August 2006 archives

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Thursday, August 31, 2006

Getting ready for Ernesto

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Goldsboro General Services fleet management supervisor James Chester, left, and Major Clark, check the city's power tools in preparation of Tropical Storm Ernesto. In the event of fallen trees or downed power lines, these tools will be...

Commissioners meet to talk schools

RALEIGH -- Local government leaders from across the state met in Raleigh Wednesday to discuss a problem that is common to almost every county -- school building needs. A forum sponsored by the state Association of County Commissioners was held...

Wayne officials prepare for rain

As experts predict Tropical Storm Ernesto to make landfall on the Carolina coast sometime this evening, local officials said they, too, are preparing for the storm. Goldsboro City Manager Joe Huffman said he has been keeping a close eye on...

Woman charged in theft of lottery tickets

DUDLEY -- A 35-year-old Dudley woman faces a slew of embezzlement charges for allegedly stealing nearly $17,000 in lottery tickets from her boss' till. Tammy Sue Flores-Osorio, of 192 McCullen Lane, a former employee of Best Gas and Grill in...

Levinson makes bid for N.C. Supreme Court

Judge Eric Levinson thinks campaigning is about more than promoting an agenda, choosing sides and giving speeches. More important than those objectives, he said, is meeting the voting public and talking about issues with an open mind. For Levinson, running...

Farmers rush to get crops in before rain

Harrell Overman, a Wayne County corn farmer, is worried. Overman has the best corn crop in history, but much of his crop and profits could literally be washed down the drain if Hurricane Ernesto has its way. So, he and...

Cardboard ban starts Friday

A ban on corrugated cardboard will go into effect Friday at the Wayne County Landfill, Solid Waste officials said. County officials have been informing businesses, haulers and residents of the ban for several months and many have prepared for the...

Construction of new Pikeville sewage plant to begin in 60 days

PIKEVILLE -- Construction on Pikeville's new sewage plant should begin in the next 60 days, says town engineer Tyndall Lewis of McDavid Associates. Lewis recommended the construction of a plant with a 140,000 gallons per day capacity. The current system...

Wal-Mart confirms

Wal-Mart officials confirmed Wednesday that they are planning to build a supercenter store on the northwest corner of U.S. 70 west and N.C. 581. They also said they have no plans to close the existing Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue. A...

Public records

Investigations Wayne County sheriff's deputies are investigating these reports: *Nadine Outlaw Williams said a former tenant stole a washer and dryer set valued at $770 from the apartment. The unit is located at 846 Sandhill Drive, Dudley. *Bryan L. Taylor...

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Wal-Mart IS coming

Wal-Mart is planning to build a supercenter store at the intersection of U.S. 70 west and N.C. 581, say local officials and landowners. A section of land at the intersection was annexed earlier this year by the city of Goldsboro....

SAT scores take a tumble

The latest class of high school graduates recorded the sharpest drop in SAT scores in 31 years, but the College Board has issued a disclaimer attributing the decline to changes made in the test. The data was compiled from the...

Wes Seegars named chairman of state Wildlife Commission

RALEIGH -- Goldsboro businessman Wes Seegars is the new chairman of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. He fills the position to serve the remaining year of the term of the late John Pechmann of Fayetteville who died suddenly in...

United Way planning Days of Caring event

Wayne County people will demonstrate the spirit of helping during the 2006 Days of Caring Sept. 8-16. The event will be co-sponsored by Volunteer Wayne and United Way of Wayne County. Throughout the week, local businesses, civic groups, schools and...

Public records

Investigations Goldsboro police are investigating these reports: *Dognapping: Harriet Hazel Wellman, 30, of 1015 Evergreen Ave., reported Tuesday that someone stole her black and tan colored male Rottweiler from her yard sometime during the night. *Stolen brew: Someone stole a...

September blood drive schedule

The following is the September blood drive schedule for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross: Sept. 6 -- Goldsboro High School from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 12 -- Spring Creek High School from 8:30 a.m....

Library to sponsor video game festival

The Wayne County Public Library will hold its first "Geeks and Gamers Festival" on Sept. 16 and 30 in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium at the Main Branch of the Library. Library assistant Brandon Robbins said the event will appeal to...

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Talking Future

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber From left, Curtis Stafford, Lyn Lambert and Wanda Strickland of the Charles B. Aycock High School Advisory Council listen to the Wayne County Board of Education and Wayne County Board of Commissioners' responses during a meeting about...

Growth is main concern for north end parents

School overcrowding in the northern end and the need for immediate relief were among the main concerns expressed at a community forum Monday night hosted by the Master Facilities Plan team. The committee, which includes representatives from the school board...

upcoming facilities meetings

OTHERMEETINGDATES -- Sept. 11 -- Spring Creek High School for the elementary, middle and high schools. -- Sept. 18 -- Goldsboro High for Carver Heights, North Drive and School Street elementary schools, Edgewood Community Developmental School, Dillard Middle, and Goldsboro...

Early morning blaze claims tobacco barns

MOUNT OLIVE -- An early morning fire destroyed three barns on Northeast Church Road near Mount Olive today, but firefighters were able to save a fourth. Mount Olive Fire Chief Steve Martin said the fire broke out around 4 a.m....

Public Records

Armed robbery As Omar Otero was driving along the 400 block of East Spruce Street about 9 p.m. Saturday, a man pulled a handgun on him and stole his Ford Explorer, according to a Goldsboro Police report. Otero said the...

Monday, August 28, 2006

New clinic opens

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Dr. Rick Stovall III, left, and Stephanie Rarick, a certified dental assistant, clean Wilbert Garner's teeth during Open Door Dental Clinic held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Harris Street Friday. The clinic originated in Alamance County...

Enrollments down so far in schools

Wayne County Public Schools resumed on Friday, with first-day numbers reflecting a drop over the same time last year. Officials said the school system's headcount for the start of school at 17,915. On last year's first day, 18,337 students were...

Grant will add curves to city creek

For years, Goldsboro officials have been trying to find a way to put the meander back in Stoney Creek. Recreation and Parks director Neil Bartlett said thanks to a close to $500,000 appropriation that was confirmed Friday, work can begin...

Facilities meetings start tonight

Wayne County residents will get an opportunity tonight to tell the county commissioners and school board members how they feel about the county schools' plans for new facilities. The first of a series of public meetings on school facilities will...

New flight school ready to take off at county airport

Would-be pilots in and around Goldsboro won't have to travel to take flying lessons any more, starting this week. Henley Aviations will open its flight school at the Goldsboro-Wayne County Municipal Airport Friday. The airport hasn't had a flight school...

Musician learns new styles, new perspective in Africa

For music student Nathan Lean, a summer trip to Morocco soldified his desire not only to pursue a music career, but to work for global understanding as well. Lean, a graduate of Eastern Wayne High School, and now a senior...

Public records

Assault with deadly weapon A 34-year-old man was arrested after trying to run over a police officer with a police car. Corey Barnett was charged with assault, assault with a deadly weapon, driving while license revoked, driving left of center,...

