January 2010 archives

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Snow Day - This Papa John's driver had no fear Saturday

When Brandon LeClerc's phone rang early Saturday morning, he didn't hesitate. "(My boss) called me up at 9:30. ... I said, 'I'm getting dressed. I'll be there,'" Brandon said. "He said, 'Yeah, I figured you're one of the only...

Snow Day

After a day full of near misses and minor accidents, the dangers of the aftermath of Saturday's winter storm became apparent Saturday night when a North Carolina Department of Transportation truck with a plow attached struck and killed a...

Snow Day - Some business open despite the weather

While many people hunkered down in their homes Saturday to avoid the snow and ice, some Goldsboro businesses opened their doors for the customers who ventured out despite the winter storm warning. Among the first to open was Mickey's...

Snow Day - Children enjoy the snow

For children across Wayne County, the only bad part about waking up Saturday morning to see their yards covered in snow and ice was that it was a Saturday morning. "I just wish it was a school day," said...

Goldsboro continues search for Parks and Recreation director

Less than a month after Parks and Recreation director David Carter submitted his resignation to pursue a more lucrative offer in Chesapeake, Va., City Manager Joe Huffman said progress is being made toward finding a worthy replacement. But despite...

ALE agents issue citations at Willie Nelson concert

KENANSVILLE -- Willie Nelson wasn't on the road again Thursday night, but state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents were, and they cited members of the famed singer's band for drug and moonshine possession. Nelson was a no-show for his scheduled...

Tax counseling available

The AARP Tax-Aide service will offer free tax counseling and simple income tax preparation help for senior citizen taxpayers and low-income taxpayers on Mondays and Tuesdays, beginning Monday through April 13. Senior taxpayers, 50 years old and older, will...

New professional group launches in Wayne County

PULSE, a new young professionals group in Wayne County, was launched in August 2009 by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and its Business Development Committee. The committee saw a need in the community to lead Wayne County's young...

Optimist Club issues essay challenge

The Optimist Club of Goldsboro is encouraging area students to contemplate the question "The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace?" as part of the Optimist International Essay contest for 2010. The Optimist Club will judge the local students' essays,...

Student lists

Mitchell Arendell Parrott Academy middle school student Maryanna Mitchell of Goldsboro, an eighth-grader, is one of three APA students selected to by the American Choral Directors Association as members of the Middle School Honor Choir. More than 5,000 middle school...

Caswell Center Scholarships

The Caswell Center Foundation is announcing the availability of five $1,000 scholarships for the 2010-11 academic school year. To qualify, applicants must be working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree with a major in: occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreation...

Beekeeper school at LCC

The Neuse Regional Beekeepers' 2010 Spring Bee School begins Thursday at the Lenoir County County Cooperative Extension Service office at 1791 N.C. 11 south of Kinston. The class will meet from 7-9 p.m. for six consecutive Thursdays. The course is...

Friday, January 29, 2010

Forecast: Ice

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for eastern North Carolina in advance of a storm that could coat Wayne County with up to a quarter of an inch of ice and a potential accumulation of 2 to 4...

Students' essays due Monday for contest

As part of this year's Wayne County Reads' event, high school students are invited to participate in an essay contest, with submissions due by Feb. 1. The book selection is "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, which portrays a society...

Wayne County Reads kicks off programs Monday

Wayne County Reads will kick off its 2010 "Season of Reading" with a discussion on "Fahrenheit 451 and Ray Bradbury." The event will be Monday at 7 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College. The book, chosen by...

Planning changes don't slow plat OKs

It is too soon to judge how well the new subdivision rules that gave county commissioners the final say on all subdivision plats are working, but so far they have not been a problem, local officials say. However, none...

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Plaque will mark house as site of first nursing home

The house at 1113 Mulberry St. in downtown Goldsboro looks a lot different from the way Rachel Frederick Baars remembers that it looked shortly after it was constructed in 1933. But even more than 70 years later, her memories of...

Seegars named 2010 Cornerstone winner

A local business leader was honored Wednesday by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce not for only his business savvy, but for how he has touched the lives of countless county residents outside of the working world. Wes Seegars was...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Local Veterans Fair offers job links and information

Close to 100 veterans and active-duty military took advantage of a Tuesday Veterans Fair at Wayne Community College to learn about business, educational and benefits opportunities. "I think that it is real good," said veteran Edwin Allen Jones as...

Suspect dies after being tased at scene

A Wayne County man is dead after Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call early this morning. At around 5:30 a.m., a passer-by called in a fight at the intersection of Highway 111 and Dollard Town Road, according...

$5 car fee proposed for public transport

A proposal to tack a $5 fee on vehicle registrations in Wayne County to raise money for public transportation received a less-than-enthusiastic reception Tuesday from the Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority. Board members declined to be swayed by authority director Alan...

Laying down some tracks

Junior Dail, left, with the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation Department, and Hal Forrester, with the Goldsboro Kiwanis Club, lay down new tracks for the Kiwanis train at Herman Park on Tuesday. Forrester said that until this recent project began --...

Craigslist response ends in robbery

A scam involving a popular online community and a fraudulent listing on that site led to an assault and robbery late last week -- an incident highlighting the need for caution if meeting strangers located via the Internet, authorities...

Program will focus on slavery narratives

The Wayne County Public Library will host the Road Scholar program, "Slave Voices in North Carolina," Saturday, Feb. 6, at 1 p.m. Dr. Lucinda MacKethan, emerita professor of English at N.C. State University, will present personal narratives, letters, poetry...

Davis: 2010 budget looks better

Cautious optimism was the theme for state Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, Tuesday as he spoke to the Goldsboro Rotary Club. Optimistic, he said, because the economy is beginning to recover, but cautious because the state isn't out of the...

