WILSON'S MILLS HAS ITS OWN HIGH SCHOOL ONCE AGAIN

Revised UDO's public release postponed
County Commissioners want to review it first

Following contentious public hearings in recent months, Johnston's County Commissioners ordered the county's planning staff to make a number of changes to the new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) scheduled for adoption by the end of the year. Public release of those revisions was previously announced for Tuesday of this week (August 4).

But commissioners agreed this week to delay posting any changes until they meet in a special session at 10 a.m. Monday, August 17 to review what's being proposed.

"I personally would like to see it before it's issued because I haven't had an opportunity to review this final draft," said Commissioner Bill Stovall at Monday evening's board session. "We need to be as close to final this time as we can get it – without going through a protracted revision process again."

For one thing, Mr. Stovall continued, "we need a decent buffer between our existing farming operations and residential construction because that's the source of constant nuisance complaints." What started out as a 150-foot setback requirement "recommended by agriculture experts" was reduced to 35 feet in the last UDO proposal that was published, he noted. "I'm firmly behind 75 feet."

READ MORE about the UDO process on the county's website>

Revised mass-gathering proposal draws opposition

Commissioners heard objections from several citizens during a public hearing Monday evening on a proposal that would reduce from 4,000 to 2,500 the attendance threshold for county permitting of special events other than regularly scheduled activities held in stadiums and other permanent structures.

"Why 2,500?" the objectors wanted to know. Currently, the county's ordinance, adopted in 1987, regulates events drawing 4,000 persons; state regulations kick in when attendance exceeds 5,000.

County Attorney Jennifer Slusser said 2,500 was "a consensus of the Emergency Services community." (Harnett County's rules apply to gatherings of 500 and more, commissioners were told).

Eddie Rowe, who owns acreage off Fellowship Church Road north of Princeton, spoke the longest in raising objections and questions about the proposed new rules. Mr. Rowe said requirements for event permits with a 2,500-person threshold would interfere with undisclosed plans he has for his property.

Apparently a large outdoor gathering of Hispanics on property near his last October drew numerous complaints from residents of the area that led to the county staff's proposing changes in the rules.

Mr. Rowe also complained about an existing provision in the county's rules that "all activities" associated with a mass gathering must be at least 1,500 feet from adjacent residences, whose occupants must give their approval before permits are issued by either the county or the state.

Lena Carter of the Cleveland community called the proposed rules "an overreach of our local government." She said sufficient laws already exist to control the problems being addressed.

Leon Cobb of Archer Lodge pointed out that the U.S. Constitution prohibits laws that deny the right of peaceable assembly.

"Leave it alone.... Let's enforce it as it is," Commissioner Ted Godwin said of the county's existing ordinance. The board postponed a decision on the new rules pending further deliberations.

99.73% of county's property taxes collected
Out of a total levy of $214,085,777.56 this past year, Johnston's taxpayers have paid $213,511,570.39, County Tax Administrator Jocelyn Andrews reported to commissioners Monday. That's down 0.15% from the previous year, she noted. (In recent years Johnston has consistently ranked at or near the top in collection percentages among North Carolina's 100 counties.)

County OKs Wilson's Mills industry agreement
Commissioners approved a request from the Town of Wilson's Mills to provide water and sewer services for a "speculative warehouse and distribution facility" on 23 acres at 4800 US 70 Business West – a site under consideration for satellite annexation to the town. The county recently signed a new inter-local agreement with Wilson's Mills to continue providing water and sewer services in the town.

Named to Library, Veterans, Crime Prevention bodies
Voting by ballots in cases with more applicants than seats available, commissioners appointed S. Vann Sauls of Sanders Road, Willow Spring to the Board of Trustees of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield and Jonathan P. Hearn of Claire Drive, Clayton to the Veterans Service Advisory Board. Newly appointed to positions on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council were Sara Marie Perry of Pelt Place, Benson and Regina Manzanares of Barbour Road, Smithfield.
 

