VOLUME 9 ISSUE 4 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Kubota Hometown Proud grant program Duplin County The Kubota Hometown Proud grant program is accepting applications until April 12 to help communities in their 10 operating districts grow, build and revitalize their local community. The program will award 20 grants to support local nonprofit projects. The community project with the highest number of votes in each district will be presented with a $50,000 grant, and each district runnerup will receive a $10,000 grant. Visit KubotaHometownProud. com for more information. DJS
Health Department offers free classes on how to control diabetes Duplin County The Duplin County Health Department is now offering Diabetes Self Management Classes from 1-5 p.m., the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 340 Seminary St. Kenansville. For more information, call 910-3729178.
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St. Patrick’s Day Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving North Carolina St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest days on our nation’s roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting their St. Patrick’s Day Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign March 11-17 and encourages people to not get behind the wheel after drinking and to plan for a safe, sober ride home.
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JSCC & NC Works to host Job Fair Duplin County Join JSCC and NC Works for their annual Duplin County Job Fair on Thursday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the JSCC campus and meet with employers. Be sure to dress to impress and bring copies of your resume. For more information, email kblanton@ jamessprunt.edu.
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Westbound ramps at Exit 385 will have stoplights come April The groundwork has been laid for new stoplights for the westbound ramps onto I-40 on NC Highway 41 in Wallace. The stoplights are expected to be operational sometime in April. See story on page 3. ABBY CAVENAUGH/DUPLIN JOURNAL
Williams-Boykin leads Commissioner race by 2 votes over incumbent Dowe Garner takes District 1 lead with 67% of votes By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal After voting concluded on March 5, the unofficial results for Duplin County primary elections show Democratic Candidate Mary L. Williams-Boykin, taking the lead for the County Commissioner District 4 seat with 302 votes, only two more than incumbent Jesse Dowe who received 300 votes in the contested race. Incumbent Elwood Garner
“I’ve got to first thank the voters of District 1 for their support in the election. It was pretty humbling to get roughly 67% of the votes.” Commissioner Elwood Garner took the lead in the Republican race for District 1 County Commissioner with 66.91% of all votes against Republican candidate Cindy Lee Sallis who received 33.09% of the votes.
Commissioner Garner will be on the General Election ballot in November, as of press time he will be running unopposed to retain his seat as District 1 County Commissioner and says he is looking forward to serving the citizens of Duplin County for another four-year term. “I’ve got to first thank the voters of District 1 for their support in the election. It was pretty humbling to get roughly 67% of the votes. And thank my wife and family for their continued support, because while I was trying to campaign, I left my wife doing a lot of other stuff at
home,” said Commissioner Garner. According to Jasmine Gadsden, Duplin County Board of Elections director, as of last Friday they had 6 ballots that came in on Election Day left to process along with Provisionals. “Election Day totals were 5,129 in-person voters,” said Gadsden, adding that they had 1,882 early voters and “ended with a total of 39 [absentee-by-mail votes] that we have already processed.” See UNOFFICIAL, page 5
Faison on-site Duplin County School Board extends superintendent’s contract through 2028 congregate nutrition service Dr. Austin Obasohan is in his 14th year as Duplin County Schools Superintendent
Dr. Austin Obasohan
Duplin County Schools Superintendent
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal Dr. Austin Obasohan will remain Duplin County Schools Superintendent through at least June 30, 2028, the Board of Education decided at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 5. The extension of Dr. Obasohan’s contract by one more year to 2028 is the maximum amount of time that can be given to a superintendent’s contract, School Board Chairman Brent Davis explained. The decision was made after
the school board completed Dr. Obasohan’s annual evaluation. After a closed executive session during the March 5 meeting, School Board Member Pam Edwards motioned to approve the 12th addendum to the contract, and the vote was approved unanimously. The previous 11 addendums all added time to the contract, which began in 2012. Dr. Obasohan has served as the DCS superintendent since 2010.
“I’m very grateful for your loyal support,” Dr. Obasohan told the board after the vote. “Thank you very much.” Later, after time to reflect, he told the Duplin Journal, “I am thankful for the Board of Education’s leadership, support and vote of confidence. It is an honor to serve in Duplin County, where the school community rallies around our children and one another. My family and I are grateful to the Board for this four-year contract, and we are especially grateful to continue to call Duplin our home!” Davis lauded Dr. Obasohan for the work he has done as superintendent, saying that the board See CONTRACT, page 6
Warsaw residents ask for transparency Board discusses EMS temporary operational changes due to shortages By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal WARSAW — Wesley L. Boykin was one of the two residents who signed up for public comment at the March 11 town hall meeting in Warsaw. He said he and other community members would like an explanation of the uses of the wastewater fees billed to Warsaw homeowners in the fiscal year 2025 budget.
“Several times, a number of us have mentioned a Citizens Advisory Committee. Yet, we have received no response.” Wesley Boykin, Warsaw resident “We have no idea what that money is used for. We are not in favor of increases without a full explanation of what the increases are going for and how it fits into the total budget,”
said Boykin. “I realize that the budget hasn’t yet been developed, but this is the time to speak out.” Boykin also spoke about a citizen policing academy. Stating that when this was suggested about a year and a half ago and that the community would like to do something more permanent — “every other year or once a year as other communities do.” “This has been heightened as we see the increase in crime See WARSAW, page 12
comes to an end Homebound meal routes will not be affected By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal FAISON — For the last three decades Duplin County Senior Services has been serving Faison seniors through their congregate nutrition service program and the delivery of homebound meals. However, over the years they have seen a significant decrease in participation to the point that they can no longer operate and the congregate nutrition service on site in Faison will end effective Friday, March 15. According to Melisa S. Brown, Duplin County Senior Services director, the department is providing an option to transport seniors to Kenansville so they can continue to participate in the meal service. “We met with the seniors attending the Faison site last month and shared the available resources at the Kenansville location to include transportation if they choose to participate. It is bittersweet; See NUTRITION, page 5
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