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| PUBLISHED ONLINE APRIL 14, 2020 • VOL. 2, NO. 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stories and photos by Wingate Lassiter unless otherwise noted (click highlighted link to e-mail the editor) |
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| CORONAVIRUS
UPDATE: 104 cases in Johnston County; 8 deaths; number hospitalized drops from 18 to 9 The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported this morning (Tuesday) that 104 coronavirus cases resulting in eight deaths have been confirmed in Johnston County. Those numbers are increases from 80 cases and four deaths reported last Friday. Meanwhile, Monday's daily report from the Johnston County Public Health Department showed the number hospitalized here because of COVID-19 is down to nine --- half of the 18 reported at the end of last week. Monday's report from the county showed 51 confirmed cases among present and former residents and staff at Clayton's Springbrook Rehabilitation & Nursing Center and six cases --- three inmates and three staff members --- at Johnston Correctional Institute between Selma and Wilson's Mills. The county issued the following coronavirus data at 5:30 p.m. Monday: • 101 confirmed cases; 9 hospitalized, 78 at home, 8 deaths (all age 65+). • 62% of cases female (63) and 38% male (38 cases). • Cases by age: no males, 6 females ages 18-24; 10 males, 16 females 25-49; 15 males, 16 females 50-64; 13 males, 25 females ages 65 and above. • Cases by race: 62 white, 34 black, 4 "unknown," and one "other." Here are the coronavirus numbers for Johnston and neighboring Wake County as well as all of North Carolina, the nation, and the world --- along with links to a couple of reporting agencies where the latest updates may be viewed:
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A GOOD FRIDAY GOOD DEED FOR KIDS  Not one, but two Easter bunnies greeted
children who dropped by the Sarah Yard Community Center
at lunchtime Friday to collect their weekend Backpack
Buddies bagged meals.The volunteers dressed as bunnies also handed out Easter eggs to the kids, and on a table nearby were free books to take home and read. The really tall bunny is Marlon Lee, one of the organizers of what has become an ongoing project at the Sarah Yard Center. At 6'11" he's a former collegiate basketball player who coaches girls' basketball at Clayton High School. He's also East Smithfield's elected representative on the Town Council. MORE ABOUT Friday's happening on the FEATURE PAGE> |
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names new superintendent Neuse Charter School has employed as its new superintendent a former Johnstonian who has been working the past 19 years as a teacher and administrator in Wake County. Melissa Gilbert Edwards was chosen by the Neuse Charter Board of Directors from a candidate pool of 49 applicants from 16 states. A graduate of South Johnston High School, Dr. Edwards began her professional career as a middle-school teacher at Franklin Academy, a charter school located in Wake Forest, and then at Raleigh's Thales Academy, a private non-sectarian school. In 2011 she began work as a middle-school and high-school administrator at Thales Academy. She currently serves as Head of School at Fusion Academy, another private school in Raleigh. Dr. Edwards holds Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education degrees from N.C. State University and a Doctorate Degree in Education from Walden University, an online institution based in Minnesota. In addition, she has earned National Board Certification, Mentor Certification, and a Education Specialist Degree in Teacher Leadership and School Administration. "Dr. Edwards is a high-caliber leader with hometown roots," said Dawn Dixon, chair of Neuse Charter's Board of Directors. "That is a win for all of us and we're confident she will lead Neuse Charter School to new levels of academic excellence." Other members of the board are Vice Chair Paul Worley, Rodney Dunn, Nichole Booker, Michelle Denning, Robbie Taylor, Benjy Woodard, and Jane Jackson. Founded in 2007, Neuse Charter School has 935 students in grades K-12 and a faculty of 56, according to Public School Review, a national website that provides detailed profiles of schools throughout the U.S.A. Minority enrollment at Neuse Charter is 32% of the student body --- lower than the statewide average of 52%, according to Public School Review. Charter schools in North Carolina --- free of tuition charges --- are funded by state and county per-pupil allotments as well as federal grants. Most do not provide transportation and food services as traditional public schools do. Enrollment at Neuse Charter is open to any legal resident of North Carolina who has not been expelled from another school. Who gets to attend is determined each year by a lottery held in March. MORE information on the school's website>  Neuse Charter School's campus is just across the road (recently renamed as Durwood Stephenson Parkway) from Smithfield-Selma High School. |
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WHAT MIGHT BE COMING UP SMITHFIELD-SELMA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION Friday, May 29 at Charles Tucker Stadium is still on the school system's schedule despite uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. TRIANGLE EAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BANQUET Twice postponed, first for wintry weather and then for the coronavirus outbreak, it's now set for Thursday, June 18 at the Johnston County Agricultural Center. That's about it for now, so far as we know.... |
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 CHURCH'S CROSS GOT FLOWERS
FOR EASTER
The wooden cross on the front lawn of Smithfield's First Presbyterian Church, draped in purple last week and then black on Good Friday, welcomed Easter Sunday morning with fresh-cut flowers from the gardens of church members. Florist Hank Roberson, a member of the church, assembled the arrangement. Open a movie file of Centenary United Methodist's automated bells playing a familiar Easter tune, recorded last Sunday afternoon (a first for the Sun)> READ MORE about an unforgettable Easter on OBSERVATIONS> |
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DEATHS & FUNERALS Each week we post links to obituaries about persons who have died during the past week. We 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.... JAMES RICHARD (RICKY) ANDREWS, 71 - died April 10 |
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LINKS TO ADDITIONAL PAGES IN THIS EDITION FEATURE PAGE |
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