November 2009 archives

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Monday, November 30, 2009

Courage in the face of teeth

The Job: Security Forces The Company: United State Air Force The Location: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base It used to be, when I heard the name "Robby" I thought of a small boy -- maybe 5 or 6 years old...

New campaign will emphasize importance of farming to county

People tend to picture farmers as overall-clad old men whose slow-moving tractors grind traffic to a crawl. That perception is just as wrong as thinking that farming is on the decline, said Lynn Williams, a member of the county...

Agriculture businesses add $667 million to local economy

The Wayne County Cooperative Extension Service's "We Dig It" campaign asks "Did You Know?" * Agribusiness is the No. 1 industry in the state, contributing $70.1 billion to the state's economy * Farming and agribusiness represent 22 percent of...

Planning board changes pending

The second and final vote to recast the 40-year-old ordinance that created the county Planning Board is expected Tuesday morning when county commissioners meet. If approved, it would become the third change that commissioners have made to the planning...

Charities seeking help for holidays

At a time when one in every 10 people in America is unemployed, many charitable groups and organizations in Wayne County are seeking donations to help make the holiday season a little brighter for local residents. Ever since the Goldsboro...

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Schools view

There is little middle ground when it comes to opinions about education in Wayne County in general or more specifically, county's schools. Some say the schools do the best they can with the students and facilities they are dealt,...

Bus system will alter routes in city, county

Many bus routes will change and students attending Wayne County schools and colleges can ride the GATEWAY buses at a reduced rate, the Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority has decided. Under the new rate, students will only have to pay 50 cents...

Shoppers continue hunt for bargains

Black Friday may have been the day for seasoned shoppers to camp outside awaiting early-morning bargains, but for many it was worth it to wait an extra day and take their chances. Parking lots at the mall and other...

After 60 years, worker is parking his truck

It's hard slowing Vic Blackmon down, but after working for 60 years at W.P. Rose Supply Co., he is finally retiring. Friends, family, former co-workers and owners spent time telling stories at his retirement lunch. "I've seen people who work...

Santa's Workshop to be Dec. 12

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are teaming up with the Goldsboro Junior Woman's Club for the annual Santa's Workshop on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Brick Village on Patetown Road. Santa's Workshop will keep children busy with crafts, cookie...

Parkstown Christmas set for Dec. 10

The Parkstown Christmas parade will be held at 3:45 p.m., Dec. 10 at the rural crossroads community in eastern Wayne County. This is the fourth year of the parade after a 30-year hiatus. In addition to the parade, there...

Students show their talent, skills to Optimists

The first Goldsboro Optimist Club youth talent show and art auction was held earlier this month at the Herman Park Center. Acts were divided by grade level, and ranged from singing contemporary songs to gospel songs, with some youths...

Christmas rolling closer

The Beautancus community held its annual Christmas parade on Thanksgiving Day. Next Saturday, three Christmas parades will be held: Mount Olive at 10 a.m., Fremont at 1 p.m. and Goldsboro at 4 p.m....

Eureka man wins state genealogical award

Elliott R. Futrell received the award for "Outstanding Contribution to North Carolina Genealogical Society by a member" at the NCGS Annual Meeting, Nov. 7. A native of the Eureka community of Wayne County, Elliott has served on the board of...

Johnston flu clinic Tuesday

SMITHFIELD -- The Johnston County Public Health Department will hold a walk-in influenza vaccine clinic on Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. (while supplies last) for children under the age of 18. Children will be able to receive both the...

State intern applications currently being accepted

RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue recently announced that North Carolina residents attending a college, university, technical institute or community college have until Jan. 20 to apply for one of 65 paid state government internships available for summer 2010. The State...

Fremont chief defends Thursday dog shooting

Fremont Police Chief Ron Rawlings is defending his department this weekend after an alleged dangerous dog was shot and killed by the town's K-9 officer. According to the police report, Hope Troutman of West South Street, was walking her...

Officials: Hunters spotlighting deer is problem in Wayne County

Deer freeze up when a light is shined in their eyes. And that makes the practice of driving at night and using a long-range, heavy-duty spotlight to scan woods and fields for deer a handy way to locate the...

Library to offer training for work force prep tests

Beginning Monday night, people can turn their trips to the Wayne County Library into a way to help them find a job or possibly earn a promotion at their current job. The library, in partnership with Wayne Community College,...

Goldsborough Bridge battle re-enactment set for Dec. 12-13

A re-enactment of the Civil War Battle of Goldsborough Bridge will be held Dec. 12-13 at the battlefield site along the Neuse River south of Goldsboro. The event will mark the 147th anniversary of the battle, which pitted 10,000...

Duplin highways receive state funds

More than 50 miles of highway in Duplin County will be widened and/or resurfaced in 2010 as part of a $21.3 million statewide improvement project, the governor's office announced last week. Nine miles of N.C. 411 north of N.C....

Friday, November 27, 2009

Families glad to have homes

MOUNT OLIVE -- This Thanksgiving marked the one-year anniversary of George and Crystal Robbins' new role as homeowners -- thanks to Habitat for Humanity. In their old mobile home, storm clouds and thunder sent Mrs. Robbins reaching for the...

Fremont to target loiterers beginning Tuesday

Starting Dec. 1, Fremont police will crack down on loitering in the town in an effort to keep drug dealers and users off town streets. The bill was approved in July. The bill makes it a criminal offense to loiter...

Town, county leaders discuss sewer

MOUNT OLIVE -- The three county commissioners whose districts include Mount Olive met with Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. and Town Manager Charles Brown on Tuesday to talk about how the town may be able to help the county with...

Bargain hunters out early for jump start on holiday shopping

Hundreds of bleary-eyed shoppers braved the cold hours before dawn at Berkeley Mall this morning, lining up outside Belk, Sears and JCPenney for the 4 a.m. Black Friday opening. Near freezing temperatures and the extra-early wake-up call didn't scare away...

Lending a helping hand

Military Retiree club members Dan Lawson, left, Edward Brewington, Michael Posley and Charlie Holloway pack boxes with food for needy seniors in Wayne County. Randolph Augustus, a member of the organization, said that they have been providing food for the...

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Community Soup Kitchen gets set for Thanksgiving holiday dinners

The Community Soup Kitchen is expecting to serve at least 130 people today, and on Wednesday volunteers were beginning the preparation of a dozen big turkeys that would serve as the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. With the approach...

Baseball league will set sights on helping children

An effort to revive youth baseball in the Mar-Mac area is being aimed at not only teaching children how to behave on the field, but off it as well. Developing character is the touchstone of the TEAMMATES program, said...

Simply a miracle

Eighteen months ago, Andy and Katie Rollins weren't sure their son, Spencer, would ever make it home. His 2-year-old body wasn't responding well to the fourth open-heart surgery it had endured since birth. And even if he lived through the...

For Lisa Mozingo, life is now about new dreams, faith

After the May 19 car accident that left Lisa Mozingo paralyzed and in a wheelchair, the Spring Creek High School (then senior and now graduate) wasn't sure what her future would hold. But now, Lisa said, although some doors have...

