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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Sampson County Veterans Service officer Ann Knowles talks about the important place veterans hold in this country, this county and in her heart. She was lauded by Board of Commissioners chairman Billy Lockamy and others for giving not only her heart and time, but $2,000 of her own money, to assist a veteran who was about to be displaced from his home.
Beyond duty’s call
When a local veteran was struggling to keep his home in Autryville last month, $2,000 behind on his mortgage, Ann Knowles, the woman who has been there for countless veterans through the years, reached into her own pocket. Sampson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Billy Lockamy honored Knowles, the county’s Veterans Service officer, for her actions in assisting local veteran Bruce Waldahl, who faced displacement from his home to compou...
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All cataracts are not the same
I will continue our discussion on cataracts in recognizing March as National Cataract Awareness Month. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. This clouding can be a result of medical conditions, aging, social and environmental causes, injury and medications. As the clouding becomes more intense, the vision changes and becomes less clear. While there are no known causes of cataract development, there are a number of risk factors. ...
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A rendering of what the Koi pond at Mary Gran could look like.
A little R&R
Imagine finding yourself in need of an extended term of medical care and possibly even in a wheelchair. Imagine a place not unlike a hospital yet with more freedom and yet with nothing to do. Imagine having people all around yet wanting to do something, anything, to relax and enjoy the world around you and yet have nothing to enjoy. When Carmine and Wendy Colantuono placed her father, Haskell Stewart, in the Mary Gran Nursing home they knew...
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Union's kindergarten Students of the Month Union Elementary recently named its Students of the Month for February. Those in kindergarten selected were: Sarah Millen, Landon Ashline, Jessie Diaz, Daniella Martinez-Perez, Jabari Herring, Ryan Barnes, Paloma Guzman-Moran and Mark Krch. (Courtesy photo)
Union honors its Students of the Month
Courtesy photo Union’s kindergarten Students of the Month Union Elementary recently named its Students of the Month for February. Those in kindergarten selected were: Sarah Millen, Landon Ashline, Jessie Diaz, Daniella Martinez-Perez, Jabari Herring, Ryan Barnes, Paloma Guzman-Moran and Mark Krch. Courtesy photo Union’s first grade Students of the Month Union Elementary’s first grade Students of the Month for February are: Angel Baca, B...
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Students touted for reaching success In association with the Read Across America Initiative, Catherine Ruiz from the Sampson-Clinton Association of Educators recognized eight elementary students for their improvements in reading during the Sampson County Schools Board of Education meeting in February. The students, who each received a Dr. Seuss book, were selected by their school media specialist for outstanding and noticeable reading achievements. Front row, left to right: Shakira Lopez-Andablo of Clement Elementary, Edye Naylor of Midway Elementary, and Kelly Cannady of Union Elementary. Back row, left to right: Laney Pope of Hargrove Elementary, Zanyah Brown of Roseboro Elementary, and Oscar Bonilla of Salemburg Elementary. Not pictured are J.C. Smith and Louzah Alwahishi. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Students touted for reaching success
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent In association with the Read Across America Initiative, Catherine Ruiz from the Sampson-Clinton Association of Educators recognized eight elementary students for their improvements in reading during the Sampson County Schools Board of Education meeting in February. The students, who each received a Dr. Seuss book, were selected by their school media specialist for outstanding and noticeable reading achiev...
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The Clinton City Board of Education. In front, board chairman E.R. Mason; in back, from left: Randy Barefoot, Carol Worley, Diane Viser, Georgina Zeng and Jason Walters. (Courtesy photo)
City school board members earn Master Board status
Members of the Clinton Board of Education recently completed their Level I Master Board status, a fact announced this week by the North Carolina School Boards Association. “The NCSBA Master Board program is a knowledge- and skills-based training program that provides school boards with the opportunity to develop as a full governance team,” said Ed Dunlap, executive director of the NCSBA. “What makes Master Board unique from the Association’...
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Ken Eichberg, math teacher at Sampson Early College High School, was recognized by the Sampson County Board of Education during the February meeting as a recipient of one of the Simple Gifts Fund Teacher Fellowship grants. His grant was entitled "Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Please!" (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Simple Gift grants awarded
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Ken Eichberg, math teacher at Sampson Early College High School, was recognized by the Sampson County Board of Education during the February meeting as a recipient of one of the Simple Gifts Fund Teacher Fellowship grants. His grant was entitled ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Please!’ Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Stephanie Goethie, Hobbton High School guidance counselor, was recognized by the S...
