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Abby Cavenaugh

VFW memorial service honors veterans past, present

VFW memorial service honors veterans past, present

WARSAW — Last Saturday, before the official start of the 104th Veterans Day Parade in Warsaw, approximately 25 area veterans, residents and community leaders gathered at the Veterans Park on Railroad Street for the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial service.

“Today is a day for every citizen to remember and honor the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. Those who fought during the time of war and those who fought to maintain peace,” said Alice Wilson with VFW Auxiliary 9810 in Warsaw. “The sacrifices and accomplishments made by today’s generation of patriots are many, and their dedication to our way of life and the values our country was founded upon serve as a reminder that tyranny and evil will never prevail.”

Wilson emphasized the importance of keeping the legacy of our nation’s veterans alive to inspire future generations to celebrate the unity, courage, bravery, and shared purpose that make up the strength of a free country.

With their hands over their hearts, attendees of the VFW memorial service reflect on the sacrifices and bravery of members from all five branches of the military who lost their lives in the line of duty. Photo by Ena Sellers / Duplin Journal

“Veterans Day holds a special place in my heart as it does for all who have worn the uniform of this great nation,” said Wilson. “It is a day that reminds us of the commitment we made to defend the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice. It is a day when we reflect on the time spent away from home, the bonds that we formed with our brothers and sisters in arms, and the sacrifices made on both our native and foreign shores to protect the American way of life and to aid those striving to safeguard their own freedoms.”

Wilson encouraged other veterans to share their experiences, educate future generations about the American spirit, and remind the nation that Veterans Day is an opportunity to remember that despite different beliefs and lifestyles, our desire for a better life has always united Americans.

“Every veteran that has proudly worn the uniform of our nation has served alongside countless individuals from different backgrounds who may even have had opposing viewpoints or opinions, and yet all veterans put aside those differences to focus on the intrinsic values of freedom and liberty, and that’s what brings us together,” said Wilson.

Approximately 25 people gathered at the Veterans Park last Saturday to honor the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial service. Photo by Ena Sellers / Duplin Journal

Rudolf Beckton, a veteran of the Korean War, played Taps. At the same time, everyone in attendance placed their hands over their hearts to honor the memory and bravery of members from all five branches of the military who lost their lives in service.

Beckton was drafted into the military when he was only 18 and served in the Army infantry for two years. “I was in Korea in 1956,” Beckton told Duplin Journal, adding that he was also stationed in Japan and later was sent to Fort Bragg, now known as Fort Liberty. Beckton was discharged from Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, where he completed his service.

“Let us remember what our veterans do for us and the past and what our soldiers are doing for us now, and let us continue to pray for not just them but their families while they are apart from them and as the mayor and members of the board we thank God for our soldiers of all branches,” said Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors, who was also in attendance at the memorial service.

Thousands gather on the streets of Warsaw for the longest-running Veterans Day observation in the country

Thousands gather on the streets of Warsaw for the longest-running Veterans Day observation in the country

WARSAW — Thousands of people lined the streets of Warsaw last Saturday, joining the country’s longest-running consecutive Veterans Day observance and the state’s official Veterans Day parade.

Two veterans smile as they enjoy the lineup for the Warsaw Veterans Day parade. Photo by Ena Sellers / Duplin Journal

The parade kicked off with the North Carolina Forest Service flyover as excited crowds cheered on and watched in awe as members of the 82nd Airborne Division parachute team jumped off aircraft during the presentation of the U.S. Flag.

From marching bands, JROTC units, Sudan Cruisers, Shrine Clubs, and fire trucks to churches, car clubs, and homecoming queens and kings. More than 120 groups participated in the 104th Veterans Day Celebration and Parade with a festive display honoring our nation’s heroes.

Crowds enjoyed live music, area vendors, bouncy houses, food trucks, and activities for the whole family.

Retired Army Sgt. Maj. William Watson told Duplin Journal that he appreciated being selected as Grand Marshal and the way people respect the military for its service. This recognition honors not only my time and age but also acknowledges all those who have served their country from day one, “and the sacrifices that they made for their country and the blood they shed in foreign countries for their country,” said Watson.

A family from Calypso cheers as they await the start of the Warsaw Veterans Day parade. Families eagerly anticipate this annual event.Photo by Ena Sellers / Duplin Journal

Watson, a native of Wallace, served in the military for 29 years. He retired from the President’s Honor Guard at Fort Myer, Virginia, where he served as the command sergeant major. Watson served in multiple tours and was deployed twice to Vietnam. His son and grandson also chose to join the military, following in his footsteps. Watson expressed great pride in their decision to serve their country.

Watson told Duplin Journal that he was inspired by seeing young men return to Wallace in military uniforms, proud to serve their country. He explained that the military positively impacted his life, providing him with direction and keeping him away from street gangs.

