January 2018 archives

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Creating art with paper

Like magic, tiny strips of rolled paper turn into beautiful objects -- snowflakes, birds, flowers, framed art and a lot more. It's done through quilling, an art form that's been around for a long time. "It goes back to the...

Airman charged in hit-and-run that injured a 5-year-old

UPDATE ---- New charges added Wednesday allege the airman was intoxicated at the time of the wreck An active-duty airman stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was arrested and charged Tuesday for allegedly hitting a 5-year-old boy with his...

Woman accused of using her children to fake a fundraiser

A Wilson woman is facing charges after allegedly using her children to fake a school fundraiser in Wayne County to get money. Melonie Julia Haynes, 32, of 5046 Old Yank Road, Wilson, is charged with felony obtaining property by false...

Task force officer talks dangers of opioids

There were 198 drug overdoses, primarily opioid related, in Wayne County in 2017. "That is one every other day," said First Sgt. Matt Miller, ATF task force officer with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. In 2005 three opioid-related deaths...

A soldier's guard and honor

Daniel Boyette was just out of high school, in the U.S. Army and scared. After all, the 18-year-old was standing guard duty alone at night. With an unloaded weapon. In a cemetery. During the dead of winter. It wasn't...

Wayne County Public Schools recognized for 'Coaches Corner'

In January, Wayne County Public Schools received a North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) Blue Ribbon Award for its high school football show, "Coaches Corner." The district's 30-minute cable/web sports talk program was launched this past fall. Each...

Paramount Theatre to celebrate 10-year milestone

It has been 10 years since the Paramount Theatre was rebuilt after a fire in 2005 destroyed it, and that calls for a huge celebration. The Paramount Theatre's 10th anniversary gala will take place Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m....

Students chosen for honors chorus

Two fifth-grade students from Wayne County Public Schools were chosen to participate in the 2017 North Carolina Elementary School Honors Chorus. Anna Parker Heath of Rosewood Elementary School, left, and Gavin Tucker of Northwest Elementary were recognized by the Wayne...

Jason Volunteer Fire Department to add memorial garden

The Jason Volunteer Fire Department is searching for people who used to live, or who still have family, in this small rural Greene County community just north of LaGrange. The department is building an addition to its nearly 60-year-old...

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Five-year-old boy hospitalized after being hit by truck Monday night

A 5-year-old boy is at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville today after a truck hit the child as he crossed North Berkeley Boulevard with his mother Monday night. The driver fled the scene. The Goldsboro Police Department is asking for...

Randy Gray named Firefighter of the Year

EUREKA -- Randy Gray grew up around the Faro Fire Station. He recalls sitting in the old store next to the station with the men who were in the fire department, including his father, Jimmy Gray. "The whistle would...

Safe Kids gets high marks

Safe Kids Wayne County has received high marks from the state for having a successful 2017, especially since it receives no funding from the agency where it is housed, the Partnership for Children of Wayne County. "The Safe Kids...

Monday, January 29, 2018

Pedestrian injured in hit and run near KFC on Berkeley

An unidentified person was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross North Berkeley Boulevard near KFC Monday night, according to police. Patrol officer M. Parks, with the Goldsboro Police Department, said the driver of the vehicle fled the scene...

Man charged in connection to Jan. 18 shooting

A 22-year-old Pikeville man is facing charges after being accused of being involved in the shooting a juvenile on Jan. 18 in the 1700 block of East Holly Street. Shameek Johnson is charged with possession of a firearm by a...

Church of Creativity claims responsibility for white supremacist fliers

The white supremacist group Church of Creativity has confirmed that its members placed fliers containing racist messages throughout Goldsboro last week. In an email sent Sunday, church spokesman Cailen Cambeul said that the group ---- which the Southern Poverty Law...

Wayne County Public Schools' plans to examine district lines placed on hold

Proposed class size reductions mandated by the General Assembly have put plans to redistrict Wayne County Public Schools on hold until they are resolved, WCPS Superintendent Michael Dunsmore said Friday. The mandate, which the General Assembly handed down in...

Local group tunes in to see who's listening

When the lights go out and the cellphones are down, the HAM radio operators of the Neuse River Basin Amateur Radio Association will be ready to step up. Around 18 members of the association took part in the nationwide...

Eyes on public housing

Residents living at Lincoln Apartments will benefit from a recent decision by the Goldsboro Housing Authority to add surveillance cameras throughout the public housing complex. The authority board approved spending $100,000 on cameras, expected to be similar to the...

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Two Charles B. Aycock seniors earn prestigious Girl Scouts award

Two Girl Scouts from Goldsboro earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. The North Carolina Coastal Pines congratulates Emily Thorne and Leah Campbell, of Goldsboro, for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest and most prestigious achievement in...

Relay for Life kicks off season

The 2018 Relay for Life kickoff for team captains and organizers Thursday night had a carnival atmosphere, complete with games and prizes. Paula Cox, people lead, was dressed as ringmaster. Brenda Robinson, community development manager for the southeast region...

Natural gas becomes priority

Securing natural gas for the northern part of the county should be a priority if that area is to grow, Wayne County Commissioner Ray Mayo said. Mayo asked commissioners during their Thursday planning retreat to work with him and...

Mount Olive Chamber/Jaycees Banquet scheduled for Feb. 15

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mount Olive Jaycees will hold their 12th annual membership and awards banquet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. It will be held in the J.D. Evans Community...

EWHS graduate completes U.S. Air Force basic training

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brittney Cox graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values,...

At the heart of dance

The art of the dance is alive and well at Carver Heights Elementary School, thanks to the efforts of a high school junior who wanted to share her passion with little girls who might not otherwise have the same...

