Four
SSS students killed in
early-morning crash
The
Smithfield-Selma High School
community this week has been
mourning the loss of four
students killed in
single-car crash early
Monday morning at the
Brogden Road exit from I-95
at Smithfield.
According to the State
Highway Patrol, the driver
of the automobile was
17-year-old Alan Lee Lockamy
of Archer Lodge. The
passengers were Christopher
Wayne Jackson, 17; Freddy
Seras, 17; and Semaj Leaij
Williams, 16. Those three
had Smithfield-area
addresses, according to Sanders
Funeral Home.
Here's the report posted
online by WRAL-TV:
At 2:39 a.m., a state
trooper saw a Kia Soul
traveling north on I-95 at
the 91.5-mile marker in
Johnston County. The
trooper noticed the car
was speeding and clocked
it going 104 mph. The
trooper attempted to catch
up to the car but did not
initiate a traffic stop or
pursuit since the car was
no longer in sight.
The driver attempted to
exit the Interstate at
Brogden Road but ended up
crashing into several
trees near the exit ramp.
The driver and front-seat
passenger were trapped in
the car, and the back-seat
passengers were ejected
from the car....
"He was just a typical 17-year-old teenager,"
Kathy Lockamy said of
Alan (her
grandson). "He had
lots of friends, family
that all loved him....
He wasn’t supposed to be
out.... The last thing I
told him before I went
to bed was I loved him,
and don’t leave the
house. He didn’t listen
very well.”
SSS Principal Crystal
Gregory posted the
following message on the
school's Facebook page
Monday evening:
"Today, my school
family at
Smithfield-Selma High
School is hurting. We
are mourning the sudden
loss of 4 students. The
pain that our tight knit
community feels right
now is unimaginable. I
ask that you keep our
Spartan students,
parents, staff, the
first responders, and
community at large in
your thoughts. I ask
that you allow us, the
families, and all those
impacted space to grieve
and mourn in our own
ways. Together – we will
get thru this."
A "Remembrance Vigil" to honor the lives of the four students and one other lost this school year was held at the SSS football stadium Wednesday evening.
Johnson
appeals election boards'
denial of challenge
According
to the JoCo Report,
Ronald Johnson is taking
his case challenging an
opponent's eligibility in
the upcoming Primary
Election to the N.C. Court
of Appeals.
Both the Johnston County
and North Carolina boards
of election have dismissed
Mr. Johnson's contention
that David Marshburn's
primary residence lies
outside the Clayton-area
district where the two men
and two other candidates
are competing for a seat
on the Johnston County
Board of Education.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Smithfield-based
KS Bank is 100 years old
this year
Deflected
"hostile takeover" by
Smithfield-born First
Citizens
KS
Bank's CEO Earl Worley Jr.
says it's one of only a
thousand or so businesses
at least 100 years old
still in operation in the
United States. Founded in
1924 as Kenly Building
& Loan Association,
the company in 1961
changed its name to Kenly
Savings & Loan and
employed its first vice
president, Harold McRae,
who served until 1990 when
he was succeeded by Harold
Keen, elected as the
company's first president
and CEO.
In 1999 the company
changed its name to KS
Bank to reflect its
expanding market and in
2003 moved its
headquarters to
Smithfield. Mr. Keen
handed over the bank's
leadership to Mr. Worley
in 2022.
KS Bank
today has nine
retail banking offices –
in Four Oaks, Clayton, and
Selma in addition to Kenly
and Smithfield in Johnston
County – and also in
Garner, Wendell, Wilson,
and Goldsboro. Its 10th
branch will open soon in
Dunn. Besides its
headquarters building and
branch office on
Smithfield's North Bright
Leaf Boulevard (pictured),
KS Bank employees occupy
an operations center in
West Smithfield.
All told, the company
employs close to 100
persons, Mr. Worley told the
Weekly Sun at a
celebratory reception held
at the Smithfield
headquarters last Thursday
evening.
KS Bank as a stand-alone
business almost didn't make
it to its 100th birthday.
