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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • VOL.
3, NO. 6 |
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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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 Father-and-son pharmacists Kay and Alan Carroll spent much of Wednesday administering the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines received by their Smithfield pharmacy. Recipients made appointments to get shots without having to wait in line. CORONAVIRUS
REPORT
21,415 Johnstonians have gotten vaccines, with pharmacies now receiving allotments That total includes 16,464 first doses and 4,951 second doses as of Wednesday, according to a report posted by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The Johnston County Health Department hosted another drive-through vaccination clinic on Wednesday at North Johnston High School, and for the first time since launching these first-come, first-served opportunities in mid-January, the supply of doses --- 2,000 --- exceeded the 1,200 that were administered. Lu Hickey, the county's public information officer, said the Health Department will be transferring the leftover doses to pharmacies and primary-care providers while retaining some for the department to dispense. Local pharmacies are now receiving shipments of COVID-19 vaccines from the state. Smithfield's Carroll Pharmacy got 300 this week and expects a similar allotment next week. Meanwhile, Governor Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that school teachers and support staff will become eligible for vaccinations February 24 --- less than a week before Johnston County schools return kindergarten and elementary students to classrooms four days every week (see story below). VISIT this official state web page to find upcoming vaccination locations> Johnston County reported 1,428 active COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday: 1,370 recovering at home plus 58 in hospitals. That's down from 1,840 a week ago. Johnston County Public Schools reported 45 active cases among students and 31 among employees Wednesday afternoon --- up from 40 and 21 a week ago. The number of active quarantines among students had risen from 551 to 696; the number of quarantines among school employees from 154 to 175. VIEW real-time updates on the schools' COVID-19 Dashboard>
VIEW the current list of COVID-19 testing sites throughout Johnston County> |
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 PARKING-LOT WORSHIP GOES ON, RAIN OR SHINE! The congregation of Smithfield's First Christian Church has worshiped faithfully in the parking lot every Sunday since the coronavirus pandemic put restrictions on indoor services almost a full year ago. Here's a screenshot from this past Sunday's service, led by Pastor Beth Burton-Williams. Seated in the portico out of the wintry weather are musicians whose performances of familiar hymns drew applause from congregants honking horns from the shelter of their vehicles. Smithfield's larger churches are live-streaming their services on YouTube channels --- some with a handful of worshipers in the sanctuaries, others with only their ministers present. |
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Kindergarten & elementary students will return to school four days a week March 1 The Johnston County Board of Education voted 5-1 Tuesday afternoon to accept Superintendent Eric Bracy's recommendation to allow all students in kindergarten and elementary grades to return to classrooms four days a week March 1. Since the first of February those students have been attending school two days a week in two "cohorts" --- one group attending Mondays and Tuesdays, the other on Thursdays and Fridays. Students in grades 6-12 will continue beyond the first of March to attend classes two days a week in two separate cohorts under the plan the board adopted Tuesday. Students in all grades will remain at home for online "asynchronous learning" on Wednesdays, when campuses will be closed to students for "deep cleaning." Kay Carroll cast the lone dissenting vote on the latest plan, and that prompted a "thank you" from April Lee, president of the Johnston County Association of Educators who addressed the board during the "Public Comment" portion of Tuesday's session: "Mr. Carroll, I would like to thank you for keeping the safety of our students and staff in mind. You have done so consistently, and we appreciate you." A teacher herself, Ms. Lee said the plan approved by the board on Tuesday "means no social distancing and very little protection for our students and staff outside of wearing a mask." She said returning students to school full-time should be delayed "until all teachers and staff who want vaccines are able to receive both doses." Prior to Tuesday's split decision by the board, Superintendent Bracy cited Governor Roy Cooper's statement this past week encouraging schools to return to in-person instruction "with the use of established public-health protocols... to the fullest extent possible," leaving specifics up to local jurisdictions. Dr. Bracy also cited a statement from the director of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that "teachers being vaccinated should not be a prerequisite for returning to in-person learning." READ MORE from Tuesday's monthly meeting of the school board> 17 seeking appointment to school board's vacant seat; Monday is deadline to apply A year ago 16 candidates filed for election to four seats on the Johnston County Board of Education that were filled by voters in November. Now, with one seat on the board vacated by the resignation of Tracie Zukowski, 17 candidates have submitted applications for appointment by the remaining six members of the board. The application deadline is next Monday, Feb. 15. "Statements of interest" must be submitted to the school board's clerk: michelleweckesser@johnston.k12.nc.us. Three of the 17 applicants were unsuccessful candidates in last year's elections: • Terry Tippett, who finished fifth in November's General Election. • Dr. Chuck Williams, who finished fifth in the Primary and eighth in November. • Mark Lane, who finished ninth in the Primary and thereby didn't qualify for the November ballot. The other applicants are Jaron Benson, Al Byrd, Sarah Chera, Brice Connors, Heather Fox, George Moore, Teena Nichols, Robert O'Neal Jr., Thomas Presti, J.M. Radford Jr., Marvin Rawls Jr., Charles Snyder, Lock Whiteside, and Jim Wiesner. Ms. Zukowski, who had two years remaining on her first term in office, resigned January 27 because she has moved her residence to coastal Brunswick County. |
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Police report shows rise in some crimes yet fewer calls for service during 2020  The numbers
appear in the Smithfield Police Department's monthly
