Wallace Over the next two weeks, crews in the town of Wallace will be replacing water lines along South Raleigh Street. On Monday, the town of Wallace announced that once the utility work is completed, paving will begin. Paving is scheduled to start in early September along the section from Boney Street to Wilmington Court Apartments. Town o cials are urging the public to exercise caution in the area and to be mindful of the construction crews as these important infrastructure improvements are made.
Duplin EMS director steps down Kenansville Brandon McMahon, director of Emergency Medical Services for Duplin County, announced he will step down from his role. In a message shared on social media, McMahon re ected on his time leading the department and expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues. “Serving alongside you has been the greatest honor of my career,” he wrote, acknowledging the dedication and resilience of the EMS team through “every late-night call, every life saved, every challenge overcome.” While he is stepping away from his role Aug. 15. McMahon said he plans to stay connected to the community and is proud of Duplin County EMS and its ongoing mission.
Charity Golf Tournament to bene t Duplin special needs students
Wallace Tee o for a great cause at the 17th annual Bill Lord Memorial Knights of Columbus Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 29 at River Landing in Wallace. The four-person scramble is open to men and women of all skill levels and includes unlimited range balls, golf carts, refreshments, prizes and a luncheon on the terrace. Proceeds bene t Duplin County Schools’ Exceptional Children’s Program, supporting grants that positively impact students with special needs. For more information, call 910-271-4444.
New Hope Christian Academy announcement
Wallace Parent-Student Orientation will be held on Aug. 15. Orientation for new families begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by orientation for returning families at 7 p.m. The rst day of school is Monday, Aug. 18.
School spirit soars at Duplin’s back-to-school bash
Crowds gathered at the Duplin Event Center on Saturday for a fun- lled day. Families picked up backpacks sorted by grade and then explored vendor booths o ering giveaways and services. Kids enjoyed face painting, balloon animals and bounce houses, while volunteers served up delicious treats. Outside, the fun continued with in atable slides, axe throwing, roller ball and a dunking booth. See more photos on B6.
Public trust erodes as Mount Olive faces major scandal following audit
Mount Olive is under scrutiny after a state review highlighted nancial irregularities and misconduct
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
MOUNT OLIVE is at the center of a major municipal scandal after a sweeping state
audit exposed years of nancial mismanagement, fraud and oversight failures that have cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars and eroded public trust. The North Car -
olina O ce of the State Auditor (OSA) uncovered practices involving the Mount Olive Municipal Airport and the Water Department, including fraudulent fee waivers, mismanaged contracts and unauthorized spending. The investigation began after misconduct allegations were reported
Mayor’s work with Villari sparks ethics concern at Warsaw meeting
A.J. Connors denied wrongdoing and called concerns “mudslinging”
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
WARSAW — Warsaw Board of Commissioners member Ebony Wills-Wells announced at Monday’s town board meeting that she had received a statement indicating that Mayor A.J. Connors’ employment with a local agriculture company presents a con ict of interest for the town.
via the State Auditor Tipline.
“The town is taking this seriously,” Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland told Duplin Journal. “We are looking in and doing reviews of all the nancial records and accounts. But outside of that, I
Warsaw identi ed Villari Food Group as a signi cant source of the Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant’s organic overload and indicated the town’s wastewater permit compliance will remain at risk until Villari reduces its organic load.
Wills-Wells pointed out the wastewater discharges and permit violations, raising questions about potential undisclosed discussions between Villari and Connors if the allegations are factual. She added that the alleged concerns were also communicated by the town manager.
Earlier in the year, the town of
Wills-Wells stated citizens, employees and town contractors have reached out to her about a circulating statement that highlights an ethical issue. She quoted, “Mayor Connors is working for Villari.” Wills-Wells expressed her concern not about whether Connors is working for Villari, but rather about the implications of those claims suggesting Connors is involved with an industry that has already cost the town thousands of dollars.
Wallace police chief tapped for FBI National Academy role
“This is a tremendous honor for him and a point of pride for our entire town.”
Jason Wells, Wallace mayor
Crayton begins a nine-year leadership journey representing Section III at the national level
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
WALLACE — Police Chief
Jimmy Crayton has been elected as the Section III representative for the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA), the town of Wallace announced last week.
milestone for both his career and the town of Wallace.
“Jimmy’s election to this national leadership role re ects not only his outstanding career and reputation but also the dedication and professionalism he brings to Wallace every day,” said Wells. “This is a tremendous honor for him and a point of pride for our entire town.”
Crayton’s election follows two years of campaigning across the region and re ects strong support from FBINAA members.
“I’m truly humbled by the trust and support from members across our region,” wrote Crayton in a social media statement.
The FBINAA is widely regarded as one of the most respected leadership networks in $2.00
Crayton’s election was conrmed during the 2025 FBINAA National Annual Training Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the start of a nine-year leadership journey within the organization. Mayor Jason Wells praised Crayton’s achievement as a signi cant
THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
O ce Phone: 910 463-1240
To place a legal ad: 919 663-3232; Fax: 919 663-4042
CRIME LOG
August 4
• Hannah Rose Mobley, 31, was arrested by Duplin County Sheri ’s O ce for identity theft, nancial card fraud and nancial card theft.
• Darian Lewis Moore, 48, was arrested by DCSO for seconddegree trespassing.
• Isaiah Xavier Shaw, 24, was arrested by DCSO for possessing methamphetamine, breaking and entering and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances.
• Antwaun Lenard Cooper, 41, was arrested by DCSO for selling a Schedule II controlled substance and other drug charges.
• Giovanni Duran Guzman, 20, was arrested by Kenansville PD for driving while impaired, driving after consuming alcohol and driving with a revoked license.
August 5
• Joshua Blake Gross, 35, was arrested by DCSO for possessing a Schedule II controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing a Schedule VI controlled substance.
• Alex Blake Inman, 34, was arrested by DCSO for communicating threats, misdemeanor stalking and breaking or entering.
• Gerald Wayne Horne, 49, was arrested by DCSO for possessing a weapon of mass destruction and resisting a public o cer.
• Jassmy Yaaquelin Alfaro Melendez, 21, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor domestic violence.
• Larry Edbert Uzzell, 72, was arrested by North Carolina Highway Patrol for driving while impaired and reckless driving.
August 6
• Salomon Matthew Exume, 30, was arrested by DCSO for larceny of a motor vehicle.
• Angelica Vega, 26, was arrested by DCSO for causing aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle.
THURSDAY AUG.
FRIDAY AUG. 15
SATURDAY AUG. 16
DCS swears in new interim superintendent
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — A special meeting on Aug. 4 was called to appoint Daren Tyndall as interim superintendent of Duplin County Schools. He was sworn in the the next day at the school board’s regular meeting. Tuesday’s meeting began with a prayer from rising East Duplin freshman Cecilia Thigpen addressing the death of Tyndall’s predecessor, Austin Obasohan. Obasohan, who died July 24, was the school system’s superintendent for 15 years.
“This is just one more thing that Obasohan leaves with us,” Brent Davis, chair of the Board of Education, said of Thigpen’s prayer. Davis said Obasohan had been working for some time to have students come lead prayer at meetings.
“It is something that just started before he passed, and it is something we plan on continuing with,” Davis said.
Flowers and a white ribbon adorned Obasohan’s seat as the
WALLACE from page A1
law enforcement. It stands as a cornerstone for promoting professional excellence, inter-agency collaboration and advanced training standards throughout the policing community.
As the newly elected representative, Crayton will serve on the FBINAA National Executive Board, representing law enforcement agencies across a diverse region that includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and parts of
WARSAW from page A1
“These are all alleged statements, but they are major concerns that can a ect our entire town and cost us as an entire board if they are found to be true,” said the commissioner.
Connors did not immediately respond to the allegations made by Wills-Wells, but he did bring up the issue as his last item during the mayor’s comments portion of the meeting.
“If I can pose a question to the town attorney, is there a law that I cannot work for any particular people in the great state of North Carolina, if I choose to work for them, as mayor?” asked Connors.
“There is not a law a ecting that,” Town Attorney Ken Thompson responded.
“I have not broken any laws on working for Villari or any of the other companies I do business with throughout the great state of North Carolina and other parts of the country,” he added.
Connors concluded his response by thanking people for coming to the meeting and asking for a motion to adjourn.
In an interview with Duplin Journal following the meeting, Connors referred to the allegations as “mudslinging.”
“The reality is that every mayor that has been in this ofce worked somewhere and had a liations with somebody,” Connors said. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t vote (on
meeting proceeded. With no public comments and an agenda approved, the board moved forward with swearing in the new interim superintendent.
Crystal Strickland from the Clerk of Court’s o ce administered the oath of o ce, swearing in Tyndall.
Tyndall has worked at Duplin County Schools for more than 34 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and executive director of human resources, along with his current role as assistant superintendent for human resources. He will take on the addition-
Latin and South America. He will address the unique challenges and innovations emerging from this region, helping to shape national strategies in law enforcement leadership.
Following his four-year term as Section III representative, Crayton is expected to move through a series of national leadership roles, culminating in the presidency and then a term as immediate past president — completing a nine-year commitment.
“This is an incredible opportunity to serve an organization that’s doing vital work for law enforcement professionals around the world,” he said.
al duties while the board begins its search for a permanent superintendent.
“We’ve had a wonderful man for the past 15 years,” Tyndall said of Obasohan, “and he’s established a foundation that puts children rst. We also have a wonderful board. I am honored and humbled to be able to serve.”
Following the swearing in, the board went into a closed executive session to discuss personnel issues. Once in open session, they approved the decisions made in closed session before adjourning.
Crayton believes his new role will directly bene t the Wallace Police Department and the broader community by expanding access to advanced training, resources and interagency collaboration. It will also provide the department with a voice in national discussions regarding law enforcement strategy, leadership development and public safety innovations.
“I’m proud to represent our agency, our state, and Section III on the national level. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way,” said Crayton. “The real work begins now and I couldn’t be more ready.”
a statement
the board), so I can work anywhere that I want to.”
