Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
The Board of County Commissioners honored 2024 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award recipients: James Preston Brown Jr, Isaac “Leroy” Dewitt and Donna Sessoms Grubbs, and Faison Sea Scout Ship 55, for their outstanding and dedicated service to the county, on May 6 in Kenansville. From left to right, front row: Melisa Brown, James Preston Brown Jr., Donna Sessoms Grubbs and Isaac “Leroy” Dewitt. On the back: Commissioners Jesse Dowe, Justin Edwards, Dexter Edwards, Wayne Branch and Elwood Garner.
Ena Sellers
BEULAVILLE — Karl Mobley, who was born and raised in Chinquapin, is officially Beulaville’s new chief of police. Mobley was sworn in during the regular monthly Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night.
He started the job first thing Tuesday morning, taking over for retired Chief Jamie Rogers. Mobley moved to Wilmington in 2005 to begin his law enforcement career at Cape Fear Community College with a criminal justice degree. He served with the Wilmington Police Department and other New Hanover County law enforcement agencies from 2007-2014, and then got married, had children and moved back home to Chinquapin.
Once back in Duplin County, Mobley joined the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked with narcotics. “I knew Jamie and worked with him, and when I found out he was retiring, I thought this would be a good place to continue growing my law enforcement career.”
Mobley said he was excited to get started, and especially pleased that he could work about 10 minutes from his hometown.
Before swearing in Mobley at the town board meeting Monday night, Beulaville Mayor Hutch Jones stated, “This is one of the truly special moments we get to do as a town board. I can’t say enough about our local law enforcement.”
Another new police officer on the town’s force, Juan Stiles, was also sworn in during Monday night’s meeting.
Abandoned house dominates conversation at May town board meeting
In other business, the commissioners discussed an abandoned property at 406 W. Church St., which has been the source of complaints from area residents. Nanette Outlaw and Shannon Blizzard appeared before the board at Monday night’s meeting and at the April meeting to inquire what can be down to get the house torn down or repaired. After last month’s meeting, Town Manager Lori Williams brought in an engineer to inspect the house.
“The house is pretty much beyond repair,” Williams said. “The amount of damages are more than 50% of the cost it would take to repair the damages.”
The next step, she added, is to contact the property owner and give him 30 days to take action or appeal the decision. “At that time, the town will have to take action to either grant what they are looking at doing, or the town’s going to take it over and have the house torn down,” Williams explained.
Commissioner Gene Wickline expressed concerns that the owners may appeal the town’s decision. If they do appeal, Williams said the town would have to grant them time to repair the house. However, she said she doesn’t think the owners will appeal. If they do, the town’s action would be at the board’s discretion, she added.
“There’s a long list of violations that we would have to bring up to code,” Williams said.
The item will likely remain on the agenda for the foreseeable future, Mayor Jones said.
Also at Monday night’s Beulaville town boarding, the commissioners:
- Held a public hearing on the 2024-2025 budget, which includes a 2-cent property tax increase and may include a 10% increase for law enforcement. The board has until June 30 to approve the proposed budget.
- Discussed the proposed layout and equipment for the PARTF (Parks and Recreation Trust Foundation) grant.
- Approved a budget amendment for $54,507.32 to repair wind damage to the park concession stand and the Town Hall building.
- Discussed possibly requiring voluntary annexation for businesses outside the town limits to connect to water and sewer lines, per a request from Commissioner Wickline. Williams said she would look into the town of Wallace’s ordinances, and the board will also have Town Attorney Justin Hunter look into the legality of enacting such an ordinance.
Chi Iota Omega’s Enhance Our Environment Committee joins the cause, advocates for sustainable practices
THE COWAN MUSEUM of History and Science in Kenansville recently held Eco-blast, an event to raise awareness about the importance of trees and sustainability in honor of Arbor Day.
Local members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated were among the volunteers who came to support the cause promoting environmental stewardship.
Sorority volunteers provided planting tips and tree care information to children and adults alike who eagerly joined the activities.
“Members of Chi Iota Omega’s Enhance Our Environment Committee distributed free trees and seedlings to the public, encouraging individuals and families to plant them in their yards, neighborhoods, and communities. The initiative not only aimed to enhance the local greenery but also to promote a healthier and more sustainable environment for future generations,” stated the sorority’s press release.
“Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc believes in the power of community action and environmental responsibility. By giving away these trees and seedlings, we hope to inspire others to take action and contribute to a greener, more vibrant world.”
According to the sorority, the Arbor Day celebration, served as the perfect occasion for the group to engage with the public and advocate for sustainable practices. “By fostering a culture of environmental awareness and community involvement, the sorority hopes to leave a lasting impact on the local ecosystem and inspire others.”
