LIVES Fighting for their
Emily Fein has a house full of foster cats — and a message for the community about the consequences of ignoring a booming feral population.
BY KEN FINE p.12
ALSO Goldsboro PD is getting "staffed up." p.6 County Commissioners will soon disperse opioid settlement money. p.8
JUNE 29, 202 5 Volume 2, Issue 45 NEWOLDNORTH.COM
EDITORIAL
EDITOR Ken Fine
EDITOR Renee Carey
DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo
ADVERTISING
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Melissa Hamilton
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE McKayla Alves
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lara Landers
PUBLISHER
CONTENTS
4 About next week
Unlike last year, there will be an Independence Day edition of the paper, but it will come a little later in the weekend as we reward our team's hard work with a few days off.
6 GPD chief is optimistic
Mike West told Wayne Week that the police department — and the city — are finally seeing the results of salary increases approved by the Goldsboro City Council during the 2024-2025 budget cycle.
8 Opioid funds up for grabs
CONTACTS
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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES hevans@newoldnorth.com llanders@newoldnorth.com malves@newoldnorth.com
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All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission.
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.
New Old North Media LLC COVER PHOTOS BY CASEY MONZINGO
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners is expected to award money to organizations that are leading the fight against opioid addiction.
12 Cover story
A local woman is rescuing cats — and leading the charge to make low-cost spay and neuter services available in Wayne County again.
16 The Spectator
A selection of cats that are up for adoption at the Wayne County Animal Shelter.
20 Public Notices
FROM THE EDITORS
A declaration regarding next week's paper
Here we are, one week away from the celebration of our nation’s birthday. You know the day.
We all sit back and enjoy a round of fireworks, outdoor barbecues with family and friends, and maybe a picnic or family trip.
There will be many gatherings to honor the day, with more than a few flags and a whole lot of red, white, and blue decorating our streets and homes.
And for many of us here in Wayne County, a holiday like this also means a trip to the beach.
There’s no question — most Americans love the Fourth of July (the smart ones anyway).
It is our chance to celebrate living in the greatest nation in the world.
And we do love a party in this country and county.
We do it up right.
But hopefully, we will also think back to a group of patriots that made a decision to build a nation whose watchword was freedom — no matter what it cost them.
And we will also think about the courage it took to take on a power like the British — and the men who lost their lives both winning that independence and keeping this nation free.
There are not enough lessons about that these days.
Knowing our history and why this country was such an historic experiment and so resounding a success, well that is very, very important.
Freedom that is not appreciated and courage and sacrifice that are not recognized by those who now reap the benefits, well, that is how you lose a country.
And that is a risk we cannot afford to take — especially as so many people seem to forget
or downplay the storied history of the United States of America.
July 4th is one of the days we remember all that. Or at least, we should.
And more and more of us are making sure we do.
As many of you might know, we at Wayne Week are huge fans of giving this traditional and important American holiday its just due — that we generally do not publish an edition the week of July 4 to allow our staff to enjoy the long weekend with their families and recharge.
But we are in a different kind of world these days. News happens so fast sometimes, and our top priority always is to make sure you are informed of the latest developments as quickly as possible.
So, we have decided, like we did on Easter Sunday, to publish an abbreviated “bonus” issue next week.
Yes, it will be a little bit smaller — 16 pages instead of our typical 24-page book.
But it will include several important stories we think cannot wait, particularly updates from our Legislature, as new laws that impact Wayne County take effect.
Then, July 13, we will return with a standard, full edition.
And because of how Independence Day falls on the calendar this year, our print schedule will be affected, too.
So, you can expect to see the July 6 edition that Sunday or Monday, depending on where you fall along our route.
Our hope is that you will be patient with us as we navigate those holiday hurdles.
With that said, something else strikes us, too. We want to take the chance to remind you how
important a part you play in what it is we do.
This county is better because of the courage many of you have shown — because you saw something and you said something or told us where to look more closely.
And because of that courage, we are making Wayne County a better place.
There are major changes being made every day — and some of them have paved the way to the residential and business investment we need to make sure this county is a place for our children and grandchildren to come home to some day.
Yes, that’s right, in our own way, together, we are doing what that ragtag group of patriots did so many years ago — taking our freedom and our futures in our own hands.
So, we thank you for being a part of this great experiment.
We suspected that there was nothing we could not do as a community if we all worked together — and we were right.
So, keep on texting, calling, and writing.
Your voices really do matter and your interested and informed involvement in the affairs of your community really does make a difference.
Remember that as you celebrate the holiday this week.
And as you wat ch those fireworks explode in the sky, keep that group of colonists in mind.
They could not have known how their rebellion and courage would change the world, forever.
We owe them a debt of gratitude.
And we can thank them by making sure we preserve the union they fought so hard to create. n
-Your friends at Wayne Week -
NEWS + VIEWS
West: Goldsboro seeing results of tax increase-funded GPD salary hike
Crime is down. So are the number of gunshots. And the city’s police chief says it’s because he was finally able to recruit officers to fill his once-depleted ranks.
