VOLUME 9 ISSUE 8 | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024
DUPLINJOURNAL.COM
Duplin Journal THE DUPLIN COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Public welcome at Calico Bay Road wastewater project community meeting Teachey Duplin County is inviting the public to attend the Calico Bay Road Wastewater Project Community Meeting on April 23 at 6 p.m., at First Baptist Church of Teachey, 307 Log Cabin Rd., to learn about potential wastewater solutions. Residents are encouraged to share concerns and provide feedback. Agri Waste Technology representatives will explain next steps such as visits to review electrical capacity, septic tank conditions, and property boundaries for planning purposes. The data collected is needed to apply for project funding. There will be more community meetings to notify residents of what the expectations should be, said County Manager Bryan Miller, at the April 15 County Commissioners meeting, adding that this “does not guarantee wastewater services in the future,” nor does it “obligate the county or any municipality to provide wastewater services.”
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New animal services facility now open Kenansville The Duplin County Animal Care, Control, and Adoption Facility is now open. The new facility is at 287 Fairgrounds Drive in Kenansville and is open Monday through Friday noon to 5 p.m. “I will note there are some adorable puppies. Anybody looking for a puppy, go to the animal services center tomorrow,” said County Manager Bryan Miller at the April 15 County Commissioners meeting. The shelter staff asks the public not to bring any animals through the front door and to first speak to a staff member for instructions on where to drop the animal. DJS
Fuel spill at bulk storage tank Duplin County A contractor’s busted hose resulted in an approximate 50-gallon fuel spill at the county’s bulk storage tank. According to the town manager certified engineers will report on their investigation of the affected soil and the asphalt. The contractors have accepted responsibility and are taking care of the area cleanup. The area has been closed to employees for now.
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ENA SELLERS / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Living legend inducted into Duplin Hall of Fame
Leon Horace “Sonny” Sikes was inducted to the Duplin County Hall of Fame as the 2024 Living Recipient at the Ed Emory Auditorium on April 9. Each year the DC HOF honors Duplin County citizens for their service, achievement, dedication and significant contributions to the community. Turn to page 6 for more photos of the event.
Duplin County Wallace town council Hall of Fame inducts discusses downtown its first historian apartments
Four people, including two posthumously, were inducted in 2023-24 class By Ena Sellers Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE — Nearly 100 people gathered at the Ed Emory Auditorium on April 9 for the 29th iteration of the Duplin County Hall of Fame, a salute to Duplin County citizens past and present. Leon Horace “Sonny” Sikes, Gilbert Estus Alphin, Richard Earl Harrell and Angus Wilton Mercer are among the 59 people who have been inducted to the elite group for their leadership, service, achievement, dedication and significant contributions to the community. Joyful chatter permeated the large room as guests trickled in and mingled. Marilynn K. Hroza, DC HOF president, welcomed everyone and shared a bit of history about the origins of the DC HOF, thanking Anne Houston and Anne Taylor, two of the original founders who were in attendance, along with Sikes who was on the organization’s first board of directors. “They had a vision, and because of these Hall of Fame founders, each year we continue to honor our Duplin County citizens and
“Tonight, we publicly recognize and thank Sonny Sikes, our leading Duplin County historian for his dedicated and hard work in preserving the history of our county and region in the most thorough and interesting ways.” Marilynn K. Hroza, Duplin County Hall of Fame president preserve important pieces of our history,” said Hroza. Each recipient was introduced by a DC HOF board member who spoke about the inductee’s life and legacy. Angus Wilton Mercer “He rose to become one of the most prominent men in North Carolina and was known throughout the United States,” said Charles Ingram about the 2023 deceased recipient, who served in See HOF, page 6
Master plan for Clement Park also approved
By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal WALLACE — The potential for downtown apartments — especially ground-level, accessible apartments — was a huge part of the Wallace Town Council’s regular monthly meeting on Thursday night, April 11. Town Manager Rob Taylor and Planning Director Rod Fritz have been having discussions recently about an ordinance to govern residential spaces downtown, because as Fritz said, there are many downtown buildings that are not being used. As part of the discussion, developer EB Pannkuk addressed the board, sharing information about similar historic preservation projects he’s worked on in downtown Wilmington. He said he’d like to see downtown Wallace prosper as downtown Wilmington has. “I think everybody here has seen a marked improvement in the historic district north of the railroad tracks,” he said. “On Railroad Street, those buildings haven’t necessarily been taken
“I don’t want to get into the business of having to tear buildings down because they’re not being used. What’s going to keep people downtown? Is it going to be change and growth, or are we going to keep downtown the same and have to tear part of it down?” Jason Wells, Wallace mayor care of. That sense of prosperity is not really present on Railroad Street. What I’d like to see is more development in that area to restore historical buildings.” There are limited opportunities in downtown Wallace currently, Pannkuk said, which translates to many of the businesses on “the wrong side of the tracks” not necessarily thriving. “The other thing I think in general is a problem is not having first-floor apartments because See WALLACE, page 2
Duplin County sends 4 students to NC Governor’s School The students were honored at April’s Board of Education meeting By Abby Cavenaugh Duplin Journal KENANSVILLE — Four Duplin County students have been selected to attend the prestigious North Carolina Governor’s School this summer. The four students were each honored at the April 9 meeting of the Duplin County Board of Education. Nicole Murray, chief officer of STEAMA Curriculum and Instruction/Professional Development for Duplin County Schools, introduced the students to the school board members. “The NC Governor’s School is the oldest summer residential program in the nation that serves gifted high school students,” Murray explained. “These students will participate in a four-week res-
ABBY CAVENAUGH / DUPLIN JOURNAL
Four students from Duplin County Schools have been selected to attend the North Carolina Governor’s School this summer: (from left) Jaclyn Williams-Briggs of Wallace-Rose Hill High School, Jordan Hooper from Duplin Early College High School, Lily Stringer from North Duplin Jr./Sr. High School, and Elier Marquez Chavez of Wallace-Rose Hill High School. idential on-campus program, where they will work on academics, the arts and lots of unique courses on each of two campuses across the state.”
Governor’s School East will be at Meredith College in Raleigh, while Governor’s School West will be at Greensboro College. “The interesting thing about
Governor’s School is that the curriculum is all about exploration,” Murray added. “There are no grades, no tests, these students just get to go and learn about the things that they love and enjoy.” The four Duplin County Schools students selected for the honor are: • Jordan Hooper, son of Jenyse McMillan, a student at Duplin Early College High School. He was selected to attend Governor’s School West, where he’ll study English. See STUDENTS, page 3
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