Ana leaves behind flooding rains, little damage

May 11, 2015, 3:42 pm

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It could’ve been worse.

“Fortunately the ground was fairly dry prior to,” the remnants of Tropical Storm Ana passing through Lenoir County, National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Lonka said.

But three days of rain took its toll.

“We’ve had some flooding going on,” Lenoir County Emergency Management Director Roger Dail said. “We’ve had to bring three people out of a mobile home park off (N.C. 11/55 South) – Lenoir Mobile Estates. There’s water all throughout that trailer park. And there’s high water on the streets and all, but it’s just about getting this water to run on off and hopefully it’ll start going down.”

A tornado warning covering northwest Lenoir County and southwest Greene County around 5:45 p.m. Saturday ended up being more out of caution than for a tornado reaching ground.

“I think the (National) Weather Service issued a tornado warning because they saw rotation in the clouds – it’s not because one was actually spotted,” Dail said.

Lonka said there would possibly be minor river flooding – Southwest Creek went above its banks along the Jones County line and the NWS issued a small stream flood advisory through 3:15 p.m. Monday.

“Everybody’s safe for now,” said Eric Merritt, Jones County emergency management coordinator, at the site of flooding along Owen Smith Drive and Stanford Avenue. “The water’s up in everybody’s yard and in the streets, but it’s not in anybody’s home, and that’s what we’re really concerned about is accessibility for everybody and making sure that any special needs are met and we have access to anybody that has an emergency.”

Merritt said that area, in particular, received 5.5 inches of rain between noon Saturday and noon Monday.

But the weekend was historic for Kinston.

According to the Southeastern Regional Climate Center at UNC, Sunday was Kinston’s wettest day in May in 46 years, as the city received 4.8 inches of rain. The 72 hours Ana passed through town proved to be the wettest three-day period in May in 38 years with 6.7 inches on the ground.

Wind proved not to be much of a factor as the NWS registered the highest wind speed in Kinston at 30 mph, picked up around 8:56 p.m. Sunday at the Global TransPark.

And Ana didn’t leave sports out of her impact either – the NJCAA Division II Region X Baseball Tournament’s been moved to Martinsville, Va., because of field conditions at Grainger Stadium.

Chief Photographer Janet Sutton Carter contributed to this story. Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.

↧

Crime Roundup: Domestic incident ends with two arrested

May 12, 2015, 3:13 pm

≫ Next: Land transfers

≪ Previous: Ana leaves behind flooding rains, little damage

A woman approached a Kinston Department of Public Safety officer on patrol Friday around 12:51 a.m. in the 900 block of Tower Hill Road alleging a man tossed a concrete block at her.

“(Mahaganie Chaquel) Flowers had no visible injuries but did request EMS transport her to the hospital for back pain,” KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said. “(The suspect) advised that Ms. Flowers was there looking for her boyfriend, (Eric Estrada) Jordan, and causing a disturbance. (The suspect) denied throwing any object at Ms. Flowers.

“While officers were waiting for EMS to arrive, (they) were approached by Mr. Jordan, who was upset that his ex-girlfriend was following him around. Mr. Jordan cursed at Ms. Flowers and Ms. Flowers returned the verbal altercation. Mr. Jordan and Ms. Flowers were immediately separated, and while (the officers were) doing so, Mr. Jordan stated several times he would kill Ms. Flowers.”

As a result, police arrested Jordan, but in the process, Flowers approached the arresting officer and began cursing at Jordan.

“Ms. Flowers was given several verbal warnings to walk away and to not interfere with the arrest,” Spencer said.

Failing to abide by those conditions, police arrested Flowers as well, but she was transported to Lenoir Memorial Hospital before booking.

Jordan, 34, is charged with misdemeanor communicating threats and Flowers, 26, is charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They’re both scheduled to appear in Lenoir County District Court on June 8.

Man allegedly defecates on floor of business

An officer responded to Vick’s Cleaners in the 600 block of Sussex Street on May 6 to a criminal vandalism complaint.

“The owner … advised officers (the suspect) came into his business and defecated on the floor,” KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said. “He was advised of the warrant process.”

Damage was estimated at $25.

The suspect, a 42-year-old white male on active probation for misdemeanor communicating threats, hasn’t been charged in connection with the incident.

Man allegedly points gun at woman during assault

Police responded to Mitchell Wooten Courts on May 6 in regard to a May 4 domestic assault.

“The victim reported to the officer that her friend, (the suspect), choked her around the neck with his hands and pointed a black-colored handgun at her,” KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said. “There were no visible signs of injuries and the victim was advised of the warrant process.”

The suspect has yet to be charged in connection with the incident.

Bullet fired into SUV

A woman in the 400 block of North Secrest Street told police someone fired a gun into her white 2006 Ford Explorer while it was parked in the front yard the evening of May 6.

“The vehicle was empty at the time of the incident,” KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said. “There was a bullet hole in the driver’s side door.”

The incident remains under investigation.

Motorcycle stolen from shed

Police responded to the 800 block of Greenmead Drive to a report of a stolen motorcycle shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday.

“The victim reported his motorcycle was stolen – he found it missing when he started to go to work,” KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said. “He went to his storage shed and the lock had been cut.”

The bike, a red and black 1994 Honda 900RR with chrome accessories, was valued at $4,000 and the lock valued at $20.

The motorcycle was entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

Suspicious fire starts on Fields Street

A fire set in the utility room of a residence in the 500 block of Fields Street the around 7:50 a.m. Saturday may be arson.

“An officer arrived on the scene along with the firefighters, who put the fire out,” KDPS spokesman Woody Spencer said. “One of the fire captains said there were two broken-out windows and it was listed as suspicious. A portion of the wood was sent off for testing.”

Damage to the room and a wall frame was valued at $2,500, while there was $250 damage to the front door and $200 to the window.

The case remains under investigation.

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

↧

Land transfers

May 12, 2015, 3:15 pm

≫ Next: Reece Gardner: Our worries last a short time

≪ Previous: Crime Roundup: Domestic incident ends with two arrested

Xerix L. Plaza to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2658 Pinewood Home Drive;

Martin T. Moore to Jack T. Hardy, 210 W. Boundary St., .6 acres;

Christopher A. Moore to Heather L. Richards, 3525 Daughety White Road, .5 acres;

Robert B. Moore to Jason A. Fox, 3893 Henry Brooks Road, 3.5 acres;

City of Kinston to G and L North Carolina LLC, 202 Plaza Blvd, lot B;

Paul C. Truett to Truett Revocable Trust, lot 20, Detas Fields;

Jaime H. Dorn to Sunshine Properties of Onslow, tract 1, Tilghman Road;

Katherine C. Jordan to Sunshine Properties of Onslow, tract 5, William H. Sutton Est.; Sand Hill township;

Billy W. Baker to Clifton R. Heath, Southwest township, .53 acres;

William F. Jarman to Smart Kinston, College/Manning Street;

John C. Nix to Stephen B. Hill, W. Gordon Street;

Tamara T. Lapsley to Matthew D. Murphy, 33 acres;

