DEEP RUN — The Tim Jenkins era at South Lenoir was short lived.

The school announced on Wednesday that Jenkins, who came to Deep Run last winter via Wallace-Rose Hill to coach baseball and was later named the Blue Devils’ head varsity football coach, has resigned from his coaching and teaching positions to take a teaching and coaching job at East Duplin.

Jenkins leaves the Blue Devils after coaching their varsity baseball team to a share of the East Central 2A Conference title and their varsity football team to a 1-10 record in 2012.

Jenkins, who had said his intentions were to remain at South Lenoir for the long run, cited a conflict with the schooling of his children as his reason for returning to the school that gave him his first job in 1996.

Jenkins said his family had planned on moving their children into Lenoir County’s school district but those plans didn’t pan out.

His desire to be employed by the high school his children attended trumped his desire to be a head football or baseball coach.

“I’ve had some changes in my family over the last few months, as far as where my kids would be in school,” said Jenkins, whose children will continue to attend school in Duplin County. “I just don’t see how I can continue doing the things I need to here, for these kids, and that’s kind of the reason why.

“Nobody’s done anything. The kids haven’t done anything. Wins and losses don’t matter. … I think it’s going to be hard for me to continue being the head coach here (while) my kids are going to be in a different school district.”

Jenkins will join the staff of former Kinston and current East Duplin head football coach Battle Holley.

Jenkins and Holley coached together at Wallace-Rose Hill.

“It’s going to be a better situation for me right now, I think,” Jenkins said.

Before the football season began Jenkins had said publicly his intentions were to remain at South Lenoir until he retired or until he was let go by the school.

Even though neither of those things happened, Jenkins said that at the time of his statement those were his true plans.

“I don’t feel bad that I said it, because that was my intentions,” he said. “I had no plans; it wasn’t like I came to South Lenoir and said that I was going to be here for a year then I’m gone.

“(I) probably shouldn’t have said it, because you don’t ever know what’s going to happen. … In my heart my felt like this was where I was going to be.”

Although his time in Deep Run was short, Jenkins feels what he brought to the football program can be built upon for a successful future.

“There are some good things that can happen here, I and feel like we got started on that. I feel like we moved forward in some areas,” he said.

“The kids have worked hard and they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do. They’ll do better next year, and the next year hopefully, and moving forward.”

Jenkins’ decision to leave also leaves South Lenoir in a bind in not one coaching area but two.

With baseball season just around the corner — teams can begin holding official practices on Feb. 13 — the school is looking for its second baseball coach in as many seasons.

With Wednesday being the first day back from winter break for both students and teachers, Athletic Director Lisa Smith said there is no immediate plan for Jenkins’ replacement on the diamond.

“The first thing we’re going to look at is baseball (but) we can’t post the position right yet,” Smith said. “The boys have been working out in voluntary workouts.

“With today being the first day back and everything we’re just trying to get everything going.”

While Smith said she is saddened to see Jenkins leave, she also understands his decision.

“We understand, definitely. God comes first, then family, then work,” Smith said. “I know professionally he wants to be here, but, personally, you’ve got to do what’s best for yourself or else professionally nothing’s going to work.”

South Lenoir originally hired Jenkins to replace longtime head baseball coach Troy Eason, who retired last January following 28 years and 346 wins at the school, and he made an immediate impact.

The Blue Devils won 14 of their first 15 games, then eventually finished the East Central 2A Conference race tied for first place with Topsail before being knocked out of the state 2A playoffs in the second round by eventual state champion Whiteville.

The Free Press named Jenkins its baseball coach of the year for the 2012 season.

During baseball season Jenkins accepted the open football position, which was left vacant after four years by Kevin Wilson, who also resigned due to family matters.

In Jenkins’ only season at the program’s helm, the Blue Devils won their first game over Spring Creek, then dropped their last 10.

“I really thought this was where I was going to be. I like it here. The school is a good school. The community is pretty solid. The kids work hard,” Jenkins said. “I feel like I let (South Lenoir Principal Steve) Saint-Amand down. But, at the end of the day, regardless of what people say or think — and that doesn’t really matter to me — I’m doing what I think is best for my family, and I hope people will understand that.”

