VOLUME 9 ISSUE 36 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
19-year-old from Warsaw arrested in connection with armed home invasion Warsaw JaMaury Coe from Warsaw is one of two North Carolina Central University students who were arrested on Oct. 18 in connection to an armed home invasion that occurred on Oct. 10, in Durham. Coe is in jail under a 300,000 secured bond. He was charged with three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, four counts of second degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, and first degree burglary.
Willard woman killed in Oct. 19 crash on I-40 exit Wallace A car accident resulted in the death of Donna Vickery, 66, of Willard. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle accident happened around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 on the I-40 westbound exit ramp on Highway 41 near Wallace. The woman’s truck ran off the side of the road for unknown reasons, overturned and struck a tree. A passenger was also injured in the accident and airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.
Register for a free Land Use Summit Kenansville Duplin County Cooperative Extension presents a free Land Use Summit on Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Duplin Extension Auditorium, located at 165 Agriculture Drive in Kenansville. Topics of discussion will include property ownership and transfer, timber and forestry use, farmland preservation and agricultural conservation easements, case study examples with Q&A and more. Call 910-296-2143 to register. Lunch will be provided.
Local Toys for Tots calls for businesses Duplin County Duplin County Toys for Tots is calling for area businesses interested in placing a Duplin County Toys for Tots box at their facility. Participants will receive a donation box to collect new, unwrapped toys. Donations will be collected before Dec. 14. Call 919-817-2671 for more information.
COURTESY EMILY LUDLUM
A helping hand from Wallace Wallace Mayor Jason Wells was among a group that traveled to western N.C. the weekend of Oct. 18-20 to help deliver supplies, provide meals and clear out debris from around the town of Newland. See more on Page B6.
Wallace takes ownership of facility that will become Town Hall ECU Health presented the deed to the town Oct. 28 By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal WALLACE — ECU Health handed over the deed for the current Parks and Recreation building on Medical Village Drive to the town of Wallace on
See WALLACE, page A3
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
ECU Health representatives presented Wallace Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Rivas-Diaz, far right, with the deed to the current Parks and Recreation facility on Medical Village Drive. The building will be home to the new Town Hall next year. Pictured with Rivas-Diaz are, left to right, Matt Williams, Jeff Dial, Murray Roberts, Deborah Kornegay and Dr. Mott Blair, all representing ECU Health.
Commissioner calls out the need for an audit of town water bills By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — A growing frustration among various Warsaw residents, now also echoed by Commissioner Ebony Willis-Wells, has highlighted a range of ongoing issues in the Town of Warsaw. As the town continues to grow, it faces various challenges, including aging infrastructure, insufficient funding for necessary upgrades, and an urgent need for more personnel to address the community’s increasing demands. Since new water rates were implemented last July, many residents have complained
Kenansville native performs at Concert for Carolina “It’s probably the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done.” Wesko
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Monday afternoon, paving the way for the facility to eventually become the new Town Hall. Parks and Recreation have inhabited the building for about 10 years, Town Manager Rob Taylor said, and the town has been renting the space from ECU Health for $1 a month.
Faulty readings lead to water overcharges in Warsaw
The event raised $24 million for hurricane relief and attracted 82,000 spectators By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal LIFE HAS BEEN a bit of a whirlwind lately for Wesley Holmes. After Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina he and his buddy JD Williamson penned a song called “Helene.” The song quickly “gained traction” on TikTok and YouTube, with many people sharing the song on social media. Last Wednesday, the Kenansville native, also known as country music artist Wesko, got a call from superstar Luke Combs. Three days later, Wesko took the stage in front of a crowd of more than
82,000 people at the Concert for Carolina in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The event raised more than $24 million for hurricane relief, and was a chance for the Duplin County musician to perform with some of his country music idols. Wesko was in Swannanoa in western NC, surveying some of the damage and working with a relief organization called Savage Freedoms when he got the call from Combs. “Luke had seen the videos of ‘Helene’ and he asked me to play at the concert,” Wesko recalled. “He said he had seen the song so many times.” Wesko had a day to return home to Kenansville and prepare for the biggest performance of his life. He even missed his See WESKO, page A6
about unexpectedly high water bills. Individuals who previously paid around $65 a month are now reporting bills exceeding $100 — with some as high as $200. At the October town hall meeting, the board addressed some of these concerns, including residents being mistakenly billed for 42 days in August. Officials explained the error was due to faults in the new meter reading system. Willis-Wells stated in a social media post that an audit is necessary for all town water bills to determine if any residents were incorrectly assessed in June, July, and August. “We have heard from so many citizens, and as a commissioner, I can acknowledge See WARSAW, page A7