Revised
plan cuts number of
lots, increases their
size
Last
month the Smithfield Town
Council rejected a plan
for a large residential
subdivision on cleared
land on the west side of
Buffalo Road south of
Holland Drive. The vote
was 4-3. Last week
the council approved a
revised plan for a large
subdivision in woods on
the east side of Buffalo
Road adjacent to the
Bradford Park subdivision.
That vote was
also 4-3.
Winning approval at the
council's July 9 meeting
was a new plan that cut
the original 220-lot
proposal to 170 lots
for stand-alone
single-family residences,
with minimum lot sizes
increased from 4,200 to
5,500 square feet.
The 138-acre site is owned
by the Lampe family, which
has agreed to donate to
the town 58 acres
adjoining Smithfield
Community Park on the east
side of the Buffalo Creek
Greenway trail.
"Your hope is for elbow
room; my hope is for
affordability," Sagan
Lampe told the council as
she introduced the revised
subdivision plan with less
housing density. She noted
that her family has owned
the property for three
generations.
Besides fewer and larger
lots, the new plan calls
for two storm-water
holding ponds to address
flooding concerns brought
up repeatedly by residents
of Bradford Park.
Another condition attached
to the rezoning that won
council approval is tree
preservation, except where
storm-water issues must be
addressed (and lots
cleared for construction
of the houses).
Furthermore, fencing in
addition to landscaping
buffers will be required
between the new
subdivision's lots and
Bradford Park residences.
Planning Director Stephen
Wensman pointed out that
specific grading and
drainage plans yet to be
devised must be approved
by the town's staff and
the council before
construction may proceed.
"I'm now comfortable that
have another review coming
with details," said
Councilman Barbour before
casting his vote in favor
of the project. He was
joined in voting for
approval by Councilmen
John Dunn, Roger Wood, and
Sloan Stevens. Councilmen
Marlon Lee, Steve Rabil,
and Travis Scott voted no.
NOT
THE BEST TIME FOR A
POWER OUTAGE!
An
apparently inebriated
motorist crashed a vehicle
into a utility pole on
North Second Street around
12:30 p.m. Tuesday,
knocking out electricity
during the heat of the day
to much of Downtown, most
of South Smithfield, and a
smaller area just east of
the central business
district. Town of
Smithfield utility
workers, shown here
removing the splintered
pole, got power restored
in just over two hours.
According to witnesses,
the collision deployed air
bags that knocked the
driver out of the vehicle,
which continued south
until it veered into the
front porch of a residence
at North Second and
Hancock streets. The
driver was caught by
police as he tried to flee
the scene. Tuesday's
official high temperature,
measured at Johnston
Regional Airport, reached
95 later that afternoon.
County
raises landfill charge;
town raises collection
fees
The
Town Council at its second
meeting of the month on
Tuesday approved Town
Manager Mike Scott's
recommendation to raise
monthly garbage-collection
fees by 34 cents to cover
a $3-per-ton increase in
what the county charges
for disposal of bulk
refuse at its landfill.
The standard fee for a
single roll-out
residential container will
rise from $18.21 to $18.54
per month. The optional
backyard collection fee
for residents who are
under age 70 or not
disabled or will rise from
$23.21 to $23.55.
The new fees, which take
effect with the town's
August utility billings,
are being added now
because official notice of
the new landfill charge
had not been received from
the county when the
council adopted the town's
2024-25 budget last month.
Town
buys six vehicles for
new school resource
officers
The
$257,760 cost is covered
by part of a $450,000
public-safety grant to the
town from the state that
was approved by last
year's N.C. General
Assembly. The town has
agreed to fund a portion
of the Police Department's
expense of hiring SROs for
all public schools within
Smithfield's jurisdiction.
Johnston's Board of
Education is covering most
of that cost. The vehicles
being purchased under a
state pricing contract
from High Point's Ilderton
dealership are Dodge
Durango "pursuit" models.
