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Nursery workers water Rickie DeWitt's flowers in one of his greenhouses. Richmond County farmers' workforce has taken a hit because of extensive paperwork requirements and a lack of seasonal workers, study reveals.
Richmond County farm workforce suffers
Richmond County farmers are falling victim to what the North Carolina Farm Bureau is calling “a broken system,” resulting in a smaller workforce with less overall profit on the farm. North Carolina Farm Bureau released its Agriculture Workforce Report on Wednesday revealing evidence of an unstable agriculture workforce and the urgent need to reform a broken system. A press conference was held at 11 a.m. in front of the General Assembly in R...
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Deadline for Rotary grants approaches
The deadline to request a grant from the Rockingham Rotary Club is quickly approaching. This year’s applications must be received by Friday, March 29. Grants will be awarded before June 1. Last year, Rotary gave out more than $55,000 to local organizations and businesses and it had more than 80 grant requests from organizations. Rotary helps many local organizations including the Richmond County Health Department, Our Daily Bread, the R...
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Third grade students achieving the A Honor Roll are pictured. First row: Lilly Summerlin, Kenleigh Frye, Meredith Standridge, Taylor Young, Jaden Wilson. Second row: Seth Richardson, Jakayla Crump, Jenna McRae, Rianna Morman, Madi Swallow. Third row: Ethan Hinson, JD Lampley, Kirsten McDonald, Madison Jenkins, Nala Rush.
L.J. Bell Elementary recently announced its Honor Roll for the third six weeks
A/B Honor Roll Third grade: Tiara Bright, Yusif Darwish, Karlee Leviner, Rebeca Mendoza, Priya Patel, Kellen Hood, Macy James, Patrick Sweetman, Laila Watkins, Je-erra Murphy, Abby Russell, Maylyn Wallace, O’cean Bennett, Alli Branton, Kayla Currie, XionXekiah McDonald, Lance Shepherd, Allie Singletary, Jyrah Thomas, Jared Markham, Elijah Parks, Leah Thompson, Kara Aycoth, Essence Carlton, Kainen McIver, Miasia Montgomery, Jonathan Sweetman...
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Girl Scouts' Thin Mints are sold out in Richmond County.
The Thin Mints are sold out
While some people are getting their Thin Mints from the freezer, others in Richmond County are wondering where the Girl Scouts are. A recent drop off in Girl Scout attendance and safety issues have prevented the green and blown clad girls from coming to your door. “We’re not going door-to-door anymore because the world has gotten so crazy,” said Daniel Reep, husband of Hattie Reep, leader of Troop 80 of Hamlet, Richmond County’s only rema...
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Randy Butler (right) is a welder with Ferrofab in Hamlet. When Ferrofab President Willie Hauer (left) asked for the college’s assistance in finding employees for his new plant, Butler had an opportunity to apply and was hired.  Hauer says Butler is a credit to the college and the programs it offers the community.
Online GED course directs grads into college courses
When Randy Butler of Rockingham was in high school, he made a good income working part-time in construction. He didn’t see a need for an education when he enjoyed what he was doing, so he quit high school and began working full-time. That worked just fine until the economy shifted and construction jobs dried up. “I told myself it was time to get a GED,” said Butler. “I don’t like being in crowded rooms, so the online program Richmond Commun...
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Pictured are FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital radiology technologists Jeri Taylor, RTRM; Terry Rhynes, RTR and Robin Smith, RTRM.
FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital earns ACR accreditation
FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in digital mammography as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology, also known as ACR. Digital mammography is a specific type of imaging test that uses a low-dose X-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in wom...
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House committee to weigh in on vehicle registration bill
The State House Transportation Committee has a bill that would repeal the requirement that vehicles registered in North Carolina have an annual safety inspection. Called House Bill 59, the bill would still require vehicle emissions inspections. Currently, all vehicles registered in N.C. are required to have an annual safety inspection except those vehicles that are 35 years or older. An emissions inspection is required in 48 of the 100 co...
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Senate Bill 33 is currently in the Judiciary II Committee.
Business licensees’ could get relief from criminal history bill
North Carolina residents who can’t get a business license because of their criminal history may get some relief. Senate Bill 33, which would require occupational licensing boards to consider certain factors before denying applicants with criminal records, is currently in the Judiciary II Committee and is scheduled to be heard Feb. 28. Also called Use of Criminal History Records by Lic. Bds., the bill was filed on Jan. 31 and is sponsored ...
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From left to right are Richard Lunceford, American Legion 16th District commander of Rockingham, Jim Koutz, National Commander of American Legion and Robert Steele, Post commander of Post 147. These men along with Carlton Hawkins attended the American Legion mid-winter conference in Raleigh.
American Legion’s pop top project still going strong
If you’ve ever snapped the tab off of your soda can for the Ronald McDonald house, you’ve helped a family stay with their child during a difficult time. Perhaps you’ve helped collected large bags of these pop tops, which are aluminum and are turned into money to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. These houses are located close to hospitals at which children are treated for serious illness or injuries, and they allow parents to stay nearby...
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Walker
Auditions open for ‘The Dining Room’
Richmond Community Theatre will hold auditions for A.R. Gurney, Jr.’s play “The Dining Room,” Thursday. Registration for auditions will begin at 6:30 p.m. Auditions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the theatre on Harrington Square, 109 E. Washington St. in Rockingham. The play is set in a single dining room of a typical well-to-do household. Yet in the play 18 scenes from different households overlap and intertwine. It is a kind of mosaic o...
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Dawn M. Kurry | Daily Journal