Unleash the hounds:The annual Washington's Day Fox Hunt and Dog Trials is slated for Feb. 17

ALBERTSON -- The annual Washington's Day Fox Hunt and Dog Trials will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, in this rural Duplin County community. The event has been a tradition for nearly 70 years, ever since a small group of...

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Fire destroys Dudley home

A fire in a Dudley trailer left a woman without her home Friday evening, said the homeowner. When firefighters arrived to 204 Beaver Drive just before 4 p.m., they found a mobile home with flames inside the building. By around...

Friday, January 26, 2018

Board revisits class size mandate

State lawmakers are passing legislation, such as the one reducing classroom size, without thinking through what the economic impact will be, Wayne County commissioners said during a board planning retreat Thursday. For some lawmakers it is a "feel good...

A cornerstone of the county

In more than 80 years of life, Ray McDonald has, in his own words, never felt better than he did Thursday night at the annual Wayne County Chamber of Commerce banquet. McDonald, the former mayor of Mount Olive, received...

Bank On Wayne offers financial literacy education

Literacy Connections has expanded its role in the community beyond helping residents become readers -- offering a free financial literacy program. Bank On Wayne, based on the national model "Bank On," is for anyone who could benefit from basic...

Commissioner suggests alternative to spending $5 million for class size mandate

The expense of meeting the state's new classroom-size mandate for elementary schools is a cloud hanging over the county, Wayne County Commissioner Joe Daughtery said. And during the board's Thursday budget planning retreat Daughtery suggested it would cheaper for...

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Flier promoting white supremacist group found on Isaac Drive

An African-American family found racist literature outside their home on Isaac Drive early this week. The flier, promoting the white supremacist group Creativity Alliance, contains messages of "white identity," and urges white people to "wake up" and "save the white...

Two people charged for being in U.S. illegally

Two immigrants are facing charges after being accused of being in the United States -- Eastern North Carolina, specifically -- illegally. Eliseo Hernandez-Lorenzo, 28, of Guatemala, is charged with misuse of a social security account number, false claim of United...

Achieving the dream

Five panelists participated in a discussion Wednesday on the ability everyone has to make positive change in the world, as part of a program at Wayne Community College. "Achieving the Dream: Leading and Empowering Change" was the theme for...

Task force looks for insight

The Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition, which offers multiple programs and a community center, took more than a decade to build. Executive Director Erin Day told Wayne County leaders and members of the community Wednesday that one of the...

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

A brotherly bond

Steve and Jeremy Mozingo are about as close as any two brothers could be. They both work at Wayne Community College. They are both members of Elroy Volunteer Fire Department. And they live next door to each other. Steve, the...

Road rage leads to gunfire

A man's car was hit by bullets during a road-rage confrontation involving guns in the middle of Pecan Road Tuesday. A report filed with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said someone began tailgating the 53-year-old male victim down Old Mount...

A learning parallel

Current events have taken Joseph Cook's U.S. history and civics classes at Wayne Country Day School to a whole different level. So when the school was recently chosen as the site for a display on slavery, emancipation and civil...

Summer jobs information session slated for Jan. 31

Teens still interested in applying for a summer job with the city of Goldsboro have another opportunity to attend a mandatory information session on Jan. 31. Goldsboro's summer employment program is expected to offer nearly 50 part-time jobs to...

Committee gears up for the 32nd annual N.C. Pickle Festival

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Picasso of parrots. An expanded chili cookoff. A new pickle song. Those are among new and expanded events that will join traditional favorites like the car show, free entertainment and a variety of food and...

Upgrades questioned at meeting

A staff request to purchase $850,000 in computer-related upgrades came under question during the Goldsboro City Council meeting Monday. Councilman Bevan Foster asked for more detail regarding the purchase, including a breakdown of the different types of computers, laptops...

Wayne Country Day student news

Wayne Country Day School cannot be stopped by a little wintry precipitation! We didn't let the cold temperatures cool our engines this week as we welcomed many guests and experienced new and exciting things every day. We began our...

Wayne Community College program to begin 2018 spring session

The Arts and Humanities program associated with the Foundation of Wayne Community College will be offering one of its longer sessions yet, with an eclectic schedule running from February through June. "In keeping with our goal to cultivate a...

Pickle Pageant to be held March 3

MOUNT OLIVE -- The 18th annual North Carolina Pickle Festival Pageant will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 3, in Southern Bank Auditorium located in Raper Hall on the campus of the University of Mount Olive. Winners will...

Goldsboro High School student athlete recognized for participating in National Combine

The Wayne County Board of Education recognized Goldsboro High junior Xzavior Bowden for recently participating in the National Combine at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Bowden joined 600 of the nation's...

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Traffic stop yields drugs, firearms

Authorities say the smell of marijuana gave away illicit substances inside a car they stopped on North William Street Friday. Two men were arrested and charged after officers searched the car they were in based on an "overwhelming odor...

Three teens arrested for one of two shootings Friday

Police say two shootings that happened Friday -- one of which injured two people -- are not related despite their proximity in time and location. The first took place at about 10:18 a.m. Friday, when Goldsboro police responded to a...

Manufacturer to move into Mount Olive facility

MOUNT OLIVE -- SERIES Seating, a manufacturer of new stadium seating, has purchased the Boling facility. The approximately 202,969-square-foot facility is located on 38.44 acres on the Old Mount Olive Highway just north of town. With more than 35...

Couple, child, dog escape fire

There's a charred outline of a picture frame on the walls of a home at 101 Southern Plaza Drive. The paint on a a glass-front cabinet is melted, suspended mid-drip from protruding knobs. The glass on the front of...

Monday, January 22, 2018

Authorities raid meth lab on Massey Road

Authorities raided an alleged meth lab at 643 Massey Road Monday, seizing evidence from inside and charging one person for the criminal conduct. Arthur Clayton Jr., 30, who lived at the residence with three other people, is charged with manufacturing...

