Beach music, barbecue highlight Beach Brew and Que
Participants of the Beach Brew and Que braved the sweltering 90-degree heat Saturday at the Duplin Event Center for the event featuring live beach music performances and a whole hog barbecue competition. Turn to A6 for more photos.
week
Town o ces closed for Juneteenth
Mount Olive Town of Mount Olive o ces will be closed on June 19 for Juneteenth.
Regular services resume June 22. While garbage collection remains unchanged, the recyclable center is closed June 20 and will reopen June 23 at 8 a.m. For 24/7 water or sewer emergencies, call nonemergency dispatch at 919-658-5031 ext. 0.
FLOCK matching gift boosts Camp Corral fundraiser
3-seat majority backs Warsaw budget despite missing nancial data concerns the BRIEF this
Rose Hill House of Raeford Farms
FLOCK contributed a
$15,000 matching gift to help Camp Corral raise $40,000 during its Spring 2026 fundraising campaign. FLOCK also provided an additional $15,000 this year to support Camp Corral’s SALUTE Leadership Program, which o ers leadership and service opportunities for military teens. Camp Corral, which is marking its 15th year, provides summer camp experiences for children of wounded, ill and fallen servicemembers. Funds raised through the campaign will support camp programs and services for military- connected youth during the summer.
A $40 MILLION investment in ECU Health Duplin Hospital is set to bring major up-
cials
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
AS WARSAW moves through its FY 2026–27 budget process, o cials say they
grades to healthcare services in Duplin County, including a permanent MRI unit, expanded surgical facilities, and a redesigned emergency department aimed at improving patient care
The council advanced rezoning requests and discussed mobile home park improvements
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
WALLACE — Planning Director Rod Fritz presented several permit requests at the June 11 Wallace Town Council meeting, including proposals for an apartment complex and multiple rezonings.
The request was for a special-interest permit for an
are doing so without complete nancial data.
Mayor Wesley Boykin and Commissioner Ebony Willis
Wells said Town Manager Lea Turner has not provided a gen-
“This is really good news for Duplin County,” said Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin). “Access to quality healthcare and medical services is one of the most important issues facing rural North Carolina, and we constantly hear concerns about the availability, or lack of availability, of care in rural communities.”
apartment complex. The project would consist of four three-story buildings with garden-style, market-rate apartments. The permit is intended to help secure more favorable nancing and keep construction costs within budget.
Town Attorney Anna Heath explained that because the permit requires a quasi-judicial hearing, the applicant must provide expert testimony to prove the project won’t harm public safety or property values. The hearing was rescheduled for July 9 because the developer did
eral ledger, active contracts or sta ng data.
“Myself as well as other elected o cials have repeatedly requested a full detailed breakdown of the general ledger and current contracts as we heard there’s about $600,000 looking to be approved … there’s no breakdown as to what those contracts are,” said Wells.
For many Duplin County residents, the biggest impact may come from a service that currently arrives on wheels. ECU Health Duplin Hospital relies on a mobile MRI unit operated through a third-party contract, but approximately $4 million of the investment will
“We have a responsibility
Pointing to condensed budget summaries, Turner said, “The line item budget is right here. That is your general ledger.” She maintained that the “budget preparation transaction” document — a 24-page line-item list — served as the itemized ledger for the board’s review.
Jason Wells, Wallace mayor
Ena
Patsy Teachey Advertising Representative
Loretta Carey
O ce Manager
CONTACT US
O ce Phone: 910 463-1240
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WARSAW from page A1
The town’s general fund revenue structure has also drawn scrutiny. Boykin agged a $158,000 “miscellaneous” line item combining roughly 15 revenue sources, including fees, donations and EMS rental income. He argued that combining recurring and one-time revenues can distort long-term nancial forecasting, obscuring the town’s operating baseline.
Boykin and Wells questioned three proposed FY 2025-26 budget amendments to cover overages, citing errors. Turner said the amendments addressed higher sanitation costs and reallocated surplus membership revenue. Turner admitted she did not have the “exact dollar amount” because June billing had not been released.
“I round it up to $40,000 to make it up an even dollar amount,” said Turner. “These funds were already budgeted as an expense. I’m just asking to move it to another department.”
The board tabled all three amendments until the July 13 meeting.
Audit records obtained by Duplin Journal show a recurring pattern of budget adjustments and overruns. In FY 2024–25, the general fund budget increased from $3.65 million to $4.19 million through amendments, with actual spending reaching $4.08 million. The 2025 audit further identi ed a compliance issue in the Memorial Park project fund, where roughly $29,831 was expended without a corresponding appropriation, in violation of state budget requirements.
Town records dated June 5 show numerous line items exceeding approved budgets.
The utility fund shows expen-
THURSDAY
WALLACE from page A1
not have these experts present to support their evidence.
Following a public hearing, the council approved rezoning a property on Highway 117 from Highway Business back to R-6 Residential Conditional, allowing the property to remain a single-family home in perpetuity.
The council approved rezoning 125 acres from RA20 to RA20 Residential Conditional for a proposed 272-lot single-family residential development north of Interstate 40. During the public hearing, residents from the nearby River Landing and Vineyards communities raised concerns about tra c congestion on Highway 41, density and the loss of natural bu ers.
“We are not opposed to the growth of Wallace; we are concerned about the density,” said Je Mandez, a property owner. In response, the council noted the N.C. Department of Transportation would conduct trafc studies, and the developer agreed to a 20-foot planted bu er.
A representative for the developer said the project would feature lots averaging more than 13,000 square feet, sidewalks on both sides of the roads, street trees and landscaped green spaces. The development would also include recreational and open-space areas and be limited to a density of 2.2 homes per acre. While plans currently show up to 272 lots, the representative said that number is expected to decrease during the design process. The development would consist entirely of single-family homes. The council closed the public hearing and approved the rezoning request. The council also approved rezoning ordinance 2026-02, previously discussed at last month’s meeting.
“That’s the behavior I’m dealing with. … But as long as the majority of three allow this level of disrespect to occur, it will occur.”
Wesley
Boykin, Warsaw mayor
ditures of $3.23 million against a budget of $2.77 million while generating $2.38 million in revenue, leaving a de cit of more than $850,000. Last year, spending on permits and fees topped $375,000 more than 26 times what was budgeted. Sludge control costs were nearly $400,000, some six times its budget. Despite those spending levels, the proposed FY 2026–27 budget sees a slight increase of $10,000 — up to $80,000 — for sludge control.
FY 2025-26 records show $100,000 budgeted in pretreatment permit revenue from industrial users but $0 was collected. In previous meetings Boykin and Wells had also expressed concern that residential ratepayers may be subsidizing the impact of industrial users on the wastewater treatment plant. Utility revenue projections also varied signi cantly. While pretreatment permit revenue remained uncollected, wastewater surcharge revenue reached $435,588 — a 436% variance from the budgeted amount. In the general fund, sanitation expenditures reached $361,632, exceeding appropriations by nearly $38,000. Recreation contract services spent $30,527, a 509% variance. Police overtime reached $22,486 against a budget of $12,000, while police department contract ser-
The council approved a temporary operating permit for the Tin City Mobile Home Park, which is under new potential ownership by Lenny Freeman. The temporary permit allows six months to submit a comprehensive improvement plan, which includes connecting the park to town water and sewer lines and up to six years to complete it.
“We have a responsibility to provide adequate housing for all, and what is there right now is not that,” said Mayor Jason Wells.
After a public hearing, the town council adopted a balanced 2026-27 scal year budget of $11.48 million, a 4.66% increase over last year, without raising property taxes or adding a new municipal vehicle tag fee. The original budget proposal included a 3-cent property tax increase that would have generated nearly $110,000 to help rebuild the town’s fund balance, as well as a vehicle tag fee expected to generate about $30,000 annually for street paving and maintenance. Council chose to remove both proposals, citing concerns that residents had already experienced higher tax bills following the county’s recent property revaluation.
To o set the reductions, the town eliminated roughly $30,000 in capital improvement spending and reallocated proceeds from the sale of the Rose House, directing $50,000 to the Parks Reserve Fund and the remainder to the General Fund.
These changes provided about $85,000 toward improving the town’s fund balance, which currently remains below the council’s target minimum of 25%.
The budget also keeps water and sewer utility rates unchanged, although several connection-related fees, including tap, setter and meter fees, were
vices totaled $39,431 against an $18,000 budget, more than double the approved amount.
Several administrative expenditures also stand out. The administration legal-other line item shows an expenditure of $4,786 — a 957% variance of the budget.
An ongoing concern involves Dreamworks. The facility generated strong membership revenues, yet management services continue to exceed budgeted levels by a substantial margin. Current-year records show management services expenses of $178,430 despite a board-approved budget of $74,400. The center’s overall expenditures have exceeded budget in consecutive years, including a reported overrun exceeding $131,800. Despite that history, the proposed FY 2027 budget once again allocates $74,400 for management services, suggesting a continuing gap between budgeted and actual expenditures that may warrant additional explanation.
