Jan 7 - The Sampson Weekly

Transcription

ship all the way to the final stages of the season
finale at Homestead, where a botched pit stop
by his crew late in the race doomed him to a
16th-place finish, which left him fourth in the
final points standings.
Still, Logano was able to see the positives
as he met with the media after the race at
Homestead.
“This is the first time I’ve had a shot at winning a championship,” he said. “It’s the first time
I’ve won more than one race in a season. It’s
been a spectacular year.
“We had fun with it, learned a lot for next
time in my career that we get to compete for a
championship again and how I can maybe do a
few things differently and then learn from my
mistakes.”
We Should Know...
Local News
Business
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Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR
llow
in to
a lateag .5
is first
time
ds the
Kevin
nship
he
the sport, having grown up the daughter of
a driver in the series now known as Xfinity.
“She grew up in a racing family and
knows how hard this sport is and knows
the sacrifices that we make personally and
that her family had made growing up to
get race cars to the race track,” he said. “So
she’s been an incredible part of this for me
personally, just for the fact that she knows,
and we’ve been around each other so much
that she knows exactly what to say, when
to say it, what to not bother me with ….
She knows what I do and don’t want to deal
with in those competitive situations.”
And he said that even with all that was
happening on the NASCAR front, Delana
had to oversee the family’s move to a new
home, one that replaced their residence that
burned the winter before.
Harvick also had praise for Childers — a
former driver now best known for building
fast race cars — his team owners and his
crew.
“Rodney has driven, he’s built his own
cars, he can run the engineering simulation
program, and when you have all those experiences, you can relate to all those groups
and not let them get too far out of bounds
in what they’re telling you and what they’re
communicating to you,” he said. “It was a
lot of commitments and a lot of time from a
lot of different people, and in the end of the
time and the money that everybody spent,
wound up with a lot of good people, and that
in the end is what makes it all go around.”
SAMPSON COUNTY’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
The Sampson Weekly
omeeant
acu look
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Joey Logano and his wife, Brittany
Underdog Newman finishes second in Cup standings
Ryan Newman, who was released
from Stewart-Haas Racing after the
2013 season to make way for Kevin
Harvick, signed on with Harvick’s old
team, Richard Childress Racing, and
came within one finishing position at
Homestead of winning his first Cup
championship.
Driving the No. 31 Chevrolet for
RCR, Newman was the underdog
throughout much of the season and
the Chase. He didn’t win a race all
year, and had just two top-5 finishes Ryan Newman (left) left Stewart-Haas after 2013
entering the 10-race Chase.
to make way for Kevin Harvick (right).
But he and his Luke Lambert-led
team turned it up over the final
10 races and ended the season with six finishes of eighth or better, including a third at
Martinsville and a second at Homestead, to finish second in the final standings.
“Luke and the guys did an awesome job,” Newman said. “We came back for the entire season to make our best finish our last finish. It is disappointing — don’t get me wrong — but
there’s no point in being a sore loser. It’s some motivation, some momentum for the off-season to get started for Daytona, and just look forward to the opportunity for next year.”
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1
Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
www.thesampsonweekly.com
on-
ay
oice
ent
expectations and then some as he won the
Nationwide Series championship in his rookie season, and in doing so became the youngest driver in the history of this sport to win
a NASCAR national series championship.
He had three wins — all on the superspeedways and in races in which there were
numerous Sprint Cup drivers competing. He
also had 16 top-5 and 26 top-10 finishes in
the circuit’s 33 races.
Elliott drove the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR
Motorsports, and worked with crew chief
Greg Ives, who left the team at season’s end
as
pion-
nge
Local News
st season inPage
years4
on
aov-
p
—
is
gthe
Causes Community Concern
Chase Elliott wins Nationwide Series championship
ville
na
at
Greensbridge Closing
Warning-Phone Scam
INSIDE
Athlete of the Week
Chase Elliott, the 19-year-old son of
12 Bill Elliott, lived up to
SprintPage
Cup veteran
itely
peri-
eaix
Week of January 2-8, 2015
Nascar Insider
Page 11
Dale Earnhardt Jr. with girlfriend,
Amy Reimann.
WEATHER
dt said in his winner’s interview that
aught up in the emotion of it because it’s
ery special to me to be able to win [at
Fri
succeeds
Truck Series’ Ben Kennedy
inherits great-grandfather’s genes
Camping World Truck Series driver Ben Kennedy, the
great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.,
showed that he’d inherited some of Big Bill’s racing genes.
He won the circuit’s Rookie of the Year honors with a pole
at Daytona, a third-place finish at Martinsville, seven top10 finishes and a ninth-place finish in the points standings.
Although his Turner Scott Motorsports dropped off the
circuit at season’s end, Kennedy quickly found a new ride,
in the No. 11 Toyota for Red Horse Racing.
Red Horse Racing team owner Tom DeLoach said in a
team release that he’s happy to have Kennedy join his
multi-truck organization.
“Ben is a very talented young driver, and I think he is
going to fit right into our Red Horse family,” DeLoach said.
*Clinton Citizens are Warned to be Vigilant
The Clinton Police department is warning local residents of a phone scam which is aimed at
defrauding Clinton Utility customers. According to Assistant City of Clinton Police Chief,
Donald Edwards, the suspect telephones a resident and pretends to be from the City of Clinton and attempts to solicit bank or personal information over the phone. The suspects tells
the resident that their utility bill is past due and in order to avoid immediate cutoff they will
need to make payment. The scammer continues to press for the resident to get a prepaid card
to make immediate payment for the water bill.
PHONE SCAM, see P. 3
Cloudy
10%
Hi: 56 º Lo: 43 º
“Money,” says part owner LB Wilson on the closing of
Greensbridge. “We’ve been losing money now for 4 years.”
Wilson started as a 30% owner at Greensbridge, but says
he is now down to only 10% ownership. Larry Naylor
of Newton Grove, who owns 50%, along with two other
individuals each with 20% ownership account for the
partnership at Greensbridge.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
won Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year and
ican driver Darrell Wallace Jr. won four
n route to a third-place finish in the
PM
Showers
50%
014 — especially in the finale at
wn cause and that of the diversity prod Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in
Hi: 57 º Lo: 52 º
What started as rumors a couple of weeks ago is now
official. Greensbridge Golf Course is officially closed
as of Friday. With the start of a new year, residents who
bought property and built houses at the out-of-the-way
Greensbridge Golf Course near Garland are now left to
wonder what might happen to the course, and of course, to
their property values.
City of Clinton and the Clinton Police Department warn citizens of phone scam
— which struggled for years to deliver a
not one, but two grads find great success
Sat
to become crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
in the Sprint Cup Series.
Ives had great praise for Elliott, who carried himself like a veteran through the ups
and downs of the season.
“The promising thing is, no matter what,
Chase and I always try to learn something
from whatever happens,” Ives said. “We’re
always grateful for the position we’re in,
whether it’s 17th, 30th or winning the race.
“That’s rare. That’s rare. And people who
become successful sometimes don’t remember that, and he’s going to for a long time,
and that’s the true integrity and character of
Chase Elliott.”
Sheriff ’s Office Investigating
Body Found in Ditch on
Lakewood School Road
Ben Kennedy
Sun Scattered
T-Storms
60%
Hi: 73 º Lo: 46 º
Mon Partly
Cloudy
0%
At one time Wilson had ownership in 4 courses across
the area, including a course at Hope Mills which has also
been closed. With the closing of Greensbridge, Wilson
will be left with just his course at Sandy Ridge, and says he
plans to focus his reduced time and efforts there. “At my
age I’m ready to retire. Greensbridge is a great course, and
hopefully someone can step in and invest some time and
money… Again, it’s a great course that will draw golfers,
but I’m just not looking to take on anything more at this
point.”
Hi: 51 º Lo: 31 º
Tues Partly
Cloudy
0%
Hi: 48 º Lo: 30 º
Wilson says that the course is up for sale, and that they
have had a few interested. “We are working with some
people now. One that’s looking pretty hard,” adds Wilson.
He goes on to say that the course’s last day is scheduled
for January 1st, but adds, “I’ve got a guy interested and we
are meeting tomorrow (January 1st). He’s thinking about
it, and depending on how that meeting goes, we may keep
it open a little longer… But again, that hinges on how the
meeting goes.”
Wed Partly
Cloudy
0%
Hi: 48 º Lo: 28 º
WEEKLY VERSE
Local..............................................1-6
Health...............................................7
Faith..................................................8
Entertainment..................................9
Sports........................................11-13
Education.......................................14
Obits...............................................16
Crime..............................................17
Classifieds.......................................18
Business..........................................19
Performance...................................20
thesampsonweekly.com
910-590-2102
The 18-hole Greensbridge Golf Course opened in 1996
and was designed by Gene Daniel. The par 72 course on
Bermuda grass covers 6,577 yards from the back tees and
the course rating is 71.0 with a slope rating of 125. The
entire golf course covers slightly over 200 acres.
GREENSBRIDGE, see P. 3
Clinton, NC – On Tuesday, December 30, 2014, around 2:50 PM, the Sampson
County E-911 Center received a call of a body in a ditch in the 200 block of Lakewood
School Road near Salemburg, NC. Responding deputies discovered a male subject
identified as, Joseph Fitzgerald Williams, age 49, of 931 Lakewood School Road,
Salemburg, NC. Investigators from the Sampson
BODY FOUND, see P. 3
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WEEKLY INDEX
Sheriff Dept still investigating body found on Lakewood School Road in Salemburg
Have a Safe and Prosperous 2015 from
the Staff of Sessoms Jewelry!
Thanks for shopping
with us this holiday season,
and thanks for
your continued support!
Sessoms Jewelry has been serving Sampson County
and the surrounding area for over 50 years!
And we offer unparalleled service after the sale!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Therefore,
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2 Corinthians
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HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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2
LOCAL NEWS
Lakewood’s Coleman Simpson
Earns Prestigious Honor;
Scholarships
the core values of the FFA to people who were there for the same reasons I was. I realized
then that the FFA would be an integral part in my high school career, and possibly my life.”
The active senior noted that the best part of being part of FFA is being a member of the
program itself.
“Honestly, the best part of FFA is just being a member for me,” he explained. “It’s being able
to travel across the country and make lifelong relationships with people you meet for a week.
The best part is being able to go to the FFA camp during the summer, and spend all afternoon with your friends and advisors preparing for a competition. I haven’t held an office or
received an award that has more to me than the memories I have made along the way.”
In fact, it is Coleman’s plan to make more memories in FFA by becoming an Ag educator. He
was just accepted into North Carolina State University for Agricultural Education.
Coleman Simpson being congratulated for his FFA award by his dad and Sampson
County School Board member Telfair Simpson
Lakewood High School senior Coleman Simpson was honored by the North Carolina FFA
(also known as Future Farmers of America) after placing first in the state for Placement
Supervised Agricultural Experience at the State FFA Convention, held in Raleigh earlier
this year.
“Being awarded first place in the Ag Sales at convention was amazing,” the 18-year-old said
Monday night. “This was my first application for a Proficiency Award, and it was one of the
hardest applications I’ve ever completed. It was also very rewarding, because it was three
years worth of work that paid off. The application asked for my hours of my Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) outside of class, which was my employment at James Trading
Company in Roseboro, alongside a resume, references, a letter from my employer, among
numerous other articles of information. This award is one my proudest achievements because it is something I am passionate about.”
Simpson was just one of eight in the state that represented the North Carolina FFA as a
delegate at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY and was awarded a Washington,
D.C. Leadership Conference Scholarship from the organization.
“I found out about the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) scholarship about two
days after the interviews,” Simpson said. “The scholarship required I submit an application
which included: a resume, a description of my SAE, what my future plans were, and how I
would benefit from attending WLC. I applied for a scholarship offered by the North Carolina FFA Association, which is difficult to receive. There are only six scholarships awarded
and there were around 25 people that were applying for it. Receiving the scholarship was
incredibly gratifying because it was very difficult to attain.”
Simpson’s father, Telfair, who is also a long-time member of the Sampson County Board of
Education, said Coleman has always been a goal setter.
“N.C. State is my first choice for schools because I love their campus and atmosphere and
their agriculture programs,” he said. “As I finish my high school career, I think back to the
people that have affected me along the way, and two that stick out are my advisors, Mrs.
Elizabeth Pack and Mr. John Fortner. I would not be the same person today if I had not had
them guiding me and helping me with my journey these past four years. I wish to make an
impact in the world in the same manner. I have always had a knack for teaching so this is the
perfect fit. It also enables me to continue to be a part of the FFA which is a goal of my life.”
He hopes to begin teaching soon.
When asked what he wants people to know about FFA, Coleman explains that FFA is for
anyone and everyone.
“The FFA is for all sorts,” he said. “I grew up doing musical theatre and didn’t know much
about agriculture. However, I have grown as a person, and have developed a passion for
agriculture through the FFA. The FFA gets a reputation for just being about farming, but it’s
more than that. The FFA is about agriculture, leadership development, and career success.
It’s more than just growing crops and caring for livestock. It’s the clothes you wear, the food
you eat, and the medicine you take. The FFA is an integral part of that, and it is part of the
future of agriculture and the future of the world.”
So what advice would Coleman give to someone who was interested in checking out their
local chapter at school?
“If you’re even remotely interested in becoming a better leader, learning more about agriculture, or even simply making new friends, join the FFA,” he said. “You have so much to gain
from this organization, and you only get four years of high school, so don’t waste them ...
I’m immensely grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization. These past four years
have flown by and I’m dreading this year’s banquet where I officially retire as an officer. I can’t
think of where or who I would be without the FFA.”
His father agrees.
“I am extremely proud of Coleman in all his endeavors,” he said. “He is an excellent student
with many interests; FFA, music, theater, etc ... Coleman has always been a goal setter and
being active in FFA is no different. He strives to do his best and wants to be active on the
state and national levels ...”
“Coleman started with the FFA as a freshman, which came as a surprise to his family,” Mr.
Simpson said. “We had no idea he had any interest in this field. He has embraced it and
found a love for agriculture, especially horticulture. I believe he has found his true calling in
life ... His mother and I are very excited for him.”
For Coleman, who got involved with FFA in his freshman year at Lakewood High through
his Agri-Science class, it was the opportunities that FFA provided that really piqued his
interest.
“My family has been incredibly supportive,” said Coleman. “I can’t think of how many times
my parents have gone out of their way to help not only myself, but for my chapter as well.
Whether it was a monetary or time commitment, they’ve helped out so much. My chapter
has also been super supportive as well. My best friend Samantha Naylor has always been
with me to help, whether it was to offer advice or simply listen to what was going on with me
and to wish me good luck.”
“I didn’t know much about it until my Agri-Science class in the spring, but once I heard
my teacher talk about the opportunities and the impact the FFA had, I immediately got
involved,” he said, adding, “The ability to learn about agriculture and develop myself as
both a leader and servant was what intrigued me about FFA. The first competition I ever
competed in was the Creed Speaking which is what truly got me involved. Being able to
speak about the history and core values of such an amazing organization changed me and
showed me what all I could do in the FFA.”
It was at that first competition where Coleman realized FFA would quickly become a passion for him.
“Before our banquet, I had only said the Creed in front of my advisors and judges at competitions. However, at the banquet it took on a whole new meaning,” he said. “I was reciting
When Coleman is asked what the best piece of advice he has ever been given, he says it
comes from his advisor Mrs. Pack. “I have always had issues with trying to always compete
for others in anything,” he admits. “I have a very competitive nature, which helps me in
competitions. However, that same nature has hindered personal relationships with people
in my life. One of the best pieces of advice I have received came from my advisor Mrs. Pack.
It simply goes, ‘A flower does not think of competing with the flowers next to it. It simply
blooms.’ This advice has carried me and has helped me realize that to achieve my full potential. I simply need to be the best I can be. “
Coleman has put in the hard work and now it is time for him to bloom.
Lockerman Honored For Years of Service
Dwight Williams who stated, “You’ve given great service
to the county in many ways and ultimately to the Board
of Elections. The board members wanted to show our appreciation to you.” Williams continued to explain that they
knew how important the farm was to Lockerman and they
thought it would be a fitting tribute.
Ted Lockerman with family members at Tuesday’s honor ceremony
On Tuesday December 30th at 12 noon, Ted Lockerman
was recognized by the Sampson County Board of Elections for his service to the board and to the people of
Sampson County. He served on the board from 19691973 and returned to the board from 2007-2014 where
at the end of his service 2013-14 he served as chairman.
