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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE AUGUST 27, 2020 • VOL. 2,
NO. 42 |
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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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| Attendance recorded for Johnston's
public schools falling short of last year's numbers Enrollment in Johnston County Public Schools is running about 500 behind last year's numbers through the first eight days of the 2020-21 term: 36,685 students enrolled countywide as of Wednesday --- 544 fewer than 37,229 enrolled at this point a year ago. What's the reason? "I am not sure I have the exact answer on why we are lower than last year," School Board Chair Todd Sutton told the Sun. "However, I have heard that some of the difference in student attendance is due to students being enrolled into other schools that are conducting a face-to-face model at the present time." All of Johnston County's students began the fall semester last week with online remote learning only. Students in grades K-5 are scheduled return to on-campus classrooms in two shifts, each for just two days a week, starting September 8. Eighth-day enrollment at Smithfield's public schools: • Smithfield-Selma High --- 1,359, up from last year's 1,263 at this point. • Smithfield Middle --- 572, down from 614. • South Smithfield Elementary --- 512, down from 522. • West Smithfield Elementary --- 465, down from 497. Enrollment this Friday --- the 10th day --- is a starting point for determining teacher and funding allotments from the state for North Carolina's school districts. SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET AT 6 P.M. TODAY (THURSDAY) TO RECEIVE SUPERINTENDENT'S REVISED RE-OPENING PLAN Without giving details, Chair Todd Sutton told the Sun the board will receive from Superintendent Eric Bracy a revised plan for re-opening Johnston's schools. The meeting will be live-streamed on the school system's YouTube site> CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
3,754 cases, 50 deaths
since mid-March
Here's the County of Johnston's coronavirus report as of 4:55 p.m. Wednesday: • 3,754 cases, 50 deaths, 17 hospitalized, 447 at home, 3,240 presumed recovered (that nets a total of 464 active cases). • 2,015 female cases; 1,739 male. • Cases by age: 570 ages 0-17 (539 last week); 534 18-24 (481 last week); 1,584 25-49 (1,481 last week); 688 50-64 (664 last week); 378 age 65+ (359). • Cases by race: 2,155 white, 480 black, 541 other (578 not known). • Cases by ethnicity: 1,662 Hispanic, 1,541 non-Hispanic (551 not known). VIEW the current list of test sites and testing events in Johnston County> COMMUNITY COLLEGE REPORTS 18 COVID-19 CASES Johnston Community College issued a statement this morning (Thursday) that 16 students and two employees have tested positive for coronavirus infections. The school began fall-semester classes August 10 with 60% of all instructional coursework online. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, an additional 42 classes will move "to an online synchronous format" by September 8. READ the full statement issued today from Johnston Community College>
PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN GETS 500 MASKS FROM LOWES  With an assist
from the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, Lowe's Home
Improvement of Smithfield has donated 500 masks to the
non-profit Partnership for Children, which continues to
provide face-to-face services ranging from car-seat
inspections to training for child-care providers in the
midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.In this photo from the Partnership are Rob Diamato (left) of Lowe's and Partnership Executive Director Dwight Morris. More about the agency on its website> |
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How is Johnston County's judicial system operating during the COVID-19 pandemic? Resident Superior Court Tom Lock of Smithfield offered some perspective in e-mail correspondence followed by an interview with the Sun this week:  "Since the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted
in the delay of all jury trials since March of this
year, the District Attorney’s Office has aggressively
attacked the pending caseload, dismissing weak or
marginal cases and extending plea offers of probation in
many other less serious cases," he wrote.Judges have responded "by substantially reducing bonds in dozens of cases in which the defendants are requesting jury trials," he said. "As a result, we had lowered the jail population by over 130 inmates by June." As of Wednesday, the jail was holding 270 inmates --- more than its rated capacity of 191 yet lower than recent norms exceeding 300. (The county's Health Department reports that 16 of the jail's officers have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, with only one inmate identified as infected.) "Contrary to popular perception," Judge Lodge continued, "the courts never shut down, and, by July, we had reduced the pending caseload in Superior Court by about 300 cases." One means of taking care of business in spite of coronavirus restrictions is online "video conferencing" for certain judicial proceedings, Judge Lock reported. "I heard five pleas by remote video today," he said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley has extended the statewide moratorium on jury trials till November 1. To prepare for those trials to resume, each Resident Superior Court Judge has been asked to come up with a plan for holding trials with COVID-19 protocols. Judge Lock said his tentative plan calls for restricting trials to the spacious Superior Courtroom in the older part of the Courthouse. Jurors would not sit close together in the jury box, he said, but would be dispersed along the benches where spectators usually sit. The old Courthouse building, he noted, will reach its 100th birthday in 2021.  No jury trials, yet proceedings continue in auxiliary courtrooms such as this one occupying space that once housed the Clerk of Court's office in the old Courthouse. Register of Deeds sees upsurge in marriage licenses Craig Olive says his office has seen an increase of more than 50% in marriage licenses issued in Johnston County since March. During July, 157 licenses were issued; the office's normal average is 97 per month, he noted. Mr. Olive attributes the upsurge to the closing of many Register of Deeds offices elsewhere across North Carolina and other states because of the coronavirus pandemic. Johnston's office has remained open over the past five months, generating nearly $2 million in revenue during that time, he reported. |
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 Smithfield Council, town's Planning Board introduced to proposed "conditional zoning" Town Attorney Bob Spence Jr. and Planning Director Stephen Wensman made the presentation at a joint workshop attended by Town Council and Planning Board members Monday evening. "Conditional zoning" is a new option that enables North Carolina's local governments to rezone properties for a specific purpose that includes a site-development plan agreed upon by the governing authority as well as the petitioner.  It's unlike the process of granting
special-use permits for particular properties.
