Wayne Week — April 13, 2025

N E W OL D NORT H M E DI A PR E SE N T S A W E E K LY N E WS M AG A Z I N E

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Wayne

WEEK

SCHOOLS SUPPLIED?

WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, SCHOOL BOARD HOLD JOINT SESSION TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING.

by Ken Fine / p. 12

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CONTENTS APRIL 13, 2025 Volume 2, Issue 32

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EDITORIAL EDITOR Ken Fine EDITOR Renee Carey DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Melissa Hamilton ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE McKayla Alves ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lara Landers

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New Old North Media LLC

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4 Big Ditch project funds are gone

Goldsboro's interim city manager told members of the City Council that a reversal by the Trump Administration likely means the end of the flood mitigation project.

6 Forever chemicals solution will cost City leaders say it could cost up to $30 million to get "forever chemical" levels under the federal limit put into place by the Biden Administration.

7 Caitlin Hodges found dead

The 29-year-old was reported missing by her family in July 2024. Her remains were discovered that December — but lawmen did not know it until a few days ago.

8 Body camera footage released

Goldsboro Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones shared her constituents' concerns in the wake of the release of video of a late January arrest that went viral on social media.

11 Our take

Now that two of the three finalists for Goldsboro's city manager post have dropped out of the race, in our view, it's time to offer Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston a contract.

12 Cover story

Members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education met in a joint session to discuss the school district's upcoming budget asks.

20 Spectator

The Charles B. Aycock baseball team fell 5-1 to South Johnston Tuesday evening in Pikeville.

WAYNE WEEK (ISSN 2993-9666) is published weekly — except the week of Christmas, Easter, and July 4 — for $125 per year by New Old North Media, LLC, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC, 27530. Periodicals postage paid at at Goldsboro, NC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WAYNE WEEK, 219 N. John Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

COVER DESIGN

BY SHAN STUMPF

newoldnorth.com

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NEWS +VIEWS

Livingston: Big Ditch project funding “gone” The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which committed millions of federal dollars to the effort, was abruptly canceled by the Trump Administration April 4.

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ust a few months ago, Goldsboro and state officials were celebrating a funding award that would enable a partnership that would allow for the completion of stream restoration and infrastructure improvements along “Big Ditch” — a large stream that runs from South John Street to Royall Avenue — to mitigate “a wide range of social, environmental, and economic impacts that cascade through the community.”

The project would have seen the restoration of approximately 2,300 linear feet of stream, the upgrading of three culvert/bridge conditions, and the creation of a “floodplain park” within the Elmwood Terrace community that borders Big Ditch — improvements that “would reduce flood-related damages throughout the project area,” specifically, “14 single-family residential units, 63 multi-family residential units, 3 public/private entities” that would “benefit from reductions in projected flood heights.”

But Monday, just eight months after the Goldsboro City Council approved a $670,000 contract with the engineer tapped for the effort, North Carolina State University Coastal Dynamics Design Lab Associate Director Travis Klondike emailed Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston with what he characterized as “devastating” news.

The federal funds awarded to the city for the project had been pulled — a result of the cancellation of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.

In a press release issued April 4 by FEMA, the department said the BRIC program was “yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program” that was “more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters.”

Klondike, three days later, unwrapped how that decision impacts the Big Ditch effort.

“The memo states that funds not yet disbursed will not be distributed to states / local communities,” he wrote.

“This is clearly a devastating announcement — I’ve been wrestling to find the right words. While (North Carolina Emergency Management) should be providing more precise guidance soon, there are a few critical items that we need to address immediately regarding invoicing, potential stop-work orders, etc. relating to the Big Ditch project.”

Livingston said the “long and short of it” was that “the Trump Administration pulled back funding from that entire program” and told members of the City Council Monday the Big Ditch project was “gone.”

“It’s not coming back,” he said.

And when asked if the city had already spent money on the project, Livingston said yes, adding that he was trying to determine “if there’s any way to reimburse us for that.” - Ken Fine

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THE BIG DITCH PROJECT WOULD HAVE SEEN: • The restoration of approximately 2,300 linear feet of stream • The upgrading of three culvert/ bridge conditions • The creation of a “floodplain park” within the Elmwood Terrace community that borders Big Ditch. Those improvements would have reduced flood-related damages throughout the project area, including: • 14 single-family residential units • 63 multi-family residential units • 3 public/private entities

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“Forever chemical” project could cost $30 million Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston told members of the Goldsboro City Council that he did not know “how cities and counties are going to afford these things.”

BY KEN FINE

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ust more than a year ago, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a set of national drinking water standards to protect communities from exposure to “forever chemicals” — also known as perand polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS — as exposure to them has been linked to cancer, liver and heart issues, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.

And with the new standards came a commitment of billions of federal dollars to help states implement PFAS testing and treatment to ensure their drinking water was safe.

Goldsboro was among the estimated 6 to 10 percent of the 66,000 public drinking water systems in the nation that was forced, because of those legally enforceable limits, to take action to reduce the amount of forever chemicals in its drinking water.

But Interim City Manager Matthew Livingston told members of the City Council April 7 that the money is simply not there to complete what he characterized as a “really expensive” project.

“I don’t know how cities and counties are going to afford these things,” he said. “That project, if it stands up the way it is, that’s a $30 million project.”

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PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used since the 1940s.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, they can be found in the following locations: Drinking water — in public drinking water systems and private drinking water wells.

Soil and water at or near waste sites — at landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste 6

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sites such as those that fall under the federal Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs.

Manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS – for example at chrome plating, electronics, and certain textile and paper manufacturers.

Food – for example in fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS and dairy products from livestock exposed to PFAS. Food packaging – for example in grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers.

Household products and dust – for example in stain and water-repellent used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics; cleaning products; non-stick cookware; paints, varnishes, and sealants.

