August 2008 archives

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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Fibrowatt silent on Faison ETJ concerns

FAISON -- Friday marks six weeks since the Town of Faison made its latest proposal in its months-long negotiations with Fibrowatt over control of the town's extra-territorial jurisdiction. And each of those six weeks has gone by without a...

Officials will ask for residents' health facts

A community health survey has been posted online by the Health Department to elicit responses from the public about needs and concerns in the county. Since June, the Health Department has been gathering data for the survey, which is required...

Norwayne alumni celebrate 36th reunion

FREMONT -- Revelers dared cloudy skies Saturday to enjoy a part of the Norwayne Alumni & Friends gathering that has become a feature -- a parade. Hundreds either rode in the caravan or lined the streets on the eastern...

Six houses tapped by city for demolition

Six dilapidated dwellings are on the condemnation chopping block Tuesday night, as the Goldsboro City Council will likely approve the official closings of 1002, 1007 and 1008 Ivey St., 402 W. Oak St., 808 Orchard St. and 103 N. Slocumb...

Duplin has already spent $159,000 on schools lawsuit

KENANSVILLE -- Legal fees have topped $159,000 and continue to climb in the Duplin County Board of Education's lawsuit against county commissioners. The county has spent close to $32,000, while the board of education has spent $127,030. The school...

Singapore pilots take first flight in Strike Eagles

Lim Chee Meng traveled for more than 24 hours and endured a month of "intense academics" for the chance to climb a particular ladder on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. So when the Singapore Air Force lieutenant colonel finally...

85% of Wayne high school graduates go to college

Eighty-five percent of 2008 graduates from Wayne County Public Schools are continuing their education this fall at two- and four-year institutions, officials announ-ced. Of the 1,202 graduates from the seven county high schools, 1,021 reported in an exit survey...

Police Chief says downtown one of safest areas of city

Contrary to the impressions reported by a recent survey about Goldsboro's downtown area, city police say statistics show it actually boasts one of the lowest crime rates of any area in the city. According to the survey, the majority...

Downtown businesses say area is safe but offerings limited

Downtown business owners are echoing statements made by the city's chief of police and Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. -- downtown streets are safe. But they also say that a lack of vibrancy, image and parking issues and limited offerings...

Friday, August 29, 2008

Mewborn chosen as Wayne County Teacher of the Year

The sole male candidate for Wayne County Teacher of the Year won the honor Thursday night at Walnut Creek Coun-try Club. George L. Mewborn III, an English and composition teacher at Spring Creek High School since 2001, is a...

Public record

Meat stolen Charlotte Edwards of Vanderbilt Circle told Goldsboro police on Wednesday that a window and screen at her home were broken, and a $100 worth of frozen meat was stolen from a freezer. Two window-mounted air conditioners also...

4th Fighter Wing chief Col. Steve Kwast takes final flight as commander

Joni Kwast had been there before -- standing in a hangar surrounded by family and friends, waiting for her husband to guide his F-15E Strike Eagle back to the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base flight line. But as she...

Outside firm will take a look at Cherry Hospital

State officials intend to contract the services of an independent firm to evaluate operations at Cherry Hospital -- and are looking to increase security on the grounds. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dempsey Benton has directed the...

Walnut Creek Village Council plans community meetings

WALNUT CREEK -- After hearing a report last month about the village survey results, the Walnut Creek Village Council decided Wednesday night to hold three "town hall" meetings during which residents can discuss the community's future. The goal for...

Wayne County weighs starting employee day care

As Wayne County continues to feel the full impact of its recent switch to a four-day workweek, officials are exploring the possibility of starting a day care for children of county employees. The idea was raised months ago as...

Closings are announced for Labor Day holiday

County and municipal government offices in Wayne and Duplin counties will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday. Schools in the two counties, post offices and banks will be closed as well. Wayne County commissioners will meet as...

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Three Cherry workers are fired in abuse case

Three Cherry Hospital workers were reportedly fired Wednesday and another told not to return to work, stemming from the beating of a patient last week. Two of the fired workers were arrested on Friday and charged with simple assault...

Teacher scholarship applications due

Community college students studying to be teachers have until Sept. 1 to apply for the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Teacher Preparation Scholarships awarded annually by the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation. For the 2008-2009 academic year, scholarships will be awarded...

Public record

Rash of break-ins A rash of break-ins at residential and commercial addresses have similar circumstances surrounding them, according to Goldsboro police and Wayne County Sheriff's Department reports. Goldsboro Chief Tim Bell and Maj. Mike Hopper said law enforcement is...

Southern Wayne's principal sets sights on new attitude

DUDLEY -- Dr. John Boldt does not just want Southern Wayne High School students to achieve academically. The new principal wants them to be proud of their school, too. So, when the students arrived back at their classrooms Monday,...

Tornado sighted?

A barn located just northeast of Fremont in the Aycock Church Road area was destroyed late Wednesday night by a possible tornado spun off from a storm that swept across Wayne and Wilson counties. It was the second unconfirmed...

Supreme Court says it will not hear annexation case

After fighting annexation by the city of Goldsboro for four years, residents living along Salem Church and Buck Swamp roads appear to be facing the end of their legal battle, but not with the conclusion they were hoping for....

Suspect accused of bomb threat

Acting on what he said was deemed a "credible threat" by state and federal law enforcement agencies, Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders said a Wayne County man has been arrested for making a threatening statement against the county courthouse....

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Five pounds of crystal meth in suspect's car wheel

DUDLEY -- Jose Alejandro Arcieniega-Moreno was reportedly nervous when Sgt. Mike Cox pulled him over on U.S. 70 West Saturday. Police say that nervous behavior is what led them to discover five pounds of crystal methamphetamine in a compartment...

New program targets recycling of pesticides

Violet Goodson of Mount Olive enjoys working with the plants in her yard and tries to be mindful in her use of pesticides. Nevertheless, she still worries about the environmental impact of those chemicals and the lack -- until...

