March 2017 archives

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Friday, March 31, 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a severe thunderstorm warning in the surrounding area until 11 a.m. Heavy rains and winds capable of gusting up to 50 mph are expected.The weather is moving east in a line stretching...

North Carolina Pickle Festival needs a few good people

MOUNT OLIVE -- This month's 31st annual North Carolina Pickle Festival needs  a few good volunteers. make that more than just a few. Festival organizers need volunteers to help with the festival's set up on Friday, April 28, with Friday...

North Carolina Pickle Festival needs a few good people

MOUNT OLIVE -- This month's 31st annual North Carolina Pickle Festival needs  a few good volunteers. make that more than just a few. Festival organizers need volunteers to help with the festival's set up on Friday, April 28, with Friday...

Eagle's Pointe assisted living holding food drive

Food drives are often held around the holiday months, but people are in need of help all year round. That is why staff and volunteers the Eagle's Pointe assisted living facility will host a food drive beginning today and running...

Police do not know what prompted early morning face slashing

A man is facing felony charges after allegedly cutting someone in the face at a local hotel this morning. Corea Shaleto Pearsall, 39, of 711 N. James St., is charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to...

Daffodil festival Saturday

FREMONT -- The 31st annual Fremont Daffodil Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1. Joining the lineup of food and arts and crafts vendors this year will be the addition of retail vendors --...

Cancer survivors gather

Richard Yearwood was diagnosed with melanoma in 1978. Raising his hand Thursday night when his number was called in a prize drawing, he was celebrating more than what would be in the gift bag. He was also the longest cancer...

Community Soup Kitchen serves its one millionth meal

When 72-year-old Paul Bryant walked through the doors of the Community Soup Kitchen Thursday shortly after 11:30 a.m., he had no idea just how special the day would become. Bryant was the one millionth person served at the Soup Kitchen...

Students visit farming operation

J.R. Odom had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a goat. And a pig. And a cow. And nine other stations representing agricultural products on Thursday, as part of "We Dig It: Ag Day." This is the...

Thursday morning fire ruled accidental

The cause of a fire at 901 N. Center St. early Thursday morning remains undetermined, according to a fire report. Goldsboro firefighters responded to a structure fire at the home around 2:45 a.m. Thursday and found heavy fire and heavy...

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Manhunt suspect identified; not same man reported missing in Raleigh

A man on the run from law enforcement since Monday after police say he fired a shot at another person during an attempted armed robbery has been identified, according to a press release. Ricky Terrell Ward, 33, of 302 Bennett's...

Jones to never seek a seat on bench, surrenders pension

The North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission announced today it has reached a deal with former Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Arnold O. Jones II, preventing him from ever again seeking a seat on the bench. Jones, convicted in 2016 of...

After freeze, farmers wait to see what fruits will produce

MOUNT OLIVE -- Vernon Britt was coated in ice, just like the strawberry crop he was trying to protect by using a sprinkler system to insulate the plants with a layer of ice. "He would have to walk through...

Wayne Community College honors three with title of trustee emeritus

The board of trustees of Wayne Community College has bestowed its highest honor, the title of of trustee emeritus, on three former members, Gwyndella Wilson, Tommy Cox and Tommy Jarrett. Two of them served twice on the board, for...

Gun battle leaves none injured, results in five arrests

A gunfight in the middle of the day in the 1100 block of Olivia Lane Tuesday left no one injured but led to five arrests over a two-day period. A residence occupied by two adults and a 2-year-old child was...

Honoring Vietnam veterans

Branches of the military united at the Veterans Memorial Park Wednesday to honor soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. Nearly 30 veterans wearing berets and pins that represented the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force celebrated...

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Kiwanis to host 39th annual run to raise money for children

The Sunrise Kiwanis Club will host the 39th annual Run for a Child Greater Goldsboro Road Run April 8 at Cornerstone Commons. The event is a fundraiser to help support Kiwanis members assist children of the community. The 10K run,...

Wayne County Sheriff's Office seeks help identifying break-in suspect

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is asking for community assistance in identifying a suspect in a February break-in to a local convenience store. A press release said that the Eastern Wayne Mart at 774 e. New Hope Road Goldsboro was...

Manhunt turns up no leads

Outside of a suspicious person report that sent Northwest Elementary School in Pikeville into a soft lockdown Tuesday, authorities developed no new leads in the second day of an ongoing manhunt. As the manhunt enters its third day, officials...

Report: Man shoots into home twice

A man with a warrant already out for his arrest is now facing felony charges after shooting through the front door of a woman's Fairview Circle apartment, according to police reports. It is the second reported shooting at the...

A chance to dance

As a child, Megan Ranck went to bed each night and dreamed only of dancing. She opened her eyes the next morning and knew it had only been a dream, but she was convinced dancing would remain in her...

Rick Fletcher named director of city Public Works Department

A retired Air Force civil engineer and interim director of the Goldsboro Public Works Department has been selected to lead two city departments. Rick Fletcher was promoted this week to director of the Goldsboro Public Works Department, which includes...

April WorkKeys testing dates announced

The WorkKeys(r) tests for the National Career Readiness Certificate will be offered just three times in Wayne County during April. The Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success (WORKS) program will provide testing sessions on April 11 and 25 from 8:30...

Seven girls to compete for title of Miss Aycock High

Seven young ladies will compete for the title of Miss Charles B. Aycock this weekend. The 2017 pageant will be held Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the school's old gym. Tickets are $10. Hannah Wright, daughter of Robert...

Cars, homes broken into in county

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a series of car and home break-ins in the Dudley area that were reported Monday, according to incident reports. According to the reports, apartments C1, C2, B3 and D2 at 715 Sandhill...

Rosewood students visit artisans

Three Rosewood teachers have taken their love of the arts on the road. A group of band, chorus and visual art students from Rosewood middle and high schools recently traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. for a four-day trip that offered...

Rabies clinics to be held in April, also vaccinations given

Rabies vaccination clinics will be held on Saturday, April 1, and Saturday April 8. The cost will be $5 per dog or cat. The clinics are sponsored by Wayne County. The April 1 clinics will be held from 8...

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Coming Wednesday: Local high school girls win contest, earn chance to go to prom

As a child, Megan Ranck went to bed each night and dreamed only of dancing. She would opened her eyes the next morning and know it had only been a dream, but she was convinced dancing would remain in her...

Multiple break-ins reported Monday

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a series of car and home break-ins in the Dudley area that were reported Monday, according to incident reports. According to the reports, apartments C1, C2, B3 and D2 at 715 Sandhill Drive...

Man charged with shooting into woman's apartment

A man with a warrant already out for his arrest is now facing felony charges after shooting through the front door of a woman's Fairview Circle apartment, according to police reports. It is the second reported shooting at the same...

Northwest Elementary light lockdown continues

PIKEVILLE -- Northwest Elementary School is on a soft lockdown until further notice after a report of a suspicious person in the area following an overnight manhunt. Maj. Tom Effler said he could not confirm whether or not the suspicious...

Northwest Elementary on 'light lockdown' this morning following overnight manhunt

PIKEVILLE -- Northwest Elementary School is on a "light lockdown" this morning following an overnight manhunt after a report of a suspicious person in the area, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Maj. Tom Effler said he could not...

Scientist earns distinction through complex research

Kristopher Darling was working in a dentist office pursuing his dream of becoming a dentist. But while there he discovered a love of working with materials -- a discovery that set him on course to eventually becoming a materials...

School board works to finalize Edgewood's classroom number

The Wayne County Board of Education continues to look at its plans for a new Edgewood Community Development School to ensure that it will be able to meet the needs of the community's special needs children. The new Edgewood school...

