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CONTENTS
4 $80 million investment coming
For the second time in two weeks, Wayne County got significant news on the economic development front. This time, a Turkish company has agreed to make an $82 million capital investment in Goldsboro — and create more than 200 high-paying jobs.
6 Rev. Barber under fire
Civil rights leader the Rev. William Barber is being accused, by his ex-wife, Rebecca, of blurring the lines between his personal and non-profit bank accounts.
8 Pikeville leaders eye tax hike
A property rate decrease would still, because of the county's recent revaluation, see more money come into local coffers — funds that would be used to ensure the Pikeville Police Department will not face cuts.
12 Our friend Efton Sager dies
He was a Wayne County commissioner and represented his community inside the N.C. Statehouse, but we will remember Efton Sager as a dear friend — and a man who served not for the fanfare, but to help build a home worthy of his children and grandchildren.
14 Wayne Week is about to turn 2!
Many people thought we were crazy when we announced we would be launching a newspaper in 2023, but now, two years later, we are an official newspaper of record — and with your help, we are changing this community.
18 Spectator
Members of the Wayne Country Day Class of 2025 tossed their caps into the sky as they marked the end of their high school careers.
COVER DESIGN BY SHAN STUMPF
NEWS + VIEWS
Second economic development announcement adds to historic month
Two weeks after Prolec-GE announced it was investing $140 million in Wayne County, a Turkish company is making an $80 million one of its own in Goldsboro.
BY KEN FINE
They said it in different ways, but the many speakers who converged on the Maxwell Center Tuesday afternoon to drop a significant piece of economic development news had the same message.
It has been quite a month for Wayne County.
State Rep. John Bell, on behalf of Gov. Josh Stein, gave the brass tacks.
Pelsan Tekstil, a Turkish company that makes breathable polyethylene films for the medical, hygiene, and insulation sectors, would soon be making an $82 million capital investment in Goldsboro — one that would see the creation of 216 jobs.
County Manager Chip Crumpler characterized the move as a win for the community —
but not simply because of the economic impact.
“For me, economic development is about more than just numbers and press releases. It’s about people, and especially, our young people. I want my kids and all the young adults growing up here to have a real opportunity at home. I want them to see a future in Wayne County and not feel as if they have to leave to find success,” he said. “When companies choose to invest here, they’re not just bringing jobs. They help us build a community that people want to come back to, put roots down in, and be proud of.”
Pelsan is certainly putting down roots.
The company’s plan includes purchasing two shell buildings located on a sprawling 32-
acre site on Gateway Drive.
And while the property is valued at more than $7.7 million, Pelsan is expected to get a deal from the Wayne County Board of Commissioners — roughly $2.5 million off the asking price.
That incentive, local leaders say — and a state incentives package approved Tuesday by the Commerce Department’s Economic Investment Committee that includes a jobs development grant of up to $2 million over 12 years — is part of the reason the company chose Wayne County over Georgia and Virginia.
Ernie Pearson, an attorney who worked on the deal, said the pursuit of Pelsan was “highly competitive” — that in the beginning,
72 buildings across six states were potential homes for the company’s first U.S. asset.
And that, he said, made the “win” even more sweet.
“You folks won it. It wasn’t given to you. So, I want to congratulate you very much for winning this project,” Pearson said. “I could sum this up in three words. Congratulations Wayne County.”
But Mayor Charles Gaylor, echoing what Wayne County Development Alliance Executive Committee member and Goldsboro City Councilman Chris Boyette said a few weeks ago after Stein came to the Maxwell Center to make the biggest economic development announce -
Local leaders converged on the Maxwell Center May 27 for another major economic development announcement — the second this month.
PHOTOS BY KEN FINE
ment in the county’s history, reminded those in attendance Tuesday “that these things don’t happen by accident.”
And he encouraged more teamwork and communication between governing bodies across Wayne — and the experts at places like the Wayne County Development Alliance who did the heavy lifting.
“We have to remain committed,” he said. “We have to talk to each other.”
Development Alliance Board Chairman Bob Kornegay agreed, adding that forward thinking — like making the decision to construct two shell buildings — is what tipped the scales in Goldsboro’s favor.
“When we made the decision to invest in a shell building, we weren’t just constructing steel and concrete. We were building con-
company, said would be “high tech and future ready,” will be a sprawling 144,000 square feet that will allow for “promise and possibility” both for Wayne County and a country that is moving toward a cleaner, more sustainable form of energy.
Incentives played a role in landing that deal, too.
In fact, according to Boyette, Goldsboro landed the Prolec-GE project in part because the state’s Economic Investment Committee approved a Job Development Investment Grant worth $4.69 million to facilitate the deal and Wayne commissioners added a $5.5 million incentive.
Stein said that project would “lift North Carolina’s economy by $1 billion over the next 12 years” — and make a “huge difference” in the quality of life for Eastern North Carolinians.
And Pope said that Tuesday’s announcement continues the momentum the region has been riding since 2020, as since then, the Economic Development Region that includes Greene, Lenoir, Wayne and the Global Transpark has made 36 announcements, created 4,500 jobs, and generated more than $1 billion in capital investment.
“I’ve told people several times before. It’s our time,” Pope said.
• • •
Pelsan, a subsidiary to the Hassan group, has more than 70 years of experience in the polyethylene film sector and currently operates in Turkey, Russia, and Switzerland.
Pelsan was established in 2007 within the Hassan Group, which has, according to the company’s website, more than 70 years of experience in the medical, hygiene, and insulation sectors as Turkey’s first breathable polyethylene film manufacturer.