Public
Library trustee
reappointed; other
vacancies remain
The
council at its July 9
meeting reappointed Connie
Barbour of Whitley Drive to
the Board of Trustees of the
Public Library of Johnston
County and Smithfield. A
second-grade teacher at
Wilson's Mills Elementary
School, she begins a second
three-year term on the
library's advisory board.
The town has 10 vacancies
remaining on six boards and
commissions:
Appearance
Commission – 2
positions.
Board of Adjustment – 2
In-Town positions and 1 ETJ
Alternate position.
Historic
Properties Commission – 3
positions.
Library
Board of Trustees – 3
positions.
Parks
and Recreation Advisory
Commission – 2
positions.
"Trusted
by families since
1977"
840
S. Bright Leaf Blvd.
• 919-934-7164
• www.carrollpharmacy.com
PILL
PACKAGING • FREE LOCAL
DELIVERY • CONVENIENT
DRIVE-THRU
Downtown
Development employs
executive director
Heidi
Gilmond is the new executive director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. She fills the position held recently by Interim Director Nancy Bartholomew, who succeeded Sarah Edwards following her dismissal by the DSDC board in December.
An announcement on the DSDC Facebook page had this time to say about the new executive director:
Heidi brings a wealth of experience, having spent over 20 years in the corporate world. She recently relocated to the area and has quickly established strong relationships with several groups in the area and many of our local businesses.
In addition to her professional experience, Heidi is actively involved in the community and has held executive and chair positions with other non-profit organizations, including the Kalispell Downtown Association in Kalispell, Montana, where she previously lived.
In her free time, Heidi enjoys exploring all that North Carolina has to offer with her husband, Mike, of 27 years. They have three wonderful children, two beautiful granddaughters, and several fur babies.
Town Manager Scott is new DSDC board president
He serves on the Downtown Development Corporation's Board of Directors in an ex officio capacity as town manager along with Town Councilman David Barbour. Mary Reece is the board's vice president; Bill Johnson of The Howell Theatre is treasurer. Other board members currently listed on the DSDC website are Carter Jones, Jan Branch, Kay Kennedy of Kennedy Properties, Brittany Lucas of The Dragonfly Boutique, Michelle Vergburgt of J&M Assortment, and Mike O'Dowd of SoDoSoPa.
County
hires architect for a
new office complex
Johnston's
County Commissioners
approved a contract Monday
with Moseley Architects of
Raleigh to put together a
plan for new
administrative office
buildings on recently
acquired property around
the intersection of US 70
Business and Yelverton
Grove Road on the east
side of Smithfield.
The architect's proposal
specifically mentions
options for a stand-alone
building for the county's
Department of Social
Services and a "combined"
building for Social
Services and the Health
Department. Beyond that,
the architect will
evaluate potential "reuse
options" for the existing
Social Services campus
between Smithfield's
Hancock and North streets.
Moseley's contract also
includes a "traffic impact
analysis" of building more
county facilities near the
recently completed Public
Safety Center and
Detention Center (both
designed by Moseley
Architects).
The contract approved this
week comes at a cost not
to exceed $178,646.
Moseley says its design
work can be completed in
4-6 months.
Report
shows reduction in
Johnston's child
fatalities
Wendy
Wilkins, who chairs
Johnston's state-mandated
Child Fatality Prevention
Team, presented the
required annual report
that showed a reduction in
deaths among Johnstonians
age 18 and younger.
Those deaths totaled 23 in
2022 (the latest reporting
period) – down from 30
deaths the year before.
The causes listed for the
23 fatalities: three
drownings, two resulting
from motor-vehicle
accidents, one from a
handgun accident, two
related to premature
births, four from birth
defects, two from
illnesses, five "perinatal
related," one homicide,
and one suicide.
In addition, the report
notes that two of the 2022
deaths resulted from
"unsafe sleep
environments" – down from
five in 2021. Addressing
that issue, Ms. Wilkins
noted in her report that
"pack-n-plays" were given
to 62 families last year,
thanks to grants and
donations to the
Prevention Team, along
with 6,000 diapers
distributed to needy
households as a result of
fund-raising by the
Johnston District
Missionary Women's Union,
a collaborative effort
among 32 local Baptist
churches.
County
manager's 25 years
longest tenure in the
state
The
commissioners surprised
Rick Hester by adopting a
resolution lifting him up
as "currently the longest
serving manager for a
single county in North
Carolina."
Mr. Hester was promoted to
county manager in July
1999. Employed by the
county in 1987, he first
worked in the Planning
Department where he was
involved in the countywide
road-naming project.
Later, as assistant county
manager, he played a key
role in the development of
rural water districts
throughout Johnston.
The resolution adopted by
commissioners Monday
characterizes Mr. Hester
as "a dedicated public
servants who is known for
his leadership, integrity,
fiscal responsibility; but
perhaps most of all he is
known for having a sincere
and caring heart that only
wants the best for
Johnston County's
citizens."
"I am so lucky to work
with fifteen hundred
hard-working co-workers,"
Mr. Hester responded. "I'm
just thankful to be part
of the team, and I've been
blessed to work with great
boards" of commissioners
over the past quarter of a
century.
Applicant
chosen by balloting for
JCCollege Board of
Trustees
With
two applicants for one
open position in hand,
commissioners voted by
written ballot to appoint
Eugenia Boylorn to the
Johnston Community College
Board of Trustees. She
lists her occupation as
director of People &
Organization, a non-profit
agency based in Raleigh.
Her e-mail address
indicates she's also
employed by Novo Nordisk,
the pharmaceutical giant
that's expanding at
Clayton.
Realtor Susan Lassiter has
what it takes to
sell Smithfield.
"With
my knowledge about the
community and my
experience in real
estate, I know this is a
good time to sell your
property. Call me to
discuss your listing
plans."
•
Licensed real estate agent
since 1992
• Real estate broker since
2001
• Served on the Smithfield
Town Council for 8 years
• Past president,
Smithfield-Selma Area
Chamber of Commerce
• Past president, Downtown
Smithfield Development Corp.
• Past president, Rotary
Club of Smithfield
Education Foundation awards college
scholarships
The Johnston
County Education
Foundation (JCEF) has
administered over $90,000
in scholarships to nearly
100 recent high-school
graduates of Johnston's
public schools. Recipients
from Smithfield-based
schools:
Smithfield-Selma
High School – Paola
Jimenez Arreaga, Thomas
Ethan Augustyn, Keilana Lily
Mutchier, Maya Mercier,
Eyonna Lynette Horton,
Alexia Barrios Maldonado,
Hailey Lynn Stephens, Dalvin
Rayquan Richardson, Vance
Yates Lawrence, Teagan
Judith Farrell, Sydney
Alexis Purvis-Corbin, Kevin
Chen, Denasia Ayanna Dixon,
Michael Davis Schmidt Jr.,
Imari Taylor, Cameron Adams,
Adriana Josefine Santiago,
Savanah Allen.
Career
& Technical
Leadership Academy
– Maria
Mendoza-Guerra, Paul
Robinson, Anthony Bianchi.
Neuse
Charter School
– Jayvin Bradley,
Zoe McPherson, Jayden
Lassiter.
Founded in
1991, the Johnston County
Education Foundation
promotes innovation,
involvement, and
excellence in public
schools through privately
funded programs, grants,
and scholarships. For more
information visit www.jced.foundation>
Here's
the "stroke team" that
recently set an emergency
department record with a
"door-to-needle" treatment
time of 17 minutes: (left
to right) Aaron Andrews,
Jacob Mitchell, and
Savannah Martin, EMTs;
Mary Johnson and Jenson
Norris, RNs; and Trevor
Beasley, physician
assistant. (Photo
& story from UNC
Health Johnston)
UNC Health Johnston graded highly for
stroke care
UNC
Health Johnston has received
the American Heart
Association’s Get With
The Guidelines—Stroke:
GoldPlus quality-achievement
award for its commitment to
ensuring stroke patients
receive the most appropriate
treatment according to
nationally recognized,
research-based guidelines,
ultimately leading to more
lives saved and reduced
disability.
