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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE MAY 21, 2020 • VOL. 2, NO.
28 |
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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 A spike in cases: Johnston now has 282 --- highest weekly jump since early April The N.C. Department of Health & Human Services reported this morning (Thursday) that Johnston County now has 282 coronavirus cases --- an increase of 62 since this time last week. Johnston County released the following coronavirus data at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday: • 276 confirmed cases --- up from 220 a week ago; 19 deaths, 6 hospitalized (same number as a week ago), 251 at home. • 58% of cases female (159); 42% male (117 cases). • Cases by age: 14 ages 0-17; 17 18-24; 115 25-49; 55 50-64; 75 age 65 and older. • Cases by race: 189 white, 72 black, 8 "other," and 7 "unknown." FOOTNOTES: • Of the 56 new cases reported by the county on Wednesday, 50 are persons under age 50 and only two are persons age 65 and older. • No new outbreaks reported at local nursing and rehab centers this past week. Why aren't more folks wearing masks? The editor's take on OBSERVATIONS>
MORE BUSINESSES MAY RE-OPEN FRIDAY; OTHERS MAY NOT A statewide spike in the number of coronavirus cases this past week prompted Governor Roy Cooper to modify his original "Phase Two" plan for re-opening more businesses this Memorial Day weekend. Effective at 5 p.m. Friday, restaurants may open their inside dining spaces at 50% of licensed capacity, as may barber shops and beauty salons as well as public swimming pools. Still ordered closed for at least five more weeks are movie theaters, bars and nightclubs, fitness gyms, and public playgrounds. When will the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center re-open? No word at "press time" today (Thursday). Check the town's website for updates> READ the Governor's latest order in full issued Wednesday afternoon> WITH MORE TESTING STATEWIDE: A HIGHER CASE TOTAL The N.C. Department of Health & Human Services reported on Wednesday that the number of coronavirus cases jumped from 16,507 to 20,122 this past week --- an alarming increase yet attributed in part to stepped-up testing across the state. As of Wednesday, the state lists three sites for coronavirus testing in Johnston County: Avance Care at Clayton and CommWell Health facilities at Four Oaks and McGee's Crossroads. Here's the complete list with addresses and contact info>  A sign of the times in West Smithfield as churches consider how and when to resume in-house worship services in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. Most churches here are exercising caution as they plan for return of their congregants Even though Governor Cooper has concurred with a federal judge's ruling by exempting churches from mass-gathering restrictions, most of Smithfield's churches are playing it safe by continuing to offer Internet live-streaming of their services conducted in front of empty pews as they've been doing since mid-March. Meanwhile, a few churches have been holding outdoor services in parking lots where anti-coronavirus social distancing can be maintained. And at least one small congregation here worshiped indoors this past Sunday. A couple of our churches have indicated they're working toward a return to in-house services on June 7. To help churches plan for re-opening their sanctuaries, the Governor's Office has issued Interim Guidance for Places of Worship and Religious Services>  Posted on the school system's Facebook page are banners like this one for Smithfield-Selma High School that may be downloaded for use "as your cover photo to celebrate a senior in your life!" Here's the link to the banners on Facebook> HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATIONS PUT OFF TILL LATE JULY Johnston County Public Schools now says its high schools will host "modified" traditional graduation ceremonies between Wednesday, July 29 and Saturday, August 1: "The ceremonies will be held on school campuses and will follow all guidance from state and local health officials. Although these modified ceremonies may have to look somewhat different than traditional graduations, which may include limiting guests and holding multiple ceremonies, we are committed to students walking across a stage to receive their diplomas." READ the complete announcement on the JCPS website> PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS RESUMED CURBSIDE SERVICES The Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield began "curbside services and the book drop" this week and hopes to open its building in Downtown Smithfield "for limited services" on June 8. To request help in finding resources or books, patrons are advised to call 919-934-8146 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit the library's website at any time for assistance> |
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County manager's recommended budget, predictably, falls short of schools' request County Manager Rick Hester's recommended budget for 2020-21 includes $70,800,000 for Johnston County Public Schools --- an amount that's $6.8 million short of what Johnston's Board of Education has requested. That's no surprise, for two reasons: (1) the manager's proposal is a starting point for upcoming deliberations by the County Commissioners and is usually less than what the school board requests; and (2) the total recommended General Fund budget of $250 million for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 is less than the current year's amended budget. Blame the coronavirus pandemic for that, as Mr. Hester and his staff foresee a decline of more than $6.4 million in county sales-tax revenues in the year ahead --- a projected drop of 16.5%.  At the same
tax, property-tax revenues are expected to increase by
$11.5 million as residential and commercial real-estate
development along with population growth are expected to
continue their upward trends. That projection is based
on leaving the county's property-tax rate of 76 cents
