April 2012 archives

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Monday, April 30, 2012

Prosecution expected to rest

The state is expected to wrap up its case as early as today against three Wayne County men charged in a 2008 shooting that ultimately resulted in the death of the owner of a Goldsboro convenience store. Joshua Davis, Quentin...

One-stop voting passes 3,000

More than 3,000 people have cast their ballots for the May 8 primary during the one-stop early voting that enters its final week today. Also, Monday, May 7, at 5 p.m. is the deadline for people to return absentee...

Just me and my bear

William, 2, sits in his mother, Kim Reid's, lap with his teddy bear during the Teddy Bear Picnic at Cornerstone Commons last week. Dozens of children with their favorite stuffed friend ate a picnic lunch while Rebecca Dennison and...

Three vie for chance at seat on bench

Only one of the five district court seats on Wayne County ballots will be contested in the May 8 primary. Incumbent Lonnie Carraway of Snow Hill is facing challenges from two lawyers for his seat on the 8th District...

Roads top commission agenda

Relief could be just ahead for drivers stuck in traffic on Wayne Memorial Drive caused by motorists trying to turn left onto Tommy's Road. Widening Wayne Memorial Drive to create a left-turn lane is among projects in the county's proposed...

Wayne Community College students win state honors

Wayne Community College's chapter of Phi Beta Lambda business education student organization received several awards during the organization's 58th annual State Leadership Conference in Charlotte. The local Gamma Chi chapter was recognized for having the largest chapter membership in...

All buzz, no threat

Encountering a swarm of bees doesn't have to be cause for alarm. While the mere sight of them might be upsetting, the first rule of thumb, beekeepers say, is not to aggravate them. "They're not life-threatening or damaging to any...

Adult High School students recognized

Students in the Adult High School and General Education Development, or GED, programs at Wayne Community College were recently recognized for their academic accomplishments this year. Guillermo Martinez was presented the "Exceptional Persistence and Dedication Award" for his dedication...

Wayne Community College gaming instructor honored

Michael Everett, the lead instructor for Wayne Community College's Simulation and Game Development program, will speak Thursday at the East Coast Game Conference at Raleigh Convention Center. He was selected to serve on a panel titled "Developers Needed ......

Sunday, April 29, 2012

City recycling rules to change

Changes within the city of Goldsboro recycling program this spring will have impacts on the recycling experience of customers and city employees -- and also on a locally based rehabilitation center. Recycling crews will begin collecting trays and pods...

A peck of pickles ... and fun

MOUNT OLIVE -- Saturday morning began cloudy and chilly with North Carolina Pickle Festival organizers fearing the worst -- rain. The word is unspoken at festival committee meetings, which some thought might have been the reason the day remained...

911 calls played in murder trial

The first caller was relatively calm. "Can y'all come to Brookside?" she said. "Where?" a 911 operator replied. "On South Slocumb Street?" "Yeah," she said. "What's wrong?" the operator asked. "Um, the man at the store's bleeding," she continued....

Center Stage performing "Willy Wonka"

A man locks himself away in a candy factory filled with little orange and green people. His only goal is to make children happy with new and fantastical candy creations. All this makes for quite a bit of comedy as...

City, Arts Council to restart Sundays in the Park

What was an old time tradition in Goldsboro back in the early 1960s and '70s is coming back after a several-year hiatus. Sundays in the Park will start up again May 6. The event was a staple on a lazy...

Southern Bank named one of top regional banks in U.S.

MOUNT OLIVE -- Southern Bank and Trust Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern BancShares (N.C.), Inc., was recently ranked seventh among the country's 25 top-performing regional banks for 2011 by SNL Financial. The bank was eligible for the...

Pedestrian killed on highway Wednesday

A Goldsboro man died late Wednesday night after being struck from behind by a car while he was walking on the roadway of U.S. 70 East. According to the Highway Patrol, Carroll Leamon Ezzell, 66, of 2201 Royall Ave....

Pickle princesses revel in day in spotlight at festival

MOUNT OLIVE -- Maia Phillips, 5, likes her crown and her sash, but she likes her pickles even more. Mini Miss Maia, the winner of the five to six-year-old age group in the 12th annual North Carolina Pickle Princess...

Agriculture program brings students to MOC

Alaina Airheart decided to go to school at Mount Olive College because she said it felt like home, with its smaller class sizes and friendly peers. But she was also attracted to the college because of the opportunity it...

Students add tang to cancer fight

Jaila Carter scooped ice into a small plastic cup, then handed it to classmate Candra Stevens to add some lemonade. Addison Moore put in the finishing touch -- a "bendy" straw. The first-grade assembly line outside the front office...

Kasell opens museum journalism exhibit

Award-winning National Public Radio broadcaster Carl Kasell was in Goldsboro Saturday for two reasons. Kasell gave a lecture at the Wayne County Museum to kick off an exhibit on journalism. And he was to meet with classmates later to...

State says Tony Moore ineligible to run

Assistant News Editor With early voting well under way and the May 8 primary quickly approaching, the state Board of Elections decided Friday that state Senate candidate Tony Moore doesn't meet the residency qualifications after all. In March, the Pitt...

Friday, April 27, 2012

Testimony continues

Ismail Kandeel still doesn't understand. "What happened to us?" he said from a witness stand inside the Wayne County Courthouse Thursday afternoon. "What happened to us?" It has been nearly two years since his brother, Ribhi, succumbed to injuries sustained...

City hires new chief

Interim Goldsboro Police Chief Jeff Stewart has been hired by the city to take over the job permanently, city officials announced Thursday. Stewart said that although he knew he was a finalist for the job, that the news still...

Realtor of the Year chosen

Gay Jeffreys Elmore, of Prudential The McMillen Real Estate Group, was named Realtor of the Year Thursday at the 46th annual Realtors Luncheon held by the Goldsboro/Wayne County Association of Realtors and sponsored by The Goldsboro News-Argus. At left...