Near miss: Manhunt for fleeing suspect enters second day

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office's helicopter unit circled over the Rosewood community most of Monday night and SWAT was standing by as a manhunt got underway for a potentially armed suspect. The search entered its second day today after officials...

Man is charged for possession of meth

A man was arrested Friday after Wayne County deputies found methamphetamine in his car, according to a sheriff's office press release. According to the release, deputies with the Wayne County Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team stopped Dillon Blake Brown, 22, of...

Monday, March 27, 2017

Manhunt underway for potentially armed suspect near Rosewood

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office's helicopter unit is visible over the Rosewood community tonight and SWAT is standing by as a manhunt is underway for a potentially armed suspect. Maj. Tom Effler said area residents should be careful, but there...

Shots fired into home on Fairview Circle

Someone fired a gun into a woman's home in Fairview Circle early Sunday morning, according to a Goldsboro police report. Just before 1 a.m., a person shot at the woman's house, located in the 900 block of Fairview Circle, the...

Police: Shoplifter had knife in his pocket

A man allegedly stole a speaker, a Bluetooth device and headphones at Target Sunday afternoon, before officers stopped him at the door. According to a Goldsboro Police report, Christopher Donnell Brinson, 43, of 704 Force Road, removed security devices from...

Recovery meeting slated for this week

The second in a series of three public meetings on the Hurricane Matthew Resilient Redevelopment Planning program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in room 101 of the Walnut Building on the Wayne Community...

Work begins for book sale at library

Debbie Brantham, Brenda Kahn and Lee Yahnker gather by a table of books in the back of the library. The three admitted "bookworms" are there to see the latest arrivals. Not to check them out and take them home to...

Woman charged in officer assault

A woman assaulted two officers as they tried to arrest her Wednesday afternoon, according to a Goldsboro police report. Stephanie Nicole Martin, 35, of 219 Randall Lane Apt. 2, is charged with two counts of assault on a government official,...

Common thread of grief: Trayvon Martin's father speaks during A'Tiya Maddox remembrance banquet

A'Tiya Maddox was always a giver. It was written in her name, which means "a gift." And while she is no longer here to give her parents hugs, to share her smile people talk about so often or to reach...

Summit highlights value of involvement

Thirty neckties became a representation of the connection between a father and son during the Father-Son Summit Saturday at Refuge Temple Church Saturday. The Prevention and Treatment Center, the Tranz Center and the church hosted the event that welcomed only...

Sunday, March 26, 2017

City pilot program employ youth

The city of Goldsboro is getting ready to launch a new summer youth employment program that will offer teenagers minimum-wage jobs. The city-funded program, which will be operated out of the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Department, is expected to...

Second graders will tour farm on Thursday

The annual We Dig It Ag Day for second-graders will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, at Odom Farming Co. at 1426 Claridge Nursery Road. The event, sponsored by the Wayne County Farm...

Extension Office hires new 4-H agent

Growing up in the Grantham community, Jessica Hogan's involvement in the 4-H horse program had her wanting to be a professional horse rider when she grew up. That didn't happen. But, as she grew older, Ms. Hogan decided she wanted...

UMO to sponsor naval history program in April

The University of Mount Olive will sponsor a program on the history of the United States Navy Monday, April 10 from 11 a.m. to noon. It will take place in the Hennessee Room in the Holmes and Lois K. Murphy...

Plans to use U.S. 70 to recruit industry

An effort is underway to designate sections of U.S. 70 from Wayne County through Craven County as a "North Carolina Aerospace Corridor" in an attempt to market the area to the aerospace industry. Crystal Gettys, Wayne County Development Alliance...

Community meeting on children April 11

NC Child, Goldsboro Pediatrics, WAGES, and the Partnership for Children of Wayne County invite the public to join them for a community discussion about important issues facing children and families in our community. Specifically, the focus will be on the...

Law enforcement, community come together

Over 100 people gathered at Fairview Park Saturday to see law enforcement and non-profit organizations unite with the community. The 3rd annual Community Fun Day kicked off with 65 students from A Drummers World getting people to stomp their feet...

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is praised for resiliency during gala

People often ask Kathleen Ferguson what the Air Force thinks of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. According to Ms. Ferguson, who spoke at the 2017 Friends of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base gala Saturday, not much of anything. That is...

Police crack down on drunk drivers

Upward of 20 patrol cars stacked alongside the edges of U.S. 70 East and West, with signs alerting oncoming drivers to what was waiting for them up ahead Friday night -- a DWI and traffic violation checkpoint. The Goldsboro Police...

UPDATE: Vanderbilt Circle fire displaces 16, deemed suspicious

An early morning fire that  displaced two families in the Westhaven community Saturday  has been deemed suspicious. Officials said two women who live side-by-side were forced from their homes along with their children ---- 14 kids in all ranging in...

Council approves multiple uses for center

The former W.A. Foster Center could become a future educational site and boxing facility following a Goldsboro City Council decision to allow multiple uses under one roof. The council, which received ownership proposals from three groups in February, was presented...

Mobile medical unit rolls out to help people

Carlos Trevino walked inside the new Bridge to Hope mobile medical clinic Saturday with high blood pressure and an injured arm. What could have been a routine health check, at Fairview Park, resulted in Trevino being connected to a local...

Common thread of grief

A common thread of tragedy and grief wove the audience and the keynote speakers together during a banquet at Dillard-Goldsboro Alumni Cultural Center Saturday night. Tiffany and John Maddox, parents of the slain A'Tiya Maddox, remembered their daughter during the...

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Police crack down on drunk drivers

Upward of 20 patrol cars stacked alongside the edges of U.S. 70 East and West with signs alerting oncoming drivers to what waited for them up ahead Friday night -- a DWI and traffic violation checkpoint. The Goldsboro Police Department...

Fire displaces two families, 14 children among them

Authorities are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out at 124 Vanderbilt Circle early Saturday morning and displaced 16 people -- 14 of whom were children. Assistant Goldsboro Fire Chief Frank Sasser said the cause of the blaze, which broke...

Traffic stop leads to drug charges

A man is charged with drug possession after Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputies stopped him for driving on a suspended license Wednesday, according to a sheriff's office press release. Deputied pulled over Jonathan Nathaniel Brooks, 30, of 961 Dollardtown Road,...

Friday, March 24, 2017

Officers assaulted during arrest

A woman assaulted two officers as they tried to arrest her Wednesday afternoon, according to a Goldsboro police report. Stephanie Nicole Martin, 35, of 219 Randall Lane Apt. 2, is charged with two counts of assault on a government official,...

Man shot at after witnessing a break-in on Parkstown Road

A Wayne County man was shot at Thursday afternoon while walking back into his house to call 911 to report a suspected break-in at a neighboring residence, according to sheriff's office report. Investigators believe that the break-in at 1493 Parkstown...

Schools would need to build 60 classrooms if bill passes

Wayne County would need to build more than 60 new classrooms should a General Assembly bill limiting classroom size become state law. That would be on top of the 22 new classrooms already planned for in a $400,000 expansion project...

Southern Wayne student brings knife to school, talks of being "mass murderer"

A 14-year-old was removed from class at Southern Wayne High School Wednesday after threatening to shoot up the school and bringing a knife onto the campus, according to a report filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The report said...

Saturday Father-Son event

Guest speakers, real-life advice and information will be offered Saturday during a Father-Son Summit in Goldsboro. The Prevention and Treatment Center, Tranz Center and Refuge Temple Church are hosting the event -- Adopting the Mandate. The mandate includes several...

Friends of Seymour Johnson to hold annual gala Saturday

Nearly 300 people will join together for the 4th annual Friends of Seymour Johnson AFB Gala at the Goldsboro Event Center Saturday. Kate Daniels, president of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, said the gala presents a way for...

