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| PUBLISHED ONLINE JANUARY 16, 2020 • VOL. 2, NO. 3 | ||||
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| Interim Superintendent Causby quits; school board turns to task of saving jobs In a move that caught school officials by surprise, Interim Superintendent of Johnston County Schools Jim Causby abruptly resigned last Friday, setting off a series of weekend meetings that resulted in the appointment of Ben Williams as the interim CEO and pledges from the Board of Education and County Commissioners to work out a budget resolution to protect classroom-related jobs, especially teaching positions, that directly impact Johnston's 37,000-plus students.
Before his resignation last week, Dr. Causby put out a warning that the school board's current budget shortfall could result in the elimination of 480 undesignated jobs within Johnston County's schools as early as this March. That prompted an "emergency meeting" last Friday of the school board's Finance Committee --- made up of Teresa Grant, Ronald Johnson, and Mike Wooten --- to develop "a plan of action that will prevent Johnston County Schools from enacting a reduction in force," according to a statement released by the Central Office. Then, on Sunday, School Board Chairman Todd Sutton along with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Wooten met with County Manager Rick Hester and Commissioner Jeff Carver "to discuss supplemental funding to protect classroom teachers, teaching assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and other staff essential to the day-to-day operations of Johnston County Public Schools," according to the Central Office. Mr. Sutton designated Mr. Johnson "to act as the (school board's) liaison to the County Commissioners to discuss obtaining supplemental funding and address the budget shortfall" --- which at last report was just under $8.9 million. "We are optimistic that a resolution will be reached in the next 14 days," declared the Central Office statement, which was released on Monday of this week.
Lurking in the background are allegations of mismanaged funds, conflict of interest, and sexual harassment leveled by Mr. Johnson against high-ranking school officials over the past several months. That followed the turmoil that arose last summer when Superintendent Ross Renfrow removed Clayton High School's Principal Bennett Jones from his position without explanation --- a move that prompted an outcry from the Clayton community and Mr. Renfrow's unplanned "retirement" in late August. Dr. Causby was employed as interim superintendent in early September and agreed at the time to stay on the job through June 30 if need be, pending the school board's recruitment of a new full-time superintendent. Dr. Causby had served as Johnston's superintendent 10 years --- from January 1994 through December 2003. At Tuesday's monthly meeting of the Board of Education, Chairman Todd Sutton announced that former Superintendent Ed Croom has offered his services as "a non-compensated financial consultant" to help avert a budgetary crisis. Mr. Croom served as superintendent here from March 2009 through February 2016. In addition, the board voted without dissent to authorize a "wellness audit" to go back over the school system's finances in detail to identify what needs to be fixed. Who will do that work was not determined at Tuesday's session. READ MORE from Tuesday's monthly school board meeting> |
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| Smithfield Council again postpones
acting on manager's request for police pay hike The Town Council met in extra session Wednesday night to take up several items postponed from last week's lengthy monthly meeting. The biggest was Town Manager Mike Scott's recommendation for an immediate increase in police salaries to combat a recent loss of officers to nearby towns that pay more than Smithfield. But there was no discussion of police pay Wednesday as the council spent the evening talking about two other matters: (1) a comprehensive land-use plan for the town that has been months in the making and (2) suggestions for enhancing Smithfield's parks and recreation facilities.  Mr. Scott last week urged the
council to raise police pay in the middle of the current
budget year to stem the flight of officers to other
towns, especially Knightdale in neighboring Wake County.
He presented a revised salary schedule for Smithfield's
Police Department that would raise starting pay from
$39,600 to $45,540 along with higher pay for all other
police positions proportionately.At last week's meeting, council members expressed support for Mr. Scott's recommendation yet postponed approval because of concerns about its impact on employees in other town departments. Showing little interest in taking up the matter on Wednesday, the council put off further discussion till their next meeting Feb. 4. READ MORE about the police-pay issue on the OBSERVATIONS page> $25,000 GIFT DIRECTED TO FIXING UP OLD LEGION HUT Town Manager Scott disclosed during Wednesday's discussion about park improvements that a gift of $25,000 from an unnamed donor was received by the town last month --- to be used to fix up the old Legion Hut on Front Street. He said an immediate use of the money would be to employ an architect to evaluate the building's condition and recommend improvements. And he indicated the donor may contribute half the cost of whatever upgrades are done, up to a total expense of $250,000. Councilman Travis Scott cautioned against any changes to the building that would undermine its current tenant, the Neuse Little Theatre, which has spent its own money to improve the old hut's interior over the years. "We need to support that," he said. "They're a fantastic group of people." The council took no action Wednesday regarding the proposed Legion Hut project. FIRST STEP TAKEN TOWARD FIXING UP AMPHITHEATER Town Manager Scott's announcement of the $25,000 gift came during a larger discussion about park improvements, including what to do about the Neuse River Amphitheater in need of immediate repairs. Parks & Recreation Director Gary Johnson told the council a contractor estimates fixes to the roof, stage, and seating area would cost about $125,000. Add to that better lighting and steps and handicapped access and the project's total cost could be $200,000 to $250,000, Mr. Johnson said. Before the town proceeds with any of that, advised Town Manager Scott, it needs to undertake a federally mandated "no-rise" study required of public projects that could raise flood levels in the nearby Neuse River. In response, the council voted without dissent to spend $6,000 from Smithfield's hotel-room tax proceeds to do the study. EDITOR'S NOTE: A report on Wednesday's lengthy discussion about specific elements of the proposed land-use plan will appear in next week's Sun. The complete plan, yet to be finalized, is posted on the town's website> |
