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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE JUNE 25, 2020 • VOL. 2,
NO. 33 |
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Stories and photos by Wingate Lassiter unless otherwise noted (click highlighted link to e-mail the editor) |
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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 1,248
cases, up 883 in 4 weeks;
Governor orders face coverings The County of Johnston reported Wednesday afternoon that the number of coronavirus cases here has jumped to 1,248 --- an increase of 276 during the past week and 883 above the number of cases reported four weeks ago. At the same time, deaths and hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 have not surged in Johnston County. But those numbers for the state as a whole continue to rise along with case totals, alarming state as well as federal health officials. As a result, Governor Roy Cooper on Wednesday ordered the wearing of face masks in public places. Effective at 5 p.m. Friday, the order applies to customers inside retail businesses, restaurant customers when not at their tables, riders of public or private transportation regulated by the state, workers in "high-density occupational settings" (manufacturing plants, construction sites, farming operations), and more.... READ the entire text of the Governor's latest order at nc.gov> The Governor's order follows a separate appeal (but not an order) from County of Johnston officials this past week encouraging folks to wear face masks: "With the increase of positive cases of COVID-19 in our county, it is extremely important for us to remain vigilant in our efforts to limit the spread of this virus," said County Commissioners' Chairman Ted Godwin. "Many of our positive cases are from those who are asymptomatic, which results in unknowingly spreading the virus. Wearing a face covering, physically distancing oneself from others, and utilizing good hygiene habits are all critical steps in reducing the virus's impact on public health." The County of Johnston released the following data at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: • 1,248 confirmed cases; 29 deaths, 23 hospitalized, 1,196 at home. • 52% of cases female (654); 48% male (594 cases). • Cases by age: 182 ages 0-17; 137 18-24; 537 25-49; 245 50-64; 147 age 65+. • Cases by race: 790 white, 163 black, 184 other, 111 unknown (not reported). • Cases by ethnicity: 659 Hispanic, 462 non-Hispanic, 127 unknown. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources provides another number that indicates where outbreaks are concentrated: cases per 10,000 residents. For Johnston County, that number is 60, compared to 36 in adjacent Wake, 40 in Harnett and Nash, 78 in Wilson County, 138 in Wayne (Goldsboro), and 146 in Sampson. The largest number in the state is Duplin County's 233 cases per 10,000 residents --- apparently related to a concentration of seasonal farm workers there. REMINDER: The county has a hotline phone number for COVID-19 information: 919-209-8310 available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
 Coronavirus testing has been going on every Tuesday morning in a parking lot outside the Johnston County Health Department beside the hospital. Local residents at high risk for COVID-19 are asked to call 919-989-5202 for screening to see if you qualify and to schedule an appointment. (Health Department photo) WHY WE DON'T HAVE LOCAL TESTING NUMBERS This explanation comes from Johnston County Public Information Officer Lu Hickey: "The number of those being tested in Johnston County has not been provided based on our inability to provide accurate numbers. Some labs only send positive test results to the state; therefore, we do not have the actual number of those tested." JOHNSTON'S RETAIL SALES DOWN 8.4% IN MARCH The March 2020 report from the N.C. Department of Commerce shows a decline of 8.4% in Johnston County retail sales from March a year ago. March 2019 sales: $186,503,010; March 2020 sales: $170,754,375 --- a drop exceeding $15.7 million. As a result, state and local sales taxes collected in Johnston declined from $8,877,031 in March 2019 to $8,118,006 in March 2020. The next Department of Revenue report --- for April --- should give a clearer picture of the coronavirus shutdown's impact on retail sales since temporary store closings ordered by the Governor didn't take place till mid-March. Johnston's county and municipal governments will be closely watching these reports in the months just ahead to see if revenue losses match what they're anticipating in their newly adopted budgets.  Shoppers have returned in what appears to be the norm for the summer travel season at Carolina Premium Outlets beside I-95 at Smithfield. Parking lots were filling up fast while traffic was robust along Market Street through Downtown Smithfield last Saturday afternoon. |
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Chamber of Commerce marks 50th anniversary with a virtual banquet Originally scheduled for February but twice postponed --- once because of the weather, a month later because of the coronavirus outbreak --- the annual banquet of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce took place online last Thursday evening as a Zoom meeting. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the merged Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce. That name was changed last year to Triangle East as the organization embraced several other communities, including the towns of Archer Lodge, Kenly, Micro, Pine Level, Princeton,and Wilson's Mills plus a chamber in unincorporated Cleveland Township. In a videotaped message for the virtual celebration, Graham Neville, the Chamber's board chair in 1970, highlighted a couple of projects that were launched that first year: advocacy of countywide toll-free telephone service and the widening of US 301 between Smithfield and Selma (see related historical photo below).