Roger L. Henderson to Robert G. Hardee, lot 9, block A, Lenoir Pines;

Coastal Wholesale to Thomas L. Edwards Jr., Park Avenue, 2.6 acres;

Fannie Mae by AIF to RLE Properties, lot 4, 614 Cameron Drive;

Linton D. Shirer Jr. to Marketing Insights, 212 West Railroad Street;

Ronald D. Fitts to Christopher W. Thigpen/Jobe Thigpen/Lisa H. Thigpen, Trent township, lots 1,2 and 4;

William Kennedy Taylor III to Capricorn Taylor Farm LLC, two parcels;

James Randall Watson to Bradley S. Miller, Pink Hill township, 6.72 acres;

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Ana G. Marin; Contentnea Neck township, lot 3;

Maricruz L. Higuera to HSBC Bank USA, lot b, 5 acres;

Angela P. Barwick to John David Barwick, Moseley Hall township, 1 acre;

Estelle S. Creech to Patrick K. Creech, 8 tracts, Moseley Hall township;

Linda R. McClanahan to Shelby B. Blanton, Pink Hill, lot 2;

LGJ Farms to Butterball LLC, Lenoir and Wayne County;

John O. Grant by AIF to CA Properties, 408 W. King St., .25 acre;

State Employee' Credit Union to SECU*RE Inc., 2619 English Squire Drive, Castle Oaks;

Clifton Neal Kirby to Christopher Melton, Falling Creek township, 2 tracts;

Daniel W. Pittman to Douglas P. Heath, Pink Hill township, .84 acre;

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company to Ressurection Properties LLC, 1309 McAdoo Street;

Robert L. Jones to Jacquelin C. Best, Contentnea Neck township, 1.304 acres;

Kinston IOTC LLC to Westgate Kinston LLC, Falling Creek township, lot 2B, Westgate Plaza;

Kinston SYCBS LLC to Westgate Kinston LLC, Falling Creek township, 3.88 acres;

Wilma G. Welles to Kimberly M. Raynor, Woodington township, lot 2A, 23.7 acres;

George J. Smith Jr. to Ceceil Crawley, Cameron Drive;

Cathy H. Willis TR to Harold T. Hill, Jason Road, 108.2 acres;

Donna E. Miller to Donald B. Carter, Pink HIll township, tract C, 7.94 acres;

Walter R. Poole Jr. to Walter Poole Realty, Falling Creek township, 4.53 acres;

Harold F. Oliver to William J. Wilson, 4.10 acres;

Margie Grant/EXR to Vernon J. Moore, Contentnea Neck township, 23.76 acres;

Robert W. Griffin to Streamline Developers, 2204 Greenbriar Road;

Chris A. Kofahl to Raymond E. Joyner Jr., Woodington township, 1.92 acres;

Elizabeth A. Fosick to Megan B. Sauls, Contentnea Neck township; state roads 1004 and 1708;

Yzmelda Morilla to Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Kinston township, lots 38-41, 706 W. Highland Avenue;

Donna E. Miller/EXR to Lee Clough, Pink Hill township, 2.32 acres;

Dana D. Webb to Zengqiang Lin, Carey Road and Vernon Avenue;

Wells Fargo Bank to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 4105 Brothers Road;

Adam D. Grady to Donald G. Grady, Trent township, tract 2, 6.98 acres;

Donald G. Grady to Glenwood C. Rouse, tract 2, Trent township, 6.98 acres;

Tammy Renee Wiggins to Donald G. Grady, Trent township, 28.84 acres;

Jaime Gomez-Perez to Heather F. Jennings, .793 acre;

Wells Fargo Bank to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, state road 1514, 3 acres;

Dwight C. Howard to Dwight Alphin, Vance township, .94 acres;

Roger K. King to Krown Properties LLC, 19 parcels;

Juanita M. Sauls to Megan B. Sauls, Contentnea Neck township, 1.5 acres;

Thomas G. Williams to Jerry L. Smith, Neuse township, 2.75 acres;

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Daniel Howard, 4005 Race Track Road, 1.17 acres;

Walter L. Wright to Deborah B. Wright, Moseley Hall, 4 tracts;

State of N.C. to John D. Boney Jr., Highland Avenue, 4.78 acres;

C4 Development LLC to Family Dollar, Trent township, state road 1144 and N.C. 11, 1.47 acres;

Tammy S. Hopkins to Johnnie D. Tyndall, Pink Hill township, N.C. 11, 12.2 acres;

Alice D. Crandel/George A. Pressley/Carlton Reid Harrison/Glenn Colie Harrison/Mattie H. Aycock to George Ann Pressley/Carlton Reid Harrison/Mattie H. Aycock, Moseley Hall township, 146.9 acres;

Wells Fargo Bank to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, lot 24, block I, Brentwood subdivision;

Sandra S. Watkins to Donald M. Kennedy, Pink Hill township, 45 acres;

Donald M. Kennedy to Ronald F. Kenedy, Pink Hill township, 6 acres;

Pitt Memorial Hospital Foundation to Cabo K Investments, 5.4 acres, U.S. 70;

Shackleford Family LLC to Greenbriar Landing LP, Kinston township, lot 2A, 6.66 acres;

David K. Godwin to Ernest Q. Faulkner Jr., Kinston township, 13.496 acres;

William B. Smith to Harvey Enterprises, Lenoir and Jones counties;

Patti P. Hooper to Johnnie D. Sheppard, Pink Hill township, 17.36 acres;

Brenda D. Creech to John R. Williams, Sandhill township, 7.831 acres;

Reginald L. Stroud to Helena Chemical Company, Neuse township, 1.504 acres, state road 1342;

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Reece Gardner: Our worries last a short time

May 12, 2015, 3:19 pm

≫ Next: Early college students graduate to higher learning

≪ Previous: Land transfers

Is there something you are worried about today? I recall a man who was worried, and received this advice: “Don’t worry, things could get worse.” He said he didn’t, and they did.

Let’s first distinguish between worry and concern. There is a big difference. Worry is fear-thought, concern is fore-thought.

Dr. Fredric Neuman, in “Fighting Fear,” talked about how some people just seem to be worrying all the time. I’m sure you know someone like that.

Here are some typical worries: that this mole on my arm may be malignant; that my child or children might be kidnapped on their way to school; that an intruder might break in through an unlocked door; that I might lose my job; that I might have offended a friend inadvertently; that a terrorist might set off an attack in my area, and so on. A lot of people do have some sort of worry that preoccupies them off and on throughout a typical day, and when their current worry is temporarily replaced by another worry, it seems to return once the other worry dissipates. Our worries are oftentimes not grounded in fact.

For example, there was an old gentleman approaching his 100th year and was nearing the end of his earthly tenure. His children and grandchildren gathered around him to ask about some wisdom from his life that he could share with them. Here is what he said: “Well, children, I’ll tell you. My life has been filled with many GREAT misfortunes ... most of which NEVER happened.”

A man who worried a lot wondered why other people didn’t seem to worry as much as he did about such things as cancer or airplane crashes. He was not reassured by being told that the particular cancer he was worrying about occurs once in 200,000 people, and that his chances of dying in an airplane crash were about one in 2 million.