Children splash in an exhibit with water, fountains, waterfalls and boats.
Parents: ‘Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham is the coolest place ever’
A long line of parents and children filed out of the door of Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham on Saturday, as the first guests entered the interactive children’s museum for the first time. The rain didn’t damped spirits, and after the ribbon cutting by the museum staff, the Corporate Campaign members and the brightly colored mascot CanCan, everyone headed inside with smiles. Staff stood by for assistance by exhibits as kids and their parents...
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Laura Edington | Daily Journal

“Breaking the Silence” by Kenzell Evans is an autobiographical story about how he dealt with his double life plus 15 years conviction.
Hamlet native pens book on his criminal case
A Richmond County native is led down a path that ends with him being convicted of vicious crimes and sentenced to spend his life in prison. Born and raised in Hamlet during the 1950s, Kenzell Evans took his life story and turned it into a 226 page tale of how he overcame obstacles that kept trying to tear him down. In his book, “Breaking the Silence,” Evans, who has repeatedly said he was wrongfully accused and convicted, writes about how...
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Howard Wallace
Local man is first black District Governor of 31-D
In recognition of Black History Month, the Daily Journal is highlighting the noteworthy achievement of this Richmond County native. — The Editor A local man is the first African American District Governor, for 31-D, for the North Carolinas Lions, Inc. Howard Wallace became the first African American District Governor, for 31-D, when he was sworn in at the 95th Lions Clubs Annual International Convention in Buscan, South Korea, in June 2...
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Laura Edington | Daily Journal 

The Pee Dee Pregnancy Resource Center is located at 110 N. Lawrence St., Rockingham.
Pregnancy center gets new name and number
Pee Dee Crisis Pregnancy Center has a new name and phone number. Located in Hope’s Doorway at 110 N. Lawrence St., Rockingham, the center is now called the Pee Dee Pregnancy Resource Center. “We decided the new name would more aptly identify what we do,” said Betty Samuels, the administrative assistant for the center. Samuels said they are more of a pregnancy resource center than a pregnancy crisis center. The phone number for the cente...
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Mineral Springs Principal Wendy Kelly Jordan was recently selected as the Regional Principal of the Year. She is pictured here with Richmond County Schools Superintendent George Norris.
Jordan named Regional Principal of the Year
On Feb. 15, students and teachers gathered in the auditorium at Mineral Springs Elementary School to surprise their principal, Wendy Kelly Jordan, of her selection as the 2013 Wells Fargo Sandhills/South Central Regional Principal of the Year. Jordan walked into a room filled with people cheering for her as she received a letter informing her of the distinct honor she had been given. Jordan was selected as Principal of the Year for Richmond...
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Richmond County Sheriff’s Office - complaints for Feb. 26, 2013
Recent incident reports from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office include: • Domestic dispute and possession of a firearm by a felon were reported on Feb. 21 at a residence on Charles Street in Hamlet. • Damage to personal property was reported on Feb. 21 at a location on U.S. 1 South. • Assault was reported on Feb. 21 at a location on Mill Road. • Larceny was reported on Feb. 21 at a residence on Lake Road. • Larceny was reported o...
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The first line to ever wait for admittance to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham.
Discovery Place KIDS - Rockingham opens
An interactive learning museum for children opens up in downtown Rockingham. For the first time, children from the greater Sandhills region are coming to downtown to learn and play on brand new high-tech exhibits. Smiles and laughter filled what was the Old McKenzie Furniture building that stood empty and silent for years. A hustle and bustle greeted Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham staff on their first day, which they said was exciting, des...
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Barbecue sale
The Richmond Thunder Softball team will hold its fourth annual barbecue sale on March 1 at the Browder Park at 1311 Rockingham Road, Rockingham. The fundraiser will be from 11 a.m. until the barbecue is sold out. Barbecue plates can be delivered but five or more must be purchased for deliveries. A barbecue plate is $7 and will be either barbecue pork or barbecue chicken. The plate will include coleslaw, baked beans and a roll. According...
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This impressive image was captured by Bill Matheson of Rockingham, in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 23, opening day of Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham. Matheson said he took the photo at about 6:30 a.m., " … (I)thought it might be a good time to grab a photo since the streets were wet. The police officers setting out traffic cones was a bonus." A larger version of the photo can be seen on our facebook page.
Rockingham welcomes Discovery Place KIDS
The brand new interactive children’s learning museum, Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham, opened Saturday at 233 E. Washington St. in downtown Rockingham. The facility offers exhibits where children from all over the region can learn, play, explore and build on skills.
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