A NEW SIGN THAT BEGS FOR PICTURES

How far will prices go down for motor fuels?
State gasoline tax suspended through November

Gasoline prices in and around Smithfield have tumbled below $4 a gallon in the wake of  legislation adopted and ratified last week to temporarily suspend North Carolina's 41-cent tax on each gallon of gasoline sold here.

The website GasBuddy reported prices as low as $3.49 at several major chains Thursday morning; $3.51 appeared to be a more common price. Diesel-fuel prices were as low as $5.39.

AAA this morning put the North Carolina average price for regular gasoline at just over $3.70, the national average just above $4.33 (apparently not as much gas-tax relief elsewhere).

While the state's suspension of its basic motor-fuel tax is set to expire November 30, legislative leaders have said it may be extended if conditions warrant. The federal tax of 18.4 cents per gallon – enacted in 1993 – remains in effect.
 

Schools' fund balance continues to grow
$15.9 million June 30 an increase of $1.9 million

The annual audit of Johnston County Public Schools' finances – presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday – shows the General Fund balance at the end of fiscal 2025-26 June 30 had grown to $15,930,075 – up from $14,059,279 the previous year and $13,072,738 the year before that.

CPA Adam Scepurek of the accounting firm Anderson, Smith & Wike told the board that "a lot of school districts are using their fund balances" to help pay for operating expenses. Johnston's system is an exception because of "a significant increase in county funding," noted Mr. Scepurek, whose firm now audits almost all of the state's 115 school districts.

Johnston's County Commissioners fully funded the school board's request for operations the past two fiscal years: $110 million for 2025-26 and $116.3 million for 2026-27.

In addition, JCPS has managed its Food Service and Child Care enterprise funds without local funding, the accountant noted – due in large part to federal aid amounting to $17.9 million for the system's Food Service operation this past year.

Mr. Scepurek said the schools' General Fund balance is "not too much, not too little" given uncertainties going forward about state and federal funding and inflation.

Superintendent of Schools David Pearce praised JCPS staff at all levels for the system's financial standing. "Everybody has done a phenomenal job," he said.

Board accepts policy on religious-based absences

The board voted 5-2 to adopt a new policy to permit "religious-based exemptions for school programs" in line with recent state legislation. Kay Carroll and April Lee cast the dissenting votes.

"I have a problem when the government gets into this," said Mr. Carroll, referring to the constitutional separation of church and state. Allowing students to be excused for religious observances not included on the schools' annual calendar, he said, "is terribly disruptive to the school day, not only for the student but also for the teacher."

Board member Michelle Antoine pointed out that Johnston's policy limits such releases from school to one hour per week and aren't permitted during "core classes" in math, science, social studies, and English language arts. (The new state law gives local school districts discretion to permit as many as four releases per week for religious reasons.)

The new policy reads, in part: "A student, parent, or guardian may petition to exempt the student from participation in a specific classroom discussion, activity, or assigned reading that the student, parent, or guardian believes would impose a substantial burden on the student's religious beliefs or invade the student's privacy by calling attention to the student's religion."  READ the entire policy>

Football helmet "reconditioning" by Riddell
The board approved a three-year contact not to exceed $300,000 with Illinois-based Riddell Sports Group for "reconditioning" more than 1,100 football helmets used by Johnston's middle and high-school teams.

HVAC automation coming to "multiple schools"
The board approved a three-year contract totaling $260,388 for Building Automation System services regulating heating and cooling "across multiple schools and projects." Brady Services, based in Greensboro, was selected by JCPS staff after interviews with two firms offering proposals.

Appointments to Smithfield-area advisory councils
The board followed recommendations from principals in appointing members to three-year terms on advisory councils at the following Smithfield-area schools:
• SSS High – Betsy Laughter.
• West Smithfield Elementary – Sherry Moore.
• Wilson's Mills High – Lori Fallon, Hannah Temple, Brian Culkin, Jennifer Melillo, Jennifer Kinnebbrew, Danielle Pleasant-King, Valerie Rodriguez, Dawn Edmondson, and Krystee Vernet.
 

An incomplete lineup of candidates at forum
Most Republican incumbents skip NAACP's event

The Johnston County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – the NAACP – invited to its open forum Friday evening any and all candidates on local ballots for the November 3 General Election.

The 13 candidates or their fill-ins who showed up:

• Michael Dublin, a resident of Johnston's Cleveland Township who's running as the Green Party candidate for U.S. senator. Neither of the front-runners in that race – Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley – took part.

• Paul Barringer, a Sanford Democrat who's challenging first-term Republican Congressman Brad Knott, who did not attend the forum.

• The daughter of Anita Earls, a Democrat seeking re-election to a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court.

• Pat LeGrand, a Clayton-area Democrat who's challenging incumbent State Senator Benton Sawrey, a Republican who did not attend the forum.