Checkpoint stop leads to meth charges

A 32-year-old Wayne County woman is facing drug charges after sheriff's deputies allegedly found methamphetamine in her possession Saturday. Nicole Marie Rugkit, of 1000 Saint John's Church Road, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. The...

Strong winds likely overnight

Locally strong wind gusts of up to 40 mph, associated with showers and isolated thunderstorms, are possible after midnight across the central part of the state. The showers and isolated thunderstorms may strengthen slightly from morning through midday on Tuesday...

MLK panel to take place after weather delay

Wayne Community College will tackle a timely topic this week -- empowerment. The program had originally been scheduled to coincide with Martin Luther King Day last week but was delayed because of the anticipated Jan. 17 storm. The panel discussion...

City eyes carting Seymour Johnson AFB garbage

City of Goldsboro staff is in preliminary discussions with base officials that could lead to the city providing trash pickup service at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The service would be limited to the pickup of commercial dumpsters and...

Goldsboro Family Y tackles childhood obesity

The Goldsboro YMCA is addressing the epidemic of childhood obesity, offering a 12-week class open to youth ages 6 to 16. The spring session will start Jan. 30, said Alice Huneycutt, health and wellness programs coordinator with the Family...

Fremont town board moves ahead with road paving projects

The Fremont Board of Aldermen approved the paving of three blocks of Sycamore Street at its meeting Tuesday, addressing what the town considered the area of road most in need of repair. The board voted unanimously to award a...

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Examining local poverty

In light of the sobering numbers contained in the Goldsboro poverty study released last week by the North Carolina Poverty Research Fund, local leaders and organizers hope the community will be galvanized and inspired to collaborate in an effort that...

Creating Safe Spaces for Children workshop concludes

Wayne Community College hosted the final portion of the Creating Safe Spaces for Children workshop Friday, where educators and child care experts from across the county learned how to address the needs of children during a crisis situation. Instructor Cameron...

Don't drink or drug, then drive

Deputies have a message for anyone who will listen to them, said Sgt. Jayson Hill of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office DWI Task Force. "If you drink, use a drug, whether it is prescription, illicit, over the counter that has...

WCC to offer medical coding, billing classes

Wayne Community College will offer training for a set of classes preparing students to be certified medical coding and billing specialists, starting Jan. 22. Medical Billing and Coding is an online course taught in two parts across the spring semester....

Five Wayne County math teachers ranked among state's Top 15

Five teachers from Wayne County Public Schools have been ranked among the top 15 North Carolina math teachers in their grade level for student growth. The announcement was made at the recent Board of Education meeting. The honorees included Amber...

Local company makes 'Fortune' list of nation's top companies to work for

Employees of Atlantic Casualty Insurance Co. working from the Strickland Insurance Group home office in Goldsboro rated the company as one of the best places to work in the nation. The rating, based on an anonymous survey of nearly 100...

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Take what you need; leave what you can

Blessing boxes have been popping up around Goldsboro over the past few months, with the hope for more to come. Brandi Matthews said she discovered the prototype of a similar effort in Arkansas and knew right away it was a...

Friday, January 19, 2018

UPDATE: Fire claims two lives as they were trying to flee

A Friday morning mobile home fire has claimed the lives of two people. It appears that both victims were attempting to get outside of the residence. A male was found close to the front door and a female was located...

Person injured in shooting on Hugh Street

Goldsboro police are investigating a Friday morning shooting in the 900 block of Hugh Street that left one person injured. Police searched an area around the apartments, and a car parked down the street from the area being searched was...

Two bodies recovered from fire on U.S. 70 West

Two bodies were recovered from a fire at a home on 1717 U.S. 70 West this morning.The identities of the two people are not available at this time. Authorities are on the scene and an investigation is underway.This story will...

Listening to counsel

The Wayne County Board of Education held a board retreat Tuesday, where members listened to a presentation on common legal issues and received advice on ways to alter board policies. Richard Schwartz, with Schwartz and Shaw P.L.L.C. in Raleigh, gave...

Thursday, January 18, 2018

UPDATE: Victim of Thursday shooting identified as juvenile

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a juvenile injured in the 1700 block of East Holly Street this morning. Officers from the department's C-shift, VICE Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit were all on scene as...

UPDATE: Shooting victim taken to ambulance on a stretcher

The Goldsboro Police Department is investigating a shooting that left one person injured in the 1700 block of East Holly Street this morning. Officers from the department's C-shift, VICE Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit were all on scene as...

Shooting investigation underway on East Holly Street

The Goldsboro Police Department, fire and EMS are on scene in the 1700 block of East Holly Street investigating a reported shooting.One person has been taken by stretcher to an ambulance. This is a developing story. Additional details will be...

Wayne County sees little snow overnight

The snowstorm that dumped up to nearly a foot of snow in some areas to the west left only a dusting up to a half inch on Wayne County overnight. Wayne County Public Schools are closed today. Wayne County government...

Panel convenes on poverty

Large, white sheets of paper hung on the walls of the First African Baptist Church fellowship hall, each sheet bearing the titles "economic development," "education," "affordable housing," "jobs," "health" or "hunger." People filled the room to its capacity Wednesday afternoon...

Digging into immigration

Grandstanding and demeaning. That is how Wayne County Commissioner Ray Mayo labeled comments made last month by a fellow commissioner concerning the Health Department's bad debt write-offs for services rendered to people who are in the country illegally. Mayo...

Work to begin Monday on Country Club Road

MOUNT OLIVE -- Work is scheduled to begin Monday on the U.S. 117 and Country Club Road interchange project just north of town. Motorists can expect delays and lane closures during construction. When completed, U.S. 117 will pass over Country...

