February 2006 archives

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Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Drug money

Submitted photo Goldsboro-Wayne County Drug Squad investigators seized more than $189,700 in cash and $89,600 in cocaine from a Pikeville home Monday. Three people were arrested as a result of a week-long investigation. For more information see Drugs, $189,725...

Drugs, $189,725 cash found in Pikeville

PIKEVILLE -- A total of $189,725 in cash and cocaine with an estimated street value of $89,600 were seized and three people arrested Monday at a home in the 100 block of Pinkney Road. The cash and drugs were seized...

Civic center not a top priority this year

Goldsboro City Manager Joe Huffman wasn't sure sure if a new civic center would become a reality for the city, but that didn't stop him and other city officials from discussing the issue and other city priorities with Wayne County...

Wayne County native on road to recovery from Iraqi roadside bomb attack

A military hero and recent Purple Heart recipient quietly slipped into town over the weekend. Hospitalized in Washington, D.C., since being injured by a roadside bomb while deployed to Iraq, it was his first time returning to Goldsboro. He had...

Price: Wait for the study results

EDITOR'SNOTE: This is the final installment in a four-part series examining the debate over funding for Wayne County school facilities improvement. Asked to respond to questions, in addition to Wayne County Commission Chairman Atlas Price, were Wayne County Schools Superintendent...

Thomas files for run for seat on county school board

Former coach Dave Thomas, who retired as director of health, physical education and safety for the Wayne County school system, filed for the District 1 seat on the county Board of Education Monday. The seat is held by incumbent Lehman...

Public records

Fire destroys barn, contents DUDLEY -- Fire destroyed a storage barn and its contents and damaged the owner's home and sport utility vehicle early Sunday at 136 Quiet Drive, off Arrington Bridge Road, a fire official said. A neighbor saw...

Man killed in wreck identified

MOUNT OLIVE -- A passenger who was killed last week in a two-vehicle, head-on collision on N.C. 55 has been identified by the Highway Patrol as Victor Cerritos, 19, of 1412 Old Smith Chapel Road, Mount Olive. State troopers hunted...

Murder charge filed; suspect sought

A 20-year-old Goldsboro man was charged in a warrant Monday with the fatal shooting of Octavius Manley on Sunday in the 600 block of Wilmington Avenue. Basher Elijah Baker, whose last-known address was on Hugh Street, was developed as a...

Hospital parking lot repairs to be made

Parking lot repairs at Wayne Memorial Hospital began today, resulting in some road closures Hospital officials said "crack sealing" is being done in the front of the main tower visitor parking lot. The entrance road to the lot will be...

Monday, February 27, 2006

Remembering those who contributed

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Maekyah Conley holds a poster with the letter "B" and a drawing of a baby carriage, representing improvements made to the baby carriage and patented by African-American inventor William H. Richardson. The performance was part of Black...

Thefts up, violence down in city

Crime rose by 4 percent in 2005 in Goldsboro. Police Chief Tim Bell attributed much of the increase to the economy, including soaring gas prices. Most violent crime declined last year, he said. The overall increase resulted from more armed...

Man, 19, dies after Sunday shooting

A 19-year-old Mount Olive man was shot Sunday night in the 600 block of Wilmington Avenue, Goldsboro police reported. The victim was identified as Octavius Manley of 100 Royall Ave. Manley was found lying unresponsive in the street at about...

Stories of everyday heroes part of Black History Month

My parents were former slaves and I was the youngest of 17 children. In 1904, I founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, a college name that later changed to include my name. This college was unique...

Heath files for re-election to district court

District Court Judge Beth Heath of Kinston has filed for re-election for her seat in the 8th Judicial District that includes Wayne, Lenoir and Greene counties. Her filing Friday was one of two in Wayne and Duplin counties as the...

Public records

Drug charges Three men were arrested Sunday by Goldsboro police and charged with felony drug offenses. *Lamont Tyrone Conaway, 52, of Crawford Street was charged with possession of cocaine and two misdemeanors, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a...

Clarification

A story in Friday's News-Argus incorrectly said Timothy Paul Harvey, 39, of Laurel Street, was jailed without bond after being charged with assault on a female, stalking, larceny and injury to real propety. His bond was set at $250....

Red Cross bloodmobile schedule for March

The following is the March bloodmobile schedule for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross: *March 10, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Rosewood High School. *March 14, from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at the Red Cross...

Sunday, February 26, 2006

New grocery takes Winn-Dixie building

Save-A-Lot supermarket has signed a lease to open in the former Winn-Dixie on Berkeley Boulevard in Goldsboro, a spokeswoman said. Established in 1977, Save-A-Lot is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. According to company officials, Save-A-Lot offers about 1,250 grocery items....

United Way picks Rustin as recipient of top honor

Wayne County's library director is the recipient of the 2005 Emil Rosenthal Award for United Way of Wayne County. Jane Rustin received the award at the group's annual meeting Friday. "You surprised me," she said, accepting the honor. "It awes...

Smith: Plan will include priorities and dollars

EDITOR'SNOTE: This is the third in a four-part series examining the debate over funding for Wayne County school facilities improvement. Asked to respond to questions, in addition to Wayne County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor, school board Chairman John Grantham...

Residents can learn about Purim holiday

Be sure to tell the children to make plenty of noise. After all, it's almost the "Jewish Mardi Gras." On March 13, Wayne County Reads will celebrate Purim, considered one of the most joyous events on the Jewish calendar. The...

Leadership group explores business, industry

Members of the 2005-06 Class of Leadership Wayne County took their turn learning about business and industry this month as part of the countywide leadership program. Leadership Wayne County participants meet once a month from October through April for a...

Head Start strives to help parents as well as children

Head Start does more than prepare young children for school, say officials at WAGES, which oversees the program. Through organizations such as Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina and grants, parents can also be educated and supported as they work to...

Awards given for flag essays

Six Wayne County Public Schools students were rewarded for writing essays about the United States flag. On Tuesday, the Benev-olent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 139 handed out $450 worth of U.S. Savings Bonds to students for essays...

Public Record

Bogus solicitation Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders wants area residents to be alerted to an improper solicitation that is being sent to residents and businesses. According to the Sheriff's Office, the mail supposedly originated from a business called The Day...

Play based on writings, drawings of children imprisoned during WWII

Tickets go on sale Wednesday for the play "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," based on drawings and poems created by children in a Nazi concentration camp. The Foundation of Wayne Community College is producing the play, which is directed by...

MOC music workshop June 1-3

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College is planning a three-day music and worship workshop full of opportunities for anyone involved in church music and worship this spring. According to Dr. Larry Oldham, associate professor of music at MOC and coordinator...

Middle school students recognized

Teachers, principals, and staff from Wayne County Public Schools helped honor 30 middle school boys Tuesday at the W.E.H.O.P.E. Luncheon at the H. V. Brown Center in Goldsboro. W.E.H.O.P.E., which stands for "Working Enthusiastically to Help Other People Excel," is...

Crop assistance deadline Tuesday

The deadline to apply for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance is Tuesday. The program provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planning occurs due to natural disasters. Crops eligible for NAP coverage...

Friday, February 24, 2006

Highway pilup

News-Argus/Bobby Williams A five-vehicle pileup at the intersection of U.S. 70 bypass and Oak Forest Road tied up traffic about 1 p.m. Thursday, sending five people to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. John Kenneth Newsom, 70,...

High school teacher faces sex charge

PIKEVILLE -- A 36-year-old woman teacher at Charles B. Aycock was arrested Thursday by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and charged with having sex with an 18-year-old male student. Laurie Spurlock of Devon-shire Drive was charged with two counts of...