TLC adds 602 acres to "Neuse Lowgrounds"

Story from Triangle Land Conservancy

At the end of July, Triangle Land Conservancy purchased 602 additional acres along the Neuse River in Johnston County, bringing the total protected acres in this region to more than 1,400 since June.

The property, purchased from the Massengill family, comprises two tracts that lie within the Neuse River Lowgrounds, an area identified by TLC in the late 1990s as one of the region’s highest conservation priorities. The Massengill property includes more than two miles of frontage along the Neuse River as well as shoreline on two oxbow lakes. The property has notable stands of bald cypress remaining along the oxbows and protects more than 400 acres of wetlands.

Approximately 500 acres fall within the exceptionally ranked Neuse River Lowgrounds Natural Heritage Natural Area. Also in the Lowgrounds are two recent TLC properties: Rose Dairy Farm, 308 acres which TLC purchased in 2024 and transferred to Johnston County in May for an eventual county-run nature preserve, and the Neuse Islands Wilderness, more than 800 acres of mature bottomland hardwood forest that TLC purchased in June.

The tracts, colloquially called the Gar Gut Mashes after the stream that flows through them, support white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, reptiles, amphibians, and a wide variety of bird species. This stretch of the Neuse River has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society and provides habitat for great blue herons, anhingas, and double-crested cormorants. The area is also known to support the Swainson's warbler and the Mississippi kite, which is designated as Significantly Rare by the state.

Beyond its wildlife value, the property's extensive floodplain plays an important role in filtering water flowing downstream from the rapidly growing Triangle region and in reducing flood impacts for downstream communities.

Funding for the project came from the N.C. General Assembly via the N.C. Land and Water Fund, Johnston County, and a landowner donation.

The acquisition will expand one of the area’s largest connected conservation landscapes. The Gar Gut Mashes are located near Howell Woods and the 1,120-acre Brogden Bottomlands property previously protected by TLC and transferred to North Carolina State Parks.

Although not yet open to the public, the property also lies along the planned Mountains-to-Sea Trail footpath and directly borders the Mountains-to-Sea Trail blueway paddle route on the Neuse River, creating future opportunities for regional connectivity and outdoor recreation.

In the last five years, TLC has completed more than 50 land-protection projects in Johnston with the support of the county, the state, and TLC donors.
 

Cornell Cox recorded 10.05 inches of rain during July at his unofficial Backyard Weather Station in South Smithfield. That reduces our rainfall deficit since the first of 2026 to 4.38 inches but we're still 6.47 inches short of rainfall recorded at this point a year ago.

According to U.S. Climate Data, rainfall at Smithfield usually amounts to 29.16 inches January-July; this year just 24.78 inches has been recorded by Mr. Cox.

The County of Johnston this week officially rescinded the water-shortage advisory issued on June 9 which asked county customers (outside Johnston's municipalities) to voluntarily reduce water use as a conservation measure. (The Town of Smithfield did not issue an advisory during the recent drought.)

Although its advisory has been lifted, Johnston County's mandatory year-round conservation policy remains in effect. Under the policy, customers using in-ground irrigation systems or hose-end sprinklers are asked to follow an alternate-day watering schedule based on their street address:
Odd-numbered addresses: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Even-numbered addresses: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
No outdoor irrigation is allowed on Mondays.

Here's the link to the county's year-round water-consumption rules>
 

Smithfield attorney to lead new N.C. family court

 DOWNTOWN DOINGS 
ACTIVITIES OF DOWNTOWN SMITHFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Library's "pocket park" to be named at Tuesday event

What: Library Pocket Park Celebration & Name Reveal
When: Tuesday (August 11) at 11 a.m.
Where: Public LIbrary corner at Market and Third streets

During the event, DSDC will unveil the park's new name and honor the person whose creative suggestion was selected as the winner. Guests will also have the opportunity to check out the park's new mural, snap a picture, meet the team and community partners who helped bring this project to life, and enjoy a refreshing popsicle while spending time in the new space.

