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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 45 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026

DUPLINJOURNAL.COM

Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Happy New Year from Duplin Journal A glimpse into the future of River Landing An artist’s rendering

COURTESY RIVER LANDING AND DUPLIN LAND DEVELOPMENT

the

BRIEF this week

Economic Development meeting rescheduled Kenansville The Duplin County Economic Development Commission has rescheduled its January meeting. Originally scheduled for Jan. 2, the meeting will now be held Jan. 9 at 7 a.m. in the Duplin County Airport conference room.

LOOKING AHEAD

Duplin County charts path for growth, opportunity Economic development, workforce training and community spaces anchor the long-term vision By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Duplin County leaders say the year ahead represents a period of in-

tentional growth, with investments aimed at strengthening the local economy, improving public facilities and expanding services that touch residents’ daily lives. County officials point to economic development projects, education improvements and long-term planning as signs of a county preparing for future opportunity while

NC Pickle Festival accepting vendor applications Mount Olive Vendor applications for the 2026 North Carolina Pickle Festival will be accepted until Feb. 1. Vendors are encouraged to submit their applications promptly at ncpicklefest.org/vendors to secure a spot. The 2026 NC Pickle Festival will take place on Saturday, April 25.

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managing growth responsibly. Deputy County Manager Carrie Shields said one of the most significant efforts underway is the county’s continued focus on job creation and economic development. “Right now, the county is constructing two 50,000-squarefoot shell buildings designed to attract new businesses and industries,” Shields said. “These

buildings allow companies to locate and begin operations more quickly, which means new jobs, increased tax base and long-term economic stability for our county.” Economic growth efforts also extend to aviation-related development. Shields said a new 12,000-square-foot hangar planned at the Duplin County Airport will further support business and transportation activity. “Together, these projects will create opportunities that will provide new employment, supporting existing businesses and helping ensure the county See AHEAD, page A5

Quiet leadership, remarkable growth

Duplin seeks volunteer nominations Duplin County Duplin County is accepting nominations for the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, honoring individuals, groups, national service members and volunteer managers across a variety of service categories. The county may select up to 10 honorees, with one advancing for the Governor’s Medallion Award. Nominations are due Feb. 13. For more information, call Duplin County Senior Services at 910-296-2140.

showcases a new condominium project at River Landing, located off Pond Landing Drive near the 8th and 9th holes of the River Course. According to a recent announcement made by River Landing and Duplin Land Development, construction is expected to begin in early 2026. The new condos are designed to appeal to a variety of residents, including those seeking a second home, family members wanting to live nearby, or individuals looking for the ease of low-maintenance living without the responsibilities of a yard or property upkeep.

New facilities, rising enrollment and plans for a satellite campus mark a transformative era MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

James Sprunt Community College President Jay Carraway stands beside an artist rendition of the new Workforce Development Building being constructed on campus. Carraway says the 22,000-square-foot building is on track to be completed ahead of schedule in May.

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal WHEN JAY CARRAWAY retires as president of James Sprunt Community College in

Duplin County Public Schools plan major renovations in 2026 The needs-based construction grant will fund gym, CTE renovations and other improvement By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal 2026 IS POISED to be a year of upgrades and renovations for Duplin County Public Schools. A $32.4 million dollar needsbased school construction grant has been awarded to begin work at East Duplin High School, but this is just one step in a larger plan set into play last August. “In August, the school district proposed a comprehensive construction plan involv-

ing Wallace-Rose Hill, North Duplin Jr-Sr, North Duplin Elementary, James Kenan and East Duplin,” Superintendent Daren Tyndall said in an interview with Duplin Journal. “Receiving this grant provides partial funding for that broader plan, and the district hopes to secure funding for the remaining projects in the future.” The grant comes as part of the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF), which uses revenue from the North Carolina Education Lottery to provide construction funding for schools. NBPSCF grants have a spending cap, and schools cannot request more See SCHOOLS, page A3

“The district hopes to secure funding for the remaining projects in the future.” Daren Tyndall

February, he will be leaving behind an incredible legacy of growth, though he is very reluctant to take credit. When asked if he considered the new Workforce Development Center being constructed on the campus as “his legacy,” he replied, “Nothing’s mine. I’m part of a team.” See GROWTH, page A2

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

THURSDAY

1.1.26 #106

Wallace town clerk named DUPLIN happening NCAMC at-large officer SPONSORED BY

Jackie Nicholson will help shape programs and initiatives By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

“Join the conversation”

Duplin Journal

WALLACE — The North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks has appointed Jackie Nicholson as an at-large officer for the 2025–26 term. Nicholson, who serves as town clerk for the town of Wallace, will join the association’s leadership team, which provides training, resources and support to municipal clerks across the state. As an at-large officer, she will represent the interests of members, assisting with organizational initiatives,

COURTESY TOWN OF WALLACE

Jackie Nicholson and helping to shape professional development programs. The North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks is dedicated to advancing the professional standards and

knowledge of municipal clerks. “Nicholson brings significant municipal experience and has actively participated in programs and initiatives designed to support professional development across North Carolina,” stated the NCAMC announcement. Members participate in workshops, networking events, and certification programs to enhance the management of municipal records, elections, and governance processes. Nicholson’s appointment will be effective through 2026, during which she will collaborate with fellow officers to promote best practices and professional growth among clerks statewide.

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Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers

Ena Sellers News Editor

Michael Jaenicke Sports Editor

Patsy Teachey Advertising Representative

Loretta Carey Office Manager

CRIME LOG Dec. 22 • Michael E Lennon, 29, was arrested by DCSO for felony larceny. • Tyesha Lynette Parker, 30, was arrested by DCSO for shoplifting or concealment of goods and habitual larceny. • Corvet Denio Artis, 50, was arrested by DCSO for speeding, no liability insurance, driving while license revoked and cancellation, revocation or suspension of certificate or tag. • Carl Lee Robinson, 42, was arrested by DCSO for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and communicating threats. • Teodoro Lopez Ferrer, 34, was arrested by DCSO for driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and no operator’s license. Dec. 23 • Kristopher Parker Heath, 54, was arrested by DCSO for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Steve McIver, 60, was arrested by DCSO for reckless driving to endanger, driving while license revoked, failure to report accident, hit and run leaving scene of property damage and resisting a public officer. • Jenna Bess Jordan, 30, was arrested by DCSO for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods or property. • Adrian Jonte Brinson, 35, was arrested by DCSO for obtaining property by false pretense and identity theft. • Lashawn Devone Miller, 43, was arrested by Rose Hill PD for driving while license revoked. Dec. 24 • Kyonna Mona Brown, 29, was arrested by DCSO for forgery of instrument and obtaining property by false pretense. • Lashawn Anthony McCullen, 40, was arrested by DCSO for possession of stolen goods or property, misdemeanor larceny and resisting a public officer.

GROWTH from page A1 The new 22,000-square-foot facility, which will house four shops and four classrooms for training in four trades, in addition to administrative offices, is expected to be completed ahead of schedule in May, according to Carraway. He said the new building was in response to a growing need. “As we began to grow, we just filled up our spaces,” he told Duplin Journal in a recent interview. “If we were going to continue to grow to provide more opportunities for our students and this community, we needed to have some more square footage. That was the idea — we’ve got to grow.” When Carraway mentions growth at JSCC, he’s not referring to small numbers. He said he was shocked by the number of new students enrolling at the school. Referring to the time he joined JSCC as president in 2019, Carraway said, “If somebody said put down what your expectations to be over the next seven years, it would not have been 83% growth in enrollment,” which is exactly what has happened at the campus. Considering the campus is located in such a small community, Kenansville, Carraway attributes the phenomenal growth to “everyone doing their part.” “We have a great market-