Hotel company looks at site next to restaurant

Goldsboro lost the Days Inn motel on U.S. 70 in a windstorm last August, but new lodging might be on the way. The Planning Commission approved a site and landscape plan Monday night for a three-story, 44,730-square-foot hotel next...

County SAT scores up 23 points in 2007-08

Scholastic Aptitude Test scores in Wayne County Public Schools for 2007-08 increased by 23 points over the previous year, according to a report released Tuesday by the College Board. Area high schools had in-creases in every area, officials said....

Herman Park Center undergoes renovations

As Goldsboro officials prepare to debut their new fine arts academy, Herman Park Center has been undergoing a few renovations inside. Most notable among those has been the paint job -- no longer beige, but rather brightly colored. But...

State officials are on site

A team of about 10 state officials arrived at Cherry Hospital about noon Tuesday as the embattled psychiatric facility works to pull itself out of the jeopardy it has been under since Aug. 11. The immediate jeopardy, which places...

County's Code Red system gets first test during Tuesday's storm

Wayne County's new Code Red emergency alert system was utilized for the first time Tuesday when the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the area of the county north of Dudley. Heavy rains caused some localized...

District attorney: Other agencies looking at Cherry

The State Bureau of Investigation has been enlisted to investigate the recent death of a Cherry Hospital patient, and local District Attorney Branny Vickory says the hospital has been "very cooperative" in the case. "Cherry has been absolutely open...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Better Business Bureau uncovers new scam

RALEIGH -- The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is warning consumers to be cautious of an organization posing as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage lending companies. The scammers are sending letters announcing a lottery that gives people...

Public record

Identity theft arrest Goldsboro police say Ashley Ann Robinson, 18, of Goldsboro is responsible for the stealing Laura Wetzel's debit card and using it make purchases. Ms. Robinson was jailed under $2,500 bond, police said. Charges The Wayne County Sheriff's...

Officials: First day of school went well

School officials reported a "smooth transition" for the first day of school Monday, with only a few delays reported by the transportation department. Student numbers are also up 169 from the previous year. The first-day headcount for the 33 county...

WCC to offer online courses this fall

Among the online courses being offered this fall at Wayne Community College are several practical options for learning about personal finance, starting a business or finding the right job. There are more than 200 online courses beginning Sept. 17, running...

Is county's four-day workweek working?

Like some of the employees on her staff at the Wayne County Dept. of Social Services, new director Debbie Jones is having to adjust to the county's new four-day workweek. "I have a daughter who has started school, so like...

Teen, 18, charged in clerk shooting

City police allege a Goldsboro 18-year-old is responsible for a convenience store shooting that seriously injured Ribhi Mohammed Kandeel earlier this month. Rashard Vondarius Oliver, 18, of Franklin Street, was arrested Monday morning at his home, Goldsboro police Investigator...

Survey: Downtown Goldsboro a 'no go'

People aren't visiting Goldsboro's downtown district. That's the main finding of a recently completed survey by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., and one that officials said surprised them. "The biggest shock is how people rated downtown," promotions coordinator Lara...

Firetruck, car collide in crash Sunday

Two persons were injured Sunday afternoon in a wreck involving a Pinewood fire truck and car. The accident occurred about 3 p.m. at the intersection of Hood Swamp Road and Mark Edwards Road. Pinewood Fire Chief Mel Powers said the...

Mount Olive officials are hunting for elusive water leak

MOUNT OLIVE -- Motorists traveling along the 900 block of North Breazeale Avenue today should be alert to town workers who are expected to be cutting up a section of the road in search of an elusive water leak...

Monday, August 25, 2008

WCC honors 11 Adult High School students

Wayne Community College's Adult High School Program has honored 11 students for outstanding academic achievement in the summer 2008 session. The scholars list, for students who have completed at least two courses in the eight-week session with an "A"...

Boys and Girls Club team captures state honors for movie invention

Members of the Boys and Girls Club's Team Goldsboro pasted pictures inside their sunglasses and headed to Raleigh. The five teens, on a mission to promote their idea, knew the theoretical invention they named "Veyez" was doable, and they...

MOC professor recognized

Lenard Moore, assistant professor of language and literature at Mount Olive College, is one of five individuals and one organization selected to receive the 24th Annual Raleigh Medal of Arts given by the City of Raleigh Arts Commission for...

More heroin being seized in Wayne County than normal

Between the Goldsboro Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office, three alleged heroin dealers have been arrested over the past month. Over the past few years, Wayne County arrests of heroin dealers have been relatively uncommon and spaced far...

Thousands of students head back to classrooms

Wayne County students gathered their bookbags, donned new clothes and headed out the door today as the county school district opened its 2008-09 school year this morning. News-Argus/Bobby Williams Jinger Haskett, left, a first-year kindergarten teacher at Brogden Primary...

One killed in crash with car Sunday

A 21-year-old dirt bike driver died early Sunday morning after colliding with a car on U.S. 13 South, according to a report filed by investigators with the state Highway Patrol. Matthew Ryan Graham, of 1940 U.S. 13 South, was...

Republican AG candidate challenges Cooper's record

Two issues motivated Republican Asheboro attorney Bob Crumley to throw his name into the pot for the state's top law enforcement position earlier this year. One is the poor handling of the state's crime lab, he said. The other,...

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Stoney Creek Park Alliance still moving forward

The Stoney Creek Park Alliance met Thursday after two community forums earlier in the week where only a handful of people came to talk about the project. Despite the meager turnout, Alliance members say they are still committed to...

Public record

Investigations Goldsboro police are investigating these reports: *Marie Anntonett Drawhorn, 26, of Carver Drive, secured a warrant after a man she knew drove to her residence and was witnessed with a handgun in the vehicle. She told police he...

These swimmers are Olympic at heart

Tyler Lane licks his goggles. He pulls them down over his eyes. An instant later, he is submerged somewhere near the middle of the three-foot shallow end section of the Goldsboro Family YMCA pool. He doesn't have much form...

Thorne endowed scholarship created

An endowed scholarship has been established at Methodist University in Fayetteville on behalf of a Wayne County couple. The $25,000 gift was given by Wallace Thorne to honor the memory of his wife, Irene Newsome Thorne. Wallace lives in...

