Duplin Journal Vol. 11, Issue 15

Duplin Journal

the

BRIEF

this week

Warsaw Police investigates shooting into apartment

Warsaw The Warsaw Police Department is investigating a shooting into an occupied apartment at Bermuda Run Apartments reported around 6:54 p.m. on May 27. According to authorities, o cers found Apartment 511 with a broken window consistent with gun re. Police said the case remains under active investigation. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Warsaw Police Department at 910-293-7816 or email tips@ townofwarsawnc.com.

Duplin Board of Elections cancels June meeting

Kenansville The Duplin County Board of Elections has canceled its June 11 meeting. According to an announcement from the board, the next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, July 2, at 5:30 p.m. The Board of Elections conducts meetings to address election administration and related business within Duplin County.

Magnolia resident wins $100K

Magnolia

A Magnolia man won a $100,000 top prize on a $30 North Carolina Education Lottery scratch-o ticket.

Avory Cassell purchased the winning Cash Payday ticket at Minuteman Food Mart on Southport Supply Road in Brunswick and claimed the prize at lottery headquarters last week. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he received $72,018.

The game launched in March and features 80 top prizes of $100,000, with 67 still unclaimed, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

The North Carolina Education Lottery also noted that Duplin County received a $32.4 million grant in November for renovations at East Duplin High School.

Murphy Family Ventures expands tech services with World Line Networks

A ribbon cutting in Wallace marked the launch of World Line Networks, a new technology provider aimed at serving businesses across southeastern North Carolina. Turn to A3 for the story.

Mount Olive audit shows progress, but nancial concerns remain

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

MOUNT OLIVE — In what evolved into a marathon twoand-a-half-hour meeting, the Mount Olive Board of Commis-

sioners discussed and voted on a variety of issues last Monday. The board heard presentations from the accountant who completed the recent audit for the

Duplin considers sewer authority for Calico Bay, East Log Cabin

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — Du-

plin County o cials are moving forward with plans to cre-

ate a sewer authority for the Calico Bay and East Log Cabin communities as part of an e ort to secure grant funding for a permanent wastewater system serving residents who currently rely on septic tanks. Kevin Davidson of AgriWaste Technology updated the Duplin County Board of Commissioners on the Calico Bay and East Log Cabin Wastewater Project, at the June 1 meeting. The project seeks to establish a permanent sewer solution for the two communities. Many

residents currently rely on septic systems that require frequent pumping, creating additional costs and maintenance concerns.

In a previous meeting Davidson proposed the creation of a sewer authority to serve the two communities, manage the system and serve as the applicant for grants and nancing. Davidson said support for the project increased from 7 to 14 residents following a recent community meeting.

“The next step of the ... path

A facility operated by a sitting commissioner has drawn scrutiny over lease transparency

By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal

Warsaw and leased to Commissioner Jack Hawes.

At a May meeting, Hawes responded to criticism over permits and regulatory compliance and a complaint led with the state.

“I got my law rm involved,” Hawes told the public. “I’m putting everybody who was involved on notice.”

Discussing the complaint, Hawes said he went through the planning board and funeral board “the correct way” and warned, “I’m gonna nd you ... and I’m gonna take care of you.”

Hawes also defended his business operations, stating that “Warsaw gets 2.75% of every funeral that I do” and that he contributes “$60,000 to $70,000 a year” to $2.00

WARSAW — A complaint led with the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service, questions surrounding a funeral home operating from a Warsaw-owned building — and comments made by a sitting town commissioner during a public meeting — are drawing public attention in Warsaw. At the center of the discussion is Jack A. Hawes Funeral Home & Cremations, LLC, which operates from 115 N. Pershing St., a building owned by the town of

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area churches and children.

The public debate began after Warsaw resident Anece Best led a complaint with the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service seeking an independent review of the funeral home’s regulatory compliance.

She questioned zoning approvals for the government-owned property in a residential district, the appropriateness of the site for funeral operations, and whether the lease involving a sitting elected o cial raised con ict-of-interest concerns under state law.

“Greater transparency and timely production of records would likely have resolved many questions earlier and reduced unnecessary public confusion,” Best told Duplin Journal.

My concerns were not centered on attacking Mr. Hawes’ professional funeral-service license. To my knowledge, he is legally standing under the law regarding his professional licensing status,” she explained. “I believed it was appropriate to ask the appropriate state agencies to independently review and verify compliance.” Given Warsaw’s documented sewer and wastewater challenges, Best raised concerns about whether the business’s discharge could adversely a ect the municipal system.

The property was appraised at $147,000 for the 2026 tax year and is exempt from property taxes because it is owned by the town of Warsaw. The site includes a 4,100-square-foot commercial building with an e ective construction year of 1990 that sits on roughly one-half acre. The county record’s permit section is blank.

A search of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality records for wastewater or compliance les tied to the address returned no results. Duplin Journal has submitted records requests to both DEQ and the town of Warsaw and is awaiting responses.

2026-27 budget documents

THURSDAY

Duplin County investigates string of home shootings

Police say incidents in Warsaw, Beulaville and Wallace appear targeted as investigation expands

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

RURAL AREAS LIKE Duplin County are not often the location of stories involving a series of shootings, which you would normally hear about in a more urban setting. That all changed on May 16 in the early morning hours when shots were red into a residence in Warsaw. In the overnight hours the next day, shots were red into an occupied residence in Beulaville. By May 27, ve occupied homes or apartments in Warsaw, Beulaville and Wallace had been struck by gun re. In an interview with Duplin Journal, Beulaville Police Chief Karl Mobley was asked if he believes the shootings were committed by youth or members of gangs.

“It’s actually a mixture of that,” Mobley said. “Unfortunately, the ones that are tied in with your gangs normally are your youth.”

Mobley agrees this type of activity is more rare in rural areas, but it does happen.

“It’s one of those things that comes and goes,” he said. “You’ll have long spurts with-

show lease income associated with the property at $12,000 annually, an amount that appears consistent with records dating back to 2019.

Hawes’ statement that “Warsaw gets 2.75% of every funeral” does not appear in town nancial documents reviewed by Duplin Journal. The town’s nancial audits and Budget vs. Actual reports do not contain any line item re ecting a 2.75% funeral surcharge or business-speci c revenue-sharing arrangement.

In an interview with Duplin Journal Mayor Wesley Boykin suggested the building’s rental value could be higher than what the town currently receives, although no formal market analysis was presented to the board during the budget planning meeting.

A quick Google search for commercial properties in rural eastern North Carolina provided a range of $6-12 per square foot annually, although actual rental value depends on factors such as condition, location, improvements and specialized use.

Duplin Journal submitted public records requests seeking lease documents and relatednancial information on April 21, April 27, May 22 and May 28.

In response, Town Manager Lea Turner, who was appointed town clerk and nance o cer by Commissioners Hawes, Scotty Smith, Tommy Jones and Cheryl Smith, said sta ng shortages have delayed responses.

“At this time, we are short sta ed and so records requests are taking longer than normal,” Turner wrote in an email.

Duplin Journal contacted Hawes on May 27 and June 1 seeking comment regarding his public statements, the lease arrangement and questions raised by residents. As of press time no response was received.

On April 8, the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service dismissed Best’s complaint, nding insu cient evidence to establish a violation of laws under the board’s authority.

The board noted, however, that its jurisdiction is limited to

“We do believe these are targeted shootings and not random.”

Jimmy Crayton, Wallace Police

out this kind of activity and then, all of a sudden, whether somebody upsets the other side or whatever the case may be, it starts back.”

Mobley added he is condent the person or people behind the shootings will be caught. He said his department, in addition to continuing their investigations in cooperation with other agencies, is increasing saturation patrols in town.

Wallace Police Chief James Crayton told Duplin Journal they do not believe the shootings are just someone out ring at houses.

“We do believe these are targeted shootings and not random,” Crayton said.

In the meantime, he is reluctant to discuss any details of the investigation.

“We are currently keeping a lot of information close to the vest,” he said. “Our biggest request is for people to come forward and provide information.”

In addition to a coordinated e ort between local police departments and the Duplin

statutes governing funeral service.

The agency has declined to release investigative materials related to the complaint.

Catherine Lee, general counsel for the board, informed Duplin Journal that investigative les are con dential under state law and exempt from public disclosure.

A review of available meeting minutes and archived records dating back to 2018 does not provide details of a lease agreement tied to the funeral home or explain how the rental rate was established. Records do show that the town has invested public funds into the building since the funeral home began operating there.

In August 2018, the Board approved a $10,000 budget amendment to replace the building’s HVAC system. In January 2021, the Board approved a $21,000 budget amendment for a roof replacement. Meeting minutes show that the former town manager recommended using rental revenue associated with the property to fund the roof project. Although Hawes recused himself from the vote on the roof replacement, the Board authorized the former town manager and public works director to “oversee the project” for the commissioner’s private business location.

Records reviewed by Duplin Journal do not explain why those capital improvements were funded by the town rather than the commercial tenant, nor do the available public documents clarify how maintenance responsibilities are allocated under the lease.

The records show a direct correlation between complaints led against the funeral home and Hawes’s subsequent policy recommendations regarding town-wide code enforcement.

During a May 26, 2021, budget workshop, former Commissioner Nelson-Pope “voiced concerns of elding numerous complaints during funerals at Hawes funeral home.” In the same meeting, Hawes stated that “people should

County Sheri ’s Department, other agencies have joined the investigation, including the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Chad Flowers, public information o cer for the SBI, told Duplin Journal that there could be a drug element to the shootings.

“Throughout the whole state, we see a lot of combinations of drug activity with assaults and shootings,” Flowers said. “It can be a myriad of things, but we do see a lot of shootings surrounding or connected to drug activity.” Flowers agreed with Mobley on the possibility of gang involvement.

