August 2017 archives

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Thursday, August 31, 2017

The art of Peeps

Karin Thompson had a special storage unit filled with Peeps -- all kinds of Peeps, rabbits, chicks and even ones with hearts on them. For a while, it housed Peeps in a space 4 feet high and about 6 feet...

Stormy weather expected in front of the Labor Day weekend

A stormy start to the Labor Day weekend is in store for much of North Carolina, which is at marginal risk for severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening. Stormy weather will continue into Saturday. According to the National Weather Service...

Wayne County Public Schools says supplements only partly responsible for teacher shortage

Wayne County continues to lag behind other area counties in the amount of pay teachers receive in supplements. The lower supplements also play a partial role in the county's 20 teacher vacancies currently on the books. Teacher supplements often...

Local parties digest maps

Wayne County Democrats are none-too-satisfied with the newly-proposed N.C. House and Senate district maps. Local Republicans, meanwhile, say the maps are likely to change and expressed concerns about the county's potential change in its delegation. "We're not happy with the...

Recovery time extended for K-9 officer injured in pursuit

Goldsboro police K-9 Ghost is recovering after he was injured during a chase Sunday evening. A fleeing suspect kicked out a window, and the glass hit Ghost in the mouth. "Immediately after the glass was kicked out I noticed...

Recruitment continues in addressing doctor woes

The local physician shortage is showing signs of lessening as efforts to recruit and retain doctors to Wayne County come to fruition. Officials at Wayne Memorial Hospital recently told the News-Argus they are addressing the access to care issue,...

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

IRS commissioner calls scam a "new twist on an old scheme"

WASHINGTON -- The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning to people to avoid a new phishing scheme that impersonates the IRS and the FBI as part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage. The scam email uses...

Heavy rain fails to materialize as tropical system blows through

Predicted gusty winds and heavy rains failed to materialize Monday night into Tuesday as strong winds aloft impeded development of a tropical system off the North Carolina coast. "We need to thank strong wings aloft," said Nick Petro, a...

Second Act abandons project for downtown

Plans to develop a four-story residential and commercial property in downtown Goldsboro are now off the table. Second Act Communities, a nonprofit based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, will no longer pursue the project following the results of a feasibility...

Local, state offices to close

Federal, state and local offices, banks and post offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Wayne County Public Schools and Wayne Community College will be closed. All Wayne County government offices will...

Gas prices go up in county

Gasoline prices started to increase in the Goldsboro area Tuesday following predictions that fuel costs could spike in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The price of gasoline is predicted to increase anywhere from 5 to 25 cents, depending on...

Officials urge motorists to be cautious as buses return

Law enforcement and local school officials are urging motorists to be more cautious as school buses are back on the road now that the 2017-18 school year is underway. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says drivers should familiarize...

Five area doctors make UNC list

Five area physicians affiliated with Wayne UNC Health Care have been selected to the Best Doctors in America(r) List for 2017-2018, officials from UNC Hospitals announced. A total of 373 physicians from the system made the list, determined by their...

Chaplain says goodbye

Dr. Bob Fulkerson will take his last ride with Goldsboro Police Department Thursday, as he retires as chaplain for the police department and as pastor of Madison Avenue Baptist Church. His journey began when he was just 10, growing...

Beak Week begins Monday

The fourth annual Beak Week Festival will offer several new events this year, including a beer run, a food cluck run and an Arts Council Peep sculpture exhibit. The weeklong celebration, which focuses on Wayne County's poultry industry, is...

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Partnership for Children gets 24 more pre-K slots

The Partnership for Children of Wayne County will receive $84,351 in supplemental state funding for 24 additional slots in the NC Pre-K Program it manages for the county. The program is designed to provide at-risk 4-year-olds an opportunity for quality...

Man charged with going armed to the terror of the people

Goldsboro police arrested a man Saturday when he scared his neighbor by being armed with a gun. Jammie Eugene Creekmore, 31, of 408  S. William St., is charged with going armed to the terror of the people. A police report...

Flash flood watch and wind advisory is canceled for Wayne County

A flash flood watch and wind advisory for Wayne County have been canceled. And the originally predicted heavy rainfall of 3 to 5 inches has been downgraded to only light to occasionally moderate rain -- none of which is...

Storm to affect county

Wayne County and central North Carolina are under a flash flood watch and wind advisory until 8 p.m. tonight. Meanwhile, tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued for the North Carolina coast. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm...

O'Berry Road to close at U.S. 117 in the next 10 days

O'Berry Road at U.S. 117 South at Dudley will be closed within the next five to 10 days as the at-grade intersection is transformed into an interchange. The date could hinge somewhat on how the tropical weather expected to...

Celebrating the first day

When students at Dillard Middle School arrived for their first day of class Monday, their community came with them. Dozens of community members, Mayor Chuck Allen and several law enforcement officers gathered at Dillard Monday morning to welcome the...

Police say two officers were injured while making an arrest Saturday

The Goldsboro Police Department said two officers were injured during an arrest when a man resisted being taken into custody early Saturday morning. Deheidis Quentel Williams, 36, of the streets of Goldsboro, is charged with felony breaking and entering...

Local Red Cross deploys volunteers to Texas

One disaster volunteer from Wayne County was in place before Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, and three others from here left Saturday to help disaster victims. Other volunteers and equipment are on standby to help with the recovery efforts. Roberto Mendoza,...

Monday, August 28, 2017

Police: Drugs found in man's body cavity after arrest on gun charges

Goldsboro police say a man originally arrested for shooting a gun into the air was then charged with drug offenses after officers found crack cocaine and heroin on him in jail. James Raye, 30, of 411 Quail Drive, is charged...

Wayne County under flash flood watch, wind advisory as tropical system approaches

Wayne County and central North Carolina are under a flash flood watch and wind advisory from 8 tonight until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Meanwhile tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued for the North Carolina coast. A tropical storm warning...

Police K-9 gets five stitches after suffering an injury during an arrest

A Goldsboro police K-9 was injured and needed five stitches after having glass and debris kicked in its face during an arrest Sunday. Larry Ray Barnes, 35, of 904 Deveraux St., is charged with breaking or entering, assault on a...

65-year-old is arrested for stabbing man in neck, chest on Slocumb Street

A 65-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly stabbing a 25-year-old man in the chest, neck and head early Saturday morning at 308 S. Slocumb St. John Ed Hobbs, 65, of 310 S. Slocumb St., is charged with felony...

Tractor ride to benefit Cures

MOUNT OLIVE -- The M.F. McCullen Jr. family and friends will host the third annual Eastern Carolina Tractor Ride to benefit Cures for the Colors on Saturday, Sept. 23. The first two rides raised more that $37,000 for the nonprofit...

City looks at $2 million LEAF grant

The city of Goldsboro is seeking a $2 million Golden LEAF Foundation grant to help pay some of the construction costs for a new Herman Park Recreation Center. The grant would specifically pay for a second gymnasium in the building,...

Human trafficking is close to home

Human trafficking is closer than you think, although Beverly Weeks, executive director of Wayne Pregnancy Care Center, admits she had been like many in the community -- oblivious. She has since done her research on the subject and Thursday hosted...