Police: Man robbed, face slashed in Wal-Mart parking lot

A man was robbed and cut several times in the face in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at 1002 N. Spence Ave. early this morning, according to a police report. The report said 30-year-old Scotty Eugene Davis was leaving Wal-Mart...

Gov. Roy Cooper visits local food pantry

GRANTHAM -- Gov. Roy Cooper was carrying a sack of groceries as he stepped out of his vehicle. He was followed moments later by two of his staffers who were carrying similar sacks. They handed the sacks off to 12-year-old...

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Police say man, 28, had sexual relationship with 15-year-old girl

A man is facing a statutory rape charge for having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl, according to a press release from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Mark Alan Clark, 28, of 716 Ditchbank Road, is charged with statutory rape...

Woman robbed at gunpoint in her home

Two men entered a woman's house Wednesday afternoon and robbed her at gunpoint. Joshua Shaquille Joyner, 22, 303 N. Kornegay St., and Joshua Terrell Roberson, 21, 2004 Hilltop Lane, broke into a woman's house in the 400 block of North...

Rouzer to vote in favor of AHCA

Rep. David Rouzer, R-Dist. 7, who represents Wayne County, is set to vote in favor of the highly criticized Republican health care overhaul bill today. The American Health Care Act, should it pass, would repeal and replace the Affordable...

Fremont discusses sewer upgrades

FREMONT -- The Fremont Board of Aldermen discussed sewer pump improvements, set costs for new cremation lots and addressed a town hall safety concern at its meeting Tuesday evening. Fremont's sewer pumps have been a long-standing point of concern...

Governor vists WCC, promotes free community college proposal

Free community college tuition would be available to recent high school students under the N.C. GROW (Getting Ready for Opportunities in the Workforce) scholarship program in Gov. Roy Cooper's budget proposal. Cooper touted the scholarship plan and the role community...

Commissioner questions need for Pre-K during joint meeting with school board

Wayne County Commissioner Joe Daughtery Tuesday questioned the need for a pre-Kindergarten program when the county should be concentrating on improving K-12 education. That is particularly true since the pre-K program is not state-mandated, he said. "All I am saying...

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Small fire damages building at C.B. Aycock

A small fire on the outside of a mobile classroom at Charles B. Aycock High School Wednesday afternoon caused minimal damage to the building. Assistant Pikeville-Pleasant Grove Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jared McPhail said a fire extinguisher was used to...

Driver charged in traffic fatality

A 70-year-old Durham woman died from injuries sustained in a wreck last Friday at the intersection of N.C. 581 and N.C. 222, the N.C. State Highway Patrol said Wednesday. First Sgt. Jerry Burton said Lydia Riley died after being taken...

Pickle Festival deadline extended

MOUNT OLIVE -- The  N.C. Pickle Festival deadline has been extended to Monday, April 3, for applications for both vendors and chili competitors. The original deadline was March 14. The change means that a late application fee of $75 for...

$42M bond sale moves forward

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning approved the hiring of two firms to manage the county's pending $42 million bond sale. The bond includes $20 million for a new Meadow Lane Elementary School and $12,042,604 for the Maxwell Regional Agricultural...

Boards discuss resources for schools

The Wayne County Board of Education Tuesday said it will supply a textbook needs plan to county commissioners, complete with cost estimates, to ensure that all students have textbooks. The textbook shortage has been a growing concern in recent...

Residents discuss mentoring youth, crime during town hall

Residents interested in helping youth, mentoring children and working to reduce crime met during a second town hall style meeting Tuesday. Close to 50 people of different ages and backgrounds attended the event held at the Resurrection of Goldsboro...

Lobster and shrimp fest tickets on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Lobster and Shrimp Fest, the signature event for the Partnership for Children of Wayne County and planned for May 5. The fundraiser is "for a good claws," quipped Executive Director Charlie Ivey....

Two local girls finalists in 2017 Miss Jr. Teen pageant

Two young ladies from Goldsboro were finalists in the 2017 Miss Jr. Teen Pageant, held March 18-19 in Charlotte and Rockville, S.C. Ja'Nice Robinson, 11, a student at Eastern Wayne Elementary School, placed in the Top 20 Miss PreTeen Raleigh...

Six cars totaled in Tuesday's mechanic shop fire

A fire broke out inside an auto mechanic shop at 313 N. Center St. Tuesday morning and totaled the building and six cars inside. Assistant Goldsboro Fire Chief Eric Lancaster said all six vehicles were totaled due to extensive...

Offenders notified their second chances are up

More than a dozen of the 20 offenders notified at the Goldsboro Partners Against Crime call-in Tuesday night at Goldsboro City Hall are parents. Some have multiple children. The call-in is an effort to get criminals to steer their...

School board adjusts to grading scale

The Wayne County Board of Education discussed numerous policies at their work session Tuesday morning, as well as the impact of a state-mandated grading scale shift which took effect in 2015. In that year, the state Board of Education...

Crime of the week

On Saturday, March 18, at approximately 7:40 p.m., officers of the Goldsboro Police Department responded to Ruby Tuesday, 2609 North Park Drive, in reference to a robbery. Once officers arrived on-scene, they made contact with the manger. The manager...

Finely tuned instruments

Members of the all-county middle school band perform "Spitfire Concert March" by Michael Story on Tuesday night in the auditorium at Dillard Middle School. They played four songs and were directed by clinician Steven Rainville after practicing only six hours...

15-year-old shot in the leg

A 15-year-old was shot in the right leg Monday night while walking in the 600 block of Longleaf Avenue, according to a police report. The report said officers were called to Wayne Memorial Hospital around 10:20 p.m. because the teenager...

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Mount Olive Speedway struck again when driver pumps gas, doesn't pay

MOUNT OLIVE -- A woman pumped her gas and drove off without paying for it at the Speedway in Mount Olive Friday, less than a week after a truck driver stole hundreds of dollars in diesel fuel. According to a...

Cause of mechanic shop fire under investigation

A fire broke out inside an auto mechanic shop at 313 N. Center St. this morning. Goldsboro Fire Chief Gary Whaley said at least two cars were inside the building at the time of the fire around 11 a.m. The...

Pain behind the masks

Michael O. of Piney Flats, Tenn., was just 9 when he was hit by a dump truck while he and his mother were crossing the street. It caused a brain injury. He said he was in a dark place...

Salvation Army barbecue fundraiser to raise money to send kids to camp

The Salvation Army women's auxiliary will have its annual barbecue fundraiser Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army, 610 N. William St. There will be dine-in, take-out, drive-through and delivery in Wayne County for 10...

'Operation Medicine Drop' this week at Wayne Community College

Wayne Community College will host two "Operation Medicine Drop" sessions on campus this week -- Wednesday from 2 until 4 p.m. and Thursday from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. Locations will be in Room 161 of the main building on...

Motion to remove city manager fails

Prompted by the NAACP, Mayor Pro Tem Bevan Foster made a motion Monday night to remove City Manager Scott Stevens from his post. The failed 5-2 vote came after Mark Colebrook, local NAACP first vice president, asked the council members...

School board, county commissioners will hold joint session

The Wayne County Board of Education will discuss numerous policies at its work session today, followed by a joint session with the Wayne County Board of Commissioners in which Wayne County Public Schools staff will update the commissioners on district...

Mount Olive woman hit by truck expected to live

MOUNT OLIVE -- A woman was severely injured but is expected to be all right after being hit by a truck Monday afternoon, Police Chief Tommy Brown said. Brown said 54-year-old Renee Hester, of Mount Olive, was crossing N.C. 55...