“There’s often gang activity and gang connections with drugs and shootings. We see a lot of shootings around that are connected with gang activity,” he said.

Flowers added he was aware there were discussions in process regarding o ering a reward for information in the shootings.

Crayton and Mobley believe those behind the shootings will eventually be caught. In the meantime, they are asking anyone with information on the shootings to contact local police. Information can be submitted anonymously.

be allowed more than 10 days to comply with most violations.”

Following Hawes’s statement, the Board engaged in a discussion “centered around revamping how code enforcement is handled” in Warsaw.

Hawes also made motions to dismiss speci c ordinance violation nes for other citizens, arguing in one instance that the matter had “gone on long enough and everything needed to just be dropped.”

Meeting minutes further show that Hawes publicly acknowledged when town-funded infrastructure projects beneted the funeral home property.

In March 2021, minutes state that “Commissioner Hawes announced that he was pleased with the drainage work on Jordan as it had relieved some of the water from the funeral home and surrounding areas.”

While meeting records and budget documents provide a partial picture of the property’s nancial and operational history, key details about the lease structure, cost allocation, and regulatory oversight have not been fully documented in publicly available records. Those gaps have continued to fuel questions about how the arrangement is structured and how responsibilities are divided between the town and the tenant.

Despite the dismissal of the complaint by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service, several questions remain unresolved.

Among them are the terms of the Pershing Street lease, how the rental rate was established, whether additional permits or approvals exist beyond those currently available in public records.

Duplin Journal has submitted multiple public records requests seeking lease documents, nancial records, and related materials from the Town of Warsaw, as well as wastewater and environmental compliance records from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. Responses remain pending.

Here’s a

what’s coming up in Duplin County.

June 5-6

Pro Rodeo returns 8 p.m.

Revenge Roughstock and Rodeo Company will host two nights of professional rodeo competition featuring bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing and other rodeo events. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. A limited number of tickets will be available at the gate for $25. Tickets are available through Ticketfox.

195 Fairgrounds Drive, Kenansville

June 6

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

5:30 - 9 p.m.

Duplin’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at the Duplin Winery will feature an interactive brain-teasing night of comedy, mystery and live performance with original scripts, quick-witted characters and hilarious twists. After dinner attendees will interact with characters and work in teams to solve the mystery. The team that cracks the case wins a prize and bragging rights.

505 North Sycamore St., Rose Hill

June 13

Beach Brew & Que

The Duplin Events Center will host Beach Brew & Que, a summer kicko event featuring barbecue, live beach music and daylong entertainment. Live music includes performances by I-42 Band, The Embers and Jim Quick & Coastline.

195 Fairgrounds Drive, Kenansville

Small Town Sunday Concert

5 p.m.

Country music act Small Town Sunday performs at the Born Anew Blessing Barn, preceded by a community dinner. The barn serves as a community resource center in Beulaville.

645 North Blizzardtown Road, Beulaville

World Line Networks opens new IT facility in Wallace

Company o cials highlight cybersecurity services and local workforce during ribboncutting ceremony

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

WALLACE — On May 28, a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Wallace marked the opening of World Line Networks, a new IT service provider with a data storage facility serving businesses across the region.

World Line Networks is part of Murphy Family Ventures (MFV), which was established in 2004 by Wendell H. Murphy Jr. to manage and support the Murphy family’s business operations. The company originally served as MFV’s internal IT department as the orga-

nization expanded to support roughly 100 companies across North Carolina, Missouri and the southeastern United States.

In 2013, MFV acquired World Line Networks and expanded it into a full-service technology provider. The company now operates as a standalone IT services division within MFV. All nine full-time employees are MFV sta members, and MFV employs more than 900 people statewide and beyond.

World Line Networks operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 24-hour technical support available by phone, online and in person. Company representatives said its technicians bring extensive training and experience, including military backgrounds.

During the ceremony, company o cials highlighted their

local presence and focus on customer relationships in Duplin County.

“We strive to build and maintain long-standing relationships built on trust and timely delivery,” the company said. “We pride ourselves on a strong commitment to serving our clients in times of need or emergency as well as on any given day.”

The company added that most employees live in Duplin County, including Wallace, where its main o ce and data center are located.

In addition to network connectivity and device management, World Line Networks offers cybersecurity monitoring.

Company o cials said its cybersecurity expertise has been used to assist the National Guard in cybersecurity audits. Services are o ered in bundled IT pack-

ages tailored to individual business needs, the company said.

O cials added that being part of Murphy Family Ventures allows for cost e ciencies.

“We also treat each customer, no matter the size, as we would a cherished family member,” the company said. “We build strong, dependable relationships based on trust.”

The company also provides equipment and infrastructure support including power cabling, phones, cameras, servers and audiovisual systems.

Cybersecurity has become an increasing concern for businesses, the company said.

“AI has become much more prevalent in the cybersecurity space as both a defense tool and a tool used by threat actors to identify potential vulnerabilities,” the company said. “Awareness is the biggest factor in pro -

tecting yourself.”

Locally, the company said demand is growing for a ordable internet access, security camera systems and low-cost computers. O cials said they expect continued growth as business needs expand in Duplin County and surrounding areas.

Under its service model, World Line Networks provides 24/7 monitoring, incident response, antivirus protection, cloud backups and patch management, the company said. It also o ers managed IT services, including IT director support, help desk access and vendor coordination.

After the ribbon cutting, General Manager Johnny Diggs led attendees on a tour of the on-site data center. The event concluded with light refreshments and conversation among guests.

THE CONVERSATION

Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN

| DAVID HARSANYI

Democrats are in no position to lecture anyone about candidates

Democrats had a chance to be normal. They chose crazy.

DEMOCRATS ARE AGAIN acting like they occupy the high moral ground of American politics. But if 2026 has proven anything, it’s that there’s virtually nothing a left-wing candidate could say or do that would elicit condemnation from Democrats if doing so threatened their power.

Democrats, for example, demand credit for their opposition to Maureen Galindo, the Texas congressional candidate who proposed putting American “Zionists” (wink, wink) into concentration camps and castrating them, lost her Texas primary last week, winning 36% of the vote — not a bad showing for a politician championing mass imprisonment of her political enemies.

The question, though, is whether House Minority Leader Hakeem Je ries or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or anyone at Pod Save America or the Bulwark had uttered a word in protest, had Galindo already won her primary before making those comments? All the evidence strongly suggests no.

And by evidence, I mean their explicit support for slightly less o ensive cranks, extremists, bigots and terrorism apologists such as new party power broker Hasan Piker, the socialist Hezbollah fan Abdul el Sayed in Michigan or the Hamas apologist Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania, a guy who suggested the massacre of Jews at Bondi Beach was a “false ag” operation by “Zionists.”

Imagine telling someone 20 years ago that a leading congressional candidate in a New Jersey district situated right outside New York City had both volunteered for an al Qaeda front in Europe and spent years being friends with “The Blind Sheikh” Omar Abdel-Rahman, the longtime jihadi preacher who was sentenced for seditious conspiracy after planning a “day of terror” in 1995. Adam Hamawy defended Abdel-Rahman during his trial. And yet not a single notable Democrat has called him out on it.

Many of the same Democrats who expect Republicans to wring their hands over Republican Texas senatorial candidate Ken Paxton, a man tainted by corruption, have o ered a full-throated endorsement of a man who knowingly got and kept a Totenkopf SS Nazi tattoo for 20 years.

It’s not just that Graham Platner’s mentally unstable ravings, including saying a Purple Heart recipient didn’t “deserve to live,” that “all cops are bastards,” that white rural Americans were “racist and stupid,” that the Virgin Mary was a “skank,” defending child killers of Hamas or contending that sexual assault victims bring it on themselves. It’s that he still uses unhinged Marxist language right now.

Platner isn’t the rst skeeze to run for major o ce, but he might be the most extreme. Only two elected Democrats, as far as I can tell, have spoken out about Platner’s soft spot for Nazis. One is Sen. John Fetterman, who is under relentless attack from his own party for supporting Israel over Islamists, and Rep. Jake Auchincloss.

Now, if Platner’s opponent in Maine was a raging, corrupt ideologue, independents might be torn between two dangerous candidates. But the Republican in Maine is incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, perhaps the most milquetoast centrist member of the entire chamber.

Some Democrats rationalize their support for a self-described “communist” by noting that control of the Senate is far more important than worrying about the individual ravings of unhinged candidates. Though gutless

establishment Democrats did virtually nothing to counter extremists during the primaries, there’s a utilitarian logic to this thinking. But then you’re in no position to lecture Republicans about Paxton or anyone else, for that matter.

The 2026 elections will be held during the second term of an unpopular presidency, so there’s no telling how many Democrats will win. Or, perhaps, the new reality is that pro-Islamist Marxists are now an in uential part of the contemporary Democratic Party. How popular such a party will be nationally moving forward is yet to be seen.

I am constantly being assured that Democrats are the adults in the room. I’m supposed to believe that self-styled socialists are not only going to uphold norms, decency and democratic institutions but also improve the economic conditions of Americans. That contention clashes with every shred of historical evidence we possess. Democrats had a chance to be normal. They chose crazy.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)

COLUMN

| JAMES CARTER AND JACOB CHOE

The U.S. ally that figured out China’s game plan long before Washington

China is not a trading partner that plays by the rules.

WASHINGTON HAS SPENT decades talking about the U.S.-Japan alliance in military terms. Carrier groups. Missile defense. Deterrence. Those things matter enormously. But the alliance runs far deeper than defense planning, and right now the economic dimension deserves more attention than it is getting.