County school district announces plans to change, cut back on some bus stops

School bus routes for middle and high school students have been changed slightly this year -- a move that is expected to save the district up to $382,000 in fuel costs, officials said Friday. Fluctuating gas prices prompted the...

School district to announce Teacher of Year on Thursday

Wayne County Public Schools will announce its annual "Teacher of the Year" during a banquet Thursday night at Walnut Creek Country Club. Kathy Best, a business teacher at Rosewood High School, will turn over the title to one of...

Wayne County applies for grant funds for homes

Three households have been selected to have dilapidated dwellings replaced by new ones through a $400,000 federal Community Development Block Grant. Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning approved the grant application for the scattered-site housing project. The houses are located...

DHHS secretary takes action at Cherry

A ward at Cherry Hospital has been shut down and several staff reassignments made as investigation continues into the recent death of a 50-year-old patient. The state will also handle its own observations over the next day 90 days,...

Two staff at Cherry charged with assault

Cherry Hospital police arrested two health care technicians at the hospital Friday, charging them with assaulting a patient. William Kenneth Johnson, 52, of Devonshire Drive, and Taniko Dominique Upton, 33, of Central Heights Road were charged with simple assault...

Duplin will study state of county jail

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County commissioners decided Monday morning more information is needed on overcrowding in the county before they spend money to design a new facility. To that end, commissioners approved a $5,000 contract with Brennan Architects of Columbia,...

Community Soup Kitchen is looking for best chili cooks

Cooking teams are already signing up to compete in the second annual Really Chili Challenge. The chili cook-off is held each year in the Center Street Jam parking lot to help support the Community Soup Kitchen of Goldsboro. This...

Local former Olympian talks about opportunity

For former three-time Olympian Leora "Sam" Jones, watching the 2008 Beijing Summer Games has been a treat. From swimmer Michael Phelps' multiple golds in the pool, to sprinter Usain Bolt's domination on the track, watching the spectacle -- as...

Fight ends in gunfire and charges

DUDLEY -- A physical fight between two men led to a gunshot wound after one of the men returned with a gun, the Sheriff's Office reported last week. David Demarlo Thompson, 26, Beartrap Road, Dudley, has been charged in...

Mount Olive College enrollment up 16 percent

Enrollment of new students at Mount Olive College -- including freshmen and transfers -- is up 16 percent, officials said Thursday. Traditional classes resumed Wednesday, with what is believed to be the largest freshmen class since the college expanded...

County gets set for voter turnout

The number of one-stop voting sites and their hours of operation are being expanded by the Wayne County Board of Elections to help cope with a November General Election that is expected to be one of "historic proportions." "We...

Friday, August 22, 2008

Parents, children scope out county elementary schools

Cathy Cogdell began teaching at Fremont STARS Elementary School 21 years ago. She left briefly to teach at a private school and returned last year. Thursday evening at the school's open house, she said she was ready for classes...

Internet prostitution ring broken in Lenoir County

A Goldsboro woman is one of seven across the eastern part of the state charged by Lenoir County authorities with being part of a prostitution ring working over the Internet. The women and two men were charged following an...

Public record

Stabbing reported Molina Alfredo Marcial, 27, was reportedly stabbed by his wife with a knife on Wednesday afternoon, causing severe lacerations, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said....

Corn gone, so farmers turning to other crops

Dry conditions have devastated Wayne County's corn crop for the second year in a row and farm observers say there might well be fewer acres of corn planted next year. News-Argus/Bobby Williams Mel Anderson guides a sprayer in a...

Duplin Sheriff's Office seizes huge cocaine load

KENANSVILLE -- One of the largest, if not the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Duplin County, six kilos with a street value of $600,000, was confiscated in the arrest of three suspects Sunday by Duplin County Sheriff's...

Opening statements heard in Duplin school funding case

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County school officials indicated they will be seeking "tens of millions of dollars" in their lawsuit against the Duplin County Board of Commissioners. The trial involving the two boards started Thursday after a jury has been...

Woman finds teen living in her home

A woman who had left town on business came home to find an unpleasant surprise -- her Perkins Road home had been "trashed" and a 16-year-old was lying in her bed. Barbara Watson, the former director of Lighthouse of...

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Date set for command change at SJAFB

A date has been set for the formal ceremony at which Col. Mark Kelly will take command of the 4th Fighter Wing. Col. Steve Kwast will officially stand down from the post the morning of Sept. 9 on Seymour...

Kaye Scott takes over as finance director for city

The city named a new finance director Tuesday morning, as acting director Kaye Scott was promoted to the top position. Ms. Scott has been with the city since 1979, where she started in the Parks and Recreation Department. She...

Jury is still being picked in fight over funding

KENANSVILLE -- A jury of eight women and four men has been seated in Duplin County Superior Court to hear the Duplin County Board of Education's lawsuit against the county commissioners. The two sides were in the midst of...

Students make visits to classrooms as open houses begin

Jennifer Mooring is "excited and nervous all at the same time" about the start of a new school year. A teacher assistant at Rosewood Middle School for five years, this will be her first as a full-fledged teacher. She...

Attendance very low at second Stoney Creek Park public forum

Stoney Creek Park Alliance members expected more attendance at Wednesday night's community forum than at Tuesday's, where only a dozen people came to voice their concerns about plans for Stoney Creek Park. But the second forum -- held at...

Public record

Barbecue restaurant burglarized Edward Greenfield of Daffodil Drive, Dudley, reported that someone broke into Eddie's Bar-b-que on U.S. 117 South early on Tuesday morning, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. Two cash registers and coins worth a total $365...

Enrollment higher at WCC this fall

Preliminary fall enrollment numbers at Wayne Community College exceed last year's final count, officials said. Classes resumed on Monday, with an estimated 3,331 students signed up so far. Another 100 are expected to enroll this week and for the...

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Braswell receives Old North State Award

Wayne County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jerry Braswell has received the Governor's Old North State Award. Braswell, a graduate of the University of North Carolina Law School, is a former Wayne County commissioner, member of the state House...

