Images Johnston County, NC: 2008

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

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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

JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 5

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ACTION! ADVENTURE!

AT IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM

THE MOVIETHE MOVIEIMAGES OF JOHNSTON COUNTYIMAGES OF JOHNSTON COUNTY

STARTS TODAY!

WORLD WIDE WEBSHOWTIMES VALIDMONDAY-SUNDAY 24/7

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.


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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


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.


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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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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.



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


694 F1 Land of Opportunity.indd 17 10/10/07 1:28:19 PM

IncredibleA HANDFUL OF SCRUMPTIOUS FOOD PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY

Edibles


694 F3 Incredible Edibles v2.ind18 18 10/10/07 1:28:46 PM

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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694 F4 Picture of Health.indd 21 10/10/07 1:29:04 PM

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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694 Portfolio.indd 24 10/10/07 1:29:32 PM

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

Portfolio



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.



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.



WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ENERGIZE JOHNSTON COUNTY’S ECONOMY

ThePowerof People


Business

694 Business.indd 30 10/10/07 1:27:10 PM

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.”


694 Business.indd 31 10/10/07 1:27:12 PM

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.


Business | Biz Briefs

694 Business.indd 32 10/10/07 1:27:18 PM

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


Business | Economic Profile

694 Economic Profile.indd 34 10/10/07 1:28:00 PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Greater Smithfield-

Selma Area Chamber

of Commerce

1115 Industrial Park Drive

P.O. Box 467


Phone: (919) 934-9166

Fax: (919) 934-1337


Johnston County Economic Development Office212 E. Market St. Source:


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


Phone: (919) 989-8687

Fax: (919) 989-6295

www.johnstoncountync.org


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


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

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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



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.


Health & Wellness


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



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.

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• 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


Education


Look, a tall purple rectangle!

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TO JOHNSTON COUNTY

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


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


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


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

Careful packaging of your items.

DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, U.S. Post Offi ceWe use all carriers to fi nd the best solution for your shipping needs.

We sell stamps with no mark up.Copying services, faxing, mailbox rentals, moving boxes, greetingcards, business cards, novelty items and notary services.

eBay Services

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

This space provided as a public service. ©2004, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

It’s about honoring survivors and those

who’ve lost the battle. It’s about raising

funds for research, education, screening and

treatment. The Komen Race for the Cure® is

about support, not competition. Join us at

komen.org or 1.800 I’M AWARE®.

Sometimes winning a race is not about beating

the other runners. Save Money. Smell the Flowers.

For tips and to compare cleaner, more effi cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

(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



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


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

Visit Our Advertisers

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


Phone: 934-9166


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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Documents

Images Johnston County, NC: 2008