It runs through factories, ports, semiconductor supply chains, cattle ranches, shipping corridors, food processing systems and business relationships that never make the evening news.

Understanding why that matters requires being honest about something Washington spent too long avoiding: China is not a trading partner that plays by the rules. It is a strategic competitor that uses economic leverage as a weapon, and every supply chain that runs through Beijing is a vulnerability waiting to be exploited.

Japan gured this out before most American policymakers did.

The U.S.-Japan relationship stands out in the current environment precisely because it is built on something China cannot o er: genuine mutual trust developed over decades of transparent commerce, shared democratic values and consistent institutional behavior. That is not a diplomatic abstraction but rather a practical asset with real economic consequences.

Japan remains badly underestimated by many in Washington. Its food processing and agricultural technology sectors are extraordinarily sophisticated. Precision packaging, cold-chain logistics, sanitation systems and production e ciency are not glamorous topics, but they matter enormously in modern trade.

They reduce waste, improve reliability and create the kind of supply chain stability that China’s record of concealment, manipulation and economic coercion has repeatedly destroyed.

American agricultural producers bene t from the Japanese relationship more than most people realize. Japan is one of the largest overseas markets for U.S. beef, pork, wheat, corn, soybeans, dairy and seafood. Japanese rms invest heavily inside the United States in

automotive manufacturing, logistics, advanced materials, food technology and industrial infrastructure. That is far from dependency. It is the kind of reciprocal economic integration that actually works — because both sides follow the same rules and neither uses market access as a political hostage.

China does. And when it wants to remind you of that fact, it does not send a diplomatic note. It cuts o your supply chain.

Ask any American manufacturer who woke up to nd China restricting exports of gallium and germanium — two minerals essential to semiconductors, defense systems and advanced electronics — what Chinese economic partnership actually looks like in practice.

Beijing controls nearly 90% of the world’s rare earth processing capacity. It did not acquire that dominance through superior geology. It acquired it through decades of deliberate state subsidization, below-market pricing designed to drive foreign competitors out of business and a patient willingness to operate at a loss until the competition disappeared. Once the competition was gone, the leverage arrived. It’s a long con.

Japan understood this dynamic earlier than Washington and has spent years building diversi ed critical mineral supply chains precisely to reduce exposure to Chinese chokepoints. That work is directly relevant to American national security interests right now, and it is one reason the bilateral relationship carries strategic weight beyond what any single trade agreement or defense treaty could capture.

The recent weakness of the yen deserves more attention than it has received. Most commentary treats it as a Japanese problem. That misses half the picture.

A weaker yen lowers costs for American importers, manufacturers and rms purchasing Japanese industrial inputs and specialized technologies. It also encourages additional Japanese investment into the United States at precisely the moment America is trying to rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity and cut dangerous supply chain dependence on China. The yen story is, in part, an American opportunity.

President Donald Trump understood the

strategic stakes in the Paci c earlier and more clearly than his critics acknowledged. The emphasis on industrial resilience, supply chain repatriation and confronting Chinese economic aggression directly was not protectionist nostalgia.

It was a recognition that the rules-based trading order China pretends to respect is one it has systematically gamed for 30 years. Japanese policymakers understood this concern even when they disagreed with speci c tari decisions. The underlying diagnosis was correct. Events have kept proving it.

The Paci c is now a theater of economic competition whether Washington wants it to be or not. China has made that choice for everyone.

It has used its position in the South China Sea to intimidate smaller neighbors, backed Russia’s war in Ukraine while lecturing the West about sovereignty, and built rare earth dominance into a strategic weapon aimed directly at American manufacturing and defense capacity. It views American alliances not as facts to be respected but as problems to be dissolved.

That is why the U.S.-Japan alliance matters more right now than at any point in recent memory. Not because it is sentimental or traditional but because it is one of the few economic relationships in the Paci c built on rules both sides actually follow, trust both sides have actually earned and interests both sides have actually aligned. In a region where China has made dependency its primary foreign policy tool, that is a genuine strategic advantage.

Don’t take it for granted.

James Carter is a policy adviser with America’s Economy First. Jacob Choe is an international strategist and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee and a Ben Franklin Fellow. (Copyright 2026 Daily Caller News Foundation)

MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN

Local nonpro t provides free child care, support for Duplin families

The programs include after-school care, summer day care and structured learning for suspended students

By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal

ANYONE WHO SHOPS at the grocery store, writes a rent check every month, or lls up their car’s gas tank is well aware that it takes a lot of money just to meet basic needs every month these days. Because of this shift in the economy, families that were lucky enough to have a full-time mom or dad at home now nd that it takes both parents in the workforce to pay the bills.

This dynamic puts yet another nancial stress on the family — daycare or after-school care, a place for the children to safely be while their parents are at work. Thanks to the dedication of a Warsaw-based nonprofit, many families in the area are able to receive free summer daycare or after-school care.

The nonpro t is called Diversity Nurtures Achievement Community Youth Center, called DNA for short. Duplin Journal sat down with the founder of the nonpro t, Earlean Rivers, at one of the locations where these services are provided — in this case, Big Zion AME Zion Church near Kenansville. Rivers said the inspiration to begin DNA came while doing some substitute teaching in Warsaw.

“I said I can do more on my own than I can with someone governing me.”

Earlean Rivers

“After subbing for a few days, they told me they had a fulltime teaching position for me,” Rivers said. “I said, ‘Get the curriculum ready for me and I’ll go visit the classroom’ because it wasn’t the room I was subbing in.”

The door to the classroom where she was o ered the position was as far as she got.

“I am looking at them, and it broke my heart,” Rivers said.

“It really hurt me. They did not know who they were.”

Seeing the look on the faces of the children in that classroom bothered her so much that she nished her day of substitute teaching and never went back.

“I said I can do more on my own than I can with someone governing me,” Rivers said.

With that, DNA was born in 2015. She started in a small, older building just outside Warsaw providing after-school care. That has now evolved into an additional site in Warsaw and another at the Big Zion AME Zion Church near Kenansville. The services have also expanded to include what they call “structured learning” for middle and high school students who have been suspended. Those classes are held from

MARRIAGE LICENSES

Anita Marie Savage, Duplin County Register of Deeds issued 19 marriage licenses for the month ending on May 31, 2026.

Mario Mendez Reynoso, Seven Springs, and Eleuteria Lopez Cabrera, Seven Springs;

• Jesse Daniel Stevens, Seven Springs, and Diana Louise Dildy, Kinston;

• Serena Marie Terry, Willard, and Ethan Timothy Bracken, Willard;

• Ivan Jafet Sanchez Bustos, Rose Hill, and Alondra Lizbeth Martinez Gonzalez, Rose Hill;

• Taylor Lynn Rose O’Bryan, Rose Hill, and Johnny Austin Boone, Rose Hill;

• Je rey Ross King, Pink Hill, and Elizabeth Marie Bowed, Pink Hill;

• Addison Javon Hudson, Clinton, and Brittany Magalene Chestnutt, Clinton;

• Jordan Daniel Brugmann, Fort Bragg, and Jasmine Marie Mitchum, Pink Hill;

• Eduardo Gomez Garcia, Warsaw, and

7:30 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. daily. Having those classes end at 1:45 p.m. gives the DNA sta time to prepare for the arrival of buses bringing children for after-school care.

Rivers said many of the students in the structured learning program are teenagers in foster care who have been placed in a juvenile facility. She said even when they are released from the facility, they are not allowed to go straight back to school. Some of the students are on probation. The program gives them the opportunity to still learn during their suspension or probation instead of having nothing to do and no place to go, meaning they are likely to avoid situations that could continue the cycle of getting in trouble.

When the after-school students arrive, they are given a full meal. Afterward, they go into a room with tables where they work on homework or read.

When school is out for the summer, the three DNA locations convert into daycare centers, providing the same services of meals, learning and encouragement o ered during after-school care.

Parents who have children enrolled in the program receive the services at no charge, removing a big nancial burden from the families involved. DNA is funded through a series of grants and donations that Rivers is consistently seeking to keep the program alive.

Julissa Cruz Hernandez, Rose Hill;

• John Russell Beaman, Dudley, and Johnnie Whitman Boyette, Pink Hill;

• Karen Campbell Kennedy, Beulaville, and Michael Glenn Mckeel, Blounts Creek;

• Cheyne Andrew Sciuto, Richlands, and Shelby Carolyne Morgan, Richlands;

• Dakota Hudson Baysden, Pink Hill, and Jordan May Jones, Pink Hill;

• Anthony Lane Silance, Faison, and Kristy Denise Brinson, Faison;

• Michael Allen Glass Jr., Kenansville, and Kelly Michelle Rubio-Vizcarra, Kenansville;

• Brianna Lynn Shabolin, Rose Hill, and Austin Reed Webre, Rose Hill;

• Kayla Rochelle Hicks, Rose Hill, and Spencer Connell Chestnutt, Warsaw;

• Mackenzie Renae Frye, Wallace, and Logan Andrew Harper, Magnolia;

• Aide Chavez Reyes, Leland, and Bernabe Reyes Hernandez, Leland.

forward is to create the sewer authority. And as part of that, the rst piece of creating that is a public notice and a public meeting,” said Davidson.

A statutorily required public hearing is being planned for late July or early to mid-August. The county and the town of Wallace must determine where administrative duties — such as auditing, nancial reporting, and sta ng — will be housed.

County Manager Lisa Hughes said the Town of Wallace is expected to receive wastewater from the system and they have expressed a willingness to take over operations once the infrastructure is in place. Davidson said o cials are also exploring a partnership with the Town of Teachey.

Davidson said the goal is to secure state or federal grants to cover construction and initial connection costs for participating residents.

