Wayne Week — Aug. 24, 2025

GOLDSBORO: Tempers flare over City Council vote to move broadcast to YouTube.

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Wayne

WEEK AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 2 5

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor scrutinized the practices at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport.

Aviation gasoline and jet fuel records raise more questions.

B Y K E N F I N E / p. 16

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CONTENTS AUGUST 24, 2025 Volume 3, Issue 2

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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.

4 Matthews spars with council

Goldsboro City Councilwoman Brandi Matthews said it was "unfair" that the city has decided to use YouTube instead of Facebook to livestream the board's meetings.

6 Sales tax hike vote set for March The majority of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners decided to put a sales tax referendum on the March 2026 primary ballot. If the quarter-cent hike is approved, board members vowed to use the millions in revenue to put full-time school resource officers on every Wayne County Public Schools campus.

8 Simmons: "It was me."

Mount Olive Commissioner Delreese Simmons told Wayne Week that he is the elected official the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor said did not pay his water bill until the balance was nearly $1,000.

But there is more, Simmons said, to the story.

10 Council OKs wastewater deal

The Goldsboro City Council approved a contract that city leaders say will help Eureka and Fremont get past their feud over wastewater bills — and put Wayne County one step closer to a regional system.

16 Cover Story

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor scrutinized the practices at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport. So, we dug into the records.

20 Public Notices

COVER DESIGN

BY SHAN STUMPF

newoldnorth.com

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NEWS +VIEWS

Matthews spars with council over meeting livestream

Councilwoman says moving the live broadcast of Goldsboro City Council meetings to YouTube was a ‘disservice to our people.’

S

he said she didn’t think it was “fair” — that her phone had been “blowing up” since city leaders made the decision to move City Council meetings from Facebook Live to YouTube.

She said her fellow council members were trying to “spin” the truth — and had “made up” what she characterized as “smokescreen reasons” — to justify the move.

But Goldsboro Councilwoman Brandi Matthews was not just upset.

“I was completely outraged,” she said.

It started in July, when City Manager Matthew Livingston notified members of the board that moving forward, council meetings would be broadcast live on YouTube — a decision that is consistent with the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, Wayne County Board of Education, and the North Carolina General Assembly. (The towns of Pikeville and Mount Olive do not broadcast their meetings.)

Matthews, though, was not available when he called.

“I was not able to get in touch with Council4

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BY KEN FINE woman Matthews. In retrospect, I should have done that. I tried, but I didn’t get through,” Livingston said. “But I should have put it on myself to make sure I actually talked to her. I regret that.”

Monday, Matthews said she had “moved past that,” but still argued that she does not believe proper notice was given to her or the public.

And she also took exception to the alleged reason for the platform change — to, as she claims, protect councilmembers from real-time criticism in the comment section of the Facebook post during meetings — particularly when, in her view, “Facebook is where we have our captive audience.”

“If the reason that was told to me is the reason why we decided to have this conversation, there are creative ways in which we can monitor the comments section — if there are people being personally attacked or there are things being said that people don’t like,” she said. “But moving to a platform with way less engagement just doesn’t seem fair to me.”

Mayor Charles Gaylor pushed back against her claim.

“I’m not trying to be deceitful. I’m not trying to hide anything from anybody,” he said.

“I still think there need to be links to it everywhere. I’m not suggesting that we in any way make it harder to get to. I’m just simply saying house it, have the repository of videos where that they are consistent and easily accessible, in a place that is designed for videos. … We can all vote for our own individual reasons. Mine is not trying to limit discourse. Mine is certainly not trying to make it harder to get to.”

Councilman Chris Boyette agreed.

He said “misinformation” had been spread about what happened and why.

And he made a point to clarify that the meetings were, in fact, still accessible to those who use Facebook.

“I think it’s very important to point out to the public that all through the time that Facebook has been a part of our format, you’ve been able — the public has been able — to go to Facebook and watch the meeting.

So where are we now? We’re still in the exact same place that we were,” Boyette said. “You

still go to Facebook and you still watch the meeting. That’s not changed. It’s just when you click the link on Facebook it actually is showing you the live feed that’s going on to storage at YouTube. So, our viewers have not lost any access in any way whatsoever to view the live stream.”

As for Matthews’ claim that he and other members of the council advocated for the switch to eliminate real-time blowback from constituents?

“I’ve never looked at those comments. Occasionally, somebody will screenshot something and send it to me and I’m sure everyone up here is the same, but I never go and look at those comments or pay attention to them,” he said. “When you want to address an elected body — a city council, county commissioners, or somebody in Arizona at their council meeting — you come, you sign up, you address that elected body. So, if you’ve got folks out there are on those links making comments, I don’t go look at them because in my opinion, that’s doing a disservice to the folks that come

and make the proper way to come here, sign up, and speak to us in that manner instead of the person that’s sitting at home in the recliner typing whatever’s coming out right that minute.”

And in his view, just because residents can no longer publish their thoughts in the comment section of a Facebook Live post, their freedom to speak has not been taken away.

“If someone says, ‘Well, I want to be able to comment … you can still go to Facebook like you’ve always done and click share — share it to your page — and everybody can comment,” Boyette said. “But I can promise you that this City Council person for the city of Goldsboro and District 2 does not look at those comments or put any weight into them because I don’t think it’s substantiated, because there’s a process to be able to speak to the City Council and it’s not from the recliner.”

Matthews responded.

“Talk to me from the recliner. Talk to me from the park bench.

Talk to me from your job. Talk to me from wherever you got to talk to me from, because what I understand is that some people are not going to come up here and speak at this podium,” she said.

“And sometimes, I don’t even blame you because the disrespect sometimes that people come when they speak against this board it’s obscene.”

Other members of the council who later voted to keep the livestream on YouTube offered their own justifications for backing the move.

Councilwoman Beverly Weeks said it was consistent with how other local boards conduct business.

“I contacted the Board of Education and our county commissioners. I spoke with the mayor of Wilson, Smithfield, and Rocky Mount,” she said. “And the trend for a lot of people is posting the link like we have been doing on the Facebook page and going to YouTube.”

They did so, Weeks said, because a new Facebook policy eliminates posted videos after 30 days.

“And already I can see because I do a lot of Facebook livestreaming myself. I can already see that Facebook has begun to take down those videos as they have stated in that new requirement,” she said. “So, if you post the link to YouTube on the Facebook page, you still are providing that informa-

tion and then it … directs it straight to YouTube so that you do not have any interruption of storage of your videos.”

Councilwoman Jamie Taylor weighed in, too, and supported Weeks’ claim using “research” she said she had conducted in recent weeks that included looking into the practices of all 100 of North Carolina’s county seats.

“Out of those 100 county seats, I found that 22 cities had it listed that they used YouTube, 13 used Facebook, and then I had a great majority that I could not find anything listed at all,” she said. “I even called a few of the numbers and asked and they said, ‘No. We do not broadcast it.”

But Matthews claimed that their words were disingenuous.

“Now, we can make up all of these other nice smokescreen reasons as to why we did that … but I have yet to hear a good reason as to why we disabled Facebook,” she said. “Cool Jamie. Your research.

Great. Mayor. You want to find storage. Great.

We can still do that.

Chris, you don’t want people talking to you because you think they’re supposed to come up here. Great. That’s your opinion. Please do not associate me with that at all because I do not feel that way under any circumstance.