Revenue forecasting inconsistencies appear throughout the budget. Police revenue was budgeted at $3,500 — a variance of more than 1,500%. Revenue from the sale of surplus property totaled $53,871.20 — a variance of 1,077%.
The nancial records document substantial di erences between adopted budgets and actual expenditures and revenues, raising questions about forecasting and nancial controls.
Under the proposed FY 2026-27 budget, Warsaw’s health insurance costs are projected to increase by 16%. The monthly cost of the plan is expected to rise to $24,811. Turner stated the town will continue paying 100% of employee health insurance premiums, describing the bene t as a retention
increased to re ect rising service costs. In addition, the council reduced the utility late payment fee from $50 to $25 while establishing a new $30 reconnection fee. O cials said the intent is to lessen the burden on customers who occasionally pay late while ensuring that those accounts requiring disconnection and restoration of service cover more of the associated costs. With no public comment, they closed the hearing and approved the budget.
In other business
The council discussed the disposition of a police K-9 named Maverick, with the intent to sell the dog to a di erent agency or his former handler.
The town council approved tax releases for two specific properties totaling $2,100 due to clerical and assessment errors.
Town Manager Rob Taylor provided progress reports on several infrastructure projects:
The new rehouse is expected to be completed by the end of June. The playground project is nearing completion, and repairs to the dam are moving forward.
A $2 million state loan for a water line project was canceled as it was not in the town’s best interest; instead, the town will use its general budget for immediate needs on Steven Street and seek grants for lead line replacements. The project will start July 1. In closing comments, council members addressed town aesthetics, including the maintenance of the depot agpole and the proliferation of banners and signs on Main Street, the latter of which will be the subject of a future public meeting. Finally, it was noted that while projects like Wa e House remain tentative, Starbucks and Chick- l-A have had their sites prepared for construction.
tool. At the same time, budget documents show lease revenue of $12,000 from 115 N. Pershing St., a town-owned building leased to Commissioner Jack Hawes for his funeral home business. The lease amount has remained unchanged since 2019, according to public records.
As costs rise, questions remain about spending allocation among personnel, bene ts, services and compliance. Taxpayers may reasonably ask whether every available source of municipal revenue is being collected and regularly reassessed before additional costs are shifted onto the public.
But the questions extend beyond accounting. At the meeting, Boykin learned that a contract with Insight Planning & Development had been executed by Hawes rather than by him.
“I come to this o ce to do my job, and you tell me you have nothing ready for me to sign, but a month later you tell the audience and me in front of everybody it was signed by the mayor pro tem,” said Boykin, calling Turner’s actions “insubordination” and disrespectful. “That’s the behavior I’m dealing with. … But as long as the majority of three allow this level of disrespect to occur, it will occur.”
Despite missing nancial data, elected o cials’ concerns and multiple requests not to adopt the proposed budget, the FY 2026-27 budget ordinance and fee schedule were approved. The motion passed 3-1, with commissioners Hawes, Scotty Smith and Cheryl Smith voting in favor.
The records leave a central question for public consideration: If the town can identify every additional dollar it seeks from citizens, can it account equally for how it is spent?
DUPLIN happening
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in
June 19-20
Juneteenth Story Walk
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Cowan Museum of History and Science will host a free Juneteenth Story Walk. The two-day outdoor story walk invites visitors to join STEM Educator Battista Bennett as she takes museum visitors on a history walk with the book, “The Story of Juneteenth" by Dorena Williamson, while learning about the signi cance of the holiday. The event includes a complimentary bracelet-making activity for participants of all ages inside the museum. Free refreshments will be served in the general store.
411 S. Main St., Kenansville
June 20
Wallace-Pender Airport 72nd Anniversary Fly-In
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Wallace-Pender Airport will mark its 72nd anniversary with a y-in event open to pilots and the public. Pilots will land free, with recognition for the furthest distance traveled. Activities will include barbecue meals by Poston Baptist Church Mobile Kitchen, as well as classic cars, tractors, music and children’s games.
250 Henderson Field Road, Wallace
Good Daddies
BBQ Grillmaster Competition
3 p.m.
Shackle Free Community Outreach Agency Inc. will host the 2026 Good Daddies BBQ Grillmaster Competition, combining a cooking contest with community outreach. The event will focus on men’s health, gun violence awareness and voter empowerment, and will include the Camp Unity-All 360 Warsaw Rec reunion game.
309 Memorial Dr., Warsaw
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
Three great movements that made America great
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
A CASUAL READING of history will reveal that Christopher Columbus, who famously sailed in 1492, actually died thinking that he had discovered a new route to Asia. A few years after Columbus rst landed in the Caribbean, Amerigo Vespucci explored the southern coast of what we now know as South America. He, unlike Columbus, “realized this landmass was an entirely separate, previously unknown continent.” In 1507, a new world map drawn by Martin Waldseemuller, a German cartographer, “labeled this landmass as America, which is the feminine version of Amerigo in Latin.” Soon the name America was used to identify both South and North America.
Thus, the great movement that rediscovered the New World began.
Historians about a century later discovered and came to realize that about 500 years before Columbus landed, Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer, had landed in North America. “In 1497, John Cabot, commissioned by King Henry VII of England, was the rst Continental European to land on the coast of North America, most likely Cape Breton Island.”
In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh established an unsuccessful colony in present-day North Carolina at Roanoke. In 1607, the rst permanent English colony was established in North America at Jamestown, Virginia. In 1620, after arriving on the May ower, the Pilgrims established the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. From 1607 to 1733, the original 13 colonies came into being.
Thus, the greatest permeant epic for freedom and liberty in the history of the world occurred between 1607 and 1733 with the establishment of the original 13 colonies on the North American continent, leading to what is now called the United States of America.
There was another parallel movement of monumental consequences that also began in the 1400s. “Several hundred people were burned at the stake for translating, smuggling, owning, or just reading the English Bible.” In 1407, John Wycli e’s Bible, which was published in 1382, was declared illegal. In 1517, the German Monk Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses “in disputation of what he called the abusive power of the Roman Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences.” Additionally,
Freedom isn’t free
“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom.” John Adams
“FREEDOM ISN’T FREE” is a message found on bumper stickers and social media posts. It is etched into the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Walter Hitchcock is often credited with coining the phrase. Certainly the saying refers to the ultimate cost that members of the armed forces have paid over the years to protect our freedom. The phrase also acknowledges the cost required of us to maintain our freedom. Less than a year after the Declaration of Independence was signed, John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail, “Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it.”
Seven years later, at the end of the war, after the British troops evacuated New York City, George Washington responded to a message of congratulations from the German Reformed Congregation with these words, “The establishment of civil and religious liberty was the motive which induced me to the eld — the object is attained — and it now remains to be my earnest wish and prayer, that the citizens of the United States make a wise and virtuous use of the blessings placed before them.”
On the eve of the 250th anniversary and celebration of our nation’s independence, it would do us well to think about what it means to be free. Our rst thought might be, “Freedom means doing anything we want!” But that’s not true freedom; that’s lawlessness and anarchy. True freedom, as we promise in the
William Tyndale intensi ed his movement to translate the Bible into English in 1522, and “he was burned at the stake, after they rst strangled him, by the secular authorities of the Holy Roman Empire in 1536.” Luther and Tyndale were contemporaries and both wanted the ordinary men and women of the day to have access to an English version of the Bible.
Thus, the two great movements of (1) the rediscovery of the American continent and (2) the Protestant Reformation would ignite the desire in the initial Pilgrims to risk all they had to go to the New World seeking unrestricted freedom of religion to own, study and live by the tenets of the Christian Bible. This land was preserved by Almighty God until He could raise up men and women who would establish a government based on Judeo-Christian concepts and who would worship and sustain Jesus Christ as the God of this Promised Land.
The United States of America was founded as a Christian nation, and a third great movement started that would forever change the world by creating a government described by Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address as “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Our founders, though much less than perfect, were thus inspired to declare, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
God be thanked for the men and women who lived and died in support of these three great movements that resulted in the establishment of the United States of America.
We the people, as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the greatest nation on earth, should resolve to be the moral and religious people necessary to preserve our Constitution until the God of this land, Jesus Christ, returns to establish a more perfect union for all mankind who have called this earth their home.
Rep. Jimmy Dixon represents Duplin and Wayne counties in the N.C. House of Representatives.
Pledge of Allegiance with the words “with liberty and justice for all,” ironically means limiting our freedom so the rights of others are respected and preserved. In his 1792 Plan of a Declaration of Rights, Thomas Paine wrote, “ Liberty is the power to do everything that does not interfere with the rights of others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every individual has no limits save those that assure to other members of society the enjoyment of the same rights.”
In his letters to early Christians, the apostle Paul wrote about “freedom in Christ.” To the Corinthians he said, “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” To the Galatians he wrote, “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” Again, true freedom doesn’t mean being sel sh, but being concerned about your neighbor and your community.