“As soon as we expanded, we had 10 more students in the class.” Jay Carraway, JSCC president ing department, led by Meagan Turner,” he said. “We advertise, we go out and recruit. It makes all the difference, and it funnels down to what we do in the classroom. I think we’re doing a good job of serving the students in every way.” That 83% growth in enrollment leads us back to the new Workforce Development Center. The need to get the project going was not an overnight journey. “I started making trips to Raleigh and speaking with Rep. (Jimmy) Dixon and Sen. (Brent) Jackson,” Carraway said. “We were able to get the funds we needed.” It was not as simple as just raising the funds to build the large facility. They needed the blessing of the school’s trustees and the county commissioners. “Facilities are a local responsibility for upkeep,” Carraway said. “When you expand, you need to have conversations with the county commissioners to make sure they are on board because the electric bill’s going to go up, the insur-

ance cost is going to go up, and maintenance and upkeep is going to go up. You don’t make that decision in a vacuum.” While JSCC awaits completion of the new building, the college continues to grow. For example, it has already added ten welding booths to the existing welding facility. “The reason we did that was because we had a waiting list,” Carraway said. “As soon as we expanded, we had 10 more students in the class.” The board of JSCC has narrowed down the candidates seeking to replace Carraway to 10. The next JSCC president will have some big shoes to fill, despite Carraway’s reluctance to take credit for the school’s success over the past six years. When asked about any pride he has in JSCC’s growth, he immediately credited the faculty and staff. “The thing I’m the most proudest of at James Sprunt today is the high caliber people we have here, folks that could work anywhere in the system across the state,” he said. “They’re good at what they do. The vast majority of them are local. They grew up here.” The new Workforce Development Center is not the end of growth at JSCC by any means. Carraway told Duplin Journal the school has already selected land in the Wallace area where plans are in the works to build a satellite campus there.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Duplin County.

Jan. 17 Community Walk and Black History Program 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Phillip AME Church of Rose Hill hosts its first Community Walk and Black History Program. This free, all-ages event invites the community to pray, walk and honor African American mentors past and present. Come as you are, dress as a mentor or in Afrocentric attire, and enjoy reflections, speakers, dancers and music. On Jan. 18, Church History Program follows 11 a.m. worship. Bring a guest. 354 W. Church St., Rose Hill

Jan. 19 Freedom Ride 9:30 a.m. Join the Freedom Ride, an MLK Observance, beginning at KEMBA. Riders will travel around Warsaw and conclude at Missionary Baptist Church for a 10 a.m. worship service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Guest speakers will include the mayors of Fayetteville and Apex. Warsaw

Jan. 23 Basics of Air Frying Workshop 10 a.m. to noon

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Have an air fryer you haven’t used yet, thinking about buying one or looking for new recipes? Join the Duplin County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences team for a hands-on Basics of Air Frying Workshop. Participants will learn how to cook with and care for an air fryer and explore different models during a live cooking demonstration. The workshop will be held at the Cooperative Extension Office. The cost is $15. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, call 910-296-2143. 165 Agriculture Dr., Kenansville

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.

Dec. 25 • Justin Pernell Ashford, 45, was arrested by Warsaw PD for possession of firearm by felon, driving while impaired, simple possession of Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. • Sean Bolton, 39, was arrested by Warsaw PD for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. • Gary Warren King, 45, was arrested by DCSO for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Brittany Lynn Remines, 28, was arrested by DCSO for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Share with your community! Send your birth, death, marriage, graduation and other announcements to community@duplinjournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at noon.

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

Challengers step up against Duplin incumbents Rare primary contests emerge in frequently unopposed seats By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — As Duplin County voters prepare for the primary elections, many local offices reflect both continuity and rare competition. Long-serving incumbents remain strong, while a few races are attracting challengers, giving voters new choices in familiar offices. North Carolina’s primary elections give voters a chance to choose which candidates will represent each political party on the general election ballot. The 2026 statewide primary is scheduled for March 3, and the general

election will take place on Nov. 3. In District 2, County Commissioner, Republican incumbent Dexter Edwards faces a primary challenge from newcomer Tiffany Ferrell. Edwards, who has served more than a decade, has historically run unopposed after his first term. In District 3, incumbent Justin Edwards is running unopposed. On the Board of Education, Pam Edwards (R, District 2) and David Jones (R, District 3) continue long tenures in seats that have transitioned from competitive races to Republican dominance in the last decade. Local judicial and law enforcement races also feature contests. Duplin County Clerk of Superior Court has a Republican primary between Amy Price and Crystal Strickland, while incumbent Sheriff Stratton Stokes faces Re-

CONTESTED PRIMARIES

U.S. House District 3 (D) U.S. Senate (Statewide)

County Commissioner, District 2 (R) Clerk of Superior Court (R) Sheriff (R) N.C. Senate District 9 (R) N.C. House District 4 (R)

UNOPPOSED

publican challengers Eric Southerland and Tony James. Incumbent District Attorney Ernie Lee, a Republican, seeks reelection without a primary challenger. State legislative races also figure prominently in the county. In North Carolina Senate District 9, incumbent Republican Brent Jackson faces a primary challenge from fellow Republican William W. Barbour. In House District 4, incumbent Republican Jimmy Dixon will compete

against newcomer Marcella Barbour in the GOP primary. At the federal level, Duplin County voters will weigh in on U.S. House District 3, where Democrats Raymond Smith and Allison Jaslow are vying for the party nomination to challenge the Republican incumbent in November. The county will also participate in the statewide U.S. Senate primary, which features seven Republican candidates — Elizabeth A. Temple, Donald Brown,

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Duplin County Airport continues rapid expansion into 2026 Fuel farm, hangar construction and planning projects mark the next phase of growth By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

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KENANSVILLE — The Duplin County Airport is continuing an unprecedented pace of growth and development heading into 2026, with several projects launched in 2025 expected to be completed and new initiatives set to begin. Airport Director Joshua Raynor said construction on a new fuel farm is expected to begin in March. The project will replace the existing fuel farm with new tanks and an improved enclosure wall. Grant funding secured in 2025 allowed the airport to finalize project details and order the tanks. By June, a new spec hangar is expected to be completed. The hangar will expand the airport’s capacity to accommodate business aircraft and attract new commercial users. “We are hoping the new hangar will attract a new business,” Raynor said. Additional projects are in the planning phase, including an apron rehabilitation design that will extend into 2026. Raynor said the design work will provide cost estimates, define the scope of work and include a lifecycle cost comparison between

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Michael Whatley, Margot Dupre, Richard Dansie, Michele Morrow, and Thomas Johnson — and six Democratic candidates — Daryl Farrow, Justin E. Dues, Roy Cooper, Robert Colon, Marcus W. Williams, and Orrick Quick. Before 2014, many local offices had competitive, multiparty contests. Over the last decade, contests have gradually disappeared, leaving several districts — notably County Commissioner Districts 2 and 3 and Board of Education Districts 2 and 3 — dominated by long-term incumbents. With a mix of entrenched officeholders and new challengers, this year’s primary offers a rare chance for voters to influence the direction of Duplin County government.

“Duplin County Airport plays an important role in supporting local economic growth by providing essential access for businesses, agriculture and industry.” Joshua Raynor concrete and asphalt pavement. The airport is also constructing a new maintenance facility with assistance from the Duplin County Economic Development Commission. Raynor said the projects are intended to support long-term expansion and improve services for businesses that rely on the airport. Despite the growth, the airport still has vacant positions it hopes to fill. Job openings are posted on the Duplin County website. Raynor emphasized the airport’s broader economic role in the county. “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to better serve the county and make it more attractive to potential businesses,” he said. “Duplin County Airport plays an important role in supporting local economic growth by providing essential access for businesses, agriculture and industry.”

ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL

As Duplin County Airport ramps up expansion projects, the entrance sign welcomes travelers and businesses to the growing facility.

SCHOOLS from page A1 than the allowed amount. Because of this limit, only two Duplin County schools qualified for submission. “Out of the 115 traditional public school districts in NC, 10 were selected, with two of the schools selected being high schools,” Tyndall said. “One of the two high schools awarded the grant was East Duplin.” Tyndall said the grant will fund a new gym with a public lobby, hallways and restrooms, as well as general renovations

throughout the school, including updated floors, walls, ceilings and lighting. The project will also cover renovations to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) buildings, staff restrooms, existing locker rooms, and improvements to secure the front entry. Construction on the project is expected to begin within 24 months of receiving the grant. While plans for renovations at other schools are under consideration, no additional projects have been finalized at this time.

