VOLUME 11 ISSUE 17 | THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Beach music, barbecue highlight Beach Brew and Que Participants of the Beach Brew and Que braved the sweltering 90-degree heat Saturday at the Duplin Event Center for the event featuring live beach music performances and a whole hog barbecue competition. Turn to A6 for more photos.
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$40M state-funded project brings BRIEF this week long-awaited hospital improvements Town offices closed for Juneteenth Mount Olive Town of Mount Olive offices will be closed on June 19 for Juneteenth. Regular services resume June 22. While garbage collection remains unchanged, the recyclable center is closed June 20 and will reopen June 23 at 8 a.m. For 24/7 water or sewer emergencies, call nonemergency dispatch at 919-658-5031 ext. 0.
FLOCK matching gift boosts Camp Corral fundraiser Rose Hill House of Raeford Farms FLOCK contributed a $15,000 matching gift to help Camp Corral raise $40,000 during its Spring 2026 fundraising campaign. FLOCK also provided an additional $15,000 this year to support Camp Corral’s SALUTE Leadership Program, which offers leadership and service opportunities for military teens. Camp Corral, which is marking its 15th year, provides summer camp experiences for children of wounded, ill and fallen servicemembers. Funds raised through the campaign will support camp programs and services for military-connected youth during the summer.
The investment will fund a permanent MRI unit, surgical modernization and expansion of the emergency department By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal A $40 MILLION investment in ECU Health Duplin Hospital is set to bring major up-
For many Duplin County residents, the biggest impact may come from a service that currently arrives on wheels. ECU Health Duplin Hospital relies on a mobile MRI unit operated through a third-party contract, but approximately $4 million of the investment will See HOSPITAL, page A5
3-seat majority backs Warsaw budget despite missing financial data concerns Two elected officials say key financial documents have not been provided as audits and records show repeated budget variances By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal AS WARSAW moves through its FY 2026–27 budget process, officials say they
are doing so without complete financial data. Mayor Wesley Boykin and Commissioner Ebony Willis Wells said Town Manager Lea Turner has not provided a gen-
eral ledger, active contracts or staffing data. “Myself as well as other elected officials have repeatedly requested a full detailed breakdown of the general ledger and current contracts as we heard there’s about $600,000 looking to be approved … there’s no breakdown as to what those contracts are,” said Wells.
Wallace adopts $11.48M budget without raising property taxes, utility rates The council advanced rezoning requests and discussed mobile home park improvements By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal
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grades to healthcare services in Duplin County, including a permanent MRI unit, expanded surgical facilities, and a redesigned emergency department aimed at improving patient care
and meeting growing demand. “This is really good news for Duplin County,” said Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin). “Access to quality healthcare and medical services is one of the most important issues facing rural North Carolina, and we constantly hear concerns about the availability, or lack of availability, of care in rural communities.”
WALLACE — Planning Director Rod Fritz presented several permit requests at the June 11 Wallace Town Council meeting, including proposals for an apartment complex and multiple rezonings. The request was for a special-interest permit for an
apartment complex. The project would consist of four three-story buildings with garden-style, market-rate apartments. The permit is intended to help secure more favorable financing and keep construction costs within budget. Town Attorney Anna Heath explained that because the permit requires a quasi-judicial hearing, the applicant must provide expert testimony to prove the project won’t harm public safety or property values. The hearing was rescheduled for July 9 because the developer did See WALLACE, page A2
“We have a responsibility to provide adequate housing for all.” Jason Wells, Wallace mayor
Pointing to condensed budget summaries, Turner said, “The line item budget is right here. That is your general ledger.” She maintained that the “budget preparation transaction” document — a 24-page line-item list — served as the itemized ledger for the board’s review. See WARSAW, page A2