April 2015 archives

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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Local restaurant destroyed in fire

MOUNT OLIVE -- An early morning fire at Antoinette's restaurant resulted in the total loss of the building, Mount Olive Fire Chief Greg Wiggins said. "The building still stands, but the entire interior has heavy smoke damage from ceiling...

Work on veterans cemetery continues

Site work, curb and gutter, a road cut and a building's metal skeleton are helping turn what a month ago was mostly a large muddy field into the $4.1 million Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. "It has still has...

Antique Farm Equipment Days set to begin Friday at fairgrounds

DUDLEY -- The Eastern North Carolina Vintage Farm Equipment Club will hold its annual show, The Antique Farm Equipment Days, Friday and Saturday at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on U.S. 117 South. Along with the display of antique farm...

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

WCC shooter due in court

Defense attorney Walter Webster said Monday it is unlikely he will be available to appear in Wayne County District Court later today to represent accused Wayne Community College shooter Kenneth M. Stancil III. Webster is currently trying a rape...

Scholarship fund planned to memorialize Ron Lane

The Foundation of Wayne Community College has established a scholarship in memory of Ron Lane, officials announced this week. The scholarship honors the print shop technician who was slain recently at the college. Lane worked at the college for...

Man leaves ID at scene; charged in check forgery

A Goldsboro man already jailed on unrelated charges now faces forgery charges after police discovered he left his photo identification at the scene of the crime. David Earl McCullen, 51, 801 Herring Road, is charged with possession of a...

He's her hero

When Dillyn Hamilton, 2, was diagnosed with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, his mother Suzy made a pact -- when he lost his hair from the chemotherapy treatments, so would she. So when Suzy leaves Morgan's Bar on 2715 E....

Pawn shop helps catch theft suspect

[email protected] A Dudley woman faces criminal charges after being tied to a residential break-in and to a series of forged checks, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office press release. Linda Gail Turnage, 34, 167 Ogallalah Lane, is charged with...

Southern Wayne to get new marquee

Southern Wayne High School received the go-ahead from the school board's facilities committee this week to build a new sign and marquee board on the Dudley campus. Dr. John Boldt, principal, made a presentation at the Monday committee meeting,...

Zone safety campaign a success

Zero fatalities were recorded during the recent N.C. State Highway Patrol's Operation: Drive to Live school zone safety campaign. The week-long education and enforcement campaign was, by all accounts, a success. "We didn't have any passed stop school buses,...

Mount Olive FD earns improved state rating

MOUNT OLIVE -- Many factors play into a fire department's state rating, but for Mount Olive Fire Chief Greg Wiggins it is the firefighters who make the difference. The Mount Olive Fire District recently completed its routine inspection and...

Crime of the week

On April 27, Ms. Gale Drew of Wayne Pharmacy reported a subject broke the glass on the front door and entered the business, which is located at 2302 Wayne Memorial Drive. Once inside, the subject took an undisclosed amount of...

Walk and Roll begins Thursday

GoWayneGo participants will be out and about walking all over Wayne County this summer. The Walk and Roll Summer Walks 2015 program will begin Thursday and go through Sept. 24. The one-hour walks will start at 6 p.m. GoWayneGo...

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Schools to rebid for GHS project

The Wayne County Board of Education will be asked to rebid a project to create a commons area at Goldsboro High School at its meeting Monday, possibly delaying the project by six months. Earlier this month, the board learned...

Armed robbers foiled twice

Would-be robbers driving a white car and wearing red masks came up empty not once, but twice in the last 24 hours when their intended targets proved to be carrying nothing of monetary value. No one was harmed in...

2 points & a future

Just before the last game of the night, W.A. Foster Center leader Gladys McClary stands at center court. She is giving the basketball players pointers -- advice on when and where to move, on when to shoot, on how...

'Yart' sale slated for May 7

The Arts Council of Wayne County will have a "yart" sale Thursday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For $25 per table, artists can sell their artwork and supplies. The price includes a 6-foot table and two...

Students to display mastery of English

Wayne County Public Schools will hold its biennial K-12 Second Language and English-as-a-Second Language, or ESL, Performance Competition this week. Hundreds of students from kindergarten through grade 12 will display their mastery of Spanish, French and English languages/cultures. Twenty-eight...

Duplin Democrats hold convention

KENANSVILLE -- More than 100 people attended the Duplin County Democratic Party's annual county convention at the Duplin County Courthouse April 16. Chairman Dr. Mott Blair called the convention to order and the invocation was given by Sheriff Blake...

Dream Factory to sponsor 5K run

GREENVILLE -- The Dream Factory, the second-largest children's wish granting organization in the country, will hold a "Backwoods Beast" 5-kilometer run May 9 to help raise money to make a sick child's wish come true. Since 1980, the Dream...

Monday, April 27, 2015

Weatherization funds available until May 1

WAGES is offering eligible residents in Wayne County the chance to weatherize their homes before funding runs out June 30. "We typically have two areas of funding -- one is for weatherization and HARRP, or Heating and Air Conditioning...

Strike up the bands

Matthew Thompson of Faith Christian Academy plays trumpet during the large instrumental group section of the North Carolina Christian School Association, or NCCSA, Eastern Regional Elementary Fine Arts Competition. Faith was the only local private school participating in the...

