THE YEAR IN REVIEW

The Sun's selection of Top 10 events of 2026

Here's the editor's list, with links to a sampling of stories behind the headlines:

REVALUATION'S "STICKER SHOCK" & RESULTING TAX RATES 

It was a year ago this coming week that Johnston County's property owners received revaluation notices that shot up real-estate assessments by an average of 70% – the largest jump in anyone's memory. Despite initial outcries, things calmed down a bit after tax rates set by the county and the towns for the most part were adjusted downward. Even so, most taxpayers saw big jumps in their property-tax bills this past year. CLICK THIS LINK to reach the Weekly Sun edition which includes a countywide summary of the revised tax rates.

RONALD JOHNSON CONVICTED, REMOVED FROM SCHOOL BOARD

The source of much division among members of the Johnston County Board of Education over the past several years went away after a jury in late January convicted Mr. Johnson on felony and misdemeanor charges of extortion, obstruction of justice, and willful failure to discharge his duties as a public official. His conviction came a couple of months after he was re-elected to a third term on the school board. Jeff Sullivan, defeated by Mr. Johnson by a relatively small margin in the November 2024 election, was appointed to succeed him as the board's Clayton-area representative. Mr. Johnson was imprisoned for six months.

HOWELL THEATRE CLOSED, SAVED FOR RE-PURPOSING

The Howell Theatre's owner closed the movie house in April and subsequently sold the property to a church in need of a home of its own. Responding to public disdain, the Historic Smithfield Foundation arranged for the church to buy the vacated home of a disbanded West Smithfield congregation, enabling the foundation to purchase the former Howell for renovation as a "Performing Arts Center" housing the Neuse Little Theatre. A fund-raising campaign is presently in the making to make that happen.

MARKET STREET PARKING LIKELY TO BE REMOVED BY NCDOT

The N.C. Department of Transportation approached the Town Council in March with alternatives for reducing parking along Market Street in the heart of Downtown. Lacking an official response from the council, NCDOT announced in November that it would eliminate about 70 parking spaces beside U.S 70 Business in early December. NCDOT postponed that move till after the holidays, and the Town Council followed by proposing a 90-day moratorium so a "task force" appointed by the town could negotiate with NCDOT on options other than removal of all the parking spaces. At year's end the situation remains unsettled.

COUNCILMAN MARLON LEE DIES UNEXPECTEDLY AT AGE 51

Town Councilman Marlon Lee passed away on May 25 near the end of his third four-year term as East Smithfield's representative. Gettys Cohen was appointed by the council to take his place.
 

SUPERINTENDENT BRACY MOVES ON, REPLACED BY ASSISTANT

Superintendent of Schools Eric Bracy (left) departed at the end of June to become superintendent in Cumberland County after five years of both academic and fiscal advances here. The school board chose Assistant Superintendent David Pearce, a former teacher and principal, to take charge.
 

COLLEGE OPENS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FACILITY

Johnston Community College occupied a $40-million, 67,000-square-foot training center beside I-95 at Four Oaks at summer's end. It's a place for instruction of students enrolled in what's termed "advanced manufacturing" and includes JCC's welding, mechanical engineering, and machining programs. In December, the college announced receipt of a grant to train workers for a high-tech industry recently recruited to Benson (see item below).

SMITHFIELD LANDS WILSON'S BASEBALL FRANCHISE

The Town Council approved an agreement in November that will bring the Wilson "Tobs" collegiate-baseball franchise to Smithfield with completion of a 1,500-seat stadium beside Buffalo Road at Community Park. The $6-million facility will be funded by the town with aid from the county and Johnston's tourism authority. Completion of the stadium is anticipated in time for the 2027 season of the Coastal Plain League. The franchise is moving here in part because of this spring's opening of a new ballpark for the Carolina Mudcats in Wilson's downtown.

ANOTHER MAJOR EMPLOYER RECRUITED TO JOHNSTON

Vulcan Elements received local and state incentives to open a "cutting edge" plant at Benson that will manufacture "rare earth" magnets. The company announced in November that it will invest about $1 billion in the facility and employ a thousand workers at average salaries above $80,000. The plant is scheduled to be up and running by March 2027.

ELECTION PRODUCES CHANGES IN TOWN COUNCIL LINEUP

Not only did Gettys Cohen win election in November to a full term as East Smithfield's council member but Doris Wallace upset incumbent David Barbour as West Smithfield's representative. Meanwhile, Mayor Andy Moore and council members Travis Scott (North Smithfield) and Sloan Stevens (South Smithfield) won re-election. Following December's swearing-in of the election winners, Mr. Sloan was chosen by the council to serve as the town's new mayor pro tem.