In other business
Town Manager Lea Turner said a text alert message system will soon be operational, which will allow citizens to sign up for speci c town alerts they can choose from. Connors added that two electronic message board signs in town will soon be activated that will display town information and upcoming events.
Turner also said the town is planning to hold a public hearing in September for Community Development Block grants for neighborhood revitalization. She encouraged residents to advise the town if they know anyone who is in need of revitalization work to their home and
DUPLIN happening
SPONSORED BY
that might qualify for these grants.
Turner introduced Cedric Brown, a recent graduate from the UNC School of Government, who will be working with the town of Warsaw for a year, thanks to a grant for a lead fellow through the school. Brown, who is originally from Fayetteville, will be working with the town on technological needs and economic development.
Brown told Duplin Journal he was drawn to helping smaller, rural communities reach their potential. He said these areas often are left out of opportunities given to larger communities like Raleigh.
The town is encouraging people to attend the National Night Out event Sept. 19. Vendors who wish to participate in the event have until Sept. 1 to apply for a space.
a
Aug. 14
Back-To-School
Vaccine Clinic
4-7 p.m.
It’s time to gear up for the new school year. Join the Annual Back-toSchool Vaccine Clinic and Resources on Aug. 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the Duplin County Health Department in Kenansville. Walk-ins are welcome. Vaccines available include Meningitis, Tetanus (Tdap), HPV and more to start the year strong. For more information, call 910-296-2130.
340 Seminary St., Kenansville
Aug. 16
Operation Giveback 2025
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Operation Giveback 2025 will be on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beulaville Town Hall. The public event will feature free backpacks, school supplies, gift giveaways, diabetes supplies, free groceries, free haircuts and a crisis center for urgent needs. For more information, call 910-554-1761.
508 E Main St., Beulaville
Aug. 23
Warsaw Day
Back-to-School Giveaway
Noon to 3 p.m.
Jsmoove and Brave Entertainment present their annual Warsaw Day Back-toSchool Giveaway. Come out for free school supplies, live music, fun activities and food trucks. For more information, call 910-271-5052.
309 Memorial Drive, Warsaw
Got a local event? Let us know and we’ll share it with the community here. Email our newsroom at community@duplinjournal. com. Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.
Daren Tyndall steps into the role following the death of Austin Obasohan
Here’s
quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County:
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Crystal Strickland, right, swears in Daren Tyndall as interim superintendent of Duplin County Schools on Aug. 5 during the school board’s regular meeting.
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Warsaw Town Board Commissioner Ebony Wills-Wells read from
raising concerns about an alleged con ict of interest involving Mayor A.J. Connors as a result of his work for Villari.
Meth-smuggling guard sentenced to 5 years in prison
The former correctional o cer used his badge to bring meth, shrooms and contraband into Neuse Correctional Institution
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Dawan
Dontra McKinzie, a former correctional o cer at Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro, was sentenced Tuesday to ve years in federal prison and
four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute.
The 31-year-old Kenansville man admitted in May 2025 to smuggling drugs and contraband into the prison where he was employed, said the U.S. Attorney’s O ce, Eastern District of North Carolina, in a press release.
The case has drawn attention due to the breach of trust by a law enforcement o cial responsible
A proposed ordinance would restrict use to daylight hours, licensed drivers and low speed roads
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Con-
cerned over the growing number of golf carts being operated on town streets and complaints over their operation, Kenansville police chief Jackie Benton presented a proposed ordinance regarding their operation to the Board of Commissioners at their Aug. 6 meeting.
“We are having complaints from citizens about some of them being driven after dark and some almost getting struck,” Benton told the board. “They are operating up to Liberty Square Shopping Center frequently.”
Town Manager Anna West and Benton reported citizen complaints about golf carts operating after dark, using sidewalks and reckless driving.
Benton’s proposed ordinance would limit golf cart use in town to licensed drivers over 16 years old. They would also only be allowed to use roadways with a 25-mph speed limit but could cross roads with a 35-mph limit. The ordinance would also prohibit golf cart use after dark and on sidewalks.
In addition to restrictions, the proposed ordinance would require golf carts used on town roads to be registered at a cost of $25 a year. Benton said most municipalities he contacted in researching the proposed ordinance charged fees ranging from $50 to $100.
A few commissioners expressed concerns over placing limitations on golf cart usage in town. Commissioner Linda Tyson said she was concerned about how the ordinance would a ect one man in town who has no driver’s license and depends on a golf cart to get to the store.
“The more laws you make, the more restrictive everything is,” Tyson said. “To me, it gets overwhelming.”
Commissioner Kirk Bell asked Benton how the road speed limit restriction would a ect his use of a golf cart.
“You know where I live,” Bell said. “So I could not ride a golf cart from my house to the store because of the 35-mph speed limit (on my road)?”
“That is correct,” Benton responded. “If you allow them to be operated on 35-mph streets, on the state-maintained roads, we are putting golf carts at a disadvantage with the motoring public driving 45 mph. If they strike a golf cart, it can result in a lot more serious injury or worse.”
Benton added he was just concerned about the safety aspect of their operation.
Tyson added that the proposed ordinance limiting golf cart use between dawn and dusk would also a ect the man who depends on his golf cart.
“Personally, I don’t think golf carts should be out at night,” Benton said.
The board voted to table the consideration of the ordinance until their September meeting to explore all options.
In other business, the board voted to accept an amendment to an ordinance accepting an additional grant from the N.C. Division of Water Infrastructure for upgrades and improvements to the town’s sewage system. It also awarded the contract for the project to the Adams Company. The total cost of the project is just under $2.5 million, with the majority funded by state grants. The town’s contribution to the project’s cost is $25,000.
The board also voted to hold a public hearing at the next meeting of the board regarding a planning board recommendation to make a slight extension to the manufactured housing overlay district to allow a new mobile home to be placed on a lot owned by resident Sylvestor Carlton that is directly beside lots already containing mobile homes.
The board approved a request from the Kenansville Area Chamber of Commerce to close portions of Limestone Road and South Main Street, between Kenansville Elementary School and the Duplin Events Center, for the town’s Christmas Parade scheduled for Nov. 29. The request will now be presented to the N.C. Department of Transportation.
for maintaining safety inside a correctional facility.
“When those entrusted with public safety break the law, the damage runs deep — inside our prisons and throughout our communities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said.
McKinzie’s role as a correctional o cer gave him access and authority, which he used to bypass security and introduce dangerous substances into a controlled environment.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s O ce, court documents
revealed that McKinzie began smuggling drugs between July and October 2023, often hiding them on his person during entry into the facility. A federal investigation launched in November 2023 led authorities to confront McKinzie at his home, where he confessed to receiving a package from an inmate’s wife. He voluntarily showed agents where he kept the contraband, leading to the seizure of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, Suboxone, tobacco, a cellphone and explicit photographs.
The investigation uncovered incriminating messages on McKinzie’s phone, o ering detailed insight into the conspiracy and communication with inmates. His actions not only violated the law but also compromised the safety and integrity of the correctional facility.
“Illicit drugs and contraband endanger the health, safety, and security of our employees, those in our custody and the public,” said Leslie Dismukes, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Carolyn Kenyon returns to Faison Town Board as commissioner
The former mayor returned to public service, lling a board vacancy
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
FAISON — Former Mayor Carolyn Kenyon was sworn in at the Faison Town Board meeting on Aug. 6. She will ll the vacancy left by Commissioner Carlton Lee Kennedy and serve the remaining two years of his term. Kenyon expressed her happiness at returning to public service in Kennedy’s place.
“The queen has returned to the castle,” joked Executive Administrator Jimmy Tyndall.
With Kenyon stepping into the commissioner role, Mayor Billy Ward made adjustments to the duties of several commissioners. Commissioner Sandy McCarthy will now oversee the Personnel Committee and serve as a liaison to re and rescue. Kenyon will be responsible for the Adjustment Board, Work Achievement and will also act as a liaison to law enforcement.
Additionally, the board voted unanimously to approve Alane Brewer Floyd’s appointment to the Planning Board. The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Recreation Center.
In other business
Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Scott gave updates concerning projects and the summer basketball season.
He invited everyone to come watch the games happening every Sunday night. After-school programs already have 30 kids registered, and there is room for as many as 24 more. When after-school programs begin, the Recreation Center will close from 3-6 p.m.
Tyndall gave an update concerning the sale and acquisition of a new backhoe. While all of the necessary funding had been approved through prior meetings involving budgeted funds and the sale of the existing backhoe, Tyndall explained that the purchase o er for the old backhoe came back at $3,000, signi cantly lower than the expected $8,000. The reduced o er was likely because of the extra wear on the equipment from its continued use. To resolve this issue, the board voted to amend the budget, allowing for a $5,000 increase to cover the cost of the new backhoe.
The cemetery committee discussed the removal of dead and dying trees in the town’s graveyard. The board approved hiring White’s Tree Service to remove approximately 16 trees for $3,100. The board also approved to increase the rate of pay for two Parks and Recreation employees who will be serving as after-school teachers.
The board brie y discussed upcoming events, including a re and rescue fundraiser in September and a World War II Ghost Walk in October. The board approved town assistance for the ghost walk, and
McCarthy promoted ticket sales for the fundraiser.
“The seventh annual Sportsman’s Giveaway is coming Sept. 20 at Tara Creek,” McCarthy said. “The drawing starts at 4:30 p.m. People have the opportunity to win all kinds of prizes, including money and guns; the grand prize is $5,000. Tickets are $20 for one or $100 for six. People can buy tickets from Faison Fire and Rescue or by contacting me.”
Tyndall discussed updates concerning business developments. The Everwoods subdivision, he said, has all the infrastructure in place for water taps, but there is no timeline for when that will be done. He also mentioned being in the early stages of talking to a company about bringing a truck stop to the area in 2028. The board also discussed grocery store updates and other properties sitting in disrepair in the town.
Tyndall has already spoken with the property owners, informing them of the required work that needs to be done, and he is committed to following up on these issues.
“They are going to get a very long letter with a lot of pictures and a lot of or elses,” Tyndall said. Businesses left in disrepair, especially on main streets through the town, make the town look bad as a whole.
