Honoring Cannon Family marks sad $219 anniversary PAGE 5A COUPONS INSIDE! The Wilson Times WEEKEND EDITION Online Daily • Printed Tuesdays and Fridays | MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER — A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION SINCE 1896 | wilsontimes.com | Friday, August 13, 2021 | $2 Wilson’s population dips Skull identified “While we anticipated that etc. would point to this. It’s hard Man reported Officials question COVID would have a negative to make a full assessment this impact on census accuracy, we early, so we need to see more. missing in 1979 census figures are surprised that it actually led Again, these numbers don’t to the decrease that the census seem to match what we are see- By Lindell J. Kay By Brie Handgraaf reported today,” said Rodger ing.” [email protected] | 252-265-8117 [email protected] Lentz, chief of the Wilson plan- Local, state and federal of- | 252-265-7821 ning and development office. ficials acknowledged the chal- Authorities have identified a “My initial reaction is that these lenge the pandemic placed on skull found in the Buckhorn Res- Despite a significant push numbers do not reflect what is getting an accurate response to ervoir nearly three decades ago. for residents to participate in happening in our community.” the census, but the true accura- Discovered in 1993 with two the 2020 census, data released Lentz said 1,009 new housing cy of these numbers is unclear. bullet holes, the skull belongs Thursday indicates significant units were added from 2010-19, Matt Shaw, Wilson communi- to Dennis Ray Etheridge, who decreases to the local popula- and after demolitions were sub- cations coordinator, said a com- was reported missing from Wil- tion. tracted, there’s still a 762-unit mittee of city, county, school and son County in 1979, according The city of Wilson’s popula- increase within the city in that public library staff spent two to information provided by Sgt. Police forensic artists produced tion decreased 2.7%, from nine-year period. years developing a strategy to Eric Kearney, public informa- this sketch to help identify a man 49,214 in the 2010 census to Assistant County Manager maximize census participation. tion officer for the Wilson Po- whose skull was recovered from 47,851 in 2020, according to the Ron Hunt echoed Lentz’s con- “We were going to hold lice Department. the Buckhorn Reservoir in April U.S. Census Bureau. Wilson cerns. public events on April 1 and “Etheridge would have been 1993. Wilson police say the skull County dropped from 81,234 “I don’t feel confident with throughout the sign-up period 21 or 22 years of age at the time belongs to Dennis Ray Etheridge, people to 78,784 in the 10-year the initial numbers,” said Hunt. to encourage people to fill out he went missing from informa- who was reported missing from span between nationwide sur- “None of the information we Wilson County in 1979. Contributed veys. see as far as growth, housing, See CENSUS, Page 4A See SKULL, Page 2A photo Tobacco value could top $400M By Drew C. Wilson [email protected] EXPANDED | 252-265-7818 COVERAGE Tobacco markets opened this week with both enthusiasm and Scan this QR code with your relief. smartphone or mobile device The enthusiasm comes from higher market demand for the to watch two videos posted crop, and the relief comes from with this story online. the remarkable resilience of the plant that bounced back after a season of weather extremes. Wilson County has around 7,800 acres of tobacco, which is about 1,000 more acres than last year. Tobacco markets opened this week with large international buyers welcoming the first contract bales at purchasing sta- tions in Wilson. Kenneth Kelly, who owns one of Wilson’s three secondary markets, Horizon Ltd., said one tobacco dollar turns over four statistic is important for people times in the local economy. So, to remember. the Wilson County tobacco crop “We talk about how in the impacts the local economy by old days, Wilson had sold 100 $120 million.” million pounds of tobacco in its Harrell said Wilson is enter- heyday, and that was celebrated ing its 132nd tobacco market as the world’s largest tobacco season. market and the world’s greatest “There are eight tobacco tobacco market,” Kelly said. contract receiving stations Wilson’s sales total only and three secondary markets/ reached 100 million pounds on auctions in Wilson,” Harrell a couple of occasions in that said. “Essentially, all manu- market’s history — in 1975 and facturers and leaf dealers do 1976. business in Wilson. Kenneth “If you put this year’s crop at Joseph Gardner, second from left, joins workers in sorting through tobacco from curing barns at Gardner Kelly, Horizon Ltd., estimated 350 million (pounds) and you Family Farms in Wilson County. Drew C. Wilson | Times the U.S. flue-cured tobacco say that 60% of it is coming market at 350 million pounds. through Wilson — and I