JOHNSTON COUNTY CELEBRATES
THE NATION'S "SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL"

That's the fancy word for the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The main event of Johnston County's official observance took place here last Saturday – a week before the Fourth to avoid conflicting with this coming weekend's national celebration.

Following Saturday's opening ceremony, young "volunteers" mustered outside in the summertime heat for a short march with the "Camp Flintlock Militia" led by Tim Langdon, whose "living history" re-enactors have spiced up numerous historical observances around here in recent times. (John Dean is the elevated "Uncle Sam.")

They were part of an "America250 Fair" that also featured an art and photography exhibition and other performances in the auditorium. Earlier events staged by the county's 250th Committee and the Johnston County Heritage Center included a series of weekend bus tours to historic local places and the planting of a "Liberty Tree" at the new Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Four Oaks.

Featured speaker at Saturday's opening was retired U.S. Army Colonel Sherrill Stevens. At age 99, he's one of the last surviving Johnstonians who served in World War II and went on to distinguish himself as a Baptist minister and a professor of religion in academic settings. He spoke eloquently about the idealism put forth in the Declaration of Independence, yet he reminded the audience that equality for all Americans remains unfulfilled despite remarkable progress over the past 250 years.


Colonel Stevens delivers his address. Sharing the stage are (left to right): Marcus Dunn, who spoke on behalf of the Tuscarora Nation, along with 250th co-chairs Allison Elsee and Todd Johnson.

A stirring local production of the Broadway musical "1776" capped off the weekend's celebration with three performances in the JCC auditorium. The play dramatized the testy debate among delegates at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia that, despite unfavorable odds, gave birth to the nation with adoption of our Declaration of Independence. (More about that theatrical high point in the editor's column below.)

Another 800 acres preserved below Smithfield

Story & photos from Triangle Land Conservancy

The Triangle Land Conservancy has acquired more than 800 acres of ecologically significant land along the Lower Neuse River – a major conservation achievement made with support from the County of Johnston.

The property, known as "Neuse Islands Wilderness," is the second-largest single land acquisition in Triangle Land Conservancy history. Johnston County contributed $1.06 million toward the $4.6-million acquisition. Because of its ecological importance, the N.C. Natural Heritage Program has added the entire tract to the Richardson Bridge Bottomlands Natural Area.

Funding for the project came from the N.C. Land and Water Fund, TLC donors, and the U.S. Air Force via a program focused on improving flood mitigation along the Neuse River upstream of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base at Goldsboro.

The property lies in the Neuse River Lowgrounds, one of the largest remaining wilderness areas in the Triangle region. The area gets its name from pockets of higher ground that remain above floodwaters, creating “islands” within the forest.

The Lowgrounds provide habitat for migratory birds, fox squirrels, amphibians, reptiles, and several rare species. It contains mature bottom-land hardwood forests, wetlands, oxbow lakes, vernal pools, and extensive stands of native river cane. Among the trees are cherry-bark oak, overcup oak, swamp chestnut oak, cypress, and red maple. Many are more than 200 years old.

“We can think of no better way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary than to protect some of the forest that was there when our country was founded,” said Leigh Ann Hammerbacher, TLC’s Director of Conservation East.

The purchase adds another piece to a corridor of protected land along the Neuse below Smithfield. It sits about five miles downstream from several large conservation areas, including the 2,700-acre Howell Woods property used by Johnston Community College and the 1,100-acre Brogden Bottomlands Natural Area.

The property also complements the 308-acre Rose Dairy tract TLC transferred to Johnston County last month. Rose Dairy marks the beginning of the Neuse River Lowgrounds, while the Neuse Islands property lies at the opposite end.

The land also has cultural and historical significance. It contains an historic African-American cemetery, Native American archaeological deposits, and evidence of rice cultivation more than 200 years ago – an unusual find in this part of North Carolina. TLC worked with the Johnston County Heritage Center and a local archaeological group to conduct a preliminary assessment of the site and plans to continue that research.

Due to the sensitivity of the site, the property is not open to the public at this time. TLC plans to lead some guided hikes later this fall.
 