Two witnesses say they are 'afraid for their lives'

Two witnesses in the first-degree murder trial that will determine whether Joshua Earl Devon Davis, Quentin Lamont Kenon and Rashard Vondarius Oliver spend the rest of their lives in prison for the death of Brookside Convenient Mart owner Ribhi Kandeel...

Cornerstone Award marker unveiled at downtown site

After a career in public service that has spanned decades, Ed Borden has finally been permanently honored as one of Wayne County's chief community contributors after the unveiling of his commemorative brick at Cornerstone Commons in downtown Goldsboro Thursday...

Public record

Man shot from vehicle; no charges pressed Richard Sutton of South Slocumb Street told police that while walking along the street on the 200 block of Rosewood Avenue at 9:40 p.m. On April 25, a dark-colored SUV pulled up and...

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Stewart named Goldsboro police chief

Goldsboro's transition to a new police chief should be a seamless one as the city announced Thursday that interim Police Chief Jeff Stewart has been hired to fill the position permanently. Stewart was named the interim chief in January...

Veterans Services will have new site

The Wayne County Veterans Services office will open May 1 in its new location at the former Nash Printing building, 2001-D E. Ash St. The office will not close during the move. Staff will not make appointments between April...

Taste of Wayne moving to city

One of the United Way of Wayne County's largest fundraisers will be changing venues after five years, as Taste of Wayne organizers have announced the event will be held downtown this year. For the past half-decade the fundraiser has...

Victim's son testifies in robbery murder trial

Mahmud Kandeel kept his poise when Assistant District Attorney Mike Ricks asked a Goldsboro police officer to show the young man the bloody shirt his father, Ribhi, was wearing the night he was shot. He remained stoic as he...

Girls get ready for 5K for fitness, friendship

This is the last week until fall that Samantha Grant, 9, will meet seven of her friends at the softball field on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The eight girls, third- to fifth-graders, are part...

Judge moves trial to new courtroom

First it was a climate control issue -- a courtroom that was "either way too hot or way too cold." Then, it was the acoustics. "You'll really have to speak up," Special Superior Court Judge Jack Jenkins said to one...

Public record

Four iPads stolen A Target employee told Goldsboro police that a suspect entered the store at 1204 Sunburst Drive and requested four iPads from the electronics section of the store. While the clerk was assisting other customers, the suspect took...

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Vintage farm equipment show May 4-5

DUDLEY -- Ralph McKeel of Goldsboro enjoys watching people's reactions as he explains the unusual pieces of equipment on display during the Antique Farm Equipment Days. The show is, he said, a way to preserve a piece of Americana that...

The jury

The jury -- and two alternates -- sitting on the murder trial of Joshua Davis, Quentin Kenon and Rashard Oliver: * A young white woman who works at a facility that specializes in traumatic brain injury. * A middle-aged...

Singing out

Students from across Wayne County put their talents on display Tuesday evening at the annual All-County Choral Festival held at Goldsboro High School. About 275 students from 23 schools took part....

Murder witness grilled

Three stacks of cash and a pistol. That is what she said she heard they stole from Ribhi Mohammed Kandeel after they allegedly shot him in the back. Red bandanas, blue jeans and T-shirts. That is what she testified they...

Downtown bank robbed

Goldsboro police are searching for a suspect in a mid-morning bank robbery in downtown Goldsboro on Tuesday. A police report says a suspect, described as a 5-foot-6-inch, 160-pound white man, entered the Wells Fargo bank at the corner of...

Travel lecture scheduled at college

Todd King, chairman of the engineering and manufacturing department at Wayne Community College, will discuss his recent travels to St. Croix as a recipient of the college's 2010 Distinguished Chair award, Thursday at 2 p.m. in Room 101 of the...

United Way launches volunteer website

United Way of Wayne County is relaunching Volunteer Wayne, with an easy-to-navigate site and ability for people to link to their Facebook account. United Wayne has partnered with Galaxy Digital to create a customized volunteer site where volunteers and non-profit...

Public record

Man, bystander shot during robbery Goldsboro police are investigating a shooting that took place about 10:30 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of Astor Court. Jamila Hailey reported that she and Monquail Kenon were sitting in a parked vehicle when...

Festival to pack people in like pickles in Mount Olive

Get ready to sport some green and show some pickilicious pride because the 26th annual North Carolina Pickle Festival is almost here. The Pickle Princess Pageant, Pickle Picture Show and Pickle Me Pink Tea Party have all come and...

Kevin Wise scholarship fundraiser planned for May 4

A benefit to raise money for a scholarship fund for a Southern Wayne High School student who died in February is being planned for Friday, May 4, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.. Kevin Wise was a senior who...

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Plea deal gives account of night of alleged crime

It was nearly midnight Aug. 18, 2008, when three men wearing bandannas over their faces entered the Brookside Convenient Mart on South Slocumb Street. Within moments, store owner Ribhi Mohammed Kandeel was on the floor -- fighting for his life...

Two local students earn national Gates scholarships

Two Wayne County high school seniors are among 1,000 students nationwide chosen to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship, covering costs to attend the college of their choice. Zacchia Cobb, valedictorian at Goldsboro High School, and Marques McPhail, a student at...

Kindergarten registration set for this Friday for all

Kindergarten registration day in Wayne County Public Schools will be held at all 15 elementary schools Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Children must turn 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 to be enrolled for the...

Jury selection begins in 2008 murder of clerk

Some shed tears as three men were escorted into a Wayne County courtroom Monday morning. Others smiled -- waving at them and mouthing that everything would be OK, that they were loved. But as soon as Special Superior Court Judge...

Veterans can get help with benefits

For some veterans, the hardest fight they ever face is against their own government, those who work on their behalf say. The labyrinth of red tape that comes with filing a disability claim can become a minefield of its...

Public record

Gunfire outside Fast Eddie's Tramarus Sasser reported he was shot by stray gunfire in the parking lot outside of Fast Eddie's Sports Bar, located at 1308 Parkway Drive, about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Sasser told authorities he was struck in the...