Candidates discuss moving the N.C. NAACP forward

As the North Carolina NAACP looks to elect new leadership at its upcoming state conference, two local chapters sought to better know the candidates running for the offices Sunday during a candidates forum at St. James AME Zion Church....

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Wayne County can expect wind gusts up to 24 mph and afternoon showers Monday

As a tropical storm watch is issued for the Outer Banks over the evening into Monday, Wayne County can expect showers. The National Weather Service reports that there will likely be showers in the afternoon hours Monday. Northeast wind will...

Touch a Truck event welcomes more than 1,500

Christopher Franz, 8, inched his way toward the sleek black race car near the entrance of the fairgrounds Saturday morning. "I want to get in that," he said excitedly. The experience of spending just a few minutes behind the wheel...

Districts could impact disparities

The majority of redistricting conversations between Wayne County Public Schools officials have focused on facility use and overcrowding but redrawing lines could also make an impact on racial and socio-economic disparities. Imbalances between racial and socio-economic groups are not...

Dudley man to serve time for murder

A man will serve 276 to 344 months in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in Wayne County Superior Court last week. Valentin Morales-Morales, 34, of 100 Spring Drive, Dudley, pleaded to killing 22-year-old Hubaner Roberto Morales-Morales inside...

An ultimate act of kindness

The brevity of life is at the heart of Beverly Webber's motivation and her philosophy that rings with kindness, compassion and love. And for Brian Volk, the fragility of life was an all too acute reality. Webber's philosophy of...

University of Mount Olive graduation: Looking to the future

Graduations never get old, said David Bourgeois, registrar at University of Mount Olive for the past 22 years. "It invigorates us," he said collectively of his staff. "A lot of us teach. It's an accomplishment to watch (students) watch...

Shooting death is ruled suicide

The Aug. 20 shooting death of a 45-year-old Pikeville woman has been ruled a suicide by police, according to a press release. Police said an autopsy at the North Carolina State Medical Examiner's Office, along with other details revealed in...

Schools announce principal finalists

Wayne County Public Schools' human resources department and the Wayne County Principals and Assistant Principals Association, or PAPA, announced finalists for the district's principal of the year and assistant principal of the year. This is a new twist on...

Power of Girls program teaches essential skills

Volunteers with the Wayne County Extension and Community Association and staff with the Cooperative Extension Service are trying to change the world -- 10 girls at a time. They are doing it through a program in its fourth year, The...

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Freedom Festival in Fremont offers activities for children

FREMONT -- Children jumped inside a bouncy house and played basketball during the Freedom Festival held Saturday at Rocket Community Park. Vashawnda Brown took her 3-year-old daughter, Genesis, to the event, designed to offer children an afternoon of fun in...

Another arrest made in Circle K brawl, police search for two more suspects

Police have arrested another man and issued warrants for two others in connection to the massive Aug. 5 brawl at Circle K at 2101 Wayne Memorial Drive. A press release issued Thursday said Travion Lamontae Lewis, 23, of 110 Jake...

Friday, August 25, 2017

Four charged after surveillance and search of home on Beck Road

Officers charged four people for various offenses after finding a man wanted by probation and parole Wednesday at 117 Beck Road and executing a search warrant on the home. A press release said officers were conducting surveillance on the home...

Two robbed at gunpoint after offering suspect a ride

A man robbed two people who gave him a ride to 1801 S. John St. Thursday afternoon after offering to give them gas money if they gave him a lift. A police report said a man the two victims know...

Man shot in the back on Slocumb Street

A man is at Vidant Medical Center today after being shot twice late Thursday night. Goldsboro police found 35-year-old O'Brien Kornegay at 113 N. Slocumb St. with a gunshot wound to his right leg and another to his lower back...

Wayne County schools host open house events

Eastern Wayne Middle School Principal Cathy Fulcher was stationed by the entrance of the school, greeting new students and parents and welcoming back returnees to Wednesday evening's open house. It was her second such event, having hosted a version...

Internet access program at Goldsboro Housing Authority

The Goldsboro Housing Authority is among six organizations statewide selected for expansion of a federal program working to help bring low-cost, high-speed internet access to the country's public housing residents. No funding is attached to the designation. Rather it lets...

Fremont fun day slated for Saturday

Family fun will come to Fremont Saturday, when the Rocket Park on South Sycamore Street will host a "Freedom Fun Festival" beginning at 2 p.m. The festival is being run by Uhuru Ulyesse, a Goldsboro community organizer known as...

Jobs shrink in rural areas

An informal poll of area business, civic and government leaders Tuesday gave the state and Wayne County's economy a smattering of B's and C's and even a D or two, but no A's or F's. The urban-rural divide and...

Clear the Shelter is a success with 85 adoptions

A total of 85 dogs and cats got new homes through the first ever Clear the Shelter event at the Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center this past Saturday. Shelter staff arrived before 10 a.m. to prepare for...

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Man charged with possession of marijuana while being booked for drunk driving

Officers found marijuana on a man after taking him to jail Sunday for driving drunk, according to a sheriff's office report filed Wednesday. Raekwon Marquez Barnes, 20, of 104 Ervin Drive, is charged with driving while impaired, provisional DWI and...

Touch a Truck set for Saturday

When the Partnership for Children of Wayne County began brainstorming the idea of hosting a "Touch a Truck" event, it was geared to the agency's typical population -- young children. But now that the original goal of having 40...

Fremont seeks gas line connection

FREMONT -- Officials in Fremont face an uphill battle in fostering growth and expansion, mainly because no natural gas lines currently run through the the northern Wayne County town. Mayor Darron Flowers and town administrator Barbara Aycock first spoke...

Questioning 'Quixote'

Whether or not the fictional character Don Quixote would spark public concern led the Goldsboro City Council to delay a decision on one of the art sculptures selected for the downtown area. The council signed off on three of...

Gospel sing to raise funds for Wayne County Crime Stoppers

Wayne County Crime Stoppers will host a gospel singing night Friday at 7 p.m. to raise money for the organization. There is no charge to attend the event at St. Paul United Methodist Church at 204 E. Chestnut St.,...

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Council delays parking limit vote due to concern of Waynesborough House residents

Concern about parking availability for residents living at the Waynesborough House led the Goldsboro City Council Monday to delay its vote on time-limited parking along Center Street. The council planned to vote on setting two-hour parking limits for parking spaces...

Possible severe thunderstorms expected as cold front moves in today

Scattered thunderstorms, some that could become severe, are expected to develop this afternoon and evening, ahead of a strong cold front moving into central and eastern North Carolina. The greatest threat could come from damaging thunderstorm gusts. Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning...

Stream cleanout ready to begin

Wayne County is ready to begin a nearly half-million-dollar stream cleanout project to help mitigate possible future flooding caused by storms and/or heavy rains. But in order to move forward, the county will need access to properties adjacent to...

Schools to host open houses

Wayne County Public Schools will hold a round of open house events this week in anticipation of schools on the traditional calendar resuming on Monday, Aug. 28. Several schools already started classes earlier this month, including Goldsboro High School,...

