October 2011 archives

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Monday, October 31, 2011

Foundation sets sights on featuring local talent

The trick to having a successful arts and humanities program at Wayne Community College year after year is simple -- bring in talent with local ties. Since the arts and humanities program was formed in 1999, it has boasted an...

Waiting for just the right fit for Communities in Schools

Not many can say they introduced a program in the county, served as its leader for nearly 16 years, then delayed retirement until a known replacement was ready to take the reins. But that's essentially what Sudie Davis, executive director...

County to vote on grant match

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning will have a public hearing on whether or not the county will provide a $157,400 match to enable Cooper Standard to receive a $157,400 One North Carolina Fund grant. Cooper Standard has announced a $17.9...

Local Girl Scout troops mark founder's birthday

Girl Scouts from 14 troops in Wayne County came together at First United Methodist Church in Mount Olive on Friday to mark the anniversary of the birthday of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the United States...

GM donates vehicle to WCC

Wayne Community College has received a 2011 Equinox FWD LTZ through General Motors' corporate donations program for use in its GM Automotive Service Education Program, or ASEP. The vehicle is the latest donation from GM, which has previously provided...

Public record

Breaking and entering Goldsboro Police are investigating a break-in on Maplewood Drive in which an unknown suspect made off with just less than $50,000 in goods and cash. Linda Powers, 67, reported that between 2:10 p.m. and 2:49 p.m. she...

Saturday, October 29, 2011

County jobless numbers fall in September

Unemployment rates across the state took a tumble in September, but the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina said it is still working to help customers find work as high unemployment rates are still rampant. Wayne County's rate decreased...

Library garden dedicated to late supporter Bill Smith

Friends and family of the late William Whitfield "Bill" Smith gathered Oct. 16 at the Wayne County Public Library for the dedication of the library's community garden in memory of Smith. The dedication of the garden wa described as...

Salvation Army seeking help for holiday efforts

The Salvation Army is hoping to add another $20,000 to the $55,000 its annual holiday kettle campaign raised in 2010 for a total of $75,000 this year. To do that, the charity will have to have hundreds of volunteers ringing...

Health director says county reporting needs work

As the number of cases of E. coli are on the rise, local health officials are keeping a close eye on the situation. Health Director James Roosen said Friday morning that his office is unaware of any local cases. But...

Ground broken for new Goldsboro VA clinic

Tom Harrison knows all too well about the wear and tear associated with long drives to VA Medical Centers in Durham and Fayetteville. The former Marine has found himself on the road at least once a week for years in...

Director plans more 5Ks for park

Stoney Creek Park went to the dogs Saturday morning as owners and canines alike turned out en masse for the grand opening of the Stoney Creek Dog Park, held this year in collaboration with the third annual Howl-O-Ween celebration....

Renters may be eligible for storm assistance

Renters who lost their place to live and personal property because of Hurricane Irene's impact in North Carolina may be eligible for state and Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster grants to help them recover from the storm. The only way...

Wayne library to offer eBooks for public to download

Wayne County Public Library is now offering downloadable eBooks, freely available to all library cardholders. EBooks will be compatible with e-reading devices like Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad, iPhone, iTouch and Android-based smart phones and tablets. The library recently...

County's new radio system facing interference issues

Older and stronger analog radio systems from other communities are causing problems for Wayne County's new digital communications system, officials say. County officials say the trouble is not widespread, but that it does pose the potential for disrupting communications...

County officials explore ways to pinpoint problems with radio system

A September report on interference in Wayne County's new $10 million emergency communications system suggests that the ultimate solution would be to "clear a number" of the county's frequencies either by securing agreements from the people or agencies using the...

Scouts to hold dinner/auction for Camp Tuscarora dining hall roof

Boy Scout supporters are being urged to attend a fundraising dinner and auction Saturday night, Nov. 12, at Camp Tuscarora to help raise money to put a new roof on the camp's dining hall. Tuscarora Council Executive Tim Harper...

Albertson Stewfest is Nov. 5

ALBERTSON -- Billy Ray Daniels, chief chef for the Albertson Fire Department, will defend his title as the top stew chef during the annual Albertson Stewfest fundraiser. The event, a fundraiser for the Grady-Outlaw Memorial Library, will be Nov....

Friday, October 28, 2011

AAR Corp. named Alliance's 2011 Industry of the Year

WALNUT CREEK -- Defense contractor AAR Corp. Thursday night was honored as Wayne County Industry of the Year in recognition of its outstanding overall contributions to the community and its employees. Also honored was family-owned Roebuck Precision Machine that was...

Sidewalks coming for Herman Park as part of deal for more public access

An 18-month-long ordeal concerning the closure of Park Avenue came to an end in August with the installation of new, period-appropriate gates and the removal of the restrictive bollards that were installed in January to prevent automobile traffic. But...

Exploring the possibilities

Jose Garcia, left, a senior at Spring Creek High School, talks with Chad Pate of Wayne Community College's welding technology program about the need for trained welders in today's job market during the Wayne County Public Schools' high school...

Opening planned for plant

DUDLEY -- A dedication ceremony will be held Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Wayne County landfill to celebrate the successful launch of a renewable energy facility that will use the landfill gas that occurs naturally from the breakdown of organic...

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Search to begin for new health director

It could take up to six months to find a replacement for the health director, county officials said Wednesday. The Board of Health called a special meeting to respond to James Roosen's resignation. Roosen, 56, cited health reasons for his...

Few people signed up for Veterans Day parade

A Veterans Day remembrance that organizers characterized as "a big one" is not yet coming together as they once hoped it would. With just two weeks until the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition's annual parade, the organization's president, Bill...

24-year-old charged in teen's rape

A 24-year-old Goldsboro man is in the Wayne County Jail today on a statutory rape charge. John Harley Smith, 24, of Bryan Boulevard, has been arrested in connection with a sexual assault on a 15-year-old girl. Smith faces a...