Police search for Wells Fargo robbery suspect

Goldsboro Police are searching for a suspect in a mid-morning bank robbery in downtown Goldsboro. A statement from the department said a white male took an undisclosed amount of money from the Wells Fargo located at 301 E. Ash Street....

Monday, April 23, 2012

700 cast ballots in early voting

More than 700 people cast their ballots for the May 8 primary last week during the first two days of one-stop voting -- mostly at the voting site at the Wayne County Public Library on East Ash Street. A total...

Students share patriotic essays for DAR contest

Home-schooled high school senior Heather Aycock enjoys competing in the Daughters of the American Revolution's American History and Christopher Columbus essay competitions -- not just for the research as much as self-satisfaction of a job well done. "I like more...

Pup gets 'pickled'

MOUNT OLIVE -- Ollie Q. Cumber, the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. mascot, will not be the only pickle character trekking around the North Carolina Pickle Festival this weekend. Sonny, a 3-year-old poodle, will be sporting a pickle look of...

Public record

Teen shoots his own leg A Kenly teen reported to Wayne County sheriff's deputies that he accidentally shot himself in the leg with a .22-caliber pistol Saturday. James Hargrove, 17, of 2230 Piney Grove Church Road, told deputies that was...

Three face murder charges

Jury selection is expected to begin today in the first-degree murder trial of three men allegedly responsible for the death of the owner of a Goldsboro convenience store. Joshua Earl Devon Davis, Quentin Lamont Kenon and Rashard Vondarius Oliver...

Teddy Bear Picnic planned for Wednesday in city

The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation invites the community out for a lunchtime filled with tall tales and adventures Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m. This year's Teddy Bear Picnic will take place at Cornerstone Commons at the corner of Center...

Schedule set for local Bloodmobile

Following is the May blood drive schedule for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross: * May 1 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Democko Chiropractic Goldsboro. * May 5 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at...

City wants input on new plans

The city of Goldsboro, in conjunction with Wayne County and NCDOT, has employed a consultant to prepare a comprehensive plan for its Urbanized Area. As part of this plan, a study area of Wayne Memorial Drive/Herman Street running from...

Sunday, April 22, 2012

City seeks comments on future

Goldsboro officials are actively searching for voices and visions for the city's future as part of its new Greater Goldsboro Think Tank initiative. The group, also known as G2T2, is being created in collaboration with East Carolina University, but...

Volunteers shave their noggins to help fight childhood cancer

Some shaved their heads. Some shaved their mustaches. One even shaved his eyebrows. But they all made a sacrifice to help St. Baldrick's Foundation in the fight against childhood cancer. Firefighters, first responders, airmen and others from around Wayne County...

Lobster Fest orders due this week

Have a hankering for a Maine lobster but not willing to travel there or pay for a plane ticket to have one flown in? Fret not. Partnership for Children of Wayne County has got you covered. Hundreds of lobsters and...

Two candidates will compete for chance to lead Fremont

FREMONT -- After eight years in office, Fremont Mayor Devone Jones has decided against seeking re-election. But in his absence, two longtime residents, W. Darron Flowers and Leroy Ruffin, are vying for the opportunity to lead the town. Flowers, who...

Wayne County's Fort Macon connection

Wayne County's voice within the walls of Fort Macon is booming. From the thunder of the cannon to the calls from the members of Andrews' Battery, this guardian of the Beaufort Inlet is teeming with connections to the Goldsboro area....

Drivers compete in bus ROAD-e-o

A school bus driver for the central attendance area was named winner of this year's "Bus ROAD-e-o" Wayne County Public Schools. James Crawford, a veteran driver with 24 years' experience, will now advance to compete at the upcoming district...

Bringing funds, help for local cancer patients

Judy Coker woke up the last day of December with blurred vision. Two weeks late,r she was diagnosed with cancer and told a tumor had formed on an optic nerve. Although her vision has since declined, her spirit has...

Cherry Hospital volunteers recognized

Rudolph Stevens has made his way from his Wilson home to Cherry Hospital every Tuesday since 2011. He conducts vesper services, come rain or shine, no matter how many may show up, said Chaplain Wilbert Johnson. Stevens was named...

All-County Choral Festival Tuesday

About 275 choral members from Wayne County Public Schools will come together in one voice to showcase their musical talents Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Goldsboro High School. The choral festival will be divided into three programs, which will...

Space cited as concern for city museum

Plans for the city's Air Force Museum have moved swiftly since the Goldsboro City Council entered a contract with Boston-based Verner Johnson, a museum consultant company, on April 2. During the Air Force Museum Citizen's Committee meeting April 12,...

Friday, April 20, 2012

Deputies looking for shooter

Members of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office are currently searching the area surrounding Durham Lake Road after a shooting left one person injured earlier this afternoon. The victim was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital for treatment and the suspect fled...

School district honors volunteers

Lynne Fulghum can often be found sitting in a classroom reading a story to a child, or bringing in popsicle treats for students. As a volunteer, she has donated more than 750 volunteer hours at Carver Elementary School in Mount...

Job fair for teachers set for Saturday

Potential educators are invited to attend Wayne County Public Schools' annual teacher job fair on Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the gymnasium at Goldsboro High School. Prospective teachers can learn about programs and job opportunities at...

State budget, military, education top agenda

Annexation, education reform and continued efforts to cut back the state's regulatory powers will be among the top agenda items when the General Assembly returns to Raleigh following the November election. But until then, people should not expect to hear...

Public record

Bullet strikes truck Sherman Davis reported finding a bullet hole in the rear of his 1999 Chevy pick up truck on Wednesday. The bullet entered the rear of the vehicle and cracked the front windshield. The damage caused to...

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Police add assault rifles to arsenal

Goldsboro patrol officers will soon be armed with assault rifles and new stun devices, and Interim Police Chief Maj. Jeff Stewart said the addition of AR-15 rifles and handheld TASER X2 units will make officers safer on the street and...