Crash report release set for Dec. 1

Air Force officials are expected to release the results Tuesday of an inquiry into a July 18 F-15E Strike Eagle crash that claimed the lives of two Seymour Johnson Air Force Base captains. The Accident Investigation Board report will be...

Microsoft training to be offered locally

Wayne Community College is participating in a program that provides free Windows and Microsoft training and certification exams. The Elevate America-North Carolina initiative is a Microsoft Corp. project that will provide free vouchers for Microsoft E-Learning training courses and...

Pikeville couple deliver smiles to seniors

Emma Howell, 91, got a big surprise about two years ago when Meals On Wheels volunteers came to her house for their daily visit. This time when she opened the door, it was her daughter and son-in-law delivering the meal....

Students enjoy Thanksgiving, American-style

MOUNT OLIVE -- Going home for Thanksgiving might be a tradition for some Mount Olive College students, but for others, the last Thursday in November is just another day, the college's student activities director Julie Beck said. Thanksgiving has its...

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Accident Investigation Board to release F-15E crash findings

Air Force officials are set to release the results of the Accident Investigation Board from the July 18 crash of a Seymour Johnson Air Force Base F-15E Strike Eagle that killed two 4th Fighter Wing officers via an Air Combat...

WCPS students prepare, collect food for needy

During this time of Thanksgiving, students and staff in Wayne County Public Schools are finding ways to reach out to those in need. Earlier this week, Meadow Lane Elementary School students prepared around 125 bag lunches for the Community Soup...

Lights up in Goldsboro

It now officially looks like Christmas in downtown Goldsboro. More than 1,500 people gathered Tuesday night for the annual holiday lighting ceremony. "Snow" flurries drifted through the chilly air as Mayor Al King counted down to the big moment and...

Director offers look ahead to 2010 vote

Although his opinion might be considered a bit biased, state Board of Elections Executive Director Gary Bartlett is confident that North Carolina's election system is among the most efficient. "I think we've got one of the best systems in...

Man, 30, charged with child offense

A Dudley man is being held under a $1 million secured bond for an alleged first-degree sex offense with a 5-year-old girl he knew, according to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. David Arron Roberts, 30, of Emmaus Church Road, is...

WCC names new vice president

One of two vice president vacancies at Wayne Community College due to retirement has been filled, officials announced Tuesday night. Retiring Jan. 1 will be Ken Ritt, vice president for educational support services, and Roy White, vice president for...

WCC adding two programs, dropping one

The Wayne Community College board of trustees has approved the addition of two new health-related programs, to be added over the next two years. Board member Veda McNair, representing the curriculum committee, recommended the programs -- medical laboratory technology...

Local churches show support for MOC's mission, donate heavily

MOUNT OLIVE -- Local members of Free Will Baptist churches in Wayne County donated more than $86,000 to Mount Olive College this year at the annual college recognition dinner. The estimated 300 attendees at the dinner donated more than...

Man arrested for attempted murder

A man sought for the stabbing of a former girlfriend on Park Road near Seven Springs has been caught in Richmond County, authorities said late Tuesday. Wayne County Sheriff's Office Det. Sgt. Rick Farfour, the lead investigator in the case,...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

ABC salaries reported

The chairman of the Wayne County Alcohol Beverage Control Board is paid $1,500 annually and board members $900 each. Business Manager Mike Myrick is paid $82,000 per year. Questions about the salaries of ABC employees arose this week when...

Stores prep for holiday shoppers

Wayne area retailers are preparing their stores and employees for this week's Black Friday sales rush, the unofficial start of the busy holiday shopping season. Brandi Worth, manager of Buddy's Jewelry in Mount Olive said she is looking forward...

Farm City banquet honors cream of the crop

Two new inductees into the Wayne County Agriculture Hall of Fame and the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture were honored Monday night during the annual Farm/City Banquet at the Wayne Center. The posthumous Hall of Fame award went to Ronald Jessie...

Grant will create new Wayne DWI court

A grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program will pay for a new DWI court for Wayne County, said District Attorney Branny Vickory and his staff. It's one of two recently-obtained grants that will fund new positions at the...

Cherry patient died from overdose

CHAPEL HILL -- A Cherry Hospital patient who died in July after being discharged was killed by an overdose of an opiate drug administered before he left the hospital, the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office said. Jeffery Scott Swaim,...

GOP congressional candidate speaks

With his focus the economy and the need to create more job opportunities in eastern North Carolina, Ashley Woolard is hoping his message can propel him not only to the Republican nomination for the First Congressional District seat, but...

Monday, November 23, 2009

White House Bound

The Butterball turkey to be pardoned by President Barack Obama got a special sendoff today from Worley Farms near Princeton. At left, Walter Pelletier, chairman of the National Turkey Federation and vice president of Goldsboro Milling Co., state Agriculture...

Program seeks help for county patients

For nearly 50 years, Operation Santa Claus has provided holiday gifts for citizens living in facilities around the county, many without family or friends to lend support. Sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Wayne County, Operation Santa Claus...

School construction still on track in county

After months of negotiating, prioritizing and debating funding sources for Phase I of the school facilities projects in the Wayne County School District, three of the projects are near completion, school personnel say. Work at Brogden Primary, Greenwood Middle and...

Talking turkey ... lots of it

The Job: Turkey farmer The Company: Bryant Worley Farms, Inc. The Location: Princeton I am now only one degree of separation from the president. I'm practically vice president. Well, not really, but I did meet the turkey that is being...

GATEWAY to weigh fares for students

Reduced bus fares for students are expected to be approved Tuesday morning when the Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority meets. The authority, which operates the GATEWAY bus system, also is reviewing a number of route changes, including the addition of a...

Sunday, November 22, 2009

If you give Meadow Lane pupils their own books ... and cupcakes

Students at Meadow Lane Elementary School were treated to an ideal afternoon Thursday -- face-painting, coloring and cupcakes. It was all part of a service project by the "Wayne Community College Leadership Development Group," a component of the honors...

Mission of leadership: Col. Mark Kelly looks back on first year as 4th Wing commander

It started with a phone call to the desert -- an Air Force general on one end, a seasoned aviator and war fighter on the other. Col. Mark Kelly had no idea he was about to be asked to command...

Pikeville officials share views on town's future

Current and newly elected Town of Pikeville government officials met Thursday to discuss current and upcoming issues. In an effort to have a smooth transition at the next board meeting, current commissioners Lymon Gallo-way, Edith McClenny, Vance Gree-son, Dennis...

New Hope Resale Shop helps needy

A new non-profit organization is trying to fill in the gaps to make sure that those who are in need can find the items they need to make it through the tough times. The New Hope Resale Shop at...

Seven Springs opens Christmas season in Wayne

 SEVEN SPRINGS -- The first Christmas parade of the season was held in Wayne County's oldest town on Saturday, and like many things in this quiet corner of the county, things don't change much from year to year. The parade...

