Images Johnston County, NC: 2010

A Place To Call HomeCounty is drawing new residents from near and far

HIGHER AND HIREDJohnston Community College offers programs for in-demand careers

DIVE RIGHT INNew recreation and aquatics center opens in Smithfield

Video tour of Bentonville Battlefield

What’s Online

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SPONSORED BY THE JOHNSTON COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

JOHNSTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

2010 | IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM

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Improving and Preserving Smiles in a Gentle and Caring Environment

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imagesjohnstoncounty.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

PICTURE PERFECT

VIDEOS

FACTS & STATS

RELOCATION

In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages gives readers a taste of what makes Johnston County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

Go online to learn

even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.

Considering a move to this

community? We can help. Use our

Relocation Tools to discover tips,

including how to make your move

green, advice about moving pets

and help with booking movers.

“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

LOCAL FLAVORFrom the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.

www.CarolinaRealty-NC.com

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2010 EDITION | VOLUME 5


ON THE COVER Holts Lake Photo by Todd Bennett

DEPARTMENTS

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Johnston County’s culture

14 Local Flavor

15 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Johnston County

27 Health & Wellness

28 Arts & Culture

32 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

JOHNSTON BUSINESS 20 Recipe for Success

Economic climate nurtures a broad range of businesses across the county.

24 Biz Briefs

26 Economic Profi le

CONTENTS

FEATURES

6 A PLACE TO CALL HOMEJohnston County’s quality of life makes it a popular place to put down roots.

10 A HEALTHY PROGNOSISNew facilities and services bring quality care to patients at Johnston Health.

29 HIGHER AND HIREDJohnston Community College offers programs for today’s in-demand careers.

31 DIVE RIGHT INSmithfi eld’s new recreation/aquatics center is a boon for the community.

5thanniversary

issue

Inside: JOHNSTON HEALTH SPECIAL SECTION

JOHNSTON COUNT Y IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNT Y.COM 3

Pouring It OnThe owners of Hinnant Family

Vineyards are tasting success.

The Pine Level winery is known

as the largest muscadine vineyard

in North Carolina.

The winery sells 14 varieties with

such names as Muscadine Blush‚

Scuppernong‚ Southern Red‚

Strawberry and Peachy Two.

Visitors can take a guided tour

of the winery‚ visit the tasting

room and check out the gift shop.

The vineyard also hosts weddings‚

receptions and other events.

Say ‘I Do’If you’re thinking of tying the knot, you might want to check out

the Preston Woodhall House Bed & Breakfast in Benson.

The historic 1910 Queen Ann residence offers facilities and

gardens for weddings, receptions and rehearsal dinners, in addition to

accommodations for overnight guests. The home has four bedrooms

and three cottages, and a stay includes breakfast and afternoon tea.

The Preston Woodall House was recognized in 2009 by The Knot Best of Weddings magazine and was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings Spring Edition 2009.

For more details, check out www.woodallhouse.com.

All Things AvaAva Gardner’s heyday was

the 1940s and 1950s, but she

still draws fans today.

The Ava Gardner Museum

in Smithfield memorializes the

Hollywood screen legend, who

was born on Christmas Eve in

1922 in nearby Brogden.

Gardner starred in 60 movies

over a career that spanned 44

years, and her famous husbands

included Frank Sinatra, Artie

Shaw and Mickey Rooney.

The museum on East Market

Street is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, and

from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

What’s Online eFor a behind-the-scenes look at the Ava Gardner Museum, watch the video at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.

A Little Bit of CountryLike country music? How about comedy?

Then take a seat at the Country Tonight

Music Show in Selma.

Each week, Country Tonight offers a

featured band performing country songs,

with a little family comedy thrown in for fun.

The popular show takes place at The

Ice House Theatre, which is located in the

105-year-old historic Selma Ice and Coal

Co. Building at 112 N. Webb St.

Doors open at 7 p.m. every Friday, and the

show starts at 7:45 p.m. The Country Tonight

show is alcohol- and smoke-free, and reservations

are recommended.



Shopping Is Hopping

If you can’t pass up a bargain, look

no further than Smithfield’s Carolina

Premium Outlets.

The shopping complex, located

just off Interstate 95, draws local

residents, regional shoppers and

those traveling on I-95.

The outlet center boasts more than

80 stores, including Adidas, Banana

Republic, Brooks Brothers, Carolina

Pottery, Coach, Eddie Bauer, Nike,

Polo Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne,

Timberland and Tommy Hilfiger,

with savings of 25 percent to

65 percent off regular retail prices.

Carolina Premium Outlets is

open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday

through Saturday and from 11 a.m.

to 7 p.m. Sunday.

50

9696

JOHNSTON

301301

3017070

701

4040

40

95

9595

Raleigh

Benson

Cleveland Area

Clayton

SelmaSmithfield

Kenly

Four Oaks

POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE)

Johnston County: 163,428

Clayton: 15,841

Smithfield: 12,965

Cleveland Township: 11,900

Selma: 6,948

Benson: 3,495

LOCATION

Johnston County is in east-

central North Carolina, about

30 miles south of Raleigh.

BEGINNINGS

Johnston County was formed

in 1745 and named after

Gabriel Johnston, a royal

governor of the state.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONGreater Smithfield-Selma

Area Chamber of Commerce

1115 Industrial Park Drive

Smithfield, NC 27577

Phone: (919) 934-9166

Fax: (919) 934-1337

www.smithfieldselma.com

See page 26 for chamber list

Johnston County At A Glance

What’s Online eTake a virtual tour of Johnston County, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.

Fast Facts The county has

10 municipalities: Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Kenly, Micro, Pine Level, Princeton, Selma, Smithfield and Wilson’s Mills.

The Selma Antique District boasts more than 100,000 square feet of antique shops and malls within walking distance of one another.

The Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly showcases agriculture as it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Pharmacist Lunsford Richardson grew up near Selma in the mid-1800s, and he developed the formula for the cold salve called Vicks VapoRub.

Johnston County is the nation’s largest grower of sweet potatoes, and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission is headquartered in Smithfield.

Johnston County

What’s Online eFor a look at the great shops at Carolina Premium Outlets, watch the video at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.


Almanac



COUNTY BOASTS MANY CHARMING ATTRIBUTES

HomeAPlace

To Call


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Flowers Plantation in Clayton

W hat is it about a place that makes people want to move there? Just ask Rick Childrey,

president of the Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We have an affordable, high-quality lifestyle here that doesn’t include the hassles that big cities often experience, such as expensive housing and snarling traffic,” Childrey says. “Take housing, for instance. Johnston County has a number of options that include new subdivisions, historic homes, lakefront property and golf course communities, with land prices much lower that you’d find in metropolitan areas.”

Johnston County offers that winning combination of small-town charm and easy access to big-city attractions in nearby Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill.

Childrey says the new U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass has made travel much easier in-and-around the county.

“We have U.S. 70 and Interstates 95

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN


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and 40, all of which help the county stay well connected to a lot of areas, including the Atlantic Ocean beaches, the mountains, as well as the entire nation,” he says. “Transportation woes are certainly rare in our county.”

Childrey adds that health care is on the cutting edge in Johnston County. There is an expansion to the patient tower currently taking place at Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield, while a new, $39 million Johnston Medical Center-Clayton opened in October 2009.

“Meanwhile, our school system is ranked ninth in North Carolina based on April 2009 state findings, and Neuse Charter school offers unique educational options for students. Our

numerous shopping options throughout the county range from Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield to several unusual antique shops in Selma,” he says.