• Citizen of the Year --- Sol Halliburton, director of the Johnston Health Foundation. • Distinguished Citizens --- Emery Ashley, Smithfield; Charles & Donna Reid, Selma; Janie Holland, Kenly; Matthew Corbett, Princeton; David McGowen, Wilson's Mills. • Jimmy Creech Small Business Person of the Year --- Spook Joyner of Selma's American Music Jubilee. Internal Chamber honors went to David Jackson as Ambassador of the Year and Keith Dimsdale, recipient of the Howard Best Award for outstanding service as a board member. 2019 Chamber Board Chair Eric Brownlee relinquished his position to Jeffrey Navaro. New directors are April Culver, Aracely El Bascha, Mike Fleming, Mike Gordon, Steven Hicks, Lisa Holland, Jeff Holt, Will Lampe, Jim Lawson, Bob Lockhart, and Monica Meadows. Holdover directors are Lamar Armstrong III, Marla Ashworth, Woody Bailey, Lynn Daniels, Sol Halliburton, Rick Heilmann, Kay Johnson, Kitty Johnson, Trent Lassiter, Mark McDonnell, Melissa Overton, John Scovil, Stephen Wensman, Leighanna Worley, and Past Board Chair Brownlee. VIEW the banquet program listing award winners and board leaders since 1970> WATCH the entire 55-minute virtual banquet posted on the Chamber's website> |
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 A new sales agent for vacant old hotel The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation's option to purchase the former Hotel Gabriel Johnston has expired, reports DSDC Executive Director Sarah Edwards, and its owners have signed a listing agreement with Coldwell Banker Advantage real-estate agent Perry Harris, a former member of the Smithfield Town Council. DSDC in January issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from developers who might be interested in redeveloping the dilapidated building but nothing has materialized from that. "I've taken the information we received from the RFP response (we also had a few developers reach out to us after the deadline) and am working to identify ways to close the financial gap," Ms. Edwards told the Sun. The current asking price is $450,000 for about 1.5 acres including the 18,288-square-foot building, which opened as a hotel in 1937 and later served as the Smithfield Municipal Building (1963-1998). Located at the corner of South Fourth and Johnston streets, it was purchased from the town in 1999 by Fourth Street Associates, LLC, headed by Smithfield CPA Lee Jackson. |
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Smithfield's new sign of the times . . .  ... displayed on the electronic message board in front of Town Hall on Market Street. SCHOOL BOARD DOINGS $53,190 SETTLEMENT AWARDED TO CLAYTON HIGH'S PRINCIPAL Following a closed session Tuesday evening, the Johnston County Board of Education voted 5-2 to pay Clayton High School's Principal Bennett Jones $53,190 to settle claims he filed against the county's school administration following his removal last summer. Former Superintendent of Schools Ross Renfrow reassigned Dr. Jones in light of questions that had been raised about academic eligibility regarding athletes and last year's graduating class. That decision led to Dr. Renfrow's sudden retirement followed by Dr. Jones's reinstatement as Clayton High's principal by Interim Superintendent Jim Causby, who cleared the school of the eligibility issues. School board members Peggy Smith and Tracie Zukowski voted against the settlement negotiated by the board's legal counsel, Ken Soo. Terms of the settlement as well as specifics of Dr. Jones's complaint were not disclosed at Tuesday's session. BOARD EMPLOYS A NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Following a closed session last Thursday, the Board of Education approved a four-year contract with Stephen Britt to serve as the school system's new chief financial officer. He succeeds Art Stanley, who recently resigned to accept a similar position with Wilson County Schools. Mr. Britt has worked as chief financial officer for Sampson County Schools since January 2017. Sampson's Superintendent of Schools Eric Bracy will also begin work here July 1 --- as Johnston's new superintendent. Mr. Britt's salary will be $125,000. Mr. Stanley was paid $116,148 this past year. COMMITTEE TO RESUME WORK ON DISTRICT ELECTION PLAN The school board's Membership by Districts Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Monday (June 29) to continue deliberations about proposals to elect board members by districts in future elections (not this year's). Public notice of the open meeting is required because four of the board's seven members --- a quorum --- are committee members. To comply with the Governor's orders on social distancing, the meeting will be conducted via Zoom teleconferencing at www.johnston.k12.nc.us/boelive. |
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WHAT'S COMING UP? RALLY OF "100 MEN IN SUITS" DOWNTOWN SATURDAY MORNING  A march and rally under
the banner "100 Men In Suits" begins
at 9 a.m. Saturday (June 27) at the
Neuse River Amphitheater on the Town
Commons.Organizers want men to dress in their suits to come together to network, fellowship, pray, and listen to remarks from Smithfield businessmen, elected officials, and other citizens "on unifying and coming together during these difficult times." Stops on a march through Downtown will include the Courthouse, Town Hall, and Smithfield's police station. NO 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS HERE, BUT SHOW WILL GO ON IN SELMA The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation has canceled its annual Independence Day celebration this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the Town of Selma plans to host its annual All-American Fireworks Show at 9:15 p.m. next Thursday, July 2 near the "Catch-Me-Eye" intersection of highways 301 and 70. Because of coronavirus restrictions, no food trucks or vendors will be set up for this year's event. |
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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.... BRENDA KAYE DISHER GILMORE, 71 - died June 23 ROBERT EUGENE FARMER, 21 - died June 21 HAZEL FLORENCE FERRELL HODGE, 93 - died June 21 ARTHUR JAMES DICKIE, 71 - died June 19 GEORGE HENRY WHITAKER JR., 66 - died June 19 |
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THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS  WHEN 301 NORTH WAS LINED BY SHADE TREES Looking northward from Hancock Street, US 301 (Selma Road at the time) once passed beneath stately oak trees that had to be removed for the roadway's widening in the early 1990s. That project produced a five-lane thoroughfare linking the hearts of Smithfield and Selma and prompted the renaming of Selma Road, North Eighth Street, and the Truck Lane as Bright Leaf Boulevard (three words, not two). (Photo from The Smithfield Herald collection, Johnston County Heritage Center) |
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DID YOU MISS A
PREVIOUS EDITION? Rewind with our archives |
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LINKS TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
SMITHFIELD TOWN COUNCIL Meeting agendas and minutes JOHNSTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agendas for upcoming meetings Highlights of recent board meetings Minutes of board meetings JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Meeting agendas and minutes |
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