December 2015 archives

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

WCPS hires finance officer, EC assistant

Wayne County Public Schools has made two administrative changes at central office, with the hiring of a new finance officer and assistant director in the Exceptional Children's program. The posts will be officially filled after the holiday break. Classes...

Three charged in armed robbery

Three people are in custody today following an armed robbery in the parking lot of Wanda's, a bar located on North William Street near Patetown Road, according to a Goldsboro Police Department press release. Marcus Dashon Allen, 22, 174...

cherry hospital

Final inspections are continuing at the new $93 million Cherry Hospital as the state moves toward accepting ownership of the facility sometime in January. "That date is contingent upon no unexpected issues being identified during our ongoing final inspections...

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Police probe two city shootings

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating two shootings that took place in the city Monday night. Neither victim suffered life threatening injury, nor are the two cases related, investigators said. Police first responded to the 2000 block of Day...

Patrol looking for safe holiday

The state Highway Patrol in Wayne County counted zero fatalities over the Christmas holiday, a trend First Sgt. Jerry Burton would like to see continued through the new year. For the remainder of the year, and especially on New...

Demolish

Starting in January, 20 properties throughout the city will begin being demolished in an effort to clean up blight in Goldsboro. A.K. Grading was awarded the contract by the city for the demolition work, which is expected to cost more...

Aycock High teacher wins supplies for students

An English teacher at Charles B. Aycock High School shared a post on Facebook and netted his students $1,000 worth of school supplies. Tony Coggins, who teaches ninth- and 10th-grade English at his alma mater, actually forgot about the...

Top stories of 2015

JANUARY * Jan. 15 - A meth lab was found in local hotel room and four people were charged after the lab was discovered in Room 218 of the Irish Inn at 1104 Sunburst Drive. * Jan. 18 - Officers...

Crime of the week

On Dec. 25, Lionel Cordova reported that while he was walking in the 400 block of Ash Street in Goldsboro an unknown subject assaulted him by punching him in the face, causing a laceration to his eye. While Cordova was...

Local offices close for holiday

Local, state and federal offices, banks and the post office will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, for the New Year's Day holiday. Town halls in Goldsboro, Mount Olive, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Pikeville and Eureka will be closed on New...

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Listing period begins Monday

The tax-listing period for all property subject to ad valorem tax begins Friday and continues through the end of January. However, since the Wayne County Tax Department is closed Friday because of the New Year's Day holiday, the listing...

River rises past flood stage, may cause fast-paced flow

The Neuse River near Goldsboro crested this morning at 19.32 feet, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh. Flood stages begin at 17 feet and continue on a scale of minor to moderate between 18 and 20 feet,...

Growing Spirits

After four months of renovations, Ed's Southern Food and Spirits will open its dining room expansion on New Year's Eve and serve a special menu to mark the occasion. Daniels and Daniels construction company remodeled the old Goldsboro Drug...

Man charged after chase

A Dudley man is charged with driving while intoxicated and a host of other charges after trying to run from Wayne County Sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop Christmas Day. The suspect's vehicle was later determined to have been stolen...

Monday, December 28, 2015

'Walking classroom' helps kids learn while exercising

There's another way to teach kids that doesn't involve a desk, book, pencil or paper. Instead it burns off extra energy and fits all learning styles. In the "walking classroom," students just need an MP3-type player and some earbuds. And...

Property tax bills due soon

Wayne County taxpayers have just over a week remaining to pay their 2015 property taxes without incurring a penalty. Any payments not received prior to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, are delinquent and subject to a 2-percent penalty....

Pickle Drop New Year's Eve

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mt. Olive Pickle Co. will hold its 17th annual New Year's Eve Pickle Drop on Thursday, Dec. 31, beginning at 6 p.m. at the corner of Cucumber and Vine streets. The New Year's Eve Pickle...

Mount Olive offers firefighters incentives

MOUNT OLIVE -- The number of firefighters responding to alarms at the all-volunteer Mount Olive Fire Department has increased by an average of more than three calls since the town implemented an incentive program two years ago. The program...

Dugom certified in lipidology

Dr. Muin Dugom, FACP of Goldsboro, has recently received board certification in clinical lipidology. The president of Goldsboro Medical Center is the first physician in eastern North Carolina to get the certification by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology....

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Traffic stop data debated

According to data recently released from opendatapolicingnc.com, minorities in Goldsboro are far more likely to be searched by authorities than whites are after being stopped for vehicle equipment violations -- more than 1,700 percent more likely. City Manager Scott Stevens...