“As for recreation, a new $11.2 million Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center opened in the summer of 2009, with a state-of-the-art competition pool, gymnasium, fitness center, indoor track and racquetball courts,” he continues.

Johnston County also boasts several entertainment venues, including The Clayton Center, the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College and many concert sites.

“There is a lot to do and appreciate

about living in Johnston County,” Childrey says. “Each individual community has much to offer.”

For example, take the community of Clayton. It has four golf courses within its town limits, and the Clayton downtown district was recently recognized as having the best Small Town Main Street Program in the state of North Carolina.

“As for education, a teacher at West Clayton Elementary School – Alison Bryan – was named the top Johnston County teacher for the 2008-09 school year,” says Sally Schlindwein, executive director of the Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce. “And a new attraction that is now available in Clayton for 2009


Right: Paul A. Johnston Auditorium Below: Johnston County offers plenty of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including biking and strolling along the Neuse River. A

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is a Saturday farmers market.”Schlindwein says she moved to

Clayton – population 15,000 – from the big city of Charlotte 15 years ago kicking and screaming at that time.

“But as soon as I made Clayton my home for a couple of weeks, I fell in love with the town,” she says. “Nowadays, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. And that’s the honest truth.”


P roviding Johnston County residents with the best health care possible encompasses more than building top-notch

facilities, although Johnston Health is building them. And it requires more than offering high-quality services from first-rate physicians and medical staff, although Johnston Health offers those, too.

The final component in Johnston Health’s emphasis on total patient satisfaction is customer service, and the organization also has instituted comprehensive customer-service training for staff members in all departments.

“We’re investing a lot of money in all three areas,” says Ralph Stewart, chair of

STORY BY CAROL COWAN

Children’s exam room, JMC-Clayton; Ultrasound room, JMC-Smithfield

NEW FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOCUS ON QUALITY CARE

AHealthyPrognosis




Exterior of new patient tower at JMC-Smithfield Left: Emergency department at JMC-Clayton

the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners. “We want to make residents proud of the health care we have available here in Johnston County.”

To that end, Johnston Health launched a $144 million expansion plan that will deliver dynamic, top-quality health care to residents of one of the state’s fastest-growing counties. Part of that expansion program is the construction of Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield’s new 50,700-square-foot, five-story patient tower, on schedule for a New Year’s opening in January 2010.

“Planning began about five years ago,” Stewart explains. “We talked to the community about what they want in their hospital, and providing that level of care in our 57-year-old hospital facility was going to be hard to do. So we are replacing the inpatient rooms with 105 modern, spacious, private inpatient suites, each equipped with a private bathroom, dinette, family area, f lat-screen TV and a futon bed so that family members can stay with the patient. It will be a very, very comfortable experience for patients and their families. We look

forward to every square inch.”The new patient tower also includes

five operating suites with state-of-the-art equipment, expanded cardiology services, a new lobby, registration area, chapel and gift shop.

“The tower actually touches on every part of the hospital and should be able to meet our needs over the next 30 to 40 years,” Stewart says. And plans for making the best use of the old hospital space are currently being considered, he says.

Concurrent with the expansion at Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield, a new, 51,000-square-foot medical center has gone up nearby in Clayton. Furniture and equipment were installed during the summer, and Johnston Medical Center-Clayton began serving patients in October 2009. The Clayton

facility features an emergency department, diagnostic imaging suite, operating rooms and lab services.

By mid-2010, Johnston Health will open another facility. Hospice House, the county’s first hospice center, will be an inpatient facility with room for 16 to 18 hospice and palliative care patients. Fundraising efforts have already secured $4.5 million for the project.

“The hospice facility is going to be beautiful,” Stewart says. “It is designed to look and feel like a home, because that’s the kind of peaceful atmosphere we think our hospice-care patients deserve.

“All these facilities focus on enhancing our ability to provide high-quality care in this region,” he adds, “and to deliver it with the highest patient satisfaction.”

“All these facilities focus on enhancing

our ability to provide high-quality care

in this region.”


Let Them Eat BarbecueAFTER DEVASTATING PLANE WRECK, McCALL’S REOPENS TO HUNGRY PATRONS

Most dining establishments are accustomed to the challenges of daily restaurant operations, but McCall’s

Bar-B-Que & Seafood didn’t quite know what hit them in September 2007.

That’s when the pilot of a single-engine plane accidentally crashed into the popular Clayton eatery. The accident occurred on a Friday morning just before the restaurant was scheduled to open for lunch.

Unfortunately, the pilot was killed, and the restaurant was destroyed. Ten McCall’s restaurant employees were in the kitchen area at the time of the crash but, luckily, none of them were injured.

Today, with business bustling, you’d never know such a devastating incident occurred. The new McCall’s eatery, located at 10365 U.S. Highway 70 West, is as busy as ever, serving up barbecue, chicken, seafood and ribs just as it has done for many years.

McCall’s specialty items include fried chicken, barbecue

chicken and barbecue pork, with side items such as homemade Brunswick stew, butter beans, baked beans, field peas and black-eyed peas.

If you’re hungry for seafood, you can choose among shrimp, scallops, trout, f lounder, deviled crab, clam strips and oysters. Sandwiches on the menu include barbecue, trout, f lounder and shrimp burgers.

In addition, there are daily specials, including fried pork chops, chicken pastry, turkey with dressing, barbecue beef and barbecue beef ribs.

The restaurant also offers takeout. McCall’s sells 20-, 30- and 50-people party packs that include barbecue, chicken, slaw, boiled potatoes or potato salad, hushpuppies, iced tea, and ice and paper products.

Dessert choices range from banana pudding and apple cobbler to blueberry cheesecake and sheet cakes.

McCall’s has a second location in nearby Goldsboro.– Kevin Litwin


Local Flavor

Dust off your bullets as well as your cannons and caissons. A Civil War

re-enactment to commemorate the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville is scheduled for spring 2010.

The upcoming event will be held March 20-21, 2010, in Four Oaks at the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site. The re-enactment is expected to be the largest ever staged in North Carolina, and, appropriately, will showcase the largest Civil War battle ever fought in the state.

“We are expecting 3,000 Civil War re-enactors to participate in the weekend battle between the North and South, and 30,000 to 40,000 spectators will also be on hand to view the dramatic activities,” says Derrick Brown, assistant manager of Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site. “Our venue hosts a major re-enactment every five years, and the one in 2010 is going to be quite spectacular.”

The actual Battle of Bentonville took place March 19-21, 1865, and was the last full-scale action of the Civil War in which a Confederate Army was able to mount a tactical offensive.

This major confrontation pitted famed Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman against Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, and the battle would turn out to be the only significant attempt to defeat Sherman’s large Union Army during its march through the Carolinas in the spring of 1865.

“The result of the battle was a tactical draw, but I guess if you had a scorecard, the North would have been the victor,” Brown says. “I say this because the Confederates ultimately left the site after three days to reorganize their army, so the Union won by default.”

Today, the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site is part of an interesting Civil War Trails program, which recognizes many of the battle sites throughout North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia

and Virginia. The program leads travelers to more than 700 stops, and the centerpieces of the driving excursion in North Carolina are a couple of major sites associated with the Carolinas Campaign of 1865.

One of those sites is Bentonville, where the epic Sherman-Johnston military exchanged took place, which

led to the Confederate Army’s surrender near Durham.