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | TERENCE P. JEFFREY

In a gloomy winter, read a couple of classic books Leave your smartphones and tablets charging quietly on a desk, and resist the temptation to check your messages one more time.

AFTER CHRISTMAS is over and the sunrises start getting earlier and the sunsets later in the Northern Hemisphere, there are still two months of scarce daylight and lowering skies ahead. Here’s a suggestion for how to fill the gloomy hours with uplift: read. Read some great books, returning perhaps to those you ploughed through on school assignments so many years ago. Discover one of the pleasures of aging — how serious books turn out to be more interesting and enriching than what you remember from dutifully ploughing through them years ago. Sit in a comfortable chair, turn off the television, remove distracting earbuds, leave your smartphones and tablets charging quietly on a desk, and resist the temptation to check your messages one more time. Open up a book and give yourself uninterrupted hours to become immersed in a world created by a great writer many years ago. I’ve been following this advice the last couple of winters after I started reflecting on how, despite being in two serious book groups, I was spending too much time reading ephemeral stuff and wasn’t reading anything serious beyond some excellent book group selections. I decided to concentrate my reading on weekends, spending long hours interrupted by little but leg-stretching and avoiding the difficulty of recalling the plot when reading just a chapter or two in the evenings just before bed. “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” Leo Tolstoy wrote in the opening words of “Anna Karenina.” So I began with two books about families: Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov” and Thomas Mann’s “Buddenbrooks.” “Karamazov” I had read as a teenager around the time the Hollywood movie version was released. “Buddenbrooks” I went through two

decades ago. Reading them as an adult was a far richer experience, both emotionally and as a contrast in national character. The two books are set at opposite ends of the Baltic Sea: the German book in the orderly commercial Hanseatic port of Lubeck, the Russian in a town resembling Dostoevsky’s ramshackle provincial hometown of Staraya Russa. For last winter, I recalled Ernest Hemingway’s comment that “all American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn.’” I remembered it as the sequel to “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and the story of a pleasant picaresque journey, and, of course, I had often heard how it was banned from school reading lists because of its frequent use of the N-word. What I wasn’t prepared for was, first, the book’s scathing denunciation, veiled as humor or just everyday observation, of slavery. It was published in 1884, less than a decade after the nation basically abandoned Reconstruction and its noble goal of achieving equal rights for black people. Reading it first as a teenager, I also didn’t remember the story of a boy becoming a man, mentored by Jim, the slave to whom he initially condescends and once nearly betrays. I paired it with two other books of adolescent boys on picturesque but perilous journeys: Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” written as a boys’ book that I read as a seventh grader in a boys’ school, and Rudyard Kipling’s “Kim,” set in British India. Both are stirring narratives set in exotic locations that are easier to envision if you’ve done some tourism in the Caribbean and the subcontinent. Were they both influenced by “Huckleberry Finn”? Maybe. Stevenson and Kipling, 15 and 30 years younger, respectively, than Twain, each dropped in on him on cross-country American trips and were received warmly, and each of

them and Twain became mutual admirers. There was more contact between American and British writers in the late 19th century than I would have guessed — and a readiness by at least some Brits in admiring Twain as a model. This year, with fellow members of a book group, I have spent dark afternoons and long evenings on the 767 pages of Anthony Trollope’s “The Way We Live Now.” It was written in five months in 1873 and centered on a fabulously wealthy but crooked financier, and it features the author’s characteristically vivid female characters contemplating bad choices in marriage. I plan on soon rereading, after three or four decades, Honore de Balzac’s “Lost Illusions,” also with a dubious financier in the background. Both books also have delicious descriptions of businesses the authors knew firsthand, publishing and journalism. Trollope shows an untalented female author trying to arrange, with editors of major publications, favorable reviews of her dreadful books. One ends up proposing marriage and advising her not to write a second novel. Balzac shows the young protagonist’s sudden success as a scandal-mongering journalist in Paris, and then being disgraced when it’s discovered that his sources are fictitious. Unhappy families in provincial, perilous journeys in picturesque territory, financial and literary scandals in booming capitals: Great writers of the past take us to places and introduce us to people who, despite having been imagined years ago, turn out to be vaguely familiar to what we see around us now. And they’re readily available: Just sit down with a volume in hand in a comfortable chair. In the meantime, happy New Year. Terence P. Jeffrey is editor in chief of Newsbusters.

COLUMN | MICHAEL GLASSNER

Left’s war on free speech moving from social media to TV Americans understand that anonymous speech is a cornerstone of liberty.

WHEN ELON MUSK bought X, formerly Twitter, and refused to comply with the global censorship regime, he became a target overnight — especially for European Union bureaucrats determined to reassert control over online speech. The EU’s latest effort to slap X with a $140 million penalty is just the most recent example of that campaign. The EU claims the fine is due to X allowing users to purchase verification checkmarks without the platform independently confirming their identities. Americans understand that anonymous speech is a cornerstone of liberty. From the Federalist Papers onward, anonymity has protected dissent, whistleblowers and political minorities. But Europe does not afford such freedom. That’s why Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the EU’s X fine, suggesting it is retaliation for Musk’s refusal to censor speech at the EU’s direction. In 2023, the EU opened an investigation into the company for “disinformation,” and Musk drew the ire of European regulators for refusing to remove an interview with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump from his platform. Musk is, of course, an outlier in the tech world. Most of his peers in the industry genuflect to the demands of various governments and are willing to restrict disfavored views. The House Judiciary Committee formally detailed the relationship between tech giants and the Biden administration, which repeatedly demanded that Americans’ views be taken offline. According to the committee, it

suppressed or took down the views of doctors, scientists and commentators who did not align with the government narrative that COVID originated from a pangolin sold at a wet market in China — not a laboratory in Wuhan. From shifting search results to “fact-checkers” that tech companies employed to discredit skeptics, Big Tech and its market dominance played a critical role in censoring Americans. This is the real lesson of the last five years: The power to decide what billions of people see is the ultimate form of control. That is one of the reasons Trump expressed concern about Netflix potentially gaining control of one of its most prominent rivals, Warner Bros. Discovery — the company that owns HBO Max and the entire HBO catalog. If Big Tech showed us anything over the last five years, it’s how ruthlessly willing it is to silence, throttle and bury any story, voice or idea that threatens the approved narrative, even when those ideas later turn out to be true. Now imagine that same censorship strength, only this time it’s not coming from a search engine or a social platform you can (in theory) walk away from. It’s coming from inside your television. Netflix already has 301 million subscribers, and the merger will create a 400 million-subscriber base, making Netflix the most powerful cultural ministry the world has ever seen. What Silicon Valley did to information with algorithms and shadow-bans, this new mega-studio will do to imagination itself — quietly, seamlessly and with a smile from the next autoplay. If Big Tech taught us how easy it is to kill a

story, a merged Netflix–Warner will teach us how easy it is to destroy an entire worldview, one canceled series, one “content moderation” decision, one algorithm tweak at a time. And this time, there will be almost nowhere left to escape. Netflix has built an empire on content that consistently promotes left-wing ideologies, striking multimillion-dollar deals with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce politically charged documentaries and making multimillion-dollar investments in films spotlighting progressive figures, such as the $10 million acquisition of “Knock Down the House,” which celebrates socialist firebrand Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other insurgent socialist Democrats. Critics such as film reviewer Armond White have characterized the platform as a “propaganda machine” for its relentless promotion of social justice narratives. White termed the marriage between Netflix and the Obamas as the creation of a new Ministry of Propaganda. That Ministry will expand exponentially should this deal be consummated and approved by the government. Where Big Tech once limited speech with bans and shadow banning, this new giant will regulate thought itself: deciding which histories are retold, which heroes are celebrated and which taboos are normalized for the next generation. Michael Glassner is chief operating officer for Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