report submitted to the Town Council last week:• Total calls for service dropped from 19,676 in 2019 to 18,398 this past year. • Reported burglaries rose from 58 to 72 (including 37 residential, 35 non-residential), larceny cases increased from 381 to 392, reports of vandalism rose from 63 to 72, and speeding citations jumped from 320 in 2019 to 458 in 2020. • Yet accident reports dropped from 922 to 745, DWI charges fell from 82 to 64, and drug charges declined from 332 to 301. Police recorded just one charge for disorderly conduct this past year, compared to 19 during 2019. The monthly report to the council notes that the Police Department had five vacancies at the end of 2020 along with two positions to be filled for a Traffic Safety Team funded by a federal grant through the Governor's Highway Safety Program. Fire and rescue calls were down in 2020  The Fire
Department's report shows a decrease in EMS/Rescue
calls from 1,495 in 2019 to 1,282 this past year,
while dispatches for structure fires dropped slightly,
from 115 to 104.The Fire Department responded to 191 motor-vehicle accidents in 2020, down from 221 in 2019, and 68 fire alarms, down from 101 the year before. False fire alarms totaled 152 in 2020, a slight drop-off from the 159 recorded in 2019.  US 70
BUSINESS BRIDGE OVER I-95RE-OPENED SOONER THAN EXPECTED The East Market Street bridge over I-95 at Exit 95 was re-opened to traffic at 4 p.m. Tuesday --- a couple of weeks earlier than the N.C. Department of Transportation initially estimated after its closing last week because of failing asphalt. |
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JCC's auditorium project moving slowly; other renovated spaces are back in use Renovation of the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College is "progressing slowly," reports JCC's President David Johnson, who adds: "I certainly hope we can be in by the fall." "The stage rigging was hit by COVID constraints as well as lighting for the house steps" and "we're waiting on stage refinish before installing curtains," Dr. Johnson told the Sun this week. "We are not taking any reservations for community use of facilities until we see some abatement of COVID." The auditorium has been closed for renovations since mid-2016. Meanwhile, other renovations inside the Tart Building, which includes the auditorium, are finished and the new Student Success Center and lobby are open, he noted. (JCC's library was previously housed there before construction of a separate and larger Learning Resource Center some years ago.) "One piece of exciting news," Dr. Johnson added: "We will break ground for the new Engineering Building on or around March 1. This building will support amazing opportunities for our students!" Speaking of students, he said curriculum enrollment at JCC "is holding its own" but "students are taking fewer credits so funding will be down this year. Also, Continuing Education registrations are down due to COVID." Both of those trends, he said, are "pretty typical across the state." |
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WHAT'S COMING UP? PRESIDENTS DAY A HOLIDAY FOR POST OFFICE & BANKS  Next
Monday's
federal
holiday is a
combined
commemoration
of the
birthdays of
George
Washington
(Feb. 12) and
Abraham
Lincoln (Feb.
22). As a
result, all
federal
agencies
including the
Post Office
will be
closed, along
with most
banks. In
North
Carolina, the
holiday is not
observed by
state and
local
governments.COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET TWICE NEXT WEEK The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will continue its new schedule, which includes a third regular session each month, at 6 p.m. Monday (Feb. 15) in the Old Superior Courtroom inside the Courthouse. VIEW the agenda once it's posted on the county's website> The board will hold a special "work session" starting at 8:30 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 18) at the Johnston County Agricultural Center at 2736 NC 210 west of Smithfield. Topics for discussion will include a financial update, water and wastewater update and discussion, and planning for capital improvements as well as "future strategic land purchases" for new schools and parks and other needs. Limited seating will be available for the public at both sessions next week; however, the meetings will be live-streamed on the county's Facebook page>  A CHANCE THIS EVENING TO REVIEW SPRING BRANCH PROJECT The Town of Smithfield is hosting "open house" from 6:30 to 8:30 this evening (Thursday) at the Recreation and Aquatics Center to showcase plans for its Spring Branch Restoration Project. Focused on town property between South Fifth and Sixth streets, the project's first phase will rebuild the stream's banks and create about half-an-acre of wetlands. A second phase proposes a greenway walk along Spring Branch across from the Community Garden. No more than 10 persons will be allowed in the meeting room at one time during the open house; however, portions of a question-and-answer session will be broadcast on the town's Facebook page> |
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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.... JAMES LEON (JIMMY) EARP, 82 - died February 7 JOYCE ANN GROVE SESSION, 74 - died February 7 ASHLEY GENE SPAIN, 80 - died February 6 DOROTHY PENDERGRAFT BATTEN, 96 - died February 5 RUTH (HELEN) ARTIS POSTON, 87 - died January 27 |
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THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH  BUILDER OF THE COVERED BRIDGE ACROSS THE NEUSE J. Bryant Alford, a free black man during slavery times, emerged as one of Johnston County’s first African-American entrepreneurs following Emancipation. Shown in an old postcard view above, the covered bridge across the Neuse River at Smithfield was constructed by Mr. Alford and his crew shortly after the Civil War had ended with the burning of a previous bridge by retreating Confederates following the Battle of Bentonville. Until it was replaced by a steel bridge in 1907, Mr. Alford's bridge extended from the western end of today’s Bridge Street, where one of the stone abutments that supported the structure still stands on the riverbank. A surviving companion is visible this time of year in the thicket across the river. The abutment pictured here in the middle of the river is long gone. (From Johnston County Heritage Center postcard collection) |
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LINKS TO MORE PAGES IN THIS EDITION OBSERVATIONS |
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DID YOU MISS A PREVIOUS EDITION? Rewind with our archives LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? Up-to-data Johnston County data along with useful community links are on the Smithfield-Selma Sun website> |
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