January 2015 archives

View Archive

Friday, January 30, 2015

Illness forces school to cancel day's classes

Classes in the Lower School at Wayne Country Day School were canceled today after a 24-hour stomach bug made its way through the student roster. "It comes on quickly and it goes quickly, but we can't afford for kids...

Law allows schools to sue over funding

Any effort to repeal the state law allowing boards of education to sue a county over school funding is not expected to generate much momentum in the General Assembly this session, state Rep. Jimmy Dixon said. "Repealing that is...

Magical courage - 2015 Relay for Life kickoff

Anna Beth Sanderson's necklaces hang below her waist when she puts them on. The colorful, mismatched beads on the strands tell a story. Each is a battle and a triumph. On Thursday night at the Relay for Life 2015...

Photography show at UMO gallery

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive will host the photography exhibit, "Running from Bogeys and Chasing Birdies," in the Teresa Pelt Grubbs Art Gallery during the month of February. The show will display photographs by Jackie Kirby,...

Suspect being sought in residential break-in

One man is in custody and another on the loose as the Goldsboro Police Department investigates a residential break-in that took place Wednesday on West Lockhaven Drive. The break-in took place between 8:45 a.m. and 11:35 p.m., Sgt. Jeremy...

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Heroin dealer gets time in prison

A self-confessed gang leader, who in a seven-year span supplied the streets of Goldsboro and Wayne County with more than 33 kilograms of heroin, will spend more than twice that amount of time in federal prison, the N.C. Department...

The last garbage men

First thing--the job is smelly. It is also exhausting, usually hot and difficult, even worse in the summer when the air is thick and breezes are non-existent. The dust that flies into your mouth out of the back of...

Middle school assistant principal injured by student

A fight between two students at a Wayne County middle school before classes began this morning resulted in assistant principal Jamel Jones and a Goldsboro police officer being assaulted. The incident, involving two fifth-grade students, reportedly took place in the...

Local family moves into Habitat home

Nereida Cruz is finally home. It's been a long journey for the mother of six. Her eyes filled with tears as she listened to her sister and members of the community welcome her to her new house at the...

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

School will expand

A charter school that opened its doors in the fall is preparing for its second year, with plans to add fifth grade and to hire additional staff. Wayne Preparatory Academy, located at the corner of Patetown and Tommy's Road, is...

District finances receive a clean review

The Wayne County Board of Education received a clean audit report for the past year on Tuesday at a work session called to better inform the full board about goings on in the district. The board also heard presentations...

Board addresses head lice problem

Members of the Wayne County Board of Education raised questions Tuesday about how the district handles cases of head lice, with officials responding that efforts are being made to better educate parents and provide information. As a called work...

State funds for ag center limited

Wayne County's local legislators on Monday offered little encouragement that they would be able to steer a funding bill for the county's proposed regional agriculture center through a cash-strapped legislature. A request of $10 million or $15 million would...

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

County commissioners share wants with legislators

Future school construction in Wayne County will grind to a halt if the state fails to restore lottery funding that has been raided for use in other areas, Wayne County commissioners said. And restoring lottery funding for school construction is...

Woman says car stolen; charged with DWI, crash

A Goldsboro woman who crashed her car in an apparent DWI tried to cover her tracks by reporting her car stolen, a Goldsboro police report said. Lacy Tyler Barnett, 22, 120 Highwoods Drive, is charged with DWI, reckless driving...

Grantham School dealing with lice

Head lice. The words send shivers up and down the spines of parents everywhere. But officials say they are not dangerous, only pesky, although the infestation should nevertheless be treated quickly. At Grantham School over the past week, 10...

Officials reporting rash of break-ins of vehicles

More than four dozen vehicle break-ins have occurred in Wayne County since the start of the year, Wayne County Sheriff's Office officials said Monday. The uptick in break-ins, one official said, actually began before the 2014 holiday season. It...

Monday, January 26, 2015

WCC to sponsor Praxis Film Festival

The fifth annual Praxis Film Festival, begun at Wayne Community College and since adding another venue at the Paramount Theatre, will feature 41 short and full-length films from around the world. This year's event will take place Friday and...

Land bought for school

Wayne County will spend $145,250 to purchase slightly more than eight additional acres of land to be used as a septic system drain (leach) field for the new Grantham Middle School. Wayne County commissioners Tuesday balked at paying $17,500 per...

Gang-tervention

Criminal gangs operating in Wayne County will soon have more to worry about than rival gangs, enemy graffiti or drive-by shootings on their home turf. The biggest threat to the criminal enterprises will be a locally based FBI task...

Man robbed near ATM on Saturday

A Snow Hill man could not provide a description of the two men he said threw him to the ground and robbed him as he completed at transaction at an ATM in Goldsboro, Saturday. The robbery took place at...

