Here are some things you absolutely need to know on a weekend when we wonder if it’s ever going to stop raining …
HILL ANNOUNCES DECISION TO RUN: In a move that isn’t a surprise — other than the early timing — Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill has officially announced he’s running for the office in 2014.
Hill — appointed to the position by the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners on April 1 following the retirement of longtime Sheriff Billy Smith — said the decision to run came easy.
“The filing will begin in February of 2014, and I want to go ahead and get an early start on my campaign,” Smith said. “Since (being appointed), my office has worked vigorously in reducing crime in Lenoir County by becoming more proactive in our enforcement efforts.”
Hill cites 30 years of law enforcement experience, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and a masters of science degree in criminal justice. In less than three months in office, Hill said he “has restructured it to provide more time to actively patrol communities and to pursue offenders.”
“I have the knowledge and skill to make Lenoir County a safer place to live and work,” he said. “I want to continue being the sheriff not for money, power or glory, but because I care about the safety and security of everyone in Lenoir County.”
Again, the announcement isn’t a surprise — Hill is a well-respected law enforcement professional who made it known when he was appointed he was interested in running for the office.
It’ll be interesting to see if anyone challenges him in the race; former LCSO Chief Deputy Ricky Pearson and Kinston Department of Public Safety Maj. Ronnie Ingram are two names that have been rumored to be interested in running for the office.
CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY ON THURSDAY: Not to steal the thunder from an article in another part of today’s Daily Free Press, but one of the most moving and inspirational ceremonies of the year takes place this Thursday at Historic Harmony Hall.
For the ninth straight July 4th, the Naturalization and Granting of Citizenship ceremony will be at 10 a.m. at Harmony Hall. There are 26 men and women from 19 countries scheduled to take the oath of citizenship on Thursday.
This will be the fourth time I’ve had the honor of participating in the Independence Day ceremony — and I literally rearrange my schedule to take part in it, because it’s that important to me. These are two dozen men and women who have worked hard to become citizens of this great country, something I’m afraid a lot of us take for granted.
Additionally, I enjoy meeting and shaking hands with each of the new citizens who have done it the right way. These new citizens — from as far away as Burma, Nigeria, Togo and Yemen — earned their citizenship, instead of illegally crossing a border and taking advantage of our resources.
Please carve out a few minutes of your morning on Thursday to help welcome these new citizens. Many kudos to Pride of Kinston Director Adrian King for his hard work in bringing this event to our city every year.
PROMOTIONS AT TFP: On Thursday, Free Press Publisher Vernon DeBolt made two announcements — our new sports editor is Jessika Morgan and that I have been named the paper’s editor.
Jessika takes over the sports department from Ryan Herman, who is leaving Kinston to return to his hometown newspaper, the Lincoln Times-News of Lincolnton. Ryan is going to be missed in Kinston, not only by the readers of this paper and area sports fans, but by me — he is a hell of a journalist, a trusted confidante and a man I’m proud to call my friend.
I’m excited about Jessika’s promotion; she’s worked hard in the past nine months in her dual roles as education reporter and the primary writer for The Jones Post. She has a passion for sports and will be a great leader of our sports department — which features the best correspondents in North Carolina in Keith Spence, Justin Hill and Michael Moon.
I’m humbled to be only the 13th editor in the 131-plus year history of The Free Press — following in the legendary footsteps of great men, leaders and journalists like Jake Strother, Jon Segal and Patrick Holmes. It’s a goal I’ve had since you welcomed me to your city in October 2002 as the sports editor and it’s a position I’m ready to serve for as long as you’ll have me.
I love Kinston, I love Lenoir County and I passionately love this newspaper you’re holding in your hand or reading online. It is my singular goal to keep The Free Press the most important and relevant news-gathering operation in Lenoir County, Greene County and Jones County.
There are a multitude of exciting changes coming to your Free Press in the coming months — and I’m extremely proud to be leading the newsroom while it’s happening.
Bryan C. Hanks is the editor of The Free Press; his column appears in this space every Sunday. You can reach him at 252-559-1074 or at Bryan.Hanks@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCHanks.