Smithfield makes official bid for "Tobs" baseball
Wilson's summer collegiate team is looking to move

The Smithfield Town Council Tuesday evening adopted without dissent a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wilson Tobs baseball franchise to pursue negotiations to bring a summertime collegiate-level baseball team to Smithfield.

The agreement approved this week is "non-binding," Town Manager Mike Scott emphasized, "but an important step" toward closing a deal to land the team and "over 130 events a year at a new stadium."

"I believe this will be the No 1 tourism draw for Johnston County by far," exclaimed Mayor Andy Moore. "Sports tourism is huge."

Councilman Sloan Stevens said bringing the Tobs to Smithfield could have an annual economic impact of $8-9 million.

The goal of the agreement signed this week is to determine where to build a stadium for 1,500 to 1,800 spectators and sources of funding to pay for it. In play are potential grants from the town, the county, and Johnston's Tourism Authority. No dollar estimates are included in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and the Town Council did not address funding Tuesday.

Regarding a stadium site, "we are hoping to use Community Park rather than Legion Field so we can build on our own property," Town Manager Scott said Wednesday by e-mail to the Weekly Sun. "We are completing renderings of what this might look like at our park location."

The MOU stipulates that "the Tobs will maintain exclusive, year-round use of the Smithfield stadium and all its facilities," yet the town's Parks & Recreation Department would be able to use it with approval in advance by the Tobs.

The MOU "keeps each party committed to the goal of completing a formalized contractual stadium lease agreement by September 30." If that goal isn't met, the MOU will remain in force until it expires October 31.

The Tobs want to move out of Wilson right away because professional baseball's Carolina Mudcats will be playing in a new downtown stadium there in 2026. The Tobs since 1997 have competed in the NCAA-sanctioned Coastal Plain League for amateur collegiate players.

What about Smithfield's Legion Field?
Here's a view of what's still in place there today:

Situated beside Pitchi Street just off North Bright Leaf Boulevard, it was home base for the Smithfield-Selma "Leafs," a Class D professional baseball team that played here for five seasons in the late 1940s. Later, the ballpark (which once had a covered grandstand) hosted Johnston County's American Legion baseball team for aspiring young players. Smithfield's Legion Post 132 transferred ownership of the property to the Johnston Community College Foundation in 2007.
READ MORE about the Smithfield-Selma Leafs in the editor's column below.


Council postpones hearing on major subdivision plan 

With the Town Hall's meeting room apparently filled to capacity by the proposal's opponents, the council unanimously approved Roger Wood's motion to postpone Tuesday's scheduled public hearing on a 1,147-unit residential subdivision between Smithfield and Wilson's Mills until the council's October 7 meeting.

Councilman Wood said "multiple parties" had asked for the postponement.

The proposed subdivision, named "Belamy," would cover almost 500 acres bisected by Lee-Youngblood Road west of Wilson's Mills Road. The site lies within Smithfield's extraterritorial jurisdiction, and the developers have requested voluntary annexation to the town. The site also lies within the Wilson's Mills Fire District.

Earlier this month the town's Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend denial of the developers' rezoning request to allow the project to move forward.

Septic-tank maker gets town's OK to expand in floodplain

Mitchell Concrete Products, Inc. off Market Street just west of the Neuse River has been producing septic tanks there since 1970. Tuesday night the Town Council agreed to allow the company to expand its storage area even though the property lies within the river's 100-year floodplain.

Jamie Mitchell, the company's second-generation owner/operator, told the council additional storage on slightly higher ground is needed as the finished product requires 30 days to cure before tanks are shipped to buyers.

Even so, he admitted, the historical river floods produced by hurricanes Fran, Floyd, and Matthew over the past quarter century actually floated the concrete tanks that weigh between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds apiece.

In most instances of normal river flooding, noted Planning Director Stephen Wensman, the heavy tanks don't float away. Mr. Mitchell said the site under consideration for expanded storage is four feet higher than the rest of the property.

The town's Planning staff as well as the Planning Board had recommended approval of Mitchell's request for Heavy Industrial zoning for the site.

Council makes advisory board appointments with ballots

With more applicants than positions available, the council went to written ballots to make the following appointments:
• Historic Properties Commission – Emma K. Creech and Elizabeth A. Temple.
• Planning Board  – Jaime H. Beasley, Nariman Jeff Jaminia, and Luke H. Stancil.
• Appearance Commission – Christina M. Arena and Luke H. Stancil.
In addition, the council in open session appointed Marcela A. Buccafusco to one of four available seats on the Recreation Advisory Committee.