BY KEN FINE
Mike West told members of the Goldsboro City Council that it would take time, but that if they delivered on a salary increase he believed would make the city police force more competitive with neighboring communities, he could “staff back up” and results would follow. And in the wake of years of rising shooting incidents and homicides that came to a head when a person was murdered inside the Ash Street Food Lion in broad daylight, that would, he told them, be good news.
So, while some criticized the 2024-2025 fiscal year property tax hike that funded those pay increases, Goldsboro’s police chief said the numbers are seemingly beginning to back up his claim.
ShotSpotter has recorded 42 percent fewer gunshots inside the city limits and crime is down 25 percent from this time last year.
And as more officers have joined the force, they have gotten the GPD’s community policing initiative back on track, shortened response times, put validated gang members in jail, and increased the ability for the department to home in on pockets of Goldsboro typically associated with gun violence and other violent crime.
Currently, the GPD is only 18 officers away from a full staff — a number that is actually a bit misleading, West said, as 15 of those positions are either “frozen” or “not funded.”
That means that in reality, there are only three fillable vacancies inside his ranks.
“The council has helped us get there. There’s no doubt about that,” West told Wayne Week Tuesday. “So, we’re in a great spot. But we’ve got to sustain.”
Because two years ago, when the GPD had 39 vacancies, criminals took advantage of the shortage.
They knew that the Selective Enforcement Unit and Gang Prevention Unit were not at full strength.
And they could sense, as patrols around their neighborhoods occurred less and less
frequently, that there was “an opening” to commit violent acts.
That, West said, has all changed.
“It’s exciting for me because we’re finally getting our staffing numbers back up so we can get back into the community and do what we do best and that’s community policing,” he said. “We can get after where the problems are. We’re starting to see those results — those numbers.”
And city residents are starting to see what happens when the Selective Enforcement and Gang Prevention units are properly staffed.
“I’ve got three permanent officers in my SEU unit now and they’re in there all the time and they’re concentrating on those areas,” West said. “We’re pushing the data to them of, ‘This is where the violent crime is happening,’ and they’re getting after it.”
And they are identifying — and surveilling — gang members.
“ It's exciting for me because we're finally getting our staffing numbers back up . ”
- Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West
“With additional officers in those units, we can get a history on some of these (violent) individuals and if they’re validated gang members, that kind of changes the game, because if we arrest them for other crimes, they get a bond enhancement which keeps them off the streets longer,” West said. “We couldn’t do that a year ago. So, just being able to do our job by our staffing numbers coming up and having more people in these units for a long period of time, I think you’re starting to see the officers working these same areas more consistently. It’s putting some of these key players in jail.”
But going after local residents with guns — and taking the fight to gang members — is not the only benefit of a more adequately staffed GPD.
Officers have also been assigned to foot patrol downtown to ensure business owners, workers, and shoppers feel safe.
“That’s part of our DNA. We had always maintained a downtown patrol presence … and then when staffing became an issue, we abandoned it,” West said. “But we always had the intention of bringing it back because a downtown officer is a good community policing tool and it gets us back to the basics of what police work is about in this community. It helps us build relationships.”
Councilman Chris Boyette, who led the charge for “whatever it was going to take” to ensure the GPD was eventually fully staffed, said the progress that has been made since the council approved the tax increase that funded higher salaries for public safety employees is “undeniable.”
“I am proud of a lot of the work this council has done, but as a former law enforcement officer, being able to have the GPD’s back in that situation was the type of thing that makes being an elected official worth it,” he told Wayne Week . “And even though I know that for some of our citizens, having to pay into the system a little more was a hardship, we could absolutely not allow the lawlessness and the shootings and the murders to continue. I hope now people understand that we did what was necessary even though it was hard.”
And he hopes that the data recently revealed by West sends a message to his fellow council members about why sometimes, asking people to make unpopular sacrifices in the present is so critical to the city’s future.
“I’ve said this before and I’ll repeat it because it’s that important,” Boyette said. “Being the adult in the room — and looking into the future and knowing that we are doing what’s right, criticism or no criticism — is why we’re here. Let’s keep making the tough but necessary decisions and continue to move Goldsboro forward. The proof is in the pudding and that report from Chief West is, in my opinion, vindication for what we had to do last budget season.” n
Organizations again vie for opioid settlement funds
By the middle of July, Wayne County Commissioners are expected to OK allocations to those leading the fight against opioid addiction.
The Wayne County government is currently interviewing 10 applicants who are hoping to receive a piece of opioid settlement funds that have found their way to local coffers thanks to a 2021 agreement that resolved the claims of state and local governments across the U.S. — including nearly 4,000 that had filed lawsuits against Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen, the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors, and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and marketed opioids.
And while it remains unclear just how much money there will be to go around, county officials said commissioners should know that figure by their mid-July meeting.