Conditional zoning can be adopted without quasi-judicial
proceedings required for special-use applications. Such
adversarial proceedings give applicants who can afford
to employ an attorney and other technical experts an
advantage over the average citizen who objects to what's
being proposed, explained Town Attorney Spence Jr. (pictured
left).Conditional zoning, added Planning Director Wensman, is "zoning with a plan" --- a "negotiated approach" to working out clashes between petitioners and nearby property owners, residents especially. That's because zoning cases are settled through the less formal public-hearing process rather than the quasi-judicial route requiring "expert" testimony under oath. Furthermore, Mr. Wensman continued, the Planning Board and Town Council will have "greater control over what you'll get" in deciding how particular tracts of land are to be used. The proposed addition of conditional zoning to Smithfield's Unified Development Ordinance is part of a wholesale review of those rules that includes a look at the town's subdivision regulations. Mr. Wensman is preparing suggested changes in the ordinance for presentation to the Planning Board in October. LEARN MORE about the Smithfield Planning Board on the town's website> COUNCIL'S REGULAR MONTHLY SESSION AT 7 P.M. TUESDAY; AGENDA INCLUDES LIBRARY REPORT, PERMIT FOR A CHILD-CARE CENTER The meeting will be held in the Town Hall Council Chamber. The public may attend, face masks required, with limited seating available to comply with COVID-19 social distancing rules. Tuesday's agenda includes: an update from the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield on its finances and services; requests from the Downtown Development office to hold "outdoor dining events" on South Third Street on four Fridays in September and October as well as "Take Out Tuesday" events with amplified sound every Tuesday through October; proposed amendments to the town's ordinance regulating Noxious Weeds and Grass and Similar Nuisances; and a request from staff to hold a fireworks display on November 11, Veterans Day. Public hearings are scheduled on an ordinance amendment and a special-use permit to allow a child-care center as an accessory use at a church at 720 Second Avenue in an R-6 residential zoning district. Approval of both is recommended by the town's Planning Board and the Planning Department. Utility disruptions affect southern sections Two separate incidents --- a water-main break on Buffalo Road and a power line cut by a falling tree limb in South Smithfield --- disrupted service to a limited number of utility customers this past week. The water-main break on Sunday prompted the County of Johnston to issue a Boil Water Advisory to its customers in the Buffalo Water District and the western portion of the Brogden Water District as well as Town of Smithfield customers on the south side of town. The advisory was lifted Monday evening. The severed power line affected customers along Stevens and Wilson streets for a while on Monday afternoon. |
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Downtown Development makes $3,000 grants to five businesses and offers more
The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC) awarded the grants after "re-purposing funding originally intended for other programs," said Sarah Edwards, DSDC's executive director. The grants, she noted, are "to meet the immediate needs of small businesses that had experienced a significant loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the disruption and temporary closure of many Downtown Smithfield businesses." With another $9,000 remaining in the DSDC's "Smithfield Stronger" grant program, applications are being accepted for a second round up to $1,500 each. The deadline for businesses to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, September 4. Application rules along with a form to file for grants are on the DSDC website> |
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WHAT'S COMING UP? Virtual forums for local candidates planned by Chamber & Junior Women Two organizations --- the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce and the Junior Women's League of Smithfield --- have announced plans for online virtual forums focusing on candidates for local and district offices up for election November 3.  The
Chamber's "JoCo Candidates
Connection" begins September 10
with a series of video
presentations by candidates for
Johnston County commissioner,
Johnston's school board, this
area's seats in the N.C. General
Assembly (House and Senate), as
well as our district's seat in
the U.S. House of
Representatives and a U.S.