“Every year, Bentonville hosts a living history in March with 100 re-enactors and about 2,000 spectators,” Brown says. “But the five-year anniversaries are our really big events, and 2010 will be huge.”

The Harper House played a key role in the Battle of Bentonville in 1865.

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What’s Online eFor a closer look at the Bentonville Battlefi eld site, watch the video at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.

History Comes AliveBENTONVILLE BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC SITE WILL WELCOME RE-ENACTORS IN 2010


Portfolio


Country Club of Johnston County

Let’s Go Clubbing

Some counties have only one golf course, but Johnston County is

lucky enough to be graced with six quality facilities from tee to green.

Clayton is home to three top venues – Pine Hollow Golf Club, Riverwood Golf & Athletic Club and The Neuse Golf Club. Meanwhile, Reedy Creek Golf Course is located in Four Oaks, Cardinal Country Club is situated in Pine Level, and Smithfield is home to the Country Club of Johnston County.

Pine Hollow Golf Club in Clayton, on the Johnston and Wake county line‚ underwent a $3 million renovation in 2001. The 6‚500-yard course is regarded as easy to walk and senior-friendly.

Riverwood Golf and Athletic Club is Clayton’s only 27-hole course. The private facility, which opened in 1997, boasts more than 2‚000 members and runs along the scenic Neuse River, offering great views for golfers.

As for the Neuse Golf Club, Golf Digest magazine ranked it No. 1 in the United States in terms of value for the money. The Neuse has also recently ramped up its younger-player efforts, developing an additional fast-tee course designed for juniors and beginners that comes with its own scorecard and rules.

Reedy Creek Golf Club is a 6‚426-yard public course that offers smooth‚ champion Bermuda greens. More than 35‚000 rounds are played there each year.

Located just minutes from Interstate 95‚ the semiprivate Cardinal Country Club in Selma features tall pines‚ ponds and sand bunkers that create an appealing challenge for golfers. The course spans 6‚600 yards and often hosts corporate and group outings for tourists and locals.

Last but certainly not least, Country Club of Johnston County in Smithfield recently became a public course. The 6‚600-yard lakeside expanse opened in 1936 and is considered one of the finest venues in all of eastern North Carolina.

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Portfolio

www.visitsmithfield.org

Party Hearty

Folks in Johnston County love a party. So, it’s no wonder there

are numerous festivals to celebrate everything from hams and yams to mules and strawberries.

The Cleveland area hosts an annual Strawberry Festival in April. The weekend’s activities culminate with a Great Strawberry Bake-Off, where bakers can win cash prizes for their tasty creations.

Meanwhile, on the first weekend of May, the town of Smithfield holds its annual Ham & Yam Festival that will enter its 26th year in 2010.

“The festival began in 1985 as a competition between Smithfield, N.C., and Smithfield, Va., to see which town made the best country hams,” says Chris Johnson, executive director for Downtown Smithfield Development Corp. “Smithfield, N.C., won two years in a row, and Smithfield, Va., never came back. But we have kept the festival going to this day.”

Events include a barbecue cook-off, Miss Ham & Yam Pageant, a 5K run pig races, live music, food vendors and a sweet potato pie-eating contest.

Smithfield is also home to the annual Friends of the 4th Independence Day event at the historical Smithfield Town Commons.

Every September, the town of Benson hosts its annual Benson Mule Days, which draws as many as 70,000 spectators for rodeos, mule-pulling contests, bluegrass shows and carnival rides. Clayton also sponsors a Harvest Festival that packs Main Street with rides, food vendors, crafts and live entertainment in September.

Then in December, several local communities hold Christmas tree lightings and parades. One of the most interesting attractions during that holiday season is a weeklong Johnston County Festival of Trees.


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JOHNSTON COUNTY

TO WORK AND PLAY!

JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Wade M. Stewart, CHAIRMAN

Allen L. Mims, Jr., VICE-CHAIRMAN

Cookie Pope

Jeffrey P. Carver

W. Ray Woodall

DeVan Barbour

Tony Braswell

Multiple Choices

A couple of new schools have recently opened in Johnston

County, and more are on the way.First, an all-new Princeton

Elementary School opened in July 2008, followed one month later with the opening of the new Powhatan Elementary School. Soon to come are Cleveland High School and Corinth-Holders High School, which will both open in August 2010.

“The two new schools will reduce the overflow from Clayton High School, Smithfield-Selma High and West Johnston High,” says Terri Sessoms, public information officer for Johnston County Schools. “Both new facilities will open with ninth and 10th grades, then will keep adding a grade each year until they become four-year high schools.”

Cleveland High is currently under construction on Polenta Road in Cleveland, and Corinth-Holders High is being built on Applewhite Road in the Corinth community.

“Both schools will have approximately 240,000 square feet, including classrooms, a 600-seat auditorium, a 500-seat cafeteria, large media center, one competition gym that will seat 1,500, as well as an auxiliary gym,” Sessoms says. “Athletic facilities include a football stadium and track, baseball and softball complex, soccer field and tennis courts.”

Each school is designed to ultimately accommodate 1,200 students, with space for a large classroom addition in the future.

“Johnston County is somewhat different from other places in the state because we have decided to build smaller schools, not larger ones, to maintain a community feel,” Sessoms says. “We believe that our close-knit neighborhood schools will make the difference in the lives of our children.”

Johnston County is currently one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, with more than 31,000 students attending 43 schools.

– Stories by Kevin Litwin


Portfolio

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Business

STORY BY RENEE ELDER

I f variety is the spice of life, Johnston County’s business community is absolutely exploding with flavor.

Products range from Bright Leaf hot dogs and award-winning pound cakes to high-tech homeland security equipment and specialized medicines.

Printed circuit boards and a variety of other electronic devices are manufactured at Carolina Electronic Assemblers in Smithfield.

“We develop very specialized high technology,” says Steve Yauch, the company’s chief executive officer. “Most of our clients are in the medical

field or homeland security.”Carolina Electronic Assemblers

makes circuit boards for use by other manufacturers and also turns out finished products such as electronic nurse’s stations for hospital rooms.

Focusing on the high-tech segment of the market has helped the company grow, even as other U.S. manufacturers have moved their operations overseas, Yauch says.

“When I bought the company in 2000, it had six employees,” he says. “Now we have 70 employees and have doubled our sales every year.”

Also expanding is Shooting Star

Left: Carolina Electronic Assemblers in Smithfield Right: Bright Leaf hot dogs

ECONOMIC CLIMATE NURTURES VARIETY OF BUSINESSES

Recipe Success

for


Bread Co. and its sister company, The Pound Cake Co., both founded by Johnston County native Jan Matthews-Hodges. Matthews-Hodges, a former legal assistant, started her business as a part-time endeavor, making pound cakes that she perfected in state fair baking competitions.

In 2007, she partnered with lawyer Bobby Jenkins to take the operation full time, working in the cafeteria of her former elementary school in Benson.

The bakery now sells cakes, cupcakes and cookies under The Pound Cake Co. name and also provides store-branded items such as garlic knot rolls to The Fresh Market, Lowes Foods and other retailers through the Shooting Star subsidiary.

“We are in the process of installing equipment in the 18,000-square-foot

former middle school on the same campus as our existing bakery,” Hodges explains.

When the expansion is finished, the food company’s payroll will grow from 18 full- and part-time workers to about 50 employees.

Another food manufacturer, Carolina Packers, has been providing hot dogs, bologna and other meat products since 1941.