Internet business robbed in city

At least four people were present when two armed men burst into an Internet sweepstakes establishment Saturday and robbed the business. The robbery took place at the Longhorn's Business Center at 1716 U.S. Highway 117 S., at 8:20 p.m....

Sunday, January 25, 2015

YMCA Father Daughter Dance to be held Feb. 7

kballard@newsargus.com Alando Mitchell loves to dance with his daughters. He gathers the three of them up and they sway and glide at the same time. The quartet will show off their skills at the Goldsboro Family YMCA's Father-Daughter Dance Feb....

Wayne County Reads kicks off this week

As part of the annual Wayne County Reads program, Wayne Community College will sponsor a talk this week on the state of the world's food supply. Dr. John M. O'Sullivan will speak on "Food Issues Present and Future" at...

Miss Goldsboro crowned

An enthusiastic crowd of more than 350 citizens of Wayne County and surrounding areas were on hand Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre in Goldsboro to witness the crowning of Miss Goldsboro 2015, Victoria Baskett. Moments after receiving her crown,...

Help sought in finding missing LaGrange teen

The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to help locate a missing teenager from the LaGrange area. On Nov. 20, Mikayla Alvarado boarded the school bus to her high school and arrived at school, but left the school...

Golden LEAF scholarships available

The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program will award up to 215 grants, each valued at of $12,000 ($3,000 per year for up to four years) for the 2015-16 academic year. These scholarships are made possible through a grant from the...

Gianna-Lorenn is 5-year-old star

kballard@newsargus.com Tami Singleton did not realize there was anything different about her daughter Gianna-Lorenn. She is typical 5-year-old. She rides her bike, plays in her child-sized kitchen and uses her dad as a human jungle-gym. But when she sang along...

Food, fellowship and field trials at Albertson Fox Hunt

sherring@newsargus.com ALBERTSON -- It has been nearly 70 years since a small group of people first got together in this rural Duplin County community to hold a fox hunt and meal to celebrate the George Washington's birthday. Dog trials replaced...

Civil War spy Greenhow portrayed

The Goldsboro Rifles camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will present Kelly Atkins Hinson portraying Civil War spy Rose O'Neal Greenhow at the Wayne County Museum on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. The legendary Greenhow, known as "Wild...

Automated garbage trucks on their way

esmith@newsargus.com Fullu automated garbage trucks are on their way-- and ahead of schedule, the city public works director told members of Goldsboro City Council this week. Jose Martinez said the trucks, called "one-arm bandits," will replace three older trucks --...

Art of Fashion show Feb. 27

The Arts Council of Wayne County is hosting its first Art of Fashion show. The show will be featuring local designers, boutiques, jewelers, photographers, stylists and models. Many garments and accessories featured are handmade by local artists. This event is...

Non-emergency 911 calls a concern

sherring@newsargus.com It would be impossible to eliminate all non-emergency calls that tie up Wayne County's 911 system, county commissioners learned this past week. Commissioners ordered a study of the emergency communication system, and the consulting firm tasked with the job...

Friday, January 23, 2015

Two hunters rescued after boat capsizes

Search and rescue teams were called in early this morning after a boat capsized in the Neuse River off Ferry Bridge Road, throwing two duck hunters into the water. The men were able to swim to safety but were...

Contestants will compete for crown

Miss Goldsboro 2015 will be crowned Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre. Seven contestants will vie for the title, with three others competing in the Outstanding Teen category. Tickets for the pageant, which starts at 7 p.m., are currently...

Chamber of Commerce stuns 2015 Cornerstone Award recipient Emily Weil

Emily Weil's first thought when she saw the photograph of herself projected onto the large screen at the Walnut Creek Country Club was where in the world had someone been able to find it. "It was total amazement," she...

Council tables plan for complex

Just as quickly as plans for an affordable housing complex in downtown Goldsboro were proposed to city leaders, the plans have been canceled -- at least for now. After an outcry of mixed responses to the project rattled through...

shoe designer dies

Shoe designer Vince Camuto, Nine West co-founder, dies at 78 Eds: Raises reference to Camuto being Nine West Group co-founder. Adds details to headlines. Legendary women's footwear designer Vince Camuto, who co-founded shoe company Nine West Group, has died...

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Pikeville starts search for new chief

PIKEVILLE -- Town commissioners will be interviewing five candidates to fill the vacant police chief position Friday. The board will meet in a closed session to speak with each of the five potential hires. Mayor Glenn Hartman said he...

Tractor-trailer tumbles

Traffic toward U.S. 117 was rerouted from A Street to North George Street for more than an hour Wednesday afternoon after a tractor-trailer overturned at the corner of A Street and Florida Street. Goldsboro police Sgt. Doug Bethea said...

WCC takes over site

The lights and water are already on, and work will begin next week on the first phase of a Wayne Community College project that will turn the former Cooper Bussmann building into the college's Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence....

