Budget Bombshell
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners is giving Wayne County Public Schools millions in additional funding — including money for stipend increases. Editorial: page 10 / Cover story: page 14
JUNE 8, 202 5 Volume 2, Issue 42 NEWOLDNORTH.COM
EDITORIAL
EDITOR Ken Fine
EDITOR Renee Carey
DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo
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CONTENTS
4 School Board OKs vape sensors
Wayne County Public Schools high schools — and some middle schools — will soon be upfitted with high-tech sensors that will give staff a weapon in the battle against students who vape inside district facilities.
6 Filing period opens soon
In less than a month, residents of Pikeville, Mount Olive, Walnut Creek, Seven Springs, and Eureka will be able to throw their names into the hat for leadership positions.
7 Dillard crowd adds to tourism haul
After millions of dollars were spent during the Wings Over Wayne weekend, local tourism officials say the DillardGoldsboro Alumni & Friends reunion weekend capped off a lucrative May for Wayne County.
8 Proposed rate hikes scrutinized
A handful of Goldsboro residents spoke out during a public hearing on City Manager Matthew Livingston's proposed 2025-2026 budget — characterizing recommended water and sewer rate increases as unnecessary.
14 Cover story
After years of bickering and fingerpointing, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners voted to give Wayne County Public Schools millions of dollars in additional funding that will pay for stipend increases and capital expenditures.
18 Spectator
The Three Eagles Rotary of Goldsboro held their annual Beerfest late last month — an event that drew quite a crowd.
COVER DESIGN BY SHAN STUMPF
NEWS + VIEWS
School Board approves vape sensors
Wayne County high schools — and some middle schools — will soon be upfitted with high-tech devices that will alert staff when vape devices are being used on campus.
BY RENEE CAREY
Thanks to a $410,000 cut of the Wayne County government’s portion of opioid settlement funds, Wayne County Public Schools will soon have a new weapon in the district’s battle against students who vape on their respective campuses.
But while the initial plan was to use the money to put high-tech vape sensors on every WCPS campus, district spokesman Ken Derksen told the Board of Education Monday that there simply was not enough money to do so.
Instead, the hallways inside every traditional high school, Wayne Academy, and five middle schools — Brodgen Middle, Dillard Middle, Mount Olive Middle, Norwayne Middle, and Grantham Middle — will be up -
fitted with the devices.
“We didn’t have enough funds to cover vape sensors in all of our high schools and middle schools, so what we looked at were any (middle) schools that had at least 10 or more incidents where … students were caught with vapes at school,” Derksen said.
WCPS applied for a portion of the opioid settlement funds because of the dangers of vaping — and the fact that it was unclear what additional ingredients were being added to the devices.
“We do not know where these vapes are originating from, but we do know that often times, medical emergencies amongst youths do involve vapes and, of course, chemical sub-
stances that have been added to them beyond the traditional vape ingredients,” Derksen told the board. “We certainly have concerns.”
But by installing 149 sensors across campuses with a track record of vaping incidents, his hope is to create a deterrent — and “an opportunity,” as those students who are caught with vape devices would be offered an alternative to suspension, whether that be a cessation program or substance-abuse counseling.
“Ultimately, we want to help our students make wiser choices,” he said.
Here is, according to Derksen, how the Prologic ITS system works:
The sensors, which can detect the vape smoke, are connected to a cloud system that will “send an
alert” to principals, SROs, and other staff.
Those alerts are time-stamped, and the devices “can integrate with our current video systems in the hallways outside of restrooms.”
That means by reviewing surveillance footage and watching to see which students go in and out of the bathroom when the vaping is taking place, school officials can home in on who is violating WCPS policy.
But detecting vape products is not all the sensors can do, Derksen said.
They can also recognize “key words” and send alerts when loud sounds associated with fighting are detected.
“It’s not listening in, but it’s kind of like Siri,” Derksen said.
Ultimately, the board approved paying Prologic ITS $352,557.92 for a 10-year package that includes the hardware and the cloud services.
But Derksen noted that should more funding become available, the perfect-world scenario would put the sensors on every WCPS campus.
“We recognize the dangers of vaping,” he said.
Last year, members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners learned that a portion of a landmark settlement reached between pharmaceutical giants and state attorneys general that was announced in July 2021 had made its way to Wayne County coffers — allowing the local government to invest millions of dollars in the fight against opioid addiction.
And while the total sum — more than $11.3 million — will not be fully realized until the 2038-39 fiscal year, commissioners approved $1,716,071 in spending for programs the board believed would aid in supporting what then-Attorney General Josh Stein characterized as “much-needed treatment and recovery services” in the wake of the nation’s opioid epidemic.
and tobacco products.
“I do plan to deny all of these because I don’t think we need another vape shop in Goldsboro,” Councilwoman Brandi Matthews said. “There is almost one on every block.”
Then, City Manager Matthew Livingston and Planning Director Mark Helmer told the board that staff had researched the issue and were confident there were ways to restrict future development of vape shops.