Chosen for Innovators

A Charles B. Aycock High School senior participated in an eight-week summer internship program through the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC-Chapel Hill. William Jones Jr. was one of 24 students chosen from 100 applicants -- and the only...

Moving closer to accreditation

Marilyn "Rosie" Wagner has spent years combing crime scenes, meticulously documenting evidence and working to help law enforcement agencies maintain national accreditation standards. Wagner started working for the Goldsboro Police Department Friday and will lead the agency in its...

NAACP to hold forum Sunday

The Goldsboro-Wayne and Johnston County branches of the NAACP will hold a candidates forum at the St. James AME Zion Church on George Street Sunday, as the group prepares to find new leadership after the Rev. William Barber steps...

Dancing Stars kicks off season

They came. They saw. And hopefully they'll dance. Potential "stars" attended the kickoff Tuesday for the seventh annual Dancing Stars of Wayne County event. Modeled after the popular TV show "Dancing With the Stars," the annual fundraiser benefits educational...

Community rallies around 5-year-old with tumor diagnosis

Before April, 5-year-old Caden Edwards enjoyed a normal life -- he likes to play T-ball, spend time with his dogs and, if he really knows a person, enjoys telling jokes. He began to experience headaches, nausea and fatigue, his mother,...

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Woman charged for embezzling from booster club

The former president and treasurer of Charles B. Aycock High School's Music Boosters Association is facing felony charges after turning herself in Tuesday for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars from the club during her tenure. Sandra Dawn Petersen, 40, of...

Police seek information in rash of vehicle break-ins on North Hillcrest Drive

On Thursday, Aug. 17, at approximately 7:40 a.m., the Goldsboro Police Department responded to 400 block of North Hillcrest Drive, in reference to a vehicle break-in.  Officers located four vehicles in the area had been broken into and several bags...

Road project on hold due to public opposition

FAISON -- Planned safety improvements to the U.S. 117/N.C. 50 intersection are on hold and could even be dropped because of public opposition. All of the 10 comments received at a recent public meeting on the project were in opposition,...

Two arrested in break-ins at Southern Wayne High School

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office arrested two people today in connection to break-ins at Southern Wayne High School in June. Power tools were taken from areas where shop class is held, loaded into a wheelbarrow and stolen. Dillon Blake Brown,...

High temps and humidity to produce heat index value as high as 100 degrees

High temperatures in the low 90s combined with humid conditions today through Wednesday will continue to produce heat index values as high as 100 degrees. Thunderstorms are expected to develop after 1 p.m. Wednesday ahead of a strong cold front...

Senate district lines for county change

The N.C. Senate released its new district map proposal Sunday evening with Wayne County potentially losing Sen. Don Davis, D-Dist. 5, as a representative. District 5, which currently includes approximately half of Pitt County in its territory, all of Greene...

Wayne County Homeschool Fair offers information and support

When Chasity Cerny started homeschooling her children, one of the challenges was knowing what was available to support her. An event like the Wayne County Homeschool Fair would have been wonderful, she said. "It used to be we didn't...

Wayne County Public Schools bringing local sports to cable TV

Wayne County Public Schools is launching a locally produced weekly sports show on the district cable TV channel. "Coaches Corner" will air Thursday evenings at 8 and 10 p.m. on the Wayne County Education Alliance Channel, WCEA, found on Spectrum...

Motorcycle rider charged after leading police on high speed chase

A motorcycle rider led deputies on a chase from Potts Road to Arrington Bridge Road Friday night, reaching speeds of 100 mph before deputies got him into custody. Tremell Deleon Burns, 34, of 5604 Mesa Court, Fayetteville, is charged...

Monday, August 21, 2017

All eyes to the sky: Wayne County turns out for the eclipse

As the moon passed in front of the  sun Monday, many people  in Wayne County -- children as well as adults  -- had their eyes to the sky. The Wayne County Public Library invited children and their parents to learn...

Police investigate shooting death outside local bar

Police are investigating a 45-year-old woman's death after she was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the parking lot of 2006 N. William St. early Sunday morning. Many questions remain unanswered as the head of the Goldsboro...

Armed robbers arrive in one stolen car, leave in another

Police are looking into two armed robberies that happened Saturday. Neither of the victims were injured, but both were held at gunpoint by multiple people. Police reports indicate the first incident happened around 4 a.m. Saturday. A man told police...

Man shot in the behind at a party tells police it might have been something he said

A man was shot in the buttocks early Sunday morning while at a party on Durham Lake Road, according to a report filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Authorities still aren't sure where the party was because the victim...

Eclipse-centered events organized in county, 2:46 p.m. is the peak time for Goldsboro

As the solar eclipse draws near, organizations in the city are gearing up for special eclipse-centered events. The Wayne County Public Library will host an eclipse viewing and educational event from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. today, where kids and...

Happy rocks: Painters of the rocks hope each one brings a smile to someone's face

Marilyn Glover was downtown one day and saw a woman sitting on a bench on Center Street all by herself. "She just looked so lonely and was just sitting there alone," Glover said. "So I gave her a rock I...

County sends out tax notices

Approximately 73,000 tax notices are being mailed out by the Wayne County tax office over the next few days. Taxpayers who do not receive their bill by Sept. 1 should contact the tax office at 919-731-1478 or go online...

Community, developer at odds over mailboxes

Whenever Kelly Clark wants to get her mail, she drives 10 minutes from her home in the Glen Laurel subdivision to the post office in Pikeville. She and her neighbors have been doing so for around a year, since...

Looking at the side effects, county focuses on recruitment and retention of doctors

Wayne UNC Health Care is taking steps to address the community's physician shortage by targeting ways to recruit and retain more doctors, say hospital officials. The effort is such a priority that two new positions have been created to address...

Public hearings scheduled on new districts

The new maps released by the N.C. House Saturday are propositions subject to public comment, approval by the redistricting committee and the entire General Assembly and to the judgment of courts, said Rep. Jimmy Dixon, R-Dist. 4. Statewide, the proposed...

Council to discuss parking

Parking in the downtown area for an extended amount of time may come with a cost. The Goldsboro City Council is set to consider the approval of a two-hour time limit for Center Street parking spaces, from Ash to...

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Maps change representation

Republicans in the N.C. House released the new proposed districts map Saturday with Wayne County having different borders and losing a representative. Wayne County is included in District 21 and 10, but the county has been completely removed from District...

Still 29 teacher vacancies

With a little over a week until traditional schools in the county resume, Wayne County Public Schools is exhausting every resource to fill 29 certified teacher vacancies, assistant superintendent of human resources, Dr. Yvette Smith Mason said. The first...

Back on campus

Wayne Community College kicked off another academic year on Thursday, with a preliminary head count of 3,257 -- just shy of the 3,312 enrollment for the same point last fall. Officials said they expect the numbers to climb with registration...

WCC arts and humanities schedule

A little Scarlett O'Hara, a little football, World War I and II, and a timely program on Russia, are just a few of the offerings for the fall line-up of the arts and humanities from the Foundation of Wayne Community...