The nal line of the Declaration of Independence reads, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a rm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” The signers could not know what their actions might cost them, but 250 years later, we must also be willing to bear the cost, because maintaining freedom isn’t free.
Philip Gladden is a retired minister who lives in Wallace.
COLUMN | PHILIP GLADDEN
COLUMN | JIMMY DIXON
After hearing, Teachey approves budget with tax cut, utility rate increase
A League of Municipalities representative said current rate increases may not be enough to stabilize the water and sewer fund
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — After a public hearing on the proposed town budget for the upcoming scal year and a long discussion regarding water and sewer rates, the Teachey Board of Commissioners approved the proposed budget for FY 2026-27 during its regular monthly meeting June 8.
The new budget includes a reduction in the town’s property tax rate by three cents and a 3% increase in the water and sewer rates. However, based on feedback from a representative of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, it’s certain the town water and sewer rates will increase well beyond that 3% mark very soon.
Ann White, a local representative for southeastern N.C. for the League of Municipalities, addressed the board during the meeting and expressed concern over a portion of the budget that calls for the town’s general fund to provide a loan to the water and sewer fund of $55,700 to cover shortages in that budget. State statute calls for general funds and water and sewer funds to be handled separately. White said the loan could result in Teachey being placed on a list of communities indicating a nancial issue. The list, known as the Unit Assistance List, is administered by the North Carolina Local Government Commission. Teachey could be on the list until the loan is repaid.
According to White, the increase in the town’s water and sewer rates will not be sucient enough to cover repaying the general fund for the $55,000 loan to the water and sewer fund, as well as handle any possible maintenance issues or operating costs for the system.
“Trying to cover that decit funding from the general fund, you need to get to about a 17.5% increase in the base rates,” White said, adding the town would have to implement that increase at once to avoid being placed on the Unit Assistance List.
It was estimated that a 15% increase in utility rates for the town would result in a $40-per-year increase in water costs and another $50- to $60-per-year increase in sewer rates for the average residential customer.
Part of the issue with the revenue shortfall in the water and sewer system is due to a technical issue. Approximately four years ago, the town board voted for a rate increase that was never put into e ect. At
from page A1
fund a permanent MRI unit in Kenansville.
“The installation of a permanent MRI unit for Duplin County represents a tremendous step forward, not only for healthcare access, but also as an economic asset that will strengthen the community for years to come,” Dixon told Duplin Journal, adding that the addition will help meet growing demand for both inpatient and outpatient imaging services.
Nearly $26 million has been allocated for the modernization of procedural and surgical services, the largest portion of the overall investment. The funding will support several upgrades designed to improve e ciency and patient safety.
A new licensed GI room will be developed, allowing endoscopy procedures to move out of general operating rooms and
Top, Ann White of the North Carolina League of Municipalities, left, presents Town Clerk Morgan Jacobs a certi cate of achievement for her participation in almost 40 hours of training in the league’s Accounting Instruction and Mentorship Program. Bottom , Mayor Bobby Jones, right, receives a certi cate from Ann White of the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
“You need to get to about a 17.5% increase in the base rates.”
Ann White, North Carolina League of Municipalities
the time the increase was approved, the town was upgrading its software system. The new rate was never added to the new system. The error was discovered last year.
Another issue discussed regarding the water and sewer rates involves customers who live in the county and receive water from Duplin County but whose sewer service is handled by Teachey’s system. The county collects the water and sewer charges and then pays Teachey a portion of the amount collected for the sewer service. However, the county will not disclose to Teachey what rates it is charging the county customers for sewage.
“I think it’s unacceptable you cannot get information from the county on how you’re getting money related to that sewer service,” White told the board. Another issue nancially
a ecting the water and sewer system in Teachey has been in maintenance and repair costs. The previous town budget allotted $60,000 for repairs. Last year, the actual cost was approximately double that amount.
While there was a lengthy discussion on the issue, the board’s vote to approve the current budget means the water and sewer rate increase stands at 3%. The board will revisit possible solutions and rate increases at next month’s meeting.
White’s participation in the water and sewer discussion was secondary in her reason for being at the meeting. She was there to present Mayor Bobby Jones, Town Clerk Morgan Jacobs and Utility Clerk Ally Casey with certi cates from the League of Municipalities for their participation in the League’s Accounting Instruction and Mentorship Program (AIM). White said Jacobs and Casey spent approximately 40 hours in training on town nance and systems. White added the League had invested about $40,000 in accounting and audit services for the town using funds provided by the Federal American Rescue Plan.
into a specialized space. Existing areas will be renovated to expand preoperative and postoperative care units, a change expected to improve surgical throughput and enhance the patient experience. The Sterile Processing Department will also receive upgrades to support operating room e ciency and maintain patient safety standards.
“I’m especially excited about the funds that will be invested in the emergency room facility,” Dixon told Duplin Journal. “The planned expansion will provide a signi cant bene t to patients and families.”
More than $10 million will fund the renovation and redesign of the emergency department, which will undergo a signi cant expansion to address capacity challenges.
The redesign is intended to improve the experience for both patients and providers by en-
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
David Honeycutt of McGill Associates gives a detailed presentation on the condition of the Rose Hill sewer system to the town board based on the rm’s recent asset inventory and assessment of the system.
Rose Hill board told sewer system aging but stable
Engineers say older clay pipes and in ltration risks will require future upgrades as the town nears capacity thresholds
By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal
ROSE HILL — Just as
their neighbors to the south in Teachey had discussed the night before, water and sewer systems were the main topics during the Rose Hill Town Board meeting June 9. The board received a detailed brie ng on the condition of the town’s sewer system from David Honeycutt of McGill Associates, the rm hired to complete an asset inventory and assessment of the town’s sewer system.
Honeycutt told the board that Rose Hill’s sewer system is in “fair” condition.
“I’ll say you have a lot in comparison to other systems across the country,” Honeycutt said, adding that the American Society of Civil Engineers rates water and sewer systems across the U.S. very low. The problem is an aging infrastructure with systems built 50 to 60 years ago using subpar materials such as clay pipes.
Honeycutt told the board the Rose Hill sewer system contains mostly PVC pipe, which is the more recent material used in systems and is in good condition. However, the system also contains approximately 25,000 feet, or 28%, of clay pipe that is past its useful life. Clay pipe contains joints every four feet that are susceptible to leaks and root damage.
The assessment also included inspections of many of the town’s 289 manholes. Most of those seemed to be in good condition while others showed signs of deterioration that could lead to water in ltrating the sewage system.
McGill Associates used a combination of smoke testing and video inspections to assess the sewer system in the town.
Originally constructed in 1983, the Rose Hill sewage system has the capacity to treat approximately 150,000 gallons per day, Honeycutt said. Current-
“Access to quality healthcare and medical services is one of the most important issues facing rural North
Carolina.”
Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin)
hancing patient ow throughout the department. The project may also include renovations to increase observation capacity.
Dixon said the improvements are critical for rural North Carolina, helping ensure that local healthcare providers have access to modern facilities and resources needed to deliver high-quality care.
“This is wonderful news for the citizens of Duplin County, particularly because of the dedi-
cation of homegrown physicians like the Kornegays, who have done a magni cent job bringing good medical attention to Duplin County,” said Dixon.
The funding for the ECU Health Duplin Hospital modernization project comes from a state funding framework designed to support healthcare infrastructure without incurring additional debt.
According to Dixon, the funding was established through NC CARES Hospital Investment Act secured through legislative e orts in 2023. The General Assembly allocated $150 million to the UNC Board of Governors for distribution to hospitals across eastern North Carolina. In May 2025, the Board of Governors distributed these funds, with ECU Health Duplin Hospital receiving $40 million.
The investment is funded through the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, which
“I’ll say you have a lot in comparison to other systems across the country.”
David Honeycutt, McGill Associates
ly, the town is averaging about 53% of its capacity. It is recommended the town begin seriously considering expanding that capability when it reaches 80% of its capacity, and it becomes necessary when it reaches 90%.
Dale Schepers, a nancial services analyst with McGill Associates, was also in attendance at the meeting and advised the town it should consider future needs for its water and sewer system in its nancial planning considering the age of the system.
Rose Hill currently has approximately 700 residential customers and 85 nonresidential customers tied into the town’s water and sewer system. Honeycutt provided data during his presentation comparing the water and sewer rates in Rose Hill to other area towns, including Magnolia, Kenansville, Burgaw, Warsaw and Wallace. Rose Hill has the lowest combined water and sewer rates of all the towns listed. In other business, the board voted to approve the scal year 2026-27 balanced budget of $1,519,213.
The board also agreed to replace the HVAC system that handles the meeting room at the Rose Hill Library, which failed recently. The town accepted a contract with Powell Heating and Cooling Services for $12,800 to replace the unit.
In addition, the board approved a new contract with Thompson and Thompson Law O ces for legal services for the town. The new contract calls for a new retainer fee of $10,000 a year and $300 an hour for services outside the scope of the contract.
