The seeds were planted long ago.

Long before the summer recreation tennis season and long before last year's doubles first.     

The North Lenoir tennis team surfaced 20 years ago, just a few interested in the program.

It had early success, but nothing compared to today.

See, today’s efforts, an extension of a two-decade foundation, has made a maturing program blossom.

North Lenoir, which currently has two losses on the year, historically defeated Greene Central for the first time in school history this season. Senior leadership and all-inclusive dedication helped the Hawks excel as a team to be reckoned with.

Undefeated (6-0) in Eastern Carolina 2A Conference action, North Lenoir is two wins shy of an outright league title — what could be its first conference championship in 15 years.

“I think we’re all just motivated to get the win,” said Evan Kremer, a four-year starter. Since he’s played at the high school level, the Hawks have been on the brink of capturing a league title.

“We came in second twice and third once,” he said. “We’ve been close but never got it, so I think everybody just really wants it.”

Kremer, the Hawks’ No. 1 who is undefeated in his singles matches this season, made school history last year when he and Will Hardy became the first North Lenoir doubles team to play for a state championship. They were last season’s 2A runner-up.

With the trickle-down effects of the 2014 accomplishments, the Hawks are focusing on the two teams standing in the way: Ayden-Grifton and Goldsboro.

North Lenoir defeated both in the first cycle of the respective series earlier this year — but by a hair. The Hawks took each match, 5-4.

Two important games

After completing singles with Ayden-Grifton and Goldsboro, North Lenoir was tied, 3-3.

The Hawks doubles made the difference in each matchup.  

“We’re a very good doubles team,” North Lenoir coach Scott Alston said. “That’s been the deciding factor in how we got here. Our doubles has been our biggest strength.”           

Next week will be a challenge for the ambitious Hawks, but they, with perfection on the line, will try to stick to their game plan.

They travel to Goldsboro Tuesday and play host to Ayden-Grifton Thursday, their final home contest of the regular season.

“We’re going to try to get out to games early and try to relax,” Alston said. “The more they think about certain things, the more it tenses them up. I think as long as they relax, they’ll play well — just like anybody with anything.”

While NL has relied on its doubles, its only starting freshman played through a tough singles bout against Goldsboro on March 25.  

Buying in

Brett Howard won his singles match, 6-4, 4-6, 0-0 (1-0), in a tiebreaker against the Cougars, setting up a 3-3 score before a pair of doubles victories secured the win.  

He started playing tennis in sixth grade and, as the No. 6, has made an impact on a prosperous Hawks team this season.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” he said. “We have to work on things individually and then we have to work on things as a team. In doubles, you can’t just rely on yourself.”

Howard was one of a small practice crew Thursday afternoon at Bill Faye Park.

Spring Break didn’t stop this team.

Alston said his Hawks convene on some weekends when even he can’t be there.           

“They go the extra mile,” Alston said, “and I think it’s paying off for them.”

Alston has coached many of his players since their younger years in rec programs. He also played on North Lenoir’s very first tennis team in 1995.

He said the school’s program is starting to “see the fruits of” growing rec leagues.

Additionally, Kremer played a hand in recruiting some of his friends to tennis years ago.

“It’s just meant a lot playing with them and getting the wins,” he said.

And their 2015 goal is right on the horizon.

The fruition

North Lenoir tennis swept Greene Central, 9-0, on March 13 — and again on the March 31.  

“It was just incredible to get the chance to finally beat them after losing to them three straight years,” Kremer said of the traditionally strong program in Snow Hill.

Along with the outer-country rivalry the Hawks formed with the Rams over the past few seasons, they’ve added AG and Goldsboro to the we’ve-got-you-circled list.

“Before the season, they were looking at us,” Alston said of the two. “We knew we’d have a tough time with them.”

But once NL cleared the pair of challenges, things started to click: “‘Hey, let’s go out and play, let’s get better, we see how much better we can be,’” Alston said, repeating the influential remarks from his older players to the young.

 Senior Jacob Howell cited the team’s unyielding commitment to what’s happened this year, what’s come into fruition.

“Everybody’s working hard as a team,” he said. “We practice hard every day and everybody’s giving their part. You cannot do it by yourself.

“You gotta work as a team.”

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan. 

North Lenoir’s 2015 tennis season

3/02      Greenville Oakwood     L             9-0

3/04      East Duplin        W           5-4

3/09      East Duplin        W           6-3

3/10      Kinston                W           9-0

3/13      Greene Central W           9-0

3/16      Wilson Beddingfield      W           9-0

3/18      Greenville Oakwood     L             9-0

3/24      Ayden-Grifton  W           5-4

3/25      Goldsboro          W           5-4

3/31      Greene Central W            9-0

4/01      Kinston                W           6-3

4/14      at Goldsboro

4/16      vs Ayden-Grifton

LA GRANGE | The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office found a woman stabbed to death in a mobile home around 2:33 a.m. Sunday.

The homicide took place in the 200 block of East Washington Street.

“This investigation is still ongoing with processing of the crime scene and interview of witnesses,” Lenoir County Sheriff Ronnie Ingram said in a statement. “Our investigations and patrol divisions are working the scene to determine who committed this terrible act.  At this time, there is no information to show there is an ongoing threat to the community.”

Lenoir County EMS and the La Grange Fire Department are assisting LCSO investigators at the scene.

The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of her family.

Anyone with information pertaining to the homicide is encouraged to contact the LCSO at 252-559-6118.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.  