Longtime school official Hope Meyerhoeffer to retire

When Hope Meyerhoeffer retires from Wayne County Public Schools in a few months, she will officially have amassed 50 years working in education. She recently submitted her official papers with the state Department of Public Instruction, with a target...

Dr. Albertson to retire from Wayne Community College with no regrets

When Dr. Kay Albertson, president of Wayne Community College, recently announced her plans to retire Aug. 1, 2016, she did it without hesitation or regret. "This is just the right time," she said. "I think all of the accomplishments...

Will Bland seeks superior court judge's seat

Goldsboro attorney Will Bland says his 20 years of courtroom experience and commitment to the community make him the best qualified candidate for the District 8-B Superior Court judge's seat. Bland, 55, a former assistant district attorney now in...

Mackenzie Hinson named winner of national award

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Heart of America Foundation has announced that Mackenzie Hinson of Mount Olive, is the first place winner of the 2015 Gee Whiz Kids Service Award. The second and third place recipients are, respectively, Adelaide Kepler from...

Eighteen students get Golden LEAF scholarships for fall

Eighteen Wayne Community College students were selected to receive fall semester scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System. Curriculum (college credit) recipients and their programs of study included Sherri Fuquay and William...

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Study looks at downtown parking

Downtown Goldsboro's Streetscape project is finished and now the city is looking for a consultant to conduct a parking study of the area. The reason for the study is to make sure the city has enough parking to support...

Student authoring

Not many 11-year-olds have a book published in time to give to family members at Christmas. That was the case recently for 20 students in Michelle Rutledge's sixth-grade class at Norwayne Middle School. In fact, this was her second...

John Bell seeks 5th term on board

Wayne County District 3 Commissioner John Bell said he decided to seek re-election because he thinks continuity is important because of several major ongoing projects.Bell, 81, a Democrat, is the longest-serving commissioner currently on the board, having first been elected...

Drive to Save Lives begins Saturday

The North Carolina Highway Patrol, along with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, are teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the annual Drive to Save Lives traffic safety campaign that runs Dec. 26 through Dec....

John Stackhouse celebrates 100th birthday

A lot has happened in the past 100 years -- and John Woods Stackhouse has been part of nearly all of it. Now, on Christmas Day, he'll do something else that can only happen to a person once in...

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Federal prosecutor Thomas Walker resigns

U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Walker, the state's top prosecutor for the 44 counties that comprise the Eastern District of North Carolina, resigned Tuesday, according to U.S. Department of Justice press release. His resignation is effective Jan. 7, 2016. Walker,...

Stackhouse seeking judicial seat

Curtis Stackhouse, 34, of Goldsboro, said that while he might be young, he possesses the skills and qualifications needed to serve as a district court judge. Stackhouse filed Friday for the district court seat that he had been the leading...

Spreading joy

Brooke Miller was sitting in the corner of the fellowship hall of First African Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon, rocking her 3-month-old son, Jasiah, with one hand. Her 3-year-old son, Semaj, sat in the chair beside her. She told herself she...

Suspect charged in break-ins

A Goldsboro man faces several charges including breaking and entering and larceny following a Wayne County Sheriff's Office investigation dating back to August. Timothy Scott Lucas, 36, 379 Combs Road, is charged with six counts each of breaking and...

Crime of the week

The Goldsboro Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating a homeless man from Goldsboro in connection with a suspicious fire set Friday. The fire has since been declared a case of arson. According to a press release,...

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Man charged in shooting

The man police say shot and wounded another man outside at Pinewood Square on North Spence Avenue Saturday has been charged. Linwood Grantham, 24, turned himself in to Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce and a Goldsboro police detective Monday....

Under construction: Goldsboro High School project

Construction on the commons area project at Goldsboro High School is roughly halfway through, officials said before schools dismissed Friday for the holidays. The Primus Construction crew is working over part of the two-week break, said Dean Sauls, assistant...

Late filings create primaries

Candidates who came forth Monday in the waning hours of the filing period for the 2016 elections created several local primaries for March 15. Constance Bryant Coram of Goldsboro created one of the primaries when she filed Monday to...

Aycock elected new mayor pro-tem

Following Monday night's City Council meeting, Goldsboro has a new mayor pro-tem. District 6 council member Gene Aycock was unanimously elected by his peers on the council to the position. District 2 council member Bill Broadaway made the motion to...

Monday, December 21, 2015

Warm hearts

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is well-known for taking care of its own. And this holiday season, the airmen on base went above and beyond. This year's Operation Warm Heart saw 250 turkeys and holiday boxes passed out to airmen...

