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| PUBLISHED
ONLINE JULY 9, 2020 • VOL. 2, NO.
35 |
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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 Case numbers
continue to rise;
hospital patient count is level Here's the County of Johnston's coronavirus report as of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: • 1,862 cases --- up 297 from 1,565 a week ago. • 34 deaths --- two more than last week. • 29 hospitalized --- same as last week; 566 at home. • 1,233 presumed recovered --- up from 859 last week. • 975 female cases; 887 males. • Cases by age: 281 ages 0-17; 228 18-24; 810 25-49; 352 50-64; 191 age 65+. • Cases by race: 1,107 white, 236 black, 324 other, 195 unknown (not reported). • Cases by ethnicity: 971 Hispanic, 678 non-Hispanic, 213 unknown. FOOTNOTES: • Hispanics make up 14% of Johnston's population yet account for 52% of the county's coronavirus cases. • Blacks make up 17% of the population, account for 12.7% of the cases. • Persons 18-49 years of age account for 55.7% of Johnston's cases. • Seniors 65 and older account for 10.3% of the cases, while youngsters under age 18 account for 15.1%. • Areas with the most cases are Smithfield-Selma ZIP codes 27577 & 27576 with 596 and Clayton ZIPs 27520 & 27527 with 560 (Wednesday's numbers from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services online dashboard).
COUNTY AIDS CLINICS HELPING WITH PUBLIC TESTING At the request of Dr. Marilyn Pearson, Johnston County's director of public health, the County Commissioners on Monday approved $5,000 grants to two independent health providers that are offering coronavirus testing to the public at large in collaboration with the Health Department. The grant recipients are Benson Health --- a family-practice clinic formerly known as Benson Area Medical Center --- and CommWell Health, a regional provider that's testing at its Four Oaks and McGee's Crossroads clinics. Commissioners' Chairman Ted Godwin said it's likely the county will be reimbursed for the two grants with federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). County Finance Director Chad McLamb said Johnston County has received more than $3.6 million so far from CARES and expects to get another $4 million. In addition, he said, $180,000 has been received to aid the county's Board of Elections office with coronavirus-related expenses related to the November General Election. DRIVE-THRU TESTING FRIDAY AT BROGDEN ROAD CHURCH The Johnston County Health Department will offer free drive-thru testing for all ages, no pre-registration required, from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday (July 10) at Tee's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 6439 Brogden Road east of Smithfield. Meanwhile, the Health Department will continue to offer free drive-thru testing 8-10 a.m. every Tuesday in its parking lot beside North Bright Leaf Boulevard. Wednesday's report from N.C. Health and Human Services showed 13% of Johnston's tests coming back positive. Wednesday's statewide number was 10%. The county's website lists locations in Johnston where testing is being offered> QUESTIONS? CALL COVID-19 HOTLINE AT 919-209-8310 The county's help-line is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.  Saluting those on health care's front lines No Downtown fireworks.... No neighborhood kids' parade.... A quiet Fourth of July in Smithfield it was, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. The 50 flags stuck in the lawn at Johnston Health's Smithfield hospital were placed there by local Rotarians to honor our front-line health-care "heroes." |
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County Commissioners asked to fund body cameras, make Juneteenth a county holiday At Monday's monthly meeting, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners heard separate requests from two African-Americans in response to recent events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. James Gathers, a Smithfield resident, asked the board to provide body cameras for officers of the Sheriff's Department to record their actions in handling confrontations. "A lot of people are afraid now when it comes to the blue light," he said. At the same time, law-enforcement officers need "to protect themselves" whenever complaints arise about their actions, Mr. Gathers continued. "They're afraid, too." Responded Board Chairman Ted Godwin: "I don't think we can compel the sheriff to do that, but we can certainly encourage him and support him and have a dialog about that." Marlon Lee, a Smithfield town councilman, urged the board to adopt Juneteenth as an official county holiday as Wake County has done. "Let's be part of the movement," he said. "I'm just trying to show that this county is progressive." Juneteenth has been celebrated for many years by the African-American community on the anniversary of June 19, 1865 when a Union General delivered the yet-unheard news in Galveston, Texas that the Civil War was over and that enslaved people were henceforth free. Chairman Godwin said he would welcome an opportunity to talk with Mr. Lee and others about the holiday proposal. "I'd love to see things happen that unify people," he said. "I'm not sure this will." READ MORE news from Monday's meeting of the County Commissioners> |
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Smithfield Council adopts resolution committing the town to abolish racism At its monthly meeting Tuesday evening, the Town Council adopted a resolution that "condemns the murder of George Floyd," "supports the right of people to peacefully protest," and "commits that the Smithfield Police Department will continue its efforts to resist racism, promote policies to hire more African-American and minority officers, and continue with best practices related to eliminating racial profiling and supporting other initiatives intended to eliminate racial bias and excessive force in policing." The resolution serves as the Town of Smithfield's official response to the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 --- an event that has prompted nationwide protests and calls for action addressing "systemic racism" in American society. "The Town Council commits itself and the Town to be deliberate and intentional in its efforts to engage