But you have not provided me with a good enough reason as to why we should not use (Facebook).”

And they had not, she said, convinced her that a secret deal had not been made behind the scenes.

“You’re you’re not going to make me believe that conversations have not been had amongst this group,” Matthews said.

So, when the final vote was tallied, she sounded off again.

“This board, we did a huge disservice to our people, and I really feel like it was more personal than business. So, I’m going to encourage you guys as the veteran member sitting here that I know from firsthand, don’t bring your emotions to this table. We got business to do,” she said. “I have also extended the olive branch to each of you to say, ‘If you’ve got a personal beef with me, baby, let’s go ahead and talk about it.’ … We be saying all these cute things in our comments — how well we work together and we’re so proud and we honor one another. No we don’t. That’s not the truth. That’s not the reality of it.” n

If you've got a personal beef with me, baby, let's go ahead and talk about it.

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. Wayne WEEK . 5

Sales tax hike will be on March ballot

Only one county commissioner, Bevan Foster, voted against giving voters a chance to weigh in on the referendum.

BY RENEE CAREY

O

n March 3, 2026, Wayne County voters will have a decision to make.

And all but one member of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners hope they will set aside their general disdain for tax increases and support the sales tax referendum that will, thanks to an affirmative vote by the majority of the board Tuesday morning, appear on the ballot.

Commissioner Wayne Aycock, while adamant about the fact that one is needed, is not convinced that the community will support the quarter-cent sales tax hike.

“People just don’t understand. They don’t want to pay taxes,” he said.

“So, I don’t know how we’re going to get it passed, but people just don’t understand that everybody pays sales tax. Everybody does not pay property tax and a lot of what this will raise will benefit some of the underprivileged because it’s all going to the school system.”

A quarter-cent increase — one that represents an additional 25 cents per $100 spent — is expected to generate more than $3.4 million per year.

And those funds, commissioners pledged, would go directly to Wayne County Public Schools to fund full-time school resource officers on every WCPS campus.

“This is a must. This is all about our children,” Aycock said. “This is not about what the county needs. This is about what the school system needs.”

Commissioner Chris Gurley agreed.

“This is about protecting our children and grandchildren,” he said Tuesday.

His comments echoed what he told Wayne Week last week ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

“Who would vote against trying to keep their children and grandchildren safe in school?” he said. “Don’t say, ‘We want our children protected. We want SROs in the school,’ and then vote against it. Here’s an opportunity.”

2025-2026 school year begins was reported in the July 27 edition of Wayne Week.

The story addressed the fact that despite the additional funding allocated by commissioners to WCPS — $500,000 to help pay for more SROs — a funding shortfall remained and, according to district officials, 15 of WCPS’ campuses would not have a full-time officer on the grounds come August.

Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard, though, said he remained hopeful about the future — and reinforced that his “vision” was to “one day have a full-time SRO in every school.”

And he told Wayne Week that the commissioners’ $500,000 allocation was “an important first step.”

For now, though, WCPS leaders and local law enforcement agencies are discussing “how best to maximize SROs,” including rotating Wayne County Sheriff’s Office deputies on campuses that do not have a full-time or part-time SRO. That, Whichard said, would help keep bad actors off school grounds.

“I believe knowing that any school may have a law enforcement presence at any time serves as a deterrent to visitors or anyone from the outside who may be considering inappropriate behavior, harm, or some other ill intent at a school,” he said.

District spokesman Ken Derksen agrees — and added that sharing fulltime SROS and rotating others worked well during the 2024-2025 school year.

“The plan is to have three full-time WCSO SROs to be shared between the following schools: Greenwood Middle and Meadow Lane Elementary; Grantham Middle and Grantham Elementary; and Rosewood Middle and Rosewood Elementary,” he said. “Additionally, contingent on funding, WCSO SROs will be assigned to rotate between the following schools: Brogden Primary, Carver Elementary, Eastern Wayne Elementary, Fremont Elementary, Northwest Elementary, North Drive Elementary, and Tommy’s Road Elementary.

This is consistent with how SROs were rotated through schools last year.”

This is about protecting our children and grandchildren .

• • • The issue of a lack of full-time SROs on nearly half of WCPS campuses when the 6

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Tuesday, Commission Chairwoman Barbara Aycock asked how the county planned to sell the sales tax increase to voters.

“How do we plan on putting this out to the public on why we need this?” she said.

The answer, beyond individual elected officials meeting with their constituents and advocating for the measure, was to lay that charge on the county Public Affairs Office.

But Commissioner Joe Daughtery said

the argument is a simple one.

“When you go and spend money in Raleigh, Greenville, Snow Hill, Jacksonville, Clinton, Fayetteville, or anywhere in Duplin County, you’re paying that 7 cents,” he said. “So, it’s time that we joined together here in Wayne County and keep our money here in Wayne County.”

Whether voters, who have rejected the measure multiple times over the last decade, agree will not be known until March. n

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Simmons: “It was me.”

Mount Olive Commissioner Delreese Simmons says he is the person who amassed a nearly $1,000 water bill identified by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor. But there is, in his view, more to the story.

BY KEN FINE

A

damning investigation report published by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor earlier this month included a finding about a town commissioner — a person whose water service was not interrupted despite the fact that he racked up more than $900 on his account.

“OSA reviewed the Mayor’s and current Town Commissioners’ utility payment history for calendar year 2024. This investigation revealed that one Commissioner had his $100 cutoff fee voided nine times throughout the year,” the report reads. “Further, the Commissioner did not make a single payment on his utility bill until August 2024 — when OSA received the allegation — at which point his outstanding balance was $942.”

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But Delreese Simmons, who admitted to Wayne Week that he was the elected official the NCOSA was talking about, said he believes there is more to the story — that he was “set up” to distract from what he characterized as the “real corruption” unfolding at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport.

Simmons says that he had no idea he had an outstanding balance on his water bill until he received a phone call from then-Town Manager Jammie Royall in August 2024.

“Jammie Royall calls me and says, ‘Is there a problem with your water?’ I said, ‘Besides the fact that it’s brown? No,’” Simmons said. “He says, ‘Well, you sure? I mean your water bill.’

I said, ‘It’s on auto draft.’ He said, ‘Check it.’”

So, the commissioner pulled up his account to find that he had an outstanding balance of $942.

“I said, ‘What the hell? This ain’t correct. My account is on auto draft,’” Simmons said. “But then I see that my auto draft is turned off.”

He said he demanded an explanation from Royall but made the decision to immediately pay his account to zero.

“I hit the button right away. Paid it. And as soon as I paid it, I texted Jammie a copy of the receipt,” Simmons said.

When asked why he didn’t notice his rising balance on hard copies of his water bills, he said all of his bills are paid electronically via

auto draft — that he has “thousands” of unopened pieces of mail in his home.

“I don’t open them. I had tons and tons of water bills I never opened. It was on auto draft,” Simmons said. “Why would I need to open those bills? I have showed (members of the Town Board) those unopened bills.”

And while he understands that some will be skeptical of his version of the story, he said he hopes they are equally troubled by how Royall got the information, as water bills are not public records as defined by North Carolina General Statute.

In fact, according to his memory of that August 2024 conversation with the former town manager, someone “leaked” a copy of his water bill to another commissioner — a man he said later called for “an SBI investigation” into Simmons.

“Why not call me? You know, after a month, two months, OK. But after three months, why didn’t they contact me?”

Simmons said. “I’m up there every month.