Stackhouse files for 8th District judge seat

Goldsboro attorney William Curtis Stackhouse filed Friday for district court judge for the 8th Judicial District. Stackhouse filed for the seat that had been held by the late Tim Finan. Filing earlier for that seat was Kinston attorney Annette...

Santa secrets

Jikerra Neal, 3, tells Santa what she wants for Christmas. Jikerra, daughter of William and Lakisha Neal of Goldsboro, was one of many children at the annual Christmas program held Sunday at Herman Park Center and sponsored by sisters...

Eikenberry receives honorary degree

Karl Eikenberry, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and director of Stanford University's U.S.-Asia Security Initiative, received an honorary doctorate of human letters degree from N.C. State University. Eikenberry, a 1969 graduate of Goldsboro High School, delivered the university's...

Fire destroys Boys and Girls Club outbuilding

The Goldsboro Police Department has been called in to investigate a fire that consumed an outbuilding behind the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County early this morning. The point of origin has been located, but the cause remains under...

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Class of 2015

MOUNT OLIVE -- Saturday's brisk weather was a far cry from what Kiera Murray is used to at her home in West Palm Beach, Fla. But she and her family didn't appear to mind as they hugged, took photos...

Man shot at Pinewood Square

What appears to have been a long running dispute Saturday morning erupted into gunfire that left one man with a gunshot wound to his chest.. Police said that Alexander Ricky Shaw, 22, of 405 Cardinal Drive, was shot with...

Couple guilty of federal crimes

A couple from LaGrange now face up to 60 and 50 respective years in prison after a federal jury convicted them each of defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of millions of dollars in government contracts. The couple...

State, local government offices to close for Christmas and New Year

State offices will be closed Dec. 23 through 25 and on Jan. 1. while federal offices, banks and post offices will be closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Goldsboro city office will be closed Dec. 24 and 25,...

Two more file for Board of Education seats

Two more candidates have filed for the Wayne County Board of Education just ahead of Monday's filing deadline. Len Henderson, who previously served on the board, filed Friday for the District 2 seat now held by Dr. Dwight Cannon....

Time limit set for commissioner comments during meetings

Wayne County Commissioner Ray Mayo Tuesday morning took exception to new guidelines limiting board members' end-of-meeting comments to no more than two minutes each. Mayo complained that he will have less time to talk than those who speak during...

Council to hold three public hearings

The Goldsboro City Council will hold three public hearings at its Monday night meeting, one of which would limit the use of 43 acres on the west side of Thoroughfare Road strictly for the purpose of building a solar...

Wayne County Board of Health discusses mobile dental unit

The Wayne County Board of Health received an update on the mobile dental van serving students around the county during its recent December meeting, re-elected its current leadership and bid adieu to long-time board member Tommy Gibson. The 50-foot tractor-trailer,...

Friday, December 18, 2015

Angel giving: Gifts for Christmas

Heidi Madrid could not hold back the tears Thursday when she saw the toys her daughter would have under the tree this Christmas because of the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program. She supports 11-year-old Cynthia and herself on the...

Goldsboro Housing Authority gets $2.7M grant

Goldsboro, ranked the fifth-poorest city in the nation according to a recent study, received an economic shot in the arm Thursday in the form of a $2.7 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's...

Raymond Smith Jr. files for seat on county's Board of Education

A former employee of the Wayne County Public Schools system has filed for the at-large seat on the Wayne County Board of Education. Raymond Edward Smith Jr. of Goldsboro, former transportation director for the school system, filed on Thursday....

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Wayne Memorial signs with UNC

Wayne Memorial Hospital's board of directors Tuesday night voted to authorize its executive committee to sign a management services agreement with UNC Health Care, the state-owned not-for-profit integrated health care system based in Chapel Hill. The contract will not...

Wrapped in prayer

GRANTHAM -- Every Tuesday since September 2011, a group of roughly a dozen women gather at Falling Creek United Methodist Church for one purpose -- to make prayer shawls for those in need. To date, the group has made...

Braswell, Burden file for public office

Former Superior Court Judge Jerry Braswell has filed for the District 8 Superior Court seat currently held by Judge Arnold Jones II. Patricia Burden has filed for election to the District 3 seat on the Wayne County Board of...

Empty Stocking Fund donations

* White Oak Grove Free Will Baptist Church, $75 * Adult Men's Sunday School Class Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, $100 * George and Shizue Moore, $100 * Clee Davis Class, Nahunta Friends Meeting, $115 * Anonymous, $500 * Best Grove...

