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Lincoln County Schools Health Academy honored by governor. LINCOLNTON - The Lincoln County Schools Health Academy, a groundbreaking collaboration between Lincoln County Schools, Gaston College, Atrium Health Lincoln and the Lincoln Economic Development Association/Lincoln County Rotary Student Fund ("Rotary Rooted"), has been named the recipient of the 2025 Governor's NCWorks Award of Distinction for Outstanding Innovative Partnership. N.C. Gov. Josh Stein announced the winners on Oct. 15 and 16 during ceremonies held in Greensboro as part of the 38th annual NCWorks Partnership Conference, hosted by the N.C. Department of Commerce. The awards recognize exceptional accomplishments and contributions to workforce development across the state. "This award is a testament to the dedication, creativity and heart that has gone into this partnership," John Hauser, president of Gaston College said. "This academy proves that when education, healthcare and community partners collaborate, we can build vital career pathways for our students." Launched in the fall of 2024, the Lincoln County Schools Health Academy was created to address a critical shortage of healthcare professionals in Lincoln County. The program unites education, healthcare and economic development partners around a shared mission: to build a sustainable local talent pipeline for high-demand health careers. "I'm incredibly proud of the work that has gone into making this program a success for our students and community over multiple years," Aaron Allen, superintendent of Lincoln County Schools, said. "We value our partnerships with Rotary Rooted, Gaston College and Atrium Health for making this opportunity accessible, affordable and timely for the healthcare pipeline of our community." "We are excited to have this wonderful opportunity for our students to get a jumpstart on their college education and careers," Cale Sain, chief of postsecondary readiness and CTE said. "A big thank you to Gaston College and Atrium Health-Lincoln for the support they have shown to our students and our school community." The academy provides students with opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials, gain real-world experience and graduate ready to enter the workforce or continue post-secondary education. What sets the program apart is the introduction of North Carolina's first-ever Practical Nursing (PN) program for high school students. Upon graduating high school, participants in the PN cohort are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) - allowing them to begin their healthcare careers debt-free and job-ready. Currently, the Health Academy serves 36 students - eight from the inaugural PN cohort and 28 from the second cohort. These students represent the next generation of healthcare professionals prepared to meet the needs of Lincoln County and beyond. Governor Stein praised this year's honorees, stating, "These award recipients are further proof that when it comes to workforce development, no state will outwork North Carolina." The recognition underscores Lincoln County Schools' commitment to career-focused learning, community collaboration and innovative pathways that connect students directly to high-demand, high-impact careers.

Commissioner Gupton leaves r'boro board. ROSEBORO - Tuesday night's meeting of the Roseboro Board of Commissioners reflected a town steadily moving forward, marked by infrastructure progress, new funding victories, and heartfelt gratitude for a commissioner's years of service. Mayor Alice Butler presided over the meeting, which included updates on major projects, the announcement of an additional $1 million grant for water system upgrades, and the formal recognition of Commissioner Mark Gupton, who officially stepped down from his position. Mayor Butler began the evening with a rundown of the town's finances, reporting that property tax bills went out on Sept. 22, totaling $551,650, a roughly $10,000 increase from last year, reflecting rising property values across town. She highlighted several active projects, including the RTG building renovation downtown, which continues to "look really good" as construction advances toward a February 2026 completion. The project includes retail space and two studio apartments as part of Roseboro's continuing efforts to enhance its downtown corridor. Butler also shared positive news regarding the town's ongoing water system replacement project, explaining that Roseboro secured an additional $1 million in grant funding from the Division of Water Infrastructure to complete the project in full. "This means we can now do the entire project," Butler said. "All the design and engineering work has already been done, and we're ready to move forward. Sometimes you just have to move fast to get it done." The board voted to tentatively award the $3 million construction contract to Sandy Hollings and Backhoe Services, ensuring that the project remains on schedule for completion by October 2026. Meanwhile, work on the town's $9 million sewer system overhaul continues with multiple sites under construction. Delays on Bullard Street caused by gas line relocation are nearly resolved, and paving on Bridge, West Clinton, and St. Charles Streets has transformed once-rough stretches into smooth, newly resurfaced roads. One of the most personal moments of the evening came when Mayor Butler presented a plaque to Commissioner Mark Gupton, thanking him for his dedication and service from May 2021 through September 2025. Gupton, who recently relocated to Clinton, cited personal reasons for his resignation but spoke warmly about his time serving the people of Roseboro. "I want to be closer to family, and moving to Clinton puts me much closer to them," Gupton said. "But I'll always be thankful for my time serving the people of Roseboro." Reflecting on his four years as commissioner, Gupton expressed pride in the town's leadership and the progress made during his tenure. "What I really appreciate about Roseboro is the dedication of the commissioners, Mayor Butler, the ladies in the office, and Billy Poole and his public works staff," he said. "They do a phenomenal job and don't always get the recognition they deserve. The progress this town has made in just five years is incredible." He added that while the town, like any community, has its share of critics, the leadership has remained focused on progress. "There are always going to be naysayers," Gupton said. "But I'm proud of how the commissioners and the mayor keep looking forward. Roseboro will continue to grow, and it's going to outshine every town in Sampson County." Applications to fill Gupton's vacant seat are now open through Nov. 7, with interviews tentatively scheduled for Nov. 13 and a potential appointment vote during the Nov. 18 meeting. Among those attending the meeting was Sampson County Commissioner Houston "Chip" Crumpler III, who shared his appreciation for the town's direction. Crumpler, who also owns Crumpler Plastic Pipe Inc., has a personal and professional interest in Roseboro's continued growth. "I think Roseboro is in a pretty good spot right now," Crumpler said. "The town has good leadership, and the future looks bright." Crumpler emphasized that communication between local governments remains key to keeping communities like Roseboro strong. "It's important that we keep communication open among all our local governments," he said. "We've been working on that through countywide round tables with the mayors and other elected officials, just sharing ideas, challenges, and opportunities. We've got a lot of good leaders in the county right now, and hopefully we can keep them." For Mayor Alice Butler, the evening's updates and discussions were another reminder of how far the town has come and how much dedication it takes to keep that progress moving. "We learn from other towns, and they learn from us," Butler said. "Running a town is like continuing your education. You just keep learning every single day how to do it better." Butler pointed to the town's determination in pursuing grants as a key reason for Roseboro's steady improvement. "This wastewater treatment plant application is the fourth time we've applied," she said. "We didn't get it the first time, but we've stayed at it, looked at what we could improve, and kept pushing. That's what it takes." She also acknowledged the pride of seeing Roseboro recognized regionally, including recent coverage in the Fayetteville Business Journal, which spotlighted the town's redevelopment projects and local businesses. "They always say imitation is the best form of flattery," Butler said. "If other towns are looking at what we're doing and trying to learn from it, that means we're doing something right. And we'll keep striving every day to do it even better." Contact A.Goodman via email at [email protected] or 910-249-4231.

GUC's IT Department's Cybersecurity Improvement Team received the 2025 Best of North Carolina Technology Award for Outstanding Leadership during the NC Digital Government Summit, hosted by the NC Department of Information Technology.