Mowing contract awarded to low-bidder Lane Contracting

Following a recommendation from staff, the council awarded a contract for mowing lawns around the water plant and its reservoir as well as grounds around the town's elevated water tanks to Lane Contracting. The firm's bid of $15,300 for nine months of mowing was by far the lowest of three who submitted proposals. Owner of the business is Mark Lane, who serves as chairman of the town's Planning Board.


Sunset Memorial Park's driveways refreshed
The town has completed resurfacing all the driveways within its West Smithfield graveyard – part of a push this year to repave more of the town's streets with several million dollars taken from General Fund reserves.
 

FOR SALE AT 806 SOUTH FIRST STREET, SMITHFIELD

Lovely custom-built home with 4,074 sq. ft. on large landscaped lot.
4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, huge kitchen, two-car garage, brick exterior,  big back deck with hot tub. Reduced to $558,900 MLS#10086983 (Photo by ShowSpaces Photography)

SUSAN LASSITER  • Long & Foster Real Estate  •  919-669-9235

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners took a couple of steps Monday evening toward improvement of courtroom facilities within the Courthouse complex:

(1) The board agreed to exercise the county's option to purchase the Mast Law Firm building no later than December 30. The purchase price is $1 million. County Manager Rick Hester told the Weekly Sun a decision has not been made on whether to renovate the building or tear it down for new courtroom facilities.

(2) The board approved a contract with Moseley Architects to design "upfit" renovations to three courtrooms housed in the Courthouse wing that was built in 1989. Moseley will be paid $296,100 for "basic" services plus $20,000 for acoustic design and $75,000 for audio/visual design work. Moseley is a Raleigh firm that designed the county's new Public Safety and Detention centers east of town and is presently at work on plans for a county administrative complex on the south side of US 70 Business there.

Transportation plan adopted with rail emphasis added

Commissioners two weeks ago postponed adoption of the county's new Comprehensive Transportation Plan to give the public one list chance to comment on its contents. County Planning Director Braston Newton told the board Monday that a few more comments came in, mostly in support of the plan's call for a passenger-train station at Clayton, which is about halfway between existing Amtrak stops at Selma and Raleigh. Clayton has been without passenger-train service since the Southern Railway discontinued the last schedule on that route in the 1960s. Commissioners adopted the revised countywide plan by unanimous vote. It hadn't been updated since 2014. Details in the Sept. 4 edition of the Weekly Sun>

County options site for future JCC Clayton campus

The board approved an option-to-purchase agreement for almost 52 acres off Johnson Estate Road near UNC Health's hospital at Clayton as the future site of an auxiliary campus for Johnston Community College. The negotiated purchase price of $125,000 per acre adds up to $6,466,250, County Attorney Jennifer Slusser told commissioners. She said closure of the deal is on a fast track for completion by October 30. When the campus will be built has not been determined.

Agreement adopted for state's first Isaiah 117 House

Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Isaiah House 117, a Tennessee-based non-profit that's about to open its first North Carolina facility in Selma. Its mission is to provide a temporary home for children on their way to foster homes through the Johnston County Department of Social Services. The Town of Selma donated the property where the local Isaiah House is being built. The program's name comes from a Biblical verse – Isaiah 1:17 – which includes the phrase "defend the fatherless."

County in line for additional opioid-treatment funds

Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing the county to take part in another distribution of opioid-treatment funds coming to state and local governments as a result of litigation involving Purdue Pharma and a number of "secondary" manufacturers of addictive drugs. County Attorney Slusser said the county is in line to get another $1.5 million from Pharma and about $247,000 from the others.

County pursues "Cost of Community Services Study"

The board authorized staff to negotiate a contract with Creative Economic Development Consultants for a study of the financial impact on public services of land-use decisions made by the county – a move sparked by an economist's presentation at last spring's annual Board of Commissioners planning retreat. Based in Elkin, the consulting firm specializes in advising local governments across the state. One of its current clients is the Town of Clayton.