YEAR-END RAINFALL REPORT

According to Cornell Cox's Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield, we are finishing 2025 with a total of 48.18 inches of rainfall after 2.47 inches was recorded in December. Average rainfall for Smithfield, according to U.S. Climate Data, is 47.75 inches, yet we got 56.93 inches in 2024 and 53.26 in 2023.
 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Smithfield awaiting start of four large subdivisions

All four have won initial approval by the Town Council but so far no earth has been turned for their construction. Three of them are planned along Buffalo Road near Smithfield Middle School and Community Park. A fourth is to be built east of I-95 along Mallard Road off Brogden Road.

Smithfield's Planning Director Stephen Wensman provided updates this week:

• Village on the Neuse on the east side of Buffalo Road next to the school "is currently in construction plan review." It will have 117 lots for single-family houses.
• Buffalo Ridge to the south of that one "has preliminary plat approval but (is) waiting on construction plans." It will contain 210 lots for single-family dwellings.
• Skybrook in the woods between Buffalo Road and Community Park "should have construction plan approval in the coming days." Its plan calls for 117 lots.
• Mallard Crossing east of town "should be submitting an application for preliminary plat this week." Proposed are 1,327 lots: 873 for stand-alone houses, 454 for townhouses.

Meanwhile, construction is proceeding on a massive subdivision between Booker Dairy Road and Durwood Stephenson Parkway. The master plan for what's labeled as Local 70 PUD (Planned Unit Development) shows a mixture of 324 apartments, 209 single-family dwellings, and 94 townhouses – a total of 627 housing units.

Several smaller yet significant subdivisions in West Smithfield are well along toward completion. Those include townhouses as well as single-family residences.

Infrastructure works on hold at new year's arrival

Included on that list are the town's resurfacing of portions of 23 streets and installation of a large culvert beneath the CSX railroad to mitigate storm-water backups that has caused damage in the past to several businesses along South Bright Leaf Boulevard.

The Town Council agreed last spring to draw down up to $3 million from its General Fund Balance for a stepped-up street repaving program. Two major projects have been completed since then – Outlet Center Drive and South Third Street – but a $1.4-million contract for resurfacing parts of 23 streets in town wasn't awarded until November – too late for temperature-sensitive asphalt paving to begin before spring.

"This is a large project so we would prefer they not start and stop if the weather gets too cold and leave streets open to moisture if they have been milled," explained Town Manager Mike Scott.

Mr. Scott also provided an update on the CSX culvert project this week. The plans are currently being modified for a "single-barrel 60-inch diameter steel pipe" and twin 42-inch pipes beneath I-95 east of the railroad, he noted.

"We have been holding monthly coordination meetings that include both CSX and NCDOT to help expedite the permitting process," Mr. Scott said.  "I have requested an updated schedule and cost estimate that reflect the changes. Our next meeting will be after the New Year’s holiday."

The culvert project has been under consideration since flooding damaged business in 2016 and again in 2019 but didn't get going until state appropriations to help pay for the work won approval by N.C. General Assembly.

Industrial projects pending, perhaps more to come

Chris Johnson, the county's director of economic development, provided status reports on industrial projects currently in the works:

• Novo Nordisk, the Clayton-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, holds a three-year lease of the massive building at the Brogden Road interchange with I-95 but is only using about half the space. The county continues to market it for full occupancy.
• Clarius Partners is planning three industrial buildings on 74 acres beside US 70 Business West across from Saint Ann Church and may break ground this summer.
• Crystal Windows is hoping to get going this summer with construction of a manufacturing plant in Selma's Eastfield development.
• Clayton Commerce Center near the Grifols pharmaceutical plant on US 70 is under construction, with three buildings planned on 34 acres.
• North Carolina Railroad Company is moving along with construction of several large industrial buildings NC 42 East at Clayton.

Mr. Johnson said the county is pursuing additional industrial prospects that may produce announcements in the first quarter of 2026.
 

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Final candidate filings produce more contests
former county board chairman joins three-man race

Chad Stewart was among several candidates who filed shortly before the December 19 deadline. He's a former county commissioner who was serving as the board's chairman when he resigned in 2021 to work as general manager of the Johnston County ABC system.

