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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE JANUARY 30, 2020 • VOL. 2,
NO. 5 |
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Among those taking part in Monday's discussion
were: (left to right) in front --- Travis Holder,
Antonio Blake, Duran Copeland, Billy Lassiter, Julio
Williams, Antoin Whidbee; in back --- Kennon
Crumpler and Marlon Lee.
(Photo from Susan Lassiter)
"I'M COMMITTED"
Community leaders, mostly black men,
rally to seek an end to young lives wasted
The recent murder of a former Smithfield-Selma High
School athlete was but the latest in a series of
incidents that prompted a gathering here Monday
evening to start figuring out how to put a stop to the
wasting of young lives whose promising futures have
been lost.
Its organizers are running under the banner "I'm
Committed."
"How did I fail this kid?" asked Antoin Whidbee,
referring to Malik Shepherd, the former SSS student
shot to death earlier this month just hours before
returning to college. "Self-blame... extreme anger...
I was very mad," Mr. Whidbee recalled. "He had told me
how excited he was to be transferring to Barton
College.... He was so happy to be back home and now
he's dead."
"He's one of several kids who have lost their way,"
Mr. Whidbee continued. "What can we do?" He said the
task of those gathered Monday is to "fill some holes
even the best parents can't plug."
Most of those who took part in the discussion are
either teachers or volunteers in Johnston's public
schools. "We've got kids hurting every day," said
Randy Parker, a teacher at the Innovation Academy for
promising students in grades 6-8. Their problems need
addressing even earlier in their lives, he said.
Duran Copeland confessed that he had been in deep
trouble in his younger days (he's now in his early
30s). "I"ve been shot... homeless... addicted to
drugs... but I overcame it," he said.
"Nobody wants to lose," Mr. Copeland continued. "We've
got to figure out a way for these kids to feel like
they're winning.... They just want to be a part of
something that's not corny" --- something that's
"cool."
Wrapping up the evening's discussion, Mr. Whidbee said
he plans to e-mail everyone present and others who are
interested but couldn't attend "and have folks shoot
back their ideas." From that the "I'm Committed"
organizers will get people together according to
particular interests to "address certain needs," Mr.
Whidbee said.
Meanwhile, anyone else can take part by visiting the
group on Facebook and joining the exchange of ideas. Here's
the link to the "I'm Committed" page>
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THE SSS DENMARK CONNECTION
Standing behind
visiting exchange students from Denmark are members
of the SSS "family" who hosted them: (left to right)
Therese Polito, Omaira Plount, Kaitlyn Chandler,
Logan Bober, Zoe Howcroft, Owen Gardner, Alycen
Barbeau, Tyler Lewis, Thomas Smith, Jason Menjivar,
Cynthia Hutchings, and Principal David Allen.
Annual
Cupid's Craft and Vendor Fair at SSS raises money
to send International Baccalaureate students
to Denmark
Story
& photo from SSS
On Saturday, February 8
Smithfield-Selma High School will hold its annual
Cupid's Craft and Vendor Fair in the SSS gymnasium from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Public admission is free of charge.
Shoppers will be able to browse and purchase from over
50 vendors. A large variety of items will be available
such as home decor, jewelry, clothes and accessories,
beauty products, cooking supplies, decals, and other
unique gift items. Shoppers may also purchase $1 raffle
tickets for an opportunity to win prizes.
All proceeds obtained through vendor fees are directly
applied toward the airfares of SSS International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) students when they
travel to Denmark. This travel is part of SSS's Denmark
Student Exchange Program in which IB students stay with
host families and learn more about the educational
system and culture of Denmark. This partnership has
existed for over 10 years with over 300 participating
students and teachers.
Says SSS IB student Anna Makey: "I went to Denmark last
year and it was definitely an experience I'll never
forget. It was super interesting to learn how people the
same age as me live their lives. It was so much fun, and
now I have friends across the world that I'll have for a
lifetime."
READ a report from SSS about
its IB program, launched in 2013>
VIEW
the latest Principal's List and Honor Roll of SSS
students>
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JOHN
P. (JACK) O'HALE
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HISTORY
REPAIRED
Grantham Pump house
rebuilt with namesake donor's gift
Reconstruction
of the Grantham Pump house was a project of
the Smithfield Appearance Commission led by
Peggy Scott (left) and Robin Cook, its chair
and vice chair.