Jenkins is the third Lenoir County head football coach since 2009 to leave for East Duplin. Former North Lenoir head coach Wayne Jackson left for Beulaville following the 2008 season, then Holley followed suit in 2010 after taking the Vikings to their first regional championship game in 2009.

Holley was named East Duplin’s head coach in 2011 following longtime Panthers head coach Brian Aldridge’s retirement.

Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.

SL coaching carousel

Since Jimmy Smith retired from coaching varsity football at South Lenoir following the 1996 season, the school has had seven head coaches in the sport. The sudden resignation of Tim Jenkins, who led the program for one season, has the Blue Devils looking for coach No. 12 overall after 49 seasons of South Lenoir football.

Gerald Whisenhunt — two seasons, 1997-98

Kevin Wiggins — four seasons, 1999-2002

Patrick Whitford — two seasons, 2003-04

Lee Atkins — one season, 2005

Casey Corey — two seasons, 2006-07

Kevin Wilson — four seasons, 2008-11

Tim Jenkins — one season, 2012

Birdhouses honor deceased members

Members of the Wheat Swamp Ruritan Club have erected bluebird houses in memory of deceased club members.

Birdhouses were erected in Neuseway Park in memory of John Galog and Ted Sampley. A birdhouse in memory of James Sanderson was erected at Falling Creek Golf Course, where he was a member.

Club President J.C. Braxton recently presented certificates to Galog’s widow, Thelma, and to Sanderson’s widow, Linda.

Eastern Bluegrass plans concerts

The Eastern North Carolina Bluegrass Association will have its monthly concert Jan. 12 at Lenoir Community College’s Waller Auditorium.

Bands scheduled to play are Spare Parts, Still Waters and The Loose Cannons. Mike Rose will be in charge of sound. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.

Admission is $7 at the door. Children 12 years of age and younger are admitted free.

For more information, call Ann Banks at 252-244-0712.

Cancer benefit being planned

A barbecue fundraiser is being planned to benefit Gina Stallings, who is battling cancer.

A yard sale will begin at 7 a.m. Feb. 9, following by barbecue pork or chicken plates. The yard sale will be at the Moss Hill Community Building on N.C. 55. Food plates will be available for pick up at a variety of sites, including all local Piggly Wiggly stores.

Each plate costs $7 and includes the meat, coleslaw, potatoes, hushpuppies and tea.

Donations are gladly accepted. Make checks payable to Regina Stallings.

For more information, call Pam Whaley at 252-286-8821.

Seniors plan January dances

The Kinston Senior Dance Club has live bands scheduled for Tuesdays in January. The club dances from 7 to 10 p .m. Tuesdays at the Galaxy of Sports Skating Center on U.S. 70 West.

The bands scheduled include: Tuesday, Jammerz; Jan. 15, Without Further Ado; Jan. 22, Southern Storm; and Jan. 29, Southern Drawl. Admission is $7.

The club is for singles and couples, age 50 and older, and is sponsored by the Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department. Dress code is casual, meaning clean, neat and presentable attire. The club is a non-profit organization. The snack bar is operated by the Galaxy of Sports.

For more information, call the department at 252-939-3332 or Gilbert Pittman, club president, at 252-568-3873.

NEW BERN — Hatteras Yachts is laying off 105 workers at its plant in New Bern while its parent company, Brunswick Corp. of Lake Forest, Ill., has announced plans to sell it and CABO Yachts.

In emails to the Sun Journal, Dan Kubera, a spokesperson for Brunswick, said the layoffs announced Thursday were necessary to better adjust to the market conditions. He also said the layoffs were “unrelated and separate” to the decision by Brunswick Corp.’s Board of Directors to seek a buyer for Hatteras and CABO.

In a statement about the decision to sell, Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy said: “This action reflects our decision to exit the sportfishing convertible category and to concentrate our resources in the yacht segment on our remaining brands, Sea Ray and Meridian Yachts. … The current plan assumes that the eventual purchaser will retain both the physical plant and the talented workforce of Hatteras/CABO. During the sale process, which we seek to complete in an expeditious manner, Hatteras and CABO will maintain ongoing operations, and we will keep our employees and dealer network informed of our progress.”

