The Johnstonian News
Fare Game is ready for play
By Scott Bolejack
sbolejack@johnstoniannews.com | 919-424-1776 | March 18, 2024
CLAYTON — Friends Paul Auclair, C.J. Batista and Jason Turner were just hanging out when they hatched the idea for Fare Game, an arcade, bar and pizzeria in the heart of downtown. Lynn Auclair, Paul’s wife, was there too. “Fare Game is a combination of three friends who were drinking...
Do Good Foods abandons Selma
By Scott Bolejack
sbolejack@johnstoniannews.com | 919-424-1776 | March 18, 2024
SELMA — In June 2022, town leaders, county commissioners and company executives gathered in the Selma Civic Center to announce a new industry. Do Good Foods would turn surplus groceries into chicken feed at a plant in Selma’s Eastfield Crossing industrial park. The company would employ some 100 workers, paying...
CarMax planning Smithfield outlet
From staff reports | March 18, 2024
SMITHFIELD — If the town says OK, used-car seller CarMax will open a dealership on Outlet Center Drive. The company has submitted plans for a dealership on 13.13 acres next to the Smithfield Business Center, the former home of Sylvania and, later, Channel Master. But to move forward, CarMax needs...
Archer Lodge seeking input on land-use plan
March 18, 2024
ARCHER LODGE — The town is seeking citizen input on a comprehensive land-use plan. Public forums to share information and receive input are scheduled from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Archer Lodge Community Building, 14009 Buffalo Road.
Red Cross to host two blood drives
March 18, 2024
The American Red Cross will stage two blood drives this week in Johnston County. One is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the Tart Building at Johnston Community College, 245 College Road, Smithfield. The second is scheduled from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 22,...
Johnston coaches part of baseball showcase
For the Johnstonian News | March 14, 2024
DURHAM — Two Johnston County high school coaches will help coach this year’s BODYARMOR State Games High School Baseball Showcase. The event will feature the best underclassmen players from eight...
Clayton basketball championships are this weekend
March 6, 2024
CLAYTON — The Clayton Parks and Recreation Department will stage its youth basketball championships March 9-10 at the Clayton Community Center, 715 Amelia Church Road. Boys’ games will begin at...
SSS swimmer makes history
By McKenzie Miller
mmiller@johnstoniannews.com | 919-284-2295, Ext. 403 | March 5, 2024
SMITHFIELD — Anya Muminovic didn’t expect to claim gold in the 100-yard breaststroke at the state 3A swimming championships. “Honestly, I was really shocked when I won,” said the 16-year-old...
Winners still flirt with swing voters
March 18, 2024
Carolina Journal’s first post-primary survey is out. It shows our state’s 2024 general elections will be, as usual, quite competitive. That’s not to say North Carolina’s electorate is perfectly purple....
NC’s legislative majority embraces unfiltered extremism
March 18, 2024
For decades, political operatives crafted their parties’ strategies according to the delicate tenets of the median voter theorem. The protocol was to prune and adjust controversial positions until the party’s...
Why no Poole’s in ‘Roadside Eateries’?
March 18, 2024
“I can’t find Poole’s in the revised edition of ‘North Carolina’s Roadside Eateries: A Traveler’s Guide to Local Restaurants, Diners and Barbecue Joints.’ What happened?” It is the first complaint...
Why is David Marshburn running?
January 10, 2024
For the sake of argument, let’s concede that David Marshburn moved to 708 S. Robertson St. in Clayton to run for a seat on the Johnston County Board of Education....
It won’t be merit pay if all town employees get the same amount
December 13, 2023
We trust this year won’t be the norm. The Clayton Town Council had planned in 2023 to launch merit pay for town employees. But late-arriving software made it impossible for...
Is Selma just a one-man show?
November 30, 2023
S ome folks in Selma are growing weary — and wary — of the Byron McAllister Show. We’ve heard their chorus of critical reviews: Selma government under McAllister is a...
Johnston groups join forces on two murals
July 27, 2023
Over the past year, the group Friends of Johnston County Parks has worked with the Johnston County Arts Council on an outdoor mural project. With financial assistance from the Arts...