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Commissioners honor retirees The Sampson County Board of Commissioners honored retirees as of February 2013 during its meeting earlier this week. Board chairman Billy Lockamy presented each with a plaque in recognition of their years of service. Pictured, from left, are: Frankie H. Waters, Cooperative Extension Service (1981-2013); Katherine J. Brown, Department of Social Services (1988-2013); Lockamy; and Samuel Anders, Detention Center (2004-2013). Not present, but recognized, were retirees Jane Hollingsworth, DSS (1985-2013), and Mark A. Lee, Sheriff's Office (2005-2013). The five retirees combined for more than 100 years of service to Sampson County. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Commissioners honor retirees
Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent The Sampson County Board of Commissioners honored retirees as of February 2013 during its meeting earlier this week. Board chairman Billy Lockamy presented each with a plaque in recognition of their years of service. Pictured, from left, are: Frankie H. Waters, Cooperative Extension Service (1981-2013); Katherine J. Brown, Department of Social Services (1988-2013); Lockamy; and Samuel Anders, Detention Cent...
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Members of the Royal family, all brothers, gathered at Salemburg's town hall with mayor Bobby Strickland and wife Pauline, the town commissioners, and contractor J.R. Williams for the contract signing ceremony. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Steps to displaying Salemburg’s history taken
The town of Salemburg held a contract signing ceremony this past Friday morning, confirming their plans to build an addition onto the town hall in order to create a place to display items from Salemburg’s history. The addition will be named the Salemburg Royal Hall of History, announced mayor Bobby Strickland, as the Royal family of Salemburg is instrumental in making the building and the dream of capturing the town’s history a reality. W...
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Clinton High School's FFA receives their check for $1,000 from Farm Bureau. Pictured left to right are Lane Hall, Susan Jones, Sampson County Farm Bureau president Tate Pope, Lydia Strickland, and CHS FFA adviser Ronnie Warren. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Farm Bureau assists local FFA chapters
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Clinton High School’s FFA receivesits check for $1,000 from Farm Bureau. Pictured left to right are Lane Hall, Susan Jones, Sampson County Farm Bureau president Tate Pope, Lydia Strickland, and CHS FFA adviser Ronnie Warren. Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Hobbton High School receives its check for $1,000 from Farm Bureau. Pictured left to right are HHS adviser Tim Warren, Sarah Best, Sampson Coun...
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Dressed to the nines, Sunset Avenue student Honesty Williams performed Etta James' song "At Last" during the school's Black History Month program. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Celebrating Black History
Sunset Avenue Elementary School commemorated Black History Month Thursday with a special program in the school’s auditorium. “It’s an annual program that we do,” shared Heather Honeycutt, fourth grade Language Arts teacher and co-organizer of the program. “It helps pinpoint for the students key moments in history that show how far African Americans have come. It helps them understand why they are all able to come to the same school together...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Lethia Lee, co-chairperson for the Harrells Community Center, talks about the many short and long-term goals for the facility, none of which will be possible without a new roof.
Harrells group seeks county’s help with roof for community building
A Harrells group is seeking funding for roof repairs at the Harrells Community Center, deemed by residents and the county district’s representative as vital to that area of southern Sampson. Lethia Lee, co-chairwoman for the Harrells Community Center, took the group’s request to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners this week. She said the facility on Bland School Road is in need of $10,000 for a new roof for its community center and to...
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A visit to SCC On Feb. 26, Tracy Hatcher’s Teen Living students attended a college work session over on the campus of Sampson Community College. Students and Hatcher offered a special thank you to Oscar Rodrigues, director of admissions, Sharon Herring, school-age instructor,Susan Baxter, department chair of Early Childhood Education, and Perry Gillespie, professional development coordinator for sharing information. Students were encouraged to continue their education after high school and told about the many new programs available for students to take advantage of at the college level. Students left enlightened and excited about soon enrolling in a college course, Hatcher said. (Courtesy photo)
A visit to SCC
On Feb. 26, Tracy Hatcher’s Teen Living students attended a college work session over on the campus of Sampson Community College. Students and Hatcher offered a special thank you to Oscar Rodrigues, director of admissions, Sharon Herring, school-age instructor,Susan Baxter, department chair of Early Childhood Education, and Perry Gillespie, professional development coordinator for sharing information. Students were encouraged to continue thei...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Council members Marcus Becton and Jean Turlington voted, along with the rest of the Council, to offer $2,500 in incentives over a five-year period for Duplin Marketing Company, a Smithfield Foods subsidiary, to relocate to downtown Clinton.