Among the organizations vying for a piece of the money are several who were awarded funds last year.
They include:
• The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received $525,000 in 2024 for the Wayne County Detention Center Substance Misuse Program, an initiative officials said would provide treatment for incarcerated individuals by connecting them with essential providers, classes, and services essential for maintaining sobriety post-release.
• Wayne County Public Schools received $410,000 in 2024, money that allowed the district to install vape sensors in schools. This year, however, WCPS Spokesman Ken Derksen said the district is focusing on “be -
BY KEN FINE
havioral supports for schools, community partnerships, and early interventions” that would both offer support to students who are affected by opioids and those at risk of falling into addiction.
• The Wayne Coalition for Addiction and Life Management (CALM) received $50,000 in 2024 to provide support to successfully guide individuals and/or families suffering due to substance use disorder through the complex resources needed to achieve holistic recovery.
• The Goldsboro Comprehensive Treatment Center received $50,000 in 2024 to provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) to underinsured or uninsured residents of Wayne County who would otherwise be unable to start or stay in treatment.
• Hope Center Ministries received $97,988 in 2024 to provide recovery services to individuals with substance abuse addictions. The organization said it would, with those funds, hire an employee who would act as a full-time peer support specialist for the program and give at least 20 men and women access to the program through scholarships.
• The Wayne County Health Department received $50,000 in 2024 to provide harm reduction strategies by purchasing and distributing Naloxone kits to key members of the community and support systems while providing the necessary training on using this lifesaving medication.
• Four Day Movement received $150,000 in 2024 to, through its “PORTAL” program, provide temporary supportive housing and wraparound services to vulnerable populations in Wayne County.
• Hope Restorations, Inc. , received $111,600 in 2024 to aid individuals in recovery from addiction and/or incarceration to foster lasting change in the community by providing essential services such as transitional housing, recovery programs, workforce development, and housing restoration projects.
All of them are, again, asking for money this year — as are Cry Freedom Missions and Bridging the Divides.
Ultimately, Wayne County will receive more than $11 million as part of the landmark settlement reached between pharmaceutical giants and state attorneys general.
Gov. Josh Stein, who was, at the time, the AG who represented North Carolina, said he believes it is important that the money being used for local programs comes from those companies he said “created” and “fueled” the nation’s opioid crisis.
“While no amount of money will ever be enough, this settlement will force these drug companies to pay an historic amount of money to bring much-needed treatment and recovery services to North Carolina communities,” he said. n
ESTIMATED ANNUAL BREAKDOWN OF OPIOID SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS TO WAYNE COUNTY
{ our TAKE }
WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION
Meet Beau.
He was an Australian cattle dog mix found wandering the streets of Mount Olive.
Just a puppy — tossed out like garbage and left to fend for himself.
He ended up in the Wayne County Animal Shelter, and he was terrified.
He wouldn’t have made it out.
He was one of the many animals who were so scared and shut down that they
did not show well.
He froze whenever a human came too close.
He wet himself when we tried to pick him up to take him home.
But he found a family — one of the lucky ones.
Sadly, there are hundreds like him right now in this county.
Cats and dogs, the products of unwanted litters or feral colonies that lurk in the
woods, parking lots, and neighborhoods across the community.
And the people who care for them, who rescue them, who answer the nuisance calls about them, they are tired and overwhelmed and saddened by the fact that there never seems to be an end.
They know that the sheer volume means some of those strays or cast-off pets will never find forever homes.
And because space is limited, and the
supply never dries up, they know they will likely have to make the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize.
These days, it has gotten worse.
The discontinuation of the low-cost spay and neuter clinic, combined with the large numbers of displaced animals, has created an intense problem, and irresponsible owners are getting more and more clever about disposing of the dogs and cats they don’t want anymore.
And sometimes, those unwanted litters of puppies and kittens end up on their own out in the woods or wandering in a neighborhood.
That scenario almost always ends tragically.
It is the situation in which our Beau found himself — discarded and unwanted.
At least he had a chance at a new life.
For others, newborn puppies and kittens too young to be on their own, they either become part of a feral colony or pack of strays, and they are forced to fend for themselves.
Of course, they get into garbage or lurk around areas where there is a possible source of food.
Of course, they are not socialized, so they cannot easily transition into a home.
Of course, some of the cast-offs are former family pets no one wants anymore who now must figure out how to survive.
And, of course, as hard as it is to hear, many of them end up with diseases like ringworm or distemper or parvo, or they are attacked by other strays in a vicious competition for limited food and shelter.
Others become victims of predators or get hit by cars.
It is the hard part of talking about animal control — about the terrible consequences of irresponsible owners who do not spay or neuter, who do not vaccinate, and who do not make sure their puppies and kittens find good homes.
And most communities do not spend too much time on the overpopulation problem, because they rely on private rescue groups and humane societies to deal with the abandoned and neglected.
