September 2013 archives

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Monday, September 30, 2013

It's all in the wrists

Eugene Blackner, 85, takes a familiar seat at an exhibit designed to simulate milking a cow at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair on Sunday. Blackner turned to his family and said, "I haven't done this since I was 15."...

Commissioners to meet Tuesday

Wayne County commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday morning on a request by Methane Power Wayne for an extension of its lease with the county allowing the company to extract methane from the county landfill. The lease also...

Jazz month gets under way tonight at WCC

The Foundation of Wayne Community College, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. and the Arts Council of Wayne County will be serving up a hefty portion of "Jazz Gumbo" over the coming weeks. "It's going to be a fun month," said Emily...

October blood drive schedule

The following is the October blood drive schedule for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross: * Oct. 1 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at SPX Transformer Solutions Inc. * Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m....

Armed robber sought

Investigators with the Goldsboro Police Department believe they have identified the man responsible for two armed robberies committed over the weekend. Samuel Keith Best Jr., 33, is wanted for first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, possession of...

Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair daily winners

Saturday, Sept. 28 Open Junior Market Lamb Show Grand Champion -- Tanner Bentley, Kenly Reserve Champion -- Rachel Garrou, Elm City Showmanship Ages 5-8 -- Anna Brooke Taylor, Princeton Ages 9-13 --Tanner Bentley, Kenly Ages 14-19 -- Samantha Bynum,...

Beef Heifer Show held Sunday at Wayne fair

The Open Junior Beef Heifer Show at the Wayne County Agricultural Fair is typically a big draw for competitors, but the crowd at this year's showing included mostly friends and family of the contestants, organizers said. With 23 animals being...

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Local SAT scores drop; school officials not concerned

Wayne County School officials are taking a close look at why the district's average SAT scores dropped four points this past year and what can be done to better prepare students for the college placement test. The state Department...

WCDS student a semifinalist for prestigious scholarship

A student leader at Wayne Country Day School has been named a semifinalist in the 2014 National Achievement Scholarship program, determined by scores on the 2012 PSAT test. More than 160,000 high school juniors from all over the United...

43-year-old man killed by train

PIKEVILLE -- A Pikeville man was discovered dead Saturday morning at approximately 4 a.m. after he had been struck by a train in between Fremont and Pikeville, Wayne County Sheriff's Office Detective Rick Farfour said. James Smith, 43, was...

Salvation Army needs bell ringers

The Christmas season doesn't get into full swing for another month or two, but the Salvation Army is already looking for people to volunteer to be bell ringers. Bell ringers are needed from Nov. 29 through Dec. 24, Monday...

Pikeville Legion seeking donations for tribute

PIKEVILLE -- Christmas is still three months away, but American Legion Post 541 members are hopeful that area residents will get into the spirit of the season early and help them pay tribute to deceased veterans. The post is...

Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities sets awards luncheon for Oct. 17

The Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities will hold its annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 17 at noon at Herman Park Center. The organization will present five awards: Employee of the Year, Employer of the Year, Committee Member...

Father set to appear in court

A hearing in Wayne County Superior Court is set for Oct. 1 in the first-degree murder case against Brenden Jamarin Pemberton, charged in the death of his 4-month-old son, Jaylin. The hearing, initially set to monitor the release of...

Mary had a little ...

DUDLEY --It's a bumper crop year for the Rosewood High School Agricultural Department, with 16 students entered into the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair lamb show Saturday. Advisor Allison Jennings has been bringing her students to the farm animal show...

Parks and Rec to ask for funds

Goldsboro voters might be looking at a bond referendum on the May ballot to pay for city Parks and Recreation projects. The Goldsboro City Council is considering placing an $18.9 million bond referendum on the ballot. The money would...

Here she is ...

DUDLEY -- Sylina McKinney performed a lithe and agile contemporary dance Friday night to the popular Kelly Clarkson song, "Because of You," in the Entertainment Arena at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. But it was the passion with which she...

Nearly 100 goats take to fair ring Saturday

DUDLEY -- When 17-year-old Amanda Wheaton doesn't feel well, she goes out into the pasture at her home and sits. Her goats can sense something is not right and they come up to her and love on her. That's...

Bark in the Borough

Less than a year ago, Hope was living under a boarded up house on George Street with her other siblings. Then she met Rochelle Harrower. And now, she is the "cutest dog in Wayne County." "She is such a...

Friday, September 27, 2013

Arts Council puts mystery in masterpieces

The identities of local artists who are doing about 200 miniature works of art are being kept a secret for now. But the mystery will be over Oct. 4 as the Arts Council of Wayne County reveals who dun it....

Open Junior Market Hog Show canceled amid disease fears

DUDLEY -- Concerns over a disease deadly to young pigs prompted the cancellation of the Open Junior Market Hog Show that had been scheduled for Thursday night at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair. Similar shows have been canceled in...

Queen of the show

There are two things about the county fair that Gaye Lancaster Hare unabashedly loves -- being director of the bottle collection exhibit and director of the Queen of the Fair pageant. Since she was a little girl growing up on...

Planning on making a trip out to the fair?

