Many of the CSX freight trains that pass through Smithfield daily include tank cars like the ones shown here passing through Selma this week. Some but not all such cars carry hazardous substances. (Screenshot from a live-streamed web cam operated by Railstream at Selma Union Station)

Are we in the path of a hazardous train wreck?

The short answer is YES. Smithfield hosts a mainline railroad similar in operation to that line in Ohio where a freight train derailed in early February and spilled toxic substances that caught fire, polluted the surrounding air and ground and streams, and prompted evacuation of residents from a town similar to ours.

Here are the similarities:

• The cargoes on that train in Ohio were much the same as what passes through Smithfield several times every day and night. Most of the freight trains we see here include tank cars filled with a variety of chemicals, some of them potentially hazardous to human health if released into the atmosphere.

• The length of the train that derailed was reported to be about 150 cars, which could stretch out as long as two miles. We've got that here, with some of our trains consisting of 200 cars. That relatively new practice is a cost-saving move by the railroad companies – in effect, combining two and sometimes three trains into one – and it has generated nationwide controversy regarding railroad safety.

• Railroad mainlines like ours are equipped with track-side defect detectors that warn crews about overheated axles and other problems as trains roll by. They were operating in Ohio but are spaced miles apart so the issue that apparently caused that derailment wasn't detected until it was too late to avert disaster.

Norfolk Southern is the company that operates trains through East Palestine, Ohio. CSX owns and operates our line. In response to the Ohio wreck, CSX has completed a week-long inspection and calibration of its network of more than 1,000 wayside detectors, according to an online report by Trains Magazine. Presumably, that includes a detector located near Smithfield's Brogden Road crossing.

But what about local emergency response to a wreck like the mess in Ohio?

In answer to that question, here's what Smithfield's Fire Chief Michael Brown told us: "Citizens can be assured that contingency plans are in place to assure safety for all involved and mitigation of the incident using local, state, and federal agencies. The Town of Smithfield has an excellent working relationship with Johnston County Emergency Management and participate in drills to be better prepared. All emergency agencies in Johnston County have integral parts in working to ensure safety in such incidents."

Let me add a personal word of warning: Be extra careful when driving across the tracks, and respect those gates when they're down, even if a train appears to be approaching slowly. There have been disastrous incidents in recent years where collisions between motor vehicles and trains have caused derailments.

In the foreground is the latest addition to the sprawling Novo Nordisk campus at Clayton. In the distance to the left is the original plant beside Powhatan Road.
(Johnston County Economic Development photo)

Pharmaceuticals head list of largest employers

The County of Johnston Economic Development Office recently took note of the 100th birthday of Novo Nordisk, one of our largest local industries. Best known as the world's leading manufacturer of insulin to treat diabetes, Novo Nordisk was born in Denmark and began building its present-day campus on the eastern side of Clayton in the early 1990s – not far from Grifols, a large blood-plasma producer that came to Johnston County in the 1970s as Cutter Laboratories.

A number of major Johnston industries have come and gone over the past half a century, but those two giants are still going strong and have undertaken some major expansions in recent years. So, what are the other major industrial employers in the county these days?

Here's a list provided by the Economic Development Office:

COMPANY	LOCATION	PRODUCTS	EMPLOYEES
Grifols	Clayton	blood plasma	1,850
Novo Nordisk	Clayton	diabetic medicine	1,500
Caterpillar	Clayton	heavy equipment	500
Airflow	Selma	air filters	450
AAF/Flanders	Smithfield	air filters	450
Sysco of Raleigh	Selma	wholesale restaurant food	400
Becton Dickinson	Four Oaks	pharmaceutical distribution	300
Berry Global	Benson	nonwoven textiles	250
OPW	Smithfield	plastics	200

The two Smithfield industries listed here are AAF/Flanders in the former Fieldcrest plant on the south side of town and OPW in a newer building on US 70 Business overlooking Johnston Regional Airport.

Gary Mileski, a cardiovascular sonographer, performs an echocardiogram.

Hospitals earn accreditation in vascular procedures

Story & photo from UNC Health Johnston

UNC Health Johnston recently earned a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission in vascular testing, in the areas of peripheral arterial testing, extracranial cerebrovascular testing, and peripheral venous testing.

"This distinction is our seal of approval that patients can be assured we provide the highest level of patient care and quality," said Shelby Holt, director of cardiovascular and pulmonary services. "I’m so proud of our teams in Smithfield and Clayton and their commitment to continuous improvement."

Physicians use vascular testing to detect life threatening heart disorders, stroke, and other diseases. In fact, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer in the country. It’s estimated that every 34 seconds, an American dies of disorders of the heart and blood vessels.

"I applaud our department for achieving the IAC accreditation," said Dr. Thomas Powell, a vascular surgeon and vascular medical director. "It reflects the exceptional work the teams do every day, and their desire to have the best possible patient outcomes."

Accreditation by the IAC shows the cardiovascular team has undergone an intensive application and review process and found compliant with published standards.

NOTE: UNC Health Johnston manages the hospitals in Smithfield and Clayton.