News of the layoff and the potential sale of Hatteras/CABO was unwelcome in Craven County.

“It’s never a good thing to hear about these types of development,” Assistant County Manager and interim Economic Development Director Gene Hodges said. “We feel for the employees who have lost their jobs. Craven County is ready to work in any way possible with the workers who have been displaced.”

Brunswick purchased Hatteras Yachts in 2001 and CABO in 2006.

Kubera said the timing of the layoff and sale announcements was “coincidental.”

“The plan we announced concerning the Hatteras and CABO brands was a strategic decision to exit the sportfishing convertible category and to concentrate our resources in the yacht segment on our remaining brands,” he wrote in an email to the Sun Journal. “The layoff announced this morning was an operational decision, necessary for Hatteras and CABO operations to better adjust to market conditions. As we stated in our news release, during the sale process, Hatteras and CABO will maintain ongoing operations.”

Workers were notified of the job reductions on Thursday morning. In all, about 75 full-time production employees and about 30 temporary employees would lose their jobs, Kubera said.

At the end of November, the New Bern plant had about 545 total employees, full-time, salaried and temporary, he said.

Even amid tough economic conditions, Hatteras has continued to refine its products. In October, the company rolled out a redesign of its popular 80 motor yacht during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Brent Barkley, director of marketing and product portfolio for Hatteras and CABO Yachts, said at that time that Hatteras had sold 45 original Hatteras 80 MYs since the model debuted in 2003.

The retail price for a basic 80 MY is $5.34 million, he said.

The redesigned model is scheduled to be out sometime in the fall, Barkley said.

Kubera did not say if the layoffs would affect the redesigned model.

“We do not comment on production plans for specific products or categories,” he said.

Hatteras has frequently undergone fluctuations in its staffing levels. In 2009, the company underwent a restructuring during which 330 employees lost their positions.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.

JACKSONVILLE — New River Harley-Davidson is looking for the best chili cooking teams in Eastern North Carolina to show off their skills for its sixth annual competition this month.

Each year, the Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Chili Challenge gathers competitors from across the area to prepare their best batch of hot chili to benefit a worthy cause. This year’s event is set for Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. at New River Harley-Davidson, but teams are encouraged to register as soon as possible before the Jan. 23 deadline.

Event Coordinator Shannon Hogan said that last year’s challenge produced a record number of attendees to watch teams compete and sample the varieties of chili.

“It’s fun the way the teams pick on each other and the camaraderie,” Hogan said. “Last year was awesome. The weather was 60 degrees and we had 1,000 in attendance so we’re hoping to beat that this year.”

The event also raises money in support of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

This year, the challenge will officially start at 9 a.m. Teams will set up booths to whip up their recipes during the allotted time, while guests watch them in action and listen to live music performed by Electric Shake.

“There’s a charge of $20 to enter to buy hamburger that is used in (the chili),” Hogan said. “No one can bring their own meat, but everything is else supplied by them.”

Sampling will take place from noon to 2 p.m., allowing attendees to try each recipe for a $5 donation. At 3 p.m., a panel of judges will then sample each chili based on criteria such as consistency, overall look, flavor, smell and color. Trophies and the freedom to brag will be awarded to first and second place teams. Hogan said that the overall goal is to gain 25 to 30 teams this year.

Area businesses, organizations and more are invited to take on the challenge.

“Each team is different and we even had some of them decorate their tents last year,” Hogan said. “We had a team who made their tent look like an actual corral. It’s a good time to be had by all, even kids.”

Contact Aniesa Holmes at 910-219-8473 or aniesa.holmes@jdnews.com.

Two area congressmen — U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre and Walter Jones — voted against the fiscal cliff compromise that passed the U.S. House Tuesday night.

McIntyre, a Lumberton Democrat, was one of 16 House Democrats to vote against the deal. He said he voted that way because it adds nearly $4 trillion to the nation’s debt, delays spending cuts and doesn’t provide for “comprehensive tax reform that can help our small businesses create jobs.”

“The financial markets, small business and the American people are looking for stability and accountability, not a temporary fix,” McIntyre said in a prepared statement. “A comprehensive solution is needed that includes getting our national debt under control and reining in government spending.”

