The County of Sampson has terminated its contract with Clinton-Sampson Rescue/EMS, a longstanding agency whose volunteer personnel used to be a mainstay at emergency situations in and around Clinton. As the years have gone on, the roster has become older and less active, and calls have gone unanswered, which culminated in Monday’s decision by county leaders to discontinue funding.

The County of Sampson has terminated its contract with Clinton-Sampson Rescue/EMS, a longstanding agency whose volunteer personnel used to be a mainstay at emergency situations in and around Clinton. As the years have gone on, the roster has become older and less active, and calls have gone unanswered, which culminated in Monday’s decision by county leaders to discontinue funding.

A public hearing was held Monday on Sampson County’s recommended 2023-24 budget, which sets aside millions of dollars for anticipated raised and benefits for employees and includes a number of fee increases that seek to boost revenues in lieu of a tax hike.

Clinton Police Chief Anthony Davis has been appointed to the Police Chiefs Advisory Committee of North Carolina, joining a group of only 12 chiefs across the state representing small towns and big cities alike.

The weather has begun to take a turn for the better for the farmers in Sampson County. Fields were dry last week and some crops that I saw were under stress. Some farmers were forced to stop planting due to a lack of moisture and the cooler temperatures have not helped either. After the rains over the holiday weekend, soil moisture has been restored and planting has resumed throughout most of the county. The temperature also seems to be trending upwards, hopefully creating a recipe for crop growth heading into June. This will also provide more favorable conditions for cotton planting as soil temperatures rise.

Utility rates and fees will increase under the recommended 2023-24 City of Clinton budget, which also includes cost of living adjustments and merit pay hikes for employees. The tax rate is poised to remain the same.

Two Sampson County students — one from the Early College, the other from Hobbton High — have been named recipients of the Edith Bradshaw Scholarship, the 21st year the financial honor has been awarded.

To honor the many that don the nurses uniform each year, they are celebrated for their tireless efforts with National Nurses Week. To show support for Sampson County’s own, the International Minute Press did something special for Sampson Regional Medical Center’s nurses.

The Medical Home model is designed around patient needs and aims to improve access to care (e.g. through stretched office hours and improved communication between providers and patients via email and telephone), increase care coordination and enhance overall quality, while simultaneously reducing costs.