City looking into hiring grant writer

NEW BERN -- Goldsboro City Council members have discussed the possibility of hiring a grant writer whose sole function would be to research and write applications for state and federal money. Assistant City Manager Tasha Logan recommended council members pursue...

Wayne County Reads plans cleanup, film showing

Over the next few days, the Wayne County Reads program will offer two events related to this year's book selection, Elie Wiesel's "Night." Saturday, local volunteers will begin a two-day service project at the Oheb Shalom Temple, located at the...

A song at Christmas started it all

An unlikely friendship between a 92-year-old woman and a third-grader has been forged in the time it took to sing a Christmas carol. In early December, 8-year-old Logan Merritt's class at Rosewood Elementary School was scheduled to visit Woodard's Care...

Sampson art teachers featured in MOC show

A Mount Olive College professor's idea prompted nine Sampson County art teachers to put their hearts and talents into a five-week art show that will be featured at the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery at the college. The show began...

Judge Duke files for chief justice of N.C. Supreme Court

Superior Court Judge Rusty Duke of Greenville has filed to run for Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Duke is challenging incumbent Sarah Parker of Raleigh, who was appointed to fill out the term of I. Beverly Lake,...

Public records

Couple and son charged in raid of meth lab DUDLEY -- A couple and a son were arrested Thursday by the Goldsboro-Wayne County Drug Squad and accused of running a large methamphetamine operation from their home. Drug squad officers, with...

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Early morning robbery

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Officers investigate the scene of a robbery at the Handy Mart on U.S. 70 and N.C. 581 west of Goldsboro around 1:38 a.m. today. The robber fled the scene. A wayne County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted the...

Police seek escaped robber

Authorities were looking today for a man who robbed a convenience store on U.S. 70 west and led lawmen on a chase that ended in a wreck on U.S. 117. Investigators with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said a man...

Bonds for suspects in kidnap, stabbing raised to $1 million

The secured bonds for two men accused of battering and stabbing another man and leaving him to die in the Little River have been increased to $1 million. Tommy Hase Johnston, 30, of Seneca Court, LaGrange, and Larry Stevenson Brown,...

Experts -- If you are sick, stay at home

Several cases of the flu have been reported by local health officials, who are reminding the public to keep up preventive measures to avoid contracting it. At Wayne Memorial Hospital, the rapid influenza test is administered as a quick way...

Just a drill

A convoy of about 80 airmen have set up camp at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. They are on their way to Iraq from Kuwait, but insurgent rioting has delayed their journey. Their orders are to bed down until...

Public records

Relatives sought in traffic fatality The Wayne County district office of the Highway Patrol is continuing its search to find relatives of a victim in Tuesday night's fatal, head-on collision on N.C. 55. "It's like trying to find a needle...

Airport continues plans for runway extension

MOUNT OLIVE -- Town officials should know in a few weeks how many acres of land they will need to buy for an extension on the Mount Olive Airport runway. The town's Airport Committee met Wednesday morning to hear a...

More candidates file to run in May

Two more candidates have filed for public office in Wayne and Duplin counties. Wayne County Board of Education member George Moye filed this morning for re-election to his District 5 seat. Moye is seeking a sixth term in office. In...

Three Goldsboro firefighters promoted

Three members of the Goldsboro Fire Department have been promoted, Chief Bobby Greenfield announced. Eric Lancaster was promoted from lieutenant to assistant chief, Vaden Lee was promoted from fire engineer to lieutenant, and Jason Singleton was promoted from firefighter to...

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Shut down

News-Argus/Jack Stephens Smitty's, a bar at N.C. 903 and Davis-Hardy Road, just east of Seven Springs, has been closed under the nuisance abatement law after numerous complaints to authorities. Last year, a Wayne County man was killed and another...

Officials shut down another bar

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A Lenoir County nightclub where a Mount Olive man was killed last year has been closed after the owner agreed to surrender his alcohol license. Johnny Harrison Smith Jr. signed a consent judgment in Lenoir County Superior...

Man dies after head-on crash on NC 55

MOUNT OLIVE -- A man was killed Tuesday night in a head-on collision on N.C. 55, the Highway Patrol said. The identity of the victim had not been released, because troopers had not located his relatives at mid-morning. An oncoming...

Man arrested after 100 mph chase on US 117

A 19-year-old man from Wilmington was arrested before dawn today by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and charged with numerous vehicle offenses after a chase that reached speeds of about 100 mph and at times on the wrong side of...

Vigil reminds county to protect children

Two-month-old Kalandra died when she was hit on the head. One-year-old Malachi lost his life after he was hit in the stomach. Newborn Baby Vasquez died from being neglected after he was born. Members of the For the Children Council...

Commission audit reports fund balance is increasing

Auditors told the Wayne County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that the county's fund balance has continued to increase over the past three years. Nancy Brashear, of Nunn Brashear and Co., told commissioners that in 2004, the fund balance represented...

Starling files to challenge for LaRoque's District 10 seat

Republican Willie Ray Starling announced this week he will file for the District 10 seat in the state House held by fellow Republican Steven LaRoque of Kinston. Starling, who has unsuccessfully run for the House previously, said many voters in...

Duplin honors former commission member

KENANSVILLE -- The late Wilbur Hussey was honored by the Duplin County business community Tuesday during the 19th Annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon held by the county Economic Development Commission. Bob Johnson, chief executive officer of Nash Johnson Group, also was...

Commissioners approve increased benefits for employees on active duty

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday stating the their support for county employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserves. The resolution calls on the county to assist employees who are called to active duty...

Schools to destroy some records

On March 1, Wayne County Public Schools will begin destruction of records for all students categorized as "Exceptional Children," "Special Education Students," and "Students with Disabilities" born before Sept. 1, 1979 who attended Wayne County Public Schools or the former...

Public records

Defendant's bond hiked to $1 million A secured bond for a man charged with two felony drug offenses has been increased to $1 million after a bond hearing in Wayne County District Court. Deleak Curtis Lofton Jr., 25, of Bladestone...

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Learning how to behave

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Caroline Finch pets Cuddles, a rabbit owned by Hanna and Elizabeth West, during a 4-H class on how to train pets to interact with senior citizens Monday. More than 25 young people and their pets came to...

Speaker asks city to rename local street

A speaker at a public hearing Monday night urged the Goldsboro City Council to rename a section of Wayne Avenue after J.B. Rhodes Sr., who was a member of the council for 16 years. Richard Fair of Dudley showed council...

The lottery comes to Wayne

Lottery tickets will go on sale on March 30, and Wayne County residents will have more than 20 places to purchase them. Twenty-two retail outlets in the county have been approved for installation of lottery machines. Those include 19 in...

County livestock farmers honor two at annual meeting

Overman Farms of Grantham was named the Outstanding Livestock Producer in Wayne County for 2005 at the organization's 58th annual meeting Monday night. The farm was established in 1954 by David John Overman and has grown to a 725-sow, farrow-to-finish...

Bank donates $10,000 to plan to build house in Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE -- Habitat for Humanity is ready to start building a house in Mount Olive. The Southern Bank in Mount Olive recently gave the latest donation to the cause. The bank's $10,000 gift brought the grand total raised so...

Pageant coming to DVD to benefit Relay for Life

Didn't get enough of men in panty hose? Now, you can relive the experience of the Relay for Life Womanless Beauty Pageant and help fund cancer research at the same time. For only $10, any Wayne County resident can now...