Duplin Destinations | Rediscovering the Heart of Faison

A small-town park that blends history, community spirit, hometown pride By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal IF YOU TRAVEL across the entire country to the land of movie stars and Rodeo Drive, you will learn from the locals around Hollywood, California, that they rarely venture to areas like Hollywood Boulevard or other local attractions. They just seem to take those parts of the area for granted. The same thing happens in local areas all over the country, including Duplin County. People know there are local attractions, but they often choose to go someplace else to sightsee or take in some recreation. In this new monthly series, “Duplin Destinations,” we hope to introduce, or reintroduce, readers to many local gems that are worth the short trip to visit, see and enjoy. In the northern part of Duplin County, in the town of Faison, one such gem is the community park located in the heart of town. Visiting the park is like a trip back to a simpler time, when most events centered around a community gathering place. That still exists in Faison. Not only does the park feature what you would expect in a town park — a playground and ballfields — it also is home to a quaint library that has the appearance of a small-town train depot. It’s named the Emily Hill Library and is no doubt a must-see for book lovers. Also on-site is a large indoor recreational facility known as the Anne Stroud Taylor Recreation and Wellness Center that is home to a basketball court and rooms for classes through the town’s rec department. A great sense of pride in Faison comes from it being the home of Dr. William Thorton, a graduate of Faison High School who entered the Air Force before eventually serving as a NASA astronaut. During his career, Thorton logged 313 hours in space serving on Space Shuttle missions STS-8 and STS-51-B. The Faison Park is now home

AHEAD from page A1 continues to grow in a way that benefits residents today and for years to come,” she said. Beyond economic development, county leaders say investments in public facilities and community services are equally important. Shields said she hopes residents will recognize the county’s focus on meeting needs across all stages of life. “When I imagine the county a few years from now, I hope residents are most proud of how intentionally we invested in the citizens,” Shields said. Recent and ongoing projects include a newly constructed Senior and Veteran Services building, a new Public Transportation building and the Workforce Development Center at James Sprunt Community College. “We are building pathways to

to a large stone memorial that pays tribute to this native son. It is definitely an attraction for history and space lovers visiting the park. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, Faison will also be celebrating the town’s 250th anniversary. That should make for another good reason to visit the neat town park in the center of Faison.

Top, the Emily Hill Library takes center stage in the Faison Community Park. Its small-town train depot look adds to the charm of the building that draws in book lovers visiting the park. The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Bottom left, a must-see at Faison Park for space lovers and history buffs is the large stone memorial paying tribute to Faison native and NASA astronaut William Thornton. Bottom right, the Anne Stroud Taylor Recreation and Wellness Center, located in the park in the center of Faison, is a popular facility in town.

education and good-paying jobs right here in our county.” Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes said recent progress is part of a broader momentum for the county, made possible in part by securing outside funding to support major projects without placing additional strain on local taxpayers. Several large-scale projects are already underway. Hughes said a new detention center is scheduled to open in March, relocating a division of the Sheriff’s Office from downtown Kenansville. Leadership planning is also underway. “The Board of Commissioners has begun its search for the next county manager, who will be selected and hired in the first quarter of 2026,” Hughes said. Education is also a major focus. Hughes said one project expected to have a significant im-

spaces that promote wellness and community connection for all ages,” Shields told Duplin Journal. “We want growth. We have plans. We have a future.” Shields said she hopes residents will look back on the current period as a turning point, one marked by intentional planning and investment. “My hope is that residents look back and see this was a time we planned for the future by envisioning all the possibilities we have in our county,” Shields said. Looking ahead, Hughes said she hopes residents will take pride in both the opportunities available to them and the people providing county services. Together, county leaders say the projects underway reflect a shared goal of thoughtful growth that benefits residents now and in the years ahead.

PHOTOS BY MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL

“My hope is that residents look back and see this was a time we planned for the future by envisioning all the possibilities we have in our county.” Carrie Shields pact on families’ everyday lives is the renovation of East Duplin High School. “In collaboration with the Board of Education, we have secured state funds for a complete renovation of the East Duplin High School,” Hughes said. “Improvements to facilities utilizing state and federal funds help lessen the financial burden on the use of local funds.” Community gathering spaces are also part of the county’s long-range vision as the Duplin County Events Center con-

tinues to bring people together through concerts and community events, providing both entertainment and economic activity while giving residents a place to gather. Looking ahead, county officials are developing a master plan for Cabin Lake County Park, with an emphasis on creating connection across generations. “We are working on a master development plan for Cabin Lake County Park, which creates thoughtfully designed

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

Happy New Year from Our Family to Yours!

Wallace residents bring ‘food trailer ministry’ home Inspired by a West Virginia mission, local church members serve free meals

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By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal WALLACE — When Brandon Kelley of Wallace went on a mission trip to West Virginia a few years ago, he didn’t know the trip would result in a calling to create a new ministry back home. He joined others on the mission to a town that had been greatly affected by the closure of a coal mine, leaving people without jobs or the economic resources to move elsewhere. Kelley noticed something a church in the area was doing to help. “We saw they had a food trailer there,” Kelley said in an interview with Duplin Journal. “They went out in the community and served food. It was all free just to share the Gospel.” On a second trip to the area, he talked with church members who sponsored the food trailer in West Virginia. What they were doing stayed with him long after returning to Wallace. “God was just laying on my heart this was an awesome ministry,” he said. “I shared with Jimmy Crumpler and our

wives. We began to feel this is where God was leading us.” Heeding that calling, they worked to bring the concept of a food trailer ministry to this area in North Carolina. “Within a year, out of two fundraisers, we were able to purchase a $60,000 food trailer,” Kelley said. “The community came together and helped us.” They named the food trailer Fish & Loaves. Kelley and his wife, along with the Crumplers, take the food trailer to schools, churches and community events, including the Wallace Christmas Parade in December, where they set up beside the Wallace Depot and prepared 500 hot dogs to serve after the parade. “Everything we do is free,” Kelley said, adding they are able to do that thanks to food and financial donations. Kelley said it was very important to get out into the community and have ministries outside of the church. “A lot of times, we get the misconception that the church is the building, but we’re the church,” he said. “Jesus didn’t sit in the temple and preach. He met them where they were. That’s our goal, to meet the need of the people physically through food, but most importantly, spiritually through the Gospel.”

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Top, Brandon Kelley of Wallace, one of the founders of the Fish & Loaves food trailer ministry, stands in front of the $60,000 food trailer used to visit communities and feed people physically and spiritually. Bottom, Sarah Kelley of the Fish & Loaves food trailer ministry prepares hot dogs to serve for free after the Wallace Christmas Parade.

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Wallace-Rose Hill captured its fourth NCHSAA title by beating Polk County 2-0 at Guilford College.

Bulldogs’ state soccer title was ultimate accomplishment WRH’s fourth title beats out Tigers football and Crusaders basketball to become the top story of 2025 By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal TEACHEY — Wallace-Rose Hill’s journey to a fourth state soccer title came together after a 4-3 overtime win against Goldsboro in its first Swine Valley 2A/3A match Sept. 17. First-year head coach Aaron Murray shook his head and went to work on the new blueprint, given the Bulldogs went 2-4-1 in nonconference play. It started with the defense and

goalie Angel Seville, who gave up just three scores in the nine league games that followed, all of which were wins. The intensity in front of the net didn’t stop as WRH and Seville allowed five goals in five playoff matches. Timely scoring followed as senior 3A all-state striker Alex Funes became impossible for the opposition to mark. He scored 24 goals and dished out 14 assists, but unlike a season ago, other players got involved in the offense.

Classmates Steven Acosta (15 goals, six assists) and Gabriel Cubas (four goals, 12 assists) stepped up, as did freshman Wilmer Flores (16 goals, 14 assists). Meanwhile, juniors Junior Ayestas and Cristian Calderon settled the midfield by making steals, efficient passes and keeping possession of the ball. Suddenly, WRH had won 12 straight and entered the playoffs as Swine Valley champ and the No. 2 seed in the field. The Bulldogs dusted off No. 18 Eastern Randolph 6-1 after a first-round See TEAMS, page B4

Brayan Sanchez, Iker Alvarado, Steven Acosta and Felix Funes celebrate Alvarado’s score during a 2-0 win over Polk County.

