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Small House site for 7th Congressional District Art showing
For 32 years now, Sampson County, along with the 11 other counties in the 7th Congressional District of North Carolina, has participated in the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school student artists. This year is particularly special though, because for the first time since the competition’s start, the Sampson Arts Council is hosting the district’s art reception and display. “We are honored to have been chosen,” said Kara Dona...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent The City Council approved having a preliminary engineering report completed regarding extending water and sewer service to the Clinton Industrial Rail Park on N.C. 24 East, including the reserved site for ethanol refinery Chemtex.
City takes step toward extending water, sewer to rail park
The city of Clinton is moving forward with preliminary engineering plans for extending water and sewer service to the Clinton Industrial Rail Park on N.C. 24 East, a project that would serve not only ethanol refinery Chemtex but industries that take their place in Clinton well into the future. This week, City Council approved hiring the Wooten Company to do preliminary engineering work for the project. The move is a no-risk proposition that...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Commissioner Jefferson Strickland, standing, addresses his fellow commissioners Monday night. It was Strickland who pushed for the county to attempt to sell a property on Carter Street. The county made a little bit of money after the property sold and maintenance and advertising expenses were paid.
County sells Carter Street property
A Clinton property previously owned by the county has been officially sold to the highest bidder, part of an upset bid procedure that garnered a little bit of revenue for the county in the process. The Sampson County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of the deed between the county and Alfonza H. Williamson for the 0.26 acres adjoining 400 West Carter St. and 406 West Carter St. A $2,500 bid for the West Carter Street lot was submi...
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Curtain rises on 'Lost on 4th' Friday Ben Franklin (Gary Wilson), left, discusses the state of the union in 1983 United States with Thomas Jefferson (Chadwick Lewis) in a recent rehearsal at the Sampson Community Theatre for the upcoming production of 'Lost on the 4th of July.' This mature comedy written by Rick Harlowe and directed by Tom Wilbur will open Friday, April 5. Other performances are April 6, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. with matinees April 7 and 14 at 3 p.m. The playwright, Harlowe, will be in attendance during the second weekend performances. (Tom Wilbur/SCT)
Curtain rises on ‘Lost on 4th’ Friday
Tom Wilbur/SCT Ben Franklin (Gary Wilson), left, discusses the state of the union in 1983 United States with Thomas Jefferson (Chadwick Lewis) in a recent rehearsal at the Sampson Community Theatre for the upcoming production of ‘Lost on the 4th of July.’ This mature comedy written by Rick Harlowe and directed by Tom Wilbur will open Friday, April 5. Other performances are April 6, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. with matinees April 7 and 14 at 3 p.m. ...
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Issac Herring
Suspect flees courtroom, now jailed
A probation violation and an attempt to run from law enforcement officers has landed one Harrells man in jail under a $100,000 bond, with more charges expected to be leveled. It all began Tuesday when Isaac Herring, 28, of 50 Bills Lane, Harrells, didn’t show up in Sampson County Superior Court to answer to a probation violation charge. According to Sheriff’s Cpl. Marcus Smith, Herring’s name was called after the lunch break and when he f...
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Hobbton Middle wins Battle of the Books Sampson County Schools recently held its Battle of the Books competition for their middle schools at Midway High School Hobbton Middle School took first place in this competition and will advance to the regional Battle of the Books competition in Buies Creek. Students had to read 27 books and be able to answer questions from these books.Pictured are the Hobbton Middle team members: Abbey Alonzo, David Alonzo, Camryn Carr, Carolina Daughtry, Nina Devone, Chasen Grice, Dazha Jones, Ty Meyer, Aleisha Pope, Jennifer Ruiz, Delaney Thornton, Shirlee Ann Williams, Fransico Gomez, Keelan Quinn, and Coach Lisa Tart. (Courtesy photo)
Hobbton Middle wins Battle of Books
Courtesy photo Sampson County Schools recently held its Battle of the Books competition for their middle schools at Midway High School Hobbton Middle School took first place in this competition and will advance to the regional Battle of the Books competition in Buies Creek. Students had to read 27 books and be able to answer questions from these books.Pictured are the Hobbton Middle team members: Abbey Alonzo, David Alonzo, Camryn Carr, Car...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent The Sampson County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a $180,000 bid for equipment to remove debris flushed from the Detention Center into the city of Clinton's sewer system. The board also signed off on an agreement with the city for installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment. The City Council followed suit on Tuesday.
County, city resolve sewer problem
After years of issues with debris from the Sampson County Detention Center adversely affecting the city of Clinton’s sewer system, the two government entities have officially agreed to implement a solution to flush out the problem. At their respective meetings earlier this week, the Sampson County Board of Commissioners and Clinton City Council approved a contract regarding the installation, operation and maintenance of a grit chamber to se...
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Crimewatch
Incidents 4/2 - Sherita McNeil of Mandolin Lane, Roseboro, reported that someone pried open the back door of her residence and entered, taking a laptop valued at $2,000; a desktop computer valued at $1,100; a necklace valued at $200; and WIC tickets valued at $400. 4/2 - Edward Williams, Bulldog Lane, Roseboro, reported that someone cut a water pump loose from his residence and took it. Value of the pump was $2,000. 4/20 Steven Owens,...
