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Improving security at the County Complex, and the extent and manner in which local officials plan to do it, will be up for discussion during 2013-14 budget planning. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Tightening campus security one of many topics up for county consideration
The Sampson County Complex has been the source of security concerns in recent years and, with the budget being mulled at the managerial level, it is one of the many topics being considered for inclusion in the final draft. Many department heads and employees have raised security concerns, detailing various needs across departments, ranging from metal detectors, guards, better lighting in parking areas, secure doors and swipe cards to securi...
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Rwanda is the region of Africa where Spell will be traveling for her mission trip. (Courtesy image/worldatlas.com)
Local fundraiser opens door for Africa mission trip; second planned
When 22-year-old Shanna Spell first traveled to Rwanda, Africa last September on a mission trip, she met two children who touched her heart and changed her life forever. Now, because of them and because of a growing desire to help other children in need, Spell is doing all she can to return to Africa once again. “These two kids I met really got my attention. I learned they were brother and sister and had never been to school,” shared Spell ...
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Midway seniors Brett Butler, Heith Smith, and Sessali Hunter examine the flowers growing in one of the school's two greenhouses. These three students are part of the horticulture class responsible for raising the plants in the greenhouses which the students then sell to fund future greenhouse projects as well as other school activities. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Midway greenhouses cultivate seeds for student knowledge while raising funds for school
Midway High Schools’ horticulture students’ green thumbs are producing a lot of green for both the school and the community, everything from the vibrant green plants that fill the school’s two greenhouses to the faded green bills people exchange for the students’ homegrown produce. “The horticulture class raises the plants from start to finish,” shared Midway High agriculture teacher Scott Jolly. “They plant the seeds, do everything require...
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With their church family supporting them, the Pope family gathers at the playground's dedication service to cut the ribbon together. The playground, named the ClayBoy Fun Park, was dedicated in memory of Clay Pope who passed away last May in a car accident. (Courtesy photo)
Pope’s memory honored through church playground
Less than a year after the death of Clay Pope, a beloved husband, father and church member, a playground stands in his memory at Owen Grove PFWB Church, all because of his family, his church and the impact he had on their lives. “Clay passed away May 10th of last year,” shared his wife Anita Pope. “Before he passed away, we had already started putting money aside, in what we call the vision fund, for a playground. It was kind of my daughter...
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Burch
Man jailed in vehicle assault at family farm
A man visiting his family’s farm was arrested after employees at the Faison-area establishment noticed he was towing a trailer stolen from the farm and, during an attempted getaway in the truck, detained him, according to authorities. William Field Burch, 27, of 522 Raleigh St., Newton Grove, was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested by Sampson County Sheriff’s authorities at the 600 block of Burch Road,...
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Remembering Aliyah and her family Union Elementary School spells out its sympathy for the Alyiah Morgan family on their school sign. A candlelight vigil will be held at the school Thursday night as part of the National Day of Prayer events. The events will begin at 7:30 p.m.(Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Remembering Alyiah and her family
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Union Elementary School spells out its sympathy for the Alyiah Morgan family on their school sign. A candlelight vigil will be held at the school Thursday night as part of the National Day of Prayer events. The events will begin at 7:30 p.m.
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Erik Dyke has been with the Symphony with since 1978 is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Here he works with a student. (Margaret Turlington/Simple Gifts)
Simple Gifts brings Symphony to Sampson for fifth-graders
Simple Gifts is much more than just a scholarship and teacher grant program. This year, The Simple Gifts Fund provided the funding for the North Carolina Symphony to travel to Sampson County to perform an educational concert for Sampson County forth and fifth graders. This spring at the Sunset Avenue School auditorium, the North Carolina Symphony presented a concert for students called, “What Makes Music Music?” Conductor Ronald Curry discu...
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Brown’s Chapel celebrating choir anniversary Sunday
The Senior Choir of the Brown’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, H.B. Lewis Road, Clinton, will celebrate their choir anniversary Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m. Several singing groups will participate on the program. The special guests will be the Voices of God, the Untouchables of Fayetteville, Littlefield Gospel Choir of Newton Grove, Renewed Singers of Clinton, soloist Franklin Patterson and Mrs. Hilda Black, both of Clinton, Holly Grove and man...
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The Colonnade at Washington & Lee University
Simple Gifts offers chance to look beyond obvious college choices
Freshman year at Washington and Lee was much like I expected it to be and much of what I never imagined. When I came to Lexington last September, the school, with only 1,800 students, felt huge to me. Coming in, I knew only a handful of people, and all the new faces were pretty intimidating. Having just left Clinton High School where I knew almost everyone, I had to start making friends fast and get settled in to my new home. One of the gre...
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Farmer’s Market opens Wednesday
The moment of truth has arrived, and city officials, farmers and vendors are hoping that Wednesday’s grand opening of the newly expanded Sampson Farmers’ Market will see a plentiful display of product and an equally bountiful patronage. The farmers’ market will officially open at 9 a.m. this Wednesday, May 1, and extend until 1 p.m. at the Clinton City Market on Lisbon Street. The market will continue to be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays ...
