 goals last season and had six assists. In the end, both Rosewood and Princeton will lack the depth of Clinton and East Duplin.
Goldsboro, also in the league, went 24-35-3 in the Neuse Conference, though had dismal success in the ECC. The Cougars were 40-93-8 overall and 23-62-2 in ECC play from 2013-2017.
Rebels face new foes, long road trips
Hobbton has been the epicenter of soccer in the Carolina 1A the past four years, going 7-33-2 over the past four seasons. The Wildcats were 1A runners-ups in 2024 and lost in the East Region nal the previous season.
Look for that to continue as the rest of the league nds out what North Duplin, Lakewood and Union already know: Hobbton is a tough team.
The same can’t be said of the Leopards (30-47-6 in the last four years), the Spartans (21-54 - 4 during that span) and new league foes West Columbus (3-55-0) and East Columbus (13-48-6).
ND is 25-35-4 the past four seasons and has had just three winning campaigns since 2015. Will Eagles y away with CC title?
East Bladen has been good (52-35-2) the past four seasons but great (71-14-6) from 2016-19.
The Eagles were 11-7-2 last season with a rosters that was lled with underclassmen.
Sophomore Ishag Algozy (12 goals) is one of several young players who will rise this fall. Look for senior Davion Lewis (20 assists) to be the triggerman for the o ense.
The Eagles scored 63 goals via 70 assists in 2024, meaning they know how to play together.
Not if Hobbton has a say. The Wildcats had 5-4 and 5-1 wins over East Bladen last season.
CONTRIBUTED
ED senior Ryan Jenkins will play a key role for the Panthers this fall.
Van Gisbergen wins in Chicago once again, completing NASCAR weekend sweep
New Zealand native became the winningest foreign-born Cup Series driver
By Jay Cohen
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Shane Van Gisbergen completed a Windy City sweep, winning the NASCAR Cup Series race on the tricky street course in downtown Chicago.
“Epic weekend for us. I’m a lucky guy,” van Gisbergen said.
The 36-year-old New Zealand native became the second driver to sweep the X nity and Cup races in a single weekend from the pole, joining Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016. With his third career Cup win, he also became the winningest foreign-born driver on NASCAR’s top series.
It was van Gisbergen’s second victory of the season after the Trackhouse Racing driver also won last month on a Mexico City road course.
“He’s the best road course stock car racer that I’ve ever seen,” Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said. “I think when he’s done with us all and walks away from the sport, I think he’s going to walk away as the best road course racer that this sport has ever seen.”
Marks brought van Gisbergen over from Australia’s Supercars for the rst edition of NASCAR’s Chicago experiment in 2023, and he became the rst driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
He also won Chicago’s X nity Series stop last year and the rst
stage in the Cup race before he was knocked out by a crash.
“This joint, it’s changed my life,” van Gisbergen said. “I didn’t have any plans to do more NASCAR races when I rst came over here, and I never thought I’d be in NASCAR full time.”
In what might be the last NASCAR race on the downtown Chicago circuit, Ty Gibbs was second and Tyler Reddick nished third. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch rounded out the top ve. Van Gisbergen regained the
lead when he passed Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left. As fog and rain moved into downtown Chicago, van Gisbergen controlled the action the rest of the way. AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and Ryan Preece nished sev-
Rebuilding Pac-12 gets its needed 8th football school
The new-look conference added Texas State from the Sun Belt
The Associated Press
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State is joining the Pac-12, giving the rebuilding conference the eighth football-playing school it needed to maintain its status as an FBS conference.
The Pac-12 and Texas State announced the Bobcats from the Sun Belt Conference will join holdovers Oregon State and Washington State, along with private school Gonzaga and Mountain West-departing schools Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State as the nine foundational members of the recon gured Pac-12 that o cially launch next summer.
Since Gonzaga doesn’t eld a football team, the Pac-12 needed one more to remain eligible as a Football Bowl Subdivision league. Only Oregon State and Washington State had remained in the Pac-12 after the departures of 10 teams to the three other power conferences: the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. Texas State regents approved a $5 million buyout to leave the Sun Belt, a day before the amount of that exit fee was set to double.
January.
The Bobcats will become an all-sports member of the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026, after being in the Sun Belt since 2013, a year after their FBS debut in their only season in the Western Athletic Conference. They were 8-5 each of the past two seasons.
Texas State’s campus in San Marcos is only about 35 miles south of the University of Texas in Austin. It will be the farthest from the West Coast the Pac-12 has had an all-sports member. Arkansas-Little Rock is now an a liate member for wrestling.