'Wayne's Got Talent' kicks off United Way campaign

Singers, musicians and actors pulled their talents together Friday in support of the United Way of Wayne County during "Wayne's Got Talent." The show, performed at the Paramount Theatre, included a blend of bluegrass music, patriotic and inspirational songs,...

W.A. Foster Center hosts back-to-school event for area students

Going back to school is right around the corner for children. That means supplies are needed, but also means that summer -- and the chance to have a little fun -- is drawing to a close. Community leaders hosted...

Pending cases affected by officer's firing

District Attorney Matthew Delbridge confirmed this week several pending court cases are now compromised after a Goldsboro Police Department officer was deemed ineffective and fired in July. Delbridge declined to go into specifics on how many cases are compromised,...

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Calling all pollinators: Beekeepers of the Neuse takes Waynesborough Park by swarm

Waynesborough Park was abuzz with excitement Saturday as families from all over gathered to enjoy music, food and learn about honeybees. The Beekeepers of the Neuse hosted the National Honey Bee Day event, which saw throngs of people flock to...

Police seek information in Day Circle shooting

On Thursday, Aug. 3, at approximately 12:37 a.m., the Goldsboro Police Department responded to Wayne UNC Health Care reverence a gunshot victim that had arrived by a private vehicle.The victim, Mr. Jamal Leach, a 24-year-old black male of Goldsboro was...

Friday, August 18, 2017

Woman is charged in Saturday night brawl at Maynard's facility

A Mount Olive area woman has been charged with simple assault in connection with a Saturday night, Aug. 12, brawl. Vicky Reyes, 23, of 216 School Branch House Road, is charged on a warrant with one count of simple assault....

WCC kicks off academic year

Wayne Community College kicked off another academic year on Thursday, with a preliminary head count of 3,257 -- just shy of the 3,312 enrollment for the same point last fall. Officials said they expect the numbers to climb with registration...

Heat advisory is in effect beginning at noon today as humidity reaches 100 percent

It could feel like 106 degrees in Wayne County because of 100 percent humidity and actual temperatures in the mid-90s. A heat advisory is in effect for most of central North Carolina from noon until 6 p.m. today. Hot temperatures...

Mobile home on Clara Belle Drive in Princton shot into

A mobile home on Clara Belle Drive in Princeton was damaged by a bullet in recent days. A tenant reported to the landlord that the rear door to their home was damaged. When the landlord inspected it, he found the...

House shot into on Stronach Avenue

Three people escaped injury when a house was shot into early Wednesday morning. Bullets struck a house at 519 Stronach Ave. at about 4:24 a.m. A police report said three people were inside when the shots were fired. The...

Board sets draft of timeline

The Wayne County Board of Education settled on a draft schedule for redistricting at a special called meeting Thursday. Some dates are subject to change or have yet to be set, but an aggressive timeline is in place that would...

Supplying back to school fun

Zyheim and I'Rayona Gaddy stood in line waiting to get their faces painted during the annual Back-to-School Bash at Lincoln Apartments Thursday. I'Rayona, 5, wanted her face painted as a flower and her 6-year-old brother, Zyheim, wanted a painted...

County looks at Busco Beach

Removing Busco Beach from the city of Goldsboro's extra territorial jurisdiction will not make much of a difference to the county, Wayne County Commission Chairman Bill Pate said. Among other things, removing the property from the extra territorial jurisdiction, or...

Attorney Jerry Braswell is suspended by N.C. State Bar

Goldsboro attorney and former N.C. Superior Court judge Jerry Braswell has been suspended from the practice of law for having sex with a client. Braswell denies the allegation saying that the woman attempted to coerce him into paying an approximately...

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Man charged in a string of local breaking and enterings

The Morehead City Police Department arrested a man this week who is allegedly connected to a string of local breaking and entering cases stretching from mid-February to late March. Devonta Rasheed Sutton, 17, of 308 S. Carey St., LaGrange, is...

U.S. 117 southbound down to one lane at O'Berry Road

U.S. 117 southbound is down to one lane due to work at O'Berry Road. Road closures, lane reductions and detours loom during the construction of interchanges on U.S. 117 South at O'Berry Road, Dudley, and Country Club Road, just north...

Woman throws dog in front of 18-wheeler on Stevens Mill Road

A woman reported to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Monday that she saw a Hispanic woman throw a dog in front of an 18-wheeler on Stevens Mill Road Friday afternoon. But the 18-wheeler did not hit the dog. And now,...

Creating a universe

Gene Willoughby has always enjoyed stories. From movies to cartoons to comic books, he grew up immersed in the other worlds brought to life by authors and screenwriters. With the release of his debut novel "The Sunstroms," Willoughby now has...

UPS makes supplies donation to North Drive

In North Drive Elementary principal Charlenna Bennett-Carter's experience, coming to school without basic supplies can demoralize a student and ruin the student's entire day. For students at North Drive, this figures to be less of a problem this year, after...

County manager to retire in December

Wayne County Manager George Wood Tuesday morning announced that he will retire effective Dec. 31. Wood, who will turn 66 in February, has served as county manager since June of 2014 after first serving as interim manager since February of...

Public addresses ongoing recovery

The floors in Tim Harrington's Arrington Bridge Road home are still buckled. The electricity only works "halfway." Tuesday he came to Wayne County commissioners hoping for guidance on what to do next as he tries to recover from the damage...

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Snow Hill man charged in assault, kidnapping at Day Circle

A man accused of beating and kidnapping a woman in Day Circle Tuesday night was arrested in Durham early Wednesday morning. Devon Alexander McCollum, 23, of 310 W. Greene St., Snow Hill, is charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault on...

Clearing out the shelter

Makayla Biermann grew up with a Jack Russell dog as a companion. She wants her daughter to grow up with that same companionship, so she went to the Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center to pick out just the...

Brawl at Maynard's leaves one woman injured

SEVEN SPRINGS -- A woman reportedly went to the hospital with injuries after she and another person were caught in a brawl at Maynard's Entertainment late Saturday night. The woman was there with a man, and told the Wayne County...

Board to talk school districts

The Wayne County Board of Education will discuss strategies for redistricting at a special called session Thursday, as Wayne County Public Schools prepares to dive in to the details of redrawing district lines. The meeting is set to begin around...

Wayne Community College names President's List, Dean's List rosters for Spring 2017 semester

Wayne Community College recently named 80 students for outstanding academic achievement in the spring 2017 semester. President's List To be named to the President's List for the spring semester, students must have been enrolled for at least 12 semester hours...

City seeks $2M Golden LEAF Foundation grand to protect treatment facility

The city of Goldsboro is seeking a $2 million Golden LEAF Foundation grant to better protect the city's water treatment plant during natural disasters. The treatment plant, on Jordan Boulevard, experienced flooding during Hurricane Matthew, in October, but not...

Tax burden eased for victims

Wayne County taxpayers who as of Jan. 1 had property that was damaged during Hurricane Matthew, but not yet repaired, could receive a break on their tax bill. Taxpayers who do not receive an adjustment, but think that they...

Former 'AGT' contestant takes aim at 'American Idol' reboot

"American Idol" is returning to TV and a Grantham girl hopes to be one of the contestants. Kasey Vann of Grantham is warming up her pipes to audition for the show later this month in Charleston, S.C. The Southern Wayne...