State has team at Cherry

With the help of state officials who have spent the last week in Goldsboro, Cherry Hospital Director Dr. Jack St. Clair said today the hospital hopes soon to have a plan of correction in place that will satisfy the...

New Code Red system is up and running

A chorus of cell phone ringers blared from the county commissioners' dais Tuesday morning seconds after Delbert Edwards, county communications supervisor, activated the county's new Code Red emergency telephone alert system. However, the demonstration of the new system did...

Duplin hires firm to audit schools' finances

KENANSVILLE -- A financial and performance audit of the Duplin County School District approved Monday by county commissioners is not a "retaliatory" response to the school board's suit against the county, Commissioner Cary Turner said. The two sides are...

Questioning the park plan

About a dozen city residents got a chance to ask questions about the proposed Stoney Creek Park at a forum sponsored by the Stoney Creek Alliance Tuesday night at the W.A. Foster Recreation Center. News-Argus/Greg Sousa Stoney Creek Park...

Sickle Cell Drive to be held Saturday

The Epicurean Civic Club will hold its annual Sickle Cell Drive on Saturday at Berkeley Mall, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Organizers said they hope to raise $10,000 for the fight against the disease. The event will be...

McDonald, Evans are in the hospital

Mount Olive Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. and county Commissioner J.D. Evans of Dudley are patients at Wayne Memorial Hospital. McDonald has been hospitalized since last Thursday, while Evans has been there since Aug. 5. Meanwhile, Mount Olive Town Manager...

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Whooping cough outbreak concerns county health officials

A recent outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, in Duplin County, has prompted Health Director James Roosen to issue an advisory to the public. According to reports, more than 30 people have become ill, with some of the Duplin...

Slocumb Street shooting sends clerk to hospital

A shooting just before midnight at Brookside Conven-ient Mart on South Slocumb Street severely injured a store clerk, police say. Ribih Mohammed Kan-deel, whose date of birth was unknown, was taken to Pitt Memorial Hospital after the shooting. A...

Rebuilding Broken Places receives grant for after-school programs

Rebuilding Broken Places has received an $80,500 grant to provide after-school services to Wayne County students for the coming year, with the option to renew for up to two additional years. The Support Our Students, or SOS, grant, came...

Public record

Man cut with beer bottle Ricardo Martinez of North Jackson Street was seriously injured on South George Street early Sunday morning after reportedly trying to help his brother fight with strangers, police said. Martinez was beaten and cut on...

Col. Joseph Diana in charge of maintenance group at SJAFB

Joseph Diana might have been a pilot. He thought he would follow through with a dream born at an air show. But his body held him back. 4th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group Commander, Col. Joseph Diana. "I came in...

Col. John Hruby takes helm of operations group at SJAFB

John Hruby just wanted to play college football. So when the Air Force Academy offered him that chance, he jumped on it. 4th Fighter Wing Operations Group Commander, Col. John Hruby. "I was just like any other 16-, 17-year-old...

Civic center: Study says city should support site

Goldsboro City Council members got a preview of the results of a civic/conference center feasibility study Monday night. The $36,000, four-month study conducted by Strategy 5 -- which involved interviewing community stakeholders, ascertaining the demand for such a facility...

Princeton residents urged to register for emergencies

PRINCETON -- In an effort to update the town of Princeton's emergency response information, the Princeton Police Department and town officials are asking residents for information on people who might need special help during an emergency. The information gathered...

Judge says 'no' to call for dismissal of Duplin schools lawsuit

KENANSVILLE -- Super-ior Court Judge Thomas Haigwood Monday afternoon denied a motion to dismiss the capital outlay aspect of the Duplin County Board of Education's lawsuit against the county. The motion was the final one of four that had...

Monday, August 18, 2008

Wayne Community College students back today for opening of fall session

With her first full year behind her as president of Wayne Community College and a new academic year beginning today, Dr. Kay Albertson says her ongoing theme remains centered around knowing the community well and working to provide services...

Restaurants try to wait out squeeze from gas prices

Paying high food costs while trying to keep customers coming back has put the squeeze on area restaurants. News-Argus/Bonnie Edwards Steve's Pizza manager Joe Talton charges a $2.50 fuel charge for deliveries, and it goes straight to the driver,...

Square dance club open house Sept. 12

Shelia Heath's first experience with the Tar Heel Twirlers came when she just showed up one night at a club meeting and ended up on the dance floor. "They pushed me through, and they're still pushing me through. I...

Damage from golf balls not concern at course

Residents living on Dixie Trail, Slocumb and John streets at times might experience a hazard that other homeowners in the city might not -- flying golf balls. But if they do experience damage to their property from errant shots...

School Street, Carver Heights honored

Two area elementary schools have been named "Exemplary Schools" for the 2007-08 school year by the North Carolina Reading First and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. School Street Elementary and Carver Heights Elementary were among a handful of...

Four to be admitted to Wayne Wall of Fame

The Wayne County Historical Association is inducting four new members to the Wall of Fame, including Linda Burroughs of Fordham House; the late William Milas Reinhardt, educator; the late Dr. Deleon Edward Best; and the late John Allen Farfour,...

Storefront churches not part of city plans

City officials want to see fewer of them and landlords say they pay the rent, but increasing numbers of storefront churches downtown are causing debate about what kind of business is good business for downtown. Storefront churches are on...

CDBG Block Grant hearing Tuesday

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday morning on a proposed $400,000 Community Development Block Grant. The hearing will be held at 9:15 a.m. in the commissioners' board room on the fourth floor of...

Bentonville re-enactment

FOUR OAKS -- Civil War re-enactors will discuss life in the field during Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site's summer living history program Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.. Members of the 27th Regiment of N.C. State...

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center finally opens

Here's hoping that Fluffy the gerbil likes puppies. That's because Fluffy, of Eureka, was getting a new house-mate: a German shepherd mix adopted Saturday morning from the new Wayne County animal shelter. The shelter opened Saturday after years of...

Goldsboro High School teacher attends prestigious civics seminar

Following three intensive weeks as a student this summer, Goldsboro High School teacher Lynn Bull said he is even more excited about the new school year than in years past. A history teacher at the school for 13 years,...

