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At a recent rehearsal, left to right, Sue Blanchard (Dr. Susan Baker), Lila Maxwell (Leggs O'Kimble), Bettie Williams (Mrs. Vander Cass), Parsell Murphy (Jimmy), Hannah Holland (Jenny Ravenna), and Aaron Batts (Alex Ravenna) look out the window for undercover cops in Sampson Community Theatre's production of Rick Harlowe's play "Lost on the Fourth of July." (Tom Wilbur/SCT)
Wilbur hoping SCT comedy will draw big audience
It may not be summer just yet but the Sampson Community Theatre is bringing a little bit of July to the stage in April with its performances of “Lost on the Fourth of July.” “Lost on the Fourth of July” is a mature comedy set in 1983 about Alex Ravenna, a middle-aged man getting married for the second time. Ravenna gets a surprise on the night of his bachelor party in the form of Thomas Jefferson who suddenly appears in his apartment. Benja...
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Outlining the governor’s proposed budget
Governor McCrory has released his recommended budget for 2013-15. This newsletter will showcase portions of the budget that will affect Duplin, Johnston, and Sampson counties. NOTABLE LEGISLATION: SB 306 - An act that would amend capital punishment. This bill was sent to the Committee on Judiciary I. SB 334 - An act that would reverse the Dorothea Dix lease. This bill has passed its third reading in the Senate and has been sent to...
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Soups on
Fifth in a series The month of March is at its end, meaning that the wait until United Way’s “Outstanding in Our Fields” fundraiser is growing shorter, especially for the local chefs in charge of preparing the meal for the much anticipated dinner event. Alfredo Dipinto, owner of Alfredo’s Ristorante Italiano, is one of the chosen chefs contributing to United Way’s fundraiser. Dipinto, who was born in Italy and moved to the United Sta...
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Makin’ the grade
Restaurant Grades Week of March 25, 2013 Gracie’s Grill 97 Las Delicias 96.5 Alfredo’s 96.5 Pizza Inn 94 Cape Fear Chicken & BBQ 95
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Helping victims find their voices
Domestic abuse is all around us. The victims are there. The problem is real. It comes in many forms. It often goes unnoticed because of fear, shame and indifference. And if the silence lasts long enough, the outcome can be a horrifying and lingering experience for the victim, family, and the community. For years, Sarah’s Refuge, Inc., a domestic violence and rape crisis center, has been a beacon of light for those willing to risk everything...
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Butler's third-grade Student of the Month nominees Butler Avenue Elementary School recently selected its April Student of the Month nominees for third grade. They are, back row, from left: Natalie Amaya, Miguel Menendez Amaya, Rece Thompson, Keidy Molina, Jaylen Whitted, and Lilyana Wilson; and front row left, from left: Natalie Connet (BAS Student of the Month), James Bishop, Aylin Reyes, Josefad Guiterrez, and Stephen Platt. (Courtesy photo)
Butler’s third-grade Student of the Month nominees
Courtesy photo Butler Avenue Elementary School recently selected its April Student of the Month nominees for third grade. They are, back row, from left: Natalie Amaya, Miguel Menendez Amaya, Rece Thompson, Keidy Molina, Jaylen Whitted, and Lilyana Wilson; and front row left, from left: Natalie Connet (BAS Student of the Month), James Bishop, Aylin Reyes, Josefad Guiterrez, and Stephen Platt.
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U.S. Congressman Mike McIntrye, co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, says he and dozens of other lawmakers gather each week across the hall from the House chamber to hold prayer, seeking wisdom as they prepare to make decisions impacting the country and its citizens. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
McIntyre stresses need to help rural America
Congress may be away from the nation’s capitol for the Easter break, but Mike McIntyre was far from vacationing last week as he made his way through the Seventh District, including a stop in Sampson, where he held one of several committee meetings, this one focused on business and economic issues. Both, the Democratic congressman said, were vital to rural areas, like Sampson, that make up much of his district. “We don’t want our rural are...
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Laser treatment available for secondary cataracts
We will continue our discussion on all things cataract in recognition of National Cataract Awareness Month by talking about the most common postoperative change that occurs after cataract surgery: the posterior capsule opacity. A posterior capsule opacity is the presence of a hazy membrane (capsule) just behind the intraocular lens implant. This condition is sometimes referred to as “secondary cataract,” although the term is actually a misn...
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Chamber Leadership group visits lawmakers Members of the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce's Adult Leadership participants paid a visit earlier this week to state lawmakers Rep. Larry Bell, Rep. William Brisson and Sen. Brent Jackson during State Government Day in Raleigh. (Courtesy photo)
Chamber Leadership group visits lawmakers
Members of the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce’s Adult Leadership participants paid a visit earlier this week to state lawmakers Rep. Larry Bell, Rep. William Brisson and Sen. Brent Jackson during State Government Day in Raleigh.
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Garland site of huge Easter celebration Monday
GARLAND — An Easter celebration, complete with an egg hunt, children’s activities and concessions, is slated to overtake the Garland Town Park Monday and town officials are expecting an egg-cellent turnout. The festivities for what is being called the Gigantic Easter Egg Hunt and Activity Day will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, the first such event sponsored by Garland’s community N.C. STEP (Small Town Economic Prosperity) team. Sheila Smith, N...