Goldsboro pilot crashes plane in Grantham field

GRANTHAM -- A Goldsboro pilot escaped injury Wednesday afternoon around 5:30 p.m. when a mechanical problem forced him to attempt an emergency landing of his one-seat ultra-light aircraft in a field near Grantham. The aircraft, piloted by Ronnie Allen,...

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

County tables funding vote

Wayne County commissioners were quick to say Tuesday that they support the Special Olympics. But they refused a request to provide financial support for the organization, at least for the time being. Instead, they said, the organization and the...

Council votes to repair sewer system

Goldsboro will begin implementing a rehabilitation plan to repair trouble spots in its sanitary sewer lines throughout the city after City Council approved the project Tuesday night. Instead of entering into an agreement with the engineering firm of McKim...

WCC Small Business Center marks 30th anniversary

For 30 years, the Small Business Center at Wayne Community College has been providing support and assistance to start-ups and fledgling entrepreneurs, with the director crediting its longevity to partnerships between the college and community as well as economic...

Suspect caught in traffic stop

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team stopped a Wilson man traveling through the county Sunday and found marijuana in the vehicle, according to a press release. Joshua Michael Jordell Nelson, 30, of 3716 Lear Court NW...

Fremont in good financial shape

FREMONT -- The Fremont Board of Aldermen Tuesday night received a clean bill of health regarding the town's financial statements from 2014. Andrew Harris, auditor for the town of Fremont for the previous six years, said the books were...

Crime of the week

On Nov. 21, 2014, and Dec. 5, 2014, occupied residences located in the 100 Block of East Smith Street in Pikeville were intentionally set on fire. Both fires resulted the structure sustained minimal damage. The Pikeville Police Department and the...

Arts Council makes push to raise funds

The Arts Council of Wayne County is halfway to its goal of $45,000 for its annual fund drive, which ends June 30. Director Sarah Merritt said the nonprofit has an annual operating budget of $290,000, and the fund drive...

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Forum engages officers, community

Speaking to a gathering of mostly middle-aged and older black residents at Rebuilding Broken Places Saturday, Goldsboro police Chief Jeff Stewart said if the community wants to talk about race relations, the wrong people were in the room. It...

After-school meal

It all started with a phone call and a question. But sometimes that's all it takes to make a difference. Jo Heidenreich, development director at Boys & Girls Club of Wayne County, is used to people asking about the...

Traffic stop leads to arrest for marijuana

A traffic stop led Wayne County Sheriff's Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Team deputies to search a house on Frankie's Lane in Goldsboro Friday. Marijuana and cash were seized during the search. Kameron Dawson Howard, 20, 116 Frankie's Lane,...

City, county high in crashes

Goldsboro and Wayne County rank high on a report of traffic accidents in municipalities and counties across the state. Goldsboro was rated by the Governor's Highway Safety Commission as the city with the fifth highest number of traffic accidents....

Thoroughfare VFD receives grant from Georgia-Pacific Co.

The Thoroughfare Volunteer Fire Department is among 50 grant recipients of Georgia-Pacific's Bucket Brigade program this year. The department was awarded $5,000 to help fund equipment needs. "We're proud to have the opportunity to meet the significant needs of...

Superintendents create guide for school goals

School superintendents across the state, including Wayne County Public Schools' interim, Dr. Sandra McCullen, "made history" recently by creating a guide to enhance K-12 education in North Carolina. At a Jan. 13 gathering at the Raleigh Convention Center, Mrs....

Judge's wife's car broken into at event

An Apple iPad stolen from a vehicle parked outside the Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly Hall at 211 W. Hooks River Road Monday morning during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration has the owner's name engraved under the...

Monday, January 19, 2015

Church hit by gunfire on Sunday

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating a shooting on Bryant Street Sunday that damaged a nearby church. Members of The Potter's House, 728 Bryant St., were inside the church counting money at 12:40 p.m. Sunday when bullets came flying...

Flowers: District lines need close look

Instead of building a new middle school in the northwestern part of the county, the Wayne County Board of Education should look first at "tweaking" district lines to address capacity concerns, board member Arnold Flowers said. "This is my...

The dream lives on

For the Rev. Dr. Carolyn McKinstry, every aspect of her life was segregated growing up in Birmingham, Ala. Her grandmother was brought to Birmingham by her grandfather because she was sick -- but the hospital denied her entry because she...

Teen robs city man in his front yard

A Goldsboro man investigating a noise outside his home at 8:15 p.m. Sunday ended up being robbed for all the money in his pocket, according to a Goldsboro police report. Harold Edward Massengill, 49, of Edgerton Street, had seen...

County weighs Special Olympics support

County Manager George Wood is recommending that Wayne County commissioners deny a request by the city of Goldsboro to jointly fund a full-time events coordinator position for the city. The coordinator would work with the Special Olympics and the...

