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Retail is Rockin’Population boom leads to economic boon
IMAGINE THATArts council supports many
efforts to promote creativity
INCREDIBLE EDIBLESMADE RIGHT HERE
TM
SPONSORED BY THE JOHNSTON COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
2008 | IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM | VIDEO TOUR ONLINE
OF JOHNSTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
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HomeTowne Realty Clayton: (919) 550-7355 Smithfield: (919) 989-7065
Toll-free: (877) 421-TEAM (8326)
www.HomeTowneRealty.com
~FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS~Residential ~ Commercial ~ Auctions ~ Foreclosures
New Home Communities ~ Property Management
Land Development ~ Relocation Services
Portofino$360s to $1.5 million• Clayton’s only luxury equestrian community
• Gated community with state-of-the-art high-speed fiber optic communication
• Large wooded lots
• Walking and riding trails
• Fully staffed horse complex with stables and an equestrian center with indoor riding arena
Hannah’s Creek$280s and up• Quality builder
• Small development/large lots
• Country setting
• Custom upgrades with optional unfinished room
FoxCroft at Timberlake $300s and up
• Award-winning builder
• Custom plans
• Country setting
• Many upgrades, including flooring, lighting and plumbing
Edinburgh$190s and up• Quality custom builders• Large lots• Many upgrades• Convenient to US 70/Clayton Bypass
Carriage Creek$230s and up• Parade-winning builder• Large lots• Lots of upgrades• Cleveland community• Convenient to I-40
Timberlake$240s and up• Large wooded lots
• Many upgrades
• Homes over 1800 sq. ft. with two-car garages
Moss Creek TOWNHOMES$110s to $150s• Maintenance-free community
• Rear access to alley with optional garage plans
• Many upgrades
Walker’s Ridge$160s and up• Lots from 0.5 to 0.75 acres • Concrete drives and uniform mailboxes• 12x12 decks • Smooth ceilings/wood shelving
McLemore $300s to $400s• Prime location• Large lots/no city taxes• Custom builders• Extensive hardwoods• First floor master suites
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OF JOHNSTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
2008 EDITION | VOLUME 3TM
CONTENTS
FEATURES
12 ALL THE COUNTY’S A STAGEJohnston County knows what it takes to create and nurture artists.
16 LAND OF OPPORTUNITYCounty offi cials attribute the surge of newcomers to many factors – primarily location, location, location.
18 INCREDIBLE EDIBLESJohnston County entrepreneurs are feeding a growing industry of food manufacturing.
22 RETAIL IS ROCKIN’Johnston County rakes in the big bucks when it comes to retail sales.
43 IMAGINE THATWhatever the art form, the Johnston County Arts Council is involved.
DEPARTMENTS
8 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Johnston County culture
25 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Johnston County
38 Health & Wellness
39 Education
44 Sports & Recreation
45 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know
JOHNSTON COUNTY BUSINESS30 The Power of People
The Johnston County Workforce Development Center supplies the area with a trained and talented workforce.
32 Biz Briefs
34 Economic Profi le
ON THE COVER Photo by Ian CurcioThe Hall and Gardens at Landmark
22
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ACTION! ADVENTURE!
AT IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM
THE MOVIETHE MOVIEIMAGES OF JOHNSTON COUNTYIMAGES OF JOHNSTON COUNTY
STARTS TODAY!
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SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES,
EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY
IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!
““JOHNSTON COUNTY JOHNSTON COUNTY LIKE IT’S NEVER LIKE IT’S NEVER
BEEN SEEN BEFORE!BEEN SEEN BEFORE!””
““IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!””
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TM
“Find the good – and praise it.”– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder
jnlcom.com
OF JOHNSTON COUNTY
A GARDENER’S PARADISE North Carolina’s diverse climate affords opportunities for growing plants that are indigenous to many continents. There is also abundant rainfall and a long growing season. Find out more at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.
BARBECUE: A SIMPLE SOUTHERN PLEASUREPork is the meat of choice in North Carolina, served either with a vinegar-based sauce or a sauce rich in vinegar and tomatoes, depending where you are in the state. Get a taste of regional cuisine at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.
ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages of Johnston County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Johnston County Association of Chambers of Commerce and its member businesses. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Johnston County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.
VIDEO TOUR INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Johnston County through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.
WEB SITE EXTRA
MOVING PICTURES PLUS
What’s Online More lists, links and tips for newcomers
IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COMSENIOR EDITOR SUSAN CHAPPELL
COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES,
KIM MADLOM, ANITA WADHWANI
ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON
STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN,
KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO
DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA MORGAN, KRISTY WISE
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MARY BEST,
MELANIE HILL, GARY PERILLOUX
ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER
INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER DESHAUN GOODRICH
ONLINE SALES MANAGER MATT SLUTZ
SALES COORDINATOR SARA SARTIN
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS,
WES ALDRIDGE, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER,
MICHAEL W. BUNCH, IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS
WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN
PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER
SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH
PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS.
MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS
SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS
GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER,
CANDICE HULSEY, JANINE MARYLAND,
LINDA MOREIRAS, AMY NELSON
WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SHULTZ
WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND
DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER ALISON HUNTER
COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL
AD TRAFFIC MEGHANN CAREY, SARAH MILLER,
PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN
SR. V.P./PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART
EXECUTIVE EDITOR TEREE CARUTHERS
MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA
MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS, JACKIE YATES
RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP
DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH
MARKETING COORDINATOR AMY AKIN
IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE
IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
NICOLE WILLIAMS
SALES SUPPORT MANAGER/
CUSTOM MAGAZINES PATTI CORNELIUS
Images of Johnston County is published annually by Journal
Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater
Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce and its member
businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or
comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications
Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce
1115 Industrial Park Drive • Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 934-9166 • Fax: (919) 934-1337
E-mail: [email protected]
www.smithfieldselma.com
VISIT IMAGES OF JOHNSTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM
©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc.,
725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,
(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.
No portion of this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or in part without written consent.
Member Magazine Publishers of America
Member Custom Publishing Council
Member Greater Smithfield-Selma
Area Chamber of Commerce
Please recycle this magazine
SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past issues of the magazine by year or search for specifi c articles by subject.
INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.
EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; fi nd related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online references in this issue.
JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 7
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Lighting Up the Screen
She lived in Hollywood for much
of her life, yet her modest grave is
in Smithfield.
Ava Gardner was born on
Christmas Eve, 1922, in Brogden, a
rural community located seven
miles east of Smithfield. She posed
for a professional photographer at
age 17 in New York, after which
theatrical agents brought her to
Hollywood. She starred in 60
movies over a career that spanned
44 years, and her Hollywood
husbands included Frank Sinatra
and Mickey Rooney.
Gardner’s last visit to Smithfield
was in 1985, and she was buried
in 1990 alongside her parents
and siblings at Sunset Memorial
Park. The Ava Gardner Museum
on East Market Street hosts an
annual two-day Ava Gardner
Fest in September.
JOHNSTON
50
96
301
30170
701
40
40
95
95
Benson
Clayton
Selma
Cleveland area
Smithfield
Kenly
Four Oaks
Raleigh
Johnston County | At A GlancePOPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE)Johnston County: 152,143
Smithfield: 12,271
Clayton: 11,584
Selma: 6,841
Benson: 3,380
LOCATIONJohnston County is in east-central North Carolina, about 30 miles
south of Raleigh. The Atlantic Coast is a two-hour drive from
Johnston County, while the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains
are four hours to the west.
BEGINNINGSJohnston County was formed in 1745 and named after Gabriel
Johnston, a royal governor of the state. The town of Smithfield
was officially chartered in 1777. Two years after the Civil War
ended in 1865, a settlement four miles northeast of Smithfield
became the town of Selma.
FOR MORE INFORMATIONGreater Smithfield-Selma Area
Chamber of Commerce
1115 Industrial Park Drive
P.O. Box 467
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-9166
Fax: (919) 934-1337
www.smithfieldselma.com
Johnston County
SEE MORE ONLINE | To learn more about the Ava Gardner Museum, visit the archives at imagesjohnstoncounty.com/07.
8 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
Almanac
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Tomatoes & GourdsOut of collard greens or persimmons?
The new Downtown Smithfield Farmers Market opened in May
2007 in the parking lot of the historic Roberts & Wellons
Hardware Store on Bridge Street. The market is open from
10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday from mid-April to October.
Besides fruits and vegetables, the spacious market offers
beef, chicken, pork, eggs, honey, bread, bee pollen, bath/body
items, herbs, flowers and gourds.
Fast Facts■ Johnston County has 10 municipalities, including Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Kenly, Micro, Pine Level, Princeton, Selma, Smithfield and Wilson’s Mills.
■ Johnston County is conveniently located along Interstates 95 and 40 and U.S. Hwy. 70.
■ The commercial center of Johnston County is anchored by Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield, which features 83 retail stores.
■ The Battle of Bentonville, fought from March 19-21, 1865, was the last major Confederate offensive of the Civil War and was the largest battle ever fought in North Carolina.
■ The county has more operating farms – 1,200 – than any other county in the state.
SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Johnston County, visit imagesjohnstoncounty.com.
A Global ViewAll students learning Spanish? You bet, if you go to Neuse Charter
School in Selma.
The school, which has an international studies focus, opened in 2007
as the first public charter school in Johnston County.
The mission of Neuse Charter School is to nurture the unique talents
and interests of each child, all in a caring, vibrant and innovative
academic environment. Tuition is free since it is a public,
K-5 school, and it is located on the site of
the former Richard B. Harrison
Junior High School.