Personal care products – for example in certain shampoo, dental floss, and cosmetics.

Biosolids – for example fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants that is used on agricultural lands can affect ground and surface water and animals that graze on the land.

Fire extinguishing foam — in aqueous film-forming foams (or AFFFs) used to extinguish flammable liquid-based fires. Such foams are used in training and emergency response events at airports, shipyards, military bases, firefighting training facilities, chemical plants, and refineries.

And when Goldsboro officials got wind of the latter, the city joined a lawsuit against 3M and other companies that manufactured and sold the foam.

“As soon as it came out that we were asked to join the lawsuit and ultimately did, to his credit, (Public Utilities Director) Bert Sherman initiat-

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I don't know how cities and counties are going to afford these things. ed the testing,” Mayor Charles Gaylor said last year. “And that’s when he initiated trying to figure out, you know, what materials are we going to need, what filtration methods are we going to need to be able to provide safe water and obviously be compliant. So yeah, I’m proud of him.”

But the lawsuit the city joined was not the first time Goldsboro and 3M were at odds in a courtroom.

Back in 2021, the state of North Carolina brought a civil action against the company and more than a dozen others, claiming they were responsible for “injuries to North Carolina’s natural resources, including groundwater, surface water, sediments, soils, and biota” — one that sought compensation for “property damages, economic damages, remediation and restoration costs, and all other relief available as a result of releases of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA “) into the environment due to the use, release, spill, transport, storage, disposal, and/or handling of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”) at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.”

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Based on the standards set by the EPA, Goldsboro is above the legal limit for two of them, PFOS and PFOA. (The city’s PFOS level is 7.56 and its PFOA level is 5.68.)

And last year, despite the fact that the federal government said it would give municipalities several years to get their levels below the new threshold, Gaylor pledged to ensure a system was put into place as soon as possible that would guarantee the safety of the water coming out of residents’ faucets.

“We’re not waiting. We’re talking about water — a fundamental tenet humans need to survive. So, it needs to be a high-quality product that we’re offering to our community,” he said. “So yeah, it’s going to happen and it’s not going to be five years from now. It’s going to be just as soon as we can get the right solution identified and implemented.”

But now that a potential price tag for the work has come to the fore — and the city is only expected to receive a fraction of the total when the class action lawsuit pays out, Livingston is concerned.

“We’re in the class action lawsuit and I’m signing off on that litigation. That’s $3.5 million, but there’s a huge funding gap there,”he said. “So, yeah, we’re faced with some really significant challenges.”

And unless the Trump Administration scraps the EPA’s mandate — in January, it already withdrew a Biden-era proposal to restrict PFAS discharges from industrial sites — the clock will continue to tick toward a deadline the city would have no choice but to meet. n

Caitlin Hodges found dead

Members of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that human remains found in December belong to woman who went missing last summer.

BY KEN FINE

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er sister, Mandy, told Wayne Week in September 2024 that Caitlin Hodges was a “tragic” figure — that her story was a “horrific” reminder that opioid addiction does not discriminate.

That, she said, was the only way to explain how her “beautiful” and “vibrant” family member — someone who was raised by a “loving” couple — ended up “dangerously” skinny and covered in visible sores on her arms and legs from persistent heroin use.

“We all have our own paths that we can take and it’s not just your parenting or your neighborhood that determines that path,” Mandy said. “It’s not your yearly income that’s going to determine if your child becomes an addict.

It’s just not.”

But even though, at the time, Caitlin had been missing for months, Mandy believed she was still alive — that she could be saved from the throes of addiction and lead a normal life.

“I think Caitlin could still be somebody. I really do. I have hope for her,” Mandy said. “If she is found and we can get her some kind of help, she still has a lot of potential.”

That dream, however, ended Tuesday, when remains discovered December 10 in the 900 block of Dollard Town Road were identified as belonging to the 29-year-old by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

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Goldsboro became a part of Caitlin’s story when she travelled, with her boyfriend, to Wayne County from Illinois.

And while the exact timeline still remains unclear, local police officers and former residents of the Tent City homeless encampment located beyond the tree line off Royall Avenue said at one point, she was living on the streets.

City Councilwoman and Cry Freedom Missions CEO Beverly Weeks last saw her in May 2024, when she purchased the young woman — who looked “like she was starving” — a meal from Lantern Inn. And family members told Wayne Week they had not had contact with Caitlin since early July, when they filed a missing persons’ report with the GPD.

In September, after word of Caitlin’s disappearance went viral on social media — and misinformation started being disseminated — GPD Chief Mike West said that within 24 hours of that report being filed, investigators began looking for the young woman.

They interviewed people who knew her and the man she was, at one time, living with

— concluding that she was in no immediate danger, and posed no imminent threat to the community or herself.

And because she did not meet those and other criteria — including, for example, being a minor or an elderly person with cognitive issues — they determined there was no need to ask the public for assistance in finding her.

But all that changed when the misinformation spreading on social media led family members, local residents, and Internet sleuths to start launching their own “investigations” into her disappearance.

It is unclear how long Caitlin’s remains had been on Dollard Town Road before she was found.

And while the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office will not, at this point, publicly disclose a cause of death, law enforcement sources who were close to the case after the missing persons’ report was filed said it was being “treated as a homicide.”

The WCSO did, however, say that the case “remains under active investigation” and are asking anyone with information to come forward by contacting the department or Crime Stoppers. n

2025 PROPERTY REVALUATION Wayne County is conducting a property revaluation to ensure tax assessments reflect current market values, as required by North Carolina law.

Revaluation does NOT determine your tax bill. The Board of Commissioners will set the tax rate later.

Property values are assessed fairly based on real market conditions.

You have the right to appeal if you believe your assessed value is incorrect.

Revaluation notices will be mailed in late February - early March.