“We didn’t have to look very far to find other communities that have placed specific land use regulations on this particular use — which is tobacco, vape, and CBD sales,” Livingston said.
At the end of October, the board acted on what staff discovered — unanimously voting to officially define a vape shop and set restrictions that could, in theory, result in no additional businesses of that kind being approved inside the city limits.
Ultimately, we want to help our students make wiser choices.
The 2021 agreement 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 will ultimately see a more than $750 million impact in North Carolina.
The Board of Education is not the only local governing body that has taken aim at vaping in recent months.
A June 2024 discussion — and vote — that left some local residents and two members of the City Council at a loss culminated Aug. 19 in Planning Department staff being charged with creating an ordinance that would hinder the ability of developers to open vape shops in Goldsboro in the future.
It started during the council’s June 17 meeting when, in the middle of a public hearing, several members of the board made it clear that they would not feel comfortable approving businesses that primarily sold vape
The following is Goldsboro’s new definition of a vape shop:
“A specialized retail establishment whereby 25% or more of its space is used for the sale, storage, or consumption of tobacco products, electronic smoking/ vaping devices, Kratom, CBD hemp derived Delta-8, and related accessories. These products may include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, vaping devices, e-liquids, and vaping accessories. An area may also be included whereby patrons share the tobacco or non-tobacco products, or products from a communal hookah, water pipe, or similar device.”
Currently, 24 vape shops are in business in Goldsboro.
But should another find its way onto the council’s agenda, the following restrictions would be in place:
• They cannot be located within 250 feet, measured property line to property line, from any residential zoning districts.
• They cannot be located within 1,000 feet, measured property line to property line, from a school (public or private), church, daycare facility, youth facility, community center, city recreational facility, city park, or hospital.
• They cannot be located within 1,000 feet, measured property line to property line, from a “similar establishment.”
And should they meet those criteria and gain the council’s approval, they must also follow “all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations,” including “regulations pertaining to advertisements, age restrictions, and the legality of products sold.” n
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Filing for 2025 elections will open soon
There will be plenty at stake this November, as several Wayne County municipalities will put new leaders into place.
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The filing period for Wayne County’s 2025 municipal and sanitary district elections opens in less than a month, and with Mount Olive, Pikeville, Seven Springs, Walnut Creek, and Eureka leadership posts up for grabs, there will be plenty at stake this November.
Filing officially opens July 7 at 8 a.m. and will close July 18 at noon.
Those who wish to throw their names into the hat are expected to do so at the Wayne County Board of Elections building, located at 309 East Chestnut St.
A valid photo ID is required — as is cash, a check, or a money order to cover the filing fee.
Some local residents expect increased voter turnout this fall, particularly for races in Pikeville in Mount Olive, as political scandal, board infighting, and state investigations have come to the fore over the last year.
In Pikeville, embattled Mayor Garrett Johnston, who was censured by the Board of Commissioners after a damning audio file of a conversation he had with two town residents went
public, could run for re-election despite the fact that hundreds of his neighbors have called for his ouster — and the town has approached State Rep. John Bell about helping bring about a charter change that would allow for a recall election.
And in Mount Olive, ongoing investigations by the State Bureau of Investigation and North Carolina Office of the State Auditor into how business is being conducted inside Town Hall have been overshadowed only by the firing of Town Manager Jammie Royall and infighting amongst Town Board members.
Mayor Dr. J. Jerome Newton has even suggested that racial tensions in the town are beginning to boil over, as, in his view, the timing of the decision to fire Royall, a black man, perpetuated the narrative that the town is divided along racial lines.
All of that is happening as Mount Olive remains under a water and sewer moratorium — an issue that, based on public comment at several recent board meetings, is at the top of residents’ minds. n - From staff reports
2025 ELECTION: OFFICES ON THE BALLOT
Another tourism haul caps off profitable May for Wayne County
Wings Over Wayne was not the only local event that brought thousands of visitors — and their money — to the community.
BY KEN FINE
On the heels of a two-day air show that saw an estimated $9.1 million spent in Wayne County, tourism officials say another prolific event added to a lucrative May.
Goldsboro-Wayne County Travel & Tourism Director Amanda Justice told Wayne Week Wednesday that the Dillard-Goldsboro Alumni & Friends reunion weekend saw thousands of people stay at local hotels — and more than $1 million in “visitor spending in the local area.”
Based on data collected by Dillard-Goldsboro and Visit Goldsboro, 2,200 overnight visitors attended the reunion, generating more than $107,000 in hotel revenue and more than $6,400 of hotel tax.
And that does not include money spent at
local grocery stores — mass gatherings for cookouts across the community took place from Friday to Monday — or dollars spent inside boutiques, restaurants, and gas stations.
Travel & Tourism Communications and Creative Services Manager Candace Clarkson said she is not surprised that Dillard-Goldsboro was able to pull off such a well-attended event.
“Even during COVID, those alumni showed up for each other and to keep their tradition alive,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine another organization that this community can count on to deliver such an incredible, meaningful event. What they bring to Wayne County is amazing to see every single year. As you can see by looking at the numbers, 2025 was no different.”
