UPHOLDING A SEASONAL DOWNTOWN TRADITION

The Johnston County Board of Education at Tuesday's monthly meeting approved staff recommendations on both:

• Shortened fall semester ending before holidays will continue.

Two options for next year's academic calendar were put before staff, students, and parents for their preferences: Calendar A, which would continue the first semester into January as was done years ago, or Calendar B, which would shorten the fall semester by a couple of weeks so exams could be administered in December.

"Calendar B is favored at every level," reported Patty Whittington, associate superintendent overseeing school performance. It was "highly recommended," she said, especially "for reducing student and staff stress during the holidays."

The board voted 6-1 to approve Calendar B. April Lee dissented, voicing her objection to reducing the number of instructional days in the first semester. The 2026-27 calendar provides for 77 days in the fall semester, 92 in the spring. That's similar to the current year's calendar, which has exams scheduled next week.

"Having balanced semesters is near and dear to my heart; having exams before Christmas break is also near and dear to my heart," said Ms. Lee, a long-time classroom teacher. "Again I'd like to encourage our legislators to give us calendar flexibilities so we can make the best decisions for our students because starting on August 24 is not it."

That's the starting date for the 2026-27 school year. The last day is May 26.

In place for more than a decade is a state law that prohibits most school systems in North Carolina from starting the year's classes any sooner than the Monday closest to August 26. Starting school earlier in August would allow a semester of normal length to be finished before Christmas.

• County supplements will no longer be tied to the state's salaries.

Stymied by the N.C. General Assembly's inability this year to adopt a state budget with customary July 1 pay raises for all school teachers, Johnston's Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a schedule of fixed dollar amounts for raising teacher supplements rather than using percentages of the state's pay scale.

Board Chair Lyn Andrews pointed out that Johnston's teacher supplements are funded by appropriations in the county's budget and need not be dependent on what the state does regarding base salaries.

Johnston's teachers this past year got supplements ranging from 11.5% to 14.5% of their base pay, depending on years of service.

A PowerPoint presentation by staff said "roughly 42%" of Johnston's teachers have not received a pay raise this year because of the state's budgetary stalemate while Johnston's new plan for supplements "creates scales with pay increases every single year over a 30-year career."

The board was told that responses from Johnston's teachers to the step-based plan have been "overwhelmingly positive." (Details of the new supplement plan were not provided to the public during Tuesday's meeting.)

Donovan replaces Tippett as board's vice chair

The board voted 4-3 to move Kevin Donovan into the seat held by Terry Tippett since he joined the board in 2022. Mr. Donovan got affirmative votes from Kay Carroll, April Lee, Jeff Sullivan, and himself. Favoring Mr. Tippett's re-election as vice chair: Board Chair Lyn Andrews, Michelle Antoine, and himself.

Ms. Andrews was re-elected without an opposing vote to her post as board chair during Tuesday's annual organizational session.

Ms. Antoine said she had "concerns with Kevin Donovan given the legal actions and consequences that happened about a year ago under which he took immunity pleas for actions that removed another board member." She was referring to last January's trial of Ronald Johnson, who was disqualified to serve on the board after a jury convicted him on felony and misdemeanor charges of extortion, obstruction of justice, and willful failure to discharge his duties as a public official.

The school board's district seats presently held by Mr. Donovan, Mr. Tippett, and Ms. Antoine are up for election in 2026. All three are finishing up their initial four-year terms and have filed for re-election.

Principal named for the Wilson's Mills High School

It was announced near the close of Tuesday's meeting that Chad Jewett, principal of Thanksgiving Elementary School, will begin duties January 1 as principal at the high school that's currently under construction.

He previously served as assistant principal at West Johnston High and principal at West Smithfield Elementary, McGee's Crossroads Middle, and River Dell Elementary.

Students are scheduled to begin attending classes at the new Wilson's Mills school in August 2026. Thanksgiving Elementary, opened in 2021, lies within the attendance district of the new Wilson's Mills High.
 