Hospital purchases building

Wayne Memorial Hospital has purchased the former Social Security building at 2605 Medical Office Place for use as the Wayne Memorial Hospital Service Center. "Patient Financial Services, which are now over on William Street, are going to be in...

City has $100,000 in fund for repairs to low-income homes

Low-income and special needs homeowners in Goldsboro will be able to apply for help with home repairs up to $8,000, beginning in August. The city's Planning and Community Development Department has received $100,000 from the state Housing Finance Agency...

UMO offers new technical communication course

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive is offering a new certificate in Technical and Professional Communication (TPC). The certificate equips UMO students with the tools necessary for today's global economy by providing hands-on learning and real-world examples....

Location moved for weekend meals for youths

In an attempt to increase the number of participants who can benefit from Goldsboro's child feeding program, the location has been changed. The feeding sites have been changed to Fairview Community Center and ADLA Structure Day Center. The overall goal...

Order of the Long Leaf Pine

Dr. G. Herman Porter, right, was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Gov. Pat McCrory during recent ceremonies at the N.C. Association of Community College trustees meeting in Raleigh. The Governor referred to Porter as "one...

Alumni assocation honors three graduates

MOUNT OLIVE -- Three people were honored by the University of Mount Olive Alumni Association during its recent Alumni Reunion Day. Brandon Mills of Jacksonville, was named Business Associate of the Year; Heather McPherson of Clarendon was given the...

Sunday, April 26, 2015

A peck of pickle fun

MOUNT OLIVE -- One question finally answered after nearly three decades is whether rain would stop the annual North Carolina Pickle Festival. For nearly 30 years, the festival has enjoyed fair weather. When it did rain, it rained only...

Hospital CEO to retire

Bill Paugh, who for the past 15 years has been at Wayne Memorial Hospital's helm, has announced his plans to retire at the end of the calendar year. A search committee is expected to be appointed to look for...

County planning to gather in prayer

Organizers for the National Day of Prayer hope more than a few Wayne County residents will join them as they gather for the annual event May 7. And they have a Bible verse chosen to support their invitation --...

Love, support ... in all colors

It took her a lot longer than most of the others on the track Saturday, but 88-year-old Olga Markowitsch persevered. When she was finished, she had walked a mile -- all to help those who are battling cancer. She...

Volunteers create beauty downtown

Nearly 30 volunteers flocked to downtown alleyways and parking lots Saturday to participate in the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s Community Action Day. Beginning at 9 a.m., volunteers set out to to clean and to beautify the alleyway beside the...

Program to share stories of Vietnam War nurses

It all seemed so simple to the nursing student who decided to enlist in the Army while still in college. Martha Roed Bell wanted to serve her country and help her parents after overhearing them talking about taking out...

Cooperative plans golf tournament for scholarships

DUDLEY -- Tri-County Electric Corp. employees will host their fifth annual Scholarship Golf Tournament Thursday, May 28, with 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. shotgun starts at Southern Wayne Country Club in Mount Olive. The tourney will benefit the employee-funded...

Council divided on new grant match

The Goldsboro City Council gave the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. permission to apply for a TIGER VII grant at its most recent meeting. But the authorization came on a 4-3 vote, with council members Gene Aycock, William Goodman and...

NCHP targets unsafe drivers

The N.C. Highway Patrol launched its annual prom season safe driving campaign Monday. Operation: Drive to Live is the yearly crackdown on speeding, seat belt violations and drunken driving. In 2014, 48,711 motor vehicle collisions involving teens ages 15...

Annual river cleanup

Volunteers picked up more than 558 pounds of trash along the Neuse River on Saturday during R.A. Jeffreys' annual Neuse River Cleanup, bettering last year's effort despite high water and threatening rain. This the fifth year Jeffreys has sponsored the...

Commission joins effort to reduce number of flounder caught off coast

Wayne County commissioners joined a number of other local government bodies in supporting a reduction in the number of flounder caught in coastal waters. Commissioners last week unanimously approved a resolution calling on the state to reduce the number...

Man facing charges for tractor theft

A Eureka man is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $75,000 bond on charges of stealing and trying to sell tractors. Michael Lee Mooring, 33, 110 E. Main St., is charged with felony larceny, possession...

Continental Society holds 31st annual meeting in Goldsboro

The 31st annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Region of Continental Societies Inc. was held recently in Goldsboro. The Goldsboro Love Connection Committee -- Comatha B. Johnson, chair, Miranda Haskins, Rochelle Hobbs, Dionne Johnson and Belinda Royall, all members of...

Children get close-up look at adult world at career fair

The Wayne County Sheriff's office jail trailer made a stop at the 20th annual Career Hobby Fair Thursday at Meadow Lane Elementary School. More than 40 volunteers from the community stopped by the school to teach young children more...

Pikeville man accidentally shoots himself

A Pikeville man accidentally shot himself in the left hand while cleaning his gun Wednesday, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office report. The incident took place at 2:15 p.m. According to the report, Trevor Kent Laskaris, 38, 131...

Friday, April 24, 2015

Rowdy for Relay

Chase Hooker had a special job at Thursday night's Relay for Life Survivors Banquet. He got to pass out the prizes, with a little help from some friends. But he was not just the cute volunteer plucked from the audience....