MOREHEAD CITY | The comments were mixed at a Thursday night public hearing as residents opposed to proposed seismic testing off the North Carolina coast challenged industry representatives who said any impacts would be minimal and short term.

The public hearing held by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management drew a group of about 75 people to the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City, and the majority who attended opposed the idea of seismic testing off the coast for oil and gas exploration.

After the first hour and half of the hearing, nearly 20 people had spoken, with about two-thirds of them making comments against seismic activities off the coast.

Kendra Daniels, a Texas native who now lives in Atlantic Beach, said many of her family members worked in the oil industry and it’s not what she wants to see come to the North Carolina coast.

She said any jobs created would be filled by employees from elsewhere and the BP oil spill shows oil and gas exploration comes with a risk.

Daniels cautioned that allowing the proposed seismic testing will only open the door to more related activities and potential drilling for oil off the coast.

“There’s no turning back,” she said.

That’s not necessarily so, said representatives who work in the industry.

Ken Wells, president of the International Association of Geophysical Contractors based in Houston, said the testing can eliminate areas that may not prove to be feasible locations for oil or gas exploration.

“The value of this type of testing is that we are able to take areas out of consideration,” Wells said.

The Division of Coastal Management has received federal consistency submissions from four companies that have applied for federal permits to conduct seismic surveys in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

While the surveys would take place entirely in federal waters and the state does not have the authority the permit the projects, it does have the authority to review applications to determine if the proposed activities are consistent with the state’s certified coastal management program.

Due to the widespread interest in the topic, the division added the public hearing to the review process to allow as much opportunity of public input as possible.

Wells said that their experience with seismic testing is that it is short-term and limited to the immediate area where activities are taking place.

Doug Nowacek, a Duke University Marine Lab professor, said that there is research to show that seismic testing impacts fisheries and marine habitat.

“I think it’s damaging to say there is no impact,” he said.

And with multiple permits proposed, he noted that seismic activities by more than one company could be taking place in the same place at the same time.

Nowacek and several others opposed to the activities said there’s not enough information to know what the full impact will be on the various species.

Resident Penny Hooper spoke as a member of the Croatan Group of the Sierra Club and Interfaith Power & Light and as the wife of a commercial fisherman.

She said oil and natural gas exploration isn’t the way to go when looking for energy alternatives.

“We need to focus on clean power,” she said.

Morehead City resident Corrine Geer asked only if the risk is worth taking.

“My question to you is, ‘Who will pay?’” she said in her one-question comment.

The comments from the public hearing will be considered during the review along with the comments received during the public comment period for each company’s submission.

The state has 90 days after receipt of each submission to make a determination of consistency. The first is due April 23 and the others soon after.

NEW BERN | Gilbert Waters’ grandchildren want to see the Buggymobile come home.

Late in the 1890s Gilbert Waters, the son of a father-and-son buggy-making business on Broad Street in New Bern, was in Baltimore when he saw a horseless buggy chugging and banging down the road. Fascinated, he determined he would make one for himself and, in 1898, turned out his first “Buggymobile,” a stick-steered rendition of one of the family buggies. Mounted to the front was an odd looking radiator of coils, mounted in back was a small engine, and under the seat were rows of telephone batteries to power the thing.

He cannibalized his original car to build another one in 1903, then tried to raise capital to open a factory and begin manufacturing his line. It was the right invention in the wrong place at the right time: bankers told him he was dreaming and that his contraption would never be accepted by the public. His own father was furious with him for his tinkering and demanded it come to a stop.

And so, while Henry Ford found believers and developed an empire, Gilbert Waters was forced to return to his buggy trade and watch his dream destroy his reality as the automotive industry shut the buggy businesses down.

Waters kept a good face, however, turning to tire sales until his retirement. He was popular in town and his Buggymobile would become a kind of national curiosity that he would drive for the next 40 years until his death in 1950. The car would even be shipped by train to Manhattan where Waters would drive it around Central Park and appear on a nationally-broadcast radio show.

In 1948 the Buggymobile was donated to the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, where it stands on permanent display with other automobiles of significance to North Carolina history.

But Jack Waters of Amelia, Va., one of Gilbert Waters’ four surviving grandchildren, would like to see his grandfather’s car come home.

To that end he and three other descendants — Fran Summerhays, Judy Brickhouse and Penny Rae — have been sending letters suggesting their wishes to officials in the state museum system.

Although none of them live in the area (the others live in Charlotte, Chattanooga and Utah), they are still fond of New Bern and believe the town should own the car.

“It has a story to be told,” Waters said. “In an environment like New Bern it will attract more attention. For the folks visiting it will have more meaning.”

“The family appreciates the excellent manner in which our grandfather’s car was restored, and exhibited over these past 67 years,” he said in a letter to the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, “but we have a profound love for New Bern and its Renaissance over the past years, and now we believe it is time to have the Buggymobile exhibited in New Bern.”

He would especially like to see it at the Firemen’s Museum, “because they have a couple of wagons that Granddaddy built.”

A Waters buggy is part of the display at the museum: a hose wagon, once pulled by Fred, a popular fire horse whose preserved head is also part of the display.

The museum is also located just a few yards from the spot where the original Waters Buggy Factory once stood, and will soon be on the same spot: the old fire station, where the museum will be moving this year, is built on the same plot as that original factory.

Local officials, both in the local museum and city offices, seem to have mixed feelings.

One board member at the Firemen’s Museum stated there would be no reason to display the vehicle since it is not actually related to firefighting. Besides, the member noted, there would be no room in the museum for it.