Wayne Chamber of Commerce sponsors Hot Topic forum with focus on education

Education is a hot topic these days, prompting the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce to make it the linchpin of its fourth quarter forum. A Wednesday breakfast meeting Wednesday at the Lane Tree Golf Club featured a panel discussion...

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Three die in crash

Three people died early Tuesday morning when their vehicle ran off the road, overturned and crashed into several trees and caught fire, investigators with the North Carolina Highway Patrol said. The wreck took place at 4:15 a.m. along North...

County awards center architect contract

Goldsboro cannot effectively market land it owns on North Wayne Memorial Drive as the possible site for a hotel until interested developers are confident Wayne County will build an agriculture and convention center on adjoining property. Wayne County commissioners...

A journey of the heart

Ashley Larimore had already packed her bags in anticipation of this week's heart catheterization at Duke Hospital. Since being recently placed on the heart transplant list, she said she has been preparing to spend the holidays in the hospital....

Air Force announces Slocum's successor

The Air Force has announced the replacement for 4th Fighter Wing commander Col. Mark Slocum. Col. Christopher Sage will be taking the reins of the wing, it was announced this morning. Sage is currently the senior military assistant to...

WATCH's annual Polar Plunge slated for Jan. 9 at Cliffs

The WATCH Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force will hold its second annual Polar Plunge this year on Jan. 9, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. It costs $20 for adults 18 years old...

2016 festival theme revealed

MOUNT OLIVE -- The N.C. Pickle Festival theme has been revealed, and it will monopolize anyone's imagination. This year, for the 30th anniversary of the N.C. Pickle Festival, the theme will be a pickle-themed game of Monopoly. Mount Olive...

Crime of the week

On Monday, Dec. 14, an employee of the Family Dollar store at 1403 Wayne Memorial Drive reported that at approximately 9:45 p.m. a black male entered the store armed with a handgun, threw a bag at her and demanded money...

Celebrating local art

Poets, musicians and artists gathered at Chef Herb's Bistro to display their talents Saturday night, but for most of those artists it was a showcase of their personal experiences of love, pain and healing. Maximillian Mozingo, a local artist...

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

An Embers Christmas

Band members said they looked forward to the show, which drew hundreds of beach music lovers. "It's great fun. We get to change what we do daily, which can be kind of a grind," said keyboardist and singer Andy Swindell....

Al King honored

There is no better friend than former Goldsboro Mayor Al King. As more than 160 people converged on the Terrace Room Monday night to honor King's nearly 14 years of service as mayor, this was the sentiment expressed by each...

Ten earn Nurse Excellence award

Ten representatives from nursing areas at Wayne Memorial Hospital were recently named recipients of Nurse Excellence awards. The annual recognition honors employees nominated by supervisors, co-workers and peers. Independent judges scored the candidates on such qualities as integrity, honesty,...

Apartment fire displaces two

A fire in a second-story apartment displaced one resident and forced another out of the apartment below due to water damage Monday, the Goldsboro Fire Department said. The fire broke out at the Laurel Pointe Apartments, 660 E. New...

Monday, December 14, 2015

Teachers receive grants

Thirty-eight educators representing Wayne County Public Schools and Wayne Country Day School have been named recipients of Bright Ideas education grants. Tri-County EMC awarded $59,765 worth of grants to a total of 69 teachers from Wayne, Duplin and Lenoir...

Eureka Christmas parade

Members of the Charles B. Aycock High School marching band strike up a holiday tune during the annual Christmas parade in Eureka on Sunday afternoon....

Larceny attempt at Lowe's thwarted

The Goldsboro Police Department said four men from New York City arrested Saturday after a failed attempt at larceny from Lowe's Home Improvement store were not plotting to make bombs. The men are, however, thought to responsible for thefts...

Commissioners to award center design contract

Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday are expected to award a contract to HH Architecture of Raleigh to complete the design of the proposed $16.4 million Wayne County Agriculture and Convention Center. It is expected to take 22 weeks to...

Two robberies reported

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating an armed robbery at Murphy Express, 103 Highway 581 North, that took place Sunday night. The incident happened at 11:52 p.m. According to a Goldsboro police report, an unknown black male armed with...

Few local election filings listed as deadline nears

With only a week remaining to file for the 2016 elections, there has been little local activity at the Wayne County Board of Elections office since an opening-day flurry on Dec. 1. Filing ends Monday, Dec. 21, at noon....

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Roads to be closed to allow construction

Late tonight the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin closing Stevens Chapel Road/Davis Mill Road at the intersection with U.S. 70 east of Smithfield. The road will close by the morning of Monday, Dec. 14. U.S. 70 will remain...

