The ride through northern Johnston County on Interstate 95 will get a bit smoother as road crews use stimulus money to repave 7.3 miles of the highway.

The N.C. Department of Transportation recently got the go-ahead to use $3.9 million in stimulus money to repave the busy highway from Mile 99.8, near Selma, to Mile 107.1 at the Wilson County line near Kenly.

The DOT will take bids from contractors starting Oct. 20, and road work could start as soon as November. Officials hope to get the project done by Aug. 1, 2010.

"This is more of a maintenance treatment," said project manager Jerry Page. "It's a good thing to keep up what you have."

In addition to the highway's four lanes, the project will include the ramps at the five interchanges on the seven-mile stretch. Some of those ramps might have to close during the repaving, and traffic could be detoured, Page said.

At least one lane of I-95 in each direction will remain open throughout the paving project, and all lanes will be open during weekends and holiday periods, when traffic is heaviest.

"Traffic should not have to stop," Page said.

Stimulus money is funding a number of road projects in Johnston County, including the Booker Dairy Road Extension in Smithfield and another repaving project on Interstate 40 east of Benson.

Staff writer Colin Campbell

Hospital puts curbs on visiting

In anticipation of a hectic flu season, Johnston Health has begun restricting visitation at its hospital in Smithfield and outpatient center in Clayton.

Until further notice, no one under the age of 18 may visit patients. Also, no more than two visitors and a significant other may visit a patient at any one time.

To protect pregnant women and infants, the Women's Pavilion of Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield is permitting no one under the age of 18 to see patients or to visit in the waiting room.

In the emergency departments, no more than two visitors may stay with a patient.

Also, visitors with virus or flu-like symptoms, such as fever, vomiting or diarrhea, will not be allowed to see patients.

"We're taking these steps to protect our patients, staff, volunteers and visitors and to prevent the further spread of flu in our community," said Amy Hamby, director of patient-care services in Smithfield. "We are hopeful that the public will help us with these measures."

As always, hospital officials are encouraging Johnstonians to keep their hands clean.

"Before and after seeing patients, visitors should use soap and water to wash their hands or use the anti-bacterial gel that is available at entrances and other areas of the hospital," Hamby said.

The visitation restrictions apply to all inpatient and outpatient departments of both Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield and Johnston Medical Center-Clayton. However, departments may make exceptions for extraordinary circumstances, such as critically ill patients.

Woman accused of lying about boy

A Four Oaks woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of falsely reporting that her toddler son was missing.

In May 2008, Rosnah Hassan Thomason made a 9-1-1 call to report that 3-year-old Siraj Munir Davenport had disappeared at Brightleaf Flea Market, where they had gone so that she could buy produce.

It turned out that not only was Davenport not her son, but he had traveled to Japan with his father -- Thomason's brother -- and she knew he wasn't missing, according to a complaint filed by an FBI agent on Sept. 4. The boy had been living with her for several months, and her brother told investigators that she didn't want to give him up.

After Thomason reported the boy missing, police closed the flea market and searched cars and the nearby Neuse River. An Amber Alert went out. Volunteers canvassed neighborhoods and put up posters.

Thomason faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney George Holding's office.

Hospital names interim CEO

Johnston Health has named an interim chief executive officer.

Charles W. Elliott Jr., 57, a native of Atlanta, Ga., began his duties Oct. 6. He fills the vacancy left by former CEO Kevin Rogols.

Elliott will remain in the position while Quorum Health Resources, Johnston Health's management company, searches for a permanent successor.

In all, Elliott has 33 years of experience in managing hospitals.

From March until early September, he was interim CEO of a surgical specialty hospital in Denver, Colo. Before that, he spent six and a half years at CEO of Rowan Regional Medical Center, a 268-bed hospital in Salisbury.

From 1996 till 2002, Elliott was a group vice president for QHR. During his tenure, he worked with Johnston Memorial Hospital, now Johnston Medical Center of Smithfield, and members of the hospital board.

"I'm looking forward to working with Johnston Health as the interim CEO," he said.

Elliott has a master's degree in business administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a master's degree in health administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He earned his bachelor's degree from Furman University in Greenville, S.C.

Elliott is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He and his wife, Deborah, a registered nurse, have a grown son and daughter. The couple live in Salisbury but will move to Johnston County during his stint as interim CEO.

Ruth Marler, head of Johnston Health's Smithfield hospital, bridged the brief gap between Rogols and Elliott. Ralph Stewart, chairman of the Johnston Health Board of Commissioners, thanked her for her service.

"I just want to say thank you to Ms. Marler for the great job she's done as interim CEO while Quorum was getting us one on site," Stewart said. "She and the administration team did an excellent job of running the hospital job in the interim."

Lottery winner

A Johnston County man is among the latest winners in the N.C. Education Lottery. Richard Allen of Clayton won $25,000 playing "Lucky Gold."