Sabrina Bengel, another member of the firemen’s museum board, however, was more enthusiastic. Although she agreed it could never fit into the old fire station, she believes that, instead of selling the present firemen’s museum once the artifacts are moved, the city could use it to display other historical artifacts.

“The museum prides itself on having a collection that was actually used in New Bern,” she pointed out. “I’d love to see Mr. Waters’ buggy come back. I’d like to see it come back to the old museum.”

Mayor Dana Outlaw also expressed enthusiasm to keep the car if it could come, whether it would be in the old museum or at the N.C. History Center, a state-certified museum. He added that the city had paid to have the old museum appraised and that the Board of Aldermen is leaning toward selling the building, but “we have a lot of real estate. We could figure something out.

“When I was on the firemen’s board one of the most popular things in there was the Civil War items,” he added, pointing out that the museum is not exclusively fire-related items.

But there is a very big “If.”

If the state would be willing to let it go.

Which is not likely, according to LaRae Umfleet, assistant director at Tryon Palace.

Umfleet was chief of collections management for the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources before she took the job at Tryon Palace and, coincidentally, was the person Waters first wrote regarding his grandfather’s car.

“The staff realized it was an important part of our story,” Umfleet said of the Buggymobile’s being donated to the state. It was placed in the permanent exhibit, “The Story of North Carolina.”

“It’s in the section with the Wright Flyer and other pieces from across the state telling of North Carolina innovation and technology,” she said. “It’s seen by at least 150,000 to 200,000 visitors every year.

“It’s important for New Bern’s story to be told across the state and having such a great piece of New Bern history in Raleigh tells our story for people who may not come to New Bern.”

Umfleet thanked Waters for his letter but told him the Buggymobile’s moving was not likely to happen.

She did offer some alternatives:

“It would be just a matter of some paperwork and planning, but we could potentially bring the Buggymobile for an exhibition at the History Center,” she said. “It would take a good deal of work and planning to make it happen, but I could investigate that.”

She said it would be a long-term project that would take months to pull together if it were tried, but it is a possibility.

She also told Waters that the collections staff at the museum would be willing to work with craftspeople to build a replica for display at the History Center, Firemen’s Museum, or other places, should anyone be able to raise funds for it.

Outlaw stated that he would support a loan of the original, and the possibility of a replica being built as a result.

Waters said Umfleet’s response was not surprising to him. Still, he’d like to see the car come home. “That’s something that needs to be told,” he said. “A gentleman that put a gasoline engine on a buggy: I believe it... ties together with New Bern’s history. That’s how we feel about it. I’m 80 years old. I want to make sure my grandchildren have that vehicle in place where they can go to see it.”

Umfleet agrees with Waters’ point about the significance of the car. She just believes the original, at least, needs to stay where it is. “It’s being seen and loved by people all over,” she said. “You can’t ask for more than that.”

Gabriel Smith, 11, hand-sews the strap of a canvas bag, called a haversack, during a Saturday workshop at the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. During the Civil War, Confederate and Union soldiers used haversacks that slung over the body to carry provisions. The museum’s workshop allowed participants to make one of their own. 

What would compel a Down East boy who graduated from Bob Jones University to head to Winston-Salem to work with the outcasts of society?

Neal Wilcox, author of “God’s Providence, My Privilege,” answers that question in the opening words of the first chapter of his book:

“God in His infinite wisdom does not provide us with a detailed itinerary for our life’s journey, but through His Word, and our understanding of it, He provides all the directions we need to reach the goal He has set for us.”

“God’s Providence, My Privilege” is the revelation of how that journey has unfolded so far in the life of this minister. You can meet the author and obtain a copy of his book 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library.

Wilcox was born in 1937 in Nash County. His father was absent, so his mother moved with him to live with her parents on a Lenoir County tobacco farm 12 miles outside of Kinston. He grew up in a house without electricity. “Running water” meant someone in the family was hustling home with two buckets from a neighbor’s well.

After finishing high school, Wilcox eventually enrolled at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., for the next leg of his journey. He studied hard, worked in the Dining Common, and sold books during the summer to earn money for his next year in college. During one book-selling training session, he stayed at the Nashville Rescue Mission and helped with the mission’s work. This experience served him well when the call came to help establish a rescue mission in Winston-Salem.

Most of us have experienced loving someone with an alcohol problem. We know the constant frustration of reaching out to those who seem bound and determined to destroy themselves. Few things can destroy a person’s life as completely as substance abuse. Alcohol and other substances can steal dads and moms from their children, destroy homes, devastate careers, and demolish the health of abusers.

Having the compassion and toughness to work with abusers is a special gift. In the case of Neal Wilcox, that gift was, in his view, God’s providential gift to him. The nearly half century of service has been his privilege in using God’s gift.

Wilcox recounts how God always provided. The first mammoth task was obtaining the supplies, equipment and funding to operate the mission. Wilcox went throughout the greater Winston-Salem area sharing the vision for a mission dedicated to changing the lives of those addicted to substance abuse.

When the mission needed an accountant, postal employee Billy Royal, trained in accounting, volunteered to keep the mission’s books – and faithfully continued in that position for 30 years. Business owner Woody Lewellyn volunteered to do plumbing to get the mission up and running. Area Christians provided money and manpower to ensure the mission would open on its target date – July 22, 1967.

The book chiefly gives a history of the mission’s growth and accomplishments. Nearly 70 pages toward the book’s end is titled “Trophies of God’s Grace” and shares the stories of dozens of men whose lives turned around through God’s grace and the mission’s work.

I left the book with two thoughts in mind.

First, anyone from any walk of life and background can fall prey to substance abuse.

