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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
• VOL. 1, NO. 38 |
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For the first time, retail sales topped $2 BILLION in Johnston this past year That's the sum from monthly reports compiled by the N.C. Department of Revenue for the fiscal year 2018-19 that ended June 30. Retail sales in all of Johnston totaled $2,061,428,993 for the year --- more than $200 million above the total for fiscal 2017-18 of $1,860,986,701. That's an annual increase of 10.77%. The year's biggest sales month was December, with $206.8 million in receipts reported to the state by retailers. The lowest monthly tally came in February, when sales totaled $149.7 million. Not only did retail sales this past year raise the standing of the local economy; it also produced a big boost in sales-tax revenue for state and local governments, with more than $98 million collected here during fiscal 2018-19. The sales and use tax on goods and services purchased in Johnston County amounts to 6.75% ---- 4.75% for the State of North Carolina; 2% for local governments including the County of Johnston and 11 municipalities. For complete monthly data on retail sales and taxes collected over the past two decades, visit this page on the N.C. Department of Revenue's website>  Johnston
County Economic Development Office photo
Blue Line Aviation starts airport project A groundbreaking ceremony at Johnston Regional Airport on Tuesday marked the official start of construction of Blue Line Aviation's pilot-training center. The $13-million, 40,531-square-foot facility will include hangar space, a restaurant and rooftop terrace, as well as a simulator room and other spaces for training. The restaurant, "Flights," will be operated by Chef Nate Roby and Colleen Roby, owners of Simple Twist and the Simple Twist Taproom in Downtown Smithfield. Completion of Blue Line's building here is expected by late 2020. The company is moving its headquarters from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where it began operations in 2012. "Over a 10-year span, the Blue Line Aviation Complex is expected to create approximately 134 jobs and employ approximately 300 people," the company said in a news release about Tuesday's groundbreaking. According to the N.C. Department of Transportation's Aviation Division, Johnston Regional Airport (owned by the County of Johnston) each year "creates $119 million in business revenue, $12.7 million in state and local taxes, and $39.9 million in personal income. The airport supports 820 jobs and serves 385,000 people within a 30-minute radius." More about economic development, civic improvements on OBSERVATIONS> |
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 Ringing the bells for the U.S. Constitution Members of the Smith-Bryan Chapter of the DAR gathered on the steps of the Johnston County Courthouse Tuesday to ring bells at 4 p.m. in celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution at that hour on September 17, 1787. They were joined by Clerk of Court Michelle Ball (third from left) and first-grader Kayleigh Wickline (right), accompanied by her grandmother, Diann Howard. Other DAR members taking part (from left) were Becky Owens, Gaynell Campbell, Deidre Kraft, Janie Temple, and Bonnie McIntyre. (DAR, by the way, stands for Daughters of the American Revolution.) A special addition to this year's observance was the tolling of an amplified electronic bell at Centenary United Methodist Church across the street from the Courthouse. |
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JCI employees, employer get state honors  Four employees and one employer
associated with Johnston County Industries (JCI)
received awards last week at the annual conference
of the N.C. Association of Rehabilitation
Facilities:Patricia Little, JCI's executive vice president, won the Chris O'Brien Advocacy Award, "given to someone who goes above and beyond to ensure that an individual or individuals with special needs are included in the community to the fullest extent (of) their ability." Scott Harper, general manager of Bojangles of Selma, received the Community Employer Award "for outstanding achievement in promoting employment opportunities for individuals who face barriers to employment through disability, substance abuse, or other circumstance." Tina Sutton, JCI transition specialist, received the Frontline in the Field Award as an employeee "who consistently goes above and beyond the requirements of his or her job to make a positive difference in the lives and the quality of life of the people we serve." James Johnson, JCI janitorial services technician, received the Vocational Achievement in a Facility Award. Brandon Edgerton, JCI peer support specialist, received the Vocational Achievement in the Community Award. JCI provides vocational training, employment programs, and "manufacturing solutions" for clients in Johnston, Harnett, Lee, Sampson, Duplin, and Wayne counties. The agency is based in the former Shallcross/Cutler-Hammer/Eaton plant at Selma. View JCI's annual report for 2018-19>  Johnston
County Public Schools photo
West Smithfield teacher assistant saluted Jasmine Williams (second from left), an instructional assistant at West Smithfield Elementary School, was honored as the "Classified Employee of the Month" at last week's meeting of the Johnston County Board of Education. She's pictured here with Superintendent of Schools Jim Causby (left), Chief of Human Resources and Financial Services Brian Vetrano, and West Smithfield's Principal Sharon Bryant. |
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WHAT'S COMING UP? A rundown of upcoming civic and cultural events in our community that we've been told about or seen publicized elsewhere:  THIS
YEAR'S
"HOSPICE
HAPPENING" --- an anuual fund-raising
event hosted
by volunteers
of Johnston
Health Home
Care &
Hospice that's
highlighted by
a series of
educational
seminars ---
is scheduled
for next
Thursday
(September 25)
at the Country
Club of
Johnston
County. A
series of
45-minute
seminars
begins at 11
a.m. and
continues till
5:45 p.m.