Solar farm hearing on county agenda

Wayne County commissioners on Tuesday are expected to set a public hearing for Jan. 19 on proposed changes to the county's solar energy facilities ordinance. The primary changes will be to define what constitutes abandonment and decommissioning of such...

Painting competition is held

The first-ever Arts Council of Wayne County Plein Air Paint Out juried art event concluded Saturday with three entries taking home cash prizes. The outdoor painting event held in Herman Park and in downtown Goldsboro hosted by the Arts...

Jingle in the Park draws hundreds for fun and Santa Claus

Herman Park was flooded with more than 500 people on Friday night as Goldsboro's annual two-day holiday event, Jingle in the Park, got under way. There were movies, ice skating, train rides, Christmas carols, hay rides, s'mores and, of course,...

County seeking poll workers

The Wayne County Board of Elections will need nearly 300 polls workers for the 2016 voting season. To help fill that need a first-ever recruitment campaign is under way, said Beverly York, Wayne County Board of Elections deputy director....

Wreaths laid on veterans' graves

Fair skies and warm weather greeted Wayne County residents as they filed into to Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Saturday at noon to participate in the third annual Wreaths Across America event to honor local fallen heroes. A motorcade of nearly...

Wayne Community College receives grant from Duke Energy

Wayne Community College has received a $250,000 investment from the Duke Energy Foundation. The funds will provide state-of-practice equipment for the college's Computer-Integrated Machining program. The funds will be used to purchase two Haas Computer Numerical Contro Turning Centers...

Wayne Community College employees honored by AEOP

Two Wayne Community College employees were honored during the recent North Carolina Association of Educational Office Professionals District 12 meeting. Annette Hill was named the Educational Office Professional of the Year. She is the administrative assistant for WCC's Dental...

Wayne County Reads takes poetic turn

After 12 successful years, Wayne County Reads will take a poetic turn in 2016. In years past, the organization has challenged the community to read such fiction and nonfiction subjects as race relations, pirates, the Holocaust, fantasy, the Latino...

Charity stories being sought

If your organization, church or business is conducting a charitable project for the Christmas season, we'd like to include it in our Spirit of the Season special section. Email the information about your project, along with any photos you have,...

Empty Stocking Fund: Santa comes early

When James Selogy lost his job three weeks ago, he had no idea how he was going to make ends meet, let alone provide Christmas presents for his 8-year-old son, Christopher. Selogy, an electrician, said he showed up to...

Friday, December 11, 2015

Slocum, principals meet

Mark Slocum, commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, is not in the business of running schools, but on Wednesday he told a group of principals he is prepared to do battle with them for...

'Operation Santa Paws' to be held Saturday at center

Dogs and cats at the Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center are looking for a very special gift this year -- a forever home of their very own. Operation Santa Paws is hoping to give that to them. "This...

Norwayne principal resigns

Norwayne Middle School Principal Mario Re said Thursday that he was not forced to resign from his post, citing personal reasons for his departure. Wayne County Public Schools announced late Wednesday that he had resigned, effectively immediately, but would...

'Hill-Top Mafia' sentenced

A group of seven local men and women, who refer to themselves as "The Hill-Top Mafia," were sentenced by federal authorities Thursday morning for their participation in a methamphetamine trafficking ring in Johnston, Wilson and Wayne counties. "The organization called...

Wayne County sends 21 to 2015 Special Olympics

Wayne County sent 21 athletes, partners and coaches to participate in the 2015 Special Olympics North Carolina Fall Games in High Point. The delegation was headed by Donna May. Athletes and partners participated in both bocce and golf. Weather...

Goldsboro police apprehend suspect in string of robberies

Marcus Tyrone Coleman, 38, of 321 Hopesway Drive in Dudley, who has allegedly committed 12 armed robberies within the past two months in the Goldsboro city limits, has been charged with the crimes and placed under a $1.25 million...

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Ringing in Christmas

You hear a bell, then see the iconic red kettle. Immediately you know it's the Salvation Army raising money to help the needy of this community. It's that time of year again when bell ringers are out in full...

Empty Stocking Fund prepares to give more than 600 children toys

The Empty Stocking Fund organizers and volunteers are planning to give away toys, clothing and books to more than 600 children in Wayne County who otherwise would not have a gift under the tree this Christmas. Collecting and organizing such...

Aycock name change debated

The debate over changing the name of Charles B. Aycock High School continued Monday night at the Wayne County Board of Education, with several opponents to the idea speaking out. The controversy was spurred on at last month's Goldsboro-Wayne...