Second, the Lord still works miracles through those willing to walk by faith and humbly accept the journey He has prepared for them.

Psalm 37:23 assures us: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Neal Wilcox is living proof these words are as true today as they were in the days of David.

Be sure to meet him when he visits the public library Saturday.

Mike Parker is a columnist for The Free Press. You can reach him at mparker16@suddenlink.net or in care of this newspaper.

The Nina and Pinta, replicas of ships used by Christopher Columbus, are slated to arrive in Morehead City today for tours at the Sanitary Fish Company. Teachers or organizations wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member should call 1-787-672-2152 or visit www.ninapinta.org, click on ‘Take a Tour’ and fill out an online form. Groups must have a minimum of 15 people. The cost is $5 per person. Email columfnd1492@gmail.com for more information.

Tommy Pressly, 68, may be known as the owner of Ideal Cleaners, but is probably not so known as an artist.

That’s because he had never taken an art class until someone invited him to take Bettie Seville’s art classes at the George F. Skinner Senior Center in August.

“I painted a barn one time,” Pressly said, referring to an actual barn, “but other than that, that was the extent of my painting.”

His first project was to paint the eye of a cat. The completed painting was later displayed at Kinston Community Council for the Arts.

To Pressly’s surprise, Sandy Landis, the arts council’s executive director, purchased it.

“It sure shocked me,” he said.

In the first weekend in April, three of Pressly’s paintings sold at BuyLocal Gallery.

“They were filming ‘A Chef’s Life’ and there was a crowd,” he said, explaining why he believes so many sold.

At home, Pressly didn’t have a single art supply to his name. But in no time, his art studio began taking over the home space.

“Just to keep a little peace in the family,” he said, “I moved it out of there.”

Now he’s got his studio set up in a corner of his office at the cleaners.

Pressly mostly paints animals using acrylics on canvas, but he also paints some landscapes and flowers.

“I’ve done some Picasso prints — that was a challenge,” he said.

His current project is a beagle puppy and a baby rabbit.

“I love doing eyes,” Pressly said. “I guess that first one set me on fire with those eyes, and it’s fun.”

With a family history of dry cleaning shop owners, the son of Earl and Mariana Rochelle Pressly, both deceased, worked at his father and uncle’s laundry facility growing up.

“Our family has been in the dry cleaning and laundry business probably at least 75 years,” he said.

After graduating from high school — Augusta Military Academy in Staunton, Va. — in 1966, he worked at the family business, Pressly’s Cleaners, for five years.

But then he switched gears and worked as a men’s clothing buyer at Weil’s department store in Goldsboro. That lasted about seven years.

Pressly got back into dry cleaning when he purchased Ideal Cleaners 35 years ago in March 1980.

“But that experience at Weil’s has been valuable to me,” he said, adding he learned much about fabrics and fitting. He currently has eight employees.

But Pressly’s idea to retire and spend more time painting was thwarted recently.

“The light at the end of the tunnel was a train coming the wrong way,” he said about his disrupted retirement plan.

Still, that’s what Pressly would like to do, but he’d have to find somewhere else to paint and it wouldn’t be in his house.

“I find (painting) quite enjoyable, relaxing and it’s a wonderful stress relief,” he said.

Pressly is married to Laura Taylor Pressly, who’s owned La Petite Boutique at Frenchman’s Creek for more than 36 years.

His paintings are for sale at BuyLocal Gallery, 115 W. North St., in a farm theme exhibit. A Beer and Art Stroll will happen from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at BuyLocal Gallery, the arts council, Overland Gallery and Queen Street Deli.

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.

Breakout box:

Tommy Pressly

Age: 68

Education: Augusta Military Academy, Staunton, Va., 1966

Career: Retail clothing, dry cleaning

Hobby: Painting

GREENVILLE | As first in her junior category group, Sara Elizabeth Jones escorted her calf, Jessa, to the outside of the arena gate.

Jessa, perhaps sensing the tension in the air, let out a low, anxious moo.

A subsequent call-and-response between Jessa and a few of the other heifers waiting for their moment in front of the judges was all in the course of business at the Down East Dairy Show at the Pitt County Fairgrounds.

About 50 participants, aged five to 17 years old, exhibited calves from Simply Natural Creamery as the culmination of the eight-week Down East Dairy Project, an effort put forward by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service for Lenoir, Greene and Pitt counties and Simply Natural.

The calves remain on the farm, but the project exists to educate students whose families may not be able — for whatever reason — to sustain raising dairy cows at home.

According to the extension service, “Parents and children are expected to learn to push, pull, brush, wash, lead, and clip their calves. However, the goal is to create a confident child who can do all these things himself.”

Faith Hoskins, with her calf Sadie, said it provides a way to enhance her college applications while doing something she enjoys.

“When I go (apply) to college, I don’t really do much outside of school, so I’m like, ‘This will be good,’” Hoskins said. “And I like cows. They’re really cute.”

Jones was initially attracted by the creamery itself, and decided she wanted to get involved in the process.

“I really, really, really like Simply Natural Creamery, and I’ve always kind of wondered, like, how to do something like this, because I thought it’d be really fun,” Jones said. “So I signed up.”

After a $25 fee and registration as of Jan. 30, participants in the dairy project began their work Feb. 21 with their assigned heifer, along with dinner and a tour of the creamery. Practice sessions continued from there, twice a week, through Thursday.

Hoskins described each practice as its own little adventure.

“Well, let me tell you – it’s always funny any time we go, because there’s always cows escaping,” Hoskins said. “It’s just a good environment. And you get ice cream sometimes.”

