VOLUME 9 ISSUE 51 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
UMO receives $1M grant for state-of-the-art educational livestock facility Mount Olive The University of Mount Olive has been awarded a $1 million grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to help complete Phase 1 of an educational livestock facility. According to the university’s announcement, this funding will support the construction of a 30,000-square-foot multipurpose training and livestock building located on Shady Grove Road. Phase 1 is expected to be finished by the end of 2025. The facility will serve as a hub for hands-on training, research and community engagement in animal agriculture. It will include livestock handling areas, a training arena, classrooms and will provide a unique multispecies educational environment for students and farmers.
Authorities release names of Beulaville house fire victims Beulaville Officials with Duplin County Fire and Emergency Management have released the names of two individuals found dead in a house fire on Jan. 28. The victims were identified as Phil Terry Rhodes, 77, and Emily Mashburn Rhodes, 75. Their bodies were discovered while firefighters were extinguishing the flames and conducting search-and‑rescue operations inside the home located at 212 South Williams Road near N.C. 24 Highway in Beulaville. Authorities have reported that the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire is ongoing, and there is currently no evidence to suggest any criminal activity was involved. The Duplin County Fire Marshal’s Office has requested the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal to take the lead on this investigation.
Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship accepting applications Duplin County The application period for the Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship is now open. This scholarship offers an opportunity for students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities to receive financial assistance for their education. The application deadline is March 1. Visit goldenleaf.org for more information.
COURTESY NIGHT TO SHINE
Dancing the night away For the second straight year, Poston Baptist Church in Wallace hosted the Night to Shine event, which serves as a special needs prom that allows teenagers and adults with special needs to dress up and have a dance party. This year’s event was held at Charity Mission Center on Friday, Feb. 7.
Warsaw racked up $75K in fines over last year “Don’t let them shoot the blame on legislative leaders (for) not sending us the $44 (million). As that isn’t the solution to the true problem of our treatment plant. That is just one solution.” Ebony Willis Wells, Warsaw commissioner
By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — The Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant continues to accumulate fines as the facility struggles with organic overload. Last week after learning about reports of a foul smell in various areas across Warsaw, Duplin Journal reached out to Town Manager Lea Turner to inquire about the origins. “We’re still identifying the problem and a solution to the problem,” Turner said. According to N.C. Department of Environmental Quality documents obtained by Duplin Journal, on Jan. 29, DEQ issued a notice of violation and assessment of civil penalties totaling $9,933 for violations of wastewater quality standards last October. The process from violation no-
tice to fee assessment can sometimes take up to a few months. According to the WWWT plant’s annual performance report, the treatment plant failed to meet DEQ standards eight months out of the year. From January 2024 through January 2025, Warsaw has been racking up fines totaling $75,521.11. The latest document notes fecal coliform exceeded both weekly and monthly limits, with some weeks showing more than five times the weekly allowed and more than nine times the monthly limits. Ammonia concentrations also exceeded the permitted values, with both weekly and monthly averages surpassing the limit by 43.3% and 160.7%, respectively. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, excessive ammonia can be a sign of organic overload in the treatment process, which can affect the biological processes used to treat wastewater. A letter from the town of Warsaw to the Water See WARSAW, page A2
Mount Olive remains divided on manager search, SBI investigation “If we’re going to come together, we need to figure out how to work together.” Jerome Newton, Mount Olive mayor
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Villari proposed a 2027 compliance deadline for a pretreatment facility as the town grapples with fines
A forensic auditor was hired, and ECC was contracted for the town manager search By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal MOUNT OLIVE — The Mount Olive Board of Commissioners held a recessed meeting last Thursday night, voting to move forward with its town manager search and authorizing a forensic auditor to be sought to help in the continuing SBI investigation of two town employees. The items had been part of the regular monthly meeting on Feb. 3, but both were tabled so the board could further review them before making a decision. At the start of last Thursday night’s meeting, Commis-
sioner Delreese Simmons said he didn’t think Commissioner Danny Keel should be allowed to vote, since he serves on the board for the Eastern Carolina Council of Government, the entity the town is contracting with to assist with the search for a new town manager. Former Town Manager Jammie Royall was fired during a special meeting of the town board in January, and longtime town employee Glenn Holland was appointed interim town manager. Town Attorney Carroll Turner stated that Keel’s involvement in the ECC was not a conflict of interest. “It must be a reasonably or stated financial interest for a board member not to participate,” Carroll said. “There is no conflict of interest. Mr. See DIVIDED, page A6
2 honored with Order of the Long Leaf Pine Retired county employees were recognized for their dedication and service By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Last week marked a significant milestone for Valerie Pollock and Kay Nichols as both were awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest state service award, during the Feb. 4 County Commissioners meeting. Pollock, a retired social worker, was recognized for her hard work, dedication and devotion to the citizens of Duplin County. Annie Murrell, the director of the Duplin County Department of Social Services, presented Pollock with the award See HONORED, page A3
Kay Nichols