Lockerman resigned from the Board of Elections in September due to continuing health reasons. Lockerman
has also served the county in many other capacities such
as county attorney and Sampson County Commissioner.
Lockerman, who is a retired attorney, was presented a
framed aerial photo of his farm and birth place. The
photo was taken by local photographer David Johnson. Accompanying Lockerman was his wife Alice,
his son Allan and his wife Sue, his daughter Robin
Lockerman Allcock, her husband Jeff and his grandson Luke. Allan and his wife Sue still live on the farm/
homeplace in Salemburg.
Unveiling the photograph was current BOE Chairman
Lockerman noted that he was very appreciative of the honor and he spoke of his service on the election board. When
presented the photograph, he reminisced about his time
on the farm. The farm in Salemburg was the birthplace of
Lockerman and he inherited the land from his father Perry Lockerman. Perry Lockerman was the sheriff of Sampson County from 1946-1954, so service is no secret to the
Lockerman family.
Also present was Board of Election members Danny
Jackson and Horace Bass, Election Director Ashley Tew,
GOP Chairman Curtis Barwick, Veterans Director Ann
Knowles and Assistant Sherry Hope.
PHONE SCAM, cont. from 1
The City of Clinton would also like all citizens to
know- we do not solicit this type of information by
phone, and citizens should use caution and never provide personal information over the
phone.
Edwards continued, “I encourage anyone contacted, to get a name and tell the person you
will call them back. For reference, the City of Clinton’s telephone number is 910-5921961.”
Edwards continued, “We have seen similar scams occurring using a phone company, an
electric company, and even a finance company regarding vehicle payments. The scammer
always uses a threat to disconnect service or repossess a vehicle. This type fraud occurs
nationwide and citizens should be careful providing personal information. Know the person
or company with whom you are dealing.”
Clinton City Manager Shawn Purvis stated, “Regarding the scam- We are doing what we
can to make our residents and customers aware of the current phone scam. Please know the
City of Clinton does not solicit financial or personal information over the phone. If anyone
claiming to be a city employee asks for that information, please call the police department
or City Hall. It’s unfortunate that some people use these scams to take advantage of others.
We want to help our citizens protect themselves from any type of fraud.”
The Sampson Weekly contacted Assistant Chief Edwards for additional information on the
phone scam and this is what Edwards said, “We have had local residents calling reporting
similar types of cases. This is not local to just Clinton, it is truly nationwide. In this particular
scam, part of the information the caller tells the intended victim has some truth. Sometimes
these calls are very convincing. Most of our callers have said they were suspicious and never
provided any information. Usually they would hang up when they realized it was a scam.”
Edwards continued, “We have reached out to Clinton residents and the surrounding areas,
LOCAL NEWS
3
as I received a call from someone in Roseboro recently who luckily did not release any of
their personal information. The victim called just to let us know the method used by the
scammer was that the scammer pretended to be a Credit Card company and attempted to
solicit personal information, (this gentleman said he didn’t have credit cards, so he know it
was fake). This gentleman did exactly what anyone should do- Be very cautious in giving
your personal or banking information. Make sure you know who you are dealing with. Try
to get the person’s information and offer to call them back. In his case, the person hung up.”
Edwards stated, “I further recommend that you do not use the number, if they provide one,
as it is probably false. If you call them back use a number you know is correct for your
service provider. Don’t panic because the person is threatening disconnection of service or
repossession. They are trying to scare people into making immediate payment or sending
money immediately. However, if you go along with what they are saying, without questioning anything, that threat or warning may be followed by the person being very friendly and
helpful, but still wanting to get your personal information or payment as soon as possible.
This is usually the types of cases that end up in a loss for the victim. Get as much information from the caller without providing your information. Then try to look into the matter by
other routes, calling the provider at a known number, checking with your bank or finance
company, etc.”
In closing Asst. Chief Edwards said, “These types of phone call scams have been going
on for some time, but the method changes. Sometimes the caller ID shows unknown,
private, or something similar. We have seen some reportedly showing up as 800 numbers.
No matter what the case, do not give your personal information over the telephone from a
solicitation.”
For more information contact the City of Clinton at 910-592-1961 or the Clinton Police
Department. The Police Department encourages anyone with concerns to call the Police
Department at 910-592-3105.
The course was built on the naturally hilly and sandy
terrain of the area. Greensbridge has the look and feel
of a Sandhills area golf course, but not the price. Over the last couple of months, a round
of golf had gotten down to as low as $10.00. With rolling fairways, undulating Bent grass
greens, and four sets of tees to choose from, Greensbridge has always been enjoyed by
golfers of all handicap levels. But lately, with the maintenance of the course on the downslide, golfers have been complaining of deteriorating greens and fairways and giving
disappointing reviews.
GREENSBRIDGE, cont. from 1
Many consider hole #17 Greensbridge’s signature hole. It is a risk-reward par 4. The tee shot
plays over a large pond. The smart play is to aim right of the first fairway bunker for your
drive. This will leave you a mid to long iron into the green. If you feel more aggressive, you
can aim left of the bunker and cut off as much of the pond as you can. If you clear the pond,
you will only have a short iron into the green.
Twelve homes on Old Tom Morris Road currently cut through the center of Greensbridge
with many more lots yet to be built on. Those home and property owners have cause
for concern. Should the current owners not find a buyer committed to maintaining
Greensbridge Golf Course, the families who bought property at Greensbridge could see a
significant decrease in property values.
The long term effects of living on a closed golf course are not yet known, but will likely be felt
very quickly should a buyer for Greensbridge not be found. Spring will be here quickly, and
an unkempt golf course will quickly fall into disrepair, meaning an even larger investment
by a buyer; and even less likely chance of finding one. A resident who didn’t want to be
identified confirmed that Greensbridge property owners have talked informally between
themselves, and that they are looking at any and all options to retain their property values.
In a last minute phone interview Thursday night, LB Wilson stated that his prospective
buyer was still interested, but there was not enough interest apparently to warrant keeping
the course open. “Today was the last day. We will close tomorrow,” confirmed Wilson.
Ironically, Greensbridge Golf Course played host to a senior’s tournament on its last day of
play before being retired, at least for now.
BODY FOUND, cont. from 1
County Sheriff’s Office and the Sampson County Medical Examiner responded to
the scene. The exact cause of death has not been determined, however it does
appear to be from trauma. The Sheriff’s Office is also investigating the connection
of the deceased to a burglary that occurred around 1:00 AM on Tuesday morning
at 186 Lakewood School Road, Salemburg, NC. The homeowners were awaken
by a loud crashing sound to find an intruder in their living room. The homeowner
fired at the intruder, however he did not think he hit him. The intruder fled on foot
however, the homeowner did not see the direction of travel. Both cases are still
under investigation. No additional information is being released at this time.
AS of press time, Captain Eric Pope with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office
stated that there was no additional information available on the case.
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4
LOCAL NEWS
Midway’s Matthew Creech Coach,
Mentor, Survivor- Man of God
Matthew Creech grew up loving basketball. The Clinton native, only son of Danny and Karen Creech, started playing basketball at the age of 5. First it was with
rec leagues and later with Sampson Middle School.
But his playing days were over just as his high school
days began. A broken elbow playing the game he
loved, combined with a higher calling, would spell the
end of basketball during Matthew’s high school glory
days.
friends one Sunday in July, Matthew developed what
he thought were merely cramps. But as he explains, the
pain only worsened and quickly became unbearable.
“By the time I got home, my parents could see I was in
intense pain and rushed me to the ER in Clinton. The
staff there told me I was dehydrated and after treating
me for a couple of hours sent me home to rest for a few
days. However three days later I was still unable to walk,
sleep, or do much of anything.”
But where play ends is where many find success. So
too, did Matthew Creech. His love for the game kept
him near the sport. “The idea of being a basketball
coach has always been intriguing to me,” explains
Creech. “I think a lot of it had to do with the coaches I
had in my own life growing up in the community.”
“Finally, my Mom made an appointment for me to see
Dr. Palmer at the Medical Clinic. After running several
tests, it was discovered that I had no arterial blood flow
in my right leg from my knee down, and very little in my
left leg. I was rushed to Rex Hospital with the mindset
that they would do some sort of simple surgery on my
legs and I would be fine.”
Creech goes on to say, “In middle school we were
coached by Charles Strickland, Bobby Lamb, and
Leonard Henry; and they were great men to look up to.
At the high school level, even though I never played, I
was constantly around the program helping in various
ways. It was during that time I watched Dwight Horne,
and then Brad Spell, serve as head coaches at Clinton. Those men had a tremendous way of teaching
the game, and motivating a group of guys to come
together and compete for one common goal. I knew
at that point I wanted to emulate what I saw them
doing on my own someday.”
Someday is now for Creech. In his first year as head
coach for Midway’s varsity basketball team, Creech
will get a chance to bring his 10-1 Raiders to his old
high school. At just 23 years of age, it wasn’t that long
ago that Matthew shot hoops at Clinton High. But
Monday night his full attention will be devoted to helping his Midway Raiders defeat the Clinton Dark Horses.
But coaching basketball is definitely not Creech’s top
But that was not to be the case. Young Matthew
Creech, who during that summer was in the interview
process to hopefully become the Varsity Coach at Midway, learned that it was actually a tumor on his heart
that caused his emerging medical issues. “When I arrived at Rex, the staff there wanted to run another test
from head to toe. It was at this time that I was told by
a Cardiologist that I had a tumor growing on my heart,
which would require open-heart surgery to remove. A
piece of the tumor had broken off, traveled through
my blood stream, and was acting as a clot cutting off
circulation to my legs.”
“Needless to say,” adds Creech, “this was all pretty
overwhelming to take in at first. Thankfully, the staff at
Rex was quick to gather together a game plan and
identify what needed to be handled first. So within just
a couple of hours after arriving on that Wednesday afternoon I was in the operating room having surgery on
my right leg to restore blood flow. Two days later, I was
taken back in for my open-heart surgery to remove the
ed by his old friend, coach and mentor, Leonard Henry. And it was Henry who first gave the young Creech a
coaching job at Midway. “Leonard Henry became the
Varsity Coach at Midway in October of 2011. When I
heard the news I called to congratulate him. One thing
led to another and eventually, there I was just a couple
of years older than the seniors on that team and working as the JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant.”
The faith that Leonard Henry and Midway’s principal
Monty Strickland placed in Creech has not been misguided. Although Creech is young, he has led his team
to a 10-1 start, and has quickly developed his own
coaching and mentoring abilities.
Strickland says of Creech, “He has had some success
with winning. Our kids know him, respond to him, and he
is capable of getting their best effort. He also tracks the
players’ progress in academics which is a real plus for
us.” And on taking a chance with such a young coach,
Strickland says, “Coach Creech had success with our
JV program. I could tell that he was willing to put in the
necessary time and effort into going up to the varsity
level. He certainly is deserving of the opportunity.”
And as with most successful people, Coach Creech
attributes his success to the people around him. “Our
team’s success this year is a testimony to the student-athletes we have at Midway, and the diligent work
of our assistant coaches. We have been blessed with
some talented kids, but more importantly talented kids
that want to work hard to improve their game on the
court every day.”
calling. In fact, Creech set aside his love of basketball
to get more involved with his church during his own
high school days. And like with coaching, the 23-yearold Creech is finding success in ministry too.
He also attributes his recovery to a greater being… “My
road to recovery has little to do with me. It is more so
a story of the Lord’s faithfulness on my behalf. Though
there were, without question, times of physical pain and
emotional distress, I can honestly say it was in those
days that I felt the presence of almighty God nearer
tumor and to also repair a valve that had been dam- and dearer to my heart than ever before.”
aged. Three days after my open heart surgery I had my
final operation to sew my right leg up and perform a Creech adds, “I have had more support and prayers
much simpler surgery on my left leg. In total, I stayed in from the people in this community than I could dare
Rex Hospital for 10 days and in Wake Rehab for 8 days.” to imagine. A simple ‘Thank You’ could never suffice for
“I feel like the call of God to preach has been on my
life from an early age,” says Creech. “When I was 3
years old, I would take a pocket size Bible and stand
behind a Fisher-Price play desk in our living room at
home and preach to our furniture! It has never been
something I have tried to run from.”
all that was done on my behalf. No one will ever know
Fortunately the hand of God worked through the med- how eternally grateful I am for the friends and family
ical team at Rex, and Creech would soon be thinking that stood by my side through it all.”
about basketball again. Creech recalls, “Before my
illness came about, I was in the interview process as Matthew Creech has found success in many forms in
a candidate for the Varsity Men’s Basketball Coaching his young life. He is a minister, a coach, a mentor, and
position at Midway High School.”
more importantly, he is a survivor. “I would challenge
That early experience preaching to his parent’s furniture would eventually lead to Creech becoming the
Youth Pastor at Rowan Baptist at the age of 21. “I work
with our 7-12 grade students,” Creech explained,
“and I am able to preach here several Sunday’s out
of the year. I also love preaching in other churches
as my schedule allows for it. The only thing I am more
passionate about than basketball, is preaching.”
the person with big dreams in life to start pursuing them
where they are today. Growing up, my Grandmother
would always remind me of the phrase ‘little is much
when God is in it’. Don’t be afraid of small beginnings
that lead to bigger results.”
But it’s by the pure grace of God that Matthew Creech
gets to coach or preach. An extremely rare set of circumstances nearly ended the young man’s life this
past July.
As Matthew played a pick-up game of basketball with
“I would later learn that I was to be named the Head
Coach on the same night I was admitted to Rex. Our
principal, Monty Strickland, was such a tremendous
friend to me during my sickness. He would often make
contact just to check on me, and to reassure me that as
long as I was healthy that I would still be able to coach
at Midway when basketball season came around. A
few weeks after I came home from my stay at Wake
Rehab, I was able to visit the school one afternoon.
Mr. Strickland and I had a good talk in his office, and it
was there that I learned I would be named the Head
Coach after taking quite a difficult road to get there.”
“To the person dealing with any sort of problem, medical or otherwise,” concludes Creech, “I would remind
them of the words of scripture found in Romans 8:28,
‘We know that all things work together for the good of
those who love God: those who are called according
to His purpose’. Everything that we go through in life
is not ‘good’, however we can trust and believe that
when surrendered to the will of God it can be ‘worked
The position Creech was seeking was a position vacat- together’ to bring about a good result.”
We Should Know...
Mark Strickland with JW Simmons of “We Should Know”
Tuesdays from 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM, J.W.
Simmons hosts a radio show on 1170 AM
called “We Should Know”, and The Sampson
Weekly will feature portions of the
transcripts in our continuing efforts to bring
you more coverage of what is happening in
our community. The guest for this week’s
show is Mark Strickland, Director of the NC
Justice Academy in Salemburg, NC.
LOCAL NEWS
5
Simmons states that he recalls basic
training courses requiring 168 hours, and
that at the time it was considered a huge
step forward when it was first introduced.
He asks Strickland to explain the demand
for greater training for law enforcement
over the years. Strickland says that he
can’t answer the why questions, but adds,
“I can tell you the demand was there. And
it needed to happen… The days of giving
someone a badge and gun, and saying
go be a police officer, go be a deputy,
go be a highway patrolman… That can’t
happen anymore.”
“And while the basic law enforcement
training is just that, basic training, it’s
not the police bible in any way. It gives
them the foundation to come in as
a newly trained officer. But the more
well-rounded our officers are trained,
the better equipped they are to handle
the many situations that will happen.”
Strickland adds, “Times have changed.
Our society is not the same as it was in
1973. And so we want our officers to be
better trained so they can respond better
to our public to keep our public safe as
well.”
He goes on to say, “The courts have
stepped in, and we needed it. And so,
you mentioned 168 hours for basic
training. Right now it is 620 hours for
basic training. And it is because task
analysis on the development side, the
needs that they have, it’s important that
we’re there. And the different blocks that
our law enforcement officers are trained
in right now is so much needed. We want
our officers to be well-rounded in their
training to handle all the situations that
arise each and every day.”
To view the entire broadcast of We
Should Know please visit their YouTube
channel at www.youtube.com/user/
WeShouldKnowEDU.
The next “We Should Know” hosted by
J.W. Simmons will air next Tuesday from
2:30 to 3:30 PM on our local radio station
WCLN 1170 AM. If you would like to reach
“We Should Know” you may call them at
910-592-8947 or email them with show
ideas at [email protected]
or you can find them on Facebook.
training possible for our law enforcement
community.”