Some months, I’m up there once a week.

Why did nobody contact me? Why wouldn’t they say, ‘Hey. Your water bill is late,’ when they would see me?”

He has an opinion.

“I think I was set up,” Simmons said. “I think that someone turned off my auto draft.”

But why?

So that when the NCOSA report came out, town officials would have a way to “distract” the public from “the bigger scandal.”

“They want to distract not just me, but everyone, from what’s going on at the airport. They can say, ‘Well, we can sweep the other stuff under the rug because all the focus will be on Simmons not paying a water bill,’” Simmons said. “If I can get everybody in the town to say, ‘Hey. Let’s focus on anything but the airport, let’s put all our attention on Simmons because he’s got a criminal background, this and that,’ it turns into a smokescreen, and nobody will pay attention to the airport.”

The NCOSA did, indeed, release shocking findings related to the Mount Olive Municipal Airport — mainly that the contract was not being followed and might have cost town taxpayers greatly. (More on that issue appears in our cover story.)

And Simmons believes that if a full forensic audit is completed — a measure he has publicly supported — more wrongdoing will be uncovered.

“The big picture should have been the airport. It’s always been the airport,” he said.

“And I’ll take ownership. I’m the one that blew the whistle on the airport. I did it and they knew I did it because I’ve been asking for those contracts for years.” n

Elect

RICKY HOOKS Wayne County Sheriff I am committed to p rov i d i n g e xc e l l e n t l aw e n fo r c e m e n t s e r v i c e s t o t h e c i t i z e n s o f Way n e County based on the h i g h e s t e t h i c al a n d p ro f e s s i o n al s t a n d a r d s.

L e a r n m o re a b o u t R i c ky a t h o o k s f o rs h e r i f f. c o m

I wo u l d a p p re c i a t e yo u r vo t e o n M a rc h 3 , 2 0 2 6 Integrity

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P ro f e s s i o n a l i s m

P a i d f o r b y R i c k y Ho o k s f o r Wa y n e C o u n t y S h e r i f f newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 9

City Council OKs wastewater agreement Assuming Eureka and Fremont elected officials give Goldsboro’s plan their blessing, Eureka is expected to get relief from its wastewater woes.

BY RENEE CAREY

I

t will not be a done deal until elected officials from Fremont and Eureka sign off later this month, but Monday, the Goldsboro City Council approved an agreement that City Manager Matthew Livingston believes will both end the drama between the two municipalities relating to wastewater and bring the Wayne County seat’s plan for a regional wastewater system one step closer to reality.

But getting to this point was not easy.

Here is why: Fremont has an interlocal water and sewer agreement with Goldsboro.

Eureka is Fremont’s customer.

So, when it is time to collect payment for the services provided by Goldsboro, Fremont foots the bill.

But according to Livingston, Fremont decided to charge Eureka more than twice what Goldsboro charges Fremont — a price, he said, that is not sustainable for

Eureka given the town’s “inflow and infiltration” problems.

And that led to Fremont notifying its neighbor that the town would be terminating it as a customer at the end of March for Eureka’s failure to pay its bills.

Thanks to Livingston, that never happened.

Instead, a plan was proposed — one he told Wayne Week would provide a fairly simple fix for all parties involved.

“So, what the city has said is, ‘OK. It goes through the same pipes. We’re going to start reading the meter (where Eureka ends) so we’ll know exactly what Eureka’s flow is,’” Livingston said. “As of January, we have started monitoring (Eureka’s) flow so we can give them pseudo bills — what they would be paying us at the reduced rate. That way, we can reach an agreement. So, when they do disconnect (from Fremont) we’ll start billing using a separate agreement with Eureka to charge them for their flow.” n

WHEREAS, the terms hereof control and amend any previous like terms in the referenced agreements and/or amendments thereto, and all other terms of any other such agreements and/or amendments are not amended or changed by these terms; AGREEMENT 1. Fremont shall convey Eureka’s wastewater via its system to Goldsboro without charge to Eureka; and shall be “compensated”/credited for the conveyance at the total rate of $4.00 per thousand gallons of flow from Eureka to Fremont as set forth below.

2. Eureka shall be billed by Goldsboro utilizing Eureka’s meter, to be calibrated at least annually, measuring the flow and shall pay Goldsboro directly for the amount of flow through said meter at the then current Fremont rate plus $2.00 per thousand gallons of flow. If Eureka fails to pay the billed amount on or before the due date stated upon the relevant billing statement, then a late payment penalty of 2.5% of the outstanding balance shall be added to said balance and then be due and owing to Goldsboro as well.

3. The reading from Eureka’s meter shall be deducted from the meter’s reading for Fremont’s flow and Fremont shall be billed and pay for that difference in the amount of flow at the then current Fremont rate.

4. Upon Eureka’s payment of its bill to Goldsboro, Goldsboro shall credit Fremont’s water/sewer account by the sum of $2.00 per thousand gallons of the flow so billed to Eureka.

5. The Fremont Debt shall be reduced each month by $2.00 per thousand gallons of Eureka’s billed flow.

6. Upon full repayment of the Fremont Debt, Goldsboro shall remit in payment to Fremont the sum of $4.00 per thousand gallons of the flow so billed to Eureka.

7. As long as Eureka has no greater than 130 customers of its system, the maximum billing for any month from Goldsboro to Eureka shall not exceed $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars); without regard to the amount of flow measured.

8. This Agreement shall terminate upon disconnection of the Eureka sewer system from the Fremont sewer system. Upon termination, the terms of the preexisting agreement for sewer services between Fremont and Goldsboro shall return to full effect and the terms contained herein shall be null and void.

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{ our TAKE }

MIND YOUR MANNERS I

t is time to have another difficult conversation.

Call it a warning.

Call it an adamant expression of absolute fatigue with the nonsense that seems to be the norm in public discourse these days — and those who are too worried about being canceled to call it out.

Call it a plea for those who know better to speak up and to dispel — no, wait, absolutely refuse to even acknowledge — the gaslighting and manufactured outrage that have crippled Goldsboro for years.

Call it a reminder that there are posers among us.

They claim to speak for the community — and identify as righters of wrongs and paragons of propriety — and are not afraid at all to seek the spotlight to publicly slam current officeholders.

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But their protests are not organic.

They are calculated — either as a shock-and-awe attempt to get attention or as a stump for a candidate who doesn’t want to get their own hands dirty.

Enough said about that.

If you want to see what we are referring to, watch the most recent meeting of the Goldsboro City Council for yourself and ask a few pretty simple questions — most importantly, what could possibly be so heinous a transgression that a conversation would erupt into a confrontation with an elderly female councilmember who was on her way to the bathroom?

It should not have been tolerated. Period.

And the person who chased Hiawatha Jones to the bathroom should be permanently banned from council meetings.

And before the barrage comes from the partisan chorus who speak a whole bunch about “rights” but who do not seem to understand responsibility, let us say this: You have every right to speak out against a policy you don’t feel is justified.

You should absolutely question decisions that are made by officeholders and public employees if you feel they are being made erroneously.

And if those pleas are regularly ignored, you should call for that politician to be removed.

Heck, we make a living doing that.

But what happened at Monday’s council meeting was not some righteous attempt to right a wrong.

It is a manifestation of the new world order that seems to

believe that when you disagree with someone, you get to blow up a hurricane of false accusations, make suspect mischaracterizations of motives, and throw around a whole lot of calls to action that are designed to attract attention, not to make this city better.