Today 4 p.m. -- Gates open to all exhibits 5 p.m. -- Powers Great American Midways open 6 p.m. -- Almost Amazing Rex and Dana Ryan on the Kidzville Stage and Open Junior Meat Goat Show in the livestock tent...

Red Cross, city firefighters practice emergency skills

Firefighters often risk their lives to save people from burning buildings, but who is there to help them when they are parched from the heat and smoke or come upon first hand the loss of a human life? That's where...

Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair winners

Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Daily Winners Thursday, Sept. 26 Educational Booth Winners Family and Consumer Sciences -- Wayne County ECA FFA -- Southern Wayne High Girl Scouts -- Troop 95, Terri Thompson, leader FCCLA -- Eastern Wayne High Outdoor Landscape...

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Fair's big debut

DUDLEY -- Mikayla Jones breaks into a big smile as she talks about her miniature horse, Little Lady. But showing her pride and joy is not all that excites the 9-year-old about the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, which opens...

Tip leads to woman's two-county forgery arrest

A Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest of a Goldsboro woman Saturday, wanted on felony charges from two counties, the Goldsboro Police Department said. Investigators from Wayne and Wilson counties charged 20-year-old Shaquwana Miranda Davis, of 507 Gulley St.,...

Planning on making a trip out to the fair?

Today 4 p.m. -- Gates open 5 p.m. -- Powers Great American Midways open 5:30 p.m. -- Vocational competitions, drafting in the white building and math in the entertainment arena 6 p.m. -- Almost Amazing Rex and Dana Ryan on...

Duplin man killed in crash

FAISON -- A Dudley man died in a single-vehicle accident near Faison early Sunday, according to the state Highway Patrol. Jhonson Estime, 24, of 111 Running Deer Drive, apparently drove his vehicle off the left side of the highway and...

School honored for achieving 100 percent graduation rate

Wayne Early/Middle College High School has again distinguished itself by having a 100 percent graduation rate, and Monday was among 10 school districts and 36 high schools across the state to be recognized for the accomplishment. This is the fourth...

Advisory board continues plans for prison revamp

The Wayne County Detention Center Advisory Board Wednesday morning continued to fast-track efforts to convert the soon-to-be-shuttered Wayne Correctional Center into the county's new jail. The county is doing so even though the state has yet to say what...

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Fire training blocks street

The Goldsboro Fire Department, along with the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army will conduct a day-long training exercise at 314 E. Holly St., Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. East Holly Street...

Fremont on track for STEP grant programs

FREMONT -- The Fremont Small Town Economic Prosperity grant committees are making progress in the face of the December deadline to have their projects approved by the town board and sent to the state for review. At their meeting...

Student loans on the rise at Wayne Community College

Students taking out loans to pay for their college education represents a big portion of the $7.2 million increase to the latest Wayne Community College budget of $45.4 million, approved by the board of trustees Tuesday night. The college...

Public record

Break-in, theft An apartment at 700 E. Walnut St. was broken into and property stolen just days after the resident passed away, according to a Goldsboro police report. Jim Jones, the landlord of the apartment rented by the decedent, Ira...

Correction

The amount of the Wayne Community College Foundation budget was incorrectly announced at the recent kick-off event for the scholarship fundraiser. The $475,000 figure quoted by the board chairman as being the Foundation budget is actually the goal for this...

Hospital official plans meetings to explain new health care law

Despite concerns by federal politicians, Obamacare is moving forward -- and faster than some members of the public realize, a local health official said. Wayne Memorial Hospital Chief Financial Officer Becky Craig spoke on the upcoming changes that go...

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Wayne Community Concerts scheduled to begin this week

Wayne Community Concerts has brought hundreds of acts to Wayne County residents throughout the years. This year, the group is celebrating its 75th anniversary with even more musical events. It began in 1936 when a group of concerned individuals...

Airman is now in police custody

The airman arrested for allegedly attacking a female East Carolina University student with a pocketknife early Sunday is an airman first class attached to the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, a Seymour Johnson Air Force Base official said today. Greenville police...

Optimist Club plans to expand free computer program

The Optimist Club of Goldsboro is expanding its Computers4Kids program that provides low-cost refurbished computers to children in low-income families. During the 2012-2013 school year, the club provided computers to 42 low-income families, reaching 103 children. Recently, club members...

AP Exhaust acquires firm

AP Exhaust Technologies officials have announced that the company has purchased certain assets of International Muffler Co. It is the second company that AP Exhaust, a leader in replacement exhaust and emissions products, has acquired over the past two...

Faison Market Day set for Oct. 5

FAISON -- The town of Faison will celebrate its 10th annual Market Day on Saturday, Oct. 5. During the opening ceremony at 11 a.m., the town will honor five "Bills" who have had an impact on the town: Bill Fesperman,...

City approves raise for employees

City employees will receive at least a 2 percent raise this year as part of a pay and classification study aimed at ensuring Goldsboro is competitive in its salaries when compared to competition in the public and private sector....

Monday, September 23, 2013

Jail panel set to meet

The Wayne County Detention Center Advisory Board is expected Wednesday to review a proposed request for qualifications for a needs assessment and feasibility study for converting Wayne Correctional Center to house the Sheriff's Office and county jail. The study could...