Jones, a Farmville Republican, also said an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office shows the bill will raise the debt by nearly $4 trillion and includes more than $40 in tax increases for every $1 in spending cuts.

He pointed out the deal comes while America’s federal debt is at nearly $17 trillion.

“A country that continues to borrow money to pay bills eventually will collapse,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Jones also cited an ABC News report that various industries — including Hollywood production companies, railroads, NASCAR, electric motorcycle makers and others — would benefit from tax perks included in the legislation. Hollywood, for example, would get $430 million through “special expensing rules to encourage TV and film production in the United States,” according the ABC article.

“Why add any of that when your country is in so much trouble?” he asked.

Jones had said he would be willing to make many more cuts, including eliminating foreign aid, shuttering the U.S. Department of Education, repealing Obamacare and stopping the war in Afghanistan.

Jones also blasted the way the deal was negotiated.

“The way this deal went down reinforces what America hates about the way Washington is being run,” he said. “Backroom deals done in the middle of the night at the zero hour are never good for the American people. This will be no exception.”

Jones said he preferred including more spending cuts in the deal, including cuts Obama has suggested during the past two or three years. But, he said, the House leadership feared adding those cuts would kill the deal.

Jones and McIntyre each represent part of Southeastern North Carolina in the House.

If you’re a Suddenlink cable customer, you may have fewer channels to peruse today than you did yesterday.

At 12:59 a.m. this morning, a deadline passed to renew the contract between Suddenlink and News Corp for the cable provider to continue transmitting 11 cable networks. The channels affected include: Fox College Sports, Fox Deportes, Fox Movie Channel, Fox Regional Sports channels, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports Plus, Fuel, FX, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild and Speed.

Fox News Channel and Fox Business are on a different contract and not affected.

The issue comes down to News Corp wanting a higher rate per household per channel from Suddenlink. The cable provider doesn’t want to pay the increased prices News Corp is asking, so the Fox cable properties and Suddenlink subscribers are caught in the crosshairs.

News Corp extended the deadline for negotiations already, and if there was not an agreement reached by midnight Central Time – Suddenlink is headquartered in St. Louis – the deadline may have been extended again.

“Importantly, if we need more time to work out that new agreement, we’ll ask News Corp to keep their channels on our lineup,” Suddenlink Director of Corporate Communications Gene Regan said in a statement to The Free Press. “Any decision to remove these channels from Suddenlink’s lineup will be made by News Corp, not by Suddenlink.”

In most cases, cable and satellite providers pay networks for the right to retransmit their content. In certain select circumstances, networks will pay the providers. For instance, Fox News Channel paid to be distributed in the New York City market when it debuted in the mid-90s.

If there was no agreement and no extension, Suddenlink will pay local customers $2.88 per month credit, applied retroactively on their bills for each day the News Corp channels did not air.

A representative from News Corp was not available for comment.

Suddenlink serves customers in North Carolina, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at WolfeReports.

Channels affected:

·         Fox College Sports

·         Fox Deportes

·         Fox Movie Channel

·         Fox Regional Sports channels

·         Fox Soccer Channel

·         Fox Sports Plus

·         Fuel

·         FX

·         Nat Geo

·         Nat Geo Wild

·         Speed

Noland Bath & Idea Center has remodeled its showroom to display the new products the store is now carrying.

Rose Foyles, showroom consultant, has been assisting Noland customers for 28 years. She started out at the former location on Herritage Street; a year later, the company moved to its current location with its 2,000-square-foot showroom.

“We have recently had new granite countertops installed with nine new Elkay kitchen sinks,” she said. “We are an authorized Elkay Diamond Design Showroom.”

The showroom is brimming with sleek stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze and other sleek surfaces.

Looking for an interesting conversation starter? How about having a martini-shaped sink installed?

Single and double sinks more than 30 inches wide can be installed over, under or flat against the counter. Even the drains can be installed under the sink.

“It’s just a neater appearance,” Foyles said about what’s called The Perfect Drain.

Magnetic soap, sponge and utensil holders, as well as hooks, adhere to the inside walls of the stainless steel sinks and are moveable.

There are also a variety of bar or vegetable prep sinks, including shimmering hammered stainless steel and granite composite sinks. The latter comes in white, bisque, black or mocha.