First Citizens Bank –
founded as the Bank of
Smithfield in 1898 – sought
to acquire KS in what was
termed a "hostile takeover"
in 2017. The News &
Observer reported in
July of that year that First
Citizens (based in Raleigh
since 1974) was "offering
$35 in cash per share, or
about $45.8 million, to
acquire all of the shares of
KS Bank’s corporate parent,
Smithfield-based KS
Bancorp."
But
the KS Bank Board of
Directors held firm in
their rejection of buy-out
offers by First Citizens,
sending the dispute into
litigation until a
settlement was announced
in May 2017: "Under the
terms of the settlement,
KS has repurchased all KS
shares owned by First
Citizens and its
affiliates, and First
Citizens has agreed to the
voluntary dismissal of its
lawsuit before the North
Carolina Business Court,"
read a news release issued
by GlobeNewswire.
The KS Bank board's
chairman, James C. Parker,
issued this statement with
that announcement: “We
understand First Citizens’
interest in our company;
however, our Board has
resolved that it is in the
long-term best interests of
KS and its shareholders that
KS remains independent. Our
management team believes
that KS Bank is located in
one of the most attractive
economic markets in North
Carolina and is
well-positioned to continue
its growth and
profitability.”
Mr.
Parker, a Goldsboro-based
CPA, remains chairman of
the KS board today.
Smithfield attorney Gordon
Woodruff is the board's
vice chairman. Others on
the Board of Directors are
Lisa H. Brogdon, April S.
Culver. B. Kenneth Jones
III, Matthew T. Keen,
Winston S. Kirby, Sidney
E. Sauls, R. Edward Scott
Jr. as well as CEO Worley
and President Emeritus
Keen.
Pictured at last week's KS Bank reception:
(left to right)
President and CEO Earl
Worley Jr.,
Smithfield-based
Commercial Relationship
Manager Brandon Barker,
and President Emeritus
Harold Keen.
"Trusted by families since 1977"
Rezoning
request includes
cross-hatched acreage
between Buffalo Road on
the left and the Eden
Woods subdivision on the
right. The Buffalo Creek
Greenway trail runs
through the middle to
Parkway Drive in the
Bradford Park subdivision.
Council
tables rezoning for
proposed subdivision
The
main issue: 222 lots
much smaller than
normally allowed
Members
of Smithfield's Town
Council made it clear at
the outset of Tuesday
night's public hearing
that they weren't ready to
accept plans for lots just
53% of the size allowed
under existing zoning of
acreage off Buffalo Road
adjacent to the Bradford
Park subdivision.
"These lots sizes –
they're too small,"
declared Councilman Travis
Scott at the outset of the
hearing, which continued
for more than two hours.
Planning Director Stephen
Wensman said the 222 lots
proposed by Adams &
Hodge Engineering on
behalf of landowners Guy
and Ross Lampe are about
4,200 square feet in
contrast to lots of 10,000
square feet in Bradford
Park. Even so, Mr. Wensman
said the developers'
proposal is "consistent"
with the town's
Comprehensive Plan since
it's "compatible with
surrounding land uses."
Under existing R-8 zoning
for much of the tract in
question, lots must be at
least 8,000 square feet in
size. The petitioners'
request for Conditional
Zoning, a relatively new
concept, allows for
trade-offs to permit
smaller lots. In this
case, that includes
setting aside significant
portions of the
138.63-acre tract for
areas left undeveloped and
adding amenities like
extra sidewalks, greenway
connections, and parking
spaces beyond what's
normally required by the
town.
A key ingredient in the
petitioners' request is an
offer to give the town 58
acres of woods that abut
Community Park. Council
members wondered how much
of that land would be
usable since it includes
some wetlands.
Among several residents of
Bradford Park who spoke
against the rezoning was
Gene Bruton, who gave
council members photos of
rainwater ponding around
his residence and others.
"It's gonna flood us out,"
he said of the proposed
subdivision.