A photograph c.1901 of the Grantham house
before the pump was installed at the corner
of S. Fourth and Woodall streets. The
stately house was destroyed by fire in the
mid-1980s.
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A gift from former Smithfieldian Lena
Parks supplemented by funds from the town's Appearance
Commission brought about the recent restoration of the
historic Grantham Pump house.
The original pump was installed in 1902 at the request
of Nuit Bridges Grantham and his wife Lena Rose, who had
moved into their new home at the corner of South Fourth
and Woodall streets in the neighborhood that became
known as "Brooklyn."
Lena Parks is the granddaughter of those early 20th
Century residents.
The Grantham Pump was one of several hooked to wells
that were put in place throughout town before
Smithfield's waterworks went into service in 1913.
The original pump wasn't covered by the handsome shelter
we see today. That was added in 1976 as Smithfield
prepared for its Bicentennial celebration the following
year.
Smithfield architect Harry McGee drew the plans for the
pump house pro bono.
The recent project was spearheaded by Robin Cook of the
Appearance Commission who remembered a time when the
pump was in service for any and all comers to draw water
for free. My Old House Construction of Smithfield did
the rebuilding, which cost $3,800.
When the pump house was added in 1976, the town rigged
up an electric-powered device that took the place of the
original hand pump. It remained in service for more than
20 years but eventually fell into disrepair as fewer
folks sought to use it.
Today's Grantham Pump is inoperable, but a handsome
bright-red pump adorns the historic landmark as a
reminder of days gone by.
Riverside
Cemetery wall reconstructed after car crash
A portion of the historic cemetery's wall that was
knocked down by a wayward vehicle in October has been
rebuilt. The driver of the stolen car that hit the wall
has not been identified so there's no insurance to cover
the damage, which cost the town $5,800 to fix. Jason Ray
McKeel of Dunn did the masonry work. He had previously
built the wall across the street for the newest section
of the cemetery. The damaged
wall is near the spot where the public cemetery was
established soon after the Town of Smithfield's founding
in 1777.
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Jack
O'Hale gets top Bar Association Award
for his work as a criminal defense attorney
Smithfield attorney Jack O'Hale has
received the N.C. Bar Association's Wade M. Smith Award
that's given annually to a criminal defense attorney
"who exemplifies the highest ideals of the profession."
The award is named for Wade Smith of Raleigh, recognized
as one of the all-time giants among criminal defense
attorneys across North Carolina. It's one of the top two
awards given annually by the Bar Association.
Mr. O'Hale, first licensed to practice law in the state
in 1975, has been "board certified" in state and federal
criminal law since 1993. He has been recognized by his
peers as one of the best lawyers in the nation since
1995, and for the past four years has been ranked by the
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as one
of the best in the U.S.A.
As a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers,
Mr. O'Hale has tried more than 300 jury trials and
thousands of non-jury and administrative trials during
his 44-year career as an attorney.
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Benton
Sawrey named law firm partner;
elected Downtown Development president
 Narron
Wenzel P.A. of Smithfield announced this week that
Benton G. Sawrey has been promoted to Partner.
According to the announcement, Mr.
Sawrey concentrates his practice in civil litigation
and business transactions. Additionally, he has
experience in fiduciary and corporate litigation,
having brought and defended actions on behalf of
several clients in contested estates.
A native of Smithfield, Benton
attended Smithfield-Selma High School and is a
third-generation graduate of N.C. State University
where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political
science. He attended the University of South
Carolina School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief
of the South Carolina Journal of International Law
& Business.
Mr. Sawrey has been named a "Super
Lawyers Rising Star" in 2019 and 2020.
He was recently elected president
of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation's
Board of Directors. The corporation, funded by the
Town of Smithfield and an extra tax on Downtown
property owners, spearheads efforts to market and
revitalize the central business district.
LEARN MORE about the Narron Wenzel
law firm on its website>
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LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AGENDAS
Johnston
County Board of Commissioners
10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Monday, February
3
Johnston County Courthouse, 207 E. Market Street,
Smithfield
• At the morning session, the
board will receive the annual Audit Report for
the County of Johnston, covering fiscal year 2018-19
that ended June 30.
• At the evening session the board will be asked to adopt a
resolution declaring Johnston to be a "sanctuary
county" dedicated to protecting gun rights under
the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment.