A Place for KidsAfter-school issues are easily solved with Selma’s new Boys &
Girls Club. Opened in 2007, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston
County-Selma Unit provide young people ages 6-18 with a fun,
safe and constructive after-school environment. The goal of the
Selma club is to offer
programs and services
that build character and
strengthen life skills.
The Boys & Girls
Clubs serve a diverse
population, offering
programs in education
and career development,
the arts, creative
writing and sports/
fitness/recreation.
JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 9
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Century 21 Suburban Real Estate works to provide real estate services that surpass the expectations of our agents and our clients.
Working with Century 21 Suburban Real Estate means you will benefit from the expertise of more than 20 agents with deep roots in this community. Our offices are available to assist you today.
We offer our customers a varietyof services, including:• Residential – Buyers and Sellers• Commercial• Land Development• Relocation
Whether you are ready to sell, looking for the perfect piece of property or searching for your dream home, our agents have the history, experience, talent and passion to help you meet your real estate goals today.
Contact us today to get started or request a “Relocation Made Easy” packet, or a free comparative market analysis.
Suburban Real Estate, Inc.
Clayton OfficeDenise PilkingtonRealtor®/Broker10007 US Highway 70 WestClayton, NC 27520Business: (919) 359-2131Cell: (919) 631-3174Fax: (919) 359-0172E-mail: [email protected]
Smithfield OfficeWhit Whitley, GRI, CRSRealtor®/OwnerP.O. Box 759, 200 Fareway DriveSmithfield, NC 27577Business: (919) 934-4550Toll-free: (800) 326-9150Cell: (919) 524-6810E-mail: [email protected]
NOW IN OUR 50TH YEAR OF GETTING JOHNSTON COUNTY SOLD!
Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
Suburban Real Estate, Inc.
CLAYTON(919) 359-2131
SMITHFIELD(919) 934-4550
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Rub the Right WayThe next time you have a cold, think about Selma, N.C.
Pharmacist Lunsford Richardson, who grew up on a plantation near
Selma in the mid-1800s, opened a small drugstore in his hometown
before moving to Greensboro in the 1880s. It was in Greensboro
where he developed the formula
for the cold salve called Vicks
VapoRub, which was named for
his brother-in-law, Dr. Joshua
Vick, a Selma physician.
The Vicks Chemical Co.
eventually formed and was sold in
1985 to Proctor & Gamble. VapoRub
is currently manufactured and
packaged in Mexico.
Let Nature TakeIts Course
The color purple doesn’t refer
to the movie at the Flower Hill
Natural Area.
Rather, the 10-acre refuge,
located along the southern banks
of Moccasin Creek, is home to
the largest stand of native purple
rhododendrons found in the
Coastal Plain. The preserve is
situated in northeastern
Johnston County, along a
100-foot mountain in Kenly.
The Flower Hill Natural Area is a
conservation project backed by
the Triangle Land Conservancy, an
organization that helps to protect
stream corridors, forests and
wildlife habitats in Johnston and
five other surrounding counties.
TLC has protected more than
9,500 acres of the Triangle region
since it was founded in 1983.
For the Record BooksIt has only been open since 2000, but the Johnston County
Heritage Center is already regarded as one of the best-equipped
genealogy facilities in the country.
The center is owned and operated by the Johnston County
government and is housed in the renovated former home of First
Citizens Bank in downtown Smithfield. It has exhibits and artifacts
from the county’s past, but it is primarily known for the acclaimed
Johnston County Room that features a collection of local history
and genealogy.
Almanac
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County’s All the
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Johnston Community College hosts more than 200 events each year.
J ohnston County, an area of 152,000 residents, knows what it takes to create and nurture artists who appeal to a wide audience. The 10
towns of the region enjoy a variety of entertainment options, from bluegrass to contemporary plays.
A FACILITY FOR ALL REASONS
Take, for example, Johnston Commu-nity College in Smithfield, which offers a thriving performing arts venue and hosts more than 200 events each year.
According to Ken Mitchell, director of the auditorium, the 1,000-seat facility has three purposes.
“First, we provide cultural enrichment through our Performing Arts Concerts series and have featured such national and international entertainers as Tony Orlando, Three Dog Night, Doc Watson and Mickey Rooney,” Mitchell says. “We have also hosted national musical productions such as Guys and Dolls and even Footloose.”
The performing arts center also hosts the bimonthly JCC Country Music Showcase for local artists, which enables regional talent to perform with a live band in a professional setting.
CLAYTON’S CENTER OF ATTENTION
The Clayton Center is another thriving performance venue, where many national headliners come to entertain audiences.
Best-selling author and humorist David Sedaris brought the house down with his self-deprecating style and razor-sharp wit. Musical legends Ricky Skaggs and Doc Watson have awed visitors to the
a StageJOHNSTON COUNTY IS PERFECTING THE ART OF ENTERTAINMENT
STORY BY MARY BESTPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO
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Making Johnston County kids smile since 1941www.carolinapackers.com
CLIENTS FIRST ... Our Commitment to You!
INSURANCE | BONDS | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Clayton CrossingClayton, NC 27520
(919) 553-7103
Market St.Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-6111
Wake ForestSouth Main St.
Wake Forest, NC 2758(919) 562-1800
HomeownersAutoHealth InsuranceLife InsuranceAnnuitiesBusiness InsuranceWorkers CompensationEmployee Benefits
Established 1961www.triangleinsurancegroup.com
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600-seat auditorium with their mastery of bluegrass. And The Harlem Gospel Choir, one of the world’s most renowned gospel choirs, has touched the souls of the faithful from the region.
The auditorium, which consists of a main f loor and balcony, is a work of art itself. Originally built in the 1920s as a school auditorium, the Classical Revival structure was renovated in 2002.
“What’s remarkable about the center is what it means to the community and how much the community supports the center,” says Heidi Stump, the center’s executive director. “The community really came together to build the center, and now they buy season tickets and they volunteer – the investment that the community has made is amazing.
“Clayton is really growing,” Stump adds, “and the center is important to that growth. The center represents the progress that Clayton has made as a town and the potential Clayton has for the future. It is a symbol of a town that is developing into a vibrant artistic community.”
THE GRAND OLE RUDY THEATRE
Another Johnston County success story is the American Music Jubilee,
which performs in Selma’s Rudy Theatre.Begun in 1998 by Tony Davis and
Spook Joyner, the variety show resem-bles performances in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Branson, Mo.
Audiences always enjoy the Jubilee’s two-hour extravaganza of music and wholesome comedy. Now in its ninth year, the high-energy, musical variety show has entertained more than 350,000 people.
In addition to the musical variety show, the festive American Music Jubilee’s Southern Christmas Show is a perennial favorite.
The 565-seat Rudy Theatre also hosts a concert series, including Eddie Miles’ popular “Salute to Elvis.”
“The old theater was built in 1948,” Joyner says, “and when we started, it was all boarded up. We have done a lot of renovation to it. People in town knew it as the Rudy Theatre, so we call it the Grand Ole Rudy Theatre.
“We take pride in presenting a good family show,” he continues. “We don’t serve alcohol, only sodas and popcorn.”
Two other performing arts facilities in Johnston County provide entertain-ing, well-produced theater.
Affectionately referred to as “The Hut,” the Neuse Little Theatre recently
Above and right: The Clayton Center showcases national headliners, as well as local productions. Below: The renovated Rudy Theatre in Selma hosts a variety of musical performances, including the American Music Jubilee.
celebrated its 100th performance and has contributed to the high-quality theater for which Johnston County has become known.
The W.J. Barefoot Auditorium has hosted plays by the Benson Little Theatre since its inception in 2000. The 350-seat auditorium also stages concerts, pageants and theatrical productions.
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RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BOOM MEANS ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME ARE EASY TO FIND
OpportunLand of
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G rowth is no stranger to Johnston County. Much of this rural county’s history has been written by its
economic anchor – farming. And even with the area’s decline in agricultural production, it continues to be home to more farms than any other North Carolina county.
But the past 20 years have brought changes to Johnston County. It has become the fastest-growing county in the state; its modest population of 66,000 in 1958 has expanded to what county officials predict will be 160,000 by 2010. Yet, the popularity the county currently enjoys stems from those same wholesome roots cultivated by industrious farm families.
COME ONE, COME ALLCounty officials attribute the surge
of newcomers to many factors – primarily location, location, location. As the neighborhoods of the Research Triangle become more populated, residents are slipping below Raleigh’s crowded radar screen to Johnston County’s less hectic lifestyle while still enjoying the metropolitan amenities of the Triangle.
Also propelling the county’s growth is its strategic location at the crossroads of Interstates 95 and 40, both major north-south and east-west arteries.
“It doesn’t hurt that we are also only an hour and a half from the beach,” adds
Joey Millard-Edwards of Carolina Realty.Others are discovering the gracious
appeal of Johnston County, too. Floridians and New Yorkers are moving to the area to purchase much more residential bang for their buck.
“They can get affordable housing with all the bells and whistles,” Millard-Edwards says. “They know we have high-quality builders that add a lot of amenities.”
Rebecca Riley of RealCorp & Devel-opment Inc. agrees.
“We are seeing a lot of commercial growth, and you have to have rooftops to have commercial growth,” Riley says.
For instance, food service giant Sysco Corp. is bringing 600 jobs to the county and investing $37 million here.
In addition, the county’s schools are highly rated due to outstanding teachers and high test scores. Even the area’s mild climate provides a hospitable salutation.
“You just couldn’t ask for a better location,” Millard-Edwards adds.
BLOSSOMING FLOWERSTake, for example, Flowers Plantation,
an ambitious planned community a couple miles from the town of Clayton and some 20 miles from Raleigh.
Its pastoral setting spreads over more than 3,000 acres, offering a quiet yet convenient respite from the congestion of Wake County.