Car dealer seeks relief from fines for illegal signs

A Goldsboro car dealer is asking the city for leniency after he was fined $5,000 for erecting signs that violated the city's sign ordinance. Hal Howard of Goldsboro Chrysler Dodge Jeep told members of the City Council on Monday night...

Public records

Driver killed SEVEN SPRINGS -- A head-on collision on N.C. 55 in Lenoir County has claimed the life of a Kinston man. The victim was identified by the Highway Patrol as 69-year-old Seth Hughes. Hughes' eastbound 1999 Kia on Saturday...

WCC program to focus on genocide in Sudan

Wayne Community College's Diversity and Global Education Committee will sponsor two lunch presentations and discussions Thursday on "Conflict in Darfur: Modern Day Genocid." The programs are open to the public and will be held at noon and at 1 p.m....

Monday, February 20, 2006

Spilled fuel led to blaze

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Fuel spilled from a motorcycle was ignited by a propane heater about midnight Sunday, setting off a fire that heavily damaged a house at 302 Wood St. William Coley told Goldsboro Fire Department officials that he had...

Grantham: It's time for a plan

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a four-part series examining the debate over funding for Wayne County school facilities improvement. In addition to Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor's answers Sunday and today's responses from School Board Chairman John Grantham, County...

Wayne County commissioners meet Tuesday

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. in their board room on the fourth floor of the county courthouse following a briefing session at 8. The commissioners will consider approving a contract with Nunn, Brashear and...

Program gives parents tips on early learning

The Partnership for Children of Wayne County is confident that a grant from the United Way and a media blitz this spring will inspire parents to create teachable moments with their children. The Born Learning campaign is a nationwide effort...

Court offers chance to rebuild families

A first-phase graduate of the new Wayne County Family Drug Treatment Court paid tribute to the intensive program that she says has helped her put her life back together. "If it weren't for this program, I wouldn't be here today,"...

Forum eyes minority health care issues

The best way to eliminate health disparities among minorities is through outreach and non-traditional care, says a state activist who has made equality his mission for 24 years. Ashley Rozier, director of the Cape Fear Regional Bureau for Community Action...

Public records

Two struck by SUV Two people pushing a car that was out of gas were struck by a hit-and-run vehicle Sunday on East Ash Street, Goldsboro police reported. Patrick Coleman, 18, of Neal Street and Kendall Dawson, 19, of Raleigh...

Sunday, February 19, 2006

City Council sets priorities for new budget

NEW BERN -- Members of the Goldsboro City Council discussed the city's future Thursday at their annual retreat at the Sheraton hotel. All city departments were represented at the meeting, with department managers presenting plans for the next 10 years....

Winders files for fourth term as sheriff

Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders and county school board member Rick Pridgen filed for re-election Friday. The filing period for public office ends at noon Feb. 28. Pridgen represents District 6 on the Wayne County Board of Education. He is...

Schools superintendent answers questions concerning facilities funding debate

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in a four-part series examining the debate over funding for Wayne County school facilities improvement. Asked to respond to questions, in addition to Taylor, were school board Chairman John Grantham, County Manager Lee Smith...

Hundreds audition for pizza commercial

The chance at a slice of stardom drew hundreds of people to Pizza Inn on East Ash Street Thursday and Friday. The restaurant chain held auditions for a national commercial spot to be filmed in Goldsboro next week. Pizza lovers...

Help for Thailand's children

Jacqueline Kannan had only been in Thailand for two days. She originally intended to be like any other American in the country, a tourist. She bought a one-way ticket to Thailand hoping to become a teacher and enjoy a different...

Mount Olive refurbishes filters in water system

MOUNT OLIVE -- Some Mount Olive residents might be noticing a slightly different taste to their water lately. But town officials say the difference won't last long. They are upgrading the water filters at the water system's well on Northeast...

City Council agenda includes hearings on proposed rezonings

The Goldsboro City Council will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall, following a 5 p.m. work session in the city manager's conference room. On the agenda will be five public...

Wayne science fair winners advance to regional level

The Wayne County Public Schools' science fair was held at Goldsboro High School on Feb. 12 for students who had competed and won local fairs at their individual schools. The county winners will now advance to the regional competition at...

Play Saturday at Dillard School

The public is invited to a play performance Saturday at Dillard Middle School. "When Wrong Stares You in the Face, Do What's Right," was written by Reginal McDaniel Johnson of Warsaw. The performance will include music written by Ms. Johnson's...

Civil War battle re-enactments to be held March 4-5

KINSTON -- Battle re-enactments, military demonstrations, 19th-century music and a reproduction of a Confederate submarine will be some of the highlights of a living history weekend planned for March 4-5 in Kinston. Battle re-enactments will be held both Saturday and...

Friday, February 17, 2006

Learning a new kind of beat

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Ayinde Hurrey, left, sings along with Christopher Fennel during a workshop on African dance and drumming held by Hurrey at School Street School on Thursday. He taught students about the languages of West Africa and allowed them...

City eyes funding priorities

NEW BERN -- Members of the Goldsboro City Council discussed the city's future Thursday at their annual retreat at the Sheraton hotel. All city departments were represented at the meeting, with department managers presenting plans for the next 10 years....

Health board seeks funding for blood tests

The Board of Health voted Wednesday to request county commissioners continue funding a program designed to deter refusal of breathalyzer tests. Health Director James Roosen said there are about two months' worth of funds remaining from a blood alcohol grant...

Students inspire staff with courage

A 7-year-old child struggling to acquire academic, social and self-help skills in spite of an autism disorder. An academically gifted fifth-grader whose life was turned upside down when her mother died last year. An eighth-grader who battled back from cancer,...

Taco Bell moving one site over

The game of musical chairs continues on Ash Street as Taco Bell will soon move next door, to the former Subway site. The new Taco Bell could eventually share a space with another restaurant, an official said. Previously, Krispy Kreme...

Auditions for pizza commercial continue

Pizza Inn will continue auditions for a national commercial today from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at its restaurant at 3009 E. Ash Street. The company is shooting four 60-second spots in Goldsboro and Rocky Mount....

Public records

7 injured in school bus accident Seven children on a Wayne County school bus and another person were injured Monday in a two-vehicle collision at N.C. 111 and Gertrude Grady Road, the Highway Patrol reported. The school bus driver, Ezetta...

Rep. Pate files for re-election

Republican Louis Pate Jr. filed for re-election for his North Carolina House of Representatives District 11 seat , making him the only candidate to file for office in Wayne and Duplin counties Thursday. The offices up for election later this...

Duplin Expo March 3-4

KENANSVILLE -- Today is the deadline to sign up for a booth rental at the 4th Annual Duplin Expo. The Expo will be held March 3 and 4 at the Duplin Events Center in Kenansville. Hours will be from 6...

Duplin industry appreciation event Tuesday

KENANSVILLE -- The 2005 Industrialist of the Year will be announced during Duplin's 19th annual Industry Appreciation Day Luncheon on Tuesday at the Country Squire restaurant. Lunch begins at noon. The speaker will be James Chestnutt, president of National Spinning...

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Baby Jane Doe

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber The Rev. Dr. Rick Cason, Goldsboro police chaplain and pastor of Victory Free Will Baptist Church, speaks during the funeral Wednesday for a baby girl found in Goldsboro's sewage treatment plant last week. The infant's identity remains...

Results -- No lead worries in Goldsboro city water

City officials and the Wayne County Health Department said elevated levels of lead were not found in the Goldsboro water system during a recent state water study. The state's Departments of Health and Human Services and Environmental and Natural Resources...