Registered sex offender facing new charges

A registered sex offender has been charged by the Goldsboro police with the statutory rape of two 15-year-old girls. Jeremy Patterson, 26, of Shady Nook Road, Dudley, was taken into custody by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Monday. Patterson...

Planning trick or treat?

It's that time of year again when little ghosts and goblins will be out and about looking for treats. There are various trick or treating events throughout the county, including: * Wayne County, city of Goldsboro and Berkeley Mall --...

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Man, 35, charged with rape of child

A 35-year-old Dudley man has been charged by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl over the course of two years. Gustavo Gaspar of Pecan Road has been charged with four counts of first-degree rape...

November blood drive schedule

Here is the November blood drive schedule for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross: * Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cooper Bussmann and from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Georgia Pacific in Dudley....

Public record

Pikeville man charged in sexual battery Dequinta Laquell Horne, 19, of Ivey Lane in Pikeville, was charged with assault on a female and sexual battery by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Horne was placed under a $5,000 secured. On Oct....

American Indian Celebration at Wayne Museum Saturday

Tuscarora Cultural Chief Elisha Locklear will open the American Indian Celebration at the Wayne County Museum on Saturday at noon. The event is a precursor to the opening of a new exhibit at the museum, "The American Indians of...

Telling Brian's story

Brian and Jessica Daly's world turned upside down on May 5, 2006, when the now 33-year-old Brian was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. His ordeal -- the operations, the countless doctor visits, the medicines, the constant worry -- prompted his...

Three WMH nurses named to top 100

Three registered nurses at Wayne Memorial Hospital have been named to the state's list of Great 100 Nurses. Kelli Corbett, Cindy McPhail and Debbie Smith were recently honored during ceremonies at the annual Great 100 Nurses Gala in Greensboro....

Salon owner challenges community

A hair salon on A Street has caused a stir among residents with its seemingly politically charged window decorations, including sketches of men and women with shackles around their heads and a painting of the American flag hanging from...

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Journey through history

It started when a professor "made history come alive" for a young woman born with a certain curiosity and drive. But long before Emily Weil attended Meredith College, she had questions about the town she began calling home when her...

Three Eagles Rotary Club named best in its region

When the Three Eagles Rotary Club spun off from the larger Goldsboro group of Rotarians in the early 1990s, nearly all of its members were active duty military or had some tie to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Those...

Communities get street funds

Goldsboro doesn't have any big plans for the $995,879.48 the city will receive through Powell Bill allocations. City street maintenance will take up a large portion of that total. The disbursement is based on two factors, with 75 percent...

Roosen resigns job as health director

James Roosen is stepping down from his duties as health director for Wayne County Health Department, effective Nov. 10. He has held the position for eight years. Recent health problems were cited as the reason for his departure. "I have...

CSS Neuse tours being offered Saturday

KINSTON -- The CSS Neuse State Historic Site and the Governor Caswell Memorial in Kinston will offer a special treat on Saturday. The program will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be costumed interpreters giving tours of...

Fire report

In a recent two-week span, the Goldsboro Fire Department responded to 83 calls. Of all the calls made from Oct. 7 to Oct. 20, 24 were false alarms and 24 were assists made to Wayne County Emergency Medical Services....

Partnership for Children sets date for annual meeting

The Partnership for Children will hold its annual meeting next month to discuss not only the organization's activities over the past year, but how communities can band together to help local children and parents. Child care centers in particular are...

Public record

Gunfire exchanged in Lincoln Homes Goldsboro police responded to a call in the home at 910 B Slaughter St. where 21-year-old Fiante Semaj Amerson was found lying on the floor, suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh. According...

Monday, October 24, 2011

Soldier assigned to local National Guard unit killed

As much of the nation celebrated President Barack Obama's announcement that the war in Iraq would be over by the end of the year, members of a Goldsboro-based National Guard unit got a stark reminder that the war on terror...

District 4 resident complains about Fire Department policies

Goldsboro District 4 Councilman the Rev. Charles Williams held an informal meeting with his constituents Friday morning, a meeting that continued a discussion over emergency medical training for members of the city Fire Department at last Monday's Council meeting. Attending...

Eastern Wayne grad gets chance on BET

Six years after graduating from Eastern Wayne High School and embarking on a journey that's taken him across the world as a member of the United States Air Force, Mitchell Bowden is about to get the opportunity to showcase...

NC Community Foundation storm grants

RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Community Foundation has begun allocating grants from its Disaster Relief Fund to support relief efforts related to Hurricane Irene, which affected the state's eastern and coastal regions, according to Rodney E. Martin, chair of NCCF's...

Salvation Army now taking applications for Christmas aid

The Salvation Army will be taking applications for those needing help at Christmas time Monday through Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its building at 610 N. William St. Those filling out an application will need to...

Bests takes over leadership of Goldsboro's pageant

Even before she became known as "Miss North Carolina's mother," Kim Best had her own history with pageants. As a teen, she was a volunteer and then served for 10 years in the 1990s as business manager when there was...

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Decision good news for troops

Johnny Bartlett cracked a smile when he started talking about President Barack Obama's announcement that the war in Iraq would be over by the end of the year. "One down. One to go," he said. "And it's about time." The...

City not likely to name police chief until 2012

Goldsboro City Manager Scott Stevens said the search for a new police chief will begin as early as November, and that he plans to name the next department head in February 2012. Maj. Jeff Stewart has served as the...

Moseley: U.S. military made Iraq announcement possible

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base officials -- representing both the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing -- are not yet ready to disclose whether the 40-plus locally based airmen currently deployed to Iraq are among those coming...

Families, volunteers walk for Alzheimer's patients, and a cure

Those who gathered Saturday for the Alzheimer's Walk know exactly what Mary Ann McDonald meant when she described her last year with her 84-year-old father. It is like your loved one is gone before he or she actually dies,...

Five area schools bring home U.S. Cellular $50K grants

Five area schools will receive $50,000 each as winners in the national U.S. Cellular 2011 Calling All Communities contest. Representatives from the wireless carrier made surprise stops earlier last week to Fremont STARS, North Drive and Tommy's Drive elementary schools...