“Whether it’s our instructor who’s
developing training for the two
commissions that we serve, or the
maintenance person who’s looking out for
our best interests. We are very fortunate
to have very hard working individuals.
Very dedicated folks to the job, and to the
Mark Strickland became the Director for mission of the NC Dept. of Justice, as well
the North Carolina Justice Academy in as to the NC Justice Academy.”
2010. He is originally from Salemburg
and attended Lakewood High School. He Next, JW Simmons asks Strickland to
later attended NC State University and talk about what he’s most proud of at
began a career with the NC Department the NC Justice Academy and what the
of Corrections. Strickland says that it was academy represents. “To me it represents
an early introduction by his Sunday school stability throughout the entire state of
teacher to the NC Justice Academy that North Carolina,” says Strickland. “I’m very
sparked his interests. “I had the opportunity proud of the fact – and it hurts in one
to do juvenile interrogations where I area – we’ve had a lot of retirements this
would pretend to have done something year. And these folks that are retiring are
wrong and they would interview me,” says retiring with 25, 30, 35 years (service). And
Strickland. “I would hide in the mobile that’s a big change when you think about
homes, and they would search for me – state agencies. Folks at this time just don’t
doing building searches. I thought at 12, 13, stay that long. That’s one of the greatest
14 years of age, that’s got to be the greatest things, I think, the Justice Academy is a
place in the world to work. So throughout great place to work.”
my career I worked toward working there.
I was very fortunate to be hired in 1996.” “And when folks come there, they realize
He goes on to add, “After 19 years working to benefits of the mission – saving officer’s
there, I still think it’s the greatest place on lives and in turn, saving citizens. Folks
come here and they stay, and that helps
earth to work.”
with the continuity from year to year, and
Strickland explains that the Justice with stability,” adds Strickland.
Academy actually has two locations in
North Carolina; one in Salemburg and Simmons explains that while community
the other located in Edneyville, NC near colleges offer basic law enforcement
Chimney Rock. The Edneyville campus training, all the research and development
opened in 1998 in Henderson County, but for all training activities in North Carolina
the original concept of the Justice Academy comes from the work of the NC Justice
Academy. He asks Strickland to discuss the
began in 1973.
changes to training programs and training
Strickland says that the 1973 legislation to development over the years by the NC
fund a justice academy helped to centralize Justice Academy.
training for law enforcement officers
throughout North Carolina. The first Strickland states, “In the 19 years that I’ve
training sessions began in 1974 and 2014 been there, one of the things that I’ve seen
marked the 40th year for the NC Justice is that our citizens are requiring more and
more from our officers. Requiring more
Academy.
from our agencies… Not just to do more
“We are very fortunate,” says Strickland, “to with less, but also in performance. They’re
have the support of law enforcement for requiring a higher level and our law
what we do, and how we conduct training. enforcement agencies are requiring more
And working with all of our different from us as trainers – to provide better
partners across the state, not just law training each year.”
enforcement put the whole criminal justice
“The folks that we hire as trainers,” adds
arena.”
Strickland, “many of them are considered
JW Simmons asks Mark Strickland to subject matter experts in their field. That’s
discuss the dedicated staff employed, both a great resource because they come
in Salemburg and Edneyville, with the NC into the position with a great amount of
Justice Academy. “We have 96 employees knowledge in their areas. And so when
working for the NC Justice Academy,” things happen, when they change, when
begins Strickland. “That’s in Salemburg and vehicle stops change, when laws change,
Edneyville. And it ranges from maintenance the way we do business changes, our
to housekeeping. We have print shop folks are on the front lines making these
operators, video producers, support changes. They are making the revisions
staff and a librarian. We have trainers, as and they have that historical background
you mentioned, and these folks are very coming in the door. They know how things
talented in what they do. And they support were and can make those changes as we
the entire mission of providing the best move along.”
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6
LOCAL NEWS
Salemburg Native Brittany McLamb
Finds Her ‘Voice’ in Nashville
Q- What are some of your fondest memories of Salemburg/
Sampson County?
A- Salemburg: 1) The Salemburg Elementary Halloween
parade when the elementary school was at the old location. We
all looked forward to this every year! Getting dressed up and
strutting around the streets of Salemburg! The Fall/Halloween
Carnival was always a treat too with the cake walks, games,
and haunted stage! I LOVED going to that school! The old
wood floors, the banging of the radiators, the school plays,
the playground, and the green chalk boards. So many things
that the kids in the new school will not get to experience! 2)
Riding my bike with my parents through the quiet/calm streets
of Salemburg. 3) The Jan Price Dancers Studio! I took dance
there starting in Kindergarten through Middle School. Mrs.
Price would pick us up from elementary school and drop us off
at the studio. Us girls would then walk down to the pharmacy
and get a chocolate ice cream cone. They were so yummy!
Sampson County: 1) The EXPO!! Man, that was always a fun
time! I looked forward to that every year and me and my mama
would always go to it! Loved seeing the livestock, the food,
and getting the free goodies like pencils, pens, stickers etc.! I
even sang at it one year with my cousins Deborah and Millard
Owen! They need to bring that back! 2) Writing a letter to Santa
and putting it in the mail slot at his house on the Courthouse
Square! 3) Visiting the Library and checking out as many books
as I could carry back to my mama’s office. 4) Participating in
the Clinton Christmas Parade whether for dance, clogging, or
representing a pageant I had won!
I do miss Salemburg and Sampson County a great deal! For
one, my family is all there and two, the small town feel and slow
pace accompanied by all the memories I have there!
* Country singer recently releases EP; shares memories of
Sampson County
Salemburg native Brittany McLamb is making a name for herself
as a singer-songwriter in Nashville. She recently released her
solid self-titled EP, which includes two songs written by the
talented artist, and has been busy playing gigs at various venues,
festivals and radio shows.
In an exclusive interview with the rising star, McLamb shares
her thoughts about her hometown, her influences and the
determination to achieve her dream in Nashville.
Q- Your first “real” taste of singing in front on an audience was
at 10 in front of your school. Did you know you had such a gift
earlier than that?
A- To be honest, no! Other than singing here and there in
my church youth choir, I had never tried to really sing. I had
always taken dance, so that was what I knew how to do best
or so I thought. I had always loved to sing around the house
and listen to music and can even remember making up my own
songs when I was a small child. But nothing really clicked until
I randomly chose to sing as my talent when giving away my title
of Little Miss Salemburg in 1995. My mama kept asking me if
I was sure that I wanted to sing and not dance and if I had an
idea of what song I may want to sing. I think she was kind of
shocked with my decision. One of those “out of left field” kind
of things. It was a no brainer to me though. My favorite song at
the time was “If You’re Not In It For Love I’m Outta Here” by
Shania Twain, so that was my confident pick! I am still not sure
why I chose to sing, but I am sure glad I did!
Q- Was your voice something that you used to accompany your
pageant performances? When did you feel like you needed to
explore a career in music?
A- Yes, I wouldn’t compete in a pageant unless there was a
talent portion involved. It was my favorite part of being in
pageants, well besides being crowned of course. For those who
are not aware, when you become involved in pageants you
will usually see the same group of girls going from pageant to
pageant competing. So, everyone becomes familiar with each
other and you start to learn what your competition will be like.
I was known as the “Country Singer” or the “Yodeler”. This
definitely set me apart from the pack, because everyone that
sang at that time performed Broadway or Show Tunes as their
talent. After a while people started asking if I was lip-syncing or
how long I had taken voice lessons etc. Well, I definitely wasn’t
lip-syncing and I had never taken voice lessons, so I knew I had
something good going on here. By this time I was in my middle
school years and I was not only still doing pageants, but I was
competing in every talent competition that my mama could
possibly find across North Carolina. I would usually either
win or at least place in these competitions. I had also started
recording cover song demos at a local studio called Circle Sound
in Newton Grove, with Mark Golladay as the owner/producer/
engineer. He really helped me a lot during my younger years
learn “how” to record in a studio and I still think about those
days and his instruction when I record today! I believe it was
during this time around my 8th grade year that I felt like I could
take my talent further than Salemburg and possibly make it a
career! I later joined a talent agency in 9th grade called Carolina
Winds based out of Chester, South Carolina and travelled down
every Sunday to meet and practice with the group. This agency
helped me to get a spot on Arthur Smith’s legendary TV show
‘Carolina Calling’ taped in Charlotte, and eventually led me to
Nashville, where I was on the ‘Jimmy Snow Gospel Hour’ TV
show. I fell in love with Nashville at that moment and knew that
I wanted to move there in the future to pursue my music career,
but I had to finish high school first.
Picture by Carly Fogleman Photography
Houston, Alison Krauss and Martina McBride. I would listen to
their tapes over and over and dream of having a voice like theirs!
Q- Listening to country radio now, your music is more of
‘traditional” country - “House of Cards” is incredible, by the way
- what are your thoughts on the current state of country music,
such as the massive popularity of “Bro-Country”, which seems
to be superhot right now, but not so complementary to women
lyrically?
A- The trend is that country music goes through waves of change
from time to time and has to in order to evolve and keep up with
the times. I wouldn’t say that “Bro Country” is my cup of tea, but
some of those artists are friends of mine and I commend them
on going after their dreams and becoming extremely successful!
However, the more traditional sound is what I like best! That’s
what I grew up listening to and what I love to sing and I sure do
hope that country music will get back to more of that sound in
the near future!
Q- How hard is it to break into that type of market, especially in
Nashville?
A- It’s definitely not a walk in the park! I have been in Nashville
for 7 years and I am still working on it myself! There are so many
talented singer/songwriters here and everyone is looking for their
big break! I have come a long way and have grown tremendously
in my 7 years here as a person and as an artist. In my opinion it
takes time, all of the pieces coming together at the right moment
and a lot of luck!
Q- Your EP is a fantastic piece of work out of the gate, how
proud of it are you?
Q- When did you move to Nashville to pursue that career?
A- Is it more special because you did have a hand in writing some
A- I moved to Nashville on July 5th, 2007 after graduating of the material? Thank you very much! I am extremely proud of
from East Carolina University just 2 months earlier. I was on
the fence as to whether or not I should get a Social Work job
with a school system or make the BIG move to Nashville. With
encouragement from a friend and Nashville music industry
veteran/author, Patsi Bale Cox, I decided to make the move. I
lived with Patsi for 8 months once in Nashville until I could get
a job and find my own place to live. She was what I called my
“Nashville Mom” and music mentor. She helped me to make
some important connections with folks I still have contact with
today and taught me a thing or two about the music industry. I
like to think she molded me and gave me the footing to start my
musical journey in Nashville. She has since passed.
Q- What part did Salemburg and the people here play in those
earlier years/school/teachers etc.?
A- Well, being from a small town like Salemburg word travels
fast. So, when word got out that I sang, my teachers and schools
were extremely supportive. They always made sure I was
involved in any talent shows, award banquets and other school
functions where a song could be incorporated. I loved knowing
that I had the support of my community! I love Salemburg and
the people that live there and proud to say that I grew up there!
Q- Do you still get back here often?
A- Not as much as I would like! Flights are expensive and the
journey by car takes about 9.5-10 hours. But, I try to come home
as often as I can especially for Thanksgiving, Christmas and at
least once during the summer. My parents make a yearly trip to
visit me in Nashville every Spring. Hopefully when I am making
a little more money as a signed artist I will be able to visit more
frequently!
Q- After getting your degree in Social Work, did you feel like
that was the career you were destined for? Or did you know
music was your destiny and you felt like you had to pursue it?
A- No, I felt like something was missing. After graduating from
ECU, I interviewed for one job at a private school in Fayetteville
and called my mama immediately afterwards and informed her
that the idea of moving to Nashville was officially back on the
table for discussion! In my mind it was now or never. I would
always have my degree, but being young and single with nothing
holding me back wouldn’t be the case forever.
Q- You mention Alabama, Randy Travis and Shania Twain as
some of your earlier influences, but was there someone else that
influenced your music?
A- I wouldn’t say they were my influences; I did however love
listening to their music when I was younger and still today.
My influences were basically any female singer that had strong
power vocals such as LeAnn Rimes, Celine Dion, Whitney
my first EP! It took me a while to get it done (about 2 years I
believe), but couldn’t be more happy with it! I co-produced it with
my keyboard player, Lucas Leigh, and tracked the music at Black
River Recording Studio here in Nashville under the direction/
engineering of Nick Autry (another Sampson County native). He
was so kind and generous to allow me to use his studio for my
EP! So thankful for that! I do feel that this project is extra special
because there are songs that I wrote on it! I am so proud of those
songs and LOVE hearing people say that those songs are some of
their favorites on the EP!!
Q- When do you think your next album/CD will be coming out/
Are you working/writing any new material currently?
A- Over the summer I was in a talent competition sponsored by
the management company, World Class Talent, which consisted
of multiple rounds lasting for a series of weeks. When it was all
said and done, I was chosen by the judges as the winner! I am
currently working with World Class Talent to find songs for my
next project. I’m not sure of the timeframe just yet, but I would
definitely think folks can expect to hear new music from me in
the early part of 2015! I am excited about this new music and
what’s to come! I am also working on writing new material and
hope to have something great to include on this new project if
time permits!
Q- Do you have any plans to tour any time in the near future/
and/or play any shows close to Eastern North Carolina? If so,
when?
A- There is no tour or shows for North Carolina in the plans
just yet, but once this project is complete I plan to book some
shows there for sure! Interesting fact: I have not performed with
my band in North Carolina yet since moving to Nashville! I am
extremely anxious to perform for my fellow North Carolinians
and this will be a big deal for me and my family when the
opportunity finally arrives!
Q- How important is social media to an upcoming artist these
days? Do you like that fans can get closer to you via the web;
also does it make it easier for you, as an artist, to be able to have
material available immediately for download for fans?
A- Social Media is extremely important to all artists, but to an
up and coming artist specifically! This is the quickest way for the
fans to learn about you, connect with you, and keep up with what
you are doing! Social Media allows you to continually build your
fan base even when you aren’t on the road touring and that’s what
I like most about it! Like you, I enjoy having the physical copies
too such as cd’s and vinyl, but it’s also nice having a quick way
for fans to have access to your music via the internet. The most
important thing to me is that the fans have access to my music no
matter what form they get it in!
Q- What advice would you give to a young singer with dreams
of moving to Nashville and making a record? What is the
biggest misconception about the music industry?
A- DO IT! You never know what you can achieve until you try!
It’s easy to talk about doing something, but it takes courage and
guts to actually do it! And no matter the outcome, you can be
proud that you gave it your best effort! Moving to Nashville is
the easy part. Staying in Nashville is the hard part! You have to
have tough skin and be able to take criticism and use it to better
yourself and your craft and not let it get you down! Thankfully
I have a super supportive family and group of friends that have
and continue to help me through this journey! And to me that
makes a world of difference. I think the biggest misconception
about the music industry is that if you are talented a record
label will surely sign you. This is not entirely true. There are a
lot of other factors that I have found that play a big part in that.
Money, Politics (who you know) and did I mention money?!
Ha! Ha! Oh and nothing happens as easily as it does on the
show “Nashville”. Don’t get me wrong, I love this show and
DVR it every week, but it’s not that easy to get signed or get
placed on a tour with another act. It takes lots of WORK folks!
Q- What do you want people here in Sampson County to
know about you?
A- You can take a girl out of Sampson County, but you can’t
take the Sampson County out of the girl! I love where I am
from and miss so many things about it, but I have big dreams
of being a country music singer and won’t give up until I
accomplish those dreams! But I can’t do it without fans and
folks to listen to my music, so support your hometown girl!
I hope everyone will share my music with all of their friends
and tell as many people they can about me! That would mean
so much!
Q- Do you keep in contact with people from the area?
A- Absolutely! I obviously keep in touch with my family, but I
also keep in touch with my girls from high school and make my
stops when I come home to visit! Facebook has been great with
helping me to keep up with what goes on around those parts!
Q- This is a personal one for me - I love your voice, but your
band is fantastic. The live videos I have seen on YouTube are
great! Do you like playing in front of a live audience or do you
prefer studio work?
A- Thank you so much! My band is definitely talented and
they are not only awesome players, but great humans too! I
love both live audience and studio work as long as I’m singing,
but I tend to favor the live audience! When you put a full band
up there and add the energy of a crowd it makes it such a fun
experience! I can’t wait to one day play a show and have the
crowd sing my song back to me! My longest member is my
keyboard player, Lucas Leigh. We’ve been playing together for
about 5 years or more now. It would be extremely hard to find
a keys player that I thought was as good as him! The others
have been playing for about a year or so: Luke DeJaynes, Mark
DeJaynes, and Phillip Howard. Great people and fortunate to
have them!