When the 10 former Pac-12 teams o cially departed last year, that created coast-tocoast conferences. Oregon, Washington, Southern California and UCLA went to the Big Ten; Arizona, Arizona State,
Colorado and Utah joined the Big 12; and Stanford and California became ACC members.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,” Commissioner Teresa Gould said. “It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today’s landscape with student-athletes in mind.”
The Pac-12 last week struck a media-rights deal with CBS to broadcast a minimum of four football and men’s basketball games per season on its main network and provide a cable and streaming presence for the league from 2026-31.
Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill in a statement thanked the Texas State sta
for its “collaboration and leadership through a transformative era in college athletics” while also touting the league’s recent football success, including 12 of 14 teams making bowl games in 2023, and seven more last year.
“I will continue to update our stakeholders on developments whenever possible as we work to ensure the sustained rise of the Sun Belt Conference, a collection of like-minded, regional rivals with winning football traditions, passionate fanbases and enduring commitments to excellence in all sports,” Gill said.
Texas State is a national research university with more than 40,000 students, and has one of the 25 largest undergraduate enrollments among public universities in the United States. Kelly Damphousse, the president of Texas State, called joining the Pac-12 more than an athletic move.
“It is a declaration of our rising national pro le, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country,” Damphousse said. “Our acceptance into the Pac-12 a rms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a Texas State degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that de nes this institution.”
“This joint, it’s changed my life.”
Shane van Gisbergen on the Chicago street course
enth. Ryan Blaney, who won the second stage, was 12th.
William Byron’s day was cut short by a clutch problem. The Hendrick Motorsports driver leads the point standings by 13 points over Chase Elliott.
After Michael McDowell seized the lead early in the race, Carson Hocevar caused a multicar crash when he hit the wall and spun out between Turns 10 and 11. Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez and Will Brown were among the drivers collected in the wreck.
“I didn’t see it until the last second,” Keselowski said. “I slowed down and I actually felt I was going to get stopped, and then I just kind of got ran over from behind. It’s just a narrow street course, and sometimes there’s nowhere to go.”
Ty Dillon and Reddick moved into the third round of the Cup Series’ inaugural in-season tournament when Keselowski and Hocevar were unable to nish the race. Dillon, the No. 32 seed, eliminated Keselowski after he upset top-seeded Denny Hamlin last weekend at Atlanta. Bowman, the 2024 champion on the downtown street course, won his head-to-head matchup with Bubba Wallace. Bowman and Wallace made contact as they battled for position late in the race after they also tangled in Chicago last year.
NOTICES
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA DUPLIN COUNTY
FILE#25E001253-300
The undersigned, DONNA RENEE KENNEDY MCGEE, having quali ed on the 26TH DAY of JUNE, 2025, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of PATRICK D. MCDOWELL, deceased, of DUPLIN County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 3RD Day of OCTOBER 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 3RD Day of JULY 2025.
The undersigned, CHARLES L. WILSON, having quali ed on the 4TH DAY of JUNE, 2025, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of JAMES LLOYD WILSON, deceased, of DUPLIN
LM OTERO / AP PHOTO
Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud smokes a cigar with teammates after winning the First Responder Bowl in
ERIN HOOLEY / AP PHOTO
Shane van Gisbergen holds the trophy after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race on Chicago’s street course.
James Franklin “Knott” Teachey
Dec. 26, 1937 – July 6, 2025
James Franklin “Knott” Teachey, age 87 of Wallace, NC, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at his home.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Wallace United Methodist Church, conducted by Reverend Matthew Pope and Reverend Carlton Pulliam. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home, Wallace. Burial will be private.
Knott is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Sue Teachey of the home, two daughters, Angela Pulliam and husband Reverend Carl Pulliam of Greensboro, NC and Robin Scott and husband Joe Scott of Wallace, NC, and six grandsons, Zach, Tristan, and Joel Pulliam, Tyler and Nolan Likens and Joe Scott III, a granddaughter, Mary Landon Goodrich and husband Taylor, and one great granddaughter, Eliza Goodrich.
Born December 26, 1937, in Tin City, NC, Knott was preceded in death by his parents, George Dixon and Margaret Teachey, and his son, Jamie Teachey. He graduated in 1956 from Wallace High School, where he was an allconference football player who played both sides of the ball. He joined the US Navy in 1957, where he served on an aircraft carrier, the USS Ranger. He loved his time in the Navy as he got to see the world and loved to share Navy stories with his grandsons. Knott was an entrepreneur and enjoyed several careers. He worked for Ramsey Feed Company in the poultry business and then worked 20 years as the owner of numerous Golden Skillet restaurants across NC and SC. In his later years, he purchased a farm and enjoyed growing numerous crops, raising feeder pigs and chickens, along with black Angus cows. Spending time at his farm on the Northeast Cape Fear River, where he built a log cabin to colonial standards, was one of his favorite pastimes. He and his wife, Sue, hosted numerous class and family reunions, gettogethers, holiday meals and all sorts of events at the cabin.