Guest speaker
at noon will
be Scott
Mason, "The
Tarheel
Traveler" of
WRAL-TV. The
event also
includes a
silent
auction, a
rocking-chair
raffle, and
refreshments.
To reserve a
seat, call the
Hospice
Volunteer
Office at
919-209-5103
or e-mail wanda.johnson3@unchealth.unc.edu.AN "INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL" hosted by St. Ann Catholic Church is set for Saturday, October 5 on the church grounds beside US 70 Business northwest of Smithfield. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. without admission charge, the festival features foods from 19 nations, international music and dance, games for all ages, and a silent auction. For more information, visit www.internationalfoodfestival.net. JOHNSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT'S "SKYFEST" --- an "open house" featuring aerial demonstrations, a "kids zone," outdoor concert, and "beer garden" --- is set for Saturday, October 12. The airport is located northwest of Smithfield off US 70 Business. Admission to the event will be free of charge. For more information, visit www.skyfestnc.com. AN "ELITE" HIGH-SCHOOL CHORUS will perform at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Smithfield on Saturday, October 12 at 7 p.m. Colla Voce, an audition-only chorus from Wake County's Holly Springs High School, has been invited to perform at Westminster Abbey and other venues in Great Britain. There's no admission charge for the concert here, but donations will be accepted for the upcoming trip. St. Paul's Music Director John Drymon, organist, will accompany the chorus. THE 15th ANNUAL HISTORICAL GHOST WALK hosted by the Johnston County Heritage Center is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 24 in Smithfield's Riverside Cemetery. Admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for students in grades K-12. Tickets are not sold in advance. Guided tours are offered first-come, first served, starting at the corner of South Second and Church streets. |
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DEATHS & FUNERALS Each week we'll post links to obituaries about persons who have died during the past week. We'll monitor the websites of local funeral homes to compile our list, and we welcome links provided by readers to obituaries of persons with Smithfield connections who have died outside our immediate area. PATHA MAE MORGAN HARPER, 93 - died September 15 DONALD HENRY DeLaPORTE, 92 - died September 15 MARGARET LEE JOHNSON WESTBROOK, 81 - died September 15 KATHLENE WORLEY CAPPS, 86 - died September 13 MARGARET LASSITER WALLACE, 87 - died September 13 JOHN ARLEN STOLL, 88 - died September 12 MICHAEL JEPP BRIDGES JR., 49 - died September 11 ROBIN YVONNE COATS GIBBS, 63 - died September 11 STEVEN GLENN LANGSTON, 41 - died September 11 |
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THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS The Little Dixie tobacco-auction warehouse wasn't as prominent as its larger "cousins" on Smithfield's Market Street. It stood at the northwest corner of North Third and Bridge streets --- the site of today's Smithfield Post Office. This photograph was taken in 1966 --- just before it was torn down to make way for the post office. (Photo from archives of the Johnston County Heritage
Center)
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"INSIDE" PAGES IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION SPORTS & RECREATION: SSS Homecoming report OBSERVATIONS: New industry and a "new" old building WANT TO VIEW PREVIOUS EDITIONS? Visit our archives |
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Jennifer Guerrero has a look of
surprise upon her crowning as Homecoming Queen at
halftime of last Friday night's football game at
Smithfield-Selma High School.
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