Police: SJAFB airman stabbed student

The Greenville Police Department is waiting to serve an arrest warrant on an airman assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for his alleged involvement in an attack on a female East Carolina University student at 2:20 a.m. Sunday in...

Restoring history working for some

After three years of renovations, the D.W. Davis house on Virginia Street in Goldsboro's Historic District has a new look and new life as the single-family home it was originally built to be. Amy and Jay Bauer bought the dilapidated...

DGDC optimistic plan will work

A plan has been in place in Goldsboro since 2006 to reduce the number of properties working their way through the minimum housing process. The Comprehensive Historic Neighborhood Revitalization Plan was designed to combat the problems that abandoned condemned houses...

Realtors better prepared to help

Goldsboro Realtors are now better equipped to help prospective buyers of historic properties understand the potential tax credits they can qualify for by rehabilitating historic properties as well as how to find financing for the projects. At a luncheon earlier...

Local, Virginia theaters have the same story

The Paramount Theater in Goldsboro and the Paramount Theatre in Charlottesville, Va., have the same story. They were both thriving movie theaters back in the day, they were both gutted by fire and they were both rebuilt and are...

Sunday, September 22, 2013

College kicks off campaign, picks distinguished instructors

Wayne Community College kicked off the annual fundraising campaign for its Foundation student scholarships Thursday afternoon -- and honored two instructors with Distinguished Chair awards. The more dignified portion of the assembly of faculty and staff in Moffatt Auditorium was...

Park marks milestone

Five years after the creation of the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation master plan, construction at Stoney Creek Park is wrapping up, with an official ceremony Thursday and a set of sand volleyball courts slated to go in next week....

Man takes plea in child's death

Keefe Decarlos McPhail, charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 2010 death of 21-month-old Kamari Bryant, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Wednesday in Wayne County Superior Court. Judge John E. Nobles sentenced McPhail, of 605 W. Queen St., LaGrange,...

Ready, set, fair

DUDLEY -- Seeing the colorful carnival rides starting to go up at the Wayne County Fairgrounds this past week is building excitement for Thursday's opening of the 65th annual Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, Manager Eddie Pitzer said. "They start...

DGDC honors friends, patrons

There was plenty to celebrate at the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration in the wake of the news that Goldsboro had been chosen to receive a $10 million transportation grant for work in downtown, a...

Schools' success coaches set sights on graduations

One of the biggest aspects of a success coach's job is giving time to a student. Sometimes even 15 minutes can make a difference, said Mary Kay James, a retired principal who recently took over the reins as success...

Man shot outside Goldsboro restaurant

A Goldsboro man shot outside the Huddle House at 2600 U.S. 117 South at 12:40 a.m. Friday is in fair condition at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, hospital officials say. The lone suspect is in custody. The Wayne County...

Spots sought for trees for needy

Christmas trees will soon start popping up all over Wayne County, and some of them will have a special purpose -- helping needy children. The Salvation Army is looking for places to put up Angel Trees this year. Here's...

Run for Fallen nets more than $10,000 for Wounded Warriors

The For the Run for the Fallen held at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base last week raised more than $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. The half marathone run and the 5-kilometer run brought out 275 runners to raise...

National Business Women's Week to be observed Oct. 21-25

The Wayne-Duplin Business and Professional Women's Association and its Foundation announce that the National Business Women's Week will be held Oct. 21-25. The organization offers communities, companies and organizations an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of working women and companies...

Hillbilly Hike raises money for troops, Waynesborough, Habitat

Tim Smith of Mount Olive wasn't worried about crawling on his belly through the thick, sucking muck of a Neuse River mud pit, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the smell reminded him of something. And as he...

Officials: Caution helps in avoiding West Nile

On the heels of the year's first reported West Nile virus death in the state, Wayne County Health Director Davin Madden stressed the need for residents to be educated and to take preventive measures. State health officials on Thursday...

Fremont starts working on STEP grant strategies

FREMONT -- With a November deadline looming, the Fremont Small Town Economic Prosperity program committees met individually Tuesday to work on pulling together strategy statements. The purpose is to attract business to and to retain business in Fremont, to...

Electric company warns of bill scam

DUDLEY -- Tri-County Electric Membership Cooperative officials are warning county residents about a scam in which thieves, posing as electric utility representatives, continue to prey on unsuspecting consumers across the country including Tri-County members. A typical scam scenario happens...

Bethel Church sponsoring run to help orphanage in Haiti

Bethel Church of 2308 N. William St. funds, runs, and operates an orphanage in Haiti that clothes, feeds, and houses 35 orphans. This orphanage relies 100 percent on Bethel Church for their funds. The earthquake in 2010 demolished the orphanage...

Friday, September 20, 2013

Walnut Creek asks county to eye zoning

Support for zoning, much less countywide zoning, is not something that Wayne County commissioners often hear. But Tuesday it was among the top issues Walnut Creek Village Council members brought with them to their joint meeting with commissioners at...

Police arrest 13 more in sting

A series of joint operations targeting prostitution in the city has concluded, with 13 more people in custody, Goldsboro Police Department officials said this morning. Undercover operations resulted in 21 total arrests for soliciting prostitution and other crimes. Bonds ranged...