WCC instructors honored

Two Wayne Community College instructors have been honored with the college's third set of Distinguished Chair awards. Faye Best, agriculture and natural resources department head, and Rosalyn Lomax, English and academic orientation instructor, will each receive $5,000 to use for...

OPINION ... Browsing the Net

I'm computer illiterate. I can type columns and editorials and letters on the computer at home and at Beaufort. But I have to call my patient and long-suffering wife Gloria to transmit them. And also to tell me what...

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Facilities meetings start Monday

The first of six community meetings to discuss the county's school facilities needs is set for Monday in the northern end of the county. The series of forums is being conducted by the Facilities Master Plan Team, which is composed...

College dreams come true

For some Wayne County low-income families, going to college is not a given, but because of a program at Wayne Community College, that dream is now a possibility. "Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count," a new initiative designed to enhance...

Arts Council director will retire Sept. 8

Alice Strickland, who has served as executive director of the Arts Council of Wayne County for the past 25 years, will retire Sept. 8. Pat Setzer has been hired to serve as interim director for six months as the Arts...

Telethon raises funds to fight sickle cell anemia

From staff reports The Epicurean Civic Club held its annual Sickle Cell Drive at Berkeley Mall Saturday. Among the featured entertainment during the event was Miss Goldsboro Brittany Wheeler, The Goldsboro Ballet, BSA Gospel Singers, Interpretation Dancers with Cheryl Gibson,...

Court Records

Wayne County Superior Court These cases were heard in Wayne County Superior Court: *Jeffrey James, 27, of South James Street, possession of cocaine with the intent to sell and distribute and possession of heroin with the intent to sell and...

Public records

Robbery reported Antonio Santiago, 37, of Greenville, told police that while loading his car in a parking lot on Berkeley Blvd. Friday about 1:45 p.m., that a black man approached and asked him for a cigarette. The man then stuck...

Friday, August 25, 2006

Practicing how to honor heroes

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Members of the 4th Fighter Wing Honor Guard perform a mock active-duty funeral at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Wednesday. The ceremony represented the culmination of a 10-day training session hosted by officials from the U.S. Air...

Former Wayne coach found guilty

KINSTON -- The basketball coach who led Goldsboro High School to its only state championship was found guilty of sexual assault on two female students and sentenced to six to eight months in prison. Charlie Stevens' sentence was suspended by...

City officer: Parents can spot gang signs

There are signs of gang activity across Wayne County, a local law enforcement official told a group of county foster parents Thursday. Whether those gangs take hold in this community -- and if children will become their victims -- is...

Summer vacations fade away for thousands of children

Early morning alarms signaled the end of summer for school children in Wayne County Public Schools today. Big yellow buses navigated the city and county roads, picking up youths armed with backpacks and sharpened pencils as they prepare for another...

Lighthouse opens new thrift store

The Lighthouse of Wayne County will once again venture into the thrift store business. Seconds Please will replace the group's old thrift store, the Beacon of Hope, which had been located on West Walnut Street. That store was opened Nov....

No hiring freeze in Duplin County

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin Board of Commissioners soundly defeated a proposed county hiring freeze Monday. At the commissioners' meeting earlier this week, Commissioner David Fussell called for a vote on halting all hiring of new county employees except for jobs...

Kitty Askins plans benefit tournament

A golf tournament to raise funds for the Kitty Askins Hospice Center expansion is being held next month, 3HC officials announced this week. The Kitty Askins Hospice Center golf tournament is planned for Thursday, Sept. 21, at Walnut Creek Country...

North Drive School Parent Resource Center opens

North Drive Elementary School hopes its new Parent Resource Center will support parents and allow them to get more involved in their child's education. The school opened the resource center on Wednesday, just in time for the start of the...

Mount Olive College Web site redesigned

The website for Mount Olive College has been redesigned to show ways the institution is transforming to meet the needs of its students. Located at www.moc.edu, changes were engineered by the school's webmaster Khiao Phonchanh following a yearlong review by...

WCC student business group seminar September 13

Wayne Community College's Gamma Chi chapter of the Phi Beta Lambda business education student organization and the college's information systems faculty will provide a free seminar on effective leadership on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The presenter will be local author, professor...

Public records

Dog foils break-in A Goldsboro man told police Thursday that someone tried to break into his residence but was scared off by his dog. John Marti of Pineview Avenue said an unknown person kicked his front door in and attempted...

Duplin student wins ECU award

GREENVILLE -- The 2006 W. Keats Sparrow English Award recipients were announced Tuesday by East Carolina University officials. The award is sponsored by the Friends of Joyner Library and is named in honor of Dr. W. Keats Sparrow, professor of...

Thursday, August 24, 2006

It will be her first day, too

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Haley Broggie, left, a fourth-grade student at the Fremont Stars Elementary School talks with Fremont Elementary's new principal Beverly Smith, far right. Haley's mother Vanessa Brooks, and stepfather Jeff Brooks brought Haley to the school's open house...

Suspect charged in double murder

Goldsboro police officers have charged a suspect with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder in connection with Monday’s double homicide on Olivia Lane. Roderick Miles Davis Jr., 23, of Slaughter Street,...

School bells will ring tomorrow across county

First-day jitters should be at a minimum for students starting school Friday if this week's open houses are any indication. Parents and students alike echoed sentiments of teachers and staff who said the event served to better prepare everyone for...

Numbers up for fall enrollment at college

Student enrollment for the fall semester at Wayne Community College is up by 100 students, officials said Monday, the first day of classes. By the end of campus registration on Friday, there were 3,149 students enrolled for college credit classes....

Eureka gets ready for new sewer project plan

EUREKA -- State officials told members of the Eureka Town Board this week that they should abandon their existing sewer system and install a new system to carry solid waste. The state Clean Water Management Trust Fund awarded the town...

Task force sets sights on cases of domestic violence

Wayne County is forming a task force to better help local victims of violence at the hands of a spouse. At an organizational meeting recently at the courthouse, several organizations gathered to discuss domestic violence in Wayne County. Those participating...

Town officials will weigh mobile home exceptions

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive officials are trying to find a way accommodate those who suffer hardship because of the moratorium on double-wide mobile homes. Single and double-wide mobile homes are not allowed in the city or its extraterritorial jurisdiction...

Final jam of downtown season today

The final concert of the summer Downtown Jam series sponsored by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. will be held this evening, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The show will feature The Embers, one of North Carolina's best known bands...

Prenatal education classes to be offered

The Partnership for Children of Wayne County will offer a series of prenatal education classes for expecting parents beginning Tuesday, September 5th. The "Growing Pains" series will be conducted by trained professionals and will include information on prenatal nutrition, labor,...

College seeks volunteers for literacy classes

Tutors are needed for adults in the literacy program at Wayne Community College. Orientation and training sessions will be held next month for volunteers to work with adults in literacy and life skills. Completion of all four sessions certifies volunteers...

