COVID vaccinations available at pharmacies
Health Department to offer shots once supplies arrive

Governor Josh Stein issued an order last weekend that clears the way for North Carolina's pharmacies to offer shots to all seniors and others with certain medical conditions without a prescription.

That lifted some of the recent uncertainty regarding vaccinations in general across the nation.

"We are currently administering COVID vaccines for anyone over 65 as well as anyone 18-64 with any number of qualifying conditions," said Smithfield pharmacist Alan Carroll, who also serves as chairman of the Johnston County Board of Health. "It doesn't have to be verified with medical records or any other burdensome barrier for getting it," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Dr. Marilyn Pearson, director of Johnston's Public Health Department, said this week her agency has yet to receive a supply of the COVID vaccine "but plan to provide it in the future." She added that "the vaccine is no longer provided for free by the Federal Government" yet "it is likely that most insurance plans will pay for the vaccine" for qualifying individuals.

Mr. Carroll confirmed that insurance in most cases will cover vaccinations without a co-payment. He noted that the Federal Government has not provided free COVID vaccines the past two years.

Governor Stein's order authorizes vaccinations for all adults age 65 and over and for adults age 18 to 64 "with at least one high-risk health condition." Those include but aren't limited to obesity, asthma, diabetes, smoking, pregnancy, depression, and physical inactivity. For a full list of high-risk conditions, visit the CDC website>

"It’s good for the overall health of our community and nation the more we are vaccinated," Mr. Carroll concluded, "especially right now with COVID spreading so much and flu season starting, not to mention RSV being an issue now too." (RSV is the official acronym for Respiratory Syncytial Virus.)
 

Smithfield attorney John P. (Jack) O'Hale has received the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina State Bar for 50 years of "exemplary service to the legal profession."

He has practiced criminal and civil law not only in Johnston County and Eastern N.C. but throughout the United States, having been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all federal courts in North Carolina. He has appeared in federal and state courts in South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, and California.

Jack is a 1972 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in history. He was graduated from UNC Law School in 1975 and began his legal practice in Wayne County that year. In 1976-1979 he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the 11th Judicial District made up of Johnston, Harnett, and Lee counties.

In 1979, Jack joined Smithfield attorney James Narron and later Benson attorney Hampton Whittington to form Narron, O’Hale, and Whittington, P.A. During his career, he tried approximately 300 jury trials, several thousand non-jury trials, and handled numerous administrative matters.

Jack was one of seven attorneys chosen by the N.C. State Bar to implement the state's first board certification for attorneys. He spent many hours building that program and preparing and grading exams for board certification.

Jack has been a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2007. The criteria for election to the ACTL is "demonstrating the very high standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality."

In 2020, Jack was recipient of the N.C. Bar Association's Wade M. Smith Award as Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year.

Jack is rated "AV" by the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review system – its highest level based on skill and integrity. He has been rated by the Super Lawyers national directory as one of North Carolina’s Best 10 Lawyers, and has been rated by his N.C. peers among the top lawyers in the state in DWI defense and both white-collar and non-white-collar criminal defense.

Jack was elected president of the 11th Judicial District Bar in 1994 and served as president of the Johnston County Bar Association in 1996. In 2000 he was elected to the Johnston County Board of Education – a seat he held for eight years.

Throughout his career, Jack has mentored many young lawyers. He and his wife, Claudia, have endowed a scholarship to the UNC School of Law. Jack has served on boards of the UNC Law Alumni Association and the UNC Law Foundation and served three years on the UNC Board of Visitors.

"During his career, Jack donated his time and legal abilities to assist clients unable to afford legal representation," reads a statement prepared by his office. "He has never sought recognition for his pro bono work," believing that "lawyers have a moral and ethical duty to help those who are less fortunate."

READ the award recipient's own summation of half a century of "Life in the Law">
 

Story & photo from JoCo Economic Development Office

TRIBUTE TO A LONG-SERVING AGENCY DIRECTOR

E. Marie Watson served 37 years as executive director of Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action, the region's anti-poverty agency established by the Federal Government in 1966. She was the "longest-serving director in the NCCAA network" when she died in April of this year (NCCAA is the N.C. Community Action Association). She went to work with the local agency in 1979 and held various positions until she was named executive director to succeed Jim Bailey, who died after a car crash in 1987. Community Action's headquarters on East Smithfield's Massey Street – built in 2012 – was named in memory of Ms. Watson with a celebration held last Thursday. Among the agency's long-standing responsibilities is administration of local Head Start programs for underprivileged preschoolers.
 