Woman faces charges in bank robbery

A woman arrested in Selma Wednesday faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the March 18 armed robbery of the KS Bank in Goldsboro. Lakisha Quan'shell Williamson, 27, is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center...

Two face heroin charges

Two men are being held in the Wayne County Detention Center today on charges of trafficking heroin after they were pulled over in the Elmwood Housing Community Wednesday for reckless driving, a Goldsboro Police Department press release said. Tracy...

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Commissioners approve school change order

Wayne County commissioners approved nearly $160,000 Tuesday to begin construction of wet wells at the new Spring Creek and Grantham middle school sites. A wet well is a holding area for gravity-flow sewer systems. When a certain level is...

WATCH wants meeting

The WATCH medical director enlisted the support of the program's board of directors Wednesday to seek a meeting with County Manager George Wood to discuss next year's funding. Non-profits like WATCH, or Wayne Action Teams for Community Health, have...

Mount Olive getting ready for annual pickle festivities

MOUNT OLIVE -- The 29th annual North Carolina Pickle Festival begins Friday night with a concert and carnival rides and continues all day Saturday with free entertainment, displays, activities, games and food. The festival is sponsored by the Mount...

Watch how their garden grows

Mindy Lane's class celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday by planting a garden -- a kindergarden. The Northwest Elementary kindergarten class measured and laid the bricks to fence in the small vegetable and flower garden outside of Principal Theresa Cox's...

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

County rejects GHS bid

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to construction of a student commons area at Goldsboro High School, but not at the price that the school board was willing to pay. Instead, commissioners rejected the school board's request for...

Police search for thief

Maxway store manager Sherry Daly said she has replaced three store front windows at the downtown business -- broken into five times since December -- and increased the number of security cameras inside the store. The criminals, undeterred, return...

City fountain is going up

Construction on one of three new Center Street roundabout projects should be partially complete in about three weeks, said project supervisor Gary Pipkin. At the intersection of Center Street and Walnut Street, a 44-piece stone fountain is being carefully pieced...

Designs for history

Amy Bauer wants to welcome you into her home. After a year of gutting, cleaning, painting and designing, Mrs. Bauer and 19 professional designers have transformed the four bedroom, four bathroom, 71-year-old house at 303 S. William St. Mrs....

Hwy 55 owner to serve up UMO address

MOUNT OLIVE -- Approximately 320 students will receive their degrees Saturday, May 2, during the University of Mount Olive's graduation ceremonies. Commencement exercises are scheduled for 2 p.m. in the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena on the Mount...

Rosewood graduate earns award for leadership skills

A Rosewood High School graduate now attending law school at the University of North Carolina was recently presented with the Winston Crisp Award, which recognizes excellence in student leadership. Caroline Keen, valedictorian of the Class of 2009 at Rosewood...

Leaders build club reading garden

This year's Leadership Wayne County class has chosen its group project -- a reading garden at the Goldsboro Boys & Girls Club. Tonya Barber is president of the 21-member class, a Wayne County Chamber of Commerce program designed to...

Fremont in debt for waste removal

FREMONT -- Town Administrator Barbara Aycock told the Fremont Board of Aldermen Tuesday night that the town is more than $50,000 in debt to Goldsboro. The debt has accumulated in recent months due to the town's need to transport...

Crime of the Week

On April 21 at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Maxway store at 125 S. Center St. was broken into by what appears to be the same possible black male suspect from three other previous break-ins. Once inside, the suspect stole a...

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Arrest made in shooting at city store

Investigators with the Goldsboro Police Department have a suspect in custody in connection with a Monday morning shooting outside the Beestown Grocery Store at 901 S. Slocumb St.. The shots were fired from the 900 block of Wilmington Avenue...

Downtown store burglarized

A brick thrown through a storefront window at the Maxway retail store located at 125 S. Center St. allowed thieves to make off with three flat screen LED televisions, according to a Goldsboro police report. This marks the fifth...

Zoning public hearings draw critics

Public hearings on a proposed used car dealership and an Internet sweepstakes parlor drew criticism from neighbors at the Goldsboro City Council's meeting Monday night. Several neighbors stepped forward to express their concerns over a planned used car dealership on...

Hog truck overturns on U.S. 117; driver faces charges

An 18-wheeler loaded down with 181 hogs overturned on U.S. 117 Monday afternoon, killing 50 of the animals and trapping the rest inside the tractor trailer, the state Highway Patrol said. The southbound highway was shut for a period...

Meals to be offered for youths

The Child Nutrition Outreach and Education Program is being held through June 7 at Dillard Middle School and Wayne Middle/High Academy. Meals will be served on Saturdays and Sundays during the period, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. All Wayne...

Duplin Winery to host Our Main Squeeze Festival

ROSE HILL -- Duplin Winery of Rose Hill will host its fourth annual Our Main Squeeze Festival on May 2. The gates will open at 10 a.m., festivities will start at 11 a.m. and continue until 7 p.m. The...

Monday, April 20, 2015

County to weigh funds for GHS project

Wayne County commissioners will consider a funding request Tuesday from the county Board of Education that the school board says is necessary to proceed with a project at Goldsboro High School. On March 26, the state Department of Public...

Reading, writing and possibilities

FREMONT -- Patrick Smith has come home. The freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stands in the yard, throwing a football with his friends. He grew up in the small white building. The fenced-in yard...