N.C. symphony Holiday Pops concert Sunday at Paramount

Get out those chestnuts, light the fire and let the wild rumpus begin. Winter is just calendar pages away and that means it's time for the North Carolina Symphony's delightful and much-revered Holiday Pops concert. Making a stop at The...

Mount Olive College honors alumni

New Bern-born Dr. Earl W. Moore did his student teaching at Charles B. Aycock High School, then returned about 30 years later to become its principal. On Saturday, he was recognized among 24 others at the Mount Olive College Alumni...

A first step: First black student in Wayne schools returns to visit

Walking the halls inside Meadow Lane Elementary School did not take Steve Archer back to the days he spent roaming them as an 8-year-old. The house on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's Kenly Lane where he lived for more than...

Thanksgiving will bring some Friday closings

Municipal, county, state and federal offices will be closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. Some also will be closed on Friday. All Wayne county offices will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and...

Eureka parade Dec. 13

Eureka Christmas parade A story in the Thursday News-Argus listed the wrong date for the Eureka Christmas parade. The parade will be held Dec. 13. at 3 p.m. Participants are asked to line up at 2 p.m. on Davis Street...

Duplin considers leasing hospital

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin County commissioners met Thursday with the Duplin General Hospital board to discuss the hospital lease process and what such a lease would mean for the citizens of Duplin County. "It is extremely important to the...

Friday, November 20, 2009

Tri-County holds annual meeting

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Tri-County Electric Membership Corp. held the 69th annual meeting of its members Saturday at Kornegay Arena at Mount Olive College. About 1,800 people were present, with 850 members registering from Wayne, Duplin, Lenoir, Johnston, Jones,...

Court upholds Duplin ruling

The North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld this week a 2008 jury finding that ordered the Duplin County Board of Commissioners to pay the Duplin County Board of Education more than $4.7 million in local funding. The commissioners say...

Friday District Court sessions to resume

Sometimes, you just cannot make do without a judge. That is the reasoning behind a new District Court session that will begin taking place on the first and third Fridays of every month, starting in January, court officials say....

Dental clinic

Chapel Hill dental hygienist Lindsay Bentel treats a patient during the Mission of Mercy free dental clinic at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Harris Street in Goldsboro on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. Local dentists, hygienists and assistants offered their services...

Pioneer black student honored

The man who broke the color barrier in Wayne County Public Schools more than 50 years ago as a child returned to Goldsboro today for several events being held in his honor. Steve Archer was 8 years old in...

City officials pondering urban agriculture idea

A lecture held earlier this month at Goldsboro High School has city officials thinking more seriously about the concept of urban farming. Public Utilities director Karen Brashear told City Council members Monday that she has been researching the idea...

Public record

Vehicle break-ins The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is warning that many residents in the southern areas of Wayne County, particularly in the Mar Mac and Gainey Drive areas, have been reporting vehicles being broken into. However, the Sheriff's Office believes...

Kinston man charged with making threats at community college

A Kinston man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly threatened to shoot people on campus at Lenoir Community College. Charles Ray Skinner, 19, was arrested, charged with felony false reporting of a mass violence at an educational facility and placed...

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Holiday season arrives on floats

Glitter, garlands, music and mirth will roll down Wayne County streets over the next few week to usher in the Christmas season. From Fremont to Mount Olive and all points in between, cities and towns in the area are...

Downtown Goldsboro restaurant closed

Only a little more than a month after Pupetta's Italian restaurant catered the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s annual dinner and awards banquet, owner Sal Coppola closed its doors. DGDC executive director Julie Thompson said she was saddened when word...

Pate announces bid for N.C. Senate seat

Announcing his intentions to run again for the 5th North Carolina Senate District, former state Rep. Louis Pate is confident that this year's results will be different -- if he gains the Republican nomination. Pate, who left the state...

Learning about giving

Carrie Talton's kindergarten class at St. Mary Catholic School, with the help of some parent volunteers, decorated 100 cupcakes for the Community Soup Kitchen of Goldsboro. From left, Matthew Gross, Andrew Sherman and Kelli Mora are decorating cupcakes with the...

Free Rx discount cards to be available in Wayne

Wayne County residents, starting next month, will have access to a free prescription discount card program that does not require them to provide any personal information or to sign up for an insurance policy. All county residents, regardless of...

Pearl Harbor veterans sought for ceremony

WILMINGTON -- Planners preparing for the annual Southeastern North Carolina commemoration of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are looking for people in the eastern part of the state who are armed forces survivors of the attack...

Pikeville man wins with unusual lotto card

Richard Engle of Pikeville was shocked when he scratched off an instant win lottery ticket and found that every single number was a winner. He was playing "Double Your Luck." Although his total winnings was only $50, it was the...

Duplin EMS seeking new ambulance

Brian Pearce, director of emergency services for Duplin County, asked the commissioners to approve a plan to "piggyback" on an existing bid contract with a Richmond County, Va. ambulance company. The county would pay a little over $105,000 for...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Locally grown turkey to get presidential pardon

A Wayne County turkey has been plucked from obscurity and will be spending part of Thanksgiving at the White House -- but not on a dining room table. The 40-pound bird was chosen to receive the presidential pardon this...

'Stop the Funeral' conference opens today

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber says he knows that the name of his initiative evokes a bold, perhaps impossible mission -- to "stop" the funerals. The group begins today its third "Drug Dealer and Gang Member Redemption Conference,"...

Choral showcase

Students from Meadow Lane Elementary School sing at the Wayne County Choral Showcase Tuesday night at Dillard Middle School. Students from Meadow Lane, North Drive, Eastern Wayne, Carver Heights and School Street elementary schools, along with students from Greenwood, Eastern...

County approves mobile home ordinance

Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday continued to chip away at the county Planning Board's authority by giving themselves the power to approve or deny mobile home park plats. The vote was the second of two required to approve the...

Tanner chairman of SNPA education panel

The announcement was made by SNPA President-elect Steve Brandt, publisher of The Greenville (S.C.) News. The organization represents newspapers in 14 states, from Texas to the mid-Atlantic region. The education committee works closely with the SNPA staff to develop training...

Fremont trying to reduce electric expenses

FREMONT -- Members of the Fremont Board of Aldermen and town officials are looking at ways to offset the town's high electricity costs. Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie said the town is losing about $7,000 a month on electricity, the...

These Santas ride motorcycles

Lynwood Parks, left, of LaGrange, and Danny Blizzard, of Pikeville, unload their toys for a toy run held Sunday from Berkeley Mall. Blizzard said he and Barnes joined the run to help the kids in need. "A lot of them...

Duplin officials decide janitors will receive full pay for year

Janitors in Duplin County schools will receive their full pay this year, even though the money will have to come from the Duplin County school system fund balance. The Board of Education voted to use $727,000 from its fund...

Duplin commission hears report on audit of government

Linda Recio of Evergreen Solutions presented the final report of the Duplin County performance audit to the Duplin County Board of Commissioners this week. The audit report, conducted over the past several months, contains more than 150 suggested ways...

