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Photo by Chris Berendt City recreation director Jonathan Allen, far right talks during a recent city meeting about strides to improve Royal Lane Park, as Fire Chief Adon Synder and Police Chief Jay Tilley listen. A public meeting will be held this Thursday to receive feedback on recreation and present schematic plans for Royal Lane.
City residents urged to participate in Thursday’s rec meeting
Even as city officials and engineers mull over local surveys submitted in recent months regarding public wishes for the future of Clinton recreation, further input will be gauged and schematic plans for Royal Lane Park presented at a meeting later this week. The City of Clinton Recreation and Parks Department, with the assistance of consultant engineering firm Withers & Ravenel, as well as focus groups and the Recreation Advisory Committee,...
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David Mesimer
Warrants served after traffic stop
A traffic stop has led to the arrest of a Sampson County man wanted on outstanding warrants charging him with assault-related offenses. A sheriff’s deputy patrolling the area of Hayne Stretch Road late last week pulled David Alan Mesimer for a routine violation and discovered that there were warrants against the 23-year-old. Mesimer, of 3228 Autry Highway, Roseboro, was charged with simple assault, assault with a deadly weapon and injury ...
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Crimewatch
Arrests 3/27 - Wilson Cedero Cova, 39, 180 Renita Lane, Clinton, failure to appear on charges of forgery of an instrument, uttering of a forged instrument, misdemeanor larceny. Bond $18,000; court date April 18. 3/28 - Manuel Castro Lina, 30, 92 Jane Lane, Godwin, driving while impaired (.18), having an open container. Bond $750; court date April 17. 3/28 - Justin Scott Odum, 20, 400 Royal Lane, Clinton, failure to appear on charges o...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent The Farmers’ Market located at the City Market on Lisbon Street has enjoyed very limited success in years past, but a local committee has set out to boost participation in 2013 and build on the strides a local farmers cooperative has made in the past year in extending the growing season. The revamped market will be open for business two days a week starting in May.
Efforts renewed to grow interest in city’s Farmers’ Market
After failed attempts to get the Sampson Farmers’ Market going in recent years, a committee has set it sights on boosting participation from vendors while generating increased interest from consumers in 2013. Homer Marshall, executive director of the Sampson Community Development Corporation, spearheaded an effort three years ago to utilize the Clinton City Market on Lisbon Street by having a local Farmers Cooperative (Co-Op) sell locally-g...
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A divisive split took place in the Mingo Baptist Church in 1832 and records of 37 years of church history were lost. Pictured along Green Path Road near Sills X Roads is the Primitive Mingo Church.(Courtesy Historical Society)
Mingo Township, Sampson County, NC
This article will explore the history of Mingo Township in northwest Sampson County. Why is it called Mingo? And how did the word Mingo enter into our vocabulary? Most historians agree that the Europeans borrowed the word from local Indians. There is some disagreement as to which Indian tribe. To this day we don’t know what the word “Mingo” meant to Native Americans. Early fur trappers and traders became familiar with the word Mingo well be...
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At a recent rehearsal, left to right, Sue Blanchard (Dr. Susan Baker), Lila Maxwell (Leggs O'Kimble), Bettie Williams (Mrs. Vander Cass), Parsell Murphy (Jimmy), Hannah Holland (Jenny Ravenna), and Aaron Batts (Alex Ravenna) look out the window for undercover cops in Sampson Community Theatre's production of Rick Harlowe's play "Lost on the Fourth of July." (Tom Wilbur/SCT)
Wilbur hoping SCT comedy will draw big audience
It may not be summer just yet but the Sampson Community Theatre is bringing a little bit of July to the stage in April with its performances of “Lost on the Fourth of July.” “Lost on the Fourth of July” is a mature comedy set in 1983 about Alex Ravenna, a middle-aged man getting married for the second time. Ravenna gets a surprise on the night of his bachelor party in the form of Thomas Jefferson who suddenly appears in his apartment. Benja...