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| Triangle East Chamber's reach grows with
Cleveland Chamber, Town of Archer Lodge  One year after its establishment as
successor to the Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of
Commerce, the Triangle East Chamber has added two more
communities to its roster: the Greater Cleveland Chamber
of Commerce and the Town of Archer Lodge. That brings
the total to eight after starting out a year ago with
the Smithfield-Selma Chamber and the towns of Kenly,
Princeton, and Wilson's Mills and later adding the Town
of Micro. "Together we are over 550 members strong,
representing over 20,000 employees and 60,000 family
members," noted Mike Mancuso, who began work here as the
Chamber's CEO two years ago this February. "We are
committed to giving (our members) a strong voice and a
platform to help you Connect, Grow, and Prosper," he
said in announcing the additional Chamber allies.Meanwhile, the Triangle East Chamber is making preparations for a 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Smithfield-Selma Chamber that came about with the merger in 1970 of separate chambers for those two towns. The gala will be the organization's annual awards banquet, scheduled for Friday, February 21 (instead of the usual late-January date). Nominations are now open to the public for the Chamber's major awards: Citizen of the Year, Small Business Person of the Year, and a Distinguished Citizen for each of the Chamber's participating communities. To submit nominations and to reserve a place at the banquet, visit the Chamber's website> |
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 Jim Earp honored
for serviceto the state's agricultural fairs Jim Earp, founder and chief operator of Smithfield-based Earp Entertainment Services, has received one of the highest honors bestowed each year by the North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs. The association's Holmes/McBride Humanity Award is given to persons who have "made a difference to the entire fair industry in North Carolina." Two such awards are given each year --- one to fair operators, the other to fair support teams like Earp Entertainment. Jim started out as a local "DJ" in 1979 and since then has expanded his enterprise to provide concert sound systems, stage and special-effects lighting, video projection, talent management, and event logistical support, primarily in Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee as well as his home state. One of his early major projects was arranging musical entertainment and setting up staging for Smithfield's inaugural Ham & Yam Festival in 1985 --- a service his business has continued to provide ever since.  Today he heads a crew of 18 that works a
number of agricultural fairs in the Tar Heel State ---
in the counties of Wayne, Robeson, Onslow, Cabarrus,
Lee, Pitt, Cumberland, Chatham and also at Rocky Mount,
Winston-Salem, Wilmington, and Asheville. That's in
addition to events closer to home like Downtown
Smithfield's Fourth of July celebration and its Rhythm
& Brews Concert Series (pictured here) as
well as concerts in Wilson, Rocky Mount, Williamston,
and Deep Creek, to name a few. "I started this business, from scratch, in high school, and other than announcing on the radio for a hot second for fun while in college, I have never held any other job," he wrote in a recent newsletter to his clients. "This company has been my only employment. I love it! It's my life." For more information, visit the Earp Entertainment Services website> |
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 Martin Luther
King holiday MondayIt's a federal holiday, set by Congress for the third Monday in January, which this year falls on the 20th (next Monday). Besides all federal agencies, in North Carolina state, county, and municipal governments are also closed for the day. That means no garbage and trash pickup in Smithfield (normal routes will be run on Wednesday instead). Public schools, banks, and the U.S. Postal Service will also observe the holiday. WHAT'S COMING UP? GROWTH MANAGEMENT PUBLIC MEETING Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the West Johnston High School auditorium. The Johnston County Planning Department will present proposed changes to the county's Land Development Code related to residential development, with time set aside for questions and comments from the public at large. JOHNSTON DEMOCRATS' RECEPTION FOR CANDIDATES Sunday, Jan. 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Gateway Event Center in Clayton. Candidates for several statewide offices as well as local offices are expected to attend. Principal host is the Johnston County Democratic Party. Light refreshments will be served. |
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DEATHS & FUNERALS Each week we post links to obituaries about persons who have died during the past week. We monitor the websites of local funeral homes to compile our list, and we welcome links provided by readers to obituaries of persons with Smithfield connections who have died outside our immediate area.... ZELDA SMITH CORBETT, 81 - died Jan. 12 HILDA KISTLER HUSKEY, 94 - died Jan. 11 DAVID LEE BOGGS, 75 - died Jan. 9 WALTER RALPH (WALT) BIZZELL, 65 - died Jan. 8 ATLAS GLENN (A.G.) WILLOUGHBY JR., 59 - died Jan. 8 STEPHEN WALLACE HALES, 81 - died Dec. 18 |
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THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS  In case it doesn't snow here this winter... With the unusually
mild weather we've had recently, hopes for a snowfall
like this one in Downtown Smithfield in 1993 are
fading away. Or are they? What's that old wives' tale
--- that you can count on snow 7-10 days after it
thunders in the winter? Well, we heard thunder early
this past Monday morning, which means we can look for
snow sometime next week. (Photo from Johnston County Heritage Center)
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"INSIDE" PAGES IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION SPORTS & RECREATION Visit our archives |
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