JOHNSTON INSPECTORS HONORED FOR HELENE RELIEF

For their service after Hurricane Helene, the County of Johnston's Building Inspections Department has received the Barry Gupton Award from the N.C. Building Inspectors Association for "exceptional commitment to advancing state building codes and supporting communities in times of need." The county deployed 11 inspectors to Western North Carolina after last year's storm to conduct safety assessments and help residents and businesses begin rebuilding: (left to right) in front – Andy House, Stacy Strickland, Preston Batten, Shane Hudson, Josh Gainey; in back – Austin Tart, James Sanders, Todd Barbee, Russell Reeves, Allen Cook, and Michael Piper. (County of Johnston photo)
 

 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REPORT 

NOTEWORTHY: Smithfield-Selma wins for the first time this season.
Here are last Friday's results for Johnston's teams (with season's records):
SMITHFIELD-SELMA 42 (1-3), SOUTHERN WAYNE 7
WAKE PREP 49, AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 14 (3-1)
CLAYTON 55 (3-1), WEST JOHNSTON 2 (1-2)
CLEVELAND 46 (4-0), NEW BERN 6
PRINCETON 48 (3-1), NORTH JOHNSTON 46 (3-1)
SOUTH JOHNSTON 14 (2-1), MIDWAY 12
CORINTH HOLDERS (2-1) DID NOT PLAY
For game summaries and schedules, visit JoCoSports.com>
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

SSS to host Homecoming football, countywide band expo
Tuesday's weather prompted cancellation of Smithfield-Selma High School's annual Homecoming Parade yet the week's celebration will continue with Friday's football game versus South Garner and Saturday's "JoCo Expo" featuring performances by all of Johnston County's high-school marching bands. Kickoff for the football game is set for 7 p.m. Gates open for Saturday's band event at 6 p.m.

Neuse Little Theatre to present "Anne of Green Gables"
The first of six performances is scheduled for 8 p.m. this Friday at NLT's home in the former Legion Hut log cabin beside the river on Front Street. Subsequent shows are set for 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, and the same schedule during the weekend of September 26-28. For ticket information, visit the NLT website>
 

Fall equinox at 2:19 p.m. Monday

That signals the start of astronomical autumn when the sun is directly above Earth's Equator, although the first of September is considered to be the meteorological start of the season.

Of course, we can still have summer-like conditions around here in October, and much of our fall color usually doesn't burst forth until November.

So what's with this maple tree beside South Smithfield's Chestnut Drive that was already showing its colors this week! Must be exceptions to every rule of Mother Nature's making.
 

 DEATHS AND FUNERALS 
Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home:

VERONICA AVERY, 74 – died September 14

WILLIAM AARON JACKSON, 92 – died September 14

WALTER FRED HENRY, 76 – died September 13

LAURA C. SEALEY, 80 – died September 13

LARRY GENE GARNER SR., 86 – died September 9

MICHAEL SCOTT LYLES, 65 – died September 7

KIMBERLY DENISE BAGLEY McDUFFIE, 57 – died September 6

 

---

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Some familiar names on the Leafs' baseball roster

The Smithfield-Selma "Leafs" competed in professional baseball's Class D Tobacco State League for five seasons: 1946-1950. You might recognize some of the names included on rosters published by Wikipedia, my go-to online encyclopedia. Here are a few that caught my eye (folks I've known in my lifetime):

1946 – Hoyt Castleberry and W.B. Strickland, a couple of well-known Smithfield businessmen in later years.
1947 – Sam Narron, former Major League catcher and bullpen coach who earned four World Series championship rings with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a long-time resident of northern Johnston's Emit community.
1948 – Ambrose Foote, better known as "Amby," whose son Barry was a Major League catcher with several teams. Amby still resides in Smithfield. Also on this list is Sam Narron again, this time as a team manager alongside co-manager Virgil Payne, beloved girls' basketball and boys' baseball coach at Selma and Smithfield high schools and later manager of Johnston County's American Legion baseball team. Also on this list is Edward Jackson, a long-time Smithfield resident we remember as "Eddie."
1949 – Amby Foote and Virgil Payne again. Amby was a pitcher for the Leafs.
1950 – Virgil Payne once more, this time as a player, not listed as a manager.

The Leafs played as many as 138 games each season! Their best years produced won-loss records of 73-65 in 1948 and 70-65 in 1949. Other teams in the Tobacco State League were the Clinton Blues, the Dunn-Erwin Twins, the Lumberton Cubs, the Red Springs Red Robins, the Sanford Spinners, the Warsaw Red Sox, and the Wilmington Pirates.

Stats Crew, the online link provided by Wikipedia for my report, also recorded attendance figures for most of the Leafs' seasons. Peak attendance came in 1949, when a total of 41,618 came out to Legion Field (listed as "Legion Park"). That was an average of 617 paying spectators per game. Attendance dropped to 19,369 during the team's final season in 1950.
 

Subscribers to this edition: 1,635

MISS A PREVIOUS EDITION?
You'll find it in the Weekly Sun archives>