Beyond the call

4th Fighter Wing Operations Group Commander Col. Brian Kirkwood pins the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal on Capt. Ryan Bodenheimer during Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's annual Volunteer Appreciation Ice Cream Social. Bodenheimer along with Capt. Joshua Carroll, Capt....

County refinances two loans

A refinancing package approved Tuesday morning by Wayne County commissioners is expected to save the county $390,000 over the life of the new loan. The county stills owes $1.39 million of the $3.77 million it borrowed in 2002 to renovate...

County Board of Health approves budget proposal

The Wayne County Board of Health on Wednesday approved an $8.6 million budget for 2012-13 and welcomed the new health director, whose first order of business was to change the board's monthly meeting date to accommodate state conferences and...

Commissioner, legislator clash at meeting

Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders intervened Wednesday morning when what had started as a comment about state spending on education escalated into a contentious exchange between state Republican Rep. Stephen LaRoque of Kinston and Wayne County Commission Chairman John Bell,...

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A lesson in penguins, and an igloo to boot

So what if winter missed Wayne County this year. Penguins still found a home in Brooke Chatham's second-grade classroom at St. Mary School, complete with an igloo. Students made the black-and-white creatures out of construction paper. But credit for the...

One-stop early voting to start

One-stop early voting for the May 8 primary election will begin Thursday morning and will continue through May 5 at three locations across the county. Meanwhile, people who obtained voting by absentee ballots must return them to the Wayne...

Commissioners reject support for amendment

Wayne County commissioners' defeat Tuesday of a resolution to endorse the Defense of Marriage constitutional amendment ended with hardly a ripple after what had started two weeks ago as a spirited debate. Commissioners did not call for any public comment...

Kasey will seek first seat on council

A newcomer to politics, but longtime Goldsboro resident, Fran Kasey is running for the District 6 seat of the Goldsboro City Council. Mrs. Kasey, a civil service retiree, will seek to replace incumbent Jackie Warrick who will not seek...

Greene music man and GHS grad to be honored

The Greene County Music Alumni will hold a fundraising tribute Saturday to former Green Central High School music director Kenneth Ginn. This event, "Kenneth Ginn, The Music Man ... a Legend of Greene County Music," will be an evening...

Kits making science fun for Rosewood third-graders

Logan Merritt sifted through items in a large red plastic container on the table before him. It held three things -- an empty gallon milk jug, an elongated gray foam tube and some marbles. "We're going to be putting...

Public record

Attempted home invasion Darlene Strickland reported an unknown man attempted to force his way into her home in the 100 block of Southwinds Drive in Dudley about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. Her 16-year-old son, Dylan Strickland, told Wayne County Sheriff's deputies...

City Council discusses Christmas decorations

Monday's meeting of the Goldsboro City Council featured a heavy dose of presentations during the Council's 5 p.m. work session as city department heads addressed the board on topics ranging from downtown holiday decorations and street resurfacing to partial...

County to seek grant funds to help Dudley area community

A Dudley area neighborhood would benefit from a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant that Wayne County commissioners have agreed to apply for. Commissioners Tuesday morning unanimously approved the grant application for the Love Drive area at Dudley following a...

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Strike Eagles take to the sky to honor heritage

Allied forces had earned air superiority. The Luftwaffe was grounded. But the 8th Air Force wasn't finished. It was time to deal a decisive blow to the Germans. So on April 16, 1945, more than 2,000 aircraft took to the...

It's official: 44 jobs on the way

Wayne County commissioners cleared the way this morning for a Pikeville company to expand its operation, add 44 jobs and make at least a $4.211 million investment over the next three years. Commissioners, following a brief public hearing, approved...

Club looks for computers to refurbish for children

The Goldsboro Optimist Club has launched a new program that will help people dispose of old, unused computer equipment while at the same time helping the area's needy children. "Everything we do deals with young people," said club president Bill...

City Council rejects zoning request

Despite concessions by the developer, the Goldsboro City Council denied a request Monday night to rezone the southeast corner of North Berkeley Boulevard and Ridgecrest Drive. The issue became a divisive one during a public hearing March 19 as...

Monday, April 16, 2012

Circus arrives in town

The Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars will put on two shows today, starting at 4:30 this afternoon and again at 7:30. The shows will be repeated on Tuesday. The circus bills itself as the world's largest under a...

County to weigh marriage bill vote

Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning could be facing a large crowd when they discuss the Defense of Marriage state constitutional amendment. That discussion will follow three public hearing at 9:15 a.m. including one on whether or not the county...

70 jets mark World War II achievement

Nearly 70 years after members of the 4th Fighter Group destroyed more than 100 German aircraft in a day, the aviators charged with carrying on their legacy set out on a mission to commemorate what transpired April 16, 1945....

Salvation Army plans purse fundraiser

Ladies, get your walking shoes on and your charge cards ready for the Salvation Army's jewelry, purse, shoe and bake sale Saturday. The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army building at 610 N....

Man dies after being shot in city

A Pikeville man died after being shot on Wayne Avenue early Sunday morning. Brandon Marquett Phillips, 37, of 107 Stone Cutter Drive, died from his injuries after emergency surgery was performed at Wayne Memorial Hospital. Police responded at about...

Public record

B&Es and larcenies *Clayton Lee Gay reported the theft of two TVs, valued at $1,150, from his home in the 500 block of New Hope Road. A witness, Charles Albert Browning, reported he saw a dark car drive away...

First responder nominated for national award

FAISON -- Glenn Jernigan, retired Duplin County sheriff who spent 36 years with Faison Fire and Rescue, is one of six finalists in a national competition honoring the work of first responders. The public will choose the $10,000 grand-prize...

4th's jets take to the sky

Airmen with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's 4th Fighter Wing are paying homage to their World War II predecessors today with the launch of 70 F-15E Strike Eagles that will destroy more than 1,000 targets across North Carolina. On...

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Keller is Boss Hog as pigs take over the park

A traditionally festive event began on something of a somber note Friday when cooks learned that two of the teams would be taking on the added challenge of cooking an extra hog at the third annual Pig in the...

