VOLUME 11 ISSUE 4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
Wallace Fire operations restored Wallace The Wallace Fire Department is fully operational and responding to emergency calls, according to Wallace Town Councilman Glenn Price. While the town’s contract with Teachey Fire Department remains in effect through March 23, Wallace firefighters and trucks are now responding to all calls within town limits. Price noted that former members of the department who chose to reapply have responded positively. The reorganization comes after the retirement of Chief Sammy Marshburn and the departure of several long-serving volunteers, which left the department in disarray. According to Price, the council determined that restructuring was necessary to restore operational order and ensure town oversight of the department, which had historically operated autonomously. Price emphasized that public safety remains the top priority and that all actions were taken in consultation with the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Free preventive dental care for children Kenansville The N.C. Oral Health Section, in partnership with the Duplin County Health Department, will offer a nocost preventive dental clinic for children ages 6 to 14 from April 6-10. Services include dental sealants, fluoride varnish and oral health education. The clinic will be held at the Duplin County Health Department at 340 Seminary St. in Kenansville. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 910-296-2130, and walk-ins are welcome.
Panel discussion Magnolia A panel discussion on mental health and the prison system will take place on Saturday, April 4 from noon to 2 p.m. at St. James AME Zion Church at 448 Carroll St. in Magnolia. The discussion will explore the experiences of prisoners with mental illness, strategies for supporting reentry, challenges faced by correctional officers, and approaches to rehabilitation and education. Guest speakers include Sheriff-elect Eric Sutherland, Parole Officer Jason Szybka and Judicial District Manager Ashley Dail among others.
REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Main Street comes alive for Faison Farmers Parade Hundreds of people lined Main Street in Faison on Saturday for the annual Farmers Parade and Festival. Turn to A6 for more.
Mount Olive board strips mayor of key powers The closed session may have violated the state’s Open Meetings Law By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal MOUNT OLIVE — In what was a contentious meeting that had citizens in the audience challenging the board at times, the Mount Olive Board of Commis-
ton stormed out of the meeting. In what became a meeting requiring Turner to frequently tell the board how to proceed, the commissioners voted for Simmons to lead the meeting. Simmons then called for a closed session, which resulted in several comments from the audience asking for the reason for a closed session. See MAYOR, page A3
Wallace council approves rezoning for 149-acre development A resident raised traffic concerns as the town backed a planned unit development behind Walmart By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal THE WALLACE TOWN Council approved the rezoning of a 149-acre tract behind Walmart for a mixed-use planned unit de-
velopment during a March 12 public hearing despite concerns from residents about increased traffic on River Road. Wallace Planning Director Rod Fritz explained the proposed development would con-
sist of single-family homes, apartments, townhomes, recreational areas, a greenway and a dog park. He added those were all part of a master plan for the community. During the public hearing, one resident expressed concern over the traffic the new development could bring to the area. He added that traffic coming off of
Services, community concerns spark debate in Warsaw Grace periods, confusion and fees drove the billing policy discussion By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
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sioners held a special meeting on March 12. Immediately after the opening procedures, Mayor Pro Tem Delreese Simmons asked Mayor Jerome Newton to recuse himself from the meeting, which Newton refused to do. The board voted unanimously to have Newton recused, which resulted in Newton asking town attorney Carroll Turner if the action was legal. After Turner advised Newton that it was, New-
THE WARSAW BOARD of Commissioners tackled multiple community issues at its March meeting, including the renewal of the town’s garbage contract, the recycling program and utility billing policies, and the discussions were marked by heated debate. The board discussed the renewal of the town’s garbage collection contract with Tons of Trash, which expires June 30. The company proposed a standard annual cost-of-living adjustment of roughly 5% tied to the Consumer Price Index, and
town manager Lea Turner said the town must notify the company by the end of the month if it intends to rebid the contract. Recycling was a major topic. Turner noted many recyclables are contaminated with food, wet paper or plastic lids, making them nonrecyclable. “In my personal opinion, I don’t feel we have enough citizens that are taking advantage of the service,” said Turner. Tensions escalated as residents voiced concerns about missed recycling pickups and the cost of the service. At one point, law enforcement had to intervene and the board called for a break. The board considered whether to remove recycling from the contract or invest in enhanced See WARSAW, page A2
“I just think if we go back to a one-month policy, it would be a lot less confusion and a lot easier for everyone.” Lea Turner, Warsaw town manager
MARK GRADY FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
The seat normally occupied by Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton is empty after the town board voted to recuse him from a specially called meeting on March 12.
River Road, where the development will be located, was already challenging. Fritz responded that he had spoken with division engineers from the N.C. Department of Transportation and a consultant hired by the developer. He said the developer is required to produce a transportation impact analysis (TIA) which is underway and is examining 16 intersections in the area. After the public hearing, the council voted to approve the rezoning request. In a request for budget See WALLACE, page A5