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

U.S. Senate candidate makes stop in Goldsboro

The election is still a year away, the primary isn't until May, but Kenneth Lewis of Chapel Hill is already on the campaign trail as he hopes to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr. Lewis, a Democrat, was...

Work begins on trails at Stoney Creek Park

Several months after a once-proposed disc golf course became a reality at Stoney Creek Park, construction began Monday on the two latest additions at the destination city officials say is becoming more and more popular for both local residents...

Cold crisp collards

Collard lovers will search far and wide for the sweet-tasting vegetable this time of year, after the snap of cold weather gives them just the right taste. Wilton Casteen of Kenansville took a little drive to Mount Olive in search...

Arts Council fund drive nears halfway mark

The Arts Council of Wayne County is almost halfway to meeting its annual fund drive goal of $45,000. The total to date for the campaign, which began in July, is $20,000, officials with Arts Council said. "I would like...

City approves holiday events

A week from today, Mayor Al King will ride into downtown Goldsboro on a horse-drawn trolley -- a group of children, Santa Claus and the Grinch alongside him. City Council members discussed and approved several Christmas events Monday at...

Bickering leaders keep status quo on controversial Duplin Events Center

VenuWorks will continue managing the Duplin County Events Center, despite a tie vote on the issue Monday by the Duplin County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners previously requested that County Manager Mike Aldridge and the center advisory committee look at...

Monday, November 16, 2009

Workin' it -- Where's the fire?

The Job: Firefighter The Company: Goldsboro Fire Department The Location: Goldsboro "We're fixing to go on a call right now," said Assistant Fire Chief Eric Lancaster. "All of us?" I asked. "Uh huh," he said. "Even me and you?" "Yes."...

Woman rescued from lake

Adam Thornton was driving to work at Walnut Creek Country Club when he saw a member of the kitchen staff frantically waving at him. Other employees of the country club were gathered near Lake Wackena too, along Lakeshore Drive...

Surgical robot helps hospital, patients

Wayne Memorial Hospital is taking a step into the future. The hospital is now using the da Vinci S Surgical System to perform "robot-assisted" gynecological and urological surgeries. The da Vinci is a machine that consists of a surgeon's console,...

Salvation Army ready for ringing

With less than two weeks to go, the Salvation Army has started to enlist its volunteer bell ringers for the holiday season. And before the first coin has even been dropped into a bucket, it looks as if there will...

Commissioners agenda

On Tuesday, the Wayne County commissioners will have their second reading of proposed changes to the county's mobile home park ordinance that will give them the final say-so on plat approval. Changes in the amended ordinance would apply to...

CSS Neuse living history

Cannons will thunder and sailors and Marines will converge on the banks of the Neuse River once again on Saturday and Sunday at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site in Kinston as the site holds its annual Civil War...

Schools choral showcases this week

Students will blend their voices during a program of festive songs as Wayne County Public Schools sponsors the annual district-wide Holiday Choral Showcase this week at Dillard Middle School. This is the ninth year for the event, begin in...

Deadline for shipping packages to troops nears

Deadlines are creeping up for sending holiday letters and packages to domestic, international and military addresses in time for Christmas delivery. The United States Postal Service expects receive more than 16 billion cards, letters and packages between Thanksgiving and...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Audit: Hospital overcharged State Health Plan

Wayne Memorial Hospital officials responded Satur-day to reports that the hospital was one of six in North Carolina cited in an ongoing audit of payments made to the State Health Insurance Plan. The six hospitals allegedly owe the state more...

Sticking it to swine flu

Her 4-year-old daughter, Martina, sleeping in her arms, Marilyn Cruz slowly made her way across the Wayne County Health Department parking lot early Saturday morning. The mother was one of nearly 800 local residents who, by 11 a.m., had been...

Grantham child dies after being hit by car

Staff and students at Grantham School will be mourning the loss of one of their own Monday. Dakota Medlin, 10, died Friday afternoon, succumbing to injuries he sustained earlier that day when he was struck by an SUV on Stevens...

Clinic will help those who don't have dental insurance

A two-day free dental clinic for those with limited or no dental insurance will be offered in Goldsboro next weekend. This is the fourth year for the "open door dental clinic," which originated in Burlington under "Missions of Mercy of...

U.S. Cellular offers educational funds through campaign contest

Last year, Brogden Primary School was one of 10 schools in the country to win $100,000 to spend as they saw fit. Today, a state-of-the-art playground adorns the grounds, courtesy of U.S. Cellular's Calling All Communities campaign. The school is...

Spring Creek church opens day care for rural families

Spring Creek Baptist Church has no problem being supportive of missions overseas. But it also wants to make sure to take care of the mission field in its own back yard -- by opening up a Christian child care for...

Rosewood Middle has new principal

A new principal has been named for Rosewood Middle School, following the former administrator's resignation Thursday. Mary Kay James, assistant principal at Greenwood Middle School, will replace RMS principal Susie Shepherd, effective Dec. 1, officials announced Saturday. Ms. Shepherd's departure...

Volunteer shares learning tips with GHS students

When Margaret Lee Wilkins used to drive past Goldsboro High School, she would imagine what it would be like to teach there. When she learned that her aunt, Barbara Wilkins, was named graduation coach there, however, her phone call...

Friday, November 13, 2009

Officials: Bypass bridges coming

Approximately 70 percent of the earth moving required for the first section of the new U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass has been completed and work is under way on 11 of the project's 16 bridges. Also, at least for the...

Rosewood principal resigns

Rosewood Middle School Principal Susie Shepherd resigned Thursday afternoon, amid a swirl of controversy that prompted national exposure for the school when word spread about a fundraiser created to give students higher grades in exchange for donations. Earlier in the...

Local authorities part of federal drug raids

A nationwide campaign targeting a Mexican drug cartel includes Wayne County arrests dating back to at least December 2007, according to documents released Thursday by the Sheriff's Office. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration calls "Project Coronado," a 44-month operation...

Child, 10, struck by SUV succumbs to injuries

Dakota Medlin, the 10-year-old boy who was struck by an SUV after running into the road Friday morning died from his injuries at Pitt Memorial Hospital Friday afternoon, state Highway Patrol officials have confirmed. The child, who was a student...

Duplin County superintendent does not pursue new contract

Duplin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Wiley J. Doby resigned from his job this week amid a flurry of protests from parents and concerned citizens. "I'm relieved that it's over, and I hope we can get things moving in a more...

Public record

Runaways sought The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office needs help finding two teens who ran away from Kennedy Memorial Home in Kinston, according to a news release. Both were last seen on Tuesday, Oct. 27, Capt. James Oldenburg said in a...

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Doby resigns as Duplin schools superintendent

Duplin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Wiley J. Doby resigned from his job this week amid a flurry of protests from parents and concerned citizens. "I'm relieved that it's over, and I hope we can get things moving in a more...