Pelsan products produced under the name of Breatech are used by leading diaper and medical material manufacturers in Turkey and abroad.
HYGEINE
The Breatech brand “textile backsheet” products are manufactured by laminating breathable film on nonwoven material and supplied to diaper producers. According to the company’s website, it gives a soft and cottony texture thanks to its textile surface. With its breathing quality and impermeability on diapers, it transfers water vapor out and provides ample air circulation. Thus, the baby’s skin stays dry, and skin irritation is prevented.
MEDICAL
fidence,” he said. “We were sending a clear message to the world that Wayne County is ready to grow.”
NC Global Transpark President Mark Pope doubled down on Kornegay’s logic.
“If we didn’t have two shell buildings sitting out at Park East right now, I guarantee you this announcement would have been made in Georgia today,” he said.
• • •
Tuesday’s announcement was the second of its kind since the beginning of the month.
The first reflected a $140 million capital investment and creation of 330 high-paying jobs by Prolec-GE Waukesha.
That facility, which Juan Garza, the chairman of the company and CEO of its parent
Its Goldsboro facility will employ engineers, machine operators, and finance and supply chain specialists with an average salary of nearly $50,000 a year — jobs that should be created within the next six years.That means that in May alone, Wayne County has seen a commitment of more $220 million in capital investment and more than 500 jobs that will pay an average salary of $60,000. Tuesday, Boyette characterized those numbers as “huge.
“Nobody is going to look at those numbers and not have their jaw drop to the floor, but what they also need to understand is that we will collect taxes on those dollars that will allow us to do even more in our community,” he said. “I know I said it a few weeks ago, but I’ll say it again. This is exactly why I have been telling my colleagues on the council that we need to move forward with plans to set aside money for the water reclamation facility and our roads and our public safety initiatives. The time is now. We are finally seeing the results of decades of planning that started with people like Chuck Allen. This is what happens when you put yourself in the game.”n
Breatech products, which are supplied to medical industry manufacturers by laminating polyethylene film on nonwoven material, provide a high absorbency and a cottony touch thanks to the textile surface. Unlike cotton cloths, it is used as a disposable product in all health areas and provides real hygiene.
INSULATION
Breatech products, which are supplied as “waterproofing material” to all types of roof, siding, metal roof, shingle, and curtain wall systems by laminating polyethylene film on nonwovens allow air circulation, and remove water vapor and moisture from the outside.
Thanks to the liquid non-permeability feature of polyethylene film, it acts as a barrier against rainwater and all other external factors that may leak into the roof.
Pelsan's Breatech products.
Barber’s ex-wife makes claims about pastor’s non-profit, finances
Rebecca Barber claims civil rights leader allowed his personal and non-profit bank accounts to co-mingle.
BY RENEE CAREY
Alocal pastor who gained a national profile after delivering a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention is being accused by his ex-wife of blurring the lines between his personal finances and those of the non-profit he founded in 2015.
But the Rev. Dr. William Barber II, through his attorney, has denied the claims — and the non-profit, Repairers of the Breach, has characterized them as “baseless.”
Here is what we know.
A “Judgment of Absolute Divorce” was granted to Barber and his ex-wife, Rebecca in 2024.
But less than a year later, Rebecca claims that she had “uncovered” information she believes necessitates including Repairers of the Breach as a “Third-Party Defendant.”
In other words, she alleges the non-profit’s finances should be included in whatever post-divorce financial arrangement is ordered by the court.
The following has been pulled directly from the “Motion for Leave to Implead and Joint Third-Party Defendant” filed in Durham District Court May 22. It has not been edited:
“10. In the course of discovery, including the deposition of the Plaintiff, William Barber, II, and the production of subpoenaed documents, the Defendant has uncovered information giving rise to the necessity of impleading and joining a third party, Repairers of the Breach, Inc., as a Third-Party Defendant. The following facts support this request:
a. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff William Barber, II, is the founder and a current board member of Repairers of the Breach, Inc., a nonprofit organization registered in the State of North Carolina.
b. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff William Barber, II, founded Repairers of the Breach, Inc. during the marriage.
c. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff William Barber, II, is the President of Repairers of the Breach, Inc.
d. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff William Barber, II, has been the president since the start of Repairers of the Breach, Inc.
e. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff William Barber, II, exerted marital efforts
to build Repairers of the Breach, Inc.
f. Upon information and belief, Repairers of the Breach, Inc. is financially supported through private donations, as well as public funding, including government grants.
g. Repairers of the Breach, Inc. holds substantial financial assets in one or more financial accounts over which Plaintiff exercises discretion and control.
h. Upon information and belief, an employee of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. frequently assisted with managing marital assets and expenses during the marriage.
i. Upon information and belief, the Plaintiff temporarily resided with a female employee of the Repairers of the Breach, Inc. beginning in 2020 and subsequent to 2020.
j. Since at least November, 2023, Re-
pairers of the Breach, Inc. has been issuing monthly payments in the amount of seven thousand and 00/100 dollars ($7,000.00) to Plaintiff, William Barber, II, who authorized Repairers of the Breach, Inc. to deposit those monies into a joint personal bank account under the guise of alimony or financial support.
k. Defendant asserts that Plaintiff maintains de facto control over the financial accounts associated with Repairers of the Breach, Inc. thereby suggesting that Repairers of the Breach, Inc. is being used as an instrumentality of Plaintiff’s personal financial affairs.
l. Defendant contends that Repairers of the Breach, Inc. is functionally an alter ego of Plaintiff and may possess or control assets that are marital in nature or otherwise
relevant to this Court’s equitable distribution determination.
