July 2009 archives

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Friday, July 31, 2009

Maintenance revenue helping Duplin and Mount Olive airports thrive as Wayne looks for new model

Unlike its counterparts in Mount Olive and Duplin County, the company managing the Goldsboro-Wayne Airport lacked resources to offset the loss in aviation fuel sales that figured into its decision to cancel its contract with Wayne County. SIG Aviation's...

Two suspects take plea deals; one goes to trial

Two of the three people still on trial for alleged cocaine trafficking took plea deals with district attorneys on Thursday afternoon. The trial will still proceed with the remaining person still on trial, Joe Nathan Spruill Jr., 32. Proceedings...

Hoping they have found a treasure, not just trash

There are a few places where it's normal to find teeth -- like in a mouth or as part of a mother's "Baby's First Tooth" keepsake. But a stranger's tooth is exactly what J.B. Baird had in his hand Tuesday...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Taste of Wayne tickets on sale now

The United Way of Wayne County is gearing up for another campaign season with the 19th Annual Taste of Wayne County. The event is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 11 at Wayne Community College. Those in attendance will...

State opens case against alleged drug trafficking family members

Witnesses were expected to continue testifying today in Wayne County Superior Court in the trial of four people accused of trafficking in cocaine from a Dollard Town Road area home. Law enforcement officers have raided property owned by the...

GATEWAY will offer free ride, cut route

When the tax-free holiday comes next week, the GATEWAY buses will be rolling with people riding free of charge. The Goldsboro-Wayne County Transportation Authority Tuesday morning agreed to continue the three-year-old tradition as a way to promote ridership. It...

Eureka voters will use write-in ballots

Eureka voters will use write-in ballots to decide on a mayor and two board members. No one filed for the offices prior to the end of the filing period on July 17. Mayor Steven Howell and Commissioner Billy Martin and...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

County to parents: Talk to teens about pregnancy

Parents should be talking to their children about the realities of teen pregnancy, and the sooner the better, officials say. Wayne County's pregnancy rate is currently 25 percent above the state average, said James Roosen, health director. "Our rate...

Wayne has $1.5M in unclaimed property

State Rep. Efton Sager has announced that the state Treasurer's Department is holding approximately $1.5 million in cash and property unclaimed by Wayne County residents. Sager, R-Wayne, explained that he has a list of those owned escheat money by...

Another man pleads guilty in tobacco scam

Dennis Wray Hawley, 62, of Wilson, pleaded guilty in federal District Court to two counts of aiding and abetting the making of materially false statements in connection with the Federal Crop Insurance Program, in violation of Title 18, United...

916th brings home RODEO's top honors

Members of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's own 916th Air Refueling Wing have plenty of reason to celebrate this week, as they recently returned from Air Mobility Command's premier mobility competition winners in several categories. AMC's RODEO competition pitted nearly...

Courthouse security officers have seen it all, including snakes

Security guard Cpl. Laticia Garcia recalls the day a man stripped down to his underwear to pass through the metal detector at the Wayne County Courthouse after his first trips through set off the alarm. While that and other...

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Airmen honored: Forever in flight

By KENNETH FINE News-Argus Staff Writer Some came in uniforms, others in black suits and dresses, to remember, to honor two men who gave their lives for their country. But those who gathered this morning at Seymour Johnson Air Force...

Trial questions officers actions

The trial of a man charged with assault with a firearm on a police officer began Monday in Wayne County District Court. The two officers involved, Goldsboro police officers Orlando Rosario and Philip French, have been under fire by...

Monday, July 27, 2009

Memorial service set for Tuesday

Tears will likely be shed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's Heritage Park Tuesday as the 4th Fighter Wing is set to formally honor its two airmen who fell in Afghanistan last week. Hundreds of family members, friends and comrades...

WATCH van set to return to county July 31

Two familiar facets of WATCH will be back in Wayne County next month -- the mobile clinic and nurse practitioner Kathy Johnson. Wayne Action Teams for Community Health, or WATCH, obtained a $150,000 grant from the state to revamp the...

Duplin might be model for Wayne County airport

Goldsboro-Wayne Airport Authority Chairman Otto Keesling said it is possible the county could model its new airport management structure after the one being used in Duplin County. The move would have the county following a statewide trend in which...

More local mouths to feed than ever

On Tuesday afternoon, Jason was sitting in a completely different chair than he was in January. Nearly six months ago, Jason could peer over the computer screen on his desk and see his fellow colleagues. Tuesday, he could look up...

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Annual unity prayer walk held

The crowd may have been smaller than anticipated Saturday, but voices were proud and strong at the third annual Unity Prayer Walk on Saturday designed to "change the atmosphere" of gangs and violence in the city. The Rev. Dr....

Bypass spawns talk of other projects

The limited highway funding that is expected to be available over the next 25 years probably will be just enough to complete the U.S. 70 bypass in its entirety, state highway officials say. In lieu of that, a handful...

Hearing to be held on future of GATEWAY van routes

A public hearing to determine the fate of GATEWAY fixed van routes to Dudley/Mount Olive and Pikeville/Fremont will be held Tuesday during a 10 a.m. meeting of the Goldsboro Wayne Transportation Authority. The meeting will be held in the...

Extreme Makeover Home Edition looks for N.C. families to help

From staff reports Producers of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition are looking for families in North Carolina to help, and looking for nominations. "We are looking for the deserving people and inspiring families that America can really root for," casting...

Williford to write new book on Grantham

However, to help him do so Williford is appealing for the public's help in two ways -- by providing information and photos and through financial assistance. Like his first book, Williford said his next project will not be a moneymaker...

Local representatives skeptical of annexation bill's future

Two of Wayne County's three representatives voted earlier this week on a proposal to change the way annexations are handled in North Carolina. But now they're skeptical that the state Senate will approve the plan passed by the House....

Volunteer makes sure children have a chance to learn how to swim

Josh Chappell is making a difference -- one swimmer at a time. The 16-year-old is offering free swimming lessons for Wayne County youth this summer through the YMCA. Growing up, Josh always liked being in the water. After taking a...