Stroke is the fifth cause of
death and a leading cause of
disability in the country. A
stroke occurs when a blood
vessel that carries oxygen
and nutrients to the brain
is either blocked by a clot
or bursts. When that
happens, part of the brain
cannot get the blood and
oxygen it needs, so brain
cells die. Early stroke
detection and treatment are
key to improving survival,
minimizing disability and
accelerating recovery times.
UNC Health Johnston also
received the American Heart
Association’s Target:
Stroke Honor Roll Elite
Plus award. To
qualify for this
recognition, hospitals must
meet specific criteria to
reduce the time between an
eligible patient’s arrival
at the hospital and
treatment with thrombolytic
therapy.
In addition, UNC Health
Johnston received the
American Heart Association’s
Target: Type 2 Diabetes
Honor Roll award for
striving to ensure patients
with diabetes receive the
most up-to-date,
evidence-based care when
hospitalized due to stroke.
Since 2021, UNC Health
Johnston has been a "primary
stroke center," featuring a
comprehensive system for
rapid diagnosis and
treatment of stroke patients
admitted to the emergency
department.
Chamber
of Commerce
thanks Hank Daniels
He's
shown here with his wife
Sarai during a retirement
reception Monday afternoon
at the headquarters of the
Triangle East Chamber of
Commerce, which hosted the
event to honor the
long-time local hotel
entrepreneur and community
volunteer.
Mr. Daniels has sold the
last of his hotel
properties here – the
Sleep Inn & Suites –
yet continues to serve on
the Board of Trustees of
Johnston Community College
as its vice chair.
He is an active member of
Smithfield's First Baptist
Church where he has served
in numerous capacities.
Over the years he has led
the local United Way
campaign, served as
president of Johnston's
Mental Health Association,
chaired the Johnston
County Tourism Authority,
and supported Johnston's
public schools and the Boy
Scouts in several
leadership roles.
WHAT'S COMING
UP
Downtown
plans “Night
Market” July 26,
August 9 & 23
The
Downtown Smithfield
Development Corporation
will present a newly named
event – "Fridays on Third
Night Market” – three times this this summer: on July 26, August 9, and August 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. along the 100 block of South Third Street. A permit for the events calls for 30
to 40 farmer and artisan
vendors, two beer tents,
one dessert food
truck, and live
music. The
“Night Market" is
a successor to DSDC’s
recent Farmers Market
and Third StrEATery
events. Also,
Smithfield Parks &
Recreation is hosting
a "Movie in the Park"
admission-free showing
of E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial
at 8:30 p.m. Friday,
July 26 at the Neuse
River Amphitheater.
Smithfield’s
“National Night Out’
on Tuesday, August 6
The
Town of Smithfield will
partner with over 17,000
communities across the
country for National Night
Out on Tuesday, August 6
from 5 to 8 p.m. at
Johnston Community
College. In its 41st year,
National Night Out is a
community-building
campaign enhancing
relationships between
neighbors and law
enforcement. Locally, its
sponsors are the
Smithfield Police
Department along with the
Selma and Wilson’s Mills
police departments, the
Smithfield and Selma fire
departments, the Johnston
County Sheriff’s Office
and Johnston County EMS,
the State Highway Patrol,
N.C. Wildlife Resources
Commission, Stevens
Sausage, Lifespring
Church, and Quality
Equipment. The evening
includes free food, a
petting zoo, bounce
houses, K9 demonstrations,
giveaways, police vehicle
displays, and booths
highlighting crime
prevention and safety. To
learn more about National
Night Out, visit natw.org>
Town’s
River Rat Regatta
returns on Saturday,
August 10
The
5th annual event is
scheduled for August 10
with a rain date of August
24. It's a short race on
the Neuse River starting
at the Front Street boat
ramp, ending at the Market
Street bridge. Entries
must be "river worthy"
craft made of corrugated
cardboard, duct tape, and
glue, with both youth (age
12 and under) and adult
divisions of competition.
