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Sampson County 4-H program assistant Charmae Kendall helps 4-Her Cameron Brooks shear a lamb during Saturday's Livestock 101 workshop. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Livestock 101
This past Saturday, May 18, Sampson County 4-Hers, particularly those interested in setting foot and hoof in the show ring, had the opportunity to experience what showing and caring for lambs and goats is like. Starting at 9 a.m., 4-H program assistant Charmae Kendall shared with the children the basics of raising and showing lambs. Kendall explained that lambs need to be kept in small pen most of the time. “Do not leave your lamb out on ...
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Clinton City Council members look over budget documents during a work session Tuesday night, the second session held leading up to a June 4 public hearing. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
City’s proposed water, sewer fee hike tied to new projects
With two major water projects set to begin construction later this year, and other upgrades on the horizon, a small hike in water and sewer rates is being proposed as part of the 2013-14 City of Clinton budget to prepare for the debt service from the sizable ventures. As part of the recommended city budget, water and sewer rates are proposed to increase by 1.6 percent to keep up with inflation and ensure adequate funding for future capital ...
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Superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker and board members review the most current proposal from Mosley Architects for the school system's long range facility plans update. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
County school board discusses planning for facilities, energy conservation
During itsTuesday morning work session, the Sampson County Board of Education was presented a revised proposal for updating the school system’s long-range facility plans, and members were given an update on the options that are before them concerning a possible venture into more efficient energy conservation. Long-range facility planning Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services for the school system, first shared with the ...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 5/21 - Austin Lee Haney, 22, 175 Templar Lane, Roseboro, non-support. Bond $800; court date June 4. 5/21 - Tracy G. Canady, 41, 1452 Parkersburg Road, Garland, simple assault and communicating threats. Bond $1,500; court date June 24. 5/21 - Travis Anthony Caldwell, 39, 515 Boone St., Roseboro, giving fictitious information to an officer. Bond $500; court date June 24. 5/21 - Dennis Howard Carroll Jr., 31, 955 Lake...
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Sampson County Schools superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker poses with some of his 'cutest kids' from Union Elementary School. Lenker said, though cliche, that kids were the future. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Cutest Kids Contest offers a chance to promote children
Stuart Blount and Dr. Ethan Lenker love children. It’s obvious from the smiles that spread across their faces every time you catch either one of them around youngsters of any age and at any of the schools they are charged with overseeing as superintendents of Clinton City and Sampson County schools, respectively. That’s why both decided to join The Sampson Independent in promoting them through the 2013 Cutest Kids Contest, already under...
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William Hooper, the signer
It is singular that none of the three signers of the Declaration of Independence from North Carolina were natives of North Carolina, but all three came to North Carolina when they were young. They were Joseph Hewes, John Penn, and William Hooper. William Hooper was the most outstanding of the three. Joseph Hewes was born in Princeton, NJ and attended Princeton College. He established a shipping business in Wilmington in 1760 and, by the tim...
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A path through Sampson County and others as part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail has been proposed. The path would extend along public roads, with the hope a permanent trail would receive support in the future. (Courtesy graphic)
Mountains to sea bike ride could come through Sampson
The N.C. Mountains-to-Sea Trail, allowing visitors to enjoy traverse a natural path across the state, is now scheduled to come through Sampson County — and would bring a growing amount of people with it. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a nearly 1,000-mile effort to link Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks, is the flagship project of the North Carolina State Trails Program. ...
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Shelly Moore
SCC Foundation awards mini grants to Baxter, Moore
The Appropriation Committee of the Sampson Community College Foundation recently announced the recipients of the fall 2013 Mini Grants. Susan Baxter, division chairwoman of Education Programs and QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) coordinator, was awarded two grants. One will go to support the QEP Fest in the fall that will help students and staff learn more about the Quality Enhancement Plan of the College that will be critical to the re-accre...
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Johnathon J. Ward
Traffic stop lands one in jail
Yet another routine stop by county law enforcement officers has landed a Sampson County man in jail on assorted drug and traffic violations. Johnathon Joseph Ward, 34, of 147 Lorraine St., Clinton, was arrested Friday night and charged with felony possession of cocaine and felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. Additionally, he faces misdemeanor charges of simple possession of a Sch...
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Dan Grubb
SCC welcomes familiar face to serve in PR role
His name is familiar to some in Sampson County already from previous work he did for Sampson Community College in the late 1990’s. A multimedia and public relations professional, Dan Grubb served as the first-ever Public Information Officer for SCC when he arrived on campus in 1996. During his first four years at the college Grubb created SCC’s first TV studio, the TV station SCC-TV and the college’s first website. A lot has changed in medi...
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Clinton City Schools' superintendent Stuart Blount and members of the Board of Education wait to go into closed session Tuesday morning. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
City school board holds closed-door meeting
The Clinton City Board of Education met behind closed doors for well over four hours Tuesday, apparently discussing a personnel issue that they could not divulge. The special called meeting was announced last Friday, noting that it would be a closed session. Little else was detailed in the email notifying the newspaper of the board’s intention to meet. Sampson Middle School principal Shirley Williams and her attorney attended the meeting ...