We have seen if for more than a decade.

The Goldsboro City Council’s reputation has been in the dirt for years because of just this sort of performance.

And we cannot have it raise its ugly head again.

We just can’t.

But it will if someone doesn’t call it out right now.

The complaints voiced at the council meeting this past week were not about a momentous decision with profound implications for city residents.

The discussion, which took up more than a half-hour of the council’s time — and likely will take up more in the future — was about where the city’s meetings are broadcast.

Yep, you heard that right.

The gross violation of rights and all that rage are about the fact that the council meetings will now be broadcast on YouTube instead of Facebook.

Are you ready to storm City Hall?

We didn’t think so.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Facebook Live is accessible only to those with Facebook accounts.

And no, not everyone is on Facebook anymore.

YouTube, though, is available to anyone with access to the internet.

You can watch both live, but there are key differences.

On YouTube, you can pause and rewind during that live feed. On Facebook, you cannot.

But on Facebook, you can comment live as the proceedings are ongoing.

And that, friends, is why we are having this conversation.

In many cases, those comments can be, well, colorful, and go unchecked.

But if the meetings are not broadcast on Facebook, well, you cannot run down a sitting council member in real time.

You cannot lob false accusations about city staff members or your neighbors.

And that is why we wanted to write about what happened Monday night and why we have to have that difficult conversation we talked about earlier.

Social media is a cancer.

It is a chance for hit and runs, vile and disrespectful commentary, and doxing.

People without the courage to stand up and have a real conversation are perfectly fine with hiding behind a screen and a keyboard.

You don’t even have to have a real name to spew filth on that platform.

So, in our view, anyone who believes anything they read on social media that they glean from some random commentary is naïve.

And to repeat it and to create a firestorm

about it — or, worse yet, to perpetuate it — is irresponsible.

And yes, we and many, many other people who grew up in a world where there were qualities called, “manners and propriety,” are stunned by the tone of modern commentary, the coarseness, and the seeming inability of people to disagree politely and to discuss literally anything without it devolving into some unhinged rant filled with vile comments and disrespect.

We are sick of it.

And, by the way, we are not alone.

It is not generational.

It includes people of all ages who just don’t behave that way in real life.

They are shocked by what they see daily.

And there is another potential consequence of streaming those meetings on a platform that allows unfiltered comments in real time — freefor-alls that, in many cases, are slanderous.

No officeholder should be subjected to that.

This, by the way, is why many people steer clear of public office.

There are rules.

There are consequences for inappropriate behavior.

But nobody enforces that standard because they don’t want to be canceled.

Well, now is the time to draw that line in the sand.

Manufactured firestorms over nothing accomplish nothing.

Allowing potential candidates to campaign during public comment periods — especially ones who have already been rejected because they weren’t doing their jobs or who are just too “out there” — is disruptive at best and just plain wrong at worst.

Making a mountain out of a molehill to show just how enraged you are or how with the movement against “the machine” you are, is just exhausting.

Because, you see, when you waste time and effort bickering over a non-issue, you aren’t discussing really important stuff — you know, like continued progress toward keeping Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro and protecting $1 billion in economic impact and thousands of jobs and businesses.

We have already seen what happens when a city and its leadership lose focus on the ball or when they are too worried about angering a segment of the populace or losing votes to say what needs to be said.

We cannot let that happen again.

This is not the time to slip back into chaos.

We are too close to the finish line.

So, those with the power to nip this need to do it — now.

If they don’t, a city that has made such great strides to restore its reputation will be the laughing stock of North Carolina again before we know it. n

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newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 13

UNDER A MICROSCOPE

T

here are certain immutable facts when there is an investigation into any public body.

First, there are a whole lot of people who don’t seem to have had any idea that there was anything untoward going on.

And second, everyone is looking for someone to blame.

So, nobody — no matter how shocked they are to hear about what seems to be the absolute mess that was the town of Mount Olive’s financial picture — will be surprised to hear all kinds of theories about how it got that way.

And don’t think there will not be a bunch of people looking for a scapegoat.

We know quite a bit so far.

We know that the state auditor has taken a preliminary dive into the management of the airport and that there were some serious issues concerning the contract for its operation and thousands of dollars in aviation gasoline and jet fuel that might or might not have been invoiced.

We know there were problems in the water department — and that there were billing issues there, too.

And we also know that there are more and more calls for a forensic audit of the town’s books — and that there could

14

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

be some very revealing information forthcoming should that actually happen, too.

Let’s not forget that it is also true that Mount Olive has been under a moratorium for a decade because of the stress on an already overburdened wastewater system and that millions of dollars in grant money that was awarded to get the problem fixed — a sum Rep. John Bell said could have solved the issue two times over — did not, somehow, get the job done.

But what we don’t yet know is who knew what when and who is accountable for the taxpayer dollars that seem not to have been used appropriately.

We don’t know. We just don’t.

But there are some things we can surmise now — and aspects of the case that we should ponder as we wait for what is sure to be a pretty revealing forensic audit.

Just as we held the members of the Wayne County Board of Education accountable years ago for the millions of dollars of debt its superintendent and finance department let accumulate, the first place we will need to look at is the leadership of the town — past and present.

And you better believe that the finger-pointing is already starting.

But because we have always shot straight with you, we will give you a little tidbit of information that we are sure you already know.

This is not a couple of years kind of problem.

This has been going on for nearly a decade.

That means leaders past and present will have some explaining to do — if they knew about the condition of the town’s finances, if they were part of the decision-making that led to the mess, or if they tried to tell someone what was going on and no one was listening.

And that is why this is not just an investigation for the auditor, but one that also should get the attention of both the county’s district attorney and sheriff.

If there is wrongdoing — and gross neglect of duty — charges should be filed.

Fraud? Looks like it.

Negligence? That seems pretty obvious.

Embezzlement? Absolutely, according to the state auditor, a possibility.

So, those who did not do their job or who looked the other way should be held responsible.

And the same justice should be carried out for those who were

just victims of bad leadership.

People who were merely innocent bystanders should not suffer for the wrongdoings of the folks who were pulling the strings.

Those who were truly innocent of any malfeasance or irresponsibility deserve to tell their stories — and not to be blamed for or lumped into a controversy they had nothing to do with.

In other words, we should welcome — and protect — the whistleblowers we know are out there with information to share.

What held true for the county schools and the Goldsboro city government should also apply here.

The bosses who were responsible for oversight, hiring, and the efficient operation of the town’s business are who should get the first look.

But be patient.

We are a long way from that.

Even so, there are already some rumblings about attempts to assign blame — and they look suspiciously like attempts to divert attention, not true analysis of who did what and when.

The truth is, no one will have the full picture for a while, because, as you probably have guessed already, there is going to be a whole lot to look at.

Someone is going to have to unravel the mess at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport, and to determine why the operator — and

town — decided to ignore the contract.

There is a lot to look at there — from the books to the flight logs and who used the facility as well as the costs involved.

And there is a great need to get to the bottom of just that.

These are not the first questions that have been asked about the airport, but it is high time somebody got some serious answers about its use, its costs, and why a town with less than 4,200 residents should be supporting such a luxury when there is a county airport less than 30 minutes away.

All those are questions that someone needs to ask.

Mount Olive is a small town.

And that means there are not a lot of people who want to work for the town government or run for office.

It is like just about every other community its size across the country.

