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Director of Transportation Herb Sanderson gave the board an update on the schools' activity buses and presented them with options for acquiring the four new activity buses that are needed. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Age factor for some county school activity buses
The wheels on Sampson County Schools’ activity buses are busy going round and round on a regular basis. Aware of all the traveling local students do and taking into consideration that a few buses are slightly past their replacement age, director of transportation Herb Sanderson stressed to the school board the need for four new activity buses during Tuesday’s work session. “The oldest buses we have are 23 years old, and our newest ones are ...
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Breaking news update
A Union Elementary kindergartner was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler late Tuesday afternoon as the child was exiting a school bus stopped near her home on Delway Highway. The truck, N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Bryan Smith said, passed the stopped school bus on U.S. 421 near Herring Road around 3:30 p.m., struck the child, and then continued on its southbound path. Tips assisted troopers in locating the log truck and its driver later in...
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Allison Hinson
Sampson student receives award at MOC
MOUNT OLIVE — Allison Hinson of Clinton received the Outstanding Recreation/Leisure Student of the Year at Mount Olive College’s Annual Awards Ceremony. H inson is a senior recreation and leisure studies recreational thearpy major. Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The college, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount ...
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One of 54 nuisance vehicles tagged by Clinton Police Department during the first two weeks of a 'nuisance vehicle blitz' that began April 1. (Courtesy photo)
Nuisance vehicle blitz brings over 50 violations
A blitz to remove unsafe and nuisance vehicles from city streets and yards has produced a whopping 54 violations in just two weeks, Clinton Police Department officials said. “So far, in the first two weeks, we have tagged 37 homes with multiple cars — there have been 54 (nuisance) vehicles in all,” said Police Chief Jay Tilley. “I was surprised at the number of vehicles. That’s a lot and we know there’s a lot more to do.” Beginning April ...
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Teen charged with pulling fire alarm
A 19-year-old Hobbton High School student has learned the hard way that pulling a fire alarm isn’t a wise thing to do. In fact, for this teen, doing so landed him in trouble with Sampson County sheriff’s officers. Garrett Allen Carr, 19, of 80 Wilson Road, Clinton, was charged with sounding a false fire alarm, a misdemeanor charge. According to Cpl. Marcus Smith, the alarm went off at the high school last Friday afternoon around 2 p.m., s...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 4/18 - Donald Jess Owens, 37, 133 Love of Kids Lane, Roseboro, possession of meth (1 gram). Bond $15,000; court date not listed. Arrested following investigative stop. 4/20 - Ronnie Earl Knowles Jr., 24, 923 Rackley Road, Clinton, driving while impaired, fleeing to elude. Bond $2,500; court date June 10. 4/21 - Joshua Daniels Faulk, 25, Mount Olive, child support. Bond $700; court date May 7. 4/22 - Portia Dorette ...
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Dozens of blue pinwheels dot the lawn of the Sampson County Courthouse in recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Courtesy photo)
Advocates of children gather for event
On Wednesday April 17, community agencies gathered to mark April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Sampson County Department of Social Services and the Guardian Ad Litem Program hosted an awareness event at the Sampson County Courthouse. Guest speakers included Judge Henry Stevens, Jim Brinkley with The Sampson County DSS Board of Directors, Sarah Bradshaw and Dene Johnston with the Sampson County Department of Social Services, and Mary Ne...
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Convocation, commencement set at Sprunt
KENANSVILLE – James Sprunt Community College’s annual Convocation in recognition of Community College Month will be held on Tuesday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m.. in the Monk Auditorium on campus. Commencement exercises will be held two weeks later, on Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. in the Duplin County Events Center Convocation Donors to James Sprunt Community College Foundation in 2012 will be recognized during the ceremonies. The event is open...
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Kendall Lanier enjoys a ride on Megan Merritt's horse, Abby, during the 4-H horse workshop held this past Saturday at the Cooperative Extension office. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Horsin’ around
Local 4-H kids and horse enthusiasts came together for some horse play this past weekend at the Sampson County Cooperative Extension Office and Livestock Facility. Spearheaded by the Cooperative Extension’s college intern Jessica Hogan, Saturday’s “A Day of Horse Play” featured a series of diverse and informative 20 to 30 minute workshops for free to 4-Hers who love horses and wanted to learn more about them. A junior agriculture educatio...
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Hunter Nethercutt with a couple fellow students during a tailgating event as part of his East Carolina University marketing class' participation in the 2013 Honda Civic Marketing Challenge. (Courtesy photo)
Marketing learning
Clinton native Hunter Nethercutt and fellow East Carolina University students are gaining real-world experience with a real client and a real budget of $3,000 as part of a senior marketing project at the university. A team of ECU marketing students, led by Dr. Christy Ashley, was selected to compete in a nationwide challenge sponsored by American Honda Motor Company in conjunction with EdVenture Partners. The competition has taken place ove...
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Those who provide crisis assistance sought
A resource in times of crisis can come in many shapes and sizes and through any variety of channels or venues. Knowing how to tap into those resources when they are needed can help greatly boost the quality of life in a community — Department of Social Services officials, who deal regularly in providing help in those crisis situations, know that well. In order to not only make known their own services, but to raise awareness of others who p...