Deer herd causes wreck on U.S. 117 South

A Faison man reported a herd of five deer crossed the intersection of U.S. 117 South and George Street on Tuesday morning, at least two of them striking his truck and leaving at least four dead deer in the...

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A hero's farewell

Dylan and Colby Phillip had a hard time standing still as they waited along Berkeley Boulevard, just outside the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base gates, with American flags in hand. They are, after all, only 6 and 7 years old....

Davis pursues second term

State Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, announced this morning that he will seek a second term in the District 5 seat. "When I first ran for this office two years ago, I made a commitment, I made a pledge to...

Filing period opens soon for May primary

Candidate filing begins in just under two weeks for the May 4 primary election. Five local seats in the General Assembly and three in the U.S. Congress are up for election this year along with several local offices. The...

Judge moves murder trial

The district attorney who will prosecute a former North Carolina Marine charged with murdering his former girlfriend said this morning he is pleased the case will be heard in Wayne County Superior Court this June. Dewey Hudson, the district...

Cunningham seeks seat

Acknowledging that the Democrat Party might indeed be facing a bit of an uphill battle this November, prospective U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham nevertheless told Wayne County party members that he believes he is the man to defeat Republican...

Local store robbed at gunpoint

An undetermined amount of cash was stolen and no one was injured in an armed robbery involving three masked men at a Dollar General store on U.S. 13 Monday night, authorities said. Three masked men, two wearing ski masks...

Monday, January 25, 2010

Honoring their own

Members of the 4th Fighter Wing conduct a dignified transfer of Knightdale, NC native Tech. Sgt. Adam Ginett, on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Monday afternoon.  Ginett died Jan. 19 near Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an...

Storms drench county overnight

A strong line of storms with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour swept across the state Sunday night into this morning, dropping about an inch of rain on the Wayne County area. A tornado watch was issued,...

Program waits for word on funding

With no word on how United Way funding will stack up for Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County, officials say they working to build up their own funding sources. Mary Ann Dudley, Boys and Girls Clubs' executive director, said...

Reporter vs. burger

The Job: Professional Eating Challenge Contestant The Company: Andy's Burgers, Shakes & Fries The Location: Goldsboro The next cow I see, I'm punching in the face. In the past week, I've consumed nearly 10 pounds of ground beef in...

Remembering Private Bullock

It could have simply been another history lesson -- a tale of courage and youth interrupted passed from a teacher to his students on Veterans Day. But when a group of Pennsylvania teenagers came to know Pfc. Dan Bullock, they...

Medal of Honor recipient commends class's effort

Local veteran Joe Marm knows what it takes to earn the Medal of Honor, having done so Nov. 14, 1965, during a firefight along Vietnam's Ia Drang Valley. And he has heard Private Dan Bullock's story, thanks, in part, to...

Grants available for organizations that help needy

Stimulus money is still available for non-profits and church groups whose mission is working with homeless or low-income residents. But the deadline for applications is fast approaching, said Daryl Woodard, executive director of Smart Choices for Youth Inc. Woodard,...

GATEWAY to hold public hearing on construction of bus transfer station

The Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority will hold a public hearing Tuesday morning on the proposed construction of a bus transfer station. The hearing will get under way at 10 a.m. in the anteroom on the second floor of the historic...

Sunday, January 24, 2010

SJAFB plans for dignified transfer of fallen Knightdale airmen

N-A Staff Writer The remains of a North Carolina native who was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device blast earlier this week will pass through Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Monday, members of the 4th Fighter Wing confirmed this weekend....

Mistrial declared in 2007 murder charge

A Wayne County Superior Court jury could not reach a verdict on a first-degree murder charge against Deon Mclean, leading to a mistrial in Wayne County Superior Court late Friday. But Mclean, 24, will serve prison time on other...

WCC librarian leads effort to preserve community's history

To the untrained eye, an office nestled above the library at Wayne Community College is being used to store castoffs from basements and attics -- boxes brimming with pos-ters and newspaper clippings, dusty scrapbooks and yellowing photographs. But to Dr....

A life changed in just an instant

April Brown turns to her husband, Eric, struggling to form the words necessary to ask him about the night she suffered a major stroke. "Is there anything you remember?" she said, taking her time to get it right. "Yeah," he...

Red Cross says donations are needed

Local groups and organizations are joining relief efforts for Haiti, but the bulk of the aid worldwide is being directed by the American Red Cross. Chuck Waller, director of Wayne County Chapter of Red Cross, said earlier this week he...

YMCA to host father/daughter dance

Alando Mitchell lights up when he talks about his three daughters, ages 14, 9 and 5. From spending time with them around the dinner table as a family to putting an individual tiara on each of their heads before he...

Duplin school seeks staff's advice

Confusion over school facilities planning in Duplin County has consultant Jeff Tsai of the Operations Research/Education La-boratory at North Carolina State University looking to the county's Board of Education for direction. The school board hired the lab in September...

Community colleges offer WorkKeys workshops

Wayne Community College is among four eastern North Carolina community college that have teamed up with North Carolina's Eastern Region and ACT, Inc. to offer businesses in their service area informational workshops about WorkKeys and Career Readiness Certificates. Employers...

Friday, January 22, 2010

St. Mary student takes top honors in geography bee

Andrew Boldt, a sixth-grade student at St. Mary School, recently won the schoolwide competition of the National Geographic Bee and the chance to earn a $25,000 college scholarship. The geography bee was held nationwide, with students answering questions on a...

Marine's murder trial will move to county

Wayne County will be the site of a June first-degree murder trial for Cesar Laurean, a former Marine corporal who is charged in the 2007 bludgeoning death of a pregnant Marine. Laurean, who is accused of killing Marine Lance...