Heck, we have trouble recruiting candidates for even bigger communities — and attracting and keeping employees.

But the consequence of that is there have been a core group of people in the town who have been a part of the decision-making and setting the course for the town’s future that have spanned decades.

And the people who are supposed to be

watching, well, they grew up with those powerbrokers and likely didn’t have much interest in rocking the boat.

So, there has been no accountability — and instead, the people who have been in power and who have had influence for a long time without any sort of oversight or challenge, and who are used to handshake deals and behind the scenes agreements, got away with whatever they wanted.

Those factors create the conditions that make bad government or questionable use of taxpayer funds a genuine possibility.

We will have to wait and see whether it was benign neglect or something worse.

But we can assure you that there is much, much more information to come, and the situation will become clearer and clearer as it does.

The taxpayers who have funded the government in that community — and who had every reason to expect that their money would be used responsibly — deserve to know all of it.

And we think the call for a forensic audit is not just a luxury, it is a necessity.

So, we hope that the state will get busy trying to figure out how we got here.

And when we know, and those who are responsible are held accountable, we hope the

town of Mount Olive will move forward with a new vision, quality leadership, and with the best interest of the residents in mind.

But when the League of Municipalities has notified the town that it will not work with it to fix the problem because it is such a mess, that should tell you something.

So, please take everything you are going to hear from the rumor mill with a grain of salt.

There will be a whole lot of theories tossed around.

But the truth will come from where it always does — the documents, the interviews, the audits, and the facts.

And until we get all of that, we will not really know the who, the what, the where, and the why.

We do, however, know one thing.

We will be there to make sure you have the information as soon as it is made available.

And we will never shy away from asking the tough questions.

Regurgitated press releases and self-serving spin from politicians trying to cover their butts or anything other than what the Mount Olive community deserves?

You won’t find that in this publication.

Ever.

Because you deserve the truth — no matter how bad it stings or who it brings down. n

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. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 15

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor scrutinized the practices at the Mount Olive Municipal Airport. Aviation gasoline and jet fuel records raise more questions.

BY KEN FINE

16

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

D

espite a records request submitted by Wayne Week, Mount Olive officials have, as of press time, been unable to produce invoices and proof of payment for tens of thousands of dollars in fuel charge credits extended by the operator of the Mount Olive Municipal Airport since February 10, the date the town and operator again clarified a contract both parties, according to the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, have been repeatedly violating — potentially since as far back as 2017.

But the town’s inability to produce the documentation likely would not surprise State Auditor Dave Boliek or the League of Municipalities, as both have officially noted shoddy accounting and recordkeeping practices inside Town Hall.

In fact, the League’s deputy director for municipal accounting services is so concerned, she sent Mayor Jerome Newton and Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland a letter Aug. 18 notifying them that the NCLM was terminating “software conversion and catch-up accounting services.”

“We cannot convert towns that are not current with their accounting or that do not have permanent staff in positions that will receive training,” the letter, which was obtained by Wayne Week Aug. 19, states. “Your records are not current.”

Boliek had similar concerns about the state of the town’s financial house — specifically, inside the Water Department and at the airport.

So, in an attempt to begin to unwrap his investigators’ claims about practices at the airport that left the town “at risk of fraud/and or embezzlement,” Wayne Week requested all fuel transactions since the last time the contract was clarified.

LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES KILLS MOUNT OLIVE DEAL The agency said it would no longer offer software conversion and catch-up accounting services to the town because, among other things, the government's records are not current.

Here is what we learned: The NCOSA claimed that Mount Olive officials bore “the financial burden of providing fuel” at the airport, “even though it is the Airport Operator who is contractually obligated to purchase and sell the fuel.”

And investigators also alleged that the operator “extends credit” on the town’s behalf for customers who do not have a credit card on hand.

Based on the records sent to Wayne Week by Town Clerk Sherry Davis in response to a Freedom of Information Act records request — and information contained inside the NCOSA’s investigative report — both claims are, indeed, true.

As far as credits for fuel being offered,

running lists are kept for both aviation gasoline and jet fuel transactions that were not paid for on site. Instead, the airport operator would send the list to Town Hall “to be invoiced.”

For aviation gasoline, all one needed to do to obtain the fuel without immediate payment was present a “white card,” which Davis defined as a “plastic card which resembles a credit card” that “turns on the machine so fuel can be pumped.”

But while it is a “physical card,” it is not, Davis said, tied to any town bank accounts — nor is it a “credit card” that accrues interest.

“The vendor is invoiced and pays it from their account,” Davis said.

(Editor’s note: The complete list of aviation gasoline and jet fuel credits sent to the town to be invoiced are included in this package.)

Whether those invoices were ever created — or the nearly $60,000 sent to the town to be invoiced since February 10 has been paid — remains unclear, as the town has yet to fulfill that part of the records request.

But while the NCOSA report noted that the invoices “are not entered into the Town’s accounting system and therefore are not properly accounted for” — putting the town at risk of “losing money due to late or uncollectable payments” Continued on page 18 newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 17

Continued from page 17

— investigators noted that it has never been the contractual obligation of the town to collect the bills.

It was the airport operator’s responsibility to buy the fuel and sell it.

In other words, the only role the town was supposed to have was collecting 70 percent of the profit from fuel sold at the airport.

“As per the Contract, it is the responsibility of the Airport Operator to purchase and sell fuel,” the report states. “The Airport Operator should purchase and sell the fuel and then remit 70% of the fuel profit to the Town.”

That is not all.

Despite Davis’ claim that the white card is not tied to any town bank accounts, the NCO-

18

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

SA found that a town account was, indeed, debited somehow for fuel purchases taxpayers should not have been responsible for.

“According to the Airport Operator, he orders the fuel and the Town’s Airport fuel bank account is debited for the purchase (OSA confirmed that fuel purchases were debited from a Town bank account). As per the Contract, however, it is the responsibility of the Airport Operator — not the Town — to purchase the fuel,” the report states.

“Moreover, it was the Airport Operator — not representatives from the Town — who signed the contract with the fuel provider. It is unclear why and how a Town bank account is being debited for fuel purchases related to a contract that the Town is not party to.”

Mount Olive has been put on notice for

years about its accounting practices.

In fact, the town’s 2022, 2023, and 2024 annual audits all contain red flags.

In 2022, S. Preston Douglas & Associates reported a number of “material weaknesses,” that included several instances of “excess of expenditures over appropriations,” and failures in “financial reporting” and “record keeping.”

In 2023, the same firm found that the town expended $261,342 more than it had appropriated in the Public Works and Buildings line item — and was more than $68,000 over budget at the airport.

The firm also reported that “for all twelve months of the fiscal year, the Town’s main operating bank account was not reconciled in a timely manner.”

More of the same was reported in the 2024 audit, as the town spent $840,053 more than it had appropriated in the Water and Sewer Fund.

Officials were also put on notice for a weakness in “Financial Reporting and Recordkeeping Over Federal Awards.”

Commissioner Delreese Simmons, who admitted to Wayne Week that he was the person who blew the whistle on what the NCOSA ultimately found at the airport, said he wants to see a “full forensic audit” of the town.

And Rep. John Bell has said repeatedly that he would support town officials who called for that to happen.

Whether the mayor — or the majority of the board — will request that Boliek’s office do just that remains to be seen.