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Not your average baby talk

Her eyes fixated on a particular tree, Roxie Wilding brings her thumbs and index fingers together. "Do you see the birdie, Roxie?" her mother, chiropractor Dr. Kara Paat, says. "Is that a birdie?" Roxie smiles and continues tapping those fingers...

UPDATE: Fremont police chief scuffles in courthouse

Watch surveillance video of Fremont Police Chief Ron Rawlings scuffle with Chauncey Simms, 53, of Sycamore Street, Fremont on Thursday afternoon. Authorities said Simms exchanged words with Rawlings before striking the chief in the face in the lobby of Wayne...

Friday, July 24, 2009

Man sought for trying to pass fake checks

Wayne County financial crimes detectives are looking for a man passing counterfeit Wayne County Tax Office checks to area businesses, authorities said. Detectives Tom Flores and Mike Kabler said they suspect the man has been involved in more than one...

Unity Prayer Walk planned for Saturday

More than 30 area churches and organizations are expected to take to the streets Saturday for the third annual Unity Prayer Walk. The walk is organized by Stop the Funeral Initiative, an effort of Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corp....

Fremont police chief, angry defendant scuffle in courthouse lobby after case

What started as a simple court case for a Fremont man, ended with him wrestling the police chief in the courthouse lobby. Chauncey Simms, 53, of Sycamore Street, was in Wayne County Court of Common Pleas Thursday for having more...

In their honor

It was just a simple photo session -- no more than two or three minutes of posing and smiling on cue. But for the hundreds who gathered on the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base flight line this morning, the images...

Local legislators not sure about final budget votes

Wayne County legislators admitted Thursday that they have mixed feelings on the proposed $990 million tax package that was being discussed by House and Senate leaders this week, but only the Republicans promised to vote against it. Most of...

Poker run Saturday for Great Dane group

Zozo was only 15 months old when the Great Dane gave birth to 13 puppies. After the puppies were nursed and sold, Zozo was given away. She ended up at the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. Until she's adopted,...

Thursday, July 23, 2009

WCC Foundation's golf tourney breaks record

The slumping economy did not keep Wayne Community College Foundation from having a banner year, with its recent golf tournament raising a record-breaking $70,000 raised for student scholarships. It was the most money raised in the event's history, and...

Public record

Woman cut with knife An Evergreen Avenue woman suffered minor injury after being cut by a friend with a knife late Tuesday, Goldsboro police reported. Latoya McDuffie, 24, reported a 17-year-old female friend cut her arm during an argument. Ms....

Second arrest made in church thefts

A Goldsboro man was an accomplice in mid-June thefts of air conditioners from local churches, Wayne County Sheriff's Office detectives allege. Jason Charles Phelps, 32, of Lisa Lane, faces six counts of felony-level larceny and possession of stolen goods,...

Cherry to get federal money again

After almost a year of lost federal funding, inspectors with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services informed Cherry Hospital officials Wednesday that they plan to recommend the state psychiatric facility be once again certified to receive Medicare and...

New Jersey students helping build Habitat for Humanity home

Seventeen young people from Haddonfield, N.J., are in the area this week volunteering for Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne. The Summer Youth Mission Team and Pastor Wayne Zschech from The Lutheran Church of Our Savior arrived Sunday and will make...

Quinn nominated to be U.S. marshal

Approval from President Barack Obama and Senate confirmation is all that stands between Bronnie Quinn and a lifelong dream. Quinn, a retired Highway Patrol trooper with a 25-year career, is one of three nominees to become U.S. Marshal for the...

Godette found guilty on most charges

A jury found a Forrest Knolls Road teen not guilty of an assault on a law enforcement officer after authorities alleged he severely beat a jail guard, but convicted him on other counts. The jury found Christian Ray Godette,...

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Memorial planned Tuesday for Capt. McDowell, Capt. Gramith

A memorial has been planned for the 336th Fighter Squadron officers lost in Afghanistan early Saturday morning when their F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in the country's Ghazni Province. Capt. Mark R. McDowell and Capt. Thomas J. Gramith will be remembered...

Princeton man, 71, dies after being hit by truck

GREENVILLE -- A Princeton man hit by a tractor trailer on July 6 has died, the Highway Patrol said. William Godwin, 71, had been in critical condition since a tractor trailer struck him while he was standing in the...

Fremont will challenge outcome of sewer project

FREMONT -- Recent sewer projects are draining the patience of some Fremont officials. At Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting, board members discussed in closed session their concerns about an engineering services contract with The Wooten Co. Kerry McDuffie, town...

Firefighters cannot find cause for house fire

PRINCETON -- Authorities say the cause of a fire that completely destroyed a Luby Smith Road home on Sunday is undetermined. Kevin Berube, 27, a former Princeton resident who now lives in Palm Springs, Fla., told police he had returned...

Coping with loss

Maj. Bill O'Sullivan is no stranger to tragedy. Helping people cope with loss comes with the territory when you're an Air Force chaplain. But his experiences have taught him that when the worst happens, anyone can be a shoulder to...

Police want help to ID body found in house

Goldsboro police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man found dead July 4 in an abandoned home. The unidentified body was found in a house behind Affordable Storage at 200 Fedelon Trail, off North William street,...

WCC fees going up for some courses

Fees for continuing education courses at Wayne Community College are going up this fall, reflecting recent changes outlined by the General Assembly and approved by the State Board of Community Colleges. The move set the rates for courses that...

Re-enacting Rome at VBS

Mike Palmer, right, tells the story of Paul's house arrest under Roman rule during the First Baptist Church of Goldsboro's Vacation Bible School. While under house arrest, Paul was still allowed visitors and continued his teaching....

14-year-old conservative author energizes Republican Party at rally

Jonathan Krohn, known to some as "Little Mr. Conservative," visited Goldsboro this weekend, espousing a message that trumpeted conservative ideals. In a 20-minute speech to a crowd of about 50 people, Jonathan, 14, invoked the words of Adam Smith,...