A "dusting" of snow is all we got Monday night. The National Weather Service observatory at Johnston Regional Airport recorded "light snow" starting shortly before 6 p.m. and continuing intermittently till just after 11 p.m. as the temperature dropped to 30.2 degrees by then (and down to 28.4 by daybreak). The threat of something worse prompted Johnston County Public Schools to cancel classes Monday and delay Tuesday's opening by two hours.

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In front – Noemi Luna, Hattie Casper, Liz Kennemur, Lilly McDonald, Laura Menjivar; in middle – David Gomez, Sophia Klisiewecz, Anni Noonan, Henry Heinzerling, Corin Crudup, Natalie Silva; in back – Brendan Rayworth, Elliana Cummings, Parker Allen, Padraig Farrell, Grant Brice, Joshua Bridges, Jonathan Cruz. The Smithfield-Selma High School Band will present its Christmas concert Friday at 7 p.m. in McLean Auditorium. Tickets are $10. (SSS Facebook photo)
 

Smithfield's Mayor Andy Moore has received the Central Pines Regional Council's Longleaf Leadership Award.

Selma's Mayor Byron McAllister (shown here with Mr. Moore in a council photo) is the organization's board chair who presented the award during the council's End of Year Celebration.

"Mayor Moore has devoted more than 26 years to public service, guiding Smithfield through a remarkable financial and economic transformation," states the council on its website about its annual Golden Pinecone Awards. "His leadership has supported over 5,000 new homes, major industrial expansion – including a $200-million investment creating more than 1,500 jobs – and some of the lowest utility rates and tax burdens in Johnston County. His commitment to regional collaboration, especially in water and sewer planning and economic development, reinforces his legacy as a visionary leader."

Mayor Moore’s public-service career with the Town of Smithfield spans more than 26 years, beginning as a council member and continuing through his tenure as mayor over the past 10 years.

In accepting the council's award, Mayor Moore credited the town’s progress to the collective efforts of staff, council members past and present, and community partners across Johnston County and the region. “This award represents the work of so many people who love this town,” he said.

The Central Pines Regional Council is successor to the Triangle J Council of Governments, one of 17 regional planning organizations established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1972.
 

  Realtor Susan Lassiter has what it takes to sell Smithfield  

• Licensed real estate agent since 1992
• Real estate broker since 2001
• Served on Smithfield Town Council for 8 years
• Past president, Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce
• Past president, Downtown Smithfield Development Corp.
• Past president, Johnston County Arts Council
• Past president, Rotary Club of Smithfield
SUSAN LASSITER  • Long & Foster Real Estate  • 919-669-9235

So far, we have contests in local and district races for one county commissioner seat, for sheriff, for a seat in the N.C. House of Representatives, and our district's seat in the U.S. of Representatives. Here's who had signed up through Wednesday of this week as candidates on ballots for Smithfield-area voters:

For Johnston County Commissioner, District 3
Adam Caldwell (Republican, Benson address)
Michael David Rose (incumbent Republican)
For Johnston County Commissioner, District 5
Patrick Harris (incumbent Republican)
For Johnston County Commissioner, District 7
R.S. (Butch) Lawter Jr. (incumbent Republican)
For Johnston County Board of Education, District 1
Michelle Antoine (incumbent)
For Johnston County Board of Education, District 2
Terry Tippett (incumbent)
For Johnston County Board of Education, District 5
Kevin Donovan (incumbent)
For Sheriff of Johnston County
Roger Steve Bizzell (incumbent Republican)
Randy Ackley (Republican, Clayton address)
For Johnston County Register of Deeds
Craig Olive (incumbent Republican)
For Clerk of Johnston Superior Court
Michelle Creech Ball (incumbent Republican)
For District Attorney
Jason Waller (incumbent Republican)
For District Court Judge, District 12, Seat No. 1
Joy A. Jones (incumbent Republican)
For District Court Judge, District 12, Seat No. 2
Travis N. Wheeler (incumbent Republican)
For District Court Judge, District 12, Seat No. 3
Jason P. Kimble (incumbent Republican)
For N.C. House of Representatives, District 28
Larry C. Strickland (incumbent Republican)
Eric Bowles Sr. (Republican, Benson address)
For N.C. Senate, District 10
Benton Sawrey (incumbent Republican)
Kevin Terrett (Libertarian, Clayton address)
Caitlin Marsh (Republican, Smithfield address)
For U.S. House of Representatives, District 13
Paul Barringer (Democrat, Raleigh address)
Alexander Nicholi (Democrat, Sanford address)