AVIATION FUEL, “WHITE CARD” PURCHASES TO BE BILLED 2/14: UMO Aviation 2/14: UMO Aviation 2/14: UMO Aviation 2/17: UMO Aviation 2/17: UMO Aviation 2/18: UMO Aviation 2/18: UMO Aviation 2/18: UMO Aviation 2/22: UMO Aviation 2/23: UMO Aviation 2/24: UMO Aviation 2/24: UMO Aviation 2/24: UMO Aviation 2/24: UMO Aviation 2/24: UMO Aviation 2/25: UMO Aviation 2/25: UMO Aviation 2/26: UMO Aviation 2/26: UMO Aviation 2/26: UMO Aviation 2/26: UMO Aviation 2/27: UMO Aviation 2/27: UMO Aviation 2/27: UMO Aviation 2/27: UMO Aviation 2/28: UMO Aviation 2/28: UMO Aviation

$80.82 $46.56 $54.43 $86.02 $47.92 $81.11 $42.62 $78.49 $70.08 $104.95 $68.88 $31.89 $108.95 $29.87 $69.12 $27.18 $73.88 $27.42 $60.85 $62.87 $64.89 $99.09 $39.11 $74.31 $66.43 $50.31 $37.37

3/2: UMO Aviation 3/3: UMO Aviation 3/3: UMO Aviation 3/3: Jim Harrell 3/3: UMO Aviation 3/7: UMO Aviation 3/7: UMO Aviation 3/7: UMO Aviation 3/7: UMO Aviation 3/9: UMO Aviation 3/9: UMO Aviation 3/10: UMO Aviation 3/10: UMO Aviation 3/11: UMO Aviation 3/12: UMO Aviation 3/12: UMO Aviation 3/18: UMO Aviation 4/13: UMO Aviation 4/14: UMO Aviation 4/14: UMO Aviation 4/14: UMO Aviation 4/14: Jim Harrell 4/15, UMO Aviation 4/17: UMO Aviation 4/21: UMO Aviation 4/21: UMO Aviation 4/21: UMO Aviation

$234.54 $68.30 $79.03 $31.17 $88.22 $99.33 $47.38 $33.48 $29.00 $72.87 $28.04 $179.94 $91.05 $98.80 $53.20 $129.87 $159.70 $43.53 $38.43 $24.24 $79.22 $147.47 $53.05 $79.83 $78.10 $52.17 $86.50

4/21: UMO Aviation 4/22: UMO Aviation 4/23: UMO Aviation 4/24: UMO Aviation 4/25: UMO Aviation 4/27: UMO Aviation 4/27: UMO Aviation 4/27: UMO Aviation 4/28: UMO Aviation 4/28: UMO Aviation 4/28: UMO Aviation 4/28: Jim Harrell 4/29: Jim Harrell 4/29: UMO Aviation 4/29: UMO Aviation 4/29: UMO Aviation 4/29: UMO Aviation 4/30: UMO Aviation 5/1: UMO Aviation 5/1: UMO Aviation 5/2: UMO Aviation 5/6: UMO Aviation 5/6: UMO Aviation 5/7: UMO Aviation 5/7: UMO Aviation 5/7: UMO Aviation 5/8: UMO Aviation

$106.51 $78.20 $44.06 $48.46 $79.83 $71.28 $68.86 $72.52 $39.08 $62.94 $23.27 $85.96 $74.64 $40.80 $41.25 $45.65 $107.59 $69.21 $69.90 $90.80 $108.93 $104.63 $32.51 $71.73 $64.22 $75.29 $49.45

5/8: Jim Harrell 5/8: Jim Harrell 5/13: UMO Aviation 5/15: Jim Harrell 5/15: UMO Aviation 5/15: UMO Aviation 5/15: UMO Aviation 5/16: UMO Aviation 5/18: UMO Aviation 5/19: UMO Aviation 5/19: UMO Aviation 5/19: UMO Aviation 5/19: UMO Aviation 5/20: UMO Aviation 5/21: UMO Aviation 5/22: UMO Aviation 5/29: Jim Harrell 5/29: Jim Harrell 6/2: UMO Aviation 6/2: UMO Aviation 6/2: UMO Aviation 6/3: UMO Aviation 6/3: UMO Aviation 6/4: UMO Aviation 6/4: UMO Aviation 6/6: UMO Aviation 6/6: UMO Aviation

$115.89 $67.58 $65.75 $15.71 $102.90 $55.58 $121.92 $67.68 $88.08 $23.46 $47.18 $41.89 $47.92 $103.89 $37.20 $26.48 $48.56 $44.56 $65.46 $64.17 $67.09 $51.43 $36.36 $92.06 $64.73 $61.58 $80.09

6/12: UMO Aviation 6/12: UMO Aviation 6/12: UMO Aviation 6/13: UMO Aviation 6/14: UMO Aviation 6/16: UMO Aviation 6/17: UMO Aviation 6/18: UMO Aviation 6/18: UMO Aviation 6/18: UMO Aviation 6/23: UMO Aviation 6/23: UMO Aviation 6/23: UMO Aviation 6/24: UMO Aviatio 6/24: UMO Aviation 6/24: UMO Aviation 6/26: UMO Aviation 6/26: UMO Aviation 6/26: UMO Aviation 6/27: UMO Aviation 6/29: UMO Aviation 6/30: UMO Aviation 6/30: UMO Aviation 7/3: UMO Aviation 7/3: UMO Aviation 7/3: UMO Aviation

$59.62 $52.80 $55.28 $51.90 $71.26 $12.50 $38.40 $74.22 $48.51 $53.47 $135.56 $40.40 $87.58 $39.83 $65.59 $38.02 $55.24 $79.66 $33.10 $119.01 $85.24 $55.48 $56.67 $104.37 $91.39 $69.40

5/17: Metro Aviation 5/18: Metro Aviation 5/19: Metro Aviation 5/21: Metro Aviation 5/22: Metro Aviation 5/23: Metro Aviation 5/27: Metro Aviation 5/28: Metro Aviation 5/28: Metro Aviation 5/31: Metro Aviation 5/31: Metro Aviation 6/2: Metro Aviation 6/2: Metro Aviation 6/2: Metro Aviation 6/5: Metro Aviation 6/6: Metro Aviation 6/6: Metro Aviation 6/7: Metro Aviation 6/8: Metro Aviation 6/8: Metro Aviation 6/9: Metro Aviation 6/9: Metro Aviation 6/11: Metro Aviation 6/11: Metro Aviation 6/11: Metro Aviation 6/12: Metro Aviation 6/12: Metro Aviation 6/13: Metro Aviation 6/13: Metro Aviation

$191.52 $207.48 $239.40 $497.84 $235.20 $184.24 $211.68 $211.68 $172.48 $160.72 $478.24 $176.40 $529.20 $548.80 $148.96 $466.48 $282.24 $47.04 $568.40 $141.12 $294.00 $446.88 $215.60 $74.48 $172.48 $164.64 $333.20 $62.72 $207.76

6/15: Metro Aviation 6/18: Metro Aviation 6/19: Metro Aviation 6/19: Metro Aviation 6/19: Metro Aviation 6/20: Metro Aviation 6/20: Fair Air Aviation 6/21: Metro Aviation 6/22: Metro Aviation 6/23: Metro Aviation 6/25: Metro Aviation 6/26: Metro Aviation 6/27: Metro Aviation 6/27: Blountville Aviation 6/27: Metro Aviation 6/28: Metro Aviation 6/28: Metro Aviation 6/28: Metro Aviation 6/29: Metro Aviation 6/30: Metro Aviation 7/1: Metro Aviation 7/3: Metro Aviation 7/4: Metro Aviation 7/4: Metro Aviation 7/5: Metro Aviation 7/7: Metro Aviation