“The military saved my life because I had nowhere to go,” said Watson. “It gave me something to look up to.”

“Growing up in Wallace, I never thought a young black kid would be the command sergeant major of the President’s Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. That was a great honor for me,” said Watson.

Hundreds of people lined up on the streets of Warsaw to enjoy the Warsaw Veterans Day parade, which has become a cherished tradition in the Warsaw community. Photo by Ena Sellers / Duplin Journal

To view more photos of the event visit our Facebook page photo gallery.

Eagle Scout builds flag retirement box for Wallace

Eagle Scout builds flag retirement box for Wallace

WALLACE — Folks in the Wallace area have a new way to properly dispose of American flags, thanks to local Eagle Scout Jase Blanchard.

Jase, who’s been part of Troop 35 for 12 years and lives in Rose Hill, said he built the box for his Eagle Scout project because he saw a need in the community.

“The US flag can only be disposed of by burning,” he explained. “The VFW does that for free at the American Legion in Wallace, but if the building isn’t open, a lot of people would just leave flags on the front bench or outside the door, so I thought a box would be a better, more convenient way.”

Throughout his scouting career, Jase said he’s taken part in a lot of flag retirement ceremonies, so he immediately thought of doing the box when it came time for his Eagle Scout project.

When his mother, Shannon Barber, was on vacation, she happened to see a flag retirement box, and thus, the idea was born.

There’s no right or wrong way to build a flag retirement box, Jase said. “It could be a wooden chest or something like that, but I wanted something that looked cool.”

He and his father, Chris Blanchard, drew up the plans together and the younger scouts constructed it, with Jase’s guidance. Gotcha Signs from the Northeast community provided the graphics that grace the box.

“Throughout scouts as a whole, they teach you how to live your life,” Jase said. “It’s more than just camping in the woods.”

“I think it’s pretty amazing,” Chris Blanchard said of his son’s project. “I’m really proud of him.”

The Blanchards also pointed out that it’s difficult for teenagers to stay in the Boy Scouts past the age of 16, so a very low percentage actually complete Eagle Scout projects and earn the rank. In fact, only 6% of Boy Scouts earn their Eagle Scout badge.

“It’s a very small amount,” Chris said, “so this is all a pretty big deal.”

Since Jase completed his project in July, he said the feedback has been nothing but positive.

“There’s been a ton of flags that have been left here in the box,” Chris said. “We’ve had people tell us they never knew what to do with their old, damaged flags until they saw the box.”

The box is located just outside the entrance of the American Legion in Wallace, and flags can be dropped off inside the box at any time, day or night.

Carolina Strawberry Festival awards $15,100 in grants

Carolina Strawberry Festival awards $15,100 in grants

WALLACE — For just the second time in its existence, the Carolina Strawberry Festival has awarded grants to local organizations, this year totaling $15,100.

“I think a big thing with our festival last year was that it was the most financially successful festival to date,” said Charley Farrior, former Wallace mayor and president of the Carolina Strawberry Festival board. “We decided to use those extra funds to give back to the community. Last year, we gave out $11,000 in grants. This year, it was $15,100.”

The grants were awarded during an event on Oct. 30 at the Wallace Woman’s Club. The awardees were:

  • The Wallace Chamber of Commerce, $2,500, for light pole banners, to be posted in downtown Wallace, the Wallace Crossing shopping center and Town and Country Shopping Center. The banners will be large, heavy-duty vinyl.

  • Helping Hands Outreach Ministry, $2,500, for its food drive project. Each Thursday, Helping Hands gives out 150-200 food boxes to needy individuals in the area. The funds will be used for transportation of food, and for paving the food drive entrance.

  • Pet Friends of Duplin County, $1,000, to help with the annual Pet Day in the Park event, held at Clement Park in Wallace.

  • Town of Wallace, $2,500, for new wayfinding signs. “This first phase of this project will install two wayfinding signs on Main Street at each end of the historic downtown district as well as parking signage at the train depot,” explained Town Manager Rob Taylor. “Future signs will be strategically added throughout town in the coming years. The signs will keep with the branding theme the town has created with its new welcome signs. A classic black and gold historical style marker will be used accented with red to signify strawberries.”

  • Wallace Depot Commission, $2,500, for the rehabilitation of the Railway Postal Car. “The Wallace Depot Commission feels that the Wallace Railway Postal Car is an amazing museum piece, and a wonderful asset to Wallace as well as our surrounding areas,” Depot Commission Chair Michael Blackburn said. “We feel that when our RPO is completed it will be an attraction that will bring additional visitors to Wallace and to the Depot to see the interior of this remark.”

  • Friends of the Wallace Parks, $2,100, for a “Creature Comforts” project, which will install benches at the dog park at Farrior Park. “With this grant we will purchase four benches for the canine companions to enjoy while their pets play,” said Georgia Farrior, chairperson of Friends of the Wallace Parks. “These all-weather, commercial-grade benches will last for decades.”

