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Becky and Cameron Spell invite you to bring your cruiser, sports bike, or classic car and join Tim's Gift for the Ride and Drive Hope Rally on May 4th. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the ride will roll out at 10 a.m. from the Farmers' Market in Clinton. (Courtesy photo)
Ride and Drive
For the third year now, riders and drivers from Sampson County and the surrounding areas are preparing to take to the roads of Sampson County on May 4 with their cruisers, sports bikes, and classic cars, all to help Tim’s Gift, Inc. as it works to help others in their time of need. The Ride and Drive Hope Rally supports Tim’s Gift of Clinton, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping patients, particulary cancer and hospice patients, an...
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Smart receives Mount Olive College Young Alumnus award
MOUNT OLIVE — During its annual Alumni Awards event Mount Olive College awarded Kelley Smart, a 2004 graduate of the college, with the Young Alumnus Achievement Award. The award recognizes young alumni for exceptional achievement that reflects honor to the College, distinguishes themselves as leaders in the areas of civic, religious, and professional life, and serves as inspiration for others. The award was presented by alumna Genevieve Taylo...
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Roberson places second Mikeala Roberson, a sophomore at Hobbton High School, attended the NC State HOSA Leadership Conference in Greensboro on April 11-13. She placed second in prepared speaking and will represent NC in prepared speaking when she attends the National HOSA Leadership Conference in June. Pictured with Roberson is her adviser Connie Thornton. (Courtesy photo)
Roberson places second
Courtesy photo Mikeala Roberson, a sophomore at Hobbton High School, attended the NC State HOSA Leadership Conference in Greensboro on April 11-13. She placed second in prepared speaking and will represent NC in prepared speaking when she attends the National HOSA Leadership Conference in June. Pictured with Roberson is her adviser Connie Thornton.
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Southeastern EDC celebrates 45 years of service
The Southeastern Economic Development Commission celebrated 45 years of service to the region at their Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 16 at Lu Mil Vineyard. The event was very well attended and honored to have North Carolina’s Department of Commerce Secretary, Sharon Allred Decker, as the keynote speaker. Along with SEDC Board members, regional elected officials, county managers, and business allies, representatives for the US Economic Deve...
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Alyiah Morgan
Tragedy strikes Union district
A community has wrapped its arms around Union Elementary School and the family of the first-grader tragically killed Tuesday afternoon as she departed a bus and headed across the road to her waiting mother — it was an outreach, the school’s principal said, that was much needed and appreciated as everyone searched for normalcy among tears and heartbreak that won’t soon go away. “This is just a testimony of the spirit of Sampson County and th...
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The town board of Turkey met Tuesday night to work on the town's budget for the upcoming year. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Turkey’s proposed budget includes raise for clerk
The Turkey town board held a workshop Tuesday night to discuss the town’s budget. Although the public was welcome to attend, no public comments were taken. Although few, comissioners did discuss some minor changes to the town’s budget. According to the projected general fund budget for 2014 as it currently stands, the town clerk’s salary will be raised from $11,840 to $13,500, an increase of $1,660. The town’s general maintainence fund ...
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City of Clinton manager John Connet has announced his resignation effective May 24 more than a decade. He has accepted the city manager position in the City of Hendersonville in Henderson County and will start there May 28. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
Connet moving on
After more than a decade of leadership and significant strides to better this community, City of Clinton manager John Connet is departing for the managerial post in Hendersonville. The city regretfully announced Connet’s resignation in a statement Wednesday. Connet told city staff and department heads earlier this week. He will serve his last day May 24, assuming the role of city manager for the City of Hendersonville on May 28. “This is ...
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News briefs
Coleman Jart and Mary Jane Hudson Family Reunion — will be held Sunday, April 28, 1:30 p.m., at Turkey Baptist Church fellowship hall. Bring a covered dish and dessert. FMI, call 533-3259. Lions Club Fish Fry — Thursday, April 25 at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and again from 4 until 7 p.m. Eat in or take out. (Beverage with eat-in orders). See Lions Club members for tickets. Pancake Breakfast ...
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Sampson County commissioners discussed a possible modification to how recreation services are offered during a recent meeting. Further discussion is expected to take place as part of upcoming budget talks. (Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent)
County weighs rec options as budget looms
Following some interest in going back to the previous district system for county recreation, a possible reversion that could mean some $400,000 in cost savings, the topic has at least brought about discussion. No action has been taken, with the Sampson Board of Commissioners opting to keep the recreation department in its current state for now, but the matter is expected to receive some attention during further budget talks. Commissioners s...
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Crimewatch
Arrests 4/23 - Randy Neal Williams, 27, 231 Kay Road, Clinton, failure to appear on charges of driving while license revoked and failing to wear a seat belt. Bond $500; court date May 9. 4/23 - Gregory Antane Smith, 35, 304 Turlington St., Clinton, failure to appear on charge of driving while impaired. Bond $2,000; court date May 14. 4/23 - Samuel Scott Faircloth, 19, Autryville, misdemeanor larceny. Bond $500; court date June 10. ...