Library to host three-day 'Geeks and Gamers' event

The fourth annual "Geeks and Gamers" will be held next month at the Wayne County Public Library. The three days of games and books will be held Friday, Aug. 14 from 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 15 from 12-5 p.m.;...

Licensing changes coming soon to DMV offices

Driver's license offices in Goldsboro and Mount Olive next week will be among the area's 16 offices that will be closed for half a day as the state changes driver's license offices in 14 eastern North Carolina counties from...

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

28 of 32 schools meet AYP standard

For the second year in a row, Wayne County Public Schools had its highest number of schools to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, under the federal No Child Left Behind requirements. Preliminary results for 2008-09 were released today by...

Duplin residents upset over revaluation

KENANSVILLE -- More people than usual are contesting the revaluation of their property this year, Duplin County tax officials say. "This is the first time we've had more than a handful apply (for an appeal)," county Tax Administrator Gary...

Three face charges of cocaine trafficking

Goldsboro police and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office say three men were arrested in a scheme to sell or transport nearly $100,000 worth of cocaine. The three men are Jesus Rios Flores, 20, address unknown, Ramiro Rios, 41, and...

Eastern Region Hospital moves forward

Work on the new Eastern Region Hospital in Goldsboro -- the eventual replacement for Cherry Hospital -- has been slowed while state officials try to figure out how to cut approximately $7.1 million from the construction budget. However, said...

Honoring the fallen

With eyes closed, members of the Goldsboro City Council bowed their heads Monday evening to honor two Seymour Johnson Air Force Base officers who died this weekend in Afghanistan. Mayor Al King called it a moment of silence. But to...

Public record

Man shot An Olivia Lane man was shot early Sunday morning after he stepped outside his front door, Goldsboro police reported. Donald Sutton, 45, reportedly heard about five shots coming from the area of Carver Drive. One of the shots...

Monday, July 20, 2009

WCDS students take school trip to Mexico

Each spring, Wayne County Day School Headmaster Todd Anderson takes a group of students on a trek through several foreign countries. This year, he slowed things down a bit, with an educational twist. The group of 12 -- 10...

Foundation sets up for family members of fallen crew

An organization with a local chapter has opened a fund for the family of Capt. Thomas J. Gramith. The Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, a group established to "provide a dynamic association of like-minded aerial combat veterans who avow...

Planning Board sets new zoning meetings

The Wayne County Planning Board has placed community workshops on potential zoning back on track months after they were derailed by a maelstrom of controversy. The meetings, the first of which was to have been held earlier this year,...

Man kills brother in family squabble

PIKEVILLE -- Charges have not been filed in the shooting death of a man by a family member, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said early today. Investigators said Brian Womble, 32, was shot to death by his brother on...

House fire deemed suspicious

PRINCETON -- The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a "suspicious fire" at a Luby Smith Road home that was completely destroyed on Sunday morning. Sheriff's Office Capt. Tom Effler said that a home owned by Kevin Berube, at...

WorkKeys program receives funds for development

Wayne Community College will receive part of a $225,626 grant and has been tapped to lead an eight-county alliance to replicate the success of its WorkKeys job profiling and testing program. North Carolina's Eastern Region announced the grant for ASPIRE,...

Heroes come home

A little more than a day after the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base community -- and those outside its gates -- began mourning the loss of two local airmen killed in Afghanistan, the names of the fallen were released by...

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Two from SJAFB killed in jet crash

Air Force officials released Sunday the names of the two Seymour Johnson Air Force Base airmen who died when their F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in eastern Afghanistan Saturday morning. The airmen, who were recovered by U.S. and Coalition forces shortly...

Access, property rights occupy board

What started as a Planning Board review of the action points of the county's long-range comprehensive plan Tuesday night turned into a wide-ranging discussion that touched on the rights of property owners, safety versus the economics of subdivision access...

Not many say they want to be on November ballot

Only a handful of races have developed for this November's municipal and sanitary water district elections including ones for mayor in Mount Olive and Pikeville and another for the Pikeville town board. Meanwhile, it appears that write-in votes will...

WCPS to host annual summer institute Aug. 4-6

Teachers and parents will have their own version of summer school next month, featuring opportunities to promote student success. Wayne County Public Schools will host its fourth annual Summer Institute in the Raper Building at Mount Olive College Aug....

Bell of Bell Homes now branching into property repair work

The slow economy might be a hindrance for some, but John T. Bell took the opportunity to start another company. Bell, owner of Bell Homes, is branching out into property maintenance as managing member of the new company Absolute...

More risky weather

Heavy, dark clouds roll in Friday near Pineview Cemetery Road as the severe weather that hit eastern North Carolina speeds through Wayne County. Little damage was reported in the county after the severe thunderstorms -- and the lightning that accompanied...

Taking safety into their own hands

"Hi-yah!" The yell came from 19 throats, but it still wasn't loud enough for Brenda Calloway's satisfaction. "Try it from here," she said, gesturing lower on her chest. This time, the students in the senior citizen self-defense class put some...

Former resident to talk about National Black Theater Festival

A former Goldsboro resident turned director, actor and writer is returning to Wayne County to speak about his experiences and upcoming performance at the National Black Theater Festival. Ayinde Hurrey will be featured as part of the college's "A...

Eastpointe LME employees honored

Rita Hodges and Nancy Moore, both from the Eastpointe Local Management Entity, were recently recognized with the N.C. Council of Community Programs 2009 Area Board Leadership Award to honor her commitment to those in need of mental health, developmental...

Partnership to offer free swim lessons

Free swimming lessons for young children will be offered later this month. But space is limited, so parents are advised to register early, said David Poythress of Partnership for Children of Wayne County. The Partnership is sponsoring the two-week course...

AT&T Call Center workers collect 5,700 cans for needy

A competitive drive and a desire to give led to local AT&T employees donating more than 5,000 canned goods to United Way of Wayne County. Employees of the AT&T Call Center on U.S. 117 brought in 5,700 canned goods to...