Public record

Good time gone bad A 51-year-old Pikeville man was beaten in his Lancaster Road home with a tire iron and robbed of $3,000, according to a report filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, after arranging a private dance with...

Local couple honored with Long Leaf Pine awards

Betty Ellis speaks during a ceremony at Goldsboro Country Club Thursday afternoon during which she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award given by the governor to a citizen. Mrs. Ellis' late husband, Charles...

Celebrating those who don't see limitations

Hidden by the crowd, Tyrone Starkie headed to the front of the Herman Park Center to receive his award. Having just been named the Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities Employee of the Year, he was all smiles. Some...

DGDC gets grant for new office

Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. Director Julie Thompson announced Friday afternoon that her organization's move to North John Street will get a boost, as Wells Fargo informed her that DGDC's request for a grant to assist with renovations of the...

Whose was hot? Whose was not?

Blue sky, crisp temperatures and live music provided a welcoming setting for the fifth annual Really Chili Challenge in downtown Goldsboro Saturday. Nearly 500 people filled the Center Street Jam parking lot to sample a variety of chili recipes that...

Region looking to save exploited children

The Board of Health is being encouraged to consider establishing a task force to train and educate the community on the perils of human trafficking. Pam Strickland, founder of Stop Human Trafficking Now, said the problem is a form of...

Friday, October 21, 2011

Obama: US troops coming home from Iraq by year's end

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base officials say they do not yet know whether local airmen are among those coming home from Iraq by the end of the year, but if President Barack Obama's announcement that all U.S. troops are on...

AAR CEO: Training will help fill jobs

The announcement Thursday morning that 100 new employees will be added to the 379 already at AAR's Goldsboro facility was greeted by local leaders as welcomed news not only for the company, but for the community as well. What isn't...

Candlelight vigil honors domestic abuse victims

The message of the first-ever candlelight vigil for domestic violence victims in Wayne County came alive Thursday with the testimony of a former victim, Michi. Tears streamed down her face as she told those gathered how she had grown up...

Child care program gets grant

The child care center at Wayne Community College has been chosen a Model Early Learning Center, and will serve as a prototype for other centers around the county in promoting exercise and better nutrition among the preschool set. The $13,000...

Bird-er patrol helps to protect air base's jet fleet

Molly and Topsie bided their time -- allowing a flock of ducks and geese to land, uninterrupted, on one of a handful of ponds located within Goldsboro's Constructed Wetlands. But as soon as the birds came into view, the mother...

County manager: Amendment has zero net effect on budget

A story published on the front page of Monday's News-Argus incorrectly listed the reason why Wayne County commissioners would be asked to make a $1.9 million amendment to the county budget. The amendment, which was approved at the board's Tuesday...

Thursday, October 20, 2011

One-stop voting opens today

Even with a Nov. 8 ballot offering very few local elections, two people were still at the Wayne County Board of Elections by 7:58 a.m. this morning when the county's single one-stop voting site opened at 8 a.m. at the...

Trying her hand at Van Gogh

Carina Ventura, a second-grader at Eastern Wayne Elementary, cuts out her sunflower vase for her version of Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" during her art class with teacher Pam Taylor. The painting was the inspiration for the lesson, which taught...

Health Department seeks quicker reporting on outbreaks

Ever since an outbreak of hepatitis B claimed six lives at GlenCare assisted living facility in Mount Olive a year ago, Health Director James Roosen has advocated for better reporting to public health agencies. He primarily targeted adult care...

County moves funds for 911

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning approved a $1.9 million amendment to the county budget for debt service on the county's new communications system. The total consists of 911 revenues and $953,423 in local matching funds. The county already has budgeted...

AAR to add 100 new jobs

Defense contractor AAR Corp. CEO David Storch announced today the company will add 100 employees to its Goldsboro work force of 350. The Goldsboro site designs and manufactures containers and shelters used for military and humanitarian operations. The announcement...

Rare papers on display in Raleigh

RALEIGH -- Some rarely exhibited items will be taken from the vault of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and displayed on Monday from 9:30 a.m until 3 p.m., as the state archives celebrates American Archives Month. The North...

Two Goldsboro residents honored by ECU

GREENVILLE -- Two Goldsboro residents were inducted Oct. 15 into the East Carolina University College of Education Annual Educators Hall of Fame. For each inductee, sponsors provided a monetary gift of $1,000 for the Educators Hall of Fame Scholarship endowment,...

Public record

Copper thieves hit business, homes *Copper components and a compressor were removed with a cutting tool from the walk-in freezer of Guy Parker Barbecue at 319 S. George St. between Oct. 5 and Oct. 6. The reported value of the...

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

EOD neutralizes 'bomb' again

It started as a search for stolen property -- a bundle of firearms local law enforcement officials believed might have been dumped in a body of water off Napoleon Road. But shortly after members of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office...

Law remains unclear on future of Internet sweepstakes cafes

Internet cafes continue to operate throughout Wayne County, despite the passage of a law in late 2010 designed to ban the businesses from offering the computer-based games to the public. Any enforcement concerning the businesses essentially came to a...

DGDC to assist business start-ups

Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. will take a closer look at the businesses receiving its incentive grants, the organization's director told Goldsboro City Council Monday. The program, which awards new businesses downtown who qualify with $400 per month for one...

ENC's 'top guns' to be at jetport on Nov. 5

PIKEVILLE --The N.C. Top Gun Pilot competition will be held Nov. 5 at the Wayne Executive Jetport. The fly-in, co-sponsored by the N.C. Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation, runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes educational...

Owners upset at having to pay trash fee

An exemption to the county's landfill fee that was removed from the Wayne County budget this year had several mobile home owners complaining at Tuesday's meeting of the county Board of Commissioners. In approving the budget in June, commissioners reduced...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Robber could get life in prison

RALEIGH -- A Goldsboro man is facing up to life in prison following a Monday guilty plea in federal court to his involvement to a series of robberies last year in Wayne and Wilson counties. Ivory Javaughtae Harris, 20,...