per $100 valuation unchanged.And yet, because of revenue uncertainties associated with the coronavirus, the county manager is recommending no across-the-board pay raises for county employees July 1. "I respectfully request to revisit employee compensation later in the budget year," Mr. Hester writes in his budget message to commissioners. Even so, he's recommending approval of 21 of 38 new positions requested by various department heads, with hiring likely postponed till later this calendar year. The recommended positions: eight first responders for the Cleveland area Emergency Medical Services unit, four dispatchers for 911 Communications, three new positions in Public Utilities, two in Public Health, and one each for Social Services, Planning, GIS (Geographic Information Service), and Solid Waste. The proposed budget includes previously anticipated rate adjustments for county water and sewer services --- higher fees, for the most part, although there's a reduction in charges for sewage treatment provided by the county for the towns of Smithfield, Selma, Pine Level, and Four Oaks. View proposed water & sewer rates> The County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on Mr. Hester's proposal during their next meeting on Monday, June 1. They've scheduled budget work sessions for the following two Monday evenings: June 8 and 15. View the entire proposed budget in detail on the county's website> COUNTY CREDIT RATINGS REAFFIRMED FOR NEXT BOND SALE The County of Johnston was notified this week that its credit ratings have been reaffirmed prior to an upcoming $20-million bond sale for school construction projects. Moody's Investor Services has assigned a rating of "Aa1" to Johnston; Standard & Poor's has reaffirmed its "AA+" rating. Both ratings are one notch below the highest given by those agencies. County Manager Rick Hester said these "strong credit ratings" result in lower interest expense for taxpayers. The upcoming $20-million sale is the second from bond issues totaling $76 million for Johnston County Public Schools and Johnston Community College that were approved by the county's voters in November 2018. |
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Smithfield Council approves pay-raise plan for understaffed Police Department Under consideration since January, a plan to raise salaries for Smithfield Police Department positions won approval from the Town Council during a budget session last Thursday evening. Effective July 1, the start of fiscal 2020-21, the plan raises pay for entry-level police officers from $39,600 to $45,540 --- from an hourly rate of $17.71 now to $20.37 going forward. Salaries for other higher-ranking police personnel will rise proportionately.  Cost of the
change will add $174,000 to the proposed town budget for
the year ahead, but Town Manager Mike Scott assured the
council that unspent funds in the Police Department's
current budget will more than cover the extra expense.That's because the department has been operating short-handed for several years now. Chief Powell told the council last week that the department currently has six vacancies. The pay-raise plan will affect 22 existing employees as well as the vacant slots, he noted. The department currently has 41 "sworn" officer positions, he added. "In the past few years the department has lost numerous officers with at least eight years or more of experience," Chief Powell told the council. "Ten of the officers left to go to work in Knightdale, which took approximately 76 years of experience to another agency. Two of them were supervisors that took patrol officers' positions with less work and responsibilities for more money and better benefits." Councilman Travis Scott made the motion to approve the pay-raise plan. "I know we're in hard times, but I think the council needs to find a way to make this work," he said. Councilman John Dunn cast the lone vote against putting the plan in place July 1 after expressing concerns about fiscal uncertainties facing the town. In response to a follow-up inquiry from the Sun, Mr. Dunn provided a written statement explaining his position that appears on the OBSERVATIONS page> READ MORE about budget decisions and Monday's regular council meeting> TOWN MANAGER FINISHES HIS PROPOSED BUDGET Following the past week's budget sessions with the Town Council, Town Manager Mike Scott posted his completed budget on the town's website Wednesday afternoon. Here's the link directly to it> The next step before adoption of the 2020-21 budget is a public hearing scheduled before the Town Council at its next monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, June 2. Information about public access to that session is expected by the end of next week. |
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Johnston Health receives $4.4 million in federal coronavirus relief assistance The money comes from the federal CARES Act Provider Relief Fund established to help hospitals and physicians alleviate some of the financial pain brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. (CARES is the acronym for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security.) "Across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented decline in hospital volumes, including at Johnston Health," said CEO Tom Williams. "This was a result of having to postpone elective procedures and surgical cases to preserve limited supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disposable supplies. "In addition, hospitals have seen their expenses increase because of pandemic-related planning and limited-supply and drug costs," he explained. In April alone, he noted, Johnston Health lost about $4 million in operating income. "We continue to monitor PPE and supplies closely," Mr. Williams said. "Thanks to the increased availability of these supplies, due largely to domestic production, we are able to begin ramping back up our elective procedures. Our patients need these procedures, and we are working closely with our medical staff to ensure that we provide this needed care, safely, to all of our patients." Johnston Health, part of the UNC Health Care System, operates hospitals in Smithfield and Clayton. Johnston Health names Chief Med Officer  Rodney McCaskill, M.D., is no longer
the interim Chief Medical Officer for Johnston
Health --- a position he has held since October 1.