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This best in show winner is a pencil drawn portrait by 10th grader Malika Cromartie of Lakewood High School. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Small Hall displaying student art winners’ work
Throughout this school year, Sampson County student artists have been working hard, wielding everything from pencils to paintbrushes, to create a variety of artwork which they entered in the Sampson Arts Council Annual Student Art Show just this past month. Usually held in the fall, the student art show was moved to the spring this year. “March was Youth Art Month so we wanted the show to coincide with that,” said Kara Donatelli, executive ...
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Suspects sought in home invasion
A Rowan Road man was assaulted and his home ransacked Monday night in a reported home invasion that officers are continuing to investigate today. It is only the second home invasion in as many months reported to investigators after a rash of similar incidents at the end of 2012, many of them reportedly targeting Hispanics. In this latest incident, Milton Morales called authorities to his Rowan Road home just after 9 p.m., noting that four...
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Explosion leads to one arrest
Even as one Pine Ridge Road woman is recovering from burns she sustained in a reported gas grill explosion Easter Sunday, another is in jail on charges that she was caught with methamphetamine in her possession when officers went to the scene to investigate the incident. Tammy Mitchell, 47, of 2057 Pine Ridge Road, Clinton was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center Monday under a $50,000 bond, charged with felony possession of meth a...
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Churches celebrating Men’s Day this weekend
Men’s Day will be observed on Sunday, April 7 at the Wilsons Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Turkey, beginning at 11 a.m. The sermon will be by the newly selected pastor, the Rev. Newton, who will be accompanied by the Unity Male Chorus of Magnolia. Dinner will be served following the morning service. Everyone is cordially invited to attend this great service. Men’s Day will be observed at the Morning Star Holy Church on McKoy Street in...
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Hobbton's top Jump fundraisers During the week of Feb. 25, the students at Hobbton Elementary participated in Jump Rope for Heart. The school raised $2,400 for the American Heart Association project. The top money raisers were Seth Odum and Amelia Spell. (Courtesy photo)
Hobbton’s top Jump fundraisers
Courtesy photo During the week of Feb. 25, the students at Hobbton Elementary participated in Jump Rope for Heart. The school raised $2,400 for the American Heart Association project. The top money raisers were Seth Odum and Amelia Spell.
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County commissioner Albert Kirby, right, talks about the need for better security at Sampson's court facilities, a topic discussed extensively over the years. Commissioners on Monday authorized moving toward a study that would measure the feasibility of consolidating two court buildings. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Connecting two court facilities eyed as top security measure
The county will gauge the feasibility of connecting two Sampson court facilities, “positive movement” toward a solution that could bring increased security and less personnel cost over the long-term, officials said. At its regular meeting Monday night, the Sampson County Board of Commissioners authorized county staff to get cost estimates for a feasibility study, by which an architectural review would be conducted into the feasibility of a ...
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UW fundraising event sold out
As anticipation about United Way’s upcoming “Outstanding in Our Fields” fundraiser continues to build, it is clear that the shabby-chic dinner event has become the hot ticket in town, with the limited number of tickets available — only 100 — all gone. Knowing they better not waste any time, locals began contacting United Way immediately to reserve their tickets which went on sale Thursday, March 7. According to Nancy Carr, director of Sam...
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Fire probe under way
The Sampson County fire marshal’s office and the Sheriff’s Department are continuing an investigation today into what has been termed a suspicious fire which occurred Monday night at a Bills Lane residence in the Harrells area. No one was injured in the incident and the fire did minimal damage to the structure. Few details were available on the incident, but assistant fire marshal Prentice Madgar verified that the fire started in the craw...
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Jeffrey Wayne Tanner
Suspect jailed on 2001 charges
It was no April Fools joke for a 39-year-old Sampson County man Monday when county law enforcement officers finally caught up with him, taking him into custody for a laundry list of traffic violations dating back over a decade ago and initiated through the N.C. Highway Patrol. Jeffery Wayne Tanner, 39, 55 Little Coharie Lane, Roseboro was located at a residence on Dunn Road, Roseboro around 2:15 p.m. Monday and warrants were served. Accor...
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Toy gun used in armed robbery
Clinton police are searching for an armed robbery suspect who used what is being termed a toy gun to rob the Family Dollar Store Sunday night. Reports were not released until Tuesday regarding the incident which was reported to city law enforcement on March 31. According to documents filed by police, the clerk working at The Family Dollar Store, 309 Northeast Blvd., Clinton, told authorities the suspect walked into the store around 9:20 p...
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Crimewatch
Arrests 3/31 - Chalres Clarke, 21, 367 Central Ave., Kinston, two counts simple assault. Bond $3,000; court date April 24. 4/1- Rhett Douglas Giordano, 37, 537 Stevens Church Rod, Goldsboro, habitual DWI. No bond; court date not listed. 4/1 - Bryan Chesley Hatcher, 27, 2654 Caroll A. Britt Road, Faison, possession drug paraphernalia, simple possession marijuana, providing fictitious information to officer and driving while license rev...
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Earl Wayne Hodges
Another meth arrest made
Another methamphetamine arrest in Sampson County over the Easter break has added an exclamation point to Sheriff Jimmy Thornton’s statements last week that he’s seeing a spike in the making and use of the illegal substance. The latest arrest came Thursday night, following a traffic stop on Hayne Stretch Road. Because of the Easter holiday, reports on the incident were not filed until Monday. Taken into custody was Earl Wayne Hodges, 26, o...
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