Small plane crashes at Grantham Airfield

Pilot Bob Ross walked away from the crash of his small plane at the Grantham Airfield on Monday afternoon. Ross, 84, struck a power line while trying to land and flipped his experimental aircraft but suffered only minor injuries....

Enjoying the weather

Melodie Woodard knits a prayer scarf while sitting on a bench swing at Terry Holland Park on the grounds of Lord's Table Church. Monday's high temperature of 86 degrees was 10 degrees above the average temperature for this time...

VA clinic ground to be broken Oct. 28

By the end of the month, Wayne County veterans will be one step closer to receiving medical treatment without having to drive several hours to access it. Veterans Affairs officials are set to break ground on Goldsboro's outpatient VA...

City Council discusses firefighter requirements

A simple presentation about how the fire department hires firefighters turned into a half-hour discussion that left each member of the Goldsboro City Council confused at least once as Chief Gary Whaley fielded question after question about the emergency...

Farmers can get storm help

Applications are now being accepted by the Wayne County Farm Service Agency office for the Emergency Conservation Program that provides emergency cost-share funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by Hurricane Irene The assistance may be used...

Benefit concert to be held Sunday for Samantha Casey

Family and friends are holding a benefit for local fiddling prodigy Samantha Casey the best way they know how -- with a concert at Rosewood High School. Beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday and running for much of the afternoon,...

SJAFB responds to threat

Members of the 4th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight were called on to neutralize an armed mortar round found in Wayne County swampland late this morning. For complete details, see Wednesday's News-Argus....

Monday, October 17, 2011

Grant to fund services for teen mothers

Wayne County is one of five counties that has received a state grant to educate and service young mothers. Officials say the number of teen mothers, and the growing rate of subsequent additional births, have prompted a greater need for...

City pushes letter campaign

Goldsboro city government's online campaign against the implementation of a state annexation law now includes sample letters for concerned citizens to use when writing to the Department of Justice about the proposed deannexation of the Phase 11 area. Meanwhile,...

County to vote on budget change

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning will consider making a $1,906,847.64 amendment to the county budget for a new 911 center. The $1.9 million consists of 911 revenues and $953,423.82 in local matching funds. The county already has budgeted for its...

State internships available

North Carolina residents attending a college, university, technical institute or community college have until Monday, Dec. 5, to apply for one of up to 55 paid state government internships available for summer 2012. The 2012 State Government Internship Guide describing...

A firsthand view of county history

Jewel Sauls, right, dressed in period costume, goes over the history of the Harriet Cobb Lane memorial in Willowdale Cemetery on Sunday, part of a tour of the historic cemetery sponsored by the Wayne County Museum. A series of...

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Never, ever forgotten

It started with a relentless fire -- a tragedy felt by the thousands who had made memories inside a building designed to pay tribute to the sons of an eastern North Carolina community who had been lost to war. But...

County tax bills are in the mail

The Wayne County Tax Office Tuesday mailed out about 70,000 tax bills that residents can expect to find in their mailboxes over the next few days. The bills are for both county and municipal taxes. Tax bills are normally mailed...

Dave Schuette named advertising mgr

Dave Schuette has been named the advertising manager for The News-Argus. Schuette will be a key part of the advertising and marketing team led by Advertising Director Reg Freemyer, News-Argus Publisher Hal Tanner III said. "Dave brings a wealth of...

Man arrested in Virginia for Aug. 14 rape

A Virginia man being sought in connection with the Aug. 14 rape of a Goldsboro woman has been jailed without bond in Chesterfield County, Va. Esdras Saqueo Perez-Lopez, 25, of Richmond, Va., was arrested Tuesday by the U.S. Marshal's...

If you go -- memorial dedication ceremony

WHAT: Wayne County Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony WHEN: Nov. 11, 1 p.m. WHERE: The corner of William and Walnut streets GUEST SPEAKER: Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and retired Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry ATTRACTIONS: Raising of the flags by...

WEMCH recognized for 100 percent graduation rate

Wayne Early/Middle College High School has again been recognized for having a 100 percent graduation rate. Principal Lee Johnson, schools superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor and school board chairwoman Thelma Smith attended ceremonies in Raleigh, where 23 schools made the...

Operation Christmas Child dropoffs to begin Nov. 14

Adamsville Baptist Church on North Berkeley Boulevard will serve again this year as a collection center for Operation Christmas Child, the world-wide program that provides shoeboxes full of toys, personal hygiene items and other goodies for children around the...

Fifty years at Charles B. Aycock

A parade, a reception for alumni and former staff, a homecoming football game and a dance for students marked Charles B. Aycock High School's 50th anniversary....

Have some pie

Wayne Early Middle College High School student Darius Williams gets a pie in his face from Kassandra Stotler and Penelope Stotler, 2, at Northwest Elementary School's Fall Festival pie-in-the-face booth. The annual event brought more than 1,000 people to...

Free Will Baptists say no to idea of split

Faced with a resolution that would have split their denomination over the policies and practices of Mount Olive College, delegates to the Western Conference of Original Free Will Baptists voted Thursday to remain in the state convention. "It was...

Public record

Copper, farm equipment taken Wayne County sheriff's deputies are investigating the theft of copper and old farm equipment from the property of Ardeth L. Scott, 67, Tommy's Road. An unknown number of rolls of copper wiring valued at $1,000...

Firefighters help brethren on coast still dealing with Hurricane Irene

Mar-Mac Fire Chief Bill Harrell knows that when there's an emergency, every second counts. That's why, when fire marshals from Dare County put out a message to fire departments across the state recently asking for help in the continued...

Cook-off is a fundraiser for Community Soup Kitchen

When hundreds of tasters are sampling the chilis of more than a dozen teams in the Community Soup Kitchen Really Chili Challenge on Saturday, they will be participating in that organization's single biggest fundraiser of the year. The exposure...