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The white fawn of Turkey Swamp
Although the White Fawn was first seen in the Turkey Swamp area of Sampson County more than 130 years ago, many of the old timers remember hearing of this strange phenomenon. It was probably an albino baby deer but its appearance is not so easily explained. The Honorable Thomas I. Faison owned a large plantation called “Summer Hill” which was located on Turkey Swamp and Six Runs Creek, on the south side of the Old New Bern stage road. (It w...
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Malique Taylor
Two charged with robbery
Two Sampson County teens were jailed under separate $100,000 bonds over the weekend, charged in connection with the April 14 robbery of a Piggly Wiggly employee in Roseboro. Malique Taylor, 19, of 7234 Old Mintz Hwy., Garland, and Kelvin Bell Jr., of Myrtle Road, were each charged with one count each of felony robbery in connection with the incident. Sampson County Sheriff’s Cpl. Marcus Smith said investigation into the robbery, which occ...
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Kent Fann of Fann Farms presents Ricky Naylor with his People's Choice award. Naylor's F12 McCormick Farmall tractor was the attendees' favorite, earning $1,340 in donations. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Tractor show harvests funds for food bank, Relay
Tractors from all over Sampson County and the surrounding areas traveled to Fann Farms this past Saturday for their second annual antique tractor show, a fundraiser to benefit Relay for Life and the Christian Food Bank of Salemburg. “We have close to 70 tractors here this year,” said Kent Fann. “I can’t believe how many people have antique tractors.” Tractors of all shapes, sizes, and colors came from places like Salemburg, Roseboro, Autr...
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An update on Avian influenza (H7N9)
I am sure most of you have heard about the H7N9 strain of avian influenza outbreak in China. As of April 16, 2013, there were 63 cases of humans contracting the disease resulting in 14 deaths. I hope the following information will calm your concerns. Avian influenza is a disease of wild birds and domestic poultry caused by many different subtypes of Type A influenza virus. The natural reservoir for Type A influenza viruses is wild water bir...
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More than 43 tons of items not normally collected as part of regular garbage pick-up was taken off city curbs during last week's Spring Clean Up Week. Here, city street department employees Jordan Lassiter and Lionel Rayner haul off one of 74 mattresses and box springs discarded by residents. (Courtesy photo)
Clinton’s Clean Up campaign hauls in the trash
More than 43 tons of bulky items not normally picked up during regular garbage collection were discarded by residents and taken off curbs by the Clinton Public Works Department, which got a helping hand from state workers as part of the spring cleaning. The City of Clinton held its annual citywide Spring Clean Up effort throughout the week of April 15-19, with city crews collecting 43.3 tons of items curbside. Included in the amount collect...
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Union touts Student, Faculty Member of Month Union High School principal Ed Holmes, center, congratulates Union's Teacher of the Month for April, Brad Bass, and Student of the Month, Michelle Pineda. (Courtesy photo)
Union touts Student, Faculty Member of Month
Courtesy photo Union High School principal Ed Holmes, center, congratulates Union’s Teacher of the Month for April, Brad Bass, and Student of the Month, Michelle Pineda.
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Stephanie Hunter Davis
One dies, one charged following wreck
Yet another Sampson County life has been claimed at the hands of an alleged impaired driver, now charged in the fatal accident. Sharon Brayboy, 49, of 240 Daughtry Town Road, Clinton, died Saturday night when the vehicle she was a passenger in overturned and struck a ditch on Bucktown Road, near Keener Road. N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. Bryan Smith said Brayboy was not belted in at the time of the accident. Charged in the fatal wreck is Ste...
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Johnny Ray Brockington
Burglary charge leveled
A Benson man was jailed Friday on three felonies, all connected to a complaint leveled by an employee whose surveillance camera pegged him as a suspect. Johnny Ray Brockington of 606 East Marion Ave., Benson, is facing felony burglary, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen property charges. In addition, he faces misdemeanor charges of larceny and possession of stolen goods. He was jailed under a $35,000 bond and a May 10 court da...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 4/25 - Kendall Craig Wooten, 57, 2120 maple Grove Church Road, Dunn, harassing phone calls, cyberstalking. Bond $1,000; court date May 28. 4/25 - Woodrow Sidney Taylor, 29, 738 Dunn Road, Roseboro, intoxicated and disruptive. Bond $1,000; court date May 16. 4/26 - Nasir Abdul, 27, Days Inn, assault on a female. Bond $5,000; court date May 23. 4/26 - Stephen Montrel Lewis, 30, 311 East Carter St., Clinton, failure t...
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Colorful landing Randy Lee’s hot air balloon company donated a flight to a charitable auction for a man with a heart condition. The balloon landed in Salemburg, close to Holland’s Chapel Church on Huntley School Road, Saturday. Many gathered from the community to watch the landing of the balloon. (Adam Capps/Sampson Independent)
Colorful landing
Adam Capps/Sampson Independent Randy Lee’s hot air balloon company donated a flight to a charitable auction for a man with a heart condition. The balloon landed in Salemburg, close to Holland’s Chapel Church on Huntley School Road, Saturday. Many gathered from the community to watch the landing of the balloon.
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