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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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Traffic stop ends in arrest
A routine traffic stop last weekend turned into much more when the suspect Clinton police pulled over refused to show the officer what he was hiding, first in his pocket and later in his hand. Luis Angel Rivera was taken into custody after the incident and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting arrest and driving while license revoked. He was jailed under a $12,500 bond but was later released. The incident occurred Sat...
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Middle-schoolers tour college campuses Thirty-seven Sampson Middle School students toured the campuses of Shaw and Saint Augustine universities during their spring break. The group participated in formal presentations and walking tours at both campuses. SMS students were excited and impressed with the presenters, tour guides the large, stately buildings, dormitory rooms, the book and gift shop, the dining hall and the overall campus environment. This is the third annual tour for the students and is sponsored by the middle school in partnership with Sampson High School Alumni Association. The purpose of the tour was to get middle school students focused on college education at an early age; to acquaint them with the requirements to get accepted into college; to inspire them to begin preparation to meet college admission requirements; to make them aware of the competition for scholarships; and to stress the importance of excellent academic achievement now and throughout high school. (Courtesy photo)
Middle-schoolers tour college campuses
Courtesy photos Thirty-seven Sampson Middle School students toured the campuses of Shaw and Saint Augustine universities during their spring break. The group participated in formal presentations and walking tours at both campuses. SMS students were excited and impressed with the presenters, tour guides the large, stately buildings, dormitory rooms, the book and gift shop, the dining hall and the overall campus environment. This is the third...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 5/18 - Selena Noel Anders, 21, 570 Pearson Road, Clinton, shoplifting. Court date June 24. 5/19 - Woodrow Wilson, 40, 20 Sunshine Lane, Clinton, was charged with driving while impaired and driving while license revoked. Bond $5,700; court date July 9. 5/20 - Eric Charles Cooper, 27, 10120 Garland Hwy., Clinton, child support. Bond $700. 5/20 - Timothy Allen Beach Jr., 34, 106 Bushway Lane, Autryville, simple assaul...
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Bookkeeper Brenda Bass has been a fixture at Lakewood High School since September 1977. After 35 years, she is retiring this June. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Readying for retirement
As the school year draws to a close, Lakewood High School is readying itself to send off another graduating class, and, at the same time, tpreparing to bid farewell to a beloved and longtime employee. Set to retire this June, Brenda Bass has been a fixture at Lakewood since September 1977 when she became the school’s bookkeeper at the age of 28. “It was my first real job,” said Bass with a smile. Before landing the job at Lakewood, Bass...
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After singing during the talent portion of the pageant, Caitlin Joyner was named Miss Hobbton in 2012. Her mother is also a former Miss Hobbton. (Courtesy photo)
Hitting the right notes
As Hobbton High School senior Caitlin Joyner looks forward to graduation, she is hitting all the right notes and recalling how music has helped make her life thus far so special. Although she can play most any instrument, Joyner is most experienced at playing the French horn and the piano. “I started playing the piano in second grade and the french horn in seventh,” shared Joyner. “Actually, Mr. Tart (Hobbton’s band director) gave me the ...
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Long Shots place third in games The Sampson County Long Shots, Sampson's senior citizens basketball team, went to Newport News, Va. this weekend to participate in the Virginia Senior Games and game away capturing third place. According to those in attendance, the team competed very well and demonstrated they could compete with anyone. Pictured are team members with their coach Fred Holland, center. They are: from left: Mary Burke, Bevy Pope, Becky Tyndall, Holland, Dian Naylor, Dianne Cox and Alice Matthis. (Steve Cox/Courtesy photo)
Long Shots take third in games
Steve Cox/Courtesy photo The Sampson County Long Shots, Sampson’s senior citizens basketball team, went to Newport News, Va. this weekend to participate in the Virginia Senior Games and game away capturing third place. According to those in attendance, the team competed very well and demonstrated they could compete with anyone. Pictured are team members with their coach Fred Holland, center. They are: from left: Mary Burke, Bevy Pope, Becky...
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Crimewatch
Arrests 5/17 - Brandon Lee Warren, 20, 510 Johnston Hwy., Newton Grove. communicating threats. Bond $1,000; court date June 13. 5/17 - Jack Figueroa Rivera, 19, 181 Ruby Lane, Clinton, failure to appear on charges of breaking and entering and attempted larceny. Bond $24,000; court date July 1. 5/17 - Ralph Delano Dumpson, 18, 10122 Garland Hwy., Clinton, failure to comply. Bond $205; court date June 10. 5/17 - Baltazar Lopez, 29, 31...
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Town honors Roseboro school Roseboro mayor David Alexander presented Roseboro Elementary School principal Tonya Colwell, along with physical education teacher Megan Strickland and guidance counselor Jessica Eason, with an award during the town's May 14 meeting, acknowledging the school's active involvement in the community. Roseboro Elementary recently organized the community's first 5K run as a part of the town's May Day Affair celebration that was held earlier this month. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Town honors Roseboro school
Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent Roseboro mayor David Alexander present Roseboro Elementary School principal Tonya Colwell, along with physical education teacher Megan Strickland and guidance counselor Jessica Eason, with an award during the town’s May 14 meeting, acknowledging the school’s active involvement in the community. Roseboro Elementary recently organized the community’s first 5K run as a part of the town’s May Day Affair celeb...
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News briefs
Sampson County Schools — The Board of Education will have a work session Tuesday, May 21 at 7:30 a.m. in the Central Office board room. Free finger-printing and DNA kits — for children being given out at Verizon Wireless, Sunset Avenue, Friday, May 31. Sampson Middle Parent Night — being held Tuesday, May 21, 6 p.m. in the SMS cafeteria. All students, including rising sixth-graders, and their parents are invited. Topics to be disc...
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Hobbton recognizes Hobbs Debbie Hobbs, custodian at Hobbton Elementary, was recently chosen as the Support Staff Member of the Year at Hobbton. (Courtesy photo)
Hobbton recognizes Hobbs
Courtesy photo Debbie Hobbs, custodian at Hobbton Elementary, was recently chosen as the Support Staff Member of the Year at Hobbton.
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Fred Stamey, SCC coordinator and lead instructor of Truck Driver Training is pictured with Katie Brown, SCC Director of Customized Training & Workforce Development. (Courtesy photo)
SCC trained truck drives in high demand
Fred Stamey, coordinator and lead instructor of truck driver training, recently provided an overview of Sampson Community College’s truck driving training program at the May 9, 2013 SCC Foundation quarterly board meeting. The truck driving program is run through SCC’s Continuing Education Department. The program includes four full-time class schedules each year and three part-time class schedules. He emphasized that safety concerns were a n...
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When you’re cool the sun shines on you 24 hours a day
This is the final installment on outdoor vision protection in recognition of May as National Sight Saving and UV Awareness month. Over the past few weeks I explained many of the common problems that may befall the unprotected eye from UV radiation and the different types of coatings commonly found on sunglasses. Today I will explain the value and purpose of different colors used in tinting sunglasses and how they can enhance your visual exper...
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