Emily Roberson

KENANSVILLE — State and local dignitaries gathered at the Duplin County Airport last week for the long-awaited groundbreaking of the new $13.1 million N.C. Forest Service Region One Headquarters at the Airpark.

The facility will sit on a 12-acre tract across from the existing N.C. Forest Service Eastern Aviation Hub, which houses firefighting and observation aircraft. Along with office space, the building will include a dedicated training facility.

“We are so excited to be here today to begin building the Region One Headquarters,” North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler told Duplin Journal, explaining that the new facility will bring air operations and ground operations back together again. “We are proud to be here in Duplin County — the county has been so good to deal with. And they wanted us here badly. So, we’re at home and we appreciate it.”

Region One of the N.C. Forest Service serves 27 counties in eastern North Carolina and functions as a hub for wildfire response, forest management and emergency coordination. The headquarters also provides economic benefits to the region, supporting public-sector jobs, purchasing fuel and supplies locally, and attracting visiting crews during fire seasons and training events.

Scotty Summerlin, executive director of the Duplin County Economic Development Commission, said the project is on a 500-day construction schedule, with completion expected in April 2027.

“We’re just so excited,” Summerlin told Duplin Journal, adding that the effort has been years in the making. Summerlin emphasized that the groundwork was laid by his predecessors, making this a long-term effort finally moving from planning to reality. He said they are eager to see construction begin and just as eager to see it completed.

“There’s a lot of us here that have looked forward to this day for a long time — not only those of us here, but I feel the spirits of those who have gone on before us,” Rep. Jimmy Dixon told Duplin Journal. “It’s always a pleasure to see something like this happen.”

During the ceremony, as special dignitaries took to the floor, each expressed deep gratitude for those who contributed.

“Thank you for being here and working with us on this project and many others that benefit the great responsibility we have in North Carolina to continue producing the food and fiber necessary to remain a free nation,” said Dixon, as he thanked Troxler for his support.

Dexter Edwards, chairman of the Duplin County Board of Commissioners, voiced strong support for the project and praised the personnel already working at the Airpark.

“We’re looking forward to this building,” he said, adding that success with the two existing hangars has made the county eager for what comes next. He described the aviation team as one the community should be proud of.

“We appreciate it here in Duplin, and we feel that this is an honor to all of Eastern North Carolina,” said Edwards. “We’re glad we can be the hub housing these folks.”

Paul Stewart of Willard Stewart Architects thanked Region One staff, including Andy Meyer and Greg Hicks, for their collaboration.

“This project is just as much their vision as ours. It’s been an honor to work on something so important, and we’re excited to help reunite aviation and ground operations here in Duplin County,” Stewart said.

Representatives from Daniels and Daniels Construction also praised the partnership behind the project, noting the strength of the team that includes architects, county leaders and the Forest Service.

“This is absolutely the right team for a project of this caliber,” the company said. “The county is an exceptional partner and neighbor, and the Forestry Service is fortunate to have such a strong home base here.” The firm added that by the time the ribbon is cut, they expect even greater excitement, confident the team will deliver a high-quality facility built through strong collaboration.

The ceremony concluded with the traditional shovel-turning. Dixon noted the facility’s future impact, telling Duplin Journal, “This is going to be a magnificent facility here in Duplin County for the training of the forestry officers and the entire staff. All of the training in Eastern North Carolina will be located right here. We’re really looking forward to it.”

The county retired four long-serving employees, approved surplus sales and updated policies

KENANSVILLE — Duplin County officials celebrated decades of volunteer service, honored retiring employees, and discussed rapid growth and major infrastructure projects during the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday night.

Harvey Knowles was named Duplin County’s recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award and will also receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service at a statewide ceremony in May in Raleigh.

Knowles, 95, has volunteered for decades in Wallace, providing support to veterans, first responders, local schools, and community organizations. He has raised funds to equip emergency vehicles with automated external defibrillators for the Wallace Police Department, Wallace Volunteer Fire Department, and Wallace Parks and Recreation.

A strong advocate for veterans, Knowles regularly participates in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. He also visits nursing homes, where he plays hymns on his harmonica for residents, and he regularly organizes meals for first responders during training events.

Knowles has coordinated donations of more than 100 bicycles for children and has organized food drives for local pantries. He has also contributed to disaster relief efforts, school projects, and fundraising for community programs.

In addition to larger efforts, Knowles is known for smaller, consistent acts of outreach. He maintains contact lists across multiple organizations and regularly calls or visits individuals to offer birthday wishes and encouragement, particularly to older residents.

County officials said Knowles’ volunteer work is sustained, personal, and impacts residents of all ages, making him a notable example of long-term community service.

The county also honored four long-serving public employees for their retirement. Katherine Mitchell retired after 27 years with the Health Department, where she began as a maternal outreach worker and later worked as a WIC processing assistant. Dr. Elizabeth Griffin, a pediatrician, served from May 2009 through August 2025, providing annual child health physicals and bilingual care. Simone Vann retired after 30 years, assisting in maternal outreach, health check coordination, telehealth programs, and disaster response, including Hurricanes Florence, Matthew, and Dorian, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Vann received the State of the Long Leaf Pine Award. Gwenda Swann retired after 25 years with Social Services, working in economic services and as a public information officer; she received both a county retirement plaque and the Old North State Award from the governor.

Wallace Council Member Glenn Price presented information on rapid residential growth in Wallace and its expected impact on local schools, noting more than 1,000 potential homes and expanding commercial development. Price said growth reflects a strong economy and regional job opportunities but emphasized that early planning with county officials is needed to meet future school enrollment and infrastructure demands.

