July 2013 archives

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Progress? Yes. New store openings say something about county's future.

There will be some who will giggle about the fuss being made about a new grocery store opening in Goldsboro -- just as they smiled a bit when residents eagerly anticipated two new restaurants a couple years ago. But...

Monday, July 29, 2013

Out of control: College athletics has created superstars with no accountability

The University of North Carolina is just the latest school to deal with a star athlete who thinks he is above the law. There are many more -- and much more disturbing examples of criminal activity, complete disregard for...

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Spinning ID: Don't listen to the posturing. Voter ID is not anti-voting.

Now that the voting is over and the new, enhanced voter identification laws have been passed, the protest crews are working overtime. "It is a poll tax," they shout. "It will keep minorities and young people from heading to...

Friday, July 26, 2013

Class act: President George H.W. Bush shows he is a man to be admired

He is in his 80s -- almost 90 -- and wheelchair-bound most of the time. But when the child of a member of his security detail was diagnosed with cancer, former President George Bush decided to show his support. So,...

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Budget watch: There is some bad news for everybody

There is nothing tougher to do than to come up with a state budget that addresses responsible spending and makes no one mad. And while the legislature might have achieved the former, as expected, the latter will be a...

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A group effort: Employees' involvement will make a better library

Mount Olive is about to get a better library because of what was exactly the right decision by the Wayne County Commission's Facilities Committee. Members Steve Keen and Wayne Aycock, under the leadership of committee Chairman Ray Mayo, made...

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Baby buzz: Kate and William's news can't help but add hope

It isn't our baby. This one belongs to the people of England. But what fun it has been to celebrate with them as they welcome the still unnamed "chap" into the world. Of course it brings back memories of...

Monday, July 22, 2013

Real press: Helen Thomas let no office stop her questioning

You probably have heard about her, but might not really understand just what Helen Thomas represented to those who chose the job of "reporter" for their life's work. Mrs. Thomas was feisty, direct and deliberate. She did not always...

Saturday, July 20, 2013

The right way: Commissioner's call for ouster nothing short of wrong

To be honest, it took a couple of days to digest -- and to believe. A sitting Wayne County commissioner made a motion that seemed to come from out of the blue to fire the county manager -- with no...

Friday, July 19, 2013

Motor City blues: Corruption also helped send Detroit to bankruptcy

There will be much discussion of the recent announcement that Detroit will become the largest city ever to file bankruptcy. And much of that financial ruin will be credited to the number of people who have left the state...

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Second chance: Crime prevention might need a whole new philosophy

What do we do about crime -- and the number of young people who seem to be immersed in the culture even before they have finished high school? And what about those who have already soiled their records --...

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Your elected officials

The following is a list of people elected to represent the residents of Goldsboro and Wayne County, either at the federal, state, or local level, and their telephone numbers and mailing addresses. Every one promised during their campaign for...

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The truth: What does 'it's all about the children' really mean?

It is all about the children. They are our legacy, our future. People say it all the time and, often, politicians use it as a slogan as they begin their "promises" tours on the campaign trail. But what does it...

Friday, July 12, 2013

Trash pickup: More volunteers needed to keep roadways clean

It is too bad we can't fine everyone who tosses out a cup or throws trash alongside a highway -- but the truth is, we can't. There are not enough law enforcement or other personnel to keep tabs on...

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Slow, steady: 'Too quick' results in bad decision-making at all levels

It is a time-honored -- and much proven -- fact that those who rush to make changes and decisions just to make changes and decisions live to regret them. And such is the case as we continue to watch the...

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Good news: Development in county sign of better times

Another day, another announcement of a new business choosing Wayne County -- or actually announcing its grand opening ceremony. And while there are still questions about the decisions being made by the current slate of county commissioners, and their...

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Terror watch: Vigilance a critical component of future security

When the violence happens thousands of miles away, it is difficult to understand the relevance back here at home. So, when Americans read about continued troubles in the Middle East, they often pause, think about the people whose lives...

Monday, July 8, 2013

Back to work: Congress has much to decide, but no real hope of consensus

As Congress returns this week, the nation will be watching. It is finally down to the wire. After months of debate, political spin and votes that seem to go nowhere, citizens don't hold out much hope that there will...

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Real progress: Message of protests admirable, but there is more to it.

Old sayings and lessons are enduring because of the truth contained therein. So, when people speak of "teaching someone to fish," there is a reason that the principle behind the statement still matters and is still relevant today --...

Friday, July 5, 2013

Eyes peeled: Neighbors can help take a bite out of crime

It seems like there has been an uptick in the number of reports of break-ins and other nefarious activity in local neighborhoods. And while we can probably never completely stop crime, there are ways to make a difference. And it...

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Freedom: Americans often forget what it took to earn those fireworks

The odds were stacked against them, those few men who gathered up their weapons and their courage and set out to build a country. They did not know if they could beat the British army -- and not too many...

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Time to talk: School board is right. Time to clear the air.

The Wayne County Board of Education could have railed against the comments made by the Wayne County Commission about how the schools are run. They could have hurled a few insults of their own -- and a few well-deserved "mind...

Monday, July 1, 2013

Safe drivers: Dangerous habits make highways much less safe today

In the wake of a recent decision not to increase the speed limit on some North Carolina highways -- and the impending July Fourth holiday weekend -- there is reason to talk about drivers and safety. There are still people...