LEARN MORE AT WAYNEGOV.COM/REVALUATION newoldnorth.com

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ot long after members of the Goldsboro City Council agreed to ask a judge to allow for the release of body camera footage of an incident that unfolded Jan. 28 on Day Circle — an arrest that was partially captured on video by a bystander and shared on social media “without context” — the court honored their request.

But making the footage public, which a majority of the council believed would demonstrate transparency and further vindicate the officer who was, last month, cleared of wrongdoing by a Goldsboro Police Department internal investigation, has led to more allegations of “excessive force” and “police brutality” by the handful of local residents who have repeatedly told the board they were angered by what they saw on Facebook.

And while, in the days after the results of the investigation were disclosed during a marathon closed session last month, most members of the council have remained relatively quiet, Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones felt compelled, during the council’s April 7 meeting, to express the concerns she said remain among her constituents.

“The body cam is out now. I don’t know how many people have seen it but my constituents are very, very concerned and it has jeopardized the community’s safety and trust,” she said. “I still stand on the fact that we still need to feel safe, even when we’re being arrested.”

Then, she read what she said a District 1 resident wrote during a meeting she recently hosted.

“The policemen are coming around in our communities, but they want to see more friendly community policing and they want them to take time to get to know them,” Jones said.

“They are very disturbed by what they saw.”

And while the mayor pro tem said she has great respect for law enforcement — and noted that she has family members who wear a badge — she added that she is still conflicted about what unfolded that afternoon on Day Circle.

“I want my police department to know that I do support you when you’re right, but I don’t support you when I feel that some things could have been done better,” Jones said. “We do not want to see inappropriateness and misconduct in our police department. We are in tumultuous times, and we do not need the city of Goldsboro to be frightened.”

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A 911 call came into the call center at approximately 4:35 p.m. on Jan. 28.

A man wearing a black hoodie and red sweatpants was on private property he had been removed from by the GPD once before because he was, allegedly, threatening employees.

“He has previously threatened employees,” the caller told the 911 operator. “The last time 8

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police accountability” to look at incidents like the one that unfolded on Day Circle, despite the fact that in North Carolina, similar groups have proven to have little to no power and/or access to the information that would be needed — body camera footage, reports, personnel files — to serve their stated purposes.

“I really want us to revisit the advisory committee for GPD,” the mayor said. “I think that could be a really positive thing and I think that’s something we’re gonna want to talk about here very soon — very, very quickly.”

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GPD footage released

Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones shared her feelings, constituents' concerns in the wake of release of body camera footage recorded during an arrest that unfolded on Day Circle in late January.

BY RENEE CAREY that we asked for him to be banned, the cops actually, like, scared him off the property instead of formally banning him.”

When officers arrived at the scene, they claim the 27-year-old refused to identify himself, resisted being put into handcuffs, and assaulted an officer during the ensuing struggle.

He also, according to the GPD, was found in possession of a concealed knife — and another weapon was found near the place where the struggle with officers began.

Video of portions of the incident would later appear on Facebook, and two camps formed.

On one side were those who characterized the GPD’s encounter with Talek Carter as “brutality.”

On the other were those who said they backed “the blue” — and were puzzled by those who were defending someone they perceived as a law-breaker who put himself in an altercation by refusing to comply with the officers who responded to the scene.

GPD Chief Mike West said whether a portion of the arrest was recorded and posted to social media or not, an investigation would have been launched in accordance with stan-

dard procedure when an officer gets physical with a suspect.

But because “the noise got louder,” that internal probe played out in public, as two camps formed on the City Council as well.

Councilwoman Brandi Matthews, Councilman Roderick White, and Jones all addressed what unfolded on Day Circle during a meeting — expressing concern while committing to allow the “process” to play out.

But Councilwoman Jamie Taylor, Councilman Chris Boyette, and Councilwoman Beverly Weeks remained silent — telling Wayne Week they felt it was inappropriate to weigh in while the internal investigation was unfolding.

Their silence, though, ultimately made them targets of the ire of people who would address the board during the meeting’s public comment period — with one resident even inferring that because the three black members of the council had shown concern and the three white council members had declined to comment, those unwilling to share their thoughts must be “racist.”

Mayor Charles Gaylor also touched on the issue, offering to support the idea of convening a “civilian advisory and review board for

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It was clear during Monday’s meeting that while the investigation might be over, the issue has not gone away.

But Jones wants those who saw her speak during the council member comment period to know that she has reflected on what she said — and felt the need to clarify her position on the Day Circle incident.

Her words, she told Wayne Week Tuesday, were a reflection of concerns expressed by her constituents — not a condemnation of the GPD in the wake of a concluded internal investigation.

And she provided the following statement to ensure the community knows “my heart”: “During Monday night’s council meeting, I made or attempted to make a heartfelt appeal about the vital need for safety in all aspects of the arrest process. It’s essential for me to clarify my remarks, that were meant to encourage for both our devoted police officers and individuals being detained to feel secure, as this sense of safety plays a crucial role in de-escalating potentially tense situations. It’s equally important to emphasize that cooperation during the arrest process can significantly reduce the necessity for physical force. Our community deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing both our law enforcement professionals and those in custody will return home safely, without misunderstandings undermining our mutual trust. I am a strong advocate for community policing because it fosters positive outcomes in the arrest process. However, this approach cannot succeed without active participation from everyone involved in the arrest process. It’s essential for everyone — law enforcement professionals, detainees, and bystanders alike — to play an active role in creating a safer community. My intention was never to cast doubt on the commitment of the brave men and women of the Goldsboro police force.

Instead, I seek to highlight opportunities for growth and collaboration among us all. When we unite and learn from our experiences, we pave the way for a safer and more harmonious environment for everyone. Let’s commit to reinforcing trust and nurturing partnerships that will make our community even stronger!”n

{ our TAKE }

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All share schools' burden

ayne County has a good problem.

