March 2005 archives

View Archive

Thursday, March 31, 2005

Dudley fire chief says stoplight caused wreck

Bobby Williams photo EMS workers remove David Stevens from the wreckage of his truck on Wednesday. For more information see Truck driver killed....

Truck driver killed

DUDLEY -- A driver for the Mount Olive Pickle Co. was killed Wednesday afternoon after his truck rear-ended a car stopped at a new stoplight on U.S. 117. David Addison Stevens, 56, of Beulaville, died after his truck overturned in...

Fire guts house; 2 escape

Two men escaped injury when a house on Arrington Bridge Road caught fire early today and burned to the ground. "It was a pretty hot night -- like an oven," said Arrington Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Rogers. Rogers said two...

Finally, Terri's long battle ends

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged woman whose 15 years connected to a feeding tube sparked an epic legal battle that went all the way to the White House and Congress, died today, 13 days after...

Student caught with gun at Eastern Wayne Middle School

A 13-year-old student at Eastern Wayne Middle School faces a year's suspension for bringing a gun to school before the Easter break. According to a Goldsboro police report, at about 1:30 Thursday afternoon, a student at the school told a...

Suspect brings weapon to court

A man convicted of knifing and shooting another man carried a switchblade with him during his two-day trial in Wayne County Superior Court. The knife was discovered when Jimmy Parker, 46, of Courtyard Circle, was being searched before being placed...

Public records

Investigations Wayne County sheriff's deputies are investigating these reports: *A shotgun with ammunition, two televisions, a DVD player and movie DVDs, a chest with coins, a video cassette recorder and 100 music compact discs were stolen Wednesday from a home...

Tutu's daughter to speak at Imani Celebration

The daughter of Bishop Desmond Tutu will be the featured speaker at a week-long session of events aimed at empowering the black community in Goldsboro and Wayne County. Rebuilding Broken Places will sponsor its second annual Imani Celebration on May...

Patetown fire district insurance rating improves

The Patetown Volunteer Fire Department's insurance rating has improved by a point, from a 7 to a 6. Officials say the improvement could save homeowners money in annual insurance costs. Chief John Gardner said the new rating was based on...

Tobacco buyout meeting April 14

The Duplin County Cooperative Extension Service will hold a tobacco buyout informational meeting for quota holders and farmers at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, in the Monk Auditorium at James Sprunt Community College in...

'Spoon River' to be held at Wayne Community College April 14-16

The Foundation of Wayne Community College will present the play "Spoon River," at April 14-16 at 8 p.m. April 17 at 3 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium on the college campus. The play is based on the poetic masterpiece, "Spoon River...

Library poetry reading Saturday

The Wayne County Public Library will hold a poetry reading and open mike Saturday, from 2 to 5 p.m., to kick off celebration of "National Poetry Month." Michelle Gallant and C. Khalil Goodman, of Steele Sharpens Steele, will host and...

Briefly

Bloodmobile The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lowe's. Donors will receive a coupon for a free car wash. Grantham Fly-In The second annual Fly-In...

Bloodmobile stops scheduled for April

The April Bloodmobile schedule for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross has been released. April 1: Lowe's from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6: Wayne Community College from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 8: Wayne...

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Street still closed

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Center Street remains closed this morning in front of the burned-out Paramount Theater building. For more information see Rebuilding the Paramount on Center Street is committee's goal....

Rebuilding the Paramount on Center Street is committee's goal

Bigger, better and back on Center Street -- that was the goal of the Paramount Theater Committee as it convened this morning. Appointed last week by the Goldsboro City Council, the committee wants to move quickly to reconstruct the burned-out...

Butterfield talks Social Security

"We need the plan." First District Congressman G.K. Butterfield said Tuesday that lawmakers in Washington are waiting to hear the details of President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security before passing judgment on his idea. He spoke at a "town...

Sen. Dole to announce Princeton grant

PRINCETON -- Sen. Elizabeth Dole will announce a large grant for Princeton's sewer plant project on Thursday at Princeton School. She will join officials from the Rural Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and town leaders in making...

Wayne GOP says U.S. should pull out of U.N.

The Wayne County Republicans Party approved a resolution Monday saying that the United States should withdraw its membership from the United Nations. More than 100 people attended the GOP's annual county convention, held Monday night at the Wayne Center. Ed...

Wayne school official honored

Dr. Willette Campbell Wooten, the director of federal programs for the Wayne County public schools, has received the State Leadership Award from the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators. Wooten was recognized at the organization's annual meeting in Washington,...

Public records

Gun shop break-in Thieves entered a gun shop before dawn today and stole two handguns and a holster, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office report. The property was recovered later. Sheriff's deputies were notified at 3:55 a.m. about a...

Health-care scholarships available

KENANSVILLE -- Carolina East Home Care & Hospice Foundation has established two $1,000 scholarships for health care programs of study. The scholarships are available to provide financial assistance to residents of the seven counties served by Carolina East: Wayne, Duplin,...

Wayne native chosen to lead Special Libraries Association

CHAPEL HILL -- Rebecca Brogden Vargha, a librarian at the School of Information and Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill and a Wayne County native, has been chosen the next president-elect of the Special Libraries Association. She will serve as president...

Duplin Commons project advancing

KENANSVILLE -- County employees may be moving into the new agricultural office building at Duplin Commons around the first of June, said Jimmy White, the project's manager. White said he hopes to be finished with the 2,000-seat event center by...

Celebration to mark Wilson library expansion

WILSON -- The Wilson County Public Library will hold a grand opening on Saturday, April 9, to celebrate a an expansion and complete remodeling. The library has undergone a $5.3 million expansion that has doubled its size to 44,000 square...

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

A boy and his goat get ready for the show

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Jacob Sauls, 7, wrestles his goat out of its pen so it can be weighed in at the Wayne County Fairgrounds this morning. Sauls will be showing his goat at the annual Junior Livestock Show and Sale,...

Zoning compromise reached on churches in high-noise zone

The Goldsboro Planning Commission agreed Monday night that new churches should be allowed in some high-noise areas near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The commission recommended that the City Council permit new assembly halls in areas with average noise levels...

Incentives unfair, says Pate-Dawson chairman

State financial incentives that helped lure a competitor to Johnston County are an unfair intrusion of government into the marketplace, says the chairman of the Pate-Dawson Co. of Goldsboro. Mike Pate said he has been disappointed by the state's decision...

Biodiesel plant location changes

Plans to build a biodiesel plant at Mount Olive are proceeding but the location of the plant has changed. Business and economic development officials will not say where the new location is, only that it is not far from the...

Family Y to hold annual Health Kids Day Saturday

The Goldsboro Family YMCA urges kids and families to "put play in your day" this weekend. The 14th Annual Healthy Kids Day will be held Saturday at the Family Y. Senior Program Director Hal Warner said he expects to see...

Duplin will participate in Saturday's Great American Cleanup

Duplin County is participating Saturday in Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest annual community improvement program. The Duplin County Board of Commissioners have waived the tipping fee for items resulting from the day's clean-up activities. For Saturday...

Public records

Break-in James Dean Elswick, who led law authorities on a high-speed, rush-hour chase on March 22, was arrested Monday by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and charged with three felony crimes in connection with a residential break-in. The 35-year-old Elswick,...

Men's fraternity working with Carver youth

MOUNT OLIVE -- A Goldsboro mens' fraternity has been building relationships with a group of fifth-grade boys at Carver Elementary School this school year. Members of Kappa Alpha Psi formed "The Brothers," in the fall to provide positive role models...

Candlelight vigil to be held in Kenansville for children who died from abuse

KENANSVILLE -- A candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Kenansville Park for children who have died from child abuse. Thirty children died in North Carolina in 2003 from child abuse, according to state agencies. The Sarah's...

Leadership Wayne tours county locations

The 2004-2005 class of Leadership Wayne County held its community services/arts and leisure day earlier this month. The class met Friday, March 18, at the Family YMCA where Hal Warner, the Y's senior program director, provided a tour of the...

Briefly

World War II program The Wayne County Museum will present a World War II event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature veterans of the war. There will be re-enactors dressed as American and German...

