"Training Never Stops" for police

Thanks to county bond issue OK'd by voters in '24

The Johnston County Board of Education on Tuesday awarded contracts for construction and renovation projects funded by a portion of the 2024 county bond issue. Besides a "build-out" of classrooms at McGee's Crossroads Elementary School, the contracts include renovations and new furniture at Cleveland Elementary and Four Oaks Elementary and HVAC replacement at Glendale-Kenly Elementary.

Under a state contract with Tarkett North America based in Ohio, the Four Oaks school will get 76,000 square feet of new LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) flooring at a cost of $357,945 while Cleveland Elementary will get 69,000 square feet of the same flooring at a cost of $324,976 (those prices are for materials only).

To prepare for the new floors, Sohn Inc. of Clayton won two $170,950 contracts for demolition work at each school.

Interior Systems, Inc. of West End, N.C. won contracts for new furniture at those schools: $644,266 for Four Oaks, $449,085 for Cleveland. The board declared old furniture items no longer serviceable as "surplus" for disposal without a sale.

Four Oaks Elementary School will also get inside repainting by Finishin' Touch Painting Services of Clayton for $181,790.

Glendale-Kenly Elementary's HVAC upgrade will be done by Bolton Construction & Service, LLC of Raleigh for $1,070,000.

McGee's Crossroads Elementary will get a classroom addition to be constructed by Farrior & Sons of Farmville at a cost of $5,715,000.


Click the arrow in the photo for a video tour of the new Wilson's Mills campus.

Bonds buy big-ticket items for Wilson's Mills High

The school board awarded several contracts for equipping the new high school nearing completion at Wilson's Mills – mostly funded by the 2022 bond issue:

• $390,700 for band and fine arts equipment.
• $326,930 for approximately 12,000 library books and curriculum "novel sets."
• $196,293 for athletic equipment and supplies for interscholastic sports.
• $173,407 for Career & Technical Education (CTE) computer workstations.
• $129,319 for Science Lab materials.

Ribbon-cutting and open house is being planned for Sunday afternoon, August 2. First day of school is Monday, August 24.

Schools have reduced mobile classrooms to 53

Chief of Facilities Billy Massengill told the board Johnston's public-school system has reduced the number of mobile classrooms from 187 not long ago to 53 heading into the school year ahead.

The board approved his recommendation to renew its lease of 20 units from BOXX Modular of Fort Worth, Texas at an annual cost of $144,817 (13 units were recently returned as no longer needed). Another $40,848 will be spent this year for lease of a four-classroom "quad" unit at Choice Plus Academy on Smithfield's Rose Street.

Of the 53 mobile units still in use on Johnston's campuses, 32 are owned by the county's system, Mr Massengill noted.

Board revisiting policy on gender discrimination

Last July the school board, with one member absent, voted 3-3 on a motion to change its policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and bullying by removing references to "race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, age, or disability." That vote, in effect, kept the policy unchanged.

The revision was back on the board's agenda Tuesday for "first read," which means action on it could not be taken before the board's next monthly meeting.

"Why are we looking at this again?" asked Kay Carroll. "The last time we looked at this it was told to the public... that this policy would not be changed until state and federal law changed." Last summer he was joined by board members April Lee and Jeff Sullivan in opposing the policy re-write. Favoring the change then were Board Chair Lyn Andrews along with Michelle Antoine and Terry Tippett.

Kevin Donovan, who chairs the board's Policy Committee which recommended the revision, was absent when the vote was taken last July and "likely would have voted to change the policy," Ms. Antoine pointed out Tuesday.

"We're scrubbing language that eliminates protection for classes that have been under attack," Mr. Carroll contended – "language that leads people to be more free to discriminate against these categories."

Mr. Donovan and Ms. Antoine countered that the revised policy contains hyperlinks to state law that lists the categories of persons cited in the school board's present policy and therefore doesn't need to be repeated.

When the issue came before the board last summer, Ms. Antoine said the local policy ought to be changed because of President Trump's threat to cut federal funding to school systems that don't remove references to sexual orientation.
 

Smithfield-Selma High School graduates 394

The list of SSS graduates for this school year was obtained by the Weekly Sun showing 394 names (SSS had 247 graduates in 2022).

The school's 57th spricommencement celebration was held on the SSS football field May 28.

All of Johnston's high schools this year produced 2,913 graduates who received scholarships amounting to $59,895,400, Chair Lyn Andrews reported at the close of Tuesday's school board meeting.

VIEW the list of graduates provided by Smithfield-Selma High School>
 

The County of Johnston is asking water customers to voluntarily conserve water as ongoing drought conditions and low river levels continue to affect the county’s primary water supply from the Neuse River.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to reduce non-essential water use whenever possible. Simple steps such as limiting outdoor watering, washing vehicles less frequently, and fixing leaks can help reduce demand on the system.

Customers are reminded that Johnston County’s year-round outdoor watering restrictions remain in effect. In-ground irrigation systems, hose-end sprinklers, and pool-filling activities must follow an alternate-day schedule based on street address:
Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Even-numbered addresses: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
All addresses: No irrigation is permitted on Mondays.

For additional information, including the full conservation policy and water-saving tips, visit JohnstonNC.gov/utilities. Customers with questions may contact Johnston County Public Utilities at 919-989-5075.
 

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 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Liquid Pleasure's Friday evening performance still on

The Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department's "River Jam" concert at the Neuse River Amphitheater will go on as scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday despite postponement till next week of Downtown Smithfield's Art & Wine Walk because of the heat. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and is free of admission charge.
Tickets purchased for the Art & Wine Walk "will automatically transfer and be fully honored on Friday, June 19," the Downtown Development office announced Thursday afternoon. "No action is required from ticket holders."