Once completed, 8,000 homes of varying sizes and price levels will be
built in exclusive communities such as Mill Creek West, North Farm, North Farm Cottages, Plantation Pointe, The Townes @ The Village, Walker Woods and Watson’s Mill.
Many of the development’s amenities – including a country club, shopping, cafés, day care, a swimming pool, tennis courts and two schools – are within walking distance.
Newcomers to Clayton, the county’s second-largest town, are also impressed with Riverwood, a “new traditional” neighborhood featuring townhomes and single-family houses ranging from $90,000 to the $400,000s. Amenities include a 27-hole golf course, a swim-ming pool and athletic facilities.
LAKESIDE LIVING Smithfield, the county seat, has intro-
duced a new, private neighborhood near Holt Lake, appropriately named Lakeside.
In addition to its greatest amenity – water-related recreation – the area has not forgotten a single detail with its elegant homes, wooded lots and pedes-trian-friendly atmosphere.
Communities include Berry Downs, British Court, Cyprus Point, Holt Lake South, Hunting Ridge, Lakeside and Lake Park Villas.
In contrast, Smithfield’s quintes-sentially Southern homes are also popular purchases for those who prefer the turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival houses, cottages and bungalows.
Left: Smithfield’s Historic District, with its striking Colonial Revival homes, remains a popular place for residents. Above: Flowers Plantation in Clayton, a planned community on 3,000 acres, will eventually have 8,000 homes.
STORY BY MARY BEST | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO
ity
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IncredibleA HANDFUL OF SCRUMPTIOUS FOOD PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY
Edibles
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I t took Jan Matthews-Hodges 12 years to develop the perfect pound cake recipe, but her efforts are finally paying off.
As owner of The Pound Cake Co. in Benson, Matthews-Hodges is one of several Johnston County entrepreneurs who manufacture food products that are distributed and sold nationwide.
“I started the company in 2003 after I won a blue ribbon and Best of Show for my pound cake at the North Carolina State Fair,” Matthews-Hodges says. “It grew from a retail business into wholesale the following spring, and now my cakes are carried in Fresh Market stores in North Carolina and Virginia. We also do a huge amount of corporate sales during the holidays.”
The company’s cakes are “true pound cakes,” made with only four ingredients: butter, eggs, sugar and flour. The trick, Matthews-Hodges reveals, is using the correct proportions.
“If a chef looked at the recipe, they would say it isn’t right. The proportions were difficult [to get right],” she says. “We don’t even use flavorings. When you bite into our pound cake, you get a very clear taste of butter and sugar.”
They may sound simple, but Matthews-Hodges’ pound cakes are really turning heads. Southern Living magazine featured The Pound Cake Co. on the cover of its “North Carolina Living” section in January 2006.
“The fun part of this is providing customers with a handmade cake,” Matthews-Hodges says. “In this industry, there’s very little handmade left. But ours truly is.”
The Pound Cake Co. is housed in the former Benson Elementary School cafeteria and employs 18 full- and part-time bakers. Together, they turn out between 5,000 and 6,000 pound cakes for Valentine’s Day and Easter orders and more than 10,000 during the holidays. (For ordering information, visit www.thebestcake.com.)
Johnston County Hams in Smithfield is another local company that’s attracting attention. The business produces mouth-watering country hams, spiral-sliced honey hams, smoked turkey, prosciutto, and dry-cured and hickory-smoked bacon.
“Our country hams are aged more than most. We use a longer curing process,” says Rufus Brown, “Cure Master” and plant manager at Johnston County Hams. “They’re also less salty than most country hams. People like that because they can taste the salt, but it’s not overwhelming.”
Johnston County Hams was started in 1946 by Smithfield resident Richard Edmonson, who owned a commercial freezer locker business. But it wasn’t until 1967, when Brown’s father, Jesse, joined the business that the hams started f lying off store shelves.
“They brought my dad down from Virginia to be the plant manager, and he changed the curing process,” Brown explains.
STORY BY JESSICA MOZOPHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO
Left: Jan Matthews-Hodges has perfected pound cakes and now ships them out to retailers across the country from her company headquarters in Benson.
Lee Farms in Four Oaks is a family-owned farm known for its sweet potatoes. Top: Johnston County Hams in Smithfield has been going strong since 1946.
“That really got things turned around.”Jesse Brown died in 1996, but Rufus has continued his
legacy of producing flavorful hams.“A lot of ham companies have faded out, so it’s an artisan
trade now,” he says. “Curing is a unique process.”Johnston County Hams have been featured in publications
such as Esquire and Southern Living, and Men’s Journal has named them among their “100 Best Things to Eat in America.”
The hams are sold online (www.countrycuredhams.com) as well as in specialty markets, delis and catalogs. The company also operates a retail store called Smithfield’s Ham Shop that sells hams and gourmet food items such as jams, jellies, peanuts, chocolates, cheese straws and coffee.
Sweet potatoes are a tasty compliment to ham, and Johnston County knows all about those, too. In fact, the county is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the state.
Lee Farms in Four Oaks is a third-generation, family-owned farm that has been producing sweet potatoes since 1993. The Lee family is committed to improving sweet potato handling in the industry and preserving quality, storage time and nutrition.
Additional food products produced in Johnston County include sausage and other pork products by Carolina Packers and Stevens Sausage Co. in Smithfield; shrimp raised by DJ & W King Prawn Farm in Kenly; biscuit, cornbread, hush-puppy, breading and coating mixes produced by House-Autry Mills in Four Oaks; and breading, biscuit and pancake mixes and grits made by Atkinson Milling Co. in Selma.
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S ay aahh – as in so many accomplishments.
Johnston Memorial Hospital is embarking on two major
construction projects that are the largest in its 57-year history.
Beginning in 2007, work started on a $100 million renovation to the Smithfield campus that will include construction of a new, five-story patient tower.
In addition, JMH will build a $39 million outpatient facility in Clayton that will feature an emergency department, outpatient operating rooms, diagnostic imaging services and a laboratory. The Clayton building will open in late 2009 near the Johnston County/Wake County borderline.
“Actually, three different phases of the Clayton project have been planned, with hopes that the facility will eventually become a full-fledged hospital in itself,” says Jim Perpich, director of marketing and community relations at Johnston Memorial Hospital. “The Clayton effort will put us on the map as a health system since JMH won’t simply be a one-site community hospital anymore. We are expanding to a second campus.”
As for the long-standing Smithfield
building, 119 parking spots will be added as part of the $100 million project. In addition, construction of the five-story patient tower will allow the hospital to expand from 175 beds to 199 all-new suites.
“When completed in 2009, all of the patient rooms at JMH will be private, with modern amenities such as f lat-screen TVs, wireless Internet and pullout beds for visitors,” Perpich says.
Other plans at Smithfield include the installation of a high-energy linear accelerator to assist in the treatment of cancer patients. A 12-bed hospice for terminally ill patients will be constructed in Bingham Park, directly behind JMH.
Perpich says all the expansions are necessary for Johnston County’s only hospital because the county’s population will balloon to an estimated 155,000 residents in 2008 – up from 122,000 in 2000.
“Other good news for JMH is that we welcomed three new physicians to the staff in 2007,” Perpich says. “We added a surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon and the county’s first infectious disease specialist.”
Perpich says the addition of phy-
JOHNSTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OFFERS STATE-OF-THE ART CARE
ThePictureof Health
Johnston Memorial Hospital is inthe midst of two major construction projects in Smithfield and Clayton.
STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO
sicians stems from a recent survey that JMH conducted, polling 700 Johnston County residents on what the No. 1 health-care need was at the hospital.
“The people said we needed to add more physicians, so that is exactly what we did,” he says. “Now that we have new doctors in place and our construction plans are finalized, the next step for this hospital is to begin a marketing cam-paign to inform residents of all the positives that JMH has to offer.”
Perpich says a mailing campaign began in fall of 2007 to inform residents about all the changes taking place at JMH.
“Not many people know that we have doctors on staff who graduated from top medical universities such as Johns Hopkins, Duke and Pennsylvania,” he says. “We want to get the word out that patients don’t need to drive all the way into Raleigh for expert medical attention. Patients simply need to make the easy drive to Johnston Memorial Hospital.”
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POPULATION BOOM SPELLS ECONOMIC BOON IN JOHNSTON COUNTY
Retail Is
STORY BY GARY PERILLOUX | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO
Smithfield is at a crossroads for interstate traffic from all directions.
ROCKIN’
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I t’s something of a North Carolina conundrum. How can a county without a town of even 15,000 people amass annual retail sales of better than $1 billion?
In Johnston County, the solution to this puzzle lies in traffic patterns.
Interstate 40, traversing the county’s southern end, boasts daily car counts topping 50,000 near Benson, where it meets the north-south Interstate 95. More than a dozen spots touch traffic counts of 40,000 in the county, a number of them near the 83-store Carolina Premium Outlets on I-95 in Smithfield.
And good schools, industry and affordable quality of life are attracting droves of new residents from the Research Triangle west of the county.
Growth in rooftops means rocketing retail sales, says Don Johnson, who directs the Small Business Center of Johnston Community College.
Johnston County’s population – up 44 percent in the last decade – is approaching 160,000 and will surpass 200,000 in the next decade. Since 1991, taxpayers have invested more than $400 million in 23 school construction projects.
“The rooftops have brought in the national chains,” says Johnson, mentioning the arrival of a third Wal-Mart Super-center in the county, southwest of Clayton. “There are a lot of heavy big-box retailers with the outlets along I-95 in Smithfield – tremendous retail sales there.”
Sales tax collections have grown better than 11 percent annually for three years running. Fueling the local retail trade is the county’s strategic location along I-95, halfway between New York and Florida. That has meant a f lourishing hotel and travel business.
