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Commissioner Matthew Register suggests a schedule of fines for residents who do not remove their trash cans from curbs by the Thursday morning after Wednesday's weekly collection. The board approved imposing an initial fine of $25, increasing by $25 for each subsequent violation ($50 for the second, $75 for the third, etc). (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Garland garbage cart fines coming
GARLAND — Town residents said they are tired of dealing with the same garbage. Garland residents have long raised concerns about trash cans being left at curbs, an issue that especially rears its smelly head when the weather gets warmer. In response to those concerns, some of which were raised at Tuesday’s town meeting, the Garland Board of Commissioners set a rule, and has attached sizable fines penalizing those who do not follow it. Wit...
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John Connet, city manager of Clinton, shared with Newton Grove's mayor and town commissioners the need for for long-term water supply planning. Agreeing with Connet, the town board decided to join Clinton and other surrounding towns in Sampson County to work together on the issue. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Newton Grove joins long-term water planning effort
Clinton city manager John Connet visited the town of Newton Grove Tuesday on behalf of the Clinton-Sampson County Planning and Development department, meeting with town commissioners to discuss long-term water supply plans. According to Connet, a study of the county’s aquifers was done several years ago and showed local water supply to be “in good shape.” However, Connet stressed that the water supply is something to “keep a check on,” ad...
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Clement's Students of the Month Clement Elementary recently named its Student's of the Month for March. They are: Allen Peterson, Jania Luna-Castillo, Kimberley Melchor-Arredondo, Kaison Marley, Raychel Dale, Lance Wrench, Nicholas Hair, Ashley Williams, Emma Butler, Ethan Barbour, Corbin Horne, Abby Phillips, Demale Giddens, Cullen Faircloth, Erin Beasley, Ashlyn Honeycutt, Bryant Caldera, Trent Hair, Kaylie Robbins, Llansy Zavala, and Jada Washington. Not pictured are: Jania Luna-Castillo, Kimberley Melchor-Arredondo and Bryant Caldera. (Courtesy photo)
Clement’s Students of the Month
Courtesy photo Clement Elementary recently named its Student’s of the Month for March. They are: Allen Peterson, Jania Luna-Castillo, Kimberley Melchor-Arredondo, Kaison Marley, Raychel Dale, Lance Wrench, Nicholas Hair, Ashley Williams, Emma Butler, Ethan Barbour, Corbin Horne, Abby Phillips, Demale Giddens, Cullen Faircloth, Erin Beasley, Ashlyn Honeycutt, Bryant Caldera, Trent Hair, Kaylie Robbins, Llansy Zavala, and Jada Washington. Not...
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Flags were placed on the Commons at Mount Olive College representing the 11 million killed during the Holocaust. (Rhonda Jessup/MOC)
Mount Olive College holds events to remember Holocaust
MOUNT OLIVE – Mount Olive College held a Holocaust Day of Remembrance on Tuesday, April 9, which included a worship service on the church’s role in the Holocaust, a Jewish dance presentation, a faculty forum and a keynote speech from Holocaust survivor Abe Piasek. Talking to a standing room only crowd, Piasek shared his terrifying experience as a child in Nazi occupied Poland. He was only 12 years old in 1939 when Poland was occupied by Naz...
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Marie Peeden of Pamlico Engineering talks to the Garland Board of Commissioners about the town's parking requirements, which if they stood as they are currently, would prohibit Family Dollar from expanding at its proposed site. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Garland Family Dollar likely to expand, if parking issue resolved
GARLAND — An expanded Family Dollar could be taking its place in town if hurdles presented by “outdated” town-enforced parking requirements can be alleviated. Marie Peedin of Pamlico Engineering spoke to the Garland Board of Commissioners about the desire from Family Dollar owners to get the process moving, something that could happen as early as the beginning of May if issues can be resolved. “We wanted to bring the project to you and co...