Rest in peace, Baby Jane Doe

A nameless tiny baby girl -- who will never know her mother or her family, who will never go to school, who will never play with friends or who will never marry -- was buried Wednesday in Willowdale Cemetery. About...

New cell phone rule coming for driving on base

Driving while using your cell phone on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base could get you a ticket after Feb. 27 if your hands aren't on the steering wheel. The Department of Defense has amended its Joint Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision...

More candidates file for chance at offices

The list of candidates filing for a chance to run for office in 2006 continued to grow Wednesday, with hopefuls filing for national, state and local positions. Democrat G.K. Butterfield filed for re-election for his District 1 United States Congressional...

Hospital earns top rating after surprise survey

Wayne Memorial Hospital has earned the highest three-year accreditation possible, officials announced this week. The news came on the heels of an unannounced three-day survey conducted by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a national group that sets...

Public records

Poultry house fire A poultry house in the 3900 block of N.C. 581 North and computer equipment were heavily damaged Wednesday in a fire that started in an electrical panel box, officials said. No birds were in the house. The...

Goldsboro police chase on road results in 2 felony drug charges

A 22-year-old man from Atlanta was arrested Wednesday by the Goldsboro-Wayne County Drug Squad after a brief vehicle chase on Pineview Cemetery Road. He will be charged with two felony drug offenses as a result of a subsequent search of...

Pate says he expects repeal of eye-exam law

MOUNT OLIVE -- State Rep. Louis Pate said he expects the General Assembly to repeal a new law that would require children to get a comprehensive eye exam before they can attend kindergarten. Pate spoke at a meeting of the...

Seat opens on county Planning Board

Wayne County commissioners will be expected to fill a vacancy on the county Planning Board in the next few weeks. Board member Ken Blackwell has resigned. County Planning Department Director Connie Price said commissioners might not make a decision at...

Pinewood Derby to be held Saturday at Moose Lodge

The Torhunta District Cub Scouts will hold their annual Pinewood Derby Race on Saturday. The event will be held at the Moose Lodge on West Mulberry Street. Boys placing first second and third in their packs will compete to see...

Nursing orientation

KENANSVILLE -- The James Sprunt Community College Nursing Department will be holding an orientation session for prospective nursing students Monday at noon and at 6 p.m. in Room 174 in the McGowen Building. The program is for those interested in...

Mount Olive Town Board trying to avoid tax hike

MOUNT OLIVE -- Members of the Mount Olive Town Board are trying to find ways to keep from having to raise taxes, they said this week. That means some user fees might go up next year, and the town might...

MOC Harrison lecture is Tuesday

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College will hold the 16th Annual Vivian B. Harrison Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Rodgers Chapel. The guest speaker will be Dr. Sandra Hack Polaski, associate professor of New...

James Sprunt scholarship deadline March 15

KENANSVILLE -- High school seniors planning to attend JSCC next fall and current first-year students should apply now for academic scholarship consideration for next fall's awards. The application deadline is March 15. Academic scholarships are available to full-time students and...

Green Central Band Alumni benefit fund-raiser March 3

A benefit to raise money for the Greene Central Band Alumni Association will be held Friday, March 3 at the Moose Center near Snow Hill. The event will begin at 8 p.m. and last until midnight. Proceeds will be used...

Duplin rodeo February 24-25

KENANSVILLE -- The American Bull Rider Cowboy Association will return to the Duplin County Events Center on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25. The bull-riding competition will be held from 8-10 p.m. each night. Tickets can be obtained by calling 910-296-2181...

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Farewell to baby Jane Doe

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber A funeral service was held today for the baby found in Goldsboro's sewage plant Thursday. The casket and flowers for the little girl, who has not yet been identified, were provided by the Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home. The...

Mount Olive picks assistant town manager

MOUNT OLIVE -- Downtown store owner Charles Brown is Mount Olive's new assistant town manager. The Mount Olive Town Board of Commissioners elected Brown by secret ballot this morning prior to its budget work session in the Southern Bank board...

Vickory will seek third term as district attorney

Wayne County District Attorney Branny Vickory has announced he will seek re-election to a third term in office and Wayne County school board member John Grantham also filed for re-election to another four-year term. The filing period opened Monday and...

Sharing the day with their elders

Junior Army ROTC members were stationed in the Goldsboro High School parking lot Tuesday morning, ready to escort visitors to the school's entrance. At the door, they were met by Student Government Association members, also dressed up for their special...

A special Valentine for hospitalized veterans

DURHAM -- Master Sgt. James Smith walked through an open door and pulled a colorful valentine from the plastic bag hanging around his wrist. He held the colorful card out to a war veteran resting in his hospital bed --...

Restaurant chain looks for two new stars

Restaurant chain Pizza Inn will start looking Thursday and Friday for a few good local faces to star in its upcoming advertising campaign. Rather than bring in professional actors, Pizza Inn is looking to Goldsboro to provide actors for the...

Fremont police chief steps down

FREMONT -- Fremont Police Chief Ben Reid Jr., who said he would resign next week, stepped down Tuesday. The 64-year-old Reid had told the Town Board of Aldermen in a special meeting Jan. 31 that he was resigning Feb. 21....

Some 'blessings' are a real problem

Clothing overflows the full bin. Bags and bags of clothes and household items are strewn on the loading dock and around the dumpster. Sometimes two or three couches are thrown onto the pile. This is a typical Monday in front...

Beck chosen president-elect of state Association of Festivals

MOUNT OLIVE -- One of the Mount Olive Pickle Festival organizers will now help promote festivals statewide. Julie Beck is the new president-elect of the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events. In addition to her new title, Ms. Beck...

Public records

Man thrown into river is improving A 23-year-old man who last week was stabbed, dumped in the Little River and left to die is improving but remains in intensive care in stable condition at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, officials...

Mount Olive planning board approves Bell Avenue apartments

MOUNT OLIVE -- A new apartment complex may be coming to the Bell Avenue area of Mount Olive. Tim Morgan with Evergreen Construction in Raleigh asked the Mount Olive Planning Board on Tuesday to recommend that the town board of...

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Be my Valentine

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Dawson Overton, 5, gives a Valentine's flower to his kindergarten teacher, Jannah Pate, this morning at North Duplin Elementary. Dawson is the son of Phoebe and Caleb Overton of Mount Olive....

First filings in for primary

The filing period opened in Wayne and Duplin counties Monday with a flurry of activity as candidates for a number of offices put their names into contention. Three candidates filed for Wayne County Clerk of Court: Democrats Pam Minshew and...

City Council to mull issues at annual retreat

Goldsboro City Council is hitting the road Wednesday for its annual retreat in New Bern. The event, which will be held at the Sheraton hotel through Friday, is an opportunity for councilmen and the mayor to pool ideas pertaining to...

Wayne lost first soldier in Vietnam 40 years ago today

Forty years ago today, the war in Vietnam came home to Wayne County. Wayne lost its first soldier on Valentine's Day 1966, when a sandy-haired, blue-eyed Goldsboro farm boy died only a month into his tour of duty. Donald Daniels...

Professor discusses historic Nazi trials

As the clock inched towards 7 p.m., the lights still hadn't been turned on in Courtroom One. A long line wrapped around the top floor of Wayne County Courthouse as eager learners filed into the room and took their seats...

Second-graders donate supplies to Paraguayan students

Some Rosewood Elementary students are thinking outside the lunchbox. A group of second-graders at the school are studying South America this month and donating school supplies for Paraguayan students. And they have even arranged for personal delivery. On Friday, the...