Monday, March 28, 2005

Cultural exchange

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Maj. Sung Dae Kim, right, and Capt. Kee Pill Ryu, left, test their helmets after suiting up on Friday afternoon. For more information see South Korean airmen get lessons in jets, Southern hospitality....

South Korean airmen get lessons in jets, Southern hospitality

Eight visiting South Korean pilots and weapons specialists are learning more than just flight procedures for F-15 fighter jets during their visit to Seymour Johnson Air Force base. They have also had a crash course in North Carolina basketball and...

Residents flee coast after major earthquake strikes area devasted by December tsunami

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — A major earthquake struck off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island late today, and officials warned that a tsunami could strike the area. Residents of Banda Aceh fled their homes in panic. The U.S....

Man, 18, killed in one-car crash Sunday evening

An 18-year-old driver was killed Sunday evening in a one-car wreck on New Hope Road near its intersection with Miller's Chapel Road, the Highway Patrol said today. The victim was identified as Anthony Devon King of 134 Beston Drive, LaGrange....

Junior Livestock Show starts Tuesday

Young people raising livestock are busily preparing for the 57th Annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale to be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Michael Sauls, 17, and his brother, Jacob, 7, are two Wayne...

Circus to be in Wayne Saturday and Sunday

The Cole Bros. Circus coming to Goldsboro Saturday and Sunday will include a number of new attractions, says its promoter. "This is an all new show," said Ron West, the marketing director for the circus. "It's a main event from...

Public records

Checkpoint Wayne County authorities issued more than 100 charges Friday night and early Saturday during a "Booze It and Lose It" campaign against impaired driving on Dr. M.L. King Jr. Expressway, the U.S. 70 bypass, near Oak Forest Road. Three...

Volunteer program aimed at helping students

Members of the Governor's One-on-One Volunteer Program met Thursday at Walnut Creek Country Club to exchange ideas on ways to build on its successes. The mentoring program's aim is to help keep at-risk young people more firmly anchored in their...

Motorcylcists Ride for Red Saturday

Thirty-five motorcyclists turned out Saturday for the first-ever Ride For The Red fund-raiser to benefit the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross. Riders raised $2,695 and more donations are expected to boost that total. The event was part...

Nominations for state volunteer awards being accepted

Nominations are being accepted for the 2005 North Carolina Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. Each county in the state is allowed to nominate five individuals, businesses or groups to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities. In Wayne,...

Opinion: A bit of history

Most among us must have thought our Global TransPark created at Kinston a few years ago was a novel idea. Well, not completely. The concept for the TransPark is that, among other things, it would be used to fly materials...

Extensive schedule of computer classes offered at James Sprunt

KENANSVILLE -- James Sprunt Community College has developed an extensive schedule of computer classes. The Continuing Education Department has scheduled classes for both days and nights. The first round of classes will run from April 4 through May 19. Classes...

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Bill would enable jet-noise zones

A bill that would allow cities and counties to create jet-noise zones through existing local ordinances is being considered in the General Assembly. The bill, introduced by state Sen. John Kerr last week, would add a new subsection to local...

Flowering fun returns to downtown Fremont

FREMONT -- Overcast skies did not keep the devoted from attending the Daffodil Festival in downtown Fremont on Saturday. The crowd grew as the day wore on and the sun broke through the clouds in the afternoon. Mid-morning, vendor Cheta...

Memorial gift provides for storytime

Beyond the typical tomes and quiet zones of a college library, a group of Wayne Community College students were shaking their bodies, trying to rid themselves of the "bugs in their britches" and laughing uproariously. Librarian Silvia Judd was leading...

Marker to be dedicated in memory of veterans

WARSAW -- A Blue Star Memorial Marker, honoring North Carolina's military veterans, will be erected April 6 at the I-40 rest stop near Warsaw. The Garden Club of North Carolina will dedicate a Blue Star Memorial Marker at 2 p.m....

Federal camp instructor named to Habitat board for prison partnerships

David Holt, an instructor at the federal prison camp at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, has been named to Habitat's for Humanity's national advisory board on prison partnerships. More than 500 partnerships between correctional facilities and Habitat for Humanity have...

MOC sorority sponsors reading visits to elderly

MOUNT OLIVE -- Some Mount Olive College students have been participating in a community involvement project called "Reading for Joy." Sponsored by the Omega Upsilon Sorority, the program provides a way for undergraduate students to visit and read to retirement...

Public record

Fire investigation In the area of 800 Camp Jubilee Road, witnesses reported a fire to a building in the rear of a residence was intentionally set early Saturday morning. Fire and rescue personnel responded at 3:01 a.m. Sheila Shepherd of...

Friday, March 25, 2005

Easter preparations

News-Argus/Kaye Nesbit Doris Hood left and Betty Rose Sutton finish setting up the Easter display at Falling Creek Baptist Church in Grantham on Thursday. The two women said that each year church members set up the cross display, complete...

Bill seeks help for brain injury victimes

When state money is distributed for health programs, people suffering from traumatic brain injuries are largely forgotten, says state Sen. John Kerr. That's something he is trying to change. Kerr introduced a bill in the Senate this week that asks...

Groups seek more awareness of brain injury

It's called the "silent epidemic" because, for many, brain injuries go undiagnosed. "People don't even know that they have a brain injury," said Darlene Wetzel, community outreach coordinator with the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina. "It's sometimes missed when...

College building ahead of schedule

Good weather has brought Wayne County Community College six weeks closer to opening its new Continuing Education Center. The facility is 60 percent complete, said job superintendent Pete Corser of Daniels and Daniels of Goldsboro, the contractor for the project....

Hospital names interim chief nursing officer

Debra Hernandez, the chief nursing officer at Wayne Memorial Hospital for nearly three years, leaves next month to take over the same job at Durham Regional Hospital. Hospital officials have announced an interim chief nursing officer until a permanent replacement...

Public records

Sex offenses get 25-year term A 23-year-old Goldsboro man has been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison after being convicted by a Wayne County Superior Court jury of four felony sex offenses with a 2-year-old child. Johnnie Edward...

Briefly

Deeds office on line Real estates transactions from 1969 to the present in Wayne County may be looked up on the county's new web site. The web site is www.waynegov.com. Register of Deeds Lois Mooring said her office went on...

Thursday, March 24, 2005

In the still of the day

News-Argus/Kaye Nesbit The fog crept in on little cat feet, wrote Carl Sandburg, and silently did it lie upon the water when Ralph Holland arrived on the bank of the Neuse River this morning. The sun's rays were just...

Local religious leaders, lawyers, weigh in on case

Goldsboro-area ministers, attorneys, and medical professionals have opinions of their own when it comes to the Terri Schiavo case. The Rev. Art Evans of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church believes that the issue is a matter of faith. "As a propounder...

WCC scholarships

The deadline for high school seniors to apply for Foundation of Wayne Community College scholarships for this fall is March 31. Guidance counselors in all Wayne County high schools have applications. Students also can also get the application from the...

New Wayne Country Day headmaster named

A new headmaster has been named for Wayne Country Day School. Todd Scott Anderson will start work July 1, said the school's board of trustees. Anderson was introduced to the school's faculty, students and their parents today. Current headmaster Eddie...

Bus shelters being erected

Gateway riders will finally have places to escape the rain, wind or sun as they wait for the bus. After years of delays, the Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority recently received 11 shelters to erect at some of the most heavily used...

Pikeville resident has greenthumb when it comes to festival flower

PIKEVILLE -- For years, Alton Finch has been known around northern Wayne County as "the daffodil man." For as long as he can remember, he has grown from 50 to 300 daffodils around his home on Duck Pond Lane near...

Public records

House trashed A house at 1900 Antioch Road sustained an estimated $250,000 in damages between Feb. 3 and Wednesday, according to a report filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The house, valued at $450,000, was owned by Charles Kendall....

Village of Walnut Creek and Salvation Army team to help residents

WALNUT CREEK -- The Village of Walnut Creek and the Salvation Army will be teaming to help residents clean out their closets, attics and garages next month. The Village Council agreed Wednesday night to make the Salvation Army a partner...