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Close to 900 county residents received winter energy help
The deadline for households to apply for the federally-funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) was the beginning of last week, should funds remain available. Sampson never sniffed that deadline, having exhausted its allocation two months ago, just days into opening the application process to everyone. Through LIEAP, eligible candidates receive a one-time cash payment to help pay utility costs, specifically heating bills. Payment...
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Isaac Franklin Feltwell
Probe into one crime leads to arrest in another
An investigation into a possible larceny in the Roseboro area didn’t uncover exactly what law enforcement officers were expecting nor what a surprised Pembroke man got, but charges were leveled all the same. The incident took place around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Runion’s Recycle, where Sampson sheriff’s officers were called to investigate what was believed to be suspicious activity related to a possible larceny. According to Cpl. Marcus Smi...
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Angel Pryor practices her cursive handwriting while in class at Butler Avenue Elementary School. Melissa Perry, a third grade teacher at Butler Avenue, shared that the students notice their parents writing in cursive and are excited to learn how to do it themselves. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Local educators support cursive writing, but not bill
As the state’s political leaders debate over whether cursive writing needs to be taught in the public schools, local educators in both the city and county school systems are firm in their convictions that it is still a necessity in today’s world. The “Back to Basics” bill, which was passed by the state House of Representatives just last week, reads that “the standard course of study shall include the requirement that the public schools prov...
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Friends of Sampson County Waterways (FSCW) recently hosted a group, three professors and 12 students, from the University of Maine. The group joined the FSCW club at their monthly meeting and then took to the Black River where they paddled to see ancient cypress trees. (Courtesy photo)
Riding the river
For around 60 years now, Ralph Hamilton has been paddling the rivers of Sampson County, calling them the place “where I have always gone to get away from the frustrations of the day and to reflect on things.” “There is a gentle, peaceful, quiet solitude to be found out on the rivers,” shared Hamilton. “It is an escape, a place to go where you can just let all the pressure slip away.” Hamilton is a founding member of the nonprofit organiza...
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Jackson Grove to hold Family and Friends Day Sunday
Family and Friends Day will be held at the Jackson Grove Bible Church of God Sunday, April 14 at 11 a.m. The guest speaker will be Minister Steve Hemmingway of Baltimore, Md. The guest choir will be Mingle Hill Gospel Choir and the Howard Family combined choir. Lunch will be served following them morning service. Pastor Louise Royal, the host pastor, invites everyone to come out and help enjoy this Family and Friends Day event. Don’t miss it!...
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Sampson Arts Council executive director Kara Donatelli looks on as local kids show off their creations during last summer's art camp. (Courtesy photo)
Registration now open for summer art camp
As the school year draws to a close, students anxiously await summer break and all the fun activities it brings while parents look for ways to keep their children engaged. Many hope that the summer can be a time for their youngsters to brush up on some skills, and the Sampson Arts Council wants to help students do just that — by putting a paintbrush in their young, creative hands. For the third summer now, the Sampson Arts Council is holdin...
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McLamb begins rehab
Sampson commissioner Jarvis McLamb continues to recuperate following a stroke last month and, on Tuesday, began physical rehabilitation procedures at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. McLamb was moved into the hospital’s rehab unit Monday and began work Tuesday morning, wife Joyce McLamb said. She said he was resting comfortably later Tuesday. “They worked him pretty hard this morning,” she said. “It was his first day of intense work. We’re ho...
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Sampson County Public Works director Lee Cannady points out the existing lines and customers served through the county's distribution system. There are a lot fewer lines in the southern part of the county, which could be a source of future growth with cost savings from two permanent wells set to be constructed. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
County looks at what diversified water system could mean
Water production could pay serious dividends for Sampson in the future, with the county continuing to make outside purchases from other municipalities, but selling its own resource and using cost savings to build more wells and infrastructure to grow the system and extend service to the rest of the county. There are many opportunities before the county, Public Works director Lee Cannady said at a special meeting Monday night, the second of ...
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Two named to All-District Band Two Sampson County School students were recognized by the Sampson County Board of Education for being named to the Southeastern District All-District Band. Jonathan Arp, from Midway High, and Caitlin Joyner, from Hobbton High, participated in a rigorous selection process to be chosen for this honor.
