Ena Sellers

By Abby Cavenaugh

Duplin Journal

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 residential 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 Governors School West, where he’ll study English.
• Elier Marquez-Chavez, son of Adela Chavez and Lutgardo Marquez, a student at Wallace-Rose Hill High School. He was chosen to attend Governors School East, where he will study social science.
• Lily Stringer, daughter of Jamie Alphin and Forrest Stringer, a student at North Duplin Jr./Sr. High School. She was selected to attend Governors School West, where she will study natural science.
• Jaclyn Williams-Briggs, daughter of Gretchen Williams and Anthony Briggs, a student at Wallace-Rose Hill High School. She was chosen to attend Governors School East, where she’s going to study choral music as a first soprano.

“So, these students represent the best of Duplin County and North Carolina students based on what they have worked for and what they’ve achieved,” Murray said. “The application process to get into Governors School is extensive, and it’s very, very strenuous. The fact that we had four students chosen from Duplin County, we’re very proud of that.”

She went on to thank each of the students’ parents, as well as their teachers, administrators, and counselors.

“Congratulations to all four of you,” School Board Chairman Brent Davis told the students. “It’s really an amazing accomplishment, a real testament to your work ethic. We hope the experience is all that you want it to be and that you get a whole lot out of it.”

In other business at the April 9 school board meeting, the board approved the consent agenda, which included various field trip requests and contracts for IEP (individualized education plan) services, including a sign language interpreter, nursing care. The consent agenda also included approval to name the East Duplin High School Track & Field after former principal, Kenneth Kennedy.

After a closed executive session, the board approved the superintendent’s request for personnel changes. Board Member Pam Edwards also motioned to continue to pay positions in exceptional children math and science bonus money, which was approved unanimously.

Superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan reminded the board that a strategic plan review is scheduled for May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Kenansville Elementary School cafeteria.

“Our annual review of the DCS Strategic Plan is important as it will clarify our vision, goals, priorities and action plan,” Dr. Obasohan said. “It also gives us an opportunity as a family to measure our progress, celebrate successes and find ways to improve.”

By Abby Cavenaugh

Duplin Journal‌

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 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 there’s really no handicap-accessible units downtown anywhere,” he said.

Wallace realtor Curt Simpson shared that he gets calls every day from people seeking rentals, even though he works exclusively in real estate sales. There’s office space available downtown, but many people now work from home. “So if you want people downtown, and you put apartments down there, you’re going to have people downtown,” he said. “They’re looking for places where they can live and work at the same time.”

Mayor Jason Wells made a lengthy statement on his feelings about creating more living space downtown, whether it’s in upstairs apartments or ground level ones.

He admitted that the buildings are old, and the town has already had to tear down the former Market Furniture building due to the fire. “I don’t want to get into the business of having to tear buildings down because they’re not being used,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of houses coming, we’ve got a lot of commercial property coming. 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?”

“If you wanna sit here and stare at some empty buildings,” he continued, “then we don’t need to do anything. … What I am talking about is looking at some options that would allow for a handicapped person to have an accessible apartment. Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

Taylor said he would work on drafting an ordinance, and bring it before the council at the May meeting.

Also at the April 11 meeting, the council approved the master plan for Clement Park. As Taylor pointed out, a public forum on the park’s master plan was held in March. “There are two grant opportunities here,” he said. “We’re going to put in for an accessibility grant and the original PARTF grant.”

The existing playground will be moved to Dobbins Park, and will be replaced with an inclusive playground, which the town hopes an accessibility grant will help pay for. The PARTF (Parks and Recreation Trust Fund) grant portion of the plan, which is estimated to be about $250,000, includes tennis courts, a multi-use field, pickleball courts and some shade areas, as well as new parking areas. Some of those items may have to be trimmed, Taylor said, depending upon the grant awarded.

In other business, the council:

• Approved tax releases totaling $65.27.
• Approved the purchase of new radios for the fire department. Fire radios will be changing frequencies on Jan. 1, 2025. The funding totals $112,000, less $45,000 in Covid funds that were approved in November 2023.
• Approved a one-year lease for 45 acres of farmland at Farrior Park, at a cost of $55 per acre, or $2,500.
• Approved the appointment of Logan Brown to the library board for a six-year term ending in 2029.
• Approved the sale of a piece of property at the corner of North Norwood Street and East Murphy Street. The property will be advertised and then sold on GovDeals.com.
• Reappointed Mayor Pro Tem Francisco Rivas Diaz as the town’s voting delegate for the North Carolina League of Municipalities.

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 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 the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. 

In 1959, Mercer became a business owner, his company was one of the first to offer customers the option to rent equipment.  

Over the next two decades the company expanded to nine locations with 400 employees. The company was later sold to W.R. Grace Company with Mercer remaining president of the southeast division. Under his leadership, the company grew to 18 locations with annual sales exceeding $60 million. He retired at age 61. In 1990, Mercer and his two sons-in-law purchased a small parts and equipment rental business with annual sales of $500,000. The company expanded rapidly and by 1997, annual sales had grown to $14.5 million. 

“Once again, the great success of the company attracted buyers, and in 1997, at age 70, the company was sold to United Rentals – the largest equipment rental business in North Carolina, where he served as a consultant for the next three years. 

According to Ingram, Mercer was acknowledged as a trail blazer and recognized as a great entrepreneur and innovator. He was also featured in several articles and business publications and recognized for his contributions. 