Another engineering study for Mount Olive airport would be waste of money, town officials say

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive Airport officials say another engineering study to determine how to expand the town's airport runway could be a waste of money. Plans to extend the airport runway to the north have run into opposition from...

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Daffodils in bloom

Bobby Williams photo A healthy stand of daffodils under a sign in downtown Fremont announces the 19th annual Fremont Daffodil Festival on Saturday. For more information see XXX.-->...

Rush-hour chase on Berkeley ends in Seven Springs

A wild rush-hour chase on North Berkeley Boulevard startled residents Tuesday afternoon. It ended 30 minutes after it started with the arrest of a man wanted on serious felony charges. The chase ended in Seven Springs, where Wayne County Sheriff...

Fremont festival to be held Saturday

FREMONT -- The Band of Oz will return Saturday for the 19th annual Daffodil Festival in downtown Fremont. The band will perform from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second stage near East Main and Sycamore streets. The group...

Renee Carey named editor of News-Argus

Renee Carey, formerly the editor of the Griffin Daily News in Georgia, has been named editor of the Goldsboro News-Argus, adding a new voice to the newspaper's editorial page. Mrs. Carey was editor of the Griffin paper for four years....

Public records

Scam alert Goldsboro police are warning the public about a scam involving a caller who poses as a family member, friend or neighbor. The caller, a man, tells the victim that the relative's car has broken down and he needs...

Council presides over public hearings

Darby Place residents say they feel less safe since a fence was removed between their road and an apartment complex. Three people asked the Goldsboro City Council on Monday night to require the fence be reinstalled behind the apartment/condominum complex...

Eastpointe directors discuss policy changes

Eastpointe's board of directors spent three hours Tuesday putting new policies in place, and discussing plans on how to meet the requirements of new state mental health laws. The agency was formed in July 2003 with the merger of the...

Wayne has more 4- and 5-star daycares

Wayne County Partnership for Children, which operates the Smart Start program for young children, hopes to benefit from additional money proposed in a bill making its way through the Legislature. If Senate Bill 678 becomes law, an additional $26 million...

Butterfield visits Goldsboro

First District Congressman G.K. Butterfield will meet with the public twice during a visit to Goldsboro on Tuesday, March 29. From 2:30-3:30 p.m., the congressman will be at Greenleaf Vision of Faith Community Center, 2110 N. William St., for a...

Briefly

Dive-in movie The Family Y will be showing "The Incredibles" as its dive-in movie Friday. The showing will begin at 7 p.m. The Y shows the movie on the wall of its swimming pool area, allowing people to watch from...

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Paramount on fast track, says Council

The lights of the Paramount Theater won't be dimmed long, members of the Goldsboro City Council said Monday night. The council appointed a nine-member committee to come up with a plan for rebuilding the burned-out theater. "We're putting this on...

U.S. 70 bypass may be slowed by lack of money, official says

It appears Wayne County may have to wait a while for a U.S. 70 bypass, but the Clayton bypass will most likely move forward this year, says a state transportation official. "We're having to cut back on some of the...

Mount Olive Airport meeting Wednesday

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Airport Committee will meet Wednesday morning to rethink its plans to expand the town airport. Some residents of the Kelly Springs Road area, which borders the northern end of the airport runway, are opposed...

Public records

Bad day A 24-year-old Dudley man did not have a good day Monday. Joseph Daniel Figgins of Emmaus Church Road was accused of choking a woman in the afternoon, taking his mother's car at night, driving while impaired and assaulting...

Briefly

Teacher job fair Wayne County public schools will hold its annual teacher job fair on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the gymnasium at Goldsboro High School. Prospective teachers can visit and learn about the programs...

Monday, March 21, 2005

Getting ready...

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Mount Olive College Assistant Coach Joey Higgenbotham works with members of the basketball team Friday afternoon in preparation for the tournament in Grand Forks, N.D. For more information see Trojans in Hoop Heaven....

Trojans in Hoop Heaven

MOUNT OLIVE -- When former Goldsboro High School player Victor Young decided to continue his basketball career at Mount Olive College, he thought the idea of the Trojans advancing into the NCAA Division II Elite Eight was a dream at...

Airport 'doing nothing but growing'

To get to the Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport, just get follow the signs from Goldsboro on U.S. 117 north of Goldsboro. The country roads take you out past the signs for a barbecue restaurant and down a road flanked by trees...

City manager shares leadership decisions

Joe Huffman is trying to change city government, but the ultimate goal is to change Goldsboro. Two months after becoming city manager, Huffman has begun converting the city to a "learning organization," a management style that he learned and used...

Don't be alarmed by combat sounds

Don't be alarmed if you hear sirens or voices from loudspeakers near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base this week. The base is participating in training exercises, and the noise may be heard off-base....

Public records

Four hurt in wrecks Four people were injured and damage was estimated at $15,900 in three recent traffic collisions in Wayne County, officers reported. *Three people were injured in a two-vehicle wreck at 5:21 p.m. Friday on North Berkeley Boulevard...

County collects 22,480 pounds of electronics

Wayne County residents began spring cleaning over the weekend, getting rid of more than 11 tons of broken or outdated computers, TVs and other equipment. The electronic recycling collection held at Sam's Club on Saturday tallied 22,480 pounds, according to...

Opinion: 'Alternative' jail

Dedicated and popular Carey Winders probably is safe in his position as Wayne County sheriff for as long as he wants to serve. That is, unless Joe Arpaio comes to town. Arpaio is the sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. He's...

Mount Olive College Singers holding Spring Fling

MOUNT OLIVE- The Mount Olive College Singers' Spring Fling Concert is scheduled for Friday, April 22 at p.m. at the Mount Olive Historic Assembly Hall. The theme for this year's performance is American Musical Theater and will feature popular songs...

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Thousands take part in battle re-creation

FOUR OAKS -- Thousands of Civil War re-enactors and thousands more spectators filled the fields at the Bentonville Battleground on Saturday to mark the 140th anniversary of the battle. Donnie Taylor, the military coordinator for the event, said he estimated...

Bus system facing federal disability law

A federal mandate will force the Gateway system to begin offering door-to-door transportation within Goldsboro for many disabled people. Beginning April 1, people who qualify will be able to arrange an unlimited number of rides during any hours that the...

Wayne, Duplin, Sampson leaders take 'eye-opening' trip to Mexico

KENANSVILLE -- Problems that people in Mexico face are not that different from those we face in the U.S, said Duplin County Manager Fred Eldridge after he returned from a trip there. Eldridge was part of a contingent of Wayne,...

Briefly

Garbage pickup Wednesday Goldsboro city offices will be closed Friday in observation of the Easter holiday. Sanitation collections that would normally be picked up Friday will be done Wednesday instead. Waste Industries schedule Waste Industries will be closed on Good...

Diabetes a growing problem in Wayne

The number of diabetes cases reported in Wayne County has increased over the last decade, say health officials, prompting the need to look at new ways to provide education and intervention services. County Health Director James Roosen said that lifestyle...

Goldsboro singer among Gimme the Mike! finalists

Daniel D. Johnson, 30, of Goldsboro is one of 20 contestants selected for Fox 50's Gimme the Mike!, a statewide American Idol-style competition. Johnson was one of six hundred people who auditioned for the final round of competition April 13-14...

Student news

Crystal Prince of Goldsboro, a senior at Southern Wayne High School, has been awarded a Barton College Presidential Scholarship. The renewable scholarship will cover $6,500 of tuition for the freshman year. Miss Prince is the daughter of Butch and Denise...

Murder suspect remains at large

Search for murder suspect continues LAGRANGE -- The Lenoir County Sheriff's Department was still looking for a murder suspect Saturday night. Witnesses identified Pablo Baltazar as the shooter in the Thursday night shooting of Saul Sanchez Alonzo at Dooley's Bar...

Alzheimers caregivers workshop planned

A workshop is planned for later this month for family members and caregivers of Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Sponsored by the eastern North Carolina chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the free workshop will be held Tuesday, March 29, from 9:30...