Add to that the fact that county animal control officers are wildly overworked and face the stress of knowing that they cannot help all of the animals who need them.
It’s particularly tragic because most of them are animal lovers themselves.
It is a tough job, often underfunded, because it is just one responsibility of an already penny-conscious county government.
And taxpayers don’t always think animal control is a high priority for the budget, so officials have to make some really tough decisions.
You will hear from one of those rescuers in this week’s cover story.
She has received those emergency calls and answered pleas from those who find these animals and who are looking to get them the help they need.
Her house is full, and her bank account is stretched.
There are so many cases and so few dollars.
And yet, even though she knows that what she is doing is important — and every time she saves a little kitten, or gets another
a difference.
Even a small token of support would be very much appreciated.
But let’s talk about the bigger issue.
There is no question that stray animals are a concern.
They can spread disease — ringworm, fleas, ticks, and even rabies are a very real possibility.
Add to that the concern that packs of
cat spayed or neutered she feels a sense of joy and reward — she is worried that it won’t be enough.
There are many, many others who are just like her.
So, what can we do as a community to take control of this problem?
Of course, we can adopt, not shop.
There are many wonderful animals like Beau — and little Cindy Clawford — in the shelters right now.
We have even included a few of the cats who are waiting for homes in our Spectator section because this issue means something to us.
And for those who prefer canine to feline, we can assure you that there are plenty of dogs who need families waiting right now in the shelter, too.
If you do not have the time or room for a pet, consider a donation to a local rescue group, like Emily’s Foster House.
They do great work — often spending money of their own — to try to make
need to find the homes they deserve.
And in case the good works aspect of the problem is not enough to prompt a call to action, there is a more practical concern.
A community that is overrun with animals that no one wants — with no concern about or coherent plan on how to manage the problem — is not a good look to those who are hunting for a place to invest in residential or business development.
It really is true that how a community treats its most vulnerable residents says a lot about its character.
And when the word on the street is that the animal control board has not been very active lately — that its meetings have lapsed — that sends a terrible message.
Perhaps Step One is to revive it.
And then there is the problem of getting animals cared for properly and pets spayed and neutered.
Let's do this, together, in their honor.
stray animals can attack pets, livestock, and possibly even people.
Allowing them to propogate is just not smart.
A problem like this can get wildly out of control any minute, and if that happens, there will be no good choices.
But there’s another side of the coin — a hopeful one.
It is why so many people say this community has such a big heart.
Compassion.
Many local families have beloved pets of their own.
These precious pooches and precocious felines are often the best friends and confidants of people of all ages — and sometimes are vital company for those who spend most of their days alone.
So, we want to see the problem solved humanely — and effectively.
We want to treat this problem with preventative measures and compassionate care — and to give the animals the chance they
Luckily, the cat rescuer we introduced you to has a great idea — and one that could make a real difference.
She has suggested that having veterinarian on staff at the shelter could mean the addition of an affordable spay and neuter program.
Having a program like that would certainly allow us to better care — and to fight for — the animals in the shelter and in the community.
Maybe there are grant funds available — as well as animal rescue groups who would be willing to throw their support behind developing such a program in Wayne County.
It seems to us that would be a nice addition to our community — another draw for those who are looking for a new hometown or home base.
Talking about the possibilities is the first step.
But in the meantime, we have to be vigilant.
We have to have consequences for those who dump or who abuse or neglect animals, as well as a really good message that pushes the value of spaying and neutering pets. This an important issue, but it is also solvable.
And if we make something happen — and work harder at getting the message out we can make it possible for more dogs like Beau to find their forever families.
He had 13 — almost 14 — wonderful years with his, and he is missed every single day. You would have loved him.
We sure did.
And we know there are many of you out there who feel the exact same way about the little (or not so little) bundle of fur cuddled next to you on the couch.
Let’s do this, together, in their honor. n — Renee Carey
Emily Fein has a house full of foster cats — and a message for the community about the consequences of ignoring a growing feral population.
LIVES Fighting for their
STORY BY KEN FINE I PHOTOS BY CASEY MONZINGO
A13-year-old was riding her bicycle when she came across a helpless bird.
“It was just a baby,” she said. “It was not quite ready to leave the nest, but it had.”
The teenager had always loved animals — and had, during her youth, taken care of ducks, geese, and cats — so she took it home.
“I raised it,” she said.
But decades ago, Emily Fein had no way of knowing that rescuing the “innocent” would, in many ways, come to define her — that she would spend her days bottle-feeding kittens and rehabilitating what many believed were “lost causes” so they would grow into adoptable pets.
She might not have expected that the home in Fremont she would settle into with her husband and children would also become a sanctuary — a product, she said, of a local animal shelter without the capacity to take in a fraction of what she characterized as an “out of control” feral cat population in her home county.
The thought of coming home from delivering her youngest daughter to find that someone had “dumped” three kittens in her driveway might not have been conceivable.