The reunion weekend capped off an estimated $10 million tourism month of May, as a few weeks earlier, roughly 130,000 people attended Wings Over Wayne.
The Friday performance, Clarkson said, brought in a 10,000-person crowd; Saturday saw an estimated 80,000 people converge on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base; and what started as a rainy Sunday still pulled a crowd of some 40,000.
And as was the case for the reunion weekend festivities, many of the attendees traveled from out of town to be a part of it. (Data collected at Wings Over Wayne indicates some 75 percent of those who ended up on Seymour Johnson drove more than 30 miles to do so.)
But like the Dillard-Goldsboro event, Clarkson reiterated that having people come to Wayne County — and seeing how far the community has come and all it has to offer — is more valuable than the dollars that will ultimately find their way into local coffers.
“When you go to these events or walk the streets of downtown Goldsboro after they end, you see people in awe of this place we all love,” Clarkson said. “For me, that is what our mission is all about. We get to be a part of opening the door to our community to people who will end up coming back here because an event or festival opened their eyes to this gem they never knew about. Does it get any better than that?” n
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Goldsboro’s proposed water/sewer rate hike criticized
Several people, including Councilman Roderick White and Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones, say they are not sold on placing another burden on city residents. But the experts say there is no choice, unless Goldsboro has decided it does not intend to grow.
BY KEN FINE
The overwhelming majority of the handful of people who spoke out in opposition to Goldsboro City Manager Matthew Livingston’s recommended 2025-2026 fiscal year budget Monday shared a concern — that in their view, increasing water and sewer rates by 9 percent was an extreme measure that would create hardships for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
But City Councilman Roderick White went a step further, saying he would not support the rate hike unless money collected from previous increases is accounted for.
“I think we should have some type of briefing or slideshow for the citizens and me — I can only speak for me — about where the money actually went, not that we misappropriated it, so we can better understand where the money went,” he said. “If we can better understand, maybe we can have buy
in instead of compliance. I’m not in agreeance with a 9 percent (water and sewer rate) increase without knowing and having a comprehensive study on where the money went and how it was used.”
City Manager Matthew Livingston said the answer is simple — that Stantec Consulting Services’ David Hyder, who gave detailed presentations at two different City Council planning retreats since the beginning of 2024, was transparent when he briefed the board and recommended the increases.
In short, the money that has been — and will continue to be — raised will allow for both emergency repairs to existing water and sewer infrastructure and allow Goldsboro to finance what will be a projected $150 million water plant expansion.
“It’s called planning and preparing for the future,” Livingston said. “You know, if
you’re going to build a house — or you’re going to buy a house — you have to save up your down payment. Well, when you build something, you have to have some capital, and you have to be able to finance it, and you have to be able to go to the bank and be able to see if they’ll give you the loan. You have to be able to collateralize that loan. That’s what having that money helps us do.”
Particularly when that “bank” is the North Carolina Local Government Commission — and Goldsboro remains on its Unit Assistance List in the wake of years of financial mishaps inside City Hall before Livingston took over for former City Manager Tim Salmon.
Put simply, Livingston said that the city has to show the LGC that it has competitive rates and a significant down payment, demonstrating that Goldsboro is a viable borrower.
“Our plan is to finance this with what’s
called revenue bonds. So, we’re pledging the profits or whatever the revenue is from the system … to the debt service,” he said. “It pledges current future revenues … to pay for the expansion.”
And that expansion, he added, will be necessary if Goldsboro hopes to avoid being placed under a moratorium — particularly when new subdivisions and the development of Park East for Prolec-GE Waukesha and Pelsan Tekstil, projects that will inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Wayne County’s economy, will reduce the current plant’s capacity.
“There’s a case in point we can take from this and that’s the Mount Olive situation. We were fortunate enough to get Mt. Olive Pickle to come here and add jobs to Wayne County’s job base because we had a viable treatment plant. Mount Olive couldn’t
WATER WAYS
expand because they were under a moratorium,” Livingston said. “So, we don’t want the same thing to happen here. So, what we’re trying to do is plan and prepare for the future — not just so we can expand our tax base, but also to grow the county to allow for more economic development.”
But Hyder said without a new plant, Goldsboro was on a collision course with state regulators, an opinion that Livingston said was spot on.
Currently, the city is at 62 percent capacity, with another “10 to 15 percent committed” because of approved near-future development, he explained.
That means there will be little wiggle room left, as the state sends a warning at 80 percent and at 90 percent, “they would shut us down,” Livingston said.
So, in the experts’ view, the clock is ticking.
“That’s why we have to be diligent about building a new expansion to the plant, because you can’t just do these things in six months,” Livingston said. “It takes three to four years.”
And Hyder was clear about something else — a point he hammered home at both planning sessions.
Rates would have to increase for the next 10 years to prevent a worstcase scenario.
years to fund the expansion and to design and build a new water plant.
And for Livingston, those projects are not just a pie-in-the-sky “want.”
“This isn’t a luxury, by the way,” he said. “It’s a necessity if we’re going to grow the city.” It is unclear how many members of the council are poised to vote against an increase, as a budget work session is still being planned and will take place before the spending plan is voted on.