“There will be more than one place addressed here because that’s the problem. How are we supposed to entice people into this area if the owners of the buildings aren’t keeping them up?” Tyndall said.
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Mayor Billy Ward, right, swears in Carolyn Kenyon as town commissioner at the Faison Town Board meeting on Aug. 6.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
Liberal machine backs
Roy Cooper’s bid to “Californicate” North Carolina
They want to turn North Carolina into California’s East Coast twin sister.
THE RACE FOR the North Carolina U.S. Senate seat is now set. And, once again, the rst headline we see pertains to the amount of money that will be pumped into this contest.
The rst “big” headline stated that Roy Cooper had set a record in raising over $3 million in the rst 24 hours. Wow! Give me a break. Anyone who thinks that amount of money was committed in just the rst 24 hours has the intelligence of a railroad rock. That money, and much more, has been earmarked for a long time by the left-wing ultra-liberals who want North Carolina to be like California. They want to turn North Carolina into California’s East Coast twin sister. North Carolina is most assuredly at the tip of the spear aimed at the heart of the traditional values that have made America the greatest nation on this earth.
Those liberal leaders are very smart, but they are also very devilish, power-hungry men. Their greed for money and power has blinded them from any ability to support our founding principles. They don’t feel or heed the promptings from any sources of good in uence. The commanders of today’s Democrat Party have picked Cooper to help them continue destroying traditional American values.
The former governor presents an image of one of the “good ol’ boys” down at the country store. That image has been groomed very well for many years now. His actual record tells a di erent story.
I am reminded of an old adage that gives good advice: “Don’t fear the enemies who attack you, fear the fake friends that hug you.” Misguided ambition has ruined many good men. Cooper has almost perfected the critical art of “keeping his head down.” He does not make rush statements. He has been very successful in disguising many of his actions in a matter-of-fact way that doesn’t pour raw fuel on the re.
He understands that starting res that smolder over time can be more e ective than noticeable, high-rising ames seen from far away. Over the long haul, as governor and as attorney general, he has supported policies more by inaction than by overt action. Southern border policies, sanctuary city policies, men playing in women’s sports issues, same sex marriage issues, marijuana issues and, very importantly, his lukewarm attitude regarding our Right to Farm laws come to mind.
Michael Whatley is the current frontrunner for the Republican Party’s pick to run for this critically important U.S. Senate seat. He is also the No. 1 pick of the leader of the national Republican Party, President Donald J. Trump.
So who do we want our next U.S. senator to be loyal to? That may be the perfect question for us to ask ourselves as we decide who to vote for in the November 2026 U.S. Senate race. Well, I think the answer to that question is clear to the people of North Carolina.
On the one hand, who will Cooper be absolutely lock-step loyal to? Answer: whoever rules the Democrat Party and controls the money machine. The current choices for Cooper to follow are Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Je ries, Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez or Gavin Newsom.
On the other hand, Whatley’s choices to follow are Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Sen. John Thune, Sen. Ted Budd, and Speaker Mike Johnson.
We the people must understand that who a freshman senator will follow is the most important factor to consider as we cast our vote.
Rep. Jimmy Dixon represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.
Ensuring US dominance of 21st-century telecommunications
Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.
PRESIDENT DONALD Trump’s announcement and executive order to ensure that the U.S. dominates the arti cial intelligence revolution was a welcome America First policy directive. That mostly means keeping the government out of the way. But an equally vital industry for our economic and national security interests is telecommunications — which is also going through warp-speed technology changes. Here too, the government needs to keep its hands o . No subsidies. No lawsuits. Minimal regulations.
This is why the latest $34.5 billion blockbuster merger between telecom titans Charter Communications and Cox Communications should get the green light from federal regulators. Some antitrust lawyers at the FCC and the Justice Department worry this marriage would give Charter-Cox too much market share, allowing them to raise prices on consumers. But companies like Cox that provide internet and TV services over cable transmissions are soon to be outdated by the next generation of ber,
satellite, xed wireless and mobile broadband services.
Customers are already “cutting the cable cord” in favor of more e cient and less expensive streaming video services and other digital alternatives.
The synergies and economies-of-scale advantages driving the Charter-Cox merger, which will lead to a company with more than 37 million cable and internet subscribers, make sense.
Is that too much market concentration?
Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, serves around 12 million cable subscribers. Verizon serves just under 3 million cable subscribers and approximately 146 million mobile subscribers.
AT&T, another big player in this market, has tens of millions of customers of its own. AT&T is moving aggressively into satellite technologies and 5G to deliver calls, data and video. AT&T and Verizon each have a market cap of well over $100 billion. That compares to less than $50 billion for the Charter-Cox union. In other
Delivering campaign pledges
Dear Editor,
On Aug. 5, State Auditor Dave Boliek released two audits of the NC DMV, delivering on a key campaign pledge only six months after taking o ce. These reports are about 600 pages in total and represent a big achievement for the State Auditor’s O ce. And while the ndings show the DMV is in worse shape than expected, the reports are a positive rst step in xing the headache that every North Carolinian endures when lining up outside the DMV doors.
Both customer and employee experience at the DMV has gotten worse over the years. Wait times are up 15.5% since 2019, and nearly half of DMV customers are traveling past the o ces closest to them, some traveling hours away for services. Employees interviewed cited burnout, lack of support and inadequate training.
The DMV wasn’t given the attention it deserved these past eight years, but Boliek has made it a front-and-center issue. The biggest recommendation included in the audit is the separation of the DMV and the Department of Transportation. Other key recommended actions straight from Boliek are:
• The DMV should conduct an in-depth sta ng analysis to implement a multiyear, phased sta ng plan that addresses examiner shortages and ensures service equity statewide.
• The DMV should build and maintain a centralized performance dashboard to track and report key service metrics.
• The DMV should partner with an industry expert to develop and implement evidence-based improvements to customer experience and service delivery.
This will be a big haul, but I’m going to do my part in studying the reports and delivering the best outcomes for the people of Robeson County and North Carolina. We’ll need the governor, DOT and DMV to assist as well, but we can all agree that the most customerfacing service in North Carolina must o er fewer headaches and better.
Rep. Jarrod Lowery represents District 47 in the NCGA, which includes Robeson County.
words, competitors aren’t going to be bullied out of the market by Charter-Cox — especially in the lucrative mobile communications arena.
What is ironic is that back in the 1980s, AT&T was forced by the government to break itself up because of alleged market power, and now we could have federal regulators blocking a merger that would bring new competition to AT&T (and other big kids on the block, like Comcast and Verizon).
As for the Charter-Cox potential dominance in cable, sorry, but that’s a declining industry.
Within a decade or so, cable will be as outdated as Blockbuster.
Mergers like this one make U.S. companies more competitive, make money for millions of American shareholders, and make our companies scalable to compete with European, Japanese and Chinese rivals.
Gail Slater, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, recently said she intends to focus on mergers that decrease competition.
“If you’re violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to take a hard look,” she said. “If you’re not violating the antitrust laws, we’re going to get the hell out of the way.”
Those are words to live by.
Stephen Moore is co-founder of Unleash Prosperity and a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON
COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE
Teacher brings agriculture to life at WRH
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE
As an agriculture teacher at Wallace-Rose Hill High School, Danielle Trimbur is planting seeds of curiosity, con dence and career-readiness in her students.
From plant portfolios to drone technology, Danielle Trimbur is planting con dence in the next generation of farmers
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — At Wallace-Rose Hill High School, ag teacher Danielle Trimbur is inspiring the next generation of ag leaders by combining hands- on learning with cutting-edge technology. From drone-based precision farming to student-grown plant portfolios, her classroom serves as a hub of innovation and engagement.
Raised among farms and elds in Oley, Pennsylvania, Trimbur’s interest in agriculture began at a young age. As a standout FFA student, she credits her high school agriculture teacher with igniting her passion for agricultural education — a spark that would ultimately shape her career path.
Trimbur graduated from the
“You don’t have
to
love everything, but you do have to try.”
Danielle Trimbur
University of Mount Olive in 2024, where she received accolades for both her academic and athletic achievements while majoring in agricultural education. In the classroom, Trimbur enriches her curriculum by incorporating eld trips, guest speakers and FFA competitions, helping students develop both technical skills and condence. The Wallace-Rose Hill teacher emphasizes the importance of student engagement and real-world relevance, highlighting the excitement among her students when their learning directly connects to the world around them.
“There’s something special about watching a student walk in every day excited to check on
the plant they’ve nurtured from a seed,” Trimbur said. “And now with drones, students who love technology are getting to see how it applies directly to agriculture. It’s a game-changer.”
Her success, she said, is thanks in large part to mentors and professors at UMO who helped her develop leadership skills and teaching strategies.
“By stepping out of my comfort zone and being willing to ask questions, I’ve been able to grow — for myself and for my students,” said Trimbur.
She wants her students, especially girls, to see that there’s a place for them in agriculture.
“It’s important that young women see female role models in agriculture. I want to be that example,” said Trimbur, who encourages young women to explore the eld of agriculture with an open mind and a willingness to try new things.
“Try it all. Go to the workshops, take the elective, attend the camp. You don’t have to love everything, but you do have to try. Every experience adds something valuable.”
Lodge members recognized at ceremony featuring DB Cooper investigation
By Mark Grady
For Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — Members and guests of Beulaville Masonic Lodge Number 618 gathered last Saturday evening for a dinner program that featured three awards for longtime members and a presentation on the North Carolina connection to an infamous airline hijacker who parachuted out of a plane in the Northwest carrying a large sum of money.
During the awards presentation, Eddie Ray Maready was given the Veteran’s Emblem in honor of his 50 years of membership and service to the Beulaville Lodge.
Two other lodge members, Terry Michael Williams and Arthur Edwards Jr., received 25-year service awards, presented by Deputy District
Grand Marshal Doug Turner.
A special guest speaker, retired N.C. Highway Patrolman Johnny Surles delivered a captivating presentation on D.B. Cooper that contained compelling evidence on who the infamous hijacker really was, as well as his direct connection to North Carolina.