City school bus schedules

GOLDSBORO HIGH SCHOOL grades 9-12 Pick-up time beginning at 6:55 a.m. 1713 E Maple St 251 E Beech St & N Best St 251 N Best St & E Palm St 251 N Claiborne St & Rose St 251 214...

Public records

Investigations Goldsboro police are investigating these reports: *Courtney Pigford, 20, Fairview Circle, told police that she had an argument with the father of her child. When she attempted to get into a vehicle, the man struck her in the face...

Movie auditions Saturday

Auditions for the independent film "Heart Break Road" will be held Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at 116 E. Walnut St. The film is written and will be directed by Goldsboro native Tamario Dixon. Candidates for roles are...

Mount Olive College hires recruiters

MOUNT OLIVE - Two recent graduates of Mount Olive College have joined the school as admissions representatives. Brad Evans of Grifton and Kevin Daniels of Goldsboro will be responsible for all aspects of the admission recruitment cycle within an assigned...

Cotton growers meeting September 6 in Rocky Mount

The Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative, the second oldest marketing cooperative in the United States, will hold its 84th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at the Nash Community College Business & Industry Center at 422 North Old Carriage Road in...

City Council condemns two houses; neighbors oppose rezoning

The Goldsboro City council held six public hearings at its meeting this week and approved two of three building condemnations recommended by the Building Inspections Department. Council members also discussions on a formal bid request for the purchase of a...

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

First impression

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Tenth-grade student Christina Ponce, 16, talks to Betty Grantham, Spring Creek High School's teen living and home economics teacher, during the school's open house Tuesday. Schools around the county are having their meet-and-greet events for students, parents...

Neighbors share their concerns

On the streets near Harris Street and Bunche Drive, delinquent children often roam the streets at night, neighbors say -- cursing, making threats and breaking into cars. Goldsboro Mayor Al King, City Council members and other officials listened to the...

Early voting begins Thursday in District 10 race

One-stop early voting begins Thursday in the race to decide the Republican candidate for the District 10 seat in the state House. Although the new primary isn't until Sept. 12, eligible voters can choose between incumbent Rep. Stephen LaRoque and...

Shell casings found at scene

Shell casings found at the scene of a double murder Monday night on Olivia Lane could help lead investigators to the culprit or culprits, Goldsboro police said today. The investigation into the deaths of James Lee Croom and Trasond Javoy...

Students, parents 'meet the teachers'

Back to school open house. For some it is a social event, for others a mission to locate classes, meet teachers and obtain supply lists. But Tuesday night at area middle and high schools, it was the place to be....

Lighthouse reopening its shelter

After almost six months of repairs and renovations, Wayne County's battered women's shelter is expected to reopen next week. The safehouse, operated by the Lighthouse of Wayne County, closed in mid-February and was supposed to reopen the beginning of July....

Captain helps build 'bridges'

MANAS AIR FORCE BASE, KYRGYZSTAN -- An Air Force captain from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is not only helping build one of America's new breed of air fields around the world but is also constructing friendships with a people...

Mount Olive inspection fees increased

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive town board increased inspection fees for building and fire inspections Monday during a special callled meeting at Town Hall. Town Manager Charles Brown said Mount Olive was behind the times in the inspection fees....

Public records

Investigations The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating these reports: *Jerry David Stroud of N.C. 55 East, Seven Springs, told investigators Tuesday night that somebody broke into a barn at his home and stole a $425 Remington 870 Express Super...

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Goldsboro shooting

News-Argus/Bobby Williams A Goldsboro police officer guards the scene at the corner of Crawford Street and Olivia Lane this morning. Two teens died after a shooting between two houses there at around 8 p.m. Monday. The yellow markings on...

Theater, building get look

David Weil's $5 million plan for reconstruction of the Paramount Theater has drawn rave reviews from many Goldsboro residents and deep concern from others. Still, in the weeks after he presented schematics for the proposed 15,000-square-foot facility to City Council...

Two men die in shooting in city neighborhood

A shooting took the lives of two Goldsboro men Monday night while they were traveling along the 900 block of Olivia Lane. James Lee Croom, 24, of Bizzell Court, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the car...

Councilman earns Order of the Long Leaf Pine

When Goldsboro City Councilman Bob Waller was led into the Mayor's Conference Room Monday, he was surprised to see more than a dozen of his family members and friends surrounding a cake made in his honor. "What in the world...

Dates set for facilities meetings

The Facilities Master Plan Team will soon have the opportunity to get input from the communities around the county about school needs, having just released its schedule of forums planned for the coming weeks. The committee, which includes representatives from...

Rain could stall community meeting scheduled for tonight at Station 4

Despite the threat of severe thunderstorms in the forecast for this afternoon, Goldsboro officials are moving forward with plans to hold a neighborhood meeting at Fire Station No. 4 for residents of the Harris Street and Bunche Drive areas. Assistant...

Eureka gets $1M fo sewer overhaul

The town of Eureka has been awarded nearly $1 million by a state trust fund to improve its sewer lines, Sen. John Kerr, D-Wayne, announced Monday. The town will receive $923,000 in the form of a grant from the North...

Car fire victim identified; cause of death pending

A man found dead in a burned vehicle last week in Kenly has been identified, but the state's medical examiner's office has not determined how he died, Johnston County Sheriff's Office officials said. David Wayne Miller, 44, of 1121 Hickory...

Summit Academy open house Thursday

Summit Christian Academy will hold open house this week, with classes scheduled to resume on Monday. Students and parents are invited to attend open house at the school on Thursday evening from 6-8, said Principal George Weidinger. The school, affiliated...

Public records

Investigations The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating these reports: *Southern Wayne Sanitary District of 1370 Old Grantham Road reported the theft of a $2,500 fire hydrant from the roadway on U.S. 117 Alternate at Gold Park Drive. Southern Wayne...

Pikeville electric department recognized

The Town of Pikeville's electric department was presented a safety award from ElectriCities of North Carolina. The award recognized the department for achieving a perfect record of no lost work day accidents during the year. "ElectriCities is proud of the...

Monday, August 21, 2006

Arson

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Billy Hardy Jr., 22, of Hack Drive, Dudley, was charged with second-degree arson Saturday night after allegedly setting fire to this mobile home at 958 O'Berry Road. Wayne County Sheriff's Detective Mike Kabler said Hardy might have...

Suspect flees, charged in trailer fire

A shooting Saturday morning started a chain of events that eventually involved a car accident and allegedly, the burning of a mobile home. Billy Hardy Jr., 22, of Hack Drive in Dudley, is being held in the Wayne County Jail...

New store increases business

MOUNT OLIVE -- The start of construction of a Wal-Mart superstore in Mount Olive has already boosted the Mount Olive economy and is generating interest in commercial property adjacent to the site on N.C. 55, town officials say. Mount Olive...

Back to school begins

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College's freshmen came to their dorms Sunday with their parents and siblings and bearing necessities like televisions, clothing, snack foods and DVDs. The weather was clear, but hot, so area churches helped out the college's...