“We have a duty as a council to make sure that the board is aware of what’s going on in Wallace and the magnitude of growth that we expect to see,” said Price.

County officials also reported on a $1.5 million river and creek cleanup initiative funded through 2028 by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

According to David Whaley, soil & water director, the cleanup has improved flow along the Northeast Cape Fear River and tributaries. Despite progress, some areas still require attention. Muddy Creek, particularly between Lyman Road and Quinn Store Road, was identified as a major problem area. Additionally, Little Limestone Creek near Church Road was highlighted as severely obstructed. Plans include revisiting these locations if funding allows, along with continued maintenance of previously improved creeks. Officials said remaining funds will continue upstream cleanup and support smaller streams.

In other business:

The board approved purchasing five replacement vehicles due to high mileage and maintenance costs on existing units.

Holland Construction Company was awarded contracts to rebuild homes at 186 Willie Best Road and 455 Carter Thigpen Road under the 2024 Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program.

Economic development initiatives: A $661,151 contract was awarded to RiverWild Commercial LLC to build five short-term housing units for workforce and visitors. The county also approved a third industrial shell building with Daniels and Daniels Construction Company and $354,693 for new signage across multiple industrial parks to improve visibility and branding. Officials said these efforts aim to expand opportunities, attract businesses, and build on recent economic momentum.

The board approved three modernized, stand-alone policies governing Purchasing Cards (P-Cards), Conflict of Interest and Ethics, and Purchasing and Procurement. These updates were designed to strengthen internal controls, promote transparency, and ensure compliance with state and federal statutes.

Three 12,000-gallon fuel tanks at the county airport were declared surplus and the board approved selling them privately for $10,000. Some commissioners expressed concern that $10,000 for three large-capacity tanks seemed low. Comparisons were made to the high cost of new tanks, estimated around $500,000, as well as the total storage capacity being sold.

A key discussion point was whether the county should publicly advertise the tanks to potentially receive higher bids. While advertising could increase competition, staff noted it would also extend the timeline and create logistical challenges, including the need to move and store the tanks during the bidding process. The sale is closely tied to the construction timeline of a new fuel farm project. The buyer has agreed to coordinate tank removal with the project schedule, eliminating the need for temporary storage or additional equipment. Officials stressed that this coordination is a major advantage of proceeding with the private sale.

After weighing the options, officials concluded that the guaranteed sale, combined with avoided costs and simplified logistics, made this the most practical decision.

Interim County Manager Lisa Hughes outlined 2026–27 budget priorities. She emphasized employees, economic development, schools, and community college as top concerns. The general fund budget is currently just over $81 million, with approximately 51.5% dedicated to personnel costs.

Hughes highlighted a key financial goal is reducing the county’s dependence on its $7.8 million  fund balance to cover recurring expenses. She also noted that around $1.5 million is tied to one-time capital expenses. Hughes aims to significantly reduce this reliance in the next budget cycle. To achieve that goal, county leadership will work with department heads to identify ways to cut or better manage recurring operational costs. This includes reviewing departmental budgets, identifying efficiencies, and potentially scaling back expenditures. The effort is focused specifically on the general fund, where most operational spending occurs.

“My pledge to you and the citizens of this county is to bring you a budget that does not include any hint of any tax rate increase,” said Hughes.

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WALLACE — Exciting developments are underway at the Wallace-Pender Airport, as town leaders and aviation officials work together to position Wallace as a key player in eastern North Carolina’s growing regional economy. Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Rivas-Diaz, who also serves on the airport commission, says the momentum behind the airport’s expansion reflects a broader vision for the town’s future.

“This isn’t just about aviation,” Rivas-Diaz explained. “It’s about preparing Wallace for the future.”

Town leaders are advancing plans for a major expansion of the Wallace-Pender Airport, a project they say will boost economic growth and improve regional connectivity.

“The Commission — working closely with Airport Director Ben Jones and the Wallace Town Council — is moving forward with several major projects,” said Rivas-Diaz.

The next phase of development includes extending the airport’s runway from 4,150 feet to 5,500 feet, allowing it to accommodate larger aircraft. According to Airport Director Ben Jones, construction could begin as early as August or September and be completed by October without closing the runway.

Following the extension, crews are expected to begin work on a parallel taxiway and a new apron. The taxiway will improve safety by eliminating the need for aircraft to backtrack on the runway. Officials aim to complete those upgrades by April 2027.

Plans also call for a new terminal and additional hangars, including 10 T-hangars and two larger corporate or community hangars. Construction on those facilities is expected to begin after the taxiway and apron are finished, potentially as early as spring 2027.

“Since the terminal and the hangars have to connect to the new ramp, we will have to wait on the construction of the ramp to be completed before we can build hangars,” Jones explained, adding that he hopes to begin construction on the new terminal this time next year and the hangars in two to three years. “All these projects connect together so they have to be done in order to complete the puzzle.”

Jones said recent road construction has cleared the way for faster progress, with design work for the runway and taxiway about 80% complete and expected to go out for bid in July.

Challenges remain, including potential weather delays during hurricane season. Funding is another key factor. While some grant support is already in place, additional funding will be necessary — especially to accelerate hangar construction.

Local leaders say the investment could bring new jobs and business opportunities to Wallace within the next three to four years, strengthening the town’s role in eastern North Carolina’s economy.

“Small-town airports are vital economic engines,” said Rivas-Diaz, who believes the long-term payoff will be significant.

“For rural areas, these airports provide a critical link for emergency medical services, disaster relief, and—most importantly—corporate travel that brings new businesses and jobs to our front door,” he said. “We are being proactive today so that Wallace can thrive tomorrow.”