Public record

Armed robbery A Lee's Country Club Road man said he was assaulted and robbed in his home Thursday by three unknown suspects who held him and an 88-year-old woman at gunpoint, according to a report. Elbert Overton, 53, told the...

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Airmen perish in Afghanistan crash

Two members of the 4th Fighter Wing's 336th Fighter Squadron, were killed Saturday in Afghanistan when their F15-E Strike Eagle crashed in the desert. The names of the fallen airmen have not yet been released pending notification of next of...

Friday, July 17, 2009

Senator proposes stronger rules for fireworks

Responding, he said, to the fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island that left four Wayne County residents dead and another severely injured, state Sen. Don Davis has introduced a new bill that would strengthen statutes regarding the use of pyrotechnics....

Hospital tries new incentive to recruit doctors

There's a new way of doing business at Wayne Memorial Hospital, as recruitment efforts reflect the growing trend of doctors turning over some of the business responsibilities to hospitals, officials said. "More and more physicians, particularly the newer ones finishing...

Learning to save energy

From left, Jesse Knotts, 13, James Braswell, 17, and Knowlt Sutton, 12, work together to construct a wind turbine during Camp Kill-A-Watt on the campus of Wayne Community College on Wednesday. The weeklong camp for middle and high school students...

Report: I-795 repairs will cost state $13 million

The state already facing a $4 billion budget shortfall will have to spend $13 million to repair Interstate 795. Department of Transportation officials have yet to determine how to pay for the project that is to be completed by...

Wayne Christian receives accreditation from two groups

Wayne Christian School has recently been granted accreditation from both the Association of Christian Schools International, ACSI, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It joins more than 13,000 schools and school systems throughout the U.S. and overseas that...

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Saying goodbye to Lisa

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FIREWORKS VICTIM: Judy Grey, second from left, of Georgia, whose daughter Lisa Simmons was one of four killed in a fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island on July 4, receives a hug from the Rev. Charles Kirkland,...

Two teens take car, then run from cops

Charges are pending against two teens who allegedly stole a Ford Thunderbird from a friend's grandfather, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. The Sheriff's Office became involved with the case when they received a report of suspicious activity behind a...

Family finds abandoned baby hawk

Rick Roberts wasn't sure what kind of bird his mother, Claudia Roberts, found Tuesday clinging to the chain link fence in their back yard, but he realized the small, fluffy bundle of feathers was in trouble. Roberts was playing...

DGDC gets another donated home; releases 2009 Christmas ornament

The house at 300 S. Virginia St. might be a fixer-upper, but Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. board members were happy to accept the donated property as part of their effort to revitalize the city's core. And once it's cleaned up...

Election deadline looming for fall

The filing period for five of the county's seven municipalities and five of its seven sanitary district boards ends Friday at noon. All of the elections are non-partisan. The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the polls...

Health Board plans ahead for next flu season

A plan of attack is already being developed for next year's flu season, Health Director James Roosen told the Board of Health Wednesday. Reacting to this year's swine flu, or H1N1 as it came to be known, as well...

New exhibit opening at Wayne Arts Council

The Arts Council will have an opening reception for its Larger Than Life, Brighter Than Light exhibit tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be refreshments and live music by local musician John Brown. The exhibit features the...

Jury finds dad guilty in baseball shooting

A jury found a Goldsboro man guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting of a neighbor he argued with over his child's baseball game, court records show. Timothy Tramel Vaughn, 37, gave notice Wednesday that he would appeal the verdict...

Public record

Armed robbery Goldsboro police are searching for three suspects who got into a man's car and demanded money early Wednesday morning, according to a Goldsboro police report. Steven Moore, Ashworth Drive, said two armed black males and an unarmed black...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Pikeville residents will vote on alcohol sales, again

Voters in Pikeville will once again have the opportunity to vote on allowing alcohol sales. The town Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to put an alcohol sales resolution on November's ballot. Commissioners discussed two possible resolutions at the...

Splish splash ... and a shark, too

Seth Daniels, 6, plays with his toy shark at the Lane Tree Country Club pool Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to be a little warmer later this week after a bit of a cooler start....

Testimony, evidence complete in baseball game murder charge

Testimony and the presentation of evidence have ended in the murder trial of a man accused of killing a neighbor after an argument about his child's street baseball game. Timothy Tramel Vaughn, 37, of East Walnut Street, faces a...

Suspect arrested in rape case

A Mount Olive man has turned himself in in connection with the alleged rape of a 20-year-old at a Spence Avenue apartment complex, Goldsboro police said. Shane Martin Berens, 24, of O'Berry Road, is charged with one count of second-degree...

Planning Board authority debated

Planning Board Chairman Chris Cox Tuesday night did not appear convinced that a vote last month by county commissioners was not aimed at diminishing the board's authority. Cox raised the question about commissioners' 5-2 vote at the Planning Board's...

Memorial service planned for victim

A memorial service for the fourth victim of the July 4 fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island will be held tonight at 7 at The Lord's Table, the church all four had attended. The funeral for Lisa Simmons, 41, a children's...

Sprinkler system puts out fire at warehouse

Goldsboro firefighters responded to a call from Excell Home Fashions and Glenoit LLC at about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, but when they arrived, officials said, the building's sprinkler system had already extinguished the flames. "Evidently an electrical panel was hit...

Schools change daily schedules

Wayne County Public Schools announced revamped opening and closing times for 2009-10, with a handful starting earlier in the fall. Most only changed slightly, but several will start between 15 and 30 minutes earlier than last year. Neighboring Greenwood...

Learning a sweet swing

Local tennis instructor William Howard gives a lesson to two willing pupils early this morning at the tennis courts at Herman Park. Listening attentively to his instructions are Kassidy Pitchford, center, and Megan Fallows....

Schools: Keep cell phones, iPods off

Take a cell phone to school this fall and turn it on, and it could cost you, the Wayne County Board of Education decided Monday. The board approved a policy outlining authorized and unauthorized use of wireless communication devices on...