Meeting set for Tuesday in city neighborhood

The presence of gang graffiti on sidewalks, street signs and roads might be one of many concerns neighbors in the Bunche Drive and Harris Street areas voice to city officials Tuesday, Goldsboro Mayor Al King said. More than a month...

Public records

Checkpoint yields 68 charges Wayne County law enforcement officers wrote 68 traffic and criminal citations Friday during a Booze-It-and-Lose-It checkpoint on U.S. 70 East, near its intersection with Oak Forest Road. Maj. Mike Hopper said two of the charges were...

8-year-old killed in accident

An 8-year-old Wayne County boy was killed Saturday when he fell off a utility trailer and was run over by its wheels. Dalton Darden of 102 Austin Drive was one of several people on the trailer when the accident happened...

Ground broken for hospice center

KENANSVILLE -- Carolina East Home Care & Hospice Center held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday at Duplin Commons. The indoor groundbreaking foreshadowed a new hospice center construction, which will begin some time in October near Kenansville. Company officials said they expect...

Correction

A dog show planned for Saturday at Herman Park has entry fees of $6 per class and $30 for unlimited classes. Proceeds from the event will go to the American Cancer Society. For information, call 738-7770....

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Judge Manning says schools still need more work

RALEIGH -- Judge Howard Manning Jr. made no decision Friday on shaking up or closing Goldsboro High School or any of the other 16 schools on his performance watch list. But that doesn't mean he is satisfied that Wayne County...

6,200 marijuana plants seized in northern Wayne

After walking along narrow trails through hundreds of feet of brush and trees Friday, Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputies and Goldsboro police officers found an open clearing near the intersection of Airport and Lancaster roads. Surrounding them were more than...

County tax notices to be mailed this week

Wayne County residents can expect to see a reminder in the mail later this week from the county tax department. Property taxes are due Sept. 1, but residents can pay their bills without interest before Jan. 5, tax administrator David...

Free dental clinic Friday, Saturday at St. Andrew's Church

A Goldsboro dentist who wants to give back to the community has helped bring a free dental clinic to town this week. Dr. Rick Stovall learned firsthand about the "Open Door Dental Clinic" last year when he and members of...

City Council to hold six public hearings Monday night

Goldsboro City Council members will have plenty to talk about Monday, as their agenda includes more than 20 items. Presentations, request and petitions of citizens, items requiring individual action and six public hearings make up the docket for their final...

Junior volunteers honored at hospital

Thirty-four junior volunteers at Wayne Memorial Hospital were honored recently for their work over the summer. The teens served 1,480 hours during the seven-week program, said Donna Archer of Volunteer Services. "Most juniors have two four-hour assignments per week," she...

Goldmasquers reunion to honor Britton's memory

The late Clifton Britton, a popular drama coach at Goldsboro High School in the 1940s, '50s and early '60s, will be the subject of a tribute later this year at Wayne Community College and officials are asking former students to...

Public Record

Investigations The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating these reports: *Investigators are waiting for a man to turn himself in for questioning about a shooting that occurred Saturday morning. Two men who were driving the victim to the hospital flagged...

Courts records

Wayne County District Court These cases were heard in Wayne County District Court: *William Hildebrandt, 36, Fedlon Trail, driving while license revoked, 120 days suspended, 18 months probation, $100 court costs. *Sheneika Hill, 20, N.C. 258 South, Snow Hill, operating...

Friday, August 18, 2006

Top teacher

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Connie Whaley, right, eighth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Greenwood Middle School hugs her mother, Maggie Whaley, as they hear the news that Ms. Whaley is the new Wayne County Teacher of the Year. For...

Alliance starts making plans for park

Stoney Creek Park Alliance board members met Thursday to discuss potential funding sources for the park project, organizational details and ways to get the Goldsboro, Wayne County and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base communities involved in the effort. Dr. Peter...

She's head of her class

An eighth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Greenwood Middle School was named Teacher of the Year for Wayne County Public Schools Thursday night. Connie Whaley has been at the school for three years and in the profession for...

Body found in burning pickup

A vehicle fire call turned into a potential suspicious death investigation in Kenly Thursday night. Kenly Fire Department firefighters discovered the dead body of a man in a pickup truck after they responded to a vehicle fire call and extinguished...

New fire station ready for move-in

Members of the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services Flight should be getting settled into their new station by Sunday, officials said, a little more than two years after breaking ground on the project. Fire Chief Tom...

County is offering transport service

Wayne County launched a new ambulance service this week that will provide non-emergency transport for chronically ill patients to and from their homes and their physicians. Wayne NET is designed to provide an additional service to Wayne residents and to...

Air Force Blue Notes to perform at MOC

Mount Olive College will host the musical group The Blue Notes in concert on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. in Kornegay Arena. Featuring a blend of jazz and blues with a touch of Latin spice, the 11-piece ensemble blends...

Free school supplies to be given away at Hispanic center Saturday

School supplies for 200 children will be given away during a back-to-school party Saturday at the Hispanic Community Development Center at 309 Potts Road in Dudley. The party will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m., with free...

Bentonville history program scheduled for Saturday

Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will hold a Civil War living history program and artillery demonstration Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The focus will be on the role of the common soldier and will feature members of the...

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Walden leads SJAFB Mission Support Group

News-Argus/Kenneth Fine New 4th Mission Support Group commander Col. Russell Walden sits behind models of the two aircraft he has flown during his Air Force career, the F-16 A/C, right, and T-33 A. Walden said he and his family...

Decision expected Friday for Goldsboro

The decision that could impact the future of Goldsboro High School and 16 other schools around the state is expected on Friday when Judge Howard Manning reviews the identified schools' progress during a hearing in Raleigh. Wake Superior Court Judge...

New rules for waste will start in September

Bottles are forever. Just ask Simmone Cato. Wayne County's recycling coordinator said when a person throws away a plastic bottle, he or she doesn't think twice about what happens next. "The concept with people is 'out of sight, out of...

Mission Support chief carries on Air Force family tradition

Every time Col. Russell Walden looks out the window of his new office on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, he is reminded of his father -- a fighter pilot who flew many of the jets on display around Heritage Park....

Unoccupied home catches fire

Goldsboro firefighters were called in early this morning to put out a fire that severely damaged an unoccupied home, Assistant Chief Gary Whaley said. The single story brick home at 212 Wilmington Ave. caught fire at about 3:30 this morning,...

Historian tells story of occupation of Goldsboro

A local historian is working to shed light on a unique, but little-known period in Wayne County's history. Emily Weil is writing a book about the Union Army's occupation of the city during the Civil War. Goldsboro was taken over...

Fremont board hears complaints about rezoning for business

FREMONT -- Public hearings on two rezoning requests were held Tuesday by the Fremont Board of Aldermen. The owner of property at 105 Blank St., is seeking to have the land rezoned from residential to highway business to accommodate a...

Fill-the-Boot drive starts Friday

Wayne County residents are reminded that Goldsboro firefighters will be soliciting donations at Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue Friday through Sunday for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The annual Fill-the-Boot campaign raised more than $8,000 last year to help local families who...