m. The Plaintiff’s personal entanglement with Repairers of the Breach, Inc. is further evidenced by the fact that his current wife, Della Owens, received compensation for years from the organization’s payroll.
n. Upon information and belief, Della Owens was employed through Repairers of the Breach for security services for Rev. Barber.
o. Upon information and belief, Della Owens was employed through Repairers of the Breach under the job title “Head of Security”.
p. Upon information and belief, the accounts and operational funds of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. appear to be commingled with both marital and separate assets of the parties and are thus subject to classification and equitable distribution under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20.
q. The accounts and operations funds of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. that have been under and currently are under the Plaintiff’s discretion and control are detailed as follows:
In 2020, the revenue from Repairers of the Breach, Inc. was $5,244,563.00 while the expenses were $4,020,445.00. The total assets of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. were $3,104,338.00, and the total liabilities were $32,071.00.
In 2021, the revenue from Repairers of the Breach, Inc. was $12,587,715.00 while the expenses were $4,206,632.00. The total assets of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. were $11,539,240.00, and the total liabilities were $85,890.00.
In 2022, the revenue of the Repairers of the Breach, Inc. was $4,478,531.00 while the expenses were $6,907,269.00. The total assets of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. were $9,051,810.00, and the total liabilities were $10,933.00.
In 2023, the revenue from Repairers of the Breach, Inc. was $5,186,375.00 while the expenses were $6,007,361.00. The total assets of the Repairers of the Breach, Inc. were $8,267,818.00, and the total liabilities were $45,467.00.
Rev. Dr. William Barber II
COURTESY PHOTO
11. Justice and equity require that Repairers of the Breach, Inc. be impleaded and joined as a Third-Party Defendant in this action. The nonprofit organization has functioned in a capacity analogous to that of a spouse to Defendant, Rebecca Barber, by providing her with ongoing financial support in the form of monthly payments.
12. In this case, Repairers of the Breach, Inc. has effectively availed itself of this action by acting at the direction of Plaintiff, William Barber, II, to deposit substantial funds into the joint personal account of Defendant Rebecca Barber and Plaintiff, William Barber, II. These funds were represented to Defendant as spousal support and have formed the basis of Plaintiff’s financial contributions since separation.
connection with claims for Equitable Distribution and Alimony.
16. Repairers of the Breach, Inc. is a necessary party to this action for a full and fair adjudication of the Equitable Distribution claims in this matter. As the Court of Appeals held in Geoghagan v. Geoghagan, “Where a separate legal entity has not been made a party to an action, the trial court does not have the authority to order that entity to act.” Geoghagan v. Geoghagan, 799 S.E.2d 815, 821 (N.C. Ct. App. 2017).
17. Allowing the filing of a Third-Party Complaint against Repairers of the Breach, Inc. will serve the interests of judicial economy and ensure that all financial interests and entities relevant to the determination of Alimony and Equitable Distribution be-
She alleges the non-profit's finances should be included in whatever postdivorce financial arrangement is ordered by the court.
13. Upon information and belief, the financial assets of the marriage and of Plaintiff, William Barber, II, have been so extensively comingled with the funds and financial structure of Repairers of the Breach, Inc. that a fair and complete adjudication of the equitable distribution and spousal support issues in this matter cannot be achieved without examining and accounting for those assets.
14. Defendant further asserts that Plaintiff has used Repairers of the Breach, Inc. as a vehicle to shield marital assets from discovery and distribution. As such, public policy and principles of equity support the Court’s authority to pierce the corporate veil and treat certain assets held by the nonprofit as subject to classification and equitable distribution under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20 et seq.
15. This motion and proposed Third-Party Complaint arise out of the same transactions and occurrences that form the basis of both the Plaintiff’s Complaint and the Defendant’s Answer; specifically, the identification, classification, and division of marital and separate assets between the parties in
tween Plaintiff and Defendant are adjudicated in one proceeding.
18. The deposition testimony of Plaintiff William Barber, II, revealed potentially inappropriate interactions with two female employees of Repairers of the Breach, Inc.
19. After the deposition, Plaintiff, William Barber, II, married his former “Head of Security” Della Owens who worked for Repairers of the Breach, Inc.
20. The Defendant seeks permission to amend the marital misconduct allegations as set forth in the Amended Answer, Counterclaim and ThirdParty Complaint.”
Founded by Barber in 2015, Repairers of the Breach boasts a mission of building “grassroots power to combat immoral and illegal policies on labor rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare, criminal justice, and other policies that negatively impacted poor and marginalized communities in the state.”
As of press time, it remains unclear whether the court will add the non-profit as a party to the divorce proceedings. n
Pikeville leaders signal approval of collecting more property tax revenue
The property tax rate would go down, but because of the county’s recent revaluation, residents’ bills would still be higher.
BY KEN FINE
Had Pikeville’s commissioners done nothing — declined to increase the sales tax rate and set the 2025-2026 property tax rate at the revenue-neutral 49 cents per 100 dollars — they would have been forced to make cuts to balance the spending plan Town Manager Tim Biggerstaff is expected to present to the board in the coming weeks.
The Police Department would have faced a 5 percent reduction in their budget and officers would not have received a raise.
But Commissioner Matt Thomas said there was a danger associated with keeping the PPD’s salaries where they are.
“If you’re paying at the bottom, you’re going to get the people nobody else wants,” he said. “I will say that (Police Chief Rodney) Jarman has done an excellent job of digging through and finding talented officers, but that is something to keep in mind.”
There was another option, too.