Annual science fair produces 30 winners, 12 regional competitors

The annual science fair for Wayne County Public School produced 30 winners in 13 categories, with 12 first-place finishers now advancing to the regional competition next month. The local event, held Saturday at Goldsboro High School, had representatives from...

Students from Wisconsin help with Faith Build site for Habitat

The cold snap does not faze Tracy Flood. She wears a light jacket to ward off the wind, talking with her friends about going to the beach during the week. Tracy is a sophomore at Marquette University. Compared to...

Saturday, January 17, 2015

GPD officers worried about safety, leadership

Some Goldsboro police officers are worried. They don't just read about the increasing number of reports of violence in their community. They are there on the front lines. They say they are concerned about their community -- and about their...

WCPS bus grades improve

The most recent inspection scores of the Wayne County Public Schools' bus fleet shows a reversal of what had been three years of declines. However, the county "still has a lot of work to do," transportation director Robert Lee...

Police chief, city manager respond to critics

Goldsboro City Manager Scott Stevens said Thursday his support of police Chief Jeff Stewart is absolute. Stewart, in turn, said he feels that the Goldsboro Police Department operations are running smoothly and that, in spite of the recent surge in...

Special Olympics in limbo due to dispute over funding

Wayne County's Special Olympics athletes are in trouble. They are without an events coordinator and, therefore, without a leader. The events coordinator would be in charge of the Wayne County Special Olympics, which ceased to exist in its current...

Skate park coming to Goldsboro

It was an uncommon duo with an uncommon method of accomplishing their goal. Two 14-year-old boys wanted a skate park -- so they stood in front of the Goldsboro City Council in December and laid out the pros, cons,...

MLK Jr. breakfast will feature Civil Rights activist

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day prayer breakfast will feature a woman who has seen, first hand, the impact of the Civil Rights movement. Rev. Dr. Carolyn Maull McKinstry, who was present during the 16th Street Baptist Church...

Offices closed for holiday

Most local government offices will be closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. And state and federal offices, post offices and banks will be closed, too. All Wayne County offices will be closed, including the...

Friday, January 16, 2015

Police investigate hotel shooting

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating the shooting of a man inside a room at the Economy Inn early this morning. Victor Devon Braswell, age and address unknown, was wounded when a single shot was fired during an altercation...

County records first flu death

State health officials say 26 people died from the flu in North Carolina last week, raising the death toll for 2014-2015 to 90. And one of those victims was from Wayne County. Josa Vaughn, who works with communicable disease...

Two arrested on cocaine charges in city

A search warrant executed by the Goldsboro Police Department Support Services Division Thursday resulted in two arrests for the sale of cocaine, according to a press release. The arrest took place at 1209 Greenleaf St. in Goldsboro. Rueben Knowles...

Officials, NAACP discuss concerns

Tempers flared Thursday during a meeting between city officials and members of the local chapter of the NAACP -- as some local residents expressed concern about everything from the lack of minorities in the Goldsboro Police Department to the way...

Schools seeking calendar changes

Changes to a law designed to benefit North Carolina's tourism industry are hindering the education of the state's children, Wayne County Board of Education members said. And Monday night, board Chairman Chris West called on the public "to lean...

University of Mount Olive will host Hammered Dulcimer Music Event

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive will host the Hammered Dulcimer Music Event on Sunday, Feb. 8. at 6 p.m. in the Historic Assembly Hall, 207 Wooten St. The event will consist of a community worship service,...

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Pikeville commissioner resigns his spot on board

PIKEVILLE -- Town commissioner Todd Anderson resigned his position on the board Tuesday. Town administrator Michael Hunt said Anderson came into the Town Hall and returned his paycheck and ordinance book and then verbally removed himself from the board....

Meth lab found in local hotel room

The Wayne County Drug Squad said a meth lab it took down inside a Goldsboro motel Wednesday posed a real threat to the area, not necessarily because of the meth the suspects were manufacturing, but because of all the chemicals...

Sheriff: Citizens' tips lead to heroin arrest

A traffic stop conducted Monday resulted in 46 bindles of heroin being taken off the street, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. A bindle is a single dose of heroin. Ivan Elijah Darden, 27, 108 Brookwood Drive, is charged with...

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Schools to open on time

New middle schools under construction in the Grantham and Spring Creek communities will open on time next August despite rain delays that have all but erased early construction gains. Both sites are muddy, particularly Grantham, said Ryan Carter of...

Crews salt; ice skips

State road crews dumped 50 tons of salt on Wayne County's bridges and overpasses overnight and into this morning as the area braced for the possibility of freezing rain. "I think we dodged it," Luther Thompson, Wayne County Department...

Pikeville town board splits on new commissioner

PIKEVILLE -- Town commissioners appointed Jay Hare to serve the remainder of the position held by the late Al Greene, but not without a debate. Greene, 77, died Jan. 9 while he was still serving as a town commissioner....