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Expect work, school delays in the morning

City of Goldsboro offices will be closed until 11 a.m. Thursday due to adverse weather conditions in the area. The Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority will also operate on a holiday schedule, with buses starting to provide service at 9:30 a.m. Wayne...

Wayne County remains on watch for winter weather

Rain is expected before 4 p.m. today before changing over to snow as a winter storm makes its way across the state from the west. The temperature will fall to around 30 by 5 p.m., with wind chill values as...

County under winter weather advisory until 9 p.m.

Wayne County remains under a winter weather advisory until 9 tonight as residents brace for possibly 1 to 2 inches of snow. The snowfall will be heavier near the Wayne-Johnston county line, according to the National Weather Service. Counties to...

Another round of snow today

Snow lie -- Wayne County is bracing today for its second measurable snowfall within just two weeks, which is expected to be topped off with a light glaze of ice. Snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible,...

County's speed of recovery grant use becomes an issue

Wayne County is operating at the "speed of the state and federal government" when it come to implementing the activities through its $16.94 million Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief program. And there is nothing that the county can do...

Fighting for the Freedom Tree

A near 60-foot willow oak tree in the center of downtown Goldsboro was planted during the Vietnam War to honor the sacrifice of prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action. And while the nation was divided because of...

Wayne County Board of Education recognizes school resource officer

The Wayne County Board ofEducation recognized Goldsboro police officer Nicki Artis for his more than 13 years of service at Goldsboro High School. Artis, a staple of Goldsboro High, spent over 13 years at the school serving as the...

Seven schools recognized for PBIS implementation

The Wayne County Board of Education recognized seven of the county's public schools for their effective implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. The schools received recognition from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction before the holidays for...

Sixteen teachers earn National Board Certification

Sixteen teachers from Wayne County Public Schools have earned National Board Certification -- eight for the first time and eight others renewing the credential. National Board Certification is granted by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and is...

N.C. Arts Council accepting grant applications

The North Carolina Arts Council is taking grant applications for 2018. Grants are given to enhance arts program in all 100 North Carolina counties, enhance the education of children and youths and ensure that all North Carolinians have access...

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Wayne County schools will close Wednesday due to winter weather

Wayne County Public Schools will be closed for students and staff Wednesday due to the expected winter weather. Due to the closure the teacher workday rescheduled for Friday will now be a make-up day for students, exams will resume after...

Police say a man exposed himself to a woman at a bus stop on Ash Street

A 53-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly flashing his genitalia at a woman at a bus stop on East Ash Street Friday. Donnell Grady, 53, Streets of Goldsboro, is charged with indecent exposure. The victim reported to Goldsboro police...

Sweepstakes cafe robbed at gunpoint

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating an armed robbery at the 117 Internet Sweepstakes Cafe at 2339-I, U.S. 117 South Saturday. Authorities say the man held an employee at gunpoint and stole $1,400 from the business along with an...

Winter weather advisory begins tonight as 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected to fall

A winter weather advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. today until 7 p.m. Wednesday in advance of a storm that could drop between 1 and 2 inches of snow on the area. Snow is likely mainly between 10 a.m....

Study to depict local poverty

After months of data gathering and interviews, the Goldsboro Poverty Study will be presented Wednesday. The Poverty and Building Pathways to Opportunity in Goldsboro event will be held at First African Baptist Church, 803 Harris St., from noon to 1:30...

Dr. King's 'forgotten' words

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to a nation in 1963, about a bad check given to African-Americans preventing them from thriving in an equal society. In one of the most pivotal speeches in American history, King first focused...

Partnership for Children, Wayne Community College Teacher Appreciation speaker named

Teachers and child care providers, save the date -- April 14 will be a teacher appreciation opportunity just for you. Hosted by the Partnership for Children of Wayne County and Wayne Community College, the free event will be held at...

Black History Parade scheduled for Feb. 24

MOUNT OLIVE -- The Unity Organization is holding the 10th annual Black History Parade at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24. The rain date is March 3. There is no fee to enter afloat or group. However, an application must be...

February blood drives for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross

February blood drives for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross: * Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Mount Olive. * Feb. 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Wayne Memorial...

Monday, January 15, 2018

UPDATE: Woman who died in wreck on Spence and Royall avenues is identified

Authorities are investigating a wreck at the intersection of Spence Avenue and Royall Avenue that left a woman dead this morning. Police said 64-year-old Vera Watkins, of Goldsboro, perished in the crash. Exactly how the sequence of events of the...

One killed in wreck at Spence and Royall avenues

One person is dead after a wreck at the intersection of Spence Avenue and Royall Avenue this morning. The victim is not being identified publicly until family members can be notified by authorities. Police are investigating the accident, as exactly...

Weekend party on Durham Lake road results in a shooting injury

A weekend party resulted in an injury when someone started shooting in the middle of it. Wayne County Sheriff's deputies responded to the shooting at about 1:14 a.m. Sunday at 1451 Durham Lake Road. A press release said two people...

Less than a half inch of snow expected Wednesday

Less than half an inch of snow could fall across Wayne County as a band of winter precipitation, possibly mixing with rain, is expected to move across the central part of the state Wednesday morning into the afternoon. Snowfall accumulations...

Student-scientists vie for shot at regionals

Hunter Miller enjoys energy drinks. But he got to wondering what kind of effect the drinks were having on his body -- an idea he turned into a science fair project using water fleas. Miller, a junior at Charles...

After fire, lost pets matter more than possessions

Gypsy, Nugget, Kahmi and Coon. Brandi Steinhilber's voice cracks with emotion as she calls the names of her cats that died when fire destroyed the home she shares with her fiancé, Taylor Mills. But she is thankful for Godric,...

Streetscape: Next phase a go

The U.S. Department of Transportation has given city leaders the green light to move forward with the next phase of streetscape improvements in downtown Goldsboro. The estimated $6.7 million project, projected to start in 2017, was delayed at the...