But at least one other board member, Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones, signaled she was not in favor of the hike, despite the fact that she was one of two elected officials involved in helping to create the budget.
I don't want to see the council making the same mistakes some previous councils made.
That is why Mayor Charles Gaylor tried to warn members of the council a year ago that only raising utility rates by 2 percent in the 2024-25 budget would come back to bite them.
“I don’t want to see the council making the same mistakes some previous councils made,” he said last June. “Let’s do something so that folks are not hit two, three years from now with some massive increase.”
Eleven months later, he was proven right, as a bigger increase was recommended — a move that would raise an estimated $1.5 million in revenue and would help fund, among other things, $11.4 million in design fees associated with what city leaders have characterized as a “critical” and “much-needed” expansion.
But the mayor wasn’t surprised.
Hyder had, after all, said the city would need nearly $500 million over the next 10
“I want to see us revisit the 9 percent and see what we can come up with,” she said. “I was against it from the very beginning.”
Gaylor is not against the measure, admitting at the end of Monday’s meeting that tough decisions he sees as necessary will not always be popular.
“It’s important that we remember who we serve … even if the thing in that moment that we are attempting to do, they might not like us for in the moment,” he said. “There are tough decisions that you have to make that have longterm ramifications.”
Councilman Chris Boyette agreed — noting that the only reason a 9 percent increase is necessary in 2025-26 is because the council bucked Stantec’s recommendation last budget season.
“I know that we have had some discussion tonight and there have been some folks here who have asked some questions … but I promise you, there is a path forward and there is a reason that consultant at that work session last year said we needed to plan on raising our rates,” he said. “So, last year, we peddled backwards … and now we’re having to pay the piper … but I can promise you this. If we as a city can’t prove that we are able to do the work and do the right thing … nobody is going to help us. We have to prove that we have the responsibility and the proper folks in place to be able to fund the expansion as it moves along. We have got to keep our eye on the prize.” n
{ our TAKE }
WWCPS FINALLY GETS PAID
ayne County residents have a reason to be very optimistic about their community’s future — and perhaps to have a little bit more faith in the people they have chosen to lead it.
You see, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners finalized a budget this week that will award an additional $1.3 million to Wayne County Public Schools to provide an increase in teachers’ supplements.
That amount is in addition to the $1.14 million already added for the coming year beyond the “formula” that has typically been used by the board this time of year.
And it puts the commissioners’ allocation to WCPS pretty darned close to exactly what its superintendent asked for.
Read that again.
At long last, after decades of battling it out with the Board of Education, commissioners stepped up in a major way.
If we’re being honest, the news is a little shocking — but in the best possible way.
The first, and the most obvious, reason why is that it is a sign that the leaders of the county’s schools have not only made a goodfaith effort to make sure the district is fiscally responsible, but also have pushed to boost student and school performance.
The deadweight leadership that was keeping Wayne County Public Schools on a trajectory toward mediocrity and on the state’s “low-performing list,” seems to have been replaced with a boss and support staff who have instilled a new goal of improvement and advancement.
The commissioners were wary last year of yet another promise from the Board of Education and administrators after years of bad decisions, questionable hires, and scary — and sometimes baffling — budget mismanagement.
So, naturally, they were reluctant to funnel more money to the district without evidence of not only a plan but demonstrated change in philosophy and execution.
But the commissioners were not innocent either.
School district leaders were frustrated by the stagnant funding levels and lack of communication between the boards — often better characterized as bickering — that meant that necessary repairs and capital expenditures were postponed to the point of near-catastrophe, leaving students in crumbling buildings while Central Office staff coped with further strain on an already stretchedto-the-max budget.
So, no one seemed to be able to have a civil discussion, let alone a reasonable plan on how to move forward.
Well, that all changed this year.
The school district made promises and kept them.
Former Board of Education Chairman Chris West made a poised and compelling argument about why a same-as-it-always-was allocation was beyond unfair.
And Dr. Marc Whichard took steps to create a responsible budget and to get the right people into positions of authority while pushing for better performance from teachers and students.
Then, when the district made its case for more funding, Whichard said coming up with the additional money for capital projects was important, but that so, too, was an increase in stipends for teaching and administrative personnel.
The district needed to be able to attract — and to keep — quality personnel if it was going to boost academic performance, he said.
And he wasn’t wrong.
But the commissioners explained that the county’s funds were limited, and that while they would like to provide the millions requested, there were limits.
And former Board Chairman Joe Daughtery was not wrong to ask for assurances that the district truly had made a shift — evidence of significant improvement in performance and management.
Well, he got it.
flicts along the way — as there should be.
And we plan to hold both boards accountable to the promises they have made to the community they serve.
But in our view, this latest piece of good news could not have come at a better time.
The county, along with the city of Goldsboro, are laser-focused on making sure Wayne County is not only setting the stage for continued economic development, but also will remain in the hunt for a future for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
There is no more important pursuit.