Public records

Armed robbery A man carrying a handgun robbed the Friendly Mart on N.C. 111 south abouit 10 p.m. Wednesday night, according to deputies with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The robber was described by witnesses as black, about six-feet tall,...

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Senator Burr visits Wayne

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Sen. Richard Burr, right, talks with Rotary Club President Dr. Kenneth E. Benton at a meeting held at the Goldsboro Country Club. For more information see Senator stops in county; discusses health care, education....

Buildings and budgets -- BOE, commissioners talk facilities

After six years of deliberations and five proposed facilities plans, the Board of Education and county commissioners Tuesday agreed to move forward quickly and solicit public feedback on the needs and means to fund construction projects in the school system....

Senator stops in county; discusses health care, education

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr visited Goldsboro Tuesday, speaking before the Goldsboro Rotary Club and later visiting the Pate-Dawson Co. at the county's industrial park. Burr, a Republican, addressed issues ranging from education and health care to the price of gasoline....

Officials take tour of local airport

Goldsboro-Wayne Airport Authority members had a chance Tuesday to show off the facility to members of the North Carolina Aeronautics Council, and to show state officials how investing in the facility could boost economic development in the region. The council,...

You came. You tasted. You voted.

Raspberry cheesecake, spicy chicken wings and pepperoni pizza lined the tables. Music filled the air as visitors did the electric slide and macarena. The 15th annual Taste of Wayne County Tuesday at Wayne Community College was one big party --...

United Way campaign gets strong, early start

United Way started its 2006 campaign Tuesday with 16 percent of its goal already met. Frontrunners and early company campaigns raised a total of $236,858 to improve 5,623 lives in Wayne County, according to Steve Parr, United Way director. Frontrunners...

Johnston man killed Tuesday in farm accident

A Johnston County man was killed Tuesday when he became entrapped in tobacco harvester, the Johnston County Sheriff's Office said. Mario Morales, 35, of Middlesex, died at the scene, said sheriff's office spokesman Tammy Amaon. Morales was working on the...

Pikeville garbage route changes

PIKEVILLE -- The town of Pikeville is changing its garbage collection schedule. On Thursday, the town of Pikeville will be on its regular garbage route and Onslow Container will be placing a 96-gallon container for the next collection Aug. 24....

Public records

Truck stolen A Goldsboro woman told police Tuesday that her $20,000 truck was stolen from the Berkeley Mall parking lot while she was inside shopping. Felicia Toy, of Somerset Drive, told officers that her red 2006 Dodge Ram was secured...

Computer grant approved

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners approved a $750,000 grant Tuesday morning that will help the county's public school system improve computer technology in schools around the county. The Public Schools Building Capital Fund is intended for instructional purposes for...

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Back to the books

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Goldsboro High School 10th-grade teacher Harold Barnes readies his new classroom in anticipation of the first day of school, which is set for Aug. 25. Some Wayne County teachers are already back to work as the system's...

Teachers ready for new school year

With a new school year starting in 10 days, teachers in Wayne County Public Schools are readying for students' return. Classes officially resume Aug. 25. Some teachers have already returned to their respective schools to prepare their classrooms for the...

Community can add thoughts to park plan

Every so often, as drivers along Ash Street pass Stoney Creek Park, they catch a glimpse of a woman jogging with a stroller or a group of men walking under the trees. Newly created Stoney Creek Park Alliance member Dr....

City will demolish annex building

Bulldozers will soon be hitting Center Street -- and another piece of the city's past will be coming down. Goldsboro Assistant City Manager Tasha Logan said City Council members are expected to approve a bid from A&K Grading Monday, marking...

District answers parents' lawsuit

The Wayne County Board of Education has filed a response to a lawsuit filed by the parents of a child that died last year during a field trip. David O. Lewis, a Durham lawyer representing the school system, said the...

These neighbors will be watching

FREMONT -- Fremont residents are tired of battling crime in their community -- and some of them have decided they are going to do more than just complain. They are going to do something about it. More than 75 people...

Public records

Wanted Goldsboro police are looking for a man accused of burglary, larceny, assault on a female and assault. Police investigators said Jacob Eugene Lofton, 21, of Beston Road, LaGrange also has two other warrants against him on file. But the...

WCC adds N.C. history course to fall schedule

Wayne Community College has added a course on North Carolina history to its fall schedule. The course is appropriate for both students enrolled in a credit program and community residents who are simply interested in their state's history, said instructor...

'Fill-the-Boot' drive to raise money for local MS victims

The Goldsboro Professional Firefighter's Association will hold its annual Fill-the-Boot campaign Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Wal-Mart on Spence Avenue. The annual fundraiser is sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, along with firefighter groups across the country. Last year, the...

Monday, August 14, 2006

Armed hostage-taking ends in arrest

A kidnapping and hostage-taking ended peacefully Sunday morning when Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders and a deputy took a handgun away from a man who had held two women at gunpoint. Shortly after 8 a.m., deputies were called to 1320...

Parking violators must now fix signs

More than a month after receiving a warning letter from the city, time has expired for 450 local businesses with invalid handicapped parking signs, officials said. Chief Building Inspector Ed Cianfarra said most of those warned had no idea they...

Mount Olive ranked among best educational bargains

MOUNT OLIVE -- The 2005 North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Annual Report is out and by all measures Mount Olive College, with its six locations in eastern North Carolina, is still one of the best bargains in higher education....

Public records

Store theft An unidentified man entered the Friendly Mart on the 300 block of U.S. 13 South at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday and stole about $160 from the cash register. Employee Kimberly Honnold told Wayne County Sheriff's deputies that the...

13 earn law enforcement certification at Wayne Community

Wayne Community College graduated its 48th Basic Law Enforcement Training Class during ceremonies recently. The 13 cadets who completed the college's academy received certificates to work as sworn law enforcement officers in North Carolina. Certificates were conferred on Steven Lassiter,...

AF Reserve Band plans shows in area

The Band of the Air Force Reserve has verified its fall schedule, which includes a number of shows on and off Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Many of the performances will feature the Blue Notes, which blends jazz, blues, Latin...

OPINION ... Prepostorous!

Some of the most preposterous notions can come from -- of all places -- academia. A group of professors, including one from our own East Carolina University, has come up with the idea that the Twin Towers were not destroyed...

MS bike tour September 8-10

NEW BERN -- The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold its 18th Annual MS 150 Bike Tour Sept. 8-10 in New Bern. The 2005 event raised more than $1 million for research and treatment....

Duplin school employees to celebrate

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin school superintendent Wiley Dobey is planning a party Friday for all school employees. The celebration starts at 9 a.m. in the Kenan Auditorium. Students start classes Aug. 25. North Duplin Junior-Senior High School will hold orientation at...

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Two city projects in one motion?

Goldsboro Mayor Al King said the idea of reconstructing both the Paramount Theater and a community building downtown is not simply a dream to be realized five years from now -- it's a realistic possibility today. While City Manager Joe...