Mr. Stewart and Adam Caldwell are challenging incumbent County Commissioner Mike Rose in the March 3 Republican Primary to represent District 3, which stretches from Four Oaks to Princeton.

Another former commissioner, Keith Branch, is challenging former board chairman Butch Lawter's bid for re-election as representative of District 1, which encompasses Clayton and surrounding area. That's also a Republican Primary contest.

Republican Commissioner Patrick Harris of Smithfield is also seeking re-election but he will run unopposed in both the Primary and General elections.

No Democratic Party candidates filed for any of the county commissioner seats.

Additional incumbents to be re-elected without opposition

Besides Mr. Harris, several other incumbents will be on this year's ballots without opposition: Register of Deeds Craig Olive, Clerk of Superior Court Michelle Ball, District Attorney Jason Waller, and District Court judges Joy Jones, Travis Wheeler, and Jason Kimble. All filed as Republican Party candidates.

Michelle Antoine and Kevin Donovan are also unopposed in bids for re-election to the Johnston County Board of Education; incumbent board member Terry Tippett is being challenged by Jeremy Jenkins in the Republican Primary.

Races for seats in the N.C. General Assembly and the U.S. Congress are another matter, with a host of both Democrats and Republicans seeking those offices. That includes 14 candidates for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Thom Tillis including Republican Elizabeth A. (Ann) Temple of Smithfield.

Republican U.S. Representative Brad Knott is facing opposition from one candidate in the Primary Election while three Democrats and one Libertarian Party candidate have filed to unseat the first-term Congressman.

And both State Senator Benton Sawrey and State Representative Larry Strickland are being challenged by Republican and Democratic candidates as well as one Libertarian to represent N.C. legislative districts that include Smithfield.

Besides the U.S. Senate seat are statewide contests for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court and three seats on the N.C. Court of Appeals. Both Democrats and Republicans are seeking those offices.

Here's the rundown of candidates in contested races to be listed on ballots for Smithfield-area voters:

COUNTY & DISTRICT CONTESTS
For Johnston County Commissioner, District 3
Adam Caldwell (Republican, Benson address)
Mike Rose (incumbent Republican)
Chad M. Stewart (Republican, Four Oaks address)
For Johnston County Commissioner, District 7
R.S. (Butch) Lawter Jr. (incumbent Republican)
Keith Branch (Republican, Clayton address)
For Johnston County Board of Education, District 2
Terry Tippett (Republican, incumbent)
Jeremy Jenkins (Republican, Middlesex address)
For Sheriff of Johnston County
Steve Bizzell (incumbent Republican)
Randy Ackley (Republican, Clayton address)
For N.C. House of Representatives, District 28
Larry C. Strickland (incumbent Republican, Pine Level address)
Eric Bowles Sr. (Republican, Benson address)
D. Matthew Bailey (Democrat, Smithfield address)
For N.C. Senate, District 10
Benton Sawrey (incumbent Republican, Clayton address)
Kevin Terrett (Libertarian, Clayton address)
Caitlin Marsh (Republican, Smithfield address)
Pat LeGrand (Democrat, Clayton address)
For U.S. House of Representatives, District 13
Paul Barringer (Democrat, Sanford address)
Alexander Nicholi (Democrat, Raleigh address)
Frank Pierce (Democrat, Raleigh address)
Steven Swinton (Libertarian, Sanford address)
Brad Knott (incumbent Republican, Raleigh address)
Sid Sharma (Republican, Raleigh address)

STATEWIDE CONTESTS
For U.S. Senate
DEMOCRATS: Roy Cooper, Daryl Farrow, Marcus W. Williams, Orrick Quick,
Justin E. Dues, Robert Colon
LIBERTARIAN: Shannon W. Bray
REPUBLICANS: Elizabeth A. Temple, Donald M. (Don) Brown, Michael Whatley, Margot Dupre, Thomas Johnson, Michele Morrow, Richard Dansie
For N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice
Anita Earls (incumbent Democrat)
Sarah Stevens (Republican)
For N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 1
John S. Arrowood (incumbent Democrat)
Matt Smith (Republican)
Michael C. Byrne (Republican)
For N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 2
Tobias (Toby) Hampson (incumbent Democrat)
George Cooper Bell (Republican)
For N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 3
James Weldon Whalen (Democrat)
Christine Marie Walczyk (Democrat)
Craig Collins (Republican)

Primary Election Tuesday, March 3; General Election Tuesday, November 3.
 