County to get update on disaster relief block grants Tuesday

Wayne County commissioners will be updated on the county's nearly $17 million Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief program when they meet on Tuesday. County Manager Craig Honeycutt will provide the update during the board's formal session that starts at...

Sunday, January 14, 2018

More than just an eatery

It's where a group of men gather several times a week to solve the world's problems. It's where people gather to visit with friends. And it's where everyone gathers for a homecooked country meal. It's Rita's Place in Mount Olive....

Overturned turkey truck shuts down N.C. 55 near Mount Olive

UPDATE ---- 6:07 p.m.The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has shut down N.C. Highway 55, east of Mount Olive, near the intersection of Church Street. A turkey truck has overturned, spilling its contents. Trooper David Felton said that the driver,...

Roll sound: Malpass Bros. documentary to screen at the Paramount Theatre

Most people have probably heard of Goldsboro's very own Malpass Brothers, but may not know much about them. That will change with the premiere of a documentary about the brothers, their family and friends and the community that has supported...

Local, state offices to close for Martin Luther King Day

Local, state and federal offices, banks and post offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. All Wayne County offices will be closed with the exception of essential personnel from the...

Local Girl Scouts gear up for cookie season

Let the New Year's weight-loss resolutions crumble -- the Girl Scouts cookie sale is underway through March 4. It is a Girl Scout tradition that dates back 101 years. Local troops in the North Carolina Coastal Pines Council picked up...

First South Bank becomes CresCom Bank in March

First South Bank will be renamed CresCom Bank in March at its 28 locations, including Goldsboro, signifying the merger of two financial institutions. First South Bank customers were recently notified of the change, which follows the Nov. 1 acquisition of...

Goldsboro resident honored with 40 Under 40 Leadership Award

Jeremiah Daniels of Goldsboro is among the 40 outstanding East Carolina University alumni to be honored in the university's 2018 Class of 40 Under 40 Leadership Award. Daniels graduated from the College of Engineering and Technology with a degree in...

Flowers says he won't run for re-election

Board of Education member Arnold Flowers has announced that he does not intend to run for re-election in 2018 -- but what the future holds is still up in the air. Flowers made the announcement at the end of the...

Saturday, January 13, 2018

40 to 50 percent chance of snow Wednesday

Say it ain't snow, but don't put away the cold-weather and snow gear just yet. There is a 40 to 50 percent chance Wednesday that snow will fall on Wayne County for the second time in two weeks, according to...

Friday, January 12, 2018

Say it ain't snow: National Weather Service says there is a chance of snow Wednesday

Say it ain't snow, but don't put away the cold-weather and snow gear just yet. There is a 30 to 40 percent chance Wednesday that snow will fall on Wayne County for the second time in two weeks, according to...

Pikeville man charged for allegedly dumping dead dog on roadside

A Pikeville man is facing charges after allegedly dumping his grandson's dead, pregnant dog on the side of the road a few days ago. Robert Hugh Casper Jr., 56, 102 Gene Arthur Lane, Pikeville, is charged with cruelty to animals...

Man faces charges after allegedly raping a child

A 42-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly raping a child. Anthony Samato Wade Allen, of 1601 Cuyler Best Road, Apt. A3, is charged with felony statutory rape of a child under the age of 15 years old, felony...

Second information session held for summer youth employment program

Goldsboro teenagers filled the Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College Thursday for the second information session held for the Goldsboro summer youth employment program. The mandatory session, of which attendance is required for consideration of employment, offered interested teens with...

Line breaks cause discolored water in county

Subfreezing temperatures that contributed to water line breaks throughout the county also led to a discoloration of water from sink faucets. The city of Goldsboro and the Wayne Water District offices have received complaints of discolored water this week, following...

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Base exercise readies airmen for real world scenarios

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base conducted a simulated base takeover Thursday, as members of the 4th Security Forces Squadron trained to respond to small arms and chemical weapons attacks in a mock firefight.  The exercise began in the morning, starting...

Hospital enacts visitation restrictions amid rise in flu cases

Due to the increase of viral influenza cases in North Carolina, Wayne UNC Health Care announced that effective today, visiting restrictions are in place. Children under 12 may not visit inpatient areas or waiting rooms at the hospital. Others are...

Murder plea ends in prison sentence, scuffle outside courthouse

A homicide case came full circle Thursday when 19-year-old Jacques Torraines Atkinson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Wayne County Superior Court and was sentenced to up to 19 years in prison. The facts of the case showed Atkinson was...

Pickle Festival vendors can apply online

Applications for the 32nd annual N.C. Pickle Festival are posted on the festival website, www.ncpicklefest.org. "The deadline for early applications before a late fee is added is March 15 so please get your applications in early as we try...

County so far unaffected by particularly severe flu strain

Wayne County may be lagging behind in influenza activity, but there is still plenty of vaccine and officials are encouraging precautions and preventive measures. "Our activity for flu is low," Josa Raynor-Vaughn, communicable diseases program manager for the Health Department,...

With no hotel/restaurant nearby, Maxwell Center has trouble booking events

The Maxwell Center will open within two months, but the hotel included in the deal between Wayne County and the city of Goldsboro has been a non-starter. "The whole concept that we had with the Maxwell Center was based...

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Seymour Johnson to conduct exercise Thursday

Wayne County residents will have their day Thursday punctuated by jet noise and other military clamor as Seymour Johnson Air Force Base conducts an operational readiness exercise. The base announced in a press release Wednesday morning that the planned exercise...

Man is arrested for assaulting a child

A Goldsboro man is facing charges after allegedly assaulting a child in the presence of other children. Jammie Eugene Creekmore, 32, of 408 S. William St., was arrested Jan. 5 and is charged with felonious child abuse and three counts...

