VOLUME 9 ISSUE 46 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Mt. Olive Pickles receives $3 million grant award Mount Olive Mt. Olive Pickles of Duplin County has been awarded $3 million from the North Carolina Agricultural Manufacturing and Processing Initiative. This award is part of a $6.6 million initiative to increase the state’s agricultural manufacturing and food processing capacity while reducing costs and burdens for area farmers and growers. COURTESY ECU HEALTH DUPLIN HOSPITAL
Morris Murphy reelected to AgCarolina Farm Credit Compensation Committee Duplin County AgCarolina Farm Credit recently announced their Director and Nominating Committee election results. Morris Murphy, a Duplin County row crop farmer from was reelected to serve on the AgCarolina Farm Credit Compensation Committee for region 8, which serves Duplin, Jones and Lenoir counties. He will serve a four-year term. Murphy also serves on the NC Pork Council board and James Sprunt Community College Foundation board.
Eastern Forestry Landowner Summit registration deadline set for Jan. 22
ECU Health Duplin Hospital welcomes first baby born in 2025 Meet the first baby born in 2025 at ECU Health Duplin Hospital, Milaya Anais Underwood. Proud parents Nansi Garcia and Issac Underwood are overjoyed to introduce their beautiful daughter, who was born at 8:29 a.m., on Jan. 1. Milaya weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 19 inches long.
Mount Olive town board continues to work to address issues “I do hope we have a prosperous year, with real progress.” Jerome Newton, Mount Olive mayor
Kenansville The N.C. Cooperative Extension Duplin County Center will host an Eastern Forestry Landowner Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 165 Agriculture Drive in Kenansville. The registration deadline is Jan. 22. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from foresters, wildlife biologists, university professors and Extension specialists, as well as visit with various organizations exhibiting their products and services. This all-day event is designed for woodland and forest landowners who desire a deeper understanding of forestry and wildlife management.
Community gathering seeks to engage the public in open discussions Warsaw Join the Town of Warsaw Community Gathering on Feb. 27 at the Warsaw Park and Rec Center on 309 Memorial Drive at 6 p.m. This is your opportunity to ask questions, share suggestions and meet with local leaders, elected officials, town employees, law enforcement, first responders and community organizations. Enjoy light refreshments and engage in open discussions.
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal MOUNT OLIVE — The Mount Olive Board of Commissioners is looking to start fresh in the New Year after a contentious town board meeting in December during which several citizens took the town to task for problems with water quality and transparency of town government. Citizen input was at a minimum at the Jan. 6 meeting, but the meeting was not without its controversies. To start, Mayor Jerome Newton stated there had been accusations by one town commissioner that he had secretly taped meetings, which he said wasn’t true. The mayor said all meetings are open to the public, and that there have been “no private meetings” except closed sessions as required by law to discuss personnel or attorney-client issues. “I don’t know about good, but I think we’re getting better,” Newton said later in the
meeting. “I do hope we have a prosperous year with real progress.” In related business, the commissioners scheduled a closed session for Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. to discuss or consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge or grievance against a public officer or employee. The scheduling of the meeting passed 4-1, with Commissioner Deltreese Simmons opposed because he will not be available on that day. There has been some talk amongst commissioners that Town Manager Jammie Royall be replaced. Simmons said earlier in the meeting that he had joked with Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Kornegay that maybe he would apply for the position. “She said, ‘They’re going to string you up,’” Simmons said. “To ‘string you up’ in my race means a whole situation. She was joking, but we don’t joke like that. Maybe it’s her area See BOARD, page A3
County commissioners approve purchase to support Water Department operations “It will provide drive‑thru payment options and capabilities. And this option is far less expensive than erecting a new facility.” Bryan Miller, county manager
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The mayor pro tem apologized for a comment to a fellow commissioner
The new building will accommodate administrative functions By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — During their meeting on Monday night, the Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase of a $430,000 parcel located on Limestone Road in Kenansville. The building will support Water Department operations. “This will facilitate ease of use for residents. It will provide a better working location and conditions for employees. It will provide drive-thru payment options and capabilities. And this option is far less expensive than erecting a new facility,” said County Manager Bryan Miller regarding the planned expen-
diture, noting that the building will house administrative operations. “The field operations will remain in their current location along with the SCADA equipment that we’ve recently updated.” Also, at the meeting, the board approved a resolution for the expenditure of opioid settlement funds for the period from Jan. 6 to June 30. Miller reported that the Early Intervention Program has reached approximately 3,700 school-aged children in Duplin County. According to the resolution, the allocations are as follows: $38,037.20 for collaborative strategic planning, $127,889.91 for early intervention, $60,855.92 for Naloxone distribution, and $25,400 for addiction treatment for incarcerated individuals. The total See WATER page A5
New Year’s Eve high-speed chase ends in Duplin County It marks the second time in less than a month that a high-speed pursuit ended within Duplin County lines By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal CHINQUAPIN — Authorities have identified 33-year-old Brandon Kelly of Jacksonville as the suspect who attempted to evade law enforcement during a checkpoint, leading to a high-speed chase on New Year’s Eve. This incident marks the second high-speed pursuit that ended within Duplin County lines in less than a month. The dramatic chase began on Wilmington Highway in Jacksonville at 11:45 p.m. when police say Kelly fled from a police checkpoint, reaching dangerous speeds of up to 120 mph. This reckless behavior prompted the intervention of the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Highway Patrol, both of which began chasing the man. The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and the Beulaville Police Department also assisted in the pursuit as the motorcycle driver crossed into Duplin County lines. See CHASE, page A3