But it is a problem, nonetheless.

Wayne County Public Schools are much better — really.

We were there when it was time to point out the shortcomings, so it is only fair that we talk about the steps forward — and there have been more than a few of those.

The days of fiscal mismanagement seem to be a bad memory.

Board missteps are less and less of an issue.

And while there are still some who have baggage from the last debacle, it seems like there is a new spirit of accountability and cooperation.

All of that is good.

And while the test scores and graduation rates are still not where they need to be, they have improved — significantly — since Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard came to town.

There is work to do, but the days of just excusing away the low performance numbers are over.

Teaching is actually bell to bell — and the administrators and others who seemed not to be on board with the hard work it takes to get a school district back on the right path are either out or on their way out.

There is a new standard, one that extends to everything from attendance to discipline and behavior issues.

Again, still not solved — there is only so much a school can do in this age of out-of-control teens and so many ambivalent parents —

but there are consequences for inappropriate actions now.

That kind of consistency means that students know what is expected and what to expect.

And that path, with standards, is where we want to be.

A promise was made last year by the county commissioners during budget talks that there would be no increase in funding without some assurances that the school district had turned the academic corner and was no longer watching budget dollars slide through its fingers.

We are there.

And while there will still need to be vigilance and continued improvement, the major steps, the first big steps, have been made.

So, now, it is time to talk about money — and not just because the district held up

its end of the bargain, but because there are identified needs and expenses that we as a community should want to rectify.

Wayne County Public Schools did the work.

Now, they want to see some of the funding increases they need to continue growing and improving education in Wayne County.

And the commissioners have indicated that they are willing to have that discussion — especially when it comes to dedicating the funds to ensure every single child is safe on their respective campuses.

But there is another concern — the same concern we all have these days.

There is only so much money to go around, and there are big expenses that come with running a county of any size, but especially Continued on page 10 newoldnorth.com

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Continued from page 9

one where there are significant infrastructure concerns and maintenance bills.

There has already been a large amount of money spent on new schools — and there have been improvements made elsewhere as well.

But the Board of Education is right — not enough was spent in the past to maintain the properties and now the problems are catching up to us.

And the board is right about something else, too.

We have to do the work in many of these schools now. Right now.

The same is true for attracting quality staff.

We have to be competitive with neighboring communities.

It is simply not enough to assume that those who teach in Wayne County are doing so out of the goodness of their heart and that they will continue to do so even if the stipends are significantly lower.

Those are not pie in the sky wishes.

They are realities.

And here is another one: We have been granted a reprieve from the very scary threat of losing Seymour Johnson Air Force Base — a very real danger with potentially catastrophic

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consequences.

We know one of the reasons that we ended up in this predicament is that our schools were considered subpar.

And that matters, especially in a community that has many young military families.

Air Force brass let us know how crucial changes are, and finally, someone woke up and set the priorities to get it done.

School Board member Wade Leatham was 100-percent correct when he reminded commissioners Tuesday that Washington has its eye fixed on WCPS. So, yes, we need to continue to build the district back better, while holding leaders accountable for the mistakes of the past.

But when it comes to the money necessary to do so, the burden cannot be the commissioners’ alone.

We have to think outside of the box.

There is only so much money in the county’s coffers — and there is a lot of work to be done.

There is no blank check — and draining the county treasury to put the schools on the proper financial path is not smart either.

And no, just because the revaluation has happened does not mean the county govern-

ment is, today, flush with cash.

It doesn’t work that way.

And, you see, the schools are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to making sure Wayne County’s future is bright.

Commissioners Chris Gurley and Joe Daughtery were right to point that out.

We need economic development and infrastructure investment, too.

That means the people we put in charge of directing the county’s future have to be able to see the big picture.

So, the good news is that the county schools are on solid footing now.

Whichard is fired up — and inspiring those under his command to be fired up, too.

And there is a fund balance where a massive deficit used to be.

So, maybe it’s finally time to strike a balance.

The county does need to invest now, to reinforce the new progress forward, and to show SJAFB officials that they have heard their concerns.

But the commissioners have every right to ask to be part of the financial plan — and to make sure that the money is spent wisely, without becoming meddlers rather than partners in the vision for WCPS’ future.

So, they can ask to see the receipts, as long as the motive is a joint vision for the future and not a hunt for the next gotcha.

And the school district has to be brave, too.

This is the time to create a big, audacious goal to move WCPS forward.

There is no room for more bad personnel decisions and poor administrative planning.

And perhaps some of that fund balance could be repurposed to invest in the district’s future as well — with meticulous planning and number crunching.

So, maybe commissioners fund the $700,000 needed to ensure an SRO is on every WCPS campus.

Next, perhaps the district matches that dollar amount from its fund balance to fund another high-priority need.

And then, the third party needs to step in.

That party is us, by the way.

That’s right.

We need a ¼-cent sales tax increase.

We know. We know.

Right now, spending more money is the last thing you want to contemplate.

But hear us out.

It is the right time.

A sales tax increase is the best way to get money into the county/school coffers without asking county property owners to bear another hit on their pocketbooks.

And we would bet you would not even notice a ¼-cent increase — well, until millions of dollars suddenly became available to give our

schools the funding they deserve.

Everybody would pay based on their consumption — including those who NEVER pay taxes.

And again, it is a painless tax — one most people would never even feel.

By the way, it is fair because it distributes the burden of the costs to those who benefit from the services and takes in a little bit of money from those who visit and spend money here.

It is a win for everyone — and we would not be the only ones who have done it.

Think about your trips outside Wayne County — like, say, to Raleigh. You pay sales tax that benefits that city, too.

And every single thriving school district in North Carolina has something in common.