But when Cindy Clawford tears around a corner, jumps a baby gate, and launches herself into a play battle with one of the 14 felines Emily is currently fostering, she laughs.
“Well, this is my life,” she said. “I mean, it’s a big house so we’ve got room for it, but it’s a lot for one person. But who else is gonna do it?”
And if her fosters had, instead, ended up at the Wayne County Animal Shelter, the odds would be stacked against them, as in 2023 (that data is the most recent available), more than half of the cats that came into the facility were euthanized.
“They didn’t ask for any of this. They didn’t ask to be left in some parking lot or stuck under a house,” Emily said. “So, we have to do something. We domesticated these animals 40,000 years ago for our own benefit and we have to do something about it. It’s our problem. It won’t solve itself. It’s just trying to figure out where to start unraveling.”
•
It typically starts on social media.
Someone finds a kitten and does not want it to die but also does not have the capacity or desire to shelter it.
“I get tagged,” Emily said. “So, there’s a handful of us now that everyone knows are the cat people. We’re the go-to for animals that have no home or who have lost their home.”
After that, it comes down to who “has the room” to take the animal in.
That was how Arlo — who was busy scratching his way up an armchair as Emily told his story — ended up in Fremont.
“I got him when he was a day old with his three siblings. The mama had abandoned all four of them,” she said. “He was the only one who made it.”
And those victories accompanied by heartache are, Emily said, something she and others in the community who do the same work have to reconcile with constantly.
Because when she bottle-feeds a kitten that can barely open its eyes — or places another in one of the incubators her husband, Zak, built for her — there is always a risk they won’t make it.
“We just do the best we can,” Emily said. “And hope for the best.”
• • •
Last year, through her non-profit, Emily’s Foster House, Emily successfully rehabilitated and adopted out 38 kittens.
But it’s a difficult metric to celebrate when she thinks about the tens of thousands of cats still living in abandoned houses, the engine blocks of junk vehicles, homeless encampments, fields, and wooded areas across Wayne.
And to make matters worse, colonies of feral cats balloon in numbers too quickly to contain.
From what she has witnessed, this, she said, is how it happens.
Emily plays with five of the kittens she is currently fostering.
Keen Plumbing Co.
Keen Plumbing Co.
2023 WAYNE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER REPORT
Note:
First, someone gets “tired of an animal” and “dumps it somewhere.”
“You know, like the end of a dead-end road or in a field or something,” Emily said. “It’s not their problem anymore.”
And because many of those cats are not spayed or neutered, they begin to reproduce.
“For every cat that you see, there’s gonna be a dozen more that run away and hide whenever people come around,” she said. “It really is exponential. If you’ve ever seen the graphic with cat math, it is one cat — one pregnant mama cat — can be responsible for thousands of cats in her lifetime. And when, like a lot of these, you start having them at four months old, there’s no hope.”
Then, the rapidly expanding population of ferals becomes a community problem.
“We don’t need any more kittens. We don’t. They can spread some pretty terrible things,” Emily said. “In my case, it was ringworm. I definitely could have done without that. There’s been rabid cats found in Wayne County and if we don’t do anything, there’s just more possibility for that to keep happening.”
That, she said, puts everyone’s pets and children at risk.
“Some of these cats have terrible things that can transfer from cat to cat or cat to human,” Emily said. “I had ringworm in places one ought not to have ringworm. It was terrible. Now imagine your child getting it from playing at the park.”
And as a member of the Wayne County Animal Control Advisory Board, she knows firsthand that local officials are not doing anything to prevent that from happening.
“We don’t even have meetings anymore,” Emily said. “I don’t know why. I don’t know what to do.”
So, she and her fellow “go-to for animals” have tried to put a dent in the problem on their own — soliciting donations for a spay and neuter initiative that would, at the very least, stop the thousands of feral cats lurking across the county from breeding.
But ever since SNAP stopped coming here, even that has been challenging.
“There’s a lot of people willing to do the
work. We’ve got a solid group of people that know how to work a trap and know what to do with that, but we’re currently driving to Safe Haven in Raleigh to fix these animals after we trap them,” Emily said. “So, we have to find a person that has the availability of picking up 10 crates of happy cats, sad cats, pissy cats, whatever and driving them to Raleigh, staying up there and waiting until they are all spayed or neutered, and then driving them back.”
It is not, she said, sustainable.
But one solution she has come up with might be.
“If the county could make some funding available to hire a veterinarian, it would take some pressure off the shelter,” Emily said. “They could take care of the animals in the shelters — their vaccines, medicine, whatever — and then, they could spay and neuter. If we could do something like that, it would be huge. We can’t afford to take a stray cat from off the streets and spend $300 to get it spayed. So, we need low-cost spay and neuter. That is the starting point for all of this.”
Otherwise, there is no end in sight for what she and others fear is a problem most people won’t even acknowledge until something tragic happens.
“There is a huge disconnect throughout the entire county,” she said. “But if something horrible happens — and it will — what are we going to do then?”