• Several public hearings on land-use rezonings and
permits will be conducted Monday evening, including a
request from Martin Marietta to allow
round-the-clock operations at its rock quarry near
South Johnston High School (that petition was
discussed at length earlier this month but tabled till
next week's session). The other hearings involve
requests for land-use changes in Cleveland, Pleasant
Grove, Elevation, and Bentonville townships.
View the full agendas for both of
Monday's sessions>
Smithfield Town Council
7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 4
Town Hall, 350 E. Market Street, Smithfield
Among items on the agenda:
• Approval of a new Town Plan addressing
land uses and transportation projects (it's an extensive
document discussed at length by the council the past two
months).
• Designation
of Smithfield as a "Tree City."
• Purchase of 80 acres south of NC 210 in
West Smithfield for a recreation park.
• Discussion
of proposed new ordinances on dilapidated buildings
and tire storage.
• Removal of old roadside signs throughout town
now that new "wayfinding" signs have been erected.
View the full agenda with supporting
documents>
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| 7th Street
Marketplace & The
Chicken Barn |
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| Market Street (US 70
Business) at 7th Street, Downtown Smithfield |
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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....
GRACE WATSON WHITE, 101 - died
Jan. 27
DONALD EARL DAVENPORT, 75 - died
Jan. 27
REV. LARRY RICHARD (RICKY) BYRD, 72
- died Jan. 26
WILBERT FRANKLIN MASSEY JR., 70
- died Jan. 24
WILBUR THOMAS MASSENGILL SR., 84
- died Jan. 23
ALICE F. McDONALD SANDERS, 71
- died Jan. 23
DEACON WILLIE MARSHALL BARBER, 87
- died Jan. 23
DONALD HAYNES PARRISH JR., 78 -
died Jan. 22
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Photo from Junior
Women's League
Pictured: (left
to right) Shannon Poore, Catherine Webster,
Laura Hill, Sarah Edwards, Dana Satterfield,
Dana Peterson, My Kid's Club Executive Director
Alison Gammage, Lee Byrd, and Kelly Blanchard.
"Touch-A-Truck"
raised $10,000 for My Kid's Club
The Junior Women's League of Smithfield
has presented a check for $10,000 to My Kid's Club ---
funds raised by the League's 4th annual "Touch-A-Truck"
event this past November. "Thanks to the generous
support of our sponsors and the individuals and
businesses who provided trucks, this year's
Touch-A-Truck was the most successful to date," said
Dana Satterfield, who chaired the event. The 5th annual
event, she noted, will be held this year on Saturday,
November 7.
To learn more about My Kid's Club, visit
its website>
WHAT'S COMING
UP?
NEW ART EXHIBIT AT THE
FRANK CREECH GALLERY
Opening reception next Thursday,
Feb. 6 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the
STEAM Building at Johnston Community
College (rain date Sunday, Feb. 9,
3-4:30). Featured artists are Sue
Avera and Michelle
Fields-Laughinghouse. Free of
admission charge, the Frank Creech
Gallery's regular public hours are
10 to 3 Saturdays and 1 to 5
Sundays.
CUPID'S CRAFT & VENDOR FAIR AT
SSS
Saturday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. in the gymnasium at
Smithfield-Selma High School. A
fund-raiser for the school's Denmark
Student Exchange Program, the fair
will include a variety of items for
sale: home
decor, jewelry, clothes and
accessories, beauty products,
cooking supplies, decals, and
other unique gift items. Admission
for shoppers will be free of
charge.
VALENTINE'S
GALA TO
BENEFIT HARBOR
Saturday, Feb.
8 at The Farm
at 42, Lynch
Road north of
Selma, 7 to 11
p.m.
This
fund-raiser
for the agency
that shelters
victims of
domestic
violence will
feature the
North Tower
Band, buffet
dinner, and
auction.
Tickets are
$85 a person
and must be
purchased by
Feb. 1.
"Cocktail /
Black Tie"
attire
optional. For
more
information,
phone Harbor
at
919-938-3566
or e-mail info@harborshelter.org.
UNC "CLEF
HANGERS"
COMING TO
FIRST BAPTIST
Wednesday,
Feb. 12 at
6:30 p.m. The
"Clef Hangers"
are an
acapella men's
group from
UNC-Chapel
Hill that has
"traveled much
of the world,"
according to
Lee Colbert,
pastor of
Smithfield's
First Baptist
Church on
South Fourth
Street.
Admission to
the concert
will be free
of charge.
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