In his earlier years, Knott was a vital part of the thriving Rose Hill Jaycees, serving as President for two terms and receiving the NC Distinguished Service Award. He was a “professional” photographer and has snapped literally trillions of photographs during his lifetime, which are all stored on his computers. History, travel and the simple life from times past were favorite topics, and during the year 2024, Knott published a book titled, “My Life Stories.”
Knott was very popular in Wallace and was known as someone who loved to play jokes, decorate at Christmas in Old Williamsburg style, attend thousands of his grandson’s sporting events, travel and play golf.
Knott and Sue made their home in Wallace and were active in the Wallace Methodist Church. He enjoyed Bible study and left a legacy of faith to his wife, children and grandchildren. We will miss him very much.
In lieu of owers, donations may be sent in memory of Knott Teachey to Wallace United Methodist Church, 301 S. College Street, Wallace, NC 28466.
Donald David Carr
Jan. 16, 1948 – July 3, 2025
Mr. Donald David Carr, age 77, of Rose Hill, NC (the Greenevers Community), passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at his home.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Rose Hill Funeral Home Chapel in Rose Hill, NC. Burial will follow at Boney Family Cemetery in Rose Hill, NC.
Left to cherish his precious memories are his wife, Carolyn Boney Carr of Rose Hill, NC; two children: David Carr (Michele) of Raleigh, NC and Avis CarrJarmon (Jeremy) of Louisville, KY; siblings: James L. Carr and Doris F. Carr-Cross (Darryl) both of Durham, NC; two grandchildren: David O. Carr and Jeremiah Jarmon; ve sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law: a host of nieces, nephews cousins and friends that will miss him dearly.
Lynwood Edward McCa ty
Nov. 8, 1956 – July 1, 2025
Lynwood Edward McCa ty, 68, of Warsaw, NC, peacefully answered the Master’s call on July 1, 2025, at his residence. A service to celebrate his life will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Hawes Funeral Home in Warsaw, NC. Please continue to keep the family in your prayers.
Earl Hayden Maready
Aug. 19, 1938 – June 29, 2025
Earl Hayden Maready, age 86, went to his heavenly home on Sunday, June 29, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Tebo and Eva Maready, and brothers Delwood Maready and Kellon Maready of Chinquapin, NC.
Earl is survived by his wife, Louise, of 66 years. His brother, Walter Southerland of Spring, TX. His children are Robert Maready (Dee Ann), Lagrange, NC; Penny Batten (Garry), Pink Hill, NC; Nanette King (Graham), Kinston, NC; and Thomas Maready, LaGrange, NC.
His grandchildren; Johnathan Edwards (Heather) of Deep Run, NC; Amanda Jones (Dalton) of Pink Hill, NC; Jacob Maready of LaGrange, NC; Kristin Cutlip (Zach) of Winterville, NC; Kayla King of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Dylan Maready, (Ashley) of LaGrange, NC; and Taylor Batten of Pink Hill, NC.
His great-grandchildren: Camden Batten, Sneads Ferry, NC; Raylan Futrell, Pink Hill, NC; Hayden Edwards, Deep Run, NC; Noah Jones, Pink Hill, NC; and Arden Cutlip, Winterville, NC.
Earl worked at Ford Motor Company in Wallace, NC, in his early years. He served as a Deacon at Poston Baptist Church, Wallace, NC, for several years until they moved to Kennedy Home in Kinston, NC, in 1971. They served the children in their care for 17 years while raising their own four kids. He worked in the maintenance department helping several children learn mechanical work among many other things. He worked at Lowe’s of Kinston, NC, after leaving Kennedy Home until he retired in 2000.
During his retirement, he and his wife enjoyed camping and shing on the pier in Surf City, NC, for several more years until he became too sick to do so.
Earl was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and a past Deacon of his church, Potters Hill Advent Christian Church, Pink Hill, NC.
Special love and thanks to the ladies, Kari, Donna and Ashley of Cardinal Care Hospice. Their love and attention never wavered. To our Mom, who stayed by his side, loving him daily till his last breath.
In lieu of owers, contributions can be made to the “In His Service” fund in honor of Earl Maready at Potters Hill Advent Christian Church, 984 Church Road, Pink Hill, NC 28572.
Visitation: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
6-8 p.m.