He felt that with his luck, that one was likely to be him.

The story goes that in prehistoric times where were two cousins, Bernie and Charlie and their families who lived in the same cave. Bernie was a worrier. He worried about whether the fire was going to go out, whether his son was going to return safely from the forest, whether that giant cat who ate the neighbor who lived in a nearby cave was going to return, whether those mushrooms over there were poisonous, and so on. Charlie, on the other hand, was more relaxed. He figured that the fire wasn’t likely to go out unless everyone fell asleep at the same time, that his nephew was likely to come home safely from the forest just as he always did, that the mushrooms looked very much like the ones they always ate, and that the saber-toothed tiger that ate the neighbor came by about once in every ten years, and so on. I hope that you and I can identify more with Charlie than with Bernie.

And on a more humorous note, it seems that people sometimes make contradictory statements, like the mother who shouted to her son, “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.” And the person who said, “If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a THOUSAND times, don’t exaggerate.”

And this, “When that lawnmower cuts off your feet, don’t come running to me.”

We all have some worries and concerns, but it might help if we remind ourselves that we are only going to be here for a short time, and that the happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can truly appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

Have a WONDROUS day!

Reece Gardner is the host of “The Reece Gardner Hour,” which airs on TACC-9 on Mondays at 9 p.m., Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays at 11 p.m., Sundays at 10:30 p.m. and on-demand anytime at TACC9.com. You can reach Reece at rbgej@aol.com .

↧

Early college students graduate to higher learning

May 12, 2015, 3:35 pm

≫ Next: Top honors go to old classmates

≪ Previous: Reece Gardner: Our worries last a short time

SNOW HILL | In an environment where academics is the sport, it should be no surprise the Greene County Early College High School is kicking off graduation season.

There are 24 students graduating from the early college high school on Tuesday night. Of those 24, 20 will graduate with their associates degrees.

In his first year as principal of the school, Rodney McNeill has learned a lot from his students.

“I am truly blessed to have inherited this class as my first graduating class,” McNeill said. “Everybody talks about if you want to be a great principal, you have to have great teachers, and I have great teachers, but no one ever told me how much better it makes you look when your students are great as well.”

Valedictorian Devonte Dereef was surprised at how different his experience at the early college was compared to his expectations of what high school would be like.

“There weren’t many people and everyone was nice and helpful and there was a lot of diversity,” Dereef said.

Fellow student, Erik Vallejo agreed. Vallejo received a full scholarship to Fayetteville State University.

“I learned the value of going to school because I didn’t think much about going to school before I came here,” Vallejo said. “I had a lot of teachers that motivated me to keep going.”

One of those teachers was Emily Garris, the English I and English III teacher for the school. The students voted her their most influential teacher.

“This class is one of the most special classes that has come through our school,” Garris said. “They organized our first prom, organized our first yearbook, so they really have left a mark on our school.”

Alex Peavy, the school’s salutatorian, finished her time at the school in four years instead of the usual five. She credits her mom with giving her the push she needed in the direction of the early college high school.

“At the time, I was more about the social environment than I was about the educational but then when I got here, I was glad because it gave me a lot more opportunities than you could get at the high school,” Peavy said.

Greene County School Superintendent Patrick Millersaid he would be sorry to see this group of students go.

“Over their five years, this class has donated over 3,800 hours of community service; they have gotten $1.7 million in scholarship offers so this has been an outstanding class,” Miller said.

Dereef plans to attend North Carolina State University in the fall where he will major in computer science. Vallejo plans to study psychology at Fayetteville State. Peavy plans to attend Barton and pursue a career as a history teacher.

Jennifer Cannon may be reached at 252-559-1073 or at Jennifer.Cannon@Kinston.com. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennylynnCannon.

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Top honors go to old classmates

May 12, 2015, 3:43 pm

≫ Next: Two from Lenoir receive governor’s award for volunteer service

≪ Previous: Early college students graduate to higher learning

Early is something these students are used to.

The Lenoir County Early College High School graduated 33 students Tuesday night. Of those 33, half will graduate again on Wednesday night from Lenoir Community College with an Associates in Arts degree.

“Our program cannot exist without hardworking students,” Nicholas E. Harvey II, the principal of the early college high school, said.

Two of those students, Tyler Gray and Brian Washington graduated with special honors. Gray was named valedictorian of his class while Washington was named salutatorian.

Gray had received early diagnoses of dyslexia, Asberger’s sydrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

“I’ve always wanted to achieve something like this before, but I never thought it would happen,” Gray said. “There were so many people who I thought had a good chance, Brian for one.”

Despite the potential for competition between the two students Gray and Washington said it was never like that between them.

“We were just doing our hard work,” Washington said.

Gray agreed with his fellow student.

“It’s the kind of place where you can get your work done and not have to worry about anything,” Gray said. “It’s a great way to develop.”

Both students started at Contentnea Elementary and moved on to Savannah Middle School. When Savannah closed, they attended Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School.

“We’ve known eachother for a long time,” Gray said.

Both students will move on to their junior years at different universities in the fall. Gray plans to attend East Carolina University and pursue a career in psychology. Washington plans to attend the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and pursue a career in physical therapy.

Jennifer Cannon may be reached at 252-559-1073 or at Jennifer.Cannon@Kinston.com. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennylynnCannon.

↧

Two from Lenoir receive governor’s award for volunteer service

May 12, 2015, 4:01 pm

≫ Next: New state eco devo chief speaks to business leaders

≪ Previous: Top honors go to old classmates

Lenoir County has produced two recipients of the governor’s highest award for volunteer service this year.

Rita Hodges, who’s served on a number of boards for at least 15 years, and Ann Durusky, Lenoir Memorial Hospital’s director of Volunteer Services, each received the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service.

The 37th award ceremony took place on May 5 at the Old House Chamber in the State Capitol in Raleigh with Gov. Pat McCrory recognizing 19 volunteers and one paid volunteer director from across the state.

“It was an honor to recognize top volunteers from around the state,” McCrory said, “for helping us fulfill our goal of helping those who can’t help themselves while encouraging those that can.”

Hodges, a retired educator for 38 years, was pleasantly surprised when she heard she had been selected in lifetime achievement, one of 12 categories.

“I was very astonished,” she said. “I never expected anything like that.”

Hodges volunteered on the Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties board for eight years in a number of roles, including establishing policies and monitoring child services. She served in a leadership capacity with Eastpointe Human Services for 15 years, the Community Council for the Arts for six years and Alpha Delta Kappa for 37 years.

Ken Jones, CEO of Eastpointe, commented on the work she performed on the mental health entity’s board.

“Under her chairmanship, Rita Hodges brought Eastpointe Human Services from one of the lowest performing Local Management Entities to one of the higher performing entities,” Jones said, “which allowed Eastpointe to take a leadership role in managing behavioral healthcare for the state of NC.”

She has volunteered mainly since retiring from Lenoir County Public Schools, where she began her career after moving to Kinston.

Hodges said the work with her sorority was based on a strong commitment to the needs of women educators. But rather than attribute her success to herself, she said she has benefited from working with the organizations and other volunteers.

