JUNE 2015

AUGUST 2016

Thought for the Month

Successful entrepreneurs are givers

and not takers of positive energy.

~Anonymous

August 11 Sundown in Downtown Jim Quick & Coastline

August 13 Back to School Distribu-

tion at Parks & Rec

August 18

August 24 Mule Days Meeting

August 31 2016 JoCo Economic

Update Luncheon

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

HealthSmart Pharmacy

(Formerly Medicap Pharmacy)

70 Crepe Myrtle Drive Ste 103

McGees Crossroads

Benson, N.C. 27504

919-938-3800

YARD OF THE MONTH

Joe and Ernestine Gooch

404 W. Martin Street

Benson, N.C. 27504

Deborah Davis, Ambassador, Jodie Lumbrazo, Pharmacist, and Jaymes Elliott, Chamber Ambassador and Board Member.

Janet Matthews, Residential Life Committee, Ernestine and Joe Gooch, homeowners, and Jaymes Elliott, Chamber

Ambassador and Board member.

Business Spotlights

Dixie Divas located at 201 A East Main St. is open Tues.– Fri. from 10:00 A.M.—6:00 P.M. and Saturday from 10:00 A.M.—3:00 P.M. Opening in 2012 Dixie Divas is owned by Pat Isom and has 3 employees. Pat says Dixie Divas opened first with 2 small rooms on Market St., but she quickly outgrew her space and moved to E. Main St a year later. As the demand for boots and western wear grew so did the store. Dixie Divas moved again to a larger store and added Benson Boots & Camo as well as Plaza Salon, located inside Dixie Divas.

Dixie Divas carries a great selection of ladies’ Western jeans, purses and wallets, costume jewelry and some fine jewelry. Pat makes an effort to bring different inventory with the latest styles for every season. You can find beautiful bling belts, perfumes and other fine gifts for most any occasion. Benson Boots & Camo in the adjacent part of the store houses a selection of boots for men, women, and children. All are very reasonably priced. A good selection of men’s Western snapshirts, jeans, pocket knives, signs, jewelry and other items are also available. The children’s section is located inside Benson Boots & Camo with plenty of children’s boots and Western outfits and apparel for your little cowgirls and cowboys. Located in the back of the store you will find Plaza Salon for women, men, and children with long experi-enced hair stylists, Rachel Radford and Ericka Keene. Each year a Miss Dixie Diva Contest is held for ladies who repre-sent Dixie Divas by handing out flyers and interact with customers for special “meet and greet” events at the shop. This contest is not based on beauty, but personality, friendliness, and helps build confidence. Many perks such as riding in the parades are given to Miss Dixie Diva. Plans are being made to have a Little Miss Dixie Diva in 2017 and remodel the upstairs area to include addi-tional items.

Pat is very proud to be in Benson, and she hopes to be here for many years to come.

On June 24, 1941 John A Jones Sr. and several local businessmen formed Carolina Packers Incorporated. From the very beginning Carolina Packers created a much needed live-stock market for Smithfield area farmers, many of whom be-came charter stockholders in the company. The company was not only an asset to area farmers, but to the overall economy; it was the first plant of its kind in all of NC and provided much needed jobs for Johnston County residents. For the next 50 years Carolina Packers processed locally grown beef and pork into ham, bacon, country link sausage and our famous family of “Bright Leaf” hot dogs, bologna, red hots, and smoked sau-sage. In 1997 slaughtering operations were discontinued to concentrate on the “Bright Leaf” product line. The late John A (Buck) Jones Jr. and his wife, the late Jean Lassiter Jones were the driving force behind the company and the Bright Leaf brand growth for the last 39 years.

“Our 75th Anniversary marks a major milestone for our company,” says Kent Denning, Carolina Packers President and General Manager. “On behalf of our Bright Leaf Family, it has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of NC; our wonderful customers are the key to our success.”

Seventy-five years of hard work has paid off for the company. In February 2011, The National Provisioner maga-zine named the Carolina Packer Bright Leaf hot dog one of the top 20 most popular hot dogs in the United States. Articles about the iconic Bright Leaf brand have been written all over the country from Our State magazine to The Colorado Springs Gazette. Carolina Packers, Inc. has garnered several awards over the years, including receiving the inaugural Johnston County Industry Appreciation Award in 2014. The most recent recognition came from the Johnston County Farm-City Commit-tee in 2015. The Committee recognized Carolina Packers for their significant contributions to agriculture and agribusiness in Johnston County. Carolina Packers is a member of the NC Meat Processors Association, NC Pork Council, North Ameri-can Meat Institute and works closely with the NC Goodness Grows Program.