Another eatery coming

Goldsboro residents will soon have another deli to choose from for lunch or dinner. McAlister's Deli, owned by Southern Deli holdings out of Matthews, will take over the old Schlotzsky's Deli location at 431 N. Berkeley Blvd. It is set...

Application process begins for SJSCSC scholarships

Throughout the year, volunteers have been selling items at Seymour Johnson's Air Force Base's thrift shop to fund the annual Seymour Johnson Spouses' Club Scholarship Committee Scholarship. And this year, the SJSCSC says any United States Air Force dependents...

Wayne County Arts Council to welcome guest to concert

Singer Mavis Poole will be the guest artist at the PNC Presents Wayne County Jazz Showcase Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Arts Council of Wayne County. Ms. Poole was born and raised in Durham to musical parents....

Two men arrested on marijuana charges

The Goldsboro-Wayne County Interagency Drug Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force seized 12 pounds of marijuana and a sawed off shotgun during what it called a "quick action response" to...

Pikeville resident charged with felonies

Pikeville business owner Joseph Wayne Blizzard, also known as "Doodle," has been charged with two felony counts of possession of stolen property, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. Blizzard, 38, of 1273 Nahunta Road in Pikeville, was found...

Crime of the week

On Monday, Jan. 5 at approximately 3:15 a.m. an unknown, white male wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt broke into the Pizza Inn, located at 110 S. Goldsboro St. in Pikeville, and stole a safe containing currency. The Pikeville Police Department...

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Icy mix headed for area

Most of Wayne County saw an inch to an inch and a half of rain late Sunday night and into Monday, causing localized flooding in some spots. But it is what forecasters say is coming next that has many...

School delay Wednesday

Wayne County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delay Wednesday morning due to expected inclement weather. School officials are waiting before making any decision on this afternoon's classes or any further cancellations on Wednesday, said Ken Derksen, the director...

New school contract draws board criticism

The quick turnaround in approving $8 million in contracts for school renovation projects was questioned Monday by one member of the Wayne County Board of Education. And that discussion prompted another to suggest that all financial and facility issues...

Pizza store robbed Monday

A masked man armed with a pistol entered the Papa John's Pizza at 2617 Royall Ave. sometime between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. Monday and left minutes later with an undetermined amount of cash. Sgt. Dale Foster said the suspect...

Firefighters battle blaze, rescue dog

Septimber Clements bolted through fire trucks surrounding 2609 Hill Drive Circle as smoke billowed from her home Monday with one thing on her mind -- where was her dog, Amelia Lorraine. Smoke had heavily damaged the outside of her...

Building collapses

Under heavy rains that fell overnight Sunday and throughout much of the day Monday, a downtown building collapsed on North Center Street. No one was inside the building at 139B N. Center St. when it came crashing down. Nor...

Monday, January 12, 2015

An afternoon of a little music

A smile cracks Hannah Boyd's face when her mom zooms her around the room. Her mom, Erika Boyd, sings along to the goofy song while holding Hannah like an airplane. Hannah motors around the pottery shop during her music...

Man, 54, faces sexual assault charge

A Goldsboro man is being held under a $500,000 bond after his arrest on Friday as the result of a sexual assault investigation that was launched against him in August 2013. James Lee McLaurin, 54, of 811 Argo St.,...

County to revisit four-day work week

MOUNT OLIVE -- The four-day work week that most Wayne County government offices have been operating under since August 2008 is being revisited. Most offices operate on 10-hour shifts Monday through Thursday and are closed on Fridays under the...

Vehicle airborne in fatal collision

Crash investigators with the Goldsboro Police Department believe a medical condition caused a man to lose control of his vehicle on U.S. 70 Bypass West on Sunday, sending him over a bridge and onto the street below. Joe Nathan...

Housing complex planned for city

There might soon be a cheaper place to live in downtown Goldsboro for young professionals and families, developers told Goldsboro City Council at a recent work session. Greg Horn and David Brown, who are proposing an affordable housing complex...

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Plans begin for air show

Wayne County residents -- and tourists -- are in for a roaring good time when jets of all kinds hit Seymour Johnson Air Force Base during this year's Wings Over Wayne air show, which is set for May 16-17....

Brrrr-splash

EDITOR'S NOTE: Reporter Kirsten Ballard did not just cover the 2015 Polar Plunge. She dove right in, too. Emma Padgett was frozen. The 10-year-old stood shivering in her Elsa hat, wrapped in towels. "I can't feel my feet," she said....

Counting homeless in county

Wayne County agencies are leading an effort to get a count of how many homeless people live in the county -- as part of an effort to get more resources to help them. "The Point In Time Count" is...

County to look at nonprofits

MOUNT OLIVE -- Nonprofit organizations can expect a hard sell this year when they face Wayne County commissioners to seek county funding. If the nonprofit requests more than $5,000, its officers can expect to be asked for the organization's...