Jason Dixon was sworn in by Town Clerk Keren Parker as a new member of the Rose Hill Planning Board.
utilizes available cash reserves rather than bond nancing or encumbering the state with debt, Dixon explained, adding that the fund relies on one-time state revenues to support infrastructure projects.
“We take available funds that are nonrecurring when we have the opportunity to do it and we fund projects like this across the state,” said Dixon. According to an ECU Health spokesperson planning e orts are still in the early stages.
“While speci c project details and timelines continue to evolve, we anticipate a phased approach over the next several years, with key components coming online incrementally to minimize disruption and ensure continuity of care,” Ashlin Elliott with ECU Health told Duplin Journal. “Ultimately, this investment positions ECU Health Duplin Hospital to better serve the region for years to come.”
HOSPITAL
PHOTOS BY MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Beach Brew and Que
Beach Brew and Que brought live beach music, a whole hog barbecue competition and vendors to the Duplin Event Center on Saturday as participants braved 90-degree heat.
Three bands performed throughout the day — the I-42 Band, The Embers and Jim Quick and the Coastline — while guests gathered in beach chairs under tents and fans o ered some relief from the heat. Vendors sold crafts, jewelry, honey and other goods outside the arena as conditions allowed.
The whole hog barbecue competition began Friday night with 20 teams. Winners were Beach Boys BBQ in rst place, Wicked Pig in second and Baker Boys BBQ in third. Organizers said next year’s event will be scheduled for the rst weekend in April.
STEAMA Camp helps build Duplin’s future workforce
Middle school students explore career pathways through hands-on learning, industry tours and local partnerships
Duplin Journal sta
KENANSVILLE — Rising seventh, eighth and ninth grade students got an early look at potential career paths during James Sprunt Community College’s recent STEAMA Camp, a weeklong program designed to strengthen the local workforce pipeline.
“Students were able to experience many career pathways,” said Susi Burger, career development coordinator for Duplin County Schools.
The camp, which focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Agriculture, gave students an opportunity to explore potential career paths through interactive learning, industry tours and direct interaction with educators and professionals working in the elds they explored.
Throughout the week, students spent time on the JSCC campus, where they worked with instructors, explored specialized equipment and gained exposure to educational opportunities available through the community college.
Organized through a partnership between JSCC and Du-
plin County Schools, the camp was designed not only to spark student interest, but also to help strengthen the pipeline connecting local students to future careers.
Liz Howard, dean of business and industry at JSCC and co-coordinator of the camp, said the program demonstrated the value of collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners.
“From industry tours to our end-of-camp showcase, the excitement and enthusiasm from students and instructors have been truly inspiring,” said Howard.
Developing and fostering a strong pipeline of career exposure, career preparation and education is one of the key bene ts of the partnership between Duplin County Schools and James Sprunt Community College, said Ti any Cassell, career and technical education curriculum and instructional management coordinator for Duplin County Schools.
James Sprunt Community College President Shannon Hair said the camp o ered students meaningful exposure to the college’s programs, faculty, facilities and industry connections while helping them envision future educational and career possibilities.
Participants
“From industry tours to our end-of-camp showcase, the excitement and enthusiasm from students and instructors have been truly inspiring.”
Liz Howard
nology, machining, robotics, industrial systems, lineworker careers and commercial driving. Students toured Design Mode in Warsaw, visited the new James Sprunt Workforce Development construction site and explored operations at the Duplin County Schools Maintenance and Bus Garage.
Students in the Agriculture Technology pathway explored several sectors of one of Duplin County’s largest industries. Activities focused on poultry production, food science, horticulture, agribusiness and welding-related farm maintenance. Participants also visited Nash Johnson Hatchery and the Wallace location of House of Raeford to see agricultural careers in action.
continue to experience signicant growth. Students learned about graphic design, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and robotics before traveling to Wilmington to visit Valicy Gaming.
The Business and Information Technology pathway introduced students to elds that
For students interested in skilled trades, the Trades and Industry pathway provided exposure to electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, diesel tech-
Health Science and Public Safety participants examined career opportunities in surgical technology, EMS and re services, criminal justice, basic law enforcement training and mass casualty response. The group also toured ECU Health Duplin, allowing students to see healthcare careers in a real-world setting.
Organizers noted that local partnerships played a critical role in creating meaningful experiences for students. The program concluded with a showcase for families and community members, highlighting projects and skills students developed throughout the week.
PHOTOS BY REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
PHOTO COURTESY JAMES SPRUNT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
in James Sprunt Community College’s STEAMA Camp pose for a group photo. The program provided Duplin County students with hands-on career exploration opportunities.
DUPLIN SPORTS
MS. SOCCER 2026
Rodriguez returns to star form following knee injury
ED’s all-time leading scorer and rst all-state female booter is the top player in Duplin for the second time in three seasons
Goals on
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — In down moments, faithful Panthers soccer fans have resorted
to a faith based in the fasttwitch muscles of Anamarie Rodriguez. And in that time and place, all things are possible when the rising junior is on the pitch. Rodriguez has claimed her second Ms. Soccer crown in three years. The award is for the best female in Duplin County. Her game has been on full blast as she has become both the leading scorer in East Duplin history and
its rst female all-state player. Rodriguez scored 30 goals and was perhaps the most key player in the Panthers’ ECC title, 17-7-2 mark and a push into the fourth round of the 4A playo s.
She scored her goals by taking a mere 37 shots.
Her chance at becoming a four-time winner was dashed last season when she su ered a knee injury that limited her to
See MS. SOCCER, page B4
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2026
COACH OF THE YEAR 2026
First-year veteran coach Dennis Ly guided WRH to its rst conference title
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — Wallace-Rose Hill had to share its Swine Valley Conference title with James Kenan and Princeton. But that’s water under the bridge of a historic season for WRH, who proved it was a contender by winning 10 of its nal 13 matches. ND opened up 3-5 but faced great competition in losses to East Duplin (a fourth-round team in 4A), Lejeune (13-1-1 and loss in 1A to region champ Franklinton) and Trask (17-6-1 after a third-round exit in 3A).
This made WRH (10-8) a better team than its record would indicate. Even so, the Bulldogs’ mark is the best in school history by advancing to the third round of the 3A playo s. Dennis Ly, who took Maiden High School to the state playo s in his second season and helped the WRH boys to a 3A title last fall, is the Coach of the Year.
See COACH, page B4
Strickland’s scoring raids propel Rebels to best season
Carrly Strickland set a school record for goals and points to pace ND to its best season since starting soccer in 2013
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
CALYPSO — Carrly Strickland wrote her name into the record books at North Duplin this spring by setting a single-season scoring record. And with two more seasons left to run the Rebels sod, more accolades are sure to follow.
Strickland jammed in 32 goals and had 11 assists, scoring at least a goal in 12 matches for the 14-3 Rebels, who posted their best mark in school history. She is the O ensive Player of the Year.
The sophomore scored a single goal in one match (during at 2-1 win over East Bladen).
She scored two times in four matches, had four hat tricks and struck for four scores vs. Lakewood on April 20, and two days later, she punched in a season-high ve goals against West Columbus.
East Bladen beat ND 1-0 in the second round of the 2A playo s to end the Rebels’ season.
Strickland, who was second to Ms. Soccer Anamarie Rodriguez, needed 74 shots to tally 32 goals. She collected 11 points the previous seasons, scoring four times on 18 shots. ND (14-8) had its best season since starting the sport in 2013. In fact, the Rebels’ 8-7 mark in ’25 was their rst winning campaign.
Strickland scored four times
See STRICKLAND, page B4
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Anamarie Rodriguez is ED’s rst female to be an all-state soccer player.
37 shots for Anamarie Rodriguez this season.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Dennis Ly worked with his soccer team on and o the eld.
ND’s Carrly Strickland set a school mark for goals in a season last spring.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
BILL CARONE
BY
SPONSORED
Zoe Cavanaugh
East Duplin, soccer
Zoe Cavanaugh has been the ultimate teammate in three sports the past four years at East Duplin.
While the recent grad is not a superstar in volleyball, baskeball or soccer, she’s been a starter in each for the past four seasons, all of which included big team accomplishments.
Cavanaugh was an all-Duplin rst-team defender in soccer as the Panthers went 17-7-2 and won the ECC for the second time tenure.
She averaged 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds on the ED team hoops team that went 20-7.
In the fall, she garnered all-county honors on the volleyball team that was 22-3, winning the ECC and advancing to the fourth round of the 4A playo s.
Her brother Nick was an all-state pitcher on ED’s record-setting 23-1 team in 2022.
Bri Maradiaga overcame injury to lead WRH to the third-round of the 3A playo s
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — Bri Maradiaga’s high ankle sprain was a blow to the Wallace-Rose Hill soccer team.
“She came to practice every day and nally I had to tell her to get o the eld,” said Bulldogs coach Dennis Ly. “I tried to get her to not even touch a ball.”