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By Ronald Blum The Associated Press NEW YORK — Sports were turned upside down 50 years ago by a man who never threw or kicked a ball. A lawyer with expertise in labor relations struck down Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which had bound players to their teams since the 1870s. No one could have predicted then that the 65-page decision issued Dec. 23, 1975, by arbitrator Peter Seitz — who later compared baseball owners to “the French barons of the 12th century” — would lead to an upheaval that made thousands of players multimillionaires. “The real floodgates opened after that,” former pitcher David Cone said. “Players were finally, in all walks of life, in all sports, were finally able to see what, hey, what free agency really looks like. There was all the doom and gloom back then from one side that said: ‘This is going to ruin the game. It’s not sustainable.’ And actually, it was just the opposite. It made the game better.” Baseball’s average salary was $44,676 at the time of the decision, $260,909 in current dollars, and climbed to about $5 million this year, a 112-fold increase. Seitz’s decision was followed by free agency upheavals in the NFL, NBA, NFL and European soccer. Curt Flood had lost a lawsuit arguing for free agency in 1972 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld baseball’s antitrust exemption, ruling it was up to Congress to make any change. In December 1974, Catfish Hunter was set free on a technicality when Seitz concluded Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley failed to make a $50,000 payment into a long-term annuity fund as specified in the pitcher’s contract. Following a bidding war, Hunter signed a five-year con-

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Baltimore Orioles Dave McNally, a free agency pioneer, delivers a pitch in a 1974 game. tract with the New York Yankees for about $3.2 million. “We saw this huge contract, it was like reading from another world,” recalled former All-Star pitcher Steve Rogers, among the first beneficiaries of free agency and later a longtime union official. “The magnitude was just unheard of, the number of dollars that were guaranteed to him. It didn’t take long for us to see that there was a lot of money to be spent in buying talent and then we started seeing: My talent is worth a lot.” Language in each player agreement stated the club could “renew this contract for the period of one year on the same terms,″ except that the salary could be cut by as much as 20%. After playing the 1975 season under renewals, Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dave McNally of the Montreal Expos maintained in a grievance the renewal period was one year only and they should be declared free. Following a three-day hearing that generated an 842-page transcript and 97 exhibits, Seitz urged owners to settle the case as late as Dec. 9. Then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn urged owners to fire Seitz before a decision, but management’s Play-

er Relations Committee refused because it was afraid of bad publicity. Seitz ruled for the union. Management fired Seitz that afternoon and vowed to overturn the decision in federal court. Seitz’s decision was upheld in February 1976 by U.S. District Judge John W. Oliver and affirmed the following month by an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel of Judges Floyd Robert Gibson, Gerald Heaney and Roy Laverne Stephenson. That July 12, players and owners agreed to a four-year collective bargaining agreement creating one-time free agency for all players after 1976 or 1977 and going forward after six seasons of major league service, which is still in place. Future Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Rollie Fingers were among the first players to gain free-agent riches. “The difference between winning and losing was billions and billions of dollars, maybe tens of billions of dollars,″ Moss, who died last year, said in 2020. “I think one can make a case that we’ve spent the last two-plus decades trying to reestablish some reasonable equilibrium,″ then-commissioner Bud Selig said in 2000.

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

PLAYERS from page B1 2. ND LINEMAN TRASHAWN RUFFIN SIGNS WITH UNC The road to Chapel Hill wasn’t a direct route for Trashan Ruffin. ND’s 6-foot-4, 315-pound two-way lineman originally signed to play at Texas A&M. But the Rebels’ senior shifted gears earlier this year to play for new UNC coach Bill Belichick. And though the Tar Heels struggled to a 4-8 mark, Ruffin isn’t backing away from going to UNC to turn the tide. The Tar Heels lost to in-state rivals NC State, Duke, Wake Forest by a combined total of 102-54. So there’s some work to be done. 3. WRH’S JAMARAE LAMB WILL PLAY AT LENOIR-RHYNE Jamarae Lamb, who ran for the third-most yards in the state (2,398 and 30 TDs), signed to play football at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne. Lamb, who averaged 105 yards per game in 2024, nearly doubled his output from as a senior to 202, while averaging 8.8 each time he carried the ball. 4. HCA’S ANTONIO MCKOY SIGNS TO PLAY AT WESTERN CAROLINA Harrells Christian Academy’s Antonio McKoy signed to play basketball with Division I Western Carolina next winter. McKoy, who is averaging 25.6 points for the 10-1 Crusaders, was the main force in HCA’s 30-3 campaign in 2025. 5. ED’S JA’MYAH PICKETT WINS DOUBLE BRONZE AT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP The Panthers’ Ja’Myah Pickett captured bronze medals in the shot put and discus at last spring’s 2A state finals. Pickett made school history by becoming the first athlete from ED to win three individual gold medals at the regional meet, and he took first in the shot put, discus and high jump and landed third in the triple jump at the field championships. She was also a power forward on the basketball team that went 48-8 the past two seasons. 6. ED’S SHAWN DAVIS TO PLAY E-W ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME Panthers FB/MLB Shawn Davis was selected to play in the NC Football Coaches’ East-West all-star game Dec. 21 in Greensboro. Davis is coming off a 1,207-yard, 16-touchdown season in which he made 7.4 tackles per game. He had 1,464- and 1,144-yard campaigns his first two seasons and has 54 career touchdowns. 7. JK RB JEREMIAH HALL HAS BREAKOUT SEASON Jeremiah Hall wanted to do something big for JK this fall. And did he ever succeed. The senior running back pushed for 2,051 yards, which was the most yardage by a Tigers back in as least this quarter-century. He pushed away the stardard of recent JK HOF inductee Marcelias Sutton (1,804 yards in 2012). The Tigers went 12-2 and lost to Kinston in the 3A East Region final.

EDWARDO PUAC/ DUPLIN JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Left, Kinsey Cave has led ED to 49 wins in the past two seasons. Right, Jeremiah Hall ran for more yards than any Tiger in the past quarter-century. ED’s Kyle Kern became Mr. Baseball shortly after becoming the top strikeout pitcher in the state. The June grad whiffed 138 in 68 innings. He was 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA and had 11 outings of nine or more strikeouts.

8. ND RB CARELL PHILLIPS CONCLUDES HISTORIC CAREER Rebels running back Carell Phillips upped his game this fall to run for 2,049 yards and 28 touchdowns, a season after pushing it to 1,913 yards and 31 scores. Phillips’ four-season total is 4,876 yards and 70 touchdowns for ND.

20. ND’S DONAVAN ARMWOOD IS MR. BASKETBALL Donavan Armwood, who averaged a county-high 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, followed the path of former teammate and older brother Dujuan (2023) to become Mr. Basketball.

9. ND’S ADDY HIGGINBOTHAM SIGNS TO PLAY SOFTBALL AT WINGATE Ms. Softball Addy Higginbotham hit .560 with seven doubles, eight triples, a homer and scored 28 runs in her final season before signing to play softball at Wingate University. 10. KINSEY CAVE WINS SECOND MS. BASKETBALL HONOR ED junior Kinsey Cave captured her second Ms. Basketball honor last winter by pacing the Panthers to a 25-3 mark. 11. WRH’S JANSLEY PAGE IS MS. VOLLEYBALL, 3A PLAYER OF THE YEAR WRH’s Jansley Page capped an outstanding four-year career by winning Ms. Volleyball in a close race with teammate Angelina Cavallaro, who had won it the previous two seasons. It all worked for the good of the Bulldogs, though, who won a share of two league titles in as many years and have gone 77-18 in the past four seasons. 12. ED’S GAVIN HOLMES IS ALL-STATE 2A SHORTSTOP If pitcher Kyle Kern, the state’s strikeout leader, was the straw to stir ED’s baseball beverage, Gavin Holmes was certainly the offensive ice. The sophomore all-state 2A shortstop lead the Panthers in average (.352), on-base-percentage (.495), doubles (10), runs (27) and stolen bases (17). The Panthers rebounded from a 10-12 mark in 2024 to go 13-9 and tie North Lenoir for second place. League winner South Lenior was the 2A runner-up.

