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Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, center, flanked by U.S. Marshal Scott J. Parker, left, and deputy U.S. Marshal Brandon Taylor, talk about the success of Operation Southern Watch, a joint effort to ensure compliance among the county's 113 registered sex offenders. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Multi-agency venture sends message to county sex offenders
Registered sex offenders in Sampson County got a resounding wake-up call this week courtesy of a joint law enforcement operation that roused many from their bed, left a handful facing charges and sent a serious message to all — stay in compliance or else. During a press conference Thursday morning, Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton reiterated that message as he, representatives from the U.S. Marshals Service and the N.C. Dept. of Public...
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Aaron Jackson, fundraising committee chairman for the Spivey's Corner Volunteer Fire Department, explains to the Sampson County Convention and Visitors Bureau this week the changes coming this year to the annual Hollerin' Contest in Spivey's Corner, including a new name and date. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
No more hollerin’ in June
For the first time in its nearly half century of existence, the Hollerin’ Contest will not be held in June, with a “huge gamble” taken by organizers to move a revamped edition of the annual event to September. The National Hollerin’ Contest was born out of the need to fund the Spivey’s Corner Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1965, and still serves as the department’s main fundraising event. The first contest was held the third Satu...
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Antonio named earns Powell Scholar award
Clinton High School science teacher Alvin Antonio was recently named the Jean P. Powell Honored Educator Scholar for 2012-13 by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Two weeks ago, Antonio attended the Sea-Level Rise in the Outer Banks where he received the prestigious award. Below are his thoughts on the award and his six years teaching in Clinton City Schools. For the past six years, teaching in North Carolina is ...
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This is screen shot of Roseboro's revamped homepage. Visit www.roseboronc.com to explore the town's new website. (Courtesy image)
R’boro gets new online look
The town of Roseboro has a new and improved website, featuring new pictures of the town, information for visitors and new residents, the historical story of how the town was established, and much more. “We were looking for a website solution that could easily be updated by town employees and that was appealing and informative for our citizens. Our previous website was managed by one person and was not being kept up-to-date,” shared town com...
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Clegg's Chamber Member of the Week Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control is this week's Chamber’s Member of the Week. Located at 205 Wall St. in downtown Clinton, Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. No matter the pest, protecting your living and working environment is Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control’s mission. Their trained technicians understand the biology and behavior of the invaders and use their knowledge to safely and effectively control the intruders. After they’ve won the battle, they will then discuss with you steps necessary to defend your property from any future attacks. Call in the troops, call in Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control at 910-592-2258 or visit www.cleggs.com. For more information about the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce visit www.clintonsampsonchamber.org or call 910-592-6177. (Courtesy photo)
Clegg’s Chamber’s Member of the Week
Courtesy photo Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control is this week’s Chamber’s Member of the Week. Located at 205 Wall St. in downtown Clinton, Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. No matter the pest, protecting your living and working environment is Clegg’s Termite & Pest Control’s mission. Their trained technicians understand the biology and behavior of the invaders and use their knowledge to safel...
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Musical scholarship program being held Friday
Lamanuel Boykin, formerly of Clinton but now residing in Rieglewood, and the singing group Lamanuel Boykin and Company will have a musical scholarship program fundraisiing Friday, May 24 at the Union Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the service will begin at 7 p.m. Featured that evening will be the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Sons of God of Leland, Mt. Calvary AME Zion church choir, Barry Smith and the ...
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Ribbon cut at Carolina Tan Last Thursday, May 16, the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce celebrated with owner Robby James, Carolina Tan staff, Chamber Ambassadors and board members with a ribbon cutting at the new location of Carolina Tan in Salemburg, 102 East College St.The business is open Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information about the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce visit www.clintonsampsonchamber.org or call 910-592-6177. (Courtesy photo)
Ribbon cut at Carolina Tan
Courtesy photo Last Thursday, May 16, the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce celebrated with owner Robby James, Carolina Tan staff, Chamber Ambassadors and board members with a ribbon cutting at the new location of Carolina Tan in Salemburg, 102 East College St.The business is open Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information about the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce visi...
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Sampson County 4-H program assistant Charmae Kendall helps 4-Her Cameron Brooks shear a lamb during Saturday's Livestock 101 workshop. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Livestock 101
This past Saturday, May 18, Sampson County 4-Hers, particularly those interested in setting foot and hoof in the show ring, had the opportunity to experience what showing and caring for lambs and goats is like. Starting at 9 a.m., 4-H program assistant Charmae Kendall shared with the children the basics of raising and showing lambs. Kendall explained that lambs need to be kept in small pen most of the time. “Do not leave your lamb out on ...
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Clinton City Council members look over budget documents during a work session Tuesday night, the second session held leading up to a June 4 public hearing. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
City’s proposed water, sewer fee hike tied to new projects
With two major water projects set to begin construction later this year, and other upgrades on the horizon, a small hike in water and sewer rates is being proposed as part of the 2013-14 City of Clinton budget to prepare for the debt service from the sizable ventures. As part of the recommended city budget, water and sewer rates are proposed to increase by 1.6 percent to keep up with inflation and ensure adequate funding for future capital ...