Gunfire hits two homes in city

Nobody was injured when two homes were hit by gunfire in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday. One home was struck just before noon Tuesday and another was shot early Wednesday morning. The first incident happened at a home in...

Preparation for summer jobs program starts now

Teens interested in summer jobs  through the City of Goldsboro's employment program attended the first of two mandatory information sessions, Tuesday night in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College. The next one will be offered Thursday night, 6-8 p.m. in...

Chamber leadership class forges new trail

Walk. Read. Relax on a bench, or exercise. Climb a rock wall; walk across a balance beam. There will soon be plenty of such activities to do on the walking trail at Dees Memorial Park in Pikeville thanks to...

County voters go to Raleigh as session begins

Wayne County voters are expected to go to Raleigh today to express their concerns about the ongoing judiciary changes being proposed at the General Assembly. Wayne County Democratic Party Chairperson Barbara D'Antonio said there will be around 10 people from...

Wayne County Public Schools makeup days

The Wayne County Public School System has announced dates for makeup days after schools closed due to snow and ice last week and early this week. For schools on the traditional calendar, Feb. 19, originally a teacher workday, will become...

Domo arigato, Wayne County 4-H

The 4-H Robotics FIRST Robotics Competition Team 3737 has had its most successful season yet, winning two competitions and three awards. Laura Alley, 4-H Robotics mentor, said 26 teens on the team responded to the 2017 season challenge, "FIRST...

School board meeting moved to Thursday

The Wayne County Board of Education meeting postponed earlier this week due to weather will instead be held Thursday, Jan. 11. The board will go into closed session at 3 p.m., with the regular meeting scheduled to begin afterward. The...

Genealogy workshop includes staff from State Archives

FREMONT -- A beginning genealogy workshop, the first in a series of three, will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site. Staff members from the State Archives of North...

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Man who died in Monday wreck is identified

A Raleigh man died shortly before 9 p.m. Monday after he lost control of his vehicle and collided with a tractor trailer on U.S. 13 near Hill Loop Road and West Hill Street, north Goldsboro. The N.C. State Highway Patrol...

Man allegedly steals puppy and sells it to buy drugs

A Dudley area man has been charged with stealing the family puppy and selling it in order to buy drugs. The puppy has been recovered. Christopher O'Neal Eakes, 41, of 295 Club Knolls Road, Dudley, has been charged by Wayne...

Two people unharmed, three cats die in fire on Charlie Braswell Road

Two people escaped unharmed from a Monday night house fire at 409 Charlie Braswell Road. Three of the five cats in the house at the time died. Two cats survived thanks to Wayne County EMS giving them oxygen. The fire...

Icy conditions lead to water main breaks

The arctic air that held Wayne County in its bitterly cold grip for nearly a week took a toll on water lines across Goldsboro. City public works crews have repaired 18 water mains and eight service lines since Jan....

Wayne County unemployment rate increases

More than 2,500 people in the labor force in Wayne County are unemployed, according to recently released data from North Carolina Department of Commerce. The county's unemployment rate showed a 0.5 percentage point spike in unemployment over the month...

Council at odds, once again

The city's methods for reporting crime statistics were up for debate Monday evening, as city councilman Bevan Foster accused Mayor Chuck Allen and City Manager Scott Stevens of being lax in their assessment of those numbers in the mayor's...

Multiple departments respond to fire

Oakland, Rosewood, Little River and Princeton Fire Departments responded to a fire at 409 Charlie Braswell Road around 6:45 Monday night. There was no word of what caused the fire at the time of press....

Wayne Community College schedules WorkKeys tests

Wayne Community College announced the January dates for the WorkKeys(r) tests for the National Career Readiness Certificate, or NCRC. The NCRC is recognized by employers across the state as a proven measurement of job skills. Wayne County leads the state...

Monday, January 8, 2018

Fatal wreck being investigated

An unidentified man is dead after his car collided with a tractor trailer on U.S. 13 near Hill Loop Road and West Hill Street Monday night. Just before 9 p.m., troopers with the N.C. State Highway Patrol responded to the...

All dressed up and nowhere to run

Police say a well-dressed man in a suit, coat and bow tie stole a woman's car Saturday before being stopped and arrested shortly after. At 6:10 p.m. Saturday, a woman reported to Goldsboro Police that an unidentified black man wearing...

WCPS to operate on three-hour delay Tuesday

Wayne County Public Schools will operate on a three-hour delay Tuesday. Classes and activities were cancelled Thursday and Friday last week, for all of the weekend and on Monday, due to ice and snow still being on the ground. In...

County to see temperature increase as arctic winds move out of the area

Wayne County residents can expect a drastic temperature change starting today as arctic winds give way to almost spring-like temperatures by late week. Nighttime lows that had been in the single digits over the past several nights will range instead...

Board of Education meeting rescheduled to Jan. 11

The Wayne County Board of Education meeting scheduled for today has been postponed, according to a press release from the Wayne County Public School system. The meeting will instead be held Thursday, Jan. 11. The board will go into closed...

Exercise Your Way to Health

Exercise is not just for bodybuilders or fitness buffs, but for anyone of any age who wants to have a healthier lifestyle. Regina Burston-Valley, Family Y group fitness instructor and personal trainer, said exercise should really start as soon as...

Generations in lesson planning

When Tracey Edmundson Ivey retires in a few weeks, she plans to trade in her high heels for work boots on the family farm. The vice president of institutional effectiveness and innovation at Wayne Community College is a teacher...

Martin Luther King Day celebration a week away

A social justice advocate and community organizer will be the guest speaker at the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Luncheon in Goldsboro. The Jan. 15 event will be at noon at the First Pentecostal Holiness Church,...

Council to look at zoning

The Goldsboro City Council will review a rezoning request for a future shopping center and site plans for a car wash during its meeting tonight. The council will meet for a 5 p.m. work session in the City Hall...