Community Action has new executive director

The Board of Directors of Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action, Inc. has appointed Ruby Rouse Bryant as the organization’s executive director. She succeeds Marie Watson, who led the agency for more than 40 years prior to her death last spring.

Ms. Bryant’s history with Community Action spans more than four decades, beginning in 1978 when she became involved with Head Start as a parent and volunteer. She served on Community Action's Board of Directors from 1991 to 2000 and then joined the agency's staff as a senior family services counselor and Harnett County supervisor. In 2008 she became Community Action's first human resources director.

She holds dual bachelor's degrees in business administration and human resources from Mount Olive Univerity and earned an MBA degree with a concentration in public administration from Strayer University in 2016. She is a Certified Community Action Professional.

From 2020 to 2023 Ms. Bryant served on the N.C. Community Action Association's board including two years as Central District chair.

Announcement with photo from Johnston-Lee Harnett Community Action
 

  Realtor Susan Lassiter has what it takes to sell Smithfield   

• Licensed real estate agent since 1992
• Real estate broker since 2001
• Served on Smithfield Town Council for 8 years
• Past president, Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce
• Past president, Downtown Smithfield Development Corp.
• Past president, Johnston County Arts Council
• Past president, Rotary Club of Smithfield

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

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

County Commissioners will hold two sessions Monday
The Johnston County Board of Commissioners will meet in regularly scheduled sessions at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday at the Courthouse.
VIEW the agendas once they're posted on the county's website>

Town Council to consider mid-year pay raises Tuesday
The Smithfield Town Council will be asked to approve budgeted January pay raises for town employees when it meets at 7 p.m. next Tuesday at Town Hall. Proposed are 2% raises across the board and up to 2% merit increases based on employee evaluations. The proposal also would discontinue a $5,000 hiring bonus for police personnel since staffing levels have been stabilized. VIEW the complete agenda>
 

SOUTH SMITHFIELD POWER OUTAGE FOLLOWED COLLISION

Electric service was shut off to a portion of South Smithfield shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday, December 19 after a vehicle struck a utility pole in front of South Smithfield Elementary School. "The pole was damaged and had to be replaced," explained Town Manager Mike Scott. The power was out about three hours.
 

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

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

More "unfinished business": N.C. teacher salaries

The end-of-year report shown above is mostly about unfinished real-estate, infrastructure, and industrial developments around here. Let's not forget the unfinished business of North Carolina's lagging teacher salaries.

The General Assembly adjourned for the year without adopting all the usual components of a state budget for 2025-26. That means the state's salary schedule for public-school teachers is largely unchanged despite the drag of persistent household inflation.

What's worse: Last fiscal year, N.C.'s ranking in average teacher pay dropped from 38th to 43rd among the 50 states, with our average salary of just over $58,000 significantly less than the national average of about $72,000. That puts us behind neighboring states of South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The passing of Governor Jim Hunt reminds us how far we've fallen since his last term in office a quarter of a century ago when North Carolina came close to reaching the national average for teacher pay.

Give the administration of Johnston County Public Schools and the Board of Education credit for moving toward a new local supplement plan that bases Johnston's extra pay for teachers on a fixed schedule of increases each year rather than a fixed percentage of state salaries. No sense waiting any longer on a General Assembly that appears more inclined to cut if not eliminate the state's corporate and personal income tax than go to bat for our school teachers.
 

ONE LAST LOOK AT SOME HOLIDAY MERRYMAKING!

Town of Smithfield employees donned their tackiest Christmas sweaters before closing down Town Hall for the holidays last week. Among the "fashion models" were Town Manager Mike Scott, Assistant Manager Kim Pickett, and Public Information Officer Brian Eaves. No "Bah! Humbug!" here.

DISCARDED CHRISTMAS TREES CAN BE RECYCLED

The County of Johnston is encouraging folks to bring their discarded live-cut Christmas trees to the county's landfill or one of the convenience centers located throughout Johnston.

Eventually, the trees end up in the landfill’s yard waste disposal area, where they are ground into mulch, says Brian Beasley, Johnston County's director of solid waste. “We use our mulch for various applications — from erosion control to stabilizing driving conditions in the landfill working area.”

The landfill is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 to 3:30 on Saturday. The county’s convenience sites are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 8 to 5 Saturday (closed Wednesday and Sunday).

The landfill is located at 680 County Home Road off NC 210 west of Smithfield. Addresses for the 12 convenience sites are posted at johnstonnc.gov/solidwaste. Both the landfill and convenience sites are closed on New Year’s Day.
 

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