“I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with as many people throughout the years,” Hodges said.

Durusky was selected for the only paid category, director of volunteers, which she has been for 17 years at LMH. She manages the day-to-day activities of about 180 adult volunteers and 55 teenagers in the summer who serve in 26 areas within the hospital, as well as a dozen home volunteers who perform sewing and knitting for patients.

“I was surprised and really pleased to represent our hospital and our volunteers,” she said. “... I feel like I’m representing them and all the hard work the volunteers do at the hospital.”

Durusky also volunteers at Southeast Elementary School, has mentored other directors across the state through the N.C. Society of Directors of Volunteer Services for 17 years and sits on her church council at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

The paid category, which was added about five years ago, is designed for someone who exceeds expectations of good volunteer management skills, including recruitment, training, coordination, risk management, evaluation, retention and recognition of volunteers.

Gary Black, president and CEO of LMH, said the hospital’s volunteers donated more than $60,000 this past year to support a number of patient projects, and Durusky’s enthusiasm and guidance has created a “strong and vibrant” volunteer program.

“Our volunteer organization is self-governed with an outstanding team of volunteer leaders,” he said. “Mrs. Durusky has given them a strong sense of autonomy but also gently guides them in a direction completely and thoroughly supporting of our hospital.”

Lucy Marston, who is the director of the Kinston-Lenoir County Visitors Center, has been the the coordinator for the Governor’s Medallion Award program in Lenoir County since 2009.

“I’m just real thrilled and real proud that both of our local volunteer winners this year were selected on a statewide level,” she said. “I’ve known and worked with both of these ladies for a long time and in numerous capacities.”

People from each county are nominated by community members, and their local committee can select up to 10 nominations to submit to the state, Marston said.

“There’s a long list of criteria they have to meet when (the nominations) come to my office,” she said.

Additional categories include individual, family, group or team, youth, senior, mentor, faith-based, disaster, national service, corporate/business and perseverance in volunteerism.

The submissions are reviewed and 20 are selected. The state sends those names to their respective counties and the recipients are notified by the coordinator in their county, Marston said.

The winners are awarded in Raleigh. Marston said Rep. George Graham, D-Lenoir, was present to congratulate the two Lenoir County winners this year.

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

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New state eco devo chief speaks to business leaders

May 12, 2015, 4:12 pm

≫ Next: New railroad siding big news for Lenoir County freight

≪ Previous: Two from Lenoir receive governor’s award for volunteer service

The way North Carolina recruits business, handles existing business and promotes tourism and state products is undergoing a fundamental change as the state Commerce Department’s responsibilities become the purview of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Christopher Chung, who took over the EDP in January, spoke to the Lenoir County Committee of 100 at Kinston Country Club on Tuesday. He said he believes the EDP is the way to go after working in differing eco-devo operations in other states.

“From my own professional standpoint, my first 10 years in this line of work were spent within the state of Ohio – a traditional state agency, doing this the way states have been doing this for a very long time,” Chung said. “And, my focus was on business attraction – trying to get companies to set up operations in the state of Ohio.

“My next seven years were spent after that in the state of Missouri, working for a public-private partnership, the exact kind of model we’ve set up here in North Carolina, focused just on business recruitment – didn’t have all the tourism, didn’t have existing industry support, didn’t have exports ….”

He added, “I can say that a big reason why North Carolina was, I think, right to move in this direction, in addition to leveraging private sector resources, was now, set up as a public-private partnership, we have a greater probability of being not only able to hold our team accountable for the results that we’re responsible for generating, but to reward them when they do achieve those results.”

Chung said at its core, the EDP’s promoting the state “as a place.”

“We could be talking about the quality of our destinations, the quality of our business climate, the quality of our exports – we are selling a product, and that product is called ‘North Carolina,’” Chung said.

“It’s not a product that goes in a box, it’s not a product that fits on a shelf, it’s the sum total of all of those things that makes North Carolina an attractive place for whatever audience it is that we’re trying to reach through our marketing and sales efforts.”

In effect, he said moving those operations at least a degree away from the usual gubernatorial administrative turnover also allows the EDP to operate with continuity and quality in performance that wasn’t possible before.

Following Chung’s talk, Steve Keen – director of Gov. Pat McCrory’s eastern region office – gave the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Harold Thomas, who was invited to the luncheon under the auspices of giving the invocation.

Thomas worked at the Kinston DuPont facility for 45 years, and for 15 of those years as the Sorona project leader and plant manager. He also led the safety culture and was recognized for the site team winning two engineering excellence awards and the 2013 DuPont Safety and Excellence Award.

“Mr. Thomas’ passion and faith in Kinston, Lenoir County and North Carolina ensured that the Sorona polymer project remained in our state,” Keen said.

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

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New railroad siding big news for Lenoir County freight

May 12, 2015, 4:20 pm

≫ Next: Upcoming playoff games

≪ Previous: New state eco devo chief speaks to business leaders

Railroad freight can now go through Lenoir County better and faster thanks to a new siding completed just west of La Grange.

“The siding itself is about 7,500 feet long – it’s what we call 132-pound rail, and a unique thing is it’s mostly on steel ties,” said Jim Kessler, North Carolina Railroad Company vice president of engineering, at the siding announcement at Kinston Country Club on Tuesday. “General practice for Norfolk Southern, especially today, is to build yard tracks and sidings that don’t have signals on steel ties. … The siding improves operations for the railroad in Eastern North Carolina, where we serve military installations at Havelock and Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson, industries such as Sanderson Farms.” The siding allows for trains to slow to a crawl or stop as another train passes on the main track. Additional improvements were made to the Bear Creek Bridge for rail workers, as someone has to throw the switch manually to move a train onto it.

In effect, what it means is that two trains can pass through Kinston going opposite ways within 30 minutes, which wasn’t possible before.

Norfolk Southern leases the rail from NCRR, which operates track from Charlotte through Greensboro and Raleigh to Morehead City.

“Norfolk Southern also has a connection to our rail line – they connect at New Bern and run up to Chocowinity and Auburn for PCS Phosphate,” Kessler said. “So there’s quite a bit of traffic coming through this area. This is the first siding of its size – passing siding – to be built in North Carolina, into our railroad.”

NCRR President Scott Saylor said the railroad and economic development are closely linked for rural counties.

“Since 2000, we’ve put more than $20 million in capital investment in railroad in Lenoir County,” Saylor said. “Those capital dollars are coming out of our long-term lease agreement with Norfolk Southern. That started out with an $11 million net payment to us in 2000 and goes up with inflation. It does not go up or down with the amount of business on the railroad. So, it’s pure economic development capital.”

He added NCRR’s put $70 million in investment during the same time period between Selma and Morehead City, and that NCRR’s committed to working with economic development officials and bringing business to areas along the line and along nearby lines.

The area the siding’s in was named Hartsoe in honor of Glenn Hartsoe, who provided consulting assistance on major capital projects to NCRR for 14 years until he died in 2013 at the age of 84.