And if this is done right, it will secure the fortunes of a community that our parents and grandparents so carefully crafted for us — and offer a host of possibilities for the children and grandchildren we will leave it to.
When we leave our egos at the door and simply do the right thing, there is no stopping Wayne County.
So, the commissioners took a chance — and made a significant investment — approving a substantial supplement increase.
And it was a wise decision — first to ensure taxpayers’ money would be wellspent and second to understand that improving the county’s schools was a critical step in creating the conditions under which residential and business investment would flourish.
Now we have a school district and a county board of commissioners united in the pursuit of one goal — to keep this county strong and fiscally responsible, to provide for its future and, most importantly, to offer Wayne County students the education they deserve and a county to come home to should they choose to start families and futures of their own here.
So, yes, there will be arguments and con-
So, today, there is reason to be optimistic about not only our county’s prospects, but that we might just have the right people in place to keep it on the right path.
But don’t worry. We haven’t gone soft.
We know we wouldn’t be here if we — and all of you — hadn’t held feet to the fire.
So, we will keep watching.
We will continue to hold those entrusted with this community’s future accountable for the decisions they make — in public and behind the scenes.
And so should you.
Positive news and praise without careful and constructive analysis are not how you build a strong county.
And letting cronyism and good-old-boy deals or unhinged and unfettered activism go unchecked is not how we get to our brightest star.
There is no room for anymore of “those leaders” in this community.
So, we will let you know when we think there is reason to be concerned.
And trust us, those whose sole purpose is to stir up unrest, distrust — and who have the curious inability to understand that facts are facts or that public office is not just a power grab or a chance to increase their own coffers — are still out there.
That’s why we thank our lucky stars that there are so many of you who are watching with us.
FUTURE FALCONS
AGES 6-13
But today, all of us should take pride in knowing that the county has turned yet another corner.
Wayne County Public Schools has been given — not everything that its leaders asked for, and frankly, what the district needs — but enough of a vote of confidence to move forward with hope.
And the commissioners have gotten a promise that the money will be stewarded responsibly and that the mistakes that put our schools on the low-performance list are a thing of the past.
The next step is to see what can be accomplished with even more investment and cooperation.
We think that this a reason to be hopeful.
And we also think our commissioners deserve some major credit for doing the right thing. So, no, West wasn’t wrong when he told us, “It’s about time.”
But those who have followed the legendary battles between these two boards for as long as we have understand just what it took for this community to reach this milestone — and how big it really is.
Our hope is that we will see more like this in the future — local boards working together to put this place we love on the map.
Because the truth is, when we leave our egos and agendas at the door and simply do the right thing, there is no stopping Wayne County. Wow. What a moment. ç
It is always curious to us when a public official is told how the cow ate the cabbage, has been shown what the exact perimeters of the cabbage patch are, and has been given a reasonable explanation for the motivation behind said munching cow, and yet, when they get in front of an audience, they act like they have never even heard about the cow or the cabbage.
That is the strange turn of events that occurred this week at the Goldsboro City Council meeting, except this time the cabbage in question was a water/sewer rate hike and the cow was the 2025 budget and plans for capital investment.
It was there, in front of an audience that included some very familiar names (we will address that later), that a plan to put money aside in anticipation of the dire need for a sewer plant expansion — and a new water plant — became something some council members did not seem to be able to handle.
Even though:
• They have sat through multiple presentations describing the precarious condition of the current water treatment facility.
• They have been told that the city has to demonstrate to lenders — in this case, the Local Government Commission — that it has recovered from its past bad money management and that it is a good credit risk for a loan of the size that would be required to build a new water plant.
• City leaders have been told multiple times that investment into this bit of infrastructure is an absolute requirement if there is going to be anymore residential or business development down the road.
• They have seen firsthand what happens when a community does not put in the work necessary to make sure its wastewater treatment system is up to par. (That’s right, we are talking about you, Mount Olive.)
And here’s the thing.
No one wants a tax or rate increase — of any kind.
But you cannot kick the can down the road forever.
Mayor Charles Gaylor, City Manager Matthew Livingston, and Councilman Chris Boyette are absolutely right.
Eventually, a community must invest in its infrastructure if it is going to grow or even survive.
With that said, we get why some of the community’s senior citizens on fixed incomes might be upset at the money they will have to spend.
We all have tight budgets with very little wiggle room these days.
But you see, when you are a City Council member, sometimes you have to tell your constituents the hard truth — and to put the additional cost into perspective vs. the benefit of making the move now.
So, we were a little surprised when all of
Chasing waterfalls
a sudden, Councilman Roderick White, who we considered a level-headed guy — despite a few bizarre gaffes like inferring N.C. Freedom Fest was not racially inclusive because it booked country music acts — started balking at the rate hikes and, more puzzlingly, suggested that the revenue from the increases was not being properly managed.
He even insinuated that a closer look was needed.
Um ... OK.
Where were you during those City Council retreats, Mr. White?
Did you not hear the plan to build up a balance to show fiscal responsibility so the city could get a loan for an expansion and a new plant?