Every sink needs a faucet and the showroom features a variety of brands, including some with pull-down sprayers for easy cleaning and motion sensors.

“You just wave at it and it turns on,” Foyles said.

The store is a Moen Showroom of Distinction, and carries the new Voss collection faucet — with a sleek, regal look.

“We’ve probably got over 10 different available lines of faucets,” Foyles said.

Noland carries luxury whirlpool tubs, such as the one with air jets in the bottom and radiant heat from the side.

“Now the showers with the body sprays are starting to be popular,” Foyles said. One of them includes a stereo system, she added.

The store features vintage-style pieces, such as pedestal sinks and Victorian claw-foot tubs. It also carries fine polished wood cabinet vanities with matching mirrors.

Noland has two new commodes in stock now and both are water savers. One has a 1.6-gallon flush and the other has a 1.28-gallon flush, compared with 3.5-gallon, or even 5-gallon, flushes in older models.

Foyles said most people are aware of the large wholesale supply room, but may not know the showroom is open to the public. The store discounts the suggested retail prices, she said.

Noland is owned by Win Wholesale, based in Ohio, and David Allen is manager at the Kinston store. About 75 percent of the sales are special orders by catalog, Foyles said.

Noland Bath & Idea Center, 1000 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., is open from 8:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call 252-523-6171.

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

Do you have a new retail business or one that’s undergone a significant change? The Free Press would like to hear about it. Contact Margaret Fisher at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.

The message Kinston High School’s 2012 International Baccalaureate class gave to the current crop of IB students Thursday was simple — don’t stress out about college, because it will be easy compared to the IB curriculum.

“All of your hard work is going to pay off. … IB is actually way harder than college,” said Resita Cox, currently a UNC student and a recipient of an IB certificate.

Cox was one of 19 members of Kinston High’s class of 2012 who received IB honors during the previous school year.

Ron Owens, coordinator of Lenoir County Schools’ IB Diploma Programme, said school officials do not typically receive the results of the final IB exams until July, and the recipients are honored during a ceremony in late December or early January.

The ceremony for the 2012 honorees took place Thursday in KHS’ cafeteria — it was scheduled to take place in the Performing Arts Center, but power issues which affected the campus Wednesday required moving the event to the cafeteria.

Five graduates received full honors in the form of an IB diploma; 10 more received IB certificates and four received “a la carte” honors for students who take a limited number of IB classes.

“You chose to challenge yourselves and you chose to prove to yourself, to your parents, to your friends and to the world that you are willing to work to accomplish more than is required,” LCS Superintendent Steve Mazingo told the honorees. “As a result, you will have a well-earned advantage over your peers. You have set a standard for yourself that will take you wherever your dreams may lead.”

Not all 19 IB honorees were able to attend Thursday’s ceremony, but those who came had the opportunity to speak to students currently in the program.

“Nobody can say that it was easy,” said diploma recipient Liesel Nix. “You have to work hard, you have to study; you have to do all of your work.”

Thomas Tsao, an IB diploma recipient who is currently a freshman at New York University, told the students “I’m definitely not as stressed” while in college.

“Good luck everybody and have fun in IB,” Tsao said.

Dillon Perry, who is studying computer science at Winston-Salem State University, said IB students are “held to a higher standard,” which helps when adjusting to being on one’s own for the first time in college.

“Right now, I feel like I could take over the world because I graduated from Kinston High and I got my IB certificate,” said graduate Christian Pridgen.

Owens said after the ceremony there are currently 181 students in the ninth through 12th grades participating in the IB program.

The program is open to students countywide — those who live outside of the Kinston High district must transfer to KHS to take part.

Freshmen and sophomores are considered “prospective” IB students and take part in preparatory coursework. If they pass, they will be able to undertake the rigorous IB curriculum in their junior and senior years.

“It prepares kids to be global citizens and thinkers,” Owens said.

The curriculum includes six courses: English, foreign languages, history, science, mathematics and an elective, such as visual arts.

The students must also spend 150 hours on CAS — Creativity, Action, Service — during which they participate in projects outside the classroom, such as community service projects they have designed.

“Colleges are looking for students that are doing things outside the box,” Owens said.

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.