City Council to discuss downtown incentives

Four presentations will highlight the Goldsboro City Council's work session Monday evening at 5 p.m. before the council members review the agenda in advance of their 7 p.m. regular meeting in the Council Chambers. The work session will be...

Chefs prepare to collide in Really Chili challenge Saturday

Victory tasted sweet for Jeff Pitta last year. Well, more spicy than sweet as Pitta, his team and his Dr. Chili's Germ-kicking Chili have since enjoyed their year as the Community Soup Kitchen's Really Chili Cook Off champions. But...

Friday, October 14, 2011

Many drawn to taste United Way's kickoff event

Jasmine Valentine already had her hands full when a woman extended a pile of pickle chips her way. But the 5-year-old was not about to turn down a Wayne County favorite -- even if her fingers were covered in much...

Leaders weigh area's future

About 60 citizens sat in Wayne Community College's Moffatt Auditorium early Thursday morning as community leaders spoke of the present and future of the city of Goldsboro, Wayne County and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The important and valued...

One-stop voting will kick off Thursday

Wayne County's single one-stop voting site will open Thursday morning at the Board of Elections office, 209 S. William St. One-stop voting will be held Oct. 20 and 21, 24 to 28, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1-4 from 8...

No foul play in inmate's death, officials report

An autopsy will be performed on a 21-year-old Goldsboro woman who died early Thursday morning while in custody in the Wayne County Jail. No foul play is suspected in the death of Karen Rebecca Jones, who was serving a seven-day...

Taste winners

Hometown Favorite: Brooklyn Pizzeria Special Occasion Dinner: Village Steakhouse Pub Grub and Appetizers: Uncle Yammy's and Brown Bag Cafe (tie) Fast Food: Zaxby's Healthy Foods: Sweet Treats Bakery Breakfast, Breads and Pastries: J.J. Ashley Desserts: J.J. Ashley Drinks: Coca-Cola Pizza:...

Fire prevention starting early

Julius Gray, 3, works on a fire engine puzzle in the Mobile Wee Wings 3- and 4-year-old preschool class. Nancy Reyes' class learned about fire prevention as part of National Fire Prevention Week. Schools across the nation are teaching...

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A steel tribute

Early on Sept. 11, 2001, it was an I-beam in the north tower of the World Trade Center. But by the end of the day, it was folded and buried in a pile of rubble. Wednesday, more than a decade...

Teen dies in vehicle crash

DUDLEY -- A Wayne County teenager was killed and his older brother was airlifted to Wake Medical Center in Raleigh early Wednesday evening after their Jeep Cherokee ran under the chassis of a flat-bed trailer that was being backed into...

3HC marks anniversary of providing patient care

Jo Johnson joined the board of directors in the early stages of 3HC, or Home Health and Hospice, before its most well-known entity -- Kitty Askins Hospice Center -- was launched. "We didn't have Kitty Askins and didn't have hardly...

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Week draws attention to fire safety

Brandy Tucker, a member of the Nahunta Volunteer Fire Department, demonstrates her turnout gear to students at Northwest Elementary School. This week is National Fire Prevention Week, and fire departments and officials are spending time spreading the word about...

Fair sets record for attendance this year

Planning for the 2012 edition of the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair might already be under way, but that doesn't mean the man charged with putting together this year's event isn't still thinking about just how much his staff accomplished...

Charles B. Aycock's law office gets makeover downtown

Assembling the life of a governor who passed away in 1912 is certainly the job of a biographer, but Richard and Linda Mechling are betting that the task of putting his home and law office back in order is...

Civil Air Patrol holds open house

People gather around the Wake Med chopper Saturday morning to get a closer look during the first Civil Air Patrol open house held at the Wayne Regional Airport....

Crime rate down significantly in Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE -- Murders in the town fell from five to none, simple assaults from 49 to 30 and larcenies from 175 to 142 over the past year as Mount Olive's overall crime rate recorded a 19 percent drop....

Best busy preparing for Vegas

As reigning Miss North Carolina and Goldsboro native Hailey Best is groomed for the Miss America pageant, the most important piece of advice she has received is brief -- be prepared to win. "Each year at Miss North Carolina,...

Explore some history by looking at fair treats

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Wayne County Fair might be over, but with the state fair beginning this week, people's minds are still turning to treats like funnel cakes and fried Twinkies. Spring Creek High School food students researched and wrote this...

Aviation association hoping to grow membership

Members of the Goldsboro-Wayne Aviation Association were treated last week to a speech from Nichole Malachowski, the first female pilot to fly with the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force's demonstration squadron. Mrs. Malachowski spoke to the group of aviation...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Deadline coming to qualify for loans for disaster repairs

The end of October is the deadline for filing applications for physical damage assistance from the Small Business Administration. Many homeowners and renters are eligible for help from the SBA, but are unaware of it, said R. Gary Colton,...

Debris pickup almost complete across North Carolina

RALEIGH -- Debris removal from state-maintained roadways is complete in Columbus and Sampson counties, and crews are close to completing debris collection in Wayne, Duplin, Edgecombe, Nash, Sampson and Wilson counties. More than 55,500 tons of trees and limbs...

Council rejects bids on Streetscape plan

Supporters of the Center Street Streetscape project took a step backward to move forward Monday as the Goldsboro City Council approved the staff's recommendation for the 200 block of the project, meaning the bids already tabulated will be rejected...

County will hire new ag agent; gets state funds

Wayne County Cooperative Extension Service Director Kevin Johnson joked Monday that he has been "counting down the days" until he could turn over his agronomist/field crop agent duties to someone else. Johnson might not have as many days left to...

Safe Kids trying to protect county children

When it comes to car seats, one size does not fit all. There are height and weight restrictions, as well as laws governing how to install them. "Eighty percent of car seats are not installed properly," said Charity Johnson,...

Public record

Weekend business break-ins The Internet cafe, 24/7 Internet Business Center, located at 207 S. Berkeley Blvd., was broken in Saturday between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. The suspect stole $2,500 in cash and a camera system valued at $700. The...