The company is best known for its bright-red Bright Leaf brand hot dogs, says General Manager Kent Denning.

“We’ve had some new things come along, but the primary products have stayed the same: hot dogs, smoked sausage and bologna,” Denning says.

About 90 employees work at the facility in Smithfield, where plans for expansion are under development.

“We’re hoping, luck be with us, to have a new facility built at the same location in the future,” he says.

Developing new products for the North Carolina market can be somewhat of a challenge.

“With all the growth around here and all the new people, tastes have become more diverse,” Denning says. “It’s got us thinking about some new things, such as brats. We’re hoping to have some new products out next year.”

Sysco Transportation System in Selma is one of 177 Sysco locations throughout North America. The $52 million facility opened in 2006 and now employs about 350 workers in warehouse, trucking and sales positions. Local clients include Duke University in Durham and Rex Hospital in Raleigh, along with dozens of

What’s Online eGet a taste of the sweets at The Pound Cake Co. by watching our video at imagesjohnstoncounty.com.



independent area restaurants.Talecris Biotherapeutics Inc.,

a global biotechnology company, has about 1,400 employees in Clayton working to develop and manufacture treatments for people with life-threatening disorders.

Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, another biomedical company, was named one of the 100 best companies to work for by Fortune magazine.

The Clayton facility employs about 600 workers who inspect and package medical products such as the FlexPen, a disposable insulin device.

A pound cake from The Pound Cake Co. in Benson

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Business

www.visitselma.org

Biz BriefsBUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE

JOHNSTON COUNTY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

ScorecardBUSINESS AT

A GLANCE

$1,167,881Retail sales ($1,000)

$8,785Retail sales

per capita

$106,705Accommodations

and food services

sales ($1,000)

9,781Total number

of firms

Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

SKYLINES CAFÉ Biz: restaurantBuzz: Skylines Café, located at 8878 U.S. Highway 70 West, specializes in upscale American food, with favorites such as salads, steaks, seafood, pasta and chicken, as well as homemade desserts. The dining spot also hosts special events, caters and offers boxed lunches. With the opening of a second restaurant in March 2009, Clayton now boasts two family-friendly places to dine. www.skylinescafe.com


Business

EARP ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES Biz: disc jockey servicesBuzz: Earp Entertainment Services has been getting people dancing in the Smithfield area for more than 30 years. The family-owned company, run by Jim Earp Jr., offers entertainment services in nine states. Services include security, transportation, talent management and a wide array of professional concert sound, lighting, stage and roof systems, as well as PA system rentals and special effects rentals.www.earpentertainmentservices.com

CLEVELAND DRAFT HOUSE Biz: restaurant/draft houseBuzz: This popular dining spot in Garner serves appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, 20 different burgers, chili, ribs, seafood and desserts. The Draft House also has 42 beers on tap, pool tables, dartboards and a cozy fireplace. There’s also a nonsmoking family dining area with a kids’ menu that will please the most finicky eater.www.clevelanddrafthouse.com

YOUNG’S AUTO CENTER AND SALVAGE Biz: automobile recyclingBuzz: Young’s Auto Center and Salvage in Benson is known for its wide assortment of reconditioned vehicles, including light trucks, SUVs, passenger vehicles, farm equipment, school buses, recreational vehicles, construction equipment and heavy-duty trucks. The company also offers export sales.www.youngsautocenter.com

ATLANTIC STONE INC. Biz: sales and installation of natural and cast stoneBuzz: Atlantic Stone Inc. in Four Oaks is known as a stone specialist. The company uses stone in building projects that range from small home additions and large commercial projects to patio work and subdivision entrances. The company distributes Centurion-brand cast stone and stocks more than 200 tons of natural stone veneer, dry stack and flagging from multiple states.www.atlanticstoneinc.com


www.fouroaksbank.com

www.townofbenson.com

DESIGN-BUILD- SINCE 1973 -

Commercial, Medical & Industrial

www.sgcdesignbuild.com

WILKINS, WELLONS & COATS Attorneys at Law

www.wilkinsandwellons.com

BUSINESS CLIMATEJohnston County offers a new workforce development center and

is close to the renowned Research Triangle Area, as well as three

nationally known research hospitals. It is one of the fastest-

growing counties in the United States.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

TAX STRUCTURE

2.5%County Sales Tax

5.25%State Sales Tax

7.75%Total Sales Tax

TRANSPORTATION

Johnston County Area Transit System309 E. Market St.


www.jcats.org

Johnston County Airport3149 Swift Creek Road


(919) 934-0992

www.jnx-airport.com

Selma Historic Union Station/AMTRAK500 Railroad St.

Selma, NC 27576

(800) 872-7245

ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce1115 Industrial Park Drive


(919) 934-9166


Kenly Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 190, Kenly, NC 27542

(919) 284-5510

www.kenlynorthcarolina.com

Four Oaks Area Chamber of CommerceP.O. Box 415

Four Oaks, NC 27524

(919) 963-2581

www.fouroaksarea

chamber.com

Benson Chamber of Commerce303 E. Church St.

Benson, NC 27504

(919) 894-3825

www.benson-chamber.com

Clayton Chamber of Commerce301 E. Main St.

Clayton, NC 27520

(919) 553-6352

www.claytonchamber.com

Downtown Smithfield Development200 S. Front St.


(919) 934-0887

www.downtownsmithfield.com

Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce5533 NC 42 W., Suite A4-1

Garner, NC 27529

(919) 773-8448

www.greatercleveland

chamber.com

Research Triangle Regional Partnership1000 Trade Drive, Suite 124

RDU International Airport, NC

27623

(919) 840-7372

www.researchtriangle.org


Business | Economic Profile

www.wilkinsandwellons.com

www.sgcdesignbuild.com

A H e a l t h i e r T o m o r r o w B e g i n s T o d a y

More than 4,000 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house events for JMC-Clayton.

Johnston Medical Center-Clayton represents an innovative concept of health-care delivery,

conveniently located to serve an expanding population.

“Clayton is the fastest-growing town in Johnston County, and Johnston Health has built JMC-Clayton to serve this important part of our service area,” says Jim Perpich, director of marketing and community relations.

The recently opened $39 million medical center, designed primarily for outpatient services, includes a 24/7 emergency department, the latest in diagnostic imaging and lab services, a women’s center, and two operating rooms, with plans for a third. Within a few years, JMC-Clayton will expand into a full-service hospital when it adds 27 acute-care beds and other services.

Patients also have the convenience of the Johnston Professional Plaza, a 60,000-square-foot physicians’ complex located on the hospital campus. They can see their doctors and specialists, then take the short walk across the parking area through a covered walkway and into the sleek, new medical center for procedures.

“We’re a one-stop shop,” Perpich says. “Trends indicate an increased

demand for health-care services in the outpatient setting, which JMC-Clayton is designed to meet. The facility is convenient, patient-friendly and well-equipped. From the moment patients walk through the door, they can expect the best in service.”

The Ambulatory Care/Surgery Unit offers general surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology, orthopedics and otolaryngology, among others.

The freestanding emergency department is staffed with board-certified emergency physicians from Wake Emergency Physicians, P.A., who see patients in one of the 10 private treatment rooms on a 24-hour basis. The emergency department includes a seating area designed with patient and visitor comfort as a key consideration.

Imaging services include top-of-the-line digital mammography and ultrasound, general radiography and fluoroscopy, a 64-slice CT scanner and wide-bore MRI, which permits the imaging of patients who otherwise would not be a candidate for MRI because of claustrophobia.