Did you not hear the dire predictions about the state of water and sewer infrastructure and the implications of waiting too long — or what kind of massive rate hike would be needed later if the entire system goes down and the plant becomes not just some “not right now” need but a “right this minute” requirement?
Did you not hear the explanation of the consequences when your city was told by a consultant that without these measures, there will be no more residential development or business investment in the future because the system wouldn’t be able to handle it?
They think that any tax increase or rate hike is just another money grab and that the money the municipality is asking for will be used for no good.
So, those who have an agenda and who say things like, “We are going to take our city back,” play on those fears and those doubts.
A water rate increase is an easy target, especially for those who are on a fixed income.
So, while we commend White and Jones for standing up for their constituents — and for asking questions about how money will be spent and if it is necessary — we find the statements made Monday more than a little disingenuous.
You see, when you serve as a community leader, every day is not sunshine and roses.
When there is a hard truth, a fact that absolutely, positively has to be communicated, and sold, to the residents and proven to the naysayers, you have to stand up.
And right now, without major work on the city’s water system, it won’t matter if those residents have to pay an extra couple of dollars a month in water bills — there will be no growth, lower property values, and the city could face a major expense down the road that would force a rate hike that would dwarf this one.
So, what should you do if you really have the city’s best interest at heart?
Tell the truth, the cold hard truth — not parrot the siren calls of a rather curious assembly of audience members who put you on the spot.
Of course you did.
The truth is that White, and his fellow council member, Mayor Pro Tem Hiawatha Jones, DO know all that.
Jones even sat on the committee that planned the budget.
But they are being buffeted and pressured by those who don’t know, have forgotten, or have a few plans of their own for gaslighting the community into losing its trust of its leaders.
You see, there were some visitors at that meeting Monday — and some with some very familiar names.
There was no horde of elderly citizens speaking up about not being able to endure another rate hike.
Instead, there was a handful of failed political candidates who seem intent on using this very necessary increase to stir up some drama.
One of them just lost her bid to keep her job as county Register of Deeds. We feel pretty sure you remember her story.
And several others have been candidates for office previously.
All of them were “sounding the alarm” — pushing the agenda that gets people all riled up.
Why?
It’s simple.
No one believes that politicians care about their communities anymore.
But there is good news for White, who asked for a couple of slides showing where the money is going and has gone.
All he has to do is go rewatch the 2024 and 2025 council retreats he attended.
They are on the city’s YouTube channel.
And while he’s busy doing that, it is time for the other members of the council to do more than just pander to the loudest voices who really don’t know the facts or let them pressure them into delays to a plan that everyone knows is critical to the community’s future.
That’s how we got here in the first place. There is no more road to kick this can down — especially if we want to hear more economic announcements like the ones we heard last month.
No new business is coming to a community that does not have a functioning water system or has one that is “almost at capacity.”
So, we will wait and see if our confidence in White and Jones has been misplaced or if they truly are the leaders who are strong enough to stand up and guide the community forward.
We know it isn’t easy.
But now is the time for both of them to quit pandering — no matter who is in the audience. n
Budget Bombshell
After years of bickering and finger-pointing, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners agreed to give Wayne County Public Schools millions of dollars in additional funding.
BY KEN FINE AND RENEE CAREY
Back in March 2024, Wayne County Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard told members of the Board of Commissioners that he was going to turn the school district around.
He pledged to ensure WCPS was removed from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s “Low-Performing District” list by the end of his first year in charge.
He said discipline and accountability would return to campuses.
He assured the board that county dollars allocated to the district would be spent wisely.
And he asked that county leaders act in good faith — providing a funding boost that would allow him to “compete” with neighboring districts for quality educators.
But longtime Commissioner Joe Daughtery said additional money would have to be tied to Whichard's keeping those promises.
$1.38 million for teacher supplements $1.14 million in general allocations above the funding formula
$500,000 in additional capital funds
“We have some serious issues with regard to public education in Wayne County and we have got to find some solutions,” he said. “If that is increasing funding, it has to be tied to performance. Once we move the needle, then we provide more funds.”
A year later, the superintendent — flanked by members of the Board of Education and WCPS staff — met, again, with commissioners and other county leaders.
He told them that he had, in fact, kept his promise.
WCPS was off the “Low-Performing District” list.
and school district employees are characterizing as one of the most shocking developments in county budget history, approved a new funding plan for WCPS.
More than $1.1 million in funding “beyond the formula” used to come up with the county’s annual contribution.
More than $1.3 million to fully fund Whichard’s stipend plan.
And an additional $500,000 beyond the $2 million already budgeted for capital outlay.
Daughtery said it wasn’t a difficult decision.
“One word is the reason. Results. Marc Whichard has absolutely produced a tremendous turnaround in our school district. That’s the primary reason that I’m sold on it and it’s how we were able to put that package together,” he told Wayne Week Wednesday. “If Marc continues to produce results — getting these schools off the low-performing list — we need to continue to reward them. That’s the bottom line in my book.”
Commissioner Chris Gurley, who was board chairman during the 2024 meeting attended by the school district and Board of Education, agreed.