the community in constructive, honest, and substantial dialogue to better understand where racism exists and to adopt policies to abolish it," the council's resolution declares. "These actions must be concrete and intended to bring about real change and we will consistently measure our success or failure to bring it about." The resolution, adopted without dissent, is being signed by the mayor and all seven members of the council to reinforce its importance. READ MORE news from Tuesday's meeting of the Town Council> PEEDIN ROAD RESURFACING BEGINS THIS EVENING Peedin Road in North Smithfield will have overnight lane closures today (Thursday) through Saturday to allow Fred Smith Inc. of Raleigh to mill old asphalt and lay down new pavement. The N.C. Department of Transportation project --- from Bright Leaf Boulevard to the railroad tracks --- will be done between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. If it rains, the project may require an additional day or two to be completed. |
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How will students return to school Aug. 17? School board's answer expected Tuesday Normally, the Johnston County Board of Education foregoes its monthly meeting in July, but this year is different for a number of reasons, so the board will convene next Tuesday afternoon (July 14). Uppermost on the board's to-do list is an immediate decision on how Johnston County Public Schools will operate when classes resume August 17: With all students be present at all times? With an alternating-days attendance schedule? With at-home online learning? Or a combination of those options? Tuesday's meeting will be the first for newly employed Superintendent Eric Bracy, who started work here July 1. And it will likely be conducted with restrictions on who may attend in person because of coronavirus concerns. The meeting's agenda should be posted by week's end on the schools' website> Ben Williams lands Wilson County Schools position as an assistant superintendent His appointment as Interim Superintendent of Johnston County Public Schools ended June 30 to make way for newly employed Superintendent Eric Bracy. Dr. Williams was named interim CEO in mid-January following the departure of Interim Superintendent Jim Causby. A year ago Dr. Williams left his position as principal of North Johnston High School to fill a position as an area superintendent in the Johnston County system's Central Office. As Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services in Wilson County, his salary is $125,000 --- a raise from his salary here of $97,607.  Academic
Achievement Listsfor the Spring Semester 2020 PRESIDENT'S LIST To be named to the President’s List, a student must have a minimum of nine completed credit hours in a semester, excluding developmental courses, and have achieved a minimum 4.0 semester GPA. Smithfield students: Carmen C. Archibald; Christian B. Barbour; Avery M. Berg; Elizabeth M. Boyce; Nichole R. Bradshaw; Gabrielle R. Bryant; Gracie L. Cannady; Brianna L. Capps; Catherine D. Cassidy; Celcris G. Drake; Taylor B. Flowers; Arhemy Franco-Gonzalez; Angel M. Fry; Lauren E. Gates; Mary A. Gates; Maria G. Gonzalez Andrade; La Costa L. Hamman; Ivey T. Hare; Belinda A. Hickman; Britney C. Howard; Mary L. Howell; Ruby Jaen-Juarez; Gracie C. Johnson; Jordan L. Johnson; Pamela A. Lounsbery; David T. Marshburn; Basny J. Melgar-Melgar; Cesar Palma; David H. Parker; Estrella M. Parrish; Diana C. Pena Cruz; Maria L. Pompa Villa; Jocelyn Rodriguez; Nelson Salas; Elizabeth Scott; Caleb W. Symonds; Perla M. Trujillo-Hernandez; Lennie Vernet; Donald E. Wood. DEAN'S LIST To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must have a minimum of nine completed credit hours in a semester, excluding developmental courses, and have achieved a minimum 3.5 semester GPA. Smithfield students: Elizabeth M. Auge; Sara A. Badgett; Dylan C. Beetcher; Adia R. Bradshaw; Ethan L. Brooky; Aycee M. Carter; Justyn P. Cole; Benjamin T. Coleman; Walter M. Dacko, Jr.; Melisa A. Daughtry; Tonya L. Davis; Stephen W. Dayberry; Emma P. Duffield; Sara J. Elliott; Yamilet Fraire; Jasmine A. Franks; Martha S. Garcia; Anaysa C. Gonzalez; Kayla G. Hall; Haden T. Hanes; Kamryn L. Holleman; Joe L. Huff; Elizabeth A. Jividen; Rachel M. Lee; Julieta Maya; Tjorn B. McLeish; William A. Piper; Justin M. Quinn; Hidekel H. Silva; Matthew C. Smith; Quiante A. Smith; Anna M. Twisdale; Timothy D. Vaughn; Jewel L. Wymer. VIEW the complete list of Johnston Community College's 2019-20 graduates> |
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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.... MARGARET ANN WILLIAMS, 68 - died July 7 CHARLES R. WALL SR., 89 - died July 3 FAYE STEWART STEPHENSON, 65 - died July 3 JOYCE ANN RADFORD BASS, 79 - died July 3 CLARA LEE BLACKMON, 84 - died July 2 BRUCE BERNARD FRIERSON, 64 - died June 30 |
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THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS  SMITHFIELD'S GOVERNING BOARD 41 YEARS AGO Meeting on the main floor of the Smithfield Municipal Building (the former Hotel Gabriel Johnston that's currently vacant) is the Town Board of Commissioners of 1979: (left right) Robert Bell, Waylon Broadwell, Tommy Medlin, Town Attorney Bob Spence Sr. (whose son is the present-day town attorney), Mayor Kenneth Baker, Dr. Norman Grantham Jr., James Barbour, Earl Langley, and Norwood Worley. (Photo from Smithfield Herald Collection, Johnston County Heritage Center) |
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LINKS TO MORE PAGES IN THIS EDITION COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REPORT Rewind with our archives |
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For more
information about our community, check out
my online "newspaper parent" via the link shown
below. This website is a handy portal to
important sources of current information about
Smithfield and Johnston County.
 Here's what you'll find there:• Local government website links • Local weather data, current & past • Neuse River levels & forecasts • Official time & Farmer's Almanac • Monthly unemployment reports • Quarterly retail-sales reports • Official population estimates • Agricultural statistics • Things to see and do www.smithfieldselmasun.com |
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