Temporary relief
for shutdown's
food-stamp delay

The Johnston Health Foundation opened a "pop up" food-distribution station last Thursday at the Medical Mall when there appeared to be no end in sight to the shutdown of federal services. Among the volunteers assisting were Rotarians John Scovil and Doris Wallace. The 43-day shutdown came to an end with Wednesday night's adoption by Congress of a bill re-starting government operations, including a full year's extension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the current name for the 39-year-old food-stamp program. It's worth noting that Ms. Wallace was volunteering two days after winning election to the Smithfield Town Council. (Photo from Central Johnston Rotary Club's Facebook page)
 

Town poised to adopt baseball-stadium contract
Council agenda identifies funding for $6-million project

The Smithfield Town Council will be asked next week to adopt a 20-year contract with the Wilson Tobs baseball franchise for lease of a stadium to be built by the town at Community Park.

Sources of funding the stadium's $6-million construction budget are made public for the first time in the agenda prepared for Tuesday's council session:

• $2,000,000 from an "Economic Development Fund" (Town Manager Mike Scott said this is an addition to the town's budget coming from General Fund reserves).
• $2,000,000 pledged last month by Johnston's County Commissioners.
• $584,187 from hotel-tax revenue directed to the Town of Smithfield.
• $500,000 supplemental grant from the Johnston County Tourism Authority.
• $365,789 from the town's Bingham Park Fund (Mr, Scott said this is the balance remaining from the town's sale of the old recreation park for construction of the SECU Hospice House – money that must be used for projects at Community Park).
• $300,000 from "park in lieu" funds paid to the town by subdivision developers.
• $250,000 from the town's capital budget for a possible expansion of Town Hall (Mr. Scott said that money was earmarked for architectural plans but "could be moved to the stadium project if funds are not received elsewhere").

The Wilson Tobs is a baseball franchise based at the City of Wilson's "historic Fleming Stadium" since 1939. The city has shifted its baseball investment to construction of a new downtown stadium for Major League Baseball's Carolina Mudcats "farm club." That stadium is to be finished in time for the 2026 season.

Since 1997, the Tobs has fielded an NCAA-sanctioned collegiate-level summer baseball team that competes in the Coastal Plain League.

Under terms of the proposed contract for a new stadium here, the Tobs will make lease payments to the town rising from $1 the first two years to $10,000 in 2028, $12,500 in 2029, and $25,000 for the next five years. After that comes annual percentage increases.

The contract stipulates that the town will control revenue-producing naming rights of the stadium and its field and will be responsible for construction, maintenance, and repairs including lights, the sound system, and electronic scoreboard.

The Tobs will be responsible for maintenance and supplies for the playing surface, bathrooms, dugouts, clubhouse, locker room, concession facilities, and for security at all events managed by the franchise.

Also on Tuesday's Town Council agenda is a contract with Muter Construction, LLC of Zebulon to build the stadium on 3.44 acres beside Buffalo Road at Community Park at a "guaranteed maximum price" of $6,000,000. "The facility should be designed to accommodate approximately 1,500 spectators," reads the construction contract, which sets next October as the stadium's "substantial completion date."
 

   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

Two options offered for 2025-26 school calendar:
mid-term exams before Christmas or in January?

The Johnston County Board of Education this week received two options from the school system's Calendar Committee for the 2025-26 academic term. Before making its choice next month, the board agreed to give the public at large a chance to express a preference for one of the options.

Both proposals would start the school year on August 24 in accordance with state law that requires classes to begin on the Monday closest to August 26. One option would continue the present practice of shortening the first semester so mid-term exams could be conducted before the Christmas holidays. The other would return to a schedule that extended the first semester into January.

The Board of Education intends to adopt the new calendar at its next regularly scheduled meeting on December 9.