If no tax increases were approved, a plan could be created that would take care of law enforcement, but other town services would take a hit.
“That would require deep cuts in other areas,” Thomas said. “We can cut staff, or we can cut all salary increases and basically cut to the bone for all other expenses. I worry about the impression that makes, but that
could totally be an option for us.”
So, after conducting a public hearing — one during which those who spoke seemed to support finding a way to bring in the revenue needed to avoid cuts to services altogether — Pikeville leaders agreed to lower the property tax rate and bring in more revenue, a measure possible thanks to the recent revaluation of property.
Thomas explained how it works.
“The real estate value as collected by the county last year, they estimated that our town was worth about $50 million in real estate,” he said. “After the revaluation, they decided that Pikeville went from a $50 million town to a $70 million town. So, with a 40 percent increase in value, that’s a 40 percent increase in tax revenue.”
And that means if the town kept its current tax rate — 69 cents per 100 dollars — local coffers would “probably have a $300,000 or $400,000 surplus,” he added.
One town resident said he would be “fine with that.”
But Thomas argued most taxpayers would likely have different thoughts when they got their bills.
“The problem with leaving it at 69 cents is that (county) property taxes are going up around 42 percent,” he said.
So, he presented several options that would
avoid such a dramatic hike but still fund town services and see Pikeville officers get a raise.
And by the time the meeting had concluded, commissioners gave Biggerstaff the OK to put the finishing touches on his proposed 2025-2026 budget with a 54-cent property tax — a figure Thomas said, “should be able to get everyone to a target salary, plus cost of living, for the next five years.”
• • •
Increasing the property tax beyond the revenue-neutral rate enabled commissioners to avoid increasing the local sales tax, a measure that was being considered after Thomas alerted the board to what he characterized as “a bit of a budget crisis” facing the PPD.
The department, he said, was facing a $20,000 shortfall — a result of a relatively stagnant allocation of funds by previous town boards despite the fact that the cost of living, retirement contributions, and other expenses had increased.
“While the Police Department as a percentage of the General Fund has remained relatively similar, within a few percentage points, over the years, the cost of the Police Department as it stands today has not remained the same,” Thomas said in April. “Last year … we
sliced by on the skin of our teeth.”
A sales tax increase would have covered it.
And it would not have been a significant one — a likely unnoticeable .25-percent hike.
“What kind of tax increase would be needed to fund the shortfall inside the Police Department? We would need .25 percent,” Thomas said. “It works out to something like one penny for every four dollars.”
But that option was only on the table because at the time, commissioners did not yet know the results of the revaluation.
“If they raise the value of your home, we are going to get more tax money at the end of the day, but without getting the county to tell us exactly what the projections are, we don’t know how much extra money,” Thomas said.
Now they know.
And while the budget has not been formally presented — or approved by commissioners — it seemed clear that the elected officials favored the property tax hike over a sales tax increase.
“We can take our current 69 cent rate and drop it to 54 cents and we will actually … it will actually balance the budget for the next five years,” Thomas said. “We wouldn’t have to talk about a sales tax increase. We wouldn’t have to lay anybody off. We wouldn’t have to cut services.” n
The Pikeville Police Department, without a property tax increase, would face significant cuts in 2025-26.
{ our TAKE }
DRAWING UP EDUCATION FUNDS
There is good news for Wayne County Public Schools in County Manager Chip Crumpler’s recommended 2025-2026 fiscal year budget — an increase in the funding for the district, to the tune of more than $1.1 million.
Sure, it is not as much as Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard asked for — not even close, really — but it is a good start.
We have been waiting for a long time for there to be a working relationship like this one between the county commissioners and the school district.
So, it really is nice to see a change in that regard.
Now, here’s the “but.”
You knew it was coming.
There are a lot of fiscal needs in the school district — some that can be attributed to poor planning of past administrators and some caused by the fact that there has not been an increase in county funding for capital expenditures dedicated to moving the school district forward.
In other words, past mistakes and a whole lot of mistrust — some of it deserved — have set up the situation in which we now find ourselves as a community.
But the reality is that we have to fix up our schools.
We have to be competitive with salaries and stipends so we can attract really good teachers and administrators.
We have to keep adding the materials and programs that will offer the best education possible for our children.
That’s the truth.
But we have another issue, too.
There simply is not enough money in the county coffers to cover every single need or to catch up on past funding priorities.
In other words, the County of Wayne cannot simply put all its funding toward getting the building issues in the district covered — and increase the paychecks of school personnel at the same time.
The money just isn’t there.
And as you can see after the latest rounds of good news coming out of the county this past week, the investments that have been made by commissioners in infrastructure and development have paid off.
Jobs are coming — and soon.
All that matters.
And we simply cannot afford to swing huge
portions of the county budget to education without causing other areas to suffer or increasing taxes.
And while our schools matter to potential residential and industrial investors, so, too, do roads, sewer systems, public safety, and amenities.
So, we have a dilemma.
We need to spend more and to put the pieces in place to continue to push economic development in our community.
But we have to fix our schools, too.
The reason why stretches far beyond the obvious of ensuring every child gets the best education possible.
We have an Air Force base — and incoming industry leaders — to cater to.
Historically, when it comes time to fund capital improvement projects like the ones on WCPS’ list, property owners shoulder the brunt of the burden.
Property taxes go up, and those projects are financed.
The problem is, there is only so much taxation property owners can and should tolerate — so improvements are made piecemeal and not in a timely manner.
And that is how we got here.
There are real issues in Wayne County’s school buildings — and they are there because the repairs, the construction, and the improvements that were necessary were passed on to another year, another budget, another debate.