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

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Upcoming playoff games

May 13, 2015, 9:56 am

≫ Next: The Rundown

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AREA PLAYOFFS OPEN TONIGHT

Respective Eastern Carolina 2A Conference champions North Lenoir (baseball) and South Lenoir (softball) will host tonight in the first round of NCHSAA 2A playoffs. No. 7 North Lenoir (13-6) will play host to No. 26 Bertie (12-9) at 7 p.m., as No. 5 South Lenoir (16-2) takes on Franklinton (8-9).

Area Schedule

Baseball at 7 p.m. No. 26 Bertie (12-9) at No. 7 North Lenoir (13-6)No. 22 West Bladen (10-8) at No. 11 Ayden-Grifton (17-5) No. 20 Greene Central (10-7) at No. 13 N. Brunswick (15-7)No. 27 South Lenoir at No. 6 Edenton Holmes

Softball at 7 p.m.

No. 28 Franklinton (8-9) at No. 5 South Lenoir (16-2)

No. 22 North Pitt (15-7) at No. 11 North Lenoir (11-3)

No. 19 Greene Central (10-7) at No. 14 Bartlett (12-5)

Soccer at 6 p.m.

No. 24 Eastern Randolph (14-7) at No. 9 South Lenoir (7-9)

No. 17 Goldsboro (6-9-4) at No. 16 Croatan (13-8)

No. 23 Kinston (6-12-1) at No. 10 Midway (13-3)

PARROTT SOCCER, BETHEL BASEBALL OUT OF PLAYOFFS

The Patriots' girls soccer team fell to Raleigh Grace Christian, 8-2, in the first round of NCISAA 2A playoffs Friday. Playing on the road, Parrott got off to a slow start and allowed four GCS goals in the first 20 minutes of the match.

Mimi Piner put the Patriots on the board with less than 10 minutes before halftime off an assist from Frances Barringer. After trailing, 4-1, at the break, Sallie Sylvester put in two goals for Parrott.

The score remained 4-3 until the final 7 minutes. When the tying goal was called off, Grace went on to put in the final margin over the last 4 minutes.

Parrott outshot the hosts 17-12 in the Pats' first playoff appearance since 2012. They finished the season 10-5-1.

***

The Bethel baseball team fell in the semifinal round, 8-3, against Vandalia Saturday. Bethel recorded 10 hits in both that contest and its 2-1 win over Wilmington Christian in the consolation round.

The Trojans finished the season 10-6.

↧

The Rundown

May 13, 2015, 12:32 pm

≫ Next: Wooten looks to develop in college

≪ Previous: Upcoming playoff games

Thunder Baseball wins youth tournament

Kinston’s Thunder baseball team finished 4-0 last week to win the 12-U Nations tournament. Pictured are (back row) coach Chad Lewis, Alex Jones, Trey Adams, Tanner Cannon, Tay Moye, Perry Tingen, Drake Ennis, coach Mark Jones (back) Lawson Adams, Cairns Edmondson, Josh Wall, Lexton Lews, Trent King and Chase Jones. Submitted photoParrott tennis in semifinals behind doubles

Parrott’s varsity boys’ tennis team advanced to the semifinal round of the NCISAA 2A state tournament with Tuesday’s 5-4 win over Faith Christian. Parrott swept the doubles in the playoff victory.

Faith clinched its singles matches after Parrott’s No. 3 retired due to heat exhaustion. With the contest tied at 4-4, William Brechtelsbauer came from behind against Faith’s Lane Dwyer to win 6-4 in the third.

Parrott (14-2) will play defending champ Cape Fear Friday at Barton College at 1 p.m. Both of Parrott’s losses came at the hand of Cape this season.

SINGLES: Sam Ess (F) d. William Hill 6-3, 6-3; William Brechtelsbauer (P) d. Lane Drywer 5-7, 6-0, 6-4; Andrew Turner (F) d. Neil Sides 6-7, 6-2, Retired due to illness; Jack Leland (F) d. Miller Stallings 6-1, 6-2; Stephan Bryant (F) d. Jared Hall 7-6, 6-4; Cameron Pope (P) d. Austin Bryant 6-0, 6-0. DOUBLES: Hill/Brechtelsbauer(P) d. Ess/Turner 8-4; Sides/Stallings(P) d. Leland/S. Bryant 8-6; Hall/Pope(P) d. Dwyer/A. Bryant 8-1

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Wooten looks to develop in college

May 13, 2015, 12:35 pm

≫ Next: Parrott softball makes the right adjustments

≪ Previous: The Rundown

DEEP RUN | Growing up, Jaquan Wooten never thought he’d have a chance to play college basketball.

Sure, he was a good player, but he didn’t think he was elite.

But his last four years on the court at South Lenoir High School led him to an unthinkable opportunity: college ball.

The 6-foot-9 center recently inked with Richard Bland College, a NJCAA Region X program based in Petersburg, Va., and his school recognized the accomplished in a ceremony Wednesday.

“If you work hard, anything is possible,” Wooten said while releasing a laugh, proud to be continuing his basketball career.

Wooten averaged 16.8 points, 16.6 rebounds and 7.6 blocks a game last season. He said several Division II schools had displayed interest in him over the last couple of months, but he felt most comfortable at Richard Bland.

He liked the campus.

He liked the players.

And he liked the idea of playing for NJCAA National Coach of the Year Chuck Moore.

Moore led the Statesmen to a 32-4 overall record en route to a 2015 NJCAA Division II championship in March.

“If he’s Coach of the Year, I’m pretty sure he knows what he’s doing; he’s really good at it,” Wooten said. “I think he can help me develop as a player.”

Wooten added the staff at Richard Bland was intrigued by his game and, more importantly, his potential. The SL star managed six triple-doubles his senior season and wanted to take the junior college route in order to cultivate his skills and transfer.

His high school coach, Jeremy Barnett, said Wooten hasn’t even reached his peak.

“I don’t think he’s even close to how good he can be,” Barnett said of Wooten. “I think these next two years are going to be pretty big for him. (Richard Bland) is getting a kid who can run, a kid who loves to play and a great kid in the classroom. They’re getting a kid who two years from now is going to look a whole lot different than what he looks like right now.”

Wooten, who helped the Blue Devils to a 17-6 overall record last year, chose an out-of-state college to get away from home and explore.

On Wednesday, some of his Devils teammates browsed the trophy cases in Munn Gymnasium before the ceremony.

Those were moments he will cherish.

“I’m going to be miss ... being able to play with Jonte (Midgette) and Will (Kelly) and being able to play in this gym,” Wooten said. “My freshman year, I wasn’t even shooting. I’d, like, pass the ball to anybody. Barnett told me to shoot the ball and this year it finally sunk in that I needed to shoot the ball more.

“(South Lenoir) helped me a lot.”

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

↧

Parrott softball makes the right adjustments

May 13, 2015, 12:40 pm

≫ Next: Dawson Classic: Jesus spotted at the Dollar Store

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Talk about adjustments.

Arendell Parrott Academy faced a pitcher who threw slightly slower than what it’s been accustomed to all season.

The Patriots had been trying to create more production at the plate, as their North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association 2A playoff run — a state title hunt — began Tuesday evening against Raleigh St. David’s School.