Monday, October 10, 2011

Students learn trade at Southern Wayne High School's Diesel Academy

DUDLEY -- Donald Forbes recalls sneaking outside as a young child to watch his father working on a truck. Now the junior at Southern Wayne High School is getting a chance to learn the same skills with an eye toward...

Crashes with deer rank high in region

It is that time of year again -- when deer become a much more common sight on county roads -- and their encounters with vehicles on local roadways increase as well. Wayne and five surrounding counties rank among the top...

Too many to save

The economy has had a rough impact on individuals across the country, but according to Vicki Falconer, director of the county's animal control services department, it has likewise had a negative impact on the lives of furry, four-legged citizens...

WCC honors two instructors with annual awards

Two Wayne Community College instructors have been honored with the college's eighth set of Distinguished Chair awards. Angela Wall, industrial systems and sustainability technology instructor, and Joanne McClave, nursing instructor, each received $5,000 to use for travel and a...

Council to discuss downtown project bid

City Council is expected to reconvene its recessed Oct. 3 meeting today to discuss the future of the Center Street streetscape project. A recommendation to reject the bids received for the project, alter the project to reduce the price...

Bell reappointed to Eastern Region Development Commission

John Bell, vice chairman of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, has been reappointed to the state's Eastern Region Development Commission. Commissioner Andy Anderson also serves on the commission that is the economic development agency for a 13-county region...

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Fair-well: 2011 Wayne Regional Fair ends with Demolition Derby, Round Two

Larry Lane reached up and out of his driver' side window and snapped off his orange flag, indicating he was still active in the demolition derby Saturday afternoon before a roaring crowd, but if you could see his face when...

Cissi Denton is first Distinguishd Young Woman of Wayne County

Everyone in the auditorium knew what the outcome of the scholarship contest was as Cissi Denton stood in her heels on the stage surrounded by 10 other participants. Having won in the interview, talent, scholastic, fitness and essay contest, everyone...

Grantham principal Lisa Tart is N.C. pick for national honor

Lisa Tart, principal at Grantham School, has been named North Carolina's choice for 2011 National Distinguished Principal. Mrs. Tart was nominated and selected by her fellow principals through a statewide search process conducted by the N.C. Principal and Assistant Principals...

Morgan Johnson crowned Wayne County Fire Princess

The Wayne County Firefighters Association held its 37th annual Fire Princess Pageant Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre. The event entertained a crowd of more then 500 people with the glamour and whimsy of a beauty pageant while also providing...

Teams still needed for annual Alzheimer's Walk

Teams and individuals are still needed to participate in the 10th annual Alzheimer's Walk, planned for  Oct. 22 at Wayne Community College. In addition to funding education and services provided through Alzheimer's NC. Inc., the event can also be a...

Aycock grad's company in running for small business prize

You're the top student at a junior college far away from the companies in your field that are hiring, and although their recruiting officials visit hundreds of research university campuses across the country, they have no plans to come visit...

Teams sought for chili challenge Oct. 22

Teams are currently being sought to participate in the fourth annual Really Chili Challenge to be held Saturday, Oct. 22 in the Center Street Jam parking lot off Center Street. The event is the major annual fundraiser for the...

Greene County dealer gets time for drugs

WILMINGTON -- Donnell Coppedge, the third of three brothers who had been charged with selling crack cocaine since the late 1990s in the Snow Hill area, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to 198 months in prison followed by...

Flu clinic schedule for Oct. 20 at county Health Department

Wayne County Health Department is planning a mass flu vaccination clinic Oct. 20 from 3 to 7 p.m. Anyone 6 months of age or older is encouraged to get the flu vaccine, especially children, pregnant women, senior citizens or...

Friday's Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair winners

Vocational Competition Science: First-place team: Darrell Smithers and Deniqua Russell, Goldsboro High School and Seth Mitchell, Rosewood High School. Second-place team: Janeice Dunn, Southern Wayne High School, Joseph Gregory, Charles B. Aycock High School and Desmond Thomas, Wayne School of...

Mentor program set for schools

It all started with some grumbling about the public schools. But now, months later, a discussion about how to improve Goldsboro's inner city schools has turned into a group of volunteers preparing to be a part of the solution,...

'74 Ford takes Ugly Truck Contest

Riding around in her papa's old truck taking trash to the dump, Queen of the Fair Charlotte Kornegay gathered a bit of first-hand experience at what an ugly truck looks like. But the crop of pickups that paraded past her...

Friday, October 7, 2011

Giddy-up

Patty Cake didn't stir when Andrew Kelly relinquished the reins. The pony held its ground when the boy started jumping on -- and kicking up -- the dirt around her hooves. But the 3-year-old's mother, Amber, was not quite as...

Two will face prison time for murder

Two defendants accused of being involved in the murder of Jamie Lee Hinson accepted plea deals this week in Wayne County Superior Court. Hinson was beaten to death in December 2009. His body was found in Evergreen Cemetery on...

Ten charged from drug raid

MOUNT OLIVE -- A marijuana plant growing in a five-gallon bucket was among the marijuana and crack cocaine seized during a pre-dawn undercover drug raid Thursday that resulted in the arrest of 10 suspected street-level drug dealers. Also seized were...

It's fish day

Wayne County Shrine Club member Jeff Harris checks a deep fryer this morning before the annual Shriners' Fish Fry gets under way. The sale runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Funds...

Johnston Alzheimer's Walk Saturday

SMITHFIELD -- The inaugural Johnston County Walk to End Alzheimer's wil be held Saturday at the Smithfield Recreation Center and Aquatic Park. The walk begins at 9 a.m. with registration beginning at 8 a.m. This is the first such event...

Mathnasium contest to be held Saturday

The second Annual statewide Mathnasium competition will be held on Saturday with local competitions at nine Mathnasium Learning Centers across North Carolina. Online registration is today by 5 p.m. On-site registration is available at each of the competing sites, if...