The scuffles over funding between commissioners and the school board — about everything from facilities to supplements for teachers, are legendary — and have been a part of every budget season in recent memory.
But Whichard has, in our view, been a bright spot.
He is, slowly but surely, turning WCPS around.
And his requests are reasonable — air conditioning units, roofs, and bleachers that, should, God forbid, they collapse during a Charles B. Aycock football game, would be catastrophic.
He also wants a school resource officer on every campus.
He wants to keep our children safe.
So, how do we come up with the millions of dollars WCPS needs but the commissioners simply could not fund without a massive property tax increase?
It’s simple, really.
And members of both boards have already discussed the “solution” at length.
We need a sales tax increase.
Sure, we could gripe about what should have been done to avoid this — and at some point, we will — but that won’t help us accomplish the mission at hand.
At least this way, the burden would be spread around, ensuring everyone would contribute to ensuring we have the best school district possible as we continue to eye the future of Wayne County.
That is exactly how it should be.
Look, tax increases are no fun. None of us are jumping up and down, no matter how small the hike would be.
But the truth is, a quarter-cent sales tax increase would not be a lot of money — and absorbing this increase would mean very little sacrifice for most local families, if they notice at all.
And it’s worth mentioning that those who live elsewhere, but who shop and eat in our community, would contribute, too.
So, too, would those who don’t pay property taxes.
It’s a fair solution — one we believe strongly would send a message that this community understands it has skin in this game.
So, here’s the bottom line: Taking care of the schools in our community is our responsibility.
It really is.
We need to step up.
This would be a reasonable and necessary plan.
But let’s be clear about something else, too. That doesn’t mean this community should write a blank check — and should a future sales tax increase pass on whatever Election Day ballot it appears — we will scrutinize every penny being spent.
No good-old-boy contracts.
No wasteful spending.
No Taj Mahals.
But let’s be honest about something else, too. It’s time for all those people who use our schools and other amenities in our community to contribute.
That’s the only way we are going to be able to fund the millions of dollars WCPS needs to ensure our children have a safe place to get their education.
Shouldn’t that be a given? n
Former commissioner, state representative Sager dies
We lost another friend this week
— and so did this community.
Efton Sager served Wayne County not just as a county commissioner, but also as a state representative for many years.
Sadly, now he’s gone.
Efton started his career and his family life right here at home — graduating from Wayne Community College after serving for many years in the U.S. Air Force.
He worked for a number of concerns — mostly in sales and as a manager of a heavy equipment company, but also as the manager of a logging company from 1983 to 2008.
Many of those years included community service — a calling that meant so much to him.
He was very interested in education and military and veterans’ affairs and served on those committees while representing us in the House.
He chose those issues because Efton wanted to make sure he took care of the community that had given him and his family a place to call home — and to make sure it would remain strong for his and his wife, Deloris’ children and grandchildren.
He found many ways to make a difference — both officially and unofficially.
That is just how he was.
Today, they call it a “servant leader.”
Those words suit Efton to a T.
But he would find that being a leader wasn’t always just a matter of shaking hands and hitting the barbecue circuit.
It requires a backbone.
Efton understood that, too.
That’s why he was always ready to stand up for what was right and to vote his conscience — often dealing with the shrapnel as a result.
He knew that serving as a public official is not as easy as it looks — and over the years, the task of guiding the future of the community would take its toll.
But through it all, Efton tried to live the by faith he championed, and to be a true representative for all of Wayne County, even those with whom he disagreed.
He understood what the oath he took meant, and he served it without hesitation.
So when he recused himself from public life a few years back — as his health started to fail — many of us really missed him, especially as public service changed over the last decade or so.
If you are one of the lucky ones who got to know
Efton Sager, you know why.
You know that his family, his community, and his faith guided his life.
You know that he was fiercely dedicated to service and his country.
You know that he tried to live by the principles that went along with those commitments — and served with them in the forefront of his mind.
That wasn’t always easy.
But Efton was comfortable with the hard days.
It was all part of his attempt to live an authentic life — a real life unfettered by the unsavory alliances that usually go along with politics.
It’s why people trusted him to make decisions for them at home, and to act in their best interest inside the Statehouse.
If you met him over the years, you know that Efton was not one of those big personalities.
You know, the kind who demand attention from everyone around them and have no problem launching into headline-worthy public diatribes.
No, Efton was a personable man, who had no need for the spotlight that so many politicians covet today.
for the votes you cast and the decisions you make.
It’s not as easy as incumbents make it look.
But for Efton, it was worth it, all of it, to be able to affect the future for thousands of Wayne County residents.
We know because he told us that, too.
We have known Efton Sager for a very long time — through good times and bad, through disagreements and questions and when the chips were really down.
We always considered him more than a source.
He was a trusted friend.
He was a man whose principles and friendship did not go away when the times were hard.
He was the first to call to see what he could do to help, or to celebrate a milestone.
He simply wanted to serve — and considered it a great honor to be your commissioner and your state representative.
He simply wanted to serve — and considered it a great honor to be your commissioner and your state representative.
Of course, he liked the titles, but that is not why he made the time commitment and the promises he did.
He truly loved this community.
And for him, it was a privilege to be able to serve in any capacity.
We know that firsthand because we talked with him about it.
The truth is, he had great faith in the people of this community and an intense desire to be a part of the decisions that affected their future.
In our view, you can’t ask for much more than that.
So, it wasn’t easy for Efton to move away from public life — even after the time and energy he sacrificed to serve.
There is no downtime when you are a county commissioner — or a state representative for that matter.