“We want to celebrate this milestone achievement with our customers,” says Denning, noting that the company will be doing product giveaways with local radio stations until October of this year. “So listen to the radio and you might be a winner. We appreciate the support of our longtime local customers, and we want newcomers to try our product and get a taste of a real Eastern NC tradition.”

Carolina Packers has undergone many changes over the years, but the company has remained loyal to the traditions that have made the Bright Leaf brand a family favorite on the dinner table for 75 years. Like the famous Bright Leaf hot dog recipe, the company’s commitment to providing good tasting, wholesome products has not and will not change.

DIXIE DIVAS/ BENSON BOOTS & CAMO CAROLINA PACKERS, INC. CELEBRATES

75TH ANNIVERSARY!

Pictured: Back row left to right: Randy Egland, Charlie Oats, Lisa Beasley and Donnie Moore. Middle row left to right: Chris Moore, Elaine Byrd, Jimmy Butler, and Johnny Hayes. Front row left to right: Kurt Byrd, Sharon Holloman, Elizabeth Ennis, Delcie Crumpler and Kent Denning

2016 Chamber Executive

Committee

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

John Wood

VICE - CHAIRMAN

Paul Boucher

TREASURER

Ann Wood

PAST CHAIRMAN

William Neighbors

EX– OFFICIO

Matt Zapp, Town Manager

PRESIDENT

Loretta Byrd

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Evelyn Aranda

Board Members

Term Expires 2016

Melanie Epperson

Julia Whittington

Ann Wood

Keith Neighbors

Term Expires 2017

Brian Honeycutt

Natalie Morgan

Ken Tart

John Wood

Term Expires 2018

Paul Boucher

Ben Cook

Jaymes Elliott

Jerry Medlin

Don’t Forget …

August 18 at 8:00 A.M.

Chamber Office… Guest Speaker: Matt Zapp

Bring your business cards to share!

Networking is a valuable tool!

Shop Local…It Matters!

The Benson Area Chamber of Com-merce hosted its July Coffee Connec-tions with guest speaker, Congress-man David Rouzer. He answered many questions from those present and explained procedures of checks and balances between the judiciary, legislative, and executive branches of government. Rouzer serves on the House Agriculture Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He also heads up Agri-culture’s Livestock and Foreign Agri-culture Subcommittee. Mayor Wil-liam Massengill expressed apprecia-tion on behalf of the town for Rouzer regularly staffing an office in Benson.

Nominations are now being taken for the

BACC Business of the Month & Visual Improvement Awards. To nominate a fellow Chamber member,

Thank you 2016 Sundown in Downtown Sponsors!

Platinum Small World Travel

Town of Benson WPYB Radio

Silver

Berry Plastics Benson Foundation for the Arts

Carolina Packers/Brightleaf Hot Dogs “The Official Sundown in Downtown Hot Dog”

Harris Rebar Narron, O’Hale & Whittington, PA

Neighbors and Associates – William Neighbors, Danny and Pam Holland

Parker General Contractors White Swan Barbecue – Linwood Parker

Young’s Auto Center & Salvage Bronze

Benton Card Company Dixie Diva’s

Eloise Moore Insurance First Citizens Bank Galot Motorsports

Johnston County Visitors Bureau Johnston UNC Healthcare

McDonald’s of Benson Nationwide Insurance – Emery Miller Agency

Ricky Barnes Auto Mart Steven Stanley Plumbing

TLC Works, Inc. WhittCo Properties

Will Chandler A. L. Wood Accounting

Wood Pharmacy

Gold Dixie Denning LP Gas

Four Oaks Bank Hog Slat

Congratulations to the Huebner family, owners of McDonalds of Benson on the grand re-opening of their restaurant. The staff, family members, many community resi-dents and town of Benson dignitaries joined Fred, Doris and son, John at the celebration! The Chamber is very proud of the investment the Huebner family has made in our community.

