VOLUME 10 ISSUE 4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
Sheriff’s Office seeks help locating a missing person Duplin County The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance locating a missing woman. Jamie Brooke Kennedy was reported missing from the Pink Hill area of Duplin County on March 9. Brooke She was Kennedy last seen on Maxwell Mill Road near Albertson on March 2. She is a 34-year-old white female with brown hair and green eyes. She is 5-foot-6 and weighs 160 pounds. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Kennedy is asked to contact Detective Green at 910-296-2150 or the Duplin County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 910372-9202.
Magnolia FD holding barbecue fundraiser this weekend Magnolia The Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual barbecue and chicken plate sale fundraiser on Saturday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will take place at 238 N. Monk Street. Enjoy a delicious barbecue and chicken combo with all the fixings for $12 per plate, or choose one meat with all the fixings for $10. The MVFD will also deliver orders of more than 10 plates.
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Faison’s Farmers’ Day Parade draws crowds for a day of celebration Hundreds gathered along West Main Street in Faison last Saturday for the town’s annual Farmers’ Day Parade, a beloved tradition that unites the community. The parade was a lively display of pride for the town’s agricultural roots, brimming with small-town charm. Turn to B6 for more photos.
Animal ordinance, Teachey board infrastructure approves annexation discussed by “The town is growing — how about that?” Bobby Jones, Teachey mayor
Teachey to kick off holiday season with Easter Egg Hunt Teachey The Town of Teachey is gearing up for a fun‑filled Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 5 from 1-3 p.m. Families are invited to join in the excitement at the Teachey Town Park on Boney Street. The hunt promises a delightful afternoon and the perfect opportunity for local residents to celebrate the season in a lively and community-focused way. Call 910-285-7564 for more information.
AG, N.C. Turnpike warn of toll payment scam text messages Raleigh Attorney General Jeff Jackson and the N.C. Turnpike Authority are warning residents about a surge in fraudulent text messages falsely claiming to be from NC Quick Pass. The random texts demand payment for supposed unpaid tolls. “These scam texts are targeting a massive number of people — including me,” said Jackson in a press release. “Don’t fall for them.” Clicking links can expose victims to fraud.
$2.00
The move paves the way for future development By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal
TEACHEY — The town of Teachey voted to annex a parcel of land along Log Cabin Road at Monday night’s monthly meeting following a public hearing that saw no discussion. The 11.64-acre annexation will bring eight new state-built homes to the town. James Parker, director of public works, advised of changes to the planned annexation that would result in larger-than-anticipated lot sizes, with each lot being approximately 12,000 square feet. However, he assured the board that the lots will still retain their residential zoning designation of R-10. “Instead of having 11 lots, they’re taking three. So they’re putting four homes on each side and a driveway down the middle,” Parker
MAGNOLIA — In an effort to help the town of Magnolia revise its animal control ordinance to better address the community’s needs, Joseph Ezzell, the town’s attorney, last week presented suggestions to the board based on ordinances from other towns. Ezzell discussed important considerations, such as animal limits per household, leash laws, vaccination requirements, permits and an enforcement system with escalating fines to encourage compliance. Ezzell suggested giving the commissioners a month to review the different ordinances indicated so they can make recommendations for a draft that reflects the community’s needs.
See TEACHEY, page A2
See MAGNOLIA, page A2
Wallace appoints finance director The USMC veteran will also serve as the town’s deputy tax collector By K.D. Beard Duplin Journal Graziano
EXCITEMENT, optimism and good cheer suffused the town hall Thursday night as Mayor Jason Wells prepared to administer the oath of office to Ashlee Graziano during the board’s monthly meeting, officially making the United States Marine Corps veteran the new finance director and deputy tax collector for the town of Wallace. “It gives you goose bumps being a part of something that helps the general public,” said Graziano, who has previously served her country and her community as a member of the USMC Military Police and a mathematics instructor at White Oak High School in Jacksonville.
Magnolia board
said. “Later on, they’re going to do three more like that.” Commissioner Wanda Henderson brought a motion to move forward with the annexation, which was approved unanimously by the board. “The town is growing — how about that?” commented Teachey Mayor Bobby Jones. Though the town presently uses just half of its 100,000-gallon sewer capacity a day, Parker indicated that public works is in the process of seeking sewer and water permits to increase that capacity by 75,000 gallons a day to cover the town’s expansion. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is advising the town to install a 12-inch sewer line and another lift station, according to Parker, though the public works director expressed reluctance as an existing line is in place. “I told them that the town
As finance director, Graziano plans to foster the town’s growth while ensuring Wallace retains its characteristic charm. “I definitely want to bring more federal grants to the town and get funds to beautify Wallace,” Graziano told Duplin Journal, intimating that cleaning up streets and the continued improvement of the downtown area were high priorities. The former MP also intends to ensure the police department has what it needs to serve effectively and has similar intentions for the town’s volunteer fire department that she someday hopes to see salaried. Thursday night’s meeting also featured public hearings on the rezoning of two tracts of land in the area, indicative of the growth the town will see in the coming months and years. See GRAZIANO, page A5
Vicki Merrick was sworn in as deputy clerk By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
“We’re going to have a really nice library for everybody to enjoy after the summer.” Charles Banks, town manager