VOLUME 10 ISSUE 11 | THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
Single lane traffic enforced at airport Kenansville Construction at the Duplin County Airport has reached a stage where traffic must now be limited to a single lane due to ongoing utility and road work. As a result, county officials are requesting that visitors avoid the airport temporarily until the construction is complete.
Faison selling bricks to raise funds Faison The town of Faison will begin selling commemorative bricks to be placed at the William Thornton Memorial monument and courtyard. This initiative will also help raise funds to support the Faison Improvement Group and the recreation center.
Mount Olive water department announces new hours Mount Olive The town of Mount Olive announced that their Water Billing Department will resume normal hours of operation on May 12. The hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Normal operating procedures, including late fees and water account cutoffs, will also resume on this date. Call 919‑658‑9537 Ext. 114 or 919-658‑9539 Ext. 108 for more information.
Detention center project “on time and on budget” Kenansville Officials reported that the Duplin County detention center project is progressing and currently ahead of schedule. County Manager Bryan Miller said the project also remains on budget. However, their contingency funds are diminishing as they advance through the project. “We’re withholding some of the contingency money because we know that there’s going to be some things moving ahead in the future that we’re going to have to address. But, so far, we’re on time and on budget,” said Miller.
Authorities warn of serial killer hoax Magnolia The Magnolia Police Department is alerting the public about a recurring social media hoax originating on community yard sale pages. The scam falsely claims that a serial killer is on the loose. Authorities said the scam is circulating nationwide, with only the names of towns or counties changed to make it seem relevant to local communities. Law enforcement is encouraging the public to verify alarming claims through credible sources.
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K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Minor disruption ends festival concert early Thousands gathered in historic downtown Wallace last weekend for the Carolina Strawberry Festival. Saturday’s festivities ended slightly early after an altercation involving unsupervised juveniles led the police to shut down The Embers’ concert 20 minutes ahead of schedule. To see more photos of the event, turn to A6.
Volunteer firefighters key WCA breaks to reducing insurance rates ground on new middle school building
“Additional volunteer members from that area are needed, and this cannot be accomplished without them.” Matthew Barwick, public safety director and fire marshal
Authorities advocate for restoring the Kenansville substation as best solution By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Local leadership is looking at solutions to help residents of Holland Road area in Duplin County who have been facing high insurance rates due the area’s designation as protected class 10, which is the lowest level of fire protection. Officials have acknowledged the growing concerns about homeowners’ insurance costs in the Holland Road area, which have worsened since the closure of a nearby fire substation previously manned by the Kenansville Fire Department. Earlier this year, resident Mary Grady expressed deep concern over her homeowner’s insurance increase, more than doubling, jumping from around $700 to over $2,000 last year. Her home is located outside the six-mile emergency response zone, which
impacts insurance rates. Matthew Barwick, Public Safety Director and Fire Marshal, told Duplin Journal that while emergency public safety services are still being provided to that area, the absence of a nearby operational fire station has negatively impacted the community’s fire protection rating. This, in turn, limits homeowners’ ability to obtain affordable insurance coverage. Barwick explained that reestablishing a fire station within the required proximity is crucial to resolving the issue. However, this effort requires careful planning, significant resources and, most importantly, sufficient volunteer staffing. He also mentioned that Fire Chief Robert Whitman has indicated the Kenansville Fire Department is willing to reopen a station in the area, but this can only occur if they have enough local volunteers. “Additional volunteer members from that area are needed, and this cannot be accomplished without
WALLACE — Wallace Christian Academy (WCA) held a groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday to celebrate the commencement of construction on its future middle school building behind Poston Baptist Church, bringing the local private school one step closer to realizing its vision for a fully functioning Pre-K through 12th grade private Christian academy in the community. WCA has already raised $220,000 of the $1.2M necessary for the building’s construction and hopes to secure $150,000 over the summer toward the structure’s
See INSURANCE, page A5
See WCA, page A2
Community champions highlighted for their contributions County commissioners oppose General Assembly efforts to centralize land use authority By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Last Monday, the Duplin County Commissioners honored the recipients of the 2025 Duplin County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. Melisa Brown, Senior Services director, spoke about the distinguished recognition created by the Office of the Governor to honor the state’s most dedicated volunteers and introduced Greenevers Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Gregory Carr as the recipient of the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service. He will be officially recognized at the North Carolina State Capitol on May 12. The Medallion Award is presented to only 20 individuals across the state each year, recognizing outstanding contributions. “Mr. Gregory Carr is recognized for
his remarkable volunteerism and disaster preparedness response recovery or mitigation,” said Brown, adding that he has dedicated over 700 volunteer hours in the past year alone. “He wears many hats in the community and embraces them all with love and compassion for his fellow community members.” A lifelong resident of Duplin County, Carr has deep roots in the Greenevers community, where he has served as a volunteer for more than three decades. Carr has not only played a critical role in emergency response but has also fostered mentorship development within the department. Under his leadership, the fire department has become a cornerstone of the community, hosting events and initiatives that bring people together and teach life-saving and interpersonal skills to residents of all ages. In addition to his fire service, Carr contributes to broader efforts in Duplin County through his role in the Duplin County Fire Association, where he serves as chaplain. See COUNTY, page A2
Construction of the Wallace Christian Academy building is expected to be completed in August 2026 By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal
“All of this hinges around these little ones. This is why we’re doing this — for them.” Steve La Roux, WCA headmaster