Mount Olive could hire assistant town manager Wednesday

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Town Board will meet in executive session Wednesday morning, prior to a work session, to discuss personnel. The town is looking for a new assistant town manager to eventually replace retiring Town Manager Ray...

Public records

Worker slashed; man is charged in murder attempt A woman employee at a mental health facility in Goldsboro was slashed Monday morning on the neck and hand by man wielding a razor. A man whom she knew was arrested later...

3HC to hold benefit February 23

Home Health and Hospice Care, Inc. will hold its fourth annual reverse drawing and silent and live auctions on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Walnut Creek Country Club. Grand prize is $10,000. All proceeds benefit the Kitty Askins Hospice Center...

Farm programs meeting February 24

The Wayne County Farm Service Agency will hold a Farm Programs Update meeting on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Wayne Center. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. Farmers are asked to call Farm Service Agency by Feb. 22 if...

Goldsboro firefighters answered 171 emergency calls in January

Three structure fires and a car fire in January resulted in more than $110,000 in damages, Goldsboro Fire Chief Bobby Greenfield said. The four fires were among the 171 calls that the Goldsboro Fire Department answered during the month. A...

Monday, February 13, 2006

Preparing for the big day

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Mary Lou Weagley arranges a flower order for Valentine's Day at Van Roekel Florist and Gift Shop Inc. in Goldsboro Friday. For more information see Color chart helps make right choice for Valentine's Day....

Counties consider plans for highway

A corridor agreement among the counties through which U.S. 70 runs could become a reality soon, Wayne officials said. The agreement would help expedite improvements to the heavily traveled highway, planners say, by allowing local governments to present a united...

Color chart helps make right choice for Valentine's Day

When it's love, go red. Darrell Scott said he learned the hard way that when it comes to Valentine's Day flowers, color matters. "I bought my girlfriend a bunch of yellow roses last year," he said. "The next day, I...

Red Cross chapter will auction sports memorabilia in March

A Willie Mays autographed baseball, a hat signed by golf enthusiast Tom Watson and a photograph with Richard Petty's signature on it -- these will be among the many items at the third annual Sports Memorabilia Auction. The auction, a...

Wayne County Public Schools releases calendar for next academic year

The 2006-07 calendar for Wayne County Public Schools has been approved, with students' first day slated for Friday, Aug. 25, and the next school year to conclude Thursday, June 7. Two years ago, the N.C. General Assembly changed legislation for...

Opinion - Standing room only

We left home an hour early, my wife, Gloria, and I. There would be a considerable turnout for the 7 p.m. funeral services for my longtime friend, Mayron Pope. But this would give us ample time. How utterly wrong we...

Plans in place for memorial to servicemen

PIKEVILLE -- Dennis Lewis wants the veterans who fought for his country to be recognized properly, and for five years he has worked to build a memorial to honor their sacrifices. This year, that effort will come to fruition. "We...

Public records

Goldsboro home damaged in fire; railroad ties burn A home at 1701 Ball St. and a large number of railroad ties at Dewey Development Co. at 705 S. George St. were damaged heavily in Friday fires. No injuries were reported....

Car seat inspection

Safe Kids Wayne County and the Partnership for Children of Wayne County will sponsor free child passenger safety seat inspections as part of the Child Passenger Safety Week. The event, which will be held rain or shine, is free. The...

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Election filing period starts Monday

The filing period of elected offices in Wayne County begins Monday at noon. Candidates for a variety of offices can file at the county Board of Elections office at 209 S. William St. The filing period ends at noon on...

Police still seek leads in infant found dead

From staff and wire reports A newborn infant found dead in the Goldsboro sewer system was a girl, police said. Investigators said late Friday that they had no leads in the case. The baby's body, with the umbilical cord still...

Artists Zeno Spence honored

"There's mine over there -- the barn." Joyce Johnson motioned toward a painting that features a barn in the background and the land on which it rests as the dominant portion of the picture. The fact that the soil is...

New retail center to open at U.S. 70 west and N.C. 581

Rumors of a Wal-Mart distribution center supposedly planned for the intersection of U.S. 70 West and N.C. 581 are untrue, the president of the county Economic Development Commission said. The site is the future home of a retail center. Joanna...

Paramount benefit set for Tuesday

From staff reports If you haven't bought a gift for your valentine yet, there is still time to share a little song and a bit of romance while helping to rebuild one of downtown Goldsboro's landmarks. The Downtown Goldsboro Development...

Boys and Girls Clubs begin annual campaign

From staff reports The Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County have kicked off their annual fund raising campaign. The public is invited to attend a guided tour any afternoon from one of the members, and one event will be...

Mount Olive could name new town manager this week

MOUNT OLIVE -- A member of the town of Mount Olive's committee searching for a new town manager said he expects Mayor Ruff Huggins to call a meeting this week and possibly decide who will get the job. Jimmy Kornegay...

WC reads again

From staff reports Wayne County Reads organizers are inviting the public to learn and talk about acts of selflessness that saved lives during the Holocaust. Wayne Community College library and Volunteer Wayne/RSVP will present two short videos about rescuers and...

Volunteers lauded at annual Clergy Appreciation Day event

Nourishment for the body and the soul was on the menu at the Goldsboro Civitan Club's Clergy Appreciation Day luncheon on Friday at Ryan's Family Steakhouse. Ministers were invited for free lunches and words of appreciation, as they have been...

Superior Court

Wayne County Superior Court These cases have been heard in Wayne County Superior Court: *Kenneth Charles McRae, 23, Alpha Court, trafficking in cocaine, 35 to 42 months active and $50,000 fine. *Leamon Cordaris Holmes, 19, Woodrose Drive, breaking and entering...

Senior companions recognized at luncheon

WAGES honored its Senior Companion Program participants at the program's annual luncheon Friday at the Dillard Alumni Center. The program, begun in 1974, pairs seniors over the age of 60 with clients who are ill, with ailments such as Alzheimer's...

Rally celebrates 'Merry Christmas' in February

Supporters of a campaign to urge Wayne County residents and businesses to say "Merry Christmas" instead of a more generic holiday greeting held a "victory rally" Friday. About two dozen people attended the gathering at Wilber's Barbecue. Allen told attendees...

Professor will speak on Nuremberg Trials

The second in a series of events sponsored by the Wayne County Reads program will be held at the County Courthouse Monday at 7 p.m. The lecture will keep in tune with this year's book selection, Elie Wiesel's "Night," and...

Pikeville police are asking for public's help in tracking thiev

Pikeville police are asking Wayne County residents to help identify suspects in two recent larcenies. On Jan. 30, an unlocked vehicle was broken into in front of Kids & Co. Day Care on Highway 117. The victim, a woman who...

Mount Olive police get grant for officer, car

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive police learned last week that the department had been approved for a grant that would enable it to hire an additional officer and buy a new patrol car. The Governor's Highway Safety Program sent a...

MO Court

*Nathan Rashon Williams, 28, Odom Avenue, Mount Olive, driving while license revoked, 45 days. *Christopher Alexander Melvin, 26, West Kornegay Street, Mount Olive, assault on a female, 75 days suspended, 24 months supervised probation, $100 fine and costs. *Barbie J....