Pinwheel, pinwheel spinning around

Carlos Morales and Caleb Davis carefully place their handmade pinwheels around the St. Mary statue at St. Mary School early this morning. The students were celebrating International Peace Day, which was created by the United Nations and is observed...

High speed chase ends with crash

A high speed chase originating in Johnston County Thursday concluded in Wayne County with a crash on U.S. 70 that injured two people, Johnston County Sheriff's Office officials said this morning. Alton Lamont Johnston, 43, of Kinston, was charged by...

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Clinic welcomes more local patients

WATCH, the free clinic that provides health care services for the county's uninsured population, has hired a new nurse practitioner and is again accepting new patients. Wayne Action Teams for Community Health, introduced in Wayne County in 2000, is most...

Women's group crochets lap robes for local vets

The military men and women at the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Kinston don't expect thanks for their service in all branches of the military and in several wars. They were just doing their duty. But when a group...

Hillbilly Hike planned for Saturday

It's that time of year again, time for country bumpkins and local yokels to trudge their way through the mud, sludge and sometimes blood for a T-shirt Saturday at Old Waynesborough Park. The Hillbilly Hike 5K mud run begins...

County seeks help to get technology in Seven Springs

Wayne County commissioners have made good on a promise to Seven Springs Town Board members to look into why high-speed Internet and cable TV are not available in their community. Commissioners asked that question of Time Warner Cable official...

Board meets with town

Wayne County commissioners met with the Pikeville Town Board of Commissioners on Wednesday to discuss the town's state of affairs and to get to know one another. Wayne County Commission Chairman Steve Keen said the series of meetings being...

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Salvation Army is looking for site for its annual Christmas distribution

Although it's just September, the Salvation Army has already started its Christmas planning. A big part of that is finding a place to sort through items purchased through the Angel Tree program and to hold distribution of the items to...

Charges dropped against coach

Cyberstalking charges filed against Mount Olive College Track Coach Matt Van Lierop by a former track athlete have been dismissed. According to the Wayne County Clerk of Court's office, the charges were dropped Thursday at the request of the...

Minister speaks after visit to board

A volunteer with the county's free adult literacy program Tuesday morning chastised Wayne County commissioners not for budget cuts to the program, but for what he called the demeaning way that some commissioners treat county employees and the public. "I...

Ex-officer charged after shots are fired

A former Fremont police officer has been charged in connection with a Saturday night shooting. Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested William Earl Boseman Jr., 24, of 201 King James Way, Pikeville, Monday on charges of discharging a firearm into...

Commission approves buying land for school

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning agreed to allow the Board of Education to proceed with the purchase of a 35.449-acre site for a new Spring Creek Middle School. The school board paid $2,500 for an option on the property...

Keen chosen for national panel

Wayne County Commission Chairman Steve Keen has been appointed to the National Association of Counties Transportation Steering Committee for the 2013-2014 term. The committee will focus on establishing the Association's transportation goals and policy priorities. Steering committee members play...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Wayne County Public Schools receive grants for mentoring and afterschool programs

The Wayne County Public Schools have been selected to participate in two grant-funded student enrichment programs this school year. Youth and Families with Promise, or YFP, is part of the 4-H National Mentoring program through N.C. State University, while...

Student tasered in fight at Wayne Middle High Academy

Wayne County Public School officials confirmed a student at Wayne Middle High Academy was tasered by a school resource officer during a fight Monday. The student's name was not released because of his age. WCPS public information officer Ken...

O'Berry - Cherry Christmas parade cancelled

There will be no Cherry/O'Berry Christmas parade this year, although officials at O'Berry plan to continue the tradition on that campus. Recent changes to DOT guidelines for road closures and liability requirements have prompted organizers to cancel the historic...

Goldsboro City Council tables grant planning

The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. director made a presentation to the Goldsboro City Council during the council's work session Monday night to flesh out what details are available about the $10 million grant the city will receive for transportation...

Salvation Army sets date for fall bazaar

Vendors selling everything from jewelry to organic soaps and lotions will be part of the Salvation Army's fall bazaar fundraiser Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Salem United Methodist Church. Items that will be for sale include...

Duplin Hall of Fame deadline coming up

Duplin County Hall of Fame board members are reminding the Duplin County community that Sept. 25 is the deadline for the submission of nominations for the hall of fame. Each year, the Duplin County Hall of Fame honors the lifelong...

Cops for Tuesday

Truck stolen Danny Ray Worley of Fremont reported a stolen piece of equipment to the Goldsboro Police Department Monday. A $60,000 1998 boom crane truck was removed from the property of Danis Industrial Supply Co., at 200 Fedelon Trail, according...

Monday, September 16, 2013

Commission eyes school land buy

Wayne County commissioners are expected to be asked Tuesday to approve the purchase of 35.45 acres in Indian Springs Township for a proposed new Spring Creek Middle School. The purchase price of the property is $212,500. The site is...

Auction planned for Mount Olive eatery

MOUNT OLIVE -- Have fond memories of the Southern Belle restaurant? Then pull up a chair. Or better yet, buy the chair. To celebrate Gaynell Brock and the Southern Belle's legacy, there will be an auction sale Thursday at...