Their communities contribute, via voter-approved sales tax increases.

It is not a big ask to request that voters here support a boost for the schools.

And it is an investment that will pay big dividends later.

Still not convinced?

Think of it this way: If there is no Air Force base because our schools are crumbling, what do you think that will do to property values in the county?

Spoiler alert: We would be cooked.

So, any county or city leader who downplays the value of that base to the economic future of this community is, to put it bluntly, naïve at best and an idiot at the worst.

Let’s stop acting like an up-and-coming county and actually be one.

School Board member Chris West was right when he said we cannot expect that what we paid 10 years ago to run the county schools is going to be enough to not only meet the ever-increasing costs of maintaining a large district, but enough to attract the kind of personnel we want standing in those classrooms.

Our family budgets prove that.

And, frankly, it is time we believe in ourselves.

Wayne County is on the precipice of being a key player in the state’s next big boom.

Making sure the pieces are in place, and that we have made the financial decisions to set the progress in motion is not just smart, it is critical.

So, we encourage the county and the school district to start planning to put a sales tax measure on the ballot soon, with clear plans for the money and a promise of transparency and accountability.

We for one will be happy to share with you what we think of the plan.

Because we are, in our view, oh-so close to reaching our brightest star as a community.

That’s right. We are bullish on Wayne County.

And we think you should be, too. n

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Last man standing

nd then there was one.

The scuttlebutt out of City Hall is that the field of candidates for Goldsboro’s city manager position has been whittled down to a single contestant — specifically, the current interim city manager, as the other two finalists for the job pulled their applications earlier this week.

And after eliminations that members of the City Council made earlier to get down to a “top three,” that means the only man left standing is Matthew Livingston.

End of search, right?

Well, not necessarily.

You see, we have also heard through the grapevine that there are some members of the council who want to bring back a couple of the eliminated applicants — people who had serious baggage, by the way — to again vie for the city manager slot.

Or, if that doesn’t fly, they are poised to propose a new search.

We say, “No way.”

For what it’s worth, here’s why:

Livingston has lived up to the requirements asked of him.

He made an application, advocated for his hiring, and has continued to do the job of the city manager all the while.

He swallowed his pride and threw his name into the hat in a situation where nobody would have blamed him if he took the fact that a search was called for in the first place as a vote of no confidence.

And council members and the mayor lived up to their responsibilities, too.

They cut the check and did a search for available applicants and looked over qualifications and new viewpoints.

In others words, they did their due diligence for the sake of knowing — really knowing — that they had found their guy.

And now, with a challenging and promising future for the city ahead, and the concern of the need to take care of making sure Seymour Johnson Air Force Base stays right where it is, it is time to move on.

Forget about the fact that the city is smack dab in the middle of budget season.

Ignore that Livingston has, almost single-handedly, prevented a water and sewer catastrophe in Eureka.

He has still survived the gauntlet and proven that he wants the job bad enough to go through it — and that, in our view, means he should be given the chance to do so.

The good news is that at least this time we know what we are getting — and can put together a contract that benefits both the city and its new leader.

We know what we need and what our final candidate has to offer.

So, yes, is time to put the search to rest.

There is no need to add back candidates who were eliminated for what we assume were good reasons. If they were not right then, they are not right now.

The last thing we need as a city is to settle.

So, we commend the City Council for doing a search the right way — and for gaining a little perspective as it unfolded.

And we hope that when he finally “gets” the job, Livingston will start his “new” gig by seriously evaluating the people who work

under him so we, the taxpayers, know that the right people are in place to move this city forward.

We have too much at stake to do otherwise.

Leading the city of Goldsboro is a great opportunity for anyone in the city management field.

We think Livingston appreciates that.

And we think council members are ready to set employment expectations and to challenge him to get the job done.

There will be naysayers.

There always are.

But the truth is that Livingston has been doing this job for more than a year — and right this minute, City Hall is functioning at a level that has not been seen in a long, long time.

So, hold him accountable and evaluate his performance.

Any leader of a massive organization should expect no less.

But it’s time we accept that there is a reason Livingston is the last man standing.

Hopefully, the majority of the City Council gets that. n newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 11

SCHOOLS SUPPLIED?

12

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, SCHOOL BOARD HOLD JOINT SESSION TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING.

by Ken Fine

B

ack in March 2024, Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard told members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners that while he understood that money was tight, he felt they needed to provide more financial support to the school district.

He pointed to a comparison of Wayne to other districts in the region to illustrate what he believed was a not-good-enough per pupil spending level.

He took a swipe at two of the county’s charter schools — institutions that pull money out of WCPS’ coffers.

He laid out funding needs he said were necessities, not luxuries.

And while he admitted he was disappointed by the district’s academic performance before he took the job — and its inclusion on the state’s 2023-24 “low-performing district” list — he vowed that when it came time for the 2025 joint meeting of the commissioners and Wayne County Board of Education, he would have a turnaround to report and celebrate.

But his presentation was not the only thing that defined the 2024 session inside the Maxwell Center.

67.1%

BREAKDOWN OF THE OPERATING WCPS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26

TOTAL BUDGET: $212,378,467

13.3%

8.2%

4.1%

5.3%

$142,393,812

$28,317,776

$17,495,606

$8,735,000

$11,173,993

STATE

LOCAL

FEDERAL

CAPITAL OUTLAY

NUTRITION

There was feuding between longtime members of the respective boards.

There were eyerolls, smirks, and finger-tapping.

There were discrepancies between the two boards’ “numbers” and opinions on what was, in fact, adequate spending.

And when, a few months later, the county adopted its 2024-25 budget, WCPS officials felt they were shortchanged and county officials argued they did all they could.

Fast-forward a little more than a year.

The two boards — albeit with a new face on each — again converged on the Maxwell Center.