And it takes guts to put yourself out there, to make promises to your community and then to have the courage to answer
So, no, Efton Sager will not be forgotten — at least not for those of us on the New Old North/Wayne Week staff.
In fact, the many lessons we learned from him will continue to be a guiding light.
He taught us — and many others — that you don’t have to be flashy to have an impact, and that not every comment you make has to be one for the history books.
He taught us that sometimes, the right decision is just about good, old-fashioned common sense.
He showed us that there was dignity in service and sacrifice.
But most importantly, he revealed what true friendship looks like.
We can think of no better way to measure a person’s impact than by the memories and wisdom they leave behind.
That was Efton Sager’s gift.
He left much of both.
So, as we mourn his passing, we will cherish the many, many memories he has left us.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Efton’s family as they try to move forward without him.
We know how hard it will be.
We will miss him, too.
Rest easy, old friend.
You really were one of a kind.
We only hope that we — and this community you loved so dearly — will make you proud as we continue your mission of helping Wayne County reach its brightest star. n
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YEAR
Many industry insiders thought we were crazy when we launched a newspaper in 2023, but two years later, we are stronger than ever — thanks to you.
More than a few people have asked us why we decided to start first, New Old North Media, and then Wayne Week. It is not an obvious choice.
In this age of media distrust and big names going under — and owners selling out all around North Carolina and the country — you can imagine that there aren’t too many people willing to take the leap.
For us, this decision was not just about journalism, although it is important that we share some thoughts about that, too. It was about all of you — and 20 years of investment into a community that has felt like home and so many of you who have touched our lives.
Many of you know the story of how we left the Goldsboro News-Argus, and why we went on to other things in other places for a number of years. It was hard to make that change, but sometimes fate (God or the universe, take your pick) gives you a shove — especially when you might have continued in a rapidly degrading situation because making the jump was so hard. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because our roads led us here.
They led us back home.
WEEK Wayne DID YOU DO IT ?
YES SIR.
As many of you also know, running a small business, especially a hometown one, is not easy.
You have to suck up your courage and jump — and pray that there will be somebody there to catch you.
Over these past few years, we have held our breath that the revenue would be there, that you would be there.
And when we decided to start our weekly print newspaper a little more than two years ago, we took a pretty big gulp.
We knew what we were doing was important.
We knew what it would mean to the community.
But we also saw what was happening in our industry and to the paper we had put so much time, heart, and hard work into for a decade.
And now, as we mark the second anniversary of that decision to publish a weekly news-
paper, we can take the time to tell you why Wayne Week matters — and why we are so very grateful that you have decided to join us on this ride.
You see, we get it.
We, too, have watched activism and bias destroy the media business.
One of us, you can guess who, is old enough to remember when impartiality was so important that a newspaper editor or reporter would not accept even a cup of coffee from a politician or a source, and when editors would send writers back out into the community to make sure both sides were fairly represented.
We took pride in our role as the watchdogs — and while we might have our own opinions on our editorial pages, in our news sections we worked hard to give the community the whole story.
And that was how we did business in Goldsboro.
We had our scrapes over the years — and not everyone always liked what we wrote — but we kept an eye on those politicians and bureaucrats and kept those charged with taking care of our community honest.
We weren’t always perfect, but we understood the importance of the principles we were defending.
Freedom of speech was a sacred calling to us.
And while it might not have always been easy to listen to all sides, we knew how important it was to make sure every voice had a forum.
There was no canceling back then — no rejecting those with whom we disagreed.
We wanted the give and take, the back and forth.
Continued on page 16
Former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit Chief Michael Kenneth Cox tells federal judge he is guilty of drug, mail/wire fraud conspiracies.
Perhaps the biggest story we covered in Year 2 was the legal drama involving former WCSO Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox, who is currently serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal crimes.
THE ENTRENCHED
We knew it made us stronger, as a community and as a country.
Fast forward a few more years.
We came back to Goldsboro and looked around.
And we saw what happens when a community newspaper is no longer holding the powerful accountable — or giving its community a voice.
It was heartbreaking — especially since we knew how long it took for us to get that standard set — to see its disintegration.
We saw the disarray and lack of accountability in our school district and in our county and city governments.
We saw behavior in our community that was inappropriate and scary.
And we knew that we were witnessing
the consequences of a watchdog that had closed it eyes.
So, we got to work.
And a lot has changed in the years since.
With your help, we have turned a corner in this community.
We have a fiscally responsible school district and a City Council that is no longer an embarrassment.
We have cleaned up our public offices and gotten rid of many of those whose interest in political office was more about self-enrichment and power than doing what was right for the future of our community.
We have set a course for development — residential and business — and made some of the tough decisions necessary to make
that happen.
And we are no longer afraid to say what we think — as a community and as taxpayers — about what our public officials are doing with our money.
And we say “our” because you have come along with us.
Together, as a community, we are now speaking up.
Many of the stories you have seen over the last couple of years in Wayne Week — and previously on our sister website, NewOldNorth.com, have come from you, from tips from people who are no longer just willing to sit back and shake their heads.
You decided to be part of the solution.
And we are proud to have partnered with you to make this a better community — one story
at a time.
You have them to thank for having the courage to call us and let us know where the bodies are buried.
You have them to thank for politicians knowing they can no longer sit in a public meeting and spout garbage without being called on the carpet.
You have them to thank for our unwillingness to put up with public officials and bureaucrats whose agenda is more about “a cause” than the truth.
It is because of them that we hold all our leaders accountable every week — and it has yielded big results.
Wayne County is getting stronger every day.
And it is just in time, too.