Extension still looking for county livestock agent

It has been five months since Eileen Coite stepped down after 13 years as the Wayne County Cooperative Extension livestock agent to become Extension director in neighboring Sampson County. The position remains empty and is not expected to be...

Voting prep: Ready for rule change

Nearly 52,000 people voted in Wayne County during the 2012 election -- 35,000 did so at one-stop voting sites. However, changes are in store for the popular one-stop option, even though the state has yet to fully explain some...

Fremont STARS earns top Title 1 honors

FREMONT -- Fremont STARS Elementary School has been designated a Title I Reward School for the 2013-14 school year. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently announced 174 Title I schools in the state on the list, with Fremont...

DGDC sets plans for annual banquet

Area residents will gather on the lawn of the Wayne County Courthouse Friday for the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony. The reception will kick off at 6:30 p.m., with the awards ceremony beginning at 8...

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Salaries on city agenda

The Goldsboro City Council will continue its conversation on a compensation and classification study at its meeting Monday. The discussion will be held during the council's work session that starts at 5 p.m. The regular Council meeting will be...

Pulling for the Special Olympics

"3, 2, 1, pull!" Eight men lean back with rope in hands, straining to pull 40,000 pounds of fire engine a distance of 25 feet. It takes the eight-man team from the Goldsboro Police Department more than nine seconds....

Man dies in house fire

A Goldsboro man died when his home was destroyed by fire early Saturday. Police officers found the body of Kenneth Barnes Sr., 61, after a fire destroyed his home at 1219 S. Andrews Ave. The fire caused $60,000 worth...

Goldsboro's plan for parks turning into reality

Since the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Update came out in 2012, city Parks and Recreation employees have been busy with a number of projects. The plan was originally created in 2008 as part of a grant application...

City rally focuses on power of faith

"How many of you believe that God is going to do something awesome today?" pastor Terry Jones asked a gathering crowd. With cries of affirmation, apparently, everyone did, and they were there to make it happen. More than a...

WCD students take summer trip to Spain

Wayne Country Day School students typically start taking a foreign language as early as kindergarten. But that doesn't necessarily mean when they reach high school, it'll be easier visiting a country where that language is spoken. Seven students, accompanied by...

STEP program deadline approaching

[email protected] FREMONT -- Fremont's Small Town Economic Prosperity Program is trying to get back on track after a Thursday meeting between STEP representatives and local town leaders and residents. Chilton Rogers, the NC STEP program coordinator with the North Carolina...

Rabies, flu shots focus of Board of Health

The lack of a quorum prevented the Wayne County Board of Health from voting on any items Wednesday, but it did not stop those in attendance from discussing the need for pets to be vaccinated against rabies and proposed increases...

Helping Piper pay it back

Runners take off at the start of the Piper's Promise 5-kilometer and one-mile run in downtown Goldsboro on Saturday morning. The run was held to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House and Riley's Army in Greenville, which helped...

Riding -- for their comrades in arms

Riders sit on their motorcycles waiting to begin their trip Saturday during the Guardian Brotherhood fundraiser for Remember and Honor, an organization that honors mothers who have lost a son or daughter in battle. More than 85 people participated...

Local Quakers' impact on county history examined

Dr. Doug Rader is not a Quaker, but has developed a bit of expertise on the subject over the past 20 years while researching the genealogy of his wife's family. Lissa Peacock Rader, of the Nahunta Peacocks, is from the...

AgCarolina grants now available

Grant applications will be accepted through Oct. 14 for grants to be awarded through AgCarolina Farm Credit's corporate-giving program, The Fund for Rural North Carolina. Grants are available up to $5,000 per organization for programs that specifically benefit farmers and...

Friday, September 13, 2013

Break-in suspect caught; one still on loose

Investigators with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office have one suspect in custody after two men allegedly broke into and fired shots inside a Dudley home before 11 p.m. Thursday. Tommy Levar Rivers, 32, 142 Alder Lane, was placed in the...

Man faces marijuana charges

The Wayne County Sheriff's Aggressive Crime Enforcement Team seized 60 pounds of marijuana and arrested one suspect during a traffic stop on U.S. 117 South, near Old Mount Olive Highway on Thursday. James Jonel Leggett, 37, 612 Brogden St., was...

Rallying around their hero in the competition of his life

They were only words, but they hit harder than any opponent he had ever faced. He was a doctor -- not an adversary --but he delivered a blow that, for a moment, brought a champion to his knees. A younger...

Two face prison time in fraud

Two former Goldsboro Housing Authority employees are facing up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 following their guilty pleas Wednesday in federal district court in Raleigh to the unlawful conversion of federal funds. Gene Dexter...

Seven Springs: Floyd troubles remain

SEVEN SPRINGS -- The floodwaters that covered most of Seven Springs in the wake of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 have long since subsided. But 14 years later, the county's oldest town has yet to return to its pre-flood status, in...

Wayne Community College hosts health care talk Sunday

With less than a month before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act goes into effect, Wayne Community College Foundation secured a speaker to discuss the topic on everyone's lips -- "The Future of Obamacare." Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m....