The senior’s young body recovered faster than a fresh-legged marking back chasing down a weary striker.
“We got through her injury and also found out how much we needed her,” Ly said.
“She’s a battler, much like Junior (Ayestas, who graduated in June and will play in the NC Coaches East-West All-Star game in July).
“The boys needed him, and we needed our battler. One of our best games was when we lost to Lejeune, a really, really good team, and in that game,
Bri and our team played so well. That was the best 2-0 loss I’ve ever been involved with.” Maradiaga scored four goals and had two assists this spring.
“She did the dirty work,” Ly
said. “She also did a great job on the (Aleyah) Wilson girl (who had 22 goals). We only have four seniors, and we’ll sure miss what Bri brought. But I think we have things set up for a bright future.”
Clements, Holmes, Howard power Post 511 past Post 71
Austin Clements, Gavin Holmes and Gage Howard heated up to send Beulaville American Legion Post 511 to consecutive victories
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — American Legion Post 511 has found its way following an 0-2 beginning.
The Beulaville club grabbed a pair of wins in the middle of last week before falling to power Garner National.
Austin Clements drove in three runs, while Gavin Holmes and Henry Bass had three RBIs apiece during a 10-0 conquest of Johnston County Post 71, who had beaten Beulaville on opening day.
Dan Boyette (three innings), Christian Wooten (two) and Mason Murphy (one) combined to yield just two hits.
The hitting was in tune during a 10-8 win over Pitt County Post 39.
Six players drove in at least a run as Post 511 had an uprising in ve of seven innings and never trailed.
Clements and Blayden Pridgen both drove a pair of runs to the dugout.
Gage Howard, Brayden Barnett and Carson Tew had RBIs.
Beulaville ace Jaxson Smith gave up three runs before leaving after the fourth with a 6-2 lead.
Smith and Holmes each drove in a run in Post 511’s
heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Wilson Post 13, which scored the winning run in the seventh. Post 511 (2-3) travels to Jacksonville Post 265 early
this week and then hosts Castle Hayne Post 545 and Tabor City Post 342 on June 18 and June 19. Both games will be played at Midway High School.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Bri Maradiaga did the tough, often thankless work in the mid eld for WRH.
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL ED rising senior Gavin Holmes and his Post 511 club enter the week with a 2-3 mark.
Plenty of postseason accolades, honors for area booters
When four teams win at least a share of a conference championship, stars shoot from the soccer pitch
By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal
BEULAVILLE — All four Duplin County soccer teams won at least a share of a conference title last spring, making for difcult choices for the all-county selections.
One that wasn’t hard was handing East Duplin’s Anamarie Rodriguez her second Ms. Duplin title in three seasons.
North Duplin’s Carrly Strickland is O ensive Player of the Year, Wallace-Rose Hill’s Bri Maradiaga was the Heart of a Champion honoree, and her Bulldogs coach Dennis Ly was Coach of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
Joselin Mata-Aguilar, ED, Sr., MF
Mata-Aguilar stepped up to score 18 goals, had seven assists and was an all-Region selection by 12 members of the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association.
“She was always in the right spot at the right time to help us score,” ED coach Joey Jones said. “She never stood down to an opponent and occasionally added another touch to prove her strength.”
Kayleigh Chase, ED, Sr., MF Chase had one goal and two assists while making her presence known to those who understand that game.
“You won’t see it in the stats, but she was one of the most dependable players players on the team and a key gure in the mideld,” said Jones. “She fought on the eld and never wanted to come o . She was a huge part of what was happening.”
Zoe Cavanaugh, ED, Sr., D Cavanaugh was a marking back who took two shots on the opposition’s goal.
But she rarely came up disappointing as her teammates and coaches knew her value.
“She was our best defensive player and always had to keep track of the best scorer on the other team,” Jones said. “She created o ense with her 40-plus (yard) throws and was an immovable force on defense.”
Aleyah Wilson, JK, Jr., F Wilson scored 22 of JK’s 46 goals, which included both during a 2-0 win over WRH on March 31 and scoring in one-goal wins over Goldsboro (twice) and Lakewood. She also notuched a pair in a two-goal SVC victories over Midway.
With her physical size, strength, speed and intensity, Wilson was a tough striker to mark.
“Her physical traits and
toughness make her a tough mark for opponents, and with continued footwork and ball skill development, she will be fun to watch next year,” said JK head coach Kenny Williams. “She’s a tremendous multisport athlete who is still relatively new to the game but has the ability to play pretty much any position on the eld.”
Yaneidi Cruz, JK, So., MF Cruz, who scored 10 goals and had 12 assists, had either a goal or assist or both in 12 matches.
JK coach Kenny Williams feels his sophomore is a rising star and centerpiece for the program.
“She moved to the CAM position and became our most balanced and top all-around player,” Williams said. “It gave us stability in the middle of the eld, and she was able to get back to help clean up any gaps on the defensive end while also being the primary initiator for the o ensive attack.”
Kimberlynn Guzman, ED, Jr., GK Guzman stopped 89 shots and had four shutouts with a 1.67 GAA.
“She proved all great things can come out of small and quiet packages,” Jones said. “She earned the respect of opposing coaches with her abilities.
Sosa Hernandez-Espino, ED, So., MF Hernandez-Espino was a playmaker and the Panthers’ predominate corner kicker, scoring nine goals and dishing out a Duplin-high 15 assists. She scored six goals and had six assists in a three-game stretch in which ED beat ECC teams.
The Panthers won the league title.
Tristen Stemmler, ND, Jr., F/MF Three hat tricks played into Stemmler’s 23-goal, three-assist season.
She scored eight times in March and 13 in April as ND started o 4-1 and then had
a pair of ve-match winning streaks.
Carrly Strickland, ND, So., F Strickland, the O ensive Player of the Year, scored a Duplin-high 32 goals. Her 75 points was second to Ms. Soccer Anamarie Rodriguez, an all-state 4A player at East Duplin. See the writeup on B1.
Abby Rose, ND, So., D Rose’s name won’t show up in a box score, but anyone watching her on the eld knows she is a skilled and fast player.
She often takes gambles when the ball is pushed toward the ND goal, but she always seems to have the footspeed to catch a forward or mid elder and neutralize the situation. Rose is among the most competitive athletes in Duplin, as she was a rst-team all-Duplin basketball player in the winter and a sprinter in track events during the spring.
Bayleen Flores, WRH, Sr. F Flores followed up her 17-goal season in ’25 with a 20-goal, four-assist campaign for 13-9 WRH, which tied JK and Princeton for the Swine Valley Conference title. One of her biggest cage-ringers came during a 2-0 conquest of Princeton. Without that win, the Bulldogs would not have a share of the crown.
The junior nished with 42 career goals.
Bri Maradiaga, WRH, Sr., MF Maradiaga was steady and sturdy all over the pitch. She was named Heart of Champion honoree.
Nathalie Paredes, WRH, Sr. MF. Absence makes the heart develop respect, and WRH appreciated the return of mid elder Paredes from injury.
“She and Bri were my mideld machine, and ... both were out hurt it. But when they returned, we looked like a di erent team,” said rst-year head, coach Dennis Ly. “They controlled everything.”
Anastan and Tabor Holley, ED, Jr., D
The Holley twins were rst-team selections a season ago when they were forced into extra duty because of injuries in the defense.
Their respective play was paramount to ECC champ ED (17-7-1), which lost in the fourth round of the 4A playo s to First Flight.
“We used them as bookends on the outside of our defense,” Jones said. “They’re both so darn coachable. They listen and work their tails o . You know what you’re going to get.”
The siblings are the daughters of ED football Battle Holley.
Alison Duenas, JK, Jr., D
The junior was the anchor and leader of what proved to be a stingy Tigers defense this season. It was her second season as the backline sweeper, an important position that doesn’t necessarily show up in stat lines.
Duenas was the key communicator and last line of defense in front of the goalie and erased many scoring opportunities along with handling the primary backline kicking duties.
Sasha Arguijo, ND, Jr., MF
Arguijo scored 13 goals and had four assists as the Rebels’ third-leading scorer.
Gabby Debnam, WRH, Jr., MF
Debnam scored 11 goals and had two assists in nine matches to raise her career total to 31 following consecutive 10-goal campaigns in ’24 and ’25.
Roselin Orozco, ND, So., MF
ND won nine of 10 times when Orozco scored a goal or made an assist. Her biggest score came during a 2-1 win over East Bladen on March 17.
Kaylan Leon, WRH, Jr., D
Leon’s steady play in the back didn’t go unnoticed by her head coach.
“She was the smartest player on the team and a very outspoken leader on defense,” Ly said. “And always where she was supposed to be. I’m glad she’s coming back.”
Angela Rosales, WRH, Fr., D/MF
Rosales has just written the rst chapter of her soccer story, and there’s plenty to be excited about in the next three springs.
“She de nitely has the drive and skill set to be a top player next year,” Ly said. “She’s come a long way, and she played great when we moved her to the wing. She was the smartest player on the team and a very outspoken leader on defense.”