Jobs in Johnston County are growing at an annual rate of 5 percent, healthier even than the Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Growth is coursing new blood through the county, making the need for local, service-oriented and professional businesses even greater to help the wave of new residents, says Johnson, who advises people hoping to launch businesses.
“It’s an attractive area, for sure, because there’s a market here,” he says. “But the competition is fierce when you’re talking about Wal-Mart and the retailers in outparcels and the mall-type atmospheres.”
Great opportunity exists, though, for independent merchants who provide investment and insurance services, child care, personal services such as salons and spas, and high-end or distinctive gift, accessories and furnishings shops, Johnson says.
Existing retailers are raising the bar, too.Among them is Smithfield’s Carroll Pharmacy, launched
by pharmacist Alan Carroll’s father, Kay, in a shopping center 30 years ago. Father and son are both active in the business they upgraded in 2000 by building a freestanding, 5,000-square-foot pharmacy with drive-through service and one-hour photo processing.
Behind the retail floor, they added a robot with programmable controls, 250 cells for dispensing medication and a laser counter.
“It can fill a prescription in about 20 minutes,” says Alan Carroll, who’s quick to point out these retail enhancements aren’t a replacement for what built the store’s success. “We have had a very loyal client base, and we’ve been fortunate to grow with the county. The underlying goal of all of it is to be,
as our slogan says, ‘your friendly neighborhood drugstore.’ ”Johnson, himself a veteran of a family appliance business,
says maintaining that customer bond could be more important than ever now.
“The residential construction has really been driving the core economy in this county,” he says. “I think one of the reasons Johnston County has been so successful is where it’s located and what’s happening around it. You couldn’t ask for a better place to be.”
Carolina Premium Outlets’ 83 stores draw shoppers from all over the region. Top: Alan Carroll is active inthe family business, Carroll Pharmacy, in Smithfield.
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Hinnant Family Vineyards & Winery in Pine Level is making quite a
name for itself. “Each of our wines has won numerous
awards,” says Wesley Dills, as sis tant manager of the tasting room and gift shop. “Our strawberry won a double gold this year at the state fair, which is the highest award you can win.”
Hinnant Family Vineyards’ Muscadine Blush wine has won the most awards of all, including Best Muscadine in North Carolina from the North Carolina State Fair. The winery has also brought home medals from New York’s Finger Lakes International Wine Com petition, Dallas Wine Competition and the Florida State Fair.
The Hinnant family planted the vineyard in 1971, and it has since become the largest Muscadine vine yard in the state. Father-and-son team Willard and Bob began producing wine commercially in 2002.
“Bob owned a bridge and crown dental lab and decided to sell the
practice to make wine,” Dills says. “Willard is a dentist.”
The pair’s move to the wine business from has proven very successful. The winery produces 13 kinds of wine, including reds, whites, blushes, strawberry and peach.
“The Muscadine Blush and Scup-pernong, a sweet white, are our best sellers,” Dills says. “Our wines are unique because of their crisp, clean f lavors. They are all handcrafted, au thentic and unusual.”
Visitors to Hinnant Family Vine-yards & Winery can take a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, taste the wines and take home a souvenir glass. They can also browse the gift shop’s collection of wine, bar accessories, clothing, can dles, wind chimes and other items.
The winery is expanding and now hosts weddings, receptions and other events. For more information, visit www.hinnantvineyards.com.
Since the first vines went into the ground in 1971, the Hinnant family has been cultivating the largest Muscadine vineyard in North Carolina. PHOTOS BY ANTONY BOSHIER
Grape ExpectationsHINNANT FAMILY VINEYARDS HAVE MADE THEIR WINE BUSINESS A SWEET SUCCESS
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A Bed, Breakfast and Much More
Need a little R&R? Hunker down in one of Johnston County’s cozy B&Bs.
Morning Glory Inn in Clayton is a 6,400-square-foot Victorian home that was built in 1907. It offers five guest suites – Bluebonnet, Magnolia, Sun-flower, Wild Rose and Wisteria – all with private baths.
“We have a lot of common areas – two large parlors, a dining room and a kitchen for our guests with compli mentary bever-ages and snacks 24 hours a day,” says
Betsy Grannis, who owns Morning Glory Inn with her husband, Michael. “People can come and make it their own.”
The Grannises opened the bed-and-breakfast in 2003.
“We had lived in Clayton a few years and then moved away to California. But we always wanted to come back because we love it here,” Grannis says. “We came to visit and saw this house was for sale. We said, ‘This could be our ticket back to North Carolina.’ ”
They purchased the home from a couple that had renovated it as a bed-and-breakfast but never opened it be cause of illness. “We continued their dream,” Grannis says.
Morning Glory Inn serves a gourmet breakfast each morning in the dining room or on the wraparound porch that looks out over the yard.
“I bake every day, so there’s always a baked item, and we serve juices and hot beverages, fresh seasonal fruit and a main course, like an egg dish or stuffed French toast with blueberries,” Grannis says.
The Preston Woodall House in Benson is also an inviting bed-and-breakfast. A Queen Ann residence, it was built be tween 1900 and 1920 for Preston Woodall, who operated a large department store in Benson in addition to 20 farms and five sawmills in the area.
The Dwelling Place Bed & Breakfast in Four Oaks is another Johnston County inn. It was built in the 1930s and is decorated to take guests back in time to a more relaxed era.
Morning Glory Inn in Clayton offers five nicely appointed guest rooms.
a great placea great placeJOHNSTON COUNTY
TO WORK AND PLAY!
JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Cookie Pope,CHAIRMAN
Wade M. Stewart, VICE-CHAIRMAN
Allen L. Mims, Jr.
Jeffrey P. Carver
W. Ray Woodall
DeVan Barbour
Tony Braswell
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Musical Masters
Musicians in Johnston County don’t have to travel to Nashville or New
York to record an album – they have a professional, commercial recording studio in their own backyard.
MasterTrax Recording Studio in down town Selma is owned and operated by Smithfield natives Jon Owens and Adrian Howell, who started the studio in 1988.
A custom-built studio, MasterTrax offers a large tracking room, a separate drum/isolation booth and a comfort-able lounge where clients can relax between recording sessions.
“We do everything audio, from back -ground CDs for people who sing to putting music together for dance recitals,” Owens says. “We also clean up old audio and transfer it to new media and record bands doing a full CD.”
Owens and Howell have been work-ing together since they were teenagers and started their first recording studio in Smithfield.
“It was a small project studio. We did one project there, and by word of mouth, business spread,” Owens says. “Our clients wanted us to expand be cause they liked our work.”
The pair chose Selma for its convenient location.
“It’s in close proximity to I-95, I-40 and Highway 70, and there are plenty of motels, restaurants and shopping for our clients,” Owens says.
Owens has been a drummer for 25 years and currently plays in the local CC Ryder Band, which does mostly country cover songs. He has also played drums on the road with a variety of different bands.
“Adrian is more of the technical guru,” he says.
In addition to recording services, MasterTrax offers CD burning and printing with a resident graphic artist and photographer. Experienced studio musicians are also available to clients who don’t have their own.
“I enjoy the creativity of the studio and helping people get their sound on tape,” Owens says.
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Mules, Strawberries, Ham and YamsFolks in Johnston County love a
party. They have festivals through-out the year that celebrate everything from strawberries and mules to ham and yams.
“2008 will be our 24th annual [Smith-field] Ham & Yam Festival. It’s grown from a Saturday gathering to two full days with more than 20,000 visitors,” says Chris Johnson, executive director of the Downtown Smithfield Develop ment Corp., which sponsors the Ham & Yam Festival.
Held the first weekend in May, the Ham & Yam Festival includes a barbecue cook-off, pageant, a 5K run called The Hog Trot, pig races, live enter tainment, car shows, 125 food and craft vendors, children’s activities and a sweet potato pie eating contest.
“Vendors sell baked sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries, and the Kiwanis always sells ham and biscuits,” Johnson says. “The enter-tainment stages feature national
entertainment, such as Eddie Money.”Downtown Smithfield Development
also sponsors the annual Friends of the 4th Independence Day celebration at the historical Smithfield Town Commons. The celebration includes rides, games, musical entertainment and fireworks.
The fourth weekend of September, Benson hosts its annual Benson Mule Days, which draws as many as 70,000 spectators for rodeos, mule-pulling contests, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, bluegrass shows, carnival rides and parades. Also in September, Clayton sponsors a Harvest Festival that packs Main Street with rides, food, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.
Several Johnston County com mun-ities hold Christmas tree lightings and parades in Dec ember and, in April, Cleveland welcomes visitors for its annual Strawberry Festival. Now in its eighth year, the Strawberry Festival includes traditional festival attractions as well as The Great Strawberry Bake-Off, where bakers can win cash prizes.
For more information, visit www.johnstoncountync.org.
Fourth of July festivities take place in the Smithfield Town Commons.
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Horsey Hobby
Thanks to an abundance of horse farms and riding schools, horseback
riding has become a popular hobby among Johnston County residents.
Promise Land Farms LLC in Smithfield has been offering riding lessons for seven years on a 134-acre farm with a 22-stall barn and indoor riding arena. Owner Natalie Killebrew is certified by the American Riding Instructors Association and has been training horses since the age of 14.
“I grew up loving horses and children, so I decided to put them to gether and offer riding lessons,” Killebrew says.
Her mother, Pam, is also a riding instructor at Promise Land Farms, and they offer boarding and horse-training services as well.
“We have about 35 students and an active show team, so we travel at least twice a month to shows in Raleigh, Greensboro and South Carolina,” Killebrew says.
Some of Killebrew’s students own their horses, and others use Killebrew’s horses for weekly lessons. She believes riding has valuable benefits.