Q-
I see you have won a lot of contests, made many radio
appearances and played a lot of shows, how has Nashville been
treating you overall- not just musically, but personally?
A- Nashville has been great to me! To be a big city it is really
such a small town! Everyone knows everyone who knows
someone else and most people are willing to help you if they
can! I have made so many friends who are doing music like me
and some who aren’t at all. To live in a city that is based around
music is wonderful! There is always something to do, a show to
see, new restaurant to try, somewhere to play/listen to music,
or a little gem to discover. I have been able to purchase my first
home and I live there with my cat Ozzy (the only man in my life
thus far) haha! The only thing that would make it better is if my
family were all here with me!
Q- Is there anyone that you have worked with that has been a
dream come true for you? If so, who? If not yet, who would you
like to work with?
A- I can’t say that this has happened yet. I would, however,
love to work with Martina McBride on a duet or maybe even
Alison Krauss or Rhonda Vincent on a bluegrass project!! I love
Bluegrass music.
For more information on McLamb’s music, upcoming shows,
merchandise and other news, click www.BrittanyMcLamb.
com or ‘Like’ her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
brittanymclambmusic or on iTunes at http://smarturl.it/
BrittanyMcLambEP. To watch McLamb’s live performances,
click on to her YouTube page at www.youtube.com/
BrittanyMcLamb. Or follow McLamb on Twitter at: @
BrittanyMcLamb or Instagram at:brittjmclamb.
HEALTH
7
How to Improve Your Sleep
By Dr. Tim Kosterman
1 Go to bed
at the same time
each evening and wake up at the same time each
morning.
2
Exercise regularly but avoid increasing your
heart rate within two or three hours of bedtime.
3
Eat dinner early enough in the evening so that
digestion doesn’t interfere with bedtime.
4
Drink plenty or water but avoid drinking hot or
cold liquids before or after bedtime.
5
Reduce or eliminate caffeine and other
stimulants in your diet.
6
Sleep on your back and/or your side. Don’t
sleep on your stomach!
of Kosterman Chiropractic Center of Clinton
For more than one in three
Americans, getting a good
night’s sleep isn’t as easy
you might think. According
to a recent poll by the
National Sleep Foundation,
a combination of daily stress and lifestyle choices
(including nighttime activities as well as eating and
exercise habits) is causing more than a third of the
U.S. population to get fewer hours of sleep than they
need. Not surprisingly, the same proportion report that
sleepiness has in some way affected their quality of life.
Many studies have focused on the time we devote (or
don’t devote) to sleep. However, a good night’s sleep is
about more than just quantity. It’s also about quality. If
you’re sleeping poorly, experts point out that developing
a sensible routine and avoiding certain behaviors
around bedtime can improve your chances of falling
asleep quickly and sleeping soundly through the night.
Here are a few of their suggestions:
While finding more effective ways to manage stress
and making adjustments to your lifestyle can take
some time, there are several “little” things you can do
right away that may improve the quantity and quality
of sleep you get. These things focus on your sleeping
environment itself:
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8
FAITH
Have I Got A Story To Share With You!
Though taking snapshots may not sound like the ‘spiritual’
thing to do during prayer, I’m so very thankful ‘the moment
was captured’ on film. There are some things that are
priceless … and for me, the two photos of my seventy-nineyear-old mama’s hand holding mine during actual prayer is
something I will treasure for the remainder of my life.
After closing our prayer my attention went back to the
photos and while looking at them I was reminded of the
American spiritual, “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”.
Do you remember the song? It goes like this …
Here’s this week’s story …
Around ten o’clock this past New Year’s Eve night my mother
and I decided to have prayer together to mark the end of
2014 and the beginning of 2015. Taking our seats around the
dining room table, we agreed that mother would begin the
prayer and I would close it. After reaching out and joining our
hands together, mother began praying. At some point during
mama’s prayer, I opened my eyes and was immediately
transfixed by the sight of mine and mama’s hands clasped
together.
I really don’t know to explain it but I knew that I had to have
a photo of our hands clasped together in prayer. Without
saying a word, and with minimal movement, I picked up
my cell phone which was lying on the table and took two
snapshots of our hands while mama continued praying.
After taking the photos I closed my eyes and returned my full
attention to God and to our prayer.
by Debra Joy Wallace
While many believe that 2015 will be a year of drastic
changes, no human being can predict with one-hundred
percent accuracy the things that await us this upcoming
year. But regardless of what the New Year brings … for the
‘sons and daughters of God’ there is always good news, so
there’s no cause to worry or to be fearful. And that good
news is that the present and future of those in ‘God’s Family’
are forever safe and sound in God’s hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
On the other hand … I urge those who are not in ‘God’s
Family’ to give serious consideration to establishing a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Why with Jesus
Christ? Because … “Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the
Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by
(through) Me.”—John 14:6 (Amp)
The remaining verses include:
He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands (Repeat 2 more
times)
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and
no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.–John
10:29
He’s got the itty bitty baby in His hands (Repeat 2 more times)
My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand
spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth
together.–Isaiah 48:13
He’s got you and me brother in His hands (Repeat 2 more
times)
He’s got you and me sister in His hands (Repeat 2 more times)
He’s got the whole world in His hands (Repeat 2 more times)
Debra Joy Wallace is an inspirational columnist and speaker.
To view her video series “I’ve Taken
Back Control of My Appetite and
So Can YOU!” visit her YouTube
channel at www.youtube.com/
user/DebraJoyWallace. Read Debra
Joy’s blog at www.debrawallace.
org.
A BRAND NEW YEAR
HAS ARRIVED
Another year has passed. Faded away into
history. A brand New Year is upon us. What
will we do with it? Will we try to make it a better
year than last? And what about all those New
Year’s resolutions? Will you be making many of
those this year?
Many folks resolve to lose weight, or stop
spending money and tighten their belts. Some
promise themselves they will exercise more or
watch less TV. Others declare they are going to
church more - the list goes on.
New Year’s resolutions are fine. But how many
people actually are faithful to keep them? I gave
up the New Year’s “promise to but never can keep
them” resolutions years ago. I just decided to do
the best I can everyday and be done with it!
New Year’s is like a field of new fallen snow,
glistening, pure white with no tracks in it,
fresh, clean and pure. The thing is, when
you walk across that new fallen snow, you
leave footprints in it. You can’t help it. The
beautiful snow is no longer pristine.
The New Year is like that. It lies in front of
us, clean and bright. But it can’t stay that
way, because we walk into it head on with all
our imperfections, and leave our footprints
behind. Good and bad.
But aren’t we thank-ful for another New Year
that God has given us? He sees every one of
those footprints we leave behind. Yet, He is
always willing to wipe away the bad ones if
only we ask Him.
So, here comes a brand New Year. Let’s all be
thank-ful and try to improve ourselves. As a
Sunday school teacher once told me - “There
is always room for improvement!” That might
come as a shock to some people - but it’s a
fact!
So go ahead and eat that ham, collards and
black-eyed peas for luck on New Year’s Day.
I declare, Southern folks will find a way to
make good food a part of
any holiday! And aren’t
we glad? I know I am,
especially when collards
are involved!
Happy New Year; may
it be wondrous and
By Carolyn
Horrell Mintz
prosperous for all!
Psalms for the Soul
Written by Linda Herring
The Bible speaks to us but the
Psalms speak for us. Jesus and Philip had an encounter and Phillip
said, “Lord, show us the Father and
Jesus answered: “Don”t you know
me Philip, even after I have been
among you such a long time?
There is a lesson here for all of us.
You can go to church regularly,
serve on the board, and sing in the choir, yet not really know
the Lord. To truly know someone you must spend time with
them, sharing and opening your heart. The relationship must
become your top priority. Psalm 103:7 says, “He made known
his ways to Moses, his acts to the children.” Israel knew God’s
acts because they were observers, whereas Moses knew his
ways because he was intimate with Him. Israel saw what he
did. Moses was close enough to understand His thinking and
why He did what He did. Are you? Do not let the stresses of
the day steal your Psalm. Contact me at herring.theword@
hotmail.com.
New Hope for
a New Year
By Vanessa W. Polk
Jeremiah 29:11 – For surely I know the plans
I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your
welfare and not for harm, to give you a future
with hope.
In order to find open doors and discover new opportunities we must not allow past
mistakes, misgivings, or misfortunates to have a negative impact on today or to
hinder our tomorrows. In this familiar text, God, through the Prophet Jeremiah
gives a powerful reminder to the Nation of Israel that can also help us kick off
2015 in the right spirit. Life can often get in the way of our efforts to do right and
to live well; yet there is still hope. Not just any kind of hope, but as the text says, a
hope that God gives –an empowering, energizing and engaging hope. It’s a hope
that plans and a hope that acts. It’s a hope that makes things happen! We may
not be able to make up for lost time, but we can begin to make better use of the
time we have before us. Don’t get stuck in the challenges of last year, conquer
them and then prepare to walk into your new season. “So teach us to count [put
in order, take charge of, plan purposefully] our days that we may gain a wise
heart.” –Psalm 90:12
God has a plan for our lives –individually and collectively. God has blessed us with
talents and abilities to serve humanity; and I believe he expects us to do so with
great passion. This New Year don’t just strive to lose weight, eat right or exercise
more, also resolve to become more spiritually in tune with God –developing a
heartfelt listening for God thoughts and plans for you –the world. Making a list of
resolutions for the New Year isn’t enough; we must practice a spiritual discipline
that will not only transform us, but will also help us make a positive difference in
the world. The process of turning the page on 2014 may not be easy but it is
necessary. Purposeful praying, planning, and practicing righteous living will give
us what we need to meet the challenges of this New Year with grace and grit.
“New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New
questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and
then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve
out a quiet interlude in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to
change.” -Author Unknown
The Management of The Sampson Weekly reserves the
right to approve any article, advertisement and/or announcement which it deems appropriate for its readers.
We/ The Management also reserve the right to make any
change as we see necessary to any submission prior to
approval. We/The Management also reserve the right to
not accept announcements, articles and/or submissions
we deem as inappropriate or which we do not approve.
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STARTING JANUARY 16th: PADDINGTON
10
LIFE STYLE
Photo
courtesy
Photo courtesy
of Getty
Images
of Ge
Meal Program Lets Senior
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Goal
Meal Achieve
Program
Lets
Senior
Decades of weight loss and gain followed — as much as 400 pounds
Achieve
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through the years. Goal
Now, at 63, Janet Wilke is adopting
healthier eating habits and learning exactly what and how much to eat.
May 2013,
Wilke
in at 299.8 pounds.
15 months
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weight
loss
andweighed
gain followed
— asJust
much
as 400 pounds
later, she achieved her goal weight of 150 pounds. Her secret? An
up and down
through
the
years.
Now,
at
63,
Janet
Wilke
eating plan that guides her to make healthy choices at each meal is adopting
healthier eating
habits
and learning
how much to eat.
following
a 1,200-calorie
eating planexactly
created bywhat
Seattleand
Sutton’s
(SSHE),
a family-owned
company
based near
Chicago.
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pounds.
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Looking back on the 2014 NASCAR season, one of the biggest stories was the run
to the Sprint Cup championship by Kevin
Harvick and his No. 4 Chevrolet team at
Stewart-Haas Racing.
Harvick came to Stewart-Haas at the start
of the season after spending his entire
NASCAR career up to that point with
Richard Childress Racing. His crew chief,
Rodney Childers, actually joined the team
a few months earlier, moving over from
Michael Waltrip Racing.
The No. 4 team didn’t exist before Childers
went to work, so he and his crew built all
new cars, pit equipment and everything a
race team needs to compete.
Their start was a little bumpy, although
Harvick did score a win at Phoenix in the
second race of the season, and at Darlington
in the eighth race of the year.
The story for much of the season was
about the speed Harvick and the No. 4 team
were showing, but also about how mistakes
and other misfortunes kept them from capitalizing on that speed.
Then, for the start of the Chase, StewartHaas made a pit crew swap and gave
Harvick the crew of Tony Stewart, a group
that had worked with Stewart during his
championship run in 2011.
Still, the team didn’t visit Victory Lane
again until the fifth race of the Chase, at
Charlotte Motor Speedway. After a stumble
at Martinsville due to contact with Matt
Kenseth, Harvick and the No. 4 team roared
back, finishing second at Texas Motor
Speedway, then winning the final two races
of the season to end up with five wins, eight
poles and the first Cup championships for
Harvick and Childers.
The championship was decided in dramatic fashion at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where under the new Chase rules, the
final four contenders started the race tied in
points, with the title to go to the top finisher
Crew chief Rodney Childers (left) holds the
2014 Sprint Cup with winning driver Kevin
Harvick. Harvick’s first Cup championship
was one of the biggest headlines of the
2014 season.
among those four drivers.
In the end, Harvick had to outrun fellow
Chase driver Ryan Newman for the win to
secure the title. He beat Newman on a laterace restart and took the checkered flag .5
seconds ahead of Newman to secure his first
Cup championship in 14 years of full-time
competition.
In a teleconference the week after Homestead, Harvick talked about what it meant
to win the title.
“For sure, it’s an incredible feeling of accomplishment,” he said. “I think as you look
Kevin Harvick is biggest story of the year
back … I’m a guy sitting in a position that I
dreamed about, being a race car driver and
at the time winning a Winston Cup Championship that is now called the Sprint Cup
Championship, and being able to fulfill your
lifelong dream, and the reality is something
that a lot of people can’t really say that
they’ve ever done.”
He also said it meant a lot to his wife,
Delana, who has a special appreciation for
the sport, having grown up the daughter of
a driver in the series now known as Xfinity.
“She grew up in a racing family and
knows how hard this sport is and knows
the sacrifices that we make personally and
that her family had made growing up to
get race cars to the race track,” he said. “So
she’s been an incredible part of this for me
personally, just for the fact that she knows,
and we’ve been around each other so much
that she knows exactly what to say, when
to say it, what to not bother me with ….
She knows what I do and don’t want to deal
with in those competitive situations.”
And he said that even with all that was
happening on the NASCAR front, Delana
had to oversee the family’s move to a new
home, one that replaced their residence that
burned the winter before.
Harvick also had praise for Childers — a
former driver now best known for building
fast race cars — his team owners and his
crew.
“Rodney has driven, he’s built his own
cars, he can run the engineering simulation
program, and when you have all those experiences, you can relate to all those groups
and not let them get too far out of bounds
in what they’re telling you and what they’re
communicating to you,” he said. “It was a
lot of commitments and a lot of time from a
lot of different people, and in the end of the
time and the money that everybody spent,
wound up with a lot of good people, and that
in the end is what makes it all go around.”
‘Sliced Bread’ Joey Logano
lives up to expectations
The 2014 season saw Joey Logano, nicknamed
“Sliced Bread” early in his NASCAR career,
finally live up to the expectations placed on him.
In his second year with Team Penske, after
spending the first five years of his Cup career at
Joe Gibbs Racing, Logano, 24, emerged as one of
the drivers to beat each week.
He won five times in 2014, pushing his career
total to eight, and contended for the championship all the way to the final stages of the season
finale at Homestead, where a botched pit stop
by his crew late in the race doomed him to a
16th-place finish, which left him fourth in the
Still, Logano was able to see the positives
as he met with the media after the race at
Homestead.
“This is the first time I’ve had a shot at winning a championship,” he said. “It’s the first time
I’ve won more than one race in a season. It’s
been a spectacular year.
“We had fun with it, learned a lot for next
time in my career that we get to compete for a
championship again and how I can maybe do a
few things differently and then learn from my
mistakes.”
NASCAR 2014: A look back
11
Joey Logano and his wife, Brittany
Underdog Newman finishes second in Cup standings
Tony Stewart was one of the bigger
— and sadder — stories of 2104. And
in one of the great ironies of his life,
Stewart — who has given so much to
his beloved dirt racing world — saw
dirt racing bring him more trouble.
He returned to the Sprint Cup circuit for the season opener at Daytona
after breaking his leg in a sprint car
crash the previous summer. Walking
with a noticeable limp, Stewart soldiered through the first 21 races of
the season, with mediocre results.