On Thanksgiving eve in 1971, a man who identi ed himself as Dan Cooper at the Northwest Orient Airline ticket counter at the Portland, Oregon, airport, purchased a one-way ticket to Seattle. During the 30-minute ight in a Boeing 727, he handed a note to a ight attendant claiming to have a bomb on board. He demanded $200,000 in ransom, a large sum in 1971, and gave explicit instructions on what the crew was to do upon landing in Seattle. He also demanded four parachutes.
In Seattle, he allowed the passengers and their luggage to be removed, but he kept the ight crew, including two pilots and four ight attendants, hostage. He demanded the plane refuel and take o for Mexico City. He even gave explicit instructions about a refueling stop in Reno, Nevada.
Once back in the air, this time at night, Cooper used the rear door and steps that were prevalent on that model of 727 to parachute out of the plane near Vancouver, Washington.
Press coverage of Cooper’s exploits led to a cult following of him. There were two feature lms and a few documentaries produced about him, as well as a song titled “The Ballad of D.B. Cooper.”
Fast forward to April 1972 when a man by the name of Richard Floyd McCoy, originally from the Cove City area, boarded the same model aircraft that Cooper had jumped out of. McCoy used the exact same playbook to demand four parachutes
plus a $500,000 ransom. McCoy’s attempt failed, and he was arrested and placed in federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He attempted to escape and was recaptured.
McCoy made friends with three other prisoners. They began planning an escape, even creating a physical tness system to get in better shape for their plan. On Aug. 10, 1974, they climbed a prison fence and commandeered a garbage truck, crashing it through the prison gate. They ditched the truck and escaped the area.
The FBI sent notices to law enforcement agencies across the east to be on the lookout for the escapees, according to Surles.
“The FBI assumed they were going to Tennessee, so no law enforcement in North Carolina were noti ed,” Surles said.
On Tuesday morning, Aug. 13, 1974, Surles was patrolling along N.C. Highway 58 coming into Trenton around 9:15 a.m. when highway patrol dispatch alerted troopers in the area of
a bank robbery in Pollocksville. The call said to be on the lookout for four white males in a green Monte Carlo.
It was discovered that the robbers had switched cars. Eventually, putting local law enforcement and the highway patrol helicopter to work, the car the men were now using was spotted. Surles was able to track down two of the men and arrested them. The other two, including McCoy, escaped. McCoy was eventually located in a house out of state and killed after ring at an FBI agent. His last words were: “You got me.”
Using photos of McCoy and his family, as well as composite sketches of Cooper from FBI wanted posters, and other compelling circumstantial evidence, Surles made the case that McCoy of Cove City was actually D.B. Cooper, the hijacker who the FBI was convinced did not survive his parachute jump in Washington state.
Beyond the dramatic pursuit of a fugitive, the events of 1974 led to a signi cant personal milestone in Surles’ life. During the Pollocksville bank robbery, McCoy placed a gun to the back of a bank employee. That woman would later become Surles’ wife.
PHOTOS BY MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Left, Terry Michael Williams, left center, and Arthur Edwards Jr., right, of the Beulaville Masonic Lodge Number 658 — pictured with by Doug Turner, left, and Dean Houston, right center — were recognized for their 25 years of membership and service to the lodge at a dinner program on Aug. 9. Right, Beulaville Masonic Lodge member Eddie Ray Maready, center, was presented the Veteran’s Emblem Honor by Dean Houston, left, and Doug Turner, right.
A guest speaker connects America’s most mysterious hijacker to a bank robbery, a prison escape and a personal love story
can’t comment because it is an ongoing investigation.”
Airport fuel, contract failures raise red ags
At Mount Olive Municipal Airport, investigators identi ed issues with aviation fuel management and contractual compliance.
Prior to the audit, there was no written agreement between airport operator Mike Bass and the town regarding the commission rate for fuel transactions. Following the investigation, an addendum con rming a verbal agreement was signed, establishing that Bass would receive 30% of fuel pro ts, while the town would keep 70%. Investigators also discovered that fuel purchases, which were Bass responsibility, were charged to the town’s bank account despite the town not being part of the fuel provider’s contract.
“It is unclear why and how a town bank account is being debited for fuel purchases,” stated the report, further noting that someone outside the town improperly authorized fuel purchases. Also, payment processes for customers lacked internal controls. Customers who did not pay by credit card were allowed to receive fuel on credit, with invoices sent informally by email to the town clerk. These transactions were not entered into the town’s accounting system.
Additionally, Finance Director Jamie Butler did not verify fuel commission invoices. According to investigators, after interviewing Butler, they believed she “did not fully understand the supporting documentation and did not have a process to con rm the invoiced amount was accurate.”
A review of fuel sales commissions for 2024 indicated that the town paid the opera-
tor a commission rate of 31%. According to the report, “OSA is reasonably assured that the 1% di erence occurred due to timing di erences in accounting reconciliation.”
The town also failed to record commission checks properly. Of the 10 checks issued to Bass in 2024, only three were recorded in the accounting system by the end of the year.
“The Finance Director’s failure to record checks in the town’s accounting system put the town at risk of fraud and/ or embezzlement,” the report warned.
In response, the town plans to clarify fuel purchasing and commission responsibilities through a new contract with the airport operator. Holland stated the town will implement monthly reconciliations of fuel commissions signed o by both parties and reviewed by the nance o cer and town manager. Additionally, semiannual reports detailing revenue, expenses, inventory and commissions will be required going forward. The town has also decided to stop paying for fuel, transferring the responsibility for purchases back to the operator.
Holland told Duplin Journal the town plans to “make sure that the contract is followed to the letter.”
Unpaid services, unveri ed charges
The investigation also revealed that the town continued to pay for airport Wi-Fi and telephone services, expenses contractually assigned to Bass between 2017 and 2024.
Although the town received $300 per month in Wi-Fi reimbursement from January to September 2024, it failed to consistently pay its internet provider due to a dispute. The report states that Butler reported the town issued a
$10,000 lump sum payment in September; however, records from the internet service provider during the investigation show this payment was not applied to the town’s account. Phone records were similarly murky. Of the seven phone lines billed to the town, only two could be traced back to airport operations. The remaining ve lines and various unexplained charges could not be accounted for by either Butler or Bass.
In response to the audit, the town has committed to a full review of all Wi-Fi and telephone invoices since the contract began in 2017. Holland stated the town will seek reimbursement from Bass for costs outside the town’s responsibility. The town has discontinued Wi-Fi service at the airport and terminated all unveri ed phone lines. A revised contract is being drafted to clearly outline scal responsibilities, with oversight measures to ensure compliance. Holland projected full implementation of corrective actions by Dec. 30.
Water Department audit exposes fraud, more than $210K in losses
The investigation also uncovered a culture of misconduct and gross negligence within the Mount Olive Water Department, resulting in a con rmed loss of $210,837 in utility revenue and evidence of fraud involving town employees.
Among the most serious ndings were the actions of Water Department sta who were accused of repeatedly abused their positions for personal gain. The department’s supervisor and billing clerk, Watia Best and Rashonte Pettit, routinely voided their cuto fees while continuing to receive uninterrupted water service, the audit found. The
The career exploration initiative equips youth with industry credentials and real-world job experience
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
MORE THAN 70 high school students in southeastern North Carolina, including 11 from Duplin County Schools, were recently recognized for completing the Southeastern Education and Economic Development (SEED) Program. The career exploration initiative focuses on agriculture and advanced manufacturing.
The registered preapprenticeship program provided participants with hands-on experience, industry-recognized credentials and real-world job training. In Duplin County, students took part in the summer Agricultural Academy hosted by James Sprunt Community College.
The recognition ceremony, held at the University of Mount Olive, celebrated the students’ accomplishments and included participants from ve community colleges: Wilson, Lenoir, Wayne, Sampson and James Sprunt. Each student received a certi cate of completion acknowledging their achievements.
Educators, industry partners
supervisor erased her fees in 11 out of 12 months, and the billing clerk did the same in nine out of 12 months. Those employees were suspended in January 2025 and ultimately red in March following the results of the investigation.
Investigators determined that from April to May 2024 alone, the employees voided hundreds of fees without proper documentation, a practice attributed to both intentional misconduct and the town’s lack of internal controls.
Delreese Simmons, a sitting town commissioner who is running for reelection, had his water cuto fee waived nine times in 2024.
According to the report, “The commissioner did not make a single payment on his utility bill until August 2024 — when OSA received the allegation — at which point his outstanding balance was $942.”
Billing errors cost town thousands
In addition to misconduct, the audit revealed critical billing errors stemming from improperly implemented rate increases. In 2023 and 2024, commercial water rates approved by the town board were entered incorrectly into the billing system, with minimum and maximum usage rates set identically.
As a result, commercial customers were billed only a at base charge, regardless of their water consumption.
Businesses that should have paid more than $1,000 a month were charged an average of $17. The mistake persisted until March, at which point e orts to correct the errors led to gross overcharges.
The OSA concluded that if proper review procedures had been in place, such critical mistakes could have been
Public Notice – Proposed Lease of Land
and community leaders gathered to honor the students and highlight the program’s role in preparing a skilled local workforce by aligning talent development with employer needs.
Funded by Smith eld Foods and supported by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, SEED connects public schools, community colleges and local employers. This collaboration creates a talent pipeline to support future workforce needs.
“Smith eld is committed to investing in the future of agriculture and manufacturing by equipping young people with the skills and experiences they need to thrive,” said Jay Bennett, Smith eld Foods chief human resources o cer. “Through our support of the SEED program, we’re building meaningful partnerships with communities and helping students discover rewarding career paths that strengthen our industry and workforce.”
Through this collaborative effort, students gained vital exposure to future career pathways in agriculture, with the added support of stipends, transportation and supplies to reduce barriers to participation.
“Smith eld’s support helped bring this vision to life, giving students real-world experience in careers with long-term potential — right here in their home communities,” said Julia Wright, board chair of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education. “We’re proud to recognize their dedication and growth through this program.”
prevented. Overall, the town lost $210,837 in revenue due to the missteps, further straining municipal nances.