Teen killed in Friday car crash

A 16-year-old teen was killed in a single-vehicle crash Friday night after hitting a tree head-on near Dudley. Marco Antonio Nino, of Kinston, was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital at about 11:18 p.m., where he was later pronounced dead....

Dancing Stars announces final People's Choice winner

Another winner has been announced for Dancing Stars of Wayne County, as donations continue to trickle in for the March 24 education fundraiser. Dancers and instructors, as well as the cast and crew for the second annual gala event...

N.C. Pickle Festival set for April 28

The North Carolina Pickle Festival, easily Wayne County's most popular annual event, drawing in more than 35,000 people every year to a town with a population just short of 4,600, is making its 26th annual debut later this month....

Fire training in Fremont

More than 50 firefighters from Fremont, Pikeville, Nahunta, Belfast, Eureka, Little River, El-Roy, Goldsboro and Antioch fire departments spent most of the day Saturday at a live burn training exercise in Fremont. The training was designed to give the...

Up on the roof for a cause

On top of the Krispy Kreme roof, Goldsboro Police Department Investigator Dwayne Bevell holds the microphone so his son Jaden, 7, can welcome people to the Cop-on-Top event. Cop-on-Top  is a weekend fundraiser in which Bevell stays on top...

MOC students, alumni enjoy Springfest event together

Margie Caldwell leaned on her daughter, Shaylyn, while she kicked off her shoes to try the dry surf sensation challenge on Saturday afternoon at Mount Olive College. Shaylyn, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, was only able to stay...

LaGrange man jailed on federal drug charges

Erick James Speight, 31, of LaGrange Tuesday was sentenced in federal court in Greenville to more than nine years in prison on his plea of guilty to conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or...

Extension: County wheat crop should largely be OK after frost

Perhaps the most repeated question Cooperative Extension Service Director Kevin Johnson fielded Thursday morning during the 64th annual Junior Livestock Show and Sale dealt with wheat and not the pigs being shown. Farmer after farmer asked Johnson if he...

Council to discuss street work Monday

Six presentations are slated for the Goldsboro City Council's work session Monday at 5 p.m. in the City Hall Annex, including a follow-up from Planning Director Randy Guthrie on street resurfacing. Council members asked at the March 19 meeting...

Mount Olive College gives out five alumni awards

During its annual Alumni Awards event Saturday night, Mount Olive College recognized five people. * Brenda Edwards, former administrative assistant for the Office of Alumni Relations, was recognized as an "Honorary Alumnus" of the College. Edwards began working at...

Friday, April 13, 2012

Man shot during robbery

DUDLEY -- A Dudley man was shot in the chest during a home invasion Wednesday night. Quentin Dobson, 36, was taken to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where he is listed in fair condition. A robber wearing a mask...

Learning more than rhythm

Daymar Gassaway, 11, and Jakwonti Mack, 10, fifth-graders at Dillard Middle School, drumsticks in hand, can't wait for the day they will be in the drumline at the Boys & Girls Club on Royall Avenue. "I like the drum and...

Hog show has big turnout

DUDLEY -- Quinton Rouse, 6, of Seven Springs had big plans Thursday morning after competing in the 64th annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale. "I am going to buy me a new John Deere tractor," he said. But...

Former arts building might house city offices

Following Goldsboro's master planning process for its prospective Air Force museum the city might look to house existing departments in the proposed facility during the interim. Members of Parks and Recreation's administration toured the building at 2406 E. Ash...

Distemper closes animal shelter temporarily

An outbreak of canine distemper, a fatal and highly contagious viral disease, is forcing the closure of the Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center for the next several weeks. The center's staff has traced the outbreak to eight puppies...

Deputy assaulted, hurt making arrest

A Wayne County Sheriff's Deputy was treated at Wayne Memorial Hospital Thursday night after he was assaulted while attempting to make an arrest of a Seven Springs man. Deputy Dan Truhan was treated and released from the hospital last...

Public record

Alleged attempted theft at WalMart Nicky Dexter, 26, of 109 Cambridge Place in Smithfield, was arrested by Goldsboro police after allegedly attempting to steal 39 DVDs from the Spence Avenue WalMart on Wednesday. A loss prevention officer reported witnessing Ms....

Benefit dinner to be held for Durwood Evans

A fundraising chicken pastry dinner to help Durwood Evans Jr. and his family with medical bills will be held Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Oakland Community Church, 921 Oakland Church Road, Princeton. Tickets are $7 for...

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Volunteers honored with state awards

Six Wayne County residents Wednesday morning were presented North Carolina Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Services in recognition of their work in the community. Honored were: Nettie Twiggs and Sheila Gardner of Goldsboro and Dorothy Gail Sutton of Dudley, senior citizens...

State safety awards given

N.C. Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry was in Wayne County Wednesday, recognizing local public and private sector industries for workplace safety. Thanking the business leaders attending the luncheon at Lane Tree Golf Club for their efforts, she noted that during...

Police chief search narrowed to four

Goldsboro officials have narrowed the search for a new police chief to four candidates. The short-list of candidates includes Maj. Jeff Stewart, who has served as the department's interim chief since the retirement of Tim Bell more than year...

Livestock show continues today

DUDLEY -- Maddy Sutton, 6, and her 5-year-old cousin, Ricky Lupper, both of Mount Olive, hardly glanced up from their determined efforts to open stubborn candy wrappers Wednesday night as a goat shot past them headed for the door...

Public record

Woman assaulted in parking lot Goldsboro police are investigating an attempted armed robbery and assault that occurred about 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Hardee's parking lot at 220 E. Ash St. The report was filed by Allison Boone, who told...

Hospital recognizes its 2011 volunteers

Volunteers are exceptional people with extraordinary hearts. The national theme for volunteerism seemed appropriate for those serving throughout the year at Wayne Memorial Hospital, said Donna Archer, director of volunteer services there. The department applauded the contributions made by volunteers...

Murphy's Place robbed

Goldsboro police are investigating the report of an armed robbery of a downtown bar and restaurant that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning. An unidentified man wearing a blue bandanna and hoodie was in Murphy's Place,...