 

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 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REPORT 

Last Friday's results for Johnston County's teams:
(season's records in parenthesis)
SOUTH GARNER 49, SMITHFIELD-SELMA 0 (1-4)
EAST CARTERET 41, AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 21 (3-2)
CLAYTON 56 (4-1), FUQUAY-VARINA 10
ROLESVILLE  53, CORINTH HOLDERS 0 (2-2)
EASTERN WAYNE 32, NORTH JOHNSTON 20 (3-2)
MIDWAY 73, PRINCETON 50 (3-2)
HARNETT CENTRAL 28, SOUTH JOHNSTON 24 (2-2)
UNION PINES 38, WEST JOHNSTON 6 (1-3)
CLEVELAND (4-0) DID NOT PLAY

A GOOD SHOWING FOR JOHNSTON'S HIGH-SCHOOL BANDS

Smithfield-Selma High School invited bands from all of Johnston's eight high schools to "strut their stuff" during a "JoCo Expo" held at the school's football stadium Saturday night. The scene above shows a portion of the SSS band in action. In the scene below, West Johnston High's band sets up props for its performance before a "packed house" of spectators gathered in the bleachers. Each band showcased a sample of their on-field shows being prepared for upcoming competitions.


 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

JCC's annual performing arts series opens this Friday
Country Music singer Lorrie Morgan will present the first show at 7 p.m. Friday in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium on the Smithfield campus of Johnston Community College. Here's the rest of the lineup for the 2025-26 concert series:
• Ruben Studdard on Friday, October 3.
• Peabo Bryson on Thursday, November 20.
• Country Music Showcase "Home for the Holidays" December 5-6.
• Celtic Angels on December 11.
• Mark Chestnutt  on February 14.
• Jefferson Starship on April 18.
VISIT this JCC website for more details and ticket purchases>

Salvation Army to host an "estate sale" this Saturday
Belongings donated by Barbara and Tom Lee will be offered for sale as a fund-raiser for Smithfield's Salvation Army from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. in the gymnasium at 310 North Bright Leaf Boulevard. Items for sale include furniture, glassware, books, and some "antique items," according to Mrs. Lee, who is immediate past president of the Salvation Army's Board of Advisors. All proceeds will go to the local corps.
 

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

VELVA (VEL) JENKINS McLAMB, 92– died September 24

TERESA ELAINE NORTON, 69 – died September 22

MARTHA HOOKS BADGER, 89 – died September 20

CECIL BERRY HEAVNER, 82 – died September 19

PATRICIA CATES PIERCE, 82 – died September 19

SAMUEL (SAMMY) LEON WILDER, 60 – died September 19

BISHOP DANIEL WILLIAMS, 93 – died September 19

BETTY LOU LAWHORN BARBOUR, 83 – died September 18

EVA MARTINEZ de GONZALEZ, 79 – died September 18

RICHARD MARSHALL (MARTY) PICKETT, 78 – died September 17

CHARLES EDWARD WILLIAMS, 83 – died September 16

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Why are boards holding so many closed sessions?

A former provost at UNC-Chapel Hill has sued the university and its Board of Trustees for what he says have been violations of the state's Open Meetings Law by “systematically hiding matters of grave public concern behind closed doors.”

That law permits closed sessions to discuss matters like individual personnel issues and pending litigation but not deliberations over budgets, policies, and other matters of general public concern.

By keeping us in the dark, states the provost in his complaint, "the result is the same each time: less transparency, less accountability, erratic governance, and a steady erosion of public trust.”

That may or may not be occurring among our local governing boards, but the fact remains that ours are meeting behind closed doors much more often nowadays than what I recall from my newspaper days in years gone by.

Each of our governing boards has an attorney on retainer to advise them about the conduct of closed meetings. We hope those lawyers have the integrity to admonish our elected officers when they step over the line as alleged in the UNC complaint.
 

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