More than two dozen school bus drivers did not run their routes in Sampson County on Monday, an organized walkout in protest of a state supplement that was approved for teachers and certified staff but not extended — in any form — to others.

Oaths were sworn Monday by local elected officials, who are officially beginning new terms following last month’s election.

This week, Performance Automotive’s owners and employees donated two checks totaling $11,300 to Sampson County Department of Social Services’ Children’s Services Foster Care. Sampson County services 113 foster children. Of those, 106 are children 12 years of age and younger. ‘At Performance we believe in the spirit of Christmas,’ said Performance’s Marketing Director Victoria Rusty Hitzman. ‘We believe, regardless of the circumstance that may have brought these children into the foster care program, Christmas should be a time of joy for all children. We hope this gift of $100 for each and every Sampson County foster child may help to bring joy and good cheer to their Christmas morning.’ Pictured, from left, are: Terry Lee, General Manager of Performance Automotive; Nick Autry, General Manager of Performance Ford; Carlina Simmons, DSS Children’s Services; Danny Holland, General Manager of Performance CDJR; and James Harris, Sales Executive for Performance Ford.

ROSEBORO — Downtown was a buzz with Christmas spirit Thursday as the town came together in celebration for their annual Christmas Tree Lighting event.

With the dawning of December delightful visions of Christmas dance in our heads and verses about the Christian significance in songs and poems will be said. Being still and knowing that Christmas is more about Jesus and His love than about gifts galore and going like an energizer bunny with little time to celebrate the real reason for the season. May these Christian Christmas poems, bless your hearts as the hype of Christmas planning starts.

The Christmas in the City event kicked off on Thursday, with the Clinton Community Christmas Tree Lighting at the ‘Milling Around’ art piece on the corner of College and Main Street. Mayor Lew Starling and Clinton Planning Director Mary Rose oversaw the tree lighting, and Miss North Carolina Karolyn Martin, alongside other queens, helped to kickstart the season. There will be a second night of Christmas in the City on Dec. 8.

A very important verse is given to us in Ephesians 1:3. It says,”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” This is a verse that every Believer should know and understand clearly. Before you were born, God had already blessed you with all spiritual blessings. He had already given you every blessing of the Spirit that you will need in order to have a successful, satisfying Christian life. Spiritual blessings are far more important than material blessings

Heatwave Hair and Tanning Salon, located at 201 Vance St., Clinton, was named the winner of the first annual Christmas in the City decorating contest. Salon owner Natalie Sanderson and Geoffrey Tart posed with the trophy shortly after Heatwave was announced as the winner Thursday night, the first of two nights of Christmas in the City. Clinton Planning Director and Main Street Manager Mary Rose said the contest’s judge was particularly impressed with the detail of the salon’s lighting and decorations, which extended from the interior of the business to the front facade and around the side of the building. Aiding the decorating duties with Sanderson and Tart were Amy Brewer, Mariana Sanderson, Grant Sanderson and Sutton’s Contracting.

(The public reports listed below are provided by the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and the Clinton Police Department.)