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Livestock show tonight, Thursday

Doodle Edwards guides a hog to its pen during the weigh-in for the 64th annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show and Sale at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Close to 100 animals will be on display today and Thursday. Shows...

NAACP candidate forum held

Thirteen people seeking public office spoke at a candidate forum Tuesday sponsored by the local branch of the NAACP. The event was held at Rebuilding Broken Places. The tone at the forum was relatively subdued as candidates all agreed...

Municipal officials talk about concerns

Between mouthfuls of barbecue and banana pudding Monday evening, the state of the county's municipalities was shared as elected officials and staff of the county and its municipalities came together at Wilber's Barbecue for a county-sponsored intergovernmental meeting. County...

Partnership has no problem filling extra pre-K slots

The additional N.C. pre-K slots opened up by the state last month have been a welcome reprieve for Partnership for Children of Wayne County, but officials aren't counting on that continuing next year. In early March, the state notified...

EWHS grad to compete in national cheering contest

Chance Carter is unmistakably passionate about cheerleading. "Some people listen to songs in the car, I listen to cheerleading songs," he said. "I cheer in the morning when I'm getting ready. I pretty much eat, sleep and breathe cheerleading, and...

Auditions for children's choir to be Friday

Children ages 6 to 17 interested in participating in a community choir are invited to audition Friday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Harris Street. The choir, first organized in 2010, is sponsored...

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Rep. Butterfield touts job programs

One message was clear to U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield during his town hall meeting at the Wayne County JobLink Career Center on Monday morning: The federally funded programs that help the unemployed to better themselves are needed and appreciated...

Easter egg epic

Zariah Carroll, 3, enjoys the Epicurean Civic Club's annual Easter egg hunt Monday at Mina Weil Park. The club has held its annual hunt on Easter Monday for more than 30 years....

Kayaking for Relay for Life

A group of kayaking enthusiasts, paddling 225 miles in nine days on the Neuse River and other waterways to raise money for the fight against cancer, made a stop in Goldsboro on Tuesday. Led by cancer survivor Kim Tart...

County, municipal leaders confer

The scene at Wilber's Barbecue Monday evening, with a little imagination, was reminiscent of a long overdue family reunion. Half a dozen tables were lined end to end all covered in barbecue and sides as public officials from across...

4th Wing planning day of sorties

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's 4th Fighter Wing will pay homage to World War II history at 11 a.m. Monday, launching 70 F-15E Strike Eagles in a training mission to destroy more than 1,000 targets on bombing ranges across the...

Public record

Deputies investigate Dudley break-ins *Gary Jackson reported the theft of more than $7,000 of property from his shop, located in the 500 block of Old Mount Olive Highway in Dudley, that occurred between March 1 and March 2 to the...

Power UP for teens Friday and Saturday

Have you or someone you know been affected by cyberbullying, bullying or teen suicide? This Friday at 6:30 p.m., a group of concerned citizens and local professionals will gather to talk about how they can help stop these problems that...

Monday, April 9, 2012

Driver, 37, dies in one-car accident

A 37-year-old Mount Olive man died when the car he was driving skidded off the road and into a tree in northern Duplin County early Sunday morning. Robert Clay Walker was driving along Beautancus Road about seven miles southeast...

Making a new choice for a successful future

Kendra Watkins can see her future clearly today when she sits in class at Wayne Community College, but she remembers a time when she had no plan and was just living her life one day at a time. She...

Pre-K programs help children get ready for first day of school

The first 2,000 days of a child's life are vital, educators say. That's the estimated number of days between the birth of a child and when he shows up for the first day of kindergarten. "We must do everything we...

Public record

Goldsboro police investigated these reports: *Lillie Lofton, 57, of South John Street, told police $2,300 worth of jewelry was taken from her residence. *Jamaine Mills, 38, of Olivia Lane, said he went to pick up some of his belongings from...

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Walstonburg to hold its 4th 'Proud to be an American Day'

WALSTONBURG -- Walstonburg will hold its 4th annual Proud to be an American Day on Saturday, April 21 to honor veterans, especially those who gave their lives for freedom. Guest speakers will be from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and...

Sunrise of faith: Annual service at Wayne Memorial Park

Ask anyone who has ever been to a sunrise service on Easter morning their impressions and you will likely hear descriptions of cool, crisp and dark dawns that give way to bursts of warmth as the sun peeks through and...

4th Fighter Wing change of command scheduled for June

If everything goes according to plan, the 4th Fighter Wing will add a page to its storied history in less than two months, as Col. Patrick Doherty is expected to officially relinquish command to the first woman to ever hold...

Run, speech to target teen mental health

A Wayne County mother of a suicide victim and her sister are leading an effort to not only get parents, teachers and teens to talk about suicide and cyberbullying, but also offering a chance for the community to get involved...

Pickers ready for Pig in the Park

The best in barbecue will square off again Saturday at Waynesborough Park during Pig in the Park, the annual competition that benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County. The main event begins at 9 a.m., although cooks...

Walk for Multiple Sclerosis to be held April 21 at Herman Park

The Greater Carolinas chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will sponsor its annual Walk MS event on Saturday, April 21 at Herman Park. The walk, an annual fundraiser for more than 20 years, is an opportunity for the...

Yvette Smith receives award for work in state education

Wayne County native Yvette C. Smith received an award from the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators for her state leadership for North Carolina on March 25-28 in Washington, D.C., at the association's conference. She was selected among her...

Families prepare for annual livestock show and sale

They have names like Thomas, named after Thomas the Train, Conifer, and Greeny Norris, named after a favorite color. And next week these pigs, which belong to the Bryant Worley family of the Princeton community, will be competing for top...

Johnston Arts and Food Festival April 27

The Johnston County Arts Council is preparing for its 3rd annual Arts and Food Festival Gala on Friday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Johnston County Agricultural Auditorium. The fundraiser is expected to generate revenue to assist the arts...