The town has agreed with the OSA’s ndings. Moving forward, the nance o cer will assume responsibility for forwarding rate tables to the billing software vendor and verifying updates. There will be no access to rate tables by water billing employees. Only the water billing supervisor will have access to void fees, and every void will require written justi cation, which will be reviewed and approved monthly by thenance o cer. Town manager approval will be required for any voided fee needed for a town employee, town commissioner or vendor. The town also plans to pursue collection of outstanding balances and update its utility billing policies.
“A recommendation will be presented to the town board to pursue the collection of outstanding balance of all inactive accounts, including the accounts referenced in the Audit Report. It is also recommended that voided fees, including disconnect fees and late fees, be collected on the accounts referenced in the Audit Report as well as all other accounts that can be justi ed.”
A spokesperson from OSA told Duplin Journal that the state auditor is required to report to law enforcement information that may be evidence of criminal misconduct. Also, OSA will be following up to check on the implementation of the recommended corrective actions.
As of press time, Butler and Simmons did not respond to Duplin Journal’s request for comment.
To report alleged incidents of fraud, waste or abuse in state government, contact the OSA’s Tipline at 800-730-8477.
COURTESY MURPHY FAMILY VENTURES
Crissa Weston and Madelyn Sawyer recently spent two days working with the marketing team at Murphy Family Ventures as part of the SEED program Ag Academy hosted by James Sprunt Community College. Weston and Sawyer were two of 11 students from Duplin County Schools chosen
SCANDAL from page A1
DUPLIN SPORTS
2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
READY TO RELOAD
RICHLANDS: The Wildcats are circling their wagons to prove 2024 wasn’t a uke
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
RICHLANDS — Bill Good got his rst glance of the Wildcats football team last Friday during a scrimmage against Pender.
Good, who coached at Richlands for a decade, has worn a number of different hats the past two months as a rst-year head coach.
His postgame analysis was hovered over “good” though swung below that mark.
“We did some good things, and we did some not-so good things that we can now go back and work on in the next two weeks,” Good said.
Yet Good may have found his starting quarterback in New York transfer CJ DiBenedetto.
His poise and play made Good think about ways to use Cale Wilges, who he felt would replace Caleb Simco.
“This could be really good in opening up the things Cale does on the eld, and it will allow us to move him around,” Good said.
Many more player decisions will be made before Richlands travels to Southwest Onslow on Aug. 22 for a season opener against perhaps its biggest rival.
“We’re going to have to play di erently on o ense this year,” Good said. “We have to be able to run to control the ball and the clock.
Running backs Darryl Jackson, Carson Littreal, Jackson Taylor and Good’s son Camden will work from various spots in the Wildcats’ option attack.
“We have four or ve running backs that will split time, and I see it as a positive,” Good said. “It’s a great group, and there’s also a few other players to
2025 Schedule
Aug. 22 at Southwest Onslow
Aug. 29 at White Oak
Sept. 5 vs. East Duplin
Sept. 12 vs. S. Brunswick
Sept. 19 vs. Havelock*
Sept. 26 at Northside*
Oct. 5 OPEN
Oct. 10 vs. Croatan*
Oct. 17 at West Carteret*
Oct. 24 at Dixon*
Oct. 31 vs. Swansboro**
*Coastal 5A/6A Conference games **CC 6A foe
plug in. Gabe Mentor and Jamar Watson can also help out as a lot of that group will play at linebacker or as defensive backs.”
Richlands lost more than 20 seniors after last season, many who were key players for the previous two or three years. Good replaces Duplin County native Pat Byrd, who guided the ’Cats to one of its best seasons in school history (9-2) before leaving to become the o ensive coordinator at Jacksonville.
Expectations are not high, though Good said his players are determined to prove that 2024 wasn’t a uke.
The possibility of getting solid play from DiBenedetto was refreshing. He’s replacing Simco, who ran, passed and willed the Wildcats to rst downs, touchdowns and wins.
Good’s o ense appears to be less complicated than the one Byrd used, though both stress taking care of the ball and making decisions that a ect plays and outcomes of a series.
DiBenedetto likely won’t throw the ball as much with an o ensive line led by center Dom Bergeaux and
See RICHLANDS, page B3
HARRELLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: The Crusaders’ back eld is loaded with weapons as the defense reboots
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
HARRELLS — Clayton Hall and the Harrells Christian Academy football sta enter the season with a few objectives.
Rebuilding the Crusaders defense is at the top of the list.
“We return a lot of kids in skill positions, but I thought our MVP last year was Hakeem (Murphy),” Hall said. “And we lost two really good linebackers (Coley Sasser and Eli Hardison).”
Murphy, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound roadblock and enforcer, was a four -year starter who played left tackle and defensive end, while Sasser, a guard and linebacker, and Hardison, a fullback and linebacker, played to a gold standard for HCA on defense the past two seasons.
Getting production to replace the threesome won’t be easy for a Crusaders team that went 6-4 and barely missed out nabbing a spot in the NCISAA playo s.
Two losses ring loudly
An opening night setback to Covenant Day (28-6) and a stinging 38-35 loss to Ravenscroft turned out to be playo killers.
The Crusaders started out 6-1 but dropped their nal three games and were not invited to the dance.
The HCA defense regroups around returned Landon Toler, Xander Garcia and Amir Moore.
Toler (6 feet, 216 pounds) is a four -year starter who will play center and defensive end.
The other defensive returnee is tack-
2025 Schedule
Aug. 22 vs South Wake
Aug. 29 vs. Wayne Christian*
Sept. 5 vs. North Wake Saints
Sept. 12 vs. High Point Chris.
Sept. 19 vs. Hickory Grove
Sept. 26 at Covenant Day
Oct. 3 vs. N. Raleigh Chris.*
Oct. 10 at Asheville Chris.
Oct. 17 OPEN
Oct. 24 vs. Ravenscroft*
Oct. 31 at Trinity Chris.*
*Big East Conference games
le Xavier Garcia (5-11, 302). The senior duo will get help from classmate Jesse Smith (5-11, 192). But HCA expects big things from defensive linemen Amir Moore (6-7, 280) and Drake Smith (6-0, 224). Smith will also play tight end while splitting time with Davis Bradshaw (5-11, 174). Moore is also working his way in at tight end, according to Hall.
Juniors Sam McKeithan (6-0, 182), Noah Tanner (6-1, 174) and Jarrod Miller (5-9, 200) take on the task of replacing Sasser and Hardison. While those two lines must be solid, the play of the secondary will be key as HCA plays a number of pass-orientated teams. HCA will use running backs as its cornerbacks and safety positions. Back eld loaded with talent
Hall, the longtime o ensive coordinator, should have a blast running the Wing-T since his back eld returns loaded and locked in.
Quarterback Reid Strickland, a three-year starter, will do work that is often not respected by fans in this
See HCA, page B4
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Left, rst-year Richlands coach Bill Good, right, and defensive coordinator Matt Lovely said “game-planning for opponents” will be key this season. Right, seniors Xander Garcia (50) Dashaun McKoy (12), Landon Tyler (55), Reid Strickland, back row leftm, and Davis Bradshaw (20) will lead HCA as the Crusaders touch the statue of Will Johnson before each home game. Johnson died on the eld on Sept. 8, 2000.
ATHLETE
OF THE WEEK
Lucas Dail
North Duplin, football
Look for Lucas Dail to have a breakout season.
North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin said his linebacker has put in the o season work in the weight room ahead of his senior season.
The Rebels were 10-1 last season, and Dail is one of many returnees as North Duplin seeks its third Carolina Conference title in as many years.
Dail, who played basketball In the winter, devoted his spring and summer to gridiron training, and according to Martin, he is ready to make bigger contributions.
Panthers-Bulldogs prep for heated rivalry on opening night
WRH and ED, which usually play at the end of the regular season, open 2025 against each other
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
WALLACE — East Duplin is favored.
Wallace-Rose Hill doesn’t care.
The Bulldogs have won the last two matchups.
“So what?” say Panthers fans. “That will change.”
But the game is at Legion Stadium, one of the most unique venues in the state for a football game.
“Brian Aldridge Field is better and more modern, and the ghosts of Jack Holley and Thell Overman don’t scare us,” say the collective voice of the Panthers faithful.
“Our coach is Battle Holley, who is the last Duplin County coach to win a state title.”
“Yeah, then why do we lead the series against a school that is bigger than us and in a higher classi cation?” the ’Dawgs’ collective counter.
“We’re the team that stopped Javonte Williams before he went to UNC and the NFL. … I’m sure you recall that,” say the Panthers-proud community.
“You mean the 2017 season in which we were state champs under Kevin Motsinger at UNC and y’all lost the 2AA game before us? “snaps the voice from the Rose Hill Restaurant.
“Just a bump in the road as we won our fourth ’ship.”
“But it’s fullback Shawn Davis’ nal season in Beulaville, and the big man-child is going to bulldoze Bulldogs,” screams a woman from a booth at Du s.
“No way, no how,” says a man dressed in orange and black.
“Who is going to catch Jamarae Lamb when he breaks into the open eld?
And so goes the conversations in anticipation of the ED -WRH kicko next Friday.
The rivalry is one of, if not the best in eastern North Carolinam with the last 10 games being decided by eight points or less.
While WRH leads the all-time series 43-22-2, the Bulldogs have just a 16-15 edge since 1996 in a series that has four clear phases.
The Bulldogs went 13-1-1 against the Panthers from 1962 to 1977.
The Panthers swept the next four games, twice holding WRH to a touchdown and just two scores in a 26-13 win in 1981. Before the streak, WRH had whipped ED twice by a combined total of 42-0.
WRH owned ED in the ’80s and half of the ’90s, holding a 13-1 mark from 1982 to 1995.
All of this was fodder for a series that has been must-watch
for football fans in Duplin County.
But folks in the other end of the county want to argue that James Kenan-WRH is a better series, and this season they are both in the Swine Valley 3A/2A Conference, while ED is in the East Central 4A/3A Conference.
True. The Tigers and Bulldogs used to be the best rivalry, though WRH has a 50 -29 advantage. And that may change since JK beat WRH in overtime in the third round of the playo s last year to snap a 13-game skid. Motsinger, who coached JK for three seasons, is 10-1 against the Tigers.