"We're downhill from
Bradford Park," countered
Donnie Adams of the
engineering firm. He also
said the 58 acres offered
to the town is "very
usable" for recreation.
In the end, the council
voted 5-1 to table the
rezoning case until its
March 5 meeting to give
developers time to re-work
their plans in response to
concerns voiced Tuesday
night. Mr. Scott was the
only council member to
vote no (Councilman Marlon
Lee was absent).
New
police officer sworn in;
vacancies reduced to
five
Connor
Capshaw took the oath of
officer Tuesday evening as
a newly employed Law
Enforcement Officer (LEO)
with the Smithfield Police
Department. As a result,
the department is down to
five vacancies in its LEO
ranks with three recent
hires enrolled in Basic
Law Enforcement Training,
reports Tim Kerigan, the
town's director of human
resources. The vacancies
numbered 13 in November
when the council approved
a new incentive-pay
package for LEOs.
Also at Tuesday's council
session, two members of
the Police Department were
recognized by Chief Pete
Hedrick for recent
accomplishments:
• Detective David
Johnson has
earned his Advanced Law
Enforcement Certificate.
He has been with the
department since 2003.
• Officer Julie
Carroll has
earned her Intermediate
Law Enforcement
Certificate. She has been
with the department since
2019.
Retiring
fire captain honored for
20 years of service
Tony
McLeod was thanked for his
service with a
proclamation read by Mayor
Andy Moore. Mr. McLeod
retired December 31,
having moved up to the
rank of captain during his
career with the Smithfield
Fire Department.
Meanwhile, Town Manager
Mike Scott noted in his
monthly report that
Chadwick Brandon Ward, a
battalion chief with the
Cleveland Fire Department,
has been hired as
Smithfield's new assistant
fire chief.
February
designated as "All In
Red" Month for heart
health
A
proclamation adopted by
the council adds the
town's name to the list of
organizations supporting
the annual heart-health
awareness campaign
directed locally by UNC
Health Johnston and its
Health Foundation. The
proclamation asks
Smithfield citizens to
take part in National Wear
Red Day on February 2.
New
vehicles purchased for
Police, Water &
Sewer
The
council approved the
purchase of three vehicles
under statewide contracts:
• For the Police
Department: a 2023 Dodge
Durango from Performance
Automotive for $44,549.78
and a 2023 Dodge Charger
from Ilderton Dodge for
$35,113.
• For the Water &
Sewer Division: a 2023
Ford Escape from
Performance Automotive for
$28,853.14.
Town
Hall digital sign's
replacement to cost
$40,210
The
existing sign is just six
years old but has been out
of order since October and
cannot be repaired,
reported Technology
Director Eric McDowell.
Following his
recommendation, the
council approved
purchasing a new device
from Sign & Awning
Systems of Dunn for
$40,210, to be paid with
contingency funds.
Street
drainage problem to be
fixed in Eden Woods
The
council approved an
expenditure of $32,000 to
rebuild a portion of Afton
Lane to stop rainwater
from flowing onto private
property at 51 Brookwood
Drive in North
Smithfield's Eden Woods
subdivision. Garris
Grading & Paving Inc.
of Farmville will do the
work with state Powell
Bill street-maintenance
funds allotted the town.
Three-way
stop OK'd for East
Smithfield intersection
Chief
of Police Hedrick
recommended adding signage
at the intersection of
North Avenue and West
Street to create a
three-way stop. He said
that should reduce
speeding through the
neighborhood. The council
approved the request.
Appearance
Commission, Adjustment
appointments
The
council appointed Julia
Narron of Bridge Street to
the Appearance
Commission and
reappointed Jeremy Pearce
of Lee Street to the
town's Board of
Adjustment. Ms.
Narron has previously
served on the Appearance
Commission.
Council
agrees to schedule two
meetings every month
In
addition to the regular
first-Tuesday meeting, the
council approved a motion
made by David Barbour to
designate the third
Tuesday of the month as
the date for a second
regular meeting, starting
in February. Meanwhile,
the council recessed this
week's meeting until 6:30
p.m. next Tuesday
to begin discussions
toward adoption by July 1
of a town budget for
2024-25. Town Manager Mike
Scott said his goal is to
finish a "draft" budget by
the end of February for
the council's
consideration during
subsequent budget
sessions.