Shots fired at store

Goldsboro police have not yet released the name of a man shot outside Beestown Grocery, 901 S. Slocumb St., at about 9 a.m. today. The shooting took place outside the store near the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and South...

Missing man, 74, discovered after officials' overnight search

The body of Bennie Ray Toms, 74, who was reported missing Sunday afternoon, was discovered early this morning in a wooded area off Ruskin Road. A family member found Toms deceased at about 8 a.m., the Wayne County Sheriff's...

Wayne earns NCWorks certification

Two years ago, Wayne County became the first county in the state to be named an NCWorks Certified Work Ready Community. The recognition came during the launch of the regional pilot program that recognized local efforts to improve workforce...

Board accepts change order for Spring Creek, Grantham projects

The Wayne County Board of Education accepted a change order request for the sanitation system at Spring Creek and Grantham middle schools this morning, that will ultimately incur no present or future costs to the district. The special called...

300 students to participate in annual All-County Choral Festival on Tuesday

Wayne County Public Schools will hold its annual All-County Choral Festival on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Goldsboro High School. Three hundred choral students from around the district, representing 29 schools, will participate in the musical event. Choral directors...

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Search ends with discovery of body

A Wayne County man who went missing early Sunday afternoon was found deceased this morning. Bennie Ray Toms, 74, left his home on Solara Drive just after noon today and never returned. And when his car was found on...

Saturday, April 18, 2015

County Democrats elect new leaders

A new slate of officers will take over the direction of the county's Democratic Party, as Democrats prepare for several key elections locally and statewide. The Wayne County Democratic Party Convention was held in Courtroom No. 4 at the...

WCC threat suspect charged

A man has been arrested in connection with a telephone threat that closed the campus of Wayne Community College Friday for the second time in a week. Kentrell Lamont Chadwick, 31, of 909 Prince Ave., has been charged with...

WCC faculty remembers shooting victim

Kirk Keller is still sifting through all the emotions that bubbled up Monday morning as he was driving to work at Wayne Community College. Before the WCC instructor in the business administration/operation management department even arrived, the calls started...

Sweeney moves dojo, retains champions

It started with a dream -- a 5-year-old in a white gi who told his parents he would master the martial arts one day. But Dustin Carter had no idea that just more than four years later, his mentor...

New details emerge in WCC shooting

New information emerged Friday detailing the last moments of 44-year-old Wayne Community College print shop supervisor Ron Lane's life. Lane died on the college campus Monday from a single gunshot wound inflicted by a former work study student whom...

Man shot during family dispute

A family dispute resulted in one man being shot in the leg and the other being arrested Friday night. The shooting took place outside the victim's residence at 501 Forsyth St. at 9:10 p.m. Jason Timmons, 28, of New...

916th welcomes new leader

Members of the 916th Air Refueling Wing were sad to see "Happy" go Saturday, but remain proud of the legacy he leaves behind. Col. Gregory "Happy" Gilmour relinquished his role as the 916th commander to Vice Commander Col. Craig...

Friday, April 17, 2015

Arrest made in WCC threat

Goldsboro police have arrested a 31-year-old in connection to the threat made against Wayne Community College this morning. Kentrell Lamont Chadwick, of Prince Avenue, was charged with making a false report concerning mass violence on educational property and is being...

District announces volunteer of the year

Marlene Sosa was happy from the moment she entered the gym at Tommy's Road Elementary School Thursday afternoon. She walked through the door as if on cue, just as her name was called along with others being recognized as...

College closes after threat

A threat phoned in to the campus of Wayne Community College early this morning forced the school to shut down early for the weekend, officials said today. Goldsboro police Chief Jeff Stewart said the school felt the threat was...

Stancil disrupts hearing

It took a second attempt at a first appearance Thursday for Kenneth M. Stancil III, 20, to acknowledge the charges against him and to request a court-appointed attorney. The first attempt to arraign the confessed killer on felony murder...

916th on new tanker short list

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base officials learned this week that the Goldsboro installation could house a new fleet of tankers by the end of the decade. The Air Force confirmed that the 916th Air Refueling Wing is among five...

Community prayer

Attendees at a prayer service for shooting victim Ronald Lane expressed shock and deep concern Thursday for both the victim and his family and the alleged killer, as well as the Goldsboro community as a whole. "We have come...

Nelson Mitchell receives award for volunteering

As Nelson Mitchell was being wheeled into surgery for a liver transplant, he prayed for God to give him just five more years -- long enough to see his son get married and see a grandchild. "It had to be...

WCC evacuated amid 'credible' threat

Wayne Community College is closing the campus within the next few minutes, as a "credible" threat was made this morning against the school. Local officials said given the events that unfolded Monday, it made sense to respond. For complete details...

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Stancil on way to Wayne

Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce said claims made by Kenneth Stancil III during a telephone interview with a local television station Wednesday -- that he killed three people in addition to Ron Lane -- are unsubstantiated. Stancil, however, could...

'A kind, gentle man'

Steven Smith remembers when his cousin, Ron "Dwight" Lane, was "just a little baby" -- how, as an infant, he was seemingly always smiling. He can still see the "shy, but loving" toddler who never got into "any type...

CIS plans annual spring fundraiser

Communities in Schools hopes to become even more involved in helping students succeed in school and to encourage them to go on to graduate from high school. And organizers are hoping a fundraiser next week will bring in the...

Hearing set for Stancil

Kenneth Stancil III, who has already confessed to killing Wayne Community College employee Ron Lane on Monday morning on the college's campus, has been extradited from Florida and is making a first appearance this afternoon in Wayne County Court. Courthouse...

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Stancil en route to Wayne County

The man who confessed to killing a Wayne Community College employee Monday morning inside the school's print shop is en route to Wayne County and will make an appearance in Wayne County District Court Thursday. Courthouse officials confirmed that Kenneth...

College: Memorial fund planned

Wayne Community College officials continue to pick up the pieces after Monday's shooting that left an employee dead and sent shockwaves through the community. In addition to preparing a "celebration of life" ceremony later this week for the deceased, Ron...

WCC killer confesses

Kenneth Stancil III waived his right to remain silent in a Florida court proceeding Tuesday, taking the opportunity to, instead, confess to the murder of Ron Lane and to accuse his victim of child molestation. Police say Stancil, 20, shot...

School board approves new commons area at high school

The Wayne County Board of Education voted Monday night to proceed with the project to build a commons area at Goldsboro High School and adopted a resolution objecting to the state's unfunded driver education mandate. Since learning that the...

Fitness classes begin this month

The Salvation Army is known for helping out during disasters, with every day emergency needs and giving spiritual support. Now it's tackling the physical aspect with a new fitness class. The class will tentatively start April 21 and will be...

Rocking fundraiser will be held Saturday

Students from New Independence Academy will be rocking it this weekend. The school for children diagnosed with high functioning autism, housed at Rosewood Worship Center, will host its second annual "Game On Rock-A-Thon" at the school on Saturday from...

MOPD hires new assistant chief

MOUNT OLIVE -- Linda Tyson has known since she was a child that she wanted to be a law enforcement officer. "Being a woman police officer, you didn't see a lot of them back then," she said. "Then a...

Salvation Army plants veggies for community

Joi Floyd did not mind getting dirty. The 12-year-old plunged her hands into the soil and dug a hole. Her sister, Bre, filled the hole with a petunia. Their grandfather, Sam Jones, and Salvation Army employee Dennis Sims, helped...

Park in need of more staff

The swim lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is set to open Memorial Day, but there is not enough help to staff it yet. "For some reason, we're really low on applicants this year," said ranger Crystal...

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The timeline

8:00 a.m. - Reports of shots fired at Wayne Community College in the Wayne Learning Center roll across police scanners. 8:11 a.m. - Goldsboro Police Department arrives on the scene. Shortly thereafter, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office also arrives on...

Man, 20, teen girl charged in murder

LAGRANGE -- A 13-year-old girl and the 20-year-old man she was in a relationship with have been charged with the Sunday morning stabbing death of the girl's mother. Roderick Rico Wyche, 20, of Promise Land Road in LaGrange is...

Community service set for Thursday

A time of prayer is being planned for Thursday to pray for the community in the wake of Monday's tragedy on the Wayne Community College campus. The service will be held from 12:15-12:45 p.m. at First Baptist Church, said...

Captured: Police discover shooting suspect Kenneth Stancil III sleeping on a Florida beach

The manhunt for Kenneth Morgan Stancil III, 20, came to an end in Daytona Beach, Fla., early this morning when beach patrol officers discovered the suspected murderer sleeping on the beach at 1:20 a.m. He had a knife in his...

College president speaks about shooting aftermath

She never thought this day would come. So Dr. Kay Albertson sat behind her desk following a press conference Monday afternoon -- composed, yet obviously drained. How could this have happened inside the college she has led for nearly...

Schools lock down after shooting

Wayne County School Board Member Rick Pridgen has had many conversations with his wife, Allison, about school safety and the realization that school shootings are becoming more a question of "when" than "if." Monday's shooting at Wayne Community College...

Student safety is key at WCDS

Keeping students safe and calm was the order of the day Monday at Wayne Country Day School, the private school located just around the corner from Wayne Community College. Before the news had even circulated, school personnel became aware...

Memorial set up at WCC to honor lost colleague

Mary Beth Taylor paused beneath the Plonk Memorial Clock -- a landmark nestled in the center of the Wayne Community College campus. She held a candle in her hands -- then, placed it on the bricks at the base of...

Investigators probe suspect's residence

Wayne County investigators searched a mobile home Monday afternoon that reportedly belongs to Kenneth Morgan Stancil III, the man charged with fatally shooting Ron Lane on the Wayne Community College campus Monday morning. And while they would not comment...

Leaders tour new school

Kevin Smith, right, who will serve as the principal at the new Spring Creek Middle School, talks with Wayne County Commissioner Ed Cromartie, left, during a Monday afternoon tour of the school by commissioners and Board of Education. It...

Andy's Foundation donates $50,000

MOUNT OLIVE -- Andy's Charitable Foundation has made a $50,000 commitment to the University of Mount Olive's planned track and lacrosse complex. "As a Wayne County-based company with a long-standing commitment to giving back to the local community, we...

Police involuntarily commit man for strange behavior at BB&T

Goldsboro police Monday secured involuntary commitment papers against a Goldsboro man after he attempted to turn in a deposit slip with "outrageous" numbers at a Goldsboro bank. It was not a robbery attempt, said police Capt. Dwayne Dean. Dean...