“We stated last year … that look, if you all can show improvement in the test scores, moving it forward, we would do what we did. We held up our end of the deal,” he said. “It’s nothing more than that, really. We said we would fulfill our end if they fulfilled theirs, so we stuck to our word on it.”
Whichard’s supplement funding ask, which will, thanks to the Board of Commissioners, now be realized, includes:
• Creating a $300 Classified Supplement
• Increasing the Certified Staff Supplement by $500
• Increasing the Assistant Principal Supplement by $2,000
• Increasing the Principal Supplement by $3,500
Discipline and accountability had returned to campuses across the county.
So, when County Manager Chip Crumpler’s recommended 2025-26 fiscal year budget did not include additional funds that would allow the district to increase stipends for teachers, administrators, and staff — and kept the capital outlay allocation at the same $2 million it was the year prior, Whichard pledged to continue to have discussions with county officials before a final spending plan was approved.
Fast-forward to Tuesday. Commissioners, in what many county
And those dollars, the superintendent told Wayne Week , will give him the ability to not only reward existing staff for their efforts, but attract WCPS’ next generation of educators.
“These supplement increases are critical for reducing vacancies and keeping our district competitive with neighboring school districts that offer higher financial supplements as part of their own recruiting and retention programs,” he said. “Wayne County Public Schools is greatly appreciative of this added support.”
But funding for supplements was only one of the new allocations.
Whichard said the additional $500,000
Continued on page 16
for capital outlay — longtime Board of Education member Chris West argued this spring that sticking to $2 million year after year did not even account for inflation — would allow him to “address long-deferred facility needs.”
Daughtery said that particular pot of funding became available as expenditures on new facilities phased out.
“It was time. Unfortunately, we were using those dollars allocated for capital improvements … to help finance some of these capital improvements for new schools,” he said. “So, there was a limitation there. Fortunately, some of those dollars have now freed up and allowed us to increase that.”
West, who quipped that “it’s about time,” when he learned about the funding spike, said it was clear that the relationship between the two boards, which has, in the past, been rife with drama, finger-pointing, and bickering, was “moving in the right direction.”
Whichard said it a different way.
“I believe communications have never been stronger between our two boards, and that we are forging a path of mutual understanding and respect for the unique roles each board has,” he said. “While there is still much work ahead, I am energized to see
The credit goes to that superintendent because he's turning that school district around.
our boards working and coming together with the understanding that when schools are successful the entire county will benefit from that success.”
Commissioner Chairwoman Barbara Aycock felt the budget development — and the “hard work” of county staff that created the spending plan — were worth celebrating, too.
“Budget season is always a challenge as an elected official. As a board, we’re constantly weighing a long list of needs across the county — public safety, infrastructure, health services, and more, while trying to keep our tax rate in a place that’s fair for our residents. It’s never easy,” she said. “But this year, we made a very intentional decision to increase support for education. We heard from our school leaders and community members about the ongoing needs in our schools, especially when it comes to aging buildings and retaining quality teachers.”
And it was an easy call, Daughtery said, because Whichard made it so.
“The credit goes to that superintendent because he’s turning that school district around. He’s holding people accountable to ensure those positive results,” he said. “I cannot say enough. I am incredibly impressed by what Marc is doing for Wayne County schools.” n
the SPECTATOR
The Three Eagles Rotary of Goldsboro held its annual Beerfest last month — and the event drew quite a crowd.
PHOTOS by CASEY MOZINGO
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. Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275
Published May 18, 2025, and 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, 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, NC 27519
Published May 25, 2025, June 1, 2025, June 8, 2005, and June 15, 2025
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
NOTICES
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
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 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) 5804330 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
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.
Tim Biggerstaff Town Manager Town of Pikeville Published June 1, 2025, and June 8, 2025
AMENDED GENERAL NOTICE OF TAX FORECLOSURE
SALE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAYNE
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO: 21 CVD001609-950
WAYNE COUNTY, Plaintiff vs. REAL ESTATE RESCUE, LLC, Defendant
Under and by virtue of an Order of the Clerk of Superior Court of Wayne County, North Carolina, made and entered in the action entitled “WAYNE COUNTY vs. REAL ESTATE RESCUE, LLC, the undersigned Commissioner will on the 19th day of June, 2025, offer for sale and sell for cash, to the last and highest bidder at public auction, at the courthouse door in Wayne County, North Carolina, in Goldsboro at 10:00 a.m. the following described real property, lying and being in State and County aforesaid and more particularly described as follows:
TRACT ONE – 218 Hack Drive Dudley, NC (PIN: 2586150319)
BEGINNING at in iron stake located in the southern boundary of Hack Drive, said stake being located N. 75° 3’ W. 6110 feet from the intersection of the southern boundary of Hack Drive and the western boundary of NCSR No. 1130; thence along
the southern boundary of Hack Drive, N. 75° 3’ W. 100 feet to a stake; thence S. 14° 57’ W. 239.62 feet to a stake; thence S. 76° 23’ E. 100.03 feet to a stake; thence N. 14° 57’ E. 237.29 feet to the point of beginning, and being Lot No. 31 as shown on a map of plat of Lewis Subdivision (Section 2), said map being recorded in Map Book 9 at Page 33 of the Wayne County Registry.