Kindergarten preparation workshops offered in March

Workshops to help parents better prepare children for kindergarten will be offered at three locations around Wayne County next month. Barbara Huff is chairman of the group "Continuity for Success," a collaboration of the state PTA and local agencies including...

district court add

These cases were heared in Wayne County District Court: *Jarshwood R. Kenon, 24, Benchmark Drive, Kenansville, worthless check (three counts), 30 days suspended, 12 months supervised probation, $320.30 restitution, $162.50 lawyer's fee, $50 fine and costs. *Christopher Devon Kornegay, 40,...

District Court

Continued from 14A *Steven Barnes Sr., 46, Goldsboro, assault on a law-enforcement officer, 150 days (appealed); and second-degree trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia, 120 days (appealed). *Ricky Thomas Pollock, 38, Smithfield, driving while impaired, six months. *Melissa Annette Batts,...

Friday, February 10, 2006

Baby abandoned

News-Argus/Bobby Williams A sign at the U.S. 117 South sewer pumping station for the city of Goldsboro warns trespassers. The station is located near Waynesborough Park. For more information see Baby's body found at Goldsboro lift station....

Baby's body found at Goldsboro lift station

A newborn baby was found Thursday in the Goldsboro sewer system with the umbilical cord still attached, Goldsboro police reported. The baby was dead when it was found at about 10:30 a.m. at a lift station behind Edwards Truck Stop...

No cause yet for Warsaw fire

WARSAW -- No foul play is suspected in a Tuesday morning apartment fire that took the life of a Warsaw man. Warsaw police officials said neighbors and the apartment manager tried unsuccessfully to rescue Kenneth Malcolm Holloman when they learned...

Seymour Johnson AFB unveils new F-15E demonstration team

Behind every great fighter pilot is an equally accomplished crew. Starting next month, 14 airmen from Seymour Johnson will work harder than ever, as they take their F-15E Strike Eagle demonstration team on the road. And while the pilots...

Price honored by conservation group

Gene Price, editor emeritus of the Goldsboro News-Argus, was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Wayne County chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association. The organization's annual banquet took place Thursday evening at Walnut Creek Country Club. Andrea Heekin...

Grand jury returns murder indictment for '04 shooting

A 20-year-old man from Winston-Salem has been indicted by the Wayne County Grand Jury in the first-degree murder of a Goldsboro man in a restaurant parking lot. Shawn Naurice Holmes was accused of the fatal shooting of Lashonnie Maurice Howell...

Man shot by police to face federal charge

A Goldsboro man accused of assaulting two police officers during a traffic stop and who was shot by an officer now will be tried in federal court on a weapons charge, his lawyer said. Tremayne Navaris Carmichael, 20, of Beech...

Public records

Paper boxes taken A thief who may have wanted to be well-read stole four newspaper vending machines from stores near U.S. 117 South, according to reports filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. A Goldsboro News-Argus machine was stolen between...

Professor will speak on Nuremberg Trials

The second in a series of events sponsored by the Wayne County Reads program will be held at the County Courthouse Monday at 7 p.m. The lecture will keep in tune with this year's book selection, Elie Wiesel's "Night," and...

Mental Health awards given out

Supporting military families during times when either the mother or father is deployed overseas is critical to keeping families intact, said Air Force officials Thursday at the annual awards meeting held by the Wayne County Mental Health Association. The Mental...

Wayne schools dismiss early Wednesday

Students in Wayne County Public Schools will be dismissed early on Wednesday in order for teachers to attend staff development workshops. This is one of 10 days set aside in the school calendar for student early dismissal. Dismissal times will...

Family farm workshop set

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin Cooperative Extension will hold a workshop entitled "From One Generation to Another: A Comprehensive Approach to Farm Business Succession Planning" on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Extension Center at Duplin Commons. The...

Thursday, February 9, 2006

Log truck, car collide

News-Argus/Bobby Williams The driver of this car was killed Wednesday after his car collided with a tractor-trailer truck at the intersection of U.S. 13 South, Mills Road and Hood Drive, the Highway Patrol said. Melvin Leo Woodard, 74, of...

Schools see more foreign students

An estimated 2,045 youngsters in Wayne County Public Schools are non-English-speaking students, with 21 different languages represented, school officials say. The number of students increased this school year by 173, up from 1,872 in 2004-05, said Hope Meyerhoeffer, director of...

Kerr will run for 8th term in November

State Sen. John Kerr has announced he will seek re-election to an eighth term in office. Kerr, a Democrat, represents the 5th District, which includes Wayne, Greene and Pitt counties. He is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and vicechairman...

Red Cross seeks local heroes for annual drive

Local "heroes" will be on a mission during March to raise $70,000 for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross. The fourth annual Heroes Campaign starts March 1 with a kickoff luncheon at noon at the chapter house,...

Olympic artist has ties to Wayne

He's not an athlete, spectator or member of the sporting press. Still, the son of a Goldsboro resident is on his way to Turin, Italy, to take part in the Olympic Games. Dr. Rebecca Johnson said her son, Steve Allen,...

Goldsboro High grad retires after handling transportation

For the past five years, a Goldsboro native has been directing the operations of the vehicle fleet that serves the nation's leaders in Washington, D.C. Sgt. 1st Class Ray Thompson, a 1984 graduate of Goldsboro High School, has been in...

Seven Springs board considering Snyder for town manager's job

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Charles Snyder might be returning as the Seven Springs town manager. Seven Springs Mayor Jewel Kilpatrick said Snyder has offered to help the town with moving its library back down into the town from the hill above...

Holocaust survivor visits schools

Students in Wayne County Public Schools are getting an opportunity to learn about the Holocaust from someone who experienced it firsthand. Gizella Abramson, a native a Poland, will speak for several classes at Spring Creek High school this month about...

Public records

Man is charged in school thefts Goldsboro police have cleared break-ins at Meadowlane Elementary School and the Wayne County Public Schools administration building and the theft of $11,000 worth of property with the arrest of a 35-year-old Goldsboro man. William...

Tax help for seniors in Duplin

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County Services for the Aged is offering income-tax preparation help to seniors and low-income taxpayers. Volunteers with the AARP and the IRS will provide a free and confidential service at the Senior Center at 213 Seminary Street...

Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Prize Patrol

News-Argus/Phyllis Moore Wilma Thompson, a language arts teacher at Dillard Middle School, far right, reacts to the news that she received a mini-grant for a class project from the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee this morning. From...

Man stabbed, then thrown off local bridge

A man was stabbed early Tuesday, thrown into the Little River and left to die, but he was retrieved from the water and hospitalized in critical condition, officials said today. Two men were arrested Tuesday by the Wayne County Sheriff's...

LaGrange man sought in shooting at area cockfight

From staff reports WILSON -- Wilson County law enforcement officers are searching for a LaGrange man wanted for the shooting death of a man at a cockfight Sunday. Rosendo Torres Raygoza, 27, of Greenville, died from wounds he received from...

Man dies in fire at apartment building

WARSAW -- A man died Tuesday in a fire that engulfed his apartment in Warsaw. Kenneth Malcolm Holloman, 55, of Quail Hollow Apartments, was alone in the apartment when it caught fire, authorities said. Warsaw police said in a statement...

Former POW, James Hiteshew, dies at age 75

From staff reports Retired Air Force Col. James Hiteshew, who spent six years in a North Vietnamese prison after being shot down on a combat mission, died Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 75. Hiteshew's fighter jet was shot...

Chamber's 'prize patrol' takes grant news to local teachers

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee distributed another round of mini-grants to area teachers this morning. "Is it my birthday?" asked resource teacher Wilma Thompson at Dillard Middle School when the prize patrol interrupted her language arts class....