County, school officials to meet

Representatives from the Wayne County's commission and the county's Board of Education will have their first meeting this week to discuss what to do about school facilities -- and how to pay for the work. The first meeting of the...

The final 'Taste' list is in

Knives, spoons and spatulas will be flying as griddles and ovens are fired up for the 15th annual Taste of Wayne County. The event is United Way of Wayne County's campaign kickoff and will be Tuesday from 5 to 7:30...

Openings still available for More at Four locations

The Partnership for Children of Wayne County is currently accepting More at Four applications for this school year. More at Four is a free, state-funded pre-kindergarten initiative designed to prepare eligible at-risk 4-year-old children for success in school. Classrooms are...

First finalist drawn for Fair Share Challenge

Joyce Rhodes is the first 2006 Fair Share Challenge finalist. She is employed with the Goldsboro News-Argus. The first of 15 drawings was held last Friday at Goldsboro Chrysler Dodge Jeep. Fourteen more drawings will be held each Friday at...

County public hearings Tuesday

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will hold two public hearings during their meeting Tuesday morning. One of the hearings, which will begin at 9:15 a.m., concerns the commissioners' adopted amendment to the Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance banning cardboard...

Assistant transportation director named N.C. association president

Ricky Carter, assistant director of transportation for Wayne County Public Schools, has been elected state president of the N.C. Pupil Transportation Association. The announcement came at the recent NCPTA Conference held in Sunset Beach. The association is made up of...

Wayne Christian prepares for 20th anniversary year

Wayne Christian School began its 20th year of operation when the school year opened on Thursday with a record enrollment of 425 students. Officials at the school say there are plans this year to enhance the fine arts department, with...

Students advised to register

New students who will be attending high school in the southern end of the county are encouraged to schedule an appointment for registration. Students new to Southern Wayne and Spring Creek high schools should contact the schools. Needed at the...

Public Record

Missing person A 17-year-old Goldsboro girl has been reported missing by her mother, after having earlier dropped the teen off at work on Tuesday afternoon. Sadie Par-rish of Adler Lane told sheriff's dep-uties she last saw her daughter, Kelli...

WCC offers course in health technology

Wayne Community College Continuing Education will offer a course to train mental health and developmental disability technicians. The 16-week course provides the knowledge and skills needed to work with persons with mental health issues and developmental disabilities in a variety...

Duplin education forum Monday

The Duplin County NAACP Youth Council will sponsor a public forum with the Duplin County Board of Education on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the media center at James Kenan High School. The public is encouraged to attend, ask questions...

Friday, August 11, 2006

Tea party

News-Argus/Mitch Loeber Cheyenne Craft, left, fills Joyce Goforth's cup with ice during a tea party for the residents of Alterra Sterling House of Goldsboro put on by the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County Thursday. For more information...

Community building in works, too

A lower price tag for Paramount Theater reconstruction might lead to a community building, too, Goldsboro officials said Wednesday. With the majority of Goldsboro City Council members now backing David Weil's $5 million Paramount plan, City Manager Joe Huffman said...

Eastern Region officials set tighter rules for accounting

KINSTON -- Members of the board of the Eastern Region economic development group met Thursday and discussed ways to improve the organization's financial accountability. The 13-county organization met for the first time under the leadership of its new president and...

Work on U.S. 117 officially complete

WILSON -- Shortly after rush-hour traffic this morning, state Department of Transportation workers removed the last orange barrels and opened the final section of the new four-lane U.S. 117 between Goldsboro and Wilson. When the last seven-tenths of a mile...

Duplin schools ready for students

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County students head back to the public schools Aug. 25 and although some students might not be looking forward to the day, new school superintendent Dr. Wiley Dobey says he is excited. "It's an exciting time to...

Library's junior gardeners share 'tea,' visit with local seniors

Wayne County Public Library's junior gardeners spent some time with a few new friends at Sterling House Assisted Living Thursday. Five of the visitors placed potting soil, then begonias and dusty miller into a pedestal urn, which was in turn...

Raza festival sponsors sought

The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina is looking for sponsors for the upcoming 4th Annual Celebration of the Raza Festival. This year's festival will be held on Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Mount Olive College,...

Public records

Resident fights off robber As James Barnes was in his home relaxing at about noon Aug. 10, a tall black man kicked open his front door in an attempt to rob him, according to the Goldsboro Police report. The suspect...

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Proposed rezoning

This is the zoning map of the area being considered. The Case Farms plant and the land on which it would expand, are located in the gray area. For more information see Planning board eyes boundaries....

Teen pleads guilty to murder

KENANSVILLE -- A teenager accused of stabbing his 86-year old neighbor to death in 2003 pleaded guilty to second- degree murder Wednesday in Kenansville. Antonio Jenkins, 15, received three consecutive sentences totaling a maximum of 40 years in the...

JAS files suit over Duplin contract question

KENANSVILLE -- Johnston Ambulance Service has filed a lawsuit against Duplin County and two former county employees for allegedly stealing information from its computer system. Former Emergency Services Director Curtis Brock and a former EMS employee, Barbara Coman, were charged...

Group still might challenge decision

Residents of neighborhoods along Salem Church and Buck Swamp roads are considering whether to appeal a North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling that denied them the legal status to challenge a previous annexation by the city of Goldsboro. The residents,...

Planning board eyes boundaries

Officials with Wayne County, Case Farms and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base developed a possible solution Tuesday night that would allow Case Farms to expand its operations while not encroaching on the base's Accident Potential Zone. Case Farms recently purchased...

Superintendent contract renewed; GHS principal supported

Board of Education members threw support behind two of its leaders Monday night -- Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor and Patricia Burden, principal of Goldsboro High School. Taylor, entering his seventh year as superintendent of schools, received unanimous approval for a...

Public records

Investigations The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating these reports: *Copper pipe valued at $1,000 was reported stolen Wednesday afternoon from under a house on Devereaux Street. The owner, Elizabeth Barnes of Pikeville, said she saw water running from under...

Conference will explore caring for parents with Alzheimer's

Faye Davis of Fremont is typical of many in the "sandwich generation." She works a full-time job, has children of her own and since her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago, also cares for her parents. "We're fortunate...

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

What they want...

More than 100 residents told officials what they would like to see downtown in the future -- a new Paramount Theater, community building, more businesses and a revamped train depot. Residents added they hope to see fewer dilapidated houses...

Murder trial begins in Duplin

KENANSVILLE -- Jury selection began Tuesday in the murder trial of Antonio Jenkins. Jenkins is accused of stabbing 86-year-old Mary Beach Fulford to death in October 2003, when he was 13 years old. He is now 15. The victim was...

Residents tell council what they want downtown

A community building, Paramount Theater and restored train depot are among the facilities Goldsboro residents say they want to see around Center Street in the future. Seven years ago, only one person showed up when the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp....