But no one seems to know how to beat Motsinger quite like Holley, whose father Jack is WRH’s iconic coach. The younger Holley coached for a season at WRH before leading Kinston for three seasons and then taking over at ED in 2011.
He has a 6-4 edge on Motsinger.
Yet there are several interesting twists to the plot.
First, longtime WRH o ensive coordinator Adam Scronce left to be the head coach at Hobbton and his assistant in the booth — Graham Walker — is now at ED.
Motsinger takes over as the Bulldogs’ o ensive coordinator and will go head to head against Holley, who calls the plays for ED.
“We’ve changed our terminology and signals, and that’s been a little tough on the kids,” Motsinger said. “They’ve got a bunch of kids back, and we’re inexperienced and have depth issues.
“But I will say this: We’re going to be better than anyone thinks we will be.”
WRH will be riding on the wings of Lamb, who ran for 1,361 yards last season and is being recruited heavily.
And ED will look to Davis, who has ripped his way for 2,608 yards the previous two campaigns even though he was injured both seasons.
The Panthers also feel Aaron Hall (799 yards) and healthy reports from running back Keeshon Mckinnie (485 yards) and quarterback Branson Norris will be too much
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
for the Bulldogs defense led by former JK player and assistant coach Tyler Pugh.
“I don’t think they really know what I will do as the offensive coordinator,” Motsinger said in a hint to unexpected plays.”
Some WRH fans feel running back Jamari Carr (67-521), quarterback Matthew Wells (27-58 for 435 yards), split end Adrian Glover (27-302 and one of the fastest runners at the 2A track championships last spring) and running back Darrius McCrimmon will emerge as o ensive threats.
But the bottom line has always been that both schools run the Wing-T and know one another forward and backward. What could either team do di erently?
“It’s going to come down to turnovers and who takes care of the ball,” Holley said. “They know what we do, though they could have a bit di erent identity.”
Holley always seems to nd a wrinkle or two. And given the fact that Motsinger has known about this early rivalry game for months, he’s likely got a few cards up his sleeve.
Don’t’ expect a punt on fourth-and-short situations. Both are gunslinging play callers willing to take a chance.
And there will likely be an unsung hero.
In 2022, it was Kade Kennedy’s tackle on a two-point conversion that sealed ED’s 14-13 win. The Panthers beat WRH 28-26 in the East Region nal. ED held Kayne Roberts to 42 yards in 2021, but Robert Montgomery and Kaymond Farrier combined for 183 yards and two scores in a 21-17 Bulldogs win.
Roberts, who is now at Appalachian State, galloped for 196 yards in the regular season matchup that year, which was won by ED 24-21 as quarterback Nick Cavanaugh ran for 22 yards and passed for 66 as the top Panther producer, and ve ED running backs had 39 yards or more.
Former players from both schools have lifelong memories of this series.
Expect a packed house and plenty of noise from both sides of the Jack Holley Football Complex. It’s a money-maker that usually lives up to its advance billing.
“I don’t like that we’re playing this early, but I think it adds excitement and kicks o the season right,” Holley said. “It’s a game that means so much to both communities and to the players.
“They had (scheduled) games, and we had games, and this was the only place to t it. We’re always going to play Wallace and James Kenan, and for Wallace and James Kenan to play. It’s always good football and short trips. Why wouldn’t we?”
MICHAEL JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ED’s Battle Holly has a 6-4 edge in games against WRH coach Kevin Motsinger.
“At our scrimmage, there were four players who were on the varsity last season,” Good said. “Right now, we’re running our tackles week to week, looking for answers and solutions.”
Yet Good’s biggest concern defensively is that the Wildcats will not have a line that will hold ground like Marcus Branthoover, Semaj Thompson and company did in 2024.
That’s almost a given, but the return of defensive end Tre’Vaun Flannigan is huge.
He’ll man one side of the line with Matt Storjohann on the opposite side with tackles Nick Herring and Joel Roberts in between Richlands’ two pillars.
Linebacker and returnee
JT Bratcher works alongside Beau Mills, Payton Hughes and Matt Stein.
Richlands’ best returnee could be split end Tyler Clouatre, who also played cornerback last season. He caught 17 passes for 613 yards and six touchdowns.
Another missing player is Noah LeBlanc, who ran for 877 yards and scored eight touchdowns. A family moved transferred him to East Duplin, but a serious knee injury will keep o the eld for at least a season. Good said Richlands won’t have another scrimmage before its opener.
“We’re turning our attention to cranking it up o ensively to nd out where we can go while also breaking it down to have individual time,” Good said.
Wildcats Football 2025
Coach: Bill Good
Career record: 0-0 (First year)
“Our numbers are down, and we have some who play only on o ense, some only defense, and some that will have to play both. So we want a controlled game where we can move the yard sticks and run the clock.”
Richlands has beaten Southwest Onslow the previous two seasons after breaking a three-decade curse against the Stallions. Game 2 is a road trip to play Coastal champ White Oak. The Wildcats return home the next Friday to face East Duplin, a school they whipped last fall to end a shorter but just as painful losing streak. Two weeks later, grid powerhouse Havelock comes to town.
Richlands, which is a 5A school following realignment and the addition of four more classi cations statewide, keeps league a liations with Swansboro, Dixon, West Cartertet and Croatan and adds Northside-Jacksonville and Havelock.
The Rams enter as the overwhelming favorite with the Vikings and Patriots as upset contenders should Havelock falter.
Richlands, Dixon, Croatan and Northside begin as second-tier teams in the Coastal 5A/6A Conference in which weakling Swansboro is the lone 6A school. The Pirates were 0-9 in 2023 and petitioned to stay in the league for fear of being completely overwhelmed in 6A. Good and the Wildcats are rebuilding and will be short on experience until midseason when newcomers adjust to the speed and contact at the varsity level.
Good replaces Pat Byrd, who left to be the OC at Jacksonville Coaching sta : Bill Good, DC Matt Lovely, Eddie Floyd, Adam Varner, Reed Schumann, Shayvon Kornegay, John Anderson, Tony Joiner, Matt Boutwell, Karl Jackson, Dave McGowan.
Record 2023: 9-2 and lost in rst round of 3A playo s, Went 7-4 for second-place in Coastal 3A in 2023.
The skinny: The inexperienced Wildcats will have to step up quickly. They will be underdogs in their rst ve games. But if they show an ability to take and give hard hits, it will be a valuable lesson. The back half of the schedule is far more forgiving. Richlands had a great defense in 2024 and that could be the area in which needs the most bolstering. Teams were unable to put the ball in the end zone, and that gave the o ense more opportunities. The arrival of DiBenedetto could be the ticket the o ense needs to operate the option attack and spread the ball around. An open week on Oct. 5 might be needed for a run into the playo s.
Rookie van Gisbergen nabs 4th victory of Cup season
The win at Watkins Glen set a rookie record
The Associated Press
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. —
Shane van Gisbergen’s latest victory in NASCAR’s premier series was as historical as it was emotional.
With his father, Robert, on hand for the rst time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.
“It’s just amazing to have him here,” said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. “It’s been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn’t been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing.”
As amazing as van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the Cup Series.
The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Je Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.
Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his rst lead on the 25th
“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day went awlessly.”
Shane van Gisbergen
of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically awless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45 -mile road course.
“I’m just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute,” van Gisbergen said. “The day went awlessly.”
The 36-year-old rookie made his nal pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into rst place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow ags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the nal 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.
“I’m thrilled because we’ve been struggling a little bit,” Bell said. “Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He’s doing such a really good job.”
With ve victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR’s top series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to ve wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fth
race in his 13th start in January 1968.
The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear contract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playo s with two races remaining in the regular season.
The rst round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average nish of 26.9 this year.
“It ain’t going to be easy, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said of his playo outlook. “The rst round, it’s some very dicult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and I’m enjoying myself, and it’s a challenge. That’s why we’re here, and we’ll have a proper crack at it.”
Playo watch
Third-place nisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the nal playo spot.
Buescher outdueled van Gisbergen on the nal lap to win at Watkins Glen last year. His team tailored its strategy Sunday toward amassing stage points instead of following the win-oriented strategy used by van Gisbergen.
RICHLANDS
Darden
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with his team in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.
offense that was brought to the area by the late Jack Holley, the second-winningest coach in NCHSAA history.
“That’s a misunderstood position in that o ense,” Hall said. “So much of the success comes from the quarterback. The footwork, ball-faking and di cult pivots are not easy. Reid knows the system well and does a great job making it look far easier than it is.”
The Crusaders back eld is more loaded than a machine gun.
Last season, injuries forced current seniors Chamani Newton (5 -10, 141) and Dashaun McKoy (6-3, 173) to the sidelines, yet both still had solid seasons.
They are keys as both can catch the ball and can make chunks of yardage after a reception in the open eld.
“Dashaun scored four di erent ways for us last year and is important to our team because of his versatility and what he brings,” Hall said. “When he gets the ball in his hands in some fashion, it’s good for us.
“It’s Newton’s third year with us, and while he may weigh 130 pounds, he’s a leader who can block, run the ball and he also takes care of it well.”
Fullback Miller is a bruiser, while wing back Demetrius Jones (5-6, 170) is fast and can take a hit.
“Jarrod is a big kid that can really pound the ball, and Demetrius is really quick and fast,” Hall said. “We’ve got a lot of moving parts to work with.”
Another back eld option is
Crusaders Football 2025
Coach: Clayton Hall
Head coach Clayton Hall is excited about the potential of HCA’s
junior Jeremiah Davis (6-3, 175).
“We’re going to run a lot of bodies out of the back eld, and I’m excited about watching them do things,” Hall said. The o ensive line is built around center Toler, right tackle Garcia, guards Tanner and McKeithan and sophomore left tackle Lathan Cashwell (5-9, 160). Both guards were backups last fall, while Cashwell appeared in ve games.