Presley impersonators have a Czech mate

Elvis "left the building" nearly 30 years ago. But a Czech counterpart is in Goldsboro tonight. Vlád'a Lichnovsky has portrayed Elvis Presley for eight years. As "Czech Elvis," he has performed in eight countries. "Nobody in my country has done...

Work continues on new plan for county

A task force assigned to help chart Wayne County's future has begun sifting through hundreds of ideas presented at a public meeting last month. The Wayne County's Comprehensive Plan Task Force met Tuesday at the county Chamber of Commerce to...

Public records

Man wounded A 31-year-old man from Dudley was wounded Tuesday night in a field in the Pleasant Acres subdivision, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office report. Moses Napoleon Wells of Running Deer Circle was rushed by ambulance to Wayne...

Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Rosewood students involved in crash

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Three people were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital following an accident on Black Jack Church Road near its intersection with Steven's Mill Road about 7:30 a.m today. Highway Patrol trooper Mike Conley said Lester Melvin Cannon, 66,...

Schools ask county to release $451,070

The Board of Education voted Monday night to ask the Wayne County Commission to release money the commissioners held in reserve during the last round of budget negotiations. The money would be used to offset a worrisome deficit in the...

City adds four buildings to list for condemnation

Goldsboro City Council members condemned four dwellings Monday after inspectors said each building had run through the three-phase minimum housing process. A house located at 105 N. Slocumb St. was first inspected in December 2004. Broken windows, mold growth, deteriorating...

Board wants city to assist with improving conditions

Members of the Wayne County Board of Education want the city of Goldsboro to do more to improve conditions for local families. Monday, they made that request official. Board member Thelma Smith read the resolution, drafted on the heels of...

Equipment will help nab speeders

Speeders beware. At their first meeting of the month, Goldsboro City Council voted to cover 25 percent of the cost for new police equipment for the purpose of reducing speeding complaints and speed-related accidents. Police Chief Tim Bell said each...

Princeton authorities aim to halt vandalism

PRINCETON -- Princeton officials say they will put a stop to vandalism by teenagers who have spray-painted more than two dozen signs around town with gang-related graffiti. "It's very important to remove the markings as quickly as possible," Police Chief...

Pikeville board OKs new sign ordinance

Pikeville Town Commissioners approved two ordinances Monday night. The town's new sign ordinance is similar to the Wayne County law, which Mayor Herb Sieger said was used as a guideline in developing the Pikeville regulations. The ordinance allows off-premises outdoor...

Public records

Pair charged A Goldsboro couple was arrested today by Wayne County Sheriff's deputies and charged with four felony offenses in connection with a break-in at Eastern Wayne High School. Deputies M.B. Sasser and Aaron Cantwell responded at 1:32 p.m. to...

Monday, February 6, 2006

Morning crash

News-Argus/Bobby Williams A Pikeville resident was treated for injuries this morning after her car was involved in an accident with a vehicle near the corner of Stoney Creek Church Road and N.C. 111 north, Highway Patrol Trooper Mike Conley...

City issued $86 million in permits

Construction in Goldsboro boomed in 2005, according to officials with the city Inspections Department. City inspectors issued more than $86 million in permits for commercial and residential building, said Chief Building Inspector Ed Cianfarra. "It's just getting busier and busier....

3 fatalities reported in Duplin over the weekend

Weekend accidents claimed the lives of three Duplin County residents. Two people were killed in single-car accidents Sunday, and a pedestrian was killed late Saturday when he stepped into the path of a vehicle. Santos Morales, 21, of Wells Trailer...

Wal-Mart officials visiting Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE -- Engineers for Wal-Mart were expected to be in Mount Olive this afternoon to talk with town officials about water and sewer needs for a possible store. Town Manager Ray McDonald said this morning that Wal-Mart officials would...

Miles to go before he got his diploma

MOUNT OLIVE -- Recent Mount Olive College graduate Wayne Oliver demonstrated what it means to go the extra mile to get a good college education. He accumulated enough frequent flyer miles to become a medallion member on two separate airlines,...

OPINION - Intriguing news

Some recent news items raise intriguing questions. Veteran N.C. House Speaker Jim Black has been rawhided repeatedly by some of the state's newspapers. He's also involved in investigations of campaign contributions with implied suggestions that he might have been unduly...

Making dresses new again

While shopping for this year's prom dress, 17-year-old Jamie Mills said she realized she had several at home she couldn't use. And what about those girls who might dream about going to the prom, but couldn't afford the expense, she...

Public records

Robberies An elderly woman and two men were robbed in unrelated weekend holdups, according to Goldsboro police reports. *The woman told officers that she had gone outside to move her car and a knife-wielding black man forced her into her...

Sunday, February 5, 2006

County has new bioterrorism specialist

Before his workday gets under way, David Hesselmeyer sits down at his computer and checks out the latest news. Beyond having a passing interest in current events, he said it is actually critical to his job as bioterrorism planning coordinator...

Confessed murderer considered for parole

A man sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty in 1993 to second-degree murder is being considered for parole. Lionel Lamont Cox, now 33, of Lillington is being considered for release under the mutual agreement parole program, or MAPP,...

'Gamers' flock to try latest

Hundreds of video game enthusiasts packed the floors of Wayne Community College to get the chance to play their favorite games and to learn about the technology that makes those games possible during the inaugural Goldsboro Gaming Expo Saturday. The...

Brashear named Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen

Harold Brashear of Goldsboro will receive Torhunta Boy Scout District's 2006 Distinguished Citizen Award this spring. The Boy Scouts chose Brashear to receive the award during the district's annual banquet at 6:30 p.m. March 28 in the Goldsboro Country Club....

New Red Cross wall will honor donors as well as their heroes

People who donate to the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross will have the opportunity to be a permanent part of the chapter's history. The Gallery of Heroes wall will be located inside the main lobby of the...

Festival will showcase other cultures

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College will host its fourth annual International Showfest on Tuesday, Feb. 21. To be held in the Lois K. Murphy Regional Center at 7:30 p.m., the event is sponsored by the Mount Olive College International...

Retired state employee awarded Long Leaf Pine

Brenda Britt, a retired state employee with the Department of Prisons and Community Corrections, has been named a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Gov. Mike Easley. Ms. Britt, a Goldsboro resident who retired in December...

Two sentenced for roles in home invasion

Two young Goldsboro men have been sentenced to prison for their parts in a home invasion and assault in 2005 in Goldsboro. Lindsay William Young, 17, of Bright Street and Tishan Geigher, 21, of Courtyard Circle pleaded guilty in Wayne...

21 students nominated for Governor's School

The 2006 Governor's School nominees have been announced by Wayne County Public Schools, with 21 students on the list in the areas of academics and performing and visual arts. The Governor's School of North Carolina is the oldest statewide summer...

Public Record

Investigations These incidents are being investigated by deputies of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office: * Between Jan. 20 and 11 a.m. Feb. 3, a 1994 white GMC Sierra truck with the license plate number NWM-4973 was stolen from the 2600...

Nominations sought for Mount Olive DSA

The 54th annual Mount Olive Jaycee Distinguished Service Award Banquet will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Southern Wayne Country Club. The cost for the banquet will be $15 at the door. The doors will open at 6:30...

MOC Valentine's event set

The Mount Olive College at Mount Olive Student Government Association invites the public to "An Evening of Love" at the Murphy Center Dining Hall on Feb. 14. A dinner will be served from 5-7 p.m. Cost is $7. After dinner,...