Yaslin Melendez, WRH, Sr., MF
Melendez didn’t get pushed around by anyone on the pitch.
“She was my toughest player and a quiet assassin,” Ly said. “She got hurt late in the year, and I hate that I only had her for a year.
Angie Irula, JK, Fr., MF
As a freshman this year, Irula started at both winger and striker, showing ashes of speed and solid ball skills, scoring four goals and dishing out ve assists.
She knocked in the winning goal against Princeton to clinch a share of the Swine Valley Conference title.
Josselyn Gomez, JK, So., MF
A sophomore in her second year as a starting winger, Gomez was one of the Tigers’ most tenacious on-ball defenders and showed improved o ensive skills (two goals, seven assists).
Gomez is one of several young Tigers underclassmen pushing their way into the limelight.
Gabriel Outlaw, JK, Sr., GK
A senior playing her rst year of soccer, Outlaw came late to the team after basketball season, earning the starting goalie spot by the fourth game.
An all-Duplin rst-team hoopster, she never gave it and held foes to one goal or less in 10 of 15 matches, including six shoutouts.
• We’ll stop by twice a year - once in the heating season, once in the cooling season. • All maintenance club members receive a 15% parts discount.
• Once in our club, you will receive priority response/service.
• Plans for every budget!
EDWARDO PUAC / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Tristen Stemmler scored 23 goals for ND.
Judge dismisses lawsuit by 31 former NC State athletes alleging abuse by ex-head trainer
Dismissal came due to procedural reasons, but players plan to appeal
By Aaron Beard The Associated Press
RALEIGH — A state judge has dismissed a lawsuit led by 31 former NC State male athletes alleging sexual abuse under the guise of treatment and harassment by the Wolfpack’s former director of sports medicine.
In orders led Tuesday, Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed claims against Robert M. Murphy Jr., as well as multiple NC State athletics o cials tied to their oversight rules, citing procedural reasons.
The lawsuit was led in February in state court in a case that began with a federal lawsuit from a single athlete led in 2022. That complaint alleged years of misconduct by Murphy, including improper touching of the genitals during massages and intrusive observation while collecting urine samples during drug testing.
Collins granted the motion seeking a dismissal from Murphy’s attorneys, ruling that the statute of limitations had expired in claims dating back as early as 2013.
Collins also dismissed claims against multiple athletics ofcials such as former athletic director Debbie Yow and current AD Boo Corrigan on jurisdictional grounds. His ruling stated any complaint should go through the North Carolina Industrial Commission — a state agency that deals with workplace matters with NC State as a public university — rather than civil court.
Jared Hammett, a Raleigh-based attorney representing Murphy, issued a statement to The Associated Press describing his client as “someone who dedicated his life to working with athletes” while referring to a “rush to judgment” that can impact “real people’s lives.”
“The truth is nothing happened but a man’s career be -
NFL
ing ruined for money,” Hammett said. “As a lawyer I am just glad that we have been able to help another person who needed support and found himself needing that defense.”
Durham-based attorney
Kerry Sutton, who has represented players going back to the original case, said the athletes plan to appeal.
“This dismissal has nothing at all to do with Mr. Murphy’s sexual abuse of these 31 former student-athletes,” Sutton said in a statement to the AP. “It was decided based only on questions of legal procedure. We plan to appeal this outcome and in coming days will be adding new claims against NCSU for men who have recently come forward.”
All but two of the 31 athletes are “John Doe” plainti s to protect anonymity, while two former men’s soccer players are named.
One is Benjamin Locke, who led the original complaint in August 2022. The other is one of two athletes who led their own federal lawsuits in February 2023 and April 2023. The AP typically doesn’t identify those who say they have been sexually assaulted or abused unless the person has spoken publicly about it, which Locke has done.
MLB
49ers mourn sudden death of former All-Pro linebacker Smith at 36 San Francisco
Aldon Smith, a former All-Pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers whose playing career was sidetracked by legal issues, died at 36. The team did not disclose a cause of death. The 49ers drafted Smith out of Missouri with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft. He had 33.5 sacks through his rst two seasons, the most by any player in their rst two seasons. Smith was rst suspended with the 49ers in 2014 and was later released by the team. He also played for the Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys
Sutton, who has represented plainti s in each lawsuit, led to dismiss those pending Title IX lawsuits before moving the case to state-level jurisdiction in September 2025.
Murphy, at NC State from 2012-22, was among nine defendants originally named individually. Others were school o cials accused of negligence in oversight roles, saying concerns about Murphy’s conduct reached senior levels of the athletic department but the school’s response was insu cient.
Sutton and co-counsel Robert O. Jenkins led in April to dismiss former NC State chancellor Randy Woodson as a defendant.
“NC State does not condone sexual misconduct of any kind,” the school said in a statement Tuesday evening. “The health and safety of our students and student-athletes is paramount to the university and our athletic programs.
“We agree with the court’s analysis and the decision that the law supports dismissal of the plainti s’ claims in this case. We recognize the immense courage it takes for someone to come forward, and our hearts go out to any student or student-athlete who has been impacted by distressing experiences.”
Skubal returns from elbow surgery, Ramírez breaks hand in Guardians’ win over Tigers
Cleveland Tarik Skubal was tagged for a two-run homer in the two-time reigning Cy Young winner’s return from elbow surgery. Skubal threw 80 pitches in his rst start since April 29. The left-hander had a loose body removed from his elbow during an innovative surgical procedure on May 6, allowing Skubal to come back early. The win came at a steep price for Guardians as star third baseman José Ramírez su ered a broken bone in his left hand on a swing. Cleveland’s top player will be out inde nitely.
from page B1
He beat out three excellent candidates for the honor as ED went 17-7-2 under Joey Jones, JK went 13-8 under Kenny Williams, and ND was 14-3 with Daniel Cates guiding the Rebels.
ED won the ECC, while ND, JK and WRH won co-championships. Ly, who focused on engaging players o the eld, saw the connect carry over to the sod.
“He’s a genuine lover of the sport, and more than that, he cares about the kids as people,” said WRH boys’ coach Aaron Murray, who found Ly because of a soccer program Ly was running at a Wallace church.
Ly moved to the area so his wife, Alanna Hanchey, could
and had two assists against Lakewood as ND secured a rst-place tie in the Carolina 1A/2A Conference standings. The soccer title for either gender at ND.
She hit on all three of her shots during a 6-0 season-opening win over Rose -
nine matches, though she did tally 12 goals. Rodriguez burst onto the scene as a freshman and nonetheless dominated. Though she’s not a physically big player, there are few out there as fast. She also had great ball skills and a keen eye for converting breakaway goals.
The Panthers won 11 in a row, 10 of which were against ECC schools, to
NOTICES
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DUPLIN 26E000174-300
be closer to her father, Johnny.
“Our rst talk was for an hour, and we probably didn’t talk soccer until it was almost over,” said Murray. “Dennis had some ups and downs, like any new coach would have, but they kept showing up, and by the end of the season you could see the growth they made on his plan for the program.”
Jones said the Bulldogs’ improvement was evident.
“They were much improved team,” said East Duplin head coach Joey Jones, who won the award the previous two seasons. “Soccer is up and growing across the county, and that’s always a good thing. I think he’s had a great rst year and will have them playing better and competitive soccer in the future.”
wood as ND started 4-0.
Five straight wins followed a setback to Union, which included a triumph over the Spartans. A 3-0 loss to East Bladen was hurtful, but ND recovered to win ve consecutive matches before falling 1-0 to the Eagles in the second round of the 2A playo s in Calypso.
win its second title since ’23. Then they dusted o WRH and North Johnston before having its season end with a setback to First Flight (22-1-3) and champ of the Big 4A/5A Conference. East Duplin is 47-22-6 in three years with Rodriguez as its money striker. Rodriguez is one of the few all-state players from the East, though Clinton’s Jenna Jackson and First Flight’s Ella Reese are on the list.
NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS: The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of CIRCIA ARROYO DE HECKROTH, late deceased of said Duplin County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before September 21, 2026, or this notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 10th day of June, 2026.