The women’s center allows privacy for women receiving mammography and ultrasound services as they wait to receive a scan.

Oncology treatment is being expanded beyond the currently offered chemotherapy. Beginning mid-2010, radiation therapy, a new service provided at both JMC-Clayton and JMC-Smithfield through an agreement with Rex Healthcare, will be provided.

“This means that patients are able to receive this important cancer treatment without having to travel long distances,” Perpich says. “Johnston County is a growing area for people to come to work and live, and now it is a county that is well-served by a sophisticated health-care system.”

JMC-CLAYTON OFFERS CONVENIENCE AND QUALITY

This special section is published for Johnston Health by

Journal Communications Inc.

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

For more information, contact:

Johnston Health

509 N. Bright Leaf Blvd. • Smithfield, NC 27577

Phone: (919) 938-7194 • Fax: (919) 938-7875

www.johnstonhealth.org

©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc.,

725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067

(615) 771-0080

All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising

section may be reproduced in whole or in part without

written consent.

On the cover: Johnston Medical Center-Clayton

‘One-Stop Shop’

S p e c i a l A d v e r t i s i n g S e c t i o n

J o h n s t o n H e a l t h

R esidents of the Clayton area now have an exciting choice for health care: the new Johnston

Medical Center-Clayton and Johnston Professional Plaza, located on NC 42 West, near the intersection of Amelia Church Road.

With the opening of JMC-Clayton, Johnston Health has shown its commitment to provide comprehensive care to all portions of its service area, says Dr. Dennis Koffer, Johnston Health chief of staff and a general surgeon.

“Johnston Health is now a true community health-care system,” Koffer says. “And with the opening of this new campus and the expansion of JMC-Smithfield, we are able to attract new doctors to this area and offer more

services in the future.”Johnston Professional Plaza, a three-

story building totaling 60,000 square feet of office space, will house doctors specializing in general and vascular surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, cardiology and neurology. The doctors will perform surgical and diagnostic procedures at JMC-Clayton, conveniently connected to the Plaza by a covered walkway.

“The medical executive committee is committed to customer satisfaction. We are backing up the nurses and the administration in their efforts to make customers as satisfied as possible, and we are watching very closely for the results that come from patient surveys,” Koffer says.

Women’s services, including fully equipped mammography and ultrasound suites, are front and center at JMC-Clayton, says Dr. William Turlington, an obstetrician/gynecologist who will expand his practice to include Clayton.

“This is a convenient location for the residents of Clayton and the surrounding area,” Turlington says. “We are very excited about this new office we’re opening and our ability to provide women an option for OB/GYN care on this side of the county.”

Turlington, who already has two other doctors and two nurse practitioners in his Smithfield office, will bring on another physician, a third nurse practitioner and as many as four other non-clinical employees to staff his Johnston Professional Plaza office – just one example of the jobs created as a result of the facility’s development.

Expectant mothers will be in for a treat at JMC-Clayton, where imaging will include 4D and 3D ultrasound.

“Four D is basically 3D with movement, meaning that the images are put together so quickly that there is enough of a perception to see the baby’s movements,” Turlington explains.

A clinical laboratory, which provides outpatient lab testing and supports the needs of the imaging, surgical and emergency departments, is also located within JMC-Clayton. The facility’s emergency department is open around-the-clock and is staffed with board-certified physicians. While all the ED treatment rooms are equipped to handle general emergency-care, two are equipped for cardiac and trauma patients. JMC-Clayton also offers same-day surgery in two state-of-the-art operating rooms. A third OR suite is being planned.

Picture of Health JMC-CLAYTON IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

New owners of Johnston Professional Plaza include doctors that focus on a wide variety of specialities.

w w w . j o h n s t o n h e a l t h . o r g



A t first glance, the new Johnston Medical Center in Clayton doesn’t look like a hospital

at all. The low-slung, modern building, with its façade of stone and glass, looks more like a ski lodge than a health-care facility.

Surrounded by lush landscaping that includes a five-acre pond, JMC-Clayton has been designed with the perfect patient experience in mind, says Jackie Ring, JMC-Clayton’s COO.

“The personal perception of people’s health care is very important to them and to us, and we want our patients to experience the best there is to offer,

from the time they walk through the door until the time they leave,” Ring says. “We believe that begins with the design of our new medical center and campus, and carries through with the excellent service our patients receive.”

The modern design has created quite a buzz in the Clayton community, Ring says.

“The people of Clayton are very excited about it,” she says. “It’s a beautiful, warm, open campus – very inviting – not what you would expect because it doesn’t look like a hospital.”

The campus has landscape features that are friendly to the environment.

JMC-CLAYTON CAMPUS IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND STATE-OF-THE-ART

&

Bioswales handle natural water infiltration, and the five-acre pond is a peaceful natural element that also collects stormwater runoff. Trees and shrubs reflect the surrounding rural setting.

“We have dozens of trees, a real mix of North Carolina foliage, and a nice shady parking lot,” Ring says.

Entering the lobby, with its large stone fireplace and unique artwork, is comparable to walking into an art museum.

“We’ve included an art initiative that features original art made by local artists,” the COO explains. “The art is throughout the lobby and hallways and inside most of the departments, making this much more than your typical medical center. People aren’t looking at old magazines; they’re looking at inspirational art.”

Ring says having a one-stop outpatient facility with the level of services provided by JMC-Clayton is not something seen with great frequency, especially in a community of this size.

“Until the construction of this facility, these residents were not served locally,” she says. “Having access to an around-the-clock, full-service emergency room, with digital mammography, ultrasound and a 64-slice CT scanner along with two operating rooms, provides a level of sophistication not previously provided in this part of Johnston County.”

JMC-Clayton evolved from a series of town meetings held throughout Johnston County, Ring says.

“We took the direct feedback we received from those 28 meetings and built it into the strategic planning process because we wanted to respond to the needs that were identified,” she says. “The services we incorporated into this medical facility are the result of those identified needs. Then, we did an operational assessment to see if this was going to be financially viable and within our means.”

The result is the new 51,000-square-foot Johnston Medical Center-Clayton, an architectural gem and boon for the entire community.

GreenSophisticated

JMC-Clayton’s modern design has created “buzz” among area residents.



Trips to the hospital aren’t normally compared with visits to five-star hotels. But that’s

about to change with the opening of Johnston Medical Center-Clayton, says Jackie Ring, the facility’s chief operating officer.

“We want our patients to be so comfortable and pleased with their experience at JMC-Clayton that they will want to come back,” Ring says. “We are committed to creating the perfect patient experience.”

That five-star service starts in the parking lot, where patients are met by volunteer ambassadors, transported via shuttle and escorted into the medical center.

“They are greeted at the door by one of our employees, then escorted to the area they need to go,” Ring explains. “Our volunteers are trained as ambassadors, and they help direct the patients. For instance, if a woman is going to have a mammogram, the ambassador shows her to the mammography suite, gives her a gown and then explains everything that will take place. A nurse also informs the

patient about what to expect.”If the patient is accompanied by

a friend or family member, the ambassador makes certain he or she is also comfortable and informed.

“I try to put myself in the place of patients and treat them the way I would like to be treated,” Ring says of the focus on personal service. “We can’t take away all the discomfort of some procedures but we can prepare patients by telling them what to expect.”

All staff members, from professional to volunteer, are trained in service excellence and participate in an orientation program designed with the best patient experience in mind.