EDWARDO PUAC/ DUPLIN JOURNAL

ED’s Karsnyn Parker was named a 2A all-state softball player. 13. ELI AVENT LIFTS JK BASEBALL, LEGION TEAM Eli Avent hit .500 and stole 28 bases last spring for James Kenan and then showed the rest of the state what he could do as the leadoff hitter of Beulaville Post 511, which made it to the American Legion Senior State Tournament. 14. ED HOOPS COACH MARK LANE WINS 300TH GAME ED girls’ basketball coach Mark Lane went over the 300-win plateau last winter. Lane has led the Panthers to nine 20-win seasons. ED has gone 24-5 and 24-5 in back-to-back seasons and returns guard Kinsey Cave, one of the best players in the East. 15. WRH OC ADAM SCRONCE NAMED HOBBTON’S NEW GRID COACH Longtime WRH offensive coordinator Adam Scronce accepted the head coaching job at Hobbton and led the Wildcats to a 7-5 mark, which included a second-round loss to 2A champ Tarboro. Scronce coached in eight state championships in 12 of his previous 20 years coached in or was a game away from the title game.

16. PAT BYRD NAMED ASSISTANT FOR EAST-WEST FOOTBALL GAME James Kenan grad Pat Byrd was an assistant coach in the NC Coaches Association’s East-West Football game in Greensboro. Byrd was the offensive coordinator of 6A Jackson, whose only loss last season was in the East Region final. In 2024, he coached Richlands to a 9-2 mark. 17. FIVE SOFTBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO ALL-STATE TEAMS ED’s Karsyn Parker (.406) and JK’s Jourdan Joe (.480) were all-state 2A softball selections as were ND’s Lilly Fulghum (.632), Addy Higginbotham (.560) and Marrisa Bernal (.447) in the 1A classification. 18. ND’S TATEWAYNA FAISON COMPLETES BANNER FOUR-YEAR BASKETBALL CAREER Tatewayna Faison scored more than 1,000 points and had more than 1,000 rebound to conclude her four-year career at ND. Faison is playing Division I basketball at Fayetteville Tech. 19. ED’S KYLE KERN AMONG STATE’S STRIKEOUT LEADERS

21. MS. SOCCER MIRANDA ROBLERO ON ED’S SOCCER RUN Senior Miranda Roblero scored four playoff goals in three games to send ED to the fourth round of the 2A soccer tournament last spring. She rallied the No. 9 Panthers to upset wins over higher seeds in the first three rounds and scored six of her 12 goals in her final six matches in a Panthers uniform. 22. WRH’S JUNIOR AYESTAS TO 3A ALL-STATE SOCCER TEAM Bulldogs midfielder Junior Ayestas, who was given the NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award shortly before WRH beat Polk County at Guilford College for the 3A title, was selected by the NC Carolina Soccer Coaches Association to spot on its all-state 3A team. 23. ED’S KEESHON MCKINNIE VOTED ECC’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Keeshon Mckinnie had a way of disrupting plays and was named Defensive Player of the Year in the East Central 3A/4A Conference. The junior averaged 10.8-tackles per game, had four sacks, three interceptions and caused three fumbles. Offensively, he ran for 234 yards and four touchdowns and caught nine passes for 176 yards and three scores.

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Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

TEAMS from page B1 bye and then popped for an 8-1 triumph over No. 7 Trinity. WRH blanked No. 3 Greene Central 2-0 in a match in which Rams head coach Jacob Baird said the Bulldogs defense was the difference while also saying his team couldn’t keep up with the pace. The story was similar as Polk County went down in defeat for the first time this season, though the senior-heavy Wolverines had three ties. It was supposed to be “their year.” Instead it was Murray’s Bulldogs that showed up in mass in the stands to watch WRH methodically burn Polk County’s dream. Murray was on WRH’s last state-title team in 2016. WRH also toted home crown in 2013 and 2014. All three squads were coached by Michael Graybar. 2. JK FOOTBALL WINS SWINE VALLEY, FALLS IN EAST REGION FINAL TO FINISH 12-2 Fireworks, food trucks, family, friends and football went together well on Friday nights in Warsaw last fall. James Kenan, won a conference title for the second consecutive season by rolling to its second 12-2 campaign. And while the Tigers lost to Kinston 30-7 in the East Region final on Dec. 4, finding a negative is nearly impossible. Head coach Tim Grady, OC John Bert Avent and the JK staff got the Tigers to play unbelievably on the offensive front while the defense was improving and progressing each game. JK’s speedy skill position players — running back/wide outs Jeremiah Hall, CJ Hill, David Zeleya and Taulil Pearsall, and quarterback Eli Avent and his twin brother, FB/TE Cal Avent, turned little opening into breakout scores. Meanwhile, free safety Zeleya, strong safety Zamarion Smith, defensive tackles Cal Avent and Stedman McIver were knocking down ball carriers as if they were practice dummies. The No. 1 seed took down WRH 26-7 in the second round, two weeks after it slipped past its rivel 20-16. JK then posted back-to-back 50-point games to push over Ayden-Grifton (54-26) and Farmville Central (51-32) in games that were not as close as the score indicated. And while the Tigers will have heavy graduation losses, the championship feeling has returned to Bill Taylor Field, where JK has gone 13-1 in the past two seasons. 3. NCHSAA ADDS FOUR CLASSIFICATIONS TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF CONFERENCES The NCHSAA realigned its 440-plus schools from four to eight classifications. Locally, that meant ED would be a 4A school, JK and WRH 3A and ND 2A. The move would put ED and JK in the Swine Valley 2A/3A with Midway, Spring Creek, Princeton and Rosewood, the lone 2A school. ED stayed in the ECC, which became a 3A/4A league, but the Panthers were no longer connected to their longtime Duplin rivals JK and WRH. The new ECC features Clinton, Southwest Onslow and ED as 4A schools, with Trask,

tlist which was 12-0. The latter setback came in the semifinals. The Crusaders were paced by running back Jeremiah Davis (93-1,238 yards, 12 touchdowns), quarterback Reid Strickland (40-70 for 785 yards and 13 scores) and multipurpose back, wideout, kick returner specialist Dashaun McKoy (13422, 7 TDs receiving, 33-275 yard, 4 TDs rushing). McKoy will not return in 2026, but most of the Clayton Hall’s team will return to Murphy-Johnson Field. PHOTOS BY EDWARDO PUAC/ DUPLIN JOURNAL

Left, Dashaun McKoy and HCA finished the season with a 30-3 record. Right, Lilly Fulghum powered ND to a CC 1A title. South Lenoir and Pender as 3A schools. ND went to a split 1A/2A Carolina Conference with former members Lakewood, Hobbton and Union, along with new additions East Bladen, West Columbus and East Columbus. 4. HCA BASKETBALL STREAKS TO 30-3, NCISAA 2A SEMIFINAL BERTH Western Carolina signee Anthony McKoy (28.5 points per game), cousin Dashaun McKoy (14.1) and Zicareian McNeill (14-1) were the scoring punch behind Harrells Christian Academy’s 30-3 campaign. The Crusaders won the NCISAA’s Big East Conference and league tournament flags by pushing over loop nemesis Fayetteville Academy three times. HCA (30-3) lost 53-48 to the Burlington School in the 2A semifinals. 5. WRH VOLLEYBALL NAB SHARE OF TITLE, SECOND-STRAIGHT 21-WIN SEASON All-state 3A players Jansley Page, Angelina Cavallaro and Mattie Gavin ended a fouryear 77-18 run with their second consecutive 21-win season. It was the second time in 40 years WRH won or shared a conference title. 6. ED VOLLEYBALL WINS ECC, ADVANCES TO FOURTH ROUND DURING 15-MATCH STREAK The Panthers won 15 straight matches to finish 22-3 under longtime coach Susan Raynor. They were led by all-Duplin first team underclassmen Kinsey Cave and Karsyn Parker, and seniors Zoe Cavanaugh and Zoe Turner. 7. ED GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM WINS ECC TITLE , FALLS IN FOURTH ROUND East Duplin went 12-0 in ECC play to overcame rival Southwest Onslow for the league title. Kinsey Cave, Ja’Myah Pickett, Carrie Carr and Makya Kornegay led the Panthers to a 25-3 mark and a fourth round playoff exit following a loss to Seaforth.