Residents would still pay a monthly sewer fee estimated between $50 and $70 and would be responsible for maintaining grinder pumps installed on their properties. The pumps are expected to carry ve- to 10-year warranties. Residents who do not join during the grant-funded phase could face the full cost of connection and equipment if they choose to join the system later.

If the authority is created but grant funding is not secured, the authority could be dissolved.

Agri-Waste Technology has drafted initial documents and will work with the county attorney for legal review.

In addition to the wastewater project update, commissioners reviewed a revised proposed budget of $79.5 million, about $2.5 million higher than the FY 2025-26 adopted budget.

The revised appropriated fund balance for FY27 is $6.86 million, about $295,000 lower than the previous recommendation and roughly $868,000 less than the amount appropriated in FY26.

Hughes stated that while $7.7 million was appropriated for FY26, she does not expect to spend any of it by the end of the scal year.

“Based upon where we are today on June 1, I don’t think we’re going to spend one penny of that $7.7 million (fund balance) that was appropriated in this year’s budget. Our revenues are coming good,” said Hughes.

The proposal includes a 2.5% raise for employees earning less than $90,000 annually and a 1% raise for employees earning more than $90,000.

“Based upon where we are today on June 1, I don’t think we’re going to spend one penny of that $7.7 million (fund balance) that was appropriated.”

Lisa Hughes, county manager

Revenue adjustments included higher malt beverage receipts, increased state reimbursements for Social Services and a $30,000 state contribution for Soil and Water. The Health and Human Services Division also requested $97,834 from the restricted Medicaid fund balance for speci c programs.

“There’s an increase in professional services to print the tax bills for the tax o ce,” said Hughes.

Additional spending includes funding for a child support attorney, social services security, an EMS medical director contract, updated employee health insurance costs and increased support for Cabin Lake.

Capital expenditures total $2.61 million and include:

$63,250 for a communications dispatch tower generator upgrade.

$7,734 in E911 expenses not covered by the emergency telephone fund.

A $13,000 EMS adjustment. No members of the public came forward to comment after the proposed budget was presented.

In other business:

The board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding establishing a new Rural Transportation Planning Organization with Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties following the county’s withdrawal from the Eastern Carolina Council.

“Approval of this MOU and the formation of our own RPO for the four counties... ensures that our voice will be heard with NCDOT,” said Hughes, who explained that Wayne County will host the new RPO and provide the necessary transportation planner. She also explained that the four participating counties will share the costs of supporting the organization, similar to the previous arrangement with the ECC.

Commissioners then adjourned until June 15 and entered closed session to discuss legal and personnel matters.

Kevin Davidson of Agri-Waste Technology discusses the proposed Calico Bay and East Log Cabin Wastewater Project during the June 1 Duplin County Board of Commissioners meeting.

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Airport projects advance amid delays, funding adjustments

Work continues on hangars and apron rehabilitation as fuel farm project falls behind schedule

By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal

KENANSVILLE — The Duplin County Airport Board marked the third anniversary of the death of former Airport Director George H. Futrelle before hearing updates on several ongoing infrastructure projects on May 26.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been three years,” Director Joshua Raynor said. “I just want to acknowledge that we miss him.” The board observed a moment of silence. Raynor then provided updates on capital improvement

town and from the town’s new nance o cer on the highlights of the proposed budget.

Lee Grissom of S. Preston Douglas & Associates, the CPA rm hired to complete the state-required audit, told the board that while Mount Olive’s overall nancial condition is improving, several concerns remain. One of the primary issues identi ed in the audit was the town’s fund balance, which has not yet reached the level recommended by the Local Government Commission (LGC), the state agency responsible for overseeing the nancial practices of local governments.

The LGC recommends that municipalities maintain a fund balance equal to 34% of annual expenditures. According to Grissom, the audit found Mount Olive’s fund balance currently stands at 21%. He said the town would need to increase its fund balance by approximately $600,000 to meet the LGC’s recommended benchmark.

Despite the discrepancy, Grissom praised the town for the progress it has made in that area since its fund balance percentage had reached a low of 4% in 2018.

Grissom pointed out several areas of concern with the audit, beginning with the fact that the audit was late. It was supposed to be completed and submitted to the state on Dec. 31, 2025, but was not completed until April 27 of this year. He said the delay was understandable considering the town had issues with no nance o cer in that position until recently.

In addition, Grissom referenced the ndings from the recent state auditor’s audit on the town that found issues with billings and cuto fees within the town’s water and sewer department, as well as the lack of documentation and control over expenses incurred at the Mount Olive Airport. He said voided water cuto fees had resulted in a revenue loss to the town of $109,000. A problem with the town charging incorrect utility rates had cost the town an additional $65,000 in 2025 alone, Grissom added.

Grissom was most critical of the nancial agreements with

projects, including work on airport hangars and the fuel farm.

The hangar project is expected to begin work on the parking lot by Friday, with crews straightening an uneven section of apron, repouring concrete, polishing interior oors and installing a dehumidi cation system. Raynor said the project is nearing completion and is expected to be nished by mid-June. Renovations to older hangars have already been completed.

The fuel farm project remains behind schedule, ocials said.

“We are on Day 48 of a 90 - day

“We are on Day 48 of a 90-day project. They are behind schedule.”

Joshua Raynor, airport director

project. They are behind schedule,” Raynor said. “We are applying pressure to get it done but expect it to go past the due date,” Hunter Boniface added. Consistent issues with submittals and paperwork were cited as the cause for the delays.

Board members also discussed the use of an additional $150,000 in state funding originally allocated for taxiway upgrades. The airport had to can-

cel the taxiway extension and use the funds for the fuel farm tanks because the funds needed to be spent quickly. Amendments to the fuel farm project will be made to plan for the additional funds used there.

While the airport is delayed on the fuel farm, fuel service for aircraft will not be interrupted.

Director Raynor explained that the AVGAS truck and two fuel tanks will remain available until the project is completed.

Greg VanderMolen gave an update on the apron rehabilitation project. “Financing has been awarded, and we have 120 days to have bids in hand. We will start advertising mid-June to the end of July, and we are likely to go before the County Board in

September for approval,” said VanderMolen.

The entire project is expected to last 150 days in the Spring of 2027, and current hangar tenants may have to nd temporary housing elsewhere when it begins.

Raynor told the board that Shannon Coleman has been named director of forestry services at the airport. The board asked Raynor to invite him to dinner sometime to celebrate. For May, the airport reported 436 operations, 3,146 gallons of avgas sold and approximately 14,000 gallons of jet fuel sold. Raynor also corrected April gures, stating jet fuel sales totaled 20,000 gallons, not 12,000 as previously reported.

Board Chairman Jack Alphin asked about project timelines and work quality, and the board discussed how the tenants were happy with the hangar repairs. The meeting adjourned amid discussion of the state budget and potential future funding opportunities.

the operator of the Mount Olive Airport. “There wasn’t a clear contract in the way the whole thing was operated, sort of backwards in a lot of ways,” Grissom said in reference to aviation fuel purchases at the airport. “We calculated approximately $235,000 where fuel purchases were initiated that were not pre-audited,” meaning the expenditures had not been approved in the town’s budget.

Grissom said the state auditor had discovered there was a verbal agreement with the airport operator that was not on paper. He said that has since been corrected.

The other area that concerned Grissom was delays in reconciling bank statements with the town’s books. He said that is where mistakes and fraud can be detected early.

After Grissom’s presentation, the board heard from recently appointed town nance ocer Joseph Trollinger, who gave a lengthy report on the proposed budget, which calls for a reduction in the town’s property tax from 7.5 cents to 7.2 cents per $100 valuation. He told the board he believed the town could make the tax reduc-

tion and still work toward improving the percentage of fund balance recommended by the LGC.

In other business, the board nally moved forward in resolving a dispute that had been brewing for several months over who would operate the town’s Hurricanes youth football program after program’s two previous operators ended their involvement. Several months ago, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) presented a proposal to the board seeking to lease the Dr. Spencer E. Durante Sr. Athletic Complex and continue operating the youth football program there. The board initially seemed receptive to the agreement until Mayor Jerome Newton expressed concern that the FCA was headquartered outside North Carolina.His concerns led to months of uncertainty regarding local nonpro t ALDA, Inc.’s interest in leasing and operating the facility.

Both organizations appeared before the board on Monday night and said they were trying to work together. In the end, the board agreed to approve a 10year lease to FCA for the complex and to advertise the pro -

“There wasn’t a clear contract in the way the whole thing was operated, sort of backwards in a lot of ways.”

Lee Grissom

posed sale of three acres of land near the Carver Cemetery to ALDA, Inc. to build an athletic track on the property.

The board also voted to hold a public referendum on changing the town’s charter to elect commissioners into four-year staggered terms instead of the current two-year terms. Town attorney Carroll Turner said the issue had been approved in time to have the referendum appear on the upcoming November ballot.

Concerns about water quality and testing practices took center stage during closing comments from the commissioners and mayor.

Mayor Pro Tem Delreese Simmons displayed two stacks of papers that he said were two years’ worth of water quality reports he had obtained

from Town Clerk Sherry Davis.

“They test 25 sites in town every month,” Simmons said. “Show me one street in all this paperwork from the southside of town. Years and years go by that they didn’t test the water on our side of town.”

Simmons said residents in his district regularly complain about brown, foul-smelling water. He asked Town Manager Octavious Murphy if this would happen again in future testing of water.

“Absolutely not,” Murphy said. “It shouldn’t have happened the rst time.”

During his closing remarks, Newton addressed numerous complaints from residents who said they have been unable to reach the town’s Housing Authority o ce to report maintenance issues or inquire about vacant properties.