Police have man's photo in flashing cases at store

Goldsboro police are looking for a man who some female shoppers say exposed himself twice at a local retail store. And now they have a photo of a possible suspect from the store's surveillance camera. Complaints have been filed...

College releases new continuing ed class offerings

Wayne Community College Continuing Education Services will introduce several new courses in the spring semester -- from sewing lingerie and voice training to pet care and bead making. For the first time, "Sewing Lingerie" will be offered for students...

Tax lists deadline looming in county

The tax-listing period is under way through the end of the month. There is a penalty for listing late -- 10 percent of the total amount due. Anyone residing in the county on Jan. 1, whether temporarily or not,...

Snow Hill native honored

A Snow Hill native, Dr. Keith Gray, chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, graduated from the Physician Executive Masters of Business Administration program at the University of...

Retirees On Call will expand efforts to assist local military

Nearly a year since being introduced to link military retirees with an opportunity to support deployed and active duty families, Retirees on Call is gaining momentum and poised to be replicated at other installations around the country. The progress...

A hook and a prayer

Bags overflow with blankets and shawls and laughter echoes down the halls of First Baptist Church. It is more like a sleepover than a crochet group. Five women meet every Monday at 9 a.m. to talk, to craft and...

Library director is new HR chief

Jerilyn Lee, who had been serving as interim director for the Wayne County Human Resources Department, has been hired for the position full time. Her hiring was announced Tuesday morning by Wayne County Manager George Wood. Mrs. Lee, manager...

Hospital entrance closed for renovation

Beginning Monday, Jan. 12, the hospital's main visitor entrance will be closed from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. for renovations. During that time, visitors are asked to enter and exit through the ground floor. Signs will be posted to direct...

Ham radio organization offering licensing class

The Wayne County Amateur Radio Association is offering a technician licensing class at Wayne Community College, beginning on Jan. 13 and continuing through March 17. The class will meet weekly from 6 to 9 p.m. in room 223 in...

Promotion announced by college

It has been announced that Dr. Tracie Sawyer Clark will become executive assistant to Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. She is an instructor in CPCC's Communication and Speech Department and director of STAR: Success...

Father-daughter dance

The Goldsboro Family YMCA's WARM Hearts Mentoring Program is sponsoring its 12th annual Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Y's gymnasium. There will be dancing, food, games, a cake walk, door prizes...

Collins receives designation

John Collins of Collins Wealth Management in Goldsboro has been awarded the estate planning designation of certified estate and trust specialist by the Institute of Business and Finance. This graduate-level designation is conferred upon candidates who complete a more than...

Test scores, grant, program on agenda

The Wayne County Board of Education is expected to vote on a different way of measuring test scores at two alternative schools at its monthly meeting Monday night, and will also hear presentations on the expanding public safety program...

Friday, January 9, 2015

Students take chance to get ahead at WCC

A program allowing students to simultaneously start earning college credits while working toward a high school diploma continues to be a popular option at Wayne Community College, officials say. College and Career Promise, or CCP, has been around for...

County commissioner says tax relief deadlines must hold

Wayne County Commissioner Joe Daughtery recently questioned the need for deadlines for state tax relief programs if the county is not going to hold taxpayers to them. Two programs, the Senior Citizen/Disability Homestead Exclusion and the Disabled Veteran Property...

Frozen

From left, Tehryn Miller, 5, Samiya Woodson, 4, Jamie Reyes-Dawson, 5, and Ariel Lofton, 5, rear, are bundled up against the cold as they get off the bus at WAGES Head Start. The spate of freezing weather that has...

Former director agrees to mediation

Wayne County's former human resources director has agreed to mediation of her grievances with her former employer. But as of Wednesday, Sue Guy said she does not know if the county feels the same way. County Manager George Wood,...

Ammonia stolen; officials suspect meth use

Ten pounds of anhydrous ammonia has been stolen from a fenced-in storage shed at the Airgas National Welders facility located at 109 Hinnant Road. The theft took place between 5 p.m. Jan. 2 and 12 p.m. Jan 6. "They...

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Shelter will open tonight

Due to the bitterly cold weather, the Salvation Army will continue to keep its shelter open through Saturday for anyone needing a warm place to stay. The shelter opened at 6 p.m. Wednesday and closed at 9 a.m. today, said...

Local chef has a knife in the fight in Raleigh

Chelsi Hogue wants to leave her mark on Goldsboro. The executive chef at Ed's Southern Food and Spirits thrives in the pressure and chaos of the kitchen. In the first few months at the location on Center Street, Chelsi...

Death row inmate questions evidence

New evidence could potentially exonerate a man who has been on death row for nearly 10 years after a Wayne County jury convicted him in 2005 of the 2002 kidnapping, rape and murder of 5-year-old Precious Ebony Whitfield. Eric...