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John Nielsen with wife, LeAnn, and sons Taylor and Bryce. (Courtesy photo)
Alumnus reaps benefit of his MOC Experience
John Nielsen’98 of Aurora, Colorado believes the time he spent at Mount Olive College at Seymour Johnson was one of the most significant experiences of his adult life. “My experience at Mount Olive College helped to mold me into who I am today,” said Nielsen. “Not only did I get a solid business degree, but the environment and culture of the college have influenced how I view the world.” Nielsen took his educational experience and made a succ...
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Wyatt Kendall and his heifer at the N.C. Junior Beef Round-Up 2012. (Courtesy photo)
Grab a heifer and join me at Junior Beef Round-Up
My name is Wyatt Kendall and I am 12 years old and from Sampson County. I am getting ready to compete in my fourth year at Jr. Beef Round-Up. The first year I participated, my heifer’s name was Brownie. Although she was not the easiest to look at, she had a good temperament, making her an excellent starter heifer. I remember arriving on Saturday morning very excited about showing at the NC State Fairgrounds for the first time. The only person...
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Traffic stop ends in arrest
A routine traffic stop last weekend turned into much more when the suspect Clinton police pulled over refused to show the officer what he was hiding, first in his pocket and later in his hand. Luis Angel Rivera was taken into custody after the incident and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting arrest and driving while license revoked. He was jailed under a $12,500 bond but was later released. The incident occurred Sat...
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Middle-schoolers tour college campuses Thirty-seven Sampson Middle School students toured the campuses of Shaw and Saint Augustine universities during their spring break. The group participated in formal presentations and walking tours at both campuses. SMS students were excited and impressed with the presenters, tour guides the large, stately buildings, dormitory rooms, the book and gift shop, the dining hall and the overall campus environment. This is the third annual tour for the students and is sponsored by the middle school in partnership with Sampson High School Alumni Association. The purpose of the tour was to get middle school students focused on college education at an early age; to acquaint them with the requirements to get accepted into college; to inspire them to begin preparation to meet college admission requirements; to make them aware of the competition for scholarships; and to stress the importance of excellent academic achievement now and throughout high school. (Courtesy photo)
Middle-schoolers tour college campuses
Courtesy photos Thirty-seven Sampson Middle School students toured the campuses of Shaw and Saint Augustine universities during their spring break. The group participated in formal presentations and walking tours at both campuses. SMS students were excited and impressed with the presenters, tour guides the large, stately buildings, dormitory rooms, the book and gift shop, the dining hall and the overall campus environment. This is the third...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 5/18 - Selena Noel Anders, 21, 570 Pearson Road, Clinton, shoplifting. Court date June 24. 5/19 - Woodrow Wilson, 40, 20 Sunshine Lane, Clinton, was charged with driving while impaired and driving while license revoked. Bond $5,700; court date July 9. 5/20 - Eric Charles Cooper, 27, 10120 Garland Hwy., Clinton, child support. Bond $700. 5/20 - Timothy Allen Beach Jr., 34, 106 Bushway Lane, Autryville, simple assaul...
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Bookkeeper Brenda Bass has been a fixture at Lakewood High School since September 1977. After 35 years, she is retiring this June. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Readying for retirement
As the school year draws to a close, Lakewood High School is readying itself to send off another graduating class, and, at the same time, tpreparing to bid farewell to a beloved and longtime employee. Set to retire this June, Brenda Bass has been a fixture at Lakewood since September 1977 when she became the school’s bookkeeper at the age of 28. “It was my first real job,” said Bass with a smile. Before landing the job at Lakewood, Bass...
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After singing during the talent portion of the pageant, Caitlin Joyner was named Miss Hobbton in 2012. Her mother is also a former Miss Hobbton. (Courtesy photo)
Hitting the right notes
As Hobbton High School senior Caitlin Joyner looks forward to graduation, she is hitting all the right notes and recalling how music has helped make her life thus far so special. Although she can play most any instrument, Joyner is most experienced at playing the French horn and the piano. “I started playing the piano in second grade and the french horn in seventh,” shared Joyner. “Actually, Mr. Tart (Hobbton’s band director) gave me the ...
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Long Shots place third in games The Sampson County Long Shots, Sampson's senior citizens basketball team, went to Newport News, Va. this weekend to participate in the Virginia Senior Games and game away capturing third place. According to those in attendance, the team competed very well and demonstrated they could compete with anyone. Pictured are team members with their coach Fred Holland, center. They are: from left: Mary Burke, Bevy Pope, Becky Tyndall, Holland, Dian Naylor, Dianne Cox and Alice Matthis. (Steve Cox/Courtesy photo)
Long Shots take third in games
Steve Cox/Courtesy photo The Sampson County Long Shots, Sampson’s senior citizens basketball team, went to Newport News, Va. this weekend to participate in the Virginia Senior Games and game away capturing third place. According to those in attendance, the team competed very well and demonstrated they could compete with anyone. Pictured are team members with their coach Fred Holland, center. They are: from left: Mary Burke, Bevy Pope, Becky...
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Crimewatch
Arrests 5/17 - Brandon Lee Warren, 20, 510 Johnston Hwy., Newton Grove. communicating threats. Bond $1,000; court date June 13. 5/17 - Jack Figueroa Rivera, 19, 181 Ruby Lane, Clinton, failure to appear on charges of breaking and entering and attempted larceny. Bond $24,000; court date July 1. 5/17 - Ralph Delano Dumpson, 18, 10122 Garland Hwy., Clinton, failure to comply. Bond $205; court date June 10. 5/17 - Baltazar Lopez, 29, 31...
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