think in the old days.” mean that the money’s not still generate over $30 million in Rick Smith, Independent Leaf, that is probably a conservative Kelly said few even know flowing,” Kelly said. sales,” said Norman Harrell, estimated that 65% of that figure — you are at 200 million about the tobacco sales because director of the N.C. Cooperative would be sold in Wilson. That pounds of tobacco,” Kelly said. they’re now conducted privately. ECONOMIC IMPACT Extension’s Wilson County Cen- tobacco would have a value “We are selling twice as much “That makes it more of a non- ter. “Farmers do business local. now in this market as we were public event, but that doesn’t “The crop this year should Economists have stated that the See TOBACCO, Page 4A CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Back to a more normal school year restrictions from the last school guidance allows for a more Most schools require year will be gone. normal school experience, in- masks, end other Ben Williams, assistant super- cluding lunch in the cafeteria, intendent of administrative ser- assemblies and parent visits to restrictions vices, said he’s looking forward the schools. Social distancing to a more traditional school year guidelines are also gone, and for students and teachers and is that means buses can be at full By Lisa Boykin Batts thankful for a first day of face- capacity. [email protected] | 252-265-7810 to-face school in August. When classes resume, Wilson WCS will continue adhering County’s traditional schools will Wilson Early College Academy Principal Randy St. Clair walks down Wilson County Schools’ stu- to the StrongSchoolsNC Public revert to their previous Monday the hall with masked students on Wednesday. Students in most schools dents and staff will be wearing Health Toolkit from the N.C. through Friday hours. Elementa- across the county will wear masks when school resumes this month. masks when school resumes Department of Health and Hu- Drew C. Wilson | Times Aug. 23, but other COVID-19 man Services, and the current See SCHOOL, Page 2A Weathercast With Albert Thomas Jr. Preview of FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY the week posted Tuesdays. Preview of the weekend Sunny Mostly sunny Chance of showers posted Saturdays. wilsontimes.com HI 92 LO 73 HI 89 LO 72 HI 84 LO 70 2A THE WILSON TIMES | wilsontimes.com Friday, August 13, 2021 NAACP receives grant to curb youth detention rates By Olivia Neeley yards initiative provided said Wilson’s data found ies and rural counties munity priorities that sup- that public safety truly [email protected] the grant money. The that youth detention rates are now grappling with port families and enhance means the safety of ev- | 252-265-7879 program focuses on sus- are higher in Wilson than the nation’s highest community safety. erybody. taining grassroots efforts in many other rural coun- rates of jail and prison “Vera’s In Our Back- “As the COVID-19 The NAACP’s Wilson to curb the high and ris- ties in the state. incarceration and the yards initiative is build- pandemic brought to the Branch has received a ing use of incarceration “Our goal is to utilize negative impacts of that ing a national movement forefront, investment in $45,000 national grant in small cities and rural data to determine where rising trend. to end mass criminaliza- carceral infrastructure to continue its work on communities. The Vera and why incidents that In Our Backyards com- tion and reverse mass instead of community re- dismantling the school-to- Institute of Justice is a lead to youth detention oc- munity partnerships are incarceration by focusing sources has made many prison pipeline. national criminal justice cur,” White said. “A focus intended to support local on the nation’s smaller communities even more The grant was awarded nonprofit. will be on prevention ef- organizations committed cities and rural com- vulnerable during pub- to Wilson’s chapter and its The Wilson NAACP is forts through community to reducing incarceration munities,” said Jasmine lic health crises. That is partners, Emancipate NC part of a cohort of organi- outreach and awareness rates; limiting arrests; Heiss, campaign director why we are proud to dis- and the Community Alli- zations working in part- and parent engagement. addressing inequities in for Vera’s In Our Back- tribute this third round ance for Public Education. nership with the initiative. Our motto remains ‘Stron- the pretrial system; elimi- yards. “We are focused of community grants The Vera Institute of Carol White, Wilson’s ger Unified.’ It truly takes nating racial, gender and on ending the quiet jail to local organizations Justice’s In Our Back- NAACP education chair, a village.” class-based disparities in boom by decriminaliz- working to combat the While major cities have incarceration; and resist- ing poverty and public rising use of jails that is seen a reduction in jail ing jail expansion.