• Matthew Bailey, a Johnston County Democrat who's challenging District 28 State Representative Larry Strickland, another Republican who did not attend.

• Kevin Thurman, a Harnett County Republican challenging District 53 State Representative Howard L. Penny Jr., who did not attend the forum.

• L'Bertrice Solomon, a Clayton-area Democrat challenging District 26 State Representative Donna White, a Republican who did not attend.

• Patrick Harris (seated in the photo), a Smithfield Republican seeking re-election to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners.

• Will Byrd (standing in the photo), a write-in candidate for the seat held by Commissioner Harris. A registered Republican, he resides in Cleveland Township.

• The son of Gracie Chamblee, a non-partisan candidate for a seat on the board of the Johnston Soil & Water Conservation District. She's a Clayton-area resident.

• Joe David Austin, another non-partisan candidate for a seat on the Soil & Water Conservation board. A Smithfield-area resident, he and Ms. Chamblee are among nine candidates listed on the ballot for two board seats.

• MIchelle Ball, a Smithfield Republican unopposed for re-election as Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court.

• Craig Olive, a Clayton Republican unopposed for re-election as Johnston County's Register of Deeds.

The evening's hour-and-a-half program – held in the lecture hall of the new building housing Johnston Community College's Engineering Department – gave each candidate a few minutes to highlight their reasons for seeking public office. HIghlights from their assorted responses: "a lot of people are not being heard"; folks need "to sit down and speak with one another"; "people just want to know you care"; "I really want to control our growth."

A brief segment at the program's conclusion brought forth a handful of questions from citizens in the audience.

The candidates were asked how they stand on energy-intensive data centers that have spawned controversy across the nation. Asked for a show of hands, many of those in attendance indicated opposition. Commissioners' Chairman Harris said he knows of no plans for such a facility in Johnston County at this time.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN TODAY (October 15) and continues through October 31. Five locations are open 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 3 p.m. Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31. Individuals who missed the regular voter-registration deadline October 9 may register and vote during the early voting period. All voters will be asked to show a photo ID when they check in. You can vote at any of Johnston County's early voting sites regardless of your place of residence:
• The Bridge Church at 951 M. Durwood Stephenson Parkway.
• Archer Lodge Community Building at 14009 Buffalo Road.
• Oakland Presbyterian Church at 8927 Cleveland Road.
• The Church at Clayton Crossings at 11407 Clayton Boulevard.
• Benson American Legion at 605 N. Wall Street.

FIND SAMPLE BALLOTS according to your precinct of residence>
 

 WHAT'S COMING UP 

County Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday
Johnston's County Commissioners will get a report from Soil and Water Conservation on upcoming farmland-preservation easements when they meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Courthouse. They'll also get a follow-up report on plans for a second water supply on the Lower Neuse River. VIEW the complete agenda>

Town Council to alter process for data centers Tuesday
The Smithfield Town Council will consider amending its Unified Development Ordinance to require a special-use permit beyond staff review and approval of data centers within the town's industrial zoning districts. The change would bring all such requests (none are pending) before the Town Council for final approval. Tuesday's session begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. VIEW the complete agenda>

22nd Ghost Walk to be offered October 29 & 30

The Johnston County Heritage Center will stage its 22nd annual Ghost Walk on two successive evenings for the first time: Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, in Smithfield’s historic Riverside Cemetery.

Beginning at 6 pm, six historical personalities will be brought back to life. Visitors will be greeted at the corner of Second and Church streets beside St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where they will begin guided tours through the cemetery. Tours end at 8 pm.
 
The line-up includes Delilah McCoy (Revolutionary War orphan, portrayed by Zen Kelly), Rev. Philemon Wesley Archer (namesake of Archer Lodge, portrayed by Rev. Adam Charville), the Honorable John Rufus Coats (farmer and politician, portrayed by Adam Caldwell), Sylvia Richardson Holder (formerly enslaved matriarch and herbalist, portrayed by Denise Joyner), Louis Abdalla (Lebanese merchant, portrayed by Ned Attayek), and Mattie Woodall Creech (housewife and murder victim, portrayed by Mary-Leigh Hamilton).

During the event, organist Bill McClure of Garner will perform Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and other works on the St. Paul’s organ. The church’s Brotherhood of St. Andrew will sell barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs. Author James Parker will be in the Hastings House to greet visitors after the tour and sign copies of his book, Ghostly North Carolina.

Admission charge is $10 for adults and $5 for students, payable at the event or online in advance at this 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 

Fall slow to arrive; perhaps it's time this weekend

I thought autumn was supposed to start September 22 but here we are halfway through October with daytime highs approaching 90 degrees this past week.

But take heart: the forecast calls for some cooler fall weather by Sunday.

In the meantime, I found some "fall color" in these orange mushrooms popping up in the backyard (looks like the squirrels have been nibbling):

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