Man, 82, killed while crossing U.S. 70

A longtime Wilber's Barbecue employee was struck and killed early this morning on U.S. 70 after his vehicle got stuck in a median in front of the restaurant, Goldsboro police said. Ralph McKinley Garris, 82, died at the scene...

Ida-effect causing trouble for N.C.

Wednesday's heavy rain that dumped 3.5 inches of water on Wayne County will ease off today to a lighter rainfall, but the area will still be buffeted by gusty winds that are expected to continue until Friday morning. Wayne...

Seniors share their wish list for new center

Jesse McNeil has a simple request for the new county senior center -- a closed vestibule to keep out the draft. "We need to closed-in a room because we are old, and we are cold," Ms. McNeil said. "Open...

Rosewood MS ends 'points for sales'

School officials are still investigating the controversial Rosewood Middle School fundraiser that would allow students to boost their grades based on the amount of money donated, which was canceled by the district on Wednesday. The Board of Education and school...

Corporate giving remains steady for organizations

For some area non-profit organizations, corporate giving has not been affected by the tough economy. Jack Kannan, executive director of the Foundation of Wayne Community College, said the organization has received about $175,000 in corporate donations in the past year,...

Congressman visits local vets, talks about health care reform

Veterans quizzed 1st District Congressman G.K. Butterfield Wednesday on the proposed federal health care plan and how it would affect them during a stop he made at Wilber's Barbecue. Butterfield came to pay tribute to the men and women...

Musicians will perform Nov. 21 at county library

Lecturer/vocalist Laura Didier and pianist/arranger Jim Martinez will present "The Lyricists of The Great American Songbook" Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Wayne County Public Library. Admission is free. Ms. Didier, a Goldsboro resident, has been performing nationally with...

Goldsboro man pleads guilty in federal court

GREENVILLE -- A Goldsboro man has pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Rowland Philip Robinson, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate David W. Daniel to violating Title 18,...

Weather puts damper on after-school activities

Inclement weather and the threat of high winds this evening prompted school officials to cancel all after school programs scheduled after 4:30 p.m. Also, the Raising Achievement and Closing Gap Information Session/Kitchen Table Conversation scheduled for tonight in Mount Olive...

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Rosewood Middle School 20 test points for $20 fundraiser dollars halted

A fundraiser allowing students at Rosewood Middle School to receive extra grade credit has been halted, district officials announced today. School officials claim they were unaware of the fundraising plan, initiated by the school's parent advisory council after last year's...

Woman stabbed; boyfriend sought

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Authorities are looking for a Rocky Mount man accused of stabbing and severely injuring a former girlfriend late Monday night. Children were at the home at the time, ages 1 to 8 years, and might have been...

Planning Board critiques ordinance wording

Efforts by the Wayne County commissioners to craft a Planning Board ordinance that would allow them to remove members "with or without cause" Tuesday night were railed against as not only being "unconscionable," but as posing a threat to...

Finishing Jeremy's mission

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. -- Michele Norris can still see her son, Jeremy, sitting on the couch with his sisters -- laughing as the siblings constantly quote whichever comedy they happen to be watching. She can hear him say, "Hollywood out" at...

Hospital to visitors: Stay home if you're ill

Wayne Memorial Hospital is encouraging people who have the flu, or flu-like symptoms, not to visit patients at the hospital. At Tuesday morning's Wayne Health Corp. Board of Directors meeting, Wayne Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Bill Paugh said the...

Parents protest school chief; board forbids personnel talk

When Karen Scalf of the Concerned Citizens for Duplin County Education got up to speak before the Duplin County Board of Education, she took a broom with her. "It can be used to clean up a mess, or it can...

SJAFB pilot, dad stops by Northwest Elementary

Kim Thomas' second-grade classroom at Northwest Elementary School took on the appearance of a military fashion show Tuesday morning as a special visitor came equipped with a stack of helmets, hats and other uniform accessories. Lt. Colonel Jason Brenneman, a...

Miss Seven Springs Pageant Saturday

Classic Moments in Time Productions and the Town of Seven Springs will present the annual Miss Seven Springs pageant this Saturday. The pageant will be in a different location, and earlier this year than in previous years. Normally it...

Kitchen table school talk on Thursday

Questions on closing the gap and student achievement will be answered by district staff this week, during the revamped Kitchen Table Conversation scheduled for Thursday night in Mount Olive. The session will be held in tandem with the Raising...

Coats being collected for kids

A campaign to collect coats for Wayne County children who do not own cold weather coats has been started by a local women's motorcycle club. Operation Warm Up Wayne was initiated by the X'haust Angels. Club president, Angela Wright,...

WCC registration

For students planning to take college credit classes this spring at Wayne Community College, registration will be held Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. until noon and on Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. These times are for new...

Booth is new Eureka mayor

Commissioner Doug Booth was elected as the new mayor for the town of Eureka. Commissioner Billy Martin was re-elected as commissioner and Leroy Wellington was also elected commissioner. The Wayne County Board of Election counted the write-in votes Tuesday...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Man wanted in connection with teen's rape

Authorities are searching for a Goldsboro man accused of raping a 16-year-old early Saturday morning, a Wayne County Sheriff's Office detective said. Carlos Reshaen "Shawn" Wright, 34, last known to live on Edgerton Street, faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree...

Veterans Day parade canceled

After several days of watching weather reports, threat of heavy rain has prompted members of the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition to cancel Wednesday's Veterans Day parade. "We hate to do it. Hate to do it," said Bill Graham,...

Two N.C. expectant moms die of H1N1

H1N1 is getting even more attention in the state today after the deaths of two pregnant women were announced Monday in North Carolina. Wayne County officials have already announced a mass vaccination clinic scheduled for Saturday at the Health Department...

Federal magistrate: No prayer at meeting

Wayne County commissioners this morning said they disagree with a recommendation that the use of prayer to open a board of commissioners meeting in North Carolina violates the First Amendment. The board members said they plan to continue what...

Toy run

Frank Morrow, president of the Wayne County Ghostriders, unloads toys from his motorcycle Saturday at Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church in Mount Olive. About 40 riders dropped off at least one toy each at the church for the Falcon Children's...

Farmer pushes children to seek healthy eating

Will Allen is calling for a "revolution" -- against unhealthy eating habits, children with diabetes and inaccessible, unaffordable food. And Monday, the 2008 MacArthur Fellowship recipient and founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc., brought that message to hundreds of...

Hog producer leaves area farmers in limbo

Corn and soybean growers in Wayne and surrounding counties are hurting because one of the state's largest pork-producing companies has filed bankruptcy and is refusing, at least for the present, to pay them for the grain they have already...

Wayne-Duplin BPW names Woman of Year

MOUNT OLIVE -- District Court Judge Carol Jones of Kenansville was honored Thursday night as the Wayne-Duplin Business and Professional Women's Club Career Woman of the Year. Ms. Jones will compete on the state level where the local club...

Monday, November 9, 2009

In memoriam

The following men have been confirmed as sons of Duplin County lost in World War II: * J.D. Albertson -- killed in action Sept. 6, 1944 * John Thomas Avent -- killed in action Aug. 10, 1944 * William Arthur...