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Wayne County Public Schools to remain closed Monday

UPDATE ---- Information on Wayne Community College added at 5:33 p.m. Secondary roads and a number of Wayne County Public Schools campuses continue to have issues with lingering ice as temperatures have remained well below freezing since Wednesday's snowfall...

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Judges critical of judiciary maps

By MELINDA HARRELL mharrell@newsargus.com A proposed district court judiciary map coming out of the North Carolina Senate has raised the ire of some local district court judges. Judge David Brantley is an outspoken critic of the proposed Senate maps. He...

A wish granted

When Reid Martin was asked to what he would most like to do in the whole wide world, the 5-year-old came up with a simple list. Go to the park. Ride a ferris wheel. See Mickey Mouse. The folks at...

Warm meals, warm hearts

By ETHAN SMITH esmith@newsargus.com Doricia Benton asks her friend at the soup kitchen where her baby is. "At home," the friend replies. Benton walks over to another friend and chats with them, making sure they have everything they need. With...

Driver injured, likely to be charged in wreck

An older man was sent to the hospital when law enforcement says he pulled into traffic and got t-boned on U.S. 117 Saturday afternoon. N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper Matt Holloman said the man was driving a Ford Expedition and...

Minimal injuries reported due to weather, but officials warn further caution as ice remains

As of noon Friday there had been no reports of cold weather-related health issues at the Wayne UNC Health Care Emergency Department or at Mount Olive Family Medicine Center. However, 8 to 10 patients had been treated in the emergency...

Friday, January 5, 2018

Wayne Community College cancels all weekend activities due to hazardous conditions

Wayne Community College will remain closed through this weekend due to the hazards remaining from freezing temperatures and icy road conditions. All college classes and activities for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are canceled. Any changes to this schedule will be...

County taxes are due by 5 p.m. today

Wayne County taxpayers have until 5 p.m. today to pay their 2017 property taxes without penalty. A 2-percent penalty will be added to bills not paid by the deadline. An additional three-quarters of a percent will be added at the...

Rescue group helps keep pets warm

If you are cold, then your pet is cold.  Linda Turner, of Paw-N-Hand Rescue, has been out with her friends and colleagues trying to spread that very word to area pet owners. "I cannot stress enough that they are not...

In front of snowfall, locals rushed to stock up

One of the most popular activities on Wednesday afternoon, as the clock ticked down to the predicted snow storm, had to be grocery shopping. Piggy Wiggly manager Terry Murchison was braced. "We got plenty of water, bread, milk and juice,"...

Founder of women's clinic dies at age 90

A well-respected Goldsboro physician who worked in the profession until his 82nd birthday has died. Dr. Talbot "Tod" Fort Parker Jr. was 90 years old at the time of his passing, on Dec. 30, in Waynesville. Born in Goldsboro, he...

Schools cancel all weekend activities, including games and science fair

The Wayne County Public School System has announced a series of cancellations over the weekend due to cold weather and icy road conditions. All weekend activities are canceled, and WCPS campuses will be closed to the public Saturday and Sunday....

Wind chill advisory in effect

A wind chill advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. today and again from 8 p.m. today until 10 a.m. Saturday for sections of central and eastern North Carolina. Also, a winter weather advisory for black ice remains in effect...

City crews plow and salt roadways ahead of threat of black ice

Goldsboro public works crews worked throughout the day Thursday to salt and plow city roadways before nightfall when any snow is expected to refreeze. Rick Fletcher, Goldsboro public works director, said black ice is expected this morning with little...

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Fremont announces curfew

The Town of Fremont has instituted a town-wide curfew from 8 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. Friday, in response to icy road conditions in the town.  The town announced the curfew on its Facebook page early this afternoon, where...

Businesses remain open despite weather

Last night's snowfall has not stopped many local businesses from opening, as restaurants and grocery stores across the county are operating on regular hours today.  For anyone looking to pick up groceries in Goldsboro, Harris Teeter and Carlie C's on...

WCPS closed Friday

Wayne County Public Schools will be closed to staff and students Friday due to icy road conditions, the school system announced on its Twitter page today.  The schools have had shortened schedules all week, beginning with two-hour delays on Monday...

Black ice to make roads dangerous

The winter storm warning for central and eastern North Carolina has been canceled and replaced by a winter weather advisory for black ice through 7 a.m. Saturday. A winter weather advisory for black ice means that travel will remain hazardous...

Family loses home to fire on Merrywood Drive

A family is without a home after their mobile home at 114 Merrywood Drive was engulfed by flames late Thursday morning. Lori Tripp said she was in bed and began waking up when she felt it getting warmer than...

UPDATE ----Wayne County blanketed

Update (10:50 a.m.) ---- N.C. Department of Transportation crews worked overnight Wednesday and are working all day today in an effort to clear off the snow that has blanketed Wayne County. The crews pre-treated roads and bridges with a brine...

Maintaining safety, home

Plumbing and heating repair technicians have been flooded with service calls this week as subfreezing temperatures grip the Wayne County area. And as snow blankets the area today, even more problems could occur, including busted water pipes and frozen heating...

Propane, salt, milk and bread

City of Goldsboro snowplows and salt spreaders will be out on city streets responding to trouble areas as winter weather blankets the area. The city's two snowplows are planned to hit more treacherous areas, including bridges, steep roadways and overpasses,...

Winter 'snow'down

Forecasts late Wednesday suggested the extreme southeastern part of the county could receive up to 6 inches of snow, while the extreme western edge of the county anticipated slightly less snowfall, between 3 and 5 inches. In preparation for...

Schools, offices alter schedules

Organizations and services all over Wayne County are modifying their hours in response to potential snow expected to begin falling. Wayne Community College closed at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and remained closed for the rest of the day and all...