Cherry Hospital passes surprise inspection with no deficiencies

Two Cherry Hospital administrators have left their positions -- one to pursue another job opportunity locally -- and a recent state survey at the hospital produced a "clean bill of health," the director said. Reports surfaced this week that Dr....

Couple found dead in trailer

FOUR OAKS -- A Johnston County couple in their 60s were found dead in their Hollow Oak Drive home on Thursday morning, victims of an apparent double homicide. A small fire set at the home of Sue Ann and...

Rain, rain, go away

Alexus Stott uses her umbrella as she gets off the bus this morning at Brogden Primary School. Rainy weather continued today across most of eastern North Carolina and weather forecasters are predicting it to return by Sunday....

N.C. Pork Council to hold annual conference Feb. 4-5

The North Carolina Pork Council will hold its annual Pork Conference in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show. Pork Conference events are planned for Thursday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 5 for NCPC members and pork producers. The Southern Farm...

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Exploring the sea

Jess Hawkins, right, from the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, talks with students about various sea creatures and marine life on Tuesday at Wayne Academy. It was a day off for students, but approximately 250 from grades four through...

MOC will offer new three-year program

MOUNT OLIVE -- Freshmen at Mount Olive College seeking to earn a bachelor's degree in three instead of four years will now have help the school's help in achieving their goal. Beginning this fall, the college will waive additional course...

McIntyre's pre-need license suspended

McIntyre Funeral Home has had its pre-need establishment license suspended by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service for failing to follow state guidelines regarding pre-need services. The suspension is for six months. It will be followed by a...

Architect shares look at depot with Scouts

A few hours before David Gall told Goldsboro City Council members their historic train depot was on schedule to be fully restored by 2012, the architect charged with bringing Union Station back to life delivered the same news at the...

Fremont cuts down stops for garbage pickup

Starting Feb. 1, some residents in the town of Fremont will be required to place their trash cans on the opposite side of the street for pick-up. As a way to save time and money, the Board of Aldermen voted...

Author to speak on race riots at Aycock birthplace

FREMONT -- Historian LeRae S. Umfleet will discuss the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot and sign copies of her new book, "A Day of Blood: The 1898 Wilmington Race Riot," Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Governor Charles B. Aycock...

Civil War trivia contest Feb. 18

FREMONT -- Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site will host its first Civil War Trivia contest on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. The trivia contest will have 20 contestants answering questions about the War Between the States with prizes given...

January blood drive schedule

The Wayne County Red Cross has announced the following remaining blood drives for January and the complete list of February dates. All donors will get a free Adam's Car Wash coupon. The Wayne County chapter of the Red Cross is...

AKA Debutante Pageant Jan. 30

Epsilon Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will hold its 56th Annual Debutante Pageant on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Dillard Middle School Gymnasium. The theme for the event is "Colors of the Wind." The...

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Area leaders gather to hear forecast for region's future

Variable, but with a sunny outlook wasn't Tuesday's weather forecast -- it was how John D. Chaffee, president and chief executive officer of North Carolina's Eastern Regional Development Commission, summed up the state of the region. "We have job...

Firefighters gather to honor their own at annual awards banquet

Steve Bryan could not help but to think of his father when he took home the honor of Wayne County fireman of the year on Tuesday night. Bryan, a firefighter with Jordans Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, was the recipient...

Hudson will run to replace Albertson

Duplin District Attorney Dewey Hudson announced Tuesday he will run for the state Senate District 10 seat, currently held by the retiring Charlie Albertson. Hudson, who will run for the Democratic nomination in May, announced Friday he would not...

Council will make repairs to houses

Despite a light docket, the Goldsboro City Council had plenty going on at its final meeting of the month. The board passed its consent agenda -- which included awarding a $186,000 contract to Fremont-based Construction Managers Inc. for completion of...

Local party leaders say Mass. vote was wakeup call for all

The election Tuesday of a Republican senator from the traditionally Democratic state of Massachusetts has local GOP leaders anticipating ripples in this fall's elections that could spell change in the makeup of local and state offices. Scott Brown's victory...

Joe Marm reappointed to veterans organization

RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue has reappointed Joe Marm of Fremont to the North Carolina Veterans Affairs Commission. Marm is a retired colonel from the United States Army who served 30 years. He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for...

Militia unit's history recorded

Stacey Jones is not a trained historian. But the Wayne County native is interested in local history and especially his family's genealogy. So when he discovered that he had an ancestor who served in the Goldsboro Rifles, he decided...

Duplin entering into new Events Center contract

CHINQUAPIN -- Duplin County is drawing up a new management agreement with facility management company VenuWorks to oversee operations of the Duplin Events Center. VenuWorks was put on notice by commissioners in 2008 after the center operated at a loss...

Deaf and Blind education exhibit Saturday

RALEIGH - On Saturday, the State Capitol will host a lecture followed by an exhibit tour and reception to celebrate the opening of the historic site's latest exhibit, "The Education of the Deaf and Blind in North Carolina." At 2...

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Rescue group's building faces concerns

MAR MAC -- The weakened economy is to blame for the empty retail spots at Mar Mac Pointe shopping center, says the executive director of the state Association of Rescue and Emergency Medical Services. Gordon Joyner said the association...

City gathers to remember message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

More than 500 people gathered Monday morning to remember and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At the birthday celebration breakfast, featured speaker Dr. Melissa Exum, dean of students at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, delivered a powerful message...

MOC professor waits, watches devastation in his home country

MOUNT OLIVE -- A thousand miles away from his childhood home in Haiti, Mount Olive College foreign language professor Dr. Asselin Charles is watching the news streaming from his country with a sense of shock and powerlessness. Shock that so...