Things you need to know as online scammers become harder to pin down
An online scam recently started recirculating in Duplin County as a Facebook post in a local group asking people to help identify a woman who was involved in a hit and run.
The scam, aiming at pulling people’s heart strings, showed a photo of a woman in a hospital bed and a caption that read: “We urgently need assistance in identifying a young woman who was involved in a hit and run incident, and left for dead by the side of the road in Duplin. She is currently in a coma, and the deputies are unable to identify her because she is missing her ID. Let’s bump this post so it may reach people who can be able to identify her.”
The post has since been reported and taken down; however, frauds like this are more common than you may know and sometimes get shared hundreds of times, by people who want to help, before they are spotted and reported.
“False information on social media is a menace that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years,” said Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes. “False rumors spread faster and wider than truth, especially on social media platforms.”
With a growing number of online scams, it is important for people to learn how to spot a fake post. Here are a few tips from Sheriff Stokes on how to verify if a post on is true:
Check the source
Look for reputable sources and news organizations that have reported on the same information. If the post is from an unknown or unreliable source, it may be less credible.
Fact-checking websites
Use fact-checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, or PolitiFact to search for the claims made in the post. These websites provide accurate information and debunk false or misleading claims.
Cross-reference information
Look for multiple sources that confirm the information in the post. If other reputable sources are reporting the same information, it is more likely to be true.
Look for inconsistencies
Check for any inconsistencies or red flags in the post. Look for spelling or grammatical errors, sensational language, or the lack of verifiable sources.
Reverse image search
If the post includes an image, you can use a reverse image search tool like Google Images to see if the image has been used in other contexts or if it is manipulated.
Consult experts: Reach out to experts or professionals in the field related to the post’s topic to get their opinion or clarification on the information shared.
If you see a post you think is a scam, report it on the social media platform so that it does not trick others.
“It’s important to critically evaluate any information you come across on social media and verify its accuracy before sharing or believing it,” said Sheriff Stokes.
Popular convenience store chain Sheetz is opening a new location in Duplin County, on NC Highway 24 in Warsaw, just off I-40.
The convenience store is known not only for its fuel, beverages and snacks, but also made-to-order meal items like burgers, pizzas, chicken sandwiches, fries and breakfast sandwiches. The stores also feature espresso bars with made-to-order coffees. According to sheetz.com, the stores also have the lowest prices on tobacco and cigarettes that are allowed by law.
The Warsaw Sheetz will be located at 2543 W NC 24 Hwy. Construction is well under way on the store, and town officials say it will be open in August.
Each store employs about 30-35 people, according to Nick Ruffner, PR Manager for Sheetz, so the new store will help boost the local economy in more ways than one.
Ruffner shared the following statement with the Duplin Journal: “Sheetz is planning to open a new store in Warsaw along Highway 24, which will be easily accessible from Interstate 40 using exit 364. The store will include a restaurant-style experience with self-service kiosks and seating both inside and outside the store. The store will also include 12 fuel terminals along with five lanes that will offer high flow diesel fuel and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) for semi-trucks.”
Sheetz is a family-owned convenience store chain based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, started by the Sheetz family in 1952. The Warsaw location will be Store #843.
For more information, visit sheetz.com, and to search for positions at the new Warsaw store, visit jobs.sheetz.com.
Update:
The fourth suspect, Adam BJ Milliken, 45, was arrested on May 6. He was charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Conspiracy Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Felony Conspiracy and Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. His bond was set at $100,000.
__________________________________________________________
May 1, 2024 — Adam Milliken is wanted for his involvement in a stabbing that occurred in a parking lot located at 212 E. Main St., Wallace on April 30, leaving a 21-year-old male in critical condition after getting stabbed in the abdomen.
The stabbing victim was assaulted by multiple subjects and was airlifted to the hospital. He remains in critical, but stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Thanks to law enforcement’s diligent response, the four suspects were identified within 30 minutes of the call. Wesley A. Milliken, 22, Alexander Bo Milliken, 18, and Summer E. Donaldson, 26, were arrested while a warrant was issued for the fourth individual who remains at large.
W. A. Milliken and A.B. Milliken were both charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Conspiracy Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Felony Conspiracy and Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. Both men are under a $100,000 secured bond.
Donaldson was charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Conspiracy Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Driving While License Revoked Not Impaired. Her bond was set at $75,200. All four subjects reside at 116 Raleigh Rd. in Wallace.
According to Wallace Police Chief Jimmy Crayton, there were two victims.
“One was stabbed, the other one wasn’t,” Crayton told the Duplin Journal, adding that the second victim, who was robbed, is a juvenile.
Crayton said the perpetrators tried to steal bicycles. Drugs were not a factor in this case; however, they have been in the past.
The Wallace Police Department is asking for anyone with information of Milliken’s whereabouts to call 910-285-2126.