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Clinton Ducks Unlimited chapter makes Top 100
CLINTON – The President’s Top 100 is one of the most highly sought-after titles of recognition Ducks Unlimited offers to chapters throughout the nation. Each year, the list is comprised of the top 100 fundraising chapters in the United States. Through the efforts of these volunteer committees, DU is able to pursue its mission of conserving, enhancing and restoring North America’s wetlands. The Clinton chapter made the Top 100 list as one of t...
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Volunteer Marie Faircloth and Liberty Hospice volunteer coordinator Marie Daniels read to Mary Gran Nursing Center resident Edna Williamson from her own Bible. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Forging friendship
It’s mid-morning and Rosie Wanat is sitting with Norma Perry Wood, reading poetry and singing ‘Amazing Grace.’ It may not seem like much, but Wood, a 90-year-old resident at Southwood Nursing and Retirement Home, loves seeing Wanat, a volunteer through Liberty Home Care and Hospice Services, walk through her door. “Yes, it’s nice,” said Wood about Wanat’s weekly visits. While together, the two spend time talking about a variety of things,...
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During the Clinton Shake at Dairy Queen, "Balloon Man Smitty" delighted locals with his balloon art. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Clinton shakes on DQ anniversary
Inspired by the most recent dance craze, the Harlem Shake, Clinton’s Dairy Queen held its own local version of the phenomenon called the Clinton Shake this past Saturday afternoon as part of its 60th anniversary celebration. “Every time I’d go on Facebook I’d see a new Harlem Shake video posted, and I thought it would a fun thing for our town to do,” shared Billy Peterson, owner of the Dairy Queen. Around 80 people came out to indulge in ...
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Faircloth helps Butler celebrate reading To celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America, local author Mary Lou Faircloth came to several classes to read her published book, titled 'Seana's New Accessory.' Faircloth is a teacher at Clinton High School and author of several books: 'When will I see Aunt Carole,' 'Seana's New Accessory,' 'Cara's Book about Grandmothers,' and 'Shawn's Book about Grandfathers.' Pictured are Mrs. Faircloth and her granddaughter Melina Matthews. (Courtesy photo)
Faircloth helps Butler celebrate reading
Courtesy photo To celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America, local author Mary Lou Faircloth came to several classes to read her published book, titled ‘Seana’s New Accessory.’ Faircloth is a teacher at Clinton High School and author of several books: ‘When will I see Aunt Carole,’ ‘Seana’s New Accessory,’ ‘Cara’s Book about Grandmothers,’ and ‘Shawn’s Book about Grandfathers.’ Pictured are Mrs. Faircloth and her granddaughter M...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Mayor Lew Starling, left, and City Councilman Marcus Becton listen during a recent Council meeting. The city has moved forward with refinancing three federal loans obtained for downtown revitalization projects over the past decade. The refinancing is anticipated to cut interest rates nearly in half and save the city $200,000.
D’town loan refinancing expected to save city money
Action expected to save Clinton approximately $200,000 and free up debt service for future capital projects has been taken by City Council, which signed off on refinancing federal loans that paid for downtown revitalization over the last decade. Assistant city manager/finance director Shawn Purvis first introduced the opportunity in January. He said interest rates are nearly 2 percent less now than the city’s current rates on USDA financing...
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Cruisers donate to Falcon Children’s Home Harnett Cruisers president John Ingram, right, presents a $500 donation to Joey Leggett, superintendent of Falcon Children’s Home. The Cruisers do two car show fundraisers per year, with proceeds raised from those shows going to the Spivey’ Corner Fire Department, two high school students who are continuing their education in automotive after graduation and other organizations. (Courtesy photo)
Cruisers donate to Falcon Children’s Home
Courtesy photo Harnett Cruisers president John Ingram, right, presents a $500 donation to Joey Leggett, superintendent of Falcon Children’s Home. The Cruisers do two car show fundraisers per year, with proceeds raised from those shows going to the Spivey’ Corner Fire Department, two high school students who are continuing their education in automotive after graduation and other organizations.
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Clinton City Schools recognized their employees of the month for March during last week's Board of Education meeting. Pictured left to right are Ray Boykin, custodian at Butler Avenue; Brooke Batson, teacher at Sunset Avenue; William King, teacher at Sampson Middle; and Jesus Centeno, teacher at L.C. Kerr. Not pictured is Jennifer Thompson, teacher at Clinton High. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
City schools recognize employees
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Clinton City Schools recognized its Employees of the Month for March during last week’s Board of Education meeting. Pictured from left, are Ray Boykin, custodian at Butler Avenue; Brooke Batson, teacher at Sunset Avenue; William King, teacher at Sampson Middle; and Jesus Centeno, teacher at L.C. Kerr. Not pictured is Jennifer Thompson, teacher at Clinton High.
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SB 10 a ‘partisan power grab’
The action inside the State Legislature resumed at full speed last week. On Monday evening, the House gave final approval on Senate Bill 10, which passed with a vote of 71-43. The measure is now headed back to the Senate for concurrence. I strongly believe that this bill is an unprecedented partisan power grab. This reorganization will cost the state valuable expertise and institutional knowledge on these boards and commissions by replacing...