Wayne Pregnancy Care receives Guy Condon Presidential award

Wayne Pregnancy Care Center of Goldsboro was recently presented an award from Care Net, a non-profit organization that supports one of the nation's largest network of pregnancy centers. Beverly Weeks, executive director of Wayne Pregnancy Care Center since 2013,...

Arts Council of Wayne County hosts first Plein Air Paint Out

The Arts Council of Wayne County is hosting its first-ever Plein Air Paint Out where artists can win hundreds of dollars for their paintings, and entries are still being sought. First place receives $300, second place receives $200 and...

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Bare cupboards

The Salvation Army is preparing to give food to more than 200 families receiving Christmas assistance this year. But its pantry shelves are almost bare. "The food pantry at this point is really empty," said Lt. Sherrie Stokes with...

Mount Olive Town Board approves airport hangar

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Town Board that was sworn into office Monday night included two new members. Jerry L. Harper took over as the at-large commissioner and Harlie Junior Carmichael as the District 2 member. Harper defeated...

Hospital gets project OK

Wayne Memorial Hospital has received approval from the state Department of Health and Human Services to proceed with a $25 million operating room replacement project. The hospital earlier awarded the approximately $2 million construction contract to T.A. Loving Co....

Suspect sought in Mar-Mac crimes

A Wayne County man's several aliases are making it difficult for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office to locate him. Tr-rek Donnell Mathis, 21, is wanted by the sheriff's office in connection with a residential break-in in the Mar Mac...

University ceremony set for Dec. 19

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive will graduate approximately 280 students on Saturday, Dec. 19, during commencement exercises scheduled for 2 p.m. in the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena on the Mount Olive campus. Dr. Michael...

Angel tree to provide gifts to 200 families

Wayne County people have the opportunity to be Santa for the community's needy children, providing Christmas gifts through the Salvation Army's angel tree program. Back in October, the Salvation Army took applications for more than 200 families with more...

Pikeville police charge two with School Street breaking and enterings

PIKEVILLE -- Two suspects have been charged by Pikeville police in connection with a breaking and entering in the 100 block of East School Street. During the investigation by Sgt. Eva Marie Scott it was discovered that one of...

Crime of the week

On Dec. 4, an employee of the BP Kangaroo at 515 East New Hope Road reported that at approximately 2 a.m. a white male, approximately 6-feet-2, wearing a mask, a gray hoodie and blue jeans attempted to rob the store...

Coats for Kids helps keep children warm

More than 375 students at Carver Elementary and Brogden Primary School received coats, hats and gloves from the Collegiate FFA at the University of Mount Olive. The Collegiate FFA has sponsored the Coats for Kids program for the past...

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

New mayor, council sworn into city office

More than 120 people came to the Goldsboro City Council meeting Monday night to witness four new members of the Council be sworn in by Judge Charles Gaylor III. Former Mayor Al King, who was replaced by new Mayor...

Leadership on school board remains the same

Wayne County Board of Education leadership remains unchanged for the coming year, and board member Eddie Radford announced Monday night he will not seek another term when his is up in 2016. Chairman Chris West and Vice Chairman Arnold Flowers...

Blue Angels coming to Wayne

The United States Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team is scheduled to perform for audiences during the 2017 Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, it was announced late Monday. The Blue Angels are the U.S....

Driver taken to hospital after school bus wreck

A school bus accident early this morning resulted in the bus driver being taken to the hospital for evaluation. The accident occurred around 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of Princeton-Pikeville Road and U.S. Highway 581, according to Ken Derksen, director...

Monday, December 7, 2015

Blue Angels to perform at Wings Over Wayne

The United States Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team is scheduled to perform during the 2017 Wings Over Wayne Airshow at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The Blue Angels are the U.S. Navy's premier aerial demonstration team. See Tuesday's News-Argus for...

United Way near $1.18 million goal

With less than a month to go, the 2015 United Way campaign still has 10 percent of its goal of $1.18 million to raise. Since the campaign began in early August with the Frontrunners campaign -- companies that hold...

A Pikeville Christmas

Motorcyclists toss candy to the crowd as they make their way down Main Street in Pikeville on Sunday during the town of Pikeville's Christmas Parade. Hundreds of spectators took advantage of the clear weather to enjoy the annual event....

Pancake fundraiser

Ray Burrell pours pancake batter during the Boys & Girls Club annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser Saturday. Hundreds of people attended the annual event, which is a major source of income for the club....

School performance now available online

Anyone interested in learning how the state's public schools performed over the last school year can now sift through data with the click of a mouse. The 2014-15 Report Cards were actually released in September. But everything has since...