There have been hundreds of millions of dollars in business investment announced just in the last few weeks in our community — and our leaders are laser-focused on doing the work to keep Seymour Johnson Air Force Base strong and an important part of our community.
That would not have happened without all of us setting a standard and demanding that it be met. We felt like you needed to hear that. But getting here has not been easy.
Public officials don’t always like having a mirror held in their faces — especially when no one has held them accountable for years.
But by doing the tough stuff, we are laying the foundation in place to move forward to create a community that will be a place where our children and grandchildren will want to raise families and build lives.
So, you can see why this year, as we announced that we are officially a newspaper of record for Wayne County and are now your
source for many of the legal notices that pass through our community, we look back with both nostalgia and a little bit of disbelief.
Few people understand how important local journalism is to a community — that is, until they lose their newspaper.
It is not just about the stories we share about your neighbors and friends.
It is about being your eyes and ears in the halls of government, the courts, and our schools.
It matters that you have a voice.
It matters that someone is here to comment on both the good news and the bad.
It matters that we have a record of our community’s ups and downs, celebrations and times of mourning.
Journalism, done right, matters.
We hope to continue to be that record — that spur to do better and to tell it like it is as much as we can.
And we know that there are people all over the state looking right now in incredulous disbelief
that we have been able to pull this off — all of us.
The best news about your community comes from those who care about it.
And after decades of work in Wayne County, in our little corner of the world, we can tell you with absolutely certainty that we care — a lot.
You see, you have been a part of our lives and our families’ lives for many, many years.
We have watched the leaders change, but the heart of this community is unwavering.
It is what made us fall in love with it so many years ago.
It is why we always got our backs up when the big city papers made their jokes.
We knew what this community had to offer.
It was their loss that they didn’t.
So, now we prepare to move forward.
And make no mistake. There is still much to do.
Other communities are starting to clean up their leadership and making plans to be part of the new investment and interest coming to our part of the state.
And we plan to keep the pressure on to make sure we meet those goals.
And we hope to have a few exciting announcements ourselves in the near future.
So, how can you help?
It’s easy, really.
Subscribe.
Advertise your business.
Spread the word about why you can’t wait to get your newspaper each week.
We can’t do this without you.
And remember that the bigger our coalition, the more change we can demand.
So, thank you to all of you who have joined us on this journey.
We are showing the world what happens when you do something with heart, integrity, and a true commitment to making your community a better place.
Here’s to two years — and many, many more.
- Ken and Renee
AS NICE!
For those of you who are ready to renew your subscription — anyone can do so at this time to take advantage of the offer below, and your account will renew for one year on your anniversary date — we have created a way to offer you the ability to do just that and gift a newspaper to family members, friends, co-workers, or members of your congregation.
STEP 1: Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera and click on the link before June 20, 2025.
STEP 2: Renew your subscription.
STEP 3: Email kfine@newoldnorth.com and tell us the name and address associated with your “gift” subscription. After that, both you and your gift recipient will be covered for the next year.
the SPECTATOR
Charging into the future
With family members, friends, teachers, and mentors cheering them on, members of the Wayne Country Day Class of 2025 turned their tassels and began to celebrate the closing of one chapter — and the beginning of the next.
PHOTOS by CASEY MOZINGO
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ALBERT DEKALB PARROTT III
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Albert Dekalb Parrott III, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 11th day of August, 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 11th day of May, 2025.
Reid Lancaster, Executor of the Estate of Albert Debkalb Parrott III 416 Innisbrook Lane New Bern, NC 28562
Published May 11, 2025, May 18, 2025, May 25, 2025, and June 1, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JONATHAN CARL WORRELL
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Jonathan Carl Worrell, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of August, 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 18th day of May, 2025.
Timothy Charles Lail, Executor of the Estate of Jonathan Carl Worrell 131 Durham Street Holden Beach, NC 28462
Published May 18, 2025, May 25, 2025, June 1, 2025, and June 8, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF GEORGE JOSEPH HALLOW
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against George Joseph Hallow, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of August, 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 18th day of May, 2025
Sheryl Ann Hallow
Executor of the Estate of George Joseph Hallow c/o Mark J. Hale, Jr. Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C.
Published May 18, 2025, May 25, 2025, June 1 2025, and June 8, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF CHRISTOPHER CONRAD BAUN
The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Christopher Conrad Baun, Deceased, of Wayne County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before August 18th, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons indebted to the decedent or estate shall please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 18th day of May, 2025.
Charley Baun, Executor c/o Henry C. Smith, Attorney Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P.O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 (919) 734-1841
Published May 18, 2025, and May 25, 2025, June 1 2025, and June 8, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the estate Eleanor Goller Clark, 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 25th day of August, 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 25th day of May, 2025.
Steven J. Clark, Administrator for the Estate of Eleanor Goller Clark, 510 Panorama Park Place, Cary, NC27519
Published May 25, 2025, June 1, 2025, June 8, 2005, and June 15, 2025
NOTICES
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Helen Byrd Jackson, 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 25th day of August, 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 25th day of May, 2025.
Robin Pate-Edwards, Administrator for the Estate of Helen Byrd Jackson, 600 Kentucky Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27530
Published May 25, 2025, June 1, 2025, June 8, 2005, and June 15, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ELLA HAMER
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Ella Hamer, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 25th day of August, 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 25th day of May, 2025.