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.

LA GRANGE | A woman’s ex-boyfriend and a 13-year-old girl were arrested Sunday night for planning and stabbing to death earlier that morning in the 200 block of East Washington Street.

Wanda Lee Dethlefsen was 33 years old.

Lenoir County Sheriff Ronnie Ingram said investigators uncovered the suspects by traditional detective work, “from talking to people who were there at the house, talking to family and friends, and once we talked to (the suspects), they gave a full confession.”

Roderick Reco Wyche, 20, received felony counts of murder and conspiracy and placed into the W.E. “Billy” Smith Detention Center without bond.

He was already due in court Wednesday regarding a 2014 case that resulted in misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and committing a probation violation.

The identity of the girl, a family member, isn’t being released on account of her age. In addition to planning the homicide, officials also said she obstructed investigators and tried to conceal Wyche’s identity.

She’s being held at a juvenile detention center.

Wyche made his first appearance in Lenoir County District Court today.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.  

UPCOMING GAMES

TODAY

Baseball

Kinston at Greene Central 7 p.m.

North Lenoir at South Lenoir 7 p.m.

Parrott at Coastal Christian 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Kinston at Greene Central 7 p.m.

North Lenoir at South Lenoir 7 p.m.

Soccer

Bethel at Gramercy Christian 4 p.m.

North Lenoir at South Lenoir 6 p.m.

Parrott at Coastal Christian 5:15 p.m.

Tennis

North Lenoir at Goldsboro 4 p.m.

Parrott at Coastal Christian 4 p.m. 

Track and Field

North Lenoir at Kinston 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Baseball

Fayetteville Academy vs. Parrott at Grainger Stadium 4:30 p.m.

Greene Central at C.B. Aycock 5 p.m.

Lacrosse

Greenville Conley at Parrott 5:30 p.m.

LCC baseball

LCC at College of Albemarle 4 p.m.

Tennis

Fayetteville Academy at Parrott 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

Baseball

South Lenoir at Greene Central 7 p.m.

Golf

Epiphany School vs. Parrott at Kinston CC 1 p.m.

Soccer

Cape Fear at Parrott 5:15 p.m.

Softball

South Lenoir at Greene Central 7 p.m.

Tennis

Ayden-Grifton at North Lenoir 4 p.m.

Cape Fear at Parrott 3:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

Ayden-Grifton at Kinston 7 p.m.

Bethel at Friendship Christian 6 p.m.

North Lenoir at Goldsboro 7 p.m.

Parrott at Wayne Christian 6 p.m.

Soccer

South Lenoir at Greene Central

Softball

Ayden-Grifton at Kinston 7 p.m.

Village Christian at Parrott 5:30 p.m.

Soccer

Bethel at Friendship Christian 4 p.m.

North Lenoir at Goldsboro 6 p.m.

SATURDAY

LCC Baseball

Wake Tech CC vs. LCC at Grainger Stadium 1 p.m. *

SUNDAY

LCC Baseball

Wake Tech CC at LCC noon

DEEP RUN | In the final inning of South Lenoir’s Grand Strand tournament game against Pigeon Forge, the pressure began mounting on Matti Beyer.

The Blue Devils junior pitcher hadn’t allowed a hit through the first six innings, and she wanted to keep it that way.

She did.

Beyer pitched a no-hitter against Pigeon Forge (Tennessee) on the second day of the tournament in Myrtle Beach, setting up South Lenoir for the eventual Grand Strand championship, as the Devils came home with the hardware. 

 “Knowing that I had a no-hitter and you have to get three more outs to keep it and that one little hit could mess it up, it was kind of nerve-wracking,” Beyer said of the last inning against PF. “I was very happy that we could come out with the win. I was obviously very pleased with the help of my team.           

 “I wouldn’t have thrown no-hitter without them.”

Beyer, last season’s Free Press Pitcher of the Year, threw a no-hitter against Ayden-Grifton last year. She struck out six that game, as South Lenoir finished undefeated in Eastern Carolina 2A Conference play to win the league title.

But this time around for Beyer was a bit different — last week, she collected 12 strikeouts against PF.  

 “That was just big,” Beyer said. “I usually don’t have that many strikeouts. I usually have two or three, four or five. I was very happy and pleased with that.”

Beyer got involved in her sport when she was 8-years old. She stayed with it since, for her, it’s a “getaway.”

 “It helps me get my mind off other things,” said Beyer, who collected two wins and a save during the Blue Devils’ successful Spring Break trip. “It’s something I love and I love to do.”

South Lenoir (8-2-1, 1-0 EC2A) is schedule to host rival North Lenoir tonight at 7.

Beyer said the Grand Strand title helped ready the team for the rest of the conference season.               

 “I was good to go down and see teams that we hadn’t seen before,” she said. “You get very good practice. It will prepare us better to play North Lenoir.”

Beyer is 6-0 as a pitcher this season, allowing 11 runs on the year. She has already collected conference-leading 41 strikeouts and her earned run average sits at 1.35.

She described her time playing in South Lenoir’s program as “incredible.”

 “My team always has my back no matter what,” Beyer said. “I wouldn’t be nearly as good a pitcher if it weren’t for them.”

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.

The Free Press Athlete of the Week

Name: Matti Beyer

School: South Lenoir High School

Age: 17

Hometown: Albertson

Sport / Position: Softball / Pitcher 

Favorite class: English

Fun fact: Killed her first buck, a 4-pointer, this year on a hunting trip 

DEEP RUN | They are both undefeated in conference play. They both have records that are virtually identical, with the visitors owning a 7-4 mark while the home team sports a 6-4. They are county rivals.