Church begins work to get help on the way

MOUNT OLIVE -- By the time news of the earthquake in Haiti hit David Hansley's e-mail inbox Wednesday morning, the executive director of the Harvest Connection Disaster Relief Ministry of the Original Free Will Baptists was already making phone calls....

2009 shows drop in filings

Foreclosure starts in Wayne County for the final quarter of 2009 were up by a third over the same period in 2008. However, for the year, the number was down by 12 percent. County Clerk of Court officials said...

Habitat reopens renovated ReStore

Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne has re-opened the ReStore after a compete renovation. The store is now offering donation pick-up services available within the same week of call, along with a new selection of gently used, working appliances and a...

Monday, January 18, 2010

Workin' It - Just a helping hand

The Job: Pawnbroker The Company: Swop Shop The Location: Goldsboro A Goldsboro man just needed $30 to get him through the end of the month. After being laid off from his job last year, he enrolled full-time in community college,...

Wayne Community College gets $20,000 grant to help students improve skills

Wayne Community College has received a $20,000 grant designed to better prepare students in its high school program to succeed in college. The money will address a growing situation at colleges and universities, said Sonja Redmon, director of WCC's basic...

Five face charges in Mount Olive shooting

MOUNT OLIVE -- Police arrested five people after a Saturday evening drive-by shooting at a home filled with both children and adults for a birthday party, the police chief said. Chief Ralph Schroeder said this morning that one person...

Three schools to hold open house this week

Three county schools will host parent/student events this week. Open house will be held at two high schools, Eastern Wayne and Goldsboro, to give parents and students the opportunity to meet second semester teachers. The events will be held...

County finalizes plans for womanless beauty pageant

Some volunteered without knowing exactly what they were volunteering for. Still others were volunteered or tricked into participating, while others were simply talked into doing it. But for whatever reason, the 10 men who will don women's makeup and...

Glenn Miller Orchestra to perform in Duplin

KENANSVILLE -- The famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform at the Duplin County Events Center on Friday, Feb. 12. The group, known for decades for its swinging sound, is being sponsored by Carolina ArtsFest. The show starts at 8 p.m....

Johnston Community College planning Black History events

Johnston Community College has planned several events in February in celebration of black history. This year's theme is "Embracing the Past, Present, and Future." All events are free and open to the public. For more details, please contact Shelia Jefferson...

Mount Olive churches remember Dr. King

MOUNT OLIVE -- More than 100 people gathered Sunday at the Mount Olive Presbyterian Church to honor the work and legacy of civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Mount Olive Carver Alumni Association and Friends...

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Albertson won't run for seat in 2010

Longtime state Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin, announced Friday that he will step down from his seat at the end of 2010 -- 22 years after the former musician began his political career. Albertson, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture...

Beyond the dream

Al King remembers when a drive down Highway 117 brought with it images of the local Ku Klux Klan meeting on a lot just between Goldsboro and Dudley. "They advertised their meetings in the News-Argus for everyone to see. You...

Area churches start mobilizing to assist with Haiti relief effort

Mount Olive town officials have been approached by several concerned citizens asking how they can help the people of Haiti who are dealing with the destruction of last week's earthquake. "Although the town does not have a formal response structure...

Taylor: District moving forward

Wayne County Public Schools officials are still not going into detail about the circumstances surrounding an investigation into the dealings of the district's facilities and maintenance departments, but school officials say building projects and day-to-day operations are continuing. The district...

Teacher captures classroom makeover

Last year was Miranda Randall's first as a teacher, so she didn't complain about not having a classroom at Charles B. Aycock High School. The science teacher got used to "always roaming" around the building to work with her...

Longtime chief jailer resigns his post

James Tadlock has seen just about everything during his 27 years a jailer with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. But the biggest problem he encountered was the time when inmates were housed in a makeshift jail in a warehouse...

Pikeville plans community forum to discuss electric rates

Town of Pikeville officials are holding two meetings Tuesday night to discuss electric rates, recycling and drainage. At the special meeting about electric rates, at 5 p.m. in the Community Building, board members will discuss "different avenues of how...

New, state-of-the-art veterinary facility open

Wayne Veterinary Hospital celebrated its new state of the art facility with an open house this weekend. The facility is open for tours today from 2-5 p.m. at 2004 U.S. 117 Bypass North. The construction for the new facility...

Chicken house fire

Firefighters from five area departments battle Friday to contain a chicken house fire in the Elroy community. A neighbor in the 500 block of Ditch Bank Road called the fire department around 12:30 p.m. after seeing smoke and flames erupting...

Seminar focuses on animal legislation

Close to 50 area residents were at the Wayne County Public Library auditorium Tuesday night to learn how they could add their voices to those calling for improved state and federal laws and regulations to protect animals. The event's...

Public record

Shot in calf An East Elm Street man suffered "major" injury after being struck by a bullet while riding his bicycle on Crawford Street, police said. Miguel Phillips, 21, was treated at Wayne Memorial Hospital, according to a police report....

Lenoir commissioner to run for Albertson seat

Lenoir County Commissioner Chris Humphrey announced Friday that he will seek the Republican nomination for the state Senate District 10 seat -- the position formerly held by Charlie Albertson. Humphrey, 40, of Kinston, has served on the county commission...

Friday, January 15, 2010

Steakhouse closes in city after more than a decade

Ryan's Family Steak House employees arrived for a Thursday morning meeting prior to reporting to work only to be told that the restaurant was being shuttered after 14 years of operation at its North Berkeley Boulevard site. Mark Brauner,...

Audit shows hospital handling recession

Results from an audit of Wayne Memorial Hospital show increases in expenses and debt, but also an increase in revenue. The annual audit, which was completed in November by LarsonAllen LLP, also reported that Wayne Health Corp.'s operating margin...