Newton said the Housing Authority falls under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and that his authority is limited to appointing members of the local housing authority board. He said the regional HUD o ce in Greensboro has been noti ed of the concerns and plans to visit Mount Olive to investigate.

DUPLIN SPORTS

ROXBORO BESTS

NORTH DUPLIN FOR TITLE

Kaylyn Pope didn’t allow ND to ex its o ensive muscles during a 10-2 series-clinching win at Duke University

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

DURHAM — North Duplin had two obstacles to overcome to win its rst state title since 2015 — its defensive and the pitching of Roxboro’s Kaylyn Pope.

The Rebels’ uncharacteristically decision making aided the Bulldogs’ bats, which scored a run in each of the rst ve innings for a 10-2 win in Game 3 of the 2A softball nals at Duke University’s Smith Family Stadium.

Series MVP Katie Mann had three hits and two walks and scored four times.

Karrie Obie and Lexi Powell combined for three hits and three RBIs and Presley Leonard knocked in two with a solo homer and single as Roxboro, which opened its doors in 2006, won its rst state title in any sport.

“It wasn’t a perfect ending, and it’s not what we wanted, but second place is OK. And we had our chances.”

Lilly Fulghum

Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs (25 - 4) whipped the Rebels 10-6 to force the deciding game. ND (19-4) took the opening game 4-3 in eight innings the previous day.

And while Mann, Leonard, Powell and Obie were key, some media members felt Pope was the di erence maker. Her improvement helped Roxboro take the title after falling in the region nals the previous two seasons. The junior pitched every inning of the nals and hurled more than 300 pitches in the regional win over South Stanly.

And it wasn’t her dominance over

See TITLE, page B2

Ady Spence and Lilly Fulghum, carried the

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

DURHAM — Freshman Gracie Higginbotham red up the North Duplin bench in the eighth inning by striking out all-state slugger Karrie Obie. ND’s Lilly Fulghum had stayed away from her power by issuing her three walks.

That set the stage for senior moments in the rst game of the Rebels’ best-of-three 2A nal at Duke University on May 24.

Yet Roxboro Community didn’t have the same success with that strategy in the bottom half of the inning by intentionally walking Fulghum, a Division I signee at UNC Charlotte.

Classmate Ady Spence’s single gave the Rebels a 4-3 win.

The Bulldogs would go on to win Game 2 (10-6) and Game 3 (10-2) to claim the title.

But ND (19-4) held the advantage for quite some time, needing just one win to win it all.

Ady Spence’s at-bats got progressively better, tied the game in the sixth with a sacri ce y that knocked in Fulghum, who had tripled to start the frame.

Raegan Herring followed with a pop y that catcher Leah Gri n made a sensational play on. A diving catch by left elder Presley Leonard on a steamer hit by Gizelle Bernal also saved a run.

Roxboro scored the rst run of the game when Leonard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Lilly Fulghum ripped a two-run homer, bringing in Marissa Bernal, who had singled, to give ND a 2-1 lead.

Roxboro (25-4) tied it in the second via a triple by Kylie Bowers and a sacri ce y by series MVP Katie Mann.

COLUMN

MICHAEL JAENICKE

The ‘little’ school that can continues to be a frontrunner

SOFTBALL IS MORE than a sport at North Duplin.

And the Rebels have captured the attention of the masses at a 2A school that had 10 too many students to qualify for the lowest classi cation — 1A — during the NCHSAA’s recent realignment.

North Duplin is a “big” softball player in any classi cation.

ND’s second state nals appearance in four years came from a trend started in 2015 when the Rebels were 1A champs.

ND went 20-4 that spring after being 13-24 the previous three seasons.

The Rebels have gone 180 - 46 since that season, which includes one season (1-1) that the COVID-19 pandemic all but eliminated and one season (12-1) after it in which schools were allowed to play only conference games until the playo s.

Ricky Edwards, ND’s current AD and a longtime coach in several sports, was the head coach from 2015-21, going 94 -25. His 2016 club lost to 1A champ Princeton in the East Region nals but won 20 games for the second consecutive season.

ND was good in both 2017 (15-3) and 2018 (18-4) and lost to eventual champ Camden County in the rst round in 2021 in a bracket that was drawn from a hat (not seeded).

The last ve seasons under Jaime Higginbotham reignited softball at school that has won at least a share of the conference title for six years running.

Higginbotham, a former coach at Mount Olive University, has guided the Rebels to a 86-21 mark

The cupboard was all but bare of experience when she took over in 2022 and ND was 13-6. But a secondround loss was ND’s fate in 2018 and 2019 before the two pandemic-a ected seasons.

The recovery season of ’22 was led by Higginbotham’s oldest daughter, Addy, who hit over .400 as a freshman at Wingate this season and Reece Outlaw, who is playing for UNC in Chapel Hill.

Lilly Fulghum, soon-tobe three-time all-state player, joined the all-star party the following season.

The next spring ND set a single-season record for wins (23-5).

The Rebels went 17-2 in 2023, falling in the fourth round to 1A runner-up Northside-Pinetown

See JAENICKE, page B4

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY BILL CARONE

Marissa Bernal

North Duplin, softball

North Duplin softball coach Jaime Higginbotham says she would like to convince Marissa Bernal to play softball in college, though she’s commited to play volleyball at Louisburg College next fall.

It’s easy to see her rationale as Bernal went 7 of 25 during the playo s, scoring eight times and driving in seven runs.

The senior hit .353 this season with nine doubles, four triples, ve homers, 34 runs and 27 RBIs.

She was also a run-saver in center eld, racing into the gaps, into the shallows of the out eld and to the fence to rob hitters.

Bernal’s star has been shining for three seasons, as she hit .447 and .404 during her junior and sophomore campaigns, respectively.

During the fall she was a rst-team all-Carolina Conference selection for 17-8 ND. She had 57 service aces and a Duplin-high 384 digs.

Her younger sister Gizelle, a freshman starter at third base, has big shoes to ll.

Wells, Brooks succeed by ghting through adversity

Matthew Wells and Will Brooks showed persistence, grit and dedication to become true ’Dawgs

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

TEACHEY — Matthew

Wells and Will Brooks have a few things in common beyond the graduation gowns while being three-year stars in three sports at Wallace-Rose Hill.

Each battled demons on and o the court to sign letters of intent to continue as athletes in college.

Wells, who starred in basketball, football and track, will shoot 3-pointers at Francis Marion next winter.

He averaged 15.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.9 assists for WRH last season to earn all-conference honors in the Swine Valley and rst-team status among his Duplin County peers. WRH got o to a 12-1 start before nishing 18-6. Wells, who played forward and not in the backcourt because it was what the Bulldogs needed, given they did not have a player over 6-foot-1.

Wells played split end and quarterback in football and mixed it up with the big boys despite being just 175 pounds.

“He drowned out all the noise, injuries and negativity and just busted his butt in the weight room,” said WRH football coach Kevin Motsinger. “He just kept getting back up

Matthew Wells, seated left, and his parents, Jack and Wendy Wells, join Will Brooks and his parents, Kenny and Lara Brooks, and WRH head football coach Kevin Motsinger during a college signing for both players in Teachey recently.

and I see him one day as a tremendous father, tremendous husband and a great friend to many. He’s a Timex. He takes all kinds of hits and keeps on ticking.”

Wells came on strong late in the basketball season and was the best player on the oor when WRH was struggling, as he upped his average to 20 points in his last nine games.

“He deservingly got a starting position and then goes about guring out anything in between,” said assistant coach Jaquayle Robinson. “Matt’s taken advantage of every opportunity and played so well, especially since he was so out of position. There’s no doubt in my mind he will surprise a lot of people at the next level.”

Brooks, an all-county linebacker, was a leader on the grid-

iron and the diamond where he hit .328 his nal season, sporting a .303 career mark. He will play football at Wesleyan University, a Division III school in Rocky Mount.

“He shouldn’t have played baseball or football after going to the ECU hospital,” Motsinger said. “I should be speaking about him as a football player, but what he went through goes so much farther than that and into life.”

Wells has no fear on an athletic eld.

“He’s gonna hit you and he’s not scared of anyone,” Motsinger said. “He goes and gets it and will absolutely bite you. He’s a ’Dawg. I thank God I had the chance to watch him and Matt. These two used sports to get opportunities. They didn’t let sports use them.”

via a pair of walks, two hits and a pair of errors.

hitters as she struck out just two Rebels.

“How she battled and fought through was tremendous,” said Bulldog coach Michael Clark. “She’s grown so much. Honestly, I do it for my teammates, family and coaches.”

Her teammates held up their end of the deal by playing superb defense, especially key were gems by shortstop Mann, rst baseman Obie and center elder Kylie Bowers.

Roxboro started its celebration after a 6-4-3 double play. How good and fortunate was Pope?

She gave up 13 hits yet ND mustered up both of its runs in the fth inning, after trailing 7-0.

Obie sacri ced in a run in the rst and Mann, Bowers and Leonard had key hits in the three-run third, which included two walks and Roxboro running around the bases as ND stood in frozen mode.

Karlie Barringer and Obie keyed the two-run fourth, though ND didn’t help its own cause in the eld.

Leonard’s homer in the fth chased away Rebel senior starter Lilly Fulghum, who was relieved by Gracie Higginbotham. The freshman gave up three runs in the sixth

Fulghum and Wyllow Holmes singled and scored via singles by Marissa Bernal and Ady Spence.

But Pope forced a weak pop out from Abigeal Norris with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Gizelle Bernal and Raegan Herring stroked a hit in the sixth and seventh, respectively. But Pope induced three y balls in the sixth and snagged a line drive for thenal out.

ND’s physical and mental elding miscues were the most bothersome to head coach Jaime Higginbotham.