“His business success allowed him to help many others. He helped many young people go to college who, without his help, would not have been able to do so. He has been very active in the life of his community,” said Ingram. 

“He rose from the tobacco fields of rural eastern Duplin County to become a leader in his industry nationwide and in his community and state. Along the way, he preserved his character and integrity and contributed unselfishly and greatly to helping others. Duplin County is honored to have produced such a gifted and caring person.” 

RICHARD EARL HARRELL 

The 2023 living recipient was introduced by Curt Simpson. 

“[Harrell] left home for a while only to return and do good work and make a difference in our county,” said Simpson about the Rose Hill native, who in 1975 returned to Kenansville as Duplin General Hospital administrator.  

“As a result of a nationwide search, he was called back home to take on the task. His title was eventually changed to president and chief executive officer of the hospital which we now know as ECU Health Duplin Hospital,” said Simpson. “While his accomplishments are impressive, that’s not what merits his induction into the Duplin County Hall of Fame. It is his expert management and leadership of Duplin General Hospital that commands this selection. …In the 1940s, 40% of counties in the U.S. did not have a hospital. Duplin County was one of them… It took an act of Congress to lead to the creation of many hospitals in the U.S. and through the leadership of our county commissioners and some determined community members, Duplin County moved forward with the construction of our hospital in 1951.” 

Simpson explained that market forces, and factors such as a population that can’t afford medical care, among other factors, make operating a hospital an enormous financial challenge.  

“…for 28 years, he not only managed the day-to-day, but also a tremendous amount of growth in our hospital that became the basis of the fine institution that we have here in Kenansville today,” Simpson said, adding that in 1976, the hospital’s total operating revenue was over $3 million and by the time Harrell retired, that revenue had grown to just under $60 million. 

“Under his leadership, the hospital grew exponentially, and he was able to maintain financial viability despite some very challenging headwinds. …No longer do our citizens have to go out of the county to receive primary medical care. …With his education, experience, skill, and expertise, he could have left Duplin County many times for higher salaries, but it was important to him that he use his skills to serve the people of his home county. 

GILBERT Estus ALPHIN

“The nominee was born in the family home in Wolfscrape Township on April 6, 1910,” said Jim Sills as he presented the 2024 deceased recipient. 

Alphin was the youngest of seven children and grew up on his family farm in Duplin County. He attended a boarding high school near Rocky Mount. 

“The school offered the standard high school education but also vocational agricultural instruction. The choice of this high school was fortuitous in that agriculture would be the major influence and interest in the life of our nominee,” said Sills. 

In 1948, Alphin was elected to serve as president and chairman of the Duplin County Historical Association committee to organize a celebration for Duplin County’s bicentennial anniversary which featured the famous Duplin Story production. According to Sills this also served as a source of funding for the construction of a natural outdoor amphitheater. 

“Having returned to his Wolfscrape Township Farm in 1950, the nominee was recognized for his outstanding diplomacy, leadership and success in bringing the Duplin Story about,” said Sills. 

“The nominee inherited his father’s knack for invention. It was written in later years that the nominee was driven by this inborn desire to make something better, to improve on a method of doing something,” which led to “the creation of a mechanical marvel of its time, the mechanized tobacco harvester.” 

“The harvester also simplified other jobs connected with raising tobacco, such as suckering the weed and poisoning tobacco worms. The nominee established a manufacturing operation to produce his tobacco harvesters,” said Sills, adding that numerous news outlets wrote about Alphin’s invention and how it improved not only the physical demands of harvesting tobacco, but the financial conditions of tobacco farmers. 

“The problem-solving creative genius of the man from Wolfscrape Township, Duplin County, changed farming methods for decades. It was a revolutionary idea. … It is obvious that the nominee’s life of unselfish service and leadership constitute a record of noteworthy achievements and that he has a confirmed reputation as a person of outstanding qualities of character and leadership that have indeed made Duplin County proud.” 

LEON HORACE “SONNY” SIKES

“After the death of his father, he and his younger sister and mother moved to Rose Hill to live with grandparents. Today, he and his wife reside in that same family home in Rose Hill as they have throughout most of their 48 years of marriage,” said Hroza as she presented the 2024 Living Recipient. 

The United States Air Force veteran became Duplin County’s first director of tourism in 1991 and was awarded the Special Ambassador Award for outstanding support and devotion to the growth, development, and promotion of Duplin County by the Duplin County Economic Development Commission in 2004. Among several other accolades, he was honored by the Rockfish Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for outstanding achievements in historical, educational, cultural, medical, humanitarian, patriotic, and citizenship work in the community, according to Hroza. 

“His deep personal interest in local history led him to become a member and service president of the Duplin County Historical Society… This nominee was also instrumental in the effort to preserve the vast genealogical information and records of his neighbor and friends,” said Hroza, adding that Sikes’ interest in history, genealogy, and photography led him to record many of the old homes and buildings in the county, and authoring books. 

“This historian now has a vast collection of historical photographs, originals and reproductions of early Duplin County,” said Hroza, highlighting that Sikes’ first book, Duplin County Places, Past and Present, is the recipient of the 1985 Willie Parker Peace Award.  

“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,” said Hroza. 

Sikes is the first historian to be inducted to the Duplin County Hall of Fame.

To view photos of the event visit our Facebook page album.