Monday, March 20, 2017

Man charged in kidnapping, strangulation of woman

A man forced a woman into a car after arguing with her and assaulting her Friday night, according to a report filed with the Goldsboro Police Department. Edward Altonez Brown, 26, of 211 Quail Drive, is charged with felony first-degree...

Pikeville man charged with stealing TVs from a church

PIKEVILLE ---- A man is accused of stealing televisions from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1000 Eleventh St., Goldsboro, according to police reports. Stephen Anderson, 21, of 308 Railroad St., Pikeville, is charged with felony breaking...

Operation Medicine Drop begins Tuesday

The Goldsboro Police Department in conjunction with the Safe Kids of Wayne County will be holding Operation Medicine Drop this week. People wishing to dispose of old medication, prescription or non-prescription, can take their unwanted doses to any of four...

Two men charged in string of armed robberies

After a string of armed robberies in Wayne County stretching from August to January, two men now face charges in connection to those incidents. Press releases from the Goldsboro Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office said the two men...

Sheriff's Office: Woman tried to bite deputy during arrest

DUDLEY -- A woman spat on a Wayne County sheriff's deputy and tried to bite him several times while she was being arrested Friday, according to an incident report. The report said Deputy Martin McAlduff was called to the 200...

Woman tries to bite deputy during arrest

DUDLEY -- A woman spat on a Wayne County sheriff's deputy and tried to bite him several times while she was being arrested Friday, according to an incident report. The report said Deputy Martin McAlduff was called to the 200...

Three women robbed at gunpoint, one pistol-whipped

DUDLEY -- The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating an armed robbery and assault at 147 Legion Lake Drive Friday morning, according to an incident report. The report said three 19-year-old women were inside the home when they heard knocking...

Downtown business owner charged in sexual assault

The owner of Torero's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Goldsboro is facing a sexual battery charge, according to an arrest report. Miguel Angel Gomez Camacho, 54, of 217 Gator Drive, is charged with one count of misdemeanor sexual battery. According to...

New DHHS secretary visits city

The opioid addiction crisis and a shift in how the state pays for Medicaid services are issues facing Mandy Cohen, North Carolina's new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Mrs. Cohen, who has only been in...

Board to consider $42 million in bond sales

Approval to pursue more than $42 million in bond sales will be before Wayne County commissioners when they meet Tuesday morning. The sale requires a public hearing, but not a public vote. Repayment of the bonds will not require...

Free workshop for forest landowners March 30 at Wayne Community College

Wayne Community College will host a free workshop for free forest landowners on March 30. The College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University is providing the "Seeing Forest Products in Standing Forests" landowner workshop on Thursday, March 30...

Fishing lures stolen

The lure apparently was just too great. In two separate incidents, someone stole hundreds of fishing lures from the Wal-Mart on U.S. 70 West on Friday, according to Goldsboro Police Department reports. The reports did not indicate whether the two...

Board to consider applying for $36.5 million hazard mitigation grant program

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday will be asked to apply for $36.3 million through the Hurricane Matthew Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The grant program authorizes the submission of letters of intent to North Carolina Emergency Management for funding. The county...

Police: Armed robber struck twice inside of 30 minutes

Police are investigating armed robberies of two businesses Saturday night that took place within 30 minutes of each other, according to police reports. Maj. Anthony Carmon, head of the Goldsboro Police Department's Investigative Services Bureau, said authorities currently believe the...

Pikeville works toward downtown revitalization

PIKEVILLE -- Business owners on Main Street see plenty of customers shop inside their stores, but the town of Pikeville wants to remodel its downtown to attract visitors outside as well. Helen Allen, owner of Two Paws Up pet grooming,...

The long road ahead

Tiffany Martin needs something from her community -- prayers. But not for herself. The single mother of two has had a laser-like focus since learning her younger son has brain cancer a few weeks ago. At the end of January,...

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Military sorority has prom surprise for Aycock student

Destiny Washington had no plans to go to prom this year. The Charles B. Aycock High School senior didn't like "that stuff," she said, and was going to pass. That was until members of Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority surprised...

Council to set hearing on internet businesses

The Goldsboro City Council is set to move forward with an April public hearing for proposed ordinance changes limiting future internet sweepstakes locations in the city. The council will vote Monday on setting an April 17 public hearing, which precedes...

Restaurant robbed

Police used dogs Saturday night to search the area stretching from behind Ruby Tuesday to the Outback restaurant as they looked for a robbery suspect. Some officers were carrying rifles. Police and Wayne County sheriff's deputies responded to a...

Town hall meeting Tuesday night

Concerns about substandard education, widespread crime and division in the community will come to the forefront during a second town hall style meeting Tuesday night. Jermaine and Nicolette Dawson, organizers behind the grassroots movement, will host the meeting at 6:30...

Women firefighters value role

Gigi Eason always wanted brothers. She grew up being one of five girls in her house. And when she joined the Goldsboro Fire Department 28 years ago she got a handful of them. Eason is one of two women on...

University of Mount Olive to move some offices downtown

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive will relocate its institutional advancement offices to downtown in what used to be a furniture store. And university President Dr. Phil Kerstetter has hinted at even more expansion projects in the...

Section of Antioch Road to close for repairs

A section of Antioch Road near Pikeville will be closed beginning Monday, March 20, to allow for permanent repair of damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane damaged a drainage pipe near 1762 Antioch Road. The Department of Transportation...

Rosewood test score mistake explained

The clerical error that caused the results of more than 40 Rosewood High students' American College Testing tests to be rejected was an issue of improperly recorded test times, according to email correspondences between Wayne County Public Schools and...

Hospital tour: Bentonville re-created

FOUR OAKS -- Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's army engaged in four battles over a 12-day period in March 1865 as it marched toward Goldsboro, a strategic railroad crossroads. Goldsboro escaped those bloody battles, but its four hospitals treated wounded...

All-County Band Festival to be held Tuesday at Dillard

Approximately 100 band members from Wayne County Public Schools will come together to showcase their instrumental talents this week. On Tuesday, March 21, the district will hold its 2017 All-County Band Festival at 6:30 p.m. at Dillard Middle School....

Friday, March 17, 2017

Pikeville police arrest three men for trying to cash stolen checks

Pikeville police arrested three men Thursday after they tried to cash stolen checks at the Pikeville BB&T bank, according to a Pikeville police press release. According to the release, Pikeville police officers responded to a call about the three men...

Suspect pretends to have a gun during failed robbery attempt

A man made off with a pack of Newport cigarettes after pretending to have a gun and demanding money from the Circle K gas station at 901 W. Grantham St. early Thursday morning, according to a police report. The report...

Couple arrested for assault after fight leads to lost fingertip

A couple is facing several felony charges after one pepper-sprayed a man in the face and another bit his fingertip off after an altercation at a local bar, according to a press release from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Yelson...

Brewmasters on Ash Street opens for business

Richard Gower wants Brewmasters to become the place where everybody knows your name. The new craft beer restaurant and bottle shop, at 2402 E. Ash St., is now open and fully stocked with nearly 700 different types of craft beer,...

A Facebook argument results in stabbing

Someone stabbed a woman several times early this morning because of a Facebook argument, according to a police report. Quanesha Powell, 23, was stabbed in her left arm, left knee and left shoulder by someone she called "Tootie,"  the report...

Crops hurt as cold snap hits the county

Strawberry and other fruit crop growers could soon be paying the price for unseasonably mild weather that fooled crops into blooming weeks early only to give way over the past week to subfreezing temperatures. Friday morning's low was expected...

Kitty Askins Hospice reopens with ribbon cutting ceremony

After five months of diligent work, Kitty Askins Hospice Center officially reopened on Thursday, celebrating with a ribbon cutting and tour of the completed renovations since patients and staff were displaced by Hurricane Matthew. The mid-October storm poured an estimated...