“I have interviewed every employee coming on board,” Ring says. “During our conversations, we thoroughly cover customer service and the expectations of being an employee of Johnston Health. We’ve gone through extensive team-building activities. The staff know their skills, and they know how to apply those skills in a way that shows our patients they are truly cared for.”

Attention to detail is evident in the

operational plan approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the hospital board. The plan describes each service in great detail and covers the specifics of proper patient f low and transport, as well as back-up plans – all the mechanisms needed to make certain everything runs smoothly.

JMC-Clayton’s move to paperless record-keeping speaks to the green aspect of the entire campus.

“A patient’s records are accessible at any point to anyone giving care to that patient,” Ring says. “If they’re treated at Clayton and then transferred to Smithfield for further treatment, that record can be retrieved right away. It also allows for accurate documentation because treatment times are automatically recorded with any informational entry.”

When it comes to JMC-Clayton’s services, Ring is going for the “wow” factor.

“We want our patients to leave knowing they’ve received the highest quality care with the best customer service offered anywhere,” she says.

Five-Star ServiceJMC-CLAYTON PROVIDES THE PERFECT PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Before joining the JMC-Clayton staff, every employee was interviewed by the chief operating officer.




In the communities it serves, Johnston Health is committed to providing residents with modern

facilities, sophisticated equipment and personalized service.

The evolving health-care system’s roots began with Johnston Memorial Hospital, which opened in 1951 with a pledge to make health care accessible to all residents.

Today, Johnston Health serves as the umbrella for two thriving and expanding medical centers that offer 199 beds, primary and specialty care services throughout the county, and joint ventures with other systems. The health-care system reaches out to 164,000 Johnston County residents.

“Our goal at Johnston Health is to provide the kind of service everyone in this county deserves,” says Ralph Stewart, chairman of the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners.

With almost $150 million dedicated toward construction projects, Johnston Health is the premier health-care provider in the area. The projects include construction of a new patient tower and extensive renovation at Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield. The Smithfield patient tower opens in January 2010, with 101 patient suites, a new cafeteria, operating rooms and an intensive care unit.

The opening of JMC-Clayton means that emergency, surgical and diagnostic services are readily available to the growing town of Clayton. Plans to add 27 acute-care beds and a third operating room in the future will make JMC-Clayton northern Johnston County’s first full-service hospital.

Stewart points out that, in the continued effort to provide necessary care to Johnston County residents, Johnston Health recently joined forces with Rex Healthcare – the region’s

premier provider of cancer services – to enhance services to cancer patients in eastern Wake and Johnston counties.

Until now, Johnston Health has offered only chemotherapy treatment.

Beginning mid-2010, patients will be able to receive radiation therapy in two locations: the Johnston Health Medical Mall in Smithfield and the Johnston Professional Plaza on the JMC-Clayton campus.

“Now patients requiring radiation therapy who live in and around Johnston County will no longer have to travel far to receive the services they need,” Stewart says. “By partnering

with Rex Healthcare, our medical centers will offer the very best cancer care to area residents.”

Johnston Health’s mission is to improve the health of the people in its communities. “Johnston County’s primary care physicians are an important part of wellness, as everyone deserves a primary care home,” he says.

That’s why Johnston Health supports Project Access, an initiative that matches qualifying patients without health insurance with primary physicians and specialists.

The success of HealthQuest, a 28,000-square-foot wellness and fitness center located in Johnston Medical Mall, is also important.

“We want to keep people well,” Stewart says.

CommitmentJOHNSTON HEALTH SERVES GROWING POPULATION WITH PLEDGE TO QUALITY

Ralph Stewart Jr., chairman of the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners

It’s AboutJ o h n s t o n H e a l t h


W ith the opening of Johnston Medical Center-Clayton, the town’s 13,800 residents are

getting booster shots in both quality of life and economic stability.

“We’re very excited that Johnston Health selected Clayton for its new facility, and we recognize the positive economic impact this is going to have on our community,” Mayor Jody McLeod says, noting that Clayton is currently the second-fastest growing city in North Carolina. “I think the reason they chose Clayton was because of our geographic location and the number of new families and seniors in Clayton. With all that, what better place to put a new medical facility?”

JMC-Clayton will reduce the number of miles residents have to travel to get quality health care.

“Before, the majority of our residents either had to go to Raleigh or Smithfield for health care,” McLeod says. “The new medical center has a huge impact on our residents because it

means we now have access to health care in Clayton that will save valuable time. This will greatly improve our quality of life, and it will help our community continue to grow.”

McLeod views JMC-Clayton and the Johnston Professional Plaza as an economic stimulus package for the town.

“A few years ago, you would have found tobacco fields across the street from what is now the medical center,” the mayor says. “Now those fields have been sold, and we have national developers coming in to bring retail operations and new professional offices. What was once a piece of land selling for $10,000, now costs a half-million dollars. For the future, we see larger revenue streams because of the commitment by Johnston Health.”

The Town of Clayton has been a willing partner with Johnston Health in helping to plan the facility, providing infrastructure and working with the North Carolina Department of

Transportation on highway improvements.

Residents have been pleased with the design of the facility, McLeod says.

“The different textures and the glass provide a pretty, clean look that fits right in with the vision we have for Clayton. It’s so positive when different entities can come together and realize such a vision.”

The hospital also fits right in with Clayton’s major employers, which include biopharmaceutical companies Talecris Biotherapeutics and Novo Nordisk, thus continuing the local trend in health-related companies.

“We are excited about the future of the hospital’s development as it continues to expand and grow,” McLeod says. “Clayton is the premier community for active families, and we place a lot of importance on quality of life and recreation. This new medical complex, with its cutting-edge technology, is filling an important need.” – Stories by Betsy Williams

The Diagnosis Is GreatNEW MEDICAL FACILITY GIVES CLAYTON A LEADING EDGE

Clayton Mayor Jody L. McLeod

PH

OT

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BY

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JOHNSTON HEALTHADMINISTRATION .................. 938-7114EDUCATION ............................ 938-7736EARLY LEARNING

CHILDCARE ........................... 938-7578GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ........ 938-7198HEALTHQUEST ........................ 938-7581HUMAN RESOURCES ............. 938-7120MARKETING & COMMUNITY

RELATIONS ........................... 938-7186OUTREACH SERVICES,

HOME CARE & HOSPICE ...... 938-7560

JOHNSTON PRIMARYCARE PHYSICIAN SERVICES INC.A Division of Johnston HealthJOHNSTON MEDICAL ASSOCIATES –

Clayton ...................................585-8850JOHNSTON MEDICAL ASSOCIATES–

Kenly ...................................... 284-4149

JOHNSTON SPECIALTYPHYSICIAN SERVICES INC.A Division of Johnston HealthJOHNSTON MEDICAL ASSOCIATES –

Hematology & Oncology ...... 989-2192(Formerly Johnston Cancer Center)JOHNSTON MEDICAL ASSOCIATES –

Summit (Dermatology & Endocrinology) ................... 359-0291

QUIKMED URGENT CARE ...... 938-0257

JOHNSTON MEDICAL CENTER – CLAYTONMAIN NUMBER ....................... 585-8500

JOHNSTON MEDICAL CENTER – SMITHFIELDMAIN NUMBER ....................... 934-8171AMBULATORY IMAGING ........ 938-0467CARDIOLOGY SERVICES ........ 938-7170CARDIOPULMONARY

REHAB ................................... 938-7127CASE MANAGEMENT ............ 938-7337EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT .. 938-7135HEALTH INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT .................... 938-7705OUTPATIENT REGISTRATION ...938-7160PATIENT FINANCIAL

SERVICES .............................. 938-7138REHAB SERVICES .................... 938-7296SAME DAY SURGERY .............. 938-7411SURGICAL SERVICES .............. 938-7180SUMMIT SURGICAL

CENTER ................................. 553-4367VOLUNTEER SERVICES ........... 938-7117WOMEN’S SERVICES .............. 938-7800WOUND CENTER ................... 938-7716

JOHNSTON HEALTH FOUNDATION ........................ 938-7169

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATIONFor a comprehensive phone directory, visit www.johnstonhealth.org. The area code for Johnston County is 919.