Superior Court

Wayne County Superior Court These cases have been heard in Wayne County Superior Court: *Joseph Harold Battle Jr., 35, Wayne Avenue, possession of stolen goods (habitual felon), 80-105 months. *Bertha Wilcox, 29, North Center Street, assault with a deadly weapon...

Military Business Center established at WCC

Doug Simmons has been director of the Military Business Center at Wayne Community College since November. But he's just getting started. The North Carolina Military Business Center has established offices at the small business centers, or SBCs, of the four...

Shoe boxes for tsunami victims still being collected

Shoe boxes for tsunami victims There's still time to pack an Easter shoe boxes for children who were tsunami victims. Someone will be at Adamsville Baptist Church on Thursday, March 31 from 2 until 9 p.m. to collect shoe boxes...

Essay contest focuses on sexual abstinence

Wayne County health officials hope an essay contest will support teens already practicing abstinence and encourage others to follow their example. This will be the third year for the abstinence essay contest, sponsored by the Health Department in collaboration with...

Habitat for Humanity to celebrate 10th home

The public is invited to a dedication ceremony for the 10th house built by Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro Wayne County. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 at 103 Winslow Place off John Street....

Friday, March 18, 2005

Old man in a tree

Here's looking at you! That's what some folks feel when they see the "face" in the tree near the home of Billy Spurgeon in the Rone's Chapel community near Mount Olive. The "face" began emerging from the tree a...

Diabetes a growing problem in Wayne

The number of diabetes cases reported in Wayne County has increased over the last decade, say health officials, prompting the need to look at new ways to provide education and intervention services. County Health Director James Roosen said that...

Six selected for Governor's School East

Six Wayne County high school students have been accepted to the 2005 summer session of the North Carolina Governor's School. Chosen to attend sessions at the Governor's School East on the Meredith College campus in Raleigh were Jameson C. Best...

Gateway head could soon be aboard

After three years, the Goldsboro Wayne Transportation Authority should finally have a new executive director soon. Gateway's board of directors voted Thursday to offer the job to Stephen Wright, 33, of Holly Springs. Wright has a varied background in mass...

Wayne Community College to offer emergency technology course

Wayne Community College will offer a new program in emergency preparedness technology in the fall. Two classes, Sociology of Disaster and Critical Incident Management, will be offered as part of the program. The college received approval last month from the...

Public record

Suspect sought in murder in LaGrange The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man they believe shot two people, killing one of them, Thursday night in LaGrange. Deputies were called to a shooting at Dooley's Bar in LaGrange...

Trooper reassigned

KENANSVILLE -- Rambling accusations on an Internet chat room are blamed for rumors that have ended with a state trooper being pulled off patrol and assigned to a desk. State Highway Patrol Lt. Clen Denning in the Raleigh Public Affairs...

Kindergarten registration

Kindergarten pre-registration day for the Wayne County public school system will be held on Friday, April 8, from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at each elementary school. A child must be five years old on or before October 16 to...

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Wreck on U.S. 13

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber U.S. 13 north of Goldsboro was tied up Wednesday afternoon by an accident involving two trucks an a van, all of which ended up in ditches. The Highway Patrol charged the Southco truck's driver with failure to...

U.S. 13 North wreck snarls traffic

An accident that involved two trucks and a van tied up traffic on U.S. 13 North for a while Wednesday afternoon. According to N.C. Highway Patrol reports, around 2:45 p.m., a tractor-trailer operated by Southco was headed south on the...

Wayne, Duplin students help victims of tsunami

Local school children have sent 13,000 health kits and 12 blankets to tsunami victims. Fourth graders at Tommy's Road Elementary School initiated a school-wide project recently to gather donations of toiletry items and blankets, and North Duplin Elementary School students...

Mike Rouse retiring as News-Argus editor

J. Michael "Mike" Rouse is retiring as editor of the Goldsboro News-Argus, ending a journalism career that spanned 47 years. Rouse started as a reporter for the News-Argus but left to join The Associated Press in Charlotte in 1961. He...

Thousands to take part in Bentonville battle re-creation

An estimated three thousand Civil War re-enactors will converge at the Bentonville Battleground Historic Site on Saturday and Sunday to mark the 140th anniversary of the largest battle ever fought on North Carolina soil. State historians say they expect as...

Public records

Accidents The N.C. Highway Patrol investigated these wrecks: *At 2:20 p.m. Monday, a 1998 Nissan ran the stoplight at the intersection of U.S. 117 and Old Mount Highway and struck a 1993 Cadillac, reports said. Both vehicles had $2,000-$3,500 in...

Parole board receives 'numerous' letters in Prevette case

The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission has received numerous letters about the possibility of parole for convicted killer Garfield Noah Prevette. Prevette was sentenced in 1984 to life in prison, plus 40 years, for the kidnapping and murder of...

Briefly

Horse festival Saturday The Fourth Annual Eastern Carolina Regional Horse Festival will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Cost is $5 with children 10 years old and younger admitted free. The event...

Depression linked to brain malfunction

Members of the Wayne County Mental Health Association got a crash course Wednesday on brain functions during their monthly "Lunch and Learn" session. The seminar was held at the county school administrative offices on Royall Avenue. Dr. Edwin Hoeper, a...

Program at Brogden helps students set goals

A colorful sign outside Izola Barbour's kindergarten classroom at Brogden Primary School sets the tone for all who enter: "We will greet each child with a smile and words of exaltation. We will do our best to create a safe,...

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

New arrival

News-Argus/Winkie Lee Look who's arrived in time for Farm Heritage Days! This lamb was born a few weeks ago at the Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace in Fremont. He joins the other sheep who live in the barn area...

Fremont could reap financial benefit from U.S. 117 intersection

FREMONT -- The intersection of the new U.S. 117 and N.C. 222 could be a bonanza for Fremont, a town that has suffered economically from a lack of good roads. Connie Price, the director of the Wayne County Planning Department,...

City citation policy irks appearance panel

Members of the Goldsboro Appearance Commission expressed frustration Tuesday at a report that showed the city has not given citations to people with unsightly properties in almost a year. Commission members called the report another sign that city officials don't...

Wayne County commissioners find it's only county paying for Eastpointe services

Wayne County pays its fair share to cover mental health services at Eastpointe, but county commissioners learned Tuesday that Duplin and Sampson counties aren't paying theirs. The commissioners decided to send a letter to the Eastpointe Board of Directors, requesting...

Eight members nominated to BRAC commission

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., said Tuesday that North Carolina's military bases are an important to the nation's commitments around the world. Her comments came during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Anthony J. Principi...

School board's serial meeting may have violated Open Meetings Law

The Wayne County Board of Education may have violated the state's open meetings law by not discussing its response to a letter from county commissioners during a public meeting. The issue was discussed on the telephone by board members. School...

Old electronics will be accepted for recycling Saturday at Sam's Club

Keep Wayne County Beautiful is sponsoring an electronics recycling collection from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Sam's Club. Franklin's Recycling Company will be collecting old computers, TVs, VCRs, camcorders, telephone systems, printers, copiers, fax...

Public records

Roof damaged in break-in try Thieves cut a hole in the roof of a gun shop before dawn today and tried to steal firearms, according to a report filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Detectives said no weapons had...

Briefly

Highway meeting Information on the state Transportation Improvement Program will be presented by highway officials Thursday at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce at 308 N. William Street. The meeting of the Rural Transportation Planning Organization will begin at 10...

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Frosty start to the day

News-Argus/Kaye Nesbit Could this be the last frost of the season? Temperatures dipped below freezing this morning and a late-winter frost formed on windshields and grassy areas. Frost covers the ground on a field off of Arrington Bridge Road...

City planning commission seeks compromise on church zoning

The Goldsboro Planning Commission hopes to find a compromise in the next two weeks that would protect both a church's investment and its congregation. At a special meeting Monday, the commission reviewed the draft copy of the unified development ordinance,...

County's board of education does not want an educational council

The Wayne County Board of Education does not want a county educational council formed, as proposed in the county's strategic plan. The Wayne County Board of Commissioners sent a letter to the school board two weeks ago, stating their intention...