Dillard uses creativity to honor legacy of Dr. King

A celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was turned into a schoolwide talent program at Dillard Middle School Thursday. For an hour, students danced, sang spirituals, shared poems and creative thoughts and heard a rap written...

Government offices will be closed for MLK Day

County, state and national offices and most municipal offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Offices of the city of Goldsboro will be closed Monday. All sanitation services scheduled for...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

James Sprunt CC program draws fire from regulators

KENANSVILLE -- The North Carolina Department of Justice's Criminal Justice Standards Division is auditing the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at James Sprunt Community College, leaving 15 law enforcement trainees in limbo. According to a letter sent to JSCC President...

Sager will run to keep his seat in N.C. House

State Rep. Efton Sager, R-Wayne, announced Wednesday he will seek re-election to his District 11 seat. Sager, a former county commissioner for eight years, was elected to the state House in 2008 after former Rep. Louis Pate decided to...

Thinking about Haiti here at home

Wayne County people are doing their part to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Goldsboro's M.E.R.C.I. Center is collecting medical supplies, bedding, blankets, sheets and personal care items to send to the disaster victims. The efforts are...

Retired Air Force sergeant will take on duties for county

Randy Weiss, 45, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant, has been hired as the county's new 911 communications director. A Michigan native, Weiss, who retired in October after 26 years in the service, replaces Delbert Edwards, who resigned...

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

District seeking $3.2 million in stimulus funding

Wayne County Public Schools hopes to qualify for federal stimulus money, if pending grant funding is awarded to the state of North Carolina. The Board of Education voted to sign a memorandum of understanding Monday night, applying for some of...

Abandoned Goldsboro home damaged in suspicious fire

A suspicious fire damaged another abandoned home on Monday evening, but authorities say they doubt it has any connection to another pair of possible arsons at vacant Grantham houses. Wayne County has suffered at least five suspicious fires at...

School to offer students new focus on sports management

Sports management will be among the electives students at Southern Wayne High School can take in the fall, and might be added to other county high schools in the future. The Board of Education Monday night approved the new course...

DGDC sets sights on new brands of homeowners

Despite a recent announcement that the Durham-based Self-Help organization was pulling out of Goldsboro after the first phase of construction of subsidized housing on John Street, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. executive director Julie Thompson said the move -- which...

Planning Board OKs three plats

In what might have been record time, the Wayne County Planning Board took slightly less than 15 minutes Tuesday night to dispose of a three-item agenda. In each case, the board was unanimous in its decisions to recommend that...

Wayne Regional Fair brings home the hardware again

The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair walked away with the lion's share of the awards at the North Carolina-South Carolina Convention of Agricultural Fairs held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in the Research Triangle Park. Wayne won...

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

New Honda dealership opens doors in county

The subject of the "Something big is coming to Goldsboro" billboards opened its doors Monday. Stevenson Honda of Goldsboro is the "something big" and offers new and pre-owned vehicles. It is located at 1309 W. Grantham St., the former Honda...

Chilly chore

Heather Smith of C.H Stables on Old N.C. 111 South puts out hay for horses late Monday afternoon. The recent stretch of low temperatures has forced people with pets or livestock to take extra precautions to protect them from the...

Duplin takes look at five potential school locations

KENANSVILLE -- Consultant Jeff Tsai with the North Carolina State University Operations Research Education Laboratory presented five potential sites for a new school to the Duplin County Board of Education Monday night. Four of the five plans specifically took...

Businesses will be offered slots at career fair for seventh-graders

Organizers are hopeful that next month's middle school career fair for Wayne County's seventh-grade students will link what students are doing in the classroom with their future studies, as well as career choices. The career fair will he held...

Board: Raise dropout age at schools

Raising the age at which a student can legally drop out of school could improve graduation rates, some members of the Wayne County Board of Education said Monday night. The Board of Education was reacting to recent comments made...

Council releases district report card

A higher percentage of Wayne County public schools met or exceeded state ABCs program growth standards for 11 of the past 13 years (84.6 percent) than schools statewide. Johnston County was the only other surrounding school system to achieve...

Johnston deals with sewer spill

SMITHFIELD -- Johnston County put a new wastewater force main into service on Jan. 6. The pipeline is located east of the town of Clayton. A leak was discovered in the pipeline in the vicinity of Glen Laurel Road on...

Monday, January 11, 2010

College president looks to 2010

MOUNT OLIVE -- Although it has been only six months since Mount Olive College President Dr. Philip Kerstetter stepped into his role at the school, he has overseen a number of developments for the college and is looking ahead...

Workin' It: Taking a walk on the wild side

The Job: Game warden The Company: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission The Location: Wayne County It's possible state Wildlife Enforcement Officer Joshua Hudson regretted giving me his phone number. In the days leading up to me working with him, I had...

WCC announces theme, speaker for MLK Day celebration

"Are We Living the Dream?" is the theme of this year's Martin Luther King celebration at Wayne Community College. Dr. Yolanda Burwell, a senior fellow with the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., will speak during the annual event,...

Family: Victims were kind, religious

When Rupel Patel got a phone call from the manager at Goldsboro's America's Best Value Inn, she knew something had to be wrong with her aunt. Soon, the news came -- Bhavanaben Patel, 61, and Bhavanaben's husband, Suryakant Patel,...

State senator hosts employment workshop

State Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, is hosting an employment workshop on Wednesday at the Wayne Community College. The workshop will bring experts from Wayne Community College, Mount Olive College and the Wayne County Employment Securities Commission. The employment workshop...

Dillard Academy receives dropout prevention grant

The notion of a child going to college should not be a question mark but an exclamation point, says Brian Smith, principal of Dillard Academy, Wayne County's only charter school. Every child deserves to have a future full of...