FYI

For more information on the International Baccalaureate program in Lenoir County Schools, contact Ron Owens at 252-527-8067, ext. 1151 or email rowens@lenoir.k12.nc.us

Visit the International Baccalaureate website, ibo.org

When the going’s easy over local roads, it works best for everyone – especially during a time known for heavy drinking.

“We didn’t have any collisions during the New Year’s holiday, so things went pretty smooth,” N.C. Highway Patrol 1st Sgt. Charles Johnson said.

The area Highway Patrol office did record five arrests for driving while intoxicated on New Year’s Eve. The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office also reported a generally quiet holiday period.

“I’m not aware of any incidents that we had – I know our people made some DWI arrests but I couldn’t provide you that information without doing that research,” LCSO Chief Deputy Chris Hill said. “But as far as the holidays, as far as I know, it was uneventful as far as crime goes.”

Statewide, the NCHP recorded five deaths resulting from three motor vehicle wrecks between Sunday and Wednesday. Two of the wrecks involved alcohol.

On Pleasant Road in Fairmont, a car pulled in behind an ATV and hit it, causing the ATV to run off the left shoulder of the road and overturn. Casie Shamon Blue, 25, of Fairmont, died at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton from injuries sustained in the crash.

Jamie Vidal Crespo, 27, was heading west on Morrison Road in the Duplin County community of Turkey when his car ran off the left shoulder, striking a tree and a utility pole. He was not wearing a seatbelt and died in the wreck.

The crash, in which alcohol was not a factor, occurred in Buncombe County, when a Volvo with three passengers crossed the center line of N.C. 131, hitting a tractor trailer. All three people in the Volvo died, but the names have not been released. State troopers suspect excessive speed as contributing to the accident.

Overall, 899 people died as a result of 846 motor vehicle collisions on North Carolina’s roadways in 2012. Of those, 204 fatal wrecks — nearly 25 percent — involved the use of alcohol.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at WolfeReports.

Over New Year’s:

Statewide

5 deaths resulting from motor vehicle wrecks

3 fatal motor vehicle wrecks

2 fatal motor vehicle wrecks involved alcohol

Locally

0 motor vehicle wrecks

5 arrests for driving while intoxicated

Source: N.C. Highway Patrol

The normally bright and colorful screens of sweepstakes machines were dimmed throughout Kinston and Lenoir County Thursday as a statewide ban on the electronic games took effect.

Operators of sweepstakes games had challenged a 2010 state law banning the games, which allow customers to purchase phone minutes or Internet time at various businesses, and then play electronic games on machines or computers in the hopes of winning cash prizes.

The N.C. Supreme Court upheld the law, and cleared the way for the state to enforce its ban — WRAL CBS 5 reported Thursday morning sweepstakes operators had taken their case to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the justices had not responded before the state law took effect.

Several local sweepstakes operations were closed Thursday, including Lucky Bucks Sweepstakes on N.C. 11 North, Pete’s Place on U.S. 258 North and Neuse Internet Café in the Kinston Pointe shopping center on U.S. 70 West.

Maurice Graham and Jason Narron of Kinston drove up to the darkened front of the Neuse Internet Café Thursday afternoon, hoping to play a few quick games.

They were disappointed to hear that, not only the Neuse Internet Café was closed, but sweepstakes had been banned across North Carolina.

“That’s just devastating!” Graham exclaimed.

Graham, who said he is a regular customer at Neuse Internet Café, said the winnings have often helped pay his bills.

“It’s a great thing to keep people occupied,” he said of sweepstakes.

Narron said his winnings also help with his expenses.

“We’ve been down to our last $5, and I know I’ve walked out of a sweepstakes place with about $600,” he said.

Sweepstakes machines can also be found at local convenience stores, but at least two operators shut their machines down Thursday.

Bhanubhi Nakrani, owner of the Cmart 10 store at Hull and Rouse roads, and his son Gautam Vasoya, said about eight to 10 people a day use the two sweepstakes machines at the store.

Nakrani said the company which owns the machines took the software out of them, and they were dark Thursday.

“About 40 to 45 percent of the whole day’s business is the (N.C. Education) Lottery,” Vasoya said.