He is now the full-fledged CMO.Under his agreement with Johnston Health, Dr. McCaskill will continue working as a provider with Wake Emergency Physicians, P.A. in the emergency departments of both the Smithfield and Clayton hospitals. Dr. McCaskill also serves as assistant director of Johnston County Emergency Medical Services. A graduate of East Carolina University and its School of Medicine, he completed his residency at the University of North Carolina. He is board-certified in emergency medicine with more than 20 years of experience. Johnston Health gets $444,000 Duke grant It comes from The Duke Endowment to expand a community network known as Project Access --- an effort to improve health care for low-income and uninsured residents of Johnston and Harnett counties. Since its launch in 2008, Project Access has assisted more than 4,600 residents of the two counties. To date, the value of health-care services donated by providers, including hospitals in both counties, exceeds $40 million, according to Georgia Anthony, the program's director. The program has offices inside Smithfield's Johnston Medical Mall and in Dunn. More information about Project Access is available on the Johnston Health website> |
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MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE TO BE LIVE-STREAMED  The Johnston County Council of Veterans
Organizations will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony
inside the Courthouse atrium at 11 a.m. Monday (May 25),
but public access will limited to live-streamed
telecasts on Facebook.Guest speaker will be U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Simms Anderson. The observance may be viewed at www.facebook.com/jocogovNC or www.facebook.com/jocoveteranscouncil. Memorial Day dates back to spontaneous gatherings held after 1865 to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. Congress in 1971 made it a federal holiday to honor Americans who have perished in all wars, and set the last Monday in May as the official date for the annual observance. MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY CLOSINGS AS USUAL Closed on Monday (May 25) are all local, state, and federal offices and services as well as banks and post offices. Normally, it's a school holiday --- a moot point in this year of the coronavirus that ended the 2019-20 school term in March. |
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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.... LETTIE MAE RAYNOR ALLEN, 88 - died May 17 DR. THOMAS MILTON JOHNSON, 87 - died May 16 ELIZABETH ROBARDS (BETSY) ROYALL, 93 - died May 16 DIANA DENTON ALLEN, 57 - died May 15 SARAH FRANCES BARBER, 87 - died May 15 MARVIN HARVEY LEAGAN, 74 - died May 15 ROLAND RUDOLPH WATSON, 89 - died May 14 TYLER ROY OSTERHOUDT, 21 - died May 13 |
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THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS  "PRESBYTERIANS VOTE TO SELL CHURCH TO CHRISTIANS" read the headline in The Smithfield Herald in January 1946 when the First Presbyterian Church decided to sell its house of worship on North Second Street to the First Christian Church. The Presbyterians subsequently moved into their present-day home on South Third Street in 1951, and the Christians vacated the structure pictured here in 1961 when they moved into their present-day home next to South Smithfield Elementary School. The photograph appeared on a Smithfield calendar that was published in 1955. After the Christians left, the old church house was remodeled into an office building that was torn down some years ago. The Herald headline, by the way, provided some humor among those who read more into it than was intended! (Photo from the
Johnston County Heritage Center)
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LINKS TO ADDITIONAL PAGES SMITHFIELD COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Rewind with our archives |
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