Fighting fires with burgers ... and fries

Firefighters took a break from pulling hoses and tapping into fire hydrants to flip burgers and serve cheese fries, all in an effort to raise revenue at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair. It is customary for some of the...

Fair nears record for attendance

Some are attracted to the freshly paved midway. Others welcome the idea -- particularly in tough economic times -- of an affordable, close-to-home outing the whole family can enjoy. But if you ask fair director Milton Ingram just why the...

Fair schedule

FRIDAY *4 p.m. Gates open to all exhibits *5 p.m. Powers Great American Midways open *5:30 p.m. Vocational Competition *5:15 p.m. Kenya Safari Acrobats *5:30 p.m. Almost Amazing Rex & Dana Ryan *5:30 p.m.Racing Pigs *6 p.m. Barbados Lamb Show...

Wayne Regional Fair winners

THURSDAY Talent contest: Vocal solo: Morgan Kohmen, Norwayne Middle, first, 6-8, and Blake Holder, Charles B. Aycock, first, 9-12 Instrumental solo: Paola Cortes, Norwayne Middle, first, 6-8, and Andrew Medlin, Southern Wayne High, 9-12 Dance solo: Mary Beth Rhodes, Rosewood...

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Talent takes stage at fair's competition

There was an impressive pool of talent among the elementary school set at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Wednesday night -- from the typical singers and dancers to martial arts demonstrators and hula hoopers. Amanda Sarvis stood in the...

United Way's Taste of Wayne set for next week

Hungry? Officials at the United Way are banking on it. More than 20 local restaurants have already signed up to participate in the organization's "biggest event of the year" -- one that offers Wayne County residents a chance to help...

Wayne Junior Miss Pageant Saturday at WCC

The Wayne County Junior Miss Pageant will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College. Eleven girls, all high school seniors, will compete in the scholarship event, which is a preliminary for the Distinguished...

Arrests made in morning Mount Olive raid

MOUNT OLIVE -- Police used a "flash-bang" grenade to disorient residents of a mobile home early this morning to signal the start of a pre-dawn roundup of suspected street-level drug dealers in the town. Assisted by Wayne and Duplin county...

Hearing set for grants for company expansion

The public will have the chance next month to be heard on a request that the county provide $157,400 in matching funds for a $157,400 One North Carolina Fund grant for Cooper Standard Automotive. County commissioners Tuesday morning scheduled...

Fair winners

Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Winners WEDNESDAY Vocational Competition Auto Mechanics: Evan Powell, Southern Wayne Cheerleading Contest Varsity 1st: Charles B. Aycock High; 2nd: North Lenoir High; South Lenoir High Junior Varsity 1st: North Lenoir High: South Lenoir High; East Duplin...

Public record

Fire Report The Goldsboro Fire Department responded to 33 calls during the week of Sept. 23 to Sept. 29. Of all the fire calls, 15 were assists to Wayne County Emergency Medical Services, 12 were false alarms and three...

Fair schedule

THURSDAY, OCT. 6 *4 p.m. Gates open to all exhibits *4 p.m. Tractor Operators' Contest *4:30 p.m. Grades 6-8 Talent Contest *5 p.m. Powers Great American Midways open *5:30 p.m. Vocational Competition, Bricklaying/Blocklaying *5:30 p.m. Almost Amazing Rex & Dana...

Emergency Services Day Saturday

Wayne County Emergency Services and the Goldsboro Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will hold their annual Emergency Services Day at the Wayne Executive Jetport on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to see...

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Smith gets six-year contract

Wayne County commissioners, following a 30-minute closed session to discuss employee performance, voted 6-1 Tuesday to approve a six-year contract extension for County Manager Lee Smith. It was the second time in as many months commissioners have met behind closed...

Lawyer, officer get time for fraud

RALEIGH -- William Devaughn Orander III, a disbarred Goldsboro real estate attorney, and Mark David Webb, a former loan officer at Mount Olive-based Southern Bank and Trust and Dunn-based New Century Bank, received active prison sentences in federal court...

Local spellers are C-H-A-M-P-S

Vermiculate. Alluviation. Lepidopterist. Sumptuous. These are just some of the words that tested the spelling abilities of area 12th-graders at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Spelling Bee Tuesday evening. Wayne Christian School senior Daniel Glover earned top place among...

Trick-or-treats set, but Boo-It canceled

The cool breezes have only just begun to blow through Goldsboro, but with children already debating what they will be for Halloween, municipalities across the county are preparing for the night when those costumed children will hit the streets...

Pie-apaloosa

Galina Reimers' friend told her if she entered this year's pie-baking contest at the county fair she would win. Galina didn't believe it, but her friend talked her into giving it a try anyway. Having never entered any cooking contest...

Teenage drivers must log hours to get licenses

Beginning Jan. 1 the state's teenage drivers will be required to complete two new driving logs as part of the state's graduated licensing program. The program's goal is to increase behind-the-wheel experience for young drivers. The driving logs will...

Fire Princess Pageant

The Wayne County Fire Princess Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre. In the center of the photo, with her crown is the 2010 Wayne County Fire Princess Monica Sasser. Competing for the 2011...

Shriners working to get word out in Wayne County about services

The Wayne County Shrine Club is getting extra help this year in spreading the word about the work of the Shrine Club, especially its children's hospitals, from Sam Ferrell, a student at Southern Wayne High School. Ferrell created posters...

N.C. DOT set to make last round of debris pickup

Starting Monday, crews contracted through the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin their last round of storm-related debris pick-up along state-maintained roads in Wayne, Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties. Removing debris in counties affected by Hurricane Irene has been...

At the fair

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5 *4 p.m. Gates open to all exhibits *4:30 p.m. Grade K-2 Talent Contest *5 p.m. Cheerleading Contest *5 p.m. Powers Great American Midways open *5:30 p.m. Vocational Competition, Auto Mechanics *5:30 p.m. Almost Amazing Rex & Dana...