Murder investigated as hate crime

The Goldsboro Police Department announced at a press conference earlier today that the murder of Wayne Community College employee Ron Lane, 44, is being investigated as a hate crime. Lane was killed on the college campus Monday when a...

Monday, April 13, 2015

Wayne Community College students react to shooting

Everything was normal. Lauren Davis finished her anatomy test on Monday at Wayne Community College and headed out the door. But then she checked her phone. "This is not a drill," she read. "The entire campus is on lockdown." The...

Wayne Community College shooting

One person was killed inside the Wayne Community College library today, and the gunman -- a white male standing nearly 6 feet tall with a tattoo on his face -- was still at large as of press time, Goldsboro...

President of Wayne Community College speaks out on this morning's shooting

"This is indeed a sad day for Wayne Community College and this close family and community. Our hearts are heavy at the loss of an employee, a valued employee, and we will soon be reaching out to the family. Our...

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Thousands attend annual Pig in the Park festival

Kate Daniels, president of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, did not have to kiss a pig after all. After winning the contest held by the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County to raise money for Saturday's sixth annual...

School board dealing with cost overrun

The bid for the pending facilities project at Goldsboro High School reportedly came in at $637,000 over budget, placing the Wayne County Board of Education at a crossroads -- reject the bid and start over or cut corners on...

John Tart dies at 87

John Tart, a Wayne County farm boy who rose by his own talents to become a community college president, county commissioner and legislator, died Saturday morning. He was 87. Tart served as a representative from Wayne County in the...

Heads shaved for cancer fight

Kirt Jarrett parted ways with a 31-year-old friend Saturday night. But no tears were shed. Only hair. Jarrett shaved his hair, beard and 31-year-old mustache off on Saturday night in the parking lot of The Flying Shamrock to raise money...

Scientist speaks at Martin Lecture

MOUNT OLIVE -- It has been more then 20 years since Dr. Santanu Bose walked the campus of the University of Mount Olive. He arrived in 1989 from Calcutta, India, as an undergraduate student interested in becoming an accountant....

Nutrition Outreach Program available until June

The Child Nutrition Outreach and Education Program is being held through June 7 at Dillard Middle School and Wayne Middle/High Academy. Meals will be served on Saturdays and Sundays during the period, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. All...

Modelers show April 18

FAYETTEVILLE -- The "Lifeboats for Warriors Project Modelers Exhibition" is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Kiwanis Recreation Center in Honeycutt Park at 352 Devers St., Fayetteville. Admission is $5 for the general public....

McAlister's Deli to hold grand opening on Monday morning

McAlister's Deli at 431 N. Berkeley Blvd. will open its first store in Goldsboro on Monday, April 13. Construction on the location began in early January in the building shell of what was formerly a Schlotsky's Deli. In celebration...

IMPulse gets big contract

MOUNT OLIVE -- The national economy stagnates, jobs are lost and there is no "future" without a strong surface transportation system, said Jeff Wharton, plant manager at IMPulse NC. The company has firsthand knowledge. IMPulse has landed a contract...

Hospital volunteers honored

Peg Cary was a nurse in Philadelphia for 45 years before becoming a hospital volunteer. "I've always volunteered at a hospital," she says. "My late husband was in the Marine Corps and wherever we were stationed, I would volunteer."...

Annual Goldsboro Road Run Saturday

The Sunrise Kiwanis Club will hold its 37th annual Greater Goldsboro Road Run on Saturday, April 18. The event is a one-mile fun run, 5K walk/run and 10K run will be held at Stoney Creek Park. Each race starts...

Ang Li to perform at Barton

WILSON -- The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra will present its spring concert on Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m.in the Kennedy Family Theatre on the Barton campus. The symphony welcomes to the stage internationally acclaimed concert pianist Ang Li, who...

Friday, April 10, 2015

Realtor of the Year

Dean Thompson, center, accepts the Realtor of the Year award from Michael Ellis, president of the Goldsboro-Wayne County Association of Realtors, on Thursday. At right is last year's winner, Jeri Lynn Coker....

SJAFB's new recruit

Jeremiah Seaberry is not like boys his age. He has wings. The 9-year-old sat in an F-15E with his name emblazoned on the side -- along with his call name -- "Swoosh." It was a good thing his co-pilot...

Livestock show continues

Nikki Carroll is a city slicker. Staring down the snout of a 320-pound hog, she was scared. Nikki was one of the contestants in Thursday night's Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale City Slicker contest. When Miss Bacon led...

Teenager reports gunshots in city park

An Eastern Wayne High School student reported shots fired at Berkeley Park to the Goldsboro Police Department Thursday, stating the vehicle he was driving was damaged by bullets. According to the report, Jaylne Whitfield, 17, of Randall Lane, told...

County eyes new 911 location

Wayne County's new 911 call center will need to be in a more secure location -- removed both in distance from the backup call center as well as from the same electrical power grid they now share. There have...

Two men charged in crime from March 31

Two men the Wayne County Sheriff's Office says are responsible for a March 31 breaking and entering and larceny are in custody today. Reece Dehart Manderson, 29, 233 Country Acres Road, and Jonathan Michael Bryant, 20, 107 Hannah Way,...