Virginia-based educator with Goldsboro roots has school named in his honor

A former Goldsboro resident will have a Virginia elementary school named after him this month. John Harper Jr. has made his home in Prince William County, Dumfries, Va., since 1979. He will be recognized during a ceremony for that district's...

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Woman charged for allegedly trying to hit man with truck

A Goldsboro woman allegedly drove a pickup truck toward a man and his two sons who were fishing from a bridge on U.S. 13 South. Kevin Glenn Hyatt, 30, 104 Brenn Loop, secured a warrant on Paigela Hinson, 49, 188...

No rain expected Wednesday, thunderstorms are possible on Thursday

A break from the rain is expected Wednesday with highs near 89 degrees and partly sunny conditions. Into the evening on Wednesday, skies will be partly cloudy with a low around 73 degrees. Though there is an expected reprieve from...

Home shot into on Fairview Circle

A bullet damaged a woman's home when someone shot into it Monday morning. A police report said the woman told officers someone shot into her home on Fairview Circle, damaging her living room wall, at about 9 a.m. Monday. Police...

Second person arrested in shooting on Slocumb Street

The Goldsboro Police Department arrested a second person in connection with a mid-June shooting which sent a man to Vidant Medical Center, according to a press release. Shantel Charese Atkinson, 26, of 601 Day Circle, was arrested for her alleged...

Man is robbed at gunpoint in city

A man was robbed at gunpoint as he was driving another man around the city Friday, according to a Goldsboro police report. The victim was driving a man known only as "Dre" around to several stores Friday evening. After the...

At the heart of fellowship

Gayle Peele believes in the power of prayer. So much so that it has become the centerpiece of her Pikeville business, Two Mama's Gift Shop. The store name is a tribute to her own mother, Ellen Blizzard, who died...

Strickland Insurance plans downtown move

A Goldsboro-based company with a history that started in the downtown area plans to return to its roots. The owners of Strickland Insurance Brokers recently purchased a near 1-acre property on Ash Street, at the corner of John Street, in...

Lidl plans advancing in Goldsboro

Lidl grocery stores are now open in Kinston, Greenville and Wilson and plans are still on track for the German discount grocer to open a new store along Wayne Memorial Drive. Since its June launch into the United States market,...

Board works in spite of turmoil

The Wayne County Board of Elections will meet as usual next week despite a state system in turmoil. The state board that it once reported to has been erased from existence by a Republican General Assembly and replaced with...

Monday, August 14, 2017

Daniels Memorial UMC creates reading camp through vacation Bible school

Summer is the time of year when Vacation Bible School is held all over the county at local churches. But one church decided to do something a little different this year. Daniels Memorial United Methodist Church combined VBS with a...

Hatching a lesson plan

Jennifer Johnson loves animals. So it's been a natural progression for her to be the animal science instructor at Wayne Community College for nearly a dozen years. It didn't happen right away, though. Growing up in the Patetown community, when...

May the fair run dry: The Wayne County Regional Agricultural Fair is scheduled to run Sept. 28 through Oct. 7, weather permitting

DUDLEY -- Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Manager Eddie Pitzer is looking for some guarantees on the weather. "If you can help me, I will be glad to take you up," he said. "We plan for the best and do everything,...

Doctor recruitment, retention difficulties plague Wayne County

Access to health care and recruiting and retaining doctors are among the top issues in Wayne County, according to a report presented at last week's Board of Health meeting. Celita Graham, health educator, updated the board on some of the...

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Peace vigil confronts hatred

While the national media reported on the numerous peaceful vigils  going on across the country Sunday, including one outside Trump Tower in New York, local residents were gathering in a display of unity of their own at the Wayne County ...

Peace vigil planned in Goldsboro tonight for the victims in Charlottesville, Virginia

A gathering is planned this evening at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Goldsboro to remember the lives of a protester and two state troopers killed in Charlottesville, Virginia, Saturday. The event is scheduled to take place from 6 to 6:30...

Virginia man charged with cocaine possession at Busco Beach

Deputies with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office on patrol at Busco Beach today came across a man they say was in possession of cocaine. Shawn Bradford, 28, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is charged with possession of cocaine and was placed...

Complaint leads sheriff's deputies to man's home where 35 marijuana plants were growing inside

Wayne County Sheriff's deputies responding to a complaint about a man growing marijuana at his home on Ann Street recovered 35 marijuana plants Friday. A press release issued Sunday said three firearms and 360 grams of marijuana were also seized....

A closer look at the need for redistricting

Student transfers, residential development and state legislation are all factors Wayne County Public Schools officials must now consider as the system begins to work on redistricting. Its main goal is to help solve the substantial overcrowding impacting many Wayne...

WCC names business and industry center director

Wayne Community College has named Craig S. Foucht as its new Wayne Business and Industry Center executive director. A 1999 WCC graduate and 15-year employee, he taught in the automotive program and headed the transportation department. He was named a...

Road improvement projects included in state's 10-year budget

Improvements to U.S. 117 from West Ash Street south to Lee's Country Club Road at Mount Olive are included in the state's new 10-year (2018-2027) transportation improvement plan as efforts continue to transform the highway into an extension of...

Program focuses on girls' empowerment

Four years ago, Michelle Estrada, family and consumer sciences agent proposed to the Wayne County Extension and Community Association "The Power of Girls Program," a two-day program for girls 11 through 13. "We learned that many girls do not have...

Grand jury indicts alleged meth manufacturers

A pair arrested for running a meth lab on Old Smithfield Road in May 2016 was indicted by a Wayne County Grand jury this week. Andrew Douglas Best, 57, of 1775 Old Smithfield Road, was indicted for manufacturing methamphetamine,...

Fill the Boot campaign underway

When Goldsboro Fire Department Capt. Rob Loreman first learned that a close friend's daughter had muscular dystrophy, it presented him with a unique challenge. "Just trying to understand what it meant was difficult," he said. "There's such a wide...

Debutante from Wayne County heads to 91st annual ball

The 91st annual North Carolina Debutante Ball will be held next month in Raleigh, with one young lady from Wayne County among those being formally presented into society. The tradition dates back to the 1920s, when young gentlemen from Raleigh...

Public hearings on community development, Busco Beach on commissioners agenda

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning will hold a public hearing to explain the regulations, eligible activities and potential uses of Community Development Block Grant funds for Hurricane Matthew recovery. They also will discuss the city of Goldsboro's pending public...

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Facing the fight, together

Jonith "John" Matta remembers the long days, hours and months of struggling to survive after being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer at the age of 26. It's been a two-year journey of chemotherapy treatments and other aggressive medical procedures. The...

A man convicted of rape, murder in 1984 will soon come up for parole

Garfield Noah Prevette knew Goldie Jones through her voluntary prison ministry. Jones, a retired 61-year-old social service employee, was supposed to be at early morning mass on Jan. 8, 1984. When she didn't pick up a friend she was going...