Councilmen weigh in on theater plan

Now that a "doable" Paramount plan is in the city's hands -- compliments of Goldsboro native and businessman David Weil and his "ad hoc committee" -- some City Council members said it's time to find funding for the project. At...

Date set for new primary election

Eastern Wayne County residents will cast ballots Sept. 12 to decide whom they want to face Democratic candidate Van Braxton in the race for the District 10 seat in the North Carolina House this fall, the state Board of Elections...

Board cuts credits for high school graduation

High school students will find it four credits easier to graduate from Wayne County Schools, members of the county's board of education decided at its meeting this week. Students will now have to earn 24 units to graduate rather than...

City officials pledge support to United Way

Goldsboro City Council took action on a zoning request and heard about the United Way at its meeting Monday. During the requests and petitions of citizens portion of the meeting, local attorney Geoffrey Hulse spoke to council members about this...

Public records

Break-in charged Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, officers from the Goldsboro Police Department responded to an alarm at Edwards Service Station on N. William Street. Upon arrival, a subject was observed inside the building, so officers set up a perimeter around...

WCPS sponsors educators conference

The challenge for educators in the 21st century is to teach so that all students can learn, state schools superintendent Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson told a contingent from Wayne County Public Schools Tuesday. Dr. Atkinson was keynote speaker at...

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Routine flight uncovers Marijuana field

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Ronald Rawlings of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office gathers some of the plants discovered Monday afternoon. For more information see Marijuana field found near highway....

Paramount rising - Businessman to unveil plan to reconstruct historic theater

Throughout David Weil's childhood, the Paramount Theater brought "elegance," "glamour" and "mystery" to downtown Goldsboro, he said. Now, decades later, he hopes to be a part of resurrecting the place where many of his fondest memories were made. After months...

Paramount Facts

* 15,170 total square feet * 556 seats * Loading dock leading to large stage * Orchestra pit and "Trap Room" * Fly space, rigging and lighting * Theatrical equipment * Box office and concession area * 2nd-floor lobby that...

Counties will vote ... again on District 10 House race

KINSTON -- Voters in four Wayne County precincts will have to go back to the polls to help determine the Republican candidate for the District 10 seat in the state House. The state Board of Elections ruled Monday that voting...

Marijuana field found near highway

Wayne County law enforcement officers discovered and seized more than 313 marijuana plants Monday at two sites near Piney Grove Church Road off of U.S. 70 East. With the help of one of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office helicopters, the...

BOE suggests options for facilities

It will take more than meetings and building plans to take care of the school system's facilities' needs, or school officials will be forced to explore other options, the Board of Education said Monday night. "We're reaching the critical stage,"...

Col. Coleman gets official 'ride' to his city retirement party

As retiring Col. Lennie Coleman was escorted up the stairs of City Hall by Goldsboro police and members of the 4th Fighter Wing's leadership, he knew his "arrest" nearly an hour earlier on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was all...

Public records

Two charged Goldsboro police charged a man and woman after being called to a domestic dispute Monday. Nicole Reid, 22, of Olivia Lane, was charged with simple assault and released . Samuel Keith Best, 26, of the same address, was...

Pikeville Town Board hears auditor's report

PIKEVILLE -- Pikeville officials said Monday night they are hopeful that changes in some financial policies recommended by an auditor will help save money. C. Keith Peedin conducted an audit of the town's books and presented his recommendations to the...

Monday, August 7, 2006

Blueberries, but no hill

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Sharon George had to get up pretty early in the morning to pick these blueberries - before the 100-degree heat sent her back inside. Mrs. George said she was picking the blue fruit from her friend's bushes...

Principal responds to judge's statement

Judge Howard Manning Jr. has the power to close schools that are not performing satisfactorily, but Goldsboro High School Principal Patricia Burden said local efforts are in line with what he has requested. In a speech Friday at a leadership...

Battle site will get new emphasis

The site of the largest battle ever fought in Wayne County will soon become more visible and more accessible if a new organization designed to protect and promote the battlefield gets its way. The Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Association was formed...

He teaches college courses while sailing on deep blue sea

Mick O'Donnell wouldn't mind teaching on dry land, but for now he is staying afloat by going wherever the Navy assigns him. For more than 21 years in the Air Force as a flyer, O'Donnell retired in 1984. He later...

Forum set for review of plan for downtown

The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., along with urban designer Allison Platt, will host two public forum sessions on the second floor of the new City Hall Tuesday. The meetings, which will begin at noon and 7 p.m. respectively, are expected...

District 10 hearing set for today

The state Board of Elections was to hear a protest by state Rep. Stephen LaRoque today over the results of the Republican primary for the District 10 seat in the House. LaRoque lost to Willie Ray Starling by 11 votes...

Public records

Handgun stolen Shelly Flanagan of Best Street said someone entered her car and stole a semiautomatic handgun from beneath the driver's seat. It was valued at $200. Vandalism The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. reported one of their vending machines damaged to...

Partnership offers sign language

An Intermediate American Sign Language class for parents and caregivers of young deaf children is being offered locally by the Eastern N.C. Early Intervention Program for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Adults participate in discussion, brief presentations,...

JSCC offers degree in grape, wine production

James Sprunt Community College will be the first school in the state to offer a degree in growing grapes. North Carolina ranks 10th in grape production and 12th in wine production and interest in the business is growing. JSCC received...

Flag retirement ceremony set for September 10

Wayne American Legion Post 11 of Goldsboro and Woodmen of the World Lodge 481 of Grantham will hold a formal American flag retirement and disposal ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 3 p.m. The purpose of the program is to...

Sunday, August 6, 2006

LaRoque, Starling hearing set for Monday in Kinston

The North Carolina State Board of Elections should make a decision this week in the District 10 congressional battle between Rep. Stephen LaRoque and Willie Ray Starling. The state board decided last month to meet in Kinston beginning Monday to...

Tobacco suffers, too

Jake Price and his son Vinson are feeling the heat this summer -- and so is their tobacco. The Prices and other local farmers said the combination of rising temperatures and spiking gasoline costs has already had a negative impact...

He and his wrens are doing a little traveling in N.C.

Some of Danny and Patty Barwick's nieces and nephews are special. They were raised in the chassis of Danny's gas truck, and they have feathers. And these little ones have spent quite a bit of time traveling. A mother wren...

City Council to meet in new chambers

Monday, for the first time, Goldsboro City Council will hold its meeting in the new City Hall building. Their docket, which will be dominated by zoning and planning issues, also includes a presentation from the United Way. The first two...

Program saves hog farmers on water bills

A program in use by about two dozen Wayne County hog farmers is helping reduce the amount of water necessary to run their operations. The program not only is good for the environment, it saves the farmer money, said Patty...

Wayne Community College golf benefit raised $53,000

This year's Wayne Community College benefit golf tournament, held in June at Lane Tree Golf Course in Goldsboro, has been deemed the most successful in the event's history by event organizers. The tournament committee announced that the record-breaking $53,000 raised...