Goldsboro High Student gets top scholarship offers

Goldsboro High School senior Ashelyn Nicole James has been named the recipient of two prestigious college scholarships, the Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Park Scholarship to N.C. State University. In all, 43...

Reservists' employees get the ride of their lives

The 916th Air Refueling Wing sponsored an Employee Appreciation Day on Saturday at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The event was held to thank the employers of reservists by giving them a chance to experience an in-flight refueling aboard a...

916th Air Refueling Wing recognized as best in the Air Force Reserve Command

By CAPT. SHANNON MANN 916th ARW Public Affairs The 916th Air Refueling Wing has been racking up the awards lately. This time, another reserve section has been recognized as the best in Air Force Reserve Command. On March 4, Maj....

Public records

Princeton makes a clean sweep PRINCETON -- Princeton police officers completed "a clean sweep" Monday, tagging unlicensed animals, junked cars, solid waste violations and dilapidated structures. Police Chief Eddie Lewis said the project "went real well." Those property and animal...

Duplin to study plans for new solid waste transfer station

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County Commissioners will hear a report on plans for a new solid waste compacter-transfer station at their meeting Monday. The commissioners will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall in Wallace. Solid Waste Director Bee Barnette...

Briefly

Hospital co-payment meeting Representatives from Wayne Memorial Hospital will be at the Senior Center, 204 East Walnut St., at 10 a.m. on Wednesday to discuss the upfront co-payments that the hospital now requires. Anyone 60 or older is invited to...

Re-enactors, specatators expected to crowd Bentonville on anniversary of largest Civil War battle fought in N.C.

FOUR OAKS -- Three thousand Civil War re-enactors and 20,000 spectators are expected to converge at the Bentonville Battlefield Historic Site on Saturday to re-enact the largest Civil War battle fought in North Carolina. On March 19-21, 1865, Union and...

Monday, March 14, 2005

U.S. needs to secure borders, Jones says

The U.S. needs to secure its borders to reduce the threat of terrorism, Rep. Walter B. Jones said Saturday night. Between 8,000 and 10,000 people entered the U.S. illegally every day, Jones said at the annual Law Enforcement Banquet held...

Hospital offers part-time shuttle service

Visitors to Wayne Memorial Hospital shouldn't be surprised to see a golf cart with a flashing strobe light making the rounds in the hospital's rear parking lot. A "courtesy cart" was introduced last week to shuttle patients and visitors from...

De-Rail-A-Bration celebrations expands to two days

Goldsboro's De-Rail-A-Bration expands to two days this year with the booking of the Malpass Family for a night of country, bluegrass and gospel. De-Rail-A-Bration will be held Friday evening, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, at Pedestrian Plaza, corner of...

Commissioners to consider mobile home standards

The Wayne County Commissioners will discuss a mobile home standards ordinance during a Tuesday workshop. In December, the Wayne County Planning Board recommended that mobile homes built before 1976 be prohibited from moving into the county's rural areas. The planning...

Public records

Murder trial to be non-capital A 28-year-old Goldsboro man will not be tried for his life in last year's murder of another Goldsboro man. Leandren Andre Wilson of North Kornegay Street was charged with first-degree murder in connection with fatal...

Opinion: Avast, matey

Perhaps the attitudes of Admirals Vern Clark and William Fallon at a congressional hearing last week could be perceived by some as in keeping with the great tradition of the U.S. Navy. The subject was the Outlying Landing Field the...

Historical Association members hope to resurrect Web site

The Wayne County Historical Association is hoping to resurrect its website, a tool the county manager says will not only help the organization but aid in economic development as well. At a historical association meeting last week, County Manager Lee...

Motorcyclists take to road to raise money for the Red Cross

Area motorcyclists will Ride for the Red on Saturday, March 26 to raise money for the Red Cross. The Goldsboro chapter of Blue Knights International is sponsoring the 75-mile ride, which will begin at the Red Cross office on North...

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Bartlett says rebuild Paramount downtown

PINE KNOLL SHORES -- Goldsboro can rebuild the Paramount Theater better than new, Recreation Director Neil Bartlett told the City Council Friday. On behalf of the Recreation and Parks Commission, Bartlett urged the city to reconstruct the historic theater downtown,...

Strategic plan tied to land-use plan

It's no coincidence that the terms "strategic plan" and "land-use plan" are constantly popping up in Wayne County commissioner meetings. The two are inextricably linked. In a recent briefing to state legislators, commissioners brought up local issues that are expected...

Jail commission seeks answers to overcrowding

The Wayne County Criminal Justice Study Commission -- formed in 1998 to find ways to reduce the jail population -- was reconvened Friday for the first time in more than two years, with the jail overflowing again. For about a...

Wayne department heads learn about zero-based budgeting

What's here today could be gone tomorrow. That's what Wayne County department heads are learning during this year's budgeting process as the county implements both zero based budgeting and employee performance standards. "If you want a job added in your...

High-noise areas discussed by council

PINE KNOLL SHORES -- Goldsboro officials are now likely to allow mobile homes to be replaced and houses to be rebuilt or expanded in high-noise areas around Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. But the City Council is preparing to take...

News-Argus buys Wayne County Phone Book

The Goldsboro News-Argus announced today the expansion of its telephone directory publishing business, Community Yellow Pages of Eastern North Carolina, with the acquisition of Our Town Phone Directory, Inc.'s Wayne County Phone Book. Hal Tanner III, News-Argus general manager and...

Wayne Country Day teachers prepare for classes

Teachers do more than just stand in front of a classroom. Sometimes they also make sure the classroom is still standing. When a storm swept through Wayne County last week, it caused extensive damage to the roof at Wayne Country...

Wayside Home in trouble

After helping recovering women addicts for more than 20 years, the Wayside Fellowship Home may have to close its doors due to a lack of money. "We are in a financial crisis," said Mary Winn, the home's director. "Unless we...

Volunteer Center opportunities

Volunteer Wayne offers opportunities to serve Wayne County for all ages. This service is provided by Volunteer Wayne and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at Wayne Community College. Contact Joy Pearce at 735-5151 ext. 336 or at www.volunteersolutions.org/uwwc/volunteer...

Teachers attend seminars

CULLOWHEE -- Several area educators have participated in seminars at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Mary L. Hawk of Goldsboro, grades K-5 English as a second language teacher at Eastern Wayne Elementary School, attended a support...

Superior Court report

These cases have been heard in Wayne County Superior Court: *Jasper James Jackson, 28, Goldsboro, indecent liberties with a child, 17 to 21 months; indecent liberties with a child, 17 to 21 months. *Robert E. Reed, 47, Patton Street, Mount...

Student news

Twenty-six students joined Wayne Community College's honor society during the spring induction ceremony. The students accepted the invitation to join the Upsilon Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Phi Theta Kappa members represent...

Fire destroys building

Fire ALBERTSON -- A fire in the Outlaws Bridge community of Duplin County on Friday afternoon destroyed an abandoned frame house and spread to the nearby home of a woman with four children. But no one was at home and...

Public record

Break-ins charged The Wayne County Sheriff's Office has charged a LaGrange man with breaking and entering. Matthew Anthony Bride, 24, of Jeffrey Drive, LaGrange, was charged with two counts each of breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen property....

Mount Olive Court

These cases have been heard in Mount Olive District Court: *Shannon Arnette, 33, Northeast Church Road, Mount Olive, larceny, 45 days suspended, 12 months supervised probation, $5 restitution, $100 fine and costs. *Anita Simmons Hall, 29, Kelley Street, Mount Olive,...

MOC career fair held

MOUNT OLIVE -- Seventy-four businesses and seven graduate schools were represented at the annual Mount Olive College Career Fair recently. Students had the chance to meet employers and other students, practice their interview skills, and discuss job opportunities, summer internships,...

Men and women in the military

Army Spec. Tonya D. Wooten has returned to Wuerzburg, Germany, after a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wooten is regularly assigned to the 67th Combat Support Hospital in Wuerzburg. While deployed in Iraq, her unit provided...

District Court report

These cases have been heard in Wayne County District Court: *Daniel Michael Stocks, 31, Buttercup Lane, Dudley, driving while impaired, six months. *Rontrakus Rashon Best, 24, Stronach Avenue, assault on a law-enforcement officer, assault, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana,...