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Union's second grade Students of the Month Union Elementary School recently names its Students of the Month. Those chosen in second grade are Canaan Murphy, Briana Allen, Nyla Busby, Madison Honeycutt, Yahir Villanueva, Isael Morales, Juana Ledesma and Tania Garcia. (Courtesy photo)
Union recognizes Students of Month
Courtesy photo Union Elementary School recently names its Students of the Month. Those chosen in second grade are Canaan Murphy, Briana Allen, Nyla Busby, Madison Honeycutt, Yahir Villanueva, Isael Morales, Juana Ledesma and Tania Garcia. Courtesy photo Union Elementary’s third grade Students of the Month were recently recognized. They are: Mary Golden-Powell, Carson Wicke-Bass, Adriana Arellano, Trey Hayes, Ahtziry Borja, Katherine Flo...
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Arson probe under way
Sheriff’s officers are currently investigating a weekend arson reported by Roseboro-area residents who were awakened when they spotted a blaze outside their window. Sergo Garcia of Howard Road, Roseboro, reported the incident to officers, nothing that his son woke him up around 3 a.m. Saturday morning, saying he had seen a glow from his bedroom window and believed it was fire. The father took a look and discovered that bush was burning ne...
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Clinton woman arrested
A 32-year-old Clinton woman found herself in trouble with law enforcement in the wee hours of Friday morning after she reportedly broke into a home and then tried to assault two people sleeping there. Sarah Marie Tew, 32, 242 Hamilton Drive, has been charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering and two counts simple assault following the incident which was reported to police just after 3 a.m. Friday. Clinton police reports show that off...
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Robbery under investigation
Sampson sheriff’s investigators are continuing an investigation into an incident that occurred over the weekend when two residents offered another a ride and were paid back by being robbed and assaulted. Capt. Eric Pope said officers have a person of interest in the case, and detectives were currently investigating the incident. The robbery took place Saturday night when Jonah Phillip Smith, 21, of Pickleshed Lane, Clinton and a friend, J...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 3/7 - James Ray Brown, 32, 54 Ponderosa Lane, Clinton, failure to comply child support. Bond $500; court date March 12. 3/7 - Bobby Ray Copeland, 42, 899 Byrd Yancey Bass Road, Clinton, failure to appear on child support charge. Bond $500; no court date set. 3/7 Lasagna Blue, 32, 79 Hugh Lane, Salemburg, failure to appear on child support charge. Bond $250. No court date listed. 3/8-Justin Wright, 25, 61 River Ridg...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent County commissioner Jarvis McLamb said he has not appreciated negative comments made toward managerial staff from the public in regards to the animal shelter, and threatened to endorse the shelter's closing or a pet tax should it continue. Other commissioners said they believed differences were being worked out.
McLamb tosses out animal shelter ideas: Close it or charge a tax
As one county commissioner has threatened to endorse the closing of the animal shelter in light of “bad statements” toward county management by members of the public, the shelter director said he remains focused on moving forward with improvements that will include the dismantling of the gas chamber. The shelter received its Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) licensing at the beginning of February to begin lethal injection and demolish t...
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Myriad bills being filed in Legislature
The first week of March has been a very productive one at the Raleigh office. We are working hard to pass beneficial legislation and make this a great two years at the General Assembly in moving North Carolina forward. Notable Legislation After receiving positive feedback from the email last week, I wanted to continue to provide the two categories in this section. If you want to learn more about these bills you can click on the bill nu...
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Photo taken in the 1960s and provided courtesy of the Historical Society.
Biggest pecan was a gift of President Madison
(Editor’s note: From the March 1, 1968 issue of The State magazine, reprinted with permission.) The giant pecan tree, located at the old Fryar place, three miles northeast of the village of Turkey on Bowden Road, is believed to be the largest pecan tree in North Carolina and possibly the most historic. The tree measures 17 feet 2 inches in circumference, measured three feet above the ground, and although hurricanes and lightening have tor...
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STD services at the Health Dept.
Sexually transmitted diseases are a significant challenge in the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 19 million new STD infections occur every year in the United States, nearly half of these cases among people between the ages of 15-24. Each of these infections is a potential threat to an individual’s immediate and long-term health and well-being. In addition to increasing a person’s risk for HIV ...
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One killed on Brewer Road
A Mount Olive man died early Sunday morning in a one-vehicle crash on Brewer Road near the Duplin County line. According to N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. Bryan Smith, 27-year-old Jamal Wright died from injuries sustained in the accident, which occurred at 10:25 a.m. Smith said an investigation into the accident shows that Wright, traveling north on Brewer Road, ran off the road to the right, over-corrected, then ran off the road to the left, o...
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Patty Tarr, center, owner of the Ashford Inn and one of the five chefs chosen to cook for United Way's "Outstanding in Our Fields" dinner event, meets with the other four local chefs as they plan the meal for the fundraiser. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Servin’ it up for United Way
Second in a series As Sampson County’s United Way prepares for its upcoming fundraiser, a dinner event named “Outstanding in Our Fields,” the five chefs chosen to prepare the special meal are hard at work too. One of those chefs is Patty Tarr, a self-described “foodie” and the woman behind the delicious fare at the Ashford Inn, which she owns and runs with her husband Mason. “Ever since I was young, I wanted to own a bed and breakfas...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Sampson County Veterans Service officer Ann Knowles talks about the important place veterans hold in this country, this county and in her heart. She was lauded by Board of Commissioners chairman Billy Lockamy and others for giving not only her heart and time, but $2,000 of her own money, to assist a veteran who was about to be displaced from his home.
Beyond duty’s call
When a local veteran was struggling to keep his home in Autryville last month, $2,000 behind on his mortgage, Ann Knowles, the woman who has been there for countless veterans through the years, reached into her own pocket. Sampson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Billy Lockamy honored Knowles, the county’s Veterans Service officer, for her actions in assisting local veteran Bruce Waldahl, who faced displacement from his home to compou...
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