Then on Aug. 9, in a sprint car race
at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in
New York, Stewart’s car struck Kevin
Ward Jr., killing the young driver.
Stewart sat out the next three Sprint
Cup races as he grieved over Ward’s
death.
Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick (left) is conHe returned to the track for the first gratulated by car co-owner Tony Stewart.
time at Atlanta Motor Speedway on
Labor Day weekend.
As he appeared before the media that Friday morning, Stewart had about a two-day
beard, mussed hair and obvious pain in his heart. Speaking in a halting tone, his voice
breaking often and near the point of tears, he read a two-minute, 30-second statement
that he had prepared himself.
“This has been one of the toughest tragedies I’ve ever had to deal with both professionally and personally,” Stewart said in opening. “This is something that will definitely
affect my life forever. This is a sadness and a pain that I hope no one ever has to experience in their life.”
Stewart was cleared by a grand jury of any potential charges in the case, but he was
never able to get his Cup racing back to the level most have come to expect of him.
He had just one top-10 finish after returning to the circuit — a fourth at Martinsville
— and wound up 25th in the final points standings.
He did get to celebrate a car-owner championship, as he is a co-owner of the championship-winning car of Kevin Harvick.
“I’m just glad tonight turned out,” Stewart said after Harvick won the title at
Homestead. “The rest of it’s history. … There are a lot of things I would love to change
about the last 18 months of my life, but tonight is not one of them.
“I’m going to enjoy this moment, and I’m going to enjoy it with this group and this
young man (Harvick).”
Ryan Newman, who was released
from Stewart-Haas Racing after the
2013 season to make way for Kevin
Harvick, signed on with Harvick’s old
team, Richard Childress Racing, and
came within one finishing position at
Homestead of winning his first Cup
championship.
Driving the No. 31 Chevrolet for
RCR, Newman was the underdog
throughout much of the season and
the Chase. He didn’t win a race all
year, and had just two top-5 finishes
Ryan Newman (left) left Stewart-Haas after 2013
entering the 10-race Chase.
to make way for Kevin Harvick (right).
But he and his Luke Lambert-led
team turned it up over the final
10 races and ended the season with six finishes of eighth or better, including a third at
Martinsville and a second at Homestead, to finish second in the final standings.
“Luke and the guys did an awesome job,” Newman said. “We came back for the entire season to make our best finish our last finish. It is disappointing — don’t get me wrong — but
there’s no point in being a sore loser. It’s some motivation, some momentum for the off-season to get started for Daytona, and just look forward to the opportunity for next year.”
Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
Dirt racing brings more trouble to Tony Stewart
4
Sprint Cup drivers outside
the top 20 in the final points
standings who won a pole
in 2014: Brian Vickers, Tony
Stewart, David Gilliland and
Brian Scott.
0
DNFs (Did Not Finish) by
Jeff Gordon and Austin
Dillon — the fewest of any
regular Sprint Cup drivers in
2014.
6
DNFs by Kurt Busch and
Aric Almirola — the most of
any drivers in the top 20 in
the 2014 Sprint Cup standings.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has his best season in years
NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale
Earnhardt Jr., had his best Sprint Cup season
in years, as he won four races in his final season with crew chief Steve Letarte, who is moving to the NBC TV booth for 2015.
Earnhardt enjoyed his first multiple-win season since 2004, when he won a career-best six
times.
Earnhardt won the season-opening Daytona
500, both races at Pocono, and the fall race at
Martinsville.
The Martinsville win — the 23rd of his Cup
career and first on the tough, half-mile oval —
seemed to mean as much to him as any of his
Dale Earnhardt Jr. with girlfriend,
wins. And it earned him one of the track’s sigAmy Reimann.
nature grandfather clock trophies, just like the
ones his dad won back in the day.
“The clock seems so hard to get,” Earnhardt said in his winner’s interview that
day. “This is so special. I try not to get too caught up in the emotion of it because it’s
a team deal, but this is very personal and very special to me to be able to win [at
Martinsville].”
to become crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
in the Sprint Cup Series.
Ives had great praise for Elliott, who carried himself like a veteran through the ups
and downs of the season.
“The promising thing is, no matter what,
Chase and I always try to learn something
from whatever happens,” Ives said. “We’re
always grateful for the position we’re in,
whether it’s 17th, 30th or winning the race.
“That’s rare. That’s rare. And people who
become successful sometimes don’t remember that, and he’s going to for a long time,
and that’s the true integrity and character of
Chase Elliott.”
Truck Series’ Ben Kennedy
inherits great-grandfather’s genes
Camping World Truck Series driver Ben Kennedy, the
great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.,
showed that he’d inherited some of Big Bill’s racing genes.
He won the circuit’s Rookie of the Year honors with a pole
at Daytona, a third-place finish at Martinsville, seven top10 finishes and a ninth-place finish in the points standings.
Although his Turner Scott Motorsports dropped off the
circuit at season’s end, Kennedy quickly found a new ride,
in the No. 11 Toyota for Red Horse Racing.
Red Horse Racing team owner Tom DeLoach said in a
team release that he’s happy to have Kennedy join his
multi-truck organization.
“Ben is a very talented young driver, and I think he is
going to fit right into our Red Horse family,” DeLoach said.
Drive for Diversity program succeeds
NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program — which struggled for years to deliver a
graduate capable of winning races — had not one, but two grads find great success
in 2014.
Kyle Larson, who is of Japanese descent, won Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year and
had eight top-5 finishes. And African-American driver Darrell Wallace Jr. won four
races in the Camping World Truck Series en route to a third-place finish in the
Wallace said that he did all he could in 2014 — especially in the finale at
Homestead, which he won — to help his own cause and that of the diversity program. He just signed to drive the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in
the Xfinity Series next year.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
15
Career Sprint Cup
victories for crew chief
Steve Letarte, who
retired at the end of the year to
take a job with NBC TV: 10 with
Jeff Gordon and five with Dale
Earnhardt Jr.
Chase Elliott, the 19-year-old son of
Sprint Cup veteran Bill Elliott, lived up to
expectations and then some as he won the
Nationwide Series championship in his rookie season, and in doing so became the youngest driver in the history of this sport to win
a NASCAR national series championship.
He had three wins — all on the superspeedways and in races in which there were
numerous Sprint Cup drivers competing. He
also had 16 top-5 and 26 top-10 finishes in
the circuit’s 33 races.
Elliott drove the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR
Motorsports, and worked with crew chief
Greg Ives, who left the team at season’s end
NUMERICALLY
SPEAKING
Chase Elliott wins Nationwide Series championship
Ben Kennedy
12
SPORTS
It’s About...
It’s About...
It’s About...
It’s About...
Sponsored By
HARD WORK
DEDICATION
INTEGRITY
PERFORMANCE
& The Sampson Weekly
Union High Freshman Zach Worley
Dazzles On Defense to Earn POW Honors
even nominated for the award.”
The 6 foot 1 inch Sampson County native said he
has loved the game since he was a boy.
“I have played sports since I began playing
recreation basketball when I was about 12,” he said.
“I also played recreation football and baseball.”
In baseball he plays first base and pitcher; in football
he plays tight-end.
“I really like playing all three,” he said.
Worley said that it was his parents, Deanna and
Dan Worley, who got him involved with recreational
sports when he was 12. Worley also has a younger
sister, Jenna.
“They signed me up and got me involved with it,” he
said. “Once I started playing, I loved it.”
The Union standout said that he likes the style of
Cincinnati Reds’ star Joey Votto.
“I am a first baseman too,” Worley explains, “and I
really like the way he plays first. I try to pattern the
way I play (baseball) after him.”
As good as he is on the court and on the field,
Worley works just as hard in the classroom. He is a
straight A-B student.
* Junior Varsity Basketball Standout Working Hard To
Live Out His Dreams
Union High School freshman Zach Worley delivered
a dazzling defensive performance in a conference
game last week, pulling down 8 rebounds and helping
the Spartans win their second conference game of
the young season.
“My favorite subject is Science,” Worley admits. “I
have always liked the subject. I like the outdoors and
doing experiments. I hope to go to college and get
my degree in science.”
He also hopes to play sports in college.
The junior Varsity Spartans are 2-0 in the conference
and 2-2 overall. They played in a tournament earlier
this week.
“I want to try and play baseball at North Carolina
State University,” Worley said. “My cousin (Brent Austin)
used to play there and I have always wanted to go
there and play too … as well as get my Science
degree.”
So it comes as no surprise the 14-year-old power
forward/center has been named this week’s Sampson
Weekly/Performance Auto Star Athlete of the Week.
The biggest dream of his would be to finish college,
get his degree and move on to play Major League
Baseball.
“I have been giving it my all,” Worley admitted
Monday afternoon. “I am pretty sure that is why I was
“I am realistic, but, to play in the majors … that is a
dream of mine,” he noted.
PERFORMANCE AUTOMOTIVE Salutes this week’s
Deeply religious, Worley says that one thing that
helps and calms him before each game is to pray.
“Oh yes, it is something that I do every time,” the
long-time Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church
member said. “I pray. Before every game … I pray
because it helps me.”
Another thing that has helped Worley is that he
has been playing with a lot of his teammates for
years.
“A lot of us have been playing together since
middle school,” he explained. “When you get on
the court (or on the field) it helps because you
know the guys. You get together and everything
just clicks.”
Which is why Worley feels good about this
basketball season.
“I do feel pretty confident about it,” he admits.
“We all have worked hard (in the off-season) and
we are clicking on the court. We are currently 2-0
in the conference and I am feeling good about
what we can do this season.”
Worley said that coming into Union High School
from middle school has been an easy transition
for him, for some student/athletes though, it is a
very difficult experience.
“Well, if I had a piece of advice for someone
coming into high school, I would just tell them
to be open to new things,” he said. “You have
to come in and stay open to things and not be
afraid to try something new or different. Yes, it can
be tough, but you have to try.”
In addition to his familiar teammates, Worley
said the support he has received from his family,
teachers, friends and coaches has been a big
plus for him.
“I want to thank all of them,” he said. “I would
also like to thank my coach (Keagan Warren) for
believing in me and our team. And for giving me
the opportunity to play on the team … I really
appreciate it.”
No matter what the outcome of the Spartans’ JV
basketball season is, Zach Worley is a name that
we should be hearing for a long time to come.
Student Athlete
of the Week!
605 Warsaw Hwy • Clinton, NC • 910-592-JEEP(5337)
SPORTS
13
Second Annual Clinton Classic
EJ Howard and Jeremiah Pope named to
All Tournament Team
#10 Clinton Dark Horse Jaalan Best makes
a free throw
The 4A Hoke County Bucs won the 2nd Annual Dark
Horse Classic Christmas Tournament as they defeated
the Clinton High School Varsity Dark Horses 65-55 in the
championship game Tuesday night in Clinton.
a 16-14 lead. The Horses and Bucs traded baskets for
much of the 2nd quarter when Pope stole the ball and
ended up with a dunk at the other end and the Dark
Horses were up by six 30-24 with two minutes left. The
Bucs closed the first half with a 10-2 run and led 34-32
at intermission.
The event was played at Clinton High School Monday
and Tuesday nights and featured the Hobbton Wildcats
and the Union Spartans from here in Sampson County.
The Dark Horses advanced to the championship game by
defeating Hobbton 106-73 in a real shootout. The Dark
Horses were in total command from the opening tip off
and were led by freshman Zion Autry with 18 points and
sophomore Jerimiah Pope with 15. The Hoke County
Bucs defeated the Union Spartans 67-34 to set up a
meeting with the Dark Horses for the championship.
The Dark Horses and the Bucs played very good defense
in the first quarter and at the end it was the Horses with
The Horses came out hot in the 3rd quarter with good
solid defense and some shooting and grabbed the lead
back after three quarters. The fourth quarter belonged
to the Bucs as they outscored the Horses 26-4 in the
quarter including ten straight points in the final 4
minutes and it was a 65-55 win for the Bucs over the
Dark Horses.
Jerimiah Pope and Junior EJ Howard both had ten
points for the Horses and were named co-MVPs in
the tournament for the Horses. Howard collected 8
TJ Robertson named MVP for Dark Horses (JV)
rebounds in the losing cause.
The Hobbton Wildcats defeated the Union Spartans
64-50 to capture 3rd place in the tournament. The
Clinton High School junior varsity Dark Horses won
the junior varsity tournament with a good 63-60
victory over the Hoke County Bucs and TJ Robertson
was named MVP for the Horses.
Head coach Randy Jordan commented on what
a success the tournament was and thanked the
community for their support and especially the parents
that volunteered their time. The Dark Horses are back
in action Monday night January 5th with a very big
conference game against the 10-1 Midway Raiders and
also conference foe Union on January 7th. Both games
will be played at Clinton and tip off for the varsity team
is at 7:30 pm.
Roseboro Batting Institute (RBI)
An indoor field of dreams of sorts has emerged from what was, the former NAPA store,
located on Highway 24 in Roseboro. Several community leaders and baseball/softball
enthusiast teamed together to developed an indoor batting and baseball/softball training
facility. Robby James, a well know local businessman was the leadoff man in the project.
He put together a team that includes Lakewood assistant baseball coach Clark Honeycutt,
Dan Heinz who is the Athletic Director at Mintz Christian Academy and Kevin Hunter,
Principal at Lakewood.
When you walk into RBI you can feel the excitement punctuated by loud cracks of the
bats in full swing. “RBI is a training facility,” states Coach Heinz, “we put this together
because kids who are serious about developing ball skills had to drive to Fayetteville or
St. Pauls to get into a facility like this.” Heinz continued, “This is not a recreational/
entertainment batting cage where you go to have a birthday party. Kids here are working
hard on sound fundamentals and logging hours of quality training. We offer individual
or group lessons; we do computer video swing analysis and develop a personalized hitting
strategy based on key factors such as strength, bat speed, and motor skills management.”
The facility has three batting cages with live and machine pitching and two tee stations
and a dual pitching lane for both baseball and softball. Coach Honeycutt who works
with Lakewood baseball and is active in recreation and travel ball commented that “so
many times folks want to practice and either the weather or as is the case now, darkness
prevents it. I carried my boys to Fayetteville for two years. I can tell you each trip takes
two and half hours to make that happen and that doesn’t even include stopping to eat.
Not to mention the expense. Kids can work out here for a month for less than it cost to
do the Fayetteville route.”
Robby James explains the business model, “It is simple, we put this together as a
community service and to advance the skills and opportunities of the kids in the area. I
can tell you that it will take a long time, if ever, for this to be financially profitable, but
it has already paid huge dividends in watching kids learn to swing the bat properly and
seeing the smile as they talk about the hit they got in a game last night.”
RBI is also sponsoring travel baseball teams known as the RBI Prospects. Teams for
ages 8-11 are going to be forming next month in preparation for the spring tournament
season.
Future plans include an infield training area directly out the back door, where kids can
perfect the double play or getting a lead and stealing a base. Yes, the field of dreams has
found its way to Roseboro.
For more information about the Roseboro Batting Institute, please contact Robby James
at 910-590-1929.
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14
EDUCATION
Midway High Drama Class Transports Audiences to ‘Neverland’ in Holiday Play
* Students worked for Months to produce the 90-minute dazzler
Midway High drama educator Heather Jones receives flowers
from the cast of ‘A Neverland Christmas Carol’.
Lindsey Holt (Tinkerbell), left, ignores Peter Pan (Judson
Clark) and Toc (Cole Warren).
From left, Allison Parsons (as Mary Darling), Annabeth Clark
(Wendy Darling) and Brooke Dienhart (Jane Darling) talk
about Peter Pan during a scene from last week’s play at Midway High School. ‘A Neverland Christmas Carol’ was given a
command performance Thursday for the students at the school.
Lindsey Holt (Tinkerbell) sings during the production of ‘A Neverland Christmas Carol’.
Heather Jones’ Drama Class at Midway High School
recently put an exciting twist on the Charles Dickens
classic, “A Christmas Carol” by replacing Ebenezer Scrooge
with Captain Hook.
Midway’s “A Neverland Christmas Carol” brought out all
your favorites – Peter Pan, The Lost Boys, the Darlings,
Hook, Smee and his crew of pirates – through re-telling
the classic from the point of view of Wendy Darling, played
by Annabeth Clark, who helps Peter Pan learn about
Christmas, in turn, softening the gruff Hook, played with
crusty delight by Moises Navarrete.
The class worked for months going through dialogue,
building sets, learning songs, going through lighting and
sound tests and after school rehearsals to produce the
90-minute fun-filled show.
