VOLUME 10 ISSUE 33 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
County commissioner appointed to State Sheriffs’ Commission Duplin County Last week, County Commissioner Wayne Branch was appointed to the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission. According to an announcement from Gov. Josh Stein’s office, Branch will serve as the county commissioner representative. He was selected from three nominees put forward by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Branch currently represents District 5 on the Duplin County Board of Commissioners and works as the office manager for attorney Anita R. Powers.
Man sentenced following drug conviction Duplin County Efforts to combat drug activity in Duplin County have led to the sentencing of a convicted drug offender. Antwaun Cooper, 39, was convicted on multiple felony drug charges and sentenced to 2 to 5 years in the North Carolina Department of Corrections on Sept. 30. Authorities reported that Cooper was found guilty of two counts of felony maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a Schedule II controlled substance, as well as two counts of felony selling a Schedule II controlled substance. The case was investigated by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division.
Goshen Data breach affects over 456K patients Faison According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, Goshen Medical Center experienced a major data breach affecting 456,385 individuals across eastern North Carolina. A report from the HIPAA Journal stated that unauthorized parties accessed sensitive data within Goshen’s network on Feb. 15, however suspicious activity wasn’t detected until March 4. A September investigation revealed the impacted data may include names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and medical record numbers. According to HIPAA Journal report, Goshen is offering 24 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to those affected. As of press deadline, Goshen Medical Center was not available for comment.
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MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Pumpkin Festival draws big smiles at Cinderella Farms Four-year-old Gunner Marshburn chose his favorite pumpkin at the Pumpkin Festival held last Saturday at Cinderella Farms. The event, organized by the Cavenaugh family, offered hayrides, corn mazes, live music, food vendors, and family fun throughout the day. For more photos, turn to page A6.
Shell buildings, business activity show promise for local economic growth Officials report construction delays but continued progress on major projects from Wallace to Warsaw By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Progress updates on the development of the Airpark beside Duplin County Airport took center stage at the Duplin County Economic Development Board meeting last Friday. Economic Development Director Scotty Summerlin and two engineers
involved in the project brought board members up to date on the infrastructure work as well as construction of the new shell building on the property. The original completion date for the infrastructure work, including roads, water and sewer lines, and power was this past July. However, several See GROWTH, page A5
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Members of the Duplin County Economic Development Board discuss recent development of the Airpark industrial complex beside the Duplin County Airport.
Sewage woes drag on for Duplin neighborhoods Homeowners are still relying on failing septic tanks as cost concerns stall progress toward a permanent fix By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal MORE THAN A decade after serious septic failures were first documented on Calico Bay
Road and East Log Cabin Road in Duplin County, residents are still waiting for a permanent fix and are growing increasingly worried about how much it might cost them.
A report compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2014 found that 16 out of 19 septic systems analyzed on Calico Bay Road were failing, and homeowners on East Log Cabin Road were also experiencing significant
Faison looks ahead to fall events “We draw the line at large stumps and trunks.” Jimmy Tyndall
Commissioners address public works issues, safety calls, and cleanup rules for large debris By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal FAISON — The Town of Faison Board of Commissioners met on Oct. 1. Leading the meeting’s financial discussions, Tax Collector Anne Letchworth stood in for Town Clerk Sharon Lee to assist with questions about the town’s revenue and expenditures. One specific issue discussed involved a $133 expense for replacing a damaged water meter. “A water meter had to be replaced because of some dirt and debris that got in the line and went into a resident’s water heater,” explained Mayor Billy Ward. Executive Administra-
tor Jimmy Tyndall praised the “grace and understanding” of the residents affected, adding they were very easy to work with, and the town appreciated it. The board also approved a $215 tax write-off for a long-delinquent property on Cousin Fanny Road. Letchworth explained that the taxes had gone unpaid since 2012, and despite repeated efforts, the original owner, David Cottle, could not be located. Utilities had never been registered in his name, and Mariana Perez is now listed as the property and trailer owner. With no remaining recourse, the board approved Letchworth’s recommendation to remove the debt from the town’s books. Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Scott presented several updates from See FAISON, page A6
problems with their systems. The report indicated that some septic system waste came into direct contact with groundwater due to overflow from the septic systems. This led to sewage backing up into septic tanks and affecting See SEWAGE, page A2