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Brown’s Chapel celebrating pastor’s anniversary Sunday
The members of Brown’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, H.B. Lewis Road, Clinton, will celebrate the third anniversary of their pastor, the Rev. Jeffrey White, Sunday, April 28 at 4 p.m. The special guest will be Pastor Calvin L. Brewington of Beauty Spot Missionary Baptist Church of Fayetteville. He will be accompanied by his choir and congregation. Don’t miss this big celebration Sunday! Spring revival will be held at Wilson Chapel Missi...
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Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services, discusses the county schools' options for energy conservation with board members during yesterday's work session. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
County school chief says energy specialist needed
During Tuesday’s work session, the Sampson County Board of Education discussed the need for an energy specialist and members weighed their options as they move forward in trying to conserve schools’ energy and save schools’ money. When members met last month for their work session, the board heard from Lance Wyatt, the regional president from Cenergistic, the Energy Conservation Company. Wyatt shared with them that Cenergistic has helped sc...
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Pictured above are the Mr. HCA contestants during their opening number. From left, are: Ethan Hall, Chris Cannady, John Thomas (2012 Mr. HCA), Ross Barnes, Davis Jones (winner), and Robert Kinlaw (first runner-up). (Gina Strickland/HCA)
Jones named 2013 Mr. HCA
On Friday, April 12, five high school boys from Harrells Christian Academy competed in the fourth annual Mr. HCA competition. This fairly new tradition for the school brings laughs to all those in attendance, while raising money for a very important cause. The contestants included the following: Robert Kinlaw, Chris Cannady, Ethan Hall, Davis Jones, and Ross Barnes. Contestants competed in three categories – talent, legs, and evening wear. ...
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SCC’s Early Childhood Education program earns national accreditation
Sampson Community College officials recently announced that the Early Childhood Education Program has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission, making it one of only 20 Early Childhood Education programs in the state to achieve national accreditation. The accreditation decision was based on the Commissions’ review of SCC’s program Self-Study Report and the Peer Review Team Rep...
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Director of Transportation Herb Sanderson gave the board an update on the schools' activity buses and presented them with options for acquiring the four new activity buses that are needed. (Lauren Williams/Sampson Independent)
Age factor for some county school activity buses
The wheels on Sampson County Schools’ activity buses are busy going round and round on a regular basis. Aware of all the traveling local students do and taking into consideration that a few buses are slightly past their replacement age, director of transportation Herb Sanderson stressed to the school board the need for four new activity buses during Tuesday’s work session. “The oldest buses we have are 23 years old, and our newest ones are ...
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Breaking news update
A Union Elementary kindergartner was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler late Tuesday afternoon as the child was exiting a school bus stopped near her home on Delway Highway. The truck, N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Bryan Smith said, passed the stopped school bus on U.S. 421 near Herring Road around 3:30 p.m., struck the child, and then continued on its southbound path. Tips assisted troopers in locating the log truck and its driver later in...
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Allison Hinson
Sampson student receives award at MOC
MOUNT OLIVE — Allison Hinson of Clinton received the Outstanding Recreation/Leisure Student of the Year at Mount Olive College’s Annual Awards Ceremony. H inson is a senior recreation and leisure studies recreational thearpy major. Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The college, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount ...
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One of 54 nuisance vehicles tagged by Clinton Police Department during the first two weeks of a 'nuisance vehicle blitz' that began April 1. (Courtesy photo)
Nuisance vehicle blitz brings over 50 violations
A blitz to remove unsafe and nuisance vehicles from city streets and yards has produced a whopping 54 violations in just two weeks, Clinton Police Department officials said. “So far, in the first two weeks, we have tagged 37 homes with multiple cars — there have been 54 (nuisance) vehicles in all,” said Police Chief Jay Tilley. “I was surprised at the number of vehicles. That’s a lot and we know there’s a lot more to do.” Beginning April ...
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Teen charged with pulling fire alarm
A 19-year-old Hobbton High School student has learned the hard way that pulling a fire alarm isn’t a wise thing to do. In fact, for this teen, doing so landed him in trouble with Sampson County sheriff’s officers. Garrett Allen Carr, 19, of 80 Wilson Road, Clinton, was charged with sounding a false fire alarm, a misdemeanor charge. According to Cpl. Marcus Smith, the alarm went off at the high school last Friday afternoon around 2 p.m., s...
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Crimewatch
Arrests/Citations 4/18 - Donald Jess Owens, 37, 133 Love of Kids Lane, Roseboro, possession of meth (1 gram). Bond $15,000; court date not listed. Arrested following investigative stop. 4/20 - Ronnie Earl Knowles Jr., 24, 923 Rackley Road, Clinton, driving while impaired, fleeing to elude. Bond $2,500; court date June 10. 4/21 - Joshua Daniels Faulk, 25, Mount Olive, child support. Bond $700; court date May 7. 4/22 - Portia Dorette ...
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