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Salemburg was abuzz with Christmas cheer this past Saturday as people from around the county gathered at the Town Hall for this year’s Small Town Christmas event.

Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, seated left, filed for reelection on Monday, accompanied by his wife, Betsy, and their son, Brian. Top, from left: Sampson Register of Deeds Anita Lane, Clinton City Councilman Daniel Ruggles, Brian Thornton, Sampson County Commissioner Jerol Kivett and Sampson Republican Party chair Telia Kivett look on.

Thornton files for reelection

CLINTON — Early afternoon Monday longtime Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton filed for reelection, seeking his sixth term. He is in his 19th year.

Family tradition: boy catching ball is Bill, the son of Arnold Autry, and the great nephew of Charlie Nixon. Charlie got Arnold involved in baseball, who later grew up and got his own son, Bill, involved in the game.
Fred Burgess|The Sampson Independent, 1977

Pearl Harbor, baseball and charity

Former Autryville area resident Charlie Ford Nixon was born in Alabama in 1920 and spent his childhood growing up in Georgia. He came from humble beginnings and lived through the Great Depression.

Festivities coming to Harrells

HARRELLS — A favorite holiday treat will be coming back to Harrells this year in the “Singing around the tree.”

Lisa Henderson and Brenda Smith from Piney Green Baptist Church visit Garland Senior Center and director Marie Faircloth.

Greetings readers! Hope y’all had a bountiful Thanksgiving filled with blessings and love. I sure did enjoy my holiday and especially time with my newest Grandbaby. To all my friends and family that I didn’t have the chance to see, you all are always in my thoughts and prayers. I love y’all!

Mary Brown gave a scripture reading during the World AIDS Day Observance.
Michael B. Hardison | Sampson Independent

World AIDS Day: ‘We need to remember’

On Wednesday, a small but important gathering was held on the steps of the courthouse in observance of World AIDS Day, organized by the Sampson County HIV/AIDS Task Force. The purpose was to remember and pray for those who suffer and lost their battle to the deadly disease.

A Unity Prayer was given by the Rev. Bobby Simmons, Sr..
Emily M. Williams | Sampson Independent

Garland glimmers for season

GARLAND — Garland has been a busy town the last few days, with the community gathering in support for the holidays and the upcoming year.

Clinton Mayor Lew Starling speaks to attendees just before the Christmas tree lighting.
Michael B. Hardison | Sampson Independent

Christmas time in the City

CLINTON — Members of the community got to enjoy the beginnings of Christmas merriment on Thursday as the first night of three for this year’s annual Christmas in the City event kicked off.

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Crimewatch

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

Folks gathered for a reception for the Town of Garland incoming and outgoing board.
Emily M. Williams | Sampson Independent

Garland gets new leadership

GARLAND — The Board of Commissioners for the Town of Garland saw a restructuring Thursday night as incoming folks took the oath of office, including the election of the town’s youngest ever mayor.

At the Domestic Violence Vigil, then Lt. Adrian Mathews, far right, shared information. Mathews is now Assistant Chief as Anthony Davis is now the Chief. Law enforcement shared some insight into a plight that is taking lives, tearing families apart, and causing generational trauma: domestic violence. Pictured, from left, are: Capt. Eric Pope, First Sgt. Wayne Dienhart, and Lt. Adrian Mathews.

Mathews tapped for assistant PD chief

December 2, 2021 gpsAdmin2 0

CLINTON — Just a few months ago, the City of Clinton was going on a hunt for a new police chief, and after a rigorous selection process the then-Assistant Chief Anthony Davis was chosen, leaving the Assistant Chief position vacant. That post has now been filled by Adrian Mathews.

North Carolina invests in trails

December 2, 2021 gpsAdmin2 0

The General Assembly’s final budget, recently approved by the NC Senate and signed by Governor Roy Cooper, includes $29.25 million in nonrecurring funds in Fiscal Year 2021-22 for the Complete the Trails Fund, marking the first time North Carolina has made a significant direct investment in trails.