The two machines set up at the Spinx convenience store on North Queen Street were turned to face the wall, and bore signs stating “No more sweepstakes!”

“I don't think it will stop the flow for us, given that we have so much more going on,” General Manager Kim Davis said.

Spinx sells a variety of items, including Marathon-brand gasoline, snacks, drinks, household items, tobacco products, Lottery tickets and more — similar items are sold at Cmart.

Customer Service Representative Novella Pollock said customers could pay for phone minutes and then play the sweepstakes games — Davis said Spinx staffers are staying in contact with local law enforcement to determine the final outcome of sweepstakes operations.

Sweepstakes operators are still working to find ways to remain in business and not lay off their many employees.

One option is using “pre-reveal software,” which allows the player to see the prize in advance, WRAL reported.

“We have not received any guidance as of right now from the Attorney General’s office as to whether pre-reveal software falls under the video sweepstakes law,” said Chris Hill, chief deputy of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office.

Hill said law enforcement officials were “waiting on guidance from Raleigh” regarding the pre-reveal software.

He noted a case could be built and enforcement action taken against anyone operating a sweepstakes machine without pre-reveal software, though.

Kinston Public Safety Director Bill Johnson said city police were also seeking guidance from the Attorney General’s office before taking enforcement action.

“We have visited the facilities that are within the city limits and just made sure they were aware of the decision from the courts,” Johnson said.

He noted the majority of facilities were closed, and in one that was open, “we discussed the statute with them and asked them to pass it along to their manager.”

Back at the Neuse Internet Café, Kinston resident Greg Dunk walked past the café and other shops while patronizing Kinston Pointe Thursday.

He said he had followed the sweepstakes issue in the news and supported the ban.

“I wouldn’t mess with that, any of that fly-by-night stuff, what I call those get-rich-quick type of machines,” he said. “I’m a construction worker and I work too hard for my money.”

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.

Now that the winter break is over, both Kinston’s boys and girls basketball teams are hoping to put things back in working order.

Both Vikings programs went winless in their respective holiday tournaments last week, and both will look to put the past behind them when they host Farmville Central tonight in Eastern Plains 2A Conference action.

Kinston’s boys went 0-2 at the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational in Raleigh while its girls went 0-3 in the Bunn Christmas Classic at Bunn High School.

In all, Lenoir County teams that played in a holiday tournament last week combined to go 0-9.

“We see what gave us trouble and we’re going to have to practice with a purpose to get better because it ain’t going to get any easier,” said Vikings coach Perry Tyndall following his team’s loss to Waxhaw Cuthbertson in an elimination game of the HSOT.com Holiday Invitational.

“When we get back on Friday night Farmville Central’s going to be there waiting for us in conference.”

Kinston’s boys were left stunned when they gave up a late 13-point lead and were held scoreless in the fourth quarter against Cuthbertson a week ago today in the Cavaliers’ 50-47 win.

Today, the Vikings (9-2, 1-0) host a Jaguars team that won its first nine games — as did Kinston — and are 10-1 on the year.

Farmville Central’s only loss came to Winterville South Central in last week’s Pitt County Christmas tournament.

“We’ve got a lot to work on but we’ve got a lot of season ahead of us,” Tyndall said. “We’re not panicking, but we know we’ve got a lot to work on.”

While Kinston’s boys let a sure win slip through their fingers last week — they nearly rallied to defeat nationally-ranked DeSoto (Texas) a day earlier — its girls team dropped their first game of a round-robin event and couldn’t recover.

The Vikings (9-4, 1-0) fell to host school Bunn 55-49 on the opening day of the event, then dropped consecutive games to Wake Forest-Rolesville and Chapel Hill — a 4A and 3A school, respectively.

It is the longest losing streak for Kinston’s girls program since it dropped six straight in December, 2009.

Farmville Central’s girls enter tonight’s game with a 3-6 overall record, and are 1-0 in league play.

Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports. 

Bryan Hanks, Jon Dawson and Ryan Herman take a look back at the top sports and news stories of 2012 in their own unique fashion, with some help from Paulette Burroughs. Bryan and Ryan also break down the resignation of South Lenoir football/baseball coach Tim Jenkins and speculate about the future of the Blue Devils programs.

Click here to listen to the show.