Hurricane survivors seek answers about what's next

Flooding from Hurricane Matthew destroyed the heating and air conditioning unit and all of the ductwork under Margaret Williams' Bunche Street home. Insurance helped some, but she is currently trying to get assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Thursday...

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes bill to make judicial races partisan

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill that would allow for judicial elections to be made partisan this afternoon. The bill would change the ballot to show which party candidates for Superior and District court races were affiliated. "North Carolina wants...

Airman killed in New Mexico training flight was from Goldsboro

The U.S. Air Force identified a man from Goldsboro as one of three servicemen killed in a training flight in New Mexico Tuesday night. Capt. Kenneth Dalga, 29, of Goldsboro, a combat systems officer, was killed along with  the pilot,...

Jones pleads guilty, sentencing to wait

Former Superior Court Judge Arnold O. Jones II pleaded guilty in federal court today to promising and paying gratuities to a public official rather than stand trial a second time after his after having his October 2016 conviction on...

Wayne Prep breaks ground on middle school

Dozens braved the wind and cold at Wayne Preparatory Academy Wednesday to celebrate the school breaking ground on its planned middle school building. Part of the charter school's plan to add one grade each year, the new school will...

Below freezing

Children bundled up in coats and hoodies get on the bus taking them to Wayne Preparatory, Eastern Wayne Elementary and Tommy's Road Elementary schools this morning at Small World Child Care Center as they try to keep warm in temperatures...

Mount Olive receives grant for bicycle, pedestrian sidewalks

MOUNT OLIVE -- The town of Mount Olive has received a $40,000 N.C. Department of Transportation bicycle/pedestrian planning grant. The town is one of 12 municipalities and one county from across the state that will receive assistance with bicycle...

Witnessed drug deal leads to arrest

A man is facing drug charges after officers with the Wayne County Drug Unit allegedly witnessed him buy heroin from someone and pull into the back of a dead end road and park, according to a press release. Justin...

Clerical error forces Rosewood High students to retake ACT test

A clerical error made while submitting American College Testing results at Rosewood High School in early March will cause more than 40 students to have to retake the test next week, according to Wayne County Public Schools. The students, from...

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Trial date set for Kenneth Stancil III's first-degree murder case

A trial date has been set for April 17 in the first-degree murder case against Kenneth Morgan Stancil III. Stancil is charged with the killing of Ron Dwight Lane, 44, on the campus of Wayne Community College in April 2015....

Festival organizers seek vendors

FREMONT -- Vendors are being sought for the 31st annual Fremont Daffodil Festival that will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1. And this year, for the first time, retail vendors will be allowed to participate....

Woman assaults police officer

A woman assaulted an officer and tried to use her infant son as a shield while she was being arrested Monday afternoon, according to police. A report on the incident said officer Cody Bostic was arresting 20-year-old Janel Monet...

Wayne County residents encouraged to attend hurricane recovery meeting

Wayne County residents are being encouraged to attend a Thursday evening public meeting on damage, needs and strategies for redevelopment in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The N.C. Resilient Redevelopment Planning meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in...

Millions to go to street repairs

More than 100 sections of city roadways will be resurfaced this year and funded through a portion of the $10 million in voter-approved general obligation bonds. City staff plan to secure $5.5 million in bond sales on May 2,...

BCBSNC premiums likely to rise

[email protected] House Republicans released a controversial bill to replace the Affordable Care Act last week, drawing harsh criticisms from both sides of the aisle. Questions about the bill's potential impact on premiums and its overall cost are leaving many to...

Canceled meeting draws questions

The last-minute cancellation of Tuesday night's Goldsboro Community Affairs Commission meeting left one board member with questions. Chrétien Dumond, a member of the commission, spent last week asking residents to attend the meeting at City Hall in an effort...

Wayne Community College to hold career fair

Wayne Community College Career Services is holding two events this week for job-seekers in preparation for a job fair coming up on March 22. Two "Job Fair Preparation" workshops will be offered Thursday, March 16, in Room 161, next to...

Pikeville man linked to crimes in Wayne, Wilson counties

A man is facing nearly 20 felony charges after the Wayne County Sheriff's Office linked him to numerous thefts throughout the county, according to a press release. The release said authorities launched an investigation on January 19 after receiving...

Law enforcement to look for DWIs on St. Paddy's Day

Drink a beer or two. Have a shot. And now you need to have a plan on how to get home this Saint Patrick's Day. On a holiday when drunkenness is expected, law enforcement in turn expects people to...

Mount Olive lands Habitat home for 2018

MOUNT OLIVE -- It has been decades since the corner lot at West Pollock and South Chestnut streets was also a lawn. The large house that once sat there was demolished years ago. But Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne...

Local teen honored by governor at address

Mackenzie Hinson served food to people devastated by Hurricane Matthew last October, but recognition never crossed the 12-year-old's mind. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, however, invited Mackenzie to his first State of the State address at the Legislative Building...

100 years young and counting

Virginia Senatz spends time with her son Harry Senatz and his wife, Cathy, during lunch Thursday at Brookdale assisted living as they celebrate her 100th birthday.  Residents joined in the birthday celebration. Mrs. Senatz is the oldest resident at the...

Schools offer app to allow students to report bullying

Students nationwide are often confronted with issues and situations that they are not always equipped to handle alone. That is why this year, Wayne County Public Schools will roll out a mobile app to allow students to anonymously report instances...

CRIME OF THE WEEK: Information sought in CVS armed robbery

On Thursday, March 9, at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers of the Goldsboro Police Department responded to the CVS Pharmacy, 2203 Wayne Memorial Drive, in reference to a robbery. Once officers arrived on scene, a female employee stated that two black...

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Police: Woman used infant as shield, assaulted officer

A woman assaulted an officer and tried to use her infant son as a shield while she was being arrested Monday afternoon, according to police. A report on the incident said officer Cody Bostic was arresting 20-year-old Janel Monet Ross,...

Tonight's Community Affairs Commission meeting canceled

Tonight's Goldsboro Community Affairs Commission meeting is canceled. A notice of cancellation was issued shortly before 9 a.m. this morning out of the city clerk's office for the meeting originally planned at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The cancellation...

Joby Warrick speaks at WCC about Pulitzer Prize-winning book

Joby Warrick has amassed an impressive professional resume -- winning a Pulitzer for a series he wrote as a reporter for the News and Observer, rising to national security reporter for the Washington Post and scoring a second Pulitzer in...

Goldsboro Police Department promotes four to sergeant

A handful of corporals and investigators with the Goldsboro Police Department were promoted this week to the rank of sergeant.Cpl. Jason Adams, Inv. Bryant Canady, Inv. Chris Melvin and Cpl. Nelson Viera were each promoted to sergeant, according to a...

Pikeville man linked to string of break-ins spanning two counties

A man is facing nearly 20 felony charges after the Wayne County Sheriff's Office linked him to numerous thefts throughout the county, according to a press release. The release said authorities launched an investigation on January 19 after receiving tips...

Pikeville: Owners have 60 days to fix up condemned buildings

PIKEVILLE -- Three condemned buildings along Main Street need to come down, board members said this month, but the demolition cost poses an issue. Michael Hunt, town administrator, said buildings, located at 105, 107 and 111 W. Main St., are...

Fire damages warehouse

A trailer fire inside a warehouse at Coastal Fleet Service on U.S. 70 late Monday morning damaged at least half the building. Rosewood Fire Capt. David Grice said people were working on the trailer when moving blankets inside the trailer...

Monday, March 13, 2017

Truck driver pulls away from pump without paying for $255 in diesel fuel

MOUNT OLIVE -- Employees and customers at a Speedway gas station tried failed to stop a truck driver Saturday as he drove away with $255.14 worth of stolen diesel fuel. Cashier Amaris Wright said a truck driver asked fellow cashier...

Woman charged with drug trafficking, DWI after stop

A woman is facing an opiate trafficking charge after being pulled over Saturday while driving impaired and having her car searched, according to a press release from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Aminah Sade Floyd, 28, of 101 Ervin Drive,...

Man fires into Pikeville woman's home after being denied entry

PIKEVILLE -- A man fired two shots into a woman's house after she refused to let him inside Saturday night, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. An incident report said the woman was on the phone with 911 when...

Event to raise money for Communities in Schools

This year's "Have a Heart for Kids" fundraiser is all about an evening of fun and fellowship, with the takeaway being the satisfaction that students in Wayne County are supported. The event is the signature fundraiser that supports Communities...

Forest Service issues burn warning

A Feb. 25 fire that that destroyed a Calypso building was blamed on wind spreading the fire from a burn barrel. The N.C. Forest Service is urging state residents to think safety and exercise caution during the spring fire...

Wayne County bridge to be replaced

Fremont residents and commuters will have a detour to contend with starting Monday as work begins on a state DOT bridge replacement project. According to a Department of Transportation press release issued Friday, the 62-year-old bridge over the Great...

1881 Bible returns home

Greg Nichols touches the pages of an old, old Bible and chokes up as he reads what his great-grandmother wrote in it. He sees birth and death dates of relatives he never met. He reads poems that his great-grandmother wrote....

Weekend snowfall too little to measure

Winter weather caused quite a stir from of the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast this weekend, with more snow today in some places threatening to reach blizzard conditions. Much of the Midwest was hard hit, too, and can expect to be...

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Dems seek to raise minimum wage

State Democratic legislators filed a bill in the House and Senate this month calling for the increase of minimum wage to $15 an hour over a five-year period. The bill, entitled the Economic Security Act of 2017, calls for an...

Mary Emma Simmons dies at 92

Mary Emma Simmons, a Wayne County businesswoman and civic leader, died Friday. She was 92. Mrs. Simmons was a pioneer in the construction industry. Following the death of her husband, Steve, in 1983, she took over their building firm,...

Man caves: They used to be a guy's secret getaway, but now they are also being used for family and friends

Man caves. No, they're not home to prehistoric men. They're a place where modern men go to escape the stresses of life, usually a special spot in the home or a structure beside the home. But today's men are sharing...

Council poised to adopt restrictions on internet sweepstakes parlors

The Goldsboro City Council is positioned to adopt tighter restrictions for internet sweepstake parlors to regulate future locations in the city. Ordinance changes would push the gaming parlors into a single zoning district, instead of several districts where they...

Chief medical officer to begin Monday

[email protected] Dr. Anthony Bruno of Chambersburg, Penn., Monday will begin his duties as the new chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at Wayne UNC Health Care. Wayne UNC Health Care President and CEO Janie Jaberg announced his...

Four indicted for murder

The Wayne County grand jury indicted four men involved in separate cases last week on murder charges. Jerry Aundrey Parks, 42, of 912 N. John St., was indicted on a first-degree murder charge for the January 2016 killing of 47-year-old...

Daniels Memorial car show

Daniels Memorial United Methodist Church on East Ash Street is sponsoring a car show on Saturday, March 18 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to raise money for the church's "Backpack Buddies" program. Through the program, the church helps provide...

Copper reported stolen from power substations

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating reports of copper wire being stolen from two Duke Energy power substations on Hare Road and Thoroughfare Road. These thefts happened some time in the past month, according to sheriff's office reports. The...

Education, poverty drive health issues

In assessing the overall health of Wayne County, clinical diagnoses take a backseat according to the recently released 2016 Community Health Assessment. Education and socio-economic issues are often what determine the health of a community, said Wayne County Health Director...

Charges filed in break-in

Goldsboro police officers arrested a man Tuesday shortly after he allegedly broke into a home on Olivia Lane while people were inside Monday night. According to an incident report, Jerome Donald Ceaser, 43, of 603 Whitted Court, kicked in a...

911 call center plan approved by county

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning resolved their final questions surrounding the design of a new $3.8 million 911 call center. Their approval of a wind-standard for the facility clears the way for the project architect, Stewart, Cooper, Newell Architects,...

Author shares stories from the road

When Andrew Forsthoefel received his college degree in environmental studies and non-fiction writing from Middlebury College in 2011, he didn't know what his next steps would be. So he decided to take a walk. And listen. Forsthoefel's year-long trek across...

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Woman injured in wreck on Arrington Bridge Road

Adriana Gisselle Lainez Rodriguez, of Lenoir, was traveling east on Arrington Bridge Road when she ran off of the road and into a ditch Saturday afternoon. Firefighters from Arrington Fire Department used a ladder to rescue her from the car.Rodriguez...

Fire severely damages home on Gulley Street

A kitchen fire severely damaged a home on Gulley Street Saturday morning and displaced the people living there. Goldsboro Fire Capt. Jon Gillis said firefighters responded to a structure fire call at 10:02 a.m. at 419 Gulley St. Gillis said...

Friday, March 10, 2017

Public invited to Goldsboro Community Affairs Commission meeting on divisions in community

A member of the Goldsboro Community Affairs Commission has been inviting local residents concerned about divisions in the city to share their thoughts during a Tuesday night meeting. The commission, a city council appointed group, will meet Tuesday at 7...

Man threatens woman with shotgun after he is attacked

A man struck in the head with a handgun by an intruder in his home Thursday night was arrested shortly after that for pointing a shotgun at a woman he lives with after accusing her of setting him up, according...

Sixth president of Wayne Community College officially takes the lead

There was plenty of pomp and dignity at the Thursday afternoon ceremony to install Dr. Thomas A. Walker Jr. as sixth president of Wayne Community College. But it was his presidential address that captivated the crowd -- a blend...

Board asked to focus on Goldsboro High School

Three speakers, including a member of the Goldsboro City Council, Tuesday morning appealed to Wayne County commissioners to focus more attention on the needs of Goldsboro High School. Their pleas included a need for more funding and for the...

Mount Olive board awards sewer bid

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Town Board awarded a $942,204.86 bid to Step Construction Co. of LaGrange for a $1.2 million water/sewer project this week. The board also approved finalized plans and specifications for another $1.1 million sewer...

Log truck wreck shuts down road

A log truck overturned and shut down the entrance to U.S. 117 Alternate Thursday around 3:30 p.m. The truck flipped onto its passenger side as it turned off of U.S. 117 onto U.S. 117 Alternate. Courey Deon Lassiter, 29, of...

CVS on Wayne Memorial Drive robbed at gunpoint

Police are investigating a Thursday night armed robbery of CVS Pharmacy at 2203 Wayne Memorial Drive. According to police reports, two men walked into the store just after 9:30 p.m. and one of them pointed a handgun at the cashier...

Snow in the weekend forecast, but little should stick

The National Weather Service in Raleigh is calling for less than half an inch of snow accumulation both Saturday night and Sunday morning. Forecasts suggest light rain beginning late Saturday night and continuing throughout the day on Sunday as temperatures...

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Copper thefts at Duke Energy substations County

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating reports of copper wire being stolen from two Duke Energy power substations on Hare Road and Thoroughfare Road. These thefts happened some time in the past month, according to sheriff's office reports. The...

Residents seek help from city after sewer overflow

Maria O'Tuel bent over in her bathroom collecting raw sewage into cooking pots as it gushed out of the toilet for nearly two hours. "The toilet overflowed profusely, and it continued to overflow profusely for an hour and 40 minutes,"...