School enrollment up by 115 students as district reports 10-day numbers

The 10th day has passed for Wayne County Public Schools, and officials are studying enrollment numbers to determine the need for any reorganization. Monday was the 10th day of classes, with an increase of 115 students over the previous year....

Burglary, assault suspect arrested in Raleigh for indecent exposure

A Goldsboro man wanted by Goldsboro police for burglary and assault with a deadly weapon, was arrested for indecent exposure in Raleigh on Monday and gave authorities there a false name. Bryan Marquaill Williams was charged by the Raleigh Police...

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Pantry restocked

For two weeks the Salvation Army had to turn hungry people away. "There's nothing more pitiful than a child standing there looking at you and you have no food to give them," Salvation Army Lt. Julie Igleheart said. "That's...

Eureka tells county about crippling sewer issues at meeting

Eureka town residents are paying premium rates for sewer service because of a botched sewer system project that has left the town facing the real danger of going broke in the near future, town officials said Wednesday. The costly...

County jobless rate falls to 9 percent

Wayne County's unemployment rate remained below the state average last month -- falling to 9 percent for July, down from 9.2 percent in June. The state average for July was 9.1 percent. In July 2012, Wayne County's unemployment rate...

Wet summer helps corn, hurts county tobacco crop

The same wet summer that fueled a bountiful corn crop had the opposite effect on tobacco as lower-stalk leaves burned up in fields too muddy for harvesters. With 10,400 acres planted in tobacco, Wayne County is the third-largest tobacco-producing...

Optimist Club to collect computers Saturday

The Optimist Club of Goldsboro collects used computers and peripheral equipment on the second Saturday of each month for its Optimist Computers4Kids program. The next collection day will be this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the...

Mount Olive board looks to address resident concerns

Results from increased communication from community members filled the Mount Olive town board's agenda Monday night as the town commissioners discussed possible solutions to traffic problems, curfew violations and unmowed lots. The ordinances and actions were brought to the board...

Arts Council to hold Fall for the Arts on Saturday

The Arts Council of Wayne County will have its first ever Fall for the Arts Festival Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at the corner of Center and East Spruce streets across from Cornerstone Commons. There will be arts and...

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Two men jailed in statutory rape case

A registered sex offender and another man will face charges in connection with an incident involving a 14-year-old girl. Joseph Carl Thomas, 32, of 603 E. Walnut St., where the event allegedly took place, was charged with indecent liberties...

Board reviews options for jail, prison

It could cost Wayne County $75,000 to $100,000 for a cost analysis to look at the operation of the county jail, the Sheriff's Office annex and possible use of the Wayne Correctional Center as a jail once it closes...

Hospital to raise fees by 5 percent

With uncertainties swirling around the January implementation of the federal Affordable Health Care Act's individual mandate, officials at Wayne Memorial Hospital say they are taking a conservative approach to their planning for fiscal year 2014 and projecting expenses to...

Local groups honor heroes

Members of Wayne County AARP Chapter 3381 bought a group of local heroes a doughnut and a cup of coffee this morning as they not only honored the anniversary of Sept. 11, but also the local officers who keep the...

Crime of the Week

On Aug. 30, a resident of South Charleston, W.Va., reported that he discovered that unknown people had made two purchases totaling $414.05 with his debit card at the Walmart located at 2908 U.S. 70 West in Goldsboro at approximately...

Group kicks off effort to improve county health

A car accident two years ago left Sonja Summerville temporarily sidelined and out of work. "The only thing I did for that entire year was to eat, watch Lifetime and just sit on the couch," she said. It all...

Letting the paint fly

Letting the jazz music move them, local residents helped create a Jackson Pollock-style abstract painting during the Arts Council of Wayne County's First Friday event Friday. While a variety of jazz music played in the background, those attending had...

Commissioners continue meetings with town boards

Wayne County commissioners will meet Thursday with the Seven Springs Town Board at 6 p.m. at the Seven Springs Restaurant. The session is the latest in a series of meetings with the county's seven municipalities. The meetings are open...

Goldsboro Ballet to hold Love of Dance/Silent Auction fundraiser Saturday

Goldsboro Ballet dancers will show off what they learned at camps this summer, while also raising money for future performances during their annual Love of Dance/Silent Auction fundraiser Saturday. The event will be at 7 p.m. at the Paramount...

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Pikeville board adds $200 fee to game machines

PIKEVILLE -- The Pikeville Town Board approved an annual $200 per machine tax on Internet sweepstakes game machines at its meeting Monday night. The fee will become fully effective next July. Until then it will be pro-rated. The tax...

Hospital calls foul on BCBS decision

Offensive. That was how Wayne Memorial Hospital President Bill Paugh summed up Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's public announcement Thursday that it would cut ties with the hospital. "I really find it offensive that Blue Cross...

Commissioners, Mount Olive meet, discuss highways, library

MOUNT OLIVE -- As part of the Wayne County commissioners' aim to meet with the leaders of all of the county's seven municipalities, the commissioners met with the Mount Olive Town Board on Monday night to discuss the town's...