third round of the playoffs to finish 9-3. ED whipped Clinton 20-13 and handed Pender its first loss of the season en route to its league crown. 9. ND CONTINUES AS SOFTBALL POWER North Duplin isn’t a power softball program because it has a lot of players who play the game year-round. Year-rounders and Division I signees Addy Higginbotham (.560) and Lilly Fulghum (.623) joined Marrissa Bernal (.447) on the all-state 1A coaches list, while Addy Spence (.396) and Abigeal Norris (.378) made significant contributions as ND won a Carolina Conference and advanced to the third round of the playoffs before falling to No. 6 Bear Grass (22-5). No. 6 ND finished 14-4 and will return all but Ms. Softball Higginbotham, who is playing at Wingate University. Fulghum is heading to Charlotte next fall, leaving a lot of talent on the ND bench for head coach Jaime Kylis-Higginbotham. 10. ED TRACK AND FIELD GIRLS CAPTURES FIRST REGION TITLE Ja’Myah Pickett won the shot put, discus and high jump and was third in the triple jump to lead the ED girls to a 2A regional team championship. Miranda Roblero (1,600), Bella Gaby (110 hurdles) and Alaina DelaRosa (3,200) added fifth-place finishes. Jakayla Carr (300 hurdles) and Angel Hernandez (3,200) added sixth-place showings, and Cierra Pickett was seventh in the shot put. ED won by 11 over second-place Manteo after falling by a single point to the Dare County school. 11. ED GIRLS’ SOCCER GOES ON SEASON-ENDING RUN

The Panthers went unbeaten in East Central 3A/4A Conference play to win their first league crown since 2022. ED, which was 6-6 in 2023, beat WRH on opening night 21-0 and then suffered losses to East Region finalists Jame Kenan (3A) and Jacksonville (6A). They reeled off six consecutive wins before losing 44-41 to Southwest Edgecombe in the

Veteran soccer coach Joey Jones was given the shock of his career last spring when his Panthers caught fire and advanced to the fourth round of the 2A playoffs.1 No. 10 ED tripped No. 14 Camden County (1-0 in OT), No. 3 Princeton (3-2) and No. 6 Washington (3-1) before having its Cinderella run end against No. 2 Roanoke Rapids (5-0). ED was playing without its best player — sophomore speedster Anamarie Rodriguez — and two other key players. Miranda Roblero earned her Ms. Soccer crown by scoring once against Camden and Princeton, and twice versus Washington. She scored half of her 16 goals in her final six games.

executed by Jennifer Alice Elland, unmarried woman, dated November 29, 2022 and recorded on November 29, 2022 in Book 2016 at Page 854 of the Duplin County, North Carolina Registry. The Property shall be sold together with improvements located thereon, towards satisfaction of the debt due by Jennifer Alice Elland, and secured by the lien against such property in favor of Alabama Housing Finance Authority. The Commissioner will offer for sale to the highest bidder at a public auction at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM the following described real property (including all improvements thereon) located in Duplin County, North Carolina and described as follows: Situated in the Town of Beulaville, on the west side of a new street leading from Broad Street to Kennedy, on the west side of a new street leading from Broad Street to Kennedy Cemetery and described as follows: BEGINNING at a stake on the west side of said new street, Avon Sharpe’s southeast corner of a lot he purchased from the grantors herein and runs thence with Sharpe’s line North 76-1/2 West 75 feet to a stake, the Exum corner, thence with the Exum line South 16 West 100 feet to the Broad Branch canal; thence easterly with

said canal approximately South 35 East 128 feet to a stake in the West margin of said new street; thence the western margin of said new street North 8-3/4 East 185 feet to the beginning, containing 0.27 ACRE, more or less. The above described property will be sold, transferred and conveyed “AS IS, WHERE IS” subject to liens or encumbrances of record which are superior to such Deed of Trust, together with all unpaid taxes and assessments and any recorded releases. Neither the Commissioner nor the holder of the debt secured by such Deed of Trust, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Commissioner or the holder of the debt make any representation of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health, or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such conditions expressly are disclaimed. The Commissioner shall convey title to the property by non-warranty deed, without any covenants or warranties, express or implied. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 1-339.29 (c) in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the judge or clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies

8. ED FOOTBALL CAPTURES ECC TITLE

12. WRH FOOTBALL STRUGGLES TO 6-6 RECORD It was a tough season for the Bulldogs as one of the small-school juggernauts struggled to finish .500, getting bailed out in part because running back Jamarae Lamb totaled the thirdmost yards in the state (2,398 and 30 touchdowns). WRH has more than 600 wins in football, seven state titles and numerous runs into the finals and region finals. Its last losing season was 2008. Rival ED was 6-6 in 2024. Its last plunge below .500 was the COVID-shortened 2020 season. JK, a 3A rival, was sub-.500 that same season. ND’s last slip was the next campaign (2021). 13. ND FOOTBALL HAS SECOND CONSECUTIVE 10-WIN CAMPAIGN Hugh Martin, ND head coach for the past 20 years, guided the Rebels to their second-straight 10-win season. ND’s 29-6 mark the previous three seasons is third all-time for that span. Martin (31-11 from ’06 to ’08) and the school’s second coach, Richard Kaleel (31-6 from ’70’72), share the school record. ND’s all-time wins leader, Ken Avent Sr. (172-105 in 25 seasons), had a pair of great three-year runs, going 27-8 from ’90-’92 and 28-7 from ’77 to ’79. Martin (158-123 overall) is 140-102 in two decades at ND and second all-time in wins, 32 behind Avent Sr. Martin went 18-23 at ED his first three head coaching seasons and trails Avent by 14 in career wins. 14. BEULAVILLE POST 511 QUALIFIES FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT ED baseball coach Brandon Thigpen’s Post 511 revival team shocked the baseball scene last summer by qualifying for the American Legion State Tournament. The program that was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic beat Wilmington Post 10 to become the No. 1 seed from Area 2 at the eight-team bracket in Cherryville. ED pitcher Kyle Kern and JK’s leadoff hitter, Eli Avent, joined a cast of players from South Lenoir, Clinton and North Lenoir to go 12-6 after getting off to a later start than its competition. 15. HCA FOOTBALL TEAM HAS OUTSTANDING GRIDIRON CAMPAIGN Harrells Christian Academy football team went 9-3 last fall, with two of its losses coming at the hands of High Point Christian, the NCISAA’s 2A ti-

16. ND GIRLS’ BASKETBALL RISE ABOVE CONFERENCE FOES ONCE AGAIN ND won the Carolina 1A Conference in February, logging its third 20-win season in four years to end a school-record 89-17 stretch. During that span, the Rebels were 37-4 in league play. The Rebels went 25-4 last winter under first-year head coach Jon Kornegay. 17. JK FOOTBALL CARVES OUT 500TH WIN, ED CAPTURES ITS 400TH According to longtime sportwriter Bill Rollins, James Kenan became the second Duplin County team to reach 500 wins with its fourth-round playoff triumph over Farmville Central. After back-to-back 12-2 seasons, the Tigers are 500-281-5. Wallace-Rose Hill leads the county at 605–222-8. North Duplin is 468-319-4. East Duplin won its 400th this year, edging Richlands 14-7 in OT, and is 406-310-4. It’s important to note that East Duplin only had two winning seasons in its first 24 after consolidation in 1962. 18. ED BASEBALL GETS BACK ON TRACK BEHIND KERN, HOLMES, TUCK, MARSHBURN ED recovered from a 2023 drop (10-12) and several one-run losses to finish 14-9 behind the play of pitcher 2A all-state players, pitcher Kyle Kern and shortstop Gavin Homles. Yet the Panthers also got clutch hitting from other players as well — second baseman Jack Tuck, catcher Sawyer Marshburn, designated hitter Austin Rouse and outfielder Calvin Harper. Brandon Thigpen has gone 121-59 since 2017 as the Panthers’ skipper and had just one losing season. 19. ND VOLLEYBALL TEAM SHINES IN NEW CONFERENCE ND had rare back-to-back winning seasons as head coach Heather Best led her Rebels to a 17-8 overall mark. ND went 12-2 in league play to wind up second in the new seven-school Carolina 1A/2A Conference. Leaders included backcourt hustlers Lilly Fulghum and Marissa Bernal, and netminders Maggie Brown, Abigeal Norris and Melany Sanchez. 20. WALLACE 8U DIAMOND TEAM ADVANCES TO WORLD SERIES A pack of 8-year-olds caught the fascination of Duplin County in July as the dozen Wallace U8 coach-pitch baseball players advanced to the Diamond Youth World Series. The team went 1-2 in the double-elimination tournament in Dunn.