Red Cross still looking for more blood donations

The American Red Cross is offering a special incentive for those who give blood this summer. During its "Give Blood and See America" campaign, which runs through Sept. 30, each person who donates blood or platelets will be entered...

MOPD arrests three men on drug charges

Three Goldsboro men face drug-related charged following an investigation by Mount Olive police on July 8. Charged were Larry Donnell Harris, 29, North James Street, Goldsboro; Rudolph Duriel Harris, 27, address listed as "streets of Goldsboro"; and Marquize Marcel...

Duplin Events Center haunts commission

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin County Events Center, long an object of derision, continues to haunt county commissioners while serving as a political fodder. A review earlier this month of the center's 2008-09 performance proved to be no different and...

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Summer at school

Within the former Dillard High School, at the base of Elm Street, children are learning about rock formations in the corner of a converted classroom, while nearby several are nestled on a couch, reading independently. At the other end of...

Baseball murder will head to trial

A Goldsboro man pleaded not guilty Monday to killing a neighbor after an argument over an accident in a youth baseball game. Goldsboro police charged Timothy Tramel Vaughn, 37, of East Walnut Street in June 2008 with the murder of...

Suspect sought in sexual assault

Goldsboro police are investigating an alleged sexual assault that took place early Monday morning in an apartment at a Spence Avenue complex. A 20-year-old woman who lives with roommates in the apartment complex reported the sexual assault, according to...

Sheriff deputy, K9 OK after crash

A Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputy and his police service dog were not severely injured in a crash that totaled a Sheriff's Office cruiser on Monday night, authorities said. K9 Officer Blake Ferrell was traveling to assist Highway Patrol...

Management group will drop operation of county airport

The economic downturn is being blamed by the company that manages the Goldsboro-Wayne Airport for its decision to terminate its contract with the county effective Aug. 1. That decision could mean management of the airport now will fall to...

District waits for news on state money

While awaiting the outcome of the state's budget, school officials received good news Monday that a performance contract entered into in 2008 has produced marked energy savings for the district. Tim Gasper, solutions engineer for Trane, the company hired to...

Monday, July 13, 2009

Baseball game murder pretrial begins today

A Goldsboro man was expected to appear in court today on a murder charge that stemmed from an accident last June during his child's street baseball game. Timothy Tramel Vaughn, 37, of East Walnut Street, allegedly shot James Anwar...

Bean picking

Alvin Bullock picks several rows of butter beans at the First African Baptist Church on Harris Street in Goldsboro early this morning. Bullock began the garden three years ago. Today it encompasses about 2.5 acres and also includes string beans,...

Pikeville to consider alcohol sales in town

The Pikeville Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss putting a beer and wine sales resolution on November's ballot. Town Administrator Kathie Fields said the resolution would only be for off-site sales, which would allow...

County teens are finding tougher job market, too

Finding a summer job became even more complicated for teens this year because of the economy. Instead of plentiful opportunities, many have found the job hunt more competitive as older workers out of a job are also vying for positions....

WCC gets $200,000 to fund training

Wayne Community College is one of 17 community college recipients of $3 million in grants that will allow the college to provide more training in the areas of health care and industrial technologies. WCC will receive $200,000 from the Golden...

Public record

Copper theft Patrick Zhenxiong Chen, 40, U.S. 70 West reported the theft of $1,000 in copper from a North William Street business. Vehicle thefts *Jimmy Lewis Martin, 48, Shelly Drive, reported to Wayne County Sheriff's deputies the theft of...

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Mount Olive police rescue victims from burning car

MOUNT OLIVE -- Two men who were trapped inside a burning vehicle after it overturned late Friday night were rescued by Mount Olive police who had to kick in the vehicle's windows and cut them loose from their seat...

Daniels rezoning request approved

A rezoning request for Daniels Development was approved by county commissioners during their Tuesday session. The approval followed a brief public hearing during which the only speaker was company representative Jim Daniels. The company had sought rezoning for roughly 16.7...

Picking tobacco

When it comes to summer in the South nothing captures a better picture of tradition and heritage than cropping tobacco. However, that picture is changing. Tobacco trucks with their burlap sides pulled first by mules then by tractors gave way...

Shooting some hoops

Five-year-old Alex Hargrove, right, and his father Terrail play basketball at the public park Thursday in LaGrange. Alex says he wants to be a famous basketball player when he grows up....

Tommy's Road residents want road kept open

People living in the Tommy's Road area are petitioning to keep their road open even though the state last month closed it to through traffic as work continues on the new U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass. It might be too...

Teaching program gives workers flexibility

Julie Fail always wanted to be a teacher but somehow it was never feasible for her to return to college to complete the two-year degree begun years ago. While working at O'Berry Center, she learned about Wachovia Partnership East, a...

Local youth performing groups strong despite economy

A sluggish economy hasn't stopped local arts groups from offering activities for Wayne County's children. Several local groups are holding camps and workshops throughout the summer, in addition to public performances through the coming year. StageStruck has noticed a small...

Storage fire still under investigation

Clarification The investigation into a Monday afternoon fire at AAA Mini Storage in Goldsboro is continuing in light of new information discovered this past week, according to company officials. The State Bureau of Investigation is looking at the blaze and...

Scally starts Humane Society position

Justin Scally, former Wayne County Animal Control director, is deputy manager of the Humane Society of the United States' "Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force." The task force is an expansion of the HSUS long-standing campaign to combat abusive "puppy...

Engineering curriculum to change

Wayne School of Engineering students will tackle world hunger as part of their curriculum in the fall. Through coursework and after-school activities, students will be given opportunities to evaluate world famine in a technologically globalized society, officials said. During...

Locals look to save on energy bills

Ralph Johnson is convinced there's a ghost in his home. Either that, or his wife is being "less than honest" about changing the thermostat when he's not looking. "She says it's not her. All I know is the temperature on...

Robbery victims must pay fee

When two handicapped men were robbed at gunpoint earlier this month, they had their wrists duct taped and their vehicle stolen, police and witnesses say. Then, when their Ford Bronco was picked up by Goldsboro police shortly after the incident,...