Bell seeks third term in House

District 10 state Rep. John Bell of Goldsboro has filed for a third term. "It has been a great honor to serve the 10th District in Raleigh," said Bell, a Republican. "I am continually humbled by the outpouring of...

Blood drives scheduled for December

The following is the December blood drive schedule for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross: * Dec. 8 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at the Red Cross chapter house at 600 N. George St. * Dec. 11...

Candidate withdraws name

One local candidate filed for office Friday, while another withdrew her candidacy. Wayne County District 5 Commissioner Bill Pate of Goldsboro filed for a second term. All seven commission seats are up for election. Pate, a Republican, was the...

School bus involved in morning collision

Goldsboro police respond to a collision between a gray Chevrolet Malibu and Wayne County Public Schools bus number 400, which resulted in a blocked off a section of East Ash Street for roughly an hour this morning. The wreck...

Two charged in break-in

PIKEVILLE -- Two men have been arrested in connection with a break-in at a Pikeville home. Pikeville police have charged Joshua Stewart Allen, 19, of 102 W. Vail St., with two counts of larceny of a firearm, breaking and...

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Suspect wanted for firing at GPD

A Goldsboro man charged with firing his gun at a Goldsboro police officer during a foot pursuit Monday has since posted bail and is now wanted by the N.C. Department of Probation and Parole. Shadell Barksdale, 25, 904 S. Pineview...

WAGES seeking donations of food and money to help seniors

The Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency is calling for donations -- both edible and monetary -- to help the senior citizens they serve to power through the holidays. WAGES will be packing 500 bags of food on Dec. 17...

Pate puts in bid for Superior Court seat

Imelda Pate of LaGrange, a longtime prosecutor in Greene and Lenoir counties, filed Tuesday with the State Board of Elections for the open District 8-A Superior Court judgeship. The judgeship is being vacated by retiring Superior Court Judge Paul...

Season's greetings

Wayne County residents rang in the holiday season on Saturday with Christmas parades in Goldsboro, Mount Olive and Fremont. Each parade was well attended and saw hundreds of parade entries help people get into the spirit of the season. Goldsboro...

Living in poverty

Linda Walker, Sarah Taylor and Nellie Davis have lived in poverty their entire lives. The three women, all in their 70s, live in Lincoln Homes, subsisting on an income that is barely above the federal poverty line. Each of them...

Many factors contribute to city's poverty numbers

Goldsboro was recently named the fifth poorest city in the United States according to data from the United States Census Bureau's 2014 American Community Survey. There are several factors that work against Goldsboro that make it so. With a poverty...

Interstates may be in future

Wayne County officials say they are hopeful for an early Christmas present -- signs proclaiming that the U.S. 70 and U.S. 117 highway corridors have been designated as future Interstates. These designations could have a lasting impact on the Wayne...

Council, mayor to be sworn into office during Monday meeting

There will be four new members of the Goldsboro City Council sworn in during the council's next meeting Monday night, Dec. 7. Bevan Foster, David Ham, Mark Stevens and Antonio Williams will step into the City Council seats for Districts...

Friday, December 4, 2015

Torero's Mexican Restaurant may have alcohol permits suspended

A surprise investigation by the Wayne County Alcohol Control Board conducted back in August might lead to a suspension of the alcohol permits held by Torero's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Goldsboro. Wayne ABC Law Enforcement Chief Joe Sadler said he...

Joe Daughtery files for re-election

Wayne County Commissioner Joe Daughtery was the only local candidate to file on Thursday. Daughtery, a Republican, is seeking a second term as the District 6 commissioner. All seven seats on the board are up for election in 2016....

Commissioners validate permission to repair streets

Wayne County has validated its first petition from subdivision residents seeking the county's help in bringing their streets up to state standards. But it will still be months before residents find out if that will happen. The petition is...

Play time

Neighbors Tyshawn Geigher, 8, and Azariah Armstrong, 5, play with a puppy on the front porch of a house of Chestnut Street Thursday afternoon. With cooler temperatures, the children were outside in long sleeves and jackets enjoying the sunny...

Bill Pate to seek re-election

Wayne County District 5 Commissioner Bill Pate has announced he will seek a second term. Pate, a Republican, is a Pikeville native and a graduate of East Carolina University. He and his wife, Linda, a retired teacher, have a...

Councilman-elect Foster charged

Bevan Foster was charged and arrested by the Goldsboro Police Department six days before he was elected to the District 4 seat of the Goldsboro City Council on a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats. He is slated to be...