State legislators start committee work

After a short break after adjourning in early August, state legislators are getting back to work this month as appointments for various study commissions and task forces are being made. Locally, Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, has been appointed as...

It's all about the smile ...

The Company: Sam's Club The Job: Door greeter and tire technician The Location: Goldsboro When I first arrived at Sam's Club, I wasn't sure what to think about the woman working at the door. "Well, heeeey ladybug!" greeter Vicki Mozingo...

Pitt Memorial to hold free clinic on end-of-life issues

GREENVILLE -- The End-of-Life Care Coalition of Eastern Carolina is sponsoring a free advance care planning clinic at Pitt County Memorial Hospital on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 pm. The clinic begins at 10 a.m. with a short educational...

Silver Alert issued

KINSTON -- Kinston police have issued a silver alert Sunday for a 62-year-old man reported missing since Friday. Miller Jones was reported missing about 3 p.m. He is described as black, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds...

WCC to hold lecture on Tuscarora War

The Tuscarora War will be the topic of this year's Native America Heritage Month lecture at Wayne Community College. Donald Underwood Thompson, who has done extensive research on the 1711-1713 conflict, will talk about the Tuscarora tribe's attempt to...

Court staff moves to third-floor offices

Assistant District Attorney Donya Strong likes the periwinkle blue walls of her new office. The additional space -- the office is about twice the size of her old one -- is "an added bonus." Ms. Strong was among county courthouse...

Health Department promotes diabetes awareness

Diabetes used to be a rare diagnosis. But today, in Wayne County especially, the numbers are increasing, making diabetes the fourth leading cause of death in the county -- right behind heart disease, cancer and stroke. "In every gender and...

Remembering those who served

KENANSVILLE -- Ken Avent was only 11 months old when his father, John, died on a battlefield in France. So instead of reaching back to memories of time they spent together, pictures and stories passed down by his mother are...

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Warsaw gathers to hold area's first parade to honor veterans

WARSAW -- As World War II was coming to an end, Ralph Vernon, 84, was given a task that he would remember forever. At the time, he didn't realize the weight of its significance, but 65 years later, it's clear....

Iraq veteran Ben Parrish won't ever forget why he served

MOUNT OLIVE -- Ben Parrish doesn't need a holiday to remind him of the sacrifices generations of veterans have made. He wears his tribute to one of them on his wrist every day. The inscription on the bracelet reads:...

DGDC officials say Neighborhood Plan coming along

When Glenn Barwick and his wife, Judith McMillen, purchased the old Borden family home on George Street, they knew what they were getting themselves into -- years of renovation and restoration, tens of thousands of dollars. "It was a boarding...

Two take deals in 2007 MO shootings

Two men charged in a 2007 shootout that left a bystander dead at Brookwood Apartments in Mount Olive took plea deals with prosecutors on Thursday morning. According to court records, D'Morriais Q. Rivers, now 27, pleaded guilty to the second-degree...

Some government offices closed for Veterans Day

Goldsboro, Wayne County and state and local offices will be closed on Wednesday in honor of Veterans Day. The closing will not affect garbage or recyclables pickup by either the city or by Waste Industries. The county's landfill and...

Dropoff dates for Operation Christmas Child drawing near

Christmas is coming and supporters of Operation Christmas Child are hoping people are preparing shoe boxes of goodies for children around the world. Adamsville Baptist Church on North Berkeley Boulevard has been designated as an official collection center for...

Parents will get chance to ask questions at public forum

A public forum for parents of Wayne County Public Schools students is being planned Thursday in the southern end of the county. The program is similar to last year's series of "Kitchen Table Conversations," with an added twist. The...

Benefit Tasting of Wines pairing with Shoe Fund

The 15th annual Benefit Tasting of Wines and silent auction will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Herman Park Center. This year's Benefit Tasting of Wines will spotlight the Goldsboro Junior Woman's Club Shoe Fund....

Health Department schedules H1N1 vaccine clinic for Saturday

An H1N1 flu clinic is scheduled for Saturday at the Wayne County Health Department from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The H1N1 shot and H1N1 mist will be available at no cost. The clinic is targeting high risk groups...

Local charities say need will be greater this year

Area soup kitchens and food pantries are beginning to prepare for Thanksgiving, and for some, the tough economy is bringing with it increasing need and decreasing donations. Tammy Cartagena, executive administrative assistant at the Hispanic Community Development Center, said...

Wayne Memorial recognizes local hospital's best nurses

Wayne Memorial Hospital celebrated its nurses recently at the Excellence in Nursing Awards. There were 58 nurse, nursing assistant, surgical and OB tech nominees in several categories: MT/NA/Surg and OB Tech, nurses in leadership and bedside/staff positions. The employees...

Club 55 seeking a brown bag alcohol permit

A nightclub just east of Seven Springs, which has drawn the ire of neighbors for noise violations, might seek a new liquor permit, officials said. Club 55 El Abuelo sits just across the Wayne-Lenoir county line on N.C. 55. Lenoir...

Duplin names 2 to county Hall of Fame

KENANSVILLE -- Retired four-star Army general and former NATO commander Gen. Dan K. McNeill was inducted Thursday night into the Duplin County Hall of Fame, standing alongside the portrait of deceased Hall of Fame recipient James Millard Smith. "I've been...

MOC alumni weekend set for Nov. 20-22

The Trojans are coming home Nov. 20-22 for the annual Mount Olive College Alumni Weekend. The three-day reunion is packed with events for alumni of the private institution, including some new activities. "The Pickle Classic Basketball Tournament, which is...

Friday, November 6, 2009

Marijuana buyer turns on dealer after threat

A Raleigh man told Goldsboro police he was in Tanglewood Trailer Park to buy a pound of marijuana from an acquaintance late Thursday. But when the acquaintance, Terrence Travon Davis, 23, pointed a handgun at him and allegedly robbed...

MOC economist: New metric measures economic distress

Mount Olive College economist and associate professor Dr. Paul Cwik, working in conjunction with the Foundation for Economic Education, has developed a new tool for measuring America's financial troubles. The Distress Index, which launched last week, is a new...

Officials: Vaccines trickling into area

The Health Department is giving out H1N1 vaccines as quickly as they come in, officials said Thursday. "As soon as we can get it, we will distribute it to the area providers, medical providers, or we give it ourselves in...

Goldsboro High gets second principal

Goldsboro High School will have two principals starting Monday. Joining current chief administrator, Patricia Burden, will be John Twitty, who is principal at Wayne High School Academy. Administrators call the "shared principal concept" a positive move for the school. "Each...

SJAFB officials: Security is tight

Thursday's deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, has affected security measures at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs officer Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore said the installation is under "a heightened state of awareness as a...

Public record

Hit and run accident Goldsboro police said John Murchison of West New Hope Road suffered visible injury on Wednesday after being sideswiped on his bicycle by a gray minivan driven by an unknown driver. Both Murchison and the vehicle...