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Clinton resident Jean Howard turns in some old prescription medicines to officer Jessie Kittrell during last week's Operation Medicine Drop. Kittrell was stationed at Clinton Drug, one of two dropoff sites used for the operation. The other was at WalMart. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Residents deliver during Medicine Drop
Clinton residents — and some from outside the city limits — gave up their drugs in droves to Clinton police last week during the fourth annual Operation Medicine Drop, a day set aside once a quarter to allow residents to bring those unused, outdated medications in, preventing accidental poisonings, abuse, theft and a tainted water supply. “It was the most successful one yet,” said police Chief Jay Tilley. “We saw a lot of medicines dropped ...
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Drugs seized, 7 arrested in multi-agency I-95 operation
A multi-agency operation along Interstate 95 late last month and into March has netted law enforcement a laundry list of arrests and seizures that Sampson Sheriff Jimmy Thornton called impressive. Members of the Sampson Criminal Interdiction Team assisted in Winter Operation, a program targeting I-95 because, Thornton said, it was a well-known pipeline for criminal activity, stretching from the northern parts of the United States to the sou...
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Beamans talk arrowheads with Union students Third-grade students at Union Elementary School had a special presentation earlier this month. Cecil Beaman and his wife, Lynda, brought Cecil's massive arrowhead collection to show to the students. They talked about the history of the Native Americans and how arrowheads and spears were used thousands of years ago. They also discussed ways for students to find Native American artifacts and become a collector too. Students were allowed to ask questions and even pick up and touch the different Native American artificats. Native Americans were truly creative and inventive people. Mr. and Mrs. Beaman were both long-time educators in Duplin County. They live in Kenansville. (Courtesy photos)
Beamans talk arrowheads with Union students
Courtesy photo Third-grade students at Union Elementary School had a special presentation earlier this month. Cecil Beaman and his wife, Lynda, brought Cecil’s massive arrowhead collection to show to the students. They talked about the history of the Native Americans and how arrowheads and spears were used thousands of years ago. They also discussed ways for students to find Native American artifacts and become a collector too. Students wer...
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N.C. Highway Patrol trooper J.L. Murphy, right, and First Sgt. R.P. Hooks will be among those scouring the roadways this weekend - and throughout the year - in search of traffic violators. Troop B, which encompasses Sampson County, has a number of upcoming campaigns, including this weekend's Distracted Drive project. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Troopers intent on keeping roadways safe
If you’re traveling over the Easter break, chances are you’ll see Highway Patrol vehicles on the roads with you, troopers behind the wheel scanning the roadways for violators. This weekend, in particular, the focus will be on distracted drivers, but every day, troopers say they’re on the lookout for other violations as well, all in an effort to keep the roadways safe for motorists. To that end, First Sgt. Ricky Hooks, with Troop B, which ...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Devane Street is one of the many neighborhoods in Clinton that has seen 'excellent' participation rates in the city's curbside recycling program thus far. Through just six days of collection, there has already been 19 tons of recycling amassed.
Tons of recyclables already collected
If the initial days of curbside recycling are any indication, the city of Clinton’s revamped program is poised for massive success. After a nearly eight-year hiatus, curbside recycling began anew March 12, with a program developed to collect local recycling from curbs Tuesday through Friday every other week. Collection extended throughout that first week and continued this week. With six full days in the books through Wednesday — four the f...
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FCCLA students
Simple Gifts grants making impact at Hobbton
Many Sampsonians know of the Simple Gifts Fund. The Simple Gifts Fund Scholarship has been awarded to Sampson County students for three years now. The fund is more than just a scholarship. The fund is in its 2nd year of awarding grants for the advancement of education to benefit Sampson students and teachers. This spring, four Love of Learning Simple Gifts Fund grants were awarded to Hobbton High School educators. One of the recent awards w...
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Easter Parade returns to Autryville
Preparations are nearly complete for the 2013 edition of the Autryville Area Easter Parade. An Easter tradition since the year 2000, the parade is scheduled to start at Autryville Baptist Church this Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. Sponsored by the Micajah Autry Historical Society, the Autryville Area Easter Parade encourages fun and fellowship among friends and neighbors from Autryville and the surrounding communities. According to parade sp...
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Crimewatch
Arrests 3/25 - Jerry Adam Holder, 22, 306 Falling Leaves Lane, Roseboro, failure to appear on charge of obtaining property by false pretense. Bond $10,000; court date April 18. 3/27 - William Hilton Evans, 61, 1171 Belvin Maynard Road, Harrells, failure to appear on charges of driving while impaired and unsafe lane change. Bond $500; court date April 17. 3/27 - Charles Anthony Briza Jr., 35, 303 Horeshoe Road, Autryville, failure to a...
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Three jailed after meth lab discovered
Three Quail Run Lane residents are behind bars this morning facing multiple meth-related charges after a lab was discovered early Tuesday morning outside a residence where two of the three suspects lived. In custody are Jackie Naylor Lewis, 52, of 357 Quail Run Lane, Clinton; Rodney Dalton Lewis, 52, of 357 Quail Run Lane; and Elwin Glenn Jordan, 45, of 626 Shipp Road, Clinton. All three are under separate $250,000 secured bonds. Jackie a...
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Bridge work will close portion of A’ville Road
The Department of Transportation is closing a portion of another Sampson County road for bridge work, part of routine maintenance crews are doing throughout the area. Both directions of Autryville Road (SR 1233), 0.3 miles west of Hollandtown Road (SR 1412), will be closed beginning Monday, April 8 and continuing until Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. But even as crews prepare to shut down a section of one road, two others are opening back up —...
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