North Lenoir’s baseball team is scheduled to travel down Route 11 to Deep Run tonight and take on South Lenoir. Both clubs are undefeated in the Eastern Carolina 2A Conference — only one will come away from the game with a 3-0 league record and take a commanding lead in the conference standings.

“This is one of those rivalries for the record book,” North Lenoir coach Donell Garris. “This is a very big ball game for the county. Both teams are playing well right now and are tops in the conference. There is a lot of history of really close one-run, two-run games.

“This game is going to be really special.”

The Hawksswept South Lenoir last season. The Blue Devils lost 8-7 in the first game and were shut out 2-0 in the second. 

“I think that it has been a healthy rivalry ever since I was playing here,” South Lenoir coach David Combs said. “The matchup is going to be a good one. We haven’t played a team that has played as good as they have played yet. This will help to show us how good we really are. I think that the rivalry plays into that a little bit.”

This matchup features four of the top batting averages and slugging percentages in the conference, with North Lenoir’s Luke Jackson’s .528 and .666 respectively leading the way among EC2A players.

Senior Chad Ginn will take to the mound for the Hawks tonight. He is a solid 4-0, leading the conference with a 1.91 earned run average and 27 strikeouts. He also has just four walks this season. 

“Our pitching has been a pleasant surprise this year,” Garris said. “They’ve done a good job of making big pitches in big spots and in containing other team’s offense.”

South Lenoir will make a game-time decision on who will pitch. The Blue Devils have some strong candidates to start, such as senior Will Kelly (2-0, 1.24 ERA, second in the conference), junior Hunter Winfield (2-1, 3.06 ERA) and senior Dylan Rouse (1-1, 3.18 ERA).

While the Blue Devils are more traditional in that they have a pretty set, steady lineup, the Hawks have found success in altering their starters. 

“We’ve given guys good opportunities,” Garris said. “If someone struggle, it goes to the guy who’s behind him. We have a lot of trust in our bench to give us good support. We look for all of our guys to contribute. Every day, it is someone else’s turn to be the hero. One game it is Jackson, another one it is Will Braxton or Jacob Baird or Caleb Beard or whomever. Someone always comes through, batters one through nine, whether it is a big play, a sacrifice bunt hit, or a home run.”

Combs said his senior group is “insanely motivated for this game.” Blue Devils seniors, such as Cody Ladich and Christian Yanez, who each have four doubles on the year, and Garrett Tyndall, who leads the team with 11 RBIs, are ready and waiting to pounce on any opposing pitcher.

Garris said the contest will come down to pitching and defense, while Combs cited mistakes.

 “That will be key to the game,” Combs said. “The winner will be the one who can take advantage of those clutch two strike, two out hitting situations. Also, the pitching needs to keep the other team off the bases.”

Devils softball hosts rival after Spring Break tourney win

The Blue Devils softball team, fresh off Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand tournament championship, will play host to rival North Lenoir tonight.

Mirroring the matchup of their counterparts, North Lenoir and South Lenoir are both blemish-free in the conference.

The Hawks (6-1, 2-0) have only one loss on the year, falling, 14-3, to South Central. They’ve forced 87 runs on the year, while allowing 23 — the fewest in the conference.

South Lenoir (8-2-1, 1-0) leads the league with 95 runs forced. The Blue Devils enter the contest with a four-game winning streak, including the three wins that captured the tournament title for them last week, where South Lenoir recorded its third shutout of the year behind junior pitcher Matti Beyer’s no-hitter.

Blue Devils player top the EC2A standings in every category except batting average, as Beyer leads the league with 41 strikeouts. SL’s Bree Williams has a conference-best 17 RBIs, while North Lenoir’s Janna Moore leads the way with a .583 batting average.

Free Press Sports Editor Jessika Morgan contributed to this report. 

Tonight’s Rivalry Games at 7 p.m. in Deep Run

Baseball

North Lenoir (7-4, 2-0) at South Lenoir (6-5, 2-0)

Softball

North Lenoir (6-1, 2-0) at South Lenoir (8-2-1, 1-0)

With spring comes thoughts of planting and fresh vegetables.

With that in mind, Southwood Elementary School is hoping people will help them win some dollars to build a bigger garden through online voting.

The school applied for a nationwide grant through Seeds of Change, a company based in Rancho Dominguez, Calif., that sells organic seeds, preserves rare and traditional seed varieties and promotes sustainable organic agricultural practices, according to its website.

Angie Jarman, a digital learning specialist at Southwood, said she hopes to add more raised beds to the K-5 garden, which currently has two that need dirt and other amenities.

“We want to be able to raise seasonal crops,” she said. “... We want to make enough beds for every grade level to have at least one.”

In it’s fourth annual grant program, Seeds of Change is offering 10 $1,000 grants, five $10,000 grants and two $20,000 grants to schools, and the same distribution to community organizations.

Jarman applied during the March 2-April 6 submission period, writing an essay describing why the school wants to have a garden. She wrote about the high percentage of health-related issues in the area and that the school hopes to instill the love of gardening and eating fresh vegetables in its students.

“Our community will benefit from this experience as we work together for our students to enrich their learning, their understanding of their health and health choices, and their knowledge of how to grow things,” she wrote.

Jarman said she also applied for a $5,000 grant through Lowe’s in hopes they can use the money to purchase the supplies that are necessary to grow a variety of vegetables and flowers.

“We really don’t have anything to get started now,” she said.