Her fear? Mass killing of “innocent” animals.
“I’m getting two of them tomorrow — two bottle-feeders that are about two weeks old. But the guy who found them at his workplace said everyone there that worked with him just wanted to kill them,” Emily said. “And because of the tragic conditions at the shelter, you have to kill little dogs and cats because you didn’t address this problem, and you can’t find them homes because people can’t be bothered.” n
Note: Those who are interested in adopting a cat from the Wayne County Animal Shelter can find details about how to do so in this week’s Spectator section. Those who are interested in helping Emily can drop off donations — food, litter, toys, and monetary donations made out to “Emily’s Foster House” at Goldsboro Brew Works or
The Filing Station.
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ADOPTION OPTIONS
The following are among the cats currently listed as up for adoption by the Wayne County Animal Shelter. Adoption fees include $65 for cats and dogs and $10 for a rabies vaccination.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WAYNE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
CRUELLA
SCAMPER
Unknown
Domestic Shorthair/Mix 2 months old
SLUSHIE
Female Domestic Shorthair/Mix 1 year, 2 months old
Male/Neutered Domestic Shorthair/Mix 2 years old
Female Domestic Shorthair/Mix 1 year, 3 months old
SUZIE Q
Female/Spayed Domestic Longhair/Mix 11 months old
TOWSER
Male/Neutered Domestic Shorthair/Mix 1 year, 2 months old
Female
Domestic Shorthair/Mix 8 months old
TIGGY
Male/Neutered Domestic Shorthair/Mix 1 year old
Female Domestic Shorthair/MIX
SERAPHINA
SERENA
TOMMY BAHAMA
VENUS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NORTH CAROLINA
WAYNE COUNTY
Notice is hereby given the Wayne County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. 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 Amendment to an existing Economic Development Agreement between the City of Goldsboro and the County of Wayne regarding ParkEast Industrial Park Lots 7, 9, 18 and Wayne County PIN 3519915801.
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 17th day of June, 2025.
Carol Bowden
Wayne County Clerk to the Board
Published June 22, 2025, and June 29, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF WENDELL C. GRIFFITH
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Wendell C. Griffith, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of September, 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 15th day of June, 2025.
Lorri D. Griffith, Executor of the Estate of Wendell C. Griffith 401 South Claiborne Street Goldsboro, NC 27530
Published June 15, 2025, June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ELNORA E. GRIFFITH
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Elnora E. Gri ffith, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of September, 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 15th day of June, 2025.
Lorri D. Griffith, Executor of the Estate of Elnora E. Griffith
401 South Claiborne Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530
Published June 15, 2025, June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the estate Betty Creech Price, 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 15th day of September, 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 15th day of June, 2025.
Gregory B. Price, Administrator for the Estate of Betty Creech Price, 404 Connie Circle Goldsboro, NC 27530
Published June 15, 2025, June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF RAYMOND TERRY WARD
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Raymond Terry Ward, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of September, 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 15th day of June, 2025.
NOTICES
Sylvia Jackson Ward, Executor of the Estate of Raymond Terry Ward
1014 N.C. Highway 55 West Mount Olive, NC 28365
Published June 15, 2025, June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JO CARRAWAY GURLEY
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Jo Carraway Gurley, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of September, 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 15th day of June, 2025.
Shannon G. Walker, Executor of the Estate of Jo Carraway Gurley 3324 Grove Point Drive Winterville, NC 28590
Published June 15, 2025, June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the estate of George “Buddy” Goodwin, 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 15th day of September, 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 15th day of June, 2025.
Ashley Casey, Administrator for the Estate of George “ Buddy” Ray Goodwin, 132 Blueberry Road Goldsboro, NC 27530
Published June 15, 2025, June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF KAROLINA K. WRIEDT
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Karolina K. Wriedt, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the under-
signed on or before the 29th day of September, 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 29th day of June, 2025.
Mack Nicholas, Executor of the Estate of Karolina K. Wriedt 6435 Wayne Memorial Drive Pikeville, NC 27863
Published June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025, July 13, 2025, and July 20, 2025
NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 23CVD001218-950
WAYNE COUNTY and the CITY OF GOLDSBORO, Plaintiffs vs. THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF RUDOLPH SUGGS and all assignees, heirs at law and devisees, together with all of their creditors and lienholders, regardless of how or through whom they claim, and any and all persons claiming any interest in, by, under or through the Estate of Rudolph Suggs; CASSANDRA SUGGS and SPOUSE, if any; NANCY FOWLKES and SPOUSE, if any; Defendants.
TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF RUDOLPH SUGGS
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 June 22, 2025.
The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Foreclosure on real property located in Wayne County, North Carolina and described as 308 Creech Street, Goldsboro, NC (PIN:3509330677), 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, June 22, 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 12th day of June, 2025.