A clean slate: volunteers remove graffiti from Eastern Wayne High School

It takes a village to raise a child ---- and to clean up a school. Members of several community groups partnered with the Goldsboro Police Department gang suppression unit Saturday to clean up graffiti at Eastern Wayne High School, in...

Vote for Habitat

An Internet-based voting competition that kicks off Wednesday could help give Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne a $25,000 boost for its new home repair program. "Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne is excited to be in the running for this award," said Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne...

Humphrey Street paving project to begin soon

The dirt roadway path along Humphrey Street will soon get a new asphalt surface as crews start constructing a new road following approval of a $489,883 city contract. The Goldsboro City Council voted Monday to hire Barnhill Contracting Co., out...

Friday, August 11, 2017

Police identify three men in connection to Circle K brawl

Goldsboro police arrested three men they believe were involved in the massive brawl outside the Circle K convenience store on Wayne Memorial Drive.Adrane Lafette Swinson, 27, 212 Brookwood Drive, Jaikelvin Dyondra Maye, 28, 419 Slocumb St., and Kysheem Jayire Langston,...

Sheriff's office investigating rash of car break-ins

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is warning the public to lock their car doors after taking upward of 50 motor vehicle break-in reports since the first of July. A press release said residents in Pikeville and Goldsboro have reported...

UMO enrollment sets record high

MOUNT OLIVE -- Overall traditional enrollment at the University of Mount Olive's fall 2017 semester is expected to be around 1,060 or more -- the largest in school history. "The increase is due to a greater percentage of students...

Jazz Showcase returns Saturday

The Wayne County Jazz Showcase is back with its first event since May planned on the patio at Brewmasters Saturday night. The Eric Xavier Band will perform from 7 to 10 p.m., and there is no cover charge to...

Back to homeschool

The Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Homeschool Group in Wayne County is hosting a homeschool conference and fair for the community on Monday, Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Wayne Center. The event will showcase...

GWTA nighttime bus service to continue

Residents wanting to make evening trips to Wal-Mart or Piggly Wiggly will be able to continue with the Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority permanently offering bus service until 7:30 p.m. Two of the most popular GWTA bus routes -- the blue...

Fill the boot campaign kicks off

Goldsboro firefighters will be in front of the Spence Avenue Wal-Mart Friday, Saturday and Sunday asking people to "fill the boot" for muscular dystrophy awareness. The goal of the campaign, which is happening in support of the Muscular Dystrophy...

Drive safely during, to and from ecplise

Highway safety agencies are urging drivers to take necessary precautions to travel safely during the impending solar eclipse Aug. 21. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is concerned with increased traffic on highways as drivers try to get to...

Disaster recovery forges on

Only a quarter of Wayne County's 331 applications have been approved for elevation/acquisition under the Hurricane Matthew Hazard Mitigation Grant program. The county had sought nearly $37 million for acquisition (buyout)/elevation (house raising), but was awarded approximately $9 million....

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Arrest made in Wells Fargo bank robbery, another still sought

Goldsboro police arrested one person and are looking for another in connection to the Aug. 2 robbery of Wells Fargo on East Ash Street. Monquitta Yvette Kees, 46, also of 912 S. Slocumb St., is charged with conspiracy to commit...

Forecasters say 2017 hurricane season has potential to be 'extremely active'

NOAA forecasters on Wednesday said the 2017 hurricane season has the potential to be "extremely active," and could be the most active one since 2010, with 14 to 19 named storms. The number of predicted named storms and major...

A jungle adventure: Young actors get a taste of what it's like to perform on stage in front of an audience

Lions, zebras and lemurs dance around the stage. But they're not real animals -- they are young children going on an African safari. "Going Bananas: A Safari Adventure" was the theme of this year's STARS camp at StageStruck for rising...

Police identify suspects in the Wells Fargo robbery

Warrants are out for the arrest of two people wanted for robbing the Wells Fargo on East Ash Street on  Aug. 2. Andre Lavarr Coley, 44, of 912 S. Slocumb St., is wanted for common law robbery. Monquitta Yvette Kees,...

Man is charged with attempted first-degree murder after Saturday shooting

Police made an arrest Wednesday in a shooting that left a man in serious condition. Ormond Qudre Cobb, 26, of 210 E. Pine St., is charged with attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. Officers with...

Institute focuses on inspiration

The keynote speaker at Wayne County Public Schools' Summer Institute wanted to talk about a young man that graduated from the district last year. "I have never met him before, but I know he exists," said Principal Baruti Kafele,...

Ash Street liquor house raided

Probation and parole officers caught up with a man Wednesday wanted for promoting prostitution in another county and discovered his apartment on West Ash Street was a liquor house. Wayne County ABC Law Enforcement Chief Joe Sadler said his agency...

From lemonade, donations

Ella Hodach loves pets and wanted to do something to help the ones at the local animal shelter. But there's only so much a 7-year-old can do. That didn't stop Ella. She opened a lemonade stand Wednesday at Pet...

Council backs YMCA mentoring program

Ninth-grade Goldsboro High School students could be matched with adult mentors as early as September through a Goldsboro Family YMCA program modeled after Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The Goldsboro City Council threw its support behind the mentorship...

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

23-year-old man is shot in the chest

A 23-year-old man was shot in the chest area when he opened his door after hearing noises outside early Wednesday morning. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident that left Corey A. Gibbs Jr. wounded, but not critically....

Fill the Boot begins Friday

Goldsboro firefighters will be in front of the Spence Avenue Walmart Friday, Saturday and Sunday asking people to "fill the boot" for muscular dystrophy awareness. The goal of the campaign, which is happening in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association,...

Man escapes police cruiser, later charged with stealing handcuffs

After a man escaped the back of a police cruiser Monday night, he was charged for stealing the handcuffs he was wearing after officers caught up to him. Everaldo Francisco Mateo, 22, of 108 Country View Drive, is charged with...

Board of Education redistricting committee is appointed

Wayne County Board of Education Chairman Arnold Flowers has chosen three board members to serve on the newly formed redistricting committee, a day after the committee's formation. Board member Rick Pridgen will serve as chairman of the committee, and will...

WCC trustee appointment goes awry, board seeks replacement

Wayne County Public Schools is seeking applicants for a spot on the Wayne Community College board of trustees, after the board of education voted Monday to open up the position to the public. The vote came after the board...

Fundraiser challenge to earn money for All the King's Children Foundation

MOUNT OLIVE -- Unity Baptist Church members are hopeful that people will not let a few -- actually 30 -- obstacles stand in their way of helping a local nonprofit help to meet basic and educational needs of local...

Preparing for Bee Day

Robin DeMark talks to her honeybees. Jo Daniels does, too, but in a singsong voice. They, along with veterinarian Kirby Harriss, are among the queen bees of the Beekeepers of the Neuse who love working with honeybees and listening...

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Two men follow woman and attempt to rob her with a shotgun

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is looking for two men who followed a woman out of a parking lot and shot at her after a failed robbery attempt on Sunday. The woman was leaving Walmart at about...

Man faces slew of charges after being arrested for sexual assault

A Dudley man is facing a slew of charges after being arrested Monday for sexually assaulting a woman at gunpoint. Travis John Ham, 23, of 105 Poandl Place, is charged with felony first-degree sex offense, felony assault by strangulation, two...