Local Boy Scout helps build Wyoming trails

Brandon Hill is back home in North Carolina this week after making a trek out West this summer as part of a national Boy Scout effort to repair eroding hiking trails in the Grand Tetons mountains. The Wyoming project...

Fremont Junior EMS team best in state

FREMONT -- Airway, breathing, circulation. Those are the "ABCs" of basic life support, the sort of thing a hospital-bound patient needs before getting to the hospital. And a junior Emergency Medical Services team from Fremont has its "ABCs" down...

Horticulture agent Jessica Hyatt leaving Extension Service for high school

Horticulture Agent Jessica Hyatt of the Cooperative Extension Service has resigned to become a teacher. Her last day will be Tuesday, and she will teach biotechnology at Spring Creek School. "I thought it was a good opportunity to work...

Duplin school funding trial to start Monday

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin County Board of Education's lawsuit against county commissioners will begin as scheduled Monday in Superior Court and will be heard by a jury of Duplin County residents. Jury selection could begin as early as Monday...

Chamber to release civic center study Tuesday

City leaders will know Tuesday what consultants think about the possibility of building a civic center in this community. And one of the keys to such a project's success might be the area's Air Force connection. The Goldsboro-Wayne Travel...

Stoney Creek Park Alliance to hold community forums this week

City residents are going to get their chance this week to ask any question they want about plans for the proposed Stoney Creek Park. The Stoney Creek Park Alliance will host two community forums -- at 7 p.m. Tuesday...

Goldsboro City Council to hold five public hearings Monday

Goldsboro City Council will have five public hearings at its meeting Monday night. The first will be involve a request to change the name of Spring Court to Granville Place, while the second and third will discuss rezoning requests....

Friday, August 15, 2008

Wayne County says 'no' to state's proposal for secondary road work

Wayne County does not plan to get into the road business, and a bill recently signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley allowing voluntary county participation in secondary road work is simply a "bad idea," County Manager Lee Smith...

New 4th Fighter Wing commander named

From Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Col. Mark Kelly got the news -- the F-15E pilot has been named the next 4th Fighter Wing commander. Colonel Mark Kelly Air Force officials released their selection shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, and within...

Upper Neuse Riverkeeper resigns

Dean Naujoks, the Upper Neuse Riverkeeper, announced last week that he has resigned his position effective Aug. 1, according to a letter released on the Neuse River Foundation's Web site. The Neuse Riverkeeper program, which has been in existence...

Dudley man charged with trafficking in heroin

A Dudley man has been charged with trafficking in heroin, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Lorenza Peacock, 24, of Old Mount Olive Highway, Dudley, was free this morning under $20,000 secured bond after being arrested during a...

Open houses set for next week at most Wayne County schools

Open houses, signaling the start of a new school year in Wayne County Public Schools, will be Wednesday and Thursday nights. First day of classes will be Monday, Aug. 25. Two schools in the district, however -- Wayne School...

Public record

Woman tied up with phone cord Arika Jones of West Hooks River Road told police a black man she does not know entered her home and pointed a handgun at her while she was in bed early on Thursday morning....

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Suspects charged in county robberies

Pastor James Lucas was eager to have his equipment back, which was stolen from Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Fremont's Memorial Church Road. Lucas and his flock were one of four victims -- two of them churches -- allegedly...

I-795 adds to Wayne's tourism numbers, state officials report

Despite the recent high gas prices, uncertainty at the pump didn’t stop people from traveling to and through Wayne County in 2007. In fact, according to the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, travel generated more...

Children's fossil program scheduled at museum

The Wayne County Museum will host a free children's event featuring fossils and a live iguana Friday night. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. upstairs in the museum, which is located at 116 N. William St. The presentation by...

MOC scholarship fund to honor Reece Richardson

MOUNT OLIVE — Reece Richardson played his first soccer game of the 2007 season in the Jamboree at Mount Olive College and what would be his last soccer game there months later. On Jan. 21, the 17-year-old Kenly youth...

Public record

Girlfriend shoots man with pellet gun Chad Christopher Craft, 34, of North Daisy Street reported that his girlfriend shot him nine times with a pellet gun Wednesday morning in the 300 block of Park Avenue, police said. Earlier that evening,...

County eyes revaluation cycle law

Wayne County isn't expected to be impacted by a new state law that could require property revaluation every four years -- at least not for this year anyway since the county already is in the midst of its regular eight-year...

WCC adds biotechnology program to course list beginning this term

With trends shifting toward alternative fuels and a growing need for skilled lab technicians, Wayne Com-munity College is responding by introducing a two-year program in agricultural biotechnology this fall. The two-year program leads to an Associate in Applied Science...

Air Force officials select next 4th Fighter Wing commander

Col. Mark Kelly will be the next 4th Fighter Wing commander, Air Force officials confirmed Thursday. The news came just a day before Col. Thomas Bergeson was set to take the reins at a ceremony on Seymour Johnson Air...

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Democrats turn out for Ronnie Griffin fundraiser

Faced with an open seat in the state House District 11 race, North Carolina's Democratic leadership is hoping to be able to use it to strengthen the party's grip on the chamber. News-Argus/Mitch Loeber State House Speaker Joe Hackney,...

Public record

Police are searching for a South Herman Street girl who ran away in late July, according to a report. Jasmine Nicole Barrett, 15, of South Herman Street may be in the company of Maria Fields, also identified as a...

WCC dental assisting class has 100% passing rate

The recent dental assisting class at Wayne Community College had a 100 percent passing rate on the Dental Assisting National Board examination. All 16 are all eligible to work in the state as certified dental assistants. Area residents in...

WCPS Class of 2008 earns millions in scholarships

The Class of 2008 from Wayne County Public Schools will start college this fall with an estimated $12 million in renewable aid. Students from the seven high schools in the public school system earned an array of grants, scholarships...

Bob Dole makes campaign stop in Goldsboro

With the race between Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan beginning to heat up, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole was in Goldsboro Tuesday, campaigning on behalf of his wife. News-Argus/Greg Sousa Former sen. Bob...

