VOLUME 9 ISSUE 14 | THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
inside
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO
Turn the page for our salute to Duplin’s graduating seniors
2024
the
Business booming in Duplin
BRIEF this week
New Dollar General Markets now open in Beulaville and Rose Hill
Mount Olive man gets 25 years in prison Duplin County Last Friday, Christopher Arthur, 40, of Mount Olive, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for teaching someone how to make bombs and for possessing explosives on his farm located in Mount Olive. According to U.S. Attorney’s Office, the former U.S. Army and N.C. National Guard veteran was arrested in 2022 after providing bomb-making instructions to an undercover confidential source. “Arthur walked the CS through how to create IEDs and how to place them to create ‘fatal funnels,’ which could be used to maim or murder anyone entering the CS’s home,” stated the release. “Violence directed toward police, judges, and public servants will never be tolerated in a free society,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant’s property was wired with IEDs, the same design he sold to help others kill American law enforcement. Anyone teaching bombmaking to target American heroes gets a lesson today — 25 years in federal prison.”
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
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Emerald ash borer detected in Duplin Duplin County The North Carolina Forest Service announced that Duplin County is among those newly impacted with a tree-killing insect known as an emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB is a metallic green beetle that bores into ash trees killing the tree slowly, typically in three to five years. Adult EAB beetles are about a half-inch long and ⅛-inch wide. Under their wing covers, their bodies are a metallic purple-red color. The spread of invasive insects in the state is often due to human activity through the transportation of infested wood products such as firewood. People who suspect there is an infested tree in an area near them should contact their county ranger. Contact information can be found online at ncforestservice.gov/ contacts.
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ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
‘All gave some, some gave all’ A Memorial Day Observance held Monday morning at the Duplin County Square monuments in Kenansville honored the lives of America’s war heroes and the memory of the fallen souls whose lives were cut short fighting for our freedom. Unpredictable weather that brought in heavy rain and a roaring thunderstorm did not deter many participants, who, despite getting soaked, remained proudly in place. See page 16 for more photos.
See BUSINESS, page 7
Wallace’s veterans memorial fountain rededicated said of the fountain renovation. “You know, Emanuel meant a lot to this town, both as a police officer who rose to the rank of captain for over 13 years, but also serving in the Army National Guard and making the ultimate sacrifice so we can all continue to live in the land of the free in the greatest country in the world.” Rob Lapp, interim pastor at Wallace Presbyterian Church gave the invocation, recalling Je-
The fountain honors Emanuel Pickett and other veterans killed in action
Mexican Consulate comes to JSCC June 3-7
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
Duplin County The Mexican Consulate will be present at James Sprunt College on June 3-7, offering passport services, consular registration, birth certificate certified copies and voting credential processing for Mexican nationals. Visit citas.sre.gob.mx to schedule an appointment.
WALLACE — After an extensive renovation, the veterans memorial fountain in front of Wallace Town Hall and Police Department was rededicated during a brief ceremony last Friday morning. The fountain honors Emanuel Pickett, a detective captain with the Wallace PD and a staff sergeant in the Army National Guard, who was killed in Iraq in 2008, as well as other veterans who paid the ultimate price in combat. Pickett’s family members were in attendance at the ceremony, as
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THE PAST FEW months have brought a number of new businesses to Duplin County, with more still to come in the near future. Both Beulaville and Rose Hill now have Dollar General Market stores. While Beulaville’s other Dollar General store on North Jackson Street remains open, the Dollar General in Rose Hill has been relocated down the street. “Dollar General recently relocated and upgraded its previous DG store at 578 South Sycamore Street to a DG Market now located at 511 South Sycamore Street in Rose Hill,” a statement from Dollar General Public Relations reads. DG Markets are an upgraded and expanded version of regular Dollar General stores. “In addition to the general merchandise Rose Hill customers trust Dollar General to carry, the new DG Market store offers expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food offerings, dairy products and more, in addition to an assortment of fresh meats,” said Dollar General public relations in an email. “Our fresh produce offering includes a curated assortment of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes, and more.” In addition to the brand new DG Market stores, a new Sheetz store is scheduled to open in Warsaw later this summer. The convenience store is known not only for its fuel, beverages and snacks, but also made-to-order meal items like burgers, pizzas, chicken sandwiches, fries and breakfast sandwiches. The stores also feature espresso bars with made-to-order coffees.
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
The family of Emanuel Pickett pose behind the memorial fountain dedicated in his honor on Friday. well as town officials and a few local residents. “It is truly a special day for the town of Wallace as we rededicate
this fountain today,” said Wallace Mayor Jason Wells. “This is a project that’s been in the works for a while,” the mayor
See FOUNTAIN, page 14
$2.00