Andrew J. Neal
Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713
Published June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, and July 6, 2025
CITY OF GOLDSBORO NOTICE OF OFFER AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY
Notice is hereby given that the County of Wayne and the City of Goldsboro are the owners of a certain parcel of land referred to below:
Tax ID# 12-2599-89-5554
Location: 711 North Virginia St
The City of Goldsboro has received an offer for the sum of $12,670.00 for the above-referenced parcel. The City of Goldsboro has received said offer and proposes to accept it subject to the right of any person to raise said bid by not less than ten percent (10%) of the first $1,000 and five percent (5%) of the remainder should the ultimate bid exceed $1,000.
Any person may raise said bid within ten (10) days from the date of this Notice or no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday July 9, 2025, by depositing with the City Finance Department five percent (5%) of the increased bid. For more information, interested parties may reference bid instructions on the city website under Properties For Sale https://www.goldsboronc.gov/finance/property-listings/ and listed as Resolution 2025-48. The written offer proposal must include the name of the person or business making the offer, address of said property, and Wayne County parcel identification number with the signature of the person placing the offer. All offers must be delivered to the Finance Officer in a sealed envelope printed on the
outside the name or business making the offer, address of said property and Wayne County parcel identification number with the words “Upset Bid.”
The City of Goldsboro reserves the right to reject any or all offers at any time.
This is the 29th day of June 2025
THE CITY OF GOLDSBORO, NC
Catherine F. Gwynn
Finance Director
Published June 29, 2025
NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY
NORTH CAROLINA WAYNE COUNTY
PURSUANT to North Carolina General Statutes Sec. 160A269 and Sec. 153A-176, the Board of Commissioners of Wayne County and the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Mount Olive have received the following offer for the sale of real property listed below:
ITEM
Vacant lot 106 South Johnson Street Mount Olive, NC PN: 2572965459
TAKE NOTICE that anyone may raise said bid or offer within ten (10) days by not less than ten (10) percent of the first one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and five (5) percent of the remainder by depositing with the City Clerk or Town Attorney of the Town of Mount Olive five (5) percent of the increased bid. This procedure will be repeated until no further qualifying upset bids are received, at which time the Boards of Commissioners may accept the offer and sell the property to the highest bidder. The Boards of Commissioners reserve the right to reject any and all offers. Deadline for raised bid is Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
Dated: June 28, 2025
SHERRY DAVIS, CITY CLERK
W.CARROLL TURNER, CITY ATTORNEY
Published June 29, 2025
RE-ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Town of Pikeville, Owner P.O. Box 9 Pikeville, NC 27863
Separate sealed BIDS for the construction of 2023 Wastewater Improvements, Contract No. 30 — ARPA WWTP Improvements, will be received by the ENGINEER at Town Hall, 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863 until 2 PM Eastern Time, July 10, 2025, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.
The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the following locations:
Pikeville Town Hall, 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863
McDavid Associates, Inc., 109 East Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1776, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1776
Dodge Data and Analytics, 2860 South State Highway 161, Suite 160, #501, Grand Praire, TX 75052-7361 (View online at www.construction.com)
ConstructConnect, Attn: DPC, 30 Technology Parkway South, Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30092 (View online at www. constructconnect.com)
Construction Journal, 400 SW 7th Street, Stuart, FL 34994 (View online at www. ConstructionJournal.com)
Builders & Contractors Exchange, Inc., 1118 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23502-5612 (View online at www.bceva.com)
Copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be obtained at the office of McDavid Associates, Inc., located at 109 East Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1776, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1776 upon a non-refundable payment of $255.00 for each set. The OWNER reserves the right to reject any and all BIDS.
BIDDER shall be properly licensed under Chapter 87, General Statutes of North Carolina.
Small, minority, women’s, and disadvantaged businesses and labor surplus area firms are encouraged to submit BIDS.
This PROJECT is subject to the good faith efforts and goals for participation by minority businesses required by G.S. 143128.2. The OWNER has adopted
a verifiable ten percent (10%) goal for participation by minority businesses in the total value of the WORK.
BIDDERS shall, within the time frames specified in the BID documents, submit all required affidavits and documentation demonstrating that the BIDDER made the required good faith e ffort in compliance with G.S. 143-128.2. Failure to file all required affidavits and documentation within the required time frames is grounds for rejection of the BID.
Prospective BIDDERS who have been found guilty of discrimination within the last two (2) years are debarred from bidding.
June 29, 2025
Tim Biggerstaff Town Manager Town of Pikeville
Published June 29, 2025
RE-ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Town of Pikeville, Owner P.O. Box 9 Pikeville, NC 27863
Separate sealed BIDS for the construction of 2023 Wastewater Improvements, Contract No. 31 — Pump Station No. 2 and Sewer Replacement, will be received by the ENGINEER at Town Hall, 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863 until 2 PM Eastern Time, July 10, 2025, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.