Code Red ready for action by Tuesday

Beginning next Tuesday, Wayne County will have a new high-tech tool to alert residents when bad weather or other emergencies threaten. Code Red, a reverse 911 emergency alert system, could be triggered in the event of a Silver or...

Duplin schools ask for outside jury in fight over funds

KENANSVILLE -- Attorneys for the Duplin County Board of Education Tuesday afternoon filed a motion to have its lawsuit against county commissioners heard by jurors from outside the county. Failing that, the motion seeks to have the case tried...

NATO airmen training at SJAFB

Enemy fighters are nearing the North Carolina coast. A four-ship of F-15E Strike Eagles knows it must protect the home front. News-Argus/Bobby Williams An E-3 Sentry from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany, taxis down the Seymour Johnson Air Force...

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Wayne Special Olympians bring home medals

Special Olympics Wayne County participated in the Special Olympics North Carolina Mid Summer Tournament in Raleigh July 18-20. Rich Walderman headed up the Wayne County delegation of 56 bowlers, equestrian riders and support staff. Equestrian teams members competed in...

Public record

Shootings *Rose Forte of East Elm Street told police a black male she does not know shot at her with a handgun on Saturday evening while she was sitting under her carport. A door window was broken by gunfire,...

WCC graduates 12 cadets from law enforcement class

Wayne Community College graduated 12 cadets recently during its 52nd Basic Law Enforcement Training, or BLET class. Certificates were conferred on Lounes Blackman, Ray Al Bravo, Edward Fritz, Curtis Russell and Marion Walton of Goldsboro; Douglas Honeycutt and Jennings...

Cherry faces more federal sanctions

For the second time in two years Cherry Hospital has been threatened with the loss of its federal funding because of incidents involving patient care. Officials at the state Department of Health and Human Services said the state mental...

Paramount buyback plan gets council ok

The Goldsboro City Council approved an installment-purchase contract Monday for the city to buy the Paramount Theatre back from the Weil Foundation. A public hearing on the subject was held beforehand. One person spoke, in opposition of the buyback....

Jury trial planned for Duplin lawsuit

KENANSVILLE -- Jury selection is expected to get under way Monday afternoon in Duplin County Superior Court in the Duplin County Board of Education's lawsuit against county commissioners. Court officials said this morning that because of the case, an...

Mount Olive sets sights on houses that are on town's 'demolish' list

MOUNT OLIVE -- For some people, the ramshackle house at 126 Patten St. is a visual blight, but for Candra Capers of Clinton it is her family's homeplace. While she lacks the financial resources to complete renovations to the...

Monday, August 11, 2008

Should Wayne be modeling Durham?

DURHAM -- Durham Public Schools has not lacked in challenges in recent years -- a school board fraught with conflict regularly splashed across the news, 47 percent free and reduced lunch for the district and only 17 percent of...

Storm hits area, leaving some damage

The roof of a local church was damaged, power lines were downed and limbs and other strewn debris were left in the wake of a thunderstorm that rolled across Wayne County Sunday night. No injuries were reported. News-Argus/Bobby Williams...

Public record

Courteous thief Frances Irene Forshey, 55, of Ridge Drive was the victim of financial transaction fraud. She told police she left her debit card in an ATM at the N.C. Community Federal Credit Union after making a transaction. According...

Schedules are in the mail for the 2008 Wayne Fair

The 2008 Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair catalogs are out. The catalogs were mailed earlier this month, but members of the fair staff said most went out in bulk mail and that it likely took a while for them to...

WCC arts and humanities fall schedule announced

The Foundation of Wayne Community College's arts and humanities program is offering a full calendar of events during the coming months, including trips, discussions and election-related fare. The fall season kicks off in September with a Piedmont Arts Trip...

Suspect in cross burning charged based on current N.C. law stipulation

Spokespersons for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office both declined to confirm any involvement in a Dudley cross burning case. But a high-ranking local authority said a Federal Bureau of Investigation liaison has been involved since the very...

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Opposition growing to Fibrowatt plant

FAISON -- The longer it takes to resolve issues surrounding a proposed $200 million Fibrowatt biomass-fired power plant at N.C. 403 and Interstate 40 less than three miles from here, the stronger the opposition grows, Mayor Elmer Flake said...

Smart Start receives $3,000 grant from Target

The Partnership for Children of Wayne County, also known as Smart Start, recently received a $3,000 Target grant to fund its multicultural Arts for Tots program, providing free assembles throughout the year. The assemblies are educational and make the...

Mount Olive officials defend water rates

MOUNT OLIVE -- A flood of calls from water customers upset by higher water bills created by the town's new usage-based rates has inundated town offices. And while town officials have attempted to explain the rates, they can offer...

Duplin files to get school board's lawsuit thrown out

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County attorneys citing constitutional grounds and the doctrine of sovereign immunity Friday filed a motion to dismiss the Board of Education's lawsuit against the county. The concept of of sovereign immunity means that a government cannot...

City Council to consider Paramount buyback

The Goldsboro City Council will hold a public hearing Monday night to consider the authorization of an installment-purchase contract for the city to buy the Paramount Theatre back from the Weil Foundation. Kaye Scott, the city's acting finance director,...

City parks: Play or pass?

Tierea Atkins is dribbling a basketball at South End Park with his friend, Latrae McKinnon. The two try to play there every day. "Sometimes, we will come here at like 10 in the morning, and we won't leave until...

Friday, August 8, 2008

Test results show quality of schools

Wayne County public school officials were pleased with the early results of the ABCs accountability test scores released Thursday by the state's Department of Public Instruction. While the final status ranking from the recent end of grade reading tests...

Albertson water project will soon get underway

KENANSVILLE -- A $1 million water well project for the Albertson community in northern Duplin County has required county commissioners to affirm residential water rates before the project can proceed. Sitting as the Duplin County Water District A board,...

