VOLUME 11 ISSUE 11 | THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
Strawberry Festival brings strong turnout, community spirit to Wallace
BRIEF this week
JSCC, ECU establish transfer pathway for technical programs Kenansville James Sprunt Community College has entered into a new agreement with East Carolina University that establishes a streamlined transfer pathway for students in technical programs. The partnership guarantees admission for JSCC graduates in diesel and heavy equipment, electrical systems and information technology programs, provided they maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. Students will be able to transfer up to 54 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology at ECU. JSCC leaders said the agreement is designed to reduce barriers to four-year degrees and expand workforce opportunities.
Duplin GOP calls for online video access to county meetings, statewide livestreaming mandate Duplin County The Duplin County Republican Party has unanimously approved a resolution calling on Duplin County to videotape and post its meetings online for public access. The party also urged the North Carolina General Assembly to require livestreaming of all county and municipal meetings, saying it would increase government transparency.
HCA names NC State dean as commencement speaker Harrells Harrells Christian Academy has announced that Garey Fox, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University, will serve as commencement speaker for the Class of 2026. The ceremony is scheduled for May 21. School officials said Fox’s career reflects a blend of agriculture, engineering and technology, aligning with the school’s educational mission and agricultural roots.
Wallace-Rose Hill junior selected for Governor’s School Wallace Kaylann Leon, a Wallace-Rose Hill High School junior, has been selected for Governor’s School this summer. Leon is a soccer captain, Beta Club leader and AIG student while maintaining top academic performance. Governor’s School brings together high-achieving students from across the state for an intensive academic and arts experience. Governor’s School is one of the state’s most selective academic programs.
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Ella Barefoot, left, traveled from Clinton to attend the kickoff of the 2026 Carolina Strawberry Festival last Friday evening. The Carolina Strawberry Festival drew strong community support throughout the weekend. Turn to A6 for more.
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Warsaw mayor alleges barriers to access as board meetings grow contentious The mayor says he was told he had “no business” in town hall offices By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — Extended debates over routine procedural actions and increasingly visible divisions at recent Warsaw
board meetings are patterns that Mayor Wesley Boykin says reflect deeper governance challenges within the town. In an interview with Duplin Journal, Boykin said the issues go beyond what residents
see during public meetings, describing ongoing administrative friction and difficulty carrying out his duties as mayor. Boykin alleged that Town Manager Lea Turner has denied multiple requests to place items on meeting agendas, has limited his access to information and restricted access to town hall. He also described a recent incident.
“She attempted to deny me entry into the office,” Boykin said, recounting an interaction last month when he went to town hall to sign April meeting minutes. “‘You don’t have any business back here.’ This is what the town manager said. “I sent an email before and See WARSAW, page A5
5 women aid victims in intersection crash Quick action by daycare workers helped pull occupants to safety before flames engulfed the vehicle By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Five women who work at a nonprofit daycare near Kenansville became heroes recently after assisting the victims of a serious crash that happened near the
church where the daycare is located. The women were outside the Big Zion AME Zion Church on Summerlin Crossroad Road when they heard and witnessed the wreck. Duplin County officials visited the daycare and spoke with the women last week. “We noticed it was a wreck,”
said Linda Tyson, who works for the nonprofit daycare and also serves on the Kenansville Board of Commissioners. “We saw the truck go up in the air and flip.” The vehicle was a van carrying five men. It had collided with a car in the intersection near the church after one of the vehicles ran a stop sign. Tyson, who has a law enforcement background, noticed there was a small fire under the hood of the car, and her
County commissioners weigh property tax authority The board moved forward with a revised property tax resolution By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Duplin County Commissioners approved federal funding, infrastructure projects, administrative changes and a revised property tax resolution during their May 4 meeting. A major policy discussion centered on a resolution opposing potential state efforts to restrict or shift county property tax authority to the North Carolina General Assembly. Introduced by Commissioner Wayne Branch, the resolution was supported by concerns raised
through the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), which has encouraged counties to defend local control. Commissioners shared that locally elected officials are best positioned to set tax rates based on community needs and warned that state control could reduce flexibility and weaken local decision-making. Commissioner Jesse Dowe supported the resolution, noting that counties vary widely in needs and financial structure, and that state lawmakers may not fully understand local needs. Commissioner Justin Edwards expressed hesitation, saying the issue remains in early stages and that he preferred to wait See TAX, page A5
“It’s just trying to help people when they’re in their hour of need.” Lisa Hughes, county manager
training kicked in automatically. “I just took off running,” Tyson said. The women found themselves teaming up to handle the situation while they waited for emergency crews to arrive. The men in the van, now upside down, were all Hispanic. That put Elmita Velasquez to work communicating with the See CRASH, page A2