WCC honored for online curriculum

Wayne Community College has been recognized as a "Top Gainer" partner institution with the "ed2go" online education company. Enrollment at WCC grew by 100 percent in the first quarter of 2006 over the same period in the previous year. Of...

Public Record

Missing persons *The Goldsboro Police Department is searching for 13-year-old Bryan Murchinson, who has been classified as a missing person. Bryan was last seen at about 2:30 p.m. Friday walking in the direction of Central Heights Road. He was described...

Criminal justice program starts Sept. 5

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College is accepting applications for the Criminal Justice Administration program that will begin on Sept. 5 at its Mount Olive campus. Part of the accelerated degree program for adults who have completed about two years...

Friday, August 4, 2006

Ready, set, shop

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Michael, 7, and Kelli O'Hora, 6, look over some shoes with their mom, Kathy, as the family gets a headstart on tax-free weekend shopping at JCPenney in Goldsboro. Kelli will enter the first grade this year at...

Annexation group loses first appeal

Residents in the neighborhoods near Buck Swamp and Salem Church roads suffered a setback this week after the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the city of Goldsboro in one of the appeals of their annexation dispute....

Schedule in place for 2006 local fair

They're almost back -- the ugly trucks, western gunfights, corndogs, pies, flowers, goats and fireworks. Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair officials recently released this fall's lineup and said they are ready to go, on what some have called "the biggest and...

North Carolina starts tax-free holiday weekend of shopping

Shoppers grab your credit cards. The state's tax-free weekend began at 12:01 a.m. today and continues until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. And in Wayne County, shoppers wasted no time getting their lists in shape for their back-to-school haul. Laketa Jimenez and...

Starbucks almost ready to open

Coffee junkies only have about another month to wait before Goldsboro's new Starbucks opens its door, the project's general contractor said this week. Darrell Flowers of Commercial Finish Group out of Dallas, said Monday he hopes to have the new...

WCC registration deadline draws near

With the start of the new academic year at Wayne Community College just around the corner, students still have a few days left to enroll and register for classes. Fall registration will be held on the college's main campus Aug....

Public records

Guns stolen Officials from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office arrested a 15-year-old from Dudley Thursday. The juvenile was charged with two counts of breaking and entering and larceny. Both break-ins took place in Dudley and involved the theft of firearms,...

Thursday, August 3, 2006

Remembering a Hero

AP Photo/Rocky Mount Telegram, Jason Ivester Mourning together: K-9 Linda jumps into Wayne County Sheriff's Office Dep. Randy Thompson's arms as "Taps" is played during a memorial service Wednesday outside City Hall in Rocky Mount for Danny, a Rocky...

Shelter plan will get close look

Unless private contributions to a new Wayne County animal shelter increase dramatically over the next few months, the shelter that is eventually built might not meet the expectations of animal rights supporters who say the existing shelter is inadequate. County...

Seymour Johnson AFB receives $57M for projects

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will receive $57 million this year for various projects, as appropriations committees from both the U.S. House and Senate allocated nearly $664 million to military installations in North Carolina in their recently reported 2007 fiscal...

For retiring colonel, 'It's all about the people'

Col. Leonard Coleman has carried the same piece of paper in his back pocket for more than 20 years. It reads, "It's the people. It's the people. It's the people ... It's the people." Coleman said the folded loose leaf,...

Demo team flying today

Wondering what all the noise was all about today? The roar that crossed through Goldsboro skies this morning might be back this afternoon. Officials from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base said the F-15 E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team practiced this...

Three arrested for break-ins around area

Three Goldsboro men have been arrested in connection with a rash of break-ins in the Rosewood community, including vandalism to a church, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office announced today. Murphy Frank Bode of Mary Lane, Brian Russell Sawkiw of Peggy...

Local dancers get chance to learn from professionals

Forty-six students from four Goldsboro dancing studios are getting the opportunity to study with New York professionals. LazarBalletnyc is in week two of an intensive work session for students from the Academy of Performing Arts, Artistic Dance Academy, Goldsboro School...

County building permits issued

The Wayne County Building Inspections Department issued 59 building permits in July, and all but three were for residential work. One was the 7,796-square-foot Wal-Mart project in Mount Olive at a construction cost of almost $6.3 million. The other two...

Public records

Burglary reported A 17-year-old Dudley woman said she was awakened early this morning by two subjects who attempted to get into her home through a bedroom window. Tabitha Glaspie of Atlanta Drive said the two men raised the bedroom window...

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Hot Stuff

News-Argus/Bobby Williams David Cooke, of Herring Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. checks a newly installed unit. Cooke, who said business has been heavy recently, was making sure the unit was functioning properly. Many residents are having trouble keeping their...

99 and counting

Tom McClure only made it through half of his exercise routine Tueday at Herman Park. After 30 minutes in "what felt like 150 degrees," he wrapped his sweat-soaked shirt around his head and headed for his car. "I can't do...

Residents can give input on land use

Wayne County residents will have a chance next month to offer their opinions of a long-term, county-wide development plan being created by a group of citizen volunteers and community planners. The Wayne County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee started work on...

Who wants to be a millionaire?

If all goes according to plan, Benny Dunn and his girlfriend will be on a beach somewhere by the end of the month. Dunn, like thousands of other Powerball hopefuls across Wayne County, hopes his choice of numbers pay off...

Public records

Break-ins *About $300 worth in items were stolen from a home on the 100 block of Seneca Court in LaGrange between 8:45 p.m. Tuesday and 4:45 this morning. Jennifer Eason told Wayne County Sheriff's deputies that she returned to her...

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Baby, its still hot outside

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Spring Creek High School football players pause to cool off during practice Monday afternoon. There was even more need for water today, with temperatures expected in the 90s - and even higher temperatures forecast for later in...

Carolina Turkeys to take Butterball

Carolina Turkeys will buy the Butterball turkey brand name and operation, making the company the largest turkey producer in the United States. The companies announced the purchase Monday. Maxwell Farms and Smith-field Foods own Carolina Turkeys, which has a processing...

Duplin battles mold in offices

Mold problems have sent Duplin County District Attorney Dewey Hudson and his staff into other counties' offices while their space at the County Courthouse is cleaned. And the District Attorney says it is about time something is done to fix...

Animals need heat help

People aren't the only ones who need to watch out as temperatures continue to rise. Domestic animals are just as capable of succumbing to heat exhaustion or a heat stroke, local veterinarians say. Dr. Brian Stuber of the Berkeley Veterinary...

City family looks back at hurricane

A few pictures, a video recording and a mold and mildew-stained Bible are the only items Cowan family members have left from their previous life -- the years before Hurricane Floyd destroyed the home they had made on Peachtree Street....

Mount Olive Night Out Thursday

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive will observe National Night Out on Thursday evening at Nelson Street Park. A party and cook-out is open to all town residents. The event is being sponsored by the Mount Olive Police Department and the...

Public record

No wheels Laura Rouse reported to deputies with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office that an unknown suspect stole the tires and wheels off of her burgundy Ford Expedition while it was parked at the Village Green Shop parking lot. Mrs....