The Huebner family made a special presentation to the Benson Foundation for the Arts in honor of Richard Davis, brother of Doris Huebner. The family has been long time supporters of the Benson Little Theater productions. Accepting the gift was D.H. Johnson, Jr., Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Once the ribbon cutting was over, the doors were opened and everyone had an opportunity to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and take a tour of the restaurant.

McDonalds of Benson Celebrates

Grand Opening with a Ribbon Cutting

Ceremony!

Hampton Inn Coming to Benson Exit 79 on I-95

Leath Co LLC, an experienced commercial land development com-pany with a focus on hotel development, of Emporia, Virginia proudly announced on June 30, 2016 plans for a new hotel develop-ment within the city limits of Benson, N. C. The new development is located off of I-95 Exit 79 with visibility to I-95 and less than one mile from I-40. As economic collaborations between Leath Co LLC and the Town of Benson continue to strengthen, this new property is set to cater to the region’s growing tourism and corporate market. The launch of this new hotel plan is strategically important for Leath Co LLC’s increased presence in the Triangle Region.

Designed for families, tourists, and corporate travelers, the 88 room hotel will deliver an atmosphere for a comfortable work environment and a restful stay. Leath Co LLC secured the Hampton Inn flag for this development. The Hampton Inn will be pet-friendly, clean, staffed with a service oriented team, and features a 1,000 sq. ft. conference center with the latest audio-visual technology and media equipment. All guests will have access to free Wi-Fi in public areas, free in-room high-speed internet access, a clean and fresh Hampton bed, Hampton’s free hot breakfast, flat screen televisions, compli-mentary beverage areas, guest laundry, elevators, a fitness center, and an outdoor heated pool. Accessible and pet-friendly rooms are available.

Hampton Inn will be located near shopping and sporting attractions, less than 20 minutes from Campbell University, 45 minutes from Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU), and 25 minutes from Johnston County Airport.

Leath Co LLC anticipates a ground-breaking ceremony in November 2016 and the Hampton Inn to open in Fall 2017. Currently, outpar-cel opportunities exist for one quick-service and one full-service restaurant. “Leath Co LLC looks forward to the partnership with Benson and providing a service that is needed in the community,” said Adam Leath.

To: Friends, Patrons, Advocates, & Supporters of CSX Hub

Date: July 25, 2016

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to all of you who were a vital part of our quest to bring the CSX Intermodal HUB to East-ern North Carolina. I know some of you in Johnston County are disappointed Johnston County was not selected. But as we started this journey more than seven months ago, our top priority was always to convince CSX that Eastern North Carolina both welcomes and needs this major economic development accelerator. Rocky Mount much like Eastern Johnston County is an area in need of an economic boost. Each of you were and are a major contributor in the battle to secure this major project for Eastern N.C.

My only regrets are for those families and property owners that officially executed sell agreements looking forward to finding ex-pressed financial needs or purposes, and in many instances some of both. There are many great stories and an abundance of new friends. I am hopeful your hopes and dreams will be realized.

I also extend my thanks on behalf of Eastern North Carolina to my dear long-time friend, Norris Tolson. He and his staff went to work to assure this once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunity located in Eastern North Carolina. From the first day we spoke about this project on January 6, 2016, and its potential impact on a struggling Eastern North Carolina, he and his staff worked tirelessly and re-lentlessly ignoring early discouragement while continuing the quest to success. Congratulations and good luck. All of Eastern N.C. will benefit.

To my new-found friends at CSX, I am grateful to each of you for the professionalism and common courtesies you extended to me and to all that were participants in our commitment to encourage and assist in leading you to our region, despite some verbal abuse and unfair and unwarranted attacks. Yu were at all times fair and honored every promise you made to me and the citizens and resi-dents of Eastern North Carolina. For that I will always be grateful and will forever cherish our friendship.

If there is anything that I can do to facilitate and aid this major economic development in this region, do not hesitate to contact me. As an advocate for Eastern North Carolina, I am excited about the Carolina connector and its future impact on a region of the state desperately in need of an economic boost.

At the end of the day, we can all take pride in our efforts and celebrate a victory for Eastern North Carolina.

Thank you!

Friend & Advocate,

M. Durwood Stephenson

Post Office Box 1187

1090 West Market Street

Smithfield, NC 27577

Phone (919) 934-6651

Fax (919) 934-4055

As a chamber member, you are

invited to use one of the

chamber windows to advertise

your business for one month!

