VOLUME 11 ISSUE 7 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Road Closure Rose Hill J.B. Stroud Road over I-40 near Tracy Brown Road is closed for bridge deck repairs until 5 p.m. May 8, weather permitting. Drivers can detour via Tracy Brown Road, N.C. 903, and Leonard Rich Road.
Economic Development Commission Appointments Duplin County Charley Farrior and Carrie Shields were recently reappointed to the Duplin County Economic Development Commission for a threeyear term (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029). Shannon Hair was appointed to complete Jay Carraway’s unexpired term through June 30, 2026, and reappointed for a threeyear term starting July 1, 2026.
University of Mount Olive Plant Sale Mount Olive The University of Mount Olive will hold its annual Plant Sale on April 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the campus greenhouse, 205 Bert Martin Drive. A rain date is set for April 11. Most items are priced $2–$12, with proceeds supporting student education.
Transfiguration Church to Host 20th Anniversary Concert Wallace The Transfiguration of Jesus Catholic Church will host a special choral concert on April 24 at 6 p.m. in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Lara Capparuccia serving as music director. The program will feature a selection of sacred choral anthems, including works by Antonio Vivaldi such as “All Earth Rejoice with a Gladsome Voice,” as well as pieces by American composer Natalie Sleeth, including selections from “Sing a New Song to the Lord.” Original compositions by Capparuccia and her daughter, Marquita Someliana-Lauer, will also be performed. The concert is free and open to the public. Following the performance, attendees are invited to enjoy coffee and cookies in the church’s Founders Hall.
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Harvey Knowles, standing left, wipes away tears as Melisa Brown, right, director of Duplin Senior Services, reads his nomination for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, honoring his decades of service to the community.
Knowles recognized for decades of service with governor’s award The county retired four long-serving employees, approved surplus sales and updated policies By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Duplin County officials celebrated decades of volunteer service, honored retiring employees, and discussed rapid growth and major infrastructure projects during the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday night. Harvey Knowles was named Duplin County’s recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award and will also receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for
nations of more than 100 bicycles for children and has organized food drives for local pantries. He has also contributed to disaster relief efforts, school projects, and fundraising for community programs. In addition to larger efforts, Knowles is known for smaller, consistent acts of outreach. He maintains contact lists across multiple organizations and regularly calls or visits individuals to offer birthday wishes and encouragement, particularly to older residents. County officials said Knowles’ volunteer work is sustained, personal, and impacts residents of all ages, making him a notable example of long-term community service. The county also honored four
Deed dispute, tensions dominate Mount Olive meeting The board hired a new town manager and recalled a deed, citing conflict of interest concerns By Mark Grady For Duplin Journal MOUNT OLIVE — Tempers flared at Monday night’s Mount Olive Board of Commissioners meeting. Once again, the
source of contention was Mayor Jerome Newton’s signing of a deed for the former Carver High School building that has been the home of two nonprofit organizations under an agreement with the town.
At a previous meeting, the board had asked the town attorney, Carroll Turner, to work with an attorney for one of the nonprofits, ALDA, Inc., to provide a deed for their occupation of a portion of the building. Under state law, any deed for a building originally owned by the state and turned over to a local government must contain a clause that
Butterball worker fired during cancer treatment sparks federal lawsuit The EEOC alleges the employee was unlawfully terminated after missing work to undergo chemotherapy By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
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Volunteer Service at a statewide ceremony in May in Raleigh. Knowles, 95, has volunteered for decades in Wallace, providing support to veterans, first responders, local schools, and community organizations. He has raised funds to equip emergency vehicles with automated external defibrillators for the Wallace Police Department, Wallace Volunteer Fire Department, and Wallace Parks and Recreation. A strong advocate for veterans, the retired U.S. Army major regularly participates in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. He also visits nursing homes, where he plays hymns on his harmonica for residents, and he regularly organizes meals for first responders during training events. Knowles has coordinated do-
A FEDERAL DISABILITY discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on April 1 is putting Butterball, LLC’s Mount Olive operations under scrutiny, alleging the company failed to accommodate an employee undergoing cancer treatment and unlawfully terminated
her in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the EEOC, the case involves a longtime employee who was diagnosed with breast cancer and requested intermittent leave to undergo chemotherapy treatments and recovery. The lawsuit alleges that the employee informed Butterball of her medical condition and need for leave but was redirected to a third-party benefits administrator. However, the leave was never approved, and the employee began receiving attendance violations under the company’s policy See BUTTERBALL, page A2
“The employer remains responsible for complying with antidiscrimination law.” U.S. EEOC
long-serving public employees for their retirement. Katherine “Kay” Mitchell retired after 27 years with the Health Department, where she began as a maternal outreach worker and later worked as a WIC processing assistant. Dr. Elizabeth Griffin, a pediatrician, served from May 2009 through August 2025, providing annual child health physicals and bilingual care. Simone Vann retired after 30 years, assisting in maternal outreach, health check coordination, telehealth programs, and disaster response, including Hurricanes Florence, Matthew, and Dorian, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Van received the State of the Long Leaf Pine Award. See KNOWLES, page A5
the deed is relinquished back to the town if the nonprofit, or another nonprofit, no longer occupies the building or is dissolved. The other nonprofit in the building, the Carver High School Alumni and Friends Association, has Newton serving as its president. Therefore, not only did the mayor not have the permission of the board to sign a separate deed specifically for that organization, but his action also resulted in claims of a conflict of interest by some board members. As occurred during a special meeting on March 12, Mayor Pro See DISPUTE page A3