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Annie's 'War Room'

Annie Ruth Herring and her husband of 69 years, Harold Herring Sr., had not been to a movie in nine years. They used to go frequently when they were courting, she says. The last time they went to a...

Col. Slocum to be grand marshal of Goldsboro parade

For the second consecutive year, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Mark Slocum will take the helm as grand marshal of Goldsboro's annual Christmas Parade through downtown on Saturday. Slocum, who returned to Goldsboro to take...

Joe Gurley to run for District 4 board seat

Joe Gurley, who was appointed to the District 4 seat on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners in July of 2014, Tuesday afternoon filed for election to that office. Gurley said his goal for running is simple -- to...

No one files to run for office on Wednesday

There were no filings Wednesday at the Wayne County Board of Elections for local offices up for election in 2016. Candidates for district, statewide and/or national offices file at the state Board of Elections office in Raleigh where there...

Empty Stocking Fund donations

* Northeast Free Will Baptist Church-Men's Sunday School Class, $40 * Larry and Linda Jones, $25, in honor of our grandson, Ty Jones * Marguerite and Thomas Mackenzie, $20 * Evelyn G. Jefferson, $100, in memory of Kenneth B. Jefferson,...

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Fatalities probed

In the wake of an industrial accident that claimed the lives of two SPX Transformer Solutions employees and seriously injured another Monday, the electrical components manufacturer is cooperating with an investigation being conducted by the North Carolina Occupational Safety...

Joe Daughtery elected commissioner chairman

Joe Daughtery was elected as the new chairman of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and Bill Pate as vice chairman on Tuesday. Both are Republicans, but Daughtery was nominated for the office by Democrat John Bell. Pate was nominated...

Possible gas leak disrupts downtown

The smell of gasoline coming from a stairwell in a downtown building forced the Goldsboro Fire Department to cordon off an entire city block and evacuate a building for three hours Tuesday. No injuries were reported and the source of...

Cromartie to run for re-election

Wayne County District 2 Commissioner Ed Cromartie, 69, of Mount Olive has filed for re-election. Cromartie, a Democrat, who was first appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late J.D. Evans, was among the first to file Tuesday...

Slocum, Leavitt nominated for brigadier general post

4th Fighter Wing commander Col. Mark Slocum and former 4th Fighter Wing commander Col. Jeanie Leavitt have been nominated by President Obama to become Air Force brigadier generals. They are among 36 Air Force colonels nominated by the president to...

Showcase of holiday cheer

Tuesday night was the first of the three night series of the Wayne County Choral Showcase, which includes 30 schools in Wayne County. Proceeds from the ticket sales are added together over the three nights and divided evenly among...

Authorities seek information on string of armed robberies in city

Between Nov. 20 and Nov. 28, six armed robberies have occurred at Goldsboro businesses. 1. Nov. 20: Dukes Beauty Supply at 513 E. Ash St. was robbed at approximately 6 p.m. 2. Nov. 26: Dollar General at 301 N. George...

Several parades slated for this weekend

Goldsboro's Christmas parade is set to kick off this Saturday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m., rain or shine. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Commander Col. Mark Slocum will be the grand marshal for Goldsboro's parade. The parade will start...

Candidates file for office

A flurry of activity Tuesday during the first day of filing for the March 15 primary created a two-way race for the Democratic nomination for Wayne County Register of Deeds. Judy Denning Harrison, who was appointed to the office...

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Choral showcase kicks off tonight at Goldsboro High School

Wayne County Public Schools' annual districtwide choral showcase kicks off tonight, the first of three performances this week at Goldsboro High School. This is the 15th year for the annual concert series featuring holiday music. The event began in...

Police work to solve six robberies

The Goldsboro Police Department is working to solve a string of armed robberies dating as far back as Nov. 19. At least six local stores have been struck, possibly more. Investigators are not sure at the moment which, if...

Two die in factory

Two SPX Transformer Solutions employees died and another worker was seriously injured in an industrial accident late Monday while working on a transformer at the plant on U.S. 117 South. The accident remains under investigation. Maj. Tom Effler of...

'Sew' giving

It started out as a class assignment and morphed into an opportunity for students to share their finished work with some grateful senior citizens. Darlene DeBruine, Exploring Family and Consumer Science teacher at Rosewood Middle School, was preparing to...

SPX workers injured, two feared dead

Wayne County Sheriff's deputies and rescue crews at the SPX Transformer Solutions, Inc. plant located at 2701 U.S. 117 are working to recover three employees who fell into a transformer and become unresponsive. Officials say two are feared dead, but...