Lisa Hampton, Executor of the Estate of Ella Hamer 1008 Edgerton Street Goldsboro, NC, 27530
Published May 25, 2025, June 1, 2025, June 8, 2025, and June 15, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE — FILING OF BUDGET ESTIMATE AND PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given the County Manager’s proposed budget for Wayne County for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, was presented to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners on May 20, 2025, and a copy thereof is on file for public inspection in the office of the Clerk to the Board in Room 470 in the Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, North
Carolina. The budget is also available on the county website at www.waynegov.com.
Notice is hereby given the Wayne County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room in the Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, North Carolina, at which time all citizens have a right to appear and give oral or written comments pertaining thereto. The public may view the hearing on www.youtube.com/@WayneCountyGovernment.
Written comments may be made to the Clerk to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners before the public hearing. The Clerk will make those written comments available to all members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners prior to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners’ vote on the budget.
WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Carol Bowden, Clerk to the Board P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0227 carol.bowden@waynegov.com
Published May 25, 2025, and June 1, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NORTH CAROLINA WAYNE COUNTY
Notice is hereby given that the Wayne County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 17, 2025 at 9:30 am in the Commissioners Meeting Room in the Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 E. Walnut St., Goldsboro, NC. The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public comments regarding an economic incentive agreement to Pelsan Tekstil (Project Istanbul) and the sale of approximately 31.83 acres containing two shell buildings valued at $7,726,200 located at 404 and 408 Gateway Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534 (Wayne County PIN: 3519915801). The Board of Commissioners will consider the sale of the property at a price of $5,186,400 in exchange for
the company’s commitment to invest a total of $82,600,000 in capital improvements and create 216 jobs in Wayne County.
All interested parties are invited to attend this public hearing and be heard. Written comments may be made in advance to the following:
Carol Bowden, Clerk to the Board Wayne County Board of Commissioners P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0227 (919) 731-1445 carol.bowden@waynegov.com
This the 1st day of June, 2025.
Carol Bowden Wayne County Clerk to the Board Published June 1, 2025
NOTICE TO PUBLIC CITY OF GOLDSBORO
2025-2029 Consolidated Plan & 2025-2026 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN HOUSING AND NON-HOUSING NEEDS PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
The public is invited to provide input on housing and non-housing needs in the city of Goldsboro for the 2025-2029 Consolidated Five Year Plan (Con Plan) and the FY25-26 Annual Action Plan (AAP). The purpose of this public meeting will be to meet with interested parties who wish to make recommendations for eligible activities for these plans. The Consolidated Five-Year Plan outlines the City’s goals and strategies for the use of HUD issued funds, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME), that will best serve the needs of the community. The Annual Action Plan outlines projects that the City will undertake with its annual allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Act (HOME) funds from HUD that will support the goals of the Consolidated Plan.
Date of Public Meeting: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: During the regular meeting of the Commission on Community Relations and Development located in Council Chambers at City Hall, 214 N. Center Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
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.
Anyone who is unable to attend this public meeting but would like to receive additional information or provide input toward the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and the 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan may visit the Community Relations and Development Department, 214 North Center Street, Goldsboro, NC, 27530, or email Kmfuller@goldsboronc.gov. The Community Relations and Development staff can be reached by phone at (919) 580-4318 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is the 1st day of June, 2025.
Krystal M. Fuller Community Relations & Development Specialist Published June 1, 2025, and June 8, 2025
CITY OF GOLDSBORO ADVERTISEMENT TO BIDDERS
Request for Proposals
RFP 2025-003
Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course Café Lease
The City of Goldsboro will receive proposals electronically at http://www.goldsboronc. gov/finance/bid-listings/ in the RFP 2025-003 Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course Cafe Lease project link, until 2:00 p.m., June 10, 2025. The invitation package is available in the project link on the website listed above. The primary objective is to partner with a service provider who can enhance the overall experience of golf course patrons by delivering high-quality food and beverage services. It is the Vendors’ responsibility to submit their proposal before the deadline.
A pre-submittal meeting shall be held at 10:00AM on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Attendees will meet at the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course located at 1501 S Slocumb St, Goldsboro, NC 27530. A tour of the facility will be provided. Contractors with an interest in this project are encouraged but not required to attend the meeting. The invitation will be on file in the office of the Finance Department, and on the City of Goldsboro website http://www.goldsboronc.gov/finance/bid-listings/. Contractors must be licensed under the prevailing State Laws governing their trade. The right is reserved to reject any or all bids, to add or delete work, to waive informalities, and to award a contract which, in the opinion of the City, appears to be in its best interest. The right is reserved to hold any or all proposals for a period of sixty (60) days from the opening thereof.
The City of Goldsboro has an affirmative policy of fostering, promoting and conducting business with minority and women owned enterprises. Minority and women owned contractors are encouraged to participate.
This, the 31st day of May 2025.
Catherine
Gwynn Finance Director
Published June 1, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TOWN OF PIKEVILLE
Notice is hereby given for the Town of Pikeville Board of Commissioners to hold a public hearing on Monday, June 9th at 6:00 PM with the purpose of presenting the FY 2025/2026 Annual Budget. The location of the public hearing will be 105 W. School Street, Pikeville, NC. Any person who wishes to be heard on the matter may appear.
This is the 1st day of June, 2025.
Tim Biggerstaff Town Manager
Town of Pikeville
Published June 1, 2025, and June 8, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TOWN OF PIKEVILLE
Notice is hereby given for the Town of Pikeville Planning Board will hold a public hearing for the purpose of considering a property rezoning request for the yet to be developed property at the end of South Mill Street. Surrounding property owners will be notified via mail but all are welcome to speak. The public hearing will be held at Pikeville Town Hall on Tuesday, June 10th beginning at 6:30pm. This is the 1st day of June, 2025.