Back-to-school rally focuses students on staying in school

Linda McFarland strolled through the hallway at St. Mark Church of Christ Thursday evening with her three grandchildren -- Diayania Coley, 3, and Demoregea Coley, 6, and their cousin Mykira McFarland, 7. They were attending the "Back to School...

Public record

Man shot Jakkar Katril Pettaway, 17, of East Elm Street, reported that he was at a residence in the 300 block of South William Street when he was shot with a handgun by a man he did not know,...

Ensemble founder Millard Burt dies

Dr. Millard P. Burt, a founding director of the former Mount Olive Community Instrumental Ensemble, has died. The Ensemble, which existed from 1991 until a couple of years ago, began as a group of volunteer musicians who gathered at...

Wayne County approves annual secondary road projects

Wayne County Commissioners approved $1.427 million in proposed secondary road projects this week. State highway officials annually present their proposed secondary road project plan to county officials for approval. The projects will affect 2.2 miles of rural road, including...

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Family arraigned on drug charges

Since December, the Sheriff's Office has conducted three raids on the same family household -- the Spruill residence on Dollard Town Road. But those raids and the charges that came with them were not enough to stop at least...

Public record

Embezzlement charges Three people are charged with embezzlement from Premiere Theater on 10th Place that took place over about a year, a Goldsboro investigator said. Police Investigator Bryant Canady reported that Emily Blake Ardis, 19, Nicholas Drive, Shayne Edward...

Couple share deployment experience

Angela Horton scanned the faces of wounded troops seeking treatment at a military hospital in Iraq, hoping the person she was looking for was not among them. She knew her husband, Tim, might have been. Master Sgt. Angela Horton...

Duplin court bound

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin County Board of Education filed a lawsuit in Duplin County Superior Court on Wednesday against the county Board of Commissioners, seeking an unspecified amount of money. School leaders claim the commissioners have not provided enough...

Downtown Jam today, starting at 5:30

The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s summer concert series continues this evening with a show by the Craig Woolard Band, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Waynesborough House on South Center Street. The even is being co-sponsored...

State releases ABC school test scores

Twenty-three of the county's 33 public schools made high growth under the state's ABCs accountability model, while another five made expected growth, according to a preliminary announcement made today by the state's Department of Public Instruction. Download charts showing...

Deadline for Wayne County Reads voting approaches

Voting for the 2009 Wayne County Reads book will end Friday. Readers should cast their ballot by midnight for the book or books they wish to read and discuss in the sixth year of the countywide "one book, one...

Pep rally aims to motivate students

A "back-to-school rally" for parents and students will be held tonight from 6-9 p.m. in the fellowship hall of St. Mark Church of Christ. Sponsored by the Stop the Funeral Initiative, it is the second year for the event....

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

County approves $20 million plan for WCC projects

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday gave tentative approval to a proposed $20 million building project at Wayne Community College, but not before ensuring that the wording of their motion was sufficiently vague so as to not bind the hands of...

Police seek help to solve murder

Police are releasing few details about the homicide of Alroujan Sentele Smith last Thursday, as they work in partnership with the State Bureau of Investigation. SBI officials would not comment on the investigation. Smith, 22, of Lemon Street was...

Taste of Wayne proves to be a tasty time

With Thai and Chinese, pizza and pasta and Guinness stew and barbecue, there wasn't a taste bud at the annual Taste of Wayne County that wasn't satisfied Tuesday evening. But the best part of the annual United Way campaign...

Public record

Man shot East Walnut Street resident Antwan Pope, 18, told police he was shot inside of a convenience store in the 500 block of East Elm Street, police said. Pope and a witness reported a black female entered the...

Local national Night Out events aim to fight crime

Felicia Kornegay and Taunya Sheppard live in the Fairview Homes off of Edgerton Street, a public housing community, where, Ms. Sheppard says, "crime is really bad." But she says it's getting better -- and she credits frequent police patrols...

Duplin commissioners, schools appear to be headed to court

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County residents should know today whether the county Board of Education will file a lawsuit against county commissioners over local school funding. School board attorney Dave Phillips told the News-Argus early today that today is the...

Kidnapping suspect might fight extradition

A South Herman Street man accused of kidnapping his 2-year-old daughter from Massachusetts might fight extradition, court records show. Joel Keith Brown, 43, turned himself in after a statewide "Amber Alert," on Friday and was being held without privilege...

Duplin school board hears protest

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County Board of Education members were taken to the woodshed Tuesday night by a succession of 13 speakers, each building on the comments of the person before them as they all shared one message -- for...

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Mount Olive considering golf cart regulations

MOUNT OLIVE -- The golf carts seen zipping along town streets might soon have to meet new guidelines if they are to continue to operate. Mount Olive was among several towns that sought and won recent state legislation authorizing...

Duplin county - school mediation stalled

KENANSVILLE -- The Aug. 1 deadline to conclude mediation between the Duplin County Board of Commissioners and the county Board of Education has passed, but as of 5 p.m. Monday, commissioners said they remain unsure of the mediation's status....

Demolition of Days Inn in progress

News-Argus/Bobby Williams Jose Bustos of A & K Grading of LaGrange uses an excavator to start knocking down the Days Inn on Wayne Memorial Drive early this morning. The motel was destroyed almost a year ago during a severe...

Public record

Robbed in the street Goldsboro police are investigating an armed robbery Saturday on Meyers Avenue. The victim, Lucius Mechell Smith, of an unknown address, told police he was in the roadway in the 300 block of Meyers Avenue when...

Board of Education renews superintendent's contract

The Wayne County Board of Education approved a one-year renewal of Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor's contract Monday night, including a salary increase of $22,482, bringing his annual pay up to $172,367 by a vote of 6-1. Board member John...

National Night Out schedule

Goldsboro, Mount Olive and Fremont will each observe National Night Out tonight. The nationwide event is designed to bring communities together in an anti-crime effort. Local law enforcement agencies and other civic groups and organizations will be on hand...

Mount Olive residents seeing high water bills

MOUNT OLIVE -- Determining whether the town has any "wiggle room" in its water rate structure will be among the topics that Town Manager Charles Brown is expected to broach today while in Washington today to talk with officials...