GLORIA ADRIANA ARROYO-DE MORENO Executor of the Estate of CIRCIA ARROYO DE HECKROTH C/O Brian M. Bullard, Attorney Bullard Law Firm, PLLC PO Box 1000 Faison, NC 28341 910-267-3151
NOTICE
North Carolina Duplin County Notice
Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of the late Mark Alan Price, this is to notify all people who have claims against his estate to present them to the undersigned Executor on or before September 18, 2026, or this notice or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Theresa Walton 200 Hyde Park Dr. Goldsboro, NC 27530 Administrator of the Estate of Mark Alan Price, deceased. 6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 2026
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE – TOWN OF KENANSVILLE
Date: Monday, June 22nd, 2026 @ 6:00PM
Place: Kenansville Town Hall
Where: 141 Routledge Road, Kenansville, NC, 28349
Purpose: To hear and record public comments regarding the proposed FY 26-27 Budget and Budget Ordinance for the Town of Kenansville. The budget will potentially be adopted after the public hearing. The proposed Budget Ordinance is available for public inspection in the o ce of the Town Clerk (located in the Kenansville Town Hall) during normal o ce hours (Monday-
Notice is further given that the adoption of the FY 26-27 Budget and Budget Ordinance may be considered at the Board’s special-called meeting held on June 22nd, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Kenansville Town Hall at 141 Routledge Road, Kenansville, NC 28349.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
COACH
STRICKLAND from page B1
MS. SOCCER from page B1
KARA DURRETTE / AP PHOTO
Flags y above at the Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State.
obituaries
Mariann Macko
May 10, 1937 – June 9, 2026
Mariann J. Macko, 89, of Wallace, NC, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026. She will be remembered for her incredible strength, beating cancer multiple times, and her love of family and friends. She found pleasure in the simple joys of a nice mani-pedi, a trip to the hair salon, a good cup of co ee, or a cold glass of white wine.
A proud lifelong resident of New York for most of her life, Mariann attended Commerce High School in Yonkers, NY. She went on to build a dedicated career as a legal secretary for the Law Firm of Lanna, Coppola and Rosato for over 50 years, making lifelong friends along the way. She spent many cherished years taking her parents and kids to a small cabin in Smallwood, NY, a special property that is still owned by her grandson today. She missed New York State greatly after moving south and looked back fondly on the vibrant life she built there.
Mariann and her husband of 47 years, John M. Macko III, shared a long history together, beginning as children growing up on “the Hill” on Gar eld Street in Yonkers. They resided in Yonkers until 2016, splitting their time with a second home in Chichester and then Windham, NY, before ultimately relocating
Lewellyn Knowles
Feb. 18, 1935 – June 9, 2026
It is with heavy hearts and cherished memories that we announce the peaceful passing of Lewellyn Knowles, a treasured soul who graced this world with her presence on February 18, 1935, in Pender County, North Carolina. Lewellyn departed this earthly journey on June 9, 2026, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and warmth that will forever be etched in the hearts of all who knew her. Born to James and Bessie Jones, Lewellyn was a beacon of light from the beginning. Her life was a tapestry woven with love and dedication to family, friends, and her community. She was predeceased by her loving husband, JC Knowles; her beloved daughter, Lynette Knowles; her sisters, Melva Matthews and Elizabeth Larrimore; and her brother, James Jones.
Lewellyn’s legacy continues through her surviving family who were the center of her world. Her daughter, Brenda Knowles McArthur (Charles) Her granddaughters, Allison Moore (Nathan), Mary Charles Messenger (Brad), and the devoted Jordan Williams Hudak (Matthew), who cared for her with unwavering love and attention, ensured her nal years were lled with comfort and happiness. Great grandchildren, McArthur Moore and Eli Messenger and her special great grand dog Millie Mae Hudak. She is also survived by her sister Elsie Nicolson, her special sister-inlaw Mary Lee Strickland, and her treasured nieces Patricia Wells, Shirley James, Cynthia Merritt and Cathy Tilley. Lewellyn was
to River Landing in Wallace, NC, in 2019. Together, they shared countless adventures over nearly ve decades of marriage, from nostalgic early years at the Woodland Valley Inn in Phoenicia, NY, many Okonite client dinners, conventions and Broadway shows, a memorable trip to Hong Kong, to their nal NCL Caribbean cruise out of New York in 2019 just before moving to Wallace.
A meticulous homemaker, Mariann took great pride in keeping a spotless house and often found doing laundry or ironing to be therapeutic. More than anything else, she loved going out to dinner and socializing. Whether she was enjoying Italian at Vesuvio Restaurant in Hensonville, NY, her favorite mussels at Brasserie Du Soleil in Wilmington, NC, lobster tails at Ruth’s Chris, or a quick bite at the River Landing Club, she cherished getting dressed up, sharing a meal, and being out in the world.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Mildred Messar; her sons, Robert and Richard Parks; and her siblings, Frank Madden, Eileen MaddenKwechin, Benjamin Messar, and Evelyn Messar.
Mariann is survived by her husband, John M. Macko III; her stepson, John M. Macko IV, and his wife, Kim; her stepdaughter, Holly Young, and her husband, Michael; as well as her grandchildren Tricia ParksBrodhagen, Richie Parks, Grace Young, MacKenzi Ann Macko, Joshua Young, and John Michael Macko. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at QuinnMcGowen Funeral Home in Wallace, NC. A Catholic Funeral Mass will follow on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Trans guration Catholic Church in Wallace, NC.
blessed with special daughters, Lynn Futrell, Linda Hudak and Melony Henderson; her special friend Travis Horrell who brought additional warmth and companionship into her life.
She was also very fortunate to have such a loving and caring medical team over the years: Lindsey Jernigan, FNP; Sheba Hughes, MA (also her adopted granddaughters); and was very fortunate to have been cared for by Nikki Browning, FNP, and her team in the last month of her life.
Lewellyn spent many ful lling years working at JP Stephens, alongside her husband, on their cherished farm. Their shared labor was not just a career but a testament to their partnership and love for the land. A dedicated member of Willard Baptist Church for many years, Lewellyn’s faith was a cornerstone of her life, providing her with strength and solace.
Her love for her family was matched only by her love for nurturing her garden and preparing meals that brought everyone together. Her kitchen was often lled with the comforting aroma of her cooking, a true testament to her belief that food was love. Her garden, vibrant with the colors and scents of the plants she lovingly tended, was a re ection of her nurturing spirit.
A celebration of Lewellyn’s life will be held on June 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Quinn McGowen Funeral Home, located at 612 Norwood Street, Wallace, NC o ciated by Reverend Barry Wells. Burial will immediately follow at Riverview Memorial Park, 9350 US-117, Willard, NC 28478. Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of a life beautifully lived and a woman who touched the hearts of all who knew her.
Lewellyn was a remarkable woman who, through her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering love, made the world a better place. She will be deeply missed but will forever remain in the hearts of her family and friends. Her spirit will continue to inspire those fortunate enough to have been part of her remarkable journey. May she rest in eternal peace, reunited with her loved ones, and forever in the embrace of the Lord.
Annie Woodcock
Oct. 6, 1934 – June 12, 2026
A kind and gentle soul, a gracious and loving lady, Annie Pearl Guyton Woodcock entered her eternal rest on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the age of 91 blessed years. She was born October 6, 1934, to James Woodbury Guyton and Katie White Guyton. In addition to her parents, Annie Pearl was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Roy Lee Woodcock; great-grandson, Ethan Ruddell; brothers, Edward, Paul Ray, and James William Guyton.
Annie Pearl is survived by her daughters, Debbie RuddellMilling (Fred), Carol Valls (Bill), and Pam Loftis (Jimmy); her son, Michael Woodcock (Lynn); and her grandchildren. Marybeth Krynicki (Ray), Je Ruddell (Joanne), Traci Price (Tim), Jim Loftis (Marianne), Kelly Gray (David), and Brittney Vause (Sonny); six great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; brother, Joseph Franklin Guyton; many extended family; and dear friends.
Our Mama lived a good and hard life growing up, but she never complained. She was one girl among four boys, and she was very much a tomboy. She played basketball in high school and taught us to play and would watch it with us on TV. She would take us into the woods during Christmas season, and she would chop down a cedar tree for our Christmas tree and evergreen vines to go around the door with lights. We were poor, but no one needed to act like it and we always made do. She always had an idea to make her children happy.
Our mama was meek and mild and always put her children before herself. She was the kind of woman people remembered. She talked very little and was soft spoken, but you knew you were welcome at her house by the smile and hug. No matter if she had seen you once or 1,000 times, she was a hugger and was going to give you
David Christopher Foy
Nov. 23, 1967 – June 12, 2026
David Christopher Foy, 58, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2026
He is preceded in death by his mother, Brenda Ho man Foy. All services are private. He is survived by wife Lisa Whaley Foy of Richlands, NC; father David C. Foy of Richlands, NC; son Christopher Foy (Dannielle) of Comfort, NC; daughters Kristen Foy and Katlyn Brinson (Ty), both of Beulaville, NC; sisters Tina Baysden (Clifton) of Beulaville, NC, Shannon Whaley (Robbie) of Richlands, NC, and Te ney Maready (Terris) of Trenton, NC; and grandchildren Tanner Williams, Liam Williams, Daniel Foy and Grady Williams
a hug. She had a deep abiding faith, and she would say “I’m not alone. My Jesus is with me.” She never had a harsh word to say about anyone, and she would always say “You don’t know what they have been through or where they have been”. I never heard our mama say a curse word. She was a true Christian woman. She loved to bake cakes, and she would sell them to women at Carver Shirt Factory in Burgaw where she worked. She made carrot, pineapple, honeybun and chocolate cakes. People would come by on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Eve and pick them up. Sometimes she would make 40 or 50 cakes for every holiday and special occasion. She also loved to have big family gatherings and one of her favorite things to make was potato salad and black walnut cake. She loved to sh with her mama especially during Spot season. They would go on the Surf City Pier and sometimes if the Spots were biting they would sh to well after midnight and then drive home. We would say something to Mama and she would say “My Jesus was with us.” She was like Peter shing for Jesus. She loved to embroidery and spent hours with a needle and thread. If you were lucky enough to receive an embroidery piece you knew it was made with love.