Sunday, January 10, 2010

United Way asks for help to save 2009 campaign

United Way of Wayne County is extending its annual fund-raising campaign through this month in hopes of reaching its $1.4 million goal. The situation is dire, United Way officials say. Unless more donations come in quickly, the organization's campaign...

Two more charged in man's beating death

Two more Goldsboro residents have been implicated in the murder of Jamie Lee Hinson, 35, whose body was found in Evergreen Cemetery Dec. 3, in a condition that required DNA testing to identify him. The two people now charged,...

A few more homecomings

More than an hour before his father, Gabe's, F-15E Strike Eagle touched down on the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base flight line Friday afternoon, Noah Lewis picked out an American flag to wave jetside. "I want a big one," the...

It's Girl Scout cookie time

It's Girl Scout cookie time. The pre-sale campaign officially kicked off Saturday, with troops across the county taking orders for the baked goods. Not all the Girl Scouts will be knocking on doors. This year, they will be able to...

Best tackles salary, ethics, schools

Wayne County Commission Chair-man Jack Best Tuesday morning fired back at efforts to make an issue of County Manager Lee Smith's salary, at an attorney for a taxpayers' group that alleges he has a conflict of interest by serving...

WCC Arts and Humanities announces performance lineup

Historical wars will be one of the themes of this spring's lectures and trips sponsored through the arts and humanities program at Wayne Community College. Bill Brettmann, director of the program, has released the upcoming lineup of events, which include...

Public record

Investigations Goldsboro police are investigating these reports: *On the 100 block of Rockefeller Court, Kenya Langston, 30, reported a break-in through an unsecured rear window and the theft of a Playstation 3 worth $00 and three games worth $100. *Kemoka...

Deadline for Guard employer award nominees Jan. 18

SMITHFIELD -- Smithfield has a Military Family Assistance Center at 406 Hospital Road. Family Assistance Centers assist service members and their families with benefits and services they are eligible for such as counseling, tax preparation, financial planning and free or...

Lincoln exhibit coming to Mount Olive College library

MOUNT OLIVE -- An exhibit telling the story of President Abraham Lincoln's decisions as a wartime leader and the evolution of his beliefs about slavery is coming this March to Mount Olive. The Moye Library at Mount Olive College is...

Seminar sets sights on issues that affect animals

The time is ripe for change in the state for laws and rules to improve the lives of animals, said Kim Albourm, N.C. state director for the Humane Society of the United States. One way to secure those changes...

ECC receives grant for children, families

The Eastern Carolina Council of Governments has been awarded a Federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families. The grant, called the Compassion Capital Fund, is intended to assist faith-based organizations and community based organizations to strengthen their operations...

Visitors at Cliffs increased in 2009

Attendance in North Carolina's state parks jumped 13 percent in 2009, and at the Cliffs of the Neuse in Seven Springs, that increase was even more dramatic -- 42 percent. Park Superintendent Lyndon Sutton credited the park's improved programming...

Anniversary of Ava Gardner's death observed

SMITHFIELD -- Actress Ava Lavinia Gardner died at age 67 in London, England on Jan. 25, 1990. Ms. Gardner, one of Hollywood's greatest stars and native of Smithfield, spent the last 35 years of her life abroad, moving to London...

Friday, January 8, 2010

335th Chiefs, F-15Es return to Seymour Johnson

A few moments ago, the majority of the 4th Fighter Wing's F-15E Strike Eagle fleet touched down on a familiar flight line. The aircraft have been in Afghanistan for nearly a year, and the pilots and weapon systems officers manning...

335th Chiefs, F-15Es return to Seymour Johnson

A few moments ago, the majority of the 4th Fighter Wing's F-15E Strike Eagle fleet touched down on a familiar flight line. The aircraft have been in Afghanistan for nearly a year, and the pilots and weapon systems officers manning...

Forecasters: Never mind

Anyone hoping to wake up this morning to a winter wonderland, even if only a dusting of snow, found instead temperatures in the upper 30s and a ground left wet by only a trace of rain. Wayne County Emergency...

Judge: Neal trial will stay in Wayne

The trial of William Jackson Neal will remain in Wayne County, and no out-of-the-ordinary considerations will be taken when picking a jury here, Judge Arnold Jones said in a Thursday morning decision. Neal stands accused of a 1987 rape of...

Arrest made in cemetery death

PRINCETON -- A man who knew Jamie Lee Hinson of Princeton, who was found dead in Evergreen Cemetery the morning of Dec. 3, now stands accused of killing him. Steven Lynn Barbour, 29, of Fourth Street, Goldsboro, has been...

Fremont firms plans for spray field

FREMONT -- Fremont is taking the next step toward hopefully lowering the town's sewer costs. Officials recently received a permit from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources to construct and operate a spray irrigation treatment and...

Faison suspects facing charges for meth

KENANSVILLE -- Two Faison area brothers could face up to life in prison if convicted on federal drug charges, Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace announced Thursday at a news conference at the sheriff's office. Wallace said the brothers, John...

More airmen expected back to base today

The 4th Fighter Wing's fleet of F-15E Strike Eagles -- and the men and women who make them fly -- are expected to touch down on the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base flight line early this afternoon. And by the...

First black member of council dies at 78

Earl Whitted Jr., the first black member of the Goldsboro City Council, died Tuesday at Wayne Memorial Hospital. Whitted, 78, was first elected to the City Council in 1964 and served several terms in office, the last ending in...

Pitt drug dog found after week in Wayne

A missing Pitt County Sheriff's Office drug-sniffing dog has been found after a week on the lam in Wayne County. Felix, a 3-year-old black Labrador retriever, escaped from the home of his handler's parents on Jan. 1. The deputy's parents,...

