Briefly
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on June 30, 2004 1:57 PM
Surprise tornado
Although there was nary a drop of rain, wind or thunder in Wayne County on Tuesday, a tornado was seen near LaGrange.
According to reports from the National Weather Service, the tornado caused minor damage to a mobile home 4 miles east of LaGrange around 7:25 p.m.
The weather service described the tornado as an unusual event that happened when a land spout type of funnel, a kind of dry water spout, interacted with the sea breeze. Several people reported seeing a rotating funnel in Lenoir and near Kinston.
Lock-up raises $50,500
More than $50,500 was raised last week by the Muscular Dystrophy Association to provide services in Wayne County.
The fourth annual "Lock-up" was held on June 23, with an estimated 130 citizens from across Wayne County placed in "jail" to raise bail money for the cause.
Next to the prominent National Labor Day Telethon, the "Lock-up" is the association's premier fund-raiser each year. The money raised provides local services and support research, assistance with communication devices, diagnostic and regular clinic visits, wheelchair and leg brace assistance, flu shots, support group sessions and even a summer camp for local children and young adults with any of the 43 known neuromuscular diseases that MDA covers.
For more information about MDA events or neuromuscular disease, contact the Coastal Carolinas District office at 910-791-8585.
May unemployment rates
The unemployment rate rose slightly in Wayne County in May.
Around 2,276 county residents, or about 4.5 percent of the workforce, were unemployed in May, according to the Employment Security Commission.
That's an increase of about 102 people from April, when the county's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.
The statewide rate in May was 5.2 percent, which was up from 5 percent in April.
The unemployment rate also rose in these surrounding counties: Duplin, 5.6 percent in April to 5.9 percent in May; Johnston, 3.1 to 3.4 percent; Sampson, 4.5 to 5 percent; Lenoir, 5.2 to 5.7 percent; and Wilson, 9.8 to 11 percent.
For the third consecutive month, Vance County had the state's highest unemployment rate in May, 12.5 percent. For the second consecutive month, Currituck County had the state's lowest unemployment rate at 1.3 percent.
Sanitation schedule, holiday closings
Goldsboro city government will observe the Fourth of July holiday on Monday. All sanitation collection services scheduled for Monday will be picked up on Wednesday.
Wayne County will also observe the holiday on Monday, and offices will be closed.
The Wayne County landfill will be closed Monday.
Bloodmobile
The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross will have a Bloodmobile on Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Eureka United Methodist Church. Donors will receive a free Red Cross T-shirt.