“That’s not Rebel softball and frankly we didn’t play that well, though we had some bright spots,” said Higginbotham, who guided ND to the 1A nal in 2023 before falling to Union Academy.

“We’re a young team and sometimes that inexperience shows,” Fulghum added. “But we had the same energy and same emotion when we got here three years ago.”

“It wasn’t a perfect ending, and it’s not what we wanted, but second place is OK. And we had our chances.”

Roxboro bats came alive for Games 2 and 3.

“We had to make a lot of adjustments because they have two very good pitchers,” Clark

ND will depend on freshman Gracie Higginbotham’s arm and bat in the next three seasons. She was second to senior teammate Lilly Fulghum in most o ensive categories this season.

said. “A player like Lilly (Fulghum) is a competitor, whether she’s in the circle or hitting.” Pope, meanwhile, kept the ball on the outside corner for Fulghum in Game 3 and she chased two pitches to hit long y ball outs to left eld.

“I had to keep it out there,” said Pope of the top hitter in the Duplin Journal-area. “It’s almost like you don’t want to throw her a strike. And even balls on the outside, high or low can be hit by a player like her.” Higginbotham and Spence were the lone Rebels with two hits.

Diamond Notes

Higginbotham (.574, 14 extra-base hits, 38 hits, 38 runs, 16 RBIs) was 16 of 28 in eight playo s games. Fulghum (.607, 21 extras, 17 walks, 41 runs, 39 RBIs) had eight hits, 12 walks and scored 16 times. They are the top two hitters among all Duplin-area players this spring.

After a so-so regular season, Spence (.286, eight extras, 15 runs, 24 RBIs) was 9 of 25 and had 10 postseason RBIs. She hit .396 as a junior and .388 her rst season.

Marissa Bernal (.353,18 extras, 34 runs, 27 RBIs) was 7 of 25, scored eight times and drove in seven runs. The senior was the recipient of the NCHSAA’s Sportsmanship Award.

Next-level: 3 Panthers sign letters of intent

Shawn Davis will continue his football dream at Albany State, while Tavarius Dawson and Branson Norris head to Guilford College

By Michael Jaenicke Duplin Journal

BEULAVILLE — The Albany State football team is known for its ground attack and defense.

It’s a seemingly perfect t for East Duplin’s Shawn Davis, a three-time all-Duplin performer who signed a letter of intent with the Division II school in southwest Georgia.

Davis was a keynote performer on both sides of the ball his senior season because the Panthers needed his ability and presence when the ball was snapped.

The three-year starter at fullback ran for 3,840 yards and 53 TDs during his career. He put up 1,464 and 1,144 in his previous two seasons before getting 1,207 yards and 16 scores as a senior and also making 89 tackles with an expanded role on defense for the ECC-winning Panthers.

Davis made 69 tackles in his rst three seasons. His

biggest game might have been when he had 15 takedowns during a 20-13 win over Clinton.

He heads to the largest HBCU in Georgia after leading ED to a 25-11 mark the past three seasons. The Golden Rams are 443-311-22 and have 23 conference titles.

Two of his teammates will likewise continue their athletic journeys as quarterback Branson Norris and defensive lineman Tavarius Dawson.

Norris hit on 40 of 88 for 628 yards with 12 TDs and was intercepted just once in Battle Holley’s run-orientated Wing T o ense.

He was the MVP of the Field Events for the ECC this spring, winning both hurdles races and landing in third in the high jump. Dawson, who tips the scales just over 300 pounds, had 62 tackles as a rst-team all-Duplin player. That number is twice what the average lineman normally has in a season.

Guilford is a Division III school in Greensboro.

The Quakers were 2-8 last fall and have carved out a 341-641-26 mark since 1893, around the time the rst leather helmets were worn by players.

GIRLS’ SOCCER STATS

G A PTs

Carrly Strickland (ND) 32 11 75

Anamarie Rodriguez (ED) 30 9 69

Tristen Stemmler (ND) 23 3 49

Alayah Wilson (JK) 22 0 44

Bayleen Flores (WRH) 20 4 44

Joselin Mata-Aguilar (ED) 18 7 43

Sosa Hernande-Espino (ED) 9 15 33

Yaneidi Cruz (JK) 10 12 32

Sasha Arguijo (ND) 13 4 30

Roselin Orozco (ND 10 6 26

Gabby Debnam (WRH) 11 3 25

Yaslin Melendez (WRH) 11 3 25

Arley Irula (JK) 4 5 13

Reagan Campbell (ED) 4 4 12

Melanie Reyes (ED) 5 1 11

Brianna Maradiaga (WRH) 4 2 10

Abby Rose (ND) 3 1 7

HITTING

PITCHING

BASEBALL STATS

Hurler Fulghum was all set to get out of a two-out, bases loaded jam in the fourth, before rst baseman Gracie Higginbotham lost a pop y in the sun.

It stayed 3-2 until the Spence worked the count in her favor and made solid contact against hurler Kaylyn Pope.

Fulghum wiggled her way out of trouble in two other innings. In the third she had runners at rst and second with no outs but struck out Leonard and got Gri n and Karsyn Dodson to pop out. Dodson doubled with one out in the fth but was stranded when Fulghum retired the next two hitters.

The eighth was the lone time ND set down Roxboro in order.

Higginbotham got Mann to hit a y ball for the rst out. The second out came when Fulghum stabbed a line drive at shortstop. Her punchout of Obie seemed to build momentum for the Rebel o ense.

Game 2: Bulldogs 10, Rebels 6

Roxboro evened the series the next day by jumping on Higginbotham four runs in the opening inning. Leonard slammed a two-run shot and Lexi Powell doubled in two more. It was 4-1 because of a Marissa Bernal single and RBI triple by cleanup hitter Fulghum.

Fulghum’s sacri ce y in the third trimmed the de cit to 6-2.

Things were totally haywire in the three-run fourth as ND’s defense and decision making and three timely hits pushed the margin to 9-2. Two runs came on a elder’s choice that didn’t produce an out in the books.

The mercy rule looked possible for Roxboro in the fth after and Obie sacri ce y made it 10-2. The run was setup by two walks, an error and a passed ball.

ND made Pope work hard in her nal three frames.

She escaped the fth when third baseman Leonard caught Higginbotham’s line drive seemingly destined for the left eld line.

Pope walked three and Roxboro had three miscues in the two-run sixth.

Spence knocked in Higginbotham, who had singled, in the seventh and Raegan Herring’s y ball to center scored another run to trim the margin to four runs.

The comeback came up short when Roxboro executed a game-ending 6-4-2 double play as ND had the pond lled with ducks.

The two teams combined for at least eight outstanding defensive plays. Gonzalez made a catch back pedaling into the out eld to squeeze a potential hit in the second, the same inning Herring made a solid catch in right eld.

Spence made a clutch out at second in the third and center elder Marissa Bernal had two outstanding catches, including a ball she laid out for in the fth that had hit written all over it.

Roxboro CF Kylie Bowers caught an Ady Spence y ball in the third in the gap that would have scored two runs. Bulldog catcher Gri n also caught Gizelle Bernal attempting to steal second base in the fourth.

Around the classi cation horn

Regional teams of note during the playo s include:

• East Columbus (21-7), which tied ND for the top spot in the Carolina Conference, lost to Bear Grass Charter (24-5) in the 1A nals series.

• Trask (16-6), who beat Midway (21-2) in the fourth round, lost McMichael in the East Region nal in 3A.

• Randleman (25-4), who beat East Duplin (19-4) in the fourth round in 4A, lost to eventual champ Southwestern Randolph (25-4) in the East Region nal. Southwestern Randolph topped West Stanly in two games for the crown.

• West Carteret (22-6) saw its state title hopes vanish after two losses to Enka (25-3) in the 5A nals in Durham.

and were 14-4 the following season after a shocking 12-1 loss to Bear Grass Charter in the third round.

So in one respect, ND’s push to the nals this spring and eventual loss in three games to charter school Roxboro is cause for celebration.

Yet they could not end Duplin County’s all-sports jinx.

The county has not won a state championship in a major team sport since East Duplin took its rst crown home in 2022.

The James Kenan football team knocked on the door last fall before falling to Kinston in the East Region nal.

ND loses Fulghum to UNC Charlotte as well as Ady Spence and Marissa Bernal, a pair of proven stars

Yet Higginbotham is sure to get her 100th win at ND next season behind a cast of returnees that include her youngest daughter Gracie and freshmen upstarts Wyllow Holmes and Gizelle Bernal and rising seniors Norris, a catcher, and shortstop Hannah Gonzalez.

And the Rebels are not small school with a reputation of making long runs in the playo s.

ND can beat teams in any classi cation.

And yet the Rebels win and the presence of Higginbotham, a southpaw pitcher, is enough to ensure ND will be a contender in the next three seasons.

NBA

Rozier hit with new bribery charges in sports gambling sting

Federal prosecutors have indicted ex-Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on additional charges related to a sports gambling sting. The 32-year- old was charged with bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he took a hefty bribe to exit a game early in March 2023. He has denied participating in the gambling scheme and is ghting to have the case dismissed. His attorneys argue the government’s theory runs afoul of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

NCAA ATHLETICS

Big 12 becoming rst Power Four conference to have all members agree to CSC participation

Frisco, Texas

The Big 12 is the rst Power Four conference to have each of its members sign participation agreements with the College Sports Commission. That is the agency formed last year to police name, image and likeness payments. The agreement requires schools to waive their right to le lawsuits against the enforcement agency and gives it wide latitude to sanction programs for violating rules that outline how players can be paid. All 68 Power Four schools must sign the 11-page document for it to become valid.

that in softball. When zeros are pasted up on the scoreboard of the opponents, it’s remarkably easier to score enough runs to continue to mercy-rule half of its scheduled games.