And at the April 8 session, Whichard, again, presented much of the same information — from per-pupil spending comparisons and a request for money to increase stipends to capital needs and warnings about staffing shortages and deteriorating buildings.

The superintendent even took another subtle jab at the county’s charter schools.

But this time, he also got to state the fact that WCPS was no longer on the

2% $4,298,280 SPECIAL

SPECIAL

This board will have to make some tough decisions.

We have 30 other agencies we're responsible for.

Continued on page 14 newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 13

AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY

Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard identified the following “areas of uncertainty” for the FY 2025-2026 budget which he said, “could impact costs.” The following are presented in his words and have not been edited:

My promise to you is that we're going to spend that dollar wisely.

Continued from page 13

“low-performing district” list — a reminder that he had lived up to his promise.

And members of both boards seemed less interested in a battle — focusing instead on the areas in which they agreed.

School Board member Wade Leatham got no argument from the other side when he pointed out that for him, providing more funding was about remembering that the future of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base could be jeopardized if a lack of money led to a depleted staff and blighted facilities.

And nobody disagreed when his fellow board member, Craig Foucht, noted that recruiting industry and residents to Wayne County — both would increase the tax base and put more money into commissioners’ coffers — would be easier if WCPS was able to achieve its goals.

And did not seem to be lost on anyone in the room that commissioners funding all of the superintendent’s ask was more than likely not going to happen, but that ensuring the district’s Exceptional Children program was adequately funded to avoid lawsuits and keeping schoolchildren safe to avoid tragedy were of the utmost importance.

W

hichard’s 2025 asks fell, for the most part, into three categories.

The first involves teacher retention and recruitment — something the superinten14

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

STATE BUDGET The State budget continues to be a concern. WCPS is monitoring the General Assembly to see what changes, if any, will be made during their next session. Any changes will have an impact on the school district’s overall operating budget in the coming year.

dent said could become even more critical as the status of international teachers faces uncertainty under the Trump Administration.

That is why, he said, increasing supplements and going after as many potential WCPS teachers as possible remains a top priority.

And for $1,377,516, WCPS could ensure that every classified employee receives $300, certified staff get an additional $500, assistant principals net $2,000 more than they are getting now, and principals gain $3,500 a year — an offering he believes would help shore up the ranks on district campuses.

“The biggest factor that I’m seeing with teachers right now and the biggest factor I’m seeing with principals when they walk into my office is, ‘Show me what you can do for me,’” Whichard said.

The second ask was highlighted by his request for $700,000 to ensure every WCPS campus had its own school resource officer.

And pressing capital projects would require an increase in investment from commissioners, too.

But Whichard made it clear that, in his view, that list — which includes everything from chillers, bleachers, and windows to roofs, doors, and security upgrades — were needs, not wants, despite the fact that should every one of them be funded, it would cost $7,820,000.

Continued on page 16

ADM ENROLLMENT: It is important to forecast a conservative projected ADM for FY 2025-2026. In the past state funding allotments were based on the best 1 of 2 ADM of the district. Starting with the FY 2024-2025 funding will be based on Funding in Arrears, and any adjustments made to the ADM of the district will have an impact on State funding levels.

CHARTER SCHOOLS Each month, WCPS is legislatively required to allocate funds to local public charter schools. WCPS cannot fully predict how much funding will be distributed in a given year, as allocations can change based on the school district’s enrollment, the school district’s total local revenues, and the enrollment of Wayne County students in local charter schools.

SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION The most recent budget from the General Assembly expanded North Carolina’s unaccountable private school voucher program by $250 million over the next two years, for a total of $4 billion over the next ten years. WCPS is monitoring this expansion to see what impact it will have on the district’s operating budget in the coming year.

ESSER FUNDING CLIFF The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent federal ESSER funding was a historic moment in education. As one of the largest influxes of funding into the K-12 educational system, districts and schools had opportunities to fund initiatives and programs not possible before. Now, as ESSER funding ends in September 2024, educational leaders

are challenged with tough decisions to determine what programs worked and deciding what to continue funding in the 2025-2026 school year.

LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES Public school districts rely heavily upon local revenue sources such as Fines & Forfeitures, Medicaid, Pre-K, More at Four, local Sales Tax, and N.C. Sales Tax. Many of these revenue sources fluctuate from year to year.

IMPACT AID Each year, the U.S. Department of Education provides WCPS funding for a portion of the costs of educating children whose families live on federal properties. The program is designed to assist local school districts that have lost property tax revenues due to the presence of tax- exempt properties, or that have experienced increased expenditures due to the enrollment of federally connected students. WCPS cannot accurately know how much funding it will receive.

PENSION SPIKING Employees who are members of the retirement system contribute 6% of their monthly employment to retirement. If an employee receives a significant salary increase during their career or in the years leading up to retirement, their monthly retirement benefit may be more than their expected contribution. Because there is a State Implemented Contribution Based Benefit Cap, a school district may have to pay for any benefits above the cap.

WCPS cannot accurately predict if there will be any local impacts - and to what extent - from pension spiking when an employee retires.

UTILITY RATE INCREASE WCPS cannot predict actual rate increases which could potentially impact its operating budget. Amounts included within this budget are based on the previous year and a potential increase.

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SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS Want to sound off on the issues we’re covering?

Send your thoughts to letters@newoldnorth.com and we just might publish them in a future edition of Wayne Week. Word count is not overly important, but please identify yourself by name and the city or town you reside in. newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 15

WAYNE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENROLLMENT TRENDS YEAR

ADM

CHANGE

2015-16

18,982

-321 (-1.66%)

2016-17

18,826

-156 (-0.82%)

2017-18

18,461

-365 (-1.94%)

2018-19

18,670

209 (+1.13%)

2019-20

18,565

-105 (-0.56%)

2020-21

18,032

-533 (-2.87%)

2021-22

COVID

COVID

2022-23

17,630

-402 (-2.28%)

2023-24

17,452

-178 (-1.02%)

2024-25

17,180

-272 (-1.58%)

We've got to try to figure out how we're gonna sell this sales tax to the public.