City OKs economic incentive
The city of Clinton is offering economic incentives to a Smithfield Foods subsidiary to locate in the heart of its downtown, bringing a dozen jobs and a quarter-million dollars in investment with it. The city received a request from Duplin Marketing Company LLC, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, for economic development incentives to relocate their office to Clinton. The office would include 12 employees with an average annual salary of $65...
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City school board honors Student of the Month Students of the month from each city school were recognized this week during the Clinton City Schools' Board of Education March meeting. Back row, left to right, are Jayla Whitted of Sampson Middle, Davon Kirby of Clinton High, and Abby Mitchell of Sunset Avenue. Front row, left to right, are Alexis Serrano of L.C. Kerr and Yudelke Escobar Lopez of Butler Avenue. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
City schools honors Students of the Month
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Students of the Month from each city school were recognized this week during the Clinton Board of Education March meeting. Back row, left to right, are Jayla Whitted of Sampson Middle, Davon Kirby of Clinton High, and Abby Mitchell of Sunset Avenue. Front row, left to right, are Alexis Serrano of L.C. Kerr and Yudelke Escobar Lopez of Butler Avenue.
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Basstown Road bridge closing for repair
Motorists traveling in Sampson County will have to find yet another road to travel during March, as Department of Transportation crews work to repair a bridge in the Basstown Road area. According to Shannon Baylor, bridge maintenance supervisor, both directions of Basstown Road (State Road 1827), 0.1 miles north of Grady Road (State Road 1831) will close at 8 a.m. Monday, March 18 and remain closed until Thursday, March 28 at 5 p.m. Baylo...
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Sampson Community College president Dr. Paul Hutchins, far left, and administrators Virginia Lucas, Ann Butler and Dr. Bill Starling gather around a portrait of Dallas Herring that will hang at the college. (Courtesy photo)
NC Community Colleges celebrate Dr. W. Dallas Herring Day
‘North Carolina’s community colleges celebrated the legacy of Dr. W. Dallas Herring on March 6. Dr. Herring, a Duplin County native, is considered the philosophical godfather of the state’s Community College System. As the chair of the State Board of Education in 1963, Herring was instrumental in the creation of the community college system. He may be best known for his belief that education should be available to all and that community colle...
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Clinton City Schools' Board of Education gave their approval this week during their March meeting for the school system to reapply for the 21st Century Learning Center Grant, which funds the Blazing Star Academy after-school program. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
City school board green lights writing grant
The Clinton Board of Education has given its approval to reapply for the 21st Century Learning Grant, which currently funds the district’s after-school program, Blazing Stars Academy. The grant, which is worth $400,000 and lasts four years, is set to expire in 2014. During this week’s Board of Education meeting, Terrace Miller, director of Special Programs for Clinton City Schools, encouraged members to give their approval, noting that th...
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Tiny, Little, Jr. and Miss Harrells Christian Academy Pageant Friday
Harrells Christian Academy will present the Tiny, Little, Jr. and Miss HCA Pageant Friday, March 8, 7 p.m., in the Joseph Newkirk Auditorium at Harrells Christian Academy. Miss HCA Logan Tart and Jr. Miss HCA Miranda Wells will be giving up their titles. There are two lovely ladies vying for the title of Miss and three vying for Jr. Miss. In addition, there are 15 beautiful young ladies vying for the title of Little Miss and three preciou...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent City manager John Connet requests an amendment to the City Code allowing the Clinton Police Department to assist the code enforcement officer in enforcing the nuisance vehicle ordinance on private property. The Council approved.
Council adds muscle to ridding city of nuisance vehicles
Vehicles that have been serving as a nuisance may soon be disappearing from streets, driveways and yards across Clinton, with extra enforcement authority given to the Clinton Police Department to remove and dispose of those vehicles. The issue was talked about briefly last month, with city manager John Connet announcing a citywide effort to curb nuisance vehicles starting in March. The City Council assisted in moving forward with that effor...
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