Man pleads guilty in armed robberies

A 20-year-old Goldsboro man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for his part in several armed robberies last year in Goldsboro. Marcus Demetrius Benton of Courtyard Circle pleaded guilty to two armed robberies and was sentenced...

Goldsboro Builders Supply moving to Patetown Road

After 53 years downtown, Goldsboro Builders Supply is moving this summer. The company will relocate from Carolina Street to 701 Patetown Rd., the former site of SouthCo Distributing. Arthur Lee Perry founded Goldsboro Builders at its current location in 1953....

Fremont enters sewer repair agreement

FREMONT -- The Fremont Town Board of Aldermen has adopted an amended engineering services agreement to repair its sewer system with its contracted engineering firm. The board voted unanimously Tuesday night during a special meeting to accept the agreement with...

Council to consider rezonings, landscaping

The Goldsboro City Council will consider rezoning two tracts of property and approval of several building landscaping and renovation plans at its meeting Monday. The council meets at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall following a six-month...

Andy's founder honored by state Restaurant Association

Kenneth Moore, the founder of Andy's Cheesesteaks, was a finalist for the Restauranter of the Year award given by the North Carolina Restaurant Association at its 59th Annual Awards Dinner in Pinehurst on Jan. 22. Tommy and Donna Haddock of...

Friday, February 3, 2006

Country Day Road wreck

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Goldsboro police assess the damage left by a one-car wreck that left one Goldsboro man dead Thursday afternoon. Witnesses said the burgundy SUV swerved across Country Day Road and rolled three or four times, crashing through a...

Greenwood student released from Pitt

The Greenwood Middle School student hospitalized and in a coma after being struck by a vehicle in the school's crosswalk in November is now home, school officials said this morning. Eighth-grader Carson Thomas, 13, was released from Pitt Memorial Hospital...

SUV flips, killing driver

A Goldsboro man was killed Thursday afternoon when his sport utility vehicle ran off Country Day Road, tore a utility pole in half and crashed through a brick wall. David Howard Higgs, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene. Todd...

Man charged with second DUI in four days

A Wayne County man has been arrested twice in less than five days and charged with driving while impaired. The car that he was driving was seized both times. The two recent DWI charges were at least the third and...

Annual Relay for Life fund drive begins

When Donald Mercer fought lung cancer and won, he thought the worst was over. But it wasn't. He would go on to battle both colon and prostate cancer. Now, a survivor several times over, he is joining forces with other...

Past court case gets defendant shorter jail time

A 43-year-old man who had been sentenced this week to more than 12 years in prison got a reduced sentence a day later in Wayne County Superior Court. Thanks to his court-appointed lawyer, the sentence was slashed to 120 days....

Public records

20-year sentence A 32-year-old Goldsboro man has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree rape. David Robinson of Third Street had been charged with the first-degree rape of a child under the age...

Clarification

A Thursday story about the Lighthouse of Wayne County temporarily closing its safehouse incorrectly said a $100,000 grant was being made to the organization by the county. The grant is being made by the city of Goldsboro....

Thursday, February 2, 2006

Dr. Waheed Akhtar in Pakistan

Photo submitted Dr. Waheed Akhtar of Goldsboro Heart Specialists, pictured outside the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Pakistan. For more information see Doctor travels to treat survivors....

Randall Lane buildings gone but more on list

Recently condemned apartment buildings at 300 Randall Lane are no longer standing. Just a few months ago, a number of tenants and their children occupied the complex. Goldsboro's minimum housing inspector Buddy Pridgen said the only remnant left of the...

Doctor travels to treat survivors

A Goldsboro doctor returned to his native Pakistan last month to help with efforts to start rebuilding the country -- and families' lives -- more than a month after a devastating earthquake killed 80,000 people and left 4 million homeless....

Lighthouse will close for renovations

The Lighthouse of Wayne County is temporarily closing its safehouse for renovations. The shelter will be closed until June, co-director Mary Bolin said. Residents are being moved to other safehouses in neighboring counties, and furniture will be moved out next...

This dad's rooting for the Steelers

Bob Warren always thought his son, Greg, would find a job reflective of his childhood passion for math and science. But a professional athlete? "It never even crossed my mind," he said. This afternoon, Warren and his wife, Debra, are...

Allen re-appointed city's mayor pro tem

Last year when Mayor Al King broke his foot, someone had to run council meetings and represent Goldsboro as its mayor. Chuck Allen did the work. After all, it was his job. Goldsboro City Council appointed Allen to continue to...

Hill named managing editor at News-Argus

Dennis Hill has been named managing editor of the Goldsboro News-Argus. In his new capacity, Hill will be responsible for the day-to-day news operation at the News-Argus. He also will continue to contribute to the newspaper's redesign and news coverage...

Public records

Woman robbed A Goldsboro woman was assaulted and robbed before dawn today of three rings, according to a Goldsboro police report. Debra Sampson told police that a black man had grabbed her by the neck and forced her into her...

Faison appoints new town clerk

FAISON --The Faison Town Board appointed Michelle Lance town clerk Wednesday night. She replaces Christian Higgins, who left after two years with the town. The board will advertise for an assistant town clerk. In other business, the board voted unanimously...

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Chamber award

News-Argus/Dennis Hill William P. Kemp Jr., third from left, receives the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Award from outgoing Chamber President Henry Smith Tuesday night during the chamber's annual meeting at Walnut Creek Country Club, while members of...

What's local take on State of the Union?

Four Wayne County residents from different walks of life joined the millions of Americans who tuned in Tuesday as President Bush reflected on the State of the Union. Bailey Thorpe and her boyfriend Russell Bashford seldom agree, they said. But...

Incentives expected to earn OK from county

Andrew Corp., the communications equipment manufacturer moving to Wayne County this year, could receive nearly $2.1 million in cash, grants and land from the county. The company could also receive up to $1.4 million through a Job Development Incentive Grant...

Cornerstone status for William Kemp Jr.

In his life so far, William P. Kemp, Jr. has received such honors as Man of the Year, Boss of the Year, Rotary Scouter of the Century, Outstanding Senior Citizen by the Goldsboro Jaycees, and was the first scout in...

UNC president visits Duplin

KENANSVILLE -- Solutions to problems within the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service do not come from Raleigh, they come from people working in individual counties, said the new president of the University of North Carolina. Erskine Bowles visited the Duplin...

Meachen retires from News-Argus

News-Argus Executive News Editor Jim Meachen has retired after 34 years with the newspaper. Meachen, 61, started with the News-Argus as a weekend beat reporter and part-time sports reporter in January 1968, while serving in the Air Force and stationed...

Fremont chief to retire after 41 years on job

FREMONT -- Ben Reid Jr., a fixture with the Fremont Police Department for more than 41 years, announced Tuesday night that he will retire as chief Feb. 21. The 64-year-old Reid was appointed as the town's first black chief in...

Public records

Mobile home destroyed by fire A rental mobile home at 212 E. New Hope Road was destroyed Tuesday night in a fire that authorities called suspicious. The blaze was referred to Goldsboro police for a further investigation. Assistant Fire Chief...

Tax help available at library for seniors and low-income taxpay

Free tax counseling and simple income-tax preparation for seniors and low-income taxpayers is available from the AARP through its Tax-Aide program Mondays and Wednesdays through April 12 at the Wayne County Public Library on Ash Street. Assistance will be available...

Local doctor in MASH unit at earthquake

A Goldsboro doctor returned to his native Pakistan last month to help with efforts to start rebuilding the country -- and families' lives -- more than a month after a devastating earthquake killed 80,000 people and left four million homeless....