VOLUME 10 ISSUE 38 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
Detours in place as Powers Road closes for work Wallace A section of Powers Road near Wallace-Pender Airport is closed for construction until Dec. 15. The closure runs from Willard Road to Wallace Airport Road/Old Mill Road as crews build a tie-in for the relocated Wallace Airport Road. Detours are in place via Willard Road and Wallace Airport Road. Local traffic will be able to access Powers Road from Willard Road. A second detour will begin Dec. 8 while crews connect the relocated Wallace Airport Road to the existing one. Both roads are expected to reopen Dec. 15, weather permitting. Drivers are advised to use caution and follow all posted signs near the work zone.
Traffic stop leads to multiple arrests Beulaville A traffic stop in Beulaville on Nov. 6 led to the seizure of drugs and the arrest of three men. According to law enforcement, a traffic stop on N. Brown Road led to a search that uncovered about 32 grams of crystal meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The driver, David Deering, and passengers Michael Dew and Joseph Thompson were arrested and taken to the Duplin County Jail. According to authorities, all three face drug trafficking and possession with intent to sell or deliver charges. Deering was also charged with driving while license revoked. Deering’s bond was set at $160,000, Dew’s at $150,000 and Thompson’s at $151,500.
Duplin County holiday closures Duplin County Duplin County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Fall Food and Coat Drive underway Wallace Royalty Funeral Home is hosting a Fall Food and Coat Drive now through Nov. 30 to support community members in need. Donations of nonperishable food, as well as new socks and new or gently used coats, hats, gloves and blankets are greatly appreciated. Drop-off times at 513 S. Norwood St. in Wallace, are Monday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please do not leave items outside during nonbusiness hours.
$2.00
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Rose Hill’s streets come alive for Poultry Jubilee Downtown Rose Hill buzzed with excitement as the annual Poultry Jubilee drew crowds for a two-day celebration of the town’s rich poultry heritage. Families enjoyed fried chicken cooked by the Rose Hill Fire Department in the World’s Largest Frying Pan, while others wandered among rows of vendor booths, food trucks and enjoyed carnival rides. Turn to B6 for more.
Unofficial Duplin County election results show tight races, new faces Several towns saw races decided by just a handful of votes as Duplin logged a modest 19.7% voter turnout By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Duplin County voters turned out in modest numbers for last week’s municipal elections, with unofficial results showing a 19.7% turnout — 1,479 ballots cast out of 7,509 registered voters. Last Friday, the Duplin County Board of Elections (DCBOE) held its provisional ballot meeting, approving 16 of 22 provisional ballots submitted during the election.
Carrie Sullivan, DCBOE director, said updated results have been posted to the State Board of Elections dashboard and confirmed that no additional ballots remain to be counted. Since no military or overseas absentee ballots were requested, the current totals are likely to reflect the final certified results. “Where the votes lie now is pretty close to what we anticipate the final totals to be,” Sullivan told Duplin Journal. The Duplin County Board of Elections will meet Nov. 14 at
11 a.m. to officially canvass and certify the results. Among the tightest contests was Calypso’s mayoral race, where Mayor Pro Tem Marvin “Marty” Taylor edged out JoAnne Bowden-Wilson by three votes, 39 to 36. The town’s two-seat commissioner race was similarly close, with Larry Cashwell leading at 43 votes, followed by Rodney Lambert Jr. with 31 and Willie Wilcutt with 30. In Warsaw, a shift in leadership is on the horizon as newcomer Wesley Boykin secured 57.54% of the vote, leading with 206 votes, while longtime Mayor A.J. Connors received 151 votes. The two commissioner seats also
drew strong competition. Cheryl Smith led with 192 votes, followed by incumbent Ebony Wills-Wells at 168. Al Searles, Sheree Shepard and Kiara Smith trailed with 113, 97, and 70 votes, respectively. Voters in Wallace turned out in greater numbers than most towns. Mayor Jason Wells was reelected with 308 votes, while newcomer Glenn Price led the race for two council seats with 218 votes, followed by incumbents Jason Davis with 210 and Tasha Herring-Redd with 165. In Beulaville, residents opted for consistency, reelecting See ELECTION, page A6
Wallace boy struck on U.S. Highway 117 The child was hit by vehicle while chasing a soccer ball By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal WALLACE — Last week, Wallace Police Chief Jimmy Crayton confirmed to Duplin Journal
that a Wallace boy was injured in an accident Nov. 6, after running onto U.S. Highway 117. Crayton told Duplin Journal that the child, believed to be about 5 years old, had been
playing outside when his soccer ball rolled toward the roadway near the intersection of Jennifer Road and U.S. 117. As the child chased after the ball, the boy ran into the side of a passing vehicle. The child was transported to a hospital for treatment. At last check, he remained in stable
Airpark project completion delayed until early December The board voted on contract adjustments and heard updates on new infrastructure By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY Economic Development Board received the news at their regular meeting last Friday morning of yet another delay in the completion of the development work at the Airpark industrial center. Originally scheduled to be completed in July, it is now estimated the current project will not be finished until the first or second week of December. The project has been plagued with delays caused by several factors, including weather and a series of change order requests by contractors involved in the project. In addition, coordinating work between contractors within the same workspace has proved a challenge. Despite the delays, Duplin Economic Development Director Scotty See AIRPARK, page A6
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Duplin County Economic Development Director Scotty Summerlin updated the board on progress at several project locations the commission is involved in, including the Airpark and SouthPark industrial complexes.
condition, Crayton said. Police did not release the child’s name or specify which hospital he was taken to. Crayton told Duplin Journal that the driver will not face any charges, explaining that there was nothing the driver could have done to avoid the accident.