Chamber's dancing stars named

Twenty-five area residents have agreed to don dancing shoes and perform in the second annual Dancing Stars of Wayne County event next spring. Among them are homemakers and military spouses, business owners and elected officials, a tree climbing champion...

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

City puts Center Street project on hold

After nearly a month of staff level discussions about the bids for the Center Street Streetscape project, the supporters of the renovations are left with one final shot to get City Council approval for the first phase of the...

School district sharpens efforts for new teachers

Wayne County's Board of Education Monday night approved revisions to the school district's Beginning Teacher Support Program, which provides mentoring, staff development opportunities and other supplemental elements. The effort was retooled to submit to the state, said Debbie Durham, director...

Today at the fair

8 a.m. to noon -- Second Flower Show Entries accepted Noon -- Gates open to all exhibits SENIOR CITIZENS DAY (Free admission for all persons 60 years of age and above) Noon -- Pie Baking Contest 1 p.m. -- Judging...

Mount Olive OKs lines for voting districts

MOUNT OLIVE -- For the second time in as many months, the public Monday night had nothing to say about proposed changes in the town's voting district lines. After no one took Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. up on his offer...

Health board seeks members

The Wayne County Board of Health is looking for three new members to fill positions on the board. Applications are being accepted for the positions that come open effective January 2012 -- two "public members" and an engineer. The...

Ride 'em, cowboys

With the music pounding and the crowd cheering, 15 cowboys climbed aboard their bulls Monday night to test their skill and determination against the strength and ferocity of the beast beneath them -- and nine times, they failed. But...

Shriners ready to start frying for the children

Wayne County Shriner George Raecher was selling tickets to this Friday's annual fish fry when a woman stopped and said she and her husband would not be able to attend the fundraiser. "But she and her husband were more than...

Public record

Police vehicle totaled in accident A Goldsboro police patrol car was totaled Saturday afternoon after it left a roadway to avoid colliding with another vehicle, police say. The officer, Brandon Keith Edgerton, 23, was treated at Wayne Memorial Hospital for...

Fair winners

Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Monday, Oct. 3 VOCATIONAL COMPETITION Carpentry: Jeffrey Faulk, Southern Wayne High School Health Occupations Spelling Bee: Paola Ponnce, Spring Creek High School...

Monday, October 3, 2011

Southern Bank acquires Bank of Commonwealth

MOUNT OLIVE -- Southern Bank and Trust Co.'s acquisition of the 21-branch Bank of the Commonwealth of Norfolk, Va., nearly doubled the bank's assets to $2 billion, while giving it a foothold in the populous Tidewater region of Virginia. "This...

Smash 'em up derby draws hundreds to fairgrounds

DUDLEY -- Clutching the trophy her husband, Joseph Davis, had won in the first heat of Sunday's demolition derby at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, Beth Davis said she always tries to be in the stands whenever her husband competes....

Medicine disposal Saturday

The Wayne County 4-H Prevention Program, Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Wayne Connections/Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force will sponsor a pill drop-off collection Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Operation Medicine Drop will take place at Berkeley Mall....

Public hearing on grant Tuesday

Wayne County Commissioners will be asked Tuesday to schedule a public hearing on a request that the county provide $157,400 in matching funds for a $157,400 One North Carolina Fund grant for Cooper Standard Automotive. Gov. Beverly Perdue, during a...

Wayne Regional Fair schedule

TUESDAY Senior Citizens Day (Free admission for all persons 60 years of age and above) * 8 - Noon -- Second flower show entries accepted * Noon -- Gates open to all exhibits * Noon -- Pie baking contest *...

Wayne Community College called 'military friendly'

G.I. Jobs, a magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has awarded Wayne Community College the designation of "Military Friendly School." The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools...

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Officials say lamb show fair's most competitive

The sound a lamb makes when someone slides a hand underneath its neck and lifts upward is difficult to put into words. "I sure as, you-know-what, can't spell it," said Maria Santos, one of the dozens who filled the...

Fair queen follows in her mother's footsteps

Belting out the lyrics to "Don't Rain on My Parade," Charlotte Kornegay ignored the torrential downpour outside the entertainment arena Friday night as she claimed the title of 2011 Queen of the Fair. Clutching her crown to her head,...

For the Lintons, goat showing is a family affair

As the rain poured down on the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Friday night, Suzy Linton was sitting on the front row of the Livestock Arena while organizers scrambled to bring the Open Junior Meat Goat Show inside. Fairgoers had...

Showmen show hearts as big as their heifers

Hannah Ferrell tried to keep her composure when her large, black heifer pinned her up against the gate. She winced when the animal rammed its head, repeatedly, into her stomach. And when the cow finally overpowered its handler --...

Goldsboro Civil Air Patrol looking for members

The Goldsboro Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary, will conduct a membership drive for both cadet and adult members throughout the month of October, with events planned at local schools throughout the Wayne...

Downtown businesses speak out against streetscape

City officials have spent the past month reviewing the bid tabulations for the Center Street streetscape renovations project, but when it comes to the business owners involved in what's planned to be the first of five blocks of street...

Mayor's Committee still looking for luncheon sponsors

The Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities will hold its annual awards luncheon on Oct. 20 at noon at Herman Park Center at 901 East Ash Street and needs more sponsors for the events. The costs of sponsorship $300 and...

Voting to begin later this month for some municipalities

Goldsboro, Mount Olive and Fremont municipal offices will not be included when one-stop voting gets under way later this month in advance of the Nov. 8 election. The elections in those municipalities have been postponed until next spring because...

McCrory campaigns at fair

Republican Pat McCrory hasn't officially announced that he will run for governor in 2012, but to anyone watching him at the Wayne Regional Fair on Friday night he sure appeared to be in full campaign form as he introduced himself...

City Council set to put streetscape project back out to bid Monday

The City Council will hear a twice-postponed recommendation from the staff concerning the Center Street renovation streetscape project during Monday's meeting at the council chambers. The opening of bids was postponed one week to Sept. 3, when the recommendation...