VOLUME 9 ISSUE 30 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
the
BRIEF this week
EV charging station coming to Warsaw Warsaw The Pilot Travel Center in Warsaw is one of the first of nine locations along North Carolina interstates and major highways that will install and operate electric vehicle DC fast‑charging stations. The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded Pilot Travel Centers LLC a contract for $333,414 for the initial EV charging station buildout from North Carolina’s share of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program funds. According to the announcement, the initial nine locations represent the first of about 50 locations needed to fully build out the state’s alternative fuel corridors as required by the NEVI program.
Board of Education, Sheriff’s Office release statement about school threats Duplin County Last week, Duplin County Schools and the Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding social media posts containing threats to schools in Duplin and surrounding counties. The statement emphasized that while there is no specific threat to Duplin County Schools at the moment, officials are collaborating with law enforcement to investigate these posts further. School and law enforcement officials urge anyone with information that may threaten the schools to contact the school administration or law enforcement.
Hog Wild BBQ Cook-Off rescheduled for April 4-5 Beulaville Beulaville’s annual Hog Wild BBQ Cook-Off, usually held in October, has been rescheduled to April 4-5, 2025. The change will allow the event to kick off on a Friday night and continue through Saturday, as opposed to just one day. Further details will be announced as they become available.
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Fun times at the Duplin Agribusiness Fair! One of the big draws at the annual Duplin County Fair is always the amusement rides. The fair ran for three days last week at the Duplin Events Center, featuring exhibits, rides, lots of food and a rodeo. See more on Page B6.
Two Speedy Mart employees arrested for stealing lottery tickets The pair face multiple charges, including larceny and embezzlement By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal BEULAVILLE — Two convenience store employees have been arrested and face multiple charges after allegedly stealing lottery tickets and cashing them in. The two employees were reported by Speedy Mart management to the Beulaville Police Department on Aug. 28. An investigation found that Shameka Jones and Maryann Howard had stolen approximately 104 lottery tickets from the Speedy Mart between Aug. 21 and Aug. 27. According to a press release from the Beulaville Police Department, the combined value of the stolen lottery tickets was approximately $3,450. The employees also cashed in winning lottery tickets, totaling approximately $1,910 combined. On Sept. 6, Jones was ar-
Royal Farms rezoning public hearing delayed Ground broken on Maple Creek sewer extension project
Howard
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rested and charged with the following: five counts of larceny by employee, five counts of embezzlement, five counts of obtaining property by false pretense, and five counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. Jones was taken to the Duplin County Magistrate’s Office, where she was served and released under a $20,000 unsecured bond. Howard was arrested and charged with the following: one count of larceny by employee, one count of embezzlement, one count of obtaining property by false pretense, and five counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. Howard was taken to the Duplin County Magistrate’s Office, where she was served and released under a $10,000 unsecured bond.
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal WALLACE — A public hearing on a rezoning request for a Royal Farms gas station in Wallace has been postponed for the second time. The hearing was supposed to be held at the Wallace Town Council’s Sept. 12 meeting, but was rescheduled at the request of Royal Farms’ parent company, Two Farms, Inc. The request is to rezone the 6.08 acres that remain on Two Farms’ property at the corner of Highways 11 and 41 in the Tin City area from RA-20 to HB-Highway Business. The rezoning would allow the gas station to be able to expand into what is now a field that sits between the former Tin City Express gas station and residential neighborhood Plantation Acres. The hearing was original-
$44M in funds needed for Warsaw water treatment plant Town discusses progress
“It takes a little time to get things done, and progress is not something that happens overnight all the time.” Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — One of the main topics of conversation during the September meeting at the Warsaw town hall was the need for $44 million to update the water treatment plant. “I’m aware that we do not have enough money for the update of the water treatment plant at this time. I am not aware of (whether) McDavid and Associates will be doing the work. However, they monopolize the whole county in obtaining contract work … they are always locating grants for the county, so my question is, why not
Warsaw?” Angela Mainor vid and Associates told us we asked the board, pointing out got 10 years on our water and that neighboring towns have sewer. Well, ladies and gentlereceived funding for other men, seven years have gone by. … Back then it was $20-some projects. The sentiment was echoed million. Now it’s $44 million. by other residents who spoke We’ve got to do something, about the subject, questioning and we’ve got to do it quick transparency in relaying what because if we don’t do it, our goes on in the town and want- growth is stunted. We can’t do ing to stay updated on what is nothing. We can’t hold the capacity. We can’t push the wahappening. Commissioner Jack Hawes ter out, plain and simple,” said thanked Mainor for bringing up the topic of grants. “We need $44 million, ain’t See WARSAW, page A5 no ifs, ands, or buts about it. … Everything shouldn’t be going around us when we’re knocking on [legislators] doors, and I ask you to do the same. Knock on their doors because we need it. We need that $44 million.” “Seven years ago, McDa$2.00
ly planned for the council’s August meeting, but was rescheduled then due to Tropical Storm Debby. This time, Two Farms asked for more time, Town Manager Rob Taylor said. The council voted unanimously to reschedule the public hearing for the next town council meeting, Oct. 10, after 6 p.m. The meeting will be moved to the Wallace Woman’s Club in order to better accommodate the public. Prior to the meeting Thursday night, council members participated in a brief groundbreaking ceremony for the Maple Creek sewer extension project, which Taylor refers to as the 830 Project. “We’re connecting the back side of River Landing, going out to Highway 11 and then to the wastewater treatment plant,” Taylor explained. “It will take a lot of pressure off our sewer system.” The project has been in the works for eight years, he added, See WALLACE, page A6