Council approves sports complex contract

The Goldsboro City Council approved a near $3 million contract with the S.T. Wooten Corp. that lays the groundwork for construction to start on the future multisport complex. City staff are coordinating with the company on a possible start...

Teens robbed at area hotel

Police are investigating a Wednesday night robbery in which two teenagers had their belongings taken while they were unloading their car in the parking lot of the Econolodge on U.S. 70 Bypass, according to an incident report. The report said...

Caramel deLites reign supreme

An open box of Girl Scout Cookies sat on the counter top. At age 7, Terrica Hay stood on her tip toes, reached for a cookie and grabbed it when no one was around. "I tried them -- they were...

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Unknown substance intitially thought to be related to a meth lab closes city roadway

An unknown substance on the side of the road caused alarm on Westbrook Road between Day Circle and Arrington Bridge Road Wednesday morning. Officials initially thought the substance might be related to a meth lab, but further investigation proved otherwise,...

Snow on Sunday?

Some forecasters are mentioning the possibility of snow for Sunday in the Goldsboro and Wayne County area.Watch www.newsargus.com for updates if conditions warrant. Forecast models are indicating a chance of wintry wx this weekend. Many things have to come together...

Support leans toward manager

Several members of the Goldsboro City Council support City Manager Scott Stevens and have no plans to remove him from his post. Sylvia Barnes, local NAACP president, called for the manager's resignation during Monday's city council meeting because Stevens declined...

Dr. Thomas Walker to be installed as WCC president

Wayne Community College will officially install its sixth president on Thursday afternoon during ceremonies in Moffatt Auditorium. Dr. Thomas Walker Jr. came on board Sept. 1, 2016. Prior to coming to Wayne County, he had been campus president of...

Better informing parents becomes priority

Parents, educators and Wayne County Public Schools leadership came together Tuesday afternoon to discuss ways to better inform parents about their children and their schools, and by doing so increase parent engagement in education. The meeting, a special committee...

Pikeville town board expresses frustration with federal aid

PIKEVILLE -- The town of Pikeville approved funding to repair a waste water pump damaged during Hurricane Matthew as it waits for FEMA funding for a replacement. Michael Hunt, town administrator, said damages to the pump put its replacement at...

Legislators encouraged to continue support for library

[email protected] MOUNT OLIVE -- Cash King didn't seem to notice or care that the new kid at his table was too big for the seat he had crunched onto. Cash, 16 months, simply began sharing his crayons with the new...

Crime of the week

On Monday, March 6, at approximately 10:45 p.m., officers of the Goldsboro Police Department responded to the 600 block of Daisy Street in reference to a shots fired alert through Shot Spotter. Once officers arrived on-scene, they canvassed the area....

County extends grant to Case Farms

[email protected] Case Farms has been awarded a $103,565 county incentive grant for a $6.1 million construction project that also will add three new jobs paying an average weekly wage of $615. The grant will be in the form of an...

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Man faces long list of charges after deputies locate him

A man is in jail for multiple drug charges and outstanding warrants after sheriff's deputies found him getting out of his car in the Rosewood Wal-Mart parking lot Monday, according to a press release. Deputies learned 41-year-old James Earl Davis,...

Unknown assailants bite off man's finger tip during attack

A man was pepper-sprayed and had his fingertip bit off during an assault in the parking lot of the Five Points Food Mart Monday morning. The incident took place between the victim and two people with whom he got into...

Sheriff's Office investigates rash of vehicle break-ins in Pikeville

PIKEVILLE -- The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a slew of car break-ins reported to authorities Monday, in which 18 cars were broken into within roughly a half-mile of each other. According to sheriff's office reports, the break-ins happened...

Wreck sends one to hospital

A two-car wreck on U.S. 70 West near Worthington Ag Parts sent one man to the hospital and resulted in a woman and her two dogs needing to be pulled from her overturned car in the highway's median Tuesday morning....

Students, alumni address issues at Goldsboro High School

A group of Goldsboro High School students and alumni shared their concerns about their school's curriculum and their relationships with teachers at the Wayne County Board of Education meeting Monday, concerns which board members said they are committed to...

NAACP: Stevens should resign

The president of the Goldsboro/Wayne branch of the NAACP asked for the city manager's resignation Monday after he failed to discipline the police chief for his Facebook activity supporting President Donald Trump. President Sylvia Barnes also criticized city leaders for...

Turning out for competition

Goldsboro Fire Explorer Post 1881 recently won five awards at a competition in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, consistently locking down second and third place in five of the seven events. The competition, named Winterfest, held February 10, 11 and 12, saw eight...

Monday, March 6, 2017

Suspicious fire consumes vacant home

Authorities are investigating a suspicious fire that gutted a vacant house on North Kornegay Street early Sunday morning. According to a police report, the fire started around 12:10 a.m. inside the house at 109 N. Kornegay St. Assistant Goldsboro Fire...

W.A. Foster proposals submitted

Groups interested in preserving the former W.A. Foster Center would like to use the building for a community outreach location, an educational site or a boxing facility. Three groups recently submitted ownership proposals, including detailed plans of how the...

Board to approve call center design

The final design for a new $3.8 million 911 call center could be approved by Wayne County commissioners when they meet Tuesday morning. The board approved the schematic design last month, but wanted more information on cost associated with...

Pulitzer Prize winner with ties to Grantham to speak on book about ISIS

Before there was an ISIS -- or at least before Americans had any awareness -- a Washington Post reporter who spent part of his childhood in Grantham wrote a book on the subject, hoping it might be relevant. It was....

Children seriously injured in wreck Sunday

A wreck Sunday afternoon on Ditchbank Road ejected two children from a car, according to the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Trooper Justin Arnette said 33-year-old April Casey, of Deep Run, was driving on Ditchbank Road around 3:10 p.m. with her...

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Council could approve sports complex

The Goldsboro City Council is set to sign off on a near $3 million multisport complex construction contract during its meeting Monday. The contract with the S.T. Wooten Corp. is contingent on the N.C. Local Government Commission's approval of a...

Wayne GOP chooses new leaders

The Wayne County Republican Party elected new officers at its convention Saturday, working through substantial confusion which delayed the proceedings and frustrated attendees at times. Wade Leatham was elected the new chairman of the county party, winning the vote over...

Bill would restore class size

A bill making its way through the state Senate could reverse legislative changes to class sizes in North Carolina schools -- changes which Wayne County lawmakers and education experts agree would place substantial strain on the district's resources. Keeping...

Dancers in local ballet tell tale of sisterly love

Emily Thorne and Martie Rose hope to portray the essence of sisterly love when they dance as Elsa and Anna in "The Frozen Heart Ballet." It will be performed by members of Goldsboro Ballet this month at the Paramount Theatre....

Seven to compete for title of Miss Eastern Wayne

Seven young ladies will vie for the Miss Eastern Wayne High School 2017 crown on Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College. The pageant is sponsored by the Family, Career, & Community Leaders...

Run to benefit school in Tanzania

Blessed2BlessU Ministries is hosting its fifth annual 5K "Run. Educate. Hope." on Saturday, March 18 starting in the St. Paul United Methodist Church parking lot at 204 E Chestnut St. Registration, door prizes, silent auction and beach trip raffle...

Power squadron class starts March 14

With the coming of warm weather, boaters minds turn to the the water. The Goldsboro Sail and Power Squadron is offering a boating course at Wayne Community College starting Tuesday, March 14, to get boaters ready to have a...

Senior center namesake honored

For most of her 91 years, Peggy Seegars has had a hand in the goings-on in Wayne County, helping to make it a better place to live. One of the things near and dear to her heart has been...

