Selma Leader Ron Hester Named Citizen of the Year
The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce crowned Ron Hester of Selma as Citizen of the Year for recruiting tenants, restoring downtown storefronts, and funding three murals on East Railroad Street. Hester, 64, accepts the honor with pride, crediting mentors and his late father, Barbetta LLC, for guiding his community work. He serves as chamber ambassador and is vice president of Activate Selma, a nonprofit promoting local projects and events.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Selma
Ron Hester
Triangle East Chamber of Commerce
Chamber
Hester
Johnston County
Johnston
Barbetta LLC
Dicky Parrish
East Railroad Street
Activate Selma
Raiford
Clayton Water and Sewer Rates to Rise Amid Budget Plan
Budget shows water up 11 percent and sewer up 13 percent with small dollar increases. Typical household bills would rise to 45.88 for water, 88.51 for sewer, and 137.75 for electricity monthly. Property tax rate would move to 65 cents per 100 valuation, boosting a 350000 home’s yearly tax to 2275. General Fund totals 53.5 million, Water and Sewer 59.5 million, Electric 19.5 million, with a 2 percent employee raise and potential merit hikes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clayton
Smithfield hospital names Michael Blancher Ambassador of the Month
SMITHFIELD UNC Health Johnston names Michael Blancher its Ambassador of the Month a night shift security officer praised by CEO Tom Williams for his pleasant demeanor leadership and teamwork Blancher a former retiree from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction spent over 30 years at Central Prison Raleigh He and wife Rose live in Clayton North Michigan native Blancher earns a month long parking space and eight hours paid time off for the honor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smithfield
UNC Health Johnston
Michael Blancher
Tom Williams
Blancher
Williams
State’s Department of Adult Correction
Central Prison
Raleigh
State
Owosso
Michigan
Rose
Clayton
Johnston
Kyle McDermott
Mark Smith
David Richards
Democrats launch NC six county swing in Johnston Smithfield campaign stop
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison and Co-Chair Mitch Landrieu visited Johnston County on May 24 as part of a six county tour through North Carolina. They touted Biden administration gains for rural communities, including jobs, high speed internet, and Medicaid expansion, and warned voters against Donald Trump. In Smithfield they opened a campaign office.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smithfield
Democratic National Committee
Johnston County
Jaime Harrison
Mitch Landrieu
New Orleans
Biden
Harris
North Carolina
Harrison
Landrieu
Donald Trump
Tar Heel
Trump
White House
Johnston County eighth grader shines at national spelling bee
Orrin Lam of McGee's Crossroads Middle School competed in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill Maryland his first national appearance after years of practice. North Carolina sent eight spellers and Ananya Prassanna from Charlotte finished third. Lauren Slaber of Clayton graduated from James Madison University with a chemistry degree while Ainsley Burchette of Smithfield earned a psychology degree from Hollins University.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Johnston County
Scripps
Oxon Hill
Maryland
Washington, D.C
Orrin Lam
McGee’s Crossroads Middle School
Lam
North Carolina
Ananya Prassanna
Charlotte
Harrisonburg
Lauren Slaber
Clayton
James Madison University
JMU
Slaber
James Madison
Roanoke
Ainsley Burchette
Smithfield
Hollins University
Hollins
Burchette
Also Mentioned on This Page
Uchael Nchef
Harrison and Landrieu
Stein———Et
SH Stein
ARIS
Democratic Party
Johnston Speller
Is A Public University
Virginia’s
Shenandoah Valley
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!