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Three charged in man's killing

The daughter and son-in-law of a Dudley man found in a shallow grave behind his home on Boykin Drive late Monday are now charged with his murder. A third woman is accused of being an accessory after the fact....

Junior livestock show held

Speckles the Goat was done. He planted his front feet into the wood chips and stopped. Payton Williams' training kicked into gear. The 7-year-old coaxed the 64-pound goat back into line, bestowing a smile at judge Bruce Shenkle. The novice...

Non-profit management certificate program slated to begin this month

Wayne Community College Continuing Education Services will offer a non-profit management certificate program this spring and summer. The program consists of eight classes designed to teach how to grow and manage successful non-profit organizations. Completion of all classes in...

City Council exchange clarified

In a story in Tuesday's News-Argus, "Council Hears Plan to Expand," a quote attributed to Mayor Al King was falsely attributed to City Manager Scott Stevens. The quote from Mayor King, broken into two parts, was not exact, and reads:...

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Plans for new jail advance

Wayne County could be moving inmates into a new misdemeanant jail on North William Street by July or August of 2016. Project manager Jason Hopkins of Mosely Architects, the company designing the jail, told Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday...

Mt. Olive Pickle Co. buys shell building

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mt. Olive Pickle Co. officials Tuesday afternoon said that continued strong sales growth is behind the company's decision to purchase the 55,000-square-foot shell building in the Mount Olive Industrial Park. Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning approved...

Credits for history

Gov. Pat McCrory and state Department of Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz toured downtown Goldsboro Tuesday afternoon to discuss the importance of renewing historical preservation tax credits in the state. McCrory and Kluttz kicked off their visit to Goldsboro by...

McCrory lunches with Scouters

Gov. Pat McCrory was the guest speaker at the Tuscarora Boy Scout Council's annual Friends of Scouting fundraising luncheon Tuesday at the Walnut Creek Country Club. The governor praised the Scouting program for its development of young men, saying...

Animal Shelter to sponsor clinics

Rabies vaccination clinics will be sponsored by the Wayne County Animal Shelter on different dates and locations listed across the county. The cost will be $10 per dog or cat. The owner of every dog and cat more than...

Paramount Theatre earns grant funding

Thanks to a three-year grant from South Arts, the Paramount Theatre will now be able to bring professional dance companies to Wayne County. The Dance Touring Initiative will provide about $25,000 over the next three years for professional development...

Local teacher speaks at event

North Drive Elementary teacher and author Gregory Brown was recently a guest author at the North Carolina Reading Association Conference, held in Raleigh. The K-4 literacy coach had the opportunity to interact and share reading strategies with educators from across...

Crime of the week

On April 3 a representative of Musgrave Equipment Company located at 3866 US 70 West in Goldsboro reported that between April 2 and April 3 the business received a call from an unknown person said they were a representative from...

Board appoints another member

PIKEVILLE -- Pikeville commissioners appointed Lyman Galloway to serve in the recently vacated seat of Todd Smith during the regular board meeting Monday night, leaving only two board members to serve that have actually been elected. Former Commissioner Todd...

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Two arrested in home invasion, shooting in city

A second man has been charged in the home invasion and shooting that took place late Sunday evening at 103 W. Lockhaven Drive. Khiry Reid was shot in the leg after two men forced their way into his residence...

Council hears plan to expand

Businessman David Weil appeared at the Goldsboro City Council work session Monday to discuss several issues and projects he is working on throughout the community. Weil revealed that he and Charles Norwood have formed a group, Friends of Willowdale,...

Body unearthed in Dudley

Investigators believe the body of a man found buried in a shallow grave behind a home at 111 Boykin Drive in Dudley late Monday is that of Walter Lee Jordan, 59, who was reported missing in February. The tentative...

Monday, April 6, 2015

More shots fired in city

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating seven reports of shots fired in the city, including three people shot since Thursday. Investigators are also looking into an incident at the Waffle House on Wayne Memorial Drive Saturday that sent guests...

Goldsboro native promoted to NCHP lieutenant colonel

A Goldsboro native has been promoted by the N.C. State Highway Patrol to the rank of lieutenant colonel, making him the patrol's third in command. He will be stationed in the commander's office based in Raleigh. Lt. Col. Robert...

County to talk facilities plan at meeting

The facilities committee of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners is expected to make several recommendations to the full board at its meeting Tuesday. The board meeting will start with an 8 a.m. briefing session followed by the formal...

Super students

Four students and a counselor were honored recently by the Wayne County School Counselors Association. The annual awards recognize students who have overcome a variety of obstacles and challenges in their lives to succeed in school. Wayne County Public...

Board eyes superintendent applicants

The Wayne County Board of Education completed its interviews for the district's top spot late Friday afternoon, with members saying they are confident in the choices before them. The board spent two days in closed session interviewing candidates for...

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Rabies clinics to be held in April

Rabies vaccination clinics will be sponsored by the Wayne County on the dates and at the locations listed below. The cost will be $ 10 per dog or cat. The owner of every dog and cat over four months...

Partnership Lobster Fest set for May 1

The Partnership for Children of Wayne County will hold its 11th annual Lobster and Shrimp Fest fundraiser on Friday, May 1 from 2-6 p.m. This year's fundraiser will feature drive-through pickup of the famous Maine lobsters that are being...