School board to fund resource officers

The Wayne County Board of Education voted Monday night to increase funding of school resource officers, announced it is moving forward on selecting an architect for proposed facilities projects and suggested the need for the district to hire a project...

Monday, September 9, 2013

Election officials planning ahead

The controversy over changes in the state's voting laws continues to grab headlines, but for Wayne County Board of Elections Director Rosemary Blizzard, the immediate concern is the approaching November municipal and sanitary district elections. However, the changes that...

Two new hires bring fresh ideas to Wayne County Public Library

Two new librarians at the Wayne County Public Library are trying to make it an even better place for people to go for enjoyment or to do a little research. Evan Schmoll is head of children's services, and Marty Tschetter...

Faith community joins to support hospice center

As pastor of Goldsboro Worship Center, Danny Johnson has appreciated the helping hands Kitty Askins Hospice Center has provided for parishioners and their families over the years. "There's not been a time that we have met with a family...

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Piper's payback

Even when their frail 4-week-old daughter, Piper, was suffering through chemotherapy and enduring operations to remove a cancerous tumor, her parents knew something good would come out of it -- and it has. So now, Randy and Haleigh Wilhide are...

Goldsboro now has two assistant city managers

After a three-month search and more than 800 applications, the search for a new assistant city manager ended with two new employees hired -- at a combined salary of nearly $200,000. The two will replace former assistant city manager,...

Annual event will raise funds for county literacy program

Imagine being able to only make out a few words on a sign at the DMV -- or having to tell your grandchild you can't read him a bedtime story. Those are the realities that those who are dealing...

Commissioners eye jail situation

It is too early to say what will happen to the Wayne Correctional Center when it closes next month because of budget cuts, officials have said. But Wayne County commissioners, who hope that the state will give the prison...

Guardian Brotherhood will ride to raise money for flags

A mother stands by a grave saying goodbye to her son -- or daughter -- who has given his or her life in service to his or her country. Taps ends, the flag is folded and the service ends....

Prayer walk scheduled for next weekend

The second annual "God Belongs in My City" prayer walk next weekend is expected to draw an even larger crowd than the estimated 2,000 people who attended its first outing in 2012, organizers say. Terry Jones, associate pastor at...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield severs ties with WMH

Insurance provider Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced Thursday it will sever its relationship with Wayne Memorial Hospital, effective Dec. 5. The move comes after 18 months of failed negotiations, which reached an impasse over cost...

Veterans share stories for oral history project

World War II and Korean War veterans shared their stories at a social held in their honor Friday, as a program designed to introduce a new oral history -- to preserve the stories of Wayne County's veterans and their...

DAV has new home

After nearly a decade searching for another location, the DAV, or Disabled American Veterans, officially have a new home. On Saturday, the organization celebrated its grand opening at 212 E. Mulberry St. Starting the day with a 50-mile Poker Run...

Charlie Waters wins gold at National Senior Games

Charlie Waters' consistent play allowed him to beat out the best senior golfers from across the nation to win the gold medal at the National Senior Games -- the first athlete from Wayne County to take a gold medal...

Wayne County resident turns 111

As of today, Eunice Evelyn Greene is 111 years old. A life that has spanned more than a century means she has witnessed more than a few changes -- from automobiles to technology. "Everything has changed," she said, a...

Friday, September 6, 2013

Library project off and running

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday established a $300,000 capital project ordinance for the Mount Olive Steele Memorial Library project. The board also approved initial contracts of $70,000 for demolition and $65,000 for design and engineering with the design/build team of...

Session wrap-up

Party-line differences on issues like Medicaid, health care and whether or not education funding increased or decreased during the recent state legislative session were clearly visible Thursday among Wayne County's five-member legislative delegation. However, they said that when it...

Kinston man, 44, gets porn time

WILMINGTON -- A Kinston man has been sentenced to 78 months in prison and fined $10,000 after being found guilty of child pornography. William Walter Barker, 44, had been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography last...

Fremont assured of state grants

FREMONT -- Word came down from a North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center representative Wednesday that the town of Fremont's NC Small Town Economic Prosperity grant funding is safe and the town will have access to the full amount...

Arts Council receives three grants for programs

The Arts Council of Wayne County has received grants from the North Carolina Arts Council for art programs here. North Drive Elementary School also received a grant for an artist residency. Arts Council Director Sarah Merritt said the council received...

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Schools have phone issues

Incoming telephone calls to several Wayne County schools have been disrupted since Tuesday afternoon, when issues arose with a service provider after activating new equipment, officials said today. The majority of schools were affected by the interruption, said David Lewis,...

Student threatens school

A Charles B. Aycock High School student appeared before a Wayne County District Court Judge Wednesday for a first appearance on charges he threatened to bring a gun to school and "shoot everyone on the bus." Brandon McMahon, 16, of...

Internet cafe laws stump law enforcement

Wayne County officials are playing a game of "wait and see" before determining their next course of action when it comes to Internet cafes operating online sweepstakes for cash prizes. Since the state Supreme Court decided in December 2012 to...

Contest down to final five

The deadline has passed, and five slogans have risen to the top of the heap in the "What's In A Name?" contest to choose the new city motto. The top five mottos are: "Be More, Do More, Seymour"; "Soaring To...