Jarman also hopes to introduce unusual produce like purple carrots and plant flowers that will repel bugs from the garden.

“Funds will be distributed through this Program,” the company’s website states, “to school and community programs that we believe enhance the environmental, economic, and social well-being of gardens, farms, farmers and communities.”

The voting period ends at 11:59 a.m., Monday, April 27. The 25 schools and 25 organizations that receive the most votes will then be judged by Seeds of Change farmers, brand leaders and strategic partners.

The criteria includes food education, community impact, need-based and leadership and inspiration. The winners will be announced on or around May 12.

“We’re really excited at Southwood at the possibility of starting a sustainable gardening program,” Jarman said, “and we really appreciate everyone’s help as we try to win this grant.”

Anyone can vote one time each day through the deadline. To vote go to seedsofchangegrant.com or facebook.com/seedsofchange.
 
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MargaretFishr.

For many people in northeast Kinston on Sunday it was bright outside but dark inside thanks to a power surge at the Cunningham Road substation.

“We had our first call at 7:58 (a.m.), and all power was restored at 9:09 (Sunday) evening, but it’s important to know that within the first hour, we had all the customers on except for five customers,” Kinston Public Services Director Rhonda Barwick said. “Then we worked that period until 9:09 (p.m.) rebuilding the lines going to their service.”

Employees at a number of affected businesses had to whir into ad hoc contingency procedures — workers at the North Herritage Street Bojangles’ were waving people away, and that restaurant, along with neighboring East Coast Wings, remained dark as the sun went down and KPS personnel continued work near North Herritage and North Queen streets.

Power to The Free Press building also remained out until around 2:45 p.m.

Around 1 p.m., officers with the Kinston Department of Public Safety set up mobile stop signs at the Airport Road/Old Snow Hill Road intersection with North Queen Street to mitigate traffic flow while traffic lights remained out.

“It was a fault on the line — it was a pretty significant fault,” Barwick said. “We’re still investigating, but at this point we feel it was related to some underground service near the Cunningham Road substation. And we had that underground (area) scheduled to make repairs next year.

“But if that’s the case, we may have to push that up.”  
 
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WolfeReports.

Award-winning humor columnist Jon Dawson is no longer with The Free Press, but we are celebrating his legacy by re-running some of his greatest columns. Do you have a favorite you’d like to see in print? Email Bryan C. Hanks at bryan.hanks@kinston.com. A version of today’s column was originally published Thursday, May 2, 2013.

Over the past few weeks, car thieves have been running amok all over Lenoir County. Cash rewards have been offered for information that could lead to an arrest, and a local security company has decided to launch a radical new vehicle security system.

“In many of these instances, the thieves are stealing items from unlocked cars,” said Billy St. Cyr, President of Revival Security Systems. “It’s never a good idea to leave vehicle doors unlocked, but some people believe it’s better to let thieves take what they want without having to bust out a window.”

Cyr says his company is fully equipped to install standard vehicle alarm systems if that’s what the customer desires, but he and his staff believe they’ve come up with something that will trump all car alarm systems currently on the market: snakes.

“According to our research, 72 percent of adults are afraid of snakes,” Cyr said. “Of the remaining 28 percent, we believe at least 50 percent are lying.”

With Cyr’s “Snakurity” system, a member of his staff will place a snake in your vehicle every night at 9 p.m.

“The snake will be in a bank deposit bag,” Cyr said. “The deposit bag can be placed in any number of areas: the center console, the passenger seat or beside the vehicle’s GPS unit.”

Although the Snakurity system is relatively new, the one market it’s been tested in yielded promising results.

“We tried this out in Cleveland last summer and had great success,” said Revival Security Assistant Manager Graham Yost. “In one instance, a guy broke into a car and thrust upwards from the snake with such force that he hit his head on the roof. The guy — who ironically was a card-carrying member of PETA — was knocked out cold. The snake was polite enough to wait until the thief woke up to bite him.”

Cyr believes the Snakurity System will be a success in Eastern North Carolina, but he stresses the need for communication between his firm and the client.

“One of our staffers will pick the snake up every morning at 6 a.m.,” Cyr said. “If you decide to get into work early to get a jump start on the day or steal office supplies, you need to tell us you’ll be leaving before 6. Revival

Security Systems is not liable for any broken limbs, soiled garments, curse words accidentally screamed within ear shot of small children, heart attacks or injuries caused from running into trees, brick walls or oncoming traffic.”

Cyr would not comment on allegations that the Snakurity System was faulty. One Snakurity client told said the system has adversely affected his ability to earn a living.

“I make a little extra money on the weekends as a magician at kid’s birthday parties,” said Harry Goaz of Snow Hill. “One Saturday morning, I headed out for a gig in Dover. The guy from Revival Security pulled a drunk the night before and forgot to pick up the snake, which resulted in the thing biting my schoinkel several dozen times.”

After several weeks of rehabilitation, Goaz was able to go back to work. As he tells it, his employers have been patient during his ongoing recovery.

“During the week, I’m an accountant,” Goaz said. “Whenever I see a drop cord out of the corner of my eye, I’ll mistake it for a snake and I’m ruined for the rest of the day. Just this morning while preparing a report, I tried to capitalize an 8.

“As for my magician job, for the last two weeks I’ve been pulling hats out of the rabbit. I’m in a mess.”

Cyr said he nor his staff could comment on any ongoing litigation.

Find out more about Jon Dawson at jondawson.com.

HAVELOCK | Monday was a somber day for students at Roger Bell Elementary School.