Here's a summary of the choices:

 JCPS School Calendar Comparison Chart

VISIT the schools' website where you can register your calendar preference>

Smithfield-Selma High School Principal's List & Honor Roll
For the First Quarter of the 2025-26 academic year>
 

Voter turnout in Smithfield's election unremarkable

Participation by voters in last week's municipal election in Smithfield fell far short of what we've experienced in recent national, state, and county elections. Here are the numbers provided by the Johnston County Board of Elections:

• In the contest for mayor, 1,316 ballots were cast for two candidates. That's just 18.5% of the Town of Smithfield's 7,119 registered voters.
• In District 1 (East Smithfield), 273 of 1,419 registered voters participated in the contest for that district's seat on the Town Council. That's a turnout of 19.2%.
• In District 2 (South Smithfield), 453 of 1,859 registered voters cast ballots for three candidates. That's a turnout of 24.4%.
• In District 3 (North Smithfield), 327 of 2,177 registered voters cast ballots. That's a turnout of 15%.
• In District 4 (West Smithfield), 236 of 1,664 registered voters participated. That's a turnout of 14.2%.

In contrast to those numbers, more than 75% of Johnston County's registered voters cast ballots for President in last year's General Election.
 

David Fulcher (holding award) is flanked by Johnston County Public Health Director Marilyn Pearson, Dillon Fulcher,  Emily Fulcher, Kevin Fulcher, and Johnston County Environmental Health Director Todd Ramsey. (Photo with announcement from Johnston County Public Information Office)

He's in N.C.'s "Water Protection Hall of Fame"

David Fulcher, an environmental health specialist with Johnston County’s Division of Environmental Health, has been inducted into the Steve Steinbeck Onsite Water Protection Hall of Fame. Mr. Fulcher and his staff site, design, permit, and inspect groundwater wells and septic systems for the county.

The Hall of Fame honor recognizes Mr. Fulcher’s “career of exemplary service for environmental protection and public health in the State of North Carolina.” The N.C. Onsite Water Protection Conference presents the award each year. It's named for Steve Steinbeck, who wrote the state's first set of rules for septic systems.

Mr. Fulcher has been an environmental health specialist for 26 years, starting his Johnston County career right out of college. In 2017, he was promoted to supervisor. In that role, he manages the department’s daily wastewater and well operations. For the past eight years, he has organized the annual Johnston County Wastewater Conference, which typically draws hundreds of participants.

Mr. Fulcher lives in Smithfield with his wife, Emily, and their sons, Kevin and Dillon. He enjoys boating and is active in his church, Hopewell Original Free Will Baptist.
 

IF IT'S REALLY CLEAN,
IT'S PARRISH CLEAN!
919-934-5898
www.parrishclean.com

 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REPORT 
Last Friday's playoff results for Johnston County's teams:
(season's records in parenthesis)
NORTH JOHNSTON 42 (6-5), WASHINGTON 35
North Johnston advances to second round of 4-A state playoffs
PRINCETON 54 (7-4), BEDDINGFIELD 18
Princeton advances to second round of 3-A state playoffs
SOUTH JOHNSTON 47 (8-3), VANCE COUNTY 7
South Johnston advances to second round of 6-A state playoffs
ROSEWOOD 52, AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 26 (4-7)
WEST BRUNSWICK 35, WEST JOHNSTON 6 (4-7)
CLAYTON (8-2) & CLEVELAND (9-1) HAD FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF BYES
For game summaries and schedules, visit JoCoSports.com>
 

What a classic scene this is from a recent Story Time session for youngsters and parents at the Public Library in Downtown Smithfield. (PLJCS photo)

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Fall Book Sale at Public Library now through Saturday
Friends of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield are conducting the sale this week in the library's second-floor meeting room till 7 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For sale is "a wide selection of gently used books," with all proceeds going for the library's various programs and services. On Saturday, buyers may fill a single bag with any books of their choosing and pay just $15 for the contents.

Smithfield-Selma High School's Craft Fair Saturday
The annual event at SSS is a fund-raiser to help support students who plan to attend the Educators Rising National Conference. "Handmade crafts and delicious treats" will be sold from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Saturday inside the school's main gymnasium. Admission is free of charge.

County Commissioners revisit Clayton High loan Monday
Johnston's County Commissioners will consider approval of a loan mechanism for rebuilding Clayton High School during the board's meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Courthouse. Also on the agenda is a "feasibility study" for the Johnston County Livestock Arena. VIEW the complete agenda>

Town Council gets contracts Tuesday for stadium, streets
Tuesday's agenda for the Smithfield Town Council includes approval of contracts for construction of the baseball stadium at Community Park and for resurfacing portions of more than 20 streets throughout town. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall beside South Fourth Street. VIEW the complete agenda>
 

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