Citizen's tip puts suspect in custody

A Goldsboro man shot at a William Street store in June made a list of the city's "most wanted" after avoiding police by walking out of Wayne Memorial Hospital, authorities say. But now police have caught Prentice Deshone Best,...

Monday, August 4, 2008

Work to demolish Days Inn to begin

Nearly a year after a windstorm damaged a Wayne Memorial Drive motel, the structure is being prepared for demolition today. Goldsboro Chief Building Inspector Ed Cianfarra said that the company tearing down the Days Inn -- A & K...

Aycock graduate dies in weekend wreck

A recent graduate of Charles B. Aycock High School was killed early Sunday morning when the car he was driving ran off the left side of South Hillcrest Drive in Goldsboro and struck a tree. Thomas Ethan "Bo" Goff,...

Students get hands-on chance to prepare for agriculture careers

MOUNT OLIVE -- There is not a full crop of students in Mount Olive College's new agribusiness program, but college officials they say they expect enrollment and interest to increase. Submitted photo Andy Meyer, left, dairy research operations manager...

Fine arts academy sets date for fall open house

ArtSmarts is still looking for students and is having an open house Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Herman Park Center to allow those who may be interested in the academy to learn more about the program. The...

Independent filmmaker's "The List" released on DVD

"The List," a North Carolina-based film released on a limited basis last November, is now out on DVD. Filmmaker Gary Wheeler lives in Boone but has Goldsboro ties -- his wife and business partner is the former Jodie Sutton...

Enrollment at college up for fall, WCC says

Student numbers for the fall semester at Wayne Community College are on the rise and officials are attributing that in part to "flexible alternatives" that are helping students manage the cost of an education. Catering to a student population...

Sunday, August 3, 2008

College asks for funds to expand

Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday will be asked for tentative approval of a proposed $20 million capital improvement project at Wayne Community College. Currently, there are no funds available for construction and the vote does not commit any funding....

Tastebud tantalizer begins Tuesday

The annual Taste of Wayne is set to kick off the United Way's annual fundraising drive and will be held Tuesday, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the commons on the campus of Wayne Community College. Until 8 p.m., everything...

Shoppers save with temporary tax break

If the scenes playing out at local stores Saturday were all you knew about consumer spending, you might find it hard to believe that some experts suggest the American economy is on the brink of recession. But then you...

Public record

The following incidents are being investigated by the Goldsboro Police Department: *A Bolling Drive resident claims his identity was stolen. Jason Hill told Goldsboro police officers Friday that someone used his personal information to acquire more than $20,000 in...

Saving Christopher

When Christopher Steed first awoke from his nightmarish trip to Guatemala, he implored his mother in Spanish, "Who should I save, Sofia or David?" She assumed he was struggling in his mind to protect the two children that had been...

Goldsboro council delays meeting

The first meeting this month for the Goldsboro City Council has been moved to Aug. 11. The meeting was originally scheduled for Aug. 4, as the council normally gathers the first Monday of the month. The agenda for the...

Sager, friends host fundraiser

Efton Sager and his campaign for the state House District 11 seat might have been the main focus of the evening, but to House Minority Leader Paul Stam, there is much more at stake than just that one seat....

Col. Bergeson reassigned: called to duty in Alaska

Col. Thomas Bergeson might still be at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base training in the F-15E Strike Eagle, if the 3rd Fighter Wing family did not need him more. He would have been named 4th Fighter Wing Commander at...

Duplin protest meeting moved

KENANSVILLE -- School consolidation foes on Tuesday are expected to protest the Duplin County Board of Education's schools' facilities plan. In anticipation of a large crowd, the school board meeting has been moved from the board's regular meeting room...

Communities look forward to National Night Out

Wayne County residents are urged to take Tuesday evening and get to know their law enforcement officers and neighbors a little better. Goldsboro, Fremont and Mount Olive will each join with thousands of other cities and towns across the...

Fremont prepares for National Night Out

FREMONT -- Ron Rawlings knows how many Wayne County residents perceive Fremont. "For a long time, people have considered our town unsafe," he said. But in the 18 months since he took over as police chief, Rawlings said he...

Father on the run surrenders in Wayne

A man accused of abducting his 2-year-old daughter from a Massachusetts day care center, setting off a statewide Amber Alert in North Carolina on Friday, is being held without bond in the Wayne County Jail. Joel Brown, 43, whom...

Friday, August 1, 2008

Public record

Motorcycle stolen Wayne County Sheriff's officers are investigating the theft of a motorcycle from Jerry Edward Cotton's home on Corbett Hill Road, Mount Olive. The motorcycle, valued at $2,100, was taken from a shop on the property, which was last...

New hours come Monday

With few exceptions Wayne County government offices will switch to a four-day work schedule next week with most offices being closed on Fridays. Most of the offices on the new schedule will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m....

Jobless rate up in county for June

Unemployment is on the rise in Wayne and 81 other counties. Wayne County's rate rose three-tenths of a percent from 5.7 in May to 6 percent in June. The unemployment rate in June 2007 was 5.1 percent. Some surrounding counties...

Probable cause hearing set for cross burning

A probable cause hearing will be held Tuesday, Aug. 12, in Wayne County District Court for a Dudley man facing multiple charges stemming from an argument with his neighbors, an interracial couple. Dixon Steward, 38, faces a charge of ethnic...

Police on lookout for girl, suspect

North Carolina law enforcement authorities are on the lookout for a child that has been reported missing from her home in Massachusetts. The Chicopee, Mass., Police Department is searching for Justice Rose Brown and believe she and her captor could...

Man found shot to death in Goldsboro

A 22-year-old man was found shot to death shortly after 9 p.m. on Hawthorne Street on Thursday night. Goldsboro Police Department investigators were called to the scene after gunshots were reported. News-Argus/Greg Sousa Crime scene tape surrounds the residence at...

MOC adds two to staff

MOUNT OLIVE -- Two new hires have been announced at Mount Olive College, in the career center and a newly-created position. Richard Darden of Goldsboro will be an assistant director of the career center. A graduate of Wayne Community College...