Cause of fire downtown Saturday night not known

The cause of a Saturday evening fire at a vacant warehouse in the downtown district is unknown pending an investigation, but was quickly extinguished with no injuries reported. Sgt. Josh Stine of Goldsboro police said the fire call came...

Safety and health officials investigating complaint at Cherry Hospital

Cherry Hospital is once again under investigation, this time by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration division of the state Department of Labor. However, while officials with both Cherry Hospital and OSHA confirmed there is an open investigation that...

Friday, April 6, 2012

WEMCHS student Key Club governor

As early as elementary and middle school, Josh Wiggins was drawn to leadership roles. "I always loved public speaking, doing presentations and stuff," the 17-year-old junior at Wayne Early/Middle College High School said. He has honed the interest, playing piano...

Officers on lookout for speeders

Law enforcement agencies across the state are conducting a campaign through the Easter weekend to encourage motorists to slow down. Lawmen are increasing their patrol presence on roadways during "No Need 2 Speed," which started earlier this week and...

Hunting for the bunny's treats

Cathleen Woodley puts an Easter egg in her bucket Thursday at the Herman Park Center. She and other children from the Goldsboro area came out to hunt for Easter eggs for the Bunny Eggspress Egg Hunt. There were three...

County eyeing grant, loans

Public hearings on possible application for a Community Development Block Grant and on plans to refinance up to $9.6 million in loans were scheduled Tuesday morning by Wayne County commissioners. Both hearings will be held April 17 at 9:15 a.m....

Schools worried about funding

School officials and the Wayne County Board of Education took the first step Thursday toward formulating a local expense and capital outlay budget for 2012-13 in the midst of a precarious climate that includes possible reversions from the state and...

Public record

Thefts *Phillip Kastner reported the larceny of four copper down spouts, valued at $500, from his home in the 1100 block of Pine Street, which occurred between March 24 and Wednesday. The down spouts were cut from the home before...

Blue Revue Pageant Saturday

The Zeta Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority will hold its Miss Blue Revue Pageant at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre. The Miss Blue Revue Pageant is a scholarship and comprehensive educational program that focuses...

Aircraft memorabilia on display

Murray's Barbecue and Seafood, located at 413 E. New Hope Road, will sponsor a display of aircraft memorabilia, including photos and news articles, that features Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Wing from World War II to present day on...

AgCarolina scholarships available

AgCarolina Financial will award more than $25,000 in scholarships to students who will attend or who are currently enrolled in a North Carolina college or university. The cooperative has 27 scholarships that are available to the children or grandchildren of...

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Strawberry time

Landon Labiche, 4, left, shares a bucket of freshly picked strawberries with James Odom, 3, Wednesday afternoon at Odom Farming Co. on Claridge Nursery Road. The warm winter and spring have pushed crops several weeks ahead of schedule, and...

Lawmen offer tips on watch programs

In the wake of the shooting involving a Florida neighborhood watch volunteer and a teenager, a public dialogue has begun over what is the proper behavior for those who sign up to watch over their communities. Officials with the...

Fremont will automate its recycling pickup

FREMONT -- There won't be garbage collectors hanging off the backs of trucks in Fremont anymore. Officials are implementing a change this month in how recycling items are picked up from homes, which they say will allow the public works...

Group backs amendment vote

Nearly 100 supporters of the Defense of Marriage constitutional amendment jammed the Wayne County commissioners' meeting room Tuesday morning, spilling out into the hallway. Seven people spoke in favor of the amendment that is on the May 8 state ballot,...

Public record

Man shot in city Goldsboro police are investigating the shooting of a man that took place about 12:10 p.m. Tuesday. Ormond Cobb reported he was shot while walking in the 1100 block of Olivia Lane by an unknown man who...

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Sheriff: It's time to fix jail

A visibly upset Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders Tuesday placed the onus squarely on county commissioners for any fallout resulting from their continued delay to make repairs to the county jail. "I am going to tell you what, we...

Council candidate gets approval to run

A candidate for the Goldsboro City Council whose right to run had been challenged was cleared by the Wayne County Board of Elections on Tuesday. Kyle Pritchard will be able to go forward with his campaign for the District...

District OKs new calendar

The Board of Education approved school calendars for 2012-13 Monday night, in compliance with recent state legislation requiring districts to develop a 185-day calendar. Members would have preferred, though, for the state to say the school year could start earlier....

Public record

Copper ripped from home Kevin Korth reported to Goldsboro police the larceny of copper downspouts from his home in the 300 block of South Pineview Avenue that occurred between March 27 and April 2. The two downspouts, which were...

For the children

Mayor Al King has proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. WAGES and the Wayne County For Children Council organized the event at which Green gave the keynote speech on the steps to City Hall. More than 129,000 children...

Fifty years of flight

B.E. Dean, left, shakes hands with Harold Berk Tuesday evening at the Wayne County Executive Jetport. Berk and other members of the Goldsboro-Wayne Aviation Association gathered to present Dean with the organization's Lifetime Aviation Award -- an honor that commemorates...

Etheridge brings his bid for governer to Wilber's

A former U.S. congressman was in town Tuesday afternoon as part of his bid to be the Democratic nominee in the state's gubernatorial election this fall. Rep. Bob Etheridge, who represented North Carolina's second congressional district before losing his...

Council defers North Berkeley rezoning decision

It look less than a quarter of an hour for the Goldsboro City Council to address the city's business Monday night as Mayor Al King adjourned the meeting at just past 7:10 p.m. after making quick work of the...

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Pikeville seeks help with move

PIKEVILLE -- Expediting the move of the Pikeville Town Hall to its previous location was one of the issues discussed by the town board Monday night. Mayor Johnny Weaver and Town Administrator Kathie Fields are taking steps to acquire a...

Security Forces personnel return from Afghanistan

There were no children waving American flags -- no community leaders waiting with hands extended. For more than a dozen members of the 4th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron, theirs was a more modest homecoming than those that have unfolded...