“Number one, it teaches respon-sibility. It’s not just about riding; we also instruct them on taking care of the animal,” Killebrew explains. “It’s also a sport, so they have to be athletic to compete. That helps kids stay healthy and involved.”
Triple J Farms in Kenly also offers riding instruction to about 15 clients on a 50-acre farm with a 12-stall barn.
“The farm has been passed down for generations, and we’ve had horses all my life,” says JoAnna Hinnant, riding instructor at Triple J Farms. “There are between 25 and 30 horses running here all the time.”
In addition to offering riding lessons, Triple J Farms hosts a summer riding camp every year in June.
Both instructors agree horseback riding has gained momentum in Johnston County in recent years.
“It has really grown in John ston County,” Killebrew says. “Children feel relaxed at our facility because of the family atmosphere. They do it for enjoy ment. It’s something they look forward to.”
– Stories by Jessica Mozo
Zane Gwaltney, age 5, rides a small horse at his home and ranch in Clayton.
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WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ENERGIZE JOHNSTON COUNTY’S ECONOMY
ThePowerof People
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U tilities undergird every successful economic devel-opment project. Without them, jobs go elsewhere.
Yet, beyond the essential gas, elec-tric, water, telecommunications and wastewater connections, there lurks in contemporary industry circles an asset more prized than energy or circuitry.
A pipeline to people – supplying a trained, tested and talented workforce – may be the most powerful connection of all.
A valuable North Carolina nexus for that manpower is the Johnston County Workforce Development Center, which opened in 2005 as a $4 million, 30,000-square-foot facility focused on preparing people for biotechnology, business and industry careers.
“We’re the best-kept secret for a lot of industries,” says Joy Callahan, the center’s director. Since 1999, the center has prepped 500 people for the pharmaceutical sector alone through a one-semester program.
BioWork’s 128 classroom hours produce a high placement rate with such local employers as Novo Nordisk, Hospira and Talecris Biotherapeutics.
The biotech employers formed the impetus for the center, agreeing to be part of a research-training zone that pumps payments in lieu of taxes to fund the center. Those employers tap the power of the center to train existing workers, too.
For Talecris, Donna Steele oversees the training of hundreds of employees each year at the center, where Talecris donated a filling line that simulates that production of the company’s blood plasma products. Talecris employs 1,800
STORY BY GARY PERILLOUX
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Andrew Corp. found a willing workforce for its facility in Smithfield.
Left: Teacher Barry Keith works with students at the Johnston County Workforce Developmental Center.
just a mile away, but the sanctuary of the Workforce Development Center is invaluable to Steele.
Because a single batch of Talecris product on a fill line can cost $1 million, training is critical – and it peaks as parts of the plant close for maintenance.
“That’s a wonderful time for us to train,” says Steele, the company’s performance development manager. “And this facility fits our needs. Before, we had to travel all over the county to have classes.”
Beyond line training, Talecris conducts American Society for Quality certification, software training and technical writing instruction at the center. A branch of the Smithfield-based Johnston Community College, the center can deliver four-year degrees through partnerships with North Carolina State and East Carolina universities.
Creative workforce solutions occur beyond the center, too. When Illinois-based Andrew Corp. planned to close a Smithfield satellite dish facility after acquiring the assets of Channel Master, Andrew changed its mind when an industrial real estate group offered to buy and lease back the building, enabling the company to keep a valuable 260-person workforce.
“We hope to hire more,” says Brian Sawyer, Andrew’s director of program management. “We hope to grow. There was a good workforce here. We had an established workforce and professional staff available here, and it’s a good market to recruit factory labor here.”
Steele’s pharmaceutical career had taken her through Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Virginia before arriving in Johnston County in 2004.
“I never had this cooperation before when you would go to seek training solutions for hundreds of people to be trained in a short period of time,” she says. “I have never seen such cooperation between the entities of economic development, the community colleges, North Carolina State and the governments.”
Unlike the Andrew Corp. story, sometimes facilities do close perma-nently. And that’s when the Johnston County Workforce Development organ-ization does some of its best work – by tapping people’s potential, Callahan says.
“The most rewarding thing is we’ve been able to go in and help these people who have been displaced,” she says. “They’ve been able to get a job in one semester – and better-paying jobs because of what we’ve done here.”
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A GARDEN PARTYWedding bells in your future? Then
you’ll want to check out The Hall and Gardens at Landmark, an exquisite wedding and special events venue.
In addition to weddings and receptions, The Hall and Gardens at Landmark hosts corporate luncheons and training seminars, chamber of commerce events, holiday dinners and leadership conferences.
“We have beautiful gardens where we do the weddings,” says The Land-mark’s Bobbie Turner.
The elegant gardens feature three bronze fountains and two waterfalls and can seat up to 400 guests. The reception hall inside the French Chateau-style building includes a men’s lounge and ladies’ dressing room, in addition to the fully equipped catering kitchen and separate buffet room.
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“We provide tables, chairs, linens, silver – even a moveable dance f loor,” Turner says. “And we offer planning services.”
Corporate clients appreciate the relaxed setting for business events, Turner says. “We also have audiovisual capabilities, with a projector and drop-down screen for presentations.”
TUNED IN TO THE COUNTYIf you watch television, talk on a
cellular telephone or use wireless Internet technology, chances are you have used products made by Andrew Corp., global manufacturer of telecommunications infrastructure products.
The branch in Smithfield makes satellite antennas for the home-television and commercial communications-systems markets.
Illinois-based Andrew Corp.’s original encounter with Smithfield came when it acquired the assets of Channel Master, then operating in the former Sylvania facility.
“Andrew’s original intent was to exit this building because the building was bigger than we needed,” says Brian Sawyer, Andrew’s director of project management.
But when the company looked at the valuable workforce and location, it decided to stick around.
“It’s not difficult to get anywhere from the airport in Raleigh,” Sawyer says. “You also have good access to I-95 for distribution. And we’re not far from ports for import and export, so it’s a good location logistically.”
The company currently employs 260 workers at its Smithfield plant, but that number will likely grow.
“We’re continually evaluating oppor-tunities to bring other business into this facility,” Sawyer says. “There’s a lot more capacity for growth here.”
START YOUR ENGINESManheim Aycock Auto Auction has
gone high-tech. The eight-lane, 100-acre facility, located off Interstate 95 near Kenly, sells cars to buyers online and on-site, using simulcast technology.
“Dealers log on at their home offices,” Aycock Manager Ellie Johnson says. “Cars are driven into the showroom at Kenly, where cameras broadcast the
The Hall and Gardens at Landmark specializes in weddings and other events.
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E.D. Parker Corp. built this Harley-Davidson dealership in Smithfield.
auctions. The dealers can see the cars and hear the auctioneer and place their bids online in real time. It’s all very high-tech.”
Originally opened by Johnson’s father, the late Kenneth Aycock, in 1984, Aycock Auto Auction was purchased by Manheim in 2001, making it part of the largest auction company in the world.
Although its customer base extends the length of the East Coast, the company remains dedicated to the local community.
“We raised over $52,000 for the 2006 Relay for Life,” Johnson says. “And we are involved in chambers of commerce in Kenly and Smithfield-Selma.”
The company employs 130 full-time and 200 part-time employees and brings an estimated 1,300 visitors into the area each week.
IF YOU BUILD IT …You can’t go very far in Johnston
County without seeing something built by the E.D. Parker Corp. That’s because the general contracting firm has been building in Benson for 31 years.
The company has constructed everything from Harley-Davidson dealerships and banks to medical clinics and apartment complexes.
E.D. Parker Corp.’s workmanship earned six Building of the Year awards between 1997 and 2002, and its customer service keeps clients coming back again and again.
Over the years, commercial building needs have changed and grown, so much so that E.D. Parker has expanded oper-ations all over North and South Carolina and Virginia and now employs anywhere from 300 to 400 people.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” owner Dale Parker says. “We have wonderful employees that have been with us for many years, and this is a great area to be in business and to raise a family.”
FROM PIGS’ FEET TO PARTY SUPPLIES
Joyce and Byron Haynes remember the days when the North Carolina Paper Co. – founded by Byron Haynes’ grandfather back in 1919 – carried pigs’ feet and giant pickles in glass jars lining the storefront counter.
The couple moved their company from Raleigh to downtown Clayton in 1986, and these days, the retail showroom features cake-decorating, candy-making and party supplies and balloons.
“So many individually owned stores are gone now, so we’ve had to change our business to reflect that,” Joyce Haynes says. “Retail sales are very important, but the bulk of our business is still wholesale.”
The company supplies independent restaurants, meat markets, day-care facilities and religious groups with all kinds of paper products. It carries paper paper, toilet paper and paper towels, and a variety of dispensers for them.
“We buy direct from manufacturers,” Haynes says. “And we have salesmen that call on customers and trucks to deliver the goods.”
– Carol Cowan
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JOHNSTON COUNTY
BUSINESS CLIMATEJohnston County is a part of North Carolina’s “Triangle Region,”
located only 29 miles from Research Triangle Park. The area offers
a diversified economy and high-tech jobs.
EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES BY SECTOR
(4th Quarter 2004) Avg. Emp. Avg. Weekly Wage
Total all industries 39,375 $583
Total government 8,253 $576
Total private industry 31,122 $572
Accommodation and food services 3,689 $218
Administrative and waste services 1,656 $421
Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting 793 $361
Arts, entertainment and recreation 285 $200
Construction 3,394 $588
Educational services 4,521 $626
Finance and insurance 746 $759
Health care and social assistance 4,126 $609
Information 505 $447
Management of companies and enterprises NA NA
Manufacturing 6,857 $872
Mining 4 $1,704
Other services except public administration 1,079 $407
Professional and technical services 732 $938
Public administration 2,077 $608
Real estate and rental and leasing 341 $446
Retail trade 5,459 $406
Transportation & warehousing 1,097 $813
Unclassified 118 $562
Utilities 154 $963
Wholesale trade 1,181 $637
PROPERTY TAX RATE
Johnston County
78 cents per $100 valuation
JOHNSTON COUNTY GROSS RETAIL SALES
2005
Johnston County
$1,679,606,868
Smithfield, $530,621,600
Selma
$83,096,835
Clayton
$267,930,825
DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES
Raleigh, N.C.,20 Miles
Washington, D.C., 260 Miles
Atlanta, 410 miles
LABOR FORCE
Johnston County (2005)
Annual average labor force
71,539
Annual average employed
68,466
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Greater Smithfield-
Selma Area Chamber
of Commerce
1115 Industrial Park Drive
P.O. Box 467
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 934-9166
Fax: (919) 934-1337
www.smithfieldselma.com
Johnston County Economic Development Office212 E. Market St. Source:
www.smithfieldselma.com
Unemployment rate, 4.3%
Source: North Carolina
Employment Security Commission
Company Product/Service
Number of Employees
Johnston Co. Schools Public school system
3,000+
Talecris Biotherapeutics Pharmaceuticals
1,400
Johnston CountyCounty Government
1,000+
JohnstonCommunity College Education
1,000+
Johnston MemorialHospital Health care
1,000
Wal-Mart Stores Discount retailer
1,000
Caterpillar Inc. Construction equipment
900
SyscoFood distribution
500
Novo NordiskPharmaceuticals
400
PGI NonwovensFabric
400
Andrew Corp.Satellite systems
300
Precision Air/FlandersAir Filters
300
ThyssenKruppPrecision Forge Metal forging
300
Carolina PackersMeat processing
200
Eaton Corp.Electronics
200
Environ ProductsFlexible underground tubing
200
HagemeyerElectrical assembly
200
HospiraPharmaceuticals
200
TT Electronics/ABAutomotive Electronic resistor
200
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
P.O. Box 1179Smithfield, NC 27577Phone: (919) 989-5001Fax: (919) 989-5178www.co.johnston.nc.us
Johnston County Visitors Bureau1115 Industrial Park Drive
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: (919) 989-8687
Fax: (919) 989-6295
www.johnstoncountync.org
JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 35
694 Economic Profile.indd 35 10/10/07 1:28:01 PM
SMITHFIELD(919) 989-7909
423 N. 7th St.
CLAYTON(919) 359-0322
555 Medical Park Place Ste. 201
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Pacemakers
• Invasive/Non-Invasive
• Nuclear Cardiac Imaging
Eric M. Janis, MD, FACCFranklin C. Wefald, MD, FACC
Benjamin G. Atkeson, MD, FACC
The Highest Quality Cardiology Care ... Close To Home.
SMITHFIELD HEART & VASCULAR ASSOCIATES(Medical Care Provided By Wake Heart & Vascular Associates)
Johnston OB/GYN Associates, P.A.Providing complete women’s health care for all ages.
• Comprehensive women’s health care
• Gynecologic surgery
• Routine and high-risk obstetrical care
• 4-D ultrasound
• Preconceptual counseling
• Infertility treatment
• Advanced laparoscopic surgery
• Urogynecology
• Treatment for bladder issues
• In office endometrial cryoablation
• Mesotherapy
• Colposcopy
Tammy Woodard, OGNP
Accepting New Patients
Siamak Marzbani, MD
Madhu Parmar, MD
Efrain Perez, MD
Carol Flaugher, WHNP
520 North StreetSmithfield, NC
(919) 934-3015(919) 359-3050
36 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
Health & Wellness
694 Health-Wellness.indd 36 10/10/07 1:29:18 PM
Good oral health is important to the overall health of each and every one of us. Your safety, comfort and good health are our first priority. By combining a traditional approach with the most
current advances in dental care, we are committed to help maintain your smile as well as your health. Please do not neglect your dental visits! Semi-annual visits to your dentist could help you to avoid costly dental treatment in the future and provide early detection of various forms of cancer, infectious diseases and other conditions. Heart disease and low birth rate have been
attributed to untreated periodontal or gum disease. A regular dental visit should never be viewed as “just a cleaning.” Protect your health and the health of your family by making dental care a priority. Your dentist can work with you to prevent or treat conditions that may not be obvious
to you, yet present themselves in the oral tissues.
Serving Clayton since 1983, Dr. Ted Rogers and his dedicated staff are looking forwardto continuing to serve the dental needs of this community in their new location.
P.O. Box 599 • Clayton, NC 27528 • (919) 553-3173 • Fax: (919) 553-0163
Clayton Comprehensive Dental CareHarold E. Rogers, D.D.S. • 319 E. Second St., Clayton, NC
“Just as the eyes are the mirror to the soul, our mouths are the mirrors to our body.”
Dr. Ted Rogers
Brian
Dorothy
Jennifer
Darlene
Donna
Kristi
WE OFFER:Complete oral evaluation
Diagnosis and treatment planning considering your needs and desiresPreventive and restorative care including crowns, bridges and partial dentures
Oral surgery and in-office and outpatient day surgeryRoot canal therapy – joint therapy and appliances
Tooth whitening (in-office and take-home) • Oral conscious sedationLaser dentistry for increased comfort and improved care
JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 37
694 Health-Wellness.indd 37 10/10/07 1:29:22 PM
Dignity and IndependenceCOUNCIL ON AGING HELPS LOCAL SENIORS ENJOY THE GOLDEN YEARS
The staff and volunteers at the Council on Aging of Johnston County make a difference in people’s lives every day.
The private, nonprofit agency that was chartered in December 1972 provides services that enable older adults to live quality lives with dignity and independence. The council’s programs are aimed at seniors 60 and older.
“With baby boomers getting up in age, our services will be needed more and more in the very near future,” says Donna Creech, executive director for the Council on Aging of Johnston County. “We offer everything from thriving senior activities centers to programs where the elderly themselves can volunteer their time and service in order to further fulfill their own lives.”
Creech says one of the most recent programs that the council offers is specific training for caregivers who look after the elderly.
“More adults than ever are being cared for in their own homes instead of under institutional care,” she says. “For that reason, we train in-home caregivers because they themselves wear out and can often die before the patient they are serving passes away. We teach caregivers how to cope with the stressful situations they are in and how to care for themselves while they are caring for others.”
The Council on Aging operates with a $3.5 million annual budget. Federal and state governments fund approximately 70 percent, while the remaining 30 percent comes from individual donations.
“Today, we operate 15 programs and have 58 employees,” Creech says. “Our programs include 126 subsidized apartments, in-home aides, a lifeline emergency call system, eight senior centers and home-delivered lunches.”
The council also manages a JCATS (Johnston County Area Transit System) bus/van service, with 25 vehicles in its f leet.
“It can be difficult for seniors to get to their doctor’s office without our help,” Creech says. “We want the public to know that we are here for them, especially in the case of a medical-transit issue.”
Creech says that as for volunteerism at the council, there are currently more than 400 people who volunteer for various elderly-based activities throughout the county.
“Volunteering among seniors is growing because it keeps folks active and involved in life,” she says. “Volunteering can include delivering noon meals to homebound seniors, grocery shopping for a frail adult or providing minor home repairs for someone. We are all going to get old someday, and the Council on Aging is here to help whenever that time occurs.”
– Kevin Litwin
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Carl Boykin exercises at the Clayton Senior Center, which is serviced by the Council on Aging of Johnston County.
38 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
Health & Wellness
694 Health-Wellness.indd 38 10/10/07 1:29:25 PM
At Johnston County Middle Col-lege High, students graduate with much more than a high
school diploma.The visionary school is the result of a
unique partnership between Johnston Community College and Johnston County Schools.
“The school was opened to address issues related to high school reform,” says Principal Amelia McLeod. “It’s an option for high school completion
with a variation from traditional high school organization.”
The Middle College, which opened in 2005, offers students in grades 11 and 12 a rigorous high school and college cur riculum. While students forgo trad i tional extracurricular activities includ ing sports, students – as well as their parents – soon appre ciate the trade-off. Because tuition is waived, students who continue their collegiate careers do so debt-free and with one or
more college semesters completed.Students can be enrolled in as many
as six courses each semester, one of which must be a college class.
Students have graduated with as many as 24 college credits, McLeod says. Each of the courses available at Johnston Community College can be taken at the Middle College, including psychology, Spanish, English, math, sociology, philosophy and history. HVAC and cosmetology courses also are available.
“Course selection depends on the student’s individual goals and interests,” McLeod says. “Each schedule is tailored depending on the courses needed to complete that student’s pathway.”
The school varies from traditional high schools in other ways, too. With a maximum enrollment of 125, the Middle College offers smaller classes and more personalized instruction from teachers.
“Each teacher is a counselor and mentor,” McLeod says. “We all desire the very best for our students and continually challenge students to push themselves.”
The class hours and academic calendar also are unusual. The instructional day begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. And because admission is for fall semester only, students are unable to transfer in during the year, as they might at a traditional school.
The admission process also is more extensive and includes completion of a four-page application followed by an in-person interview. Students must have successfully completed typical high school courses such as English I, Al gebra I and Health/PE. Once they are accepted, students must commit to one full semester.
While unarguably more stringent than traditional schools, Johnston County Middle College High holds a tremendous appeal to academically or career-minded students.
“Students with a desire to be successful, work at a fast pace and be challenged are the students who will succeed here,” McLeod says. “We have an impressive graduation rate and work very hard to provide each student with a rigorous and relevant curriculum.”