We've tried and tried and tried.

PROJECTED LARGE PROJECT CAPITAL NEEDS Chillers (Tommy’s Road Elementary School, Rosewood High School, Charles B. Aycock High School) Window Replacement (Eastern Wayne Elementary, Eastern Wayne High School, Dillard Middle School, Greenwood Middle School, Rosewood High School)

$750,000

Asphalt Paving/Sealcoat Projects (Rosewood High School, Southern Wayne High School)

$700,000

Gym Roof Replacement (Grantham Elementary)

$225,000

Safety and Security

$500,000

GHS Data Center Roof

$100,000

Charles B. Aycock Bleacher Replacement

$775,000

Eastern Wayne Middle School Roof

$80,000

Activity Bus

$140,000

Install/Repair A/C in School Kitchens

$500,000

Electrical Switch Gear (Eastern Wayne High School)

$150,000

Athletic Facility Needs

$500,000

Replace Exterior Doors (Grantham Elementary School, Greenwood Middle School, Brogden Middle School)

$125,000

Vehicle Replacement

$175,000

WCPS’ SUPPLEMENT ASK

• Create a $300 Classified Supplement

• Increase Certified Staff Supplement by $500

• Increase Assistant Principal Supplement by $2,000 • Increase Principal Supplement by $3,500 TOTAL NEW COST: $1,377,516

16

$600,000

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

Continued from page 14

And he vowed that whatever the county was able to offer would be spent wisely.

“My promise to you is we’re going to spend that dollar wisely,” Whichard said.

“And we’re going to provide a return on investment.”

C

ommissioner Joe Daughtery, for the second consecutive year, was by far the most vocal member of the county board.

And he bluntly told his counterparts on the Board of Education that he saw “no way” for the county to cover every one of WCPS’ asks.

“Let’s be honest. There’s no way we’re going to be able to fund your needs. It’s just not, I’m sorry, it’s just not gonna happen,” he said after Whichard’s presentation. “So, I would like you all to go through and … prioritize your needs.

What’s your number one thing? … You need to give us a list of priorities so that we can, as we’re going through our budget process, try to go after what your number one needs are.”

County Manager Chip Crumpler also acknowledged that as budget discussions approach, the process would not be an easy one.

“This board will have to make some tough decisions,” he said. “We have 30 other agencies we’re responsible for.”

But unlike last year when he engaged in a “money doesn’t grow on trees” back and forth with Daughtery, this time around, School Board member Chris West responded by noting that there was a potential third funding source — the taxpayers who would benefit from a thriving school district.

“We’ve got to try to figure out how we’re gonna sell this sales tax to the public,” he said. “We’ve tried and tried and tried, and I don’t know how much simpler you could make it. But that’s the best thing we could do.”

And while commissioners seemed to assure that at some point, a sales tax increase would, indeed, make its way back onto the ballot, based on comments from Commissioner Bevan Foster and Board Chairwoman Barbara Aycock — both of whom inferred they wanted to ensure they did everything they could, within the county’s means, to help — hope that commissioners could contribute something more for the 2025-26 school year than they did for fiscal year 2024-25 remained.

Whichard was appreciative, and “humbly” asked that “you do all you can.”

“I think that’s all anybody can ask from anybody,” he said.

It is unclear if the two boards will meet again before commissioners begin to work through the 2025-26 budget, but last year, a draft of their proposed spending plan was unveiled in May. n

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 17

NO T ICE S NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF SANDRA GINN PARKS

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Sandra Ginn Parks, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of March, 2025.

Pamela Parks Creech, Executor of the Estate of Sandra Ginn Parks c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616 Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF WILL R. SULLIVAN

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Will R. Sullivan, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of March, 2025.

Rhonda Sullivan Taylor, Executor of the Estate of Will R. Sullivan c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616 Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025

18

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF ALFONZO MANLEY, SR.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF REBECCA S. MANLEY

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Alfonzo Manley, Sr., late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 18th day of March, 2025.

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Rebecca S. Manley, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 18th day of March, 2025.

Alfonzo Manley, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Alfonzo Manley, Sr. c/o Caroline Taylor Phillips, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616 Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025

Alfonzo Manley, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Rebecca S. Manley c/o Caroline Taylor Phillips, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616 Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF DONALD VINCENT TUCKSON

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Donald Vincent Tuckson, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 23, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 18th day of March, 2025.

Tonya Bell Ferrell, Executor of the Estate of Donald Vincent Tuckson c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, LLP P.O. Box 1616 Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published March 23, 2025, March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF EMMA G. OVERCASH

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Emma G. Overcash, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 30th day of March, 2025.

Ginger A. Carvalho and Jack W. Overcash, Jr., Co-Executors of the Estate of Emma G. Overcash c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr., Attorneys for Estate Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C. P.O. Box 916 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JAMES WESLEY BRITT

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against James Wesley Britt deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 30th day of March, 2025.

Stephanie Wright, Executor of the Estate of James Wesley Britt 454 Charleston Place Villa Rica, Georgia 30180 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025

NOTICE OF SERVICE

BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 23 CVD 516 WAYNE COUNTY and the CITY OF GOLDSBORO, Plantiffs vs.

THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SABRINA MCINTYRE; VIVICA MCINTYRE and SPOUSE, if any; ALEASA SAPPINGTON and SPOUSE, if any; SEAM MCINTYRE and SPOUSE, if any, Defendants & TIME INVESTMENT CORPORATION, Defendant Lienholder TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SABRINA MCINTYRE TAKE NOTICE THAT: A pleading seeking relief has been filed in the above-entitled action and notice of service of process by publication will begin on March 30, 2025.