Livestock association fiscally sound despite obstacles

The Wayne County Livestock Development Association remains strong despite back-to-back years of a weather-shortened Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, president Curtis Shivar said. "I am pleased to report to you that the association has completed another successful year," he said....

City to take steps in response to concerns over chief's post

Goldsboro officials plan to take steps in response to concerns voiced by the Goldsboro/Wayne branch of the NAACP following the police chief's social media post supporting President Donald Trump. The personal Facebook page for Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West has...

Calling all chili cooks

Calling all chili cookers.The N.C. Pickle Festival will again host a homestyle chili cookoff during its 31st annual event Saturday, April 29, in downtown Mount Olive.Presented by First South Bank and the Goldsboro News-Argus, the chili cookoff will be sanctioned...

Art festival at Cliffs on April 1

Artists are being sought to participate in the Art in the Park Spring Festival, which will be held on Saturday, April 1 at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. Artists may sell their works or just create a...

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Sheriff's Office seeks community's help in identifying suspects

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is asking for the community's assistance in identifying two men who robbed the Dollar General on U.S. 13 North in Goldsboro Feb. 20. The individuals responsible were captured on the store's security camera footage, but...

Police staffing levels stabilizing

The Goldsboro Police Department remains 16 officers shy of a full staff, but hopes to get that number below 10 by the end of the year. Goldsboro Police Chief said that number is down from 22 officers short several months...

Friday, March 3, 2017

Woman charged with aiding brother in vehicle theft

The sister of a man accused of stealing four-wheelers and ATVs in late 2016 was arrested Thursday for allegedly taking part in one of the off-road vehicle thefts, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Reeva Denelle Wilburn, 28, of...

Traffic stop results in drug arrests

A sheriff's deputy who stopped a truck with a broken tail light Wednesday ended up arresting the people inside for methamphetamine possession after smelling marijuana coming from the pickup, according to a press release. The press release said a deputy...

Blended inspirations

Heather Dupree moves her brush to form an extra whisker on a painting of a blue otter. Crystal Bowers taps her on her shoulder and suggests the whisker is too long and the otter is too blue. Charvez Keys...

Tattoo parlor to close up shop

The owner of a tattoo parlor who was operating without a city permit agreed to close the business by March 13. Nicky Parrish, owner of Grafix Design at 1923 N. William St., visited the Goldsboro planning department Thursday afternoon...

Authorities find drugs while jailing woman

Authorities discovered drugs on a woman as she was being processed into the Wayne County Jail for a different charge, according to a press release. Lauren Brookshire Gill, 32, of 109 Steeplechase Cove, is charged with felony possession of...

Homeless man charged in three larceny incidents

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged a homeless man Monday with multiple felonies after he was linked to three larceny cases in Wayne County stretching as far back as October 2016. In each case, a four-wheeler or...

Deputies arrest man for drugs after traffic stop leads to foot chase

A Wayne County sheriff's deputy arrested a man on drug charges Wednesday after he ran away from a traffic stop and ditched marijuana on the ground during the foot chase, a sheriff's report said. According to the report, a...

MindKare system offers free mental health screenings at Health Department

"Get a checkup from the neck up" is the tagline for a new tool providing mental health screenings at the Wayne County Health Department. The kiosk is housed in a corner of the maternity and immunization clinic waiting room on...

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Sheriff's Office charges man tied to three four-wheeler thefts

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged a homeless man Monday with multiple felonies after he was linked to three larceny cases in Wayne County stretching as far back as October 2016. In each case, a four-wheeler or ATV...

In the name of science

Caleb Strahan was all poised to demonstrate his group's science project Wednesday morning in the YMCA gymnasium -- how the moon's surface is affected when hit by meteorites and space debris. The fourth-grader at Rosewood Elementary School pointed to an...

Sheriff's Office: Pine straw not enough to throw off K-9

A Wayne County sheriff's deputy arrested a man on drug charges after he ran away from a traffic stop and ditched marijuana on the ground during the foot chase, a sheriff's report said. According to the report, a deputy ran...

UPDATE: Airman who was found dead identified

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base has released the identity of the airman who died at his home this week. According to a press release from the base, Tech. Sgt. David J. Devier, an aircraft maintenance crew chief with the 911th...

Tattoo parlor opens without city permit

A tattoo parlor and piercing shop has been operating at various hours from a North William Street shopping center for weeks, if not longer, without a city permit. The Grafix Design tattoo business, at 1923 N. William St., has been...

Man charged with heroin possession, child abuse

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office charged a man with heroin possession and child abuse after watching a drug deal in the county. According to a press release, officers with the Wayne County Drug Unit stopped Joshua Lee Stowers, 26, of...

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Police identify man charged in Wells Fargo bank robbery

Goldsboro police officers arrested a man a short distance from the Wells Fargo on the corner of East Ash Street and North William Street after he allegedly robbed the bank at gunpoint Wednesday morning. Devon Melvin Williams, 24, of 427...

Death of Seymour Johnson airman under investigation

The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigation is looking into the death of an airman assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The airman, whose identity has not yet been released,  died at a home on Brantwood Drive earlier...

Update ---- Wells Fargo robbed, one person arrested

More information has been obtained regarding this morning's bank robbery in Goldsboro. Police officers arrested a suspect a short distance from the Wells Fargo on the corner of East Ash Street and North William Street after the bank was robbed....

Police: Bank robbery suspect in custody

The Goldsboro Police Department has one suspect in custody following an armed bank robbery this morning at the Wells Fargo at the corner of East Ash Street and North William Street. Police have not yet revealed the identity of the person...

Hospital limits children visits

Due to the increase in flu cases in the community, Wayne UNC Health Care last week began restricting visitation by children under the age of 13 in all waiting areas and patient care units. In extreme circumstances, an exception...

Human Relations Banquet honors groups, individuals

Groups, individuals and others making a difference in the community were recognized Tuesday during the 43rd annual Human Relations Award Banquet. The event, held at the Goldsboro Event Center, drew close to 100 people who celebrated the accomplishments of...

New ABC store planned along Wayne Memorial Drive

Plans are in the works to build a new Alcoholic Beverage Control store along Wayne Memorial Drive near the U.S. 70 Bypass. Construction on the 5,200-square-foot building should start in June with completion expected before the end of the...

Jobs target the next generation

Staff Sgt. April Edwards made adjustments to the fire apparatus strapped to the back of eighth-grader Kyguan Owens. Once secured, she gave the Mount Olive Middle School student the go-ahead for the next challenge -- doing 10 push-ups with...

Internet sweepstakes parlor denied permits

The Goldsboro Planning Commission denied a conditional-use permit Monday for an internet sweepstake parlor along East Ash Street in a residential area of the city. Concern about the location near neighborhoods and in an area where people walk to...

U-Play packs up, takes jobs with it

MOUNT OLIVE -- A company that had promised 88 new jobs and a $20 million investment over a five-year period has instead decided not to come to Wayne County. What drove that reversal is somewhat of a matter of...

Al King speaks at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base black history event

Former Goldsboro mayor Al King is enjoying the third retirement of his life, but that doesn't mean he has nothing left to say. Discrimination, perseverance and the value of family were a few of the things King spoke about...

Fire destroys temporary home of Hurricane Matthew survivor

DUDLEY -- A fire Tuesday night destroyed a small barn which served as a temporary home to a woman who was displaced by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Mar-Mac Fire Rescue Chief Tommy Baker said an electrical short in the...

Crime of the week: Police seek suspect in theft of seven firearms

On Saturday, Feb. 25, at about 6:55 p.m., officers of the Goldsboro Police Department responded to 154 Country View Drive in reference to a residential break in. The victim informed officers that upon returning home from work he found the...