Relaxing in a rocking chair is a popular pastime at Carolina House of Smithfield but so is doing yoga, gardening and going shopping with friends.

While Carolina House offers both assisted living and a memory-care unit, the residents can enjoy optional activities that keep them engaged and as active as they want to be.

“We do have a lot of life-enrichment activities,” says Melanie Uenoyama, director of the facility that is home to 64 residents with an average age of 82. “Most of our residents are very mobile – they’re active and involved.”

While one team of assistants provides help with daily concerns, from grooming to keeping track of medication, other staff members – known as life enrichment coordinators – look out for residents’ social, recreational and cultural well-being.

“We have art teachers who come once a week, yoga, all kinds of music and a variety of religious programming,” Uenoyama says.

Every Wednesday, residents who so desire may visit the shopping mall or another destination before having lunch in an area restaurant.

“It’s a different one each week,” Uenoyama adds.Those who want a more independent lifestyle – but

with an added layer of service and convenience – may find it at SummerWind Plantation. The neighborhood, under construction just off of Interstate 40 East in Clayton, is an active-adult community with housing options ranging from condos to single-family homes.

SummerWind is one of several projects being built by Parker Development Group in the Triangle area. This community will have a golf course, fishing pond and wellness center, and residents can receive in-home services such as housekeeping, cooking and delivery of groceries. An assisted-living facility is also on the drawing board.

Yet another interesting housing choice for seniors is the opportunity to live inside a historic Johnston County landmark. The former Cleveland School has been turned into 25 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The original 1927 building was redesigned to serve older residents with limited incomes, yet the units have luxury touches, including 12-foot ceilings and original pine floors.

Demand for senior housing is on the rise, with many newcomers moving to Johnston County to be closer to their children and grandchildren, Uenoyama says.

“A lot have had the big homes, and maintenance has become a lot for them,” she says. “They’re ready for a place where they don’t have to worry about those kinds of things.”

No matter what living arrangement they choose, all seniors have access to the eight senior centers scattered across the county, operated by the Johnston County Council on Aging.

Jaime Pearce, health coordinator for the Johnston County Health Department, says seniors enjoy socializing over meals at the centers, where they also find recreational activities and educational programs on tap. – Renee Elder

CREECH DRUG CO. INC.

Serving the Community Since 1939

Your Personal Pharmacists …

J.A. Creech, Jr., President 965-5497

Cindy C. Parrish, PharmD 796-3377

Casey L. Johnson, PharmD

Seniors Feel Right at HomeSOME CHOOSE INDEPENDENT LIVING; OTHERS OPT FOR ADDED BENEFITS


Health & Wellness

Well-known country singer Kathy Mattea performed there during the 2008-09

season, as did legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter. And other headline acts continue to be booked year after year.

The Clayton Center has been an entertainment destination in Johnston County since it opened in 2002. The performance schedule runs from September through April.

“We mainly feature musical theater performances but also host some concerts, author appearances and more,” says Heidi Stump, executive director of The Clayton Center. “This impressive building is a true landmark in Clayton, and now it is a landmark jewel.”

The center is actually housed in a 1924 building that once thrived as Clayton K-12 School and then Clayton Elementary School. An $8.2 million renovation completed in 2002 allowed many of the school’s original amenities to remain intact within the three-story landmark structure.

Those amenities include wooden floors that have been brought back to their original 1920s luster.

“The building had been vacant for quite some time and then fell into extreme disrepair, almost to the point of being condemned,” Stump says. “But groups like the Women’s Club of Clayton and others got things rolling to save the schoolhouse, then the Clayton Cultural Arts Foundation also got behind the project. From there, everything started happening.”

In 2000, the town of Clayton conducted a communitywide survey to see if residents would support the building renovation, and the response was overwhelming to save it. At that point, town officials secured the services of the North Carolina-based Winslow Group, which has a long history of overseeing fundraising

campaigns for a variety of projects, including historic renovations.

“A fundraising initiative began with the Cultural Arts Foundation raising $2.1 million to help renovate one side of the building for the arts, while the town kicked in $6.1 million to primarily upgrade the other side of the building,” she says.

“As a result, one half of The Clayton Center features a spacious performance arts venue that includes a 606-seat auditorium. Meanwhile, the other half is now occupied by the town of Clayton, including the mayor’s office, along with administrators and staff members.”

The second floor above the

auditorium serves as a conference center for the community, and the building’s third floor can be used for meeting space for area groups and is also occupied by the Clayton Parks and Recreation Department.

“In addition, between the cultural arts side and the town hall side of the building is a central lobby with a glass atrium, and that attractive space can be rented to the public for formal gatherings and social receptions,” Stump says. “There is so much to like about this building that it’s difficult to list all of its attributes.”

– Kevin Litwin

Well-Schooled in the ArtsLANDMARK BUILDING THRIVES AS PERFORMANCE HALL, COMMUNITY OFFICES

The Clayton Center auditorium

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Arts & Culture

Two buildings affiliated with Johnston Community College are especially busy these days – in two different parts of the county.

The main JCC campus in Smithfield dedicated a new Public Safety Services Complex in 2008, while the college is also busy operating a Johnston County Workforce Development Center in Clayton. Most of the classes at both sites are part of the continuing education curriculum at JCC.

“In the Public Safety Services Complex, we offer a certified nursing assistant program, a fire rescue training program, an EMS education program and an in-service law enforcement training program,” says Susan Crisp, department chair of health and emergency services at JCC. “These four programs are excellent training opportunities for people looking to advance their respective careers in public safety.”

The certified nursing assistant program features a variety of allied health courses that include training in EKG monitoring, mammography and phlebotomy. The fire rescue training program certifies firefighters after they complete a variety of requirements, including an intense weekend tactical session.

The EDS education program trains students for careers as medical responders, respiratory therapists, physician’s assistants and paramedics.

And the in-service law enforcement training program is a 16-week certification course for men and women wanting to enter the police field, getting them ready for their final exam to become police officers.

“All four programs have waiting lists – we are bursting

with enrollment,” Crisp says. “Public safety is a burgeoning industry right now and always will be. And JCC has great programs in place for anyone interested in these careers.”

Meanwhile, the Johnston County Workforce Development Center in Clayton opened in 2005 to primarily serve the pharmaceutical and biotechnical companies that are located in the immediate region. A few companies in those industries approached the school in 2005 to express their need for a better skilled labor pool, requesting specific academic programs for their potential employees.

“Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk actually donated the land for the workforce building, and companies such as Hospira and Talecris Biotherapeutics are also involved in the training that occurs there,” says Joy Callahan, JCC department chair for business and industry. “All three of those companies are within a mile of the workforce training facility in Clayton, and these companies are always looking for more trained employees for their pharmaceutical and biotech ventures.”