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Local family earns top state honor for volunteerism

The Parrish family's experience with the Special Olympics started off as a one-time offer to volunteer. Now, four years later, the Parrishes say their work with the athletes has been not only rewarding, but a lesson for their own lives...

Appliance buyers can get tax break

Starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, North Carolina consumers will be able save on selected Energy Star-rated appliances during the state's second annual tax-free weekend. The sales tax exemption will apply to such home appliances as clothes washers, freezers, refrigerators,...

No smoking allowed -- Health Department prepares restaurants for new rules

Come Jan. 1, House Bill 2, prohibiting smoking in designated public places, will go into effect. The bill primarily targets restaurants and bars, with the local Health Department tasked with enforcing the restrictions. Essentially, the new law forbids smoking in...

Cherry eyes plan for patient care

Faced with a mental health system that still is struggling to meet the needs of all its consumers, Cherry Hospital Director Philip Cook is working to extend his state psychiatric facility's patient care beyond its doors. As part of...

Calypso man wins two seats with write-ins

CALYPSO -- Alan Story received enough write-in votes in Tuesday's municipal election to serve either as mayor or on the town board. Story, who could not be reached for comment prior to press time today, led the write-ins with...

Public record

Knife at school A 15-year-old Southern Wayne High School was found with a black lock-blade knife in his pocket. School authorities were informed that the student might have a controlled substance in his possession, according to a Wayne County Sheriff's...

Gold's Gym holding Saturday burn-a-thon for diabetes

In honor of National Diabetes Month and the launch of the American Diabetes Association's new "Stop Diabetes" campaign, Gold's Gym in Goldsboro is hosting a first-of-its-kind calorie "Burn-a-thon" to promote diabetes awareness on Saturday. The idea is simple. Goldsboro...

Ag lecture set for Monday

Will Allen, founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc. and recipient of a 2008 MacArthur Fellowship, will give the Urban Community Lecture at 10:45 a.m. at the Goldsboro High School, Monday at 10:45 a.m. The public is invited to attend....

Board of Health looking for members

The Wayne County Board of Health is accepting applications for the two seats on the board, the first is the "public member" position and the second is the one reserved for a doctor. The board meets on the third Wednesday...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Commissioners OK mobile home ordinance change

It was a déjà vu Tuesday morning for Wayne County commissioners as they took the next step toward revamping the county's mobile home park ordinance to give them final say on plat approval. Just as they did with the recent...

Give-a-hug dolls comfort kids of deployed service members

Having a loved one in the military who is deployed overseas can be difficult, especially for a child. Several years ago, Meadow Lane Elementary School introduced a response to the void, offering six-week support groups for students of deployed...

Pikeville chooses Weaver for mayor

PIKEVILLE -- Challenger Johnny Weaver defeated incumbent Mayor Herb Sieger Tuesday 114 to 84, earning a four-year term in office. Weaver, who does not support selling alcohol in Pikeville, said his stance on the issue, which was the subject...

Pikeville rejects alcohol ... again

For the fourth time in nine years Pikeville residents have decided not to allow alcohol to be sold within town limits. Voters had three options on the ballot: to vote for or against permitting off-premises sales only of malt...

McDonald earns third term as Mount Olive mayor

MOUNT OLIVE -- Incumbent Ray McDonald Sr. will serve another two-year term as mayor of Mount Olive, voters decided Tuesday. McDonald, who also previously served as town manager and in other capacities for the town government, said he was...

Police: No suspects in Saturday gun battle

Police continue to investigate a Saturday shooting that severely injured two Goldsboro men, who are still in the hospital, police said early today. Derrick Raymont Best, of Mimosa Street, and Qushawn Mondrell Broadhurst are still recovering after the shooting....

Public record

Animal shelter damaged An employee of the Wayne County Animal Adoption Center found bullet holes in the building on Monday morning when he reported to work, Goldsboro police reports show. Adoption center employee Wayne Benton of Snow Hill told Goldsboro...

Duplin residents protest against Doby

KENANSVILLE -- About two dozen people gathered in Kenansville early Monday morning in a show of protest against Duplin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Wiley J. Doby. Some of the protesters carried signs saying "No Doby," and resident Rodney Scott...

Pikeville will not increase Christmas bonuses this year

The Town of Pikeville Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to keep the town employees Christmas bonuses the same as last year. This year, full-time employees will receive $150 and part-time employees will receive $75. This is much lower than...

Doing it the old-fashioned way

Terry Lee of Mount Olive uses a pair of mules to pull an old one-row tobacco stalk cutter Tuesday afternoon. He and Shayne Williams, also of Mount Olive (not pictured), spent the day cutting several fields in the Mar-Mac community....

Meadow Lane custodian finds gun

A gun was found on Meadow Lane Elementary School property Tuesday morning, but school officials said no children were believed to have come in contact with the weapon. Ken Derksen, public information officer for Wayne County Public Schools, said...

Elections see less than 4 percent voter turnout

Voters in Wayne County municipalities stayed home Tuesday as Election Day came and went with barely a notice by most residents. With only 20 polling places open and fewer than half of the county's 69,000 registered voters eligible to cast...

Walnut Creek, Seven Springs, Eureka, sanitary districts also all hold elections

The citizens of the town of Seven Springs voted Tuesday to keep incumbent Stephen Potter in the mayor's office for another term. Potter, who ran unopposed, received 13 votes in the municipal election. There were no write-in votes. He...

New municipal officials elected in Duplin

The voter turnout in Duplin County municipal elections was slightly less than 21 percent with write-in candidates winning in Calypso and Warsaw. The totals are unofficial until the canvass is held Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. It will be...

Duplin commission continues efforts to prepare county hospital for lease

KENANSVILLE -- Duplin County officials have received proposals from three management firms in a bid to reduce the costs associated with the lease of Duplin General Hospital, but county commissioners debated Monday whether hiring any of them would be...

Andy's Foundation makes large donation to Steele Memorial Library

MOUNT OLIVE -- Andy's Charitable Foundation announced Monday a three-year $30,000 pledge toward the town's Steele Memorial Library project. "It is a significant contribution to the eventual success of our project," said Jane Rustin, director of the Wayne County...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Contractors give stimulus building projects mixed reviews

Billions of dollars in federal stimulus funding have poured into local governments, non-profit agencies and other entities over the past year, but the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act's impact on local contractors and construction companies has been mixed. Business has...

City man who killed father has been paroled

A Goldsboro man convicted of killing his father in his sleep in 1992 has been paroled, state authorities say. David Wayne Smith was 18 when he pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his father, Wayne L. Smith, 45,...

City alters policy on parade cleanup

A street closure policy that drew the ire of local veterans was changed Monday evening at the Goldsboro City Council's pre-meeting work session, but new guidelines for parade organizers will not just impact the Nov. 11 Veterans Day parade. City...