Mount Olive man shot in domestic dispute

A Mount Olive man was treated and released Thursday at Wayne Memorial Hospital after being shot during a domestic dispute. Kristian Whitfield, 37, of Silver Street in Mount Olive was reportedly shot in the side yesterday shortly before 11...

Wallace: Duplin gang initiation rumor false

KENANSVILLE -- A rumor that a baby's car seat and other items are being left on roadsides to attract unsuspecting victims for a gang initiation in Duplin County is just that -- a widespread rumor, according to Duplin County...

Large quantities of drugs seized in Duplin

KENANSVILLE -- As the result of two Duplin County residents being arrested on meth charges by Jacksonville police in neighboring Onslow County, Duplin County deputies arrested the same two persons and a third individual and seized a meth lab...

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Snow watch

Work is continuing today to spread salt brine on county highways in advance of an approaching storm that is expected to drop between a dusting to an inch of snow on the area by Friday morning. No advisories or...

Pitt County hunts for lost drug-sniffing dog

A 3-year-old black Labrador retriever went missing Friday in the Mar Mac area, but the runaway pooch is no ordinary family pet. Felix, a working search dog from the Pitt County Sheriff's Office K9 unit, escaped last week. The dog...

Courthouse offices get new telephone numbers

Residents who have business with the offices in the Wayne County Courthouse might want to check the number before they call. Numbers at the courthouse were changed just prior to Christmas as part of the state's plans to install...

Duplin tax collections on track, officials say

KENANSVILLE -- The deadline passed Monday for paying taxes on property and motor vehicles in Duplin County. The county finance office does not yet have the official collection numbers for the year, but will likely have the information by next...

Census accuracy critical for funding eligibility

Wayne County could lose up to $2 million annually in sales tax revenues should the upcoming census fail to obtain an accurate count of the county's population, County Manager Lee Smith said. Smith said he has heard of counties...

Neal seeks change of venue

An attorney for William J. Neal, whose client stands accused of a 1987 rape that sent the wrong man to prison for 18-plus years, argued Wednesday that a fair trial is impossible in Wayne County -- and filed a...

Wilson highway contracts awarded

A Wilson County highway project is among 34 contracts totaling more than $107 million announced Monday by Gov. Bev Perdue. The contracts awarded for highway and bridge projects across the state include 13 projects funded through the American Recovery...

Re-enactment tickets are on sale for Bentonville

FOUR OAKS -- Advance tickets are now available for purchase for the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville, which is slated for March 20-21 at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site. Advance tickets -- purchased before March 1 -- are...

Lee-Jackson Banquet Jan. 16

The Sons of Confederate Veterans will hold its annual Lee-Jackson Banquet Jan. 16 to honor the memory of famed Confederate generals, Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The event, to be held at the Steak Barn on U.S. 70...

Miss Johnston County pageant set for Feb. 20

The Miss Johnston County Scholarship Organization is now accepting contestants for the 2010 Miss Johnston County Scholarship Pageant and the 2010 Johnston County's and Garner's Outstanding Teen Pageants. Both pageants will be held on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at...

Suspicious fires investigated

GRANTHAM -- Two suspicious fires, which admittedly caused little damage, still have Wayne County Sheriff's Office authorities concerned, Capt. Tom Effler said. Authorities hope a potential witness will come forward with information leading to an arrest in the two fires,...

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Pair hopes shelter will give homeless a second chance

It's hard enough being homeless, without the added challenge of freezing temperatures. Antoinette Rodgers says it breaks her heart each time she hears of someone dying on the street because it's so cold outside. Even a temporary shelter would...

Employee charged with theft of tools

Power tools from a Goldsboro nursing home began showing up at a local pawn shop, launching an investigation that led to charges against Britthaven of Goldsboro's maintenance director, authorities said. Bernard Keith Upchurch, 48, of Herring Road, Dudley, was jailed...

Jobless rate up a touch for Wayne

The Wayne County unemployment rate increased to 9 percent in November from 8.7 percent in October. The rate had been steadily decreasing since July -- dropping from 9.7 to 8.9 percent in August, then again to 8.8 percent in September,...

Manager: Honesty best plan for county workers

Wayne County Manager Lee Smith's e-mail wishing a "Happy New Year" to all county department managers and employees also admonished them that "honesty is always the best policy." Smith wrote in the e-mail, "If you are ever in doubt...

WCC graduates first JobsNOW class

Wayne Community College has graduated its first JobsNOW class. Seven women have completed all of the requirements for the "12-in-6" worker training initiative of the JobsNOW program, including the skill component, Human Resource Development class and Career Readiness Certification...

Chiefs' welcome

Trinity Richardson was getting restless. She had spent months talking to pictures of her father, Christopher -- blowing him kisses as her mother, Mary Kate, flipped through the pages of her "Daddy book." But Tuesday, for the first time in...

Public record

Death investigation Police officials say they have no reason to believe any foul play was involved in the death of Ronald Hicks, 44, of South Pineview Avenue. Hicks was found dead Monday in his home during the early morning hours,...

New baby for the new year

Two-year-old Antonio Webb Jr., right, looks at his baby sister Asia Danielle Webb, born Friday, New Year's Day, with his father, Antonio Webb Sr., and mother ,Dekeisha, at Wayne Memorial Hospital on Saturday. Asia Danielle Webb was the first baby...

Duplin School Board fights over merger vote

KENANSVILLE - The Duplin County Board of Education took no action Tuesday night on a request by board member Willie Gillespie that the board rescind a facilities plan vote from December. An attentive crowd overflowed into the hallway, many...

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Chiefs back from Bagram

Hundreds of members of the 335th Chiefs returned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base shortly after 5 p.m., marking the end of a four-month stint at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. For complete coverage of the homecoming, including photos, interviews with family...