– Melanie Hill
A Visionary PartnershipINNOVATIVE PROGRAM ALLOWS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT
Johnston Community College has joined forces with Johnston County Schools to create a special high school for 11th- and 12th-graders.
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Education
694 Education.indd 39 10/10/07 1:28:05 PM
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Specializing in Unique Gifts for All Occasions
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
227 E. Main St.Clayton, NC 27520
(919) 550-2946Fax: (919) 550-6413
fancythatofclayton.com
40 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
694 Education.indd 40 10/10/07 1:28:09 PM
Rethinking Educational OpportunitiesREGIONAL PARTNERSHIP HELPS STUDENTS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE
When five local business
leaders met with area
school administrators in 2004,
no one could have predicted
how their efforts would affect
the future of education in North
Carolina’s Triangle region.
High Five: Regional
Partnership for High School
Excellence is the resulting
partnership and high school
reform initiative designed to
increase the number of high
school graduates, reduce the
dropout rate and better
prepare students for life
after school.
“We are very much
concerned about creating a
regional vision and image,”
says Vann Langston, executive
director of the Triangle High
Five program. “Equality of life
for everyone improves when
you think, plan and work
together regionally.”
The five-year, $2.5 million
initiative focuses on the
establishment of professional
learning communities. Through
PLCs, teachers pool resources
and work together (rather than
individually) to improve student
performance and establish
clear educational goals.
High Five also encourages
school districts to work
together to identify and
collaborate on the best
practices in high school
reform. The program fosters
partnerships between families,
communities, businesses,
the state board of education
and local higher-education
institutions, and works with
local government to promote
state policy review and
identify and obtain financial
resources to support reform.
High Five’s goal of
graduating 100 percent of
students who enter high
school by 2013 is a lofty one, but
one that will have a lasting
impact on students in Chapel
Hill-Carrboro, Durham, Johnston,
Orange and Wake counties.
“The world has changed so
much that there isn’t anywhere
for dropouts to succeed
anymore,” Langston says.
“Our goal is for all students
to graduate with skills needed
for success in life and college.”
The High Five program was
made possible through
collaboration and funding
from The News & Observer Publishing Co., Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of North Carolina
Foundation, SAS, Progress
Energy and Capitol
Broadcasting/Fletcher
Foundation.
© 2005 Choice Hotels International, Inc.
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• Free high-speed Internet
• Large meeting room
• In-room coffee maker, hair dryer, iron & ironing board
• Free coffee, local calls & newspaper Mon.-Fri.
• Exercise room & seasonal outdoor pool
• Near many area attractions including Ava Gardner Museum, Bentonville Battlefield & several restaurants.
Sleep Inn & Suites Smithfield
270 N. Equity DriveSmithfield, NC 27577
800.4CHOICEchoicehotels.com/hotel/nc466
(919) 209-2360
JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 41
Education
694 Education.indd 41 10/10/07 1:28:11 PM
Look, a tall purple rectangle!
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Home
Spanning the spectrum of family fun!
Rainbow Lanes Family Fun Center
850 Hwy. 42 West • Clayton, NC 27528
(919) 553-4-FUN • www.rainbowlanesclayton.com
FAMILYFUN CENTER
RAINBOW LANES
Billiards
8 regulation tables
Arcade
Games galore
The Himalaya ride
4 party rooms
Bowling
32 AMF lanes
Automatic scoring
Bumper bowling
X-treme bowling on Fri. & Sat. nights
Snack Bar & Restaurant
Special combo meals
Variety of foods
Banquet & Meeting Facilities
Ideal for group functions & company meetings
Club & organization get-togethers
Receptions
In-house catering
Pro-shop
State-of-the-art pro shop
Custom fitting & ball drilling
42 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
694 Arts-Culture.indd 42 10/10/07 1:27:04 PM
Whatever the art form – be it dancing and singing or painting and acting – the Johnston County Arts Council is involved.
The council, which is headquartered in Clayton, helped establish the Ava Gardner Museum and was instrumental in the formation of the Johnston County Chorale.
The organization also secured grant money to help the Benson Little Theatre get on its feet and contributed to the artistic efforts of the Neuse Little Theatre and The Clayton Center.
The council was founded in 1972; today, its mission is to continue providing art opportunities for Johnston County residents.
“I’ve been with the arts council since 2005 and have noticed that people here are becoming more and more receptive to the arts being part of their lives,” says Jessica Meadows, executive director of the Johnston County Arts Council. “It’s an exciting time for arts enthusiasts in Johnston County.”
One of the council’s most successful programs is called Artists in the Schools, which began in 1999 as an initiative within the Johnston County Schools system. The council works with area schools to enrich the arts curriculum, which is offered to 29,000 students in 36 county schools.
“The program has gotten so big that it necessitated the creation of my job position in 2005 as the council’s executive director,” Meadows says. “We work closely with teachers to enhance lesson plans from an artistic standpoint.”
For example, all seventh-graders in North Carolina learn about Africa. Meadows says the council often brings in African historians who demonstrate drumming, dancing, textile-making and authentic language to complement a teacher’s curriculum.
“Besides the Artists in the Schools program, the council also offers a summer Music for the Lunch Bunch get-together that is open to the entire community,” she says. “It features classical music performances on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Smithfield, and there are always at least 50 people in the audience.
“In 2007, we scheduled 10 different dates with 18 different musicians, and this was the council’s 23rd year for hosting that popular summertime event,” she adds.
Meadows says the council’s Web page – www.johnstoncountyarts.org – is updated every two weeks to help spread the word about area arts events.
“The Clayton News-Star and The Herald local newspapers have both been great about promoting local arts, and we even have our own MySpace page [www.myspace.com/johnstoncountyarts] that launched in March 2007 to help with timely arts promotions,” she says. “Those promotions include live music venues in Benson, Clayton, Kenly, Selma, Smithfield and Pine Level. The arts in Johnston County are alive and getting more exciting all the time.”
– Kevin Litwin
The Johnston County Arts Council brings in African artists and historians who teach kids about their culture.
Expose Yourself to ArtJOHNSTON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY
JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 43
Arts & Culture
694 Arts-Culture.indd 43 10/10/07 1:27:07 PM
With its mild climate and picture-perfect landscapes, Johnston County offers a
year-round golf haven for duffers in eastern North Carolina.
“Golfers in this part of the state enjoy sunny weather throughout the year,” says Nick Deaton, golf professional at the Country Club of Johnston County.
The 6,600-yard lakeside course in Smithfield opened in 1936 and is home to PGA player and Johnston County native Neal Lancaster.
“Because we’re a smaller, private course, our members feel like they own the place,” Deaton says. “Golfers can play whenever they want and can play a lot faster than at other courses.”
Golfers also enjoy three semiprivate courses in nearby Clayton.
Pine Hollow Golf Club, located on the Wake and Johnston county line, under-went a $3 million renovation in 2001. The challenging 6,500-yard course is easy to walk and senior-friendly. Guests can browse the expansive pro shop,
Tee Time in Johnston CountyDUFFERS AND LOW-HANDICAPPERS HAVE A VARIETY OF GOLF COURSES TO TRY THEIR LUCK
The Country Club of Johnston County is just one of the many golf courses in the county.
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while up-and-coming golf pros can test their tee skills in Pine Hollow’s junior golf clinic.
Riverwood Golf and Athletic Club is Clayton’s only 27-hole course. The 7,100-yard golf course opened in 1997 and boasts more than 2,000 members. In 2007, Riverwood hosted a North Carolina Amateur Sectional Qualifier and held its own amateur tournament the same year. The course runs along the scenic Neuse River and offers golfers great views.
Clayton also is home to The Neuse Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole 7,010-yard championship golf course designed by John LaFoy.
“The course has a variety of shots and is both appealing and challenging to players of all levels,” says Club Manager Steve Ostroff. “We’ve got something for everyone.”
The Neuse was awarded four-and-a-half stars from Golf Digest magazine and was rated as one of the top five golf courses for course conditions and one of the top 10 courses for service in the state of North Carolina.
Located minutes from Interstate 95, the semiprivate Cardinal Country Club in Selma offers renovated greens, tees and cart paths. Tall pines, ponds and sand bunkers create an appealing chal-lenge for golfers at the 6,600-yard course.
Cardinal Country Club often hosts corporate and group outings for tourists and locals, while its 300-plus members can take advantage of standing tee times.
Reedy Creek Golf Club in Four Oaks has been voted the top course in Johnston County by readers of The Smith field Herald for nine years running. The 6,426-yard public course offers smooth, cham pion Bermuda greens, as well as chipping, putting and driving ranges. Tee times are readily available at Reedy Creek, where more than 35,000 rounds are played each year. – Melanie Hill
44 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
Sports & Recreation
694 Sports-Recr.indd 44 10/10/07 1:29:59 PM
THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY
CLIMATE
The area has four distinct
seasons, with lots of warm
weather and very little snow.
Average July temperature
75.9 F
Average January temperature
43.2 F
Annual snowfall, 4 inches
Annual rainfall, 48 inches
Elevation, 155 feet
above sea level
UTILITIES
Cable Television
Time Warner Cable
(866) 489-2669
Electric, Water & Sewer
Town of Benson, 894-4953
Town of Clayton, 553-5002
Town of Selma, 965-9841
Town of Smithfield, 934-2116
Johnston County
(water and sewer only)
989-5075
Progress Energy
(800) 452-2777
Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas
(800) 275-6264
JOHNSTON COUNTY
SNAPSHOTJohnston County was founded in 1745 and was named for Gabriel
Johnston, royal colonial governor of North Carolina. Smithfield is
the county seat and was incorporated in 1777. The other towns
developed with the coming of the railroad in the mid-19th century.