'Ignite' youth praise event on tap

A youth movement that started in Wayne County three years ago has grown from a one-night event to an overnight one. Ignite, a praise and worship event, had been held at the Paramount Theatre, but will be at the Wayne...

Walden: Wayne good for retirees

Wayne County has a "lot of good things" going for it, renowned economist Dr. Michael Walden told a gathering at Thursday's economic outlook forum at the Goldsboro Country Club. Manufacturing has "done fairly well," and agriculture is a key as...

Benefit for car accident victim set for this weekend at church

A local church is holding a fundraiser this weekend to help a young man get some of his independence back. Jerimiah Waddell was not one to ask for help. But that was before the Christmas Eve accident in 2011. After...

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Missed Direction: Craig Doubt's story

It has been nearly five years since Goldsboro police found Craig Doubt III lying behind a home on East Maple Street -- a victim of a gunshot wound to the back of the head. And while his killer never faced...

Missed Direction: The other victims

A little boy crawls into bed with his mother and wipes tears from her eyes. It has been more than 20 years, but Leigh Monroe can still feel her 2-year-old son's fingers running through her hair. "He would say,...

Missed Direction: Murders in Goldsboro since 2012

* Brandon Phillips, 37, shot on Wayne Avenue in April 2012. * Khyrie Roberts, 21, shot in May 2012 in the Madison Market Grill & Grocery parking lot. * Charles Barnes, 35, stabbed in May 2012 at a home on...

County hedges on funds to help illiterate

People who learn to read through Wayne County's non-profit adult literacy program need to help support that program by paying a fee, Wayne County Commissioner Joe Daughtery said. And since many of the people using Literacy Connections of Wayne...

Fremont to board: North end of county needs look

Kicking off the Wayne County Board of Commissioners' tour through the boards of each of the county's seven municipalities, Chairman Steve Keen ended Tuesday night's meeting with the same theme he opened it with -- "Where does Fremont fit?"...

$10M coming for city projects

Goldsboro is one step closer to a new train station, a new bus transfer site and more renovations downtown. The air was electric at the Goldsboro City Council work session Tuesday night as it was officially announced the city...

Did we help American Military Spouses Choir make the finals?

Facebook page was abuzz last night as the community vowed to rally behind SJAFB spouse Katie Pritz and other members of the American Military Spouses Choir who competed on the "America's Got Talent" semi-finals show live from Radio City Music...

Butterfield pledges to focus on electric, rail

U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield spent Tuesday in the southwest end of North Carolina's 1st Congressional District touring IMPulse in Mount Olive and attending an N.C. Radiological Society meeting in Goldsboro. And some good news was passed on, at...

Acme United plant in Fremont set to close

FREMONT -- The Acme United Corp. plant that has operated in Fremont since 1968 is scheduled to close in May 2014, following the company's purchase of a new manufacturing and distribution center in Rocky Mount. The Fremont plant has...

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Missed Direction: Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor knows firsthand the history of gangs, drugs and violence in the city. He witnessed it all. He sold the drugs and dodged the bullets before getting out -- not just out of "the game" but out of...

Missed Direction: Mauricio 'Lobo' Howell

Mauricio "Lobo" Howell, 39, is on a new path. This one includes his own barbershop, Premier Cuts, which he is opening on Center Street in downtown Goldsboro. It is Phase 1 of a 10-year plan he has thought about...

City eyes workers' salaries

The Goldsboro City Council is conducting a study to ensure city employees are being paid salaries commensurate with other cities in the region. Council members listened to the results of a pay and classification study Friday. The members recessed...

Coach will face cyberstalking charge

A criminal summons for cyberstalking has been filed against Mount Olive College track team coach Matthew Van Lierop. The charge stems from accusations made by former distance runner Amber Thompson, a member of the school's track team. The Mount...

Monday, September 2, 2013

Southern Belle closes

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- They came by the hundreds Sunday, filling the Southern Belle Restaurant -- the line of people waiting for lunch and a chance to be a part of history. They weren't deterred by what at times was...

Missed Direction: Keeping the danger out of the schools

Some kids come to school with more than just backpacks. Some bring hunger. Some bring neglect. Others bring abuse. Many carry with them the invisible scars of street violence. For public school students in Wayne County, the degrees of separation...

Missed Direction: The other choice

Marissa Davis will always be bound to the projects -- to the little girl who peeked around corners to catch a glimpse of card games, drinking and drugs. She will always be the daughter of a single mother -- of...

Commissioners town meetings

Wayne County's Board of Commissioners has set up a series of meetings with leaders from the county's seven municipalities. The schedule is: * Fremont, Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at Lane Tree Golf Club * Mount Olive, Monday, Sept....

Legislators will discuss recent session at chamber breakfast

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce will hold a legislative wrap-up breakfast Thursday at the Lane Tree Golf Club. All five members of the county's delegation to the General Assembly are expected to attend: Sens. Louis Pate and Don Davis...

Missed Direction: Boys from the 'hood

He might have thrown himself onto the floor had the bullet that passed through his thigh not already knocked him off his feet. He might have cradled his head in his arms to protect himself from the debris exploding across...