Wood: County needs plan for facilities

Wayne County has made progress in its capital facilities needs, such as the jail, but a master facilities plan is still needed to provide a prioritized guide, County Manager George Wood said. "A year ago we didn't know where...

Two face charges in gun thefts

CALYPSO -- Two of the three men responsible for the breaking, entering and theft of 73 guns from Calypso Wholesale in the early morning hours of Sept. 27 have been arrested, authorities say. A third suspect, Cruise Dion Scott,...

Traffic stop leads to drug charges

A Goldsboro man is charged with selling marijuana after a traffic stop conducted by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office Aggressive Crime Enforcement Team Jan. 3. James Christopher Smith, 24, of 302 Sherwood Circle is charged with possession with intent...

Community rallies to help Fulghum family

MOUNT OLIVE -- The community has been "gracious" in its support in advance of Friday night's fundraiser for George Fulghum and his family, said Lynn Williams. Mrs. Williams, one of the event organizers, said now it is important that...

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

More charges filed in shooting

MOUNT OLIVE -- Charges have been filed against the father of a 2-year-old boy who was injured in a Christmas Eve shooting that investigators say was the result of an argument over a drug deal. Charges also have been...

Police seeking shooting suspect

Investigators with the Goldsboro Police Department have positively identified the man they say shot and critically wounded a Goldsboro man outside an East Ash Street convenience store Christmas Eve. Christopher Dre Myatt, 22, of 9224 Old Cascade Drive, Garner,...

Woman opens door to masked gunman

A Goldsboro woman escaped injury when a masked gunman forced his way into her home and robbed her Tuesday evening. The burglary took place at 6 p.m. According to the police report, Ethel Lee, 70, 1502 Day Circle, answered...

Mayo: Move was just dirty politics

Wayne County Commissioner Ray Mayo Tuesday morning said "dirty politics" by fellow commissioners had cost him reappointment to several key committees. Mayo was not reappointed by Chairman Wayne Aycock to either the facilities committee, which he had chaired, or...

Chill is on the horizon

Wayne County residents are being warned to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets from the cold as a combination of an Arctic air mass and blustery winds tonight into Thursday morning will create dangerous wind chills in...

County reads 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle'

This year's selection for "Wayne County Reads" lends itself to heightened awareness and discussions about getting back to basics at the dinner table. "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" is the part memoir, part journalistic investigation book by Barbara Kingsolver, chronicling her...

Red Cross launches 'SleevesUp'

With social media everywhere today, the American Red Cross has decided to tap into this audience by creating its brand new SleevesUp Campaign. "It's a web-based tool to create a virtual blood drive," said Red Cross account manager Miranda...

Greene County Museum opens year with new exhibit of drawings

SNOW HILL -- The Greene County Museum begins 2015 with the exhibit "Drawings by Michael Voors." Voors is a professor in the School of Art and Design at East Carolina University, where he has taught since 1980. The opening...

Forgery attempt results in arrest

A Goldsboro man allegedly attempting to pass a forged check at a local bank got more than he bargained for when tellers noticed the phony signature, according to a Wayne County Sheriff' Office press release. Tyquan Nakeem Coley, 22, is...

Crime of the week

On Nov. 3, the resident of 104 S. Leslie St. in Goldsboro reported to the Goldsboro Police Department that he discovered a break-in had occurred at their residence between the dates of Oct. 31 and Nov. 3. The location was...

Honoring the regulators

Being a bridge game director is sometimes a thankless job -- and sometimes it's almost a scorned position. But someone has to do it or no one could play bridge at the Goldsboro Bridge Club. And that's why the...

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Race and city police

The president of the local chapter of the NAACP challenged the Goldsboro City Council Monday night to deal head-on with alleged problems between police and the black community. Sylvia Barnes said a conversation on race has to be started...

Coalition president Al Greene passes

PIKEVILLE -- Albert "Al" E. Greene, Pikeville town commissioner and president of the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition, died Monday night at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. He was 77. Greene spent his lifetime in the service of his...

Man assaulted in local store's parking lot

A Dudley man robbed as he was coming out of the Walmart at 1002 N. Spence Ave. early Monday said his assailant spoke to him in Spanish. The incident took place at 1:20 a.m. Ramon Mata, 38, told Goldsboro...

Monday, January 5, 2015

Goldsboro native joins pin-up effort for vets

Goldsboro native Jovane M. Henry is many things. She is a former Marine, a journalist, and a 1940s pin-up girl. Jovane comes from a family of service. Her father, Johnny Holland, is a disabled veteran, and she served in...

Science impacted justice for local DA

Jurors watch crime shows like CSI and NCIS. And that colors what they expect to see if they are called to sit on a case -- an answer generated by running evidence through a machine. Former District Attorney Branny...

West: Superintendent job 1

The biggest challenge before the Wayne County Board of Education in the new year is finding the right person to lead the district, says recently elected chairman Chris West. Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Taylor announced his retirement in November, effective...

