VOLUME 11 ISSUE 16 | THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
National initiative puts UMO at forefront of precision agriculture University of Mount Olive Precision Agriculture Program Coordinator Jesse Gilsinger, center, discusses the university’s new EAVision J150 spray drone with students from the House of Raeford Farms School of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. Turn to A6 for the story.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE
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BRIEF this week
Herring named to National Pork Board The Duplin County pork producer joins a 15-member board overseeing the Pork Checkoff program By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
Controlled agricultural burns expected across Duplin County Residents may notice visible smoke across parts of Duplin County in the coming weeks as farmers conduct controlled burns in harvested wheat fields, according to Duplin County Public Safety agricultural guidance. Officials said the fires are intentionally set and carefully managed as part of standard farming operations used to remove leftover crop residue, manage pests and prepare fields for the next planting season. Residents are advised that, in most cases, the smoke is expected and not an emergency. However, officials encourage the public to remain alert. If a fire appears to be spreading beyond its intended area or seems out of control, residents should call 911 immediately.
Cedar Fork community club meeting Beulaville The Cedar Fork Community Club will hold its monthly meeting on June 16 at 7 p.m. at 1412 Cedar Fork Road in Beulaville. The club meets each month to discuss and support community activities.
Community blood drive Kenansville St. John’s Lodge #13 will host a community blood drive on Tuesday, June 23, from 1 to 6 p.m. at 113 Lodge Street in Kenansville. Organizers say there is a critical need for blood donations and are encouraging eligible donors to participate in the event.
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MOUNT OLIVE — Duplin County pork producer Chad Herring will help guide national policy and priorities for the U.S. pork industry after being appointed to the National Pork Board by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Herring, a Mount Olive farmer and executive director of NC
Farm Families, was one of five pork producers selected this year to serve on the 15-member board. The National Pork Board oversees the Pork Checkoff program and directs investments in research, consumer education and promotion efforts designed to strengthen demand for pork and support producers nationwide. For Herring, the appointment See HERRING, page A6
COURTESY PHOTO
Chad Herring gives a tour of his family’s pork farm to local students.
Transition turbulence surfaces at sheriff’s office Outgoing and incoming leaders clash over access, staffing and the road ahead By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Tensions over the upcoming leadership change at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office have surfaced publicly, with outgoing Sheriff
Stratton Stokes and incoming Sheriff Eric Southerland offering differing accounts of how preparations for the change in leadership are being handled. In a statement posted to social media last week directed at sheriff’s office staff, Southerland, who is running unopposed in the November election, criticized current leadership and characterized the current transition as unusually restrictive compared to historical precedents in Du-
“I offered my assistance, only for him to propose two ill-conceived options.” Sheriff Stratton Stokes plin County. He claims that past sheriffs were given “unrestricted access” before taking office. He also warned of what he described
Beulaville adopts budget without tax or utility increases The mayor praised efforts to keep Beulaville clean through consistent code enforcement By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal BEULAVILLE — Beulaville residents will not see higher property taxes or utility rates under the town’s proposed 2026-27 budget after commissioners voted to strip the increases during the June 1 meeting in Beulaville. The spending plan still provides a 2.5% raise for town employees. Town Manager Lori Williams gave updates on Public Works projects nearing completion and responded to concerns about road conditions. “The dips in the road on
Chasen are being addressed by DOT, and it has been proposed that Highway 41 will be repaved over the next year,” Williams told the board. Williams also said that an extension request on the water and sewer project has been submitted to the state for approval. Police Chief Karl Mobley shared that the Beulaville Police Department has been working with state and local agencies investigating a string of shootings reported across the county since April. Mobley said that a shooting in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, led investigators to obtain a search warrant that resulted in the recovery of three weapons in May. He stated See BEULAVILLE, page A5
“It takes establishing rules and sticking to them to make a town clean.” Mayor Hutch Jones
as complacency within the agency’s leadership. In response, Stokes issued a separate public statement defending his administration and outlining multiple instances in which he said he facilitated access for Southerland, including facility tours, discussions on personnel matters, and the sharing of salary information. Stokes said he has encouraged See SHERIFF, page A2