  • Emily Ludlum, Melissa Stevens, and Georgia Farrior, $2,000, for helping our western North Carolina neighbors. Ludlum, Stevens, Farrior and a few other ladies from the River Landing community have gathered supplies and donations for the victims of Hurricane Helene since the storm hit in September. The $2,000 will be used for the group’s next trip to the western NC community, which will be in December.

“We are really excited for what these grants will do to help the town of Wallace and to help folks in western NC,” Charley Farrior said. “It’s very rewarding to be able to give back.”

As for next year’s Carolina Strawberry Festival, Farrior said bands have already been booked and the dinosaur show will again return. There will also be another Garden Gala the weekend before the festival.

Unofficial 2024 election results announced

Unofficial 2024 election results announced

Unofficial results are in for North Carolina, with former President Trump taking the lead with 2,876,398 votes counted. In Duplin County, he won with 64.15% of the votes over Democratic vice president Kamala Harris.

Congressman Greg Murphy won North Carolina’s 3rd District with 245,964 votes, prevailing by 77.50% of the vote over Libertarian Gheorghe Cormos. In Duplin Murphy amassed 79.65% of the votes. Attorney General Josh Stein defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor’s race, with Stein receiving 54.82% of the vote to Robinson’s 40.18%. Locally, Duplin favored Robinson with 56.45% of the votes. 

Senator Rachel Hunt won by over 93,000 votes against Republican Hal Weatherman for lieutenant governor. Congressman Jeff Jackson (NC-14) defeated Republican Dan Bishop (NC-08) with 51.33% of the votes to become North Carolina Attorney General. Republican Dave Boliek defeated Democrat Jessica Holmes for state auditor by more than 106,000 votes.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler won reelection with 52.73% of the votes, over Democratic challenger Sarah Taber, securing a fifth term. Republican Mike Causey will head to a third term as insurance commissioner with 52.22% of the votes, defeating Natasha Marcus.

Republican Luke Farley has been elected the next North Carolina Commissioner of Labor, Farley brought in 52.85% of the vote to Democrat Braxton Winston’s 47.15%.

Incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, retained her seat with 50.94% of the votes over Republican challenger Chad Brown, securing her eighth term in the role. Maurice “Mo” Green narrowly defeated Michele Morrow for state superintendent of schools, with 51.09% of the votes. Republican Brad Briner won the State Treasurer race over Democrat Wesley Harris, with 52.54% of the votes.

The race for North Carolina’s State Supreme Court seat between Democrat incumbent and gubernatorial appointee Associate Justice Allison Riggs and Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin is headed for a recount due to a margin of less than 1%. 

Republican Tom Murry defeated incumbent Carolyn Thompson for Court of Appeals seat 12 with 50.99% of the vote, while Republican Valerie Zachary retained seat 14 against challenger Democrat Ed Eldred with 52.37% of the vote. Republican Chris Freeman won against Democrat Martin Moore for seat 15 with 51.82% of the vote. 

Republican Senator Brent Jackson prevailed by 65.12% of the votes over Democrat Jamie Campbell Bowles in the ninth state Senate district, winning an eighth term in office. In Duplin Jackson received 14,327 votes.

“I would like to thank all the citizens of District 9 that exercised their rights and took the time and effort to go vote. I also would like to thank them for their vote of confidence in me. It has been truly a humbling honor to serve the citizens of District 9 and I look forward to continuing that service for the next two years,” Jackson said.

Senator Jackson has held public office for the last 14 years, 11 representing District 10 and two after it changed to District 9, which includes Duplin, Sampson, Bladen, Jones, and Pender counties. He chairs the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee, and the Appropriations Budget Committee.

Representative Jimmy Dixon secured an eighth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 4, defeating Democrat challenger Vernon Moore with 63.11% of all votes. In Duplin he received 14,336 votes.

“Very strong Republican victories across NC and Nation. I’m very thankful the citizens of Duplin and Wayne counties have chosen me to represent them for another two years,” said Dixon. “My main task will be to continue supporting policies ensuring Public Safety, Food security, and to improve public education especially K12 and our Community Colleges. Also we must give a lot of attention to re-assessing and eliminating many of the radical “woke” crazy ideas from our University System. I will never abandon the needs of our hard working farm families who produce the food and fiber that is necessary to keep America a free and prosperous nation. President Trump will have my full support and we will make North Carolina and America great again. I will always support and fight to keep our Judo-Christian heritage alive and vibrant.”

Dixon has represented District 4 (Duplin and southern Wayne County) for the last 13 years. He chairs the House Agriculture Committee, is vice-chairman of Appropriations, senior chair of Appropriations on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Committee, and serves on the Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Energy and Public Utilities Committee, Environment Committee, Health Committee, House Redistricting Committee, and the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Committee.