Community Funeral Home, Beulaville, NC
Funeral Service: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
10 a.m.
Community Funeral Home, Beulaville, NC
Interment: East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville, NC
Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Maready family.
Randy Maready
Aug. 20, 1965 – July 6, 2025
Randy Maready, 59, passed away on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in UNC Nash Hospital, Rocky Mount, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents, Delwood and Elizabeth Maready.
Graveside Service: Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 10 a.m. East Duplin Memorial Gardens, Beulaville, NC
Visitation to follow.
Survivors: Son: Joshua Maready, Beulaville, NC
Daughters: Natalie Maready, Kinston, NC; Chelsea Maready, Pink Hill, NC
Grandchildren: Dakota Maready, Paisley Smith, Adaline Maready, Anna Chestnut and Emerie Smith
Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Maready family.
Nancy Haskins Powell
Jan. 9, 1939 – July 1, 2025
Nancy Haskins Powell, 86, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Onslow Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, NC.
Grandchildren: Paige Palenzuela, Jamie Wilson (Nick), Roger Miller Jr., John Peck, Cora Peck, Brianna Jarmon and Thomas Peck.
Great-Grandchildren: Ian Palenzuela, Alex Palenzuela and Hannah Wilson.
July 30, 1936 – July 3, 2025
Bobby Crawford West, 88, of Turkey, passed away July 2, 2025, at Sampson Regional Medical Center. Mr. West was born July 30, 1936, in Sampson County to the late Thurman West and Macy McGee West.
A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Turkey Baptist Church. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Turkey Cemetery.
Left to cherish his memory are wife, Elaine M. West of the home, sons, Terry West of Magnolia, David West of Wilmington and Timothy West and wife, Britia; daughter Sherry de’Wilde and husband Scott of Winterhaven, FL; step-children, Andy Jackson and Mary Ann of Clinton and Carol Ann Jackson and husband, Lee of Clinton; grandchildren, Alex West, Ashton West, Nikki West, Tabitha West, Jessica West, Kayla West Jacobs and Bobby Pope; step grandchildren Bella Cavenaugh, Olivia Houston, Parker Jackson and Wiley Jackson and 10 great grandchildren; sister, Sarah White of Turkey; brothers-in- law, John Hudson of Columbia, SC, Bill Fortier of Londonderry, New Hampshire.
In addition to his parents, Mr. West was preceded in death by his sisters Gladys Horne, Ann Hudson, Faye Fortier, and brother-in-law, Ken White.
Bobby Crawford West
Shaping agriculture via service, leadership
Harley Roberson champions agriculture behind the scenes
Duplin Journal sta
KENANSVILLE — Harley Roberson’s connection to agriculture runs deep, shaped by her upbringing on a generational farmland in Mount Olive and early experiences at a local seed company where her mother worked.
That foundation grew into a calling, guiding her through her education at the University of Mount Olive, where she earned a degree in agribusiness in 2022.
Though her family no lon-
ger farms directly, leasing their land kept her closely tied to the agricultural community and strengthened her desire to serve those who do the work of feeding the world.
“Growing up, I spent countless hours talking to local farmers at the seed company with my mom,” said Roberson. “It made me realize that serving others through agriculture was where I belonged.”
Now a commercial loan processor at AgCarolina Farm Credit’s Kenansville branch, Roberson plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in helping local farmers secure the nancial resources they need to succeed.
“Every
“Every loan we process represents someone feeding the world,” she said. “AgCarolina goes above and beyond for local agriculture. When people think of agriculture, they think of tractors and dirt. I think of families at dinner tables, people getting the medicine they need, and kids wearing warm coats in winter. That’s what it’s all about.” Roberson is passionate about mentoring the next generation,
especially young women entering the eld. She credits her education, mentors like Sandy Maddox and the support of her coworkers for helping her thrive in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
“I’ve been lucky to work alongside men who see me as an equal and want me to succeed,” said Roberson. “Young ladies today have so many opportunities to learn and lead. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more women in crop and animal production in the next decade.”
With a strong belief in continuous learning and representation, she encourages others to speak up, stay curious, and take pride in their place in agriculture.
“Always keep learning. Be a sponge. Stay open-minded. And never be too afraid to speak up — the more perspectives you understand, the better you’ll be,” said Roberson. “I love teaching young people about agriculture. Their curiosity is what will keep this industry strong.” Roberson hopes to inspire more young people to explore the diversity of careers agriculture o ers. She believes agriculture is about more than just machines and soil — it’s about people, families and communities.
Her story is not just one of personal success, but of dedication to an industry that sustains everyday life — and a mission to ensure it thrives for generations to come.