NOTICES GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25CV001184-300 NOTICE OF JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DUPLIN Alabama Housing Finance Authority, Plaintiff, vs. Jennifer A. Elland a/k/a Jennifer Alice Elland; Any Spouse of Jennifer A. Elland a/k/a Jennifer Alice Elland; North Carolina Housing Finance Agency; United States of America; Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Jeremy B. Wilkins, Commissioner, pursuant to the Order/Judgment entered in the abovecaptioned case on September 8, 2025 (“Order”), and by virtue of the appointment, power and authority contained in that Order, has been authorized and ordered to sell the property commonly known as 212 Gresham St, Beulaville, NC 28518 (“Property”). Said Property is secured by the Deed of Trust

the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current record owners of the property as reflected on the records of the DUPLIN COUNTY Register of Deeds’ office not more than ten (10) days prior to the date hereof are Jennifer A. Elland. A cash deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchasing price will be required at the time of the sale. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price of bid in cash or certified check at the time the Commissioner tenders a deed for the Property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful

bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price of bid at that time, said bidder shall remain liable on said bid as provided for under North Carolina law. The sale will be reported to the court and will remain open for advance or upset bids for a period of ten (10) days as required by law. If the Commissioner is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Commissioner, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. JEREMY B. WILKINS, Commissioner 5431 Oleander Drive, Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 392-4988 Phone NCSales@brockandscott.com File No.: 24-38566-JUD01

Duplin Journal for Thursday, January 1, 2026

obituaries

Stephen Carroll “Steve” Holland Oct. 31, 1947 – Dec. 19, 2025 Stephen Carroll “Steve” Holland, a longtime resident of Pender County, North Carolina, passed away, leaving behind a legacy of service, entrepreneurship, and deep commitment to his community. He was known throughout Pender County for his dedication to his family, his country, and his unwavering support of working people. Steve was born on October 31, 1947, to Alexander and Elsie Holland of Yamacraw, NC, where he spent his childhood before moving to the Forest Hills area in Wilmington, NC. Steve proudly served in the United States Navy, including service in Laos and Cambodia, performing underwater demolition. Following his naval service, Steve returned to eastern North Carolina, where he worked in various trades in the Wrightsville and Carolina Beach areas. Included in his early jobs were bartending, building, boiler

Billy Harmon Sanderson Nov. 12, 1954 – Dec. 19, 2025 Billy Harmon Sanderson, 71, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, at ECU Vidant Duplin in Kenansville, surrounded by his loving family. Billy was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Billy, a.k.a. “Drifter” in the trucking world, put many miles behind the wheel of his 18-wheeler, hauling and delivering supplies all across the US. In his younger years, when he was not in his truck, he enjoyed horseback rides, but motorcycles were a great love of his. He enjoyed riding with some great friends. In his later years, TV became a must, and watching many westerns was one of his favorite pastimes. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harmon and Mary Ruth Brock Sanderson, three sisters, Kay James, Helen Smith and Marie Morales. He is survived by his loving wife, Rita Griffin Sanderson, of the home, whom he cherished dearly, and his special fur baby, Abby; son Jason Brock (Leah) of Beulaville; daughters Billie Jo Brock (Shawn) of Pink Hill and Bobbie Jo Welch (Shannon) of Clinton; grandchildren Kelsi McCormick (Mark) of Cary, Dustin Moody (Jeannie) of Magnolia,Kaitlin Palmer (Rodney) of Pink Hill, Jason Tyler Brock of Beulaville and Tyler Brock of Pink Hill; great-grandchild Isla Palmer; brothers David Sanderson (Ruby) of Beulaville, Kenneth Sanderson (Camilla) of Chinquapin and Joseph Sanderson of Wallace. Also survived by many loving brothers-in law and sisters-in-law’s as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The graveside service is Monday, December 22, 2025 at 2 p.m. at East Duplin Memorial Gardens in Beulaville, NC. Visitation will follow the service at the gravesite.

making, retail, as well as many hours of shooting pool, all of which he always credited to his learning about business, finances, bargaining and perseverance. In 1981, he founded Holland’s Shelter Creek Restaurant in Burgaw on Hwy 53 east. What began as a small gas station and hunting/fishing supply store grew into a well-known and muchloved local landmark. Over time, Steve would grow that “little store” into a restaurant that would eventually feed thousands of people weekly for forty-three years. Holland’s drew patrons from across the region, state and eventually country and became a part of families, traditions and generational memories. Steve and his restaurant became known not only for its seafood, but also for its welcoming front porch, down-home feel, and plenty of available rocking chairs where Steve could often be found welcoming people in with a strong, “Hello There!” The same chairs would also be where he built lifelong friendships through sharing stories, discussing politics, giving away ice cream to children…and occasionally taking a nap in between tasks. Steve was a man who always prided himself on looking out for the working class and the rural community. With a strong voice and an even stronger presence, Steve found himself becoming the voice of many who felt unheard and ignored. Steve possessed a disposition and determination that could not be silenced if he felt strongly about his point to be made or if common sense was being challenged. He believed in fairness, hard work, and standing

up for everyday people. Whether through his business, his public service, or a conversation on the porch, he was known for listening closely, speaking plainly, and treating everyone with respect. His commitment to service extended into local government in 1994. Steve served as a Pender County Commissioner for twelve years, where he was respected for his accessibility, commonsense leadership, and dedication to representing the interests of working families throughout the county. An avid outdoorsman, Steve found pleasure and peace in a lifetime of hunting and fishing. He was actively involved with the National Wild Turkey Federation and supported conservation efforts connected to the reintroduction of wild turkeys in eastern North Carolina. His passion for wildlife preservation reflected his lifelong love of the outdoors and commitment to protecting natural resources for future generations. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and Elsie Flora Croom Holland; his daughter, Carrie Holland; and his son, Andy Holland. Steve is survived by his son Jeffrey Holland and wife, Sydney. Three immensely loved grandchildren, Stratton, Kenny and Reagan Holland; brother, Wayne, and wife Barbara Holland. Also left with memories are decades worth of employees of Holland’s who hold fond memories of the “family” they were a part of because of Steve. There will be a private celebration of life event held at a later date.

Alvin Joe Bass

Audrey Thompson

Aug. 6, 1933 – Dec. 21, 2025 Rose Hill - Alvin Joe Bass, 92, of Rose Hill, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Warsaw Health and Rehab. Joe was born August 6, 1933, in Pitt County to the late Joseph Kinnie Bass and Pattie Hamm Bass. Joe spent his work life first with J. P. Stevens, then full-time with Pilot Life Insurance Company. Later in life, he worked part-time for over 20 years with Community Funeral Home of Rose Hill. Joe was a huge sports fan with his football team being Kansas City and his basketball team being Carolina. Joe’s son, Harold, played football in high school for Wallace-Rose Hill, and Joe was very supportive and continued to support Wallace-Rose Hill after Harold graduated. Joe loved his caregivers at Warsaw Health and Rehab, and they loved him. He was glad to have them as part of his family. He was very appreciative of the love and care they gave him for the time he was at Warsaw Health and Rehab. As well as his nieces, Jean Blanton, Judy Williams, and Betty Lanier, for the five years they took care of him. Jean referred to Joe as her “Hot Shot,” and he said she was his “Cold Shot”. A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church in Rose Hill. A funeral service will be held at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m., followed by burial in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Joe is survived by special nieces, Jean Blanton and husband, Clint, Judy Williams and Betty Lanier, grandson, Chris Bass, and numerous other nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by wife, Edna Mathis Bass, sons, Alvin Harold Bass and Gary Allen Bass; sisters, Mae Dean Coburn and Latha Register.

Sept. 20, 1962 – Dec. 24, 2025 Goldsboro- It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Ms. Audrey Thompson, age 63, who departed this life at UNC Health Wayne in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The arrangements are incomplete at this time. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family, and please keep the family lifted in your prayers.