The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the following locations: Pikeville Town Hall, 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863
McDavid Associates, Inc., 109 East Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1776, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1776
Dodge Data and Analytics, 2860 South State Highway 161, Suite 160, #501, Grand Praire, TX 75052-7361 (View online at www.construction.com)
ConstructConnect, Attn: DPC, 30 Technology Parkway South, Suite 100, Norcross, GA 30092
(View online at www.constructconnect.com)
Construction Journal, 400 SW 7th Street, Stuart, FL 34994 (View online at www.
ConstructionJournal.com)
Builders & Contractors Exchange, Inc., 1118 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23502-5612
(View online at www.bceva.com)
Copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be obtained at the office of McDavid Associates, Inc., located at 109 East Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1776, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1776 upon a non-refundable payment of $200.00 for each set.
The OWNER reserves the right to reject any and all BIDS.
BIDDER shall be properly licensed under Chapter 87, General Statutes of North Carolina.
Small, minority, women’s, and disadvantaged businesses and labor surplus area firms are encouraged to submit BIDS.
This PROJECT is subject to the good faith efforts and goals for participation by minority businesses required by G.S. 143128.2. The OWNER has adopted a verifiable ten percent (10%) goal for participation by minority businesses in the total value of the WORK.
BIDDERS shall, within the time frames specified in the BID documents, submit all required affidavits and documentation demonstrating that the BIDDER made the required good faith effort in compliance with G.S. 143-128.2. Failure to file all required affidavits and documentation within the required time frames is grounds for rejection of the BID.
Prospective BIDDERS who have been found guilty of discrimination within the last two (2) years are debarred from bidding.
June 29, 2025
Tim Biggerstaff Town Manager Town of Pikeville
Published June 29, 2025
CITY OF GOLDSBORO GOLDSBORO WATER TREATMENT PLANT INTAKE MAINTENANCE DREDGING PROJECT — ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
PROJECT: GOLDSBORO WATER TREATMENT PLANT INTAKE MAINTENANCE
DREDGING PROJECT
SEALED BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED AT: GOLDSBORO CIT Y HALL 200 N CENTER ST, GOLDSBORO, NC 27530 UNTIL: 2:00 PM ON JULY 29, 2025
Sealed Bids for the construction of the indicated project will be received by the City of Goldsboro, at which time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read at that time and location. All Bids submitted shall include one original set of the Bid Documents. The Work is located in Goldsboro, North Carolina at the Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Intake Site near the intersection of Stevens Mill Road and Farm Road in Goldsboro, NC.
The Work consists of the following:
· Installation of turbidity curtain surrounding recently constructed intake screen and downstream shoreline as indicated in Contract Drawings.
· Hydraulic dredging of the Neuse River in the vicinity surrounding the intake screen to remove the quantity of material listed on the Bid Form. The dredge area shall be as shownon the Contract Drawings and is limited to 140 feet upstream and 80 feet downstream of the intake screen.
· Hauling and disposal of the materials removed from the work area to an acceptable offsite disposal location. Bids will be received for a SINGLE prime Contract. Bids shall be on a LUMP SUM AND UNIT PRICE BASIS, as indicated on the Bid Form. The Contract Times for the Work are set forth in the Agreement. Bidding Documents may be viewed and downloaded online by registering with the City ofGoldsboro at:
· City of Goldsboro Vendor Registration / Bid Opportunities Page(www.goldsboronc. gov/finance/bid-listings)
Following registration, complete sets of Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the Issuing Office’s website as “zipped” portable document format (PDF) files. The date that the Bidding Documents are transmitted by the Issuing Office will be considered as the Bidder’s date of receipt of the Bidding Documents. The Bidding Documents will include one full-size set of Drawings with a printed copy of the Project Manual.
Partial sets of the Bidding Documents will not be available from the Issuing Office. Each Bidder must be a Bidding Document Holder. Bids submitted by Bidders not on the list of Bidding Documents (Plan) Holders with the Issuing Office will not be opened.
A non-mandatory virtual prebid meeting will be held at 11:00 am, on Tuesday July 15, 2025 on Microsoft Teams to discuss the Project and answer pertinent questions. Attendance at the pre-bid meeting and visit is encouraged. Contractors may coordinate with the City to schedule a site-visit at a later date if desired.
Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.
Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the Work as described in the Instructions to Bidders.
City of Goldsboro, North Carolina Catherine Gwynn, Finance Director
Published June 29, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF TIMOTHY PEARSALL
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Timothy Pearsall, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 29th day of September, 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 29th day of June, 2025.
Lillie Barnett, Executor of the Estate of Timothy Pearsall 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 June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025, July 13, 2025, and July 20, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF RICHARD GERALD ADAMS, SR.
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Richard Gerald Adams, Sr., deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of September, 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 22nd day of June, 2025.
Jennifer Harrell, Executor of the Estate of Richard Gerald Adams Sr. 278 Aycock Dairy Farm Road Fremont, NC 27830
Published June 22, 2025, June 29, 2025, July 6, 2025, and July 13, 2025
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