Sunday Briefly

Hayden lands a part Alex Hayden of Goldsboro participated in the taping of an episode of the WB television series, "One Tree Hill," this week. He played the role of a car salesman. Hayden used to act when he worked...

Computer class at Boys & Girls Club

MOUNT OLIVE -- A survey of the parents of active members of the Boys & Girls Club showed more than 75 percent of the parents were not computer literate and did not understand the basic function of a computer. "In...

Cardinal Coach wins Duplin business award

KENANSVILLE -- Cardinal Coach Inc. of Warsaw has received the first annual Small Business of the Year Award in Duplin County. The program, sponsored by James Sprunt Community College, the Duplin First Council, the Wallace Chamber of Commerce and the...

Friday, March 11, 2005

City Council aims to hit violators in the pocketbook

PINE KNOLL SHORES -- Goldsboro City Council members were shocked Thursday to find out that people who violate city ordinances have not been fined in nearly a year. Fines are likely to resume in April and at higher levels --...

Areas surrounding downtown need study, DGDC chairman says

PINE KNOLL SHORES -- Rebuild the Paramount? Sure, only do it somewhere else, one Goldsboro resident said. While she said she had wonderful memories of the theater, she had been afraid to go there for years, the woman wrote in...

Alternatives to closing road being investigated

Some Mount Olive residents are opposing a proposal to expand the town's airport runway by closing an adjoining road, but local officials say they are still willing to look at all options. "We're planning a workshop with landowners around the...

Briefly

Wild weather ride Hold on to your hats, Wayne County could be in for another wild weather ride over the next few days when everything from storms to snow is possible. There is the risk of severe weather this afternoon,...

Public records

Man charged in murder try A 20-year-old Goldsboro man -- wanted by Goldsboro police on a charge of attempted first-degree murder on New Year's Day -- was arrested Thursday night by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Cedric Levern Smalls of...

City fights eight big fires including Paramount Theater

Goldsboro firefighters extinguished eight major fires in February, including the predawn blaze that destroyed the century-old Paramount Theater on South Center Street. The eight fires caused an estimated $1,177,700 in damages, including $1.1 million to the historic downtown theater. The...

Rosewood boy's dreams come true at Cherry Point

By TOM BONÉ The Havelock News Dalton Wallace wore his flight suit to church. The 7-year-old from Goldsboro was still flying high from a recent visit to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where he was the center of attention...

Salvation Army to renovate shelter

The Salvation Army will soon be renovating its homeless shelter, thanks to money from the city. A $100,000 grant, made possible through the Community Development Block Grant program, will allow the Salvation Army to upgrade the inside of the building....

County social workers honored by schools

Social workers in Wayne County public schools were dubbed the "Magnificent 13" during its annual luncheon at Goldsboro Country Club on Thursday. Patsy Faison, the principal at Tommy's Road Elementary School, coined the phrase during her remarks as guest speaker....

Wayne Country Day to open Monday

Wayne Country Day School will reopen Monday, says its headmaster. The school has been closed since a severe storm Tuesday damaged several classrooms. Headmaster Eddie Radford said today that most of the damage to Wayne Country Day was to the...

Pickle Fest plans being firmed

MOUNT OLIVE -- Plans are taking shape for the 19th annual N.C. Pickle Festival. The festival will be held April 22 and 23, with kick-off events set for April 16 and 21. On April 16, the Tour de Pickle bike...

Commemoration of CSS Neuse scuttling scheduled

KINSTON - The scuttling of the Confederate ironclad CSS Neuse, which was built at Seven Springs during the Civil War, will be commemorated Saturday at 3 p.m. at the CSS Neuse/Richard Caswell state historic site in Kinston. The boat, built...

Farm buildings damaged by Tuesday storms

Tuesday morning's storms caused damage to farm buildings across Wayne County, according agents with the Cooperative Extension Service. Kevin Johnson said that many farm buildings were damaged by the high winds. Nine tobacco greenhouses sustained heavy damage, while others received...

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Wayne schools receive national health award

The Wayne County Public Schools system has received a $10,000 national award for its innovative school-based health programs. The school system was named a winner of the 2005 National Civic Star Award. The award is sponsored by the American Association...

City Council promises to improve services

PINE KNOLL SHORES -- Goldsboro officials pledged Wednesday to improve city services, which some say have slipped in recent years. During their annual retreat, City Council members urged City Manager Joe Huffman to set high standards for department heads, including...

Six indicted for bank robbery

Six people have been indicted on charges for the armed robbery of a Goldsboro bank, and five more have been indicted for an armed robbery last year at a Goldsboro home. The Wayne County Grand Jury handed up 77 true...

Delta's JetKinston takes to air

KINSTON -- More than two hundred officials from Lenoir and surrounding counties and the state government attended a celebration Wednesday to welcome Atlantic Southeast Airlines to the Kinston Regional Jetport. Beginning April 1, Atlantic Southeast, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines,...

New industry eyeing Wallace location

WALLACE -- A new industry may come to the South Park industrial park and bring at least 20 new jobs. Millennium International Group, LLC, has offered to buy five acres at South Park Center near Wallace for $6,000 per acre....

Public records

Wayward driver fined for crash A Goldsboro driver who lost control of his speeding car and it smashed through the side of Delmus' Hardware store pleaded guilty to felony fleeing to elude arrest and was fined $500 Wednesday in Wayne...

Local Red Cross nets 18,600 dollars at sports auction

The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross netted $18,600 on its seconnd annual Sports Memorabilia Auction on Tuesday night. About 300 people attended the fund-raiser at Lane Tree Country Club. Special guests included a table of military personnel...

Princeton police to get tough with U.S. 70 traffic

PRINCETON -- Princeton police say they will vigorously enforce traffic safety law along U.S. 70. "If they see a blatant violation, they'll have to take care of it," Police Chief Eddie Lewis said of his four-man department. Only one intersection...

Mount Olive reaches for mini-grant to jump-start retail operations downtown

MOUNT OLIVE -- The town of Mount Olive will pursue a grant to bring a retail incubator to downtown. The Mount Olive Town Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Monday night to gather comments about the idea, but nobody...

Y to hold "Healthy Kids Day" next month

The Goldsboro Family YMCA will hold its 14th Annual Healthy Kids Day next month. The event will be held April 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Family Y on Parkway Drive. The event is held each year...

Goldsboro Chapter of the Continental Societies to host Mid-Atlantic session

The Goldsboro chapter of Continental Societies, Inc., will host the 21st annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference Friday and Saturday at the Holiday Inn Express in Goldsboro. There are 13 chapters in the Mid-Atlantic Region including chapters from Ohio, North Carolina, South...

Briefly

Longleaf Pine Presentation of three memberships into the Order of the Longleaf Pine and an announcement regarding an unusual new organization will be features of a Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet Saturday at the Wayne Agricultural Center. The function will begin...

Wednesday, March 9, 2005

After the storm...

News-Argus/Kaye Nesbit Mother Nature took two pieces of history when this barn was destroyed. Gerald Howell kept an antique truck inside. For more information see Storm leaves disrupted lives, property damage....

Storm leaves disrupted lives, property damage

Clear, sunny skies greeted Wayne County residents this morning, but trees freshly splintered and scattered debris from damaged buildings showed that Tuesday had been different. Violently different. The line of thunderstorms that moved eastward across the county Tuesday had disrupted...

City may change policy to allow earlier retirement

The Goldsboro City Council is considering changes to the city's personnel policy that would allow some employees to retire earlier than expected. If the revisions are passed, some city employees would be allowed to convert unused vacation days to sick...

County board OKs first subdivision in floodplain since Hurricane Floyd

The Wayne County Planning Board approved Tuesday the construction of the first subdivision with multiple lots in a flood plain since Hurricane Floyd struck. Final approval of the subdivision is up to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, since the county's...

Man killed in accidental shooting

WARSAW -- A Warsaw area man was killed Monday night in an accidental shooting. Law officers said Bruce Mason, 38, was returning to his home on Gaston Street when he dropped a handgun he was carrying and it went off,...