It only took Brianna Casey’s RBI double to spur Parrott’s offense in its 11-1 mercy rule-shortened postseason victory over the Warriors. In the top of the fourth, the APA senior leadoff unleashed a grounder to the right-center gap. When Parrott batted around that frame, en route to eight runs off six hits, Casey belted an two-run single to the same hole, waiting for the ball to hit the grass at Barnet Park before making her move.

“We kind of started off the game a little bit slow,” said Casey, who led the contest with four RBIs. “We haven’t been hitting well in other games. We’ve just kind of been working on hitting a lot, and I think it really paid off there.”

Parrott (16-2) did manage at least one hit per inning against starter Bella Smith before quieting the visiting defense, which captured brief stints of momentum through its execution in the second and third frames. Smith ran underneath an infield fly for the second out of the third, and St. David’s third baseman secured, while falling, the fly out to close the stanza, the only one where Parrott couldn’t cross home plate.

While the defense of the Warriors (4-8) heated, Parrott’s bats were hotter. Parrott had scored six runs before the first out of the game-changing fourth.

“That was big,” Parrott coach Matt Beaman said. “We couldn’t separate ourselves and that really got things going for us.”

On Friday, Parrott will play Village at 10 a.m. at Grant Field.

The Patriots advanced to the NCISAA 2A championship game last season, falling short to Harrells Christian Academy. Harrells, the No. 2 seed that is 8-4, may make a run of its own this season; it played No. 7 Concord First Assembly on Wednesday night. Harrells is responsible for one of two APA losses this year.

“We’re just trying to really work hard,” Casey said. “We have the No. 1 seed again, and we don’t want to have a slipup like last year.”

She added Tuesday’s playoff game prepared the team for what can come in the next couple of games, saying, “We went from having double-digit hits to having like seven or eight. That’s what going to help us in the playoffs. All the defenses are pretty much the same, so it’s going to come down to offense.”

But the Pats aren’t looking too far ahead — there are two more games until the 2A title championship.

For now, they’re focusing on further strengthening every aspect of their game to give the playoffs their best shot.

Beaman said facing Harrells again “is possible, but we’ve got to take care of that one at 10:00. That’s kind of what we got in our sight right now.”

At the plate

Casey, Darci Basden and Jessie Shingleton recorded extra-base hits in the St. David’s victory. Casey finished 3-for-4 with a double. Shingleton went 2-for-3, with a triple in the fourth. She used a combination of speed and awareness as she buried the ball deep in right-center. When she rounded second base and saw the Warriors hadn’t recovered the ball, she kept the jets going to push to third.

Basden, the starting pitcher and Tuesday’s cleanup, recorded an RBI double in Parrott’s big fourth.

On the hill

Basden pitched four innings before Kerry Miller came in relief. Basden struck out one and allowed three hits. Miller threw the final inning, where St. David’s scored its only run off two hits. Miller also struck out one.

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

Parrott 11, St. David’s 1

SDS 000 01 — 1 5 2

APA 120 8x — 11 10 2

↧

Dawson Classic: Jesus spotted at the Dollar Store

May 13, 2015, 3:10 pm

≫ Next: Awards and future rewards for Greene County schools

≪ Previous: Parrott softball makes the right adjustments

Everybody with kids loves to talk about them, and I’m no exception. What differentiates me from the herd is my desire to only open my yapper about the little Tax Deductions if they’ve done something worthy of a conversation.

I haven’t spent more than 10 minutes at a party since ever, but even in that short space of time, you can find at least seven conversations peppered with some of the most mind numbing kiddie talk this side of a pilled-up Kathie Lee Gifford:

“Well, Chrysanthemum is four months old and she’s already figured out how to fill up her diaper. We were skeptical about hiring a tutor, but it paid off in the end.”

“Here’s a picture of Manzano staring blankly into the distance.”

“Florian is so advanced for his age; he’s drooling on his own now.”

There is some notable news in the Tax Deduction Department at Dawson Manor. Tax Deduction No. 1 is now in the second grade. When her teachers found out who her father was, they offered to skip her on up to the third grade.

We weren’t sure about letting her skip a grade, especially when her prospective third-grade teacher read the first 700 pages of the school’s file on her father and immediately signed up for a teaching exchange program in Afghanistan.

TD No. 1 also is taking piano lessons, has started her first job as a floor/furniture maintenance specialist (vacuuming and dusting), and now has her own Netflix account.

The impetus for giving TD No. 1 a Netflix account was twofold: Firstly, she’d have to use the $2/week she earns from doing housework to pay the $8/month Netflix fee, thus teaching her the value of money; secondly, it means I won’t have to wait another week to get season three of “Justified” through my account because TD No. 1 wants to rent “Barbie: The Mermaid and Sardine Salesman.”

Tax Deduction No. 2 is growing like the wildebeest-camouflaging weeds on either side of U.S. 70. She’s now in pre-school three days a week from 9 a.m. to noon. We believe being in a daycare nine hours per week will help TD No. 2 learn to interact with other children.

Also, nine hours is plenty of time for The Wife to get estimates on the damage TD No. 2 inflicted on the house during the previous week. Even the painters that come over every month have noticed how quickly TD No. 2 is growing.

“Just a few weeks ago we were having to bend down to our knees to paint over the gang signs TD NO. 2 was spray-painting in the hallway,” said Keith Emerson of ELP Painters. “She’s gotten so tall we can just hold the roller at about waist level and start running laps.”

Last week while The Wife took TD No. 1 to her piano lesson, I took TD No. 2 to the Dollar Store to get some early Christmas shopping done. As we perused the coloring book section, TD No. 2 called out what she saw — “FISH!” “DOG!” “ELMO!”

As we made our way to the battery aisle, we crossed paths with a tall man with long brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a white linen shirt and sandals. Without missing a beat, TD No. 2 pointed at the man and yelled, “JESUS!”

I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced a 2 year old in full rapture mode, but it’s a site to behold. If she pointed and yelled “JESUS!” once, she yelled it 20 times. While yelling it, she was jumping up and down in the shopping cart like a lone piece of popcorn in a well oiled and heated pot. After I peeled TD No. 2 off the ceiling, I walked over to the long-haired gentleman to make sure everything was OK.

As it turns out, the long-haired/bearded/sandal-wearing man is the lead singer of a Christian-themed Def Leppard cover band called Def Leper.

“I love Jesus and I like rock music, so touring with Def Leper seemed like a good way to spread the word,” said Christian rocker Pete Willis. “Our songs include ‘Pour Salvation on Me,’ ‘Billy’s Got a Bible,’ ‘Samaria,’ ‘Capernaum It’ and, of course, ‘Rock of Ages’.”

Later that night, TD No. 2 was having trouble getting to sleep, so I camped out on the floor next to her crib and held her hand. For a few minutes this worked, then she took my hand and placed it under her right cheek and dosed off.

Not wanting to wake her up, I stayed on the floor with my hand cradling her right cheek. Whenever I’d try to ease my hand out of the crib, TD No. 2 would start muttering about pancakes and ammunition in her sleep, so I’d lay back down on the floor in defeat.