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Outlining the governor’s proposed budget
Governor McCrory has released his recommended budget for 2013-15. This newsletter will showcase portions of the budget that will affect Duplin, Johnston, and Sampson counties. NOTABLE LEGISLATION: SB 306 - An act that would amend capital punishment. This bill was sent to the Committee on Judiciary I. SB 334 - An act that would reverse the Dorothea Dix lease. This bill has passed its third reading in the Senate and has been sent to...
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Soups on
Fifth in a series The month of March is at its end, meaning that the wait until United Way’s “Outstanding in Our Fields” fundraiser is growing shorter, especially for the local chefs in charge of preparing the meal for the much anticipated dinner event. Alfredo Dipinto, owner of Alfredo’s Ristorante Italiano, is one of the chosen chefs contributing to United Way’s fundraiser. Dipinto, who was born in Italy and moved to the United Sta...
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Makin’ the grade
Restaurant Grades Week of March 25, 2013 Gracie’s Grill 97 Las Delicias 96.5 Alfredo’s 96.5 Pizza Inn 94 Cape Fear Chicken & BBQ 95
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Helping victims find their voices
Domestic abuse is all around us. The victims are there. The problem is real. It comes in many forms. It often goes unnoticed because of fear, shame and indifference. And if the silence lasts long enough, the outcome can be a horrifying and lingering experience for the victim, family, and the community. For years, Sarah’s Refuge, Inc., a domestic violence and rape crisis center, has been a beacon of light for those willing to risk everything...
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Butler's third-grade Student of the Month nominees Butler Avenue Elementary School recently selected its April Student of the Month nominees for third grade. They are, back row, from left: Natalie Amaya, Miguel Menendez Amaya, Rece Thompson, Keidy Molina, Jaylen Whitted, and Lilyana Wilson; and front row left, from left: Natalie Connet (BAS Student of the Month), James Bishop, Aylin Reyes, Josefad Guiterrez, and Stephen Platt. (Courtesy photo)
Butler’s third-grade Student of the Month nominees
Courtesy photo Butler Avenue Elementary School recently selected its April Student of the Month nominees for third grade. They are, back row, from left: Natalie Amaya, Miguel Menendez Amaya, Rece Thompson, Keidy Molina, Jaylen Whitted, and Lilyana Wilson; and front row left, from left: Natalie Connet (BAS Student of the Month), James Bishop, Aylin Reyes, Josefad Guiterrez, and Stephen Platt.
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U.S. Congressman Mike McIntrye, co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, says he and dozens of other lawmakers gather each week across the hall from the House chamber to hold prayer, seeking wisdom as they prepare to make decisions impacting the country and its citizens. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
McIntyre stresses need to help rural America
Congress may be away from the nation’s capitol for the Easter break, but Mike McIntyre was far from vacationing last week as he made his way through the Seventh District, including a stop in Sampson, where he held one of several committee meetings, this one focused on business and economic issues. Both, the Democratic congressman said, were vital to rural areas, like Sampson, that make up much of his district. “We don’t want our rural are...
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Laser treatment available for secondary cataracts
We will continue our discussion on all things cataract in recognition of National Cataract Awareness Month by talking about the most common postoperative change that occurs after cataract surgery: the posterior capsule opacity. A posterior capsule opacity is the presence of a hazy membrane (capsule) just behind the intraocular lens implant. This condition is sometimes referred to as “secondary cataract,” although the term is actually a misn...
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Chamber Leadership group visits lawmakers Members of the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce's Adult Leadership participants paid a visit earlier this week to state lawmakers Rep. Larry Bell, Rep. William Brisson and Sen. Brent Jackson during State Government Day in Raleigh. (Courtesy photo)
Chamber Leadership group visits lawmakers
Members of the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce’s Adult Leadership participants paid a visit earlier this week to state lawmakers Rep. Larry Bell, Rep. William Brisson and Sen. Brent Jackson during State Government Day in Raleigh.
