August 2, 2009 archives

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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Legislators split along tax lines on budget

Wayne County's legislative delegation agrees that the open-ended extension of the continuing budget resolution approved Thursday was necessary to keep the state going, and they share an optimism that a budget could be ready as early as next week...

Economist: There's good, bad news as economy starts steep climb back

There might be signs that the recession is receding, a state economic expert told Wayne County business leaders this past week, but don't expect too much, too soon. "What it means for North Carolina and eastern North Caro-lina is...

City plans public memorial to remember SJAFB air crew

Nearly two weeks after a 4th Fighter Wing air crew was lost in Afghanistan, local residents continue to mourn -- and honor -- its members. A public memorial for 336th Fighter Squadron officers Capt. Mark McDowell and Capt. Thomas...

Eighty-one percent of Wayne County students pick college

More than 80 percent of Wayne County's recent high school graduates will attend colleges in the fall, according to an exit survey released this week by the district. Of the 1,190 graduating seniors, 967, or 81.3 percent, indicated they will...

Stopping teen pregnancy before it can even start

When Kay Philips' son was a teenager, she never felt guilty about rifling through his book bag and looking for anything that could mean he was getting into dangerous activities. "It was my home, my son, and I bought that...

Duplin's pay hike attracts new crop of EMTs

More than half a dozen new recruits have signed on with Duplin County emergency medical services since county commissioners raised the pay rate for Duplin paramedics. In the weeks following the vote, which increased EMT pay by 8 percent, the...

Officers say N.C. computer changes will catch crooks

New connections between parole and probation records and police officers' computers are good for local law enforcement, Goldsboro police officials say. Changes to the computer system behind the Division of Criminal Information, known to police as "DCI," also will...

O'Berry Foundation provides hearing aid

Jordan Wiggins suffered through a lot of ear infections when he was younger -- a common problem for children born with Down Syndrome, his mother, Jenny, says. "He went through four or five sets of tubes, probably even more,"...

Foundation offers help with health expenses

In a younger America, the milkman used to arrive in the morning with the day's dairy delivery, doctors made house calls to visit sick patients and grocery stores would pack up an order and bring fresh produce right to the...

Last drug suspect takes plea deal in trafficking case

A cocaine trafficking case that involved three family members of a Dollard Town Road house ended in a plea deal for the last remaining defendant. Joe Nathan Spruill Jr., 32, pleaded no contest to felony level charge of maintaining...

New Fremont law will crack down on loiterers in town

Starting in December, there will be a new no loitering ordinance in Fremont. The law is an effort to crack down on drugs sales in the area. "It clears out the area where we have known violators of the controlled...