Business leaders improve education relations

It has been more than two years since local business and industry leaders decided that they needed do something to lower the escalating and increasing acerbic rhetoric between county commissioners and the Board of Education. Not only was the...

Friday, July 10, 2009

Arrests made in theft ring at local Target

A new law that took effect in 2007 means a Selma man and his alleged accomplice might face felony charges for a series of thefts from Target on Sunburst Drive, police said. Organized retail theft, a Class H felony, is...

Awww shucks

Ronnie Kearney, left, and his son-in-law Kim Gray shuck corn with Ronnie's wife, Joan, and Kim's wife, Rhonda, not pictured, in their driveway on Mark Edwards Road Thursday afternoon. They plan to freeze the shucked corn they harvested from the...

Residents question plans for roadway

Residents living along what has been identified as the preferred route for a new U.S. 117 South Thursday night renewed their displeasure over what they said was an initial lack of information some seven years ago when the proposed route...

Fourth arrest made in Hampton robbery

Police made a fourth arrest Thursday in the June shooting of two clerks at the Hampton Inn on Wayne Memorial Drive, an investigator said. Blake Shane Taylor, 22, of Evergreen Avenue, was charged with attempted robbery with a firearm and...

Fire ruled accidental

Goldsboro police say a "suspicious fire" at a mini-storage business has been ruled accidental. Goldsboro police spokesman Sgt. Chad Calloway said that after an investigation into the Monday afternoon fire, investigators determined a punctured battery was to blame. "A battery...

Suspect in churches' AC thefts arrested

Authorities allege a Grantham man is responsible for five thefts of air conditioners from churches in the southern end of Wayne County, authorities said. Dustin Shane Holland, 29, of U.S. 13 South, faces six counts each of felony-level larceny,...

Looking for Goldsboro's first-ever Junior Miss

Wayne County could benefit from a Junior Miss program, says a transplanted military wife and previous title winner. Casey Chudy was Junior Miss for Barren County, Ky., in 1999. The program meant so much to her that she worked to...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

College debuts: She picked UNC

Since moving to Wayne County in seventh grade, Lauren Player has set her sights on going to college at Carolina. In part because her parents went to the University of South Carolina, she says, she decided she "wanted to...

Manager to county: Freeze my salary, too

When County Manager Lee Smith compiled the 2009-10 budget that was approved last month he did not include any salary increases for county employees or for himself, even though his contact with the county provides for an annual increase...

Train tracking: New exhibit at Museum

Learning doesn't stop just because summer has arrived. These children with Now Faith Academy's summer program examine a miniature train at the Wayne County Museum as part of a lesson in the county's history. Goldsboro was founded more than a...

College debuts: He picked NCSU

Before his college career even begins, Jordan McIntyre is already learning some valuable life lessons. The valedictorian and recent graduate of Goldsboro High School was accepted at Georgia Tech, but financial circumstances changed, forcing him to forfeit the opportunity....

Board asked to reconsider lawsuit against Duplin County commission

KENANSVILLE -- Head Start programs in Duplin County shouldn't be affected by the economy, the Duplin County Board of Education learned Tuesday. The school system is slated to receive $1,180,628 this year, the same amount of Head Start funding...

Distraught woman sets home on fire

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive town board meeting erupted in flames Wednesday night. What began as a routine vote to give the owners of home being discussed for a public nuisance vote, 90 more days to complete the...

Local Purple Heart member writes book

It took Latoya Lucas more than a year to put into writing the experience of being wounded in Iraq. "I was on a supply run," she said. "We were on this road one morning and that's when everything happened --...

Fireworks Explosion-Mark Hill Funeral

"He was like a great big teddy bear," said David Jackson, pastor of Freedom Baptist Church in Goldsboro, shortly before balloons were released in honor of Mark Hill, 21, during a graveside service at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Princeton on...

No charges in fatal wreck

A Kinston woman died after alleged improper passing on N.C. 50 in Onslow County, a Highway Patrol sergeant said. Carolina Russo died at New Hanover Regional Medical Center after an accident at the intersection of N.C. 50 and Haws...

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Economy has mixed effects on day cares across county

The economy is trickling down to day care options for parents, with programs like More at Four already feeling the pinch. Local staff in the program have been processing applications while anticipating what the latest state budget will mean for...

NAACP calls for inquiry into GPD March arrest

The Goldsboro-Wayne chapter of the NAACP is reportedly calling for an investigation of the Goldsboro Police Department. Sylvia Barnes of the Goldsboro/Wayne County NAACP briefly addressed the city council Monday night during the public comment period, saying that the...

Fifth explosion victim faces uphill struggle

While the sole survivor of a July 4 fireworks explosion faces what could be a lifetime of therapy, funeral services for the four who died begin today and a relief fund for surviving family members is in the works. A...

County reviews zoning request by Keen

Comments that appeared to hold promise of a contentious vote Tuesday morning instead ended up in an almost comment-free 6-0 initial approval of county Commissioner Steve Keen's rezoning request. County attorney Borden Parker told commissioners that since Keen recused...

Stop the Funeral Initiative meets with court officials

A group that hopes to change the direction of young lives entrenched in gang membership and drug sales met with Wayne County Court officials this morning. The Stop the Funeral Initiative, which sponsors a program called the "Corner2Corner Drug...

MPO to meet Thursday

A follow-up to last month's long-range transportation public workshop will be held Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium at the Wayne County Public Library on East Ash Street. "It is the follow up that...

Local students attend youth tour

DUDLEY -- Laura Outlaw of Mount Olive, Amber Henninger of Seven Springs and Michaela Daughtry of Pink Hill were among more than 1,500 high school students nationwide who attended the 2009 Rural Electric Youth Tour June 13-19 in Washington,...

Local Shriners hopeful closings won't happen

Confronted with serious financial difficulty due to the economic downturn, Shriners International faces this week the decision whether to alter the operations of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children. Early news from San Antonio, the location of the 2009 Shriners...