Three houses sprayed with gunfire on Murray Street

Three houses in the 400 block of Murray Street were sprayed with gunfire Saturday morning. Nobody was injured, but all three homes sustained damage because of the gun shots. One person reported their home was hit by bullets overnight at...

School board to create redistricting subcommittee

The Wayne County Board of Education voted Monday to create a special subcommittee to focus on redistricting, as the school system works toward redrawing district lines by the 2018-19 school year. The decision came after the board's late-July special meeting,...

Jazz on John Street event replaces the Jazz Showcase

Jazz on John Street is a new event that the Arts Council of Wayne started a couple months ago. It replaced the Wayne County Jazz Showcase that used to be held each month for a few years. It will...

No arrests yet in fights outside Circle K

An investigation into a massive fight at a local gas station that sent a teenager to the hospital early Saturday morning is just getting underway, Goldsboro police said Monday. Maj. Anthony Carmon, head of the Goldsboro Police Department's Investigative Services...

August blood drives

The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross has scheduled these blood drives for August: * Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the chapter house, 600 N. George St. * Aug. 10 from 10:30 a.m. to...

Monday, August 7, 2017

Council approves Sunday morning alcohol sales in 4 to 3 vote

The city of Goldsboro now joins more than 60 cities across North Carolina where Sunday morning alcohol sales are allowed. The Goldsboro City Council was divided in its Monday evening vote of 4-3 to allow alcohol sales starting at 10...

Welcome back, Cougars

A couple dozen people had signed up to welcome back students to Goldsboro High School for the first day of school Monday. More than twice that number showed up. Then the rains began, moving the group under the covered crosswalk...

UMO president announces retirement

University of Mount Olive President Dr. Philip P. Kerstetter has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2017-18 academic year. Kerstetter was appointed the fourth president of Mount Olive College on April 9, 2009. His term began...

Man in serious condition after being shot in the chest

Someone shot 25-year-old Joshua Deshawn Lofton in the chest while he stood in his driveway Saturday night at 500 Quail Drive. He is now in serious but stable condition at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. Maj. Anthony Carmon, head of...

Damaging wind gusts, isolated tornado possible this afternoon and evening

Just over a half inch of rain fell in Goldsboro between 8 and 9 a.m. today as central North Carolina braced for the risk of isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms. The storms are expected mainly this afternoon and evening. The...

Mount Olive Armory to close

The North Carolina Army National Guard armory on Witherington Street will be closed within the next six to nine months and transferred to the State Property Office for final disposal. As part of a nationwide U.S. Army and National...

Sunday, August 6, 2017

School system makes two administrative hires

Wayne County Public Schools announced two new administrative hires this week, both approved at an earlier special called meeting of the Board of Education. Felicia Brown was named human resources director and Steve Smith is the district's new part-time video...

Siblings unite for the first time

James Kasey's parents never told him he was adopted. An 8-year-old Kasey first heard it from a 'mean old lady' in his home town of Beckly, West Virginia. She called him "that adopted Kasey kid" when he went to fetch...

Council to vote on alcohol sales

General manager Chris Kopka doesn't anticipate many changes at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar if new city rules allow beer taps to flow a little earlier on Sunday. The Spence Avenue restaurant, which opens at 11 a.m. on Sundays,...

Highway safety tips to remember

The cost of failing to heed safety precautions in a highway work zone can be seen in the Grey Bailey Highway sign on U.S. 70 West. Bailey, 35, a state Department of Transportation employee, died March 23, 2015, after...

Helping mold young fathers into men

Wayne Pregnancy Care Center has hired a men's program director to work with young men in the areas of parenting skills, mentoring and an especially touchy but important subject -- sex trafficking. Jonathan Chavous, a former youth pastor, had worked...

Walking trail closed temporarily

A portion of the walking trail by Wayne Community College has been temporarily closed during construction, officials said. The trail located at the back of the campus wraps around the college's tennis courts and softball field. The dirt road...

United Way to kick off annual drive

United Way of Wayne County will have its annual 2017 campaign kickoff Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. This year's event will be a Wayne's Got Talent variety show. Stephen Freeman, an Elvis impersonator who has...

US 70 resurfacing project underway

[email protected] The resurfacing of nearly 20 miles of roadway along U.S. 70 in Goldsboro is underway and expected to be complete by the middle of December. The N.C. Department of Transportation contracted with Barnhill Contracting for the $3.1 million project,...

Police seek man who tried to force way into occupied car

Goldsboro police are looking for a suspect who tried to force his way into a car occupied by a 25-year-old Snow Hill woman and a 4-year-old child. The victim told police she was in the Walmart parking lot at...

Work to begin soon on U.S. 117 South

Signs were erected this past Tuesday to warn motorists on U.S. 117  South of construction projects that will soon be underway. Road closures, lane reductions and detours loom during the construction of interchanges on U.S. 117 South at O'Berry Road,...

Walk Fur MS

Debra Riggs and her mother, Karrie Riggs, walk Blear while Kassie Rapp walks Cheyenne. Saturday morning's Walk Fur MS organized by Paige Rouse as a tribute to her late mother, who had multiple sclerosis, provided participants a chance to enjoy...

Council to consider street repaving project

The Goldsboro City Council will consider approving a $489,883 street repaving contract Monday that would lead to new roadways along Humphrey and Dakota streets in the city. Barnhill Contracting Co., of Kinston, submitted the lowest bid for the project,...

Essentials for education fill a bus

She popped the trunk, and as staff from the News-Argus began to unload multiple boxes -- one after the other -- Grundmeier smiled. "We are big donators," she said. She said her husband, Kevin, also takes an active role in...

WorkKeys test dates scheduled for August

Wayne County residents will have just three opportunities to take the WorkKeys(r) tests for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) in August. The WORKS program, or Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success, will provide testing sessions on Aug. 15 and...

'Big Latch' program launches World Breastfeeding week

Breastfeeding is hard and is a full-time job, Lauren Massey said. And support, such as that offered Saturday morning at Wayne UNC Health Care, is so important, she said. "I came because we support breastfeeding," said Massey, who is...

Aycock student serves as page

Leah Campbell, a student at Charles B. Aycock, recently served as a page for the North Carolina House of Representatives. She is the daughter of Shay Campbell and Coletta Campbell and was sponsored by Rep. John R. Bell IV (R-...

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Purple Heart recipients honored at banquet

Arona Exum wiped away tears as the haunting melody of taps played in the background. "My father passed away two years ago," she said. "So when you saw me crying it is because taps, that was the last thing before...

Multiple fights break out at gas station after the clubs let out

A 17-year-old Goldsboro youth told police he was jumped by at least 10 older males in the parking lot of a gas station at 2101 Wayne Memorial Drive. Police were called to the scene around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning where...

U.S. 70 resurfacing underway in Goldsboro

The resurfacing of nearly 20 miles of roadway along U.S. 70 in Goldsboro is underway and expected to be complete by the middle of December. The N.C. Department of Transportation contracted with Barnhill Contracting for the $3.1 million project, which...