County eyes plans for jail

[email protected] The architectural plans and schematic drawings for a new 217-bed misdemeanant jail on North William Street will be unveiled during the Wayne County commissioners' Tuesday morning meeting. The plan estimates that the base bid for the project will be...

Easter Miracles

[email protected] Most people don't believe in miracles. Hayley Burt does. She and her family can testify that faith, prayer and love can defy logic, medicine and probability. And they will be grateful this Easter when they share prayers and family...

Chambers in region offer legislative priorities

Legislators representing a dozen eastern North Carolina counties, including Wayne, have been asked to make priorities of issues involving education, infrastructure, transportation, tax reform, military, access to health care and economic development. The list was unveiled earlier this month...

School board weighs Skype rules

[email protected] The Wayne County Board of Education will consider creating a policy to deal with Skyping, members said Friday afternoon. The topic was introduced during a 12-minute open session of board comments, as two days of interviews for superintendent candidates...

Blood donation opportunities

Wayne County residents have the opportunity to give blood at these times and places: *Eureka April 20 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at Eureka United Methodist Church, 128 N. Church St. *Goldsboro April 21 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m....

Blessed2BlessU sponsoring 5K run

Blessed2BlessU Ministries will sponsor its 3rd Annual 5K "Run. Educate. Hope." on April 25. The money raised from this fun run will go directly towards the second building of the ministries' Tumaini "Hope" Primary School in Kiruani, Tanzania, Africa....

Teacher follows her dream of being on the Silver Screen

[email protected] Ashley Bratcher told her students to follow their dreams. The art teacher at Eastern Wayne Middle School explained that if they tried really hard, they could make a living pursuing the arts. "If you have a dream, you can...

Children hunt for Easter Bunny's treasures

[email protected] Easter festivities were in full swing at the Adamsville Baptist Church egg hunt. The family-friendly event on Saturday had three bouncy castles, hula hoops, face painting, fishing and age-organized egg hunts. There were 2,500 candy-stuffed eggs scattered across the...

Friday, April 3, 2015

Literacy Fair set for April 18

Wayne County residents can join millions of youths internationally for a day of service on April 18 for the Literacy Connections of Wayne County's third annual Wayne County Literacy Fair. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2...

Hippity hoppity, Easter eggs aplenty

Brandon Stokes was terrified. The 2-year-old wrapped his arms around his mother, Brittany Ashford, and closed his eyes tightly. "Mom, I'm scared," he said. Brandon did not want to see the Easter Bunny at the Parks and Recreation Egg Hunt...

Bill to change hotel use tax is filed

RALEIGH -- A bill authorizing up to a 1 percent increase in Goldsboro's hotel occupancy tax passed its first reading in the state House of Representatives on Thursday and was referred to the House Finance Committee. If approved, the...

DNA tests are back, but not a final ruling

The results of a court-ordered DNA analysis of several pieces of evidence collected by Wayne County investigators more than a decade ago brought the legal team of a convicted murderer one step closer to having what they consider a...

Thursday, April 2, 2015

List of closings released for Good Friday

State offices and most local government offices will be closed Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday, but federal government offices, including post offices, and banks do not observe the holiday. All Wayne County offices, including the library,...

School gets an 'A'

One of Wayne County's newest preschool options known for its "creative curriculum" and education strategies has received accreditation status. Brighton Academy on Glenda's Drive, which opened four years ago, in January 2011, has become one of the first schools...

Board talks budget, facilities

The school board emerged from its Tuesday work session with two objectives -- asking the commission for an increase in funds and preparing the next facilities plan. Funding cuts and reversions from the state have dominated the discussion for...

Brighton Academy accreditation

[email protected] One of Wayne County's newest preschool options known for its "creative curriculum" and education strategies has received accreditation status. Brighton Academy on Glenda's Drive, which opened four years ago, in January 2011, has become one of the first schools...

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Wood: Sales tax proposal will help Wayne

Wayne County could benefit by as much as $2 million in additional revenue should a sales tax bill now being debated in the General Assembly become law in its current form. However, it is too early to get too...

More Fallin Blvd. break-ins

[email protected] Another two cars have been broken into in the 100 block of Fallin Boulevard, the Legacy at Berkeley Place apartments, according to reports taken Tuesday by the Goldsboro Police Department. A total of seven motor vehicle break-ins have been...

Phoning it in, again

The pastor on the school board whose spotty attendance record over the past 14 months has come under fire recently, took the bully pulpit after a called work session Tuesday, blasting his "distractors" and sending a message of his...

Bayer opens $6M facility

PIKEVILLE -- Bayer CropScience opened a state-of-the-art research facility Tuesday, which is expected to solidify Wayne County's role in all aspects of the agriculture industry. The Breeding and Trait Development Station cost $6.3 million to construct and is designed for...

Coffee shop opens doors downtown

Parker Croom's dog, Socko, has always been a bad dog. So when Croom was searching for a name for his new coffee shop opening this week at 115 E. Walnut St., the name was a no-brainer -- Bad Dog...

Giving out the basics

The goal was to promote awareness and community cohesiveness. Four graduate students from East Carolina University came to Goldsboro Saturday to pair with the HDGC Community Crisis Center, 607 S. Slocumb St., and The Bridge Church for some community...