Senate seat where Republican
Party incumbent Thom Tillis
faces Democratic Party
challenger Cal Cunningham.Citizens will be able to submit questions in advance for the candidates to address. For more information, check the Chamber's website> The Junior Women's League, with support from the Johnston County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the League of Women Voters of Wake County, will host two forums next month: on September 3 (next Thursday) for county commissioner candidates; on Tuesday, September 15 for school board candidates. Both forums will begin at 7 p.m. and continue till 8:30. Citizens may submit questions in advance for both of those forums through the Junior Women's League website at www.jwlsmithfield.com where instructions should be posted about accessing the forums online. NOVEMBER 2020 GENERAL ELECTION LOCAL & DISTRICT CONTESTS (D) denotes Democrat, (R) Republican, (U) Unaffiliated, (*) incumbent U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 Christopher M. Ward (D), Tabor City David Rouzer (*) (R), Wilmington N.C. Senate District 11 --- Allen Wellons (D), Smithfield Lisa Stone Barnes (R), Spring Hope District 10 --- Vernon R. Moore (D), Warsaw Brent Jackson (*) (R), Autryville District 12 --- John Kirkman (D), Sanford Jim Burgin (*) (R), Angier NOTE: Smithfield is part of District 11, which extends northward into Nash County. N.C. House of Representatives District 26 --- Linda Bennett (D), NC 96, Zebulon Donna McDowell White (*) (R), Clayton Denton Lee (U), Killarney Lane, Clayton District 28 --- Corey Stephens (D), Benson Larry C. Strickland (*) (R), Pine Level District 10 --- Carl Martin (D), Goldsboro John Bell (*) (R), Goldsboro NOTE: South Smithfield Precinct is included in District 26, which covers the Clayton and Archer Lodge areas; Smithfield's East and North precincts are included in District 28, which extends from McGee's Crossroads, Benson, and Four Oaks around to Wilson's Mills, Selma, Pine Level, Micro, and Kenly. County Commissioners District 1 --- Justin David King (D), Peach Blossom Court, Clayton Fred J. Smith Jr. (R), Pritchard Road, Clayton District 2 --- Wendy Ella May (D), Micro Ted G. Godwin (*) (R), Hawkins Road, Selma District 4 --- Alan Lamont (D), Everland Parkway, Angier Larry Wood (*) (R), Benson District 6 --- Gettys Cohen Jr. (D), Smithfield Tony Braswell (*) (R), Gor-An Farm Road, Selma NOTE: Candidates run by residential districts yet ALL of Johnston County's voters take part in selecting representatives for ALL districts. County Board of Education (four seats) Lyn Andrews, Afton Lane, Smithfield Kay Carroll, South Lakeside Drive, Four Oaks Teresa M. Grant (*), Crestwood Court, Garner Ronald Johnson (*), Westminster Drive, Clayton Rick Mercier, Fireweed Place, Clayton Terry Tippett, Simon Road, Middlesex Chuck Williams, Neuse Ridge Drive, Clayton Mike Wooten (*), Cedar Springs Drive, Princeton NOTE: No districts for these seats: ALL of Johnston's voters may choose up to four candidates. And if you mark ballots for fewer than four, your votes will be counted. |
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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.... BILLY DUNCAN THOMPSON, 83 - died August 25 CLARENCE ALTON (AL) WORSHAM, 66 - died August 24 THOMAS EDWARD GLITHERO, 64 - died August 23 PATRICIA NICHOLS WALL, 82 - died August 22 RICARDO JONES, 36 - died August 22 HENRY NEWKIRK, 85 - died August 21 JAMES McARTHUR (JIMMY) TEMPLE, 57 - died August 21 |
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THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS  OUR GIRL SCOUT HUT WAS FIRST USED IN 1950 Rachel Mattox and a team of volunteers set up a Girl Scout day camp at the wooden hut off South Second Street beside Spring Branch. Named for Mrs. Mattox, the program continued every summer until the late 1950s. The hut, meanwhile, fell into disrepair over the years but in 2007 was renovated and moved by the town to its present location at the entrance to the Buffalo Creek Greenway just beyond Bob Wallace Jaycee Kiddie Park. Girl Scouts and other groups have been using it ever since. (Photo from the Johnston County Heritage Center) |
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DID YOU MISS A PREVIOUS EDITION? Rewind with our archives a public service messsage |
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