Man killed at Busco Beach identified

A 30-year-old Bailey man is dead and two women, including his wife, injured following an early Saturday morning crash at Busco Beach, 1243 Bryan Blvd., involving a four-wheeler. James Ray Cornett, who died at the scene, was as operating a...

One killed, two injured in wreck at Busco Beach

One person is dead and two others injured following an early Saturday morning crash at Busco Beach, 1243 Bryan Blvd., involving a four-wheeler. The male driver, who died at the scene, was as operating a "side by side" utility vehicle...

Friday, August 4, 2017

Man faces charges after allegedly switching real money for counterfeit in bait and switch scheme

A man is facing charges after pulling a bait and switch on someone with counterfeit money in June. James Leonard Stewart III, 33, of 388-B Weaver Road, reportedly took real money from someone when they bought something from him, then...

Man is arrested for multiple larcenies in Rosewood community

A man is facing felony charges after allegedly breaking into several places in July and stealing thousands of dollars worth of property. Joey Lee Stanley, 33, of 941 Claridge Nursery Road, is charged with two counts of breaking and entering,...

Teenager faces charges after allegedly running a man over with her truck

An 18-year-old woman is facing felony charges after allegedly running a man over with her truck and then driving away Thursday afternoon. Amber Caitlyn Toy, of 1849 Piney Grove Church Road, LaGrange, is charged with felony assault with a deadly...

SWAT meets Force in training

The first bang takes the door off. The second is the flash bang ----  a concussive device that emits a deafening sound and a blinding light to disorient. Then comes controlled chaos. Operators flood into the building and...

Hotel tax nets more than expected

Wayne County's 1 percent countywide hotel occupancy tax generated $140,882.62 through the end of April -- $8,482.62 more than the budgeted amount of $132,400 for fiscal year 2016-17. The total is expected to grow once the numbers for May...

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Federal agents arrest fugitive from Goldsboro in Kinston

A Goldsboro man wanted by the ATF is in custody after being captured by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Force Tuesday in Kinston. Kinston police officers assisted federal agents in capturing Devon Dejatorian Waters, 38, at...

Police release photo, description of Wells Fargo robbery suspect

For the second time this year, someone walked into the Wells Fargo bank on East Ash Street Wednesday and took money from a teller before running away. The man went inside around 3:35 p.m., demanded money from a teller by...

Man in serious condition after being shot at Day Circle

A man is in serious but stable condition at Vidant Medical Center today after someone shot him early this morning. A police report said someone shot the 28-year-old man in the Grand at Day Circle housing projects just after midnight....

Wells Fargo on Ash Street is robbed a second time within a year

For the second time this year, someone walked into the Wells Fargo bank on East Ash Street Wednesday and took money from a teller before running away. A police report said someone went inside around 3:35 p.m., demanded money from...

Local health officials warn against tick-borne illnesses

This is prime time for tick-borne illnesses, for humans as well as for pets, and North Carolina is definitely on the hit list, officials say. Ticks -- small, bloodsucking anthropods -- can transmit diseases to people and animals. Illnesses...

Stuff the Bus final push

The signature fundraiser by Communities Supporting Schools in Wayne County -- formerly Communities in Schools -- was launched in 2000 and shows no signs of slowing down. "I'm having more calls than I ever had from parents saying, 'I cannot...

No dip in county sales tax

A feared dip in Wayne County's sales tax receipts brought on by the opening of the U.S. 70 Bypass has yet to materialize. For the second quarter in a row since the highway opened in late May 2016, the...

Community leaders partner with Million Father March

[email protected] While having a father figure can make a substantial difference in the life of a child, not every young person has one. At least for the start of school, Goldsboro community leaders are trying to fill the gap. Several...

Dunkin' Donuts to open Friday

Dunkin' Donuts will start serving up its popular coffees, donuts and breakfast sandwiches when it opens to the public Friday morning. Avery Ivery, Dunkin' Donuts public relations executive, confirmed Wednesday the donut shop's plans to open this week, starting...

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Summer Institute offers professional development, workshops

The 12th annual Summer Institute is more than a professional development opportunity for educators in Wayne County Public Schools -- it's also a chance for parents to attend workshops on a variety of topics. Sponsored by the curriculum and instruction...

WCC invitational exceeds goal

The annual Wayne Community College Foundation Scholarship Invitational again exceeded expectations, netting $184,000 that will be used toward student support for the 2017-2018 academic year. Organizers had set a goal of $180,000 for this year's event. Over its 25-year...

More on the Maxwell Center

The $20 million Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center is being built on North Wayne Memorial Drive adjacent to Wayne Community College. Ground was broken for the 1.5-acre, all-under-one-roof center last July. The assembly hall will seat 800 in a...

Police investigate Friday night robbery

Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place late Friday night at the Speedway convenience store at 420 E. New Hope Road. A police report said a black man wearing a black hoodie, dark jeans and black shoes...

Recent battery theft not linked to others

More batteries were reported stolen from Wayne County Public Schools buses this week, but police don't think it is connected to a case earlier this year. A school system employee reported the battery theft to police Monday. The employee...

National Night Out: Building community bridges

Surrounded by ballistic steel able to withstand .50 caliber rounds and weighing in at 18,500 pounds, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office "Nemesis" armored vehicle sounds intimidating. But as small children at the 34th annual National Night Out ran up...

Goldsboro hires human resources director

A human resources professional with 22 years of experience, including eight in Goldsboro, has been hired as human resources director for the city of Goldsboro. Bernadette Carter-Dove, a Wayne County resident, started in her post Tuesday after working the...

Local authorities wait for official report on elderly woman's death

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office does not yet have an official report on what caused the death of 79-year-old Tempie Hartley, who was reported missing July 11 then found dead in a pond that same day. Capt. Shawn Harris...

Taking to the Neuse in canoes

Nine-year-old Andrew Wood Jr. summed up Cliffs of the Neuse State Park's beginner canoe class succinctly. "We're just here for canoeing," he said with a smile. Andrew, with his cousin Bryan Coles II, also 9, came to the class...

Board talks ag center branding

The Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center is a mouthful. And one of the first challenges that faced center director James Wade Jr. was to come up with a simplified way to refer to the facility. Tuesday morning Wayne...

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Turning old into new: 4-H camp teaches youth the art of repurposing

Old T-Shirts became tote bags. Worn out jeans turned bare pencil pouches into works of art. And magazine pages gave life to bracelets and necklaces. It was all part of a recent 4-H camp, Something Old ... Something New at...

Meadow Lane project moves ahead

Site and demolition plans for the future Meadow Lane Elementary School near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base were approved by the Goldsboro Planning Commission Monday. Chairman Chris Boyette raised some concerns about traffic flow along East Ash Street after...

Welcoming the freshmen

Starting high school can be equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking for upcoming freshmen, so school administrators at Goldsboro High are trying to smooth the transition. The school hosted a Freshman Sneak Peek event Monday morning, welcoming around 40 upcoming...

New trails open at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site

FOUR OAKS -- New trails through the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site opened today, allowing visitors greater access to the site of this March 1963 battlefield. An additional trail cut to Union XVII Corps trenches on the eastern edge...