Just call us to reserve your spot!

919-894-3825

Leadership Johnston is the county’s premiere leadership program sponsored by the Johnston County Association Chambers of Commerce and Johnston Community College. The skills learned through the program are designed to help the participants to be more produc-

tive leaders in the workplace and to encourage active civic leader-ship as volunteers, volunteer leaders and holders of public office.

Deadline to register is August 15, 2016.

For additional information and to register online go to www.smithfieldselma.com

Junior Miss Benson Pageant

Sponsored by BAWO

Saturday, August 13 7:00 P.M.

W. J. Barefoot Auditorium

Tickets $12 Purchase at Jenny’s Sweet Creations

See It, Hear It, Report It! The Benson Police Department would like to remind all citizens to be smart, be aware of your surroundings, and help keep Benson safe by reporting suspicious activity or crimes as soon as they occur.

“The most important piece of advice I have is if you see some-thing or hear something suspicious, report it immediately. Hav-ing a trained law enforcement official monitor the situation is always the best bet. We can only fight crime when it’s re-ported. Help us do our jobs, so we can keep Benson safe for each and every family that lives here or visits.” says Kenneth Edwards, Chief of Police.

Summer months typically produce an up tick in larceny, and other property crimes. “When the days are long and the weather is nice, folks are out for evening walks around the community and more likely to spend time outside. Unfortu-nately, some people will also use this time of year to look for easy targets for theft,” reports Edwards.

“Most thefts and larceny are crimes of opportunity. If we can limit these opportunities, we can lower crime. It’s often that simple, “ Edwards continued.

Always keep your vehicle locked, and any valuables out of sight. An unlocked car is an easy target for an experienced thief to quickly get in and take what they can grab quickly. Keep your house locked when you are home or away. If possi-ble, try to keep valuables away from windows.

“Alarm systems and security lights are good investments for those that can afford it. Anything that makes it harder for someone to slip in and out unnoticed definitely helps,” says Edwards.

Residents are reminded to always call 911 in case of emer-gency. In Johnston County you can also send a text message to 911 in a situation where you are unable to call.

In the coming weeks be sure to look for safety tips and updates from the Benson Police Department on the Town of Benson’s Facebook page on how to protect you valuables, and keep yourself as safe as possible. See It, Hear It, Report It!

Cleo McKinnon, Founder of Community Court of Benson, is the July recipient of Benson’s “Caught Ya’ Doing Good!” award. Community Court is a program that is run twice a week at the McKinnon’s home on West Woodall Street. Cleo was inspired by the work of Benson Baptist Church and their “Lunch on the Lawn” program that began in the summer of 2014. Their mis-sion is to feed kids once a week at the P.K. Vyas Community Park in Benson between school sessions.

Cleo McKinnon has taken this mission even further, and is trans-forming her community! Along with a team of volunteers, Cleo is feeding over thirty children on Tuesdays and Thursdays that may not have access to regular meals throughout the summer. Community Court of Benson is an outreach ministry of St. James Disciples Church on W. Harnett St.

If you are interested in donating your time or funding to support this great program, please stop by 323 W. Woodall St. on Tues-days and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. through Au-gust 25.

Cleo was presented a gift basket from Jenny’s Sweet Creations!

Little Miss Benson Pageant

Sponsored and Directed by

The Benson Area Women’s Organization

Saturday, September 17, 2016

7:00 P.M.

W. J. Barefoot Auditorium

Tickets $12

Purchase at Jenny’s Sweet Creations

Beginning Saturday, August 27

JCC Ranked a Top 50 Best Value College Johnston Community College is featured in Value Colleges Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges of 2016. The Best Value ranks them according to its own formula, taking into account graduation and transfer rates, mid-level salaries for graduates, and actual cost. According to a news release, Value Colleges examined 1,717 public, two-year schools that offer associate degrees and JCC ranked number 26 out of 50. The top 50 ranking is derived from the highest scoring schools based on three metrics:

Graduation/Transfer rate (IPEDS database) Mid-level salary for graduates (when applicable/from payscale.com) Actual tuition (IPEDS database)

Value Colleges, an independent ranking agency, also noted JCC’s truck driver training program, the oldest in the country, and the successful transfer rate of students to respected four-year institution such as N.C. State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and East Carolina University. Ranking considers only regionally accredited institutions.