WHAT'S COMING UP?

County Commissioners will meet twice on Monday

Agendas for Monday's morning and evening sessions of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners had not been released by "press time" Thursday morning.
VIEW the complete agendas once they're posted on the county's website>

Town Council's monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday

Heading the agenda are public hearings on a new contract with the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation to manage the town's downtown service district and amendments to the town's Unified Development Ordinances related to stormwater management and industrial building heights. Items awaiting the council's approval include a contract for design of renovations to the historic Hastings House and a doubling of funding for replacement of boilers at the Recreation & Aquatics Center. The Town Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month at Town Hall.
VIEW the complete agenda for Tuesday's meeting>

Swift Creek Road at 70 Bypass will be closed for a year

The N.C. Department of Transportation announced this week that Swift Creek Road across U.S. 70 at Wilson's Mills will be closed for a year starting Tuesday to build a bridge as part of a massive project to convert the 70 Bypass into a freeway with bridges and ramps rather than stoplights. The detour will divert Swift Creek Road motorists onto Strickland Road and Wilson’s Mills Road.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS REPORT

Neuse Charter ends basketball season with 26-5 record

The Cougar boys defeated Voyager Academy of Durham 73-58 in the second round of the state 1-A playoffs at home last Thursday but were eliminated with a 64-49 loss at Northampton County High School on Saturday.

Leading scorers for Neuse Charter in Thursday's game were senior Sire Holmes with 19 points, senior Donollyn Tyrell with 16, and senior Philip Sullivan with 15. Holmes scored 11 points in Saturday's game.

The Cougars finished with season with a record of 26 wins and 5 losses. That includes a 10-0 record in Carolina 1-A regular-season contests.

February brought us 3.33 inches of rainfall

That's the report from Cornell Cox's Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield, and it brings our year-to-date total to 7.05 inches. That's slightly above the two-month total of 6.66 inches a year ago but well below the 14.47 inches recorded two years ago at this point.

Power outage on Monday was caused by a tree trimmer
Town Manager Mike Scott reported that a power interruption in South Smithfield Monday morning took place "after a tree trimmer hit a line." The outage lasted less than an hour.

Johnston County's most popular baby names

Register of Deeds Craig Olive this week announced the most popular names for newborns recorded in Johnston County during the past year. Topping the lists are Noah for boys (16) and Charlotte for girls (12). Close behind were Liam (12), Mason (11), and Oliver (10) for the boys and Amelia and Scarlett (11) followed by Ava, Harper, and Sophia (10) for the girls.

Mr. Olive said his office recorded a total of 1,934 births – 975 females, 959 males – in 2022. That's an increase of 4% over the total for 2021, he noted.

"Trusted by families since 1977"
840 S. Bright Leaf Blvd. • 919-934-7164 • www.carrollpharmacy.com

DEATHS & FUNERALS

Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home

BERTHA (EDITH) BRADY JOHNSON, 86 – died February 28

EDITH JOAN BRIDGERS LANGLEY, 69 – died February 27

MOTHER ROSE BURTON, 85 – died February 23

GARRETT WATSON WOODARD, 23 – died February 16

A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR

How racial segregation deprived us of friendships

A couple of observances during Black History Month in February – one here at home, the other on television – reminded me of missed opportunities for interracial relationships growing up in segregated Smithfield in the 1950s and '60s.

The printed program for last week's Black History observance hosted by the Johnston County Heritage Center included a tribute to Gerald Williams, an African-American my age who I didn't know till recent times because we grew up in parallel yet separate Smithfields. Gerald and I both played trumpet in our high-school bands, and he was good enough to move up to the legendary Florida A&M University marching band.

We both faced military service at the height of the Vietnam War. He was drafted into the Army and sent into combat; I was able to join an Army Reserve unit and avoid that horrible experience.

We didn't cross paths until about 10 years ago when I was director of the Heritage Center. Gerald came in often to research his family's roots, and he told me many fascinating stories about Smithfield life from his perspective – things I probably should have known about my hometown but didn't until I heard them from him.

Gerald passed away in late January. No doubt he had many more stories to share with those who would listen. "Truly his death can be compared to a library burning to the ground," wrote Heritage Center Director Todd Johnson in the printed tribute.

The other missed opportunity involved my love for playing basketball. During Black History Month, ESPN's ACC Network paid tribute to the first African-Americans to put on a uniform at several of the original ACC schools. One of those young men was Al Heartley, who played for the legendary Coach Reginald Ennis at Smithfield's Johnston Central High School about the same I was playing ball on the other side of town at segregated Smithfield High School.

Al Heartley was good enough to make the N.C. State team as a "walk on" and by the time he was a senior he not only had earned an athletic scholarship but also made history as the first African-American team captain for the Wolfpack.

I never crossed paths with Al Heartley as I did with Gerald Williams. But what fun it would been to have played basketball with one and trumpet with the other. I'm thankful my children weren't deprived of such relationships as they grew up here in completely integrated public schools.

WATCH a video of the Heritage Center's program that featured the African-American author of an autobiography entitled From Inmate to Mayor>

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