Two named to All-District Band
Courtesy photo Two Sampson County School students were recognized by the Sampson County Board of Education for being named to the Southeastern District All-District Band. Jonathan Arp, from Midway High and Caitlin Joyner, from Hobbton High, participated in a rigorous selection process to be chosen for this honor.
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Kevin Register
Traffic stop leads to meth arrest
The resurgence of methamphetamine use continues to reverberate through Sampson County with the arrest of another resident on charges of having the drug in his possession this week. This arrest, on the heels of several in the last 10 days involving both the use and the manufacture of the illegal substance, came following a traffic stop by agents with the county’s Special Investigation Division. Arrested was Kevin Register, 47, of 1200 Need...
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Old Bluff’s Doubt Certain to Entertain
Old Bluff Theatre Company announces its spring show, Doubt, a Parable by John Patrick Shanley. This show is being sponsored by Happy Belly Deli. Lucy Lockamy directs this Pulitzer Prize-winning show, set in a Catholic school in the Bronx in the 1960s, about a self-righteous nun who suspects a parish priest of immoral behavior. Doubt has been praised as, “That rarity of rarities, an issue-driven play that is unpreachy, thought-provoking, and...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent County staff members have urged the Sampson County Board of Commissioners to consider filling a county administrative position to offer assistance in coutny operations they say is sorely needed. As part of the 2012-13 budget approval last year, commissioners approved delaying the hire until January 2013. In recent months, the open position has been advertised and applications received, but the board opted to hold off on filling the vacancy.
County admin still hoping open position will be filled
Months past the application deadline for a county administration position, there is still a vacancy that Sampson managerial staff said is being felt daily in county operations — the Sampson County Board of Commissioners has set no timetable for filling it. The position was approved last summer as part of the 2012-13 budget to be filled as of January 2013, so it was included in the current budget as a funded, but vacant, position. The county...
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'Lost' enters final weekend Friday What would you do if, like Alex Revenna (right), you had Thomas Jefferson (Chadwick Lewis, left) appear in your living room? What would you say? What questions would you ask? Find out by attending Rick Harlowe's hilarious comedy, 'Lost on the 4th of July' at the Sampson Community Theatre's final weekend performances - Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (Tom Wilbur/SCT)
‘Lost’ enters final weekend Friday
Tom Wilbur/SCT What would you do if, like Alex Revenna (right), you had Thomas Jefferson (Chadwick Lewis, left) appear in your living room? What would you say? What questions would you ask? Find out by attending Rick Harlowe’s hilarious comedy, ‘Lost on the 4th of July’ at the Sampson Community Theatre’s final weekend performances - Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
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Nestled in cherry blooms The Sampson Community College fountain is perfectly centered in this arbor of pink blossoms, just some of the many that can be found on the campus right now, with the cherry trees in full bloom. (Gloria Edwards/Special to the Independent)
Nestled in cherry blooms
Gloria Edwards/Special to the Independent The Sampson Community College fountain is perfectly centered in this arbor of pink blossoms, just some of the many that can be found on the campus right now, with the cherry trees in full bloom.
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William Johnston and other members of the North Carolina Association of Teacher Assistants (NCATA) traveled to Raleigh a few weeks ago to talk with NC House Speaker Thom Tillis about the important role teacher assistants play in the state's public schools. Just days later, Gov. Pat McCrory presented his recommended state budget which calls for a reduction in the number of teacher assistants in grades K-3. (Courtesy photo)
Fighting for teacher assistants
As part of his proposed state budget, Gov. Pat McCrory has recommended that the number of teacher assistants in grades K-3 be reduced in favor of hiring more full-time teachers, something that is raised concern among TAs and their supporters. According to McCrory’s recommendations, the state should “focus teacher assistant funding on grades K-1 by lowering the ratio of teacher assistant to student to 1:17 in those grades…Local school admini...
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