New class rules: Video learning

BEULAVILLE -- It's Wednesday night, and Tiavonni Wooten is home watching YouTube. The East Duplin sophomore is not looking for just any video. She is is watching her biology teacher's lecture on allele frequencies and evolution. She takes notes, rewinding...

Officials to weigh incentive package

Wayne County commissioners this morning decided to take up an item that might soon be good news for the local economy. During the board's work session, members voted to add consideration of a public hearing for an economic development incentive...

City OKs $163,500 for planner

Work on the city's Air Force museum master plan should begin soon after the Goldsboro City Council approved a contract with a Boston-based museum consultation group at Monday's meeting. The council's approval entered the city into a $163,500 contract with...

Board approves four academies for local schools

The Board of Education Monday night agreed to continue supporting vocational academies at three high schools and to add a new transportation academy on the Wayne Community College campus in the fall. The memorandum of agreement between Wayne County Public...

21-year-old dies after 1-car crash

A 21-year-old Goldsboro man died in a single-car accident late Saturday night on South Beston Road. Santos Vazquez, of Peachtree Drive, was killed after his 1998 Nissan SUV ran off the roadway about 10:28 p.m., First Sgt. Jerry Burton of...

Monday, April 2, 2012

Tri-County announces fundraiser

DUDLEY -- Tri-County Electric Membership Corp. is offering residents of Wayne and surrounding counties the opportunity to "Sport A Shirt and Share A Night" with families of the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern North Carolina. The "Sport A Shirt,...

Delay in bid rigging cases

Sentencing has been rescheduled again for two of the four people who have pleaded guilty in a bid-rigging scheme involving Wayne County Public Schools. Meanwhile, sentencing for the two school employees who entered pleas in the case is scheduled...

Man, 43, charged in teen sex case

A 43-year-old Goldsboro man is in the Wayne County Jail this morning after being charged with sexually assaulting a girl 30 years his junior. Wen Bao Zou, of 511 Boxwood Lane, Apt. E, was charged Friday by investigators with...

Coram seeks Register of Deeds Office

Democrat Constance Coram is trying for the second time to unseat incumbent Lois Mooring in the race for Wayne County Register of Deeds. Beaten 2-to-1 four years ago, Mrs. Coram said she learned much from her first venture into politics...

A new crop: Farm family introduces rapeseed to Wayne County

MOUNT OLIVE -- With 65 years of experience in working the soil, Dexter Jackson, 80, doesn't mind being called an old-school farmer. But when he read a magazine article about an unusual crop, with an even more unusual name, he...

Red Cross Bloodmobile

Following is the April blood drive schedule for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross: April 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Tri-County Electric. April 5 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Carver Elementary School. April...

90 years old, and he is still bowling strong

For bowler Charles Jacobi of Goldsboro, there aren't as many strikes as there used to be. The ball gets heavier quicker, and he admits to having a little less control over its movement. But give him a break. After...

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Ag secretary talks farm bill, gas

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, speaking to North Carolina media Friday, said he's encouraged by the fact that the U.S. Senate has already begun hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill, and that he hopes it will be passed this...

Look what the bunny left

Chylie Crayton, 4, looks at her haul of Easter eggs during the Goldsboro Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning at the Goldsboro Family YMCA. The Goldsboro Jaycees had to move their first-ever Easter egg hunt indoors due to...

County students picked for Governor's School

Two Wayne County students have been chosen to attend Governor's School this summer. The fact that there is a 2012 session is even more impressive because the program's future was in question after funding was eliminated in the General...

United Church Ministries annual Walk for Hunger held

United Church Ministries held its 29th Walk For Hunger on Sunday, March 25. Sixteen churches participated, with 153 people joining in the walk. There were a variety of walkers and runners -- children, teenagers, young adults, seniors, even mothers with...

$163,500 museum contract on agenda

The Goldsboro City Council will get its first look at what it will take to make its Air Force museum concept a reality Monday as an item approving a $163,500 contract with a museum consulting firm is on the...

Red Cross, YMCA will raise funds with racquets

Racquetball players from all over North Carolina will compete against each other while raising funds for two local organizations. The Racquet Up For The Red tournament will be April 20-22 at the Family Y. The Y and the Wayne County...

Timeshare scams are on the rise

The Eastern North Carolina Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that timeshare scams are on the rise. A consumer receives an e-mail or mailer offering a free trip, and all he or she has to do is sit through a...

Spring festival to be held in Newton Grove

NEWTON GROVE -- A Spring Mega-Fair will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton Grove on Sunday, April 15. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. The church is located at...

Swimmers earn medals

RALEIGH -- The Wayne County Special Olympics Swim Team brought home 12 first-place ribbons and three second-place, one third-place and one fourth-place ribbons from the 17th annual Multi-State Invitational Swim Meet held at the Pullen Park Aquatic Center. The Wayne...

County, city will observe holiday Friday

Local and state offices will be closed Friday, April 6, in observance of the Good Friday holiday. Federal offices, banks and the post office will not be closed. All Wayne County offices will be closed that day, and the...

Public record

Shooting at service station Goldsboro police are investigating the shooting of a gas pump that took place at Donnel's Express Mart, located at 518 E. Elm St., about 9:45 p.m. Thursday. Employee Saleh Hanshali reported that he heard about...

Musical to benefit Howell Center

RJH Production will present "Let The Good Times Roll!" a fundraising song-and-dance production, on Saturday, April 14, at Wayne Community College. Tickets are $15 and all proceeds will benefit the RHA Howell Inc., Walnut Creek Center for children and adults...

Grantham Grange plans awards event

GRANTHAM -- The Grantham Grange will celebrate Grange Month on April 23 when it hosts its first Community Service Awards program at 6:30 p.m. at Selah Christian Church. The following awards will be presented: Church of the Year; Educator...

Daffodils still rule

FREMONT -- To its organizers, the 2012 Daffodil Festival in downtown Fremont could be considered a soggy success as thousands crowded the town's main street, gathering beneath awnings in between dancing, shopping and eating. But for two teenagers holed...