"Smithfield's Got Talent" at the amphitheater Saturday

We haven't seen details about who's competing and how a winner will be chosen but a Parks & Recreation Facebook post says: "Smithfield's Got Talent is sure to be a lot of fun for the family. There will be dancing, singing, comedy, and skits." It starts at 7 p.m.

County board to receive cost-of-services study Monday

Johnston's County Commissioners are scheduled to receive a "Cost of Community Services Study and Fiscal Impact Model" at their 6 p.m. meeting at the Courthouse. Also on the agenda is possible adoption of the 2026-27 county budget based on the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations with local school leaders about county funding levels. VIEW complete agenda for Monday's meeting once it's posted>

Town Council hearing on Downtown contract Tuesday

The Smithfield Town Council will hold a public hearing during its 7 p.m. meeting at Town Hall on a new contract with the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation for services provided in Downtown's special tax district. The council will also consider ordinance amendments to impose fees on real-estate developers for electric-line extensions and to regulate loitering in town parks.
VIEW complete agenda for Tuesday's meeting>

Lunch Bunch music series returns next Wednesday

The 42nd year of Music for the Lunch Bunch begins June 17 and is back this year with six scheduled performance dates. The Music for the Lunch Bunch is a series of summer concerts held every Wednesday at 12:15 pm, featuring local artists performing a variety of music, with particular emphasis on classical music. The concert series is grassroots funded by the Johnston County Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. There is no admission charge but donations are accepted. All of this summer's performances will staged at First Presbyterian Church.
 

Farmers market moving to Town Hall parking lot

The Smithfield Signature Fresh Market is moving to a new spot in Downtown Smithfield this Saturday, relocating from its previous spot in the county parking lot at Third and Johnston streets to a set-up beside Town Hall at Fourth and Market (they're calling the spot "Town Hall Commons).

The new location offers enhanced visibility for local vendors and a more seamless shopping experience for visitors. Attendees can enjoy hassle-free parking directly in the Town Hall lot, with the main market entrance to the parking lot conveniently located on Fourth Street. The market runs from 8 a.m. to noon every other Saturday through the summer months, concluding the season October 10.

This Saturday features local favorites offering fresh produce, eggs, plants, and baked goods: Hank E Panky Farm and Soap Shop, Harper’s Micro Harvest, Curless Cluck Hut, Wildflour Micro Bakery, and Llama Farms.
 

Johnston County’s America250 Fair on June 27 will feature a juried exhibition of paintings and photography in the Tart Building at Johnston Community College. This joint project of the Johnston County Arts Council and the county's Committee for America250NC is sponsored by a grant from Grifols.

The show’s theme is “Everyday Life in Johnston County, Past and Present.” Artists and photographers are encouraged to capture scenes of everyday life either on canvas or through photography (conventional or digital). Paintings may include oils, acrylics, watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, pencil, charcoal, or pen-and-ink. Each artist will provide no more than two framed works displayed on easels.
 
The deadline for submitting an entry form is Monday (June 15). Artwork is to be delivered Thursday, June 25 to the Tart Building. The exhibition will remain open through the final presentation of the musical 1776 on Sunday, June 28.

In order to be eligible for competition in this show, original artwork must not have been previously awarded a prize. Artists must be 18 years of age or older. Winners in each of the two categories will receive cash prizes of $200, $100, and $50, with $300 given for “Best in Show.”

Entry form, prospectus, and additional information may be obtained online at https://www.johnstonnc.gov/america250, or by visiting the Johnston County Museum at 329 E. Market Street, Smithfield. Entry forms should be submitted via email to the Johnston County Arts Council, info@jcartscouncil.org.
 

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

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Downtown survey reaffirms what we already know

Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett last week gave the Town Council a summary of a recent survey of Downtown Smithfield merchants. Questionnaires were e-mailed to 104 business owners and operators; 34 of them responded.

They repeated much of what's been said for many years now.

Heading the list of their concerns: "Parking & Accessibility." That's no surprise given the turmoil arising from NCDOT's plan to remove all parking along Market Street where vehicular traffic continues to be the biggest barrier to making the central business district "user friendly."

Next on the list: "Foot traffic & Economic Activity." The manager's summary says "businesses report limited customers are attending events" and "are not returning as paying customers." Furthermore, notes her report, "Downtown activity is heavily tied to Courthouse-related visits."

"Vacant storefronts & Business mix" comes next. Respondents expressed "strong desire for more restaurants, retail, and destination businesses."

Ms. Pickett reported "positive feedback on beautification efforts" despite "ongoing concerns regarding cleanliness, maintenance, and perception of safety."

What's to be done about all that? We'll likely get some answers in the council's upcoming review of the town's administrative contract with the non-profit Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation....

Whoops! First use of A.I. produces a couple of labeling errors

Weekly Sun reader Paul Worley brought to my attention that my use of A.I. (artificial intelligence) to "clean up" the state's map of parking and street alterations for Downtown Smithfield – published in last week – labeled the "Neuse River Walk" below the old Legion Hut as "Southwest Oklahoma State University"!

Upon further review, A.I. also changed the label for "Front Street" to "Mount Street." What brought that on!

I resorted to A.I. as a last-minute "improvement" to the map shortly before sending out last week's edition. From now on I'll be sure to check A.I.'s work more carefully.

Here's the corrected map as now shown in the archived version of last week's Sun:


 

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