Renewals Since August 1, 2016

Carolina Skate Land LLC

RenDance Academy

Southland Realty II– Brian Honeycutt

Southern Woods & Waters &

The Grill on the Hill

3405 NC 242 North

Benson, N. C. 27504

919-894-5224

New Member

Sundown in Downtown

August 11, 2016

Jim Quick & The Coastline Band

Pictured above are South Johnston JROTC Cadets Litzi Aguilar, Victoria Jordan, Dakota Jones, Retired Air Force Lt Col Eric Brewington (Senior Aero-space Science Instructor), Jessica Perez, Tessa Hardison, Tyler Graves, and Cierra Dupree. Second row: Zachary Stutts, Tyler Shepard, Bryan Ramirez, Grace Stewart, Rachel Lyde, Anna Spoon, Katherine Mendez, Xavier Marti-nez, and Kaylan Johnson. Third row: Ms. Charlene Dupree (driver and chap-erone), Justin Smale, Aaron Barnes, Jacob Hare, Liz Laguna, and Daniel Miguel.

SJHS JROTC NEWS In June, twenty-one South Johnston Air Force JROTC "Trojan" Cadets completed and competed at the Fort A.P. Hill Sum-mer Leardership Camp. The Trojan Cadets were very strong and were among 453 total cadets who success-fully completed this course. Of these cadet graduates, only 32 were Air Force JROTC cadets with 21 coming from South Johnston. The Trojan Cadets brought home a total of 5 of 30 awards. Receiving awards were Cadets Tessa Hardison, Tyler Graves, and Cierra Dupree. Congratulations to all participants!

Dunn Benson Motorsports Hosts Grand Opening

Event and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

Congratulations to Carlton, Becky and Kent Lamm on the opening of their newest business property located at 1300 N. Ellis Avenue, Dunn, N.C. 28334.

Celebration of Change

The Benson Center for Active Aging is looking for vendors for an event August 19, 2016 from 2:00—6:00 P.M. Local businesses are invited to set up a table to showcase what they have to offer. This is a free event for vendors to set up and for the community to at-tend, get to know our center, and explore your business services, wares, etc. Each vendor is asked to provide a door prize to be given away. The event will be held inside at 1204 N. Johnson Street, Benson, N.C. 27504.

For additional info: Call Debra Cardone 919-894-2370

Miss Benson Pageant

Sponsored by Junior Woman’s Club of Benson

Friday, September 16, 2016

7:00 P.M.

W. J. Barefoot Auditorium

Thanks to Melanie Diehl for her excellent seminar on “Social Media Tips and Tricks” which was held at the Benson Conference Center on August 1, 2016. This seminar was co-sponsored by the Johnston Community College Small Business Center and the Benson Chamber of Commerce. The food sponsor was Dixie Denning LP Gas of Benson. The next free seminar will be November 3. The topic will be “Secrets to Build and Create A Successful Customer Focused Culture in Any Small Business.”

Left—Pat Killette, Small Business Center Right—Melanie Diehl, Your Social Media Gal

The North Carolina Grape Stomp at Gregory Vineyards

Sunday October 2, 2016

1pm-6pm

$5 entry fee

Admission includes: Grape Stomp, Foot Imprinting, Trolley Rides Free: Splash & Dash tastings

Full Wine Tastings Available for Purchase In Tasting Room

Lucille Ball Look-A-Like Contest at 2 pm

1st place - $50 Gift Certificate 2nd place - $25 Gift Certificate

BBQ Sauce Contest

Vinegar Based and Tomato Based 1st place - $50 Gift Certificate 2nd place - $25 Gift Certificate

Winner will be announced at 3 pm Entries must be received by 9 pm on Saturday, October 1

VENDOR FAIR

Food Available for Purchase: Shrimp, Flounder, BBQ, slaw, Hushpuppies, Hot dogs, Hamburg-ers, French Fries,

Corn on the Cob, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Pepsi products and tea.

We will update as more attractions and activities are added.

For more information or if you would like to reserve a spot for the vendor fair,

please contact Teresa Gregory at (919) 369-5326.

Thank you 2016 Chamber Champions!