Scheduled for a one-time-only performance on December
11, the show was popular enough that Jones’ class was asked
by school administrators to do a command performance
for the entire student body the following week before
Christmas break.
It was a triumph for the class, considering most of Jones’
Captain Hook (Moises Naverrete), left, talks with his crew
during ‘A Neverland Christmas Carol’.
students had never been involved in such a complex live
production as “A Neverland Christmas Carol”, or have ever
performed on stage in front of an audience before.
Despite the hard work, there was one last minute glitch
with the show -- the original Wendy Darling was called
out of the country on a family emergency. Annabeth Clark,
who was not in the class, was called in just a day and a
half before the show’s opening and had to learn 70 lines of
dialogue and two songs.
“It was one of the hardest roles that I had to do because
there was so little time to learn everything,” Annabeth
admitted. “Everyone was working so hard, I didn’t want
to let anyone down. There was a lot of pressure, but
everyone in the class was so kind and supportive to me, it
really made it one of the most rewarding experiences that
I have had.”
Tyler Honeycutt (Mr. Darling) and Savanna Williams
(Mrs. Darling) also delivered solid performances as the
parents; Allison Parsons, Brooke Dienhart and Katie
Goode played the sisters who help Wendy along the
adventure; and Camryn Page was the faithful nurse/pet,
Nana.
Once the story shifted to Neverland, Peter Pan, played
with exuberance by Judson Clark, and the Lost Boys
(James Hardee, Amy Davis, Malia Dodds, Cole Warren
and Zach Cook), get help from Tiger Lily (Kyla Kibler)
and Snapdragon (Grace Spell) battle the evil Hook, Smee
(Jacob Barker) and his band of pirates (Kenady Hargrove,
Ana Ruiz, Yadira Osorio, Robert Moore and Summer
Dobbins).
Of course, it takes Tinkerbell, played beautifully by
Lindsey Holt, to bring them all together and help Hook
understand the joys of Christmas.
The class delivered a professional, delightful show that
had it all – especially the laughs. The audience left the
auditorium at Midway High with more than smiles on
their faces; they left with the Christmas spirit in their
hearts.
“It was a great experience for the class,” said Judson
Clark, who played Pan. “Everyone came together and did
a great job. I was really proud of our class and Mrs. Jones.
Everyone had a great time.”
Here is hoping the class will do another play soon.
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Crossword
Puzzle
CLUES ACROSS
1. Smallest mergansers
6. Minute floating marine tunicate
11. Made from genus quercus
12. Bored feelings
13. Spoke
15. Cry
18. Played the chanter
19. Lash
20. Shoots a marble
21. Dentist’s group
24. Trees in 11 across
25. Prince Hirobumi
26. Opposite of capitalism
30. Eats decaying wood
32. Facial twitch
33. E. central English river
35. Sound wave reflection
43. Goalless
44. Central processing unit
45. Wings
47. Million barrels per day (abbr.)
48. Noah’s oldest son (Bible)
49. Tenet
51. “Rocky” actress Talia
52. Bullocks
54. Repeated product phrase
55. A roofed patio
57. “Police station” in South Asian
countries
58. Cosmogeny matter (pl)
59. 1967 Nobel chemist Manfred
5. Tin
6. Antimony
7. Linen liturgical vestment
8. A country in SE Asia
9. Photocopy
10. Place of Hindus retreat
13. Ocular
14. Lasso
16. Acorn tree
17. Wife of Saturn
21. Behave in a certain manner
22. Cease living
23. Swiss river
26. Painting on dry plaster
27. Not off
28. 6th tone of the scale
29. Pre-Columbian Indians of Peru
31. Bit-by-bit
34. The 26th state
36. Hour
37. Original Equipment Mfg.
38. Bachelor of Laws
39. Largest English dictionary (abbr.)
40. The most electropositive metal
41. Classical music for the stage
42. Spirit presiding over thing or
place
43. In a wise way
45. Promotions
46. A piece of land
48. What the sun did yesterday
50. “Rule britannia” composer
51. Scum at the surface of molten metals
CLUES DOWN
53. ___ Adams, early US patriot
1. Bouncing Bess
54. Chinese term for poetry
2. Australian friends
56. Present tense of be
3. Supplemented with difficulty 57. Atomic #52
4. Take in marriage
SUDOKU
Fun By The Numbers
Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle
will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen
your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test
Here’s How It Works:
Sudoku puzzles are
formatted as a 9x9
grid, broken down
into nine 3x3 boxes.
To solve a sudoku, the numbers
1 through 9 must
fill each row, column and box. Each
number can appear
only once in each
row, column and
box. You can figure out the order in
which the numbers
will appear by using
the numeric clues
already provided in
the boxes. The more
numbers you name,
the easier it gets to
solve the puzzle!
PUZZLES & GAMES
15
16
OBITUARIES
CLINTON
Mrs. Peggy Jean Strickland
Boone, 80 died Thursday,
December 25, 2014. Mrs.
Boone was born in Sampson
County and was the daughter
of the late Otto and Roxie
Baggett
Strickland.
She
graduated from Salemburg
High School, Campbell
University and Sampson
Community college.
She
was preceded in death by her
husband, Jasper Carl Boone; son, Timothy Baggett Boone (Tim),
brothers, Charles and Frederick Strickland and a sister, Elizabeth Ann
Fann. She is survived by two sons, Billy and wife Brenda, Doug and
wife, Lori and daughter in law, Sharon Bullard Boone all of Clinton;
granddaughters, Brittany Hayes and husband, Steven of Clinton,
Jessica Johnson and husband, Chadwick Dale of Raleigh, Abby
Cannady and husband, Mark of Clinton, Anna Boone of Raleigh;
grandchildren, Andrew Murphy, Hannah Murphy, and Rebekah
Murphy of Clinton; Great Grandchildren, Seth Johnson, Tanner
Johnson, Ava Hayes, Rhett Hayes, Mia Hayes of Clinton, AnnaDale
Johnson and Charlotte Johnson of Raleigh and Ben Cannady and
Oliver Cannady of Clinton. She is also survived by two brothers,
Bobby Strickland and wife Pauline, Jefferson Strickland and wife Sue
of Salemburg; sister in law, Vondia and husband, Dr. Earl Farthing of
Salemburg. Mrs. Boone was the Director of the Blood Bank Donor
program at Sampson Regional Medical Center for 25 years prior
to her retirement. She loved music and had a beautiful voice that
she used to praise her Lord in song. She also enjoyed working in
her flower garden. Funeral services were held at 3:00 PM Sunday,
December 28, 2014 at White Oak Baptist Church, officiating will be
Rev. John Adams, and Rev. Stephen Porter. Interment followed in
the church cemetery. The family received friends at 2:00 PM Sunday,
December 28, 2014 at the church prior to the service. The family will
receive friends at other times at the home of Doug and Lori Boone,
405 Fairfax St. Clinton, NC. Arrangements entrusted to Butler
Funeral Home, 401 W. Roseboro St., Roseboro, NC 28382.
STEDMAN
Mrs. Doris G. Faircloth, 87
of 6892 Oak Grove Church
Road, Stedman, passed away
on Sunday, December 28, 2014
at Southwood Nursing and
Retirement Center in Clinton.
The funeral was held at 3:00 P.M.
on Wednesday, December 31,
2014 at Oak Grove Pentecostal
Free Will Baptist Church with
Rev. David Taylor and Rev.
Lynn McLaurin officiating.
Burial followed in the church
cemetery. Mrs. Faircloth was born on October 5, 1927 in Richmond
County to the late Irving and Corney Fisher Gailes. She is preceded
in death by her parents; husband, Leroy Faircloth; two daughters,
Sue Simonelli and Lori Ann Faircloth; and a granddaughter, Joni
Dawn Adams. She retired as a case worker with social services.
She is survived by one son, Sammy R. Faircloth and wife Linda of
Roseboro; brother, Bruce Gailes of Georgia; sister, Bonnie Miller
of Monroe; five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. The
family received friends on Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 to
2:45 P.M. at Oak Grove Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, 6535
Oak Grove Church Road, Stedman, and other times at her home.
Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 401 W. Roseboro
Street, Roseboro.
WOODLAKE
Lillian May Dietz Johnston,
91, of Woodlake, passed
away peacefully on Friday,
December 26, 2014 at her
home with her family by her
side. A Funeral Mass will be
held on Friday, January 2, 2015
at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony
of Padua Catholic Church
in Southern Pines with Rev.
Monsignor Patrick A. McCabe officiating. Lillian was born in
New York City on December 7, 1923 to Charles and Lillian Dietz.
A devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a faithful
friend, she will be remembered for her beautiful smile. She is
survived by her husband of 67 years, James Edward Johnston;
granddaughters, Katy Hutchings of Aberdeen, Heidi Hutchings of
Maryland and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her
parents, Charles and Lillian Dietz; daughter, MaryAnn Hutchings;
sister, Marian; brother Charles. Condolences may be sent to www.
coxmemorialfuneralhome.com. Cox Memorial “Serving GOD by
serving families in a time of need.”
TURKEY
Mr. James L. “Whitey”
Matthews, 85 of 5026 Dave
Bright Road, died at Kitty
Askins Hospice Center in
Goldsboro, Sunday December
28, 2014. Funeral services were
held Wednesday at 3:00 pm
at Royal-Hall Funeral Home
with the Rev. Ronnie Ezzell
officiating. Burial followed in
the Faison Cemetery. Born
in 1929 in Sampson County,
Mr. Matthews was the son of the late Jacob Wells and Susan Jane
Carr Matthews. He was a member of Bethlehem Free Will Baptist
Church and a retired farmer. He was the widower of Annie Lou
Matthews. He is survived by two daughters, Jane Victoria “Vickie”
Thornton and husband, Linwood and Gloria Ann Gillespie both of
Turkey. Four grandchildren: Cheri Angela Pollock and husband,
Charles Peter, Robin Ann Massey and husband, DeWayne, Perry
Don Gillespie, Jr. and wife, Anna and Stacie Marie Gillespie and
fiancé, Emmitt James Jackson. Eight great-grandchildren. The family
received friends Tuesday night from 7-9 pm at Royal-Hall Funeral
Home and other times at his home. Condolences may be sent by
visiting www.royalhallfuneralhome.com. Royal-Hall is honored to
serve the Matthews family.
CLINTON
Mrs. Ida McLamb, 85, of 304
Underwood Street, Clinton,
NC, died Wednesday, December
17, 2014 at Vidant Medical
Center, Greenville, NC. The
funeral services were at 1pm,
Sunday, December 21, 2014 at
Mt. Zion Church Ministries,
Goldsboro, NC with Elder Gary
Jones offficiating. The burial will
be in the Roseboro Cemetery,
Roseboro, NC. Mrs. McLamb is survived by her DAUGHTERS-Linda
Gorham of Greensville, NC, Melva Day and Cynthia Underwood
both of Goldsboro, NC; SISTER-Rebecca Beatty of Brooklyn, NY;
BROTHER-Woodrow Bannerman of Clinton, NC; 9 grandchildren,
15 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Visitation was at
Brock Memorial and Worley Funeral Home on Saturday, December
20, 2014 1pm-4pm. Online condolences may be sent to www.
brockmemorialandworley.com. Service entrusted to Brock Memorial
& Worley Funeral Home in Clinton, NC.
AUTRYVILLE
Mrs. Shirley Mae Stephens, 60 of
921 Horseshoe Road, Autryville,
went home to be with The Lord on
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
at her home. The funeral will be
held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January
4, 2015 at Roseboro Church
of God with Rev. Delton Dees,
Rev. Eddie Smith, Rev. Kenneth
Byrd and Rev. John Blackman
officiating. Burial will follow at
Roseboro Cemetery. Mrs. Stephens was born on August 13, 1954
in Sampson County to the late Charlie Thomas and Ida Mae Phillips
Barbour. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband of
44 years, David Russell Stephens of the home; daughters, Teresa Ann
Hatle of Autryville and Sherrie Lee Snow of Roseboro; son, Jonathan
Russell Stephens of Autryville; five grandchildren; sister, Doris Ezzell
of Autryville; and brothers, Thomas Ray Barbour of White Oak, Randy
Kay Barbour of Roseboro and Robbie Clay Barbour of Salemburg. The
family will receive friends from 1:00 to 1:45 P.M. Sunday afternoon at
Roseboro Church of God and other times at the home. Arrangements
entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 401 W. Roseboro Street, Roseboro.
CLINTON
Mr. James Earl Vann, 64, of 801
Coharie Drive, Clinton, NC, died
Saturday, December 27, 2014
at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC.
The funeral service was held at
3 P.M., Tuesday, December 30,
2014 at Baptist Chapel Church,
2208 Baptist Chapel Road,
Autryville, NC 28318 with the
Pastor Alan E. Roberts and Rev.
Dr. Ray Ammons officiating.
Interment followed with military honors in the Baptist Chapel Church
Cemetery. Mr. Vann was born in 1950 in Sampson County, son of
the late Herbert Vann and Willia Clifton Vann Holland. He was also
preceded in death by his first wife, Sarah Lou Vann. He was retired
from Piggy Wiggly Stores, was a member of the United States Bowling
Congress and an avid golfer. In addition to his mother he is survived by
his wife, Becky Smith Spell Vann of the home; daughters, Kelly Vann
Calaway and husband Garrett, Tina Vann Bruce and husband Glenn;
sons, Cameron Odell Spell and wife Angel Spell, Clinton Harold Spell
and wife Jamie Madden Spell; grandchildren, Malia Calaway, Kara
Holland, Owen Bruce, Hunter Bruce, Conner Spell, Corie Carter and
Gabriella Useche; brothers, Donnie Vann and Tommy Vann; sister,
Betty Powell. The family received friends at the First Baptist Church,
408 College St., Clinton, beginning at 6 P.M., Monday, December
29, 2014 and at other times at the home. In lieu of flowers donations
may be made to Tim’s Gifts, 108 Northeast Blvd., Clinton, NC 28328.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.crumpler-honeycutt.
com. Arrangements are by Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home, 118
Fayetteville Street, Clinton, NC 28328.
FAISON
Leon Blue, Age-63, 10136 Faison Hwy. died Sunday Dec. 28,
2014. Funeral services will be Saturday 1/3/15 at Greater Six Runs
Missionary Baptist Church, Turkey, N.C. Interment in the Cobbs
Cemetery, Faison, N.C. with military honors. Public viewing Friday
1/2/15, 1 to 6pm, Butler & Son Funeral Services, Clinton, N.C.
AUTRYVILLE
Mr. Mack Rose Culbreth, Sr., 65 of Autryville, passed away Thursday,
December 25, 2014 at his home. Funeral Services were held at 11:00
AM Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at Butler Funeral Home Chapel
in Stedman, officiating will be Rev. Donald Keith Carter. Interment
followed at T.J. Hall Cemetery. The family received friends from 6:00
PM-8:00 PM Monday, December 29, 2014 at the funeral home. He is
survived by a son, Mack Culbreth, Jr. of Autryville and a companion,
Joan L. Sullivan of Autryville.
ROSEBORO
Mrs. Lucy Smith Jones, 85 of 4454 Hayne Stretch Road, Roseboro,
passed away Monday, December 29, 2014 at her home. The funeral
was held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Pleasant Union
Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Honeycutt officiating. Burial followed
in the church cemetery. Mrs. Jones was born on June 17, 1929 in
Cumberland County to the late Edgar P. and Olivia Horne Smith. She
was a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker. She is survived by
her husband of 65 years, Elbert “Dink” Jones of the home; daughter,
Sherry Jones Coulter of Durham; sons, Craig Jones and wife Debbie
of Durham and Bobby Jones and wife Peggy of Hope Mills; sister,
Ernestine Brock of Mt. Olive; grandchildren, Amanda Coulter,
Ashley Dellis, Randy Allen, Mark Ashe and Tammy O’Donnell;
great grandchildren, Walker Dellis, Jackson Dellis, Aubrey Dellis,
Mark Philip Ashe, Samantha Ashe, Cassidy O’Donnell and Brianna
Allen; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family received
friends from 12:30 to 1:45 P.M. Thursday afternoon at Pleasant
Union Baptist Church, Roseboro, and other times at the home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pleasant Union
Baptist Church, 2300 Pleasant Union Road, Roseboro, N.C. 28382.
Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 401 W. Roseboro
Street, Roseboro.