ND will recover from the loss of Fulghum, Bernal and Spence like it did when Outlaw, Rylee Pate, Haley Brogden, Callie Thornton, Courtney Brock, Alyssa Santos, Riley Hatch and Rayanna and Makayla Koch departed.

They look unreplaceable at the time and while some are and were, the Softball Gods have consistently delivered more rescue angels from which ND can build its team around.

Yet the Rebels are not a school that can handpick players as noted by Higginbotham after ND’s Game 3 loss to Roxboro Charter.

“In the beginning of the year I would probably have laughed if you said we’d be here (2A nals),” Higginbotham said. “It’s nice to be in the top-2 in the state. But we have three kids that play travel ball, one who never played softball before this season and others who are learning the game.

“We are not a charter or private school and get our players from the middle school. We’re a small town, and they really support us.”

The Rebels have championship pedigree and always seem to be in the hunt to collect more trophies. They are the blueprint of softball success for a small school. JAENICKE from page B1

A really good hurler can do

PUBLIC HEARING

Town Of Teachey Budget Approval for 2026-2027

6/8/26 @ 6:00pm | Town Of Teachey Town Hall Questions call Clerk Morgan Jacobs @ 910-285-7564

TOWN OF WALLACE

TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

March 12, 2026, after 6:00 PM NOTICE IS HEARBY GIVEN that the Town Council of theTown of Wallace has called for a Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing on a Special Use Permit Application at the Wallace Women’s Club, located at 216 N. East Railroad Street, Wallace, NC 28466, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, after 6:00 PM for the following: The applicant is seeking to construct multi-family apartments on SE Railroad Street; zoned R-6 (residential, minimum lot size 6,000 sq.ft.), Parcel ID 09-2693. Persons wishing to speak on the issues are invited to attend and be heard at the scheduled public hearing.

Persons having questions may contact Rod Fritz, Planning Director at (910) 285-4136 or rfritz@wallacenc.gov.

TOWN OF WALLACE

TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

June 11, 2026, after 6:00 PM NOTICE IS HEARBY GIVEN that the Town Council of theTown of Wallace has called for a Public Hearing at the Wallace Women’s Club, located at 216 N. East Railroad Street, Wallace, NC 28466, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, after 6:00 PM for the following: The applicant is seeking to rezone 2.66 acres, Pin 3314-35-68270000 located at 10771 US Hwy 117 N, from HB (highway business) to R-6C (residential, minimum lot size 6,000 sq.ft., conditional). Persons wishing to speak on the issues are invited to attend and be heard at the scheduled public hearing.

Persons having questions may contact Rod Fritz, Planning Director at (910) 285-4136 or rfritz@wallacenc.gov.

obituaries

Myril Garner

Oct. 5, 1941 – May 29, 2026

Myril Elizabeth Peterson Garner, formerly of Wilmington, passed away on May 29, 2026, at The Gardens of Rose Hill. She was 84 years old. James Roger Garner, her husband of 44 years, preceded her in death in 2007. She was born in Harrells on October 5, 1941, to Carroll James Peterson and Ella Wells Peterson, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death are brothers Gerald Dean Peterson and Jimmy Wells Peterson; sisters Hazel Peterson Hall, Vickey Peterson Blackburn and infant Mickey Peterson.

Though she did not have children, she showed great motherly love to her nieces, nephews and their families.

Surviving nieces and nephews are Michael Blackburn of Rose Hill; Dwayne Peterson of Willard; Todd Peterson of Penderlea; Dawn Hall Sikes of Creedmoor; Amanda Hall Bartlet of Ohio; Rebecca Scruggs of South Carolina; and Sandi Bailey of Scotts Hill. Also surviving her are sister-in-law Faye Boney Peterson of Willard and brother-in-law Graham Blackburn of Warsaw.

Oct. 1, 1952 – May 27, 2026

Allen Gurganus, 73, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Johnny & Irene Gurganus, brothers, Morris and Johnny Ray Gurganus and sisters, Pat Mintz and Francis Futrell.

The funeral service is Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 4 p.m. with visitation at 3:00 PM Interment will be private

He is survived by wife Julie Gurganus of Beulaville, NC; daughters April Fike (Stephen) of Beulaville, NC, Renee West, of Cape Carteret, NC, and Megan Smith (Carmi), Lafeyette, Ga.; brothers Travis Gurganus (Janice) of Maysville, NC, and Wilbur Gurganus (Jackie) of Richlands, NC; sisters Gloria Locklear (Mike) of Jacksonville, NC, and Betty Davis (Mickey) of Lyman, NC

In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Community Funeral Home, P.O Box 715, Beulaville, NC 28518.

Milton “Sherille” Sherwood Miller

June 17, 1948 – May 28, 2026

Milton “Sherille” Sherwood Miller, 77, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2026

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bland & Leona Miller and his wife, Joyce Ann Miller, and daughter Melissa Ann Chase.

A graveside service will be Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Sand Hill Cemetery in Pink Hill, NC

He is survived by son Milton Sherwood Miller Jr. (Tania) of Pink Hill, NC; grandchildren Kristian Chase Long, Donovan Chase, Taylor Miller, Lillie Maegan Miller, Kayleigh Chase, Shane Bryan and Cameron Kennedy; and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Garner was raised in Harrells. She graduated from Wallace Rose Hill High School and Miller-Motte Business College.

During years of marriage, she and Roger lived in Scotts Hill and Wilmington and enjoyed many professional and personal associations within those communities. Ms. Garner was a long-time faithful member of Epworth United Methodist Church. Her Epworth relationships were very important to her. She worked at Carolina Power and Light and later Duke Energy Progress where she retired with over 40 years of service. Upon her retirement, she volunteered at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in its greeter program until she was no longer able to serve due to COVID-19.

Family stories of her childhood, many of which included shenanigans and predicaments of her, her siblings, and her double rst cousins, Vaughn Cile, Grace, Myrtle, Jack, and Douglas, always brought her a quick laugh. She so enjoyed sharing these stories with others and reliving those days of growing up in the Harrells community.

Aunt Myril loved to go to the beauty parlor and nail salon for a bit of pampering. She also enjoyed wearing good-looking clothes with the perfectly appointed accessories, including her pocketbook that was packed full of essentials. She enjoyed traveling and reading. Though she did not enjoy cooking, she indeed mastered the art of pound cake making.

An intimate memorial service for Mrs. Garner will be held at the home of Michael J Blackburn, 248 Ward Rd, Rose Hill, on Sunday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m.

Brenda Kennedy Pierce

Nov. 20, 1956 – May 25, 2026

Brenda Kennedy Pierce, 69, passed gently from her earthly life Monday, May 25, 2026 at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington.

She was born on November 20, 1956, in Pender County, the daughter of Rupert Valentine Kennedy and Margaret Futreal Dixon. In addition to her parents, Brenda was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Dean Pierce, in 2025.

Brenda is survived by her children, Kirk Johnson (Sonja), Paul Johnson (Michelle), Holly Johnson (Wesley Tyler), and Je ery Johnson (Amber); ten grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; Sisters, Shirley Dawson, Katie Glover (Rickey). Sandra Meeks, Linda Holloman (Bill), and Barbara Romainger (Danny); many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Brenda loved spending time with family and friends. Her grandchildren were true joys in her life and what fun she had with them. Brenda was famous for her special collards and potato salad.

Brenda had a cat named Jo-Jo that she dearly loved. Brenda was tough and a true ghter, demonstrating fortitude and courage throughout her illness.

Brenda loved deeply and will be dearly missed. The memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with Mr. Joey Sadusky and Mr. Bill King conducting the service. The family will receive friends following the service.

With gratitude and special thanks to the “Super Hero Hospice team” – Monica Bass, Sonia Swart, and Chaplain Kenya – for their care, support and uplifting spirit. You created a positive in uence on Brenda’s end of life journey and our family is eternally grateful.

Michael “Mike”

Joseph Russell

March 4, 1956 – May 24, 2026

Michael “Mike” Joseph Russell, age 70, resident of River Landing in Wallace, North Carolina, passed from this life to his eternal rest on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

He was born on March 4, 1956, in Washington, D.C., to the late Joseph Ralph and Ruth Fulmer Russell from District Heights, Maryland.

Mike was a devout Catholic who was an active member of Trans guration of Jesus Catholic Church in Wallace, North Carolina. Mike built his own private investigating company and was very successful for over 40 years in Virginia, Maryland and the DC area. His partners, Rick and Mark will carry on his legacy.

Surviving to cherish his memory is his soul mate and wife of 48 years Carole Brousseau Russell; sister Linda Brown and husband Jimmy of Huntingtown, Maryland; brothers Tom Russell and wife Mary of Fairfax, Virginia and Dave Russell of Waldorf, Maryland; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved Mike dearly. Mike was a loving husband

Timothy “Tom” Houston

May 30, 1942 – May 27, 2026

Timothy “Tom” Houston, 83, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. at his home.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe & Rosella Houston, brothers, Cecil and Alex Houston and sisters, Annette Houston, Yvonnie Futrell and Cathie Jones.