Referendum results

County voters approved a constitutional amendment with 18,750 votes, stating that only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older can vote in state elections.

Local voters also supported a proposed referendum allowing the sale of unfortified wine with 13,071 favorable votes and 12,845 favorable votes allowing the sale of malt beverages both on and off premises.

Uncontested races

Running unopposed in this year’s Duplin County Board of Commissioners election, incumbents Elwood Garner, Wayne E. Branch, and Jesse Dowe won additional four-year terms in office.

Garner, a Republican serving District 1, was re-elected with 3,156 votes. Branch, a Democrat serving District 5, was re-elected with 2,697 votes. Democrat Dowe was re-elected with 3,000 votes to serve District 4.

Incumbents Brent Davis, Reginald Kenan, and Claudius Morrisey also sought reelection to the Duplin County Board of Education.

Davis, a Republican serving District 1, was re-elected with 3,254 votes.  Kenan, a District 4 Democrat, was re-elected with 3,045 votes. Morrisey, a Democrat serving District 5, was re-elected with 2,655 votes.

All NC District Court Judge District 5 candidates have secured another four-year term. All candidates in this race are Republicans. District 5 encompasses Duplin, Jones, Onslow, and Sampson counties.

Incumbent Christopher J. Welch, Rep, received 15,913 votes for District Court Judge, seat 3.

Michael C. Surles, Rep, received 15,795 votes for District Court Judge, seat 4.

Robert H. Gilmore, Rep, received 15,664 votes for District Court Judge, seat 5.

Jim Moore Jr., Rep, received 15,631 votes for District Court Judge, seat 6.

William Shanahan, Rep, received 15,522 votes for District Court Judge, seat 7.

Billy Sutton, Rep, received 15,544 votes for District Court Judge, seat 8.

Walter Bateman, Rep, received 15,517 votes for District Court Judge, seat 9.

Melissa Blizzard Stevens, Rep, received 15,839 votes for District Court Judge, seat 10.

Democrat incumbent Anita Marie Savage, received 14,131 votes securing a second 4-year term.

Incumbent Billy Kilpatrick also secured another term as the Duplin Soil And Water Conservation District Supervisor with 98.31% of all votes. Kilpatrick has held this position for the last three decades.

As Duplin County continues its canvass process unofficial results will be updated.

Board approves incentives for project that could bring 42 jobs to Duplin

KENANSVILLE — Economic Development Director Scotty Summerlin conducted a public hearing last week during the Oct. 21 Board of County Commissioners meeting to discuss incentives for Project Panda, which involves a manufacturing facility considering establishing its operations in Duplin County.

According to Summerlin, the manufacturing company is looking to make a local investment of $4 million over a three-year period, creating 42 new jobs, each with an approximate annual salary of $45,897. He explained that the potential investment could reach $16 million over five years, creating 167 local jobs.

Factors drawing them to our area include proximity to ports and favorable land lease prices comparable to those in competing states, explained Summerlin, emphasizing that incentives are crucial for the decision.

“Commerce is considering a building reuse program, and the county’s local commitment would be $10,000,” said Summerlin, adding that they are also exploring the OneNC Fund, which would involve a county contribution of $41,667.67 over three years.

County Manager Bryan Miller explained that a $4 million infrastructure improvement would create $29,400 per year in initial taxes. “If it jumps to $16 million, it’s around $117,000 per year,” said Miller.

The board approved a resolution to support the project.

In other business at the Oct. 21 County Commissioners meeting:

During road concerns, Warsaw Mayor A.J. Connors expressed concerns about an area between Kenansville and Warsaw, near Phillips Farm, where there have been several incidents involving deer crossing the road that could prevent accidents if it had signage to alert drivers.

Duplin resident Angela Maynard brought to the board’s attention a busy road near Grove Run Drive by James Kenan High School that children must cross to get to school. “Those cars coming by in the morning real fast,” said Maynor, adding that she has seen several near misses and the board should consider placing a warning sign.

Miller shared Maynard’s concern. “We have reached out to DOT, and we’ve also spoken with the Board of Education chairman about this matter,” said Miller. “They’re working together to try to resolve the issue and get some markings or some lights or something to rectify the situation.”

County Planner Chris Hatcher conducted a public hearing to request a program amendment to the county’s 2022 Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization program.

“The county is seeking additional funding due to continued deterioration of some of the houses, including the grant and inflation, which has increased the cost of construction since the original date application,” said Hatcher. He explained that the additional cost would be $370,000.
The board approved the request.

Randy Norwood was honored with a retirement plaque and presented the Old North State Award for his dedication and service to Duplin County for nearly two decades.

The next meeting will be on Nov. 4.

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