Candidates running statewide for U.S. Senate, N.C. Supreme Court, and N.C. Court of Appeals are on file at the N.C. Board of Elections>

The filing period for candidacy in the 2026 elections is noon Friday, December 19.
The Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
 

 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REPORT 

Last week's result for Johnston's last team in the state playoffs:
(season's record in parenthesis)
CLAYTON 35 (12-2), CARDINAL GIBBONS 32
Victory in 7-A East Regional final sends the Comets to the state championship game at 8 p.m. Friday at UNC's Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. The game is scheduled to be televised on WRDC – over-the-air channel 28, cable channel 10 in this area.

For game summaries and more about high-school teams, visit JoCoSports.com>
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Christmas parade, Cocoa Crawl, Jingle Bell Jubilee

This promises to be the busiest weekend for Downtown Smithfield's Yuletide festivities, starting with the traditional parade down Market Street at 7 p.m. today.
Next up are two new events:
• COCOA CRAWL 5-8 p.m. Friday – Downtown shops and businesses will serve "creative cocoa-inspired" drinks and desserts. Tickets are $20 with proceeds to support Isaiah 117 House. Here's the list of participating places>
• JINGLE BELL JUBILEE 3-8 p.m. Sunday – Caroling at the town's Christmas tree in front of the Courthouse on Third Street, led by local choirs and singers. Food trucks and "festive activities for all ages" will complement the scene.
• Interspersed with those two events are Santa's Workshop open free of charge to children and horse-drawn carriage rides: click here for ticket information>.

Town Council to hear industrial zoning request Tuesday
The Smithfield Town Council will hear a request for more industrial zoning beside US 70 Business West when it meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall. Chris Johnson is requesting Light Industrial zoning for 4.89 acres on the east side of the highway west of Amazon across from the Finley Landing subdivision. A second hearing will be held on preliminary plat approval for a 16-lot townhouse project off Waddell Drive in North Smithfield. VIEW the complete agenda for Tuesday's meeting>

 

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 DEATHS AND FUNERALS 
Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home:

LIBRARY'S NEW COURTYARD AN EYE-CATCHER

Decorated for Christmas, it's basically finished, with furnishings yet to be delivered and its name still under consideration from nominations submitted to the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. A key element kept intact within the redesigned space is "The Reader" (visible on the right), a bronze sculpture by the late Frank Creech. Once fully equipped, it will be a park for active as well as passive recreation. It was designed by Smithfield landscape architect Clayton Narron.

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Downtown making progress despite traffic issues

Let's face it: Market Street's traffic is the biggest impediment in the way of fully revitalizing Downtown Smithfield. It's a moving barrier to pedestrian safety between the district's southern and northern components, and it discourages many folks from taking the risk of exploring all that Downtown has to offer.

Like it or not, removing Market's on-street parking is a big step toward making things safer – for motorists as well as pedestrians.

A more frightening problem is the steady racing of cars and tracks through the heart of town despite the flashing signs about unsafe speeds. Reducing the green-light timing of traffic signals would help. Adding other traffic-calming devices as NCDOT has suggested would complement that move.

But all is not gloom and doom for Downtown Smithfield. The proposed conversion of the Howell Theatre building into a Performing Arts Center is a big step toward the business district's revival. And let's not underestimate the boost from recently added amenities: the much-improved Neuse River Amphitheater, the revamped library courtyard, stunning historical murals, and other aesthetic improvements.

What we need now are more merchants willing to bring their wares and services into our central business district. Addressing parking concerns is at the top of list for that just now, and NCDOT has offered some suggestions, including one-way street pairs with angled parking on Second and Third.

What about a parking deck? That's an expensive proposition that ought to be the responsibility of the county, or perhaps the state – not the town's – since judicial activities at the Courthouse appear to be the cause of weekday parking overloads. 
 

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