Courses that are offered at the Johnston County Workforce Development Center include sterile medicine processes, supervisor training, team-building classes and a number of lab classes.

“Students can earn a pre-biology associate’s degree and a bioprocess technology associate’s degree, and we added a pharmacy technology curriculum for the fall 2009 semester,” Callahan says. “Our center has a number of courses where people can upgrade their skills to ultimately land more interesting, higher-paying jobs.”

– Kevin Litwin

Higher – and Easily Hired JOHNSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR IN-DEMAND CAREERS


Education

visit ouradvertisersBuilding Blocks Childcare & Development Center www.bbchildcare.net

Campbell University www.campbell.edu

Carolina Realty www.joeymillardedwards.com

Century 21 Suburban Real Estate Inc. www.sellingjohnstoncounty.com

Creech Drug Company Inc.

Dental Care Center www.mycarolinadentist.com

Four Oaks Bank www.fouroaksbank.com

Johnston County Board of Commissioners www.johnstonnc.com

Johnston Health www.johnstonhealth.org

Novo Nordisk www.novonordisk-clayton.com

Rainbow Lanes Family Fun Center www.rainbowlanesclayton.com

Smithfield Sleep Inn & Suites

Stephenson General Contractors www.sgcdesignbuild.com

Town of Benson www.townofbenson.com

Town of Selma www.johnstoncountync.org

Town of Smithfield www.johnstoncountync.org

Trinity United Methodist www.3umc.com

Vinson Ridge Racquet & Fitness Club www.vinsonridgetennis.com

Wilkons, Wellons & Coats

Willowrun Veterinary Hospital www.willowrunvet.com

800.4CHOICE www.choicehotels.com/hotel/nc466

919.209.2360

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Winner 2006, 2007 and 2008


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www.campbell.edu

As far as recreation centers go, this one is a beauty.

The $11.2 million Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center, located between Smithfield Community Park and Smithfield-Selma High School, opened in June 2009.

Students at Smithfield-Selma High will use the two-story facility during school hours, and then the rest of the community is welcome to use it during non-school hours.

Planning for the 72,000-square-foot complex actually began back in 2001.

“This has been a joint monetary effort between the town of Smithfield, Johnston County Schools and a private group of citizens who formed a nonprofit organization that raised more than $1 million for the center,” says Tim Johnson, director of Smithfield Parks and Recreation. “Those three entities got together to plan and pay for this incredible structure.”

The recreation center portion of the building is complete with a double gymnasium that boasts two full-length basketball courts and an indoor walking track above the courts. There is a strength training room that Smithfield-Selma High sports teams and physical

education classes use, and the back portion of the building houses an athletic field house that will be used solely by the high school sports teams.

“The field house is equipped with coaches offices, training rooms, lockers and showers for the Smithfield-Selma Spartans,” Johnson says. “The two basketball courts, walking track and strength training room will be used by students on school days, and then open to the public any other time.”

The aquatics portion of the building is an eight-lane competition pool that students use for practice and swim meets, and it will also be open to the public when not being used by the high school. There is also an indoor splash pool on site for children to enjoy.

“Smithfield Parks and Recreation also has offices in part of the rec/aquatics

center, and there are some multipurpose classrooms for pottery and other crafts classes for the general public,” Johnson says. “In addition, two racquetball courts are in place, and the second floor features a group fitness room for aerobics, dance and kickboxing classes. The second floor also has a banquet room for meetings and gatherings, and a catering kitchen that serves the banquet room.”

Johnston County residents can purchase various membership packages or pay a daily fee to use the facility.

“Combined with the high school’s existing sports fields and the city’s adjacent ball fields and tennis courts at Smithfield Community Park, this town really has a nice overall athletics complex in place,” Johnson says.

– Kevin Litwin

Things Are Going SwimminglyNEW RECREATION/AQUATICS CENTER MAKES QUITE A SPLASH IN SMITHFIELD

Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center in Smithfield

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Sports & Recreation

www.willowrunvet.com

www.newchurchincleveland.org

GO ONLINE

and learnmore aboutour newestchurch …

SNAPSHOTSmithfield and Johnston County offer a winning combination

of small-town charm and easy access to big-city attractions in

nearby Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. The area has great health-care

facilities and many great opportunities for recreational activities.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

CLIMATE

The temperature in Johnston

County remains temperate

year-round, with four distinct

seasons and a lengthy growing

season for flowers and

vegetables. Summer highs

and winter lows can be extreme

but are of very short duration.

29.6 FJanuary Low Temperature

49.8 FJanuary High Temperature

68.5 FJuly Low Temperature

89 FJuly High Temperature

EDUCATION

There are 13 colleges within

a one-hour drive, including

major universities Duke,

UNC and N.C. State. The local

school system boasts several

award-winning programs and

a high graduation rate.

HEALTH CARE

Johnston Health has been providing quality care since 1951. Recent expansions will allow the health-care system to deliver dynamic, top-quality medical care to residents of one of the state’s fastest-growing counties.

LOCAL UTILITIES

Cable Television

Time Warner Cable

(866) 489-2669

Electric, Water & Sewer

Town of Benson

(919) 894-4953

Town of Clayton

(919) 553-5002

Town of Selma, (919) 965-9841

Town of Smithfield

(919) 934-2116

Johnston County (water and

sewer only), (919) 989-5075

Progress Energy

(800) 452-2777

Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas

(800) 275-6264

Telephone

BellSouth, (919) 780-2355

Embarq, (919) 592-9111

MORE ONLINE


More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

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Community Profile


www.newchurchincleveland.org

www.novonordisk-clayton.com


®

SENIOR EDITOR SUSAN CHAPPELL

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER RENEE ELDER

DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER PATRICK CRAWFORD

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER ERICA HINES

GRAPHIC DESIGN ALISON HUNTER, JESSICA MANNER,

JANINE MARYLAND, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD

WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR,

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./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Images Johnston County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed

through the Johnston County Association of Chambers of Commerce and their member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Greater Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce

1115 Industrial Park Drive • Smithfield, NC 27577Phone: (919) 934-9166 • Fax: (919) 934-1337


VISIT IMAGES JOHNSTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESJOHNSTONCOUNTY.COM

©Copyright 2009 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


Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings,

food and fun.

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and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Now Showing in Our Video Gallery

Sit back and enjoy a preview of Johnston County amenities.

Johnston County is rated L for Livability




Ad Index 17 BUILDING BLOCKS CHILDCARE & DEVELOPMENT CENTER

30 CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY

2 CAROLINA REALTY

18 CENTURY 21 SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE INC .

27 CREECH DRUG COMPANY INC .

1 DENTAL CARE CENTER

25 FOUR OAKS BANK

19 JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

C2 JOHNSTON HEALTH

32 NOVO NORDISK

18 RAINBOW LANES FAMILY FUN CENTER

30 SMITHFIELD SLEEP INN & SUITES

26 STEPHENSON GENERAL CONTRACTORS

25 TOWN OF BENSON

23 TOWN OF SELMA

16 TOWN OF SMITHFIELD

32 TRINITY UNITED METHODIST

C4 VINSON RIDGE RACQUET & FITNESS CLUB

26 WILKONS, WELLONS & COATS

31 WILLOWRUN VETERINARY HOSPITAL

We offer adult tennis programs throughout the year! Come join the fun! Meet your friends, play some tennis and relax on the porch!

www.vinsonridgetennis.com

Documents

Images Johnston County, NC: 2010