Volunteer earns honor for work at Boys and Girls Club

Tom Yarboro, an executive with Goldsboro Milling, has been recognized for contributing to the growth and development of the Boys and Girls Club movement. The Robert W. Fowler Pacesetter Award is presented annually in the southeast region. Yarboro is the...

School board passes policy on communicable diseases

For the second time in less than six months, the school board has passed a policy protecting students with HIV status. And again, board member John P. Grantham and Eddie Radford were the dissenting votes. In May, school board policy...

Court will change rule for jury duty

When the doors of the Wayne County Courthouse opened Sept. 14, court officials had asked 200 people to show for jury duty. Of those 200 issued summons, the court saw exactly 38 show up to serve. Clearly, that is a...

Election Day arrives

Monday, November 2, 2009

Voters will head to polls Tuesday

Voters in several Wayne County municipalities will go to the polls on Tuesday to choose representatives for their town boards. Sanitary district members also will have a chance to choose representatives. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at...

Scrappin' it for Workin' it

The company: Goldsboro Iron and Metals The Job: Scrap Yard Worker The Location: Goldsboro I thought I looked fine when I showed up to work at Goldsboro Iron and Metals. "Hi, I'm Laura, from the News-Argus." "Is that what you're...

Saturday gunfight wounds two outside local club

Two men were badly injured in a shootout outside a Goldsboro club early Saturday morning, police said. Around 2 a.m., a gun battle erupted in the parking lot of Party Central, on Corporate Drive off of Wayne Memorial Drive,...

Aycock Birthplace turns 50

FREMONT -- Looking at the barn and hayloft near Charles B. Aycock's historic home, most people see a page out of the state's history. Jean Aycock Chase, however, sees herself as a young girl who accepted the dare of...

Health Department gives out Golden A awards

There are fewer Golden A awards being handed out by the Health Department this year, but only because the method for inspecting food establishments has changed. The annual recognition, for restaurants and food stands, faced several since last year,...

Johnston County flu clinic Tuesday

SMITHFIELD -- The Johnston County Public Health Department will hold a walk-in clinic Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. to give seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines to children under the age of 18. Children will be able to receive both...

Resume class starting at WCC

An employability skills classes featuring resume writing and Career Readiness Certification test prep will begin this week at Wayne Community College. The target audience is dislocated workers, but anyone may attend. The day class will run from 2 to...

Mobile homes on county agenda

Wayne County commissioners will once again take up proposed changes to the county's mobile home park ordinance Tuesday morning. Just as they already have done with subdivision plats, commissioners are poised to assume authority to make the final decision...

Habitat home dedication Thursday

The Goldsboro-Wayne chapter of Habitat for Humanity will hold its 35th home dedication and congratulate the Hailey family Thursday as they receive the keys to their first home at 1305 Stephens St. The home dedication will be held at 4:30...

Public record

Jewelry stolen Joyce Hall Tucker, 53, Davis Road, Mount Olive reported to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office the theft of $2,650 in jewelry. The items and their value included a one-half carat diamond seven-stone ring, $1,000; one carat round...

Sunday, November 1, 2009

City will seek growth, but budget limits how

A noncontiguous annexation request from Wayne County commissioner Steve Keen involving his 51.17-acre property on the south side of U.S. 70 just east of N.C. 581 has raised questions in recent weeks regarding Goldsboro's future annexation plans. So before...

Ohio-based company buys R.N. Rouse and Co. holdings

An Ohio-based company acquired this week a family-owned construction business that has operated in Goldsboro for nearly a century. R.N. Rouse and Co. Inc. was purchased by Danis Building Construction Co., a spokesperson for the company announced last week....

Families: State cuts hurting local mental health patients

It troubles 70-year-old Estella Shepherd to see state budget cuts target segments of the population that are the least equipped to deal with them, such as her developmentally disabled adult son, Thomas. For some like James Hinnant, the cuts...

Halloween hauntings

Anthony Williams Jr., 6, right, walks through a mock graveyard while trick-or-treating at the home of Neil and April Denning on West Main Street in Mount Olive on Saturday evening. Damp weather did not keep youngsters across Wayne County from...

Newspaper launches drive for children

With a little help, Christmas morning will come early for more than 600 children who, otherwise, would likely have no gifts this year. Some come from broken homes. Others have at least one parent who has lost a job....

Urban farming entrepreneur to give lecture at GHS

The North Carolina Center for Environmental Farming Systems is sponsoring a lecture by a noted farming innovator, who will speak Wednesday at the Wayne School of Engineering at Goldsboro High School. Will Allen of Milwaukee, Wis., is a MacArthur "Genius...

Realtors set sights on helping feed pets

Maria Wade is hoping to see a mountain of pet food grow over the next month at Prudential The McMillen Real Estate Group office at 1004 N. Berkeley Blvd. And even though the company's pet food drive for the...

Boo-It ... Haunted Wayne

Robbie Walker, 3, of Pikeville, reaches for his prize after winning at miniature golf at the Boo-It held in downtown Goldsboro on Friday....

Reaching for Halloween at library

Alex Castro, 4, digs his hand into the "Bowl of Horrors" to win some candy at the Wayne County Public Library's Halloween Festival on Saturday....

Halloween on base

Three-year-old Antonio Houpe Jr. bowls for candy at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Halloween Festival Saturday evening....

Halloween goes to the dogs to benefit Humane Society

More than a dozen Wayne County dogs got into the spooky spirit of Halloween Saturday at the Wayne County Humane Society pet costume contest. Some of the pooches were more happy with their costumes than others. Daisy, a 12-year-old...

There will be no one's name on the ballot, again, in Eureka

The Town of Eureka ballot looks pretty bare. With three seats open -- the mayor and two commissioners -- there are no candidates listed at the Wayne County Board of Elections. Mayor Stephen Howell and Commissioner Billy Martin's seats are...

Dropoff deadline for Operation Christmas Child is approaching

Christmas is still a while off, but supporters of Operation Christmas Child are hoping people are already preparing shoe boxes of goodies for children around the world. Adamsville Baptist Church on North Berkeley Boulevard has been designated as an...

Murderer released on parole

A Lillington man convicted of a 1991 murder near Grantham has been released on parole, state officials say. Lionel Lamont Cox, now 37, was convicted in 1993 of the second-degree murder of James "Pop" Raynor, 68, who was found dead...

HHS chief: Mental health system changing

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Lanier Cansler was in Goldsboro Thursday, seeking to ex-plain to consumers, providers and other mental health officials how the system is likely to change over the course of the next...

Ava Gardner calendar available

SMITHFIELD -- The Ava Gardner Museum is now offering its 2010 Ava Gardner Calendar. Since 1999, the Ava Gardner Museum has created an annual calendar that includes exceptional photos of "the most beautiful woman in the world." The Museum has...

Authors to speak Wednesday at WCC

Gingher is the author of several novels, including "Bobby Rex's Greatest Hit,""How to Have a Happy Childhood," "Teen Angel & Other Stories of Wayward Love," and "A Girl's Life: Boys, Weddings, & Luck." Her latest book is "Adventures in Pen...