VOLUME 9 ISSUE 19 | THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
New rule encourages home sellers to disclose flood information “If they’re not completely transparent about the flood risk, the buyers do not know what they’re getting.” Curt Simpson, Wallace realtor
The NC Real Estate Commission rule is effective as of July 1 By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal A NEW RULE from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission requires home sellers to disclose information about flooding damage to potential buyers. The rule went into effect on Monday, July 1. The addition of flood-related questions to the Resi-
dential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement came about in December 2022, after the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a petition on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council, North Carolina Justice Center, MDC Inc., North Carolina Disaster Recovery and Resiliency School, Robeson County Church and Community Center, and NC Field. “Without proper flood disclosure, a home buyer is left in the dark about the risk and potential lifetime cost associated
with the home,” said Brooks Rainey Pearson, senior attorney with Southern Environmental Law Center. The rule comes into play when sellers fill out the required disclosure statement, which asks questions about the home that’s potentially being sold, such as when the house was built, are there roof or pest problems, whether it’s in violation of any codes or ordinances, and so on. Homeowners filling out the See RULE, page 3
Man arrested near Calypso charged with drug trafficking
the
BRIEF this week
Operation Dry Water observed July 4-6 Statewide In an effort to heighten enforcement and awareness about the dangers of boating while impaired, Wildlife law enforcement officers will be increasing water patrols and enforcing state laws July 4-6, as they join Operation Dry Water. Officials remind the public of the importance of boating safety practices. Last year there were 19 boating fatalities in the state, 17 of those were not wearing a life jacket. DJS
Applications for expanded emergency livestock assistance for dairy producers now available Statewide The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting financial assistance applications to help dairy producers offset financial losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1 infection. A positive H5N1 test result must be confirmed through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Veterinary Services Laboratories. For more information on how to apply, contact the Kenansville Farm Service Agency at 910-2962193 Ext 2. DJS
Public comment sought for not opening recreational flounder harvest season Statewide The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking public comment about an amendment that would close the 2024 flounder harvest season due to the 2023 flounder harvest exceeding the allotment. The public comment period closes July 5. Comments can be submitted to regulations@ncwildlife. org and must include name, county, and state of residence. Visit ncwildlife.org to submit comments online. DJS
July 12 deadline for Natural Disaster Preparedness grants Statewide Nonprofits and government entities in the Duke Energy service area can now apply for a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation program to support local disaster preparedness. Applications are being accepted until July 12. Visit duke-energy.com for eligibility and more information. DJS
Law enforcement conducting the arrest found the man was carrying a concealed weapon Duplin Journal staff
ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Dakota Moore (left) and Robert Moore (right) show one of the seven watermelon varieties they are currently growing at their farm in Warsaw, on June 26.
Warsaw farmers plant seeds for better future The father and son duo recently joined organic produce distributor HappyDirt By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — Located in the small town of Warsaw, a stone’s throw away from Interstate 40, is the Moore Family Farm, where owners Robert and Dakota Moore are building their dreams one seed at a time, planting the seeds they hope will reignite their family farm. After graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University last May, Dakota returned home with a degree in agriculture and environmental science and a decision to bring back the thriving business his
“They were pushing building a culture that their children would go to college or go to the military, you know, get professional jobs, and it really worked well, but everybody left the farm.” Robert Moore, owner ancestors once enjoyed in the very same land they stand today. The father and son duo recently joined the HappyDirt family and they are excited for what the future has in store. HappyDirt, formerly known as Eastern Carolina Organics, is
an organic produce distributor, broker and marketer based in North Carolina championing farmer-owners and farmers from NC with 67% of the produce they purchase being from the state. Dakota learned about them through an assistant professor at NC State University while doing an internship through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. “She knew that my father and I were trying to farm. I was roughly a sophomore in college trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go into, and I met HappyDirt. They were helping farmers,” said Dakota. HappyDirt understands challenges such as an aging farmer population and the need for young farmers like See FARMERS, page 6
Wallace council sets new system development fees The SRO contract with Duplin County Schools was also approved during the continued meeting By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal
“We have a lot of projects getting ready to start that will require a lot of capital, and these system development fees are made to help us cover some of that infrastructure that we have to put in.”
THE WALLACE Town Council updated its system development fees at a continued meeting on Tuesday night, June 25, reducing water fees, while increasing sewer fees for new developments coming in Rob Taylor, to town. The fees are charged for any Wallace Town Manager new connection to the system, and are required to be updated three-quarter-inch line, a reevery five years, Town Manager duction of $909. A one-inch line will now cost Rob Taylor explained. The prior water fee started $923, while a two-inch line is at $1,462 for a three-quarter- $2,946, four-inch is $11,607, inch line, and increased as the six-inch is $23,949, and an line sizes increased. The newly eight-inch line is $51,584. As for sewer rates, the base adopted fee will be $553 for a
fee for a three-quarter-inch line increased by $20 to $2,069. The sewer rates also increase as the line gets bigger, with the following costs for connection to sewer: one-inch line, $3,454; two-inch line, $11,025; four-inch line, $43,439; sixinch line, $89,629; and eightinch line, $193,054. “You can see how those rates really start to increase for sewer as the line gets bigger,” Taylor told the council. “We’ve just got way more cost in our sewer system plant than we do with water. … We have a lot of projects getting ready to start that will require a lot of capital, and these system development fees are made to help us cover some of that infrastructure that we have to put in.” Mayor Jason Wells questioned how many customers use See WALLACE, page 3
PHILLIP Marshall Thompson, of Goldsboro, was arrested by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division last week during a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 117 near Calypso. According to the Sheriff’s Office, on June 25, deputies conducting the traffic stop located a 9mm handgun, approximately 17 dosage units of ecstasy pills, multiple bags containing marijuana, and a large digital scale in the vehicle Thompson was driving. Thompson was charged with felony possession of a concealed weapon, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. Thompson received a $20,000 secured bond and is in the Duplin County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 12.
Convicted felon arrested for gun possession The man was found using marijuana and in possession of a loaded gun Duplin Journal staff A MOUNT OLIVE man who is on probation was arrested on June 20 for illegal possession of a gun and using controlled substances. He was placed in the Duplin County Detention Center under a $42,500 secured bond. According to the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, while they were assisting probation officers conduct a search at 1289 Bennetts Bridge Rd., Cesar Jacob Fernandez-Chigin, was found in possession of a loaded .38 caliber revolver. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; simple possession of a schedule VI-controlled substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia; and probation violations.
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