Johnston jobs down slightly; jobless rate 3.0%

The N.C. Department of Commerce reports that 125,924 Johnstonians held jobs in May. That's down from a record 126,517 employed here in March, yet the county's jobless rate held steady at 3.0% as the number unemployed declined minimally – to 3,933 in May. The statewide jobless rate in May was 3.7%; the national rate 4.3%.
 

June rainfall falls short, adding to year's deficit

Cornell Cox recorded 2.93 inches of rainfall during June at his unofficial Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield. That's below our average of 4.46 inches for the month, adding to the deficit for the year. According to U.S. Climate Data, rainfall at Smithfield usually amounts to 23.24 inches January-June, but this year just 14.73 inches has been recorded by Mr. Cox.
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

Smithfield's Fourth of July celebration this Friday

Starting at 4 p.m.Friday, Downtown Smithfield will come alive with Revolutionary War re-enactments at the Neuse River Amphitheater, a classic car show, vendors, games and activities, delicious food including free watermelon slices, and musical entertainment by The WEJ, Stealing Tonight, and the BC Big Band prior to the fireworks show across the river at 9:10. Admission is free of charge.

33rd annual South Smithfield parade Saturday morning
It's an impromptu parade welcoming participants of all sizes and ages decked out in red, white, and blue that starts and ends at 1203 Crescent Drive and moves around the block along Bingham Street, Walnut Drive, and Holding Street back to Crescent. The parade starts at 10 a.m., followed by offerings of free cookies and lemonade. Here's a view of last year's parade (kids on bikes is standard fare):


This Friday is government's Fourth of July holiday
That means municipal, county, state, and most federal offices will be closed July 3 along with some banks. An exception is the Johnston County landfill and "convenience centers," which will be open Friday but closed Saturday. Post offices will also be open Friday and closed Saturday.

Town Council meets Tuesday; county board "on holiday"
Johnston's County Commissioners will take a break from their normal schedule next week, and aren't scheduled to meet again until Tuesday evening, July 20. The Smithfield Town Council will not take the week off and is scheduled to convene Tuesday at 7 p.m. with a relatively light agenda: VIEW IT HERE>

Councilor Roger Wood recovering at home after two transplants 
He was released from Duke Hospital last week after undergoing a double organ transplant – kidney as well as liver – just two weeks ago. "It's crazy how quickly he has bounced back!' Interim Town Manager Kim Pickett reported this week. "He isn't allowed to have visitors right now, but we have a meal train set up for him and there is a box outside his door for people to drop stuff off," she noted.
 

NCDOT wants to know your transportation priorities

Throughout July, people can provide input that will help local leaders understand what transportation projects matter to them and should be prioritized in their area. People can indicate their priorities and submit comments on NCDOT’s interactive prioritization map>
They can also participate in open-house public meetings set to take place across the state over the coming weeks. These will be informal gatherings in which citizens can share their interests in projects and ask questions of local NCDOT staff. Locations and times for these meetings can be found on the NCDOT website>
 

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

 A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR 

Auditorium shows off its full performance potential 

A well-executed production of the Broadway musical "1776" this past weekend not only gave audiences the essence of the making of our Declaration of Independence; it also showed us that the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College has "come of age" as a top-notch showplace for theatrical talent.

Produced by a unique assemblage of locally based talent including cast and crew from theatrical groups in Clayton, Benson, and Smithfield, the show had a high-level professional air about it.

What stood out for this observer was the sound management, which far exceeded what we experienced during the early years of the auditorium after its opening in 1989. Every actor was "wired" with remote microphones and thereby clearly understood whether speaking or singing, and the professionally recorded sound track kept the show moving without a hitch.

Todd Johnson sent me the photo of three of the Continental Congress delegates offering a toe-tapping tune about "The Lees of Old Virginia": (from left) John Adams of Massachusetts, portrayed by Gregory Hill; Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, played by Larry Grey; and Virginia's Richard Henry Lee, by Tony Mendez.

I hope those who came together for this production will unite for another similar show, perhaps creating an annual event to show off local talent in this fine facility.
 

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You'll find it in the Weekly Sun archives>