After about 10 minutes of this, my left arm went to sleep; after 30 minutes, the rigor mortis had worked its way up to my elbow. Eventually I escaped and, after wrapping my arm in some Saran Wrap and putting it in the freezer, TD No. 1 decided to have a coughing fit — which in turn woke up TD No. 2.

I go back to TD No. 2’s room and lay on the floor next to the crib. Now she’s decided to jettison everything from her crib: Dolls, toys, books and lighters. After everything seemed to be out of the crib, TD No. 2 lay down and appeared to be going to sleep.

Eventually, I dosed off and woke up about a hundredth of a second before a large, hardback edition of “Where the Wild Things Are” flew out of the crib and struck me in an area described by Charles H. Baker as the Gentleman’s Companion. I could see it happening, but the fear of what was about to happen caused my entire body to freeze up.

To my credit, I made it to the front porch before the crying/cursing/more crying started. I eventually recovered, and it’s now much easier to sing along to the Bee Gees’ “New York Mining Disaster 1941.”

Jon Dawson is available at jondawson.com

↧

Awards and future rewards for Greene County schools

May 13, 2015, 3:18 pm

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≪ Previous: Dawson Classic: Jesus spotted at the Dollar Store

SNOW HILL | The Greene County Board of Education held their monthly meeting Monday in the media center of Greene Central High School to accommodate the number of parents in attendance.

Board members recognized students for accomplishments this school year by giving out the Greene County Spotlight Awards. After the awards were handed out, the board members got back to business.

Joining the Eastern North Carolina Employers’ and Superintendents’ Council was on the agenda. Steve Hill, executive director of STEM East, proposed the county school system join the board.

According to the council’s memorandum of understanding the school board approved, the council will consist of Eastern North Carolina employer representatives and will be a trusted resource for education leaders, regional employers and grant providers.

Patrick Miller, superintendent of the Greene County School system, looks forward to the opportunities the collaboration between the system and STEM East may provide now that the Greene County school system is a member.

“After observing either the lack of desire or inability of some of the major grant funders in the area to give grants to single school districts, they’re looking more for regional collaborations and will grant larger amounts,” Miller said.

The council will represent the interests of local graduates and employers.

“A lot of the work we’ve been doing in STEM and work force development has been in concert with some of the largest employers in the east so why not pool our resources and have a symbiotic relationship,” Miller said.

Miller and Hill were unable to reveal potential industries participating in the program at this time but hope to be able to give that information by the end of June.

Jennifer Cannon may be reached at 252-559-1073 or at Jennifer.Cannon@Kinston.com. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennylynnCannon.

↧

New booster shots required for students

May 13, 2015, 3:23 pm

≫ Next: Soldier walking from New Bern to Durham

≪ Previous: Awards and future rewards for Greene County schools

There are new nationwide requirements of additional vaccines for rising kindergarten and seventh-grade students for the 2015-16 school year.

The booster vaccines are based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which were announced last year.

“If they’ve already had these shots, they’re fine,” said Ginger Raines, a child immunization nurse with the Lenoir County Health Department.

Children entering kindergarten on or after July 15 must have a fourth dose of polio vaccine on or after their fourth birthday and two doses of chicken pox, or varicella, vaccine.

Previously, it was sufficient to receive four doses with the third dose on or after the fourth birthday or four doses starting at six weeks of age if given at least four weeks apart. Just one chicken pox vaccine was required prior to entering school.

If a child has already had chicken pox, a doctor’s note with the child’s name, date or age of the child at the time of the illness and the doctor’s signature will be required.

Children starting seventh-grade or 12 years of age — whichever is first — must have one dose of Tdap — tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) — and one dose of meningococcal (for meningitis), if they’ve never had these vaccines before.

“These same seventh-graders, when they turn 17 or before they enter the 12th grade, will have to have a booster shot for meningitis,” Raines said.

Since July 1, 2008, the CDC previously required children entering the sixth grade or 12 years old to have one dose of Tdap.

Most seventh-graders should have had the Tdap, so they will likely only need the meningitis shot, Raines said. But Lenoir County sixth-graders were strongly encouraged to get the meningitis shot last year, and those that did will not need a dose before entering seventh-grade, she said.

Children who haven’t had the required shots at the start of school have 30 days to get them or they will be suspended. Homeschooled students are also required to get these shots as they must submit the paperwork showing they have done so.

There may be an exemption to receiving the vaccines for certain individuals for medical reasons.

The new requirements for vaccines has transpired because there has been a number of cases of these diseases due to the wearing off of the effects of the vaccines.

Raines said there’s been cases of meningitis, which is easily transferred by children who often share food and other items.

“We’ve had several cases of pertussis in Lenoir County,” she added.

It’s also recommended adolescents get a human papillomavirus shot to prevent cervical cancer in girls and genital warts in boys, as well as hepatitis A, second chicken pox, meningitis and Tdap vaccines.

The health department offers free vaccines for children covered by Medicaid or have no insurance coverage. Children insured by private insurance can receive vaccines for a fee — meningitis for $135, Tdap for $55 and chicken pox for $105 — and their parents will receive a receipt to file their insurance claims.

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

↧

Soldier walking from New Bern to Durham

May 13, 2015, 3:37 pm

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≪ Previous: New booster shots required for students

Returning home from war isn’t necessarily easy.

In May 1865, former Confederate sailor Washington Duke, released from a Union prison in New Bern, walked the 166-mile trek from New Bern to his home in Durham. Historian and reenactor Philip Brown’s taking that path now, in full period uniform.

“I’ve been doing Civil War living history for about 10 years now,” Brown said. “I’ve always been interested in the life of Civil War soldiers and so re-enacting is sortof a way of trying to understand or get a glimpse of what the soldier’s experience was like.”

Duke Homestead called Brown and provided enlistment information to help him more accurately portray Duke and his walk home.

“We think that he followed generally the rail lines that went into the interior of North Carolina, so that’s kind of the route we’re following going town to town,” Brown said.

Brown’s journey began Monday, during Tropical Storm Ana.

“The weather was really rough the first day, on Monday with the tropical storm so we did 18 miles and it rained pretty much the entire time,” Brown said. “And then yesterday, because of the rain my feet were pretty chewed up so that was just really tough and we did 20 miles. Yesterday was hot.”

Brown has a little time to recover while making his appearances in Kinston on Wednesday. He and the group made stops at Arendell Parrott Academy and Contentnea-Savannah School.

The walk, organized by the state Department of Cultural Resources, is meant to embody all soldiers from all times returning home from war.

Ralph Smith, who served 11 months and 26 days in Vietnam, gathered with a group of other veterans at Harriet’s Chapel on Tuesday afternoon to welcome Brown.

“Well, in a way, I was glad to get back on American soil,” Smith said. “I felt like my life was a whole lot safer here. … I’ll say when I came back I was ignored, like I had a plague or something. Even my family – my mother and father even told my brothers and sisters and friends not to say nothing about it.”

He said at times it felt like he was walking around alone.

