VOLUME 10 ISSUE 12 | THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Man killed while attempting break-in with ax Magnolia A man was pronounced dead at the scene of an attempted break-in Sunday morning in Magnolia. According to the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a shooting incident at 120 Sheffield Road. The residents reported that a man was attempting to break into their home using an ax, and they fired multiple shots through the door. Upon arrival, deputies found David Bradley White lying on his back at the bottom of the steps with multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies also observed a large ax, other weapons near his body and damage to the back door. No charges have been filed against the homeowners, however, the investigation remains ongoing.
Suspect in stolen vehicle case apprehended after ATV chase Albertson Deputies from the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect in a vehicle theft case after he attempted to flee during a traffic stop on May 9. Alex Nathaniel King was operating an ATV in the Albertson area when deputies spotted him. The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into a vehicle theft reported on Feb. 5 in the Mount Olive area. The Criminal Investigation Division had identified King as a suspect after recovering the stolen vehicle on March 10. King, a 25-year-old resident of Mount Olive, was booked into the Duplin County Jail without bond and is facing multiple charges.
Faison Fire and Rescue improves insurance rating Faison Effective Aug. 1, Faison Fire and Rescue’s ISO rating improves to 2 in the Town of Faison and 2/9E in the Goshen Fire District. The improvement was announced at an event Monday night that was attended by local elected officials, firefighters from Faison and neighboring departments and their families. An ISO rating of 2 is considered excellent and reflects the department’s work on improving fire protection and community safety. It also typically translates into lower insurance premiums for property owners. The department’s current grade is 4 in town and 4/9E in the rural district.
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K.D. BEARD / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Construction is underway at the site of Wallace’s new fire station.
New businesses, 600-plus homes coming to Wallace Duplin Journal recently sat down with Planning Director Rod Fritz to discuss the town’s growth By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal WALLACE — Starbucks, Wawa and Dunkin’ — oh my! Rumors surrounding what new businesses are coming to Wallace have circulated since be-
fore the town’s 2024 acquisition of 150 acres in Pender County and have been given fuel following the start of construction on its $20 million airport improvement project and $5 million fire station earlier in the year. In an effort to separate fact from fiction, Duplin Journal recently sat down with Planning Director Rod Fritz to discuss the factors driving the town’s commercial and residential growth, what these developments mean
for Wallace residents, and how new state legislature could impede the small town in achieving its aspirations for expansion. Several factors contribute to the town’s attractiveness as an investment for commercial companies and residential builders, according to Fritz, including its ability to grow its infrastructure. “A lot of little towns are at their full capacity in their sewage treatment plants,” Fritz said.
“We’re still growing — we’re on the very beginnings of becoming urban.” Rod Fritz “We’re blessed that we have a plant that’s only running at, I think, 40-50% capacity, so we’re able to entice housing and commercial development to Wallace.” Another reason is the town’s location. “We’ve got three exits off of I-40 that add to the allure,” he said. See WALLACE, page A3
Beulaville moves forward with vape store moratorium The board also approved a resolution opposing changes to local planning and zoning by the General Assembly By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal BEULAVILLE — An ordinance imposing a 24-month moratorium for hookah, tobacco, vape and similar establishments within town zoning limits was approved unanimously by the Beulaville Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting last Monday following a public hearing that featured
testimony from key figures in the state’s crusade against vaping. The board also approved a resolution opposing recent state legislation impacting local zoning and land use controls. Town Manager Lori Williams recommended the board move forward with the moratorium as the current zoning ordinance fails to effectively regulate vape and tobacco shops, its provisions far less comprehensive than those of nearby jurisdictions. “The only thing it states is that they are allowed in our commercial district,” explained Williams. “Due to the facts of the dangers of it and the num-
“You’re going against a billion-dollar industry, and that’s just a fact.” Ernest Watts ber of those type of stores popping up everywhere, my recommendation is to adopt the moratorium, give our zoning board time to review it and set some more strict regulations.” Police Chief Karl Mobley, absent due to injury, had previously expressed his concern over such establishments at the town’s April meeting.
Carolina Strawberry Festival a record-setting success The yearly celebration is a cultural and economic engine for Wallace By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WALLACE — Dating back to the early 1930s, the Carolina Strawberry Festival is a symbol of local pride and historied tradition. Today, it represents the heart and soul of Wallace, celebrating the town’s people and its agricultural roots. The festival has become a tool for giving back, a driver of economic and cultural vitality and a platform for visibility and growth in Wallace. “I truly love the Carolina Strawberry Festival. It gives me, and I think a lot of other folks in the community as well as folks on our board, a real sense
of pride,” said Charley Farrior, president of the festival board of directors. The Carolina Strawberry Festival is a beloved tradition, but what makes it truly extraordinary isn’t just the strawberries or the music or the crowd — it’s the people behind it. At the heart of the festival is an army of dedicated individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes, each one playing a critical role in bringing the event to life. With their quiet dedication, they manage logistics, solve problems on the fly, and provide a safe and family-friendly event that families, from near and far, look forward to year after year. What began as a two-month sprint to organize has become a yearlong labor of love, with a planning process involving See FESTIVAL, page A5
“I’ve got two little girls that had the time of their lives riding the rides and eating ice cream.” Jimmy Crayton
A public hearing preceded the board’s vote on the ordinance that included insight from Ernest Watts, Region 8 Tobacco Lead with the North Carolina Department of Health, and Charlene Zorn, a parent advocate from New Hanover County whose 15-year-old stepson Solomon “Solly” Wynn died due to complications that arose from vaping in June 2023. Watts, a veteran in the fight to keep vape devices out of the hands of children, has helped communities in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Pender, New Hanover, Robeson, See BEULAVILLE, page A2