TRACT TWO –117 Dell Drive, Dudley, NC (PIN: 2586910855)
All that piece, parcel or lot of land situate, lying and being in Wayne County, NC and known and designated as Lot 9 of Carter Plains as shown on a plat by Claude L. Whitfield, Engineer and Surveyor, dated December 8, 1977 recorded in Plat Book H, at Slide 69 of the Wayne County, NC Public Land Records, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description.
The sale will be made subject to all outstanding city and county taxes and all local improvements assessments against the above-described property not included in the judgment in the above-entitled cause. A deposit of 5 percent (5%) of the successful bid will be required or $750.00, whichever is greater, in the form of cash, certified check or money order.
This the 30th day of May, 2025.
Andrew J. Neal Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1713
Published June 8, 2025, and June 15, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY
An offer of $2,500.00 has been submitted for the purchase of certain property owned by the County of Wayne and City of Goldsboro located on Piedmont Airline Road, Goldsboro (PIN: 3518642185) more particularly described as follows:
BEGINNING at an iron stake, said iron stake being located North 26° 10’ 02” East 375.00 feet, North 63° 49’ 58” West 185.00 from an iron stake at the intersection of the Western right of way of N.C. Secondary Road No. 1755 and the Northern line of the property of the U.S. Government as shown by deed recorded in Deed Book 923, Page 110, in the Wayne County Registry, and said beginning point being located North 63° 49, 58” West 185.00 feet from an iron stake on the Western right of way of N.C. Secondary Road No. 1755; thence from the beginning North 63° 49’ 58” West 185.00 feet to an iron stake; thence North 26° 10’ 02” East 110.00 feet to an iron stake; thence South 63° 49’ 58” East 185.00 feet to an iron stake; thence South 26° 10’ 02” West 110.00 feet to an iron stake; the Point of Beginning, containing 20,350 square feet.
Anyone wishing to upset the offer that has been received shall submit a sealed bid with their offer and the required deposit to the office of the Wayne County Manager, 224 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530 by 5:00 P.M. on June 18, 2025. At that time the Clerk to the Board shall open the bids, if any, and the highest qualifying bid will become the new offer. If there is more than one bid in the highest amount, the first such bid received will become the new offer. A qualifying higher bid is one that raises the existing offer at least 10% of the first $1,000 and 5% of the remainder. A qualifying higher bid must be accompanied by a deposit in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid; the deposit may be made in cash, cashier’s check, or certified check. The County will return the deposit on any bid not accepted and will return the deposit on an offer subject to upset if a qualifying higher bid is received. If no other bids are made the original offer to purchase will be accepted. Further information may be
obtained at the Wayne County Manager’s Office, 224 E. Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530 or by telephone at (919) 705-1971 during normal business hours.
Andrew J. Neal
Wayne County Attorney PO Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1971
Published June 8, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NORTH CAROLINA WAYNE COUNTY
Pursuant to NC General Statute 158-7.1(c) notice is hereby given to all interested parties that the Goldsboro City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments on an Amendment to an existing Economic Development Agreement between the City of Goldsboro, and the County of Wayne, regarding properties in the ParkEast Industrial Park.
The revised terms of the agreement include the following:
a. Location – ParkEast Industrial Park: Lots 7, 9, 18, and Wayne County PIN 3519915801.
b. The City shall forego a split of tax proceeds for Wayne County PIN 3519915801 until such time the County has received $2,539,800 in property tax revenues; thereafter, all tax revenues for the parcel shall be evenly split. These shared taxes do not include any fire district taxes, street assessments, street lighting assessments, or any other future assessments for specific purposes.
c. The City agrees to provide water and sewer to the properties.
Pursuant to NC General Statute 158-7.1(c) notice is hereby given to all interested parties that the Goldsboro City Council will hold a public hearing to provide an incentive grant to Pelsan US, Inc. (Project Istanbul), totaling $1,510,000 based on an agreement between the City of Goldsboro, Wayne County and Pelsan US, Inc. to make an $82,618,125 investment and the creation of at least 216 jobs on or before December 31, 2031.
The terms of the agreement are as follows:
a. Location – ParkEast Industrial Park: 404 and 408 Gateway Drive, Goldsboro.
b. The City agrees not to annex the properties listed above for a value of $1,500,000.
c. The City agrees to provide water and sewer to the properties.
d. Providing an incentive grant totaling up to $10,000 as a 100% reduction in the system development fees that would typically be charged.
The public hearing will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 214 N. Center Street, Goldsboro, NC. A copy of the agreement will be included in the agenda packet.
Written comments may be made on or before Monday, June 16, 2025, by 1:00 pm:
Laura Getz, City Clerk City of Goldsboro PO Drawer A Goldsboro, NC 27533 lgetz@goldsboronc.gov
This is the 5th day of June, 2025.
Laura Getz, City Clerk City of Goldsboro Published June 8, 2025
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