VIEW more
details along with an
entry form>
Governing
board meetings scheduled
through mid-August
Since the next
edition of the Sun won't
arrive until August 15 –
four weeks from today –
here's the schedule of local
government meetings between
now and then (unscheduled
special sessions may be
called with 48 hours’
public notice):
• Johnston
County Commissioners will meet at 10
a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday,
August 5 at the Courthouse.
VIEW
the agenda once it's posted
by the end of the week prior
to the meeting>
• Johnston
County Board of Education will meet at 4
p.m. Tuesday, August 13 at
the Evander Simpson
Building. VIEW
the agenda once it's posted
by the end of the week prior
to the meeting>
•
Smithfield Town
Council will
meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday,
August 13 at Town
Hall.
VIEW the
agenda once it's posted
by the end of the week
prior to the meeting>
Business
Disputes • Injuries •
Family Law • Appeals
Strong in results.
Strong in experience.
Strong in integrity.
armstronglawyers.com
• 919-934-1575
 |
 |
 |
 |
L.
Lamar
Armstrong Jr. |
Marcia
Armstrong |
L.
Lamar
Armstrong III |
Eason
Armstrong
Keeney |
DEATHS
& FUNERALS
A
rundown of obituaries
posted online since the
Sun's edition of June
27.
Click on the name to
read an obituary,
usually posted by the
funeral home.
JEROME
MICHAEL MASILIONIS, 83
– died July 16
NED WILSON
DAUGHTRY, 83 – died
July 15
DIANE
ANTOINETTE WASHINGTON,
69 – died July
12
THOMAS GARY
RIES, 64 – died
July 11
BRENDA
MURPHY GRUBBS, 68 –
died July 8
CAROLYN
JONES MURRAY, 86 –
died July 4
ELGIE WEAVER
CREECH, 87 – died
July 3
MARY GEORGE
NARRON, 97 –
died July 2
ILENE FAY
STEINER, 83– died
June 28
JERRY WAYNE
EVANS, 72– died June
27
A
WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE
EDITOR
It
was not the way to
settle a controversial
matter
The
Smithfield Town Council
this week set in motion
the wheels toward
establishing a "social
district" within the
central business district.
Based on previous
statements by council
members, it could have
been a split vote: either
4-3 in favor or 4-3
against the proposal to
allow alcohol consumption
on Downtown sidewalks and
streets on a regular basis
(it has already been
allowed during special
events like concerts at
the Neuse River
Amphitheater).
But the vote for approval
was 4-0 as three council
members were absent from
Tuesday's meeting, and one
of those four was likely
opposed but didn't speak
up when the vote was
tallied and therefore was
recorded as voting yes.
It's possible all three of
those who were absent
would have voted no.
Taking some of the sting
out of Tuesday's
affirmative vote, the
council members present
did agree to reduce both
the operating days and
boundaries of the social
district, and they pointed
out that the concept is
subject to evaluation in
the months ahead regarding
the district's
continuation or
modification.
But it would have been
much fairer to all
concerned if the plan put
together Tuesday could
have "laid on the table"
until the council's next
regularly scheduled
meeting on August 13 –
when it's more likely all
seven members will be
present.
Subscribers
to this edition: 1,554
MISS
A PREVIOUS EDITION?
You will
find it in the
Weekly Sun
archives>
the SMITHFIELD
WEEKLY SUN
|