After a week off from school filled with religious celebrations and visits from the Easter Bunny, students returned only to learn of the death of their classmate, 9-year-old Breeauna Jefferson.

Breeauna, a third-grader, died Sunday in a crash on U.S. 70 near Old Cherry Point Road in which her mother, Billie Joe Ellis, 41, of Havelock, was charged with driving while impaired (DWI) and reckless driving.

“We’re kind of numb right now,” Principal Pamela Holloway said. “It’s a little somber, but we’re doing well. People are offering prayers for the community, staff and for the students.”

She said Breeauna was a cheerful girl.

“She had an infectious smile,” the principal said. “She could lighten up a room just by coming in it. She was a very well-rounded student and she was very well-liked by all the students.”

Holloway said extra counselors were available for students and staff Monday, just in case those affected needed grief support or just someone to listen to their concerns.

“They were being available for the children should they need them to calm them and do activities with them and talk to them,” Holloway said.

Jennifer Wagner, director of public relations for Craven County Schools, said the entire district was affected by the young girl’s death. She added that the system’s thoughts and prayers are with all involved.

While students at Roger Bell were dealing with the loss of their classmate, troopers from the N.C. Highway Patrol were investigating the scene of the crash Monday morning.

Skid marks on the highway and deep divots in the grassy median separating the four lanes of traffic on U.S. 70 were still visible at the crash site.

Breeauna was pronounced dead at the scene, while her mother was ejected from their car onto the highway after it collided with an SUV around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol. Ellis may face additional charges after troopers complete their review of the crash scene.

District Attorney Scott Thomas said he met with Highway Patrol troopers who are investigating the collision.

“Based upon the information I have, I anticipate additional felony charges will be filed at the conclusion of the investigation,” Thomas said. “These charges will be based upon the death of her daughter and the injuries sustained by the driver and passenger of the other vehicle. Ms. Ellis was transported to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where blood was drawn for submission to the State Crime Lab for analysis. We believe the impairment in this case is due to prescription medication.”

At least five investigators with the Highway Patrol could be seen Monday taking measurements and examining each detail of the crash scene.

Following the wreck, Ellis was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. At press time Monday, she was listed in critical condition, according to hospital officials.

Trooper J.D. Lane said Ellis was at the wheel of a 2010 Honda Civic that was traveling east when she left the roadway to the right onto the shoulder, overcorrected and veered back across the median into the westbound traffic, colliding with a GMC Acadia driven by Barbara Johnson.

Johnson and her 6-year-old grandson were both transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern with non-life-threatening injuries and were released Sunday night.

Ellis’ car turned sideways on impact, while Johnson’s vehicle was hit head-on, according to Lane.

“We are not sure about the driver, but the (deceased) child was definitely not wearing a seat belt,” the trooper said.

Traffic in the area came to a halt after the wreck so that a medical helicopter could land. By 1 p.m. Sunday, all lanes of the busy highway were reopened.

According to the latest statistics from the Highway Patrol, there were 20,190 DWI arrests in 2014. The total number of fatalities for the same year in North Carolina was 913.

State law requires that children under the age of 16 wear a seatbelt regardless of where they sit. The Highway Patrol also asks that motorists who suspect a driver of being drunk or reckless to call *47 and be prepared to provide the driver’s license plate number, make, model, location and travel direction.

Charlie Hall of Halifax News Service contributed to this report.

Kenneth Morgan Stancil III walked into Wayne Community College early Monday morning and allegedly killed printing technician Ron Lane with a rifle.
Could a similar incident happen at Lenoir Community College?
Or — more accurately — how would LCC work to protect students, faculty and staff?

“First, I just want to go on record as saying our thoughts go out to the victim ... and even to the shooter’s family,” LCC President Brantley Briley said. “It’s just a bad situation, and nobody wins. But, we at LCC have trained for this type of thing. We do (National Incident Management System) training, and it’s very detailed.

“We really can’t say too much about what we would do when we would find ourselves in a situation like this, but I will tell you we train twice a year for events such as this, and I think I’m comfortable telling you that we have an extensive communications system in place, where we can immediately notify all of the interested parties and what action to take.”

LCC has both traditional security guards and campus police, who are outfitted with firearms and other tools like any other police officer — they would be first to secure the school. LCC also comes under the jurisdiction of the Kinston Department of Public Safety.

KDPS Director Bill Johnson said quality information is key for authorities responding to the scene.

“Of course, Lenoir Community College has security at their facility, so hopefully their security would be able to give us very accurate, factual information,” Johnson said. “Initially, when you’re responding, you’re responding based on the information you’re getting.

“Once you arrive on the scene, at a facility that has security, you’ll be able to meet with their representatives to give you an accurate idea of what is going on, and from there you’re planning strategy.”

As response to the WCC shooting showed, it wouldn’t just be campus and city police working the scene. According to Ethan Smith of the Goldsboro News-Argus, the SWAT team from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and helicopters with the State Highway Patrol joined the Goldsboro Fire Department and Wayne County EMS as part of the effort.

Johnson noted proper coordination between the various agencies is a critical aspect in properly handling such an emergency situation.

Briley said LCC has the infrastructure in place so authorities can go about their duties as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“We have designated command centers where we can actually pick up a telephone console and plug it in at several different locations on campus and have a communications center, an operations center,” Briley said.

“And, we again, twice a year, train with selected staff members on exactly what to do next. Now, the training’s gone real well and we’ve done this for many years — at least three years and maybe more.

“But you never know until you get into a real-life situation.”
 
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WolfeReports.