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Superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker and board members review the most current proposal from Mosley Architects for the school system's long range facility plans update. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
County school board discusses planning for facilities, energy conservation
During itsTuesday morning work session, the Sampson County Board of Education was presented a revised proposal for updating the school system’s long-range facility plans, and members were given an update on the options that are before them concerning a possible venture into more efficient energy conservation. Long-range facility planning Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services for the school system, first shared with the ...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 5/21 - Austin Lee Haney, 22, 175 Templar Lane, Roseboro, non-support. Bond $800; court date June 4. 5/21 - Tracy G. Canady, 41, 1452 Parkersburg Road, Garland, simple assault and communicating threats. Bond $1,500; court date June 24. 5/21 - Travis Anthony Caldwell, 39, 515 Boone St., Roseboro, giving fictitious information to an officer. Bond $500; court date June 24. 5/21 - Dennis Howard Carroll Jr., 31, 955 Lake...
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Sampson County Schools superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker poses with some of his 'cutest kids' from Union Elementary School. Lenker said, though cliche, that kids were the future. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Cutest Kids Contest offers a chance to promote children
Stuart Blount and Dr. Ethan Lenker love children. It’s obvious from the smiles that spread across their faces every time you catch either one of them around youngsters of any age and at any of the schools they are charged with overseeing as superintendents of Clinton City and Sampson County schools, respectively. That’s why both decided to join The Sampson Independent in promoting them through the 2013 Cutest Kids Contest, already under...
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William Hooper, the signer
It is singular that none of the three signers of the Declaration of Independence from North Carolina were natives of North Carolina, but all three came to North Carolina when they were young. They were Joseph Hewes, John Penn, and William Hooper. William Hooper was the most outstanding of the three. Joseph Hewes was born in Princeton, NJ and attended Princeton College. He established a shipping business in Wilmington in 1760 and, by the tim...
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A path through Sampson County and others as part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail has been proposed. The path would extend along public roads, with the hope a permanent trail would receive support in the future. (Courtesy graphic)
Mountains to sea bike ride could come through Sampson
The N.C. Mountains-to-Sea Trail, allowing visitors to enjoy traverse a natural path across the state, is now scheduled to come through Sampson County — and would bring a growing amount of people with it. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a nearly 1,000-mile effort to link Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks, is the flagship project of the North Carolina State Trails Program. ...
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Shelly Moore
SCC Foundation awards mini grants to Baxter, Moore
The Appropriation Committee of the Sampson Community College Foundation recently announced the recipients of the fall 2013 Mini Grants. Susan Baxter, division chairwoman of Education Programs and QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) coordinator, was awarded two grants. One will go to support the QEP Fest in the fall that will help students and staff learn more about the Quality Enhancement Plan of the College that will be critical to the re-accre...
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Johnathon J. Ward
Traffic stop lands one in jail
Yet another routine stop by county law enforcement officers has landed a Sampson County man in jail on assorted drug and traffic violations. Johnathon Joseph Ward, 34, of 147 Lorraine St., Clinton, was arrested Friday night and charged with felony possession of cocaine and felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. Additionally, he faces misdemeanor charges of simple possession of a Sch...
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Dan Grubb
SCC welcomes familiar face to serve in PR role
His name is familiar to some in Sampson County already from previous work he did for Sampson Community College in the late 1990’s. A multimedia and public relations professional, Dan Grubb served as the first-ever Public Information Officer for SCC when he arrived on campus in 1996. During his first four years at the college Grubb created SCC’s first TV studio, the TV station SCC-TV and the college’s first website. A lot has changed in medi...
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John Nielsen with wife, LeAnn, and sons Taylor and Bryce. (Courtesy photo)
Alumnus reaps benefit of his MOC Experience
John Nielsen’98 of Aurora, Colorado believes the time he spent at Mount Olive College at Seymour Johnson was one of the most significant experiences of his adult life. “My experience at Mount Olive College helped to mold me into who I am today,” said Nielsen. “Not only did I get a solid business degree, but the environment and culture of the college have influenced how I view the world.” Nielsen took his educational experience and made a succ...
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Clinton City Schools' superintendent Stuart Blount and members of the Board of Education wait to go into closed session Tuesday morning. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
City school board holds closed-door meeting
The Clinton City Board of Education met behind closed doors for well over four hours Tuesday, apparently discussing a personnel issue that they could not divulge. The special called meeting was announced last Friday, noting that it would be a closed session. Little else was detailed in the email notifying the newspaper of the board’s intention to meet. Sampson Middle School principal Shirley Williams and her attorney attended the meeting ...
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Wyatt Kendall and his heifer at the N.C. Junior Beef Round-Up 2012. (Courtesy photo)
Grab a heifer and join me at Junior Beef Round-Up
My name is Wyatt Kendall and I am 12 years old and from Sampson County. I am getting ready to compete in my fourth year at Jr. Beef Round-Up. The first year I participated, my heifer’s name was Brownie. Although she was not the easiest to look at, she had a good temperament, making her an excellent starter heifer. I remember arriving on Saturday morning very excited about showing at the NC State Fairgrounds for the first time. The only person...
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