TOTAL: $9,099.15

JET FUEL SALES “EMAILED TO TOWN FOR INVOICING” 2/14: Metro Aviation $308.06 2/17: Frank Spencer $329.16 2/17: Metro Aviation $164.58 2/17: Metro Aviation $299.62 2/18: Metro Aviation $569.70 2/18: Metro Aviation $443.10 2/21: Metro Aviation $118.16 2/21: Metro Aviation $341.82 2/22: Metro Aviation $211.00 2/22: Starflite Aviation $1,987.62 2/25: Metro Aviation $506.40 2/26: Metro Aviation $506.40 2/27: UHF Development Group $1,832.32 2/28: Metro Aviation $422.00 3/1: Metro Aviation $464.20 3/3: Metro Aviation $810.24 3/4: Metro Aviation $468.42 3/6: Metro Aviation $485.30 3/8: Metro Aviation $367.14 3/12: Metro Aviation $105.50 3/15: Metro Aviation $126.60 3/17: Metro Aviation $493.74 3/19: Metro Aviation $253.20 3/20: Metro Aviation $514.84 3/31: EAC-KA350 LLC $38.82 4/1: Metro Aviation $81.20 4/2: Metro Aviation $154.28 4/2: Metro Aviation $174.58 4/4: DHB Aviation $3,158.68

4/4: Metro Aviation 4/5: Metro Aviation 4/5: Metro Aviation 4/6: Metro Aviation 4/6: Metro Aviation 4/7: Metro Aviation 4/7: Metro Aviation 4/8: Metro Aviation 4/8: Metro Aviation 4/8: Flying Pigs 4/10: Metro Aviation 4/15: Metro Aviation 4/16: Metro Aviation 4/18: UHF Development 4/18: Metro Aviation 4/19: Metro Aviation 4/19: Metro Aviation 4/20: Metro Aviation 4/21: Metro Aviation 4/22: Metro Aviation 4/22: Metro Aviation 4/24: Metro Aviation 4/24: KAM AIR LLC 4/24: Metro Aviation 4/25: Metro Aviation 4/25: Metro Aviation 4/26: Metro Aviation 4/26: Metro Aviation 4/27: Metro Aviation

Note: Records from Feb. 10 to last available date

$267.96 $187.76 $170.52 $304.50 $296.38 $207.06 $377.58 $150.22 $223.30 $1,347.92 $284.20 $144.55 $140.42 $309.75 $214.76 $140.42 $185.85 $177.59 $342.79 $156.94 $198.24 $181.72 $1,251.39 $206.50 $119.77 $148.68 $495.60 $289.10 $144.55

4/28: Metro Aviation 4/29: Metro Aviation 4/29: Starflite Aviation 4/29: Starflite Aviation 4/29: Starflite Aviation 4/29: Starflite Aviation 4/29: Metro Aviation 4/30: Metro Aviation 5/1: Metro Aviation 5/1: Metro Aviation 5/2: Metro Aviation 5/2: Metro Aviation 5/3: Metro Aviation 5/3: Metro Aviation 5/4: Metro Aviation 5/5: Metro Aviation 5/6: Flying Pigs 5/6: Metro Aviation 5/7: Metro Aviation 5/8: Metro Aviation 5/8: Metro Aviation 5/8: Metro Aviation 5/10: Metro Aviation 5/11: Metro Aviation 5/14: Metro Aviation 5/15: Metro Aviation 5/15: Metro Aviation 5/15: Metro Aviation 5/16: Metro Aviation

$520.38 $140.42 $869.78 $486.93 $545.99 $335.77 $165.20 $371.70 $189.98 $189.98 $173.46 $148.68 $144.55 $144.55 $454.30 $545.16 $790.02 $167.58 $119.70 $107.73 $71.82 $446.88 $119.70 $51.87 $335.16 $119.70 $414.96 $159.60 $195.51

$98.00 $123.52 $50.18 $131.24 $173.70 $123.52 $702.52 $177.56 $162.12 $162.12 $100.36 $609.88 $447.76 $772.00 $285.64 $231.60 $115.80 $162.12 $169.84 $455.48 $290.78 $499.10 $434.00 $590.24 $147.56 $173.60

TOTAL: $49,990.80

SOURCE: Information provided by the Town of Mount Olive as a result of a Wayne Week Freedom of Information Act records request.

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 19

NO T ICE S NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF PETER S. KASCSAK

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Peter S. Kascsak, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of November, 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 3rd day of August, 2025.

Peter S. Kascsak, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Peter S. Kascsak 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 August 3, 2025, August 10, 2025, August 17, 2025, and August 24, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF JOHN ANDREW DREW

Having qualified as Co-Administrators of the Estate of John Andrew Drew, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned do 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 November 3, 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 the 30th day of July, 2025.

Jennifer Davis and Richard Tyler Drew, Co-Administrators of the Estate of John Andrew Drew 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 August 3, 2025, August 10, 2025, August 17, 2025, and August 24, 2025

20

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIONESTATE OF BRYAN CADETTE PAGE — FILE NO. 25E001719-950

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Bryan Cadette Page, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of November, 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 3rd day of August, 2025.

Christina Page, Administrator c/o Whitaker & Hamer, PLLC 121 E. Main Street Clayton, NC 27520 Published August 3, 2025, August 10, 2025, August 17, 2025, and August 24, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA WAYNE COUNTY THE UNDERSIGNED, Edward Luis Hester, having duly qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Peggy Waters Hester, deceased, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to Edward Luis Hester, Administrator at 107 South Breazeale Avenue, Mount Olive, NC 28365 on or before the 10th day of November, 2025, said date being three (3) months from the date of first publication hereof, or this notice will be pleaded in bar to their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

DATED: August 10, 2025.

EDWARD LUIS HESTER ADMINISTRATOR ESTATE OF PEGGY WATERS HESTER W. CARROLL TURNER ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE POST OFFICE BOX 547 MOUNT OLIVE, NC 28365 Published August 10, 2025, August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, and August 31, 2025

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Rosetta High Coley, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 10th day of November, 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 10th day of August, 2025.

Kenneth Coley and Lori Brantley, Co-Administrators of the Estate of Rosetta High Coley 216 Marlin Lane Pikeville, NC 27863 Published August 10, 2025, August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, and August 31, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF JANET HOLLOWELL WHITFIELD

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Janet Hollowell Whitfield, 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 November 10, 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 the 4th day of August, 2025.

Thomas Hollowell Hooks, Executor of the Estate of Janet Hollowell Whitfield 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 August 10, 2025, August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, and August 31, 2025

NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 24CVD001959-950

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 25CV002015-950

WAYNE COUNTY, Plaintiffs vs.

BRAD DEAL, ASHLY COTTLE DEAL, Defendants.

WAYNE COUNTY and the CITY OF GOLDSBORO, Plaintiffs vs.

CASEY’S TRAILER LODGE, INC.; LONNIE CASEY, JR.; LONNIE CASEY, JR. IN HIS CAPACITY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE LONNIE CASEY, JR. REVOCABLE FAMILY TRUST, Defendants.