DWI charge in accident

A Goldsboro woman was charged with driving while impaired after colliding with the front of a Berkeley Boulevard restaurant on Monday afternoon, authorities said Tuesday. Nancy Marie Klemmer of River Bend Road also faced a charge of damage to...

Wheelchair hockey tourney July 17-19

RALEIGH -- Carolina Fury, an area electric wheelchair hockey team, will participate in the first Carolina Powerhockey Invitational Tournament, taking place in Raleigh July 17-19. Preliminary games will be held at Millbrook High School. The RBC will host the third...

Cucumber harvest strong despite disease

Cucumbers, once a major crop in North Carolina, have become steadily more rare over the past decades, and farmers still producing the lean, green vegetable are having to deal with increased expenses and occasional disease incursions while the cucumbers are...

Arson suspected in fire at AAA Mini Storage units

Police suspect arson in a fire that damaged eight "mini storage" units at an Industry Court business shortly after noon Monday, according to a report. The State Bureau of Investigation has become involved in looking into the incident, authorities...

4th of July message from Afghanistan

Col. Steve Kwast gives a 4th of July greeting from Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan....

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Car collides with restaurant

A Goldsboro woman was charged with driving while impaired after colliding with the front of a Berkeley Boulevard restaurant on Monday afternoon, authorities said Tuesday. Nancy Marie Klemmer of River Bend Road also faced a charge of damage to property...

Officials look into Wayne Country Day fire

Officials from the State Bureau of Investigations are looking into a suspicious weekend fire at Wayne Country Day School, but spokeswoman Jennifer Canada said officials have no other information to release at this time. School headmaster Todd Anderson, however,...

Man hit by semi; out-of-control truck smashes into a house

A Princeton man was in critical condition Monday night after being struck by a truck before it plowed into a nearby home. William Godwin, 71, was likely blowing grass off the road with his push lawn mower at 389 Luby...

Car collides Monday with motorcycle

No one was seriously injured in a crash between a motorcycle and Honda Accord on Patetown Road on Monday afternoon, authorities said. Both passengers of the motorcycle were thrown from the bike, but survived the accident and were being...

Church mourning fireworks crew

For the first time in 11 years, The Lord's Table Pastor Bill Wilson dreaded going to church on Sunday. The day before, four people associated with the church lost their lives in a fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island. A...

Caregivers: Landstuhl Medical Center

LANDSTUHL, Germany -- Walking the halls at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is a humbling experience, as every few moments, another injured troop makes his or her way down one of the long corridors inside the state-of-the-art facility. You can't help...

Council says no to increasing hotel tax right now

Goldsboro City Council members discussed possible options for increasing the hotel/motel occupancy tax rate by 1 percent, which would collect about $100,000 in revenue, but ultimately decided to wait on the issue. Although city officials met June 18 with State...

Shaw receives Order of Long Leaf Pine

Howard "Buddy" Shaw of Goldsboro has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina resident. Shaw received the honor at the annual convention of the state Association of...

Baddour honored

Goldsboro attorney Phil Baddour Jr. was honored by the North Carolina Bar Association, in conjunction with the Citizen Lawyer Task Force, with the Citizen Lawyer Award. The NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award was established in 2007 to recognize lawyers who provide...

Monday, July 6, 2009

Care in the sky: Members of the aeromedical evacuation crew fight to get injured troops back to their families

EDITOR'S NOTE: The patients on this medical evacuation flight requested that we not photograph their faces -- and the only one who agreed to talk about his injuries asked that his name not be used. We respected their wishes. THE...

Man hit by semi-truck cab

An elderly man was struck by a semi-truck cab while cutting grass along Luby Smith Road off of U.S. 70 near Princeton Monday morning. The truck, driven by Teresa Creech Morgan of Stevens Mill Road, then ran into the house...

County will eye rezoning request Tuesday

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning will hold a public hearing on one rezoning request and consider action on another. The hearing on a request by Jim Daniels of Daniels Development will start at 9:15 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room...

Church reaches out to hungry schoolchildren

With a mission to feed hungry children in area schools, one local church is in need of community support, with hopes that others might join the ranks. FLOK, For the Love of Kids, was introduced in March at Garris Chapel...

Best-Mangum house gets new owners

The Best-Mangum House on South John Street is a piece of Goldsboro history, and though the patchwork Victorian-era home has been empty for years, life is stirring again under the tall magnolia tree that shades its wide porch. Robert and...

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Schools waiting for budget news

Typically when July rolls around, the school district has teacher allotments and assignments in place. Not this year. It's hard to plan when there is still no final state budget, Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor said. "Usually by now we have...

Innocence nearly lost

EDITOR'S NOTE: The names of the Afghan nationals in this story have been changed. The family was afraid that if it became common knowledge that they had spoken with the media or had sought help in an American base hospital,...

Jail still on list of county's priorities

Some of the legislative issues that had threatened to undo progress the county has made in reducing the jail population and possibly force its hand in building a new $53 million jail have faded from sight. "Most of it,...

Weekend trip ends with fatal accident

A 62-year-old male is dead after his Mazda pickup truck was struck by a Greyhound bus on U.S. 70 East, just west of Goldsboro. Goldsboro police Capt. Mike West said the pickup truck was turning left off of Interstate...

WCC to offer energy camp for high schoolers July 13-17

Summer camps are typically designed to get campers to expend energy. Wayne Community College will offer one this summer that is all about conserving it. "Camp Kill-A-Watt," a week-long day camp for middle and high school students, will explore...

Fall enrollment set to begin Monday at WCC

Several changes will greet students registering for fall 2009 college credit classes at Wayne Community College: an extended registration period, a deadline to apply for financial aid, higher tuition, and the option to order their textbooks online. New students...

Reboli named NAFCU 2009 Volunteer of the Year

William P. Reboli, member of the board of directors of Your Community Credit Union, was chosen as Volunteer of the Year by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Reboli will be honored at NAFCU's 42nd Annual Conference in...