TURKEY
Mrs. Helen Corbett Massey, 85, died December 30, 2014, at Mary
Gran Nursing Home in Clinton, North Carolina. A funeral service
will be held Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Beulah Baptist Church at
2:00 PM, with Rev. Danny Johnson and Rev. David Willis officiating.
A graveside service will follow at Grandview Memorial Park in
Clinton. She was retired from Sprint Telephone Company, having
worked as a supervisor in Clinton, Dunn and Smithfield. She was
a member of Beulah Baptist Church, Turkey, NC. She was a past
member of the Clinton Business and Professional Women’s Club,
a member of the Sampson County Republican Women’s Club and
a recipient of the Sampson County GOP Hall of Fame award. She
is survived by two daughters, Ann Olivia Miller of Southern Pines,
Debra Kay “Debbie” Miller of Turkey, a stepdaughter, Eileen Mock
of Ocala, Florida, her brother, James Corbett and wife, Carol, of
Vandalia, Ohio, a special niece, Catherine “Cappy” Pearson Willis
and husband, David of Magnolia and Clinton, and many other nieces
and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Lucian Penn and
Lily Ola Herring Corbett, her sisters, Mae Pearson, Dorothy Edge,
Nellie Hessee, and Louise Mitchell, and her husband, George Milton
Massey. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 2, 2015
from 6-8 PM at Royal Hall Funeral Home, 301 McKoy St. Clinton,
NC 28328, 910-592-4127. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may
be made to Beulah Baptist Church, c/o Pinda Byrd, 592 Lake Artesia
Road, Turkey, NC 28393 or to the American Heart Association, P.O.
Box 5216, Glen Allen, Virginia 23058. Condolences may be sent by
visiting www.royalhallfuneralhome.com. Royal-Hall is honored to
serve the Massey family.
SALEMBURG
Mrs. Edith Warren McClanahan, 75 of Salemburg, passed away
Friday, December 26, 2014 at Haymount Rehabilitation and Nursing
Center in Fayetteville. A graveside service was held at 2:00 P.M.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in
Salemburg, officiating was Rev. Bobby Herring. Mrs. McClanahan
was born October 10, 1939 in Sampson County to the late Charlie
Spell and Juanita Warren Spell. Mrs. McClanahan retired from Belk’s
with over 30 years of service. She is survived by her sons, Randy
McClanahan of Snow Hill and Gary McClanahan of Salemburg;
grandson, Ryan McClanahan of Clinton and brother, Charles Spell
of Atlanta. Arrangements entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 401 W.
Roseboro St. Roseboro, NC 28382.
SALEMBURG
Mr. William M. “Bill” Rauss, 88 of 107 Azalea Trail, Salemburg,
passed away Monday, December 29, 2014 at his home. A graveside
service was held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Salemburg
Cemetery with Rev. Bobby Herring officiating. Mr. Rauss was born
on March 14, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Otto Julius and
Margaret Edith Whitsky Rauss. He is preceded in death by his
parents; wife, Mary Sue Rauss; and daughter, Kimberly Rauss. He
was a member of Roseboro United Methodist Church. He retired
from the Air Force after 26 years of service and was a Veteran of
WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He later retired from
Sampson Community College as a Business Manager. He is survived
by two daughters, Karen Rauss of Charlotte and Kate Coit and
husband Craig of Chicago, Illinois; two sons, Bill Rauss, Jr. and wife
Howell of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Randall Rauss of Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma; and six grandchildren, Casey, Chloe, Rhiannon,
Will, Li and Oliver. The family received friends on Thursday from
2:30 to 4:30 P.M. following the service at the home. In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to Roseboro United Methodist Church,
P.O. Box 8, Roseboro, N.C. 28382. Arrangements entrusted to Butler
Funeral Home, 401 W. Roseboro Street, Roseboro.
CLINTON
Mrs. Blanche Shipp, 99, died Thursday, December 25, 2014 at
Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC. Arrangements are
incomplete and will be announced by Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral
Home.
SALEMBURG
Mrs. Ira Lillian Webb 87 of 381 Lakewood School Rd., died Tuesday,
December 30, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton,
NC. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carter
Funeral Home in Garland
TURKEY
Miss. Joyce Elizabeth West, 77 of 76 Union School Rd. died in
U.N.C. Hospitals in Chapel Hill Thursday December 25, 2014. A
Graveside service was held Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 3:00
PM in the Turkey Cemetery with Rev. Danny Johnson officiating.
Born in 1937 in Sampson County, Joyce was the daughter of the
late Hubert Henry and Florence Johnson West. Joyce was a retired
Nurse Practitioner and a former employee with the New Hanover
Memorial Hospital in Wilmington. She is survived by a niece, Jayne
Bryant & husband Donald Bryant of Fairfield, Va. Nephew, Julian F.
Simpson of Wilmington. One Great Niece, Whitney Nicole Bryant
of Fairfield, Va. One great Nephew, Christopher Franklin Bryant of
Fairfield, Va. Cousin, Lillian Johnson & family of Turkey. Special
Friend, Louise Holland of Turkey. She was preceded in death by
a sister, Nellie W. Simpson. Condolences may be sent by visiting
wwwroyalhallfuneralhome.com. Royal-Hall Funeral Home is
honored to serve the West family.
17
COMMUNITY CRIME
Arrest Report
12-23 Christopher Carson Futrell, 53;
1333 Cartertown Rd., Clinton; Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle; Written
Promise to Appear; Court 01-14
12-23 Jeffrey O’Neal Faison, 34; 383
Serenity Dr., Clinton; Trespass Second
Degree; Disorderly Conduct; Secured
Bond $1,000; Court 01-21
12-23 Samuel Howard, 64; 1649 Boone
Rd., Clinton; DWI; Unsecured Bond
$1,000; Court 02-11
12-23 Sherita Tanequa McNeil, 24; 316
A Jacob St., Clinton; Felony Larceny Defeat Anti-Theft Device; Secured Bond
$5,000; Court 01-02
12-23 Lorenzon Patterson, 28; 429 Ashe
Ave., Warsaw; Failure to Appear-Failure
to Report Accident; Failure to AppearInjury to Real Property; Secured Bond
$1,000; Court 02-12
12-25 Timothy Reginald Clay, 42; 12180
Suttontown Rd., Faison; Trespassing;
Written Promise to Appear; Court 01-15
12-25 Ramon Maldonado, 43; 165 Pumplin Lane, Faison; Resisting a Public Officer; Secured Bond $1,500; Court 01-26
12-26 Jose Reyes, 29; 125 Rena Ave.,
Garland; DWI; Secured Bond $2,000;
Court 01-08
12-27 Keith Kennard Gibson, 31; 220
E Morrisey Blvd., Clinton; Assault on a
Female; Failure to Appear- DWLR Not
Impaired; Failure to Appear- Possession of
Marijuana ½ to 1 ½ oz; No Bond; Court 0113
12-29 Thomas Jochen Strickland, 32; 405
West St., Roseboro; Failure to Appear- Citation (NOL); Secured Bond $500; Court
01-12
12-29 John Rodger Melvin Jr., 25; 81 Myrtle Rd., Roseboro; Failure to Appear-Criminal Citation; failure to Appear on Release
Order (DWLR); Secured Bond $1,500;
Court 01-08
12-29 Tony Montrell Smith, 21; 316 Old
Fayetteville Rd., Salemburg; Simple Physical Assault on a Female; No Bond; Court
01-20
12-29 Shaquana Toyra Peterson, 22; 608
B Lisbon St., Clinton; Failure to Comply;
Court 01-28
12-29 Nicholas Clint Brigman, 22; 15401
Dunn Rd., Godwin; Escape from Custody
or Resist Arrest; Unsecured Bond $1,500;
Court 01-26
12-29 Robert John Clayton, 28; 167 Unity
Lane, Clinton; Contempt of Court, Perjury,
Court Violations; Secured Bond $1,000;
Court 01-26
12-30 Tracey James Harris, 37; 3204 New
Hope Church Rd., Turkey; Larceny; Bur-
glary; Unlawful transport copper; Secured
Bond $8,500; Court 1-22
12-30 Thomas Jochen Strickland, 32; 405 S
West St., Roseboro; 3 Counts: Embezzlement;
Secured Bond $7,500; Court 01-02
Incident/ Investigation Report
12-23 James Summer reported a Larceny at
his residence located at 4767 Garland Hwy.,
Clinton. Items reported missing included a
climbing stand, lock, rubber boots, binoculars, range finder, GPS, turkey calls, and a
hunting back pack.
12-23 Samantha Westbrook reported the
Theft of her vehicle from 108 Sawmill Lane,
Roseboro.
12-23 Latony Herring reported the Larceny
of his cell phone from 221 F Morrisey Blvd.,
Clinton.
12-24 Jose Montes reported a Burglary at his
residence located at 106 Kenan Weeks Rd.,
Newton Grove. Item reported missing was a
portable welding machine.
12-24 Edwin Percell reported the Larceny
of US Currency located at 102 Barrus Ave.,
Clinton.
12-24 Tameka Belcher reported the Theft of
her vehicle from 1101 Sampson St., Clinton.
12-25 Clarence Boiette reported the Larceny
of his Bicycle from his residence located at
355 Southwood Dr., Clinton.
Cyber-Security
Expert Offers
Births
-Gabriel Jimenez-Aranda born on December 13, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical Center
to Armando Jimenez Cruz and Martha Fabiola Aranda Rodriguez
-Zaylin Rose Alphin born on December 16, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical Center to
Kane Elliott Alphin and Santana Byrd Alphin
-Jahkayla Zavala Gomez born on December 16, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical Center
to Juan Zavala Jaquez and Asucena Gomez Calzada
-Kayden Zavala Gomez born on December 16, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical Center
to Juan Zavala Jaquez and Asucena Gomez Calzada
-Lavonte Jeremiah Boykin born on December 17, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical
Center to Devonte Benjamin Boykin and Jessica Shavon Parker
-Elias Lopez-Trujillo born on December 18, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical Center to
Jose Alberto Lopez and Elia Trujillo Pelayo
-Angie Abigail Santiago Cabanzo born on December 19, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical
Center to Miguel Angel Santiago Santiago and Cristina Elizabeth Cabanzo Santiago
-Thiago Allessandro Villela born on December 19, 2014 at Sampson Regional Medical
Center to Jorge Francisco Villela Jr and Laura Jissela Ruiz Paguada
Marriage Certificates
-Alexander McLean to Angela Jeanette Melvin
-Juan Carlos Sanjuan-Resendiz to Petra Yadira Salinas
-Randy Glenn Tyndall to Delphia Sessoms
-Darrin Jon Walker to Amanda Shalea Asche
-Harley Franklin Faircloth to Ariel Jasmine Bayers
Deaths
-Janie Bell
-Peggy Jean Boone
-Sarah Caballero
-Lois Louise Draughon
-Henry Clay Faircloth
-Nathan Allen Fisher
-Betty Sue Hunter
-Gail L Jenkins
-George Harris King
-Terry Lynn Lee
-Louis Bernard Lopez
Land Transfers
-Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund Inc to Alice B Flynn- 1.0 Acre Lisbon
-Ellen Johnson Bailey, Rhett Ashley Bailey, Faison Nuckolls Dana, Matthew Paul Dana, Henry
Clendenin Fordham Jr, Susan Johnson Fordham, Anne Hill Nuckolls, Dawn Murell Nuckolls,
James Garland Nuckolls, James Garland Nuckolls Jr, Mary Lily J Nuckolls, Stephen Witherow
Nuckolls to Anne Bryan Faircloth- 6.236 Acres Tract 4 South Clinton
-Carolyn H Lee, James Randall Lee to Kevin Jacob Lee- 2 Tracts Plainview
-Brenda Kay Powers to Heather Milligan Tucker and Reginald Demont Tucker- Lots 14 & 15
Pasture Land Acres Subdivision Honeycutt
-Karen L Stern to Daniel King & Judith J King- Lot 26 4.16 Acres Mingo
-The Quest Development Co of Dunn Inc to McKee Homes LLC- Lot 7 Liberty Ridge
Subdivision Dismal
-Anita Teasdale, Matthew Teasdale to Linda Marshburn Hill- Lot 3 0.23 Acres McDaniels
-Brian Thomas Carter, Melissa McLain Carter, Melissa Kay McClain/FKA to Brian Thomas
Carter and Melissa McClain Carter- Tract 1 1.53 Acres Lisbon
-Carlton Joel Brewington, Rebekah Brewington to Robert Lee Rouse and Tiffany Goss
Rouse- Lots 1-2-3- Piney Grove
-Barbara A Milligan, Edison Bryan Milligan to Barbara Barr Milligan/TR, Edison Bryan
Milligan/TR, Ellison Bryan Milligan/TR, The Milligan Family Irrevocable Asset Protection
Trust- Tract 1 w/exceptions of the IN Williams/WH Denning Lands
-Bonnie H Warren, Michael B Warren to Jimmie Justice- 0.317 Acres Lot 10 Shields Division
North Clinton
-Brenda B Britt, Thomas Alan Britt to Brenda B Britt, Thomas Alan Britt- 2 Lots South Clinton
-Brenda B Britt, Harry S Britt Jr, Linda S Britt, Thomas Alan Britt to James L Hope and Lila M
Hope- 2 Tracts w/exceptions South Clinton
-Yong Mi Wright to Andre Lamor Wright Jr- 0.69 Acres Lot 5 JW Simmons Division McDaniels
-Sonja Barefoot Dunn/Co EXR, Callie Jones Hinson Estate, Don Cecil Hinson/Co EXR to
Darren Gregory and Jennifer Gregory- 9.4 Acres Lot 3 Vestal Jones Estate Division w/
exceptions
-John L Butler to John L Butler/TR, the John L Butler Revocable Living Trust- 55.2 Acres w/
exceptions Westbrook
-Henry Balkcum, Thomas A Britt, Benjamin R Warrick/COMR to Henry Balkcum, Thomas A
Britt, Kimberly F McPhail, Larry C McPhail, Benjamin R Warrick/COMR- Lot Clinton
-Early Falsom Properties Inc to Jerry Parker and Patricia Parker- Lots 12-13-14 Harold C Carr
and Joan B Carr Subdivision
-Judith T Griffin/Co Admr, Alice Faye Jones/Co Admr, Alice Faye Jones, Jennifer T Parker,
Preston Parker, Karen T Sutton, William B Sutton Jr, Beatrice B Thornton Estate to Judith T
Griffin- 3 Tracts North Clinton and Herring
-Stokes D McKoy to David J Mixon and Liane E Mixon- 14.29 Acres Tract 7 Honeycutt
-Francis Benett, Robert F Bennett to First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ- 0.29 Acres Little
Coharie
12-26 Daires Bowden reported the
Larceny of his skill saw from his residence located at 1075 Brown Church
Rd., Clinton.
12-26 Arnette Williams reported the
Theft of his vehicle from 218 W Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Roseboro.
12-28 Judy Cannady reported a Burglary at her residence located at 54
South McCullen Rd., Clinton. Items
reported missing included a 28 inch
flat screen TV, jewelry, and a DVD
player.
12-29 Shannon Sessoms reported the
Larceny of her 12 gauge shot gun from
her residence located at 289 Jerry Hudson Lane, Clinton.
12-30 Lewis Good reported a Burglary at his residence located at 186
Lakewood School Rd., Salemburg. No
items were reported missing.
12-30 Justin Vernon reported Burglary
at his residence located at 2999 South
Salemburg Hwy., Roseboro. Items reported missing included a Playstation
2, 27 inch TV, clothing, and US Currency.
12-30 Barbara Greene reported the
Larceny of her car keys located at 199
Pine Lane, Autryville.
10 Tips to Safeguard
Your Information
By: Gary S. Miliefsky
We’ve all lost our identity at least three times, with more than 930 million records breached, lost or stolen to
hackers and cyber criminals, says consumer advocacy non-profit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
Why don’t we do all we can to stay safer online?
According to StaySafeOnline.org, more than a quarter of Americans say they lack the information necessary.
So, here it is – everything you need to know to enjoy the shopping experience without losing your privacy and
identity or putting your children’s safety at risk:
• Assume you’ve already been compromised. Whether it's your baby monitor, your SmartTV, the Webcam
on your laptop or apps you installed on your smartphone or tablet, your antivirus is not enough protection.
It's time to take those devices’ and apps’ privacy policies, and the permissions you grant them, much more
seriously.