*** Empty Stocking Fund ***

Donations may be made by mailing checks made out to the Empty Stocking Fund to P.O. Box 10629, Goldsboro, NC 27532. Or donors can simply stop by the newspaper office at 310 N. Berkeley Blvd. Chris and Shannon Taylor, $25,...

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Wayne County Public Schools closed Thursday

Pending snowfall forecast to reach up to between 3 and 6 inches over parts of Wayne County and surrounding areas Wednesday night into Thursday morning has prompted the county school system to close to both staff and students Thursday. Schools...

Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver extra food in front of winter storm

When there's a threat of bad weather, people usually head to the store to stock up on supplies. But what about those who are homebound and normally receive food from Meals on Wheels? Brownie Doss, director of older adult services...

Officials offer safety tips as the eastern region prepares for winter weather

With Wayne County preparing for snow and ice expected later today, emergency and public safety organizations both state and local are urging caution in dealing with the weather. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much...

Snow likely to fall after 5 p.m. today, 4 inches is expected by Thursday morning

Snow is likely, mainly after 5 p.m. today, with the heaviest snowfall occurring overnight burying the eastern half of Wayne County under up to 4 inches of snow by Thursday morning. The  western half of the county could be covered...

Shelters fill up as bitter cold sweeps in

With Wayne County in the middle of a cold snap, the Salvation Army of Goldsboro's men's shelter is already full, leaving many looking for other ways to get out of the cold. Capt. Sherrie Stokes, with the Salvation Army,...

Community mourns the loss of John Chance

John Chance is being remembered for his ever-present, wide smile and positive outlook and for being a wonderful person who cared more about others than he did himself. He is being remembered as well as a person who spent...

County schools announce closures, early dismissal

In light of expected snowfall, Wayne County Public Schools announced some school closures and early dismissals for others today. Wayne/Early Middle College High School and the Wayne School of Engineering will be closed today and all schools on the...

Home on North Running Deer Circle shot into on New Year's Day

The new year started off with the wrong kind of excitement for three people in the 100 block of North Running Deer Circle when their home was hit by gunfire. The victims -- a man, woman and 9-year-old child...

GHS' SRO officer Nicki Artis says goodbye after 13 years

Nicki Artis leans against a dark blue locker. His smile gives way to laughter as he talks to a Goldsboro High School student. It might seem like just another conversation, but Artis is actually defusing potential drama in the halls....

Picture a world filled with kindness ...

Charles B. Aycock High School teacher Tammy Vail has been promoting altruism at Charles B. Aycock High School. Earlier this year, she encouraged all homeroom students to create and post unselfies, pictures of themselves holding paper pledges to do...

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Schools announce early dismissal, closures due to expected snowfall

In light of an expected snowfall, Wayne County Public Schools announced the closures of some schools and early dismissals for others on Wednesday. Wayne/Early Middle College High School and the Wayne School of Engineering will be closed Wednesday and all...

County schools undecided on whether to cancel school tomorrow in preparation for expected snowfall

The Wayne County Public School System has not decided whether or not to cancel or delay school tomorrow, as the county prepares for potential snowfall. Ken Derksen, WCPS spokesman, said that the district has not made a choice on the...

UPDATE: Northeast Elementary closure is result of freezing temps, other two closures due to damaged water line

Three county schools have been closed after suffering utility failures, with one closure a direct result of the freezing temperatures. At Northeast, an issue with the fuel pipes beneath the school left the building without heat, Ken Derksen, spokesperson for...

Police: Man arrested while trying to rob PNC Bank

Goldsboro police arrested a man while he was allegedly in the middle of robbing a local bank this morning. John William Bolton, 29, of 100 Lisa Drive, Pikeville, is charged with breaking and entering, safecracking, larceny, damage to property, possession...

Three schools are closed today after utility failures

Grantham Elementary, Grantham Middle and Northeast Elementary schools have been closed after suffering utility failures, Wayne County Public Schools announced in an email today. Grantham Elementary and Grantham Middle are without water after a construction crew working in the area...

Up to 3 inches of snow expected in Wayne County

Up to 3 inches of snow could fall across the area Wednesday afternoon and evening. And the frigid temperatures and bitterly low wind chills will continue through the remainder of the week, with the worst expected Thursday night through Saturday....

A drop in the barrel

It may have been 7 p.m. when the pickle dropped in Mount Olive Sunday, but it was New Year's Day somewhere. Hundreds came together at the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. plant Sunday to ring in the new year together,...

Sector growth may have missed county

Data released by the North Carolina Department of Commerce depicts the state's private sector growth over 2017, but preliminary data indicates that Wayne County might be lagging behind. With the state's unemployment rate at 4.3 percent, private sector companies...

Wayne County Sheriff's Office ACE Team, Warrant Division net drug arrests

A traffic stop in the area of Thoroughfare Road on Dec. 30 resulted in drug charges being filed against the driver. Paul Eugene Bennett, 48, 111 Wolf Lane, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He...

Monday, January 1, 2018

County schools to return from holiday on two-hour delay due to frigid temperatures

Due to the frigid temperatures and bitter cold wind chills anticipated in the morning, Wayne County Public Schools will have a two-hour delay tomorrow, Tuesday, January 2.This message from WCPS communications director Ken Derksen comes as the National Weather Service...

National Weather Service: Snowfall possible on Wednesday

As freezing temperatures sweep into the area, the National Weather Service is reporting that the chance of snowfall or snow/rain mix over the eastern portion of central North Carolina is possible Wednesday. An inch or less of snow is expected...

On the homefront, going above and beyond for their neighbors

Little things in life are important -- little things like a drawing by a young child excited by her new Christmas tree. It is a drawing that Kate Tinsley says she will keep for the rest of her life....