Fourth of July festivities are a tradition for many

Seventy-six-year-old May Sanders sat in her faded lawn chair along the sidewalk on Berkeley Boulevard Friday night. She had a cooler and a pack of sparklers nearby. For many, holiday traditions center around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but Sanders said...

Wayne County jobless rate jumps to back over 9 percent

Wayne County's unemployment rate increased in May following two months of decreasing unemployment rates. The rate increased 0.5 percent in the county from 8.7 to 9.2 percent in May, making it one of 82 counties experiencing an increase. Statewide,...

Summer good time to update vaccines

Summer is a good time to catch up on immunizations, officials at the county Health Department say. As parents prepare to send children off to school, students enroll in college and health care workers shore up for another flu...

City to vote on contract for energy consultants

Goldsboro may undergo an audit to save energy and taxpayer money if City Council members vote Monday to enter into a contract with Utilities Reduction Specialists. The company has submitted a proposal and contract to the city offering to...

New florist shop is dream come true

A vibrant wreath with multi-colored flowers decorates the door of a quaint floral shop on Old Smithfield Road. The grand opening of Around the Corner Flower Shop on June 29 was a 17-year dream come true for owner Susan...

Carver alumni reunite Saturday

Belinda Hobbs Hayes was tired from staying up until about 2 a.m. Saturday decorating her three-wheel bicycle for Saturday morning's Carver High School Alumni and Friends Association's parade. Nevertheless, when parade time came at 10 a.m. she was near...

Friday, July 3, 2009

Cross-country flier makes stop here on historic flight

An unusual flight crew stopped for the night at the Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport Thursday while on one of many legs of an historic trip from Compton, Calif., to Newport News, Va. Their plane, a single-engine prop with a red...

Out of Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Before our plane hit the Bagram Air Base runway, I saw Afghanistan as it has been portrayed in the media for the last several years. It was simply another war zone -- with no perspective...

Whaley officially will lead city FD

In September 1982, Gary Whaley was a young firefighter, just hired on to his first full-time job with the Goldsboro Fire Department. Thursday, he became the department's chief after serving as "acting chief" following the controversial resignation of his predecessor,...

Public record

Occupied home shot Mable Holloway, 75, of East Holly Street, reported a north window of her residence was shot with an unknown weapon on Wednesday afternoon, according to a Goldsboro police report. Ms. Holloway was uninjured, but police documented about...

Naturally, organics can be effective in anti-pest arsenal

After you've put in hours and hours of time making sure your flower garden is the prettiest in town or tending your garden so it will yield the freshest produce possible, you notice that something is eating away at your...

Thursday, July 2, 2009

County's wait begins for news on final budget

Wayne County entered the new fiscal year Wednesday with a $157.6 million budget that is already frozen -- all capital, all jobs until further notice. Hammered by shrinking revenues -- sales tax receipts are expected to be down by...

Storm blasts through area

Wayne County residents in the Rosewood and Belfast communities got a bit of a nasty surprise Wednesday night as a line of thunderstorms moved across the area. Beginning shortly after 6 p.m., reports of downed trees and power lines...

336th's mission: Taking care of those fighting below

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- As members of the 336th Fighter Squadron make their way toward the airfield at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, a sign on the last door they pass through tells them all they need to know. "The...

Public record

Shingles stolen Greensboro resident Mark McCall reported Tuesday that 20 bundles of tweed-colored shingles were stolen from a construction site in the 1800 block of Maple Street, Goldsboro police said. Vending machine toppled Hilda Bedford, an employee of Creative Sewing,...

Reporting from Bagram, it's Ken Fine

News-Argus reporter Ken Fine has been in Afghanistan this week, talking to the men and women of SJAFB's 336th Rocketeers serving in that corner of the world. For video greetings from the airmen to family and friends back here in...

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Suspect sought in three armed store robberies

Three convenience store clerks were robbed at knife point early this morning, and authorities believe the three incidents may be related. On-call Detective Mike Kabler responded to the first two robberies, the first at 1908 U.S. 117 South around...

Catching a break

From left, Will Harris, Koby Miller and Mason Bass cool off with iced treats between Wayne County Babe Ruth games at the Grantham ball park Tuesday evening. Temperatures topped 90 degrees during the day and had only decreased slightly by...

Public record

'Fecal matter' wiped on house Miller Johnson of Herbert Street, 75, told a Goldsboro police officer that unknown suspects wiped "fecal matter" on the front of a South Georgia Avenue home that he owns, police said. Damages to the...

Cherry Hospital faces potential school loss

The future of Riverbend School at Cherry Hospital could be at risk, if the state decides to cut back on services of schools at psychiatric hospitals. Currently, school services must be provided to young patients, particularly those hospitalized for longer...

New boss starts his first day at college

MOUNT OLIVE -- Although students at Mount Olive College won't be moving into dormitories for the fall semester until August, a newcomer is settling in today on campus. This morning marked the start of Dr. Philip Paul Kerstetter's first day...

Mission ready: Kwast knows this is the real-life test

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Steve Kwast is no longer the young Air Force lieutenant who flew into Iraq during the early stages of Operation Desert Storm. He is not the same kind of leader he was a year ago,...

Animal activist freed Monday after reaching $1,000 fundraising goal

After 78 hours locked in a cage outside Tractor Supply Co. on Cashwell Drive, Tammie Hedges received a donation Monday evening that pushed her over her goal of $1,000 and she was able to get out. She had entered...

Church helping people find jobs

Janet Stevens worked 15 years for the Salvation Army before being told on May 1 that the organization was having to cut back and she would be let go. Since then, Stevens has been on the job hunt, but...

Junior Miss Program looking for constestants

The Wayne County Junior Miss Program is looking for high school senior girls to participate in a new scholarship opportunity. Wayne County Junior Miss is part of a nationwide endeavor to honor and reward the nation's outstanding young women...

Man saves choking woman's life

Jimmy Frederick looked out the window of his classroom at Vocation Rehabilitation and saw co-worker Gloria Bass frantically clutching her throat. She was gasping for air and pointing at her throat. In an instant, Frederick knew what was wrong...