“Finally, it all changed when I got married and I had two sons that didn’t let me forget,” Smith said. “They remind me and everything, and my wife too. Because before we got married my mother told my wife to never mention it to me. So, it meant a lot to me to know I had served God and my country.

“Not that I probably didn’t agree with everything that went on, but I was privileged to be able to serve my God and my country.”

Local historian and historic site manager of the CSS Neuse, Matthew Young, organized the Kinston portion of the journey.

“From the end of the American Revolution all the way through to Afghanistan and Iraq, we’ve got veterans or living historians who’ve done research into those time periods that’ll explain to the kids in a few minutes what it would’ve been like for a soldier from that time to return,” Young said.

The living history lessons took place around Kinston on Wednesday, culminating in a dinner performance at Olivia’s. Brown will head to Seven Springs on Thursday for the next leg of his walk.

↧

Area playoff scores

May 13, 2015, 6:12 pm

≫ Next: Shrader: Come see me at the Pink Hill RoseFest

≪ Previous: Soldier walking from New Bern to Durham

Baseball

NORTH LENOIR 10, BERTIE 0

His team up, 9-0, in the bottom of the fifth, Garrett Letchworth smacked the RBI single to finish off the visitors

NORTH BRUNSWICK 4, GREENE CENTRAL 0

East Carolina signee Shelton Perkins shut out visiting Greene Central in first round

EDENTON HOLMES 1, SOUTH LENOIR 0

The score remained frozen with what would become the final margin after Edenton scored in the bottom of the first

PARROTT 5, ROCKY MOUNT 4

Chase Howard knocked in the winning runs with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to capture the win

Softball

SOUTH LENOIR 3, FRANKLINTON 1

Matti Beyer collected nine strikeouts as South Lenoir advanced.

NORTH PITT 6, NORTH LENOIR 1

Two critical errors and a miss-call in the fourth played a hand as North Pitt ended the Hawks' 2015 season

Soccer

EASTERN RANDOLPH 6, SOUTH LENOIR 0

Eastern Randolph only led, 2-0, at the break before taking off with the first-round win

↧

Shrader: Come see me at the Pink Hill RoseFest

May 14, 2015, 4:03 pm

≫ Next: Beekeeping grant focuses on sustainability

≪ Previous: Area playoff scores

I’ve gotten into some interesting situations in this profession of mine.

There’ve been the usual hurricanes, floods, fires and accident scenes.

There was that time I was cussed out by a stripper over the phone when she called to complain about a story I’d done. (Her “establishment” was the subject of a heated zoning dispute.)

I’ve written about all manner of experiences I’ve had in this column space.

Saturday I get to add another one to the list, and you can all come and watch.

I, along with County Commissioner J. Mac Daughety and Pink Hill businesswoman and RoseFest founder Susan G. Myers, will be kissing a pig in downtown Pink Hill.

I even volunteered.

My boss, Bryan Hanks, was initially drafted for pig-kissing duty, but he’s unable to be there this weekend. I know he’d want to do it if he could.

I told him I could do it.

After all, I grew up in Illinois, surrounded by farms. There literally was a hog confinement across the road from my house.

When I went home in 2005, in the heat of August, for the auction after my mother sold our family home, I found myself asking my high school best friend, “Did it always smell like this?”

It did, he assured me.

Growing up, my brother and I would see the individual housing for pigs on farms we passed on our travels. They literally looked like metal tents propped up in a large pen.

Being the family of military history buffs we were, this provided entertainment.

“Enemy pig tents!” my brother and I would yell, then make machine gun noises at the farm as we passed.

I guess this is what growing up without cable gets you.

And this pig won’t be like the giant sow who got loose from across the road and nearly invited herself into our garage one day.

Had that farmer been any later to lead her back across the road, the Shraders were going to be eating ham all winter.

No, this pig is someone’s pet, I’m told. It’ll even be wearing a tutu.

I’m sure it will be fine, and even if it’s not, it’ll make for a great story.

I’ll see you in Pink Hill on Saturday.

Jennifer Shrader is the managing editor of The Free Press. Her column appears in this space every Friday. You can reach her at 252-559-1079 or at Jennifer.Shrader@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @jenjshrader.

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Beekeeping grant focuses on sustainability

May 14, 2015, 4:18 pm

≫ Next: Regional VIP program aims to keep teenage drivers alive

≪ Previous: Shrader: Come see me at the Pink Hill RoseFest

The area will soon have 19 new beekeepers.

Greene County Extension Master Gardeners, in association with the Neuse Regional Beekeeping Association and the town of Snow Hill, has been awarded an $8,200 Creating a New Economies Fund grant from The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program.

The grant is teaching and providing equipment for 19 beekeeping students, as well as providing monitoring and mentoring for them through the fall.

“I was ecstatic,” certified beekeeper and project manager, Gene Riddle said about receiving the grant.

Riddle, who also manages the Greene County Community Garden, said the classes are held on Saturdays at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension’s bee yard where the students are learning to take care of a hive.

Riddle and Snow Hill resident Lawton Suggs, a journeyman beekeeper — a step up from certified — are assisting with the training.

"We are trying to work with sustainability in the community," Suggs said, "and help people within the surrounding community with the bees."

Bees are much-needed to pollinate crops for better production and when they visit the cotton plants for nectar, the cotton fibers grow stronger, Riddle said.

“Every third bite you take off your plate,” he said, “a bee has been involved in it.”

But bee populations have decreased over the years from a variety of causes, including viruses from pests, diseases and pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. But they’re not the only reduced numbers.

“The number of beekeepers has declined since 1947,” Riddle said, “and also the number of managed hives in the United States has decreased dramatically.”

In fact, bees in the area were nearly "wiped out" from the verroa mite in the 1980s, Suggs said.

Training beekeepers will not only increase the bee population, but honey and beeswax and the many products made from them will add to the economic development in the community, he said.

The free course includes the Neuse Regional Beekeepers Association monitoring and mentoring the students and their hives.

Suggs said more than just keeping bees is taught in the course. Students learn what chemicals to use in their gardens and how to use them.

"A lot of people love to garden," he said, "but they don't know what to do to get their pollinators."

The starter bees are homegrown in Eastern North Carolina and have survived through the winter making them hardy stock when the main hive is split around the end of June. Because the program emphasizes sustainability, the course is likely the first of its kind, Riddle said.

“We are growing our own bees so they’ll be acclimated to our weather,” he said.

Riddle didn’t experience success with his first batch of bees, which came from another state.

“I had everything you could possibly think of go wrong,” he said.

New nucleus hives, each with a queen bee, will be created and placed in the community garden in Greene County and an undetermined location in Jones County, he said. Then when someone has a weak hive and needs bees or a new queen, they will be readily available.

“We’re actually trying to make these people be successful,” Riddle said about the students, which include minority and low-income individuals.

He said he also hopes the course will be successful so he can apply for and receive another beekeeping grant.

Resourceful Communities awarded 35 grants totaling more than $300,000 with a goal of integrating sustainable economic development, environmental stewardship and social justice. The program is funded by the Kate B. Reynold Charitable Trust, The Oak Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Communities Development Initiative and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

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

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