Public records

Crime of the Week A break-in at the Bojangles restaurant on N.C. 111 South has been selected by Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers as this week's "Crime of the Week." When Goldsboro police arrived at the restaurant at 3:35 a.m. on...

Leadership class restores old cemetery

Visitors to Waynesborough Village will soon be able to see an original cemetery that was restored by the 2004-05 class of Leadership Wayne County. The class worked Saturday on the cemetery, which dates back to the original township. They cleared...

Pikeville board awaits bids for park project

The Pikeville town board held its monthly meeting at the community center Monday night. All bids for contracts on the remainder of Pikeville's park project are to be submitted by Thursday at 5 p.m., town administrator Lonnie Graves said. Still...

Briefly

School days off The Wayne County public schools have several holidays and early dismissal days for students this month. Monday is a teacher workday. There will be no school for students. Students will be dismissed early on March 22 in...

Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Wayne Country Day School damaged in storm

News-Argus/Kaye Nesbit Parts of the roof lie on the soggy ground outside Wayne Country Day School. For more information see Violent storm rages across Wayne....

Violent storm rages across Wayne

A violent thunderstorm raged across much of Wayne County about 10 a.m. today, damaging buildings, toppling trees and power lines and blocking traffic on several roadways. Strong winds damaged part of Wayne Country Day School. Water was reported to...

School board takes issue with retreat story

Members of the Wayne County Board of Education said Monday night that they have been invited to and have attended retreats held by the county Economic Development Commission,despite some reports to the contrary. The subject surfaced during the open comment...

Center Street to be re-opened

The south-bouth lanes of Center Street should reopen later this week, although they will be narrowed to one line of traffic in front of the Paramount Theater. City workers will erect a chain link fence in front of the theater,...

Public records

Grass fires Wayne County volunteer firefighters and the N.C. Forestry Service were busy Monday, putting out grass and woods fires, according to reports filed with Wayne County Emergency Services. Indian Springs volunteers went three times to a fire in the...

Bomb threat was false alarm

Two messages about possible bomb threats at Grantham School have been investigated, with officers from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office scheduled to make another sweep of the school this week as a precaution. According to Kristy Fair, the public information...

City to refinance utility, road bonds

The city of Goldsboro should save more than $200,000 through a bond-refinancing plan approved Monday night by the City Council. The council agreed to refinance up to $6.3 million in debt remaining from water, sewer and street-improvement bonds that were...

Briefly

Honesty pays Goldsboro High School senior Jarrett Bryant didn't hesitate when he spotted an bank envelope full of money while he was working at Food Lion on Sunday a week ago. Bryant, 18, is a cashier and bagger at the...

Illness at the Duplin business expo blamed on lighting system problems

WALLACE -- Malfunctioning lighting led to the closing of the Duplin County Business Expo on Saturday, officials say. The annual event, held at the New Duplin Warehouse in Wallace, shut down after several people developed skin and eye irritations. Lou...

Princeton closer to having new town hall

PRINCETON -- Princeton moved a step closer Monday night to building a new town hall. An official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture told town officials Monday that the town is in line to get a $300,000 grant from disaster...

Mount Olive College gets quarter-million dollar grant for improvements

MOUNT OLIVE -- The town of Mount Olive has received a grant for $250,000 from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center to build water and sewer lines to Mount Olive College and to also construct a lift station at...

Eureka to check town's sewer lines

The Eureka Town Board decided Monday to move forward with smoke-testing the town's sewer lines. Residents of the town have complained about what they call high sewer bills. Eureka is charged monthly by the town of Fremont, who in turn...

Monday, March 7, 2005

House fire

Bobby Williams photo A house on Brentwood Drive at Dudley caught fire Sunday, but firemen prevented it from being demolished. An estimated $40,000 worth of damage was done to the home, which was valued by firemen at around $75,000....

New computer system will connect county offices

A new telephone and computer system for Wayne County government offices will improve efficiency, reduce recurring costs and allow county employees to respond quicker in emergencies, says the county manager. Two years ago, County Manager Lee Smith directed his staff...

Weather Service says serious thunderstorms may blow into Wayne

Much of central North Carolina, including Wayne County, will be threatened by severe weather tonight and Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh. Forecasters say there is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms as a cold front...

Public records

House fires Goldsboro firefighters on the C-shift had a busy weekend that was capped Sunday by a kitchen fire. Unattended cooking was blamed Sunday for a fire that damaged a house at 1003 N. James St., according to fire officials....

Classes in the arts being offered at WCC

Several continuing education courses that develop skills and enhance artistic talents will start at Wayne Community College this month. All are eight-week classes with a $35 fee. Students can register and pay fees in the Continuing Education Department office prior...

Two major farm signup programs start March 14

The Wayne County Farm Service Agency will start two major signups on March 14. In order to provide the service needed to complete all the programs administrated by FSA, an appointment schedule has been developed. Farmers are asked to contact...

Newest prosecutor has New England roots

The newest assistant in the District Attorney's Office in Wayne County had no idea that he wanted to be a lawyer, much less prosecute criminals. Tom Perlungher, 29, grew up in Keene, N.H. He was graduated from the University of...

Albertson library drive reaches 50,000 dollars

ALBERTSON -- A private campaign aimed at establishing a library in this northeastern Duplin County community has raised $50,000, say its organizers. The board of the Northeast Duplin Communities Library has been working for more than a year to create...

Sunday, March 6, 2005

Goldsboro soldier, cited for bravery, returning to battle front in Iraq

After a brief visit home, Sgt. Montreil Sanders returned to Fort Hood, Texas, last week. And then it's back to Iraq. Sanders, who graduated from Goldsboro High School not quite three years ago, is about to begin his second tour...

Buildings on the table at upcoming council retreat

The future of the Paramount Theater, the replacement for the Community Building, and the long-discussed civic center are all expected to be on the table this week at the Goldsboro City Council's annual retreat. City officials will convene at noon...

Before they're ready to talk, children may say much through use of sign language

Most parents are ready to respond to their newborn's every need. The thing that usually holds them back is understanding what those needs are. Without knowing how to talk, an infant has a limited ability to communicate. But a local...

State employees tell local legislators they need raises

Three of Wayne County's legislators met for breakfast Saturday in Goldsboro and got some hard questions to go with their sausage and scrambled eggs. Members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina asked N.C. Sen. John Kerr and N.C....

Local theater alumnus performs in touring company of 'Crazy For You'

As a cast member in the Troika Entertain-ment production of the musical "Crazy For You," Whit Baldwin of Mount Olive has spent the past several months touring the country. Next weekend, he and his fellow cast members will present five...

Professionals hope sight of diseased lungs will deter middle-schoolers from smoking

Sixth-grade students at Norwayne Middle School watched in awe as Dr. Gool Gupta held up plastic bags containing human lungs that had been damaged by cancer and emphysema. "Don't think that if you smoke, this won't happen to you," she...

Public records

Driver injured in rollover crash A driver was ejected from his sport utility vehicle Friday after it overturned several times following a collision with a car at Harris Street and South Andrews Avenue, Goldsboro police reported. Jack Shane Carter, 28,...

Friday, March 4, 2005

Harris Street Wreck

Bobby Williams photo Goldsboro police work at the scene of a wreck shortly after 7 this morning. The Nissan Pathfinder rolled several times near the intersection of Harris Street and Andrews Avenue after attempting to avoid a car pulling...

Highway officials may restrict access to U.S. 70

State transportation officials are considering closing medians and intersections along U.S. 70 to try to speed up highway traffic and eliminate accidents. Should the proposal proceed, several Wayne County intersections would be closed or redesigned over the next two to...

State should develop ports and railroads, says logistics expert

North Carolina is missing out on billions of dollars by failing to develop its ports and railroad system, a logistics expert told Wayne County transportation officials Thurs-day. "We need to create a new container port or just put out a...

Tickets still available for Red Cross sports memorabilia auction

The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross still has tickets left to its second annual Sports Memorabilia Auction. The event will be held Tuesday at Lane Tree Country Club. Proceeds from the auction will be used to benefit...