FOR SALE: house & lots
overlooking South
Smithfield
pond
313
W. Wilson St.
Traditional
brick residence with 5
bedrooms & 5 baths
(2 primary suites),
with 3
lots totaling
more than an acre (one
lot is vacant): HUGE
PRICE REDUCTION to $599,000
(MLS# 2509894).
SUSAN LASSITER, Broker, Fonville Morisey
Realty
919-669-9235
WHAT'S COMING UP
Johnston County Senior Games to host
a "Winter Clinic"
The
event is scheduled from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. this Friday
at the Smithfield
Recreation & Aquatics
Center for seniors age 50
and older who want to take
part in upcoming
competitions in
pickleball, basketball
shooting, and swimming.
Johnston County Senior
Games – an opening round
for North
Carolina Senior Games
– will be held at several
locations this year April
2 through May 2. The
registration deadline to
sign up is February 28.
For more information call
919-934-1408.
Traveling exhibit about service and
patriotism here
Tuesday
The
Wreaths Across America
Mobile Education Unit will
be visiting Smithfield
next Tuesday from 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. at American
Legion Post 132 at 100
Pitchi Street (off North
Bright Leaf Boulevard). Wreaths
Across America is
recognized for placing
more than 2.7-million
veterans’ wreaths at more
than 3,700 locations
nationally and abroad on
National Wreaths Across
America Day every
December. The exhibit's
purpose is to teach the
next generation about
military service and
sacrifice and to share
stories of patriotism and
love of country. Legion
Post 132 and its Auxiliary
along with the Daughters
of the American Revolution
Smith-Bryan Chapter are
sponsoring the local
event, which is free of
admission charge.
DEATHS
& FUNERALS
A
WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE
EDITOR
Reckless
driving appears to be
another pandemic
Everywhere
one goes nowadays, you're
more than likely to
witness some really bad
driving by fellow
motorists. The worst-case
scenario is what took
place at the I-95 Brogden
Road interchange this past
Monday. But there are many
other instances just as
alarming even if no one is
physically harmed, and
just about every example
is a case of either
excessive speeding or
aggressive driving, or
both.
It's not everybody out
there, thank goodness, but
enough to make one
concerned for the safety
of ourselves and our loved
ones as we venture out and
about. I feel our civil
rights are being violated
by those who willfully
flaunt the rules of the
road.
Why is this getting out of
control? I could blame the
dark cloud of divisiveness
that hangs over this
nation just now as one
cause. Folks seem to be
angry about anything and
everything, and they're
taking out their
frustrations on the open
road.
Distracted driving is
apparently another big
factor. I'm talking about
folks who can't put down
that cell phone and pay
attention to where they're
going.
Reinforcing the bad
behavior is the absence of
meaningful law
enforcement. There simply
aren't enough cops and
patrolmen on our streets
and highways to catch all
the offenders, and folks
obviously know that. Your
odds of getting a speeding
ticket nowadays is right
up there with your chances
of winning the lottery.
So what's the answer? Step
up your resolve to be
cautious out there. Stay
alert, watch your speed,
and somehow avoid those
spots where the driving
seems to be at its worst.
Oh, and one last thing:
Can we not use those turn
signals once again?
Future
I-42's interchange with
Wilson's Mills Road
The
freeway is still known to
us as the US 70 Smithfield
Bypass, but the
construction of new
interchanges like this one
and another at nearby
Swift Creek Road are part
of a massive project to
covert 70 into Interstate
42 from I-40 to the coast.
This drone view provided
by the county's Economic
Development Office looks
eastward toward the Neuse
River and Selma. The
outside lanes of travel
being used now will remain
as entrance and exit ramps
once the bridge is
finished. One negative
aspect of these projects:
their completion will
likely produce more
flaunting of speed limits.
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