VOLUME 11 ISSUE 8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Libraries plan to merge Wallace The Town of Wallace has reached a tentative agreement to merge the Thelma Dingus Bryant Library operations with the Duplin County Library system, with the change set to begin July 1. The county will gradually assume staffing and operational responsibilities over four years, while the town will continue maintaining the facility. Officials say the move will reduce costs and expand access to resources and services for residents.
Film screening on “Forever Chemicals” Warsaw The Duplin County NAACP will host a screening of “Forever Chemicals: North Carolina’s Toxic Tap Water” on April 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the KEMBA Center at 124 Water Tank Road. The event will include food, a guest speaker and a Q&A session. The program is presented in partnership with several environmental organizations.
Intersection features new all-way stop Beulaville The intersection of N.C. 241 and Sarecta Road is now an all-way stop. The change, which went into effect Monday, is intended to improve safety.
Man charged in juvenile sexual assault case Duplin County A 28-year-old man was arrested last week following an investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old. The man, Quintin Jashawn McLean, faces felony charges, including statutory rape and indecent liberties with a child, and is being held under a $250,000 secured bond.
Four arrested following traffic stops Beulaville Four individuals are facing charges following traffic stops conducted April 8 by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division along Jackson Store Road and N.C. 41. According to authorities, suspected illegal narcotics were located during the stops. Cynthia Miller, Christopher Alphin, Quincy Melvin and Angelo Arp were each charged with various offenses, including alleged drug possession, outstanding warrants and firearm-related violations. All four were taken to the Duplin County Jail.
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REBECCA WHITMAN COOKE FOR DUPLIN JOURNAL
Duplin County Hall of Fame President Marilynn Kornegay Hroza presents Alice Smith Scott, right, with the 2026 Duplin County Hall of Fame living recipient medallion during the Hall of Fame banquet on April 7 in Kenansville.
Hall of Fame honors Duplin icons Alice Scott and the late William Costin Sr. were inducted at the annual banquet
themselves. Costin was the oldest of 12 children, and he had to leave school to work on the farm. At 17, he enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II. He volunteered to serve on three different minesweepers in the Pacific Theater, and all three earned battle stars. Costin spent his free time studying and earned his high school equivalency degree while still continuing to rise in rank in the Navy. Costin spent his whole career in the Pacific Theater and was part of many important attacks including the 82-day in-
vasion of Okinawa, Japan. As a result of his heroism, he was awarded four medals: the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. When he returned home, Costin served in the National Guard for three years, met and married a woman from Mount Olive, started a family and settled into farming. Like his parents, Costin started as a tenant farmer then bought a foreclosed property. Costin paid off his loans early, and three years
Calico Bay residents to weigh proposed sewer system
each home would retain its septic tank, but instead of relying entirely on that system, wastewater would be pumped through a septic tank effluent pump to Wallace’s lift station near James Andrews Road. Central to the plan is the creation of a new water and sewer authority to serve the two communities, manage the system and serve as the applicant for grants and financing. Davidson emphasized that forming the authority is essential. Without it, the project cannot move forward or qualify for key funding opportunities. That’s where residents come in. A community meeting scheduled for April 28 in Calico Bay will give homeowners a chance to hear the
By Rebecca Whitman Cooke For Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — The Duplin County Hall of Fame inducted two recipients on April 7 during its annual banquet. The Duplin Hall of Fame began in 1994 as a way to show proper tribute to Duplin County citizens, both past and present, who have made significant con-
The new plan promises relief but hinges on community buy-in and affordability By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — A long-discussed plan to address failing septic systems in two Duplin County communities is nearing a key decision point, as residents prepare to weigh in
tributions to the “growth, development, and well-being” of Duplin County, the state and the world as a whole. Each year, one honoree from Duplin’s past and one living honoree are awarded places in the Hall of Fame at the awards banquet. Charles Marshall Ingram, a Hall of Fame board member, presented the award for the honoree from the past. This year’s honoree was William J. Costin Sr. Costin was born to tenant farmers outside Warsaw in 1925. His family purchased a farm in foreclosure in 1932 and worked hard to never face foreclosure
later this month on whether to move forward. Representatives from AgriWaste Technology, Inc. (AWT) and the North Carolina Rural Water Association recently briefed county commissioners on the project’s progress. Kevin Davidson with AWT said an upcoming April 28 meeting with residents of the Calico Bay community will be critical in gauging whether there is enough support to move forward. The effort is part of a federal-
ly backed initiative aimed at addressing gaps in wastewater access in underserved areas. Calico Bay and East Log Cabin Road were selected due to persistent septic system failures and unsuitable soil conditions. Engineers warn that without a shared, large-scale solution, the issues will continue and could limit future development in both communities. The proposed solution is a septic tank effluent pump system. Davidson explained that
Development surge brings opportunity, pressure to Wallace The housing boom could outpace school capacity By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Last week, Wallace Town Council member Glenn Price delivered a detailed briefing on anticipated residential growth in Wallace to Duplin County Commissioners, warning that rapid development could place increasing pressure on local schools. Price said the issue is both significant and time-sensitive as more than 1,000 new housing units are planned or under development in and around Wallace. Much of the construction is concentrated near major corridors such as N.C. 41, where available land and existing wa-
ter and sewer infrastructure have made development more feasible. Price said the area is also benefiting from regional growth tied to nearby job markets, particularly in the Wilmington area. As new homes are built and occupied, officials expect a corresponding increase in school enrollment, particularly at Wallace Elementary School and Wallace-Rose Hill High School. Both schools are already operating near capacity, with some reliance on mobile classrooms. Price said the full impact of the growth may begin to be felt within two to three years, with more significant strain possible within four to five years as additional housing projects are completed. See WALLACE, page A3
“This issue is not gonna affect just the town of Wallace, but it’s gonna affect Rose Hill, and also Teachey.” Glenn Price
See HOF, page A2
See SEWER, page A5