The funeral service is Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Interment will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in Pink Hill, NC

he is survived by wife Marie Swinson Houston of Pink Hill, NC; son Timothy Houston (Jennifer) of Pink Hill, NC; daughter Tomme Maier (Je rey) of Pink Hill, NC; sisters Ester Sumner, Donnie Sumner (Glenn) and Tynie Sumner, all of Pink Hill, NC, Hope Steppler of Penn; grandchildren Avry, Kaylen (Jude), Becky, Kacie (Donnie), Jenna (Ryan), Grace (Jonathan), Faith (Cody), Joley, Joseph (Zoey), Christian and Allison; and great-grandchildren Cadence, Kaleb, Ayden, Madelyn, Mason, Ryan, Athena, Emily, Wyatt and Avery

SPONSORED BY

QUINN MCGOWEN FUNERAL HOME

and brother who loved his family with all his heart. He was an avid golfer and a lover of Golden Retrievers. Over the years he and Carole cared for ten golden retrievers, and the most recent is Riley and Rocco. Mike’s passion was helping others. With a heart full of compassion, he took care of everyone. He was a people person who was always looking for a way to make life easier for others. Mike was very good at giving sound advice to those who asked and even to some who didn’t ask. He loved a challenge and could always make the ‘impossible’ become possible. Many of the people Mike met became his extended family. He was fondly called “Uncle Mike” by many who knew him. Near the end of his life, Mike made the statement that he wanted more time here to take care of people. He touched so many lives during his life and will be greatly missed. He was truly a giver and servant of God.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Trans guration of Jesus Catholic Church, 510 E. Main Street, Wallace, NC 28466. There will be a reception following the funeral mass at 12:15 p.m. at the River Landing Clubhouse, 120 Clubhouse Dr, Wallace, NC 28466. Casual/ Dinner attire is welcome.

There will also be a celebration of life service for Mike on Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 3:00pm to 7:00 pm at Robin Hill Farms and Vineyards, 15800 Crooms Road, Brandywine, Maryland 20613. Very casual dress. In lieu of owers, donations may be given in memory of Mike to Trans guration of Jesus Catholic Church, PO Box 1601, Wallace, NC 28466, or you may place it in the o ertory basket.

Ben Price

Jan. 3, 1940 – May 28, 2026

Ben Price, age 86 of Kenansville, NC, died Thursday, May 28, 2026 at home. He is preceded in death by his wife Carolyn Price.

A funeral service will be Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. at Serenity Funeral Home in Beulaville.

The graveside service will be private.

Mr. Price is survived by his daughter, Amy P. Rhodes and husband Chris of Beulaville; son, Michael Price and wife Jennifer; sister, Shirley Blackmon of Kenansville; four grandchildren, Courtney Thomas and husband Jeremy, Cody Rhodes and Alyssa, Tyler Price and Rebecca, Lindsey Price; and one great grandchild, Hadley Thomas.

David Glenn Wells

May 1, 1979 – May 24, 2026

David Glenn Wells, 47, passed from his earthly life on Sunday, May 24, 2026. He was born May 1, 1979, in Wilmington, the son of Roger Glenn Wells and Diane Eakins Wells.

In addition to his loving parents, David is survived by his sister, Stephanie W. Long; one niece, Whitney Penny; three nephews, Jeremy, Jamie, and Grey; and one great niece, Laila Penny. David was employed with Hardwood Specialty Products.

David was a loving and caring man and will be greatly missed.

Following David’s request, no services will be held.

Rachel Bell

July 4, 1932 – May 25, 2026

Rachel Eliza James Bell, a beloved mother, grandmother, and matriarch, passed away peacefully on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, at the age of 93.

Born on the Fourth of July in 1932, Rachel brought a lifetime of light, warmth, and devotion to everyone who knew her.

Rachel was a woman of profound faith and family devotion. She spent 59 beautiful years walking hand in hand through life and ministry alongside her husband, the late Rev. James Lee Bell. Together, they built a legacy of love, service, and community. Rachel took immense pride in upholding a Christian home, centering her days around daily devotions, supporting her local church, and quietly giving back to multiple charities.

Known for her steadfast standards, she was a person who took great pride in keeping a clean, welcoming home. She expressed her love through her exceptional cooking, known for serving up some good southerninspired spaghetti, chicken-npastry and pecan pies. Above all, she was dedicated to teaching sound morals and life practices to her children and grandchildren, ensuring they grew up with a strong foundation of faith and character.

She will be welcomed into heaven by her beloved husband James Bell; her parents, Walter Raleigh James and Lizzie Louvenia Thompson James; her ten brothers and sisters; and her cherished grandson, Samuel Ray Austin Bell.

Rachel’s memory and spirit will live on through her devoted family. She is survived by her two sons and their wives, who were the pride of her life: Jimmy Ray Bell and his wife, Tina, of Florence, SC; and Luther Ervin Bell and his wife, Debbie, of Easley, SC. Also surviving is her loving and devoted sister, Zannie Ruth James Brown of Rocky Point, NC. She was the proud grandmother of ve surviving grandsons and their wives: Timothy Bell (Sara), Phillip Bell (Melissa), Stephen Bell (Kelli), Bryan Bell (Leigh), and Harrison Bell (Chelsea). An added blessing through the marriage of one of her sons is two stepgrandchildren, Kristi Finley and Sean Teaster. A ectionately known as “GG” to the youngest generations of her family, Rachel leaves behind eleven greatgrandchildren, two step greatgrandchildren and a total of seven great-great-grandchildren, all of whom brought immense joy to her later years. A joy throughout her life was the numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly and of whom she counted as extra blessings direct from God. She delighted in being called Aunt Rachel.

Rachel’s life was de ned by her unwavering love for her family, her gentle spirit, and her steadfast grace. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy of love and lessons will forever remain in the hearts of those she held dear.

A graveside service at the James Family Cemetery, Wallace, NC (located between Pin Hook and Cypress Creek on Lightwood Bridge Road), will be held Sunday afternoon, May 31, 2026, at approximately 3:00 pm, with visitation with family and friends beginning at 2:00 pm. Rachel’s grandson, Rev. Dr. Harrison James Bell will o ciate.

Man’s journey from Eastern North Carolina to White House

University of Mount Olive graduate Cirilo Perez helped guide Lumbee recognition legislation

Duplin Journal sta

When President Donald Trump signed legislation granting full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe in December 2025, one of the people standing in the Oval O ce had deep roots in eastern North Carolina. For University of Mount Olive graduate Cirilo Perez, the moment represented the culmination of years of policy work, months of research, and a journey that began on a family farm far from the nation’s capital.

For Perez, a rst-generation college graduate, the signing marked the culmination of nearly three years of work on an issue he knew little about when it rst landed on his desk.

Perez, who graduated in 2016 with a degree in criminal justice and criminology, now serves as Senior Professional Sta for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis. In late 2022, he was assigned to help advance legislation seeking federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe.

Rather than rely on existing assumptions, Perez immersed himself in the issue, studying historical records, congressional testimony, and previous recognition e orts. He worked closely with Lumbee leaders, tribal advocates, academics, and congressional sta to better understand a debate that had stretched across generations.

The e ort focused heavily on educating lawmakers about the tribe’s history and addressing longstanding concerns surrounding federal recognition.

After months of negotiations and years of legislative e orts, the Lumbee Fairness Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation passed Congress in December 2025 and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Dec. 18. Perez attended the signing ceremony alongside Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery

and other tribal representatives.

“Knowing the history and how long the Lumbee people had waited made it incredibly meaningful,” Perez said.

While the Oval O ce ceremony represented a career milestone, Perez credits much of his path to lessons learned long before Washington. Raised in Johnston County, he says the values instilled by his parents have guided every step of his journey.

He also points to his time at the University of Mount Olive, where classroom discussions, athletics, and faculty mentorship helped prepare him for a career in public service.

Today, Perez views the Lumbee recognition e ort as a reminder of the importance of public service.

“It’s about serving people and honoring their stories,” he said. “That’s a responsibility I carry with me every day.”UMO Alumnus Cirilo Perez has focused his work and commitment to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Colorado elections clerk released from prison after governor commutes sentence

Tina Peters served less than a quarter of her nine-year prison sentence

The Associated Press

DENVER — Tina Peters, the former clerk convicted of participating in a scheme to chase election conspiracy theories promulgated by President Donald Trump, was released from prison Monday after the president successfully pressured Colorado’s Democratic governor into commuting her sentence.

Peters’ release was conrmed by the Colorado Department of Corrections. The state agency said it would have no more information about the 70-year- old inmate. Her sentence was shortened by Gov. Jared Polis last month after

Trump waged a lengthy pressure campaign against the governor and his state.

Peters served less than a quarter of her nine-year sentence.

Peters was the rst local election o cial to be charged with breaching security after the 2020 election. She snuck in an outside computer expert a liated with MyPillow Chief Executive Mike Lindell — who himself denied that Trump lost the White House in 2020 — and the person copied the county’s Dominion Voting Systems computer server as it was updated in 2021. Peters then joined Lindell onstage at a “cybersymposium” that promised to reveal proof that the election was rigged. Video and photos of the computer system upgrade, including passwords, were posted

online. The move stoked false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Trump.

Peters was convicted in 2024 of attempting to in uence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, violation of duty and other crimes by jurors in Mesa County, a Republican stronghold that supported Trump. An appeals court upheld her conviction in April but ordered Peters to be resentenced because it said the judge who sent her to prison wrongly punished her for speaking out about election fraud.

Trump had championed Peters’ case, but because she was convicted under state law, he did not have the power to pardon her. Instead, the president pressured Polis to do so, lambasting him on social media

and disinviting him to a White House meeting with other governors. The Trump administration also announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado and relocated the U.S. Space Command to Alabama. Polis commuted Peters’ sentence on May 15. In a letter, he wrote that although Peters was convicted of serious crimes and deserved to spend time in prison, the sentence was “extremely unusual and lengthy” for a rst-time nonviolent o ender. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, on Monday released a statement warning that the release will “embolden the election denier movement” and adding that, since the clemency announcement, Peters “has continued to spread election falsehoods and conspiracies.”