The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on real property located in Wayne County, North Carolina and described as 147 Woods Mill Road, Goldsboro, NC (PIN:3529980546) and 1912 Elton Drive, Goldsboro, NC (PIN: 3600056694), which is more completely described in the complaint; to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes. Plaintiffs seek to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you or others may have in said property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than

(40) days after the date of the first publication of notice, March 30, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.

This the 21st day of March, 2025.

Andrew J. Neal Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, and April 13, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESSIE W. CARLISLE

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Essie W. Carlisle deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 30th day of March, 2025.

Darlene A. Elam, Executor of the Estate of Essie W. Carlisle 101 Ellis Drive Goldsboro, NC 27534 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Junior Micah Pate Jr., deceased, late of Wayne County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 27th day of March, 2025. George Timothy Pate, Administrator for the Estate of Junior Micah Pate Jr., 1417 Alexander Lane, Trent Woods, North Carolina, 28562 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025 and April 20, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF THOMAS W. SCALES

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Thomas W. Scales deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 30th day of June, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All

persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 30th day of March, 2025.

Thomas W. Scales II, Executor of the Estate of Thomas W. Scales 605 Willowwind Drive Loganville, GA 30052 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF PAMELA ROSE WOOD

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Pamela Rose Wood, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before June 30, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 26th day of March, 2025.

Gary Fenton Barefoot, Executor of the Estate of Pamela Rose Wood c/o L.E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P.O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published March 30, 2025, April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF EVELYN THOMPSON DAVIS

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Evelyn Thompson Davis deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of July, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of April, 2025.

Michael Carroll Davis and Mitchell Neil Davis, Executors of the Estate of Evelyn Thompson Davis 406 North Chestnut Street Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365 Published April 13, 2025, April 20, 2025, April 27, 2025, and May 4, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JULIAN BOYD NELMS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF DURWOOD GENE LANIER

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Julian Boyd Nelms, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of July, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of April, 2025.

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Durwood Gene Lanier deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of July, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of April, 2025.

Julian Boyd Nelms, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Julian Boyd Nelms c/o Mark J. Hale Jr. Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C. Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275 Published April 13, 2025, April 20, 2025, April 27, 2025, and May 4, 2025

Candace Lanier Herring, Executor of the Estate of Durwood Gene Lanier 217 Kings Way Goldsboro, NC 27530 Published April 13, 2025, April 20, 2025, April 27, 2025, and May 4, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JACQULINE WILLIAMS

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Jacquline Williams a.k.a. Jacqueline Williams, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of July, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of April, 2025.

Jennie L. Williams, Executor of the Estate of Jacquline Williams c/o Mark J. Hale Jr. Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C. Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275 Published April 13, 2025, April 20, 2025, April 27, 2025, and May 4, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BEE JULIUS LEE

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Bee Julius Lee, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of July, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of April, 2025.

Julie Ann Graham, Executor of the Estate of Bee Julius Lee 750 N.C. Highway 581 South Goldsboro, NC 27530 Published April 13, 2025, April 20, 2025, April 27, 2025, and May 4, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF CARROLL EDWARD GRADY

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Carroll Edward Grady, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of July, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 13th day of April, 2025.

Diana Murphey Grady, Executor of the Estate of Carroll Edward Grady 2395 O’Berry Road Mount Olive, NC 28365 Published April 13, 2025, April 20, 2025, April 27, 2025, and May 4, 2025

NOTICE OF MEETINGS OF THE WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW

Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 105-322, the Wayne County Board of Equalization and Review will meet as required by law.

Keen Plumbing Keen Plumbing Co.Co.

2 02 3

2022

“Service since 1923”

“Service since 1923.”

PURPOSE OF MEETINGS: To hear upon request, any and all taxpayers who own or control taxable property assessed for taxation in Wayne County, with respect to the valuation of such property, or the property of others, and such business as required by law.

PLACE OF MEETINGS: Commissioners meeting room on the fourth (4th) floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.

TIME OF MEETINGS: The Board will convene for its first meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 8:30 a.m. The Board will adjourn for the purpose of accepting requests on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 8:30 a.m.

Appeals must be received no later than 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025 the advertised date f or adjournment.

In the event of earlier or later adjournment, notice to that effect will be published in this newspaper.

Please contact the Wayne County Tax Department for appointments.

Alan Lumpkin, Clerk Wayne County Board of Equalization and Review Room 137, Courthouse Annex P.O. Box 227, Goldsboro, N.C. 27533-0227 Telephone (919) 731-1461 Published April 6, 2025, April 13, 2025, and April 20, 2025

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IS NOW AN OFFICIAL PAPER OF RECORD! If you would like to join the Wayne County government and make Wayne Week the new home of your public and legal notices, you can: SEND US an email to notices@newoldnorth.com CALL US at 919-648-9905 STOP BY our downtown Goldsboro office, located at 219 North John Street newoldnorth.com

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the SPECTATOR

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Falcon's field

The Charles B. Aycock baseball team lost to South Johnston 5-1 in Pikeville Tuesday evening.

PHOTOS by OWEN DAVIS newoldnorth.com

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Congratulations to the BEST team in NORTH CAROLINA!

The Wayne County Clerk’s Office was one of only six offices in the state to achieve an “Effective” audit opinion for our internal audit — the highest opinion given, which indicates excellence in minimizing potential risks.

I feel so blessed to work with all of you.

Thank you for helping Wayne County shine!

Sending you love and best wishes as we take on this new year together as a community!

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Julie Whitfield, Wayne County Clerk of Court

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JERICHO FA R M S

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EASTERN NC’S PREMIERE WHOLESALE GROWER OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF TREES AND SHRUBS 3 GALLON - 25 GALLON