916th unit honored

The 916th Air Refueling Wing's Job Control Service/Helpdesk, staffed by members of the 716th Communications Flight, has won the Air Force Reserve Command's Gen. Edwin Rawlings Award for 2004. The members of the 716th Communications Flight are a trained team...

Decision on new transportation authority director expected soon

The Goldsboro Wayne Transportation Authority is close to reaching a decision on a new executive director. Wayne County Manager Lee Smith said Thursday that a field of five finalists has been narrowed to two people. Four applicants were interviewed, and...

$1 million earmarked for U.S. 70 bypass

The federal government will contribute $1 million to help defray the cost of building a new U.S. 70 bypass in Wayne County, if a highway funding bill is approved by Congress. First District Rep. G.K. Butterfield announced the possible funding...

Notary public training offered at WCC

Wayne Community College Continuing Education will offer its two-session Notary Public training 6:30-9:30 p.m. on consecutive Wednesdays, March 9 and 16. Another session will be held April 13 and 14. The Course will cover the proper procedures and duties of...

Public records

Accidents Six people were injured and damages were estimated at $26,500 Thursday in four traffic collisions in Wayne County, officers reported. *Three people were injured and damages were estimated at $12,000 in a two-car collision at 1:35 p.m. Thursday at...

MOC choir to perform Messiah Part II

The Mount Olive College Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Alan Armstrong, will present George Frederic Handel's Messiah Part II on Friday, March 18, at Faith Fellowship Church near Kinston. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. The church...

Briefly

Passport service now at post office The Wayne County Clerk of Courts Office will no longer accept passport applications, Clerk Marshall Minchew said Thursday. The downtown Goldsboro Postal Service office will accept passport requests on weekdays between 10 a.m. and...

Thursday, March 3, 2005

Fatal wreck

News-Argus/Turner Walston Rescue workers and firemen from the Belfast and Patetown departments work at the accident scene on Mt. Carmel Church Road Wednesday. For more information see Woman killed in wreck in northern Wayne....

Commissioners want strategic plan committee activated

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners is sending a letter today to members of the county Board of Education, asking that a steering committee that worked on the 1997 strategic plan for the county be reconvened within the next 30...

Woman killed in wreck in northern Wayne

A 37-year-old Goldsboro woman was killed Wednesday about 11 a.m. in a collision at the intersection of Airport Road and Mt. Carmel Church Road. Wanda Wright Williams ran the stop sign at the intersection while she was traveling south on...

EDC sets priorities, explains retreat policy

The Wayne County Economic Development Commission set priorities for the year at a meeting Wednesday. Commission officials also attempted to set the record straight regarding the attendance of members of the Wayne County Board of Education at the annual EDC...

Public records

Two hurt in wrecks Two people were injured and damages were estimated at $48,650 in eight recent traffic collisions in Wayne County, officers reported. *A driver was injured in a two-vehicle collision at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on East Ash Street...

Briefly

Pickle Princess Pageant The 2005 N.C. Pickle Princess Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday in College Hall on the campus of Mount Olive College. Miss N.C., Kirsten Elrod, is the mistress of ceremonies. Celebrity guests will be Miss...

Court TV to feature Rosewood hazing incident

A hazing incident involving a former Rosewood High School student will be part of a Court TV episode tonight that focuses on hazing. The reported incident at Rosewood High School in 2000 will be one of those examined. The TV...

Students learn from sad events

Sad events can sometimes turn into moments when teachers can help students learn about their world. In the Wayne County public schools, the December tsunami that killed thousands of people in Asia sparked a wave of compassion as students found...

Faison residents complain about dog

FAISON -- A residents of the Town of Faison complained to the Town Board on Wednesday night about a dangerous dog running loose in her neighborhood. Peggy Ward said a stray dog killed one of her cats Tuesday. She said...

Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Commissioners approve zoning restrictions around base

The Wayne County commissioners approved an ordinance Tuesday restricting population density and establishing a noise overlay zone around Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The ordinance will affect about 26 square miles of land. New homes won't be allowed in areas...

Road issues bring input, no decisions

A request to close a county road in order to expand the Mount Olive Airport drew opposition Tuesday at the Wayne County Commissioners' meeting. The commissioners didn't make a decision. "Don't close Kelly Springs Road." said Willie Ray Starling, "Close...

Mount Olive turns attention to fire hydrants

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive town officials are trying to figure ways to improve its fire-hydrant system, including where to install new ones. The town's volunteer firefighters say they want hydrants everywhere they can get them. Proximity to a hydrant...

Goldsboro High and Brogden Middle win Knowledge Bowl

Goldsboro High and Brodgen Middle schools emerged the winners at the Knowledge Bowl held recently at Dillard Middle School. Sponsored by the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base African American Heritage Committee, the event was designed to further educate youth on...

Public records

Charges These people were charged by Goldsboro police: *Antonio Montrell Moore, 20, of North Pineview Avenue, assault on a female and assault on a law officer, resisting arrest, failure to appear, injury to real property, trespass, no bond. *Henry Calvin...

American Red Cross heroes campaign kicks off

Local "heroes" came together Tuesday to kick off the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross' annual fund-raising campaign. This year's Heroes Campaign will run through March 31. A "hero" is someone who vows to raise at least $1,000...

Neuse River Senior Games scheduled for April 25

The Neuse River Senior Games will begin April 25, and registration forms are available at the Duplin County Senior Center at 213 Seminary Street in Kenansville. Senior citizens in Duplin, Lenoir, Greene, Craven, Jones and Pamlico Counties are eligible to...

Briefly

A legendary goof One legend of the Wayne County Courthouse was even stranger once it was recounted in Tuesday's newspaper. During Monday's Wayne County Reads event, Claud Ferguson told the story of how a bullethole appeared in a stained-glass window...

Dillard celebrates Wales Day

The Irish have St. Patrick's Day. The Welsh have St. David's Day. March 1 marks the celebration of the patron saint of Wales, a day for Welsh all over the world to celebrate their culture. So Josie Whysall, the media...

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Tracking a wanted man

Bobby Williams photo Wayne County sheriff's deputies, above, execute a search warrant Monday at the home of Billy Ray Thompson on Hack Drive near Durham Lake Road. They had chased the man who is wanted on felony, misdemeanor and...

MOC awarded 5.68 million dollar building loan

Sen. Elizabeth Dole has announced that the Mount Olive College Foundation will receive a $5,685,000 federal loan to help with the construction of three campus buildings. The money will come from money the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes available for...

Lt. Gov. Perdue tours Seymour Johnson Air Force Base

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue toured Seymour Johnson Air Force Base on Monday and met with Col. Mike Holmes, commander of the 4th Fighter Wing. She said she is looking for ways to show North Carolina's support for its military bases....

Bill gives annexation areas a say in the process

A bill in the state House would give residents of areas under consideration for annexation a say in the process. Republicans Nelson Dollar of Wake County and Trudi Walend, who represents Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties, are the primary sponsors...

Courthouse tales keep audience rapt

Almost 150 people listened Monday in the old superior courtroom at the Wayne County Courthouse as local lawyers told tall tales from the county's legal past. Geoff Hulse, Charlie Gaylor Jr., Tom Brown and Assistant District Attorney Claud Ferguson wove...

Public records

Man charged with murder A 19-year-old man from Winston-Salem was arrested Monday night by Goldsboro police and charged with the fatal shooting of a man in a restaurant parking lot. Shawn Naurice Holmes was charged with the murder of LaShonnie...

Bowden plant has new owners

WARSAW -- The former Georgia Pacific plant in the Bowdens Crossroad community of northern Duplin County has new owners -- a Wayne County logging company that plans to hold equipment auctions at the site. Georgia-Pacific sold all of the buildings...

City Planning Commission recommnds zoning changes to allow new subdivision, two businesses

The Goldsboro Planning Commission agreed Monday night to support several zoning and other requests that are headed to the City Council. All of the issues have been non-controversial so far. Should no opposition surface, they are all likely to be...

Briefly

Lecture on France Fe Finch, a foreign language instructor at Wayne Community College, will lead a noontime lecture and discussion on "France as Part of the European Community" on Monday, March 14, at the college. The event will be held...