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Smithfield Foods Inc. and the City of Clinton are collaborating on promoting single-stream recycling throughout the Smithfield Foods cafeteria and all offices. Smithfield has approximately 35 collection points within its plant dedicated to sorting recyclables from the in-house garbage. The city is providing a dozen 96-gallon containers, which will be collected weekly by city staff. Smithfield officials said the company is already very engaged in recycling and is looking forward to participation with the city's program, which expands the company's efforts because it is a single-stream collection process with a wide diversity of recyclable items. Pictured, from left, are: Jeff Vreugdenhil, Clinton Public Works director; John Connet, Clinton city manager; Keith Baily, director of Environmental Affairs for Smithfield Foods Inc.; Tony Steffen, Clinton Public Works manager; Kyle Narron, general manager of Smithfield Foods Inc.'s Clinton plant; Norman Johnson, environmental manager for Clinton area Smithfield Foods Inc., and Clinton sanitation operators Anthony Rich and Ben Coleman. (Courtesy photo)
Smithfield, City of Clinton combine efforts
Courtesy photo Smithfield Packing Company and the City of Clinton are collaborating on promoting single-stream recycling throughout the Smithfield Packing Company cafeteria and all offices. Smithfield has approximately 35 collection points within its plant dedicated to sorting recyclables from the in-house garbage. The city is providing a dozen 96-gallon containers, which will be collected weekly by city staff. Smithfield officials said the...
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Suspect sought in armed robbery
Clinton police are hoping residents can help them locate a suspect wanted for questioning in the weekend armed robbery of two local residents who reportedly were robbed of wallets and cell phones after giving the suspect a ride. Although the suspect reportedly fired into the vehicle, no one was injured in the incident, according to officers. The incident began in the wee hours of Sunday morning, around 1 a.m., when the two victims — one 1...
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A group of seventh graders from Harrells Christian Academy helped spruce up the town Friday by cutting back bushes and putting out new pine straw at the town hall which is located just across the street from the school. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Crusaders to the rescue
To do their part in helping to keep their community clean, about 100 middle school students from Harrells Christian Academy got their hands dirty this past Friday. As part of a community service project, the sixth and seventh grade Crusaders invaded the town of Harrells with rakes and brooms, cleaning up three main locations in town — town hall, Harrells Park, and around the Harrells town sign. For about an hour and half Friday morning, s...
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Knowles to serve on Veterans and Military Advisory Committee U.S. Congressman Mike McIntrye welcomes Ann Knowles, Sampson County Veterans Service Officer as a new member on his Veterans and Military Advisory Committee, Knowles attended the first meeting since her appointment back in March in Wilmington. McIntrye, first elected to represent the 7th Congressional District in 1996, is on the House Ag and Armed Services committees. Knowls said she was pleased to be on this committee as she sees it as a step to make sure the issues surrounding veterans is in front of the congressman all the time. She has worked with him on a couple of bills he was instrumental in getting passed, including the Veterans Outreach Bill which pass unanimously through the House. It will be introduced again by McIntrye with the hope that the Senate will do a companion bill and it will become law. (Courtesy photo)
Knowles to serve on Veterans and Military Advisory Committee
Courtesy photo U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre welcomes Ann Knowles, Sampson County Veterans Service Officer as a new member on his Veterans and Military Advisory Committee, Knowles attended the first meeting since her appointment back in March in Wilmington. McIntyre, first elected to represent the 7th Congressional District in 1996, is on the House Ag and Armed Services committees. Knowles said she was pleased to be on this committee as sh...
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Students in Clinton High School's advanced theatre arts class rehearse for their upcoming production of "Football Romeo." (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
‘Romeo’ comes to Clinton High
“Romeo, O Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” At Clinton High School that’s where. This coming Saturday, April 27, Clinton High’s Advanced Theatre Arts class will be presenting “Football Romeo,” a dinner theatre comedy. Not exactly Shakespeare’s version, the updated play is set at Verona Beach High School where the new drama teacher wants to put on a production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Typical high school drama ensues when Nicola, who believes ...
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Sampson’s_Historical_Highway_Markers_–_Steamboat_Trade0_1366657332.jpg
Sampson’s Historical Highway Markers – Steamboat Trade
Location: NC Hwy 411 at Black River, Clear Run, NC Marker text: Naval stores and lumber were primary cargo on vessels navigating Black River, ca. 1875-1914. Remains of the steamer A.J. Johnson lie 60 yards, south. During the era of steamboat trade, the Clear Run community in southern Sampson County was the head of navigation on the Black River. The use of flats or pole boats, begun by settlers in the 1700s, was quite common by the mid-180...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 4/17 - Terrance Lashawn Simmons, 20, 235 Clive Jacobs Road, Clinton, obtaining property by false pretense. Bond $5,000; court date April 26. 4/18 - Katherine Marie Bryan, 19, 44 Maple Grove Church Road, Newton Grove, simple possession marijuana (2 grams). No bond; court date May 29. 4/19 - Curtis Lee Watson, 40, 411 North Boulevard, Clinton, harassing phone calls. Bond $2,000; court date May 14. 4/19 - Jamiel Antoi...
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Clinton Police Lt. Chris Oates sits with Sunset Avenue fifth graders Madison Knapheide and Deantwan Johnson during a visit to the school this past Wednesday. Clinton Police Department officers have visited with Sunset students regularly each Wednesday since January. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Police go back to school
When a group of Clinton Police Department officers showed up at Sunset Avenue School in January, they got strange looks and even some tears. Now, they are welcomed with open arms as part of the school’s fifth grade class. The weekly visits began as a pilot program to have police officers visit with students every Wednesday, speak with them and help them with anything they needed in an overall effort to give the youngsters a positive associa...
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Summer safety is part of summer fun
We are continuing our theme of eye safety and protection to recognize April as National Home Eye Health Month. By emphasizing the simple things we can do to reduce the risk of eye injury that exists in our everyday lives, your family will be more able to enjoy the fun filled days of summer and there is less chance that we will see each other in the local emergency room. Since the kids will soon be out of school for the season let’s look at ...
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