• Change your passwords – all of them. Now. And do it as frequently as you can tolerate. Also, if you don't want
to change it often, then use any unique characters you can think of, such as a dollar sign ($) or exclamation
mark (!), or replace an "oh" with a "zero" (0). This goes a long way in preventing attacks against your password.
• Turn off wireless and geolocation services. Protect your smartphones and tablets by turning off WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS, except when you need them. That way, if you are at a local coffee shop or in a shopping
mall, no one can spy on you using nearby (proximity) hacking attacks and they can’t track where you were and
where you are going on your GPS.
• Assume most of your apps are creepware. Do you really need them? Delete all of the apps you aren't using too
often. Replace apps that ask for too many permissions and take advantage of too many of your privacy settings
-- like GPS, phone and sms logs, personal identity information – with similar apps that don't.
• Opt out of sharing your information. Opt out of every advertising network that you can. Visit the National Do
Not Call Registry and register your smartphone and home phone numbers at www.donotcall.gov. If you use a
Google email account and have an Android phone, even with your GPS off, it's tracking your every move. (Log
in to maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0 and see for yourself.) Go into your smartphone or tablet settings
and turn this feature off. In your Android phone, go to Settings, then Location, select Google Location Reporting and set Location History to off. The same holds true for the Apple iPhone, iPad and iTunes. You need to find
the location and privacy settings and turn off access under Settings, then Privacy then Location.
• Your browser is a double agent – keep it clean. It is spying on you for advertisers unless you block and remove
cookies and delete the cache frequently. In your web browser settings, delete your history, all cookies and passwords and the cache. You should do this frequently so you don't leave personal information sitting around on
your computer, smartphone or tablet.
• Remove third-party Facebook plugins. Third-party plugins are mini applications designed to eavesdrop on
your behavior in Facebook and possibly grab information about your habits within that social network. Some
websites you visit will require you to log in using Facebook, and then you have to trust them to connect to your
Facebook account. This is very risky. Read their privacy policy and make sure they are a legitimate business
before you risk doing this.
• Only shop on the websites of companies you already trust. If you don't know where the merchant is located,
don't shop online there. If they don't have a corporate address or are located in another country, it is risky for
you and you may never see the goods you think you purchased. Also, if their shopping cart experience is not an
HTTPS browser session, then everything you type in, your name, address and credit card information, is going
over the internet unencrypted -- in plain view.
• Turn off geotagging – your photos are full of information. Twitter and Instagram as well as your iPhone will
give away your location. Most people don't realize Twitter and Instagram both use geotagging for everything
you send out. Geotagging stores the latitude and longitude of your tweet or image. Pictures you take on an
iPhone usually store geotagging information, as well. The less information you give out about where you are
located, the safer you are.
• Don’t use cash or debit cards – use credit cards, wisely. Credit cards allow you to travel with less cash, and if
you’re purchasing online, it's safer to give your credit card than your debit card information. The same holds
true when you visit your local retail outlet. The reason? If you experience identity theft, credit card laws allow
you to keep all of your credit, with no responsibility during an investigation. With a debit card, your bank can
tie up your money in the amount equivalent to the fraudulent transactions for up to 30 days.
18
The Sampson Weekly (910) 590-2102
Salespeople Needed
FOR RENT
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NEWTON GROVE AREA FOR RENT. HOBBTON SCHOOL DISTRICT. MOBILE HOME IS VERY CLEAN WITH NEW CENTRAL
HEAT AND AIR. STOVE AND REFRIGERATOR ARE INCLUDED.
MOBILE HOME WILL BE AVAILABLE JANUARY 1, 2015. FIRST
MONTHS RENT AND DEPOSIT DUE. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
CHECK REQUIRED AND NO PETS. PLEASE CALL 910-590-4217
FOR MORE INFORMATION AFTER 6:00 PM.
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LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
IN THE MATTER OF
THE FORECLOSURE
OF THE DEED OF
TRUST
EXECUTED BY DARLENE L.
BLACK and husband,
RAY O. BLACK,
Recorded in Book
1354, Page 317,
Sampson
County
Registry IN THE GENERAL COURT OF
JUSTICE
SUPERIOR COURT
DIVISION
BEFORE THE CLERK
FILE NO. 14-SP-170
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
DEED OF TRUST BEING FORECLOSED:
The Deed of Trust being foreclosed is that
Deed of Trust executed by DARLENE L.
BLACK and husband,
RAY O. BLACK to
Denny Green, Trustee, dated March 27,
2000 and recorded in
Book 1354, Page 317
in the Sampson County Registry of North
Carolina.
RECORD OWNERS
OF THE REAL PROPERTY:
The record owners of
the subject real property as reflected on the
records of the Sampson County Register of
Deeds not more than 10
days prior to the posting of this Notice are
the Heirs of Ray Black
a/k/a Ray O. Black.
END SUBDIVISION”,
prepared by Millard
T. Owen, III, R.L.S.
and recorded at Map
Book 34, page 5 of
the Sampson County
Registry. Reference to
which is hereby made
for a more particular
description.
DATE, TIME AND
PLACE OF SALE:
The sale will be held
on January 14, 2015 at
11:45 a.m. at the door
of the Sampson County Courthouse, Clinton,
North Carolina.
Included is a 2000
Clayton
Henderson
manufactured
home
bearing
serial
no.
HHC013085NCAB.
PROPERTY TO BE
SOLD:
The following real property to be sold “sight
unseen” together with
any improvements is
located in Sampson
County, North Carolina and is believed to
have the address of
4995 Bearskin Road,
Clinton, NC 28328 and
is otherwise more particularly described as
follows:
BEING all of Lot
15, and containing
0.77 acres, according
to a recorded survey
map entitled, “WEST
TERMS OF SALE:
Pursuant to the provisions of N.C.G.S. §4521.10(b) and the terms
of the Deed of Trust,
any successful bidder
may be required to
deposit with the Trustee or Clerk of Superior Court immediately
upon the conclusion of
the sale a cash deposit to be determined by
the greater of 5% of the
bid or $750.00. Unless
the Substitute Trustee
agrees otherwise, the
successful bidder will
be required to tender
the “full purchase price”
so bid in cash or certified check at the time
the Trustee tenders
to him a Deed to the
property or attempts to
tender such Deed, and
should the successful
bidder fail to pay the
full amount, then the
successful bidder shall
remain liable as provided for in N.C.G.S. §4521.30. By submitting
your bid, you agree that
shall be defined as the
amount of bid plus the
Trustee’s commission
as defined in the subject Deed of Trust plus
the costs of the action,
unless the Trustee
agrees otherwise. For
example, if the amount
of bid is $20,000.00 and
the trustee’s commission is defined in the
subject Deed of Trust
as 5% of the gross proceeds of the sale, then
shall equal $21,000.00
plus the costs of the action. A tender of Deed
shall be defined as a
letter from the Trustee
to the successful bidder offering to record
the Deed upon receipt
of full purchase price
as described herein
and listed in said letter.
If the trustee is unable
to convey title to this
property for any reason
such as a bankruptcy
filing, the sole remedy
of the successful bidder
is the return of the deposit. As to any manufactured home, the
following shall apply:
Any not considered
real property is being
foreclosed pursuant to
N.C.G.S.
§25-9-604,
if necessary; there is
no warranty that any is
actually located on the
subject tract; and there
is no warranty given by
the Substitute Trustee as to whether said
home is real property
or personal property.
The sale will be made
subject to all prior liens,
unpaid taxes, assessments, restrictions and
easements of record, if
any.
ADDITIONAL
NOTICE:
Take notice that an order for possession of
the property may be issued pursuant to G.S.
45-21.29 in favor of the
purchaser and against
the party or parties in
possession by the clerk
of superior court of the
county in which the
property is sold. Take
further notice that any
person who occupies
the property pursuant
to a rental agreement
entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice
of sale, terminate the
rental agreement upon
10 days’ written notice
to the landlord. The notice shall also state that
upon termination of a
rental agreement, the
tenant is liable for rent
due under the rental
agreement prorated to
the effective date of the
termination.
This the 28th day of
November, 2014.
THE GREEN LAW
FIRM, P.C.
Jay B. Green
Attorneys for Deidre D.
DeFlorentis, Substitute
Trustee
908 E. Edenton Street
Raleigh, North Carolina
27601
Telephone:
919-829-0797
1st Publication December 31, 2014
2nd Publication January 7, 2015
In
The
Sampson
Weekly newspaper
Chamber Chat
With Janna Bass
By Sherri Smith, President, Clinton-Sampson
Chamber of Commerce
Happy New Year to All!
It’s hard to believe that 2014 is coming to an end – the year has passed so quickly.
BUSINESS
19
RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A COLA
By Brenda Brown
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
Happy New Year from Social Security! Put down the
champagne and ring in the New Year with a COLA! And we
don’t mean the soda. In 2015, nearly 64 million Americans
who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) will receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
increase to their monthly benefit payments of 1.7 percent.
Our Member of the Week is the 302 North East Blvd Clinton office of First Citizens Bank.
Headquartered in Raleigh, First Citizens has been in operation for over 100 years. Congratulations First Citizens and thank you for being a Chamber member! Visit them on the web
at www.firstcitizens.com.
The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired
worker in 2015 is $1,328 (up from $1,306 in 2014). The average monthly Social
Security benefit for a disabled worker in 2015 is $1,165 (up from $1,146 in 2014).
Looking ahead to 2015:
For people who receive SSI, the maximum federal payment amount increased to
$733 (up from $721 in 2014).
Save The Date for the Annual Chamber Banquet scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2015.
More information to come soon about this exciting event!
Make your plans now to attend the monthly Steak Supper Fundraiser at the V.F.W. Post #
7547 in Clinton. It’s always on the 2nd Saturday of the month - in January on the 10th at 6
pm. For more information, please contact Commander Charles Curtis at (910)385-5582.
Other Social Security changes in 2015 are also worth noting. For example, the
maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase
to $118,500 (up from $117,000 in 2014). A worker will earn one credit toward Social
Security coverage after paying taxes on $1,220 in earnings in 2015 (up from $1,200 in
2014). As a reminder, eligibility for retirement benefits still requires 40 credits (usually
about10 years of work).
And don’t forget to mark your calendar to attend the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Reception scheduled to be held Monday, January 19, 2015 from 12 PM to 1 PM at
the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center. Watch for media announcements for more
information on this event.
Information about Medicare changes for 2015 is available at www.medicare.gov.
These are only a few of the items listed on the Events Calendar of the Chamber’s website.
Take a moment or two to visit our site and the Events Calendar – where you’ll find all kinds
of interesting information about the Chamber, Membership and opportunities month-bymonth.
To learn more about other changes in 2015, read our fact sheet at www.socialsecurity.
gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2015.html.
The Inaugural Issue of the Chamber’s Annual Report has been added to our home page –
I’m so fortunate to be a part of such a vibrant and healthy Chamber! I hope you enjoy this
report as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. I think it’s important to chronicle
the happenings of the past year, and I’m proud of the number and kinds of events the Chamber offered to the Membership in 2014.
As my year in office comes to a close, I’d like to thank the Chamber Membership, Ambassadors, Board, Committee Chairs, Janna and Elizabeth for their continued excellent representation, support and involvement in the Chamber and our communities. My Best Wishes go
out to Alison Bradshaw, 2015 President Elect. She will be an outstanding President.
Last but not least, please remember to Buy Local and share the news!
For more information about the Chamber, the Membership or any of the scheduled events,
please call (910)592-6177 or visit www.clintonsampsonchamber.org
Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a great 2015!
Congratulations
Chamber Member of the Week
Congratulations to the Chamber’s Member of the Week, First Citizens Bank, located at 302
Northeast Boulevard in Clinton. First Citizens Bank is the largest family-controlled bank in
the nation. First Citizens Bank has been in business since 1890’s and live by Forever First!
For more information about First Citizens Bank please contact W. Martin Jackson at (910)
592-2041, email [email protected] or visit www.firstcitizens.com. For more
information about the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce call (910) 592-6177 or visit
www.clintonsampsonchamber.org.
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The Social Security Act outlines how the COLA is calculated. To read more about the
COLA, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.
Business Owners….
Are You Investing into Yourself?
By Amanda Bradshaw, Director,
Small Business Center at Sampson Community College
It’s 5:00 am and the alarm clock is screaming in your ear and
begging you to go be part of the world. As a business owner,
your mind has probably just begun to rest because you had a
late night at the shop and then had to exist once you got home
right before crashing just before midnight. Time to get up and
start running once again. Long before the shop doors open, you
are hard at work preparing for the day, each minute as critical
as the last one as you strive to serve your clients with all that
you have in your being. The day starts with a bustle of phone
calls and continues to quickly tick by…umm did you know you
missed lunch about 3 hours ago? Finally it is time to dim the lights and turn off the “Open” sign
for the end of the day has slipped upon you but wait there are just a few more incidentals to handle
before you leave. Three hours later you have marked a few more items off the “to-do” list but have
missed yet another meal and will grab it on the way home tonight. The day is complete, you are
lacking energy and motivation but somewhere in there that drive to thrive and excel still burns.
As a small business owner, this was the layout of many of my days because you know as your
own boss that many hats become yours from the accountant to the customer service department
to public relations and the list continues. After running too many days and weeks at this pace,
your mind and spirit are not as sharp as they once were. You, as a business owner, are always
on the hunt for professional development opportunities for your staff. You, more than any other
manager, understand the vital investment that is placed into training and coaching staff members
in an effort to better serve your clients. But, are you investing into yourself? When was the last
time that you attended a professional development opportunity (I can hear you saying at this
moment in your head…”I don’t have time for that”)? When was the last time that you took a few
hours and engulfed your train of thoughts and motivation towards creating a more educated and
energized boss?
The Small Business Center will be introducing a new learning format to help you do just this. On
January 13th, the very first Business Owners’ Roundtable Chat will be hosted at the Vance Street
Market in Downtown Clinton. All business owners are invited to join us at 8:00 am on January 13,
2015. Bring your favorite cup of coffee and an appetite to learn in a peer-to-peer format. These
hour-long sessions will be facilitated by an unbiased leader and led with different topics and
locations monthly. Peer-to-peer sessions are proven to provide timely insights from experienced
peers, proven production problem-solving methods and offer unbiased knowledgeable feedback.
The folks attending will be like minded in the fact they own businesses also. Each month the
group will build upon a new topic of discussion that is broad enough to not be industry specific
but sharpened enough to offer you the support and knowledge base needed in your day-to-day
functions. Please fully understand that peer-to-peer groups do not give you answers but they
“give you a process to help you find your own answers” according to Bruce Peters who facilitates
sessions for a company in the Rochester, NY area. He also adds “They allow you to hear the
methods other people have used to solve problems and to learn from what they have done.
The give you permission to pivot and try a different path..and hear questions that you are not
asking yourself and considering.” I encourage you as a business owner to take advantage of
these specially designed seminars each month and soak up the knowledge and unbiased thoughts
of those walking the similar paths. January’s topic will be “The Importance of Networking to
a Small Business”. Be sure to register at https://www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75450.
Roundtable Chats are Free!
Upcoming Business Owner’s Roundtable Chat Dates:
January 13 – “The Importance of Networking a to a Small Business”
Location: Vance Street Market, Clinton, NC at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
February 10 – “Hispanic Businesses and Breaking Into the American
Culture”
Location: SBC Conference Room at Sampson Community College in the
North Building, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
March 19 – “Women Owned Businesses and Their Success!”
Location: SBC Conference Room at Sampson Community College in the
North Building, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
April 16 - “Profitable Artist”
Location: Victor R. Small House, Clinton, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Contact Information:
Amanda Bradshaw, Director, Small Business Center
P: 910-592-7176 ext. 2032
E: [email protected]
W: NCSBC.Net
2020www.thesampsonweekly.com
Week Week
of December
12-18,
2014
of January
2-8, 2015
605 Warsaw Hwy • Clinton, NC
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ST# P0260
2013 Scion FR-S Coupe
ST# P0276
Performance Price $15,860
2013 Volkswagen CC 2.0T
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2013 Jeep Compass Sport
2014 Dodge Challenger SXT
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2014 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner
2014 Honda Ridgeline 4x4
2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4
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Performance Price $39,351 Performance Price $40,999
* Warranty excludes all diesel motors, Exotic brands, 10 cylinder or more , Mercedes Benz, BMW. All Pricing is Plus Tax, Tag and $399 Dealer Doc Fee. See Dealer for Complete Details.

Jan 7 - The Sampson Weekly

Transcription

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