HCA has won 12 NCISAA state titles and were Big East
Career record: 6-4. Took over two weeks before the season opener in 2024
Coaching sta : OC Clayton Hall, DC Steve Mallard, Tracey Thornton, Trey Fetterman, Jamael Moore, Jonathan Carr, Josh Rackley, Winfred Johnson, Nolan Hall Record 2023: 6-4, did not make the state playo s State titles: 12 in NCISAA (1971-73, 1977, 1986-89, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2008)
Key Returnees: Sr. QB Reid Strickland (26-677 for 408 yards, 4 TDs), Sr. WB/WR Chamani Newton (44-210, 2 TDs); Sr. RB/ SE Dashaun McKoy (29-280, 3 TDs; 7-235, 3 TDs receiving), Jr. WB Demetrius Jones (70-491, 9 TDs), Jr. FB Jarrod Miller (76-529, 8 TDs), Jr. WB Jeremiah Davis (35-235), Key Losses: LB Eli Hardison (4.5 tackles per game), Sr T/LB Cole Sasser (5.1 tackles per game), DE Hakeem Murphy, OL/ DL Bryson Lovette, The Skinny: HCA’s biggest losses came on the defensive side. The o ense has to replace two linemen, but the entire back eld from 2024 is back. Key dates include three consecutive road trips in four weeks in October against top NCISAA teams — Asheville Christian, Ravenscroft and Trinity Christian. Consecutive midseason tilts against High Point Christian, Hickory Grove and Covenant Day are also tough assignments. The Crusaders failed to make the playo s last fall and that was a shame since HCA wasn’t a pushover and more a victim of facing quality programs. The NCHSAA watered down its playo s this fall to make money. The NCISAA didn’t, and a lot of good teams were left at home. Hall has a group that should be in the playo s in November.
MLB
Rivera tears Achilles in Yankees Old-Timers’ Day game, needs surgery New York
Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles while chasing a y ball at New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day. The 55-year-old closer, baseball’s career leader in saves, will have surgery within a week. The Yankees brought back the Old-Timers’ Day game for the rst time since 2019. Rivera, a Hall of Famer, was playing in the event for the second time. He became the rst unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame in 2019 after helping the Yankees win ve World Series titles.
champs and the 2A runner-up in 2020 and 2021.
Trinity (Fayetteville) went 10-2 last fall to capture the league title. They lost to Asheville (7-2) in the 2A semi nals. The Christ School lost ve times during the regular season but nearly beat Asheville, falling 26-25 in overtime to claim the title.
That, in a nutshell, says a lot about NCISAA schools. Coaches don’t look at records. They watch game lm and evaluate
Roster
Lamb takes big hit from sprinting o cial while in street clothes on sideline
Inglewood, Calif.
CeeDee Lamb took a big hit and committed a penalty in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener even though the star receiver wasn’t in uniform. A sprinting o cial ran straight into Lamb’s back on the sideline during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, resulting in a 15-yard penalty for making contact with an o cial. Dressed in street clothes, Lamb was watching a deep pass when he wandered too far into the white paint on the sideline. The o cial didn’t see him and knocked him down.
JAENICKE / DUPLIN JOURNAL
players before facing a foe. And they always try to expect the unexpected.
Hall, the school’s longtime head basketball coach and athletics director, said his schedule changed numerous times in the past six months.
Trinity the favorite in Big East Conference
Trinity graduated a quarterback who threw for 2,768 yards and 35 touchdowns but return
Dontario Austin, who led the team in tackles (13.4 per game). Don’t expect the Fayetteville team to fall from grace. The program is rock solid and 14-4 all-time versus HCA, 8-3 against North Raleigh Christian and 4-1 against newcomer North Wake.
NRC, which is 19-4 against HCA, went 5-6 in 2025, but longtime head coach Chris Rivera retired in December. Ravenscroft went 4-6 and has beaten HCA 14 times in the past 18 games.
Two other Big East schools are not involved as Grace Christian dropped its program, while Wake Christian will play eight-man football, narrowing the conference to four schools.
Yet if home cooking, fan support and familiar surroundings mean anything, HCA has an edge as its rst ve games will be at Murphy-Johnson Field. Four of its last ve are on the road.
And yet another factor could come into play for the Crusaders: losing players to injury. HCA’s roster hovers around 30 (though it’s been much lower in recent years), yet losing any of its top players is cause for concern since players often play on both o ense and defense.
So, for example, if McKoy is hurt, HCA must ll two spots. He’s a heck of an athlete, and that’s hard to replace with a warm body. And often in replacing one position, it leaves a hole in another position that must be lled.
And until the defense comes around, it will be vital for the Wing-T to control the pace of a game by keeping the opposition’s o ense o the eld.
NOTICES
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executors of the Estate of Glenda Kay Davis Brown, of Pink Hill, NC, Duplin County, deceased, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before October 31st, 2025. This the 31st day of July, 2025. Je rey Lynn Davis
MICHAEL
running game.
Quieta Irene (Tipton) Willett
March 17, 1955 – Aug. 6, 2025
Quieta Irene Willett, 70, passed gently from her earthly life on Wednesday, Aug, 6, 2025, at Novant Health NHRMC in Wilmington surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on March 17, 1955, in Long Beach, California, the daughter of Everett Francis Tipton and Gaylene Joyce Hodgkins Tipton.
Quieta is survived by her husband, Emmett Keith Willett; children, James Miller (Stacy), John Jackson (Tracy), Daniel Miller, Teresa Wright, April Fels (John), Amanda Edwards (Tim), and Patrick Willett; seventeen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; brother, John Tipton; sister, Alice Friot and Teresa Willis; many nieces and nephews.
Quieta Irene Willett was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. Her 70 years on this earth were spent caring for others. She was a skilled creator of sewing, crocheting, knitting and all things creative, for which she made loving and memorable keepsakes for those in need of comfort. Forever in our hearts!
A Celebration of Quieta’s life will be Oct. 5, 2025, from 1-4 p.m. at the Burgaw Community House at 102 E. Wilmington Street, Burgaw, NC 28425.
Ellis Edgar Turner
Aug. 17, 1942 – Aug. 5, 2025
Ellis Edgar Turner passed away on Aug. 5 at Kitty Askins Hospice Care in Goldsboro, NC.
He worked construction for many years before establishing Turner Auto Sales in 1995 and also running a North Carolina O cial Inspection Station until retiring in 2020.
Predeceased by his parents, Geneva Scott Turner and Ellis Jackson Turner, as well as Rupert Jackson Turner. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Mary, of 60 years, Sister, Annie Taylor and Donnie of Pleasant Hill, Daughter, Kim T. Williams and Jimmy of Beulaville, Son, Ellis (Matt) Turner and Kim of White Lake, Grandchildren: Barry Bostic and wife Jamie, Jackson Turner and Taylor, Joseph Turner and Landry Turner. Three GreatGrandchildren: Lane Bostic, Jase Turner and Kasley Turner.
Visitation: Thursday, Aug, 7, 2025
6-8 p.m.
Community Funeral Home, Beulaville, NC
Graveside Service: Friday, Aug. 8, 2025
11 a.m. Oak Ridge Memorial Park, Pink Hill, NC Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Turner family.
Lucille “Lucy” Horrell
Feb. 22, 1944 – Aug. 2, 2025
Lucille Balcombe Horrell, 81, of Hampstead, NC, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Born February 22, 1944, in Wilmington, NC, she was the daughter of the late Sidney Clarence Balcombe and Evelyn McCall Irving Balcombe.
Lucille was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harvel A. Horrell Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Martha H. Prosser and her husband, Warren, and Levrah “LeAnn” H. Hall and her husband, Larry; her grandchildren, Justin Hall and his spouse, Ashley, Jordan Prosser, Jami Hall, Jackson Prosser, Sarah Prosser, and Carisa Hall; her brother, Sidney Balcombe and his wife, Linda; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
A graduate of Burgaw High School and Wilmington College, Lucille earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. For 17 years, she dedicated herself to teaching kindergarten and rst grade, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless students. She often spoke with fondness of the many former students who would stop her to share how much her guidance had meant to them. Her gift for teaching extended far beyond the classroom, and her ability to nurture young minds remains a cherished part of her legacy.
Lucille was also a faithful member of Faith Harbor United Methodist Church. Her life was a testament to love, encouragement and dedication to family. Whether o ering a warm embrace, listening with an open heart, or providing a word of wisdom, she was a constant source of strength and support to those who knew her.
“Memaw,” as she was lovingly known by her grandchildren, adored spending time with them, watching them grow into the kind, loving and respectful individuals she was so proud of. Her joy was in their smiles, their achievements and the relationships they built. Lucille also found peace and enjoyment in reading, crossword puzzles and word searches, activities that kept her mind sharp and her spirit content.
A graveside service to honor her life will be held at Sea Lawn Memorial Park, 17750 US Hwy 17, Hampstead, NC, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at 11 a.m., with Rev. William Hill Pearsall o ciating. Family and friends are invited to gather to celebrate her life and the enduring love she shared with all. The family will visit with friends at the cemetery following the service.
Kristin Alisha Mann
Oct. 11, 1981 – Aug. 6, 2025
Kristin Alisha Mann, 43, of Warsaw, NC, answered the Master’s call on August 6, 2025, at her residence. A celebration of Kristin’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Hines Chapel, Freewill Baptist Church, 320 Prospect Street, Warsaw, NC.
Mabel Bonham Thigpen
Sept. 23, 1938 – Aug. 5, 2025
Mabel Bonham Thigpen, 86, passed to her home in Glory on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington with loving family at her side.
She was born in Duplin County and was the daughter of Henry Harlee Bonham and Fannie Williamson Bonham. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Franklin Thigpen; granddaughter, Olivia Nicole Thigpen; sister, Faye Mobley; and brothers, Frank Bonham and David Earl Bonham.
Mabel is survived by her daughters, Donna Thigpen and Sonya Herring and her husband, Frank; son, Vance Thigpen and his wife, Jennifer; grandsons, Zachary Thigpen and Lucas Thigpen; brother, Bob Bonham and his wife, Sarah; many nieces, nephews and extended family members, all who dearly loved Mabel.
Mabel was a loving wife, mother, nanny and sister. She loved her family deeply. Her biggest blessings were her three children and her two grandsons, who were the apple of her eye. Mabel was the true de nition of strength. In the last several years, she continued to show just that as her health declined. Mabel knew her Lord and Savior, and today, we know she is healed and restored, rejoicing in Heaven.
A graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Riverview Memorial Park with Pastor Adam Kord conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service.
In lieu of owers, to honor Mabel, the family suggests you consider a memorial gift to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, or to Friendly Community Baptist Church, 1730 US Hwy 117 N., Burgaw, NC 28425.
A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Burgaw, NC.
Mary Nolan Cole Taylor
Oct. 27, 1948 – Aug. 8, 2025
Mary Nolan Cole Taylor, 75, passed away on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in the Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Center, Wilmington, NC.
Funeral Service: Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at 7 p.m. followed by visitation at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC
Graveside Service: Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at 11 a.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville.
She is survived by her husband, Marcus Taylor of Beulaville; sons Philip Taylor (Kristie) and Eric Taylor (Theresa), both of Beulaville; brothers Billy ( Pee Wee) Cole (Patsy) of Beulaville, Ronnie Cole, (Alice) of Blounts Creek and Gary Cole (Regina) of Pin Hook. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Taylor family.
Rex Carpenter
Sept. 5, 1951 – Aug. 5, 2025
On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Rex Kimble Carpenter, age 73, of Burgaw, North Carolina, left family and many friends deeply saddened as he unexpectedly left his earthly life for his eternal rest. If you ever heard one of Rex Carpenter’s stories, you probably wondered if it was true. (Fun trivia: most of them were!) He had a knack for turning even the smallest moment into an adventure — usually preceded by a grin that let you know something good was coming and a list of the precise steps you were going to take to help.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Rex lived a life that was never halfway. He served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, spent time in the Army, and dedicated over 30 years to emergency medical services — saving lives, calming chaos and mentoring countless others along the way. At the same time, he was coaching soccer teams, leading Boy Scout troops, xing things that “couldn’t be xed” and showing up for his family, friends and even complete strangers. If Rex cared about you, you knew it — because he would give you his time, his e ort and sometimes the shirt o his back (whether you wanted it or not).
After retiring from EMS, he wasn’t the type to slow down. He started yet another business — this time pool repair — found any excuse to take his boat out, soaked up the beach whenever he could, and cranked classic rock loud enough to annoy the neighbors. His artistic side shone brightest every Halloween. Drawing on his art background, he created professional-grade decorations from scratch, turning his yard into something so spectacular that kids and adults alike made special trips just to see it.
Above all, Rex was happiest when he was doing something for the people he loved — especially his grandson, Theodore “Teddy” Woolever. Teddy quickly became the absolute light of his life, and Rex lit up every time he was around. He made it his mission to ll that little boy’s world with joy, adventure and stories worth telling.
Rex is survived by his wife, Tami Carpenter; his children, Mark Bussell Jr. (Whitsett, NC), Rachel Carpenter and her husband Paul Briggs (Whitsett, NC), and Kelsey Woolever and her husband Gus Woolever (Whiteman AFB); his beloved grandson, Theodore “Teddy” Woolever; his brother, Howie Carpenter and wife Nancy (Arlington, VA); and his sister, Rocky Morris and husband Riley (Columbus, GA). He also leaves behind his nieces and nephews — all of whom he loved and proudly bragged about at every opportunity — and a huge extended “family” of friends, former players, Scouts, and coworkers whose lives he touched. A Celebration of Rex’s life will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home in Burgaw, followed by visitation. Rex chose to be cremated, so this will be a time to gather, share memories and celebrate his life rather than a traditional viewing. In true Rex fashion, please do not wear somber all-black — he was an artist who loved color, and he’d want the room to look alive, not like a raincloud. If you have a story about Rex (and chances are, you do), bring it. That’s how he’d want to be remembered — through laughter, shared memories, and a few unbelievable-but-true tales. We’ll also have a “Leave a Memory” box at the service so Teddy can grow up surrounded by his grandpa’s stories — in your words. You can write one in advance and bring it or ll out a card at the memory table during the service.
William “Nathan” Fusssell
July 25, 1956 – Aug. 7, 2025
William “Nathan” Fussell, 69, of Teachey, North Carolina, passed from this life to his eternal rest on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He was born on July 25, 1956, in Duplin County, the son of the late William Hubert and Pearlie Inez Pelt Fussell. He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Hubert Earl Fussell, Ella Mae Fussell and Joyce Fussell Teachey.
Mr. Fussell proudly served his country honorably in the United States Army.
Surviving to cherish his memory is his devoted wife of 13 years Mona “Misty” Evon Harding Fussell of the home; his children Brandy Carrol of Duplin County, Matthew Fussell and wife Bailey of Corpus Christi, Texas and Megan Pearlie Fussell of Willard; seven grandchildren; brother Joe Fussell and wife Hazel of Teachey; sister Deborah Fussell of Hampstead; brother-in-law Joe Teachey of Teachey; stepchildren Crystal, Karen, Torie and Taylor; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved Nathan dearly.
Nathan was a simple man who loved his family with all his heart. He was a hard worker who loved farming, gardening and his red tractor. With his outgoing personality, Nathan never met a stranger. He loved people and was loved in return. His favorite pastime was watching westerns, mostly Gunsmoke and shing when he had the time. He always had the best pig-picking gatherings ever. Nathan was a true patriot. He loved his country and despite its problems, he was very proud to be an American. Nathan will surely miss but never forgotten.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Wallace Chapel.
The family will receive friends between 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Burial will follow the service at Fussell Family Cemetery in Teachey.
Casket bearers will be Jason Fussell, Brian Frizzell, Ryan Fussell, Mike Peele, Noah Edwards and Cody Edwards.
Memorial gifts may be given in memory of Nathan to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Melvin
Randolph
May 18, 1948 – Aug. 6, 2025
Goldsboro- It is with deep sorrow and humble hearts that we announce the passing of Mr. Melvin Randolph, age 77, who entered eternal rest on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at UNC Health Wayne in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The arrangements are incomplete at this time. We extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please continue to keep the family in your prayers during their time of bereavement.
FAMILIES GATHERED AT the Duplin Event Center on Saturday for a day of free food, fun and school supplies. Attendees entered the venue to pick up free backpacks organized on tables by grade level. Various vendors were stationed throughout the arena to distribute additional items and share information about their services. ECU Health and the Duplin County Health Department provided free health checks, while fairy-themed makeup artists transformed children’s faces with colorful designs. Clowns entertained the kids by twisting balloons into fun shapes and animals. Young girls bounced joyfully in designated areas on inflatable unicorns. Volunteers served hot dogs, chips, snow cones and popcorn to long lines of guests. Outside the arena, attendees enjoyed several inflatable activities, including ax throwing, bouncy slides, bouncy houses and roller ball. Many also played small games of basketball on two open hoops. The Greenevers Fire Department and a mobile unit from Goshen Medical were present to assist the crowd and answer any questions.
David Williams Rouse Jr.
June 7, 1953 – Aug. 1, 2025
David Williams Rouse Jr., lovingly known as “Pops” by his family, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his close family, on August 1, 2025, at the age of 72. A lifelong resident of Rose Hill, North Carolina, he was born there on June 7, 1953, to the late David and Winifred Rouse.
Pops grew up on the family farm where they raised chickens, tobacco, and corn - a place that shaped his quiet strength and tireless work ethic. His career began working for his father as an electrician. After, he worked for many years in a factory plant as an electrical technician and later became the owner of his own business, constructing and wiring houses. Always handy and resourceful, he could build or x just about anything. He took pride in working with his hands and spent countless hours tinkering in his shop.
Some of his favorite days were spent shing on a riverbank or oundering on the sound. Pops loved animals, and in his later years, you would see him just driving around with his pup companion. He was a big fan of westerns: James Bond, Star Trek, the Beatles and the oldies. David was a man of few words, often keeping to himself, but his strong will and determined spirit left a lasting impression on those who knew and loved him. When he set his mind to something, he made it happen. When YouTube became popular, it also became his best friend. His grandchildren are all too familiar with visiting him and watching him go through an instructional repair video of some sort.
Although his last years on this earth were medically complex, Pops maintained an incredible will to live. If there were even a glimmer of hope or positivity, he would nd it. He fought with strength and determination until the very end. His unwavering spirit and optimistic outlook in his later years will forever be remembered by his family and those who cared for him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, David and Winifred Rouse. Left to cherish his memory are his son, Will Rouse, and his sisters, Patricia McGarty and Treva Simmons and his brother, Hugh Rouse. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jessica Herrmann (husband, Nick), Olivia Rouse (husband, Errol), and Marisa Rouse (partner, Michael). He also leaves four great-grandchildren: Odin Rouse, Preston Herrmann, Connor Herrmann and Zoey Manley.
David “Pops” Rouse will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of owers, a contribution may be made to the ASPCA, The American Cancer Society, or a nonpro t organization of your choice. A graveside service will be held at Rock sh Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The date and time will be announced soon.
Family and friends are welcome to visit David’s home on Thursday, August 7, to pay their respects. Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Wallace, NC.
Napoleon Smith
Feb. 7, 1938 – Aug. 5, 2025
Napoleon Smith, 87, of Warsaw, NC, transitioned to eternal rest on Aug. 5, 2025, at Warsaw Health & Rehabilitation Center. Graveside service will be at noon, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at Devotional Gardens in Warsaw.
Francis “Frankie” Matthews
March 31, 2001 – Aug. 7, 2025
On Aug. 7, 2025, Francis “Frankie” George Stephen Matthews, age 24, of Wallace, NC, passed away.
He is survived by his mother, Judi Matthews, and his niece, Olivia Stidd, of the home. His dog, Riley, was by his side. Cause of death is pending. Frankie was predeceased by his father, David Matthews of Rose Hill. Frankie was a graduate of Champions Educational Center in Beulaville, where he had great respect for Mr. Neil. Frankie was a memorable person, a font of all sorts of esoteric information with a sweet personality. He brought joy to his parents & his friends. Frankie loved animals & was very knowledgeable about their habitats. He loved to hunt, and one of his proudest moments was when he got his rst deer.
Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home, Wallace Chapel. The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Burial will follow the service at Rock sh Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal. com
PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