She married Roy Lee Woodcock October 6, 1951, and had 4 children, Debbie, Carol, Pam and Mike. Together, they raised the children, but she taught them to read the Bible, say their prayers at night and most of all to watch her as the example. Until last September when she went into the hospital, she would kneel by her bed and say her prayers, read her Bible and her books (as she called devotionals) twice a day, morning and evening. She had to start at 3:00 pm because she did not want it to run into her bedtime. She had her faithful, furry canine companion, Tiger, that she loved well and who died at 19 years old June 11, 2026, just one day before her.
I know on June 12, 2026, that our mama saw the face of our Jesus look at her because when she took her last breath, I saw her eyes gleaming and shining at her Jesus when He came to get her. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Monday, June 15, 2026 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel. Funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Moores Creek Baptist Church, with Pastor Roger Barnes o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
James Eugene Faison Sr.
July 12, 1941 – June 11, 2026
Princeton - It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. James Eugene Faison Sr., who passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The Celebration of Life will be Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM at JB Rhodes Jr. Memorial Chapel, 1701 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534. There will be a viewing from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. He will be laid to rest at Golden Gate Memorial Gardens, 4734 US Hwy 117 North, Pikeville, NC 27863. Please continue to keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during their time of bereavement.
Charles Clifton Gwynn
Feb. 14, 1955 – June 11, 2026
Charles Clifton Gwynn, 71, passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
A funeral service will be held Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7 p.m., followed by visitation at Free Will Chapel at 702 Five Mile Road, in Richlands, NC
The graveside service will be Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Sand Hills Cemetery at 140 Futrell Loop Road in Richlands, NC.
He is surived by sons Scott Gwynn (Charliss), Seth Gwynn (Jennifer) and Shea Gwynn (Stacy), all of Richlands, NC; sisters: Phyllis Willaford (Douglas) of New Palestine, IN, and Jan Parker (Tom) of Hiddenite, NC; brothers: Sammy Gwynn (Debra) of Saludo, NC, and Wade Gwynn (Flora) of Richlands, NC; sister-in-law Billie Jones (Eli) of Beulaville, NC; brotherin-law Floyd Jones, Jr. (Kim) of Richlands, NC; grandchildren Tyler (DJ) Moore, Brooke Engardio, Marley Gwynn, Elisabeth Gwynn, Thomas Pierce (Ivan) Gracie Batchelor and Jaxon Gwynn; and great-grandchildren Harlen Moore, James Moore, Anthony Juarez Gage Juarez, Bentley Juarez, Angelina Juarez and Grayson Gwynn.
June 6, 1958 – June 11, 2026
Ronald David Wilson, 68, of Rose Hill, North Carolina, passed away on June 11, 2026. Born on June 6, 1958, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, Ronald lived a life marked by individuality and passion.
A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Ronald served his country with dedication and honor. His time in the Marines was a testament to his strength and commitment to service.
Ronald had a deep love for his garden, animals, and music— three passions that brought him joy and de ned much of his life. Whether tending to his plants, caring for his beloved animals, or immersing himself in music, Ronald found beauty and solace in the simple yet profound pleasures of life. His unique spirit left an indelible mark on those who knew him.
He is survived by his brother Kevin Wilson of Pine Tops; nephews Blake Wilson (wife Bailey) and Kristopher Wilson (wife Randa); his special greatniece Brook Wilson; and his cousin and caretaker Steve Wilson. Ronald was predeceased by his parents, Bizzell and Shirley Wilson, of Rose Hill, as well as his brother, Byron Wilson, of Chinquapin.
Ronald will be deeply missed by many who cherished him. May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him.
Ronald David Wilson
Arthur Lowenback Carroll Jr.
June 2, 1936 – June 14, 2026
Arthur Lowenback Carroll Jr., 90, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Helen Carroll Sr., and daughter, Andrea Carroll.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Pathway Church at 275 N.C. 41 in Beulaville, NC.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with the burial following service
He is survived by wife Lydia Judd Carroll of Potters Hill, NC; sons Vance Martin Carroll (Lianne) of Virginia, Peter Carroll (Hannah) of Burgaw, NC, and Arthur Newman Carroll (Haley) of Jacksonville, NC; daughters Noelle Carroll and Tessa Trott (Brandon), both of Potters Hill, NC; and Marjorie Leake (David) of Texas; grandchildren Valerie Norman (Joe) and Michelle Hungate (Matt), both of Virginia, Aaron Trott, Jonathan Trott, Anna Trott, Jessica Trott, Arthur Trott and Joy Trott, all of Potters Hill, NC, Tessa Leake, Walter Leake and Miriam Leake, all of Texas, Sybil Carroll and Felicity Carroll, both of Burgaw, NC; and great-grandchildren Sophie Hungate, Lyla Hungate, Violet Hungate and Annabelle Mae Hungate, all of Virginia.
Dorothy Lee Miller
Jan. 6, 1940 – June 9, 2026
Dorothy Lee Miller, 86, of Kenansville, NC, passed away June 9, 2026, at Brian Center
Health & Rehabilitation-Wallace.
Funeral service will be at noon on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Hawes Funeral Home - Warsaw.
Public viewing is 11:00 am - noon (one hour prior to the service). Interment will follow the service at Cleo Miller Cemetery in Kenansville.
David Nelson Miller
Feb. 20, 1944 – June 11, 2026
David Nelson Miller, 82, of Castle Hayne, NC, passed away June 11, 2026, at his residence.
Visitation will be 6- 8 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, at St. James AME Church, 3425 Castle Hayne Rd. Castle Hayne, NC. Funeral service will be 1:00 pm Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Union Missionary Baptist Church, 2711 Princess Place Dr., Wilmington, NC. Interment will follow the service at John’s Chapel Cemetery, next to 1717 Oakley Rd. in Castle Hayne, NC.
Kenneth “Kenny” Brian Phillips
Nov. 22, 1962 – June 13, 2026
Kenneth “Kenny” Brian Phillips, 63, of Hampstead, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
He was born on November 22, 1962, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the son of Fred Calloway Phillips, Jr. and the late Patricia Walker Phillips.
Kenny was a ectionately known as “Big’un,” a nickname inspired by his towering six-footseven stature. Kenny worked at the Surf City Pier for many years and was loved by all who knew him. He was known for his big heart, gentle spirit, and generosity with his time. To so many, he was simply a good man. Kenny will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Kenny is survived by his stepson, Nathan Thurman, and his wife, Libby; his father, Fred Calloway Phillips, Jr.; his sisters, Donna Hollibaugh and Lori Pridgen and her husband, Charlie; two step-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and several lifelong friends.
In addition to his mother, Kenny was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Billy Hollibaugh.
A celebration of life at Surf City Pier will be announced at a later date.
House of Raeford recognizes Duplin County students
Scholarship recipients from Rose Hill, Wallace and other divisions pursue studies in agriculture, healthcare, business and engineering
Duplin Journal Sta
ROSE HILL — House of Raeford Farms has awarded 26 college scholarships for 2026, continuing its long-standing commitment to supporting the families of employees and contract farmers across its operations. The scholarships recognize students for their academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, work experience and future aspirations. The Rose Hill-based poultry company awarded $2,500 scholarships to dependent children and grandchildren of employees and contract farmers.
“Investing in our families is investing in our future,” says Bob Johnson, CEO & Owner of House of Raeford. “We’re proud to help these young people pursue their dreams.”
Among the local scholarship winners were Brian Gutierrez, son of Carlos Gutierrez Pozadas of the Rose Hill division, who will attend Sampson Community College, and Jacqueline Reyes Gonzales, daughter of Rolando Reyes of the Rose Hill division, who will attend the University of North Carolina.
Students connected to the company’s Wallace division also received awards, including Jacob Davis, son of Jason Davis, and Brenda Serrano Ramos, daughter of Jeny Ramos Licona. Both plan to attend North Carolina State University.
Another North Carolina recipient was Daria Chavis, stepdaughter of Micah Brewington, a House of Raeford contract farmer in the Johnson Breeders division, who will attend East Carolina University.
House of Raeford o cials said the scholarship program re ects the company’s belief that strong communities are built through strong families and educational opportunities. The recipients represent a variety of career interests, including agriculture, engineering, healthcare, business, and education.
Applications for the company’s 2027 scholarship program are expected to open in January. For a full list of scholarship recipients visit the House of Raeford Farms website.
“Investing in our families is investing in our future.”