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Garland site of huge Easter celebration Monday
GARLAND — An Easter celebration, complete with an egg hunt, children’s activities and concessions, is slated to overtake the Garland Town Park Monday and town officials are expecting an egg-cellent turnout. The festivities for what is being called the Gigantic Easter Egg Hunt and Activity Day will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, the first such event sponsored by Garland’s community N.C. STEP (Small Town Economic Prosperity) team. Sheila Smith, N...
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Clinton resident Jean Howard turns in some old prescription medicines to officer Jessie Kittrell during last week's Operation Medicine Drop. Kittrell was stationed at Clinton Drug, one of two dropoff sites used for the operation. The other was at WalMart. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Residents deliver during Medicine Drop
Clinton residents — and some from outside the city limits — gave up their drugs in droves to Clinton police last week during the fourth annual Operation Medicine Drop, a day set aside once a quarter to allow residents to bring those unused, outdated medications in, preventing accidental poisonings, abuse, theft and a tainted water supply. “It was the most successful one yet,” said police Chief Jay Tilley. “We saw a lot of medicines dropped ...
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Drugs seized, 7 arrested in multi-agency I-95 operation
A multi-agency operation along Interstate 95 late last month and into March has netted law enforcement a laundry list of arrests and seizures that Sampson Sheriff Jimmy Thornton called impressive. Members of the Sampson Criminal Interdiction Team assisted in Winter Operation, a program targeting I-95 because, Thornton said, it was a well-known pipeline for criminal activity, stretching from the northern parts of the United States to the sou...
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Beamans talk arrowheads with Union students Third-grade students at Union Elementary School had a special presentation earlier this month. Cecil Beaman and his wife, Lynda, brought Cecil's massive arrowhead collection to show to the students. They talked about the history of the Native Americans and how arrowheads and spears were used thousands of years ago. They also discussed ways for students to find Native American artifacts and become a collector too. Students were allowed to ask questions and even pick up and touch the different Native American artificats. Native Americans were truly creative and inventive people. Mr. and Mrs. Beaman were both long-time educators in Duplin County. They live in Kenansville. (Courtesy photos)
Beamans talk arrowheads with Union students
Courtesy photo Third-grade students at Union Elementary School had a special presentation earlier this month. Cecil Beaman and his wife, Lynda, brought Cecil’s massive arrowhead collection to show to the students. They talked about the history of the Native Americans and how arrowheads and spears were used thousands of years ago. They also discussed ways for students to find Native American artifacts and become a collector too. Students wer...
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N.C. Highway Patrol trooper J.L. Murphy, right, and First Sgt. R.P. Hooks will be among those scouring the roadways this weekend - and throughout the year - in search of traffic violators. Troop B, which encompasses Sampson County, has a number of upcoming campaigns, including this weekend's Distracted Drive project. (Sherry Matthews/Sampson Independent)
Troopers intent on keeping roadways safe
If you’re traveling over the Easter break, chances are you’ll see Highway Patrol vehicles on the roads with you, troopers behind the wheel scanning the roadways for violators. This weekend, in particular, the focus will be on distracted drivers, but every day, troopers say they’re on the lookout for other violations as well, all in an effort to keep the roadways safe for motorists. To that end, First Sgt. Ricky Hooks, with Troop B, which ...
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Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Devane Street is one of the many neighborhoods in Clinton that has seen 'excellent' participation rates in the city's curbside recycling program thus far. Through just six days of collection, there has already been 19 tons of recycling amassed.
Tons of recyclables already collected
If the initial days of curbside recycling are any indication, the city of Clinton’s revamped program is poised for massive success. After a nearly eight-year hiatus, curbside recycling began anew March 12, with a program developed to collect local recycling from curbs Tuesday through Friday every other week. Collection extended throughout that first week and continued this week. With six full days in the books through Wednesday — four the f...
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