VOLUME 10 ISSUE 21 | THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Unity, play shine at Warsaw’s community park event
Suspects wanted in coordinated lottery ticket thefts Duplin County The Warsaw Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying three suspects involved in coordinated thefts of lottery tickets and prepaid Visa gift cards in Eastern North Carolina. Between June 20-21, two black males and one black female, all in their 20s, fraudulently obtained activated lottery tickets and gift cards using nonfunctional Cash App or YouTube cards, according to police. The thefts took place in Duplin, Onslow, and Sampson counties, including Beulaville, Warsaw, Jacksonville and Clinton, using a white Volkswagen SUV with Florida plates. Images of the suspects were captured and are available on the Warsaw PD Facebook page. Anyone with information should contact the department at 910-293-7816 or Jacksonville Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273, or via text at 274637 using the code TIP4CSJAX.
Friday final day for candidates to file for November elections Duplin County The candidate filing period for the 2025 municipal elections closes at noon on Friday. Those interested in running should contact the Duplin County Board of Elections for details. The 2025 municipal elections will be on Nov. 4.
Local man wins $200K in lottery
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Warsaw families came together Saturday afternoon for a joyful celebration at the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Center. The Community Fun in the Park event offered a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere where families laughed, played and had the opportunity to join in friendly volleyball matches. Turn to B6 for more photos.
Wallace seeks federal funds to raze old school The board hopes to transform the blighted school site into a future housing opportunity By Curt Simpson For Duplin Journal IN AN EFFORT to clean up a hazardous and unsightly old school building, Wallace leaders voted last Thursday to seek federal funding to help cover most of the estimated $265,000 cost of the project. The old C.W. Dobbins School building at 908 N. Teachey Road sits among weeds, vines, trees and trash on almost 3.5
acres of land that officials believe could be better used for housing in town. The building, which has not been used as a school for decades, is nearly invisible, save the tall red brick chimney, from North Teachey Road due to overgrowth and neglect. Much of the building’s roof has collapsed, and most of the windows and doors are broken, with shards of glass litter the ground. The town must first complete the purchase of the property from an organization known as Christians of Faith Teaching Ministries, which, See WALLACE, page A5
Richlands Last week Amir Dickerson of Richlands won a $200,000 prize after purchasing a $5 Mega Bucks ticket. The announcement made by the North Carolina Education Lottery stated this was Dickerson’s first time purchasing a scratch-off. Dickerson collected his prize last week and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $143,501.
Wallace Mayor Jason Wells administers the oath of office to Police Officer Ralph Amitrano Jr., as Ralph Amitrano Sr., holds the Bible for the swearing in ceremony. CURT SIMPSON FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Bank of America reports $7.12B net income in Q2, surpasses earnings expectations Charlotte Bank of America Corp. on Wednesday reported second-quarter net income of $7.12 billion. The company said it had earnings of 89 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 86 cents per share. The nation’s secondlargest bank posted revenue net of interest expense of $26.46 billion, which did not meet Street forecasts.
Warsaw faces $115,000 in wastewater fines as officials push back on secrecy claims By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — A proposal to install a four-way stop at one of Warsaw’s busiest intersections sparked spirited debate at the latest town board meeting, as officials weighed rising crash reports on Memorial Drive and Hill Street against longstanding frustrations with state inaction and broader concerns about infrastructure, safety and town planning. Town Manager Lea Turner explained that due to an increase in accidents at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Hill Street, a Warsaw officer made a request to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to conduct investigations on a fourway stop at that intersection. “DOT has sent me the information in reference to their investigation. I’ve attached that
Quiet races, fierce battles shape municipal election season “The availability of safe, ample parking and drive-up curbside voting service at the Wallace precinct would better serve the voters.” Carrie Sullivan
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New retirement proposal faces scrutiny over costs
Incumbents lead filings across Duplin County By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — As Duplin County nears Friday’s candidate filing deadline for the Nov. 4 Municipal Election, a contrasting picture is emerging among the electorates — one marked by quiet incumbency and uncontested seats, and the other marked by competitive shakeups and a surge of new challengers. In Beulaville, incumbents are holding their ground, with longtime Mayor Michael “Hutch” Jones and Commissioner Delmas Highsmith both facing no new challengers. The town’s trend of minimal electoral competition is likely to persist, as seen in previous elections.
Similar patterns can be observed in Greenevers, Kenansville, Magnolia and Teachey, where no opposition has yet emerged. Each of these towns has only one candidate so far despite multiple seats open. In Greenevers, incumbents Gregory Carr and Timothy Murphy have filed for reelection. In Kenansville, Commissioner Linda Tyson is seeking to retain her position. Magnolia’s incumbent, Jeanine Cavenaugh, has filed for reelection. In Teachey, Commissioner Danny Sutton is looking to keep his seat as well. Historical trends in some of these towns have shown spikes in competition, particularly around contentious local issues such as infrastructure, suggesting that surprises may still occur before the Friday deadline. Calypso also shows signs See ELECTIONS, page A5
email,” said Turner, explaining that DOT responded that a fourway stop could be implemented if the town passed a resolution. Some board members expressed doubt about whether this intersection warranted such a measure, arguing that other intersections, particularly one near Friendly Mart, were more dangerous. The board discussed alternatives like flashing caution lights or motion-activated signals at the stop signs. Several members expressed frustration with DOT’s past rejections of similar safety measures at other intersections. Ultimately, the group agreed to request further studies and possibly pursue warning lights instead of a four-way stop at the Memorial and Hill intersection. Commissioner Al Searless spoke about a roundabout that was once proposed by DOT, but the town rejected it due to heavy truck traffic. Several members of the board believe the decision may have delayed See WARSAW, page A5