County commissioners will hold hearing on light district Tuesday

sherring@newsargus.com Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday will hold their second public hearing on turning the street lights back on in one of the de-annexed subdivisions north of Goldsboro. The public hearing for the Buck Run Light District will be held...

Council to discuss an array of issues

The Goldsboro City Council will start 2015 with a full agenda of more than 20 items to discuss tonight. It will also be Chuck Allen's first council meeting as the new mayor pro-tem. There are six items on the...

Saturday, January 3, 2015

N.C. Umpire Association president charged with stealing checks

The president of the N.C. Umpire Association has been charged with stealing checks and depositing them in the association's bank account, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Robert Morris Smith, 51, of 159 Ditch Bank Road, has been...

Man stabbed during robbery

A fight at a residence on Peachtree Street led to a stabbing Friday which resulted in both the victim and the suspect being transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital. Witnesses said the attack was part of a robbery attempt, but...

Gang conference to be held Monday

MOUNT OLIVE -- The ninth annual Eastern North Carolina Gang Conference will be held Monday at the University of Mount Olive. The training begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m. and will be held in the Southern...

Local judge tapped to lead N.C. Innocence Commission

When a Wayne County man was vindicated in 2008 after spending nearly two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit, the local community was forever bonded to the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. But Dwayne Dail...

Vickory looks back, ahead

Cowboy? Garbage truck driver? Both are unrealized dreams for a youthful Branny Vickory of Mount Olive. He spent 16 years as the county's top prosecutor instead. Vickory, 58, served as an assistant district attorney from 1984 until 1998 before...

N.C. Umpire Association president charged with stealing checks

The president of the N.C. Umpire Association has been charged with stealing checks and depositing them in the association's bank account, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Robert Morris Smith, 51, of 159 Ditch Bank Road, has been...

Man stabbed during robbery

A fight at a residence on Peachtree Street led to a stabbing Friday which resulted in both the victim and the suspect being transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital. Witnesses said the attack was part of a robbery attempt, but...

Gang conference to be held Monday

MOUNT OLIVE -- The ninth annual Eastern North Carolina Gang Conference will be held Monday at the University of Mount Olive. The training begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m. and will be held in the Southern...

Local judge tapped to lead N.C. Innocence Commission

When a Wayne County man was vindicated in 2008 after spending nearly two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit, the local community was forever bonded to the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. But Dwayne Dail...

Vickory looks back, ahead

Cowboy? Garbage truck driver? Both are unrealized dreams for a youthful Branny Vickory of Mount Olive. He spent 16 years as the county's top prosecutor instead. Vickory, 58, served as an assistant district attorney from 1984 until 1998 before...

Friday, January 2, 2015

Foster Grandparents need volunteers

Their uniform is simple -- a red vest and a smile. Foster Grandparents are known throughout the county as the seniors who wear red. But at the 16 volunteer stations where they serve, they have a reputation for being...

Officials question highway funding

MOUNT OLIVE -- North Carolina's new transportation plan might be getting high marks from Gov. Pat McCrory and other state officials, but in Wayne County it is being panned for shortchanging the state's rural areas. State leaders contend that...

Goldsboro police seek store flasher

Goldsboro police and security personnel are working to identify a man who has twice entered the TJ Maxx retail store at 1303 N. Berkeley Blvd. and exposed himself to women. His most recent antics escalated to the level of assault,...

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Losing a hero

Wayne County lost its top lawman Jan. 24, when Sheriff Carey Winders, who was the first Republican to hold the office in more than a century, died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 57. Winders suffered a heart attack...

Resolutions? Some make 'em and some don't

Goldsboro Parks and Recreation director Scott Barnard probably won't make a resolution for 2015. Not after the one he made for 2014. Because he was on the losing end of a bet made for that one, he will have...

2014: a look back

It was a year to remember, and to forget. 2014 is now over and the events that transpired in Wayne County during the year will become part of its long history. It was a year of loss, with the deaths...

Flu still putting county in bed

It seems everybody's got something. Whether or not it is the flu is another matter. But medical offices around the county, particularly those of the walk-in "urgent care" variety, have been consistently packed this holiday season. Cough, fever and...

2014 -- a look back at some of the top news stories

* Gun violence in city on rise The Goldsboro Police Department is expected to release its annual Uniform Crime Report in January detailing 2014's crime statistics, but without it, it could still be said that the epidemic of gun violence...

Help save a puppy

Dori needs a home for the new year -- and soon. The 4 1/2-month-old black lab mix weighs about 25 pounds and is nothing but a big bundle of love. She is very playful with lots of energy, and would...

Mount Olive marks the new year with a pickle and splash

MOUNT OLIVE -- New York dropped a ball in Times Square. London shot off fireworks. And Mount Olive, for the 16th year in a row, lowered an oversized pickle into a vat of "brine." Hundreds converged on the small...