"Smithfield Sidewalk Stories": a podcast about goings-on 
Produced by the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC), Smithfield Sidewalk Stories shines a spotlight on the people, businesses, stories, and happenings that make Downtown Smithfield special. New episodes will drop every two weeks, "giving listeners an inside look at what's happening downtown through conversations with the amazing people who help make our community what it is," says DSDC. Episodes will feature interviews with local business owners, community leaders, artists, and other personalities, along with news, updates, and a look at what's new and coming up. Links to podcasts at downtownsmithfield.com>
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

River Rat Regatta this Saturday (if the Neuse allows)

NEW STARTING TIME: 10 a.m. for the homemade cardboard-boat race.
Registration opens at 8 a.m.
Boat judging at 9:30.
Captains meeting at 9:45.
Awards ceremony 11:45.
DJ spins music 9 till noon.
Rain date Saturday, August 22.
MORE INFO at smithfield-nc.com>

Heritage Center closed next week to take inventory
The Johnston County Heritage Center’s research facility at 241 E. Market Street, Smithfield will be closed Monday, August 10 through Friday, August 14 while staff complete inventory and reorganization of collections. The Johnston County Museum, located at 329 E. Market Street, will remain open during the week the
center is closed. For more information, visit www.johnstonnc.gov/heritage, call 919-934-2836, or e-mail heritagecenter@johnstonnc.gov>

Board of Education's August meeting next Tuesday
The Johnston County Board of Education is scheduled to convene next Tuesday afternoon at the school system's headquarters on US 70 Business East.
Check this link for starting time and agenda once that's posted>

National Night Out postponed till Saturday, August 15
Because of this week's rainy weather, the Smithfield Police Department has rescheduled its annual National Night Out event for Saturday, August 15 from 5 till 8 p.m. at Community Park.

Links to agendas for upcoming county, town meetings
Agendas won't be published before the end of next week for regularly scheduled meetings of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on August 17 and the Smithfield Town Council on August 18. Since the Sun won't be published next week, here are links to web pages where those agendas are normally posted:
Johnston County Commissioners>
Smithfield Town Council>
 

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

Where did school's "Green Waves" come from?

I'd always thought Wilson's Mills had borrowed its sports moniker from the Tulane University "Green Wave" (like the Alabama "Crimson Tide"). Now I learn that it's the Wilson's Mills "Green Waves" with an "s" – and that it was inspired by the "green waves" of nearby farm crops swaying gently in the wind.

So my Rotary Club was told by Principal Chad Jewett during a preview tour of the new school last week.

I followed up with a visit to the Heritage Center where the old schools' yearbooks are archived. During the two decades before the school's closing in 1969, I only found "Green Waves" referenced a couple of times. "Green Wave" wasn't found therein.

Johnston County's smallest high school (in 1969)
I also checked The Smithfield Herald archives to see how many seniors were graduated from the last class at Wilson's Mills. In 1969 Johnston County had 15 high schools. Newly consolidated North Johnston High (replacing Kenly, Micro, and Pine Level) had 135 graduates that year; Smithfield High had 120. Wilson's Mills had the smallest graduating class with just 16 seniors receiving diplomas!

Here's the list from the June 3, 1965 Herald of the other schools' graduation numbers: Four Oaks 99; Harrison 91 (African-American school in Selma); Benson 86; Clayton 77; Selma 73; Johnston Central 68 (Smithfield's African-American high, formerly Johnston County Training School); Princeton 60; Cooper 51 (Clayton's African-American school); Corinth-Holder (spelled without an "s" at the time) 40; Meadow 40; Forest Hill (African-American school at Four Oaks, spelled with no "s" on the end) 34; Cleveland 31 (twice as many as Wilson's Mills).

In all, Johnston County Public Schools graduated just over a thousand students in 1969. Earlier this summer we had almost 3,000 receive diplomas from eight traditional high schools plus three specialty academies.

And if you're wondering; Johnston County currently has no plans to build another high school; however, now under construction are new buildings to replace the old on the campus of Clayton High School.
 

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