Telephone
BellSouth, 780-2355
Embarq, 592-9111
EDUCATION
Johnston Community College
934-3051
www.johnstoncc.edu
Johnston County Public
Schools 934-6031
www.johnston.k12.nc.us
The district comprises 38 schools, including a center for gifted elementary students and a Middle College High School for students who are not interested in high school’s extracurricular offerings and involvements but who plan to continue their education after high school. Johnston County Schools has 27,500 students and 3,500 employees.
ATTRACTIONS
American Music Jubilee 202-9927
Atkinson’s Mill 965-3547
Ava Gardner Museum 934-5830
HOSPITAL
Johnston Memorial Hospital
934-8171
www.johnstonmemorial.org
Shipping and Retail Services
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Auctions On Site allows you tosimply drop off your items at theappropriate time, answer allquestions from potential bidders,collect funds and ship your item with our ASO-certifi ed shipping center.
Don’t wait in line at the post offi ce. Come see us!
SMITHFIELD LOCATION
388-C Venture Drive • Smithfi eld, NC 27577
(919) 989-4086 • Fax: (919) 989-4088www.shiponsitesmithfi eld.com
E-mail: sos@shiponsitesmithfi eld.comHours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Let us be your eBay assistant
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Arts Council 553-1930
Board of Elections 989-5095
Clerk of Court 934-3191
Cooperative Extension Service 989-5100
Courthouse 989-5100
Driver’s License 934-3187
License Plates 934-8707
Registrar of Deeds 989-5160
Social Security 934-5888
Tax Office 989-5120
United Way 934-1877
YMCA 359-9622
The area code for Johnston County i s 919 . IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 45
Community Profile
694 Comm Profile.indd 45 10/10/07 1:27:43 PM
N. Daniel Catz, M.D. F.A.C.S.
927 N. Bright Leaf Blvd.Smithfield, NC 27577
11618 US Hwy. 70, Ste. 204Clayton, NC 27520
EASTERN CAROLINA EAR, NOSE & THROAT ASSOCIATES, P. A.
(919) 934-0948 OR
(919) 934-6637
Diseases & Surgery of the Ear, Nose & Throat
Ear Microsurgery
Head & Neck Surgery
Facial Reconstruction& Cosmetic Surgery
ENT Allergy
Sleep Disorders
www.catzent.com
DESIGN-BUILD- SINCE 1973 -
Commercial, Medical & Industrial
1090 W. Market St. • Smithfield, NC 27577 • (919) 934-6651www.sgcdesignbuild.com
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(919) 553-3900Fax: (919) 553-0395
100 Guy Rd.,Clayton, NC 27520
Newborn CareGynecological Services
Pediatric Care • Geriatric CareX-ray Services • Joint Injections
Basic Fracture CareSkin Surgeries (Moles, Biopsies, etc.)Dr. Joan N. Meehan
Board Certified, Family Practice
Dr. Michael T. CappsInternal Medicine & Pediatrics
Board Certified
Deborah B. Roberson, FNP-CCertified in Family Practice
P.O. Box 1283 • Smithfield, NC 27577 Office: (919) 934-8100
Fax: (919) 934-9256E-mail: [email protected]
Specializing in Commercial, Industrial, Design Build Construction
and Metal Buildings
The Bradley CorporationGeneral Contractors
Screening & Testing Services
Drug
Alcohol
Paternity
Background Checks
151 Meghan Circle • Blackstone Plaza • Selma
(919) 965-8572Clean, confidential and secure environment
Pre-employment negative drug test results available within minutes
eScreen Occupational Health Network Partner
Proudly Serving Johnston County
46 IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM JOHNSTON COUNT Y
694 Comm Profile.indd 46 10/10/07 1:27:48 PM
Bentonville Battlefield
(910) 594-0789
Clemmons State Forest
553-5651
Howell Woods
938-0115
Johnston County Heritage
Center, 934-2836
Tobacco Farm Life Museum
284-3431
RECREATION
Benson
Benson Singing Grove
Main Street
1204 N. Johnson St.
894-5117
Dunn-Benson Dragstrip
555 Dragstrip Road
894-1662
Tucker Lake
3025 Allen’s Crossroads Road
894-6090
Clayton
Clayton Parks & Recreation
340 McCullers St.
553-1550
Clemmons Educational
State Forest
2411 Old U.S. 70 W.
553-5651
Neuse Adventures
Canoe & Kayak Rentals
2975 Covered Bridge Road
553-3295
Pine Hollow Golf Club
3300 E. Garner Road
553-4554
Riverwood Golf & Athletic Club
400 Riverwood Drive
550-1919
The Neuse Golf Club
918 Birkdale Drive
550-0550
Cleveland Township
Sluggers
9180 Cleveland School Road
989-3000
Langdo’s Fishing
664 Cornwallis Road
POPULATION (2006)
Johnston County 152,143
Benson 3,380
Clayton 11,584
Cleveland Township 10,125
Four Oaks 1,835
Kenly 1,868
Micro 513
Pine Level 1,456
Princeton 1,229
Selma 6,841
Smithfield 12,271
Wilson’s Mills 1,504
772-4122
Four Oaks
B & M Stables
1305-C Lakewood Road
934-1344
Carolina High Hot
Air Balloon Company
1730 Allen’s Crossroads Road
894-5893
Devil’s Racetrack
Road Scenic Byway
Four Oaks
Happy Trails Campground
406 U.S. Hwy. 701 S.
796-1208
2029 Winston Rd.Clayton, NC 27520(919) 553-1030
100 E. Clayton School Rd.Clayton, NC 27527(919) 553-1215
622 S. Barbour St.Clayton, NC 27520(919) 553-5814
• Loving nurturing environment
• Low ratios
• Creative Curriculum©
• Opportunity to learn in a secure and stimulating environment
• Process-oriented curriculum
• Educated & experienced staff
• Computer-integrated instruction
• Opportunity to develop athletic abilities
BUILDING BLOCKSChild Care andDevelopment Center
make
an investment in quality careand education
The area code for Johnston County i s 919 . IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 47
Community Profile
694 Comm Profile.indd 47 10/10/07 1:27:51 PM
A1-Labswww.a1-labs.com
BB&Twww.bbandt.com
Building Blocks Child Care & Development Centerwww.bbchildcare.net
Carolina Packers Inc. www.carolinapackers.com
Century 21 SRE Inc. www.c21suburban-clayton.com
Clayton Comprehensive Dental Care
Clayton Medical Associates PA
County of Johnston www.johnstonnc.com
Eastern Carolina Ear, Nose& Throat Associates PAwww.catzent.com
Fancy That
Four Oaks Bank www.fouroaksbank.com
Great Expectation Mental Health
Hometowne Realty www.hometownerealty.net
Johnston Community College www.johnstoncc.edu
Johnston County Schools www.johnston.k12.nc.us
Johnston Memorial Hospital www.johnstonmemorial.org
Johnston OB/GYN www.johnstonobgyn.medem.com
KS Bankwww.ksbankinc.com
Novo Nordisk www.novonordisk-clayton.com
Rainbow Lanes www.rainbowlanesclayton.com
Re/Max Classic Realty www.classicrealtysellsnc.com
ShipOnSite www.shiponsitesmithfi eld.com
Sleep Inn & Suites Smithfi eld www.choicehotels.com/hotel/nc466
Smithfi eld Heart & Vascular
Stephenson General Contractorswww.sgcdesignbuild.com
Summer Wind Plantation www.parker-dev.com
Talecris Biotherapeutics www.talecris.com
The Bradley Corporation
Tina Barletta – Re/Max Classic www.addressyourdreams.com
Town of Benson www.townofbenson.com
Town of Selma www.selma-nc.com
Town of Smithfi eld www.smithfi eld-nc.com
Triangle Insurance Group Inc. www.triangleinsurancegroup.com
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Benson Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 246
Benson, NC 27504
Phone: 894-3825
www.benson-chamber.com
Clayton Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 246
Clayton, NC 27520
Phone: 553-6352
www.claytonchamber.com
Four Oaks Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 415
Four Oaks, NC 27524
Phone: 963-2581
www.fouroaksareachamber.com
Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce5533 NC Hwy. 42 W
Suite A4, Unit 1
Garner, NC 27529
Phone: 773-8448
www.greaterclevelandchamber.com
Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 467
Smithfield, NC 27577
Phone: 934-9166
www.smithfieldselma.com
Kenly Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 190
Kenly, NC 27542
Phone: 284-5510
www.kenlynorthcarolina.com
Sources:
www.census.govwww.johnstoncountync.org www.smithfieldselma.com www.johnstonco-cvb.org www.johnston.k12.nc.us
Howell Woods Environmental
Learning Center
6601 Devil’s Racetrack Road
938-0115
Reedy Creek Golf Course
585 Reedy Creek Road
934-7502
Smithfield KOA
I-95, Exit 90
497 U.S. Hwy. 701 S.
934-3181
Kenly
Creech’s Recreational
Complex
1700 Creech Church Road
284-9299
Flower Hill
N.C. Hwy. 222 N.
& N.C. Hwy. 42 E.
833-3662
Southern National Speedway
8071 Newsome Mill Road
284-1114
Pine Level
Cardinal Country Club
363 Parrish Memorial Road
284-3647
Princeton
Powell’s Gardens
9468 U.S. Hwy. 70 E.
936-4421
Selma
RVacation Campground
I-95, Exit 98
428 Campground Road
965-5923
Smithfield
Arboretum at JCC
1240 E. Market St.
209-2052
BAHIA Canoe Outfitters
312 E. Market St.
989-8063
Neuse Bait & Sporting Goods
2838 S. Bright Leaf Blvd.
938-6171
Smithfield Parks & RecreationHastings House200 S. Front St.934-2148
Smithfield Town Commons
200 S. Front St.
934-2148
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