News

Junior Women's League of Smithfield - 2026 Scholarship Recipients

JUNIOR WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF SMITHFIELD AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO CLASS OF 2026 MEMBERS Smithfield, N.C. -- The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield has awarded scholarships to five incredible young women who are seniors at Johnston County high schools. The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield established the JWL Scholarship in 2019 to advance its mission of fostering women’s leadership by empowering young women in our community to achieve their full academic potential. The Grants and Scholarship Committee is

Downtown Smithfield Welcomes Once Upon A Crime with Grand Opening Celebration June 27

Downtown Smithfield Welcomes Once Upon A Crime with Grand Opening Celebration June 27 SMITHFIELD, NC – Downtown Smithfield is excited to welcome a new chapter to its growing business community with the grand opening of Once Upon A Crime, an independent bookstore specializing in thriller, suspense, mystery, and crime fiction while also offering a variety of books across many other genres. The store will officially celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, June 27, at its new location at 230 E. Market

Triangle East Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Summer Intern Abbe Harris

Triangle East Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Summer Intern Abbe Harris SMITHFIELD, N.C. – The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Abbe Harris as a summer intern, where she will support the Chamber's efforts in community engagement, member relations, marketing, and event coordination. A student at Meredith College, Harris is pursuing a degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing. Through her internship, she will gain hands-on experience

Johnston County Adopts Balanced Budget While Reducing Tax Rate and Fully Funding Public Schools

Smithfield, N.C.-  The Johnston County Board of Commissioners on Monday adopted a $434.9 million budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.The final spending plan includes a one-cent cut in Johnston County’s property tax rate — from 52 to 51 cents per $100 valuation. That means the typical homeowner will see a lower County tax bill in the year ahead.   Even with the tax cut, Commissioners managed to fully fund the Public Schools’ budget request and largely fund Johnston Community College’s

Applications Now Open for LaunchJOCO Class of 2027

CLAYTON, N.C. – Applications are now open for the 2027 class of LaunchJOCO, Johnston County’s premiere entrepreneurial development program. Individuals interested in starting or growing a small business may apply online at https://launchjoco.org/.  LaunchJOCO equips Johnston County entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and connections needed for long-term success. Students receive comprehensive business training, personalized mentorship from local professionals, access to valuable networking

Leadership Johnston Applications Now Open for the 2027 Cohort

Johnston County’s premier leadership development program seeks professionals committed to growing their leadership capacity and strengthening their impact in the community.   SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Leadership Johnston program, an immersive leadership development experience designed to cultivate informed, engaged, and connected leaders throughout Johnston County. Presented through a partnership between the Johnston County Coalition of Chambers and Johnston

Secure Your spot at Johnston County’s Premier 8th-Grade Career Expo!

SMITHFIELD, NC — Secure your spot at Johnston County’s premier 8th-grade career expo! Featured on WRAL, JOCO WORKS WOW (November 5–6, 2026) is an immersive experience where students explore career paths through hands-on activities with local employers. Led by the JOCO WORKS Collaborative, with the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce at the helm, this initiative directly helps build the local workforce pipeline. Participating businesses gain massive reach, connecting with more than 3,000 students over the

Teacher Assistant of the Year rewarded for good works

Johnston County Public Schools Teacher Assistant Chellie Cherry from West Smithfield Elementary was named the 2022 Teacher Assistant of the Year.    The reason is crystal clear. A dedicated employee of Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) for nearly 30 years, she has spent twenty-two of those years as a teacher assistant, an amazing feat in and of itself. The cherry on top is that she is a teacher assistant of exceptional students.   A native of Johnston County and a graduate of

2022 Johnston County Teacher of the Year is Homegrown Success

Four Oaks Elementary third grade teacher Jennifer Beninate was named the 2022 Johnston County Teacher of the Year at the annual Flame for Learning Award banquet on April 26.  Beninate is the epitome of a teacher, which by definition is someone who imparts knowledge and enlightens. It’s immediately obvious that teaching is her calling. She draws inspiration from her idol Mary Poppins and speaks to her students lovingly and calmly. “Teaching is just a way I get to be Mary Poppins every day,” she

JCPS TA of the Year is Chellie Cherry, West Smithfield Elementary

Johnston County Public Schools teacher assistant Chellie Cherry from West Smithfield Elementary was named the 2022 Teacher Assistant of the Year at their organization's annual banquet.  Teacher Assistants work alongside teachers to give students additional attention and instruction. Darrick McNeill is the Principal of West Smithfield Elementary. Cherry’s coworkers said that she is beyond deserving of the Teacher Assistant of the Year award, and is an integral part of the West Smithfield Elementary

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 donates 500 book bags to JCPS

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88 donates 500 book bags to JCPS Written By: Robin Koppen, JCPS Communication Specialist   SMITHFIELD, NC - The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #88 (FOP 88) bought and donated 500 backpacks to help children in Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS).  Members of the FOP 88 worked alongside JCPS school social workers, school counselors, student advocates, school nurses, assistant principals, and some central office staff to fill the bags on Thursday, Mar. 17, at the

Celebrating the Voices and Passions of Local FarmHers

Smithfield, N.C. --  The Junior Women's League of Smithfield, in partnership with the Johnston County Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher program and JoCo Grows Agriculture Committee will host Ask A Farm(HER), a local farmer Q&A panel featuring female farmers from Johnston County on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m at Johnston County Ag Center.     The purpose of the Q&A panel is to give Johnston County citizens an opportunity to hear farmers discuss the issues of importance to

LEADERSHIP JOHNSTON LAUNCHES CLASS OF 2022

SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, January 15, 2022— A fully engaged Leadership Johnston program returns to Johnston County this year! The eleven-month program is designed for those who want to learn more about the county while developing and refining leadership skills. Through a variety of personal growth opportunities, individuals will gain a more in-depth understanding of the many facets of Johnston County, build crisis leadership and change management skills, and learn the skills necessary for effectively

JCC Offering Free Workshop for Underemployed and Unemployed

Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce recognizes local SuperStar Teachers

The Education Committee of the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce honored seven local elementary school teachers on November 3 at its semi-annual Semester SuperStars Luncheon at the Sleep Inn & Suites in Smithfield.  These teachers were nominated by their principals and recognized as outstanding educators in the Smithfield-Selma area. The teachers were given a plaque and a bag full of items from Chamber members. A similar luncheon will be held in the spring for outstanding middle and high