TO: ASHLY COTTLE DEAL 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 August 17, 2025.

The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on real property located in Wayne County, North Carolina and described as 302 Grace’s Farm Road, La Grange, NC (PIN:3546118609), which is more completely described in the complaint; to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes. Plaintiff seeks 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, August 17, 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 5th day of August, 2025.

Andrew J. Neal Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713 Published August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, and August 31, 2025

TO: LONNIE CASEY, JR. 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 August 17, 2025.

The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on real property located in Wayne County, North Carolina and described as 1700 S. Slocumb Street, Goldsboro, NC (PIN:3508175377) and Harris Street, Goldsboro, NC (PIN: 3508270215,) 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, August 17, 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 5th day of August, 2025.

Andrew J. Neal Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713 Published August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, and August 31, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF SAM A. JERNIGAN, III

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Sam A. Jernigan, III, 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 November 17, 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 7th day of August, 2025.

Eleanore Jernigan, Executor of the Estate of Sam A. Jernigan, III 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 (919) 734-1841 Published August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, and September 7, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS-ESTATE OF RONALD MICHAEL YOUNGFILE NO. 25E001637-950 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Ronald Michael Young, deceased, of Wayne County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before November 17, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 17th day of August, 2025.

Brian Young, Administrator c/o Whitaker & Hamer, PLLC 121 E. Main Street Clayton, NC 27520 Published August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, and September 7, 2025

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Frances Preston, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 17th day of November, 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 17th day of August, 2025.

Derald G. Preston, Administrator of the Estate of Frances Preston 404 Miller Ave. Goldsboro, NC 27530 Published August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, and September 7, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF TERRI SASSER

Having qualified as Fiduciary of the Estate of Terri Sasser, 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 November 17, 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 17th day of August, 2025.

Shanna Gurley, Fiduciary of the Estate of Terri Sasser 4893 Wyse Fork Road Dover, NC 28526 Published August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, and September 7, 2025

GENERAL NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE SALE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JEFFREY LANE WELLS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Jeffrey Lane Wells, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 17th day of November, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recover. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 17th day of August, 2025 .

Ashlee Schallert, Administrator of the Estate of Jeffrey Lane Wells 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 August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, and September 7, 2025

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 23: CVD000745-950 WAYNE COUNTY, Plaintiff vs.

EDWARD KORNEGAY, Defendant & CREDITONE, L.L.C., Defendant Lienholder Under and by virtue of an Order of the Clerk of Superior Court of Wayne County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled “WAYNE COUNTY vs. EDWARD KORNEGAY, ET AL., the undersigned Commissioner will on the 27th day of August, 2025, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction, at the courthouse door in Wayne County, North Carolina, in Goldsboro at 10:00 a.m. the following described real property, lying and being in State and County aforesaid and more particularly described as follows: 720 Stanley Chapel Church Road, Mt. Olive (PIN: 2593475328) BEING all of Lot No. 8 of High Cotton Acres Subdivision, Section One, as shown on a plat thereof recorded in Plat Cabinet L, Slide 49A of the Wayne County Registry.

The sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all local improvements assessments against the above-described property not included in the judgment in the above-entitled cause. A deposit of 5 percent (5%) of the successful bid will be required or $750.00, whichever is greater, in the form of cash, certified check or money order.

This the 23rd day of July, 2025.

Andrew J. Neal County Attorney Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713 Published August 17, 2025, and August 24, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF LINWOOD E. HINES

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Linwood E. Hines, 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 November 17, 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 the 13th day of August, 2025.

Vicky J. Benton Lancaster, Executor of the Estate of Linwood E. Hines 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 August 17, 2025, August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, and September 7, 2025

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against John Wesley Southerland, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 24th day of November, 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 24th day of August, 2025.

Edward A. Southerland Administrator of the Estate of John Wesley Southerland 701 Rosemont Avenue Wilmington, NC 28403 Published August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, September 7, 2025, and September 14, 2025

NOTICE TO PUBLIC CITY OF GOLDSBORO FY 2024-2025 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) The public is invited to provide input on housing and non-housing needs in the city of Goldsboro for the FY20242025 CAPER. The CAPER documents the community development accomplishments of the previous fiscal year utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Partnership Program (HOME), HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) and Community Development Block Grant Corona Virus (CDBG-CV).

The City of Goldsboro’s draft CAPER will be available for public review and comment from September 3, 2025 through September 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Copies will be placed at public access sites such as the desk of the City Receptionist and the office of the City Clerk, both at the City Hall Annex, 200 North Center Street; the Community Relations Office at City Hall, 214 North Center Street; the Wayne County Public Library, 1001 East Ash Street; the Goldsboro Housing Authori-

ty, 1729 Edgerton Street; and on the City’s website at www. goldsboronc.gov. Comments will be received and incorporated into the final CAPER until 5 p.m. on September 26, 2024. Written and oral comments on the FY2024-2025 CAPER will be included in the final report submitted to HUD. The final version of the CAPER will be submitted to HUD on or before September 28, 2025.

Accommodations for disabled, non-English speaking, or individuals needing interpreter services will be made available upon request. Individuals who are deaf and hearing-impaired may call 711 to access telecommunications relay services at no cost.

For additional information, please contact the City Manager’s Office, City Hall Annex, by calling (919) 580-4330 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at least four (4) business days in advance.

Krystal M. Fuller Community Development Specialist John B. Wilson Community Development Manager Published August 24, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Goldsboro will conduct public hearings during the course of their open meeting which starts at 5:30 P.M. on Monday, September 8, 2025, in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 214 North Center Street to consider the following requests.

ANNEX-02-25 Nolan Commercial Contractors, Inc: The applicant is requesting to annex into the corporate limits of the City of Goldsboro, one parcel of land totaling approximately 49.67 acres of land. The property considered for annexation is located on the east end of Hilltop Lane approximately 1,200 feet west of its intersection with Oberry Center Road. The property is further identified as NCPIN# 2680832550.

ANNEX-03-25 City of Goldsboro: The applicant is requesting to annex into the corporate limits of the City of Goldsboro approximately 69,271 acres of land. The properties considered for annexation are located on the south side of Royal Avenue approximately 1000 feet east of its intersection with North Drive The properties are further identified as a portion of Wayne Co. Pin# 3519063209; 3519160064 and 2599669999.

All interested persons are encouraged to attend. To accommodate disabilities and to comply with ADA regulations, please contact City Hall if further assistance is needed. All inquiries regarding this matter may be directed to the City of Goldsboro Planning Department at (919) 580-4313 or online at www.goldsboronc.gov.

This is the 24th day of August, 2025.

Mark E. Helmer, AICP, CFM Planning Services Manager Published August 24, 2025 Continued on page 22

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF EMMA JEAN KILPATRICK WILLIAMS SCOTT

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Emma Jean Kilpatrick Williams Scott, 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 November 24, 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 the 19th day of August, 2025.

Thelma Susan Williams McClenny, Executor of the Estate of Emma Jean Kilpatrick Williams Scott 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 August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, September 7, 2025, and September 14, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF RUBY LEE PITTMAN RAINS

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Ruby Lee Pittman Rains, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to e xhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 24th day of November, 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 24th day of August, 2025.

Mary Deborah Rains Davis and Timothy Rowe Rains, Co-Administrators of the Estate of Ruby Lee Pittman Rains 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 August 24, 2025, August 31, 2025, September 7, 2025, and September 14, 2025

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