Nursing home maintenance chief charged

A Dudley man who worked as the maintenance director at a local nursing home has been charged with fencing power tools from Britthaven of Goldsboro on Wayne Memorial Drive.Bernard Keith Upchurch, 48, of Herring Road, Dudley was charged with felony...

Tax deadline is today

Wayne County residents have until 5 p.m. today to pay their 2009 county property taxes without having a penalty tacked on. Those who don't want to face the traditional last-day long lines at the tax office may still mail...

Parks and Rec director resigns after four months

Only a few months after working his first day as director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, David Carter has submitted his resignation. Carter, whose last day will be Jan. 22, gave his notice late Thursday, City Manager Joe...

Architect addresses school construction questions

KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin County Board of Commissioners opened up the floor at the board meeting Monday, allowing concerned residents to question architect Robert Ferris about plans for a new high school facility. Ferris, of SFL+a architects of Raleigh, appeared...

Forecasters predict cold temperatures will keep Wayne County shivering

Wayne County residents, along with most of their counterparts across the South, braced themselves again today for another day of freezing temperatures, with no letup at least until the weekend. Temperatures were well below freezing at sunup today. The...

Johnston to hold flu clinic

SMITHFIELD -- The Johnston County Public Health Department has scheduled walk-in H1N1 influenza clinics for today through Saturday for people age 19 and older. The clinics will be held from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Public Health Department at 517 N....

Monday, January 4, 2010

Memories stuffed forever

The Job: Taxidermist The Company: Mounted Memories The Location: Mount Olive I really need to start thinking before I talk. "Are you squeamish?" asked Chuck Gould, owner of Mounted Memories Taxidermy. "No, not at all," I quickly answered. But...

Fremont looks ahead to growth in '10

Over the past year, Fremont has made several improvements that might be under the radar, but are saving the town money, officials say. "A lot of the stuff we've been doing is not stuff the public is going to...

True to their school

CALYPSO -- A group of about 80 North Duplin parents and supporters met with two Duplin County Board of Education members Sunday to organize a response to the board's decision to consolidate North Duplin Junior/Senior High School with James...

Commissioners will take a look at subdivision plat

Consideration of a subdivision plat is one of only a handful of items before county commissioners Tuesday when they hold their first meeting of the new year. The board will be briefed on the agenda at 8 a.m. followed...

Squadron will return to SJAFB on Tuesday

Members of the 335th Chiefs will begin returning to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Tuesday afternoon, 4th Fighter Wing officials confirmed earlier today. And by the middle of the month, all of them -- hundreds of aviators, maintainers and support...

Longtime car dealer, community volunteer dies at 69

Bobby Kenneth "Deacon" Jones, 69, who died Saturday in Orlando, Fla., is being remembered as a "local legend" who cared about people and whose professional, civic and philanthropic work was felt on the local and state levels. Jones opened...

Habitat for Humanity to hold monthly meeting tonight

Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne's goal is to bring families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable houses. Anybody who has ever wondered if they could qualify for a Habitat house, or who has...

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Top stories of the decade

ByDENNISHILL News-Argus Managing Editor From avoiding BRAC to fallen heroes, historic fires and wrongful imprisonment -- these were the top 10 stories of the first decade of the 21st century: 1. Air base saved from BRAC ax After months of...

Rosella's Pizzeria open for business

Rosella's Pizzeria opened for business Dec. 18 at 1316B W. Grantham St. in the Little River Shopping Center on U.S. 70 West. Owner Rudy Hoffert was previously in the pizza business for 20 years, but had recently taken a...

Cold weather blasts state

Forecasters say the coldest stretch of weather in years, if not decades, could be heading for North Carolina this week. While temperatures won't be falling to record lows, the National Weather Service says the duration of the cold weather is...

City Council to hold first meeting of 2010

Goldsboro City Council members are set to return to work Monday evening, as a light docket awaits for their first meeting of the new year. Only three items requiring votes currently are on the agenda, including ones involving rezoning and...

Eastern Wayne graduate living his Hollywood dream

Growing up in a military family, Onnie Terrell found himself moving so often that it was difficult to form lasting friendships. To help cope, he turned to writing. "I began writing out of necessity to keep myself occupied," Terrell...

Public places go smoke free

Johnny Williams took one last drag off a non-filtered cigarette before making his way to the Wilber's Barbecue front door late Wednesday morning. "It's not so bad, but it's going to take some getting use to," the 65-year-old said, reaching...

Friday, January 1, 2010

Elevated standards, fallen comrades: The most important stories of 2009

Many shed tears when news that an F-15E Strike Eagle had gone down in Afghanistan reached Goldsboro. Others cringed the day hundreds of neglected dogs were brought to the Wayne County Fairgrounds for treatment after a "puppy mill" was...

Pickle Drop marks start of new year

MOUNT OLIVE -- Nearly 2,000 people -- packed like pickles in a jar -- jockeyed for the best vantage point Thursday night at the corner of Cucumber and Vine streets to watch a big lighted pickle make its way...

4th Fighter Wing airmen, F-15Es will soon be home

After more than four months at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, members of the 335th Chiefs will soon board homeward bound aircraft. 4th Fighter Wing officials confirmed earlier this week that by the end of January, hundreds of aviators, maintainers and support...

NewsArgus.com's 2009 top 12

Based on the percentage of page views, the most popular online stories of 2009 were: JANUARY -- Fremont officer found dead in his home: Rusty Herring, a Fremont police officer, was found dead in his Goldsboro home on Jan....

2009 Year-In-Review

JANUARY Jan. 4 -- Goldsboro officials said they have three projects worth $17.45 million that could be ready to go should the federal government decide to progress with a much-talked about economic stimulus package -- $12 million for the...